The people of Mokwa, a riverine area in Niger State, and Nigerians as a whole, were thrown into mourning on Wednesday last week when a boat reportedly filled with over 300 passengers capsized. The disaster, which took place at about 8:30 pm, happened after traders returning from a market in Mundi went down en route […]

Perhaps in line with the recent increment of the National Minimum Wage from N30,000 to N70,000, the Federal Government has also moved up the monthly allowance of members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, from N30,000 to N77,000. While this might provide some relief for participants already on the miserly N30,000 monthly dole, it […]

A rash of protests has been erupting in parts of the country over the draconian posture of power service providers towards their customers. Consumers gather with placards and banners to publicly decry their ordeals at the hands of the various Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, the end-user providers of electricity. About two weeks ago, the Ajegunle […]

With her confirmation by the Senate last week Wednesday, September 25, 2024, as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Hon Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun can now sit at ease as the Head of the Judicial Arm of the Federal Government. Hon Justice Kekere-Ekun, who emerged as the 23rd CJN after her predecessor, Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, […]

Today, Tuesday, October 1, 2024, is the 64th anniversary of Nigeria’s flag independence. Unlike in the past when this day was marked with pomp and pageantry in government circles, schools and the various local communities throughout this beautiful federation, we are likely to witness low key activities. There is very little to celebrate except, perhaps, […]

Critics of the emerging zonal development commissions aver that they are avenues for parasitic dependency on the Federal Government by politicians. We beg to disagree. One of the principles that make the Federal system of government attractive, especially for a large and diverse polity like Nigeria, is the need for even development. Due to unavoidable […]

There is a Chinese proverb which is very popular among contemporary economists and leaders: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for life”. The path a government chooses in its economic policy making and implementation tells much about its intentions towards […]

President Bola Tinubu has taken some firm steps to signal his readiness to address head-on the problems challenging the livestock sector, as well as the headaches the sector poses to the rest of the population. He is prepared to create a separate ministry for it from the current Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development […]

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Ismaila Abubakar, last week ruffled feathers across the economy when he reminded employers in the private sector that the new national minimum wage of N70,000 is mandated by law for payment to the lowest cadre of worker in Nigeria. He spoke through the Director of Employment and Wages […]

In about ten days or so, Nigeria will be celebrating her unenviable 64th Independence anniversary. President Bola Tinubu is expected to follow tradition and address the nation. Tinubu has become known for largely recycling many of his past speeches. But this time, we expect something capable of giving Nigerians genuine “renewed hope”. Tinubu is about […]

Immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has continued to play pranks with law enforcement agencies for far too long. Bello, who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after his hand-picked successor, Governor Usman Ododo, rescued him from the Commission’s operatives in his Abuja private mansion, has continued to […]

Apart from corruption, one of the greatest reasons for Nigeria’s backwardness is inability of government leaders to implement policies as planned or budgeted. Planning, ideas and elegant “grammar” are never in short supply. Bringing plans to life always is. It is a national problem that must be addressed if we are to move forward. The […]

Today, Thursday, September 19, 2024, is the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s, deadline for the cessation of all campaigns for the Edo State Governorship Election coming up on Saturday, September 21. It has been a very feisty and acrimonious electioneering period for the 16 political parties and their candidates lining up for the election. It […]

Over 31 months since the Federal Government unveiled what it called a plan to convert 200,000 commercial vehicles to run on Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, or Autogas, nothing serious has been done towards its actualisation. In January 2022, preparatory to the final withdrawal of the Federal Government from payment of petrol subsidies, the Muhammadu Buhari […]

The political future or prospects of former President Goodluck Jonathan remains a subject of interest among watchers of the nation’s political landscape. This is more so as those who pushed him out of power – the All Progressives Congress, APC, governments of former President Muhammadu Buhari and the incumbent President Bola Tinubu – have performed […]