The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Jonathan, PDP and 2015

    Jonathan, PDP and 2015

    Since the coming of President Goodluck Jonathan to power, most of his programmes and policies have engendered the anger of most Nigerians. This would not augur well for his party come next election in 2015.

    Starting with controversial fuel price increase in early part of 2011 and subsequent polices, his policies have been received with mixed feelings amongst the populace, most notably the recent state pardon granted his former boss, the former Governor of Bayelsa State, D.S.P.Alamieyesegha.

    Also, the ‘civil war’ going on within the party has polarised it along different interest groups which could send it to the oblivion. Nigerians who have to tolerate the party for this long have not seen any good from the party which considers itself the largest party in Africa.

    The President has not been given Nigerians the kind of leadership required. The citizens are very sceptical about government programmes and policies.

    We hope that as Nigerians look up to meeting the reality of good governance in 2015, they will not be denied this rare opportunity.

     

    Bala Nayashi

    Lokoja, Kogi State.

  • The Almajiri and girl-child school project

    The Almajiri and girl-child school project

    prior to the 2011 Presidential campaigns, President Goodluck Jonathan promised to ensure that the over 10million almajirai that are out of school across Nigeria, especially in the north, have access to quality basic education.

    After the election, he has proved that he can make a promise and go all the way to fulfil it.

    Last year, the President inaugurated the very first Almajiri school that was completed by the Federal Ministry of Education through one of its parastatals, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND). This still did not convince some of the sceptics of the project that the government is determined to actualise the dream of ensuring that no almajiri is left on the street to beg, whilst other kids are acquiring basic education in addition to their other forms of religious education.

    The scepticism of the observers has served as the needed impetus for the Federal Government to quietly, but with the right determination execute the Almajiri school projects all over the nation. The bulk of the projects are domiciled in the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), with the Minister of State for Education, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, serving as the supervising minister.

    The Almajiri school projects are 100 in number, with majority of them located in North East, North West and North Central geo-political zones. A few are sited in South-West and South-South due to the influx of small percentages of Almajiri to those states from parts of the north.

    Out of the 100 schools, 70 have been completed and furnished, ready for hand-over to the respective states where they are located. The remaining 30percent of the schools have reached more than 90percent completion rate and are being furnished in readiness for hand-over to the state governments.

    The Vice President Namadi Sambo will commission one of the completed schools in Jigawa State on behalf of the President. This is a symbolic programme that will kick-start the general handing over of the schools in different parts of the country.

    The model one and model two Almajiri schools that have been completed by the Federal Government are architectural masterpieces that are meant to attract the pupils and their Islamic teachers and keep them in the schools. They are equipped with habitable hostels, quality classrooms and stocked with up-to-date basic education instructional materials.

    Experienced teachers will be posted to these schools. These teachers working with the Mallams are expected to impact both Islamic and Western education to these children. The curriculum has been specially designed to ensure that they receive the required training to be functional citizens who will contribute their quota to national development.

    Like the Almajiri schools, the Special Girl-Child Model Schools located in 16 states of the federation are being built to create access to basic education for disadvantaged less privileged. These schools are also ready for hand-over, asides the one located in Bayelsa State that is yet to be constructed. These special girl-child model schools will be operated with consideration for the religion and culture of the host states. This is to encourage parents to release their daughters to acquire basic education, with the knowledge that their respective religions and culture will be respected.

    The Almajiri and the girl-child constitute the highest percentage of out-of-school children in the country. Ensuring that they have access to basic education is a worthy achievement that should be applauded by all Nigerians.

    After the hand-over of these schools, the Federal Government will continue to support the states in running the schools via the provision of the needed instructional materials that will be used by the teachers and pupils.

    It is true that the current number of schools cannot accommodate the millions of out-of-school children in the respective locations. They are, however, meant to kick-start the process of ensuring that every one of them is accommodated in a classroom. This will be made possible if states, local councils and non-governmental organizations key into the project. For most of the states, they have already started constructing their own schools.

    The successful completion of these schools is a function of the dedicated supervision of project consultants, contractors and officials by the Minister of State for Education, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike.

    The most important aspect of the completion of these schools is the fact that the Jonathan administration has succeeded where previous administrations failed.

    Indeed, there is a correlation between mass literacy and peace in the society. As more Almajirai access quality basic education across the country, the more secured the nation will be as political mischief makers will have less hands to manipulate.

    By Simeon Nwakaudu,

    Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Education (Media), Abuja.

  • MTN should attend to problem of poor services

    SIR: That MTN is one of the fastest growing telecommunications in the world. But what is of concern to its Nigerian subscribers is how its network has plummeted down the quality line in recent months. The heart-ache and disappointment caused by its erroneous network service to Nigerians in recent months is in no small measure, particularly during the yuletide. The importance of communication and information to life and business cannot be over-emphasised and MTN being one of the service providers has failed Nigerians.

    One can no longer rely on getting a call through at a particular point in time; even the so called MTN Fastlink is a slowlink in disguise because the web surfs at snail’s pace.

    Acknowledged, MTN announced in the media, pleading for the patience of its customers on the grounds that it was carrying-out some maintenance work on its facilities; but how long do we wait for an improved network quality?

    A lot of Nigerians trying to tie-up some end-of-the-year deals were let down by the network. The fact that MTN having reached the 100million-mark subscriber milestone in the world telecommunications market ‘owes’ part of that population to Nigerians and as such, Nigerians, as all others, deserve the best telecommunication service possible.

    While MTN’s sound financial investment, strong corporate governance and corporate social responsibility is relatively commendable, those can be said to be of little significance as it affects directly only on a few.

    I must say it is high time MTN took appropriate measures in improving the all-round quality of their network in earnest so as to regain the satisfaction and quench the displeasure of its Nigerian subscribers. I do not need to remind the authorities of this telecom company that every product or service must be different and better in some unique ways to succeed in a competitive marketplace. More so, it is known that successful businesses have an obsession with customer service and MTN should not be an exception. Notably, the 19 year-old company has been successful partly as a result of this; nonetheless, an improvement is vital. Every good business is in the business of customer satisfaction, and the customer is always right.

    • Ajayi Bright (Brightsy)

    Lagos

  • 2015: When change becomes inevitable

    SIR: In 2008, the same year America’s first black president got elected into office, Global Language Monitor proclaimed change the number one word around the globe. It certainly was no co-incidence as Barack Obama went on to win the US presidential election, riding on his gospel of change. The world and not just America had seen him as a refreshing departure from the norm. An epitome of what change stood for, when considering that a black man had never directed the affairs of the world’s most powerful nation.

    The concept of change is timeless. Simple as it comes across, the idea of change continues to drive the exploits of visionaries in the fields of politics, economy, science and business. By preaching change, and themselves being changed, the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., Isaac Newton, Richard Branson, and Steve Jobs have led successful revolutions and birthed life-transforming inventions.

    Yet change as a theme remains exploited for all the wrong reasons in an environment like ours. Since military rule made way for democracy, the music of change has taken a different rhythm. Today, change is only a promise – most of the time a half-fulfilled promise. It is what the politician and his allies promise the electorate until they get to power. Under the current dispensation, change has gone from being a sincere claim to being a glossy, flowery expression. Many had been swept off their feet by promises of transformation, breath of fresh air, and more business-like ones like the 7 – point agenda. Essentially, change has become the politician’s manifesto, though it does not always translate into promise delivered when he gets into office.

    That is why for many neutrals, the coming of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is good news. And Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was right in some sense to describe the coalition as a positive storm. But this development only represents a portion of the change we all want to see.

    A more competitive political climate is sure to put our leaders on their toes. Nigeria has been rated closely behind emerging economic powers like China, Russia, India and South Africa only for our potentials; what the world knows we can become. We need purposeful leadership to live up to this potential.

    As the wrangling and political realignments gradually lead up to 2015, we must realise that the power to make the change they seek lies in their hands. Contrary to popular belief that a mega opposition party is all that is needed; this change, if we must find it, will require a proactive, well-informed, dedicated army of patriots consistently fighting in unison the cause of transparency and good governance. There is so much idle talk in the traditional and fast rising new media. These discussions involving the young, private citizens and former occupants of government positions have so far yielded no positive results.

    There is a need for all that energy we expend on idle rants to be channelled into positive action. There should be a coming together of those who love this country genuinely. Not those who seek to pursue selfish desires. We need to develop non-partisan forums where young people can hold leaders to their word, and do that constructively too. We should be engaging in meaningful brainstorms on how to chart a new course for the country. We need beacons, youthful, vivacious people who are passionate about change to lead the way.

    According to Martin Luther King Jr., “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. We must straighten our backs and work for our freedom for a man cannot ride you unless your back is bent.”

    We can set a positive revolution in motion. But 2015 will only mark the beginning of the change we seek if we begin the struggle now.

     

    • Oshagbemi Oluwatosin

    Lagos, Nigeria

  • Justice Talba: Beyond NJC’s axe

    Justice Talba: Beyond NJC’s axe

    SIR: The decision of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to suspend Justice Abubakar Mahmud Talba of the Federal High Court over his judgement on the Police Pension Fund case where he handed a two-year imprisonment term or option of N750, 000 to the convicted thief, John Yakubu Yusuf, appears to have received wild commendations and jubilation across the country. But I hold an alternative view. I do know as a fact that the country is almost being sunk by the endemic nature of corruption. It is also an open secret that the total extermination of this malaise is the sure way of promoting both good governance and economic integrity in this part of climes. But one does not tackle a problem by merely addressing the surface without taking care of the root. It is on this premise that I’m not too much fascinated by the decision of the council.

    A look at the NJC’s decision on the matter shows that Justice Talba failed to exercise his discretion both judicially and judiciously. The council chaired by no-nonsense CJN, Hon. Justice Mariam Mukhtar, GCON, also found out that the judgement of the embattled Judge was “unreasonable”. Thus it decided to suspend him for a period of 12 months without pay. But truth is that when Justice Talba returns, hopefully next year, those obsolete laws under which he applied his discretion to sentence the pension thief would still be there; nothing concrete would have changed!

    Again, it is quite instructive that the council spotted out the laxity on the part of the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the case. It is, indeed, worrisome that the anti-crime outfit decided to sacrifice social justice on the altar of time factor in this case. Through the dubious concept of plea-bargain, the commission surreptitious substituted the 10-count charge initially brought against the convict (under Section 315 of Penal Code with more stiffer punishments) to a three-count charge under section 309 of the same Penal Code which carries lesser punishment. The implication was that the judge was allowed to apply his discretion, hence the controversial award of option of fine of N750, 000 in lieu of the two years imprisonment, which the convict, who stole the whooping sum of N23billion, wasted no time in accepting.

    The crimson truth is that the suspension of the judge does not really mean much on eradication of the cancerous corruption in our land, so long as our anti-corruption laws remain they way they are. We need no soothsayers to remind us that our extant laws on criminal justice are completely out of sinc with the realities on ground, and therefore, need review. These laws are not just obsolete, they are grossly inadequate to meet the society’s expectations of a corrupt free society. Those who petitioned against the judge could have done better by taking a step further to challenge our lawmakers to look into the law that gave rise to the judgement.

    This is equally an opportunity to determine the continued existence of the fraudulent concept of plea-bargain in our criminal justice system, with the aim of determining how far the concept has strengthened our fight against corruption. Do we will still desire this concept that seems to have encouraged our public office holders to continue to embezzle public fund? Is the concept in tandem with our criminal justice system’s principle of crime and punishment? Do we still need to retain those laws that merely provide a slap on the wrist sort of punishments to those who are stealing us raw in this country? Without answers to these critical questions, we will soon discover that the NJC’s decision on Justice Talba is only but an effort in futility, as far as the issue of fight against corruption in Nigeria is concerned.

     

    • Barrister Okoro Gabriel,

    Lagos

     

  • Hardball on discipline of judges

    Hardball on discipline of judges

    SIR: Hardball got my attention when he wrote a piece titled “Discipline of Judges: CJN must proceed with caution” on April 29. I write after an acatalectic illumination of the said piece to express my vehement disapproval of the phrase “CJN must proceed with caution”. If I may ask, what caution does the CJN need? I believe priests at the temple of justice like Caesar’s wife should live above board. Unfortunately we find ourselves in a nation where a few of them live below board. As they deliberately choose to ignore the Shakespearean dictum which says “the better part of valour is discretion in which better part I have saved my life”. Of a truth, the dynamics of crime in our society points to the indispensability of social jurisprudence. Therefore, judges owe God and man a duty to dispense justice to all manner of persons regardless who or what they are. But we have a situation where a man goes to jail for stealing a piece of meat at the market, while another goes home a free man after looting public funds worth billions of naira. Just the other day we were told by a judge that James Ibori ought to be an angel but a British Judge later told us that the man is nothing but a common criminal. Sad as it is many have also died waiting for justice while others now resort to jungle justice to settle disputes because they now see the court as a land of Manama in view of needless and abysmal delay in court process. These anomalies in the judicial system negate the clear principles of democracy. In view of the foregoing, the CJN acted in good faith to sanction some erring judges and Hardball says she should proceed with caution. I think the only thing she need is to proceed with uncommon and indefatigable determination to flush out those who trade justice in the name of discretion. The judiciary must rid itself of corruption if the war against corruption in Nigeria is to be won. I therefore concur with Hardball when he wrote that “by all means the judiciary should be purged.” Ipso facto, the recent disciplinary action against those indicted judges remains a Justa causa. I concede to the factum juridcum that most verdict rest on the oasis of discretion. But I think judges should learn how to exercise their discretion judiciously and judicially. Nigerians should not see the abuse of discretion by judges as mere peccadilloes but grave and unforgiveable crime that should attract punishment from man and God. The CJN has done well and more is also expected from her. Just as I wish to place on record that the war against corruption in Nigeria rest in the Judiciary.

     

    • Godfrey Ogbaisi Ehi

    Benin-city

  • Mainstreet Bank and my ATM woes

    Mainstreet Bank and my ATM woes

    SIR: I attempted to withdraw the sum of 40,000 naira from Diamond Bank branch Ikorodu on November 20, 2012. Only N20,000 was released while N40000 was debited into my account Acct no 5002599647.I traveled out of the country, came back in January after which I complained verbally, and filled three dispute forms at my branch, Ojuelegba and also Ikorodu and Calabar branches. Till date, nothing has been done.

    I got the highest insult when I was told in my branch that it was confirmed I withdrew the money. I have written my branch manager and copied the managing director without any response. The so-called customer care hotline 014622706 was never picked after several attempts. This is a 21-year old account and it amazes me that the bank could be irresponsibly silent on this issue.

    It goes beyond the amount involved. I am, by his grace, not a pauper and wouldn’t lose sleep over this amount. I will advise the bank to pay the money back into my account immediately or at least, prove that I withdrew the money. I have had enough of this irresponsibility. Even with that, they have already lost a customer!

    • Olusegun Akintunde Ige

    Lagos

     

  • JAMB: There is room for improvement

    JAMB: There is room for improvement

    SIR: It will be largely unfair not to acknowledge and appreciate the innovations of the Professor Dibu Ojerinde-led Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB). A number of improvements are noticeable. First, the distribution of examination materials to students in the examination hall is a good one. This has to a large extent, prevented the hoarding of these materials by some banks or forms-selling centres as well grant fairness to all students through uniform use of same materials, e.g. calculator. As an observer of the examination exercise at a major centre in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, I saw that virtually everyone got the writing materials and calculators since these were needed for simple calculations. In recent years, many candidates have suffered gross disadvantage as some examination centers never allowed any kind of calculators, the simple, non-scientific ones inclusive, while others allowed them.

    Another improvement is the biometric verification of candidates. This has brought a sharp drop in the incidence of impersonation and similar malpractices.

    However, the largest room in the world remains the room for improvement JAMB cannot afford rest on its oars. The examination exercise is still rife with irregularities that push the motion for its scrapping. There is more to be done to prove the integrity of the body. Otherwise, how would one explain the fact that many students were seen scribbling answers in small sheets before the examinations started? Some corrupt officials must have smuggled copies of the question papers for unscrupulous purposes. Even though the questions are in various types, students can still find a way around this system. The scandalous representation of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in national newspapers a couple of weeks ago due to the leakage of its examination questions should have been a tip to the JAMB leadership to guard against the trend but it was not so to be. There is also a lot that needs be done as regards security at examination centres.

    Moreover, there were also gross errors in the printing of some of the question paper types. For example, the English paper type B that was brought to a major centre in Abuja (with thousands of candidates) did not have question number twenty two. Also, question numbers 83-86 were missing. Would students be marked down for questions they did not answer?

    Another issue is the unnecessary delay that precedes the kick-off of the examination. In a centre in Abuja, the examination kicked off at about 11:30am as against the normal starting time of 9am, even though students had started reporting since 6am. If we do not impress it on the younger generation that punctuality is the soul of business, what reason would they have not to end up showing up late to government work places in the future?

    As much as I do not campaign for the discontinuation of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, I also do call for reconstructive strategies to be adopted to trim off the excesses that plague the smooth conduct of the exercise. Granting autonomy to our universities by taking UTME off the table may not be the best for us at this level of development. A regulatory system is highly necessary to maintain some sanity in the education polity.

    • Joshua Oyeniyi

    Abuja

     

  • Aba health inspectors and their excesses

    SIR: Aba residents are in trouble because of incessant harassment of health inspectors who have made it a routine to be issuing abatement notices to the residents, especially occupants of face me I face you bungalows asking them to come to their office for settlement. The abatement notice ranges from demand for excavation permit, building plan, health fitness and others.

    This development is worrisome because refusal of the occupants to comply attracts court injunction which is not served by a bailiff but themselves. Moreover, the money paid to them to waive the effect of the abatement notice is never receipted. This unwholesome practice has been on for a very long time now.

    Why I am worried about the whole incident is that the country is currently on the crusade of eradicating corruption and if nothing positive is done to terminate the anomaly, it then means that the country is crying wolf in that regard.

    The authorities in charge should clarify the situation to Aba residents, particularly whether the procedure and practice of extorting non receipted money from the residents is correct, otherwise a thorough investigation should be carried out and a severe punishment meted to any offenders to serve as deterrent.

    Aba residents have been writhing in pains as regards deplorable roads and unhealthy environment for many years now. The city requires a face lift before any other thing. So good thinking Nigerians should speak out in favour of Aba residents in order to arrest the ugly situation.

     

    • Nkemakolam Gabriel,

    Port Harcourt

     

  • Why scrap NECO, UTME?

    Why scrap NECO, UTME?

    SIR: There have been reports of plans by the Federal Government to scrap, merge or reverse some ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). To go are 14-year-old National Examinations Council (NECO), the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the 37-year-old Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

    The development is said to be sequel to the recommendations in the White Paper submitted to the Presidency by the Stephen Oronsaye-led Presidential Committee on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies..

    Quite understandable is the committee’s thought that it is time we reduced wastage caused by overlapping and duplicated functions of our ministries, departments and agencies. Oronsaye and his cohorts put the figure to be saved at about 853 billion naira between 2012 and 2015.

    The committee’s recommendation that NECO and UTME be scrapped is akin to cutting the head as an antidote for headache. At its arrival, NECO attracted praises from those who thought it would widen the choices candidates would make as to which examinations to sit in a nation long dominated by the regional West African Examinations Council (WAEC). NECO has since conducted the Senior School Certificate Examinations for which it has been issuing certificates to candidates. JAMB’s UTME had remained the only pathway to Nigerian universities until some varsities began to conduct post-UTME for admission seekers.

    Should NECO cease to be, WAEC will return as a monopoly; this will signify motion without movement. If we scrap UTME, universities will get full powers to conduct their entrance examinations with likely tendency of abuse of such freedom. The government should be wary of giving universities that have not been able to manage their finances efficiently the sole responsibility of handling admissions. Government should be mindful of the likelihood of students who do not have influential persons to pull strings for them lose out of what may become a ‘rat race’. If they do, they will end up not gaining admission to study in our universities. Then, we are back right where we are trying to depart from.

    In addition, applicants will have to criss-cross the nation in a bid to write examinations, thus being vulnerable to all manners of dangers ranging from kidnapping to road crashes. The current style that lets candidates write UTME where they please is a good one; the government should be wise enough to know.

    In all of this, the Federal Government has failed to admit that corruption – a vice it has done little or nothing to stamp out – is a crucial factor responsible for the poor management and non-performance of several of its moribund agencies. It illogically shifts the blame to some other factors such as ‘evil forces’. By planning to scrap NECO and UTME and sell such national heritage as the National Theatre in Lagos for the flimsy reason of poor management, government is not being sincere. Thus, it has successfully told the nation that effectively managing national institutions is only achievable by scrapping or selling them.

    The same government established new universities when it could barely fund existing ones. It has not chosen to scrap any. It is building a new Vice-Presidential residence when there is already a befitting one for the nation’s number two citizen.

    Rather than scrapping NECO and UTME, we believe government can explore other avenues to improving things. If truly the FG is not afraid of facing tough challenges, a good way of handling NECO, UTME, and other ‘going’ MDAs is to overhaul them.

     

    • Agboola Odesanya,

    Department of Mass Communication,

    University of Lagos, Akoka