Editorial
Bakassi: Enough Of Nigerian Casualties
Penultimate Thursday, the House of Representatives directed its Committee on Foreign Affairs to commence an immediate probe into the killing of 97 Nigerians by Cameroon Gendarmes in the Bakassi Peninsula, a fortnight ago.
According to reports, the Gendarmes had attacked mainly Nigerians from Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Ondo States over failure to pay a N100,000 boat levy and had constantly harassed and raped Nigerian women and children.
Lamenting the inaction of the Nigerian government in curtailing what it called the senseless killings and harassment of Nigerians in the Bakassi Peninsula, the legislators said the outcome of the investigations would determine the actions to be taken by the Federal Government.
The Tide welcomes the bold action of the House of Representatives and hopes it will jolt the executive arm of government from its present lethargy and abandonment of its sacred duty of protecting its citizens wherever they may be.
Indeed, the story of the Bakassi people has been one of agony and suffering both in the hands of Cameroon Gendarmes and at home since the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that ceded parts of Bakassi to Cameroon.
The harassment and killing of Bakassi people, to all intents and purposes, is a contradiction of the 2005 Green Tree Agreement (GTA) of the Nigerian – Cameroon Mixed Commission which states that the Bakassi returnees must be properly resettled in their natural habitat so that they can have a meaningful living.
The GTA also states that Nigerians who choose to remain in Cameroon can do so without any molestation and makes it clear that there would be a committee to monitor activities in the Bakassi Peninsula. Regrettably, since the signing of the GTA, 12 years ago, no monitoring team has visited the area.
Back home, the fate of the Bakassi people has been that of neglect by the Nigerian government. The internally displaced persons from Bakassi have been living in squalor, in rickety, mosquito-infested classroom blocks in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states. This is in spite of complaints from notable leaders including Senator Florence Ita-Giwa and the Bakassi paramount ruler, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet.
We believe, therefore, that the Federal Government should do more than summoning the Cameroonian Ambassador to Nigeria over the issue. Nigeria should compile a list of Nigerians killed and displaced and seek reliefs and compensations in view of these frequent violations of the GTA by Cameroon. Where Cameroon remains defiant, the Federal Government should report these violations to the African Union and the United Nations for necessary sanctions.
As over 200 returnees from the recent incident swell the IDP camps in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, the displaced persons have continued to accuse the government of playing politics with their lives and livelihood. The onus is, therefore, on the Federal Government to show genuine concern by properly resettling them to a meaningful life where they can fend for themselves and their families.
As we await the outcome of the House of Representatives’ probe into the current killings of Nigerians in Bakassi, we urge the Federal Government to take practical steps to protect its citizens whether they are in Cameroon, Libya, South Africa or anywhere in the world, doing legitimate businesses.
The Tide believes it is high time Nigerian government stood up against inhuman treatment meted to its citizens, sometimes by countries to whom Nigeria had given help in challenging times.
Nigeria should be able to bark and bite, especially in defence and protection of its citizenry from humiliating attacks and deportations by smaller neighbouring countries; otherwise, these embarrassing incidents Nigeria is experiencing may continue unabated.
Editorial
No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike
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
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