By Taiwo Ajayi

The high poverty rate in Nigeria is a major challenge for the country’s youth.

However, unemployment and its effects remain the most significant issue young people have to deal with in Nigeria today. The report found that over 60% of unemployed youth in the country have been unemployed for at least 1 year and that a significant number of them have been unemployed for several.

The high unemployment rate among Nigerian youth has several negative consequences. It leads to poverty, crime, and social unrest. It also makes it difficult for young people to start families and build their futures.

Several factors contribute to the high unemployment rate among Nigerian youth. These include:

A lack of economic opportunities: The Nigerian economy is not growing fast enough to create enough jobs for the country’s growing population.

A lack of skills: Many Nigerian youth do not have the skills that are in demand by employers.

A lack of access to education and training: Many Nigerian youth do not have access to quality education and training, which makes it difficult for them to get good jobs.

Discrimination: Nigerian youth face discrimination in the labor market, which makes it even more difficult for them to find jobs.

The high poverty rate among Nigerian youth is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. The government needs to create more economic opportunities for young people, improve the quality of education and training, and address discrimination in the labor market.

In addition to the government’s efforts, there are several things that individuals and organizations can do to help address the high poverty rate among Nigerian youth. These include:

Providing financial assistance to unemployed youth.

Offering job training and placement services.

Advocating for policies that support young people, such as education reform and job creation programs.

Volunteering your time to help young people in need.

By working together, we can help to create a better future for Nigeria’s youth and reduce the high poverty rate in the country.

By Ajayi Taiwo

President Bola Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023, and has since hit the ground running, delivering on his campaign promises. Here are some of the key initiatives and policies he has implemented in his first 100 days:

1. Removal of fuel subsidy

Tinubu ended the petroleum subsidy regime, which had been in place for many years. This decision was unpopular with some Nigerians, but Tinubu argued that it was necessary to save the country from going under.

2. Forex unification:

Tinubu also ended the preferential exchange rate system, which had been used to favor certain businesses and individuals. This move was aimed at creating a more level playing field for everyone.

3. Establishment of a presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms:

Tinubu set up a committee to review the country’s fiscal policy and tax laws. This is aimed at making the tax system more efficient and equitable.

4. Declaration of a state of emergency on food security:

Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security, pledging to ensure that staple foods are available and affordable.

5. Signing of an electricity bill: Tinubu signed a bill into law that is aimed at improving the country’s electricity supply.
6. Recall of all career and non-career ambassadors:

Tinubu recalled all of Nigeria’s ambassadors, both career and non-career, to reorganize the foreign service.

7. Disbursement of post-subsidy palliatives to states: Tinubu approved the disbursement of palliatives to states to ease the hardship faced by Nigerians caused by the removal of fuel subsidies.
8. Assenting to a bill unifying judicial officers’ retirement age to 70:

Tinubu assented to a bill that unified the retirement age for judicial officers at 70.
Re-jigging of the NDDC board: Tinubu re-jigged the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to make it more effective.
Suspension of the EFCC chairman and CBN governor: Tinubu suspended the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to investigate allegations of corruption against them.

9. Increase in external reserves and stock market growth:

External reserves grew from $35.1 billion to $33.5 billion, and the stock market grew by 29%. Inflation rates also increased from 22.4% to 24.1%.

10. Role as ECOWAS chairman:

Tinubu has also asserted himself on the political scene on the global stage. He became the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on July 9 and has played a leading role in resolving the Niger coup crisis.

These are just some of the key initiatives and policies that President Tinubu has implemented in his first 100 days in office. It is still too early to say what the long-term impact of these policies will be, but they represent a clear break from the past and a commitment to change.

The show of no love lost between Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu continued over the weekend during the state’s 32nd anniversary thanksgiving church service held at the Festival Hall, Government House on Sunday.

Both Obaseki and Shaibu have been at loggerheads over the latter’s ambition to contest the 2024 governorship polls in the state.

In an apparent move to wade off any show of public affection, security aides attached to Obaseki reportedly barred Shaibu from approaching the governor during the event.  Again, the following day, on Monday, August 28, at the 60th anniversary of the Midwest Referendum celebration, Shaibu’s media aides were reportedly denied entry to the venue of the event, despite pleas from the deputy governor who later stormed out.

All these developments only mean one thing, that both men are far from sheathing their swords even though the deputy governor had a few times downplayed their disagreement.

In the larger context, feuds between a governor and his deputy are not new to the Nigerian political space. In fact, since the return of democracy in 1999, several states have had their fair share of such battle royales.

In this piece, we highlight a few of those notable tussles between state governors and their second-in-command.

Bola Tinubu vs Femi Pedro 

President Bola Tinubu as governor of Lagos State had a go with his then deputy, Otunba Olufemi Pedro.

Pedro was said to have got on the wrong side of his principal over Tinubu’s choice to back his Chief of  Staff, Tunde Fashola, as his successor.

The animosity between both men forced the deputy governor to defect to the Labour Party and contest against his boss anointed heir, Fashola.

After the election, which he lost, Pedro got an impeachment notice from the House of Assembly. He promptly sent in his resignation letter, but the lawmakers were said to have rejected the letter leading to his eventual impeachment.

Rochas Okorocha vs Jude Agbaso & Eze Madumere

Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, had two deputy governors for his two terms in office and fell out with both of them at different points.

Jude Agbaso was deputy governor of Imo State till March 2013 when he was impeached. It was said that Agbaso’s battle with his principal began when he challenged the then-governor for a second tenure, citing a supposed gentleman’s agreement that stipulated that Okorocha would rule Imo State for only four years. He was sent packing and summarily replaced by Prince Eze Madumere.

If Agbaso and Okorocha’s relationship was a political necessity, Madumere’s relationship with Okorocha was seen to be more cordial. However, he too fell out with his principal in similar circumstances.

Madumere was said to be against the choice of Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, as his successor. Miffed, Madumere threw his cap into the ring, creating a breakaway faction full of his loyalists in the All Progressives Congress.

Abdullahi Ganduje vs Hafiz Abubakar

When Prof Hafiz Abubakar resigned as the deputy of then-Kano State governor Abdullahi Ganduje on August 4, 2018, he said the decision was taken due to ‘irreconcilable differences’ on matters relating to governance and government operations.

He further stated he suffered  “immeasurable and unjustifiable humiliation” for over two and a half years on issues of governance and the desire to keep government on track.

Though Ganduje denied those allegations, observers said the Ganduje’s feud with Abubakar began when the latter failed to disassociate himself from the governor’s predecessor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.

Obong Victor Attah  vs Chris Ekpenyong

Former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Victor Attah’s not-so-cordial relationship with his then deputy, Dr. Chris Ekpenyong, degenerated to the point that the latter was impeached.

Despite efforts by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo and the PDP to halt the impeachment, the state House of Assembly voted to remove Ekpeyong in June 2005.

Ayodele Fayose vs Abiodun Aluko 

Governor Ayo Fayose was alleged to have instigated the removal of his deputy, Abiodun Aluko in 2005.

The state House of Assembly impeached Aluko after finding him guilty of 16 offences. The lawmakers claimed all the offences were grounds for impeachment.

Isa Yuguda vs Garba Gadi

Alhaji Garba Gadi was said to have crossed the red line with his principal, Isa Yuguda, owing to the latter’s refusal to defect to the PDP from the ANPP that brought them to power.

Gadi was impeached but later re-instated by a High Court in Bauchi due to irregularities in the proceedings leading to his impeachment.

Olusegun Mimiko vs Ali Olanusi

Former Ondo State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, was said to have enraged his principal, Olusegun Mimiko when he defected to the All Progressives Congress instead of joining him in the Peoples Democratic Party.

He was impeached by the state House of Assembly in 2015 but two years later, a court declared the impeachment illegal and restored Olanusi to his office. But it was too little too late for him as his tenure with Mimiko had already elapsed.

R