Calls For Continued Negotiations At State Level

The National Economic Council (NEC), presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has appealed to organized labour to stay the action on the plan to initiate an indefinite, nationwide strike from Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, who disclosed NEC’s resolution on the Labour action to correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, September 28, also said the council asked Labour leaders to resume negotiations at the states’ level.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had directed their affiliate bodies to commence the nationwide industrial action from October 3, saying it would be a total shutdown of the system until the government takes steps to attend to their demands.

“It’s going to be a total shutdown…until the government meets the demand of Nigerian workers, and in fact Nigerian masses. The federal government has refused to meaningfully engage and reach agreements with organised Labour on critical issues of the consequences of the unfortunate hike in the price of petrol, which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigeria workers and masses”, the Labour bodies had warned in a joint statement on September 26.

However, relating to the NEC’s appeal to the media after the monthly meeting, Mutfwang said the council was of the opinion that continuing on the path of dialogue would be the best option for the economy, especially at the state level.

The governor said: “Council noted the notice by the national leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress to proceed on an indefinite strike from October 3, 2023. The Council noted further the implication of this strike for the economy and the nation and thus urged members to continue to engage with the leadership of their respective states and to appeal to them to shelve the action and continue on the path of dialogue with the federal government. This is the appeal of Council.”

Explaining the grounds for NEC’s appeal further, Mutfwang described the situation of most of the states when the various governors took off on May 29, noting that many of them were just coming out of prolonged industrial strikes, adding that enforcing a new strike at this time would further damage the economy.

He, however, appealed for more time for the government to work on addressing the concerns of Labour, even as he noted that there are feelers indicating that leadership at every level genuinely wants the issues raised by labour addressed once and for all.

He said: “NEC actually expressed genuine concern on the situation in the country and appreciates the concern by Labour to have those issues addressed. That is why NEC is appealing for patience, appealing for time to be able to address the concerns of Labour. We also believe that Mr. President will be addressing the nation first of October and some of the concerns of Labour will be appropriately addressed in the President’s speech.

“It is therefore important that… it’s a federation, so whatever happens, Labour is represented in all 36 states and the FCT and NEC are appealing that discussions should continue at the state levels because there will be peculiarities as to the issues to be addressed concerning the demands of Labour, therefore dialogue is the way to go.

“The nation is at a very critical moment at this time, in some of the states, when they took over on May 29, the workers were on strike, some of those issues have just been resolved for the workers to return to work. To ask them to go back immediately, it’s going to further damage the economy.

“Therefore NEC, while expressing genuine concern about the situation in the country, appeals for calm and patience and I want to believe that the leadership across the nation at this point in time wants to truly address the issues that concern Labour and the general populace and move the country forward.”

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has cleared 190,749 passports application backlogs following the directive of the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo four weeks ago.

According to information from the Minister’s office in Abuja, the NIS now has about 13,583 pending applications before it.

The backlogs cleared were as of September 27th.

The update does not however include applications filed by Nigerians within the past four weeks as the Immigration offices nationwide continued to attend to request of renewals of expired passports and those applying for fresh booklets everyday.

Our correspondent however gathered that the Minister has promised to keep a close watch on the operations of the NIS to prevent a recurrence of backlogs of applications due to deliberate human activities.

Dr Tunji-Ojo also said he would ensure eliminations of human interactions in the processes to stamp out corruption while technology would be deployed to hasten the processes of procurement of the booklets.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has decried the sudden rise of fake dollars and cyber crimes in the Benue axis.

EFCC acting chairman Abdulkarim Chukkol, who disclosed this on Thursday in Makurdi, said the agency had taken measures to address the situation.

The EFCC boss spoke during a workshop on ‘Effective Reporting of Economic and Financial Crimes’, organised for 30 journalists from major media organisations in the country.

Mr Chukkol said the primary aim of the anti-graft agency was to reduce corruption in the country to the barest level and would continue to discharge its duties effectively and professionally.

“Through the commission’s enforcement activities, recoveries running into several billions of naira have been recorded, and the country’s anti-money laundering framework strengthened,” explained the EFCC chief. “There is now a more robust regulation of the activities of these entities which are vulnerable to money laundering.”

Mr Chukkol warned people against disclosing their bank details to anybody to avoid them being used for illegal financial deals.

“I would like the media to educate family members, friends, politicians and others that they run the risk of going to jail if they allow their company or bank accounts to be used to launder proceeds of illegal activities,” the EFCC chief stated.

He pointed out that under the Money Laundering Act 2022, family members and close allies of politicians and public officeholders, including top civil servants, are now classified as politically exposed persons.

“The EFCC is determined to ensure that anyone who steals from the public treasury and all those who assist them under whatever guise are brought to justice, and ignorance of the law will not be an excuse,” said Mr Chukkol.

He disclosed that EFCC had recorded 3,785 convictions in 2022, the highest since its establishment. (NAN)

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar has told President Bola Tinubu that he cannot use the excuse of privacy law to stop the release of his academic records from the Chicago State University (CSU).

Naija News recalls that the court had on September 19, held that Atiku’s application for discovery outweighs Tinubu’s plea for protection under the privacy law.

Tinubu had, amongst other grounds for the denial of Atiku’s request, submitted that Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Gilbert erred in directing the CSU to release documents bordering on his diploma certificate, transcripts and admission letter, amongst others.

But Judge Gilbert pointed out that the case of Atiku has merit as it has to do with Tinubu’s qualification for the 2023 presidential election, which he (Tinubu) won.

Dissatisfied, Tinubu last Thursday begged a Federal High Court presided by Judge Nancy Maldonado to delay the enforcement of the order till Monday, September 25, when he would formally file his objection.

Speaking on Tinubu’s objection, Atiku insisted that all the grounds of objections raised by him against the execution of the lawful order of the magistrate court were resolved by Justice Gilbert after listening to parties.

At Monday’s proceedings, Tinubu had, amongst others, argued that the granting of the order violates his right to privacy and breached US law regarding the release of academic records.

But Atiku, in his latest move, insisited that the law of privacy pleaded by Tinubu to stop the release of his academic records was not relevant and tenable in this instance.

Atiku’s lawyer, Angela Liu, in her reply, pointed out that the FERPA and analogous state laws do not create an independent privilege for educational records and cannot serve as a shield against a court-issued subpoena.

According to the applicant, “the assertion of a privilege or privacy interest under FERPA is a nonstarter; the statute does not give individuals any enforceable rights”, adding that, “FERPA does not provide a privilege that prevents the disclosure of student records.”

Moreso, Atiku argued that Tinubu cannot plead protection when he “has placed its educational records at issue, ECF 40 at 25-26 (explaining that Intervenor put his diploma at issue by submitting it to INEC and Tinubu’s records have already been introduced into the Nigerian proceedings, including by Tinubu himself, and widely published in the media”.

[NaijaNews]

A judge in western England on Thursday sentenced a teenager who stabbed a teacher in a school corridor to 14 months in youth detention, amid concern about rising knife crime in the UK.

The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be identified because he is aged under 18, had previously admitted attempting to unlawfully and maliciously wound the maths teacher at Tewkesbury Academy in Gloucestershire.

He had also earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a bladed article.

His sentence follows a fatal knife attack on a 15-year-old girl in south London on Wednesday.

Bristol Magistrates’ Court heard how the boy in Tewkesbury covered his face and put on a hooded top after bringing a kitchen knife with a six-inch (15-centimetre) blade to school from his home.

Minutes before the attack he dialled emergency services to inform them a teacher at the school would be stabbed.

Imposing a 14-month detention and training order, District Judge Lynne Matthews told the defendant he had acted in a premeditated manner.

“Nothing strikes me about it that was impulsive,” she said.

Matthews ordered he serve half the sentence in custody, with the remainder at home working with the area’s youth offending team.

[NaijaTImes]

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has accepted the public apology made by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, noting that as a person of faith, he was under obligation to accept the apology.

In a letter titled, “Re: Public Apology By The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu,” the governor said in good faith, he trusts that the public apology as expressed by Shaibu is genuine and followed by contrite steps to improve his conflict resolution skills.

The letter reads: “I have noted the public apology made by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu. This apology followed an aberrant behaviour that contradicts what the people of Edo State stand for.

“To name a few, the Deputy Governor needlessly filed unfounded petitions in the Nigerian courts restraining me, the State House of Assembly and Security agencies from a non-existent impeachment process, followed by repeated breaches of protocol; unwarranted and unprovoked attacks in the media on my person and the State Government. The media frenzy as a result of the above and more, provided an impression of crises that has been precarious and distasteful to Edo people in the State and across the world.

“Although these unwarranted provocations caused me severe personal discomfort, as a person of faith, I am under obligation to accept this apology because as they say, “to err is human, to forgive is divine.”

Obaseki further noted, “In good faith, I trust that the public apology as expressed by the Deputy Governor is genuine and followed by contrite steps to improve his conflict resolution skills. I also enjoin the Deputy Governor to guide his proxies to act in accordance with his piety.”

He added, “It is my sincere hope and that of my other colleagues in government and all well-meaning Edo people, that these rhetoric’s will be put to an end forthwith to enable this administration finish strong and deliver the dividends of democracy to the greatest number of Edo people over this final twelve (12) months.”

[NationalDaily]

Given what the Nigerian economy has been through since June 2023 sequel to the removal of decades-old petrol subsidy by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, the policy could be described as one with the most unexpected negative impacts. Unsurprisingly, like an albatross, the impetuous policy has turned an ignominious badge on the Government of the day; yet, the ‘ghost’ of fuel subsidy has kept looming large in the Nigerian polity. Every facet of life of the citizenry has been disrupted; with millions pushed down below poverty line unwittingly.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his inaugural address on 29 May 2023, announced that “fuel subsidy is gone,” but this singular pronouncement and kindred policies of the Government have practically thrown the Nigerian economy into an abyss. Prior to the fuel subsidy removal, price of petrol (Premium Motor Spirit, PMS) was at about N185 per liter, but soon after the presidential fiat (fuel subsidy is gone), the price of the commodity literally jumped through the roof—standing at between N500 and N6oo per liter. In no time, this jump in the price of PMS drove up the prices of all goods, services and commodities to unprecedented levels.

As the prices of even the basic necessities of life (food, shelter, transportation, etc.) went beyond the reach of not a few Nigerians, inflation rate took a quantum leap—now standing at almost 26 per cent—the highest in about two decades. Concomitantly, the purchasing power of most people, standard or quality of life have deteriorated: translating into rising misery index for the citizenry. Coincidentally, as the ripple effects of the fuel subsidy removal were permeating the nooks and crannies of the life and livelihood of all Nigerians, the Tinubu administration also announced the floating of the Naira.

The Naira floatation (or unification of all exchange rates) promptly led to an unprecedented devaluation of the local currency vis-a-avis the dollar and other hard currencies. From an official exchange rate (at Investor & Exporter window) of N460/US$1 by end-May, the rate hit about N800/US$1 by end-August. In the parallel market, the exchange rate has since hit and crossed the N1000/US$1 level. The freefall of the local currency is yet on.

Even as these trends are evolving, rather than addressing frontally, the root cause(s) of fuel subsidy that had been draining trillions of Naira from our public till, the Tinubu administration elected to license more importers of PMS. Yet, it has been the complete dependence on (wholesale) importation of PMS for all local needs that warranted subsidy in the first place. A politic or perceptive approach to effective fuel subsidy removal would have been by proactively ensuring local refining or availability of PMS. In other words, the nation’s existing giant refineries (that have been lying dormant) should be re-streamed or privatized for improved capacity refining and management.

Alongside this, should also be the licensing and building of many modular refineries in line with global specifications and regulatory standards. The licensing of more importers of PMS, rather than addressing the fraud-ridden supply side of petrol, is unwittingly escalating the problems of the downstream oil sector. It is no brainer that the people being licensed to import PMS will keep sourcing dollar from the already ‘heated’ foreign exchange (forex) market. This joins in piling up pressure against the Naira—that has been on a tailspin—having already lost much value against the dollar.

The import of this scenario has been that as the licensees for PMS importation bring in the commodity at a high landing cost, its pump price is driven up. This is already playing out, as the importers procure dollars at very high exchange rate, they push to factor this into their selling price. And so, as the Naira freefall goes on ad infinitum, the prices of PMS at the pump must, all things being equal, keep rising. Indeed, acute forex scarcity has become a cog in the wheel of the PMS importation drive. Reports show that after the first batch of 27 million litres of petrol imported by Emadeb Energy in July, independent oil marketers have not been able to bring in a single drop of petrol.  The national oil firm, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has remained the sole importer of petrol.

This NNPCL’s monopoly in the downstream sector has so far made a mess of the deregulation of the sector, giving NNPCL the power to continue to fix prices, and putting the country at risk of some rounds of fuel scarcity. The argument by Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (MMDPRA) and NNPCL that other marketers were free to import petrol (as those who had applied for importation licenses had been given) does hold waters. The high and volatile exchange rate does not make business sense for marketers other than NNPCL to keep importing PMS.

Indeed, the National Controller Operations of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mike Osatuyi, is reported to have said that marketers were not importing petrol because of forex scarcity and the increasing price of crude oil at the international market. At this dead end, the NNPCL may have gone back to its ‘old game’ of ‘dual citizenship’ as an operator and regulator—a sole importer and price determiner! This could be why in spite of rising prices of oil in the international market (now at about US$95/barrel) pump price of PMS is ‘kept’ at N620 per litre.

It is noteworthy that the Dangote Refinery that has since been projected as the ‘saviour’ in terms of local supply of PMS has rather presented a forlorn hope to Nigerians. Commissioned in the last week of May 2023 by (then out going) President Muhammadu Buhari, the plant is yet to commence production almost four months after the ceremony. Indeed, reports indicate that the Dangote Refinery is most unlikely to be the solution to PMS supply problem in Nigeria. Its executive director, Devakumar Edwin told S & P Global Commodity Insights recently that oil refined in the facility would be bought in US dollars, not naira. He defended the decision by saying that the refinery’s location is in a free trade zone.

In the face of all these, when the Tinubu administration seems to be at its wits’ end, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has voiced its unalloyed support and encouragement to fuel subsidy removal and forex rates unification. That is, the enthronement of full market forces in all pricing decisions in Nigeria. The IMF Representative in Nigeria, Ari Aisen, said in a Channels TV programme that the removal of fuel subsidies and unification of exchange rates must continue for Nigeria to reach macroeconomic stability.

However, given the results of these economic liberalization initiatives in the past four months, the Government from all indications, is overwhelmed by their negative impacts on the economy. Scarcity of foreign exchange is worsening; solution to PMS supply problem is nowhere in sight. Businesses are being forced into bankruptcy, while some have closed shop in Nigeria, and relocated to other climes. Even the apex bank—Central Bank of Nigeria—seems to be resorting to ‘unorthodox’ and esoteric methods in ensuring that the forex rate is kept at around N700/US$1—thereby throwing transparency to the winds. This, in all consideration, is not sustainable; neither does it inspire investor-confidence nor engender improved productivity.

Ironically, while the IMF is ‘encouraging’ the Government to sustain the painful reforms, practically all sectors of the Nigerian economy is gasping for breath. Today, neither the expected gains of the reform measures are being realized nor are the citizenry convinced the journey leads to ‘anywhere.’ This, in part, is why the Organised Labour (NLC and TUC) and their allies are still up in arms, several months after the reforms were put in place. Indeed, for the umpteenth time, ‘palliatives’ negotiations between the Government and the Organised Labour failed. Apparently, in order not to further ‘rock the boat,’ the CBN cancelled its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting that was to hold on September 25 and 26. Usually, the MPC parley come with critical updates on the economy; and also indicate the outlook.

As it is, Nigerians are at the moment left in the dark, as the Government shrouds in secrecy its handling of oil subsidy and Naira floatation. One thing that is obvious is that the Tinubu administration has not made any progress in enthroning the reign of market forces both in the forex market and downstream oil sector. On the contrary, the entire economy has been pushed further into the woods. Unfortunately!

The Joint Task Force of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday destroyed more than 470 motorcycles that were confiscated for operating illegally in Abuja, the capital city.  

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that these motorcycles were seized during an operation that covered areas like Carwash Bus Stop, Lugbe, Gosa, Bill Clinton Drive, Trademore Estate, Lugbe Junction, and Kubwa.  

Nairametrics had earlier reported that the FCTA impounded and crushed over 400 motorcycles in August, during a similar operation for the same violation.  

Mr Obokutom Nyah, the Secretary of the Transportation Secretariat for FCTA, explained to reporters that this decision to crush motorcycles was in line with the provisions of the law.  

Nyah warned motorcycle riders to only operate in areas designated for them and avoid the city centre, as they pose a security risk there.

He mentioned that different areas have specific rules for various types of vehicles, and commercial motorcycles should only operate in the suburbs.  

He stressed that violating these rules would result in legal consequences.  

• In his words, “So, we encourage the operators to respect their boundaries, because if you cross the line, you will face the full wrath of the law.”  

Need to tackle the growing number of motorcycles in FCT 

Additionally, Mr Abdulateef Bello, the Director of the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services, expressed concern about the excessive number of motorcycles in the city.  

Bello said that the task force would expand its operations to nighttime, adding that currently, between 200 and 400 motorcycles are being impounded weekly. He even mentioned the possibility of arresting residents who use these motorcycles to strengthen enforcement.  

He advised residents of the FCT to avoid using motorcycles whenever possible and instead opt for short walks for their safety.  

Furthermore, the director discouraged people from investing in the commercial motorcycle business, as FCTA would continue to control their numbers. 

[Nairametrics]

Deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon Philip Agbese, said fuel subsidy constitutes 50 percent of Nigeria’s problems and its removal would usher the country into her glorious era.

The lawmaker assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy was in their best interest.

Agbese, who represents Ado/ Okpokwu/ Ogbadibo federal constituency of Benue State in an interview with journalists in Abuja, appealed to the organised labour to shelve the planned strike to protest against the policy.

He admitted that fuel subsidy has been a part of the nation since the 1970s, with the government routinely selling petrol to citizens at below cost to minimise the impact of rising global oil prices.

According to Agbese, available figures showed that the Buhari administration (2015 -2023) paid a subsidy of over N11.4 trillion, more than what the government spent on education, health, and infrastructure during the period under review.

While acknowledging that President Tinubu’s decision to end the subsidy regime has come with hardship, he reckons that Nigerians will celebrate in the long run.

“President Tinubu must be commended for taking the bold step to save the future of our nation. Fuel subsidy was no longer attainable.

“It is on record that about N40.1 billion is spent daily to subsidize every liter of petrol consumed in Nigeria by at least N600. It means the government spends about N1.24 trillion on fuel subsidies monthly.

“The country is in massive debt and would need more money to subsidize fuel. According to the World Bank, the government is projected to achieve fiscal savings of approximately two trillion naira ($2.6 billion) in 2023, equivalent to 0.9% of GDP. These savings are expected to reach over 11 trillion naira ($14.3bn) by the end of 2025.

“This will be invested in healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Indeed, the advantages of the removal of subsidy would not just come up immediately. It is not possible because the economy is not strong. We don’t have money to start implementing measures that will ameliorate the removal of the subsidy.

“Let me also use this opportunity to appeal to the organised labour not to succumb to agents of destabilization who want to pull us back. The issue of palliatives and better welfare for all citizens is paramount before the Asiwaju government,” he stated.

[Leadership]

Since 1960, when Nigeria became politically independent from the British colonial government, there has never been this level of despondency occasioned by economic hardship, rising poverty, insecurity and other forces widening the national fault lines.

Indeed, October 1st anniversary has always come with a fanfare, but this year, the mood is that of a funeral – the opposite of a country that started with high hopes 
The eerie feeling is not unconnected with dimming hope and near hopelessness nationwide. The Federal Government must have gauged the mood of most Nigerians, when it declared that the independence celebration on Sunday would be low-key, as foreigners will not be invited to commemorate the day with Nigeria.
 
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, however, said: “Low-key celebration has nothing to do with whether we are not doing well. Economic times are hard; we are looking at it not just at the national level but also as a family.”
 
The theme of the anniversary is: ‘Nigeria @ 63: Renewed Hope for Unity & Prosperity.’ But there is nothing to celebrate now in Nigeria as the country is currently facing an existential crisis.
 
The dearth of leadership since the collapse of the first republic in January 15, 1966 has given rise to primordial sentiments, clan clashes that gave birth to deadly separatist and terrorist groups that have killed thousands of people and security agents in the country.
 
While the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN) are holding the country by the jugular from the Southeastern part of the country, Boko Haram and bandits have made the northern part of Nigeria unsafe for social and economic activities. Southwest is also grappling with kidnappers that have taken over its forests, making farming almost impossible. So, also is the infrastructural deficit that makes investment in Nigeria less attractive.

‘First-world’ hopes at the beginning  
Most countries that got their independence at almost the same year as Nigeria have passed the teething economic stages and are ranked among the developed countries in the world, while Nigeria is still crawling at 63.
 
For instance, Nigeria and Singapore were newly independent countries in the early 60s and shared several homogeneous economic statistics as of then. However, Singapore has outperformed Nigeria in economic development, and has earned a first world status. Singapore has a GDP per capita of $93,400 as of 2020, while Nigeria’s GDP per capita is $4,900 at the same period.

  
The case of Malaysia was also not different. Nigeria and Malaysia shared certain features, with high hopes to lead the world. After all, both are plural societies; both experienced colonialism and both are federal and “democratic” states. However, unlike Nigeria, Malaysia has been able to tackle not only its cultural and religious differences but also economic challenges.
   
Within the past three decades, it has deepened its democracy and achieved a significant level of economic development via responsible political leadership, as well as consistent economic planning. Malaysia is now one of the emerging economies in the world with a prospect of joining the league of developed nations in the nearest future.
 
Malaysia has a GDP per capita of $26,400 as of 2020, while Nigeria’s GDP per capita is $4,900 at the same period. The Malaysian economy rebounded strongly during 2022, with economic growth momentum boosted by the easing of COVID-19 restrictive measures, and buoyant exports of electrical and electronic products, palm oil products, as well as oil and gas exports whereas Nigeria is battling with many structural issues, including inadequate infrastructure, tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade, obstacles to investment, lack of confidence in currency valuation, and limited foreign exchange capacity.
  
Comparing Nigeria with other African countries that got independence almost at the same period, Prof Toyin Falola told The Guardian that: “It is even more difficult to accept the present reality if we look at the situation considering the state of other nations which gained an independent head start with the giant of Africa. I must admit that quantitative assessment of realities is not the preoccupation of the historian; hence, I will refrain from attempting such painstaking particularisation of woes. But the truth is that if Nigeria had been on a journey to bliss, the drivers, at some point, must have indulged in some frivolous detours at the expense of the Nigerian people.”
 
The renowned international scholar noted that “It becomes even sadder when we realise that other countries like Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and South Africa, who became independent about the same time or much later, have taken flight, leaving the giant behind. The question beckons: if it took six decades to arrive at this abyss, how much determination and sacrifice do we need to get the nation back on track? It is my humble opinion that the nation is not the problem. The drivers of the nation are.”

And the fault lines are widening
However, the removal of fuel subsidy has further increased inflation and hardship in Nigeria without corresponding palliatives from both the federal and state governments. Besides, the recent hike in the price of diesel from about N750 per litre to N1,100 per/litre may force many companies out of business and increase unemployment rate.
 
Apart from parlous state of the economy that will prevent most Nigerians from celebrating Independence Day on Sunday, the outcome of the 2023 general election has further polarised Nigerians along ethnic lines, causing serious setbacks in efforts to build a nation-state.
  
A former Emir of Kano, Muhammed Sanusi, regretted that the last election has, “dangerously divided Nigeria along ethnic and religious lines.” He said: “I don’t think Nigeria has been in a place as difficult as this since the civil war. We have a challenge of nation-building. We have a country that has been divided dangerously along ethnic and religious lines. We have an economy that is in the doldrums, and unfortunately, we seem to be having a dearth of leadership.”
 
But a Social Entrepreneur and Public Affairs Analyst, Chukwuma Okenwa, while agreeing that the 2023 general elections have thrown more divisions in the country, blamed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for jettisoning its own rules.

He stated that for the first time in a long while, Nigerians decided to vote to make things right for themselves, stressing, however, that the confidence they reposed on the electoral body was dashed when merit was thrown to the wind in preference for the highest bidder. He said: “One interesting thing that arose out of the election, especially the presidential election was the fact that it gave each region the opportunity to present her very first. Now, you saw discussions that were tailored towards religious and ethnic lines and the desire would have been that the electoral umpire should use its rules and regulations to ensure that the candidate with the highest votes and more receptive to the people wins the process. It never happened.
 
“For such an election for the very first time in Nigeria, we are having across the nation litigation numbering about 500 cases. You had almost all the parties contending that a lot went wrong and didn’t go the right way. What it means is that the sacrifice that was put up for a better way of doing things had been thrown to the dust.”
 
Okenwa continued: “Another thing about the process is that we now see the responsibility of INEC, which includes the conduct of election, declaration of results, and winner now being shifted to the court. As we see in other democracies across the world where after an election, the winner congratulates the loser; we didn’t see that happening in the last election.
 
“So, the division is also not being able to manage the sensitivities that have lived with us for several years, which the Federal Character Commission has not been able to manage, but to now deepen it such that it has become glaring that certain people should not be near power and what have you.”
 
On the way out, he stated that Nigerians are seriously looking at the judiciary to remedy the situation by taking holistic review of the elections, adding that should they uphold, the presidential election will mean additional responsibility of the administration to manage the country’s sensibilities.
  
He insisted that whatever action being made by institutions of the country should be tailored towards the sustenance of unity and the constitution of the land.
  
Spokesperson of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, Dr TankoYunusa, blamed greed, and the premium placed on the pursuit of the primordial sentiments of tribe and religion as the bane of the country’s development.
 
Yunusa maintained that Nigeria would remain on its knees if the ruling elite sustained the ugly trends. In a chat with The Guardian ahead of the 63 Independence anniversary of the country, he noted: “The truth is that Nigeria is a great nation. We have a lot that would have made us better as a collective and prosperous country. Our leaders started in the right direction, but unfortunately, they allowed tribal and religious sentiments to cloud their sense of collective judgment. 
  
“And that is exactly where we started getting it wrong. And then to institutionalise it when individuals started thinking about themselves and not about the country and the people themselves exacerbated the matter more. 

 
“Then we now have greedy politicians who are not thinking about the country as a united entity, but their interest is about power and what they can grab for themselves alone. They forget that if they make the country better and the country is united and is doing well everybody will benefit. Unfortunately, they didn’t think in that direction. Everything is now falling to pieces.”
 
However, an elder statesman, Malam Tanko Yakassai, insisted that the country is on course towards achieving the desired growth despite the setbacks it recorded over the years.

According to him: “The most important thing is that we have now gained independence, we are no longer a dependent country. We are on our own. It’s just like a slave you set free; once he is free he is free forever. 
  
“Now in the course of life, you have challenges. Sometimes you overcome them, some other times you struggle hard before you overcome them. But, whatever happens, they are processes of progress. 
 
“When you overcome problems, it’s a development. Even if you did not succeed you are gaining experience because the next time you know what to do to solve that problem. This is what we are doing presently, which is the significance of independence. 
 
“We are now in control of our destiny. This is the process even the most advanced countries like the United Kingdom (UK) and America have all gone through. Today we are the managers of our own affairs, which was the driving force behind our agitation for independence.”
     
President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, said to achieve national unity and cohesion: “The first thing is to guarantee justice, equity and fair play in accordance with the dreams of the founding fathers of the country, who gave us our own indigenous constitution that had respect for our unity in diversity.”
 
He recalled that in that same constitution, we had a country where our individual challenges were not allowed to derail, but foster development, lamenting the current situation where Nigeria has become secondary to individual and ethno-religious affiliations.
 
He called for restructuring of the country, especially its politics, and a return to regionalism, which enabled the different regions to develop at their own pace and foster competition, rather than rivalry, and each region, was able to control and exploit natural resources in its domain and derivation formula was 50 per cent.

 
Okaba stressed that with the failings of the federal system of government, as being practiced in Nigeria today, there is a need for restructuring, saying what the country needs today is a confederation, where the federating component units will have some level of autonomy, with the centre being less attractive, as was the case in the First Republic.
 
The university don lamented that today, individual and ethnic affiliation has taken precedence over national interest and patriotism.

The way forward
 Speaking on how to build a nation-state where all ethnic nationalities will interact without mutual distrust, spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Dr. Ken Robinson, stated that it will require multi-layer efforts, involving the government, opinion moulders, women leaders, traditional rulers, politicians, and stakeholders at various levels to do their bids, in terms of their actions and utterances.
 
“Government needs to show inclusiveness. It must show that it is concerned about inclusive governance and open to inputs from all corners and sections of the country.
 
“Our traditional rulers must play their role, in terms of trying to bring their people together and moderate the utterances and actions of the people in various parts of the country.
 
“Political and community leaders have to mind the things they say and do, so that the country can remain cohesive and united,” he said.
FOREMOST lawyer and founder Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola SAN said: “It is a notorious fact that the fabrics of the Nigerian nation is currently so badly fragmented that putting it back on the right path is as complex as trying to turn fish soup back to fish. 
 
“With unprecedented levels of poverty, insecurity, economic instability, impoverishment, energy poverty, environmental degradation and lamentable standard of living across the width and breath of the country, the founding visions of Nigeria have been badly mutilated, defaced, and chipped away. More than ever, the gaps between the different regions that make up Nigeria are real, wide-ranging, and pronounced. The ideals of Nigerian nationhood have been eroded, while the dreams of nationalism and patriotism are at the lowest ebb in the country.
 
He noted that the country is currently at a monumental crossroads that will require radical transformations in the conceptualisation, functionality, and organisation of the Nigerian nation to guarantee a united, peaceful, and progressive future for the country.

“The next question then is what can be urgently done to avert the entrenched existential crises facing the Nigerian nation? In my view, Nigeria currently faces only two tough options: restructure or reconfigure. In political terms, restructuring refers to a complete overhaul of a nation’s political system to make it operate more effectively. This could be in the form of adopting a new constitution, new economic model, decentralisation of powers, as well as devolution of powers to the constituent units. To restructure is to change an existing status quo to make it more functional.
  
For Prof Falola, who also blamed the Nigerian leaders for the socio-economic and political crises in the country, he said: “More than anything, independence symbolises freedom from hegemony. Yet it also presents a situation where the Independent bears the burden of responsibility on its shoulders. In the case of Nigeria, just like every other African state, independence presented both the cross and the crown. Success in the ensuing eras lies solely on the ability of the beneficiaries and progenies of such bequest of power to carry the cross as graciously as they adorn the crown. It is needless to say that Nigerian leaders chose to adorn the crown while avoiding the agonies of the cross. I must admit that wearing the crown while bearing the cross is only the stuff of messiahs, not politicians.”

[Guardian]