Opinion

Minimum Wage And The Revenue Debate (I1)

Published

15 years ago

June 29, 2011

The N18,000.00 minimum wage and revenue debate has assumed many colours and shapes following the delay in implementing the national wage law which has become binding on the public sector and private organisations employing 50 or more workers.

The state governors led by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State have continued to argue that with the present revenue allocation formula in which the federal government takes 52.68 percent of the centrally-collected revenues in the distributable pool account leaving the states and local government councils with only 26.72 per cent and 20.60 per cent respectively, they would not be able to pay the N18,000.00 minimum wage and meet the critical developmental challenges of their states.

Thus they are asking for a review of the revenue allocation formula that would give the federal government, states, and local government councils 35 per cent, 42 per cent, and 23 per cent of the centrally-collected revenues respectively. They are also asking for the removal of fuel subsidy which reportedly consumes over N693 billion annually from the federation account.

On the other hand, the Nigeria Labour Congress argues that the states have enough resources to implement the Minimum Wage Act which was signed by President Goodluck Jonathan in March. To the labour union, if the state governments cut down on their huge and excessive expenses on governance, they would have enough money to pay the wage and fulfil their socio-economic obligations to the people. The union posits that payment of the minimum wage is not debatable considering that it was agreed by the government, the organised labour, and the other stakeholders. In fact the labour union has urged the state governments to pay the minimum wage which implementation date was April 1 without further delay in order not to accumulate too much arrears.

From media reports, some well-meaning Nigerians have also lent their voices to the debate. They include Professor Solomon Akinboye, Head of Department, Political Science, University of Lagos, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), and Alhaji Hamman Tukur, a former chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). According to Prof. Akinboye, the problem with Nigeria is that of inability to manage its resources very well. He feels that the revenue allocated to the states from the federal distributable pool account should be increased to enable them (states) meet their financial needs.

Prof. Sagay, on his part, supports the labour union that the state governors must pay the N18,000 minimum wage. To him: “They (State governors) have no choice in this matter. It is high time Nigerians, particularly the political elite began to distinguish between when they have discretion, and when they are compelled. On this matter, they are compelled to pay. It is a legal issue and they must adhere to it.”

In his own contribution to the debate, Alhaji Tukur argues that in view of the money that comes into the Federation Account, the states can pay the N18,000.00 minimum wage without removing the subsidy on fuel. In his words: “The money they (governors) get from the Federation Account alone is enough to pay workers. It is unfortunate that the burden is being passed on to the ordinary man.

“There is enough resources in the country for all. The problem is that the federal and state laws clash. The federal law cannot impose on the state what to do with the money they get from the federation account. Also, the state cannot impose on the local government what to do with their money. The laws are there and the fact remains that the governors can pay the new wage”.

In the final analysis, the minimum wage and revenue debate shows the pervasive nature of the social, economic, and political problems of the country. Though compared with such old federations as the United States of America (USA), Australia, and Canada, Nigeria is still a fledgling federal nation, it is old enough to have settled its basic socio-economic and political framework.

Since 1946 when the problem of revenue allocation began in Nigeria following a change in the country’s constitution from unitary to a federal one several ad hoc commissions or committees on revenue allocation have been established. They include the Philipson Commission (1946), Hicks – Philipson Commission (1951), Chick Commission (1953), and Raisman Commission (1958). Others are Binns Commission (1964), Dina Interim Revenue Allocation Review Committee (1968), Aboyade Technical Committee on Revenue Allocation (1977), and the Okigbo Commission that was appointed in 1979 to review the existing system of revenue allocation with respect to such factors as national interest, derivation, population, even development and equitable distribution, and equality of state.

Nigeria has also had a long history of grants by which the national government remitted to the federating units funds outside their statutory allocations to assist them perform their social and economic functions. But because of the uncertainty surrounding these grants, the irregularity in their disbursements, the vagaries of their timing, and the frequency and sometimes the sudden change in the federal government’s priorities, the practice of grants has not been used as an effective system of rescuing the states from the problems of resource constraints in respect of meeting their constitutionally determined obligations.

Another problem associated with the minimum wage and revenue allocation quagmire is the over reliance of the states on the distributable pool. As B.O. Nwabueze noted in his book Federalism in Nigeria Under the Presidential Constitution, “Federally-collected revenue is the mainstay of the finances of the state governments, accounting for a little over 90 per cent of their total revenue. Upon this revenue, therefore depends the ability of the state governments to maintain their services; to pay their staff, pay for essential supplies and execute their capital projects. Their financial viabilities and credibility as autonomous government units hang upon it. As far as they are concerned, the motivation for its sharing is understandably one of self-survival.

For them, the sharing is almost like a matter of life and death, exciting their deepest concern and their strongest emotions. Hence the intensity of the question concerning it.”

So until Nigeria runs a true federal system in which the national and state governments stand to each other in a relation of meaningful independence and balanced division of powers and resources sufficient to support the structure, issues such as payment of minimum wage and revenue sharing will continue to generate national debate, political pressures and even inter-regional struggles for the national wealth.

As things stand now, the state governments, local government councils and other public and private organisations with 50 or more workers on their payroll must rise to the challenge of paying the N18,000.00 minimum wage for the law of the land must be respected.

Opinion

Agony In Ivory Tower

Published

12 hours ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Quote: A university that tolerates missing scripts, result manipulation and ‘sorting’ is not merely failing students—it is quietly destroying the moral foundation of education itself.”

The sad cases of missing scripts, compulsory Sorting, inputting of wrong results and other obnoxious practices in some public universities, leave much to be desired. One cannot imagine how a student will be compelled to suffer consequences of the flagrant negligence of a Head of Department, a lecturer, Department staff or an ICT staff.Many academic and non academic staff in several public universities seem to be performing far below standard, thus unproductive to the university system. The unacceptable cases of sorting, missing scripts, missing results, inputting of wrong grades to students, should not be mentioned in a university, not even in any academic community. This is because people who are employed to work in various positions should have cognate work experience and unquestionable competence. They should not be seen as certificate welding illiterates but people who have been proven to be worthy in learning and character, diligent and competent to carry out assigned responsibilities with minimal or no supervision.

The university as a citadel of learning should boast of men of integrity, people who are repositories of applied knowledge and competence to drive the much desired holistic development in a nation that functions on quality teaching and learning. A situation where a student having gone through the crucibles of learning and written a prescribed semester examination or class-based evaluation test, is told that his or her script is missing or that he or she did not participate in that academic exercise, or must sort to pass, is an unpardonable error and a height of callousness. In fact some lecturers and staff of Departments are using the seeming systemic defect (which is their architecture) as an opportunity to extort students. Sometimes it is discovered much to students chagrin that the supposed missing script was later discovered when a ransom was paid.

Since a lecturer, or Head of Department has in their disposal both Yam and the knife and determines who takes what (if they wish to give without strings), students have no alternative but to submit to their importunate demands in order to graduate at record time.Such practices should be unheard of in an institution that should be a vanguard of moral and ethical values and conduct. What people learn in school constitute their behavioural patterns in the society. Where the school as an agency of socialisation cannot drive positive change first in its immediate environment, then the objective of education as a bedrock for the development of society, is inevitably compromised and counter-productive. The German Reformer, Dr. Martins Luther was quoted as saying, “I advise parents not to put their wards or children in any school where the Bible is not being used as a rule of life because such institutions will unnecessarily be corrupt”.

Gleaning from Luther’s sentiment one can deduce that the lack of respect and regard for values as well as the absence of the fear of God is the greatest undoing of most public schools. Another major challenge is that lack of Information, Communication and Technology literacy or compliance on the part of some lecturers and heads of department, may have informed the decision to give students’ scripts to secretaries to compile and input students results thereby making the secretaries the determinants of students’ fate. It is not saying a new thing that some of the secretaries in the process of compiling results have inputted wrong results, omitted names or down graded some students or given unmerited grades to others.Society today is ICT-driven and ICT-literacy enhances efficiency, speed and a reasonable degree of accuracy if the person behind the computer is level headed, articulate, competent, alive to responsibilities and is aware that negligence on his or her part is not only tantamount to a disservice to the university but to the students who may not graduate at record time because of his or her (computer operator’s) gross ineptitude or carelessness.

The ICT era makes the carrying of hard copy of results obsolete as lecturers through the Heads of Department can log on to the central server of the Exams and Records (if any) or ICT unit and input students’ results directly. By so doing the incessant cases where result on spread sheet is different from the one published online, more often than not, caused by abject negligence, will be avoided. The process will also end the intermediary services of some staff in the universities’ Information, Communication and Technology Department which has become a money spinner-a lucrative source of income to many of them. In fact some ICT staff reserved the power to award grades to students depending on students’ degree of compliance to terms and conditions. They can dubiously make or unmake a student. The university community should be considered too lofty to have careless, negligent, immoral and academic or professionally deficient people as academic or non-academic staff.

The Governing Councils and Senates of universities should be proactive in addressing the menace of missing Script, inputting of wrong results and sorting. This is necessary to end the slogan “Education is scam” so the system can produce quality students who are truly found worthy in learning and in character by operators who exemplify diligence, moral and ethical values. The much-needed reform must begin within the institutions themselves, because the future of any society is shaped in its classrooms.

By: Igbiki Benibo

Opinion

Strength of Emotional Equality

Published

12 hours ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Quote: “Love thrives not when one gives more, but when both give fully — not in competition, not in performance, but in partnership.”

In every healthy relationship, there exists an invisible balance. It is not measured in grand gestures, expensive gifts, or public displays of affection. It is measured in something quieter and far more significant: emotional equality. When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, love becomes less of a negotiation and more of a partnership. Emotional equality does not mean both individuals express love in identical ways. It does not require matching personalities or mirroring temperaments. Rather, it speaks to balance — a shared willingness to invest, to communicate, to be vulnerable, and to grow. It is the difference between two people walking side by side and one person constantly trying to catch up.

In many relationships, imbalance begins subtly. One partner initiates most conversations. One apologizes more frequently. One carries the emotional labor — remembering important dates, managing conflicts, sensing tension, and attempting reconciliation. Over time, this uneven distribution of emotional effort breeds exhaustion. The partner who gives more begins to feel unseen. The one who gives less may grow comfortable in emotional passivity. Love, in such a space, starts to tilt — slowly at first, then significantly. Resentment can creep in quietly, disguising itself as patience. Silence may replace honest dialogue. What once felt effortless begins to feel heavy.

When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, responsibility is shared. Both people are accountable for the health of the relationship. If conflict arises, neither hides behind silence nor dominates through control. Instead, they engage. They listen. They speak honestly without weaponizing words. Equality creates safety — and safety strengthens intimacy. It allows both individuals to express needs without fear of ridicule or rejection. One of the most overlooked aspects of emotional equality is vulnerability. True connection requires courage. It demands that both partners risk being misunderstood. But when vulnerability is one-sided, it becomes exposure rather than intimacy. If one person consistently opens up while the other remains guarded, trust cannot fully deepen.

Equality ensures that emotional risks are mutual. Where one shares fears, the other shares too. Where one admits weakness, the other responds with openness rather than judgment. In such a space, authenticity flourishes. Another crucial element is validation. In emotionally balanced relationships, both partners feel heard. Their concerns are not dismissed as “overreactions.” Their feelings are not minimized or compared. When couples operate on equal emotional ground, they acknowledge each other’s experiences as legitimate. They may not always agree, but they always respect. Validation does not mean surrendering one’s viewpoint; it means recognizing that another’s emotional reality matters.

Equality also protects individuality. Contrary to popular belief, healthy love does not erase personal identity — it enhances it. When both partners are emotionally secure, they do not feel threatened by each other’s independence. Personal ambitions are encouraged, not resented. Friendships are respected, not restricted. Growth is celebrated, not feared. Standing on equal emotional grounds means neither person shrinks to accommodate the other. Instead, both expand, knowing the relationship is strong enough to hold their evolution. Power dynamics often expose emotional inequality. When one partner controls communication — appearing and disappearing unpredictably, withholding affection, or using silence as leverage — imbalance emerges.

Emotional dominance weakens intimacy. It creates anxiety instead of assurance. But when couples share emotional power, there is consistency. There is clarity. There is no need to decode affection because it is offered freely and intentionally. It is important to understand that equality does not imply perfection. Couples will still disagree. They will face stress, miscommunication, and moments of frustration. However, when emotional footing is equal, conflict does not threaten the foundation. Instead, it becomes an opportunity for understanding. Both partners approach challenges as teammates rather than opponents. They choose resolution over ego and repair over pride.

Time often reveals whether emotional equality truly exists. In the early stages of love, intensity can disguise imbalance. Enthusiasm feels mutual. Effort appears equal. But as routine settles in and novelty fades, the structure of the relationship becomes clearer. Who still initiates? Who still invests? Who still shows up consistently? Sustainable love requires sustained balance. It is built not merely on attraction, but on deliberate reciprocity. Standing on equal emotional grounds requires intentionality. It demands honest conversations about needs and expectations. It requires both partners to examine their habits — whether they withdraw during tension, avoid accountability, or rely on the other to carry the emotional weight. Emotional maturity is not about avoiding conflict; it is about handling it responsibly and returning, again and again, to shared ground.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of emotional equality is peace. There is no constant anxiety about where one stands. No guessing games about commitment. No fear that affection may suddenly disappear. Instead, there is stability. There is reassurance. There is mutual effort. In a world where relationships often blur the lines between attention and commitment, equality offers clarity. It reminds us that love should not feel like competition or performance. It should feel like partnership. When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, they build something resilient. They build trust that does not fracture easily. They build respect that does not depend on mood. They build a connection rooted not only in passion but in balance. And in that balance, love finds its strength — not in who gives more, but in how both give fully.

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi

Opinion

NDDC: Time To Illuminate Homes

Published

1 week ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Quote:“Twenty-five years on, the Niger Delta cannot celebrate illuminated streets while families sit in darkness. Development must begin inside the home — where children study, businesses grow, and lives are built — before it glows on the roadside.”

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was established in 2000 with a clear and urgent mandate: to facilitate the rapid, even, and sustainable development of Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta region. The creation of the Commission followed decades of agitation over environmental degradation, infrastructural neglect, and socio-economic marginalization in the region. Its core mandate included the development of roads, bridges, electricity, water supply, health facilities, education, housing, environmental remediation, and economic empowerment initiatives. At inception, expectations were high that the Commission would transform the Niger Delta into a model of regional development. Over the years, the NDDC has indeed implemented numerous projects across the nine Niger Delta states. Roads have been constructed and rehabilitated in several communities, easing transportation challenges.

Schools have been renovated, and new classroom blocks have been provided in underserved areas. Health centres have been built or upgraded, improving access to primary healthcare services. The Commission has also awarded scholarships to students, including foreign postgraduate scholarships, empowering thousands of youths academically.Skills acquisition and youth empowerment programmes have helped many young people gain vocational competencies.Through various interventions, the NDDC has contributed to job creation and local economic stimulation.Solar-powered street lighting projects have been widely implemented in urban and semi-urban communities. These streetlights have improved visibility at night and contributed to enhanced security in some areas. Markets, highways, and public spaces illuminated by solar lights have experienced extended business hours.

For these efforts, the Commission deserves acknowledgment and commendation. However, development must always align with foundational mandates and pressing grassroots realities. A growing concern among residents is that while streets are illuminated, many homes remain in darkness. Rural electrification and household power access remain inconsistent and inadequate across large parts of the region. In riverine and remote communities, families still rely on generators, kerosene lamps, or complete darkness after sunset. The irony of brightly lit streets juxtaposed with powerless homes cannot be ignored. Electricity at the household level directly impacts education, health, and small-scale enterprise. Students cannot effectively study at night without reliable indoor lighting.Families cannot preserve food or power essential appliances without stable electricity.

Micro and small businesses struggle to grow without dependable energy access. While street lighting enhances public aesthetics and security, it does not substitute for domestic electrification. The proverb “charity begins at home” is especially relevant in this context. True community development must first empower households before beautifying public spaces. The Commission’s original mandate emphasizes integrated and sustainable development, not isolated infrastructural gestures. Balanced development requires that energy interventions prioritize homes alongside streets. Solar technology presents a unique opportunity for decentralized household electrification in off-grid communities. Extending solar solutions to individual homes would have a transformative social impact. Home-based solar systems could power lights, fans, small appliances, and communication devices.

Such interventions would reduce poverty, improve living standards, and stimulate grassroots productivity. By broadening its energy focus, the Commission would better reflect the spirit of its founding legislation. This is not a call to abandon street lighting projects, which have their merits. Rather, it is an appeal for balance, inclusivity, and alignment with core developmental objectives. Strategic planning should ensure that rural electrification and household access form a central pillar of ongoing interventions. Community engagement and needs assessments can help determine priority areas for household solar deployment. Twenty-five years after its establishment, the NDDC stands at a reflective moment in its institutional journey. The people of the Niger Delta say: thank you for the efforts so far—but not very much—because true appreciation will come when development begins at home and radiates outward, not merely when streets shine while houses remain in darkness.

By: King Onunwor