The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Anambra’s seized schools: Time to redress past wrong

    Anambra’s seized schools: Time to redress past wrong

    • By Edwin Nnamdi Ozonma

    The echoes of the East Central State government’s forceful and unjust takeover of private and mission schools in 1970 in what is today’s Anambra State is still reverberating. And the victims of that government’s injudicious and unkind deed are still agonizing over the wrong which was perpetrated against them. Fifty four years after they were wickedly dispossessed of their schools, no sorts of compensations were paid to the private schools’ proprietors; neither were their schools returned to them.

    After the end of the Nigeria-Biafra civil war in 1970, our leaders, then, felt that the task of rebuilding the destroyed infrastructure(s) as well as managing them had devolved on the government. And, in 1974, that is, four years after the Ukpabi Asika’s government had seized private and mission schools in what is today’s Anambra State, it unveiled guidelines for the management of the schools, as part of measures to assuage the hurt feelings of private school proprietors and right the wrong of the past.

    Among the guidelines for the administration of those schools was the celebration of the birthdays of private schools’ founders. And schools’ founders whose houses were located on the schools’ premises should be permitted to live in those houses. More so, children of people who were dispossessed of their schools should be given scholarships that would take care of their primary and post-primary education in government-owned schools.

    Another guideline listed for the administration of those schools was that private school proprietors should be made the chairmen of boards of governors of the seized schools. And interim awards and compensations should be given to them.

    But sadly, the coup d’état that toppled the Yakubu Gowon military administration put paid to the implementation of those guidelines for the administration of those seized schools. So, not unexpectedly, the unveiled guidelines for the administration of the seized private and mission schools, which would have righted the wrong of 1970, were jettisoned.

    Peter Obi, as governor of Anambra State, returned the seized mission schools in the state to their original owners, that is, the churches while bypassing seized private schools. That historic handover of 1044 primary and post-primary schools to churches took place in 2011, 41 years after they were seized by the government of Ukpabi Asika, the administrator of East Central State Government, then.

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    However, there is an inherent injustice in the return of schools: the seized private schools were not returned to their founders and proprietors. And no compensations were paid to them. But why were the private school proprietors treated differently from caretakers or owners of mission schools? This question blows in the air. But what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

    The wrongs and injustices perpetrated against the Anambra-born private schools’ proprietors in 1970 and 2011 are yearning for redress. Those school founders who were either top politicians or businessmen salted away money, over the years, which they used to build schools only for the government to seize those schools.

    Peter Obi’s bypassing of private schools’ proprietors when he returned seized schools to churches was an unjust and biased deed that could have caused social disharmony in Anambra State but for the restraint shown by the proprietors and founders of the seized schools.

    Governments exist everywhere to protect people’s lives and properties, create job opportunities for the citizens, provide social amenities for the people, and safeguard their fundamental human rights.

    The fundamental human rights of the people have been trampled upon as their schools had been taken away from them without any compensation paid to them. Government should do the right thing by returning the seized private schools to their original and rightful owners and paying them commensurate compensation, to boot.

    •Edwin Nnamdi Ozonma,

    Onitsha, Anambra State.

  • Artificial Intelligence: Wither Africa’s Indigenous Intelligence?

    Artificial Intelligence: Wither Africa’s Indigenous Intelligence?

    Sir: Despite the incontrovertible significance of artificial intelligence (AI) in the scheme of affairs all around the globe, one is made to wonder if the ideology of subjugation is not the reality of Africa in the AI equation.

    AI is good. And of course this is not open to debate or contest. But where does Africa come in, in the scheme? Peradventure there are some of us who are sound enough to demystify the coding and the codes; the scheme also makes provision for hijacking them. It has never been for or about Africa. Like the mirrors shown to our great grandfathers that made them negotiate our future, gave out our oracles, sculptures and artefacts, and sold us into slavery, it is now a phase of intellectual sabotage. Before Africa ever understands the gimmicks and think of making anything of the situation, we have negotiated much more than our gain.

    While AI is already producing robots and cars that control themselves for its designers, the major place of Africa at the moment will be to count the first set of Africans to buy the car. Of course to be bought by these giants in Africa mainly at the expense of the treasuries of the different countries. No country awaits the release of a new brand of iPhone like Nigeria. I am not sure the citizens of the producing countries use the phones as much as my compatriots do. I do not mean to posit that these technological affordances come at no gain for Africa and Africans. But it is a truth that you cannot be a developmental consideration for people to whom you make a market.

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    The producers move to the next stage before the mystery is unravelled and before the boundaries of use are understood. He who pays the piper calls the tune. I was saddened to read at least five AI-generated academic proposals from some students who would later confess they had no single sentence in the whole document. I have reviewed and edited scholarly works that revealed unpardonable use of AI to generate contents for academic writing. We had thought plagiarism involving the use of expressions from other people’s works was a challenge until we got to this age of generating a complete abstract for conference participation from AI. And we will say it makes life easy. Why stress if AI will help? Let it do the thinking and writing for you. So now let us ask: what is ours to take from AI if not mental colonisation and intellectual degradation?

    Even in academia, from Scopus to the rest, Africa must seek validation for what is good. As we are rounding off with our onshore-offshore debate, we now have to ask again if that journal is Scopus-indexed. Isn’t it worrisome that we still, as Africans, cannot be the judge for what we find good in our discussion of knowledge? What do we expect when the scoresheet for our productivity has to be produced by those who need us to be consistently under them?

    It is my submission that what will liberate Africa will not come from anywhere else but Africa. Every good thing we are offered will be to the extent that we remain a market for the ingenuity of these value-producing continents. One cannot exactly think of what is in China that is missing on most African soils except the readiness to tap into our indigenous intelligence. The RHS Cultural Framework (2005) explains indigenous intelligence as the wise and conscientious embodiment of exemplary knowledge and the use of this knowledge in a good, beneficial and meaningful way. The document states further that within whatever worldview one is operating, intelligence has to do with more than the acquisition of knowledge and the mental manipulation of thoughts and ideas;

    Intelligence has to do with activating knowledge into something useable within a system that is charged with meaning.

    The Yoruba Ifa corpus has computational values that can manifest the Africa-specific AI which will be geared towards the sincere development of the Nigeria. The Ifa corpus is one of many such forms of indigenous intelligence that can be leveraged for genuine development in Africa.

     If we cannot do it now, at least we can put it in writing as literature for those who will be sufficiently provoked to rise to the call of African liberation.

    •Ganiu Bamgbose,Lagos State University, Ojo.

  • When will it be our turn, President Tinubu?

    When will it be our turn, President Tinubu?

    Sir: Inflation rate as at April 2024 stood at 33.69percent according to the National Bureau of Statistics CPI and Inflation report of April 2024. The cost of transportation is killing whether you move in your own vehicle or use commercial. Workers are finding it hard to feed their families. Marital conflicts are rising, depression is rising. It is important for the president to know that there is no rest/peace of mind yet for the masses despite telling them to calm down.

    The question that Nigerians are asking the president is, when will it be their turn to enjoy basic amenities of life and good governance?

    The country is hard for the majority but the minority in the corridors of power are getting empowered and better. Only those who interact with the streets will understand what is happening. Small business owners like pepper sellers are shutting down. Those in power formulate and implement policies that empower foreign investors but hurt and kill domestic industries because they cannot compete favourably.

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    Lecturers have not fared better. To even to go to the office five days a week with the present salaries is unsustainable. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been trying to make government sign a living wage and a better condition of service with the overworked and overburdened public university lecturers. Since 2009, government has been dribbling the union and playing with the livelihoods of the intellectual community. However, they expect our universities to solve societal problems without committing commensurate funds that can bring out impactful researches.

    Workers in the health sector are also lamenting. We are losing more of our best to the United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America and even South Africa. There is no money to pay workers a living wage or provide them a decent working condition. 

    It is 25 years into this democratic journey. Yet, Nigerian leaders at the national and sub-national levels have not been able to provide basic amenities for the majority of Nigerians to enjoy. The masses who don’t have money to fly have to travel by road. In the process, they are picked up by bandits and kidnappers, raped, extorted for ransom and may be released dead or alive. Many households in the northwest and northeast have pulled their children out from going to school because government has not shown them that they can be trusted to protect them.

    What are the implications of allowing the aforementioned conditions to continue? There will be increase in corruption in government offices, in the markets and on the streets. People who spend more than they earn to come to office do not depend on the salaries anymore. They have simply devised strategies and are exploiting the system that failed to consider their welfare as important. When the economy is hard as it is, there will be increase in out-of-school children and that implies future danger and insecurity.

    When people shut down their businesses, there will be increase in unemployment and poverty and the resultant effects will be increase in social problems, deviant behaviours and criminality such as cyber-criminality, armed robbery, kidnapping and banditry.

    President Bola Tinubu needs to know that fixing the economy is an important step to reposition the country. Farming communities need protection from bandits and terrorists displacing them from their ancestral homes so that they can plant and grow crops to feed the nation. Our refineries must be made to work and refine products for us locally. Government policies must encourage domestic production and protect domestic industries to thrive. Electricity (energy) is central to this. Epileptic power supply kills business. The president must be courageous to weed out those sabotaging his efforts.

     For Nigerians to hail thee, Mr President, you need to deliver a sound security system, a functional health and education and a rejuvenated economy. Mr President, grant this one request. Help us to build a nation where no man is oppressed. And so with peace and plenty, Nigeria and Nigerians may be blessed.

    • Professor Oludayo Tade,University of Ibadan.

  • El-Rufai’s silence not golden

    El-Rufai’s silence not golden

    Sir: On Wednesday last week, the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted former governor, Nasir El-Rufai and several of his aides for allegedly siphoning over N423 billion of the state’s resources from 2015 to 2023. Presenting the report during plenary, the chairman of the 13-member ad hoc committee and the Deputy Speaker of the House, Magaji Henry Danjuma, said most of the loans obtained under the El-Rufai administration were not used for their intended purposes.

    Since the shocking findings by the assembly, the ex-governor has been uncharacteristically quiet. Though, his former aides and son Bashir have kicked against the allegations, describing the probe and the finding as baseless and politically motivated, the former governor has to do the needful to clear his name.  The huge amount of funds said to have been squandered under his watch demand full explanation if only to establish his innocence.

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    Nigerians might want to recall that the same El-Rufai, had during an interview with BBC Hausa service while still in office, accused the past PDP government of mismanaging billions of naira loans. At the time, he also challenged whoever accused his government of diverting the state’s loans to look at the infrastructural development executed across the nooks and crannies of the state.

    Governor Uba Sani has since come under barrage of attacks for being complicit in the loans debacle. This is because, in 2019 when Governor Uba Sani was in the senate, he actually facilitated the loans. This was after earlier attempt by the ex-governor were scuttled by senators Suleiman Hunkuyi and Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna North and Kaduna Central respectively in the 8th National Assembly. Not only did El-Rufai curse those two senators for not endorsing the loans request, but ensured they did not return to the senate. Later, Senator Uba Sani and Abdu Kwari who found their way to the 9th Senate through the support of El-Rufai, would assists his government to obtain the loans with relatively ease.

    Governor Uba Sani has since countered that he facilitated the loans in good faith, believing the ex-governor will judiciously utilise the funds.

    Although, El-Rufai supporters and associates have described the probe as politically motivated, it is high time the former governor broke silence on the weighty allegations against his government. The state House of Assembly committee’s recommendations which advised government to refer those indicted to relevant anti-graft agencies is certainly in order. The brazen abuse of office being alleged should not be swept under the carpet. If the ex-governor has no skeleton in his cupboard, this is the time to break silence in defence of his government.

     •Ibrahim Mustapha,Pambegua Kaduna State.

  • Before we crucify Finidi George

    Before we crucify Finidi George

    • By Kenechukwu Aguolu

    Sir: Before we crucify Finidi George, it’s important to understand that it takes time for a new coach to instil their philosophy into a team. The match against Benin Republic was Finidi George’s fourth match in charge and his second competitive game with the Super Eagles. It’s also crucial to remember that three key players—Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, and William Troost-Ekong—were unavailable. Many teams would struggle without such pivotal players.

    Critics argue that Finidi George should have done better, especially since he inherited a team that reached the finals of the African Nations Cup. There was arguably no need to overhaul the philosophy and players of a winning team, particularly given the limited time available. Under Jose Peseiro, the Super Eagles frequently employed a 3-4-3 formation, which relied on three core defenders and two wing-backs, making the team defensively solid as the wing-backs joined the defense when needed. This formation made the Super Eagles look compact and organized throughout most of the tournament.

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    However, Finidi George seems to prefer a 4-3-3 formation, which hasn’t worked well for the team. Defensively, the team has appeared vulnerable. One might question why he rushed Wilfred Ndidi back into the team. Although Ndidi is an excellent player, integrating him gradually would have been wise to avoid disrupting the team’s rhythm. Frank Onyeka performed admirably at the Nations Cup, and a sudden change might have unsettled the midfield dynamics.

    Given his limited time with the team, Finidi George might have benefitted from a more conservative approach, maintaining most of the players and the team’s previous philosophy, while making gradual, necessary changes. Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup are diminishing, and many calling for Finidi’s dismissal. However, before passing judgment, we should consider that this is only his second competitive match in charge, and he has been without three key players. It’s a challenging situation for any coach. Patience might be warranted before the Nigerian Football Federation  takes any drastic decisions.

     •Kenechukwu Aguolu,

    <kenerek1@gmail.com>

  • Unlocking the Niger Delta for national development

    Unlocking the Niger Delta for national development

    • By George Kerley

    Sir: The federal government recently voiced concerns over the significant impact of lower crude oil production volumes on its revenues, crucial for achieving the ambitious N19 trillion revenue projections for the 2024 budget.

    This concern was highlighted in the Accelerated Stabilization and Advancement Plan (ASAP), developed by the Economic Management Team (EMT) Emergency Task Force and presented by Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, on June 5.

    The federal government’s ability to meet the budgeted revenue, which aims for a 77.4% increase from the 2023 actuals, is at risk. Current oil production stands at 1.4 million barrels per day (mbpd), significantly below the 1.78 mbpd assumption and the OPEC quota of 1.5 mbpd. This 27% shortfall poses a severe threat to the budget’s feasibility.

    Compounding this issue is the historical and ongoing loss of crude oil. According to the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Nigeria lost over 600 million barrels of crude oil, worth more than $46 billion, between 2009 and 2020.

    In 2016 alone the country lost about 106 million barrels worth over $4 billion. This trend continues, exacerbating the revenue challenges.

    The persistent challenges in the Niger Delta stem from historical neglect and inadequate engagement with the oil-producing communities. Rather than merely pacifying politicians, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive and community-focused strategy. Here are the key steps the federal government should take to unlock the potential of the Niger Delta and secure the funds necessary for the national budget:

    Pacify oil producing communities. Ensuring peace and stability in the oil-producing regions is crucial. This involves addressing the grievances of these communities through meaningful dialogue and tangible benefits.

    Improve Presidential Intervention Initiatives. Current initiatives, such as installing solar street lights across townships and selected communities, are commendable but insufficient. A more impactful approach would be to empower communities to generate they need to accelerate their own economic transformation. This not only provides a sustainable energy source but also fosters economic self-reliance.

    Enhance Community Engagement. Active and continuous engagement with the communities is essential. This means involving community members in decision-making processes and ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

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    Foster Community Participation. Encouraging active participation of the communities in achieving regional and national goals is crucial. This involves creating opportunities for local employment, business development, and ensuring that the benefits of oil production are felt locally.

    Appoint Effective Leaders. The appointment of “rainmakers” – individuals who can drive the president’s ambitious objectives for regional and national growth – is essential. These should be process-savvy and resonant leaders, not just politicians, who can effectively bridge the gap between the government and the communities.

    If the Tinubu administration had started by interrogating the NEITI Report on Crude Theft, it would have enabled the government to understand the nature, history, and pattern of crude theft. This understanding would have allowed the administration to promptly identify high-risk areas and communities prone to consistent loss of large volumes of crude oil each month.

    By monitoring these communities and designing solutions to address the situation, the government could have significantly reduced crude theft and resource loss. This would have involved using presidential intervention tools, such as the NDDC, to deepen engagement with high-risk communities and ensure they participate in achieving national goals and objectives.

    Unlocking the potential of the Niger Delta is pivotal for Nigeria to meet its budgetary goals and accelerate national economic transformation.

    •George Kerley,

    Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

  • Eternal echoes of June 12: Nigeria’s unfinished symphony

    Eternal echoes of June 12: Nigeria’s unfinished symphony

    • By Comrade Jude Obuseh

    Sir: Today, Nigerians gather to celebrate Democracy Day, a holiday heavy with history and hope. It was on June 12, 1993, that our nation witnessed an election like no other—a beacon of possibility, where Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), a Muslim from the south, was poised to lead. That moment promised to bridge the divides of ethnicity and religion that had long plagued Nigeria. But this promise was brutally snatched away when the jackboot regime of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (aka IBB) annulled the results, extinguishing the dreams of the emergence of a truly democratic and united Nigeria in one swift bloody stroke.

    Consequently, June 12 became more than just a date. It morphed into a symbol of a democracy betrayed, igniting years of tireless activism. The struggle to reclaim our nation from the grip of authoritarian rule was long and arduous, eventually leading to the return of civilian governance on May 29, 1999. In 2018, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led civilian government moved Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12, in honour of the spirit of that fateful day and the resilience of Nigerians who fought for their right to self-determination.

    As we stand on the threshold of another Democracy Day, we must ask ourselves: Have we truly embraced the ideals that June 12 represents? Corruption continues to weave its insidious web through the fabric of our society, stealing from the mouths of the hungry and the hands of the industrious. The dream of a prosperous Nigeria feels distant, overshadowed by leaders who were once heralded as champions of democracy but now engage in the very vices they once condemned.

    Ethnic tensions, like dormant embers, flare up into raging fires, threatening to consume the fragile peace we hold. These tensions are stoked by political opportunism and the relentless struggle for resources, leaving communities divided and mistrustful. The vision of a united Nigeria, one where every citizen feels a part of the national tapestry, remains elusive.

    Social injustice casts a long shadow over our nation. Inequality in wealth, education, and healthcare starkly contrasts with the ideals we celebrate. The chasm between the rich and poor grows wider, and the promise of a just and equitable society is a distant echo for many.

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    More painful and frustrating is the fact that some lieutenants of the June 12 struggle have abandoned their advocacy and aligned themselves with the oppressors they once fought against.

    June 12 should be more than a remembrance; it should be a day of profound reflection. We must honour those who sacrificed for our democracy, but we must also confront the reality of how far we still have to go. It is within our power, as citizens, to bridge this gap. Let us recommit ourselves to the principles of June 12—free and fair elections, a unified nation, and a government that truly serves its people. Our voices must rise together, demanding accountability, transparency, and justice from our leaders.

    June 12 is not just a celebration; it is a clarion call to action. Together, we can forge the Nigeria we dream of—a Nigeria where democracy is not just an aspiration but a lived reality. As we reflect on the unfulfilled promises of June 12, let us remember that the power to change our nation lies in our hands.

    We must not forget the sacrifices of those who fought for democracy, nor the ideals they championed. Each step we take towards a more transparent, equitable, and just Nigeria is a step towards honouring their legacy. Let June 12 be a reminder that our journey is far from over, and it is up to us to ensure that the symphony of our nation reaches its full crescendo.

    Let us rise, united and resolute, to fulfil the promise of June 12. Let our actions speak louder than words, and let our commitment to democracy be unwavering. The future of Nigeria is ours to shape.

    •Comrade Jude Obuseh,

    syncado2006@yahoo.com

  • Civil Service and wage conundrum

    Civil Service and wage conundrum

    Sir: The civil service- both at the federal and state levels- play pivotal and significant roles in the formation of different government policies and the execution of them. The civil service, indisputably, is the fulcrum or engine room of government. An efficient civil service will drive developmental initiatives in a country. That is the chief reason why the remuneration, promotion, recruitment, and training and re-training of civil servants should not be treated with levity by both the federal and state governments.

    A civil service that is disabled through the government’s negligence and indifference cannot achieve its objectives; neither can it be the fulcrum or engine room of the government. Nigeria’s underdevelopment is partly caused by the inefficiency of the civil service and the corruption inherent in its civil service both at the federal and state levels.

    Civil servants, who receive meagre salaries, which make them live on the margins of society, cannot perform their duties expertly and efficiently. That civil servants in Nigeria are treated badly is an incontestable fact. In some states, civil servants are paid their salaries based on the whims and caprices of states governors.

    Consequently, the civil service has become the dumping grounds for unpatriotic, undedicated, disloyal, and half-baked graduates, who could not find plum jobs in banks, multinational companies, and other reputable organizations.

    Now, labour leaders and the government are fighting over what will be the new minimum wage for workers. Both parties will, no doubt, reach a consensus on the matter. However, the problem lies in the fact that many states in Nigeria are too financially emasculated to continuously pay the huge wage bills that will result from the increment on workers’ salaries.

    Yet, incredibly, and ironically, too, our political leaders in both the federal and legislative arms of government earn jumbo salaries, although our economy is in the woods. While they live in opulence, millions of Nigerians are trapped in multidimensional poverty. Each night, they go to bed on empty stomachs, but our political leaders are busy dipping their hands in our exchequer to line their pockets.

    When civil servants are paid living wages, bright minds will find civil service jobs attractive. And they will join it. We should know that only brilliant and well-educated civil servants can help to formulate workable governmental policies, the implementation of which will leapfrog our economy to the top and place our country on the path of irreversible technological growth and rapid industrialization.

    •Chiedu Uche OkoyeUruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State.

  • Benefits of increased minimum wage

    Benefits of increased minimum wage

    Sir: Increasing the national minimum wage should be viewed as a strategic decision with numerous benefits. Given the widespread issue of underpayment of workers, a thoughtful raise in the minimum wage would bring about extensive positive benefits that outweigh any potential drawbacks.  It also reinforces a fundamental principle: the right of workers to receive fair wages. Embracing this perspective highlights economic wisdom and demonstrates a commitment to fairness and societal progress.

    A key benefit of increasing the minimum wage is the potential boost in employee motivation and productivity. Reasonable wages motivate employees, enhancing their commitment to their jobs and increasing their productivity and innovativeness. Higher wages reduce employee turnover, lowering recruitment and training costs, and fostering a more experienced and skilled workforce. This increase in productivity can contribute significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the long run.

    One of the major issues facing Nigerian workers today is low purchasing power, which has led to a decrease in demand for goods and services. This demand reduction negatively impacts the turnover and profitability of many companies. If this trend continues, some companies might be forced to close down or lay off staff to stay afloat. An increased minimum wage would enhance the purchasing power of employees, leading to higher demand for products and services a basic item like sachet water, which costs N50, has seen reduced demand as people choose to boil and filter their tap water. Better wages will stimulate economic activity thereby boosting sales and profitability for businesses.

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    An increased minimum wage will contribute to reducing insecurity and fraud in Nigeria. The fraud triangle theory identifies pressure as one of the main factors driving people to commit fraudulent activities. Workers who earn insufficient wages may be pressured into criminal behaviour to make ends meet. Similarly, children from financially strained families might be forced to fend for themselves at an early age, increasing their risk of engaging in criminal activities. With a reasonable minimum wage, the pressure on families would be alleviated, reducing the incentive to engage in crime. Furthermore, as businesses thrive with increased consumer spending, business owners will have more resources to support their families, further contributing to social stability.

    Better wages improve workers’ standard of living, thereby enhancing life expectancy.  Additionally, poorly paid individuals are less likely to afford proper healthcare. In Nigeria, many lack health insurance, and even among the insured, dissatisfaction with service delivery is common. With higher wages, individuals can better afford healthcare services, resulting in improved health outcomes and prolonged life expectancy

    The government stands to benefit from an increased minimum wage through higher tax revenues generated by increased economic activity. As businesses expand and profitability improves, tax contributions from corporate income tax, value-added tax, and personal income tax are likely to rise. Additionally, a healthier and more financially stable workforce can reduce the government’s expenditure on social welfare programs.

    Some argue that increasing the minimum wage could lead to wage-push or cost-push inflation, resulting in higher prices for goods and services. However, it is important to note that due to industrialization and technological advancements, labour costs often constitute a relatively small fraction of the cost of goods and services in many companies. Moreover, the improvement in workers’ productivity resulting from higher wages will lead to greater labour efficiency; which will offset some of the increased costs. Therefore, the inflationary impact may be less significant than feared.

    Indeed, while acknowledging the inevitable rise in operating costs for businesses, it’s essential to recognize that the impact will be more pronounced on smaller enterprises unable to capitalize fully on economies of scale. Initially, such an increase may precipitate job losses as businesses strive to adapt to the change. However, in the long run, as productivity escalates and consumer spending surges from the augmented purchasing power stemming from higher wages, businesses may be compelled to expand their workforce to meet escalating demand. This cyclical effect has the potential to stimulate job creation and fuel economic growth, underscoring the transformative power of strategic wage adjustments.

    •Kenechukwu Aguolu FCA, Abuja.

  • LG autonomy; lifeboat for Nigeria’s sinking boat

    LG autonomy; lifeboat for Nigeria’s sinking boat

    Sir: The dragging of the 36 state governors to the Supreme Court by the federal government in the bid to extricate the 774 local governments from suffocation represents a ray of hope for ordinary Nigerians and a laudable effort for consolidating the country’s quadriplegic democracy. This effort will definitely open up an opportunity for the tier of the government to have access to the direct transfer of their allocated funds from the federation account as stipulated in the constitution.

    It is undeniable that the twin evils of escalating poverty and spiralling insecurity across the country can only be addressed when the long-awaited dream of local governments’ full autonomy becomes a reality. Poor Nigerians are looking forward to having the closest listening ears of those in charge at the level to their complaints.

    Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mohammed Bello Shehu was recently quoted to have said: “Full autonomy will engender good governance, transparency and accountability at the local level. Security challenges like banditry, kidnappings, terrorism, electoral violence, etc., would be reduced to the barest minimum if the quantum of funds meant for local governments is channelled towards rural development”.

    One could not agree more.

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    According to the recent World Bank data, 89.8 million Nigerians were poor as of the beginning of this year. It added that an additional four million Nigerians became poor during the year, raising the figure to 93.8million. It also projected that the number of poor Nigerians will rise to 100.9 million if urgent steps are not taken to address the fallouts of the removal of fuel subsidy.

    When receiving members of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, last year in Lagos, President Bola Tinubu had said: “I am committed to supporting a strong and ideologically-determined democracy that is progressive, inclusive, and focused on eliminating poverty while providing quality education for our children’’.

    Surely, Mr President’s vision of eradicating poverty on the land and throwing his weight behind goal four of the UN’ s Sustainable Development Goals which aims to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030, will never be accomplished without actualising full autonomy of the local governments.

    Today, the top remedy for the pressing issue of increasing out-of-school children, which is among the major problems constituting a very serious threat to the national security and future stability of the country, is ensuring that the local government have the resources needed to address the matter of the estimated15 million out-of-school children roaming the streets of the country. If urgent action is not taken, when these stranded starving children grow up, they may turn into anti-social elements. After all, the ancient Greek philosopher, scientist and polymath, Aristotle once said, “Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime”. Because the local government councils are closest to the masses, any real development and ray of hope for poverty eradication could only be witnessed when this tier of government are allowed to stand on their feet.

    More than a mere constitutional imperative, it is also a matter of survival for the millions of impoverished Nigerians living in extreme poverty, severe hunger and fright. Some public commentators and analysts look upon it as the surest path to the resuscitation of the country’s ailing and comatose democracy.

    Mr President should move heaven and earth to accomplish this life-saving vision of rescuing Nigeria’s vulnerable population from the strangulation of state governments at the grassroots level. We urge our state governors and members of the legislature to find the empathy, understanding and discernment to allow this life-saving vision to come into being.

    •Mustapha Baba,Azare, Bauchi State.