The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced ahead of the election that 2,053,061 registered voters would decide the outcome across 2,846 polling units in 18 local government areas. As the election commenced, one thing was notably clear. Amidst the ink-stained thumbs and voters scrutinising the ballot papers, one thing stood out: the strikingly low representation of female candidates.

The November 16 Ondo State Governorship election, which had 18 governorship aspirants—all men with no woman, highlighted a glaring lack of women’s political inclusion, further deepening the gender gap in Nigerian politics.

Ondo women in political participation

Women formed 49.64 per cent (1.019 million) of registered voters in the Ondo election, slightly lower than their male counterparts: 50.36 per cent (1.034 million males), 35.41 per cent (726,944 youths), and 35.17 per cent (721,982 middle-aged individuals).

Despite this percentage of women voters – which shows their involvement in the electoral process, only two women appeared on the ballot paper as deputy governorship aspirants. Labour Party and Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidates, who are not major political parties in the state selected women as running mates.

Aside from the inclusion of women in the governorship race, women’s acceptance in primary elections remains a lingering issue. While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had no female representation in the primary election, the All Progressive Congress (APC) had two aspirants, who garnered low results, making it impossible for them to be flagbearers. Also, only two parties of the governorship aspirants selected women as running mates.

A political expert and former Cross River State sports commissioner, Gladys-Otemnep Festus sees this as a problem. According to her, any society interested in growth must engage women,  and allow them to participate and occupy high office places. 

“They are naturally administrators and so not giving them opportunity could mar a lot of things and it might not be too good for us as a society,” she added.

A reflection on a broader scale

This reality reflects the country’s current political situation. A report by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace revealed that Women’s representation in Nigerian politics has been on a downward slide since 2011, emphasising that the 2023 elections confirmed the expectations of poor outcomes for women.

Despite women constituting 49.3% of Nigeria’s total population, they only managed to secure 4.69% of the executive and legislative positions at the federal and state levels in the elections held between February and March 2023. 

In the 2023 National Assembly elections held on 25 February, 17 women were elected into the 10th National Assembly of the upper and lower chamber. These women were among the 286 women who competed in the party primaries for the 360 House of Representative seats and the 92 who contested for the 109 Senate seats, resulting in a 3.62 per cent representation for women in the 10th Assembly.

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, while relying on the 2023 data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), noted that Nigeria lags behind many other similarly positioned states in sub-Saharan Africa, falling far short of the 26 percent regional average of women in national parliaments.

While this issue still lingers, the underrepresentation of women in political participation has gained root due to the patriarchal practice inherent in our society.  The national average of women’s political participation in Nigeria has remained 6.7 percent in elective and appointive positions, which is far below the Global Average of 22.5 percent, Africa Regional Average of 23.4 percent and West African Sub Regional Average of 15 percent.

Also, no female has been elected president in Nigeria’s history. For the presidential race in 2023, only one candidate, Chichi Ojei of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), appeared on the ballot paper. This was a reduction of six women who were featured on the ballot paper as presidential candidates in the 2019 election.  

Damilola Agbalojobi, political scientist and gender specialist, noted that the mandatory expression of interest and nomination forms required by political parties to run for positions have led to the underrepresentation of women in Politics. 

She added that “election campaign costs are exorbitant unpaid labour burdens, unequal inheritance rights and outright discrimination also mean that women are less likely to be able to afford to follow through the process of getting leadership positions.”

Solutions despite obvious challenges

Having women represented in higher political offices has been a major hurdle. In March 2022, the national assembly rejected a constitutional bill seeking to create special seats for women in the federal legislative arm. 

The bill, titled ‘Bill For an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly; and for related matters,’ was thrown out despite advocacy from the then-First Lady of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari. 

Also, the National Gender Policy in Nigeria has not been achieved. The policy was formulated in 2006 to promote a 35 percent affirmative action for women in all governance processes. Despite this policy being recognised, Nigeria has not achieved the proposed allocation of 35% of legislative seats and political party leadership positions to women. 

For women to effectively get involved in politics, Gladys wants the 35% gender policy to be fully implemented. She said this would make women not just participate in politics, but be in higher positions. 

“If this can be considered, and bring more women into places of authority, I think there will be a reformation in our economy and the entire system” 

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Ariyo, who later broke the trash can, triggered a harsh retaliation from the teacher. The teacher flogged him 24 times and ordered him to perform 162 frog jumps. He collapsed during the punishment and tragically took his last breath while being rushed to multiple hospitals. Reports indicated that he allegedly died from complications arising from the punishment.

Ariyo’s story stands as a haunting reminder of how a teacher’s whip, intended to discipline, can devastatingly end a young life. His name joins the growing list of students whose futures were cruelly cut short by misguided and excessive punishment.

In May 2022, 12-year-old Emmanuel Amidu suffered a similar fate. The Junior Secondary School 2 pupil at Simple Faith Schools, Agbara, Lagos State, died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Surulere, after being flogged by his mathematics teacher. Emmanuel began vomiting in the classroom shortly after the beating and was rushed to the hospital, where he later passed away.

In a more extreme case, in 2020, Boluwatife Omelaja, a student at Elihans College, Ikorodu, Lagos State, met a tragic end. His teacher, Emmanuel, reportedly beat him to death over his inability to answer a classroom question correctly.

Yet, corporal punishment continues to be a common culture in Nigeria. In 2022, UNICEF estimated that 85% of Nigerian children under the age of 14 experienced beatings at school, with nearly one in three children experiencing severe physical punishment. 

Similarly, a World Health Organisation (WHO) global report revealed that in some countries, almost all students report being physically punished by school staff.

According to Saadhna Panday-Soobrayan, UNICEF’s chief of education, “Much of this violent discipline takes place in the very institutions that are entrusted to keep children safe.”

Implications of corporal punishment on students

Research shows that corporal punishment is linked to a range of negative outcomes for children across countries and cultures, including physical and mental ill health, impaired cognitive and socio-emotional development, poor educational outcomes, and increased aggression and perpetration of violence.

“All corporal punishment, however mild or light, carries an inbuilt risk of escalation,” a part of the report reads. 

This view aligns with that of Blessing Ahmodu, an Early Years Educator and Curriculum Coordinator, who shared that corporal punishment teaches students that violent reaction is an acceptable form of discipline, leading to the rise of bullying and aggression in schools.

Drawing from her experience, Blessing said that she was beaten in school as a child by a senior student who was encouraged by a teacher, which made her resent both the teacher and the subject they taught.

“This situation became a norm, where any mistake would result in the senior being called to punish me. It made me resent my teacher and the subject, and I developed a stubborn attitude,” she said.

Phillips Blessing, a secondary school teacher, also believes that beating students makes them feel less important, ultimately affecting their academics. According to her, students who face corporal punishment become less receptive to learning or correction.

A mental health advocate, Favour Emezana, weighed in on the psychological impact of corporal punishments on students. She told Within Nigeria that minors who suffered corporal punishment could develop low self-esteem.

“Children who are repeatedly punished this way may struggle to trust adults or believe in their abilities, which can have a long-term impact on their sense of self-worth,” she said.

Emphasising further, Favour said the scars left by corporal punishment aren’t just physical but also emotional, adding that many children carry the weight of these experiences into adulthood, with some struggling with confidence and difficulty building healthy relationships. She further explained that students might also end up associating fear with learning.

Curbing the trend of corporal punishment in Nigeria

Favour advised that parents collaborate with other guardians to advocate for school reform and encouraged them to adopt positive discipline methods. She also noted signs that could signal to parents that their children might be victims of corporal punishment.

“Changes in behaviour, mood, or even a reluctance to go to school can be indicators that something is wrong. Once you have the details from your child, approach the school calmly but firmly. Speak with teachers or administrators to understand their side and advocate for non-violent ways to handle discipline. No child should have to endure physical punishment to learn a lesson,” Favour said.

However, the educationalist Blessing recommended that teachers be properly trained to understand the psychological and physical harm caused by whipping and learn non-violent methods of discipline.

Offering alternative measures for correcting students, she said teachers should address student misbehaviour by considering individual needs and collaborating with parents to find constructive solutions.

“This approach is effective across all age groups, particularly with secondary school students, who often fear specific consequences like parental involvement or public accountability,” she noted.

Blessing added that students who face corporal punishment from teachers should be protected, adding, “Their rights are being violated, and we need to make sure there’s a system in place where they can speak up without fear of being punished for speaking out.”

What the law says about corporal punishment in Nigeria

Enacted in 2003, the Child Rights Act is Nigeria’s most comprehensive law on children’s rights. It guarantees the rights of all children and explicitly prohibits corporal punishment. Additionally, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP ACT), enacted in 2015, ensures the protection of citizens, including children, from all forms of violence in Nigeria.

Human rights activist Gladys Emmanuel further noted that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which Nigeria ratified in 1991, provides an international standard for child protection. She explained that Article 28(2) of the Convention stipulates that school discipline must be administered in a manner consistent with the child’s human dignity. 

However, legal practitioner Sandra Ezoke noted challenges in adopting the Child Rights Act to protect students from corporal punishment.

“Section 221(1)(b) of the Act specifically speaks about this issue, but there is a lack of political will to implement it fully,” said Sandra.

Gladys added that despite the strong legal framework provided by the Child Rights Act (CRA) and the UNCRC, several limitations hinder their effective implementation and enforcement in Nigeria. Cultural and religious beliefs remain significant barriers, as many communities regard corporal punishment as a legitimate form of discipline within families and schools. 

“These deeply rooted norms often conflict with the principles of the CRA and the UNCRC, making it challenging to enforce the laws effectively.”

Gladys highlights that many parents seeking justice for their children face difficulty accessing affordable legal services, legal aid, and child-friendly complaint mechanisms. These barriers prevent many cases of corporal punishment from being addressed.

In addition, she points out that “enforcement and accountability mechanisms are often inadequate. Corruption, poor training of law enforcement officials, and the perception of corporal punishment as a ‘family matter’ lead to inaction by authorities, school administrators, and community leaders.

“Furthermore, the lack of Family Courts in many states compounds the problem. While the CRA mandates the establishment of such courts to handle child-related cases, their absence means children cannot access justice through child-friendly procedures.”

A ray of hope 

Gladys explained that despite the challenges, parents whose children have faced corporal punishment in schools can still seek legal redress. She noted that parents can report the case to law enforcement (e.g., NAPTIP or the Police), engage a lawyer, or report to the State Ministry of Women Affairs.

According to her, in communities with active community-based child protection committees (CPCs), parents can report the abuse to these local bodies, which often have direct connections with local authorities and child protection agencies.

Gladys further explained that parents can report violations through available child protection hotlines, such as the UNICEF-supported Child Helpline or the NAPTIP hotline 627. 

“These hotlines provide access to child protection services and rapid response from authorities,” she added.

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Born on Feb. 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun State, Lagbaja was admitted to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987 as part of the 39th Regular Course.

Lagbaja held command positions in several military operations, including Operation Harmony IV in the Bakassi Peninsula, the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Operation ZAKI, before being appointed COAS by President Bola Tinubu on June 19, 2023.

The COAS, the highest office in the Nigerian Army and held by an appointed high-ranking officer, is responsible for formulating and executing national security policies in direct collaboration with the Defence Minister. Lagbaja spent 499 days in office before his demise.

His death followed weeks of controversy over his absence from office and the Nigerian Army’s refusal to provide specific details about his whereabouts. Sahara Reporters had earlier reported on Oct. 15 that Lagbaja’s prolonged absence from official duties sparked concern among top generals in the Army, emphasising that he was sick and had been secretly flown abroad by family members for medical attention.

The report, made three weeks earlier, cited multiple undisclosed sources and revealed his absence from notable events, including the combined passing-out parade of the 71 Regular Course of the Army, Navy, and Air Force on September 28 from Army headquarters. 

Lagbaja was also said to have missed the Army War College Nigeria Course 8/2024 graduation dinner and award night in Abuja on Oct. 2, 2024, where he was supposed to be the chief host.

After facing intense criticism following the Sahara Reporters report, which also highlighted a suspected leadership vacuum, the Army disclosed on Oct. 19 that Lagbaja was abroad on an annual leave and medical checkup and refuted claims of a leadership vacuum. 

However, on Oct. 20, social media was flooded with claims that the COAS had died of cancer and that his death was being kept a secret due to “intense lobbying by some generals who want the position.” The Army dismissed these claims as fake news.

On Oct. 31, President Tinubu appointed Lagbaja’s coursemate, Olufemi Oluyede, as acting COAS. Confirming reports of Lagbaja’s incapacitation, Tinubu officially promoted Oluyede to lieutenant-general on November 5.

The following day, headlines reported Lagbaja’s death, relying on a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser on information and strategy to the president, stating that Lagbaja “passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness.”

“Lagbaja’s Death Is Human-Influenced”— Family Speculates

Pa Tajudeen Lagbaja, head of the Lagbaja family and the younger brother of the late COAS’s father, was quick to suggest that the COAS death may have been caused by diabolical means. He mentioned that the COAS could have fallen victim due to a lingering land dispute in the family’s hometown.

Speaking to The Nation, Pa Tajudeen said the dispute began in 2023 and involved the Nigerian Army’s plans to establish a hospital in Ilobu, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area in Osun State.

Regretting that he was the one who obtained the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) form for the late COAS, Pa Tajudeen lamented, “The death that took Taoreed Lagbaja ought to have taken me. I took him as one of my children.” He added, “His passing has left us deeply bereaved.”

Cancer, Poison, What Exactly?

While the death of Lagbaja Taoreed was announced on November 6th by Bayo Onanuga, the statement noted that the COAS passed away after a period of illness, avoiding any specific details. Social media users, not entirely trusting the statement, especially due to the Army’s initial denial that Lagbaja was ill, speculate he may have died of cancer or poisoning.

In a post he made on Facebook on November 7th, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, the Group Head of Current & Public Affairs of News (TVC News) at TVC Communications, indicated he knows the late COAS, suggesting he died of pancreatic cancer. Also, one Jackson Ude on X, in an unconfirmed claim, said the late COAS died from poison.

The Army is still yet to disclose the exact cause of his death and might not, as the late COAS burial has been scheduled for Friday, November 15th, at the military cemetery in Abuja.

Nigerians Mourn His Passing

To many, Lagbaja’s passing may seem like just another loss of a high-ranking military officer, prompting the usual wave of public condolences. But for his family, this loss is a bitter pill, far too painful to swallow. Pa Tajudeen noted that the late COAS had given the family hope, with many promises that were left unfulfilled. However, his only consolation was the reports of Lagbaja’s good deeds before his demise. 

Still grieving the COAS death, some traditionalists in Osun State described it as unnatural. According to Tribune, one of the traditionalists, Awopegba Ifagbemi, said the town’s residents are still mourning the loss and urged the Federal Government to release Lagbaja’s corpse to them to conduct necessary spiritual exercises.

More waves of condolences also greeted Lagbaja’s demise, from government officials to political leaders and the entire country. 

Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate, called Lagbaja’s death a painful loss that has created a significant vacuum in the country. Reflecting on the loss, Obi extended prayers and heartfelt sympathy to Lagbaja’s family, Nigeria’s military, and government, describing the COAS’s passing as irreplaceable.

“General Taoreed Lagbaja is a patriot,” former President Muhammadu Buhari declared, praising the late COAS as one of Nigeria’s finest soldiers.

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, too, hailed him as among Nigeria’s most exemplary military officers.

Adding to the tributes, Minister of Women Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim led a delegation of women leaders to offer their condolences to Mariya Lagbaja, the COAS’s widow, encouraging her to find strength in the country’s support. 

Acting COAS Olufemi Oluyede, accompanied by high-ranking officers, also visited to offer sympathies and support, honouring the late COAS’s dedication and praising him as a “gallant and extremely dedicated leader” who will surely be missed.

In tribute, the Nigerian Army flag flies at half-mast, honouring the legacy of the late COAS.

Like Lagbaja, Others Have Died in Office

Just like Lagbaja, other high-ranking military officers have been defeated by death. Joseph Akahan, appointed COAS in May 1967 under General Yakubu Gowon shortly before the Nigerian Civil War, was among them.

Akahan was reportedly the strategist behind the sea-borne operations led by Lt. Colonel Benjamin Adekunle, which resulted in the capture of Bonny in July 1967. Tragically, he died in a helicopter crash in May 1968, after which General Hassan Katsina succeeded him as COAS.

More recently, on May 21, 2021, a plane crash claimed the life of Ibrahim Attahiru, the COAS appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021. Attahiru, along with ten others on board, lost his life while travelling on a Nigerian Air Force Beechcraft King Air 350. He was heading to Kaduna on May 22, 2021, for an official visit to attend the 80RRI’s Passing Out Parade at Depot Nigerian Army.

The memories of all the deceased COAS, however, live on in the heart of the country they served and their loved ones.

The post How Controversies Surrounded the Death of COAS, Lagbaja Taoreed appeared first on WITHIN NIGERIA.

They have been in prison since their arrest by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force at several locations in Abuja, Gombe, Jos, Kano, and Kaduna. They were arraigned on ten counts, including treasonable felony and destruction of public property.

Before their  arraignment at the high court, they spent three months in custody, breaching existing laws, including the Child right Acts 2003, which explicitly states in section 204 that “ No child shall be subjected to the criminal justice process or to criminal sanctions, but a child  alleged to have committed an act which would constitute a criminal offence if he were an adult shall be  subjected only to the child justice system.”

As the court commenced proceedings, one could see how malnourished these children were. Available videos from the court displayed a stark reality of the Nigerian state— a hungry population struggling to afford food. Sadly, these children bore the brunt of speaking up and were not even adequately fed while in detention.

In the courtroom, they were seen hastily eating right there in the dock, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings, with their focus divided between their food and the proceedings, clearly revealing the hardship they’ve endured. And then, five of them fainted, halting proceedings for a while. 

The government, however, came under heavy criticism from Nigerians and civil society bodies who tagged their action as a breach of existing laws and a dent in Nigeria’s global image. 

They Are Not Minors, FG Counsel Says Blindly

Under the Child Rights Act of 2003, a child is defined as someone who has not attained the age of 18, but the federal government believes otherwise. Among the 119 protesters arraigned were 32 minors from the age of 13. However, the counsel for the Nigerian government, Rimazonte Ezekiel, refuted the claim that they are minors, alleging instead that they are married men.

“All of these boys that we brought to the court today are adults. Most of them are married men; none of them is a minor. Some of them are university graduates,” the counsel said. “The small kids you see here came with their parents to greet their loved ones. They are not even the real suspects standing trial in this case.”

He added, “These boys were arrested in Kaduna and Zaria. These boys were using the Russian flag and calling on the military to remove our president.”

Meanwhile, the governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, stated that he was not aware of the arrest of dozens of minors arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In response to these events, the police justified the arrest and arraignment of minors. According to the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Muyiwa Adejobi, children above the age of seven can be charged in court. This contradicts the statement by the government’s counsel, who told journalists that there were no minors among the arraigned protesters.

Muyiwa clarified that children under seven are exempt from criminal liability under the law, emphasising that the individuals arraigned are 13-year-olds and above.

Tinubu Frees Arraigned Protesters After Hard Knocks

At the resumption of proceedings on Tuesday, Oct. 5, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Justice, Abubakar Babadoko, appeared in court on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation. He informed the presiding Justice, Egwuatu, that the Federal Government had decided to take over the case from the Inspector General of Police and discontinue it under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution.

According to available reports, this directive came from President Tinubu on Oct. 4 following widespread backlash from Nigerians– the same day, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) condemned the detention of minors. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the organisation called on First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu to intervene, urging her to view these young detainees as “her children.” 

CISLAC noted that the treatment of these minors is both disturbing and damaging to Nigeria’s global image, as they were only exercising their constitutional rights. The organisation argued that their detention violates national and international human rights standards.

After the court set bail at N10 million for each defendant, their counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), filed a preliminary objection, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction over the case. He emphasised that, according to Section 18(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Section 15 of the Child Rights Act, Section 2 of the Universal Basic Education Act, and Article 17 of the African Charter, minors should not be subjected to criminal trials.

Falana stressed that both national and international laws protect the rights of these minors, calling on the government to fulfil its duty and provide for their education instead.

After their eventual release, Falana threatened to take the Federal Government to court if these minors were not reintegrated and sent to school, relying on the legal provisions in the 1999 Constitution, the Child Rights Act, and the Universal Basic Education Act.

Protest Is Now Dangerous In Nigeria

Nigeria is gradually becoming a no-protest zone, as anyone who dares to protest in the streets risks arrest, detention, and sometimes death on the protest grounds. Citizens have yet to recover from the historic #EndSARS movement, which took place across the country from Oct. 8, 2020, primarily led by young people. This movement, now commemorated annually, claimed the lives of 56 people, left scores badly injured, and resulted in many arrests.

The Nigerian state cracked down on the #EndSARS protesters, ordering military and police operatives to open live rounds on peaceful demonstrators.

The attacks on protesters have persisted, with demonstrators facing violence even during peaceful demonstrations. In an interview with Vanguard, Tony Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), reported that 27 protesters were killed by police, and about 800 people were arrested during the August #EndBadGovernance protests across the country.

Despite Attacks, Peaceful Protest Remains a Right

Two Sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantee the right to protest. The first is Section 39 (1), which provides for the right to freedom of expression and the press. It states: “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.”

The second is Section 40, which guarantees freedom of association and peaceful assembly. It states “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he/she may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests.” 

Under regional law, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, Article 9 provides for the right to freedom of expression, Article 10 provides for the right to freedom of association, and Article 11 provides for the right to freedom of assembly.

The Universal Declaration on Human Rights also guarantees these rights under International Human Rights Law. Article 19 provides for the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Article 20 provides for the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. 

It is also guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 19 provides the right to freedom of expression, and Article 21 provides the right to peaceful assembly. 

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Suraju was initially held for ten agonizing days at Ifo Police Station in Ogun State before being transferred to Abuja, where he spent weeks—totaling 80 days of detention without a single charge filed against him—before his eventual release on July 12.

On May 3rd, news of the abduction of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police was made public.

His organization, FIJ, had to file a missing person report and contracted a private investigator who was able to locate his last known location before he was taken by the police. Ojukwu, who was accused of violating the 2015 Cybercrime Act, spent days at Panti before being transferred to Abuja.

Ojukwu’s arrest was related to a story alleging that a top government official in the Presidency caused N147 million, originally allocated to build a school, to be paid into the account of a restaurant in Abuja.

Before his release on the 10th of May 2024, following a series of protests, Ojukwu spent ten days in police custody.

Just like Ojukwu, many journalists have been arrested and detained under the Cybercrime Act of 2015, which many—including human rights lawyer Femi Falana—have argued is outdated. Falana stated that “the section of the Cybercrime Act on which the police rely to arrest journalists has been repealed,” referring to Section 24 of the act.

Police Human Rights Violation Calls For Concern

Human rights violations by the Nigeria Police Force raise major concerns. A recent report by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) revealed that nearly 70% of civic space infringements in Nigeria were committed by police officers and politicians.

The report, titled “Journalism & Civic Space,” shows that the Nigeria Police, tasked with maintaining law and order, were involved in 49% of the reported cases of civic space violations. With 45 out of the 91 documented instances, the police stand out as the most significant perpetrator of infringements, often targeting journalists and activists.

In an earlier report, Amnesty International raised alarms over persistent human rights abuses by the Nigeria Police, including unlawful detention, extortion, torture, and sexual violence, four years after the October 2020 #EndSARS protests.

In the report, Amnesty International called on the Nigerian government to address these ongoing human rights violations, which continue to foster a culture of impunity and leave citizens vulnerable to the same abuses that sparked the #EndSARS movement. They further stated that “the Nigerian authorities still have the opportunity to reform the police and create an institution with zero tolerance for human rights violations.”

The post Analysis: Rights Violations Under the Watch of IGP Kayode Egbetokun appeared first on WITHIN NIGERIA.

The initial wage was N30,000, sparking agitation from labour unions as the cost of living rose and inflation increased.

However, despite the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage on July 29, several states have yet to do so.

With the October deadline approaching, the Organised Labour has given all governors an ultimatum to implement the new wage or face industrial unrest. 

In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved an increase in the minimum wage for Nigerian workers from N30,000 to N70,000.

However, the implementation across states has been gradual, with some still not adopting the new minimum wage.

While several states have pledged to meet the N70,000 minimum wage, others have gone further, committing to pay amounts higher than the federal mandate.

However, some states have started making announcements regarding the minimum wage to beat the Labour union deadline of October 31. Some states like Rivers and Lagos States have announced N85,000 respectively making it the highest minimum wage in the country above the N70,000 naira minimum wage benchmark.

It is noteworthy that Edo State started paying its workers N70,000 in June, two months before it was signed into law, while Adamawa State started implementing the N70,000 new minimum wage in August.

States where wages have been announced are as follows: 

Lagos

Among states that have displayed preparedness to pay the new wage is Lagos.

Recall that Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on October 16, said his administration was ready to pay N85,000 as minimum wage.

The decision was said to have been made unilaterally without negotiations or agreement with Organised Labour in the state.

Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu, in an interview, said: “I just want to let you know that the minimum wage in Lagos as we discussed with our workers’ union is N85,000 as of today. It is not a competition. I’m not saying that we are paying more than other states. It is a function of affordability and the function of capacity. I would like to come back in January to say that I have been able to increase the minimum wage of Lagos’ public workers to N100,000, not because I want to make anybody look bad, but because I want my people to have a living wage.”

However, concerns from workers in the state have been raised towards the Governor’s announcement as it fell short of economic realities. 

Ondo 

Like its counterpart in Lagos state, the Ondo State government have agreed to pay the N73,000 minimum wage to its workers. This is slightly above the N70,000 minimum wage benchmark by the federal government. However, the announcement was said to have been similar to that of Lagos state without negotiations and agreement with the Labour Unions. 

Kogi

On October 7, Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State approved N72,500 as minimum wage for the least-paid workers. The N72,500 wage is N2,500 higher than the amount approved in July. Also,  Governor Ododo has approved tax relief for all workers in the state.

Gombe

In Gombe State, Governor Inuwa Yahaya approved N71,500 as minimum wage for civil servants effective October 2024.

Chairman of NLC in the state, Yusuf Aish-Bello, disclosed this after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, on the new national minimum wage in Gombe on October 14, 2024.

Edo

Edo State led first with the payment of N70,000 minimum wage in June 2024. This was before the Federal Government agreed to pay N70,000 following the economic hardship in the country.

Adamawa

The Adamawa State government, like its counterpart in Edo State, pays the new minimum wage. The payment of the N70, 000 minimum wage began in August 2024 to all categories of civil servants. It was however gathered that the implementation of the new wage at the Local government councils is expected to commence this October.

Rivers

In Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara approved the payment of N85,000.00 to civil servants in the state, starting from November 2024. However, reports said an agreement was reached during a closed-door meeting presided over by the governor and attended by representatives of Organised Labour under the auspices of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council.

Ebonyi

In September, Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, approved the payment of N70,000 minimum wage to civil servants under the employ of the state.

Ogun

In Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun agreed to pay N77,000 to the lowest worker. He said payment would begin in October. The amount is also N7,000 above the baseline of N70,000 at the federal level. Nevertheless, it was noted that the decision to peg it at N77,000 was after a meeting with the leadership of the Organized Labour in Ogun State.

Jigawa 

On October 26, Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa approved the payment of the new N70,000 National Minimum Wage to workers in the state.

Mr Sagir Musa, the Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports and Culture, disclosed this to newsmen in Dutse on Saturday.

He said that Namadi made the pronouncement on Friday after receiving a report from the state’s Minimum Wage Committee led by Muhammad Dagacire, the Head of Service.

Enugu

Enugu Governor Peter Mbah has approved N80,000 as the minimum wage for workers with immediate effect.

Mbah announced this at the Government House after receiving the report of the committee set up to look into the minimum wage issues.

“Today, I’m happy to announce a new minimum wage for workers in Enugu state, reflecting our fidelity to their welfare in regard to which we’ve been resolutely committed. “We’ve approved the sum of 80,000 Naira to take immediate effect as the new minimum wage in Enugu State,” he said.

Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, on Wednesday, announced a new minimum wage package of N80,000 for public civil servants in the state.

Eno also constituted an Implementation committee with a mandate to deliver its report within one month.

Niger

In Niger State, Governor Mohammed Bago has approved N80,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the State. The minimum wage, however, would take effect from November 2024.

Disclosing this to newsmen after an extensive meeting between the State Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), the Governor said that the State would be able to sustain N80,000 minimum wage for its workers.

Delta

The Delta state government officially announced that it would start paying a minimum wage of N77,500 to its workers from the end of this month. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, announced this at a meeting of the committee on the new minimum wage with the leadership of the state’s organized labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC).

Kebbi

Governor Nasir Idris on Wednesday, October 23 approved 75,000 naira as a new minimum wage for the state civil servants. Confirming the development, the chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress in the state, Murtala Usman, stated this while speaking with correspondents.

Kwara

The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has approved the payment of the new minimum wage of N70,000 to workers in the state from October.

The approval is contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Hauwa Nuru.

The statement said the approved wage will be implemented across the Kwara State public service, with effect from October 2024.

Abia

The Abia State Government has announced that it will begin payment of the new N70,000 minimum wage to its workers in October.

This was disclosed during a briefing by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, at the end of the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.

Bayelsa

Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri has approved N80,000 as a new minimum wage for workers in the civil service with effect from November 1, 2024.

Diri also approved an increase in the monthly pension of retired workers as well as N7 billion to reduce outstanding gratuity liabilities.

His spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, who disclosed these in a statement, said the Bayelsa Governor acknowledged the challenging times workers face in the state due to the rise in the cost of living.

With eighteen states agreeing to implement the minimum wage benchmark of N70,000, only twelve states increased their minimum wage slightly above the benchmark with River’s and Lagos States paying N85,000 naira minimum wage as the highest in the country.

States Yet to Implement Minimum Wage

States like Zamfara have yet to announce the implementation of the minimum wage adjustment while Osun State and Benue State have also expressed readiness to adopt the new minimum wage.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, announced that the state will commence payment of the new minimum wage starting October 2024 and Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, said his administration is committed to implementing the new minimum wage.

Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State declared that his administration would commence the payment of the minimum wage once the issue of consequential salary adjustment has been addressed.

The other six states yet to give any sign of implementing the minimum wage before the NLC deadline are Bauchi, Ekiti, Imo, Kano, Kaduna, and Nassarawa.

The post Analysis: Two Months After, States Yet To Implement New Minimum Wage appeared first on WITHIN NIGERIA.

The country was thrown into tragedy on October 17th, as a petrol tanker explosion killed scores of people and injured many others. Media reports currently estimate the death toll at 166, and this number continues to rise daily.

Within Nigeria gathered that the accident occurred at midnight in Majiya town, northern Jigawa State, when the tanker driver lost control on a highway. Residents rushed to the scene to scoop petrol before the tanker exploded.

ariThis devastating event follows a 15% increase in petrol prices, further plunging the country into hardship. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) recently raised the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, by 15%, from ₦897 per liter to ₦1,030 per liter. This marks the fourth increase since Bola Tinubu came to power.

In a press statement, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) commiserated with the victims and explained that the fire was ignited when villagers rushed out to scoop fuel from the detached tanker of a DAF vehicle about an hour after the crash. The Corps directed commanding officers to expedite actions ensuring all tankers meet minimum safety standards before transporting flammable substances.

A similar accident occurred in September, killing at least 48 people. That incident took place along the Bida-Agaie-Lapai Road in Niger State, when a petrol tanker collided with a trailer truck carrying travelers and cattle from Wudil in Kano State, en route to Lagos. At least 48 people lost their lives, with many others injured, and around 50 cows died on the spot.

These events have led to the deaths of more than 190 people, raising concerns about the state of tankers plying Nigerian roads.

According to Timothy Iwuagwu, president of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, one major cause of such accidents—and the resulting explosions—is that many petrol tankers are not designed according to international best practices.

In 2020, more than 500 people died from about 1,500 tanker accidents, according to the FRSC.

Efforts to Prevent Recurring Accidents

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to investigate the tragic petrol tanker explosion that occurred in Jigawa State.

In a recent meeting with the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, in Abuja, Lokpobiri noted that the government is exploring technological solutions to secure pipelines against vandalism and support the operation of local refineries.

He reiterated the importance of reducing Nigeria’s dependence on road transport, which has contributed to the frequent tanker-related accidents, but added that replacing tankers with alternative transport options is extremely capital-intensive.

President Bola Tinubu has also called for a swift and comprehensive review of safety protocols for the transportation of gasoline, adding that this review will be carried out in partnership with various state authorities and that offenders of the new regulations will be punished. However, it is not yet clear what the review of these safety protocols will entail.

The post Nigeria: Over 190 People Die From Petrol Tanker Explosions in 2 Months appeared first on WITHIN NIGERIA.

October has been marked by several significant national events. From protests on Independence Day to rising fuel prices and a bill proposing the establishment of a university in the President’s name, these developments have attracted public attention and are reshaping the current state of the country. Within Nigeria analyzes them all.

Independence Day Protest

The #FearlessInOctober protest, held in October, was a continuation of the EndBadGovernance protest, which took place between August 1st and 10th. The nationwide protest proceeded despite various controversies.

Sowore, a key figure in the October 1st protest, joined protesters in Lagos State. He stated that the protest was a crucial step towards taking Nigeria to the “promised land”; however, the event saw a low turnout.

“This is one of the actions that will take us to the promised land. We did it in August, and today is a symbolic day to reject their independence as we want our own independence,” Sowore said.

He listed several demands, accusing the current government of imposing severe challenges, including hunger, insecurity, and economic hardship, on Nigerians.

Several protesters were arrested but later released.

Bill Seeking to Establish Bola Tinubu University

A bill sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and eight other lawmakers—Inuwa Garba, Nasiru Shehu, Alex Ikwechegh, Bako Useni, Amobi Ogah, Akin Rotimi, Halims Abdullahi, and Felix Nwaeke—proposes the establishment of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal University of Nigerian Languages. It has passed its first reading in the House of Representatives.

This proposal comes despite the current state of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Nigerian universities have been struggling with underdevelopment, unpaid salaries, and frequent strike actions in recent years.

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Osodeke, recently revealed that 84 of its members had died between May and August this year due to economic hardship and unpaid salaries. He also described the state of tertiary institutions as being “in ruins.”

Nigeria currently has 274 universities, comprising 149 private, 63 state, and 62 federal universities.

A review of the 2024 budget shows that the education sector received N1.54 trillion, representing 6.39% of the total budget, far below the 15% recommendation by UNESCO.

Increase in Petrol and Cooking Gas Prices

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) increased the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, by 15%, raising it from ₦897 per liter to ₦1,030 per liter. This marks the fourth price increase since Bola Tinubu assumed office.

As a result, customers in Lagos will now pay ₦998 per liter, while those in Abuja will pay ₦1,030 per liter. In other southwestern states, the price will be ₦1,025 per liter, and in the southeastern states, customers will pay ₦1,045 per liter.

Nigerians fear that this price hike will exacerbate the already difficult living conditions in the country, making it harder to afford transport and other essentials. The increase in fuel prices has also affected food prices in the market.

Additionally, the price of cooking gas has risen to ₦1,500 in parts of Ogun State and ₦1,400 in some areas of Lagos State.

Super Eagles Face Harsh Ordeal in Libya

The Super Eagles of Nigeria faced a difficult situation at a Libyan airport on Sunday, October 13, 2024, ahead of their second-leg Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya, scheduled for Tuesday, October 15.

As their aircraft approached Benghazi, the control tower instructed the pilot to divert to Al-Abraq International Airport, over 200 kilometers away, despite a prior agreement to land in Benghazi.

The Nigerian squad was stranded for over 15 hours without food or water. As a result, they had to boycott the qualifier and return to Nigeria.

The post Analysis: Events Shaping the Month of October appeared first on WITHIN NIGERIA.

The protest, also themed #FearlessInOctober, will hold, according to Omoyele Sowore, a Nigerian activist and former presidential aspirant, despite the deployment of police officers at strategic locations in different states.

According to Sowore, he and other Nigerians are prepared to come out to protest peacefully. Sowore, who listed several demands, said that the current government has inflicted severe challenges of hunger, insecurity, and economic hardship on Nigerians.

He calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals detained during previous protests, as well as the liberation of all political prisoners in Nigeria ahead of the #FearlessInOctober mass protest.

Sowore also demanded from the President Bola Tinubu-led administration the urgent need to revamp the economy, create jobs, guarantee security, and enact constitutional reforms. He stressed that the suffering of the Nigerian populace is a direct consequence of what he described as insensitive government policies.

Sowore also demanded the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the implementation of a living wage for Nigerian workers, and the reversal of the subsidy removal policy that adversely affects the masses, among other demands.

National Coordinator Speaks

The National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, a key figure in the #EndBadGovernance protest and the forthcoming October 1st protest, told *Within Nigeria* that the October protest is a continuation of the protest held in August, but with increased demands.

According to him, Nigeria has become worse since the end of the 10-day protest in August, and there is enough reason for Nigerians to join the nationwide protests, which he said is an effort to “defend their rights to life.”

“No one should be arrested for exercising their constitutional right, but if we get to the situation where journalists have to wear bulletproof vests and helmets as if going to war, and protesters are not sure of sleeping in their homes because they simply want to exercise their constitutional right, that tells you something. We are in a difficult time,” Sanyaolu noted.

He emphasized that the TIB is working with lawyers to secure the release of protesters arrested during the August 10-day #EndBadGovernance protest.

How To Stay Safe During Protests

As police officers have been deployed to different strategic points to strengthen security across various states, it is essential always to ensure your safety.

While joining the nationwide protests, make sure to communicate with a friend or close relative about your whereabouts at all times. If needed, switch on your location to allow proper monitoring from relatives and friends.

Also, we advise Nigerians to maintain peace and avoid the destruction of properties. Take enough water, wear comfortable shoes, and do not walk alone.

The post OCTOBER 1ST PROTEST: What Nigerians Should Expect appeared first on WITHIN NIGERIA.

Christianah was murdered by Ayomide Adeleye, 23, a 200-level Philosophy student at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU). She had gone missing on August 19 while traveling from Ita Oluwo to the University of Lagos in Yaba, where she was undergoing industrial training. Her death was only revealed weeks later on social media.

Adeleye, who had known the victim for three years through their church, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, confessed to strangling Idowu when she visited his home to have her phone repaired.

While confessing, he said, “I killed her because I had financial problems. I thought of the problems and decided to strangle her while she was busy going through my phone.”

In another incident, 20-year-old Paul Jeremiah was arrested by the Kogi State Police Command on September 12 for the alleged murder of Damilola, a 19-year-old first-year student at the Federal University, Lokoja.

Jeremiah killed her and harvested her organs for ritual purposes after demanding and receiving a ransom of N400,000 from her family. According to him, he met a native doctor on TikTok who requested the body parts to carry out the rituals.

Recently, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, FCT Command, arrested Joseph Efe, 30, accused of taking a woman to a hotel in Abuja with the intent of using her for ritual purposes.

The suspect was arrested on September 17 on charges of kidnapping, robbery, and the attempted murder of Olivia Ijeoma Chukwuemeka, a 25-year-old woman from Abia State.

These attacks on women continue to rise, raising serious concerns.

Disturbing Data

Seventy-eight cases of violence against women have been reported since the beginning of the year, according to DOHS Cares Foundation, an NGO that protects women, children, and vulnerable people from abuse, violence, and exploitation.

The data, drawn from different states—with Lagos having the highest number of cases of violence against women—shows that the culprits behind these attacks are often people who have some kind of relationship with the victims.

“This data means that we have a serious problem of femicide on our hands, and these deaths are usually characterized by sexual or domestic violence,” said Ololade Ajayi, founder of DOHS Cares Foundation.

“In 2024 alone, 78 women and girls have died at the hands of their intimate partners, relatives, or acquaintances. What these deaths have in common is the characteristics above, and the fact that they are usually violent deaths: raped to death, beaten to death, slaughtered, decapitated, burned to death,” she added.

According to a 2023 document released by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), 15 percent of divorced/separated/widowed women and 9 percent of married women have experienced sexual violence. Additionally, 49 percent of divorced/separated/widowed women and 35 percent of married women have experienced spousal violence.

In a report by Amnesty International titled “The State of the World’s Human Rights: April 2024,” there were 24,720 reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence in 2023.

A part of the report reads: “According to the Minister of Women’s Affairs, as of October, there were 24,720 reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence during the year, including 975 deaths. On June 15, an eight-months pregnant woman was raped by John Akpo at Irabi, Benue State. On June 22, the police arrested Chukwuemeka Orji for raping a 13-year-old domestic worker in Aba, Abia State.”

“On July 14, the mutilated body of 32-year-old Dorcas Shangev was found in Makurdi, Benue State. On July 15, 27-year-old Chinyere Awuda was beaten to death and dumped in an abandoned hotel pool in Awka, Anambra State.”

Experts Provide a Way Out

Women’s rights activist Ọmọlọlá Pedro said the reason for these attacks against women can be attributed to the patriarchal nature of Nigerian society. According to her, political, economic, legal, and justice systems have failed to protect the rights of women.

“For a deeply rooted patriarchal society like Nigeria, female killings would pass for a normal thing. I’d also say that our political, economic, legal, and justice systems have failed us. The justice system especially contributes massively to the rise in these killings, as justice in Nigeria is like chasing a shadow,” she said.

Pedro emphasized that when a criminal is not punished for a crime, it emboldens others, and offences that are considered minor (not capital) that go unpunished lay the foundation for capital ones to be committed.

“Sexual abuse and other GBV acts go unpunished. Killing women is just like icing on the cake for these criminals,” she added.

Pedro, who identified patriarchy as the root cause of violence against women, said that one way forward is a social revolution. She believes that the reason for the incessant attacks against women is the existence of a system that allows it.

“The society views women as items to be picked up and disposed of at will, as properties to be owned. Women and girls are recognized as different things, except humans. So, when you view a person as less human, you want to exercise power and dominance, and you’ll achieve that through every means possible, including killing,” she emphasized further.

The post Analysis: Attacks on Women, Ritual Activities Continue To Gain Momentum In Nigeria appeared first on WITHIN NIGERIA.

Health workers’ migration has been an important issue in Nigeria. These migrations of health workers continue to deepen as a result of educational and management issues, better career opportunities abroad, insecurity, lack of investment in medical equipment, poor salaries, and irregular payments, amongst others, making Nigeria one of the 55 countries with a severe shortage of health workers.

Nigeria’s health minister recently revealed that about 67 percent of Nigerian doctors migrating abroad practice in the United Kingdom. The country now has only 55,000 licensed doctors to serve its growing population of over 200 million.

With 0.363 medical doctors per 1,000 people, far below the WHO recommendation of 4.45 per 1,000 population, Nigeria has continued to lose even more, and the uneven distribution in the ratio of doctors to population is worsening.

The United Kingdom (UK) National Statistics reveal that in 2021, 4,087 healthcare workers migrated to the UK. In 2022, this number increased to 11,629, and it further rose to 26,074 in 2023, raising concerns.

In a report published in March of 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that by 2030, there will be a global shortage of 10 million healthcare workers. The shortage will especially affect low-income countries, such as Nigeria, due to workers going abroad in search of opportunities.

Just recently, the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) asked the Kogi State governor, Usman Ododo, to recruit health workers into the various hospitals and primary healthcare centres in the state, decrying the acute shortage of manpower in the health sector.

Efforts to Stem the Migration Tide

On September 9, 2014, Goodluck Jonathan signed the National Health Act 2014. The act provides a framework for the regulation, development, and management of a National Health System. Its overarching objective is the provision of universal health coverage (UHC), providing a framework for improved funding and regulations regarding universal access to health care.

However, Dr. Reinnet Awoh, a health expert, noted that despite this act, the lack of adequate infrastructure and continuous funding resulted in healthcare staff continuing to “suffer difficult working conditions, particularly in rural areas.”

Among these efforts is the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration, approved in August by Bola Tinubu, to ensure that health sector professionals are well-supported, adequately rewarded, and optimally utilized to meet the healthcare needs of Nigerians.

The policy aims to manage the exodus abroad of skilled Nigerian healthcare professionals.

According to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, “This policy is more than just a response to the ongoing exodus of healthcare professionals; it’s a comprehensive strategy to manage, harness, and reverse health worker migration.

“It envisions a thriving workforce that is well-supported, adequately rewarded, and optimally utilized to meet the healthcare needs of all Nigerians,” he said.

The major parts of the policy include incentives for health workers, safety and security for health workers, jobs for returnees, data collection, capacity development, training programmes, monitoring, and implementation, all targeted towards health workers.

“The National Policy on Health Workforce Migration is the most direct and comprehensive so far,” continued Dr. Awoh.

According to him, efforts should not just focus on trying to keep health workers in Nigeria, but on ensuring these workers are motivated to stay by improving their working conditions.

“The focus on providing incentives, especially for those working in rural and underserved areas, is spot on. These regions are usually the hardest hit by the shortage of health workers, and offering competitive benefits is key to making those areas more appealing.

“The emphasis on capacity building is another major win. Healthcare is evolving quickly, and our workers need to be kept up to date, especially with digital health technologies like telehealth and Electronic Medical Records (EMR). This isn’t just a luxury; it’s essential if we want to keep pace with global healthcare standards and improve access to care, particularly in remote areas,” he said.

Awoh emphasized that creating a system that makes it easier for skilled workers abroad, who have gained valuable experience, to return and contribute to strengthening the health sector is a smart move. However, he added that its success depends on how the policy is implemented.

Practical Solutions To Health workers migration

Dr. Awoh said that to solve the problem of health worker migration, both short- and long-term efforts should be made.

He opined that improving the working conditions of health workers and offering real incentives such as bonuses, housing, or allowances for those in rural areas can make those positions more attractive.

“Healthcare workers also need financial security, so expanding health insurance and providing social safety nets can help reduce uncertainty. Simplifying the process for Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad to return, along with offering competitive packages like leadership roles or housing, is another quick solution.

“Finally, mental health support and improved work-life balance are crucial. Offering measures like mental health services, reducing work hours, and providing more breaks can help prevent burnout and retain healthcare workers,” he said.

According to him, long-term interventions will require creating a National Health Workforce Registry to help track healthcare workers, identify shortages, and plan for future needs; investing in digital health technologies like telemedicine and Electronic Medical Records; and establishing public-private partnerships to train healthcare professionals for both domestic needs and international markets, ensuring enough skilled workers remain at home.

The post Health Workers: Providing a Way Out Of The Migration Syndrome appeared first on WITHIN NIGERIA.

In an effort to curb underage admissions into tertiary institutions in Nigeria, the federal government, through the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, directed on April 22 that admission to tertiary institutions should not be granted to candidates under the age of 18. This decision was also supported by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).  

Mamman criticized parents who pressure their underage children to seek admission into tertiary institutions, stating that the 18-year benchmark aligns with Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education system.  

The 6-3-3-4 education system is structured into four main stages: six years of primary education, three years of junior secondary education, three years of senior secondary education, and a minimum of four years of tertiary education.  

According to Mamman, candidates who are too young and are forced into university education may struggle to understand the demands and responsibilities involved.  

“The minimum age of entry into the university is 18, but we have seen students who are 15 or 16 years old taking the entrance examination. Parents should be encouraged not to push their wards too much. Mostly, it is the pressure from parents that is causing this.  

“We are going to look into this because these candidates are too young to fully grasp what university education entails. This is a period when children move from controlled environments to ones where they are in charge of their own affairs.  

“If they are too young, they won’t be able to manage properly. I think that is part of the problem we are seeing in universities today,” he said.  

However, Michael Adenola, an activist and social commentator, criticized the minister’s decision. Adenola argued that setting the minimum age requirement for candidates at 18 deepens the socio-economic divide in society.  

Adenola noted that imposing this age restriction will prevent many young people, through no fault of their own, from meeting the age requirement.  

He emphasized that instead of addressing critical issues that need reform within the education sector, JAMB has chosen to implement policies that serve the interests of a privileged few, further marginalizing vulnerable groups.  

“This decision disproportionately affects students from disadvantaged backgrounds, exacerbating the systemic inequalities that have long plagued our educational system. Rather than addressing pressing issues within the sector, JAMB has focused on policies that serve the interests of a privileged few, further marginalizing already vulnerable groups.  

“At a time when inclusivity and access to education should be prioritized, this move represents a misstep that underscores the failure of our institutions to address the real challenges faced by the masses,” he said.  

Many Factors Contributing to Underage Education

Gideon Adeyeni, Programme Officer at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), said that for the policy to work effectively, enforcement must begin at the point of entry into the formal schooling system.  

He emphasized that over the years, private tertiary institutions, driven largely by profit, have admitted “children who should still be breastfeeding,” adding that these institutions should come under the scrutiny of relevant agencies.  

Adeyeni noted that harsh economic realities and precarious work conditions have contributed to the increase of underage students in higher institutions.  

“Our analysis will be incomplete if we forget that many push toddlers to school because of harsh economic realities and precarious work conditions that leave too many people with little or no time for child care. Ultimately, we must ensure that people earn well, work fewer hours, have necessary leaves, and work in environments that support child care, among other things, to ensure that children are not pushed to school too early and are not negatively impacted psychologically.  

“I think it is correct to ensure that young people attain a stage of mental development before they are subjected to the rigors of formal education, even at the lowest level. This is common practice in many parts of the world. One of the countries that comes to mind when discussing this subject is Finland, where children typically start school at age 7, and the country’s education system is highly regarded,” he said.  

Adeyeni, who supports the policy, noted that “it is correct to ensure that young people attain a stage of mental development before they are subjected to the rigors of formal education, even at the lowest level. This is common practice in many parts of the world. One of the countries that comes to mind when talking about this subject is Finland, where children typically start school at age 7, and the country’s education system is highly regarded,” he said.  

According to him, the directive from the FG has left certain questions unanswered, and enforcing it in a hasty manner may not be feasible.  

“So, in a sense, this can be said to be rightly intended. But the question that arises now is, ‘What happens to those who are already in primary and secondary schools and are likely to finish secondary school at 15, 16, or 17? Will they have to wait for 3, 2, or 1 year before going to university? How will they be engaged during this period?” he asked.

The post Experts Raise Questions Over 18-Year Benchmark for Admission Into Higher Institutions appeared first on WITHIN NIGERIA.

After reaching the age of retirement, the CJN signed off with alleged corruption, abuse of office, and a disregard for the principles of fairness and justice. The Civil rights group, the Human Rights Association, and some members of the judicial arm accused him, describing him as the worst CJN ever.

On August 18, Nigerian media brought to the fore some of the CJN’s critiqued footsteps by filling up the National Judicial Council (NJC) with his family members. Justice Ariwoola appointed his son as a judge of the Federal High Court and his daughter-in-law as a judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, among other family members, in less than two years in office.

The practice of promoting nepotism and favoritism has been strongly condemned by a large number of Nigerians and Civil Society Organisations that have asked him to resign.

According to this group, Justice Olukayode “breached (iv) and other extant provisions of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, when he appointed his son, Olukayode Ariwoola Junior, as a Judge of the Federal High Court, and nominated his daughter, Oluwakemi Victoria Ariwoola, as a Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.”

More often than not, many Nigerians have expressed disappointment and lack of trust in the judiciary. For instance, in March 2023, when the CJN traveled for medicals, many Nigerians believed that he went to meet President Tinubu in the United Kingdom while disguised in a wheelchair.

Immediately after President Tinubu was declared the winner of the February 25 presidential election, different speculations about the judicial arms of government have sufficed. According to Dataphyte, the issues bordering on the election petitions such as lack of transparency are one and have led to loss of confidence in the Nigerian courts.

Similarly, a report released by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveals corruption within the judiciary system of the government. According to the report, Nigerian public officials received at least N721 billion in bribes in 2023, with judges being the highest recipients.

Regarding fairness and justice, a human rights group turned to Justice Olukayode to save the face of the judiciary, especially in a conflicting court order on the Emir of Kano stool.

The demands of the group include that the CJN act in his capacity to save the face and name of the judiciary from setting a bad record against the rule of law, and the abuse of power and office must be investigated and punishable by the CJN. The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko, likewise frowned against the court orders.

Despite several human rights laws that have been violated under the retired Justice Ariwoola, the newly appointed CJN, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, also has some questionable actions. In Feb. 2023, after the Supreme Court ruling of the disputed Imo governorship election, Justice Kudirat was reportedly denied a visa to the United States of America. Her offense, as succinctly put, was reading the ruling.

The ruling “nullified the governorship election of Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the rightful winner of the exercise.”

Justice Kudirat was handed down as a qualified candidate for the position of CJN by Justice Ariwoola as his successor and subsequently appointed by President Tinubu on August 23.

The post Human Rights Violations Under the Just-Retired CJN Ariwoola appeared first on WITHIN NIGERIA.

The day after returning, I began to feel unwell. I thought it might be due to the stress, so I covered myself with a wrapper in my room and endured the cold night. Soon, I started sneezing, and then a cough set in. I had fallen ill, but the typical Nigerian instinct in me was to get some medication from the nearest pharmacy simply. It was Monday morning, but I decided against it. I recalled how I frequently fell sick last year and relied on self-medication, which didn’t help until I finally sought professional care at a hospital.

I endured the symptoms throughout the day, but by nightfall, it was clear that I was sick and needed to take action to prevent my condition from worsening. I decided to visit the hospital the following day. On Tuesday, August 20th, I couldn’t eat, vomited, and was too weak to visit the hospital alone. I called two friends, who came without hesitation, and we headed to the hospital together.

We went to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Ijebu Igbo, 1.2 kilometers from where I live. Upon arrival, we requested to have a test conducted and to see a doctor. We were told to sit and wait. After a few minutes, I was asked to enter a room where the test would be conducted. A nurse then approached me and asked what I needed.

“I want to conduct a test; I’m sick,” I told her. Her response left me even more tired and weak.

She informed me that the doctors were on strike and that she couldn’t attend to me. I explained the nature of my condition, but she kept repeating the same statement. “What if this were an emergency?” I thought, feeling frustrated.

She then directed me to a lab for testing, but I wanted to consult a doctor to determine the appropriate tests and receive professional advice to prevent future illness.

Ignoring her advice, I decided to go to another hospital.

Same Situation With Slight Difference

This time, we went to the Ijebu-Igbo General Hospital. Upon arrival, we noticed the facility was unusually empty. We passed by an abandoned ambulance as we approached some offices. Eventually, we found an open office and saw a patient with severe injuries on his left foot. After a few minutes, I could tell he was being attended to, judging by the noise coming from one of the offices.

I immediately stated the purpose of my visit. “I want to see the doctor,” I said loudly, hoping to be heard over the noise. It worked—a nurse came out and asked what I needed, but she informed me that the doctor was on strike. “I cannot see the doctor,” she emphasized. However, she was willing to assist me.

I underwent a malaria test, which came back negative, and was prescribed some medication. After picking up the drugs from the hospital pharmacy, I left.

Getting good health care in state-owned hospitals was difficult and this was a result of the ongoing strike by Ogun state doctors. I didn’t see any doctor and was uncertain why I fell sick. I had just many drugs to consume.

Doctors Strike Over Pay Disparity

On the 3rd of August 2024, Doctors in Ogun State embarked on an indefinite strike following unresolved issues on pay disparity between federal and state medical workers. The doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, at a press conference held in Abeokuta, said the strike came after a failed 3-day warning strike.

The Chairman of the association, Dr. Azeem Ashimi noted that the industrial action became necessary as a result of the inability of the association to agree with the government.

“The government continues to plead that the issues of minimum wage and other related matters are common but my people believe that we need to address the issues on the ground.

“The core of the doctors’ grievances lies in the reviewed CONMESS (Consolidated Medical Salary Structure), which they believe should be implemented to stem the exodus of medical professionals from Ogun State.

“Ogun State is losing a lot of doctors daily because of the pay disparity. If the reviewed CONMESS is paid, it will encourage the doctors to stay,” Ashimi said.

Health Workers Leave For Greener Pastures

Nigeria’s health sector is facing a severe shortage of skilled personnel due to a wave of migration of healthcare workers. The United Kingdom (UK) National Statistics reveal that in 2021, 4,087 healthcare workers migrated to the UK. In 2022, this number increased to 11,629, and it further rose to 26,074 in 2023, raising concerns.

Nigeria’s health workforce density is below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) minimum recommendation of 20 nurses, midwives, and doctors per 10,000 people. With a nursing and midwives density of 15.6 per 10,000 population, and a doctor density of 3.9 per 10,000, the health workforce shortage in Nigeria has significantly hindered the achievement of health-related sustainable development goals.

With the current migration of healthcare professionals, Nigeria currently has just 55,000 doctors for a population of 220 million, according to Nigeria’s Health Minister, Muhammad Ali Pate. He adds that there is a huge distribution challenge because doctors and other high-level professionals are concentrated in Lagos, Abuja, and a few other urban centers.

In a report published in March of 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that, by 2030, there will be a global shortage of 10 million healthcare workers. The shortage will especially affect low-income countries, such as Nigeria, due to workers going abroad in search of opportunities.

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August 1st Protest

On August 1st, Nigerians across different states protested against the high cost of living, hunger, high levels of unemployment, and limited access to quality education, among other concerns. The protest, under the hashtag #EndBadGovernance, saw Nigerians take to the streets to express their grievances, which led to the deaths of 22 people, according to Amnesty International’s Nigeria office. Additionally, at least 31 journalists were attacked while covering the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests, according to the Press Attack Tracker (PAT).

The demands of the protesters include scrapping the 1999 constitution, abolishing the Senate arm of the Nigerian Legislative System, paying Nigerian workers a minimum wage of no less than N250,000 monthly, investing heavily in education, and providing Nigerian students with grants, not loans. They also demanded the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the demilitarization of the South East.

Other demands include the renationalization of publicly owned enterprises sold to government officials, the reinstatement of a corruption-free subsidy regime to reduce hunger, starvation, and multidimensional poverty, the probing of past and present Nigerian leaders who have looted the treasury, the recovery of their loot, and the deposit of it in a special account to fund education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Additionally, they called for the restructuring of Nigeria to accommodate its diversity, resource control, decentralization, regional development, and the reform of security agencies to stop continuous human rights violations, as well as the duplication of security agencies to enhance the physical security of Nigerian citizens.

The protesters are also demanding the establishment of a Special Energy Fund to drive massive, corruption-free power sector development, the immediate reconstitution of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove corrupt individuals and partisan hacks appointed to manipulate elections, massive investment in public works and industrialization to employ Nigeria’s teeming youths, and a massive shake-up in the Nigerian judiciary to remove cabals of corrupt judges and judicial officers who continue to deny everyday citizens access to real justice.

Attack On The LGBTQ+ Community

On August 9th, Nigerians woke up to the news of the murder of a popular Abuja-based crossdresser, known as Area Mama. His body was found dumped by the roadside in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the previous day.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, ordered an immediate investigation into his murder. According to a statement released by the FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, the police are investigating the matter and gathering additional information.

“In response to a distress call received by the Command Control Room that an unidentified lady was seen lying motionless along Katampe – Mabushi Expressway, a team of detectives was immediately dispatched to the scene.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the individual was a man fully dressed in female clothing with no means of identification on him. He was immediately taken to Maitama District Hospital where doctors on duty confirmed him dead.

“The Commissioner of Police, FCT, has promptly ordered a thorough and discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death. Updates on this matter will be communicated in due course,” she said.

This incident occurred three days after Lagos-based popular crossdresser Bobrisky regained his freedom after serving a jail term for mutilating the Naira.

NLC Invasion

On August 8th, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) confirmed that its national office in Abuja was invaded by security operatives, believed to be from the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force, on the night of August 7th.

According to a statement by NLC spokesperson Benson Upah, the operatives arrested the security guards and forced them to hand over keys to the offices on the second floor. The operatives then broke into the floor, ransacked the bookshop, and stole hundreds of books and publications.

A day later, the Nigeria Police clarified that it did not raid the secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The NPF, through its spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi, said a suspected criminal was traced to a shop in the Central Business District of Abuja, which coincidentally was in the NLC building.

“Detectives, armed with the appropriate legal authority, conducted an operation at the location, which turned out to be the NLC building,” he said.

The NLC has since demanded an apology from the federal government and the police authorities, describing the invasion as a deliberate and provocative government action. The labor union said the police’s explanation was “an afterthought and an attempt to cover the hidden motives behind such action as it raises more questions than answers.”

In a communiqué signed by the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, he stated that while the union would exercise restraint in the face of provocation, “the response of the government to our queries will determine our next line of action in the coming days.”

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The members representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, and 50 other lawmakers sponsored the private member bill. The proposed bill cited as “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As amended) (Alteration) Bill 2024” seeks to alter Sections 7, 135, 137, 180, and 182 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“If we do not conduct election into the presidential, governorship and chairmanship seats as frequently as we do presently, surely we would be saving some tens of billions of naira,”, said Gideon Adeyeni, Programme Officer at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).

Corruption is still extensive in Nigeria despite a slight improvement in the latest ranking by a global anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International. In TI’s newly-released 2023 Corruption Perception Index, Nigeria listed 145 among 180 countries and scored 25 out of 100 points. This is an insignificant upgrade on the country’s position in 2022 when it ranked 150 among 180 countries with 24 from 100 points. 

Over the years, Nigerian politicians have been enmeshed in several levels of corruption and public funds mismanagement. In May, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) filed a lawsuit against Nigeria’s 36 governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike “over their failure to account for the spending of trillions of FAAC allocations collected by their states and the FCT since 1999.”

The suit followed reports that the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursed N1.123 trillion to the federal, state, and local governments for March 2024. They shared N1.208 trillion in April. States collected N398.689 billion in March while they collected N403.403 billion in April.

In a 2022 report, the federal government said between March 2021 and May 2022, a total of €6,324,627 was recovered from foreign countries as funds were looted from Nigeria. Abubakar Malami, minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation.

This had made Gideon argue if this bill would significantly improve efficiency in government. According to him, the bill might not be effective since the legislative seats are not to be affected by the amendment.

“ The question that would come to mind is that how significant this reduction would be, especially since the legislative seats are not to be affected by the amendment. The fact that the legislative seats at local, state and federal level are not affected by the amendment already create a lacuna in the law. By and large, a serious legislation to cut governance cost and increase efficiency would seek to reduce the earnings of elected government officials across all levels and make information about this accessible to citizens. 

“ If truly the country is as broke as it is being claimed, in which government investment in basic services like education, water supply et cetera, are being reduced, then perhaps there is the need to consider reducing the size of the legislative arm of government especially at the federal level. This is why some activists are calling for a unicameral legislative system. A bill addressing this would perhaps be more useful at this point.

He argued that despite the possibulity of this bill reducing wastages, there is need to focus on other areas where we can cut wastages, which include the earnings of public officials and large size of their cabinet.

“ Essentially, there is the need to focus on other areas where we can cut wastages. The earnings of public officials and large size of their cabinet (special advisers, aide, etc), religious, medical and educational tourism among government officials, should be given attention in order to really cut government wastages,” he said.

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Within Nigeria has observed several economic challenges resulting in hardship since Tinubu assumed power. From the removal of fuel subsidies to Nigeria’s inflation rate, which continues to rise, reaching 34.19%, up from 33.95% in June and 33.69% in May​. This has been associated with increased hunger and high cost of living.

However, as August 1st approaches, president Tinubu has warned Nigerian youths not to join the nationwide cost-of-living protests saying they are the work of “sinister” people “capitalizing” on the country’s economic woes.

According to him, “Capitalising on the economic hardship in the country, some men and women with sinister motives have been reported to have been mobilizing citizens, particularly youths, to stage a protest”.

A Show Of Force

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Tuesday, warned against going ahead with the nationwide cost-of-living protests, saying that it is “ill-advised and should be jettisoned.”

He expressed concern over the possibility of a Kenya-led protest replica happening in August and said that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) will not sit back and watch hoodlums destroy things across the country. He added that he has deployed officers and men of the Force to ensure the protection of life and property.

While noting that the Nigeria Police Force will continue to accord Nigerians the right to peaceful protest as enshrined in the 1999 constitution (as amended), the IGP said the police were prepared for the protest and will respond most professionally.

However, human rights lawyer Femi Falana has warned the Federal Government against threatening the organisers of the planned nationwide protest. He cautioned the FG that taking the path of threatening protesters will further exacerbate the situation, calling the government to approach organisers with diplomacy.

“So, this time around the government should try to identify the leaders of the movement and then engage them, and then the questions be raised. There are demands that are being made, and the government should address these demands.

“Between now and August 1 is still a long way and I understand the government is going to address the nation. It is also important for governors to come out and let the people know what they are doing to address hardship in the country which nobody is denying,” he said While featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday.

The Nigeria Labour Congress also warned the FG against engaging in a “war-war” situation with Nigerians by trying to suppress citizens’ fundamental right to protest, adding that Nigerians have the right to complain. 

Popular Nigerians Support Protests

As the nationwide protest keeps gaining traction in the North and other parts of the country, several Nigerians have thrown their weight in support of the protest. One of which is the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, who has been campaigning for the August protest via his social media handles.

Sowore, who had led several protests in the country, said revolution would start in August, insisting that “Nothing Can Stop An Idea Whose Time Has Come” #RevolutionNOW.”

Sowore wrote: “The REVOLUTION is now knocking on our doors! #RevolutionNow. Let everyone rise all once in August 2024!

“Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come. They asked for a revolution and It is here now! @officialABAT once asked for a revolution, even @MBuhari once asked for a revolution and Nigerians now want a real revolution.

“Nothing Can Stop An Idea Whose Time Has Come” #RevolutionNOW.”

Veteran Nigerian music star, Chalse Oputa, known by his stage name, Charly Boy also expressed support for the protest. Charly Boywho spoke with DAILY POST, said he believes that the Nigerian youths possess the ability to retrieve their country from the wrong hands.

FG Fingers Peter Obi, LP

Reacting to the different calls for the protest, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, July 20, said the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, should be held responsible for his supporters’ alleged plans to cause mayhem in the country.

He noted that the “protest planners are also the same people who were instigated by IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu to launch the destructive ENDSARS protest in Nigeria in October 2020. ENDSARS began as a genuine protest by youths against the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad, notorious for its high-handedness. 

“IPOB members planning to extricate the South-East region from Nigeria infiltrated the protest and hijacked it for their own agenda. Lagos still bears the scar of the malicious destruction by IPOB elements until today.”

According to him, the IPOB and Obi’s supporters are the people spreading the hashtags ‘EndBadGovernance’, ‘Tinubu Must Go,’ and ‘Revolution2024’. 

He further described them as anarchists and not democrats, noting that they were attempting to call out their people via propaganda due to Obi’s failure to win the presidency in the 2023 election. Am allegation the Labour Party has refuted.

According to the LP through its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, it was wrong of Onanuga to link the LP and its national leader to the proposed ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest.  

Obiora said, “We say there is no truth in the tweet. It is just the figment of the author’s imagination. Labour Party is known for being a very peaceful party, and it has on several occasions asked its followers to follow peace at all times. We are not known as a lawless group, as was evident in the aftermath of the last general election. It is therefore delusional for anyone to link our supporters to the planned protest. Labour Party, Peter Obi, and our supporters are not planning any protests.

“It is therefore puerile for the government or anyone, for that matter, to begin to look for whom to blame for the bad governance witnessed in Nigeria today. Nigeria can still get it right if the right policies are initiated. We also advise that some aides of the Presidency must be cautioned to avoid incendiary pronouncements capable of combusting the nation, all in the name of playing politics.”

Scary Data

An international human rights organisation,  Global Rights, in a report released in January 2024, said the administration of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, was characterised by threats or intimidation of journalists and protesters.

The report revealed that no fewer than 69 protesters were killed during the Buhari-led administration and also estimated that 250 protesters and 189 journalists were arrested, detained, or harassed under the former president.

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On July 11th, the apex court directed that financial allocations meant for running all 774 local government areas in the country be paid to them directly. The court stated that state governments have no right to keep and manage allocations on behalf of local governments, a practice the court deemed unconstitutional.

“The Supreme Court of Nigeria’s decision to send funds directly to Local Government Areas (LGAs) marks a significant shift towards financial autonomy for local governments. This ruling eliminates the intermediary role of State Governments, reducing political interference and ensuring that LGAs receive their full allocations,” said Alalafia Qudus, a law expert.

Qudus maintained that the Supreme Court ruling is in line with the 1999 constitution (as amended) and that the Nigerian Constitution provides for each tier of government’s financial independence, particularly emphasizing local governments’ autonomy.

“The position of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to grant our Local Governments their full autonomy is in line with the dictate of the law. In this instance, it is the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Supreme Court, as well as other courts, is the custodian of the Constitution. And it is the duty of this Court as the final court to interpret the provisions of the Constitution and other enacted statutes for the proper conduct of affairs so that democratic governance will be predicated and sustained on the rule of law. See the authority of DINGYADI & ANOR v. INEC & ORS (2011) LPELR-950(SC).

“Section 2 of the constitution states that Nigeria is one indivisible and indissoluble Sovereign State to be known by the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and shall be a Federation consisting of States and a Federal Capital Territory. It states further under Section 3 Subsection 6 that there shall be seven hundred and sixty-eight local government areas in Nigeria as shown in the second column of Part I of the First Schedule to the Constitution and six area councils as shown in Part II of that Schedule.

“Now, having established that local governments are, by law, independent, there should be no debate about whether or not they are meant to be financially independent because the constitution does not approbate and reprobate in this instance. Take, for example, section 7 (6) which provides that subject to the provisions of the Constitution, the National Assembly shall make provisions for statutory allocation of public revenue to local government councils in the Federation; and also, the House of Assembly of a State shall make provisions for statutory allocation of public revenue to local government councils within the State.

“Let me state at this juncture that I am not unaware of the provision of section 162 which many have misconstrued to mean that states are meant to apply local government funds on their behalf. This position is false and fallacious and it is against the dictate of the law. It is settled that provisions of statutes and the constitution are construed conjunctively and must be read as a whole and not in isolation. See A.G FEDERATION V ABUBAKAR (2007) 10 N WLR (Pt. 1041) 1,” he said.

However, Victor Ayeni, a senior law lecturer at Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA), gave a counter opinion, noting that the constitution does not grant autonomy to local governments. According to him, the Supreme Court discovered that the money does not get to the local governments, so in giving a compulsory interpretation, the Supreme Court had to rechannel the money. “Even though the clear provision of the constitution is that the money ought to have gone to the state, which would then further distribute the money to the local governments.”

“The Supreme Court attempted to follow, in interpreting section 7 and section 162, the Supreme Court answered the question by saying that section 7 and section 162 of the constitution says that the constitution intends that the money which is channeled through the state account ought to get to the local government eventually.

“The Supreme Court had to rechannel the money even though the clear provision of the constitution is that the money ought to have gone to the state, and the state would then further distribute the money to local governments. But the state, which is a trustee of the money, is guilty of abuse of the trust funds. If the trustee is guilty of an abuse of the trust funds, there is nothing wrong if the trust fund is made available to the beneficiary, in this case, the local government. So that is exactly what the Supreme Court has done.

“So there is no financial autonomy, but the Supreme Court made this interpretation because it felt the state has failed in its responsibility to make the allocations placed in their trust to further distribute them down the line. So it is actually a remedial decision, a decision aimed at remedying the problem, a decision aimed at solving the problem. So, assuming the state had lived up to their expectations, they would never have a need for money to be allocated directly to local governments,” he said.

Despite Autonomy Challenges Will Persist

Political interference from State Governments often compromises the financial autonomy of local governments, said Qudus, adding that “State authorities may manipulate the allocation and utilization of funds meant for local councils, thereby undermining their independence and operational capacity.”

Qudus maintained that the lack of accountability and transparency in the management of funds at all levels of government poses a significant challenge as corruption, embezzlement, and misappropriation of funds intended for local governments can reduce the resources available for development projects and public services.

“Without stringent measures to ensure transparent and accountable financial management, the effectiveness of the financial framework remains compromised. The over-reliance on federal allocations makes local governments vulnerable to fluctuations in national revenue and federal budgetary constraints. This dependence limits their financial stability and sustainability, particularly during economic downturns. Diversifying revenue sources and enhancing local revenue generation are vital to reducing this dependency,” added Alalafia.

Reacting to how the local government will deal with political pressure to maintain their autonomy, Ayeni said it requires synergy and collaboration. According to him, it is left to the federal government, starting with the attorney general of the federation, the accountant general of the federation, and other federal government agencies to step in and ensure that state governors keep to the decision of the Supreme Court.

He emphasized that only local governments that have democratically elected chairmen and councilors should get the money from the federation account.

He stressed that to achieve this, international and civil society organizations should pay close attention to the process of electing councilors and chairmen at various levels in Nigeria.

“It is very important to ensure that the governors do not have overriding control over who becomes governor, who becomes chairmen, and who becomes councilors. Also, the responsibility is on the local government to ensure that it does not abuse the trust that has been placed in it, now that money will go directly from the federation account to the local government. We are waiting to see what chairmen will do with it, if this will become an era where chairmen will begin to buy houses in London, and all over the world.

“Then it will now mean that what the Supreme Court has done has not taken us out of the ditch where we have been. So the point has to be made and it has to be made sufficiently clear that there is no good in making local government get money directly from the federation account, if chairmen of local government councils are going to embezzle the money. So we are watching out to see what local government chairmen are going to do with the money that is being sent to them.

He called for local government leaders to be educated on the purpose of the autonomy granted by the Supreme Court.

“Autonomy is not an absolute good, if the local government channel is going to abuse the autonomy then what good is the autonomy? So I think we need to educate chairmen of local governments that the purpose of the autonomy they have been granted is to do good to their community and to ensure that the mismanagement we are trying to fight, which is the embezzlement of state resources, does not repeat itself under their watchful eyes,” Ayeni said.

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On July 4th, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumum, while raising concerns, said a total of 63 deaths and 2,102 suspected cases had already been recorded as of Wednesday, July 3, 2024, since the outbreak of the epidemic, with recent statistics placing Lagos State on the leaderboard of cholera cases.

Cholera is a bacterial infection of the intestines caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium (a bacterium that produces toxins and causes cholera, a potentially fatal diarrheal disease). People can get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the bacteria. The bacteria are often passed through the feces of an infected person, and cholera can spread quickly in areas with poor sanitation and inadequate sewage and drinking water treatment.

This is not the first time Nigeria has experienced a cholera outbreak. The disease has been endemic since its first reported cases in 1972, with outbreaks often resulting in high case fatality rates, such as the devastating 1991 outbreak which saw over 59,478 cases and 7,654 deaths (with a case fatality rate of 12.9%).

These recurrent outbreaks substantiate the fact that there are systemic gaps in our water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, demanding urgent and comprehensive interventions, opined Dr. Reinnet Awoh, a Public Health Physician.

He noted that several factors contribute to the spread of cholera in Nigeria, including inadequate access to clean water, poor sanitation practices, below-par waste management systems, and overcrowded living conditions, notably in displaced persons camps and urban slums.

He says addressing cholera outbreaks should focus on bolstering community resilience through enhanced infrastructure, education, and healthcare services.

“Addressing cholera outbreaks sustainably necessitates a multifaceted approach that tackles these underlying issues. Beyond reactive responses to outbreaks, the focus should be on bolstering community resilience through enhanced infrastructure, education, and healthcare services. Efforts must prioritize establishing sustainable solutions that ensure universal access to clean water and adequate sanitation, strengthening healthcare systems, and mitigating socioeconomic factors that heighten disease vulnerability,” he said.

Speaking on how citizens can protect themselves from the disease, Dr. Reinnet said that drinking water from safe and treated sources and prioritizing food safety measures are important steps citizens should consider to keep themselves safe.

“Ensuring water safety is paramount. Always drink water from safe, treated sources, and if uncertain, boil water for at least one minute before consumption. In areas affected by cholera outbreaks, avoid drinking tap water unless it has been properly treated.

“Wash hands thoroughly with soap and clean running water before handling food. Ensure all fruits and vegetables are washed with safe water or peeled before consumption. Cook food thoroughly, especially seafood, as cholera bacteria can survive in undercooked food,” he emphasized.

He added that maintaining personal hygiene and adopting safe sanitation practices by using proper toilet facilities and ensuring the safe disposal of human waste to prevent contamination of water sources is crucial for the prevention of cholera.

Weak Policies and Systemic Issues Contribute To Cholera Outbreak

Several weak policies and systemic issues have contributed to the recurring cholera outbreaks in Nigeria. Many communities in Nigeria lack access to clean water, leading to the consumption of contaminated water. Additionally, inadequate waste management, poor personal hygiene practices, and weak regulations on the construction of sanitation facilities like soakaways and boreholes contribute to the spread of cholera.

Nigeria also faces a weak health system and overcrowded living conditions. Internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and other overcrowded areas often lack basic sanitation and clean water, creating hotspots for cholera outbreaks.

What Can The Government Do

Improving access to clean water, enhancing sanitation infrastructure, promoting hygiene practices through widespread public health campaigns, and engaging in public health education are important areas the government should look at in the fight against cholera, emphasized Dr. Reinnet.

“Promoting the construction of hygienic latrines and ensuring proper waste management systems are implemented. Community-led total sanitation (CLTS) programs can encourage sustainable sanitation practices and reduce open defecation significantly. Promoting hygiene practices through widespread public health campaigns is vital,” he said.

According to him, integrating water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) education into school curricula through the Ministry of Education will educate children on proper hygiene practices and the importance of clean water and sanitation, adding that “it will ensure schools have access to safe water and adequate sanitation facilities to prevent cholera transmission among students.”

He called on the government to implement policies and regulatory measures critical to ensuring safe water, proper sanitation, and rapid response to outbreaks, and enforce stringent regulations on water quality standards and sanitation practices to ensure compliance by water suppliers and food vendors.

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Recently, an 11-year-old teenager, Iremide Opeifa, reportedly drowned in a swimming pool at the Grand Bank Link Hotels along Idiroko Road in the Sango Ota area of Ogun State. On April 11, another boat mishap involved a popular actor, Junior Pope, and three colleagues. They drowned in the Anambra River on their way back from a movie location in Anambra State.

In the same month, the Police Public Relations Officer for Lagos State, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that no fewer than seven people died within six days due to drowning, labeling their deaths as “avoidable.”

On January 10, the Chairman of Andoni Local Government Council, Erastus Awortu, Rivers State, confirmed the death of 11 people involved in a boat accident that occurred on the Andoni-Bonny waterway in Andoni local government area of the state. Three days later, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) revealed that five persons had drowned at the Lagos Bar Beach, Lagos, in the last 12 days (January 1-12).

On February 22, it was reported that a Lagos-based prophet, Oriyomi Damilola, drowned during a beach party in the Ajah area of the state to celebrate this year’s Valentine’s Day. Also, another boat accident was recorded in the same state five days later. Three persons drowned when a passenger boat capsized along Ibeshe-Ikorodu channel

Ways To Prevent Drowning Incidents

The Association of Aquatic Professionals, in its drowning prevention tips discussed that One of the most effective ways to promote water safety awareness is through education, and this can be done through various channels, including signage, pamphlets, and safety talks. 

“Signage is a powerful tool to promote water safety awareness. Place signs around the pool area that remind swimmers of safety rules and precautions, such as ‘No Running’, ‘No Diving’, ‘Swim with a Buddy’, and ‘Stay Within Arm’s Reach of Children”. Adding that “these signs should be easily visible and placed strategically, such as near the pool entrance, diving board, and shallow end”.

The association also emphasized that another effective way to promote water safety awareness is through safety talks covering a range of topics, including pool rules, CPR techniques, and emergency procedures. While also advocating for the Swimming lessons.

“Offering swimming lessons to patrons of all ages and skill levels, including children, adults, and seniors can be the foundation of any aquatic program. Swimming lessons not only teach individuals how to swim but also provide them with important water safety skills, such as how to float, tread water, and perform basic rescue techniques. By offering swimming lessons, you can empower individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe in and around the water.”, the association noted. 

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