National Issues
Nigerians are suffering—Olugbon calls for change
The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, on Friday, decried the pervasive corruption crippling Nigeria, emphasising the alarming state of abject poverty affecting the majority of its citizens.
Addressing journalists after hosting the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who paid him homage at his palace, the monarch urged leaders at both federal and state levels to be guided by a sense of responsibility and fear of God.
The revered Pastor’s visit to Orile-Igbon was part of the December ‘Let’s Go-A-Fishing’ evangelism programme of the church.
Oba Alao expressed concern about the economic challenges facing the nation, calling for a reevaluation of governance to urgently alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.
Grateful for Pastor Adeboye’s historic visit and prayers for the nation’s progress, he voiced his hopes for President Bola Tinubu to institute transformative changes.
“Today is a great day for me, for the first time in history, Pastor Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) will be visiting my palace and the town. We are deeply grateful to almighty God, we are thankful to him; we appreciate his visit and I know more blessings will come to this town from now onward with plenty of development.
“We had a private discussion, and it has to do with the progress and peaceful co-existence of Nigeria, my environment here, Surulere local government, Ogbomoso zone, and Oyo state,” he said.
The Deputy Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs further emphasised the need for character-driven appointments, urging the president to choose individuals capable of bringing positive change and breaking away from the shackles of corruption.
Expressing worry about the economic divide in Nigeria, the monarch underscored the absence of a substantial middle class, warning of potential hyperinflation. He prayed for the success of President Tinubu’s administration, adding that failure could jeopardise the nation’s existence.
“I pray for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to move quickly and do something great, change the scenario. The president should look at the people he’s appointing, he should be able to appoint people who have the fear of God, and character must be part of his choice of appointment.
“God Almighty will guide the president right. I pray for my governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde. He has been doing well, and I expect much from him this second term. I have been close to the two personalities and everybody knows that they are my people. I participated well in their elections, but a lot is expected of them and I pray almighty God will not let them fail us.
“There is a lot of division all over the country, the crime rate is high because 80% of Nigerians are living in abject poverty, and there are no middle-class Nigerians anymore. It is either you are poor or you are extremely poor or extremely rich, no rich Nigerian. Those who are rich, are extremely rich and they are not even up to 2% of the entire population. The rest are poor”, the monarch lamented.
Oba Alao, however, pledged to closely monitor developments, restating his commitment to exposing errors and advocating for a government prioritising the well-being of the people.
National Issues
Rep. Oseni Urges Urgent Action on Rising Building Collapses in Nigeria
Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, has called for a prompt investigation into the increasing occurrences of building collapses in major cities across Nigeria.
In a motion presented to the House on Wednesday, Oseni expressed deep concern over the alarming frequency of building collapses, emphasising the threat they pose to the lives and property of Nigerians.
The APC lawmaker, through a statement by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, cited the recent collapse of a two-storey school building at Saint Academy in Busa Buji, Jos, Plateau State, on July 12, 2024. The tragic incident, which trapped 154 people and claimed 22 lives, is the latest in a series of similar disasters, raising serious concerns nationwide.
Oseni also referenced a report from The Punch newspaper, which revealed that Nigeria had recorded 135 building collapse incidents between 2022 and July 2024.
“This figure is alarming and unacceptable,” he stated, stressing the urgency of preventing further occurrences.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Oseni reminded the House that the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and other relevant professional bodies are responsible for ensuring compliance with building standards and practices.
“Despite these regulatory frameworks, the recurring collapses suggest that enforcement is lacking. The loss of lives, properties, and resources is staggering, and this disturbing trend must be addressed immediately,” he remarked.
He proposed the formation of an Adhoc Committee to investigate the underlying causes of these collapses and recommend both immediate and long-term solutions.
Also, he urged the House Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure swift implementation of any recommendations.
The House agreed to deliberate on the motion and is expected to present its findings and proposed actions within eight weeks.
National Issues
Corruption Among Political, Religious Leaders Stalls Nation-Building – Olugbon
The Vice-chairman of the Oyo Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, has expressed deep concern over the increasing involvement of religious leaders in material pursuits, accusing them of abandoning their spiritual duties in favour of wealth and influence.
Oba Alao, who is also the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, made this statement during a visit from the leadership of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement “Ayo Ni O,” led by Baba Aladura Prophet Emmanuel Abiodun Alogbo, at his palace in Surulere Local Government on Thursday.
The monarch accused some religious leaders of sharing part of the blame for the moral and political crises that have engulfed the nation. According to him, spiritual leaders, once seen as the moral compass of society, have become compromised by corruption, aligning themselves with the very forces they should condemn.
Oba Alao was unapologetic in his criticism, stating, “Ninety-five percent of Nigerian leaders, both political and religious, are spiritually compromised.”
He argued that this moral decay among clerics has made it impossible for them to hold political leaders accountable or speak the truth to those in power, as their integrity has been eroded by their pursuit of material wealth.
“Carnality has taken over spirituality. Our religious leaders can no longer speak the truth to those in authority because their minds have been corrupted. Most of the so-called General Overseers (G.O.) are corrupt and perverted,” Oba Alao added.
He stressed that this shift towards wealth accumulation at the expense of spiritual values has greatly contributed to the country’s stagnation in development and social justice.
Olugbon urged both religious leaders and traditional rulers to reflect on their actions, reminding them that they would be held accountable for their stewardship, both in this world and the next.
“The prayers of sinners are an abomination before God, hence the need for our leaders to rethink,” he warned.
The monarch concluded by reiterating the transient nature of power and the importance of staying true to sacred duties, regardless of the temptation to indulge in worldly gains. “I am a traditional ruler. I don’t belong, and will never belong, to any occultic groups,” he emphasised, drawing a clear line between his position and the corrupt practices of some leaders.
In response to the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement’s request for collaboration on community development projects, Oba Alao assured them of his support.
“Your requests are aimed at the development of the Orile Igbon community. I am assuring you that necessary assistance will be provided in this regard.”
Earlier, Prophet Alogbo requested the monarch’s collaboration on a range of community development projects. These initiatives include the establishment of a women and youth empowerment center, clean drinking water initiatives, a bakery, animal production facilities, and farm produce processing.
Other proposals included a diagnostic and medical center, a full-size recreational sports facility, and a home care facility for the elderly.
National Issues
Nigeria’s Unemployment Rate Rises to 5.3% in Q1 2024 — NBS
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigeria’s unemployment rate increased to 5.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2024. The latest figures were disclosed in a report released by the NBS on Tuesday, marking an uptick from the 5.0 per cent recorded in the third quarter (Q3) of 2023.
According to the NBS, the unemployment rate for males stood at 4.3 per cent, while females experienced a higher rate of 6.2 per cent during the same period. The report also highlighted disparities based on location, with urban areas recording a 6.0 per cent unemployment rate compared to 4.3 per cent in rural areas for Q1 2024.
“The unemployment rate for Q1 2024 was 5.3%, showing an increase from 5.0% recorded in Q3 2023,” the bureau stated in its report. The NBS defines the unemployment rate as the percentage of the labour force, including both employed and unemployed individuals, who are not working but are actively seeking employment.
Youth Unemployment Rate Declines
In a positive development, the report indicated a slight drop in youth unemployment, which fell to 8.4 per cent in Q1 2024, down from 8.6 per cent in Q3 2023. This figure represents the unemployment rate among Nigeria’s young people, a demographic that often faces unique employment challenges.
Educational Attainment and Unemployment
The report further provided insights into unemployment rates based on educational attainment. Individuals with postgraduate education recorded the lowest unemployment rate at 2.0 per cent, while those with post-secondary education faced a rate of 9.0 per cent. For people with secondary education, the rate stood at 6.9 per cent, and those with only primary education recorded a 4.0 per cent unemployment rate.
Employment-to-Population Ratio Falls to 73.2%
In addition to the unemployment data, the NBS also reported a decline in Nigeria’s employment-to-population ratio, a critical indicator of workforce participation. The ratio dropped to 73.2 per cent in Q1 2024, down from 75.6 per cent in Q3 2023. This ratio represents the percentage of the working-age population that is employed.
Breaking the data down by gender, the employment-to-population ratio for males was 74.2 per cent, while it was 72.3 per cent for females. By place of residence, urban areas had an employment-to-population ratio of 69.5 per cent, while rural areas recorded 78.9 per cent in Q1 2024, compared to 71.1 per cent and 80.7 per cent in Q3 2023, respectively.
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