Public Affairs Analyst

  “ History will remember today not merely as an unveiling ceremony, but as the day Nigeria chose dialogue, transparency, fiscal realism, and strong Presidential commitment as the pathway to resolving long-standing governance challenges and achieving sustained progress.” – Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, during the signing of the agreement between FG and ASUU on January 14, 2026. Last week Wednesday, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, signed a fresh agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities. The Guardian of January 17 said that in a defining move to end a 17-year crisis that has repeatedly destabilised Nigeria’s university system, the FG and the ASUU have finally signed a comprehensive agreement aimed at restoring stability, improving staff welfare, and safeguarding academic standards. The protracted conflict, marked by recurring strikes, inadequate funding, and unresolved welfare concerns, has repeatedly disrupted ...

  An online source says “Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. It involves dishonest or illegal acts like bribery, fraud, embezzlement, or nepotism, often by powerful individuals in government, business, or other sectors, to get illicit benefits, bypass rules, or misuse public resources for personal or group advantage. It undermines fairness, weakens institutions, and harms public welfare by diverting funds, creating unequal access, and eroding trust, and can range from petty bribes to large-scale grand corruption.” According to Transparency International, “Corruption erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers economic development and further exacerbates inequality, poverty, social division and the environmental crisis.” How has Nigeria fared in terms of fighting corruption? In the 2024 Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International, released in early 2025, Nigeria ranked 140th out of 180 countries, improving slightly from 145th but remaining among...

  Welcome to 2026, Nigeria’s year of unlimited politicking. The Independent National Electoral Commission will next month, in line with provision of section 28 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022 publish Notice of Election for the next general polls. The section says “The Commission shall, not later than 360 days before the day appointed for holding of an election under this Act, publish a notice in each State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory— (a) stating the date of the election; and (b) appointing the place at which nomination papers are to be delivered. Ideally, this is the year that governance should be at its peak, but knowing Nigeria’s ruling elite, once INEC releases the Notice, governance will take the back seat while politics takes the centerstage. Last year despite being two years to the next general elections, INEC had to hold a stakeholder meeting to caution the political class to stop pre-mature campaigning. The whole of Abuja streets were taken over by ...

  Tomorrow is Christmas, a Christian holiday celebrated worldwide. From the start of the month, the greetings have changed. You’ll hear people say, ‘Season’s greeting’ or ‘Compliment of the Yuletide’ or ‘Merry Christmas in advance’. The time-honoured ‘Father Christmas’ viewing wasn’t missing this year as many schools, churches and media outfits organised Father Christmas Grottos, where children pay a token sum to visit Father Christmas, who also shares gifts with the visitors. Some organisers make it part of their end-of-the-year party with a DJ on hand to dish out good, danceable songs and music to visitors’ delight. Some organisations partner with media outfits that also do live streaming and transmission on their channels, and give visitors a chance to greet their loved ones at home. Another unique feature of the Christmas season is the carol. There’s no Christmas without carols, where choristers sing in honour of Jesus Christ, whose birth is being celebrated tomorrow, even th...

  Several media channels (News Central TV, Daily Trust, Rapid 96.5 FM, Umuahia and Metro 97.7 FM, Lagos) have interviewed me on today’s protest against insecurity organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress. They all wanted to know if the Comrade Joe Ajaero led labour union was right to organise the protest. Of course, I responded without equivocation that the exercise had my full support and was even long overdue. Recall that the media had widely publicised last Sunday that NLC had said its planned nationwide protest on December 17 aimed to draw attention to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and compel urgent action from stakeholders. NLC president reportedly stated this in Gombe last Saturday while speaking with journalists after meeting Governor Inuwa Yahaya on labour-related issues. Ajaero said the protest would demand decisive government action against insecurity, stressing that the situation now affects every Nigerian, regardless of status or occupation. He said banditry and vi...

  Trade is a form of exchange. This can be of commodities or services; even ideas. Trade practice has been from time immemorial and is as old as mankind.   AI Overview says “Trade is the voluntary exchange, buying, or selling of goods, services, or financial products between individuals, companies, or countries for mutual benefit, creating links between producers and consumers and boosting economies by allowing specialisation and access to a wider variety of goods. It can be local (domestic) or international (imports/exports) and involves various forms, from simple bartering to complex financial market transactions. Many of us will remember the phenomenon of “trade by barter” where people exchange products they have for the one they need. For instance, we’re told that before the advent of money, people exchange good and services such that a person who has yam and need corn will go to the market to look for who has corn and need yam. Or someone who has farm produce and needs ...