Category: Colums

Ibeto, others get court’s nod to file defence against ex-employee’s suit

DELTA—A National Industrial Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has adjourned further hearing in the suit filed against Ibeto Group and seven other affiliated companies till March 18, 2025.
Trial judge in the matter is Justice O. Ogunbowale.

Ibeto Group and seven other affiliated companies were dragged before the court by Eze Sunday Eze, the former Group Financial Controller of the companies over alleged unpaid salary and the cessation of his retirement entitlements.

The companies listed as defendants in the law suit, numbered NICN/AWK/04/2023, include Ibeto Group, Ibeto Industries Limited, Ibeto Petrochemical Industries Limited, Ibeto Hotels Limited, and Ibeto Cement Limited.
Others were Max Shipping Services Limited, Union Auto Parts Manufacturing Company Limited, and Odoh Holding Limited.

At the last hearing of the suit on February 5, R O Okonyia from Juri Chambers appeared for the claimant, while Gideon Ugwuanyi from Ikpeazu Chambers appeared for the defendants.The counsel for the defendants applied for leave of court to file their process and there was no opposition from the counsel for the claimant.

Subsequently, the trial judge, Justice Ogunbowale adjourned the case till March 18, 2025 for further mention.
The claimant in his statement of claim attached to the suit gave detail of what made him to resign from company and how his various attempts to get his salary and retirement benefit fail.

Eze’s claim stated that he was employed as the Group Financial Controller by the Ibeto Group, with an offer dated November 6, 2001, and that his appointment took effect from December 1, 2001. He served the

defendants in this capacity for 19 years.

Eze alleged that on May 21, 2021, Dr. Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto, Chairman/CEO of the defendants, convened a meeting attended by him, the Group Executive Director for Operations and Investments, Eze Echesi, and the Group Chief Internal Auditor, Ben-Oscar Nwachukwu.

February 7, 2025
TUC opposes FG’s proposed toll gate on federal roads

ABUJA — THE Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, on Thursday opposed the plans by the Federal Government to toll selected federal roads in the country, as a means of revenue generation.

The TUC also kicked against any attempt to increase telecom tariff, saying it will compound the present economic hardship Nigerians are going through.

President of TUC, Comrade Festus Osifo while presiding over the 1st Quarter 2025 National Administrative Council (NAC) of the Union in Abuja, condemned reintroduction of toll gates on some federal highways without first of all ensuring that the roads are in good condition.

Osifo, who blamed the hardship in the country as a result of the government policies like the flotation of the naira, wondered why the federal government should initiate policies bothering on the citizens without due consultations with relevant stakeholders.

He said its is annoying that most of the roads which are unpaved, dilapidated, and riddled with potholes should be open for collecting tolls.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting partly read: “NAC deliberated on the proposed introduction of toll gates on selected federal roads and strongly condemned it in its entirely. While we acknowledge that tolling is a globally recognized method of generating revenue for road maintenance, it is unacceptable to impose tolls on roads that are unpaved, dilapidated, and riddled with potholes.

“The NAC views this as an insult to Nigerians, who are being asked to pay tolls on roads that are in total disrepair. Our highways are death traps unsafe, abandoned, and filled with potholes. Rather than fulfilling its responsibility to fix and maintain these roads, the government is resorting to shameless extortion.

“The Congress, therefore, demands that all roads earmarked for tolling must first be fixed, properly tarred, and repaired to international standards before any discussion on tolling can be entertained”.

Although the Federal Government recently debunked plans to increase electricity tariff by 65 percent, TUC said it was alarming that the government even considered the hike in the first instance.

Osifo lamented that the previous increment already inflicted severe hardship on citizens.

He said, “This proposed increase is not only ill-timed but also a deliberate act of economic oppression against Nigerians, who are already struggling under unbearable economic conditions.

“The improved service quality promised during the last tariff hike, particularly for consumers under the so-called “Band A” category, has not been realized. Most consumers, regardless of their tariff band, continue to live in perpetual darkness”.

TUC observed that the root cause of escalating prices and galloping inflation was the devaluation of the Naira.

Going down memory lane, Osifo said in February 2024, the TUC addressed a world press conference, where it clearly stated that the excessive devaluation of the naira was the primary cause of rising inflation and the continuous increase in the prices of goods and services.

He said Congress also warned that this trend would worsen inflation in 2024, impacting virtually every sector of the economy and severely affecting the social and economic well-being of Nigerian workers and the masses if the solutions it canvassed were not adopted.

The TUC President said twelve months later, the Congress position remained unchanged, alleging that the symptoms of the root cause have manifested clearly.

According to him: “These include the skyrocketing prices of essential goods, the escalating costs of social services, the proposed hike in telecom tariffs, the increase in electricity tariffs (with plans for further increments), the rising prices of petroleum products amongst others.

“The TUC remains focused on addressing the root cause of these economic challenges rather than merely reacting to the manifested symptoms. To this end, the TUC demands a better foreign exchange (FX) management regime from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as the naira is currently undervalued, as confirmed by both local and international experts.”

He warned that if the policies were not reviewed to favour the citizens, the TUC may be compelled to mobilise for mass protest.

“The NAC, on behalf of the Congress, strongly advises the government to refrain from introducing policies that would further exacerbate the current economic hardship faced by hardworking Nigerians.

“If the administration insists on implementing these policies, the TUC will have no choice but to mobilize the working class, civil society, and the oppressed masses for a nationwide action. This level of exploitation is unacceptable. A stitch in time saves nine,” he warned.

February 6, 2025
Introduction of Shari’a’ll ignite war in Yorubaland – Chief Imam warns

Chief Imam of Yorubaland, Sheik Abdulraheem Aduanigba has said the practice of Sharia can never work in the South West zone of the country.

Sheik Aduanigba who said this in a viral video warned that any attempt to impose Sharia on the people in the six states of the South West could ignite war.

While adducing many reasons which make Sharia impracticable in the zone, he said that three religions are distinct which are Christianity, Islam and traditional religion and any attempt to foist Sharia on Christians whose population is 27million and traditional worshippers who are 10million will fan ember of disunity and chaos.

He stressed that since Muslims are not dominant in the zone, it will amount to an invitation to war if Shari’a is introduced.

His views contradict that of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III who threw his weight behind Shari’a in the South West.

According to the Chief Imam, “Sharia cannot work in Yorubaland because our general language is Yoruba. When we talk of Yoruba, there are three distinct religions. Our original religion in Yorubaland is a traditional religion before the advent of Christianity. When Christianity came, it gave birth to Islam. In Yorubaland today, we have 27 million Christians, 23 million Muslims and 10 million traditional worshippers”.

“In Yorubaland today, there are 972 traditional rulers. So, if we say we should introduce Sharia, it will contradict the system we have been using in our own law”.

“We, in the South West, are aware that some of us celebrate masquerade festivals; some mark Christmas

and Easter; some celebrate Ramadan and Ileya. So, if some of us in Yoruba decide to use Sharia, Sharia means women should cover their heads and we will start quarrelling with women who don’t cover their heads; those who drink alcoholic drinks, Sharia will frown at them. Yorubaland can’t allow such a system.”

“Sharia cannot work and the reason is that the money generated from Breweries in Lagos is the money given to the North who practice Sharia; the internally generated revenue from hotels where there are commercial sex workers is given to the North who cannot allow such things. That’s why I’m happy with the Tax Reform Bill that President Tinubu initiated that each state should be given the fair share of its IGR. So, that’s why Sharia cannot work in Yorubaland if we don’t want to cause war.”

“It could cause war when someone wears knicker(shorts) on the road and Muslims pick her up because she has flouted Sharia. It’s not that it is only we Muslims that dominate Yorubaland.

So, Sharia cannot work in the South West. Sharia is an agenda by the North”. “What they want to do is to first use Sharia to settle marital crisis, they are deceiving us. Thereafter, they will say whoever wants to share their inheritance in the Muslim way should do so. If they apply that, in Yorubaland, a father may have children who are both Christians, Muslims and traditional religion worshippers. “

“So, if a father who is a Muslim dies and some of his children have converted to Christians, in Yorubaland, all of them will have access to the inheritance. But, if they apply Sharia, the Sharia Court will say, since the child has left Islam, he is not entitled to the inheritance of his father who died as a Muslim. Therefore, Sharia cannot work in Yorubaland if we don’t want to ignite war”, he concluded.

February 6, 2025
How to Ace the Literature Review? Don’t Be Overwhelmed. Be Organised, by Ruth Oji

The literature review stands as a cornerstone of academic writing, serving as the foundation upon which robust research is built. Yet, for many scholars, particularly those in the early stages of their academic journey, the process of conducting a comprehensive literature review can seem daunting.

The sheer volume of available information, coupled with the need for critical analysis and synthesis, often leaves researchers feeling overwhelmed. In this article, I aim to transform the literature review from a source of anxiety into a manageable, even enjoyable, part of the research process.

Let me begin by sharing with you some strategies for efficient reading and note-taking. First is the SQ3R method. Developed by Francis Pleasant Robinson, this method involves Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review. Survey means that you quickly skim the material to get an overview. Question means formulating questions based on the title, headings, and summary. Read means to actively read the text, seeking answers to your questions.

Recite implies summarising key points in your own words, and review means to reflect on the material and its relevance to your research. After following these steps, you may then proceed to colour-code.The colour-coding system requires you to assign colours to different themes or aspects of your research.

Subsequently, you could deploy digital tools for note-taking. Indeed, leveraging technology to organise your notes effectively is a no-brainer. Wondering what some of them are? One is Evernote. It allows for easy categorisation and searching of notes. Another is Notion. It offers flexible organisation with databases and linked notes. And Zotero combines reference management with note-taking capabilities.

Sometimes, though, there is the challenge of synthesising information across multiple sources. That

notwithstanding, remember that the true value of a literature review lies not in summarising individual sources, but in synthesising information to identify patterns, gaps, and contradictions in the existing research. It is not enough to simply say, ‘Oji (2024) argues that … and Lagbaja (2023) proposes that …’ You have to move beyond such basic identification to stating how the studies overlap, agree, conflict, or do something else. Why have you chosen to review those works? How are they related to your work, and what bearing does such review have on your work? Why should we be interested?

Here are ways to help you with synthesising valuable information gathered from various sources. To begin, you could do what we call concept mapping. This means to create visual representations of how different ideas and sources connect. Next, you could do a comparison matrix. It might be okay to develop a table to compare different studies across key variables. Also, consider undertaking a thematic analysis. To do this, identify recurring themes across the literature, and organise your review around these. I could share an excerpt of how I did this in one of my works:

“…As has been shown, the discourse of protest is not new in Nigeria. Studies have engaged these protests from several lens (Labinjoh, 1982; Mason, 1973; Osuagwu, 2019; Onanuga and Akingbe, 2020). However, the #End- SARS protest is unique in Nigeria because that was the first time Nigerian youth moved out in their numbers to protest police brutality.

Studies from the academic mainstream have investigated the #EndSARS protest from musicological discourse perspective (Iliya, 2022), social media perspectives (Bodunrin and Matsilele, 2023; Iwuoha et al., 2021; Dambo et al., 2021; Akerele-Popoola et al., 2022; Uwalaka et al., 2022), negotiation management perspective (Etim et al., 2022), femininst perspectives (Nwabunnia, 2021), and a right to protest perspective (Ekeke, 2023).

These studies are revealing and insightful about the protests. However, studies on hip-hop music have not sufficiently engaged the #EndSARS protest.” (Oji, R. K. B. (2024). “Of Protests and Satire: Representations of #EndSARS Brutality in Selected Nigerian Hip-hop Music”. In Eds. Lungile, Tshuma., and Shepherd, Mpofu. Media, Social Movements, and Protest Cultures in Africa, pp. 139-158. Rowman & Littlefield: Massachusetts.)

I believe you noticed how I organised the literature in terms of similar themes. Much more than that though is the need to identify gaps in your current research. A crucial aspect of the literature review is identifying areas where further research is needed. This not only justifies your own study but also contributes to the advancement of knowledge in your field. How can you do this? On one hand, you could try do a systematic gap analysis.

This means that you create a checklist of aspects of your topic and systematically note which areas are well-covered and which are under-researched. On the other hand, you could examine methodological gaps. This requires that you look for limitations in the methodologies used in existing studies. Another approach is to look for temporal and geographical gaps. Simply consider whether existing research is up-to-date and geographically diverse.

Will there be challenges as you do a literature review? Certainly! Common challenges include the following: information overload: to overcome this, set clear boundaries for your search. Use specific inclusion and exclusion criteria to filter sources; maintaining objectivity: be aware of your own biases and actively seek out diverse perspectives; staying current: set up alerts for new publications in your field (you can do this on ResearchGate).

This article has shown how you can move from chaos to clarity in your literature review. Conducting a literature review involves transitioning from managing a large volume of information to effectively understanding the existing research. By employing efficient reading and note-taking strategies, developing skills in synthesis and gap identification, and addressing common challenges head-on, you can transform the literature review from a daunting task into a powerful tool for advancing your research.

As you embark on your next literature review, consider: How can you adapt these strategies to suit your personal working style? What new approaches might you try to enhance your efficiency and effectiveness? Remember, the goal is not just to summarise what has been done, but to engage critically with the existing body of knowledge, positioning your own research within the broader academic conversation.

With practice and persistence, the literature review becomes not just a necessary step in the research

With practice and persistence, the literature review becomes not just a necessary step in the research process, but an opportunity for intellectual growth and discovery. Embrace the challenge, and watch as the overwhelming transforms into the organised, paving the way for your own meaningful contribution to your field of study.

February 6, 2025
Forex Trading: CBN to suspend license of erring BDCs, banks

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, said it will suspend the dealership license of any Bureau de Change (BDC) or Authorised Dealer banks that divert funds or violate the provisions of its newly rolled out foreign exchange trade guidelines.

Disclosing this in a statement signed by its Acting Director Trade and Exchange Department, Dr. W.J Kanya, CBN also noted that the guidelines were drafted in furtherance to its granting of temporary access to existing BDCs to purchase foreign exchange from Authorised Dealers, subject to a weekly cap of $25,000.

In addition, the apex bank also pegged the maximum disbursement per transaction in BDCs at $5,000 quarterly.
The statement reads in part: “Further to the Circular Referenced TED/FEM/FPC/001/030 dated December 19, 2024, which granted temporary access to existing BDCs to the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, NFEM, for the purchase of FX from Authorised Dealers, subject to a weekly cap of USD25,000.00, the following modalities/guidelines shall apply.

“Authorised Dealers shall sell foreign exchange cash to BDCS subject to a maximum of $25,000.00 (Twenty-five Thousand United States Dollars) to a BDC per week.

“A BDC shall approach its preferred Authorised Dealer Bank (ADB) and can only procure the said amount from only that bank of its choice in a week. Any breach of this condition will attract appropriate sanction.
“The selling rate by the Authorised Dealers to BDCs shall be the prevailing day rate at NFEM window;
“Foreign exchange cash purchased by BDCs from Authorised Dealer Banks shall be sold to foreign exchange end-users at a rate not exceeding one (1) percent margin above the buying rate;
“For the avoidance of doubt, the one (1) percent margin stated in (3) above shall be applicable to all funds to

be retailed by BDCs regardless of sources of fund;
“Authorised Dealer Banks shall continue to render weekly returns on sales to BDCs as specified in the attached excel format to Trade & Exchange Department, CBN, Abuja through this email: teddmo@cbn.gov.ng

“All BDCs are required to render daily returns on foreign exchange purchases from Authorised Dealer Banks and other sources as well as sales (utilization) on the Financial Institutions Forex Reporting System (FIFX); Funds purchased by BDCs shall be disbursed for the following eligible transactions only. In all cases, the maximum disbursement per transaction shall not exceed $5,000.00 quarterly.

“Business Travel Allowance/Personal Travel Allowance; Overseas School fees; and Overseas Medical fees. Records shall be maintained for all transactions by the BDCs showing the BVN of the end-user, including endorsement of the amount disbursed in the International Passport of the beneficiary; it is to be noted that Authorised Dealer Banks and BDC operators shall ensure strict compliance to the provisions of Anti-Money Laundering Laws and observance of appropriate KYC principles in the handling of these transactions.

Any Authorised Dealer and BDC that diverts funds or violates the provision of these guidelines shall attract appropriate sanction including suspension of its dealership license.”

February 6, 2025
2027: Why Nigerians must take Rotimi Amaechi serious, by Ikechukwu Amaechi

Former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has once again stirred up the proverbial hornet’s nest by choosing to be politically incorrect in a clime where doublespeak not only walks on all fours but is also seen as an exemplar of political astuteness. But not for the man who was Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and former Minister of Transportation.

Speaking in Abuja on January 30, at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, organized by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development, Amaechi, as he is wont to do, bucked the hypocritical trend when he reminded his audience that included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, and Senator Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto State, that the average Nigerian politician will not relinquish power unless compelled by the superior will of the people.

“Nobody has power and will give it to you — not even me… The politician in Nigeria is there to steal, maim and kill to remain in power. If you think Tinubu will give it to you, you are wasting your time,” Amaechi said, stressing the need for vigilance and sacrifice.

To be sure, this is not the first time he would task Nigerians to take their political destiny in their own hands.

Speaking at the 2023 TheNiche Annual Lecture in Lagos on October 28, 2023, Amaechi blamed the docility of Nigerians and their inability to react to the egregious dishonesty of their leaders for the rascality of politicians.

“Nigerians don’t react to anything. Has any politician told you he is not a thief? Which politician told you he went to university, which politician told you she served in NYSC, and which politician told you he has his certificate? Nigerians know and still vote for them… Even if you come to a Nigerian’s house and kill his

mother, the father will continue with his life. So, why should I waste my time,” he asked.

But even long before TheNiche lecture, he had always taken umbrage at the atrocious conducts of Nigerian politicians and seeming acquiesce of the people. Speaking on December 15, 2013 at an event organised in Lagos to pay tribute to former South African President Nelson Mandela, he challenged Nigerians to hold their leaders to account, insisting that political office holders steal state funds because Nigerians do not stone them.

So, Amaechi, in a sense didn’t say anything new last Thursday. If anything, he has been consistent on his advocacy that the pathway to good governance and political integrity in Nigeria is for the younger generation to wake up from their slumber and fight for the soul of the country. The fact that he is a major player in the Fourth Republic politics also makes it imperative that Nigerians should listen to him. He knows where the bodies are buried.

That also explains why officials of the Tinubu administration reacted so angrily and called him out forcefully. After all, he was not the only person who spoke at the Abuja event. But they know that he was telling the truth, knowing exactly how elections are won and lost in Nigeria. So, their pretentious indignation is an attempt to scare him away from his self-imposed task of conscientizing the youths.

Berating Amaechi for making ‘reckless, dangerous and inflammatory remarks’ unbecoming of a former ‘public office holder,’ Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, told him that power is earned through democracy, not intimidation, violence or lawlessness, as if Amaechi was in doubt. His claim that the Tinubu administration was committed to upholding peace, democratic values and security for all Nigerians flies in the face of reality.

Of course, Nigerians know who is lying between the two. Suffice it to say that Amaechi simply amplified Tinubu’s very Machiavellian idea of power and how it is acquired. Shortly before the 2023 elections, Tinubu, the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was seen in a video admonishing top campaign operatives to ‘fight, grab and run (away) with’ political power.

“Political power is not going to be served in a restaurant. They don’t serve it a la carte. At all cost, fight for it, grab it and run with it,” he said. And that was exactly what he did, which is also what will happen in 2027 unless Nigerians say enough is enough, the very direction that Amaechi is pointing them to. The very idea of fighting, grabbing and running away with political power is antithetical to democracy. In a democracy, power is given by the people in a free, fair and credible election.

Of course, in a system that has normalized the idea of power not being given by the electorate but taken forcefully by the strong, in a system where might has always been seen as being right and democracy is a ‘do or die affair’ (apologies to former President Olusegun Obasanjo), Amaechi’s advocacy can only be deemed as treasonable, which explains Matawalle’s angst and threat on behalf of his principal.

“Let me make it clear: the security agencies are on high alert. Any individual or group found inciting violence or attempting to destabilize this nation will face the full force of the law. We will not tolerate any form of subversive rhetoric that seeks to undermine national unity or incite lawlessness. This government will not fold its arms and allow any individual to disrupt the peace and stability of Nigeria,” he warned.

But pray, how does Amaechi’s charge to Nigerians to vote and ensure that their votes are not only counted but count in the outcome of elections be deemed an attempt to undermine national unity? Those who disrupt national unity are those who ensure that votes do not count in elections, people whose democracy worldwide undermine the very principle of democracy.

In a democracy, power is given by the people, not taken willy-nilly by the powerful. Yes, every contest for power is a serious business. But the seriousness lies in the intense battle to win the support of the people who hold the supreme power. As I have always argued, democracy does not guarantee that the best

candidate will win. No! But the irreducible precondition for any democratic adventure is that power must be freely given by the people.

It may be tempting to dismiss Matawalle’s threat as sheer bluster, an attempt to cow the people to submit to the Tinubu government’s anti-democratic whims and caprices. But Nigerians must take it serious. As at today, nothing suggests that the government is planning for a free and fair poll in 2027 where the choices of the majority of the electorate will prevail.

But knowing the character of successive Nigerian governments since 1999, the messenger may well be endangered. It will, therefore, not be a surprise if the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) starts hounding the arrowheads of the emerging opposition to the prevailing political status-quo, with Amaechi as the principal target.

The former minister is aware of the risk he faces. At the TheNiche lecture, he told the audience that: “The worst thing about Nigerians is that even when you have not committed any crime and they pick you up tomorrow, they will chorus ‘we said it, he is a thief,’ and you will go to prison for nothing. The greatest fear I have is being found in prison for nothing and you can be found in prison for doing nothing.”

The fact that Amaechi knows the risks involved and yet is determined to bite the bullet makes his cause altruistic. And he is right. Nigerian politicians are unconscionable. They steal, maim and kill for power and will continue to do so for as long as there are no consequences for their atrocious behaviours. For democracy to thrive, Nigerians must fight for it with all they have, a reason well-meaning people must rally round Rotimi Amaechi rather than join the band of government apologists in vilifying him.

February 6, 2025
Asset declaration: Tinubu must tell Nigerians the source of his wealth, by Olu Fasan

Since he became president in May 2023, Bola Tinubu has enjoyed nothing more than hiring and firing people. A week hardly passes without Tinubu making one public appointment or another, which shows the enormous patronage power of the Nigerian president. But equally, Tinubu has fired more people on grounds of corruption in less than two years in office than his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, did in his entire eight years in power.

Tinubu’s rhetoric on fighting corruption is also more razor-sharp. Buhari famously said: “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.” Yet, he didn’t say how he would “kill” corruption, which festered under his government. But Tinubu has shown a gung-ho anti-graft zeal. He vowed to tackle corruption “head on”, saying “no corrupt Nigerian will be spared.”

Section 15 (5) of the 1999 Constitution states unequivocally: “The State shall abolish all corrupt practices.” So, Tinubu’s rhetoric and stance on Nigeria’s endemic corruption are commendable. However, he faces a huge credibility challenge. Since Nigeria’s independence, no civilian president has come to power with such raging controversies that dogged Tinubu about his wealth. Tinubu is the first plutocrat and multi-billionaire to be president of Nigeria. That, in itself, is not a problem, except that the source of his enormous wealth remains a mystery to most Nigerians, a point that is not lost on the international community.

For instance, in an editorial on Nigeria in July last year, the Financial Times said: “Corruption needs to be tackled,” adding pointedly: “It does not help that Tinubu’s vast wealth is not easy to decipher.” Certainly, it also doesn’t help that, in December last year, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, OCCRP, a global network of investigative journalists, named Tinubu as the second runner up for the 2024 “Person of the Year in Organised Crime and Corruption”, a story widely reported globally. Now, the insinuations and allegations about Tinubu’s wealth may be false. But the perceptions are damaging. That’s why Tinubu must

demonstrate leadership by publicly declaring his assets. In that regard, I totally align myself with the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, a reputable NGO, which urged President Tinubu “to request the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, to publish your assets”.

Sadly, precedents are not a good guide. In 2012, when pressured to publish his assets, President Goodluck Jonathan retorted: “I don’t give a damn!” He paid a heavy price in 2015 when he lost his re-election bid because of, among other reasons, widespread perception that his administration was massively corrupt. In 2015, President Buhari reluctantly published his “asset declaration”. But the credibility of that declaration was recently shattered into smithereens when Buhari said that, after eight years in power, he now fed on rent from one of his three houses. The perverse implication is that Buhari left office a poor man. He has deservedly received public ridicule and opprobrium for that hare-brained comment. But what about Tinubu? During his media chat in December 2024, Tinubu reportedly said: “I will consider asking the CCB to release my assets.” Truth is, he mustn’t just “consider” publishing his asset declaration; he must publish it. Why? Well, two reasons!

First, Tinubu is not Jonathan, and he is not Buhari. Unlike those two presidents, who entered office with very modest wealth, Tinubu came into office with inexplicable and unexplained wealth. Nigerians deserve to know the source of his wealth before he became president. Second, Tinubu himself has never shied from bragging about his stupendous wealth. He is a braggard, who is boastful about his wealth and wants the whole world to know that he is extremely rich. What he won’t tell the world, however, is the source of his enormous wealth.

A few years ago, Tinubu famously said he was “richer than Osun State”. In July 2024, Tinubu said he singlehandedly funded his presidential election campaign. Hear him: “I have no cabal. I have no sponsor. The

money I spent on the election was my personal fortune.” Tell me, is there any other country in world where a presidential candidate funded his election alone by himself? How rich must that candidate be? The crude implication of Tinubu’s statement is that he is so stinkingly rich that he could buy the Nigerian presidency. What kind of democracy is that? But beyond that, shouldn’t Nigerians know the nature and source of the wealth of a president who funded his election solely and entirely from his personal fortune?

In September last year, Ayodele Olawande, Tinubu’s Minister for Youth Development, said Tinubu was too rich to loot Nigeria’s treasury. His words: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an acknowledged epitome of wealth; so, he is not interested in looting the nation’s treasury.” Tinubu himself said: “I did not come to look for money; I came to work.” Given that Tinubu is extraordinarily wealthy, why is he living off the state? Four US presidents, including President Trump, did not take a salary. But Tinubu lives extravagantly, with frequent state-funded foreign trips. Recently, the Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, said “Nigeria has money to fund Tinubu’s frequent foreign trips”. Really? Why can’t he fund some of them himself? Second, how would Nigerians know that Tinubu, or any other president, won’t loot the treasury when there is no public access to the asset declarations of presidents?

Of course, this problem exists because Nigeria lacks a credible asset declaration system that meets international standards. According to the OECD, asset declaration systems must have three aims: 1) to increase transparency; 2) to prevent conflict of interests; and 3) to monitor wealth variations. Unfortunately, those are not the aims of Nigeria’s asset declaration system. It doesn’t prevent conflict of interests because presidents, governors and ministers can award multi-billion-naira contracts to companies owned by their relatives, including children. It doesn’t monitor wealth variations because there’s no rule against unexplained wealth. And it’s not about transparency because there’s no mandatory public disclosure.

In its 2024 Article IV Consultation report on Nigeria, the IMF called for “public access to the declarations of public servants.” But there’s a strong resistance to public disclosure in Nigeria. Indeed, in March 2024, the Court of Appeal ruled that the CCB could not publish the asset declarations of former Presidents Jonathan and Buhari, which shows that state institutions, including the judiciary, are enablers of corruption in Nigeria. But if Tinubu is serious about tackling corruption “head on”, then he must lead from the front and publicly declare his assets. Without that bold and exemplary leadership, Tinubu is merely playing lip service to fighting corruption.

February 6, 2025
Afenifere to Bisi Akande: We can never die

LAGOS — THE pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, tackled former Osun State governor, Bisi Akande who said the Yoruba group is dead.

Reacting to Akande’s comments, Afenifere’s National Publicity, Prince Justice Faloye, the Yoruba group is not dead but evolving across generations.

Recall that Akande, in a recent interview with Edmund Obilo, said that former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, late Bola Ige, created Afenifere, noting that the assassination of Ige in 2002 saw the death of the Yoruba group.

Akande had said: “That was the beginning of the crack ( in Afenifere) but the end came with the death of Bola Ige. The death of Bola Ige was the death of Afenifere. He found it and he took it away.”

When the interviewer said, “But Afenifere is not dead,” Akande said, “I don’t know, but it is not the Afenifere we formed.”

However, Faloye, in a statement titled ‘Afenifere can never die’, dismissed Akande’s comments insisting that the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, departed from Afenifere’s ideological position.

The statement reads: “Afenifere is not a human being with limited lifecycles, but a universal philosophical essence of Justice and egalitarianism that must undergo rebirth, to address current generational issues.

“The concept and political space of Afenifere of ‘Abundance for All’ will always be relevant, especially in democratic dispositions. What we are currently seeing is the ideological shifting of chaff from wheat.

“Afenifere started 71 years ago but following the coup and military rule, it temporarily became a socio-cultural group since all political agencies are banned under military rule. But once Nigeria returned to democracy in 1979 and 1999, those with social democratic and welfare ideals created political parties to get power in order to fulfil those egalitarian ideals.

“In 1979, Afenifere created the Unity Party of Nigeria, and in this current disposition, it was instrumental in creating the Alliance for Democratic, AD, Social Democratic Party, SDP.

“What has been happening in this current disposition can be traced back to Afenifere rebirth in the ‘90s agitation for democracy, when due to political expediencies under General Ibrahim Babaginda (retd), Afenifere was forced to align with various people to avoid banning.

“Unfortunately, some of the new entrants like Tinubu never shared the Afenifere ideology but joined the ranks in their quest for power, pretending to be progressive welfarists and social democrats. Upon getting to power in 1999, these pseudo-Afenifere began to show their true character and departed from Afenifere ideological position.

“By 2003, Tinubu as Lagos Governor officially broke ranks with the real Afenifere, which involved some people moving away to form factions that were Afenifere in name but not character. In every election cycle ever since then, those with prebendalistic ambitions join Tinubu which is practising dictatorial neo-liberal economics, instead of social democratic welfare economics according to the name of Afenifere.

“They deceitfully replaced Afenifere political ideology and identity with a socio-cultural tag of ethnic irredentism to explain away their selfish prebendalism of Awalokan. It is about them and their families converting and sharing our commonwealth, not about empowering and uplifting the common man.

“However, as some leave, more informed knowledgeable and pro-people younger people are rising to push Afenifere egalitarian ideals as dictated and empowered by Ayo Adebanjo and Oba Oladipo Olaitan.

“So when the likes of Bisi Akande say Afenifere is dead, he is talking about the passion for the people of

some in his Prebendalist generation dying, not Afenifere, the ideology and political space. Afenifere is currently evolving and being purified to take control of our manifest destiny to uplift the greatest amount of people ever.

“Afenifere like the world and universe can’t die but will continue evolving in generational cycles to higher levels of political evolution and existence.

“Afenifere is by no means dead but evolving across generations. We have the tutelage of elders like Prof Onigbinde, Shonibare and other notable personalities that grew under the tutelage of the likes of Awolowo, Bola Ige and Baba Adesanya. Afenifere lives on.”

February 6, 2025
Telecom sector risks stagnation without tariff adjustment — ATCON

The Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, said yesterday it understood public concern over the increase in telecom tariffs but underscored the benefits that made the increase inevitable.

The ATCON president, Mr Tony Emoekpere, stated this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan.

Emoekpere acknowledged that the public concern was natural and expected, especially considering the economic realities faced by many Nigerians.

He, however, described the increment as an investment in the future of Nigeria’s digital economy, citing its numerous benefits.

“For years, telecom operators have operated under immense financial strain due to foreign exchange fluctuations, high energy costs, multiple taxation, and rising infrastructure expenses.

“These challenges have made it increasingly difficult to expand network capacity, improve service quality, and bridge the digital divide.

“Without adjustments in pricing, Nigeria’s digital infrastructure risks stagnation, making it harder for the country to compete in the global digital economy,” Emoekpere said.

He emphasised that the adjustment was not just about pricing but ensuring enough resources to maintain and improve the quality of services Nigerians rely on daily.

“This tariff increase is an investment in the future of Nigeria’s digital economy, as it will enable operators to expand 4G and 5G coverage across more locations, particularly underserved areas.

“This increment will bring about the upgrade of network sites to ensure better reliability. It will also enhance broadband speeds to support businesses, education, fintech, telemedicine, and other critical digital services.

“At the end of the day, the success of this move will be measured by real and tangible improvements in quality of service with faster internet speeds, fewer dropped calls, and wider coverage, leading to the digital transformation we all desire.

That is the ultimate goal, and the telecom industry is fully committed to delivering on this promise,” Emoekpere said.

According to him, the tariff hike is necessary, being the only viable option to ensure the right investments and guarantee good quality service.

He added that the Global System for Mobile Communications Association had recognised that sustainable pricing was crucial for long-term network investment

He also stated that there were still other pressing industry challenges that must be addressed, if the government was to truly support digital transformation.

The ATCON boss said: “The focus should also be on simplifying Right of Way permits to speed up fibre deployment.

“It should also focus on fully enforcing Critical National Information Infrastructure protections to stop vandalism of telecom assets.

“Again, we should emphasise the reduction of the multiple layers of taxation that telecom operators face at federal, state, and local levels, and provide incentives for rural broadband expansion to ensure digital inclusion across all communities.’’

He added that the positive news was that the issues were at different stages of being resolved, noting

that if the recent successes, such as the resolution of the USSD debt issue, were anything to go by, “we are optimistic that the current administration will make progress in these areas as well.

“This should not stop us from remembering that consumers have a right to demand better services.

“The tariff increase should come with a visible improvement in quality: faster speeds, wider coverage, and greater reliability.

“From all indications, the telecom operators are geared toward meeting these expectations, and the NCC has set clear quality service targets.’’

February 6, 2025
Telecom tariffs – the rot cuts deeper, by Okoh Aihe

The responses to the tariff adjustment for telecom operators on January 20, 2025, by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), clearly demonstrate that Nigerians are not a conquered people yet. That in spite of how the socio-economic conditions have impacted them harshly to endure subhuman living, they can still find their voices from the ruins of such chaotic existence. Thank God for democracy no matter how very obtuse.

The operators wanted a hundred percent hike. The regulator granted 50 percent. The subscribers see the development as an overkill, one load too many. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is rallying its members for a nationwide protest. The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has asked the NLC to reconsider its position because of industry facts released to them by the regulator.

Quite a number of people are speaking on the subject with quite a sizeable number pleading emotions as their very strong point. “The Leadership of NCSCN, having clearly conducted a forensic analysis of the facts and figures available on this burning national issue, sincerely sympathises with the NCC in the dilemma they find themselves, cut between a Nigerian People that have been pushed into the walls owing to biting economic hardship, and Telecom Service Providers whose businesses are equally endangered as a result of same inflationary factors and unfavourable environmental conditions,” the organisation stated.

Quite a flurry of frenetic activities, not because of the increase in the prices of foodstuff or the hike in electricity tariffs, now denominated in bands, or the cost of petrol or diesel, but telecoms. They say the operators don’t want us to be able to communicate any more. As I write this material on Monday night, words came in that the Nigerian Government just had a high profile meeting with NLC, prompting the latter to backpedal on proposed protest. Some decisions had also been reached on the way forward.

The meeting was at the instance of the Government. “So, the summary of it is that Labour and the Nigerian Labour Congress specifically and the delegation of the federal government have set up a committee of five each. We are going to meet here continuously for the next two weeks. And at the end of the second week, we will now come up with a recommendation that we will give to the government and the organised Labour for final consideration,” a government statement said.

In the ensuing bedlam, the regulator quietly released the latest industry statistics on the Commission’s website. The figures are quite revealing and should trouble everyone who wants to continue to use telecom services in an industry that should by now have earned maturity status. The site was last updated on January 30, 2025. The statistics reveal some discomforting market positions and movements and, in plain summary, an industry in a clear state of hibernation needing serious motion to untangle it from that freeze. Since the Govenment and Labour will be meeting for the next two weeks on a regulatory decision by the NCC, I find it relevant that the statistics are served here with some annotations. By December 2024, total active lines stood at 164,926,599 while the teledensity is 70.08 on a projected population of 216m after rebasing from a previous figure of 150m.

The stats per operator are as follows: Airtel – 56,619,381 (34.39 per cent), 9MOBILE – 3,283,270 (1.99 per cent), Globacom – 20,139,951 (12.23 per cent), and MTN – 84,607,831 (51.39). Look at the figures closely. 9MOBILE that had over 23m in 2015 has nearly disappeared from the industry radar, thus complicating the activities and operations of the other operators.

The organisation is not dreaming expansion at this time but it’s unable to even maintain its network infrastructure. It is a devastating minus for an industry that should be building for the future. Globacom is doing over 20m lines after it lost a significant number recently from an action by the NCC. This writer is

aware that the organisation is clawing its way back. After all, it has a network might, including an undersea cable from Europe, so it stands in a good position to withstand every vicissitude. The place of Globacom retains a significant value in the industry.

From the stats, MTN maintains a clear lead with Airtel running a distant second. The interesting thing is that both of them are running at a loss as stated in their annual reports previously. My concern then is, if the big players suffer losses, what happens to the smaller operators and the ones offering ancillary services, including tower operators? The telecoms backbone consists of the following: 41.59 per cent of 2G, 8.75 per cent of 3G, 4G at 47.20 per cent, and 5G, for which two operators – MTN and Mafab – paid $273.6m each in 2022, before Airtel paid another $316.7m in 2023, has hardly added much to the telecoms echo system. Rollout has been slow because of paucity of investment funds perhaps, and uptake is even slower.

Here are my observations. There is hardly a growth on the telecommunications network, instead there is considerable shrinkage. It means that transition to a robust digital economy based on state-of-the-art telecom facility rollout, will remain a mirage. There must be considerable efforts to grow the 4G network while it must be stated here that there are some operations that only 5G can enable.

But 5G rollout is cost intensive and operators who are struggling to return to profit may not be in such financial health to engage in service expansion or new facility rollout. Before a concluding analysis, some industry facts may be necessary here for further appreciation of the unfolding situation, and I state only two. One. Operational costs for telecommunication operators have gone up by over 300% in most cases. Given microeconomic challenges, and the cost of FX, they have it tough to purchase new equipment and upgrade their services. Two. Adjustments will remain within the tariff bands outlined in the 2013 NCC Cost Study and must comply with the recently issued NCC Guidance on Tariffs Simplification (2024).

What is the picture arising from the foregoing? Let me make the following observations. The industry is not in a good place and may not be able to power the sort of digital economy that the present administration is pushing to build. Nearly all the facilities are subpar designed only for voice communication. The NCC Cost Study on which the tariff adjustment was made was done in 2013. Since then things have really gone downhill, taking a fall that has been difficult to break.

In 2013, inflation was 8.50 per cent, the Naira was 160 to a US Dollar, and a litre of diesel cost about N165. Today, inflation stands at 34 per cent, the US Dollar has climbed up to N1600 while a litre of diesel sells for N1200. The metrics are frightening. The Committee has to carefully consider everything in the basket, the good, the bad and the very depressing.

The members have a cardinal responsibility to build hope where hope is in serious deficit. It is a choice between the past and the future, between reality and emotions, while also taking into consideration that a regulatory decision has been taken which the government must handle with tact in order to retain confidence in the sector and not break the spine of the regulator as was done under the last administration.

If that decision suffers a setback, potential investors will think more than twice before considering Nigeria for future investments. While I make an appeal that emotions be confined to where they belong, I want to point out that how we treat investors in Nigeria today may decide the transformational development of the country in the future. No country ever grows alone no matter the depth of patriotism.

February 5, 2025