Feature/OPED
University of Calabar’s Unending Controversies
By Jerome-Mario Chijioke Utomi
It is no longer news that the management of the University of Calabar has suspended the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof Cyril Ndifon, over allegations of sexual harassment of female students.
Ndifon’s suspension, which took immediate effect, followed a probe into the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by some female students of the faculty who were recently seen in a viral video storming the office of the school’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Florence Obi, wielding placards with inscriptions such as, “Ndifon must go for our sanity,” “We are tired of buying law journals,” “We are tired of lecturers not attending classes,” and “Law girls are not your bonanza’.
The suspension was reportedly conveyed via a letter by the school’s Registrar, Gabriel Egbe, and partly read, “Please refer to our letter Ref UC/REG/DISC.45A dated August 14, 2023, on your alleged violation of the provisions of the extant laws and policies of the university and your response to the said letter which was dated August 16, 2023. “The vice-chancellor has gone through your written representations and is not satisfied with your explanations.
Essentially, while the suspension is appreciated, this piece, on the other hand, believes that Unical is not alien to scandals. Profession Ndifon’s latest sex scandal is just an addition to the institution’s gale of bad press.
Recall that the erudite Professor of Law was suspended in 2015 over the same sexual harassment allegation. Commentators are never tired of harping on the university’s lurid downside, which has seemingly defied successive leaderships.
For example, reports have shown that Unical is not only reputed for poor relationships with students but equally allergic to the good image when it comes to dealings with its publics, including suppliers.
Notedly, while the dust raised by the Ndifongate (part two) appears to be settling, another tar on Unical’s linen has just reared its ugly head, prompting analysts to suggest that there is something deeply troubling with the school, albeit hidden.
In this light, the reported ordeal suffered in the hands of the successive University of Calabar leadership, from 2014 till date (9 years), by Isioma Aninyem, a Nigerian, trading under the name Michael Hull Services, an educational services company that is primarily involved in sourcing and supplying of educational materials, particularly journals, to educational institutions, readily comes to mind.
Giving details of what he termed ‘’using trickery and deception to obtain sets of academic/research journals to the tune of N1, 034,700 (One Million and Thirty-four Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira Only) from the organization in 2014’’, the management of MICHAEL HULL SERVICES in the referenced report explained that the then university librarian, Dr (Mrs) Ruth Simon Bassey contacted Michael Hull Services, in the aforementioned year – to provide academic/professional journals to the university library in preparation for the accreditation of the academic programs of the university by the National University Commission.
Dr (Mrs) Bassey, according to the firm, had assured that immediate payment would be made after the delivery of the journals to the university.
She thus pleaded with him (Isioma Anyinyem) to grant the credit to the university even though this was against the practice in the firm. The organization agreed and supplied the journals to the university library.
Unfortunately, however, to this day, the organization has written and appealed to the bursar, vice-chancellor, accountant and university librarian to pay the money as promised, but the appeals never yielded any result.
‘In 2015, I demanded payment. She informed me that the invoice was being processed. In 2016, I called again to say that I had not been paid; she stated that the university and the former university bursar were having legal issues in court and that I would be paid after the case. She later called me to say that a new university bursar had been appointed and that I would be paid.
“But contrary to that promise, when I called the new university bursar, she stated that she was unaware of the non-settlement of that invoice. I sent the details to her, but nothing was done.
“As if that was not enough woes, ‘in 2018, the university bursar sent a message to my telephone stating that the contract was awarded by the former university vice-chancellor and funded or paid for. I quickly informed Dr (Mrs) Simon Bassey of the new development, but she immediately denied the bursar’s claim and told me she had met her on several occasions to advance my case.
“She went further to inform me that it would be false and sent this Payment Voucher Number: Michael Hull, PV, 158 of 14th Jan, 016 # 906,865.50. This was likely to reassure me that there was no payment made to anybody. I forwarded the message to the bursar, but she refused to state who the payment was made to. I wrote to the vice-chancellor of the university, demanding and appealing to him to pay me. There was no response from him’’.
Continuing, Mr Isioma said, “In 2019, the university librarian, Mrs Nkoyo Edem called me to apologize on behalf of the university and appealed to me not to take legal action against the university and that I should forward a copy of the original invoice of the supplied journals to her for onward processing. I did this, but unfortunately, the university has refused to pay me or even reach out to me till today.
“Not even my petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offices Commission (ICPC) and the Public Complaints Commission have been able to compel UNICAL management to positively respond to my demand,” Isioma concluded.”
This is the reality confronting Isioma Aninyem and his firm, Michael Hull Services!
Going by the above account, it will elicit the question as to; who knows how many Nigerians have suffered similar fates in the past or still going through such plight in the hands of the University of Calabar management. How many Nigerian businessmen/women would stand the test? Who will stop the university authority from such inhuman treatment of their fellow Nigerians? What is the offence committed by Michael Hull? Who should be the judge? Must we as a nation allow UNICAL to go on with such practice to the detriment of businesses in Nigeria?
Undoubtedly, it will be convenient for some commentators to argue that this is a commercial dispute and, therefore, should be settled privately without coming to the public domain. But in the opinion of this piece, there are glaring reasons why this particular issue must be investigated.
Very fundamental, the university in question is a public institution of higher learning conducted with the approval and from the funds of the public. Therefore, when such a public institution ceases to have public support or is involved in any form of infraction that has to do with a lack of transparency or accountability or a combination of both, it forfeits its right to exist. In the present circumstance, a university maintained on permanent public funds has been accused of being serially reputed for undermining public trust. Therefore, this piece sees no reason why it should not be placed under scrutiny.
Regardless of what others may say about the amount of money in question, by all standards, N1,034,700 is a huge amount that must not be allowed to go unaccounted for. Similarly, assuming without conceding that the money used for the supply of the journal was a loan sourced from a financial institution, the weight of accumulated interest in the past 9years would have been crushing by now.
Like an unchained torrent of water submerging the whole countryside and devastating crops, even so, will the authorities of the university continue to treat their suppliers and other stakeholders if this particular infraction and others are not investigated and those involved bare ought to book?
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led the Federal Government, and other relevant stakeholders must, therefore, look into this present issue as there exists the possibility of such ill-treatment escalating in other universities in Nigeria if the present is handled with levity.
Jerome-Mario Utomi is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy) at Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos. He can be reached via [email protected]/08032725374
Feature/OPED
The Future of Payments: Key Trends to Watch in 2025
By Luke Kyohere
The global payments landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation. New technologies coupled with the rising demand for seamless, secure, and efficient transactions has spurred on an exciting new era of innovation and growth. With 2025 fast approaching, here are important trends that will shape the future of payments:
1. The rise of real-time payments
Until recently, real-time payments have been used in Africa for cross-border mobile money payments, but less so for traditional payments. We are seeing companies like Mastercard investing in this area, as well as central banks in Africa putting focus on this.
2. Cashless payments will increase
In 2025, we will see the continued acceleration of cashless payments across Africa. B2B payments in particular will also increase. Digital payments began between individuals but are now becoming commonplace for larger corporate transactions.
3. Digital currency will hit mainstream
In the cryptocurrency space, we will see an increase in the use of stablecoins like United States Digital Currency (USDC) and Tether (USDT) which are linked to US dollars. These will come to replace traditional cryptocurrencies as their price point is more stable. This year, many countries will begin preparing for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), government-backed digital currencies which use blockchain.
The increased uptake of digital currencies reflects the maturity of distributed ledger technology and improved API availability.
4. Increased government oversight
As adoption of digital currencies will increase, governments will also put more focus into monitoring these flows. In particular, this will centre on companies and banks rather than individuals. The goal of this will be to control and occasionally curb runaway foreign exchange (FX) rates.
5. Business leaders buy into AI technology
In 2025, we will see many business leaders buying into AI through respected providers relying on well-researched platforms and huge data sets. Most companies don’t have the budget to invest in their own research and development in AI, so many are now opting to ‘buy’ into the technology rather than ‘build’ it themselves. Moreover, many businesses are concerned about the risks associated with data ownership and accuracy so buying software is another way to avoid this risk.
6. Continued AI Adoption in Payments
In payments, the proliferation of AI will continue to improve user experience and increase security. To detect fraud, AI is used to track patterns and payment flows in real-time. If unusual activity is detected, the technology can be used to flag or even block payments which may be fraudulent.
When it comes to user experience, we will also see AI being used to improve the interface design of payment platforms. The technology will also increasingly be used for translation for international payment platforms.
7. Rise of Super Apps
To get more from their platforms, mobile network operators are building comprehensive service platforms, integrating multiple payment experiences into a single app. This reflects the shift of many users moving from text-based services to mobile apps. Rather than offering a single service, super apps are packing many other services into a single app. For example, apps which may have previously been used primarily for lending, now have options for saving and paying bills.
8. Business strategy shift
Recent major technological changes will force business leaders to focus on much shorter prediction and reaction cycles. Because the rate of change has been unprecedented in the past year, this will force decision-makers to adapt quickly, be decisive and nimble.
As the payments space evolves, businesses, banks, and governments must continually embrace innovation, collaboration, and prioritise customer needs. These efforts build a more inclusive, secure, and efficient payment system that supports local to global economic growth – enabling true financial inclusion across borders.
Luke Kyohere is the Group Chief Product and Innovation Officer at Onafriq
Feature/OPED
Ghana’s Democratic Triumph: A Call to Action for Nigeria’s 2027 Elections
In a heartfelt statement released today, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has extended its warmest congratulations to Ghana’s President-Elect, emphasizing the importance of learning from Ghana’s recent electoral success as Nigeria gears up for its 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, the CNPP highlighted the need for Nigeria to reclaim its status as a leader in democratic governance in Africa.
“The recent victory of Ghana’s President-Elect is a testament to the maturity and resilience of Ghana’s democracy,” the CNPP stated. “As we celebrate this achievement, we must reflect on the lessons that Nigeria can learn from our West African neighbour.”
The CNPP’s message underscored the significance of free, fair, and credible elections, a standard that Ghana has set and one that Nigeria has previously achieved under former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. “It is high time for Nigeria to reclaim its position as a beacon of democracy in Africa,” the CNPP asserted, calling for a renewed commitment to the electoral process.
Central to CNPP’s message is the insistence that “the will of the people must be supreme in Nigeria’s electoral processes.” The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria CNPP emphasized the necessity of an electoral system that genuinely reflects the wishes of the Nigerian populace. “We must strive to create an environment where elections are free from manipulation, violence, and intimidation,” the CNPP urged, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take decisive action to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
The CNPP also expressed concern over premature declarations regarding the 2027 elections, stating, “It is disheartening to note that some individuals are already announcing that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2027. This kind of statement not only undermines the democratic principles that our nation holds dear but also distracts from the pressing need for the current administration to earn the trust of the electorate.”
The CNPP viewed the upcoming elections as a pivotal moment for Nigeria. “The 2027 general elections present a unique opportunity for Nigeria to reclaim its position as a leader in democratic governance in Africa,” it remarked. The body called on all stakeholders — including the executive, legislature, judiciary, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and civil society organisations — to collaborate in ensuring that elections are transparent, credible, and reflective of the will of the Nigerian people.
As the most populous African country prepares for the 2027 elections, the CNPP urged all Nigerians to remain vigilant and committed to democratic principles. “We must work together to ensure that our elections are free from violence, intimidation, and manipulation,” the statement stated, reaffirming the CNPP’s commitment to promoting a peaceful and credible electoral process.
In conclusion, the CNPP congratulated the President-Elect of Ghana and the Ghanaian people on their remarkable achievements.
“We look forward to learning from their experience and working together to strengthen democracy in our region,” the CNPP concluded.
Feature/OPED
The Need to Promote Equality, Equity and Fairness in Nigeria’s Proposed Tax Reforms
By Kenechukwu Aguolu
The proposed tax reform, involving four tax bills introduced by the Federal Government, has received significant criticism. Notably, it was rejected by the Governors’ Forum but was still forwarded to the National Assembly. Unlike the various bold economic decisions made by this government, concessions will likely need to be made on these tax reforms, which involve legislative amendments and therefore cannot be imposed by the executive. This article highlights the purposes of taxation, the qualities of a good tax system, and some of the implications of the proposed tax reforms.
One of the major purposes of taxation is to generate revenue for the government to finance its activities. A good tax system should raise sufficient revenue for the government to fund its operations, and support economic and infrastructural development. For any country to achieve meaningful progress, its tax-to-GDP ratio should be at least 15%. Currently, Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio is less than 11%. The proposed tax reforms aim to increase this ratio to 18% within the next three years.
A good tax system should also promote income redistribution and equality by implementing progressive tax policies. In line with this, the proposed tax reforms favour low-income earners. For example, individuals earning less than one million naira annually are exempted from personal income tax. Additionally, essential goods and services such as food, accommodation, and transportation, which constitute a significant portion of household consumption for low- and middle-income groups, are to be exempted from VAT.
In addition to equality, a good tax system should ensure equity and fairness, a key area of contention surrounding the proposed reforms. If implemented, the amendments to the Value Added Tax could lead to a significant reduction in the federal allocation for some states; impairing their ability to finance government operations and development projects. The VAT amendments should be holistically revisited to promote fairness and national unity.
The establishment of a single agency to collect government taxes, the Nigeria Revenue Service, could reduce loopholes that have previously resulted in revenue losses, provided proper controls are put in place. It is logically easier to monitor revenue collection by one agency than by multiple agencies. However, this is not a magical solution. With automation, revenue collection can be seamless whether it is managed by one agency or several, as long as monitoring and accountability measures are implemented effectively.
The proposed tax reforms by the Federal Government are well-intentioned. However, all concerns raised by Nigerians should be looked into, and concessions should be made where necessary. Policies are more effective when they are adapted to suit the unique characteristics of a nation, rather than adopted wholesale. A good tax system should aim to raise sufficient revenue, ensure equitable income distribution, and promote equality, equity, and fairness.
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