Editorial

Environment: Humanities Hope For Survival

Published

14 years ago

June 10, 2011

On Sunday, June 5, 2011 the global community under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programmes (UNEP) once more marked the world environment day. It was a day set aside by the world body, in 1972, to sensitize mankind on the need to take adequate measures to preserve and protect our environment against degradation but particularly to address concerns of developing countries – ‘human settlements, health, land, water, and desertification’.

The theme of this year’s celebration “Nature, forest at your disposal” was apt, especially coming at a time when many countries across the world are suffering untold devastation from nature’s fury. Japan, for example, is still battling with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake and Tunami that claimed thousands of lives as well as property estimated in billions of dollars.

The earth has indeed sustained life for millions of years. Land, forests, oceans and the atmosphere provide us our food, shelter and medicines. They purify our air and water, stabilize the earth’s climate and protect us from sun’s harmful rays. Yet we consume them as if there is no tomorrow.

Scientists have consistently sounded alarm that the planet earth is running out of fresh water. Even as the ozone layers is being continuously depleted by pollution thereby creating more water, only harmful water is being added, with the result that less than one percent of all water on earth is fresh. This situation leaves mankind with much of sea water and polar ice.

In the year 2000, it was reported by the UN-sponsored World Commission on water for the 21st century that one billion of earth’s six billion people did not have access to safe water and 2 billion lacked proper sanitation. It was also found that half of the world’s 500 major rivers are seriously polluted and depleted; only the Amazon and Congo rivers were considered healthy. Ten years after, not much progress has been recorded in the efforts to remedy this situation.

Scientists have again confirmed an over 50 per cent decline in the population of identified 281 fresh water species – animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes.

If one issue has dominated the environmental debate over the last decade, it is global warming. The grave consequences are well known and ranges from projected rise in sea levels, loss of important ecosystem and bio-diversity, to severe natural disaster like floods and drought which have also become regular feature in Africa.

Through mismanagement, unsuitable planning, and over-use of fertilisers and pesticides, uncontrolled waste dumping, pressure from high population growth, poverty and even polluted rain, an estimated 2 billion hectres (nearly 5 billion acres have become degraded.

Perhaps of more serous concern is the fact that today, over 80 per cent of wood lands that originally circled earth’s surface in abundance have been cleared, fragmented or degraded. Most of the natural forests that remain, occur in just a few places. These forest blocks are valuable because they house indigenous people, culture, shelter and bio-diversity which contribute to economic growth, protect water sources and provide recreation. Worldwide, only about 3.55 billion hectres (more than 86 billion acres) of forest remain, half in the tropics, the rest in temperate and boreal zones.

The destruction of earth’s rainforest by an estimated 10-20 hectres or 25-30 acres every single minute is saddening especially when half of all prescription medicines come from natural sources like plant species found in rain forests.

In Nigeria, where forest management is still at its prime, deforestation and uncontrolled urbanization pose big challenges. Again desert encroachment and oil pollution even pose a bigger challenge.

Occasions like this should therefore provide ample opportunities for us to reassess efforts and strategies employed in forest conservation bearing in mind that our lives and most of our livelihoods are based on bio-diversity – the wealth of wild species. Many more efforts are urgently needed if we are to save the over 100 species scientists fear are being extinguished on a daily basis as humans deliberately or inadvertently destroy the natural systems that sustain life on earth.

Like any inheritance, bio-diversity can flourish if well managed, or it can be squandered and lost.

Today’s massive loss of species and habitat will be slowed only when the human community understands that nature is neither an inferior to be exploited nor an enemy to be destroyed but an ally requiring respect and replenishment.

The Rivers State government has taken the lead in environmental conservation through its urban renewal efforts that has seen the restoration of urban greenery, parks and gardens.

Other governments must take a cue. Also oil companies, whose activities have been a source of environmental distress and ecological quagmire in the Niger Delta region must launch, as a matter of urgency, remedial programmes that would seek to re-lunch disappearing species back into active life in their natural habitats as co-partners in our battle for survival as human species.

Tree planting campaigns must not remain an occasional pastime, but a consistent policy like the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, so that individuals families and neighbourhoods will imbibe the habit as a sure way of replenishing our plundered nature.

Editorial

No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike

Published

21 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

Nigeria’s Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has unveiled a gratuitous proposal to increase the salaries of political and public office holders in the country. This plan seeks to fatten the pay packets of the president, vice-president, governors, deputy governors, and members of the National and State Assemblies. At a time when the nation is struggling to steady its economy, the suggestion that political leaders should be rewarded with more money is not only misplaced but insulting to the sensibilities of the ordinary Nigerian.

What makes the proposal even more opprobrious is the dire economic condition under which citizens currently live. The cost of living crisis has worsened, inflation has eroded the purchasing power of workers, and the naira continues to tumble against foreign currencies. The majority of Nigerians are living hand to mouth, with many unable to afford basic foodstuffs, medical care, and education. Against this backdrop, political office holders, who already enjoy obscene allowances, perks, and privileges, should not even contemplate a salary increase.

It is, therefore, not surprising that the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has stepped in to challenge this development. SERAP has filed a lawsuit against the RMAFC to halt the implementation of this salary increment. This resolute move represents a voice of reason and accountability at a time when public anger against political insensitivity is palpable. The group is rightly insisting that the law must serve as a bulwark against impunity.

According to a statement issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the commission has been dragged before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Although a hearing date remains unconfirmed, the momentous step of seeking judicial redress reflects a determination to hold those in power accountable. SERAP has once again positioned itself as a guardian of public interest by challenging an elite-centric policy.

The case, registered as suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1834/2025, specifically asks the court to determine “whether RMAFC’s proposed salary hike for the president, vice-president, governors and their deputies, and lawmakers in Nigeria is not unlawful, unconstitutional and inconsistent with the rule of law.” This formidable question goes to the very heart of democratic governance: can those entrusted with public resources decide their own pay rises without violating the constitution and moral order?

In its pleadings, SERAP argues that the proposed hike runs foul of both the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and the RMAFC Act. By seeking a judicial declaration that such a move is unlawful, unconstitutional, and inconsistent with the rule of law, the group has placed a spotlight on the tension between self-serving leadership and constitutionalism. To trivialise such an issue would be harum-scarum, for the constitution remains the supreme authority guiding governance.

We wholeheartedly commend SERAP for standing firm, while we roundly condemn RMAFC’s selfish proposal. Political office should never be an avenue for financial aggrandisement. Since our leaders often pontificate sacrifice to citizens, urging them to tighten their belts in the face of economic turbulence, the same leaders must embody sacrifice themselves. Anything short of this amounts to double standards and betrayal of trust.

The Nigerian economy is not buoyant enough to shoulder the additional cost of a salary increase for political leaders. Already, lawmakers and executives enjoy allowances that are grossly disproportionate to the national average income. These earnings are sufficient not only for their needs but also their unchecked greed. To even consider further increments under present circumstances is egregious, a slap in the face of ordinary workers whose minimum wage remains grossly insufficient.

Resources earmarked for such frivolities should instead be channelled towards alleviating the suffering of citizens and improving the nation’s productive capacity. According to United Nations statistics, about 62.9 per cent of Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty in 2021, compared to 53.7 per cent in 2017. Similarly, nearly 30.9 per cent of the population lives below the international poverty line of US$2.15 per day. These figures paint a stark picture: Nigeria is a poor country by all measurable standards, and any extra naira diverted to elite pockets deepens this misery.

Besides, the timing of this proposal could not be more inappropriate. At a period when unemployment is soaring, inflation is crippling households, and insecurity continues to devastate communities, the RMAFC has chosen to pursue elite enrichment. It is widely known that Nigeria’s economy is in a parlous state, and public resources should be conserved and wisely invested. Political leaders must show prudence, not profligacy.

Another critical dimension is the national debt profile. According to the Debt Management Office, Nigeria’s total public debt as of March 2025 stood at a staggering N149.39 trillion. External debt obligations also remain heavy, with about US$43 billion outstanding by September 2024. In such a climate of debt-servicing and borrowing to fund budgets, it is irresponsible for political leaders to even table the idea of inflating their salaries further. Debt repayment, not self-reward, should occupy their minds.

This ignoble proposal is insensitive, unnecessary, and profoundly reckless. It should be discarded without further delay. Public office is a trust, not an entitlement to wealth accumulation. Nigerians deserve leaders who will share in their suffering, lead by example, and prioritise the common good over self-indulgence. Anything less represents betrayal of the social contract and undermines the fragile democracy we are striving to build.

Editorial

No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike

Published

21 hours ago

September 22, 2025

The Tide

Editorial

Rivers’ Retirees: Matters Arising

Published

2 weeks ago

September 8, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government deserves commendation for the manner in which it conducted the last biometric exercise for pensioners in the state. For the first time in many years, the verification process was not only efficient but also humane, a development that has brought relief to a category of citizens that often bears the brunt of neglect.

Unlike previous verification exercises that left pensioners exhausted and unattended, the latest exercise set a refreshing precedent. Retirees were given proper and sumptuous meals, and in addition, the government paid the sum of N10,000 into their accounts to cushion their transportation costs. Such gestures go a long way in demonstrating that those who had laboured for the state are not forgotten in their twilight years.

The measure was particularly necessary given that some pensioners had to travel long distances to reach their verification centres. For elderly men and women, such journeys come with physical and financial strain. By recognising these realities and easing the burden, the government has shown that pensioners deserve dignity, not disdain.

Beyond this laudable act of consideration, the authorities must reflect on the very structure of pension verification. The era of compelling retirees to be physically present for routine verification should be reconsidered. With digital tools and innovation, the government can adopt systems that capture and confirm data without the stress of physical assembly. This is crucial for pensioners residing in other states or even abroad.

While we acknowledge the importance of verification in cleaning up pension records, we cannot ignore the darker side of the matter. It is regrettable that some allowances continue to be paid to deceased pensioners, with relatives fraudulently collecting the funds. The latest biometrics, thankfully, exposed some of these sharp practices. The exercise, therefore, is not only about order but also about justice.

We urge families of deceased pensioners to be patriotic enough to inform the government of the deaths of their loved ones. It is deeply shameful that in some instances, individuals attempted to impersonate late pensioners during the biometrics. Such behaviour undermines the spirit of honesty and deprives genuine retirees of their due entitlements.

The exercise also revealed another important area of concern: the health of pensioners. It is reassuring to learn that the state government has reportedly promised to take over the medical treatment of some retirees who arrived for the biometrics in critical condition. This is a step in the right direction. Elderly citizens, after years of service, should have access to special health care facilities in the state. Setting aside hospitals or designated centres for the aged is not just desirable but necessary.

While pension payments in Rivers State have remained consistent, attention must now be directed towards gratuities. Senior citizens deserve to receive their retirement benefits without the bureaucratic hitches that have often marred the process. After years of loyal service, nothing is more demoralising than to see retirees languish for want of their gratuities. Every worker, as Scripture reminds us, is worthy of his wage.

Retirement, in any civilised society, should not be reduced to a sentence of suffering. In dealing with pensioners, government must consistently wear a human face. The humane manner displayed during this verification exercise should not be a one-off. It must become the norm in all dealings with retirees. Measures must continually be put in place to ensure that they do not feel abandoned by the state they served.

One welcome innovation has already been introduced. The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has altered the method of gratuity payment. Pensioners now receive their monies directly into their bank accounts, eliminating the cheque-based system that for years served as fertile ground for corruption. This reform is both pragmatic and forward-looking. Similarly, the implementation of the N32,000 pension harmonisation is also commendable.

Direct payments gratuities ensure transparency and drastically reduce the possibility of diversion of funds. More importantly, they restore confidence in the system and assure pensioners that their entitlements will reach them without interference. In this way, the government has not only safeguarded the process but also upheld the principle of accountability.

Seamless gratuity payment has a ripple effect on the workforce as a whole. When workers are confident that retirement will not plunge them into hardship, the temptation to falsify age in order to remain in service is eliminated. Such reforms, therefore, enhance efficiency, honesty, and productivity in the public service.

In sum, the Rivers State Government has struck a refreshing chord in its handling of pension verification. It has shown empathy, innovation, and accountability. However, the momentum must be sustained, and the focus must shift towards modernising verification methods and prioritising retirees’ welfare in health, gratuity, and dignity.

When retirees are treated with compassion and fairness, the message to those still in service is clear: faithful service to the state will not go unrewarded. The humane verification exercise, though a single event, offers a hopeful glimpse of what governance can look like when people, especially the elderly, are placed at the heart of policy.