The management of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has alerted its commands, especially the ones along the Nigeria – Republic of Niger borders over a possible movement of suspected terrorists who escaped from a Niger prison into the country.

 This was contained in an internal memo from the office of the Deputy Comptroller General, Border Management, to Assistant Comptrollers General in Zone A, B, C, D, E, F, G and all Comptrollers of border posts across the country.

 The memo titled “Mass Prison Break in Niger Republic: Hundreds of International Terror Kingpins Escapes”, alerted the senior officers to the possibility of the escapees trying to cross over to Nigeria to continue their criminal activities.

 “The Nigeria Immigration Service NIS is in receipt of int-information on the subject matter which took place at Koutoukale prison in Niger on Thursday, July 11th, 2024 that led to the escape of hundreds of terrorists, criminals, and drug traffickers.

 “Consequently, all Comptroller of Commands and OCs of Formations along the Niger-Nigeria Border are instructed to be on red alert. With the intent of ensuring that you track all suspicious movement and arrest any such prison escapee and report same to the Service Headquarters.

 “This circular becomes very important as it is suspected that such criminal elements may sneak into Nigeria to join other terrorist gangs to continue to perpetrate mayhem and menace in Nigeria.

 “All officers working along the Nigerian border with Niger are therefore expected to increase their vigilance and partner with other security agencies in tracking these fleeing terrorists,” it said.

 The spokesman for the NIS, Kenneth Udo, who confirmed the memo, said the internal memo was a precautionary message to the formations, adding that “we are on the lookout for them.”

 When asked if any of the fleeing terrorist suspects had been apprehended within the Nigerian borders, Udo said he had no information about it yet, promising to get our reporter updated when there are new developments.

 Authorities in Niger had declared a curfew in the volatile Tillaberi region after several prisoners escaped from the heavily fortified jail known to hold jihadists.

 The incident at Koutoukale prison located about 50 kilometres north-west of the capital, Niamey, took place after two other attempted jailbreaks at the facility – in 2016 and 2019 – were repelled.

 The country’s Ministry of Interior did not specify how many prisoners escaped in the latest jailbreak.

 However, captured Islamist fighters from groups linked to both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in the region are believed to be among them.

 Meanwhile, the Nigerien Army in its information bulletin has claimed that a large number of the escaping prisoners have been captured and some neutralised by the Nigerien Defense and Security Forces (FDS).

[Dailytrust]

The detained Binance Holdings Limited’s executive, Tigran Gambaryan, was on Tuesday, whisked into Federal High Court in Abuja in a wheelchair.

Gambaryan, who dressed in a black T-shirt with a blue jeans trousers, is facing a money laundering charge alongside the cryptocurrency firm.

When the matter was called, Gambaryan stood up from the wheelchair and walked slowly into the dock.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) lawyer, Ogechi Ujam, told the court that though the matter was scheduled for continuation of trial, the commission’s lead counsel, Ekele Iheanacho was not in court.

Ujam prayed the court to stand down the matter to enable Iheanacho conduct the trial.

Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, who appeared for Binance (1st defendant) and Mark Mordi, SAN, who represented Gambaryan, did not oppose the application.

 Justice Emeka Nwite stepped down from the matter until 12pm.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Nwite had on July 5, ordered the management of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to release the medical certificate of Gambaryan on or before July 16.

 The judge gave the order following an application by Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mordi.

 Mordi had prayed the court to summon the medical doctor at the health facility of Kuje Correctional Centre, to explain why he had allegedly refused to make available his client’s medical report despite an earlier court order.

NAN reports that Gambaryan had on May 23, collapsed in the open court over alleged ill-health.

 The defence law firm, Aluko & Oyebode, had also, on May 27, raised an alarm that the cryptocurrency firm’s executive, might die in Kuje Correctional Centre over his alleged deteriorating health.

(NAN)

The new Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin 1, risks removal from office if the 2023 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration is to be implemented, DAILY POST authoritatively gathered.

It could be recalled that Olakulehin was crowned as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland on Friday, 12th July, 2024.

The event was attended by Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, former Military Administrator of old Oyo State, General Oladayo Popoola and former Governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.

Governors of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke was represented by his Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa, was represented by his Deputy, Dr Olaide Adelami, while Governor of Lagos State, Babajide SanwoOlu, was represented by the Chief of Staff, Mr Tayo Ayinde, among others.

Our correspondent reports that the newly amended Olubadan chieftaincy declaration 2023 was distributed during the coronation.

DAILY POST, however, observed that the new Olubadan chieftaincy declaration, which was signed by governor Seyi Makinde, is at variance with some sections of the 1957 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration.

The 1957 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration stated that the person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the Office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Chief in that line.

The declaration also stipulated that the line whose turn it is to present a candidate shall nominate a candidate for Chieftaincy at a meeting of the Kingmakers summoned by the most Senior Chief of Chieftaincy line not presenting the candidate.

The 1957 declaration says, “The person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the Office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Chief in that line. Provided that the most Senior Chief in that line may be superseded by a Junior Chief if such senior chief is found to be disqualified as a candidate under the provisions of section 10(2).”

It further provided that:- (a) The field of selection for the purpose of the foregoing provision shall not extend beyond the Ekerin Olubadan on the Olubadan line and the Ekerin Balogun on the Balogun Line.

“The method of selection is as follows: The line whose turn it is to present a Candidate shall nominate a Candidate for Chieftaincy at a meeting of the Kingmakers summoned by the most Senior Chief of Chieftaincy line not presenting the Candidate.”

But, the newly amended Olubadan chieftaincy declaration 2023, which was made public on Friday, recognised the beaded crown Obas instead of High Chiefs which was in the 1957 declaration.

The new law stipulated that the line whose turn it is to present a candidate shall nominate a candidate for the Chieftaincy at a meeting of the kingmakers to be summoned by the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba of the Chieftaincy line not presenting the Candidate. The kingmakers shall, if satisfied as to the candidate’s right of succession, declare the candidate appointed.

Similarly, the new law stipulated that the person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that line among the line presenting the candidate and that majority decision of the kingmakers shall be final.

The new law says that, “The line whose turn it is to present a candidate shall nominate a Candidate for the Chieftaincy at a meeting of the kingmakers to be summoned by the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba of the Chieftaincy line not presenting the Candidate.

“The person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the Office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that line among the line presenting the candidate; majority decision of the kingmakers shall be final.”

DAILY POST reports that whereas the new law says that the person proposed to be Olubadan must be nominated at a meeting presided over by the most senior beaded crown Oba, Olakulehin was nominated at a meeting presided over by the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja on Friday, 12th April, 2024.

Ladoja, a former governor of the state is a High Chief and not a beaded crown Oba.

He is the only High Chief in Ibadan that refused to wear the beaded crown.

It follows that what transpired during the meeting where Olakulehin was nominated was at variance with the 2023 Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration.

[DailyPost]

• Military chiefs, NNPCL perfect strategy

• Target is to meet oil production quota

Security chiefs have harmonised their strategies toward clearing the Niger Delta of crude oil thieves, pipeline vandals and other criminal elements fleecing the country.

The decision followed the directive by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that crude exploration and exploitation in the oil-rich region must be made seamless and lives protected.

The security chiefs, who met with Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) CEO Mele Kyari in Abuja yesterday, declared an integrated battle plan under a joint task force. 

They sought the understanding of Niger Delta communities in carrying out the presidential directive.

Speaking to reporters, Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa, said: “We know that Nigeria relies so much on what we can produce. We appeal to the communities to have an understanding.

“Yes, we know trust has been a problem, but they can trust us, they can trust the government that we want to do things differently.

“Everyone will be carried along, everyone has a role to play; it is not only for the security agencies alone.

“We need the communities to understand that pipeline vandalism and all the hazards being caused are also affecting them directly and we need to stop that.  

“I can assure you within the next shortest possible time, you will see results.’’

Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun said the security services and agencies agreed at the meeting that all must come together to solve the problems inhibiting oil exploration and exploitation in the Niger Delta.

Egbetokun said there was a need to take every necessary step to address all the issues.

He assured that results would be visible in the days ahead.

The IGP said: “We accept that we have challenges, but we must all come together to solve them.

“We need the cooperation of all agencies and citizens. We need to take every step that we need to take to address all these issues.

“I assure you that in the days ahead, you are going to see results.

“Whatever is happening in the Southsouth has been ongoing for such a very long time. And we feel it is high time that it is stopped.

“What we are promising Nigerians is that henceforth, the entire Southsouth will be cleared of any acts of vandalism or criminality.

“As we said, the President gave us the mandate to ensure that we secure the entire Southsouth and to enable NNPC and others to carry out their tasks so that we can have improved production.”

Kyari said oil theft and other crimes in the Niger Delta must be curbed for the nation to achieve desired economic stability. 

He said: “We are here to engage with the CDS based on the directive of the President to the CDS to take control of the crisis we are having in the Niger Delta operational area.

“Oil theft and pipeline vandalism have become national issues. The president directed the CDS to contain all issues affecting crude oil operations within the shortest possible time so that we can restore national production to the level he (president)  and the country is expecting.

“To do this, he (CDS) needs the coordination and cooperation of the armed forces and other security agencies like the police, the DIA (Defence Intelligence Agency) and the DSS (Department of State Services).

‘’It is the survival of our country that is at stake today. Without restoring oil and gas production, we cannot have the economic stability that we desire.

“The President is focused on this to deliver value to our country.

“It is impossible to do this without settling the crisis around our operational areas.

“We are already seeing progress; we are seeing substantial value that is being created by the coordination but we are very convinced that a solution is in sight. “

Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Ogbonnaya Orji, said on Monday that the country lost $ 1.84 billion worth of petroleum products from refineries in nine years.

Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, has appointed three second-class emirs in the state.

In a statement, Bature Dawakin Tofa, spokesperson of the Kano government, said the appointments of the emirs of Gaya, Karaye and Rano emirates take immediate effect.

Muhammad Maharaz Karaye was appointed Emir of Karaye, Muhammad Isa Umar was appointed Emir of Rano and Aliyu Abdulkadir was named Emir of Gaya.

Abdulkadir was emir of the defunct Gaya emirate. He was one of the emirs deposed after the governor reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano in May.

“While congratulating the newly appointed Emirs, Governor Abba K. Yusuf enjoined them to be custodians of culture, peace and unity of the people in their respective emirates,” the statement reads.

On Tuesday, the Kano governor signed the bill creating three second-class emirates in the state.

THERE are very good vibes coming from the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. They give a good feel to the ears and even more catchy for the eyes. At a press meet which looked more like a well-worked roadshow to promote a new Bill currently with the National Assembly, titled: ‘National Digital Economy and e-Government Bill’, the Minister, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the passing of the Bill could inject $18.3bn into the nation’s economy. 

That sounds very good and attractive. Introduced as ‘A Bill for an Act to enable the growth of Digital Economy and Digital Governance in Nigeria by improving the certainty of digital transactions, digital service delivery, and matters related’, the 54-page document has objectives, which include: To enhance the use of digital technology to grow Nigeria’s economy; to create an enabling environment for fair competition to promote innovation, growth, and competitiveness for the Nigerian Digital Economy;  to create export-oriented capacities in Nigeria’s digital economy to improve Nigeria’s balance of trade and services; and to mandate, promote and enable the digital transformation of public institutions and Government processes for efficient and effective service delivery.

The Bill seeks to bring clarity and validity to digital transactions, trade and business relationships while setting new standards in government to government communications and government interface with the public.  

It is fair to say that the Bill looks at governance with digital eyes from the psychedelic positioning of the young-at-heart who, perhaps, look at yesterday as a life too far gone and very antiquated. The Bill encourages you to do transactions without ever meeting your trade partners, and everything executed to specifications, with the right signatures electronically appended, and with generous assurances of fidelity in the entire process. It will smoothen  processes and evaporate bureaucracies in government offices. It plans to reset Nigeria with a new engine, a digital one for that matter.

This is not a preview at all. But there are a couple of things which raise something more alarming than the proverbial red flag. I am not a learned fellow, dear friends, but fairly literate to the extent of knowing when a language is becoming violent and superfluous. Look at this. 

In Part XV, under Miscellaneous, which is annotated as ‘Supremacy of National Digital Economy and E-Governance Act’, the Bill which is confusingly called an Act, states as follows: “Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law but subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in all matters relating to the digital economy and e-government, the provisions of the Act shall override the provisions of any other Law; and the Regulatory agency shall establish regulations on the use and adoption of new and emerging technologies as it relates to information technology.”

The foregoing two examples will suffice. But here is my gut feeling about the Bill. The Bill puts on the costume of dollars to beguile a nation and a National Assembly that may not see beyond the superficiality of monetary attractions, especially in a country with roaring inflation and troubling food prices. The Bill which is like a child trying to appropriate the responsibilities of a father, holds in absolute contempt other existing Acts irrespective of age. 

Already in existence are the Cybercrimes(Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015; Nigerian Communications Act 2003; The National Broadcasting Commission Act Cap N11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004; National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Act 2007, and, in fact, there is already a very controversial Bill at the National Assembly which seeks to amend the existing NITDA Act. And then, this new one entirely. 

This particular Bill will set up a regulator for the digital space which may be given the rapacious opportunity to swallow up other Acts before it. That may be the only way to accommodate a new regulator in these days that the current administration is trying to trim the size of government. The dollar sign is only a ruse, a smokescreen that will evaporate at the approach of reality. 

But I must also admit the Bill is well written, perhaps too sugar-coated; the lawmakers must strip it of all its excesses and octopi positioning. The Bill should only try to encourage new businesses and opportunities in the digital ecosystem and not cause chaos in already established areas.

Irrespective of promoted advantages and the huge inflow of cash expected to come into the economy, I see a whole lot of contradictions and that troubles me. It seems the minister is on a drive at such a speed that leaves relevant stakeholders behind. 

Asked whether the telecommunications industry was ever consulted as critical stakeholders before the Bill was put in place, a highly placed industry source told this writer that there was never such consultation. “Those in authority are not interested in negative or constructive feedback. They are only interested in what they want to hear. Are the critical stakeholders being engaged? The answer is no,” my source said, adding ruefully that “we are not in a very good position as an industry.”

I will attempt a little explanation. People expected that the minister would pay more attention to the digital economy, new tech businesses and tech upstarts where he has earned a name. He seems not to have disappointed their expectations at all. 

Somebody had asked me what would happen if the telecommunications sector should unplug some of these young tech companies. There would be a failure of immense proportions, the source volunteered an answer. That is not likely to happen soon. The source was only trying to explain why the minister should be interested in the fortunes of the industry, and there are no strong signs to prove that he is presently. 

The telecommunications industry is in dire straits. Out of the big three,  two made significant losses last year and one of them even had to scale down CAPEX by as much as 30 per cent. It is no surprise that the quality of experience, as the NCC chooses to call it now instead of quality of service, is painfully poor. Glo is a private business and does not announce earnings while 9MOBILE remains in the woods.

Unfortunately, the regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, is also troubled and its immediate attention may be tailored towards its own survival. Although it is often said that government is a continuum, this writer gathered that the previous administration caused so much distortion and chaos within the regulatory system that steering the agency to a safe zone has become a daunting task. This comes with pains which the agency is feeling and the industry as well.

A source within the Commission said on Monday that the regulator is aware of the challenges confronting the industry at the moment and was working with key stakeholders to achieve industry sustainability and elevated quality of experience. 

“Let quality improve and let Nigerians have something to be happy about,” the source explained. 

Confronted with the grind of survival, the minister’s Bill may be a distraction, although the NCC will not have the stomach to say so. This writer is old enough to inform here that Dr Bosun has not earned the trust of the telecommunications industry and there is a small group at the regulatory agency praying for affliction not to return a second time after a painful and destabilising experience under the previous administration. I am of the strong opinion that there is a good way ahead to make amends. 

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, have blamed hastily implemented government policy shifts without corresponding plans to mitigate the negative effects of the inception of the present government for the socio-economic crises confronting the country currently.

The trio spoke separately on the issue yesterday, with NECA saying major policy shifts undertaken by the government in 2023 and the adverse impacts they had across various sectors, are having terrible effects on businesses and the national economy.

President and Chairman of Council, NECA, Mr Taiwo Adeniyi, at the 67th Annual General Meeting, AGM, of the Association yesterday in Lagos, lamented that the combination of fuel subsidy removal, and exchange rate liberalization have significantly created market distortions and increased the cost of doing business, leading to a contraction in business activities since mid-2023.

He said: “It is no longer a secret that private businesses in the economy are beset with innumerable challenges, pushing many to the realm of mere subsistence.

‘’A good number of these private businesses continue to exist due to sheer determination and doggedness of the owners and investors, who are committed to supporting the economy.

‘’We commend the Federal Government for its various policies aimed at improving the operating environment and for establishing the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.
“As we await the committee’s report, we believe the recommendations will be business-centric and given quick implementation attention by government.”

Our concerns

Notwithstanding the ongoing support by the government, Adeniyi listed six key concerns of businesses including the high cost of doing business due to depreciation in the value of the naira, increased Customs forex rate for clearing of cargoes, business-antagonistic regulations, proliferation of provocative taxes/levies and oversight functions of the National Assembly.

He said: “Private businesses are struggling with high production costs due to increased import bills for foreign inputs and raw materials. Before the liberalization of the forex regime, N460 was exchanged for US$ in the official market and about N750/US$ in the parallel market.

“After the policy, the exchange rate soared to N1600/US$, significantly raising import costs for the private sector. To address these challenges, we urge the Federal Government to review the current forex liberalization policy and adopt a more guided forex management procedure that supports domestic production.

“The upward review of Customs rate for cargo clearance to N1,413/US$ from N952/US$ in February 2024 has severely impacted businesses. These increases depleted the working capital of businesses, increased cost of production and drove up commodity prices, while also reducing household purchasing power.

‘’It has also contributed ominously to the general contraction of private businesses in the economy. Therefore, we urge the government to embark more on policies that are not only pro-business but also drive production and ensure job creation.

“In recent times, we have witnessed a proliferation of unfriendly and unjustifiable regulations aimed at organized businesses. It is our firm believe that regulations are meant to promote businesses and not to stifle them.

“Some of the recent regulations have become a source of shock and distraction to organized businesses, even though some of them were eventually suspended. For instance, the recent ban on alcoholic beverages in small packs by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, caused significant anxiety in the sector before being suspended after lengthy engagement with the government.

‘’We, therefore, urge the government to always conduct exhaustive consultation with private sector stakeholders on policy issues and act in the overall interest of the country within the prevailing circumstances.

“In recent times, we have observed several new taxes being imposed on private businesses by the Federal Government agencies. While we have witnessed the introduction of new taxes and levies, we commend government’s bold initiative of inaugurating the Taiwo Oyedele led Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms.

‘’It is hoped that the recommendations of the presidential committee will usher in a new dawn in tax administration in Nigeria.

“For over 10 years, we have witnessed the incessant invitation of organized businesses by different committees of the National Assembly on issues within the purview of the executive arm of government.

‘’Constitutionally, the National Assembly’s oversight function does not extend to private businesses. This responsibility lies with the ministries, departments, and agencies, MDAs, of the government.

‘’These invitations have caused significant distress to businesses, consuming time and resources. Although NECA has ongoing litigation on the dimension of the exercise of the oversight function with the Supreme Court, we urge the committees of the National Assembly to exercise their oversight responsibilities within the confines of the constitution.”

MAN blames forex, power, inflation

Reacting, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, also identified foreign exchange (FX) volatility, inadequate power supply and high inflation as some of the topmost challenges they encountered in their operations in the first quarter of 2024 (Q1’24).

This, according to it, led to a further surge in production and distribution costs by 20.7 per cent within the period.

MAN based its position on the response of chief executive officers in the manufacturing sector on a survey it carried out.

The Manufacturers CEO Confidence Index, MCCI, Q1’24 survey report stated: “The list of manufacturers’ challenges include unstable and high exchange rate/scarcity of FX; inadequate power supply/frequent power outages; high inflation/high operating cost (of raw materials, labour, equipment and maintenance); high cost of energy (petrol, diesel, gas); high and multiple taxes, charges and levies, among others.”

Commenting, the Director General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said: “The subdued performance of the sector is attributed to some ongoing harsh economic reforms that have compounded the long-standing challenges confronting the sector.

‘’This is confirmed by the finding of this report which reveals that forex scarcity, inadequate power supply, high inflation, rising energy cost, multiple taxation, policy inconsistency, exorbitant interest rate, poor infrastructure and high logistics costs are the top ten challenges depressing productivity in the sector.

“MAN expects government to frontally address insecurity, improve electricity supply, promote fiscal sustainability, and ensure policy consistency.’’

NACCIMA seeks improved public finance management

Similarly, the Director General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Sola Obadimu, said: “The cost of doing business continues to rise almost on a daily basis.

‘’That’s neither healthy for business operations nor planning. Due to rising interest rates, MSMEs may not have the financial capacity to borrow. Large businesses may also prefer to downsize rather than borrow at current rates.

“With decreasing production due to high cost of funds, unemployment may worsen with the possibility of an increase in crime rates. Unfortunately, in the midst of all these, there seems to be a deliberate effort to aggressively pursue tax drive policies.

“Certainly, there is a need for an improvement in public finance management to ameliorate the harsh economic environment.”

NLC threatens to shut Nigeria

Meanwhile, in his goodwill message at the NECA AGM, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, solicited the support of NECA for a better wage for workers, saying it was not about figure but the value of money.

Ajaero said: “Fair wages are not just a matter of social justice; they are also instrumental in boosting worker’s productivity and, consequently, the bottom line for employers. Enhanced purchasing power among workers will lead to increased consumption, thereby addressing the concerns of rising inventories in warehouses.

‘’We have advocated from the beginning of our engagement on the national minimum wage fixing exercise for the need to put more money in the hands of workers. We made this case on the understanding that it will help our businesses and rev up the economy.

‘’We had strongly believed that your organization would have been one with us and would have seen that we are actually making a great case for the survival of your businesses. We do not have any interest in crippling our businesses because you cannot cut your nose to spite your face.

‘’It is on this premise that we urge members of NECA to join us in the quest for a national minimum wage that will eliminate deep poverty from the lives of workers; wages that will not increase the number of the working poor and amount to a starvation wage for Nigerian workers is what we should all push for.

‘’The only way to break the present consumer resistance is to increase the wages of workers and that speaks to the policy of government that seeks to reflate the economy. It is not by giving handouts or reducing Nigerians to beggars who must queue at the various charity parks before they can eat.

‘’We must join hands to stop this collective slide into the pit. We must save our businesses by saving workers. N250,000 as national minimum wage is already a steep consideration by Nigerian workers.

As we are speaking now, the House of Representatives and the Senate are meeting to make sure they decentralize wage.

‘’We all know that wage in International Labour Organisation, ILO, is a national law and Nigeria will not be an exception. We will also demand that the wages of political officeholders and others are brought under minimum wage.

‘’You cannot be in the Senate and you are under minimum wage and not legislate for a better wage We should know your wage, we should know what you are earning. If you are a governor, you have security vote that is unaccounted for. If you have excess funds, you will not know that people are suffering.

“But if everybody is brought under the minimum wage, even if the governors want to create level 18, 19, or 20 for them, they all should come under the wage system. That is the only way it is going to work.

“If it is possible, both the House of Representatives and the Senate should be on part-time basis.
‘’Let it be based on professional callings. If you are a lawyer, a doctor, you have a business or profession of your own. If they meet three times a week, then the remaining days in the week, you go on with your businesses because the money being spent at the National Assembly is unimaginable. ‘’Unless we address this, the country will continue to go down and the gap between the rich and poor will continue to widen.

Later, in a chat with journalists after his remarks, Ajaero warned that should the governors and members of the National Assembly succeed in deregulating the minimum wage, Organised labour would shut the country for one month.

He insisted that by the International Labour Organization, ILO, Convention 131 ratified by Nigeria, minimum wage is a national issue, warning that organised labour would not accept a situation where governors, working with the members of the National Assembly, imposed slave wage and poverty on workers and Nigerians.

“As we are here, a joint committee of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Judiciary are meeting. They have decided to remove section 34 from the Exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list so that state governors can determine what to pay you and so that there will be no minimum wage again.

‘’You cannot decide what you should earn. The very moment the House of Representatives and the Senate come up with such a law that will not benefit Nigerian workers, they will be their drivers and gatemen, and there will be no movement for one month.

‘’We cannot accept any situation where the governors and the National Assembly members will foist a slave wage on workers and force poverty on the citizens. Organised ‘labour will not accept it,’’ Ajaero said.

[Vanguard]

Building collapse has been on the rise in Nigeria over the years, leading to injury, loss of life, and property damage. The National Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers (NICE), during the institute's workshop titled Stemming the Tide of Building Collapse Menace in Nigeria” held in May 2024 in Abuja, said Nigeria recorded 41 building collapses in 17 months. More disturbing is that in only July 2024, three building collapses have been reported—in Mushin, Lagos; Kubwa, Abuja; and a school in Jos, Plateau—where 22 people were said to have been killed. Immediate action must be taken to stem the tide.

It is common practice to see housing construction being undertaken by non-qualified professionals. In a bid to save money, many people build their houses without using the necessary professionals. Additionally, some developers, in their quest to maximise profit, employ only some of the services of the required professionals; relying largely on artisans. The architect, civil engineer, quantity surveyor, project manager, etc, all have crucial roles in building construction. Any compromise in their roles could lead to poor construction design, faulty construction, poor quality control, and ultimately building collapse. For example, constructing a house without properly considering the soil texture can lead to fatal results in the future.

Another significant factor that leads to building collapse is the compromise in the quality and quantity of materials used. This may be done by the contractor in charge of the construction to maximize profit, or even by the site engineer or workers who may exchange quality materials procured with substandard ones or sell some of the materials procured for the construction for personal gain. Hence, there is a need for effective monitoring.

To win a bid, some contractors submit very low quotations, which they know cannot properly support the construction of the buildings they are bidding for. The practice of choosing the lowest bidder for building contracts by default should not be encouraged. The lowest bidder sometimes may be the least experienced or one who is out to compromise standards.

The age of a building also contributes to its collapse. Just like anything in the world, buildings do expire if they are not reinforced through extensive rehabilitation, which is beyond regular renovation. This is often an expensive task, especially for high-rise buildings, and hence is sometimes overlooked.

Government (federal, state, and local, as applicable) should begin to undertake integrity tests on any building that is more than one storey high, especially those in public use. As a matter of policy, such checks should be periodic. Any building found defective, where remedial work cannot salvage it, should be pulled down. Subsequently, any building more than one storey high should be certified habitable by the relevant government agency before being put into use. Anyone engaged in substandard building practices should be sanctioned. All building codes should be enforced.

Professional bodies like the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers (NICE), and the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) should sanction members who cut corners and compromise standards. They should also monitor the activities of their members from time to time; this will serve as a deterrent to unwholesome practices. There is also a need to create public awareness about the importance of engaging registered professionals in building.

Proper supervision of construction projects by sponsors and project site managers is crucial to ensure adherence to specifications and prevent the occurrence of sharp practices. It is also recommended that professional project managers be engaged to ensure the successful completion of projects.

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria should ensure that substandard building materials are neither domestically produced nor imported for use. They should also conduct random, unannounced inspections of building material vendors to check for substandard items that may have entered the market.

Nigeria needs to take deliberate actions to stop the issue of building collapse. People should be encouraged to engage registered professionals in their building construction. Professional bodies have a role to play in checking the conduct of their members and sanctioning those who err. By fostering a culture of adherence to standards and professional integrity, Nigeria can mitigate the risk of building collapses and ensure the safety of its citizens.

Kenechukwu Aguolu 

Abuja, Nigeria

Hadiza Suleman

Nigerians have come down hard on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the lopsidedness in his political appointments. He is being accused of continuing from the nepotism of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari after making 10 new appointments, six of which favoured his South West region.

The trend of his lopsided appointments to favour the Yoruba ethnic nationality has been obvious since he became President on 29th May, 2023, but it has become more pronounced.

Those who spoke to People&Politics on the issue describe it as act of ‘extreme nepotism’. According to Mr. Silas Ezebuenyi, the act not only favours the President’s region, it is specially targeted against the South-East region of the country which has received the least number of appointments under Tinubu.

Rukevwe Joyce, a banker who spoke on the recent appointments, calls it ‘nepotism pro-max’ considering that the nation has six geopolitical zones. She added that the President’s attitude is unacceptable as it is in breach of the federal character principle.

“And you know what?”, she enthused, “the South-West has systematically taken all the juicy appointments in the country and the appointees are likely driving that same nepotism down the ladder in the various offices they are sent to head”.

Among the new appointees are; Mr Silas Agara (Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment), Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, (Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency), Mr Baffa Dan Agundi, (Director-General of the National Productivity Centre), Cornelius Oluwasegun Adebayo, (Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority), Mr Saleh Abubakar, (Director-General National Agency for the Great Green Wall), Dr. Olufemi Adekanmbi, (Project Coordinator, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project), Mr. Tosin Adeyanju, (Executive Secretary, National Lottery Trust Fund), Oluwaseun Faleye, (Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund), Mrs. Mojisolaoluwa Kehinde Alli-Macaulay, (Executive Director (Operations), Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund), Ms Omolola Bridget Oloworaran, (Director-General, National Pension Commission) and Mr Jobson Ewalefoh, (Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission).

Some of the appointments have also been criticized because of the characters involved.

The appointment of the former representative of Amuwo Odofin 1 Constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mojisola Kehinde Alli-Macaulay, as the Executive Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), is one of such. She was accused of repackaging COVID-19 palliatives as birthday souvenirs in 2020.

Mrs. Alli-Macaulay

On X, Nigerians have queried the lopsidedness of the appointments.

@HAHayatu said: “70% of appointments are now Yoruba and even in that 70% are Lagosians. Nepotism pro max. Buhari sef dey learn now.”

@EmmyPromise71 said: “What did President Tinubu want to achieve with nepotism in his government, for crying out loud? How can you make about 10 appointments in your government as the President of Nigeria and No Igbo men or women made the list? What kind of nepotism is this?”

@nonsook96346206: “10 appointments – 3 from the North and 7 from Yoruba. No single person from SS and SE that has over 95% of oil reserves and gas reserves. Tinubu should continue his yorubanization nepotism – history will remind him of it.”

@captainsterling said: “Na wa ooo for this administration’s defenders and supporters. I rise.”

@adeyanjudeji said: “Tinubu just appointing Yoruba people all over the place. I miss Buhari. Tinubu is the worst president ever.”

Incumbent Paul Kagame is set to win a fourth term in office in the presidential election in Rwanda.