The Nation Newspaper

Category: Editorial

  • Last twin standing

    Last twin standing

    •If a foreigner could save our twins, there is no excuse to let our infants die because of inadequate healthcare

    There was a time twins were viewed as abominations in some areas now part of Southeast Nigeria.  Such children were killed at birth. The intervention of Mary Slessor (1848 – 1915), a Scottish Presbyterian missionary, helped to end the barbaric custom.

    News of the death of “the last surviving female twin” to be rescued by Slessor, in Arochukwu, over a century ago, Malinda Mgbafor Okereke, also known as Mama Nsu Bekee, resurrected a dark history. A statement issued by her only surviving son, Bishop Okechukwu Okereke, said she was aged 115. It is unclear if she was not just “the last surviving female twin” but the last surviving twin saved by Slessor.

     According to the statement, “The birth of Mgbafor and her twin sister, Mgbokwo, who passed on almost two decades ago, was not only attended to by Slessor and her team at their maternity at Obinagu, Amasu Village, Arochukwu, but the twins were subsequently adopted and fostered by Slessor herself.” Arochukwu is in present-day Abia State.

    The twin sisters were said to have been educated at Mary Slessor Primary School, Arochukwu (now Mary Slessor Secondary Technical School), under the direct care of the Scots. “This resulted in the twins’ sound command of the English Language, hence the nickname of Madam Mgbafor, ‘Mama Nsu Bekee’ (Mama that speaks English),” the statement added. Okereke described his mother as “strong, always neatly dressed, and full of joy.”

    The efforts by the foreign missionaries to end the killing of twins at birth must be counted among the pluses of their work in the communities where such an evil practice existed. Slessor, in particular, was reported to have rescued hundreds of twins who had been left in the bush either to starve to death or to be eaten by animals. The natives believed the birth of twins was an evil curse, and traditionally abandoned them in clay pots in wild places where they had little or no chance of surviving. She is famous for her role in helping to stop twin infanticide in Okoyong, in present-day Cross River State.

    This was the context in which the twin sisters, Mgbafor and Mgbokwo, survived. The fact that they died at advanced ages makes their survival even more noteworthy. 

    Read Also: Ibas defends N1.85trn Rivers 2025 budget in closed session

    There are lessons to be learnt from Slessor’s work.  She is regarded as a driving force behind the establishment of the Hope Waddell Training Institution in Calabar, Cross River State, and a number of memorials within the country underline her significance. 

    One of such lessons is that religious organisations in the country should contribute to improving the socio-economic realities in areas where they operate.

    Another important lesson, which is connected with her twins’ saving role, is the need for the authorities to tackle the infant mortality rate in Nigeria, which is a serious public health concern. If Slessor saved infant twins from dying as a result of abandonment, the authorities should not allow infants to die as a result of inadequate healthcare and socio-economic conditions.

    For instance, in 2023, the country’s infant mortality rate was reported to be 60.1 deaths per 1,000 live births. This means that out of every 1,000 babies born, about 60 die within their first year.  The global estimate in 2020 was 27.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, while Nigeria’s rate was 72.2. A major proportion of infant deaths in the country are attributed to neonatal disorders, malaria, lower respiratory infections, and diarrheal diseases; and low maternal education, poverty, and living in rural areas are identified risk factors.

    Ultimately, the death of this survivor of twin infanticide in what can be described as a dark age should not be viewed superficially, but as a pointer to the need to address the problem of preventable infant deaths in the country. 

  • A task for all

    A task for all

    • Concerted efforts are needed to reduce sickle cell disease

    Of about 400,000 babies born globally with sickle cell disease (SCD), more than 300,000 are in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    Nigeria as the most populous black nation takes the lion’s share of this number with about 150,000 babies born with the disease annually.

    We regret that this disease impacts a huge percentage of blacks. However, since it has been researched and found to be an inherited disease, with severe consequences for both the carriers, their families and the larger society, we believe that adherence to most of the medical advice can begin to reduce the number of babies born with the disease.

    We commend the recommendations  by the Associate Professor of Medicine and Global Health Equity at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Clinical Director of Hematology at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BMH), Maureen Achebe, who at a public lecture organised by the Center for Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Training (CESRT), in conjunction with the College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, reiterated that SCD patients are at the “risk of severe chronic complications, reduced quality of life, reduced career progression and financial status, as well as premature death”.

    Given the dire consequences of the disease and the fact that Nigeria has the largest share of careers in the world, we recommend that clear-cut policies be drawn out by governments to reduce the cases. As a genetic disease, there are options now with improvement in science and technology.

    We can pardon the older generations that did not know the cause of the disease and lost a lot of children while assuming that the reasons were either spiritual; that some children just decide to die repeatedly to torment their parents. Some of the child mortality cases then were explained away in the names different communities gave to children that possibly died due to the effects of SCD.

    Read Also: Kaduna has no reason to vote against Tinubu in 2027 – Speaker Abbas

    In Igbo mythology, for instance, they were referred to as ‘ogbanje’, in Yoruba, they were called ‘abiku’; both names referring to their repeatedly ‘being born and then deciding to die and reincarnate’.

    Today, some of the childhood diseases are either preventable or treatable. SCD is now better managed even if some of the treatments like bone marrow and stem cell replacements are not affordable to average families.

    We therefore recommend the good old ‘prevention is better than cure’ option. There must be a concerted effort by different tiers of government, traditional institutions, schools, civil society organisations, religious organisations and all leaders at different levels to properly educate the people about marriages that result in couples having children with SCD.

    There can even be laws mandating impending couples to undergo tests to determine whether they have the blood groups that can result to their having children carriers. This could be in an advisory capacity, to not made to appear as though there is any form of interference with marital choices. Weddings are done in the traditional, Christian or Islamic houses of worship by the religious leaders, so leaders must be part of the counsellors for couples or even the youths because most people who end up raising carriers of the disease often have no clarity about the implications of the marital choices they made.

    Couples should be advised to be open about their blood groups and carry out tests to ensure they don’t literally self-destruct. The National  Orientation Agency (NOA) must add the rural areas as places they can take their messages to because about 60 per cent of the Nigerian population reside in the rural communities and most do not have access to modern communication gadgets like people in the cities.

    Africa has always had their communication tools for all communities and this could come in handy in disseminating the messages about SDC.

    Ironically, with politicians, they reach out to rural communities to seek votes during elections, they vote and the politicians disappear only to reappear during elections. We call on members of the executive and legislative houses from ward, state to national levels to use the same verve they exert to create the awareness that can potentially save lives. Our scientists and research institutes must be better funded for deeper research and innovations to tackle not just SCD but a variety of other diseases that particularly impact black Africans.

  • Brilliant ones are here

    Brilliant ones are here

    •17-year-old Oluwaseyitan’s feat, an indication of a brighter future

    This story of Oluwaseyitan Alabi who became a chartered accountant before his 18th birthday is a smooth one. It is rare to come by, for a university undergraduate to combine academic work with the rigour of accounting professional studies and examinations. To become chartered, a candidate who chose to go by way of Accounting Technician Scheme (ATS) would have to scale the hurdles of ATS 1, 2 and 3.

    This, Oluwaseyitan had to do and pass. As he disclosed, he once had a setback in one of the subjects and had to take it again. Yet, he was not discouraged. He proceeded to the professional stage and again moved from the first to the second stage, and scaled the hurdles in good time.

    It is surprising that a teenager could do all this in Nigeria of today where the education standard is said to be low and where young ones are easily distracted by peers. Oluwaseyitan credits his success story to his parents as they continually supported and encouraged him. His story illustrates the place of the home in the overall development of children.

    Read Also: ‘Nigerian varsities losing graduates to foreign countries’

    Also, contrary to expectation that the academic environment would be a distraction, he said his teachers paid him special attention, guiding him all the way. It is an indication that the school, as a socialisation agency, could make or mar students. There are sadist teachers who specialise in impeding the progress of young ones committed to their care at different levels of education. The very brilliant ones are sometimes targeted by such teachers. This, apparently, was not Oluwaseyitan’s experience. It is an indication that the educational authorities could do a lot to monitor the schools to deliver on their charge.

    Where the authorities of the institutions are derelict, the future of the country is subverted. It is not enough to say the students are the future of the country without making available a conducive environment. Where institutions are infested by cult groups, instructional materials are unavailable and teachers who should fill the space in loco parentis take pleasure in predating on their students, the young ones cannot fulfill their dreams.

    The management of Babcock University, (Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State), one of the first private tertiary institutions in the country, deserves commendation. We look forward to many more of such. This is despite the controversies involving some of their students in recent times. They need to work on the impact of those scandals on the school. Other institutions that have specialised in turning out students who specialise in financial fraud should follow this sterling example.

    It is interesting that this is coming at a time when the Federal Ministry of Education and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) are touting a policy of jerking up the minimum age for accessing university education to 18 years. Success stories like this could suggest a need to review the policy.

    Successful young ones deserve the full support of not just their parents, but also the nation. Scholarship schemes should be made available for them and mentors should not be in short supply. There are many talented students in the country. Many do not have parents like Oluwaseyitan, but where there are schemes to locate and lift them up; they would not just be useful to themselves and their families, but also the nation.

    The late Professor Chinua Achebe once wrote a book: There was a country. The story could still change if there are determined steps by the authorities to aid the bright ones. While Achebe is gone, there could still be a sequel by another author, “There is now a better country”.

  • To the grassroots

    To the grassroots

    •A new set of players may bring revolution to the underserved

    There is a hint in the mobile air that we might be on the cusp of a grassroots revolution in the telecom world. But there is a need for caution.

    Just as we have seen smaller players in the banking and financial world take on services that the major players may overlook or may not be able to handle with intimate care or efficiency, the mobile world is trying to do the same for the underserved in Nigeria.

    After 24 years of mobility, the National Communications Commission (NCC) has granted licences to 43 operators who believe that they can disrupt the space for the benefit of millions of Nigerians. But these new companies do not have the girth, cash or infrastructure. They will at once complement and compete with the big telcos known as Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). These Virtual Mobile Network Operators (MVNOs) are babies of MTN, Airtel or Globacom, etc. They will be leasing networks from the big names, and will have to compete with them and help where their services lag.

    It is a tricky business, though. The MNOs are not going to see them as partners, even though that is what, on a technical façade, they will be doing. Ordinarily, many would think that there is enough market for everyone, especially since Nigeria still suffers from a digital divide. There are too many areas and people beyond the ken of mobile communications today in rural areas.

    But the MVNOs are not going to build networks in those areas. They have neither the money, mandate or capacities. They are lovable parasites of the big names, and cannot venture where the big names cannot reach.

    Read Also: Onyema hails Tinubu’s aviation reforms, says Nigerian Airlines can now access dry leasing opportunities

    The NCC raked in a harvest of $76 billion in licences. This means the NCC has a task after it has fattened on this boon to let the operators enjoy a great lease of life and also help the underserved in the country to reap from a febrile world of to-and-fro.

    We have after the nationwide audit over 320 million connected lines with 172 million of them active. And the major players hold the lion’s share. MTN has 90 million subscribers, Airtel 58 million end users and Globacom 21 million customers.

    We have had progress over the years. For instance, the connectivity gap between 2013 and 2014 narrowed by 57.97 percent. That implied that the underserved communities shrank from 207 to 87, netting in 13.8 million people, according to a report in ‘The Guardian’. The number of underserved, that is from the point of view of communities without infrastructure, remains over 23 million.

    It is hard to define underserved. It is not only in physical space but also in need, and the latter is the more complex. The MVNOs are expected to serve in the cities and urban areas at the beginning, and that will put them in a collision course with their major conduits.

    But industry experts expect them to rely on what has always driven profit and market, and that differentiation. It is a template for the imagination and aggressive use of new services. Some of them are already trying to brandish their special offerings, like EMOSIM and Vitel Wireless. Some of them are looking at a new sort of non-physical SIM cards, and others are focusing on international connectivity. We must warn that if they are going to come with services, they focus on what will make the farmer and hunter in rural Enugu State or rural Adamawa connect to the capitalist profits in Port Harcourt or social joy of connecting with another rural fellow across the country.

    That is the real meaning of closing the digital divide and enacting a grassroots revolution.

  • Grim benchmarks

    Grim benchmarks

    • Level of preparedness forebodes difficulties for full CBT rollout

    Plans by government to fully migrate school leaving certificate examinations to computer-based testing (CBT) mode by May/June 2026 face enormous hurdles in the current state of infrastructure and digital literacy across the country, among other things, studies have revealed.

    Education minister Tunji Alausa had set the timeline as the panacea to malpractices that characterise examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO). Repeatedly this year, he has said WAEC and NECO had been mandated to fully transition to CBT by May/June, next year.

    “We are determined to eliminate examination malpractice by ensuring all exams, including practicals and essay papers, migrate to CBT. If JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board) can successfully administer CBT exams for over 2.2 million candidates, then WAEC and NECO can also do it,” he said in April.

    The minister directed that both bodies must conduct their objective papers in CBT mode from this year, and transition the remaining components accordingly by May/June 2026. “By their 2026 exams that will come up in May/June, both the objectives and the essays will be fully on CBT. That is how we can eliminate exam malpractice,” he argued.

    Most stakeholders agree that CBT has the potential to curb malpractice and address logistical challenges often encountered by WAEC and NECO in conducting paper-based examinations. But many doubt that the country is ready for rushed implementation in view of available infrastructure and disparate levels of digital literacy across Nigeria that could disadvantage some sections.

    The Guardian newspaper, in a recent report, cited the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) 2022 Learning Assessment which showed that only 28.7 percent of senior secondary students nationwide demonstrated basic computer proficiency. The Kano State Education Report 2023 revealed that proficiency ranged from a paltry six to nine percent in many northern states, while a survey by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in 2022 had showed that 89 percent of private urban schools and 12 percent of public schools teach computer skills.

    Worse affected are students in rural communities that have next-to-nil computer exposure throughout their primary and secondary levels of study. The obvious question is whether students with gross deficiency in digital literacy can be plunged in computer-based testing without concerted and painstaking education in computer literacy.

    Meanwhile, digital illiteracy isn’t restricted to students. Teachers were reported to face similar challenges, with nearly 40 percent reporting inadequate ICT exposure that limited their ability to prepare students for computer-based testing. Surveys conducted at some CBT centres reportedly revealed that more than half of students who came to take the exams were not familiar with computer use prior to the test, and nearly 47 percent said they never received any training before their first CBT experience. The challenge is reported to be further compounded by lack of trained invigilators proficient in ICT. The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) was cited saying as of 2023, about 72 per cent of educators lacked digital training.

    Read Also: Reps probe ₦1.12tr anchor borrowers fund, demand accountability from NIRSAL, BOI

    Another aspect of the challenge is infrastructure. There is said to be poor access to computer terminals in many areas, especially in the North. The Guardian’s report, for instance, cited the Borno State education ministry as having confirmed that only three out of 56 assessed schools, mostly in Maiduguri, had ICT labs while most schools in insurgency-affected areas lacked digital infrastructure.

    It also cited a 2023 survey that showed 65 percent of secondary schools in the country lacked functional libraries, while 90 percent lacked computer laboratory. It is doubtful there’s been quantum improvement to make much difference even now. Besides lack of computer terminals, there’s poor power supply and internet connectivity in many areas.

    Education mnister of state Professor Suwaiba Ahmad allayed fears that any candidate would be excluded by the CBT rollout, saying “every child will have the opportunity to write their examinations regardless of location or infrastructure.” On the dearth of facilities, Ahmad stated: “When we roll out CBT examinations, we are going to make use of existing centres being used by JAMB for UTME. We are not going to make use of school centres since, as you rightly mentioned; there are schools in the rural locations that don’t have light.”

    Question is: students in underserved areas must travel long distances to reach CBT centres – a journey fraught with logistical and safety challenges. JAMB currently makes use of 887 centres across the country, most of them based in universities, urban and semi-urban schools as well as private operators paid by the board for use of their facilities. Access to students of schools in remote, rural areas could be an overly expensive venture that would shut out many from poor homes.

    We made the point before and it bears restating: the objective for CBT mode is laudable but there’s need to make haste slowly. It might be better to adopt the hybrid approach – paper-based and CBT – with progressive alignment over time into full CBT as identified challenges are addressed.

  • Avoidable tragedy

    Avoidable tragedy

    • Death of 22-year-old at Cocoa House raises question about safety standards

    A 22-year-old graduate of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Feranmi Akin-Akinye, recently fell to his death from the 26-storey Cocoa House in Dugbe, Ibadan. The incident was by all accounts a horrendous but avoidable tragedy.

    The young man was said to be a cybersecurity trainee at a firm located on the eighth floor of the iconic building, but he fell to his death from the 24th floor museum section.

    Reports cited unofficial sources saying Feranmi had resumed at work on the fateful day, Monday June 2, and he went with some colleagues to the top floor in a bid to mount a banner on the wall of the building as part of work-related assignment. It was allegedly in that process the frame he stepped onto proved too weak to hold him up, and he thus plunged to the earth from the 24th floor.

    “The fall resulted in multiple severe injuries. Despite efforts by emergency responders to rush him to the University College Hospital (UCH), he was confirmed dead at the instant,” a source was quoted saying. Responders rushed him all the same to Adeoyo State Hospital, but he was already dead as he was badly mangled because he fell on the roof of the security post before hitting the earth, sources further narrated.

    The remains were then deposited in a morgue. One source alleged that the young man was asked to mount a large wall banner at the top of Cocoa House – a task typically handled by professionals equipped with the right tools and machinery. “I blame the company for his death. He came from a good home, was very humble and respectful. He had a car that his parents gave him, but you’d never know from the way he carried himself. They asked him to mount a giant banner, a task meant for professionals, and because of his humility, he complied,” the source said.

    Read Also: Why Rivers Emergency Rule approval was in closed session, by Senate

    Before his death, Feranmi lived with his mother along with two siblings in Meridian area of Apata, in the Oyo State capital. His father is said to be based in the United States. Those familiar with the family context described the young man as lively and easy-going, and dismissed speculations of possible suicide motivation.

    It was reported, for instance, that the parents are people of modest means who take adequate care of the family’s needs; and even though the father is based abroad, the mother is well-known for looking after the children and is respected in the neighbourhood as a pillar of support to many. Upon his ghastly fall and death, Feranmi’s remains were retrieved by the family on Tuesday and interred immediately by members of his church, Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), Apata branch.

    There were also allegations that the company involved sought to downplay the tragedy by giving the impression that the young man could yet be saved by emergency medical attention, whereas he was already deceased. In an earlier statement, the management of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, which is Cocoa House’s holding firm, confirmed the mishap while withholding details of the victim at the time. The statement by Head of Branding and Communication, Victor Ayetoro, expressed the company’s deep concern over the incident and assured the public of its full cooperation with authorities investigating the cause of the fall, saying “further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

    All we have thus far are narratives by unofficial sources. We, therefore, call for a thorough investigation of the circumstances of Feranmi’s death. What took the young man to the topmost floors of Cocoa House from the eighth floor location of the firm where he was a trainee? If indeed he went up on official assignment to install a banner, property holding company Odu’a has a question to answer on its standard operating procedure for performing such a task on the building. Lack of a ground rule would constitute gross negligence on the part of the company and make it partly culpable for Feranmi’s death.

    If, however, there’s a standard procedure that the company where Feranmi was a trainee ignored, the firm is doubly culpable: on one hand, of grievous breach against Odu’a tenancy guidelines, and on the other hand, of criminal negligence against society’s safety standards.

    Reports said the victim’s family was already contemplating legal action against the firm for alleged negligence. But nothing can bring the young fellow back to life now, with the bundle of promise snuffed out so early. No effort should be spared to ensure there’s never ever again a recurrence.

  • Our good soldiers

    Our good soldiers

    No praise or incentive is too much for the men and women who keep us safe

    It was not the first of such but the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede’s high commendation of Nigerian troops at the terror frontline, during the just concluded Eid-el-Kabir festival, again reinforces the endless sacrifice our soldiers make to keep our country running.

    Indeed, that Eid-el-Kabir toast put that sacrifice in stark perspective.  As the rest of us were thinking of surplus meat, garnished in the most mouth-watering of delicacies the festival chef may conjure up, these troops were, rifles corked and eyes alert, on the lookout for the terror bad boys, plotting how to turn the joyous season into a gory bloodshed.

    Which is why both in Jos, Plateau State, and Mbiokporo, Akwa Ibom State, the COAS struck the right chord: a chord that should have thrilled our patriots on the frontline.

    In Jos, the COAS, represented by Major-Gen. P. E. Eromosele, at a special luncheon, praised the troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH).  OPSH is a special anti-terror unit, under Major-Gen. Folorunsho Oyinlola, set up to neutralise marauders spilling innocent blood in Benue, Plateau and neighbouring states.  The COAS praised the soldiers and their officers for giving their grim task their best, even during a festive season.

    He did not also forget the (wo)men of arms that had fallen in battle, pledging to their spouses, children and even the extended family that the government valued their sacrifice; and would be true to their golden memories and those they left behind, as the fallen soldiers had been true to their country.  He hoped that such public reiteration of the state’s bounden duty to its service (wo)men would send their morale soaring, and reaffirm the troops’ commitment to national unity. 

    Major-Gen. Folorunsho, commander of OPSH, praised his troops’ professionalism despite their daunting tasks, aside acknowledging support from sister security agencies in Plateau State, which had helped to boost OPSH.

    In Akwa Ibom State, the COAS lauded the officers and men of the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, praising their professionalism, courage, total dedication, among other traits.  At another special Eid-el-Kabir luncheon for troops at Mbiokporo Cantonment, at which Major-Gen. Gold Chibuisi represented the COAS, it was again praise galore.

    That is how it should be. 

    We must lose no opportunity to laud and toast our brave service (wo)men.  If anything, it should be more regular.  That would make all our (wo)men in uniform to revel in the glow that they are always in our minds.

    Read Also: Tuggar expresses Nigeria’s readiness to host WAES

    Another event that reinforced felicity with troops was the public presentation of Professionalism and Service to Fatherland: The Military Heroes of Southern Kaduna, in Kagoro, in Kaura Local Government of Kaduna State.

    “If we don’t tell our story, hardly anybody will tell it for us,” the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, himself a southern Kaduna home boy said, through Major-Gen. Henry Yanet, his representative at the event.

    Indeed, that was a big blow for institutional memory, an area in which Nigeria, our country, and Nigerians, our people, are not especially strong. 

    Besides, the re-professionalised Nigerian military, reeling from the bad deeds of the political military, that abused their uniforms until the post-June 12, 1993 presidential election annulment crisis sent them scuttling back to the barracks, must push out as much literature as they could manage, to rebuild their image among Nigerians.  The noble symbiosis is clear: Nigerians need a loyal and professional military to safeguard their country.  The military also need a country they can loyally defend. 

    If they do that, and not meddle in politics, the place of the soldier will always be that of awe, honour and gratitude. 

    Compare and contrast that to the scorn and institutional mockery of the best forgotten era of the political military.  It’s another wake-up call, for high professionalism in the military, while marking another Nigerian watershed, the June 12 annulment crisis.

    So, consistently honouring our military, when pledged to absolute loyalty to the ruling civil order, is the way to go. 

    Still, talk is cheap.  This honour would mean little, if promises were not backed with prompt action.  Sincerity and good faith are therefore imperative.

    For a change, it is good that the red necks are praising the combatants at the front. But the first thing is to strictly stick to the standard operating procedure (SOP) guiding such battle postings.  Many soldiers have often complained that they stay too long at the battle front.  That should stop without delay.  That protocol must be strictly enforced — for the mental health of troops and the wellness of the armed forces as a collective.  That’s where valuing the troops starts.

    Then, the pledge to promptly pay the entitlements of service (wo)men who fell in battle would be mere gas, if not met with prompt action.  We commend the COAS for re-iterating that pledge.  But as action speaks louder than words, he should make it the mark of his administration as army chief. Such a pledge must not only manifest, but clearly so.

    That also goes for the living.  The army high command just announced an increase in ration allowance for troops.  That is good and welcome.  Again, that increase would amount to nothing, if not promptly settled.

    Still, on the living.  There are often complaints that the family of the dead rank-and-file are many times bustled out of the barracks, just because a soldier — spouse, parent, guardian, uncle, aunt or cousin to those he left behind — had died.  Yes, there is great pressure on lodgings; and some of the complaints could also be guilty of bad faith.  Still, the military authorities should work at a neat and decent balance, in such often highly emotive moments.

    But beyond all of these, and even outside the military, Nigerians must learn to honour their soldiers more.  Whenever there is a security breach, leading to loss of lives, the default setting is crude name-calling and graceless blame games. Even with huge emotional pains, that is not good enough. 

    We should try to support our military even during testy times, especially in these terror seasons when they face hit-and-run enemies, cowardly after soft targets, for huge propaganda value. But this is without prejudice to cases of negligence, clearly proven.

  • Nigeria First policy

    Nigeria First policy

    • Senate’s support encouraging but should be matched with concrete action

    It is heart-warming to see the Senate lend impetus to the Nigeria First policy endorsed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on May 5. The policy, as endorsed, prioritises Nigerian manufacturers, service providers, and contractors in all procurement activities.

    While on an oversight visit to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) headquarters in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital last week,  chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, not only promised legislative support to see the policy through but also to prevent the outsourcing of jobs meant for Nigerians to expatriates.

    Explaining that the committee’s visit was aimed at verifying the NCDMB’s compliance with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010, which seeks precisely the same objectives, he assured NCDMB of his committee’s collaboration with the board and stakeholders to implement the act effectively and monitor compliance by international oil companies.

     “Never again will jobs meant for Nigerians be outsourced to expatriates”, he said.

    Earlier, the NCDMB had appealed for the National Assembly’s support in strengthening local content laws to ensure alignment across legislations and uphold the “Nigeria First” policy.

    We note that nothing in the Nigeria First policy could be said to be entirely new. With the NOGICD Act and other similar regulations in the public procurement process known to be in place, we dare say that the issue has never been one of a lack of understanding of the imperative to prioritise local goods and services in public procurement, but the fact that the regulations have tended to be observed more in the breach.

    The explanations for this situation are certainly not far-fetched. They are to be found in the multiplicity of factors, ranging from lack of capacity by local economic actors, poor quality of local alternatives, the pervasive corruption and, if we may add, the lack of patriotism by officials in charge – all of which combined find expression in the preference for foreign goods and services by officials, even when matching local substitutes exist.

    Read Also: Tinubu orders security chiefs to restore peace in Benue

    The Bola Tinubu administration has certainly done well for bringing the issue to the fore, and for making it a key performance metric under the Central Coordinating Delivery Unit of the Presidency. It seems to us a measure of how the administration views the initiative as an integral part of its reform agenda, which overall, seeks to deepen the economy by creating wealth and boosting local capacity.

    Our understanding of the underlying message of the policy is that it would no longer be business as usual; that decisions on public procurement will henceforth be held to the strictest test of compliance with local content requirements and that the officials charged with their implementation will be held accountable for breaches, going forward.

    This is where the pledge by the chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content finds particular relevance.  His declaration of willingness to collaborate with the executive, though important, is certainly not enough; it must translate into concrete measures to identify and possibly, block whatever loopholes that still exist to undermine the lofty goals of the local content policy.

    This obviously goes beyond routine oversight and monitoring; it well includes, where necessary, additional legislative interventions. How about a mandatory certificate of compliance to be issued by the Directorate of Public Procurement, if only to make the resolve tangible?

    Of course, it goes without saying that the ultimate test for the Nigeria First policy would lie in the competitiveness of the local suppliers and service providers in terms of pricing and quality. The expectation is that local economic actors will pick up the gauntlet by delivering world-class goods and services, if only to make the quest not only worthwhile, but enduring.    

  • Employees’ safety

    Employees’ safety

    • It is the duty of stakeholders to work towards this objective

    Taking adequate measures to guarantee the safety of employees in their work places, as well as providing for adequate compensation and justice when they suffer injuries or hazards in the course of their work has become a key feature of a modern, industrial and civilised society. It is thus commendable that the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has commenced moves to intensify the implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme for public workers in Nigeria, as provided for in the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA).

    The Scheme legally compels employers in the public and private sectors to pay claims and compensation to all workers for injuries, disabilities, diseases that arise in the workplace, or death in the course of duty to the affected workers’ dependants.

    This work-related form of social insurance is administered by the NSITF which is the statutory body responsible for implementing the Employees’ Compensation Act, passed into law in 2010 to replace the former Workmen’s Compensation Act of 2004.

    Earlier, in 1994, the Federal Government had ratified Convention 155 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Environment in demonstration of the country’s commitment to international best practices as regards workplace safety and employees’ protection.

    Briefing the Head of the Federal Civil Service, Mrs Esther Walson-Jack, on plans towards surmounting the barriers to the service-wide implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme in the Federal Civil Service, the Managing Director of NSITF, Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, said the organisation was set to commence sensitisation of the federal public servants on their rights under the Employees’ Compensation Act.

    The importance of such public enlightenment campaign cannot be overemphasised as workers can only take advantage of the rights they are aware of. They must also be acquainted with the procedures provided for in the law for the pursuit of such rights in cases of workplace hazards.

    For instance, employees must be aware of the time frame within which to notify employers of any injuries or disabilities in the course of duty and apply for compensation. Furthermore, the extent of compensation depends on the degree of injury, the number of dependants in case of death, and other stipulations in the law that workers must have knowledge of.

    Read Also: 2027: Northeast APC declares support for Tinubu/Shettima ticket

    It is also important that employers are properly enlightened about their obligations to their workers under the law, as ignorance will not be an acceptable excuse should they prove negligent in fulfilling such responsibilities.

    Employers are expected to contribute one per cent of employees’ monthly payroll to the Employees’ Compensation Fund managed by the NSITF in the first two years of the commencement of the Employees’ Compensation from which requisite payments will be disbursed.

    Experts report an increase in workplace accidents in Nigeria, although accurate and up-to-date statistics are not readily available. The large number of unreported cases means that the extent of the problem of occupational injuries and hazards is difficult to determine. And there is no way that workplace accidents and injuries can be effectively tracked with a view to ensuring payment of compensation where necessary, if substantial numbers of such incidents are not reported.

    It is thus the responsibility of the NSITF, the Ministry of Labour and Productivity and other regulatory agencies to enforce strict adherence to safety regulations by employers, ensure increased safety awareness and compliance and foster a culture of safety in workplaces.

    There is also the need to continually upgrade and improve on existing laws to maintain high safety standards in workplaces and provide adequate protection for workers. Proper attention to safety concerns will reduce the incidence of workplace accidents and the need to pay compensation after the damage has been done.

    For instance, the Labour, Safety, Health and Welfare Bill passed by the National Assembly in 2012 aims to establish a National Council for Occupational Safety and Health to promote safety awareness, monitor compliance and enforce occupational and health safety measures but has reportedly not received presidential assent.

     It is desirable that the requisite agencies work closely with the legislature to re-present this bill and facilitate its being signed into law to further enhance the prospects of workplace safety and employee protection.

    And, beyond the federal civil service, there is the need to provide for, monitor and enforce high workplace safety standards at the sub-national levels of government, as well as the private sector.

  • An icon at 90

    An icon at 90

    • Sam Amuka Pemu deserves every accolade as journalist and statesman

    He could truly be called an icon. Prince Samson Amuka-Pemu is not just a tested and successful journalist, he has lived to a grand old age to become a pillar of journalism in Nigeria. Born June 13, 1935, he has lived an adult life devoted to serving the public without holding public office. Uncle Sam, as he is fondly called, has been a reporter, a features writer, an editor, an entrepreneur in the same space and a publisher.

    In his lifetime, he has been celebrated by kings and political leaders.

    Perhaps the greatest attribute of the great man is his humanity. All those who have worked with him attest to his humility, simplicity and willingness to help. In the 1960s, he worked assiduously for the Daily Times to the point of attracting the attention of all readers, high and low. As simple as he is in human relations, so is he in writing for the public. He wrote for and edited many titles in the Times Group helping in the process to build up the newspapers.

    These qualities sold the idea of establishing a private newspaper to his friend, Chief Olu Aboderin, an accountant, who knew he would have no problems assuring the success of the paper if he went into partnership with Uncle Sam. And, indeed, The Punch became a household name in no time. The two co-owners had cause to celebrate before the end of the 70s.

    It is difficult deciding in what Prince Amuka Pemu excelled the most – reporting, feature writing, editing, managing the newsroom or as a columnist. But, he is today best known as Sad Sam, one of the pseudonyms by which he wrote those satires that were at once humourous and stinging.

    Read Also: National honours: Obasa salutes Amuka-Pemu, Onanuga, Babarinsa, other journalism icons

    Sad Sam has devoted his life to projecting journalism, especially after he established Vanguard newspaper in 1983. Alongside The Guardian that came up about the same time, the two newspapers seem to have transformed the newspapers world in Nigeria. When this is added to The Concord Group that was established by the late Chief MKO Abiola in 1980, many Nigerians came to realise that the word newspaper was not synonymous with Daily Times in the country. You had a choice to make.

    Uncle Sam has since become a rallying point, intervening whenever the sail became turbulent in the industry. One such occasion was when some military officers led by the late Gideon Orkar struck on April 22, 1992. About 19 journalists were arrested along with the xoup plotters. That was unprecedented, and given the scale of the plot, the number of officers and soldiers killed and plan to buldoze bridges, it was obvious that the Babangida administration was unlikely to listen to pleas for anyone known to be tangentially linked to the plot.

    As the quintessential newsman would always point out to his subordinates,a journalist is only as good as the extent of his contacts. Uncle Sam has many friends in government, military or civilian. While the unions and associations in the industry wanted to step into the ring with the administration, the Vanguard publisher cautioned that it makes ght backfire. He rather counselled that dialogue could be the way out. He led the way, pulled strings,had meetings with the intelligence chiefs and soon got 15 released, but the other four two, had to be pulled out of the fire. Eventually, his team won. That was Uncle Sam.

    Like other newspapers in the country, his paper had been in dire economic straits many times. At such times, staff salaries were delayed for so long and life was thus difficult for the workers. But, given the confidence that all had in the leadership and humanity of their publisher who was also chairman, managing director and editor-in-chief, they stood with him and the company.

    To those who worked under him, he was not a boss, but father. Many got other jobs, and when things got rough, they found their jobs at Vanguard waiting for them so far they had discharged their duties responsibly the first time. One former staff gave the testimony of Uncle Sam’s response when he bought a new car that he took to the airport to receive him on a trip to the federal capital. When he learnt that the young man owned the car, rather than joon the league of others who took offence, the publisher blessed and prayer for him. And,after dropping him at the hotel, Uncle Sam gave him $200 to wash the car that night. That is the man who former President Muhammadu Buhari described as “gentleman of the press”.

    The incumbent President also paid ributes to the great man who has lived a whole nine decades on this planet. In addition, he conferred the national honour, Commander of the Order of the Niger on the leader of the Fourth Estate of the Realm.

    We join all the leaders, including governors, media managers and captains of industry in saluting this General of a different hue. He has fought a good fight and conquered.