The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • Salary deductions for lateness illegal

    Salary deductions for lateness illegal

    Sir: In many Nigerian workplaces, salary deductions for lateness have become a routine disciplinary tool. Employees arrive late to work and find their wages surcharged, sometimes calculated per minute or per hour. While this practice may appear administratively convenient for employers, it raises a critical legal question: does Nigerian labour law support penalizing workers for lateness through salary deductions?

    The starting point is Section 5 of the Labour Act, which deals with the protection of workers’ wages. Section 5(1) provides that an employer shall not make any deduction from the wages of a worker except as permitted by the Act or any other law. This provision establishes a strong presumption against wage deductions. Salary is therefore protected by law, and any deduction must be expressly authorized. Lateness, on its own, is not listed anywhere in the Labour Act as a valid ground for deducting wages.

    Many employers attempt to justify lateness deductions as a form of disciplinary penalty. However, the law treats this differently. Section 5(2) of the Labour Act addresses fines and penalties and prohibits employers from imposing any fine on a worker unless such fine is prescribed by regulation and approved by the Minister of Labour. In practical terms, most lateness-related deductions qualify as fines and are therefore unlawful in the absence of ministerial approval.

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    It is important to distinguish between lateness and absence from work. Nigerian labour law recognizes the principle of “no work, no pay” in situations where an employee fails to render any service for a given period. For example, where an employee is absent for a full day without authorization, wages may lawfully be withheld for that day. Lateness, however, does not amount to absence. Once an employee reports for duty and performs work, even if late, the employer has received value for that labour. Financially penalizing such an employee goes beyond withholding pay for unworked hours and becomes a punitive measure, which the law strictly regulates.

    The illegality of wage deductions for lateness does not mean employers lack disciplinary options. Nigerian labour law allows employers to manage misconduct through non-monetary measures, provided due process is observed. These include issuing verbal or written warnings, raising queries, implementing performance management measures, suspending employees where contractually permitted, and, in cases of persistent misconduct, terminating employment following fair procedure.

    Some employers rely on provisions in employment contracts or staff handbooks to justify deductions for lateness. This approach is legally flawed. No contract or internal policy can override a statute. Any contractual clause that permits unlawful wage deductions is void to the extent that it conflicts with the Labour Act. Professional HR practice, including guidance from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, reinforces the principle that discipline should be corrective rather than punitive and that wage deductions should not be used to address attendance issues.

    Beyond legal compliance, the issue has broader implications for workplace culture. Arbitrary salary deductions often damage employee morale, reduce trust, and expose organizations to avoidable disputes and litigation. As Nigerian organizations continue to mature and professionalize, adherence to labour standards is both a legal obligation and a sound management strategy.

     Nigerian labour law does not support penalizing workers for lateness through salary surcharges. Except where a fine has been lawfully prescribed and approved by the Minister of Labour, such deductions are unlawful. Employers are better served by addressing lateness through structured disciplinary processes that respect statutory protections and promote fairness, accountability, and sustainable workplace relations.

    •Samuel Jekeli,

    FCT, Abuja.

  • Nigeria’s lobbying deal and the politics of global perception

    Nigeria’s lobbying deal and the politics of global perception

    Sir: In early January, the federal government reportedly signed a $9 million contract with DCI Group, a Washington-based lobbying firm, to help communicate its efforts at protecting religious communities and sustaining U.S. support in the fight against violent extremism. The move, facilitated through a Nigerian intermediary on behalf of the Office of the National Security Adviser, reflects Abuja’s enduring concern with perception and diplomatic positioning in an era of intensifying global scrutiny.

    For decades, Nigeria’s relations with the United States have been shaped by a mix of cooperation and contention. Security partnerships, trade engagements, and diaspora politics have been central pillars of this bilateral relationship. However, events of the past few years, including sustained attacks by insurgent groups, inter-communal violence, and allegations of targeted persecution of religious minorities; have complicated Nigeria’s diplomatic narrative.

    In this context, the federal government’s decision to spend millions on a lobbying contract can be understood as an attempt to manage external perceptions and reassure key global partners that its policies are robust, inclusive, and aligned with international norms. The logic is straightforward: negative portrayals in influential foreign media and policy circles have the potential to jeopardise security assistance, foreign investment, and international goodwill. If left unchecked, such narratives could translate into tangible diplomatic consequences.

    Yet the question that naturally arises is this: should securing international image be so resource-intensive when the nation’s own citizens continue to bear the brunt of insecurity and economic dislocation?

    Critics argue that the contract amount is not merely a matter of fiscal imprudence but a reflection of deeper disconnects between the state and its citizenry. When millions of Nigerians contend daily with inadequate infrastructure, inflationary pressures, and persistent insecurity, the optics of allocating significant public funds to foreign image management appear out of step with citizen expectations and democratic accountability.

    Civil society groups have been particularly vocal. Some describe the effort as a form of misplaced priority; an attempt to outsource credibility instead of strengthening internal communication structures and security institutions. Others point to the irony of denying targeted religious persecution while simultaneously paying to convey the government’s protective efforts abroad.

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    It is important to acknowledge that lobbying in foreign capitals is not inherently illegitimate. States engage in such practices as part of broader diplomatic strategies. However, in the Nigerian case, the reliance on third-party narrative management exposes vulnerabilities in official capacity and raises questions about strategic coherence.

    If Nigeria’s security apparatus, diplomatic missions, and information ministries possess the necessary insights and policy articulation, why is it that these roles must be outsourced at great expense? Why not invest in strengthening institutional communication channels within existing diplomatic frameworks? Such investments, arguably, would yield not just better messaging but stronger institutional capacity.

    Moreover, public diplomacy divorced from substantive action often rings hollow. The international community, particularly democratic partners such as the United States, does not simply respond to polished narratives; it responds to results, accountability metrics, and demonstrable policy outcomes. In this light, lobbying becomes less about persuasion and more about damage control, a reactionary measure that risks obscuring the structural reforms urgently needed within Nigeria’s domestic governance.

    What Nigeria needs, therefore, is not merely a strategic communications contract, but a balanced approach to both internal reform and external engagement. This includes prioritising effective security policies, ensuring transparent governance, and engaging international partners through substantive intergovernmental channels.

    As Nigeria navigates the complexities of global politics and domestic expectations, it would do well to remember that credibility cannot be purchased; it must be earned. The $9 million lobbying contract may momentarily shape perceptions, but it will not substitute for demonstrable progress on security, economic stability, and social cohesion.

    For a nation striving for both global respect and internal stability, the path to vindication lies not in expensive image management, but in results that resonate with citizens and command respect abroad. It is time for public policy to match public rhetoric.

    •Felix Oladeji,

    Lagos.

  • Preventable tragedy

    Preventable tragedy

    In the medical world, the mantra is ‘We care, God heals.’  However, relying on fatalism as a defence in a case of condemnable negligence amounts to denying responsibility.

    The medical team that performed surgery on Aishatu Umar, a mother of five, has been accused of leaving a pair of scissors in her after the operation, which ultimately led to her death on January 13.

    Her husband, Abubakar Binji, in an interview, said she had undergone surgery at a public hospital, the Abubakar Imam Urology Hospital in Kano, on September 16, 2025, “to remove a cyst from her left kidney.”

    According to Binji, following her death, he had called the doctor who led the surgery to inform him. His words: “He said it was unfortunate and promised to come, but no one showed up until the issue went viral on social media. Then, the team arrived in several vehicles to console us, saying it happened as God willed.”

    He said after his late wife was discharged post-surgery, she had “frequently complained of abdominal pain, saying she felt as though something was still inside her.”

    “We were always told that some abdominal pain is normal after surgery, so we assumed that might be the case and tried to manage it as she endured excruciating pain over time,” he explained.

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    But on January 9, he narrated, “She called me, screaming and crying, saying she was in severe stomach pain and needed urgent attention. I was too far from home, so our children rushed her to the hospital.”

    The hospital’s intervention didn’t stop her pain, he said. “She couldn’t sleep… The doctors advised that a scan be carried out, and the result was brought back for review,” he added.

    It was at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital that the cause of her pain was finally detected through x-ray: a pair of scissors was inside her abdomen. It was concluded that the foreign object had been left in her body by the surgical team that performed her initial procedure.

    Her husband said: “We immediately returned to the hospital, where surgeons were called to prepare for emergency surgery.

    “She was prepared and taken to the theatre, but tragically, she died during the preliminary stages of the operation.”

    Why did the hospital staff allegedly ignore the patient’s complaints of severe pain for four months, reportedly only prescribing painkillers instead of performing diagnostic scans?

    The Kano State Hospitals Management Board has since suspended the medical personnel involved and launched a formal investigation, acknowledging that the incident was a result of professional negligence rather than “fate.” To restore public confidence in Kano’s healthcare system, the state must ensure severe sanctions are meted out to those whose negligence caused this preventable

  • Destination Branding: How Sanwo-Olu turned Lagos to Nigeria’s Festive Capital

    Destination Branding: How Sanwo-Olu turned Lagos to Nigeria’s Festive Capital

    With the influx of people into Lagos during the festive season in the past three years, which had been driven by social ambience, improved security and infrastructure, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reversed the popular trend of population shortfall in the state during the season. GBOYEGA AKOSILE reports that the Governor has worked round the clock to make Lagos a preferred destination for the Christmas festive season.

    As the indisputable commercial and social hub of Nigeria, Lagos is long associated with movement and momentum. Regardless of the season, the city experiences a massive daily influx of people, with recent figures suggesting that around 6,000 people arrive daily, with about half staying. Despite this, one noticeable trend in the past was that  the city usually experienced  a mass departure of people during the Christmas season.

    But in the last few years, especially under the current administration in the state, the story is being re-written, as a result of various initiatives of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, which align perfectly with the spirit of ‘Detty December’. For instance, during the last two seasons, rather than witnessing an exodus of people, the city experienced the entry of large numbers of people who saw Lagos as an ideal destination during the season.

    Globally, December is a special month, and the Christmas period is a season when people come together to celebrate life, achievements, and shared experiences with loved ones. In Nigeria, no city reflects this spirit more vibrantly than Lagos — a metropolis that, for more than five decades, has evolved into the cultural and celebratory heartbeat of the nation.

    Year after year, Lagos dazzles with striking décor, colourful light installations, and festive attractions positioned across strategic locations. This past December was no different. In fact, it stood out even more. In the spirit of Detty December, the Sanwo-Olu administration led by example with improved infrastructure, security, and various social innovations, while  many corporate brands partnered with the state to transform public spaces. As a result of this, parks were illuminated, city corridors were beautified, all to give a renewed excitement to the Lagos skyline.

    These results were not accidental. They were made possible through the policy direction, institutional backing, and enabling environment provided by the government under Sanwo-Olu’s leadership. In the last five years, his administration has, deliberately positioned the commercial city as a festive-tourism destination, created structures that support creativity, hospitality and cultural expression, without missing out the need to deepen economic activities throughout the season.

    With Sanwo-Olu on the driver’s seat, ‘Detty December’ in Lagos has therefore moved beyond a social trend and assumed a strategic economic period with urban vibrancy. Of course, it was also a peak period for social activities as players in the entertainment industry were kept busy throughout the season.

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    Perhaps the build-up to the Lagos’ 2025 ‘Detty December’ was the global statement made by the state with the ‘E1 Electric Boat Race’, held in October. By hosting the E1 Electric Powerboat Race — Africa’s first all-electric water sports championship, Sanwo-Olu thus projected Lagos onto the global tourism stage. The race, which had, previously been held in Europe, Saudi Arabia, and other places became a major international attraction, drawing sports enthusiasts, innovators, global dignitaries, and marine tourism stakeholders to the city. It showcased Lagos’ waterways, hospitality infrastructure, and organisational capacity, thereby  reinforcing the administration’s ambition to align tourism, sustainability, and global sporting innovation.

    One of the most remarkable gains recorded during the last Detty December season was in the area of security. Lagos experienced one of its most peaceful festive periods in recent years, with criminal activities reduced to minimal levels compared with earlier eras marked by frequent incidents of theft, robbery, and violent disruptions.

    Through enhanced surveillance, inter-agency collaboration, improved community policing and visible deployment across entertainment hubs, beaches, recreational centres, and transportation corridors, the administration strengthened public confidence. To this end, residents, returning diaspora visitors and tourists were able to move freely and participate in a number of activities without fear, which, all over the world, remains a critical foundation for tourism and festive mobility.

    No wonder, the impact was evident in the fact that more events were held late into the night, more economic activities were sustained, and Lagos reinforced its reputation as a city that could host large-scale festive engagements in a secure and coordinated manner.

    In the area of infrastructural development, the achievement of Sanwo-Olu’s administration was again measured during the season. Public recreational centres across both the Mainland and Island were well activated and maintained for the season, while several leisure corridors and public venues received enhancements that made them visitor-ready.

    A major innovation was the introduction of a structured activity calendar, mapping events from December 1st to December 31st. Although several social activities began from October, they only entered the feverish stage in December. For the first time in the state’s history, activities were carefully coordinated across multiple districts, engaging residents, creatives, investors, and businesses throughout the festive window. Many of these events were organised with the support and facilitation of government agencies. Observers have described this as a testament to the administration’s collaborative approach.

    Beyond physical infrastructure, the season also provided ample opportunities for members of the public to appraise the effectiveness of various reforms introduced by the administration towards improving the ease of doing business during the festive period. It was easy to evaluate this through the activities of event promoters, hospitality operators and creative entrepreneurs, who all found Lagos a conducive environment for organizing concerts, beach carnivals, fashion shows, food festivals and lifestyle exhibitions.

    In the hospitality industry, the administration’s policy direction also encouraged investor confidence and private-sector participation, expanding the Detty December value chain across sub sectors, such as hotels and short-let apartments, transport and ride-hailing services. Others are restaurants, lounges, fashion, arts, and lifestyle businesses. This alignment between policy support and private enterprise reaffirmed Lagos as a city where governance and commerce work hand-in-hand to drive seasonal economic growth.

    Another unique achievement of the government during the season was traffic management and festive mobility. There is no gainsaying the fact that traffic remains one of Lagos’ most enduring challenges, particularly during high-movement periods like December. Yet the last festive season recorded noticeable improvements as multiple access routes were opened, traffic officers were deployed strategically, and routes around major event clusters received coordinated attention.

    These measures eased mobility between venues, markets, leisure corridors, and hospitality centres, allowing businesses to remain active while residents and visitors navigated the city more conveniently. Of course, the credit has also been given to Sanwo-Olu because it’s believed that the seamless movement during the season reflected deliberate planning and operational management of his administration.

    Meanwhile, the creative vibrancy of Lagos continues to define its December identity as concerts, art exhibitions, fashion events, comedy shows, beach festivals and cultural showcases dominated the entertainment calendar during the season, which, in all, strengthened Lagos’ reputation as Africa’s leading creative hub. The administration’s ongoing investment in art, culture, and tourism amplified this momentum, ensuring that Detty December was not merely about leisure but also about cultural expression, identity, and social cohesion.

    Finally, the return of the iconic Eyo Festival sealed the deal. From any angle one chooses to look at it, the historic return of the Eyo Festival, staged in December 2025 after a long break, was a landmark activity that highlighted the season more than any activity. The cultural procession, which was rooted in royal heritage and Lagos tradition, added depth, symbolism, and prestige to the festive atmosphere.

    Beyond spectacle, the Eyo Festival strengthened heritage tourism, attracting cultural enthusiasts, historians, visitors, and local observers. Markets surged with activity, hotels recorded increased patronage, and transport operators witnessed significant movement as thousands gathered to witness the colourful display.

    The revival of this iconic festival under the enabling climate provided by the  administration reaffirmed Lagos’ role as both a modern city and a proud custodian of tradition.

    For the economy, Detty December generated widespread economic activities for hotels, transportation businesses, nightlife operators, and even informal vendors.  The city recorded increased spending,  visitors’ influx, and stronger tourism value chains.

    In the final analysis, the season reaffirmed the power of coordinated governance, where policy reforms, infrastructural development, security, and private-sector support intersected to produce measurable social and economic value.

    Little wonder that Lagos was listed among top seven art destinations in the world to visit in 2026, by Artsy, the leading global online Art Marketplace.

    In a report released by artsy.net, just as I was putting this article together, the city was described as “a banner biennale in West Africa’s preeminent art capital.”

    According to an article titled “7 Art Destinations to Visit in 2026” published in artsy.net by Maxwell Rabb on January 8, Lagos is one of the “seven spots—from marquee art events to rising scenes—that are worth adding to an art-inspired travel itinerary in 2026.”

    The seven destinations picked by the leading global online Art Marketplace are Venice, Italy; Doha, Qatar; Sydney, Australia; Bangkok, Thailand; Lagos, Nigeria; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Malta.

    In 2025 December, the Lagos governor and his team made a strong statement that Detty December has moved from being a mere cultural expression into a sustainable economic season, one that affirmed Lagos’ status as Nigeria’s commercial city, festive capital and Africa’s rising tourism powerhouse.

    • Gboyega Akosile is the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu

  • Rebuilding Nigeria’s tax base amid public exhaustion

    Rebuilding Nigeria’s tax base amid public exhaustion

    Sir: Nigeria entered 2026 with a tax story unlike any it has faced in decades. From social media speculation to radio debates, conversations about the new tax laws have been urgent and, at times, anxious. Citizens worried whether their hard-earned money might be taken unexpectedly, while entrepreneurs fretted over new obligations. Yet, a careful reading of the laws shows that most Nigerians, particularly low-income earners, face exemptions and net relief.

    It is noteworthy that the new tax regime is Nigeria’s gradual movement away from oil rents and borrowing toward taxation as a core state resource. Rather than a technical adjustment, it is a fundamental transformation of the social contract. When governments rely on oil, fiscal distance allows them to remain unaccountable to citizens. When governments rely on taxes, citizens expect tangible returns including better roads, functional hospitals, quality schools, and reliable public services. The legitimacy of the state is now measured not by promises, but by visible outcomes.

    Low-income earners are mostly exempt under the new regime, yet Nigeria’s economy remains largely informal. Millions earn irregular incomes through trade, agriculture, and small-scale services. While these workers may owe no tax, administrative requirements such as Unique Taxpayer Identification Number (UTIN) registration, filings, and declarations can still create anxiety.

    This anxiety is often expressed with humour and caution on social media. One student, for example, posted a receipt from their bank account, circling the balance and writing: “Na my school fees ooh. FG no touch am.” This simple, relatable act captures the mix of fear, vigilance, and resilience many Nigerians feel as they navigate a system they are told to trust but do not yet fully understand.

    Here lies a subtle risk: fear arises not from payment, but from navigating unfamiliar systems. Reform fatigue magnifies this, as citizens recall previous initiatives that promised inclusion but delivered exclusion. To be humane, a tax state must distinguish contribution from compliance, offering gradual, supportive, and educational pathways for informal workers and microbusinesses.

    SMEs are vital to Nigeria’s economic recovery. They have been reassured of exemptions and thresholds, yet growth can paradoxically trigger fear over new reporting obligations, digital infrastructure requirements, and professional fees may accompany increased visibility.

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    A tax system that punishes growth inadvertently discourages formalisation. Humane reform means phased obligations, clear guidance, and support for compliance, ensuring that entrepreneurial success is encouraged, not penalised. This is essential for SMEs to participate fully in Nigeria’s new economic order.

    The timing of these reforms is politically significant. As Nigeria approaches the 2027 electoral cycle, perceptions of fairness, trust, and service delivery are heightened. Tax policy is therefore not merely fiscal; it is political, shaping public sentiment well before votes are cast.

    Reform fatigue amplifies suspicion as citizens wonder if the policy is genuine or politically motivated. The antidote is transparency, empathy, and consistent administration. When citizens perceive taxation as a tool for collective benefit rather than partisan advantage, compliance grows, and trust is reinforced.

    The anxiety surrounding Nigeria’s new tax economy is understandable. Reform fatigue tells us that citizens are alert, invested, and sensitive to fairness. It is a signal, not an enemy. On balance, the reforms are reassuring that most Nigerians will pay no additional tax, exemptions are explicit, and rates have been clarified.

    Yet reassurance alone will not build trust. Trust grows from clarity, fairness, visibility, and respect for citizen dignity. If Nigeria manages this transition with empathy, operational coherence, and accountability, the tax state can become a foundation for shared progress, not a source of fear.

    Ultimately, reform fatigue is not just a bureaucratic hurdle; it is a mirror of the relationship between state and citizen. Nigeria’s tax reforms will only endure if they rebuild trust, show tangible fairness, and invite people into a shared project of nationhood. The success of these measures will be measured less by legal texts than by the public’s sense that the state is not merely demanding, but deserving of their cooperation.

    •Lekan Olayiwola,lekanolayiwola@gmail.com

  • A whole-of-society call to transform education

    A whole-of-society call to transform education

    Sir: As the world marks the International Day of Education, Nigeria stands at a pivotal crossroad. Today, according to UNICEF, over 18 million children in the country are out of school, the highest number in the world, and learning poverty, defined as the inability to read and understand a simple text by age 10, exceeds 70 percent at the primary school level. This is not merely an education problem; it is an economic, social, and security crisis with profound implications for the nation’s future.

    Every day that Nigeria delays bold action, we risk an entire generation growing up without the skills to participate fully in society, compromising productivity, innovation, and even national stability. If we are serious about building a resilient and prosperous nation, education cannot remain the responsibility of the government alone. It must become a whole-of-society project, mobilizing all sectors—government, private sector, civil society, communities, development finance institutions (DFIs), and international NGOs, around a shared North Star: By 2030, every Nigerian child acquires foundational literacy, numeracy, and life skills, regardless of geography, gender, or income.

    This simple and collective goal allows governments, donors, civil society, and communities to align budgets, policies, innovation, and accountability toward a single, life-changing outcome: learning for every child, everywhere.

    Recent multi-stakeholder dialogues on education financing and reform have reinforced three non-negotiable truths. First, coalitions outperform isolated efforts. Second, multi-year funding is essential for sustainable impact. Third, education finance must be catalytic, coordinated, and outcome-driven.

    Stakeholders across government, the private sector, development partners, and philanthropy increasingly recognise that education transformation cannot happen in silos; it requires coordinated, long-term, multi-sector action.

    Education is too complex to be solved by one sector alone. Each sector has a role: the government provides policy, regulation, financing, and teacher development; the private sector invests capital, technology, and innovation; civil society and local communities ensure relevance, advocacy, and accountability; DFIs and INGOs offer patient, catalytic financing, technical expertise, and global best practices; and the media and citizens drive awareness, public support, and social mobilization.

    When these actors work together, the result is not just incremental improvement but systemic transformation.

    Global experience illustrates what is possible. In Rwanda, pooled financing and long-term partnerships significantly expanded classroom access and teacher training over a decade. Ghana’s education technology collaborations now reach hundreds of thousands of learners in underserved communities through private sector co-investment catalysed by development finance.

    In Vietnam, sustained government commitment combined with multi-year development financing helped raise literacy rates from 58 percent to over 95 percent within two generations.

    The lesson is clear: meaningful transformation requires patient capital, multi-year funding, and coalition-driven action. Short-term grants and fragmented programmes cannot deliver the scale of impact Nigeria urgently needs.

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    Education is not only a development priority; it is national security infrastructure. Research shows that each additional year of schooling reduces the risk of youth participation in violent extremism by up to 20 percent, while countries with high learning poverty experience lower productivity growth and higher crime rates. Many of Nigeria’s current insecurity hotspots overlap with regions of persistent educational exclusion. Investing in education is therefore a direct investment in peace, productivity, and national resilience.

    The private sector, in particular, has a critical role to play beyond traditional corporate social responsibility. Strategic co-investment, aligned with national priorities and designed for scale, can strengthen education systems while delivering measurable social returns. When private capital is coordinated with public policy and development finance, it can help unlock innovation, improve accountability, and accelerate outcomes across the education value chain. Every naira invested in education also strengthens human capital, digital infrastructure, gender and inclusion, climate resilience, future jobs, and social protection, the six pathways the UN identifies as essential for transformative development.

    Nigeria must choose transformation over incrementalism. Governments must align budgets, data systems, and accountability frameworks to learning outcomes. Private sector leaders should commit to sustained, multi-year co-investment. Development partners and DFIs must deploy catalytic financing at scale. Civil society and citizens must continue to demand education as a national priority. If Nigeria unites around a common North Star and mobilizes the full strength of society, our education crisis can become the greatest opportunity of this generation. Every child who learns is a step closer to a nation that thrives economically, socially, and securely.

    Education is Nigeria’s most powerful investment, in prosperity, peace, and the promise of the future. The time to act is now, not tomorrow, not next year. When society, finance, and governance align, every child can learn, thrive, and contribute to a stronger, more secure nation and the global economy.

    •Olapeju Ibekwe, Lagos.

  • Securing the future of our agricultural sector

    Securing the future of our agricultural sector

    Sir: For too long, the agricultural sector has been weighed down by the “gravel” of security challenges. What should be a landscape of growth and food security has, in many regions, become a theatre of uncertainty. Farmers, who are the lifeblood of our nation, are facing more than just the traditional risks of weather and pests; they are navigating a terrain of banditry, theft, and land disputes.

    This environment of “life fear” has a paralyzing effect. When a farmer is afraid to step onto their field, the “acts” of planting and harvesting—the very foundation of our survival—is compromised. To achieve national prosperity, this climate of fear must not just be managed; it must be destroyed through deliberate action and strategic planning.

    To move ahead and push toward the “ultimate drops of success,” our approach to agricultural planning must evolve. We cannot treat security as an afterthought to farming; it must be integrated into the very setting of the sector.

    Establishing dedicated security outposts in high-production farming clusters to ensure that farmers can work without looking over their shoulders has become imperative. Utilizing drones and satellite mapping to monitor remote farmlands, allowing for rapid response to threats before they escalate is another crucial step.

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    Planning must include the local farmers themselves. They are the first to see changes in the landscape, and their insights are vital for pre-emptive security measures.

    The drive for success in agricultural practice is “keen”—the potential is massive, and the will of the people is strong. However, potential alone does not put food on the table. We need a shift in the “settings” of our national policy where the safety of the farmer is as prioritized as the quality of the seed. When we remove the gravel of insecurity, we pave the way for a new era of productivity. By destroying the barriers of fear, we allow the sector to push forward, ensuring that our agricultural output doesn’t just trickle, but flows toward the ultimate goal of national self-sufficiency and economic resilience.

    Key points for the policy makers include transitioning from a state of fear to a state of productivity and ensuring policymakers integrate rural security into agricultural planning.

    •Michael Adedotun  Oke,Gwagwalada, Abuja.

  • VAT on banking services: Setting the record straight

    VAT on banking services: Setting the record straight

    By Arabinrin Aderonke 

    In recent days, Nigerians have been inundated with reports suggesting that the Federal Government has introduced Value Added Tax (VAT) on banking services such as electronic transfers, fees and commissions. Understandably, this has triggered anxiety among citizens already grappling with economic pressures. However, the truth is far less dramatic than the headlines suggest.

    Contrary to widespread claims, VAT on banking services is not new. It was not introduced by the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, and it does not represent an additional financial burden on bank customers.

    For decades, Nigeria’s VAT framework has applied to fees, commissions and charges for services rendered by banks and other financial institutions. What has changed is not the law, but enforcement.

    The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has been compelled to clarify this point following a wave of misinformation that blurred the line between service charges and actual funds transferred. VAT is not, and has never been, charged on the amount of money a customer transfers or withdraws. Rather, it applies strictly to the service fee imposed by the bank. 

    This distinction is critical.

    When you make a bank transfer, whether ₦10,000 or ₦1 million, the amount sent to the recipient is not reduced by VAT. The full amount is applied as your principal. VAT is charged only on the bank’s service fee for processing the transaction, not on the money being transferred.

    For example, on a ₦100,000 transfer, the bank may charge a ₦50 service fee, on which 7.5% VAT equals ₦3.75, in addition to a flat ₦50 stamp duty. Similarly, for USSD transactions, VAT applies only to the session fee. This shows that VAT is strictly a tax on service charges, not on customers’ funds.

    Interest earned on savings accounts and fixed deposits also remains exempt, as it does not constitute a supply of goods or services under the law.

    Equally important is what VAT does not cover. Basic food items, essential goods, medical and pharmaceutical products, as well as educational services, remain firmly exempt under the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025. These protections were deliberately preserved to shield ordinary Nigerians from unnecessary hardship.

    So, why the sudden public concern?

    The answer lies in improved compliance and enforcement. Financial institutions are being reminded of their obligation to remit VAT already charged and collected. This renewed focus has created the false impression of a new tax, when in reality, it is the implementation of an existing one.

    Tax reforms often attract controversy, especially in times of economic strain. Yet clarity must prevail over confusion. Spreading inaccurate information undermines public trust and distracts from the real conversation Nigeria must have about transparency, accountability and effective tax administration.

    The Nigeria Revenue Service has made it clear that the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, does not introduce any new VAT burden on ordinary citizens, particularly in sensitive areas such as savings, food, healthcare and education.

    As Nigerians, we deserve honest explanations — not alarmist headlines. In a democracy, scrutiny is healthy, but it must be anchored on facts.

    The task before us is not to fear taxation, but to demand that taxes already in place are administered fairly, communicated clearly, and used responsibly for national development. That is the conversation worth having.

    – Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi is the Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service

  • Kwankwaso: The man and his politics

    Kwankwaso: The man and his politics

    • By Abu Mahmud

    Sir: Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, national leader of the NNPP, has openly stated that he would only defect to another party if offered the presidential or vice-presidential ticket for 2027. Kwankwaso argues that his decades-long political career entitles him to such consideration, insisting that his supporters would accept nothing less.

    Kwankwaso commands a loyal base in Kano, where he is celebrated as a champion of the masses. Beyond that stronghold, however, his career is marked by serial defections—PDP, APC, NNPP—each aligned with personal calculations rather than consistent principles. Supporters call this pragmatism; critics call it political nomadism.

    Recent developments in Kano have punctured the myth of Kwankwaso’s invincibility. The political rupture within the state has exposed a reality long obscured by propaganda: his influence depends heavily on state power. Without control of institutional machinery, his dominance diminishes. Electoral results reinforce this limitation. In the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar secured over seven million votes, Peter Obi over six million, while Kwankwaso garnered just 1.14 million—nearly all from Kano.

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    Governor Abba Yusuf’s anticipated defection to the APC further signals a shift in Kano’s political landscape. While the Kwankwasiyya movement remains relevant, its grip on state power is weakening. As his influence wanes, he increasingly portrays himself as a victim of betrayal, rallying supporters with narratives that elevate personal loyalty above political evolution.

    In a political manoeuvre aimed at his own survival, a report claimed that the former NNPP presidential candidate formally asked Chief Bisi Akande to help arrange a direct meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu so he could personally negotiate his defection. Akande reportedly refused, stressing that he could not sidestep the party’s established structures, and instead directed Kwankwaso to the official high‑level committee that handles negotiations with prominent politicians seeking to join the party.

    Even though he’s anxious about his political future, he can’t bring himself to tell the youths—whose blind loyalty he still counts on—why the people who stood with him from 1999 onward have walked away. What’s glaringly absent from his story is any reckoning with his own habit of discarding the allies who built his career: Senator Hamisu Musa, Musa Gwadabe, Abubakar Rimi—all side-lined after they helped him rise. Political independence isn’t betrayal; it’s a legitimate pursuit.

    When Abdullahi Ganduje parted ways with Kwankwaso, he endured ridicule and abuse.

    In my view, Kwankwaso and his blindsided supporters should at least appreciate Abba Gida‑Gida’s restraint in not publicly airing the unpleasant experiences that surrounded his rise to governor under the NNPP. Even though the Kwankwaso–Abba clash is, at its core, politics in its truest form—a search for solutions and self‑determination, there remains a clear distinction between betrayal, the pursuit of solutions, and the quest for independence from total submission.

    •Abu Mahmud,

    Hadejia Road Kano.

  • On Nigeria’s perilous state of affairs

    On Nigeria’s perilous state of affairs

    • By Abachi Ungbo

    Sir: It goes without saying that Nigeria is roiled by strong winds that are intent on ripping up its delicate fabric. This has drawn deep concern, and it is leaving everyone watching with bated breath on how it will walk away unscathed. Presently, an asphyxiating atmosphere of fear, bigotry and hatred which is antithetical to nation building has entirely enveloped the country. 

    What we have now is a situation where the huge paper that is spread over the nation’s wall has given way to deep and troubling cracks. The mask on different faces has fallen off, exposing the open declaration of patriotism and allegiance to the country as mere rhetoric. It is regrettable, that the badges of the respective ethno-religious camps are carried with honour.  By and large, national identity is almost non-existent. And, the abounding diversity of the country only attracts scant attention.

    Not a few Nigerians have become brutally cynical about the future of the country. They simply question our nationhood which poses a clear and present danger to our democracy and sovereignty. The social media has turned into a huge battlefield of ethnic, religious and ideological war as well as a simple barometer for gauging the crisis of unity and togetherness brewing in the country. Already, there are growing calls of secession which is spreading apace across the regional boundaries of the country. In fact, we have a host of ‘post Nigeria’ maps making the rounds in the social media showing the country carved along ethnic and religious lines.

    The current state of affairs is a corollary of the actions of the political class and religious leaders which have been far from been exemplary. They have effectively used their positions as tool of mobilization for selfish ends and oppression which has evidently made the current situation not unexpected.

    It is no news that Nigeria is prostrate by insecurity with a devastatingly high human toll. The reported international dimension to the issue is driving chills down the spines of Nigerians. Unfortunately, illegal mining activities in the hotbeds of the insecurity, massive corruption, complicity of officials among other things are conflating in not only compromising the fight against insecurity but in making it long drawn out. The situation has placed the country in a bad light with threat of foreign military intervention on the grounds of genocide.

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    The economy is still too weak to pull out the mammoth population trapped in the dark hole of poverty. Recently, PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) reported that 114 million – about 65% of the population are projected to be living in poverty in 2026.  This provides a trigger for social unrest. The demand for sacrifices is made on ordinary Nigerians and not the leaders.

    The picture of the former Yugoslavia readily comes to the minds of Nigerians as a convenient case in point of failure in the proper handling of diversity, socio- economic challenges etc. Recall that Yugoslavia was a stable country, an oasis of peace where the different nationalities co-existed before it became a theatre of instability occasioned by economic crisis, secession agenda, clashes between the nationalities etc.

    As a matter of urgency, the trajectory of the country must be rerouted to preclude an implosion. This actually brings us to the place of strategic leadership. The security of lives and properties needs to be bolstered before the country is drawn to a Pre-Hobbesian state. Of consequence in my considered view is the revisit of the recommendations of past national dialogues not least the 2014 national conference which the APC government under the banner of the Nasir El Rufai Committee (2012) concurred with some of its provisions. Both attempts provide solutions to challenges of national development.

    •Abachi Ungbo,

    abachi007@yahoo.com