The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

Fed govt vs states

•Supreme Court to decide fate of LGs

Finally, the Federal Government’s suit against states’ handling of local government affairs and finances has been fixed for June 13. The apex court panel hearing the matter has instructed states to file all their processes, including counter-affidavits, within seven days, while the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) who urged the court to abridge time would have two days to respond. Then, the battle would have been fully joined.

It is bad enough that 25 years after the 1999 Constitution has been in operation, no one knows exactly how the government closest to the people should be run. The constitution, in section 7, dictates that only democratically elected governance model is allowed at that level. But, in practice, state governors have been selecting leaders and dissolving the structure at will. Whereas every state has a law governing operations of the local governments, elections, or what is just some form of election, is only held at the behest of governors. In some states, elections of any description were not held for close to two decades. Rather, caretaker committees were put in place to handle affairs at that level.

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At the heart of it, as the AGF, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said in the processes he filed, is a bid to control the local governments’ finances. The constitution has spelt out how funds from the Federation Account should be shared among the three tiers of government, but eagle-eyed states were able to locate a lacuna in the supreme law of the country, as such money is meant to be paid into a Local Government- State Joint Account, with the second tier government paying some counterpart funding into the account.

Besides, the fact that each state has a ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs headed by a commissioner, and an elaborate body of laws to guide the operations is seen as a tacit endorsement of state control.

There are two other ways of settling the matter. The National Assembly could set in motion amendment to the controversial sections of the grundnorm, deciding the limits to the power of the federal and state governments. The President could also, as some legislators have suggested, proclaim an Executive Order on the issue. However, going by the response of political/regional leaders, neither would be easily accepted, hence the resort to the judicial route.

A solution will have to be found quickly in the interest of the people. Beyond the legal solution, there is the political. A third tier is meant to bring governance closer to the people and ensure that they have access to good life. It is a means of mobilising the people to support governments’ programmes and projects. In a country where things have been tough and there is dysfunctionality, galvanising the people is very important in order to build confidence for development.

It is obvious that with regards to interpreting the law, referring the matter to the highest court of the land could help resolve the matter. But, the battle for the soul of the local governments would not end with this case. There is a more substantial issue of constitutional justice. If the Federal Government wins the case, it is seen to have been handed the prize of taking charge at the lower level, and where a different political party is in charge of the state government, the three tiers will remain at loggerheads. The government at the centre would be seen as an interloper in running affairs at the lower level. And, should the states win, the situation in which they have been shortchanging the people over the years would continue.

As some senators suggested last week, there is an urgent need for the President to put on the toga of ‘Father of the Nation’ and rally round the people at all levels and of all sectors to deliberate on the matter. Whatever the situation, the people’s interest must prevail.

June 5, 2024
Murder at ACU

•Security needs to be strengthened on the campus

Hugging the news headlines for the wrong reasons last week, the Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo, in Oyo State, was numbered among one of those higher institutions in Nigeria with students whose conduct run contrary to the codes of cultured and disciplined behaviour predicated on sound knowledge which is supposed to be the hallmark of tertiary education. A 200-level Mechanical Engineering student of the institution, Akor Alex Timilehin, was reportedly beaten to death on the campus by a group of his fellow students who accused him of stealing a mobile phone.

According to reports, the deceased was severely beaten and manhandled by his assailants numbering no less than 12 for several hours inside a students hostel on the school premises known as Shepherd Inn. If the deceased had indeed stolen a phone, shouldn’t the alleged infraction have been reported to the requisite authorities? The tortuous treatment of the late student was said to have begun at around 8pm on a Friday night and continued until 10am the following Saturday, when the victim gave up the ghost.

Giving an update on the incident to the press, the vice-chancellor of the institution, Professor Timothy Adebayo, said that 18 students had earlier been arrested and handed over to the police at the Iyaganku Police Station, Ibadan, which had pruned the number of suspects to 12, even as investigations continue.

Read Also: Abuja Police allays fearsover influx of bandits

Exuding deep emotion on the incident, the vice-chancellor said the management of the school had put in place measures to ensure a high level of discipline and ensure safety of lives and property. In his words, “We have a monitoring team that moves around. We have a security team. The management moves around to check that things are in order, to ensure that students comply with the mechanism put in place”. Towards this objective, he said, the institution had strong rules to prevent bullying and cultism. While no bushes are allowed to grow on the premises from where cultists can operate, he said students who engage in bullying and other acts of lawlessness are immediately dismissed.

The vice-chancellor understandably tried to sustain the confidence of parents in the security of their children in the school’s care when he said, “Ajayi Crowther University is safe. We raise students with godly character. We are telling the parents now that their children are in safe hands here”. But it will take more than mere words for many parents to believe this as the tragic incident leaves a number of critical questions unanswered.

How effective, for instance, were the security measures put in place in and around the hostel where this murder was perpetrated and, by extension, in other places on the campus premises? Was it that there were no other students around who could have raised the alarm when their colleagues were carrying out this dastardly act? How could the beating and torture of the deceased have gone on without attracting the attention of the security personnel attached to the facility, if any?

A member of the delegation from Uvwie and Warri kingdoms of Delta State, where the deceased hailed from, who visited the school on a fact-finding mission, Yemi Otuedon, complained about the condition of the hostel where the atrocity was perpetrated. According to him, “If you see where these children are staying, they are like prisoners despite the kind of money paid to the school”. Alleging that the school authorities had tidied up the residence of the deceased where he was killed and arranged his things on the floor before their arrival, he said, “There were injuries all over his head and body. If you saw the body, you would know it wasn’t a small bleed, and they went to clean the house where he was beaten. They mopped it off. Is that not a wicked school?”

Ordinarily, the police to whom the incident was reported ought to have sought to assess the scene of the crime before the place was tampered with. There is no indication this was done. We join the call for diligent investigation of this crime by the police so that the culprits will be made to face the law and justice done.

Those who are familiar with the institution say it was not like this before. Not that they never had bad students like some other higher institutions, public or private, but such bad eggs were identified and dismissed, no matter how highly connected, before they could cause serious problems for the university. That was a time that ACU lived up to its motto of ‘Raising Godly Intellectuals’ who “proceed in their lifelong experience to become agents of great positive change and transformation in their immediate environment, the nation and the world as a whole”.

Anyway, the vice-chancellor has stated that the management has learnt pertinent lessons and that new measures will be put in place to improve security. These include increasing the number of security operatives and porters, complementing existing security personnel with officers of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and ensuring that all students, porters and security personnel undergo mandatory drug tests. This is welcome. Nothing should be spared to guarantee safety of lives and property in the school and ensure that due value is received from the school fees paid.

June 5, 2024
Senegal’s romance with Sahelian Junta

On June 1, Senegal played host to a conference with the theme “The Alliance of Sahel States, a new platform for Senegal’s regional integration”. The development has potential implications on the unity and cohesion among ECOWAS member states. Junta leaders in Mali and Burkina Faso along with their counterparts in Niger, had set up what they called Sahel Alliance States (AES/ASS) last September and announced their countries’ withdrawal from ECOWAS in January this year.

ECOWAS, after lifting the sanctions imposed on the three countries along with Guinea over the military takeover of elected civilian governments, has insisted on the return of the four to constitutional rule. However, the junta leaders have proposed long political transition timetables of three to five years, with provisions that they will also be eligible for post-transition elections.

Analysts consider this confirmation that the soldiers are out for a power grab rather than their professed salvation of the population.

On May 16, President Diomaye Faye had paid a lightning visit to Nigeria for talks with President Bola Tinubu, the current chairman of ECOWAS. During their discussion, both men agreed to work together, toward the return of the four countries to the ECOWAS fold.

ECOWAS has never recognised the AES/ASS as an entity, neither has any country or organisation. The regional bloc also maintains that the withdrawal of any member state takes a one-year procedure according to the organisation’s protocol.

Read Also: Tinubu renews vow to enhance quality of life

Assuming Faye is working on behalf of ECOWAS, his government’s hosting of a conference with AES/ASS member states as a group could be interpreted as a recognition of the group and this could pose a diplomatic problem for his administration and the cohesion/unity of ECOWAS.

Senegal as a sovereign nation can engage in bilateral cooperation with any of the three countries but engaging them as a group could constitute an affront to ECOWAS and undermine the collective efforts by the regional bloc to win back the four countries.

Senegal’s Minister for Livestock, Dr Mabouba Diagne, was quoted during Faye’s visit to Bamako on May 21, as saying that Senegal in 2022, exported goods worth more than US$1 billion to Mali, with petroleum products as the main export followed by cement, while meat imports from Mali contributed “significantly to the development of Senegalese agriculture.”

The AES/ASS countries have established joint forces to fight terrorism and armed groups while sharing intelligence, and Senegalese Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko is quoted as saying, that he “shared the visions of the AES/ASS leaders and was ready to support them.”

The big question is whether Senegal is pursuing its bilateral/national interests or working for ECOWAS by hosting this meeting?

•Paul Ejime, <paulejime@outlook.com>

June 5, 2024
Bullying kills: Stop eye injury

Bullying: There Must Be Consequences Pls! Bullying, school gangs are not new. Every school leaver easily remembers verbal and physical bullies. NB ‘WORDS WILL ALWAYS HURT YOU!’

In primary school when I was 10, I was viciously pushed from behind over a basketball foot bar by an unknown student. I fell on my face and cut my lip and tongue and lost a front incisor tooth and a half tooth leading to a lifetime of dental appointments, agony and over 100 gum injections. My bully got away with CHILD ABUSE and Grievous Bodily Harm and appears ‘innocently’ at reunions.

Professor Wole Soyinka recalls how he and two colleagues waylaid a bully in Government College. Pa Soyinka, then not a Pa, jumped from a tree onto the shoulders of the predatory bully.

Today, do not take on the bullies, as in Soyinka days but do not be silent. JUST PRIVATELY REPORT BULLIES TO THE AUTHORITIES AND TELL YOUR PARENTS AS BACKUP. SILENCE IS DANGEROUS!

Sadly, weekly we see many youth with AN EYE DAMAGED FOR LIFE by ‘friendly fire’ or ‘neighbourhood wicked Fellow Nigerian child’ throwing a stone or stabbing with biro or pencil or catapulted broomstick, pellet or pebble or a ‘DIRTY SLAP’. Worse, sometimes the perpetrator is a parent or teacher, lashing with a belt or a stick at a ‘naughty’ squirming child who turns an eye to the weapon. Such an injury could also be ‘AN EYE AS COLLATERAL DAMAGE’ in nearby children observing the punishment.

STOP EYE INJURIES, intentional and accidental. They are often permanent or expensive to manage. The victim is condemned along with a chaperon to a life of misery pain, time loss, expense and emotional cost of many clinic visits and living one-eyed. This severely cuts work and social opportunities as millions of jobs, would-friends, partners, in-laws, and could-have-been spouses will demand two-eyed Fellow Nigerian.

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THE COST OF AN EYE INJURY, meanwhile, is so enormous that there should be a COUNTRYWIDE EYE INJURY PREVENTION AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AMONG PARENTS, TEACHERS, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, with NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY ‘EYE INJURY and DIRTY SLAP PREVENTION POSTERS’ in every lecture, class, staff and guard room.

Today ALARM BELLS from in-school deaths alert every other school and university to initiate a functioning PERMANENT BULLY DETECTION/PREVENTION PROGRAMME complete with A BULLY LOGBOOK and a BULLY NAMING AND SHAMING PROGRAMME.

INJURY COMPENSATION RESPONSIBILITY MUST BE DISCUSSED BY THE VICTIM, THE PERPETRATOR AND THE FAMILY AND THE INSTITUTION. To date, victim compensation is almost never raised for playground, school, neighbour or other injuries in spite of the enormous expenses that frequent eye injury treatment causes the victim’s family.

The perpetrator may or may not volunteer to or be forced to say a meaningless ‘sorry!’ Full stop! There may be suspension, expulsion or sacking. These punishments do not ‘restore-sight-to the blind-eye’ or pay the victim’s lifetime bill. The victim suffers injury and has the additional financial injury of having to pay the care costs for that injury. No. this must change. The care bills for home-clinic-home transport and medical expenses for the victim must automatically be extracted from the perpetrator, the institution, or the family.

Many perpetrators are bullies and the pain of financial cost/loss is the only language they, their institutions or their parents will understand.

STOP DELIBERATELY INFLICTED SPORTS INJURIES: The world can cut deliberate and vicious sports injuries by 80% if football and other contact sports had a ‘CAUSER AND CONSEQUENCE, GBH Grievous Bodily Harm’ CLAUSE in all contracts and club rules TO MAKE THE ATTACKER ‘PAY IN TIME AND MONEY’ FOR INFLICTED INJURY.

NFA/FIFA: WHY NOT HAVE A TIME RELATED FINE ON THE CLUB AND PLAYER FOR CAUSING ‘INJURY TIME’?

IF A PLAYER INJURES OR BREAKS AN OPPONENT’S LIMB, HE TOO SHOULD GO OFF AND BE OFF ON ‘BULLY TIME’ AND PAY ALL THE BILLS UNTIL THE VICTIM IS FULLY RECOVERED.

‘I’m sorry’, is not remorse, just guilt freedom for no fee.

Few accused thieves are the actual culprits. It is a bully-tactic to turn friends into an instant ‘Accuser-Investigator-Judge-Jury-Sentencer-Executor escalating into Executioner. This tragic outcome was exposed at the disciplinarian Ajayi Crowder University, Oyo, disgracing the memory of the famous missionary’s Christian legacy. A legally unsubstantiated and unreported-to-the-authorities case of ‘[maybe] you stole my phone’ escalated from accusations to the injustice of a mass instant or planned four hour beating ordeal resulting in a mob execution of 22-year old Alex Timileyi, a 200-Level Engineering student in a hostel seemingly inappropriately named Shepard by the righteous founding fathers. Timileyi sadly did not complete his walk through the valley of death. Now he is dead, 12 accused of his murder, 13 families destroyed.

Guilty of theft or not, cult induction or attack or not, his execution is culpable murder. If a gang of legally adult 17-24-year-olds can justify this act in a religious environment, what hope Nigeria? Remember OAU-1999 gunning down of five students and last week’s killing of five soldiers and six civilians in Abia?

‘Causer of catastrophe without consequence’ kills moral society- ask our political class!

Every school assembly classroom, education institution and lecture room should say and have a poster with a prayer designed by religious bodies and government – NOA. BEWARE OF BULLYING

‘WE PRAY FOR PROTECTION AGAINST A-B-C-D.

A BUSE by word and deed,

B ULLYING ,

C ULTISM and gangs, &

D EATH.

DO NOT KEEP SILENT ABOUT BULLYING- SILENCE KILLS.

June 5, 2024
Azu’s talisman for media adventurers

By Louis Odion

“So, what do I get for my labour and when?”

That was often the next question by the hitherto “public-spirited” contributor who, after getting published twice or thrice, had apparently started to bask in sudden “fame.” S/he would become less shy.

As the manager of a start-up national newspaper some 16 years ago, such solicitation — legitimate, no doubt — from many a stringer was never easy for me to consider. It simply meant further tightening the fiscal noose around our slender exchequer amid fiercely competing costs.

The operating climate hardly left you an option. However formidable your editorial faculty, there was always some external contributor who wanted to add that “extra something.” They sometimes bring illumination in uncharted waters. Let us face it: other than those pushing special “interest”, it would take exceptional altruism — if not material comfort — for a good many others to readily agree to invest ample time and energy to write for free for long.

If compensating such a category outside the normal staff was financially tough 16 years ago, one can only imagine tougher choices current media managers now have to make under a far more asphyxiating operating condition today.

Circulation figures are crashing, while production costs are mounting stratospherically. Added to the troubling mix is the sheer “outlawry” of the new media, which seems to normalise intellectual theft, whereby stories are brazenly lifted by “e-rats” from the established traditional media without the minimum courtesy of attribution.

It is why Azu’s soon-to-be-unveiled offering entitled, Writing for Media and Monetising It, is, in my view, a game-changer for the media industry. The book outlines a sustainable win-win balance for platform-owners and content providers.

The plight of creators in the music industry is different. Thanks to music streaming platforms like Spotify, for example, Nigerian musicians of diverse genres shared N25 billion royalties in 2023 alone. This is apart from revenues from other platforms like YouTube music, Apple Music, Amazon Music, among others. A significant shift from the recent past, when musical creators virtually slaved for pirates at Alaba market, Lagos.

But as things now stand, media veterans can only recall with nostalgia the relative “boom” enjoyed before the crunch came. As an intern in Concord Press in the early 90s, I made steady income from contributions to its three titles weekly. That created an extra incentive to be prolific. But such opportunities have dried up today as most media houses struggle to pay staff salaries. Stringers are largely on their own.

Azu’s book, arguably the most audacious effort yet to bridge the gap between editorial business and editorial independence, is the fruit of almost 40 years of hands-on experience and practice. The multiple-award-winning columnist is giving away practical secrets, curated in a 259-page tome, not just on how to ascend career zenith, but also secure financial success for anyone fascinated by the possibility of the written word.

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What’s more? His nugget, with an enthralling foreword by Dapo Olorunyomi, is further garnished with success tips from other accomplished media professionals he had interviewed including Nigeria’s only Pulitzer Prize winner, Dele Olojede.

If someone offers to clothe you, it is axiomatic that you first evaluate the condition of the shirt on their back. Azu surely lives his words. Of course, he is perhaps not just the most syndicated columnist in Nigeria today but also the one with the most by-lines in reputable media addresses across continents.

Those close enough to him will attest that he is, therefore, a mobile signage of the prosperity he preaches… (In order not to expose a dear friend unduly to the predatory proboscis of the tax-man, let us stop there.)

But suffice to note that Azu’s confident smile, that Kwale (Delta) swagger, is partly rooted in forex harvested from such affiliations offshore. As a buddy of more than 30 years, I should know.

I think Azu confesses this a little bit on page 89: “I have written articles for a fee, and also for free, for the Argentina-based Clarin magazine; Press 24 and Mail & Guardian in South Africa; The Ghana Chronicle; and also, for online platforms such as Daily Maverick in South Africa; and the Europe-based Indepth News, and more recently for Bird, a South African-based private-owned news agency, amongst others.”

To play in that elite league, you have to get a copy of Writing for Media and Monetising It.

Azu’s prescription should, in fact, stir up a new consciousness in the larger literary community for just compensation for those engaged in the knowledge economy. Perhaps, I should share a personal story to illustrate this point.

At an event in the United States not too long ago, an acquaintance I was introduced to marvelled, after a quick, on-the-spot online check on my past works and he found that there were over 197, 000 views of a piece entitled “Regulating Anambra’s Obituary Economy” on just TheInterview.com alone.

“Men!” he exclaimed. “You must be earning fantastic bucks weekly from merely writing if such a mammoth number follow you on just one platform alone. I can see dozens of platforms publish you weekly and simultaneously too.”

That should happen where there is a strong culture of the media economy and reward.

However, I disappointed my acquaintance by reporting that writers don’t yet have the structure in Nigeria to help derive a just compensation for their creativity and sleepless nights; the sort of opportunity Spotify now creates for Nigerian musicians.

On the contrary, writers enthusiastically forward their works to platform-owners (traditional and new) to use for free as “public service.” Otherwise, widely read and syndicated weekly columnists in Nigeria like Segun Adeniyi, Lasisi Olagunju, Sam Omatseye, Reuben Abati, Simon Kolawole and Festus Adedayo would be multi-billionaires today.

But with Azu’s prescription, things are not likely to remain the same again.

•Odion, FNGE, a former commissioner and also presidential aide, is one of Nigeria’s most accomplished journalists.

June 5, 2024
On the Japa syndrome

Sir: The term “Japa,” is associated with Nigerians migrating to foreign countries in search of better opportunities, and has seen a significant increase in recent years. This trend, driven by the desire for economic empowerment and a safer living environment, has recently faced a slowdown. The depreciation of the naira has made emigration more expensive, and stricter immigration rules in popular destination countries have contributed to this deceleration.

The initial wave of Nigerian emigrants primarily sought economic empowerment and improved living standards for themselves and their families. However, in recent times, increasing insecurity within Nigeria has become a significant reason for people to leave. The growing levels of violence and instability have driven individuals to seek refuge in countries where the safety of lives and property is more guaranteed.

The decision to migrate is complex and comes with potential consequences. On one hand, successful emigration can lead to significant financial gains, better job opportunities, and superior educational prospects for children. On the other hand, it can result in cultural dislocation and initial difficulties in adapting to a new environment, among other challenges. Given these potential outcomes, it is essential to carefully weigh all variables before deciding to leave Nigeria. Factors such as age, educational background, skill set, family size, necessary documentation, financial requirements, and available migration routes must be thoroughly evaluated. The uncertainties inherent in the emigration process might make it less appealing for risk-averse people

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With meticulous planning and execution, Japa can lead to the desired outcomes. The initial phase in a new country often presents challenges, requiring resilience, hard work, and appropriate skills to navigate successfully. Many find that their efforts eventually result in an enhanced quality of life and better opportunities for their children. Nonetheless, like any significant life venture, the outcomes of Japa can vary, with some individuals achieving success while others do not.

The increasing trend of emigration has significant implications for Nigeria, particularly in terms of brain drain. Skilled professionals such as doctors, project managers, engineers, and educators leaving the country puts pressure on critical sectors. For example, the healthcare system often faces shortages of qualified doctors due to this trend, which can greatly impact the nation’s ability to provide adequate medical care. This loss of talent presents a major challenge to Nigeria’s development and its ability to offer quality services to its citizens.

In response to these challenges, the role of the Nigerian government is crucial. To address the reasons driving citizens to emigrate, the government must prioritize improving welfare and security within the country. This involves creating more job opportunities, ensuring the safety of lives and properties, and enhancing the education and healthcare systems, among other measures. Additionally, improving the overall quality of life for Nigerians is essential. By tackling these fundamental issues, the government can reduce the incentives for emigration, encouraging citizens to invest their talents and efforts within Nigeria rather than seeking opportunities abroad.

The phenomenon of Japa is multifaceted, extending beyond the pursuit of economic empowerment to encompass a wide range of motivations, including the quest for safety and better living conditions. Although it seemingly offers the promise of a brighter future, it also brings substantial risks and challenges. Stressing the importance of careful planning and well-informed decision-making is essential for individuals contemplating this course of action. By understanding and addressing the underlying motivations behind Japa, the government can work towards fostering a more stable and prosperous Nigeria, ultimately reducing the drive for mass emigration.

•Kenechukwu Aguolu,<kenerek1@gmail.com>

June 5, 2024
Minimum wage: Balancing feasibility and fairness

Sir: According to the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), approximately 720,000 Nigerians work at the federal level, while the overall population of Nigeria stands at about 218.5 million people as of 2022. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) recently proposed a minimum wage of #494,000, sparking intense debate about its feasibility.

If the federal government were to pay #494,000 as the minimum wage for these 720,000 federal workers, what would be the implications for the remaining 218 million Nigerians not employed by the government? These citizens also deserve the right to a decent standard of living. Moreover, there are states that have yet to implement the 2019 agreed minimum wage of #30,000. Expecting these states to now pay #494,000 seems unrealistic.

One of the critical concerns is inflation. An increase in the minimum wage to #494,000, which is more than 16 times the current #30,000, without a corresponding increase in Nigeria’s production capacity, could lead to severe inflation. This economic instability could mirror the crises experienced by countries like Zimbabwe and Venezuela. If businesses such as Dangote, Indomie, Nestle, Flour Mills of Nigeria, and petrol stations are required to pay their staff a minimum of #494,000, they would likely pass these costs onto consumers, drastically increasing the prices of goods and services.

There are also political undertones to consider. Critics argue that the NLC, led by Joel Ajaero, may be influenced by political affiliations, particularly their support for Peter Obi during the last election. This has led some to believe that the NLC’s current demands are part of a larger political strategy rather than a purely economic one.

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From a practical standpoint, the federal government should consider a more reasonable increase. A suggested minimum wage of #75,000 could be more attainable. While the Organised Private Sector indicates they can only afford a minimum wage of #60,000, they might need to stretch their budgets to accommodate a higher figure. If the government offers a substantial increase and the NLC still insists on #494,000, it would demonstrate to Nigerians that the government is making a good-faith effort, while the NLC’s demands may appear unrealistic.

It’s also important to consider the broader economic implications. If a level 1 civil servant earns #494,000, those in higher levels would require even more significant salaries, potentially bankrupting the nation. More money without increased production equals more economic problems.

Furthermore, any agreed-upon minimum wage should be subject to regular adjustments to account for inflation, ensuring that the wage remains fair and sustainable over time. This could help prevent future disputes and economic instability.

The situation in many northern states, such as Zamfara, Sokoto, Nassarawa, Katsina, and Niger, illustrates the challenges of implementing such a high minimum wage. These states, already struggling with poverty and the impacts of banditry, would find it nearly impossible to meet these demands without borrowing, further straining their economies.

The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) should aim for a reasonable and attainable minimum wage that both the federal and state governments can afford and sustain. While advocating for workers’ rights is essential, demands must be balanced with economic realities to ensure long-term stability and prosperity for all Nigerians.

•Abdulhamid Abdullahi Aliyu,abdulhamidabdullahiali@gmail.com

June 5, 2024
Nigeria’s move into AI’s large language

By Kosidichimma Anyanwu

The year 2024 has seen landmark events in the growing knowledge and embracing of artificial intelligence (AI) around the world. Researchers, scientists, software developers, and several stakeholders have continued to announce advancements and innovations in AI technologies, including machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics across laboratories in different continents. What we are experiencing is a surge in algorithm developments, increased computational power, and the expanding application of AI set to advance various sectors from digital media; to healthcare, education, finance, business, real estate, governance, and so on.

This sudden shift and integration into daily lives and global systems is also raising smoke within the social and political environs where there is an increasing need to revisit relevant ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks, while continually monitoring societal impacts. However, throughout history, culturally unfamiliar evolutions in society, such as seen in the resurfacing of AI, have attracted cynicism — and understandably so. Therefore, amid an ongoing technology shift, there is a salient urgency for government and stakeholders across all sectors to conscientiously engage with the current trends as a signal of collective control over its potential societal impacts.

While the largest nation in Africa, Nigeria, is grappling with multi-faceted socio-economic challenges, it is important to acknowledge and reinforce its timely interventions in the scurrying global advancements in AI. Despite its domestic dips and spikes, Nigeria continues to contend as one of the largest economies in the world. Hence, it is rightly positioned to make a significant global impact in this field given its largely underestimated advantages.

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According to the OECD report, one out of every four Africans around the world and one out of every five persons of African origin is a Nigerian. Its population represents about 2.6 per cent of the human population accounting for a relevant global labour force and a large domestic market with potential to influence international economies. Nigeria also has the highest population of African immigrants in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, extending the country’s impacts to global economic powers.

Moreover, one peculiarity of Nigeria’s leverage over its global counterparts lies in its undocumented yet thriving informal sectors. The country has one of the most significant and booming informal economic sectors of the world. Officially, IMF growth estimated Nigeria’s GDP in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms at $1.116 trillion by the end of 2023. However, Nigeria’s informal economy is estimated at approximately $1.230 billion in size, representing 58.2 per cent of overall GDP PPP levels. Consequently, World Economics’ Research’s updated database estimates Nigeria’s GDP to be $2.113 trillion — 89 per cent larger than the official figures using 2023 data, given the impact of the informal economy.

In April, the Nigerian government announced its commitment to leveraging the power of AI systems. This aims to foster inclusivity by integrating indigenous knowledge systems and language bases through the launch of its multilingual large language models (LLMs). The country’s initiatives, including the formation of the Nigeria AI Collective, the launch of a multilingual LLM, and substantial investments in computing infrastructure, have far-reaching implications, particularly in the areas of content diversity, an inclusive digital economy which considers informal sectors and international trade expansion.

Given factors including its demographic strength, economic diversity and size, and potential for comparison with global economic powers, its move into developing LLMs is a pivotal achievement in the international AI field that cannot be ignored.

The development and deployment of Nigeria’s multilingual LLM stand as a pivotal moment for content diversity in AI. Traditional AI models often focus on high-resource languages, predominantly those spoken in the Global North, thus marginalising many languages and dialects spoken in Africa and other parts of the world. Nigeria’s LLM, trained in five low-resource languages and accented English, challenges this paradigm by ensuring these languages are represented and preserved in the digital age.

This inclusion has profound implications. First, it enriches the AI training datasets, leading to more robust and versatile AI systems capable of understanding and processing a wider array of human languages. This diversity in language representation can drive innovation in AI applications, ranging from more accurate language translation services to culturally relevant content generation. It democratises access to AI technologies, empowering local communities and ensuring that the benefits of AI are more equitably distributed.

Furthermore, this move can inspire other nations to prioritise their linguistic heritage, fostering a more inclusive global AI ecosystem. As Nigeria leads by example, other countries with diverse linguistic landscapes may follow suit, contributing to a richer, more varied digital content repository worldwide.

Nigeria’s AI initiatives have significant potential to reshape the global digital economy by promoting inclusivity. The establishment of the Nigeria AI Collective and the enhancement of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR’s) capacity with support from global technology leaders like Cisco underscore a commitment to achieve this robust goal.

The goal of inclusivity is highly attainable if the stakeholders maintain a strict ecosystem that is open to participation, including AI enthusiasts, students, start-ups, and civil society organisations (CSOs), apart from elite researchers or tech giants. Such inclusivity ensures that the benefits of AI are accessible to a broader segment of the population including stakeholders who operate outside the purview of formal economic sectors.

Nigeria will signal support for grassroots innovation at a global level by giving local researchers and companies access to cutting-edge computing infrastructure. The democratisation of AI technology may result in the creation of solutions for regional problems in a variety of fields, including banking, agriculture, healthcare, and education. Nigeria can therefore provide an example for other countries by concentrating on creating AI with moral guidelines specific to its socio-economic environment.

Nigeria can manage the possible downsides of AI, like employment displacement and privacy problems, in a way that puts its citizens’ welfare first by developing its ethical frameworks. This strategy can be used as a model by other countries, contributing to the global development of a more just and equitable digital economy.

The multilingual capabilities of Nigeria’s LLM also have significant implications for international trade. Language barriers often pose substantial challenges in global commerce, particularly for businesses and entrepreneurs in non-English-speaking regions. Nigeria’s LLM can promote smoother trade relations and negotiations by facilitating more effective communication across linguistic boundaries. This increases local Nigerian enterprises’ access to global markets.

To increase their reach and accelerate economic growth, entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can interact with overseas partners and customers more effectively. Additionally, as international companies try to get a foothold in Nigeria’s expanding market, the improved communication capabilities may draw in foreign collaborations and investments.

Nigeria is poised to improve its trading prospects and make a positive contribution to a more integrated and cohesive global economy by overcoming linguistic barriers through investments in AI systems.

Despite the optimistic outlook on Nigeria’s adoption of AI and LLMs, there are significant concerns that continue to warrant careful consideration. These range from a potential threat to human labour when not meticulously implemented, to contradictory ethical standards often dictated by the Global North, which may not align with the unique socio-cultural contexts of countries like Nigeria, and so on.

•Dr Anyanwu, a tech and media expert, writes from Ireland

June 5, 2024
Resolving MMA2 regional flight operations conundrum

By Rufus Ajewole

In a clime where the dearth of public infrastructure, engendered by inconsistent government policies is endemic, it is highly unlikely for its economy to blossom. Nigeria, blessed with abundant human and material resources, has, unfortunately, fallen into the deep valley of decaying infrastructure, a situation which has created an unimaginable gap. Unbelievably, no sector of the country’s economy, including the aviation industry, is spared in this infrastructure dryness. Although the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is introducing all kinds of well-thought out reforms to close the infrastructure gap, bringing the hope of a better tomorrow, there is the need for it to maximise the yet-to-be-neglected facilities in public space for a secured future for the country.

For instance, one of such public utilities under the management of a private operator, which is still standing strong till today, 17 years after it was opened for public use, is the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), Lagos, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative. However, a section of the facility is craving for maximum utilisation for the purpose for which it was built.

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According to David Williams, “All human life can be found in an airport.” Ironically, the reverse has been the case in the section marked out for regional flight operations at MMA2, operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited. The facilities earlier procured in readiness for intending passengers to routes in the West African sub-region have now been covered, regrettably, by cobwebs; a sad reminder of the way past administrations handled the issues of private investments that could wake up the slumbering economy with levity.

I was on my way to catch a flight to Port Harcourt recently and had to arrive at the airport terminal on time to do some little tasks here and there. My movement round the terminal before my flight showed me a sight I could not behold for long. Despite the fact that I use this terminal frequently, I never knew that such facilities were available in readiness for regional flight operations there. With this, one could conclusively say that the dilemma of Bi-Courtney over its inability to put all the facilities it acquired for regional flight operations to use is a testament to what many private investors face in Nigeria’s wobbling economy and this is scary. It is one of the reasons many foreign investors are leaving the country in droves, leading to job losses.

Realistically, the behaviour of any private investor is in consonance with the admonition of a serial investor, Phil Town, who says, “When it comes to investing, we want our money to grow with the highest rates of return, and the lowest risk possible. While there are no shortcuts to getting rich, there are smart ways to go about it.”

The situation of the humongous investment in the aborted regional flight operations at MMA2 is a pathetic one that no investor would pray for. However, if high-wire politicking that has grounded the planned regional flight operations is jettisoned, it will be a win-win situation for the federal government, Bi-Courtney, the airlines and the intending passengers. While the government will rake in more revenue through the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Bi-Courtney, domestic airlines, such as Ibom Air and Air Peace, currently operating their domestic routes from MMA2, stand to gain notable savings in operational costs by consolidating activities within a single hub. As a result, the hassles of going to the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMIA) by intending passengers on the West Coast will be eliminated.

Since the government is a continuum, the approval Bi-Courtney said was granted it by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration for regional flight operations since 2014 must not be frustrated under whatever guise because many Nigerians work in this firm. Bi-Courtney said the approval was halted under the regime of former President Goodluck Jonathan after the operator had invested over N600 million to provide all the necessary facilities that could make for seamless and effective coordination and operation of regional flights from the terminal.

It further added that the Ministerial Committee on Airport Security, in 2016, certified MMA2 fit for the commencement of regional flight operations after it revealed that it had invested the money for the purpose in 2014 by providing the required facilities and is yet to recoup a dime from its investment. This is very disheartening!

Government must do all it can to support private investors to grow the economy. It must embrace policy alignment to attract the much-needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to enhance economic growth and stability. This is the only way Nigeria can pull out its economy from the gorge it has slipped into.

•Ajewole is a journalist and public affairs analyst.

June 5, 2024
Between presidential and parliamentary systems of govt

Babatunde Fashola

I will come back to the matter in some detail shortly.

But let me preface my comments by asserting that the subliminal issue behind this request is the ongoing conversation about restructuring Nigeria.

This is a matter that I expressed some opinion about in my published speeches while in public service and some of it is captured in my recent book titled, “Nigerian Public Discourse: The Interplay of Empirical Evidence and Hyperbole”.

The central theme of the book is intended to challenge our thoughts and invite rigour and evidence to some of the things we have said or proposed about the developmental challenges that our country faces.

Some people have made fatalist and unsustainable claims and predictions about the future of Nigeria if there is no restructuring. They have, in my view, wrongly dropped the gauntlet and the door of each President since 1999, including the incumbent, that unless the president restructures Nigeria, nothing will work.

The first question I ask is whether the President alone can restructure the country by way of constitutional amendment if the National Assembly and the 36 states do not pass a Constitutional Amendment Bill for his assent. The answer is No.

The other point to make as I observed in another lecture is whether a constitutional amendment by itself will translate to accelerated national development. The answer again is No. As I observed, what the people really want is a better life, not a better document.

If we interrogate some of the amendments that have been effected by the National Assembly and those that come by interpretation such as the Resource Control Case which gave more financial benefits to certain states, the jury will be out about whether they have delivered a better life to the greatest number of people.

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This raises the question whether we have been hyperbolic about the magnitude of the problem, and whether we have applied rigour to the evidence and facts in designing a solution.

Put differently, is the problem the constitution or are we the problem?

Another point to consider with the advocates of restructuring is to ask them what restructuring means to them.

Of course, when the restructuring issues are interrogated, we are likely to find that they agitate more about how to get access to more power and resources rather than how to make existing power and resources more efficient.

As I pointed out in my previous speeches, we must learn from the example of Brexit which was a catchphrase used by the UK politicians to get people to vote for the country’s exit from the European common market.

It was only after the vote had been cast for the exit that the social and economic consequences hit their people with palpable regret.

The result was a series of changes of leadership of their government heads in a manner that did not help political and economic stability. The cost of the vote is still counting adversely for their national development.

So, while I am not opposed to restructuring, especially by constitutional amendment, and I wish to be clear about that, I think that this is the time for the application of rigour and evidence-based decision making.

It is not enough therefore to keep harping on the restructuring as a catchphrase and silver bullet; for enacting a brand-new constitution to repeat and enact what I call standard clauses such as those that separate powers between the traditional three tiers of government.

Rather, we will be better served if each state or geopolitical zone (that has informally but unconstitutionally become part of our lexicon) tables specific demands that would form the basis of negotiations and agreement for a better and inclusive federal union.

With this lengthy preface for which I crave your sincere understanding. Let us proceed to the heart of the matter.

In doing so, let me share with you a very short story that perhaps reveals why I chose this topic.

When I first read the report about the bid to amend the constitution to return Nigeria to parliamentary governance, I was curious and called a member of the House of Representatives to kindly oblige me with a copy of the proposed bill because I wanted to see the arguments in support of the proposal.

This I might say is consistent with my argument for the application of rigour as distinct from emotion to the choices we make about our developmental challenges.

My request was favourably responded to and I will summarise the reasons as follows:

“1. One (single) Election- adopting a parliamentary system of Government means that there shall be one election conducted in one day to determine (i) councillors at ward level; (ii) State House of Assembly Members at Local Government Level; (iii) House of Representative Members at Constituency Level; and (iv) Senators at Senatorial District Levels. The impact of this is that the cost of conducting an election will significantly drop (N308 billion in 2023 vs N2.5 billion in 1999). It is expected that Nigeria will spend close to 1 trillion naira in the conduct of 3 more presidential elections (2027-2035). However, a switch to parliamentary system of government will see these numbers drop to significantly less than was spent in the 2023 elections.

2. Reduced Cost of Running Government- Nigeria currently spends between 6.8 trillion naira and 8.5 trillion naira as personnel cost in the running of MDAs headed by Ministers appointed by the President. In a parliamentary system of government, Ministers will be drawn from the Prime Minister’s cabinet. Salaries of ministers who are members of parliament will be harmonized, meaning that Members of Parliament who form cabinet, will receive their salaries as Parliamentarians.

3. Enhancement in the Rule of Law: a parliamentary system of government further improves the practice of the rule of law. This is achieved via parliamentary checkmate via opposition who are within parliament. While the Presidential system has so far seen abuse of the rule of law, a parliamentary system will enhance this rule of law. Enhancement in the rule of law will improve Nigeria’s economic viability to the global economy and community.

4. Representational Spread: Our version of a parliamentary system of government will ensure that the party to form government must have a representative member in at least 24 states of the country. Where a party is unable to achieve this, it must form a coalition with parties which have such and ensure that Cabinet allows for even representation.

5. Improved Economic Outcomes: according to McMaus and Okzan (2018) a parliamentary system is likely to have improved economic outcomes in the long run. Having looked at 119 systems of Government over a period (1950-2015) it was found that annual output growth was up to 1.2 percentage points higher (than a presidential system), inflation was less volatile and 6 percentage points lower, and income inequality was up to 20% lower in countries governed by parliamentary systems. In Nigeria, a parliamentary system of government will aid in improving the country’s current economic woes.

6. Reduced Likelihood of Volatility: While Nigeria had its first parliamentary system truncated by the Military (1960-1966) it is evident that that misadventure has led the country into dire financial and economic straits including a reduction in the quality of life of Nigerians and a reduction in Nigerian’s faith in government. While most Nigerians were unaware of the essence and value of a parliamentary system, it has become evident in countries which have adopted a parliamentary system of government that there is significant stability in the countries (see South Africa, Poland, Japan).

7. Reduced corruption and better checks and balances (oversight)

8. Greater confidence of the people as they know and understand government policies and programmes better since these will be reported and discussed in parliament before execution.

9. Less cumbersome in implementation of government policies as the bureaucratic huddles (sic) are reduced.

10. Less centralisation of powers in and (sic) individual (President).

11. More responsive and responsible government as PM reports to parliament and answers questions in parliament on govt policies once a week.”

As you all know, I will be 61 years old in June this year, which means that I was not born when Nigeria became independent and opted for the UK style parliamentary system, and I was 3 years old when the system collapsed, in violence, intolerance and of course when the civil war ensued, I was only 4 years old in 1967.

Factually I was not cognitive of the facts at the time, but history has been kind and I have read many accounts, albeit sometimes differing about who was responsible, but nonetheless consistent about what happened.

The first point to make is that a democracy founded on any type of governance, parliamentary or federal, requires a highly educated population to navigate its twists and turns. Even in some more advanced democracies, we are living witnesses to fisticuffs in parliament, when some people, often in minority and in opposition, cannot have their way.

With very great respect to the proponents of this parliamentary arrangement, most of the reasons adduced such as cost of governance, rule of law, separation of powers, economic growth etc can be achieved under a federal arrangement if there is sincerity of purpose and an elite consensus.

I must express my admiration for their courage in proposing the radical change, but with respect, they have not yet advanced a compelling reason why we must return to a system that catastrophically failed us.

It is possible that all the arguments are not yet laid bare, but we must all understand that whether it is parliamentary or federal, liberal democracy is now globally proving a difficult vehicle for development.

The evidence before us shows that some of the countries delivering the best public goods to their citizens today are not liberal democracies, but I would still not trade the liberties of any democracy for any form of autocratic development.

Let me also be clear, that I am not by any criticism of liberal democracy a supporter of any Afro-democracy of yet undefined measures.

The big challenge of democratic efficiency in my view is how to build consensus between the Executive, Legislative, and judicial Arms without compromising the best interest of citizens.

June 5, 2024