Opinion
Hardship protest: Lawmakers’ salary cut and Kalu’s part-time legislative advocacy
By Ehichioya Ezomon
In an novel move that many Nigerians have hailed as in the right direction – even as they hold that it doesn’t go far enough – members of the House of Representatives have donated half of their salaries for the next six months – in the first instance – to complement Federal Government’s efforts at cushioning the economic hardship Nigerians undergo, especially since the Bola Tinubu administration in May 2023.
Viewed by sceptics as a fry in the pan – until a wholesale cut from the legislators’ homongous allowances that are in the realm of speculations and conjectures due to opaque disclosure even by fiscal responsibility advocates in the legislature – the lawmakers’ slash of salary by 50% for six months will amount to barely N3.240bn on the assumption that the 360 odd House members receive monthly basic of N1.5m, totally N540m.
Though Senators haven’t indicated they’d follow suit, calls have sometimes been cacophonious for members of the National Assembly (NASS) to shed their sundry allowances – reportedly graded from about N32m to over N50m – that they’ve enjoyed since the Fouth Republic commenced in May 1999.
They hardly settled down when the lawmakers of both chambers of the NASS embarked on a spending binge in official and private capacities, giving the impression that there’re surplus allocations to throw around in the midst of crushing poverty that’s earned Nigeria the unenviable record of the “Poverty Capital of the World.” Hence the NASS looks to draw as much of public anger as the executive arm of government, which, nonetheless, receives more resources than the legislature.
Nigeria’s journey to poverty is storied, with each succeeding government – whether civilian or military – pursuing policies and programmes that favour the ruling class and elite, without commensurate ameliorating measures that cater to the basic needs of the masses.
President Tinubu’s twin policy of removal of subsidy on petrol and floating of the Naira has exacerbated a bad situation of years of intermittent increase in prices of imported petroleum products – for a country that’s one of the largest producers, and with huge oil and gas reserves in the world – and inadequate and inefficient generation, transmission and distribution of power, with Nigeria becoming one of the world’s largest importers of generating sets as the main source of powering homes, offices and businesses.
The result of Tinubu’s declaration of “subsidy is gone” at his inauguration on May 29, 2023 – and subsequent floating of the Naira – had spontaneous effects on its value against other tradable currencies, a spike in inflation, and a steep rise in prices of goods and services, such as petrol, transportation, foodstuff, household consumables, pharmaceuticals, utility, rentage and tuition, resulting in low purchasing power, and less food on the table for tens of millions of citizens.
With Nigeria again earning an ignoble award for the “Highest Multi-Dimensional Poverty in the World,” the citizens’ woes have multiplied by manufacturers’ striving to maximise profit by adopting what, in economics, is known as shrinkflation, and skimpflation – a portmanteau of shrink and inflation, and skimp and inflation.
Adopting “shrinkflation” (reduced quantities) and “skimpflation” (lower quality ingredients) for household consumables – while the prices remain the same or slightly increase – is a decadesold practice since the downturn in Nigeria’s economy, and the push for value addition to locally-produced goods. The difference in the prevaling instance is the sharp increase in prices by over 100% since mid 2023, even as products continue to shrink and skimp almost biweekly or monthly.
In their bid to cut costs and maximise profit – or even exploit the situation and make abnormal profit, also called excess profit, supernormal profit or pure profit, “over and above what provides its owners with a normal return to capital” – producers have visited shrinkflation, also labels as “package downsizing, weight-out, and price pack architecture,” and skimpflation on packaged household consumables, such as beverages, noodles, flours, purees, table and ‘pure satchet water’, cooking oils and toiletries.
The hardship in the land – and the unbridled spending on luxurious items that make those in government “super comfortable” – have riled the masses, and turned their hunger into anger, and a call to action by mostly the youths, to protest what’s been perceptively consensually agreed as bad governance.
As the Tinubu administration appears to focus some of its policies to alleviating the problems, the youths – who argue that one year is enough for the government to consolidate such programmes – think the agents of their sufferings can best be addressed through mass protests, to hasten official actions.
The nationwide protests, which began on August 1 – and uncharacteristically predominate the North-West and North-East, and allegedly infiltrated by hoodlums and insurgents – have had telling consequences in death and destruction, prompting declaration of 12-hour to 24-hour curfews in several of the states, and heightened alert to deploy the military should the scenarios spiral out of control of the Police and other security agencies.
In the interim, former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kanu’s offering appeals, and recommendations for the way out of Nigeria’s economic logjam. Dr Kalu (APC, Abia North), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation, and former Chief Whip, is adding his voice to the clamour for a part-time legislature, to cut costs of governance.
As reported by Vanguard on July 21, 2024, Kalu, who expressed his views in an interview published on his verified Facebook page, thinks that the part-time legislative measure can significantly reduce government’s expenditure and enhance public trust in the political system.
“Not only the Senate and the House of Representatives, but all the legislative houses in Nigeria will be part-time,” Kalu says, adding, “I think it will be a very good idea if my colleagues and other members of the Houses of Assembly will agree that we can sit for three months and do constitutional amendment first.”
Kalu suggests that the legislative bodies can convene four times a year – with provisions for emergency sessions, as needed – arguing that it’ll allow for more efficient governance without the need for full-time legislative operations.
Kalu also advocates for regional governments, as a cost-saving alternative. “If we’re going for regional government, it also means that the ministers, the legislators, will be the same,” he says. “I’ve been tinkering with the idea of how we can save money to run Nigeria because the country needs money.”
Urging President Tinubu and the National Assembly to consider the legislative changes, with their potential to benefit the entire nation, Kalu touches on the “misconception” that senators receive excessive compensation, and stressed the need for a constitutional amendment, to facilitate part-time legislative sessions, as “that will bring trust and bring relief to the Nigerian people.”
Note that a part-time legislature – including the abolishment of the Senate – is No. 2 on the list of 15 demands (that’s kept changing) by the “unidentified organisers” of the August 1 to August 10, 2024, protests, captioned: “#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria
for the Days of Rage revolt
NON-NEGOTIABLE DEMANDS.” The ‘organisers’ urge: “(2) Toss the Senate arm of the Nigerian Legislative System, keep the House of Representatives (HOR), and make lawmaking a part-time endeavour.”
Here’s where the resistance to the change in the configuration of the legislature may come from: From the legislators themselves, who won’t want to lose their exalted positions, particularly in the Senate that’s literally become a “retirement place for and benefit” to former Governors.
Even a return to Regional Government may not be sweet music to the lawmakers because of the concomitant demand for accountability and transparency in parliaments, which the Nigerian legislators seem to loathe in their defence of fiscal and legislative autonomy for the National and State Houses of Assembly.
Yet, it’s imperative for Senator Kalu – in his stated commitment to “reducing governmental costs and fostering a more efficient and trustworthy political system in Nigeria” – and like-minded lawmakers to continue to advocate, and sustain the momentum for Nigeria to either adopt a part-time legislature under the subsisting presidential system of government.
Or return to a parliamentary democracy, as practised in the First Republic between October 1960 – following Nigeria’s independence from Britain – and January 1966, when the Military staged its first coup to upend, and suspend democracy in the country for decades – except for barely four years during the Second Republic, from October 1979 to December 1983.
Such a change will fit into the broader moves – some with constitutional underpinning – that’s silently and gradually emerging under the Tinubu administration, to restructure Nigeria in line with public clamours and recommendations of national conferences, and reports of committees empanelled over the years to so carry out!
Mr Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria
By Tunde Olusunle
It may be well over two years to the next cycle of general elections in Nigeria. For the people of Apa/Agatu federal constituency in *Benue South, however, the measure of their participation and integration into the governance scheme will be defined in the run-up to the general polls that year. Nine local government areas make up the predominantly Idoma country of Benue State also labelled Zone C in the senatorial tripod of the geo-polity. The zone is also home to the Igede ethnic stock and the Etulo. Local government areas in “Benue Zone C” include: Apa, Agatu, Oju, Obi, Ado, Ogbadibo, Okpokwu, Otukpo and Ohimini. The other zones, Benue North East and Benue North West, are wholly dominated by the Tiv nationality, striding across 14 local government areas. They are christened Zone A and Zone B in the local political scheme of the state. Federal constituencies in Benue South are: Apa/Agatu, Oju/Obi; Ado/Ogbadibo/Opokwu and Otukpo/Ohimini.
The subjugation of groups and ethnicities considered demographically smaller, by the larger groups which has dominated Nigeria’s politics over time, has not been any different for the Idoma of Benue State. Until the circumstantial emergence of a Yahaya Bello from the Ebira ethnicity in Kogi State in 2015, the Igala had the relay baton of governorship of Kogi State, in rounds and succession. The Ebiras and the Okun-Yoruba zones in the state could only aspire to be serial deputies or Secretaries to the State Government. This political template was virtually cast in stone. The Ilorin people of Kwara State have similarly wholly warehoused the gubernatorial office, sparingly conceding the position to other sociocultural groups in the state. The only exception was the concession of the seat to a candidate from Kwara South, in the person of Abdulfatah Ahmed, by his predecessor, Bukola Saraki in 2011. Even at that, there were murmurs and dissent from those who believed Ahmed came from a community too close to the Ilorin emirate to be of genuine Igbomina stock, which prides itself as the pure Yoruba species in Kwara State.
Twenty-six years into the Fourth Republic, the maximum proximity of the Idoma to Government House, Makurdi, has been by the customary allocation of the Deputy Governor’s slot to its people. Ogirri Ajene from Oju/Obi, the charismatic blue-blood of blessed memory, was deputy to George Akume, incumbent Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), from 1999 to 2007. Akume it was reported, genuinely desired to be succeeded by Ajene who exhibited competence and loyalty and could build on their legacies. The Tiv nation we understand, shot down the proposal. Gabriel Suswam succeeded Akume and had the urbane multipreneur, Stephen Lawani from Ogbadibo as deputy. Samuel Ortom, a Minister in the Goodluck Jonathan presidency who took over from Suswam opted for Benson Abounu, an engineer from Otukpo as running mate, while Hyacinth Alia, the Catholic priest who succeeded Ortom, also chose as deputy, Samuel Ode, who was also a Minister in the Jonathan government, from Otukpo. Arising from this precedence, Apa/Agatu has not for once, been considered for a place in Government House, Makurdi.
In similar fashion, the position of Senator representing Benue South, has repeatedly precluded Apa/Agatu federal constituency. David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark a former army General from Otukpo, took the first shot at the office in 1999. He was to remain in the position for five consecutive times, a distinctive record by Nigerian standards. Mark would subsequently become President of the Senate and the third most senior political office holder in the nation’s governance scheme for a string of two terms between 2007 and 2015. He was replaced by Patrick Abba Moro, who hails from Okpokwu and was a former teacher, in 2019. Abba Moro who previously served as Minister of Interior in the Jonathan government from 2011 to 2015, won a second term at the 2023 general elections and remains substantive Senator for “Benue Zone C.” He is indeed incumbent Minority Leader of the Senate, and thus a principal officer in the leadership scheme of the “red chambers.”
While Moro is barely two years into his second term, there are suggestions that he is interested in a third term which should run from 2027 to 2031! This is the core issue which has dominated contemporary political discourse in Benue South, especially from the Apa/Agatu bloc. For Apa/Agatu, it is bad enough that they are repeatedly bypassed in the nomination of deputy governors in the scheme of state politics. It is worse that they are equally subjugated by their own kinsmen within the context of politics in *Idoma and Igede land.* This is particularly worrying when both local government areas constituting the Apa/Agatu federal constituency, Apa and Agatu, are not in anyway deficient in human resources to represent Benue South. Names like John Elaigwu Odogbo, the incumbent *Och’Idoma* and respected clergy; Isa Innocent Ekoja, renowned Professor and Librarian; Sonny Togo Echono, FNIA, OON, Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TETFUND), and John Mgbede, Emeritus State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Benue State, readily come to mind.
Major General R.I. Adoba, (rtd), a former Chief Training and Operations in the Nigerian Army; Professor Emmanuel Adanu, former Director of the Kaduna-based National Water Resources Institute, (NWRI) and the US-based specialist in internal medicine, Dr Raymond Audu, are eminent Apa/Agatu constituents. There are also Ada Egahi, long-serving technocrat who retired from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (NPHDA), and Super Eagles forward, Moses Simon, (why not, hasn’t the retired soccer star, George Opong Weah just completed his term as President of Liberia)? The Member Representing Apa/Agatu in the House of Representatives, Godday Samuel Odagboyi, an office previously held by Solomon Agidani, as well as Adamu Ochepo Entonu, is, like his predecessors, a prominent figure from the resourceful Apa/Agatu federal constituency.
The Olofu brothers, Tony Adejoh, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, (AIG), and David, PhD, a renowned management and financial strategist, who is also an Emeritus Member of the Benue State Executive Council during the Ortom dispensation, are from the same federal constituency. So is Abu Umoru, a serial entrepreneur who represents Apa State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly. The continuing intra-zonal alienation of Apa-Agatu from the politics of Benue Zone C, remains a sore thumb which must be clinically diagnosed and intentionally treated in the run-up to 2027.
If previous top level political office holders from Idomaland in general and Apa/Agatu in particular, had diligently applied themselves to tangible, multisectoral development of the zone and constituency, the present clamour for inclusiveness would probably been less vociferous. *River Agatu* which flows from Kogi State, and runs through Agatu before emptying into *River Benue,* is a potential game changer in the socioeconomy of Apa/Agatu, Benue South and Benue State in general. Properly harnessed, it can revolutionise agriculture and aquaculture in the state, beyond subsistence levels which are the primary vocations of the indigenous people. Rice, yam, guinea corn, millet and similar grains, thrive in the fertile soils of the area. These can support “first level” processing of produce and guarantee value addition beneficial to the primary producers, before being shipped to other markets. River Agatu can indeed be dammed to provide hydro-electricity to power the entire gamut of Idomaland.
The infrastructure deficit in Benue South with specific reference to Apa/Agatu is equally very concerning. A notable pattern in Nigerian politics is its self-centeredness, the penchant for political players to prioritise their personal wellbeing and the development of their immediate space. This has accentuated the ever recurring desire of people to ascend the political pedestals of their predecessors if that is the principal window by which they can also privilege their own primary constituents. Motorable roads are non-existent, seamless travel between communities therefore encumbered. Expectedly this has been a major impediment to subsistent trade and social engagements between constituents and their kinsmen. Primary health facilities are almost non-existent, compelling people to flock to Otukpo, headquarters of Benue South, for the minutest of medical advice and treatment.
Apa/Agatu pitiably bleeds from the relentless and condemnable activities of vagrants and bandits who have reduced the constituency into a killing field. Reports suggest that in the past 15 years, no less than 2500 lives were lost to the vicious attacks of marauders and trespassers in the area under reference. This unnerving situation has compelled engagements between concerned Apa/Agatu leaders, and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, (NPF). The prayer is for the swift establishment of a mobile police outpost in the troubled sub-zone to contain bloodletting. The proposal, anchored by AIG Tony Olofu, NPOM, (rtd), and Echono, has received the blessings of the police high command. At the last update, a commander for the outfit had been named, while the deployment of personnel had begun in earnest.
It is very clear that in the march towards 2027, Apa/Agatu will refuse, very vehemently, to be sidelined and trampled upon in the political scheme of their senatorial zone. Abba Moro may desire a third term in the Senate, but the people of Apa/Agatu are quick to remind him that his curriculum vitae as a politician is sufficiently sumptuous for him to yield the seat in the “red chambers” and sit back like an elder statesman. They remind you that for a man who began his working life modestly as a lecturer in the Federal Polytechnic, Ugbokolo in 1991, Abba Moro has done extremely well for himself in Nigerian politics. For reminders, Abba Moro was elected Chairman of Okpokwu local government in the state as far back as 1998. Ever since, he has remained a permanent fixture in Nigeria’s national politics.
The people of Apa/Agatu will put up a determined fight for the Benue South senatorial seat in 2027, and no one should begrudge them. They are the proverbial ram which was pushed to the wall, which must of necessity push back with angered horns to liberate itself. They are already engaging with their kith across “Benue Zone C” to ensure that intra-zonal equity, fairness and justice, prevails in communal politics.
Tunde Olusunle, PhD, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), teaches Creative Writing at the University of Abuja
By Dr. Ag Zaki
On Thursday, 9 January 2025, Prince Adewole Adebayo presented a keynote address at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The occasion was the annual conference of a group of professionals, business executives and experts codenamed J9C for January 9 Collective. The theme of the Conference was “Business and Policy Strategy: Examining the Role of Reform in enhancing the ease of doing business in Nigeria.” Prince Adebayo is a versatile cerebral man of many parts, a lawyer, a multimedia practitioner, a real estate investor, a large-scale miner, a philanthropist, a community developer, and the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The organisers of the J9C conference introduced him as an intercontinental lawyer because he currently practices law in over sixteen countries.
The full speech of Prince Adebayo at the occasion is available online and can be accessed by clicking at this url: https://youtu.be/SsHkcJbVNRg?si=ebvoOVqGh0zVOsnt or by scanning the QR code above. However, we are presenting the salient take-aways from this most incisive keynote address below for the convenience of interested persons and for the public good.
THE TAKE-AWAYS
Preamble
1. Not every change of policy or programme is a reform. A reform is a fundamental change in the activities, programmes, and policies structured to cause improvement. Genuine government reforms are people oriented and so citizens can interject, comment or contribute.
2. Reform may be internally motivated, externally forced or imposed, or technological driven.
3. The government of Nigeria must first reform itself to be able to implement development-oriented reforms to improve the country’s economic performance.
In general terms
4. Fiscal and monetary reforms are critical and are urgently required in Nigeria. While government can freely control its fiscal reforms, it must be bound by market forces for realistic and realisable monetary reforms.
5. Economic reforms must positively affect developmental policies, programmes and projects to engender economic growth, increase in efficiency, and lead to stability. Economic and political reforms must be implemented pari-passu for untainted policies and programmes.
6. Urgent structural reforms are required in areas of legal reforms, laws on banking controls and regulations, lending and borrowing as well as land matters.
In specific terms
7. Reforms which are aimed at targeting ease of doing business must be aligned with the Malam Aminu Kano maxim that “all civil servants should abstain from contracts or business”.
8. Nigeria must break the current odious and unwholesome conspiracies between policy makers, civil servants, and contractors, which can lead to irreversible endemic corruption, long foreseen by the revered Malam Aminu Kano, and which can permanently damage the economy.
9. Structural reforms must ensure that land laws open up maximum benefits and potentials of the land, encourage labour productivity and efficient and transparent entrepreneurship rules including registration, capital and lending matters.
10. Tax reforms should be broad-based, not about sharing of revenue but promoting productivity and competitiveness in all aspects of endeavours and infrastructure reforms should make transportation of people and goods safe and cost effective.
11. Monitoring economic crimes must be thorough and should go beyond arresting of “Yahoo boys” and those spraying Naira notes, but those devaluing the Naira and abusing economic rules and regulations.
Warnings
12. Adebayo left some stern terse warnings for the business sector and for the government of Nigeria.
13. Business executives and professionals should not ask or encourage government for specific reforms but for general broad-based reforms as firm-specific reforms can enhance operations of specific firms or business in the short term but will ultimately kill the industry.
14. Government should not meddle into business or be guided by partisan businessmen; government should meet business only at the junction of regulatory framework.
15. Government should be selfless and honest in carrying out reforms, incorporate measurable performance indices and ensure that reforms are implemented in a way not to inflict pains or punishment on the people.
# DrZaki25, 903 Tafawa Balewa Way, Abuja
By Eigbefo Felix
His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Executive Governor of Edo State, has demonstrated that he is a blessing to the state through his policies, appointments, initiation of road construction across the three senatorial districts, and his deep love for the people of Edo State.
Governor Monday Okpebholo has begun fulfilling the five-point agenda he promised the good people of the state since his inauguration.
In the area of security, he has shown total commitment. He assured the people of Edo State that he would ensure their safety, and true to his word, the state remains peaceful, which has brought joy to its residents. He has provided the necessary support to security personnel.
The governor increased the subvention for Ambrose Alli University (AAU) from ₦40 million to ₦500 million. He also promised to address the issues facing AAU medical students. Additionally, he has started renovating primary and secondary schools across the state, underscoring his understanding of the importance of education.
The agricultural sector has taken a positive turn as Governor Okpebholo has allocated ₦70 billion to the sector. Recognizing agriculture’s importance to both the state and the nation, he is positioning Edo State to become the food basket of the nation with his investments in the sector.
During the electioneering period, Senator Okpebholo promised to create 5,000 jobs within his first 100 days in office. He has already begun the process, and soon, the people of Edo State will benefit from these employment opportunities. Unlike in the past, he will not rely on MOUs before making appointments. Furthermore, he has started appointing Edo State indigenes, rather than outsiders, to various positions.
Governor Okpebholo has commenced road projects across the state, from Edo South to Edo Central and Edo North. He believes that when roads are motorable, the prices of goods in the market will automatically reduce.
He has also begun investing in the health sector, understanding its critical importance to the people of Edo State.
Governor Monday Okpebholo’s initiatives and actions affirm his dedication to transforming Edo State for the better.
-
Crime1 year agoPolice nabs Killer of Varsity Lecturer in Niger
-
News12 months agoFCT-IRS tells socialite Aisha Achimugu not to forget to file her annual returns
-
Appointment1 year agoTinubu names El-Rufai, Tope Fasua, others in New appointments
-
Kogi1 year agoINEC cancells election in 67 polling units in Ogori-Magongo in Kogi
-
Kogi1 year agoEchocho Challenges Tribunal Judgment ordering rerun in 94 polling units
-
News1 year agoIPOB: Simon Ekpa gives reason for seperatists clamour for Biafra
-
Metro10 months ago‘Listing Simon Ekpa among wanted persons by Nigeria military is rascality, intimidation’
-
News1 year agoKingmakers of Igu/ Koton-Karfe dare Bello, urge him to reverse deposition of Ohimege-Igu