Opinion
Education : The Way Forward
Ipalibo T. Asemebo
For sometime now the education sector has suffered or experienced series of industrial crises that has paralysed academic activities across the country. The most painful part of the story is that whenever there is industrial misunder-standing between government and teachers or lecturers the causalities are the pupils, and students. It is very painful and heart breaking that after 60 days both the federal government that is represented by the Executive arm and the Academic Staff Union of Universities are yet to have an understanding that will lead to the end of the strike. What is now going on between both parties is war in the Media, which literally is war of words on the pages of newspapers, radio and television. And I want to say that with this kind of situation where instead of having face to face dialogue both parties now settle there scores on the media. am afraid to say this strike embarked upon by the lecturers will linger for a very long time.
All over the world peace can only be achieved whenever there is conflict after a face to face interaction, it is only after the interaction between aggrieved parties which is usually mediated by a third party that the outcome is relayed to the press. And usually during such meetings there is usually concessions, each party must be willing to shift grounds not by sticking to their guns.
The advice that I will give to both parties, ASUU and the Federal Executive Council is to stop the war of words in the media and go back to the roundtable with the interest of Nigerians. And to achieve this the representative of the Federal Executive Council which is the Minister of Education should not feel that if he agrees on behalf of the government to give ASUU what they want he is a weak minister, neither should the President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua feel that he cannot stoop so low to negotiate with ASUU. Because if he does say he will be seen as a weak man in handling critical issues, what any body should consider is National interest, the moment the interest of an individual supersedes that of an organisation, society, a people or a state, that interest becomes a selfish one. So there should be an end to the media propaganda and let both parties go to the table. For instance, what will it take to engage the striking lecturers before even approving 40% salary increase, nothing of course.
However, what happened was that without any negotiation a minister just gathered one or two press people and made a statement that council has approved this or that, which is a violation of the principle of collective bargaining.
Even the sudden announcement without any move to discuss or have further talks, by Deacon Gamaliel Onosode that the Federal Executive Council is backing out of every talk with ASUU until they call of strike is unfair.
If they for the sake of Nigerian students who have stayed at home for over 60 days engage the lecturers in further negotiations, and the lecturers refuse to call of the strike then every body will hold the lecturers responsible for the shutting down of our universities.
But this was not the case infact the vice-president Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was having talks with the lecturers before Gamalie Onosode dropped the bombshell that no further talks which is like adding salt to an injury.
This industrial dispute has lingered for tool long, and is not doing any good , every day thousands of students across the country sit very close to their radio sets, peruse through on daily basis to see if both parties will agree so that there will be an end to the strike. Unfortunately, what they will be getting is press conferences where one party will say they will never agree, there is a popular adage which says that never be wicked or do any evil to a child or a youth, because the child or youth we see today will become the next governor, the next president, father, manager or anything tomorrow. One message or food for thought for our leaders today is they should ponder, what will they be remembered for tomorrow. Will they be remembered as wasters of the youth or builders of the youth which is the next generation.
In conclusion, all the industrial unions in the educational sector are doing a great job, because all the strikes they embark on are definitely meant for the revival of our citadel of learning. However, I will like to add that apart from making their demands alone on the executive arm, they should also do more by making most of their views known to the National Assembly, and see how the legislators can help to improve the condition of education in the country. A good example is the issue of funding. The Federal Executive Council under Yar’Adua has no such powers to increase funding like that without the National Assembly. The power to appropriate is with the National Assembly (the legislature) so ASUU from time to time should visit committee members. Its is only they who can call Yar’Adua and Sam Egwu or any other minister to order, if they are failing to give attention to education. The same call goes to NUT and other unions, they are stakeholders, the word Education cannot exist without them, they also should parley not only with the executive but also the legislature. In addition, for the sake of peace government at all levels must handle education with care because it is the oil of any society. They should engage all unions whether NUT, ASUU and others on the roundtable with all sincerity before making provocative statements on radio, TV, and newspapers. The attitude of telling lecturers and teachers to go to hell, while children or students suffer should be discarded.
And also ASSU and other unions whether at the university, polytechnic, or secondary level should be willing to make concessions where necessary for the stake of education so that there will be an end to all industrial disharmony currently going on.
Asemebo resides in Port Harcourt.
Opinion
Adult Delinquency In Public Space
Over the years, the remarks of Konrad Adenuar, (January 6, 1876 – April 1967), a former Chancellor of Western Germany, that ”in view of the fact that God limited the intelligence of man, it seems unfair that He (God) did not also limit his stupidity”, has continued to agitate the minds of critics including public affairs analysts. This comment, which put succinctly, highlights God’s unfairness for supposedly setting definite limit on man’s wisdom (intelligence) but failed to set the same limit on man’s stupidity, has attracted wide spread condemnations from different sects; christians and non christians alike. Similarly, some critics, largely writers, hold the sentiment that society should not concentrate on juvenile delinquency alone but should also be concerned about what some identified as “adult delinquencies” since societal ills,grievious misdemeanors are traceable to adults, some of whom are leaders of thoughts occuping high offices.
Nigeria is replete with gutter Languages in public spaces deserving of concern and attention. One classic example is the recent outburst of Senator Adams Oshomhole, a former Governor of Edo State. It would be recalled that Senator Adams Oshomhole referred to the wife of the Governor of Edo State, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, as a barren woman.Truly, it could be said that Mrs Betsy Obaseki stoc the crisis when she referred to the governorship aspirant of All Progressive Congress (APC) Monday Okpebholo, as a man without a wife. Political campaigns should be undertaken or conducted to discuss issues and not insults to enable the electorate choose a credible leader who can provide solutions to societal challenges. No doubt, it is regrettable that a former labour leader, governor and now a serving Senator, Adams Aliya Oshomhole, considered as highly experienced to exhibit civility, maturity and superior acumen in a challenging situation such as this, particularly when viewed against the backdrop that the comrade- senator was not speaking at a political rally ground.
Recently, the West, particularly Europe, is returning artefacts stolen from ancient Benin Kingdom more than a century and thirty years ago which politicians can discuss with respect to diversifying the economy as well as provide solutions to numerous difficulties facing Edo State and Nigeria at large.Worse still, can any parent boast of having or rearing children by his or her self as to scorn an expectant family?. In the same way, the German statesman Konrad Adenuar cited above once noted: “History is the sum total of things that could have been avoided”. For instance, the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasiru El-Rufai, once told foreign powers planning to interfere into the 2019 general election to jettison the plan otherwise they would leave in body bags.’Body Bag!’.
The expression “leave in body bags”, is not befitting of a serving governor in all ramifications. As if that was not enough, the current Senate President and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State Senator Godswill Akpabio, referred to the contribution of a fellow law maker Natasha Akpoti Uduaghau as a “Night Club Comment”.This was another sad commentary and bad public communication made by a public office holder of equal ranking with a fellow colleague, because all senators are equal and therefore, the remarks by Senator Akpabio was regrettable even though he had apologized for his unfortunate outburst. Denigration of any sort should not be an option in pilloring the women folk in public places.
In fact, elder statesman, Pa. Edwin Clark, recently called on the Inspector of Police and President Tinubu to arrest the minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, for saying he (Wike ) will put fire in the states of PDP governors and officials who want to interfer with his political structures in Rivers State.To put fire is ambiquous and has frightening implications. The Bible is apt and ever correct when in proverbs 15:1 noted that “Soft answer turns away wrath but grievous words stir up anger”. The remarks cited above traceable to public officials and leaders in public spaces show pride, selfishness, arrogance and are capable of igniting crisis, if not nibbed in the bud. In addition to the provision of infrastructure, elected leaders must learn the acts of engaging in public communication, speaking life and not hate speach to build society for the better.Jesus Christ speaks in John 6:63 thus: “The words I speak they are Life and Spirit”.
It is instructive to observe that before David killed Goliath in it is recorded in 1st Samuel Chapter 17:24 – 45, that Goliath was very insultive, boastful, denigrating the army of Israel at the battle field before a non-soldier in the person of David over powered him- Goliath. Pride, they say, goes before the fall of man. This is why leaders in positions of trust should retrace their steps and be mindful of the words they speak and transmit in communicating with the electorate,fellow polititicians or their party members to engender peace in the polity and promote peaceful co-existence in Rivers State and Nigeria at large. The time to act is now.
Baridorn Sika
Sika, is a public affairs analyst.
Opinion
Corruption: Nigeria’s Hydra-Headed Problem
If the viral report on the social media that the former Director-General of the Department of State Security, (DSS,) Yusuf Magaji Bichi, is currently looking for his son, Abba, who broke into his safe in his house and stole $2million (N3billion) cash and took off, is true, then Nigeria is in for big trouble. This is not healthy news in a country that is plagued by multi-dimensional socio-economic challenges. According to the report, “sources in the DSS who confirmed the theft said Abba who had knowledge of where his father hides money he collects from politicians raced to his father’s house and took the box load of Dollars as soon as his sack was announced by President Bola Tinubu”.While about 200 million people wallow in an orgy of corruption- induced poverty, some public office holders are far richer than some states.
That the son of the former Director General of State Security Services allegedly “broke into his father’s house and stole $2million about N3 billion equivalent is one of the several known and hidden cases of brazen corruption that have dwarfed to a state of savagery Nigeria’s development. How could a public servant in Nigeria have such whoping amount of money at home? This goes to confirm the saying that loots of Nigeria’s public officers are hidden in foreign banks, GP tanks, underground safe and several other odd and unorthodox saving methods.Such startling revelations of alleged outrageous looting, siphoning of public funds and corrupt practices attests to the fact that Nigeria is incurably sick and is tottering on the brink of collapse, if nothing is done to save the country. Nigeria is not a poor country yet millions are living in hunger, abject poverty and avoidable misery. What an irony!
Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation is naturally endowed with 44 mineral resources, found in 500 geographical locations in commercial quantity. According to Nigeria’s former Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Olamiekan Adegbite, the mineral resources include: baryte, kaolin, gymsium, feldspar, limestone, coal, bitumen, lignite, uranium, gold, cassiterite, columbite, iron ore, lead, zinc, copper, granite, laterite, sapphire, tourmaline, emerald, topaz, amethyst, gamer, etc. Nigeria has a vast uncultivated arable land even as its geographical area is approximately 923, 769 sq km (356,669 sq ml). “This clearly demonstrates the wide mineral spectrum we are endowed with which offers limitless opportunities along the value-chain, for job creation, revenue growth. Nigeria provides one of the highest rates of return because its minerals are closer to the surface”, Adegbite said.
Therefore, poverty in Nigeria is not the consequences of lack of resources and manpower but inequality, misappropriation, outright embezzlement, barefaced corruption that is systemic and normative in leaders and public institutions. Although, Nigeria is ranked as the economic giant of Africa, the most populous country in Africa and the sixth in the world with a population conservatively put at 200 million people, the country has the second highest population of impoverished people in the world.According to the World Poverty Clock 2023, Nigeria has the awful distinction of being the World Capital of Poverty with about 84 million people living in extreme poverty today. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data also revealed that a total of 133 million people in Nigeria are classed as multi-dimensionally poor.
Unemployment is a major challenge in the country.
About 33 percent of the labour force are unable to find a job at the prevailing wage rate. About 63 percent of the population were poor because of lack of access to health, education, employment, and security.Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) speculated that unemployment rate will increase to 37 percent in 2023. The implications, therefore, is increase in unemployment will translate to increase in the poverty rate.The World Bank, a Washington-based and a multi-lateral development institution, in its macro-poverty outlook for Nigeria for April 2023 projected that 13 million Nigerians will fall below the National Poverty line by 2025. It further stated that the removal of subsidy on petroleum products without palliatives will result to 101 million people being poor in Nigeria.The alarming poverty in the country is a conspiracy of several factors, including corruption.
In January, 2023 the global anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International, in its annual corruption prospect index which ranks the perceived level of public sector corruption across 180 countries in the world, says Nigeria ranked 150 among 180 in the index. Conversely, Nigeria is the 30th most corrupt nation in the ranking. It is also the capital of unemployment in the world. At the root of Nigerians’ poverty is the corruption cankerworm.How the nation got to this sordid economic and social precipice is the accumulation of years of corrupt practices with impunity by successive administrations. Nigeria is not a poor country yet millions are living in hunger and abject poverty. The government can close the yawning inequality gap and increasing poverty level. There are several cases of corruption in Nigeria that have been swept under the carpet.
The case of misappropriation and embezzlement of pension funds is one of such ugly cases that stares the Federal Government’s anti-Corruption agencies and the Judiciary on the face. The Federal Government should be proactive and intentional in addressing the stinking wave of corruption in the country.
Igbiki Benibo
Opinion
Elected LGA Councils, A Norm At Last?
Since the return of democratic rule in 1999, Nigeria’s third tier of government, the local councils, consisting of 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs), has regressively slided into undemocratic governance, no thanks to the impunity of some state governors. At the moment, about 462 LGAs in 22 out of the 36 states of Nigeria are ruled by care-taker committees, apointed by state governors. Though in some states, the brief imposition of care-taker committees were fall-outs from political wranglings, some state governments however, made the jettisoning of democratically elected council governments as modus operandi. The worst record so far in this regard was that of Bauchi State which conducted no local government elections for 12 unbroken years, between 2008 and 2020. Apart from a brief council election in October, 2020, that allowed elected council officials till October, 2022, the state has since relapsed to the imposition of caretaker committees.
But if we go by the most current perpetration of the longest count of years of unbroken council rule by appointed committees, the ignominous title of the worst usurper of council authority goes to Anambra State, where since 10 years ago local government elections have never been held, and where Governor Charles Soludo further distabilises council administrations by having run eight tenures of transition committees just within two years. In Anambra, the last council elections held in November 2014 at the twilights of former Governor Peter Obi’s administration. Following Anambra state is Kwara, which held its last LGA elections in 2017, while Imo and Zamfara held theirs in 2018 and 2019, respectively. It appears however, that the dark clouds over Nigeria’s local government system is about to clear, going by the sudden flurry of electioneering preparations noticeable at the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) in no less than 13 states of the federation.
This new development is most welcome, considering that the restoration of democracy at the third tier of government would help to deepen the principles of democracy and accountability at the grassroots levels, with spiralling impacts to the higher levels.The new turn comes not without some push, though. Following a public interest litigation in suit: SC/CV/343/2024, filed by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), against the 36 states of the federation, the Supreme Court had declared in a landmark judgment that “A democratically elected local government is sacrosanct and non-negotiable,’’ and for state/LGAs joint accounts believed to be the conduit through which LGA funds were diverted, the judgment declared that, “In this case, since paying them through states has not worked, justice of this case demands that LGA allocations from the federation account should henceforth be paid directly to the LGAs,” to the effect that only democratically elected local government administrations should receive and manage funds meant for the local councils.
Following the new reality, some state houses of assembly have had to amend local government laws, albeit hurriedly, to pave way for council elections. In Anambra state, where the governor is being criticised for renaging on his pre-election promise of restoring grass-roots democracy within the first six months in office, Governor Soludo had swiftly secured amendments to the local government laws that enabled him constitute members of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), and at the swearing-in ceremony, declared somewhat cynically, “Ndi Anambra, here comes your ANSIEC Commissioners, I’ve done my job,” and to the newly sworn-in commissioners, “When you are done, announce to the people when you’ll hold elections.” Probably, the governor was not comfortable with a court judgment that had stopped federal allocations to his latest Local Government Transition Committees.
Aside Anambra, other states that have not conducted elections in a long while now show swift upswings in councils election preparations, with no less than 13 states fixing election dates. Whereas Anambra fixed September 28, 2024, Kwara and Imo had set September 21, 2024 as election dates, Kaduna and Kogi, October 19, 2024, while Katsina and Osun gear towards February, 2025.However, the hurry at which most council elections are now being pursued is raising a new form of worry in some who fear that the rush might compromise the credibility of the elections and undermine the envisaged benefits derivable from properly conducted council elections. Again, in Anambra where ANSIEC set barely a month timeline for elections, a public affairs analyst in the state, Mr Tony Okafor, while commending Governor Soludo for finally allowing the conduct of council elections, lamented that, “This short notice, coupled with the absence of comprehensive town hall meetings with stakeholders, may not provide sufficient time for adequate preparation, robust campaigning, and thorough voter education, thereby potentially compromising the integrity of the electoral process.”
Also a House of Representatives member, representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, said, “The newly imposed 30-day notice period for local government elections will lead to widespread disenfranchisement at the grassroots level. Within this truncated timeframe, it will be nearly impossible for stakeholders to conduct meaningful consultations, organise primary elections, secure funding, and prepare for the election without government support. This is a disservice to the people and a mockery of our democracy. By frustrating the enthronement of true democracy at the grassroots level, the government is mindlessly undermining the very essence of democratic practice.”However, there are speculations that the rush at the various states might be aimed at enabling unhindered flow of monthly federal allocations to councils, or fixing elected officials in place ahead of any impending National Assembly laws that might sweep away the powers of SIECs to conduct LGA elections.
Whatever the reason for the rushed council elections, and how so ever the officials emerge, one positive result is remarkably emerging, which is that, the era of elected council officials is now being guaranteed. With assured tenur periods, elected council officials who mean well and have the chatacter to deliver good governance to their constituency could now rely on formidable legal backings to do so.But while local government elections may most likely become regular henceforth, the total independence of the councils might still be a long-drawn battle ahead, considering that some fear that federal government’s move, to free the councils from the domineering clutches of state governments, might pave way for some central control over same councils, especially if federal laws emerge that move the powers of state assemblies and SIECs over the councils, to the federal.As Nigerians watch the swing in the pendulum of power over, or over to, the councils, it is becoming clearer that the business over council affairs would not be as usual.
By: Joseph Nwankwor
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