Nigeria, a nation blessed with abundant resources and a vibrant population, remains mired in a cycle of poor governance that has persisted for decades. The question on the lips of many Nigerians is, “Will it ever get better?” The struggle to break free from the chains of corruption, mismanagement, and ineffective leadership is a journey that seems to have no end in sight.

Since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, successive governments have come to power with promises of change and development. Yet, these promises have often turned into mere rhetoric, leaving the masses disillusioned and frustrated. From military regimes to democratic administrations, the narrative has been alarmingly consistent: leaders who ascend to power with grand visions often lose their way, entangled in the web of corruption and personal gain.

The military era, marked by coups and counter-coups, was a time of instability and repression. While some may argue that there were brief moments of progress, the overall impact was one of stagnation and decline. The return to democracy in 1999 was heralded as a new dawn for Nigeria, but the years since have shown that the challenges of governance are deeply rooted in the fabric of the nation’s political system.

Corruption remains one of the biggest impediments to good governance in Nigeria. It is a cancer that has eaten deep into the country’s institutions, from the highest levels of government to the grassroots. Despite the establishment of various anti-corruption agencies, such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the scourge persists. The lack of accountability and transparency in public office has made it nearly impossible for the government to function effectively.

The alleged financial misappropriation in several government agencies has further eroded public trust. The siphoning of public funds meant for development projects into private accounts has left critical infrastructure in a state of disrepair. Roads, schools, hospitals, and other essential services are grossly underfunded, leaving millions of Nigerians without access to basic amenities.

At the heart of Nigeria’s governance crisis is a deficit of visionary leadership. The nation’s political landscape is dominated by individuals who prioritize personal interests over the common good. The concept of public service, which should be the cornerstone of governance, has been relegated to the background. Instead, politics has become a means to wealth accumulation, with little regard for the welfare of the people.

This leadership vacuum is evident in the way policies are formulated and implemented. In many cases, government initiatives are poorly conceived and hastily executed, leading to minimal impact on the ground. The disconnect between the government and the people is palpable, with many citizens feeling that their voices are not heard or valued.

Despite the bleak picture, there are glimmers of hope. Civil society organizations and a growing number of young, politically conscious Nigerians are beginning to demand more from their leaders. The rise of social media has also provided a platform for citizens to hold their government accountable. However, these efforts are often met with resistance from entrenched political elite that is unwilling to relinquish power.

The recent #EndSARS, and #EndBadGovernance protests which called for an end to police brutality and bad governance, respectively, were a testament to the potential for change. Although the movements were brutally suppressed, but despite that, they collectively sent a strong message that Nigerians are no longer willing to accept the status quo. The question now is whether this momentum can be sustained and translated into tangible change at the ballot box.

In fact, for Nigeria to achieve good governance, a fundamental shift in the political culture is required. This involves not only holding leaders accountable but also fostering a culture of integrity and public service. It requires a judiciary that is independent and fearless, a legislature that is truly representative of the people, and an executive that is committed to the rule of law.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is germane to opine in this context that education and civic engagement are crucial, and that citizens must be informed and empowered to make choices that reflect their interests, even as voter apathy, driven by years of disenchantment with the political process, must be addressed if true democracy is to take root in Nigeria.

Be that as it may, it is expedient to state the fact that the road to good governance in Nigeria is long and fraught with challenges, but it is not an impossible journey. While the past and present may paint a grim picture, the future holds the possibility of change. It will require collective effort, determination, and a willingness to confront the issues that have held the country back for so long. The question remains: will Nigeria rise to the occasion, or will the cycle of poor governance continue? Only time will tell.

In 1 Kings 12:11, the words “My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions” echo the experiences of Nigerians today. This biblical passage serves as a fitting metaphor for the situation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which has seen the intensification of economic hardship, following in the footsteps of his predecessor.

During the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians groaned under the weight of economic instability, high unemployment, rising prices, and insecurity. The heavy yoke was felt across the country, but many hoped that a change in leadership would ease their burdens. Instead, the reverse has happened.

Since taking office, President Tinubu has introduced policies that have further exacerbated the suffering of the average Nigerian. The removal of subsidies and the resultant skyrocketing fuel prices have worsened inflation, deepened poverty, and pushed even more families below the poverty line. Nigerians who once struggled under Buhari’s “whips” now feel they are being “scourged with scorpions” as Tinubu’s economic measures have led to a rise in the cost of living that seems unbearable.

This biblical imagery is not an exaggeration. With the currency’s value plummeting, the cost of basic goods and services soaring, and the country’s debt swelling, the average Nigerian is reeling from the impact of these policy decisions. Just as the scourging of whips and scorpions implies escalating punishment, many citizens are questioning when, if ever, the burdens will lessen.

Instead of a respite, the Tinubu-led government has turned the screws tighter, leaving many Nigerians wondering if they will ever see relief. Where Buhari’s government was seen as difficult, Tinubu’s is seen as crushing. The “scorpions” of higher high costs of virtually all goods and services due to unprecedented rising rate of inflation, and economic uncertainty sting deeply, leaving an indelible mark on the nation’s psyche.

This biblical parallel speaks volumes about the unending cycle of hardship in Nigeria. Will there be an end to this scourging? Nigerians are left waiting and hoping for the leadership that will finally lift their burden, not add to it.

As in the scripture, there is a warning. Leaders who continue to lay heavier burdens on their people without a clear path to relief must recognize that the consequences of such actions may be far-reaching. It is time for the Nigerian government to reassess its direction and truly address the suffering of its people, before the scourging becomes unbearable.

At this juncture, it is expedient to urge President Tinubu to free Nigerians from the scourge of economic hardship as the burden is increasingly becoming unbearable by each passing day.

Since he took the reins of leadership in May 2023, Nigerians have found themselves grappling with a new level of economic hardship. While the nation had long been accustomed to challenging times, the current situation has escalated to a point where daily survival for many is becoming nearly impossible. The policies and economic measures rolled out by this administration, though intended to stabilize the economy, seem to be deepening the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

From fuel subsidy removal to soaring inflation, Nigerians are now facing a cost of living that has reached unprecedented levels. The price of basic goods, transportation, and housing has skyrocketed, making everyday life unaffordable for millions of citizens. Food prices, in particular, have surged, with staples like rice, beans, and cassava, the very foundation of Nigerian diets, becoming luxuries for many. While the rich may find ways to navigate these challenges, the masses, who form the backbone of the country, are suffering in silence.

A quick trip to any market in Lagos, Abuja, or any of Nigeria’s other bustling cities will reveal the growing frustration. At a market in Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, a woman named Iya Wale lamented, “Shebidem tell us say cassava, ewa and agbado go cheap wen we vote for them, today we nor fit buy dem for market.” This echoes the sentiment of many Nigerians who feel betrayed by the promises made by the current administration.

As if that wasn’t enough, the national currency, the naira, has plummeted, making imports even more expensive and compounding the problems for local businesses and consumers alike. The ripple effect has spread across all sectors, from healthcare to education, leaving many Nigerians to be groaning under pricey goods and services.  The hardship is no longer a mere inconvenience; it has become an existential threat.

In a nation where unemployment rates are already high and where businesses are struggling to keep their doors open, the situation is quickly becoming a recipe for disaster.

While it is true that Tinubu’s government has inherited some of these challenges from previous administrations, it is also clear that the current trajectory is unsustainable. More than ever, Nigerians need relief. They need policies that will ease their burden, not ones that will intensify it. It is not enough to make lofty promises or announce palliative measures that fail to reach the intended beneficiaries. Concrete steps must be taken to address the root causes of the economic crisis.

First, there is a need for strategic intervention in key sectors like agriculture, energy, and manufacturing. Nigerian farmers, for instance, should receive robust support to boost local food production, which will help reduce the dependence on imports and lower food prices. Additionally, the government must urgently address the power supply issues that cripple businesses, ensuring that industries can thrive and provide jobs for millions of unemployed youths. Though, in Lagos, electricity supply is improved, and therefore the progress should be improved.

Second, Tinubu’s administration must work towards stabilizing the naira and curbing inflation. A combination of sound monetary policies, fiscal discipline, and transparency in governance will go a long way in restoring confidence in the economy. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Ministry of Finance must act in concert to reduce the current economic volatility.

Third, social welfare programs should be revamped to ensure that the most vulnerable in society receive the help they so desperately need. The distribution of palliatives, be it cash transfers or food supplies, must be transparent and efficient. Every Nigerian should feel the impact of government intervention, not just a select few.

Finally, there must be an immediate dialogue between the government and key stakeholders, including labor unions, civil society organizations, and the business community, to chart a way forward. The current approach of implementing economic policies without meaningful consultation will only lead to further alienation of the people.

President Tinubu, you came into office with a vision for a better Nigeria. While it is true that nation-building is no easy task, the current hardship is too much for ordinary citizens to bear. Nigerians are resilient, but they are not invincible. If the current economic direction is not corrected, the consequences could be dire, not just for the citizens, but for the stability of the nation as a whole.

The time for action is now. Nigerians are pleading for relief from the scourge of economic hardship. They are calling on you, their president, to hear their cries and deliver on your promises of a better future. Leadership is not just about making tough decisions, but about ensuring that those decisions uplift the lives of the people. Tinubu, the people are waiting. Free Nigerians from this unbearable burden that finds expression in 1 Kings 12:11, with its inherent words that say, “My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions”

Victor Osimhen’s transfer to Galatasaray has ignited a significant surge in the Turkish club’s social media following. The reigning African Footballer of the Year officially joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan from Napoli for the 2024/25 season on Wednesday, after the Italian club agreed to a loan move.

Osimhen‘s arrival has not only bolstered Galatasaray’s presence in European football but has also significantly boosted the club’s social media profile.

Since the announcement, Galatasaray’s X account (formerly Twitter) has gained over 100,000 new followers, surpassing the one million mark from its initial 920,000 followers.

This rapid growth underscores Osimhen’s influence as one of Africa’s most prominent footballers and highlights the excitement surrounding his move to Turkey.

The Nigerian striker received a hero’s welcome in Istanbul on Monday night, with thousands of passionate Galatasaray fans gathering at the airport to greet him with cheers and chants, creating a memorable moment that set the tone for his loan spell.

The 25-year-old’s move to Galatasaray followed a dramatic transfer saga that saw a potential move to Chelsea collapse on deadline day. Despite a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli, who were willing to pay Osimhen a staggering €30 million per year for four years, the Nigerian star chose to continue his career in Europe, leading to his loan move to the Turkish club.

Osimhen’s presence in Turkey has already begun to make waves both on and off the pitch, bringing excitement to Galatasaray and their fervent supporters.

[BusinessDay]

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said President Bola Tinubu must keep his promise during the last negotiation on minimum wage that fuel prices will not be increased.

The NLC Head of Information Department, Benson Upah, said the organized labour knew that ₦70,000 minimum wage was not ideal, but they wanted to avoid fuel price rising to ₦2,000 per litre.

“We knew ₦70,000 was not ideal for the average Nigerian, but we had to make a deal, expecting President Tinubu to keep his word,” Upah said.

In an interview, on Wednesday, with Arise TV, NLC advised Nigerians to give labour time to process decisions that would come from its different organs.

He said, “Well, we have not said we are going on strike. I would want you to read our statement carefully. We said the appropriate organs of the Congress will need to take appropriate decisions, and those decisions will be made public. So I would want you to be patient to see whether a strike will be one of them.

“But let’s assume that a strike is an option. Our strike is the least harmful, as effective as a strike can be. Our strikes are essentially to wake the government up and point in the right direction. When other Nigerians strike, the difference is always clear. You remember Endsars? You remember the last strike? I mean, the end hunger protests. You remember that?

“But I tell you this, what we are sensitizing government to is the possible consequences of a people outrage, the outrage of Nigerians, because they have had it up to neck. And government must realize this fact. You see, it is wanting to talk about extreme right-wing market policies. It is another thing to implement them and diligently too.”

Benson Upah explained that President Tinubu chose an extreme right-wing market policy approach, but failed to adopt social security measures that go along with extreme right-wing market approach.

He decried that Nigerians pay for everything that government should provide and the government has shown no interest in living up to its social welfare responsibility.

“For the entities that implement extreme right-market policies, the way Mr. President is doing, they carry something on the left hand. They mitigate the harsh effects of those right-wing policies. You have social protection policies dealing with job losses, dealing with health insurance, dealing with energy, dealing with particularly other aspects of life. And this manages resentment, dissolution and uprising.

“But here we have a country where you do not have anything called social protection. Everybody is on their own. Even right-wing issue providing light and security, you are on your own. And government is carrying on as if it does not owe us an obligation. It is deceiving itself,” Upah added.

[NaijaNews]

With today, September 5, 2024 being the deadline given by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for banking agents, known as Point of Sale(POS) operators to register their activities or face prosecution, the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN) has challenged the directive in court.

Recall that the federal government through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) had issued a two-month registration deadline for POS companies, to register their agents, merchants, and individuals with the commission in line with legal requirements and the directives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

This new directive came against the backdrop of frequent fraud incidents involving POS terminals and plans to stop trading in cryptocurrency or any virtual currency by the CBN.

According to a report by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) Plc, POS terminals accounted for 26.37 per cent of fraud incidents in 2023, according to fraud. CAC said the move would curb fraud in the system, kidnapping and payment of ransoms.

The national general secretary, AMMBAN, Oluwasegun Elegbede, in an interview with LEADERSHIP, argued that the registration requirements imposed by CAC, violated the provision of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which “explicitly states that the commission has no jurisdiction over individuals not operating as a company.

“According to section 863(1) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004, the order to enforce CAC directive on individual PoS agents operating under their name is wrong and will be challenged, as it contravenes the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which explicitly states that CAC has no jurisdiction over individuals not operating as a company.

“The matter is already in court and the court has scheduled this September for hearing. The court will have to intervene in the interpretation of the quoted section of the CAMA if individuals operating as a sub-agent (likened to a bank branch) must register with CAC,” Elegbede added.

Speaking on the concerns raised by CAC, Elegbede said, fighting crime is beyond the jurisdiction of CAC, adding that AMMBAN, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, is curbing the prevalence of fraud in the industry.

“Every POS operator has a BVN/NIN, so they are all traceable. We can trace them through NIBSS, as no operator can have a POS without NIBSS knowing. We can  trace them with their SIM cards.

We can also trace them to the company/bank that issued the POS machine to them. So, there is no hiding place for operators, if they default,” he added.

The national general secretary emphasised the critical role that mobile money agents play in driving financial inclusion across Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where traditional banking services are scarce.

Speaking on the impact of the registration on members, he averred that CAC registration cost nothing less than N35,000, adding that, some of their members do not even have that figure as capital. “These are young people trying to make a living for themselves. Imposing N35,000 on them could potentially cripple the operations of many small-scale agents across the country.

“While we understand the need for regulation, it is essential that such measures do not stifle the growth of the sector or place undue burdens on small business owners. We are confident that the court will recognize the merit in our case,” he stated.

Meanwhile, LEADERSHIP  findings show that many of the operators have been complying with the directive.

This is even as the association of PoS Operators say they are still awaiting the outcome of the court case on the matter.

Findings showed that many POS operators had registered as some of the financial service providers had created a way to make it easier to make registration with CAC.

A POS operator, Akeem, who uses a terminal provided by Opay said he had been able to register through the financial service provider.

He explained that he had been able to register online with the help of area coordinators sent by Opay at a sum of N19,000.

The same procedure had applied for POS operators who are using the Moniepoint terminals.

A poultry products retailer in Lagos, Kemisola, while speaking to  LEADERSHIP  said her financial services provider had blocked the terminal with her business name because she had not registered it with the CAC. However, she continues to use the terminal that is attached to her personal account.

“I use my personal account now. How much do I make from the sales that the government is requiring that I register. I got the POS because of the issues we faced last year during the cash scarcity and to make it easier for my customers to make payment without cash. I still pay charges on this POS and customers don’t want to pay the extra charges.

“If they block one of my personal accounts, I will just revert to collecting cash only because even transfers are not that reliable. There is a fake alert and sometimes payment reverses when the transfer is done.” she explained

many POS operators had registered as some of the financial service providers had created a way to make it easier to register with the CAC.

According to a POS operator, Akeem who uses a terminal provided by Opay, said he had been able to register through the financial service provider.

He explained that he had been able to register online with the help of area coordinators sent by OPAY at a sum of N19,000. The same procedure had applied for POS operators who are using the Moniepoint terminals.

[Leadership]

The latest hike in the price of petrol has pushed up transport fares by over 50 percent in major cities across Nigeria, findings by Daily Trust have revealed.

The newest price hikes, implemented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s (NNPCL) Retail Management, range from N855 to N897 per litre, depending on the location, from the previous N568-N617.

Independent marketers have adjusted their prices to between N930 and N1,200 per litre of petrol.

The price hike has had a widespread impact, with some Nigerians resorting to long-distance trekking and others missing work due to the higher transportation costs.

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday joined the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in demanding reversal of the increase in the petrol pump price.

This is even as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) warned that the price hike could lead to higher inflation.

Also yesterday, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) announced plans to protest and shut down major cities from 15th of this month.

Abuja, Lagos commuters express frustration

Commuters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and other states yesterday expressed frustration over the hike in the price of petrol which, according to them, has constrained their living conditions.

Many of them, who spoke to our correspondents, said the unaffordability of transportation cost had forced them to trek to work.

Adeolu Segun, a civil servant residing in Zuba, Abuja, said the fare from his area to Berger had risen from N1,000 to N1,500.

Mrs. Zainab Ibrahim, a mother of six living in Kubwa, said she paid N1,000 as fare as against the previous N500 for the same route.

Ismaila Danjuma, the Secretary of the Zuba branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), explained that the rise in transport fares was due to the fuel price hike.

A passenger, Murjanatu Shehu, who was travelling to Kano from Abuja, said the fare rose from N8,000 to N11,000.

Haruna Yakubu, a driver on the Abuja-Lokoja route, confirmed fare increase from N4, 500 to N6,000; and Abuja-Okene routes fare rose from N6,500-N10,000.

Lagos bus drivers, Ojo Jamiu and Chukwuka Ogwu, said they now charge more than double as fares.

Kano, Rivers residents trek

In Kano and Port Harcourt, residents resorted to trekking.

Yakubu Isa, who said he used to pay N200 to go to Kano Guest Inn from Kwana Hudu, could not afford the new N400 fare, but had to trek. A teacher in Kano, Maikudi Haliru, also said he trekked to school to avoid the higher tricycle fares.

Our correspondent observed a low turnout of passengers at the Kano Line Motor Park yesterday as fares for the Kano-Kaduna and Kano-Abuja routes had risen to N6,000 and N12,000 respectively.

Some residents of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, also said the latest increase in transport fares had forced them to trek.

In Ondo State where transport fares have also doubled, residents said it would be better to trek a few distances to their workplaces.

In Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, tricycle fares have been increased by 50 percent; while same rose in Borno and Yobe states by 30 per cent.

Inflation figures may go up – MAN

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has said that the new price of petrol might push inflation figures high, impacting household budgets.  It also said Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs), which often operate on thin margins, could be hard hit by the development.

The MAN, in a statement by its Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir yesterday, enumerated the impacts of the petrol price hike.

“So, in terms of what the impact might be and judging from what we have witnessed in the past, the cost of transportation may increase, and so would the prices of goods and services. As the cost of petrol rises, consumers will spend more on transportation and energy, leaving them with less disposable income.

“This decrease in purchasing power may lead to reduced demand for non-essential goods and services, affecting businesses across various sectors. These are pointers to the high possibility of a rise in inflation figures, impacting household budgets,” the DG said.

We’ll shut down major cities – Students

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans for a “large-scale” shutdown of all major cities in Nigeria over the fuel price hike, starting from September 15, 2024.

In a notification sent to students yesterday, Okunomo Henry Adewumi, President of the NANS’ Senate, demanded immediate reversal of the fuel price hike and the removal of Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL.

The statement said that the protest will be conducted peacefully and in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, another faction of the NAN yesterday debunked the claim that the student union was planning a nationwide shutdown of major cities.

Akinteye Babatunde, the association’s factional Senate President, in a statement, said NANS did not announce nor endorse any such protest, describing the claim as baseless.

Afenifere, PDP demand pump price hike reversal

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday urged the federal government to direct the NNPCL to reverse the increase in fuel pump price.

Afenifere asked the government to stick to the claim by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, that it did not instruct the increase.

In a statement signed by Jare Ajayi, the spokesman of the Afenifere’s faction loyal to Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the group, said that Nigerians are currently going through a lot of challenges as a result of biting socio-economic crunch and the attendant hardships.

“It is therefore a wrong time to come up with any policy that will increase the undesirable challenges Nigerians are going through presently. Failure by the NNPCL to reverse the latest increment in fuel price will rub off negatively on some policies of Tinubu administration to ease things for the citizens. Policies such as the Students Loan Scheme and Consumer Credit Scheme that are just taking off”, it said.

Afenifere said with the latest increase in petrol price, the cost of fuel in Nigeria had risen by 460 per cent in 15 months.

It was curious that an organisation that declared a profit running into trillions of Naira could, almost in the same breath, claim indebtedness to the tune of nearly $7 billion. “Why not pay off the debt from the available fund before declaring it as profit?

“It is a common knowledge that the cost and availability of energy such as petrol, gas, electricity, diesel and kerosine are major factors not only in production and services but also on the quality of well-being that Nigerians can enjoy. Hikes in prices of these energy sources have astronomically increased the costs of services and commodities, reduced the disposal incomes of average Nigerians and heighten their health risk. The combination of all these are making a daily living an onerous task for the majority of the citizens. Considering the fact that millions of the Nigerians had been described as being ‘multi-dimensionally poor’, the recent hike in costs of fuel and electricity are uploading the number of people in that category phenomenally”, it said.

Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday condemned the hike in fuel price, alleging that it was a “brutal assault” on Nigerians by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP said the increase is a “recipe for crisis,” particularly during a time of severe economic hardship under President Tinubu’s administration.

Debo Ologunagba, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, in a statement, urged President Tinubu to reverse the fuel price increase and reconsider other policies negatively impacting the nation.

He said with proper management, petrol should not cost more than N250 per litre.

He said the continuous rise in fuel prices, without consideration for the people’s welfare, was exacerbating the already dire economic situation, pushing millions of Nigerians further into poverty.

The PDP also alleged that over 150 million Nigerians had fallen below the poverty line, with businesses collapsing due to the high cost of living, a weakened naira and rising unemployment.

Tricycle riders protest fuel price hike in Delta

Tricycle riders in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State yesterday protested the petrol price hike, disrupting business activities and vehicular movements.

They blocked the Deco Road Junction, the First-Marine Gate Junction and the popular Hausa Quarters, Igbudu.

TUC asks govt to rescind decision

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Wednesday criticized the federal government for the recent hike in the pump price of petrol, demanding its immediate reversal.

TUC President Festus Osifo, in a statement, said the union expressed deep concern that the sudden increase in fuel and electricity costs would exacerbate poverty levels, worsen the suffering of citizens and potentially lead to social unrest.

Osifo criticized the government for implementing the price increase without consulting key stakeholders, calling it a blatant disregard for the welfare of the Nigerian people, particularly the working class who are most affected by such decisions.

“The news of the PMS price hike has sent a wave of apprehension and depression across the nation, especially as it comes on top of existing hardships faced by citizens,” he said.

He said the TUC was also concerned about the recent 250% increase in electricity tariffs, labelling it as an additional burden on the poorest in society and a sign of the government’s lack of empathy for ordinary Nigerians.

Tinubu didn’t bargain fuel price for minimum wage-Presidency

The Senior Special Assistant to the President of Media (Print), Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Wednesday on his X, said Tinubu never bargained with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) not to increase the price of petrol before arriving at N70,000 as the new minimum wage.

He was reacting to the allegation by the NLC’s president, Joe Ajaero, that Tinubu asked them to accept N70,000 as minimum wage for the petrol price to remain N617/litre.

Abdulaziz said: “I sat through the two meetings President @officialABAT had with labour leaders on minimum wage. At neither of the meetings was an offer made in exchange for a fuel price hike. Ajaero is once again playing his dirty politics with the emotions of Nigerians.”

In his reaction yesterday, Ajaero, through the NLC’s spokesman, Benson Upah, said, “As for Abdulaziz’s side-dig, he should stop insulting the intelligence of Nigerians as they do not need Comrade Joe Ajaero to know they have been taken for a ride and that life has never been this mean, all due to the policies of government.”

[DailyTrust]

• Caretaker to conduct election  in party offices within 90 days

The crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) escalated yesterday, despite a strident attempt to resolve it.

National Chairman, Julius Abure, rejected the 29-member interim committee headed by Senator Esther Nnenadi Usman, former Minister of State for Finance, describing it as illegal.

The committee was set up during the extended stakeholders’ meeting of the party convened by the Abia State Governor Alex Otti and the national leader of the party, Mr. Peter Obi.

Otti is the only governor elected on the platform of the party.

Nnenadi, who accepted to lead the party, promised to embark on a rescue mission.

However, the National Working Committee(NWC), led by Abure, a lawyer, described the committee as  unconstitutional.

Although Abure was contacted about the meeting by the convener, he did not show up.

The caretaker committee is made up of three representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), three representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), three Senators, four House of Representatives members, three House of Assembly members, representatives from six geo-political zones, and four former governorship candidates.

The committee’s term of reference is the conduct of party congresses and the national convention within 90 days.

Otti, who hosted the meeting at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Umuahia, said there was an urgent need to save the party from an impending danger that may lead to its extinction.

The governor, who clarified that he was not interested in whoever becomes the national chairman, said if the party was not rescued, it may jeopardize its participation  in future elections.

Otti said while the Abure-led leadership has the right to challenge the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the court, it is better for LP to avoid  any action that may render its actions illegal in the future.

Obi, who described LP as the third largest party in the country, called for unity and support for the caretaker committee.

The NLC National Vice President, Salamatu Aliu, who witnessed the meeting, said the rule of law should be followed in setting up a transition committee.

He said the leadership should be put to rest, adding that previous mistakes should also be avoided.

In a communiqué read  by the 2023 deputy governorship candidate of the party in Plateau State, Edward Pwajok, the stakeholders called on party members in court to withdraw the cases.

They also affirmed their confidence in Obi as the national leader while hailing the setting up of the caretaker committee to fill the leadership vacuum in the party.

The stakeholders commended Otti for his effort to deliver the democratic dividend to the people of Abia State.

Nnenadi Usman, who promised to unite the party, assured that her committee will deliver on the assignment within 90 days.

She said LP should go into future elections as a united front, adding that the party can produce the next president in 2027.

A chieftain, Senator Victor Umeh, said those calling for the resignation of Obi as the national leader are on a white goose chase.

At the meeting were Kelvin Chukwu, Okey Ezea, Victor Lar, Nneji Achonu, Yusuf Datti, Ikechukwu Emetu, Obi Aguocha, Senator Neda Imasuen, Barr. Sunday Umeha, Deputy Speaker, Abia House of Assembly, Austin Okezie Meregini, some LP-NWC members, NEC members; NLC, TUC and other statutory members, former governorship candidates from the six geopolitical zones and Prof. Kenneth Kalu, Secretary to Abia State Government.

Abure rejects caretaker committee

The Julius Abure-led NWC rejected the caretaker committee,  describing it as illegal and unconstitutional.

He said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, that he remained the  legitimate national chairman.

It described the meeting in Umuahia as a “charade, a waste of time and resources of Abia People.”

The statement reads: “As clearly stated in our previous statement, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, and all others who have converged on Umuahia have no power within the Party Constitution, the Electoral Act and even within the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to convene any meeting of the Party.

“The combined reading of the two provisions show clearly that the so called meeting in Umuahia is a charade, a waste of time and resources of Abia People.

“The premise on which Governor Alex Otti called the meeting is not only faulty but mischievous. Government business is not transacted verbally but through official communication and correspondences which are done in writing.

“As we speak, there is no communication whatsoever from INEC to the Party as regards any objection to the conduct of the National Convention.

“We challenge Alex Otti to produce the official letter addressed to him from INEC on the subject matter. There is no vacuum in the leadership of the Party.

“Consequently, the so-called caretaker committee set up by the Governor of Abia State is not known to the constitution of the Party and can best be described as a department in Abia State Government House.

“We are shocked to note that the so-called chairman of the caretaker committee is not a registered member of the Party. She surfaced during the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign to assist Peter Obi in his campaign.”

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says the federal government is more focused on arresting protesters than addressing the worsening insecurity in the country.

In a post on his X Page on Wednesday, Abubakar condemned the terrorist attack in Yobe state on Sunday.

On Sunday, Dungus Abdulkarim, Yobe police spokesperson, said suspected Boko Haram insurgents looted and set shops and houses on fire in Mafa village under Tarmuwa LGA.

Abdulkarim said the gunmen killed an “unspecified number of people and dropped some fliers with Arabic inscriptions”.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, also reported that the attack occurred during the Muslims’ Maghrib prayer when the gunmen shot sporadically into the gathering.

Makama said 34 worshippers were killed, adding that the gunmen also laid multiple explosives on the path to the village.

Meanwhile, Nigerians staged a 10-day nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest from August 1, demanding a reduction in governance costs, petrol subsidy reinstatement, food security, and fiscal discipline, among others.

The demonstration turned violent in some parts of the country and was characterised by looting and vandalism.

The police announced the arrest of the alleged perpetrators and secured an order to detain them for 60 days pending the conclusion of investigations.

One hundred and twenty-four protesters are in prison custody in the federal capital territory (FCT).

Ten of the 124 persons in custody took their plea on Monday before a federal high court in Abuja.

However, the former vice-president, while reacting to these developments, said the federal government has “preoccupied itself with stifling dissent and imposing death sentences on protesters”.

Abubakar said the “atrocity in Yobe is a stark testament to the failure of the current security framework, demanding immediate and comprehensive reform”.

“Despite the tragic bloodshed in Yobe, which has claimed scores of lives, and the rampant destruction across numerous villages in Katsina, Sokoto, and other towns within the North-West and North-Central regions, the government seems to remain detached, engrossed in inconsequential affairs,” Atiku wrote.

“The turmoil extends to the South as well, where the disquiet wrought by Boko Haram and the unsettling political discord threatens the nation’s peace.

“Amidst these grave challenges, the Federal Government preoccupies itself with stifling dissent, resorting to draconian measures such as imposing death sentences on protesters.

“The atrocity in Yobe is a stark testament to the failure of the current security framework, demanding immediate and comprehensive reform.

“My heart goes out to the victims of these horrific attacks, and I fervently implore the Tinubu administration to demonstrate a heightened commitment to safeguarding life and property across the nation.”

[TheCable]

Thirty years ago, Nigeria was in severe crisis. In the wake of the previous year’s elections that was annulled and the attendant protests, 1994 was an unpleasant time. General Sani Abacha had rigged his way into power through a coup and was setting the country on edge. Media houses had been shut, and journalists serially harassed and detained. Acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election, Moshood Abiola, was in prison along with scores of activists who had protested either the fuel prices inflation or the election annulment. Ken Saro-Wiwa too was in prison. The Niger-Delta region was restless due to the state-induced violence racking the region.

NADECO members were arrested and charged with treason for their audacity to challenge Abacha. Government critics had their homes raided, and some were attacked. That was the year Prof. Wole Soyinka went into exile. Decree after decree expanded the government’s power to punish. They could detain—without charge or trial—anyone suspected of subversive activities. The Senate that had been inaugurated the previous year was disbanded. Six of the lawmakers who had taken a stand against the government were arrested and charged with “treasonable felony and conspiracy.” They were initially granted bail, and five of them re-arrested months later. The sixth person? That was Bola Tinubu.

By now, I am sure you already see where I am going. As you would have read, this week the police arrested and charged 10 people who allegedly participated in the #EndBadGovernance protests last month for the same crime Abacha’s government had once arrested Tinubu: treason. Those 10 people, along with another 700 police said they also arrested, were some of the thousands who responded to the strangulating economic and political conditions the same way Tinubu and his fellow travellers did in 1994.

Tinubu is either forgetful of history or, since he once confessed that he took a major economic policy while under the influence of a “spirit,” has been fully possessed by Abacha’s ghost. It does not matter which is true; the shame is that a severe charge like treason is being trivialised by a government that cannot brook citizens towing the same path that brought him into power. I want to believe that Tinubu’s fellow pro-democracy activists, some of whom were imprisoned on frivolous charges during the dark days of Abacha’s rule, are looking at the unfolding chain of events and terrified at the uncanny repetition of history.

Wherever he is now, Abacha must be exultant. He should rejoice; he is not the only tyrant whose ignominious history would be tossed into the sewers of our national history. By the time their time passes, Tinubu and company would have personified the Orwellian pigs who became indistinguishable from the “man” they kicked out of the animal farm. When we find the mouth with which to tell the story, we will understand how we sought statesmen but were rewarded with executioners.

After reading the police’s press release issued by a fellow called Olumuyiwa Adejobi, I still fail to see how the protests are treasonable. Which “foreign sources” gave “substantial backing” to the #EndBadGovernance protesters? Or was it just that one Briton, Andrew Wynne, who constituted the so-called “foreign sources”? Given that last month, the Department of State Services also arrested about eight Polish nationals who were on an education tour in Kano State while the protests were ongoing, this might just be a case of using white Europeans to create a sensation. DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya said those Polish nationals were arrested “because of where they were found during the protests and for displaying foreign flags.” I am yet to understand the method to the madness of this “foreign-phobia” among our security agencies.

There are several wild accusations in Adejobi’s document that need substantiating. I am not saying Adejobi plagiarised Abacha’s playbook, but the allegations are a frightful recrudescence of the military era. He says, “preliminary findings suggest they orchestrated and funded violent protests…to create anarchy and justify their illegal plot to overthrow…government.” But what is the pedigree of these individuals that they could organise what is tantamount to a coup? How would their supposed plan to overthrow the government through protests have led them to Aso Rock? Did they have an armoury, or the weapons of their supposed warfare were just placards? What were their plans to take over the National Assembly, for instance?

Adejobi also says they are investigating how these people planned to “orchestrate violence across the country”? I am genuinely curious how this bunch of individuals (including a shop attendant) can have the means to organise the violence that will disrupt the entirety of a complex country like Nigeria. Meanwhile, hear Adejobi on how they established Wynne’s guilt: We went to invade (Wynne’s) bookshop. As we asked questions, he came out. If you have a genuine business, are you not going to ask the police what we went to do in his shop or his office? You read that and you wonder at the quality of investigation that sort of rudimentary extrapolation of evidence can possibly produce. Meanwhile, let us not forget that the “comprehensive investigation” on which they planked their whole case took place in less than a month. If they are that efficient, how come they find it hard to solve kidnapping problems?

Whether they like it or not, protests are a democratic right. You can charge people who committed crimes of looting or violence during protests, but you cannot stifle the right to protest. I never thought the day would come that I would look back and compare Muhammadu Buhari’s government favourably with anyone, but looking wistfully from inside the fire of Tinubu’s government, I am beginning to think we were better off inside Buhari’s frying pan. Even in all his pathological madness, Buhari did not go to the extent of charging the #EndSARS protesters for treason. He did accuse them of trying to topple him, but the ghost of Abacha that had been haunting Aso Rock did not possess him fully. The ghost waited until the perfect person usurped his path into power before completing Abacha’s historic mission of perpetuating himself in power using democratic means.

You listen to the families of those arrested and you realise these people have no new game; they are stuck in historical time. Unfortunately, we are trapped along with them. The Nigeria of 2024 is not that different from that of 1994. There is hardship in the land. Prices of goods and services are skyrocketing; purchasing power is dwindling, and it is getting harder and harder to get by. The marriage of Asiwaju and Shettima of last year has become Àşetì 2023. Nobody’s hope has been renewed, and people are more combustible than the fuel they are expending hours on their lives on extended queues just to purchase. The days ahead are likely to be filled with protests, and the government is preemptively charging protestors with arrests to intimidate.

Meanwhile, this same government faces a million other challenges. There is economic insecurity, a serious threat to the lives and livelihood of Nigerians. Shouts of “ebi ń pa wá” have replaced the “on your mandate we shall stand” anthem in many mouths; hunger is resetting the political loyalties of those whose heads were climbed into power but have now been forgotten. The government appears confused by the complexity of the situation; they have undone several economic knots, and they know not how to re-tie them. Then there is the issue of kidnapping that has become a national epidemic and revealed the police as impotent. Let us not even talk about banditry, plus the one million problems of poor infrastructure that bedevil the country.

Rather than the Tinubu administration concentrating on what it can solve, it compounds its own problems by investing administrative time and energy hounding people for treason. Like the Yoruba door that eventually gets unhinged when endlessly swung back and forth, the Tinubu regime too has found the wàhálà that will wear it down. I almost feel sorry for them.