The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • EFCC and the governors

    EFCC and the governors

    SIR: It is no news now that some state governors have filed a suit before the Supreme Court, challenging the law that established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). However, some of the governors have withdrawn from the suit. For instance, the latest withdrawal was by the Benue State governor, Hyacinth Alia, who went further to suspend his attorney-general for joining Benue State without consulting anybody, including the governor. The governor was quoted saying: My administration is holding accountable those who embezzled money and drained our state dry. The EFCC and ICPC are assisting us in this effort. How can I now turn around and begin to challenge these watchdogs?

     I commend the Benue State governor for his frankness and courage.

    This legal battle started by the governors is meaningless. It has nothing to do with any altruistic cause. Also, it is not meant to strengthen our federalism; rather, it is aimed at crippling accountability and transparency in governance. Our state governors are so arrogant and power-drunk that they can do anything to sabotage good governance. Nigeria is a mess because, at the sub-national level, we have the most corrupt, insensitive, and autocratic leaders. These are leaders who deprive local government of their autonomy, who prioritize construction of vanity projects such as flyovers and pedestrian bridges while hundreds thousands of people are illiterate, some dying from malaria, children are malnourished, and who hoard goods meant for the masses most of who go to bed hungry every night.

    These are governors that prioritize sirens, convoys, foreign trips, over bloated political appointees, etc.

    Read Also: Lagos SEC approves LASUCOM’s upgrade to medical varsity

    Ninety percent of the common people at the local level don’t know how their governors utilize the public funds. The budget document is cumbersome and full of jargon beyond the comprehension of a layman. The budget performance report is prepared using the same jargon and posted on a third-rate website that is not even responsive. You only visit it to know that it is not meant to enlighten but to confuse.

    No doubt, these enemies of accountability are afraid of EFCC. Because they know that they can’t withstand its scrutiny and investigation. People who have skeletons in their cupboards must surely dislike EFCC.

    It is on record that the EFCC has secured the conviction of many former state governors despite their sabotage. Many of them have now become fugitives, so they are fighting back.

    Furthermore, the suit is not only to cut down EFCC to size but also to blackmail the federal government. But they will surely fail. The Supreme Court is not a state House of Assembly that can be reduced to a rubber stamp, doing the bidding of one individual.

    • Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar, Unguwa Katsina
  • Ridding Abuja of beggars

    Ridding Abuja of beggars

    SIR: Nyesom Wike may have misplaced some passes as Minister of the FCT, but on his planned removal of street beggars from Abuja, the former Rivers State governor seems to have hit the mark with uncanny accuracy. It is simple: beggars cannot be allowed to hang around Abuja anymore. Their existence and enterprise deface Nigeria’s capital.

    To be clear, begging is a symptom and not a cause of Nigeria’s problems. A country where begging is lucrative employment for many is a country that is not getting something right.

     For Wike, moving the beggars out of Abuja is a priority, but where will they be moved to? Most importantly, what can be done to urgently wean them of a habit, hobby, and handiwork that they are prepared not only to do all their lives but pass on to their children like some cherished heirloom?

    The government must go beyond the crater to seek the cure. Why are there so many beggars in Nigeria? It is worth remembering that those referred to as “beggars” by Wike are only a fraction of the beggars in Nigeria. There are many who, tired of their wretched existence in their rural villages find their way to cities to beg. Begging from morning to night in strategic locations, they soon begin to make enough money to send back home. Encouraged by how lucrative the venture is, some of their relations soon join them in the city to join the begging business.

     How about the almajiri children who clog many public spaces in Nigeria, unwashed and unkempt, with ringworm and eczema battling over every inch of space on their skin? The trauma caused to innocent children of that age range in the name of religious education is simply unthinkable. It is heart breaking that it is religion that enables that kind of systemic dehumanization of kids that emphasizes begging, child neglect and child poverty.

     As president until 2015, Goodluck Jonathan floated and sunk billions of public funds into building schools in the North in a bid to take almajiri children off the street, rehabilitate them and prepare them for a better future. Today, the schools lie moribund, suffocated by a poisonous cocktail of religion, superstition and poor maintenance culture.

    A country where children who should be in school are begging for a living is one with unaccountable problems. A country where women spread helpless toddlers like rags under the sun and thrust out bottomless begging bowls to passers-by right in the heart of its capital city is a country sitting on a time bomb.

    Read Also: Lagos SEC approves LASUCOM’s upgrade to medical varsity

    Many of the children reduced to begging by poverty and neglect now form the prolific pool into which terrorists dip to recruit conscripts. Yet, Nigeria wonders why its war against terror refuses to end.

    Wike said that the beggars were a source of embarrassment as well as security threats in the FCT. He was not far from the truth. His method of dealing with the menace is what appears to be far from effective.

    Experience has shown that once removed, these beggars find a way to return or simply reinvent themselves and transport their begging bowls to different locations as long as those locations are lucrative.

     What Nigeria needs is a permanent solution to the menace of street begging, which will be no simple task. Its root causes of systemic poverty and inequality must be addressed firstly.

     Already, those who beg are dehumanized by the poverty of their chosen enterprise. Many of them are left with no choice in the face of life’s raging hardships. Restoring their dignity should be at the core of finding any solutions aimed at rehabilitating them.

    • Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com
  • Work template for livestock development minister

    Work template for livestock development minister

    SIR: Nigeria boasts one of the largest cattle populations in Africa, ranking among the top on the continent. There are over 20 million cattle, primarily concentrated in the northern regions, including states such as Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna, and Kano.

    The new Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktar Maiha, faces a difficult and tasking job in three key ways, so to speak. First, the Ministry of Livestock Development is newly established, and expectations from Nigerians are high. The ministry is tasked with overseeing and developing livestock policies, managing animal health and disease, improving breeds and genetic resources, enhancing husbandry and production systems, supporting rural livelihoods, and modernizing livestock marketing and trade.

    From an informal perspective, expectations will focus on how the minister will transform the lives of nomadic cattle herders from being uneducated and nomadic to leading more settled, normal lives, while also addressing the farmer-herder conflict, as well as the notorious practices of cattle rustling, banditry, and kidnapping for ransom, which are prevalent among some cattle herders.

    Mukhtar’s second challenge lies in his background; he has spent most of his career as a technocrat at NNPC. Whether he is aware of it or not, he will inevitably experience the bitter-sweet realities of politics. Once appointed as a minister, one automatically assumes a political role. Mukhtar will need to navigate this transition, deciding whether to embrace full-time politics or attempt to balance his technocratic expertise with his political responsibilities.

    Furthermore, few people in Adamawa know him, despite his former role as Managing Director of the Kaduna Refinery, a Petrochemical Company (KPRC). As a result, many may perceive him as elitist and aloof, particularly in a position that is inherently people-centred.

    Read Also: Governors insist on ranches for livestock herders

    Mukhtar’s third challenge stems from the performances of his two predecessors from Adamawa, Mohammed Musa Bello and Prof Mamman Tahir, which many Adamawa people view as less than stellar. Their tenures have left a mixed legacy, leading to scepticism among the populace about Mukhtar’s ability to bring about something new and different. To distinguish himself, Mukhtar will need to work diligently to carve out his own identity and establish a positive track record. This task is particularly crucial, as he shares several traits with both former ministers, which could lead to assumptions about his capabilities and approach. By demonstrating effective leadership and addressing the needs of the people, Mukhtar can overcome this challenge and build a reputation that sets him apart.

    With an impressive CV as a technocrat, along with practical knowledge of livestock management, Mukhtar’s Zaidi Farm stands out as a well-integrated enterprise that applies world-class best practices in animal husbandry. Given this background, we expect him to introduce innovative approaches to livestock management by benchmarking against countries renowned for their success in this field, such as New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Brazil, Ireland, and the United States. These nations have excelled in implementing efficient and sustainable livestock practices, utilizing advanced genetic research and technology to enhance productivity. However, Mukhtar’s journey will be both sweet and bitter, largely depending on his approach to leadership, public relationships and policy implementation. By embracing collaboration and leveraging global best practices, he has the potential to make significant strides in transforming the livestock sector.

    • Zayyad I. Muhammad, Abuja.
  • Tackling the cybercrime plague

    Tackling the cybercrime plague

    SIR: Nigeria’s drastic descent down the moral and economic ladder has thrown its teeming young people into an impossible spin, forcing them to take a draining decision between hunger and holiness, vice and virtue.

    According to the EFCC, Nigeria lost $500 million in 2022 alone to cybercrime. Nigeria may have all sorts of challenges with sourcing, sorting and saving data, but the fact is that any figure close to the calculation of the country’s losses as a result of cybercrime should send alarm bells whirring.

    Amidst the unprecedented opportunities offered by technology, especially information and communication technology, and the tremendous challenge posed by biting hunger and bristling unemployment, many young Nigerians have taken to cybercrime. The road they take is as rusty as it is riveting.

     Over the internet, while using as many aliases as they can invent, they hunt foreigners, especially Europeans and South Americans, who are on a quest to love and be loved, and have a few quid to give. Using all manner of subterfuge, these Nigerians succeed in getting their foreign ‘lovers’ to part with considerable sums of money.

    Given how catastrophic the exchange rate has become for Nigeria, these monies, meagre in the hands of their original owners, become a little fortune once they cross international finance lines. For many of the boys involved, it is like winning a jackpot; a considerable cash-out; a veritable payday.

    These days, it is not uncommon to see primary school pupils declare that they want to be ‘yahoo boys’ in the nearest future, or secondary school students who are unapologetic about what they do. As for many students of tertiary institutions, pride is all they take in their lifestyle.

     The society has been caught in this tailspin of quick money with very little pain. In the face of these ‘emergency millionaires’, the moral structure of the society is running the risk of collapsing. Many parents basking in the new-found wealth of their children consider it an aberration to question what they do for a living. Some of them even flaunt their children’s wealth while mocking parents whose children are yet to ‘make it.’ Not made it.

     In the face of this surge of cybercrime and its ill-gotten proceeds, what are the relevant Nigerian authorities doing? There is always the usual pontification about the need to be good citizens of the country and shun crime by those who are hardly model citizens themselves. There is also the occasional prosecution and incarceration of suspects, including raids on so-called ‘yahoo academies.’ But a country haunted by its inability to provide for its young people is one likely to be hamstrung in questioning their crimes of survival.

    But beyond what the relevant authorities are doing to curb cybercrime is what they are not doing to check the rampaging menace that is corroding the moral fibre of young children even before they are strong enough to know their right from their left.

    Read Also: ‘Youths complicity in cybercrimes threat to economic progress’

    It is common knowledge that some men of Nigeria’s security agencies have turned some of these yahoo boys into cash cows thereby aiding and abetting their crimes. These unscrupulous personnel who have become suspiciously wealthy themselves feign raiding these boys occasionally, extort considerable sums from them and let them go to continue their illicit enterprise of deceiving unsuspecting foreigners.

    With the impossible expansion of the cyberspace, crime has become as numerous as opportunities. Both are growing rapidly. What is Nigeria’s choice in it all?

    Nigeria must choose combat rather than collusion in cybercrime. It must confront the menace headlong. A key part of its fight must be giving Nigeria’s youth options that can at least match the fleeting comforts of cybercrime. However, in a country strangled by the cost of living crisis and soaring unemployment, the fear is real that Nigeria lacks the weapons to contend with what the EFCC chairman himself has described as the third-largest GDP in the world.

     Unless Nigeria takes drastic measures, the pull of cybercrime will not only push Nigeria’s young over the precipice but would pulverize the entire country.

    • Ike Willie-Nwobu, Ikewilly9@gmail.com
  • Education: Experts, not prescriptions needed

    Education: Experts, not prescriptions needed

    SIR: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed a physician, Dr Morufu Olatunji Alausa, who previously served as the Minister of State for Health, to lead the affairs of the education ministry. Dr. Alausa is a US board-certified nephrologist.  Although he may be a competent professional in the medical field, the challenges facing the education sector demand someone with a deep understanding of educational policies, administration, and reform. At a time Nigeria’s education system is grappling with issues of infrastructure decay, underfunding, and a persistent brain drain, this decision seems ill-conceived and the crisis is more urgent than ever.

    The education sector has been in crisis for decades, punctuated by frequent strikes from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). These strikes, which have caused massive disruptions to academic calendars, stem from systemic issues: inadequate funding, poor working conditions for staff, outdated facilities, and unresolved negotiations between the government and ASUU.  The repeated standoff between ASUU and the government shows a failure to invest in long-term solutions that could stabilize the system.

    The education sector urgently requires transformative leadership with an in-depth understanding of pedagogical practices, teacher training, curriculum development, and educational infrastructure. It also needs someone who understands the socio-political dynamics surrounding student and faculty welfare, an area where long-standing agreements with unions like ASUU have been repeatedly neglected. The need for transformative leadership is more pressing than ever.

    Read Also: NANS hails Tinubu over redeployment of Alausa as Education Minister

    Moreover, there is an urgent need for solid investments in Nigeria’s education system. For years, budgetary allocations to education have fallen below international standards. Nigeria spends less than 10% of its national budget on education, far below the 15-20% recommended by UNESCO. This has led to crumbling classrooms, outdated teaching materials, and an overburdened faculty. The poor state of education has also driven many of Nigeria’s best minds abroad, contributing to the country’s deepening brain drain.

    It is high time the government realized that appointing professionals with expertise in education is the first step toward reversing the damage inflicted on the sector. Countries that have made substantial progress in education reform, such as Finland and Singapore, did so by placing experienced educators and policymakers in charge of their education ministries. Nigeria must follow this example.

    Education is the bedrock of any nation’s development. Without a strong, visionary leader at the helm of the Ministry of Education, Nigeria’s youth will continue to suffer, and the nation’s future will remain uncertain.

    • Jacob Sule, Washington, DC, United States.
  • Uniting for the final push to end polio

    Uniting for the final push to end polio

    Sir: October 24 each year commemorates World Polio Day. This commemoration isn’t just an opportunity to reflect on the journey towards the eradication of the disease but also to remind all stakeholders of the seemingly unending battle to eliminate what has been described as a crippling and life-threatening illness.

    The European Region was declared polio-free in 2002 and has maintained this status every year since. While the African region was declared polio-free in 2020, the emergence of circulating Variant Poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) continues to be an important area of focus. This means other low- and medium-income countries, including Nigeria, continue to play catch-up.

    With over 70 cases reported across 46 local government areas (LGAs) in 14 states, Nigeria is currently witnessing intense transmission of cVPV2. This is largely due to issues surrounding vaccine hesitancy, which has led to low vaccination coverage. Similarly, misinformation and distrust about the potency and intentions of vaccination have significantly contributed to the low rate of herd immunity against the disease.

    Another major barrier that developing and underdeveloped nations face is political instability and ongoing conflicts. This severely restricts access to vaccination campaigns, making it difficult to reach underserved communities and leaving them vulnerable. The challenges posed by health supply chains, sometimes exacerbated by insecurity and logistics gaps, have also consistently impacted the availability of polio vaccines for effective distribution, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

    Given the potential devastating effects of polio—such as paralysis and psychosocial impact—along with the speed at which this disease can spread, the urgency needed to end this scourge remains critical. While the progress made is impressive, nearly eradicating polio is not good enough. Locations with incomplete vaccination coverage may experience outbreaks that can rapidly escalate into fresh public health emergencies.

    Read Also: Building wealth abroad: Why Nigerian investors should consider US real estate with REI capital growth

    The coordination of efforts by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) over the years has been critical to the global effort to eradicate polio, involving significant investments of financial and human resources. This further underscores the importance of strengthening existing collaborations at all levels to accelerate the end of polio in the African region.

    For instance, eHealth Africa is working with key partners, such as the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development, to engage traditional and religious institutions in leading the polio vaccination drive. The intervention led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has built trust within communities across northern Nigeria to increase vaccine uptake. To a significant extent, religious leaders, traditional leaders, and village heads have been flagging off vaccination campaigns from their palaces and chambers, which has undoubtedly improved acceptance of vaccines, especially in rural communities.

    The urgency of reaching rural communities has also prompted the deployment of digital innovations like Geospatial Tracking Systems (GTS) to track and identify missed settlements. These systems have helped increase vaccination coverage while providing data-driven insights for decision-making. This has improved the quality and accountability of campaign implementation by validating the reports generated by vaccination teams.

    Similarly, digital innovations like Planfeld, recently piloted by eHealth Africa, have been instrumental in enhancing the accuracy of planning vaccination campaigns and reaching every settlement. The application provides information on the exact number of settlements being targeted, the number of children in those areas, and the amount of vaccine required for the activity.

    Aside from the deployment of technology, social behavioural change interventions at all levels have been another key approach in the journey to end polio. Irrespective of their roles, every step taken toward alleviating this disease is crucial. From international public health leaders to caregivers in the most remote locations, the influence of every stakeholder remains vital to the final push to end polio in Nigeria and the African continent.

    Importantly, the emergence of other potential public health crises—such as cholera, monkey pox, hypertension, and diabetes—increases the urgency of ending the long-standing battle against polio. This will ensure that more global health funding is directed toward addressing other health issues, averting potential public health emergencies.

    As we unite to push for a future without polio, this will be a testament to our collective resolve and humanity’s ability to unite for a common cause. We are indeed on the brink of history as we deliver the final blow to this disease once and for all.

    •Moshood Isah,eHealth Africa, Abuja.

  • Obasanjo’s sanctimony

    Obasanjo’s sanctimony

    Sir: Listening to former president, Olusegun Obasanjo on nation-building boils the skin. He should be reminded that he is not this saviour Nigeria needs. Rather, he is a major contributor to our current situation. An Obasanjo whose administration was marked by corruption, blatant abuse of power and the manipulation of electoral processes giving advice on nation-building; such irony.

    During his tenure, federal roads were death traps, and basic amenities were a luxury for the common man. There was no major infrastructural project to point to, not even in the region he hailed from. The disrepair of roads was a symbol of a government that had forsaken its duty to its people. Despite the country enjoying massive oil revenues during his tenure, there was literally nothing much to show for it other than looted funds.

    Nigeria became deep rooted in the claws of corruption during his tenure. I recall how governors were coerced into donating N10 million each to fund his personal library project. How could a president, entrusted with the public good, extort such a huge sum from state coffers for a private venture? It was not only a betrayal of public trust but also an outright abuse of presidential power.

    Remember the 2003 and 2007 elections? Where violence and intimidation dictated the result of voters; stories of guns at polling units were commonplace. It wasn’t just something we heard about on the news—it was happening right here, in our communities. Parties were robbed of their wins, daylight election robbery where people were denied their legitimate right. This happened right under the government of the man who brought democracy back to Nigeria.

    Rauf Aregbesola won the Osun State governorship, but the people’s will was denied. In Ondo, Olusegun Mimiko faced the same fate. These were not isolated incidents; across Oyo, Bayelsa, and Sokoto, rigging was the norm, not the exception.

    Read Also: GOHO Foundation shares educational materials with 12 Nigerian schools

    Obasanjo now positions himself as a moral authority, often criticizing the current administration and lecturing young people on good governance. But where was his moral compass when governors were being kidnapped and impeached on wrong grounds? Where was his respect for democratic institutions when he packed the National Assembly with loyalists and minions who bent to his every whim?

    These issues Nigerians face today, which Obasanjo claims to speak against were born and bred under his leadership. It is difficult to take his words on transparency, anti-corruption, or electoral integrity seriously, knowing the deep scars his administration left on our political landscape. He had the chance to shape Nigeria’s democracy for the better, but instead, exploited it for personal gain and political dominance.

    So, when Obasanjo takes the stage today to lecture us on how to conduct elections or build a progressive government, I can’t help but see the hypocrisy. He may have helped us return us to civilian rule, but he also corrupted the very fabric of our democracy. The guns, the rigged elections, the bribery, the abuse of power, these are all part of his legacy. And as Nigerians who lived through his reign, we must remember how he failed us and our generation. Some sins can be forgiven but never forgotten. This is the same reaction Nigerians should have with former president, Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Obasanjo may try to rewrite history, but for those of us who lived through it, the truth will always remain clear. His administration was not a beacon of democracy but a reminder of how power intoxicates and can destroy the very foundations of a nation’s progress. Nigeria could have been better, if only he had practiced the morals he now preaches.

    •Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye,United Kingdom

  • One-party state: Bala Mohammed crying wolf

    One-party state: Bala Mohammed crying wolf

    Sir: Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed has turned himself to megaphone of his party, PDP, firing from all cylinders.

    Nigerians vividly recall that he had a less than salutary rein as FCT minister under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, with his tenure recording plethora of abandoned projects unfortunately paid for by the government.

    The inaction of the anti-graft agencies might have emboldened the governor to assume the self-imposed role of vanguard for PDP causes, releasing provocative pronouncements, meddling and intruding into political affairs absolutely beyond his jurisdiction.

    His recent foray in this instance was the spurious alarm he raised that PDP would not allow a one-party state in the country as if oblivious of the fact that his party’s problem was largely self-imposed, rather than externally induced. 

    Where are the founding fathers of PDP? Which side of divide are they? The IBB, Abdulsalam Abubakar, Aliyu Gusau, the northern aristocrats!

    Or Olusegun Obasanjo who openly tore his membership card, declaring that he would never have anything to do with the party again?

    Ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan has been largely evasive whenever the PDP issues are listed for discussion. Namadi Sambo, his deputy has remained anonymous on the matters of PDP.

    Read Also: Nigerians spend N10,239 monthly on cooking gas, says NBS

    Even the illustrious former senate president David Mark treats PDP case with contempt. Of course, the unstable Bukola Saraki has been on his own, opting to disconnect from the state hierarchy and even the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

    Where are Pius Anyim, Ken Nnamani, Adolphous Wabara, Evans Nwerem, all senate presidents in the glorious era of PDP?

    Virtually all the illustrious members of the party have ported. Presently, things have almost fallen apart, as the center could no longer hold.

    Meanwhile, while governors of Oyo, Osun, Taraba, and even, Adamawa, home state of PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar are firmly and religiously in Wike camp, and Enugu and Zamfara remain neutral, other PDP governors reluctantly opt to weather the storm with the party.

    Other governors who still have modicum of sympathy and support for the party are perhaps waiting for their opportunity to move on. This is the present state of affairs in the party.

    It’s therefore embarrassing that Bala Mohammed has lost sight of the facts chronicled above, opting instead to raise false alarm about the attempt by the APC, the ruling party, to make Nigeria a one-party state.

    PDP is supposed to be a credible, functional and vibrant opposition group. It’s clear they’ve lost that status. Of course, Nigerians hold their breath and watch with keen interest to observe the survival of the party even, before 2027 general elections.     

    •Kola Amzat (FCA, FCIB) Lagos

  • National Youth Conference as empowerment tool

    National Youth Conference as empowerment tool

    Sir: The proposed 30-day National Youth Conference by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his October 1 national broadcast is a ground-breaking initiative aimed at empowering Nigerian youths, addressing pressing issues and fostering unity among young people from diverse backgrounds.

    This proactive engagement is a significant step towards rebuilding and empowering the nation’s future leaders. It is an exercise that is long overdue and it is commendable in all ramifications.

    Key objectives of the conference as has been proposed by the president include promoting national cohesion and unity among youths; tackling critical issues affecting youths, such as unemployment, education and healthcare; developing policies aimed at enhancing a sustainable youth development and empowerment; and helping the youths rediscover their strengths and talents.

    As chairman of Nigeria Youth Organisation (NYO) Kwara State chapter, I believe that the strength of any nation lies in its youth. Therefore, this conference will provide a platform for meaningful dialogue that would ultimately unlock the potential of the Nigerian youths.

    Read Also: Tinubu meets NIPCO executives, commends investments in CNG sector

    President Tinubu’s youth-friendly initiative in this regard deserves commendation, especially as he has assured that the federal government would consider and implement recommendations from the conference, further demonstrating his commitment to building a more inclusive, prosperous and united Nigeria.

    It is, therefore, my view that the conference marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards youth empowerment and national development. Also, with President Tinubu’s proven leadership and the active participation of youths in the conference as envisaged, Nigeria is poised for a brighter future.

    It is heart-warming that in addition to the conference, the Tinubu administration is implementing several youth-centric programmes that include 3 Million Technical Talents Programme (3MTT) which targets building Nigeria’s technical workforce; Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) which offers affordable loans for tertiary education; Renewed Hope Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP) which seeks to create 2.5 million jobs annually while ensuring the welfare and safety of workers.

    Based on the foregoing, the Kwara State chapter of the NYO specially commend Mr. President for this bold, timely and responsive conference.

    I pray that God bless the initiator and the dynamic, enterprising and creative youths of Nigeria who constitute more than 60 per cent of the population of our dear country.

    •Comrade Samson.Ilorin, Kwara State.

  • Marginalization of judiciary staff

    Marginalization of judiciary staff

    Sir: The judiciary, recognized as the third arm of government, holds a critical role in the democratic system, ensuring justice, upholding the rule of law, and safeguarding the rights of citizens. While the judges who sit at the helm of this institution are revered and provided for, the same cannot be said for the judiciary staff that forms the backbone of the system. They remain the unsung heroes whose work, dedication, and commitment keep the wheels of justice turning. Yet, despite the essential services they provide, they are being treated with delay and negligence when it comes to their finances and entitlements.

    Across various jurisdictions, judiciary staff – clerks, court registrars, legal research assistants, administrative personnel, bailiffs, and others – are continuously faced with delays in the payment of their allowances and other entitlements.  One refers to the continuous payment of 35,000 wage award till implementation of the minimum wage, outright delay in the 40% payment which some courts are yet to receive in full and the 25 and 35% increment for staff which is still pending. 

    On the minimum wage, the judiciary is yet to receive theirs which takes us back to arrears that’s seems fruitless to receive, whereas, some parastatals and state government have begun payment and the judiciary seems less concerned about the welfare of its staff.

    This sluggish treatment is not only unjust but also demoralizing for workers who contribute significantly to the smooth functioning of the judicial system. The disparity is even more glaring when compared to the relatively well-provided entitlements of judges, who, by virtue of their position, do not face the same financial struggles.

     It is a stark reality that, while judges enjoy timely payment of their allowances, and other benefits, the judiciary staff who support them in the administration of justice are left to struggle with unpaid dues and deferred benefits. This neglect not only affects the livelihood of these staff members but also has a ripple effect on the efficiency of the judiciary as a whole.

     These staff members, who are often the first point of contact for the public in the judiciary, ensure that court proceedings run smoothly, legal documents are properly processed, and that the system functions without disruption. When their morale is low due to financial insecurity, it is inevitable that the overall efficiency of the judiciary will suffer.

    Read Also: Experts chart course to tackle Nigeria’s low life expectancy

    The neglect of judiciary staff also raises questions about the value placed on their contribution to the judicial system. While much attention is often given to the welfare of judges, there seems to be a blind spot when it comes to the staff who form the majority of the workforce within the judiciary. This imbalance must be addressed to prevent further demoralization and inefficiency within the justice system.

    The judiciary is not just about judges; it is a collective effort that involves a wide range of staff who, despite their critical roles, are being left behind in terms of financial recognition and entitlements. The sluggish manner in which judiciary staff are treated must be urgently addressed to ensure the smooth functioning of the judicial system. It is essential that the government acknowledges the contributions of these workers and ensures that their financial rights are upheld, recognizing that it is the staff, not the judges, who suffer most from this ongoing neglect.

    The judiciary will only be as strong as the commitment and morale of its entire workforce, and it is time that the financial needs of judiciary staff are treated with the same urgency and importance as those of judges.

    •Babatunde Olumide,<felixolucube@gmail.com