OUR politicians never cease to amaze. Their trip to a Washington policy forum on Nigeria’s plans and preparations for the 2015 elections leaves many wondering what America has to do with how Nigerians are governed.

IS there something so unAfrican about corruption that we do not understand, yet we can accuse others of corruption without noticing it seeping through our systems?

THE Pension Reform Act 2014, which stipulates at least a 10-year jail term on conviction for pension fund administrators or anybody who misappropriates or diverts pension funds, is meant to address the serial stealing of pension funds. In addition, the provision of a fine of an amount thrice the misappropriated or diverted sum should take care of the embarrassing incidents of pension frauds and the weak penalties.

QUEUES for petrol still dot many Nigerian cities and villages. This is to tell government that importation would never solve the country’s challenges with fuel. Groups that once challenged governments over the matter have long gone to other affairs, seeing how selective governments remain about matters on which they heed advice.

HOW does an economy that does not have regular electricity, where infrastructure is in deficit and most of the people are so poor that the Gross Domestic Product per capita does not get into their pockets, become the largest in Africa?

AFTER two passenger boats sank within three weeks, we are likely heading to the wrong reaction if we may just ban water transportation! The stand of most commentators on the matter points to this direction. It is like recommending decapitation as cure for headaches.

SCARCITIES create desperation. The authorities are ignoring this fact as they mangle the future of Nigeria with policies that do not serve even the present. Millions of our people cannot access the basics for living.

ANYONE attempting to guess the outcome of the National Dialogue, or rules out its possibilities for charting a new course for Nigeria, is under-estimating the challenges facing Nigeria and the urgency required in dealing with them.

PROBLEMS associated with multiple taxation are almost as old as Nigeria. The authorities do not think Nigerians are paying enough, Nigerians counter that they would not provide more resources for governments to mismanage.

IT takes a public hearing for Nigerians to know how government departments and ministries work with, or against each other. There are often speculations that governments sabotage themselves, but when they are stated officially, they are causes for concern.