National

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

The Nigerian Senate on Monday confirmed the immediate ex-governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, as a minister. 

Wike, after reeling out his Curriculum Vitae and achievements, noted that his passion for Nigeria propelled him to accept the ministerial offer. 

He was quoted as saying, “I accepted the offer to serve as a minister because of my passion to serve Nigeria.” 

During the screening, the lawmaker representing River State, represented by Senator Barinada Mpigi (PDP, Rivers Southeast), said that he was the best in the state. 

He said, “His Excellency former Governor Nyesom Wike is our best in Rivers State. He is our leader and role model. 

As of the time of filing this report, there was no information about the ministry Mr. Wike is expected to lead.

By Lawan Bukar Maigana

The removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has had far-ranging consequences, amplifying the existing economic hardships faced by millions of Nigerians. The nation is currently grappling with an unprecedented inflation rate in essential commodities, transportation and other services. As a result, a large proportion of Nigerians find themselves living below the poverty line, struggling to make ends meet. 

This development has directly contributed to the spiraling inflation rate, which has hit the prices of foodstuff, transportation and essential services the hardest. This has created a burden on the average Nigerians, as their meager income is further stretched, making it increasingly difficult to afford necessities. 

As I write this article, the bus fare from Maiduguri to Abuja is N10,500 which was previously N7,500 as reflected on a circular released by Borno Express Cooperation on June 1st, 2023. Kaduna to Maiduguri, which used to be N6000, is now N9000. 

In the event whereby vehicles are scarce at the garage, travelers pay N12,000 from Maiduguri to Kano which was formerly N6,500, a non-Borno Express driver confirmed. This is unbearable and unacceptable!

The economic downturn occasioned by subsidy removal has disproportionately affected the most vulnerable segments of society as many Nigerians are now living below the breadline, struggling to feed their families and maintain a decent standard of living. 

Nobody is spared from the unbearable consequences of the removal of fuel subsidies. Not even the bourgeois elites’ empire in the country. They, too, hide and cry. Who the subsidy removal benefits then? 

Civil servants, especially those working in state and local governments are among the primary victims of the removal of fuel subsidies as many of them can’t feed their families. A 100% increase in their salaries is a necessary step to restore their purchasing power and improve their quality of life. 

Additionally, an increase in civil servant salaries would contribute to the overall improvement of public services. It would attract and retain talented professionals who are essential for efficient service delivery. Adequate compensation would motivate civil servants to perform at their best, leading to a more productive and effective public sector.

Now, what about the unemployed and jobless massive population in the country? How would their well-being be improved? Who would provide for them? A larger portion of Nigeria’s population is suffering in silence as a result of the monstrous inflation rate occasioned by the removal of the stubborn fuel subsidy. Some people eat once a day while others, the better-rich eat twice a day, skipping lunch. Therefore, President Tinubu must acknowledge the grave consequences of the current economic situation and the suffering experienced by Nigerians. 

As the leader of the nation, he has the power to reverse the economic downturn and alleviate the suffering of Nigerians. It is imperative that the President takes into account the plight of the citizens and work towards restoring their faith in the government. 

While the road to economic recovery may be challenging, President Tinubu needs to consider the long-term benefits of prioritizing the well-being of Nigerians by implementing a 100% increase in civil servant salaries and creating job opportunities for our overwhelming jobless population thereby contributing to poverty reduction, improving living standards, and restoring hope for the nation’s future. 

Lawan Bukar Maigana writes from Yobe State and can be reached via email:lawanbukarmaigana@gmail.com

By Abdurrahman Muhammad

President Tinubu has submitted a list of 28 individuals to the Senate for screening and confirmation as ministerial nominees. These are:

ABUBAKAR MOMOH

YUSUF MAITAMA

Umar Dangiwa

Hannatu MUSAWA

UCHE NNAJI

BETA EDU

DORIS ANIETE UZOAKA

DAVID UMAHI

EZENWO WIKE

MOHAMMED BADARU ABUBAKAR

NASIL EL RUFAI

EKPERIKPE EKPO

NKIRU ONYEJEOCHA

OLUBUNMI TUNJI OJO

STELLA OKOTETE UJU

KENNEDY OHANEYE

BELLO MOHAMMED GORONYO

DELE ALAKE

LATEEF FAGBEMI

MOHAMMED IDRIS

OLAWALE EDUN

WAHEED ADEBAYO ADELABU

IMAAN SULEIMAN IBRAHIM

PROF ALI PATE

JOSEPH OTSEN

SEN. ABUBAKAR KYARI

SEN JOHN ENO

SEN SANI ABUBAKAR

The list was submitted Thursday afternoon by Femi GBajabiamila, the Chief of Staff, to President Bola Tinubu.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Federal Government has appealed to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to shelve its planned strike over fuel subsidy removal.

The FG said it was doing everything possible to address issues raised by the congress, which threatened to embark on a nationwide strike in August.

The Daily Reality reports that the Congress Spokesperson, Ben Upah, made this disclosure on Wednesday, adding that they give seven days to the federal government to address the demand.

Speaking after the Steering Committee meeting on Palliatives, Olu Verheijen, the leader of the government team and Special Adviser to the President on Energy, pleaded with labour to give the federal government more time to look into its grievances rather than embark on industrial action.

She explained that the government was yet to roll out palliatives because it didn’t want to make mistakes, adding that the meeting with organised labour was productive and would continue tomorrow.

Asked about the agenda of the meeting, she said: “It involves labour and some parts of government; it’s a steering committee. it’s a wide group of people, a wide group of stakeholders representing the interests of Nigerians. And we’ve agreed to continue to make progress.

“It was a very productive meeting, the focus was really around how we fast-track a lot of the interventions that will bring relief, particularly around CNG, mass transportation, cleaner energy, transportation, and reduce the impact of the cost of transportation, the increased cost of transportation. So we’ve made good progress. And we’re going to continue to do so and so that we can start rolling out these opportunities and these relief measures as quickly as possible.”

Asked if Labour will not embark on strike as threatened, she said: “The labour unions will speak to that. But we are making progress; we’re trying to address the issues that will prevent a strike. So that is essentially why I feel we made very good progress today and will continue to do so.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Nigerian President, Bola Ahmad Tinubu, has reportedly disclosed the names of nominees for the Federal Executive Council, FEC.

In a report credited to Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, the list of Tinubu’s ministers would be ready by Thursday, and it includes notable former governors and other distinguished Nigerians.

According to the report, immediate-past governors of Rivers, Kaduna, Osun, and Cross River States have been shortlisted as ministerial nominees. The nominees include Nyesom Wike, Nasir El-Rufai, Gboyega Oyetola, Ben Ayade, and Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso from Kano, who is also the NNPP national leader.

Also in addition to the list of nominees to be presented on the floor of the Senate this Thursday morning are prominent individuals such as President Tinubu’s top aide, Dele Alake; Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; APC national woman leader, Dr Betty Edu; former Lagos State Commissioner for Budget Planning, Wale Edun; ex-Minister of State for Health, Prof. Ali Pate, and former Deputy Governor of CBN, Adebayo Adelabu from Oyo State.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reportedly threatened to embark on a nationwide strike next month over the bitting economic hardship caused by the fuel subsidy removal in the country.

The Congress Spokesperson, Ben Upah, made this disclosure on Wednesday, adding that the they give seven days to the federal government go address the demand.

The Daily Reality recalls that President Bola Tinubu had, during his inauguration on 29 May, announced the removal of fuel subsidy.

The action had suddenly pushed up the price of the product, making life more difficult for the poor.According to Upah, the congress gave a nationwide strike notice beginning on 2 August to protest the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.

“Yes, the nationwide strike will commence on 2 August 2023. We will soon issue a communique to that effect,” Upah said.

This is coming a few hours after the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) began an indefinite strike in the country.

The doctors are demanding the implementation of a one-for-one replacement policy for healthcare workers, immediate payment of all salary arrears, implementation of a Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, and a new hazard allowance, among others.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Nigerian Army reportedly launched a new operation in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State to tackle the emerging of insurance in the area.

The operation, named Hakorin Damisa, Leopard’s teeth, was launched by the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, on Saturday.

Addressing the personnel Major Lagbaja said, “I am here to thank you for what you have been doing to bring peace and stability to Mangu and Plateau State.

“As your Chief of Army Staff, I have encapsulated my command philosophy which is to have a Nigerian Army that is well-trained, equipped and highly motivated towards achieving our constitutional responsibility in a joint environment.

“That means you must work with other services, you must work with local communities. You are the people’s Army, when they send a distress call, you must respond as quickly as possible and when you do that, you give them feedback on what you have done.

“That is the way you build confidence and trust. As your COAS, my philosophy will be driven by leadership, operational effectiveness and sound administration… You are not deployed here to play but to conduct an operation and you must do that and be guided by the rules of engagement.

“Whoever is carrying a military-grade weapon or any other weapon, you must recover those weapons from them. You must not take sides. The GOC has briefed me about the challenges faced in the field and the need for more combat enablers.

“What we have brought here is the tip of the iceberg, we will give you the best to work with we will take care of the communication, the motorcycles and all your administrative issues but please note that you must work effectively, we must see the results.

“This violence must be stamped out completely. I wish you the best,” Major Lagbaja said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A Kaduna State Community, Kafanchan of Jema’a Local Government, was thrown into a sheer panic over the outbreak of an unknown disease that kills people.

Our reporters gathered that at least five people died and over ten were admitted at Sir Patrick Yakowa Memorial Hospital, Kafanchan, for medical treatment.

Speaking to journalists about the development, Ezra Joshua, the secretary of the hospital, said the hospital had taken samples to Kaduna to confirm the type of the disease with its treatment.

The Daily Reality learnt that all the nursery and primary schools in the community were locked by the schools’ authorities after sending their pupils back home as the outbreak was reported on Wednesday.

Joshua stated that, “Yes, we received the case of the new disease that starts with fever, headache, sore throat and general weakness of the body that affects zero to 13 years children.

“We learnt that four to five children have already died of the disease in Kafanchan town but we can’t confirm since it was not referred to our facility.

“What we have received now are 10 children that we have kept in isolation and their samples taken to Kaduna as of now,” he said.

Those reported to have died from the disease are, Zulaihat Abdurrasheed 13, Hussaina Aliyu 13, Maryam Mustapha 3, Aliyu Umar 4, and Abdulshakur Umar 2.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly known as petrol, is now about 617 Naira per litre.

Customers reportedly purchased the product at 617 per litre at the Central part of Abuja on Tuesday.

The Price of PMS skyrocketed following the declaration of subsidy removal by President Bola Ahmad Tinubu in May.

The product, which was sold at about 540 in May, is now being sold at about 617 Naira in some parts of the country.

However, Malam Abdulmajeed, a Cybercafe operator in Zaria, confirmed to The Daily Reality that the price has not changed in Zaria.

As regards the reported price increase in Abuja and other parts of the country, the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NDMPRA) is yet to comment on it at the time of filling this report.

By Aliyu Nuhu

Can ₦8000 given over a period of 4 months solve poverty or alleviate the sufferings of people imposed by withdrawal of petrol subsidy?

If 12million people are getting the money, what of the remaining 168 million poor Nigerians? What will be the selection criteria. Sometimes you wonder at the quality of the thinking of our leaders.

Who sold this idea to president Tinubu?

To solve poverty you have to create business opportunities and provide loans. That was how China created wealth among its people. Loans were given with defaults in mind on self recognition only. No penalty for delinquency or business failure. Definitely some businesses will fail but many will succeed. China gave tax holidays to business startups and subsidized electricity and wages.

Brazil reduced poverty by reduction of inequality through equitable wealth redistribution programs. It did not only focus on economic growth, but accompanied this growth with active social policies for redistribution. The end results, economic growth led to better living standards for much of the population, through better wages and social transfers. Brazil gave family scholarship, business loans and huge minimum wages.

Egypt has long had a cash transfer/social assistance programme (maash al-daman al-igtimai), a program of the Ministry of Social Solidarity that reaches approximately 1.5 million households unable to work and uncovered by any other social insurance scheme. This mainly includes widows raising children, the elderly and the disabled.

In addition, two new cash transfer programs were launched in 2015. Karama (dignity) which provides an individual monthly allowance of LE320 for the elderly and those with severe disabilities. Takaful (solidarity), a conditional cash transfer program disbursed quarterly, which offers poor families with children who are younger than 18 a monthly allowance of LE325 and additional sums of LE60, LE80 and LE100 per child in primary, secondary or high school respectively, on condition of regular attendance. These programs, launched in early 2015 in some of the poorest villages in Upper Egypt, now reach almost 160,000 beneficiaries, with plans for geographic and quantitative expansion. Unlike Nigeria, the monies were not diverted and it surely reached the intended targets because of government sincerity of purpose.

It is not just about announcing unimplementable programs with no results in sight. Government must think deep and look at what other countries are doing. We cannot reduce poverty while at the same time imposing 7.5% tax on petrol and increasing price of electricity. We cannot end hunger, the bigger factor in poverty while banning importation of food that we don’t produce enough or closing borders. We cannot address inflation when we unleash extortion gangs on the highways collecting bribes from trucks that distribute goods to our cities.

It is as if Tinubu did not understand Nigeria and did not prefer or intend to govern it.