President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday in Abuja, received assurances from Reckitt Benckiser, the global fast-moving consumer goods company, that they will continue to grow their investments in Nigeria.

Receiving a delegation from Reckitt Benckiser led by the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kris Licht, and Chief Olu Falomo, Chairman of Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited, the President lauded the company for its over 60 years of investment in Nigeria and commitment to the country’s development.

''We are creating an environment for the private sector to thrive in. I am glad that you are here to stay for the long term. I am happy that you have been in the country for many years, and you have decided to invest more. We have embarked on challenging reforms to improve the economy. Our reforms will improve the ease of doing business for partners like you moving forward,'' the President told the delegation.

President Tinubu assured investors of good returns on their investments, supported by a buoyant market and a large population.

In his remarks, Mr. Licht described Nigeria as a very important country to the company, saying: ‘‘We have had very good business here for many years, and we congratulate you on your first year in office. We see Nigeria as an important business destination for today and the future.’’

Chief Falomo, Chairman of Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited, reiterated the company’s long standing commitment to Nigeria, stating: ‘‘We have asked our global team to come and assure you that we back your efforts. They have said they are not going anywhere. We are here to support this government.’’

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

President Bola Tinubu has addressed both chambers of the National Assembly , charging federal lawmakers to continue to work with themselves irrespective of their political divide to build the institution of the parliament and the nation.

Tinubu spent roughly 27 minutes gracing the joint session of the national Assembly , marking 25 years of unbroken democracy in the country.

The President told the federal lawmakers that only Nigerians can create a glorious future for themselves , stressing that no amount of foreign aids or support can do it for the country.

He charged the lawmakers to build the nation and bequeath to generations unborn a glorious future.

The President also used the occasion to announce that he would be sending the budget for 2024 to the national assembly. It’s not clear if the President actually meant 2025 budget 

or was referring to a supplementary 2024 budget 

President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio, later clarified saying the National Assembly would be waiting to receive the President’s request for supplementary budget for 2024.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN has stated that the " conducts of counsel and the Courts in the handling of the proceedings which culminated in the orders issued by the Federal High Court, the Kano State High Court and again the Federal High Court, in circus, have brought utter disgrace and shame to the profession – have exposed the entire legal profession in Nigeria to public ridicule and opprobrium. The damage is one that would take the legal profession a long time to recover from. It is unfortunate and was totally uncalled for."

In a statement issued this morning, Mr. Maikyau said that "Without prejudice to the subsisting actions before both the Federal High Court and the Kano State High Court, it is my considered view that there is urgent need to scrutinize the professional conducts of both Counsel and the Judges involved in these matters. This is to enable the relevant bodies or institutions determine their culpability or, otherwise, from an ethical and professional standpoint."

The NBA President has, therefore, called on "the respective heads of the Courts of the Judges concerned, to take immediate steps to look into their conducts with the view to finding any possible abuse of their judicial offices and file a report with the National Judicial Council for necessary action. 

As regards the lawyers involved, the NBA President said that the NBA "... will investigate the conducts of the counsel involved in these cases and shall not hesitate to commence disciplinary action against them before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, should there be any finding of alleged professional misconduct against them. The Chairman of the NBA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee has accordingly been directed to invite these counsel for preliminary investigations."

Please find attached for your reference the statement of the NBA President.

Thank you, and do have a good day.

Akorede Habeeb Lawal 

National Publicity Secretary, NBA

Nigeria is a mess right now. A huge mess. Even the blind can see it. And the deaf can hear the cry of anguish of Nigeria’s children. Can the country be rescued? Possibly. But the myths, years of delusions of grandeur and criminal capture of the Nigerian state threaten the possibility.

Last week one of the great TV interviewers in Nigeria, Charles Aniagolu asked me the big question. How did we get here?

I resisted the temptation of the immodest but Frank answer;  go and read just about everything I have written in the last 40  years.

So I talked about a flawed political class  constrained by the false consciousness of the collapsed morality of civic culture captured in the seminal essay on Colonialism and the two Publics written by Peter Ekeh in 1975 and the Idea of the tragedy of the commons where that which belongs to all belongs to none. Theoretical truths as they may be Nigeria’s descent to failing state status, poverty capital of the world, and theatre of violent crime and impunity has been a long time coming and has been framed by many illusions left unattended  by an anti-intellectual culture fostered by post 1999 political elite, ego journalism which has  left the big issues as columnist celebrate self and promote partisan passions, and a rent focused business elite tied to the aprons of the politicians became complicit in their indulgence while pretending to be neutral. The Chicken has come home to roost, the gate to the road to Somalia opens even as leadership selection traditions have left at the Watch those unable to shut the gates of brass and the bars of iron.

To be sure, Nigeria was a great potential in 1960. But much of what created illusions of progress in the late 1970s and 1980s for a few thriving on Crude Oil rents, and the entitlement mentality that has since followed, and sustained an appetite for consumption and a consumerist economy has been in the way of shifting to production. These derive from less than thoughtful nation building policy making choices even as we went on giant of Africa halicinations without the work that make giants. I warned back then., chided  and prompted in directions that could help claim the promise of greatness. I was told I was talking to the deaf. Now all I hear is you forewarned us of this catastrophe.

The projected greatness of Nigeria in 1960 was rooted  not in potential Oil revenues but in a calculus of its factor endowments and character, vision and conduct of its politicians between 1956 and 1960.

So when Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa is welcomed in Washington shortly after Independence with such pomp in International relations arena marked by power maximizing it was because the world saw an emerging black power. That potential consolited for a period under the military was squandered progressively by corrupt poorly governing narcissistic politicians.

But how did these leaders go so spectacularly wrong?  They neglected some simple rules any head of family pays attention to in a time of windfall.  Save for a rainy day, invest in the education of the offspring and construct now you have cash that which will enable them to produce and prosper in the days when that windfall may not be there. Our elite seemed  quite challenged  compared to Botswana in Africa, Norway in Europe and several of the Countries in the Arab Middle East..

So we sauntered into Dutch Disease which occurs when a combination of spending patterns and exchange rates cause labour skills  to move to the non tradable goods sectors  like construction as tradionally dominant sectors like Agriculture became uncompetitive. The putative manufacturing sector which experienced great surge from 1956 under Self Government suffered shocks in this season and as Irene Sun shows in her book on Chinese investments and Africa as the world’s next great factory became victim of poor trade policy.

For me the biggest damage Oil boom did to Nigeria was the  ‘confidence’ it gave decision makers to abandon rigor in decision making and turn their back on planning. The failure of the Electricity sector so critical for production and civilization is the most revealing example of this. How on God’s earth did we manage to let that happen.?

When I go back and read things I wrote 40 years ago, 30 years  back and 15 years before now  I wonder that if care is not taken some will capture me and pronounce me prophet. But I do not need the religious charlatan powers to know those views were  available  to anyone that paused to think.

Twenty three years ago I was hosting the LBS executive briefing breakfast at which the IMF Country Manager was guest. In my opening remarks I reiterated my call for mineral and Oil revenues to flow into three accounts, a Distributable Pool Fund (FAAC), a Stabilization Fund and a Future Fund ( Sovereign Wealth Fund). The IMF official nicely editorialized that with thinking of that nature foreign experts would have no place offering counsel. It was not rocket science. Botswana was ahead of me on that curve.

In columns,  I pressured the government in Abuja to start saving Oil windfalls. When they did, some of my friends  in a government I was friendly with in Lagos wondered why I would encourage the Federal government to take money rightly belonging to the states. When I told one of them  that he knew enough to understand the concept of mutual funds he kept quiet. Today he has the responsibility for what I tried to encourage then.

Had a marketplace of ideas encouraged rational public conversation on my crusade of that season perhaps we may not be where we are today in the management of the economy. But our politics stifles  rational conversation and the pool of good thinking shrunk.

Those who could point us to the plight of the more vulnerable, the poor, the physically challenged and minor minorities,  from Academia and journalism retreated from the arena as bullies and semi literates got bolder. The voiceless angry began gradually to drop into the catchment of the entrepreneurs of violence or violent crime. Most of what we now project as violent irredentist movements happen to be organized crime as Italy and some Latin American countries have experienced. But they have compounded bad economic policies with incsecirity that has hurt the agriculture value chain.

The results have come in. Is Nigeria a lost cause?

The tendency to glamorize the era of Crude Oil oiled easy life for a portion of the population is attractive. But it was an illusion of prosperity. Nigeria was never. It could have gone that way but a short sighed elite chose to live in the present and not in the future as their counterparts in Spain did three centuries ago.

The model from which we can reconstruct a new Nigeria has to be found in a digital version  of that of the independence fathers who remarkably transformed the economy from 1957 to 1964 before the political order began to crack. We will then need to device a new political order seeing the present one has failed almost all stakeholders

What political structure can sustain a developmental state idea and grant the great escape to millions of the desperately poor in Nigeria.

That new way has to overcome the diseased morality of the civic culture of the extant ‘’democracy’ that let the Babarians past the gate into the city halls and boardrooms. The ‘Band A’ bandits of the disconnected  state who have moved state capture up a few notches have now so little sensitivity that like the wife of Louis XVI in France they may ask why do those chanting ebi mpawa and rioting for food because there was no Gari not eat Ofada rice instead..

A values revolution driven by a vanguard passionate about personal integrity, respect for the dignity of the human person, the work ethic and social justice is a necessary first step. Values shape human progress and contemporary Nigerian disposition to keep values optional speaks to why we are in a failing state category.

The good news is that the people are fed up and a significant pool of good people are waiting to be led to do the right thing. Nigeria may yet rise again.

This is why I am promoting a new tribe with low tolerance for ethnic chauvinism, corruption and the seven deadly social sins like politics without principles, wealth without work and religion without sacrifice.

The new tribe project is also designed to go beyond by solving social problems through cohorts committed, for example to very low cost and free skills education, production clusters matching Diaspora investors with local talent using blockchain technology to ensure transparency, those focused on freeing the vulnerable from hunger and indignity, and those which war against corruption and work to hold power accountable. The list of the 14 active cohorts and reports on the work they are currently doing for the vision of a new tribe will be formally unveiled on October 1.  A new Nigeria is possible but all hands must be on deck and none should fear rejecting an old order that has failed so spectacularly.

•Utomi , a  Political Economist and Professor at the Lagos Business School is founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership

Nigerians across the country yesterday charged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to make life better for them.

They spoke to Daily Trust on the first anniversary of the administration.

This is just as former President Muhammadu Buhari and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin sought citizens’ support for Tinubu’s government.

A resident of Kaduna State, Imam Hussaini Udawa, said though Tinubu’s administration had some “positive” policies, it should check its economic policies to improve the lot of Nigerians.

A driver in the state, Umar Abdullahi Tijjani, said while he would score Tinubu high on security, he wants the president “to do more in the area of the economy because the hardship is too much.”

A Kano-based journalist, Muhammad Abdulsalam, said Tinubu’s administration made progress in some areas, but he should tackle “corruption and political division.”

Another resident of Kano, Hamza Muhammad, urged the president and other political leaders to make the necessary sacrifice to secure the country and make food cheap and available.

A lecturer at the Department of Political Science in Bayero University, Kano, Dr Saidu Dukawa, in a radio programme yesterday, said life became difficult for the poor when Tinubu announced the fuel subsidy removal.

Bala Kwatarkwashi, a trader at Kantin Kwari market in Kano, urged Tinubu to tackle banditry to allow farmers have access to their farms.

John Lawrence and Mathias Ike, who live in Port Harcourt, and a right activist in Rivers State, Fyneface Dumnamene, asked the president to reduce Nigerians’ sufferings by reducing the cost of living.

An engineer in Abuja, Joshua Dangana, urged Tinubu to review fuel prices; while  Toyin Adekunle, an entrepreneur, tasked him on provision of amenities, sound transportation system, job creation and stable electricity.

Ezra Ukanwa,  a journalist in Abuja said the president should support small businesses, promote local industries, attract foreign investments, improve healthcare and address high cost of living.

Oyiza Lawal, a trader in Kogi, called for steady electricity and affordable fuel; while Blessing Ekwe, a businesswoman in Enugu, said though the president was doing his best on security “more needs to be done about the petroleum sector. Any decision in that area should be done with caution.”  

Haruna Muhammed, a computer engineer in Nasarawa, asked Tinubu to make the Independent National Electoral Commission and the EFCC independent, and “build more refineries and maintain the old ones, and create jobs.

In Ekiti State, Mercy Tinuade and Anthony Oluwafemi as well as Felicia Kokoro and Nnamdi Nwanem, residents of Delta State, called for price control in order to address the rising costs of food items. 

Buhari, Barau seek citizens’ support for president

Meanwhile, former President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday extended his best wishes to President Tinubu on the completion of his first year in office.

Buhari in a statement issued by his spokesperson Garba Shehu, appealed to all citizens to continue to strengthen the thread of national unity and goodwill.

The former president also appealed to them to give their blessings and support to Tinubu’s administration so that it could succeed in its efforts to build “a Nigeria of our dreams”.

Also, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, in a statement by his spokesperson, Ismail Mudashir, said President Tinubu had navigated a once-adrift ship to safety.

He said Tinubu had the vision to turn around the nation’s fortunes for the collective benefit of the citizenry.

Barau,  urged Nigerians to remember that “before comfort, there must be some discomfort. Let us endure. Nigeria will change for the better, Insha Allah.”

Today, May 29, marks exactly one year since Bola Ahmed Tinubu took the oath of office as the president of the largest black nation on earth, Nigeria.

Tinubu was sworn in as the fifth democratically elected president, since the return of democracy in 1999, following his victory in the keenly-contested 2023 presidential election.

Tinubu, 72, who contested on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, emerged victorious against his closest rivals, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP.

His victory was, however, greeted with mixed reactions, with allegations of electoral malpractice and a heated legal battle that followed.

Despite the controversy, Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, 2023, marked the beginning of a new chapter in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

DAILY POST observed that the past year has been characterised by significant political dynamics, with Tinubu’s administration navigating a complex landscape of expectations, challenges and diverse opinions on its performance and policies.

The administration’s policies and decisions have triggered a broad spectrum of reactions from different segments of the society, thereby creating a “gbas gbos” across the nation.

Renewed Hope: A journey marred by controversies

Many political observers believe that Tinubu took off on the wrong note with the announcement of the removal of fuel subsidy on the day of his inauguration.

The President himself admitted that the removal of fuel subsidy was not part of his inaugural speech, but he “went out of his way” to announce it in the best interest of Nigerians.

DAILY POST recalls that while Tinubu was yet to finish his inaugural speech, oil marketers quickly adjusted their fuel pump prices to about N500 per litre.

A few weeks later, the fuel pump price was further increased to about N617-N1000 per litre, depending on the area or state.

This singular act, many believe, has inflicted untold hardship on many Nigerians.

The development, according to analysts, contributed to high inflation, with prices of commodities skyrocketing by about 300 per cent.

In less than 12 months, the current government has twice witnessed a total shutdown by the organised labour due to the ongoing suffering in the country resulting from the removal of the fuel subsidy.

Betta Edugate – They never saw this coming

Barely six months into his administration, a major scandal hit the APC-led government.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, was at the centre of the storm for alleged corruption.

Edu, 37, who served as the National Women Leader of the ruling APC, came under fire over allegations of financial embezzlement and abuse of power in her ministry.

Edu was accused of transferring N585.189 million meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states into a private account.

This sparked a national outcry and reinforced the notion in some quarters that the APC government would exploit Nigeria for personal gain.

Consequently, President Tinubu suspended Edu and ordered a thorough investigation.

The outcome of the investigation is still being awaited, while Edu remains suspended.

Is subsidy truly gone?

Contrary to the claim that subsidy on fuel has been removed, there are allegations that the federal government is still paying subsidies for the product.

The World Bank and the CEO/Managing Director of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited, Mr Robert Dickerman, asserted that the Federal Government continues to subsidise fuel.

Reacting to the debacle, activist and renowned lawyer, Femi Falana, who was vocal against the removal of the subsidy in 2011 under President Goodluck Jonathan, urged the government to review the policy in the public interest.

“Curiously, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited has not deemed it fit to deny the serious allegation that fuel subsidy has been restored.

“Since there is no provision for fuel subsidy in the 2023 and 2024 Appropriation Acts the federal government should, without any further delay, confirm or deny the serious allegation and end the opacity surrounding the importation of fuel from foreign countries,” Falana said.

“If the federal government is spending as much as N1 trillion on fuel subsidy per month, it is high time the policy was reviewed in the interest of the Nigerian people,” he added.

Renewed Hope – The good, the bad and the ugly

The Tinubu/Shettima 2023 campaign mantra was anchored on a policy document titled Renewed Hope.

The policy document has national security, economy, agriculture, power, oil and gas, transportation, education, the digital economy, sport, entertainment and culture, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship, women empowerment, social programs, judicial reforms, federalism and decentralisation of power and foreign policy, among others as thematic areas of priority.

With fuel subsidy gone and prices of things skyrocketing on a daily basis, many Nigerians feel the impact of the Renewed Hope is yet to be felt.

Insecurity – The bloodbaths continue

The administration’s approach to security and governance has also been a major talking point.

Tinubu’s administration prioritised enhancing national security, with increased funding for security agencies and strategic initiatives to combat insurgency and banditry.

Despite these efforts, the persistence of security challenges remains a significant concern for many Nigerians.

In places like Benue and Plateau states, farmers have abandoned their farms due to persistent clashes with herdsmen. Just last week, over 30 people were killed in various villages by suspected herdsmen in Benue alone.

In the northeast, bandits continue to pose a threat, causing citizens sleepless nights.

Although Tinubu inherited this crisis from the previous administration, many believe his approach to addressing this nagging menace is inadequate.

However, the leadership of the renowned pan-African students’ movement, The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), Nigeria chapter, is pleased with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu government in the area of security.

According to the group, “Information shows that our gallant military troops have succeeded in neutralizing 9,303 terrorists and criminals, including notorious kingpins such as Damina, Dangote, Kachalla Azarailu, and Boderi, among others.”

Knocks, kudos greet Tinubu’s first year in office

Front-line politician and activist, Hon Lucky Obiyan, said the current government has failed woefully in areas of security, Fiscal and monetary policies.

He slammed the current administration for focusing on less impactful social infrastructure while neglecting vital areas.

He told DAILY POST, “President Tinubu’s government has performed below expectations across all governance indices. If I were to give it a scorecard, it would be below one per cent.

“In the economy, the government has failed. In terms of security, it’s at a dismal 0.001 per cent.

“In the area of Fiscal and monetary policies, the government is at a zero level. The energy sector is in crisis, exacerbated by poorly considered subsidy removal.

“Priority infrastructure has been neglected, with the government focusing on less impactful social infrastructure while neglecting vital areas that affect people’s lives and the economy.

“The government has driven away big multinationals in Nigeria, who have been relocating one after the other to neighbouring countries in Africa.

“Human rights abuses have reached a gargantuan proportion and there’s a flagrant disregard for the rule of law.

“Selective obedience to court orders based on convenience is undemocratic and unacceptable.

“The mismanagement and waste of our collective resources are deeply concerning.

“A government that allocates N90 billion for Hajj while neglecting essential services cannot be taken seriously.

“Overall, the past year has been toxic, bringing nothing but hell and hardship to the people and eroding their purchasing power of the average Nigerian person.

“In summary, this administration deserves a score of zero in every assessment.”

Contrasting Obiyan’s views, Okpokwu Ogenyi, a political analyst and Coordinator of the Conference of Minority Tribes in Nigeria and former governorship aspirant in Benue State, argued that the President has made significant strides in his first year.

Ogenyi believes that Tinubu’s efforts in tackling corruption, initiating economic reforms and enhancing infrastructure development across the nation demonstrate a commitment to national progress.

“If you ask me to rate the president on a scale of one to 10, I would tell you 9/10.

“In just less than one year in office, we have seen the monumental projects that he has been able to accomplish.

“From the renovation of the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge to the award of the Makurdi-Otukpo-Enugu road project, the Abuja light rail, the national assembly renovation, Lagos-Calabar Coastal project, and several others.

“Many Nigerians will say he erred by removing the subsidy, but I must say that he did well. It was a bold move that many Nigerians will appreciate later.

“The suffering is temporary, but I assure you that things will be stable very soon.

“Nigerians are asking the wrong person. The people they should hold responsible are the state governors. Before now, monthly allocations were about N2bn, but today, states like Benue are getting N6bn as allocations.

“Oil producing states get as much as N16bn monthly. What are they doing with the money? The masses should ask them. The president cannot be everywhere at the same time

“Tinubu’s administration is on the right track. The foundations he is laying will yield positive results in the long term,” Ogenyi asserted, calling for patience and continued support from the populace.

Echoing Ogenyi’s sentiment, Terence Kuanum, National Coordinator of the National Coalition Against Terrorism, asserted that Tinubu has lived up to expectations by taking tough decisions to neutralise the damage caused by Buhari’s eight-year government.

“Though these decisions come with pain, we are optimistic that we will ultimately benefit from them,” Kuanum stated.

He also alleged that Tinubu’s efforts were being sabotaged by governors.

“Despite the huge finances available to states, there is little to show for the substantial allocations received,” he added.

However, Kuanum is hopeful that amendments granting autonomy to local governments will ensure that the dividends of democracy reach the grassroots.

“Overall, Tinubu has performed well across all sectors,” he said.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and activist, Austin Okai, told DAILY POST that the ruling party has succeeded in buying over some members of the opposition.

He challenged those who were vocal against the government of the PDP to come out and question some of the policies of the current government.

He lamented that what Nigerians were going through is a fallback of what the APC created to discredit the government of the PDP and Jonathan to get power in 2015.

His words, “Today, the issue of kidnapping is a fallout of what the APC created to discredit the government of PDP and Goodluck Jonathan.

“Now, we are witnessing the repercussions, with more citizens being kidnapped. We are reaping the seeds they sowed as the opposition, and you want us to accept that.

“Recall that the current Vice President, Kashim Shettima, was the governor of Borno State when the first abduction happened in Chibok.

“Wike, who is now aligning with the APC government, was the Minister of State for Education then. They all ignored security reports to close down Chibok School until the abduction happened. Today, where are we?

“Today, Nigerians are eager and yearning for the era of the PDP. Tinubu has done nothing. He is employing only his people from Lagos or awarding contracts to a company owned by his son.

“He is increasing VAT and introducing more taxes. As of yesterday, I bought fuel at N750 per litre in Abuja.

“When I questioned the price, they claimed those selling at cheaper rates tampered with their metres, which tells you that the regulatory agencies are not even working.

“A year after the removal of the subsidy, they have not increased salaries and the CNG buses he promised are nowhere to be found.

“The palliatives are being given to APC members, who, in turn, are selling them to the masses.

“So, Tinubu has failed. Nothing is working. He has not done anything remarkable. Now, people cannot fly because of the high cost of aviation fuel and people cannot drive because of the fear of being kidnapped.

“The inflation rate is rising. It is a shame that nobody is speaking out. Where are Wole Soyinkas, the NGOs and CSOs that were vocal against the PDP government? They called us looters and Boko Haram supporters, but now they can’t talk.

“They are expecting the PDP to come and do the job for them. The only way forward is to kick them out in 2027. They have failed woefully.”

For activist and political analyst, Enenche Obonyilo Peter, Tinubu inherited a nation that was systematically destroyed and he needs more time to fix it.

His words, “I will say Tinubu has performed fantastically well. He has been able to manage the country. Every federating unit now has a sense of belonging.

“Abuja is wearing a new look, though the subsidy removal is painful, but there is no better time to remove it than now.

“When the Arabs were using oil money to build Dubai and Kuwait, we were busy burning down Kaduna, Kano and Lagos.

“When Russians were laying pipes that connect their markets to Europe, we were busy bursting and vandalising our pipelines.

“Nigeria was so systematically destroyed over the years that no overnight approach can fix the mess. So far, Tinubu has put us on a path to recovery.”

Opposition parties – Toothless bulldogs

Another major concern about the current government is the belief that the nation is gradually sliding into a one-party state.

At the moment, the major opposition parties resemble toothless bulldogs.

According to political observers, the Tinubu government has effectively silenced opposing voices, particularly with the appointment of Nyesom Wike, a prominent member of the opposition camp, into his cabinet.

The Labour Party, which was seen as the third force, has been embroiled in crisis, with little or no attention given to national discourse.

Meanwhile, DAILY POST observed that the Tinubu government has embarked on several reform initiatives aimed at revitalising the economy, including efforts to improve the ease of doing business, attract foreign investment and diversify the economic base away from oil dependency.

However, these initiatives have faced significant challenges, including global economic uncertainties and internal resistance.

In the area of infrastructure, the government is believed to be truly living up to expectations.

For instance, in the nation’s capital, the minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, who is a member of the PDP, has been on his toes to make sure the seat of power wears a new look.

The government has ‘face-lifted’ major roads in Abuja city centre and satellite towns.

Prominent among them is the Wuye-Wuse link flyover, Area 11-Asokoro flyover, etc.

Similarly, the government kicked off the construction of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, which will open up the economy between West-north and south.

However, public opinion on Tinubu’s first year in office is deeply divided.

While some applaud his proactive approach and long-term vision, others express frustration over the slow pace of tangible improvements in their daily lives.

The social impact of his policies, particularly on the most vulnerable populations, remains a contentious issue.

Light at the end of the tunnel

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, says there is hope for Nigerians, considering the achievements of President Bola Tinubu in just one year in office.

According to Wike, Tinubu has done very well in the FCT and the country overall, particularly in physical infrastructure and human capital development.

He said, “I think Mr President has done very well in terms of reassuring Nigerians that he is committed to delivering the dividend of democracy.

“From what we have seen on the ground, there is really hope for Nigerians. So, we are very happy.”

[DailyPost]

Kano Governor Abba Yusuf has banned all forms of public demonstrations in the State.

He imposed stringent restrictions on all public gatherings intended to protest within the state.

The Governor, in a statement by his Media and Publicity Director Sanusi Bature on Wednesday, said he was exercising the authority vested in him as the chief security officer of the State.

“By virtue of his position, the Governor has directed the police, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps to apprehend, detain, and prosecute any individual or group partaking in demonstrations on the streets of Kano,” the statement said.

According to Bature, the Governor’s decision is a proactive measure aimed at averting any potential breakdown of law and order orchestrated by adversaries of the state.

“We are privy to credible intelligence indicating that certain prominent figures from the opposition party in Kano have devised plans to sponsor student associations and political agitators from other northwestern states to incite chaos under the guise of advocating for the dethroned Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.

“The State Government has explicitly outlawed protests, demonstrations, or processions of any kind, and individuals found on the streets of Kano engaging in such activities will be promptly apprehended.

“Through this declaration, we caution student groups against being manipulated by troublemakers who are resolute in fomenting disorder in Kano,” the statement added.

Yusuf urged all citizens of the state to carry on with their normal activities as the state retains its tranquility.

He added that the State Government will persist in vigilant oversight of the situation involving the emirate tussle to promptly address any individuals or factions trying to undermine the relative peace that state presently enjoys.

[TheNation]

The Federal Government on Tuesday said it had reinstated the suspended social investment programme, disclosing the scheme would provide direct payments to 75 million Nigerians in 50 million households to reduce the suffering of citizens, especially vulnerable groups.

It stated that the cash transfer programme was overhauled to tackle fraud.

The Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, announced this at the ministerial sectoral briefing to mark the first year in office of the President Bola Tinubu administration in Abuja.

On January 12,  Tinubu suspended all the programmes administered by the National Social Investment Programme Agency for six weeks, as part of a probe of alleged malfeasance in the management of the agency and the scheme.

The president also suspended Betta Edu as the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation on January 8. Edu’s ministry supervises the operations of the NSIPA.

The intervention programmes affected include the N-Power, the conditional cash transfer scheme, the government enterprise and empowerment programme, and the home-grown school feeding initiative.

On March 13, the House of Representatives asked the federal government to resume the implementation of the suspended social investment initiatives.

To revamp the programme, Tinubu approved the establishment of a Special Presidential Panel, led by Edun to carry out an intensive review and audit of the existing financial frameworks and policy guidelines of the social investment programmes.

Giving an update on the steps taken by the committee at the briefing, the finance minister stated that the government had decided to restart the programme to provide succour for poor Nigerians.

Edun said, “I am duty-bound to give you an overview of the strategy, policies, and implementation of Mr President’s reform programme. Immediately upon assuming office, Mr President launched macroeconomic reforms to restore stability to the Nigerian economy, including subsidy reforms and foreign exchange market reforms. These reforms caused a spike in costs for individuals and businesses, but Mr President is committed to counterbalancing the negative effects with interventions across the social spectrum.

“The government has restarted the social investment program, providing direct payments to 75 million Nigerians in 50 million households. Access to credit has been improved, with N1bn allocated to consumer credit and grants of 50,000 Naira being given to 1 million nano industries.”

Food inflation

The National Bureau of Statistics in its April CPI report, said Nigeria’s 33.69 per cent inflation rate was largely driven by food inflation which stood at 40.53 per cent in April, 2024.

Nigerians have continued to lament the steady rise in the prices of goods and services partially fuelled by the removal of petrol subsidies.

But, the minister said with 30 per cent of the world affected by issues of food security, agriculture would play a critical role in addressing global food insecurity.

He stated, “Food security is a worldwide issue, affecting 30 per cent of the world’s active population, and Nigeria is no exception. As I mentioned earlier, agriculture is critical, and success in this area is crucial. Efforts are being redoubled, with N200bn provided by the Ministry of Finance towards an intervention program.

“Just today (Tuesday), we met with the social investment prudential panel and development partners to discuss the President’s emergency plan for food security. We talked about advancing this issue and providing food, nutrition, and security, and this area will receive more attention in the coming weeks. The economy is growing at 2.98 per cent in the first quarter of this year, higher than the population growth rate and last year’s growth rate. Agriculture has the potential to help move the economy forward and reduce inflation.”

Speaking further, the minister stated that the federal government had initiated direct payments to contractors, suppliers, and vendors engaged by the government, evidently aiming to curb corruption in business dealings.

He explained that this measure would guarantee the prudent and accountable expenditure of the nation’s wealth.

Edun also revealed that the government was set to roll out an Economic Emergency Plan that would be implemented in the next six months. The plan, he explained, would help stabilise the economy and set the country on the path of growth.

He explained, “A system of payment has been implemented to ensure that Nigeria’s money is spent wisely and accountably. The government has played a role in helping states in attracting cheap funding and processing projects at the community level. Nigeria’s international credit rating has improved, with Moody’s and Fitch increasing and improving Nigeria’s rates to positive.

“The government is committed to counterbalancing the negative effects of economic reforms with interventions across the social spectrum. Infrastructure is key to growing the economy, building employment, and creating multiplier effects throughout the economy. A fund has been set up to provide institutional long-term funds to support housing construction and low-interest mortgages for the average Nigerian and we are working to attract cheap funding for states and process projects at the community level.”

He added, “And as it was mentioned earlier, the pivot thing to CNG is a government policy not just for vehicles but for generators. They have to be either CNG-fueled or solar-based or electric vehicles.

“That is the new incentive structure. And it continues also in the oil and gas sector. There has just been a new set of incentives that are encouraging new investments. We expect $7bn worth of investment that has been sitting on the sideline to now come; similarly, in other sectors.

“A stable, growing economy attracts investment that increases productivity, grows the economy further, creates jobs and reduces poverty. That is the trajectory that Nigeria is now on.”

Speaking on economic reforms, the finance minister announced that Nigeria has sufficient resources to pay its debts, both domestically and internationally, without strain.

According to him, this is a significant improvement from the previous situation where the government struggled to pay its way through implementing technological change procedures.

The minister said the revenue of the Federal Republic “has been totally revamped, rejuvenated, and increased substantially” due to the implementation of macroeconomic reforms and the restart of the social investment program.

He said, “We met a situation where the government did not have enough money. The government was not able to pay its way through implementing technological change procedures, which does not just require the skill of the workforce but also the political will.

“However, we are now in a situation where the revenue of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been revamped, related and increased substantially. What did mean is that the government can now pay its way the government is paid is debt service without resulting to Ways and Means, particularly into debt service, the obligations domestically are now being paid.”

This has put the government in a comfortable position to service its debts and meet its financial obligations.

Edun also highlighted the improvement in Nigeria’s international credit rating, with Moody’s and Fitch increasing and improving Nigeria’s rates to positive.

This, combined with the paying up of a $200m shareholding with the Islamic Development Bank, has built confidence and allowed Nigerians to take their rightful place at the table.

“The process that has been put in place is one that we are mandated not just by Mr President, but even the National Assembly passing the 2024 budget insisted that Nigeria’s money that was in the hands of parastatals agencies, or other enterprises needed to be brought in properly and that has been done which puts the government now in a comfortable situation as we would like to where we pay our way domestically internationally.

“There is a whole host of debt that we met. We owe Islamic Development Bank $200m in shareholding, this is not in terms of loans but in terms of shareholding, our subscriptions. These were things that did not allow the confidence to be built and did not allow Nigerians to have that pride of place when they sit at a table when they travel and they owe money. All these are things of the past now,” he said.

The minister emphasised the importance of infrastructure in growing the economy, building employment, and creating multiplier effects throughout the economy.

A fund has been set up to provide institutional long-term support to support housing construction and low-interest mortgages for the average Nigerian.

He added that the companies that exited Nigeria were not to be blamed on the current government.

He said, “Our government inherits the assets and liabilities of the previous administration. The 800 companies or so did not make up their minds overnight. They stayed until they could stay no more, he said.

“For the economy we have inherited, we have pointed out how seriously all obligations, both international and domestic, are being paid. This is being done because the revenue, which the company covers on behalf of Nigerian workers, is being diligently brought in. It is being monitored, collected, and accounted for. As I leave here, I am a member of the National Minimum Wage Committee and Tripartite Committee, and I chair the subcommittee on implementation documentation of the last minimum wage.

 “In assessing and analysing the implementation of the 2019 award, we came across people in the private sector, particularly nationals in the south, who asked, ‘Why are you not rescaling?’ Please go and look at the law; it is not a scale, it is a minimum, and it is not mandatory to be anything other than that minimum. We hope to quickly bring discussions to a conclusion on this matter. This is one of the items on our minds, as this is a minimum wage for both the private and public sectors, and it is the law of the land. We need to be guided by discussions, stations, and expectations.

“Mass transit vehicles are being produced, and I have even driven one of them, which will provide us with, for example, a bus that used to be fueled for 50,000 naira will now be fueled with 15,000 naira. That is the kind of change and improvement that is on the way.”

•Gives reasons why Tinubu’s one year rule hasn’t yielded desired fruits
•Says trial- and-error economic policies won’t work

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has listed six actions President Bola Tinubu must take if he was desirous of making a success of the responsibility of the office he currently occupies.

Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, offered the advice in a statement made public in Abuja yesterday.

He said: “First, pause and reflect. It is important that the government understands what reforms must be undertaken and in what sequence. A framework is needed with clearly stated reform objectives and strategies.

“Second, undertake a comprehensive review of the 2024 budget within the new reform framework. The 2024 FGN budget, the exact size of which remains a mystery, is not designed to address the structural defects of the Nigerian economy or the cost-of-living crisis. It will neither create prosperity nor promote opportunities for our young people to lead a productive life.

“The review must prioritise fiscal measures to deal with an unprecedented rise in commodity prices. Higher commodity prices have created more misery for the poor in our towns and villages and have pushed millions of people below the poverty line. One of such measures for immediate implementation will be to ease the existing restrictions on selected food imports.

“Third, undertake a comprehensive review of the Social Investment Programme, SIP, to mitigate some of the impact of these policies on the most vulnerable households. The SIP must go beyond Conditional Cash Transfers to include programmes that prioritize support to MSEs across all the economic sectors, as they offer the greatest opportunities for achieving inclusive growth.

”In addition, a holistic programme to support medium and large-scale enterprises to navigate the stormy seas in the aftermath of the withdrawal of subsidy on PMS is also needed.

“Fourth, Tinubu must be cautioned against any attempt to further pauperize the poor by introducing new taxes or increasing tax rates. We are aware of the behind-the-scenes attempts to increase VAT rate from 7.5% to 10%, re-introduce excise on telecommunication, and increase excise rates on a range of goods.

South Africans will be going to the polls on May 29 in the seventh general election since the end of Apartheid in 1994. Interestingly, 2024 is a symbolic year as South Africans and many countries in Africa who supported the fight against apartheid celebrate 30 years of freedom. As a kid, I remember feeling a sense of pride in the election of Nelson Mandela while listening to my parents talk about South Africa.

He was my first memory of a love for a president. It did not help that back home in Nigeria, we were at the time battling with a military dictatorship. Just a year before that in 1993, Nigerians were promised an election and a transition to democracy which was later brutally denied the people. I obviously could not relate with a military head of state and it made sense to connect with Nelson Mandela as my president.

The freedom celebrated in South Africa in 1994 vibrated across Africa and it inspired a new form of hope in the power of a people-driven struggle for freedom. It was our democracy where black South Africans celebrated the freedom to vote and to live free from the oppression of the apartheid regime. 

Thirty years later, it is time again for the people to vote. South Africa has a parliamentary system of government. According to the electoral commission, 70 political parties and 11 independent candidates will be contesting in this election. With an amendment to the Electoral Act in 2023 in line with the judgment of the constitutional court, independent candidates will be contesting for the first time in the elections.

The independent candidates are accommodated within the compensatory proportional representation system. About 27, 782, 477 certified voters are expected to vote in the 2024 national and provisional elections. South Africa allows for special voting, and two days before the election day are allocated for voters who cannot get to their voting stations on election day and who had already applied to the electoral commission to vote.

With 55.23% of the voters women and about 44% between 18 and 39 years old, it can be said to be an election that ought to be defined by young people and women. Interestingly, the electoral commission recorded a 226% increase in the number of certified voters between the ages of 18 and 19 years when compared to the September 2021 voter roll.

Going by the data on young voters, there is an indication that a large percentage are those born post-apartheid and within that number are the Gen Z voters. This is particularly important in a country with an impressive culture of vibrant civic activism amongst the youth population. But can this election become a rallying point for young South Africans to convert their civic activism and number to political power in a bid to influence the elections? 

Elections are usually moments of citizens mobilisation around issues that affect them. It is the simplest feature of a democracy where the people freely choose their leaders. For all its supposed beauty, what happens when there is a growing distrust in the ability of democracy to deliver its dividends? Or where there is a lack of youth enthusiasm to vote in an election? Arriving in South Africa as part of the Yiaga Africa election study mission, I have had to reflect more on these questions and on what freedom means to the young people of South Africa.

In addition, have elections become a ritual that serves the optics of the “presence of democracy” without a real connection to the needs of the people? Are our political leaders truly listening to the voices from the streets and homes where young people are looking for more than just mere rhetorics in political campaigns? Are we losing our youth to despondency and distrust in democracy without stepping back to reflect on how we got here?

These are questions that seek answers because the more I interact, the clearer it is, that there is growing disinterest in elections and democracy, especially amongst the younger population. There lies a major challenge for democracy. 

In South Africa in 2024, freedom means a lot more to the people than just the ability to vote in an election. Freedom is the ability to celebrate a democracy where social inequality is an exception and not the general rule, where economic empowerment is not restricted to a select few and development is inclusive regardless of sex, race and class. Freedom for the youth is the ability to thrive in an economy that is truly supportive of their dreams.

It is about having a voice that influences policies and having leaders who are honest in their practices and their abilities. For women, it is also about true representation and freedom from violence. This sense of freedom defines the perception of democracy and as long as a majority of the people do not feel this freedom, the enthusiasm to engage the ballot will continue to dwindle. Then the big question; do political parties and candidates care enough about the desire for freedom by the people? 

For the most part, the culture of disconnected politics is beginning to take centre stage in the politics in South Africa and most countries in Africa. Increasingly, we have political parties and candidates that are more interested in political power than in making concrete and sustainable change. Elections are now becoming a contest for power rather than a contest to lead. If leadership is about responsibility, can we have political parties and candidates willing to take on the responsibility of leading the people to inclusive prosperity? This is the least the people desire.

Elections are defining moments for every democracy. In 2024, there is a lot of hope for the voters in South Africa who understand the importance of this moment to turn out in their numbers to vote. I may not have the answers, however, three decades of freedom can begin the journey to expanding freedom that inspires hope in democracy.

Every seat contested in this national and provincial election is important because elected officials on those seats will represent the diverse voices and needs of the people. In 1994, 86.87% of the 22, 709, 152 voters turned out to vote in South Africa. Thirty years later, what will be the turnout story for South Africa? Elections are determined by voters who turn out to vote and Democracy wins when the people actively participate. 

Cynthia Mbamalu is an election expert and an enthusiast for inclusive democracy. She is the director of programmes, Yiaga Africa and part of the Yiaga Africa Election Study Mission to South Africa 2024.