Editorial
Taming FSARS’ Monsters In Rivers
Nothing could have been more exhilarating than the recent revelation by the lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda that the lower legislative chambers is fine-tuning plans to begin an inquest into the alleged illegal activities of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) in Rivers State.
Chinda, arguably the most vocal National Assembly member from Rivers State, had told The Tide in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt that the decision of the House to investigate SARS atrocious activities in the State was sequel to a motion he moved in that regard.
Explaining how he had been inundated with several complaints and petitions from his constituents on the operations of SARS, the lawmaker hinted that an adhoc committee of the House would be constituted and would visit the State for fact-finding. This, he said, would afford both the people and the SARS Commander in the State, Akin Fakorede and his men ample opportunity to defend themselves.
The federal lawmaker, himself a victim of Akin Fakorede’s SARS, recalled the squad’s notoriety at the collation centre during the last re-run Senatorial election in the State, and regretted federal government’s inaction to all the weighty complaints and allegations against it.
Even, the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, had for the umpteenth time accused Fakorede, a lawyer and Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), of professional misconduct dating back to the 2015 general elections when he was first accused of aiding the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the elections and subsequent rerun polls in 2016 in the State.
It must be recalled here that the Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu five-man Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) panel on the Rivers State election rerun of December 10, 2016 had earlier in its report indicted Fakorede and many other security operatives of flagrant display of partisanship and willful obstruction of the electoral process in a most disturbing magnitude.
Said the report, “But the most mind-boggling were cases of hostage taking, hijack of materials and physical attacks on INEC officials, perpetrated by security operatives. Of singular note was a certain policeman named Akin Fakorede, who ostensibly is a commander of SARS in Rivers State. We suspect that he would have put out staff in harm’s way.”
Notwithstanding the INEC’s damning report, Fakorede has continued to hobnob with APC chieftains in the State to the extent that he had on an occasion covered the defeated APC governorship candidate in the 2015 elections, Dakuku Peterside, with an umbrella when it was raining, in full public glare, thus, confirming his level of partisanship.
Also, not too long ago, the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Emma Okah and the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Aguma, (SAN), had at different fora reeled out the illegal activities of SARS, insisting that the security outfit was determined to destabilise the State on behalf of its paymasters – the APC-controlled Federal Government. We agree no less.
Indeed, rather than provide security for Rivers people, SARS has become an instrument of crime and all sorts of anti-social activities, indiscriminately arresting unwary members of the public, forcing charges on them and criminally extorting money at gun point.
Only recently, the anti-crime team of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) reportedly accosted three SARS operatives in the State, robbing. The operatives were said to have taken their hostage to a bank ATM and compelled him to withdraw N.5 million as ransom. In the ensuing gun duel, one of the SARS operatives was killed while one Inspector Nyeche who led the IGP team was injured.
Albeit, hardly a day passes without reports of SARS’ criminal activities in the State. The Tide considers the horrendous incidents as scandalous, embarrassing and ridiculous to the Police High Command which, from all intents and purposes, ostensibly appears helpless as Fakorede and his gang could be acting out a script written for them. What this means is that it is a case of Jacob’s voice, Esau’s hand!
Whereas SARS operatives in other parts of the country have acquitted themselves creditably in the professional discharge of their constitutional duties, SARS in Rivers State is notorious for criminal activities. There is, therefore, hardly anything on the credit side of Fakorede’s SARS to warrant their continued retention in the State. What is more scandalous than the persistence of cultist attacks, robbery and other crimes under the very watch of SARS in Rivers State? Do all these not eloquently testify to SARS’ incompetence or complicity or both?
Though Fakorede had consistently denied all the allegations against him and SARS, the security outfit in the State is currently highly constipated and would require a veritable laxative to effectively purge it of all the rubbish in it given its unwholesome activities.
While The Tide detests the Federal Government’s loud silence over the weighty and alarming allegations and controversies in which the squad and its leadership have been mired, we urge a total overhaul of SARS in the State including redeploying Fakorede and his notorious men from the State. This is the only way to tame the FSARS’ monsters in the State, redeem the image of the Police and reposition the squad for better performance.
These measures have become more imperative considering the unparalleled contributions of the State to the national economy and its unequalled support to the Police.
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.
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.
