The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • Uzodimma’s avoidable embarrassment

    Uzodimma’s avoidable embarrassment

    Governor of Imo State Hope Uzodimma’s appointment of Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu as the acting Chief Judge of the state without the required approval of the National Judicial Council (NJC) was unlawful. It was also done in unseemly haste. The NJC is the body responsible for the appointment and discipline of judicial officers in Nigeria.

    Consequently, the NJC, following its meeting held on April 29 and 30, directed the governor to “appoint the most senior judicial officer in the state High Court’s hierarchy as the acting Chief Judge of the state in conformity with Section 271 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”  Justice Nzeukwu is not the most senior judicial officer and should not have been appointed to the position.

    Ridiculously, after the NJC’s directive, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, still struggled to rationalise Justice Nzeukwu’s unlawful appointment. He stated: “While the appointment was made within the bounds of the law, the Government of Imo State will, in line with its longstanding respect for due process and the judiciary, comply with the NJC’s recommendation. Accordingly, steps are being taken to implement the decision of the National Judicial Council.”

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    Before its meeting, the NJC had said it “has not given approval to the governor for the appointment of the acting Chief Judge.” The council also said it “is not a party to the process of the purported appointment.”  It explained that the governor had written to the council requesting its approval to appoint Justice Nzeukwu, “who is number four in the hierarchy of seniority,” as acting Chief Judge of the state. The council said he “gave reasons why in his own view, the three most senior judges are not appointable.”   However, the council stated that “the said letter is yet to be considered, as deliberation on the request is slated for the next council meeting, which is scheduled to hold on 29th and 30th April, 2025.” It stressed that “the governor’s request is yet to be considered by the council.”

    This context clearly shows that the governor jumped the gun and the state government had acted unlawfully, contrary to the commissioner’s assertion that “the appointment was made within the bounds of the law.” 

    Importantly, the council also directed Justice Nzeukwu to explain within a week why he shouldn’t face disciplinary measures for violating constitutional guidelines by presenting himself for swearing-in.

    Uzodimma could have avoided the embarrassment of being ordered to reverse the appointment of Justice Nzeukwu as acting Chief Judge.

  • Big data, AI and public policy decision making

    Big data, AI and public policy decision making

    As a directing staff at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, I was charged, as one of my responsibilities, with bringing the participants at the senior executive courses (SEC) and other programmes up to speed on recent developments in public administration and management in the twenty-first century. One of the most significant developments, and the point of many excited discussion is public policy decision-making. Given that governments all across the world are judged on their performance of the function of policy formulation and service delivery (of course, the regulatory function is also significant), the policy architecture of any government must factor in intelligent policymaking that will transform policy intelligence revolving around governance and development decision-making processes. And if the public service must facilitate a professional and intelligent policy advice to the government in ways that orient the politics-administration dichotomy in public administration, then due attention must be given to new developments in intelligent policymaking in the twenty-first century.

    However, the practical worry I usually communicated to the SEC participants is how, since its emergence, public administrators in Nigeria have failed to give decision science its right of place in administrative and management practices. The cutting-edge application of development in this fascinating field has only been exploited by industrial management. Decision science was significantly facilitated by Chester Barnard. In his groundbreaking The Functions of the Executive (1938), he outlines a theoretical framework that allows us to examine how organizations actually operate outside of any normative or prescriptive requirements. Bernard’s contributions connect between the rationality of organizational, rather than individual, decision-making processes, and the cooperative capacity required to facilitate decision-making. While organizational decision-making is more significantly logical and rational, it is often facilitated by social and strategic contexts, like clear objectives, specialization, the flow of information, etc.

    The organizational rationality that Barnard was referring to does not translate into the “perfect rationality” of traditional economic models and theories. This concept assumes that in the decision-making process, the decision makers are fully equipped with the necessary information and data to make the best economic decisions. On the contrary, Herbert Simon undermined this assumption of a perfect decision-making. According to him, human fallibility makes it impossible to achieve the perfect standpoint—having the capacity and the resources to gather and process all the information and data required to make perfectly rational decisions. There is just too much uncertainty involved in how we decide, what we decide and the alternatives available in resolving our decisional dilemma. This therefore implies that in critical decision-making, cognitive limitations, policy complexity and resource constraints, Herbert Simon argues, that decision-makers only pursue satisficing rather than optimal solutions. A solution is satisficing if it is founded on rational and pragmatic principles and circumstances.

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    Given the many troubles and predicaments of the modern world, from climate change to political processes, and given the fact that we do not have all the answers we seriously need. This is where artificial intelligence and big data become the starting point of our attempt to understand before we can even predict or act. It is in this sense that decision science has learnt a lot from Barnard’s and Simon’s understanding of decisional rationality, and how computers and machines generally can contribute to the decision-making dynamics. We can therefore immediately see how the idea of a data-driven decisional strategy can assist governments across the world, and especially in Africa, to come to terms with critical policy intelligence required to backstop governance and development policies.

    There is no gainsaying the fact that we now live in the world of big data and artificial intelligence. This is the age of the machine. The operation of social media platforms, their algorithmic underpinnings, and the emergences of enormous databases all indicates that the amount of data available in contemporary world is beyond staggering. It has been reported that Facebook, the social media platform, warehouses “300 petabytes of data about its 2 billion active users, or 150 megabytes of data per user.” Of course, the Cambridge Analytica scandal that ignited concerns about the misuse of data raised critical issues around the ethics of data usage. However, that same concern attends the extent to which governments can ethically deploy data-driven policy intelligence in the pursuit of the well-being of their citizens. And even beyond this, governments all across the world are now confronted with multiple dimensions of polycrisis that disarticulate all efforts at making sense of their governance and development circumstances and objectives. The deployment of artificial intelligence and big data—from financial transaction data to the internet of things (IoT), and so on—cumulate into the enhancement of the credibility of those governments who have the courage to exploit their usage for policy intelligence.

    However, before any government can get to the zenith of credibility and legitimacy, there is the outstanding and fundamental issue of extracting meaning, purpose and direction from the enormous amount of data available. This involves designing the models that extract and interpret the data in ways that enable government to explain and predict things, situation and circumstances in the real world. Data scientists, in other words, assist the governments in formulating hypotheses, based on the identification of trends, patterns and flows that investigate current problematics, anticipate future challenges and proactively energize government policies. In a world where climate change has undermined lots of policy intelligences, where geo-spatial data analytics backstops the government’s infrastructure masterplans in terms of identifying geographic patterns, trends, dynamics and disparities so as to be able to initiate creative policy designs and formulations that prioritize investments, allocate resources more effectively, and facilitate service delivery.

    We now need to confront the necessity of deploying artificial intelligence and big data at the level of public service institutions, especially in line with the imperatives of institutional reforms that have the objectives of bringing these institutions up to speed with modern technologies, procedures and administrative imperatives that can enhance the government’s capacity to efficiently deliver goods and services to the citizenry. This deployment must however go beyond the default level where pubic institutions are just compelled to adopt any reigning innovation without a significant feasibility study in terms of the fundamental utility of the innovation within an overall organizational reform blueprint. For example, as part of the institutional imperatives, public institutions have to factor in the challenges of privacy, security, data governance and data ethics.

    What   differentiates   a   good administration  from  a  bad  one is the intelligent policymaking capacity that is founded on policy intelligence. Within Nigeria’s governance framework and policy architecture, a reformed policymaking founded on big data and artificial intelligence demands that the public service adopts a change management programme that must first give attention to the (re)professionalization of the workforce, especially the senior executive service. The SES must be beefed up as a multidisciplinary elite team that is charged with the articulation of a strategic policy intelligence. This allows the SES to not only play a critical role in policymaking function, but also facilitate the strategic deployment of big data. Recruitment into this top-level administrative corps will be on the basis of intelligence, professionalism and performance rating.

    The establishment of the SES will entail modifying the generalist composition of the workforce through a competency mapping that create a hub of specialists and experts specifically reskilled for the demands of new technologies, artificial intelligence, big data and data science. The second dimension of the change management is to link this generic professionalization to the reform of the department of planning, research and statistics in the MDAs. The DPRS could then serve as the effective policy hub that mediates the articulation of the demands of decision science and big data around the dynamics of data culture, data availability and action research capacity to interpret such data as input to policy and feedback.     

    Each DPRS will have to recruit, train and incentivize new officers who will be put in charge of regulating the new innovation. It is not just enough to innovate; it must be a guarded reform that is founded on a blueprint of how artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science and new technologies factor into the governance and development objectives of the Nigerian government. This will necessitate, for example, collaborating with research-based think tanks and institutes in ways that further enhance the quality of policy decision and the data dynamics needed to formulate policy intelligence.

    The biggest requirement for harnessing the requirements of decision science is the political will of governments to go all out in traversing the challenges of institutional reforms, and especially of exploring and exploiting the intricacies of big data analytics in terms of its capacity to improve decision-making and the efficiency of service delivery to Nigerians. There is just no other alternative to the transformation of the policy architecture of the Nigerian government than the political willingness to become proactive in the institutional reform of the public service. Given the economic and governance challenges that the administration is confronting, the reality of the time is really auspicious with regard to the reform opportunities that global best practices have presented the Nigerian government with. There is no alternative to reform, and decision science is the opportunity to make it work for democratic governance.    

  • Nigeria: A nation unto itself?

    Nigeria: A nation unto itself?

    One reason many Nigerians voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) was its manifesto commitment to laying the foundation for a Nordic-Scandinavian and German-style social market economy. This is a model that promises a blend of economic efficiency and social welfare that appeals to the aspirations of a more equitable society.

    A social market economy is grounded in achieving macroeconomic stability to foster sustainable development and safeguard living standards. However, this core principle appears to have been overshadowed by the severity of economic challenges faced upon taking office.

    Countries that have recently overcome poverty, underdevelopment and stagnation have typically identified and focused on a unifying theme or vision. Nations like South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and India, even the neighbouring Ghana, each in their own way, have discovered a philosophical anchor that has driven their pursuit of sustainable development. For Nigeria, finding such a guiding principle is even more crucial, given the absence of a unifying national religion, unlike India’s Hinduism or South Korea’s largely homogeneous cultural identity, which can serve as a societal compass.

    The fragility of human destiny is that Nigeria is currently a nation in search of itself. It’s story is one of contrasts – of rich cultural heritage and colonial legacy, of abundant natural resources and persistent poverty, of vibrant diversity and fractious divisions. From its colonial past (1914-1960) to its independence (October 1, 1960), and through its tumultuous history, including the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), Nigeria has traversed its own uncertain path, searching for a sense of purpose and direction.

    It’s disheartening that Nigeria has become a testing ground for failed policies, where poverty and deprivation severely impact citizens’ lives. In the depths of its struggles, we find a haunting reflection of humanity’s capacity for endurance, with many families surviving on less than 5,000 naira a week. The complexity of our situation is that, even the approved N70,000 per month minimum wage is insufficient to cover basic needs, such as buying a bag of rice, amidst soaring fuel costs.

    At a time like this, the Israelites’ journey offers a powerful lens through which to examine our own experiences and challenges. In this context, the notion of a ‘promised land’ resonates deeply, inviting us to consider what kind of nation Nigeria aspires to be. Is it a land of prosperity and opportunity, where all citizens can thrive? Or is it a land of conflict and division, where particular interests prevail over the common good?  To move forward, Nigeria must define an operational ethos that serves as a roadmap for sustainable development, guiding the nation’s economic policies and decisions.

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    The World Bank’s Nigeria Development Update highlights the country’s economic challenges, marked by instability and poverty, due to distortionary policies. Despite projected 3.5% annual growth from 2023 to 2026, poverty is expected to rise, potentially reaching 56-57% by 2027. This concerning trend is driven by factors such as dependence on oil revenues, sluggish economic growth, weak governance and corruption.

    Given that governance is both an art and a science, it is crucial to explore alternative approaches. Again, a time like this behooves the Bola Tinubu-led administration to reformat and reinvent itself by setting specific directives to streamline governance costs.

    In the era of President Tinubu, who deserves commendation for his efforts amid daunting challenges, Nigeria must give precedence to tackling the root causes of its malaise and reinventing the social market economy concept to suit its context. A social market thrust will move beyond temporary relief measures, also known as palliatives, and instead shift gear towards the rebuilding of institutions to spur sustainable development. To achieve this, Nigeria must create the necessary physical and social infrastructure and redirect resources from ineffective Ministries, Departments and Agencies to sustainable development initiatives. This reallocation should include reviving ‘dead capital’ – dormant investments and underutilized resources that could be leveraged for growth.

    Nigeria is dotted with abandoned projects that should be repurposed. A promising approach is the model used to revitalize the National Theatre in Lagos, which not only spawned new commercial enterprises but also created numerous jobs. Adopting this strategy could be a game-changer. By resuscitating and repurposing hundreds of stalled projects, Nigeria can transform them into thriving economic zones. The invigorating effects of such a move will have a multiple effect across the country and trigger-off a ‘feel-good’ sense of optimism and purpose. 

    Many abandoned initiatives, or ‘dead capital’, still hold value and deserve reconsideration. Obviously, not all were founded on flawed assumptions, and they can contribute significantly to the country’s economic resilience. These projects were often conceived during a period of more structured policy-making and thoughtful consultation, which contrasts sharply with the frequently hasty and ill-conceived initiatives of today. Nigeria would benefit from revisiting the era of meticulous planning and strategic development.

    To break free from stagnation, Nigeria needs a broad-based partnership encompassing all political parties and civil society to craft a long-term political economy strategy spanning the next 20-25 years. This forward-thinking approach is crucial as the country will need to revamp its educational curriculum to remain competitive in an era dominated by artificial intelligence. By 2035-2040, the nature of work, careers, and productivity will likely undergo a profound transformation, making it imperative for Nigeria to prepare for this new landscape. Therefore, embracing this challenge will require a proactive and adaptable approach. As we step into “this brave new world”, Nigeria’s readiness will depend on its ability to innovate, adapt and evolve.

    Nigeria’s development trajectory raises important questions about the human cost of economic reform. With rising poverty levels, it’s clear that employment alone cannot lift people out of poverty without productive jobs, which require macro-fiscal stability, growth and private sector development. Policies targeting women and youth can boost the labour market’s impact on poverty reduction. Nigeria’s development ultimately hinges on balancing economic stability with social welfare. It requires a nuanced approach that prioritizes both growth and human well-being.

    To address poverty, potential solutions include promoting inclusive economic growth and strengthening public financial management. Effective approaches for vulnerable populations involve establishing robust social protection frameworks, such as unemployment benefits and healthcare access. Additionally, targeted investments in agriculture and vocational skills training programs can enhance employability, food security, and sustainable livelihoods, ultimately contributing to poverty reduction efforts.

    We have lost out in the past because Nigeria as a rent-seeking state has never been prepared. For instance, two decades ago, Nigeria could have positioned itself, like Vietnam and South Africa, to capture jobs and industries that China would shed as it ascends the manufacturing value chain. Had Nigeria done so, it might have attracted relocated processes, creating approximately 400,000 direct and 500,000 indirect jobs, mostly export-oriented, which would have significantly improved the country’s balance of payments.

    To prosper, Nigeria must shift its focus towards competitiveness. The rent-seeking state model has become counterproductive and needs to be reformed. With Nigeria’s population growth outpacing economic growth, the country faces an impending crisis. Forging a broad consensus among various interest groups on transitioning into a productive state requires achieving and sustaining a growth rate of around 7% over the next 20-25 years by leveraging human capital and resources effectively. Moreover, the focus should shift from short-term growth metrics to fostering genuine sustainable development that yields lasting benefits.

    As the world rapidly changes, there’s an urgent need for Tinubu’s government to demonstrate a clear departure from the past, especially with visible implementation of programmes, policies and projects that have direct impact on the citizenry. There’s no alternative! With the Jagaban Borgu in office and in power, Nigeria should be able to bid phony projects a final goodbye. After all, politics is about what to give, not what to get!

    May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!

  • Zacch Adedeji and FIRS’s TaxPro-Max

    Zacch Adedeji and FIRS’s TaxPro-Max

    By Rabiu Usman

    A few days ago, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) ordered all banks in the country to identify and close any tax and levy collection accounts not authorised under the agency’s TaxPro Max system. The banks are to abide by this directive immediately.

    Like others before now, this decision by Executive Chairman of FIRS, Dr Zacch Adedeji, is another of his tax reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the country’s tax administration.

    Before now, the FIRS had launched the new USSD code *829#. This has in no small measure revolutionized taxpayer engagement and access to essential tax services.

    Since October 9, 2024, that it was officially launched, the USSD code *829# has simplified tax processes and provided a seamless, efficient service experience, with taxpayers now able to effortlessly access a range of services, including TIN retrieval, Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) verification, and general inquiries all from the convenience of their mobile phones and without need for internet access.

    Also in operation is the Merchant Buyer Solution (eInvoice), a government initiative under the FIRS Digitial Transformation Strategy (2023/24) that is now being used by all Value Added Tax (VAT) registered taxpayers’ businesses to manage the issuance of e-invoices in accordance with Section 25, Part 5 of the Tax Administration and Enforcement Act 2007.

    The FIRSMBS (eInvoice) is effectively replacing traditional paper or electronic documents such as invoices, credit notes, and debit notes.

    Now, it is the enforcement of the use of the TaxPro Max system, a self-service platform or portal that enables taxpayers to file tax returns, pay taxes, process and validate Tax Clearance Certificates.

    TaxPro Max is a digital solution introduced by the FIRS to centralise and automate tax administration processes. It is a self-service platform that facilitates various tax-related activities, including registration, filing, payment, and the issuance of Tax Clearance Certificates (TCCs) for both resident and non-resident taxpayers.

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    It has been central to the FIRS’s strategy to modernise Nigeria’s tax administration infrastructure, reduce human contact in tax processes, and improve ease of compliance for taxpayers.

    By the FIRS new policy, all tax and levy collections must now be processed exclusively through the TaxPro Max platform.

    According to the FIRS notice, titled; “Directive to close unauthorised FIRS tax collection accounts,” any accounts outside the TaxPro Max system are now considered unauthorised. Consequently, banks are expected to discontinue the use of such accounts without delay and ensure strict adherence to the new collection procedure.

    “Effective immediately, all tax and levy collections on behalf of FIRS must be processed exclusively pursuant to an assessment raised on the TaxPro Max platform.

    “All banks participating in the FIRS Collection, Remittance and Reconciliation Scheme are hereby advised to comply with this directive within the stipulated period,” the notice stated.

    Dr Zacch Adedeji mandating the exclusive use of the platform, will eliminate the proliferation of multiple collection accounts and bring uniformity to how taxes are assessed, collected, and reconciled.

    As for taxpayers, implication of the new policy is that all payments to FIRS must now be based strictly on assessments raised through the TaxPro Max portal. Payment through any unauthorised channel or to any unauthorised account will be invalid and could expose taxpayers to penalties.

    To the banks, they are expected to avoid regulatory breaches that may incure santions by aligning their internal tax collection mechanisms with the TaxPro Max system.

    For Dr Zacch Adedeji, the reformist tax collector, this is not the last from the book of tax reforms, other steps are in the pipeline to ensure that FIRS takes it position as the crude oil of Nigeria.

    Rabiu Usman, a public affairs commentator lives in Abuja

  • Afe Babalola: Agriculture remains way to go

    Afe Babalola: Agriculture remains way to go

    By Tunde Usman Olofintila

    Legal colossus and Founder of the 21st Century Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola, has traced the myriads of problems afflicting the Nigerian state to the unwise and condemnable abandonment of Agriculture, Nigeria’s otherwise cash cow until the discovery of oil in Oloibiri, Rivers State, in 1956.

    Painting a gory picture of what the abandonment of Agriculture has pitiably visited on Nigeria, Babalola who was recently decorated as the Africa Man of the Year in Food Security for 2024, the second time in 10 years, said no nation, especially in Africa, can thrive or achieve greatness without a viable and productive Agricultural Sector.

    Receiving the Award in his University in Ado-Ekiti, Babalola, who clinched the Award after defeating other nominees from across the continent, recalled the days of yore when everybody, no matter his business or vocation, had a small garden at the back of his house.

    This, he said, made it possible for everybody to have ready and easy access to food stuffs. Then, people were not only able to feed themselves, but they also were able to give freely to others with nobody being hungry then. In his view, “that time should be reinvented in the interest of all”.

    The organizers of the Award, the Forum for International Green Sustainability (FIGS), a body that promotes interest in Agriculture with a view to ensuring food security worldwide, predicated Babalola’s nomination for the Award on what they described as his “many radical revolutions on Agriculture, namely; ABUAD Bio-Diversified Farms, granting of millions of Naira under the  Afe Babalola Annual Agricultural Grants to hundreds of farmers, ABUAD Talent Discovery Centre, ABUAD Planetarium, ABUAD modern Dam, ABUAD Industrial Park that houses over 124 Farm Industries and ABUAD FM Radio among several others”.

    In his acceptance speech, Babalola who has been adjudged one of the leading large-scale farmers in Nigeria and the largest single farmer in Ekiti, his home state, where he is also renowned as the highest taxpayer, and second largest employer of labour after the state government, expressed gratitude to the global body for recognizing his contributions in Agriculture, describing it as a challenge at ensuring food sufficiency.

    Babalola, who described Nigeria as a net consuming country, said the nation cannot achieve true development without prioritizing large-scale production of goods and services, particularly in Agriculture.

    He urged governments at all levels to create conducive environments for farmers to ply their trade, stressing that this would enable the subnational to be a self-sustaining food hub.

    His words: “The major cause of our problems in this country is that we do not produce, and yet, we eat. Even the Bible teaches us that he who does not work does not deserve to eat. Why then are we disobeying this time-tested Biblical injunction?’

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    He added: “When I started this University in 2009, I made Agriculture a matter of priority. I made Agriculture a compulsory subject for every student. And to encourage more of our young people to make a career out of Agriculture, I slashed the tuition for those studying Agriculture by 50%. And that is not all, upon graduation, I give every graduate of Agriculture the sum of N250,000 as seed money to start his/her Agri-business.

    “At the state level, I have in the last 11 years been organizing an Annual Agric. Festival in Ado-Ekiti called ABAEX (Afe Babalola Agric Expo) with the Best Overall Farmer in the state going home with N2,000,000 while the Best three farmers in each of the 16 Local Government Councils in the state go home with N250,000 in this order: The best farmer (N200,000), the second best (N100,000), and the third best (N50,000) 

    “Today, as we speak, our farmers under the umbrella of Afe Babalola Beneficiaries are influencing people positively in Oyo, Lagos and Osun, among several others”.

    Continuing, he said, “What governments at all levels need to do is to encourage farming and make the environment conducive for all so that Nigerians could farm without let or hinderance.

    To get out of the malaise of hunger and poverty, Babalola suggested the following:

    • Government should introduce Agriculture into our school curriculum from Primary to Secondary Schools

    • Government should ensure that allocations to Local Governments go to them directly and not through their respective Governors.

    • Local Government should assemble farm implements which they will hire to farmers at subsidized rates.

    • Local Government should be encouraged to produce seedlings for sale to farmers at low prices.

    • The government should revive the old Farm Settlements by Awolowo in the former Western Region and extend it to other states in the country today.

    • Government should ensure that farmers do not only produce food crops but cash crops.  This will ensure the revival of the Cocoa in the West, Rubber and Palm Oil in present Edo and Delta States and the Groundnut Pyramids of the North in those days.

    • The government should also encourage adding value to Agricultural products just like ABUAD is doing in its 124-unit large, medium and small-scale industries at its Industrial Park

    • Finally, National Honour should be given to successful farmers and promoters of farming and not only to politicians.

    Babalola recalled how former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in power as a Military Head of State between 1976 and 1979, made farming a matter of priority for everybody through his government’s Operation Feed the Nation, OFN.

    Babalola lamented the situation today when many Nigerians complain about hunger because of the abandonment of Agriculture, adding that “I do not believe any Nigerian should complain of hunger, especially with our God-given fertile lands, lots of rains and so on.

    “In short, the problems we have in this country can be traced to the abandonment of Agriculture. It will be my joy to see my people comfortable, live in peace, go to the farm peacefully, and come back home without harm. I insist that without Agriculture, this country cannot make it”.

    He said the Award would spur him to do more in his singular efforts, aimed at returning agriculture to its rightful place and lifting it to the expected destination of a competitive revenue earner.”,

    A firm believer in the power of Agriculture, Babalola established ABUAD Agricultural Enterprise Centre to boost food production and ensure food security. Indeed, many stakeholders like the Embassy of the United States of America, Japanese Embassy and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have visited the flourishing Agricultural Enterprise Centre and unanimously agreed that it is the biggest of its type in any university in Nigeria today.

    IITA, which has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the university, has also designated the University as a Centre of Research where students learn many areas of Agriculture.

    ABUAD Agricultural Enterprise Centre has the following Divisions: Cash crops Division with 110,000 Mango Trees, 1,000,000 Teak Trees and 500,000 Gmelina Trees, the Arable crops Division with yam, maize, cassava, plantain & Banana, pigeon peas, Legume Division with various vegetables, Moringa Division with ABUAD Moringa leaf powder, ABUAD Moringa seed, ABUAD Moringa capsule, ABUAD Moringa hair cream, ABUAD Moringa oil, ABUAD Moringa body cream and ABUAD Moringa tea as well as ABUAD Moringa soap.

    It also has the Fisheries Division with five large fish lakes with at least 100,000 fishes in each of them, the Feed Mill Division where various feeds are compounded and Hatcheries as well as the Livestock Division made up of a Piggery, Snailery, Turkey, Guinea Fowl, Quail and Mushroom as well as an incubator.

    In his burning desire to harmonize University Education with Industry, provide quality and functional education, provide opportunity for hi-tech scientists, innovators, inventors, geniuses, research, community service, stimulate economic development and provide employment for university graduates, professionals and artisans, Babalola established the ABUAD Industrial Research Park.

    The Industrial Park designed to house 124 units if small, medium and large-scale industrial has since become functional with the production of a variety of AB Foods such as Fufu, Poundo Yam, Garri, Fufu, Rice, Ogi, Carbonated Drinks, Cashew and Carbonated drinks.

    As a major player in the Agricultural Sector of the nation’s economy, Babalola has received various Awards in appreciation of his contributions in that sector, including, but not limited to President, Forestry Association of Nigeria, Patron, Agbekoya Farmers Association of Nigeria, Patron, Fadama Association of Nigeria, Member, AfricaRice, and Grand Patron and the Distinguished Africa Man of the Year in Food Security 2014, courtesy of the Forum for International Green Sustainability (FIGS) before clinching the Award again this year.

    Earlier in his remarks, FIGS’ Country Representative, Mr. Caleb Osasona, explained that Babalola’s contributions to the development of Agriculture and food security earned him the Award.

    Osasona who could not conceal his admiration for Babalola’s commitment and dedication towards Agriculture, said Nigeria would have been more developed and food-secure if such actions were replicated nationwide.

    Speaking at the event, Ekiti Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, commended the legal icon’s contributions to the Agricultural sector and described the continental recognition and the award to Babalola as a moment of glory and pride for the state. 

    Represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, Oyebanji commended the elder statesman as a man of vision, tenacity and commitment. He said his works and landmark achievements in agriculture which have redefined and reinforced food security in Nigeria, inspired generations of young farmers and demonstrated that Agriculture is not just a tool for survival but a gateway to prosperity.

    “Through the ABUAD Bio-Diversified Farms and the Afe Babalola Annual Agricultural Grants to farmers, among other laudable gestures, he has shown Africa what is possible when intellect meets innovation in Agriculture.

    “In Ekiti State, we are proud to align with and take a cue from the laudable programs of this great sage,” he added.

    •Olofintila is ABUAD’s Director of Corporate Affairs

  • Minimum wage remains a promise on paper

    Minimum wage remains a promise on paper

    Sir: In recent months, the Nigerian workforce has once again found itself at the centre of a pressing national conversation—the implementation of a N70,000 minimum wage. For many citizens, especially those in low-income brackets, this policy represented not just a wage adjustment but a lifeline in an increasingly suffocating economy. Yet, despite public declarations and union agitations, implementation across several states and within the private sector remains largely symbolic, with little evidence of real, widespread adoption.

    The cost of living in Nigeria has soared to unprecedented levels. A visit to the market paints a painful picture: a bag of rice that once cost N8,000 now sells for over N70,000, transportation costs have tripled, and essential services such as health care and education are slipping beyond the reach of the average citizen. Inflation has eroded purchasing power, and many full-time employees still live pay check to pay check, unable to meet basic needs. It is within this grim context that the N70,000 minimum wage was proposed—a sensible move to cushion workers from the blows of economic hardship.

    However, this wage increase remains largely unimplemented. At the time of writing, at least 20 state governments, including Cross River, Enugu, Ebonyi, Yobe, Zamfara, Borno, Katsina, Nasarawa, and even the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have not commenced payment of the new wage. The reasons vary—from claims of insufficient revenue to bureaucratic bottlenecks and political reluctance. Yet the consequences are the same: a demoralised, overburdened workforce that feels forgotten and undervalued.

    Even in states that have begun implementation, inconsistencies abound.

    The private sector tells a similar story. While some forward-thinking organisations have reviewed their pay structures in alignment with the new minimum wage, many others continue to offer wages that fall far below the N70,000 threshold. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) cite narrow profit margins and economic uncertainty as barriers to implementation. For multinational companies, the excuse often lies in uniform global wage structures that are slow to adjust to local developments. Still, in both cases, the result is an uneven and unfair compensation landscape that leaves the average worker short-changed.

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    One cannot ignore the long-term risks of this non-implementation. A demotivated workforce is an unproductive one. Poor remuneration leads to high turnover, absenteeism, and reduced efficiency. Moreover, the psychological toll of working without earning enough to survive is immense. It breeds resentment, mental fatigue, and in some cases, fuels the rise of informal and illicit economies. In public institutions, it can translate to poor service delivery, corruption, and unrest. In private businesses, it weakens competitiveness, as skilled labour gradually seeks greener pastures elsewhere.

    What makes this situation more troubling is that the N70,000 minimum wage is not an arbitrary figure. It was calculated against economic indicators and intended to reflect a living wage—one that allows workers to cover essential needs, support dependents, and live with dignity. If the government and private employers alike cannot deliver this, the question then becomes: how sustainable is our labour system?

    Of course, one must acknowledge the financial constraints many states face. Internally generated revenue (IGR) remains low in several regions. But even within this, implementation is not impossible—it is a matter of priority. Many states continue to spend lavishly on political appointments, overseas trips, and nonessential projects while postponing critical welfare reforms. Redirecting funds, plugging leakages, and adopting innovative budgeting approaches could create room for better wage compliance.

    At the federal level, stronger oversight mechanisms are needed. The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), alongside labour unions and civil society organisations, must work collaboratively to ensure full compliance. Transparency should be non-negotiable, and a detailed national wage compliance report should be published quarterly to hold state governments accountable.

    For private businesses, a shift in mind-set is essential. Workers are not just cost centres—they are the engines of value creation. Investing in fair wages is not just morally sound; it is strategically wise. Wage fairness is not an act of charity—it is a smart business decision.

    The Nigerian economy cannot grow on the backs of underpaid workers. Neither can national stability be assured in an environment where millions toil daily without hope of upward mobility. The minimum wage, if fully implemented, could be a significant step toward a more just, resilient, and productive society. But until that happens, it remains what it currently is: a promise on paper, not yet a reality.

    •Samuel Jekeli,Centre for Social Justice, Abuja.

  • Harnessing AI for Nigeria’s blue economy

    Harnessing AI for Nigeria’s blue economy

    Sir: Nigeria stands at a critical juncture where digital transformation intersects with environmental stewardship. As the country seeks sustainable pathways for economic diversification, one domain ripe for disruption is its blue economy. Defined as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and ecosystem health, the blue economy presents an unparalleled opportunity for Nigeria to tap into the vast wealth of its maritime domain.

    Bordered by over 850 kilometres of Atlantic coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) teeming with biodiversity, Nigeria’s marine space holds the potential to power new industries, provide food security, and contribute to climate adaptation. Yet, this potential remains largely underutilised. Challenges such as overfishing, marine pollution, habitat degradation, and the absence of robust data systems hinder the full realisation of maritime opportunities.

    These persistent challenges demand an innovative response, and this is where artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies could provide the much-needed leapfrog.

    The marine blue economy encompasses a wide array of sectors, including fisheries, shipping, marine tourism, offshore renewable energy, and coastal agriculture. According to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), maritime activities contribute around $1.5 billion annually to the national economy. However, the figures significantly under-represent the actual potential of Nigeria’s marine domain.

    Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing alone costs Nigeria millions of dollars in revenue annually while also depleting fish stocks and threatening food security in coastal communities. Pollution from oil exploration and plastic waste endangers marine habitats, while unregulated coastal development contributes to worsening erosion and flooding. These ecological and economic threats are compounded by weak governance frameworks, fragmented institutions, and the absence of an integrated digital infrastructure for marine management.

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    Artificial intelligence and machine learning offer practical tools to modernise Nigeria’s marine economy. By harnessing data from satellites, drones, sensors, and oceanographic models, Nigeria can optimise resource use, strengthen resilience, and promote evidence-based policy-making. Across the globe, AI is already being deployed to transform ocean industries and enhance maritime governance. Nigeria can learn from these examples and tailor technologies to its unique ecological and socioeconomic contexts.

    Countries across the world are leveraging AI to enhance their marine capabilities, and their experiences offer relevant lessons for Nigeria. Norway, through the Ocean Data Foundation, uses big data and machine learning to support fisheries sustainability and ocean research, blending private sector innovation with strong public oversight. India’s INCOIS developed AI-enabled advisory systems for fishermen, helping locate fish-rich zones using oceanographic and meteorological data. This has boosted catch efficiency and reduced fuel costs for artisanal fishers. The European Union’s Copernicus Marine Service uses satellite data and AI for pollution tracking, maritime safety, and climate services, with open access that supports research, innovation, and inter-agency collaboration. The United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has deployed AI-enabled autonomous drones and underwater vehicles to study deep-sea environments and enhance fisheries regulation.

    While the prospects are promising, several critical challenges must be addressed to integrate AI effectively into Nigeria’s marine sectors. Nigeria lacks a reliable, interoperable marine data infrastructure. Current data sets are either fragmented, outdated, or inaccessible for analytics. Investment in remote sensing and ocean observation is essential. Coastal and riverine communities often lack internet connectivity, power supply, and the computing resources required to deploy AI systems, hindering implementation at the grassroots level. Nigeria also faces a shortage of skilled professionals in marine science, AI, and data engineering. Without human capital development, even the best tools will remain underutilised. Weak coordination among marine regulatory bodies, outdated legal frameworks, and lack of clarity on digital governance further stifle innovation. Reforms are urgently needed to pave the way for a digitally integrated blue economy.

    To unleash the power of AI in Nigeria’s marine blue economy, a clear and coordinated policy roadmap is vital. This should include the establishment of a national marine data strategy—a centralised digital repository for marine data, leveraging public-private partnerships and remote sensing technologies. The platform should be accessible to academia, start-ups, and civil society.

    Nigeria’s marine blue economy holds the key to a sustainable, climate-resilient, and inclusive future. By embracing the power of artificial intelligence, the nation can reimagine its relationship with the ocean not merely as a source of revenue, but as a strategic asset for long-term prosperity and planetary health. With bold investments in data infrastructure, talent development, and regulatory innovation, Nigeria can lead the charge in AI-powered ocean governance on the African continent. It is time to chart a new course one where technology, ecology, and equity sail together toward a shared horizon.

    •Omabuwa Mene-Ejegi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

  • Quell this raging fire of insecurity

    Quell this raging fire of insecurity

    Sir: I call the attention of the state and the federal governments to the spate of insecurity in the land and incessant violence mostly in our farming communities across the country. It is sad and pathetic to see thousands of innocent citizens being murdered in cold blood on daily basis for just no cause.

     In the past couple of years, thousands of innocent lives have been lost through various acts of banditry and insurgency just as an estimated 300,000 peasant farmers have been displaced. Most recently in Ondo State, over 30 farmers and 15 travellers were murdered while many others were injured by suspected armed herdsmen. To tackle the challenge, the state government had to set up a joint security task force comprising of Police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) the Army and Amotekun Corps.

    Also, there have been incessant attacks on innocent people in Plateau and Benue states particularly the farming communities. In Plateau State, more than 70 people were killed and their houses burnt down in the month of March. In Benue State, 40 people were reported to have been killed on their farms by herdsmen during the same period.

    Also in April, suspected armed herders reportedly killed about 19 people in separate attacks on some communities in the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State. In the first attack, 16 farmers returning to their village were said to have been killed and their bodies thrown into River Katsina-Ala. In the second attack, which occurred in the same Local Government Area, three persons were murdered. Also in the same month, nine farmers were reportedly killed by bandits in Kagau in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

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    If one may dare to ask: what is really going on along most of our land borders? How the herdsmen said to behind the dastardly acts get into the country? What exactly are we doing to checkmate the activities of these terrorists? These are questions that beg for answers.

    Today, many of our farmers have refused to go back to their farms simply because of insecurity hence the food scarcity, rising food prices despite various federal government interventions.

    This writer recalls a 2024 report by the World Food Program (WFP) identifying the persistent violence as a major factor hindering food availability. In fact, the banditry and kidnapping in the Northwest and farmer-herder conflict in the North-central states are known to have exacerbated the prevailing economic struggles.

    It is therefore imperative that state governors take the bull by the horn  to end this recurring mayhem since they are the chief security officers in their states. Enough of the rhetoric; the masses want concrete action now!

    •Oladele Oladipupo,oladeleoladipupo@gmail.com

  • Not a level–playing field

    Not a level–playing field

    AbdulGaniyu Obasa, the son of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, is at the centre of an intriguing development in Agege ahead of the July local government elections in Lagos State. He is a member of the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

    The coordinator of a political group, Agege Youth Vanguard, Ismael Garba, recently announced that its members had contributed N5million “to buy APC nomination form for AbdulGaniyu to enable him to contest the party primary.” They want him to be elected chairman of Agege Local Government. 

    He added that the group was supporting AbdulGaniyu to achieve good grassroots governance, stressing that their backing “is not about personal gain or to make Agege any political leader’s private fiefdom as may be insinuated in some quarters.” He argued: “That his father is the Speaker of the State House of Assembly should not deny the community of a competent leader.”

    According to him, AbdulGaniyu “is well-educated and competent… has a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Hertfordshire in England, and a Master’s in Accounting and Finance from Aston University, Birmingham.” He further said he is “a PhD student at Babcock University,” and also “an affiliate member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.”

    He highlighted his work experience, saying he had worked at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Providus Bank Limited, and Parallex Bank Limited, where he served as Head of Performance Management and Strategy.

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    Interestingly, the incumbent council vice chairman and chairmanship aspirant, Oluwagbemiga Abiola, announced his withdrawal from the race, saying “the party has spoken, and I fully agree.” He said the party’s leaders and stakeholders “have asked the Speaker to allow his son to contest, and I respect and support that.”

    Abiola said he “will never go against my leader, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa. This is the man who made me.” He explained that Obasa “appointed me Special Assistant on Media when he became Speaker in 2015. In 2016, I was appointed Sole Administrator of Agege LGA, thanks to his recommendation to the governor. That appointment made me the youngest council boss in Lagos State at the time.

    “In 2017, I became Secretary to the Local Government, and in 2021, Vice Chairman — all through the party’s and Speaker’s support. So, why would I oppose a man who built me politically and helped me grow in experience and influence?”

    It is easy to see that Abiola is more politically experienced than AbdulGaniyu Obasa. Why do the backers of the younger Obasa consider him a better man for the job? The narrative that his father’s influence is not a major factor behind the scenes is hard to believe. Would he have been the preferred candidate if there was a level playing field?    

  • Imperative of devolution of power now

    Imperative of devolution of power now

    • By Ladipo Adamolekun

    I. DEVOLVE OR DIE: MY POLITICAL CREDO FOR NIGERIA

    “Nigeria and I: Where do I invest my intellectual contribution in public affairs from now on? The answer came to me this morning: promoting devolution within the Nigerian geo-political space.”

    – Diary entry, June 1, 2003.

    In 2004, I adopted “Devolve or Die” as my political credo for Nigeria. This was in the context of drafting my reflections on fifty years of federalism in Nigeria: “Nigerian federation at the crossroads: the way forward,” published in 2005. The following are the concluding two sentences of the article: “Only devolution can unleash the forces for consolidating democracy and achieving accelerated socioeconomic progress in Nigeria.  The alternative to devolution will likely be the death of the federation” (italics and bold added).

    Eighteen years later, I elaborated on this conviction as follows in Nigeria & I. Getting Politics Right to Make Nigeria Work (2022). 

    “A devolved federation is a necessity, not a choice

    The devolved federation that Nigeria needs will have [these] characteristics… six federating units (the existing six geo-political zones) instead of the existing thirty-six states of which only about six are viable; assignment of functions between the central government and the federating units based on the principle of subsidiarity similar, to a considerable extent, to the assignment of functions in the 1963 Constitution; and allocation of resources that is consistent with both the imperative of fiscal federalism and the proposed increased functions for subnational governments. 

    Adopting and faithfully implementing a devolved federation is critical to keeping Nigeria one; it is a fundamental condition for making our multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual country work. In particular, a devolved federal system is very likely to enhance the ability of central and subnational governments to more effectively deliver goods and services to citizens. In my considered opinion, the reality that the pace of socio-economic development would vary among the federating units is a better outcome than the poor development performance recorded nation-wide under the prevailing overcentralisation and uniformity.”

    II. ESTABLISHING DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS AND A FEDERAL MINISTRY OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS ANTITHETICAL TO DEVOLUTION

    Against the backdrop of the above elaboration of my DEVOLVE OR DIE political credo, the veracity of this assertion is self-evident. Yes, THEY ARE MUTUALLY INCOMPATIBLE.

    1. Who has created these two institutions?

    Answer: The central government of today’s Nigerian federation.

    2. Wo provides the funding and staffing of these institutions?

    Answer: Idem.

    3. And crucially, to whom are the entire staff/personnel, including the supervising political appointees, accountable or answerable?

    Answer: Idem

    Without question, and consciously or unconsciously, the promoters and supporters of these institutions are entrenching overcentralisation and delaying devolution. I would confidently assert that DELAYING DEVOLUTION IN NIGERIA IS DANGEROUS. 

    And I’ll add three final posers:

    A. Are these institutions reconcilable with the “true” federalism featured in the manifesto of the All Peoples Congress (APC) that has been ruling Nigeria since 2015? (The ruling party’s commitment to true federalism was further elaborated by a Committee chaired by former Kaduna Governor, El Rufai in 2018).

    I would unhesitatingly answer in the negative.

    B. Are these institutions reconcilable with the following two PROMISES in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential election manifesto: increased functions and resources for Nigeria’s federating units pari passu with reduced functions and resources for the central government?

    Again, I would answer in the negative.

    C. Can Nigeria’s Regions/States be meaningfully developed from Abuja where most powers and resources are concentrated?

    The obvious honest answer is NO. Among the existing 25 federations on the planet, there is no example of any that has recorded good development performance through the concentration of powers and resources at the central government level. This testimony on the Indian experience is apposite: “A big part of India’s success has come from devolving power to the country’s state governments. What happens at the centre is of correspondingly less importance.” (The Economist, London, May 15, 2004).

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    CASE CLOSED; QED (Quod erat demonstrandum). What is the way forward?

    III.  WAY FORWARD

    If it is not already too late, I would strongly advise the incumbent president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to use the same method he used to effect the change of our National Anthem to ensure the reallocation of functions and resources between the central and subnational governments in the country. Specifically, I would recommend a 35:65 share for the central and subnational governments respectively, with respect to both powers and resources. Of course, the proposed percentages of sharing would be subject to debate. However, to ensure a peaceful and well-performing Nigerian federal system, the share of subnational governments must be significantly higher than that of the central government with respect to both powers and resources.

    MY LAST WORD

    In Whither Nigeria? Directions for future development (2012), I prognosticated the following three possible scenarios:

    A. Maintenance of the status quo: muddling through until the country settles for either B or C below.

    B. Optimistic scenario: the country finds a viable path to achieving a [devolved] federal democracy and economic prosperity.

    C. Pessimistic scenario: the dreaded “d” word – disintegration of the federation.

    Unsurprisingly, I re-echoed in 2012, the political credo for Nigeria that I had articulated in 2004: DEVOLVE OR DIE. Today, April 24, 2025, I still stand by the same political credo.

    References

    I Remember. The Autobiography of LADIPO ADAMOLEKUN. Ibadan: Safari Books, 2016.

    “Nigerian federation at the crossroads: the way forward,” Publius, The Journal of Federalism, 35, 3, 2005, 383-405; also published as a chapter in J. C. Senghor and N.K.

    Poku (eds) Towards Africa’s Renewal, London: Routledge, 2022, 319-334.

    Nigeria & I: Getting Politics Right to Make Nigeria Work, 2022, pp. 5-52.

    “The challenge of federalism, democracy, and development,” in Ladipo Adamolekun and

    Adele Jinadu (eds). Whither Nigeria? Directions for future development.  Ibadan: Caligata Publishing Company Ltd. 2012.

    Ladipo Adamolekun, “Some Reflections on Democracy and Development in Africa”. Africa Peacebuilding Network (APN) Lecture Series No. 2, 2018.

    See also, Muyiwa Adeyemi, “Regional devt commissions should herald power devolution”

    Guardian, 21 November, 2024 and “Rebutting VP Shettima on federalism – Vanguard News” Editorial.