The Nation Newspaper

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  • Improving access to finance and property rights

    Improving access to finance and property rights

    SIR: Nigerian Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), a buffer of Nigeria’s economy, often face significant difficulties while seeking the necessary funds needed to grow and stimulate expansion. Nigeria’s MSMEs with over 90% of businesses employ 63% of the workforce, and contribute more than 50% to the GDP. Despite their importance but because of their property rights status, only 4% of Nigeria’s MSMEs have access to bank loans and the rest face a finance gap of over $236 billion. This staggering financial inaccessibility gap is alarming and poses a challenge to Nigeria’s economic growth.

     Late last year, Access to Finance (A2F) in conjunction with Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA) released a financial inclusion survey. In their report, Nigeria’s financial exclusion stands at 26% in 2023. Quite worrisome, 47% are financially excluded in the Northeast and the Northwest respectively. This implies they lack access to payments, loans, insurances, and pensions, making them the most excluded regions in Nigeria.

     Apart from that, across many parts of Nigeria, women face discrimination in property ownership due to customary laws and traditions. They believe women should not inherit ancestral land because they are expected to leave their community upon marriage. There is also concern that allowing women to own land could give their husbands access to the family’s land.  World Bank data also corroborated this discrimination. Their report revealed that more men own land compared to women. This gender gap hinders women and girls from owning and inheriting land, which negatively impacts economic growth. This tradition which bars women from inheriting or owning land – limits their access to finance for kick-starting businesses and SMEs expansion.

     Secure property rights and gender sensitive reforms will have a profound impact on marginalised groups especially, women and rural communities who will have access to credit and land-based enterprises – farming or real estate.

    Hernando de Soto, a Peruvian economist defined ‘Dead capital’ as an asset that cannot easily be bought, sold, valued or used as an investment. Dead assets, primarily land without clear titles, stifle the real estate market. Developers and buyers face uncertainty due to unclear ownership, making investments and transactions risky. This value affects efficient use of land and restricts access to credit. 

    People can leverage their properties as collateral to secure loans. Properties like land, buildings etc can be used to launch businesses or expand existing businesses. But, one of the factors keeping Nigerians from accessing finance is the lack of required collateral documentation like land’s document (C of O); due to the perceived cumbersome process of its procurement.

     Property rights are central to financial access and prosperity. Recently, Ahmed Dangiwa, Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development affirmed that over 90% of land in Nigeria are unregistered – amounting to about $300 billion in dead capital. This is an obstacle to access finance. Financial inaccessibility impedes economic growth and slows poverty alleviation. To revitalise the economy, governments must prioritise land reform and title registration to unlock the potential dead assets which will stimulate economic activities. Access to finance will certainly boost economic growth and wealth creation.

    Read Also: Efe Ejeba: Finance, greatest challenge facing independent artistes

    In order to expedite land transactions and prevent disputes, a thorough reform of the land tenure system is necessary. This reform should focus on simplifying the process of obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy. Also, an electronic title registry should be established to facilitate the storage, retrieval, and verification of land titles to facilitate a speedy issuance of title documents. Although some state governments are working towards that, more still needs to be done.

     As part of measures to register and title all land parcels within the next five years, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development should ramp up the implementation and operation of the launched National Digital Land Information System (NDLIS) towards streaming land transactions and accelerating efficient land administration for property rights protection.

    A fast tracked land administration process will grant individuals and businesses secure property rights, access to finance and foster an enabling investment environment.

    • Odewale Abayomi, jodewaleabayomi@gmail.com>
  • Oyebanji’s political and ethical revolution in Ekiti

    Oyebanji’s political and ethical revolution in Ekiti

    SIR: Since the moral tsunami of the 2003 election in Ekiti State that ushered in Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the state has been governed without a political enemy enclave, not even that of the usual electoral enemies despite the stiff competitiveness of his emergence. He has demonstrated that political peace which is sine qua non to development is very easily achievable with the right leadership attitude, temperament and qualities. Where others before him have waived a political olive branch to their political opponents and adversaries through official statements, Oyebanji wore the olive perfume to the houses of all his political co-competitors and even adversaries and that has become his fragrance signature since assumption of office.

    To his credit, former governor, Ayodele Fayose of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been all over the media, social media inclusive acknowledging the peace building acumen and respectability of the governor. Former governor, Olusegun Adebayo Oni, the SDP flag-bearer in the election who pursued his electoral grievances to the highest court in the land after the 2022 election as the first runner-up is today in a very cosy relationship with the governor due to the olive fragrance of his apparel. Bisi Kolawole, the PDP flagbearer in the contest is today at home with the governor in his drive for peace and the development of the state. It’s almost becoming difficult to remember that there was a fierce hotly contested governorship election just 24 months ago.

    The atmosphere in Ekiti is very alluring and will make every deep thinker proud. It is a victory for all and a landmark beacon in our democratic development ahead of others. In the days of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, the usual platoons of loyalists and strike forces against perceived and real opponents of the governor has disappeared into an ambience of conviviality with the people and the state at the centre of government focus rather than loyalists and narrow partisanship.

    The Ekiti home grown Omoluabi texture of the governor’s credential is without any air of officialdom and the usual artificial personality of the status-holders. With Governor Oyebanji, being born, bred and buttered in Ekiti has become a politician’s new advantage as he has demonstrated primary knowledge of the needs of an average household in Ekiti up to the developmental needs of the state, socially and economically with no special need of political middlemen and jobbers who ordinarily distorts information for selfish gains.

    Read Also: Oyebanji seeks improved relationshipbetween security agencies, Ekiti youths

    Governor Oyebanji runs a sensitive and inclusive government in a model that makes democracy work for the people through the people. From the royal palaces to downtown streets, everybody is treated with great respect and a sense of equality before the law which is the true meaning of modern democracy. A governor that can sleep conveniently in any community in Ekiti because he will always find one of his friends from either the primary , secondary, the university or a political associate in the community having been playing roles in the politics of the state even before it’s creation in 1996. With his kind of humility and openness, the governor has become a centripetal force to Ekiti genuine development and growth with every Community Development Association accorded receptability into the statewide parliament where the people engaged in community needs assessment discussions.

    I am very optimistic that if the current streak continues and the developmental fruits flowered, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji maybe the first ever Ekiti consensus governorship candidate in history as a good commendation for Omoluabi and the true Ekiti spirit.

    • Afolabi Ige, Lagos
  • America, don’t vote Trump

    America, don’t vote Trump

    Voters in the United States of America head to the poll tomorrow, 5th November, to elect the 47th president in the country’s nearly 250-year nationhood. Their options are down to a straight choice between Vice-President Kamala Harris, who bids on Democratic ticket to make history as the first female commander-in-chief of the world’s most influential country, and former President Donald Trump, the 45th president who aims on Republican ticket to retake the reins he lost in the 2020 election to incumbent President Joe Biden. If he gets his way, he will be the second defeated president in all U.S. history to regain the office, following after Grover Cleveland – the first to be elected president after the 1885 American civil war. Cleveland, a Democrat, was the 22nd president and he returned for a second term as 24th president four years after he initially lost the White House.

    Under the U.S. electoral system, election day climaxes voters’ exercise of their franchise that has been underway for some weeks through early voting and mail-in balloting, and in which more than 60million people were reported to have cast their ballot already. The race for the White House has been dead heated between Harris and Trump, who opinion polling showed to be locked in a knife-edge tie that has seen the Democrat’s early bump over her Republican rival when she joined the fray in July shrinking steadily since late September. Projections have been a nail biter across swing states that will decide who takes the saddle and at the last count, many polls showed single digit disparities between the two contenders, meaning the election is effectively a toss.

    With the American electorate composed in large part of stock Democratic and Republican voters, the two candidates made their last concerted pitches for undecided voters more than a week ahead of the poll and devoted the remaining time before election day to mobilising swing states. Trump made his final pitch at a massive rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City, penultimate Sunday night, where he and his supporters plied extreme arguments of hate and racial bile. Speeches at the rally were targeted at driving a huge Trump base turnout and activate voters who don’t normally cast ballots but who agree with his hardline politics, even if moderate voters were scared off. “The United States is an occupied country,” Trump said, as he echoed his long-standing threat to launch the biggest mass deportation of aliens in U.S. history if he becomes president again. Supporting speakers were even more extreme: one called Harris the “antichrist (and) the devil,” while others lashed out at “illegals” and homeless people. A comedian described the Latino populated U.S. territory of Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”

    Harris made her own closing arguments, Tuesday, on the the grassy expanse behind the south lawn of the White House in Washington – same spot where Trump as president held a rally on 6th January, 2021 and told his supporters to “fight like hell” or they would not have a country anymore, following which a mob of insurrectionists smashed their way into the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to stop the certification of Biden’s election victory as prescribed by the American constitution. Using the White House South Portico as backdrop, the Democratic torchbearer invoked her Republican rival’s 2021 act to highlight the danger ahead if he wins the election. “We know who Donald Trump is. He is the person who stood at this very spot nearly four years ago and sent an armed mob to the United States Capitol to overturn the will of the people in a free and fair election, an election that he knew he lost,” Harris said. “This is not a candidate for president who is thinking about how to make your life better. This is someone who is unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance, and out for unchecked power. It doesn’t have to be this way,” she added.

    Read Also: Trump pulls even with Harris in fresh pre-election poll

    Harris faces an uphill task averting the doomsday she forewarned about, but it is not an impossible task. Opinion polling showed that a greater number of American voters trust Trump more to handle matters that are central to their daily existence like the economy and security, as well as the touchy issue of immigration. While Harris promises to be a change agent, her greatest burden is that she serves – actually, is number two – in the Biden administration that is unpopular because of inflationary pressures in the economy that has seen a typical American household reportedly spending one thousand, one hundred and twenty dollars more per month to buy same goods and services as in January 2021 when Biden assumed the presidency. This has left the Democratic torchbearer struggling to convince voters she’s got the best plans to improve their lives, and millions of American nursing a nostalgia for the more affordable economy of the Trump era.

    The vice-president argued at her Washington rally that whereas Trump would spend the next four years wielding unaccountable power against what he had called “the enemy from within,” she would bring down grocery prices, make it easier for Americans to pay for homes and mortgages, cap health care costs and restore nationwide abortion rights to women. Only that her pitch rang somewhat hollow against Trump’s strong economic appeal, his demagoguery notwithstanding. “I’d like to begin by asking a very simple question: Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” he asked the crowd at his New York rally. “I’m here today with a message of hope for all Americans: With your vote in this election, I will end inflation, stop the invasion of criminals coming into our country, and bring back the American dream. If Kamala Harris gets four more years (notice a deliberate distortion of facts, as if the Biden administration is Harris’s first term), our economy can never recover. If I win, we will quickly build the greatest economy in the history of world,” he added.

    But America mustn’t make the mistake of returning Trump to the White House. Not only is he not good for his own country, he is bad news for other countries of the world, especially countries in Africa. During his first term in power, he was reported labelling African nations and the southern American states of Haiti and El Salvador “shithole countries.” With his MAGA nationalism, he was never favourably disposed to looking out for other countries as America is historically reputed to do, and he has gotten more hardened in his xenophobic fervour during his years out of power that he has been plotting a return. Even America’s close allies and fellow developed nations view the prospect of his return to the White House with great trepidation. Besides, Trump is an aberration in his own political setting: he is a strongman in a political system that vests greater authority in public will. One-time Trump White House chief of staff, John Kelly, recently said his ex-boss fitted the definition of a fascist and occasionally remarked that Adolf Hitler “did some good things.” That is not what America is known for, and it shouldn’t change now.

    Should Trump win the 5th November poll, it will be legitimate to ask how things have gone so awfully wrong with the U.S. that voters opted for a convicted felon, serially indicted criminal suspect, twice impeached ex-president, confirmed sponsor of insurrectionists and an unabashedly fascistically inclined power actor to fill the highest office in the country and arguably the most powerful position in the world.

    The emergence of a U.S. president, of course, hinges on not just the popular will but an electoral college of voters pooled from the country’s 50 states and Washington, DC. The states have respective number of electors allotted them based on their populations. So, what Americans are really voting for at the poll are state electors, who will subsequently vote the president on their behalf.

    But Harris has a path to netting the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency out the 538 electoral college votes up for grabs. California, her home state, has 54 votes this year; and she is neck and neck with Trump in critical swing states like Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan and Wisconsin. She also has the gender bloc advantage that could help her break the hardest ceiling in U.S. politics if women show up in their overwhelming numbers to pick the first woman president of that country.

    The choice before U.S. voters in the 2024 presidential election is between making history and ennobling infamy. America, choose wisely.

    • Please join me on kayodeidowu.blogspot.be for conversation. 
  • A case for the EFCC

    A case for the EFCC

    • By Zayd Ibn Isah

    Nigeria’s foremost anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), faces an existential threat from some governors who are challenging the legality of the law that established the EFCC in the Supreme Court. Their main argument is that the law establishing the EFCC originated from a United Nations Convention, which was converted into an Act without following due process. Consequently, they are calling for the EFCC to be dissolved.

    At this critical juncture in our nation’s history, with leaders expected to prioritize the national interest, one must question the rationale behind this suit. And when countries like Botswana look to us as an example in the fight against graft, shouldn’t we be strengthening this critical institution rather than seeking to dismantle it?

    This suit by the governors is reminiscent of past protests across the country by “yahoo boys.” Among the most prominent was the #EFCCMustGo protest in Ughelli, Delta State, organized by suspected yahoo boys two years ago. I addressed this in an article titled “EFCC and the Menace of Yahoo Boys/Dear Yahoo Boys: It’s the Audacity for Me,” published in The Nation newspapers.

    As I noted in that article: “The increasing protests by Yahoo Boys in this country call for sober reflection. These individuals are now fighting back, and all hands must be on deck to confront them resolutely. We need to address this issue now, while it is still manageable. Otherwise, we may one day wake up to see kidnappers, terrorists, armed robbers, rapists, and even corrupt politicians marching on the streets with placards in hand, demanding the freedom to carry out their nefarious activities without fear of arrest or punishment. We cannot dismiss the possibility of this happening, as ours is a land of many possibilities.”

    This call to dismantle the EFCC, as former President Muhammadu Buhari aptly described in 2016, is corruption fighting back. By challenging the foundation of an agency dedicated to combating financial crimes, these leaders risk emboldening those who thrive in the shadows of impunity.

    The EFCC, like every institution in Nigeria, has its failings. However, there is no denying that gains, however modest, have been made since its creation in 2004 by the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR. The mere mention of the EFCC makes some people shiver—a clear indication of its impact. When individuals fear that betraying public trust will have consequences, they are more likely to act responsibly.

    Ironically, these governors’ challenge comes at a time when one of the most common criticisms of the EFCC by average Nigerians is that the agency goes after “yahoo boys” while corrupt politicians seem to evade justice. Yet now, the same politicians whom the EFCC is accused of shielding are calling for its dissolution. Isn’t that ironic? Imagine the position of the EFCC amidst such contradictory expectations.

    This situation should reawaken calls for structural reforms to strengthen the EFCC’s autonomy and expand its operations to address today’s fast-evolving challenges. Regardless of how it was established, the EFCC has become our nation’s primary hope against internal corruption and international fraud that tarnishes Nigeria’s image abroad.

    However, despite its achievements, the EFCC faces challenges in fully convincing the public of its impact. Some Nigerians hold a perception that the agency predominantly pursues low-level offenders while powerful figures are less frequently prosecuted. Although this view may not reflect the agency’s intentions or broader efforts, it does accentuate the need for the EFCC to strengthen its public engagement and demonstrate its commitment to holding all offenders accountable. In a society where the public often sees harsher penalties for minor offenses, it is essential that the EFCC reinforces its image as an impartial enforcer, applying its mandate equally across all levels of society.

    Read Also: EFCC invites Edo Accountant-General, four others over loan facility

    EFCC agents, especially those committed to their work, may feel pressured to avoid investigating high-profile Nigerians. With structural reforms, protocols could be put in place to protect agents from intimidation, ensuring they can carry out their lawful duties without fear. Additionally, the EFCC should be made fully independent, immune to political interference at any level, so no one appears to be above the law.

    If Nigeria seeks a model for the EFCC, it should consider agencies like the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). From their meticulous approach to crime, standardized professionalism, autonomy, and transparency, agencies like the FBI have set benchmarks in public trust and accountability. For the EFCC to achieve similar trust in Nigeria, it must engage the public, clearly communicate its mission, and demonstrate its commitment to justice. When Nigerians understand the EFCC’s purpose and efforts, they may start appreciating the agency’s work and the dedication of its staff.

    Now more than ever, the EFCC stands to benefit from legislative reforms that would strengthen its core mandate and help it evolve to meet the challenges of a changing world. For Nigeria to fight corruption effectively, the EFCC must gain true autonomy, remain resilient against political interference, and operate transparently to maintain public accountability.

    In the end, let us rally behind the EFCC and other graft agencies and not allow the challenges they faces to deter them from pursuing those who have plundered our common resources and tarnished Nigeria’s image abroad through fraud. Without this collective support, my previous warning may come to pass. The fight against corruption requires our united commitment to ensure that accountability prevails.

    If the excesses of these governors are not curtailed by the court, they may someday go further, seeking the dissolution of other critical institutions, such as the Nigeria Police Force. If they manage to overpower the “eagle,” they might soon set their sights on the “elephant.”

    • Isah can be reached at lawcadet1@gmail.com
  • Owa Obokun: Heritage, reality, aspiration (1)

    Owa Obokun: Heritage, reality, aspiration (1)

    The illustrious 42-year reign of Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, the 40th Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, has come to a close. As we bid farewell to this venerable monarch, may his soul rest in peace, freed from worldly burdens! May God comfort the people of Ijesaland and grant them solace during this difficult time!

    Oba Aromolaran was installed on Saturday, February 20, 1982. His remarkable journey came to a close on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. Evidently, his illustrious reign beckons us to contemplate the transience of human existence and the impermanence of earthly authority.

    I have a personal connection to Aromolaran’s enthronement, having witnessed a pivotal moment as a student at Ijebu-Jesa Grammar School in Osun State. One fateful evening in 1982, I saw Kabiyesi brought to the palace in Ijebu-Jesa, to perform a traditional rite, a precursor to his ascension to the throne. This experience resonates with the timeless wisdom: ‘Owá kìí dá ni pa kí Ìjèbú-Jèsá má mò.’

    Oba Aromolaran’s remarkable reign was marked by unwavering integrity and discerning thinking. As a well-read and well-connected ruler, his straightforward nature and disdain for dishonesty earned widespread respect. Through his steadfast custodianship of culture, Kabiyesi embodied purposeful living. He fostered unprecedented progress and tranquility that endeared him to his people.

    Oba Aromolaran’s long and celebrated reign brought peace, development and joy to Ijesaland. As Oba Omololu Afilaka, Alatorin of Atorin-Ijesa, aptly described: “Love him or loathe him, under Kabiyesi’s wise leadership, birds sang sweet melodies, rodents flourished, and humans lived in harmony.” Lawrence Adeyinka Haastrup, Prince of the Bilaro-Oluodo Ruling House and Owa Obokun aspirant, echoed this sentiment: “Oba Aromolaran embodied true leadership values: courage, integrity, compassion, fairness and humility. At 86, he left an enduring legacy marked by numerous groundbreaking achievements, testament to his visionary leadership.”

    Read Also: Gani Adams mourns Owa Obokun, describes late monarch as pillar of Yoruba tradition

    During Oba Aromolaran’s tenure, Ijesaland witnessed significant educational advancements. The long-awaited University of Ilesa became a reality, fulfilling a 50-year aspiration.

    Among other notable institutions established include: School of Health Technology, Ilesa, which now offers Ordinary and Higher National Diploma programmes in Health, and regarded as one of the best in Southwest Nigeria; School of Science, located along Ijebu-Jesa Road; Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, and private institutions like Interlink Polytechnic in Ijebu-Jesa and Daboss Polytechnic in Idominasi.

    Oba Aromolaran’s reign also saw the construction of a state-of-the-art Owa’s Palace, considered one of the best in Western Nigeria, including Edo and Delta States. The befitting palace was built by Ijesa sons and daughters.

    The revered monarch passionately advocated for an Ijesaman to become the Governor of Osun State, and his relentless efforts ultimately paid off. Under his leadership, Ijesaland also witnessed unprecedented representation in government, producing two Deputy Governors, four Federal Ministers, numerous Commissioners, and several National and State Assembly Members.

    Under Oba Aromolaran’s transformational vision, Ijesaland’s mining industry transformed from potential curse to tangible blessing. The Ilesa Geriatric Centre showcases his lasting impact. His reign also saw significant infrastructure advancements, notably the groundbreaking dual carriage road from Roundabout to Imo in Ilesa – the first of its kind in Ijesaland. Once completed, it will greatly enhance connectivity and progress.

    As the Deputy Chairman of the Osun State Traditional Council of Obas, Aromolaran’s role in fostering harmony and cooperation among the traditional rulers could not be wished away. Overall, Oba Aromolaran’s leadership ushered in tremendous progress and development across Ijesaland. His passing leaves a void, and he will be deeply missed.

    Well, while some may view Oba Aromolaran’s era through the lens of ‘speak no ill of the dead,’ a more nuanced evaluation of his reign reveals areas for improvement. Despite notable achievements, some critics argue that Ijesaland’s development fell short of expectations during his reign. A more critical perspective suggests that during his tenure, some Ijesa youth lost touch with their cultural identity, embracing harmful behaviours and professions, such as cybercrime and prostitution, previously unheard of in Ijesaland.

    Historically, Ijesas are renowned for their industrious nature, strong values and unwavering commitment to integrity. They abhor cheating, disrespect and dishonesty. Instead, they embrace diligence and perseverance to achieve success. Ijesas have played crucial roles in establishing iconic institutions and their entrepreneurial spirit and contributions to Nigeria’s growth have been remarkable.

    The Ijesa people live by the principle, ‘Orisa bo o le gbe mi, se mi bi o se ba mi.’ (If you the deity cannot improve my condition, then leave me to my fate). This principle emphasizes hard work and integrity. Oba Aromolaran’s leadership embodied this spirit, but his purported romance with autocratic tendencies sometimes sparked conflicts with his chiefs and subjects, raising concerns about accountability and inclusivity. Added to these were land disputes which also marred his reign, with controversies surrounding land allocation and management affecting some communities.

    Despite the challenges during his reign, the late Oba Aromolaran has established a benchmark for excellence. As such, the next Owa Obokun must not only meet but surpass this standard. The incoming Owa Obokun must demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities to build upon Oba Aromolaran’s legacy and propel Ijesaland to even greater heights.

    The succession process for the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland is guided by the Chieftaincy Declaration, as explained by Osun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dosu Babatunde. According to the Declaration, amended April 24, 1958, approved June 5, 1958, and registered June 7, 1958, the next Owa Obokun will emerge from the Bilaro-Oluodo Ruling House.

    “The 13 kingmakers responsible for selecting the next Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, as stipulated by the Chieftaincy Declaration, are: Obaala of Ilesa, Ogboni of Ibokun, Ogboni of Ijebu-Jesa, Ogboni of Ipole, Ogboni of Ilesa, Obaodo of Ilesa, Odole of Ilesa, Risawe of Ilesa, Saloro of Ilesa, Arapate of Ilesa, Lejoka of Ilesa, Loro of Ilesa, and Lejofi of Ilesa. Notably, the Declaration specifies that the next Owa Obokun will emerge from the Bilaro-Oluodo Ruling House.

    “Once the mourning period ends, the state government will formally initiate the selection process by notifying the Local Government in writing. The Local Government will then inform the next Ruling House, prompting the Ruling House to convene a meeting under the family head’s leadership. The purpose of this meeting is to nominate a candidate, or candidates from the Ruling House to succeed the throne.

    “Upon convening, the Ruling House will nominate a candidate, or candidates, to the kingmakers in writing, to kick-start the selection process. Following this, the kingmakers will inform the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs via the Local Government. The state government remains neutral, with no preferred candidate or vested interest, focusing solely on overseeing the selection process as mandated by law.”

    Throughout history, heritage has served as a nostalgic lens through which we view our past, often glorifying triumphs while overlooking shortcomings. Reality, however, disrupts this nostalgia, forcing us to confront the consequences of our actions. In Ijesaland, this dynamic is especially significant. Reflecting on Oba Aromolaran’s legacy reveals a heritage marked by resilience and tradition, yet shaped by challenges.

    Amidst these complexities, aspiration propels us toward a brighter future, where the Owa Obokun’s throne embodies justice, progress and unity. As the succession process unfolds, questions surround Ifa Oracle’s role. “Well, in the eye of the law, Ifa doesn’t nominate Obas and the Declaration didn’t talk about Ifa.” However, “introducing dollars to Ifa, or Ifa to dollars” can spark controversy.”

    • To be continued.
  • Nobel Prize for most important question in economics

    Nobel Prize for most important question in economics

    By Taiwo Owoeye

    The oldest question in economic science is the most important question of the discipline. It is a simple question: Why are some nations rich and others poor?  The 2024 Nobel Prize in Economic Science was awarded to Daron Acemoglu, James Robinson and Simon Johnson for providing new insight into answering this important and enduring question. Specifically, the trio have ‘helped us to understand differences in prosperity between nations’.

    Yet, that was exactly what Adam Smith did in his classic book ‘Wealth of Nations’ published in 1776, which remains the foundation of economic science. So, why would the same question still dominate economics today?

    The reason is that economists cannot provide enough answers to this question because of the dynamics of history.

    Adam Smith showed how individuals in pursuit of their selfish interests, freedom and liberty, and limited government interventions could lead to prosperity; and his answer still endures to date. Acemoglu, Robinson, and Johnson showed how the impact of colonisation led to poverty in some former colonies and prosperity in others.

    They identified differences in the evolution of institutions and the rule of law as the reasons for the paradoxical outcomes of prosperity and poverty among nations with the same history of colonisation.

    As prosperity spread across the world in the post-Second World War era, there is the need to understand why some countries were left behind as more people crossed the poverty line than any other time in human history. The three laureates provided ‘studies on how institutions are formed and how they affect the propensity of prosperity’

    Read Also: Ondo explains delay in minimum wage implementation

    In their hugely popular book, Why Nations Fail’, two of the three laureates, Acemoglu and Robinson, explain their technical findings to a global audience in simple language by tracing how colonisation by Europeans changed the course of history for different nations of the world. Colonisation not only impacted every society that experienced it fundamentally, but it also resulted in different economic outcomes. It led to prosperity in some nations and poverty in others. In nations where European colonialists settled, they established strong and inclusive institutions, resulting in rule of law and prosperity; while in nations where they came to extract resources and left they built weak institutions and poor rule of law, which led to poverty.

    This divergence in global income explains why Mexico is poorer than the United States while Haiti and most African nations are poorer than both of them. While the differences in per capita income level between Mexico and United States provide a moderate picture of how the evolution of institutions define poverty and prosperity, the huge difference between that of Haiti and United States illustrates extreme cases of poverty and prosperity for two nations that were once colonies of European powers.

    Economists have struggled for ages to understand the sources of the vast differences in income per person across different nations simply because poor people who dominate poor countries are not poor because they are lazy or made wrong choices. Rather, they are poor because they live in poor countries. Poverty is defined by extractive institutions that stunt economic development. Prosperity is defined by inclusive institutions that promote economic development. Poverty is not a micro problem. It is a macro problem.

    Before the path-breaking works of this year’s laureates, economists have identified geography, culture, climate, agriculture, and the diverse capabilities among others as the sources of differences in income level.

    However, these three economists have narrowed the driver of income inequality to how institutions and the rule of law have evolved using historical examples that date back to many centuries. The arguments and the examples they provided in successive technical papers are factual and convincing. 

    The recognition of the works of Acemoglu, Robinson and Johnson reinforces the emerging trend by the Nobel Committee to reward contributions that explore the causes of poverty and underdevelopment among poor countries of the world and this is good for the discipline of economics.

    When the Nobel Prize in Economic Science was awarded to Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Micheal  Kermer in 2019, it was  ‘for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty’ an indication of how important poverty alleviation policies have come to dominate discourse in economics. The 2019 award was important for three reasons. First, it was the second time a woman would be winning the award in person of Esther Duflo after it was awarded to political scientist Elinor Ostrom in 2009 ‘for her analysis of economic governance of the commons’.  Specifically, Ostrom won the prize for using political theories to show how common property (grazing fields, lakes, and underground water) could be allocated efficiency by members of a given community without government regulations or market forces.

    Claudia Goldin became the third woman to win it when she did in 2023 for her historical research on women contributions to labour market and national output.

    Second, Esther Duflo won it at the age associated with winners’ contributions to economic science, not of the laureates. She was 47 years old when she won it. She was the youngest ever to win the prize.  Third, by awarding the prize to studies on global poverty alleviation in 2019 and how institutions and colonial history explain poverty and prosperity in 2024, the Nobel Committee shows that they care about how to improve the conditions of the poorest people in the world.

    •Owoeye is professor of Economics and Director of Research, Development and Innovation, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti

  • America’s presidential election: Trump, the man to beat

    America’s presidential election: Trump, the man to beat

    By Bisi Olawunmi

    With a few days to the November 5, U.S. presidential election, the tempo of the campaign  has reached fever pitch, with the two candidates, Vice-President Kamala Harris ( Democrat )  and former president, Donald Trump  (Republican) in a dead run to the finish line. The final national New York Times/Siena poll, published on October 25, had the two candidates deadlocked at 48% to 48% for the popular vote.  Aggregate of national polls also project the election as neck-to-neck, with the two candidates tied at 48%, making it a cliff-hanger.

    Both candidates have carried the electoral battle to the battleground states which oscillate in their voting pattern between the two parties, states whose votes can swing the election either way.  About 10 states are considered swing states ,  with seven of them – Michigan  15, Wisconsin 10, Pennsylvania 19, Georgia 16, North Carolina 16, Nevada 6, and Arizona 11, with a total of 91 electoral college votes – being of focal attention  in this race. In 2008, former President Barrack Obama won in eight of the states, Trump  took Michigan, Wisconsin  and Pennsylvania  in 2016 to clinch the presidency while in the 2020  election, Biden not only took back the three states  but also wrestled Arizona and Georgia  from Trump,  on his way to the White House. 

    Two major issues have dominated the 2024 presidential election campaign, the economy and immigration with issues of abortion, Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender (LGBT) and foreign policy taking second place.  The economy, under the Biden/Harris administration had experienced high inflation rate and consequent higher cost of living felt by all. Trump highlights the improved economy under his administration before the advent of COVID-19, the global pandemic that ravaged the world economy. Trump plans to use tariff on imports to raise revenue and as well protect local industries. Harris is for taxing the rich to generate revenue but laissez faire on unbridled imports, in spite of its consequent drag on the U.S. economy, a manifestation of Democrats’ Father Christmas disposition to making America a liberal market for imports.

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    On immigration, while Trump is not opposed to legal migration, he pledges to stop the tidal wave of illegal immigrants from South America on its southern border and to deport illegal immigrants. According to him, illegal immigrants are polluting American way of life and taking the jobs of Americans.  Some dub this a racist agenda but it resonates well with Trump constituency.  Democrats are liberal on immigration and not committed to forceful removal of illegal immigrants, a stand that earns Democrats 65 % of Latino votes in southern U.S. States.

    The issues of abortion and LGBT are not just election issues but are matters which have deeply polarized America to the extent that die-hard conservatives have fire-bombed abortion clinics and launched murderous attacks on gay and lesbian gatherings. Trump is opposed to LGBT and an indiscriminate, free for all abortion. Democrats, and particularly Kamala Harris, celebrate LGBTs with Harris insisting they should be allowed to flaunt their sexual preferences! She is a disciple of Barrack Obama, the evangelist for gays and lesbians, who had threatened African countries which enacted anti-gay laws with sanctions! The Democratic candidate’s vocal stand on LGBT has its cost in votes.

    Foreign policy may be a muted election issue but it had in recent times crept into American public consciousness with Israel’s genocidal war against Hamas in Gaza for the Palestinian group’s October 7, 2023 incursion into Israel which left about 1200 Israelis dead and over 200 abducted and being held hostage. However, Israeli military killing over 40,000 Palestinians in its one year battle with Hamas has prompted unprecedented outrage and demonstrations across America, especially on university campuses, against Israel and the Biden/Harris administration for its refusal to pressure Israel to agree to a ceasefire.  Vice President Harris risks loss of votes in this regard, particularly in the crucial swing state of Michigan with an estimated 200,000 Arab-American population.  On Europe, while Trump regards the Russia-Ukraine war as avoidable and pledged to bring it to resolution if elected, the Biden/Harris government is inclined to perpetuating the war, recently pledging additional $20 billion military package to embattled President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.  This runs counter to emergent American mood against avoidable war and its cost to American taxpayers. The anti-war voters will be a loss to Harris. These seemingly little losses of votes for Kamala can become significant in tight election contests where razor-thin victory vote margins can win bountiful electoral votes.

    For instance, in the 2008 presidential election between Senator John McCain ( Republican ) and Senator Barrack Obama (Democrat), McCain  narrowly won Arizona with just 3, 903 votes out 2,887,725 votes cast  in that election!

    Trump’s foray into presidential election contest in 2016 as an unconventional outsider, as against the deodorized correctness of professional politicians, literally took the political establishment by storm, and electrifying the electorate. In the 2016 presidential election between Trump and former U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, voter turnout was 136,787,187 (59.2%) as against 129,139,997 (58.0%) in 2012, an increase of 7.6 million voters.  By the 2020 election that pitted President Trump against former Vice President Joe Biden, the stakes got higher and so was the surge in voter turnout, with 158,429,631 voters (66.8%) casting their ballot, an increase of a record   21.6 million voters over the 2016 turnout.  The turnout promises to be higher again in 2024.

      Top billionaires, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Elon Musk have waded into the presidential contest. Gates and Buffett were one time the richest men in the world while Musk is the current richest man in the world.  Bill Gates donated $50 million to a pro-Harris non-profit organisation while Buffett who had endorsed Presidents Barrack Obama and Joe Biden has decided this time around not to endorse any candidate, which, by inference, meant non-support for Kamala Harris. On his part, Musk has not  only donated $75  million in support of a  Political Action Committee (PAC)  engaged in getting out the vote for Trump, particularly in the swing states, he has been actively engaged in political election campaigns with the Republican candidate.

    Contrary to what has become a contentious media practice of endorsing presidential candidates, owners of major newspapers have stopped planned endorsements of Harris in this election cycle. These newspapers include The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, America’s largest newspaper chain, The Chicago Tribune and Minnesota Star Tribune. Gannett, owners of USA Today, in announcing the stepping down of Harris endorsement stated: “Our public service is to provide readers with facts that matter and the trusted information they need to make informed decisions”. For decades, American media had brazenly violated media code of ethics which demands fairness, accuracy and non-partisanship in media content.

    Kamala Harris brought sunshine charm, infectious laughter and irrepressible energy into the 2024 American presidential election campaigns that almost rattled Trump, and which gave her an initial momentum. However, this momentum has since waned.  That former President Obama had to complain that Black American men are not enthusiastic enough about Harris’s presidential bid is indicative that she may not get the huge Black American block vote of 87% given to Democratic presidential candidate Biden in the 2020 election. Her ardent advocacy for gays and lesbians will be another significant vote loss. During the campaign, Harris could not defend the administration’s performance record on the economy, but would rather launch into what she would do, if elected.  So, her biggest albatross is a national economy that is in the doldrums and which remains a big concern for the electorate who will be inclined to vote for a change in government for a new economic direction.  The omens are, therefore, dicey for Kamala Harris.

    As for Trump, he faces a formidable battle in the gang up of America’s Political Establishment – Democrats and Republicans – against his re-election. Former Republican Vice President, Dick Cheney, and his daughter, former Congresswoman, Liz Cheney, lead the anti-Trump posse. Trump’s abrasive and perceived crude manner will alienate votes. Ultimately, though, the parlous state of an inflation-wracked economy under the Biden/Harris administration, and a sustained, aggressive grassroots get-out-the-vote mobilization have the prospect of tilting the presidential election outcome in Trump’s favour. This makes Trump the man to beat.

    •Dr. Olawunmi, senior lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, Adeleke University, Ede, is Fellow, Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE)

  • Gowon: Hero with apostolic leadership character

    Gowon: Hero with apostolic leadership character

    By Deji Okegbile

     General Yakubu Dan-Yumma “Jack” Gowon, Nigeria’s Head of State from 1966 to 1975, born on October 19, 1934 from a minority Ngas (Anga) ethnic group from Lur, Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, remains a model of a detribalised Nigerian and peace ambassador. General Gowon has sustained his excellent work for humanity through his NGO, the Yakubu Gowon Foundation. I aptly agree with Prof Tunji Olaopa, the Federal Civil Service Commission chairman, in describing General Yakubu Gowon at 90 as the nation’s eternal hero. God has graced General Gowon to be part of Nigeria’s story, engagingly, professionally, politically, and spiritually in her wellness. General Gowon, beyond his prestigious training at Sandhurst, at Camberley, and at Latimer, ‘earned not just a degree at Warwick, he endured the academic rigour of adult learning to earn for himself a doctoral degree.’

    Gowon, a man of family values, married Victoria Zakari, a trained nurse, in 1969. Their union, officiated by Bishop Seth Irunsewe Kale, was a testament to their commitment to each other and their faith. Together, they have been blessed with children and grandchildren, a personal joy that complements General Gowon’s public service.

    General Gowon epitomises what it means for Christians to embrace the apostolic or missional character of ministry in our time, especially when clergy faces immense pressure from challenges to the truth of the Bible to the temptation to be swayed by the wealth and influence of liberal ideologies that promote revisionist teachings. Gowon personifies “the Nigerian essence, the Nigerian spirit.” As an Anglican layman, his vocational ministry has been in the military. However, his vision of mission has been God’s loving liberation of his people and the development of Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu rightly praised General Gowon at 90 for his remarkable infrastructural achievement for Nigeria. President Tinubu said, “General Gowon is a gentleman extraordinaire, one of the longest-serving Nigerian leaders. He did a lot for our country and served meritoriously in various capacities within and outside the military. As a brilliant officer trained at Sandhurst and reluctantly became Nigeria’s leader at 32, his life story has inspired many Nigerians. As the nation’s head of state, he significantly contributed to nation-building and development and can be rightly called the father of national infrastructure. It is on record that after the country’s civil war, his philosophy of “No victor, no vanquished” helped promote national healing, peace, and reconciliation. His most incredible legacy was the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, founded in 1975.”

    As part of his belief in the revival, unity and togetherness of Nigeria, General Gowon has continued to deploy his “Nigeria Prays’ Programme in prayer and intercession for the country while also suing for religious tolerance, peace, harmony and stability in the land. It is notable that Gowon “replicated the Awolowo-Adebo governance model that positioned the administrative leadership corps of super-permanent secretaries pre-eminently in the policy space, thereby succeeding in articulating one of the most-cited good practices in public administration literature that globally remains a legacy for all times to reinvent for the benefit of Nigeria’s emerging greatness”

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    Using the words of Prof. Olaopa, General Gowon ‘matured to receive a calling to fight a war to elevate an artificial creation of the British colonialist – a mere geographical expression – to quote Chief Obafemi Awolowo – to the status of a state worth preserving, is nothing less than a defining trajectory.’ On 5 May 1967, General Gowon divided the division of the three Nigerian regions into 12 states: North-Western State, North-Eastern State, Kano State, North-Central State, Benue-Plateau State, Kwara State, Western State, Lagos State, Mid-Western State, and Rivers State, South-Eastern State, and East-Central State. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), created on 22 May 1974, is a mandatory, post-tertiary scheme set up by the Nigerian government during the military regime of Head of State, General Gowon, to “reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war.

    From the NYSC scheme in 1974, corps members who shared similar Christian beliefs started meeting in orientation camps nationwide, fulfilling a divine prophecy.

    While nurtured spiritually in the church, General Gowon’s primary arena for service has been in the military world. General Gowon, a part of the laos, the people of God- lay and clergy, who are called to participate in the missio Dei, God’s mission in the world, illustrate Martin Luther’s concept of the “priesthood of all believers.” Mission as the vocation of the entire community of faith reminds us that ‘every Christian receives the call to be in mission as apostles of the one Body of Christ.’

    General Gowon is a present-day apostle of Jesus Christ. The Greek word for apostle means literally “one who is sent out.” General Gowon, with apostolic leadership character, is a personal messenger or ambassador, commissioned to share messages. According to Donald Messer, ‘Beginning with the original disciples of Jesus, the apostles of every generation have had to authenticate and to incarnate Christ’s mission of love and liberation in the world. With his apostolic leadership character, General Gowon is ‘an agent of the universal church, ancient in history and global in compass, bringing the grace in that church to a local (nation’s) context.  General Gowon’s establishment of the Nigeria Prays project speaks volumes of his apostolic leadership character.

    Speaking of General Gowon as an apostle may be disconcerting for some. Identifying any politician or military as an apostle may seem incongruous, ‘since those who seek or hold power often act in complex, compromising contexts. Moral purity is impossible in politics or the military, especially in the Nigerian context, yet faithful Christians like General Gowon are called to responsible leadership in the public domain. General Gowon, at 90, reminds us there is no escape from living in the world, being touched by a mixture of good and evil in all our actions or inactions. In essence, General Gowon, at 90, living out his Christian discipleship through the military with apostolic leadership character, did not endorse every policy he proposed or statement he made. General Gowon, at 90, calls for personal and corporate rededication as Nigerians, especially Christian laypersons or clergy, participating in a mission more significant than us and for a new and prosperous Nigeria.

    •Bishop Okegbile writes from London, United Kingdom

  • Forum for former deputy governors and new hope agenda

    Forum for former deputy governors and new hope agenda

    • Dele Olowu

    Rightly or wrongly, deputy governors have been memorialized in Nigeria as spare tyres. This caricature seems to have endured. The office thus produces mixed reactions from those who are asked to serve in that capacity. It is a matter of public record that beneficiaries in this space often get ill-used and are sometimes thrown into enough political grief to disable them for a lifetime.

    In spite of the fact that some are able to reincarnate and inaugurate new public and private careers for themselves, and never mind the fact that in one spectacular example, Goodluck Jonathan rose from being deputy governor to become president, many of them are so badly scarred , that the public itself treats them with mild disregard. Perhaps someday, in order to guarantee more protection, a deputy governor could in time become senate president. According to current in-house ranking, if a matter was passed to the office of the deputy governor, it meant the administration thought poorly of it and may in fact consider it dead. Deputy governors are thus amongst the most well-known martyrs of the Nigerian public service.

    Served martyrdom in office and frequently unable to help itself, it must therefore be a source of great elevation that this benighted but potentially powerful group has been able to come together under one banner to seek ways of promoting good governance in Nigeria. What really is the secret of the Lazarus experience for deputy governors and what does this portend for the Nigerian nation?

    The Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria in partnership with the Polish Nigerian Business Council, PNBC, and the Chambers of Commerce of Exporters and Importers of Poland (IGEI), convened for its 2024 conference on October 22 and 23, bringing together an outstanding range of political leaders, leaders of thought, front ranking academics and captains of industry from within and outside the country, to deliberate on important national concerns. The platform is unique as it enjoys the curious appreciation of an audience which has seen it migrate from relative somnolence to a position in which it now takes a vigorous and passionate interest in transforming the nation’s fortunes. In seeking to change the nation, the deputy governors it seems, have also substantially transformed themselves.

    The Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria FFDGN came into existence substantially through the assistance of President Jonathan several years ago. It has however only begun to enjoy the limelight, propped up by Alhaji Abdulmalik who has now handed over to Dr. Alozie the current chief executive. The platform is robust and enjoys a subscription across party lines. Much of the national prominence which the FFDGN currently enjoys is traceable to the labour of many patriots, but to none more than the current chairman, Chris Alozie Akomas, himself, one time deputy governor of Abia State.

    The theme of the conference was ‘Strategic Solutions for Good Governance: Food Security and Sustainable Growth in Nigeria’. The conference dwelt on effective governance and leadership practices, innovative solutions to food security, the development of policies and strategies for economic growth, the encouragement of synergy between current leaders and predecessors as well as promoting the president’s vision of renewed hope. The attendance was massive, and was an extremely pleasant surprise, given the status of former deputy governors as yesterday’s men and women. They included Dr Umar Ganduje, Arc Obong Victor B Attah, Chief Segun Osoba, and Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu Shagari. All of them spoke with great sensitivity for the Nigerian project and lent their support to President Tinubu’s response to current challenges. Ganduje, national chairman of APC weighed in with a fascinating analysis of the whole concept of ‘deputising’ or ‘deputy governorship’. He acknowledged that it had become a Nigerian conundrum, stating that the travails experienced by deputy governors could not be defended on rational grounds. The boss, he said enjoyed no moral or physical superiority. He emphasized that both governor and deputy had the same physical attributes and that the boss did not necessarily have superior intellect or acumen in any field. Sometimes, the deputy had the ace. The difference which made one person boss he said, was simply situational or a matter of constitutional prescription. His conclusion was that the unease in the relationship between boss and subordinate was without warrant. He then said it perhaps would help matters if there is a more definite description of function in the governance structure.

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    The conference provided a great public opportunity for discussions on governance, policy innovations, insecurity in our nation, food security, socio-economic growth, as well as the role of former leaders in promoting national unity and progress. As security continues to concentrate minds, it was perhaps in order that the keynote address was given by Major General I.B Abdulsalami representing the Chief of Defence Staff. He offered assurances that the security agencies are committed to creating a peaceful environment in which development can take place.

    The event entertained a rash of profound papers, among which included Stabilising The Economy: Policies for Sustainable Growth and Development by Uche Uwaleke, a professor of capital market at the Nasarawa State University; Incumbents and Predecessors: Completing Projects and Sharing Ideas by Afolabi E. Olowokere; and, Ensuring Food Security: Taming the Challenges and Exploring Innovative Approaches in Agriculture by Professor Nuhu Gworgwor, Dean of the faculty of Agriculture, University of Jos. Together they produced a body of useful ideas and sparked off a stretch of excited discussions and produced important decisions about governance in Nigeria.

    The conference also had an international context as it was convened in partnership with the Polish Nigeria Business Council and the Chambers of Commerce of Exporters and Importers of Poland (iGEI) with which it signed an agreement.

    These are eminently interesting initiatives and will provoke both commentary and applause going forward. The level of group solidarity of former deputy governors in and out of office is simply amazing. Their unity, some might say, has been forged in the furnace of pain, a common experience for many of them. But the Former Deputy Governor’s Forum, has not been about self-help or self-promotion. Dr. Akomas, chairman of FFDGN emphasized in his welcome address that the forum is an active forefront participant in nation building.

    The conference produced revelations, some of them quite startling. In 1999 Nigeria had 3000 abandoned projects requiring $300 million to complete. Between 2019 and 2022, 40 abandoned projects alone required $20 billion to be completed. Furthermore 30% of Nigeria’s debts are currently accounted for by three abandoned projects. Ajaokuta has been abandoned for 45years; Mambilla for 42 years and Ikoyi Federal Secretariat for 41years.

    This bazaar of abandoned projects constitutes a huge drain on our commonwealth and this has been part of the impetus that continues to drive FFDGN into public action. It is important that the Forum is concerned about the disabilities which continue to bedevil the Nigerian project. The communique issued at the end called attention to several of them. It called for unity, for harmony amongst the tiers of governance, for greater security, for honesty, for more civic peace, for equity and for the development of institutional memory in our country.

    As people who have themselves come out of an experience in governance, will those in power listen to them? The forum is powered by a new idealism to help in rebuilding the Nigerian nation. There is a growing supportive emotion around rebuilding and the consensus which the forum enjoys on the matter means that it can be a useful and worthy labourer in this national task.

  • PTAD: Changing the face of service delivery

    PTAD: Changing the face of service delivery

    • By Bonaventure Phillips Melah

    It is the responsibility of government to initiate and execute policies and programmes for the overall wellbeing of citizens. It is for that purpose that governments across the world create many institutions and agencies, each with defined functions or roles, towards achieving that purpose.

    However, while some agencies strive to achieve the set goals and objectives for which they were created, others end up disappointing the people, by way of low-quality service delivery; and that has been one of the reasons Nigeria and many other countries of the world are facing so many challenges.

    While it is true that many agencies and institutions of government and even the private sector, are grossly underperforming, there are others that are delivering top-notch services to the people; and that is where leadership comes in.

    According to Dale Carnegie- “Leadership is not about a title or a designation but impact, influence and inspiration.”

    Recently, the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), implemented the new pension increment from January to August 2024 bringing joy and laughter to the affected senior citizens who have paid their dues in the service to fatherland. The promptness with which PTAD implemented the new increment is another shouting testimony of the directorate’s work approach- to do the right thing at the right time.

    Since the federal government established PTAD 11 years ago, the agency has been blessed with committed and visionary leadership that have worked faithfully to make the life of pensioners under the directorate much easier. In the past six years especially, PTAD has become an agency that is known for astonishing achievements, thanks to the strategies adopted by its management team, led by Dr. Chioma Nnenna Ejikeme, its Executive Secretary/CEO.

    One of the greatest revolutionary innovations by the federal government in recent years is the “I Am Alive” Platform, an initiative of PTAD. It is a digital process that ensures continuous update of pensioners’ database to ascertain verified pensioners that are alive and should continue to receive their monthly pensions.

    The “I Am Alive” platform has brought a 100 percent relief as it makes it possible for pensioners to update their records within a matter of seconds by just pressing the App on their phones or computer, without the need to travel out of their homes.

    Apart from the ease with which pensioners complete the process, it has also proved to be the most potent and transparent strategy to ensure that only eligible pensioners who are alive are paid from government coffers, making it a positive deviation from the corruption-riddled past, when billions of Naira was paid to ‘ghosts,’ in the name of pensioners, even years after their death. The “I Am Alive” innovation is just one of the many policy revolutions initiated and being executed by the management of PTAD.

     It must be a combination of these innovative policies, spiced by the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, and the very receptive and courteous behavioural pattern of PTAD’s staff, especially desk officers, towards pensioners, that the agency has been described by many as the best performing government institution in Nigeria.

     Apart from testimonies by pensioners, PTAD has continued to receive accolades and awards from many national and international institutions for its high-quality service delivery which complies with international best practices and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. A few months ago, the House of Representatives Committee on Pensions commended Dr. Ejikeme and the management of PTAD for the wonderful work they are doing and promised to support the agency to ensure it gets all that it requires to do more for the benefit of pensioners and Nigeria in general. The committee gave the commendation when its chairman, Hussaini Mohammed Jallo, led members on an oversight visit to headquarters PTAD in Abuja.

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     After receiving them, Dr. Ejikeme updated the lawmakers of the many achievements recorded by PTAD over the years, some challenges facing the agency and plans to improve the welfare of pensioners under the federal Defined Benefit Scheme as mandated by the Pension Reform Act, 2014, especially with regards to harmonisation of pensions, and the statutory pension increment as stipulated in the 1999 constitution.

    For instance, right after its establishment, PTAD carried out field verification exercises across all the operational departments of the directorate, namely: the Civil Service Pension Department; Police Pension Department; the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department; and the Parastatals Pension Department. The aim of the exercises was to ascertain eligible pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme, enrol eligible ones who were hitherto not on the directorate’s payroll, while promptly removing the unqualified.

     The directorate then built from scratch (1st of its kind) a digitized, centralized, comprehensive and credible database of pensioners and their pension records under the Defined Benefit Scheme in Nigeria; Automated Computation (Calculation) of benefits using computation software and recovered N17.85bn Legacy Pension Assets from Boards of Trustees and Underwriters of Treasury Funded Federal Parastatals which was applied to pay -off inherited outstanding pension arrears.

    In addition, PTAD achieved the repatriation of ₤26.5m pension funds from the Crown Agents Investment Managers Limited, United Kingdom which was used to defray the inherited arrears of defunct agencies in December 2021 and paid inherited liabilities amounting to over N40 billion including the 33% increment arrears owed pensioners in the parastatals’ pension department since 2010; Completion of the one-off payment to 1,031 verified ex-workers of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON); Completion of the one-off payment to 1,596 ex-workers of Savannah Sugar; one-off payment to 661 ex-workers of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO); Payment of N1.1bn pension arrears and gratuities to 303 pardoned War-affected Police Officers and Next -Of kin of deceased officers; Added 251 ex-workers of Assurance Bank to the payroll and paid their 69 months arrears and paid over N8.5billion as arrears of pensions and gratuities to Civil Service Pensioners and the Next-of-Kin of deceased pensioners.

     The directorate also completely paid arrears arising from the consequential adjustment to pensions as a result of the increase in minimum wage of April 2019 to the four operational departments in the directorate; Completely liquidated the 126 months outstanding liabilities due to 287 ex-workers of Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation; Completed the payment of the 219 months of inherited liabilities to 509 Ex-workers of New Nigeria Newspaper Limited; Liquidated 92 months arrears owed 522 ex workers of the Nigeria National Shipping Line and placing them on the monthly payroll; Completed payment of the 100 months of inherited liabilities to 1,046 Ex-workers of NICON Insurance, achieved complete payment of the 96 months of inherited liabilities to 3,657 ex-workers of Delta Steel Company (DSC) and implemented the 9.7% increment to Ex-PHCN workers with N6.9bn paid as arrears.

    The agency also paid a total of 49 months of the 84 months inherited arrears owed NITEL/MTEL pensioners in December 2022, leaving a balance of 35 months for complete liquidation.

    Other landmark achievements of PTAD include embarking on a special project in December 2023 to look into non-payment of gratuity to some pensioners and death benefits to Next-of-Kin of deceased pensioners across all departments.

    It is noteworthy that as at July, over N395 million has been paid as death benefits and gratuity to 238 Next-of-Kin and pensioners. As at today, the directorate has 12 liaison offices across the six geopolitical zones which has helped in great measures in bringing pension service closer to DBS pensioners with mechanized file storage facilities for pensioners files.

     The task of building a dream nation is not the responsibility of one individual called the president, governor or minister. It requires that citizens play their own part, in whatever capacities they find themselves. It is true however, that the burden is greater for those who sought for, and got elected or appointed into leadership positions in public service, as they have a duty to utilize the resources allocated to them, to impact the society positively and leave indelible footprints on the sands of time.

    This is therefore a wakeup call to other agencies of government, to emulate PTAD by keying into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, so that together, we can make Nigeria overcome its challenges and take its rightful place among the comity of nations.

    • Melah is an Abuja-based journalist and author