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Soyinka worries about festering corruption in Nigeria, offers solution
Soyinka worries about festering corruption in Nigeria, offers solution
Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka has expressed concerns over the level of corruption in the society, saying the cankerworm is deeply it from the top to the bottom.
Soyinka said that the drive to fight the deadly malaise formed one of the motives for establishing Pyrates Confraternity 62 years ago.
According to him, without attitudinal change and readiness of Nigerians to begin to do the right thing, winning the war against pervasive corruption will remain an impossible task.
The world renowned scholar spoke at the 26th annual Wole Soyinka Lectures organised by National Association of Seadogs otherwise known as Pyrates Confraternity to mark the 90th birthday of Soyinka.
The lecture at June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta had as its theme “The baby or the bathwater: Navigating the dark tunnels of systemic corruption to nationhood” with the former Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola as guest lecturer.
The Nobel Laurette noted that the challenge of corruption is such that run from the top to the bottom in Nigeria and that only decision of every citizen to change for good that can help halt its deadly march in the country
He said: “The particular aspect of this lecture that struck me is corruption, corruption is not just when you change money, it is a cankerworm that eats deep into the fabric of the society from the top to the bottom and corrupts our very nature, our very existence.
“And one aspect of the lecture emphasised that cure for the corruption begins from the inside. Yes, we can talk about institution, government, we can talk about exercise of power unfairly, inordinately to the disadvantage of the rest of the community and all that as part of corruption but ultimately, the solution, short term, immediate and long term must begin from the inside and this is one of the motives for establishing Pyrates Confraternity 62 years ago.”
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Soyinka cleared the misconceptions people have about Pyrates Confraternity, saying it is a registered association and not blood-thirsty secret cult.
He explained it is founded to push for justice and advance a better nation..
He lauded the members of the association for organising the event and urged them to continue to push for the ideal of social justice and good governance which is the core mandate of the association.
Soyinka with the former Secretary General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyawu later unveiled a book “Ship Ahoy” written to document 60 years history of the confraternity.
Fashola described Soyinka as not a only gift to the country, the continent but also the entire civilisation.
Speaking on the theme of the lecture, the former Minister of Works and Housing
said while corruption in terms of pecuniary gains is no doubt reprehensible, the displacement of African highly cherished moral values remains the worst form of corruption.
The former Governor said that for instance, the number of lives lost on roads every month as a result of wrong attitude and values is far more than what is lost to the insecurity which everyone complain about in the country.
He said: “When I was in office as a Minister, the Federal Road Safety Corps usually made copies of the monthly reports on road crashes available to me, the report is actually for the office of the Secretary General of the Federation but I used to get a copy.
“In October 2022, a total of 1111 road crashes was reported across the country out of which 449 died representing 6% of 6458 people involved in the accident with 2780 injured. The analysis showed a 3% decrease when compared with the previous month but 10% increase when compared with the figure for October 2021..
“This goes to show that an average of 400 people is lost monthly to road crashes in the country but I doubt if the insecurity which is always an issue during campaign is responsible for huge loss of lives like this every month in the country”.
He said further analysis showed that speed violation accounted for 51.7% of the accident, fatigue is responsible for 15%, sign rules violation 5.8%, dangerous driving 5.4%, while route violation is responsible 4.5% of the accident.
Fashola said that out of 1613 vehicles involved in the accident, cars constituted 469 representing 29.5% and that 66% of these cars were those being used for commercial purposes.
The former Governor argued that the carnage has remained unabated on our roads not because of bad roads but because out of corruption of values people have neglected adhering to highway codes.
He said: “Many people don’t even know the high way codes, they don’t drive with certificated driver’s licence, many don’t even know that the road is a shared asset, many don’t give regard to the speed limit, these are all corruption that are making the slaughter to continue on our roads”.
Fashola said as way out “people must embrace attitudinal change, the people must embrace recertification of their driver’s licence and training, people must respect the traffic rules to stop this disturbing waste of life and properties”.
Soyinka worries about festering corruption in Nigeria, offers solution
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Yahaya Bello reports to EFCC office with lawyers
Yahaya Bello reports to EFCC office with lawyers
A former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on Tuesday visited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to honour another invitation extended to him over alleged misappropriation of funds.
Bello went to the anti-graft office with his lawyers in the morning.
The ex-Kogi governor reportedly drove himself to the EFCC’s office in a black Toyota Hilux van with some lawyers.
He was said to have been taken by some operatives of the agency and are currently being grilled.
This is coming after the Supreme Court judgment which dismissed a suit brought by some state governments challenging the constitutionality of the agency.
The EFCC at the last hearing on November 14, sought the adjournment till November 27 in the fresh case it instituted against Bello.
It stated that the 30-day window was still running for the summons earlier issued.
News
Just in: Ebonyi governor suspends two commissioners, Perm Sec for misconduct
Just in: Ebonyi governor suspends two commissioners, Perm Sec for misconduct
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has announced the immediate suspension of two commissioners with a permanent secretary among others for gross misconduct.
Those suspended are the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development Francis Ori, and the Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma, with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health.
The suspension followed an incident on Saturday night, when the governor reportedly visited the Ministry of Health’s premises and was said to have found six officials diverting government materials.
Others suspended for three months are the Executive Secretaries of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency
The suspension order was announced by the state Commissioner for Information, Jude Okpor, who cited alleged misconduct and dereliction of duties as the reasons for the disciplinary actions.
Okpor made the disclosure on Tuesday during a press briefing on the outcomes of the State Executive Council meeting held on Monday at the New Government House in Abakaliki, the state capital.
“Following cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties by some government officials and matters related thereto, the Chairman of Council directed the indefinite suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and three months suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Health, respectively
“In view of the development, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Health was directed to take charge of the ministry in the absence of the suspended commissioner.
Governor Nwifuru directed the suspended government officials to hand over all government properties in their possession including vehicles to the Secretary to the State Government.
News
Why we’re borrowing despite surplus revenues – FG
Why we’re borrowing despite surplus revenues – FG
The Federal Government has defended its decision to borrow to address budget deficits, despite surpassing revenue targets in 2024.
Finance Minister Wale Edun and Budget Minister Atiku Bagudu clarified this position during a session with the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Finance, Budget, and National Planning. The meeting focused on the 2025–2027 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).
Last week, the National Assembly approved President Bola Tinubu’s $2.2 billion loan request to fund the N9.7 trillion deficit in the 2024 budget partially.
During the session, key agency heads, including Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) CEO Mele Kyari, Customs Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi, and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman Zacch Adedeji, presented their revenue reports.
The agencies reported exceeding their 2024 targets.
- Customs Service: Generated ₦5.352 trillion by September 30, surpassing its ₦5.09 trillion target for the year. For 2025, the agency projects ₦6.3 trillion, with a 10% increase planned for 2026.
- NNPCL: Achieved ₦13.1 trillion in revenue, exceeding the ₦12.3 trillion projection for 2024. Kyari announced a ₦23.7 trillion revenue target for 2025.
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- FIRS: Surpassed multiple tax collection goals, including ₦5.7 trillion from company income tax against a ₦4 trillion target. Education tax collections also exceeded expectations, reaching ₦1.5 trillion compared to a ₦70 billion target.
Overall, ₦18.5 trillion of the ₦19.4 trillion 2024 revenue target had been achieved by September, indicating the goal will be exceeded by year-end.
Despite these surpluses, the government insists borrowing remains essential to cover budget gaps and support vulnerable populations.
Bagudu explained, “Even with agencies exceeding revenue targets, borrowing is necessary to address deficits and boost productivity, particularly for the poorest. This aligns with Agenda 2050, which aims for a GDP per capita of $33,000.”
Edun also reiterated that loans were critical for adequately funding the budget.
The committee, led by Senator Sani Musa, questioned the rationale behind the borrowing and demanded further transparency. The Immigration Service was specifically asked to provide documents regarding an “unacceptable PPP arrangement” before the end of the week.
The session underscored the government’s balancing act between increased revenues and fiscal challenges requiring external borrowing.
Why we’re borrowing despite surplus revenues – FG
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