Opinion
That Tinubu’s Poverty Alleviation Style
A key item on the eight-point agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration is poverty alleviation. Early in the week, during the maiden Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the agenda which the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, said was aimed at turning around the economy and making life comfortable for all Nigerians was unveiled. The agenda includes ending poverty, food security, rule of law, economic growth and job creation, improving security, etc. Similarly, during a visit to the president by members of Tinubu Support Organisation, he reassured Nigerians of his determination not to fail the country in carrying out a permanent transformation of the nation’s economy. It is one thing to have plans and to make mouth-watering promises, but the steps taken towards the implementation of the plans go a long way to determine how successful they will be and to make the people believe in the sincerity of your actions. If you claim to have plans to end poverty and your policies and actions are making more people poorer and poorer, you definitely risk losing the people’s trust. A litmus test of Tinubu’s sincere intention and commitment towards ending poverty or better put, alleviating poverty in Nigeria in the next three years is the way his government handles the issue of energy security in the country. The haphazard way the government has been dealing with this all-important issue has been a source of worry to many Nigerians.
The president’s ill-advised removal of fuel subsidy on his inauguration day without any prior plan of how to cushion the effect of such action; the resultant hike in the cost of petroleum motor spirit (petrol) coupled with increase in electricity tariff have obviously sent many Nigerians into poverty within the first 100 days of this current administration. The July Consumer Price Index (CPI) report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed a rise in inflation as a result of the soaring food prices. There is hardly any food item which the price has not tripled – rice, beans, tomatoes, yam, bread, name it. Incidentally, the federal government’s decision to cushion the subsidy removal pain on Nigerians by the approval of N5 billion for each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to enable them to procure food items for distribution to the poor in their respective states may be another big mistake by Tinubu’s government. Going by the nation’s past experiences especially with regard to Covid-19 palliatives and also palliatives for flood victims in some states, is dolling out these huge sums the best form of palliative that will impact the generality of the people? Should the money have been given to the governors? The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajero, succinctly put it thus, “I have said in unmistakable terms that the governors, from our experiences in the past, should not be allowed in any way to drive the process in the states due to trust deficits. Perhaps, the government has decided to dash N5 billion to the boys in the states.
For them to have done that, it means they do not have the regard for negotiated outcomes with the necessary bargaining institutions in Nigeria.” So, while governors have gotten their own, Nigerians are also waiting to get their share. If they refuse, Nigerian workers will have no other option than to fight for themselves. We are sovereign, we are the owners of Nigeria and as the sovereign, we will mobilise ourselves to do the needful to ensure that those we have elected into office obey us because it is our desire and interest that they are supposed to serve and protect. We will hold them accountable,” he maintained.The Labour’s stance is that the government should have allowed social dialogue in the palliative talks, which remained a democratic platform to guide its actions and policies. There is no better truth. You cannot jettison organised labour in such a decision that concerns the workers and other masses. The nationwide protest as was witnessed on Tuesday and Wednesday and a prolonged strike is sure to come if the government fails to address the workers’ grievances.If one may ask, what measures are there to ensure thorough transparency and accountability on the part of the state chief executives in the sharing of the palliative items? How is the federal government going to ensure that the palliative items get to the true poor people instead of being shared by members of the ruling political parties in the states? In some states there are already ripples over the appointment of some party loyalists as head and members of the pallitives distribution committees. Most importantly, what are the concrete plans of ending poverty in the country? Government surely cannot continue to doll out cash or supply food items as palliatives.
There must be immediate and long-term plans towards bringing a lot of Nigerians out of poverty.The need for agricultural development as a panacea for poverty reduction in the country cannot be over-emphasised. Government and other capable organisations must support small-scale farmers by providing them with access to credit, modern farming techniques, and markets for their produce. Agriculture is a major source of income for many Nigerians, and boosting productivity in this sector can help reduce poverty. Apparently, for the agriculture sector to thrive, there must be deliberate effort to invest in infrastructure development, including roads, electricity, and water supply, to spur economic growth and create job opportunities. Improved infrastructure can also attract investment and stimulate economic activity in both urban and rural areas.The issue of improved power supply must be urgently addressed. Many small scale and medium scale businesses in the country are folding up due to lack of electricity, high electricity tariff and increased price of petrol. I visited my tailor at Abuloma recently and was sad to see the once bubbling “tailors’ hub” so quiet and deserted. The usual generator noise was absent. Some of the tailors around were idle. According to them they had clothes to sew but were waiting for PHED Compay to restore power as they could not afford to buy petrol at N700 per litre to power their generators. The story is the same for owners and managers of hairdressing/barbing salons, dry cleaners, business centres and all that. So, for an effective job creation plan, adequate and affordable energy supply must be taken into consideration. Policies that stimulate job creation in the formal and informal sectors must be promoted. This involves reducing regulatory barriers for businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship, and fostering a conducive business environment.
There should also be efforts at empowering women and youth through targeted programmes and policies, as they are often disproportionately affected by poverty. Gladly, one of the eight-point agenda is solving the insecurity problem in the country. Some poverty alleviation plans of the government like investment in agriculture, employment creation may be difficult to achieve without adequate security. Our farmlands must be made safe. People that deserted their villages due to insecurity should feel safe to return to their homes and farmlands and carry on their farming businesses.Of utmost importance is the need for governments at all levels to come up with and implement anti-corruption measures to ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively in poverty reduction programmes. Corruption is the bane of Nigeria’s development and without sincerely tackling it, all efforts at poverty reduction will be tantamount to pouring water on a rock. Tinubu and the governors must lead by example by drastically cutting down the cost of governance. Both federal and state lawmakers should follow suit by trimming down their expenses, including their “holiday allowances.” It is a known fact that poverty alleviation is a long-term endeavour that requires sustained commitment and resources. Moreover, coordination among different government agencies and stakeholders is crucial to ensure that these strategies are effectively implemented and monitored for their impact on poverty reduction in Nigeria. As the election petition hurdle has been crossed, it is hoped that the president will be more focused now in fulfilling his promises and making the country a better place to live.
By: Calista Ezeaku
For the first time in the last eight years , one can observe a moribund and toothless, Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter trying to lull the people of Rivers State in believing that it exists, that it is versed and abreast with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), knowledgeable about subsisting judicial pronouncements on the Local government administration matters by courts of competent jurisdiction, and it has workers and. the people’s welfare at heart.
These wrong impressions can be deduced from the text of the Press Conference delivered by the Association last week.
Despite the window dressing and cosmetic posture that the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Rivers Sttate chapter wants to impress on the people and residents of Rivers State, it is crystal clear that workers at the Third Tier of Government have not fared well in the last eight years of the repressive and workers unfriendly immediate past administration in the State.
While workers at the State were fortunate to have a controversial minimum wage paid to them, local Government workers did not benefit from the N30,000 Minimum Wage which became a legal instrument about six years until March 2024, following a directive by the Executive Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to Local Government chairmen in the State to immediately implement the minimum wage, wage award and promote workers.
Where was.the Legal Adviser of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, whose statutory responsibility it was to advise the former Rivers State. Governor that it is an affront on the sensibilities of workers and fragrant.breach of extant law to not pay minimum wage to workers at.the 23 Local Government councils.
Civil servants at the State and Local Government councils were not promoted and did not benefit from the annual incremental credit for about ten years. The incremental credit is a paltry and very insignificant amount compared to the inputs of workers to drive implementation of government policies and programmes and what elective office holders take home within the comparable period.
I had expected a “concerned and workers-friendly ‘ Association of Local Government in the State to midwife the promotion of workers, implementation of Minimum wage and fulfill their statutory obligations to the workers and the people at the local government areas whose resources they hold in trust and on whose behest they are in power.
It therefore beats my imagination that Local Government Chairmen of ALGON, who are products of the ballot and not appointees of the former governor lost their “Executive” status and played the second fiddle role. Even when there was unconfirmed tampering of local government funds, they could not protest or raise an eye brow.
How the people who were cowardly and timid before the former administration in the State suddenly cultivated and imbibed the effrontry and temerity to hold a Press Conference attempting to disparage the performing and conscientious Sir Siminalayi Fubara-led administration leaves much to be desired and a bad taste in the mouth of all patriotic and truthful Rivers people.
I expected the self serving chairmen under the aegis of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria to brace up to the challenges of seeming derecognition and denial of their right of expression as elected chairmen by the former administration in the State.
While the ALGON has the legitimacy to contest violation of, or infringement on their interests, such protest should not be seen as selective. Between 1999 and 2003, the Association of Local Government of.Nigeria in Rivers State was vociferous and so alive to its onus that they rejected allocations that did not reflect the true figures of what the local government councils deserved from the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC). That was when ALGON was keen and committed to the essence of its formation. That was a real workers-friendly ALGON.
However, with the advent of crude and uncivilised godfatherism that circumvented real democratic processes for manipulative and coercive selection that ultimately produced unpopular candidates of the godfather, chairmen were reduced to puppets, playing subservient roles for their benefactors instead of protecting the interest and welfare of workers and the people of their local government areas, who they ought to represent.
Having therefore failed to speak up for workers and defend the welfare of the people of their local government areas, at a time they were oppressed, the association in my candid opinion does not have the moral justification to cry fowl against the present administration in Rivers State whose policies and programmes so far, reveal that the governor understands that the legitimacy of his administration is derived from the people, so he is accountable to them by putting in place infrastructure that will give fresh breath to a people who are recuperating from the suffocation of repressive and coercive governance.
Sir Siminalayi Fubara is today a messiah to workers in Rivers State. Local government. workers are .being paid minimum wage, promoted and duly placed at their appropriate levels after 10 years of no promotion.
Civil servants in the State are sure of receiving their pensions immediately after retirement from service which was a marked. departure from previous administration.
Rather than vilifying or demonising the present administration in the State, the Association of Local Government of.Nigeria, Rivers State should thank the Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for doing in less than one year what their grand master could not do for them and workers in eight years.
Remember, everyone will stand in the court of history and posterity to account for their actions and inactions in office.
Igbiki Benibo
Kidnapping, a heinous crime, cannot be condoned in any circumstances. The situation in Nigeria, characterised by various security challenges, including the presence of militant groups and criminal organisations, requires a multifaceted approach to address its root causes.
A report by the Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, a security risk management and intelligence company based in Abuja, stated that at least 2,583 people were killed and 2,164 kidnapped in the first quarter of this year.
The record carries the number of killings and abductions across the country from January to March, indicating that 80 percent of the killings and 94 percent of the abductions occurred in the Northern part of Nigeria.
This report, however, varied with the position by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, who said that the casualty figures were going down, the consulting firm’s report showed that an average of 28 persons were killed and 24 kidnapped.
The Nigerian government, through the Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, during the maiden edition of the annual lecture series organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja, said the security situation was under control.
The casualty figures in zones, according to the data from the Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, revealed that out of the people killed during the period, 793 were from the North-West, 681 from the North-East and 596 from the North-Central. The casualties were recorded from bandits’ attacks, farmers/herders’ conflicts and communal clashes.
The South-West recorded 194 killings, the South-South, 161 people; and South-East, 158. The five states with the highest number of killings were Borno, 517; Benue, 313; Katsina, 252; Zamfara, 212 and Kaduna, 206. The data showed that out of the 2,164 persons abducted within the period, 1,297 were kidnapped in the North-West, 421 in the North-East, 330 in the North-Central, 30 in the South-West, 66 in the South-South and 20 in the South-East.
Kaduna State recorded the highest number of abductees with 546; Zamfara, 447; Borno, 340; Katsina, 252 and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 102. Experts hope that the present government under President Bola Tinubu will do the needful.
Firstly, addressing the socioeconomic factors that contribute to kidnapping is crucial. High unemployment rates, poverty, and lack of economic opportunities push individuals towards criminal activities. Investing in education, job creation programmes, and infrastructure development can help alleviate these issues and provide alternatives to crime.
Secondly, strengthening law enforcement and judicial systems is essential. Improving police training, equipping them with necessary resources, and enhancing collaboration between security agencies can help in apprehending criminals and ensuring justice for victims. Additionally, enhancing the efficiency of the judicial process and holding perpetrators accountable through swift and fair trials can deter future criminal activities.
Furthermore, enhancing intelligence gathering and surveillance capabilities can help in preempting kidnapping attempts and dismantling criminal networks. Cooperation between government agencies, intelligence services, and international partners can facilitate information sharing and coordination in combating organised crime.
Moreover, addressing corruption within the government and security forces is imperative. Corruption undermines efforts to combat crime by facilitating criminal activities and eroding public trust in institutions. Implementing anti-corruption measures, promoting transparency, and holding corrupt officials accountable can help in restoring trust and integrity within the system.
Community engagement and empowerment play a vital role in preventing kidnapping and other crimes. Building strong community relationships, fostering trust between residents and law enforcement agencies, and promoting community-based initiatives can help in identifying and addressing security threats at the grassroots level.
Finally, kidnapping in Nigeria is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach. Addressing socioeconomic factors, strengthening law enforcement and judicial systems, enhancing intelligence capabilities, combating corruption, engaging communities, and promoting international cooperation are all crucial components in combating kidnapping and improving security in the country. However, it is important to remember that any strategy must prioritise human rights, the rule of law, and the protection of innocent lives.
Badamasi Junaidu
Junaidu writes from Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi.
Development is regarded as sequential changes or growths that occur in a society or country over time. It remains a product of good governance, which mostly lies in the hands of those at the helm of affairs at a particular time and process that led to the emergence of such leaders.
The local government is universally found in contemporary societies, both in the developed and developing countries. It is a vital political institution, such that modern politics and administration revolves around it. Today, most countries across the globe have adopted democratic system of government, being the government of the people, by the people and for the people. In these countries, governance is centered on three tiers with constitutional backing to aid rapid development. A country like Nigeria has three tiers of government, Federal, State and Local Governments. Each tier has constitutional roles, aimed at complementing each other. The mother of them, that is, the Federal Government, plays significant roles in nation building, and this is one of the reasons why citizens always look unto the presidency and participate actively during presidential elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
It is an established fact that citizens also perform their civic responsibilities as expected during the governorship elections, while there is a lot of apathy during the chairmanship and councillorship elections, forgetting that without a solid foundation, the longevity of structure or building is in doubt.
Citizens’ nonchalant attitude to the process that produces public administrators at the grassroots is quite alarming, and this usually results into having the wrong peg in the right hole.
Findings revealed that voter apathy associated with local government council elections was due to non-performance of some previous elected administrators, lack of security of lives or property and lack of trust in States Independent Electoral Commission (SIECs). Others include introduction of caretaker committees to man the affairs of the councils, do-or-die approach of political soldiers to the council’s polls, interest of the incumbent governors, choice of political godfathers, influence of respected monarchs and many more. The local government is a tier of government that provides essential services to the public, such as health and safety, transportation, sanitation, environmental, and utilities.
Also, it is the tier of government that ensures grading of rural roads, management of basic schools, local markets, among others. Public administrators play a crucial role in the delivery of these services and the management of local government organisations. Some time ago, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, at the swearing-in ceremony of chairmen and vice chairmen of Nsit Ibom and Urue–Offong / Oruka Local Governments, compelled chairmen of the local government councils in the state to reside within their areas of jurisdiction for effective delivery on their mandate and development of rural areas.
Also, the ongoing campaign or demand for financial autonomy for local government by relevant stakeholders in the country further attests to how important this tier of government is in building a prosperous and self-sustained nation.
This development led to the conduct of local government council election in the 33 local government council areas of the state in 2021 by the current leadership of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), headed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju. About 30 percent of registered voters took part in the election, a result that further attest to the long-time nonchalant attitude of citizens and residents to local government council elections. According to records, the feat attained by the commission in terms of voter turnout was the highest in recent times.
No doubt, democracy provides opportunity for people to choose their leaders and enables citizens to make their opinions known to those in power, enjoy good governance and interface with the authorities, especially those at the grassroots.
Adegoke writes in from Ibadan, Oyo State.
By: Adedamola Adegoke
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