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Editorial

Mmesoma and the rise in rot of our society

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) recently came out to say that it would withdraw the result of a certain Ejikeme Mmesoma, a 19-year-old student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi, Anambra State for manually inflating her result and announcing herself as the top scorer for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

According to a statement issued by the board, Mmesoma used her manually inflated score to attract a N3 million scholarship from Innoson Motors and was set to be honoured by the Anambra State government before she was exposed.

The examination board explained that several publications had been celebrating the 19-year-old of having the highest score of 362 in the 2023 UTME examination and that the reported success story of the young girl had been attracting several praises including that of Dr Innocent Chukwuma, the CEO of Innoson Vehicles who had already announced a N3m scholarship for her.

The board however said that it was unfortunate to discover that Mmesoma had all along been parading fake result because her actual score was 249 and not 362 as she had claimed. JAMB categorically disclosed that the young girl had joined league of irresponsible students who use funny application packages on computer to alter their marks to whatever suited them.

The examination body said a similar case was that of another Atung Gerald in Kaduna, who claimed to have scored 380 in the same UTME. His ethnic group was said to have taken the issue up, requesting that he should be given special recognition, only for the Board to disappoint them with the incontestable fact that Atung never obtained the 2023 UTME application documents, not to talk of sitting the examination

The board said, “It is to be noted that Miss Mmesoma had sent a message to the Board’s platform to request her UTME result, after which she manually inflated her scores and pasted same on the 2022 UTME result sheet. Unknown to her, the Board had changed the design of the 2023 UTME result sheet. Her original result remains 249, as nothing can change that.

“With this her ignoble act, Miss Mmesoma would be prosecuted and her original result withdrawn. This is not all, as the Board would, in due course, investigate all candidates laying claims to higher scores than they actually obtained. Once discovered, such candidates’ original results would be withdrawn forthwith, and they would be handed over to relevant security agencies for prosecution.”

But Mmesoma would not have none of this as she did a rebuttal via a video that had since gone viral claiming that the result she printed from the website of the examination body said scored 362.

She had said, “I am the owner of this result. I went to JAMB portal to print this result and this is what they gave me. This is my aggregate, 362. This is exactly how I printed it out and downloaded from the site,” she said.

“So, the fact that they are now saying I forged the result is what I don’t know. I am traumatised that they accused me of forging my own result. This is because I am not capable of forging my own result.”

Mmesoma even went to say that her academic brilliance did not just begin with her exploit in the 2023 UTME as she had come first in the Common Entrance done to gain admission from primary to secondary school.

Her response made many Nigerians to be so divided as some were arms up against JAMB attacking it for deliberately denigrating and shredding to pieces the dedication and efforts of the young girl while some supported the stand of the board.

However, Mmesoma’s denial had barely landed when JAMB vehemently insisted that it was right with its assertion that the young girl was parading fake result because the type of the result slip she was brandishing in the viral video was used last in 2021 when it was discovered that the students were forging their original results.

JAMB said even Mmesoma confirmed that the QR code on the result slip she was claiming to be hers when scanned revealed a different name, one Omotola Afolabi with aggregate score of 138.

The exam board said Mmesoma was undoubtedly parading fake result and as punishment, her original score of 249 had been withdrawn and would have to wait for another three years before she could write another UTME.

However, about four days ago while appearing before the panel the Anambra State government had set up to unravel this puzzle, Mmesoma lies collapsed like a pack of badly arranged cards.

She reportedly confessed to forging the result unaided and with this revelation, JAMB said it has proven again and again that it won’t sit by and allow any irresponsible citizen to impugn its integrity.

Lot of Nigerians have been so disturbed by the Mmesoma scandal. Not a few believed that such an innocent looking girl was capable of committing so grievous crime that could attract as much as seven years jail term if found guilty.

The disgraceful and unfortunate incident is said to be a reflection of the continued rise in the rot of our society which seems to be going on unchecked.

It is against this background that many are campaigning for serious national rebirth such that from the leaders to the led, everyone will be ready to do things rightly.

It is said that many of the coming generations are said to be learning so fast from the stupendous corruptive tendencies of the country’s handlers and will equally do so worse if we refuse to take seriously issues of fight against corruption and deteriorating morals.

It is the strong opinion out there that parents and religious leaders must like never before be more deliberate to join forces with all efforts to fight against corruption and moral decadence.

The Mmesoma scandal should be used as a spring board to relaunch campaign for national rebirth while the public enlightenment against corruption should also be taken to schools starting from primary schools in form of catching them young programme.

Above all, the unfortunate incident is also a good reason for President Bola Tinubu to see how horrible Nigerians have soaked in corruption and the need to get more serious in dealing with this monster which has for very long inhibited our growth and development as a nation.

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Editorial

Nigerians groan under high cost of living 

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Barely fourteen days to the first year anniversary of this federal government, Nigerians have continued to groan under high cost of living, amidst a catalogue of failed promises. Despite its chants of ‘Renewed Hope Agenda,’ a cup of garri/rice has since gone out of the reach of an average Nigerian. There is a continuous hike in fuel and other petroleum products. Transportation fares, local, inter-state or international are a no-go area. Nigerians have lost count of pledged dates for the commencement of operations or production of our refineries, especially Port Harcourt Refinery.

Most citizens have lost hope in the current political leadership in the country. Fuel today is being sold at between N800 to N950 per litre and still counting. A bottle of kerosene is about N2,000 and this an essential product being used by almost 90 percent of the population, especially the lower cadre. In the past, the colour of kerosene used to be like spring water from a rock, but today the product is sullied with impurities, its colour of kerosene almost like that of groundnut oil. Yet, it remains scarce and costly. What a country.

Nigeria is possibly the only country with abundant crude oil deposits that prefers to throw away the crude at giveaway price to other countries in the name of exportation, only to  buy the refined products from the crude at exorbitant prices, in the name of importation.  The first refinery in Port Harcourt was built about nine years after oil was discovered in commercial quantity in Oloibiri in 1956 in the present day Bayelsa State. And up till today there is no intentional attempt to rebuild it, or be religious in maintaining it.

The Naira debuted as the national currency of Nigeria, at 75K to $1, but today N1,500 is exchanging $1. Yet, we are ranked among the highest producers of oil and gas in the comity of nations. The unadulterated truth is this: Nigerians are suffering in the midst of plenty which should not be the case.

The poor leadership of the old brigade, who have held sway since independence, should leave the stage for younger generation. The current President of France, Emmanuel Macro is below forty years. The recent election in Senegal produced a 44-year-old man as president. Whether we like it or not, once a person passes retirement age of 60, his mental faculty starts dropping.

Inflation rate is now 33-35% in the country. Unemployment rate is soaring and the Federal Government had the gut to propose N48,000 as minimum wage for Nigerian workers, possibly as part of the ‘renewed hope agenda.’ This is as against N860,000 being proposed by the organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress(TUC).

We are not surprised therefore when the organised labour walked out of the negotiation table and handed down a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to think right.

We hope the federal government will really do all it needs to do to avoid another showdown with Nigerian workers who are like wounded lions and have been patient enough with the economic torture currently being experienced by workers in the country. We hope and pray that the tail of a sleeping tiger, will not be unnecessarily pulled. It could amount to unpleasant consequences. The government should fulfil its campaign promises and ensure peace and tranquility throughout the nation.

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Editorial

Minimum wage Saga: FG, let the people go…

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For years, the narrative has been the same — the economy withers and the common man cries out for reprieve, only to be met with an endless array of impediments. When it is time to intercede for the poor, Nigerians are met with pointless bureaucracy and palliatives. Foreign aid is rendered ineffectual thanks to the gauze-hand of leaders, through which it all slips through into an oblivion of their own invention.

In April 2024, the headline inflation rate rose to 33.69 percent, up from 33.20 percent in March 2024, marking an increase of 0.49 percent points according to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Yet, to raise the minimum wage to a level that will help beat back hunger in the poorest families has become a problem for the government.

Per the International Monetary Fund, IMF, a determined and well-sequenced implementation of government’s policy intentions would pave the way for faster, more inclusive, resilient growth in Nigeria. Without reforms — such as raising the minimum wage — to enhance the business environment, improve security, implement key governance measures, develop human capital, boost agricultural productivity, Nigeria’s growth potential will never leave the realm of imagination.

“These reforms are crucial to boost investor confidence, unlock Nigeria’s growth potential and diversify the economy, and address food insecurity, and underpin sustainable job creation,” IMF noted in its recent report, adding that over the last decade, limited reforms, security challenges, weak growth and now high inflation had worsened poverty and food insecurity in Nigeria.

“While Nigeria swiftly exited the COVID-19 recession, per-capita income has stagnated. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth slowed to 2.9 percent in 2023, with weak agriculture and trade, and in spite of the improvement in oil production and financial services.

“Growth is projected at 3.3 per cent for 2024 as both oil and agriculture outputs are expected to improve with better security. The financial sector has remained stable, in spite of heightened risks. Food insecurity could worsen with further adverse shocks to agriculture or global food prices. Adverse shocks to oil production or prices would hit growth, the fiscal and external position, and exacerbate inflationary and exchange rate pressures,” the IMF said.

Yet, on Wednesday the pattern continued. Negotiations reached a deadlock due to the government’s perceived unwillingness to engage in fair discussions with Nigerian workers. The NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, in a sense is right to say that the government’s proposal of N48,000 as the new minimum wage is an insult to Nigerian workers.

It is no surprise that the labour unions are demanding a higher minimum wage to reflect the current economic realities and alleviate the suffering of Nigerian workers. The stalemate in negotiations may lead to industrial action, which could have far-reaching consequences for the economy.

Many labour in vain for decades for peanuts, only to be denied their pensions in old age. Of course, the Nigerian worker will down his tools in the face of great poverty, and seeming apathy from the government. The relationship between wage rate and employment is well established. Most revolutions throughout the world are dependent on the satiation of the labour force. The Federal Government should maintain an atmosphere of charity and responsibility. Like the Israelite Moses said millennial ago, let our people go.

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Editorial

Inflation as major threat to life security

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Millions of Nigerians are groaning because of the devastating inflationary pressure that is making it impossible for many to consume the minimum calories required for a healthy living.

It is known that Nigeria’s macroeconomic environment has become very harsh in its diminutive impact on the purchasing power at the disposal of the citizenry.

Many cannot also conveniently afford to transport themselves to their workplace or move around for routine activities.

Meanwhile, the price of other payment obligations for services such as house rents, school fees, utilities (including cable television), health and recreation services are rising on a daily basis.

This shows that the quality of life enjoyed by Nigerians is deteriorating as poverty becomes more pervasive and endemic.

According to official statistics, the November inflation rate was 14.89 percent and it is fast heading towards the 15 percent mark.

Meanwhile, the Rural inflationary pressure is also climbing as the rate climbed to 12.28 percent in July even when the price of Premium Motor Spirit and electricity tariff had not been hiked. Prices are just rising freely.

This applies to production inputs (except labour), consumer durable, agricultural products as well as services.

This unfortunately is the case irrespective of the basket of goods one uses as a measure outside the standard yardstick.

A close look at the policy framework of the government shows that the recent surge in general price level is not unconnected with structural bottlenecks, fiscal and monetary policies, deregulation, and trade policies as well as inefficiency on the part of regulatory agencies.

The government has for too long paid lip service towards unbundling of the shackles of growth and development such as poor budgetary implementation on capital projects, outdated laws and a toxic business environment that constrain the economy.

This has indeed, slowed down economic growth and resulted in shortage of goods and services and their attendant impact on inflation.

The government seems to be heating up the system by keeping its spending open-ended even as it cries of inadequacy of revenue to finance its expenditure obligations.

The disconnect between recurrent account, capital account and public debt operations is certainly having a destabilising effect on public finance operations of the country.

This has given rise to fiscal domination that describes the aggregative impact of the uncoordinated expenditure activities of all the governments in our strange three-tier federal arrangement.

It also appears that the Central Bank is losing sight of its inflation-targeting monetary policy which has been on its front burner for more than two decades now.

This is certainly not what the nation needs now when virtually all the macroeconomic variables are in disarray.

Here, attention of CBN must be called to its Naira management policy especially as it affects the regimented devaluation and depreciation which impact heavily on the domestic and external value of the currency.

The external value requires attention considering that the Nigerian economy carries a monolithic production base and import orientation.

The gross loss in the value of Naira is having a horrible impact on the life of Nigerians as misery and hopelessness characterise the daily songs of the lower income strata and whatever is left of the middle class.

It must be pointed out also that the government policy on agriculture in general and rice production appears to suffer a backlash.

Whereas local production has increased appreciably the farmers and agricultural marketers are engaging in exploitative pricing practice.

They simply jack up their prices arbitrarily. This is particularly the case with respect to rice where the price of the local varieties is at par with the foreign brands.

The recent increase in the price of premium motor spirit and electricity tariff have surely added more salt to the injury.

These two products are directly tied to production and distribution of goods and services and as such raising their individual prices simply translates to increasing the price of everything that is bought and sold in the open and underground economies.

Unfortunately, all these are happening when the nominal income of the average citizen has either stagnated or declined as the minimum wage has not been paid by many states of the federation.

The same is characterised by controversy in those states and some federal agencies that have implemented the new salary regime.

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