What Time Is It?

The world is at a historic inflection point, transitioning into a new world order. Today, I am on a mission to x-ray how the world’s ecdysis works, connect vital dots and form patterns, and to derive timeless, universal and useful principles that anyone can leverage while navigating the blizzards of change on the horizon. Just as snakes shed their old skin through the process of ecdysis to remove parasites and grow new skin, our world is currently undergoing a similar ‘molting moment’.

The world is radically and rapidly shifting in ways unprecedented in our lifetime, though not without parallels in history. History still rhymes with the signs of the times. Our exploration takes us back to the 17th century, a period when the concept of modern nation-states emerged following the Thirty Years’ War in Europe. Before this, it was the era of antagonistic states and kingdoms. Britain, for instance, transitioned from a kingdom to a country and eventually to an empire, and now, back to base. At its peak, she controlled nearly 75% of the world.

When Britain was the world’s “Kabiyesi” it monopolized the seven critical Levers of power: education, currency (with the pound sterling as the world’s reserve currency), trade, military might, high productivity, London as the world’s capital, and the “3Vs (voice, vote, and veto). Shortly before Britain’s dominance, the Dutch Empire thrived with the Dutch guilder. Though other great empires came, ruled and disappeared, none matched the British Empire in spread, size, or scope. The author, Lu Guanzhong was right: ‘’The empire long divided must unite, and long united must divide. Thus, it has ever been’’

Since the end of WW2 on September 2, 1945, the United States has been the world’s de facto General Overseer (GO). The USSR, much like today’s Russia, was a military power but lacked economic dominance. Consequently, the world has been considerably “Americanised” using western democracy, globalization, trade, media, financial aid, blackmail, and, at times, military force in hawking and selling the American values. For example, less than half of the 99 internationally recognised states in 1945 were democratic, but today about167 countries practice democracy, courtesy of America.

Money was once “hard” meaning it was backed by gold under the British Empire. This changed on Sunday night, August 15, 1971, when President Richard Nixon announced that the United States would no longer honor its commitment to allow paper dollars to be exchanged for gold. With this singular broadcast, money became “soft or fiat”, devoid of equivalent gold backing. That decision granted America an unprecedented and unfair geopolitical advantage that continues to shape the global economy.

Today, the BRICS countries are pushing for de-dollarization, which is a move capable of reducing America to a glorified third-world country with nuclear weapons. China’s miraculous emergence as a strategic competitor to America seems to be altering the global power and wealth dynamics.

History appears poised to repeat itself. The fate of the world’s 8 billion people today highly hinges on seven state power bases and three significant non-state actors. These include the United States, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, India, Israel, Europe, the World Economic Forum (WEF), social media, and Elon Musk.

Recall that it was the irreconcilable global power struggles among the seven dominant state actors, Italy, France, Japan, the Soviet Union, America, Germany, and Great Britain that triggered WW2 between 1939 & 1945 resulting in the deaths of 60 million people.

Today, the potential triggers for World War III are evident such as:
China invades Taiwan.
Russia nukes Ukraine, Poland, or the United Kingdom.
Iran invades Saudi Arabia to establish Shia and oil dominance.
Pakistan invades India over the unfinished business of 1947 Kashmir dispute.
BRICS junks the dollar and adopts a new world reserve currency.
China attacks India over LAC control
And the mass spread of misinformation on social media, causing the False Flag resulting in nuclear Armageddon.

The current international landscape is shaped by strongmen with grand geopolitical ambitions to make their respective countries GREATER using unorthodox means, much like Adolf Hitler’s attempt in 1939 when he invaded Poland with a view to creating a Greater Germany.

Vladimir Putin’s desire to recreate the old Soviet Union (Greater Russia) has led to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is pursuing a neo-Ottoman vision (Greater Turkey), evident in Turkey’s disruptive actions in the Middle East and Africa.
In Israel, Bibi (The Jews’ modern-day King David) envisions “Greater Israel” as seen in his military campaigns in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, said , paraphrased, he will take over the Panama Canal and Greenland over by money or by military might and convert Canada to America’s 51st state (Greater America agenda). Lastly, President Xi Jinping’s declaration that no power can stop the annexation of Taiwan underscores China’s pursuit of a “Greater China.”

The world stands at a crossroads, shifting from Globalism to Trumpism with history and ambition colliding in a state of confusing political conundrums.

The dynamics of today’s power triangulation differ slightly from those of the 1940s due to the emergence of non-state actors wielding considerable and often unaccountable power, such as the World Economic Forum (WEF), social media platforms, and Elon Musk, a private citizen who . metamorphosed to a Super Power overnight.The WEF’s influence on global politics and policies is concerning, profound and incomprehensible. WEF’s Young Global Leaders (YGL) has produced several Heads of Government. Elon Musk, on the other hand, represents a unique and unprecedented power base in modern geopolitics. The world has finally found the missing ‘’X’’ in Elon Musk!
As the world’s richest man, with a net worth exceeding $450 billion, Musk is on the trajectory to becoming the first trillionaire. By January 20, he is projected to become the second most powerful individual in America, and probably, in the world. Globally, if Twitter (now X) were considered a country, Musk, with 28 patents, would effectively be the president of the third most populous nation, with over 600 million monthly active users. In a paradox inexplicable, he has become the new MAINSTREAM MEDIA, his control over information is overwhelming.
Furthermore, Musk’s ventures extend beyond Earth. Through SpaceX, he holds the unique privilege of interacting with extraterrestrial possibilities (Aliens & Ghosts) and exploring uncharted territories in space. His influence on global politics is exemplified by his 2023 tweet suggesting that Ukraine cede Crimea to Russia, this is an idea that later became the official position of Trump’s envisioned 2025 administration. He has set Europe on fire from Germany to the UK, France, Canada, his love for the Far Right Movements is indescribable.

The Trump-Musk nexus has triggered something of a renaissance within the Far Right Movements globally which will impact immigration negatively, especially against Africans With Trump and Musk metaphorically positioned as the driver and conductor of the global limo tagged “TRUMUS limo” poses a significant gamble to geopolitics. The stakes are high, and the world watches with fingers crossed.

We are in a season of reimagining the global order amidst the welter of change and the interrelatedness of the forces of order and disorder. For instance, Caucasians are grappling with the irreversible decline of their aging, facing the reality of becoming a minority in their own countries by 2040. Simultaneously, concerns about de-globalization keep Beijing and Washington awake at night, while the threat of de-dollarization challenges America’s financial dominance. In Europe, the fear of Russia is the beginning of wisdom. For Africa, this is not the time for ‘’ostrich diplomacy’’. The continent must wake up and pursue her strategic agenda.

In the paragraphs that follow, we shall examine analogous historical moments to address pressing questions:

How solid are the blocks that hold BRICS together?

What is the probability of China replacing America as the new global superpower?

How will Trump 2.0 affect international relations?

Can Africa avoid a second wave of colonization?

Will humanity split along a new digital divide between rival tech empires?

What is the future of work, wealth and education?

Decoding geopolitics is akin to interpreting tea leaves, not always black and white. Which is why, to navigate this maze, I turn to the wisdom of Lee Kuan Yew (LKY), the ‘’Singaporean god’’ who transformed his country from a third-world nation to a first-world powerhouse in just 20 years. With the help of “Professor Google” I’ve set up a virtual conversation to seek his insights.

Tim: Compliments of the season, LKY. The world is aging, and it seems the Chinese dragon and the American bison are ready for a showdown. Meanwhile, Africa remains a passive spectator, and Nigeria remains enmeshed in multidimensional poverty. Can you share with me what you see in your geopolitical crystal ball in this transition hours?

LKY: Tim, it’s a pleasure having this virtual conversation with you. I can see your relentless effort (reading great books, digging into statistics and archives, interacting with Great Minds like Albert Einstein & Elon Musk) all with a view to making the world a better place. These are noble ideals, I must admit.
Your country, Nigeria, is one of the most blessed nations on earth. It appears God specially created America, China, and Nigeria on the same day as premium brands, late on a Friday night. Unfortunately, while the American and Chinese elites stayed awake, watching God intently during the creation process, Nigeria’s elites went clubbing. They returned by 4:05 a.m., inebriated, sleepy, and unconscious, whereas God had completed His work by 4a.m.
That, Tim, is why much of Nigeria’s wealth remains in the hands of foreigners who stayed vigilant on the Creation Day. You possess cobalt, nickel, lithium, Uranium, rare earth metals, oil, zircon, rhodium, liquefied natural gas (LNG) which are badly needed by the tech industry. Yet, many Nigerian elites remain clueless about the value of resources like the sands, stones and gravels which foreigners cart away daily from Nigeria.

Tim, you must do more than critical thinking, writing, mentoring, and advocacy in order to prevent the country from descending into a state of unmanageable mega mess.
Nigeria is terminally ill, with inflation at almost almost 40%, bank interest rates on loans at 40%, electricity at 300% increase, gasoline at 500% increase, currency devaluation at almost 200%, all happened with 15 months, do you need any economist to tell you that Nigeria is on a life support machine. What keeps Nigeria alive are essentially the remittance economy and the increasing opportunities for ICT remote jobs for the Youths.
Singapore, with less than 1% of Nigeria’s resources, has a GDP per capita for 2024 estimated to be between $89,369.71 and $104,127, compared to Nigeria’s meagre $1,000.

Your leaders travel the world, cap in hand, begging for what your nation already has in abundance. Nigeria has been awaiting “Arab money” since 2023 to stabilize its foreign exchange. Chinese engineers are relied upon to fix your roads and railways, Indian investors are expected to revamp your oil & gas industry, Russian experts are tasked with completing the Ajaokuta Steel Mill, while your elites receive medical treatment in France, drink Italian wine and drive Japanese cars! ‘’Na wa o, Tim’’

Where is Nigeria’s national self-esteem? No nation has ever been built solely through the transplantation of external “kidneys”. China was built with Chinese kidneys; Japan was built with Japanese kidneys. What, then, is the purpose of education in Nigeria if everything the country needs is imported, and all its challenges are outsourced?
For instance, against all odds, Ukraine in a dangerous war environment managed to grow in 2023. Its GDP increased by 5%, investments rose by 17%, tax revenue jumped by 25% year-over-year, and over 37,000 new businesses were registered
Yet, Nigeria that is at peace with her neigbours still looks up to Ukraine for food!!! ‘’una well done o” in Nigeria’’!

Tim: Tell me, LKY, great empires typically last an average of 250 years. America is now 251 years old as a nation and 80 years old as a superpower. China is eyeing the position of world’s class captain. What’s next?

LKY: Hmm, Tim. Let us search for the truth amidst the forest of facts and figures. As of 2024, the size of China’s economy stood at $18.28 trillion, while America’s was $29.167 trillion. China’s national debt stands at $14.9 trillion as against America’s $36.1 trillion. America spent $860 billion on research and development (R&D) compared to China’s $668 billion. China’s manufacturing sector contributed 28% of global output, whereas America accounted for 18%. According to WIPO, China filed about 1.64 million patent applications in 2023 as against America’s 418,262.

In terms of the Global Innovation Index (GII), America ranked as the third most innovative country, after Switzerland and Sweden, while China was eighth. Numerically, China boasts the world’s largest army and navy, though both remain largely untested. On the other hand, America maintains 800 military bases across 70 countries and operates 12 supercarriers compared to China’s two active carriers.
Regarding military budgets in 2024, America spent $916 billion, while China spent $296 billion. In R&D investment as a percentage of GDP, Israel leads the world, with America ranking third and China eleventh. China’s greatest strength lies in its control of the global supply chain, as 40% of China’s GDP comes from value-added industrial output.

China’s ambition to build “One China” by reclaiming all annexed territories, starting with Taiwan, may be historically desirable but it would trigger World War III, a conflict that China cannot win.

Peace is profitable, war is costly. The “lost China” extends beyond Taiwan to territories in Russia (Outer Manchuria, 910,000 km²), Japan (the Senkaku Islands, about 330 km²), and India (the Line of Actual Control, stretching 3,488 km from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh).

Former President Deng Xiaoping understood the complications of reclaiming “China’s stolen lands” and thus developed the strategy of a “Peaceful Rise” If China’s main motivation is to control the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s most consequential technology company with a market capitalization of $874 billion, the better route would be to emulate South Korea’s success in building a Samsung.

Contextually, history shows that whoever wins the technology war wins the economic and military wars, in the ultimately analysis. Similarly, whoever is the best -in-class in innovation plus R&D wins the global technology game of throne. The new world order is a case of a prisoner’s dilemma- America knows she can’t control the wind, therefore, she is adjusting the sail of re-industrialization, reclaiming energy supremacy (Greenland has about 15% undiscovered hydrocarbons -oil and gas underground), sustaining her slim lead in Technology, especially in semiconductor by building a chip factory in Arizona in partnership with TSMC costing $6.6 billion under the new Chip and Science Act. Semiconductor is the Golden Fleece of technology power!
Even then, it took America about 65 years (1880-1945) of consistent superior performance over Britain (the then superpower) before emerging as the world’s class captain. This indicates that for China to replace America, it must outperform America in all critical sectors for about half a century, ceteris paribus.

Tim: Can you tell me, LKY, where is BRICS headed? Nigeria is anxiously waiting to be admitted. The bloc represents 35% of the world’s GDP and 45% of the world’s population. BRICS seems determined to supplant the Dollar which currently accounts for about 56% of foreign trade invoices globally. Also, what’s the future of globalization?

LKY: BRICS is going nowhere Period! Who are the policymakers in Nigeria advising President Tinubu to take Panadol for China and Russia’s headaches by joining BRICS? *What Nigeria is engaging in is “me-too diplomacy”.
BRICS consists of traditional rivals with no shared ideology, values, or vision. The dollar’s main “offense” is its abuse by America, but who says BRICS will not eventually be hijacked, abused, and manipulated by China like RMB?

Why is BRICS not advocating for the replacement of the United Nations since she has failed to prevent the outbreak of wars in the world? The solution to Dollar’s abuse is to compel America and the rest of the world, through the United Nations and the World Bank to revert to the pre-Nixon era monetary system of 1971. Moving forward, America’s Bullion Depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky, must hold gold bars equivalent to the dollars it prints. The same principle should apply to China’s RMB and Europe’s EURO and others. The World Bank should be empowered to go round and verify the quantum of gold bars in each of the 200 countries in the world, to avoid a repeat of what happened in the past when America inflated its gold reserves. Consequently, there will be a gold rush which benefits Africa more than aligning with China to kill the Dollar. Africa needs to put mechanisms in place to stop illegal gold mining in her forests.
Secondly, Africa should not waste the current currency crisis, it is an opportunity to create a single Africa currency to facilitate trade among the 52 Africa countries. About 23% of the global trade is done with Euro currency. With Africa owning over 30% of the remaining raw materials left globally, ‘’AFRO currency’’ is a game changer.

India just pulled out of BRICS war against the dollar.

If you give a gun each to China, Russia, India and America and lock them up in a room with an instruction that each of them should kill their worst two enemies: China will rather kill India and Russia first with a view to reclaiming her lost territories, while Russia will finish-off China and India first and India will annihilate China and Russia first. By the time you open the door, the last and the only country you will meet standing will be America.
The other three nations have beefs to settle with one another which are more existential than the hatred they jointly have for America out of envy.

Globalization has not achieved its goal of creating a world of shared prosperity, rather, the income inequality between the global North and the emerging Global East vis-a-vis the Global South is growing bigger. Nonetheless, President Trump’s proposed ISOLATIONISM, in the name of ‘America First’ will be counterproductive. Africa must maintain a delicate balance between globalism and Africanism.

Made-in-China 2025 (MIC2025) was designed for the 8 billion world’s population; therefore, death of globalization connotes sudden death for China and slow death for America and ultimate death for the world at large.

Concerning Trump 2.0 foreign policy, the world will be in commotion if President Trump goes ahead to annex the Panama Canal and Greenland with military force and overwhelm Canada to surrender her sovereignty. There will be no modicum of moral justification left to criticize Putin and President Xi Xiaoping if both, too, go ahead to annex Ukraine and Taiwan respectively Welcome to 1939?

Though, those three countries are ‘’BEST BUY’’ for America, provided there is unanimity of interests between the buyer and the owners.

Tim: Tell me, LKY, what kind of deal should President Trump put on the table on January 21, 2025, to end the war in Ukraine? The World Bank has estimated that it will cost $486 billion to get Ukraine back on its feet.

LKY: Russia currently occupies almost 20% of Ukraine, amounting to about 100,000 square kilometres since 2014, including regions like Donetsk and Crimea. Approximately 3.5 million Ukrainians are estimated to be living under Russian occupation. Moreover, 17.3% of Ukraine’s population is of Russian ethnic nationality. On the other hand, Ukraine has encroached into Russia’s Kursk region, capturing around 1,000 square kilometres (386 square miles). There are no easy solutions to this crisis, as both warriors are running out of body bags to bury the dead. However, President Trump should take the following steps:

Call for an immediate ceasefire on January 20, 2025.

Hold a tripartite meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy in Switzerland. The proposed deal should include the following.

Ukraine must withdraw from all Russian territory immediately

Russia must withdraw from all Ukrainian territories.

A referendum, supervised by the UN, should be conducted within six months. This will allow Russian-speaking Ukrainians to decide which country they wish to belong to. The referendum results, determined by a simple majority, must be enforced by the UN.

Russia and Ukraine should be admitted into NATO by April 4, 2026, coinciding with NATO’s 77th anniversary.

All sanctions on Russia should be lifted, and the country should be readmitted into the G8 and SWIFT payment Gateway. Furthermore, all criminal charges against Putin should be dropped.

America and Europe should establish a Ukraine Reconstruction Fund (URF) to raise $500 billion over ten years to rebuild Ukraine.

History shows that what Russia has done is not as grave as the atrocities committed by Germany and Japan during WW2, yet both nations were forgiven, rebuilt, and readmitted into the “Western Club” What prevents the West from adopting a similar approach today with Russia? It is worth noting that Putin has long expressed his desire for Russia to join NATO, albeit without “standing in line with countries that don’t matter”.

Tim: What about the Middle East? Lend us your wisdom, LKY, how can we end the cycle of crises there?

LKY: The Middle East is akin to one of the most complex mathematical problems; the Diophantine Equation, sometimes called the “summing of three cubes”. This equation challenges mathematicians to find values for x, y, and z such that x³ + y³ + z³ = K, for every value of K from 1 to 100.

“Summing up the three cubes” of the Middle East geopolitics is akin to looking for a needle in a haystack.

The region’s issues are multilayered and complicated, much like solving the Diophantine equation. There is also a spiritual dimension to the crisis. Ending the cyclical crises requires a multi-faceted approach, involving local solutions rooted in trust, mutual respect, and external mediators who are genuinely unbiased. The path to peace in the Middle East is less about quick fixes and more about patience, sustained dialogue, and a commitment to equitable resolutions that underscore Israel’s security and Palestinian’s dignity. Tim, I read your 7th October 2023 article proposing a 4-state solution. It was radical yet doable. However, because common sense is currently uncommon in the Middle East, all proposed solutions, 4-state, 2-state, or 1-state, should be parked for now. Tim, as you rightly proposed in the said article, there are no religious, legal, political, or military solutions to the Middle East problem. There is only one solution, and this is “Humanity”. For now, Hamas must release all the remaining 92 Israeli hostages alive, and the IDF must stop the bombings.

Ultimately, for the sake of FATHER ABRAHAM (so that he can rest in perfect peace) these two antagonistic siblings must find a way to coexist as neighbors, even if not as friends.

Tim: I’d like to hear your thoughts, LKY, on technology convergence. Where is technology headed?

LKY: The future of technology lies in Quantum computing with Artificial Intelligence (QCAI).

The world will increasingly be controlled by efficient and super-intelligent robots that are capable of reasoning independently of their creators, much like how humans’ reason independently of God. These “spiritual machines” with conceptual understanding comparable to humans, bring us ever closer to Singularity.

In the short term, this presents immense possibilities as humans collaborate and compete with machines. However, in the long term, humanity faces existential dangers, chiefly the risk of losing control over its creation, or the technology fall into the hands of bad guys- Armageddon is not impossible!

I foresee QCAI massively disrupting job markets sooner than expected, with unemployment rates soaring. Simultaneously, income inequality will widen drastically between AI tycoons and consuming countries like Nigeria

Tim, if you have influence over your government, urge them to invest in empowering Nigerian youths with skills in Quantum computing with artificial intelligence among other 4.0 industrial revolution skills.

For example, Lagos State can become the California of Africa and potentially grow its GDP to $1 trillion within 36 months, this is five times larger than Nigeria’s current GDP, by leveraging customized solutions powered by QCAI and distributed ledger technologies. On the darker side, QCAI’s militarization is an existential threat. Imagine a nuclear bomb operating independently of the President in the White House in an apocalyptic scenario, a false flag could trigger an uncontrollable cascading catastrophe.

I also foresee humanity splitting into antagonistic, competing digital empires along a new silicon boundary. If President Trump continues to pursue an anti-globalism agenda. China would be left with no choice than to come up with a separate computer network and architecture, rendering international collaboration difficult.

Moreover, QCAI tycoons may introduce Universal Basic Salaries (UBS) for those labelled as the “useless population” as suggested by Yuval Harari of the World Economic Forum. Finally, if Africa doesn’t get its act together, a second wave of colonization is not impossible.

Tim: Let’s turn our focus back to Nigeria. As the “Singaporean god” how did you build an education system that outperformed the West and catapulted Singapore to the First World in record time? I put it to you; you were a magician!

LKY: Tim, it wasn’t magic. Africa has black magic, but I don’t believe it works for nation building, otherwiseAfrica should be the greatest continent on earth today.

We built Singapore’s education system on three pillars, they are meritocracy, pragmatism, and relentless pursuit of excellence. We designed our curriculum to focus on critical thinking, science, and technology while aligning it with Singapore’s economic needs. Furthermore, we didn’t romanticize degrees or paper qualifications.

Vocational and technical education were given equal prominence. We built strong partnerships with global tech giants and invited them to set up R&D hubs in Singapore, ensuring our students were trained in future-ready skills.

Amazing discoveries in science, technology, mathematics, and extraordinary innovations never occur when students are taught, tested, and graded on cookbook formulas, especially by demotivated instructors in poorly furnished classrooms lacking modern infrastructure.

Students’ creativity gets lost in the maze of memorized physics equations and biology definitions.
Children learn to ride a bicycle by riding it, not by reading about it in a book.

Nigeria’s education system is broken, obsolete, and rotten, it needs a complete reimagining. Eking out infinitesimal improvements from a gravely sick system and relying on wrong metrics as measure of success will not catapult Nigeria to the top of the class.

Nigeria needs an entrepreneurial-oriented curriculum aligned with its core strengths, needs, and aspirations.
The new roadmap should be powered by QCAI focusing on the seven C’s that equip students with life-decisive skills, such as “Critical Thinking, Communication, Character, Complex Problem-Solving, Creativity, Cognitive Social Skills, and Citizenship Responsibilities”.

The world no longer rewards “knowledge workers” unlike in the pre-Google, pre-ChatGPT era because information and knowledge are now as accessible as sachet water. What the world needs are problem-solvers.

Over the past ten years, Nigeria spent more than $40 billion on education and medical tourism, according to the CBN Governor, Mr Yemi Cardoso. Yet, instead of dedicating $2 billion yearly for the next five years to upgrading six universities and two teaching hospitals to world-class standards yearly, thereby solving these twin problems over a period of ten years, your priorities are ambiguously lousy. Example? Your Judges got 300% salary increase, plus free accommodations for keeps, your teachers are in financial famine, wallowing in penury.

With due respect, Tim, Nigeria’s elites have always ruled the country like a Monkey Republic, where the Baboons Bandits have hijacked all the ripe and unripe bananas. Now, the Jungle has Matured, there is uncontrollable commotion across the land, as the monkeys run amok.

Tim, history has not provided us with an example of a society where the Baboons Bandits has played this type of game successfully without dropping the ball!

Tim: What is your final word for Nigeria?
And what do you say to individuals who desire a better deal from life in 2025 and beyond, LKY?

LKY: First, Nigeria must decentralize to survive and thrive. No PLAN B! Ordinary Tax Reform Bill and CBN operations are politicized, and in 46 years, you can’t complete the Ajaokuta steel company and you have practically nothing to show for your oil wealth compared with Norway or UAE, it’s certain the superstructure you are operating is fundamentally flawed.
Where would Singapore be today if she had remained under the toxic partnership with Malaysia’s? The old Malaysia and Nigeria shared something in common, they are both House of commotion! Whereas, without peace and Elites consensus, Nigeria’s chances of modernization are ZERO.
Mandela, Rawlings, Ghaddafi, Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Balewa, etc all advocated or fought for a decentralized system as the ONLY VERITABLE way to make a plural, heterogeneous society like Nigeria work.
Are your elites saying they are smarter than the above named leaders and their counterparts in the UK, Canada, Switzerland, USA etc who established decentralization as the ONLY WAY to govern an heterogenous society like Nigeria successfully

Even from here, we can hear the long whistling, a dangerous, high pitched siren noise of the Nigeria’s pressure cooker. To avoid a blow out: decentralize.
Don’t wait for Nature’s caesarean operation in Nigeria. Nature’s C-Section is worse than an abattoir.

Finally, In the QCAI age: academic qualification is overrated; the winner is… SKILL. The new world order is going to be a gold-driven world, where Platform Economy is a game changer. Land and water will command the same respect as gold.
When Elon Musk coughed out a whopping $44 billion to acquire Twitter (now X) the uninitiated called him names. But today, he is the first private citizen in recent history to become a ’SUPERPOWER’, courtesy of the humongous power of the X Platform.
Gerit? If you don’t gerit, forgrit aborit!

Tim: Please, LKY, can you pray for Nigeria’s breakthrough in 2025? We are tired of hugging the global headlines for the wrong reasons.

LKY: Frankly speaking, Tim, my team and I didn’t rely on prayers to build Singapore. President Deng once confirmed to me that he and his team didn’t use prayers to build China either. Similarly, Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko, the Japanese Prime Minister said himself and his team didn’t depend on prayers in rebuilding Japan after its destruction in1945. What else should God do for Nigeria? You are the apple of God’s eyes but you are, unarguably, laid-back. That said, I have nothing against prayers. After all, Thomas Jefferson, America’s third president, included daily prayers in his solution-mix to build America. It worked then, and it continues to work today.

I came away convinced that prayers without diligence, diligence without character, and character without godliness have been the bane of Nigeria for decades.This, Tim, is what I call spiritual 419, the greatest sin against God.

All told, since you are so passionate about Nigeria’s transformation and you believe strongly in the efficacy of prayers as part of the required solutions, I challenge you to draft an honest National Rebirth Prayer (NRP) that addresses the spiritual lacuna which makes your old and new National Anthem and Pledge ring hollow. Your country’s First Lady who adopted and launched a National Unity Fabric can equally champion and get the citizens to recite the prayers twice daily (7am & 7pm) and in all public gatherings, starting with the Federal Executive Council Meetings.

Tim: Well, LKY, here is my take concerning the National Rebirth Prayer:

“Almighty God, who has blessed Nigeria with this amazing and enviable land as our heritage, we kindly beseech Thee that we may prove ourselves a people conscious of Thy love and thankful to do Thy will. Teach us, O Lord, to love this land and its people. Open our leaders’ eyes to see that there are no pockets to keep dollars, euros, or pounds in burial shrouds, and no First Bank branch in heaven! Bless the citizens with common sense to be awake to their responsibilities. In our lifetime, we pray to witness Nigeria’s true rebirth as a land of righteousness, with elites who stand for the Common Good, liberty, truth, beauty, and justice turning Nigeria’s limo wheel, Amen”.

Tim: What time is it? 3:00 a.m.
Where is LKY?
Unzipping 2025… with a dream!

Last weekend, The Nation newspapers published a gripping story of 47-year-old twin brothers who lured a young girl to their hideout in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, where they murdered and dismembered her body for ritual purposes. Now in the custody of the Ogun State Police Command, one of the twins is already singing. “We usually kill our victims and sell their body parts for money rituals, grill some and grind them into powder for consumption with alcohol or mix them with soap for a magic bath that would bring good fortunes,” he said. “We sell ordinary body parts for N20,000 and hands or limbs for N50,000. We sell a leg for N50,000 while the heart goes for N100,000.’’ Those interested in the gory story can look for the report, but my main concern is that ‘professionals’ in the business of rituals, among other crimes like drug trafficking, banditry, as well as prostitution may soon enjoy official validation.

Going by the new National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) parameters for assessing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Nigeria, contributions of these ‘entrepreneurs’ will not be ignored when rebasing the economy. “If you are into, for instance, drugs, there are some countries where the drug trade drives their economy. It is illegal here because there is no legal backing. Also, prostitution earns income. Some even live better than those in the formal sector,” said Baba Madu, the NBS Head of National Accounts during a sensitization workshop last Thursday in Abuja. “The challenge is the legal backing and how do we gather accurate data? These sectors contribute significantly, but they remain underreported due to their hidden nature.” But despite these challenges, Madu assured Nigerians that those activities deserve to be captured in the new rebased economy, and that’s what the NBS intends to do in the coming exercise.

Let me state upfront that there is nothing wrong with rebasing the economy and Nigeria is indeed long overdue for one. In April 2014, the GDP was rebased by the NBS to propel our economy into first position in Africa and 24th in the world (with Belgium and Poland), overtaking South Africa. Among other contentions at the time, I recall a few people arguing that placing Nollywood above India’s Bollywood was carrying fantasy too far. But notwithstanding some misgivings back then, there was consensus about the credibility of that exercise. More significantly, then NBS Director General, Yemi Kale, also placed a rather instructive caveat on the figures: “While GDP depicts how rich a nation is, this is not necessarily the same as showing how rich individuals in the nation are, due to problem of unequal distribution of wealth. Similarly, growth in GDP is not synonymous with job creation…this is the challenge of non-inclusive growth.”

Now, the current debate is on whether certain activities should be included in the GDP, and I offer background to my concern. According to the NBS 2024 Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey, a staggering sum of N2.2 trillion was paid as ransom to kidnappers between May 2023 and April 2024. Against the background that the 2024 Budget of ‘Renewed Hope’ as proposed by President Bola Tinubu outlined a projected revenue of N18.32 trillion and just about half that amount was realized, according to most reports, the NBS figure meant that within a period of 12 months kidnappers alone took about 25 percent of the federal government revenue for last year. If we extrapolate with the same methodology to calculate the ‘take-home pay’ for prostitutes, ritual killers, Yahoo Plus experts, bandits etc. then we are looking at a super jumbo rebased economy that raises more questions than answers.

Beyond the issue of accuracy is the character of the national economy itself and the implications of adding dubious/criminal activities as components of our GDP. The NBS is citing a self-serving System National Account (SNA) 2008 to bamboozle the people without telling us that most serious countries(including the United States from where we photocopied our presidential system of government) do not compute crime proceeds as part of their GDP. In a December 2019 piece titled, ‘GDP Doesn’t Include Proceeds of Crime. Should It?’ published in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Science Bureau Chief, Jo Craven McGinty wrote, “When the U.S. calculates its gross domestic product, it only includes things that are legal. But if the wares of drug dealers, pimps, bookies and other black-market denizens were included, the GDP would expand by more than 1%, according to one estimate.” Proceeds of drug trafficking alone, McGinty added, “would have added $111 billion to U.S. gross domestic product, according to estimate.”

Why does the US leave out illegal activities that fetch humongous amounts of money from its GDP? That question was partly answered by a former American diplomat and national security official, David M. Luna. “As some have underscored, the illegal economy obeys no laws except the law of the strong, the corrupt, and the criminal; impunity, coercion, lawlessness, unrest and violence reign,” argued Luna in 2012, as Director for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affair at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). “From an economic perspective, all these illicit activities divert money from the balance sheets of legitimate businesses and put cash in the hands of criminals, who build larger and larger illicit networks. These networks threaten the stability of governments and the prosperity of our economies.” In societies that have been corrupted by such criminal networks, according to Luna, “market- and state-building become more unattainable, economic growth is stunted, efforts towards development and poverty eradication are stifled, and foreign direct investment is deterred.”

Ordinarily, rebasing the economy of a country should be rooted in certain values. In a nation where the line between right and wrong is increasingly becoming blurred—with many young Nigerians believing there is no correlation between wealth and legitimate work—I fail to see the essence of adding these illicit activities to our GDP. Besides, I believe that the financials from these sources are already captured in some form, either through the formal sector (banks and other money deposit institutions) or the informal sector without making those who engage in them imagine they are legitimate activities. In any case, the NBS can only engage in speculation when it comes to putting figures to these illicit activities and it has admitted as much.

What I find hard to understand is what stands to be achieved by a GDP that only serves to massage the ego of politicians while the broad majority sink deeper into misery and avoidable penury. More importantly, a GDP re-basing exercise that legitimizes criminal and dark economic activities can only license the drift to an immoral nation. At a period when drug trafficking, cyber crimes, prostitution, trade in ritual body parts, ransom for kidnapping, terrorism etc. have compromised the integrity of our nation, legitimising them as components of our GDP would only embolden some of our young people who just want to ‘make it’ by hook or by crook. 

Highlighting the benefits of GDP rebasing, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) Chief Executive Officer, Tayo Aduloju, said Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio, a critical indicator of fiscal health, dropped from 19% to 11% after the 2014 exercise. “This improved Nigeria’s creditworthiness, making us a more attractive destination for foreign direct investment. Investors are drawn to transparency and growth potential, and rebasing sends a clear message: we understand our economy, and we are open for business,” Aduloju said. “Second, rebasing sharpens policymaking. It provides a detailed map of our economic terrain, enabling governments to identify high-growth sectors for scaling and low-growth sectors that require targeted interventions to drive impactful and balanced development.”

If we adopt the NBS approach, we are not likely to achieve those lofty objectives and we may give ammunition to those who already criminalise our country. By openly admitting that our GDP includes the same illegal activities that are already emblems of shame for our country and have stigmatised otherwise innocent citizens, we may just be validating the social media slang that ‘Nigeria is a crime scene’. Therefore, while the NBS occasional reports on the ‘economic value’ of these criminal activities are okay, adding their ‘contributions’ to the national economy as part of a rebased GDP is not the way to go.

Yes, an elevated GDP is good. But even in George Orwell’s, ‘Animal Farm’, a time came when most animals realised that statistics were being used to make fools of them. In normal circumstances, a responsible government would set as its target the elimination of criminal economic activities as a mark of progress. Converting illegal activities into statistical advantages for the purpose of a phantom GDP showmanship is unconscionable. The NBS should just perish the thought!

Still on Pastor Adeboye and Soun

By Fifelomo Dawodu

Dear Segun,

I agree with your perspective on the leadership lessons in the Tik tok message of Pastor Adeboye in your piece on the Soun of Ogbomosho. Indeed, the dimensions of the clip are several and I have just written about it in a draft personal statement I am putting together for an application for some doctoral research work. Some of the contradictions of interest that I am looking to interrogate are implicated in the clip. I endorse the idea of Pastor Adeboye (rightfully) insisting on speaking to the Soun in Yoruba. But there are several questions to pose from that. Will the successor to the throne of Soun when Oba Ghandi, in ripe old age, goes to join his ancestors speak any Yoruba? Should a ‘born again’ Soun reckon with the powers and principalities of the land to ensure a long peaceful reign? How do we reconcile the phenomena of western educated, urbane/cosmopolitan persons as traditional rulers and custodians of our culture? How many people are left who can transmit messages through the talking drum? Eti melo lo ku to gbo ilu? (How many of us are left with an ear for the message of the talking drum?).

Westernisation has robbed us of our cultural vestiges and left us with generic symbolisms. We celebrate that our traditional rulers have College degrees even where they may be unable to speak the language needed to appease the spirit of the land. How odd that the new Alaafin-elect does not have tribal marks! These are marks of identification, beautification and distinction of lineage and royalty. Should we continue to keep faith in the belief that the oracle picks who would ascend the throne? Or resort to AI for less fallible choices? The answers, I guess, are in the womb of time!

• Mrs Dawodu, a solicitor and graduate student of comparative education, resides in Lagos.

THE BOAT PAINTERS!

(It’s one of those stories on WhatsApp that have been in circulation for years. But no matter how many times it is forwarded, you always find it inspirational. Also, like many things you find on social media, the author is unknown. But the message is profound and speaks to diligence, attention to detail and integrity. It was forwarded to me again on Tuesday by a respected senior citizen and I consider it worthy of sharing, at least for the benefit of those who may not have come across it before.)

A man was hired to paint a boat. With his paint, brushes, and a steady hand, he began coating the boat in a vibrant red, as the owner had requested. As he worked, he noticed a small hole in the hull, barely noticeable to the untrained eye. Without saying a word, he repaired it, considering it part of his job. Once he finished painting, the owner paid him, and the man left, content with his day’s work. The next morning, however, the owner returned, holding a check far more generous than what was owed for the painting. Surprised, the painter asked, “Sir, you’ve already paid me for the paint job. What is this for?” The owner smiled and said, “This isn’t for the painting. It’s for fixing the hole in the boat.” Puzzled, the painter replied, “But that was such a small thing—certainly not worth this amount.”

“My friend, you don’t understand,” the owner began. “When I asked you to paint the boat, I didn’t even remember about the hole myself. After you finished and the paint dried, my children took the boat out on a fishing trip without telling me. I was away, and when I got home, I was horrified to realize they had gone out in a boat with a hole in the hull.” The painter listened intently as the man continued, his voice now thick with emotion. “I was terrified, thinking they might never return. But when they came back safely, I rushed to check the boat and found that you had repaired the hole. You didn’t just fix a boat—you saved my children’s lives. That’s something I can never fully repay.” The painter stood silent, absorbing the weight of the man’s words. The owner added softly, “Sometimes, the smallest gestures can have the greatest impact. What seemed insignificant to you meant the world to me.”

In life, we may unknowingly fix many “holes” for others—offering help, mending hearts, or simply being there when needed. We often don’t realize how much those small actions can mean to someone else. You never know when your quiet kindness might save a life. Keep helping, keep caring, for the world needs more boat painters.

The Federal Government notes the recent remarks by His Highness, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, regarding the economic reforms introduced under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration, at a public event in Lagos.We note the emir's acknowledgement of the noble initiatives which, he said, he could explain away but for his decision "not to help the government".

First, we acknowledge that Sanusi, and indeed any Nigerian, has the inalienable right to express opinion either in form of commendation or criticism on how the government is being ran. However, we find it amusing that a leader, more so one from an institution that ennobles forthrightness, fairness, and justice would publicly admit to shuffling off saying the truth because of personal interest hinged on imaginary antagonism.

It is pertinent to state that Nigeria is at a pivotal juncture where bold and decisive actions are necessary to tackle entrenched economic challenges. This administration has implemented transformative reforms not because they are easy, but because they are essential for securing Nigeria’s long-term stability and growth, as Emir Sanusi had consistently advocated.

The temporary pains currently experienced from these inevitable decisions, as Sanusi himself acknowledged, are "necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management" more than anything else.

These reforms are already delivering measurable progress. The unification of exchange rates has bolstered investor confidence, which has contributed to increased foreign reserves and strengthened Nigeria’s ability to shield itself from external economic shocks. The removal of the fuel subsidy has freed up significant resources, allowing for greater investment in critical sectors such as infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Projections from respected institutions, including the World Bank, show an upward trajectory in Nigeria’s GDP, signaling that our economy is firmly on the path to recovery. Additionally, by addressing inefficiencies, the country has reduced its debt service-to-revenue ratio, creating a more sustainable fiscal framework for future generations.

It is deeply disappointing that reforms widely recognized as essential by global experts—including by Emir Sanusi II himself—are now being subtly condemned by him because of shift in loyalty. His Highness, given his background in economics, has a unique responsibility to contribute constructively rather than undermine reforms aimed at collective progress because he feel estranged from his "friends" in government.

We urge the Emir to rise above personal interests and partisan undertones and prioritize the greater good of Nigerians.

Rebuilding Nigeria requires unity, focus, and sacrifice from all stakeholders. As a government, we urge esteemed leaders to refrain from rhetorics that undermine public trust. Instead they owe it a duty to champion the collective goal of a prosperous Nigeria. This is a critical time for our country, what is needed is collaboration, not unnecessary distractions.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration remains resolute in its mission to lead Nigeria towards economic inclusivity, sustainability, and shared prosperity. The challenges we face demand courage and collective effort, not divisive narratives. This administration is open to constructive dialogue with all well-meaning stakeholders, while remaining steadfast in putting the interests of Nigerians above all else.

Let history record this moment as a turning point—when leaders and citizens alike choose to prioritize the nation’s destiny over personal gain. Together, we will deliver on the promise of renewed hope and a better Nigeria for all.

Mohammed Idris, fnipr
Honourable Minister

The heartbreaking story of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Moses Ambakina Jitoboh’s forced retirement and posthumous reinstatement by the National Industrial Court exposes deep and painful systemic flaws within Nigeria’s institutions. DIG Jitoboh, once the most senior officer in the Nigeria Police Force, was tragically and unjustly retired in 2023 at the age of 53, a decision that was not rooted in his performance or ability but in a politically motivated maneuver to install a more politically aligned figure in the role of Inspector General of Police. The retirement of Jitoboh was a blatant political decision, orchestrated not out of necessity but to make room for Kayode Egbetokun’s appointment. This was not about what Jitoboh could or could not contribute, but about political agendas that disregarded his years of service, his experience, and his merit.

Despite having not yet reached the mandatory retirement age of 60, nor having served for 35 years, Jitoboh’s removal from office was unjust and deeply demoralizing. He had given his all to the Nigeria Police Force, yet he was discarded like an expendable item. After seeking justice, he fought tirelessly in the courts to challenge the illegal termination of his career. Yet, the legal battle was delayed, dragging on until his death on December 28, 2024. At just 54 years old, Jitoboh passed away two weeks before the verdict in his case was delivered. The truth is, it’s impossible to ignore the toll this prolonged injustice took on his physical and emotional well-being. It is no stretch to say that his death was, in part, the result of the crushing emotional strain and frustration of fighting against a system that appeared to have no regard for his rights or dignity.

While it is official protocol for the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to express condolences in such situations, and the public messages of sympathy may reflect a sense of standard practice, the real, deeper background behind Jitoboh’s story cannot be ignored. He was forced out of his job at a time when he still had the right to serve, still had the dedication, and still had so much to contribute. The emotional pain of being so abruptly removed from the position he loved is immeasurable. What added to the weight of this injustice was the stark reality that a junior officer—someone who was promoted not based on merit but political manipulation—was installed in his place. This promotion, not a result of professional qualifications or service, but rather political games, would have undoubtedly been a source of immense personal and professional anguish for Jitoboh. How would it feel to watch, helpless, as someone who wasn’t necessarily qualified, who wasn’t there through the long, grueling years of service, climbed to the top? The weight of that emotional turmoil is beyond words.

In the face of such systemic injustice, Jitoboh’s life was consumed by stress—financial, legal, and emotional. It wasn’t just about the career he loved; it was about trying to reclaim what was unjustly taken from him. Fighting against a system that continued to delay justice, sitting in the uncertainty of legal battles, facing the profound loneliness of knowing the injustice done to him—it all took its toll. All of this, the frustration, the waiting, the emotional burden of seeing his career stolen away by political agendas, surely impacted his physical health. The chronic stress and the emotional toll of watching the job he dedicated his life to slip away—these are the invisible forces that can affect the body, mind, and soul.

The IGP, in his public statement expressing condolences for the death of Jitoboh, may indeed reflect an official sentiment of loss. The message may even sound sincere, acknowledging the contributions of both Jitoboh and Pastor Bola Longe. However, we all know the inner background to this tragic situation. It is one thing to express sympathy publicly; it is another to acknowledge the deeper, systemic issues that led to Jitoboh’s untimely and unjust removal. It is easy to send out official messages, but how often do we examine the emotional, physical, and psychological toll such systemic failures take on individuals? The true loss here is not just that of an officer—it is the personal, institutional, and moral loss of a nation that continues to let power and political manipulation rule over fairness, justice, and merit.

The reality is, Jitoboh’s death wasn’t just about his passing; it was the culmination of months of emotional suffering, financial uncertainty, legal battles, and the slow erosion of his dignity—all at the hands of a broken system. This isn’t a story of a man just losing a job. It’s a story of a person losing their identity, their sense of purpose, and ultimately, their life. It is not merely a loss for his family, but a tragic reflection of a justice system that has failed him in every sense of the word.

The situation surrounding Jitoboh’s forced retirement raises significant concerns about the very integrity of the Nigeria Police Force. His removal was not a result of any professional failings but of an underlying political and ethnic agenda. His forced retirement opened the door for the promotion of a junior officer, which may have been motivated by the desire to ensure that a more politically favorable candidate could step into the role. The message this sends is clear: in some institutions, loyalty to the political establishment takes precedence over professional merit, experience, and the ability to serve the country effectively.

Now, with the ruling vindicating Jitoboh’s fight for justice, the real question remains: How will those in power respond to the systemic issues highlighted by his case? Will the current Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, step up and take responsibility for the injustices that led to Jitoboh’s premature retirement? Will he speak out against a system that allowed such egregious actions to take place, or will he choose to remain silent and allow the cycle of political manipulation to continue unchecked?

The silence of those in power in the face of such blatant injustice only serves to perpetuate the problem. The political games that have been played for far too long within the Nigeria Police Force must come to an end. This is a moment for true leadership to shine. The question is: will it? How many more careers, how many more lives, must be sacrificed before those in power recognize the damage they are causing to the integrity of the police force and the country as a whole?

As Professor Chidi Odinkalu, former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), poignantly noted on January 13, 2025, “Ambakina Moses Jitoboh was the senior-most officer in @PoliceNG when he was prematurely retired in 2023. He sued. Judgment was due last month but wasn’t ready. Two weeks thereafter, Moses died prematurely at 54. Today, @NatIndCourtNig nullified his retirement & reinstated him. #RIP.” These words, shared by one of Nigeria’s leading human rights figures, echo the frustration that many Nigerians feel about a system that continuously fails its people, a system that continues to delay justice and perpetuate inequality. For Jitoboh, justice came too late, but his posthumous reinstatement remains a powerful symbol of the legal and moral victory he deserved.

The true cost of DIG Moses Ambakina Jitoboh’s forced retirement goes beyond his personal loss—it is a devastating loss to the entire nation. The promotion of junior officers, not based on merit but driven by political and ethnic considerations, sends a dangerous message about the state of leadership in Nigeria. It undermines the professionalism and integrity of the police force, creating divisions that harm its ability to protect and serve the people. This system of favoritism must end. Nigeria’s institutions must be restored to their rightful place as impartial, merit-based systems, where the best interests of the nation come before all else.

The Ijaw Diaspora mourns the loss of DIG Moses Ambakina Jitoboh, a man whose life embodied integrity, excellence, and a deep commitment to justice. His untimely death is a profound tragedy, not only for his family but for the Ijaw people across the world. From the United States to Europe, Ijaw communities have united in grief, lamenting the loss of a leader who could have redefined Nigeria’s police force. “Moses Jitoboh was one of our brightest, a man whose potential was denied by a system blinded by politics and tribalism,” they said. His repeated sidelining for the role of Inspector General, despite being the most qualified, has left the Ijaw people heartbroken. “His fight was our fight,” a leader in the UK said. “We lost a son who could have led us to a better future.”

His passing is a painful reminder of the systemic bias that continues to marginalize the Ijaw community. Yet, Moses Jitoboh was more than an officer—he was a symbol of hope, a voice for justice, and a beacon for change. His death does not erase the impact of his vision and his ideals. Even in death, his legacy continues to inspire, and his name will be remembered, day and night, by the Ijaw people. Rest in peace, Moses. Your fight was not in vain.

From the heights above, DIG Moses Ambakina Jitoboh now watches over us. Though taken from this world at the tender age of 54, his spirit remains unwavering. His life was tragically cut short, but it was filled with unwavering service and dedication to justice. From the heavens, he gazes down on President Bola Tinubu and IGP Kayode Egbetokun, speaking softly yet powerfully: “It took time, but I knew I was right. The injustice I faced, the battles I fought—my truth has always been clear. Well, I am gone now, but I hope you remember my name, day and night. My fight was not for myself, but for the integrity of the police force and the future of our nation. Remember my legacy, not just in passing, but in action. Let my name remind you that justice cannot be delayed, and integrity must always lead the way. Even from the heavens, I continue to stand for truth, reform, and a Nigeria where justice is not a game, but a reality.”

Jitoboh’s death must serve as a wake-up call to us all. The time for power games must end. We can no longer tolerate systems that sacrifice justice and fairness. Leadership in the Nigeria Police Force must be defined by integrity and dedication, not political or ethnic allegiances. This is the lasting legacy of DIG Moses Ambakina Jitoboh—justice, integrity, and reform. Let his story ignite a new era of transparency and fairness, one that honors the sacrifices of those who have given themselves to the service of the people.

In any democracy, political parties serve as the lifeblood of governance, ideology, and policy direction. They provide platforms for citizens to align with visions and philosophies that reflect their aspirations. In Nigeria, however, this foundational role has been subverted by the rampant culture of political cross-carpeting, where politicians shamelessly decamp from one party to another, often without ideological justification. This behavior undermines democracy and erodes good governance.

The term decamping has become synonymous with Nigerian politics. Hardly a month passes without news of a high-profile politician defecting to a new party. The reasons cited often range from internal party crises to vague claims of alignment with a new party’s ideology. However, a closer examination reveals a different story: selfish ambitions, personal vendettas, and a quest for political survival at the expense of the electorate.

Consider the 2018 wave of defections before the general elections. Several prominent politicians, including former Senate President Bukola Saraki, switched allegiances between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). These moves were neither driven by ideological considerations nor policy differences but by political calculations aimed at retaining or acquiring power. Similarly, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has changed party affiliations multiple times, oscillating between the PDP, APC, and even forming new parties when his ambitions were thwarted.

Without a doubt, democracy thrives on ideological commitment, party discipline, and respect for the electorate. Unfortunately, political decamping in Nigeria blatantly violates these principles. It turns political parties into mere vehicles for accessing power rather than institutions built on shared beliefs and visions.

When politicians abandon their parties, they betray the trust of voters who elected them based on specific party platforms. A case in point is the 2020 defection of Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State from the PDP to the APC. His move sparked outrage among his constituents, who argued that they had voted for him based on the PDP’s manifesto, not the APC’s. Such actions render elections meaningless, as voters cannot trust politicians to stay true to their commitments.

Furthermore, the culture of political cross-carpeting encourages a lack of accountability. Politicians who face criticism or challenges within their parties often see defection as a convenient escape route, avoiding the hard work of resolving internal conflicts. This lack of accountability weakens the internal structures of political parties and stifles democratic growth.

In fact, the consequences of political decamping extend beyond party politics; they directly affect governance. When politicians prioritize personal ambitions over party loyalty, it creates instability within governments and weakens policy continuity.

For instance, during the 2019 elections, the mass defections between the APC and PDP led to significant political instability. Legislators and governors who defected often realigned their priorities to suit their new parties, abandoning ongoing projects and policies. This lack of continuity disrupts development and leaves citizens at the mercy of a chaotic political landscape.

Moreover, political cross-carpeting fosters a culture of opportunism that undermines meritocracy. Politicians who frequently switch parties often do so to align themselves with those in power, securing positions and benefits without necessarily contributing to governance. This creates an environment where loyalty to individuals, rather than competence or service to the people, becomes the criterion for appointments.

In mature democracies, party loyalty and ideological consistency are cornerstones of political practice. In the United States, for example, party-switching is rare and often viewed with suspicion. When politicians like Senator Arlen Specter switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party in 2009, he faced significant scrutiny, with his motives questioned by both parties and the public.

Similarly, in the United Kingdom, party defections are uncommon and usually result from profound ideological disagreements. Even when defection occurs, the defecting politician often resigns from his or her position to seek a fresh mandate from the electorate. This practice underscores the principle that voters, not politicians, should determine political representation.

Nigeria’s political landscape, in contrast, has normalized defection to such an extent that it is seen as a strategic move rather than a breach of democratic principles. This normalization erodes public trust in the political system and diminishes Nigeria’s standing as a democracy.

One of the reasons political cross-carpeting persists in Nigeria is the lack of stringent legal and institutional frameworks to deter it. While the Nigerian Constitution provides some guidelines on party defections, these provisions are often ambiguous and inconsistently enforced. For example, Section 68(1) (g) of the Constitution states that a legislator should vacate their seat if they defect from the party on whose platform they were elected, except in cases of a division within the party. However, this clause has been subject to varying interpretations, allowing politicians to exploit legal loopholes.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is expedient to opine that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary must take a firmer stance on this issue. This is as clearer guidelines and stricter enforcement mechanisms are needed to hold defecting politicians accountable. Additionally, political parties must strengthen their internal governance structures to resolve conflicts and discourage defections.

Therefore, to address the menace of political cross-carpeting, Nigeria must adopt a multi-pronged approach that cut across strengthening electoral laws, promoting internal party democracy, educating the electorate, enhancing political ideology and exercising judicial oversight. 

Explanatorily put, The National Assembly should amend the Constitution to include more stringent provisions against defections. For instance, defecting politicians should automatically lose their seats and be required to seek a fresh mandate from the electorate.

In a similar vein, political parties must prioritize internal democracy, ensuring that members have a voice in decision-making processes. This will reduce grievances that often lead to defections.

Also in a similar vein, citizens must understand the importance of holding politicians accountable for their actions. Voters should demand explanations from defecting politicians and resist the normalization of cross-carpeting.

Added to the above is that Political parties in Nigeria must move beyond being platforms for winning elections. They should develop clear ideologies and policy frameworks that guide their members’ actions and decisions.

Also, the judiciary must adopt a more proactive role in interpreting and enforcing laws on party defections. Swift and decisive rulings will deter opportunistic politicians from abusing the system.

Political cross-carpeting is a cancer that threatens the foundations of Nigeria’s democracy and good governance. By prioritizing personal ambitions over ideological commitment, politicians have turned elections into a farce and governance into a game of survival.

To preserve democracy and ensure effective governance, Nigeria must confront this issue head-on. Political parties, the judiciary, electoral bodies, and citizens all have a role to play in curbing this destructive trend. The time for action is now; the future of Nigeria’s democracy depends on it.

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday alleged an attempt by security operatives to arrest one of its star witnesses ahead of the resumption of the governorship election tribunal sitting on Wednesday.

Naija News reports that a viral video circulating online showed the PDP’s governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, alongside the party’s lead counsel, Ken Mozia, and other party members, intervening as a plainclothes operative attempted to detain the witness.

The video, which surfaced late Tuesday, captured heated exchanges as party faithful tried to prevent the arrest.

One individual, believed to be a PDP supporter, claimed the witnesses and counsel were in a conference room at a hotel, preparing for the tribunal proceedings, when the attempted arrest occurred.

The governorship election tribunal is set to resume on Wednesday, with the PDP presenting its case challenging the outcome of the September 21 poll.

The party alleges irregularities and is seeking to overturn the election results in favor of its candidate, Ighodalo.

The PDP chieftain said, “All of a sudden, one of the security operatives said that the EFCC want to arrest witnesses of Ighodalo who are supposed to be in court on Wednesday in the first public hearing.

“They had no papers, they had no warrant of arrest, they had nothing and they just presented an identity card. Who does that? And taking into the fact that it is like reinforcing brazen criminality

“Ighodalo was even diplomatic and he let them to understand the enormity of what they are doing. The Nigerian Security Services and the EFCC cannot be an offshoot of a political party or people who want to pervert justice. So they are doing this on the eve of the case.

“These witnesses are not on the run.There is no invitation prior to this time asking these people to report anywhere. They just came and there are three young who now went back to their vehicle and left the whole place in chaos.”

An official of the hotel believed to be owned owned by a popular politician in the state said that the operatives claimed they were on investigation and that the individual who were looking for was not a lodger in the hotel.

The burial of Comrade Bene Madunagu on Friday in Calabar will be a fitting farewell to a socialist revolutionary, scholar, feminist and patriot whose life and times could be summed up as the struggle for human progress. 

Tomorrow, family members, comrades, friends, colleagues and well wishers are expected to assemble to celebrate her in a potpourri of funeral activities including a feminist forum, lecture, tributes, cultural performances and renditions by mentees.

She was 77.

Comrade Bene, who died on November 26 last year, retired from the University of Calabar (Unical) as a professor of botany after many years of teaching and influencing generations of students and mentees. Before then she was an assistant lecturer at the University of Lagos.  Bene and her spouse, comrade and life-long collaborator, Comrade Eddie Madunagu, moved to Calabar in 1976. 

She earned degrees from the University of Lagos and University of Ibadan.  

Not a few members of the generation of university students of the late 1970s would, perhaps, have it etched in their memories the momentous events now historically dubbed “Ali Must Go.” The Ali in the slogan was Colonel Ahmadu Ali, the federal commissioner for education in the military government of General Olusegun Obasanjo. While tuition was free, students had staged a nation-wide protest against increases in the cost of accommodation and feeding. Things turned bloody and lives were lost. In the aftermath of this struggle for socio-economic justice, the military government responded with some repressive measures. Two vice chancellors, some lecturers, non-academic staff and a journalist were sacked. Student leaders were rusticated.

Among the victims was a Unical couple- Bene and Eddie Madunagu. The military government got Bene deported from the United Kingdom where she was pursuing an academic programme. They were ejected from the staff quarters.

This was just one of the better known sacrifices that Bene made gallantly in the course of the struggle.

In her younger days of revolutionary energy, she had even elected in company of other comrades to make the struggle for socialist Nigeria a full-time career. 

Significantly, a number of Bene’s comrades have been paying tributes to her revolutionary memory. These include the recall of events at different periods in the last 50 years of Bene’s life by Comrades Najeem Jimoh, Owei Lakemfa and Chido Onumah in sweep reviews of her activities and thoughts in various organisations to which she belonged. Some of those organisations were the Nigerian Youth Action Committee (NYAC) Anti-Poverty Movement of Nigeria (APMON), the Calabar Group of Socialists and the Movement of Peoples Democracy and the Democratic Action Committee (DACOM).

 Hopefully after the funeral there would still be conferences and publications on the various aspects of her versatile life defined by remarkable brilliance and untiring hard work.

From whichever perspective you reflect on the revolutionary career of Comrade Bene what you would find unmistakable was her immense humanity.  Ideologically, she was distinguished by her clarity of purpose, courage of conviction, notable consistency and unyielding commitment.  She was never a pretender on matters of principle. A well-organised human being, Bene could be brutally honest in making her point. I used to tease her that if we had a socialist government I could never propose her for the job of a diplomat because she was frank to a fault. She would retort that I was rather suited for that purpose because the nature of the movement was such that comrades had attributes for different purposes. Hence she nominated me to be the external relations officer in our Calabar group, DACOM. My task was to liaise with other comrades and groups in different parts of the country.

To her younger comrades, Bene was first and foremost an inspirer. She never doubted that popular-democratic struggles could be the basis for the transformation of Nigeria into a humane social order. She was always quick to add that this could only be a result of a disciplined organisation. Rather than agonise, she would rather call for proper organisation. In her praxis, she demonstrated a good mastery of the dialectics of tactics and strategy.

After the Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, many socialists in the world became disillusioned and began to doubt the efficacy of socialism as system that could be efficiently productive as well as ensure distributive justice. The Nigerian Left was not spared of this atmosphere of despair enveloping many socialist parties and groups globally.

In many ways, Comrade Bene’s ideological personality was an exemplar of her generation of the Nigerian Left and the generation preceding it. The virtues of this generation include deep comprehension of the ideas of the struggle and the conscious efforts to reproduce cadres. For instance, Comrade Eskor Toyo, who also operated from Calabar during the same period, was in the generation before that of Comrade Bene. He was also a huge inspirer and a great mobiliser. Unfortunately, and this is on a self-critical note, succeeding generations have not been able to make sufficient advancement of this legacy.

 As a Marxist, Bene was also a self-professed feminist. In a 2008 piece she wrote for an international publication entitled “Voice, Power and Soul: Portraits of African Feminism,” Bene put the matter squarely like this: “I am an absolutely confirmed feminist, with no ”ifs’ or ‘buts.”  I am a feminist by choice and conviction… I am passionate about combating gender discrimination and insensitivity in whatever forms. I am a committed human rights defender and I work in defence of victims of sexual abuse and all forms of violence against women and girls.” She was neither abstract nor vulgar in her feminism. The feat she achieved with the Calabar branch of Girls Power Initiative (GPI) remains a testament to her feminist practice. Here is a solid establishment on ground for the empowerment and orientation of girls about their rights and responsibilities in the society. In partnership with Grace Osakue, the GPI was established in Nigeria in 1993 with the national headquarters in Nigeria. Scores of girls have been trained in the institution and its community activities have extended to other south-south states. Bene was also a founding member of Women in Nigeria (WIN), a feminist movement that emerged in 1982 to reframe the gender debates in Nigeria.   

Bene was a leader in the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).  She was a two-term chairperson the Unical branch of ASUU with a national prominence.

It was Comrade Sonni Anyang who introduced me to Bene and Eddie in 1978 and since then I became a comrade member of the family. I often stayed in their house during holidays.  Anyang, now a member of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMAC), was then the leader of the Unical branch of the Movement for a Progressive Nigeria (MPN), a Marxist students’ group, with branches and allied groups on campuses. MPN was such a fertile ground for breeding cadres with ideological clarity. For instance, President Umaru Yar’Adua once said in an interview that he was a product of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) branch of MPN.   

Comrade Bene often referred to me as her ideological son and I called her my ideological mother. In a 2017 publication of tributes to mark the 70th birthday of Bene, Eddie expressly acknowledged this relationship between me and Bene.  In that piece, Eddie also said the same thing of Comrade Biodun Jeyifo (BJ), who is the Chairman of the Advisory Board of the magnificent Socialist Library and Archives (SOLAR), the nucleus of which is constituted by the books, papers and other documents. The digitalization of SOLAR is in earnest. By the way, at another level Eddie and BJ constitute an ideological duo.  

Comrade Bene could sometimes be sharply critical of me; yet she was often my unyielding defender. Whatever concerned me was taken as her business.

Maybe it would suffice to recall a few touching moments to illustrate this mother-son relationship.  

In the light of the mood in the family during Bene’s 70th birthday, she and Eddie opted to have a quiet moment at a resort in Uyo. I was invited to make a trio for the occasion to reflect on a number of issues.

Some years ago, Bene called to inform me about an attack on her by robbers, who dispossessed her of some valuables.  From her voice it was evident she was seriously traumatised. In the evening of the following day I called to ask about her condition and how to replace some of the lost items especially the handsets. Her response: “KK, I had expected you would be in Calabar by now given what happened to me.” I was speechless and moved to tears. I arrived Calabar two days later in the true sense of solidarity.

The day I introduced my wife, Funmi, to Bene as my fiancée, Bene told her that I was her son and she should be conscious of the implication of getting married to a Marxist socialist. From that day on she also adopted Funmi as a daughter.  When she died the sad news was broken to our children as the death of the grandma in Calabar.

Very early in the relationship, Bene and Eddie left me in no doubt about my integration into their family apart from the fact that all of us belonged to the same movement as comrades. There was an issue on which both of them not  only agreed to seek my view but  to consent  whatever verdict I passed on the matter. With Bene behind the steering in their blue Volkswagen Beetle, the comrades came from Calabar to see me, a 22-year old youth corps member, in Takum Taraba State (it was then part of   the old Gongola State). I shared a humble three-bed room flat with two other corps members. To the amazement of my co-tenants who had known my visitors by reputation as radical lecturers, we didn’t look for a hotel room. Eddie and Bene spent the night in the little house where we had frank and comradely discussions till early hours of the following day. Issues were resolved and the visitors returned to Calabar in the morning. Till I left Takum other youth corps members kept talking about the comradeship displayed by Bene and Eddie. 

Invariably, a tribute to the memory of Bene would compel a salute to Eddie, in particular for one reason. The last seven years of Comrade Bene battling with Alzheimer’s have indeed been trying times for Eddie. His movement has been restricted to Calabar (without any court order!) as the chief career of Bene. I often told those who asked after Eddie that he had been virtually a detainee as he took care of Bene every day. The condition of Bene has also progressively drained Eddie physically, mentally, emotionally and, of course, materially. But he has soldiered on with a rare dedication to his wife and comrade.

In a tribute paid to Bene on her 70th birthday, Eddie dwelt on “the meaning and attributes of love.” Eddie, who professes no religion, wrote inter alia: “I refer my readers – revolutionaries and non- revolutionaries, Christians and non-Christians- to what Saint Paul said in the 13th Chapter of the First Letter to the People of Corinth…” My comrade was referring to this passage in the Bible: “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love’’ – 1 Corinthians 13:13

Eddie found himself later in a psychological laboratory for testing this biblical doctrine for seven years. I dare say that he has done incredibly well by demonstrating to Bene the genuine love while she might  not even be conscious of his presence.   

Yet, this tribute would not be complete without expressing gratitude to comrades, friends, colleagues and well -wishers who have shown love and solidarity to both Bene  and Eddie in the last seven years. The support received  so far  has been nothing but great.

With the death of Comrade Bene a genuine revolutionary has indeed departed from our midst.

May her tribe increase.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has pledged the National Assembly’s commitment to completing the electoral reform process ahead of the 2027 general elections, emphasising that every vote must count.

Speaking Tuesday as the Senate resumed after the yuletide break, Akpabio, in a speech titled “Rising to the Greatness of Our Calling,” stressed the importance of strengthening electoral processes for party primaries, congresses and conventions.

“Electoral reform must be completed this year. As the nation begins preparations for the next election cycle 2027, we have a unique opportunity to strengthen our electoral act for the congresses, primaries and conventions,” he said.

Akpabio said, “It is our chance to give Nigerians an election that is transparent and credible and reflective of their will. Every vote must count.

“The foundation of every thriving democracy is trust in its electoral process. Electoral reform is not just a legislative duty; it is a moral imperative. It is our chance to gift the Nigerian people a system that is transparent, credible and reflective of their will.”

The Senate president urged lawmakers to remain steadfast in their responsibilities and dedicated to fostering peace and unity in the country. He identified two key priorities: the passage of the 2025 budget and completing electoral reforms.

Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, called on senators to rededicate themselves to the task of nation-building, saying, “We must rise to the greatness of our calling to fix Nigeria.”

On his part, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, outlined the House’s legislative priorities for 2025, with a focus on passing the Tax Reform Bills and the Appropriation Bill.

In his address, read by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Abbas emphasised the significance of the reforms in driving economic recovery and fiscal stability.

“Our legislative agenda for 2025 prioritises the passage of the Appropriation Bill and the Tax Reform Bills, both pivotal to broadening the tax base, improving compliance and reducing dependency on external borrowing,” he said.

The speaker stressed the importance of equity in implementing the reforms, ensuring they address the needs of all Nigerians, particularly vulnerable populations.

He acknowledged the socioeconomic challenges facing the country, including hunger, poverty and recent tragic events like stampedes during palliative distributions and civilian casualties during military operations, as stark reminders of governance complexities.

To promote transparency and inclusivity, Abbas announced plans for a Citizens’ Town Hall on the national budget. This initiative aims to provide Nigerians with a platform to engage directly with lawmakers on fiscal matters, reinforcing public trust and accountability.

He further noted that constitutional amendments would address governance challenges and promote inclusivity and equity.

The speaker reaffirmed the importance of constructive collaboration between the legislative and executive arms of government while maintaining institutional independence.

“Our collective efforts should be focused on policies that prioritise the welfare of the people and strengthen the foundations of our democracy,” he added.

[DailyTrust]

Nigerian workers have again demanded at least 50 percent wage increase from the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu government to cushion the impact of the country’s untamed inflation.

The demand was re-echoed in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Monday by a senior executive of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, who preferred anonymity.

The wage rise demand comes barely six months after the minimum wage increase in July, 2024.

The workers want the presidential economic team to double down on policies that are inflicting pains on Nigerians in the last months.

“We have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a wage review. There is a difference between wage review and minimum wage negotiation.

“We had a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; about seven or eight ministers were in attendance.

“They agreed that due to the country’s inflation, that there is a need for a wage review. We will officially write to the government for a wage review.

“On the proposed wage review, the leadership of NLC will meet to determine the exact amount, as you are aware prices have doubled after the last minimum wage review.

“Similarly, the President and his media team should double down on their harsh economic policies,” the NLC source told DAILY POST.

Meanwhile, calls DAILY POST made to NLC spokesperson, Benjamin Upah and its Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

DAILY POST reports that the central reason for the call for a wage rise was due to the rising cost of living in Nigeria.

Recall that Tinubu, in the build-up to the N70,000 minimum wage rise, had said he would accept a N250,000 wage rise if fuel prices were increased.

The President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, confirmed Tinubu’s position on the reason the union accepted the N70,000 minimum wage increase.

Despite the eventual minimum wage increase approved by Tinubu in July last year, the rise in the price of Premium Motor Spirit and other macroeconomic challenges had depleted the impact of the N70,000 minimum wage increase.

For instance, an average fuel price that stood at N770.54 per litre in July 2024 rose to between N935 and N1,100 on 13th January, 2025.

This means that between when the minimum wage was approved and now, fuel prices, a major determinant of the prices of goods and services, rose by N339, or 30 percent.

The National Bureau of Statistics, in its November Consumer Price Index and Inflation data, said headline and food inflation rose to 34.60 percent and 39.93 percent, respectively.

To this end, it is the eroding value of the N70,000 minimum wage that has made Nigerian workers demand a wage rise.

Also, speaking on the controversy of the four tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly, the NLC member asked Tinubu to review the threshold for workers that would enjoy zero taxation from N800,000 per annum to N1.5 million.

He aligned with NLC president, Joe Ajaero’s recent remarks that with the way the tax bill is structured with the minimum wage of N70,000, the majority of workers would have to pay more to the federal government as tax.

According to the source, the current structure of the tax bills means all Nigerian workers would pay more taxes to the government.

DAILY POST reports that President Tinubu, in his first media chat, said that four tax bills, namely the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, are needed to retool the economy.

However, the bills had continued to generate controversies. Among those opposed to them are Northern governors, the National Economic Council, and other leaders from Northern regions.

Reacting, the NLC source decried that instead of the government lifting the pains of Nigerians at the time of skyrocketing costs of living, it wants to add to the burden.

“You are paying the lowest paid N70,000 as a minimum wage and you want to exclude only those from N0-N800,000 to be zero-taxed.

“What does that tell you? When you multiply N70,000 by 12 months, it will amount to N840,000; thereby, this means every Nigerian worker will pay more tax to the federal government.

“If in reality the government wants to exclude lower-income earners, the threshold should be N1.5 million, not N800,000, because inflation has eroded the value of the Naira.

“What is the point of collecting tax from a people already impoverished and who cannot afford a bag of rice?

“The government should be talking about how to reduce the burden on Nigerians, not add more by taxation,” he said.

DAILY POST reports that Ajaero had said the Nigerian government should address concerns in the tax bills.

[DailyPost]

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance has given revenue-generating agencies 48 48-hour ultimatum to appear or risk being withdrawn from government funding for 2025 operations.

It decried their failure to honour invitations for their 2025 budget defence and their revenue-generating profile.

The agencies include the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Nigerian Postal Service (NPS), and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

Others are the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority and the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The Nigerian Copyright Commission, National Insurance Commission, National Pensions Commission, National Space and Research Development Agency, and the Nigerian Metrological Agency are also included.

The rest are the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporations, Airspace Management Authority, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Bank of Industry (BoI), and Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaira.

Speaking during the second day of the revenue profiling exercise, Chairman of the Senate Committee of Finance, Senator Sani Musa (APC-Niger), said President Bola Tinubu, while presenting the 2025 budget to the National Assembly, mandated all ministers and heads of agencies to appear to defend their respective budgets before the Assembly.

According to Senator Musa, members of the National Assembly had to cut short their Christmas holidays to attend to the national assignment.

“But to our dismay, a lot of agencies have refused to honour our invitations to appear before us, for us to scrutinise their performances in 2024 and look at their 2025 projection, if it is justifiable.

“These agencies have refused to honour the Joint Committee’s invitation.

“So, by virtue of the constitutional powers given to the Joint Committees on Finance of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, we are given the chief executives of these agencies 48 hours within which to appear before this Joint Committee.

“Failure to do that, the Committee will not hesitate to recommend to the Appropriation Committee to withhold any appropriation to these agencies.

“If these agencies are self-funded, we will also request both the Minister of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation to withhold their funding,” he said.

Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, James Faleke (APC-Lagos State), said the essence of the budget defence exercise was to boost revenue generation and cut down on borrowing.

“If these agencies refuse to appear before us, the needful will be done by the National Assembly,” he said.

The Senate adjourned plenary till January 28 to enable heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to defend their allocations in the N49.7trillion 2025 Appropriations Bill before its relevant committees.

The Senate’s resolution to suspend plenary for two weeks followed a motion moved by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ashiru Oyelola.

Senators approved the motion when it was put to voice vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

[TheNation]