Solomon2day

 The foot-dragging attitude of the Federal Government on the Supreme court judgment granting autonomy to the 774 Local Governments in Nigeria is a threat to good governance. This assertion was made by the National Coordinator of the Federal Workers Forum, Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''The lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government towards the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on the autonomy of the 774 Local governments is an indication that good governance is asleep.  This is a deliberate attempt by  the government to ridicule democracy. Self interest is the overriding factor in this dispensation, Nigerians are not important. This is very obvious.'' The Local Scene The loyalty and commitment of the people are crucial to the success of any political system with a focused leadership. However, the covert moral and financial support for criminals, would, without doubt, result in unabating insecurity and its attendant consequences on the political system and t...

The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has appealed to the federal government to discontinue the treatment of workers as slaves. This appeal was made by the FWF National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, in a chat with Solomon2day. ''We urge the federal government to stop treating workers like slaves; we are citizens. The new national minimum wage has led to the financial embarrassment of federal workers; our government must rethink her attitude towards the Nigerian workers.  Most unfortunately, our government is still owing us five months wage award arrears earlier promised to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal, and labor is not doing anything; this is indeed very shameful. The government is also owing poorly paid workers lots of arrears of various allowances. In the crucial sectors of health and education, the workers have continued to plead for their legitimate dues, all to no avail. ''Federal workers also posit that the entire labor movement and the left ha...

Lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly have long ceased to represent the electorate in Nigeria. This assertion was made by the convener of the Federal Workers Forum, Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''For some years now, the elected representatives of Nigerians in both chambers of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly have stopped representing the people. They now represent their self-centered interests. Have they done enough to reverse the economic hardships giving Nigerians sleepless nights?'' ''It has been zero intervention as regards the present economic hardships confronting Nigerians. Are those in the legislature just passing time? What is the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature? The answer is the relationship is symbiotic. This is the major reason why they have enough time for frivolities and non-issues. The lawmakers are very far from their constituents and are not in touch with the pa...

 The present administration in Nigeria revolves around manipulation, exploitation and extortion. This  assertion was made by the convener of the Federal Workers      Forum, Comrade Andrew Emelieze. 'The present  government  Nigeria is grounded in extortion, exploitation and manipulation. This is leadership by example, go to the markets, market men and women are following the footsteps of those who are a the helm of affairs.There is no end in sight in the ongoing milking of millions of Nigerians by the oppressors. The oppressors have been molded by greed and for-self-only attitude. This is a period of inhuman increases in the costs of goods and services-most especially foodstuff. Comrade  Emelieze sated. The Local Scene The purchasing power of millions of Nigerians  have, all this while, been disabled by the prohibitive prices of goods and services. Curiously, as Nigerians are busy grappling with the violent crimes in the land, ...

Members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) are patiently waiting for the end to the prolonged crisis in the association's leadership ranks. The crisis that has persisted for so long revolves around self-interest and greed. Indeed, members and others from different unions in Nigeria look up to the National Industrial Court (NIC) to put the crisis to a permanent end. The convener of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) and the All Workers Convergence (AWC), Comrade Andrew Emeleze, urges workers in the country to be peaceful in their conduct. ''Our hope lies in the judiciary; members should be patient and go about their lawful duties with diligence. We are full of hopes that the judiciary will bring an end to the lingering impunity and corruption in the ASCSN. Let us be patient.''Comrade Emeleize stated. The judiciary, without doubt, will serve as a reprieve for distraught and disillushioned members, even though one of the parties to the ...

  Chief Obafemi Awolowo was a political leader of Yoruba extraction who lived by example. His leadership impacted positively on the Yoruba people in all spheres of life. However, it is doubtful if those who hold sway in this dispensation followed in his footsteps. Chief Awolowo had a formidable political structure that outlived him. In his time, political meetings were held at his Ikenne home in Ogun State. After the passing on to glory of Chief Awolowo, in the days of military rule, Chief Adekunle Ajasin took over the mantle of leadership, and meetings were held at his Owo home, Ondo State. During this period, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) came into being. After Chief Ajasin did his beat, Pa Abraham Adesanya  took over the structure up till the end of the military era. In the course of Pa Adesanya's leadership, those who could best be described as pseudo-Awoists and pseudo-democrats were accepted into the fold; sadly, the true and real progressives were barr...

  In 1974, the committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities put in place a panel of the two admissions experts-Mr. L. R Kay, Secretary, Universities Central Council on Admissions of the United Kingdom and Mr. Pettipierre, Director of Ontario Universities Application Center of the province of Ontario, Canada-to examine issues and problems arising from the system of admissions into universities then. The panel submitted its report to the committee. Sometime in February 1976, the Federal Military Government also put in place the National Committee on University Entrance, with Mr. Michael. S. Angulu as Chairperson, the committee comprised of 14 other members, who represented various other interests and bodies related to matriculation examinations, university placement and post-secondary education in the country. In February 1977, the Angulu-led committee submitted its report and recommendations. After going through the recommendations, the committee of Vice Chancellors, the N...

The key elements of tyranny include, but are not limited to, insensitivity, brutality, random arrests, incarceration and unresolved cases of killings.  Curiously, the prohibitive price of the Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) is already having multiple negative effects on the economy, even as Nigerians persist in their daily lamentations of the unbearable hardships that have been their lot in recent times. Indeed, governance on the platform of deformed democratic institutions attracts tyranny, which is not in tandem with the wishes and expectations of Nigerians. Interestingly, the people are yet to identify any conceivable reason for the policy direction of Those-in-Charge towards the worrisome and disturbing situation that called for urgent deliverance. The cost of living is on the rise on a daily basis and Those-in-Charge continue to appeal and cajole citizens to take their sufferings as sacrifices that must be made for the anti-people policies that are ravaging the land....

Nigeria's chronic budget deficit has brought about an unhindered increase in the national debt. Indeed, the multiple taxation by the government at all levels may now be too embarrassing for an economy that majorly revolves around the motive of personal gain. Without doubt, the redistribution of disposable income from the well-to-do to the indigent would increase the average propensity to consume, since the marginal propensity of the indigent to consume is higher than that of the well-to-do. Sadly, this approach is not in the thoughts of the government, although the budget deficit may have stimulated private investments. The government ought to cut down on expenditure on political office holders. However, in view of the fact that the economy is ailing, the government at all levels must be decisive and proactive in interventions in health, transport, electricity, unemployment, hunger and poverty. Of course, the protection of sectors such as education, health and agriculture which hav...

The present democratic dispensation has brought in its stride hunger and mourning. This assertion was made by the former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''Millions of Nigerians are hungry, starving and mourning. There has been a situation of mass killings across the federation. The democracy we thought would bring progress and development has brought nothing other than denial and frustration. Nigerians are not happy,''Comrade Emelieze lamented.

  On Wednesday, 28 September 2011, the Federal Executive Council approved N30.066 billion for the accelerated implementation of the ‘back-end’ component of the National Identity Management System (NIMS). The delivery date of the NIMS was December 2013. It should be noted that the National Identity Management Commission(NIMC) was to receive a sum of N23.074 billion, in the last quarter of 2011, for the procurement of the redesigned multi-application National Identity Card. Before this time, the National Identity Card Scheme executed by SAGEM was a failure. The NIMC Act №23 of 2007 mandated the NIMC to establish a reliable, secure and ‘scalable’ identity management system that makes use of advanced Bio-metrics technologies to identify every individual in Nigeria in unique ways. Despite the colossal amount the government has expended on the project, most Nigerians who have registered have only laminated papers to present where necessary. Although the choice of brand of papers serves t...

  The lives of millions of poor Nigerians have continued to deteriorate without reprieve as a result of the people-unfriendly policies of the present administrations at the center and in the states. This view was expressed by a former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''The removal of the fuel subsidy by the government at the onset of this dispensation has brought about hunger and hardships for millions of poor Nigerians. The government increased electricity tariffs when millions of Nigerians are still paying for darkness. Presently the Premium Motor Spirit is in short supply and Nigerians are passing through heart-rendering experiences to make ends meet, while certain individuals in the labor unions are busy feathering their own nests. The government at all levels have devalued the lives of Nigerians.  The present situation is a bad omen for the government,'' Comrade Emelieze stated.

As primary and secondary schools in Nigeria prepare to resume for the third term, the Chief Executive Officer of KEAABS Oil and Gas Limited, Port-Harcourt, Rivers state, Mrs. Hannah Adefunke Mujakperuo, a master’s degree holder and doctoral student, in this interview, advised the government at all levels to do all that is necessary for girls to accomplish. Excerpts: Schools are about to resume for the third term. What is your advice to the government?  Girls do not deserve to be exploited, but rather protected and nurtured.  The social, economic and political situation in Nigeria has impacted negatively on girls. However, it is disturbing to note that parents and guardians are now openly supporting female children to embrace prostitution as a means to an end. This is dangerous for society. The government at all levels should do all that is possible to ensure that girls have unhindered access to quality education by making provision for the needed facilities, addressing the iss...

  Federal workers in Nigeria have vowed to reject any amount that does not translate to a living wage. The workers made this vow through the former chairman of the Oyo state council of the  Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''We call for justice, we demand a decent, fair and just living wage for the federal work force. We will resist and reject anything less than a living wage. Our government should also not forget to clear all outstanding arrears owed to the federal workers. We specially call on the NLC/TUC to be very reasonable and pragmatic in their negotiation for a new national minimum wage. We are in total support of the position of the NLC/TUC for a yearly review of the national minimum wage,'' Comrade Emelieze stated.

  The continued existence of outlawed organizations revolves majorly around indiscipline, lawlessness, criminality and evil. Indeed, lies, half-truths, hunger, poverty, idleness, ignorance, the high population of illiterates, language and religious differences are among the several factors that have been tapped on, to manipulate and deceive Nigerians into belonging to the outlawed organizations.  Sadly, personalities with ambiguous characters who now hold political offices have for some time, in the recent past, identified with these organizations and even funded them to promote instability and violence in different parts of Nigeria. This is the right time to take a second look into a number of cases of alleged attacks in some states of the federation. Of great worry is the increasing involvement of professional bodies and workers' unions in violence for pecuniary reasons.

The Federal Government must explain to Nigerians the reason why the first National Identity Card Project failed before embarking on another money-consuming project. This assertion was made by a former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''Billions of Naira went into the first National Identity Card Project, and it was a failure. Before the Federal Government embarks on another waste of taxpayers' money, it should explain convincingly why the initial project failed. This is not the time and dispensation to waste taxpayers' money on projects that have been designed to enrich their promoters, '' Comrade Emelieze warned.                                                                                           ...

  The continued sponsorship of supporters, well-wishers, cronies and loyalists of political office holders to the holy land to the holy land in the face of hunger and sufferings in Nigeria is insensitive and inhuman. This assertion was made by a former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC) Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''The political leaders at the local, state and Federal levels of government have continued to sponsor their supporters, well-wishers, admirers, cronies and loyalists for pilgrimage to the holy land while hunger and sufferings persists all over the country. This is insensitive and inhuman. Why is the sponsorship of pilgrims a priority of governments? This is abnormal,'' Comrade Emelieze declared.

  Health workers in the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria have appealed to the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the new electricity tariff plans. The health workers made this appeal through the branch chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union and Associated Institutions(NASU), Comrade Kehinde Abiona. ''Health workers in UCH want to make an appeal to whom it may concern or those in authorities to look into the new tariff plans for electricity in government-owned health institutions which are non-profit, but to serve humanity. It is very disheartening that a socially responsible government-owned hospital such as the UCH was put on a suicidal electricity plan that can hardly be paid for, going at our rates. The UCH pays N74.43 per unit and the new tariff is N225.00 per unit. The Federal Government should intervene by restoring subsidies for all the government-owned health institutions by increasing their monthly overhead allowances, which are presently n...

The funding of several agencies by the Federal Government to tackle violent crime in Nigeria may be for pecuniary reasons even though it is wasteful This assertion was made in a chat with New Federation by a former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC) Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''It is very ridiculous when one begins to count the number of law enforcement and security agencies fighting violent crimes in Nigeria. These agencies are all performing the same function, perhaps, for pecuniary reasons and this is wasteful. The political class should be held responsible for violent crimes in the land. The Federal Government needs to move from wasteful spending and  urgently re-orientate, train and re-train the conventional law  enforcement and security operatives for the best results,'' Comrade Emelieze advised.

1,9 The student's loan initiative is designed to privatize education and institutionalize the exploitation of students, wards, guardians, and parents. This assertion was made by a former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''Te idea of student loans contradicts our culture and tradition. The students loan is meant to privatize education and take it beyond the reach of poor Nigerians. It is meant to exploit students, wards, parents and guardians'', Comrade Emelieze disclosed.