The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • NAFDAC: Need for new legal framework

    Established by Decree No 15 of 1993 (as amended), now Cap NI Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), is an appropriate response to a national crisis: the unwholesomeness in the entire gamut of Nigerian pharmaceutical and food production businesses. This explains why the law setting it up comprehensively mandated it to regulate as well as control the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sales and use of food, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, chemicals and packaged water. The agency has since remained focused on, and committed to, meeting the aspirations of the country.

    However, after close to 20 years of its existence, it has become very obvious that a rethink of the law setting up the agency has become imperative if it must meet the expectations of Nigerians or contend with ever changing challenges of the domestic and global drug business. To appreciate the point being made, we need to take a critical look at the dynamics of the Nigerian drug business. Foreign-made pharmaceuticals account for 60 percent of drugs in the market with China and India as top exporters of these drugs. As much as 80 percent of all active ingredients in pharmaceuticals made worldwide come from either China or India, and these two countries are the prime suspects when it comes to bad drugs in the world. Deductively therefore, the bulk of counterfeit and fake drugs consumed by Nigerians come from China and India.

    There are redemptive measures particularly from India, which has a law that imposes life jail on both local exporters of unwholesome products and their foreign collaborators. NAFDAC’s effort at getting a similar law enacted by the National Assembly has not succeeded in getting the federal lawmakers to appreciate the imperative.

    The existing laws such as the Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Food (Miscellaneous Provisions Act (Cap C3 LFN 2004) and the Government of Nigeria Trade Practices (Miscellaneous Offences) Act No.67, 1992 (Now cap T12 LFN 2004) are too weak to serve the desired purpose. Emphatically, drug adulterators or fakers are serial “murderers” who deserve no less than capital punishment when caught, prosecuted and eventually convicted by the law courts. The existing laws do not have such force.

    Few instances of the inadequacy of the extant laws guiding the operations of NAFDAC will put in sharper perspective the thrust of this write up.

    On March 15, 2010 in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, one Afolabi Nurudeen, a baker, orchestrated an assault on Yedunni Adenuga, an Assistant Director and her team while on inspection of former’s bakery. He did that obviously to prevent the detection of the deadly and cancer-causing flour-enhancer, potassium bromate, outlawed by the agency in accordance with international health practice as part of the measures adopted to protect the mass consumers of bread in the country. Though the culprit was convicted by an Osogbo Federal High Court in the subsequent action filed against him by the agency in May 2011, his sentence, one year imprisonment with an option of N4, 000 fine, was a slap in the wrist. Section 25 (1) of the NAFDAC Act under which he was tried has proved inadequate to address the exigencies thrown up the unwholesome practices of criminally minded Nigerian businessmen and women.

    There is also the celebrated “My Pikin” – the children teething mixture saga of 2008. The agency successfully secured a court judgment against the producers of the deadly product on May, 17, after a protracted trial. Barewa Pharmaceutical Company, the producer of ‘My Pikin’ was directed to wind-up and its assets forfeited to the Federal Government. However, Adeyemo Abiodun, the firm’s production manager, and Egbele Eromosele, the quality assurance manager, bagged seven years imprisonment each for the two counts of conspiracy to sell dangerous drug and selling dangerous drugs. They were discharged and acquitted on the four other counts of adulteration, manufacturing and distribution of the killer drug. Again, in reaching the judgment, the trial judge relied on the provisions of the Miscellaneous Offences Act M17 Law of the Federation of Nigeria (2004).

    The extant laws are weak and inadequate. We reason within the context of the daredevilry of some criminally-minded players in the nation’s food and drug businesses. In their desperation, they can take any risk, especially when the existing laws are not considered serious deterrence against the crimes that would make then instant millionaires. For any meaningful progress to be made in the nation’s drive for the ideal healthcare delivery system and its pharmaceutical component, a total overhaul of NAFDAC Act has become necessary.

    The new legal framework template must take care of institutionalisation of special courts for speedy trial, stiffer penalties such as life sentences without any option of fine for offenders; making drug counterfeiting a non-bailable offence; outright confiscation of counterfeiters’ assets and their use as compensation for victims of the illegal business.

    This proposal might seem draconian, and human rights activists might cry blue murder. We should however understand that only those who fall foul of the law are the targets. More importantly, drug counterfeiting and faking give their victims no choice. They are deadly operators. There was once an attempt on the life of Professor Dora Akunyili in 2003. The suspects were set free after two years of trial on technicalities.

    The soul of the counterfeit drug business in Nigeria is the Bridge Head Market in Onitsha as teams of food and drug control experts move from shop to shop in search of counterfeit and substandard medicines. A successful one month siege on the market carried out by the agency in April 2007 harvested more than 80 truckloads of counterfeit drugs. The question to ask is after the siege, what followed.

    Nigeria must take a cue from the practical responses of India and China, the global capitals of counterfeit and fake drugs. While in China the offence attracts death penalty, it is life jail in India.

    Globally, it is said that a nation’s wealth is determined by the health of the mass of its citizenry. We urge President Goodluck Jonathan to empower NAFDAC, SON and Consumers Protection Council to carry out their statutory functions of protecting Nigerians from the consumption of unwholesome products.

    For NAFDAC, the processes within the strategic execution circle are well aligned to propel success. The only drawback is the legal framework which is too weak to support the current momentum drive by the Dr. Paul Orhii-led management. This should be corrected.

  • That threat by NANS to shut private varsities

    Sir: I initially ignored the news because I couldn’t fathom how and why Nigerian students would contemplate shutting down private varsities.

    How did the students come to the erroneous conclusion that political office-holders who have failed to yield to the demands of their lecturers all send their children to private universities?

    I finished from a private university. While I can’t conclusively say that none of my coursemates has a politician parent, I can conveniently say that at least over 80% of them don’t have politician/political office-holder parents. Among us were those who were self-sponsored and really struggled to finance their tertiary education. To now disrupt activities in these universities just because of the negligible few who are not themselves directly responsible for the lingering strike would never be justifiable.

    Secondly, majority of students in these private universities are themselves victims of our moribund education sector. Many were forced to study in these universities after several failed attempts to study in public universities. Many left public universities for private varsities because of the perennial strikes which make their academic calendar uncertain – the same reason why some misinformed students would now shut down activities in private universities.

    Thirdly, if NANS would shut down private varsities because they think political office-holders’ children study in these schools, then, it may be justifiable for the populace to shut down private hospitals each time health workers are on strike. If these students are not cowards, they should rather shut down the Federal Ministry of Education and its agencies, the handlers of which are directly answerable to ASUU.

    Private varsities are private concerns and are distinct from government properties and businesses. That you or your sponsor should not be a political office-holder is not a requirement to gain admission into private varsities; why should it even be a requirement? These schools pay licence fees and several other levies to the government. It is also imperative to add that our private universities actually came to salvage the sector from the mess it was before they came into existence. Little is left to be imagined on what could have been the situation if these varsities were not in existence when we compare the number of admission seekers with spaces available in the public universities.

    The ugly development is yet another evidence of the sad state of affairs in our student associations. We hope for a vibrant NANS which will deal with issues the appropriate way and be led by responsible students.

    • Abbas Abdullah Adebayo ACA

    Ibadan, Nigeria.

     

  • Like Senegal, let’s consider abolishing the Senate

    SIR: “Our lives begin to end the day we keep silent about things that matter.”

    ……Martin Luther King

    Since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, a lot of things have been going wrong, but because our democracy is considered fragile and young, we have been keeping quiet all in the attempt to let the sleeping dogs lie without knowing that we are only postponing the evil day.

    One of the things that have been going wrong is the issue of the jumbo pay for political office holders at a time majority of Nigerians wallow in abject poverty.

    It was reported that it costs tax payers N290 million yearly to maintain each member of the Senate. Using a simple arithmetic, it means that a Senator takes approximately N24million a month. That is more than the annual income of a Medical Doctor; it is more than the monthly salary of 42 army generals, or 48 professors or 70 Commissioners of Police; it is more than twice the pay of American President or nine times the pay of American Congress men. It is incredible!

    Though, some lawmakers would claim that the monies include their constituency allowance, the question is what has really changed in the constituencies they are claiming to represent? For instance, some of these lawmakers only visit their constituencies once in a blue moon (probably during a festive period or electioneering). They are all living large in their big mansions and big offices in Abuja at the expenses of the people they are claiming to be representing.

    To save our economy from collapse and to prevent using 70% of our budget on recurrent expenditure, we need to borrow a leaf from a fellow West African country- Senegal, whose parliament recently voted to abolish the Senate as part to moves to help victims of last year deadly floods.

    Senegalese President Marky Sall would later explain that the $15million saved would be channelled towards flood mitigation. If Senegal can take that giant and bold step, Nigeria must not shy away from taking the right step of abolishing the Senate, leaving the lower chamber that have more members and are closer to their constituencies.

    In Senegal, it was not also easy at the initial stage because the 100 Senators fought to be retained, but they lost the vote in the joint session of the parliament. Political jobbers in Senegal tried to stop the move by claiming that the aim was to weaken the opposition as most of the Senators were supporters of the ex-President, but at the end of the day the wish of the majority of the Senegalese prevailed.

    Nigeria should also expect the 109 Senators to oppose the move for their selfish interest, but I believe that the wish of more than 150 million Nigerians must prevail over that of the Senators because sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria.

    Our current bi-cameral legislature is too expensive and the work of the two chambers is mere duplication of functions.

     

    • John Tosin Ajiboye,

    Lagos

     

  • Power play

    The above title is actually a wee bit misleading; it ought to be, playing with power – the power sector reform that is. If you have focused on Nigeria’s government as long as and as intensely as Hardball, you are bound to begin to see government officials as a bunch of comedians who have turned comical acts into statecraft or vice-versa. They seem to be possessed of the will, the wile and the immense capacity to do everything else but that which will benefit the people. And like people who are permanently afflicted with some peculiar dementia, they carry on their puppetry from age to age, from generation to generation without qualms.

    Why is Hardball going off the tangent in this manner? Simple, one would think that after all the hoopla about Nigeria’s power situation, all the money gone down the drains and the need to respond in an emergency fashion if need be, would drive the government of the day to pay an especial attention to the sector and deliver results at all costs. But that is not the way of the Nigerian government; nothing is sacred or sacrosanct for government around here it seems. The power roadmap which was presented to the public with fanfare by President Goodluck Jonathan had neither a road nor a map as it crashed shortly after the ‘show’.

    About two years down the line, the power sector reform agenda has been topsy-turvy with results (if really any) coming in fits and start. Just last week, labour issues of the staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, which have lingered for so long and which we were told was to be sealed last May still linger. PHCN workers vow to resist handover to the new power firms, was the ominous headline last Monday. And the story reads: “Employees of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria have vowed to resist the takeover of the electricity distribution and generation companies by successful buyers until all outstanding payments are made.”

    About N400 billion was reportedly set aside for this huge pay off after a most protracted – well, let’s call it negotiations – and we were told that 75 percent of these soon-to-be-laid-off workers have been paid. But here we are, the job apparently has only been done after the fashion of comedians. However, nothing has so far exposed the lackadaisical and duplicitous manner of the so-called power sector reform than the current shenanigans at the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, (Enugu Disco). Out of the 14 preferred bidders seeking to take over Nigeria’s generation and distribution companies, all but one met the August 21, 2013 deadline for paying up. The rule is that when the preferred bidder fails to pay on deadline, the reserved bidder almost automatically steps up to give a go at the bid.

    But the Bureau of Public Enterprises, (BPE) ,under such circumstance, ought to promptly trigger a meeting with the Technical Committee (TC) of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP). Such crucial meeting has however been stalled endlessly leaving the chairman of the TC, Atedo Peterside, with no recourse but to go to the press. Peterside says in a recent statement: “The reason we are unable to meet is because the DG of BPE… has surreptitiously vetoed all my efforts to convene a meeting of our technical committee of recent.” He added, “As you are all aware, the Technical Committee serves as an advisory/due process watchdog over the BPE and we are accountable to the NCP. Accordingly, I find the DG’s surreptitious attempt to keep us in the dark objectionable in the extreme.” It is said that Peterside had earlier written the DG of BPE informing him that allowing an extension to a preferred bidder amounts to granting it an unauthorised discount apart from degrading the integrity of the privatisation process.

    What is at issue here is power play; playing around with the destiny of the people and a troubling, ingrained corruption that seems to have no cure. Still wondering why we grope in the dark ages?

     

     

     

  • From the cell phone

    For Olatunji Dare

     

    Sir, history repeats itself. This is a testimony to human stupidity. President Barack Obama will do well to understand that the most virtuous of objectives must be pursued in moderation, without the kind of single mindedness and the fanatic intensity that have so often in history transformed even the good into despotic and corrupt. While the opposition party may not wish him well, Mr. Obama must appreciate the fact that success is feminine and, like a woman, if you cringe before her, she will override you. So, the way to treat her is to show her the back of your hand. Then, maybe, she will do the crawling. Learning from recorded history is vital for positive achievement. From O. O. Adegoke, Ikhin, Edo State

    Some parts of the world may hate America but it is no lie it made the world a better place. Without them, some countries would have vanished. However, war in Syria should be fought without making America have more enemies. From Esan Ayegbaju, Ekiti

    Re: “Obama: 2nd term blues for a President.” As if it is a natural thing, almost all of them fumble after winning their second term; fumbling and distorting a smooth-sail for their next contestant thereby paving the way for the opponent! Were there to be third term in American Constitution, the departing President would not falter. Obama could not be an exception. He would fumble again because he is happier he had become a President. Although he would further fumble, he would however avoid and avert the impeachable fumbles. From Lanre Oseni

    British and American politicians are liars. They want to invade Syria on matters they cannot prove as they did in Iraq. From Dr. Mann Tolofari, Port Harcourt

    America has been the police of the world, particularly, in war crime issues. It will continue to be, irrespective of who is the commander-in-chief. From Chidi Promise

    Obama should act proactively against Syria for their chemical weapon usage against humanity as a deterrent to other nations. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State

     

    For Gbenga Omotoso

     

    We should watch out for more of this kind of election result fraud come 2015 from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). We should open our eyes and ears and guard our vote jealously from the enemies of the people. God save Nigeria. Anonymous

    To our greatest dismay in Offa, someone can testify that he cannot claim what does not belong to him because he fears Allah. Without mincing words, the boy deserves a national honour and honour from Allah. From Tai Omokanye, Abuja

    It is election result as declared in the Offa re-run that is giving President Goodluck Jonathan the impetus to think of 2015. From Sedi Bello, Benin City

    I cannot blame the Governor of Kwara State because he is a camouflage Governor. We all know that Bukola Saraki remains the governor of the state. He is the one behind all the problems fasing Offa. He is using Offa to fight Offa (omo ina laa ran si ina). My advice to Offa people is to stand up and fight for their right. From Bayo, FEDPOFFA

    Well, Offa Local Government election was a clear demonstration of rigging, robbery and corruption with impunity. Let KWASIEC tread the path of honour and announce the authentic result. From Oyedotun, Ondo

    I always appreciate your sense of reasoning and objective criticism of national issues. I only pray that our politicians fear God and learn to leave the stage when the ovasion is loudest. From Eunybola, Osogbo.

    Clinton was the second American president to face impeachment. He, however, kept his job. From Aquaisua, A.E Esq.,Uyo.

    It is very clear that the election that produced the Governor of Kwara State, Mr Fatai Ahmed, was rigged. If not how could 4,710 be bigger than 11,337? As in the case of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) where 16 is more than 19? It is a shame for the PDP and Nigeria as a whole. From Akinshola Ramoni G., Alimosho, Lagos

    I am nursing the ambition of going into politics. If politics is allowed to be played the way the PDP is playing it, Nigeria would remain undeveloped and this will discourage those of us planning to go into politics with our conscience. Majority of PDP members have no conscience. Offa vote heist and other PDP mess are a typical example. Mr. Afolabi Jimoh’s action in this case is worthy of emulation. From Ajijola, I. Olanrewaju, Unilorin

    I commend Mr. Afolabi Jimoh for speaking the truth about the result of Offa Local Government re-run election. This shows that we still have God-fearing citizens in our great country Nigeria. The so-called PDP party should stop this Abracadabra behaviour so that Nigera can remain one and not divided in 2015. Mr. Afolabi Jimoh is a progressive- minded man who stands for the truth and who wants a change in Nigerian politics. He should abandon PDP today and join APC where he has a very good future, politically. God save our Nigeria in 2015. From Mr. Okesola Folarin, Ibadan

    Can any truth come out of PDP? Yes,and that is Afolabi Jimoh. He is not of the majority in PDP. I have doubt if Saheed Popoola can be so blunt and open. Jimoh did what the late President Yar’Adua did partly, Obasanjo poorly did and the current President, and Kwara State governor may not do. Jimoh may not be a complete saint but he is more honourable than most people seeking elective posts. The people of Offa have spoken; we need not ask the governor to respect it. From Biodun Makanjuola, Bayelsa state

    The man is not a politician. I think he is an Alfa or Imam; he should go back to his real calling full time. Do not forget that the so- called rigging in Nigeria is nothing but a political game. Anonymous

    My concern is not Offa election now but 2015 elections. Governors’ forum election and Offa’s election will only serve as lessons for Nigerians; that is my fear. From Dosu Joshua

    PDP in Nigeia should emulate Mr. Afolabi Jimoh. From Michael Okoli, Enugu

    We do not need a soothsayer to tell us the meaning of what Fani-Kayode meant by intimate relationship. At least, there is nothing wrong in Fani-Kayode loving her because there is no law that prohibits that. Let all pray for both of them so that their relationship will come to reality. Bianca has been a widow for some time, so, she needs a partner to keep life moving. In this respect, Mr. Fani-Kayode should be encouraged to try harder so that the relationship can be cemented. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos

    The ‘blessing’ from Satan carries sorrow. That is why those with stolen mandate will never have peace. I thank God for the life and the likes of Jimoh. Rare breed of politician! Anonymous

    After the death of Yar’Adua, there is no more justice in this country. This is an example of 2015. Oposition party should get ready for war. From Ahmed Olayinka Balogun

    You were in Nigeria when 16 became greater than 19, so what do you expect? This is a pointer to what we should expect in 2015. From Ogundele Wole,Ore,Ondo State

    I am a man of God and l believe in the truth. The truth has prevailed, so there is no need to waste time. The APC candidate should be sworn in immediately. For the PDP candidate to have come out and said the truth, he will definitelly go to heaven if he should continue in that way throughout his life. But for the KWSIEC Chairman, he should ask for forgiveness from God and do the right thing. The National Assembly (NASS) should as a matter of urgency vote in favour of INEC for the conduct of local government election. From Ropo Coker

    Your article “Of love, power and politics” is one of the masterpieces I have read in recent times. I wish you more ink to your pen as we move this nation forward. We will not lose hope. From Dr. Adewole Adebayo

    When will PDP end this issue of upturning the people’s victory? This is a clear signal that Nigerians should watch the PDP come 2015. From Sunday Keyi

    Re: “Of love, power and politics.” The dispute between Bianca and Fani-Kayode is nothing but a man-woman matter. Acceptance or/and denial by Bianca would not change anything; and, predictably, the court would pronounce out-of-court amicable settlement. If I were Suntai, I would ‘throw in the towel’. It is very obvious that Suntai requires a lot of medicare and needs a long-term leave of absence. If he goes to court, then, his lawmakers should impeach him. His stubborness at this stage should not put the governed at a loss. Despite that I never considered the ACN/APC a credible alternative to PDP, the upturn of authentic result to a fake in the Offa re-run was a show-of-shame, condemnable in its entirety. From Lanre Oseni

    Gbenga, all of you are puting the cart before the horse by not letting us know if the immunity enjoyed by Suntai demands that he must not be prosecuted for the plane crash of last October. It is better to get the security agents to invite and interrogate him. He should be well for trial before official work. What a disaster called Nigeria. Stowaway boy was arresed and detained even though he had no accident. Double standard that demands an apology from the Federal Government to the adventurous Daniel Ohikhene. Suntai must, as of priority, be prosecuted. Is any Senior Advocate of Nigeria listening? From Akinlayo A., State of Osun

    PDP is the problem of this nation. As we march towards 2015, it is only God Almighty that can deliver us. Look at the NGF where 16 is more than 19. In Rivers, five is more than 27 lawmakers. From Alex O., Sokoto

     

    For Tunji Adegboyega

    Your piece titled “Humpty Dumpty falls at last” made an interesting read. E ma sesi ba won ja, funra won ni won o maa funra won loogun je is a Yoruba saying which translates ‘don’t bother to fight them because they are condemned to poison or undo themselves’. Glad to note that the ‘civil war’ within the Peoples Democratic Party was internally generated and self-induced. As the Lord liveth, they will never overcome or survive their self- inflicted revolt. I’m laughing. From Olu Ajayi, Abeiokuta.

    Hi, Tunji, it is a pity that PDP has to degenerate to this level. My advice to APC is that they should not rejoice and be carried away by this. Rather, they should keep on planning and focus on how to liberate Nigeria from the PDP, whether ‘old’ or ‘new’. Thanks, more ink to your pen. From Tunji Balogun, Ikorodu.

    Re: “Humpty Dumpty falls at last.” The whole crash began when Mr. President imposed Bamanga Tukur as party chairman, thus disallowing internal democracy from thriving. Such is brewing in some governorship reruns by some of the incumbents! Godfatherism and corruption, after all said and done, remain the bane of our development. What happened and is still ongoing in PDP is a lesson to all political parties, leaders and every individual. Honesty, internal democracy and transparency as well as hands-off from godfatherism will help us kill corruption and, ultimately, lead to achieving our political, social and economic goals in Nigeria. Although the PDP is in turmoil now, it has a way of doing a crash programme to win the 2015 presidency. To halt the forecast, APC can only achieve if the big guns there shun selfishness, egoism and impatience! From Lanre Oseni.

    The idea behind the formation of PDP as an all-encompassing national and nationalist party was noble. It even paraded some of the most credible names in our polity at its formation. But the greatest blunder committed by its founders and their ultimate undoing was to meekly surrender the party to the power-mongering, domineering and manipulative military rear-guard. And to think that Awoyinka and Lar aided, abetted and were neck-deep in this! The military rear-guard has not looked back since. What is happening in the PDP today is merely a product of the strategic manipulations of the generals to maintain dominance and control over any sitting president produced by the party. They are still at it through Obasanjo and Babangida, but, this time, masquerading as party elders and mediators/peacemakers. Anonymous

    Oh, has Tukur been toppled as PDP chairman? So, Baraje is now PDP chairman? And it has to do with the great NGF election where an unruly governor rebuffed his party’s position that he should not contest and contested against his party’s candidate for that office? Interesting! But do you really believe Tukur has been toppled as PDP chairman and that Baraje is now PDP chairman? It is unfortunate how unreal, childish and low some of our commentators can go in pursuit of bias and sundry prejudices. Grow up and get real. From Festus.

    Tunji, it is clear that things have fallen part as the old and new PDP cannot reasonably be expected to work together harmoniously, again. There will be mutual suspicion, distrust and betrayal. From Barr. Moronkeji.

    He who believes in injustice will definitely be consumed by the fire of injustice. Tukur and his backers are talking with impunity, believing that nothing will happen. A leader who does not believe in the rule of law will find himself in the ruin of law. The president has shot himself on the leg by allowing himself to be cowed by the hawks in PDP. The ruling party is like a torn cloth which can never be the same again if sewn. PDP’s coffin has been accompanied by the undertakers for its burial. PDP, rest in perfect peace. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

    May democracy survive forever in Nigeria. We all will look at our actions/inactions of our lives in 20 years’ time and see how stupid we were. Who advised Amaechi and co that they can form a parallel PDP without renouncing their membership of the original one? Did Amaechi think he is dealing with Rivers politics where a court in Ahoada will judge a case not tabled before it? Hope the NJC took note of it! Anonymous.

     

     

  • FRSC’s new number plates is extortion

    SIR: On March 24, 2011, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) announced the introduction of a new set of Drivers licence and vehicle number plates.

    One of the reasons adduced was that the new plate numbers would assist security agencies to tackle the challenges of national security. While the motive seems laudable, the pursuit of national security is, with due respect, not part of the mandate of FRSC. It would be tantamount to pure naiveté to think that terrorist acts will only be carried out using cars that have been registered.

    If the government is serious about counter-terrorism and information gathering, it should do so in a way that encompasses all Nigerians whether or not they possess motor vehicles. The new number plate is disappointingly without any security attachment or difference from the old one whatsoever apart from its reordering of the characters and addition of colours. The material used is not even different talk less of a tracking device to be attached to it. It is highly unfortunate that this is what the Corps Marshall and his team want Nigerians to swallow hook line and sinker.

    If the genuine aspiration of the FRSC was to build a verifiable and reliable information system of all vehicles in Nigeria, I dare say that they would have been able to do this in the past one year. All that would be needed is simply ensuring that every vehicle that has its papers renewed are properly registered in the information system and then the checkpoints on the highways can check cars whose papers haven’t been renewed.

    The same applied to the drivers’ licence. Why demand that every driver renew their licences with the same deadline of October 1, when each of those licenses have their different expiry dates?

    By February 2014, the announcement of the new driver’s licence would have been three years, the same period within which the validity of the present driver’s licence lapses. If the new licences had been issued to first time drivers and those renewing since then, majority of the drivers in Nigeria would be carrying the new licence by now. This simply points to the fact that even after announcing a new drivers licence, FRSC continued to issue the old ones!

    As of today, the new plate numbers cost nothing less than N20,000 and as much as N40,000 in some cases. This is at least a 100% increase against the “N10000 Standard Replacement fee” promised by FRSC Corps Marshall, Osita Chidoka. The FRSC is now coming round to say that only the plates will cost N10,000 while other registration costs would be “decided by the state VIO and Joint Tax Board”. Why did he not announce this at the inception of introduction of the policy? This is barefaced deception.

    Some years ago, car owners were compelled to acquire a plastic device tagged “encoding”. To my knowledge, no one I know ever had the validity of their vehicle licensces checked through that device; it simply became useless and the government gave no explanation as to why that happened. Today it’s the new drivers’ licence and new number plates which have a curious manner of implementation. It smacks of extortion and insensitivity from a government which Nigerians expect so much and has delivered so little. Nigerians cannot continue to be handled like subjects; we are citizens and demand that our government be accountable to us.

     

    • Adekunle Adedoyin

    Mbora, Abuja

     

  • PDP is brain dead

    Sir: In medical parlance, coma is a state of extreme unresponsiveness in which an individual exhibits no voluntary movement or behaviour. In deep coma, even painful stimuli which when performed on a healthy individual result in reaction are unable to affect any response and normal reflexes may be lost. The individual in coma is still alive, but the brain is functioning at its lowest stage of alertness.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), under the leadership of Alh. Bamanga Tukur can not be said to be different from the above situation as at today. A flock of sheep without shepherd is like a human body without a soul. The PDP does not have a soul. Despite all the pretensions or posturing that defy obvious reality, the party is in the state of coma. The funeral atmosphere that attended the party’s special convention had removed any vestige of doubt that the PDP is actually ill.

    A convention at which there were more long faces than smiling faces conveys ominous signal of the uncertain fate that await the party. Indeed, any one who had the curiosity to watch the proceeding on AIT live could not have failed to notice the bizarre features of the controversial convention. The atmosphere of conviviality and amiability that should attend a gathering of one family was palpably missing. Infact, the whole event appears like a wedding attended by reluctant or unhappy guests. Many of the delegates and participants,including the President, Governors, Ministers, Parliamentarians and party faithfuls wore the expression of minds on their faces, especially when the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and seven governors walked out of the venue of the convention. Wiill the factionalisation of the PDP mark the beginning and the end of the party’s dominance in Nigeria’s political arena? And what about strained relationship between the President and some governors; will it distort the parties masterplan come 2015?

    I must diagnose in tears that PDP will soon die of her curable disease if not urgently attended to.

    • John Akevi,

    Bauchi

     

  • Scrap the National Union of Pensioners

    SIR: A union or association is formed to positively represent the interest, common purposes of its members. Where the opposite is the case, the union or association becomes a fraud and should be scrapped. The latter is particularly so with the National Union of Pensioners (NUP).

    The world is now aware that the regularity of scams in the pension sector has turned to an epidemic. In spite of this, the Federal Government and her agencies are at best lukewarm and unperturbed in bringing pension thieves to justice. Instead, it is screening today, biometrics tomorrow. Pensioners are dying daily en route to and fro Abuja for complaints. And the NUP is in slumber.

    Individuals like this writer and others continue to cry out in newspapers. States like Oyo has gone as far as the Supreme Court to obtain ruling in favour of pensioners just as newspapers’ editorials are awash with tales on the plight of pensioners. Unfortunately, the NUP is in slumber.

    At stake is the rational and justiciable approval by late Sani Abacha, the erstwhile Head of State of pension harmonisation (a level 14 step 5 pensioner of 1980 should earn the same pension of a level 14 step 5 pensioner of 2013). The Supreme Court gave judgment in the pension harmonisation case on May 21, 2010 having gone through the High Court and Court of Appeal. Yet, the docile NUP cannot fight to validate the judgment which favours her members.

    Recently, the Senate (not the NUP) decried the physical, mental and psychological inconveniencies and deterioration in the health of pensioners. In consequence, it summoned and later ordered the arrest of Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina to account for the N195 billion naira of pension funds. The NUP simply did nothing.

    Little did the pensioners know that the NUP was Maina‘s accomplice. In a full-page advertorial, NUP praised Maina to high heaven as the ‘Messiah’ of pensioners for providing plastic chairs for complaining pensioners to sit on at Abuja. But the most astonishing revelation was the whopping N2billon or more of pension fund said to have been siphoned through the accounts of NUP. Is this how a union should protect the interests of its members?

    Ironically, the NUP survives through a N100.00 monthly check-off dues across board from pensioners. These extortions merely go to enrich members of the national and state executives of the NUP (as in Edo State). Individual pensioners struggle on end to correct anomalies in their stipends. NUP accounts are never audited. You can never get a copy of its constitution.

    NUP is a dead union. No sane, live union will fold its hands, close its eyes and sleep when its members are being maimed, dehumanized and killed.

    NUP is an accomplice in pension fraud. It deserves to be scrapped.

    • Bernard Awijale Ajibode

    Akoko-Edo, Edo State.

     

  • NASS, thy name is narcissism

    If what ails our National Assembly, NASS, is not deep-seated narcissism then we must find a new meaning to that word of Greek origin which intimates about pathological self-absorption. Narcissistic tendencies will drive you into a self-love that is ultimately destructive and lead you to seek gratification only for yourself and your ilk. Can you see that the NASS fits beautifully into this mold going by their recent antecedents? One proof is their rare ability to win the world champion laurel not as the most conscientious but as the highest paid lawmakers in the world.

    If only the authors of that survey knew half the story. But if you think no bad story can be hidden under the sun for too long, Hardball will change that to be: really big bucks can never be concealed under the sun. A few days back, a lady who ought to know informed Nigerians that we have handed out about N8 trillion to our money-mongering assembly men since 2005. She even challenged them to a public debate but they would not dare take her on. Just because they are cash-goblins does not mean they are stupid enough to take on a fight that jeopardises all they have worked for. They allowed the fight to pass hoping that they would be left alone to enjoy their public service harvest.

    A native saying hurriedly paraphrased warns that he who steals a wretched man’s fowl has only managed to steal his own peace of mind. Has NASS aborted its own very peace by its own grabbing ways? Well let’s see: last week, the chairman, Senate Committee on Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, Mohammed Ali Ndume blurted it out that a total of N900 billion has so far been appropriated for constituency projects for the NASS since 2004. Apparently oblivious of the import of his speech, Ndume said that the constituency projects were for grassroots development and that the choice of contractors by legislators was for accountability and employment generation. “Accountability”, “employment generation”, gee, just because these fellas are not thinking they imaging the rest of us brain-dead.

    Ndume unwittingly threw up not a few unsavoury issues about NASS in his ill-digested treatise during what they called a one-day stakeholders forum on constituency projects. First, such huge amount in eight years on invisible constituency projects? Dear readers, does anyone of you out there have such projects in your area? Would it be asking for too much dear Sen. Ndume to demand a breakdown of such projects, places of domiciliation and costs?

    For the first time, Ndume revealed to us that NASS members who had sworn they knew nothing about how the projects were awarded, actually appoint the contractors for the jobs. It’s an old Nigerian trick we all are familiar with isn’t it? The third point to note is that how could constituency projects funds (which we all know are democracy dividends for our law makers) create jobs and develop the communities when most of our legislators have shunned the statutory requirement of setting up a viable constituency office in their locale. Finally, the idea of constituency project is an aberration that has no locus in any law of the land.

    It is a fraud perfected during the Olusegun Obasanjo era for shoveling ‘shut up’ money to NASS when the members got restive. Today, it has become a major appropriation head just as our dear Ndume is assiduously working on a Bill to give the projects ‘legal backing’, whatever that means. But is sure to happen is that a rampart NASS will increasingly suborn the roles of the executive for the purpose stuffing more and more cash into its members’ pockets.

    But surely these execrable exertions of theirs will come to naught sooner because their action is self-defeating and their motive not viable. This overly self-loving narcissistic gang will have to give account one day, sooner or later.

     

     

  • Offa ruse and need for vigilance

    SIR: Everywhere the human hawks of the inordinately distended People’s Democratic Party (PDP) perch they often leave no one in doubt of their abhorrent lack of respect for the sanctity of the ballot box. Though they peddle smattering understanding that political parties must test their popularity at the sanctuary of the ballot box, they are never comfortable with the outcome of a free and fair election. Since the party has no viable programmes with which to convince the electorate, it often violently subverts the electoral process and grossly distorts the choice of voters. The rerun election held in Offa Local Government Area, Kwara State, a few weeks ago is a ringing reminder that the PDP rigging machine irredeemably remains the proverbial spots on the leopard’s skin which cannot be washed off however torrential the rain.

    If PDP is breaking into factions owing to indiscipline, threadbare internal democracy, injustice, and irreconcilable differences, the long-suffering electorate and the upcoming All Progressives Congress must not be too lost in celebration as to forget vigilance. Whether whole or dismembered, PDP cannot go to any election without perfecting plans to rig awfully. Seeing that it has riotously frittered away the goodwill of the people and is without honour from Abuja to the hindermost part of Maiduguri, the rudderless party will always worship at the infamous temple of rigging.

    As the ongoing abominable justification of the electoral robbery at Offa shows and as the actions of the various spokespersons for the party in Abuja indicate, nobody needs doubt that the PDP men ruling Nigeria always have ‘a high blood pressure of words and anaemia of deeds’. All economic indicators show that the ruling hawks in Abuja are incapable of providing effective leadership. Yet, in highly insufferable decibels, they talk of winning the 2015 elections.

    Even in Osun State where a consequential majority of the people agree that the Aregbesola-led administration is responsive and responsibly performing, the fractured and fractious PDP which has no enduring records of performance in about seven years that it was in power there is arrogantly about town saying it will take back the governorship seat in the state in 2014. We are talking of a party whose worth and exertions in power were as brief as a sigh!

    PDP is dangerously desperate. Freeze its past records of ignominy and look to its latest reckless behaviour at Offa. So perniciously desperate is the party that when its councillorship candidate in the rerun election, Afolabi Jimoh Olawale, came clean about his party’s electoral robbery, the party ploughed further the depth of idiocy and shenanigan by flagrantly denying his candidacy. The party is still out there laying invalid claims to the mandate which from all available evidence it inexpertly stole.

    What the electorate at Offa said with their votes is not different from what many Nigerians have said in the past and will still say about the PDP in any elections – the party is not wanted, for it devalues their human dignity and scuttles their noble aspirations. If the roundly rejected party behaves as we have seen again and again, efforts must be intensified at all levels to increase the tempo of vigilance.

    The Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission is a compromised umpire. No time should be wasted in unbundling it. There must be stiff sanctions against all those who collaborated to change the choice of the electorate at Offa.

    Let the winner be given his mandate. But above all, Nigerians must more than ever before be vigilant and be ready to defend their votes against the soulless beings in the PDP who are offensively desperate to retain or grab political powers.

    • Jamiu Oyeleke,

    Ogbomoso, Oyo State.