I will begin this week's edition of what is becoming our regular weekly discourse — Civic Insights with an anonymous quote: "Policy is the pen of governance; the ink is the will of the people." This was why it is a common consensus among developed countries that public leadership must evolve with the needs of the people.

Leadership, in its truest sense, is not just about the exercise of power but about creating a meaningful connection between those who lead and those who are led. In the context of Nigeria, this principle is particularly relevant as we enter the second year of the current administration, with tough decisions like Local Government autonomy being ordered, awaiting appropriate enforcement and/or implemention. Bridging the gap between leaders and the people is not only a moral imperative but also a practical necessity for sustainable governance and development. In this piece, I intend to offer my two kobo on how leadership can move from mere rhetoric to effective representation through empathy, accessibility, and accountability.

Empathy is the cornerstone of effective leadership. Leaders must place themselves in the shoes of their constituents, understanding their struggles, dreams, and aspirations. Incidentally, Nigeria has homogeneous socioeconomic problems. Across the length and breathe of the country, the challenges of the citizenry range from inadequate infrastructure to youth unemployment, a leader must prioritize these pressing issues.

As Mahatma Gandhi aptly said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose it in the service of others." This means leaders must actively listen to the people, engaging with them through town hall meetings, grassroots campaigns, and direct community interactions. Empathy fosters trust, and trust is the foundation of any meaningful relationship between leaders and the people.

Of note is the fact that leadership is not about residing in an ivory tower; it is about being accessible to the people. The perennial physical and psychological distance between Leaders and constituents, which we notice in Nigeria, often creates a vacuum filled with mistrust and apathy. A Councilorship aspirant for Garki Ward must be readily available to address grievances and offer homegrown solutions to the palpable needs and challenges of Garki people; same goes to the Chairmen, Governors etc.

As John Maxwell observed, "People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care." Accessibility means breaking barriers through open-door policies and leveraging technology. For instance, setting up a digital platform for residents of a particular Ward to submit their complaints and suggestions can make governance more inclusive and responsive.

These are the areas in which Nigerians have felt void since the return of democracy.

Another instrument of connectivity between the people and their representatives in Government that is still elusive is Transparency and accountability. These are non-negotiable elements of good governance. Without them, the gap between Leaders and the Led widens, breeding corruption and disenfranchisement. Leaders must be transparent about how resources are allocated and decisions are made. Regular updates and community reports can help keep the people informed and involved.

Thomas Jefferson once remarked, "When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property." This perspective underscores the need for leaders to be accountable to the people they serve. Establishing mechanisms for feedback and oversight, such as Independent Advisory Committee or Community audits, ensures that leaders remain answerable to their constituents.

Education and empowerment are vital tools for bridging this yawning gap. An informed electorate is more likely to hold leaders accountable and actively participate in governance. Political office holders should invest in civic education programs, teaching residents about their rights and responsibilities in a democratic system.

Nelson Mandela encapsulated this idea when he said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." By empowering the people with knowledge, leaders create a partnership where governance becomes a shared responsibility rather than a top-down imposition.

Endearing oneself to ones Constituents also requires fostering collaboration between one and the community. Leadership should not be a one-way street but a partnership where ideas flow freely, and solutions are co-created. This is particularly important in a diverse Community like my Ward — Garki in FCT, where inclusive decision-making can address the needs of all groups.

In the words of Helen Keller: "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." Leaders should actively engage community-based organizations, religious groups, and youth associations to ensure that governance reflects the collective will of the people.

Finally, closing the gap between our Leaders and our people is a journey, not a destination. It requires continuous effort, sincerity, and a commitment to serve. As noted above, for diverse and dynamic Communities like Abuja, Area Councils this means embodying the principles of empathy, accessibility, accountability, education, and collaboration. Leadership is not about titles or positions; it is about making a difference in the lives of others.

Lao Tzu, put it more succinctly: "A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves." We must urgently envision a future where the gap between leaders and the people is not just bridged but transformed into a bond of mutual respect and shared purpose, in a 21st century Nigeria.

© Dr. Okechukwu Chuks Ironkwe (Dan Maliki Takunshara), a Community Leader writes from Garki Abuja and can be reached 

Taiwo Awoniyi scores the third and final goal in Nottingham Forest’s 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderer in their English Premier League (EPL) clash. 

The Super Eagles striker’s stoppage time goal wrapped up an emphatic victory for surprise package Forest, who demolished Wolves at the Molineux on Monday.

Awoniyi scored deep into added time after James Ward-Prowse cut a pass over to him with the goal-gaping, and the striker rolled the ball into the net.

The strike was the 27-year-old first goal since February 2024.

It was an emotional scene for Awoniyi, who dropped to his knees in celebration and relief.

Persistent injury concerns have hampered the striker’s playing time and form since he scored in a 2-0 win over West Ham United almost a year ago.

The daughter of the Secretary to the Sokoto State Government lost her life while trying to rescue her children from the fire that gutted their house around 12 midnight on Sunday.

Her husband who is the current permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Sport and Youth Development, Alhaji Muhammadu Yusuf Bello, was said to be away when the tragic incident occurred.

The house located at Nakasari area was completely destroyed by the fire which was said to have extended to parts of their neighbour’s houses before it was put off by the combined efforts of fire fighters, residents and passersby.

One of the fire fighters who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak, said there were other people in the house but only the SSG’s daughter, her three children and housemaid lost their lives during the inferno.

“She died in a bid to rescue her children from the fire,” he said

The Spokesman of the Sokoto State Fire Service, Bello Garba, while confirming the death said apart from the four people that were killed, the fire destroyed properties worth millions of Naira.

“But we cannot give the details of the damage cause by the inferno and what caused it now as investigation is ongoing.

“But I can confirm to you that, four deaths were recorded, including the SSG’s daughter, her three children, her housemaid and many properties were destroyed.

However, tears flowed freely as the deceased were laid to rest at Sifawa, hometown of the SSG.

The funeral prayer which took place at the Sifawa central mosque was led by its Chief Imam, Professor Attahiru Ahmad who is also the new Commissioner of for Science and Technology in the state.

The deputy Governor of the State, Engineer Idris Gobir, led the state delegates to the burial ceremony.

Also in attendance was the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, who lost his mother recently.

[DailyTrust]

Aba Power, a Nigerian electricity distribution company, has announced a more than 50 percent electricity tariff hike for customers within its franchise in Abia State.

The company disclosed this in a notice to customers shared through its official X handle.

According to the Disco, the hike comes after the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, granted approval.

The new tariff regime kicked off on 1st January, 2025.

The increment showed that customers categorised under Band A feeders will now pay between N219.70 and N241.45 per kilowatt-hour from N99/kWh.

Electricity customers under Band B are to pay between N180.77 and N203/kWh, while Band C feeders will pay between N145 and N205/kWh.

Aba DisCo attributed the hike to macroeconomic realities it faced.

“We also wish to inform you that we have recently received an approval order from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for an adjustment of electricity tariffs, effective January 1, 2025.

“This adjustment will enable us to cushion the effects of recent macroeconomic developments in Nigeria on our ability to continue to deliver a high quality of service to our customers in compliance with regulatory standards.”

[DailyPost]

Top analysts are forecasting a major shift in 2025, with Remittix (RTX) poised to surpass Solana and Avalanche in growth potential. While Solana and Avalanche continue to gain attention, Remittix’s innovative PayFi solutions and strong presale momentum make it a standout contender. As the platform attracts more investors and adoption, Remittix will become the biggest gainer by offering investors substantial returns in the decentralized finance (DeFi) market.

Industry Experts Predict Massive Rallies for Remittix (RTX) in 2025

Remittix (RTX) is a crypto protocol that enables fast crypto transfers and fiat-to-crypto conversion through bank transfers. Remittix is an efficient solution for bridging the gap between cryptocurrencies and traditional finance.

Using advanced blockchain technology, Remittix ensures transparent transactions. The protocol stands out from platforms like Stripe, Wise, and Coinbase by focusing on security, simplicity, and efficiency. These attributes make Remittix a superior choice for cross-border payments. Thorough audits by BlockSAFU and SolidProof highlight Remittix’s commitment to security and transparency, gaining trust from its growing community.

The Remittix Pay API is at the platform’s core, enabling businesses to integrate crypto payments easily. This opens up new customer opportunities and provides companies with tools to excel in the digital economy.

Remittix will be a leading crypto investment in 2025, with experts predicting significant growth for the RTX token in the coming months. The ongoing presale presents a prime opportunity for investors to enter at $0.172. The platform’s token vesting system ensures long-term value and stability. Remittix will experience explosive growth and significant rallies as the financial sector increasingly embraces crypto solutions.

Institutional Backing & Ecosystem Upgrades to Boost Solana’s Price in 2025

Solana is entering 2025 with strong momentum, driven by developments within its ecosystem. The introduction of Firedancer, a high-performance validator client created by Jump Trading, is set to boost Solana’s transaction speed and scalability when fully implemented.

The $173 million funding raised in Q3 2024, the highest since Q2 2022, highlights institutional confidence in Solana’s future. This growing adoption is seen in new integrations, such as Chainflip for cross-chain swaps and Coinbase’s cbBTC, which brings wrapped Bitcoin to Solana. Upgrades like Marinade V2 further strengthen Solana’s position in the DeFi sector. Analysts at InvestingHaven predict that SOL could reach $750 by the end of 2025.

Institutional demand is rising, with firms like VanEck and 21Shares proposing Solana spot ETFs. VanEck forecasts that SOL could soon surpass $500, paving the way for even higher targets. On-chain data shows that SOL’s ownership is shifting to long-term investors, signaling growing confidence. If Solana breaks key resistance levels at $250 and maintains its upward trend, analysts suggest that $750 and even $1,000 could be achievable by 2025.

Analysts Predict Avalanche to Trade Above $50

After staying below the $40 mark for most of 2024, Avalanche (AVAX) saw a surge in November, breaking through its yearly resistance to reach a peak of $55.70. However, the price has fallen, dipping below its monthly resistance of $44. Currently, Avalanche is trading between $35.00 and $41.38.

Avalanche is back testing lower levels and could surge towards its all-time high. The upcoming AVAX 9000 launch is a key event that could trigger this rally.

According to WalesBanks, Avalanche targets the $80 to $88 range, fueled by growing anticipation for the AVAX 9000 launch. Notable crypto analyst Grronk also predicts that Avalanche could reach $100 in the bullish DeFi market. Additionally, analysts believe AVAX could hit $75 by February 2025, citing strong bullish trends despite recent market corrections.

Remittix’s Presale Raises Over $1 Million

The RTX token is currently priced at  $0.0172, offering early investors a unique opportunity to see a 50x increase in value in the coming months. The presale has already raised over $1.2 million, and over 70 million RTX tokens have been sold in just a few days. With strong investor interest and a limited supply of presale tokens, this is the perfect time for traders to get involved before this chance passes.

Join the Remittix (RTX) presale and community:

Join Remittix (RTX) Presale

Join the Remittix (RTX) Community

The National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to prioritise tax reforms, including reducing corporate tax rates to 19% and maintaining Value Added Tax (VAT) at 7.5%.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Dele Kelvin Oye, the association’s national president. NACCIMA argued that these adjustments would stimulate economic growth and lead to increased tax revenues for the government.

“We believe corporate taxes should be further reduced to 19% and VAT pegged at 7.5%. We believe this will grow the economy and result in higher tax revenues for the government. As a caveat to protect government revenues, each taxpayer must not pay less than the preceding tax year,” the statement read.

The current tax reform bills before the National Assembly propose a gradual increase in VAT rates, starting from 10% in 2025 to 12.5% (2026–2029) and reaching 15% by 2030. NACCIMA has expressed concerns over these plans, suggesting that maintaining the current VAT rate would better serve economic and fiscal stability.

Oye also criticised the public disputes between federal and state governments over revenue sharing, noting that these disagreements often ignore the fundamental interests of taxpayers.

“The current media engagement between federal and state governments in newspaper and press releases only further confirms the disconnect described above,” Oye said. “The beneficiary parties receiving taxpayer funds engage each other on how to secure a larger portion of taxpayer funds without consideration for the public or taxpayer interest.”

Highlighting the contributions of sectors like telecommunications to government revenues, Oye called for targeted reforms to unlock their growth and revenue potential.

“Significant taxpayers like the telecommunications sector, who require reforms that will result in increased tax revenues, should not be ignored,” he said.

NACCIMA also called for meaningful private sector inclusion in tax reform discussions, encompassing aviation, telecommunications, manufacturing, and operators in Free Trade Zones. The association criticized the current approach of relying on committees that merely “lecture taxpayers” without yielding actionable results.

“There must be real dialogue with genuine concessions to be made by all parties. The private sector—aviation, telecommunications, manufacturers, Free Trade Zones, and other stakeholders—must be engaged in written communication. Committees that come to lecture taxpayers are not giving positive outcomes,” the statement added.

NACCIMA suggested forwarding the outcomes of such engagements to the National Assembly through the office of the Attorney General, as directed by the President, for better coordination.

[Businessday]

Governor Makinde disclosed that bandits had already set their camps Fashola area of the state. He, however, assured that his administration would ensure all criminal elements are made to face the law.

He stated this while speaking at 2025 Annual Inter-faith Service for State Workers. The Inter-faith Service was attended by Labour leaders, workers, political appointees, community leaders, members of the judiciary and traditional rulers.

“The year 2024 has been a challenging year, even in terms of safety and security. We had a few fire incidents, armed robberies, and kidnappings, but what I would say is that we will redouble our efforts in 2025. Some of these issues, we will tackle squarely.

“Even just this morning, during the security briefing, we received updates about a special operation currently underway. Quite a number of the wrongdoers from the major northwestern zone are relocating here. But we will locate them, and we will deal with them.

“Because of the stampede last year, I chose to go to Fashola, just to lay low for my birthday, and I can tell you that within less than perhaps one and a half kilometres from where I was sleeping, there were bandits with camps established there,” he said.

The Oyo State Governor commended security agencies for their efforts in fighting crimes and criminality in the state.

While commending traditional rulers and community leaders for their support to his government, Makinde charged them to report every suspicious movement to security agencies and the government.

“So I would like to take this opportunity to thank our service commanders. You have been doing your part, and you have done very well for us in Oyo State. Nothing meaningful can occur in an atmosphere of insecurity. All the laudable things that we wish to achieve will not be possible if we don’t have a safe and secure environment.

“I want to encourage all of us; we come from different locations, we are from various zones, and our traditional rulers, you are the custodians of the environment within your domain. This is no joke; it’s a serious issue, and for us in Oyo State, they will never gain a foothold here. I will not rest until every inch of Oyo State is free of bandits and wrongdoers.

“But you must also do your part. If you see any suspicious movement, please report it to the authorities, and we will take action. It is in our collective interest,” the Governor added.

Recall that Naija News reported that Makinde at the event, also vowed to prosecute people involved in the Ibadan stampede. He said no amount of appeal would make him bow down from following the rule of law.

[NaijaNews]

Airtel Nigeria has added its voice to the industry-wide call for an upward review of tariffs in the telecom sector, saying the costs of operation have gone up by over 300%.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Dinesh Balsingh, who stated this in an op-ed, said the adjustments are critical for maintaining high-quality services and enabling further advancements in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.

“For over a decade, tariffs have remained static despite the dramatic increase in operating expenses, which have surged by over 300% in the last 18 to 24 months alone.  

“To continue providing high-quality services and meeting the growing demand for digital connectivity, it has become essential to realign our pricing structure with economic realities,” Balsingh said.

The need for more investments 

The Airtel CEO also underscored the significant investments required to maintain and expand telecom infrastructure, which is pivotal to supporting Nigeria’s digital economy.

“The increasing demand for digital services across sectors such as education, banking, and healthcare requires us to continually upgrade our networks to deliver more capacity and improve service quality.  

“These investments come at a cost, one that must be shared proportionally to guarantee long-term viability,” he said.

• The proposed tariff adjustments, Balsingh argued, will not only ensure the sustainability of the telecom sector but also improve service delivery.
• He added that by enabling the telecom operators to expand coverage, strengthen network security, and introduce cutting-edge technologies, the adjustments would directly enhance the quality of connectivity for Nigerians.
• According to him, the telcos’ priority is to ensure that no one is left behind in the country’s digital transformation journey.

What you should know 

Last week, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Karl Toriola, said telecom operators in the country had requested an approximately 100% increase to ensure the industry’s sustainability rather than boost short-term profitability.

• Sharing the same sentiment as Airtel’s CEO, Toriola said the telecom industry is now facing a sustainability threat that must be addressed through a tariff review.
• He, however, noted that the telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), may not approve the 100% increase requested.

“We’ve put forward a request of approximately 100% tariff increases to the regulators. I doubt they’re going to approve that quantum of increases because they’re very sensitive to the current economic situation in the country,” he said.

The two telecom industry associations in Nigeria, the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and The Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) have also been at the forefront of advocacy for tariff review in the industry for over two years, citing increase in costs of operations.

[Nairametrics]

Sam Altman, the chief executive officer (CEO) of OpenAI, says the company is incurring losses on its ChatGPT Pro product.

The product, introduced in late 2024 at a subscription rate of $200 per month, offers users access to the upgraded o1 Pro model and removes usage limits across other OpenAI tools.

However, in a recent post on X, Altman said the plan has been less profitable than anticipated.

“Insane thing: we are currently losing money on openai pro subscriptions! people use it much more than we expected,” he wrote.

Responding to comments, Alman said the pricing was designed to generate profits.

“I personally chose the price and thought we would make some money,” the CEO added.

Despite its valuation of over $80 billion, OpenAI reported a $5 billion loss in 2024 — with revenues reaching $3.7 billion.

On October 2, 2024, the company said it raised $6.6 billion in funding, attracting significant investment from firms like Thrive Capital, Khosla Ventures, Nvidia, and its largest corporate backer, Microsoft.

Since its inception in 2015, OpenAI’s journey has been marked by growth intertwined with controversy.

In November 2023, Altman was abruptly removed as CEO by OpenAI’s board for not being “candid in his communications”.

He was reinstated shortly after the board reached an agreement.

Also, Elon Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI who later parted ways with the organisation, has openly criticised its transition to a “for-profit model”.

In December 2024, Musk, who leads his own AI startup, xAI, filed a court injunction against OpenAI.

He claimed the company’s shift betrayed its nonprofit roots, straying from its original mission and creating unfair competition for rivals like xAI.