Whether President Bola Tinubu exhibited extraordinary courage speaking about removing subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at his inauguration is debatable.

In raising the debate, we should consider whether Tinubu or any other person elected now has any choice but to end this subsidy regime. The answer is no and for at least two reasons.

The first is that Nigeria is in dire financial straits. Saving the trillions the government claims to spend on subsidies yearly will save us some trouble.

Secondly, the Petroleum Industry Act, of 2021 has already initiated a new legal and governance structure for the oil and gas sector, and payment of subsidies has no place there. In fact, but for the incompetence of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, which suspended the implementation of the Act, Nigeria would, by now, have taken its baby steps and contended with the initial challenges of the policy. But our leaders, taking governance for a joke, are mostly after populism.

Doesn’t this contradict the suggestion that Tinubu did not display unusual courage at Eagle Square? No.

The point is that Tinubu became President when Nigeria had no choice but to do something about this subsidy regime. This is the reason Vice President Kashim Shettima told the media: “… either we get rid of the subsidy, or the fuel subsidy gets rid of the Nigerian nation….” This decision had to be made, courage or no courage.

While speaking about courage, however, we should also ponder whether courage is just a raw display of ability. I don’t think so, especially concerning leadership and public policy. Accompanying a leader’s audacity must be discretion and compassion for the people. Even more so in a society that requires multi-level changes. 

I agree that Tinubu espoused change in that off-the-cuff declaration at Eagle Square. But one person or even a select few cannot change a country. It is a fallacy that democracy won’t accommodate. Enduring change occurs when people buy into and pursue a vision with as much vigour as their leader. The measure of effective leadership is how much success you make in transmitting your vision to others; only then can you achieve change. I suggest that discretion about timing, communication, and compassion for the people are embedded in courage.

One of the most phenomenal stories of the rebirth of nations is Singapore under the leadership of the inimitable Lee Kuan Yew.

Although Yew sometimes tended towards benevolent dictatorship, he made deliberate efforts to raise social consciousness and gain the understanding and support of his people through mass mobilisation. His government’s “greatest asset was the trust and confidence of the people.”

In his book, From Third World to First World, he discusses when he wanted to reduce traffic congestion around the capital. He explains: “…I learned that if I wanted to get an important proposal accepted at all levels, I should first float the ideas with my ministers, who will then discuss them with the permanent secretaries and officials. After I got their reactions, I would discuss the proposal with those who had to make it work. If, like the transport system, it concerned large numbers of people, I would get the issue into the media for public discussion. Hence, before we decided on an underground mass rapid transit, we had a public debate for a year….”

On another occasion, he reckoned that nurturing talents for the country’s future depended on reducing the rate male graduates married “less educated and less intelligent women.” 

Yew went on prime-time television to say that these men were stupid, which brought consternation. To douse the tension, he presented a 1980 study conducted in Minnesota, United States, showing that nearly 80 percent of a person’s makeup is from nature and about 20 percent from nurture. He established a Social Development Unit headed by a lady who exemplified his vision to facilitate the actualisation of the revolution he envisioned.

Soon, many of those upset at his “discriminatory” and “disrespectful” position saw the point. The government achieved this through continuous public sensitisation and consensus building. That process of change management, which includes getting the people’s buy-in, is what successive governments need to improve in Nigeria. President Tinubu must resist the temptation to take Nigerians for granted by first taking actions that impact their lives and explaining them later. This is more so because he inherited a considerable trust deficit between the government and the governed, and he must work hard to restore confidence. 

Concerning removing subsidies, for instance, there are sound economic arguments to band around. But in convincing the people, we must maintain sight of the socio-political and governance issues involved. This includes the tentative nature of gains made from previous attempts to remove subsidies and the unconvincing results of subsidy removal on diesel, kerosene, and aviation fuel. What did the common man gain from this other than a price increase?

Indeed, the opacity in the oil and gas sector makes the petrol subsidy a corruption haven. There are arguments that Nigeria would do much better subsidising production than consumption. This is even though petrol is a factor of production for many small and medium-scale enterprises in the country. They also say that the masses only have tokenistic benefits from the tonnes of money invested in fuel subsidies. The idea is that rather than fund the indulgences of the rich, who drive multiple cars, conserving the trillions otherwise spent on subsidies and investing in same social services and physical infrastructural development does more for the people.

All of these make good sense, yet the government should make Nigerians understand why they must first undergo the pains of subsidy removal before enjoying the dividends of good governance.

 And it is a fundamental question. When you consider that the most frequent excuses given by successive governments and analysts revolve around massive corruption and the smuggling of petrol to neighbouring countries, you wonder why the government cannot tackle corruption and make its Customs service more efficient. These are basic crimes that are within the purview of a responsible government. How does the government outsource the solution by adopting a decision that hurts the people? Why can’t government deal with crime?

We can extend this argument to ask how a government that can’t secure its border hopes to wrestle with oil theft or deal with the problem of light weapons and small arms. How is it the people’s lot to bear the pain of the government’s failure to make the refineries work after reportedly spending $25 billion on maintenance in the same country where a new refinery was just completed for $18.5 billion?

How do you justify fostering economic hardship on the people when government officials throw ostentation in their faces? When politicians live large amid the same people who strive to survive? How is it that in all the years that we have attempted to remove subsidy, successive governments have failed to strengthen the processes and remove some, if not all, of the opacity around governance? It is so bad that the immediate past President went from declaring that there was nothing like subsidy in 2012 to ending up as the leader that spent over N11.75 trillion on the same phantom! How?

So, as the Tinubu administration commits itself to removing subsidies, it must give cognisance to the rights of Nigerians to know and be treated well in the process. This is not so much about palliatives as it is about ensuring that government explains its past failures and enunciates specific benefits from this policy. These promises should also be specific, measurable, and time-bound such the people can hold the government accountable.

The government must also show its capacity to govern effectively. We must stop giving citizens (who, by electing leaders yield their destinies to the government) the impression that certain crimes defy the government’s capacity. Bring everyone who has cheated the country to book and show that no one is above the law.

Government must also reduce waste and the glitz associated with public office. Above all, there must be more transparency and accountability in public offices. No society governed by the level of arrogant opaqueness in Nigeria will make sustainable progress, subsidy, or no subsidy.

A coalition of civil society organisations known as Citizens Voice Against Corruption (CIVAC) has declared support for the decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove the petrol subsidy. 

In a statement on Thursday by Abdulrazaq Alkali, the group’s national coordinator, CIVAC condemned the “hypocrisy of some Nigeria’s political figures” who are against the move.

During his inaugural speech on May 29, Tinubu declared that “petrol subsidy is gone”.

The president’s pronouncement led to a resurfacing of queues at petrol stations and a hike in the pump price of the product across the country.

The decision has generated mixed reactions among Nigerians while the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) threatened to embark on a nationwide strike.

The labour unions demanded that the federal government revert to the old pump price of N185 per litre.

Although the unions suspended the planned mass protest and strike, the government has not reversed the pump price.

Speaking on the issue, CIVAC urged the labour unions to “rise up to their duties and stop playing to the gallery” and get their “acts together by putting the future and survival of Nigeria first”.

“We the members of Citizens Voice Against Corruption (CIVAC), a platform of numerous civil society organisations and professional bodies, declare our support for fuel subsidy removal and condemn in strongest terms the hypocrisy of some of Nigeria’s political figures,” the statement reads.

“For example, both major candidates in the last presidential election made promises to remove fuel subsidy if elected president, but now they are all over the place blaming President Tinubu for doing what they promised to do for Nigerians.

“We also urge Nigerians not to partake in the planned strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) against the removal of fuel subsidies by the federal government.

“Any confrontational action in this regard can be described as misguided, unwise and self-defeating. The leaders of NLC and TUC should rise up to their duties and stop playing to the gallery.

“NLC and TUC need to get their acts together by putting the future and survival of Nigeria first.

“For most oil-producing countries, high oil prices mean high government earnings, more spending on education, health, infrastructure, poverty alleviation etc. Unfortunately, that is not the case in Nigeria, as the high-profit margin earned from high oil prices is largely swallowed by petroleum subsidy.

“If NLC and TUC leaders are not in terms with the proposed stoppage to paying petroleum subsidy despite the glaring evidence of the failure of the scheme, they can explore other avenues to prevent high petroleum prices in the country.

“One important option is to engage with the government to find a more suitable solution, for example, by putting pressure on the government to revamp the three national refineries (in Kaduna, Warri and Port-Harcourt), which can play a significant role in easing the pressure on our forex reserve, thus strengthening our currency.

“A strong naira and local refining capacity will make petroleum products cheap even without subsidies. In addition, if these refineries are revamped, hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs will be created, thus creating a multiplier effect in the fight against poverty and the growth of our economy.

“In conclusion, it is very critical that NLC and TUC leadership keep in mind that in pushing the interest of Nigerians forward, they need to choose options that will not worsen our security situation, are economically sustainable, and that will open a brighter future to Nigerian’s economy and teaming populace – a  lot of which are unemployed. Also of note is that in a petroleum subsidy-free system, when oil prices go low, e.g. what happened in 2015-2017, Nigerians will equally pay for much cheaper petroleum prices than they were paying in a petroleum subsidy regime.”

[TheCable]

The Federal Government has said the 2023 June 12 democracy day celebration will be low-key.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said this during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja.

According to him, the low-key celebration was due to the recent presidential inauguration on May 29 which was elaborately celebrated.

“The activities lined up for celebration are the press briefing and the president’s address to the nation by 7 am on Monday.

“However, May 29 remains the date or anniversary of handing over or taking over of power, and this happens every four years according to the Nigerian Constitution.

“It is pertinent to state that having had an elaborate presidential inauguration some weeks back, activities to mark the 2023 June 12 democracy day will be low-key with just two major activities. The press conference and then a presidential broadcast on Monday by 7 am,” Akume said.

He also said that to commemorate this year’s anniversary, it is expedient for citizens and foreigners alike to take stock of how the nation has fared so far and assess the dividends that democracy has ensued as well as areas where the nation need to make improvements.

He said, “It is in light of this that the theme of this year’s Democracy celebration is Hope Reassured.”

Akume assured Nigerians that adequate measures had been put in place to ensure citizens’ safety, before, during, and after the celebration.

[DailyTrust]

Founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN has berated the outrageous severance packages for politicians in the country.

The renowned legal luminary, who equally proposed that the National Assembly lawmakers should not receive salaries but sitting allowances says it hinders growth and development.

The ABUAD founder, who stated this during the 63rd yearly general meeting of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) held at the university’s campus, said the current office holders should be forbidden from having foreign accounts.

He, however, tasked NACCIMA not to be silent on the current travails facing the country, wondering why the body remained aloof to the nation’s indebtedness.

Babalola also urged the association to set up a committee to review how foreign debts accumulated by previous regimes were disbursed.

In his remarks, Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, urged NACCIMA members to take advantage of the favourable investment opportunities to invest in the state.

Oyebanji said that Ekiti had taken proactive steps by enacting laws to promote private sector involvement in infrastructure, education, agriculture and health sector.

He said part of the incentives for would-be investors include the simplified tax payment, easy access to land, among others.

Also, the former Minister for Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, said the immediate past administration did well in agriculture and health and the fight against corruption.

He said that for the first time, an investment policy was designed and approved for the country, a feat that has not been achieved before.

The Speaker of the Ondo state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oladiji Olamide, has asked the people of the state and beyond to stop peddling rumour about the health of the governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, but to intensify prayers for his quick recovery.

Rt. Hon Olamide, gave the advice during a prayer session for the quick recovery of the governor, held at St Andrew Cathedral Church, in Owo.

While speaking at the intervention program, the Speaker, urged the people not to be despair adding that all shall be well with the governor.

He appealed to the people of the state “to stop peddling rumours about the health of the governor of the State but intensify prayers to God to grant him quick recovery.

Olamide was optimistic that the governor would come back stronger and continue to work for the upliftment of the state and the betterment of the people of the state.

Several prayer sessions were held by clergymen for restoration of sound health for the governor and his quick recovery.

Meanwhile, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Most Rev. Jude Arogundade, also appealed for continued support and prayers for the governor Akeredolu

Arogundade, speaking during the rededication ceremony of St. Francis Catholic Church in Owaluwa, Owo, lauded the governor for taking it upon himself to bring consolation to the people of Owo, the Catholic Church, and the families affected by last year’s tragic massacre

The ceremony was part of a weeklong activities to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the massacre that claimed the lives of 41 church worshippers and several others injured.

He also lauded the governors “unwavering determination to go to any lengths, even risking his position, to seek justice for the victims and families of the June 5 terrorist attack on the Catholic Church.

” ln a special way, I want to express my gratitude to Arakunrin Akeredolu. I am thankful to him because he took the attack personally. He was willing to do anything, even risking his position, to fight for justice.

“The Governor assumed the responsibility of bringing consolation and solace to all those who were wounded. When it comes to compassion and doing what is right, there is no state like Ondo state.

He also appreciated members of the Relief Fund Management Committee of the State government for their efforts in taking care of the victims.

Arogundade also praised the governor for the establishment of the magnificent Memorial Park, which demonstrates the State’s recognition of the value and sanctity of human life.

Cash were presented to the victims and family members of the Owo massacre by the Owo Terrorists Attack Relief Fund Management Committee of the State government.

The gesture was to further assisting them and alleviating the effects of the barbaric attack.

The Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have urged the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja to set aside its interim order restraining workers from embarking on strike action until the determination of the motion on notice filed by the federal government and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

THE WHISTLER reported that Justice O. Y. Anuwe had on Monday directed Nigerian workers not to proceed on strike following the removal of petroleum subsidy by the Federal Government.

President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration that subsidy “is gone forever” had resulted sharp hike in fuel prices as well as instant increase transportation fare across the country.

But the AGF posited that the proposed strike was capable of disrupting economic activities, the health sector and the educational sector.

In a motion on notice filed by Femi Falana SAN and made available to THE WHISTLER on Friday, the NLC, however, urged the court to vacate the interim order in the interest of justice for the Nigerian workers.

The orders sought by the NLC are as follows,” An order of this Honourable Court setting aside, discharging and/or vacating the ex parte interim order of injunction restraining the Defendants/Respondents, their members, their agents, employees, workmen, servants, proxies or affiliates from embarking on the planned Industrial Action and/or strike of any nature pending the hearing and determination of the Claimants/Applicants motion on notice for interlocutory injunction made on the 5th June, 2023, Coram: Hon. Justice O.Y. Anuwe in Suit No: NICN/ABJ/158/2023 between federal government of Nigeria & anor. Vs Nigerian labour congress and anor.

“AND for such order or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit and proper to make in the circumstances.”

Listing the grounds of his application, Falana argued that the court lacked the jurisdictional competence to hear and determine the case because it was filed in violation of Section 17 {2} of the Trade Disputes Act, which authorises the Minister of Labour and Employment to refer a trade dispute directly to the National Industrial Court, not the federal government or AGF.

Falana further contended that industrial action or protest is the constitutional right of every Nigerian citizen.

“The Defendants/Applicants and their members have a right to strike under the Trade Unions Act, the Trade Disputes Act, the ILO Convention and under several international treaties the 1st Claimant/Applicant is a signatory to.

“By virtue of Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, Nigerian workers have the fundamental right to protest against policies of government considered inimical to their interests as reiterated in the cases of IGP VS ANPP {2008} 12 WRN 65, MUSA VS INEC” he stated in his preliminary objection.

He accused the federal government of filing the suit to harass, irritate and embarrass the Nigerian Labour Congress and by extension the Nigerian workers.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday met with prominent traditional rulers across the country under the auspices of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) at the State House Conference Centre, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Naija News reports the meeting, which is the first by the President with traditional rulers after his inauguration is part of ongoing consultations with various stakeholders across the country.

The traditional rulers were led into the meeting by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar who is the chairman of the council.

In his opening remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto said the traditional rulers were at the Villa to congratulate the President and pledge their commitment to supporting him in the huge task of running the nation.

He pointed out that the traditional rulers have various professional backgrounds and this would be a ready pool for the President to draw from.

The Sultan on behalf of his colleagues also expressed the confidence of the traditional rulers in the ability of President Tinubu to steer the affairs of the nation aright.

He said: “We thank God for the smooth way the elections took place. Many negative people thought this country will collapse but we are still here.

“We are here for you, for our people and our country. If you don’t reach out to us, we will reach out to you.

“We wish you the most successful tenure in good health.”

On his part, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Adewusi, who is the co-chair of the council, assured President Tinubu of their readiness to work with him in the area of insecurity. He urged the President not to underestimate what they can do.

“There are areas we will like to work with you, one of which is security. It is time to use us the more, we are not saying we are idle…but to make your work easier use us.

“The foundation of this country today are the traditional rulers. We are here to pledge our loyalty and support. We want to work with you to ensure you leave a legacy.

“Don’t underestimate what traditional rulers can do,” he said.

The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has warned President Bola Tinubu to be wary of former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai following his recent statement against Christians and support for Muslims in the State.

The former governor in his statement was quoted to have justified his choice of Muslims to occupy relevant positions in Kaduna following their roles towards APC’s victory in the State.

Reacting, Primate Ayodele said El-rufai’s “careless statement” may start a religious war in Nigeria if the latter is not cautioned.

The cleric accused the former governor of being the brain behind APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidency and the religious crisis in Southern Kaduna.

He, however, warned Tinubu against giving him any position in government to avoid the sudden collapse of the country.

‘’El-Rufai should not be trusted. The election in Kaduna was rigged in his candidate’s favour and God will take it back from him. How can he make such an insensitive statement, why is he mocking Christians? He is a religious hypocrite.

‘’The statement of El Rufai is unacceptable, we want a peaceful nation but El-Rufai is a threat to national peace. He should be warned or he will destroy Tinubu’s government. God will destroy his plans and if Tinubu brings him in, he will destroy the government completely.’’

‘’Tinubu should stop El-Rufai before he creates a religious war in this country. Christians are peaceful people, God will deal with him because he wants to create a fight in the country.’’

‘’If he becomes anything in Tinubu’s government, he will burn the country, he will start a religious crisis and he has a devilish agenda that will soon be exposed,’’ he warned.

A House of Representatives member-elect on the platform of the Labour Party, Godwin Amobi Ogar has expressed his surprise at the intelligence and preparedness of President Bola Tinubu, after his encounter with him.

Amobi who was elected to represent the Isiuakwato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State at the House of Representatives said he did not know Tinubu was intelligent and prepared to serve Nigeria.

The LP politician made this known after a meeting Tinubu had with the opposing federal lawmakers-elect to resolve the National Assembly leadership tussle on Thursday.

Vanguard reported that a meeting was attended by opposition senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), among other opposition parties at the State House in Abuja.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Amobi said, “Well, I can tell you that today is my best day, today I’m so happy that I’m an elected member seeing my President talking. In fact, I never knew that this man is so intelligent. I never knew that this man is so prepared to serve this country.

“I saw the love, I saw the character, I saw the charisma, the belief that Nigeria can be a better nation. So I’m so glad that the meeting we have today is going to take us a little bit to a more stabilised house. Now, even without talking to us again, we’ve agreed that we are going towards the government’s decision. Not minding, I’m of Labour Party.

“As at now, the party is not the issue; we’re talking about building the Nation, we’re talking about the unity of the nation.”

18 abducted passengers travelling along Isua Akoko – Abuja highway, in Ondo state, have been rescued by the joint security agencies in the state.

The Ondo state commander of the security outfit, codenamed Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye,, said in Akure, that the victims have rejoined their families.

Adeleye said, “On the June 6, we got a distress call that an 18-seater passengers bus with number plate EKP263 LG coming from Kogi State towards Ondo State was waylaid by men suspected to be kidnappers along Eti-Osa near Isua.

“Our men, both the tactical team from the headquarters and the Isua local government coordinator moved immediately to the scene and started a manhunt for the victim.

” Two female victims and the conductor were left behind when they were pursued

“Men of the Nigeria Army and the Police in a joint effort with the local hunters pursued them over the night.

“By 6am the following morning, 13 others were rescued in the thick forest between Kogi and Ondo states boundary through the combined efforts of the men of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun, the Nigeria Police and officers and men of 32 Artillery brigade who joined in the operation.

“The 18 rescued have since been profiled and joined their families.”

Meanwhile, speaking on the rescue mission the state police command spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, said that one of the suspected kidnappers was killed in a gun duel.

Odunlami said that the traveller’s bus was waylaid by the gunmen and dragged out of the bus and marched into the forest.

“It was like a movie when 13 passengers, Abuja bound bus was waylaid by some unknown gunmen at Isua, the headquarters of Akoko South East Local Government and they marched them to the forest leaving only three of the passengers.”

The victims, the source said were rescued at Ikakumo, which is a distance of almost 20 kilometres from where they were kidnapped

” The joint security agents immediately embarked on combing the forest and their efforts yielded fruitful results.

Odunlami said one of the suspected kidnappers was shot dead during a gun battle.