National

By Sabi’u Abdullahi

Shaykh Isah Ali Pantami, an academic and author, has challenged the critics of his book “Skills Rather Than Just Degrees” to a debate at a location of their choice.
 
This challenge comes after some academics took to social media to criticise the book without reading it, according to a Facebook post by Yakubu Sani Wudil, a close associate of Prof. Pantami.
 
In the post, Wudil wrote: “Some indirectly criticise without reading the book and, ironically, also go ahead and make recommendations the same with the advocacy of the book.”
 
He added that Prof. Pantami is ready for an intellectual debate on any campus in Nigeria, saying: “The author will be available for the intellectual debate as early as tomorrow in sha Allah, if the venue is not too far from Abuja.”
 
Wudil invited critics to nominate three representatives for the debate, which will be coordinated by a team of academics including himself, Adeolu Akande, El-Bonga, Dr. Adamu Tilde, and Realoilsheikh.
 
He stated that the venue, date, and time will be chosen by the critics, as he was quoted as saying, “The floor is yours to choose the venue, the best among the critics to be adopted by the consensus of all of them, just specify the date & time.”
 
Prof. Pantami’s book “Skills Rather Than Just Degrees” is currently being translated into other international languages.
 
According to Wudil, “Praises and thanks are due to the Almighty. Among the 5 books authored by @ProfIsaPantami in the last 2 years, #SkillsRatherThanJustDegrees has been the most popular and impactful by far.”
 
The debate challenge has sparked excitement in academic circles, with many eagerly awaiting the intellectual showdown.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

In a decisive operation on the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode-Benin expressway, the Ogun State Police Command has neutralized two suspected kidnappers in a shootout, as announced by Omolola Odutola, the command’s spokesperson.

According to Ms Odutola, the suspects met their fate during a daring rescue mission executed by police personnel to liberate abducted Indian nationals. 

The successful operation, aided by local vigilantes, led to the safe recovery of the hostages.

Identified as Tejaram Chauhan, Kaduwal Pradhan, and Medani Kathiwada, the Indian nationals had fallen victim to abduction on Friday. 

Alongside their rescue, authorities seized a substantial sum of N7.9 million, along with 1,500 Indian Rupees, believed to be part of the ransom extorted by the kidnappers.

The ordeal began when the Manager of Breeze Company Nigeria Limited, situated on the Ibadan-Lagos expressway, reported an attack to the Divisional Police Officer, Mowe Divisional Headquarters. 

The incident involved gunfire directed at vehicles transporting the manager’s principals at Kajola junction along the Sagamu-Siun-Abeokuta expressway.

While the police escort accompanying the first vehicle managed to repel the assailants and safeguard all occupants, three Indian nationals in the second vehicle were abducted. 

Prompt response from the anti-kidnapping section, in collaboration with local security units, initiated a thorough search of the area.

A fierce confrontation ensued in the forest along the Benin-Sagamu Papalanto route, resulting in the rescue of the hostages unharmed. 

Two of the six kidnappers were incapacitated during the exchange of fire, with authorities recovering two AK-47 rifles, a single-barrel locally made gun, a sword, cell phones, criminal paraphernalia, and 65 rounds of ammunition.

The deceased suspects have been transferred to the public mortuary while intensive efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining members of the gang.

By Bala Idris

When, on 29th May 2023, against the advice of the Presidential Transition Council Inaugural Committee, you took to the podium at Eagle Square to audaciously declare an end to the corrupted fuel subsidy regime in your first speech as President of the Federal Republic, you most certainly did not envisage an instant bushfire effect – a rabid fuel scarcity which immediately ignited intense economic hardship and food crisis across the country – even before you stepped down from that platform. 

That singular phrase, “Fuel subsidy is gone!” reverberated harshly and pummeled the nation to a pulp, with prices skyrocketing and people’s modest earnings suddenly becoming unbearably meagre. This sparked an agitation for a new salary and minimum wage regime in the country.

The situation took a deeper dive when you announced the student loan scheme with all the attendant uncertainties, causing another spike in tuition fees across universities and concurrent student dropouts. Then, the Naira plummeted against the dollar, further tightening the noose of survival for everyday Nigerians. This effectively wiped out the middle class and created a situation where even basic commodities like Maggie, Oil, Toothpaste, and Garri, to mention a few, were no longer affordable to “ordinary” Nigerians, particularly Pensioners. 

All through this crisis, you have consistently demonstrated an abiding commitment to work harder to ensure that life eventually becomes easy and meaningful for Nigerians. This is in addition to obvious mitigation measures like the recent NGN200 Billion Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme, effective monetary policies that made the Naira rebound in a record feat, and a review of the Student Loan Act with more enabling and lenient provisions, among other sustainable initiatives. 

These have demonstrated that it is clearly not in your character or policy to deliberately perpetuate hardship or deprive the labourer of their wage. 

As such, organs of government under your watch should not be used as a launchpad for inhumane onslaught by heads of agencies unilaterally degrading salaries and emoluments, particularly at a time of huge price increases in the middle of the most severe cost-of-living crisis in Nigerian history. 

Such is the situation that over 20yrs pensioners of Ajaokuta Steel Company (ASCL) in October 2023 woke up to, a shocking unilateral decision led by the Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr Chioma Ejikeme, to decapitate their emoluments by up to 33% under a “backend computation” pretext. 

In the wake of this onslaught, many woke up to payment alerts far below the existing minimum wage, more so when their pension was already not adequate enough for the comfortable last days of a nation’s senior citizens who have spent the better part of their useful lives in the service of their fatherland! 

This is also coming at a critical time when spiralling inflation has already degraded the emolument by many percentages, shrinking it to a sub-existence level. 

Mr President, it is important to point out that this inhumane act against our nation’s senior citizens by PTAD and its E.S. was carried out without any known authorising memo from its supervising ministry and without any known audit that points to the alleged discrepancies it claimed to have covered in the so-called backend competition that equally lacked relevant stakeholders input. 

While an existing court order has urged both parties to maintain the status quo, PTAD has continuously been in contempt of this order, still insisting on paying the degraded emoluments, which have been found to be fraught with monumental errors. As a result, PTAD agreed to an out-of-court settlement, agreeing to review the backend computation again with relevant stakeholders’ input. 

However, this has proven to be an exercise in futility as it appears PTAD is only interested in stalling the court case. It has not lived up to its promise by reverting to the normal pension regime as of the last payment in March 2024. 

Meanwhile, these pensioners are languishing in abject poverty, deprivation, hunger and some terminal ailments, mostly unable to feed their families, pay the bills, purchase essential drugs or pay for school tuition fees. 

Your excellency, sir, your intervention in this matter in not only ensuring their right dues are paid to them but also enabling them to benefit from upward reviews of salaries and minimum wage will bring a relief to which the pensioners will remain eternally grateful to you. 

You may wish to recall that about six months ago, Federal pensioners under the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate(PTAD) raised concerns over your re-appointment of Dr Chioma Ejikeme as executive secretary.

The pensioners also demanded a prudent audit of PTAD’s activities under her leadership, including the recovery of 163 million naira in monthly running costs, looted pension funds by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ( ICPC), and the recovery of 9 billion naira in assets from Bots and insurance companies.

On this basis, Mr President sir, I call on you, as a compassionate father, to order the restoration to the normalcy of ASCL Pensioners’ monthly emoluments and urgently invite the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission to advise the Federal Government accordingly on the true interpretation of the pensioner’s emoluments. 

In other words, Mr President, sir, call PTAD to order, declare an immediate probe into the situation, order a reversal of the status quo, and follow due process. Let the “poor breath!”

Bala is a concerned citizen and public affairs analyst, he writes from Abuja the Federal Capital Territory.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Former Jigawa State Governor and PDP Chieftain, Sule Lamido, has criticized Northern governors for their recent visit to the United States, stating that it showcased their lack of understanding of the Nigerian Constitution.

Lamido voiced his concerns via a statement on his official Facebook page on Sunday. The governors had traveled to the US to participate in a peace summit organized by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).

Lamido said, “Our Northern governors as concerned leaders traveled all the way to the United States of America to attend a lecture at the American Institute for Peace titled “ADVANCING STABILITY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA”, as to find a lasting solution to the intractable problems of insecurity bedeviling their respective states.

“Their concern, commendable as it were, ended up exposing their ignorance at understanding the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the very instrument which gave them the legitimacy and the authority to be Governors.

“If the Governors had traveled to the US to engage on how to boost agriculture or health issues or any other pressing local problems listed on the Concurrent List of our Constitution, this could be quite understandable.

“But to engage on issues which are on the Exclusive Legislative List such as security says a lot about the substance they are made of.

“Security is a very wide subject which their Excellencies must have capacity to grasp. Most urban towns in their states lack portable drinking water, and refuse dumps have taken over some streets.

“Our children attend primary schools under the trees and where there are classes, they take their lessons sitting on the floor, yet the security implications of this cannot be discerned by their Excellencies.

“Deliberate and harshly induced poverty by unplanned government policies have made citizens lose their esteem, honour and self worth by lining up scrambling to collect palliatives from patronizing and condescending leaders yet the Insecurity of this is of no worry or concern to them.

“You have governors with no human empathy or respect for dignity or decency in an open show of shame throwing money like confetti from an open Jeep and people scrambling to pick it like the Governor of Niger State. Yet they fail to see the security implications of all these.

“If the governors were serious and wanted to have a lecture on security, they need not have embarked on such a wasteful journey with the accompanying expenditure of flight tickets, hotels with all their aides and above all the valuable time wasted at the expense of running their states.

“Certainly, they could have gotten more than they wanted from our resourceful institutions such as NIPSS in Kuru Jos or ASCON in Badagry or even NIA.

“These three institutions have more than enough materials, essays and templates on the problems on security in Nigeria more than the far fetched American Institute.”

The former governor, however blamed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NIA for failing to properly guide the governors.

Lamido said, “I blame the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NIA for failing to properly guide the governors for this folly.

“The governors could not have traveled without the facilitation of the Ministry or our Embassy in Washington.

“Nigeria and Nigerians now carry the image of ‘advancing our shame and embarrassment beyond our frontiers’ caused by their Excellencies!”

He further stated, “One is inclined to believe Rufai Oseni when he recently said ‘Nigerian madness has no bound or limits.

“So in Nigeria today, one’s biggest challenge is how one remains sane in this insane country,” he stated.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

In a recent crackdown, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended 34 individuals suspected of engaging in foreign exchange fraud.  

These arrests were made on Friday, April 26, 2024, during a well-coordinated sting operation conducted at the Wuse Zone 4 area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. 

According to Dele Oyewale, the spokesman for the EFCC, the operation was prompted by credible intelligence indicating illicit sales of dollars in the area.  

Among those detained are individuals identified as Usman Mohammed, Abdullahi Nasir, Abubakar Saleh, and others.  

The EFCC’s efforts to purge and stabilise the foreign exchange market have been ongoing, leading to these recent arrests. 

Following standard procedure, the suspects will undergo thorough investigations before being brought to court for prosecution.  

This development shows EFCC’s commitment to combating currency-related crimes and ensuring the integrity of the financial system.

By Zayyad I. Muhammad

The principle “you only sell what you have” is a cornerstone of all businesses, resonating throughout different industries and emphasizing the importance of aligning offerings with available resources and expertise.

It’s crucial to provide goods or services that are accessible and within one’s capabilities. However, Nigerian power distribution companies (DISCOs) are selling services they cannot deliver to their customers. For example, the promised 20–24-hour electricity supply under the new tariffs, such as Band A, appears to be unsuccessful.

The DISCOs are simply selling 20–24 hours of darkness, causing disappointment, eroding trust, and damaging the reputation of both the DISCOs and the Minister of Power.

Among economics and political observers, there is a widely held belief that credibility is paramount in retail, manufacturing, or service-oriented businesses. Customers expect transparency and reliability, and any deviation from this expectation can have detrimental effects on long-term success.

The DISCOs want to emulate other countries, but in those with privatized electricity, tariffs are usually categorized into residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. However, in Nigeria, consumers are simply grouped into ‘BANDs.’ For instance, in countries with reliable electricity, like the EU, consumers have the freedom to choose an electricity supplier from the full range available in their area, as well as the type of tariffs they prefer. In Nigeria, DISCOs hold a monopoly. If your service provider is Ibadan Electric, Kaduna Electric, Yola Electric, etc., you have no alternative; you must remain with that specific DISCO and the tariff band they have assigned to you.

We must acknowledge that every business, including DISCOs, operates within constraints, whether financial, logistical, or technical. While acknowledging these constraints is logical, the new tariff appears to be nothing more than an attempt to expedite Nigeria’s electricity sector development without addressing underlying challenges. How can Nigeria implement tariffs similar to those in countries with well-developed electricity sectors, characterised by massive infrastructure, reliable electricity, flexible tariff structures, and numerous options for consumers in choosing service providers?

The Band A tariff is nothing but overpromising and underdelivering. Businesses that embrace this principle prioritise maximising profits at the expense of their customers’ needs and freedom of choice.

In fact, the majority of Nigerian electricity consumers, regardless of whether they are in Bands A, B, C, D, or E, are angered by two entities: DISCOs and the Minister of Power. DISCOs are perceived as collecting money for services not rendered, while the minister is seen as defending the indefensible.

In serious countries, electricity supplies and tariffs are considered a security and economic imperative. Thus, electricity tariffs can vary widely depending on factors such as economic conditions, infrastructure, government policies, and production methods.

Presently, Nigeria’s economic conditions cannot support or sustain these new tariffs; we lack the infrastructure and economic strength for businesses to bear such high tariffs. Consequently, this would lead to high commodity prices as production costs increase, ultimately resulting in higher prices for goods and services.

In countries with efficient electricity systems, tariffs often reflect the costs of generation, distribution, and maintenance, resulting in lower rates for consumers. For instance, countries like Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland utilise a mix of hydroelectric, nuclear, and renewable energy sources, which helps keep tariffs relatively low compared to gas-powered alternatives.

The Minister of Power and DISCOs must revisit the drawing board as the new tariff has failed upon arrival. For instance, according to an investigative report by the Daily Trust on April 12, 2024, DISCOs issued 37 apologies to Band A customers within one week. They are struggling to sustain a 20–24-hour power supply to Band A customers.

It’s crucial to remind DISCOs of the provision by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC): ‘When the Disco fails to meet the committed service level to a Band A feeder for seven consecutive days, the feeder shall be automatically downgraded to the recorded level of supply in accordance with the applicable framework.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Abuja, 08036070980, zaymohd@yahoo.com

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Plateau State Government revealed on Monday that bandits operating in the Wase Local Government Area have handed over a significant number of AK47 rifles to the state authorities.

During a press briefing in Jos, the state capital, the Special Adviser to Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Security and Commander Operation Rainbow, Brigadier General Gakji Shippi, made this disclosure.

Shippi explained that the surrender of weapons followed extensive negotiations between the government and the bandits, showcasing a willingness to pursue peace through disarmament.

He clarified that the bandits didn’t directly surrender the firearms out of fear but through an intermediary involved in the negotiations.

He further mentioned that alongside the AK47 rifles, various other categories of weapons were also surrendered by the bandits, illustrating their commitment to the peace process.

Shippi emphasized that these efforts aim to encourage more bandits to voluntarily surrender their weapons, with ongoing steps to recover additional firearms from other groups.

 By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The Federal Government has launched the National Single Window Steering Committee to bolster trade facilitation and streamline the nation’s import and export processes.

The inauguration ceremony was held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, with President Bola Tinubu presiding. 

The Committee comprises representatives from pivotal federal ministries and agencies.

These include the Ministry of Finance, Marine and Blue Economy, Transportation, Trade and Investment, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Central Bank of Nigeria, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organization of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). 

Highlighting the significance of the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) involvement, President Tinubu stated, “Nigeria cannot afford to lose an estimated $4 billion annually due to bureaucratic delays, red tape, and corruption at the nation’s ports.

“By embracing the single window system, Nigeria hopes to join countries like Singapore, Korea, Kenya, and Saudi Arabia that have already experienced significant improvements in trade efficiency.” 

The National Single Window project aims to introduce a real-time digital trade compliance system, revolutionizing trade processes.

This initiative is anticipated to enable paperless trade, providing an estimated annual economic benefit of around $2.7 billion.

It is projected to bolster national revenue and enhance port efficiency. With the NCS’s pivotal role in trade facilitation and border security, its involvement in the initiative is deemed crucial.

The service is aligned with the initiative’s goals, aiming to expedite cargo movement and bolster inter-African trade. 

The launch of the National Single Window Steering Committee is viewed as a testament to the government’s unwavering commitment to progress, prosperity, and the welfare of Nigerians.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has debunked the allegation that he is using unsubstantiated claims against Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as a sheild to conceal his own failure in meeting the explanations of the people.

The governor claimed that the public that the commissions of inquiry set up by his administration were not meant to target any specific group.

He explained that they were focused on ensuring transparency and tackling political violence in the state.

During a visit from the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, Governor Yusuf reiterated the purpose of the panels.

He pledged to investigate and punish those involved in political violence, emphasizing that nobody would be spared, regardless of their political affiliations.

Governor Yusuf highlighted his administration’s efforts to combat political thuggery and empower youth and women through various schemes.

He also mentioned initiatives to improve healthcare, education, and infrastructure in the state.

Additionally, Governor Yusuf announced plans to investigate past administrations for any wrongdoing and recover misappropriated public funds.

The Emir of Kano commended Governor Yusuf’s commitment to development projects and urged parents to monitor their children to prevent social vices and political thuggery.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) employees have expressed profound apprehension as the specter of job loss looms large following the appointment of Dr. Olayemi Cardoso as Governor.

In interviews with journalists, CBN workers voiced concerns that no department within the apex bank seems immune to the ongoing wave of terminations.

This unease intensified with the recent dismissal of another 50 colleagues, bringing the tally to approximately 117 employees shown the door in just 20 days, spanning 29 different departments.

Among those affected are directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, principal managers, senior managers, and lower-ranking staff.

One employee lamented, “We’ve witnessed indiscriminate layoffs in procurement, development finance, and medical services.

“This trend suggests that other departments might face the same fate soon.

“I fear they’ll target those who worked closely with the sacked directors. Such apprehension doesn’t bode well for productivity or the system.”

Another senior staff member revealed, “Many sacked individuals received their letters quietly and left their offices feeling helpless due to the systemic structure.”

Under Cardoso’s leadership, the CBN has undergone numerous changes in policies and personnel, deviating significantly from the tenure of his predecessor, Godwin Emefiele.

Even CBN vendors have voiced grievances, as some who completed contracts since last June await payment indefinitely under the new management, amidst suspicions that they might have benefited from Emefiele’s administration.