Facts

 Nigerians are proud to live in a country with a land area of 923,773 km 2, with varied vegetation and types of soil suitable for various agricultural purposes. In 1960 and the years following, up until the early 1970s, Nigeria's economy was between the agriculturally friendly ''grassroots'' and the ''white collar'' city-oriented center. All that had to do with the production of goods was concentrated in the city, while a large percentage of Nigerians resided in the villages, with farming as their major occupation. The villages, then, lacked major amenities of life. Governance during this period was with a chain of challenges. Then, most of the earnings from exports were from agriculture, while 65% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) also came from the sector. Nearly 50% of government revenue in 1960 could be traced to agriculture. Today, as in the 1960s, the provision of quantitative and qualitative education, quality health care delivery, and the abse...

Impunity in cities, towns, and villages across Nigeria revolve around the fact that those responsible for law enforcement have been heavily compromised. Perhaps, this is the price to be paid to achieve self-centered goals with the coercive powers of Those-in-Charge in a depressed economy. The obsessive lure of power seems too attractive for those involved to be committed to democracy. An unspecified number of citizens are now used as proxies. The Nigerian society is now that of guns, terrorism, kidnappings, killings(for ritual purposes inclusive), contempt for the rule of law, and other violent crimes. The reactionary approach to law enforcement and insecurity has resulted in the massive traumatization of the psyche of Nigerians, considering the increasing rate of abductions and killings in the land. In saner climes, the structure of the national security system was fumigated, overhauled, and remodeled. This singular action ensured the exit of those lacking in integrity and credibil...

At the present time, in Nigeria, only a handful of civil and public servants take their duties seriously and wholeheartedly. Their attitude is directly related to the position of government in the three tiers on issues of workers' welfare and conditions of service. Indeed, the focus of those on government payroll in any given line of duty or assignment is what is in it to gain and not what ought to be done. In other words, selfless devotion to duty is no longer there. Assigned tasks in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies are no longer done properly and promptly. A sizable number of workers no longer possess a sense of responsibility. Who is to blame ? For several years now, the monster of indiscipline has continued to fester, with due process as the major casuality. The struggle for ''power'' among government workers is the most prominent activity going on in most offices. Sharp practices are the order of the day. This is partly as a result of the sectio...

  Most public primary and secondary school students learn in environments that are not encouraging in Nigeria.  The facilities have been stretched to obsolete conditions as a result of improper planning by the government at all levels.  Considering the dilapidated toilet facilities in several of these schools and the absence of potable and drinkable water, the potential outbreak of an epidemic cannot be ruled out. Teachers are no longer dedicated to duty due to their nightmarish working conditions.  Cultism has taken root in most of these schools, while "armed robbers" in school uniforms dot the nooks and crannies of every part of the country.  Indeed, cultists, mostly young people, are now strategic stakeholders in elections in many states. Of worry is the lack of sincerity on the part of the government in the implementation of programs and policies.  On the part of private schools, moral decadence, which is a major feature in public schools, is the issue,...

In 1801,1836 and 1854, the General Enclosure Acts were passed. The General Enclosure Act of 1845 superseded the Parliamentary committee which examined Enclosure Bills by Enclosure Commissioners, who, instead of sitting at Westminister, moved to the scene. The Enclosure Commissioner presented their findings to Parliament in the form of a general bill for passage into law. The Squire expanded his holdings and expanded the land of ejected tenants, in addition to common land and waste, while the larger freeholders held on to their claims and increased their holdings. But this was, however, not the case for smaller freeholders. An Enclosure Bill was not enough to drive a freeholder off the land because he had legal claims to his holding. Aspects of the Enclosure which negatively affected the freeholder include: he had to pay his share of the expenses of the enclosure, which was an expensive process, varying from about 200 pounds to nearly 500 pounds. If unable to pay, then he had to s...

The Federal Government has lost grip of the health sector. Nigerians now seek God’s intervention on issues pertaining to health care delivery. Most public hospitals are now designated mortuaries, where Nigerians are left to die, rather than recover from ailments. Interestingly, the citizenry now resort to self-medication and traditional healing therapy as a result of their poor economic status. Sadly, most health workers lack the requisite skills needed to be proactive in their jobs. All these put together has resulted in high infant and maternal mortality and the prevalence of several diseases. In some hospitals, patients are required to buy sachets of water for medical tests. Governments at all levels ought to set goals for better health care, but this is yet to occur. Nigerians hope to experience an increase in life expectancy, while also coming to terms with high and substantial levels of immunization against all vaccine preventable diseases and attaining national self-suff...

Vital literacy indicators reveal a deplorable condition in the Nigerian educational system. Indeed, the adult literacy rate is embarrassing, while the number of out-of-school children has reached an all-time high rate. Trailing the falling standard of education at all levels, is the ever-increasing rate of drop-outs today. With particular reference to the secondary and Tertiary levels of education, cultism, gangster ism and prostitution have become the popular choice for undergraduates and students in educational institutions across the states of the federation. Shortage of qualified teachers, lack of teaching aids, recreational facilities in schools and basic infrastructure are just a few among the sore points of schools in Nigeria. Of serious worry are the poor sanitation, overcrowding in classrooms, poor conditions of service for teachers, which has resulted in the poor quality of teaching and poor quality of classroom products. All put together, have become negative signposts...

The about 1.4 million candidates who performed poorly in the recently released Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations(UTME) have only given flesh to the suspicion, all along, that qualitative education in Nigeria is almost extinct. Parents and guardians who channeled their energy and financial resources to ensure that their children and wards scale through the examinations, successfully, have continued to lament over the huge amount they expended on the examinations. Of worry, is the continued silence of the Federal government on the issue. This is a disturbing threat to democracy, considering the allocation to the education sector in the 2024 annual budget.

The unfolding events in Rivers state is a reflection of the warped mindset of the leadership at the  highest level of governance in Nigeria. Not surprisingly, mum is the word at this very important level of government. Why? Those in leadership positions are yet to imbibe the tenets of democracy. Indeed, a lot is wrong with the approach, template and structure of governance, even though deceit, lies, falsehood and depraved actions of those in government continue with impunity.

  The strangulating inflation, prohibitive prices of goods and services and the poor performance of the Naira in the exchange market are all signposts of a faulty leadership foisted on Nigerians. This assertion was made by a former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''The inflation in the country has brought about untold hardships, sufferings and difficulties for millions of Nigerians, coupled with the poor showing of the Naira in the exchange market. All these are credible indicators that faulty leadership has been foisted on Nigerians and the World Bank knows this fact and is utilizing it to the fullest. It is very glaring in all sectors of the economy,''Comrade Emelieze stated.

  The Federal Government has been called upon to account for the deductions of the National Housing Fund from workers' salaries. This call was made by a former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''The National Housing Funds deductions from the salaries of workers has been non-functional as workers do not have access to the loans as a result of the stringent conditions attached to the loans. The government should account for the deductions, otherwise the widespread feeling is that the NHF is a ploy to swindle workers of their hard-earned money,''Comrade Emelieze stated. Similarly, the N35,000 wage award  cannot solve the problems workers are presently experiencing. This assertion was made by a former chairman of the National Union of Allied Health Professionals(NUAHP) University College Hospital(UCH)Ibadan, Nigeria, Comrade Olusegun Sotiloye. There is no way that N35,000 can alleviate the sufferings o...

  The attitude, behavior and activities of millions of Nigerians are crucial to the visibility of the positive impact of education on their lives. Even when the whole annual budget, once the needful by Those-in-authority is not done, salvaging the deteriorated standard of education would just be an exercise in futility. The open display of lawlessness, indiscipline, criminality and evil in different parts of the country are pointers to the unwavering fact that education is yet to achieve its purpose in Nigeria.

  The harsh and problematic economic environment in Nigeria has made the media industry vulnerable to censorship. This assertion was made by the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Jagaban Communications International, Mr. Samuel Adenitan. ''The bad state of the economy has negatively affected the media industry. The industry is vulnerable. It has suffered greatly in this dispensation. Owners of media outlets are finding it increasingly difficult to  operate and stay afloat. In Nigeria, we censor the truth. Any country that censors the truth will not be taken seriously. We have good laws, but the effectiveness of the laws constitutes a problem. In Nigeria, the truth is censored.

The Federal Government ought to make provision for a new national minimum wage in the 2024 appropriation bill presented to both chambers of the National Assembly. This assertion was made by a former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Andreww Emelieze. ''It is disturbing that the details of the 2024 appropriation bill were not made public, but the Federal Government ought to make provision for a new national minimum wage in the bill, if it is truly sensitive to the difficulties and hardships Nigerians are passing through. As at today, the N35,000 wage award cannot buy a bag of rice. In addition, the government has only paid the wage award once since it commenced payment to federal workers,'' Comrade Emelieze stated. Similarly, health workers in Nigeria have expressed the hopes that their new salary scale would be included in the 2024 budget. The health workers made this known through a members of the National Execut...

Take an interest in your Health and Wellnesss  Workers in Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies(MDA) have expressed reservations over the delay in the payment of their monthly salaries. The workers lamented that they had received just a month's wage award of N35,000. ''We received last month's salaries in the second week. Up till this moment, most workers in the MDAs are yet to receive their October salaries. It is disturbing considering the very high cost of living. We are worried and we feel that the government is torturing us. In addition, we have only received the September wage award of N35,000, and October is yet to be paid,'' the workers lamented.

 The physical brutalization of the President of the Nigeria Labor Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero has exposed the positive disposition of Those-in-Authority toward lawlessness, criminality, and violent crimes. Take an interest in your health and wellness This assertion was made by a former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''The brutal attack on the President of the Nigeria Labor Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero is incontrovertible evidence of the involvement of the government in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and hoodlums in the longstanding lawlessness, criminality and violent crimes in a number of states and the the Federal Republic of Nigeria over the years and in the present time. It is a very sad narrative,'' Comrade Emelieze lamented.

Take interest in your health and wellness   As lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly take delivery of their brand-new Sports Utility Vehicles(SUV), millions of Nigerians have become despondent.  This assertion was made by a former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''Our lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives are already taking delivery of their brand-new Sports Utility Vehicles(SUV), the unemployment rate is on the increase, fuel queues have resurfaced, the costs of foodstuffs have gone beyond the reach of millions of Nigerians, the difficulties and hardships have become unbearable, Nigerians have become despondent'', Comrade Emelieze lamented.

  Take interest in your health and wellness Helpless and harmless Nigerians have for several years watched with utter disbelief as criminals and the government takes advantage of faulty leadership to annex their landed property in Nigeria. Also, read-Nigerians have become Despondent- Comrade Emelieze Indeed, the activities of these criminals have the imprints of those who are supposed to be in charge. Of great worry is the boldness and confidence exhibited by the criminals, who openly boast of having the blessings of government officials. Lawlessness, indiscipline, criminality, and evil are now ways of life in different parts of Nigeria. Recently, an estate surveyor led 4 armed uniformed men to break into a block of four flats at 3, Kehinde Aderibigbe Street, Olorunsogo, Molete, Ibadan, Oyo state. The invaders, who concealed their name tags and service numbers, broke the padlocks of the gate and the doors to the apartments, ransacked the whole building, and made away with ...

  Nigerian society revolves around rumor bandied tradition. This largely explains why the pursuit of knowledge is based on other considerations and not for knowledge's sake. Irrespective of the number of educational institutions at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels across the country, it is still an illiterate society. Shop @ Oriflame The implantation of widespread falsehood and ignorance is very disturbing. Indeed, the non-nonchalant  and carefree attitude of the citizenry towards acquiring knowledge is a reflection of the faulty selection process of the leadership at all levels of government.  

  The N35, 000 wage award recently announced by the Federal Government  has only relieved workers in Nigeria psychologically and not economically. This assertion was made by a member of the National Executive Council(NEC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union and Associated Institutions(NASU), who is also the branch chairman of the union at the University College Hospital(UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria, Comrade Kehinde Abiona. ''The announcement has calmed frayed  nerves, but the government is yet to pay as at now. The review of CONHESS/CONMESS effectual from June 1st has not been implemented. The government says it has no funds. However, because of the N35, 000 wage award, workers were relieved psychologically, but economically the difficulties and hardships persist. We are yet to be paid the wage award because it did not reflect in our September salaries, Comrade Abiona stated. In his view, a former Oyo state chairman of the NASU, Comrade Fatoki Olusola-Cole, insisted that the wage aw...