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.
Speaking of petitions, the Kaduna state panel of inquiry promises to start its sittings January 5, 2021, following the receipt of 28 petitions. Recall, Kaduna is the only state, save Katsina, in North-Eastern Nigeria to set up these panels, a Dataphyte analysis observed. It further prefaced this finding to be consequent on the climbing insecurity rates in Northern Nigeria.
Elsewhere, the second wave of COVID-19, sorry ENDSARS demonstrations is brewing in the South-West. According to the Yoruba Appraisal Forum (YAF), “we (YAF) won’t hesitate to mobilise all our members across Yorubaland to confront those planning another wave of #EndSARS protests in any part of the South-West.”
In truth, a second wave of ENDSARS demonstrations were somewhat inevitable. The bitter taste of the Nigerian government’s response to the first instance still lingers. And for many, most federal government mandated initiatives that ensued are just giving Nigerians the run-around, with no tangible success or justice. In fact, the key word used has been contradictory or autocratic. On one hand, the government established Judicial panels and commenced investigations; but in the same breath, they clamped down on EndSARS financiers and promoters.
After EndSARS, begin Youth Empowerment
In all, the impact of the preceding in the coming year, remains unknown, but serves as a cautionary tale. A tale that should inform the budget for state governments. For Senator Lawan, state budgets ought to reflect youth empowerment. And it seems the Lagos State Government heard him. In a statement, Mr Sam Egube, Lagos State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning disclosed that the ₦1.15 trillion budget would prioritise employment generation, food security and youth empowerment. In the same vein, Enugu state government established technology hubs for youth empowerment.
However, amid all the anticipation of the 2021 budget, the 2020 Finance Bill takes preeminence, according to Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. The Speaker for the House of Representatives noted how this piece of legislation influences the Nation’s ability to fund the 2021 budget and meet with her debt obligations and infrastructural deficits.