Author
Victor Ndukwe is a first-class graduate of Architectural Technology from the University of Wolverhampton. Although initially a science buff, his diverse interests created a bridge into the society for media and literacy. He has editorial experience having worked as the Editor for Dubawa Fact-checking platform. His background in science also meant he had a foundation in evidenced-based research and critical thinking. He now works with a team of colleagues under Dataphyte, applying his distinct skill-set as an Editor.
The Senate petitions the Executive for 1% of VAT to aid reconstruction following EndSARS destruction. Elsewhere, we continue with investigations into Fashola, who keeps digging his hole. Travelling to the US remains unchanged.
On today’s N2P, we see how an overburdened healthcare system grapples with an alien disease; all the while bagging an award in reverse. Elsewhere, we note a thread of corruption and indiscretions across government agencies. Mompha gets lucky.
Picking up where we left off with the 2021 budget review, today we review some omissions that speak to an unending gender dialogue. Under the aegis of the Small Scale Women Farmers Association in Nigeria (SWOFON), women farmers condemned the 2021 budget allocation for leaving women out yet again. And although women contribute to 80% of agriculture production, the appropriation of ₦179.4bn only accrued 1.33% to female farmers
Nigeria’s Stock Exchange (NSE) market hit the ₦17 trillion jackpot, owing to favourable stocks from key sectors. Sectors that have proved COVID-proof. And speaking of COVID, we see NTDs should also concern Nigeria’s health sector, besides the pandemic.
SARS-CoV-2 and EndSARS are still wreaking havoc to a contracted Nigerian economy. Elsewhere, we see bad roads claimed more lives than COVID from July to September. And for Lagos, Sanwo Olu promises to rekindle hope for 2021.
The 2021 Appropriation Bill: Debts, Excesses & Deductions
First came the novel coronavirus dubbed SARS-CoV-2, and now, his half brother EndSARS. A non-biological, arguably just as lethal strain that isn’t going anywhere. While COVID attacks the upper respiratory tract, the other is less subtle, as seen in the Lekki Massacre. Speaking of the coronavirus, reports note a 32% spike in live cases (stands at 3028) in the week just gone by, albeit with fewer tests.
The UN seems to recognise the Nigerian government’s proactiveness against COVID-19, but what can we say about her healthcare, particularly family planning (FP).
Nigeria’s diamond jubilee beckons while the gender dialogue deters? To be honest, it’s a non-existent conversation. And after six decades of freedom, can we say Nigerian women are free? But the icing on the cake is perhaps the widespread distorted perceptions of the gender challenge that plagues Nigerians. As for culture and religion, they have not helped.
Earlier, Dataphyte established the mixed reactions that trailed the Cable Network News’ investigation that indicted the Nigerian Military. Chief amongst which was the Minister of Information who noted their findings to be ‘a poor piece of journalistic work’. Today, we see that story unfold with the Lagos State Judiciary Panel summoning CNN. But, just like the American news platform rebuffed Mr Lai Mohammed’s suppositions of fake news, it declined this request, noting the Panel lacked territorial jurisdiction. The summon followed similar petitions for federal actors such as the Lagos State Governor and state hospitals.
