The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Boost for Kwara community health insurance scheme

    Boost for Kwara community health insurance scheme

    The Kwara State Government has restated its commitment towards providing quality health care for rural dwellers. In the circumstances, the government has re-signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Dutch Health Insurance Fund in a bid to establish health insurance fund.

    Already, about 120,000 rural dwellers have enrolled into the state’s Community Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) which is a partnership among Hygeia, PharmAccess and Health Insurance Fund.

    The government, it was gathered, plans to increase the number of beneficiaries of the scheme, which began in 2007, to 600,000.

    At the signing ceremony, the Chairman, Dutch Health Insurance Fund, Mr. Kees Storm, who signed on behalf of Dutch Government, said the Kwara State Health Insurance Fund would pool resources from the state government, Federal Government, communities, development partners and the private sector to ensure a successful future of the programme.

    Mr. Storm pledged that the state would receive financial support to the tune of 1.5 million dollars if it meets the conditions for Health Insurance Fund grant.

    He also promised that the Health Insurance Fund and Hygeia would focus on technical assistance for the implementation of the programme in January, next year.

    He commended the state government for the success of CHIS, even as he called on other states to emulate Kwara State Health Insurance model in order to improve people’s access to health care delivery.

    He said: “Kwara State is making history with the signing of this agreement which will lead to the setting up of the first independent state health insurance fund in Nigeria by the end of this year. The sustainability of the Kwara programme lay in strong local ownership. The strong leadership of the state government is critical to the future functioning of the programme.

    “The scheme will pool resources from the state government, Federal Government, communities, development partners and the private sector to ensure a successful future of the Kwara programme.

    “Already, PharmAccess and Hygeia have collaborated with the state in developing a funding proposal for the Federal Ministry of Health/World Bank’s Saving One Million Lives Initiative. We are glad to hear that the proposal has been approved for a $2 million grant for next year.

    “For the effective implementation of the fund, an initial capitalisation of $5 million is needed. We are committed to helping the state to capitalise its health insurance fund with an amount of $1.25 million on the condition that the state and its partners provide $3.75 million.

    “If Kwara State meets this condition, the health insurance fund will, in principle, make an additional contribution of $2.6 million to the fund.”

    In a remark, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said the agreement would ensure the sustainability of the state’s Community Health Insurance Scheme.

    Governor Ahmed assured the Dutch partners that his administration would continue to strengthen partnership with all stakeholders in setting up the fund and provide health infrastructure for the people of the state.

  • Scramble for emblem

    With the launching of the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem by President Muhammadu Buhari a few weeks ago, there has been a great rush for the symbol at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Besides urging Nigerians to buy it in support of the families and relatives of the fallen heroes and the living soldiers, Buhari had urged Ministers and other government officials to always hang the emblem on their clothes from the period of the launching to the January 15th Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

    He also warned that the emblem may be made mandatory for staff and any visitor to government establishments during the period.

    This last remark was a further nugde for visitors and officials at the seat of government to go for the emblem.

    Of special note was the rush for the emblem three days after the launching when the 63rd session of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    State governors, their aides and some ministers who came for the meeting, who were not with the emblem had to buy at the main entrance to the President and Vice President’s offices.

    Some beautiful ladies were already positioned at the entrance to sell the emblems.

    Some of the governors and aides who bought the emblem as they were heading to the meeting that morning included Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi.

    Rather than paying the going rate of N500 per emblem as was being sold to Villa staff that morning, some of the governors paid as high as N20,000 per emblem.

    One of the governors after he was decorated by one of the beautiful ladies selling the emblem turned and gave his aide instruction to settle the bill.

    Some staff, who saw what was happening were surprised to see some of the aides to the governors counting counting N20,000 and some above N20,000 for just one emblem they just parted N500 for.

    While the governors might have been thinking that they were making donations and supporting the course of the fallen heroes and the living soldiers as directed by the President, it is another story altogether whether what they gave out really gets to where it should go or just to enrich the ladies.

    Whatever the case may be, some staff who witnessed what was going on also benefited from the governors’ largess.

    They refused to pay for the emblems they collected from the ladies.

    One of the staff, who collected one emblem and already agreed to pay N500 but waited for one of the ladies to attend to a governor who just arrived, had to reply her this way when she came back for her money: “So, after seeing all these, you expect me to pay for this emblem.”

    The staff walked away as the lady continued to count and properly pile the money from the governor into her purse.

    When another staff was approached by the second lady for the money for the emblem he collected, he brought another angle to the drama by demanding a cut from the governors’ largess.

    Although he didn’t get any cut from the lady, but just like the first staff he walked away with the emblem without paying for it.

    Despite the rush for the emblem, there was no full compliance enforcement at the entrances two weeks after the launching unlike under the last dispensation.

    Many staff and visitors could still gain entrance to the State House without the emblem.

     

    Total refund

     

    One of the common and popular practices under past administrations is that you are left off the hook the moment you refund part of the loot stolen from the national treasury or in a public office.

    Many public officers accused of stealing public funds during their tenures have been allegedly given soft landing by the investigating government agencies as soon as they play ball by secretly parting with part of the loots.

    Whether the money and assets recovered from such looters get to the government purse or ended up in the pockets of those in charge, the cases always died down.

    Often times, the case file may mysteriously disappear from the custody of the investigating agencies or the case simply forgotten with time.

    Such looters not only continue to walk freely in the society but they also continue to command great respect among the low and mighty.

    The trend has also encouraged many to see any public officer, who declined to steal while occupying such office, to be foolish.

    With such treatment on looters, there was no deterrence to discourage massive looting especially in public offices.

    The various laws put in place to check such fraudulent practices cannot achieve much on their own without the human aspect.

    While the laws appeared to be very good on paper, those saddled with the responsibility of enforcing them most times disappoint in carrying out their duties effectively.

    All these have given many thieves in high places the courage and hope that they will always escape prosecution and total refund of stolen money at the end of the day.

    But President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that such partial refund of money stolen under past administrations will not be entertained under his government.

    Even as he claimed that some of the looters have started to secretly return part of the stolen funds to his government, he has insisted that all monies stolen must be refunded to the government coffers in full.

    Speaking at a forum with the Nigerian community in Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran last Tuesday, Buhari said: “On corruption; yes, they are still innocent. But, we are collecting documents and some of them have started voluntarily returning something. But we want all.

    “When we get those documents we will formally charge them to court and then we will tell Nigerians to know those who abused trust when they are entrusted with public funds. So, the day of reckoning is gradually approaching,” he warned

    This, definitely, is a welcome development as it will go a long way under the present dispensation to discourage such looting.

     

  • Nigeria, others battle breast cancer

    Nigeria’s fight against breast cancer received a boost as a leading information and communication technology (ICT) company, Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN), sponsored this year’s edition of the African Patrons Cup Tournament.

    The tournament, which aimed at sensitising people to the dangers of breast cancer witnessed female polo players from Nigeria, South Africa and the United States (US) participating in the two-day tourney.

    Speaking at the event, wife of Niger State Governor and Ambassador of the Pink Polo Day, Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello, commended MTN for its efforts in the fight against breast cancer.

    She said: “Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers. On behalf of the Nigerian women, I would like to commend MTN for being a strong advocate against breast cancer scourge.”

    Also speaking, Hajia Hadiza Nasir El-Rufai, chief host of the event and wife of Kaduna State Governor expressed optimism that the Pink Polo Day would draw awareness to the devastating effects of breast cancer. She also called on other corporate bodies to emulate MTN’s commitment to the fight against breast cancer.

    She said: “We hope that well-meaning Nigerians, especially in the private sector, will emulate MTN’s efforts at confronting the challenge of breast cancer in Nigeria. The fact is that it is possible to defeat breast cancer. But it is a fight that requires collaborative effort. MTN has led the way and we urge others to join this fight. This is the only way we can win the fight against the disease.”

    Responding, Events and Sponsorship Manager, MTN Nigeria, Dola Bamgboye, who represented the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, Richard Iweanoge, assured of MTN’s constant support in the fight against breast cancer.

    “Mammograms are critical for early detection of breast cancer; thus lowering the risk of death from the disease. To complement efforts in reducing the rate of death occasioned by cancer, MTN, through its Foundation (MTNF), established six mammography centres and embarked on several awareness campaigns across the country.”

    He further said that the MTNF Mammography centres are located within public hospitals across the six geo-political zones as follows: General Hospital Marina Lagos; Specialist Teaching Hospital Irrua Edo State; Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto; Federal Medical Centre Nguru Yobe State; Federal Medical Centre Lokoja Kogi State and University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. The MTNF Mammography centres offer affordable breast cancer screening services.

  • Solar plant: Hope for Shiroro communities

    Solar plant: Hope for Shiroro communities

    When, on November 1, 2013, Shiroro Hydro-electric Power Station was taken over by the North South Power (NSP) Limited, members of the host communities were optimistic that they would enjoy social and economic benefits. There was also the hope that there would be enough employment opportunities and more basic amenities.

    Conversely, their hopes and aspirations are yet to be realised as the firm is yet to meet most of these expectations since it has not actually raised its power generation level to secure high market in the Nigerian electricity supply industry (NESI) owing to some technical and financial constraints.

    Playing host to the Post-privatisation monitoring team of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in the station in Shiroro Niger State, the firm, which manages the 600 Mega Watts (MW) power plant, revealed its challenges in terms of poor funding from the market operator that only released 50 per cent of the revenue and how the Hydro-Electric Power Area Development Commission (HYPADEC) fund has somehow affected the expansion plans of the station.

    It added that it has not secured its share of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) power sector intervention fund.

    Despite the challenges, the firm has planned to expand the plant with additional 300MW photovoltaic plant. According to the management of the company, the expansion plan was not only aimed at increasing the capacity of the entity, but also to secure an alternative in case power from hydro switches off.

    Unfolding the plan to the delegation which was led by Assistant Director, General Counsel, Mr. Abdullahi Shaibu, the NSP Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Abdulaziz Dauda, an engineer, said in order to “generate employment, NSP is planning to establish a large solar power plant in Shiroro.

    “When we start building the plant itself, most of the work force will be derived from the host communities. It is novel in Africa. I don’t think we have 300MW photovoltaic plant anywhere in the world,” he said.

    According to him, the station still has a vast land from its airstrip to the reservoir for the construction of the solar plant that has passed its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) stage at the Federal Ministry of Environment. He noted that although the design is ready, the next stage is securing the interconnection approval from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

    The company seeks the approval of the BPE for the expansion and that of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for licensing and the power purchase agreement.

    The firm’s Chief Technical Officer, Mr. Roland Lwiindi said when NSP gets the approvals, the first phase of the plant which will deliver 100MW will come on stream by 2017.

    On other expansion plans to increase power generation, especially in terms of tackling the water storage challenge, he said the installed capacity of the station is 600MW but the reservoirs are not always filled to the brim in every three years which results in a 300MW average power generation in such years since the station rations its water.

    He revealed that this year when water came in full, the plant produced 450MW average until it receded in February and March; making it impossible to run the plant for 24 hours due to lack of sufficient water.

    Following the storage constraint, the North South Power Company realised that since Shiroro is on the Kaduna River with River Dina as a major tributary, it is possible to channel water from Gurara to increase the water level from Shiroro.

    The plan, he said, will culminate in more energy generation at Shiroro and would be of great benefit to Gurara and Zungeru, even though it will not affect the existing Gurara station.

    His words: “When you look at our energy figures, there is a number called capacity factor. That means that Shiroro has capacity factor of 44 per cent. Basically, we have two constraints for two out of every three years; the reservoirs are not filled up. Those years the generation will be controlled by lack of water. Although we have 600MW capacity, the average generation will just be below 300MW because we ration water.

    “Roughly one in every three years, the water does come in full and the reservoirs will be filled up. But we are still constrained by lack of sufficient storage. Two weeks ago, it was filled to the brim but today it is 89 per cent full. By February and March, we won’t have enough water to run it for 24 hours because we won’t have enough storage.   What we have realised is that Shiroro is on the Kaduna River and Dina River is a major tributary of Shiroro.

    The Dina River, at some point, runs four kilometers off the Gurara River. So, it is possible to put a channel from there to increase the water in Shiroro. That will benefit Shiroro and it will generate more energy which will benefit Gurara as well as Zungeru that is being constructed.

    “We are about to conclude the feasibility study on that, even as we are expecting the final report. This project won’t affect the existing Gurara station because it is going to tap water down the stream of that station.  So, we request for support for these projects.”

    The Chief Operation Officer said globally the main grouse of the communities is in the area of employment.  His words: “Anywhere you go, the issue of employment opportunities for host communities is of paramount importance. If you look at it globally, I think NSP has done well in terms of rationalisation of workers.

    “Let’s say that the junior cadre constitutes about 60 per cent of the work force. This is what matters. The work force is from this community. We were least affected in terms of rationalisation. We had 435 and now we have 307. Virtually 100 people were rationalised.

    “That is important because we have kept the majority of that cadre which would have been affected. But in terms of generating employment which the community is concerned about, we have to be a bit patient since the business needs expansion.

    “We have been meeting with the youth of the community. We have about three forums. One is the police community relationship. Since NSP came in, we had not added any borehole.”

  • Kuje Market: Traders grieve over demolition

    Kuje Market: Traders grieve over demolition

    Six months after the first phase of Kuje Market was demolished and reconstructed, the second phase of the market has been demolished to pave way for the commencement of the construction of the second phase of the market to be completed in six months.

    Speaking to newsmen during the demolition exercise, the chairman of Kuje Area

    Council, Hon. Ishaku Shaban Tete said the council embarked on the exercise in order to improve the standard of the market and boost business activities in the area council.

    He said before the demolition, the state of Kuje Market was awful; adding that after several deliberations between market/shop owners and the area council, a consensus was reached to the effect that there was need for the establishment of a modern market with state-of-the-art infrastructural facilities to boost the economy of the council.

    Hon. Tete further said he was sad that some traders were displaced during the clearing of the site. But he added that measures have been put in place to cushion the effects the demolition would have on the traders; pending when the developer would complete the project.

    The council chief also emphasised that the action of the council was not to witch-hunt anyone; rather aimed at making life better and business more beneficial for all.

    Hon. Tete expressed optimism that when the project is completed, everyone will heave a sigh of relief, as the challenge would have been a thing of the past.

    The council chief informed the traders and stakeholders that some of the benefits that would be derived when the market is completed would include sanity, better organisation; easy accessibility to the market in times of emergency, police station to settle minor disputes and a bank to encourage traders to embrace the savings culture.

    He appealed to traders and residents to co-operate with the council and the developer as the market is being reconstructed. The public private partnership (PPP) committee has already taken stock of shop owners and traders in the first phase of the market, so that they would be considered when the shops are completed in the second phase.

    In a chat with Abuja Review, the Secretary of the PPP committee/quantity surveying, Mr. Sunday Yaro said the committee was working assiduously to ensure that the completion period given by the developer is attainable.

    He urged residents of Kuje to expect good governance and democracy dividends from the present administration.

    Mr. Onah Wilfred and Mrs. Nkechinyere Okafor, some of the traders who spoke with our correspondent said they were happy with the development, even as they said the time given for them to evacuate their goods was very short. They appealed to the council to extend the time to January next year to enable them to sell the goods they purchased for the Christmas season.

    On his part, the Chairman Kuje Traders’ Association Alhaji Yunusa Isa said proper consultations and meetings were held with the genuine traders of the market before the demolition exercise. He appealed to the affected traders to be patient with the council as the project is for the development of all.

    Also speaking, the traditional ruler of the area, the Gomo of Kuje, His Royal Highness (HRH), Alhaji Haruna Tanko Jibrin has appealed to government at all levels to be committed to their constitutional responsibilities of providing infrastructural facilities and services for the people in line with the needs, yearnings and aspirations of the low income earners.

  • Minister to prioritise mass rail

    Minister to prioritise mass rail

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Muhammad Bello has promised to prioritise the Abuja Rail Mass Transit projects. Bello also assured that he would do everything possible to fast-track the completion of the project, considering the relief it would bring to commuters in and around Abuja.

    Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary of the FCT, Muhammad Sule revealed this in a press statement. He said the minister stated this when he inspected the project sites at the Airport, Wupa, Idu and Ring Road II Stations, as part of his familiarisation tours of projects and facilities in the FCT.

    He said: “The FCT Administration would support any project that would have positive impact on the lives of the common man, especially as this would go a long way in reducing traffic congestion in Abuja.

    “The minister expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done so far. He, however, urged the contractors (CCECC Nigeria Limited) to redouble their efforts in delivering the job on schedule.

    “Malam Bello reiterated that everything must be done to ease movement, particularly public transportation in the city to bring it at par with other modern cities around the world.

    “This is a very important project for the residents of the Federal Capital Territory and everything would be done to see to its early completion because of its utmost benefit.”

    The Managing Director of CCECC Nigeria Limited, Mr. Li Quigyong who took the minister and his entourage round the sites remarked that his company takes the project with seriousness and would do all it could to complete it as scheduled.”

     

  • Scramble for emblem

    With the launching of the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem by President Muhammadu Buhari a few weeks ago, there has been a great rush for the symbol at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Besides urging Nigerians to buy it in support of the families and relatives of the fallen heroes and the living soldiers, Buhari had urged Ministers and other government officials to always hang the emblem on their clothes from the period of the launching to the January 15th Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

    He also warned that the emblem may be made mandatory for staff and any visitor to government establishments during the period.

    This last remark was a further nugde for visitors and officials at the seat of government to go for the emblem.

    Of special note was the rush for the emblem three days after the launching when the 63rd session of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    State governors, their aides and some ministers who came for the meeting, who were not with the emblem had to buy at the main entrance to the President and Vice President’s offices.

    Some beautiful ladies were already positioned at the entrance to sell the emblems.

    Some of the governors and aides who bought the emblem as they were heading to the meeting that morning included Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi.

    Rather than paying the going rate of N500 per emblem as was being sold to Villa staff that morning, some of the governors paid as high as N20,000 per emblem.

    One of the governors after he was decorated by one of the beautiful ladies selling the emblem turned and gave his aide instruction to settle the bill.

    Some staff, who saw what was happening were surprised to see some of the aides to the governors counting counting N20,000 and some above N20,000 for just one emblem they just parted N500 for.

    While the governors might have been thinking that they were making donations and supporting the course of the fallen heroes and the living soldiers as directed by the President, it is another story altogether whether what they gave out really gets to where it should go or just to enrich the ladies.

    Whatever the case may be, some staff who witnessed what was going on also benefited from the governors’ largess.

    They refused to pay for the emblems they collected from the ladies.

    One of the staff, who collected one emblem and already agreed to pay N500 but waited for one of the ladies to attend to a governor who just arrived, had to reply her this way when she came back for her money: “So, after seeing all these, you expect me to pay for this emblem.”

    The staff walked away as the lady continued to count and properly pile the money from the governor into her purse.

    When another staff was approached by the second lady for the money for the emblem he collected, he brought another angle to the drama by demanding a cut from the governors’ largess.

    Although he didn’t get any cut from the lady, but just like the first staff he walked away with the emblem without paying for it.

    Despite the rush for the emblem, there was no full compliance enforcement at the entrances two weeks after the launching unlike under the last dispensation.

    Many staff and visitors could still gain entrance to the State House without the emblem.

     

    Total refund

     

    One of the common and popular practices under past administrations is that you are left off the hook the moment you refund part of the loot stolen from the national treasury or in a public office.

    Many public officers accused of stealing public funds during their tenures have been allegedly given soft landing by the investigating government agencies as soon as they play ball by secretly parting with part of the loots.

    Whether the money and assets recovered from such looters get to the government purse or ended up in the pockets of those in charge, the cases always died down.

    Often times, the case file may mysteriously disappear from the custody of the investigating agencies or the case simply forgotten with time.

    Such looters not only continue to walk freely in the society but they also continue to command great respect among the low and mighty.

    The trend has also encouraged many to see any public officer, who declined to steal while occupying such office, to be foolish.

    With such treatment on looters, there was no deterrence to discourage massive looting especially in public offices.

    The various laws put in place to check such fraudulent practices cannot achieve much on their own without the human aspect.

    While the laws appeared to be very good on paper, those saddled with the responsibility of enforcing them most times disappoint in carrying out their duties effectively.

    All these have given many thieves in high places the courage and hope that they will always escape prosecution and total refund of stolen money at the end of the day.

    But President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that such partial refund of money stolen under past administrations will not be entertained under his government.

    Even as he claimed that some of the looters have started to secretly return part of the stolen funds to his government, he has insisted that all monies stolen must be refunded to the government coffers in full.

    Speaking at a forum with the Nigerian community in Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran last Tuesday, Buhari said: “On corruption; yes, they are still innocent. But, we are collecting documents and some of them have started voluntarily returning something. But we want all.

    “When we get those documents we will formally charge them to court and then we will tell Nigerians to know those who abused trust when they are entrusted with public funds. So, the day of reckoning is gradually approaching,” he warned

    This, definitely, is a welcome development as it will go a long way under the present dispensation to discourage such looting.

     

  • ‘Conduct forensic audit on empty houses’

    Chairman, National Oracle Magazine, Blessing Agbom-here has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammad Bello to conduct a forensic audit of empty houses in Abuja.

    He said any house built but left unoccupied ýfor six months should be scrutinised.

    At a briefing on a planned award for the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja, Agbomhere said house owners should be invited to do a biometric registration of their homes.

    According to him, the audit would reveal that most vacant homes are owned by corrupt civil servants such as former Permanent Secretaries and Federal Directors in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    However, he revealed a plan to give award to current President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Drý Akinwumi Adesina who was former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. He said the award was to recognise outstanding patriots who contributed immensely to development of the country.

    According to the organiser, Tinubu made an indelible impact in the political history of Nigeria by transforming an opposition party to a ruling government.

    He said: “Man of the Year Award goes to Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The award is to celebrate him because of the role he played in bringing change to the country. He also seems to be the change agent because he stood in the opposition and was able to transform the opposition into a ruling party. For that, he deserves our honour.”

    However, he urged the APC National Leader to drive the change agenda to meet expectations of the people.

    He stated that 28 other patriots would be recipients of various awards, including former Governor of Central Bank (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who is currently the Emir of Kano and current Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hamid Ali for his anti-corruption campaign in the NCS.

    The event would be organised in partnership with Gatekeepers Foundation, Nigerian Youth Movement for Change and Nigerian Christian/Muslim Association.

    “Nigerians should emulate Sanusi for exposing corruption in the oil and gas sector despite being appointed by his government. He stood by

    his allegation against the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke and that is what is expected of Nigerians. We should not harbour corruption,” he said.

  • ‘Many altars of God sold to politicians’

    ‘Many altars of God sold to politicians’

    Rev. Miniabi Dagogo Jack is the International Director of Good Leadership Prayer Support Initiative and the General Overseer of Launderer’s Soap Evangelical Ministry. In this interview with TONY AKOWE and FRANCA OCHIGBO, he speaks on the role of the church in the politics of the country and other national issues. Excerpts:

    What is the Good Leadership Prayer Support Initiative about?

    On June 7, this year, God spoke to me to set up an army to pray for the people. So, I think it is time we prayed for those in leadership positions. We have seen people with outstanding credibility that had made their mark all over the world, but when they come to Nigeria, they can’t make good mark. What is it that we are not getting right? There is something we need to do that we are not doing and we need to ask God to do something. We need to pray for those in leadership positions because t is not by power, nor by might, but by the Spirit of God.

    That informed the formation of the organisation. The specific message from God was to pray for good leadership. The organization is non-partisan and what that means is that no matter the political party, the leader should work towards addressing the plight of the common people. That is what we are doing and any leader that is not interested in working to address the plight of the common people, God should also remove him because it is God that makes and also destroys.

    With what is going on now, do you think the APC-led government will succeed where the previous governments failed?

    I will say yes because if I say no, it means that our prayers are not working. We started our prayers since June and since then, we have seen lots of changes. The Bible says that two cannot work together unless they agree. One of our prayer points is that God should put the spirit of agreement among the three arms of government.

    If you reflect on what is going on, this is the first time a thorough screening has been carried out in the Senate and also the first time more credible persons have been appointed as ministers. Our prayer is that God should open the heart and mind of the President to ensure that he uses people of credibility.

    I believe that they are doing very well. This is the first time Nigerians have been interested in the screening exercise. That they will seat down and listen to the screening is a plus and I must say it means that God is answering our prayers. If you look at the actions of the President, you will realise that this is a President that will tell you the truth. He openly tells whoever cares to listen that Nigeria is broke and that is what the APC was crying about during the last administration.

    There was a government that was covering the truth, but this is a government that will speak out the truth for investors and everybody to know the true situation in the country.

    There is a lot of awareness about the fight against corruption. We have also been praying against corruption and corrupt leaders. For these few months, I think that God’s hand has been on the government and we are ready to pray until we cross the bridge.

    You said the fight against corruption by this government is genuine. But there was a petition against Amaechi and he was cleared by the Senate and he is now a minister. Would you say that is a genuine fight against corruption?

    Amaechi’s matter is in court. The Senate has a standing rule which guides their conduct and one of it is that once a matter is in court, they don’t discuss it at all. I wonder why you should even talk about that at all and why a report of that committee should be relied upon when the matter was never discussed.

    Amaechi appeared before the committee and told them that the matter was in court and since you have not heard from him, you cannot pass judgment. You know well that legally, when a matter is in court, you cannot discuss it. We are aware of the matter involving Atiku where the Supreme Court ruled that until a court of competent jurisdiction adjudged somebody to be guilty of corruption; you cannot adjudge him to be so. Don’t forget that the commission set up by the government did not even indict Amaechi. It was only one-sided White Paper released by the government that indicted him and we all know the problem between Amaechi and Governor Wike.

    That was also subject to a court ruling and once a matter is before the court, you don’t discuss it, because that would amount to subjudice. Being a minister does not confer immunity on him and so, if you have any evidence against him, you can work on it.

    Also, the organisation that sent the petition to the Senate was not even registered. I wonder why the Senate would want to rely on a petition by an unregistered organisation. It means that somebody can just form an organisation for the sole purpose of discrediting another person. We have passed that level in our development process. So, I think Senate was right by clearing him.

    Nigerians criticised the President when he said he will not have 36 ministries. What is your take on that?

    Our constitution has a lot of loopholes because it is not the people’s constitution. I expected that by now, we would have put in place a people’s constitution, instead of till relying on the 1999 Constitution.

    The President was bound by law to appoint 36 ministers because it is constitutional. But we all know that he was not very comfortable with this because he knew that Nigeria is broke. The President is thinking of how to maximise what is available, pay workers and be able to attend to the needs of the society.

  • Workers must be paid Oct. salary, says minister

    Workers must be paid Oct. salary, says minister

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mallam Muha-mmad Bello has instructed the chairmen of the six area councils to use their federal allocations to clear workers’ October salary arrears.

    Bello gave the directive after the FCT Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting where the sum of N1, 464,071,850.48 was shared among the six area councils.

    In a press statement, the Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary FCT, Muhammad Sule said the minister had instructed the chairmen not to allow any member of staff to suffer unduly.

    He said: “The minister gave the directive after the FCT Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting where the sum of N1, 464,071,850.48 was shared among the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory being monies accruing to them from the Federation Account for the month of October.

    “This is sequel to the Federation Account Allocation Committee meeting for the month of October, 2015 which was held on November 27 and 28, this year.

    “Malam Bello advised the chairmen to ensure that no member of staff is allowed to

    suffer unduly; stressing that staff salaries are expected to be paid as at when due.

    “The minister warned that the allocation was not meant for the award of contracts but for payment of salaries owed to workers of the area councils.

    “Henceforth, all allocations to the area councils will be published in Abuja Digest, a weekly publication of the FCT Administration for all stakeholders to see in line with the change mantra of this government.

    “The minister, however, urged the workers to be patient, as efforts would be made to ensure that their November and December salaries are paid on time.

    “On sanitation, the minister appealed to officials of the FCT Administration in charge of environmental issues to devise ways of sustaining the present efforts.

    “He instructed such departments and agencies to sensitise residents to the need of keeping their environment clean and desist from disposing garbage indiscriminately.”