Opinion

Pension Reforms Law: The People’s Views

Published

11 years ago

July 7, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan, last Tuesday,
signed the Pension Reforms Bill 2014 into Law. The new law which prescribes 10-years jail term for anybody that embezzles pensions fund, is also designed to punish offenders with a view to serving as a deterrent to those who may want to mis-manage or divert pension fund assets.
How far can this law go in solving the age long problem of embezzlement of retirees money in the country? Our chief correspondent, Calista Ezeaku, put this question to some Port Harcourt residents. Prince Dele Obinna, captured the respondents.

Chief Jude Nwoka – Lecturer
Over time, our problem in this country has been our legal and regulatory frame work. There had been a lot of reforms like pension bills, corporate affairs commission and many others aimed at regulating, the activities of orgainsations. But the issue is, has there been adequate, sufficient, enabling laws to make the operators in the public service be accountable and transparent in the management of the pension fund? Now the question is, what is ICPC doing? What are all the institutions that are supposed to be guiding the activities of organisations, doing? How many persons have you heard that ICPC has jailed in this country? What of EFCC, SON and others?
What I’m saying in essence is that the Pension Reforms Bill 2014 which was signed into law by the President a couple of days ago is Okey, but implementation of this bill is the problem. We have weak, inadequate, inefficient mechanisms to monitor the compliance to these laws in all spheres of Nigerians economy. Look at what the former governor of Central Bank, Sanusi did. It’s not as if Sanusi is the best person, but he was determined to make sure that all those executive officers of the banks that were involved in that lack of corporate governance were punished and disciplined. Today, Nigeria banking industry has elements of credence and credibility. There is element of transparency.
Talking about 10-year jail term for anybody that embezzles pension fund, I don’t think that is the issue. A dubious person can say let me embezzle N10bn, go to jail and after 10 years I will come out and enjoy the money. One politician may as well be in power tomorrow and say “okay, he has to be released or granted pardon”. So there should be a distinction between politics and governance. It is not the jail term that is the issue, the issue is how morally oriented are we? Late Prof Dora Akunyili was talking about rebranding, changing the moral consciousness of Nigerians. So the issue is what is the level of our moral standard?
So the Reforms Bill is now a law but how many persons are likely to be jailed because of political patronage? Of course you know how corruption cases are being swept under the carpet in Nigeria. So, what we are saying is, how do we get morally re-orientated? How do we make sure that there is full compliance to the law? ICPC, EFCC and other agencies responsible for law enforcement should be up and doing.

Mr. Samuel Owhonda – Retired Civil Servant
The law is good but we need prayers to help us do things properly in this country. The people in positions of authority today need to remember that one day, they will retire as I have retired now. That’s why I like what President Goodluck Jonathan is doing, carrying out reforms that will make life more meaningful for retirees. I have received my retirement benefits. Government never owed me one naira. Retirees need their pension to take care of themselves and it should not be tempered with by anybody. The 10-year jail term for embezzlement of pensions fund is enough. We don’t talk about killing somebody, if not all the people involved in that are supposed to die. You have put in your whole life in service and you retire and somebody is punishing you forgetting he will retire from service one day. All of us will retire. Don’t punish people. Give them what belongs to them. Anybody that retires is on his way to the grave, so make them happy by giving them what is due them. The monthly pensions scheme is just to give them sense of belonging. It is their right which terminates when they die. So retirees in Nigeria should be provided with adequate welfare scheme to enable them enjoy like retirees in other counties.

Hon (Mrs) Chioma Amadi-Oparaeli – Public Servant
I think the law is okey because the pensioners case in Nigeria is becoming very critical. People in the offices who claim to be incharge, will sign off the pensioners money, travel aboard, build houses, buy cars and all sorts of things, forgetting the people that have worked for this money. They worked for it, they are entitled to it, so they should be given their due payment. Some of these retirees are so old, and people embezzle their money without even having pity on them. Sometimes they are owed for six, seven months. So the 10-years jail term is okey but I wish it was even more than that so that when you think of the punishment for whatever evil you want to do, you will have a rethink.
But I think that for this law to achieve its aim, our judiciary needs to be strengthened because if the judiciary is strong enough, they will be able to prosecute offenders without fear or favour. Secondly, this law should not be ridicule by giving the offenders laughable amounts to pay as options. For instance, when someone embezzles billions of naira and he was given a fine of N1m, when you know that person can pay it without blinking his eyes. He pays the fine option and is set free to enjoin his looth. So the judiciary should work seriously on that if not the embezzlement will not stop and we will keep causing the death of so many retirees. These people have contributed to the development of this country for Christ sake and I am saying that they should be given their pension as at when due. Immediately one reitrees he should be paid. Their gratuities and pensions should not be delayed. A situation where someone retirees and for three years he has not received even a kobo is very very unfair.

Mr. Igwe – Businessman
I think 10 years jail term is not enough. If you embezzle a huge sum of money and goes to jail for 10 years, well by the time you come out from prison and the money is still somewhere in a bank or with a friend, you continue your life, then somebody will follow the suit and do the same. So the penalty should be life in jail. Recall the case of the police pensions boss who embezzled pensions fund of over N20b and he was given two years jail term. Can you imagine that? That is not encouraging. The level of corruption in this country is too high. I don’t know where we are heading to honestly.
Somehow, the law will help in the fight against corruption particularly in the area of embezzlement of the retirees fund. For those who have conscience, if you remember the law, and the punishment therein, you will not want your name to be messed up. The area I’m kicking against is the 10-years jail punishment. If it can be made life jail then they will hands off completely, because you can see the politicians, they will engage the bad boys to win elections and after the election they will dump the boys and those boys will come back to the streets. Look at arms all over the places. Nobody is save in Nigeria. There is corruption everywhere.
And most of the people in government, those retirees are their parents. So we need a special welfare package for these weak ones. They should be given free medical attention and so on, so that they will pray for us. Some of these pensioners curse the younger generation due to the ill treatment meted on them by the society. But if they are happy, all that will come out from them is blessings for the younger ones.

Mr. John Ugwu – Businessman
Actually, the law is fine because in Nigeria today, the problem we have is just embezzlement, stealing of Nigerian fund. If the jail term had been higher than 10 years, it would have been better because somebody can embezzle billions of naira and go to jail for 10 years, after that, he comes out to enjoy the money with his people. So the penalty should be stiffer, according to how much was stolen. If you steal huge amount, they should give you a stiffer punishment.
This should apply not only to the pensions fund, but every aspect of life in Nigeria, schools board, local government etc. Any time a person is caught stealing Nigerian’s money, the person should go in for it. The law enforcement agencies should rise up and do their work. We have good laws in this country, but the enforcement has always been the problem. If we don’t begin the adequate punish offenders to serve as deterrent to others, this country will not move forward.

Opinion

Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance

Published

4 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

Quote:”But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged”.

The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.

The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.

For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.

President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.

The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.

Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.

The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.

But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.

It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.

Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.

The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.

Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.

Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.

Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.

Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.

Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.

“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.

The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.

As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.

The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.

By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator

Opinion

Checking Herdsmen Rampage

Published

4 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

Quote:”
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”

According to reports, suspected Fulani herdsmen on June 25, 2025 invaded Ueken, the ancestral home of the Tai Kingdom, in the Ogoni Ethnic Nationality of Rivers State and murdered one Goodluck Dimkpa, a father of one. The attack has reportedly caused panic and led to residents fleeing the community. It also generated coordinated protests from aggrieved Ogoni youths.
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”

He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.

On June 13-14, 2025, about 200 adults and children were reported to have been gruesomely murdered and burnt in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, by suspected herdsmen who stormed the community, attacked the innocent people, and wreaked havoc described as one the deadliest attacks in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, in recent times.Two days before the Yelewata senseless massacre, precisely on June 11, 2025, about 25 people were killed in Makurdi still by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

Plateau State, Southern Kaduna and other Middle Belt States have their own tales of woe from the unprovoked attacks by the Fulani herdsmen leading to loss of lives and properties.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.

In my considered view the Fulani herdsmen whom life means nothing to, have gone too far. The right to life and property are fundamental but the herdsmen’s invasions violate such inalienable rights of the people.Already Nigeria seems to exist on a precipice with the majority of her about 200 million people groaning in the quagmire of unpopular economic policies, reprehensible democratic practices translating to a gale of decampment to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which is a tell-tale sign of an imminent one party State, looting of public funds with impunity and barefaced corruption in all sectors of the nation.

Nigerians, therefore, cannot afford to live with the debilitating consequences that the activities of the Fulani herdsmen portend in the face of the trending precarious socio-political and economic challenges. In fact, in all the States like Benue, Borno, Plateau, where incessant herdsmen attacks are frequent, residents live in petrified fear because of the disregard and disrespect for the sanctity of human lives. This fear leads to gross lack of development.

The governors of those States though Chief security officers, seem to be incapacitated, to carry out the primary responsibility of protection of lives and property of their citizens as enshrined in the grand norm. The mayhem caused by herdsmen in many states of Nigeria has left indelible pains in some families and communities, sufficient enough to make the government to control the activities of the herdsmen.

Some of these men who claim to ply their occupation are seen carrying lethal weapons. Which law in Nigeria gives people right to illegally possess weapons? How could the herders publicly carry lethal weapons without security operatives’ arresting and questioning them? The Fulani herdsmen, it’s not out of place to say, are above the law. Because of their possession of weapons, the herdsmen are licensed to destroy lives, property and crops-the source of livelihood of others, thereby increasing food insecurity, poverty, hunger, hostility and lack of development.

Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land? Such nonsense must be made to stop, no matter whose ox is gored. Security operatives should be proactive to check attempts of Fulani herdsmen to breach the peace. They should arrest and prosecute culprits because Fulani herdsmen who perpetrate the heinous acts have always been allowed to go non reprimanded.

There is need to enhance vigilance and community coordination while residents should be alert, take necessary precautions and work with traditional rulers, chiefs, youth leaders and local vigilante to stem the ugly trend.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.

Igbiki Benibo

Opinion

Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?

Published

4 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.

Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.

In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.

This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.

Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.

All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.

Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.

Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.