Month: July 2024

Like men in a stupor, African leaders are staggering through the labyrinthine paths of democracy, oscillating between hope and despair, chasing the promises of democracy that are now at best, a will-o-the-wisp. To imagine where we are now is to forget where we have come from. Talking about democracy in Africa right now is fatuous, akin to a man laying a foundation and inviting the village to come and admire his beautiful house. Africans feel thoroughly distraught and wonder which gods they have offended. The elite stare sheepishly at how…

In the last few days, there has been ample excitement across Nigeria over a number of new public policies and decisions. Two of such developments stand out. The first is the plan announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish a Ministry for Livestock Development while the second is the judgment of the Supreme Court granting financial autonomy to the nation’s 774 Local Government Councils.   Unfortunately, so many people are as usual applauding the reforms on their face value. But this column is convinced that the excitement over either…

ON Thursday, July 11, Nigeria’s apex court, the Supreme Court, dropped the gavel on the much-awaited suit marked SC/CV/343/2024, brought before it by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Barrister Lateef Fagbemi, SAN on behalf of the Federal Government.   In the suit, the Federal Government had prayed to the Supreme Court to grant full financial and administrative autonomy to the 774 local governments recognised by the 1999 Constitution, thereby, effectively recognising the councils as the third tier of government in the country. Before that ruling,…

One of the biggest problems confronting several major cities in the country today is the severity of youth redundancy and the resulting impact on the social setup. The situation is far more serious in cities where hitherto functioning factories which were engaging many capable youths into remunerative employment have largely now become comatose. Even if these factories are now restored to full production, they cannot entirely engage the teeming youths in the cities. Government employment opportunities may indeed have reached pliable limits. Meanwhile, schools have continued to produce more graduates…