The Nigerian healthcare system is in crisis, not solely because of infrastructural deficits or inadequate training facilities, but primarily due to chronic neglect of workers’ welfare, particularly in critical sectors like health and education. The recent alarm raised by the Kwara State government over its inability to recruit medical doctors is a direct symptom of this long-standing issue. In response, the Federal Government recently announced the approval of N110 billion for 18 universities to bolster medical education. While this gesture is commendable, it remains a superficial fix to a deeply rooted problem. Each of the 18 selected universities—including Ahmadu Bello…
Author: Dr. Ibrahim M. Lawal
In recent years, Northern Nigeria has been the focal point of numerous public declarations and interventions aimed at addressing its complex socio-economic and security challenges. Prominent groups like the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and the Arewa New Agenda (ANA) have consistently convened high-level meetings, published communiqués, and made public statements with bold resolutions for tackling the region’s most pressing issues. From ANA’s February 2024 proposals to create millions of jobs through agricultural and economic initiatives, to the NEF’s vocal opposition to the federal government’s Tax Reform Bills in late 2024, and the mounting criticisms of Senate proceedings in early 2025,…
Every morning, millions of Nigerians wake up not to dreams of a better tomorrow, but to the harsh reality of hunger, hopelessness, and fear. In today’s Nigeria, asking where the next meal will come from has become the new normal. Under Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, survival is now a luxury, and living itself has become a daily battle. Obasanjo once said Tinubu is worse than Hitler — and today, that statement no longer sounds like political rhetoric. It is reality staring us in the face. No leader with a human heart would so deliberately suffocate his own people as Tinubu…
In the annals of Nigeria’s security failures, one incident will go down as both tragic and absurd: the fundraising campaign by retired and serving military officers to pay ransom for the release of a kidnapped Brigadier General. According to a letter dated April 4th, 2025, Brigadier General MI Tsiga, abducted from his home in Tsiga Town, Katsina State, was freed only after a WhatsApp group named “TSIGA” — created by fellow military officers — successfully mobilized hundreds of contributors to meet the bandits’ demand of 400 million naira. Yes, you read that right — Generals raised money to pay bandits.…
The recent homecoming of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was nothing short of a political masterstroke. Against all odds—the state government’s illegal ban on political gatherings, curfews in certain local government areas, and alleged plans to arrest and intimidate supporters—she outsmarted her adversaries. Instead of risking confrontation on the road, she flew in by helicopter, leaving both political opponents and security operatives stunned. This was not just a return home; it was a bold statement. Natasha demonstrated strategic intelligence, resilience, and the foresight to stay ahead of those seeking to silence her. Her courage in the face of adversity is admirable, and…
The recent tragic killing of innocent travelers of Hausa origin in Edo State is yet another heartbreaking case of jungle justice in Nigeria. This barbaric act, where individuals take the law into their own hands to mete out punishment without due process, has become alarmingly frequent. The Edo incident is not an isolated case; it is part of a troubling trend of attacks on northerners in parts of Southern Nigeria. Similar cases abound—northerners have been brutally attacked in different states based on suspicions, accusations, and outright xenophobia. In 2021, killings in Oyo State saw Hausa traders and residents targeted by…
As the holy festival of Sallah approaches, many Nigerian civil servants, including university lecturers, are left in financial distress, unsure of whether their salaries will be paid. Yet, in a shocking display of misplaced priorities, members of the National Assembly have been awarded a staggering ₦7.6 million (about $5,000) each as Sallah bonus—not even their salary, just a bonus. Meanwhile, thousands of government workers who rely on their wages to prepare for the same festival are being told there’s no money to pay them. This raises a fundamental question: What kind of government does this? A government that openly parades…
In a country where political loyalty is often dictated by patronage rather than performance, the recent saga involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan raises a deeply unsettling question: Are Nigerians truly worth fighting for? Despite being a first-time senator, Natasha has demonstrated a level of impact that many experienced lawmakers struggle to achieve. In less than two years, she has championed critical legislative motions, pushed for infrastructure development, and positioned her constituency for national relevance. Yet, when she found herself embattled, the voices that should have risen in her defense—the very people she represents—fell silent. The Cost of Fighting for the People…
The unfolding controversy surrounding the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the subsequent revelations of alleged forged signatures on the Senate resolution adds a new dimension to the ethical crisis in Nigeria’s legislative chamber. At the heart of the matter is Senator Neda Imasuen, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions—an individual who himself carries the burden of a permanent disbarment from legal practice in the United States for professional misconduct. Given the grave allegations of forgery and the hypocrisy in the handling of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, Nigerians must now ask: How honorable are our senators?…
Introduction Nigeria’s unemployment crisis is often attributed to a skills gap among graduates, with employers insisting that job seekers lack the necessary expertise for available positions. However, this argument ignores a major policy-induced factor: the government’s employment embargo, particularly in critical sectors like tertiary education. While thousands of job seekers struggle to find work, vacancies remain unfilled—not due to a lack of qualified candidates, but because of restrictions on hiring. Furthermore, the claim that graduates lack skills should not justify leaving vacancies unfilled. On-the-Job Training (OJT) remains a proven strategy for equipping employees with the necessary competencies after recruitment. The…
The recent opposition by the Federal Government to the National Assembly’s proposal for the establishment of 200 new universities is a bold and commendable decision by the Minister of Education. At a time when Nigeria’s university system is already overwhelmed by inadequate funding, infrastructural decay, and a severe manpower crisis, resisting the reckless expansion of institutions is a step in the right direction and a response to one of the demands of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The fundamental question remains: Have we adequately managed and developed the existing universities to justify the creation of more? The pressure to…
In the face of severe neglect, deprivation, and continuous public ridicule, Nigerian lecturers have remained unwavering in their commitment to national development. Despite working under some of the most challenging conditions, these intellectuals continue to shape the minds that drive Nigeria’s economy, governance, and global reputation. They are the silent builders of the nation, yet they are often the most despised, underappreciated, and impoverished among public servants. Over the years, Nigerian lecturers have been ridiculed and insulted, mostly when they dare to demand better funding for education, improved infrastructure, and decent wages. Instead of being seen as partners in progress,…
The inclusion of ₦150 billion for the revitalization of Nigerian universities and ₦50 billion for the settlement of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) arrears in the 2025 Appropriation Act is a commendable development. If this allocation is indeed genuine, it signals a long-overdue acknowledgment of the dire conditions plaguing Nigerian universities. However, while we appreciate this step, it is critical that it does not remain merely an allocation on paper but is translated into actual and immediate disbursement to revive our deteriorating university system. For years, Nigeria’s public universities have suffered from chronic underfunding, infrastructural decay, and demotivated staff who have…
In recent years, Nigerian lecturers have been vilified, scapegoated, and subjected to intense scrutiny under the guise of moral purification. The National Assembly went as far as passing a law prescribing severe punishment for any lecturer accused of harassment—ensuring that even mere courtship with a student could lead to dire consequences. This legislative aggression cast lecturers as the primary culprits of moral decadence in higher institutions, making it seem as though no other sector in Nigeria had issues with abuse of power or exploitation. Yet, today, the very same National Assembly finds itself entangled in a sexual harassment scandal of…
