Original image, Getty Images
Since assuming power in 2023, the president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu has developed some policies that have raised dust in Nigeria.
In addition to the major resolutions presented by the president in 2023, such as removing fuel subsidies and allowing the naira to determine its value in the market – which have greatly changed the lives of the people of the country – in the second year of his administration, he also continued to present other resolutions.
Some of these steps have led to conflict, not only between the people of the country and the government, but also among members of the ruling party.
Tinubu’s government says it is introducing the resolutions to improve the condition of the country, which is the most populous nation in Africa, and one of the strongest economies in the continent.
Here are six of the government’s most noteworthy initiatives in Nigeria:
Treaty of Samoa
Original image, X/OACPS Secretariat
Although Nigeria signed the Samoa agreement under the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) in November 2023, the news was made public in 2024.
Since the development of the news of his inclusion in the agreement, Nigerians have broken out with heated debates about the violation of the agreement, especially on some of the issues it contains.
The main point of contention regarding the signing of the agreement is the issue of human rights.
Section 11 of the law, which deals with embracing everyone to become one nation, says that “OACP countries will take measures to identify and solve the problem of discrimination based on any reason, such as race, gender, language, religion, and political opinion, birth, disability, age of birth and gender.”
This section has caused a stir, where some groups have opposed the law despite the fact that the Nigerian government has explained that there is no issue of same-sex marriage in the law.
However, the BBC research shows that nowhere in the agreement does it clearly state that the country that signed the agreement must legalize same-sex marriage.
Minimum wage
Original image, STATE HOUSE NG
On Thursday, June 19, 2024, the President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu and the country’s labor union announced a decision on 70,000 naira as the minimum wage for workers in the country.
This means that the old minimum wage of 30,000 has been shown more than twice.
The increase in the minimum wage came after a dispute between the government and the workers regarding the need for the increase in wages to match the situation in the country.
However, the new minimum wage that the trade unions proposed was 250,000 naira.
Speaking to the press, the chairman of the NLC, Joe Ajaero said, “Currently, we have stopped at 70,000 naira, but the good news is that we will not stop until five years from now. before the minimum wage is revised.
Dangote’s dispute with NNPC
Original image, Dangote
At the end of 2023, the Dangote Refinery has confirmed that it has started receiving crude oil which it will start refining to produce fuel and other products.
The $20 billion refinery is the largest in Africa, capable of refining 650,000 barrels of oil per day, and is expected to end Nigeria’s long-standing oil crisis. .
However, by the beginning of 2024, the Dangote refinery had a dispute with the Nigerian oil company NNPCL, where the company started to say that the sulfur content in the oil of the refinery exceeded the required amount.
Likewise, the Chairman of the Nigerian Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, told the press conference that “the fuel of the Dangote refinery is not as good as the one being imported”.
The NNPCL also accused Dangote of trying to “make a profit in the oil industry”.
The controversy is so fierce that even Aliko Dangote has declared that he is ready to sell the refinery to NNPCL worth billions of dollars.
In his response, the chairman of the Dangote group of companies, Aliko Dangote said:
“NNPCL can buy the refinery to run it the way it wants. They have described me as a businessman. This is not true and it is not right, but there is nothing wrong. If they are going to buy it, at least they will deal with someone they called the babakere.”
Freedom of local governments
Original image, Getty Images
For years, local governments under the control of state governors have faced managing their finances – through a so-called joint fund between the state government and local governments – and the election of new leaders.
However, in a decision it made in early July, the Supreme Court of Nigeria said that the control and finances of local governments by governors is against the constitution.
The judge who presided over the decision, Emmanuel Agim, said that the 774 local governments in Nigeria have the right to manage their funds that they get from the federal government.
The Supreme Court further clarified the power of local government where in the decision it said that it is in the levels of government – federal, state and local government.
The court also said that the state government does not have the power to appoint and remove acting heads of local governments, only through elections.
It is seen that this action has made many states rush to conduct local government elections.
However, by the end of the year 2024, there are still many states that have not started using the court’s decision.
Tax resolution
Original image, NIGERIA SENATE
At the beginning of October 2024, Bola Tinubu sent four other resolutions to the National Assembly to seek its approval.
Shortly after that, the governors – APC and opposition – and many other citizens started protesting.
During a meeting held by the northern governors’ group in Kaduna at the end of October, they said that the new resolution was against the interests of their states, and they called on the members of the regional parliament to reject it in the National Assembly.
“The reason why we do not agree is that VAT is collected at the headquarters of the companies instead of where the other branches of the companies conduct their activities or sell their products,” said the chairman of the Gombe Governor’s Association, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya – who is a member of the APC. .
The governor of Borno state, Babagana Umara Zulum is among those who came out and opposed the law.
In an interview with the BBC, he said, “We objected to this law that was brought to the parliament because it will bring a setback to the North…if this resolution passes (success) we will not be able to pay the salary.”
There was also a heated debate on the law in the Senate of Nigeria.
However, the loudest voice heard in opposition to this resolution is that of Senator Ali Ndume representing Borno South Constituency in the Senate.
A video that went viral on social media showed how the veteran APC senator was exchanging words with the Deputy Speaker of the Senate Barau Jibrin (who chaired the session that day) on the resolution.
The new presidential plane
Original image, STATE HOUSE NG
In August, an Airbus A330 was spotted at the Abuja airport, which was said to be the new aircraft that the president will use.
And without wasting time, Bola Tinubu boarded the plane to France, on another visit.
In a statement issued by President Tinubu’s media assistant, Bayo Onanuga, on his X page, he confirmed the trip but did not say the reason for Tinubu’s visit to France.
“The new aircraft, which was purchased below the market price, will help Nigeria reduce its economic and fuel costs, which amount to millions of dollars every year,” according to the statement.
The 15-year-old aircraft, which is estimated to cost $600 million, is said to have spacious luxury seats and now carries the number 5N-NGA, replacing the 19-year-old Boeing BBJ 737-700. .
Some officials of the country’s government have said in the past that they spend a lot of money to maintain the president’s planes because they are old.
Some commentators have described the purchase of the plane at a time when the country is in dire straits as a pity for millions of citizens who cannot afford food to eat.
