Public Affairs Analyst

    “ The council approved for the establishment of the Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund to actually be put together under a governing board…..the implementation of that humanitarian and poverty trust fund would be carefully worked out by members of the committee. Of course, it will involve the Minister of Finance and other ministers that are relevant to the process. This is a flexible form of financing that is supposed to help Nigeria adequately respond to a humanitarian crisis. This will also respond to challenges as well as adequately address the issue of poverty in Nigeria and bring victory for the poor and indeed, bring help and succour which the Renewed Hope Agenda stands for” –Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, while addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council Meeting on Monday, October 23, 2023 According to the World Bank, “Social protection systems are at the heart of boosting human ...

  If you ask an average Nigerian what he or she wants, you’re likely going to hear a near unanimous response of better life, social amenities, security, employment opportunities and more money to take care of needs. All these are attainable and envisaged in two broad concepts of democracy and good governance. Many Nigerians do not want military coups because of the draconian way soldiers govern. Under a military junta, rule of law is absent. There is no constitutionalism or supremacy of the law, neither is there strict observance of fundamental human rights. Equality before the law is also a hoax under military regimes. Conversely, strong pillars of democracy include rule of law, separation of powers, checks and balances. In a true democracy, there is a regular conduct of elections, vibrant media, independent Judiciary and pro-people legislative assembly. In a democracy, the three arms of government are separate, though inter-dependent. They also act as checks on one another. The...

  I like to read for pleasure in my spare time. In the last few weeks, I read two books, back to back, from my library. Incidentally, both books have the same theme which is the irregular migration of our youths to greener pastures. The phenomenon, which is now known by the street parlance ‘japa’, has assumed a frightening dimension. The first book I read on this phenomenon is titled “Daughter in Exile” by a Ghanaian author, Bisi Adjapon.   The second is titled “Tent 59”, authored by Ifeanyi Ajaegbo, a Nigerian. In the first book, Lola, a 21-year-old daughter of a Ghanaian High Court Judge had a stint working in Senegal where she met a Black American Marine named Armand who impregnated her and made plans for her to go and give birth to their child in the United States. Things went awry as Armand abandoned Lola to her fate in America and she had to go through a decade of harrowing experience as a single mother before she was able to have her stay in the US regularised. The ma...

  Nigeria celebrated her 63rd independence anniversary last Sunday, October 1, 2023 in a sombre manner. The celebration was low-key, devoid of the usual merriment, gala night and fanfare at the Eagles Square where such national events are often held. There were symposium, thanksgiving services at the mosque and church and national broadcast by President Bola Tinubu. The president in his speech lauded the vision of our founding fathers and mothers as well as our modest achievements as a nation. A sound bite from his speech says “Nigeria is remarkable in its formation and essential character. We are a broad and dynamic blend of ethnic groups, religions, traditions and cultures. Yet, our bonds are intangible yet strong, invisible yet universal. We are joined by a common thirst for peace and progress, by the common dream of prosperity and harmony and by the unifying ideals of tolerance and justice.” Tinubu in his speech more or less gave an update on his July 31, 2023 national broadc...