President Bola Tinubu has rejected a N942bn proposal by the National Population Commission (NPC) for the conduct of the national housing and population census.

According to insiders, Tinubu and the commission’s top officials discussed cost-cutting measures on Monday, February 24, 2025, at the State House.

Tinubu suggested deploying members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the exercise.

After being informed by officials of the NPC led by its Chairman, Nasir Kwarra, Tinubu committed to setting up a committee to align the census budget to the government’s existing financial reality.

In a statement titled ‘Nigeria draws closer to fresh census, President Tinubu to set up committee,’ Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, reported Tinubu as saying, “This stop-and-go behavior on the census cannot work with me. So we better have a clear path.

“I will set up a committee for you to look at the issues critically and do a source and application of resources. Where can we get help, and what can we lift before we embark on the proclamation?” Tinubu queried.

The government official said, “The main issue from that meeting was that the money they were proposing was quite a lot. It is around N942bn. That is almost N1tn. And the president felt that it was too much. That is why he said there would be a committee to look at the issues altogether because that cost must come down.

“He wants to do it. He wants the census to happen. But the cost is too high. His goal is that they should do it for less.”

Another insider at the conference revealed that Tinubu proposed a nationwide deployment of NYSC members to reduce personnel expenditures.

“He was even suggesting that they recruit youth corps members to make it cheaper,” the official revealed.

However, another source confirmed that the constituents and activities of Tinubu’s new committee were still unclear.

“We have heard nothing about that committee for now. It is still being put together as we speak. But the agencies concerned will be on it,” the source explained.

It was gathered that at the meeting, Tinubu had affirmed that the National Identity Management Commission must be part of the review.

“We must ascertain who we are, how many we are, and how to manage our data. Without an accurate census, we can’t successfully plan for employment, agriculture, and food sovereignty.

“So many problems come up without accurate data,” Tinubu stated.

The president also stated that government incentives, such as the sale and distribution of fertilizer, could be easily enhanced with more reliable data and demography.

He explained to the NPC delegation that biometric capture should be central to the process, with multiple identification features such as facial and voice recognition.

According to him, “We should work on our financial muscle well in place to lift our burden before we go and meet development partners for the census. We should work out the figures before discussing the role of development partners.”

Since former president Muhammadu Buhari’s administration ended in November 2006, Nigeria’s housing and population census has been plagued by delays and logistical challenges.

Although the NPC invested in new technologies, such as digital mapping and biometric capture, to improve accuracy and transparency, challenges such as insufficient budgets, unrest in particular regions, and the outbreak of COVID-19 all contributed to a succession of delays.

The 2023 census, in particular, has been postponed due to overlapping issues, ranging from budget restrictions to political shifts, making it difficult for stakeholders to complete preparations before Buhari leaves office.

Plans to reschedule the census have also experienced challenges during the Tinubu government, as the Federal Government remained unsure about scheduling, methodology, and how to best capture data on large, transient populations, including internally displaced persons.

Meanwhile, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, stated that census data would be critical to future planning and resource allocation.

The minister stated that the commission and everyone on the team were required to agree on the minimal amount that could be raised to assist the president in reaching the final decision.

“Mr. President, we have been having ecosystem meetings to link the identity agencies, even the geo-spatial chaired by the ministry, because of our mandate as the supervising ministry of the National Bureau of Statistics.

“So, the NPC, NBS, NIMC, Ministry of Digital Economy, passport, social register, voters register, and even telecoms data have been meeting with the National Space Research and Development Agency to see how much is available to the government regarding data and how much optimization can take place.”

In his presentation, the NPC chairman stated that 760,000 tablets had been obtained and held at the Central Bank of Nigeria, and that the commission would communicate with development partners to request assistance if Tinubu declared the new census.

Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has a PhD in Agriculture and Rural Sociology. Nasir Idris, Kebbi State governor, holds a PhD in Education. The governor of Sokoto State, Ahmad Aliyu, also holds a doctorate in Business Administration. Dauda Lawal, Zamfara State governor, has a 1992 Masters Degree in Political Science/International Relations. Governor Gawuna Yusuf of Kano holds a Bachelors Degree in, wait for it, Biochemistry. 

So, how did a North with governors this educated end up with a strange, obnoxious, nasty and distasteful directive that shuts schools for Ramadan? 

How did the North get here and how will the region ever get out of this cesspit of affliction? Please are the children and grandchildren of these helmsmen attending the schools that are going to be shut down for Ramadan? Are the children and grandchildren of the Senators, Representatives, all political office holders and indeed the elites of the north all affected by this sit-at-home-during –Ramadan schools closure in the North? Are the schools in Saudi Arabia also closed for Ramadan or it is just Northern Nigerian Muslims that are holier than those whose womb birthed the holy Prophet? 

Why are we not seeing or hearing protests against this sad holiday? The Muslim community is quiet. The affected parents are going about their businesses as if this is okay. The Muslim clerics’ silence is the most shocking.

The schools that were shut, are there Christian students there? Will the teachers be paid for the month they are fasting and not working? That last question brings me to the biggest question of all: this closure of Northern schools for Ramadan, was it the initiative of the governors? What exactly were they thinking? Did they hold meetings with all stakeholders in this matter and how did they justify the move? How do Northern leaders sleep at night, really?

I have always been suspicious that the many social diseases that are afflicting the North are the fault of their leaders. This confirms it. Northern leaders and elites like a sick north. It works for them. They like a North West with almost nine million out-of-school children and a North-East with more than five million. Or what else is the reason why every statistic with negative figures in education domiciled in the North and then some governors  still go ahead to give this kind of directive? Exactly in whose interest is this no-school-during Ramadan holiday, the teachers’, the students’, the parents’ or whose?  

These governors, these Northern leaders, where do they see the North in Nigeria, in world equations in 10 years? Do they think producing Nigerian Presidents regularly is what gives the North power? Me, I think if Nigeria has an Hausa or Fulfude-speaking president for 20 unbroken years where the North still does what it presently does, the region will still not catch up with the rest of Nigeria. Anyway, it looks like those who are beaten are not crying while people like me are swallowing ‘panadol’ for a Northern headache.

As I pen these heartfelt words to honour the remarkable life of Dr. Adedoyin Ajibike Okupe (March 22, 1952 to March 7, 2025), a deep sense of sorrow envelops me. His extraordinary journey – a testament to unwavering dedication, relentless passion, and a steadfast commitment to Nigeria’s progress – will forever resonate in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him.

I first encountered Dr. Okupe in the 1990s, on the eve of his election as the Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention at the Sheraton Hotel, now the Continental Hotel in Abuja. From that moment, his profound love for Nigeria and its people was unmistakable. Born into a distinguished family, with his father, Chief Matthew Adekoya Okupe, being a respected banker, Dr. Okupe was destined for a life marked by excellence and selfless service.

As a medical doctor, Dr. Okupe’s influence extended well beyond the realm of medicine. His foray into politics was driven by a deep-seated desire to shape our nation’s destiny. He served with distinction as Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo and later as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Dr. Okupe’s intellectual brilliance was evident in his remarkable ability to analyse complex issues and propose innovative solutions. 

His unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s betterment was truly inspiring, and his vision for a brighter future continues to resonate deeply within us.

A proud Yoruba man, Dr. Okupe embodied the principles of Afenifere, advocating for unity and progress within his community while embracing a leftist ideology. His infectious enthusiasm for life drew people to him, and he possessed a rare gift for making everyone feel valued and heard.

Our bond grew stronger when he sought the support of Chief Edwin Clark in his endeavor to work for President Jonathan, a role he embraced with unwavering dedication and excellence. Dr. Okupe was not merely a political ally; he was a devoted family man who cherished his loved ones and worked tirelessly for their well-being.

He became a significant force within the Labour Party, championing Peter Obi’s presidential bid and later emerging as a known supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

As I mourn the loss of this extraordinary individual, let us celebrate his unwavering dedication to Nigeria, his invaluable intellectual contributions, and the love he generously shared with all around him. Dr. Doyin Okupe was a true Nigerian patriot, and his legacy will undoubtedly inspire future generations. May his vision and passion endure in our hearts, and may he rest in eternal peace.

Dr. Ajulo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ondo State.

Sources within the Rivers State Government House revealed that the governor has been avoiding consultations, even with leaders who have openly supported him against his political adversary, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

“Even a governor of a nearby state would call him, the man would not answer. He does not relate well with the leadership of the ethnic nationalities in the region who are solidly behind him in this fight,” a source in the Rivers State Government disclosed to Vanguard.

Fubara is said to be aware of a more powerful figure allegedly influencing Wike’s actions behind the scenes. While he has refused to seek intervention from prominent figures such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and the Sultan of Sokoto, some believe this isolationist approach could weaken his political stance.

“Oga will not want to consult anybody,” another source stated, adding that even the late elder statesman, Edwin Clarke, who had staunchly defended Fubara’s administration, was never visited by the governor.

Allegations of Political Isolation and Weak Strategy

Critics argue that the governor has surrounded himself with political lightweight figures who lack the influence to counter Wike’s stronghold. These individuals, previously aligned with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, were forced out of Rivers State by Wike in 2023 but returned after Wike assumed a ministerial role.

Fubara, though described as generous, has been criticized for not leveraging financial incentives to strengthen his political hold.

“Fubara is generous. However, this generosity does not seem to reflect in the politics of the state. He has lost huge ground,” a source noted.

A member of the Elders Council in Rivers State also criticized the governor for being “too stingy with money.” According to him, “Last Christmas, not even a grain of rice from this government despite our support for him.”

Attempts at Peace Talks Rejected

According to Vanguard, a retired northern Army officer reportedly sent emissaries to broker peace in the crisis, but the governor declined. The move was allegedly influenced by the officer’s vested interest in oil wells in Rivers State.

“Yes, the general sent some persons to come to Port Harcourt to meet with the Governor. They could not. Maybe the governor was not willing to receive them. The effort is still on,” the source said.

The source claimed that Fubara has framed the political battle as an Ijaw-only struggle, rather than a broader fight for Rivers State.

“The governor appears to have made the fight an Ijaw affair. This is not an Ijaw fight. It is a fight for Rivers people and all lovers of peace and uprightness. This explains why the Governor has to come out firm and establish his authority to prove to all that he is fully in charge of governance in the state”, he said.

Conflicting Views on Fubara’s Strategy

While some see Fubara’s calculated approach as strategic, others view it as a sign of weakness.

Comrade Franklin Ntekim believes Fubara’s reserved nature is a tactical move. “The governor had been winning the war until the Supreme Court came out with that controversial judgment. He is not weak but a very calculative person,” he said.

However, Comrade Gregory Akpan disagreed, arguing that Fubara’s failure to aggressively challenge the five consolidated cases against him at the Supreme Court contributed to his setbacks. “Did his men fight to present quality arguments and make noise against possible injustice? No,” Akpan stated.

Double Ultimatum from the House of Assembly

Following the Supreme Court ruling, which reinstated Martins Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers as the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly members, the legislature issued two back-to-back ultimatums to the governor:

1. Submit the 2025 budget within 48 hours – The deadline expired without compliance.

2. Dismiss all Commissioners and political appointees not confirmed by the House within another 48 hours.

Governor Fubara, through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, denied ever receiving any formal communication on the budget submission, dismissing the ultimatum as mere social media noise.

The aggressive stance of the Assembly has fueled speculation that the lawmakers are moving swiftly towards impeachment proceedings against the governor.

Despite political tensions, Governor Fubara continues to receive strong backing from various regional groups, including: Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF), Ijaw National Congress (INC), Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).

INC President, Professor Benjamin Okaba, warned that any attempt to impeach Fubara could have serious consequences, stating, “The Ijaw people will defend Governor Fubara with every pint of blood in their veins.”

The IYC also condemned the ultimatum issued by the House, describing it as “an orchestrated effort to create chaos and impeach the governor.”

Division Among the Ijaw Groups

However, a faction within the Ijaw community, the Rivers Rescue Movement (RRM), has distanced itself from INC and IYC, rebuking their stance as reckless and provocative.

RRM criticized the rhetoric of leaders such as Prof. Benjamin Okaba, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, and Chief Sara Igbe, stating that their threats against the Nigerian state were “a grave threat to national security.”

“No individual or organization has the monopoly of violence, so we are calling on Nigerian security agencies to arrest these individuals or any other group that threatens national peace,” RRM stated.

Can Fubara Survive Impeachment?

While the House has the numbers to initiate impeachment, the process could face hurdles if the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, refuses to cooperate.

Justice Amadi, known for his principled stance, will be required to set up a seven-member investigative panel to review the impeachment allegations. However, many believe he may resist pressure to facilitate Fubara’s removal.

[NaijaNews]

…I have been talking to the ideals on how to get to where we need to be in 21st century where education is fast changing the dynamics of development. The policy experts and scholars here and all of us need to understand that founding and funding a university isn’t for the fainthearted. Visitors who hold the fort for public universities constantly claim that they don’t have enough to fund education the way we want it in this same 21st century. In other words, if we look into the seeds of our education development times, what we will see now is that the education sector at home isn’t good and governments are only declaring emergencies whenever they want to hold general elections. We are talking at a time when most education leaders are again suggesting policies that will take us to where we can internationalise higher education again. That was the theme of my convocation lecture at the Adekunle Ajasin Univesity, Akungba, Ondo State in December 2023. But from the way we daily read from the book of lamentation about funding of higher education at this time of economic crisis, where will we get on the road to internationalisation of higher education?

Isn’t it a time to interrogate Professor Wole Soyinka’s suggestion some years ago about the expediency of closing down all the Nigerian universities for a year or two with a view to restructuring them into “Ivory Towers”, citadels of learning and centres of innovation that they should be? I asked a similar question at the Akungba 2023 lecture. But the answer has continued to blow in the wind.

Again, this paper is not a seminal paper on the role of the university in a developing country. Nor is it a research topic on the role of public intellectuals in development. Rather, it is a thought-provoking discussion point on why all our representatives in government, all our duty bearers should halt the “hollow rituals” called licensing of new private universities and the federal government’s own obsession with political project called federal universities in all the states of the federation. This is a time to tell them to pay attention to better rather than more universities whose products cannot contribute to national development, no thanks to poor funding.

It is a time to call on the elders of the land, notably those that had enjoyed ‘the good old days’ in this same country when universities were universities to support a motion that governments at all levels should stop all priority projects and declare genuine emergency on education with a view to investing in them consciously and sincerely.

This means there had been good times here when even some Americans were applying to read even English studies at the University of Ibadan. As I have noted in some presentations, in 2008, I met an African American, in Miami Florida who claimed to be a classmate of now Professor Gordini Gabriel Darah at the University of Ibadan where she did her PhD in English/Literature in the early 1980s. The woman gave me a note to give to her radical classmate, G.G Darah. She was at that time President of a University in Florida. That was internationalisation at the Nigeria’s premier university college when an American could read about a great university in Nigeria without the Internet. There were stories of foreign students in the universities of first generation when there was indeed a universe in the universities. How do we regain the paradise lost when we can be part of the universe again?
The highway universities without universe?

What is more horrible than a situation whereby most Nigerian universities have become mere factories for producing unemployable graduates at all levels? All the major highways in parts of the country have become attractions for private universities, most of which are alleged to be just for ways of laundering money for some crooks who can no longer hide such slush and stolen funds abroad because of the danger in illicit money transfer now that we have the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). But sadly, most of the lecturers of the mushroom universities cannot allow their children to be admitted into most of the institutions where they teach. I know many of them, who would still have to struggle through thick and thin to send their wards abroad where they think real learning takes place.

But let’s reflect on this classic. According to Gasset (2005) on the Mission of the University. Why University Must Be Primarily: the University; Profession and Science. This is important for our leaders, policy makers and university owners.
(A) The university consists, primarily and basically of higher education which the ordinary man should receive.
(B) It is necessary to make this ordinary man first of all, a cultured person: to put him at the height of the times. It follows then that the primary function of the university is to teach the great cultural discipline namely:
1. The physical scheme of the world (Physics)
2. The fundamental themes of organic life (Biology)
3.The historical process of the human species (History)
4.The structure and functioning of social life (Sociology)
5 The Plan of the universe (Philosophy)
(C) It is necessary to make the ordinary man a good professional. Besides his apprenticeship to culture, the university will teach him, by the most economical, direct and efficacious procedures intellect can devise, to be a good doctor, a good judge, a good teacher of mathematics or of history.

The specific character of this professional teaching must be set aside, however for further discussion.
Whether it is local or ‘glocal’, the university should be equipped enough to play its primary role of turning the ordinary man to be what he wants to be: professional. But can the university in Nigeria play this role today in this age of digital technologies? We can’t and that is why the Artificial Intelligence Centre of Google has since 2018 been in Ghana. The Google AI experts were in Nigeria then to look for a well-equipped university out of our more than 200 then to be the host of the technology giant’s AI Centre in West Africa. They couldn’t find any and they went to Ghana with about 15 national public universities and 11 private universities and found a well-equipped school of computer engineering that could play host to their AI Centre. What a giant in the sun! You aren’t a giant of a nation if you can’t excel in STEM subjects in the 21st century. Where will development flow from when your universities aren’t producing young engineers in today’s world like those young tech giants helping the Trump administration to disrupt the allegedly unclean bureaucracies of the United States through the independent Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that the globalists and liberals don’t want to see in the United States?

Again, where are our leaders at all levels including the state and national assemblies at this critical time? Why are our leaders and representatives concerned about only the next election without caring a hoot about the next generation of leaders who are supposed to be products of our universities? Are the suffering, malnourished and ill-equipped students of today not going to be the leaders of tomorrow? How many of the more than two hundred million people would have the resources to send their children to the so-called good schools abroad as our leaders are apparently doing today? Are our leaders aware that most of our university lecturers in science and technology schools are relocating abroad in search of greener pastures? Does the education minister tell the president and some Labour Ministry’s arrogant negotiators with ASUU members that most serious nations, especially some in Nordic countries pay teachers better than other public officers because they believe that only satisfied teachers can produce better graduates? Aren’t they aware that in the United States, which is still proud of its exceptionalism on all fronts, public officers including policy makers are still concerned about the fact that their American children (students) are well outside the top-ten international student rankings in reading, science and mathematics apart from the nation’s position of leadership on everything from the economy to the military to issues of moral authority? They (Americans) are beginning to argue that their rating “will continue to plummet unless we take dramatic action…”. Michelle Rhee, a former chancellor of Washington D.C., public schools from 2007-2010, now a driving force behind American education reform, has already written a classic on this development, titled, ‘Radical: Fighting To Put Students First’. The founder and CEO of StudentsFirst has drawn attention to the fact that although the United States is well known as a world leader in innovation, boasting of brilliant thinkers and trendsetting companies, yet there is a fact that, that status is at grave risk because American children are getting outside the top-ten international student ranking.

Come with me to South East Asia. The power behind Samsung, a global brand is South Korea, with a population of about 51.7 million. They have more than Samsung to export to the world because of the power that quality education that they take seriously has given them. They are among top-five countries with excellence in Research and Development (R&D) funding in global context. That is their power. You can make the same claim of Singapore. The economic power of Singapore isn’t tied to any extractive industry. It is only linked to their intellectual power. Yes their brainpower through education quality their legend, Lee Kuan Yew bequeathed to them. There are more examples of these powerful countries. How many times shall we write that there is a nexus between the economic power of South Africa and the quality of its universities? It is not by accident that the best university in Africa in all global ratings is the University of Cape Town. Is it not also true that of the top ten universities in Africa, most of the times, six to eight are in South Africa? What we are saying isn’t about setting up technical universities, agriculture universities, medical sciences universities, maritime universities, police and army universities that are underfunded and ill-equipped. This isn’t about the number of graduates in the country. It is about the quality of the graduates. It is about the capacity of the graduates to solve 21st challenges in this age of the high-tech, digital disrupters….

• This is an excerpt from (9, 307 words) lecture titled, ‘Can The Universities Trigger National Development Amid Economic Challenges? I delivered last Thursday March 6, 2025 as the 11th Distinguished Lecture of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City, Ondo State.

To be continued…

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted Mr Akari Loveday, the special adviser on Domestic Affairs to the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Akari was reportedly kidnapped on Friday along the river on his way to Ayakoro community in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State, the hometown of the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku.

Although the Bayelsa State Police Command has not made official statement about the incident, a source from the community said a combined team of security operatives in the area have been deployed for the rescue of Mr Akari.

According to the source, the kidnappers stopped the boat conveying Akari and others on the river, pulled him into their own boat and tried to get away when the engine of their boat malfunctioned.

He stated that the kidnappers had to paddle the boat to the bank of the river before running into the bush with the victim.
The source added that security agents, including police officers in the area have commenced a search for him.

“The SA Domestic to the NDDC MD has been kidnapped. He was kidnapped along the river on the way to Ayakoro when he was abducted.

“They took him out of the boat, but as they tried to get away, their engine stopped suddenly. So they pulled to the shore and ran into the bush.

“As I was coming, on the road to Otuoke and the entire area, there was heavy police presence. They were doing stop-and-search”, he said.

[Leadership]

Within a spate of 24 hours this week, two key developments occurred in the Nigerian economic sector.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed the appointment of Shamseldeen Ogunjimi as Accountant-General of the Federation while the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) appointed 16 new directors as part of reforms within the apex bank.

The appointments did not come as a surprise to many as Ogunjimi had been nominated for the position since 2024, even before the expiration of the tenure of Oluwatoyin Madein, the outgoing accountant-general. 

Similarly, the CBN had placed an internal advertisement for the post of directors following the retirement of the previous directors.

What, however, came as a surprise is that the appointments followed a particular pattern that conforms to allegations that under the current administration, a particular section of the country- the South-West, is dominating the economic landscape.

Ogunjimi, like President Tinubu, hails from Lagos State, and is taking over from  Madein, who is from Ogun State and  from the same geopolitical zone and ethnic group as the president.

If this was a coincidence, the appointment of 16 new directors at the apex bank makes it look otherwise.

Of the 16 new directors, eight are of the same ethnic affinity while the remaining eight were picked across the remaining over 200 ethnic groups in the country.

Those that share one ethnic affinity, Yoruba, include Ojumu Adenike Olubunmi, Director, Medical Services; Makinde Kayode Olanrewaju, Director of Procurement and Support Services; Isa-Olatinwo Aisha, Director of Consumer Protection; Yusuf Rakiya Opemi, Payments System Supervision; Vincent Monsurat Modesola, Strategy Management and Innovation;  Akinwunmi Akinniyi; Banking Supervision; Adedeji Sikiru, Currency Operations and Branch Management; and Solaja Olayemi, Other Financial Institutions.

Others from other ethnic nationalities are Abdullahi Hamisu, Director of Banking Services; Jide-Samuel Omoyemen Avbasowamen; head, Information Technology; Sike Ijeoma, head, Financial Policy and Regulation, while Monetary Policy Formulation will be overseen by Oboh Victor Ugbem. Nakorji Musa is to head Trade and Exchange; Farouk Muhammad, Reserve Management; Hassan Umar, Development Finance Institutions Supervision (OFISD); and Okpanachi Moses, Director of Statistics.

This, coupled with the previous appointees from the South-West zone, has raised the question of ethnic favouritism at the expense of other parts of the country and has made the president’s economic team to appear lopsided.

This tendency was noticed very early in the life of the current administration when the president named Yemi Cardoso as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Zacheus Adedeji as the chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). All of them are Yoruba from the South-West.

Groups speak on appointments

Noticing this trend, some Nigerians attempted to call the attention of the president to the lopsidedness of appointments into positions that have to do with finance and economic wellbeing of the country.

As early as 2023, when the president was just months in office, a group, The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), accused him of nepotism, alleging that most of the key appointments in his government were allotted to Nigerians from his ethnic group.

In a statement issued by its coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA faulted the appointments of the CBN governor and the FIRS chairman.

 Speaking in the same vein, the national publicity secretary of the apex northern socio-cultural and political organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, also criticised Tinubu for giving sensitive and “lucrative” appointments to persons from his southwestern part of the country.

Muhammad-Baba, a professor of Sociology, said this should not be encouraged in a “deeply fractious federation” like Nigeria.

Even the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, in November 2024, also saw reasons to caution President Tinubu over what it described as his bias and preference for the Yoruba in federal appointments.

The group made this known in a statement by its then leader, Ayo Adebanjo and the national publicity secretary, Justice Faleye respectively, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Part of the statement reads: “We can never condone the outrageous bias by Tinubu to make the Yoruba heads of all arms of the criminal justice system (EFCC, DSS, Attorney-General and Chief Justice); the economy (Coordinating Minister of the economy, CBN, Finance, Blue Economy, Digital Economy, Trade, Industries and Investment, Bank of Industry, Solid Minerals); as well as the forces (army, police, customs, immigration).”

Economic analysts observe that the president, having appointed himself minister of petroleum and made his long-time associate, Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, he should have spread the other slots on the economic team to other parts of the country since the two positions are central enough to determine the swing of major policy decisions.

The position of the coordinating minister of the economy gained popularity under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, when the minister of finance, apart from overseeing affairs at the core ministry, coordinated other ministers to work in tandem with the economic vision and policies of the administration.

The petroleum ministry is seen as very important due to its control of the activities in the petroleum industry, which is responsible for the country’s earnings.

Under the current administration, in addition to the position of the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, the bulk of the portfolios that have to do with the economy have been placed under the supervision of people from the president’s part of the country.

Gboyega Oyetola from Osun State is the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy; Jumoke Oduwole is Minister of Trade and Industry; Bosun Tijani, Minister of Innovation and Digital Economy; Adebayo Adelabu is Minister of Power, while Dele Alake is the Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

Weekend Trust observes that key agencies that either control the country’s finances or economic development are also mostly headed by people who share the same ethnic affinity. They include the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi; Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, Ola Olukoyede, and chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele.

Even when the president constituted a 31-man Presidential Economic Coordination Council in March 2024, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Edun, was made the chairman of both the 19-man economic management team emergency taskforce and the 14-man economic management team.

President Tinubu also established the Economic Management Team Emergency Taskforce (EET), which also has the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance as chairman.

The economic team usually designs the policies to introduce and guide the development of the economy. It also controls the bulk of the resources of the country due to the substantial amount domiciled in the ministries and agencies under its supervision.

Those in the team are considered very powerful as the economic prosperity of the country rests squarely on whatever they decide for the president.

 The floating of the naira, categorising power consumers into bands and the tax reforms bills are believed to be some of the direct influence of the economic team.

‘There’s lopsided distribution’

The programme coordinator of the Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) Nigeria, Mr Isaac Botti, agrees that the composition of the president’s economic team is one sided. He said, “We need to transcend ethnic biases and see how we can work with the right set of people as a country – those who really understand what needs to be done to revamp the economy.”

Dr Aminu Hayatu, a political economy researcher/analyst and senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Bayero University, Kano, said that merit should trump any other consideration in the composition of an economic team.

He said: “While I acknowledge the importance of inclusivity, economic policy should ultimately be driven by capacity rather than regional or ethnic considerations.”

He, however, added that in a diverse country like Nigeria, broad representation could help ensure that economic policies reflect the realities of different regions.

Blast from the past

Meanwhile, some analysts have pointed out that the immediate past leader of the country, Muhammadu Buhari, started the lopsidedness during his administration. But facts on ground show that it was slightly better during the previous administration.

In September 2019 when Buhari constituted an Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to replace the administration’s Economic Management Team, he named Prof Doyin Salami as chairman; Dr Mohammed Sagagi, vice chairman; Prof Ode Ojowu; Dr Shehu Yahaya; Dr Iyabo Masha; Prof Chukwuma Soludo and  Mr Bismark Rewane as members, while the secretary was  Dr Mohammed Adaya Salisu (Senior Special Assistant to the President on  Development Policy).

In his cabinet, Buhari appointed himself Minister of Petroleum; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment was Niyi Adebayo; while Isa Ali Pantami was Minister of Communication; Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance; Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing; and Olamilekan Adegbite – Minister of Mines and Steel Development.

Nigerians should be concerned about competence – Presidency 

The Presidency, while reacting to the development, said there’s nothing wrong with the appointments since they are all Nigerians.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, told our reporter that once the appointees are Nigerians and they are qualified, then the matter is settled.

“I don’t see anything wrong with the point you are raising. Are they not qualified?” he asked. 

On the appointment of the Accountant-General of the Federation, he explained that it was earlier announced, but when it was pointed out that certain rules were not followed, it was stepped down.

“And they now went through a rigorous selection process. More people were invited, and at the end of the day, the man still came tops. So, I think that as Nigerians, we should not be looking at the appointment from the prism of region, ethnicity, religion or something like that, what we should be thinking about is whether they are qualified or not. Are they square pegs in square holes? That should be the issue.

“That is why we keep missing it – we always emphasise the wrong things. Are all those people not qualified? Is the FIRS chairman not doing well? Is he not bringing more revenue to this country?

“Is the CBN governor not doing well? Look, we should be looking at competence and ability to perform. I think that’s what should matter, not where somebody comes from.”

[DailyTrust]

Sixty-seven-year old Brad Keith Sigmon, an inmate at the South Carolina Department of Corrections in the United States, was executed by firing squad on Friday.

It was the first such execution in the US since 2010, and the fourth since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Sigmon selected the firing squad out of three state-approved methods of execution; others are lethal injection or the electric chair.

Convicted of double homicide, he was declared deceased by a physician at 6:08 p.m. ET, officials announced at a news conference.

Sigmon was found guilty of the deaths of his former girlfriend’s parents in 2001. He kidnapped the ex-girlfriend after the murders, but she broke free.

“I want my closing statement to be one of love and a calling to my fellow Christians to help us end the death penalty,” Sigmon appealed in a statement.

The convict also quoted Bible verses on forgiveness, and said, “Nowhere does God in the New Testament give man the authority to kill another man.”

Sigmon’s attorneys filed a petition to stop his execution, seeking executive clemency and commutation of the death penalty to life imprisonment without parole.

The lawyers noted that he committed the crimes and “stood trial while in the grip of an undiagnosed, inherited mental illness.”

But the last minute push was unsuccessful as the Supreme Court and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declined to approve leniency.

[DailyPost]

Popular actress and filmmaker, Wumi Toriola, has opened up about the setbacks she faced before the success of her film, ‘Queen Lateefah.’

The film became one of the highest-grossing Nigerian films of 2024, earning N350 million at the box office.

In an interview with The Nation, Toriola revealed that the journey to making ‘Queen Lateefah’ was not without challenges, as she encountered disappointments and delays before finally bringing the project to life.

“I would have shot ‘Queen Lateefah’ four years ago, but it didn’t happen. I had hitchhiked with my story, and I wasn’t completely satisfied, so I kept rewriting it. I faced disappointments, but what I’ve learned is that whenever you come out, just come out well. The place of preparation was helpful for me,” she shared.

Despite the obstacles, the actress is now celebrating the film’s overwhelming success, acknowledging that the long wait and meticulous preparation ultimately paid off. 

Looking ahead to 2025, Toriola hinted at bigger projects and major collaborations.

“We are expecting something huge—more collaborations, but in a big way,” she revealed.

With ‘Queen Lateefah’ setting a high bar, Toriola also expressed the pressure of surpassing her record. “It makes me feel great and at the same time gives me a lot of responsibility, because one will want to get better. Beating that record is a lot of responsibility,” she stated.

[TheNation]

A former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has solicited support for Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.who was suspended from the Senate on Thursday.

Leading a delegation of senators from opposition political parties to visit Natasha at her home on Friday, Dickson said his engagement with the tax reform bills kept him away from the Senate proceedings on the day of Natasha’s suspension.

Dickson said as humans, senators have their low and high moments “and it is a tradition for Senators to support each other during these moments.”

“The public may recall that, for the past three days, I was attending the three-day workshop on the Tax Reform Bills which started on Wednesday, 5th of March and ended this evening, March 7.

“This is why I was not available yesterday to sit as a member of the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of the issues concerning our colleague Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan’s suspension, haven been assured by the Committee Chairman that the hearing would hold on Wednesday the 11th of March for which notices had already been issued. I was not notified of the emergency seating yesterday.

“This evening, after concluding the retreat, I led a delegation of some senators of opposition parties on a visit to our colleague Senator Natasha and met with her and her husband at their home.

“We offered words of encouragement, prayers and advice on a quick resolution of the issues surrounding her suspension,” he said.

“Having heard more from her and her husband for the first time, I will discuss with other colleagues on how to intervene and engage with the leadership of the senate to resolve the issues as soon as possible,” he added.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on Thursday for six months after she refused her new seat in the upper legislative chamber.

The dispute escalated into allegations of sexual harassment by the Kogi senator against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Her suspension has sparked widespread debate and criticisms, particularly from women’s rights groups and civil society organisations.

The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, saying the move reeks of a grand cover-up attempt from Akpabio.