The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted a decline in Nigeria’s inflation rate to 23 percent in 2024 and 15.5 percent in 2025.

IMF’s Division Chief of Research Department, Daniel Leigh, disclosed this at the Fund’s World Economic Outlook (WEO) update press conference on Tuesday.

Nigeria’s inflation rate stood at 28.92 percent as of December 2023, and has been on the rise for 11 consecutive months.

Reacting to the foreign exchange reforms introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to curb inflation and the free fall of the naira, Leigh said the monetary tightening stance of the apex bank would help reduce inflation rate.

Leigh said one of the drivers of inflation is the weak naira following reforms by the financial regulator.

He stated: “Now there’s also structural factors behind that high inflation, including, you know, on the fiscal side, financing of the deficit. But this is clearly creating hardship. The perspective that we have is bringing down inflation is top priority.

“And the CBN has already raised interest rates significantly over the past year to 18.8 percent. So that is the monetary tightening that is helping in our forecast to bring inflation down from 24.6 percent in 2023 percent, to 23 percent this year, and then closer to single digits into 2025 at 15.5 percent.”

According to Leigh, while the monetary tightening to conquer inflation is ongoing, Nigeria should prioritise revenue mobilisation, and widen its tax base to provide social support.

“On top of conquering inflation through monetary tightening, there’s also a need to provide social support through the budget and creating the space for that is the challenge.

“Our perspective is that more revenue mobilisation, strengthening revenue administration, widening the tax base, this is what is going to bring in space for development spending while safeguarding fiscal sustainability,” Leigh added.

Bureau De Change (BDC) operators have announced shut down of operation in Abuja as a result of unavailability of dollars.

Chairman of the Association, Mallam Abdulahi Dauran, announced this in the nation’s capital, on Wednesday.

He attributed the development to online business transaction and cryptocurrency.

Daurau said the closure of business would take effect from Thursday, February 1, 2024.

The development comes hours after a senate panel summoned Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), over forex crisis.

The summon was through its Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions headed by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (APC, Lagos).

Senator Abiru disclosed this while speaking with newsmen after his panel met behind closed doors on Wednesday.

He said the committee, during the meeting, took the decision to summon the apex bank governor to brief the lawmakers Tuesday next week on what is being done to address the economic and Naira value crisis.

Senator Abiru said the state of the economy, especially the inflation index was of great concern to the lawmakers.

He said:“We have deliberated among ourselves. Critical issues were addressed and we believe that the next line of action is to summon the governor of the Central Bank on Tuesday at 3 O’clock to brief us properly on the state of the economy.

“That we have resolved and will communicate to the governor of the Central Bank after which we will have further communication with members of the press.”

Naira continued its free fall on Tuesday, sinking to a record low of N1,482.57 per dollar following demand on the official market.

On Sunday, the coup leaders in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso announced the withdrawal of their countries from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In a joint statement, the three military heads of states said it was a “sovereign decision” to leave ECOWAS “without delay,” because of the “inhumane” sanctions imposed against their countries. They also accused ECOWAS of having “moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and Pan-Africanism”; claiming that the bloc is now “under the influence of foreign powers.” ECOWAS, according to the military leaders, “notably failed to assist these states in their existential fight against terrorism and insecurity.”

First, we must understand the desperation that pushed the trio of Captain Ibrahim Traore, General Abdourahmane Tchiani and Colonel Assimi Goita to take the action they did. Their three landlocked countries have been under tremendous domestic pressure since being suspended from ECOWAS: Mali in 2020, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Niger last July. The military rulers signed a defence pact, Alliance of Sahel States founded on the Mafia code of ‘one for all and all for one’ and severed military and cooperation ties with France, their former colonial power. They have now turned to Russia, long seeking a foothold on the continent.

Before I deal with the Russian angle, let me state that this is a problem for us in Nigeria only to the extent that we are seen as leader of the sub-region. President Bola Tinubu is also the current ECOWAS Chairman. Yes, there is a lot to say about a whimsical approach to serious problems becoming emblematic of the current Tinubu administration. And I am aware of the enormous economic and security challenges that plague our country. But Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, three countries that collectively account for 8% of the $702 billion ECOWAS Gross Domestic Product (GDP), are not being helped by their military adventurers on this issue.

Not many people remember but ECOWAS was founded by 16 members comprising former British, French, and Portuguese colonies within the subregion. In 2000, Mauritania withdrew its membership in preference for the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) which it had joined, even when there was nothing stopping the country from belonging to two regional bodies. It did not take long before Mauritanians begun expressing regrets. Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghef, a former Prime Minister (2008-2009), has deemed his country’s withdrawal from ECOWAS ‘a big mistake.’ Of the 54 African countries, according to Waghef, 27 are members of two regional groupings, 18 belong to three groupings and one country is a member of four groupings hence “we have the right to belong simultaneously to two sub-regional organizations (ECOWAS and AMU).” With that opportunity lost, Mauritania is back today in ECOWAS but as an associate member.

Meanwhile, the main ECOWAS challenge for Nigeria is in Niger where President Tinubu is walking a tightrope. Last November, the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) issued a communique indicating quite clearly that there is no consensus in Nigeria as to how to deal with the Niger coup. “The Northern Senators Forum asks ECOWAS to lift restrictions on Niger Republic in the interest of business at our border communities. It is important that Nigeriens should not suffer as a result of coup in their country just as we are seeing what is happening in Gaza,” said NSF Chairman, Abdul Ningi, who read the statement after their meeting. “We call on Niger and Nigeria that we remain brothers, we remain partners and we remain Africans.”

There are other complexities and sensitivities the president must understand. The Nigeria-Niger border is 1,608 kilometres long and traverses seven states: Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe, Katsina and Borno. People in these states engage in open trade across borders and their livelihood is dependent on transactions that are now hampered. Tinubu’s immediate predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, we must also remember, admitted openly that Niger is a second home for him. So, already there is domestic pressure that relations be normalised with Niger. General Abdourahmane Tchiani understands these dynamics strengthen his hand and perhaps explains why he is playing hard ball. That’s also why President Tinubu (and by implication, the ECOWAS he chairs) cannot afford to be rigid. At some point, there will have to be a compromise. And whatever goes for Niger must go for Mali and Burkina Faso.

Now to the Russian angle. In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, argued that Russia may be “emboldening these three countries to break up ECOWAS as part of the attempt to weaken what one will call the western influence in this part of the world.” Yet, according to Akinyemi, “Russia has not shown that it has the capability to help these three countries to combat the jihadists, the Tuaregs, the ISIS who are running wild in the Sahel.” To the respected diplomat, Nigeria and the regional bloc now contend with a crisis, essentially “because these three countries, in terms of landmass, that’s about half of ECOWAS. So, we’re not dealing with just a little hiccup on our hands.”

Regarding allegations by the three countries that ECOWAS is being teleguided by foreign powers, Akinyemi said it was clear what they mean. “You know the power that they are referring to, and presumably, the fact that our president is in France at the moment kind of reinforces this fear in their minds that the ECOWAS policies are actually French policies,” said Akinyemi. “We’re going to need some clever steps, diplomatically on this matter, and I think that ECOWAS needs some fast thinking to make sure that this situation does not get out of hand.”

I am aware that Russia is investing considerable resources (mostly non-financial apart from wheat donations) to gain a stronger foothold in a number of African countries. Russia has been deploying two vehicles: Military through the Wagner mercenary group and media propaganda, especially against France. In practically all the French speaking countries on the continent, local social media influencers are being contracted to spread pro-Russia (and anti-France) propaganda. “I manage the cyberwar, the media war… and (the late Wagner leader, Yevgeny) Prigozhin conducts military activities,” Luc Michel, who heads the media machine told BBC two years ago. “I think that Russia must replace the French in all of Africa.” So, obviously, there is no altruism in the Russian intervention in these countries.

After almost 50 years, ECOWAS has become part of the political and economic lifeblood of the subregion. To that extent, Nigeria’s very strategic importance and political stability are tied to the survival of the regional bloc. The leadership role we play makes the threat to its existence a serious matter. Therefore, the challenge of the moment requires deft diplomatic leadership that is inclusive and multicultural. That is the best way to neutralize the departure of France from the affected countries. As for the Russian meddlesomeness, it can be dealt with as part of the global anti-authoritarian drive. That of course presupposes strengthening our democracy at home and working for the peace and prosperity of our people.

Nigeria, 105 Years Ago…ll

In the first part of this series started last week, I excerpted from ‘The Nigeria Handbook 1919 (Issued with the approval of the Nigerian Government)’—a 304-page publication which contains ‘Statistical and General Information respecting the Colony and Protectorate’. The main idea was to draw lessons from the Nigeria of 105 years ago. Although I promised to continue the excerpts, I no longer see the need for it given the feedback I received. Most of the mails centre around our colonial experience and ‘where the rain started to beat us’ which, for me, cannot be a justification for our failings. I do not discount the harm of colonialism, but I believe Nigeria is what it is today because of the choices made in the past 63 years. 

The Republic of Cyprus was not only colonised like Nigeria but also shares with our country the same Independence Day: 1^st October 1960. Like Nigeria, Cyprus has faced wars, military coups and all manner of disruptions, instigated from within and without. But unlike Nigeria, the Eastern Mediterranean Island has done relatively well for itself. In practically all development indicators, Cyprus has fared far much better than Nigeria. So, we cannot continue to cite our colonial experience as reason for the rot in our society. The paradox, as I have written in the past, is that while Nigeria may not be doing well as a country, many of our citizens are doing well as individuals—both at home and in the Diaspora. There is hardly any compilation of the Global 100 in any sphere of human endeavour that does not include at least one Nigerian. That has been the consistent pattern no matter the metrics used and regardless of the field profiled.

Interestingly, my young friend, Ejiro Oghenechovwen, who until recently worked with the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), seems to understand the essence of my intervention. And I crave the indulgence of readers to publish his mail before I conclude. “I have just finished reading your column on ‘Nigeria, 105 years ago’. I am particularly jolted by your comment that there was no conscious effort at nation building by Nigeria’s postcolonial leaders. Beyond it being painfully true, it strongly suggests that not even national or subnational government and governing processes (which we aren’t even doing well in) are sufficient for a pluralistic country like ours.

“I am delighted that the compiler of the 1919 handbook under reference admitted that organization and order were existent in precolonial Nigeria, contrary to the widespread Western view of an inherently savage and barbaric Africa. Furthermore, hearing a then-active participant in the country’s blossoming political process describe the obtainable government structure as indirect rule is, to me, liberating, as I had always believed that the term was coined in retrospect by future historians. Interestingly, I find astonishing your statistical comparison of the elements of the trade balance between the period covered and that of 2018. The proximity of 1913’s figures to 2018’s is saddening and depicts a merry-go-round affair over a century later, so that, beyond the incredulous fact that we now import palm seedlings – the products of which we earlier exported at two-thirds output volume as you revealed, we have always been a predominantly mono-product economy. When it is palm seeds and their produce, it is majorly palm seeds and their produce; and when it is crude oil, it is equally almost totally crude oil. In other words, we have historically not fared well with diversification.

“It is, therefore, imperative that we pay serious attention to the nation-building question, realizing that the call to leadership goes beyond maintaining, servicing, or upgrading processes, systems, and entities year after year and one democratic dispensation after another. It is also about consciously and masterfully moulding consensus, ensuring that everyone is on the same page – or at least, the same chapter – and journeying collectively, even if in pools and batches, in the same direction. This requires sincerity, courage, and continuous concession-making. I am reminded of a scene in ‘Invictus’, the 2009 movie on Nelson Mandela. Madiba, as he was fondly called, had just been elected South Africa’s first black president and was on his usual pre-dawn walk when he and his two bodyguards saw that day’s newspaper with a banner headline: HE CAN WIN AN ELECTION, BUT CAN HE RUN A COUNTRY? One guard was amazed at such a question when the man wasn’t even up to a day in office. Mandela calmly stated that it was a legitimate query. In like manner, our leaders at all levels and in all spheres must take an informed pause from their routine and reflect deeply on our national question. Why are things falling apart? Why is the nation’s center not holding? What should be done? The real question, perhaps, is, even when we find answers to those questions, are we sincere and courageous enough to respond accordingly?”

Perhaps Ejiro was reading my mind. Despite being blessed with abundant human and material resources, we have failed to aggregate the parts into a collective whole. With no communal sense to build a functioning society, the ‘whole’ of our country remains far much less than the sum of its parts.  Essentially because the accumulation of individual greed far outweighs the collective need. When You apply the law of the jungle in competing for scarce resources without any sense of order which nation building entails, the chaos that we have in Nigeria today is inevitable.

Since the beginning of the year, for instance, the recurring news in our country is that of kidnappings by sundry cartels of criminals who seem to have overpowered the capacity of the state. Not only is the list of victims becoming increasingly long, but there are also thousands of others across the country who have been in prolonged captivity and whose ordeals are heart-wrenching for their families. They remain nameless: mere statistics in a nation where human life has become easily dispensable. What is the national response? Let us continue to pray! 

Notwithstanding misgivings over the 1914 amalgamation, distortions to our federal structure caused by years of military rule, and disappointment with the current crop of leaders and the choices they make; it is also appropriate to remind ourselves that we have come a long way as a nation. Not even the most implacable enemies of Nigeria will deny its socio-economic potential, the enormous capacity of its people and the bright future that continues to beckon. If only our leaders would look beyond artificial differences, apply themselves to the jobs for which they were elected or appointed and rally our diversity as the real source of our strength. 

The mood at the National Assembly yesterday was quite reflective of the rising anxiety about the worsening insecurity in the land.

Expectedly, federal legislators related the stories of anguish and helplessness being  told in many communities in the country. These are tragic stories of kidnappings, banditry, terrorism and wanton killings. The map of insecurity looks scarier by the day. No part of Nigeria is immune to this climate of danger. The vulnerability of the people is so obvious. The risks faced by   rural and urban communities alike are glaring.  The word in the  mouths of the old and the young around the country is insecurity.

This fact was evident in the yesterday contributions from senators and members of the House of Representatives.

Samples could be taken from  the tragic stories of  what happened in parts of the country just in the last one week. A member of the House broke down  as he moved a motion on the killings of two traditional rulers in Ekiti State. Another member reported  that about 50 people were killed in the latest round of bloodletting  in the extremely troubled Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau state. A senator told the story of  the Agatu area of Benue state being overrun by invaders.   

At the end of a sombre survey of the national security landscape, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced   the resolution of the chamber that  security and defence chiefs should be invited to answer questions on the state of things in the security sector. Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abass’ summation of the proceedings in the House was that President Bola Tinubu should  “take tough decisions.”

So, as Lenin puts in the title of  his famous political pamphlet in a markedly different context, the question of the moment is this: What is to be done?

The focus should be on this question as we commiserate with those who have lost their loved ones while wishing  the injured quick recovery and sustaining the call for the freedom of those still suffering  in captivity. This question has been asked as the various typologies of violent crimes were confronted in more than 20 years. Answers have also been generated as many as times as the question has been posed by the  manifestations of  insecurity all these years. These answers could be found in  the various reports of commissions and committees which looked into the various tragic events at different periods as well as government’s white papers. Pundits have also espoused perspectives on the insecurity. Books have been written from divergent standpoints on the problem.   Implicit in these various views  are  some answers to the question. Only yesterday a fellow columnist , Dr. Reuben Abati, in an extensive discussion of the problem on this page actually wrote pointedly : “Let the federal government declare a national emergency on insecurity.”

Besides, insecurity in Nigeria also has  an international dimension which could be compounded by the recent unsettling political developments in the Sahel region.

It may, therefore, be useful in the circumstance that as pressure mounts on security agencies  and defence forces to keep Nigeria secure the grim moment should be used for a  strategic review in the security sector.  This is often done by some countries facing challenges of insecurity in varied forms and degrees.  The gravity of the violent crimes plaguing the land demands such a systematic response. Members of the public who have inputs to make  usually participate in the process of such periodic reviews.  

A lot of lessons could be learnt from elsewhere despite Nigeria’s unique situation. For instance, over a decade ago, the United Kingdom had an important examination  of its defence, security and intelligence in a report entitled  “Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review.” Embodied in the British report is an observation that could be interest to Nigeria: “All too often, we focus on military hardware. But we know from our many visits to Afghanistan and to military units around our country, that ultimately it is our people that really make the difference. As a country, we have failed to give them the support they deserve. We are putting that right, even in the

very difficult economic circumstances we face. We will renew the military covenant, that vital contract between the Armed Forces, their families, our veterans and the country they sacrifice so much to keep safe. Each and every one of us has a responsibility to do more to support the men and women of our Armed Forces. We must never send our soldiers, sailors and airmen into battle without the right

equipment, the right training or the right support. That objective has been a fundamental guiding principle of this Review, and it is one to which this Government will remain absolutely committed.”

A few things could be shared  from the British experience.

First, the sacrifices of soldiers, policemen, security agents and other  operatives on the field should be better appreciated. Security and defence personnel have also been killed and maimed in cases of kidnaps, banditry and  terror attacks. The talk about funding security often focuses on acquiring equipment and technology. A greater emphasis should also  be put on the welfare, training  and motivation of the men and women who actually carry out field  operations to keep the nation secure. Even drones have to be deployed by human beings to hit the right  targets. The compensation of the fallen heroes should be paid promptly while their survivors are humanely treated. Those who are in  retirement should be paid their pensions decently. The nation  should demonstrate empathy and respect for those who are put in harm’s way in order to keep the rest of the society secure. Their duty is  highly  honourable regardless of the acts of bad eggs in  their  organisations. In any case, is there any organisation without its own bad eggs? Soldiers, policemen and intelligence operatives should be applauded when victims of kidnapping are rescued or bandits are vanquished. The human factor still remains the pivot of any security strategy even in the era of Artificial Intelligence. So the security and defence authorities should make this a central component of any review.

Secondly, the intersection between physical security and social security as well as economic progress is an obvious one. This makes the involvement of  other sectors an imperative for a meaningful review. Beyond the usual official exhortation that security is a  “collective responsibility” the society at large should be rigorously mobilised to support the gallant efforts of  the professionals who are on the field to ward off  all risks to peaceful existence. In addition, the experience of a large community of retired officers of the various forces and agencies could also be useful.  This reservoir of knowledge and experience constitutes a national asset. Yet, it is hardly utilised.  Maybe,  if some  past leaders of the security sector confidentially share with the current ones their stories of  mistakes the system  would be spared of a repeat of such mistakes. The fora for such exchanges of views  do not have to be formalised with any bureaucracy. The products of the thinking that goes on  in the various think tanks should not be ignored by those who are currently  in command in the security sector.  

The corollary to the foregoing, of course, is that security agencies and defence institutions should not only be subordinated  to civil authorities as compelled by the constitution, they should also develop a culture of accountability. The accountability being suggested here  goes beyond naira and kobo. It is not enough to increase defence and security budgets. It is also important that the expectations of the public are met. This can be measured by the level of security.

It is in this light that the meeting of   the service chiefs and heads of security agencies with senators scheduled for next week should not be just another talking shop. The important dialogue between lawmakers and the leaders of the security sector  should be a turning point in the chilling story of insecurity.

CRISTIANO Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will not have their proposed ‘Last Dance’ as the former has been ruled out of tomorrow’s friendly between Al Nassr and Inter Miami.

The 38-year-old Ronaldo has been nursing an injury, which caused his Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr to cancel two friendlies in China last week.

Al Nassr manager Luis Castro revealed today that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will not be available for the friendly in Riyadh against Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, led by eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi.

“Ronaldo is in the final part of his recovery to join the group,” Castro told reporters today.

“We hope that in the next few days he can start working with the team. He will be absent from the game (against Inter Miami).”

Messi and Ronaldo faced each other and scored a year ago in Saudi Arabia as PSG beat a Riyadh All-Star XI 5-4, but Inter Miami’s visit this week was billed as the last chance for the stars, 36 and 38 respectively, to play against each other.

The two superstars have been big rivals for the past 15 years, especially the nine years they were in LaLiga at the same time, Messi at Barcelona and Ronaldo at Real Madrid.

[NaijaNews]

An ex-parte motion filed by Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, against the Nigerian Police has been granted by the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, Naija News learnt.

Ehie had prayed the court to restrain the police and other security agencies from arresting, detaining, or harassing him in relation to his alleged involvement in the explosion at the Rivers State House of Assembly weeks ago.

On Wednesday, the Presiding Judge, Justice Sika Aprioku, granted the order and scheduled a hearing for the substantive application on February 6th, 2024.

The lawmakers led by Martins Amaewhule had submitted a criminal petition to the Rivers State Police Command, accusing Ehie of being involved in the invasion and arson attack on the chambers of the State Assembly by unidentified hoodlums.

The Amaewhule faction of the House of Assembly submitted a petition urging the police to apprehend and bring charges against Ehie for his purported role in the fire incident that occurred at the Assembly Complex on October 29, 2023.

Meanwhile, the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum has urged the governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, to remain vigilant while dealing with the commissioners in his cabinet who are allies of ex-governor Nyesom Wike.

A member of the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, told Punch on Tuesday that it was illegal for Fubara to welcome back into his cabinet nine pro-Wike commissioners who earlier resigned their appointments in the heat of the crisis between Wike and Fubara.

Recall that on Monday, Fubara had warned the returnee pro-Wike commissioners not to work against his government.

Speaking in a telephone interview with the aforementioned publication, Sara-Igbe said, “We have continued to maintain that you cannot protect your house with your sworn enemies.

“When your enemies are known, you push them away or you keep them at arms-length. But there is this saying that you cannot allow your enemies to be your guard because they will one day assassinate you.”

He noted that the Rivers Elders were still in court, challenging the resolution reached at a reconciliatory meeting convened by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja in December.

“Well, the governor is doing what he likes, but at the appropriate time the law will say whether he is right or not. As it is now we are in court, so we cannot preempt the court, when the time comes we will know whether what he (Fubara) is doing is right or wrong.

“As far as we are concerned, all the things he is doing are not in tandem with the law. So, we are in court and want the court to interpret the law as regards the eight-point directives, whether the eight-point directives will stand or not.

“If the court interpretes in our favour that the eight-point agenda cannot stand, then all he has done would become null and void. But if the law says otherwise then we can now discuss the matter after we have exhausted it because we are going to drag this case to the Supreme Court,” he added.

[Naijanews]

The Federal government has appealed to construction workers in the country to abandon their planned strike and seek resolution through dialogue.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, appealed during a meeting in Abuja aimed at resolving the ongoing dispute in the construction industry.

The dispute involves workers represented by the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) and Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA), who allege that their employers, Construction and Civil Engineering Employers Association of Nigeria, CCEEAN, are failing to implement the agreed-upon wage award for workers in the construction industry.

The workers contend that this failure goes against the agreement between the Federal Government and organized labor.

Onyejeocha expressed disappointment over the absence of workers at the conciliation meeting they were invited to, stating that refusing government intervention and the invitation for dialogue was an inappropriate approach to addressing the ongoing dispute.

More Insights

• The Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to fulfilling promises and sought support from all Nigerians, emphasizing the importance of industrial peace and harmony.
• She urged employers to maintain communication with workers, discouraging strikes while the government actively works to resolve the dispute.
• Onyejeocha praised employers for enhancing worker welfare amid economic challenges, commending their efforts to improve socio-economic conditions.
• The president of the Construction and Civil Engineering Employers Association of Nigeria, High Chief Vincent Barrah, prioritized worker welfare, highlighting the Association’s regular wage reviews and measures to address economic challenges.
• Barrah explained that the wage award was for federal government workers, expressing disappointment that workers refused to cooperate in resolving issues internally.

[Nairametrics]

The Super Eagles pocketed a whopping $30,000 each for getting past the group stage of the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

Jose Peseiro’s side finished second in Group A behind the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea.

The previous arrangement, according to SCORENigeria, was for each player to be paid a $5,000-a-match bonus to the final.

It has since been jettisoned with a lump sum payment for each round of the competition.

The team will get an additional bonus for the Round of 16 victory against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

Jose Peseiro’s side will take on the Black Antelopes of Angola in a quarter-final fixture at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, on Friday.

[DailyPost]

Ahead of the 2024 orientation exercise, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has said it would carry out COVID-19 tests on prospective corps members, including camp officials.

The organisation said the decision was based on advice from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

According to the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig Gen Yusha’u Ahmed, this was a result of the resurgence of COVID-19 in some countries and the need to prevent the re-occurrence of any variant transmission in Nigeria.

Ahmed said this during the 2024 pre-orientation course workshop in Abuja on Wednesday, January 31.

The DG said: “The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has advised that COVID-19 testing should recommence in the Orientation Camps. This is a result of the resurgence of COVID-19 in some countries and the need to prevent the re-occurrence of any variant transmission in Nigeria.

“Therefore, it becomes necessary to ensure regular surveillance in all our Orientation Camps. While the testing will not be made compulsory this time, corps members will be sensitized on the need to confirm their health status. The modalities for this will be communicated in due course.”

The director-general also said the registration process in camp would be reviewed and strengthened to checkmate the activities of fake or unqualified graduates from participating in the exercise.

The DG said: “These include fake graduates appearing as Prospective Corps Members and persons, who, having served previously or issued with Exemption Certificate, attempt to present themselves again for the National Service. The registration process in Camp must, therefore, be reviewed and strengthened to checkmate the activities of these fraudulent elements.

“Like we have warned previously at various forums, any unqualified person caught and those aiding them will be handed over to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution.” 

The director-general urged state coordinators to take proactive measures to ensure the safety of corps members in camp.

He also warned corps members against night journeys.

The DG said: “No doubt, there has been a tremendous improvement in this area. However, security remains a matter of priority in all aspects of our operation, especially during the Orientation Course. Proactive measures must be taken by State Coordinators and other stakeholders to evaluate the security situations in all Camp locations. There should be proper surveillance of the Camps and adjoining areas before and during the exercise.

“We are not relenting in our efforts to check this problem that has become a nightmare for the Scheme in view of the perilous consequences such as road accidents and abduction of Prospective Corps Members on their way to States of deployment.

“I, therefore, enjoin everyone to ensure that measures put in place to curtail this negative trend are followed to the letter. In line with a recent decision of the management, state coordinators are expected to continue to take the campaign against night journeys to motor parks, transport companies, and other relevant stakeholders before the commencement of the orientation course.”

[TheNation]