Public Affairs Analyst

I am worried about the growing cases of fake professionals in Nigeria. There is hardly any week that arrests of some of these impostors, quacks, and charlatans are not made. Virtually every profession has them. There have been many reported cases of fake doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers, journalists, teachers, pharmacists, soldiers, police and clerics to mention but a few. They are the chaff in the wheat; the weed in the beautiful garden of many otherwise noble professions. These quacks are often smooth operators. They are bold, articulate, well dressed and understand the buzz words or the lingoes of the professions they are impersonating. Even though they are not properly certified by the regulatory body of their adopted profession to practise, they nonetheless are able to wangle fake certificates and identity cards to back up their fraudulent claims. Early this month, this newspaper reported a sensational case of a fake medical doctor who had been practising for nine years ...

“I sit on a man’s back choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am sorry for him and wish to lighten his load by all means possible….except by getting off his back” ― Leo Tolstoy, What Then Must We Do? The above quote is what the lame excuse given by the Osun State Government on its inability to pay its workers seven months’ salaries reminded me. According to a statement made available to journalists in Osogbo on Thursday, June 11, by Governor Rauf Aregbesola through his media aide, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, he said: “This administration remains very sensitive to the welfare of Osun workers. The financial situation of the state that has made it unable for the state government to pay workers’ salaries is disheartening and painful.” How can a government owe workers so much for so long and still claim to be sensitive to their welfare? As the saying goes, “Sorry does not heal a festering sore.” Anyway, I hope the state government fulfils its promise made...

An Abuja-based Development Consultant and Executive Director, OJA Development Consult, Abuja, Jide Ojo, in a note to The Guardian, titled: “Crucial Issues Before President Buhari on Nigeria’s 2015 Budget”, noted that there are many challenges with the implementation of the 2015 budget. “The issue is the over reliance on oil revenue. The monoculture of Nigeria’s economy is having negative impact on the country. There is the challenge of dwindling oil revenue in the international market; oil theft with about 100,000 barrels per day being lost to illegal bunkering; lack of accountability and transparency in the oil and gas sector of the economy; the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (though the House of Representatives passed it on Thursday, May 28, 2015, there was no concurrence of the Senate). “The low revenue base of the country to finance the budget has resulted in a situation where over 20 of the 36 states of Nigeria could no longer pay salaries of their workforce as and ...

Hearty congratulations to all the newly elected principal officers of the eighth national and state assemblies. It will be recalled that sequel to the March 28 and April 11, 2015 elections which produced new members of the Senate, House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly, political parties of these members had organised retreats for them to share with them their expectations. In the same vein, the National Institute for Legislative Studies as well as Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Abuja had also organised trainings for them. It is my sincere hope that the knowledge imparted on them at the series of training and retreats will be put to good use. With the inauguration of the legislative arm at both federal and state levels as well as the emergence of principal officers (Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker House of Representatives, Speakers, state Houses of Assembly, Deputy Speakers, Majority Leaders, Minority Leaders, Chief Whips, chairpersons and vice cha...

Just last Wednesday, 48 hours to the end of the Jonathan administration, the former President decided to give the country some parting gift by signing six bills into law among the scores awaiting his assent. One of the lucky few to be signed into law was the Tobacco Control Bill. The National Tobacco Control Act 2015 is a domestication of the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The new law is aimed at ensuring effective regulation and control of production, manufacturing, sale, labelling, advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco and tobacco products in Nigeria. ADVERTISEMENT I commend ex-president Jonathan for giving Nigeria a new legal framework for combating the monstrous challenge of controlling the consumption of tobacco. I dare say however that it is the easiest part that has been done. The most challenging aspect is that of enforcement of the law. Banning of smoking in public places did not start today. The law has been there but...