Editorial
Wednesday, 16 October 2024 05:16
Editorial: Increasing VAT at this time?
Nigeria is on the verge of a significant tax policy shift as the National Assembly considers a bill proposed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 7.5% to 10% in 2025, with a gradual rise to 15% by 2030. While this move might seem like a necessary fiscal measure to boost government revenue, the timing and the potential impact on the economy raise serious concerns. Amid rising inflation, deepening poverty, and escalating energy costs, increasing VAT at this moment is an ill-advised decision that could further harm the very people it aims to support.…
Tuesday, 15 October 2024 04:53
Editorial: Bola Tinubu University of what?
The introduction of a bill in the Nigerian House of Representatives seeking to establish the “Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal University of Nigerian Languages” is an unfortunate reminder of the National Assembly’s growing detachment from public sentiment and intellectual rigor. This ill-conceived move, spearheaded by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and his fellow backers, signals a blatant disregard for both the needs of the Nigerian people and the integrity of the country’s higher education system. At the heart of this bill is the alarming question: what exactly qualifies President Bola Tinubu for such an honor? Naming an institution after an individual is…
Monday, 14 October 2024 04:44
Editorial: Madam, with due respect, your husband is responsible for current hardship
In a recent statement that can only be described as detached from reality, Mrs. Remi Tinubu, wife of Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu, claimed that her husband is not responsible for the current economic hardship gripping the nation. This assertion is not only misleading but also demonstrates a dangerous lack of accountability at the highest levels of government. Let's be clear: President Tinubu's policies have undeniably exacerbated Nigeria's economic woes. Since taking office: 1. The Naira has plummeted from N465/$ to N1,700/$, a devastating 70% devaluation. 2. Petrol prices have skyrocketed from N187/litre to above N1,000/litre. 3. Inflation has surged from…
Wednesday, 25 September 2024 04:41
Editorial: Dangote’s self-serving call for petrol subsidy removal
Aliko Dangote’s recent call for the removal of the petrol subsidy, based on the specious comparison between fuel prices in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, is not only misleading but also reveals a deeply selfish agenda that disregards the economic realities of ordinary Nigerians. Dangote's attempt to justify a petrol price hike by claiming that fuel is cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia, while ignoring the vast disparity in minimum wages between the two countries, is both disingenuous and dangerous. While petrol may indeed be 60 percent cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia, Dangote conveniently overlooks the fact that…
Tuesday, 24 September 2024 04:56
Editorial: The farce of Nigerian elections - a system beyond reform
Once again, Nigeria’s electoral process has descended into a grotesque spectacle, as witnessed in the recent Edo State governorship election. What transpired on September 21, 2024, was not an election in any democratic sense, but rather a shameless transaction, where votes were auctioned to the highest bidder. Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party candidate, aptly described the event as a "bidding war" for votes between the two dominant parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This "election" is yet another confirmation that Nigeria’s democracy has been hijacked by political entrepreneurs who have mastered the art of…
Monday, 16 September 2024 04:31
Editorial: The fairy tale of the adventures of BAT and RAT
In the heart of Nigeria, where multidimensional poverty tightens its grip on the bellies of over 130 million souls, two creatures have made Aso Rock their lavish haven. The Bat and the Rat—the power couple—perch high above the suffering masses, oblivious to the devastation their extravagance leaves in its wake. The symbolism couldn’t be more apt: the Bat, a sneaky, nocturnal creature with an eye for mischief, and the Rat, a notorious destroyer of things at homes, gnawing away at what little remains of the nation's wealth. Nigeria is in a state of misery. Hunger stalks the streets like an…
Wednesday, 11 September 2024 04:31
Editorial: Tinubu's assault on democracy and Nigeria’s descent into tyranny
In a chilling echo of Nigeria's darkest days under military rule, President Bola Tinubu's administration has unleashed a wave of repression that threatens to strangle the very democracy he once fought to establish. The recent spate of arrests, detentions, and intimidation of activists, journalists, and civil society organizations paints a grim picture of a government spiraling towards authoritarianism. The arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the brazen raid on the offices of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) are not isolated incidents, but part of a broader pattern of governmental overreach. These actions, coupled…
Tuesday, 10 September 2024 04:51
Editorial: Verification Portal shutdown is a misstep in addressing healthcare worker migration
The decision by the Nigerian government to shut down the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria's (NMCN) verification portal has caused significant disruption for Nigerian nurses and midwives working abroad, forcing many to return home under distressing circumstances. This policy, ostensibly aimed at curbing the mass migration of healthcare workers, is a flawed and short-sighted approach to a complex issue that demands a more nuanced solution. Rather than stemming the tide of migration, the government has infringed on the rights of nurses to offer their services freely, punishing those who have sought better opportunities abroad due to poor pay and…
Monday, 09 September 2024 04:50
Editorial: Criminalizing protest is the real treason
In a shocking display of authoritarian overreach, the federal government has initiated mass trials of #EndBadGovernance protesters, marking a dark chapter in the nation's democratic history. This egregious act not only tramples on the fundamental rights of citizens but also exposes the government's blatant disregard for the principles of democracy and the rule of law. The charges of treason leveled against these protesters for their alleged attempt to overthrow President Bola Tinubu's government are nothing short of farcical. Let us be clear: peaceful protest is not treason; it is a cornerstone of democracy. By criminalizing dissent, the government is committing…
Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:59
Editorial: How can the average Nigerian survive this relentless assault on their livelihood?
Once again, Nigeria’s struggling masses are forced to bear the brunt of yet another petrol price hike, a staggering increase that has seen fuel prices skyrocket to as much as N897 per litre in Abuja. This latest act of economic cruelty comes as Nigerians are already buckling under immense pressure from inflation, joblessness, and the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. How, we ask, is the average Nigerian supposed to survive? The reality is grim: transportation costs have risen by over 50%, meaning that basic necessities—food, medicine, utilities—are further out of reach for millions. What was once a…
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Tuesday, 03 September 2024 04:57
Editorial: Stop the sleaze, privatize NNPCL as the law mandates
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) has long been a symbol of mismanagement, corruption, and inefficiency, despite being the custodian of one of the world’s largest oil reserves. The persistent fuel shortages, mounting debts, and inability to fulfill its basic mandate of ensuring energy security have underscored the need for urgent reforms. The recent admission by NNPCL that it is struggling financially—owing international oil traders over $6 billion—highlights the severe crisis facing the company and, by extension, the Nigerian economy. The NNPCL, now existing under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as a limited liability company, was intended to operate…
Monday, 02 September 2024 04:42
Editorial: FCCPC unveils groundbreaking economic strategy - ‘cut your price or else…’
In a stunning display of economic genius that has left Nobel laureates scratching their heads, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has unveiled its revolutionary strategy to combat Nigeria's skyrocketing inflation: simply telling businesses to charge less money. Who knew it could be so easy? Led by the visionary Tunji Bello, the FCCPC has boldly declared war on the true villains of Nigeria's economic crisis: small business owners and market traders. These nefarious individuals, with their dastardly plots to "stay in business" and "feed their families," have been put on notice. Their reign of terror, characterized by the…
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 05:01
Editorial: Nigeria’s teaching hospitals—on life support
The state of Nigeria's teaching hospitals is a dire reflection of the broader challenges plaguing the nation's healthcare system. Established to serve as centers of medical excellence, these institutions are now themselves in critical condition, grappling with issues that threaten not only the lives of patients but also the economic stability of the nation. The problems are multifaceted. Hospitals like the University College Hospital in Ibadan and the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital face severe shortages in medical equipment and staff. The absence of functioning MRI machines, outdated mammography equipment, and unreliable power supply are not just inconveniences—they are…
Tuesday, 27 August 2024 04:49
Editorial: The great NNPC heist: A mockery of corporate governance and national interest
In a bewildering turn of events that defies logic and business sense, Nigeria's national oil company, NNPC, has managed to orchestrate what can only be described as the most absurd corporate acquisition in modern history. The saga of NNPC Retail's purchase of OVH Energy Marketing Limited has morphed into a Kafkaesque nightmare where the acquired entity now controls the acquirer, raising serious questions about the competence, integrity, and motives of those at the helm of Nigeria’s national oil company. This farcical transaction, shrouded in secrecy and mired in controversy, represents a gross betrayal of public trust and a blatant disregard…