Despite the 2001 Abuja Declaration where African leaders promised to allocate at least 15 per cent of their annual budgetary allocation to health, funding for Nigeria’s health sector has remained so poor that it can’t salvage the all-important sector. In this analysis of the 2022 amended health budget, CHINYERE OKOROAFOR writes that the meagre allocations to the health adversely affect the health and well-being of Nigerians, exacerbate poverty, and slow down the country’s economic growth and development.

The health sector is one where a lot of money is needed because it is generally believed that any investment in the health sector is a direct investment in the overall economic well-being of the country. In other words, the best can only be achieved when the sector is properly funded and the allocated funds are judiciously utilised.

In Nigeria, unfortunately, the sector is not well-funded. According to development experts, the amended 2022 health budget has shown clearly that the country is not ready to have a better functional healthcare sector. By global best practices, the original budget didn’t meet up but it became worsened when it was amended and funds for key projects and agencies were reduced to the extent that achieving the aims and objectives of the projects and agencies became impossible.

For instance, a February 2022 report titled, ‘Federal Government of Nigeria 2022 Approved Health Budget Analysis,’ by the Partnership for Advancing Women in Economic Development (PAWED) said that all components of the Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies’ budget were reduced, aside from the N110.21bn Service Wide Vote for health that was not reduced.

The report was obtained from the Federal Government Initial and Amended 2022 Budget Estimates. Other impacts of the 2022 amendment budget on healthcare financing showed that the capital health budget was reduced from N208.01bn to N207.39bn. The recurrent health budget was reduced from N462.85bn to N462.63bn. The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) was also reduced from N54.05 to N44.56, representing a 17.55 per cent reduction. The overall health budget was reduced by 1.25 per cent or N10.42bn. Thus, the health budget to budget size was also reduced from 4.88 per cent to 4.76 per cent.

Under the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR), a policy to reduce fragmentation in the delivery of Primary Health Care (PHC) services, the budget estimate for the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) was reduced by 1.39 per cent. The recurrent budget of the agency was not reduced; only the capital budget estimated was reduced from N20.86billion to N20.52billion, representing a 1.62 per cent or N34million reduction. While the N64.68billion allocated to routine immunisation was not reduced. However, the N450million allocated to the training and sensitisation on family planning was reduced from N450million to N350million, representing a 15 per cent or N100m reduction. A critical look at the amended health budget revealed that there was no allocation for the family planning commodities procurement in the amended health budget.

 

The genesis

 

On October 7, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari presented to the National Assembly a proposed budget of N16.39 trillion for the 2022 fiscal year, which was increased to N17.12trillion by the lawmakers. And out of the total N16.39 trillion proposed budget by Buhari, a sum of N711.28 billion (4.3 per cent of the entire budget) was earmarked for the Ministry of Health. Several executive projects were believed to have been removed or funds reduced from the existing ones to pave way for the National Assembly members’ constituency projects. This was perceived as beyond the powers of the National Assembly by the President; hence, the recourse, among others, to the 2022 budget amendment.

According to President Buhari, allocations to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were guided by the strategic objectives of the 2021-2025 National Development Plan, which, amongst others, included the strengthening of security and enabling of a healthy populace. For the amendment, the Federal Government called for the removal of 139 out of the 254 projects in the budget, amounting to about N13.24bn. The National Assembly was asked to restore the provisions made for various key projects in the 2022 budget. These included the N25.18bn cut from the provision for the Power Sector Reform Programme; N1.42billion for four Capital Projects in the Executive Proposal for the Federal Ministry of Water Resources; N3billion cut from the provision made for payment of mostly long outstanding Local Contractors’ Debts; and the transfer of the National Assembly’s expenditures, totalling N16.59billion in the Service Wide Vote to National Assembly Statutory Transfer provision.

The cut was to ensure that those projects nearing completion did not suffer setbacks due to reduced funding. In the same vein, the Federal Government also called for the provision of N2.56trillion to fund the petrol subsidy in the 2022 budget as part of the subsidy for the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Then, on April 14th, the initial N17.12 trillion increased by the National Assembly, which was the total expenditure for 940 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the 2022 fiscal year, was increased to N17.31tn. Under the new amendment, the statutory transfer and capital expenditure were reduced by 5.97 per cent and 0.95 per cent, respectively. Whereas debt service/sinking fund and recurrent expenditure increased by 2.53 per cent and 2.88 per cent, respectively. The total budget size was increased by 1.13 per cent or N34.44bn.

 

The implications of the amendment

 

The implication of the amended 2022 budget not only affect unauthorized projects by the National Assembly in the executive budget, but it did also affect the capital and recurrent health budget as well as the primary health care provision fund. Several projects were cut and/or money was reduced from the existing projects to accommodate the government proposed trillion of naira for additional funding for fuel subsidies.

This, indeed, contributed to the 0.04 per cent reduction in the health recurrent personnel, which among others, was to service the health workers’ salaries and wages. The overhead is also not sphered given the 0.23 per cent budget reduction in the amendment budget. The poor remuneration of the health workers as well as the working environment cannot be isolated from the mass exodus of Nigerian doctors to others developing and developed countries.

The restriction from the routine immunisation funding both from the Ministry of Health budget and the service-wide vote was an indication of high priority for routine immunisation activities in the country. The 10-year routine immunisation strategy could be realised if this allocation and commitment are translated to effective budget releases for effective implementation; the reverse is also possible. The 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) has shown that 18 per cent of children 12-23 months old did not receive any vaccinations – a relative decrease of 55 per cent from 5 years ago.

Thus, despite the opportunity provided by the amendment window, there was not a deliberate attempt to consider specific funding for the procurement of the family planning commodities. Experts are miffed that the non-inclusion of this item in the amendment health further suggests the government’s poor commitment to the issues of family planning. Even though there is evidence of provision for training and sensitisation about family planning, the shortage of family planning commodities could negate this effort, thereby increasing the demand and the unmet needs for family planning across the country.

 

Nigeria is still far below the mark

 

In 2022, the world’s population review estimated Nigeria’s population to be 218 million from 211 million in 2021. Despite this population increase, government funding for healthcare was reduced.

Based on the proposed federal government budget, and its allocation of N711.28 billion to the Ministry of Health in pursuit of the goal of a healthy populace, less than N4, 000 is what the Federal Government has earmarked to cater for the health of all of its 206 million citizens.

The health budget to the budget size was 4.76 per cent compared to the 4.88 per cent in the initially approved budget. This means that Nigeria has failed by 10.66 per cent to meet its 2001 health sector commitment. It is far below the 15 per cent benchmark of health sector budget allocation, which was reached by the leaders of the African Union (AU) in April 2001 at Abuja where the heads of states and governments of the AU made a commitment to allocate 15 per cent of their annual budget to improve the health sector.

Interestingly, while countries like Rwanda and South Africa have acted on their commitment by allocating at least 15 per cent of their total budget to health, Nigeria still falls behind. Recall that because of poor health infrastructure and welfare, medical doctors went on strike twice between January and September this year. Beyond the strike, more than 500 doctors considered the option of leaving for another country as they indicated an interest in a recruitment exercise by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health some two months ago.

Although this year’s budgetary allocation increased by 29.37 per cent and the cost of healthcare per person is pegged at less than N4, 000 higher than the 2021 figure, what healthcare costs can it cover? Take an endemic illness like malaria, endemic because malaria accounts for 60 per cent of all clinic attendance in Nigeria. The average cost of seeing a doctor in small clinics is N1,000, and the cost of a malaria test is also about N1,000. The cost of drug treatment for uncomplicated malaria is between N1,500 and N2,000. Not counting additional drugs like paracetamol, the average cost of treatment for uncomplicated malaria in a local clinic exceeds the budgetary allocation for each Nigerian. The cost goes way up for complicated malaria diagnoses that require hospitalisation, injections and intravenous medication. The average cost for basic antenatal care, which includes periodic visits to see obstetric nurses during which routine tests are carried out, is between N25,000 to N35,000 in government institutions. This cost does not include ultrasounds, which are as high as N5,000 and seeing consultants as may be required as pregnancy progresses. Private hospitals charge far more than this.

 

Recommendations

 

There is no doubt that the challenges in the health sector are many. However, they are solvable. As far as PAWED is concerned, Nigeria urgently needs a deliberate health financing system reform policy if it is to meet the 15 per cent recommended by the 2001 Abuja declaration. “The policy should be robust enough to ensure consistency in adequate healthcare budget estimates. This scenario whereby funding is reduced at will without overall consideration for the healthcare workers’ shortage and the recurring agitation against the poor welfare and remuneration poses a threat to the survival of the healthcare system across the country. This could also increase maternal, child and family health as well as increase out-of-pocket financing to access health care services. We recommend a central health financing mechanism that will ensure consistent funding for the sector and raise against unlawful reduction in the name of the amendment. The government of Nigeria should ensure timely and adequate provision of health care irrespective of the revenue decline.”

Nigerians are grappling with galloping inflation. Food prices have risen to an unprecedented high across the country. The situation has been attributed to insecurity on the farms, the high cost of inputs and the hike in fuel prices. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures changes in the price of a fixed basket of goods and services purchased by households keeps galloping. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

Onyeka Abia, a Shomolu Lagos-based food seller attends to his customers in his shop in Pedro.

 His business was flourishing, as customers could easily buy enough food to eat without complaint about leaky pockets.

 However, recently, his customers have persistently complained about his food being so small and expensive. He sympathises with them and attempts to explain to them that foodstuff has become so expensive in the market were unreasonable reasons to them.

 But, he is helpless as it makes no economic sense for him to sell below the cost price. He told The Nation that the prices of foodstuff were rising.

 He said: “Prices of foodstuff such as garri keep going up. Because of the affordability of garri, which is one of the staples, many Nigerians eat it every day.

“But in recent times, the price has increased; which has made it difficult for many to feed as they should.”

Rising prices of goods, services

Abia said he sold a paint bucket of garri in 2020 and part of last year for N500. Now, the same sells for N1, 000.

A 50kg sack of garri, sold for N11, 500 in July 2020, had gone up to N14, 500 and N17, 000 in different markets across the country.

 For him, the rising food prices are impacting people’s ability to feed their families, as prices of food and other basic goods have risen.

 Prices of rice, oil, tomatoes and others have risen from 20 to 70 per cent across the country in the past seven years following the disruption of supply and other challenges.

 A bottle of oil which sold for N250 in 2015 now costs N1, 000. In July 2020, 50kg of beans sold for N12, 750. But the price went up to N30, 000 by January last year and rose to N45, 000 six months after.

 Also, a four-litre paint bucket of beans now sells for between 2, 500 and N 3, 000.

Similarly, the prices of corn, rice and soybeans have risen, following insecurity which has contributed to declining supply and high production costs. The price of a 50kg bag of rice, which sold for between N21, 125 and N28, 500 in July 2020, also increased.

A 50kg bag of maize increased from N17, 250 in July 2020 to N17, 500 in January 2021. The price has hit N24, 000. A basket of tomatoes which sold for N8, 500 in July 2020 rose within two years to N25, 000. The price of a ton of cassava rose from N18, 000 in March 2020 to between N100, 000 to N130, 000. The rise in prices of corn, rice and soybeans, has affected the prices of eggs following an increase in the price of poultry feeds.

 The price of a crate of eggs has risen to between N1, 700 and N2, 500, depending on location and size.

 The prices of many types of vegetables, fruits, meat and basic food items have risen along with fuel.

 According to the National Bureau of Statistics’ Selected Food Prices Watch (August 2022), the average price of 1kg of beans (white, black eye, sold loose) rose on a year-on-year basis by 12.94 per cent from N 457.98 in August last year to N517.23 in August this year.

Also, on a month-on-month basis, it reflected a decline of 5.51 per cent from N547.38 in July this year. The average price of 500g sliced bread increased on a year-on-year basis by 33.12 per cent from N366.69 in August last year to N488.14 this year.

 Similarly, the average price of 1kg beef (boneless) rose by 26.09 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N1, 698.18 last year to N2, 141.18 in August this year.

In addition, the average price of one bottle of groundnut oil stood at N1, 087.64. It showed an increase of 33.83 per cent from N812.70 in August last year. The average price of 1kg tuber of yam on a year-on-year basis rose by 32.12 per cent from the value recorded last year (N305.48) to N403.63 in August this year.

 In major markets, a big-sized tuber of yam which was previously sold for an average of N1, 500, now sells for an average of N2, 500. These days, one cannot get four oranges for N200. Last year, four pieces of oranges were sold for that price.

 A pineapple previously sold at N500 now sells at N1, 000 or more; the same applies to bananas.

Traders and consumers have appealed to the authorities to implement policies to reduce the rate at which prices of goods and services increase.

 In the main, prices do not decrease once they got increased to a level. The best that can happen is stability, not reduction. This trend may, arguably, be peculiar to Nigeria.

What factors cause high food costs?

Abia believes it is the depreciation of the naira against the dollar which has affected the cost of importing critical farm inputs. He also attributed the current cost of garri to the high cost of transportation. This is so because traders would factor in the costs of transportation, gain and other logistics involved in getting the goods from one point to another and pass the total cost to the final consumers through the retailers.

 The President of the Association of Micro-Entrepreneurs of Nigeria (AMEN), Prince Saviour Iche expressed his worry that the government has failed to do something to control prices and mitigate the consequences of economic crises.

 “Before this administration assumed office, a bag of rice was selling for N7, 000. Today, a bag of rice is selling for N32, 000. Insecurity and the hike in the price of diesel are responsible for the spiralling prices of foodstuff,” he said.

Continuing, he said: “The number of people that are farming is decreasing. We now have fewer people cultivating crops on the farms because of insecurity and constant farmers’-herders clashes.

“Kidnapping of farmers is negatively impacting farming in most communities.

 “The surge in fuel prices has prompted a rise in food prices which.”

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 The price of diesel has skyrocketed. Imagine a lorry driver buying a litre of diesel for N800, something he used to buy for N240. The marginal difference is much. “Before, if it will cost a lorry driver N50,000 worth of diesel to transport foodstuff from Benue to Lagos or any part of the South, the transporter may spend approximately N120,000 now. The traders will add this to the total cost of the produce. This is why the cost of food items is going up.”

 Effects on living standards

The situation could erode standards of living and aggravate macroeconomic imbalances.

 Iche said: “The trend of the kidnapping of farmers and the rising price of diesel is compounding the situation. If urgent steps are not taken to address the rising cost of diesel, Nigeria will be importing most of the staple foods that we consume. The government must bring down the price of diesel and make farming secure.”

 Stating that major products such as yam, coconut, and tiger nuts were being imported from neighbouring countries, he warned that the inability of the government to end insecurity would impact negatively on agriculture.

Reports say Nigerians have been struggling to feed themselves because of an over 100 per cent hike in the prices of crucial staple food since 2015.

Many families have been thrown into poverty, as they no longer have the purchasing power to afford a decent meal.

 Housewives now have to cut down on the number of items they buy, because the prices were beyond their budgets.

 Tightening the family budgets

Most parents now complain that each time they visit the market to buy foodstuff; they are faced with new prices which, they say, are quite disturbing.

 With the skyrocketing costs of foodstuff, Nigerians are being forced to scale back their expenses, with large numbers earning barely enough income to sustain their families.

 Conventionally, during festivals, some families would stock their kitchens with a host of foodstuff. This year, however, as food and fuel prices have risen, fewer Nigerians have done huge purchases. The Nation learnt that so many Nigerians were wrestling with the ongoing economic situation which has affected many households.

 Subsequent to the current economic downturn and the majority of the population now living in poverty, most can only buy food in smaller quantities.

Frightening statistical data

 The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) confirmed in its report that the price of selected food items has continued to increase.

 For instance, consumer inflation for the month of August 2022 inched up to 33.9 per cent, the highest in 21 years. This means that, in August this year, the general price level was 33.9 per cent higher than it was in August last year.

 Soaring food prices is having serious repercussions for the floundering economy. Many families are resorting to extreme means to cope. They have reduced the number of meals each day and rationed food reserves. They have applied some eating formulas such as 1-0-1, 0-1-0 or 1-water-1.

 A student, Edidiong Udofia exclaimed that people were battling to keep up with the increasing cost of foodstuff. She sees the relentless rise in prices as a misery multiplier, driving millions of Nigerians deeper into desperation. Even when foodstuff is available, she believes people are not able to get them because of soaring prices that have pushed a basic meal beyond the reach of poor families.

 The Chairman of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Southwest chapter, Otunba Femi Oke said the trend of rising food prices is one that may not get reduced in a short time, adding that terrorists have continued to prevent farmers from carrying out their farming activities.

 Aside from insurgency, he noted that banditry across farmlands has taken a toll on the sector, driving farmers away from cultivating crops and putting a strain on food production.

 According to Oke, many farmers have been sacked from their farmlands as a result of heightened insecurity.

The AFAN chief warned that insecurity would take the prices of food out of the reach of average Nigerians if nothing drastic is done about it.

 He noted that banditry; kidnappings for ransom and threats of gunmen attacks have forced many farmers to flee Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

 According to him, a guarantee of security for the affected population would encourage them to return to the farms.

Oke warned that a 100 kg bag of beans could sell for more than N100, 000 before the year ends if farmers are not allowed to establish vigilante groups to protect their farmlands.

 Effects on low-income homes

All over, rising food prices have driven inflation to an all-time high.

 The Chief Executive of Agriculture and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) Ilorin, Dr Olufemi Oladunni was concerned about the effect of rising food prices on low-income households.

 As a result of supply shortages caused by banditry attacks on farmers, he expressed concern that rising food prices will continue to threaten people with hunger.

 Indeed, reduced mobility as a result of the insecurity has contributed to farm losses among farmers in the Middle Belt and the Northeast; making it difficult for them to push more products into the market. Moreover, many agricultural fields have been turned into battlefields. Oladunni’s major concern is the threat to cultivation and harvest.

 Again, he believes that an unchecked insecurity situation would engender food shortage.

 Oladunni noted that in some farming areas in Kwara, banditry was still a major threat with attacks on farming settlements.

 In Benue, worsening insecurity has continued to disrupt farming activities. Many farmers experience a lack of access to their farms.

 The Chairman of PANFCM Tech-Wise Treasure Investment Plc, and big-time farmer in Oyo State, Benson Salami-Olayanju has lamented that farmers in the Southwest were experiencing increasing security challenges, mostly fueled by banditry and kidnapping in some farming communities.

 According to him, farmers in Oyo State were facing similar challenges as their Northeast counterparts as there were few areas where they had easy access to their farms.

 He noted that the situation has led to a deficit in the number of agricultural supplies as farmers were no longer going to their farms to cultivate their farmlands.

 Salami-Olayanju urged the government to do something to help Nigerians who are going through heightened hardship across the land.

QUOTE

The number of people that are farming is decreasing. We now have fewer people cultivating crops on the farms because of insecurity and constant farmers’-herders’ clashes…The kidnapping of farmers is negatively impacting farming in most communities…The surge in fuel prices has prompted a rise in food prices

The best solution to prevent the recurring flood menace in Imo State is to dredge Niger and Orashi Rivers as a long term answer. However, victims of the menace are desperately seeking a temporary solution that can cushion the effect of the flood hazard that has destroyed their assets and rendered many of them homeless. CHRIS NJOKU reports

Nana Goodluck Opia, Minister (state) of Education is worried. Opia’s headache is how to proffer a lasting solution to flood menace in Imo State where he hails from. His house at Abacheke, Egbema in Imo State, was submerged by flood, which destroyed several property assets worth millions of naira and displaced thousands of his people from their homes.

The latest devastating flood also swept away many residents; while thousands of others have been rendered homeless with their houses completely submerged. The incident followed the heavy rains experienced in the past days. The Oguta Blue Lake overflew its bank and the flood destroyed both farmlands and personal belongings the people had suffered to earn. Many private investments, including hotels, were submerged. As at the time The Nation visited the area, people were still counting their losses.

Many residents at Amaraocha in Oguta LGA have already abandoned their homes to seek shelter in saver places; while some people were seen trying to salvage what remained of their personal properties. When the disaster first happened 10 years ago, precisely in 2012, many residents were caught unawares. Some of the fleeing residents told our correspondent that many of them could not save their assets as some of them were taken unawares by the ravaging flood.

 Since then, it has been a recurrent tale of woes, as flood keeps wreaking havoc in the communuties. According to one of the affected people, Eugene Nworlu: “I and my children were sleeping when suddenly all our mattresses were soaked by the flood. When I woke up, I saw our beds and other properties floating on the water.” He called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), state government and the Federal Government to come to the assistance of the people.

The Head of Imo/Abia Operations Office of NEMA, Ifeanyi Nnaji, said that the agency had visited about 18 communities affected by the flood. However, he said the agency had earlier carried out community awareness campaigns of impending flooding that may arise from sudden overflowing of the lake. “Suddenly, the flood is already on the ground and I was there to assess the extent of damage and my advice to the communities is for them to vacate the areas. Several farmlands were submerged, but those that still have their crops can salvage whatever they can salvage so that they will not lose everything. Apart from that, we have already made report to the Federal Government. Again, we are visiting there to know the level of devastation so that we will be able to give an update for possible government intervention. Thousands of hectares of farmlands have been swallowed by the flood, leaving the farmers in a state of hopelessness and poverty. At last count, over 18 communities have been sacked, schools, roads and bridges washed away.”

Nnaji said to find everlasting solution to this flood disaster, “government of Imo State should dredge tributaries of Rivers Niger like Orashi river and at the same time, improve the economy of such location so that the inhabitants of the area will have access to transport their farm produce and other local products through modernised waterway transport.”

An environmental expert, who preferred not to be named, wants the Federal Government to build a

 The lawmaker representing Oguta state constituency in Imo, Frank Ugboma, has cried to the Federal Government to urgently send relief materials and other medical facilities to victims of recent flood disaster in Oguta Local Government Area. Ugboma made the call on Thursday, when he led a delegation from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to visit the flood-ravaged communities for assessment of damage caused by the flood. The lawmaker visited Osuobodo autonomous community, Eziosu, Kalagbari Beech and Oguta-Anaechi community amongst others.

Ugboma, who decried the level of hardship in the affected areas, disclosed that the current situation was worse than the 2012 flood incident in the area.

He said millions of property assets worth millions of naira were destroyed; while farmlands in the area were also submerged. Ugboma said only swift intervention from the Federal Government could minimise the sufferings of the victims. While sympathising with the victims, Ugboma also donated cash to some of the victims for immediate medical attention. “I came to identify with my constituents affected by the recent flood; I have gone round the affected areas and would make a case for my people at the state level. I call on the Federal Government to immediately come to our rescue. My people have all fled their homes and seeking settlement in uptown; their hardship is too much,” he said.

 Traditional ruler of Oguta-Anaechi autonomous community, Chinedu Nzeribe decried the development and called government at all level for help and permanent solution to the problem. Another monarch, Eze GOH Ariaga of Egbema, said he was lucky the flood did not affect his palace but affected other landed property and investments. “We are really battling with flood in my area. Though water did not enter where I am using as temporary palace, it affected all other landed properties from farmlands to other investments. We are also battling with the threat from dangerous reptiles that have been displaced from their natural habitats. I even personally killed a snake yesterday with the help of my guest. Many politicians and government agencies have been visiting to empathise with us.”

Investigation showed that over 3,000 people still do not have where to go as they could not salvage any property from their submerged homes. They have temporary relocated at an open field at Ogene Civic Centre, Oguta. However, reprieve came their way at the weekend as Governor Hope Uzodimma handed over to them different items that will help to cushion the effect of the natural disaster. Hundreds of the internally displaced persons in Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas of the state received relief materials, including food items from the state government to help cushion the hardship that had arisen from the natural disaster.

 The relief materials were: 400 bags of 50kg rice, mattresses, pillows, blankets, cartons of indomie noodles, water packs, jerry cans, among others, as well as hot meal of rice, which was served the victims at the camp where they were temporarily housed. The government also promised to provide the victims with at least one hot meal every day for the next two weeks.

 Addressing the victims at the various camps at Abacheke in Egbema and Oguta Girls Primary School respectfully, Governor Uzodimma regretted that the unfortunate situation, caused by a natural disaster, occurred at a time of serious economic recession.  Uzodimma, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku, sympathised with the victims and assured them that government will stand by them throughout the challenging period. He said everything possible would be done to alleviate their suffering, including seeking assistance from National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

 Governor Uzodimma charged the leadership of Egbema and Oguta LGAs to ensure that the relief items are distributed to those they were meant for, and warned that they will be held accountable for any lapses. He further reassured the people that the Federal Government’s approval for the dredging of the Oguta lake and Orashi river would go a long way in mitigating the effects of disasters caused by flood in addition to bringing economic boost to the area.

 Addressing his kit and kin at Abacheke, the Minister (state) of Education, Goodluck Nana Opiah, thanked the Governor and government of Imo State for coming to the rescue of his people when it mattered most. He, however, requested the Governor to appeal to the oil companies operating in the areas to see reason to come and assist the people at a time like this, “a time of need.”

 In his speech, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Imo State Oil Producing Development Commission (ISOPADEC), Chief Charles Orie, said that “it is as a result of the Governor’s passion for the people of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta that he approved that the various materials and food items be sent to them without delay.” Orie enumerated the items, promising that the “palliatives and other assistance will continue to be provided until your lives must have improved substantially.”

 Some of the leaders who spoke at the occasion such as the APC House of Representatives candidate for the area, Chief Eugene Dibiagwu and the sole administrators of the two LGAs – O. Amadioha and Ofili Ijoma, lamented the devastation brought about by the flood to farmlands, property and homes of the people and appreciated the government for bringing succour to the victims. They, however, appealed for more assistance and relief items for other communities – Opuma in Egbema, Ezi-Orsu, Osemoto, Egbuoma – all in Oguta, among others, in the two LGAs.

Some of the internally displaced persons who decried the devastation to their farmlands and loss of crops noted that the latest incident was the worst they have experienced in recent times, since the 2012 and 2016 flood disasters. It was on that note that one of them, Mrs Okwudili Okechukwu, expressed her heartfelt appreciation to government for timely intervention with the relief items.

 Also, Mr. Ochije Uzoma Bernard, while thanking God that they survived the flood, lauded Governor Uzodimma for coming to their assistance. The Deputy Governor was accompanied by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie, the Commissioner for Environment, Prof Emma Duru, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Barr Emeka Agbo, other members of the State Expanded Exco, among other government functionaries and appointees.

During a three-day training for selected African journalists, which held in Kenya recently, the African Union’s Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC), a body formed to promote and encourage adoption and application of anti-corruption measures on the continent, enjoined the media to join the fight against corrupt practices, saying the negative effects of sleaze and related offences hinder Africa’s efforts to achieve development. Assistant Editor BOLA OLAJUWON, who attended the training, reports

Corruption has held Africa back for far too long and many believe it’s time to exterminate the scourge. This informed the setting up of African Union’s Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC) to initiate conversations on how to develop an African-led and African-focused war against corruption.

Speaking on the evil of corrupt practices in an inaugural address to the 32nd Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Ms. Vera Songwe, said Africa’s economic potential could be unlocked by ending the cancer of corruption. “The injustice of corruption brought to life within our institutions is more powerful than any other injustice we as Africans could face. But it is within our remit to repair this cancer; that is why I applaud the African Union for taking on this theme, ‘Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation,’ as the main battle cry of the union for the next year,” Songwe said.

The ECA chief said the only logical and winning formula for true independence and for a transformed Africa was that the continent collectively conquered corruption. She said the successful implementation of Agendas 2030 for sustainable development and 2063, Africa’s 50-year development plan required substantial financial resources, most of which must be mobilised from within the continent.

Implementation of Agenda 2030, 2063 and corruption

But, it’s now a herculean task to mobilise the required resources to achieve the implementation of Agendas 2030 for sustainable development and 2063. In Nigeria, many were astonished when Nigeria’s Senate President Ahmad Lawan said the country loses one million barrels of crude oil daily to theft while making a remark at the presentation of the 2023 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

Lawan added that the Nigerian economy was still challenged by dearth of revenues and the situation worsened recently, culminating in the loss of one million barrels of crude oil per day. He said: “Translated into monetary terms, our loss is monumental. The large scale and massive stealing of our oil is concerning as this reduces drastically, the revenues available to government. With conflicting figures, projections have put our losses from this malaise at between 700, 000 to 900, 000 barrels of crude oil per day, leading to about 29 to 35 per cent loss in oil revenue in the first quarter of 2022.”

The cost implication of one million barrels of crude oil by $89 per barrel is about $89,000,000 per day. This is alarming for a country still struggling under oil as its cash cow. The Senate President also said the figure represented an estimated total revenue fall from N1.1 trillion recorded in the last quarter of 2021 to N790 billion in the first quarter of this year. “The figures show we are not able to meet the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) daily quota of 1.8 million barrels per day. I consider the oil thieves the worst enemies of our country. The thieves have declared war on our country and our people,” he said.

Corruption and illicit financial flows (IFFs)

This is, however, negligible to what the nation is losing to illicit financial flows (IFFs), which are illegal movements of money or capital from one country to another. Global Financial Integrity (GFI) classifies this movement as an illicit flow when funds are illegally earned, transferred, and/or utilised across an international border. Some examples of illicit financial flows might include: a drug cartel using trade-based money laundering techniques to mix legal money from the sale of used cars with illegal money from drug sales; an importer using trade mis-invoicing to evade customs duties, value-added tax, or income taxes; a corrupt public official using an anonymous shell company to transfer dirty money to a bank account abroad; a human trafficker carrying a briefcase of cash across the border and depositing it in a foreign bank; or a member of a terrorist organisation wiring money from one region to an operative in another. It is estimated that Africa is losing over US$150 billion annually to IFFs.

Because of his clout on socio-economic and political development on the continent, former South African President Thabo Mbeki and other key personalities were saddled with leading the war against IFFs from Africa, as the head of African Union’s 10-member High-Level Panel. It was initially suggested that Africa was losing about $50 billion annually and had lost up to $1 trillion in the past 50 years to illegal transactions termed as IFFs.  GFI, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit research and advisory organisation heavily involved in the IFF fight, lists the main channels for IFFs as: nefarious commercial activities of multinational companies, drug trafficking and smuggling, and bribery and embezzlement. Some companies also engage in over-invoicing or under-pricing trade deals, transfer pricing (avoiding taxes by setting prices in trading between their divisions), offshore banking and the use of tax havens.

AUABC and the corruption war

At a three-day media engagement workshop, which brought together journalists from the continent to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, from September 27-29, the AUABC officials spoke on why it was created, its activities and goals and missions. The workshop was aimed at strengthening the capacity of media practitioners and engaging them in raising awareness about the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC). The objective of the three-day workshop was to build capacity and awareness of the AUCPCC as well as the board and its mandate. The workshop also served as a platform for experience and knowledge-sharing on the lessons and challenges that reporters face and to discuss practical solutions for effective reporting on corruption to strengthen its fight.

The training, which was co-organised with the help of the GIZ Office to the African Union, commenced with a presentation by Dr Scelo Zibagwe on a broad overview of Africa’s Agenda 2063. He spoke on its provisions regarding governance and the rule of law, the seven aspirations, 15 flagship projects and 39 priority areas. Zibagwe also touched on the decision-making process of the AU. The media delegates and experts were invited from the five regions of Africa for the training.

Senior Policy Officer for Economic and Statistical Matters at the board’s secretariat, Martha Munthali, spoke on the articles of the convention, which made it mandatory for state parties to be fully engaged in the fight against corruption and related offences and the promotion of the convention with the full participation of the media and the civil society. According to its officials, AU member states, realising that a permanent body must be created to tackle corruption and its vestiges, adopted the AUCPCC at the Second Ordinary Session of the Assembly in Maputo, Mozambique, on July 11, 2003. The convention entered into force on August 5, 2006, 30 days after the deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification. Forty-eight countries have ratified the convention and are state parties to it.

It was established to promote and encourage the adoption of measures and actions by State Parties to prevent, detect, punish and eradicate corruption and related offences in Africa and to follow-up on the application of those measures. The AU, in the convention creating the anti-graft body, indicates it must submit a report to the Executive Council on a regular basis on the progress made by each State Party in complying with the provisions of Article 22.5 (h) of the convention.

Also, it must promote and encourage adoption and application of anti-corruption measures on the continent; collect and document information on the nature and scope of corruption and related offences in Africa; develop methodologies for analysing the nature and extent of corruption in Africa, and disseminate information and sensitise the public on the negative effects of corruption and related offences; advise governments on how to deal with the scourge of corruption and related offences in their domestic jurisdictions.

Preparing index tool

to measure corruption

The AUABC said it is preparing an index tool, which will be used to gauge the level of corruption and counter measures on the continent, according to its Executive Secretary, Charity Hanene Nchimunya. The African Anti-Corruption Measurement will be ready for use by the end of 2023. A consultant, the University of Dodoma, has been working closely with a designated team of AUABC officials on the project.  A number of African countries have disregarded the Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International, saying its methodology is faulty. The AUABC is, therefore, working on a home-grown tool, which measures corruption in member states. The tool will not rank countries. It will encourage them to comply with the convention.

Speaking on the index further, Nchimunya said: “Member states have had an issue with current indices, specifically the Corruption Perception Index that Transparency International does and thus we want to see a situation that we come up with our own home-grown index that fits to the realities in as far as the fight against corruption is concerned.”

AU member states, she said, have expressed misgivings over current indices or measures that are available, but which do not speak to the context of the AU member states. The AUABC has, therefore, been given the task to come up with a veritable index to measure corruption and other related offences.

Pushing the anti-graft war continent-wide

The body is pushing to get the remaining seven African countries to ratify the anti-corruption convention to accelerate the fight against corruption. The remaining countries are Central Africa Republic, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Eritrea, South Sudan, Somalia and Eswatini. It is envisaging 100 per cent ratification, where all 55 AU member states are on board.

“We are using any possible means for them to come on board. We will be conducting advocacy missions to get ratification,” Nchimunya said. She added that the AUABC will go to a country that has not ratified the convention and speak to its government officials on why they need to ratify it. She said the 48 state parties that have ratified the convention make the AUABCC one of “highly ratified clusters” within the AU family.

The AUABC is also talking with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) as part of the AU’s governance architecture. Member countries within the APRM undertake self-monitoring in all aspects of their governance and socio-economic growth. But, there has been reluctance by a number of African countries to sign up to the APRM.

Appeal to the media

After the training, Nchimunya and AUABC officials said media practitioners have the power to raise public awareness about the effects of corruption, which is robbing the continent about $150 billion each year. African journalists were also urged that besides reporting on suspected cases of corruption and sensitisation to prevent graft, they must hold governments to high standards on the fight against corruption. They urged the media to occupy the frontlines in the fight against corruption. They emphasised that with the wealth of resources that Africa is endowed with, the continent should be deemed well-developed now, but corrupt practices keep under-developing the continent.

The rehabilitation of a strategic road in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area and a number of others by the Dapo Abiodun administration in Ogun State is boosting the food basket prospect of the area and affirming its status as a strategic gateway to both inter-state and vast regional economic potentials. ERNEST NWOKOLO reports

For two decades the agrarian Oke-Ola community in Imeko, Ogun State, had battled with deplorable road and routine flooding. Anytime it rained, the whole community palpitated in fear, many times the flood had washed away farm produce and laid waste many homesteads, leaving the community inaccessible.

For many indigenes and residents, rehabilitating the Imeko Road and linking the town to the rest of Ogun State had become a major prayer for years. The rehabilitation of the 2.4 km strategic link road was one good thing they looked forward to seeing in their lifetime. That prayer was answered recently as the 2.4 km Oke Ola road (which residents also call Kogo road) was recently delivered with necessary road furniture: drainage and street lights. It was recently delivered by Governor Dapo Abiodun administration as part of the government’s Urban Renewal Project to serve the commuting needs of tourists, residents and indigenes.

The road was built in 1952 to link Imeko with Ibadan, the capital of the defunct Western Region through Oke Ola. At the time, the area served as one of the 11 headquarters of the then colonial administrations in the old Western Region. The state of the road grew worse over time due to abandonment by successive governments and had been unmotorable for close to two decades.

AbdulAzeez Afeez, 65, a resident, said the road had brought more trauma and misfortune than blessing to residents of the town. You have a generation of Imeko Afon indigenes who never knew the road was once motorable and served any good purpose. Personally, he suffers many losses as a result of massive flooding every year. Farmlands and homes have been washed away by flood and the road had remained “permanently deplorable.” Afeez, the branch chairman of ACOMMORAN, commercial motorcycles transport body in Oke Ola, said he suffered perennial flood that often makes his house inaccessible. He recalled a year the flood came, submerged his house and destroyed all his properties.

He said it was risky plying the road, saying he had lost count of accidents involving ACOMMORAN members and their passengers on that road. He recalled a tragic incident one particular year, when some school children were swept away by flood. But all that sad tales may be a thing of the past as the government has delivered a befitting road that had addressed their decade-long fears. Afeez, last month, mobilised his people to welcome Governor Abiodun to the community at the formal inauguration of the road. Women leader in Imeko Afon LGA and a resident, Princess Fausat Aderonke Adedeji, hailed the state government for rehabilitating the road, saying infrastructural development and urban renewal remains cardinal to improving the socio-economic status of a people.

Princess Adedeji said the road serves a number of communities and farm outlets, testifying that this year, the area had not witnessed the perennial flooding that was hitherto their companion every raining season. “It is relieving to know that we have not witnessed erosion and flooding here this year unlike what we were familiar with before now. The rehabilitation work on the road is what makes the difference. When it rains, flood water will not recede until four or seven days after. You can imagine the plights of residents because of it. So, we can’t be grateful enough to our governor for this intervention,” she said.

The Nation learnt that the routine flooding of the road is the result of push – back of storm water from a deep gorge near Ishako village and Oyo River near the boundary between Oyo and Ogun State at the Imeko. Residents explained that before the reconstruction by the present administration, when the said Oyo River and deep gorge had taken enough water during rainy season, they emptied the overflow or excess water into Oke Ola road, thereby taking days or a week for the flood to recede after road submersion.

The Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite, lamented that in the past, no fewer than three school children were swept away when the road was submerged in flood and appreciated the state government for coming to the aid of the town which has over the years been neglected by previous administrations. The monarch reminded the world that the town, apart from being a spiritual relevance as the spiritual headquarters of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) founded by the late Bilewu Oshoffa, it also has a huge agricultural potential given the abundant arable land. He appealed to the state government to invest more on her infrastructural needs, particularly renovation of the oldest school and the palace road in the town.

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An excited, Yahaya Fadipe, the executive chairman, Imeko-Afon LG, who said he was held in derision and called names for supporting Governor Abiodun, said he was particularly happy because he is having the last laugh. He lauded the state government for making him proud among his people with Oke Ola road work. “I’m particularly happy because I was treated as a ‘bastard’ for political reasons. Imeko is the home and base of a notable politician and people identified with him and his party, but I did not support him and I’m APC and supported APC and its candidate in 2019.

“Now we are seeing someone who has spent three and a half years and he has done this strategic road project for us. We can’t thank him enough. It is a big achievement. Our people are in for better deals now. What was disturbing our farmers was the deplorable state of the road and now that it has been fixed; they can evacuate their harvest with ease and at a moderate cost now,” Fadipe said.

While inaugurating the road, Governor Abiodun said his administration has moved from ground-breaking phase to projects commissioning across the state, adding that the road project is another symbolic demonstration of his administration’s approach to a strategic, methodical and systemic development of the state. He emphasised that the road will provide a smooth link between the food baskets, industrial hubs and the neighbouring states. “We have gone beyond the era of ground-breaking; this commissioning is a departure from the past as it is the first to be done in Yewaland in many years. The Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle said his kingdom is noted for ground-breaking of several projects, which was never carried through.”

“All that previous administrations used to do,” he said, “was to come to Yewaland to do ground breaking after ground breaking; they never commissioned. And I said to Kabiyesi that by the grace of God, we are going to break that. Today is therefore historic, not just in this state, but in Yewaland. This administration is three years and four months in the saddle, it has started that process of commissioning roads and we have started right here in Imeko-Afon Local Government.

“Ogun State remains the biggest producer of cassava in Nigeria, and one of the largest producers of maize. Imeko/Afon is one of the reasons we take that vantage position. This same Imeko/Afon is also the host of the Oodua Groups Investment Company Limited Cassava Cultivation and Processing Project at Imeko, and some farm settlements. Just a few metres from here is the farm settlement at Oha village,” he noted.

The governor who described Oke Ola and Imeko as agricultural hub of the state, pointed out that the Oke Ola road would also serve as inter-state road to connect to Oyo State through Malete town, and help in improving security architecture of the state along the various border communities in the axis. “We cannot forget that Imeko/Afon is also a window to the expansive corridor of West Africa, therefore, this road has multiple impact and purpose. On one hand, it is a township road that adds to the aesthetics of Imeko town.

“On the macro-economic plane, it is a boost to our agricultural and industrialisation agenda, as it connects our farm settlements with the Oodua Groups facility. It is also an inter-state link and an international access road, therefore, the road further stamp the vantage position of Ogun State as truly a Gateway State. Let me call on all relevant stakeholders to continue to cooperate with us. As development partners in the Ogun State project, we will walk this path to glory and achieve the Ogun State of our collective dream,” he stressed.

While thanking the people of Imeko Afon LG for their support, the governor reiterated the commitment of his administration to an inclusive, equitable and fair development and distribution of amenities to all parts of the state, submitting that “any project that has any clear line of service and benefit to the people of Ogun West would be given prompt attention.”

An Emeritus Professor of History who is also an indigene of the town, Anthony Asiwaju, lauded the governor for keeping to his electioneering promises. He declared that the governor has written his name in gold with the road construction. Some of the residents also spoke glowingly about the Imeko road. A trader in the town, Mrs. Ganiyat Olatunji, expressed happiness that the nightmare of residents of the town has come to an end, as according to her, apart from an anticipated impact in the growth of businesses, it would accelerate social development of the town.

A commercial motorcycle operator, Samuel Ayorinde, said the road would mean more business and an increase in domestic income, as the damages done by the bad road to their motorcycles would be greatly minimised. Apart from Oke Ola road in Imeko area of Ogun West, the Abiodun administration had also carried out reconstruction of Raypower Road and Imasayi-Ayetoro Road – both in Ogun West. These roads have been completed and are already being used by motorists and residents while Owode-Ilaro Road are currently being reconstructed.

The Odo Afa road and bridge in Ipokia hitherto abandoned for a long time and the 19.2km Agbara-Lusada-Atan Road, abandoned despite being the strategic link to the industrial belts in Ogun West zone and its potential impact to the state’s economy is equally receiving his administration’s attention; while the 10.25km Lusada-Igbesa road, which was constructed by the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone in partnership with the Ogun State and inaugurated last year.

The Lagos State workers were pleasantly surprised yesterday when Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu embarked a working visit to the state secretariat in Alusa, Ikeja. Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF and OYEBOLA OWOLABI report that the visit birthed many glad tidings for the workers, including salary increase for all categories of state employees

The Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, was in an upbeat mood yesterday. As early as 10am, thousands of public servants had filed out in resplendent attires waiting to receive an important visitor. The guest is a man they all know too well like the back of their hands. And they were not even allowed to wait for too long, as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu staged a grand entry into the state secretariat at the appointed time. It was his second working visit to the state government secretariat since he assumed office in May 2019. The workers were happy having the governor mingle freely with them.

The mission: to interact with the public servants in the state and feel their pulse. The workers had waited patiently to receive the governor, and they did welcome him with a resounding applause. Everyone, including the commissioners, permanent secretaries, directors and other top government functionaries gathered at the Head of Service (HoS) Office to welcome the Lagos helmsman. The entire state secretariat felt like a festival was going on.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, upon alighting from his vehicle, made sure to relate and shake hands with the workers who had lined the office premises to welcome him. With ease, he moved around as he pleased in the jubilant crowd, exchanging pleasantries and having selfies with employees of the state government. Many also struggled to find space in their office balconies peeping down to catch a glimpse of the man who runs the show in Nigeria’s commercial capital. They all hailed and hailed the governor, as shouts of ‘Mr Sellable,’ ‘Sanwo Eko’ and ‘BOS of Lagos’ rented the air.

On behalf of all civil servants in the state numbering around 99,000, the Head of Service (HoS), Hakeem Muri-Okunola, received the governor, thanking him for his dedication to workers’ welfare. First, he, on behalf of the civil servants, hailed the governor for prioritising workers’ welfare and benefits. Among many achievements, the Hos lauded Sanwo-Olu for the retrospective approval granted over 3000 workers who had obtained higher qualifications without due authorisations. Muri-Okunola also noted that about 80 per cent of the governor’s promises to public workers have been implemented, with the remaining 20 per cent in various stages of implementation.

Like an Oliver Twist, the HoS, however, stressed that nothing can be too much for the about 99,000 workforce, listing some pressing needs requiring Sanwo-Olu’s attention. Muri-Okunola, who enjoys a gift of the garb, reiterated the need to add more staff buses and routes to the existing ones to serve the large workforce. “The workers are very grateful and I say thank you on their behalf. For the investments, capacity trainings and others, we say thank you. However, we will plead for some more things. One is the issue of staff bus. With about 99,000 workers, there is a need for more staff bus and routes to make commuting easier for our people. We would also seek your approval for the quick payment of insurance compensation for the dead and injured workers to be moved to the front line charge,” he added.

In his response, Sanwo-Olu profusely thanked the workers for their dedication to duty and ‘unprecedented support’ for his administration’s programmes and policies, even as he described the Lagos State public service the best in the country. He specially acknowledged their struggles, saying “we have to encourage ourselves more, having done exceptionally well, especially our health workers who did an amazing job during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are here today as a united body and that is a good, and I say a warm thank you for working hard to make this service worth the while,” he said.

 

Leading the pack of good news was salary increment, where the governor said the modalities are being worked on. He said the planned review was in view of the current inflation in the country. “We will review salaries to show we can take care of our public servants. We won’t wait for the federal government because we are a proactive government. You know I always say that my greatest assets are my people, and I need to demonstrate that. Nothing is too much for us because you are indeed big; you are the ones who make it a lot easier and you deserve the best,” he noted.

Apart from this, the governor also disclosed that a phased system of distribution of official vehicles to senior workers on the director level beginning from the end of October, even as he said that 100 directors will benefit at every phase. The workers were assured that the state government will always endeavour to meet all commitments to them. Sanwo-Olu, a former Commissioner in the state, said, “You were always the first; you would remember that at that time we were the first to start paying the minimum wage of N18,000 way back in 2010. You would remember during my time, we started the Pension Commission. It was the first in the whole country. Even at that time, we started the first Enhanced Training.

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“Lagos has been the best in terms of payment of pension benefits to our retired workers. Our Government is committed to clearing the entire backlog; we are already close to clearing the 2021 liabilities. We are committed to ensuring that all our workers get paid their pensions upon retirement from service and this is the legacy we want to leave behind. I’m one of you; I’m part of it and I know what the issues are. It is really a homecoming for me. Let me put it on record that the support I have received from all of you is unprecedented. The citizens know too well what you are doing for them. You serve almost 25 million Lagosians. I want to thank you on behalf of all of them. Of course, there are areas we can do better. I want to thank almost 100,000 of you that are carrying on to make the service the best in the country. I can see that the future is brighter for us.

“It is only when the public service is energised that the entire Lagosians feel the benefits. You are the ones that bake the cake. For me, the achievements are there for everyone to see. The administration traversed the entire aspects of life. There is no single policy that we have not used to touch lives. I know there is inflation in the country; the cost of living is high. Last month, I instructed that we start work on how to increase the salary of the entire workforce. I want to assure you that we will do that. We won’t wait for the federal government; we don’t want the union to come and hold us to ransom. We will work it out as soon as possible,” he assured.

Sanwo-Olu said the workers deserved encouraging welfare and benefits, given their support and commitment to the core mandates of his administration. The gesture would further motivate the workforce and enhance its services to the people, he said. “I have looked around; I know there is pressure and high level of inflation in the country. There is high cost of living everywhere. Last month, at the cabinet meeting, I instructed the Office of Head of Service and Ministry of Establishment, Training and Pensions to start work on how we will increase the salaries of the entire workforce.

“I just don’t want to talk about it because we are Lagos; we reflect this decision in the lives of our people. I know the pressure of inflation is on you; we will not wait for the federal government before we take this decision. This is Lagos. We are going to review the salaries and ensure we take care of our public servants. When we do the pay rise, not only will we expect more from you, our citizens must also see the benefits of this important decision in the service delivery. We are a government that is proactive; we don’t want the staff unions to hold us to ransom. We are responding to the yearnings of our people; I know you have not asked for it, but I am happy to tell you that a pay increase is on the way.”

 

As part of having enabling environment for the workforce, Sanwo-Olu said by next year, there would be a major investment in campus infrastructure, adding that there would be an increase in the number of staff buses for workers from the current 35. Speaking on the challenges, he stated: “In January 2020, just less than seven months of the administration, COVID-19 struck and changed everything about us – the way we work, how we work, where we work and it ensured that we changed a lot of things. It created a big burden for us because Lagos carried more than 50 per cent of the country’s total burden. But guess what, we came out from it better, stronger and happier. Our health workers did exceptionally well,” he noted.

Sanwo-Olu also announced a 25 per cent increase in core establishment duty allowance, and the approval of personalised vehicles for directors. One hundred will be disbursed before month end in the first phase. Other goodies announced by the governor were the approval of a certain percentage of the state government housing schemes for public servants, with a 40 per cent rebate for each civil servant.

The governor also said more staff buses will be procured and more routes added to the existing ones to ease the movement of workers to and from work, while promising that the various workers unions and pensioners will continue to get their check off dues as and when due. He said: “As a government, nothing is too much for us to do for you because you work very hard to make this public service worth the while. Indeed, you make it a lot easier. We have started on improving our working environment and we will not stop. So, on behalf my cabinet members, I thank you again and again for being the best.”