Editorial

NASS Invasion And Democracy

Published

7 years ago

August 13, 2018

Last Tuesday morning, Nigerians woke up to be confronted with what was apparently an attempt to scuttle the electoral process and subvert the country’s democracy.
In a gestapo-like manner, masked operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and their police collaborators, invaded the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, desecrated its sanctity, in a boldface attempt to prevent some Senators and members of the House of Representatives, including journalists from performing their constitutional duties.
Apparently acting a script from ‘the power above’, the DSS operatives barricaded the NASS Complex and barred some lawmakers, particularly those of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from accessing their offices and even threatened to shoot them, including journalists covering the Parliament.
More worrisome is the fact that the NASS invasion was part of a grand plot by some Senators elected on the platform of the APC to effect leadership change in the Senate, without recourse to laid down rules, as provided in the Constitution.
Indeed, the scene that played out at the National Assembly that day, is a throw-back to the inglorious days of full military rule, where dissent is not tolerated and freedom of association and other fundamental human rights are willfully and carelessly violated
Not once have anti-democratic elements and forces held the nation hostage, as it were, against the spirit of the country’s Constitution, and carried out, with a sense of ignominy, such a brazen and despicable action and got away with it since the present All Progressives Congress (APC) – led Federal Government under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari.
From Ekiti, Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Kogi to Akwa Ibom, Kwara and Zamfara States, the stories have been the same. Members of the opposition have been at the receiving end. They are being haunted down and persecuted; pointing to the fact that under President Buhari, the country is rapidly descending into full-blown dictatorship, with scant regard for the separation of powers and the rule of law.
It was no doubt, an attempt by the Buhari administration to further asphyxiate the legislature and make it pander to its whims and caprices, apparently forgetting that the essence of constitutional government is to ensure that the powers of the state are kept in check so that personal liberty would not be infringed upon. Undoubtedly, the legislature is the unmistable symbol of democracy.
Though the Presidency, in an uncharacteristically swift response, sacked the former Director General of the DSS, Lawan Daura, many Nigerians still believe that the move is a face-saving measure to insulate the present Federal Government from complicity.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, while sacking Daura described the unauthorised take over of the National Assembly Complex “as a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all acceptable notions of law and order”.
For the past three weeks, the country has been awash with reports of misuse and outright abuse of power.
The Tide recalls that on July 24, 2018, security operatives displayed the same level of rascality when 14 Senators and 37 House of Representatives members defected from the ruling APC to other political parties, particularly the PDP. The police and officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had invaded the Abuja homes of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and prevented them from leaving their homes.
Events followed one another in quick successions since then. The Senate President, Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto States, inadvertently announced their defection from the APC to the PDP.
To show that this did not go down well with the APC and the Federal authorities, it did not take long before Nigerians were treated to another macabre dance in Benue State where the police locked down the State House of Assembly and aided eight minority lawmakers, in an assembly of 30 members, to launch impeachment proceedings against Governor Ortom.
The EFCC has since then bared its fangs, as it is now probing the governor’s spending of security vote and has gone ahead to freeze the accounts of the Benue State Government including those of Akwa Ibom State, an action that clearly lends credence to the fact that the APC-led Federal Government is hell bent on caging members of the opposition.
That the DSS operatives laid siege on the National Assembly Complex for over nine hours, locking out lawmakers and other NASS members of staff from their chambers and offices, was, infact, the height of impunity.
The Tide joins other well-meaning Nigerians including members of the international community to condemn, in strong terms, the actions of our security operatives. We think that the invasion of the NASS Complex is not only reckless, unconscionable and unacceptable, but, also portends grave danger to the country’s democracy.
The isolated cases of naked abuse of power as witnessed in the country today are themselves disturbing and ominous. We make bold to state that President Buhari bears the responsibility and blame for this avoidable and needless recourse to fascism, aimed at furthering some personal political interests.
We think that the earlier he comes out clean of this weighty accusation, by halting the flagrant display of these dictatorial tendencies forthwith, the better for our democracy.
Undoubtedly, what is currently playing out in the country does not bode well for her political stability and economic prosperity. Right now, the country is in dire need of foreign direct investments, and only actions that portray her to the outside world as an embodiment of the rule of law can suffice and ultimately bolster the confidence of investors.
It, therefore, behoves the APC-led Federal Government to drop every shreds of lawlessness and impunity noticeable in the polity and cultivate and inculcate the politics of tolerance and inclusiveness, which are the fundamental principles of democracy.

Editorial

No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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.