Category: Nigerian Tribune

Niger State Pension Board has disclosed that it has spent ?5 billion out of the ?9.1 billion budgeted for pension payments between January and August 2025.

The Permanent Secretary of the Board, Malam Habib Abdulkadir, made this known during the presentation of the Board’s proposed 2026 budget to the Niger State Planning Commission at the Women Multipurpose Hall, Old Secretariat, Minna.

Abdulkadir stated that pension payments were up to date, except for retirees who were still undergoing biometric capture.

He added that the number of retirees continues to grow monthly, requiring constant review and estimates.

He also noted that deaths among pensioners were minimal, attributing this to the ongoing ‘I Am Alive’ verification exercise, which helps identify deceased beneficiaries.

Following the presentation, the screening committee of the Planning Commission raised several observations, including inconsistencies in the staff lists from state and local governments, as well as the non-submission of monthly expenditure records from January to August.

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Niger State Planning Commission, Hajiya Aishatu Tani Usman, explained that the exercise was part of the annual budget preparation process for ministries, departments, and agencies. She said all requirements must be met before the final budget presentation.

Usman commended the Pension Board for its presentation and directed it to submit its record of achievements for the outgoing year, 2025.

The session was attended by officials from the Bureau of Statistics, the Office of the Head of Service, and the State Planning Commission.

Teachers in Oyo have expressed gratitude to the state government for various reforms that have positively impacted the education sector, especially the prompt payment of salaries and the promotion of teachers.

At this year’s World Teachers’ Day celebration in Ibadan, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State wing, Comrade Raji Oladimeji Ismail, highlighted several strides made under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration. These include the recruitment of new teachers, approval of career progression for educators, promotion of primary school teachers to grade level 16, and the appointment of a teacher as Executive Chairperson of the Oyo State Post-primary Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).

He praised the resolution of the six-year promotion delay for primary school teachers, attributing the success to the union’s consistent advocacy. He also acknowledged the creation of 10 TESCOM zonal offices and the appointment of teachers as Permanent Secretaries/Tutor Generals in the new zones.

Raji noted further improvements in teachers’ welfare under his leadership, including upward reviews of car and housing loan schemes. However, he stressed the need for more government attention on issues like inadequate education funding, infrastructure gaps, and continuous professional development for teachers.

He urged the state to act quickly on pending issues such as inter-zonal transfers and the release of running grants to school heads for effective school administration.

In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, assured teachers that the 2023/2024 promotion letters for primary school educators would soon be distributed, as they are currently being finalized. He also revealed that the governor had approved the inter-zonal transfer request for teachers from 2005, and efforts are ongoing to finalize the list.

Dr Adeniran emphasised the Board’s commitment to teacher welfare, stating that SUBEB continues to collaborate with NUT, AOPSHON, and other stakeholders. He called on the union to educate new teachers on public service rules and discourage airing grievances on social media, urging the use of appropriate administrative channels.

Representing the NUT National President, Comrade Shaibu Olayinka Yisa, praised Governor Makinde and other education stakeholders for their dedication to improving the sector. He underscored the importance of this year’s theme, ‘Recasting Teaching As a Collaborative Profession,’ which aims to foster resilience within the teaching system.

The event, chaired by the Osi Olubadan-designate, HRM Oba Abiodun Kola Daisi, also had in attendance NLC Chairman Comrade Kayode Martins and the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Segun Abatan, amongst others.

The Director of Agricultural Biotechnology at the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Dr. Rose Gidado, has called on Nigerian farmers to embrace biotechnology as a safe and effective means of increasing food production and enhancing national food security.

Speaking at a Sensitization Workshop on Biotechnology and Biosafety/Farmers Field Day held in Jagwada, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Dr. Gidado emphasized that biotechnology crops like BT Cowpea have proven their effectiveness and safety in both yield performance and environmental impact.

According to her, the workshop aimed to engage farmers who are yet to gain access to BT Cowpea seeds and to showcase the impressive results achieved by those already cultivating the variety.

‘We came here to interact with farmers who have not yet had access to BT Cowpea seeds and to showcase what is already on the ground. Our farmer here, Emmanuel, has been cultivating this variety since 2023 and has become an outgrower for a seed company. He’s doing excellently well,’ she said.

Dr. Gidado noted that the BT Cowpea variety, approved by the National Variety Release Committee in 2019, continues to perform effectively in the field, providing proof that the technology remains efficacious and resilient.

She explained that the genetically modified (GM) variety, developed to resist the destructive Maruca pod borer, has significantly reduced farmers’ dependence on chemical pesticides.

‘The technology is working. This variety matures early, is climate-smart, and reduces pesticide use to a minimum. That means fewer harmful residues in the grains,’ she said, adding that one of the farmers even exports his BT Cowpea to the United Kingdom, where it has passed all quality checks without rejection.

Dr. Gidado, who has been a leading voice for agricultural biotechnology in Nigeria, urged farmers not to be misled by misinformation or fearmongering about genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

‘Nigerian farmers, please don’t run away from this technology. Don’t listen to rumor mongers. GMOs are very safe. People claim GMOs destroy the environment, but look at this farm, it’s full of life. You can see weeds, groundnuts, sorghum, insects, even ants. Everything is thriving,’ she assured.

She described BT Cowpea as a ‘testimony of success’ for Nigerian science and innovation, noting that the NBRDA, in collaboration with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), has been part of the communication and outreach component of the project from inception.

‘We are proud to be part of this success story. We are contributing to Nigeria’s food security and giving farmers access to quality, climate-resilient seeds,’ she added.

One of the host farmers, Mr. Ogenomor Emmanuel, shared his remarkable experience cultivating BT Cowpea on his 7.7-hectare farm in Jagwada. He began with five hectares in 2023 and has since expanded due to the crop’s performance.

‘The crop is doing exceptionally well. For conventional cowpea, you apply pesticides seven to eight times, but for BT Cowpea, just once every 15 days is enough,’ he said.

Emmanuel noted that while the traditional cowpea yields only three to four bags per hectare, his BT Cowpea produces between 21 to 22 bags per hectare, marking a dramatic increase in productivity.

‘If you do the mathematics, you’ll understand how much difference that makes. The BT Cowpea has changed my finances completely,’ he explained.

He also highlighted a unique advantage of the improved variety – faster cooking time.

‘When cooked, it takes about 35 to 40 minutes to get done, unlike the local variety that takes up to three hours,’ he said.

Since October 2024, Emmanuel has been exporting BT Cowpea to buyers in the UK and the US, earning double what he would normally make in local markets. He attributed the high demand to the grain’s purity and cleanliness, even during the rainy season when most beans are prone to spoilage.

‘Some farmers said it’s impossible to have clean beans during the rainy season, but with proper farming techniques, it is possible. The BT Cowpea can even be planted two to three times yearly – that’s how resilient it is,’ Emmanuel said.

In his first year, he harvested 7.6 tons from five hectares, describing the experience as life-changing.

Another participant, Master Balat Ishaya, a farmer from Kaduna State, described the workshop as an eye-opener that could revolutionize agricultural productivity across Nigeria if scaled up.

‘This workshop is an eye opener. If such programs reach more villagers, it will replace the primitive way of farming. It will enhance productivity, and more productivity means development,’ he said.

Balat added that agricultural biotechnology should be promoted nationwide to help Nigeria achieve food sufficiency and economic growth.

‘When you have enough food to feed your people, it shows that the nation is growing,’ he said.

The NBRDA Sensitization Workshop forms part of ongoing national efforts to promote the safe adoption of biotechnology and biosafety practices, aimed at transforming agriculture through innovation, improving farmers’ livelihoods, and strengthening Nigeria’s food system.

A significant number of Nigerian men are battling with health issues that often go undiagnosed and untreated. The societal expectation for men to embody strength and resilience is creating a dangerous stigma around vulnerability for menfolk, leading many to shy away from vital health checks. However, as experts stress, embracing regular health check-ups is crucial for not only individual health but also the nation’s well-being.

Traditionally, Nigerian men have been viewed as the providers and protectors of their families, who often prioritise work and familial obligations over personal health. While deeply ingrained, this cultural narrative has resulted in poor health-seeking behaviours among men. Many men regard physical symptoms as signs of weakness, opting to dismiss them rather than seeking medical attention. This mentality can have dire consequences, as undiagnosed conditions can escalate into major health crises, contributing to Nigeria’s chronic health challenges.

While providing an insight into the issue, a general medical practitioner, Dr Charles Adedamola Adeogun, emphasised the urgent need to shift this mindset, stating that ‘In Nigeria, conversations around men’s health often remain hidden, overshadowed by cultural expectations of toughness and silence.

‘Yet, men face unique health challenges ranging from hypertension, diabetes, and prostate disorders to mental health struggles that demand early recognition and proactive care for favorable outcomes.’

Cost of neglecting health issues

The statistics surrounding men’s health in Nigeria are alarming. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are on the rise, with men disproportionately affected. These conditions significantly contribute to morbidity and mortality rates across the country, and what’s particularly troubling is that many cases could have been prevented or managed effectively if diagnosed early.

Dr. Adeogun highlighted this as a critical issue, saying ‘Research indicates that Nigerian men are less likely to seek routine medical check-ups compared to women, often presenting late with advanced complications.’

This troubling trend is driven by a variety of factors, including fear, stigma, and the entrenched belief that ‘real men don’t complain.’ Unfortunately, these attitudes can have dire consequences, costing lives that could have otherwise been saved through simple screening and timely interventions.

While speaking with the Sunday Tribune, a renowned histopathologist and hepatologist and Chief Medical Director at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) Teaching Hospital, Professor Olusegun Ojo, explained that regular health checks contribute to the early detection of diseases that are prevalent among Nigerian men.

According to him, ‘The prevalent sex hormone in men, testosterone and other androgens, place them at higher risks of developing certain non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome as well as some cancerous diseases, like liver cancer especially from middle age onwards.

‘Unfortunately, most of these diseases are asymptomatic at onset. They often show up when complications of the full-blown disease supervene.

‘Thus, it behoves all concerned, the government inclusive, for economic reasons, to set up and make available routine preventive medical testing so that these diseases could be detected in their uncomplicated forms and thus save us from the drain on our collective economy and the personal and family losses as well as disruptions that they are known to cause.’

Professor Ojo added that, ‘Men also ought to be made aware of the risks of ill health that they possess by reason of their gender, genetic inheritance, and their lifestyles so that they could develop the right and proactive health-seeking behaviours that would embrace the concept of routine medical checks and screening to ensure that they remain healthy well into their advanced years.’

In a similar vein, Dr Adeogun harped on the need to redefine the concept of strength, asserting that it extends beyond the physical realm, adding that true strength also involves recognising when you need help and taking proactive steps to ensure your health.

He explained that ‘Good men’s health is not just physical; it is also mental and emotional. Stress, depression, and anxiety are rising but are rarely discussed. Left unchecked, these issues can weaken productivity, relationships, and overall quality of life.’

In addressing the specific health issues that Nigerian men should be particularly vigilant about, as well as how routine check-ups can help prevent these conditions, Professor Ojo categorised the health risks that men face into two broad groups: general and individualised.

‘Generally, men are at higher risk of developing the metabolic syndrome and coronary (or ischaemic) heart disease.

The metabolic syndrome is a conglomerate of disorders comprising raised body mass index (BMI) or overweight and obesity, insulin resistance, which ultimately manifests as diabetes, and systemic hypertension (raised blood pressure).

‘Coronary or ischaemic heart disease is a related disorder to the metabolic syndrome and it is a disorder where there is a disparity in the amount of blood available to support the heart, its crucial function, and how it meets the demands being made of it for the maintenance of life and associated activities. In coronary heart disease, the heart’s blood vessels suffer varying degrees of insufficiency, the ultimate of which is total blockage of the bores and, consequently, a ‘heart attack’ which leads to sudden death.’

He also emphasised that both the metabolic syndrome and coronary heart disease are associated with a raft of systemic disorders of the blood and blood vessels some of which are disorders of the blood clotting system (thromboembolism) and of the blood vessels themselves (atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis) to which men are predisposed. These disorders often presage sudden death.

‘Obviously, in preventing these disorders, first, men need to be made aware of the existence of these health risks that confront them. Appropriate health education would equip them to engage in self-care and to appreciate the concept of health screening and preventive care.

‘Secondly, health care providers, principally, government and employers of labour need to embrace and incorporate the concept of preventive medicine. This should be seen as a wise economic imperative by them,’ he stated.

Regarding individualised risks, Professor Ojo noted that men may encounter health risks stemming from their genetic inheritance or family history.

‘Since these diseases are not common, their associated risk factors could only be identified by medical personnel and (family) physicians, who might have had the privilege of treating progenies or relatives of the concerned men. Thus, genetic profiling and counseling are the way to go to avoid such disorders. Obviously, we would need further development and provision of secondary and tertiary hospital care centres to address these risks.’

In discussing the cultural barriers that hinder Nigerian men from pursuing regular health screenings, Professor Ojo pointed out that, in contemporary Nigeria, there are no formal or structured cultural obstacles to screening.

However, he emphasised that the pervasive ‘culture’ of ‘medical ignorance’ poses a significant challenge when considering the introduction of medical screening in the country. This ignorance arises from a near-total absence of opportunities for the government to provide the public with adequate health education.

‘The lack of structured curricular inputs in schools not only allows this culture of pervading ignorance to subsist, but it also has given way for alternative theories of disease, allowing them to fester so that we now have a ‘culture’ of ‘teachers’ and vendors who peddle wrong and outrightly harmful products without any challenge, let or hindrance.’

Taking into account the lifestyle and dietary practices prevalent in Nigeria, Professor Ojo observes, ‘unhealthy lifestyles, of which poor diet is an integral part, and habits significantly increase the risk for the development of the disease which I have discussed above.’

He further explained that diets high in simple refined sugars and animal fats have been recognised as primary contributors to the current epidemic of metabolic syndrome and heart disease affecting our country.

He added that these dietary patterns are clearly influenced by Western habits and are linked to urban living and affluence.

Regarding the importance of regular health checks and their role in managing chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension in Nigerian men, Professor Ojo said that ‘diabetes and hypertension are lifelong health issues for those who experience them.’

‘In other words, they cannot be ‘cured’ but they can be controlled so that no untoward consequences occur and the patient can remain healthy despite their disease.

‘Screening is essential for the diagnosis and continuous management of these disorders. This is because since diseases are largely asymptomatic ab initio and their presence can only be unearthed through screening.

‘Also, to maintain the diseases in a state of remission, regular and routine screening needs to be put in place. The results of these screening tests form the empirical basis of sound management which would prevent the occurrence of complications and emergencies. From the above medical screening is the holy grail of the diagnosis and management of hypertension and diabetes mellitus,’ he explained.

In discussing the importance of regular health checks in addressing mental health issues among Nigerian men and the screening tools that could be useful for these evaluations, he noted, ‘Psychiatric and psychological disorders are not well recognised in this country as it currently stands. Ignorance and poor health provision conspire to make mental health issues a matter of taboo and stigma.

‘Psychiatrists are in dismal numbers as much as are institutions offering modern psychiatric services. It is difficult to talk of screening for mental health issues in the present scenario,’ he said.

Regarding how the accessibility of healthcare facilities in Nigeria impacts the frequency of health checks among men, Professor Ojo stated that ‘there are many factors that influence the accessibility to healthcare in our country.’

‘These include availability of health facilities, availability of appropriately qualified medical manpower, affordability of medical services, adequate regulation of medical and allied professions, and adequate ‘medical literacy’ among the population.

‘Taken together, these factors are not optimal in our country. This means that appropriate and uniform health coverage is lacking. This lack negatively impacts the optimal availability of medical screening for the whole population, men inclusive,’ he added.

The path forward

In discussing the way forward, both experts advocate adequate and appropriate health education. Dr Adeogun emphasised the need for a cultural change, saying ‘moving ahead necessitates a shift in perspective. Men must view preventive health care as a demonstration of responsibility, rather than a sign of weakness. Regular exercise, balanced nutrition, moderated alcohol intake, avoiding tobacco, and periodic screenings (blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and prostate checks after 40) are vital steps.

‘Health needs are survival needs that must be prioritised and budgeted for like other major living expenses. It is unwise and detrimental to wait for emergency or advanced stages of disease before seeking professional medical help. Time is of the essence in matters of health and with aging comes diverse health challenges which may come subtly or appear explosively without prior notice.

‘Nigeria needs its men healthy, present, and strong not in silence, but in wholeness. A healthier man means a healthier family and a stronger nation,’ he said.

Professor Ojo believes that prioritising adequate and appropriate health education is essential for the government.

He said: ‘This would reduce medical ignorance and equip the people with good health-seeking behaviour, such as embracing medical screening.’

The Concerned Taraba Youth Group has appealed to Governor Agbu Kefas to align politically with President Bola Tinubu by joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying such a move would help attract more federal projects to the state.

Speaking at a press conference in Jalingo on Saturday, the group said the governor’s alignment with the federal government could help revive key infrastructure and accelerate the completion of projects such as the Mambilla Hydro Power Project.

The group’s spokesperson, Comrade Shedrack Iremiya Gani, expressed concern over what he described as the neglect and abandonment of several federal projects in Taraba, blaming it on the state’s lack of political alignment with the ruling party.

He said, ‘Considering the continued deterioration and the abandoned state of federal projects in Taraba, we wish to appeal to Governor Agbu Kefas to align with President Bola Tinubu to attract federal presence in the state.

‘We want the governor to make history by living the PDP and align with Tinubu in the APC. We believe that these steps will attract positive development like the actualization of the long anticipated Mambilla Hydro power project, the Zing Jalingo Wukari road and many others, as currently happening in APC states.

‘We believe that if Taraba become an APC state, President Tinubu will Construct the Jalingo- Gembu, Takum – Lau and Wukari – Karim Lamido roads, create empowerment schemes and job opportunities for youths in the state. Our desire is to see Taraba prosper in all aspects of development.

‘We know that governor Agbu Kefas has tried by reforming the education, healthcare, and empowerment sectors, which the commitment have rekindled confidence among youths, we however wish to appeal for his alliance with the president in the APC to make Taraba state great.

‘Critical projects that could transform our economy and create jobs for our youth have been abandoned for too long. The Ibi Bridge, a gateway for trade and commerce, the collapsed Namnai Bridge, which has cut off communities and opportunities, as well as the worsening situation of the Federal highways.

‘Nigeria today is being driven by the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and we do not want Taraba to be left out of the Tinubu’s transformational drive. For us as a state to attract federal attention, our Governor need to work side by side with the president.

‘If Governor Kefas joins the All Progressives Congress (APC), Taraba will gain direct access to federal projects, resources, and opportunities that our citizens desired for.

TWO of my ardent readers and friends prevailed on me to comment on the ongoing scuffle between Dangote refinery on the one hand and the two Labour unions in the oil and gas sector, NUPENG (Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers) and PENGASSAN (Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria) on the other. While junior workers in the oil and gas sector belong to NUPENG, PENGASSAN houses senior staff in the same commanding height of the nation’s economy, the cash-cow that we have milked relentlessly since crude oil was first discovered by Shell-BP in commercial quantity at Oloibiri in present-day Bayelsa state in 1956, to the unfortunate abandonment of agriculture, the initial mainstay of the country’s economy. Overriding public interest also commands that I do.

Consequences of oil workers’ strike

With the two workers’ unions in the critical oil sector spoiling for a fight with the management of Dangote refinery, the consequences and reverberations of any industrial action will be felt by all and sundry. Anticipation of fuel scarcity that will undoubtedly ensue will lead to panic-buying by motorists and other users of petroleum products. Queues will form at fuel stations with the attendant consequences of disruption of seamless movement of persons, goods and services. Characteristically, petrol station managers will cash-in on the situation to further milk an already traumatised citizenry. Expect hoarding of the commodity. Expect, also, accidents arising therefrom and the attendant loss of life and property. Touts hiking fuel in bottles and jerry-cans will line our major roads, accentuating the scarcity and exacerbating the suffering of the people. Transportation fare from one location to another will balloon and food costs, unbearable at the moment, will shoot through the roof. Every imaginable item and services, including medicine and medicaments, school fees, rents, name it, will climb up, thus piling more misery on hapless Nigerians. The marginalization of Nigerian workers in favour of foreign nationals will further deepen unemployment, heighten youth restiveness, shoot up crime rate, and the JAPA syndrome will become accentuated. No one prays for another #ENDSARSNOW! Neither does anyone want the Arab Spring or Nepal to happen here! But we must watch it!

War by proxies?

Says Dante Alighieri, in his famous work titled ‘Inferno’: ‘The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crisis maintain their neutrally’ May we never experience an inferno here in NIgeria! Echoes our own Wole Soyinka in ‘The Man Died’: ‘The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny!’ Some said NUPENG and PENGASSAN are resisting the tyranny of one man and his audacious ambition to capture, confiscate and appropriate unto himself the entire downstream sector of the oil and gas section of the commanding height of the nation’s economy. Dangote refinery counters that they are victims of a relentless and sustained sabotage by workers whose corruption threatens to up-end their multi-billion dollar investment.

What we are witnessing on the surface is a labour dispute between the Management of a refinery and its workers, but beneath, the struggle is more vicious and deadly. It is a fight for control of the goose that lays the golden egg for Nigeria, touted as Africa’s giant and its leading oil-producing nation. As a monopolist moves stealthily in well-measured steps but scantily-concealed manner to extend his tentacles like an octopus into the country’s life-wire, competitors are stopping at nothing to checkmate him and reverse the advantages he has chalked up against them over time. When he had the opportunity, the monopolist seized it with both hands. While others were buying private jets, stashing off-shore accounts and embarking on spending binge in Dubai and other exotic locations, someone chose to invest his own loot, as some of his competitors have described it, in an investment that has become a game-changer in a country where governments are steep in inefficiency and corruption. The other side of the story, however – and this is frightening – is what happened the moment the monopolist took total control of cement, sugar, etc. The people’s misery tripled, in place of the succor they were promised.

Between investment and profligacy

But who is to blame? If you chance, on a platter, on the footprints of a mad man and fail to cash-in on it to enter into stupendous riches, is it a sane man that will be careless with his own footprints? The story is told of a Lagos-based Afro-juju musician from Ogun state who, in 1990, invested N20 million, which is the value of billions of Naira by today’s exchange rate, to construct a mansion in the Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos. When completed, the mansion was said to be the talk-of-town. People trooped there to behold its splendour. It was the type the Yoruba people call ‘a-wo-si-fila’ – a wonderment, to put it mildly. Be-that-as-it-may, call the mansion a cost centre – a liability. Today, they say the mansion has fallen into bad times, like similar mansions that once belonged to the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin Dada and his Zairean counterpart Mobutu SeseSeko. The story is also told of another Nigerian, this time from Delta state, who invested a similar amount of 20 million Naira at about the same time as the musician to start a small bank. Call that an investment. Today, that small bank has become one of the country’s leading commercial banks, worth billions, if not trillions of Naira. So, who is to blame? If someone invested his own loot while others fritter theirs, who is to blame? But once bitten, twice shy!

We were told the Dangote refinery cost between 18 and 20 billion dollars to build; his critics say it costs far less. Admirers of the man say the refinery was a testament to his business acumen; but his critics say it was evidence of the unfair trade favours he curried from successive governments since the return to civilian rule in 1999, especially so from the Muhammadu Buhari administration (2015 – 2023). While some say Dangote succeeded where successive Nigerian governments failed, others counter that his so-called success story was at our collective expense and that the refinery was built on our back. To such critics, it will not even be out of place if the refinery is nationalised! But if they do – granted but not conceding – who runs it? Will the government not run it aground like it has done the government-owned refineries?

What’s at stake?

PENGASSAN and NUPENG may be right when they said they were fighting for workers rights at the Dangote refinery. Unionization is an internationally-recognised right of workers. Freedom of association is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Suspect every employer of labour that seeks, be it flagrantly or surreptitiously, to abridge the rights of workers to organize. Such employers have skeletons in their cupboards. They have something to hide. And such hidden motives are usually sinister. The unions also alleged that there was no due consultation before 800 workers were sacked; there was no fair hearing; and the process was, through and through, shadowy and opaque, without transparency and justification.

But we cannot pretend not to know that there are many of Dangote’s competitors who are happy each time his ship runs into bad weather. Unfortunately, some of the time, Dangote’s misfortunes are self-inflicted. Like capitalism, which Marxism says have embedded in it the seeds of its own destruction, the monopolistic tendencies of the practised monopolist also drives him to self-destruct, thus leading him to overplay his hand as he stretches his advantage beyond elasticity and carries his luck too far. A man who knows too well how he got into his riches is edgy when confronted by forces he knows are privy to his underbelly and what to do to unsettle, if not completely unhinge, him. The last, therefore, may not have been heard about the tango between Dangote refinery and the forces arrayed against it.

Back-and forth!

The labour unions alleged that 800 Nigerian workers were sacked because they dared to unionize. Two: That 2000 Indian workers were recruited in the face of millions of Nigerian unemployed youths pounding the streets in search of jobs. Three: That qualified Nigerians were replaced by Indians. Four: That many of the Indians so recruited lacked the appropriate Immigration documents. Five: That sacking Nigerian workers while retaining the services of Indian workers violates the spirit and letters of Section 7 of the Labour Act which prohibits discrimination in the workplace and enshrines fair and equal treatment. Six: That despite Dangote refinery’s pretentious attempts to mask its real intentions, the sacked Nigerian workers were targeted because they voluntarily elected to exercise their right to unionize. ‘When the witch cries in the night and the child dies in the morning, what do you expect’, asked PENGASSAN’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa.

The right of workers to unite was the first declaration made by Karl Marx in the ‘Communist Manifesto’. Thus, the rallying cry of revolutionary workers all over the world became ‘Workers of all countries, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains’ Those very chains are what capitalists do not want workers to lose!

The Dangote refinery counters that over 3000 Nigerian workers are still in its employment and none of its workers was victimised on account of unionization; but that some workers were sacked as a result of repeated acts of sabotage, culminating in the need to take firm and appropriate action to protect life and property, address safety concerns; and, of course, protect the good health of the company. They described the refinery as a ‘strategic national asset’, which should be protected for the benefit of Nigerians and the refinery’s partners across Africa, and in the overall economic interest of thousands of people whose livelihood depends on it.

Nigerian workers: Enemies of their own selves?

We must listen to the Dangote refinery on this! There is a worrisome trend whereby Nigerian workers themselves are the ones eating up and running down both public and private businesses set up here in this country, only for them to turn round and complain of unemployment! I listened to a post on social media where some Ghanaian businessmen equally complained of the same scourge in Ghana. Is this, then, an African malaise? I suffered that scourge as a small employer of labour in my own little corner. Rather than set up factories and businesses here, anyone who has been so dealt with by their Nigerian employees will prefer to put their funds in Treasury bills and save themselves the stress, and the stark reality of losing all their investments while the scoundrels pound the street in search of their next victims. What is Labour doing about this? Or are they only interested in the check-off dues they collect from workers?

Most times when we advocate for fiscal federalism or true federalism, it is mere sloganeering and hot air. Over-centralization, which decades of the military’s command-and-control structure, has imposed on us, has permeated every sector of our national life, including, tragically, the so-called democratic or revolutionary movements. Democratic organisations like the trade unions, rather than organize from top to bottom, ought to organize from bottom upward. So we should have, using my own Ondo state as an example, Ondo State Labour Congress, and not Nigeria Labour Congress (Ondo State chapter); ditto for NBA, NMA, NUT, NUJ, etc. Checkoff dues, to be made voluntary, should be paid at the state level by willing members. States should be free to affiliate at the centre, if it serves their interest.

THE Dean of Student Affairs at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Festus Adeosun, has urged students to go beyond academic certificates and embrace entrepreneurship as a pathway to self-reliance and national development.

Prof. Adeosun, a former Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS), gave the charge during the YouWin Enterprise Education programme for tertiary institutions, held at the College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM) Auditorium.

He observed that while a university degree remained valuable, the knowledge, skills, and experiences gained during campus life were the true determinants of future success.

‘The current realities of youth unemployment in Nigeria demand creativity, resilience, and innovation. Students must look beyond certificates and embrace entrepreneurial opportunities that would position them as job creators rather than job seekers,’ Adeosun stated.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, reaffirmed FUNAAB’s commitment to nurturing students beyond academics, stressing that the institution was determined to prepare them for self-reliance in today’s competitive economy.

He commended the choice of FUNAAB as host of the programme, describing it as a timely platform to empower students with practical entrepreneurial skills.

Giving an insight into the programme, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr Lampo Ibrahim, explained that YouWin Connect was a youth-focused initiative designed to support small businesses and foster entrepreneurship nationwide.

He noted that the scheme, which also extends to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps and other tertiary institutions, was created to provide Nigerian youths with access to funding and business development opportunities.

According to him, the core aim of YouWin Connect is to inspire young people to develop business ideas, grow them into sustainable enterprises, and reduce dependence on formal employment. He advised students to take advantage of the initiative and build ventures that would secure their future and contribute to national economic growth.

Highlighting practical pathways to business funding, Ibrahim identified four major sources available to aspiring entrepreneurs as friends and family, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government agencies, and the private sector.

He underscored the role of NGOs in complementing the government’s efforts to reduce unemployment and urged students to uphold integrity and accountability in the use of funds secured through such programmes.

Referencing the Federal Government’s publication, Successful Nigerian Entrepreneurs, Ibrahim noted that financial struggles were often not due to lack of formal education but poor financial literacy. He, therefore, encouraged students to embrace entrepreneurial training and prudent financial management as essential life skills.

The rising political influence of Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a key figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is reportedly creating unease within both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP, especially in the South-West.

Observers say Hashim’s expanding support base and grassroots reach have disrupted long-standing political structures in the region, prompting both parties to rethink their strategies ahead of the 2027 elections.

In recent weeks, APC networks in Lagos and Oyo States have intensified rallies and media engagements in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Analysts see this as a response to Hashim’s growing appeal among young voters and professionals.

‘Supporters of President Tinubu, who initially believed the APC would enjoy a smooth dominance in the South West, are now sponsoring rallies and media offensives to counter Gbenga Hashim’s ideological surge,’ a source within the South West PDP told reporters.

Within the PDP, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is also said to be facing new political pressure as Hashim’s growing influence reshapes internal dynamics across the region.

While Makinde remains a key figure in Oyo, analysts note that Hashim’s rising profile has gained support across Osun, Ondo, Lagos, and parts of Oyo State, challenging Makinde’s control over the South West PDP bloc.

‘Makinde had assumed he would naturally command regional backing for the PDP presidential ticket, but the rising tide of Gbenga Hashim’s movement has made it clear that the contest will be intense,’ another party insider said.

Meanwhile, former President Goodluck Jonathan, who has reportedly been weighing a possible return to the PDP presidential race, is said to be rethinking his plans and may consider the African Democratic Congress (ADC) due to growing resistance from Hashim’s supporters within the PDP.

According to party sources, Hashim’s camp has made it known that if Jonathan returns to the PDP race, it would not be an automatic ticket but a competitive primary, reflecting the renewed ideological debate within the party.

Hashim, who has long promoted value-driven and people-centered politics focused on productivity, restructuring, and ethical leadership, is increasingly seen as a rallying point for Nigerians dissatisfied with both APC and PDP’s traditional politics.

Political observers believe his current momentum could reshape the 2027 political outlook, especially in the South-West, where his message of ‘ideological politics over personality cult’ is gaining wider acceptance among emerging political groups.

The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a faith-based civil society organisation, has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to remove the 2% service charge it collects from payments made by intending Nigerian pilgrims for the Hajj.

The group made the appeal in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, and made available to Tribune Online in Abuja. It said the 2% charge, which amounts to $90 per pilgrim (about N144,000) based on the N1,600 exchange rate used by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), is one of the factors increasing the cost of Hajj for Nigerians.

According to IHR, with Saudi Arabia’s allocation of 95,000 Hajj slots to Nigeria, the CBN could make about N13.68 billion annually from the charge.

The statement read, ‘Saudi Arabia allocates 95,000 slots to Nigeria for the annual pilgrimage. If the quota is filled, the CBN generates approximately $8,550,000 (N13.68 billion) in revenue yearly from Hajj payments by pilgrims.’

It added that following the public outcry over the rising cost of Hajj, ‘The CBN should abolish the revenue it collects simply for transferring Hajj payments to NAHCON’s IBAN account in Saudi Arabia.’

While acknowledging that the service charge is not illegal, the group said it believes the CBN could waive it to help reduce Hajj costs, as pilgrims already pay several fees to different government agencies.

‘While we do not claim that the payments are illegal, we believe that the CBN can waive them as their contribution to the reduction of Hajj fare in the country. Nigerian pilgrims are paying multiple service charges to various government establishments, which has jerked up the overall cost of the Hajj fare,’ the group stated.

It noted that since 2019, NAHCON has been funding its operations through its service charges, without government support, and urged other public institutions to help make the process easier for pilgrims.

The CSO said its appeal followed similar calls from other Hajj stakeholders asking the CBN to scrap the payments.

The Lagos State Safety Commission (LSC) has sealed off several chemical factories and shops in the Ojota area of the state for violating safety and environmental regulations.

The Commission disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen, noting that the enforcement exercise, carried out over the weekend and led by its Director-General, Mr. Lanre Mojola, followed contraventions of the Lagos State Safety Commission Law of 2011.

Mojola said the affected facilities were shut after operators failed to comply with agreed safety measures despite repeated warnings and the expiration of a grace period.

According to him, officials of the Commission had earlier inspected the factories and held a series of meetings with executives of the chemical dealers, during which a letter of undertaking was signed on May 9, 2025.

He disclosed that the affected operators had agreed to implement a range of safety measures, including conducting a comprehensive safety audit of the market; organising workshops on hazard identification and risk evaluation; providing serviced and accessible fire extinguishers in all shops; and maintaining an up-to-date inventory of chemicals, including expiry dates.

Others, he said, included ensuring full compliance with the use of personal protective equipment (PPE); installing clear safety signage, chemical labels, and Safety Data Sheets (SDS); and developing a disaster management and business continuity plan.

‘Despite the expiration of the ultimatum, the chemical dealers failed to act on the agreements reached with the Commission. This left the Commission with no option but to seal the facilities in order to safeguard lives and property,’ the LSC boss said.