The new minimum wage: The way out
The new minimum wage issue has not only become contentious but has already provided a pointer that something grave could happen because of it from tomorrow, August 1.
Read MoreFor states like Nasarawa, its now or never
Today, we remember with delight the then Brigadier Samuel Ogbemudia, erstwhile Military Governor of the old Midwest region who transformed the region beyond imagination. He built the University of Benin and its Teaching Hospital; established Midwest Television now NTA Benin; set up the Nigerian Observer; built the State Secretariat and the High Court complexes as well as the Stadium which became famous for an annual international tennis championship-the Ogbe Hard Court.
Read MoreHow to become a Federal Minister
Professor Grace Alele-Williams is ever positively in our thoughts not only for her invaluable services to the University of Benin as Vice-Chancellor but also for her series of publications many years earlier, on ‘Mathematics Made Easy’. The publications we must confess rescued many of us from the burden of poor performance in examinations which in our days had mathematics as a compulsory subject.
Read More419 positions in government
When the Yar’Adua administration promised to give Nigerians thousands of electricity megawatts at the end of its first year in office, officials of that government themselves knew that the game plan was to deceive the people.
Read MoreMinisterial competence
During Nigeria’s second republic, certain ministers and a few other political office-holders who paraded the corridors of power as close associates of the President were loathed nationwide for their perceived roles in the conduct of government business. There was the generally-held opinion that such persons and not President Shehu Shagari were responsible for whatever went wrong with the nation’s governance.
Read MoreNigeria is about to be free
One of the lasting legacies of colonial rule in West Africa is the convention whereby rulers deny the governed access to information. To sustain that strategy of remaining unaccountable to the people, the British, in particular, effectively gagged the media.
Read MoreHow do EFCC cells look like?
When I first heard the news of the arrest of Dimeji Bankole, immediate past speaker of the House of Representatives, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), I had the feeling that it was only for a chat that would last some minutes. My mind went back to 1993 when as Director of Public Affairs at the defunct National Electoral Commission; I was invited for a chat by the State Security Service (SSS) in the heat of the controversial June 12 Presidential election.
Read MoreHouse of Assembly members-Touts or comedians?
An ardent follower of activities of the legislature at State level in Nigeria would not find it difficult to establish the true character of its members. Events since the return of democracy in 1999 have shown that a typical member of a State House of Assembly operates essentially as a dubious person. In this article, we shall concentrate on three areas. The first is the legislator as a Tout.
Read MoreCorruption in the Nigerian media
A fortnight ago, one of my previously cherished neighbours, Professor Sam Ajayi, a pharmacist, shouted across the fence to salute me, but his rather good gesture ended in a fiasco as we both swore never to relate again. The bone of contention was his caustic remarks about some of my colleagues in the media whom he claims visit his Agency regularly to “beg him for money”.
Read MoreNYSC: Crocodile tears all over Nigeria
Since the death of many Nigerians in the post-election riots of last month, the media have been replete with reports on the subject. The figures being published for those affected are quite disturbing.
Read MoreExpect free and fair elections in Nigeria in 20- 20
It is gratifying to know that the great United States of America was among the first nations that commended the Nigerian elections of 2011. Yes it makes sense that they did so. First, America like me is a supporter of President Jonathan. Second and more importantly, as my good friend Kolade forcibly argued, Americans do not really care about wobbled elections provided the process produces a winner as shown by the funny election which made George W. Bush, their President. The excellent one that brought Obama cannot happen all the time.
Read MoreMy son has to be the next governor of our state
When social scientists of the Elite theory persuasion contend that society can best be understood through the preferences of the wealthy and privileged class, they merely underscore the fact that other groups particularly the masses are inconsequential. According to one of them-Thomas Dye-the masses of the population are inept, docile, dormant and always seeking direction and guidance.
Read MoreIs Goodluck Jonathan a Nigerian?
As a young TV news reporter many years ago, one public officer I had to cover extensively was by name, Mr. John James, Commissioner of Police in the then Midwest State. One of my colleagues hypothesized then that the man was not likely to be a Nigerian because he had two English names.
Read MorePost-election riots for what?
Riots which normally follow the release of election results in Nigeria are obviously condemnable for several reasons. In the first place, rioting is an illegal method of protesting the outcome of an election because it normally leads to loss of lives and property. The riots which followed the presidential election of Saturday, April 16, 2011, were particularly destructive.
Read MoreThings that can’t happen in Nigerian politics
By Tonnie Iredia On April 20, 2010, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, at a public forum made the following statement: “If we are to be honest with ourselves, we have not been fair to the Niger-Delta… The Niger- Delta has been producing the funds with which we have been running
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