The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • Strange suspect

    Strange suspect

    In the aftermath of the nationwide so-called hunger protest that turned violent in parts of the country, the Kano State Police Command announced the arrest of hundreds of suspects, including “76 suspects flying Russian flags.”  The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Salman Garba, said the 76 suspects had been transferred to the Force Headquarters, Abuja “for discreet investigation on charges of sedition.”

    Also, the Department of State Services (DSS) posted on its X handle that it had “apprehended some tailors in Kano State responsible for making Russian flags being distributed in the area. Some of their sponsors have also been picked. An investigation is ongoing.”

    However, the family of one of the alleged tailors, 21-year-old Ahmad Yusuf Muhammad, was reported saying “he was never a tailor.”  According to Nasiru Yusuf Muhammad, who described Ahmad as his “biological brother,” he was arrested because “they said he was the one sewing the Russian flag. I want to clarify that he was never a tailor, he had never been and doesn’t even know how to handle a sewing machine.

    “He is a used water sachet recycling dealer, we are all into it, he directly works under me, that’s our business. He was never a tailor. Even the sewing machine that was said to be his was not his own and was not picked in our house. It was in a neighbour’s house and the owner has since run away.

    “The flag was not even in his custody. Ahmad had not participated in the protest and did not raise any flag.”

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    He appealed to the authorities to “look critically into this issue and release him. He was not a tailor and has not committed the offence he is being held for.”

    This counter-narrative raises questions about the announcement that police in the state had arrested “873 suspects” in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protest, which they said had resulted in “wanton destruction and looting of government and public properties in Kano State.”

    Ahmad’s case is a curious one. How did a young man who was said to have nothing to do with tailoring get arrested for allegedly sewing Russian flags? His family’s counter-narrative deserves attention.

    It is unclear whether other arrested suspects have similar counter-narratives. It is important to bring the perpetrators of crimes during the protest to justice for its deterrent effect. But the authorities must ensure that innocent people are not punished for crimes they did not commit.

  • Appraising passage of national Minimum Wage Bill

    Appraising passage of national Minimum Wage Bill

    By Ola Awoniyi

    The passage of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Bill 2024 by the National Assembly is now history. The Bill, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has already signed into law, amended the National Minimum Wage Act 2019 by increasing the Minimum Wage from 30,000 Naira to 70,000 Naira and reducing the time for periodic review of the National Minimum Wage from five years to three years.

    In passing the Bill, the National Assembly did what the time demanded. But no one is commenting on the parliament’s responsiveness in the prompt or speedy passage of the Bill. Isn’t it noteworthy that the lawmakers did what was expected and did it timeously?

    Given the flak that the National Assembly got over the passage of the Bill that brought back the old National Anthem, it is necessary to point this out. Of course, opinions are divided on the issue. Some people have asked: Why revert to the old National Anthem? Some also queried the speed with which the National Assembly passed the Bill, accusing the parliament of failing to subject it to a public hearing, one of the critical stages in lawmaking. But that accusation is unfair; it is like calling a dog a bad name to hang it because the Senate subjected the Bill to a Public Hearing. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, and Senior Lawyer Mike Ozekhome participated in the Public Hearing. But those crucifying the National Assembly for what happened or did not happen missed or deliberately ignored that fact. Some critics didn’t even notice that it was an Executive Bill.

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    The Nigeria Labour Congress also accused the Executive and the Legislature of prioritising the National Anthem over the welfare of workers for passing the Bill before the National Minimum Wage Bill. Senior Lawyer Femi Falana and some civil society organisations demanded that the National Minimum Wage Bill be passed at the same speed as the Bill to Provide for the National Anthem of Nigeria and Related Matters. Interestingly, the National Assembly was being pressured to speedily process a Minimum Wage Bill that was yet to be transmitted by the Executive.

    The lawmaking process has stages. A legislative proposal or a Bill passes through the First Reading, Second Reading,  Public Hearing, Clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill at the Committee of the Whole, or Committee of Supplies if it is a money Bill, and finally, the Third Reading. Before the Bill is transmitted to the Executive for Presidential assent, the two Chambers – the Senate and the House of Representatives, must have reached concurrence.

    But the pressure was unnecessary. Even when negotiations and consultations were yet ongoing on the Minimum Wage, the President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio, had assured the nation of “speedy consideration and passage” of the new National Minimum Wage Bill whenever the proposal was presented to the National Assembly:

    “Let me assure you that we stand by this commitment. We cannot afford to fail the nation at this critical time,” Akpabio was quoted as saying in a message at a retreat held for some federal lawmakers in Abuja. The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies organised the retreat.

    At the commencement of the Plenary on Tuesday, 23rd July 2024, the Senate President acknowledged the receipt of the new National Minimum Wage Bill transmitted by the President. On the same day, without delay, the Bill passed the necessary stages of the lawmaking process simultaneously in both Chambers. Falana, in his earlier statement on the National Anthem Bill, had urged that the Minimum Wage Bill be passed within 48 hours. But the Senate did even better. It passed the Bill within one hour. That was faster than the passage of the National Anthem Bill.

    However, the speedy passage of the Bill by the National Assembly was not because of the pressure mounted on it from outside. The National Assembly was determined to have the issue of National Minimum Wage concluded as early as possible. They decided not to proceed on their 2024 annual recess until the issue was concluded logically. Negotiations involving the government, labour, and the organised private sector were concluded at the tripartite committee level. Also, the President consulted other critical stakeholders, particularly the State Governors, to enhance consensus building. This made the job of lawmaking on the issue easier for the parliament. After all those negotiations and meeting of minds, all that was needed was a parliamentary seal. And this the lawmakers offered in the national interest.

    By passing the bill with dispatch, the federal lawmakers loudly stated that they care about the Nigerian workers. Bills may take several months or years to pass. Some are even passed across dispensations.

    Fair observers will acknowledge that since the inception of the Akpabio 10th Assembly, legislative proposals that directly impact people’s lives have received accelerated and expeditious consideration. This demonstrates that the 10th Assembly is people-centric.

    However, despite this people-oriented disposition, the National Assembly still faces a trust deficit arising from an unfair perception of the institution as a mere money guzzler. This perception didn’t start with the 10th Assembly; it is a baggage that its predecessors also carried.

    This age-long perception is that lawmakers are concerned only about what they can take for themselves. This explains why critics are constantly on alert for a whiff of scandal and an error of commission or omission by the institution. And when that appears, they swiftly cash in and feast on it. With this mindset, discussing any well-delivered aspect of its mandate, like the passage of the new National Minimum Wage Bill, becomes an aberration.

    At the inception of the 10th Assembly, Godswill Obot Akpabio, President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, promised that the Assembly would be a Peoples’ Parliament. Evidence abounds in the number and quality of the Bills since passed, as well as in its various legislative interventions, that this has been the case. The 10th Assembly will live by that promise always.

    • Awoniyi, Media Aide to Senate President, writes from Abuja

  • CNG: NNPCL leads Nigeria’s quest for a new world

    CNG: NNPCL leads Nigeria’s quest for a new world

    By Uche T Uchenna

    With the pronouncement on May 29, 2023, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, effectively bringing to an end the regime of subsidy payment in Nigeria, it became imperative that a new way of doing things has to be found, particularly, how to ameliorate the expected side effects of the removal of subsidy.

     While the Presidency busied itself with the most plausible ways to address the after effects of the subsidy withdrawal, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) quickly articulated what to do in the circumstance.

    It saw the possibility of exploring further Nigeria’s vast natural gas deposit with particular attention to transportation. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has decided that it would have to focus on developing Compress Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles in a bid to cut the consumption of premium motor spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol.

     It was, therefore, a thing of joy to see that both the Federal Government and the NNPCL were thinking alike and in the same direction in their bid to find a lasting solution in this regard.

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     While the Federal Government went into an agreement with Innoson Motors for the production of CNG vehicles, the NNPCL on its part voted to construct CNG stations across the country.

    This seemingly joint but actually separate efforts can best be described as a welcomed synergy for the good of Nigeria and Nigerians.

     On Thursday, July 4, 2024, the NNPCL simultaneously commissioned 12 CNG stations in Lagos and Abuja.

     The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari, during the event declared that the drive to bring CNG closer to Nigerians has commenced and was irreversible.

     What this simply means is that with the commissioning of the 12 CNG stations in Abuja and Lagos, the NNPCL would soon ensure a nationwide spread of the CNG stations.

     In his words: “There is simply no way to turn back on delivering CNG for all Nigerians. It is the right thing to do. Is it late? Yes, but we will make progress, we will cover the gap in order to ensure that the volatility we see with Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) does not apply to gas,” Kyari stated.

     Kyari had words of commendation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the needed support to drive domestic gas utilisation aimed at delivering cleaner and cheaper source of energy to Nigerians.

     While assuring that the NNPC Ltd will continue to deliver more strategic gas projects for the benefit of Nigerians in line with the Presidential CNG Initiative of bringing prosperity to all Nigerians, Kyari reaffirmed the determination of the NNPC to guarantee the nation’s energy security.

     At the same occasion, the Managing Director, NNPC Retail Limited, NNPCL Mr. Huub Stokman painted a very encouraging and heart warming picture when he revealed that in the next one year, NNPC Retail would have launched over 100 CNG sites, including 16 NNPC Gas Marketing and NIPCO Gas JV sites. “CNG provides Nigeria with affordable alternatives to existing available fuel products. It will be about 40% cheaper than petrol in Nigeria and with continued investments, it will become a significant part of our energy mix,” Stokman added. Of course, the event attracted the who is who in the oil and gas industry, with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, representing the President who is the Minister of Petroleum Resources. The Minister, while commissioning the stations, highlighted their advantages to the country, saying that they will not only provide economic benefits by creating jobs and stimulating local economies, they will also contribute significantly to Nigeria’s national goals of reducing emissions and combating climate change.

     It is on the light of the above that Monday, August 12, has been a remarkable leap forward for both manufacturers of CNG and the officials that are buying them for the people’s use. On that day and in its continued efforts to support the FG’s drive to deepen nationwide utilisation of CNG the NNPC Ltd, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, NNPC Foundation, donated 10 CNG buses to cushion the effect of transportation on Nigerians. Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, made the donation on behalf of the company.

    She declared that the gesture, under the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) initiative on CNG, was aimed at providing cheaper transportation for Nigerians, promoting a cleaner alternative source of energy and boosting the nation’s economy. Coincidentally, the announcement of the gesture was on the same day President Bola Tinubu inaugurated 30 CNG buses in a bid to ease the plight of commuters across the country.

     The major aim was to ease the burden of transportation on the citizens which was brought about by the removal of fuel subsidy.

     Winifred Akpani, described the formal unveiling of the buses as a game changer for the transport sector. Tinubu had assured that the CNG buses to be provided will help to ease transportation challenges faced by Nigerians, especially in the Federal Capital Territory.

     In the first phase of procurement, 30 buses were acquired from Innoson Motors, an indigenous vehicle manufacturing firm.

     At the symbolic ceremony performed at the forecourt of the State House, Abuja, President Tinubu declared that commercial vehicles in Nigeria make up about 80 percent of nation’s petrol consumption, costing the country trillions of naira monthly. Speaking during the brief ceremony, Tinubu said, “I am very honoured to be here, it is a great expression for me to receive these buses on behalf of the government and making a significant innovation to the transportation system. “Utilizing natural gas to power our transportation industry is the next way to go.

    For many countries especially Nigeria, with our own gas, if we work harder, be productive and innovative, it is an economic necessity that we should embrace.

     “I noted the recent yearnings of many ordinary Nigerians on transportation. I thank INNOSON Motors and others we have been committed to change this narrative in this country.

     “If we can enhance our energy competitiveness and bring about transformative changes like this, we would definitely be able to achieve the prosperity that we are working hard to accomplish for our people.

     “The solution is here. We have it, we will work on it. We promise you, things will definitely get better, prosperity will be achieved,” Tinubu said. From whichever way one looks at it, the NNPCL has taken the lead in the quest by Nigeria for a new world, and like Kyari said, yes, there’s no going back.

    Uchenna writes from Lagos

  • So near, so far away

    So near, so far away

    So near, yet so far away — that aptly captures the grim reality of local refining of petroleum products.  Yet, imported petrol appears the No. 1 driver of inflation.  Inflation is the No. 1 challenge to the Tinubu Presidency, in this very critical short run.

    Costly fuel drives up transport cost.  Transport cost drives up everything.  If you buy fuel for N800 a litre in Lagos, how much will you buy it in the hinterlands?  And what’s the outlook of that for inflation — and by extension poverty and hopelessness?

    That is why the current controversy over the Dangote Refinery is absolutely misplaced.  That is a strategic investment.  Why is it that at every critical juncture of Nigeria’s life, the elite just yak away at one another, with hardly any sense of self-preservation?

    Yes, Dangote has had a long streak of ruthless monopoly.  So, anchoring the soon-to-boom petroleum downstream, on rigorous antitrust processes, is imperative.  After eons of wasteful exports of crude on the cheap, and re-importing refined petroleum at a premium, no one wants a monopoly to take the gains away, by just fixing outrageous prices — just because they could.  Setting the industry right, from the very beginning, is vital.

    Yet, setting things right is one thing.  Wilfully getting in the way, is another.  The NNPCL vs Dangote controversy looks more like getting in the way.  Our long-suffering folks can “smell” local refining, and close to heaving a huge relief in reduced fuel — and — transportation cost.  Anything prolonging that is insensitive.  It just doesn’t cut it at all.

    Which is why President Bola Tinubu should move fast to cut through whatever demons that could be in the way.  The first crucial step is the Federal Executive Council (FEC) decision — rightly a presidential memo — to sell crude to local refiners in Naira, not in dollar.  That is a very strategic step.

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    What the President should do is a firm follow-up by ensuring these local refineries have crude to process.  If they so, that would cool off the high inflation. That is one jab in the arm that the economy needs more than anything now.

    If the President must adopt pulpit bully tactics, let him do so.  Let him read the riot act.  Let the market be hit by local petrol, and let fuel pump prices come tumbling down. That should offer the people — as well as the administration — great relief.  That is imperative in the short term.

    In the long run, compressed natural gas (CNG) is even sweeter.  But if that can’t be mainstreamed until earliest another year or two.  Thus, really crashing fuel pump prices, without returning to the old subsidy regime, make extreme common sense.  CNG is that joker.  But you need to quieten the turf before that big gun.

    Let the President impress it upon NNCPL and Dangote to cease fire in their “civil war”.  This is a crucial national juncture, which could make all of the difference, in re-setting the economy to new post-subsidy realities.

    The time to act is NOW!

  • The other side of hunger protests

    The other side of hunger protests

    • By Sophya Dozie

    Sir: As I watched the protesters march through the streets, their placards screaming for cheaper cannabis, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu. Haven’t we been here before? Haven’t we seen the devastating effects of this so-called “harmless” substance?

    The numbers are staggering. Fourteen million Nigerians trapped in the grip of drug abuse, with countless more lives destroyed by its insidious effects. And yet, we still pretend that cannabis is a victimless crime. We still pretend that it’s just a harmless herb, a recreational indulgence with no consequences. But the truth is far more sinister. Cannabis is a silent killer, a gradual destroyer of dreams and futures. It’s a substance that creeps up on you, slowly but surely, until it’s too late. And once it’s got you in its grip, it’s almost impossible to escape.

    I’ve seen it first-hand – the broken families, the shattered lives and the lost potential. I’ve spoken to the parents who’ve lost their children to cannabis, the spouses who’ve lost their partners, the friends who’ve lost their friends. And I’ve seen the devastating effects it has on our communities – the increased crime, the decreased productivity, the erosion of our social fabric.

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    So, what do we do? Do we give in to their demands, or do we stand firm? Do we prioritize the health and wellbeing of our citizens, or do we succumb to the pressure of the cannabis lobby?

    The answer is clear. We must stand firm. We must say no to cannabis, and yes to life. We must recognize the devastating effects of this substance, and we must take action. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has been working tirelessly to reduce cannabis production nationwide, and their efforts are paying off. Cannabis production has dropped by 20% in the past year alone. However, the scarcity has driven desperate users to take to the streets, highlighting the depth of the addiction crisis. We must not be swayed by their demands. Cannabis is a destructive force, tearing families apart and ruining lives.

    We need to invest in education and rehabilitation, to help those trapped in addiction. We need to support our law enforcement agencies, to help them stem the tide of cannabis flowing into our communities. And we need to have a national conversation, to raise awareness about the dangers of cannabis and the devastating effects it has on our society.

    • Sophya Dozie,

     Nnewi, Anambra State.

  • Nigerians and their travails

    Nigerians and their travails

    • By Obiotika Wilfred Toochukwu

    Sir: Many Nigerians have got to their wits’ end.  The storms and the crises being faced by the masses have forced many to take recourse to ancestors, deities, and fetish priests/priestesses. Due to the fact that we are at our breaking point, losing our confidence; there’s need to restore morality and reintroduce sanctity in the society. So many are of the view that the problem of Africa, even Nigeria, is religion which was brought to us by the white man in his quest for colonialism. They cite countries like Japan, China, Switzerland, and other European countries who has given up on religion yet they are prosperous.

    Ignorantly, these people fail to understand that America and Europe operate on core moral values which hinges on honesty, sincerity, hardwork, respect for others and transparency.  Many journals discussed the impacts of moral decadence on the socio-economic aspects of life. Still, many Nigerians are not willing to change or develop a character. Sadly, there’s no model in leadership in Nigeria. We lack pacesetters and examplary leaders. And that’s why whoever comes to leadership becomes more wicked than his predecessors.

    Leadership positions in Nigeria reflects the majority of the citizens and mirrors the life of the general populace. Corruption, a manifestation of moral decay has become the norm in Nigeria’s political landscape. Leaders entrusted with the responsibility of serving the people, indulge in embezzlement, nepotism and cronyism, leaving the masses to suffer. Kidnappers, bandits and criminals in Nigeria display their trade, ill-gotten wealth in an online videos. Social vices such as bribery, fraud and violence are common and perpetrators go unpunished. The consequence is a society where right and wrong are blurred, and the rule of law is disregarded.

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    The prevalence of corruption and fraud has discouraged foreign investment, stifled economic growth and perpetuated poverty. The education system meant to instill moral principles, has been compromised, and the family unit once the bedrock of moral instructions, has been weakened. The judiciary lack moral compass and the leaders do not embrace the moral fibre imbued in their consciences. Majority of the citizens are hurt because of the crazy and cruel things done by the leaders or those in sensitive posts/offices.

    Morality would surely help to keep the society as the dwelling of sane people, assist in the maintenance of law and order, prevent bloodshed, cruelty and wickedness. The 18th century preacher, Charles Spurgeon illustrated that morality would keep people out of jail.

    Some leaders have advocated for working out a system of morals, ethics and religion that would bring together all the religions of the world just to maintain peace but it’s seemingly impossible.  Our world and the systems of government is old, repaired, patched up and made over. Nigerian leaders or those who found themselves in exalted positions lack self awareness. No man is more pathetic than he who is in great need and is not aware of it. Anyone who lacks morality in any given society is shriveled and deprived. There’s always something pathetic about a man who thinks he is rich when he is actually poor, who thinks he is good when he is actually vile, who thinks he is educated when he is actually illiterate. Lacking morality amongst leaders in Nigeria is like a man who is so sick as he who has a fatal disease and is not aware of it.

    •Obiotika Wilfred Toochukwu,

    Awgbu, Anambra State.

  • Anambra’s 45 days’ notice for LG poll

    Anambra’s 45 days’ notice for LG poll

    • By Franklin Ebuka

    Sir: The Saturday, September 28, date announced by the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, for the conduct of local government election in the state has become a subject of controversy. The controversy stems from the questions on the legality, propriety and tenability of the 45 days’ notice for the election. Apart from the concerns on the shortness of the notice for the election, there is a question on the consistency of the amendment made to the Anambra Electoral Law 2024, which slashed the notice period for local government elections from 60 days to just 30 days, with the provisions of the 1999 constitution.

    While the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), sees nothing wrong with it, the opposition parties and some concerned citizens saw the 45 days’ notice for the election as short of fair. To them, the short notice was designed to exploit the opposition. House of Representatives member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency of Anambra, Afam Ogene, expressed dissatisfaction over what he called a “hasty” amendment of the Anambra State Electoral Law by the Anambra State House of Assembly. According to Ogene, the move was a promotion of undemocratic tactics, aimed at frustrating and politically ambushing opposition parties in the state.

     Other than the 1999 constitution, it is the Electoral Act, 2022 Electoral Act (as amended) that deals with heavily with the modus operandi for conduct of elections. The 1999 Constitution is silent on the minimum timeframe requirement for issuance of notice for the conduct of local government elections. The 1999 constitution is only explicit on the timeframe for the conduct of National Assembly, Governorship election, state Assembly and presidential elections, stating that election to such offices should not be held on a date not earlier than 60 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.

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    The amendment made by the Anambra state House of Assembly, which slashed the notice period for local government elections from 60 days to just 30 days is apparently in a clash with a certain provision of the 1999 constitution and could be leveraged to question the validity of the local government election being planned by the ANSIEC. While the state House of Assembly is conferred with the power to make laws for the organization of local government election through SIEC or organize and undertake all elections to local Government councils, it does not operate in isolation, and those laws are not expected to be inconsistent with the provisions of the 1999 constitution. Section 4(5) of the 1999 constitution is clear on this. It states: “If any Law enacted by the House of Assembly of a State is inconsistent with any law validly made by the National Assembly, the law made by the National Assembly shall prevail, and that other Law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.  Since certain provisions of the ANSIEC amendment law are in contrast with the Electoral Act 2022 enacted by the National Assembly, can the local government election ANSIEC is about to conduct stand the test of legal proceedings?

    Though one could argue that Clause 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 references INEC and not SIEC, the basic question remains if the state electoral body operates under different constitution. Moreover, the legislative powers to make electoral laws to govern the local governments are vested in the federal and state governments.

    This is therefore a call on the ANSIEC to take a critical look at the steps it has taken so far and ensure that they are not in violation of any known law, which could question the validity of the election the commission is about to conduct.

    •Franklin Ebuka,

    <ebukafranklin@yahoo.com>

  • Nigeria and her enemies

    Nigeria and her enemies

    • By Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar

    Sir: In his classic book titled, “Misrepresentation of Nigeria: The Facts and Figures, late Dr. Yusufu Bala Usman exposed many lies repeatedly told about our country. According to him, the campaign of calumny against the Federal Republic of Nigeria was meant to undermine our confidence as citizens.

    The enemies of Nigeria both internal and external, are hell-bent on making our country destabilized, a banana republic.

    The agents of destabilization premise their attack on nation-building challenges to ridicule the country.

    These people can use even economic challenges such as inflation to create chaos in order to achieve their satanic agenda.

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    I challenge anyone to show me one country on this planet that is not facing one kind of challenge or another. Some of the developed countries we always admire today, they passed through furnace before attaining their present enviable position.

    How many years did it take Britain from 11th century to the time it attained industrial revolution? Before industrial revolution, what was the structure of the English society? What challenges did they conquer?

     There are elites who are peddling the narrative that Rome was built in a day.  The same narrative implies that violence and war are the only two languages the government understand.

    But no matter the intimidation and blackmail against us, we must never waver in our commitment to telling the bitter truth. We must continue to seek truth in order to counteract the violence advocates. We must be vigilant in defending our country. We must prove Ambassador John Campbell and all those wishing bad thing for Nigeria wrong.

    •Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar,

     Unguwa Katsina.

  • On women participation in the tech ecosystem

    On women participation in the tech ecosystem

    • By Shuaib S. Agaka

    Sir: A report by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) indicated gender disparity in favour of males’ participation in Nigeria’s digital economy. This is a big problem that needs quick action. This difference doesn’t just limit chances for women; it also holds back the full potential of Nigeria’s digital economy. Fixing this imbalance isn’t just about fairness – it’s a must-do for economic growth.

    Women make up just a small part of the tech workforce. For example, a National Bureau of Statistics report finds that women account for below 20% of tech jobs in Nigeria. This number falls well below the worldwide average where more women are joining the tech field. These facts highlight the need to take action to fix this imbalance and make sure women have the same chances to add value to the digital economy.

    Studies show that companies with mixed teams are more likely to come up with innovative products and services. By getting more women into Nigeria’s tech field, the country can tap into a broader set of ideas and methods leading to more useful and cutting-edge tech breakthroughs.

    Several obstacles make it hard for women to join Nigeria’s digital economy. One of the major issues is that many women lack access to good quality education and training in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Many girls run into social and cultural roadblocks that stop them from choosing tech careers.

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    Also, gender bias and stereotypes can scare women away from entering the tech industry or moving up in their jobs. Not having enough chances to network and get support makes these problems worse, which means women struggle to succeed in tech. To fix these issues, we need a complete plan that includes changes in education, helpful policies, and community projects.

    Moreover, boosting funding and resources for start-ups and tech projects led by women is crucial to encouraging female involvement in the digital economy. This includes giving grants, investment chances, and support to develop businesses for women entrepreneurs. By setting up a more supportive money environment, Nigeria can push more women to launch their tech ventures and help grow the industry. Also, programmes that offer chances to network and get mentorship can help women tackle the hurdles of running a business and building successful companies.

    Looking ahead, a more inclusive and equitable digital economy can help Nigeria grow and innovate. By bridging the gender gap and giving women the opportunity to participate in the tech world, Nigeria can become a leader in the global digital landscape.

    •Shuaib S. Agaka,

    Kano.

  • How not to end ‘bad governance’ in a democracy

    How not to end ‘bad governance’ in a democracy

    • By ESV. Olufemi Adedamola Oyedele

    Sir: There is no doubt that there is hardship in the land which did not just start last year. Hardship has been a constant decimal in Nigeria since the military coup of 1966.

    In Kano State, the #EndBadGovernance protest, which started on August 1, resulted in the killing of many protesters allegedly by security operatives. During the protest in Kano, hoodlums attacked, damaged and looted public and private properties including the newly constructed Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) Industrial Park, part of which was also set ablaze. The Police Command in Kano said about 269 suspects have been arrested for their roles in the looting, damaging and torching of public properties.

    In Bauchi Road, Jos North, Plateau State, one person was killed after some youths attacked businesses with the intention to loot and injure the shop owners. In Rivers State, the protesters stormed the residence of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, along Ada George Road, Port Harcourt, forcing motorists to carry leaves in their support. They also forced traders to close shop. Economists and financial experts had predicted that not less than N300 billion will be lost to the “riots” if allowed to last for 10 days.

    The 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in Chapter 2, Section 14, provides that: “The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice.” It is incivility for anybody or a group of people in a country to think of ending a bad government through protest, riot or war. “End bad governance” is not the right theme to protest about bad governance. “

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    Though “Good Governance” is defined as the process of measuring how public institutions conduct public affairs, manage public resources and guarantee the realization of human rights in a manner essentially free of abuse and corruption and with due regard for the rule of law, it is also relative and cultural. While there is no internationally agreed definition of ‘good governance’, generally it covers such aspects of human life as: full respect for human rights, the rule of law, effective participation, multi-actor partnerships, political pluralism, transparent and accountable processes and institutions, an efficient and effective public sector, legitimacy, access to knowledge, information and education, political empowerment of people, equity, sustainability, and attitudes and values that foster responsibility, solidarity and tolerance. According to the United Nations Organisation (UNO), good governance is measured by the eight factors of Participation, Rule of Law, Transparency, Responsiveness, Consensus Oriented, Equity and Inclusiveness, Effectiveness and Efficiency, and Accountability. A good leader who wants to practice good governance must ensure that the government is participatory and that there is enforcement of laws to ensure peace, fairness and justice.

    Where there is no good governance or where some people (either all, majority or minority) feel governance is bad, the only option they have is to protest and not to riot based on the provision of Section 40 of the 1999 constitution, which provides that: “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons and he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests”. The only restriction on and derogation from peaceful assembly of people is in section 45 of the constitution. Section 45 of the 1999 constitution states that: (1) Nothing in section 40 of this constitution shall invalidate any law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society in the interest of defence, public safety, public order (peaceful co-existence), public morality or public health of the people of Nigeria.

    •ESV. Olufemi Adedamola Oyedele,

    Lagos.