After watching a viral video by activist lawyer, Barrister A. A. Askira, on the alleged conversion of a public health facility into a private estate in Wuye District, Abuja, I felt compelled to write this open memo to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wikearguably one of the most powerful figures in the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Plot 546 in Cadastral Zone B03, Wuye District3.171 hectares directly opposite the Wuye Ultra‑Modern Market, behind a public secondary school and beside the Wuye Police Stationhas now been reallocated to a Lagos-based Full Moon Estate Developers Ltd for a private residential project.

During my visit, the signboard showed a building approval dated 5 March 2026, file number FCDA/DC/BP/RSD/PHSII/31854, with Engr. Ose Peter Afeanaje is listed as the site engineer. As of Sunday, 3 May 2026, the ground-floor structures were nearing completion, raising questions about the pace of construction barely a month after approval.

Wike is, without ambiguity, a study in contrasts. On one hand, he is a forceful executor of infrastructureroads are built, bridges rise, and long‑abandoned projects receive new life. On the other hand, his political methods and administrative choices often provoke unease, even outrage. He is a figure capable of undoing with the same intensity he uses to build, considering his role in the internal collapse of the PDP during the 2023 presidential electionwhere neither Atiku Abubakar nor Peter Obi benefited while the outcome favoured Tinubus APCand in the continued weakening of the opposition for a repeat in 2027, which many attribute to his influence. These are the twin faces frequently associated with Nyesom Wike: builder and demolisher, reformer and spoiler, simultaneously. It is precisely this dualityof brilliance and belligerencethat makes the Wuye Hospital controversy so urgent and troubling. Here, the demolisher appears to overshadow the builder.

As Minister, Wike has indeed accelerated development across Abuja, building on funds and frameworks initiated by predecessors. His imprint on road networks and urban renewal is visible. Yet, governance is not only about what is built; it is equally about what is preserved. And in this case, what appears to be under threat is not just land, but public trust.

My concern is deeply personal. I have lived in Wuye District for over three decadeslong before it became the bustling urban enclave it is today. Back then, much of the area was forested, with only a few estates, such as Finance Estate, dotting the landscape. The Abuja master plan was clear and deliberate: it provided for essential public infrastructureschools, places of worship, police stations, green areas, and, critically, hospitals.

That master plan was not theoretical. It was defended. I recall how lands designated for places of worship, especially mosques, were nearly lost to encroachment until the intervention of former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki and former FCT Minister Bala Mohammed, who ensured that religious equity and urban balance were restored. Those precedent mattersit shows that when leadership acts, the integrity of the city can be protected.

It is therefore alarming that a prime plot of land originally designated for a public hospital in Wuye has been reallocated to a private company based in Lagoswhich was only registered a few years agofor the construction of residential properties. If this claim holds, it represents not just a policy misstep but a betrayal of planning principles.

Across Abuja, districts such as Asokoro, Garki, Wuse, Maitama, and even Kubwa have functional hospitals located on lands reserved for such purposes. Wuye, despite its rapid population growth and strategic importance, has remained without its designated hospital even though Plot 546, a 3.171-hectare site had been reserved for generations as Wuye Districts public hospital. To now reallocate it to a private Lagos developer is not just an administrative oversight. It is a betrayal of public trust signed, sealed, and fenced. it is, in the words I reluctantly choose, wickedly wicked.

Urban planning is not an arbitrary exercise. Hospitals are not luxury items to be traded for profit. They are lifelinesespecially in emergencies where proximity can mean the difference between life and death. In a country where healthcare access is already strained, deliberately shrinking public health infrastructure is indefensible.

Residents of Abuja have, over time, watched in uneasy silence as green areas, waterways, and recreational spaces gradually give way to private developments. This silence has often been mistaken for acceptance. It is not. It is restraintborn out of a desire for peace, and perhaps a belief that accountability will eventually catch up with excesses.

But there must be a line. Converting a hospital site into private mansions crosses that line. It signals a dangerous precedent where no public asset is safe from elite capture. Today it is a hospital; tomorrow it could be a school, a police post, a fire station or even a public graveyard.

Even more concerning is the pattern of questionable project execution. Streetlights installed over a year ago in parts of Wuye remain non-functionalnever blinking, never serving their purpose. Contractors appear to have been paid, yet the community remains in darkness. If such basic infrastructure cannot be delivered effectively, how do we justify reallocating critical health infrastructure?

Honourable Minister, this is an appealnot a confrontation. You have demonstrated capacity. You have shown that when you choose to act, results follow. This is an opportunity to act againthis time, not by constructing something new, but by protecting what rightfully belongs to the public.

Our appeal is: Rescind the allocation of the Wuye hospital land to the Lagos‑based Full Moon Estate Developers Ltd, halt all construction pending a full review, direct the FCDA to begin planning the Wuye District General Hospital on its originally designated site, and hold accountable any officials who may have facilitated the diversion of a public asset for private gain.

History will not judge this moment by the number of roads constructed or bridges commissioned. It will judge it by whether the rights of ordinary citizens were protected against the excesses of power.

Wuye does not need another estate for the wealthy. It needs a hospital for the people. Anything less would not just be unfortunate. It would be unjust.

Yushau A. Shuaib Author of “An Encounter with the Spymaster,” writes from yashuaib@yashuaib.com

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Yunusa Abdullahi, consummate writer, analyst, and author of “Live Before You Leave” and “The Nigeria of My Dream,” often spoke glowingly of his boss at the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC).

A former media aide to a governor, Yunusa later became the pioneer editor of PRNigeria before moving on to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as spokesperson. He once invited me to a media session with his boss, Mr. Zacch Adedeji, whom he described as a focused and forward-looking leader. In just one year as Executive Secretary of the NSDC in 2022, Adedeji introduced democratic leadership, innovative reforms, and people-centered policies. He respected the legacies of his predecessors, building on existing structures rather than dismantling them. He also enhanced staff welfare, created a positive work environment, advanced sugar self-sufficiency, and ensured industry compliance with the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan and its Backward Integration Programme.

So, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him as Revenue Adviser in 2023, Yunusa, within an hour, penned an insightful brief on his bosss background. A chartered accountant, Adedeji graduated with First Class honours in Management and Accounting, earned a Masters degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, and completed an executive programme at Harvard Kennedy School. His career achievements, especially as Oyo States Commissioner for Finance where he boosted internally generated revenue, positioned him as a technocrat well-suited to strengthen Nigerias fiscal discipline.

Barely three months later, Adedeji faced his toughest challenge yet when he was appointed Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). He wasted no time in proposing bold and aggressive tax reforms that immediately sparked nationwide debate.

Among them was the replacement of FIRS with a new National Revenue Service (NRS), designed to centralize all government revenue collectionincluding oil, customs, and port revenues. While the goal was to streamline processes and eliminate leakages, critics feared it would concentrate excessive power in one institution, rivaling the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

Northern governors resisted the proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) formula that allocated revenues based on company headquarters rather than consumption. They argued the policy would benefit Lagos and Rivers disproportionately while hurting northern states with high consumption but few corporate head offices.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly in the South-East, raised concerns over compliance burdens despite the reforms raising the threshold for company income tax from ₦25 million to ₦50 million. Social media further fueled misinformation, prompting clarifications that the new regime would protect low-income earners and foster fairness.

Although the National Economic Council (NEC) advised that the bills be withdrawn for wider consultations, President Tinubu opted to proceed with legislative review and public hearings to incorporate feedback.

To many observers, Adedeji initially appeared aloof and combative. Yet, while criticisms mounted, he refrained from public quarrels, instead quietly engaging stakeholders behind the scenes, often through trusted intermediaries.

I personally witnessed some of these Chatham House-style sessions, including the one hosted by Taiwo Oyedele, the Chairperson of Nigerias Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, where stakeholders fears were addressed. Adedeji emphasized that the reforms were not designed to stifle businesses but to simplify taxation, plug loopholes, and ensure equity. His strategy was straightforward but profound: build understanding first, legislate later.

This approach contrasted sharply with previous reform attempts, where stakeholders were often kept in the dark until policies were rolled out. Adedeji chose the harder but wiser pathnationwide consultations. He met business leaders, tax professionals, policymakers, and the organised private sector, listening carefully and adjusting policies accordingly.

As Olayinka Akintunde, a former Economic Confidential editor, told me, this proactive engagement built trust: Adedeji demystified the tax reforms, showing that reform was about creating a fair, transparent, and efficient system, not imposing burdens.

Adedeji also recognised that taxation cannot thrive without security. For businesses to operate and taxpayers to comply, stability is essential. This understanding informed his outreach to the military and security agencies. His meetings with Chief of Defence Staff General Chris Musa and other security chiefs underscored the need for safe environments where businesses and taxable activities can flourish.

Equally strategic was his collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) under Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. Since customs duties, levies, and trade operations are integral to revenue administration, harmonising FIRS and NCS functions became indispensable. Adedejis push for alignment was aimed at eliminating duplication, facilitating trade, and boosting efficiency at the borders.

What sets Adedeji apart is his rare ability to act as a bridge builder. He connects policymakers and businesses, revenue authorities and enforcement agencies, government and citizens. In an era of economic hardship and widespread distrust of government, this bridging role is invaluable. He demonstrates that engagement is not weakness but strength, and that sustainable reform comes from consensus, not coercion.

With the tax bills now signed into law by President Tinubu, Adedejis journey enters a new phase. He understands that the real test of reform lies not in passage but in implementation. Tax policies, no matter how well designed, fail if they are not understood, accepted, and supported by stakeholders. This is why he continues to prioritise dialogue and collaboration.He is proving that Nigerias revenue future rests not only on bold policies but also on leaders who can build bridges across divides and inspire collective ownership of reforms.

By January 2026, the outcomes of Zacch Adedeji’s leadership will begin to unfoldthrough wider acceptance of reforms, higher compliance rates, sustained institutional cooperation, and improved revenue generation. If his bridge-building strategy holds, even reluctant businesses will gradually embrace compliance.

Yushau A. Shuaib
Author of “A Dozen Tips for Media Relations”
yashuaib@yashuaib.com

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By Yushau A. Shuaib

When the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) introduced Marine and Blue Economy as a new category in its annual National Spokespersons Awards (NSAwards), few anticipated the overwhelming response it would attract. Yet, the category garnered more entries than any other, reflecting growing interest and competition among major players in the maritime sector.

The NSAwards, instituted by Image Merchants Promotion Limitedpublishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidentialin partnership with the NIPR, celebrates exceptional communicators and spokespersons across diverse fields. Held during the National Spokespersons Summit, the awards event is a platform for knowledge exchange, professional recognition, and elevating communication standards in Nigeria.

My curiosity about the Blue Economy was first piqued when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu created the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in 2023, appointing former Osun State Governor Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola as its pioneer minister. Like many Nigerians, I initially questioned the relevance of a ministry with a seemingly vague and unfamiliar mandate. That perception changed when the Ministers spokesperson, Mr Ismail Omipidan, reached out to the editorial board ofEconomic Confidentialfor advocacy support in raising awareness about the new ministry’s objectives and potential.

The “Blue” in Blue Economy refers to the oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, and other freshwater bodies that appear blue due to how water reflects and absorbs light. Just as the “Green Economy” promotes sustainability on land through eco-friendly practices in agriculture and forestry, the “Blue Economy” centres on water-based economic activities anchored on environmental stewardship and long-term resource regeneration.

Belgian economist Gunter Pauli popularised the modern concept of the Blue Economy in his 2010 book,The Blue Economy: 10 Years, 100 Innovations, 100 Million Jobs. Pauli introduced a regenerative economic model inspired by natural ecosystems, where outputs from one industry become inputs for another. His vision emphasised zero waste, innovation, and job creation in ocean-based sectors.

Before Paulis articulation, similar ideas existed under terms like “marine economy” or “ocean economy.” However, after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, sustainability in ocean governance gained formal attention, even if the term Blue Economy had not yet entered the mainstream.

In acknowledging the sector’s potential, President Tinubu has tasked one of Nigerias leading policy institutions with developing a national strategy for the Blue Economy. As a proud member of the NIPR (mnipr), I observed that, unlike the finance and oil and gas sectors, communication professionals have yet to fully embrace or amplify the Blue Economys narratives in Nigeria.

In its most basic definition, the Blue Economy involves the sustainable use of oceanic and aquatic resources to drive economic growth, improve livelihoods, and preserve marine ecosystems for future generations. While public awareness remains limited, a growing body of literature and expert analysis affirms that Nigeria stands to benefit immensely from this model.

Its expansive scope includes fisheries, maritime transport, offshore oil and gas, marine biotechnology, coastal tourism, and renewable ocean energy. Yet, Nigerias current performance across these sectors remains under-documented, underscoring the need for structured communication and policy clarity.

Globally, several countries offer compelling models. Norway leads in aquaculture innovation. Kenya exemplifies strong inter-agency coordination. Seychelles excels in conservation financing. Mauritius and India have adopted smart port technologies, while Senegal demonstrates best practices in grassroots fisheries governance. Locally, the Lekki Deep Sea Port stands out as a promising infrastructure that aligns with Blue Economy aspirations.

Despite these prospects, the sector faces significant challenges: overfishing, inadequate funding, maritime insecurity, institutional overlap, and weak policy enforcement. These issues require a national communications strategy that can bridge knowledge gaps, attract investment, and mobilise public and private sector participation.

Agencies under the Ministrysuch as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigerian Shippers Councilmust activate their public relations departments for proactive, sustained campaigns that highlight their mandates, impact, and strategic relevance. Additionally, critical stakeholders, including the Nigerian Navy and international partners, should support outreach efforts that generate grassroots buy-in and foster trust in policy.

The success of Nigerias Blue Economy will depend not only on sound policy, data-driven planning, and infrastructure investment but also on robust public communication. Without effective messaging, even the most innovative frameworks risk being misunderstood or underutilized.

This is where the NIPR can play a pivotal role. As Nigerias statutory body for public relations, the Institute is well-positioned to lead strategic communication efforts through public enlightenment, stakeholder engagement, professional capacity-building, and international collaboration.

Multilingual awareness campaigns can demystify the Blue Economy and educate citizensespecially in coastal communitieson its benefits. Policy advocacy can be amplified through partnerships with government institutions and the private sector, while town halls and community dialogues can increase local ownership and participation.

Media training, exposure visits, and the promotion of success stories in marine tourism, aquaculture, and renewable energy will inspire confidence and attract investors and development partners.

The NIPR can help reposition the Blue Economy as a cornerstone of Nigerias sustainable development agenda by championing these communication initiatives. These efforts could elevate Nigerias profile as a regional leader in maritime policy, innovation, and environmental sustainability if well-executed.

Yushau A. Shuaibis the author of“Award-Winning Crisis Communication Strategies”and“A Dozen Tips for Media Relations.”He can be reached via:yashuaib@yashuaib.com

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The recent submission of four executive bills to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu has sparked intense debate. President Bola Tinubu’s recent submission of four executive tax reform bills to the National Assembly has sparked heated debate. Central to the controversy is Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), whose clarifications on the reforms have yet to clear the air but intensified discussions.

At first glance, the four bills appear to serve distinct purposes: The Nigeria Tax Bill seeks to harmonise various tax laws to reduce multiplicity; the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill focuses on standardising tax processes and compliance requirements; the Nigeria Revenue Service Bill aims to replace the FIRS Act and establish a National Revenue Service (NRS) to be responsible for collecting both domestic and international revenues; and the Joint Revenue Board Bill will create a framework for resolving revenue conflicts between states and local governments.

A key aspect of these proposals involves replacing the FIRS with the NRS, which would become a central and most powerful revenue service in the history of Nigeria with the task of being the only agency responsible for collecting all government revenues, including those currently managed by other agencies in oil, customs, and port and other sectors. It will be more powerful and influential than the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria National Petroleum Company NNPC and others.

Another contentious point is the proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) distribution model. Under the new framework, states receiving VAT collections would retain significant revenue. However, some northern leaders fear this model will disproportionately benefit states where companies are headquartered rather than those where goods and services are consumed.

In a statement from Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, Gombe State’s Governor and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, northern governors opposed the proposed derivation-based VAT distribution model, citing concerns that it would disadvantage their states.

They urged National Assembly members to reject any legislation perceived as unfavourable to any region of the country. The communiqu stated: The Forum is concerned by the recent Tax Reform Bill sent to the National Assembly, especially the proposed shift to a derivation-based VAT distribution model, which disadvantages the North.

The governors reaffirmed their commitment to national development while emphasising the need for equity in policy implementation to prevent any geopolitical zone from feeling marginalised.

Consequently, the following day, the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, recommended President Tinubu withdraw the Tax Reform Bills from the National Assembly. The NEC convened for its 144th meeting at the State House in Abuja, where state governors and Federal Executive Council members, including Finance Minister Wale Edun and Budget and National Planning Minister Abubakar Bagudu, participated.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde remarked that the council recognised the necessity for further understanding and alignment on the bills, emphasising that more comprehensive consultation would be in the nations best interest.

Despite this recommendation by Nigerian governors and federal cabinet members in NEC, President Tinubu asserted that he would not withdraw the proposed tax reform bills. His spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, indicated that the president believes the legislative process should continue, allowing room for input and adjustments through public hearings.

Tinubu remains committed to reforming Nigerias tax system. Through these proposed bills, the government aims to streamline tax administration, enhance efficiency, and align with global best practices. The billsthe Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Billseek to unify tax processes, reduce overlapping responsibilities, and simplify compliance for both businesses and individuals.

It is widely believed that Zacch Adedeji, as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), is the driving force behind these reform proposals. His educational background, prior positions, and current role have established him as one of the most influential figures in Tinubu’s administration.

Born on January 8, 1978, in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Adedeji graduated with first-class honors in Accountancy from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, where he also obtained his Masters and PhD in the same field. He began his professional journey at Procter & Gamble (P&G) as Corporate Finance Manager for West Africa and later as Finance Leader for SAP Implementation. He also served as Finance Commissioner in Oyo State under Governor Isiaka Ajimobi (20112015). He was appointed Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) by President Muhammadu Buhari before becoming the Executive Chairman of FIRS under President Tinubu.

While his political ambition is fuzzyhaving avoided any major controversysome suspect his positions on tax reform and proposed legislation harbour hidden agendas. In light of these concerns, he proactively engaged with members of the National Assembly following the submission of the bills. He addressed both the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa, and the House of Representatives Committee, led by Hon. James Faleke.

Adedeji articulated the reforms’ goals, emphasising the need to harmonise existing tax laws, streamline administration, and align Nigerias tax system with global standards. He conveyed that the reforms aim to consolidate disparate tax laws and enhance transparency while improving efficiency in revenue collection. He highlighted that these changes would modernise Nigerias tax system, adapt to the realities of the digital economy, and position the country attractively for investment. He confirmed that no additional taxes would be introduced, aligning with President Tinubu’s commitment to not taxing poverty and inflation.

However, until the full details of the bills are made public, speculation will undoubtedly continue. The discrepancy between President Tinubu’s stance and Vice President Shettima-led NEC’s recommendation only adds to the confusion.

The contradictory stance of FEC and NEC is indeed puzzling, especially considering the All Progressive Congress (APC) controls governance at the national and state levels. A unified and diplomatic approach would have been more effective in addressing the tax reform proposals unless the drama was a deliberate script for political purposes.

As the debate continues, Adedejis true intentions and the broader impact of these reforms on Nigerias economy remain in question. The outcome will undoubtedly shape the nation’s economic trajectory.

Yushau A. Shuaib is the publisher of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential. yashuaib@yashuaib.com

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The politics of monopoly and oligarchy are familiar phenomena in Nigeria and beyond. During General Abacha’s military rule in the 1990s, while working at the Federal Ministry of Finance, I witnessed first-hand the plight of a retired military officer who had become an entrepreneur. His product was threatened by a competitor who deliberately crashed the price of his good to make that of the retired officer uncompetitive. At that time, it was suspected that the military government was using the competitor to deal with the veteran, who later served in a civilian government.

That experience made me wary of monopolistic tendencies, often leading to concerns about the rise of oligarchies. For instance, Aliko Dangote’s group of companies in Nigeria and Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries in India have dominant influence in their respective countries, raising concerns about the long-term effects of monopolistic tendencies.

In 2005, the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo endorsed the formation of the Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (TCN), later renamed Transcorp. This conglomerate sought to acquire government-owned assets and venture into various sectors of the national economy.

The founding owners of Transcorp were budding oligarchs and private sector operators who knew how to navigate their ways around government in getting whatever they wanted. They included billionaires and financiers like Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Jim Ovia, Tony Elumelu, and Festus Odimegwu. Other notable members were Bernard Longe, Jacobs Moyo Ajekigbe, Otunba Funsho Lawal, Tony Ezeanna, Adegboyega Olulade, and the late friend Waziri Mohammed.

The then Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mrs Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, served as the chairman of the Board of Directors. At the same time, her staff member, Nicholas Okoye, was the organisation’s technical secretary and business strategy adviser.

In an article in June 2005 titled “President Dangote of Nigeria”, I cautioned Dangote and others about the dangers of retrogressive monopoly, which weakens government regulations and kills healthy competition. Instead, I suggested that he and similarly inclined private sector players deploy infrastructural facilities and equipment to gain fair market share rather than acquiring public institutions at giveaway prices.

However, the following month, in July 2005, President Olusegun Obasanjo officially launched the conglomerate in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. It was, therefore, not surprising that the mega-firm benefitted immensely from the government’s privatisation policy, as it raised N16 billion through private placement and acquired significant public assets. Some of these assets included a 71 per cent stake in NITEL, the Nicon-Noga Hilton Hotel, a 400,000-barrel per-day refinery concession, and oil blocs for upstream oil and gas operations, among other national possessions.

While the early promoters of Transcorp later became prominent advocates for Obasanjo’s third-term agenda, there was a controversy surrounding President Obasanjo’s acquisition of 200 million shares of Transcorp through a blind trust fund financed by a popular bank.
However, for whatever reasons, after acquiring and sharing some of the country’s collective patrimonies, some of the founders of Transcorp appeared to have subsequently parted ways.

On his part, Aliko Dangote expanded his businesses into manufacturing like Mukesh Ambani, the wealthiest man in India, who is reputed to have lavished over $800 million on the recent wedding of his son, Anant Ambani, to Radhika Merchant, the daughter of Indian pharma tycoons, Viren and Shaila Merchant.

While Dangote has a flour milling company that produces wheat flour, pasta, noodles, and other baked products, Ambanis investments include retail outlets that operate supermarkets and online trading platforms.

Similarly, besides his telecommunications company offering 4G and 5G services, comprising data and other digital products, Ambani also produces films, television shows, and digital content through his media and entertainment company. He equally operates large power generation plants and distribution companies.

On the other hand, Dangote additionally operates fertilizer and cement corporations in Nigeria and other African countries. He has also heavily invested in agriculture, focusing on producing rice, sugarcane, and tomato paste. In addition, Dangote refines salt and sugar for domestic consumption and export.

As nonpartisan and detribalised businesspeople, both Dangote and Ambani are generous to different political parties, religious groups, and cultural institutions. They also employ elite graduates from various ethnic backgrounds and engage youths in multiple roles in their enterprises.

The giant cash cow of Ambani is his Reliance Industrys Jamnagar oil refinery, commissioned in 1999, with the capacity to produce 668,000 barrels of crude daily, which has since been upgraded to 1,240,000 barrels per day. The refinery has enhanced India’s energy security by providing a reliable source of petroleum products, contributing to the country’s GDP growth, and becoming a key player in India’s energy sector.

When Dangote mooted the idea of building an oil refinery, as the Nigerian government failed to revive the existing ones or create new ones, many believed he was on the trajectory of receiving the usual incentives he gets from the government as one of Nigerias most prominent private sector players.

The success story of Ambani’s refinery is attributed to the active support of the Indian government in encouraging investments in the energy sector through support that includes tax incentives, subsidies for importing crude oil, enabling the exportation of refined products, and relaxation of regulations to allow efficient operations. The government’s monetary policies enabled banks and financial institutions to provide loans and credit facilities for indigenous projects.

With the government’s magnanimity to the industry, India’s economy benefits from Ambani’s refinery, with thousands of jobs created, infrastructure development in the host communities, and foreign exchange earnings from exporting refined products. The company’s operation also reduces dependence on imported refined products while generating significant revenue for the government through taxes, duties, and royalties.

Meanwhile, within just a few months of its operation this year, the multibillion-dollar Dangote refinery has created thousands of jobs, directly and indirectly, while stimulating economic growth.

Whilst there was excitement with the expectation that the refinery would increase the domestic refining capacity and reduce reliance on fuel importation, thus decreasing inflationary pressures, the government regulators recently publicly demarketed Dangote petroleum products.

Speaking on behalf of the government, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engineer Farouk Ahmed claimed that the quality of products from the Dangote Refinery was inferior, citing a purported higher sulphur content of the diesel produced.

Claiming that the refinery had not yet been issued an operational license, and concern over monopoly and energy security, the NMDPRA pushed an argument for the continued importation of petroleum products from outside the country. The management of the Dangote Refinery has denied the allegations of producing high sulphur content diesel or attempting to become a monopoly.

The painful irony is the deliberate demarketing of the Dangote brand by his brethren from the North, working as regulators, after Southerners had provided him with an enabling environment for the business that would generate foreign exchange earnings, contribute to Nigeria’s economic diversification, and ultimately stabilise the naira. The Northerners need rethinking.

Examples abound of how great nations implement policies to support indigenous industries through protectionist measures that give them a competitive edge in relation to foreign businesses. Such countries accomplish this through legitimate preferential concessions, the award of financial incentives, the creation of pathways for market access, regulatory backing, and offers of equity participation. If the system cannot support indigenous enterprises like Danote, it shouldnt be seen as demarketing Nigerian brands. This can be considered as sinning against yourself.

Yushau A. Shuaib, an Editor-in-Chief of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential
www.YAShuaib.com, yashuaib@yashuaib.com

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Upon completing the routine security check, we ascended to the impressive Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) complex in Abuja. Led to a spacious yet modest hall where an event was unfolding, we found seats beside a woman modestly dressed in a Muslim Hijab. She greeted us warmly and invited us to sit beside her. Her humility and warmth immediately put us at ease.

We initially assumed she was a guest or another participant at the briefing. However, as we discussed the media industry, she listened intently, nodding in agreement. When she finally spoke, her insightful comments on disruptive technologies and their impact on the communication industry left us in awe. Her deep knowledge spanned online streaming services, virtual events, and redefining audience engagement through innovation, leaving us with a profound respect for her expertise.

She elaborated on how blockchain, 5G networks, and artificial intelligence facilitate secure, faster connectivity and interactive experiences with enhanced royalty management. Beyond aiding in content generation and personalisation, she noted media production is becoming increasingly democratised. Moreover, she schooled us on the latest technological tools for fact-checking, cybersecurity, and digital journalismall without a trace of arrogance or pomposity.

As the event concluded, we offered our printed business cards. In response, she shared her digital business card. Scanning the QR code revealed her identity: Hajia Rakiya Shuaibu Mohammed, the Director of Information Technology at the Central Bank of Nigeria. This position speaks volumes about her expertise and influence in the field.

Curiosity drove me to search for her profile upon leaving. What I uncovered was astounding. Despite not being a celebrity tech expert paraded on social media or television, she is an extraordinary IT specialist. Former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele described her as such, having promoted her from Head of Information Security Management after a rigorous selection process.

In his remarks at the eNaira Hackathon Grand Finale in Abuja in 2022, Emefiele, the then CBN Governor, credited the success of Africas first central bank digital currency partly to Hajiya Rakiya. He admitted to underestimating her suitability for the Director of Information Technology position, initially preferring a male candidate. He said, I must single her out. When she was considered for the director role, I initially doubted. I was thinking.. Im Sorry, ladies, please forgive me. I said a lady IT Director. I went back and began to read her CV. She is a First-Class computer science graduate, a brilliant erudite lady from Northern Nigeria, and a chartered accountant. I said you could not have a better person as head of IT for Central Bank of Nigeria.”

Her academic and professional accolades are extensive. Rakiya was the Head Girl of the Federal Government Girl College, Bakori, and the Best Graduating Student in 1982. She obtained a First-Class degree in Computer Science from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in 1987, followed by a Masters degree in Information Systems Engineering from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 1994. She has also attended executive education programs at Harvard University and Oxford University.

Rakiya’s professional journey spans over 25 years across the financial, telecommunications, and technology sectors. Before her promotion to IT Director at the CBN, where she spearheaded and implemented the Industry Security Operation Centre (NFICERT) and Africa’s first Digital Currency, Rakiya had headed the System Services and Information Security Management (CISO) Division of the bank, where she modernised the IT infrastructure and introduced innovative solutions like video conferencing. She had developed and implemented robust information security strategies, maintaining ISO 27001 certification and ensuring zero major security incidents.
Previously, she was Head of Strategy and IT at Galaxy Backbone Plc (2009-2011), CIO at Premium Pension Limited (2005-2008), Deputy General Manager (IT) and CIO of NITEL (2003-2005), and Head of Branch Banking Systems in the Northern Region of Continental Merchant Bank (1988-1995).

She holds numerous certifications, including Lean Process Practitioner, Certified IT Business Manager, Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO), Certified Enterprise and Solution Architect, Certified IT Governance Professional (COBIT, CGEIT), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Chartered Accountant (ICAN) and Honorary member of the Certified Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

On May 16, 2024, she made an outstanding presentation to the CBN board on maximising the utility of current IT facilities. However, a week later, despite her impressive background, certifications, and contributions to the bank, Rakiya has become one of the victims of an inexplicable spate of officers retrenched by the current CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso.

Here is a woman who has contributed immensely by ensuring increased revenue, reduced costs, and improved security in various organisations she had worked for and could just be retired due to political exigency.

It is perplexing to understand the rationale behind retrenching such highly qualified and integral personnel among several others in that bank, especially considering the ongoing appointments of external consultants. If retaining and promoting the best within the service is not prioritised, what justifies these replacements with outsiders?

Yushau A. Shuaib is the author of Award Winning Crisis Communication Strategies. yashuaib@yashuaib.com

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And fear the fitnah (affliction and trial) which affects not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong. – Quran 8 verse 25

The above is a verse from the Holy Quran, which my late father, Imam Abdulhameed Shuaib Agaka usually cited when trouble brewed and the community kept silent, without seeking to address it.

The Quranic verse cautions society against failure to act when atrocities are being committed because the repercussions of silence and inaction could be severe (painful), not only for the perpetrators but the society at large.

Since the return to a democratic system of government over two decades ago, Nigeria has witnessed unbecoming violent attitudes that were seemingly tolerated by the society, before they later snowballed into the nightmarish monsters that we have today.

For various reasons, including cultural, religious, social and political dispositions, the society had been displaying a nonchalant attitude to most of the ills that have come to afflict it presently. One wonders if the past inactions of the government, community leaders, traditional institutions and youth activists were not the enabling factors for the perpetration of the rot that we are witnessing today in society.

We can easily remember the introduction of political sharia rather than true Islamic Law in Zamfara State in 2000, which imposed discriminatory punishments for offences including the amputation of the hands and limbs of the poor for lesser offences of theft, while the rich, who could be politicians and public office holders, rob the people of their collective patrimony through the pen, yet barely get a slap on the wrist when they are caught. The rich easily get granted bail, which is usually one step to their gradual discharge from the crimes committed. Today, Zamfara is the headquarters of banditry in the country.

We can recall the activities of the lawless kids of Maiduguri over a decade ago, which had then influenced my article, Killing in the Name of the Devils (https://yashuaib.com/2006/03/killing-in-the-name-of-the-devil/), in 2006, when they killed and destroyed the assets of non-indigenes and others in the city over flimsy excuses which triggered reprisal attacks somewhere else. Today, Borno State, with Maiduguri as capital, is regarded as the epicentre of terrorism in Nigeria.

Kaduna, which was earlier one of the most peaceful and secure states in Nigeria, has also tasted the fruit of lawlessness, when after the massacre of Shiite in December 2015, including pregnant women and kids by Nigerian soldiers, young miscreants sought recourse in looting the assets and corpses of the dead, yet the government and community kept mum as if the carnage was no big deal. Kaduna today hosts the dens of kidnapping kingpins and is location to recurrent ethnic flares of violence.

In Eastern Nigeria, we noticed how ferocious secessionist activities were condoned and celebrated in the past, but the region has woken up to the reality of control of non-state actors and vicious armed groups who have taken to imposing sit-at-homes on the people on Mondays. This has been going on alongside some of the most ruthless campaigns of extermination of the people and security personnel on a regular basis.

In the North-Central, while farmers and cattle herders had initially co-existed peacefully, however with the antagonism of political crusades, it was not long before states like Plateau and Benue become the hotbeds of communal clashes.

I can go on and on about how governments, community leaders and even different societies have failed to act decisively when the unbecoming attitudes of our kids, especially the youths, were gradually becoming a source of concern.

At this point in our collective experience, I am seized by a sense of foreboding in contemplating the disturbing activities of lawless kids and youth following the election of Abba Yusuf as governor of Kano State under the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Immediately after the election, as if in some coordinated form of assault on the social order, the properties of politicians, and celebrities like the popular musician, Dauda Kahutu Rarara, among others, were not only looted, they were also vandalised by youths in broad daylight, without being checkmated in the least by security agencies. That early period also witnessed a frenetic spate of daylight robberies, including phone-snatching.

Still, at the inauguration of Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf as the state governor on 29 May, 2023, many youthful miscreants, suspected to be supporters of NNPP, heckled the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, and his younger brother, Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero.

As security operatives went about rescuing the descendants of the most revered and longest-ruling Emir of Kano, the late Ado Bayero, these lawless urchins and guttersnipes kept shouting derogatory remarks at the humble traditional rulers, at the top of their voices.

A few days after the inauguration, Governor Abba gave a marching order to security agencies in the state to immediately take over all public properties believed to have been unduly sold by the previous administration of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

Shortly thereafter, and particularly by midnight, the new state government rolled out bulldozers for the demolition of what it described as illegal structures, towards restoring the Kano master plan. Some of the structures pulled down included multibillion naira hotels, business premises, residential accommodations and even monuments.

In other common incidents, youths from far and nearby invaded some of the sites, vandalised and looted the premises, while others removed valuable building materials. In fact, in some of the videos that were trending at the time, a number of the miscreants could be seen struggling and fighting the police and other security personnel who were trying to stop them from their insidious plunder.

What is more worrisome is that these lawless kids are now awake most nights, either stationed close to or following bulldozers to planned demolition sites. The majority of these wretched-looking kids are drug addicts, poor, unemployed and untrained. It is also shocking that school children too and other youths have joined them in the looting spree that they popular tag Ganima. Meanwhile, Ganima or Ghanima is an Arabic word for spoils of war, which may include land, wealth, cattle, women and children.

The governors spokesman, Comrade Sanusi Bature, has said that the ongoing demolition across Kano was not an act of vendetta against any individual or group in any way. Bature emphasised that these demolitions were first set of many to come in fulfilment of the governors campaign promises.

This article is not about the merits or demerits of the governors action but rather the hasty manner in which some of the actions gravely impacting the state are being undertaken, which are neither sanctioned by the state executive council nor the legislators. It is about the fear of what would become of Kano if more destructions are unleashed under the guise of restoring a masterplan when those at the receiving end of the destructions are folks who actually have lawful official approvals for the structures now being pulled down.

While the administration of Abdullahi Ganduje ensured the safety and security of the state from banditry and terrorism, Governor Abba Yusuf should rather try to concentrate his energies on employment generation, wealth circulation and urban development to enable survival and prosperity in the state. It is very doubtful if potential investors would be willing to put their money in the current state of confusion that defines Kano as one of Nigerias most peaceful and populous states.

It is necessary to point out that most activities of banditry and terrorism are engineered by aggrieved victims of injustice, inequality and the burning desire for vengeance. As many might be aware, the targeted abductions of the family members of politicians, public officers and the rich in neighbouring states are usually perpetrated by faceless aggrieved sponsors.

I wish to, therefore, advise Governor Abba and the new Kwankwasiyya administration in Kano to re-examine their actions and not allow the activities of lawless youth to degenerate into what we are currently witnessing in most Northern states of Borno, Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara, to mention but a few that are bedevilled by activities of violent criminals.

While it is easy to demolish rather than build, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano should put in place programmes for social and economic inclusion, youth empowerment, improved local governance, reconciliation and conflict mitigation, towards a more peaceful and prosperous state, which is much loved by all.

Yushau A. Shuaib is an author of An Encounter with the Spymaster
http://www.YAShuaib.com yashuaib@yahoo.com

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I didnt realise how much Nigerias water sector has been grossly under-reported until I attended a media briefing addressed by the Minister of Water Resources, Engineer Suleiman H. Adamu in Abuja recently.

Mrs Kenechukwu Offie, a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and the Director of Public Relations in the Ministry, had made several efforts to stoke my interest in the water sector for possible media coverage in our Economic Confidential or PRNigeria platforms.

I had worked closely with Mrs Offie, my senior while I was in the public service and after my retirement a decade ago. I always wondered what was so exciting for her about the Ministry of Water Resources, particularly after she had served in a number of juicy positions in the State House, Aso Rock, Abuja; the Office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), during the tenure of Mrs Amina Mohammed (now Deputy Secretary General of United Nations); and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, among others.

Therefore, last Thursday, she invited me again to attend a press brief, where some milestones in the water sector under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration were to be revealed with facts and figures, I finally decided to honour her requests.

She had early told me that the Minister was a pragmatic leader who deliberately refused to abandon inherited projects, as he essentially regards government as a continuum for which the public good is paramount and the overriding consideration, not personalities. With this crucial mindset, Engineer Adamu has not only improved on ongoing programmes within his remit but has more so ensured the completion of most of the old projects he inherited on coming into office.

At the briefing, the Minister proudly emphasised his strong conviction on how it was a vital professional imperative for him to make sure he completes all inherited projects before engaging in newer ones. This is a highly unusual and largely commendable attitude to enhancing the Nigerian commonwealth and infrastructure for the greater good, particularly in an environment in which many are prone to the individualism if not selfishness – of executing only projects that they are architects of, and which serves interests with which they are identified, without much contemplation of what is really of enduring benefit to the public.

As such, the entire country almost feels like a dumpsite of uncompleted and even overlapping, projects that have been some of the biggest sources of wastage of the national commonwealth, very, unfortunately.

Engineer Suleiman pointed out that being one of the key sectors that drive the agenda for national food security and human capital development, the Ministry of Water Resources core mandates are to improve the supply of potable water in the country, the improvement of irrigation systems to bolster what could otherwise be low-yield rain-fed agriculture, and the development of Nigerias hydro-power infrastructure.

Beyond the controversy over the Water Bill that was criticised by politicians and sections of the media, I was amazed by the accomplishments of the Ministry in its core mandates.

Apart from the construction of 185 solar-powered water projects and 370 public sanitation facilities across the states of the federation, the Ministry engaged 77,400 youth volunteers for Hand Washing and ODF campaigns, which also created awareness on open defecation in Nigeria, across all the 774 local government areas of the country.

With the revitalisation of the River Basin Development Authorities to deliver on their obligations to Nigeria, the Songhai model of integrated agricultural practice was introduced by the Ministry to boost agricultural production and achieve integrated rural development. In this regard, 253 farmlands have been leased to the private sector for commercial farming, out of which 182 are fully utilised presently.

Currently, there are a total of 250 medium- and large-sized dams in the country, with a combined storage capacity of about 30 billion cubic metres, of water, which is more than the projected future demand of Nigeria by the year 2030. Some of the inherited and now completed dam projects include the Kashimbilla Multipurpose dam in Taraba State; Ogwashi-uku Multipurpose Dam in Delta State; Adada Dam in Enugu State; Sulma Earth Dam in Katsina State; Amla-Otukpo Dam in Benue State, alongside four others dams, and the rehabilitated Kampi Omi Dam in Kogi State.

In addition to the above, at least about 42 small dams have been constructed across the nation by the River Basin Development Authorities, while six of the dams are currently being utilised to support aquaculture farms.

In the energy sector too, the Ministry of Water Resources has also pursued the goal of ensuring the completion of inherited hydropower projects. So far, these include the Gurara One 30MW power plant in Kaduna State; the Kashimbila 40MW project in Taraba State; and the Daduin Kowa 40MW power project in Gombe State, which have all been completed and are ready for concessions, while the contract for the Farin-Ruwa 20MW hydropower project in Nasarawa has been awarded. There are two other power projects that would generate a combined 1,750MWs of electricity in Lokoja, Kogi State and Makurdi in Benue State, which are currently being planned for development on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangements.

In a similar vein, the Ministry is implementing an ambitious irrigation programme to boost agriculture production and support the nations quest for food security. Under the scheme, 130,000 hectarage of irrigation has been developed, while another 55,000 hectarage has been leased to commercial farmers. Some of the completed irrigation projects include the Mamu Awka Drainage and Land Reclamation scheme in Anambra State; the Sabke Irrigation system in Katsina State; the Gari Irrigation schemes in Kano and Katsina States, coupled with the Rima Valley Irrigation project in Sokoto State, the Middle Ogun River Irrigation scheme in Oyo State and the Azare-Jere Irrigation project in Kaduna State.

Likewise, the Ministry of Water Resources has constructed 340 rural water supply schemes in the North-East, in IDP camps and some federal institutions and establishments. Through the implementation of the Partnership for Expanded Water Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) programmes, the Ministry constructed 3,372 rural water supply schemes in 19 states of the federation for the benefit of 5,262,189 people.

I am just been a bit concerned that even though all the states flagged off the WASH and Clean Nigeria campaigns, surprisingly only 83 out of the 774 local government areas are now Open Defecation Free in the country! Nevertheless, the water projects executed by the Ministry will go a long way in reducing dependency on the erstwhile largely rain-fed agricultural sector, thereby boosting food production, addressing rural poverty through progressive management transfers and, to some extent, curbing youth restiveness due to joblessness.

As the longest-serving Minister of Water Resources since 2015, I wish to reiterate the fact that Engineer Suleiman deserves to be commended for not abandoning old projects within his sphere of influence while initiating and implementing new ones geared towards economic diversification, job creation, and strengthening the quality of productivity by enhancing market access services for farmers. This certainly appears to be the secret to his longevity on the job as we say: Why fix it, when it is performing so well?

Yushau A. Shuaib
Editor-in-Chief Economic Confidential and PRNigeria

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He is one of the finest gentlemen of the press that I have ever encountered. A courageous, fearless, humane and humble editor, Mallam Yusuf Alli has come a long way in redefining investigative journalism from his decades of experience in the coverage of various beats in the Nigerian media.

Born on August 8, 1962, Yusuf Alli attended the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, under the auspices of the Institute of Education of the University of Ilorin. He later studied Language Arts at the University of Jos

Mallam Yusuf Alli is a veteran investigative reporter, humanitarian journalist and seasoned editor.

For his career in journalism, he honed his skills at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos; the Centre for Foreign Journalists, Reston, Virginia in the United States; Lagos Business School; and Kookmin University in Seoul, South Korea. He is also a product of journalism training in China, and he earned a BBC Certificate on Election Reporting.

Yusuf Alli has worked with several newspapers, including being a reporter with the Herald and standing out to be counted in the heady days of struggle against military dictatorship, as a guerilla journalist with the AM News/The News titles.

He rose through the ranks as a reporter, senior reporter, Chief Correspondent, Assistant Editor, before becoming a Deputy Editor and then getting elevated as the Editor, SUNDAY PUNCH, SATURDAY PUNCH and ultimately THE PUNCH daily newspaper in 2006. He is currently the Managing Editor, Northern Operations of The Nation newspapers.

When it comes to investigative reporting, Mallam Yusuf Alli is fundamentally guided by some of the central tenets and core principles of the practice, which are the necessities of objectivity, fairness and balance, and to report on people and issues without fear or favour. Naturally, such essentially professional conduct could be to the discomfort of friends and even family members, at times. In fact, as a journalist who covers anti-corruption agencies for more than two decades, Alli is reputed to have dossiers of lesser and most corrupt public officials at all levels.

On a few occasions, I had expressed my disenchantment with some of his investigative stories that were not favourable to common associates. He merely responded that, once you are an investigative reporter, you should demonstrate integrity above board.

As an impartial lawyer in the finest legal tradition would, Yusuf always insists on the sanctity of truth-telling, and nothing other than that. And, rather than anyone trying to plead with him to kill an unfavourable story that could be harmful to certain interests, it is usually better for such person to expend his or her energies on making a clearer presentation of the other side of the story involved to Yusuf Alli to enhance its balancing, than seeking to persuade him to renounce a story or distort the truth.

Beyond the often cat-and-mouse game between a PR professional and a journalist, our relationship is mutually built on trust, sincerity and openness. Mallam Yusuf can be very considerate in his reporting, to save a bad situation. In fact, he has saved many lives from ridicule, embarrassment, distress and even poverty, through philanthropic endeavours.

When I was forcefully retired from the public service in 2013, Yusuf Alli as an influential media personality, introduced me to highly placed individuals, including the current presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is now a former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, among numerous others.

Knowing that Mallam Yusuf Alli is one who could take risks including riding Okada motorcycles during heavy traffic, undertaking inspections at odd hours and even spending his last kobo on investigative and exclusive reports, I have taken advantage of this awareness to the fullest on a number of occasions. An instance of this occurred when I was in Las Vegas, USA in 2015, and became informed that back home security personnel had surrounded Sambo Dasukis Abuja residence in an attempt to re-arrest him, as against court orders. This was at a time when fake news and hate speeches were deliberately being sponsored and churned out to incite citizens against top officials of the previous administration, in some of the darkest days of media trials in Nigeria.

I quickly called Mallam Yusuf on phone and urged him to reach Dasuki, as he could get some immediate exclusives (stories) if he did.

“Are you sure?”, he asked. To which I quickly replied: “Yes… But you have to meet with him as soon as possible at home not on phone, please!.”

Not surprisingly, Mallam Yusuf Alli managed to penetrate security corridors through the strategic disguise of a tested news spymaster. In the process, he ferreted out details of military procurements, dates of deliveries, and the acknowledgements by the end users. His subsequent reports blew open many of the toxic allegations that had been made against the previous administration of which Dasuki was a prominent figure as the national security adviser (NSA).

Rather than me thanking him for the unbiased reports he did that yanked the veil off the unfortunate media accusations, Alli was the one thanking me for providing him with the opportunity for practicing his craft and delivering on such critical exclusive reports with fresh facts on security expenditures.

Despite being an Editor, the quintessential Yusuf Alli is still at the frontiers of breaking and reporting news, competing with reporters for the bylines. He would rather be on the field sweating out the daily grind of journalism than serving as a desk officer with a big title and in a comfortable office.

As a board member/director of Image Merchants Promotion Limited, the publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, Yusuf Alli is one of the brains behind the mentorship programme of the organisation for Mass Communication students, budding writers and young journalists. He regularly participates as a resource person and provides logistics for the success of capacity-building programmes.

He is also actively involved in charity activities as he belongs to many organisations including Ansarudeen (the Helper) Society of Nigeria and is a board member of NASFAT Zakat/Sadaqat Foundation in the Federal Capital Territory. Just recently, he emerged the 11th President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama District.

During his investiture as the Rotary Club President, many dignitaries commended Yusuf Alli for his various efforts and endeavours. In extolling his numerous qualities, the former governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima said the quintessential journalists life is a study in dedicated professionalism, service, and a deep sense of duty.

Shettima said: Today, Yusuf Alli has been recognised as a leading authority in investigative journalism in our country. His colleagues, from far and near, recognise the incredible hard work he puts into every story he pursues and the excellent quality of his outputs in the professional field. If all that Rotarian Yusuf Alli has done in life is the exemplary service that he has given to journalism in our country, we would be forgiven to conclude that he has done enough for a lifetime.

I am aware that he has politely rejected many offers of juicy public affairs roles in a number of establishments. Instead of being on the drivers seat, Alli usually says: I have never aspired to lead. All I wanted was to serve in my little way. I come from a family with a deep passion for service and giving. I also married from a family which loves to share and give.

Mallam Yusuf Alli gives without expecting anything in return and lends his professional practice to the promotion of truth, pursuit of fairness, building of goodwill, enhancement of better friendships and enabling acts that are beneficial to humanity. His brand of journalism, over the years, respects our diversity, protects the national interest and upholds equity and justice.

Married to Hajiya Muinat Abiola Yusuf on November 27, 1997, their marriage is blessed with four children, including a set of twins.

To an epitome of humility and simplicity, this is to wish Mallam Yusuf Alli Happy 60th Birthday and 25th Wedding Anniversary

Yushau A. Shuaib
Author An Encounter with the Spymaster
www.YAShuaib.com
yashuaib@yahoo.com

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The battle of wits between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) may soon come to an end, with the recent compromise that seems to be close at hand.

Even though the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris is being ferociously attacked by the leadership of ASUU over his insistence on the full implementation of the IPPIS across the board, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), where IPPIS is domiciled, is also responsible for all receipts into and payments from the Federation and Consolidated Accounts.

The IPPIS was introduced in 2007 to provide accurate and reliable data on personnel in the public service, for the purpose of budgeting for recurrent expenditures and other challenges. The scheme is a form of identity system management aimed at providing a centralised database to support personal planning and decision-making, including the automated storage of personnel records to aid staff enrolment and monitoring, as well as to prevent wastage and leakages on the basis of factual personnel records and information.

Some of the features of the IPPIS are the facts that it captures facial images and fingerprints of government employees and stores them in a digitalised data-based library, which can be accessed with authorisation from anywhere.

President Muhammadu Buhari has always been passionate about IPPIS, so much that in his 2020 budget speech, he directed that all Federal Government workers must be enlisted in the scheme.

During a presentation of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) in September 2019, the Finance Minister, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, announced the deadline of October of the same year for all federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government to enroll their staff on the IPPIS platform. She insisted that based on a presidential directive, staff members who were not captured on the automated payroll system would not be paid their salaries.

At a meeting with vice-chancellors, registrars and bursars of federal universities at the National Universities Commission Auditorium in Abuja in June 2019, the AGF, Ahmed Idris, told these senior university officials that the centralised payroll would be prepared by individual universities but coordinated through the IPPIS, while the total management of the human resources involved also rests squarely with the universities.

At subsequent meetings with the leadership of university-based unions, including ASUU, NASU, SSANU and NAAT in the same venue, Idris assured that the IPPIS platform would accommodate all financial peculiarities pertaining to university staff, including those involving sabbaticals, visitations, honoraria and other earned allowances. He added that deductions for the National Housing Fund (NHF), National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Check-off and other dues from staff would be remitted to the appropriate accounts when due.

While appealing to them, AGF said the university community, being the bedrock of knowledge production and the centre of reforms that has always striven for probity, transparency and accountability, towards good governance, would contribute tremendously in bringing to bear all such unique qualities in the implementation of IPPIS.

In his remarks during the meetings, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the host, Professor Abubakar Rasheed said the IPPIS scheme would engender transparency, accountability and probity in government expenditure, as well as centralise the payroll systems that would address challenges affecting the country’s public universities.

The ASUU President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, at one of the meetings, expressed the fear that if implemented, IPPIS could erode university autonomy and the powers of University Councils.

Possibly what provoked the anger of lecturers with the AGF was when he allegedly issued a letter dated December 2, 2019, advising vice-chancellors that universities which were not yet enrolled on the IPPIS should do so promptly or face appropriate sanctions.

Many ASUU members appeared very furious with the threat. In a reaction, Professor Deji Omole, the ASUU chairman at the University of Ibadan, said it was unfortunate that vice-chancellors had now become errand boys who were being threatened by “an account clerk”.

Meanwhile, in rejecting IPPIS, Professor Ogunyemi considered it wrong for universities to adopt a payment platform that was not designed for the peculiarities of their system. According to him, the platform does not recognise the negotiated agreements that had been reached on allowances that were not academic in nature, and those relating to research journals, among others.

Some lecturers also pointed out that IPPIS is a one-line salary scale, in which taxes are even being deducted from allowances. As an alternative to IPPIS, ASUU produced and recommended the adoption of the University Transparency Account System (UTAS), regarded as a robust software solution that would be sensitive to the uniqueness of the university system in addressing personnel information and payment system, among other things.

It is gathered that the UTAS platform has been sent to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for integrity tests to verify its efficacy and ascertain that the final product would pass the necessary technical requirements.

During recent closed-door meetings, the AGF appealed to ASUU executives to agree to receive their salaries through the IPPIS platform, pending when the UTAS will be ready for use after the integrity tests on it have been concluded. The Union is said to have rejected these pleas by arguing that the functionality of the IPPIS was not demonstrated to them before government started using it for workers, while equally wondering why the demands for the adoption of the UTAS became the basis for the stoppage of their salaries.

It is heart-warming that after extensive negotiations and foot-dragging, the Federal Government has finally accepted the demand of ASUU that its members be exempted from the IPPIS.

Even though 697 ministries, departments and agencies of government (MDAs) and 1,139,000 staff, including those of the Nigerian Police, para-military and military establishment have been enrolled on the IPPIS as at June, the Labour Minister, Senator Chris Ngige informed the public last week, that the government has also agreed to ASUU’s demand to pay the salary arrears of its members, from February to June, through GIFMIS, the old payment platform, until UTAS is ready for use. The government equally has agreed to lift the ‘no work, no pay’ policy, which necessitated the withholding of the salaries of striking lecturers in the first place.

While I pray and hope that the impasse between the Federal Government and ASUU would be resolved as soon as possible, no matter the eventual winner in this crisis, Nigerian youths, especially the students in public universities are the big losers, wasting eight-month at home, rather than being productively engaged in their citadels of learning.

I wish the accomplishments of the AGF in the last five years will not be rubbished or trivialised by certain unresolved issues. Even though the Federal Government extended his tenure for another four years in June 2019, I believe that it is however judicious to exit a scene when the ovation is loudest, especially as the AGF clocked the age of 60 on November 25, 2020.

The record of achievements and special interventions of Ahmed Idris, a chartered accountant and certified fraud examiner, on worthy causes, are quite numerous. Under his leadership, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) successful implemented a number of far-reaching reforms in public finance management (PFM), including the introduction of the IPPIS and the treasury single account (TSA); the adoption of the International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS), the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) and the Assets Tracking Management Project (ATMP); alongside the transformation of the Federal Treasury Academy, among others.

I will appeal to the Federal Government and ASUU to place the interests of the nation and those of young Nigerian students, who have experienced a very disturbing disruption of their education so far, above all other considerations, as they move forward in ending the ongoing impasse. May the best decisions for the ultimate good of the public prevail.

Yushau A. Shuaib,
www.YAShuaib.com
yashuaib@yahoo.com

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