Editorial

Hope For 2023

Published

3 years ago

December 30, 2022

Sunday, January 1, 2023, indicates the beginning of the New Year. The start of a new year is often a time for dream
ing new dreams, catching a glimpse of more visions, and looking forward to new hopes. This is also the consummate time for individuals, groups, and nations to take stock of the past year of their lives and make the ineluctable resolutions for a more successful, peaceful and prosperous new year.
Nigerians have come a long way as a people trying to figure out what is driving our country into the throes of floundering leadership, poverty, corruption, and insecurity which intrigue to stunt our national development in so many ways and are blocked on many fronts. Nigerians remain hopeful as the new year commences. However, the events that molded the outgoing year are inadequate to be the basis for any vibrant hope.
This year is perhaps the most violent in Nigeria’s post-civil war history. It has been a year of blood and tears for Nigerians as brutal terrorists and murderous bandits took control of major parts of Northern Nigeria and some areas in the South, ransacking villages, kidnapping travellers, killing hundreds of security personnel and other innocent Nigerians, and maiming and raping others.
In some of these areas, they are said to have imposed their Islamic caliphate flag and levied taxes on residents, including farmers who want security as they work their land and harvest their produce. The rest of the country has not been spared the threat of brazen armed robberies, widespread kidnapping for ransom, constant prison breaks and criminal activities of all kinds.
Still this year, inflation in Nigeria rose for the 10th straight month in November, rising to 21.47 per cent from 21.09 per cent a month earlier as food and energy prices continued to rise, the National Bureau of Statistics said. The statistics office further said the prices of goods and services, measured by the Consumer Price Index, increased by 21.47 per cent in November 2022 compared to the rate in November 2021. The figure is 6.07 per cent points higher than the rate recorded in November 2021.
The country’s prolonged fuel shortages have been exacerbated recently as some petrol stations failed to sell petroleum products or sold them at inflated prices. Shortages lead to soaring transportation costs, affecting goods and merchandise. In a protracted push to control inflation and ease the pressure on the Naira, the Central Bank of Nigeria raised the benchmark lending rate to 16.5 per cent in November.
The poor operation of different economic sectors, especially the agricultural sector, has created ambivalence and job losses. Recurring agrarian-pastoralist crises have deeply hurt agricultural labour and production. Another issue is Nigeria’s weak currency, which is bad for manufacturing. With foreign exchange available only through unofficial channels for many, the prices of raw materials for manufacturing affect the industry and its output. Many organisations cannot scale or hire more people.
Severe floods in Nigeria in September killed more than 600 people and displaced 1.3 million in the country’s most destructive seasonal floods in a decade. Heavy rains combined with poor urban planning have made parts of the country more prone to flooding. More than 200,000 homes and 266,000 acres of farmland were totally or partially damaged.
But in addition to the failure of state governments to prepare early for seasonal flooding, this year’s incident has also been blamed on the release of excess water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam in mid-September. Nigeria has no buffer dams to stop this flow, although the need has existed since the Lagdo Dam was built in 1982. The last time there was a major flood emergency was between July and October 2012, when the Niger and Benue rivers deluged.
As 2023 gets underway, we recall Albert Einstein’s words that you cannot solve problems with the same awareness that caused them in the first place. To keep doing the same thing you have done before and expect different results is the height of madness. This is factual at the individual level, as it relates to the guiding principles and values by which we live, and at the national level, as it relates to our institutional framework.
Therefore, next year should be a time for critical assessment by our leaders and policymakers. More intervention programmes are needed to get Nigerians back on their feet. The forthcoming general elections in February and March must be prioritised. President Muhammadu Buhari must ensure credible polls are conducted. noting the unfair electoral processes in the past, the President must leave behind a strong electoral body to ensure plausible leadership emerges.
Politicians and political parties must understand that all participants in the political process are Nigerians and, accordingly, equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project. The same rules apply at the state and local government levels. State power should be used fairly, impartially and equitably for the benefit of all regardless of tribe, religion, race and party.
Also in 2023, security personnel should be charged more. They must take a bottom-up, military-civilian approach to effectively end terrorist violence in the country. We ask them to fulfil their responsibilities by remaining neutral and apolitical while ensuring the safety and security of all Nigerians regardless of party affiliation. Sadly, while our security agencies operate on an analogue level, criminals are changing their tactics. They have to go all in on digitisation.
Additionally, efforts should be focused on reducing the cost of living and inflation in the country in 2023 by implementing pragmatic policies and programmes that have a direct impact on ordinary people who make up the majority of the country’s population, and those who are mainly affected by bad economic policies. Food inflation should be specifically addressed to lower the cost of living for wage earners whose incomes have not been vetted for years.
The Federal Government should not ignore the national census planned for the same year. We want those who drive this task to be fair and just to everyone, including people with disabilities. The National Population Commission should work harder towards a credible and acceptable census that is transformative and meets international standards. In the 2023 census, Nigerians should be counted in the right way, at the right place and at the right time for our collective perquisite.
Enlightened Nigerians should be involved in politics to set the country on the path of real change. They should ensure that the same group of regressive, selfish, ignorant career politicians who resist every attempt to better the country are never re-elected to office. Young Nigerians must take culpability for their future by building networks and bridges across racial and religious barriers and promoting true nation-building values in place of defeatist narratives of subservience and circumvention. That is the path we must take in 2023.
Happy New Year to our esteemed readers and indeed Nigerians!

Editorial

No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike

Published

20 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

21 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.