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Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized the importance of integrating local cultural values into Nigeria’s democratic framework, stating that such an approach could enhance the effectiveness of governance in the country.
Speaking on Wednesday during a valedictory event in Abeokuta for the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University, Prof. Chinedum Babalola, Obasanjo argued that adopting local cultural principles would help overcome the limitations of Western liberal democracy.
Obasanjo highlighted the communal values traditionally upheld in African societies, which emphasize collective decision-making and mutual support.
The former president voiced his skepticism about the suitability of Western democracy for Nigeria, pointing out that the system has struggled to meet the country’s unique socio-political needs.
He said, “I have always been talking about Western liberal democracy; it is not working for us; it is not even working for those who gave it to us. The British were complaining. We must rethink democracy.
“We must bring our own culture into democracy. African culture does not talk about opposition; it talks about communalism; you come together, reason together, iron it out, and then you work together.”
Obasanjo stated that there should be consequences for doing wrong, adding that there were Nigerians all over the world holding key positions.
He added, “Nobody will do it for us; we have to do it for ourselves, and we can do it. I believe there are people everywhere; you just need to look for them.
“Look at today; the two major development banks in Africa are headed by Nigerians; the number two woman in the United Nations is a Nigerian—Amina Muhammed; so we have people.
“They are Nigerian from different parts of Nigeria; we have people. These are people who can contribute to the changes the nation requires.”
A report has indicated that efforts to evacuate Nigerians from Lebanon by the Federal Government have been stalled.
Despite initial announcements of an evacuation plan, Nigerian in the crisis-ridden country are currently stranded.
The evacuation efforts were initiated in response to escalating tensions in the Middle East after Iran’s missile attacks on Israel on October 1, 2024.
However, a report by Punch states that low registration numbers and reluctance among Nigerians in Lebanon complicated the process.
The evacuation efforts were initiated in response to escalating tensions in the Middle East after Iran’s missile attacks on Israel on October 1, 2024.
The current crisis began when Iran launched a barrage of 180 ballistic missiles toward Israel, in retaliation for the assassination of Iran-backed militant leaders.
The missile attack, which targeted key sites in Israel, sent Israelis scrambling to shelters, raising concerns of a wider regional conflict.
Although the Israeli Defense Forces managed to intercept many of the missiles, the incident heightened instability in the region, including Lebanon, which borders Israel and has its internal security challenges.
In response to the situation, the Federal Government activated its emergency evacuation protocols, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinating efforts alongside the National Emergency Management Agency, the Department of State Services, and other key agencies.
These agencies worked closely with the Nigerian mission in Lebanon to ensure that citizens who wished to be evacuated were safely brought home.
Giving updates on whether the Federal Government would evacuate the Nigerians in Lebanon despite the reduced tension in the country, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb Eche Abu-Obe, simply stated that the “situation is under observation.”
‘Rivers State Will Suffer’ – Fubara Meets Tinubu’s Minister, Appeals Court Ruling Stopping Allocations
AFOLABI
The Rivers State Government has filed an appeal against a recent Federal High Court ruling in Abuja that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from distributing federal allocations to the state.
Recall that on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Abuja Federal High Court declared that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly contradicted Constitutional provisions.
She criticized Fubara’s ongoing receipt and use of monthly federal allocations since January, calling it a Constitutional violation that cannot be permitted.
Justice Abdulmalik further ruled that the implementation of an unauthorized budget by Fubara amounted to a severe breach of the 1999 Constitution.
The ruling also prohibited the CBN, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank from granting Fubara access to funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
In delivering her judgment on the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2024, Justice Abdulmalik stated that the four-member House of Assembly faction supporting Fubara, which he cited to validate what she termed an “unlawful budget,” had already been invalidated by the Federal High Court and the Abuja Court of Appeal.
The court reaffirmed that the Amaewhule-led Assembly remains the lawful legislative body, as ruled by the Federal High Court and upheld by the Court of Appeal.
On Wednesday, the Government House in Port Harcourt saw heightened activity, with various groups, government officials, Peoples Democratic Party supporters, and other stakeholders gathering, resulting in significant traffic in the vicinity.
A widely circulated video captured a closed-door meeting at the Government House involving Finance Minister Wale Edun and other officials with Governor Fubara.
The state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, confirmed an appeal has been filed and expressed confidence that the Appeal Court would overturn the judgment.
He stated that signs indicating the likely outcome were clear, and they remain calm, having already challenged the Federal High Court’s decision.
He told The PUNCH, “We saw this judgment coming the way it did when the trial judge refused 23 council chairmen as joinders, refused the state to change their lawyer and refused our objection challenging jurisdiction of the federal high court.”
Johnson added, “The judgment has already been appealed and l believe that the Court of Appeal will upturn the judgment. We are not panicked and there is no cause for alarm.”
Johnson cautioned that if the Court of Appeal upholds the judgment, local government employees would be impacted.
He said, “If it is anything to reckon with it will impact negatively on the civil servants at the third tier of government, it will affect teachers’ salaries and all that that are attached to the council salaries.
“So, I can imagine how anybody would advocate for the stopping of funds that will bring development to the local government councils and also pay those who work in the council.
“It’s a legal problem and you cannot take it out of the court, particularly when you are a defendant. That is not how the law operates. This matter is one that the court will give justice to. So, let us stop all these shenanigans because it is not going to take us anywhere. It is the state that will suffer and in this case the local government staff.”
Igbos Have Been Marginalized, Creating 6th State In Southeast Will Calm Agitation – Ned Nwoko
AFOLABI
The lawmaker representing Delta North in the Nigerian Senate, Ned Nwoko, has maintained that the Southeast has been marginalized and creating a 6th state will assuage their agitation.
Naija News reports that Ned, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, pointed out that the Southeast is the only region with five states, unlike other regions, except for the Northwest, which has seven states.
The lawmaker expressed confidence that the Federal Government would create another state out of Delta State to give the South-South a 7th or a 6th for the Southeast.
Ned Nwoko added that the people of Anioma in Delta State are proudly Igbos and would become the 6th state of the South East.
He said, “The creation of Anioma State is very possible. The need is for self-determination. Let me tell you this, I represent 9 local government areas.
“My constituency is made up of 9 local government areas. Out of this 9 lgas, 6 of them are oil and gas producing. We’re predominantly agricultural people. Some of it has been devastated by oil pollution.
“But to have a state is something we have been clamoring for for over 50 years. We the Aniomas are proudly Igbos.
“We’ll be the 6th Ndigbo State. The fact is that the Federal Government is going to create one State. They’re going to create the state to assuage the Igbo because they’ve been marginalised.
“South East is the only part of Nigeria that is marginalised. South East is the zone in Nigeria with just 5 states. Others have 6 states except for North West that has seven.
“You don’t call that being marginalised? And if you listen to the youths who are agitating in IPOB or ESN, what are clamoring for?
“They’re talking about being marginalised. And one of the ways they’re being marginalised is having fewer states than others.
“And we, the Igbos from the other side of the river, they call us Bendel or Western Igbo, if we have a state that could become the 6th state in the South East or seventh state in the South South, the fact is that an average Igbo person will feel, ‘okay, something has been done for us’.”
Globacom has appointed Ahmad Farroukh as its new chief executive officer. This strategic move follows the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) initiative to enhance corporate governance within the telecom industry.
Farroukh is set to spearhead a significant transformation at Globacom, which is also in the process of restructuring its board.
He began his career in 1995 as the CEO of Investcom Group in Lebanon, a company later acquired by MTN Group.
His extensive experience includes roles as managing director of MTN Ghana and regional director for West Africa under Investcom, an MTN subsidiary. From 2006 to 2010, he served as CEO of MTN Nigeria and was appointed CEO of MTN South Africa in 2014.
In 2015, Farroukh became the CEO of Mobily, Saudi Arabia’s second-largest telecom operator, a position he held until 2017.
He joined Smile Communications Nigeria Limited as Group CEO in 2019 prior to his appointment at Globacom.
Farroukh holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting from the Lebanese American University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in New York, USA.
[Leadership]
How Emefiele Ordered Me To Transfer Funds To A Relative’s Account – Witness Reveals In Court
AFOLABI
A former secretary in the office of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), John Ogah, has revealed how his former boss, Godwin Emefiele, directed him to transfer funds to a close relative.
While testifying yesterday in an Ikeja Special Offences Court, Ogah clarified that Emefiele and his spouse, Margaret, were not shareholders in three companies purportedly owned by them.
The witness provided this information during cross-examination as the trial of Emefiele and one Henry Omoile for alleged abuse of office and money laundering continued.
Ogah explained further on Wednesday that the transfers were made from three companies: Comec, Limelight, and Amswin Resources Limited.
However, during cross-examination by Emefiele’s attorney, Olakekan Ojo, SAN, the witness clarified that neither Emefiele nor his wife, Margaret, held shares in the three companies in question.
“The first defendant and his wife were not shareholders in the three companies linked to them,” he said.
Ogah provided the court with his interpretation of beneficial ownership of shares, emphasizing that it was consistently documented.
However, he admitted to the court that he did not present any documentation proving their status as shareholders in the three companies.
The witness indicated that he maintained records during his tenure as secretary to the former CBN governor, noting that these records were intended for reference purposes.
When questioned about whether he had shared the records with the EFCC while in custody, he stated that he had not shown any documents to the EFCC.
Additionally, the witness confirmed that there was no written correspondence between him and Emefiele, according to the information he provided to the EFCC.
He mentioned that approximately 99 percent of the instructions he received from Emefiele were not documented in writing.
During cross-examination by the second defence lead counsel, Kazeem Gbadamosi, SAN, the witness acknowledged that he is both a director and a shareholder of a construction company.
“The company has account with Zenith Bank but I am not a signatory to it. My name is not on the mandate form when the account was opened,” he said.
A suspected member of a ‘One chance’ syndicate was reportedly lynched around the NYSC junction, along the Kubwa express way in Abuja on Tuesday.
Witnesses, who spoke to City & Crime, said the suspect arrived the area around 2 am in a gulf car, in company of two others from the Dutsen-Alhaji junction, on the same express way.
A member of the United Hunters Society of Nigeria in Kubwa, Muhammad Sani, while speaking to our reporter, said the two other members escaped from the scene immediately their vehicle hit a road barrier.
Also speaking, a security guard with one of the filling stations in the area, Sulaiman Yunusa, said a stolen motorcycle being driven by one of the robbers, was recovered at the scene, before the vehicle was set ablaze by the mob.
He said one chance activities are becoming rampant along the express way, with some of them stealing goods from trucks parked along the road during the night hours.
Our reporter, who visited the scene, later in the morning, saw how scavengers were dismantling their abandoned vehicle after it was set on fire.
He was told that the remains of the suspected robber were taken to the Kubwa hospital morgue by the policemen, after they were alerted on the incident.
Spokeswoman for the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, a Superintendent, could not be reached for comment on the incident.
[DailyTrust]
Oil marketers have renewed their interest in purchasing refined petroleum products from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, a $20 billion facility, following a recent statement by Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group.
That Dangote had highlighted that despite the refinery’s production, oil marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) were continuing to import fuel rather than sourcing it locally.
Expressing his concerns after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Dangote called on NNPCL and marketers to stop importing and start purchasing directly from his refinery. “We have the products they need,” he emphasized, urging them to step forward.
In response, representatives from the Petroleum Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have stated their willingness to purchase directly from Dangote’s refinery.
PETROAN President, Billy Gillis-Harry, mentioned that the association had reached out to the refinery, seeking a business meeting to establish buying terms and logistics.
However, PETROAN claims that despite their efforts to arrange a formal meeting, the refinery has yet to finalize discussions, leaving marketers without access to purchase.
“We’re ready to patronize Dangote,” Gillis-Harry told The PUNCH, but noted they need a formal agreement to proceed.
Abubakar Maigandi, National President of IPMAN, expressed similar frustrations. He stated that despite paying N40 billion through NNPCL for fuel from the refinery, members encountered delays when attempting to load products, with some trucks waiting as long as four days.
Dangote has indicated the refinery’s capability to meet local demand, stating that it has sufficient reserves to supply the country for over 12 days without imports.
Yet, IPMAN insists that direct engagement with independent marketers would help streamline access and avoid such delays.
Meanwhile, it has been disclosed that Dangote refinery is currently prioritizing sales to marketers with import licenses, likely due to the facility’s location within a free trade zone.
Marketers without these licenses, including IPMAN members, are awaiting approvals from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to begin their own direct purchases.
IPMAN’s Vice President, Hammed Fashola, stated that their license application process is ongoing, with all necessary documents for storage capacity submitted.
Once the import license is granted, Fashola assured that IPMAN would disclose additional operational details to the public.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday, expressed his indifference towards the Federal High Court’s decision stopping the Central Bank of Nigeria’s, CBN, from releasing state allocations.
This is as the governor said his approach to the crisis, in adherence to the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, empowered his opponents.
While Governor Fubara expressed no regrets for seeking peace, he acknowledged that this approach may have inadvertently empowered his opponents.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a ruling on Wednesday halting the CBN from releasing monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State Government.
The ruling cited a violation of the 1999 Constitution regarding the presentation of the 2024 budget before a four-member Rivers State House of Assembly.
Justice Abdulmalik stated that the disbursement of monthly allocations by Governor Fubara since January of this year constituted a breach of the Constitution.
Speaking during a special thanksgiving service aimed at celebrating his administration’s resilience amid recent political turmoil, including an arson attack on the State House of Assembly on October 29, 2023, Fubara assured Rivers people that his administration would continue to disburse payments to contractors and ensure timely salary payments to workers starting tomorrow (on Thursday).
Governor Fubara confirmed that allocations for the 23 Council Chairmen would also be processed, as the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee, JAAC, procedures have been finalized.
He encouraged his supporters to maintain their resilience, emphasizing that challenges can be overcome.
Reflecting on his administration’s achievements, Governor Fubara noted that despite initial skepticism regarding the longevity of his government, he has successfully led for over a year, conducted local government elections, and maintained a full cabinet despite attempts to destabilize his leadership.
He highlighted ongoing projects throughout the state, countering criticisms regarding his administration’s capacity to deliver.
Fubara referenced recent accolades positioning Rivers State as a leader in financial accountability and transparency.
In recounting the violent incident from October 30 of the previous year, characterized by the governor as an assassination attempt, Fubara attributed the assault to political adversaries who allegedly ambushed him following a legal withdrawal related to the Martin Amaewhule group, a decision influenced by an intervention from President Bola Tinubu.
While Governor Fubara expressed no regrets for seeking peace, he acknowledged that this approach may have inadvertently empowered his opponents.
[DailyPost]
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, Akintoye Akindele.
The MD was arrested over alleged misappropriation, money laundering and diversion of public funds to the tune of $35m.
Sources who spoke to Punch disclosed that the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board was said to have paid $35m to Akindele to build a 2,000 barrel-per-day refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre and tank farm at Brass Free Trade Zone, Okpoama Community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
However, after receiving the money in December 2020, Akindele was accused of abandoning the projects.
One of the sources said, “Akindele, a promoter of the Energy Infrastructure Park financed by the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, in Okpoama community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa state, initially mooted the idea of the project to the board and the NCDMB embraced it with a counterpart funding to the tune of $35m.
“NCDMB allegedly paid $35m to Akindele to build a 2,000bpd refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre and tank farm at Brass Free Trade Zone, Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State.
“Since December 2020 when the payments were made, Akindele allegedly abandoned the project with little or nothing to show for the huge sum paid to him.”
Another source said Akindele allegedly received the money through the Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited and sent it to four of his companies.
The source said, “Akindele received the funds through the bank account of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited and funnelled the funds into four of his companies: Platform Capital Investment Partners, Duport Midstream Company Ltd., Puissance Afrique Dynamics Ltd, Adamantine Petrochemical & Refinery Ltd and Bureau de Change outlets.
“The EFCC has been on a manhunt for him for several months until he finally showed up when he could no longer bear the fire on him. He was thereafter arrested and detained at the commission’s holding facility in Abuja.”
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Last Wednesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dismissed five ministers from his cabinet to reposition the National Executive Council (NEC) for effective service delivery. Among the sacked ministers was the erstwhile Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman.
Many saw Mamman’s sack as a shock, particularly after his efforts toward the setting up of a committee to look into the outstanding issues affecting the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) 2009 agreement among other pending demands.
However, the erstwhile minister’s 18-year minimum age policy for university admission drew the ire of many stakeholders, including parents. Observers reckoned that he should have made wide and open consultations before jumping to announce policy.
In a move to justify the decision, Mamman argued that the ministry was emphasising the age requirement for entry into tertiary institutions as outlined in the National Policy on Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Act, and the Education (Minimum) Standards Act 1993, and not the age for participating in West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO), National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) or any ordinary level examinations.
“However, the ministry acknowledges that some children are exceptionally intelligent and the ministry will work out a guideline to deal with cases of genuine exceptionally intelligent learners,” he added.
A contentious policy: to be or not to be?
Despite the clarification and what seemed a justification, the policy generated intense outrage, even as critics believe that contributed mainly to his exit. On whether the policy will be retained, stakeholders argued that government should decide that, while others hold that it is dead on arrival.
Speaking on the contentious policy, Vice Chancellor, African School of Economics (the Pan-African University of Excellence), Abuja, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, posited that whether the policy stays or not, it is within the purview of the policy makers, adding that policies are to be critically examined and retained or revised as deemed fit.
While giving an assessment of the minister’s tenure, Adedimeji said he did his best, particularly with the DOTS, an acronym for Data Repository, Out-of-School Children Education, Teacher Training and Development, and Skill Development and Acquisition, policy and the renewed emphasis on skills acquisition.
Adedimeji said: “While I understand the thinking behind the policy, my opinion is that 16 years should have been enforced as the minimum age for admission to universities. This is because we have a situation in which those who are below 16 are being admitted. That would have been better and that is why the revised policy allowing candidates who are to be 16 by next year to be admitted this academic session resonates with many Nigerians.
“I think whether the policy stays or not is within the purview of the policy-makers and my own is to suggest that we implement the erstwhile 16 years first. The expected thing is that policies are to be critically examined and retained or revised as deemed fit.
“My assessment is that the former minister did his best. He is a tall intellectual figure as he combines the highest academic title with the highest professional title in law. I like the DOTS policy of his administration and the renewed emphasis on skills acquisition. I would score him A as he did his best and we appreciate his service.
‘‘For instance, the stance he took on the degree mills was commendable just as his efforts in taking the public universities out of the IPPIS payment system were laudable.”
Deputy National President, National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, noted that the policy cannot outlive the minister.
He said: “The policy still has to go through public hearing. The policy cannot stay. We will mobilise against it. Government cannot continue with the policy; that was what consumed him. All those policies he was trying to introduce. Education is now becoming expensive… To assess the minister, it is below average. The 16-year policy should be allowed to stay. Let it be the choice of universities to decide the age to grant admission. We should stick to the 6-3-3-4 system. Now that he is fired, we don’t want such a policy anymore. It is educationally retrogressive for Nigerian students and parents.”
For Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Chairman, University of Lagos (UNILAG) branch, Prof. Kayode Adebayo, the government will decide if it wants to stick with the policy or discard it. He added that the minister was not given ample time to prove his mettle. Adebayo hailed the minister for setting up a committee to look into several lingering issues, including renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with the Federal Government.
He said: “The minister was not given sufficient time to display his quality and prove himself. He tried his best. He was a positive minister. Concerning the 18 years admission age, did he do something wrong? I don’t know how that became an offence. The government knows what to do concerning the policy. Who is an adult in Nigerian constitution?
“He started well; he started to hit the ground running, but part of the criticism against him is that how will he just announce that universities should not admit students who are not up to 18 years. Critics said he should have told the President before taking the decision. He did the little he could do. He started something that would give us hope; that shows light at the end of the tunnel. One of the main reasons he was removed was because of the policy. He set up a committee for the ASUU renegotiation of the 2009 agreement. He was sacked the day the committee was to have its inaugural meeting. He didn’t have the opportunity to sit and negotiate with the group. He was performing, and still did the needful within the system.
National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Southwest Coordinator, Comr. Owolewa Taiwo, noted that the initial policy of no admission for under-18 students would have disenfranchised many students who had already written their examinations. He added that Mamman’s later reversal of this policy, specifically for the 2024 admissions, showed that he was willing to listen to feedback and make adjustments.
“The policy of no admission for under-18 students was actually reversed by Tahir Mamman, the former Education Minister, after facing backlash from stakeholders. Initially, he had announced that candidates seeking admission into higher institutions must be 18 and above. However, this decision was met with strong opposition from stakeholders, including Vice Chancellors and Rectors, who argued that it would force students below 18 years to stay at home for two to three more years.
“Later, Mamman changed the minimum age for admissions into tertiary institutions from 18 to 16 years, specifically for the 2024 admissions. He also set a minimum tolerance score of 140 for admissions into universities and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education.
“As for how NANS would assess Mamman’s tenure, it’s likely that his policy decisions would be viewed as inconsistent and potentially harmful to students. The initial policy of no admission for under-18 students would have disenfranchised many students, who had already written their exams. However, Mamman’s later reversal of this policy shows that he was willing to listen to feedback and make adjustments.
Overall, NANS may view Mamman’s tenure as marked by controversy and inconsistency, but also a willingness to adapt to feedback,” he said.
Why the sack was inevitable
Nevertheless, a group, Education for Accelerated Development (EDAD) in a statement by its National Coordinator, Dr. Livinus Mbaonu, assessed the former minister’s era, and highlighted reasons the minister was sacked.
The statement read: “Tahir’s statements led to a diplomatic misunderstanding between Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo, resulting in the suspension of degree programmes from universities in these countries.
“He wrongly claimed that only three universities in Benin were accredited, while the actual number is over 50, causing confusion about the legitimacy of these institutions.
“His unprofessional handling of foreign students’ participation in the NYSC scheme caused thousands of Nigerian graduates from Benin and Togo to be denied entry into the programme and the Ministry of Education’s failure to address the needs of stranded foreign students, whose scholarships are unpaid or delayed leads to significant challenges.
“The former minister’s implementation of an 18-year minimum age policy for university admissions resulted in a lawsuit against the ministry, as many saw it as restrictive and discriminatory.
“Mamman declared that Nigerians who had obtained certificates from universities in Benin and Togo would be sacked from public service and prosecuted.
“The former minister claimed that the Federal Government would pay stipends to all unemployed graduates in Nigeria, a promise that was not part of the government’s agenda and created false expectations.”
Enter new ministers
The duo of Tunji Alausa and Suwaiba Ahmad were announced as the new Minister of Education and the Minister of State for Education respectively.
Mr. Alausa, the new education minister, is a successful medical doctor. He bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Lagos in 1993. He practised as a Nephrologist in the United States for many years. He served as Chief Medical Resident at Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. He was also an Assistant Professor at the Rush University Medical School.
Alausa was named one of America’s Best Physicians in 2007, 2012 and 2020. Before his latest appointment as education minister, he served as the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare.
He hails from Epe, Lagos State, and is a personal physician to President Tinubu.
Ms Ahmad, an associate professor of education, has extensive experience in the sector. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education and Chemistry from Bayero University, Kano (BUK) in 2003 and her Master of Education in Curriculum Studies from the same university in 2009. Ms Ahmad also obtained her doctorate in Science Education from Ahmadu Bello University in 2014.
She has worked as an academic staff at the Bayero University Kano since 2004. She is also an associate of the Policy Practice, an organisation working on political economy analysis on governance, conflict and fragility, economic and social development.
She was also the Director of the Centre for Gender Studies at BUK, a position she assumed in 2020. She was the consultant for the state-level situation report for Jigawa State and part of Kano State on the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), a seven-year education programme funded by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
She was also the consultant for Jigawa State for Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) flagship, another FCDO-sponsored programme on core governance reforms and service delivery improvements in the country.
[TheNation]
As Nigerians continue to grapple with the economic hardship resulting from record high inflation and the devastating impact of the economic reforms on their lives, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday said it may be forced to demand from the federal government another review of the pay package of workers.
NLC President Joe Ajaero who disclosed this at the 8th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses And Midwives (NANNM), also said that organised labour will insist that government keeps to it’s promise to re-commission the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries.
Ajaero lamented the rising cost of living in the country and the burden the average Nigerian has had to bear in carrying on with their daily lives.
He said: “As it is today, our choices are very limited. It is either we find a way to collectively overcome the forces that are bent on keeping us down as a people or we completely surrender to them while wringing our hands in hopelessness.
“The forces of neoliberalism must be challenged and the trade union movement remains the only viable force in Nigeria and in the world that can creatively engage it and mitigate its stranglehold on our nation.
“We must offer strong counterpoise to their prebendal logic and must proffer newer arguments to triumph over their quest for profit at the detriment of the social will. It is only by remaining strong and united that we can hope to achieve that,” he said.
The NLC president said that Nigerians cannot continue to suffer the vagaries of international oil market prices by sustaining the import of refined petroleum products whereas local refineries remain shut.
“It is sad, but we cannot afford to keep our public refineries shut while still importing refined petroleum products. We demand a review of our salaries in lieu of its eroded values.
‘’We must together demand the re-commissioning of Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries in keeping with the agreement we had with the federal government on the 5th day of October, 2023,” he added.
Ajaero advised the new leadership of the Nurses association to make protection of the members welfare a priority.
“We therefore counsel the leadership that will emerge today, remember that your role is critical to securing the welfare of our healthcare workers. True leadership transcends titles and positions; it is reflected in the impact you have on the lives of those you serve.
“Advocating for fair working conditions, championing healthcare workers’ rights, and striving for equity are not just duties—they are the marks of meaningful leadership,” he said.
Former governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has criticised wage exploitation in Nigeria, warning that poor compensation negatively affects national security and economic productivity.
According to him, Nigerian workers are poorer now, despite the increase in the new minimum wage recently approved by the Federal Government.
Speaking at the Distinguished Personality Lecture organised by the National Institute for Security Studies, NISS, in Abuja yesterday, Oshiomhole highlighted how inadequate wages create a cycle of economic hardship, making workers vulnerable to manipulation and radicalization.
The lecture, titled “National Minimum Wage: Reward System and Productivity in Africa,” was part of the Executive Intelligence Management Course, EIMC 17, aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of the relationship among wages, security and productivity
Oshiomhole argued that fair wages were essential to boost workers’ motivation, efficiency, and overall economic growth.
The former Edo governor, now senator, representing Edo North senatorial district in the National Assembly, said: “Workers face fluctuating salaries and job insecurity, as employers can easily hire and fire employees.
“Despite paying union dues, workers often receive minimal support from trade unions, leading to questioning their effectiveness.
“Historically, the right to organise was suppressed, which limited workers’ ability to negotiate collectively. Industrial sabotage emerged as a form of protest against poor conditions.
“Collective bargaining and the right to strike are essential tools for negotiating fair wages and working conditions. Workers often resort to ‘work to rule’ when rights are restricted.
“Significant disparities exist between minimum and maximum wages across sectors, leading to dissatisfaction among workers. The wealthy often benefit from state protection, while the poor struggle.
“The minimum wage is designed to protect vulnerable workers but is often not enforced. Setting minimum wages too high can risk job losses while setting them too low can lead to exploitation.
“Inflation severely impacts purchasing power, making it difficult for workers to maintain a decent standard of living. Historical comparisons show that many workers are poorer now than in the past, despite nominal wage increases.”
The Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Adeola Ajayi, echoed Oshiomhole’s concerns, noting that better wages reduce workers’ vulnerability to abuse and promote national stability.
In his remarks, Joseph Odama, Commandant of NISS, lauded Oshiomhole’s long-standing commitment to labour advocacy, emphasizing the importance of fair wages in ensuring sustainable development.
He said: “The national minimum wage is a pressing issue in our economic discourse today, affecting millions of Nigerians and influencing both individual lives and national productivity.
“A well-designed reward system can drive worker motivation, improve efficiency, and promote economic growth, while poorly structured policies can demoralize the workforce.
“To aim for a more equitable society, it is essential to understand the complex relationship between wages, rewards, and productivity.”
If There Is No Nigeria, There Will Be No Place For You To Govern – Ex-DSS Director Warn Politicians
AFOLABI
Former Department of State Services (DSS) Director, Mike Ejiofor has urged Nigerian politicians to put national interests above personal ambitions.
He warned that without a stable Nigeria, there would be no country to govern.
Ejiofor stated this during an interview with Arise News on Wednesday.
“Our politicians should note that if there is no Nigeria, there is no place for them to govern. They must put Nigeria first,” he urged.
Speaking further, Ejiofor addressed President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive to reduce VIP security costs and stressed the need for broader security reforms, including establishing state police, especially to address political issues fueling unrest in the South.
In response to President Tinubu’s directives, he said “I will look at it from two angles: the security aspect and cutting down costs. I don’t see how he is going to cut down cost except through the reduction of vehicles.”
“So, I think the president must have looked at the extra vehicles and considered them wasteful. Now, with the increase in fuel prices, putting so many vehicles on the road will increase costs.”
From a security perspective, Ejiofor supported limited personnel for ministers and MDAs but voiced concerns about the abuse of police escorts by individuals with “no means of livelihood.”
He said, “We have cases of people with questionable character being protected by multiple police officers,” and cited a recent incident involving Mascot Ikwechegh.
“He was boasting that he would ‘use the police with him and deal with a driver.’ Such dishonorable actions damage the image of law enforcement.”
Ejiofor noted that past directives to limit police escorts have been inconsistently implemented. “If you recall, the Inspector General of Police directed the withdrawal of these police details.
“Now, over 120,000 officers are deployed for VIP protection, which depletes the police force’s available manpower for general duties.
“A lot of people are using police to abuse innocent citizens, which is very unprofessional.”