General
Presidential Pardon: SERAP Wants Section 175 of Constitution Amended
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to review and withdraw the pardon granted to former governors of Plateau and Taraba States, Mr Joshua Dariye and Mr Jolly Nyame, respectively, who were jailed by the court for corruption.
SERAP is also urging him to “propose a constitutional amendment to the National Assembly to reform the provisions on the exercise of the prerogative of mercy to make the provisions more transparent, and consistent and compatible with Nigeria’s international anti-corruption obligations.”
Last week, the National Council of State endorsed the presidential pardon of Mr Dariye, Mr Nyame and 157 others serving jail terms following the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.
In the letter signed by SERAP deputy director, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Impunity for corruption will continue as long as influential politicians escape justice for their crimes. The constitutional power of prerogative of mercy ought not to be an instrument of impunity.”
SERAP said, “The pardon power ought to be exercised in a manner that is consistent with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], particularly the provisions on oath of office by public officers, and section 15[5] which requires your government to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.”
It also said, “Indeed, the presidential pardon power must be exercised in good faith, and in line with the provisions of Chapter 4 of the Nigerian Constitution on fundamental rights.”
According to SERAP, “We would like your government to clarify if the pardon granted to Mr Dariye and Mr Nyame would entitle them to the return of the stolen assets already forfeited to the government.”
The organisation said, “The pardon also constitutes an interference in the exercise of judicial power. Because the pardon appears to be arbitrary, it undermines the authority and independence of the judiciary and access to justice for victims of corruption.”
The letter, copied to the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, read in part: “The pardon is clearly inconsistent and incompatible with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution, and the country’s international obligations including under the UN Convention against Corruption.”
“Presidential pardon for corruption cases is inconsistent with the rule of law, and the public interest, as it undermines the principle of equality before the law. It will undermine public confidence in your government’s fight against corruption, and the justice system.”
“SERAP is concerned that while the pardon power is routinely exercised to shield influential politicians and politically exposed persons from justice and accountability, ordinary people who have committed petty offences but with no money or influential politicians to speak for them, languish in prisons and are rarely considered for pardon.”
“While there is no doubt that Section 175 of the Constitution vests wide discretionary power in the Nigerian president to grant pardon, it does not stipulate the conditions under which such power should be exercised.”
“However, when section 15(5) of the Constitution is read together with the oath, it would seem to impose some ethical conditions on you to ensure that the exercise of the discretionary power of prerogative of mercy is not such that it will encourage corruption or impunity of perpetrators.”
“Mr Dariye and Mr Nyame should have been allowed to complete their jail terms. The exercise of the presidential pardon in their cases would seem to be unfair and undeserving.”
“The investigation and prosecution of the corruption cases involving the pardoned former governors Dariye and Nyame reportedly cost over N300 million of taxpayers’ money. The cases went from the High Court to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”
“Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution provides that ‘The State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.’ Similarly, article 26 of the UN Convention against Corruption requires your government to ensure ‘effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions in cases of grand corruption.”
“Article 26 of the convention complements the more general requirement of article 30, paragraph 1, that sanctions must take into account the gravity of the corruption offences.”
“SERAP notes that in your inaugural speech on May 29, 2015, you stated that, ‘We are going to tackle pervasive corruption head on. Nigerians will not regret that they have entrusted national responsibility to us.’”
“However, the latest Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index shows that Nigeria scored 24 out of 100 points, and ranked 154 out of 180 countries surveyed, falling back five places from the rank of 149 in 2020. This places Nigeria as the second most corrupt country in West Africa.”
“The pardon power, if properly exercised, can help to protect citizens against possible miscarriage of justice.”
“SERAP, therefore, urges you to urgently withdraw the presidential pardon granted to Mr Dariye and Mr Nyame, and to propose amendment to section 175 of the Nigerian Constitution that will make the exercise of the power to pardon more transparent and consistent and compatible with the country’s international obligations.”
“Any proposed amendment should also empower the citizens to challenge the legality of any arbitrary exercise of the power of prerogative of mercy.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has endorsed his deputy, Mr Obafemi Hamzat, as his preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election, under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mr Hamzat on Monday declared his intention to run for governor during a closed-door meeting at Lagos House, Marina, attended by members of the State Executive Council, party leaders and members of the Governor’s Advisory Council.
Among those present were former Minister of State for Defence, Mr Musiliu Obanikoro, and former senator, Mr Ganiyu Solomon.
Mr Sanwo-Olu described the endorsement as a consensus decision reached by stakeholders, saying his deputy possesses the experience and competence to lead the state.
“We just received Mr Deputy, who had come with a very powerful delegation of our leaders in the state to inform us of his intention to contest for the seat of the governorship position of the state,” the governor said.
“It was unanimous with all of us to say that Mr Deputy Governor is a man who is fit and well-prepared for this job. He is a man who knows where all the rooms in the house are,” he added.
The governor cited Mr Hamzat’s record in office and their working relationship over the past seven years as reasons for his support, describing him as loyal, committed and prepared for leadership.
“This is a deputy governor that is worth a governor from day one; this is a man that has been built for this job, and we believe that he deserves to be given a chance to go and run this state,” he emphasised.
Mr Sanwo-Olu also linked the political development to President Bola Tinubu’s longstanding influence in Lagos politics.
“We thank our father, our leader, Mr President, who saw the vision… that long run is what is already being manifested here today,” he noted.
He characterised the meeting as a family-style consultation involving party stakeholders and government officials, saying there was broad agreement in support of Mr Hamzat’s aspiration.
“It’s been a very warm family meeting, and at the end of the day, it was unanimous that Mr Deputy Governor is fit, ready, well baked… for this job,” he added.
The endorsement comes more than a year before party primaries are expected. However, political analysts say it suggests early alignment for the ruling party in the commercial capital.
Mr Hamzat is a former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in the state and a two-term deputy governor.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Employers, policymakers, and other key stakeholders have been urged to intensify efforts toward developing and sustaining healthy psychosocial work environments as a critical pathway to improved productivity, employee well-being, and organisational resilience.
This call was made by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) in commemoration of the 2026 World Day for Safety and Health at Work, themed Good Psychosocial Working Environments: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organisations.
The Director General of NECA, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, noted that this year’s theme highlights the growing importance of mental and emotional well-being in the workplace and reinforces the need for a more holistic approach to occupational safety and health.
He further stated that while progress has been made in improving workplace practices, there is a need for sustained and collective action to further strengthen psychosocial conditions in line with evolving global standards, including guidance from the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
“Across sectors, there is increasing recognition that workplace wellbeing extends beyond physical safety. A healthy psychosocial work environment where employees feel valued, supported, and able to perform optimally is essential for organisational effectiveness and long-term sustainability,” the DG said.
He emphasised that psychosocial wellbeing is influenced by how work is structured, managed, and experienced, and encouraged stakeholders to adopt intentional strategies that promote positive work environments. These include clear job roles, manageable workloads, supportive leadership, open communication, and policies that promote work-life balance and inclusion.
“Creating healthy psychosocial work environments requires deliberate and continuous effort. Employers, in particular, play a pivotal role by embedding supportive systems and fostering workplace cultures rooted in trust, respect, and fairness,” he added.
Mr Oyerinde also underscored the importance of strengthening institutional frameworks and workplace practices that support employee well-being, including access to counselling services, employee engagement mechanisms, and transparent organisational policies.
He further referenced the NSITF–NECA Safe Workplace Intervention Project (SWIP) as a practical demonstration of NECA’s commitment to advancing workplace safety through proactive and preventive approaches. The initiative, implemented in collaboration with the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), evolved from the Employees’ Compensation Scheme.
“While the Employees’ Compensation Scheme provides support in cases of workplace incidents, NECA continues to emphasise prevention as the most effective approach to workplace safety. This includes expanding the scope of safety initiatives to address psychosocial risks alongside physical hazards,” he stated.
Through SWIP, NECA, and NSITF, the organisations have supported organisations in strengthening occupational safety and health systems, conducted risk assessments, facilitated stakeholder engagement, and recognised organisations demonstrating strong commitment to safety standards.
Looking ahead, NECA urged all stakeholders to integrate psychosocial risk management into existing workplace safety frameworks, ensuring a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to employee well-being.
As part of activities marking this year’s commemoration, NECA will host a Knowledge Sharing Session on April 30, 2026, themed: “From Compliance to Commitment: Building Sustainable Safety Cultures at Work.” The session will provide a platform for stakeholders to share insights, exchange best practices, and reinforce collective commitment to safer and healthier workplaces.
NECA therefore calls on Employers, Government Institutions, and Social Partners to continue working collaboratively to build work environments that not only drive productivity but also support the dignity, well-being, and full potential of every worker.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government is advancing a partnership with China aimed at accelerating affordable housing delivery and closing Nigeria’s widening housing gap through technology-driven and scalable solutions.
This followed a technical study tour to Guangzhou led by the director general and global liaison of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, Mr Joseph Tegbe, alongside a delegation from Family Homes Funds Limited, the office stated in a statement on Monday.
According to the agency, the delegation included the managing director, Mr Abdul Mutallab Mukhtar, and the executive director of Operations, Mr Emeka Henry Inegbu.
The engagement focused on unlocking strategic partnerships to integrate modular and prefabricated housing technologies into Nigeria’s construction ecosystem—an approach expected to significantly reduce building costs, shorten delivery timelines, and improve quality at scale.
With Nigeria’s housing deficit estimated in the millions, the federal government is increasingly prioritising industrialised construction methods and international collaboration to drive sustainable housing delivery.
Discussions also explored potential partnerships with leading engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms to strengthen execution capacity for large-scale social housing projects.
The delegation also engaged prospective financing partners to mobilise long-term capital required to fund affordable housing initiatives and expand access for low- and middle-income earners.
The agency said the meetings were facilitated by Joerno Conceptions Limited and the E-Link Group in China. The engagements were further strengthened through the cooperation of Zou Gang, the executive deputy director of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Enterprises Working Committee, underscoring the depth of institutional collaboration supporting the initiative.
The firm noted that the move signals a shift toward results-oriented bilateral engagement, where technical expertise, capital mobilisation, and policy alignment converge to deliver measurable outcomes.
“By leveraging China’s advanced construction capabilities to meet Nigeria’s urgent housing needs, the partnership is positioned not only to expand access to affordable homes but also to stimulate job creation, strengthen local value chains, and enhance urban resilience,” it said.
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