Category: Editorial

On June 14, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) released comprehensive stats on how manufacturing in Nigeria has fared: pre-and immediate post-COVID 19 pandemic.  But two newspapers, The Nation and Vanguard, gave the released numbers contrasting stamps.

The Nation based its interpretation on immediate post-COVID-19 development and chalked up great progress in the manufacturing sector, away from the usual doom-and-gloom from that front.  ”Total investment in the Nigerian manufacturing sector reached N217.22 billion in 2021,” The Nation story opened, “up from N118.52 billion in 2020.”

By the second half of 2021, investment in manufacturing had risen from N73.18 billion, from N56.44 billion recorded in the second half of 2020, thus accounting for a gain of N16.74 billion or a percentage growth of 29.7 %.  That steady growth — indeed, thunderous in some parts of the sector — gave a happy tale of a possible post-COVID-19 manufacturing rebound.

But Vanguard, in its own interpretation, stuck with doom-and-gloom; because its own comparison was between 2020 (when COVID-19 bit hard) and 2019 (when COVID-19 was still some possible future plague).

“The total manufacturing investment in Nigeria dropped by 76.11% in 2020 to N118.52 billion from N496.11 billion achieved in 2019,” went the Vanguard story’s intro, “even as unsold inventory increased by 43.5% within the period.  The unsold inventory represents total goods manufactured but were not sold.”

The Vanguard interpretation was brutal numbers on the havoc of COVID-19 on manufacturing and other sectors of the economy.  Yet, by telling the obvious with grim stats, it was rather misleading, for it blocked out immediate post-COVID-19 gains, which The Nation analysis faithfully captured.

On the balance of scale, Nigerian manufacturing has not risen to its pre-COVID-19 level, which was in no way stellar.  Still, there are basis, with 2021 investments, to hope that, other things being equal, the future looks bright, with the MAN figures.

For instance, despite the ever-plaguing power debacle, some of the stats on the manufacturing front were simply exciting.  It spoke of “significant investment” (The Nation’s report exact phrasing) in the pulp, paper, printing and publishing sub-sector (6Ps), which has birthed five new paper mills that recycle waste papers to produce cartons.

Aside, the MAN report also spoke of a new BUA Cement Factory in Sokoto; and a new African Glass Limited factory that produces glass products.  In second half 2021, investment in 6Ps jumped from N1.23 billion in the second half of 2020 to N4.15 billion, thus showing a steady post-COVID-19 growth on that front.

The numbers are even more exciting in non-metallic products, basic metal, iron and steel, and motor vehicle and miscellaneous assembly sectors.  In non-metallic products, investments grew from N0.86 billion in the second half of 2020, to N12.04 billion, in the second half of 2021, signifying a quantum leap.

In basic metal, iron and steel, it leapt from N1.91 billion in second half 2020 to N19.55 billion in second half 2021, chalking a N17.64 billon increase.  Motor vehicle and miscellaneous assembly also increased from N0.64 billion (in the second half of 2020) to N21.36 billion (in the second half of 2021), triggering a hefty N20.72 billion increase.

By all accounts, these are impressive figures.  If appropriate returns follow these new breaths of investments, it would be safe to say Nigerian manufacturing, the spine of the Nigerian real sector, may be on the rebound.

If that is sustained, then maybe the omens are pointing to a possible post-SAP re-industrialisation; and a true re-discovery of a Nigerian economy anchored on mass local production, away from the SAP years from 1986, of wayward imports and local economic collapse.  If that happens, maybe, then maybe, the morbid fixation with Naira parity to foreign currencies would cease; for a heavy local industrial base would push out jumbo jobs, and deliver the Naira its fair exchange value.

Still, all of these would not happen without adequate electricity.  So, while both the Vanguard analysis demonstrated the economic plague that was COVID-19, The Nation interpretation shows the promise of a post-COVID-19 economic burst.

But even that could be a dead dream without adequate and routine electricity supply to industries.  That is the prime challenge for post-COVID-19 economic Nigeria.

When truck driver Ejiro Otarigho woke up on the 11th of June and set out to work, no prophet would have predicted his date with destiny. He had gone about his duty as usual with an Oedipal blindness. Providence was lurking in the invisible shadows of fate. In the course of his duty, near tragedy struck. His truck sadly burst into flames and instead of jumping out and saving his own life, he did the unthinkable. He stopped and told his assistant in the truck to alight. Then he quickly drove the burning truck up to four kilometers away in what in his view was saving the townsfolk and properties from being engulfed in the flames.

In an age of the internet, his very heroic action soon flooded the internet as the video went viral of his truck burning on the go. After he had come out of the truck alive, there were questions put to him about his very daring actions. He explained that he tried to drive the burning truck off the densely populated Agbarho town, Ughelli North in Delta State to minimize the danger to people and properties were there to be some explosions.

The action of Mr. Ejiro comes as a breath of fresh air in a country almost being numbed by spates of terrorist and inhumane activities of terrorists, kidnappers, bandits, unknown gun men and other harbingers of sorrow, tears and blood. His action coming barely days after the massacre of dozens of worshippers in St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state just weeks after some religious bigots lynched student Deborah in Sokoto and another man in Abuja on allegations of blasphemy.

Mr. Ejiro’s action again comes at a time when there is tension in the political space as politicians jostle for opportunities to serve even when most of them do not understand what true service means. On the two ends of the spectrum – religious irredentists and politicians, we often see a contradiction when it comes to service, sacrifice and patriotism. Religion of any hue is supposed to be about love and kindness. Public officers are supposed to be those who have the empathy and compassion to work hard in service of others even when the going gets tough. Sadly on the contrary, most Nigerian politicians demand to be served by the people and never sacrifice anything for the good of the people. They often have the best lives and do not care if the people perish. The truck driver has demonstrated that one does not need a special office or have to ‘fight’ for God to truly serve, love people and the Almighty.

His action again shows that humanity still houses good and loving people. Unlike most politicians who even when they are doing their jobs often seek applause through media glitz as they buy airtime and media spaces to publicize what ordinarily ought to be their jobs must take lessons from his selflessness. He never scripted his actions. He was merely doing what he saw as his duty to humanity. He had options. He could have stopped the truck in the crowded space and might not be blamed because accidents happen but he took steps to preclude human casualties.

We commend Mr. Atarigho and expect that beyond the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Delta State that commended  him and the Delta state Government that gave him two million naira, a plaque and letter of commendation the Federal government, groups and individuals must celebrate this heroic man who risked his life for others. He had told one interviewer that his wife had accused him of not caring for his family had any harm come to him as he drove the burning truck.

The wife cannot be blamed for such emotional outburst because his action even at the risk of his own life defies normal logic. In a country where fuel and diesel trucks burst into flames frequently due to bad roads and lack of maintenance often claiming  many casualties, no story has been told of any driver that made any attempt to save lives or even deliberately limiting casualties. He displayed rare aplomb and presence of mind for such altruism.

While we commend the driver for his heroism, those in government must be held accountable for failure to find solutions to the transportation of products across the country. There have been countless deaths and other casualties of trucks either falling due to bad roads or trucks with inflammable products exploding due to lack of proper maintenance of those vehicles. Again the agencies charged with making sure drivers are qualified and that vehicles are in proper conditions must be made to do their jobs.  While no one knows why the truck burst into flames, we guess that the driver might not be totally innocent as most of them ignore warning signs in their vehicles.

The hypocrisy of vehicle inspection officers across the nation in ignoring many non-roadworthy vehicles especially articulated vehicles must not escape scrutiny. It is sad that most often the VIOs harass drivers of new vehicles while they turn a blind eye to the trucks that their carelessness claim many lives through accidents. We must not be lost in the euphoria of the moment and fail to blame those agencies that are paid to keep an eye on vehicles, the roads and drivers.

We urge the governments and relevant agencies to recognize the heroism of the man and celebrate his humanity and sense of patriotism. We need the acts of people like him to be celebrated and his actions rewarded in ways that other good people would not be discouraged about doing good for humanity. We feel that the media must help in celebrating the courage of the man as a counter narrative to the acts of social misfits giving Nigeria a bad name globally. In the words of late Dora Akunyili, Good People, Great Nation!

It is interesting how he progressed from military ruler to democracy supporter. After a military career in which he supervised a historic transition to democracy, he continues to help sustain the country’s democratic system.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in a tribute to him as he turned 80 on June 13, said former military head of state Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar “chose the noble path by ensuring transition to democratic government in 1999, and midwifed a peaceful handover process in 2015.”

Abubakar became Nigeria’s head of state following the sudden death of Gen. Sani Abacha in June 1998, after five years in power marked by ruthless oppression in response to an intense pro-democracy campaign.

Abacha had overthrown the interim national government installed by military strongman Gen. Ibrahim Babangida who controversially annulled the country’s historic June 12, 1993 presidential election, won by the moneyed and magnetic Chief M.K.O. Abiola.  His regime caged Abiola, who died in detention in July 1998 in the middle of the fight for his release and restoration of his ruptured electoral mandate.

Many people believed the Abubakar regime was implicated in the alleged poisoning of Abiola, an accusation he continues to deny.  He was the Chief of Defence Staff from 1993 to 1998. As a member of the military ruling council under Abacha, he was among the actors who caged Abiola for insisting on actualising his victory in the presidential election.

He had an opportunity to redeem himself by releasing Abiola immediately he became head of state, which might have saved the detainee’s life. His failure to promptly address the detention issue was seen by many as a great moral failure.

To his credit, he handed over power to a democratically elected government in 1999, a year after his rise to power, and has continued to promote democracy and peace not only in Nigeria but across the African continent.

In 2015, about 16 years after he left power for elected officials, he was instrumental in bringing about a significantly peaceful democratic transition involving then President Goodluck Jonathan and his then main challenger, Buhari.  It was the first time an incumbent head of state was defeated in an election in the country; and it was striking that the loser left office without a fight.

The National Peace Committee (NPC), headed by Abubakar, played an important role leading to the non-violent succession. The body initiated a peace accord signed by the participants in the election. They agreed to avoid actions that could trigger violence during and after the poll.

Also, the introduction of the non-violence pact signed by political parties and candidates is believed to have contributed to peaceful governorship elections in Edo State in September 2020, Ondo State in October 2020, and Anambra State in November 2021. It is noteworthy that the peace accord has also been signed by participants ahead of the Ekiti State governorship election tomorrow. Interestingly, the peace accord seems to have become a feature of the country’s political culture. It reflects Abubakar’s patriotic promotion of peace in the polity. President Buhari noted his participation in peace missions and “negotiating for the upholding of democracy across the continent.”

Born in Minna, in present-day Niger State, he attended Minna Native Authority Primary school. After his secondary education at Government College, Bida, in 1962, he attended Kaduna Technical College.

He was among the pioneering sets of officer cadets in the Nigerian Air Force in 1963. He received basic and advanced military training in West Germany from 1964 to 1966, and was moved to the Nigerian Army when he returned to the country. In October 1967, he was commissioned second lieutenant, infantry division, in the army.

It is an enduring irony that he is today regarded in some quarters as a hero of democracy. Abiola’s ghost is evidence that the label cannot stand without qualification.

While political pundits and psephologists are punching furiously at the keyboards of their computers to predict the outcome of the Ekiti State governorship election, the more fundamental concern of lovers of democracy is the system being adopted and how well agencies involved would discharge their responsibilities. Friday, the nearly one million registered voters would be called upon to decide who would run the affairs of the South West state over the next four years, and all attention has shifted to how the election management body ensures that the election is free, fair and credible.

As the first election to be conducted with the new Electoral Act signed into law by the President in February, domestic and international observers, as well as analysts would be looking forward to discovering how the new legal framework is able to deliver fool-proof results. In the 16 local government areas, and 2,445 polling units, voters are encouraged to cast their ballots without fear or favour and under the watchful eyes of security agencies.

For this purpose, the Nigeria Police Force has deployed personnel from its various units, including the air wing, tactical command, mounted troops, counter-terrorism unit, among others, to oversee the polling process. They will be backed, according to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Baba, by helicopters, armoured personnel carriers and drones. It is an awesome assembly of police assets for a civic exercise conducted by other countries without much fuss. Even by Nigerian standard, this is frightening for a state that is one of the least populous in the country.

At a time when the general security of the country is most precarious, especially when the terror attack on the Owo Catholic Church has brought this closer home, all eyes are on the Ekiti State gubernatorial election. It is for the purpose that the police are sending more than 17,000 men and officers, to be supervised by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, three Assistant Inspectors-General of Police for the three senatorial zones, and five Deputy Commissioners of Police to the state. Other senior officers being deployed are 18 Assistant Commissioners of Police. The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has also deployed about 10,000 men for the purpose.

This may alarm and  frighten would-be voters but the security forces should make themselves welcome so as not to make the citizens stay away from the polling areas, or even relocate. We hope those sent for this all-important assignment were carefully chosen to save the people from the accidental discharge syndrome. Members of the security units are known to be unruly sometimes, susceptible to gratification on other occasions, and at others, to terrorise the people.

At the heart of the conduct of the election is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It has come out with revised regulations and guidelines. We hope that all their electoral officials, both permanent and ad hoc, have been sufficiently trained to handle the machines to be used for accreditation and transmission of results. As good as technology is for election conduct, the wrong use could have a more devastating effect on outcomes and reactions of the people.

The Anambra State governorship election conducted last year has shown that many of the officials who were using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the first time found it difficult to operate. In many places, it delayed the process and caused avoidable tension. In the case of Ihiala Local Government Area, the election had to be postponed for a day.  This is one luxury that we cannot afford in other elections, going forward. It was easier for participating political parties to accept the Anambra election result because a clear winner emerged with a clear majority. If the result had been close, it could have led to a breakdown of law and order. The electoral commission and security agencies should realise that what they make of Ekiti State would determine what the general public is to expect of the Osun State election coming up next month, and the 2023 general election.

As has become the practice in recent times, it is good that the National Peace Council led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar and Bishop Matthew Kukah took the gospel to the state where contestants were made to sign a peace accord. We hope it would help in bringing down the temperature and all would accept the principle of politics without bitterness first made popular in Nigeria by the late Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim of the defunct Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) in the Second Republic.

From June 7 to 14, workers of the National Assembly (NASS) under the auspices of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), shut down the legislative complex as they embarked on strike in protest against the management’s alleged non-compliance with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) earlier entered into with them. The MOU, according to the workers, had to do with payment of stipulated arrears of salaries and allowances owed them for months. But for the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which held last week, and for which the National Assembly postponed resumption of plenary till June 14 (Tuesday), the action of the workers would have had a more biting effect as they crippled all activities at the complex.

Among the grievances of the workers were the reported non-payment by the management of five months outstanding balance of minimum wage, year 2021 rent subsidy, 15 months arrears of Conpeculiar allowances, six months arrears of hazard allowances as well as non-payment of outstanding National Minimum Wage and Implementation of Revised Conditions of Service (2018). In January, the workers had demonstrated and threatened a strike over these unmet obligations. It would appear that they were further annoyed by the stoppage of some allowances that the management had earlier started paying.

According to the Chairman of PASAN, Mr Sunday Fabiyi, the management insisted that it would not implement any allowances, including the leave grant already being paid in the last two years, unless it obtained approval or ratification from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. The inexplicable question is why it commenced payment of the allowances in the first place without the requisite statutory authorisation? Surely, the aggrieved workers cannot be blamed if they are suspicious of the motive.

Explaining the rationale for non-payment, so far, of the workers’ demands, the National Assembly Commission chairman, Mr Ahmed Amshi, said “There is no approval yet from the Salaries, Income and Wages Commission for the payment of allowances contained in the conditions of service. The management had started payment of some of the allowances but had to stop due to series of letters of advice from the Salaries and Wages Commission indicating that any payment of such allowances, without approval from the Presidential Steering Committee on allowances payable to public servants is an infraction to extant rules and regulations”.

He affirmed further that the commission had done its part by transmitting the request of the National Assembly to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who stated that it is only the Presidential Steering Committee that has the authority to approve the payment of such allowances.

Senate President Ahmed Lawan also stressed the need to adhere to stipulated processes and procedures in setting and paying the salaries and allowances of the workers.

As persuasive as these contentions may sound, the workers can legitimately ask if, in fixing their own humongous allowances which have been widely and repeatedly condemned across the country, the legislators themselves have subjected themselves to any regulatory agency or authority.

It has been claimed that the over-bloated allowances being collected by the legislators in a country where millions are condemned to pervasive poverty does not fall within the stipulated limits set by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC). Yet, the senators and House of Representatives members have persistently turned deaf ears to this outcry. Are they thus standing on a sound moral pedestal to preach adherence to due process and procedures by the workers? We don’t think so.

It is quite appropriate that the Senate President has directed that “The payment of the allowances that started but stopped must be continued with effect from the receipt of June 2022 fund allocation to the National Assembly…”. The workers were also promised that by July, approval would be got from the requisite bodies and payment of arrears of stipulated allowances would be completed.

It is important that these conditions, which prompted the suspension of the strike, be met to prevent another disruptive action in that very critical institution. No less important is the need for the legislators to show the right example for other categories of staff in the National Assembly to follow in terms of their remuneration and sundry allowances.

It appears that successive governments in Nigeria have continued to condone electoral offences. Offenders usually go unpunished despite provisions of the law, thus encouraging them to continue with the practice. When thugs are unleashed on polling units and collation centres, it matters little if they were apprehended by the law enforcement agents, as their sponsors would pull the strings to get them freed. This practice has reduced elections in Nigeria to battles won by those who could arm “private armies” and unleash them on hapless citizens who turn out to perform their civic duties on election days.

In realisation of this, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the body saddled with the task of managing the election process, has consistently called on the Federal Government to establish an Electoral Offences Commission that would take the responsibility of apprehending offenders and prosecuting them. The electoral commission explained that it could not take up the responsibility given the huge number of those involved and the difficulty of walking the labyrinth of the judicial process.

Yet, despite this position being affirmed by the Uwais Commission established by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, governments, both the executive and legislative arms thereof, have disregarded the recommendation, dismissing it as a mere duplication of government agencies. The 9th National Assembly should urgently consider giving legislative backing to this quest before the 2023 general elections if the process is to be robed with credibility.

However, in the meantime, the recent decision by the Nigeria Police Force to create special desks in each of the 36 state commends to handle the all-important assignment is welcome. The Inspector- General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, who gave the directive also told the Assistant Commissioners of Police in charge of criminal investigations in the commands to take up the assignment, while the Commissioner of Police at the Force Criminal Investigations Department is to coordinate the activities. This is appropriate as the police force under the 1999 Constitution and the Police Act 2020 is the primary security agency saddled with investigation of crimes, apprehension of criminals and their prosecution.

We, however, expect that more detailed guidelines will soon be released to spell out the relationship between the NPF and other agencies involved in the administration of justice in this respect. Offices of the attorneys-general of the states of the federation need to be carried along so that the two bodies do not work at cross-purposes since the chief law officers have power to withdraw cases against electoral offenders arraigned before competent courts of law. The judges, too, should be sensitised to appreciate the need for speedy determination of such cases in the interest of the state as justice delayed is justice denied.

Where the law requires amendment to achieve the desired end, this should be done forthwith. The task of making the 2023 elections the best ever should not be left to passing the Electoral Act 2022 and this token step by the police force. The civil society groups, especially those involved in electoral reforms and election monitoring should start advocacy task early. They should interface with all stakeholders, including INEC, the police, the judiciary, international observer groups and foreign governments that have shown interest in Nigerian elections with a view to sanitising the system.

History beckons President Muhammadu Buhari to cooperate with the stakeholders in ensuring that brigandage during elections is curtailed. Strengthening the justice system and establishing the Electoral Offences Commission is a starting point. Where the political leaders have the will to reform the system, it will become sparkling clean. The President has promised to ensure that the next general elections are free, fair and credible. This should incorporate serving due sanctions to as many as step on the laws, irrespective of party loyalty.

The management of Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State has unveiled Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit to tackle academic fraud and other related offences within the institution.

Its Acting rector, Dr. Olarongbe Afolabi, during a campaign organised by Mass Communication Department of the school, also vowed that inauguration of the unit to fight education fraud within the system.

According to him, “The ultimate goal is to stop corruption completely, but we have to start from somewhere and we are starting on a very good note in this polytechnic.

“Stopping corruption completely will depend on everyone’s mindset. In Nigeria, we are so hypocritical in fighting corruption. Are we sincere? Or we are just doing mere propaganda?

“The management is committed to fight corruption. We are interested in fighting corruption. It is one of the principal mantras of this administration. We have the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit in this school. Servicom unit is also involved.

Speaking about the campaign, the Mass Comm, Head of Department, Wole Alawode counsel that shortcut will lead Nigeria to more problems.

“So, that is why we need to call attention of the Federal Government to the education sector, educational malpractices, cheating and all. In Nigeria, everyone has to wake up to how we are developing our youths. And how is the educational system functioning.”

We need not look too far for reasons why the country’s currency, the naira, keeps falling in value as against major foreign currencies.  It could not have been otherwise, given our propensity to import or smuggle into the country virtually everything under the sun – from exotic cars, to wines, rugs, foreign food items, second-hand clothing, spaghetti, plum peeled tomatoes, mushroom pieces and stems, Heinz beans. We also have items such as parboiled rice, Heinz vinegar; basmati rice, salad cream, cookies of various kinds, and Nescafe. The list would appear endless.

The Niger/Kogi Area Controller of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abubakar Mohammed Adamu, disclosed while briefing journalists on the scorecard of the area command in the last three months of his  assumption of office in Minna, that the command seized, among several other items, 19 packs of 24 bottles each of water, and 40 cartons of foreign wine. He added that “in the area of anti-smuggling activities during the period under review, the command has been able to record seizures and detention of exotic cars and other vehicles totalling 101 units of different makes. One hundred and forty rolls (larger size) of foreign rugs, 50 bales of second-hand clothing, 22 cartons of spaghetti, 100 packs of plum peeled tomatoes, 100 cartons of mushroom pieces and stems, 300 packs of Heinz beans.’’

Other seized items are “88 bags of 50kg parboiled rice, 30 cartons of Heinz vinegar; 38 cartons of basmati rice, 23 cartons of salad cream, 23 cartons of cookies of various kinds, 18 packs of Nescafe.” Adamu added that 920 kegs of 25 litres each (23,000) of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), 200 pieces of used tyres were also seized by the command.

Most of these items we already know we get from abroad, albeit illegally. The other time we were told we import biros, toothpicks, matches, etc. Of course we know we import several other food items apart from rice. We import frozen chicken, turkey, etc. But to now add bottled water to the list of what we import or smuggle into the country is taking a rude joke too far. Water? Water! Wonders, indeed, would never end.

But that would seem an elite desire. Many of the other items seized by the Niger/Kogi area command of the NCS are even unknown to the vast majority of Nigerians. What, for instance, are plum peeled tomatoes, Heinz vinegar, and basmati rice? All of these, and exotic wines and cars are wants by the affluent and not necessarily needs because they are not indispensable. Unfortunately, while only the spoilt elite consume or use these exotic items, everyone foots the bill because they have to be paid for in scarce foreign exchange.

So, what is wrong with local bottled water that our elite cannot trust that they are good enough for consumption? While we may agree that some of what is paraded as bottled water in the country is glorified ‘pure water’, there are other brands that can still be trusted, but for the insatiable desire of our elite for everything foreign. If it is possible, they would even want to import the air that they breathe!

Rather than work towards making our products meet international standards, the elite believe in jetting out to satisfy their hearts’ desires. Our hospitals are not good enough, they jet out for medical tourism at the slightest opportunity; our schools are not good enough, they send their children to ivory towers abroad, etc.

This kind of spirit cannot take us far. Every kobo we spend on these imports goes a long way in providing jobs for people from where we get the imported or smuggled items, while widening the unemployment gaps in our own country.

We commend the Niger/Kogi area command of the NCS for the seizures and urge other commands not to relent in their efforts to rid the country of contrabands. This is one of the ways we can shore up the value of our currency.

It wasn’t peer censure per se; but such censure could blast off a culture of solid peer pressure to combat brazen graft and sleaze.  This could be especially potent among members of accounting bodies, like the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) — the two accounting bodies chartered by law in Nigeria.

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) had, in error, called on ICAN to investigate and discipline Ahmed Idris, the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, accused of N80 billion fraud, an allegation still being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

But ICAN responded that the embattled Alhaji Idris wasn’t one of its members. “The attention of ICAN has been drawn to some publications in the media where a group known as Human and Environmental Development Agenda is asking ICAN to investigate and sanction the erstwhile Accountant-General of the Federation being probed by EFCC,” Prof. Ahmed Kumshe, ICAN registrar/chief executive, noted in a release.  ”We wish to inform the organisation and the general public that the former AGF, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, is not a member of ICAN and therefore cannot be investigated by ICAN.’’

It’s unfortunate that HEDA didn’t get its facts right before making the ICAN appeal.  But be that as it may, that call is equally valid if made to ANAN.  If Alhaji Idris is among its registered members, ANAN should follow the HEDA push. If however, Alhaji Idris belongs to any foreign accounting body, the HEDA charge is no less relevant.

But let’s be clear: whatever the former AGF is being charged with, it is right now still in the realm of allegations.  Until the EFCC thoroughly investigates, marshals its facts, diligently prosecutes and secures conviction, Alhaji Idris is presumed innocent under our prosecutorial laws.  So, nothing in this editorial tramples upon that presumption of innocence.

Still, the HEDA call and the ICAN riposte point at a promising para-legal process, which could awake the conscience and consciousness of accounting bodies, and shunt many of their wayward members back into the straight and narrow path.

Indeed, charging an accountant for fraud is the vilest form of betrayal of trust.  That the AGF’s name is linked to such at all diminishes his professional peers, whether in ICAN, or in ANAN, or in any other accounting body.  It’s Caesar’s rigorous credo: Caesar’s wife must not only be above board, she must be clearly seen to be so.

The mere linkage of such to any reputable accountant’s name is damaging enough — which is why even the embattled former AGF could sue, should the charges prove to be false.  Still, to avert such costly allegations, every accounting body must activate their dormant ethical professional codes; and make it clear that their reflex is to slam and disown such accused members, each time such allegations come up.

With such zero tolerance to sleaze — even if just alleged — a silent credo of honour, which really is the guiding spirit of every professional body, may well morph into a vigorous and vibrant culture, which ranks ethics even above brilliance and competence, the primary pride of any professional group.

If that happens, that could hallmark a fierce battle against sleaze from the high shrine of public decency and moral suasion.  The laws can then complement the effort by dealing with a few recalcitrant members, who can be jailed, thus doubly earning legal and social odium.

Back to the EFCC: that body must carry out detailed investigation and diligent prosecution of this case which seems to have rubbished the doughty efforts of the Buhari administration to fight sleaze.  It would be double jeopardy to present a slipshod case, and for the accused person to walk free, not because he is well and truly innocent, but because the case was bungled.

The battle to gain a fairer salary for our judges has moved to the National Industrial Court, and we hope the matter will get the deserved attention. In a suit by Chief Sebastien Tar, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), against the National Assembly (NASS), the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and National Judicial Commission (NJC), as second, third and fourth defendants, respectively, the learned silk is seeking an enhanced salary and emoluments for the judges recognised by section 6 of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

The learned silk claims that being eminently qualified, he aspires to join the bench, either as a judge of the high court, or Justice of the Court of Appeal, or Justice of the Supreme Court, but that he has been discouraged by the poor pay structure of the judges, considering the socio-economic conditions of the country. He is also worried about the “the poor mode of determining or reviewing such salaries and allowances”.

We agree with the learned silk that the current pay structure of our judges is unfair when compared to the earning of the top members of the executive and legislative branches of government.

The learned silk is represented by 54 lawyers, made up of 32 senior advocates and 22 other lawyers. When the matter came up before Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, the lead counsel, Chief S. A. Awomolo, SAN, expressed the readiness of the claimant to argue its originating process before the court. However, he noted that the counsel to the NASS, Mr Charles Yiola, has informed him of the desire of his client to settle the matter amicably. Of note, the RMAFC, the Attorney-General of the Federation and NJC were not represented.

The claimant proposed the following salary structure for the judges: A minimum of N12 million for the Chief Justice of the Federation, and N11million for other Justices of the Supreme Court. For the President of the Court of Appeal, he proposed N11 million and N10 million for other justices of the same court. He proposed N10 million for the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, and N8 million for other judges of same court.

He further proposed   N10 million for the President of the National Industrial Court, and N9 million naira for the other judges of the same court. For the chief judge of the state high court, he proposed N8 million as minimum, and N7 million for each of the other judges of the same court. He also proposed N8 million for the Grand Kadi Sharia Court of Appeal of FCT, and President of Customary Court of Appeal of FCT, respectively, and N7 million for their respective colleagues.

Currently, justices and judges earn about N2 million and below as their minimum monthly salaries. There is no doubt that the judges’ salaries and emoluments are miserable considering the job they do, and the socio-economic conditions of the country. We are aware that NASS, relying on its power over the Appropriation Bill creams off a huge part of the national resources for its members. The executive also uses its power to implement the Appropriation Act, to ensure that ministers and top echelons of the executive branch are well remunerated.

No doubt, the country stands to gain a lot from a well-paid, independent and fairly treated judiciary. For example, the democratic project would be endangered if the judicial officers are underpaid and exposed to corrupt enticement. Also, the economy remains entangled if there is no virile judiciary to deal decisively with commercial disputes. Again, the rights of citizens will be emasculated if the judiciary is exposed to the whims and caprices of the high and mighty.

So, we urge the RMAFC to work with the NASS to gift the judiciary a fairer salary and emolument for the benefit of everyone.