The Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Re Rev James Odedeji has called for a sincere review and implementation of the Stephen Onasanye report as it will help to cut down on governance and block leakages that impede development programmes.
Odedeji said this yesterday at the Presidential Address delivered at the 1st Session of the 9th Synod held at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos.
Themed: ‘Fight the Good Fight of Faith.’ It featured prayers, seminars and prophetic ministration. The Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mrs. Abimbola Saluden; the Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, were among the guests at the event.
Odedeji said that it was high time we began to cut down, very seriously the high cost of governance in Nigeria.
“When we consider the cost of running the government at all levels, the federal, the state and even the Local governments, in our nation today, there are leakages in virtually all areas to the extent the outcome has been devastating on our very fragile economy,” Odedeji said.
The cleric stated that of the three arms of government, only the judiciary may be absolved of the allegation of increasing the cost of governance, suffice is to say that enough savings could be quoted from what Nigeria incurs yearly on governance, to address deficiencies in infrastructural development.
Odedeji stated further: “There are lots of ministries and agencies with various names but when we consider what they do, there are clear duplications of duty. The assignment meant for only one Ministry is today being shared between two to three ministries.”
He posited that aligning some of the ministries and agenesis of government will not only reduce the cost of governance but enhance the effective discharge of their mandate.
He also called for the total privatization of power to real private sector operators whose job is to find value for every Naira input to determine what consumers pay for electricity.
“It might be hard to bear in the short term and even medium term, but in the long terms, it will bring total solution to Nigeria’s incessant power problems,” he said.
The bishop further charged Christians to be ready to do all that is necessary to hold on to their faith and sure that it is not shipwrecked.
Activities to mark the 20th anniversary of The Father’s House Church, Akute, Ogun State, are in top gear.
The special anniversary committee headed by Rev Tomi Omojuwa announced that the 20th anniversary celebration will be marked with the annual Emmaus Road Conference.
The Emmaus Road Conference 2024 is themed: Quickened. 1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”
According to a statement by the church’s administrator, Pastor Ayandare Oluseye David, the Senior Pastor of the church, Apostle Richard Udoh and his wife Reverend Edith Udoh, will be playing host to several anointed ministers at the week-long conference which will commence on Sunday 9th June with a grand finale on the 16th June 2024.
Words and inspiring music will serenade the atmosphere with various international gospel ministers including Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, Reverend Bob Andoh, Apostle Mike Orokpo, Apostle Tolu Agboola, Pastor, Lawrence Oyor, and a host of music ministers including Peterson Okopi, Tope Alabi, The Chosen Vessel et al will all be on ground during the conference.
–Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church leader, Ogunleye
The Inauguration and Investiture of Special Apostle Pastor George Oluwadare Ogunleye as the Chairman/General Leader of Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church (Surulere District), Ayo Ni O, held yesterday. Ogunleye, in this interview with ADEOLA OGUNLADE, clears the air on some misconceptions about the church. Excerpts:
Tell us about your appointment as the new leader of C&S Ayo Ni O.
By His grace, unity of purpose of all the elders (male and female), the love of Christ engrained in every heart of both the leadership and followership of the Church. I am succeeding a great icon, in the person of Senior Special Apostle Prophet (Dr.) Sunday Funsho Korode, who succeeded Prophet Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye in 2015. Prophet Korode was also the pioneer Choirmaster-General of the Church. He was the thrust behind the many spirit-filled, soul-lifting compositions of the Church Choir that have remained evergreen. He joined the Saints Triumphant last year and has since been given a befitting burial.
It is my firm belief as a Christian that for every day we spend on this planet earth, God has a purpose for it. That I will be assuming the mantle of leadership of our great Church at this time could only have been divinely purposed. I have served the Church diligently in the past as Coordinator-General of Bands, and later District General Secretary before this huge responsibility was conferred on me. I can with all humility boldly say that Christ has been my cornerstone and on Him I build.
What is going to be your leadership focus?
Our leadership focus remains what it has always been, the continued spiritual growth of the Church and insistence on members living holy unto God, and walking in obedience and faithfulness in His Covenant with the Church.
Baba Fakeye, the first Chairman/General Leader of Ayo Ni O was a great man of God and he did a lot for the C&S Movement worldwide. We will continue to emulate his leadership style. During Baba Fakeye’s tenure, he spoke intensively on the need for love in our homes which will in turn rub off on the church and the nation at large. The church and the nation can only blossom in an atmosphere of peace. Baba Korede, who succeeded Baba Fakeye placed a lot of emphasis on holiness in the church and living a life in tandem with the 10 commandments.
This is why the major thrust of our leadership is “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and every other thing will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33). This is also in tandem with the purpose of Christ’s mission, which is eternal salvation for all men for which He bequeathed the Great Commission to the Church. This was the starting point of Baba Orimolade and on which Prophet G.O Fakeye (Special Apostle for Evangelism) dwelt with Snr. Sp. Apostle S. F. Korode, following in their footsteps. We must consolidate on the good works they have done. This entails that we would pool the Church more and more to imbibe holiness and eschew things of the flesh.
This we do along with ensuring that we consolidate the Ancient Landmarks (Proverbs 22: 28) Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set and Prophet Jeremiah 6:16 says: “Stand at the crossroads, and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it and you will find rest for your souls.”
The book of Prophet Isaiah in Chapter 11:2-5 further captures the following Ancient Landmarks, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, might, fear of the Lord and revelation.
All these landmarks are in alignment with the Covenant of God with our Church that we shall have His abiding presence, full radiation of His glory, with the accompanying abundant spiritual and other blessings, if we continue to rely on the Scriptures with full obedience to spiritual messages “Thus sayest the Lord” (“Oluwa WI”) and unconditional love among ourselves.
Assuredly, if we continue to observe these landmarks, it will be well with the Individual, Family, Church, Nation and the entire World. That is why through teachings, sermons, education, prayers, and supplications to the Almighty God, more will be done to consolidate the Ancient Landmarks.
Many have this notion that many Aladura churches use diabolical powers or make sacrifices, is that the true state of things in Ayo Ni O?
I was an Anglican. I wore a coat to church. I want to ask, the person that wore a coat and the person that wore a white garment, what is the difference? We are worshipping and praying to the same God. Jesus had come and died for us, there is no more sacrifice for sin, the blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of our sin. In Ayo Ni O, We don’t engage in a sacrifice whatsoever. Yes, we wear white garments and people come for prayers, our prophets do not charge anyone, they use water and olive oil to pray for people. A man once came and told me that he visited our church and he saw that everywhere was neat and prayers and counselling were being done, he was surprised because he had a notion that C&S made a lot of sacrifices. When he came and met with one of the prophets, they went and bought olive oil for him for free, prayed on it and the problem that he brought was solved.
Most of our prophets are volunteers and they are excited to work for God for free. Our prophets don’t collect money from anyone. They only pray on water and olive oil, that is our approach to evangelism. We wear white garments, but we still commit sin, we pray God will forgive us. The church is a holy Church.
Recently, Baba Oshoffa said that the ethos in CCC does not forbid polygamy, what is your stand on polygamy?
The truth is that we don’t encourage polygamy in Ayo Ni O. I am a man of one wife, though our elders had many wives. The challenge of having multiple wives is that you will need two to three hearts to love them the same way. However, when a man comes with his wives and children, we bless them, and they become part of us. I know some polygamous homes and they are very united. Have you not seen a man with one wife fighting all the time? A polygamous home united together is far better than a man with one wife fighting.
What advice do you have for the government on the state of the nation?
We also want to use this opportunity to commend the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the powerful developmental strides in the state. We also appreciate the efforts of the government in securing lives and properties, from man-made and environmental hazards. We will intensify prayers against the incessant fire disasters in the State, for return of abundance in the Land and that peace and brotherly love continue to reign supreme in our dear Lagos.
We strongly believe in the Nigerian Project, and we know that the love of God for this nation cannot be quantified. If God has raised from this nation anointed men and women of God since the time of Moses Orimolade till date, God surely has a greater purpose for this nation, beyond what the ordinary eyes can see, and lesser minds perceive.
Nigeria is a great country, and it is going to be greater in Jesus’ name. Let us all continue to play our parts; love God, and our neighbours, obey laws and respect constituted authorities.
Our prayer for the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that God will continue to grant Him the wisdom, knowledge, understanding and good health to direct positively the affairs of the nation.
Professor Chris Odetunde, Vice Chancellor, Augustine University, Ilara, Epe, in this interview with Gboyega Alaka, bares his mind on varsity education curriculum as presently constituted in Nigeria and the need for a rejig. The VC, who returned from America where he was working with NASA (National Aeronautics Aeronautics and Space Administration) to impact Nigeria’s educational system, also speaks on need to begin to adapt technology for Nigeria’s challenges, Femi Otedola’s scholarship largesse for 750 students of the institution and more.
Tucked in the corner of IIara on the outskirts of Epe, Lagos State is Augustine University. For a proper description, ‘hidden’ might just be the right word, for aside being pleasant to the eyes, it is in a location away from passersby. However, one man’s single gesture of generosity changed that in one fell swoop. Billionaire businessman and Chairman, Geregu Power Holding, Femi Otedola, during his investiture as the Chancellor of the institution in October last year, announced a scholarship of N1million each to the university’s 750 students. Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Chris Odetunde, underlined this when he told The Nation during a recent visit to the campus, that: “That gesture sold our name to the world more than we could have done in that spate of time. Since I came here, we’ve been trying to advertise and push the name of the school out there. Like you’ve observed, many people didn’t know about us or our location, but that gift that he gave the students reverberated action helped to sell our university to the world. Some of my friends in the US even called me. So everybody now knows the university; and many students now want to come here.”
According to Prof. Odetunde, “Mr Otedola is a man who doesn’t like to show his face all the time but likes to do uncanny things. Last year was his investiture as our Chancellor, and he also realised that some students and parents were struggling to pay school fees going by the ravaging economic hardship in the country; so, he decided to give each student one million naira each towards their tuition for 2023/2024 session. And as we speak, the students are enjoying it. However, the students that will enjoy it are students that have never been rusticated, students that has never been to SDC (Students Disciplinary committee) or expelled. “And by the way, that’s not the only thing he has done for us. He gave us the Engineering faculty building, which is completed as we speak. He started with the first project; now, he has commissioned the second project. We want to have Electrical Electronics, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental and other departments. Even Aerospace Engineering. So it’s a continuous process for him. He’s committed to building the entire Engineering Faculty. And then he named it after his mother, Lady Doja Otedola.” On how he thinks the gesture would impact the benefitting students, Odetunde said the money, which is directly being paid to the parents would go a long way in ameliorating the spending of the parents towards their children’s education. This, of course, is in addition to the publicity impact on the school. When told that Otedola has been nominated for the TOCSS Entrepreneurship Support Project Honours Award, Odetunde did not hesitate before endorsing him. “I think he deserves the award and more. Whichever organisation that is giving him the award should be proud of the fact that they made a right choice. And I’m not saying this just because he’s our Chancellor, but because he deserves it.” Asked to speak on the idea behind the university, the Vice Chancellor said, “If you look at the history of the Catholic Church, we’ve always been at the forefront of education. I’d give you an example. Back in the days, I went to St. John’s College, Kaduna; and there are so many colleges of top quality owned by the church. Many people and organisations were setting up universities, and in the magnanimity of the then proprietor, Cardinal Olubunmi Okojie, he decided to set up this university. And of course everybody knows that whatever the Catholic Church puts its mind to, will always be top standard. The university was established in 2015; and since then, we’ve been running, not crawling. And anybody that visits the campus has always testified to the beauty and sereneness of the environment, which is designed for serious students who are ready to learn to flourish. “Our motto is ‘For learning and Character;’ so we want our students to learn, but in addition, you must have good character. Because as brilliant as you might be, if you have a terrible character, nobody wants to hire you.” On how they determine serious students a priori, Odetunde, who described himself as the ‘Master Servant’ of the university, said, “You don’t, but you interact with them. During interaction, we call their parents, we ask them questions, probe into their lives, where they have been, problems they’ve had… Of course, they also must have satisfied the NUC (Nigeria Universities Commission) criteria, and passed JAMB (Joint matriculation Examination); along with their five credits at O’ level in their desired area of study.” Now the conversation shifts to affordability. A major criticism against private universities, especially church-owned universities, is their expensiveness and the fact that their fees are often beyond the reach of the common man and their church members, whose funds they used in building them.
But Odetunde shook his head in disagreement.
“If you look at the history of Augustine University, it has existed for approximately eight, nine years; and for the first eight years, there has been no increase in fees. This is because we are cognisant of the fact that we need to train students. I can tell you outright that we are not expensive, especially if you compare us to other private universities. Take for instance, Nursing in some universities is N3million, but ours is only N1.4million; we have Engineering now, we have PG School and we’ll soon have Law. Number 2, all our students stay on campus. And that is to protect them. If you allow any of the students to be staying off campus, you’d probably seeing different cars to be coming to pick them along this road. So we are sure that we would not only protect the students, we’ll also advise them, using our own life experiences to guide them; because we are all parents here. Faculty members also help us in this regard.” According to Odetunde, the university at the moment has 23 departments. It started with two faculties: Faculty of Science and Faculty of Humanities, Management. But since his arrival, the university has added Faculty of Basic Medical and Health Sciences, which houses the Nursing Department; it has also added Faculty of Engineering and the PG School. The students’ population has also risen to almost nine hundred.
State of Education in the country
Interestingly, Prof. Odetunde does not shy away from saying it as he sees it. This, he demonstrated when he stated outright that ‘Nigeria’s educational system is outdated’. For one who is a major player in the sector, isn’t this a self castigation? But he insisted: “Some of our curriculum are outdated. I think for a developing world like ours, our education should be pragmatic. If you’re an engineer, learning all the theories in this world cannot help us. What helps us is, can you translate that theory to a product? There are some people that didn’t go to school, yet you’d be surprised at what they can produce. And that is what we should encourage. Artisans should come together with the engineers and start producing. No matter how rudimentary the thing might be, let’s encourage them to come up with it; and over-time, they would improve on them. By so doing, we too will have our authentic ‘made in Nigeria products’.” As a vice chancellor of a university, what is he doing to change this narrative? “The Nigeria University Commission (NUC) used to give 100 per cent of the curriculum that we teach; so it was like you are in a cage and this is what you have to eat. Eat it or die. But recently, the same body has now come up with a system whereby universities are given free hand to choose 30 per cent of what they would teach. So I am sure that over the years, it will move to 40 per cent, 50 and maybe more. And at that time, each university will have the freedom to teach what will benefit their students. Our students are still very smart, but they are not challenged. They are no longer cramming textbooks; they are practical people. If you give your child a computer or I-phone, of which you are not using up to 10 percent of its facilities, that child will pieces it and he would even put it to 200 per cent use. So we need to encourage them along that line and teach them how to maximise. We need to challenge them to come up with something; we have to domesticate AI to fit into our environment; not just copy and paste. It shouldn’t be the same ‘Oh America has done this, so we also have to do it or start consuming it’. America is a different environment. We need to do something better by coming up with tailor-made technology for our needs.” When reminded that the same set of students now use the same technology to cheat, using AI and stuff, Odetunde said, “You’re right, but we also have some software such as plagiarism checkers to counter them. So when you give me your assignment, I can check and tell you what you have done is plagiarism. So, as a student, even if you want to read something, have your own inputs; see it from your own perspective. We need to let our students think out of the box. They also should be made to know that if they can get to AI; their lecturers can also get there. Besides, the standard rule is that when you copy or paraphrase somebody’s work, you must give credit.” That said, Odetunde was asked to assess the quality of Augustine University students; especially those that have graduated. His answer: “I think the students are doing well, because we get reports back. They also call us from where they are. They have alumni groups and they share their success stories. Our joy now is going on the streets and having somebody tap you at the back and tell you that, ‘Sir, can you remember me? I was your student; I am now this and this’. That is the joy of teachers.” Before Augustine University “I was in the United States, working for NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). I’m an Aeronautic Engineer. When I came back to Nigeria in 2012, I went to work in Kwara State University, Molete, where I helped them establish their Aeronautics and Astronautics Department.” Can we then conclude that Augustine University will soon be birthing an Aeronautics and Astronautics Department? “It’s very capital intensive, but hopefully, we’ll start making efforts towards establishing it before I leave,” Odetunde replied.
We’re all delighted at Otedola’s gesture – Azibar
According to the university registrar, Mrs Margaret Azibar, the university, students and parents are grateful for Otedola’s gesture and there is no denying it. Tracing the history of the school, she said Cardinal Okojie, who was founder and initiator of the project, wanted a Catholic university that would be renowned for a holistic and well-rounded education in all aspects of life- academic, social wellbeing, psychological, mental…. And she says “that informed all the structures and policies we were putting on ground. I’ve been working here 11 years; we were preparing grounds for approval and take-off.” Since taking off, she says the school has graduated five sets and produced a fair share of first-class students. The feedback has also been good from their internship, SIWESS and work-study postings, such that “people had to be inquiring about their school”. “We also do a lot in terms of staff recruitment, to ensure that we get the best hands within available resources. And of course our leaning environment is a ‘wow’! We tried to create an atmosphere that is very conducive for learning; we also get caterers to provide their meals for them; so, no distractions in that regard as well and they are able concentrate on their academic works and perform optimally. Contrary to the popular opinion, the school also has a robust social life. According to Azibar, “We have recreational facilities, indoor games, and other social activities. The students on their own also organise social gatherings on weekends, such as birthday parties and stuffs, within allowed rules. They even have inter-universities games and activities, where they mingle with other students from other institutions. The last football competition we had, we competed with Yabatech and won. “And then we have entrepreneurship centre that is also very active, where the students are trained in entrepreneurial skills; you know it is also part of the requirement now. At 200-level, the students will take courses in entrepreneurship; they have the opportunity to specialise in any of the skills, such as sewing, baking, hairdressing, decoration and the likes. Usually when we have ceremonies, we bring out some of the products they make for sale.”
It’s gesture we’ll never forget Some of the benefitting students also expressed their appreciation for Otedola’s gesture. Augustine Chidera Osemeke According to Augustine Chidera Osemeke, Mr Otedola’s kind gesture of providing a million naira each as scholarship for all 750 students of Augustine University remains unprecedented and utterly remarkable. “One million naira would actually go a long way in taking care of the burden of sending a child to a private university. For me, it’s not about the money being enough but the gesture of kindness and giving, and I will like to see him extend the gesture to students in federal universities, considering that they are not as privileged as those of us in private universities. On Otedola’s TOCSS award “I think he definitely deserves the award, because he has been involved in a lot of charitable gestures. This is aside his successes as an entrepreneur. I don’t know if you’re aware but he recently donated the Engineering Complex to Augustine University. And there are others, even giving money donations to children that have been ravaged by terrorism in the northern part of Nigeria. It’s not every day that you come across somebody who has the wherewithal to give and who is giving. And I hope he gets more awards and I hope the awards continue to inspire him to do more.” Asked if he has received his own money “I can confirm receipt of mine; it was sent to my parents. And they were happy to receive it because it will help ameliorate their financial pressure.” Does he have any problem with the money not being paid to him directly? “No. I don’t need the money right now, but it can go into supporting them. Besides I never expected to be given the money.”
Aneme Osadebamen Rejoice For Aneme Osadebamen Rejoice, 300-level Mass Communications student, it was a great gesture. She also says she’s not disappointed that the money was not given to her but to her parents, because “they’re the ones who have been doing the spending.” And to her benefactor, she says: “I will like to appreciate Mr Femi Otedola for that generosity towards Augustine University students. This is not the first time he would be extending his generosity to Augustine University, so we’ll like to appreciate him for everything that he has done for the school and for the students and May God continue to bless you and provide for you and your family. Would you say the money has impacted your family in any way? Of course the money has impacted my family in the sense that the money they were supposed to use in paying my school fees in an entire academic session, could now be allocated to other pressing needs that had been waiting. About his TOCSS Entrepreneurial awards nomination “I think he deserves it; in the sense that he is a wonderful person in the society and the fact that he is trying to make Nigeria as a whole a better place. Even down to the oil and gas sector where he operates, he is trying to contribute his quota to its development and the nation as a whole.” Aneme would also like to see the billionaire extend his gesture to other schools like secondary schools, and especially sponsor indigent students.
Oluwatoyin Funmilayo Balikiss
As for Oluwatoyin Funmilayo Balikiss, 100-level Nursing student, she is especially happy and excited for my mum. That’s because she understands that it has not been easy for her, having been picking the bills all alone after the demise of her father. “One million naira just like that! God! I was simply elated!”She again exclaimed. Oluwatoyin admitted she initially thought the money would be given to her but said: “It’s still fine that it would be paid to my mum’s account. Of course she’ll still be spending the money on my education.” She also revealed that the money was yet to be paid to her mum, but said that was because she was still in 100-level, and it will surely get to her turn. And to Otedola, she says: “Thank you very much sir, for the heartfelt contribution to the educational system.” She also has no doubt that he deserves the TOCCS Award and more.
Chidiebube Oluoma 400-Level Computer Science
“I was very pleased when he announced that scholarship, because the truth is that it hasn’t been easy for my parents paying my school fees from my 100-level through to my 400-level. So this will be a breather for them and enable them save towards my post graduate activities,” Chidiebube Oluoma exclaimed. “My parents were also very pleased. In fact, dad had to call me to confirm the news.” Chidiebube is also of the opinion that Otedola deserves every commendation award for his good gestures. “Aside what he has done for us students and the school, earlier this year, he donated some funds to the Lagos State Security Funds. And of course, everyone knows that security is almost as important as education. Without it, nothing can move forward.”
•‘Why we abandoned orthodox medicine, opted for local herbs, clinics’
With the cost of medications and hospital bills now well beyond the reach of the average Nigerian, many appear to have put their fate in alternative medicines and self-medication, which are considered cheaper and more easily accessible. GBENGA ADERANTI looks at the new trend and the dangers involved.
When Alhaja Abibat Gbadegesin, a retired nurse hit the rider of a commercial motorcycle, popularly called okada, with her Four Runner Toyota, she quickly resolved to take him to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ifako, Lagos for proper medical attention. From her experience as a medical practitioner, she could hazard a guess about what could be done to stabilise the victim and get him back on his feet.
The sexagenarian was, however, shocked to the marrow when the okada rider refused bluntly to go to the hospital but rather insisted on going to a traditional bone setter in a nearby Ogun community.
All the entreaties the retired nurse made to the injured motorbike rider to visit Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) or any other conventional hospital fell on deaf ears as he stood his ground on not going to the hospital, insisting that he was better off in a local bone setter’s home.
“I don’t want to go to any hospital. I don’t have any money. I know you will make the initial payment, but who takes care of the bills?” the okada rider asked.
Like many other Nigerians who have either resorted to self-medication or embraced the use of herbs and leaves, Sighetu Edu’bane Edeke, one of the biggest fashion designers in the 1990s, said he has embraced the use of leaves and herbs to fight his ailment.
According to him, while he does not have anything against going to the hospital, he believes it is cheaper and more convenient to use herbs.
Explaining why he no longer visits the hospital, he said: “You have herbs all around you; you just need to know how to take and use them.
“As you can see, I have in my compound a moringa tree. You can see phyllanthus leaves which I use for malaria. To cure malaria, I just need to add ginger to it, boil for about two minutes, let it simmer for 20-30 minutes, then drink it to treat malaria.”
According to him, the simple process would save him between N20,000 and N30,000 which he would have spent if he had gone to the hospital.
Sighetu disagrees with those who consider the use of leaves and herbs for treating ailment as dangerous, saying such a notion is laughable. “Remember that before the Europeans came, we Africans had access to nature and plants. We had the knowledge.
“Are you saying that before Western medicine came we were not treating ourselves of ailments? Of course, we were.
“I use aloe vera for minor cuts and wounds.”
He, however, warned that it is dangerous to seek self-help without being adequately tutored on what to do.
Narrating her experience in a conversation with our correspondent, 32-year-old Abigail Sunday said when she got pregnant the first time, she desired to register in a private or a public hospital. But that was not to be as her in-laws insisted she would have to patronise Iya Alagbo (traditional medical practitioner) for her antenatal.
“My husband’s family felt it was expensive to give birth in a hospital. They told me that they had no money or time to spend in any orthodox hospital. I sheepishly agreed and eventually lost the baby,” she told our correspondent.
Also, Pastor David Dare, an ulcer patient for quite a while, has had the best of medical care.
He was always in the hospital for regular checkups, and if he had a crisis at times, he would visit the hospital for treatment.
But he decided not to visit his regular hospital again after getting what he described as an “outrageous bill” from one of the private hospitals.
He decided to take his destiny in his hands, thinking he knew it all.
He said: “I felt there was no need for me to go to the hospital again since I knew what they would give me. It has become a routine to give me the same drug after examining me. So I felt there was no need to be visiting the hospital again because I felt it was more or less a waste of resources.”
But the decision to save cost nearly cost David his life. Believing that he knew what drugs to buy, he procured one from a ‘reputable’ pharmacy only to discover that the drug he bought was fake.
“It was when I had a crisis again that my wife took me to our family hospital. There the doctor requested the drug that I was using and discovered that what I bought was a fake drug.”
David is still regretting the decision he took as it turned out to be penny-wise pound foolish.
Before Mrs Cecilia Aiyedogbon got introduced to a traditional medical practitioner, she had spent a fortune on her grandson, who was a sickle cell anemia patient.
According to her, each time she took her grandson to the hospital, the bill was always humongous. If the bill had been huge and she had seen an improvement in the health of her grandchild, possibly, she said, would have compensated for the money, but this was not the case. Her grandson’s health witnessed little or no improvement despite visits to hospitals. “It was like planting boiled maize; no improvement. Even if his health improves today, his situation would worsen next tomorrow.
“But since I was introduced to Iya Moria, owner of one of the traditional herbal shops in the community, things have been different. Since my grandson started drinking the herbs she made for us, his condition has been a bit better,” the 73 -old grandmother told our correspondent.
A bricklayer, popularly called Baba Ayo in the neighbourhood, was seen on a Sunday morning cutting the branches of a mango tree.
“You must have been paid handsomely to cut these branches?” our correspondent asked jokingly.
To this, he responded: “I want to use the leaves to prepare herbs. I’ve been down with malaria for a while. There is no way you will go to the hospital and you will not pay anything. I don’t have money to pay any doctor.”
Despite the huge budgetary allocation to health, many Nigerians cannot afford good health care. In the 2024 Federal Health Budget, the sum allocated out of the overall expenditure of N27.5 trillion was N1.2 trillion, including the N125.7 billion provided for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
An investigation by our correspondent revealed that many Nigerians who can’t afford the bills charged in hospitals have taken their fate in their own hands by either patronising herbal shops or visiting pharmacies to seek remedies to their ailments.
Investigation also revealed that the increase in the prices of drugs has also made traditional herbal homes attractive. In one of the big pharmacies visited, Ventolin inhaler now sells for N8,870 as against N2,000 it sold some months ago. This is also true of drugs like Augmentin which now sells for between N23,000 and 25,000 as against N3,000 to N5,000 previously.
The continued increase in the prices of drugs has also been blamed on the exchange rate of the naira. For example,
Lonart, which is now N3,300, was sold N1900 last year. Lonart by 24, which is subsidised by government, was sold for N800 last year now goes for N1300.
Augmentin (branded), which was sold for N6,500 now goes for between N16,000 and N30,000. Arenax Plus Forte, which was selling for N600 is now N1,300 while Lonarts DS has jumped from N1,900 to N3,300.
Fleming jumped from N4,500 to N7,000. Amoskislal, which used to be N6500 is now N10,000 while Virset which used to be N7000 is now N14,000.
Traditional herbal shops, pharmacies experience boom
Mrs Bolaji Okuwa, a traditional herbal shop dealer also known as ‘Elewe Omo’ in Akute, Ogun State, confirmed the recent boom in business. According to her, beyond the exorbitant prices of orthodox drugs, many people are rediscovering themselves by going back to their roots.
While the reporter was in the shop, a lady, probably in her late 30s, dressed in a three-quarter trousers and leg chain, approached Mrs Okuwa, saying in Yoruba, “Ejoo, mofe ra ewe dongoyaro (please I want to buy neem leave).”
Her interaction with the herbs seller showed she was a regular visitor to the herbal shop.
Curious, our reporter asked if she was always coming to patronise the herbs seller. To this, Okuwa said: “Many of them come here to buy herbs instead of going to the hospital. The traffic of people coming here has increased over time, probably because they have seen the efficacy of local herbs and roots.”
While admitting that she was not against orthodox medicine, she was of the view that many are now recognising the efficacy of herbs, which is why they prefer traditional herbal shops.
Explaining the efficacy of herbal medicine, she said: “Rather than remove the teeth, for example, it is better to use herbal remedy because they get damaged with germs. Removing them won’t solve any problem because the germs will still be there.
“But if you are using herbs, with time, it will kill all the germs. If you take it to the hospital, after treatment, it will still relapse.”
She also believes that health issues like fibroid and hypertension are best treated with traditional herbs.
“A fibroid, for instance, rather than operate it, if you continue with herbs for a long time, the fibroid may disappear as a result of continuous use of herbal medicine instead of orthodox one.
“The process may be slow, but it will surely go. It did not get to the body once, so it can’t go once.”
On the issue of herbs having side effects, she explained that this may not be true as they are made with water, saying if you drink excess of it, you will piss out the excess.
She said: “It is only tablets that can have side effects on people, not herbs. There are some herbs that when you use them in excess they could have side effects. But you can’t compare this with what you get when you use overdose on tablets.”
She also said it is cheaper to treat people with herbs and roots. For example, herbs for the treatment of hypertension go between N10,000 and N20,0000.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that many who are down with one ailment or the other now engage the services of pharmacists or visit herbal homes to find solutions to their health challenges.
Most traditional herbal practitioners and operators of pharmacy shops who spoke to our correspondents confirmed that since last year, there has been an increase in patronage and sales.
While an orthodox hospital would charge between N30,000 and N24,000 for the treatment of ulcers, a patient only needs N4,000 to get the mixture of roots and herbs in a herbal shop for the treatment of the same ailment.
A mild malaria which could cost a patient more than N10,000 in an orthodox hospital would only cost less than N1,000 in a traditional herbal shop.
While, a patient may have to cough out about N50,000 – N100,000 to treat smallpox, a serious and often deadly viral infection in an orthodox hospital, the same ailment would be treated with less than N24,000 if a patient decides to visit a pharmacy or less if he or she patronises an herbal shop.
Orthodox medicine practitioners react
Explaining the preference for traditional medicine, a United Kingdom-based medical doctor, Temmy Dada, said it could be because people have always used herbal remedies from time immemorial and still believe so much in them.
She also cited the accessibility and affordability of herbs coupled with the fact that the orthodox ones have become less affordable and difficult to access.
“The other possible explanation is the incurable nature of some chronic illnesses like hypertension, diabetes, or terminal illnesses like cancer, which some of these healers would tell people that they can cure.
“So belief or tradition will be the first reason people use herbal remedies or homes. There are.people who would never go to the hospital to deliver babies or those who run to herbal homes when they tell them in the hospital they need surgery.”
But while many may rev in their use of traditional medicines, there could be danger they are not aware of, Temmy warned.
According to her, some get the results they hoped for while some end up with complications due to reasons like lack of regulation which opens the system up for sharp and unwholesome practices. Also the effectiveness of some of the treatments is not proven by research.
She also noted that the quality and quantity are not certain in some instances, while blaming economic challenge as one of the reasons many are doing self-medication
“Unfortunately, health care is not exempted from the high cost of living crisis currently experienced in the country. This makes health care unaffordable for a lot of people.”
Another medical doctor, who incidentally is a traditional medical practitioner and a traditional ruler, Oba Adedayo Olusina Adekoya, the Légùşęn of Odè Ulé Kingdom of Légùşęnland, Odè Ulé City, Remo North LGA, Ogun State, said the surge in the number of people visiting herbal homes for treatment is not a new development.
According to him, it is a development that had previously not been noticed or numbly ignored because the section of the population who patronised such were low classed and saw it as normal because they did not practically have access to the western practices except for vaccination and antenatal needs.
According to the medical doctors, the newsmakers who generally belong to the upper middle level and upper economic level of society have now found more reasons to attend herbal medicine practitioners’ clinics, either consequent on their upbringing before rising to the top or by induction whereby they adopted this new habits due to personal experiences or recommendation by friends and acquaintances.
Adekoya also explained that there is the issue of rising population whereby more people, relative to the past, are now seen taking herbal treatment.
He said: “In 1963, the population of Nigeria was 55 million. Now it is about 200 million. There are therefore about four times the population who use the herbal medicine method now available for same in absolute population terms.”
While many medical doctors warn against the use of herbal remedies, Dr. Adekoya sees nothing inimical about it. He described health as a phenomenon that is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.
He said: “It is not just the absence of disease or infirmity. The implications of more people visiting herbal medicine practitioners when in the news is a very good thing for the society, because apart from ensuring that people maintain their health status in a very sustainable manner and become more reliant on their environment, the indigenous practice of treatment which had sustained us for centuries before the contact with other forms of treatment has become more relevant to our lives.
“More research towards better applications of the time-tested methods and methods of treatment are now being available, thus brings more improvement into our ways of life improving our economy and social lives.
“We are now able to derive the advantage of the indigenous knowledge system in our health care producing and consuming. All those which we had been brainwashed to detest are now being well appreciated.
“The bitter cola experience in the tackling of the Ebola and Covid scourge are examples that easily come to mind.”
He also believes that people will continue to patronise herbal medicine because “the orthodox health care delivery system is quite expensive. But in herbal medicine and care system, things are relatively cheap because almost all the inputs are sourced locally. “
He warned that traditional medicine could go the way of orthodox medicine because “every place is being built up and a lot of deforestation is going on, which is seriously affecting the availability of herbal inputs into health care practice. Something should be done to stop this trend.”
Penny wise, pound foolish
The Medical Director of Ibot Clinic, Dr. Oluwatobi Adeleye, attributes the reduction in the traffic of patients to hospitals to trying to run away from heavy costs.
He said it is not a wise decision for anybody to visit pharmacies on their own or patronise traditional medicine shops in an attempt to cut costs because “when complications come, the cost they are trying to run away from, they end up paying 20 to 30 times of what they ran away from.
“It is like someone who ran away from a N20,000 bill and settled for N1,000. But by the time he pays N1,000 10 times, you have paid N10,000. And by the time complications set in, you would end up spending N100,000 to N200,000.
“But generally there is a reduction in traffic. People tend to visit traditional/herbal practitioners or visit pharmacies, but hospitals will continue to wait for them because sooner or later, they will come.”
He warned that ‘concortionists’ take advantage of people because there is no standardization in their practices.
According to him, those who engage in pseudo-medical practices are driven by greed as they tend to make sure they supply ‘concoctions’ to the users “even if it will take them to risk the overall health of the consumer, and they get their money.”
He advised Nigerians patronising untrained ‘medical personnel’ to think it through.”
Unknown to those who patronise ‘untrained medical personnel,’ The Nation gathered, there is a tendency for their health to get worse. “Some people don’t even know what is happening to them. They don’t know the diagnosis. They just believe that every headache and every fever is malaria and typhoid.
“That is why there is increase in liver failure and kidney problems, and the funniest thing is that ‘concortionists’ will still tell them to take these things with dry gin. “In the long run, they come down with liver diseases, kidney problems and lots of other health complications.”
Adeleye advised that Nigerians should try as much as possible to seek professionals. “No matter how little it may be, “there is always a professional for everyone rather than wait till complications set in.”
Adeleye admitted that the threat to the medical profession is temporary. He believes though there is a drop in traffic in the hospitals in terms of cash flow and display of expertise but definitely because there would be a continuous evaluation of the health scheme, and continuous monitoring, “it is still coming back to the table even far from where it was before. But presently, it could look threatened .
How structure affects medical practice in Nigeria
Probably, the condition of health practices would not have been catastrophic if structure had been put in place.
According to Adeleye, “in developed countries, it does not happen this way. You can’t even walk into a drug dispensary station and say you want a particular drug without a doctor’s prescription. But presently as it is in the country, it is threatened, coupled with the economic meltdown.”
Adeleye, therefore, advised the government to put structures in place for evaluating, monitoring, and sensitising the populace about the dangers of visiting such people, contortionists or self-medication as it were, and also ensuring that the right agencies are up to task in terms of monitoring quackery in the health care system.
Temmy also advised the government to rise to the occasion by providing and ensuring that quality, accessible, affordable, and acceptable health care is available for all.
She aligned with Adeleye, saying the way to stop Nigerians from continuing on this dangerous path is for the government to embark on public enlightenment, research, health policy, and implementation. And finally, Nigerians should be made to embrace health insurance.
Adekoya sees no threat to orthodox medicine because it is in a class of its own without any overlap or clash with any aspect of the healthcare chain.
“Apart from the fact that there is a great shortage of medical practitioners,
pharmacists, herbal medicine practitioners, Babalawo, Olorisa, Olosun, Olosanyin, Alaafa, religious and spiritual practices such as Ìşẹ̀şe practices and all other professionals on the health care delivery roles and are not for any reason in a state to clash because they are mutually exclusive to each other. They see themselves as partners in progress.
“The medical practice profession is not under any threat at all. The only major thing that could happen is non-early reporting of many complications.”
Way forward
Adekoya, therefore, advised the government to incorporate the indigenous knowledge system into the educational curriculum of schools in Nigeria such that subjects like herbal medicine, must be made compulsory in primary to secondary schools. “Tertiary degrees must be done at the universities. Some private institutions like Dimef Institute Ode Ule City, Ogun State, have provided such facilities and training.”
He also suggested that every health centre should have an herbal medicine department to provide the services.
“Two institutions, Losi Clinic Group Odè Ulé City and, I think one in Benin, practice the ‘Integrated Medicine’ which has brought indigenous medicine to merge with western medicine as advocated by the WHO sometime the 1970s.
“This integrated medicine is based on the principle that it is a foolish person who has the benefit of having two types of knowledge and just using one, abandoning the other. It is wise to use both knowledge systems in harmony.”
Adekoya is full of praise for those who have embraced herbal medicines, saying “Utilising an alternative form of knowledge is not being lackadaisical. It is rather a demonstration of wisdom and the art of being clever to have been able to appreciate goodness in one’s ways and not sheepishly abandon it and go on to follow a non-indigenous methodology that may not even suit ourselves and our environment.”
Food is medicine
While the argument of orthodox medicine and traditional medicine continues, a conservationist and landscape planner at Dreamscape Garden, Thomas Emmanuel, says good food is medicine which keeps one less dependent on pharmaceutical or traditional medicines.
According to Emmanuel, people are becoming more aware of the side effects of allopathic or pharmaceutical medicines and are wary that it doesn’t solve the problem, sometimes that is why they have embraced roots and herbs.
“Like the blood pressure pills, people just keep taking it, medicine should have a time frame, and however, food too has a serious challenge, from fertilisers to genetic modifications,”Emmanuel said.
The Annual Synod of the Diocese of Lagos West (Anglican Communion) will begin on Thursday, May 16, at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral.
The four-day event four-day event will be graced with the attendance of distinguished bishops from the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and other esteemed dignitaries.
The event will start with an opening service, after which many sessions will be held.
The first session of the synod will be presided over by Bishop Olusola Odedeji, the bishop in a statement, emphasized that pivotal decisions, poised to guide the future trajectory of the Diocese, will be earnestly considered during the business sessions.
He said: “Our Diocese has, by the grace of God, made remarkable progress in the past 25 years. We have no intention of relenting, and this Synod will set the agenda for the next three years and beyond.”
A highlight of the Synod will be Bishop Odedeji’s charge, slated for Friday, where he will speak on the state of the nation and reflect on the strides made since the previous Synod. This address promises to be a stirring call to action, rallying the faithful to confront societal challenges with resilience and compassion.
The Bishop of the Yola Diocese of the Catholic Church, Stephen Mamza, has taken exception to the growing numbers of church founders whose intent appears to be dominantly materialistic.
The bishop, who is the immediate chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Adamawa State, said this during a special Sunday service in Yola.
He said: “Even the holy spirit will find it difficult to count the churches in Yola. Churches are set up today just for business.”
The Yola Catholic bishop said that in Nigeria today, people just want to become general overseers and own private jets, and are into activities that embarrass the body of Christ.
Mentioning the experience of a general overseer of a particular church who asked him to buy his church because the church was not yielding financial fruits, Mamza said: “A general overseer approached me to buy his church. He said things were not moving well for him and he knew of a place where things would work and where he wanted to go.”
Bishop Mamza spoke at St Augustine’s Catholic Church, Bekaji, Yola where he presided over a special service to mark this year’s World Communications Sunday of the Catholic Church.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s World Communications Sunday, “Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart Towards a Fully Human Communication,’ the Yola Catholic bishop said the touch of passion and empathy in human communication cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence.
He said: “Pope Francis invites us this World Communications Day to examine Artificial Intelligence and how it affects communication. Although all platforms for communications offer fantastic opportunities, they take out the humanity in us.
“Any gadgets that deduct from how humanity comes together for impactful close-touch relationship is not good enough and need to be applied in retrospect.
“Many circumstances crop up every so often when you need to be touched or touch someone when you need to stand right by somebody or have somebody stand by you. Only human communication can do this.”
•Say, we bought transformers, paid for pre-paid metres, yet nothing has changed
With a population of over 100,000 people, the Umuokpo Autonomous community in Imo State, has for decades, been forced to rely on kerosene lamps and candles to carry out their evening activities, exposing them to serious health and safety risks. Despite their efforts to take matters into their own hands, including purchasing and installing transformers, the community has remained in the dark. CHRIS NJOKU explores the struggles and frustrations of the people and their determination to access their basic human right to electricity.
For 76-year-old Mrs Nneoma Okoro, the absence of electricity in her community, Umuokpo Autonomous Community in Nkume, Njaba LGA, Imo State, is a constant reminder of the struggles she has faced her entire life. She recalls the days when she had to rely on kerosene lamps and candles to light her home, often worrying about the safety of her children and grandchildren.
Umuokpo is a rural community grappling with significant environmental and infrastructural challenges. The community is plagued by severe gully erosion, which has ravaged the entire area, causing widespread damage to homes, farmland, and infrastructure. Compounding this issue, therefore, is the frequent and unpredictable power disruptions, which have left the community vulnerable to darkness and economic stagnation.
“We have been in darkness for so long,” Nneoma Okoro says, her voice laced with frustration. “We thought we had finally seen the light when we bought our transformer, but DisCo/EEDC took it over and left us in the dark again.”
Mrs Okoro’s story is just one of many in the Umuokpo Community, where the lack of electricity has become a way of life. Despite their efforts to take matters into their own hands, the community has been met with resistance and neglect from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (DisCo/EEDC).
A community in the dark
Umuokpo Autonomous Community, like many rural communities in Nigeria, has been struggling to access basic amenities like electricity. In 2018, their transformer was vandalised, leaving them in darkness for almost three years. Despite purchasing a new transformer through individual contributions, nothing has changed, as the DisCo/EEDC simply took possession of it without compensation.
Narrating their ordeal to The Nation, one of the community leaders, Elder Okegbe Eze Cooper, explained that the community purchased two transformers at various times, with each costing nothing less than N10 million, including the cost of energizing, approvals and logistics.
“The first was purchased after long requests and delays from EEDC. We went out of our way and got one of ourselves. When the transformer was vandalised, EEDC on our invitation, sent an engineer to do the repairs with the community again bankrolling the expenses which were over N500,000 or more, including logistics. Again when the repairs failed, EEDC then came and moved it to their repair centre to investigate the fault and perhaps fix it; and I can tell you that was the last time we heard nor saw the transformer again.
“After years of demand without result, even as they continued to send the monthly bills knowing full well we had no light, we then went to the NERC which serves as the arbiter between EEDC and its customers.
“It was after this that the body ruled that EEDC should, as a matter of urgency, replace the vandalised transformer in the community; and that the entire community should be provided with prepaid meters rather than the estimated bill which was used. It also ruled that the bill of millions of naira, which was the estimated bill sent to the community when we were in total darkness, be struck out and cancelled as it could stand.
“It was after this ruling by the NERC and having waited for another year without any action from EEDC that the community went out of its way again and contributed money to get for itself another transformer at the cost of over N10 million, including energization and approvals from the same EEDC at very high cost. This, of course, is what should have been done free of charge as the court pronounced but it never was. Rather they came in again and continued the financial plunder of our poor people.”
Elder Okegbe also condemned the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) for their handling of the community’s power issues, describing the suffering in the community as “a hopeless situation.”
He expressed frustration that despite a court ruling in their favour, the company has failed to provide a transformer and prepaid meters, which the community people had to fund themselves.
The community’s efforts to fund and energize a new transformer were disregarded by EEDC, which surprised Elder Okegbe. He suggested that the company’s behaviour was a blatant disregard for the community’s efforts and wondered if they were intentionally provoking another legal battle.
Elder Okegbe’s criticism of EEDC’s actions highlights the community’s frustration and sense of abandonment. Despite their best efforts to resolve the issue, they have been met with inaction and disrespect, leaving them feeling helpless and angry.
“Honestly, the story is very pathetic. As if these were not enough, we even went ahead and paid for prepaid meters for ourselves. That’s over a year now but all we got, even as I speak, are just stories and blame games. This is despite the community’s proof of payment of N2 million.
“I paid the N2 million into account number 2030937277 of EEDC Orlu Operations on April 28, 2023.
“It is a sad one. While in Abia State, they are going from street to street, installing free prepaid meters for the people, here in Orlu, Imo State, where we have paid money, we get nothing.”
A cry for justice
The community’s representative, Chief Basil Adimora, now based in the United States, is determined to fight for his community’s rights. “We are not asking for too much; just basic electricity and fair treatment,” he says. “We want DisCo/EEDC to take responsibility for their obligations and stop exploiting our community.”
“We simply want DisCo/EEDC and their affiliates to do the right thing and take their foot off our necks, so we can breathe,” he adds. “We are not shareholders, stakeholders, or owners of DisCo/EEDC, yet we are being forced to provide infrastructure for their profit-making activities without compensation or ownership interest. It’s unfair and unjust.”
According to him, on February 3, 2024, the community sent a letter to the Managing Director of EEDC, requesting a status update on the 20 individuals who had paid for prepaid meters.
“We wrote to the Managing Director of EEDC, Enugu, requesting a status update. Out of the 20 names, 7 prepaid meters have been installed, and we are still waiting to hear about the status of the remaining 13, which is now almost six years overdue.”
The villagers have been left to fend for themselves, and they have grown accustomed to the neglect. With no one to advocate for them, they feel like they are shouting into the wind, and their cries for help are falling on deaf ears.
As a result, they have lost hope, believing that their plight will continue to be ignored, much like sheep without a shepherd.
The traditional ruler of the community, HRH Eze E.M. Iwuala, Obikaeze 11, succinctly captured the sense of despair. “It has become the norm in Nigeria for people to cry out for help without receiving any intervention,” he said, quoting an Igbo proverb. “Let us continue to cry out, not because we expect our situation to change, but so that the world may hear our voice and know our plight.”
The human cost
The lack of electricity in the Umuokpo Community has a human cost that goes beyond mere inconvenience. It affects the health, education, and economic well-being of the community members.
Mrs. Okoro’s granddaughter, Chinaza, has to study with candlelight, risking her eyesight and respiratory health. “I wish I had a proper light to study with,” she says, “but we can’t afford to buy fuel for the generator every day.”
The community’s only healthcare centre struggles to function without electricity, making it difficult for the nurses to store vaccines and medical supplies.
“We have lost precious lives due to our inability to provide proper care,” says the community’s health worker, who simply gave her name as Mrs Uche.
“We need electricity to access basic healthcare, education, and economic opportunities,” says Mrs. Uche. “We can’t afford to wait any longer.”
The lack of electricity also affects the community’s economic activities, making it difficult for them to run their businesses and sell their products.
“We can’t even power our machines to process our farm produce,” says Mr. Ike, a farmer. “We have to sell them at a loss, which affects our livelihood.”
“I have had to spend so much money on fuel for my generator to power my shop,” says Mrs Ngozi, a business owner. “It’s affecting my business and my family’s well-being.”
A call to action
The story of the Umuokpo Community is a call to action for the authorities to take responsibility for providing basic amenities to rural communities. It is a reminder that access to electricity is a fundamental human right, essential for the well-being and development of any community.
As Mrs. Okoro says, “We are not asking for too much. We just want to live a decent life with our children and grandchildren. We want to see the light.”
“We are tired of living in darkness,” says Mr. Emma Okafor, a community member. “We want electricity to power our homes, our businesses, and our lives.”
When The Nation reached out to the Network Manager, Mr Kingsley Mba, he stated that he was no longer in charge of the Orlu District and directed the reporter to contact the new manager, emphasising that government is a continuous entity.
Meanwhile, the Transformer Manager, Mr Chris Umuaka, disputed the claim that the community had been without electricity for three years, asserting that they currently have power. He added, “We didn’t disconnect them. They had light last week, so it’s incorrect to say they don’t have light.”
He also claimed to be unaware of the community’s prolonged darkness and their purchase and installation of transformers twice.
“I’m not aware of those claims. Nobody asked them to buy a transformer and take on EEDC’s responsibilities. If someone did, they should identify that person.”
Regarding the prepaid meters, the manager in charge urged the community to exercise patience, without providing any specific timeline.
Contrary to the community’s claim that 20 subscribers had paid for pre-paid meters, he said only 11 individuals had done so, out of which eight had already been installed.
He assured the community: “They should be patient and engage with EEDC. We haven’t abandoned the project; the remaining three prepaid meters are pending, and we will attend to them soon.”
The provision and installation of transformers and prepaid meters have long been a contentious issue. While many communities are left in darkness waiting for the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to install their transformers, others have taken matters into their own hands by purchasing and installing them themselves.
According to the guidelines for transformer provision in Nigeria set by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the standard practice of Distribution Companies (DisCo)/EEDC, the ownership and responsibilities for transformers are clearly defined. Transformers are typically owned by the DisCo (EEDC), which is responsible for installing and maintaining them, including replacing faulty or vandalised ones.
Communities may be required to contribute to the cost of replacing or installing new transformers through a collective agreement with a DisCo. However, a DisCo is responsible for regular maintenance and repairs of transformers, while communities are responsible for protecting the equipment from vandalism and theft. A DisCo determines when to upgrade or replace transformers based on factors like load demand, condition and age.
Additionally, a DisCo installs and maintains prepaid meters for consumers, including those in rural communities like Umuokpo, and consumers pay electricity tariffs approved by the NERC, which includes costs for transformer maintenance and replacement. A DisCo is expected to engage with communities and address their concerns, including providing electricity access and resolving issues like transformer vandalism.
Unfortunately, many communities, driven by desperation and lack of knowledge, have taken on the burden of providing essential services like electricity, water, and roads, using their resources and effort, despite the absence of a reliable energy supply.
In contrast, other countries and regions have successfully implemented efficient and reliable electricity distribution systems, not only in their rural communities but also throughout their entire countries, minimising power outages and ensuring a stable energy supply.
For instance, Tanzania has recently shut down five hydroelectric stations to reduce excess electricity supply in the national grid, with the Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station alone generating enough electricity to power major cities like Dar es Salaam.
Similarly, Denmark has a decentralised energy system that generates and distributes energy locally, reducing transmission losses and increasing efficiency.
The United States has implemented advanced weather forecasting and predictive maintenance to enhance grid resilience, while Costa Rica has invested heavily in renewable energy sources like hydroelectric power, wind and geothermal energy; reducing reliance on fossil fuels and minimising power outages.
Australia, on its part, has implemented energy storage solutions like batteries and pumped hydro storage to stabilise the grid and ensure a reliable energy supply, while Japan has microgrid systems that can operate independently of the main grid during outages, using local energy sources like solar and wind power.
On the other hand, Singapore has a highly efficient electricity distribution system with a robust grid that minimises power outages, and Germany has smart grids that manage energy distribution efficiently, predicting energy demand and adjusting supply accordingly.
These examples demonstrate that with the right investments and policies in Nigeria, it is possible to provide efficient and reliable electricity distribution systems in rural communities, minimizing power outages and ensuring a stable energy supply.
And with that, communities like Umuokpo would never have to go through the deplorable situations they claim to have been going through.
It was celebration of culture and journalism last Sunday May 5, 2024, as Alhaji Gboyega Jelil Alaka of The Nation Newspapers and his amiable wife, Blessing Barakat Alaka were honoured with the chieftaincy titles of Onigege Ara and Yeye Onigege Ara of Ishaga Akiniyi Kingdom in Ogun State.
According to the traditional ruler of Ishaga Akiniyi Kingdom, His Royal Eminence, Francis Femi Akiniyi, the Onigege Ara (Man with the wonder pen) title was in recognition of Alaka’s journalism exploits, which have seen him win several journalism awards across several categories of the Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA), including the coveted Newspaper Reporter of the Year Award 2019 and Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) UNICEF prize for Child-Friendly Reporting (2015), as well as his contributions towards the development of Ishaga Akiniyi Kingdom.
The honour for his wife, HME said, is “for a steadfast woman and strong pillar behind a successful man of the pen.”
Himself a graduate of English at the Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile- Ife, Akiniyi said, “It is high time the traditional institutions started honouring accomplished intellectuals among us, to celebrate them and to encourage them to do more.”
Gboyega Alaka is also the current chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (The Nation Chapel).
Also honoured were Elder (Barr.) Olugbenga Omiwole, who was conferred with the title of Baamofin of Ishaga Akiniyi Kingdom, alongside his beautiful wife, Engr (Dns) Foluke Oluwakemi Omiwole, who got the title of Yeye Baamofin.
Omiwole is an accomplished legal luminary and founder of Omiwole & Omiwole (Orayinka Chambers) with offices in Ile-Ife, Lagos and Abuja.
Mrs Yetunde Teleola Oladapo, an Assistant Director, Admin/Human Resources in the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, was conferred with title of Yeye Arilesoro of Ishaga Akiniyi Kingdom.
Chief Mrs Oladapo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University. She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria and a member of the Association of Human Resources Practitioners of Nigeria.
Also honored were Kolawole Emmanuel Ogunlewe, a real estate practitioner who was honoured with the title of Maiyegun.
HME Akiniyi also recently honoured the Zambian Ambassador to Nigeria, Adama Njie, with the title of Borokini, while businessman, Olatunde Thomas Oni was honoured with the title of Aare Akinmoyela.
Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) led a delegation of his team to the corporate headquarters of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation newspaper titles in Lagos, last Thursday. The unionist who has had stints as a classroom teacher, reporter on the Labour beat before veering into activism spoke extensively with our top editorial staff, clarifying the ideology behind the NLC; attempting a prognosis of the minimum wage crisis, its nuances and question of who is right and wrong within the debate; the crisis between Congress and the Labour Party; and the first year of the Tinubu administration, among others. Excerpts:
To what do we owe this visit?
It is a home coming for me. When I was elected as the NLC President, I wanted to start this mission to visit the media houses as a form of homecoming, at least to explain the intricacies of the job we do at the NLC because there seems to be a lot of misconception that the NLC exists only for strikes. And if we don’t tell people what we do, you’ll hear questions like when are you going on strike? It’s a wrong perception, so we needed to correct that. At the NLC, it’s a job where you can’t spend one week out. Something must come up. Each time we said we would start this media tour, something would come up and we would put it on hold. It was either people were sacked there or there was one policy or the other that you needed to tackle. But this time around we said no matter the situation, we would be around to visit some media houses and then take another break and by the time we resume the tour, we will visit the others. So, The Nation happened to be among the few we said we have to visit first and foremost before taking a break.
It’s a homecoming and we feel we need to be here to interact with our people for us to know what is happening and why we behave the way we behave.
If my father is the president of the country tomorrow, we won’t be at par. There is no way we are going to agree. That is how difficult the office is because you have principals from every worker even those earning N1 and they are hungry. So they (these subgroups) must put pressure on you and some people have to maintain stability in the nation and do some other things. So, midway, you people must disagree but at the end of the day, we have to agree in the interest of the nation or what some people call compromise. But when you look at the corporate image of the country and the stability of the country and you want us to meet halfway, it is subjected to various interpretations. So, we felt we should come here and meet with you, especially to shed more light on the vexatious issue of the minimum wage.
What informed the N615, 000 monthly proposed as minimum wage?
Talking about the minimum wage, there have been lots of interpretations. But do we have a choice? We don’t have a choice. Like what we presented to the Federal Government, N615, 000. But if you ask us to represent the same thing today, it’s going to increase. (general laughter). And the reason is this:when we were presented that (N615K) areas like tariffs had not increased.So where are we going to get money to pay for the tariff and these things that are happening? We gave them provisos that look, if the indices remain the way they are,it is still N615K.But if they (indices) come down as we are negotiating, we will look at it (proposed minimum wage). Of course, N30K is a lot of money in any currency but the value of our currency is not there. Ordinarily, you can say if somebody is paid N30K it is big. But you can’t earn $30K in the USA or £30K in the UK because their economy is in order. Inflation is checked to a certain level. But in our own case, as we are earning this N615 now, in the next two weeks, things would go high. So those are some of the things affecting us but some people may think that we just woke up from sleep and said give us N615K.
In arriving at N615K, we allocated N40K for accommodation. Whether you stay in Orile (a suburb of Lagos) occupying a room and a parlour, for a family of husband and wife and four children, that’s what the federal government approved. So if you have a grandmother or mother-in-law, you’re on your own because we didn’t factor in those ones. And we assigned N500 per person for that family of six per meal. I want somebody to tell us that if you eat at mamaput there, let’s assume you eat without meat. So that N500 per person is N1, 500 per person in a day for six persons and in a month, you are going to have N270K for feeding. We looked at medicals. We said, assuming that there is not going to be surgery or anything complicated, let’s put N50K. We looked at education, let’s hope that you don’t send your children to private school, we put N50K. We then looked at utilities as in the electricity bill, we said N20K, and that was before the tariff increase. But if you buy a unit of N20K now, for those of you that use it, you know how long it would last. We now looked at gas, kerosene energy components.If you pay N15K 0r N17K to fill a gas cylinder now, within two weeks, it’s gone and in a month you fill your cylinder twice. So we allocated about N30-35K. So that is the breakdown. We didn’t make provisions for communication because you are not supposed to use GSM,so, your boss can’t even call you. You’re not supposed to take any form of refreshment or even buy soda. Or even pay offering in the church or tithe. In this our calculation, you’re not supposed to have a car because you cannot fill a tank with N30K or even service the vehicle, not even a motorcycle. So those are some of the things that make up this N615K, bearing any other increase or inflationary trend or the rate at which the currency is being devalued and we have placed it before the federal government for negotiation. Of course, when there is an offer, there is usually a counter offer. We expect the government to disapprove of it and say this one you are asking we cannot accept. But you (government) say it will create inflation. But we say inflation is already here with us. Of all other components, wage has remained constant. In other words the price of everything is going up whether transportation, school fees, accommodation and so on. So, should wage remain constant and still be able to take care of other variables? So those are the conditions we found ourselves in and we felt that if we don’t explain ourselves, nobody will know and we are not going to assume people know and that is what is driving us all over. If all these factors are checked, we will be arriving at another thing.
Based on the explanations you have given nobody can argue with the things you have said. But in a country where the N30K minimum wage some state governments have not been able to pay, in fact the bulk of them are not even paying it. Do you really think that despite the fact that we have agreed that these things are of necessity, do you see a situation where the federal government can pay N615K? So the question is the issue of affordability. What information do you have that convinces you that the government can pay?
Well, I quite understand the position you have taken. I think there are a few state governments that are not paying or some are paying in breaches. But on the issue of whether they can pay, yes they can pay if they get their priority right. They can pay. In fact, in the National Assembly, their wages have almost tripled. If you come to an economy and you’re having this issue of affordability and or what not, everybody must be disciplined. We are talking about state governments that can’t afford and others can afford it. But the wage system in Nigeria is the same thing whether you are a governor of Sokoto, Kebbi, or Lagos, they pay the same wage and then nobody has considered that since I’m coming from a state that cannot generate N1billion in revenue a month; I’m not supposed to earn this amount of salary. So, let’s earn according to the revenue of my state. If you go to the State Houses of Assembly, even councilors , they have the same level of payment. Now, the issue of minimum wage is a benchmark for which others can pay because if you leave it open, some starts will not even pay N10K. If the current N30K was a product of legislation, it would have been a different matter entirely. That’s why the state governments have been kicking that the minimum wage should be sent into the concurrent list so that they can decide whether to pay N5K or not as minimum wage. But ideally, the states are supposed to pay above the minimum wage. If you check, states like Edo, while we are paying N30K, they are paying N40K. Some others are paying N35K. Most states are paying more than N30K. The N30K minimum wage is for people on Level 1 Step 1. Of course, in the employment relationship these days, it is only when you start getting to Level 4 that you still see people working at that level, especially those who came in with O’Levels. So, in most instances, it is difficult to find anybody earning N30K; it’s from N35K and above. Even when these complaints came during the Buhari era, and he released money from the Sovereign Wealth Fund for the state governments to pay salaries, they didn’t use it to pay salaries, rather they diverted it. So, it’s not all about whether there is money, but it’s just priority. It doesn’t matter to some of them. And I can recall that during the May Day programme when I went to deliver the lecture in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki said workers are suffering. But while you are still negotiating, we are going to start paying N70K. But when the Federal Government approves, we are going to implement it. Now that shows the willingness to pay and move ahead. However, on this N615K, that is what a worker needs to survive without savings. We had to present it. I can’t present a wage system for a worker where we remove accommodation, what will I tell them ?or where I will remove feeding. It is bad enough that we are saying that we want to feed somebody with N500 per meal. Besides, the index that the United Nations brought was that no human being can survive on less than $2 per day. And if you look at $2 per day for six members of the family, in a day you are having $12 and in 30 days, you’re having $360 for feeding based on the global index that no one can live on less than $2 per day. This one we are talking of tariff now, what they use in measuring tariff is inflationary rate and the foreign exchange and these things are not constant variables. If you increase tariffs today, it will lead to inflation and that further increase leads to inflation and it becomes a merry-go-round. Once those factors are checked, things can change. Remember, in this calculation, we did not factor in payment of taxes. If you watch now they are talking about 0.5 percent cybersecurity tax on all transactions. So these are factors. What we presented was just based on the cost of living index. Should we have asked for a wage that somebody would just use to eat and nothing else? That’s what informed what we asked for. But if other variables are checked and brought down, the figures will change.
You have proposed N615K, let’s assume now that the government says ok, we have heard you. Give or take, we cannot afford more than this amount, say N80K. What would be your stand then?
N80K is big money in any currency. But we say you have to check this and that so that at least we can go to work and come back. If you spend N3K every day from N80K, you may not be able to go to work and come back. So, we have to look at that. When the current government first came into power and they removed subsidy, we made a proposal of CNG as the alternative source. If you have Lagos roads flooded with CNG busses, anybody that is paying N3K may just need N1K to go to work and back. Now, you have checked that problem of transportation even the market women carrying their products whatever they are expending as cost of transportation is going to reduce. If the subsidy was not withdrawn when it was withdrawn, may be N80K would have been a very big boost for us. But that singular action of removing the subsidy affected many other things. So if we look at issues that have multiplier effects and address them, that N80K itself is big money and people will clamour for it. It’s not just the figure such as millions or thousands that matters; it’s all about what it can purchase and what we can take home with it. If they call us now we are ready. And I remember we had a proviso that wages should no longer be reviewed every five years. If you are talking of N80K, and that is what we can do now, we have a short time review period because if you leave it for the next five years, from the way things are, because N30K lasted for five years and it lost its meaning. If you are looking at any wage now, and we have maybe a two year duration, we can say after two years let’s have a reopener clause to determine we should increase it by three percent and if we decide to do it arithmetically, the percentage of the inflation if it is 3 percent, we adjust the wage based on that and we will not be breaking our heads on this matter. All we need to do is to look at the percentage of inflation every year and it will self-adjust and look at all those issues. We should not be dogmatic in our wage system and figures.
Are you saying with that kind of template, the wage bill can come down?
Yes all things being equal, although things are never equal in economics. (General laughter).
The Federal Government has about one million workers on its payroll and a wage bill of about N240-N250million monthly, so if the N615K you are asking for is implemented, how much do you think the government can pay?
Part of the problem is that each time there is subsidy or fuel increase in place, there is usually an intensive fight. There are times either they reverse or they reduce. This time around, they said Ajaero go and negotiate wages. You know how much we are realising every day in trillions. So in trying to go and negotiate wages, we are conscious of the fact that this is the only way we receive money. And that trillions have been coming in because if that singular issue of subsidy was not touched, my people won’t be asking for more than N150K today by way of demand. But the moment it (subsidy) was touched, we were asked to go to the table to go and negotiate wages. And momentarily, we moved into 35 percent wage award which they are paying to about N35K today, pending when we are going to go into wage negotiation. If things remain the way they are today, we can even ask for more and not reduce.
Are you discussing outside of the forces of wages alone since you are talking about other variables that could bring down the cost? For instance, you mentioned CNG; those are areas that can help moderate the economy. If you double the wage to N60K, that would help some people but a lot of people are outside the wage framework and would be left behind and that would further put pressure on the wages. Again, it brings down inflation because it would also generate inflationary spiral. So are you discussing outside of those wage structure because ultimately if you are talking of those variables the fact of the matter is that you also need to get the government to commit to the CNG programmes,NHIS for instance that would take off the burden of out-of-pocket expenses to services healthcare for workers and so on.
Between June last year and now , within three months we would have flooded the roads with CNG buses. In fact, at a stage we had to bring in Innoson, which started producing vehicles that are CNG compliant. It is usually double. What you need to bring is a conversion kit and you can switch over top CNG or to PMS. And Nigeria’s gas deposit is such that it can last for the next 500 years; it’s clean energy. If we had achieved that in the first six or three months, you wouldn’t need to go to the street transportation fare would have just crashed. Now, if that was done before the removal of fuel subsidy, no Nigerian would resist and nobody would have known that there is removal of subsidy. But by the time you removed it prices were going up with no alternatives in sight.
We equally consulted people who are in that field and said we have gotten a bank to finance this at N320 per vehicle and then you can pay back for a period of three years as workers. We met with the federal government. The same people that were asking us about the meaning of CNG , they brought their own consultants who presented a bill of N800 and they set up a committee on that. And the committee as at today is not labour and government because there is disparity and then one may be faulting the ones we brought and say they are quacks or whatever. So, between that time and now, that assignment has not been concluded and they said they released some money for bringing in some CNG buses because transportation is at the centre of this thing. If that had happened, we won’t be asking for this amount today. But we made such proposals, even the issue of tax relief. If you check now, the taxes you are saddled with are a lot. Why will somebody tax your housing or do they expect you to live on the streets? Why will somebody tax your medical expenses? So if you’re sick you won’t go to the hospital? So, we are asking for tax holidays. When we were discussing with the government, we were the same people that said the refineries in this country must work. Those are the alternatives we had provided before now. If you stop the importation of PMS and all these products, you will reduce the pressure on foreign exchange. Some of these things would have brought our demands down. So, we are not looking at it from one point; we are taking it holistically. If ABCD is done, this would be the position and vice versa. So we are open for debate to discuss measures that can address this.
So, how far have you gone with the negotiation with the government?
You know we have done the necessary field work. There were consultations across the six geopolitical zones and then we brought out the factors. And the negotiating now said NLC, TUC, go and bring your position. That was when we went to harmonise our position and came up with N615K. From that time till date, they were not calling for a meeting. But after May Day, precisely last night (last Wednesday), they sent us messages for a Zoom meeting scheduled for May 15th. But I don’t know how we can negotiate real wages from a Zoom meeting? As some of you will remember that at some point a certain amount was being peddled either N1billion or N2billion or N800million for the committee to meet. So, you can see that if there is a Zoom meeting on this subject matter, the extent to which it is going to achieve our aim or target is another thing because I don’t want a situation whereby you will be in a Zoom meeting and somebody will shut you up and not allow you to contribute.
What is the bone of contention between Labour and the Labour Party?
Ordinarily, if not for greed, corruption, you won’t hear anything. Labour Party all over the world is owned by the trade unions whether the Labour Party in the UK or anywhere else. The bone of contention or what some of the people are saying about the ownership or whatever is not in doubt. I think in around 1918. Wallace Johnson, a Sierra Leonean journalist was the first person that touted the idea of Labour Party. Around 1945, the likes of Michael Imoudu formed the first Labour Party. He repeated it in 1963-1964. But in 1987, Pascal Bafyau came up with another Labour Party, which came about fourth position during the IBB political experiment. In 2000, at the NLC National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, that was when we decided to have another Labour Party. Then NLC President Adams Oshiomhole tried to advise that we join other parties, and I think we overruled him. But the question then was that if we came up with a Labour Party that the government in power then would not recognise or allow to scale through the registration. So we now came up with the Party for Social Democracy (PSD). That was how we registered the party then. And at the first convention we changed the name to Labour Party. So the issue of ownership wasn’t in doubt. The first National Chairman was the President of National Union of Banks, Dan Nwuanyanwu. When he left, because he took the certificate from us to do some verification at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he brought back the certificate. The certificate is still in my office now. The second chairman of the party was Abdulsalami Maku, the then General Secretary of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE). Even the last one, Abure was a State Secretary of the National Union of Post and Telecoms. Nobody has been the chairman of that party without being a trade unionist. Now even all the deputies like Apampa, who has his own faction was a tanker driver and member of NUPENG.Precisely, he was chairman of NLC in Oyo State. The other person, Madam Ladi Ilia, was the first chairperson of NLC Women Committee and President of the Non Academic Staff Union. So, it is the party of the trade union.There was no convention for Abure anywhere on earth. So when Abdulsalsami died, there were two or three deputies. He (Abure) was an Assistant Secretary. His president then came to beg us then when Dr. Olusegun Mimiko was the Ondo State governor for him to run as Assistant Secretary under Kayode Ajulo, who was then the Secretary of the Labour Party. And when Ajulo left, he started acting. From acting, he now called for a convention in Edo State and he succeeded himself as chairman from the position of Assistant Secretary. And there were three or four deputies. That was how the crisis in the Labour Party started till date. So around 2018, there was a consent judgement. I think Ayuba Wabba then NLC President and others went and blocked their office and they took the matter to court. That consent judgement provided among other things an all-inclusive convention from ward congresses, local government congresses before you now do the national congress. And he now came out and begged Ayuba that he (Abure) needed to be there for the 2023 presidential election, that if there was a convention then the party might not stabilise before the election. And he (Abure) signed an MOU with Ayuba. Then I wasn’t president yet. In that MOU, he agreed to hand over on the 27th of June 2023 after the presidential elections. So it was within this period that I emerged as the NLC president. On that 27th I wrote a letter to him to remind about the MOU. But he started dodging and he hasn’t handed over. We asked him about ward congress, local government congress, and state congresses, but he doesn’t want to do anything at all. So, I think last month, we read in the newspapers that he wanted to do a National Convention and that was when we were alarmed. That was why people protested at the Labour Party office. I don’t go there. Because people protested there, he started calling us names. That the money he kept somewhere that the NLC people have collected. I don’t know the bank he went to do the withdrawal. And he brought in almost three trucks of DSS and the DPO in Sabo Police station there.Journalists were all there. So I don’t know when the NLC went to carry the money. Instead of addressing the issue he is grabbing at the straw. At first, he wanted to go and do the convention in Abia State. I think it has changed. Why you want to do the national convention of a party in a village in Nnewi, is what I don’t know. There was no list of delegates who were going to do the convention and the process that produced the delegates remained unknown because there were no forms in the first place. No journalist was allowed in. So, he came out to say he is the National Chairman at a National Convention where there was no presence of INEC. If you are in my shoes and you are the custodian of the party what will you do? The party has institutional membership. As trustees of the party are we going to watch the way things are going? That is why we told him that look, things don’t happen that way. Inasmuch as I will not be NLC President and running the party, even as an institutional automatic member of NEC, I have not attended the NEC meeting. So there is no conflict in the role we are playing. But we don’t understand why the Labour Party should charge people N30million or N10million for nomination form. The main basis for which we formed the party was to take care of the less privileged. That is ordinary Nigerian workers who can’t afford that money can contest elections. And we realised that objective in 2023 with okada riders going to the NASS. It is only in the Labour Party that such things can happen because we gave those forms for free to about two of them and today they’re in the NASS. We gave forms to peasants, farmers, because we felt we were running a party for them and then suddenly, someone is charging somebody N10million. Where do you expect people to get that kind of money? So, I wish to reiterate here that there is no conflict whatsoever and whatever thing you are seeing is propaganda.
You have dealt with the formation and ownership of the party. We are talking about systems here. You have the NLC and then you have the Labour Party. The Labour Party has its own constitution and in that constitution there should be a mechanism for resolving issues like this. That is why people are alarmed that the NLC has no role resolving the issues that the Labour Party is facing. Issues should be resolved in the way that the constitution has spelt out. That is why people are alarmed that you (the NLC) are resorting to self-help. Are there no people in the Labour Party that can challenge the leadership of the Labour Party?
Well, this is a party with a difference. It is a party with institutional membership and it’s not like any other party you know. And I want you to note that even the court judgement was clear about this. It was the same constitution that gave us roles even as NLC President, NLC Secretary and whatever including the roles in the party and even those in the state. That is why I am telling you that there is a different configuration of the party. Now, unless it happens tomorrow and if you are a trustee of any organisation, you don’t watch helplessly. Now, what you are seeing as interventions are not takeover of the party by the NLC to run it. Like I tried to explain to you, yes, some of our past leaders assumed positions there but you will not see me making statements on behalf of the Labour Party. And that was why we deliberately formed a political commission. All the things happening in the Labour Party or that you are hearing are not coming from the desk of the NLC President.
You won’t read a statement on this their lingering disagreement from the NLC President or the NLC General Secretary. No. We have a Commission specifically meant to interface with them and report back because if as the president I will be the same person issuing out statement and would be the same person that would preside over the resolution of conflicts, there is already a conflict. So it’s the Commission that is interfacing with the party over what is happening and they are not doing it with a view to taking over. And then, if you now see total dictatorship in the Labour Party, where you don’t have ward congresses as required in democracy and there is nobody in the ward who will elect the local government officers or even at the state level? If you don’t have state delegates, how do you now have delegates for the national convention? Even if we come around to it, we are not interfering in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and we can’t even say a word about what is happening in the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other political party. This is the way the Labour Party is and the way it was conceived for the interest of the working class. So, each time there is a violation, we intervene and say no go and do it right but it is not taking over and running the party.
When you were attacked in Imo, there was public outcry. With the benefit of insight would you have adopted a different approach in your intervention in that state?
If I go to Imo now, I will be more prepared. (General laughter).
How?
If I knew they were going to attack me, I would have increased my security because I had security then. I even met with the DG of DSS in Abuja before going for that trip. I had 13 policemen and about seven naval personnel, whom they withdrew officially before attacking me.
These security personnel accompanied you to Imo?
No. They were the ones on ground in Imo. Now what happened in Imo was a case of labeling a class of workers as ghost workers even when they come to work every day. The wage bill in Imo was about N1-2billion and somebody said, no I will not pay more than N700million. The people that couldn’t get it were tagged ghost-workers and pensioners. Unfortunately, it all started before me. When the issue was on, the State Chairman of the Labour Party had to run from the state. Attempts were made to deal with him at the secretariat and in his house. So, we had to look for the person next to him to be acting chairman in Imo. I remember Ayuba at the NEC meeting we decided to send people to the government in Imo state. They said Ajaero go and I said that is my state. They now asked the deputy, who is now the current governor of Kebbi State ,Nasir, to lead the delegation and he went to see the governor and he had an agreement with the governor. One of the agreements was that they were going to do biometrics between the union and the government to ascertain how many people were affected by the policy. But it was not done in the case of Imo. And then we took a decision at the NLC NEC meeting on Imo, Rivers, Kaduna, Osun and Abia; that we were going to picket them and do protest rallies in those states. So, we went to Port Harcourt. Nyesome Wike, after telling us that we were not wanted but when we arrived, he said, give me five minutes. We had a meeting with him, resolved the matter and in fact, he even denied that he was occupying our secretariat because the police vacated before we went there. Then we went to Kaduna where we had a real tough battle with Governor Nasir El Rufai again. Then, it remained Imo and Abia when I emerged as the president of the NLC. I remembered that in Imo State before we addressed it we had elections in the whole states of the federation of NLC leadership. The Commissioner of Information in Imo Emelumba Mbadiwe called me and said Ajaero , we don’t want candidate A. So, on the day of the election they sent thugs there to disrupt the election. The workers informed us and we said go ahead with the election. I now called the Road Transport Union and others, instructing them that if your people are there withdraw them. They now sent the DPO of the Imo State House of Assembly to go there and disperse workers, telling them that this is power from above. On the basis of that because nature abhors vacuum, we set up a Caretaker Committee. We did the same in Abia and Osun States, because we couldn’t conclude elections there. Later the Imo state government said they didn’t recognise the Caretaker Committee. Of course, you know that the state government is not the one who will tell us those to appoint in the Caretaker Committee. That was how the problem in Imo started. If our Caretaker Committee issues statements the state government would ask their own stooges whom they support to write a counterstatement. It then appeared as if there were two NLC excos in Imo state: one reporting to the state government and the other reporting the NLC. So on May Day the Caretaker Committee wrote to apply for venue for the rally but nobody gave them a venue as such, so we now asked them to use our office. And they were in our office when they were attacked. Some people were hospitalised. That was the second attack. On the basis of that we responded to what was happening in Imo state. Thereafter, we signed an agreement with the governor again on how to set up committees to verify these claims about ghost-workers, which he didn’t do from that May Day till November when this attack came, we now said ok, we will be in Imo state. At the end of a joint NEC meeting with TUC, we decided to inform all unions asking their members to present a list of affected workers. From the local government alone, I had over 1, 000 names with their names, phone numbers and also asked them to indicate the last time they were paid. Some had not collected their pay in over three years because they call them ghost-workers. From the NUT alone, we had about 3, 000 in that order. So we said all these people being owed come, let’s go to Government House and meet with the governor assuming his commissioners are not telling him the truth. It was on arrival that I was attacked. I was just arriving at the NLC secretariat when the attack came. Even tomorrow if you ask me whether I would take a similar action, I will say yes. I was even in my house when someone told me that people were being attacked and the burden of leadership demands that I should step out and that’s what I did. Ordinarily, I could have avoided being attacked because the first people that arrived there were attacked and they seized their phones. But I had to step out. That’s exactly what happened. Whether the scenario or situation comes up in another place and if I will go there or not; I will go because I have been assigned to do this job.
It seems to me that you rehearsed very well for this outing because we were all expecting an Ajaero that would be banging the tables and all…
(General laughter)
In the next couple of weeks the Tinubu government will be one year in office. How do you rate the government in terms of its performance? Also insecurity is an issue which the government promised to tackle. We complained that we don’t have enough police but both public servants and private citizens move with hordes of security personnel and sometimes you find one individual having a retinue of over 10 personnel at their beck and call. For instance you had about 13 policemen and seven naval officers assigned to you to go to Imo alone…
(General laughter).
Wait sir, I don’t have one. I drove to this office alone.
The opinion out there is that you are against the current APC ruling government outright and you don’t seem to see anything good in this government. How will you react to that? Besides you were advised one time that you should wait till 2027.
(General laughter)
I would have avoided assessment of his one year in office because I can only talk from the point of view of Labour. I don’t want to go into general assessment or politics. If you watch May Day, the president’s speech was delivered by the Vice President (Kashim Shettima). He said I’m not taking your patience for granted. Contrary to whatever anybody might think of, we know we have been patient with this government; very, very patient. If I wasn’t the person there… I have been called all manner of names. Unknown to you people have called me an APC member, just as many people believed I have been settled behind closed doors. But that’s the world we have found ourselves. These are things that go with this office at any point in time. So, if you are occupying this office you must take blows. But the fact is that Mr. President tried to even justify us when he said we should wait for him in 2027. If not for that statement, we rallied one day and said, ok, we were not going to rally the second day. We wanted to prove something that day. It simply shows that the NLC decides when to take an action and when to withdraw. Apparently Mr. President was not happy. Some Nigerians called us names for not coming out the second day. So, in my position you can see that I’m neither here nor there because you still take directives from your members. If I’m assessing Mr. President for one year in office from the point of view of Labour, I can tell you pointblank that we are yet to get the wage he promised. In fact, he used the word living wage when he was inaugurating the committee. He promised to give Nigerian workers a living wage and everybody was full of expectations. But it has not happened close to the end of one year. So, you can see that, that anxiety is still there that Mr. President has not been fulfilled. We are still very anxious and as we are await something better so that we can take it back to workers. The cost of living has gone very high and as partners we suggested this issue of CNG and other measures to solve it and which has not happened. But if these things happen, you can be sure of our support. I think we have done continuous assessment; we are only waiting for the menu to be served. We have calculated our scores for Mr. President so when we get the main exams we will take it further from there.
Yes, we have acknowledged the issue of wage awards. We acknowledge the fact that work is still ongoing with the Port Harcourt refinery. All these things are work in progress so to say but the actual result has not come out. So it is difficult to do this assessment midway. I told you I don’t want to go into the issue of politics. NLC is made up of members who belong to various political parties. It’s not all NLC members that are in Labour Party. For the first time in my life I had to attend a political rally where I went to campaign for an APC member in Kebbi. I’m a Nigerian, and as such, I can support anybody I so wish. Because we realised that the PDP was taking over Kebbi and we had a colleague, a former deputy chairman of NLC running for governorship. At a point, we had to be partisan under APC and as luck would have it he emerged as the governor. We told him he should carry out the things he is supposed to do. I was in Edo state when Comrade Oshiomhole ran for the governorship. He ran on the platform of Labour Party before they now brought about the amalgamation of political parties that delivered him. We equally produced the state chairman in Niger State as deputy governor, which is APC-led. You know, all these areas are under APC. After the election there were inaugurations and people were telling me I had to go to Abia. And I said no.Instead I was in Kebbi for the inauguration of the governor there. So, we are still independent as human beings to support who we want to support.
Is there no contradiction there? Is that why Labour should not form a political party? Because how can you leave your party that you have formed and pitch a tent with another party’s candidate? It’s a contradiction.
You see, we believe in merit and stand by it. I don’t want to go any further. I would have told you Otti was the MD of Diamond Bank. We hold people by the way they related with workers in the past. I don’t want to go too much into that so it doesn’t seem as if that’s why we are here. Workers know them and each time we discover those that are with them we support them. It equally shows in the manner of the wage you paid or the way you related with us. So, there is no contradiction whatsoever. There are people that have working class orientation or share our ideologies. We can’t abandon them because of the choice of their political affiliations because we know wherever they are, whether in APC or anywhere, they will remember their backgrounds.
Still talking politics, during the 2023 general elections you were accused of playing dirty politics with your support for Peter Obi. Of course, Obi lost in that election. In 2027, if Obi decides to seek reelection, are you still going to throw your weight behind him?
What did I say in 2023? I wasn’t the NLC President when Peter Obi emerged, I met him there. I remember being asked by journalists to give my opinion especially on the issue of subsidy. That if Peter Obi had emerged and removed the subsidy what would happen? My response then was that it would be worse for him than today because you can’t claim to share one ideology to run on a platform we provided and you still go ahead to do ABCD. These are issues that came up and had no bearing with whoever emerged as the NLC President. If another person had emerged as NLC President I’m not sure he would do anything different from what I’m doing. But in all the campaigns they did in Labour Party, you would not see me anywhere near there. But the NLC uses the Labour Party as a platform to look at people that are worker-friendly and we supported such even before we emerged.
There are candidates who have been using the LP as a special purpose vehicle for their political aspiration and not necessarily workers-friendly…
We noticed that that is the current fad now. So you need to understand now that you can’t use a platform to pursue your own ideology separate from what we stand for as a party.
