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

The novelist, Fredrick Forsyth in his bestselling
thriller, “The Devils Alternative” said: “whichever option I choose, men are going to die”. And further suggested that “events shape men, but they do not remove the alternative to choose”.
This matter of choice, with its options, appears to be an albatross on the East-West Road in Rivers State, over the years.
Before the idea of construction of the East-West Road was debated and approved then by the Ruling Supreme Military Council in Nigeria, there existed a road called the Port Harcourt – Eleme – Bori Road, which some people now prefer to stereotype by adding the adjective “Old to it, making it now “Old Port Harcourt – Eleme – Bori Road”, confining it to a used and abused old lady status, forgetting the biblical verse of; “before Abraham, I was” injunction.
Suddenly, the old road, the old lady, the abandoned and rejected stone, had gotten a new life, a regeneration, a rebirth, and a functional profile, of relevance, as the road is now wearing a “Tear Rubber Look” and ready to be commissioned to mark one year in office of Governor Siminalayi Fubara on 14th day of May, 2024.
But the Road, now dubbed: “Old Port Harcourt – Eleme – Bori Road, has not always been old. It was our own known version of an express road back then.
Historical notes on Rivers State reveal that the Road many years ago, started from Bori and terminated at Elelenwo Train Station. The Colonial Administration used it like a stone to kill two birds.
The first, was to serve the local farmers coming to Port Harcourt with agricultural produce from the Ogoni axis, by conveying those agriculture products from Elelenwo Train Station to Aba, for the markets, to serve the new trading population that was emerging via palm oil business.
The second reason was to serve the Oil Mill facility with palm oil fruits from the Igbo hinterland, which needed to be refined and milled, before transporting via the harbour in Port Harcourt  overseas, Europe or Ala-bekee, alias Obodo Ndeocha as our forebears called it.
Elelenwo then was a major connecting artery in the South – Eastern trade route, and served as a hub, for both farmers, buyers and local transporters, mostly bicycle riding entrepreneurs from Eleme, Gokana, Tai and Khana villages.
It was, therefore cheering news, when Dr Tammy Danagogo, the Secretary to Rivers State Government, while addressing the Media as Chairman of the Governor Fubara’s One Year in Office Anniversary Celebration Committee, announced that 11 kilometer segment of the “Old Eleme, Bori Road, which had been given a total rehabilitation, would be commissioned, alongside other roads.
The reconstructed segment stretches from Akpajo to Aleto – Nchia – Ogale – Ebubu – Eteo. It would serve as an alternative to the East – West road where tankers, heavy duty vehicles and container conveying trucks dominate other road users, sometimes leading to accidents.
Who knows, maybe, if that old road had been resurfaced by past administrations, and had been in use before this period, the ugly incident of fire disaster last few days, may not have happened.
We may yet thank Governor Siminalayi Fubara, for reconstructing this road, and averting further disaster on the East-West Road.
Emerging out of that pre-anniversary press conference is the news that the second stretch of the Trans-Kalabari Highway, that will eventually link – up Bakana, Tombia, Bukuma, among other communities with the rest of the mainland Rivers State is to be flagged off, plus the   Elele— Omoku dual carriage way.
The Andoni axis of the Ogoni – Opobo – Andoni Unity Road, according to Danagogo, would be commissioned to give the road, its complete cycle, as the initiators of the project had envisioned building  a major road to traverse through Rivers, and hitting the Atlantic coast line.
While we thank Governor Fubara for giving a fresh new refined look and status to the Old Port Harcourt – Eleme – Bori Road, it is our wish that the reconstruction should be extended to link up Nonwa— Kira – Sakpenwa, where it will connect the already completed segment of Sakpenwa – Bori – Kono  axis.
As the entire users of the East West road look forward to the D-Day, 14th May,  when Governor Fubara would step out to cut the tape on that road, it is time to appeal to the Eleme Local  Government Chairman to be proactive, and do something about the Nchia Market where traders openly display their goods, and sell right in the centre of the road, thereby distorting traffic flow.
Apart from affecting the flow of traffic on that road, the traders’ activities are a bold statement on the presence or absence of a local authority.

By: Blessing  Nwikina

On Thursday  May 2, 2024 , an analyst on national radio programme lambasted some Nigerians who did not buy the idea of the consumer credit scheme that was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council and launched by President Bola Tinubu.
A statement from the presidential media office, had indicated that the scheme which will be run by the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), will offer credit facilities to working citizens in the country and will be implemented in stages, starting with public or civil servants and later extend to the general public.
The analyst did not see the reason why some people should kick against the initiative which in his view offers several advantages of Increased Purchasing Power including:  providing individuals with the ability to purchase goods and services even if they do not have the full amount required at the point of sale;  offering a convenient way to manage cash flow, allowing consumers to spread the cost of a purchase over a period that suits their financial situation; helping people acquire essential items—like refrigerator or car—that they might not be able to afford upfront, thereby improving their quality of life; providing a critical resource in emergency situations, allowing consumers to afford necessary services or repairs that they might not have the immediate funds to cover, among others.
Definitely, advantages of consumer credit schemes abound.
The scheme can greatly enhance purchasing power and provide financial flexibility but we must also admit that it is a double-edged sword and can lead to debt accumulation and financial hardship if not used wisely.
Consumer credit schemes can carry high interest rates and fees, particularly if the balance is not paid off during any interest-free period offered. This can significantly increase the overall cost of the purchased goods or services.
Easy access to credit can lead to overspending and the accumulation of debt, particularly if consumers use credit impulsively or fail to manage their repayments effectively. Missing payments or defaulting on a credit agreement can negatively impact a consumer’s credit score. Poor credit scores can restrict access to future credit and result in higher interest rates on loans.
Again, relying too heavily on credit for regular purchases can lead to financial dependency, reducing a consumer’s ability to save and prepare for future financial needs. It is also a known fact that some credit agreements come with complex terms that can be difficult to understand. This can lead to unexpected charges or conditions that a consumer may not be fully aware of, when entering into the credit agreement.
While this write-up is not aimed at an in-depth focus on the merits and demerits of consumer credit schemes, it is aimed at looking at the suitability of the scheme in present day Nigeria. The nation’s economy is in comatose. Poor electricity supply, high electricity tariff, high cost of petrol and diesel and other economic variables are forcing a lot of companies to pack up.
For some unclear reasons, there has been fuel scarcity in the nation’s capital, Abuja and other cities across the country for over two weeks. While NNPC claims it is due to logistic and vessel problems, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), through its Public Relation Officer, Chinedu Ukadike stated categorically that the current fuel scarcity is because “most of the refineries in Europe are undergoing turnaround maintenance.”
Nigeria catches fever whenever Europe and other continents that refine our crude oil cough because we have failed to make the nation’s refineries work. Deadline upon deadline had been given by the federal government on when Port Harcourt and other refineries in the country would commence operation, all to no avail.
One will want to believe that a government that loves its citizens would address the pressing economic challenges before embarking on a consumer credit scheme. Let power supply be made stable and affordable, the refineries be brought back to life to guarantee steady supply of petrol at an affordable price and the value of the nation’s currency be improved so that the salaries of civil servants and other workers will be more meaningful. It is not a question of a new “living wage” or “minimum wage”. It is rather a question of healing the economy and strengthening the Naira so that the workers’ salaries will be more valuable.
What is the essence of encouraging workers to partake in a consumer credit scheme when they are likely to miss payments or default on credit agreement due to numerous financial pressures on them? Is that not capable of increasing their financial stress and anxiety and thereby impact other areas of their lives?
In the past, many civil servants in the country augmented their salaries through agriculture. I remember my uncle, a civil servant working in Enugu, coming to the village almost every weekend to carry out some work on his farms in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the State and when going back to Enugu on Sunday, he goes with jerry cans of palm oil and different kinds of food items from his farms. Today, due to the lingering insecurity in communities across the country, many civil servants hardly visit their villages not to talk of going to farms. So they depend solely on their salaries.
Of course, the launched consumer credit scheme is optional but necessary steps must be taken to improve the economy, security and the living standard of the citizens so that anyone who opts to obtain a loan through the scheme will not have a nightmare servicing the loan. CREDICORP and other relevant authorities also owe the citizens the duty of explaining the nitty gritty of the scheme to the citizens. Let the consumers know that what they are taking is a loan that must be paid within a specified duration with an interest – not a grant.
It is important that consumers, that is, federal and state civil servants and others included in the first phase of the scheme , are advised to carefully consider their financial situation and the terms of credit agreement before committing to the consumer credit scheme so as to minimise risks and enable consumers to maximise the benefits of the scheme.
It is hoped that the experience of previous federal government loans like the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme, the Targeted Credit Facility (TCF), introduced by the CBN to support households and SMEs affected by the Covid-19 pandemic does not repeat itself. We saw some beneficiaries of the TCF protesting when commercial banks began the loan recovery, claiming that what they received was Covid-19 grants not loans and it should not be repaid. The would-be beneficiaries of the Consumer Credit Scheme must be properly educated. Adequate mechanisms must be put in place to ensure recovery of the loan from defaulters.
CREDICORP must also ensure that only the eligible citizens who have applied for the loan got it. It should not be a way of empowering some political party members or people that are highly connected.  According to the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Ajure Ngalale, “The scheme will be rolled out in phases, starting with members of the civil service and cascading to members of the public.” The president believes every hardworking Nigerian should have access to social mobility, with consumer credit playing a pivotal role in achieving this vision.” Nigerians await the materialisation of this.

Calista Ezeaku