Minimum wage: It’s N52,200 or nothing - Labour

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities(SSANU) and the Nigeria Labour Congress(NCL) have proposed to the federal government that the minimum wage be N52,200. Many unions have asked the federal government to implement the minimum wage immediately, stating that this is the time that Nigerians need it the most. This past weekend, the SSANU and the NLC made their position on the matter known at the Executive Council meeting at Benue State University, in Makurdi.

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This article discusses how interest groups and unions affect government policy in Nigeria. These groups are making a strong push in raising the minimum wage for the country, and the federal government may be forced to settle on the new minimum wage ammount.

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Government Stops The Funding of Petroleum

The Nigerian government recently announced that it would stop funding petroleum products and transfer the money to finance different areas of national economic development. This idea has caused mixed emotions throughout the community. Some argued that it will put impoverish Nigerians into further debt and desperation and only benefit the few wealthy people. The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) argues that it will conserve funds for development of other sectors. Energy, infrastructure, and industries are the main sectors that will be focused on with the de-regularization of petroleum.

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This article relates to what we have been learning in class because of the economy, social cleavages, and different views by society and the government. The government is trying make the market more efficient, whereas society sees it as a way to divert their attention from the impact of the global financial crisis on Nigerians. Predictions are that the wealthier people will even more, while the majority of society, the poor Nigerians, will suffer more.

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Restructuring Nigeria's Education Sector

The Nigerian Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu, has just officially presented his four-point agenda aimed towards restructuring the public education sector of Nigeria. The four points of the agenda are access, quality assurance, vocation, and technical education and funding. Egwu has hinted that he will soon make changes within the staff in the current ministry. He also pointed out that while they had done a good job, the ministry is still very "cumbersome".

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This article relates to the social challenges that Nigeria is facing today. Their educational system was subpar, and the ministry is trying to purge itself in order to improve it's system. This reform encouraged by the government will soon have an effect on every citizen of the country.

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Bloomberg.com has announced that Nigeria's federal government has put the country's state-owned telephone company, Nigerian Telecommunications, Ltd., or Nitel, up for sale to domestic and international buyers after a deal with Transnational Corp. fell through in February 2008 after Transnational failed to fix the failing Nitel. Nigeria did set a bar for potential investors; the company interested in buying must have at least 2 million existing land or cellular lines in use and a minimum net worth of $500 million. The share of the company being offered is surprisingly large, anywhere from 51% to 75%, meaning one company, potentially overseas, will essentially control all land-based telecommunications in Nigeria.

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This article demonstrates the increasing interconnectedness of the world, not only economically but practically as well. It will also be interesting to see the reaction from those in Nigeria and around the world that prefer that infrastructure remain at least in the control of domestic entities, if not in the government's hands entirely.

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Nigeria's War on Polio

Six years ago, Muslims in northern Nigeria formed a boycott of polio vaccinations because they claimed they were a Western plot to infect them with AIDS. The number of crippled children doubled in result of this. Now, after another tripling of polio cases, an anti-polio group is rising to clear the country of this disease. People crowd the streets to urge parents to get their children vaccinated at one of the hundreds of provided vaccination centers. This movement has increased the number of vaccinated by 26%. There is a fear that polio could be spread to surrounding countries, destroying their multibillion dollar plan to wipe the disease from the globe.


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This relates to what we have been learning in class because of different views on society by different religions. Some Muslims do not support getting children immunized, whereas others track down kids who have no recieved the vaccination. Getting rid of polio in Nigeria is important because it could easily spread around the globe, crippling many.

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Famous Nollywood Star 'Must Go' to Jail

In the article, it reports about a famous Nollywood (Nigeria's film industry) movie star, Ibinabo Fiberesima, who was convicted of drunk driving and reckless driving that lead to her hitting and killing a man in 2005. The controversy mentioned in the report is the failure to actually retain and put her in jail. Fiberesima has escaped the jail time by paying a $678 fine which has been called 'judicial recklessness' by the High Court. Judge Olumwayemi is among those that believe that Fiberesima should be in jail while filing her appeal of her five year sentence and has said "There are so many innocent persons in prisons awaiting trial while a convicted person is allowed to work about freely." Some officials are also concerned that this situation is giving other Nigerians that just because one has enough money or connections in the society, that one can ignore the court's ruling.

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The report relates to what we study in class by demonstrating the legal system and some corruption with avoiding jail time by paying money or having connections, when an average person would not have the same opportunity. Also, with people like Judge Olumwayemi speaking up against this it displays public accountability of the government to provide equal rule to every one.

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Airports Authority Grounds Airlines

Fresh off the heels of a threatened strike by engineers a few weeks ago, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) refused to allow certain airlines to depart from the country's airports until they paid their debts, totaling 8 billion Nigerian dollars, to the agency. An ultimatum was issued to the indebted airlines, which included Arik Air, Virgin Nigeria, and IRS airlines, on Friday, but the airlines apparently chose to wait until after the deadline to see what the FAAN would do. So when the agency made good of its threat and suspended flights, hundreds of unsuspecting passengers were stranded in airports until the airlines paid the debt later that afternoon.

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This article demostrates the uncertainty of government legitimacy in Nigeria. The fact that the airlines were readily able to pay off their debts but waited to see what the FAAN would do shows that the companies did not expect the government to be true to its word. It also shows the corruption inherent in Nigeria's business world as the airlines stranded hundreds of people in taking a chance to avoid paying a debt.

UK arrest in Nigerian bribe case

A federal grand jury in Texas has charged Jeffrey Tesler with helping to channel money from kellogg, brown and root, a former Halliburton subsidiary. It is thought that he was involved in moving millions of dollars in bribes to Nigerian officials to win contracts for an American construcion firm. He was arrested at a business adress in Tottenham, North London, on Thursday. He is alleged to have channelled money to Nigerian officials in order to obtain contracts valued at more than $6bn.

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This article relates to the internal political issues working against Nigeria. The article states that the bribes described involved Nigerian officials. Corruption in Nigeria has become a frequent and well publicized problem that has plagued the country.

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Nigerian children branded as witches

Hundreds of children are being thrown out of their homes in the Niger Delta region and tortured for being "witches." The belief in witchcraft is not new in Nigeria, but children have never been the targets. Self-proclaimed pastors get paid for the extreme "exorcism" on the children. There is a huge number of fake evangelists that know very well that there is nothing wrong with the kids they brand. Some experts blame Christian extremism and polygamous rivalry for the child factor in witch-hunting. The kids are burned, starved, and beaten for no reason. Because Akwa Ibom civilians are ranked among Nigeria's poorest, they are easy to exploit. Special Programs like Children's Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) are trying there best to help save victims of these crimes.


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This relates to what we have been learning in class by connecting religion and the economy together. "Religion is the only industry we have in Akwa Ibom outside oil." People are faking religion and becoming self-proclaimed pastors in order to get money for torturing helpless children. "Some people are making brisk business out of defenceless children. It's greed, targeting fullible and susceptible rural people," said Aniekan Umanah. The society is unstable and violent, but changes are trying to be made to help the innocent children fighting for their rights for a normal life.


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Obafemi Martins Makes Commitment to Nigerian Football Team

World-renowned football player, 23-year old Obafemi Martins, has been recalled to Nigeria’s football team for their upcoming World Cup qualifier in Mozambique.

The Newcastle United player raised questions in the local media due to the injuries that impaired him from playing in the first round of 2010 qualifiers. He released a statement saying that his “commitment to the national team has never wavered” and that it is “unfortunate what has been said about [him].”

Martins told BBC Sport, “I feel excited to be back on the national team fold,” and that "Hopefully I can contribute a lot towards making it to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, because all the players want to be there to fulfill a big dream."

Meanwhile, Nigeria Coach, Shaibu Amodu, has been called out by the Nigerian media for excluding Fulham midfielder Dickson Etuhu. He said that he had “nothing against Etuhu,” But that he would “prefer to stick to players [he has] worked with and who understand [his] ideas.”

Nigeria squad:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Austin Ejide (Bastia, France), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei-Yehuda, Israel)

Defenders: Yusuf Mohammed, Obinna Nwaneri (both FC Sion, Switzerland), Onyekachi Apam (Nice, France), Taye Taiwo (Marseille, France), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Joseph Yobo (Everton, England), Danny Shittu (Bolton, England), Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam, Holland)

Midfielders: Oluwafemi Ajilore (Groningen, Holland), Jon Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth, England), Sani Kaita (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Kalu Uche (Almeria, Spain)

Strikers: Ikechukwu Uche (Getafe, Spain), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle United, England), Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim, Germany), Obinna Nsofor (Inter Milan, Italy), Joseph Akpala (Club Brugge, Belgium), Osaze Odemwingie (Locomotive Moscow, Russia)

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This article shows that many native Nigerians don’t play for the Nigerian football team regularly. Most of them play for European teams. The most famous of which is Obafemi Martins, who plays for Newcastle United in Great Britain. Also take note of the fact that none of the Nigerian football players on the Nigerian national football team actually live in Nigeria. That’s not necessarily a good thing either. The fact that many famous Nigerians don’t live in their country shows the failing political standing of it.

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Two Sisters Spread Positivity Around Africa

Two Nigerian sisters, Chioma and Oluchi Ogwuegbu, have embarked on a journey to visit different countries in Africa. They started at the end of last year and have so far visited eleven out of their planned twenty-two countries. The sisters are attempting to shape the often negative view of Africa, to a more positive perception by documenting their journey on their website CelebrateAfrica.net. The sisters say that even the people living in Africa only see bad and that in the media there is never much positive news about Africa which is increasing the world's negative views-which they want to change. In the article the girls say that it's many young Africa's desire to leave Africa but the sisters are trying to show them and the rest of the continent about the good that "[they] have here". But, the sisters do stress that they are not saying Africa is perfect, but are simply trying to encourage and establish "hope and potential" so the countries are not just seen as a "Dark Continent" anymore.

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The article relates to what we have learned in class by displaying the affects of propaganda on not only outside sources but on the inside as well. I think that the outside world already has a firmly established view of Africa as only a place of turmoil, but these sisters are trying to show that there is a whole lot more to Africa. I also think that the article depicts some social movements. By the girls reaching out and making an effort to change the public view of Africa it can start a trend and perhaps if hope and encouragement becomes alive in Africa then Africa will start making positive changes.

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Govt to upgrade seven specialist hospitals

The Federal Government has decided to upgrade seven speacialist hospitals across the country in order to advance their health care programs. They hope to provide advanced health services to Nigerians which will stop many Nigerians from traveling abroad for medical attention. The minister of Health, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong pointed out the priority of upgrading the nations hospitals in Nigeria's 2009 fiscal budget. The main goal will be to provide more facilities and to retrain the medical personnel that they already have.

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This article reveals Nigeria's strive to become a more modernized and healthy power. But it also reveals the difficulties that the nation has been having with it's health care system. Nevertheless, they are making all the necessary decisions in order to improve their health systems.

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Nigerian Militants Threaten to Sabotage Sahara Gas Pipe

Seriously. What’s new? This is no different than anything we’ve heard before. “MEND Kidnaps Oil Workers;” “MEND Attacks [yet another] Oil Tank.” When will it end?

So the “new” issue in Nigeria in that MEND, Nigeria’s main militant group, has, yet again, threatened to sabotage yet another gas pipe. The only exception? This one’s on the Sahara. Oh, and the gas pipe? It’s worth of $13 billion.

The project is expected to pump Nigerian oil directly to Europe through a pipe under the Sahara Desert. Capital costs are an estimated $10 billion for the pipeline itself and $3 billion gathering centres. It’s expected to send up to 30 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe a year through a 2,580 mile pipeline from Nigeria to Niger and Algeria.

Russian gas monopoly Gazprom, France’s Total, and Anglo-Dutch energy giant Royal Dutch Shell are among the international firms to have expressed interest in participating in the project.

MEND has released a statement in an email saying “Those talking to the wrong people in Abuja about investing in the Trans-Sahara gas pipe project will be investing unwisely as we are determined to sabotage the project from inception.” MEND makes these threats habitually; it called off a ceasefire at the on 31 January, 2009 but, due to stepped up military involvement, it has not been able to make any significant strike against the oil industry.

But the latest statement from MEND undermines the notion that the pipeline could become a secure source of energy for Europe.

Well, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

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This article reverts back to what we learn in class about Nigeria being a somewhat important source of the world oil supply; it already supplies 10 percent of the world supply, much of it to Europe and North America. Nigeria has an estimated 180 trillion cubic feet in natural gas reserves, the seventh largest in the world. So I term of energy supplies , the U.S. and Europe really need this oil and really don’t need militant groups like MEND ruining it for them.

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EU to Boost Aid

The EU recently announced that it will be increasing the amount of aid it sends to Nigeria from 450 million to 580 million euros. a senior European official said that the increase of cash is meant to support Nigeria's security forces as they combat armed groups, such as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), that are attempting to disrupt oil trade and industry. According to reports, the money will, for the first time, fund the training of Nigerian police and security forces opperating within Nigeria and abroad in places like Somalia as part of peacekeeping missions. The situation may present complications, however, as European citizens complain of sending money necessary for their own countries' recovery from the worldwide economic recession to a country notorious for rampant corruption and as armed groups like MEND threaten to attack the business interests of any country that interferes with the group's opperation.

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This article demonstrates the interconnectedness of the modern political and economic world. Europe is willing to send millions of euros to an incredibly corrupt country that may not be able to account for how the money is used. European politicians must see something gain economically by making this move, and it is safe to assume that it has to do with oil. Whether this gamble pays off will become apparent in the coming years.

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