Editorial

Police And Tinted Car Glasses

Published

12 years ago

July 15, 2013

There has been public protest over indiscriminate arrest of individuals found to be using automobiles with tinted glasses. The Tide understands that Section 2(d) of the Road Traffic Act expressly outlaws the use of such vehicles, particularly those crudely laminated in a deep dark colour that makes visibility impossible.
Relying on the said Section of the Road Traffic Act, a Karu Senior Magistrate Court recently sentenced four men to two months imprisonment after they had pleaded guilty to illegal use of tinted glasses on their vehicles. It would appear however, that the most comprehensive legislation on the use of tinted glasses in Nigeria is the Motor Vehicle Prohibition of Tinted Glass Acts CAP M21 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Formerly Decree No 6 of 1991.)
Section 1(1) of this Act states that except with the permission of the ‘appropriate authority’ and for such good cause as may be determined from time to time by the appropriate authority, “no person shall cause any glass on a motor vehicle to be tinted or shaded or coloured lightly or thickly, darkened or treated in any other way so that the persons or objects in the motor vehicle are rendered obscure or invisible.”
No doubt, majority of crimes relating to terrorism, suicide bombing, kidnapping, gun-running, human trafficking and armed robbery among others are mostly committed with vehicles with such tinted gasses. The uncontrolled use of such vehicles for perpetration of crimes has heightened confusion over modalities to check defaulters.
We note that, although the Motor Vehicle (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, CAP M21 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, Section 3(a) had explained “appropriate authority” as contained in Section 1(1) of the law to mean reference to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) or any person or authority authorized by him to give such permission as contemplated in Section (1) of the law, implementation of the law appeared to have been neglected overtime. This without doubt, had given room to virtually every individual to own such vehicles, some of them so crudely laminated that they became safe havens for kidnappers, armed robbers and sundry criminals.
Clearly, the recent order by the Inspector-General of Police to all state commands to impound such vehicles and if possible arrest and prosecute their owners, underscores a fresh initiative by the Police High Command to check the anomaly by enforcing a nearly dead law. It is even more understandable in the light of recent security challenges the nation is grappling with, and which could be hampered if such safety nests for felons are not properly checked. It was in furtherance of that reasoning and consequent IGP directive that the Karu Senior Magistrate Court sentenced the four men to two months imprisonment for illegal use of tinted glasses on their cars while in other parts of the country there are reports of payment of various sums of money in fines by defaulters, to recover their vehicles.
We are aware that the Police High Command had stated that the law authorizes an appropriate authority, in this case, the IGP to issue permits for use of tinted glasses to Nigerians on health and security grounds, if they meet stipulated requirements for qualification. However, we think that, for any Act to be effective, it should not be selective in application. Yes, the Rivers State Police Command recently explained the difference between factory fitted tinted glass and those locally laminated. But the situation remains foggy because there are also foreign made vehicles that fall in the same category as locally tinted glasses. Therefore, the Police High Command should be specific over which public officers are entitled to use what vehicles as that aspect has been grossly ignored.
Again, the process of obtaining police permit for tinted glasses should be made clear and insulated from familiar counterfeiting, touting and bribery because we fear that unscrupulous police officers may take advantage of the new regime of enforcement to engage in the harassment of and extortion from helpless motorists. It is therefore imperative that police authorities ensure strict supervision of their men deployed to these duties and bring to book officers who may be tempted to act outside the confines of the enabling laws and indeed, that of the Police Code of Conduct.
Clearly, legal restrictions on the use of tinted car glasses is not peculiar to Nigeria. The law, we understand, is designed to promote and protect the collective security of all through visual transparency of auto mobiles. It reduces the chances of persons plying vehicles with opaque devices, arms, ammunition and other incriminating materials undetected from one part of the country to another.
The law is also designed to enhance the smooth discharge of police duties, by making monitoring of motorists easy. But we think that the law leaves too much room for manipulation by a few for the punishment to address. Unless such grey areas already highlighted are addressed, what we consider to be a good law would leave negative consequences and hence become unpopular among the very people the measures are intended to protect.
Even so, we urge total compliance by the citizenry since ignorance of the law is no excuse, while we await necessary enlightenment on the matter.

Editorial

No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike

Published

19 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

20 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.