A BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY EMPEROR ESEMONU CHRISTIAN

Today, we joyfully commemorate the birthday of a visionary leader, His Imperial Majesty Emperor King Dr. Ugochukwu Christian Esemonu, the revered Great Emperor of Santorini Empire and Administrator of the Global Throne United Kingdom of Atlantis. It’s a moment to reflect on his extraordinary life, remarkable leadership, and the profound impact he’s had on countless lives.

Emperor EseMonu Christian is more than a title holder; he’s a beacon of hope, a symbol of acceleration, and a champion of excellence. His dedication to serving humanity, without bounds or bias, has earned him widespread respect and admiration. With a career marked by remarkable achievements and a heart full of compassion, he has touched the lives of many, empowering them to reach their full potential.

As he celebrates another milestone, we celebrate not just a leader, but a mentor, a guide, and a friend to many. His legacy continues to inspire, uplift, and transform communities, both locally and globally. We pray that the Almighty remains his strength, guiding him with wisdom and empowering him to achieve greater heights.

To His Imperial Majesty, we say: Happy Birthday! May this year bring you boundless joy, continued faithfulness, and the fulfillment of every noble desire. Here’s to many more years of leading with grace, impacting lives, and shining brightly for the people of UKA and beyond.

_Happy birthday to you, Your Majesty!
Clement Emmanuel. Media Director (UKA)

Buratai Tasks ACF on Bold Northern Agenda, Food Security and National Unity at 25th Anniversary

Former Chief of Army Staff and former Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (Rtd), has congratulated the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on its 25th anniversary, urging the organisation to spearhead a new era of purposeful leadership, regional development, and national cohesion.

In a goodwill message issued on November 20 in Kaduna to mark the Forum’s Silver Jubilee, Buratai described the ACF as an “indispensable pillar” that has consistently championed unity, peace, and progress in Northern Nigeria over the past quarter-century. He commended the Forum for sustaining the values of integrity, dialogue, and inclusiveness laid down by the region’s founding leaders, noting that the ACF has remained a critical platform for confronting the North’s most pressing developmental challenges.

Buratai, however, stressed that the next 25 years require a more strategic and proactive ACF—one capable of shaping a coherent, home-grown Northern agenda anchored on security, good governance, education, and economic prosperity.

“True political neutrality cannot mean the absence of political direction,” he said. “The North must develop a coherent agenda and the ACF must take the lead, supporting state governments and promoting accountability. Our challenges require robust regional solutions, not over-reliance on the federal government.”

Expressing concern over the region’s persistent food insecurity despite its vast arable land, Buratai described the situation as a “profound paradox.” He urged Northern leaders to make decisive investments in agriculture and warned against expending public resources on what he termed “intangible infrastructure” at the expense of programmes capable of transforming the region’s agricultural potential.

“With modern, large-scale farming and youth engagement in agribusiness, the North can conquer hunger, curb inflation, and become the nation’s true breadbasket,” he said. “We must transform our youth from a security challenge into the engine of our prosperity.”

The retired General challenged the ACF to serve as the “primary architect” of Northern Nigeria’s long-term development vision over the next quarter-century. He urged the Forum to champion transparency, mentor emerging leaders, and demand performance across regional institutions. He also hailed the launch of the ACF Endowment Fund as a major step toward strengthening the organisation’s capacity to drive sustainable transformation.

Buratai emphasised that Northern development cannot be pursued in isolation from national unity. He urged the ACF and Northern governors to create an environment where all Nigerians—particularly southerners—feel safe, welcome, and protected in the region.

“It is both a moral duty and an economic imperative,” he said. “We must assure all Nigerians that their legitimate businesses and security are non-negotiable. And we must expect the same reciprocal commitment from Southern states. This mutual assurance is the bedrock of true national integration.”

He further called on the North to consistently champion justice, fairness, and equitable representation at the national level, stressing that the region’s prosperity is inseparable from that of the entire country.

As he honoured the legacy of Sir Ahmadu Bello and other Northern founding fathers, Buratai urged the ACF to use its Silver Jubilee as a catalyst for renewed commitment to a just, secure, and united Nigeria

Experts call for regulation, licensing of domestic workers

By Ebere Agozie/Anita Uzoagba

Experts have called for urgent formalisation and regulation of domestic work in Nigeria, stressing that domestic workers remain largely invisible, unprotected and vulnerable to exploitation.

They made this know at the conclusion of the five-day 7th Annual Criminal Law Review Conference organized by the Rule of Law Development Foundation (ROLDF) on Friday in Abuja.

Mrs Ozioma Izuora, Lecturer, Baze University, Abuja said that domestic workers are the people you see every day. They have always been part of our households, yet they have remained invisible and unprotected.

According to her, the Igbo apprenticeship scheme is a positive institutional pathway for training and wealth creation.

“It is unfortunate that the government has not paid enough attention to formalising or learning from this model.

Izuora said that cases of exploitation, underpayment, physical abuse and sexual violence are still widespread, despite protections under the Child Rights Act.

“Stories abound of children being beaten, burned, denied food or left to sleep outside.

“Some agents run rackets where they rotate young girls between households, and many of these children have no contracts, no voice and no access to their own wages”.

She added that some domestic workers, due to lack of education and guidance, also violate trust by abandoning work without notice or engaging in criminal activity.

She underscored the need for government monitoring, licencing of private agencies, and the establishment of a dispute-resolution mechanism.

She added that Nigeria’s adoption of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 189 places it under obligation to ensure decent working conditions for millions of domestic workers who have long been marginalised.

“If domestic work is to be formalised, then government must monitor implementation closely”, she said.

Mr Hygenus Ibaga, a Legal Practitioner, said that domestic work remains one of the most undervalued and least regulated sectors in Nigeria despite its vital role in supporting households and the wider economy.

According to him, domestic work in Nigeria has historically been treated as a private or charitable arrangement rather than a formal job.

“We often say, I’m helping that small boy or girl but what we want now is a legal framework that recognises the cleaner or caregiver as a staff entitled to rights and protection.

He noted that while the Constitution protects rights such as dignity, liberty and freedom from discrimination, the absence of a dedicated law leaves domestic workers vulnerable.

He added that existing laws such as the Child Rights Act, the Penal Codes and criminal laws offer some protection, but enforcement remains weak.

Ibaga noted that Nigeria has yet to ratify ILO Convention 189, which guarantees rights to fair remuneration, working hours, rest periods and social security.

He noted that two earlier Senate bills have been consolidated into the Domestic Workers’ Protection Bill, which the Senate passed on Nov. 12, 2025 and the House of Representatives is yet to pass the bill.

He further urged the National Assembly to strengthen implementation capacity, speed up passage of the bill and create mechanisms that domestic workers can actually access.

For her part, Mrs Linda Raji, project Officer, ROLDF, said that weak institutions and entrenched social norms are the biggest obstacles to enforcing domestic workers’ rights in Nigeria.

According to her, informality remains the major barrier to enforcement, as recruitment of domestic workers often happens secretly through unlicensed agents without any written contract.

“I once overheard someone say, I need a girl, 16 years old, send her here, within two days, the girl arrived. You wonder if the parents even know where their child is.

She noted that domestic workers are predominantly women and girls, many of them underage, poorly educated and at constant risk of retaliation if they report abuse.

She added that another challenge was the long-standing cultural belief that domestic work was not a real work and therefore undeserving of dignity or rights.

She expressed concern that some recruitment agents may continue to exploit the system if licencing and oversight remain weak.

“Many employers genuinely do not know their obligations, so sensitisation is key”.

She stressed the need for safe reporting channels, such as hotlines and anonymous systems, to protect workers who fear losing their jobs.

She called for nationwide awareness campaigns by the National Orientation Agency and civil society groups, stressing that domestic work should not involve children below 16.

Dr. Balogun Makanjuola, said that Nigeria’s failure to use data-driven decision-making, alongside widespread poverty and unemployment, remains a major obstacle to effectively protecting domestic workers in the country.

According to him, the supply of cheap labour, especially girls and young people, continues to rise due to poverty, out-of-school rates, and lack of opportunities.

He added that domestic workers accept low pay because employers know they have no bargaining power.

“The law of supply applies here. When workers are in excess, the price of labour falls and that is why people pay N20,000 or N30,000, even my personal driver, a graduate, earns N30,000, and there are ten others waiting to take the job,” he said.

He noted that applying formalised standards without considering economic realities could create friction.

He emphasised that unemployment, poverty, poor governance and regulatory capture are major structural barriers that may limit the effectiveness of the proposed domestic worker legislation.

“If we do not address poverty, bad governance and corruption, the legislation will struggle. Domestic workers need protection, but implementation must be grounded in Nigeria’s socioeconomic realities,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr Massoud Oredola, said that there should be greater protection and fair treatment of domestic workers in Nigeria, drawing on Islamic teachings that highlight leadership, duty, and compassion within households.

“Domestic workers should not be overburdened with work and additional tasks should either come with assistance or fair compensation, similar to overtime and holiday pay standards globally.

“The law alone is insufficient to guarantee justice, and that kindness and service to others remain fundamental principles, our prime purpose in this life is to help others. If you cannot help, at least don’t hurt, exploit or add to their misery.

“Service and kindness to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth, we are all tenants; God Almighty is our landlord,” he said.