society
Challenges of Contract Employees Before and During Covid-19 in Nigeria
It is not a news to eardrums that there is increase in contract employees just like any other employees or workers being engaged for one particular work or the other by employers. It is also be attributed to the growth in population and economic situation of the country. Now that we have an unexpected pandemic called Corona Virus known as Covid-19, there have been hardship, increasing employment, depression, exploitation and other challenges posting a threat to the lives of Nigerian workers including contract worker or employee in Nigeria.
We cannot jettison how people are engaged in Nigeria for employment with the roles of consulting firms acting as agents in providing jobs for Nigerians. Hence, this is time to talk about the challenges or plights of contract employee which is not new to people who are conversant to their environments. We have read and seen different kinds of exploitation of contract workers who are not privileged to have good negotiations with their employers and sometimes have to accepted jobs where their salaries are being cut monthly by one consulting firm or contractor who engaged them for particular duties for certain duration. Contract employee had been seen exploited in security jobs, cleaning jobs, aviation job, factory jobs hotel jobs and so on.
By virtue of Section 91(1)(b) of the Labour Act, 2014, worker means any person who has entered into or works under a contract with an employer, whether the contract is for manual labour or clerical work or is expressed or implied or oral or written, and whether it is contract of service or contractor personally to execute any work or labour.
From a legal perspective, there are two broad categories of employees in Nigeria: ‘Workers’ who are defined under the Labour Act as those who are generally employees who perform manual labour or clerical work and those that can be referred to as Non-workers who are employees who perform administrative, executive, technical or professional functions. The Labour Act, which prescribes the minimum terms and conditions of employment, is limited in its scope as it applies only to Workers. The terms and conditions of employment of non workers are primarily subject to the terms of their respective contracts of employment.
Simply, a contract employee is member of staff engaged on a specific duties by their employer on certain terms and conditions which can be written and covers nature of work, duties of the employer and staff; salaries to be paid; duration of work; notice to be given for termination of employment; some clauses; etc. See the following cases on the age-long debate on the reasonability or, otherwise of ‘non-compete clauses’ in employment contracts again came to the fore in at least two important decisions of the NICN in 2018. In Infinity Tyres Limited v Sanjay Kumar (Unreported suit No: NICN/LA/170/2014 judgment delivered on October 7, 2018; per Kanyip J.), the ‘non-compete clause’ restricting the 1st defendant from joining ‘any other company in Nigeria for one year’ upon cessation of work employment with the claimant company was noted to be reasonable with regard to the geographic coverage and the one-year timeline of restraint. However, it was considered too wide and consequently unreasonable and unenforceable when the economic activity sought to be restricted was extended to cover “any other company in Nigeria”.
In 7th Heaven Bistro Limited v Amit Desphande (Unreported suit No: NICN/LA/396/2015, judgment delivered on September 27, 2018; per Peters J.) a similar issue arose. Here the court declared as ‘inhuman and stifling’, and consequently found to constitute an unfair labour practice, the restrictive covenant that ‘for whatever reason even if his employment is terminated [the employee] shall not accept employment with any other employer in Nigeria … for a period of (3) years from the date of termination or resignation as the case may be’.
The problem arises where the members of staff are not allowed to look into contract of employment and make input that will be convenient for both parties. In many cases, contract employees are made to sign the contract of employment while some being engaged through consulting firms only fill forms with the firm with a guarantor and resume at work where he will be working on a particular date for resumption.
Same provision defined Contract of employment as an agreement, whether oral or written, express or implied, whereby one person agrees to employ another as a worker and that other person agrees to serve the employer as a worker.
Another issue is that the Labour Act recognises that an employment contract could be oral or written, express or implied. Section 7 of the Labour Act requires every employer to issue a written contract to the employee within three months of the commencement of the employment relationship. With respect to Non-Workers, there is no statutory requirement for their employment contracts to be in writing. It is, however, advisable that contracts be made in writing to specify duties, avoid dispute that can emanate from non clarity of the employment terms.
Parties are bound by the terms of their agreement or contract hence there is need for the contract of employment to be beneficial to both employer and employee. For example, the employee must know his salaries and which must be stated in the contract. At will employment agreement which makes employer to dismiss contract employee at will without notice should be jettisoned by Court on its enforceability. However, contract of employment is unenforceable if it does not allow the employee to receive benefits throughout the statutory notice period. See the case of Stevens v. Sifton Properties Limited, 2012 ONSC 5508.
Where there is a dispute the relief available to workers including contract employees in Nigeria is to enforce their rights in an employment relationship is by instituting an action in the National Industrial Court of Nigeria because this is court vested with original exclusive jurisdiction in respect of all labour and employment matters in Nigeria. During the Court proceeding parties can shift ground and want to settle out of Court for one reason or the other and if agreed on terms of settlement, it becomes a Consent Judgment. Also, there are situations where employers are able to settle claims at any time before or after they are initiated till the Court delivers its final judgment.
By the same provision, employer means any person who has entered into a contract of employment to employ any other person as a worker either for himself or for the service of any other person, and includes the agent manager of factor of that first-mentioned person and the personal representatives of deceased employer.
It is expected that all employers must conduct a medical examination of every employee before the employee commences work. The examination must be carried out by a registered medical practitioner, at the expense of the employer. Making a claim of an unlawful invasion of his right to privacy and dignity of his person, the claimant in Andrew E. Okoto v Guinness Nigeria PLC (Unreported suit No: NICN/LA/72/2017; judgment delivered on November 22, 2018, per Oji J.), alleged that his employer ‘coerced, arm-twisted and compelled him to release his private medical records’. The court, upon a careful analysis of the acute conflict of evidence before it, found the claim unmeritorious.
Employers are obligated to provide rest breaks of at least 1 hour for every 6 hours of work, and must ensure that in every 7 days of work employees will be given at least 1 day of rest which shall not be less than 24 consecutive hours. Generally, women are prohibited from ‘night work’, however the Labour Act allows for some exceptions. Further, Nigerian female employees who are pregnant are entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave (6 weeks before the due date, and 6 weeks after), and where she has been in employment for at least 6 months she is entitled to at least 50% pay during her period of maternity leave.
All employers must give their employees at least 6 working days of holiday with full pay for a 12-month continuous service period. Further, employees are allowed to take up to 12 days as sick leave in any 1-year period, provided that the absence from work is certified by a registered medical practitioner.
Having laid a proper foundation there is now need to elucidate on challenges of contract employees before and during Covid-19? The challenges are:
First on the list is that, there is no employer benefits –
Contract employees do not receive employer-paid benefits. The benefits such as group health insurance, paid vacation, sick leave and pension. Contract employees must acquire their own insurance and retirement accounts when they chose not to become a permanent company employee. These expenses could reduce any pay advantage a contract position carries over a permanent employee position. On the other hand, it is sorrier case to say further that despite being exploited even at the point of being employed. For example, many Security contract employees are paid within #15,000k to #25,000k; for cleaning job, contract employees are paid within #10,000k to #20,000k; for factory job within #10,000k to #25,000k and so on depending on location of the work and financial capacity of the companies or factories. Though banks, oil and gas companies, etc pay their contract employees higher that those ones mentioned. However, through finding consulting firms have their own pay from the said money every month while some consulting firms will collect the whole first month salary. Having passed through these experience and sad conditions, they can be disengaged or dismissed by given one month notice or no notice at all. With advent of Covid-19, companies, banks, factories, hotels, etc have dismissed their some of their contract employees to cut expenses, while some give leave without payment. Some are given half salary or certain amount deducted from their salaries monthly, while some employers are not paying salaries using Covid-19 as excuse. Inflation has set in as many countries with high numbers of Covid-19 cases have experiencing recession. Covid-19 has brought more hardship, economy recession, unemployment, poverty, students not going to schools including higher institutions, foreigners including expatriates are moving to their countries, etc.
Furthermore, there is no job security in contract employment –
This is the greatest challenge of being a contract employee. This lack of job security involved with taking a position that will expire in a set amount of months or years. The fear is ability of the employee to renew the Contract of Employment when it expires. Most of these contract employees stand a risk of seeking another job which can either be beneficial to them or put them another employment not satisfactory to them. Those contract employees who had been dismissed owing to dreadful pandemic called Covid-19 are now exposed to idleness, criminality, depression, insult that may arise from not meeting bills and other expenses and other vulnerable situation.
Also, they face challenges of discrimination in employment – Section 42 of the Constitution of FRN, 1999 as amended prohibits discrimination against Nigerian citizens on the basis of their community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion, political opinion or the circumstances of their birth. Some contract employees which sometimes the companies or factories, etc think they need their competence or services in a particular field but to one reason or the other possess some physical challenges or belonging to particular ethnic group or religion are also placed on contract. This may not be clear to all. This is common among growing companies and big companies which would rather use recommendations, or relationship in employing their members of staff. In Nigeria, employees get employed through different media such as altitude test and open interview, recommendation, through consulting firms which they believed they would have done the needful, long time relationship, calls from the said company’s profitable clients or employed to gain benefits the connection of the intending employees’ families. A lot of laws had been enacted to stop discrimination against Nigerian citizens who are seeking employment. Such laws are Lagos State Special People’s Law, 2011 in Lagos State while at Federal level, there is Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 and other relevant laws. National Industrial Court of Nigeria also held identical views in both Darlington Eriseye Lawson v Keystone Bank Limited (Unreported suit No. NICN/IB/48/2016; decision made on 2018-10-09, per Kola-Olalere J.) and Jacob Folarin v Union Assurance Co. Ltd (Unreported suit No. LA/08/2016; decision made on October 25, 2018, per Amadi J.). Here it found that the practice of an employer paying ex-gratia to some of its ex-employees whose employments were determined in the same or similar circumstances with that of the claimant (without making same payment to the claimant) was discriminatory and amounted to unfair labour practice.
In the same vein, they face exploitation, inhuman treatment and abuses which was triggered by corruption and selfish employers – It is not in all situations that it is an easy task to get employment as contract employees. Condition permit people settling for contract jobs at times. A situation where an OND Holder will be doing cleaning or security job or Masters Holder to be a driver of a company or industry and other unthinkable reasons owing to economic situation of Nigeria. A country where factories are dying and worship centres are increasing and we complain of unemployment. Where connection determines how far your company can grow and failing to perform governmental requirements. Even ghost workers that are still existing makes jobs unavailable in public services as required. The educated ones are no longer getting employment benefits as before. It has become do-a-job-that-you-see and not the one that fit your Certificate. Increase in demand for employment caused by increase in population and few employing employments. Where one contract employee wants to quit his job about thousands are already available to get same employment. The advantage that employers are capitalising on. This has led to exploitation, inhuman treatment which is against Section 34 of the Constitution of FRN 1999 and abuses of contract employees. Still on unfair labour practice, the purported disengagement of an employee not following laid down process, coupled with an unlawful denial of earned promotion was frowned at in Dr. Kayode Afolayan v UNILORIN (Unreported suit No: NICN/IL/16/2017; decision made on November 27, 2018, per Adewemimo J.) In Mrs. Gloria Chukwudi-Nneke v Registered Trustees of Dowen College, Lagos (Unreported suit No: NICN/LA/351/2014, judgment delivered on 2018-05-10, Peters J.) the defendant was asked to pay damages to the claimant ‘for the manner in which she was disengaged by the defendant more importantly given her status as a pregnant woman’
To sum it up, it is high time we grow Nigeria to be economically flourishing enough to reduce numbers of unemployment and contract employees. A lot of work has to be done in creating buoyant economy, social infrastructure, free education to tertiary level and other growth that can aid viable employment for Nigerians. Covid-19 should be lesson for all and not just the government on the need to plan for future and value lives. All I cry for is justice for all contract employees considering their situations during Covid-19.
- Prince Olumide Akindiya, Lawyer, Notary Public & Principal Counsel of Olumide Akindiya & Co. Based in Lagos. WhatsApp: +2348131509509.
Email: [email protected].
Customs at the Crossroads: When Lawmakers Look Away and the Executive Looks Aside
By Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi
In a democracy, legislative oversight is the scalpel that cuts through deceit, inefficiency, and corruption in public institutions. It is the people’s last institutional shield against abuse of power. But what happens when that shield becomes a shelter for the very rot it is meant to expose? And what happens when the Executive arm, whose duty is to supervise its agencies, pretends not to see?
The unfolding drama between the National Assembly and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reveals more than a policy dispute. It exposes a dangerous triangle of confusion, complicity, and economic sabotage. At stake is not only the rule of law but the survival of an economy already gasping under inflation, a weak naira, and suffocating costs of living.
The House Talks Tough
In June 2025, Nigerians saw a glimpse of legislative courage when the House of Representatives Committee thundered at Customs:
> “Nigerian Customs Service, by June 30, must not collect CISS again. You are to collect only your 4% FOB assigned by the President. Even the 7% cost of collection you currently take is illegal—it was an executive fiat of the military, not democratic law. Any attempt to continue these illegal collections will be challenged in court. The ‘I’s have it.”
The voice was firm, the ruling decisive. Nigerians expected a turning point.
But the righteous thunder of the House was quickly muffled by the Senate’s softer tone, which suggested not the enforcement of the law but a readiness to bend it.
Senate: Oversight or Escape Route?
At a Senate Customs Committee session, Senator Ade Fadahunsi admitted openly that Customs has been operating illegally since June 2023. Yet rather than demand an end to illegality, he extended a lifeline to Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi:
> “If we come back to the same source… the two houses will sit together and see to your amendment so you will not be walking on a tight rope.”
But should Adeniyi be handed a loose rope while Nigeria’s economy hangs by a thread?
Instead of accountability, the Senate Customs Committee floated adjustments that would make life easier for Customs. The nation was given hints about fraudulent insurance and freight data, but instead of sanctions, what we saw was a search for escape routes. This is not oversight—it is overlook.
Smuggling and Excuses
The Senate Committee also lamented cross-border smuggling—Nigerian goods like cement flooding Cotonou, Togo, and Ghana at cheaper prices than in Nigeria. Senator Fadahunsi blamed the Central Bank’s 2% value deposit for encouraging the practice.
But where are the Senate’s enforcement actions—compliance checks, stiffer sanctions, cross-border coordination? None. The result is predictable: smugglers prosper, reserves bleed, and ordinary Nigerians pay more for less.
A Bloated Customs Budget
The Service’s 2024 capital allocation ballooned to ₦1.1 trillion from ₦706 billion. Instead of channeling these resources into modern trade systems, Customs is expanding empires of frivolity—such as proposing a new university despite already having training facilities in Gwagwalada and Ikeja that could easily be upgraded.
Oversight is not an afterthought; it is the legislature’s constitutional duty. To see waste and illegality and yet propose amendments that would legalise them is to turn oversight into overlook.
Customs has about 16,000 staff, yet many remain poorly trained. Rather than prioritise capacity building, the Service is busy building staff estates in odd locations. How does Modakeke—an inland town with no border post—end up with massive Customs housing projects, while strategic border towns like Badagry, Idiroko, and Saki remain neglected? Is Bashir Adeniyi Comptroller-General of Customs—or Minister of Housing?
The 4% FOB Levy: A Policy Blunder
The central controversy is the Federal Government’s plan to replace existing port charges with a new 4% Free-On-Board (FOB) levy on imports.
Nigeria is an import-dependent nation. This levy will instantly hike the costs of cars, spare parts, machinery, and raw materials—crippling industries and punishing consumers.
Already, the consequences are biting:
A 2006 Toyota Corolla now costs between ₦6–9 million.
Clearing agents who once paid ₦215,000 for license renewal must now cough out ₦4 million.
New freight forwarder licenses have jumped from ₦600,000 to ₦10 million.
Customs claims the revenue is needed for its modernisation programme, anchored on a software platform called B’Odogwu. But stakeholders describe this so-called “Odogwu” as epileptic—if not comatose. Why commit trillions to a ghost programme that will be obsolete by January 2026, when the Nigerian Revenue Service is set to take over Customs collections?
Industry Raises the Alarm
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has warned that the levy will worsen inflation, disrupt supply chains, and hurt productivity.
Lucky Amiwero, President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, calls the levy “economically dangerous.” His reasoning is straightforward:
The 4% FOB levy is much higher than the 1% CISS it replaces.
Peer countries like Ghana maintain just 1%.
The new levy will fuel inflation, raise the landed costs of goods, and destabilise the naira.
He also revealed that the Customs Modernisation Act, which introduced the levy, was passed without Senate scrutiny or meaningful stakeholder consultation. He estimates that the levy could add ₦3–4 trillion annually to freight costs—burdens that will be transferred directly to consumers.
Who Is Behind the “Odogwu” Masquerade?
The haste to enforce this levy, despite its looming redundancy, raises disturbing questions. Who benefits from the “Odogwu” project draining trillions? Why the rush, when NRS will take over collections in a few months?
This masquerade must be unmasked.
The Price Nigerians Pay
For ordinary Nigerians, this policy translates into one thing: higher prices. Cars, manufactured goods, and spare parts are spiraling beyond reach. A nation struggling with inflation, unemployment, and a weak currency cannot afford such reckless experiments.
So, while the Senate looks away, the Executive cannot look aside.
The Executive Cannot Escape Blame.
It is easy to focus on the failings of the legislature. But we must not forget: the Customs Service is an agency of the Federal Ministry of Finance, under the direct supervision of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun.
If Customs is breaking the law, wasting resources, or implementing anti-people policies, the buck stops at the Executive’s table. The Minister of Finance is Chairman of the Customs Board. To fold his hands while the Service operates in illegality is to abdicate responsibility.
History gives us a model. In 1999, the Minister of State for Finance, Nenadi Usman, was specifically assigned to supervise Customs and report directly to the President. Meanwhile, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala focused on broader fiscal and economic policies. That division of responsibility improved accountability. Today, the absence of such an arrangement is feeding impunity.
President Tinubu and his Finance Minister must act decisively. Oversight without executive will is a dead letter.
A Call to Accountability
The truth is stark:
Customs has been operating illegally since June 2023 to the Senate’s own confession.
The 4% FOB levy will deepen inflation and worsen economic hardship.
The Ministry of Finance bears ultimate responsibility for Customs’ conduct.
Until importing and consuming, Nigerians demand accountability—of the Comptroller-General, the Senate, and above all, the Finance Ministry—this bleeding will continue.
Nigerians deserve better. They deserve a Customs Service that serves the nation, not a privileged few. They deserve a House that enforces its resolutions, not one that grandstands. They deserve a Senate that upholds the law, not one that bends it. And above all, they deserve an Executive that does not look aside while illegality thrives under its ministry.
Only public pressure can end this indulgence. If Nigerians keep silent, we will keep paying the price—in higher costs, weaker currency, and a sabotaged economy.
Citizens’ Charge: Silence is Not an Option
Fellow Nigerians, the Customs crisis is not a drama for the pages of newspapers—it is a burden on our pockets, our businesses, and our children’s future. Every illegal levy is a tax on the poor. Every abandoned oversight is an open invitation to corruption. Every silence from the Executive is an approval of impunity.
We cannot afford to fold our arms. Democracy gives us the power of voice, the duty of vigilance, and the right to demand accountability. Let us demand that:
The Senate and House of Representatives stop playing good cop, bad cop, and enforce the law without compromise.
The Ministry of Finance takes full responsibility for the Customs Service, supervising it in the interest of Nigerians, not vested interests.
The President intervenes now, before the Service crosses the dangerous line of turning illegality into policy.
History will not forgive a people who suffered in silence when their economy was bled by recklessness. Silence is complicity. The time to speak, to write, to petition, to protest, and to demand is now.
Customs must serve Nigeria—not sabotage it.
Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi is an Apostle and Nation Builder. He’s also the President of Voice of His Word Ministries and Convener Apostolic Round Table. BoT Chairman, Project Victory Call Initiative, AKA PVC Naija. He is a strategic Communicator and the CEO, Masterbuilder Communications.
Email:[email protected]
Facebook:Bolaji Akinyemi.
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Apostle Johnson Suleman: Firebrand of Faith, Prophet to the Nations, Voice to a Generation
By Femi Oyewale
In the beginning, there was just one man with a burning vision. Today, that man has become a global force whose voice thunders across continents, whose prayers ignite miracles, and whose mission is transforming destinies worldwide. He is Apostle Johnson Suleman, the fiery Restoration Apostle, the humanitarian preacher, and the global trailblazer reshaping the Christian faith for a new generation.
From Auchi to the World
Born in Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria, Apostle Suleman’s rise from humble beginnings to international prominence is nothing short of remarkable. What started as a divine calling has now evolved into a global mandate, reaching millions through Omega Fire Ministries International (OFM).
His story is the classic tale of vision meeting conviction—of a man who dared to believe God not just for himself, but for nations. From a modest congregation, OFM has spread like wildfire, with branches in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas, and beyond.
The Man & The Mission
To know Suleman is to understand passion—passion for God, for people, and transformation. He lives by one mantra: populate Heaven, depopulate Hell.
His pulpit is a battlefield, his voice a trumpet, his words a sword. Through his fiery sermons, prophetic declarations, and healing crusades, countless men and women testify of divine encounters—cancers healed, destinies restored, impossibilities overturned.
But beyond the pulpit lies the heart of a humanitarian. Suleman’s mission has always extended beyond preaching. He funds scholarships for the underprivileged, empowers widows with homes, sets up businesses for struggling families, and supports countless orphans. In times of crisis, he has sent relief materials across regions, proving that true ministry is not only heard—it is seen.
The Impact
Step into one of his crusades, and the atmosphere tells its own story. Stadiums overflow. Multitudes gather, hungry for hope. From London to Houston, Dubai to Johannesburg, crowds testify to healings, deliverance, and restoration.
Through Celebration TV and other digital platforms, Suleman’s voice penetrates homes, villages, and cities, giving access to millions who may never step into a physical church. His boldness in confronting social ills and speaking truth to power has also established him as a fearless voice beyond the church walls.
The Global Moves
Apostle Suleman is not just a Nigerian voice—he is a global phenomenon. His recent international crusades draw audiences in their tens of thousands, breaking barriers of race, culture, and language.
From prophesying to presidents to laying hands on ordinary citizens, his message is universal: God still speaks, God still heals, God still restores.
Each global tour solidifies his place as one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 21st century. He is as comfortable commanding a crowd in Chicago as he is in Accra, as bold in Paris as he is in Abuja.
The Legacy in Motion
Apostle Johnson Suleman is more than a preacher—he is a movement. A man consumed by vision, driven by compassion, and equipped with an anointing that refuses to be confined by borders.
From Auchi to America, from pulpits to palaces, from widows to world leaders, his impact is undeniable. And as the Restoration Apostle continues to blaze trails across nations, one thing is certain: his legacy is still unfolding, and his global moves have only just begun.
Senator Musa’s Legacy of Intellect, Compassion and Delivery
By Suleiman Adamu
In Nigeria’s dynamic democratic landscape, where leadership often teeters between self-interest and public service, few figures emerge as true exemplars of covenantal representation. Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, CON, affectionately known as “Musa 313,” stands as a beacon of intellectual rigour, empathy, and impactful delivery. Representing Niger East Senatorial District, he has woven a legacy of legislative excellence and grassroots development that resonates far beyond the confines of his constituency, touching the heart of Nigeria’s democratic aspirations.
Great leaders are not born of chance; they are shaped by discipline, preparation, and an unrelenting commitment to progress. Senator Musa embodies this truth. A proud son of Niger State, he embarked on an academic journey that laid the foundation for his remarkable career. At Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, specialising in Banking and Finance, in 1990. This degree was not merely a credential but a springboard for his intellectual evolution.
Driven by a thirst for knowledge, he pursued further studies at global institutions, securing a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy and Management from the University of London and a Postgraduate Certificate in International Management from the University of Liverpool. These academic milestones equipped him with a nuanced understanding of governance, economics, and institutional reform, moulding him into a technocrat with a worldview enriched by comparative models of development.
Long before he stepped into the political arena, Musa was already a thinker whose ideas were informed by global perspectives and a deep appreciation for systemic change. Senator Musa is no ordinary parliamentarian. His presence reverberates from the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly in Abuja to the dusty roads of rural Niger East. He is a statesman whose intellectual sophistication is matched by his accessibility and empathy, a rare blend that allows him to connect with both policymakers and ordinary citizens.
His nickname, “Musa 313” is a symbol of trust and familiarity, a proof of the bond he has forged with his people. Unlike many legislators whose names fade beyond roll calls, Musa has etched his mark on the annals of parliamentary relevance since his election in 2019. As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, he shoulders one of the most critical roles in Nigeria’s legislative framework. His committee oversees fiscal discipline, appropriation, and national planning—responsibilities that demand precision, foresight, and patriotism.
Under his leadership, oversight reports and finance bills are scrutinised with meticulous care, earning him the confidence of Nigerians who see in him a guardian of the nation’s economic integrity. Musa’s legislative contributions are profound and far-reaching. His sponsorship of transformative bills reflects a mind attuned to both the immediate needs of his constituents and the structural challenges facing Nigeria.
Among his notable legislative efforts is the Bill to Regulate and Formalise Employment of Domestic Workers, Interns, and Other Informal Sector Employees (SB 629, 2025), currently in its second reading. Another landmark proposal is the National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill of 2021, a bold initiative to combat rural unemployment and foster economic inclusion in Nigeria’s hinterlands. The Critical Infrastructure Protection Bill of 2021 addresses the pressing need to safeguard Nigeria’s assets against sabotage and insecurity, a critical issue in a nation grappling with infrastructural challenges.
Musa’s vision for education is evident in the National University of Health and Medical Sciences, Suleja Bill, which aims to bolster medical training and healthcare delivery. His Loan Recovery Regulation Bill of 2020 seeks to sanitise the banking sector, while the Constitutional Court of Nigeria Bill of 2020 underscores his commitment to constitutionalism. The Constituency Delimitation Centre Bill of 2020 further demonstrates his dedication to strengthening democratic representation.
Each of these bills reveals a legislator who thinks locally but legislates nationally, addressing the unique needs of Niger East while tackling Nigeria’s broader developmental imperatives. Yet, for Senator Musa, legislation is not an end in itself but a means to transform lives. He understands that parliamentary privilege must translate into tangible progress for his constituents. In Niger East, his interventions are a testament to this philosophy, touching every facet of human development.
In education, Musa recognises that knowledge is the ladder by which societies ascend. He has renovated classrooms and constructed a principal’s office at Government Technical College, Minna, ensuring that students learn in dignified environments. His establishment of an ICT Centre in Ija Gwari, Tafa LGA, is a forward-thinking investment in the digital economy, empowering rural youths to compete in a technology-driven world. His scholarship programs, spanning primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, have opened doors for countless students, with international undergraduate opportunities in China and India offering a global stage for Niger East’s brightest minds. These initiatives are not mere gestures but structural investments in the future, ensuring that the next generation is equipped to lead.
In healthcare, Musa’s mantra of “Health is Wealth” guides his efforts to improve lives. Across the nine local government areas of Niger East, he has facilitated the installation of solar power and generators in primary healthcare centers, ensuring that immunisation, maternal care, and rural treatments are not hampered by power outages. His commitment to maintenance ensures these facilities remain functional, bringing dignity and reliability to healthcare delivery.
In agriculture, the lifeline of Niger East, Musa’s benevolence shines through. He has distributed 10,000 bags of grain to alleviate hunger and provided farm implements and fertilisers to rural farmers, boosting productivity and food security. His tailoring empowerment scheme for 100 youths is a deliberate effort to catalyse cottage industries, fostering economic self-reliance and preserving the region’s agrarian heritage.
Musa’s infrastructure projects further illustrate his responsiveness to his people’s needs. In Ginyin Village, Shiroro LGA, he constructed a solar borehole, delivering clean, safe water to residents who once struggled for this basic necessity. A 1km road in Kuta, Shiroro LGA, has improved connectivity, while electrification projects, including 500KVA transformers in Iwa Gurara and other communities, have brought light to darkened villages.
The renovation of Sukeja Town Hall has provided a communal space for gatherings, reinforcing social cohesion. Each project—water for the thirsty, light for the darkened, roads for the isolated—reflects Musa’s ability to listen and act, addressing the immediate needs of his people while laying the foundation for long-term progress. What sets Senator Musa apart is his embodiment of the qualities that define an uncommon parliamentarian: intellectual grounding, legislative productivity, constituency visibility, empathy, and national relevance.
He is not a populist chasing fleeting applause but a leader who feels the pulse of his people and synchronises it with national priorities. While others may settle for episodic empowerment, Musa builds a systematic architecture of development, weaving together education, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure into a cohesive vision for Niger East.
In just two years in the 10th Senate, he has redefined parliamentary responsibility, proving that senators need not be absentee representatives or mere voices in the capital. His work is a bridge between law-making and life-building, a testament to his refusal to divorce policy from people.
Musa’s impact extends beyond Niger East. His legislative efforts address national challenges, from unemployment to infrastructure security, positioning him as a statesman of national consequence. His ability to balance local needs with Nigeria’s broader aspirations makes him a model for aspiring leaders. Niger East is fortunate to have him; Niger State takes pride in his achievements, and Nigeria is enriched by his service.
To honour Senator Musa 313 is to recognise a rare fusion of intellect, compassion, and delivery—a leader who has rewritten the narrative of representation. His contributions are luminous chapters in Nigeria’s democratic journey, illuminating the path for others to follow.
*Adamu PhD is a researcher writing from UniAbuja.
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