Category: Features

ANALYSIS: ‘Japa’: The good, bad and ugly

By Abiodun Azi,

News Agency of Nigeria

Soji was full of expectations as he departed Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, in search of greener pastures abroad.

The graduate of accounting headed for the U.S. after months of complaints of poor employment opportunities and general hardship in Nigeria.

His parents had to sell some property to raise money for his travel with the hope that, soon, Soji would begin to send home dollars to take care of the family’s many needs.

Although Soji got to U.S. successfully, things did not turn out the way he expected.

He could not find a white collar job and could not secure a good accommodation.

He had do three menial jobs daily in a bid to meet up with his personal needs and his family needs in Nigeria; yet, he could not meet up with expectations.

Soji’s story is among the tales of regrets of many Nigerians who emigrated in an effort to have a better life but had their expectations crashed.

Analysts express concern that Nigerians have been relocating in large numbers in recent years.

They say that the relocation in recent years has become worrisome as many of the travellers have no intention of returning home, at least, soon, prompting many Nigerians to tag it ‘Japa’

Japa is a slang to describe the act of escaping, fleeing, or disappearing quickly from a situation, often in a hasty and urgent manner.

Analysts also note that many of the travellers are stranded financially and emotionally in their countries of residence, adding that Japa can lead to loss of cultural identity of the travellers and their children.

According to the General Overseer of Calvary Kingdom Church, Okokomaiko, Lagos State, Archbishop Joseph Ojo, there is nothing wrong in someone going elsewhere to seek greener pastures.

He recalls that in the 1960s, Nigerians travelled abroad to study, work and come back.

“Then, it was not Japa, but of late, it has become travel without the intention to come back.

“Japa trend can tamper with the identity of Nigerians born abroad for they would not be attuned to the culture and ways of Africans.

“The way out is good governance. Government or should be proactive in creating jobs, stabilising foreign exchange rate and pursuing vigorously the renewed hope agenda.

“It should look for ways of re-working the economy by way of redistribution. Good leaders, secular or spiritual, will achieve results by courageously pursuing desired goals,” he says.

The General Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Mr Lumumba Okugbawa, also argues that relocating abroad for greener pastures is not new.

“In the past, people travelled abroad to seek better opportunities not found in their countries of origin.

‘’It is not new for people to travel abroad for business, work or personal engagements.

‘However, they are leaving now because of the challenges they face, such as insecurity and lack of opportunities‘’ he says.

Okugbawa strongly believes that the way forward is for the leadership to create the enabling environment for people to remain in the country.

‘’There is need for re-orientation about migration, and the government should fix the country’s infrastructure to encourage small scale businesses to thrive,” the unionist urges.

For the Secretary-General of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Mr Aladetan Abiodun, Japa syndrome presented a complex landscape of opportunities and challenges.

According to Abiodun, while it opens doors to prospects abroad, it also necessitates a proactive approach to prevent loss of cultural identity.

‘’By promoting cultural awareness, leveraging technology, and encouraging educational initiatives, emigrants and their children can maintain a strong connection to Nigeria.

‘’Balancing the benefits of new environments with the preservation of Nigerian heritage is essential for fostering a well-rounded and culturally-rich diaspora community, ‘’ Abiodun argues.

Mrs Omolola Akindipe, a retired civil servant, is worried that Japa syndrome will make more parents to spend their old age in loneliness and regret that they may have lost their children and grandchildren to greener pastures abroad.

She says some relocated youths get soaked in western lifestyle, challenges or workloads that they have little or no time for their parents in Nigeria.

She adds that many do not visit their parents or bring them over to spend their old age with them.

” Either their wives, husbands, children, financial challenges, lifestyles or immigration rules will make it impossible for these children to bring their parents over.

“They cannot also spend a reasonable time with their parents here in Nigeria ( if they are able to visit) for the same reasons.

” Sadly, many have lost their roots. Those who still keep in touch will still have their children lose their roots,” she says.

Evangelist Victoria Bello of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, New Song Parish, Ikotun, Idimu Road, Lagos State, is of the view that prospective emigrants and their families should count the cost.

“One’s labour to make one’s children comfortable by sending them abroad becomes futile if they lose their roots,” she says.

Mr Emmanuel Abegunde, also a retired civil servant, acknowledges that Nigeria is going through economic challenges and the situation is making many youths, especially, to seek greener pastures abroad.

He, however, advises that any decision about emigration must be well-informed and cost/benefit analysis done.

Abegunde believes that hardworking people still record meaning progress in Nigeria. “No matter what, foreign land cannot be home.”

Mr Yusuf Adeyemi, Chairman, Youths Parliament, Jakande Estate, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos State, claims that some of those affected by the Japa syndrome are ‘smiling through pain’ and won’t opt for it if given another opportunity to decide.

He is worried that some spouses relocate to different countries with the hope to unite overtime but never have the opportunity.

He also notes that some men travel abroad with the hope of bringing their wives and children later, but never did.

Adeyemi warns that such situations could break marriages fast.

Mr Nnamdi Chukwu, a Nigerian who resides abroad, says many Nigerians who relocated abroad lack the confidence to share their experiences.

He says some of the experiences are sad and unexpected.

Chukwu appeals to Nigerians to stop having much expectations from their relatives abroad.

According to him, such expectations put much pressure on them and make some of them go into crime or over work themselves in an effort to meet up with the expectations.

Chukwu says it is about hard work everywhere, advising the youth to think well before going abroad to live.

He emphasises that there is hardship everywhere, expressing worry that some Nigerians abroad are not able to visit home for years due to economic hardship they face in their countries of residence.

The Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Lagos State Chapter, Mrs Funmi Sessi, does not see anything wrong with Japa.

According to Sessi, the trend rather has some benefits to the countries of origin of the migrants.

She argues that Nigerians who travelled abroad give back to the country meaningfully.

Sessi is also convinced that they still connect with their cultural roots.

‘’Most Nigerians value family life; once people travel, they have extended family members they relate with back home.

“They still have connections to their roots; definitely they will not forget. Also, most Nigerians in diaspora arrange social gatherings and activities that keep their roots intact.

‘’One way to ensure that Nigerians keep their roots is for them to educate and train their children in their culture; some Nigerians do that when they travel,” she argues.

Sessi acknowledges that it is not always rosy when people are abroad.

“With this in mind, people who travel should know that when the chips are down, their countries of origin are where they can fall back to, ‘’ she urges.

Analyst appeal to all the three tiers of government to do more to provide security and jobs and encourage entrepreneurship to retain more youths and professionals in Nigeria.

They warn that emigration without being certain of economic survival will fuel frustration and identity crisis, among other consequences. (NANFeatures) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

** If used, please credit the writer and the agency **

An Analysis by Salif Atojoko, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The terminology ‘Green industrial economy’ does not resonate with many Nigerians, particularly because the country presently, at best, is a green industrial upstart.

The country is confronted with a myriad of climate-related challenges, stemming from the encroachment of rising sea levels on coastal regions to devastating floods impacting agriculture and displacing communities, carbon emissions and pollution, among others.

President Bola Tinubu acknowledges persistent hurdles due to conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, affecting energy and food security, impeding cooperation from wealthier nations to support sustainability efforts in less developed economies.

The Federal Government , therefore, seeks strategic partnerships and increased investments, and actively pursues private capital and support from international initiatives including the Climate Finance Leadership Initiative and global infrastructure programmes.

The question agitating the minds of many discerning individuals now is can the Federal Government achieve growth in employment and income, driven by public and private investment into such economic activities, infrastructure and assets that allow reduced carbon emissions and pollution, enhanced energy and resource efficiency, and prevention of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services?.

The good news is that experts believe that this is achievable and Nigeria can, indeed, become a green industrial powerhouse in the foreseeable future.

But for that to happen, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, Professor in Global Governance and Public Policy, University of Bristol, says Nigeria will  have to scale up climate finance.

He says the Federal Government must as a matter of necessity establish a clear policy framework or strengthen the existing one.

Okereke says Nigeria can also create incentive for renewable energy, efficient use of green infrastructure development and the strengthening of the mechanism of governance to ensure transparency, accountability and the efficient use of climate finance.

According to him, there is also the need to develop financial instruments tailored to local needs such as green bonds that can attract domestic and foreign investors.

Okereke, who is also an expert in Climate Justice, Green Growth, Climate Policy and Low Carbon Development in Africa, said that the government could leverage public funds to attract private investment.

“One of the ways to do this is to de-risk an investment so that private sector investors can put their money there with a guarantee that if anything happens, government will come to their aid,” he said.

The don says the government can also identify and prioritise sectors that have the highest potential for climate impact and economic development.

He advises the government to strengthen partnerships by fostering strong collaboration between government and international donors and NGOs.

The don notes that if the country is to get it right in attracting climate finance, it has to put its house in order.

“The government should make sure that the right people are appointed; those who know what they are doing. They should not be playing politics in this sector.

“The international partners know when we are serious and when we are not serious,” Okereke adds.

Also, Ms Helen Brume, Director for Project Finance and Assets Based Finance at Afreximbank, says that to attract climate finance to the country, the government must put in place appropriate regulatory framework that allows investors to recoup their investments in a sustainable way.

Brume says political stability and appropriate infrastructure are required to attract investors into the climate finance ecosystem.

For the Executive Director of Climate Action Africa, Ms Grace Mbah, the ability to prepare bankable projects is needed to attract climate finance.

According to her, Nigeria has been trying to access the Green Climate Funds (GCF) for a couple of years, adding that some of the procedures are strict because they want their funds to really meet their target.

To become a green industrial powerhouse, Mr Taiwo Adewole, an Environmental Consultant, agrees that the Federation Government must encourage and scale up private sector investment for climate and nature.

He says there is a need to shift capital investment in linear economy and encourage circular economy through private sector mobilisation.

“Another step is collaboration and partnership with international institutions.                       

“The new mechanisms expected to be put in place to achieve transparency and innovative application of available resources are the steps the government is taking already.

“This is by setting up the Presidential Committee on Climate Change and various appointments related to climate finance.

“If the committee is given a free hand to operate, it would attract investment capital from the public or private, national or international, bilateral or multilateral,” he said.

He adds that the Climate Finance Committee should not just be on paper but practical and attract higher rating for the country.

As part of the new mechanism to fast track the Federal Government’s climate initiatives, President Bola Tinubu appointed Chief Ajuri Ngelale, as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action (SPEC), and followed it up with the establishment of the Presidential Committee on Climate Change.

Ngelale, who has hit the ground running, believes that through cooperation between Nigeria and international partners, Nigeria can become a green industrial powerhouse over the next ten years.

Ngelale had a productive meeting with the U.S. Head of Delegation to the United Nations Climate Conference and Principal Deputy Special Envoy for Climate, Ms. Sue Biniaz, in Bonn, Germany, in June.

“We shared views concerning tangible next steps to be taken toward leveraging large-scale climate financing instruments to drive Nigeria’s green industrial agenda in the years ahead.

“We have much work to do in the form of putting in place new mechanisms to achieve a truly transparent and innovative application of available resources to meet our objective of attracting new and de-risked investment capital from around the world.

“I am confident that we have the team to deliver on this for the country. One step at a time,” Ngelale said.

He had said the U.S. Principal Deputy Special Envoy for Climate was joined in the meeting by Mr Trigg Talley, who serves as the Managing Director for Negotiations and Director for the U.S. State Department’s Office of Global Change.

Indeed, the Federal Government is not taking the climate action lightly. During the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in Dubai, President Tinubu reiterated the far-reaching implications of climate change on the West Africa’s most pressing issues.

The President has also demonstrated his commitment to reinvigorating a cleaner and more resilient nation.

Nigeria’s proactive stance toward a greener global landscape was underscored by the launch of the Carbon Market Initiative, a testament to its dedication to sustainability.

The country’s participation in the African Carbon Market Initiative further reinforces its commitment towards environmental responsibility, showcasing a readiness to engage in global climate solutions.

President Tinubu emphasises the imperative for partnerships to foster a green economy in Africa.

Leveraging resources like the EU’s Global Gateway programme and the US Build Back Better World initiative is critical for sustainable development and global market access.

Advocating for fairness and cooperation, President Tinubu urges developed nations to honour their commitments, especially contributing to the Loss and Damage Fund and the 100 billion dollars annual climate financing pledge.

With appropriate partnerships, collaboration, investments, and initiatives already in place, Nigeria is certainly on its way to becoming a notable green industrial nation. (NANFeatures)

***If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Eliminating child labour in Nigeria: Difficult but possible task

By Abiemwense Moru, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

In Nigeria, many children are involved in different forms of child labour, such as domestic staff, street hawking, and sexual exploitation among others, which stopped them from achieving their potentials.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says that 24,673,485 children, accounting for 39.2 per cent of all children aged five to 17 years old in Nigeria are in child labour.

The NBS said this in its Nigeria Child Labour and Forced Labour Survey Report for 2022, which was released in Abuja.

The Bureau said child labour referred to the work for which children are either too young or that may be physically or psychologically injurious to their health and wellbeing.

The report said 31,756,302 children, accounting for 50.5 per cent of all children aged five to 17 years old in Nigeria were engaged in economic activities.

It said 14,390,353 children accounting for 22.9 per cent of overall children were involved in hazardous work.

The NBS said the North-West zone had the highest number of children in child labour with 6,407,102 while those involved in hazardous work are 3,266,728 in number.

“However, in terms of the percentage of children in child labour and hazardous work, the South-East region has the highest prevalence of children involved in child labour at 49.9 per cent’’, the agency said.

The report showed that in the 5-14 age bracket, 77.6 per cent of children attended school, 46.5 per cent were working and 11.2 per cent were exclusively working.

“Children in urban areas are substantially less likely to be working only and more likely to attend school only than their rural counterparts. There are few differences between boys and girls”, it said.

It said in the 15-17 age groups, more than two-thirds of children were working and 21.9 per cent were exclusively working.

“Children living in rural areas are 12 percentage points more likely to be working and 17 percentage points less likely to attend school than children living in urban areas”, NBS said.

The report said children from households with more educated household heads were less likely to be in child labour.

It showed that 43.2 per cent of children from households where the head had reached primary or lower education were in child labour.

“Whereas only 28.4 per cent of children from households where the heads have a tertiary education are in child labour”, it said.

The report said children from female-headed households were more likely to be in child labour than children living in male-headed households.

“About 42.5 per cent of children from female-headed households are in child labour compared to 38.7 per cent of children from male-headed households,” the NBS said.

On the state with highest incidence of child labour nationwide, Cross River, however, dismissed as untrue a survey report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that it had the highest incidence of child labour in the country.

The NBS had stated in the report that of the 24.6 million children in child labour in Nigeria, Cross River recorded the highest incidence of 67.4 per cent, followed by Yobe with 62.6 per cent.

In the survey entitled: “Nigeria Child Labour Survey 2022’’, the NBS rated Lagos State has having the lowest incidence of 8.9 per cent.

The NBS described child labour as any work that robbed children less than 18 years of age of their childhood, potential, and dignity or had deleterious impact on their physical and mental development.

It stated that its survey showed that children between the ages of five years and 17 years were engaged in economic activities that amounted to child labour in Nigeria.

But not every stakeholder believes in the NBS report.

Dismissing the report, Cross River Commissioner for Information, Mr Erasmus Ekpang, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar that the figures released did not represent the true position in Cross River.

He said the figure for Cross River was not tenable since government had put measures in place since assumption of office in May 2023 to discourage child labour and to uplift vulnerable segments of the population.

He explained that the measures put in place centred on health, education, agriculture and other empowerment initiatives.

Ekpang said that government had also put in place programmes that empowered women economically and discouraged them from sending their children and wards out as labourers.

“Women are empowered to take care of themselves and their families. Youths are also not left out of these policies and programmes.

“The initiatives are mostly in the areas of agriculture and small-scale enterprises.

“We also initiated programmes like school feeding to retain every child in school,’’ he said.

Ekpang advised the NBS to revisit its 2022 figures and make amends.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of International Labour Affairs says in 2022, that Nigeria made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour.

It said five additional governors signed the Child Rights Act, which provides free and compulsory education for children and prohibits the use of children in illicit activities and by non-state armed groups.

It added that the government also hired over 180 labour inspectors and increased inspections from 10,526 in 2021 to 17,026 in 2022.

‘’In addition, the government established 11 community child labor monitoring committees, which oversee child labor projects and outreach efforts at the local level.

‘’Finally, the government adopted a new national action plan on human trafficking and conducted a national child labor survey in order to better inform their child labor policies’’, it said.

It says however, that children in Nigeria are still vulnerable to the worst forms of child labour, including in commercial sexual exploitation and use in armed conflict, as well as quarrying granite and artisanal mining.

For Sarah Ige, a mother of three and a trader in Dawaki, FCT, Abuja, deprivation and lack of access to education could force parents to engage their children a child labour.

Sarah said like some other children at 12 years she was sent out of her home as a maid to a family because her parent could not afford her education.

She said in the process of being a maid, she was assaulted and deprived of so many things as a child.

“I had wanted to go to school but could not achieve that dream because my parents were poor.

“For my children, I don’t want them to go through what I passed through; I will do my best to make sure they are educated, so that they can move higher in life’’, she said.

Similarly, Musa Afeez, a painter at Wuru in FCT, Abuja, said he was always sent on street hawking by his parents while his mates were at school.

Afeez, who said the act of street hawking disturbed him mentally and physically, urged governments to make concerted efforts to stop the practice to make for a brighter future for the country.

To further address the challenge, there is the need for the Federal Government and its development partners to strengthen their cooperation in eliminating child labour in agriculture and ensure work environment devoid of exploitation.

Dr Vanessa Phala, ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Liaison Office for ECOWAS highlights the urgent need for more efforts in that regard.

“Nearly 23 per cent of all children are estimated to be in child labour. Nigeria has its fair share of this figure.

“The agriculture sector accounts for 70 per cent of children in child labour (112 million) followed by 20 per cent in services (31.4 million) and 10 per cent in industry (16.5 million).

“Nearly 28 per cent of children aged 5 to 11 years and 35 per cent of children aged 12 to 14 years in child labour are out of school.

“The prevalence of child labour in rural areas (14 per cent) is close to three times higher than in urban areas (5 per cent),” she said this at a workshop on the Action against Child Labour in Agriculture in West Africa (ACLAWA) project in Abuja.

She explained that the ACLAWA project, funded by US Department of Labour, aim at supporting ECOWAS commission implement the regional plan for the elimination of child labour.

“ACLAWA intends to address causes of child labour through the provision of social benefits.

“It also intends to support the social protection scheme by providing benefits and decent work opportunities to vulnerable households with children in or at high risk of child labour.

“We believe that this strategy is crucial for sustaining the gains made from other child labour elimination interventions,” she said.

The challenge is already receiving attention at the highest policy making level in Nigeria.

“We are aware that child labour remains a significant challenge in Nigeria.

“It does not only deprive children of their childhood, education, health and future prospects but also undermines the country’s economic development said Mrs Nkiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment.

The civil society says it is ready to escalate cooperation with the government in order to address the challenge posed by child labour in the country.

According to Dr Loretta Ogboro-Okor, Founder Loretta Health Initiative (LHI), though it is a difficult task to eliminate child labour in Nigeria it can be accomplished through joint efforts.

According her, child labour has cost innocent lives, disruption of childhood, and stolen future from many children globally.

“Let us work together to create a world where children can grow up in peace, dignity, and hope for a brighter tomorrow’’, she said. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

African Child: Now that his education is a priority

By Moses Solanke, News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) The world started celebrating the International Day of the African Child every June 16 from 1991, as initiated by the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU).

The day was to recognise students who protested peacefully in 1976 to press for improved education in Soweto, South Africa; they also cried to be taught in their native language, Afrikaans.

Unfortunately, hundreds of these youngsters were gunned down by trigger-fingered policemen. A 13-year-old, Hector Pieterson, was prominent among the dead.

This day, like in history, African governments and stakeholders meet to discuss the rights of the African child, emphasising his education.

The intention was to have a day when the African child would wake up to enjoy qualitative, free and compulsory education. It is now 48 years since the death of the students occurred.

The students didn’t step out for selfish reasons; they only begged to be duly educated. They marched in the streets because they wanted a kind of education that could give meaning to their dream.

All the young boys and girls wanted was for their fathers and mothers, especially those in leadership positions, to give them the same opportunity, if not better ones, to be tomorrow’s worthy leaders.

They wailed, begged and cried to be educated but were shot dead for it.

It’s been 48 years of wailing for the African child. Unfortunately, he is still crying for the same reasons, wondering if 48 years could be considered too short to have his request considered and implemented.

The African child is amazed that his leaders used the ladder of education to climb up only to fold it up at their top positions, denying them from ever reaching their heights.

He has attended workshops held regularly to discuss his future, yet the future still appears bleak.

He has also heard about the large sum of money allocated to accomplish his educational dream but the reality still stands against his dream.

Government officials had visited him many times in his dilapidated classroom, but they left him sitting on the floor, at best on a three-legged chair, with his books on his lap, for lack of a table.

Talk of a child with a future pictured with mere words and an African child comes into view. To say he is disappointed is to paint his wailing heart in bright colours.

With his few years on earth, he concludes that those meant to pave the way to realise his burning aspiration are ‘dream freezers’!

Without mincing words, the African child is in a dilemma!

With his small voice and tiny stature, he looks up to his big-framed leaders for love, acceptance and opportunities but the responses have been slow.

He is a child who wants to stay healthy, needing his elders’ shoulders to lean upon for support, but none yielded his.
We, however, welcome a ray of hope as the AU declares that the theme of the 2024 Day of the African Child as: “Education for All Children in Africa: The Time is Now!”

Yes, educating the continent’s children has to be done now, and not later, especially having waited for 48 years.

It has to be now because they have waited long for this commitment to be backed with necessary and adequate actions.

Now is also the time to consider and activate all that makes education what it should be. Now is the time to provide an environment that supports wholesome learning and teaching.

What better time is there to reveal that education is beyond academics or academic grades?

It has to be now because he needs to solve the puzzle of how the biblical Moses, during his time, got the best education in Egypt, an African country, while he still struggles to be educated many years later.

Are things getting better?

African nations are known to have provided sound education long before now; educating our children had always come easy to us until when, if I may ask?

If African leaders are saying now is the time to give their children the opportunity to be educated, we say that the children have waited long enough for this to happen.

Let us change the narrative: the African child is not an object of pity but a rare treasure.

You can’t make him a treasure that he is already, but you can create an environment to refine the treasure that he is.

Education identifies and refines the treasure every child is made up, setting the child up for global relevance.

Can we, from the African continent, build and lend our children to redefine the world?

The children have not been asking for the impossible. They have never asked for the moon, sun or stars. They have only been asking for a pathway of education leading to a glorious future.

They want financial budgets increased and deployed for their educational interests. They are asking to be recognised and respected as the future that they are.
To get this done for them therefore, all stakeholders must agree that the time to educate them all cannot be tomorrow; it must be now.

They have waited long enough for this to happen!

God bless the African Child. (NANFeatures)

**If used, please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Harmonising Nigeria’s public service retirement age discrepancies

President Bola Tinubu 

By Mark Longyen, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Mr David Adebayo and Ms. Ngozi Chinedu were two hardworking Nigerians with divergent career paths.

Adebayo, a senior administrative officer in the public sector, dedicated his life to the civil service.

By the age of 60 which coincided with his 35 years in service he retired, according to government regulations.

In contrast, Chinedu, a senior marketing executive at a multinational corporation, continued working until the age of 65, benefiting from the stability and perks of her private sector job.

Upon retirement, Adebayo encountered several challenges. His pension, often delayed and not adjusted to inflation, was insufficient for a comfortable post-retirement life.

Losing his employer-sponsored health insurance forced him to rely on the National Health Insurance Scheme, which barely covered his basic healthcare needs.

Not having enough leisure time during his service years, post-retirement financial strain and inadequate healthcare support took a toll on his well-being.

Chinedu’s experience was however markedly different. Working until 65 allowed her to amass a larger pension fund, ensuring financial security on her retirement.

Her private health insurance continued into her retirement years, providing comprehensive coverage.

The extended work period also meant that she enjoyed a better work-life balance and job satisfaction, marked by professional growth and substantial earnings.

In retirement, Adebayo and Chinedu’s lives further diverged.

Adebayo, without a solid post-retirement plan, struggled with social isolation and mental health issues.

Chinedu maintained her professional network and engaged in community activities, finding a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

This narrative reflects the impact of retirement age discrepancies in Nigeria.

It underscores the relentless call by stakeholders on the federal government to accede to the demand for the review and harmonization of the retirement age of all public servants across-the-board.

Many public analysts believe that harmonising Nigeria’s retirement age discrepancies by addressing the variations in retirement ages across all sectors in the country, is long overdue.

According to them, inconsistent policies that culminate in retirement age disparities in the workforce is discriminatory, counter-productive, and a morale killer.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has, for instance, persistently demanded that the retirement age and length of service in the entire public service be reviewed upward to 65 years of age and 40 years of service, respectively.

Reinforcing this standpoint, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, during the 2023 and 2024 May Day celebrations, reiterated that the organised labour was resolutely committed to its demand for the upward review and harmonization of public servants’ retirement age.

He said that increasing the years of service should be done uniformly across all sectors, instead of being selectively done in favor of  just a few sectors of the public service in the country.

“Only a few establishments, including the core civil service, are now left out.

“We are, therefore, demanding that the age of retirement and length of service in the entire public service, including the core civil service, be reviewed upward to 65 years of age and 40 years of service,” Ajaero said.

Concurring with Ajaero, the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), an NGO that is committed to strengthening democratic governance in Nigeria, also called for the immediate upward review of the retirement age of civil servants.

PLAC argued that this would facilitate an efficient pension administration process for the welfare of core civil servants, be they judicial officers like retired judges or public servants in any sector.

It was against this backdrop that former President Muhammadu Buhari on May 12, 2021, approved the upward review of the retirement age of health sector workers from 60 to 65, and catapulted that of consultants from 65 to 70.

The former President also signed a Law in 2022 increasing the retirement age for primary school teachers to 65, with no fewer than 15 state governments currently implementing it already.

On June 8, 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed a Constitution Alteration Act to amend Section 291 of the Constitution, to ensure uniformity in the retirement age and pension rights of judicial officers of superior courts.

This Act, the Fifth Alteration (No.37) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, eliminates disparity in the retirement age of judicial officers by harmonising it at 70 years.

It also reduces the period of service required to determine a judicial officer’s pension from fifteen to ten years.

Also, the Nigerian Senate recently passed a Bill to increase the retirement age for civil servants working in the National Assembly to 65 years or 40 years of service.

The Bill, which was initiated by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), has set tongues wagging across socio-political and ethnic divides.

PASAN has argued that increasing the retirement age would help fill the vacuum caused by retiring experienced officers and better utilize their experience while building the capacity of younger employees.

According to Sunday Sabiyi, PASAN chairman, the Bill is expected to be signed into law by President Bola Tinubu soon, and when signed, national and state assembly workers will retire at the age of 65 years and 40 years of service, respectively.

Similarly, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has been upbeat in its call for an upward review of the retirement age for employees in the core civil service.

Joshua Apebo, ASCSN Secretary-General, while reiterating the association’s position, urged the trade union movement to ensure uniformity in retirement age in the public service.

Apebo argued that since judicial officers, university lecturers, health workers, and primary school teachers now enjoy the new retirement age hike, and with that of the legislature in view, it was only fair that it also benefitted other core civil servants.

Dr Gboyega Daniel, a public affairs analyst, picked holes in the discrepancies in retirement age in Nigeria, and called for immediate policy reforms to harmonise the benchmarks.

Daniel said that these discrepancies create perceptions of inequality, favoritism, and strain the pension system, which affects service morale and productivity, culminating in imbalances and potential sustainability issues.

According to him, varied retirement ages complicate workforce planning and disrupt the systematic transfer of knowledge and experiences.

“The civil service mandates retirement at 60 years or after 35 years of service, while the academia sees professors and other academic staff retiring at 70 years.

“Judges and justices in the judiciary retire at ages ranging from 65 to 70, depending on their positions.

“Ditto for teachers, who have since had their retirement age jacked up by the Buhari administration,” he said.

He, therefore, suggested immediate legislative actions to amend existing laws and implement policy reforms that would establish unified retirement age across all sectors.

Dr Tunde Balogun, a UK-based Nigerian, said the current debate about reviewing the retirement age and length of service was not limited to Nigeria.

“Recently, the UK Government said it was considering raising the retirement age of public servants from the current 60 years to 68 years.

“At the moment, retirement at age 65 years is common in many EU member states. Many countries have already decided to raise the retirement age to 67 years,” he said.

Experts say reviewing the core civil servants’ retirement age to 65 years and 40 years of service as well as harmonising the discrepancies across the board, is a policy that is long overdue.

Although some critics argue that the policy would be inimical to the career progression of their younger colleagues and affect fresh employments, its proponents say the benefits far outweigh its demerits.

According to them, achieving uniformity in retirement age policy can leverage experience and expertise, enhance fairness, efficiency, and sustainability in workforce management and pension systems.

They believe government should demonstrate sincerity of purpose and apply a holistic approach to the issue. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

Why FBI Director Gray’s visit to Nigeria matters

By Kayode Adebiyi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Contrary to the narrative of John Grisham’s fictional thriller, The Racketeer, this was a real-life, long-overdue gesture of genuine friendship and partnership, a testament to the shared interest in combating trans-border crimes that pose a significant global threat.

The visit of one of the longest-serving Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) directors, Mr. Christopher Wray, to Nigeria last week signalled a new era in cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.

With the increase in the growth and sophistication of trans-border crimes and criminal networks in such crimes as cybercrimes, online fraud, trafficking in illicit drugs and money laundering and illicit transactions, government agencies across the world are working closer for solutions.

Wray’s historic visit to Nigeria, marked by his courtesy calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu, was a significant milestone. This was not only his first visit to Africa in his seven years as FBI director but also a testament to the growing importance of Nigeria in the global fight against trans-border crimes.

Equally significant was Wray’s inaugural visit to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he held a crucial meeting with the Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede.

This meeting, the first of its kind, underscored the importance of international cooperation in combating trans-border crimes and the confidence in the EFCC’s renewed anti-corruption efforts under Olukoyede’s leadership.

There are perhaps a dozen anti-corruption agencies in Africa, notable among them the EFCC, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Hawks; the Kenyan Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC); the Ghanian Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO); and the Sierra Leonean Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), among others. Wray, however, visited only two – the EFCC and the EACC.

Wray’s visit also aims to strengthen the partnership between the FBI and the EFCC. In his remark during the visit, Wray said: “We have had a relationship over the years, and this is a reflection of how stronger than ever we are looking forward to taking our partnership to higher and higher levels in tackling threats that affect the people of Nigeria and the people of the United States.”

In response, Olukoyede said in the fight against the “bad guys” and trans-border crimes, the Commission was “willing to continue and develop ideas that would be of mutual benefit to both agencies and ensure that the issue of cybercrime will take utmost priority in our scale of preference and also ensure that sextortion that has become a major challenge to us is taken very seriously.”

Wray’s visit takes on a special meaning in the context of statistics showing that apart from rising cybercrimes, illicit drugs and small arms, illicit financial flows also cost Africa around 88.6 billion dollars yearly.

Security analysts hope a deeper collaboration between the FBI and the EFCC will improve capacity building and intelligence sharing.

This genuine collaborate among the two agencies will mean that the Malcolm Bannisters of this world, the fictional character in Grisham’s book, will have a hard time in the future.(NANFeatures)
**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).