The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners, a civil society organization composed of legal practitioners, has declared its intention to file a lawsuit at the Federal High Court to contest the recently enacted National Anthem Act, 2024.
The legislation, which was signed into law on Tuesday, reinstated the former national anthem, ‘Nigeria we hail thee’, which the organization seeks to challenge through legal action
ALDRAP, in a statement issued on Friday and signed by its Secretary, Tonye Jaja, announced its decision and argued that the law’s enactment did not comply with the necessary constitutional requirements, rendering it unconstitutional.
The statement read, “The lawsuit would be challenging the National Anthem Act, 2024, because of the following reasons:
“No public hearing was held before the said legislation was enacted as required under Section 60 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.
“Members of the public were not invited to make their contributions, as was done when the other National Anthem was enacted in the year 1978.
“There was no letter of transmission of the said Bill from the President to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, National Assembly.
“The expenditures associated with the National Anthem Act, 2024 (which was done on 29th May 2024 and on other dates) are not captured in the Budget of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Act, 2024 (as can be attested to by the Accountant-General of the Federation) and therefore the said National Anthem Act, 2024, should be declared illegal.”
According to ALDRAP, the National Anthem Act, 2024, should be declared null and void due to its impracticality and potential to cause financial strain on citizens.
The group noted that the financial burden of implementing the new national anthem would include costs such as man-hours, updating official documents, and other related expenses.
The group argued that these costs would be too high for ordinary citizens to bear, especially without a corresponding increase in income
Stating the grounds for the lawsuit, the statement added, “Attorney-General of Bendel State vs. Attorney-General of the Federation (1981) is the major grounds of our application: any law that fails to comply with each stage of the legislative procedures of lawmaking as prescribed under the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, would be declared null and void and of no effect.”
The respondents in the case include the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and several other government officials.
Tinubu signed the National Anthem Act, 2024, into law on May 29, effectively reinstating the former national anthem, ‘Nigeria we hail thee’, as the country’s official national anthem.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Chioma Okoli, a lady facing trial for purportedly giving a negative review on Facebook for a tomato paste manufactured by Erisco Foods.
The trial judge, Peter Lifu admitted Mrs Okoli to bail in the sum of N5million and two sureties in like sum one of whom is her spouse, with June 13 now scheduled for trial.
Chioma Okoli was arraigned on Tuesday, May 28 on two counts of alleged conspiracy and cyberstalking levelled against her by the Inspector General of Police. This is a case which is at the instance of Eric Omeofia CEO of Erisco Foods, who had alleged in 2023 that the alleged negative product review negatively impacted his business.
Following her arraignment where she denied any wrongdoing, Okoli was remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre till Friday.
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, who’s the counsel to Okoli has hailed the decision of the judge to grant his client bail on “liberal terms.” And he says efforts are on to perfect the bail conditions to ensure she returns home to her family.
Effiong had previously told the court that his client suffered miscarriage in the course of the case and eventually lost her baby.
The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players buy a dollar for N1470 and sell at N1490 on Wednesday 29th May 2024, according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC).
Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in Forex to approach their respective banks.
Dollar to Naira Black Market Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN)
Black Market Exchange Rate Today
Buying Rate
N1470
Selling Rate
N1490
Dollar to Naira CBN Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN)
CBN Rate Today
Buying Rate
N1329
Selling Rate
N1330
Please note that the rates you buy or sell forex may be different from what is captured in this article because prices vary.
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State, has said that his administration is not interested in going into unnecessary confrontation with the promoters of the May 30 sit- at- home in honour of those killed during the Nigeria civil war.
The Governor who spoke with Vanguard in Umuahia, said that people had right to mourn their dead ones.
Gov. Otti who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, said that Government was in touch with schools to ensure that students currently sitting for the West African Examination Council, WAEC, exams in the state were not adversely affected.
He said that Government was engaging with all the actors to ensure that the academic interest of the WAEC candidates were not hurt.
He said:” Government is in touch with all the schools affected to see what could be done so that WAEC exams are not disrupted. We are in touch with schools on how to handle the situation.
” We are not interested in unnecessary confrontation with the people who are appealing for sit- at-home in honour of their dead ones. They have every right to mourn their own especially going by the history of that war.
” It’s something we shouldn’t politicise. It was an emotional period when we remember the genocidal onslaught. We don’t have any interest confronting those who are asking people to observe that moment of honour for those who were victims of the genocidal war.
” It’s something we are handling with wisdom and diplomacy. We are engaging with all the actors that are involved. We are putting measures in place that Government may not want to make public.
Today marks the 57th Anniversary of the emergence of the Republic of Biafra in the comity of nations.
On the solemn day of 30th May 1967, the Consultative Assembly from the then Eastern Nigeria, unanimously affirmed the right to self-determination of their indigenous population to be identified as Biafra with their millennial name Biafra.
The flag of the Republic of Biafra consisting of a horizontal tricolour of red, black, and green, charged with a golden rising sun over a golden bar was mounted to be suppressed no more. It also inspired the rhyme of the national anthem: “Land of the Rising Sun”. The motto of the republic is “Peace, Unity and Freedom”.
Why do the Republic of Biafra anthem has classical music symphony ? Apparently and often overlooked. But in reality there is a deep reason. Republic of Biafra anthem text Land of the Rising Sun, was composed on the notes of the Finlandia symphony written by Jan Sibelius in 1899 to celebrate the independence of Finland from Russia. The text of the anthem was written by Nnamdi Azikiwe, first president of Nigeria. In short the resistance of Biafra against Nigeria with her colonial and post-colonial cronies in collaboration with allied international powers resembles the victorious struggle of Finland against tsarist Russia.
The right of self-determination in international law is the legal right for ‘people’ to ascertain their sovereignty by a legitimate process.
The Right of Self-Determination as of then was only anchored in the United Nations Charter, which states in Chapter 1 Article 1 Part 2 that the purposes of the UN is ” to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples”. This has been reaffirmed in UN successive Resolutions and Declarations. African Union Charter on human rights came into force later on 27 June 1981.
Biafra is the first nation of the world that put into effect this act of the universal declaration of human rights. Though similar event previously happened in Katanga from 11 July 1960 to 15 January 1963 and South Kasai from 9 August till 5 October 1962 then Belgium colonies but was only in the form of shifting of powers and territories. Biafra was muscled down by colonial and post colonial cronies contrary to Bagnlandesh that she shares similarities with which had her independence on 26 March 1971.
Nigeria declared war against the Republic of Biafra on the 6th of July 1967 aberrant to any peaceful negotiation and dialogue in what it deceitful coded as ‘police action’.
Biafra was drawn into an unprepared war and she fought for survival and for the true independence of Africa as rightly noted by Biafran Statesman and world reknown writer Chinua Achebe. It stood out as the first challenge against post colonialism – a net fracture and radical refute of ugly deceit of colonial and postcolonial boundaries. Unfortunately it resulted to a tragedy of world relevance.
Late Gen Odimeqwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, the first Head of State of the Republic of Biafra pinpointed massacre and genocide of innocent Biafran people as the core reason why Biafrans needed to have and defend a homeland for survival. In an address to the Organization of African Unity on 5 August 1968, he accused the Nigerian military dictatorial government of waging a ‘genocidal war’ against Biafra, and argued that it was ‘appalling’ that ‘this palpable genocide is being openly financed and directed by major non-African powers whose interest in the event is the economic and political advantage of their own countries’ .
African statesmen Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Leopold Senghor of Senegal, Omar Bongo of Gabon and Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia clearly stood behind Biafra and condemned this African tragedy.
True images of genocidal crimes against Biafran children denuded, de-nutrited dying with terrific kwashiorkor epidemics: symbolize how, when and why the world nations failed humanity.
Let’s clarify a point. The recall on genocide and continual atrocities being melted against the people of Biafra is not a call to gain sympathy rather it is redress for justice, which we must seek no matter what it takes. Human sympathy is a duty to all persons of good will; liberty and justice is a right.
Biafra stood out as sacrificial lamb for humanitarianism after the second world war. Biafra travails were made known to the world through the diligent work of Swiss Publicity Agencies – Mark Press.
Bruce Mayrock on 29 May 1969 martyred for the people of Biafra and humanity.
Many personalities, writers and academics were not indifferent over this human tragedy : Graham Greene, Kurt Vonnegut; Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and Leslie Aaron Fiedler, Aubery Wanf and Suzanne Cronje authors of Biafra: Britain’s Shame.
Bernard Kouchner (Founder in1971 Medecins sans Frontieres). Daniel Jacobs functionary of UNICEF in his book – The Brutality of Nations – exposed the indifference of U Thant UN Secretary general and international complot against the people of Biafra.
The 1977 additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions were consequent to genocide by starvation against Biafrans. International revulsion at the use of starvation as a mayhem on innocent Biafran children by Nigerian government and cohorts was instrumental in the inclusion of clauses prohibiting starvation as a method of warfare in the 1977 Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions.
In recent years, questions on genocide in Biafra have also become topics of academic debates. The Journal of Genocide Research, published by researchers of the International Network of Genocide Scholars, edited a special issue titled “ The Nigeria-Biafra War 1967- 1970: Postcolonial Conflict and the Question of Genocide (XVI, 2-3, 2014).
Republic of Biafra is now in a state of quiescence. Biafra has the appeal of first African political civil rights techno administrative creativity. So much so that her anniversary is still a popular current phenomenon.
Biafra’s political land mark in the comity of nations, despite ‘colonial and post colonial complot’ demonstrated to Africa and the whole world, that there was no human rights more sacrosanct , than right to self-determination when all the other reasons for the survival of a human family has been threatened by an colonial created political union ‘.
It is a duty that this day must be remembered and celebrated by the Biafran families.
Yes, ‘the reason’ why Republic of Biafra must be celebrated annually is still same: the ‘survival of Biafran people’. It has been from the onset legitimately sought by her generations from different perspectives and currently interpreted by the young generation in civil acts of fundamental freedom and liberty.
Biafrans feel the energy and the potential in their own rights as citizens, civil rightist or activist to remember and celebrate this day. It is a moment for the sharing of experiences, reflections and appraisal which if correctly understood and exercised in view of the Nigeria national predicaments is beneficial for our common good.
The recollection of memories by Biafrans home and abroad from all works of life have been essential in the revive of Biafra heritage and legacy that were being negated and cancelled by Nigeria authorities that have been. Equally important have been the experiences handed over by our heroes, heroines and veterans.
Biafran anniversary is also an important moment of unveiling the Biafran values to younger generation Biafrans, friends, well wishers and detractors, such like when it comes to values of nationhood created under the detects of human liberty.
Biafran legitimate defense for self-determination has been one of the best documented in the history of conflicts in Africa. Unfortunately, it has also been the mos t denied and hidden even under threat by Nigeria government and cohorts. Substantial facts and evidence of declassified documents and files from archives are now revealing what transpired, with silence offensiveness engaged by the master-minders and protagonists. Much is still expected and need to be done , as to always remember and not to forget the heinous act against peace loving people of Biafra.
Today marks the 57th anniversary of the emergence of the Republic of Biafra in the comity of nations. On the solemn day of May 30, 1967, the Consultative Assembly from the then Eastern Nigeria unanimously affirmed the right to self-determination of their indigenous population, identifying themselves as Biafran.
The flag of the Republic of Biafra, consisting of a horizontal tricolor of red, black, and green, charged with a golden rising sun over a golden bar, was raised to be suppressed no more. This flag also inspired the national anthem, “Land of the Rising Sun.” The motto of the republic is “Peace, Unity, and Freedom.”
The right to self-determination in international law is the legal right for peoples to ascertain their sovereignty by a legitimate process. At that time, the Right of Self-Determination was anchored in the United Nations Charter, which states in Article 1 (2) that one of the purposes of the UN is “to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.” Biafra and Quebec were the first two entities in the world to put into effect this act of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Biafra was the first African state to grant state pardon to captured Italian citizens, Eni petroleum oil technicians, working in the disputed Biafra territory of Kwale on June 7, 1968. In a recent act of friendship, Vatican Head of State Pope Francis prayed and blessed the people of Biafra.
The 1977 Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions were a response to genocide by starvation against Biafrans. International revulsion at the use of starvation as a method of mayhem against innocent Biafran children by the Nigerian government and its cohorts was instrumental in including clauses prohibiting starvation as a method of warfare in these protocols. In recent years, questions about genocide in Biafra have also become topics of academic debates. The Journal of Genocide Research published a special issue titled “The Nigeria-Biafra War 1967-1970: Postcolonial Conflict and the Question of Genocide” (XVI, 2-3, 2014). The true images of genocidal crimes against Biafran children—emaciated, malnourished, and suffering from kwashiorkor—symbolize how and why the world nations failed humanity.
Let’s clarify a point. The recall of genocide and the continual atrocities being meted out against the people of Biafra is not a call to gain sympathy but a call for redress and justice, which we must seek no matter what it takes. Human sympathy is a duty to all persons of goodwill; liberty and justice are rights. The Republic of Biafra is now in a state of quiescence, but its appeal as the first African political entity based on civil rights and administrative creativity remains strong, making its anniversary a popular phenomenon.
Biafra’s political landmark in the comity of nations, despite colonial and post-colonial opposition, demonstrated to Africa and the whole world that there is no human right more sacrosanct than the right to self-determination when the survival of a people is threatened by a colonial-created political union. It is a duty that this day must be remembered and celebrated by Biafran families. The reason why the Republic of Biafra must be celebrated annually remains the same: the survival of the Biafran people. This goal has been legitimately sought by its generations from various perspectives and is currently interpreted by the younger generation through civil acts of fundamental freedom and liberty.
The late General Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, the first Head of State of the Republic of Biafra, pinpointed the massacre and genocide of innocent Biafran people as the core reason why Biafrans needed to have and defend a homeland for survival. In an address to the Organization of African Unity on August 5, 1968, he accused the Nigerian military government of waging a genocidal war against Biafra and argued that it was appalling that this palpable genocide was being openly financed and directed by major non-African powers whose interest in the conflict was the economic and political advantage of their own countries.
Biafrans feel the energy and potential in their own rights as citizens, civil rightists, or activists to remember and celebrate this day. It is a moment for sharing experiences, reflections, and appraisals, which, if correctly understood and exercised in view of Nigeria’s national predicaments, can benefit our common good. The recollection of memories by Biafrans at home and abroad from all walks of life has been essential in reviving Biafra’s heritage and legacy, which were being negated and canceled by the Nigerian authorities. Equally important are the experiences handed down by our heroes, heroines, and veterans.
Biafra’s anniversary is also an important moment for unveiling Biafran values to younger generations, friends, well-wishers, and detractors. These values relate to nationhood created under the dictates of human liberty. Biafra’s legitimate defense for self-determination has been one of the best documented in the history of conflicts in Africa. Unfortunately, it has also been the most denied and hidden, even under threat by the Nigerian government and its cohorts. Substantial facts and evidence from declassified documents and archives are now revealing what transpired, despite the silence and offensiveness engaged by the masterminds and protagonists. Much is still expected and needs to be done to always remember and not forget the heinous acts against the peace-loving people of Biafra.
A concerned UNIBEN student and social media user, Ademola Josh, has reacted to what he termed “misleading information” circulating on WhatsApp groups within the university community.
The student said after reading the content of the message tagged “THREAT BY BEDC TO DISCONNECT THE UNIVERSITY” and supposedly signed by the university management, it became imperative to clarify that,
“The claim that the April 2024 electricity bill being outrageous is actually mis-leading, as the bill was based on actual meter readings, as cosumed by UNIBEN.
The significant increase in the billed amount from previous months is due to a government-mandated tariff increase for Band A customers, which applies to all DISCOs, including BEDC.
The increase was from N68/KWh to N225/KWh but later slashed to 206/KWh. see link for details https://tinyurl.com/tariffincrease”
He ended by stating that “the purported threat of the withdrawal of supply by BEDC is likely as a result of the University Management refusal to make payment for energy consumed in April 2024”, expressing hope that payment is made ASAP to avoid the said disconnection.
I had the privilege of chairing the APC Committee on True Federalism (Federal) which submitted its report back in January 2018. This committee of distinguished Nigerians was set up as part of our party’s attempt to put forward a position on federalism, an issue that has been intensely debated in recent decades. For the sake of our country and its people, we need to put as much passion into effecting what has been agreed, even as we further debate that which is awaiting consensus or resolution. We are in our 25th year of democratic governance, long enough for a panoply of deliberate actions to be taken to undo the distortions injected into our federalism by decades of military rule.
Propelled by ideology or driven by pragmatic desire for a working and dynamic country, many Nigerians see the merit in devolving powers and responsibility to the subnational level. It is seen as key to further unleashing the productive impulse, spurring creativity, rewarding the competitive instinct, and promoting better governance across the states. Devolution of powers will also free the Federal Government of some burdens and enable it to concentrate better on discharging its most consequential responsibilities in national defence and security, monetary and fiscal policy and foreign relations.
Some positive steps towards restoring and practicing federal ethos have recently been taken. The constitutional amendments passed by the 9th National Assembly in January 2023 included significant adjustments to the exclusive list, shifting some important responsibilities like electricity, railways and prisons to the concurrent list. This empowers state governments to regulate the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, intra-state rail networks and establish correctional facilities. Happily, President Muhammadu Buhari assented to some of the constitutional reform bills enacted by the 9th Assembly. This step towards decentralisation has been reinforced by President Bola Tinubu who swiftly signed the Electricity Act 2023 that bestows on state governments powers to regulate electricity markets within their boundaries.
Some state governments have moved with admirable speed to actualise their newfound regulatory powers in the electricity supply industry. In compliance with the law, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has also commendably ceded regulatory powers to such state governments. Given the well-known challenges in the electricity sector, there is much hope that the involvement of subnational actors and the private sector will help mobilise more resources to help address gaps in the sector. Efforts by the state governments to participate in the sector may also help to further build professional, technical and regulatory capacity across the states, to the benefit of all.
There is also renewed interest in decentralising the internal security structure, particularly policing. The weaknesses and inadequacy of a centralised police structure in a federation are painfully obvious. Government efforts to secure our people, their property, livelihoods and communities would be enhanced by introducing additional law enforcement footprint at the state, local government and community levels. Such subnational policing structures should be empowered with the necessary resources in personnel, training, equipment and technology to deter and prevent crime, protect citizens, businesses, and property, and to arrest and prosecute criminals. I hope that the conversations going on now would produce concrete measures in this regard, with strong nationwide regulation to address the concerns of those fearful of abuse or politicisation of policing powers by State Governments.
These welcome steps should spur us to complete the work that remains to be done towards reclaiming the federal in the official name of Nigeria. One of this is a conclusive clarification of the status of the local government councils. Nigeria’s federation is a union between its 36 states and the Federal Government. The APC Committee on True Federalism considered it an anomaly that the local government areas are named and listed in the Constitution and that they more or less receive direct funding from the Federation Account. Our Committee recommended that local government should be a matter for states which should decide on, legislate for, and fund the type of democratic local government system that best suits them.
As things stand, the contention over local government councils across the country stems largely from the funding that they receive from the Federation Account. In my view, a more prudent, and truly federal, option would be to let the Federation Account fund only the federal and the state governments, while the state governments should then fund and manage governance at the local level as they deem fit, and as reflected in the enabling laws that their respective Houses of Assembly shall enact to that effect. Every state can then have as many or as few local government councils as they may choose.
The APC Committee on True Federalism recommended that the federation be rebalanced, with more powers and responsibilities devolved to the states. Our federal system needs to strengthen the state governments to effectively deliver on the many human capital and infrastructural development responsibilities that are vested in them by the Constitution.
Another pending issue is the question of restoring a federal structure in the judiciary. The powers of the National Judicial Council should be limited to federal courts (and the Federal Capital Territory), while the state judiciaries should be vested in the State Judicial Councils to be created by constitutional amendment.
As a country, we also have to develop consensus on the application of fiscal federalism and the control of mineral resources. Let us discuss and settle the question regarding whether the vesting of land in the states by the Constitution and the Land Use Act should be extended to include ownership and control of minerals below the land, including oil and gas resources. That scenario will see the Federal Government collecting royalties and taxes, while retaining control of all offshore minerals in the continental shelf and the recently enlarged extended economic zone, in accordance with public international law.
The APC Committee on True Federalism had worked in the hope that its report would help enhance nation-building. Our consultations and deliberations highlighted the enduring appeal of federalism across the country. The patriots that negotiated our independence in the 1950s built a national consensus on federalism, with strong regions and a weak federal government. Federalism as a principle was made even more appealing over the decades by the evident distortions and clear limitations of military rule. The apparent failure of the creeping centralisation that set in after the tragic events of 1966 to build a strong Nigerian state and an efficient political and economic system has further reinforced the argument for federalism.
Excessive centralisation has neither strengthened national unity nor encouraged a productive instinct. As I observed during a Chatham House talk on restructuring in 2017, “unitarist and distributive impulses did not accelerate the evolution of national unity nor encourage productive endeavour. Rather, it created a rentier economic structure.” A federal restoration will help correct this.
This country was birthed as a federation. The imperative of the moment is to restore a federal structure that challenges and rewards creative efforts by the states to build up their subnational economies and governance capacity and frees the Federal Government to better discharge its core responsibilities to secure the country, grow its economy and be the leading voice of the Black race in international relations. A unique opportunity beckons for the federal and state governments and the 10th National Assembly to further accelerate the evolution of a better functioning federation within the next 12 months.
See the black market Dollar to Naira exchange rate for 26th May, below. You can swap your dollar for Naira at these rates.
Dollar to naira exchange rate today black market (Aboki dollar rate):
The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players buy a dollar for N1515 and sell at N1520 on Sunday 26th May 2024, according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC).
Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in Forex to approach their respective banks.
Dollar to Naira Black Market Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN)
Black Market Exchange Rate Today
Buying Rate
N1515
Selling Rate
N1520
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN)
CBN Rate Today
Buying Rate
N1481
Selling Rate
N1482
Please note that the rates you buy or sell forex may be different from what is captured in this article because prices vary.
Nigeria Education System And President Tinubu Students’ Loan – Anaenugwu Ndubuisi
Abstract
This piece targets to address the economic implications of President Tinubu Students’ Loan for undergraduates in Nigerian Federal Tertiary Institutions especially when our education system is designed to produce certificate tigers. It is historical fact that Nigeria academic curriculum is outdated and cannot stand the test of 21st century requirements. Therefore, a radical and urgent reform is needed before loan incentive could be provided. President Tinubu is offering loan not grant, therefore, certain measures must be put in place to ensure that the loan is repaid on maturity. The education marketplace must, however, be a platform to bake the students for productive engagement in the Labour market. With the increasing rate of unemployment and factories shutting down by the day, one would have expected Tinubu administration to pay strict attention to creating economics opportunities to millions of jobless youths as well as creating conditions that train skill labours instead of certificate tigers.
Introduction
The present generation and the future generations deserve our collective sympathy if Nigeria education system remains unchanged. For now, the system has created rent seekers that are perpetually trapped in a vicious circle of mental poverty and insecurity– a generational poverty. Few who believed they have escaped poverty either by primitively accumulating wealth that would protect their children from the wicked hands of poverty may end up with disastrous end; instances abound in our various communities.The root cause of poverty in Nigeria could be traced to our ‘’ copy and paste” education system. The University academic curriculum was copied from Nigeria Colonial Masters that have for centuries ago perfected and mechanized their production processes as well as achieving optimal deployment of both human and material resources. These western nations have smartly given us education system that would encourage consumption instead of production. But, we have gained political independence since 1960 and should have chosen a desired and sustainable destination to follow. Sadly, Nigeria has continued to use obsolete and outdated materials to teach our children from nursery school level to university level! This present education curriculum being used in schools will continue to encourage consumption of foreign goods and this is deliberate. Any education system that cannot solve local challenges is worthless and should be trashed.
What is wrong with President Tinubu Students’ Loan?
It is a known fact that about 65% of Nigeria Graduates from Nigeria Tertiary Institutions are unemployable. Many attend Universities just to acquire certificates (certificate education). The question on the lips of well-meaning Nigerians is: must young people attend University to be recognized in the society or be productive? The answer is no! Nigeria has given more attention to paper certificate than content. The intention of the loan is therefore to encourage more certificate tigers without skills and innovative ideas. Many students who will go for this loan cannot even write a correct sentence or being original in solving classroom exercises.
Let’s consider few examples; all the former Presidents/ Heads of Government have basic education. All the Governors both former and present are all graduates. Upon the education of these political leaders, Nigeria cannot deploy over 200 million human resources into productive ventures to improve the standard of living for all. Upon our level of education, we have not created a financial system that will support local contents and initiatives. Without access to cheap loanable fund, it is not possible to grow on sustainable basis upon our level of the so -called education. Upon our level of education, we have not been able to use our natural endowment to build modern cities, build mass and affordable houses, generate and supply stable electricity at affordable rate, achieve food security. It is a shame that upon the level of our education, we cannot refine our crude oil resources, we cannot construct modern and complex road network! Why then do we go to school expecting Tinubu Loan, perhaps, to learn how to write and ‘blow’ big grammar, then consume with zero production! Some people, maybe, out of frustration, have tagged our education system – a scam.
Reforming Education and Industrial Sectors before the application of Students’ loan
Nigeria education system must be career – based driven before pushing for any form of Student loan. A functional education system must train undergraduates into skills that would solve the basic needs of average Nigerians. The purpose of this piece is to provoke further discussions on the urgent need to radically reform Nigerian education and industrial sectors to address our numerous local challenges in view of President Tinubu approval for Students loan in federal tertiary institutions. The student loan scheme is like pouring water inside a big basket! The result of course will be negative. It is another way of sharing oil revenue. Nigeria political structure is designed to enrich few political elites, their families and friends leaving majority of the people in the state of hopelessness. Please, don’t get it wrong! This administration is planning to rope in millions of Nigeria youths with loan liability as 90% of them cannot repay the borrowed funds on maturity.
Recommendation
With the quality of education in Nigeria today, I will not advice any Student to go for the loan unless Government can guarantee employment after the university education.
We should stop copying western countries that have stabilized their entire system. In France, the cities are well planned with functional public utilities. Education system is designed to service their public institutions built centuries ago. Their financial system is tailored to intervene between the surplus and deficit sectors of the economy. Because, they (France) have a working system, graduates from various university are trained to feed the industries with the required labour, and the circle will continue. In developing Country like Rwanda, the education system is competency driven with students being exposed to real practical work. It takes a visionary Leader like President Kagame to put the war ravage country to the world map of emerging economies.
It is recommended that President Tinubu should identify key sectors of the Nigeria economy where skilled manpower is urgently needed for immediate intervention. A Scholarship Board is preferable to train millions of smart undergraduate who will be ready to take challenges in electricity sector ,building and construction sector, health sector , agriculture sector ,upstream, midstream and downstream sector , iron ore sector, science and technology sector etc. The specialized undergraduate training should be 80% practical and 20% theory.
It is also recommended that the academic curriculum should be revolutionary with local contents peculiar to Nigeria unique situations. Nigeria professionals in diaspora should be imported to assist in developing our local academic curriculum that will meet industrial demands.
This piece recommends a radical, comprehensive and revolutionary changes in Nigerian education sector. As a pointer, our education system should address those obstacles hampering our drive to modernity. We can borrow Rwanda model for a start. Student loan without the needed reform cannot achieve the desired results as the loan will continue to promote certificate tigers without entrepreneur skills.
Conclusion
We have been sharing oil revenue since after the civil war and have injected billions of dollars into the education system yet Nigeria has not been able to refine her crude oil or supply her citizens with stable electricity. The problem lies in our copy and paste education system. Students’ loan cannot change the ugly trend, therefore, we should look for permanent solution.
It is a known fact that most graduates from Nigeria universities are unemployable and cannot fit into 21st century industrial revolution. Student loan policy is dead on arrival, perhaps APC way of promoting bad loan administration. There is an urgent need for a total overhaul of Nigeria education system if we are serious about a productivity system. The present education system designed by our colonial masters has one intention- to keep us in perpetual state of slavery and total dependence of foreign manipulation.
Just before concluding this piece , a breaking news that Senator Tony Nwoye presented a bill on the floor of the Senate proposing that unemployed Nigerian Graduates should be paid while learning skills after mandatory one year National Youth Service showed up .The proposed Bill has passed First Reading in Nigerian Senate. The Bill when passed into law intend to address increasing unemployment in the Country so as to ward off the ugly consequences usually associated with social disequilibrium such as insecurity and to enable fresh graduates learn vocational skills instead of them all waiting for government employment .
This Bill cannot address the Nigeria fundamental problem of unemployment. Why wasting four years in the University (except few professional courses), with President Tinubu Student Loan offer, learning nothing! We are merely trying to protect some sacred interest groups at the expense of the Nigerian economic growth. However, this piece recommends for a Bill abolishing NYSC and JAMB. The two institutions have outlived their usefulness and should be scrapped. Universities should be allowed to admit the students who meet their minimum entry requirements as done in other Countries.NYSC was an initiative to foster unity amongst Nigerians after the civil war which has since ended. We need unity in production and technological advancement. Today, we are fighting another form of war and need another initiative to address it.
Anaenugwu Vincent Ndubuisi
Ambassador General, Good Governance Ministry (GGM)
