Nigeria’s towering unemployment and poverty rates

WRITER: OLAYINKA ALAYA Unemployment and poverty rate in Nigeria have become a major concern to Nigerians, especially the downtrodden in the society. Despite government’s numerous measures to check the alarming increase in the rate of unemployment and poverty, it is very saddened that all the efforts put in place had become futile, even as government voted a lot of resources to check it. Many Nigerians believe that government was not being sincere in tackling the menace that has eclipsed the future of the country. The World Bank recently released its economic report on Nigeria. The report largely reinforces what many genuine Nigerian economic analysts have been saying. According to the report, Nigeria’s annual growth rates that an average of over seven per cent in official data during the last decade, place the nation among the fastest growing economies in the world. This growth has been concentrated particularly on trade and agriculture, which would suggest substantial benefits for many Nigerians. Nevertheless, improvements in social welfare indicators have been much slower than would be expected in the context of this growth. Poverty reduction and job creation have not kept pace with population growth, implying social distress for an increasing number of Nigerians. Progress towards the fulfillment of many of the Millennium Development Goals has been slow, and the country ranked 153 out of 186 countries in the 2013 United Nations Human Development Index. This portends a danger to the country’s development. The World Bank further notes that Job creation in Nigeria has been inadequate to keep pace with the expanding working age population. The official unemployment rate had steadily increased from 12 per cent of the working age population in 2006 to 24 per cent in 2011. Preliminary indications is that this upward trend continued in 2012. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, each year, about 1.8 million young Nigerians graduate into the labour market searching for jobs that are not there. Nigeria’s economy is in comatose, even cracking to the extent that it lacks the capability to provide jobs for the teeming unemployed graduates and youths. Majority of the Nigeria’s graduates had turned to agents of mass destruction such as, armed robbery, kidnapping, political thugs while some are professional beggars. The country’s resources have been rotated among some people in government and private sector, who constitute the meagre percentage of the country’s large population. It is devastating that a country blessed with both human and natural resources like Nigeria is lagging behind in all aspects. Nigeria has never suffered from heavy natural disaster than man-made disasters. Some Nigerians are even among the World richest people. Recently, Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Femi Otedola and few others made the Forbes list of the richest people in the World. Forbes reviewed the top 21 richest Nigerians based on the value of their shares held in quoted companies, the size and market share of their companies, the number of companies they own and its assumed value, the market value of their company’s brand and the impact of their companies on the Nigerian economy. Though it is pertinent to note that these people that topped the richest list have made significant contributions towards the growth and development of Nigeria’s economy, they also seized the opportunities provided in the country for business to hold the economy to ransom and thus enrich their personal pockets in order to be ranked amongst the richest people in the world. Countries like Ghana, South Africa and Benin Republic among others without having people that top the list in the World enjoyed stable economy, power supply, good governance, adequate infrastructures and amenities. Ghanaians used to live and transact businesses before in Nigeria when their economy was bad, but now reverse was the case as many Nigerians preferred to live, school and even have their investments in Ghana than Nigeria due to the country’s stable economy, stable power and adequate basic infrastructural facilities provided by their government. Nigeria has been experiencing growth without development. There is just no way a country experiencing high inflation, unemployment and poverty can be said to be developing even if its economic growth is in double digits. Nigerian Universities are also churning out graduates on yearly basis, saturating the labour market with nothing to serve as income for them and source of living, thereby, increasing the rate of crime in the country. It is worth reiterating that despite these unemployment and poverty rate, there have been more job losses than jobs creation. Not at the federal level alone, even at state and local government levels as well as the private sector. The words, “rightsizing” and “downsizing” crept into our national lexicon; we have not yet done with it as many states government are using them to disengage some public workers. There is need to interrogate many jobs referred to by the government as employment opportunities. In my opinion, there is actually under-employment. Take for instance the glamourised SURE-P programme of the Federal government that was established as part of palliative measures from the removal of subsidy from oil in order to create employment for the teeming unemployed youths and other youth empowerment schemes embarked upon by some of the states government where graduates of tertiary institutions are recruited as street sweepers, casual workers in ministries and parastatals and traffic managers only to be paid N10, 000 a month. This is pure under-employment. There is also increasing casualisation by many public and private companies. Under this inhuman policy, eminently qualified personnel are recruited under conditions similar to slavery with peanuts as salaries and without any other welfare packages such as health, transport, housing allowances, leave bonus etc. Nigerian government wastes huge amount of money on political office holders at the Federal, State and local government levels. It is on Nigeria’s terrain that we see Governor’s aides having his/her own aides to the extent that some have more than 4 aides under government’s payroll, while some of these government’s appointees are believed to be half literate and stark politicians that have nothing to offer their respective states or country than to be mere political tools. All resources that are supposed to be tailored towards providing jobs for the graduates and unemployed youths are used to serve the political appointees which makes majority of the state governments to be spending larger percent of their monthly allocations on them. Jobs creation is one of the cardinal programmes of all the three tiers of government in Nigeria, but despite their mouth-washing campaigns and fake promises, it is disheartening that nothing serious has been done in this regard, while they only embark on programmes that will turn them to a one night richest. Recently, the Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University, Malete, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, at a press briefing on the establishment of the School of Business and Governance, said both the Nigerian government and the Nigerian Universities had failed Nigerians woefully. Na’Allah decried that despite the huge human and natural resources the country’s endowed with, nothing was done to channel the abundant resources towards her growth and development, allowing the resources to waste. According to him, if government provides the necessary materials required for the country’s tertiary institutions and the Academics ready to prepare the undergraduates to meet future challenges of making them job creators not seekers, the problems confronting the country would be lessen. The World Bank is on point in its suggestion that, “It is imperative that Nigeria finds a recipe to unlock rapid growth and job creation in a larger part of the country, as well as to increase standards of education, health, and other social services to enable its citizens to find gainful employment in the emerging growth poles.” There is no two ways about it; gainful employment will drastically reduce poverty. No one is under any illusion that only the government holds the recipe to fight unemployment and poverty. However, government needs to provide the enabling environment that will make private sector, the cottage industries, and the artisanal service providers to thrive. If there is significant improved electricity supply, it will reduce the cost of doing business drastically as many welders, hairdressers, barbers and other artisans will find it easier to ply their trade. Once the government can help bring down the cost of doing business through appropriate policies inclusive of low interest on loans, provision of critical social infrastructure and adequate security of lives and property, the problem of unemployment will abate and likewise poverty as the dependency ratio will also reduce. Government needs to be sincere in its effort at tackling unemployment and poverty. The numbers of government’s political appointees and their aides are too much, where money that should be used to provide jobs is used to serve them. Therefore, it is expedient for the three tiers of government to reduce their expenses, lower the cost of governance if they are actually sincere to the plight of Nigerians. Nigerians need to fight corruption, injustice, inequality and demand for their rights from government. They must hold government responsible for their plight, while the Nigeria Union of Journalists, an umbrella body of all practicing journalists as the fourth estate of the realm needs to serve as watch-dog to government. They should unravel what is being covered up by the political office holders and those saddled with the responsibility of managing the country’s economy. Different Non-Governmental Organizations must also wake up from their slumber and renew the fight against corruption and injustice. Nigerians must wake up and jointly fight and wage war against these menacing scourges in order to save the country from collapsing. Graduate unemployment must be tackled at all levels of government. The Nigeria Labour market must be made to be begging for employment not the graduates begging for employment. Before an undergraduate finishes from the University or polytechnic, the labour market should already provide a place to fix such person. By doing this, poverty rate will reduce and development will take place in Nigeria in earnest. Olayinka Alaya, is a journalist Writes from Ilorin via yeancahalaya@yahoo.com

Nigeria’s towering unemployment and poverty rates

WRITER: OLAYINKA ALAYA Unemployment and poverty rate in Nigeria have become a major concern to Nigerians, especially the downtrodden in the society. Despite government’s numerous measures to check the alarming increase in the rate of unemployment and poverty, it is very saddened that all the efforts put in place had become futile, even as government voted a lot of resources to check it. Many Nigerians believe that government was not being sincere in tackling the menace that has eclipsed the future of the country. The World Bank recently released its economic report on Nigeria. The report largely reinforces what many genuine Nigerian economic analysts have been saying. According to the report, Nigeria’s annual growth rates that an average of over seven per cent in official data during the last decade, place the nation among the fastest growing economies in the world. This growth has been concentrated particularly on trade and agriculture, which would suggest substantial benefits for many Nigerians. Nevertheless, improvements in social welfare indicators have been much slower than would be expected in the context of this growth. Poverty reduction and job creation have not kept pace with population growth, implying social distress for an increasing number of Nigerians. Progress towards the fulfillment of many of the Millennium Development Goals has been slow, and the country ranked 153 out of 186 countries in the 2013 United Nations Human Development Index. This portends a danger to the country’s development. The World Bank further notes that Job creation in Nigeria has been inadequate to keep pace with the expanding working age population. The official unemployment rate had steadily increased from 12 per cent of the working age population in 2006 to 24 per cent in 2011. Preliminary indications is that this upward trend continued in 2012. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, each year, about 1.8 million young Nigerians graduate into the labour market searching for jobs that are not there. Nigeria’s economy is in comatose, even cracking to the extent that it lacks the capability to provide jobs for the teeming unemployed graduates and youths. Majority of the Nigeria’s graduates had turned to agents of mass destruction such as, armed robbery, kidnapping, political thugs while some are professional beggars. The country’s resources have been rotated among some people in government and private sector, who constitute the meagre percentage of the country’s large population. It is devastating that a country blessed with both human and natural resources like Nigeria is lagging behind in all aspects. Nigeria has never suffered from heavy natural disaster than man-made disasters. Some Nigerians are even among the World richest people. Recently, Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Femi Otedola and few others made the Forbes list of the richest people in the World. Forbes reviewed the top 21 richest Nigerians based on the value of their shares held in quoted companies, the size and market share of their companies, the number of companies they own and its assumed value, the market value of their company’s brand and the impact of their companies on the Nigerian economy. Though it is pertinent to note that these people that topped the richest list have made significant contributions towards the growth and development of Nigeria’s economy, they also seized the opportunities provided in the country for business to hold the economy to ransom and thus enrich their personal pockets in order to be ranked amongst the richest people in the world. Countries like Ghana, South Africa and Benin Republic among others without having people that top the list in the World enjoyed stable economy, power supply, good governance, adequate infrastructures and amenities. Ghanaians used to live and transact businesses before in Nigeria when their economy was bad, but now reverse was the case as many Nigerians preferred to live, school and even have their investments in Ghana than Nigeria due to the country’s stable economy, stable power and adequate basic infrastructural facilities provided by their government. Nigeria has been experiencing growth without development. There is just no way a country experiencing high inflation, unemployment and poverty can be said to be developing even if its economic growth is in double digits. Nigerian Universities are also churning out graduates on yearly basis, saturating the labour market with nothing to serve as income for them and source of living, thereby, increasing the rate of crime in the country. It is worth reiterating that despite these unemployment and poverty rate, there have been more job losses than jobs creation. Not at the federal level alone, even at state and local government levels as well as the private sector. The words, “rightsizing” and “downsizing” crept into our national lexicon; we have not yet done with it as many states government are using them to disengage some public workers. There is need to interrogate many jobs referred to by the government as employment opportunities. In my opinion, there is actually under-employment. Take for instance the glamourised SURE-P programme of the Federal government that was established as part of palliative measures from the removal of subsidy from oil in order to create employment for the teeming unemployed youths and other youth empowerment schemes embarked upon by some of the states government where graduates of tertiary institutions are recruited as street sweepers, casual workers in ministries and parastatals and traffic managers only to be paid N10, 000 a month. This is pure under-employment. There is also increasing casualisation by many public and private companies. Under this inhuman policy, eminently qualified personnel are recruited under conditions similar to slavery with peanuts as salaries and without any other welfare packages such as health, transport, housing allowances, leave bonus etc. Nigerian government wastes huge amount of money on political office holders at the Federal, State and local government levels. It is on Nigeria’s terrain that we see Governor’s aides having his/her own aides to the extent that some have more than 4 aides under government’s payroll, while some of these government’s appointees are believed to be half literate and stark politicians that have nothing to offer their respective states or country than to be mere political tools. All resources that are supposed to be tailored towards providing jobs for the graduates and unemployed youths are used to serve the political appointees which makes majority of the state governments to be spending larger percent of their monthly allocations on them. Jobs creation is one of the cardinal programmes of all the three tiers of government in Nigeria, but despite their mouth-washing campaigns and fake promises, it is disheartening that nothing serious has been done in this regard, while they only embark on programmes that will turn them to a one night richest. Recently, the Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University, Malete, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, at a press briefing on the establishment of the School of Business and Governance, said both the Nigerian government and the Nigerian Universities had failed Nigerians woefully. Na’Allah decried that despite the huge human and natural resources the country’s endowed with, nothing was done to channel the abundant resources towards her growth and development, allowing the resources to waste. According to him, if government provides the necessary materials required for the country’s tertiary institutions and the Academics ready to prepare the undergraduates to meet future challenges of making them job creators not seekers, the problems confronting the country would be lessen. The World Bank is on point in its suggestion that, “It is imperative that Nigeria finds a recipe to unlock rapid growth and job creation in a larger part of the country, as well as to increase standards of education, health, and other social services to enable its citizens to find gainful employment in the emerging growth poles.” There is no two ways about it; gainful employment will drastically reduce poverty. No one is under any illusion that only the government holds the recipe to fight unemployment and poverty. However, government needs to provide the enabling environment that will make private sector, the cottage industries, and the artisanal service providers to thrive. If there is significant improved electricity supply, it will reduce the cost of doing business drastically as many welders, hairdressers, barbers and other artisans will find it easier to ply their trade. Once the government can help bring down the cost of doing business through appropriate policies inclusive of low interest on loans, provision of critical social infrastructure and adequate security of lives and property, the problem of unemployment will abate and likewise poverty as the dependency ratio will also reduce. Government needs to be sincere in its effort at tackling unemployment and poverty. The numbers of government’s political appointees and their aides are too much, where money that should be used to provide jobs is used to serve them. Therefore, it is expedient for the three tiers of government to reduce their expenses, lower the cost of governance if they are actually sincere to the plight of Nigerians. Nigerians need to fight corruption, injustice, inequality and demand for their rights from government. They must hold government responsible for their plight, while the Nigeria Union of Journalists, an umbrella body of all practicing journalists as the fourth estate of the realm needs to serve as watch-dog to government. They should unravel what is being covered up by the political office holders and those saddled with the responsibility of managing the country’s economy. Different Non-Governmental Organizations must also wake up from their slumber and renew the fight against corruption and injustice. Nigerians must wake up and jointly fight and wage war against these menacing scourges in order to save the country from collapsing. Graduate unemployment must be tackled at all levels of government. The Nigeria Labour market must be made to be begging for employment not the graduates begging for employment. Before an undergraduate finishes from the University or polytechnic, the labour market should already provide a place to fix such person. By doing this, poverty rate will reduce and development will take place in Nigeria in earnest. Olayinka Alaya, is a journalist Writes from Ilorin via yeancahalaya@yahoo.com

Nigeria’s towering unemployment and poverty rates

WRITER: OLAYINKA ALAYA Unemployment and poverty rate in Nigeria have become a major concern to Nigerians, especially the downtrodden in the society. Despite government’s numerous measures to check the alarming increase in the rate of unemployment and poverty, it is very saddened that all the efforts put in place had become futile, even as government voted a lot of resources to check it. Many Nigerians believe that government was not being sincere in tackling the menace that has eclipsed the future of the country. The World Bank recently released its economic report on Nigeria. The report largely reinforces what many genuine Nigerian economic analysts have been saying. According to the report, Nigeria’s annual growth rates that an average of over seven per cent in official data during the last decade, place the nation among the fastest growing economies in the world. This growth has been concentrated particularly on trade and agriculture, which would suggest substantial benefits for many Nigerians. Nevertheless, improvements in social welfare indicators have been much slower than would be expected in the context of this growth. Poverty reduction and job creation have not kept pace with population growth, implying social distress for an increasing number of Nigerians. Progress towards the fulfillment of many of the Millennium Development Goals has been slow, and the country ranked 153 out of 186 countries in the 2013 United Nations Human Development Index. This portends a danger to the country’s development. The World Bank further notes that Job creation in Nigeria has been inadequate to keep pace with the expanding working age population. The official unemployment rate had steadily increased from 12 per cent of the working age population in 2006 to 24 per cent in 2011. Preliminary indications is that this upward trend continued in 2012. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, each year, about 1.8 million young Nigerians graduate into the labour market searching for jobs that are not there. Nigeria’s economy is in comatose, even cracking to the extent that it lacks the capability to provide jobs for the teeming unemployed graduates and youths. Majority of the Nigeria’s graduates had turned to agents of mass destruction such as, armed robbery, kidnapping, political thugs while some are professional beggars. The country’s resources have been rotated among some people in government and private sector, who constitute the meagre percentage of the country’s large population. It is devastating that a country blessed with both human and natural resources like Nigeria is lagging behind in all aspects. Nigeria has never suffered from heavy natural disaster than man-made disasters. Some Nigerians are even among the World richest people. Recently, Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Femi Otedola and few others made the Forbes list of the richest people in the World. Forbes reviewed the top 21 richest Nigerians based on the value of their shares held in quoted companies, the size and market share of their companies, the number of companies they own and its assumed value, the market value of their company’s brand and the impact of their companies on the Nigerian economy. Though it is pertinent to note that these people that topped the richest list have made significant contributions towards the growth and development of Nigeria’s economy, they also seized the opportunities provided in the country for business to hold the economy to ransom and thus enrich their personal pockets in order to be ranked amongst the richest people in the world. Countries like Ghana, South Africa and Benin Republic among others without having people that top the list in the World enjoyed stable economy, power supply, good governance, adequate infrastructures and amenities. Ghanaians used to live and transact businesses before in Nigeria when their economy was bad, but now reverse was the case as many Nigerians preferred to live, school and even have their investments in Ghana than Nigeria due to the country’s stable economy, stable power and adequate basic infrastructural facilities provided by their government. Nigeria has been experiencing growth without development. There is just no way a country experiencing high inflation, unemployment and poverty can be said to be developing even if its economic growth is in double digits. Nigerian Universities are also churning out graduates on yearly basis, saturating the labour market with nothing to serve as income for them and source of living, thereby, increasing the rate of crime in the country. It is worth reiterating that despite these unemployment and poverty rate, there have been more job losses than jobs creation. Not at the federal level alone, even at state and local government levels as well as the private sector. The words, “rightsizing” and “downsizing” crept into our national lexicon; we have not yet done with it as many states government are using them to disengage some public workers. There is need to interrogate many jobs referred to by the government as employment opportunities. In my opinion, there is actually under-employment. Take for instance the glamourised SURE-P programme of the Federal government that was established as part of palliative measures from the removal of subsidy from oil in order to create employment for the teeming unemployed youths and other youth empowerment schemes embarked upon by some of the states government where graduates of tertiary institutions are recruited as street sweepers, casual workers in ministries and parastatals and traffic managers only to be paid N10, 000 a month. This is pure under-employment. There is also increasing casualisation by many public and private companies. Under this inhuman policy, eminently qualified personnel are recruited under conditions similar to slavery with peanuts as salaries and without any other welfare packages such as health, transport, housing allowances, leave bonus etc. Nigerian government wastes huge amount of money on political office holders at the Federal, State and local government levels. It is on Nigeria’s terrain that we see Governor’s aides having his/her own aides to the extent that some have more than 4 aides under government’s payroll, while some of these government’s appointees are believed to be half literate and stark politicians that have nothing to offer their respective states or country than to be mere political tools. All resources that are supposed to be tailored towards providing jobs for the graduates and unemployed youths are used to serve the political appointees which makes majority of the state governments to be spending larger percent of their monthly allocations on them. Jobs creation is one of the cardinal programmes of all the three tiers of government in Nigeria, but despite their mouth-washing campaigns and fake promises, it is disheartening that nothing serious has been done in this regard, while they only embark on programmes that will turn them to a one night richest. Recently, the Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University, Malete, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, at a press briefing on the establishment of the School of Business and Governance, said both the Nigerian government and the Nigerian Universities had failed Nigerians woefully. Na’Allah decried that despite the huge human and natural resources the country’s endowed with, nothing was done to channel the abundant resources towards her growth and development, allowing the resources to waste. According to him, if government provides the necessary materials required for the country’s tertiary institutions and the Academics ready to prepare the undergraduates to meet future challenges of making them job creators not seekers, the problems confronting the country would be lessen. The World Bank is on point in its suggestion that, “It is imperative that Nigeria finds a recipe to unlock rapid growth and job creation in a larger part of the country, as well as to increase standards of education, health, and other social services to enable its citizens to find gainful employment in the emerging growth poles.” There is no two ways about it; gainful employment will drastically reduce poverty. No one is under any illusion that only the government holds the recipe to fight unemployment and poverty. However, government needs to provide the enabling environment that will make private sector, the cottage industries, and the artisanal service providers to thrive. If there is significant improved electricity supply, it will reduce the cost of doing business drastically as many welders, hairdressers, barbers and other artisans will find it easier to ply their trade. Once the government can help bring down the cost of doing business through appropriate policies inclusive of low interest on loans, provision of critical social infrastructure and adequate security of lives and property, the problem of unemployment will abate and likewise poverty as the dependency ratio will also reduce. Government needs to be sincere in its effort at tackling unemployment and poverty. The numbers of government’s political appointees and their aides are too much, where money that should be used to provide jobs is used to serve them. Therefore, it is expedient for the three tiers of government to reduce their expenses, lower the cost of governance if they are actually sincere to the plight of Nigerians. Nigerians need to fight corruption, injustice, inequality and demand for their rights from government. They must hold government responsible for their plight, while the Nigeria Union of Journalists, an umbrella body of all practicing journalists as the fourth estate of the realm needs to serve as watch-dog to government. They should unravel what is being covered up by the political office holders and those saddled with the responsibility of managing the country’s economy. Different Non-Governmental Organizations must also wake up from their slumber and renew the fight against corruption and injustice. Nigerians must wake up and jointly fight and wage war against these menacing scourges in order to save the country from collapsing. Graduate unemployment must be tackled at all levels of government. The Nigeria Labour market must be made to be begging for employment not the graduates begging for employment. Before an undergraduate finishes from the University or polytechnic, the labour market should already provide a place to fix such person. By doing this, poverty rate will reduce and development will take place in Nigeria in earnest. Olayinka Alaya, is a journalist Writes from Ilorin via yeancahalaya@yahoo.com

When will the beautiful ones be born in Nigeria?

When will the beautiful ones be born in Nigeria? By Olayinka Alaya It is saddened that despite abundant resources Nigeria is endowed with, the country still complain of financial crisis. Recently the coordinating Minister of Economy who also doubled as the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the country's revenue had dwindled due to oil theft. According to her, the country was losing 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day to illegal bunkering and vandalism of oil pipelines. We all know Nigeria is a wasteful nation. Since the discovery of oil, all other real sectors of the economy such as Agriculture and Manufacturing that should serve as an avenue to earn revenue for the country had been neglected. It is quite surprising that despite the huge amount that has been spent by the Government to put in place security patrols on the coasts of the Niger Delta, oil bunkering has reached this stage. The Federal Government employed ex militants to secure oil facilities in the South South region, while the service of the OPC are also secured to provide security for oil pipelines in the South West. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps Officers were also trained in handling of arms and ammunitions in order to protect oil facilities. Even the service of the vigilante groups were not left out. All efforts geared towards securing the oil facilities. The question is despite securing the oil facilities, why are we still losing 400, 000 barrels of oil every day? I see expanse of lands un cultivated in Nigeria, I wonder why the country largely depend on oil. I see Nigeria as a very wasteful country, governed by leaders without purpose. I think it is the big oil thieves (politicians) that are impossible to apprehend responsible for oil theft and their cronies. Majority of these people are already rich to the extent that they can finance and feed the whole country without feeling the purse. I wonder what they are still looking for or has any one confirmed that they can spend the money in the hereafter or use it to bribe God in order to forgive their sins? It is here in Nigeria that a single man will own properties across the 36 states of the federation and across the continents. It is also here in Nigeria that some people are erecting mansions costing billions of naira and give their love ones as birthday gifts. There are many graduates with MA, Phd employed as drivers in Nigeria, while some that can't secure jobs turned themselves to armed robbers or political thugs. Where are we going to and when are we going to get it right? Do you think we need someone like Jerry of Ghana in Nigeria to clear the crops of corrupted, self-centred and bad leaders? Universities are producing graduates on yearly basis, labour market saturated, things turned upside down, parents are crying after investing a lot on their children, graduates are in the streets looking for jobs that are not there. Government Hospitals are filed with poor people who can't afford hospital bills, many of the patients have lost their lives while some are in critical conditions looking for #100,000 for their surgical operations. At the same time, we've some people spending government's money lavishly, extravagantly, wining and dining with public money. If we don't ask them today, God will surely ask them tomorrow. One thing is certain in life and it is death. We shall all die and account for our deeds before God. God save us in Nigeria from our leaders

THE SUCCESS STORY OF THE KWARA STATE UNIVERSITY (KWASU)

WRITER: OLAYINKA ALAYA TOPIC: It is not an exaggeration that the Kwara State University (KWASU), Located in Malete, a suburb of Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital, has become one of the fastest growing Universities in Nigeria both in academic excellence and Community Development. The University was established with the aim of providing more opportunities for Nigerians, particularly Kwarans desirous to acquire varsity education and to generate high level man-power that were so vital for the rapidly expanding economy. The journey towards establishing a State University in Kwara State was made on the eleventh of July, 2007 barely two months into the commencement of his second term in office, when Governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki inaugurated a Technical Committee under the former Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi, who is now the Senator representing Kwara North at the National Assembly to prepare grounds for the establishment of the Kwara State University. When that Committee completed its assignment in December, 2007, an Implementation Committee under the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Shuaibu Oba AbdulRaheem, was constituted on the fifteenth of January, 2008 to draw up the curriculum and prepare the masterplan for the University. The government subsequently sent a bill on the proposed Kwara State University to the State House of Assembly which was passed after series of deliberations. The Bill of the Kwara State University was therefore signed into law on the twenty fourth of December, 2008. The Governor alongside members of the Implementation Committee obtained the certificate and instrument to operate the University on the ninth of February, 2009 from the National Universities Commission (NUC). Thus, Kwara State University became the 34th State and the 95thUniversity in Nigeria. The Implementation Committee was converted to the Interim Governing Council by Governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki on the fourteenth of April, 2009 to conduct the exercise for the recruitment of principal officers for the University. The pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, who until his appointment, was Chair of the African American Studies Department of the Western Illinois University, Macomb, United States of America, assumed office on Monday, twenty seventh of July, 2009. Immediately the Committee completed its assignment in December, 2007, an Implementation Committee under the then Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Shuaibu Oba AbdulRaheem, was constituted on the fifteenth of January, 2008 to draw up the curriculum and prepare the master plan for the University. However, the University currently has staff strength of seven hundred and sixteen. This figure is made up of three hundred and eight Academic staff and four hundred and eight Non-Academic staff. The student’s population as at the beginning of the 2012/2013 academic session stands at four thousand, eight hundred and twenty eight. The University commenced academic session in December, 2009 with the vision to be foremost in expanding the frontiers of knowledge and be most innovative in disseminating knowledge towards advancing the cause of humanity. It also has in its mission to be the fulcrum of a knowledge-driven society, building human competence and fostering determination and completion among people through the instrumentality of modern technology. It is gratifying to note that in less than four years of its establishment, Kwara State University has recorded remarkable achievements in different areas. Recently, the University was granted accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in all the twenty four courses that were presented for accreditation. This represents one hundred percent accreditation of all courses presented for accreditation. A few of them are at the level of being fully accredited. In less than four years of its establishment, Kwara State University has recorded remarkable achievements in different areas. Recently, the University was granted accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in all the twenty four courses that were presented for accreditation. This represent one hundred percent accreditation of all courses presented for accreditation. A few of them are at an interim level. According to the 2013 Webometrics ranking of Nigeria Universities, KWASU is ranked thirty sixth out of the one hundred and twenty one Universities in Nigeria. This indeed, is a monumental achievement for a university that was established less than four years ago. Today, the University is celebrating the graduation of its first set of students, who had passed through rigorous training practically and theoretically, they have performed excellently under extreme pressure and rigorous condition which make the University to vouch for them both in learning and character. This, indeed, represent the principle of skills and integrity which is the motto of the University. Giving the breakdown of the Statistics of the graduands at Pre-Convocation Press briefing, the Pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, said the Senate approved the graduation of two hundred and thirty one Students, with five first Class students, fifty nine Second Class Upper, One hundred and forty five Lower Class and twenty two third Class. Highlighting, some of the achievements recorded within the three and a half years, the Vice Chancellor said the University is waxing stronger, partnering with different organizations and universities within and outside the country, noting that the University the establishment of Malete Film Village, the first of its kind in Nigeria and the appointment of a veteran actress, Ms Joke Siva as the Pioneer Managing Director is another milestone in the history of the University. according to him , the Malete Film Village would serve as an avenue to train aspiring artists and actresses for the Nigeria Nollywood to compete favourably with its counterparts in Hollywood and Bollywood. The University, also established Tourism Village to serve as an avenue to tap the untapped potential tourism benefits of the State. In view of this, the University had recruited a renowned tourist from the United States to head its tourism department and sent some of its staff to Thailand to acquire training. This is highly commendable. As the University convoked its first set of students who had passed through rigorous training both practically and theoretically, the State Governor, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed has left nobody in doubt that he is prepared to take up the challenge of taking the Institution to the next level. Governor Ahmed demonstrated this when he laid the foundation of eight hundred and ten million naira College of Engineering and Technology complex at the Institution all with the aim of bringing the University closer to a world class. It is believed, however that with the appointment of seasoned academics in the University, such as the Vice Chancellor, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah and the Chancellor, Professor Ibrahim Gambari as well as respectable Professors, the University would attain the greatest heights, and will compete with others across the world. The Kwara State University, Malete, has been the citadel of learning and ready to train Nigerians by developing the capacity to take a close look at its environment by proffering solutions to its myriad problems. These laudable achievements recorded made President Goodluck Jonathan to commend the founder, Management and Staff of the University for starting on a sound footing, noting that the Institution has started with good structures. Well meaning Nigerians, Philanthropists and Organizations should therefore partner with the Institution in its development drive. Olayinka Alaya is a Kwara State based journalist Writes via yeancahalaya@yahoo.com

THE ROLE OF JUDICIARY IN SUSTAINING DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA

WRITER: OLAYINKA ALAYA TOPIC: THE ROLE OF JUDICIARY IN SUSTAINING DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA The concept of democracy needs to be clearly understood before we can appreciate the roles of the judiciary in its sustenance. Democracy is a system of government under which the people are expected to exercise the governing power either directly or through representatives periodically elected by the people. For effective administration of justice in a democracy, courts have definite and decisive roles to play. Courts are Government institutions that settle legal disputes and administer justice. The judiciary arm of government, resolves conflicts involving individuals, organizations, government and political parties. It also has the power to review the actions of both the executives and the legislature. Although, lack of judicial independence affects the performance of the judges in Nigeria, when it comes to judicial review and delivering justice. Nevertheless, with numerous constraints facing the institution, it manages to provide fair justice to poor people and powerless individuals. The judiciary arm of government now remains the faith of Nigerians in bringing justice to reign in Nigeria, due to its numerous landmark achievements recorded so far. Among the landmark judgment of the judiciary was the removal of lawmakers and Governors who occupy positions illegally and undemocratic. The judiciary has been playing pivotal roles in the dispensation of justice, and the public thus expect much from them. A situation whereby a common man will be sentence to life imprisonment or several years in prison for stealing a goat or a little sum of amount, while those carting away or embezzling public funds were given bail with the payment of some amount of money would not be tolerate any longer. Justice is expected to be dispensing in accordance to the constitution and lay down rules and regulations. Judges are expected not to compromise justice or attach themselves to their judgement. Now that Nigerians belief in judiciary as their last resort, they should strive to bring justice, tears of diligent, relief, to Nigerians and protect the rights of the common people. Also, the judiciary should also strive hard to meet the challenges facing the institution and facilitate good governance in the workings of government and sustaining democracy in Nigeria. The Federal Government, however, should provide reasonable salary that would make judges abstain from bribery and corruption and work towards ensuring the wellbeing of Nigerian judges. Nigerian Journalists should be given the free hands to operate, unravel what is being covered up and assist in unravelling bad and corrupt leaders in Nigeria for them to dance to the lyrics of the music of the law in order for Nigeria to be sanitized and free from corrupt leaders. The Nigeria Police force and other law enforcement agencies should always protect the lives of judges from anything that could stop them from bringing justice to reign. With the fact that Nigerians are looking on to the judiciary as their last hope, it is advisable for the judiciary not to fail Nigerians and make sure that those elected illegally and undemocratic in Nigeria are brought to book and put to where they belong. The Nigeria Bar Association should also work hard by ensuring that their members are free from corruption and stop influencing justices through monetary means. Lawyers should be among the purveyors of good governance, they should work for the progress of Nigeria, strengthen the Fundamental Human Rights and embark on heavy crusade against corruption which is the mother of all crimes in Nigeria.

Corruption as the major challenge of National Development.

Writer: Olayinka Alaya Topic: Corruption as the major challenge of National Development. . One of the great challenges confronting Nigeria is corruption which is believed to be hindering her development as a nation. Today, as never before, the level of criminal activities in the country is on the ascendency. Bare-faced looting of public treasury, fuel subsidy scam, pension scam, money laundering, economic crimes of all sorts, oil bunkering, kidnapping, cold blooded murder, massacre, grand and petty corruption are now common day occurrences and they are all committed with reckless abandonment and impunity. The result is that our nation, which should have been the pride of the black race, has been reduced to a pariah nation and in a state of utter helplessness. The security of life and property can no longer be guaranteed. We are on the precipice of the predicted failed state. Given this frenzied and fluid state of affairs, it is devastating that the country has also built home for Corruption, the mother of all crimes. No day passes without the media headlining cases of serious fraud and embezzlement of public funds. It is therefore no longer news to say that Nigeria has sunk into the lymbirth of corruption or that it has eaten deep into fabric of the nation. The most unfortunate development is that this heinous crime is being condoned by the majority of those who wield political power and authority. How does one explain the cases of some public office holders who have been indicted for corruption or looting of the public treasury and still shamelessly breathing air of freedom. What tenable reason can be given for a man who had admitted taking cash bribe on the pretext that he intended to use it as exhibit, continue to participate in the debates in the house while a criminal case of corruption is still pending against him in court. Thus, the vicious circle of corruption is ever becoming wider and wider while those charged with the arduous task of fighting corruption are not finding it easy to carry out their statutory duties. Many well meaning and responsible Nigerians have been crying foul at the turn of events and apparent cover up of purveyors of corruption in recent times and the lethargic manner corruption cases are being handled. Delivering a lecture titled Corruption and National Development, the Pioneer Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Retired Justice Mustapha Akanbi, said that he always believed that those who keep quite and do nothing when evil is being perpetrated under their very nose, must themselves be evil minded, while men of honour and integrity, patriots and nationalists, great minds and souls, good and believing men and women should not fold their arms and see their country go to racks and ruin. Proffering solutions to corruption in the country, Justice Akanbi said the Judiciary has a key role to play in the fight against corruption and should therefore not be an obstacle, calling for an independent, impartial and informed judiciary which would hold a central place in the realization of an open, honest and accountable government. The judiciary must be independent if it is to effectively play the role of an arbiter and ensure that the rule of law prevails. Judges must be fair and just, and must not allow themselves to be influenced by extraneous consideration and should tower over and above corruption and always be true to their judicial oath. For an anti corruption body to succeed, it must enjoy the support of the populace. Nigerians should form different Non governmental organisations that would focus on the fight against corruption because the fight against corruption is the fight against the numerous problems facing Nigeria Many believe that government lacked the political will to fight corruption. The nature and manifestation of corruption in Nigeria portend a great danger to the stability of the country. Political Will from the top by the government and leadership can make a world of difference in our determined effort to make Nigeria the pride of the black race.