Politics
Sanusi Was Misquoted?
At a time when, unemployment in Nigeria hit its all-time-high, with young skilled graduates roaming the streets for unavailable jobs, criminality and insecurity at disturbing peaks and with no clear signs of early bail-out for both the manufacturing and industrial sectors, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s call for a 50 per cent reduction of the Civil Service deserves careful analysis.
At a retreat on capital market held in Warri, Delta State last Monday, Sanusi among other controversial vituperations suggested the reduction of public service workforce by half, alluding that workers’ wages were a key hindrance to the growth of the nation’s economy, as weighs heavily on capital needs.
As Central Bank Governor, Sanusi may be concerned about the growing decline in capital projections, which he fears would negatively impact on the infrastructural development efforts of the country. Without basic infrastructure no meaningful job creation effort would succeed hence his worry over how to cut wastages in recurrent spending to fill the lull, in desired capital projections.
To support that argument, Sanusi virtually suggested that Public Servants constitute about 30 per cent of the population but enjoy more than 70 per cent of national earnings, a development which he said amounted to denying over 105 million Nigerians funds needed for basic infrastructure. Sanusi did not imagine that the said figure includes wives and dependants of civil servants.
By his calculation, of a population of about 150 million, since public servants constitute barely 30%, about 45 million and they should not alone earn 70 per cent of the country’s annual budget proposals in form of recurrent expenditure. Therefore, a reduction by at least 50 per cent would be required so as to beef-up capital expenditure to 65 per cent of the annual budget, while, recurrent expenditure is reduced to 35 per cent.
To achieve that Sanusi questioned the need for the bi-cameral legislature Nigeria operates and also queried the economic rationale behind the engagement of 109 Senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives.
Similarly, Sanusi called for the scraping of the Local Government system in preference for states as federating units. By that action, what the CBN Governor considers to be a wasteful tier of government would have been eliminated.
From the point of view of an economist in a country where, there is a vibrant private sector participation in industrial pursuits, where, public infrastructure is at its healthiest and manufacturing concerns are in dire need of productive labour, these views would have made sense. But in a country where, more than 50 per cent of its productive youths are without gainful employment and criminality gradually becoming a paying pass-time, Sanusi’s suggestion is a call to hell, insensitive at best, Satanic at worse.
For the basis of argument, it will be proper to take a second look at Sanusi’s mathematics on the public service and see if the civil servant is not contributing enough to society or even more than the Central Bank governor.
Nigeria, has for upwards of 50 years, operated a virtual monolithic economy depended mostly on foreign exchange earnings from oil and gas. These earnings are monthly allocated to states, local government areas and the federal government which are the highest employers of labour.
With a population of over 150 million people and, by Sanusi’s estimates, 45 million forming the workforce, it follows that 30 per cent of the population might well be fending for at least 40 per cent of the population or more. For instance, among the 150 million Nigerians Sanusi uses in his argument are children of civil servants, wives and other extended family members.
If an average civil servant has four children and a wife and provides for their medical, education, housing, clothing and even communication needs, hasn’t such a civil servant done what a responsible government should do for its citizenry? With the meager salary paid the worker, he fends for an average of a wife and two children, if multiplied by 45 million such workers, it means that 135 million of the population has been covered. If the few oil company workers are deducted, the rest may be insignificant.
This makes the Civil Servants family as one of the most productive, prudent and patriotic sectors of the Nigerian economy, as it caters for more than the neglected population than any single economic unit of the economy, a reason why the civil servant remains relatively poor.
Unlike the peanuts given civil servants, the Central Bank alone, with barely 6,015 staff nationwide appropriated and spent as much as N300 billion in 2011, 100 per cent more than the N150 billion the entire National Assembly received in the same year, for which Sanusi wants the bi-cameral legislature abrogated.
Curiously, the same advocate of 50 per cent reduction in public service workforce, not too long ago, increased his own staff strength to 6,015, up from 5,023, a case of ‘doing what I say not what I do.’
For the avoidance of doubt, any attempt at sacking workers would spell greater doom than the problem Sanusi hopes to solve. Not only would it incite increase in crime rate, since many, ordinarily dependent on the meager civil servants’ earnings would be forced to look elsewhere for survival and of course non-existent jobs cannot be option.
Presently, cases of kidnapping, bank robberies, sea piracy and terrorism are a major challenge to the nation’s security pursuits. So, if as much as 50 per cent are thrown into the labour market, what Nigeria daily experiences would be a child’s play. In such a case, the wealthy, top government officials and the affluent few like Sanusi, whose annual salary is enough to pay 100 young graduates in the civil service, will be targets.
Rather than suggest workers’ sack, Sanusi should work out plans to concession infrastructural development, encourage investments in manufacturing concerns and other job creation pursuits. With such alternative sources of job generation and comparatively better pay, the public workforce will naturally thin down in preference for many other competing job offers.
To do nothing of that sort but sentence workers into the unemployment market is to court crisis, increased criminality and indeed unbridled insecurity, neither of which can enhance the meaningful infrastructural development and economic growth that Sanusi desperately yearns for.
Happily, the Federal Government knows and appreciates these imperatives and have since disowned the CBN governor. We understand also that even Sanusi has said he didn’t mean what the people heard and that he was quoted out of contest. We pray so.
Curiously, when he made the remarks, Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, the chief host, quickly challenged Sanusi and warned against the negative consequences of such workers’ sack. But if indeed he was misquoted, the governor’s swift reaction would have offered Sanusi the chance to correct the impression, he said nothing afterwards, until now. Lets welcome Sanusi to the real world, not that of economic theories without contextual support.
My Agony is that many of Sanusi’s kind are of the impression that the average public/civil servant does nothing to deserve his wages, without wondering why lawmakers deserve their jumbo pay any more. Its an unfair generalisation.
Now, perhaps is the time to call for pay parity since all in the economy patronise same market and cater for the nearly 105 million others dependent on workers.
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.
Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.