Public Affairs Analyst

There is one universal truth applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.” —UNSecretary-General, Ban Ki-moon On Wednesday, November 20, I received a text message on my phone saying, “Sexual Offences Bill, which prescribes life imprisonment for paedophiles and over 10 years for sexual assaults passed second reading at the Senate today”. That piece of information jolted my memory and I started ruminating about the soaring cases of rape in Nigeria. Several questions came to mind: Why do people commit rape? What are the effects on the perpetrators as well as the victims?   How do we curb this growing menace? My research shows that there are different types of rape cases. Dr. Wilson in an article simply titled, Rape (http://drlwilson.com/articles/RAPE.htm)  tried to categorise them into Forcible rape, which is any forced sexual intercourse between two adults; Statutory...

Are there regulators for the Nigerian Global System for Mobile Communications industry? I am not unaware that the Nigerian Communications Commission; Senate and House Committees on Communications of the National Assembly as well as the Federal Ministry of Communications have oversight functions on our GSM operators. But it will seem they have all gone to sleep while our mobile phone service providers continue to operate with impunity, ceaselessly providing poor quality services. When Nigeria joined the elite league of GSM operators in 2001, we all shouted Eureka. Finally, we thought the days of inefficient and ineffective Nigeria Telecommunications is over. No more being at the mercy of the almighty NITEL.  No more pains and agony while queuing up at NITEL pay phones to make calls (at least, that’s what some of us who are too poor to own fixed telephone lines resort to). To some extent that was true. NITEL did die a natural death when the new kids came on the block....

Live on what you earn, Live if possible on less, Never borrow for vanity or pleasure, For vanity will end in shame, And pleasure in regret. - Author unknown Why do some Nigerians indulge in flamboyant lifestyles? Why do some of my compatriots like ostentatious living even when they can ill-afford it? Who do they want to impress? It is not uncommon to see some Nigerians acquire gadgets they don’t need, can’t afford, and don’t know how to use. Some persons are obsessed with acquiring all modern contraptions they see; from cars, to phones, wrist-watches, computers, music machines, television sets, air conditioning systems, freezers, cookers and other household items. Starting with cars, some people are gripped with the Sport Utility Vehicles (which in local parlance is called Jeeps) and other posh cars. They allow themselves to be lured by credit facilities granted by some banks or car dealers to buy at almost double the market price. Because they have a lo...

      Jide Ojo | credits: File copy Pension matters are dear to my heart. My father taught for 40 years and retired as a school headmaster. The unfortunate thing is that he neither got his pension nor his gratuity till he died three years into retirement. He was not alone. Many senior citizens of this country suffered a similar fate as they languished in pains, ailments and died miserably while waiting to be paid their retirement benefits. My office is at present enrolled in the contributory pension scheme and over the years, I have been able to accrue some reasonable pension savings under this scheme. I hope not to suffer the same upshot as my dad when my retirement comes. It is for these reasons that I have taken more than a cursory interest in pension matters. The administration of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, in a bid to reform pension management in the country in 2004, got the National Assembly to pass the Pension Reform bill throu...

Congratulations to all Nigerian thespians, playwrights, producers, directors, costumiers, scriptwriters, musicians, set-designers, location managers, dancers, choreographers, cameramen and women, photographers, editors, marketers, financiers and all other professionals who are involved in film-making in the country.  From November 2 – 27, 2013, Nigeria’s movie industry, better known as Nollywood, is set to celebrate its two decades of existence with pomp. Lots of interesting activities have been lined up to mark the twentieth anniversary celebrations. These include a grand awards night, a charity novelty football match, special master class sessions for practitioners, coaching clinics for Nigerian youths and upcoming motion picture practitioners, special charity-support activities, among others. I appreciate the artistry, resilience, and conscientiousness of Nollywood practitioners. From nothing, they have made the Nigerian film industry a global brand so much so t...

“Therefore the best fortress is to be found in the love of the people, for although you may have fortresses, they will not save you if you are hated by the people” —Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince Nigeria is indeed a theatre of the absurd. The frequent scandals we are treated to confirm this more than anything. Thus, when news broke out last week that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority purchased two armoured BMW 760 Li cars for the use of the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, I could not but hold my head in disbelief.  Am I suffering from auditory hallucination? Two bulletproof cars for a whopping $1.6m (N255m). This is our aviation empress’ priority while the sector is riddled with avoidable crisis while our public hospitals and universities have been shut down by striking doctors and lecturers! A number of issues have been raised by various analysts on the NCAA Greek gifts to the minister. First, is it appropriate for an agency under a ministry to pu...

Expectedly, the most discussed issue since October 1, 2013 is the proposed national conference consented to by President Goodluck Jonathan in his Independence Day broadcast.  Since then, the President has gone ahead to inaugurate the Femi Okurounmu-led National Advisory Committee on National Dialogue. My take on this whole issue is that it is a right thing being done at the wrong time. Yes, it is better to jaw-jaw than to war-war. However, convoking a national dialogue on the eve of an election year is ominous. The quick succession in which the opponents of the idea became the proponents is suspect. First, Senate President David Mark welcomed the idea on resumption from the National Assembly’s recess in September before the President established a 13-member committee on October 1. The nation’s No. 1 and 3 citizens are known antagonists of the idea before now. My main bother about the timing of the conference is that it may affect the proper planning for the 2015 ele...