Nigeria Labour Union and Matters Arising

THE LABOUR AND MATTERS ARISING

According to the International Labour Organisation, ILO, the minimum wage refers to the lowest wage that an employer is allowed to pay the employee, the price floor below which workers may not be willing to sell their labour. In Nigeria, the national minimum wage has its origins and powers from the exclusive list of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and the ILO conventions. The minimum wage was #120 in 1981 and increased to #5500 in 2001. It was increased to #18000 in 2011. According to the law, a review should be done every five years.  According to the budget implementation report 2017, released by the ministry of budget and national planning, the total revenue accruing to Nigeria was #2.657 trillion.  The recurrent expenditure stood at #2.7 trillion. The nation had to resort to loans to make up the deficit. This is clearly not the best of times for an upward review of salaries, economy-wise. More so when the nation is just coming out of an economic recession. However, when the profligacies of the political milieu are taken into consideration one would tend to support the agitating workers because what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. There is no second-class citizen in our nation. The government will have no moral right in denying workers an increment in their salaries. When the government increased the allocation to INEC by 160% it justified it by saying between the last election cycles and now the forex situation has plunged. With this obvious knowledge, the government has no moral right to deny the workers their right. We all live in the same economic realities.

There are a lot of leakages in the economy. The political class is wont to junket abroad at the least medical inconveniences.  Most travel abroad to treat simple ailments. If the president could be going overseas to cater for his health every now and then (with the attendant monetary costs), why wouldn't a councillor do the same? All these would be all well and good if not for the fact that they use government funds to finance their trip and treatment. To say the least, the political class is running the nation aground. The cost of governance is too humongous. The economy simply cannot cope under the crushing weight of the wage bill of the political office holders. When the worker is being paid the same amount allocated for the daily feeding of prisoners, people wonder if it is not better to be a prisoner than a worker. A worker has many dependents and many bills while a prisoner is devoid of these encumbrances. Something will ultimately have to give with the present state of things.

As things stand the Nigeria Governors' Forum is proposing #22,500 as minimum wage with the federal government proposing #24000. The organized labour would not take anything less than #30000. According to the Nigeria labour congress, "the Nigeria governors' forum is not a negotiating body but merely a political organization for the convenience of state governors." Upping the ante, the president of the United Labour Congress of Nigeria, ULC, Mr Joe Ajaero posited that "labour had reverted to its original #65000 as an irreducible minimum"   with this Mexican standoff, as it were, the labour union declared a nationwide strike slated for November 6, 2018.

As everyone knows, an increase in the pump price of petrol causes virtually the price of everything to skyrocket. It is with this common knowledge that one is baffled by the palpable silence of the labour union in Nigeria to raise even a whimper against the increase in petrol pump price at the advent of the present administration. It is in the light of this that the current call for an increase in the living wage is baffling. The Nigerian labour union must know that an increase in the take-home pay of Nigerian workers is not an end in itself. Pray, what is the use of money if it can only buy less and fewer commodities due to inflation?  At #65 per litre in 2011  #18000 could buy 277 litres of petrol while it can only buy 124 litres now at #145 per litre. It is curious to know that at #151 to the dollar in 2001, the minimum wage was $119.21 while at #360 to one dollar the minimum wage now is about $50 presently. Meaning that the Nigerian worker earned more in 2011 than now.

One would expect the labour union to call for the pegging and standardization of workers' allowances across the board, the political class inclusive. Another tactic the can pursue is pegging the salaries and emoluments of Nigeria workers as a percentage of the extant salaries and emoluments of Nigeria teachers. That is to say, the salaries and emoluments of the political class should be pegged as a factor of the teachers' salaries. Any upward movement of the salaries of the former will necessitate the movement of the other. This way, no one would be left behind.

The call for price control may not work because we are not running a command economy. Capitalism entails competition. Competition in quality, the economy of scale, and, of course, pricing. When sellers buy at different prices and incur different associated costs, they can only be expected to sell at different prices. An increment in pay would also make employers reluctant to employ labour.

Labour leaders

 However while demanding for an increment in minimum wage, the labour union should also advocate for the blocking of existing leakages of finances, both at the economic and political level. They must take a stand against corruption and call for the ascendancy of due process in the polity.  The government must be encouraged to invest in workers' housing projects, and above all call for fiscal federation. To ensure a better quality of life for the workers, the union must look beyond increment in salaries as a major plank in their arsenal. The states are already saying they cannot pay the increment, which is not surprising since they appear not able to pay the existing minimum wage and are owing workers months in salary arrears.   In this wise, it is advisable for the labour union to take a different tack and look at the workers' welfare in a holistic way. According to Wikipedia, exploitation of labour is the act of treating one's workers unfairly for one's own benefit. It is a social relationship based on an asymmetry in a power relationship between workers and their employers. The workers who facilitate payment to government coffers and oil the wheels of governance in the nation should be paid their just wages. They are the proverbial goose that lays the golden eggs. It is therefore unfortunate that they do not partake in eating the coconut broken on their collective heads.

 The issue of governors' so-called security vote should be put on the front burner because it is illegal and unconstitutional. Through the length and breadth of the country, there is no state where a governor has not paid himself due to the paucity of funds. If a governor can deem it fit to pay himself then the workers should also be paid. The jumbo severance pay of outgoing governors should also be vigorously resisted by the workers. A governor that served at most 8 years should not be allowed to get away with so much. Where the worker who retired after serving a state for 35 years goes years without being paid, the governor who "served" for 8 years gets his severance payout almost immediately. Pensioners go years without their gratuities or get them in piecemeal and workers' salaries are paid as percentages. It is not uncommon to hear governors paying workers 10% of 50%. It is a wonder how workers, sometimes, are able to keep track of the indebtedness of the government per their salaries and emoluments.  And the severance pay and allowances are such that would make any politician anywhere in the world drool and wish they were Nigerians. The jumbo payouts are out of this world. From landed properties in the home state and Abuja, choice cars being changed every 3 years at the behest of the state, to the health bills of the former governor being picked by the state forever, the governors are a rare breed indeed. When this largesse is put side by side the governors' mantra of inabilities to pay workers, one can only shake one's head in disbelief. The labour union should take up these issues in the court of public opinion and if need be, go to the courts to challenge these obvious illegalities and unconstitutionality. The governors spend in a second what they pay their workers in a month.  The states' labour should stop pandering to the whims and caprices of the governors. They should be firm in their demand for good governance especially concerning the welfare of the workers. The feudalistic tendencies of the governors should be checked.  A situation where Nigerian workers are among the least paid in the world does not speak well of the nation. Most African countries earn more than the Nigerian worker. Where Cameroon earns about $9 per hour, his Nigerian counterpart can only boast of about #32 cents per hour. The organized labour union should also campaign for credible candidates as governors. Individuals with proven labour friendliness should be supported during the gubernatorial election cycle. Only then would the labour union be doing their duties of safeguarding the overall interest of the Nigeria workers.

 

NYSC-gate, Certificates and lack of due diligence

The Security Agencies in Nigeria are supposed to vet some categories of public functionaries before their engagement by the F.G. However the reverse seems to be the case as different public personalities have been found wanting per their documentaries over the years. Sanusi, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator Tinubu, Mrs. Adeosun, former Minister of Finance, and recently Adebayo Shittu the Minister of Communication.

        What these scandals go to show is that the vetting agencies are sitting on their hands when it comes to the issue of proper vetting of candidates to political offices. How the simple issue of checking the authenticity of the presented documents by these agencies can't be properly dealt with beats one. Checking the purported educational background if potential public office holders shouldn't be rocket science. In the recent case of Adebayo Shittu no NYSC or Discharge  Certificate was presently and apparently not asked for. If I were the president heads will roll as a result of the agencies concerned lack of due diligence. It is this type of shoddiness and tardiness that is responsible for the sorry pass Nigeria is currently in.

The Octogenarian and the Nation

A Prof retires before 76 years while a civil servant must retire by 60 years. Why is this so? For the simple reason that humans are not wood. They get old and get tired both physically and mentally.
     By next year our President would be 76 officially. So why are some still rooting for him to continue making hard decisions for them. It s a wonder to see that some  youths are calling for the octogenarian to continue ruling them. The president may be willing to do great things for the nation but his health clearly is in the way. He continues to go for medical care every so often, leaving decisions untaken and costing a huge amount of money.
    The nation should allow the old man to rest. He has done his shift and should be allowed to enjoy his life in blissful retirement. An energetic person should be  saddled with taking Nigeria to the next level. The electorates should look for someone across party platforms to lead the nation. The nation must match in sync with the rest of the world.

Democracy Day: Buhari's Greek Gift

 

 

    My take on Buhari's Greek gift of June 12 as the new Democracy day is best summed up with this anecdote: You are owing your friend some amount of money. One day you both went to the bank where you were both caught up in a bank robbery. You now decided to give your friend the money you've been owing him right there in the middle of the bank robbery.  To all intent and purposes you paid back your loan. BUT is it the right place and occasion  to  pay it? 

You can actually do something good albeit with  a bad intention. The proprietary of Buhari's act is not in doubt, but the timing. Coming,  as it were, during the time of politicking makes it suspect. 

Buhari was part of the junta that annulled the freest and best election ever conducted by the nation's electoral body. By the way Buhari still believes late Gen Abacha was not corrupt. Even though his stolen cash are still being repatriated home periodically. The APC cried blue murder when the Federally owned  University of Lagos was renamed Moshood Abiola University,  in honour of the fallen democrat. After much pressure from those now championing Abiola's course now, the decision was reversed. The Buhari overture and volte face  is not lost on discerning Nigerians. With elections just round the corner more of this about turn can be expected.

Democracy Day: Buhari's Greek Gift

 

 

    My take on Buhari's Greek gift of June 12 as the new Democracy day is best summed up with this anecdote: You are owing your friend some amount of money. One day you both went to the bank where you were both caught up in a bank robbery. You now decided to give your friend the money you've been owing him right there in the middle of the bank robbery.  To all intent and purposes you paid back your loan. BUT is it the right place and occasion  to  pay it? 

You can actually do something good albeit with  a bad intention. The proprietary of Buhari's act is not in doubt, but the timing. Coming,  as it were, during the time of politicking makes it suspect. 

Buhari was part of the junta that annulled the freest and best election ever conducted by the nation's electoral body. By the way Buhari still believes late Gen Abacha was not corrupt. Even though his stolen cash are still being repatriated home periodically. The APC cried blue murder when the Federally owned  University of Lagos was renamed Moshood Abiola University,  in honour of the fallen democrat. After much pressure from those now championing Abiola's course now, the decision was reversed. The Buhari overture and volte face  is not lost on discerning Nigerians. With elections just round the corner more of this about turn can be expected.

Of Institutions and Men

  Nigeria is going through a difficult patch. The Executive is non-performing while the National Assembly is impotent. The National Assembly ordinarily should stand for the collective will of the people. For one reason or the other, those invited by the NASS have found one way or the other to abstain from facing the heeding the call of the NASS. Examples are   the I.G of Police. The latter had been invited severally but refused to come before the Senate. He refused to come again yesterday. The Senate has given him another week to honour the invitation. This is the same person who defied the President’s order to relocate to Benue state. It is instructive to note that the President had not reprimanded him in whatever way, at least not publicly. The I.G is either acting the President’s script or is a lord unto himself. Institutions must be respected whether one likes it or not. The chief of the police institution should not be seen as being disobedient to the law of the land. He would have no reason to say Dino Melaye is disrespecting the law when he himself is guilty of same. Our nascent democracy would not be deepened when people respect individuals more than the Institution. Flouting court orders is strange to democracy. One calls to mind Col. Dasuki, the erstwhile National Security Adviser, Sheikh el-Zakzaky,  the Shiite sect leader, among others who have been ordered released by the courts but are still being kept in detention some three years after. The separation of powers should be maintained and respected by the Executive, else the government would be a pseudo-military one where jackboot dictatorship holds sway. Civilian rule is way different from Democracy. The latter entails the upholding of the rule of law, separation of powers, respect for national institutions, freedom of expression, right to  peaceful protest, upholding of people’s Fundamental Human Right, etc. the earlier the government retrace its step to real democracy the better for the nation.

Question time per Dino Melaye

  

    I don't blame Dino for not wanting to come to Lokoja. I was there when he was attacked at Kabba Day. What happened to his attackers? Was the gov hounded by the security in connection with importation of arms into the country? Was Dino a ninja warrior that could escape from between security personnel in a vehicle? Or was he kept to one side of the vehicle? If so, it was unprofessional of the police. Take a cue from Samuel Doe saga.  Was  he not invited by Nigerian and ECOMOG soldiers? Was Doe not abducted and killed? Is the police neutral in this case? Everybody knows Dino has problems with Gov Yahaya Bello so it is totally right for one to think Dino Melaye would be wary of going to Lokoja to honor the police invitation. More so,  given the fact he had gone to court concerning that. Has Senator Omo-Agege  being held or harassed in any way per his invasion of the Senate with thugs? I believe Dino's travails is political he though he doesn't help his cause. I believe Dino Melaye should tone down his rhetorics and bellicosity. He should be less confrontational in pursuing his goals. He should realize the political firmament does not augur well for him at this time. The odds are stacked against him at the Federal executive level. He should deal his cards right. If not, this his travails will just be the beginning of his problems. The police should also be as neutral as possible. It should serve the Nigerian state and not individuals. The Nigerian constitution is greater than any vested interest.

Dapchi Girls and Government lethargy

         

Yobe state Governor Ibrahim Gaidam 

  Nigeria does not cease to amaze me. We can say the kidnap of the Chibok girls by  Boko Haram was a mistake, what can we say about another reoccurrence? This time in Yobe state some girls of the Government Girls Science Technical  College, Dapchi were again victims of yet to be identified kidnappers. The government Director of Information, Abdullahi Bego came out to say the girls had been rescued only for  Governor Ibrahim Geidam to come around barely 24 hours later to deny the statement. Hear the Governor : 

“We issued the statement on the basis of information provided by one of the security agencies that is involved in the fight against Boko Haram and which we had no reason to doubt.
“We have now established that the information we relied on to make the statement was not credible.
The Yobe State Government apologises for that."

This shows a nation in serious problem. Which security agency gave the initial erroneous report? The agency should be taken up by the government. But alas, all wrongdoings will be swept under the carpet as usual by the government.
The thunder has struck in the same place twice. And to think of all the money allocated to our security agencies. Impunity is striding over the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. It beats one how some terrorists can enter into Nigeria, force some girls on buses and stroll out across the nation's border into another country. Are our borders this porous?  This is sad. Why is it that Nigeria never learns from history. One would have expected that all schools - boys' and girls'- would be under heavy security vigilance since the tragic kidnap of the Chibok girls. This is symptomatic of shithole countries of which Nigeria claims not to be one. 

Some of the damaged cars

                            

The townspeople has lost confidence in the security agencies and the government, reasons why they destroyed the Governor's convoy with missiles. The government should live up to its primary mandate of safeguarding the lives and properties of the citizens. That is the raison d'etre of government.

Dapchi Girls and Government lethargy

         

Yobe state Governor Ibrahim Gaidam 

  Nigeria does not cease to amaze me. We can say the kidnap of the Chibok girls by  Boko Haram was a mistake, what can we say about another reoccurrence? This time in Yobe state some girls of the Government Girls Science Technical  College, Dapchi were again victims of yet to be identified kidnappers. The government Director of Information, Abdullahi Bego came out to say the girls had been rescued only for  Governor Ibrahim Geidam to come around barely 24 hours later to deny the statement. Hear the Governor : 

“We issued the statement on the basis of information provided by one of the security agencies that is involved in the fight against Boko Haram and which we had no reason to doubt.
“We have now established that the information we relied on to make the statement was not credible.
The Yobe State Government apologises for that."

This shows a nation in serious problem. Which security agency gave the initial erroneous report? The agency should be taken up by the government. But alas, all wrongdoings will be swept under the carpet as usual by the government.
The thunder has struck in the same place twice. And to think of all the money allocated to our security agencies. Impunity is striding over the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. It beats one how some terrorists can enter into Nigeria, force some girls on buses and stroll out across the nation's border into another country. Are our borders this porous?  This is sad. Why is it that Nigeria never learns from history. One would have expected that all schools - boys' and girls'- would be under heavy security vigilance since the tragic kidnap of the Chibok girls. This is symptomatic of shithole countries of which Nigeria claims not to be one. 

Some of the damaged cars

                            

The townspeople has lost confidence in the security agencies and the government, reasons why they destroyed the Governor's convoy with missiles. The government should live up to its primary mandate of safeguarding the lives and properties of the citizens. That is the raison d'etre of government.

Of Gov. Yahaya Bello and the Herdsmen

      

The Governor of Kogi state is one character that I can never get round to understanding. He is an avowed defender of anything Fulani. It would not be out of place to say he is more Fulani than the Fulanis. Maybe this avowed likeness for the Fulanis can be situated in the fact that he was a recipient of the political fallout of the death of the erstwhile Governorship candidate Abubakar Audu. The hand of the Presidency was not far from his emergence as the authentic governor of Kogi state. He therefore owe President Buhari his unalloyed loyalty to repay the latter's largesse and to secure a second term according to some political observers.

  

 Be that as it may, the governor's invitation to the Fulani for a Fulani herdsmen colony could altruistic. However, the said colony should be situated in Ebira land (I have nothing against Ebira people) . Since Gov. Yahaya Bello loves the herdsmen and believes that they are harmless then it necessarily follows that he should prepare space for them in the Kogi Central Senatorial District. This call is as a result of reports and pictures circulating to the effect that the herdsmen have already landed in the Bunu area of Kabba/Bunu local government area of the state. It is fervently hoped that the rumour is unfounded else it would show the Governor as totally playing to the presidency gallery. If you love the herdsmen show it practically by welcoming them in your geographical domain. It will show you are up to the task when down the line the Fulani starts to assert their authority on the land. As a student of history we know what happens when our Fulani friends are invited to the table. As per the Governor's speech of turning Kogi into Holland good luck with that. The Fulani could jolly well stay in their geographical space and turn the core North into a Dutch miracle. With the unemployment, illiteracy, and poverty up north, their  people no doubt need them more than Kogi state. 

Of Gov. Yahaya Bello and the Herdsmen

      

The Governor of Kogi state is one character that I can never get round to understanding. He is an avowed defender of anything Fulani. It would not be out of place to say he is more Fulani than the Fulanis. Maybe this avowed likeness for the Fulanis can be situated in the fact that he was a recipient of the political fallout of the death of the erstwhile Governorship candidate Abubakar Audu. The hand of the Presidency was not far from his emergence as the authentic governor of Kogi state. He therefore owe President Buhari his unalloyed loyalty to repay the latter's largesse and to secure a second term according to some political observers.

  

 Be that as it may, the governor's invitation to the Fulani for a Fulani herdsmen colony could altruistic. However, the said colony should be situated in Ebira land (I have nothing against Ebira people) . Since Gov. Yahaya Bello loves the herdsmen and believes that they are harmless then it necessarily follows that he should prepare space for them in the Kogi Central Senatorial District. This call is as a result of reports and pictures circulating to the effect that the herdsmen have already landed in the Bunu area of Kabba/Bunu local government area of the state. It is fervently hoped that the rumour is unfounded else it would show the Governor as totally playing to the presidency gallery. If you love the herdsmen show it practically by welcoming them in your geographical domain. It will show you are up to the task when down the line the Fulani starts to assert their authority on the land. As a student of history we know what happens when our Fulani friends are invited to the table. As per the Governor's speech of turning Kogi into Holland good luck with that. The Fulani could jolly well stay in their geographical space and turn the core North into a Dutch miracle. With the unemployment, illiteracy, and poverty up north, their  people no doubt need them more than Kogi state. 

A Minister's Careless Talk

     

          The Federal  government  better make up its mind over who are behind the incessant attack of the herdsmen. One day the SSS says the attacks are the handiwork of the IS in West Africa another day the military will say the attacks are as a result of the anti grazing laws enacted by different states in the Federation. What this means is that the agencies saddled with the security of the country are not on the same page. It is either they are incompetent or they lack the will to call a spade a spade. If the latter is the case then the security agencies are part of the problem.   The other aspect of this is that the statement by the Defense Minister Mansur Dan-Ali  http://punchng.com/defence-minister-blames-herdsmen-killings-on-anti-grazing-law-route-blockage/is unfortunate not least because it came out of his mouth but because he seemed to tacitly support the actions of the murderous herdsmen but implying that because of the fact that you don't like a law that gives you the right to react violently and criminally to the said law. This, unfortunately, is an invitation to anarchy because it engenders a resort to self help by citizens which has the deleterious effect of upending law and order in the polity. If one is not comfortable with a particular law there is a laid down procedure for challenging that law. The Minister should therefore be seen by all peace loving people as a contributor to the conflagration sweeping across the country as a result of the criminal activities of the Fulani herdsmen.

Karma is a bitch

 

   Karma is a bitch. APC and their supporters gave Jonathan hell for daring to increase fuel price but with power they seem to be as powerless as they can be. A lot of deadlines to NNPC has come and passed but scarcity remains. The President is incidentally the Petroleum Minister but could not manage the situation. The situation will unfortunately persist as we practice a mutant form of Federalism unlike any in this world. A Federalism where the federating units go to the center every month, cap in hand, to collect handouts from a powerful center (the big brother). It aches my heart to see my nation doing the same thing over and over again and expecting to have a different result. It is very unfortunate that our leaders can not exhibit the traits of leaders. Leaders must take hard decisions for their nations to move forward.
 

A situation where the President can not address the nation on the cause and government efforts to stem the scarcity of this all important resource, calls to question the leadership qualities of the President.A case where France, for example, is hit by a terrorist and our President would be the first to send condolences but the same man would not address his own people in a time of need if dubious and suspect. The president's handlers are not helping matters. They believe laundering the President image by way of a documentary is what Nigerians are interested in at this time. The little fuel in my generator is what I poured in my car to take me to the office. Without NEPA  and bereft of fuel in my gen how would Nigerians watch a documentary? Very ill-timed and needless at this time. Unless it was a grand plan to deflect public attention from the crippling fuel scarcity.  The regime has proven itself adept at the dark art of misdirection time and time again.
 

   The nation must be restructured and government involvement in the economy must be at a minimum. Unnecessary subsidies must be removed. The price of fuel can't be the same across the length and breadth of Nigeria. Let each state buy and sell according to the dictates of economics. Our 5 or so refineries must be made to work. Iran, under years of economic sanctions, was still able to refine its oil. It's a pity that we can not refine our Petroleum at peace time. We cannot even distribute at peace time. What are we turning to as a nation? A nation of nampy pambies? Always looking for the quick fix. When the price differential of tomatoes up north and down south is so wide, condemning costs etc, why should anyone expect the cost of petrol to be the same up north and down south? Government picking the price equalization bill can not work forever. We all thought the era of subsidy was over until we learnt government IS still subsidizing by about #26. This blind leading the blind must stop. Nigeria is very blessed and we deserve the best. Alas, with Buhari it is not yet Uhuru. 

A season of Anomie

   This is truly a season of Anomie in our dear nation. A different day a different slapstick comedy of the absurd takes place. These comedies would have been laughable if not for the harsh economic atmosphere. If one laughs too much on an empty one may cross over to the other side. We have the DSS refusing to allow the EFCC operatives effect the arrest of a former D.G of DSS Ita Ekpeyong at his Asokoro residence. These are two agencies of government working at cross purposes. This more so when the EFCC had a search and arrest warrant to carry out their brief.
  Another drama acted itself out at the State House when the family picture of the apprehended notorious kidnapper, Evans, was found hung on the wall of the State House building.
Earlier, the IG of Police had withdrawn the security details protecting the Anambra State governor Sir Willie Obiano. The I.G predicated his move on the assertion that the Governor could use the police security to his advantage during the recently held gubernatorial poll in the state. These are the same security details reporting to the I. G. They are policemen for God's sake. Mr I. G you don't trust your guys anymore? Will same be done to the President during the presidential election? Thank God the I. G was prevailed upon to rescind the withdrawal order.
We had the Goat, Tea, and the wheelbarrow empowerment in Kastina Kano, and Benue states respectively. The respective governors bought these items with state funds to distribute to their youth ostensibly to provide employment.
We had the I. G saying he had a right to romance any lady police in the force. He however claimed he did not say that.
In Rivers the dramatis personae involved the Governor and the Transport minister Amaechi, himself the predecessor of the incumbent governor. Apparently, Amaechi was coming into town with his convoy when "fortuitously" the Governor happened to be passing on the same road. Since the road is apparently small for the duo, their was a clash of the security details. Tempers flared and gun totting security details were on edge all because of the Personal egos of the two personalities. Two VIPs causing commotion on the streets of Port Harcourt. Shame! With issues like this why are we surprised Nigeria is not progressing? 

Gov. Bello vs Kogi Workers

  Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state is one bloke with a dual and conflicting personality. He had embarked on a year long staff audit purportedly to weed and sniff out ghost workers and those with dubious employment letters. Ordinarily, this is a noble pursuit except that one of the expected end-a punctual payment of the civil servants- remains a mirage. The civil servants of the state are owed a reported 20 months salaries in some cases. The workers could take it no more and promptly embarked on a protracted strike.
   

The Gov. declared a no work no pay regime. Not done with that-when the workers continued the strike action- he declared them sacked if they refused to return to work last Monday. This is coming from a Gov. who continues to draw his salary and emoluments every month. He has a retinue of Advisers, Senior Advisers, Senior Special Advisers, Commissioners, and other official hangers-on. These constitute a huge drain on the finances of the state. This is clearly Penny wise pound foolish. A lot of political goodwill was bestowed on the Governor being the youngest in the country. Even though his age is unnaturally fluid-he claims he is 41 years old while in an interview on Channels TV he said Nigeria is older than him by 12 years which will make his real age 45-the fact remains he is a young man. His problem is likely to be a lack of administrative experience, youthful exuberance, or simply that of ego. He likely has a chip on his shoulders. He thinks backing down is a sign of weakness. Pray, how could someone who has not been paid for so long have the energy in his body not to talk of the locomotive means of coming to work. My take is that anyone who goes to work is a Thief. When the normal monthly salary ordinarily can not take you home or cater to your family needs how on earth can you threaten a worker with sack when you have not paid him his deserving pay. This is more so when the Gov. Yahaya Bello received two tranches of the Paris Club refund. He is awaiting the third installment. The young governor should be ask to account for the disbursement of the aforesaid refund. His he telling the nation that the state could not ordinarily have paid its workers with its monthly receipt from the Federation Account and the state IGR? With the influx of so much money into the state coffers how come the state is in such financial dire straits? The situation is a lesson in the powerlessness of the state assembly. The institution is best placed to call the Governor to order. Impeachment proceedings should be started against the Governor immediately in order to compel him to do the needful. The Governor should know he carries the hopes and aspirations of the nation's teeming youth. His failure is a fodder for those who believe the youth are not ready to take up the mantle of leadership in  Nigeria. The contribution of 40 Senators of 1260 bags of rice to Kogi workers is  tokenistic. The issue is calling Governor Yahaya Bello to order. If the legislature can not get the Governor to toe the path of Honour the President should come in and compel his acolyte and party member to do the needful either by moral persuasion or by mandating the EFCC to begin rigorous financial forensic analysis of movement of money in and out of the state account. As we all know, all politics are local. Come 2019 APC's fortune may well nosedive in the state as a natural corollary of Governor Yahaya Bello's negative actions and inactions. 

Atiku on the back of the Tiger

Atiku Abubakar was one of the key supporters of the Nigeria president Muhammadu Buhari, during the presidential election that brought the latter to power. The relationship between the duo has, of recent, reached rock bottom. This is not unconnected to Atiku Abubakar's not so secret intention to run for the president office come 2019. Immediately the administration saw the seriousness of Atiku's intention it went into overdrive to cut off Atiku's cash cow, the Intels Nigeria Limited, INL. The government terminated the Pilotage Agency Agreement with INL. The company has since termed the termination of the agreement as "preposterous" and "highly injurious" to Nigeria. Be that as it may, the fact remains that Atiku is the architect of his present predicament. He obviously has bitten more than he can chew. On the other hand, #pmb is being petty. The action is closely related to that of a junta and a dictatorship. In this fight it is the ordinary Nigerians that will suffer. The staff will be laid off and homes and the economy will be the worse for it.                         

   
This is a case of dog eat dog. Both parties are members of the #APC. If the administration can do this to one of their own one can only conjecture what it would do to the opposition. Running for the highest office in the land is the inalienable right of all qualified Nigeria citizens. This move against Atiku can only cement the negative reputation of the present administration as one that moves against real and perceived enemies. The main reason why most view the so called war against corruption as a lopsided one. Trying to ruin a company that has been doing business in Nigeria for the past 30 years because of the perceived transgressions of the chief executive is nothing if not ill-timed and I'll advised. It is high time Buhari rose above premordial sentiments and Ego-tripping and face governance without fear or favour.

When Silence is not Golden

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        It is becoming an embarrassment the fact that President Buhari keeps eerily quiet whenever his vocal reassurance is needed. His communication with the citizens leaves a lot to be desired. If there is a shortcoming of this administration it is a paucity of timely and requisite information. Communication and information coming directly from the mouth of the President can not be substituted for that coming from another a la Lai Mohammed, the Information Minister, et al. Various serious issues like the Fulani herdsmen, Nnamdi Kanu's IPOB, Kachiku vs Baru, EFCC vs. NIA, DSS vs. EFCC, Babachir Lawal and NIA probe, the Senate vs Inspector General of Police,nature of his sickness, and EFCC vs. NIA, DSS vs. EFCC, Babachir Lawal vs NIA probe, the Senate vs Inspector General of Police,the issue concerning the Aso Rock Clinic. Buhari's wife and Zahra the daughter have been raising hell concerning the parlours state the Aso rock Clinic. Common syringes were not bought even after a lot of money was budgeted. Upwards of $3.2 bn was allocated to the clinic yet nothing to show for it. One would expect President Buhari to weigh in on the issue but as usual he has refused to join in the fray. The President must know that silence is not always golden. His words have a lot of weight. His words can assure a sceptical nation of the true thinking and position of the government. This is moreso that the President's wife and daughter are not government functionaries. They have no constitutional responsibilities as the former's office is purely ceremonial. Buhari should come out of his cocoon and let the nation know what his stand on   current issue is.

Ego-tripping and Governance

  

   
 

The Min. Of State Ibe Kachiku also accused Maikanti Baru of insubordination. This is a recurring decimal in the #pmb's administration. It is like some people believe they are superior to their boss. Maybe they believe that they have the hear of the President or the so called cabal in government. It could be recalled that the Nigeria Customs boss, Col. Hameed Ali, was accused by the Finance Minister of reporting directly to the Presidency instead of his immediate boss, the Honorable Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun. The Comptroller General of Customs was accused of promoting and demoting some men and officers of the Customs without recourse to her as  Minister of Finance. The intervention of the President is urgently required to cut the oversized ego of his appointees to size in order to engender a smooth administration. Buhari should also be seen to be up and doing. This have the effect of the people knowing that the State is working.

  Maikanti Baru, the GMD of NNPC awarded N9 Trillion-about $26b-contract without due process according to the Min. Of State Kachiku. The leaked memo by Kachiku on this matter should ordinarily jolt a nation out of her slumber. The amount involved is huge. Coming from the the person who should know, the President should ordinarily be up and doing after the receipt of this memo. However, the news making the rounds is that the President has not seen the Min. of State since the news broke. In order words the President Mohammadu Buhari does not regularly see his Min. of State for Petroleum. Don't forget Buhari is THE Min. for Petroleum. The Petroleum sector is is the goose that lays the Golden egg of the Nigerian economy and as such its welfare impacts directly on the well-being of the citizens.

Ego-tripping and Governance

  

   
 

The Min. Of State Ibe Kachiku also accused Maikanti Baru of insubordination. This is a recurring decimal in the #pmb's administration. It is like some people believe they are superior to their boss. Maybe they believe that they have the hear of the President or the so called cabal in government. It could be recalled that the Nigeria Customs boss, Col. Hameed Ali, was accused by the Finance Minister of reporting directly to the Presidency instead of his immediate boss, the Honorable Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun. The Comptroller General of Customs was accused of promoting and demoting some men and officers of the Customs without recourse to her as  Minister of Finance. The intervention of the President is urgently required to cut the oversized ego of his appointees to size in order to engender a smooth administration. Buhari should also be seen to be up and doing. This have the effect of the people knowing that the State is working.

  Maikanti Baru, the GMD of NNPC awarded N9 Trillion-about $26b-contract without due process according to the Min. Of State Kachiku. The leaked memo by Kachiku on this matter should ordinarily jolt a nation out of her slumber. The amount involved is huge. Coming from the the person who should know, the President should ordinarily be up and doing after the receipt of this memo. However, the news making the rounds is that the President has not seen the Min. of State since the news broke. In order words the President Mohammadu Buhari does not regularly see his Min. of State for Petroleum. Don't forget Buhari is THE Min. for Petroleum. The Petroleum sector is is the goose that lays the Golden egg of the Nigerian economy and as such its welfare impacts directly on the well-being of the citizens.

Masari and his critic

It is 35 days now that a critic of Gov. Aminu Masari of Kastina state was incarcerated.

Ibrahim Bature is a 31 year old from Dutsinma who was arrested for allegedly criticising the Governor on Facebook on 28th last month. He was taken to court and detained in prison custody since then. Bature's allegedly offence is his call on the Gov. to desist from collecting a loan when the one he collected could  not be accounted for. This scenario is very alarming considering the fact that we pretend to be in a democracy. Or is Nigeria only having civil rule but not democracy. The law is clear on this. Bature can not be kept in custody on holding charge. You either arraign him or you release him within 48 hours. More so, the allegation of defamation of character is a tort. As such it falls under the civil rights of individuals. The Constitution is very clear per the rights and liabilities of individuals. Bature should be released forthwith.

The Church and the People

   
   

Some people are complaining about the issue of tithing in church. They are of the opinion that they are unable to afford the school tuition for the Churches' Primary and University. The people allege these set of pastors are living large while the church members are languishing in penury.
   The pastors counter this saying the tithe belongs to God. It is an injunction commanded by God. My friend on Facebook declared last week his total rejection of the Christian Church as it obtains in Nigeria. He said he he still a Christian but would not be going to church henceforth. He is particularly piqued by the attitude of the pastors in not returning tithe paid into the church coffers by fraudsters and looters of the people's commonwealth. He believes the pastor should return stolen monies paid as tithe back to the government or the rightful owners. Meanwhile, the pastors claim they have no authority over tithes already paid in. They should go to God to collect it.

Herdsmen From Hell

 

    The treatment of the Fulani herdsmen with kid gloves should end henceforth. These Fulani guys have      their abode in the Northern part of the country but prefer to migrate down South with their herds of cattle in search of greener pastures. This would have been all well and go good if not for the fact that these herders are wont to clash with their hosts without any provocation whatsoever. Their hosts, especially the farmers, are the Fulanis frequent victims. The host is expected to keep mum when the Fulani cattle eat the farmers’ crops. If the farmers dare to complain they are promptly killed and the females raped or maimed. I think if the host is not the aggressor the guest should definitely not be.
  That the Federal Government is weighing in on the issue on the side of the Fulanis is rather unfortunate.  The F.G is proposing a National Grazing Reserve Council which would have the power to take away land from wherever, anytime they want and pay whatever they want as   compensation to the land owner.  The land when taken shall be assigned to the Fulani herdsmen who shall use the land for grazing purposes. If, as a landowner you object to this, you can go to the court but not before notifying and getting the consent of the AGF before you can sue. If the AGF declines consent to the suit you lose your land forever to the herdsmen. The Chairman of the National Grazing Reserve Council will be appointed by the President. 
  From the foregoing it can be seen that the aces are stacked against the land owners. The F.G is proposing the appropriation of lands from the Southerners but this time using the instrumentality of the law. This must and can not stand. Even though the proposed Bill has passed the first reading at the National Assembly it will be impracticable even if passed into law.
    Cow herding is just one of the different professions we have in Nigeria. We have the fishermen, the spare parts sellers, the farmers, the cloth weavers, etc, etc. why then is the issue of the Fulani herdsmen so important to the government as to deserve presenting a Bill on the issue. They are individuals doing their individual businesses to survive-just like the next guy.  The money they make is to their pockets so why the hue and cry?
   Countries that are known for exporting meat e.g. Australia, Argentina, and U.S etc. don’t move their cattle from one place to the other. They don’t take their cattle to the food but rather the food to the cattle. Water, hay, fodder, etc, are taken to the cattle in the pens and pastures. Science and technology has overtaken the need for cattle pastoralism. The F.G should introduce global best practice in cattle management to these Fulani herdsmen and spare us the constant headaches the activities of these herdsmen cause the nation. The government should tread cautiously on this issue so as not to create a monster they can’t control. A word is enough for the wise.

Herdsmen From Hell

 

    The treatment of the Fulani herdsmen with kid gloves should end henceforth. These Fulani guys have      their abode in the Northern part of the country but prefer to migrate down South with their herds of cattle in search of greener pastures. This would have been all well and go good if not for the fact that these herders are wont to clash with their hosts without any provocation whatsoever. Their hosts, especially the farmers, are the Fulanis frequent victims. The host is expected to keep mum when the Fulani cattle eat the farmers’ crops. If the farmers dare to complain they are promptly killed and the females raped or maimed. I think if the host is not the aggressor the guest should definitely not be.
  That the Federal Government is weighing in on the issue on the side of the Fulanis is rather unfortunate.  The F.G is proposing a National Grazing Reserve Council which would have the power to take away land from wherever, anytime they want and pay whatever they want as   compensation to the land owner.  The land when taken shall be assigned to the Fulani herdsmen who shall use the land for grazing purposes. If, as a landowner you object to this, you can go to the court but not before notifying and getting the consent of the AGF before you can sue. If the AGF declines consent to the suit you lose your land forever to the herdsmen. The Chairman of the National Grazing Reserve Council will be appointed by the President. 
  From the foregoing it can be seen that the aces are stacked against the land owners. The F.G is proposing the appropriation of lands from the Southerners but this time using the instrumentality of the law. This must and can not stand. Even though the proposed Bill has passed the first reading at the National Assembly it will be impracticable even if passed into law.
    Cow herding is just one of the different professions we have in Nigeria. We have the fishermen, the spare parts sellers, the farmers, the cloth weavers, etc, etc. why then is the issue of the Fulani herdsmen so important to the government as to deserve presenting a Bill on the issue. They are individuals doing their individual businesses to survive-just like the next guy.  The money they make is to their pockets so why the hue and cry?
   Countries that are known for exporting meat e.g. Australia, Argentina, and U.S etc. don’t move their cattle from one place to the other. They don’t take their cattle to the food but rather the food to the cattle. Water, hay, fodder, etc, are taken to the cattle in the pens and pastures. Science and technology has overtaken the need for cattle pastoralism. The F.G should introduce global best practice in cattle management to these Fulani herdsmen and spare us the constant headaches the activities of these herdsmen cause the nation. The government should tread cautiously on this issue so as not to create a monster they can’t control. A word is enough for the wise.

On Tinubu

   It is funny that Tinubu is agitating for Restructuring now. One would think Tinubu would have entered into an agreement with Buhari when the latter was supported by the former's political machine. It seems that there was unfortunately no agreement or PMB decided to implement the agreement In breach. Same with the issue of State police which Tinubu championed during the Jonathan Presidency. One would sincerely think these issues would be on the front burner in this Buhari administration. Politics is about give and take. Political alliance is all about supporting those who would advance one's political positions and interests. The tragedy would be a situation where there was no agreement in the first place or there was an agreement but the President decides to ignore such.

Facts or fiction?

     

             The latest news is that the government knows the sponsors of IPOB. This "truth" was disclosed by no less a personage than the Minister of Information, Mr Lai Mohammed. According to him the IPOB is being funded by the looters in the opposition. He should not stop there but should speedily name the culprits if he has his facts right. He should not continue to make allegations he can't back up. The faceless group - if there is one - should be named, arrested, and prosecuted. This is the way of responsible governments all over the world.

Madness & the Nigeria Nation

The classic definition of madness is said to be that of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. Why anyone bother to expect a different result of the status quo trumps me. From our paper Federalism to the quota system to the lowering of standards by JAMB etc, etc. Iam afraid things will not get better for Nigeria soonest. Mind you, I am not a naysayer but a realist. Things will simply not work because you will it to work. Nigeria have to walk the talk. We resort to the safety of our kit and kin when challenged. We are first and foremost local guys before being national. Millions of dollars are allocated to the Presidency clinic yet the occupants' medical expenses are picked up by the people. Pray, what is the need for the huge allocation in the first place? The state of Education continues to fall simply because the ruling elite have their children schooling in the best schools abroad. Devil may care is their approach. The pages of the newspapers are replete with our politicians felicitating with their children on the occasions of the later graduation abroad. If these state of affairs persist Nigeria can only continue to be the worse for it. A nation where a mark of 120 over 400 is regarded as a pass mark is a laughable one. The auguries do not bode well for the future.

#Copied: Igbos and the South/South

The biggest crime committed against the Ogoni people was the killing of Ken Saro Wiwa and his eight colleagues. Their crime was that they mobilized their people against the exploitation of their land. The tribunal was headed by Justice Ibrahim Auta. Other members of the tribunal were Justice Etowa Eyo Arikpo, Lt Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (the incumbent Comptroller General of Customs), while the government prosecutor was Mr Joseph Bodurin Daudu SAN.
The Provisional Ruling Council (PRC), the highest decision-making body of the Abacha regime that took the decision to kill Saro Wiwa comprised General Abacha, Maj. General Patrick Aziza (Minister of Communications under Abacha); Major Gen. Tajudeen Olarenwaju (GOC); General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Chief of Defence Staff); Lt. General Oladipo Diya (Chief of General Staff); Maj. Gen. Victor Malu (GOC); Ibrahim Coomasie (Inspector General of Police); Mike Akhigbe (Chief of Naval Staff); Maj. General Ishaya Bamaiyi (Chief of Army Staff); Nsikak Eduok (Chief of Air Staff), and Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni (Minister of the Federal Capital Territory). There was no Igbo man.
It was Chief Emeka Anyaoku, an Igbo man, who as the secretary-general of the commonwealth of nations, that led a protest that made the Commonwealth of Nations to rise to the occasion, and warned Abacha not to carry out his wicked act. Although he later did, the Commonwealth under Anyaoku sanctioned Nigeria.
Today, ask an Ogoni man to show you his enemy, he will point at an Igbo man.
May the spirit of Saro Wiwa, and his eight colleagues hunt you for your foolishness.. An eye opener..
And we said;
Kenule Saro Wiwa was the champion of that foolishness. A man educated at the famous Government College Umuahia ( Fishers) and University of Nigeria,vNsukka. He led the federal forces against the Biafrans and for his betrayal was made Administrator of South east state. He asked that Igbo properties be declared abandoned properties and be forfeited to them. He personally took over Ojukwu father's property in Port Harcourt which he occupied at a time with a certain Lt. Sani Abacha his friend and killer. To rub in the humiliation of Igbos whom he hated so much, he wrote " Toad for Supper" which was a mockery of how they made Igbos suffer so much during the war that they fed on toads and lizards. He encouraged the Ikkwerres to deny their Igboness and assisted Elechi Amadi to invent the corruption of Igbo names by adding "r" and "y" to form jargons like Rumuokoro and Oyibo instead of Umuokoro and Obigbo. This they said is Ikkwerre a distinct language and tribe.
It is important to note that Ken Sarowiwa was not killed by his co travelers for agitating for environmental rights. Environmental rights was one of his pastimes which he used to extort money and exert influence on government and oil companies. He was killed for the murder of five Ogoni chiefs( Chief Fugbara, Kogbara Kobani et al) . These were men who were opposed to his immoral and outlandish lifestyle and actually wanted a more responsible engagement with government and oil companies. He labelled them vultures. Masterminded and led a mob attack on these men and killed the five of them in a single day. It was a murder trial and environmental issues was not on the charge sheet. He was found guilty, convicted and hanged. His friend and collaborator in arms, now Gen Sani Abacha was the Head of state. It was not in vain that Ojukwu, (may his soul find peace), made effort to see him at Port Harcourt prison before his execution. Of course all effort to save him by the emasculated Igbos had failed. Emeka Anyaoku did his best. God bless him. Ojukwu visited him and greeted him " Good morning" in broad day light. The Igbo spirit is a forgiving one, the day the Yoruba, Efik, Ibibio, Rivers, Ijaw people will come to terms with the Igbo, that will be when Nigeria will have everlasting peace.

The State and the Coupist

     

Should former military heads of states continue to collect salaries and other emoluments from the Nigeria state? If it is agreed that Military regimes are aberrations on the polity it follows that coupists should be outcasts, to say the least, within a democratic setting. For a coupist to be drawing salaries and emoluments from the state is a misnomer and a contradiction in terms. For the very states these military officers overthrew to now turn around and be pandering to their needs is turning logic on its head. It just doesn’t follow. A former coup leader, Major General Murtala Mohammed’s face adorns our currency, Major roads and streets in Nigeria are named after him and other s in his circle. Late Gen. Abacha still has a stadium in Kano, his hometown, named after him. This is even after cases of fraud have been established against him. Switzerland and other countries in the West are still repatriating Abacha’s stolen wealth back to Nigeria.
   Our current President, a coupist, is also a beneficiary of the Nigeria State largess as he was being paid salaries and emoluments by virtue of his being a former Head of State. His vehicles were being replaced every three years or so. Now, he has even been compensated for overthrowing the state by becoming our President through the ballot box. Street names and buildings bearing the names of these coupists should be changed forthwith. They don’t deserve our appreciation.

The State and the Coupist

     

Should former military heads of states continue to collect salaries and other emoluments from the Nigeria state? If it is agreed that Military regimes are aberrations on the polity it follows that coupists should be outcasts, to say the least, within a democratic setting. For a coupist to be drawing salaries and emoluments from the state is a misnomer and a contradiction in terms. For the very states these military officers overthrew to now turn around and be pandering to their needs is turning logic on its head. It just doesn’t follow. A former coup leader, Major General Murtala Mohammed’s face adorns our currency, Major roads and streets in Nigeria are named after him and other s in his circle. Late Gen. Abacha still has a stadium in Kano, his hometown, named after him. This is even after cases of fraud have been established against him. Switzerland and other countries in the West are still repatriating Abacha’s stolen wealth back to Nigeria.
   Our current President, a coupist, is also a beneficiary of the Nigeria State largess as he was being paid salaries and emoluments by virtue of his being a former Head of State. His vehicles were being replaced every three years or so. Now, he has even been compensated for overthrowing the state by becoming our President through the ballot box. Street names and buildings bearing the names of these coupists should be changed forthwith. They don’t deserve our appreciation.