Editorial

ECOWAS — beyond the glitter of new edifices

ECOWAS — beyond the glitter of new edifices

President Bola Tinubu’s ribbon-cutting for a gleaming new ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja offered a flattering image of ambition — but brick and glass do not heal the fractures that threaten the community’s very purpose. Fifty-one years after its founding in 1975 in Lagos to promote economic integration, collective security, free movement and democratic stability across […]
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Negotiating with Niger junta

Negotiating with Niger junta

AFTER what seemed like the cusp of outbreak of war between the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, led by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and the military junta of Niger Republic under General Abdulrahmane Tchiani, sanity appears to have assumed the centre stage. The ECOWAS leaders had on August 4, 2023 in Abuja, demanded […]

NASS Members ‘leave enjoyment’ allowance

NASS Members ‘leave enjoyment’ allowance

SENATE President, Godswill Akpabio, stirred uncommon controversy last Thursday, August 10, 2023, just before the National Assembly went on its annual recess, with his announcement of payment of funds into members’ accounts to enable them “enjoy” the recess. He called the attention of the Senators and said: “In order to enable all of us enjoy […]

Restoring security in South-East

Restoring security in South-East

FOR the first time since the 2023 general elections, the five Governors of the South-East geopolitical zone, met last week in the Lion Building, Government House of Enugu State, to explore solutions towards resolving the insecurity in the region. Apart from the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Prof. […]

Scandalous dearth of teachers in Bauchi State

Scandalous dearth of teachers in Bauchi State

WITH information emanating from some parts of Northern Nigeria about the parlous state of education, it is no surprise that Nigeria is rated as the country with the largest number of out-of-school children in the world. The United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, estimated back in 2022, that Nigeria had over 20 million […]

Dr Vwaere Diaso’s avoidable death

Dr Vwaere Diaso’s avoidable death

NIGERIA is still in mourning mood over the avoidable, untimely demise of young Dr Vwaere Diaso, a medical intern at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island last week. The lady doctor, who had only two weeks to the end of her housemanship programme, fell to her painful death in a faulty elevator. According to reports, […]

Go after the big criminals

Go after the big criminals

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has been criticised in some quarters for his seeming noncommittal attitude to fight corruption and make those whose criminal activities brought the economy to its knees pay a price. Since the regime of President Olusegun Obasanjo who took over power from the military in 1999, anti-corruption has always featured as a major […]

Nigeria’s power cut to Niger Republic

Nigeria’s power cut to Niger Republic

ONCE again, we urge the Bola Ahmed Tinubu regime to tread with caution with regard to the military takeover in Niger Republic. We must put dialogue first before (and if at all) taking any strong arm measure. The despatching of a high-powered delegation led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, with the Sultan […]

States and post-subsidy reliefs

States and post-subsidy reliefs

WHEN President Bola Tinubu announced the immediate commencement of implementation of the petrol subsidy removal on his inauguration day on May 29, 2023, all eyes were on the Federal Government to lead the way in initiating the necessary reliefs to enable the people to cope with the harsh burden it brought. The convening of the […]

Ministerial nominees and Akpabio’s ‘bow and go’

Ministerial nominees and Akpabio’s ‘bow and go’

LET us commend the 10th National Assembly led by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, for opting to shelve the usual annual recess of the Federal Legislature which takes place soon after the full installation of every session. This time of the year is normally very […]

FG and Labour must work together

FG and Labour must work together

DESPITE President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast on Monday, July 31, 2023 outlining his wide-ranging relief package to cushion the effects of the petrol subsidy removal, Organised Labour – the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC; the Trade Union Congress, TUC, and their affiliate unions – proceeded with their mass actions yesterday, Wednesday, August 2, 2023. The President of […]