Connect with us

EDITORIAL

2021:A year of Daunting Challenges for Nigeria

Published

on

Share

As the year, 2021, winds to a close, Nigerians will  readily reflect on it as one of the worst in the annals of the nation’s history.

It was a year Nigerians faced numerous security problems, with a number of  challenges that were unprecedented in the history of the nation.

The nation also encountered economic challenges, with prices of food skyrocketing beyond the reach of the people, and in the process  increasing  the  poverty level of the country which has been dubbed infamously as the “Poverty Capital of the World” for the past three years .

Prices of staple food like rice, beans, garri, yams, etc increased by more than 100 pr-cent within the year.

  On the front burner of the security challenges was the insurgency war in the North East which has been going on for more than eleven  years,  spearheaded by Boko Haram and the  Islamic State for the West African Province(ISWAP). 

Boko Haram alone  accounted for more than 35,000 deaths  in the North East region alone. But for the heroics of the nation’s military men and women, the story would have been worse.

To their credit, their fire power was so significant in the year that thousands of the insurgents surrendered to the nation’s Military. We therefore salute the gallantry of the men and officers of the nation’s Armed Forces for combating the twin insurgency groups whose  operations have been reduced from states like Yobe, Adamawa, but now consigned  to the Lake Chad Region .

We are therefore advocating increased budgeting and financing for the Military to enable them finish the war of attrition against the nation, in the New Year.

Closely related to this was the increasing rate and frequency banditry and kidnapping took tolls on the nation, especially the Northern part of the country. States like Kaduna, Zamfara,Katsina,  and Sokoto were the worst affected. Some of these bandits have been linked to fleeing insurgents from the North East, , and the need for the Federal Government to take counter measures to halt their spread becomes inevitable. Sadly school children and their teachers were  targets of these unlawful elements.

The United Nations Children and Education Fund, UNICEF,  disclosed  that about 1,436 school children and 17 teachers were abducted from Nigeria schools between December 2020 and October 2021. It also disclosed that about 16 school children lost their lives in the process of their abduction within the same period.

Speaking in  similar    Save the Children International, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), said increasing cases of attacks on schools between 2020 and 2021  led to many schools being shut, thereby putting the education system of the country at “extreme risk.” Mercy Gichuhi, Country Director, of the NGO stated this in the event  to mark the world second International Day to Protect Education from Attacks.

Mercy Gichuchi its director in Nigeria  noted that “When education is under attack, a generation is attacked, and that  girls and women were  more vulnerable at times of attack putting them at a higher risk of trauma, fear, gender-based violence, physical and sexual abuse.Many cases of attacks by gunmen  were on schools in Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara and Niger states, during which hundreds of students were abducted for ransom.

She further noted   with concern that  between 2015-2019, there were 100 reported attacks on schools in Nigeria. And that these  attacks have been on the increase between 2020 and 2021, which led to the closedown of many schools by the government due to fear of being attacked,” she said.

She revealed ,  that the  Democratic Republic of Congo, [DRC], Nigeria, Somalia, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Mali, and Libya have education systems that were  at “extreme risk” while Syria and Yemen followed  closely behind.

The  South East region of the country was also a boiling point in the year that is coming to an end with security problems traced to the Indigenous People of Biafra[IPOB] and its affiliate, Eastern Security Network(ESN).

Hundreds of civilians and and  security personnel lost their lives in some of the skirmishes in the area, caused mainly as a result of trouble between the people of the area and herders.

While bidding farewell to 2021 with its numerous challenges, and difficulties witnessed by Nigerians, we are calling on the Federal Government to rise up and work towards making life  meaningful for the citizens. Of greater concern is the issue of security, which has to be addressed with all  seriousness to make the country safer and better place in 2022. 

EDITORIAL

Oloyede: Accolades to Unconventional Public Servant

Published

on

Share

Akin to an eagle-eyed combat pilot on a reconnaissance mission – making his flight preparations, loading the right ammunition and aiming at his target without missing, so was Prof. Is’haq Olarewaju Oloyede, when he arrived the headquarters of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), upon his appointment in 2016.

In the first few months of his assumption of office, activities pervaded to the lowest ebb at the JAMB headquarters.

Like a fighter pilot on a rescue mission, Oloyede embarked on a discreet but holistic audit of the board. He was simply planning how to navigate his flight in order to hit his target, without missing.

While in the closet planning, there was a shift in the timetable date of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UMTE) for that year and tongues went wagging, mostly from staffers of the board that the newly appointed Professor of Islamic Studies and “controversial” former Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, was totally confused and clueless about the demands of the office and the direction to take the examination body.

After the audit, Oloyede gathered enough information and momentum. He then released his mission and vision for the examination body, chief of which was to reposition the board technologically to eliminate all forms of examination malpractices and timely release of results to candidates – three days of sitting for the examination.

Those pronouncements were followed with wide ranging reforms, including unraveling of mind blowing malfeasance of corruption involving several workers of the board. For instance, a staff of the board in Benue State was involved in massive fraud of stealing millions of naira from the sale of examination scratch cards which she claimed was swallowed by “a snake” from the office save.

In Nasarawa State, the staff of the board who was also caught in fraudulent financial malfeasance claimed his car was burnt along Abuja-Lafia road with all the examination scratch cards that were meant for sale to prospective candidates in the state.

 In Kogi State, the staff of the board with itchy fingers claimed he had borrowed money to the state civil servants who were being owed several months of salaries. The ugly stories of massive stealing of the board’s funds reverberated in many states including the headquarters where the former helmsman, Prof. Dibu Ojorinde is currently standing trial for allegedly stealing hundreds of millions of naira.

With those monumental financial malfeasances, candidates were hitherto ripped off of their hard earned money as the examination body was shrouded in fraudulent and chaotic scheming. Consequently, floods of complaints poured in from several quarters on pre-registration and post examination irregularities.

But Oloyede’s surgical knife had cleaned the process and restored sanity after one year in office. By the second year, the examination body had saved over N8 billion and remitted same to the Federal Government, a remarkable departure from about N300 million the examination body was hitherto remitting per year to the government.

Thus, in 2018, the Muhammadu Buhari administration had to review downward the cost of registration of the UTME to N4,500 per candidate from the over N7,000 hitherto charged.

Elated by these remarkable achievements, President Bola Tinubu applauded Prof. Oloyede’s innovative ideas and financial prudence at a recent public engagement organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). .

“One person I always respect is Prof Is’haq Oloyede. Over the years, JAMB never made up to $1m for the Federal Government.

“However, when Prof Oloyede assumed office, JAMB made over N50bn for the Federal Government in one year.”

Another landmark achievement is the initiative in providing Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) the opportunity to register for the 2024/2025 UTME at no cost. This will ensure equal educational opportunities for all, irrespective of physical abilities,

Additionally, the board has acquired some basic tools required by PWDs, like braille machines, personal computers with enlarged features, et al, for persons with special needs.

At a time of verbal rhetoric about fighting corruption by most public servants who are short on practical implementation, at a time revenue generating departments and agencies carry out opaque operations with no tangible results, JAMB, under the captainship of Oloyede, unarguably stands as a referral government agency for transparency.

DAILY ASSET, while commending the management and staff of JAMB, for their commitment to hard work, is pleased to extend warm accolades to a nonconformist and unconventional public servant with passion for accountability and service to humanity.

Continue Reading

EDITORIAL

End Kidnapping and Banditry Now!

Published

on

Share

The alarm bells are ringing with irritating intensity.  There is no place for safety as non state actors are wreaking havoc here and there through violent kidnappings, banditry, terrorism and other forms of criminality across the country. 

The worsening spread of kidnappings and banditry is raging like a wild  fire, which the media had termed, “an epidemic.

” Many precious human lives and property are being lost on a daily basis.
So far, President Bola Tinubu has yet to get a cure.

Although Tinubu inherited the insecurity from the Buhari administration, no new idea has been put on the table to reverse the ugly situation. 

All we hear week in week out from the seat of power and the National Assembly is a pedestrian and lame talk of “we are on top of the situation” and routine invitation of the security chiefs to “come and brief us” of what they are doing to bring the situation to an end.

What is worrisome to some security analysts is the escalation of violent activities by non state actors after every circle of the general elections and the failure of the succeeding government to deal decisively with the situation. 

Judging from the performance of Tinubu as governor in Lagos State, when he tamed the “area boys,” Nigerians had expected that he would replicate same as President to  tackle non state actors who are daily unleashing violence and harm on helpless citizens by way of senseless killings, kidnappings, banditry, terrorism, et al, to usher in a peaceful Nigeria. .

Moreover, Tinubu assumed office at a time the security agencies had acquired (and have continued to take delivery of) military hard wares to combat worsening insecurity without significant success is rather unfortunate. I

It smacks of a joke when the security agencies flaunt those hard wares meant to fight insecurity in towns to harass innocent citizens in what they describe as the “show of force” when in reality non state actors continue to run riot to inflict pernicious injuries on unfortunate citizens in different parts of the country.

DAILY ASSET is of the view that a more coordinated and holistic approach be adopted to end the epidemic by strengthening these processes: 

First, deployment of robust technology and increased funding. The president should order the National Communications Commission (NCC), and all telecommunications companies to partner security agencies in providing accurate information where calls originate. 

This will enable security operatives to clearly identify the point of originating call for swift response. And where any network provider fails to provide a timely and accurate information to security agencies to track such calls, appropriate sanctions should be immediately applied against it even if it means the revocation of the operating license.

Additionally, drones should be acquired for early warning and monitoring of illegal movement of vehicles and persons, particularly in the forests.

Second, there should be strong and mutual inter agency cooperation on information sharing. The President should direct the Central Bank of Nigeria, all money deposit banks, Bureau de Change operators and National Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to reintroduce the cash light policy.

These agencies should synergize to ensure no huge amount in cash is withdrawn over the counter from any money deposit bank. Similarly, the movement of large funds should be tracked and a red flag raised where such funds are suspected of being moved for the funding of illegal activities.

Third. The autonomy of the Local Government Administration should be restored. The chairmen of local councils – as a tier of government closer to the people – must be empowered to deal with security issues. In particular, Divisional Police Stations in rural areas should be beefed up with adequate personnel and equipment, especially patrol vehicles for rapid responses during emergencies. 

We believe that if the above measures are holistically implemented and followed with a clinical reform of the administration of criminal justice for the speedy trial of suspected kidnappers, bandits and terrorists, those violent criminal actions from non state actors will soon be a thing of the past.

Continue Reading

EDITORIAL

Time to Make Public Office Less Attractive

Published

on

Share

Now that the Supreme Court has duly affirmed the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigerians are eager to see the country move forward from its present state of uncertainty.

Democracy is about a social contract between the electorate and politicians, especially those entrusted to hold public offices.

And the failure of the latter to provide security and welfare for the people undermines the essence of the competitive spirit of democracy.

It is becoming a fact in Nigeria, nay Africa that governance is rapidly taking a much wider meaning and no longer restricted to the rule of law where administrative codes are strictly adhered to. Instead, Nigerian politicians place little or no premium on what constitutes governance, let alone good governance.

Since political power is ultimately exercised by politicians, elected into public offices, it is expected they will comply with the laid down principles and governing templates, through which they will gauge the feelings, aspirations and desires of the electorate. Those feelings and desires will ultimately make them formulate policies and programmes viz: participation of citizens, upholding the rule of law, transparency and accountability, responsiveness of the authority, consensus oriented policy, equity and inclusiveness, and strategic vision of the authority, as the case may be.

But it remains to be seen whether the present government has demonstrated enough political will to follow these principles, given its eagerness to borrow and fund consumption and ostentatious lifestyle.

Politicians take advantage of the vulnerability and gullibility of Nigerians, in terms of poverty and ethno-religious sentiments, to buy and bully their way into office without anything to offer outside the propaganda that brought them in. They spend the next four to eight years politicking rather than concentrating on good governance. This is anathema to democratic norms and ethos.

With our debt currently standing at about N80 trillion; about 133 million Nigerians gripped by multidimensional poverty; unemployment rate almost 37% among other negative indices, it is time for the government -at all levels – to hit the ground running by reviewing the social contract between it (government) and the citizenry, majority of whom are trying to eke out a living.

This brings to the fore the need to make Public office less attractive for the corrupt and power mongers among us. The zerosome way we play the game of politics is as a result of the overnight accumulation of wealth and aggregation of power that comes with winning elections. This is why, the goal for most of those contesting for elective office is not service to the people but access to the national cake and personal ego. It is high time Nigeria made governance and government less attractive by strengthening our laws and statutes.

DAILY ASSET is of the view that restructuring our judicial system, empowering the Code of Conduct Bureau and reviewing our legal status in a way and manner that people who once occupy public office and are known to be living far above their cumulative income while in office must be made to account for such wealth. In this case, the onus of proof shall rest on the accused and not the accuser. If this is not done, fraudulent public servants and politicians who occupy public office will continue to exploit the system to their advantage.

Continue Reading

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

NEWS5 hours ago

Tinubu Appoints new Team for Almajiri Education Commission 

SharePresident Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new leadership for the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children...

NEWS5 hours ago

Military Debunks Claim of Reprisal Attacks on Okuama Community

Share The Nigerian Military has debunked claims that it has embarked on reprisal attacks on Okuama Community in Delta. Some...

NEWS5 hours ago

FG Appeals to SSANU, NASU to Call Off Warning Strike

ShareThe Federal Government has appealed to the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational...

NEWS5 hours ago

2 Siblings Die in Bauchi Inferno, another Burnt to Death by Mob      

ShareTwo children have been burnt to death in Bauchi following a fire incident in their residence, the Police said in...

POLITICS5 hours ago

2024 FCT Budget: Wike presents N1.15trn to NASS

ShareBy Laide Akinboade, Abuja  The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike,  on Monday,  defended the details of the...

NEWS5 hours ago

NDLEA Urges Imo Govt to Construct Rehabilitation Centre for Psycho-depressed Youths

ShareFrom Marcel Duru & Charity Wins, Owerri The Public Relation Officer (PRO) of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Alhaji...

NEWS5 hours ago

Okuama: Defence Ministers Condemn Attack, Vow to Nab Perpetrators

ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru and the Minister of State for Defence Dr Muhammed Matawalle...

BUSINESS5 hours ago

Nigeria, Benin Republic Collaborate to Boost Trade, Economic Relations

ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja Nigeria has strengthened its diplomatic and economic relations with the Republic of Benin. This was disclosed...

Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson
NEWS5 hours ago

Dickson Fulfils N100m Scholarship Pledge to 228 Beneficiaries

ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa Former Governor of Bayelsa and Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator...

NEWS5 hours ago

Ijaw Women Commend Tinubu on Otuaro’s Appointment as Administrator of PAP

ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa Ijaw women under the auspices of Ijaw Women Connect (IWC), Worldwide has commended President Tinubu for...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc