The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

  • Tambuwal: Has House lived up to expectation?

    Tambuwal: Has House lived up to expectation?

    VICTOR OLUWASEGUN and DELE ANOFI examine the performance of the House of Representatives in the last two years under the leadership of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

     

     

    When the mantle of leadership fell on Speaker Aminu Tambuwal in the House of Representatives two years ago, expectations were high. Many people expected a clean break from the past. Since the image of the Lower Chamber was mired in controversy between 2007 and 2011, some people were also indifferent to the change of baton.

    Tambuwal has garnered tremendous goodwill, following his people-oriented approach to national issues. The Speaker had pledged in his ‘Legislative Agenda’ to pursue the national interest and make the Lower Chamber an enviable arm of the National Assembly.

    The acid test came during the controversial fuel subsidy removal. As crisis engulfed the country, the House rose to the occasion. It convened an emergency session to pass a resolution advising President Goodluck Jonathan to rescind his decision. Although the Presidency initially ignored the advise, the masses hailed the House for aligning with their cause.

    To reposition the House has been the priority of Tambuwal. In the last two years, the House, under his leadership, has come up with a new approach to the budgetary process. The Speaker explained that the goal was to prevent budget failure and foster fiscal discipline.

    The House oversight function, in this regard, has found expression in the stringent examination of the 2012 and 2013 budgets. Although the move generated a row between the legislature and the executive, the House has remained committed to the principles guilding the appropriation process. For example, the House Committee on Finance began a campaign to reduce the deficit in the this year’s budget and investigations into the non-remittances to the Federation Account by over 60 agencies.

    This approach has forced many agencies to abide with the extant laws on the remittance of their operating surpluses and income into the Federal Government coffers, which has now swelled up.

    Similarly, the House has insisted that the facts and figures, as regards government income and expenditure, should be made known to the public. This move hasenhanced transparency and accountability.

    The agitation for accountability underlied the Hous’s position on the fuel subsidy. Trailing the House emergency meeting on Sunday, January 8, 2012, when 294 members cut short their Christmas break to discuss the vexed issue, was the probe of the subsidy scandal.

    The probe panel was headed by Hon. Farouk Lawan. The committee found a huge fraud in the management of the subsidy funds. When it was later discovered that certain legislators allegedly soiled their hands during ther probe, the House did not shield them.

    The review of the 1990 Constitution was also a critical exercise undertaken by the House and Senate. The Lower Chamber encouraged the participation of the stakeholders in the public sessions organised across the 360 federal constituencies on November 10, last year. thalso took a new turn with the full participation of the.Grassroots in the exercise.

    The public hearing gave Nigerians the opportunity to air their views on the type of the constitution suitable for the country. Remarkably, many Nigerians voted against full immunity for President, VIce President, governors and their deputies; financial independence for Houses of Assembly and autonomy for local council.

    Tambuwal’s tenure has also been peaceful. The House has operated in an atmosphere of harmony and cohesion. In spite of the claims of discontent in the House, the House has not become a rubber stamp chamber under the Speaker. There is no room for executive overbearing. Tambuwal is seen as a symbol of legislative defiance against a seemingly meddlesome executive.

    Unlike the previous dispensation, the House is not divided along the party lines. The in-fighting and discontent that follow the setting up of the standing committees in the House are not visible in this dispensation. The political parties and legislators are treated equally because there is an equitable distribution of committee slots among the members.

    Recently, the House moderated the emergency powers of the President by stopping his move to utilise the funds of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, which are affected by the ‘emergency rule’. The House position, which was at variance with that of the Senate, has been hailed by Nigerians who perceived the legislators as the defenders of the constitution. The House believes that certain aspects of the emergency proclamation by President Jonathan are undemocratic and unconstitutional.

    However, critics have chided the House for taking wrong steps in some instances. For example, people have criticised its decision to give zero allocation to the Security and Exchange Commission in this year’s budget.

    The House had earlier demanded the sack of its Director-General by the President for incompetence.

    The Lower Chamber also sunk into controversy, following the Hembe/Oteh saga, whereby the hunter suddenly became the hunted. Amid the probe into the imminent collapse of the Nigerian Capital Market by its Committee on Capital Market headed by Herman Hembe, the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Arunmah Oteh, accused the committee chairman of demanding and receiving N44 million from her organisation. She claimed that the funds released to Hembe was not utilised for the intended purpose.

    Hembe had to relinquish his position as the chairman of the committee. He is now being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

    Another dark spot was the alleged $620,000 bribe-for-clearance scandal against Farouk Lawan, the former Chairman of the House Committee on Education and head of the ad- hoc panel that investigated the fuel subsidy regime.

    The House commenced an investigation into the allegation. Farouk was removed as the Chairman of the ad hoc committee and Chairman of the House Committee on Education. Ahough only individual legislators were involved, the scandals have dented the image of the House.

    Two years after the issues are: has Tambuwal delivered on his legislative agenda? Is he running a people-oriented House, whose legislations, motions and resolutions are solely in the interest of the people? Are there better federal revenue disclosures? Is the cost of governance being reduced? Are the legislative priorities of the House “ high impact, people-oriented legislation linked to service delivery and attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) capable of eradicating poverty”?

    How well has the committee system in the House been improved, in terms of standard, efficiency, transparency, accountability and legislative deliverables? Is oversight of MDAs efficient and eliminating waste, plugging loopholes and ensuring value for money as promised by Tambuwal?

    It is half-time for the House leadership. The greatest challenge is whether the House under Tambuwal can sustain the tempo, overcome its dark side and strive for improvement in the next two years.

     

  • ‘I will do better than Obi’

    THE chairman of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria for Ebonyi, Enugu and Anambra states, Dr Chike Obidigbo, has lamented the investment flight  from Anambra State. He said that the investment flight creates capital flight unemployment and criminality. He added that, with his experience in  business, he would rescue the state from poverty.

    The governorship aspirant said: “I will do better than Obi because I am sure the only person that  can do better than Obi is somebody that understands the economy’’.

    Addressing the members of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Awka, Obidigbo noted that Governor Obi had laid the foundation for development, in Awka adding that somebody more knowledgeable than Obi in the dynamics of economic development, should take over from him.

    He said: “Anambra State governorship race should not be for all comers or money bags, but for those with the knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of economic development;  to be able to stand on the foundation other governors who governed the state laid.

    ‘’ Other governors before Obi like Ezeife, Mbadinuju and Ngige did their best and Governor Peter Obi is doing his best too. He has been able to open up the state as never before, and laid solid foundations for the incoming Governor, who should stand on to recreate wealth and development as never experienced before in the state.

    ‘’I am an industrialist and I understand the dynamics of economic development, I have equally experienced it. And I have an industry in Ebonyi, in Enugu and in Anambra state with over 1000 people employed. I am out to empower youths”.

    Obidigbo   appealed to the to consider him for the seat. He added: ‘’I am not in the race for the love of money or love of power but because I am better qualified to be the next governor of Anambra state from the pack coming out to contest for the position. I am coming to add value to the system and work on the solid foundation Obi laid to rejuvenate the economy of the state.

    ‘’I am to pursue an urgent economic renaissance that must encourage the private sector to co-operate with the public sector and contribute towards shaping the future of our economy.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • 2015: Igbo must unite to be President, says activist

    2015: Igbo must unite to be President, says activist

    THE national convener of the Igbo Nationality Rights Assembly (INRA),

    Chief Okey Nwosu, has said that, without unity, there cannot be a

    President of Igbo extraction in 2015. Speaking in Lagos in a telephone interview, Nwosu said that the quest for power shift to the region will not materialise, except the Igbo elite sacrifice their personal interest for the interest of the race.

    According to him, the Igbo suffer marginalisation because of lack of unity.

    He said: “If you ask me about the possibility of an Igbo President in 2015, I will say let us talk of unity among the Igbo first. The talk of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction shall remain a mere talk unless the Igbo elite come together to define the interest of Indigbo in the Nigeria project. A situation where some of the elite are interested in personal gains, against the collective interests of all Igbo as a people, will never take us anywhere. Look at what is happening in the polity, because of selfish interest; the Igbo elite cannot condemn actions and injustices against the average Igbo man. Is that the way we want to rule Nigeria?

    Nwosu added: “As an Igboman, and an elite for that matter, I want to confess that we are unlike the Yoruba, the Ijaw or the Hausa and, perhaps, even other smaller ethnic nationalities. I say we have failed to chart the path of greatness for our people in this project called Nigeria. While others, like the Yoruba, Hausa elite will be at the fore front for their groups by sacrificing their personal interests for their tribes, the Igbo elite trade their race for personal gains. We all know how many Igbo people were killed in the North and yet not a word of protest from our so called elite and Ohanaeze.

    “If this had happened the Yoruba, Hausa or Ijaw, they would have mounted a strong campaign in the media and put pressure on the Federal Government, until the families of the victims would be recognised and adequately compensated. Why can’t we emulate these people? Why haven’t we mounted pressure on the government at the centre and call for compensation for the thousands of Igbo that have been consumed by the Boko Haram insurgency?”

    He said the recent pronouncement by the Supreme Court another opportunity for the Igbo to show that they cannot be the object for ridicule.

    Nwosu stressed: “Look at the ridicule that the Igbo have been made to face. Yet nobody is talking. It is very painful to note that at political meetings, when others are scheming to project the greater good of their people, the Igbo are usually treated as people with a price tag. See the case of MASSOB and its leaders. While other violent and destructive groups were given amnesty, MASSOB leaders, who have been preaching non-violence, are to be tried for treason. Now I ask you, have you heard any Igbo leader speak out in defence of MASSOB? When recently Dokubo-Asari made some statements considered inflammatory, did you not see how the Ijaw elite rallied around him? Why is that same spirit glaringly missing among the Igbo?”

    He lamented that, in the face of gruesome murder of Igbo in the North by Boko Haram insurgents, nobody called for compensation for the victims, who were mainly unarmed traders at town hall meetings or church goers. He challenged the elite and Igbo leaders to live up to their expectation.

    “How can Igbo elite, Ohaneze and political leaders keep quite after their kinsmen have been murdered in cold blood by the terrorist group without raising a finger in protest”.

    Nwosu urged the Federal Government to compensate all victims of the Boko Haram insurgents in the Northern part of the country as a matter of urgency in the name of equity, fairness and justice. Nwosu also called on all Igbo, both at home and in abroad, to press for compensation for the victims of Boko Haram.

     

  • Is transformation agenda on course?

    Is transformation agenda on course?

    Two years ago, President Goodluck Jonathan unfolded his Transformation Agenda during the presidential election campaigns. AUGUSTINE AVWODE, LEKE SALAUDEEN and MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE examine its implementation in the light of current realities.

     

    THE transformation Agenda was a popular catch-phrase during the 2011 presidential campaigns. It was what President Goodluck Jonathan presented to Nigerians. The aim was to change the way things were done and give the country a new sense of direction. Though there was nothing magical about it, the campaign slogan took on a life of its own. The Transformation Agenda elevated President Jonathan to a would-be messianic figure. Expectations were high. Nigerians went into the election and voted for him.

    The President has appealed to Nigerians to be objective in scoring his administration. He was speaking during the presentation of a mid-term report of his administration as part of the programme to mark the Democracy Day celebration. The government, through its functionaries, gave the administration a pass mark. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, the the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsudeen Usman said the government has lived up to expectation.

    At the ceremony, President Jonathan, said: “Today, we are marking the end of the first 24 months, which is our mid-term review and my duty is to formally present a document that all Nigerians will be able to read and assess us.

    “The idea is to formally present a document to all Nigerians about the activities of government in the past two years. I plead with all of us, especially those who want to assess and write about it, to develop criteria because without a marking scheme, you cannot mark any student’s paper. Two years of a government, this is what we have done, develop your marking scheme and score us.”

     

    Critical sectors

     

    Job creation

     

    Unemployment has been a major social problem globally. An army of unemployed youths roam the streets in major cities across the country. The government was expected to pursue certain policy measures to reinvigorate important sectors of the economy such that employment opportunities would be created. But from mere observation, aside the indices reeled out by the government as signs of an improving economy, many unemployed youths still roam the streets looking for what to do just to keep body and soul together.

     

    Public expenditure

    management

     

    One common malaise of the government public expenditure has been that recurrent expenses are more than capital expenditure. The argument has been that if the government is desirous of making appreciable impact in infrastructure development, it should be able to free the budget from the vice like grip of recurrent expenditure and so make more funds available for that purpose.

     

    Power

     

    Notwithstanding the billions spent by previous administrations on the power sector, the economy remains dangerously dependent on generating sets that are imported.

    The government has said it will hit 10,000 megawatts by December this year. But for now, the situation is, perhaps, the worst in recent years.

     

    Infrastructure

     

    Nigerians have been grappling with several years of infrastructure decay. The transformation agenda was supposed to address this in a holistic way. This sector includes transportation, housing, Information Communication Technology (ICT),Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) and Niger Delta.

    These are very critical sectors to national development. The Niger Delta, for instance, has suffered such neglect for many decades that it resulted in militancy against the economic interests of the country. It took the declaration of amnesty for such militants to restore peace in the areas. But as we speak, the issue of infrastructural decay that has plagued the region for so long is yet to be substantially addressed. The West-East Road has become a subject of controversy.

     

    Transportation

     

    This is one area in which the government has earned some kudos and knocks.The government has made some investment in railway, roads and inland waterways airports and sea ports. In roads rehabilitation, more is still expected from the government even though it has tried much, particularly, the once notorious Benin – Sagamu expressway. The achievement of the government in the rehabilitation of airports across the country is all well too known. Nonetheless, more still has to be done.

     

    Low score

     

    Nigerians, however, have scored the government low on the transformation agenda.

    A chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former Minister of Police Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Lame, told The Nation in a telephone interview last week that Nigeria currently lacks three basic things that are fundamental for transformation to take place.

    “If you are asking me what I have been able to make of the Transformation Agenda of this administration, sincerely speaking, I will tell you that I don’t know what the transformation programme is all about. But one thing, which I know, is that there are three basic things that are very fundamental for any transformation to take place anywhere in the world.

    “Unfortunately, these three things are lacking in our own case. That is, if it is granted that what we are talking about is socio-economic transformation that will make life more abundant for the people. Without them, there can be no transformation. The first is the security of lives and property. But today, we have never witness a period where we have a serious problems of security of lives and property like we are now. Second is what I call the viability of economic infrastructure. In my opinion, our economic infrastructure is not working. Take the transport sector, take the energy sector or even the social sector. Have you been to any of our schools lately? Try and go there and see things for yourself.

    “What about our hospitals? Just go to our hospitals and see for yourself and come and tell me their performance.

    He also criticised the current state of energy supply in the country today as appalling, saying the most critical area where the transformation should have been felt is the energy sector. “It is a very, very serious issue. No society can develop without power or energy and we have always been hearing we would give you this today, we will give you that tomorrow. So we don’t know what is being transformed.”

     

    Evading reality

     

    A lawyer, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), said the self adulation by the administration was expected. He said the judgment of the government cannot be the same as that of the people.

    “The self appraisal of the administration is expected, but the people know where the shoe pinches. Lagos and Abuja are the most expensive cities to live in the world. A colleague of mine went to Port Harcourt for a week and when he returned, he said the cost of living is outrageous. How much is flight from Lagos to Abuja in 2011? And how much is it today?

    “I don’t blame Mr President because he flies at the expense of taxpayers, he feeds and clothes at the expense of taxpayers. If he can come down to where people are living, he will know what the ordinary people are going through. What is the value of $50 billion foreign reserves when Nigerians are dying of hunger? When all local industries have closed shop? When millions of Nigerian graduates are jobless. Mr President and the Finance Minister should stop deceiving Nigerians with false statistics”.

    “In terms of security, this administration has not fared better and socially, it has not done well. It is actually fuelling instability in the country. The administration masterminded the inability of Timipreye Sylva to return as the governor of Bayelsa State for a second term. And a dangerous scenario is playing out in Rivers State,” Akintola said.

     

    Deformation agenda?

     

    Also, President of Civil Rights of Nigeria (CRN) Mallam Shehu Sani described what is going on as a deformation rather than a transformation agenda. He accused the government of presenting misleading statistics, saying those who presented them are cut off from the reality on ground in the country.

    “President Jonathan’s transformation agenda is more of a deformation agenda. The President seems to be cut off from the realities of Nigeria today. There are three indices by which government can be assessed, namely political, social and economic.

    “From the political angle, this administration has overheated the polity more than any other administration in the history of Nigeria. His government has progressively dissolved the mutual ties among the divergent religious and ethnic groups in Nigeria. His government has proven to be more interested in empowering ex-militants and political cronies than addressing the basic issues of under development.

    “Economically, Nigerians are worse off. Despite the huge oil earning, it has not reflected in the quality of live of Nigerians.

    “Socially, the level of poverty in the country is alarming and is threatening the peace and stability of the nation. He has impoverished Nigerians and has created a class of beggars.”

     

    False claims

     

    Former President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) Olasupo Ojo echoed what Lame said. He said the agenda is simply surreal.

    “As far as I am concerned, you have to know where you are coming from to be able to decide where you are going to. This administration has not transformed anything and to the best of my knowledge there is no transformation agenda.

    “Government is living on false claims; they are not telling the people the truth. They are only pretending that there is a project they are executing which is not real. If anything, it is a strategy at siphoning public funds.

    The only thing the administration is concerned about is to be in power. They do not care whether the people are hungry or not. Between you and me, you know that there is so much hunger in the land, between you and me, you know that graduate unemployment has never been this high, between you and me, you know that crime rate has never been this high. There are all kinds of criminal acts going on, some we never heard before. I think all they are interested in is just to remain in power. That is why you hear things like ‘I don’t care’. To me, there is no transformation agenda anywhere”, he said.

    Lagos lawyer Festus Keyamo said the administration should focus on the two major challenges facing the country. He identified them as security and power.

    “I would want to advise the government to focus on two very challenging areas. These are security and power. The government has not been able to transform these sectors that it promised to address”, he said.

    The critical question, however, is whether the Transformation Agenda is on course. If it is, where will Nigeria be in 2015? If not, what should President Jonathan do to steer it back on course? Nigerians certainly want answers to these questions sooner than later.

     

  • The road to 2015

    The road to 2015

    Two years to the next general elections, opposition figures are sharpening their arrows. But the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is preparing for the 2015 challenge. Assistant Editor AUGUSTINE AVWODE writes on the issues and personalities that would shape the contest.

     

     

    Apart from ensuring that the normal democratic institutions continue to be relevant, analysts say the roles of some personalities in the polity are crucial to the sustenance of democracy in the country. These individuals include President Goodluck Jonathan; former Head of State and three times presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega.

     

    Goodluck Jonathan

     

    President Goodluck Jonathan has a major challenge. This is ensuring that a level playing field is provided for all and sundry by the democratic institutions in the country. He is the man on whose table the buck ends. Apart from being the President, with a very high probability of seeking a second term, he is in charge of almost everything that has to do with the sustenance and deepening of the nation’s democracy. Balancing his personal ambition with national interest could be very tasking, especially, in the face of his party’s determination to continue to rule.

    In 2011, when he was campaigning for the Presidency on the platform of the PDP, he declared that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. He also declared that nobody should rig election for him. Whether those declarations will be repeated, if he chooses to run in 2015, is yet to be known. Already, his party national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has said that the 2015 electoral contest is ‘a big war’. Besides, analysts are beginning to express reservation over the readiness of the President to repeat his stance of 2011. Two instances readily come to mind. The emergence of Tukur as the chairman of the PDP and the emergence of the chairman of the Board of Trustee (BoT) of the party, Chief Tony Annenih are often used as the yardstick of measuring how unyielding the President could be whenever he wants anything.

     

    Muhammadu Buhari

     

    The former Head of State leads the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). The Daura, Katsina State-born retired Army General has demonstrated his strongly held views about the need to ‘salvage’ the country for good by contesting the position of Nigeria President for three consecutive times. Described by many as an unrepentant apostle of anti-corruption, Buhari enjoys the largest followership in Northern Nigeria. He has carved a niche for himself as a highly disciplined person. His anti-corruption stance is glaring to everybody to see in a society that is reeling under the yoke of corrupt practices. For a man that has held many ‘juicy’ appointments, as they say here, it is gratifying to see him parade a clean and stainless score-card while in office.

    In year 2003, Buhari contested the Presidential election under the platform of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and lost to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a result he challenged in Court but also lost. Not deterred, he re-contested the 2007 Presidential election also under the platform of same Party but against his kinsman, the late Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’adua. Buhari lost again and challenged the result in the Court, as the case was still been heard, the leadership of his party went into accord with the ruling party, PDP, to form a Government of National Unity, he opted out of this marriage of convenience and pursued his case, but also lost again.In another attempt to rule through the ballots, Buhari went into the race for the third time but under the platform of another newly formed party, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), but also lost.

    He is at present one of the arrow heads of a merger of three major opposition parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC). The planned APC, when it is registered, will also have groups or factions from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).

    With Buhari as one of the leaders of the planned APC, analysts believe that the electoral contest in 2015 will be keenly contested and that the pendulum could swing either way between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the burgeoning APC.

     

    Bola Tinubu

     

    Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has established himself as a deft and rare political strategist. In the last two and a half decades, he has built a political bloc that is by far more cohesive, progressive and popular and forward looking than any contemporary Nigerian politician. Tinubu has established himself as a political colossus in the Southwest. He enjoys a large army of followership. Tinubu has re-drawn the political map of the Southwest region in a manner that for the first time, the dominant party in the region now has its tentacles all over the country.

    His journey into politics started when he joined others to found the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). In 1992. He was elected senator of to represent Lagos West Senatorial District. At the National Assembly, he distinguished himself as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Finance, Appropriation and Currency.

    When the June 12, 1993 presidential election was annulled, and a new round of military rule stared the country in the face, Tinubu and others founded the famous pro-democracy group called the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). The group spearheaded the struggle for the restoration of democracy. He fled the country for safety reasons and teamed up with the group abroad. In 1998, Tinubu returned to Nigeria and in 1999 was elected governor of Lagos State. He won re-election in 2003. It is on record that he was the only governor in the region who survived the massive incursion of the ruling PDP to the Southwest in 2003. He is credited with the restoration of his party’s rebound in the region today.

    To his credit, he is the only visible governor in Nigeria since 1999 who was able to produce a successor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), whose performance and style remain a reference point.

    As one of the arrow heads of the merger of the three leading opposition parties there is no doubting the fact that Tinubu will be one of the politicians who will play a significant role in the political developments in the country in the coming years.

     

    Attahiru Jega

     

    All eyes are on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and that is saying the least. Nigerians are yet to forget the electoral heist of 2007, in which funny and non-existent character in Nigeria, allegedly voted using the names of famous foreigners like the late Michael Jackson and legendary boxer, Mike Tyson. The new battle cry in electoral circle is one man, one vote.

    The former university don promised in March that the INEC would conduct freer, fairer and more credible elections come 2015. To the average Nigerian, whose subconscious is totally taken over by cynicism when it comes to conducting free and fair election, this may just be sweet, political talk or mere grandstanding.

    Jega gave the assurance in Abuja during the first quarterly meeting of the commission with representatives of registered political parties. The INEC chairman also added that the regular meeting would also make both the commission and the representatives of the political parties “to share information, exchange ideas, discuss mutual concerns and evolve partnership, as well as strengthen the good relationship which exists, in addressing challenges in the electoral process.”

    Jega is seen as an ideologically focused intellectual who leans towards the left. To many, he comes across as a radical. When on April 19, 2010, he was guest lecturer for the NLC May Day 2010 celebration, he harpoed extensively on electoral reforms. According to him, “no doubt, the popular aspirations for credible, free, fair and popularly acceptable elections, which are a fundamental requirement for sustainable democratic development, would remain elusive unless and until we pay serious attention to electoral reforms”.

    Yet, the electoral body under him, would not be able to play the unbiased umpire. In fact, not long ago, Buhari called for his sack and other top officials of the commission, saying the electoral body, as presently constituted, cannot be trusted to deliver on credible elections. He spoke in London at the 4th British-African Diaspora conference held at the British House of Parliament on the theme “Stable Democracy and Nigeria’s Economy,”. To Buhari, sacking Jega would be a good starting point for fixing Nigeria’s broken electoral system.

    In his words: “All the present indications are that INEC, as it is presently constituted, will not be able to deliver any meaningful elections in 2015”.

  • ‘Executive lacks fiscal discipline’

    ‘Executive lacks fiscal discipline’

    The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Solomon Olamilekan, spoke with Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN on recurrent budget failure.

     

     

    The Senate Committee on Public Accounts indicted the executive in its report for mismanaging N1.5 trillion Special Accounts Funds. What is your reaction?

    I commend the efforts of the Senate committee on Public Accounts for exposing the executive financial recklessness. There were a lot of diversions. The purpose for setting up the Special Accounts is defeated. The ecological funds were not used to tackle the ecological and environmental problems threatening the existence of many communities all over the country. Instead, the executive turned the accounts into a pool for granting loans to states which were never repaid. Even more disquieting is that the executive was selective in granting the loans. A loan of N500 million was released to Edo state government in March 2003 while both Akwa Ibom and Delta states collected N34.8 billion in March 2011. A sum of N142.6 million was released to a publishing company as loan in September 2005. Foreign countries also benefitted from Federal government reckless spending of the fund s specially created to address local problems. Ghana and Sao Tome and Principe received loans from these accounts on September 22, 2004 and May7, 2007 respectively. How can a responsible government loan out funds that are tied to specific projects? There are several disbursements from the accounts that do not conform to the purpose for which the accounts were established.

    It is quite unfortunate that Nigeria finds itself in this mess. The executive is operating the accounts in secrecy. Look at the stabilisation Funds which are jointly owned by the Federal Government and the 36 states of the Federation, the presidency spends the monies without the knowledge of the state governments. Nigerians should start asking questions on how government is operating the Special Accounts. For instance, of all loans given to the state governments, not a dime was paid nor deduction from their statutory allocations was made despite the fact that the beneficiary states benefit from 13% derivation. If not for the Auditor General’s report, the Federal government has forgotten that the states have not paid.

    As a chartered accountant, how do you view government’s diversion of public funds?

    Government went outside the purview of its executive mandate and embarked on reckless spending. It is an offence that is punishable. Where a state requires loan, the presidency should forward it to the National Assembly through supplementary budget. The states would have to justify the reasons why they should be given loans.

    In fact, as I am speaking to you, nobody knows the budget the Federal government is operating. We learnt the President is implementing the original budget that he sent to the National Assembly thereby setting aside the one approve by the Assembly on which he appended his signature. It was learnt that the presidency has sent circulars to Ministries, Departments and Agencies that his budget proposal should be strictly adhered to. Now, the President has sent back the budget approved to the National Assembly complaining that certain provisions were inflated despite the fact that he has signed the budget.

    Against the decision of the National Assembly that no money should be given to the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) until the presidency remove the Commission’s Director General from office for lacking experience to hold the office. SEC workers have been drawing salaries. Who pays them and from what source? The presidency must tell Nigerians how SEC has been operating with zero budget as contained in the Appropriation Law.

    What mechanism do you think the National Assembly should put in place to forestall the mismanagement of public funds by the executive?

    The Federal Government is not doing much to curb the excesses in financial wastages. The fact that government is not weird of diversionary of funds is a confirmation that it’s not adhering to fiscal policy. The cost of running government is very high. Current expenditure is about 78% compared to capital votes of 22%. If we keep operating this lopsided budget, when will dividends of democracy get to the people? What kind of development are we expecting from government that have decided to implement its own budget. Government is claiming that the rate of inflation and unemployment are coming down contrary to what is on ground. Government is celebrating that foreign reserve is increasing while common people are living in penury.

    Government is not doing much in expanding the urban development. Government should be pro-active and prudent in the management of resources. It should put in place an internal mechanism that would ensure that money released to agencies are properly utilised and ensure that budget passed by the National Assembly is implemented.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ‘Executive lacks fiscal discipline’

    ‘Executive lacks fiscal discipline’

    The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Solomon Olamilekan, spoke with Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN on  recurrent budget failure.

    The Senate Committee on Public Accounts indicted the executive in its report for mismanaging N1.5 trillion Special Accounts Funds. What is your reaction?

    I commend the efforts of the Senate committee on Public Accounts for exposing the executive financial recklessness. There were a lot of diversions. The purpose for setting up the Special Accounts is defeated. The ecological funds were not used to tackle the ecological and environmental problems threatening the existence of many communities all over the country. Instead, the executive turned the accounts into a pool for granting loans to states which were never repaid. Even more disquieting is that the executive was selective in granting the loans. A loan of N500 million was released to Edo state government in March 2003 while both Akwa Ibom and Delta states collected N34.8 billion in March 2011. A sum of N142.6 million was released to a publishing company as loan in September 2005. Foreign countries also benefitted from Federal government reckless spending of the fund s specially created to address local problems. Ghana and Sao Tome and Principe received loans from these accounts on September 22, 2004 and May7, 2007 respectively. How can a responsible government loan out funds that are tied to specific projects? There are several disbursements from the accounts that do not conform to the purpose for which the accounts were established.

    It is quite unfortunate that Nigeria finds itself in this mess. The executive is operating the accounts in secrecy. Look at the stabilisation Funds which are jointly owned by the Federal Government and the 36 states of the Federation, the presidency spends the monies without the knowledge of the state governments. Nigerians should start asking questions on how government is operating the Special Accounts. For instance, of all loans given to the state governments, not a dime was paid nor deduction from their statutory allocations was made despite the fact that the beneficiary states benefit from 13% derivation. If not for the Auditor General’s report, the Federal government has forgotten that the states have not paid.

    As a chartered accountant, how do you view government’s diversion of public funds?

    Government went outside the purview of its executive mandate and embarked on reckless spending. It is an offence that is punishable. Where a state requires loan, the presidency should forward it to the National Assembly through supplementary budget. The states would have to justify the reasons why they should be given loans.

    In fact, as I am speaking to you, nobody knows the budget the Federal government is operating. We learnt the President is implementing the original budget that he sent to the National Assembly thereby setting aside the one approve by the Assembly on which he appended his signature. It was learnt that the presidency has sent circulars to Ministries, Departments and Agencies that his budget proposal should be strictly adhered to. Now, the President has sent back the budget approved to the National Assembly complaining that certain provisions were inflated despite the fact that he has signed the budget.

    Against the decision of the National Assembly that no money should be given to the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) until the presidency remove the Commission’s Director General from office for lacking experience to hold the office. SEC workers have been drawing salaries. Who pays them and from what source? The presidency must tell Nigerians how SEC has been operating with zero budget as contained in the Appropriation Law.

    What mechanism do you think the National Assembly should put in place to forestall the mismanagement of public funds by the executive?

    The Federal Government is not doing much to curb the excesses in financial wastages. The fact that government is not weird of diversionary of funds is a confirmation that it’s not adhering to fiscal policy. The cost of running government is very high. Current expenditure is about 78% compared to capital votes of 22%. If we keep operating this lopsided budget, when will dividends of democracy get to the people? What kind of development are we expecting from government that have decided to implement its own budget. Government is claiming that the rate of inflation and unemployment are coming down contrary to what is on ground. Government is celebrating that foreign reserve is increasing while common people are living in penury.

    Government is not doing much in expanding the urban development. Government should be pro-active and prudent in the management of resources. It should put in place an internal mechanism that would ensure that money released to agencies are properly utilised and ensure that budget passed by the National Assembly is implemented.

  • The road to 2015

    The road to 2015

    Two years to the next general elections, opposition figures are sharpening their arrows. But the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is preparing for the 2015 challenge. Assistant Editor AUGUSTINE AVWODE writes on the issues and personalities that would shape the contest.

    Apart from ensuring that the normal democratic institutions continue to be relevant, analysts say the roles of some personalities in the polity are crucial to the sustenance of democracy in the country. These individuals include President Goodluck Jonathan; former Head of State and three times presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega.

     Goodluck Jonathan

     President Goodluck Jonathan has a major challenge. This is ensuring that a level playing field is provided for all and sundry by the democratic institutions in the country. He is the man on whose table the buck ends. Apart from being the President, with a very high probability of seeking a second term, he is in charge of almost everything that has to do with the sustenance and deepening of the nation’s democracy. Balancing his personal ambition with national interest could be very tasking, especially, in the face of his party’s determination to continue to rule.

    In 2011, when he was campaigning for the Presidency on the platform of the PDP, he declared that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. He also declared that nobody should rig election for him. Whether those declarations will be repeated, if he chooses to run in 2015, is yet to be known. Already, his party national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has said that the 2015 electoral contest is ‘a big war’. Besides, analysts are beginning to express reservation over the readiness of the President to repeat his stance of 2011. Two instances readily come to mind. The emergence of Tukur as the chairman of the PDP and the emergence of the chairman of the Board of Trustee (BoT) of the party, Chief Tony Annenih are often used as the yardstick of measuring how unyielding the President could be whenever he wants anything.

     Muhammadu Buhari

    The former Head of State leads the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). The Daura, Katsina State-born retired Army General has demonstrated his strongly held views about the need to ‘salvage’ the country for good by contesting the position of Nigeria President for three consecutive times. Described by many as an unrepentant apostle of anti-corruption, Buhari enjoys the largest followership in Northern Nigeria. He has carved a niche for himself as a highly disciplined person. His anti-corruption stance is glaring to everybody to see in a society that is reeling under the yoke of corrupt practices. For a man that has held many ‘juicy’ appointments, as they say here, it is gratifying to see him parade a clean and stainless score-card while in office.

    In year 2003, Buhari contested the Presidential election under the platform of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and lost to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a result he challenged in Court but also lost. Not deterred, he re-contested the 2007 Presidential election also under the platform of same Party but against his kinsman, the late Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’adua. Buhari lost again and challenged the result in the Court, as the case was still been heard, the leadership of his party went into accord with the ruling party, PDP, to form a Government of National Unity, he opted out of this marriage of convenience and pursued his case, but also lost again.In another attempt to rule through the ballots, Buhari went into the race for the third time but under the platform of another newly formed party, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), but also lost.

    He is at present one of the arrow heads of a merger of three major opposition parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC). The planned APC, when it is registered, will also have groups or factions from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).

    With Buhari as one of the leaders of the planned APC, analysts believe that the electoral contest in 2015 will be keenly contested and that the pendulum could swing either way between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the burgeoning APC.

    Bola Tinubu

    Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has established himself as a deft and rare political strategist. In the last two and a half decades, he has built a political bloc that is by far more cohesive, progressive and popular and forward looking than any contemporary Nigerian politician. Tinubu has established himself as a political colossus in the Southwest. He enjoys a large army of followership. Tinubu has re-drawn the political map of the Southwest region in a manner that for the first time, the dominant party in the region now has its tentacles all over the country.

    His journey into politics started when he joined others to found the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). In 1992. He was elected senator of to represent Lagos West Senatorial District. At the National Assembly, he distinguished himself as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Finance, Appropriation and Currency.

    When the June 12, 1993 presidential election was annulled, and a new round of military rule stared the country in the face, Tinubu and others founded the famous pro-democracy group called the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). The group spearheaded the struggle for the restoration of democracy. He fled the country for safety reasons and teamed up with the group abroad. In 1998, Tinubu returned to Nigeria and in 1999 was elected governor of Lagos State. He won re-election in 2003. It is on record that he was the only governor in the region who survived the massive incursion of the ruling PDP to the Southwest in 2003. He is credited with the restoration of his party’s rebound in the region today.

    To his credit, he is the only visible governor in Nigeria since 1999 who was able to produce a successor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), whose performance and style remain a reference point.

    As one of the arrow heads of the merger of the three leading opposition parties there is no doubting the fact that Tinubu will be one of the politicians who will play a significant role in the political developments in the country in the coming years.

    Attahiru Jega

    All eyes are on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and that is saying the least. Nigerians are yet to forget the electoral heist of 2007, in which funny and non-existent character in Nigeria, allegedly voted using the names of famous foreigners like the late Michael Jackson and legendary boxer, Mike Tyson. The new battle cry in electoral circle is one man, one vote.

    The former university don promised in March that the INEC would conduct freer, fairer and more credible elections come 2015. To the average Nigerian, whose subconscious is totally taken over by cynicism when it comes to conducting free and fair election, this may just be sweet, political talk or mere grandstanding.

    Jega gave the assurance in Abuja during the first quarterly meeting of the commission with representatives of registered political parties. The INEC chairman also added that the regular meeting would also make both the commission and the representatives of the political parties “to share information, exchange ideas, discuss mutual concerns and evolve partnership, as well as strengthen the good relationship which exists, in addressing challenges in the electoral process.”

    Jega is seen as an ideologically focused intellectual who leans towards the left. To many, he comes across as a radical. When on April 19, 2010, he was guest lecturer for the NLC May Day 2010 celebration, he harpoed extensively on electoral reforms. According to him, “no doubt, the popular aspirations for credible, free, fair and popularly acceptable elections, which are a fundamental requirement for sustainable democratic development, would remain elusive unless and until we pay serious attention to electoral reforms”.

    Yet, the electoral body under him, would not be able to play the unbiased umpire. In fact, not long ago, Buhari called for his sack and other top officials of the commission, saying the electoral body, as presently constituted, cannot be trusted to deliver on credible elections. He spoke in London at the 4th British-African Diaspora conference held at the British House of Parliament on the theme “Stable Democracy and Nigeria’s Economy,”. To Buhari, sacking Jega would be a good starting point for fixing Nigeria’s broken electoral system.

    In his words: “All the present indications are that INEC, as it is presently constituted, will not be able to deliver any meaningful elections in 2015”.

  • Is transformation agenda on course?

    Is transformation agenda on course?

    Two years ago, President Goodluck Jonathan  unfolded his Transformation Agenda  during the presidential election campaigns.  AUGUSTINE AVWODE, LEKE SALAUDEEN and MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE examine its implementation in the light of current realities.

    THE transformation Agenda was a popular catch-phrase during the 2011 presidential campaigns. It was what President Goodluck Jonathan presented to Nigerians. The aim was to change the way things were done and give the country a new sense of direction. Though there was nothing magical about it, the campaign slogan took on a life of its own. The Transformation Agenda elevated President Jonathan to a would-be messianic figure. Expectations were high. Nigerians went into the election and voted for him.

    The President has appealed to Nigerians to be objective in scoring his administration. He was speaking during the presentation of a mid-term report of his administration as part of the programme to mark the Democracy Day celebration. The government, through its functionaries, gave the administration a pass mark. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, the the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsudeen Usman said the government has lived up to expectation.

    At the ceremony, President Jonathan, said: “Today, we are marking the end of the first 24 months, which is our mid-term review and my duty is to formally present a document that all Nigerians will be able to read and assess us.

    “The idea is to formally present a document to all Nigerians about the activities of government in the past two years. I plead with all of us, especially those who want to assess and write about it, to develop criteria because without a marking scheme, you cannot mark any student’s paper. Two years of a government, this is what we have done, develop your marking scheme and score us.”

    Critical sectors Job creation Unemployment has been a major social problem globally. An army of unemployed youths roam the streets in major cities across the country. The government was expected to pursue certain policy measures to reinvigorate important sectors of the economy such that employment opportunities would be created. But from mere observation, aside the indices reeled out by the government as signs of an improving economy, many unemployed youths still roam the streets looking for what to do just to keep body and soul together.

    Public expenditure management

    One common malaise of the government public expenditure has been that recurrent expenses are more than capital expenditure. The argument has been that if the government is desirous of making appreciable impact in infrastructure development, it should be able to free the budget from the vice like grip of recurrent expenditure and so make more funds available for that purpose.

    Power

    Notwithstanding the billions spent by previous administrations on the power sector, the economy remains dangerously dependent on generating sets that are imported.

    The government has said it will hit 10,000 megawatts by December this year. But for now, the situation is, perhaps, the worst in recent years.

    Infrastructure

    Nigerians have been grappling with several years of infrastructure decay. The transformation agenda was supposed to address this in a holistic way. This sector includes transportation, housing, Information Communication Technology (ICT),Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) and Niger Delta.

    These are very critical sectors to national development. The Niger Delta, for instance, has suffered such neglect for many decades that it resulted in militancy against the economic interests of the country. It took the declaration of amnesty for such militants to restore peace in the areas. But as we speak, the issue of infrastructural decay that has plagued the region for so long is yet to be substantially addressed. The West-East Road has become a subject of controversy.

    Transportation

     This is one area in which the government has earned some kudos and knocks.The government has made some investment in railway, roads and inland waterways airports and sea ports. In roads rehabilitation, more is still expected from the government even though it has tried much, particularly, the once notorious Benin – Sagamu expressway. The achievement of the government in the rehabilitation of airports across the country is all well too known. Nonetheless, more still has to be done.

     Low score

    Nigerians, however, have scored the government low on the transformation agenda.

    A chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former Minister of Police Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Lame, told The Nation in a telephone interview last week that Nigeria currently lacks three basic things that are fundamental for transformation to take place.

    “If you are asking me what I have been able to make of the Transformation Agenda of this administration, sincerely speaking, I will tell you that I don’t know what the transformation programme is all about. But one thing, which I know, is that there are three basic things that are very fundamental for any transformation to take place anywhere in the world.

    “Unfortunately, these three things are lacking in our own case. That is, if it is granted that what we are talking about is socio-economic transformation that will make life more abundant for the people. Without them, there can be no transformation. The first is the security of lives and property. But today, we have never witness a period where we have a serious problems of security of lives and property like we are now. Second is what I call the viability of economic infrastructure. In my opinion, our economic infrastructure is not working. Take the transport sector, take the energy sector or even the social sector. Have you been to any of our schools lately? Try and go there and see things for yourself.

    “What about our hospitals? Just go to our hospitals and see for yourself and come and tell me their performance.

    He also criticised the current state of energy supply in the country today as appalling, saying the most critical area where the transformation should have been felt is the energy sector. “It is a very, very serious issue. No society can develop without power or energy and we have always been hearing we would give you this today, we will give you that tomorrow. So we don’t know what is being transformed.”

    Evading reality

     A lawyer, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), said the self adulation by the administration was expected. He said the judgment of the government cannot be the same as that of the people.

    “The self appraisal of the administration is expected, but the people know where the shoe pinches. Lagos and Abuja are the most expensive cities to live in the world. A colleague of mine went to Port Harcourt for a week and when he returned, he said the cost of living is outrageous. How much is flight from Lagos to Abuja in 2011? And how much is it today?

    “I don’t blame Mr President because he flies at the expense of taxpayers, he feeds and clothes at the expense of taxpayers. If he can come down to where people are living, he will know what the ordinary people are going through. What is the value of $50 billion foreign reserves when Nigerians are dying of hunger? When all local industries have closed shop? When millions of Nigerian graduates are jobless. Mr President and the Finance Minister should stop deceiving Nigerians with false statistics”.

    “In terms of security, this administration has not fared better and socially, it has not done well. It is actually fuelling instability in the country. The administration masterminded the inability of Timipreye Sylva to return as the governor of Bayelsa State for a second term. And a dangerous scenario is playing out in Rivers State,” Akintola said.

    Deformation agenda?

    Also, President of Civil Rights of Nigeria (CRN) Mallam Shehu Sani described what is going on as a deformation rather than a transformation agenda. He accused the government of presenting misleading statistics, saying those who presented them are cut off from the reality on ground in the country.

    “President Jonathan’s transformation agenda is more of a deformation agenda. The President seems to be cut off from the realities of Nigeria today. There are three indices by which government can be assessed, namely political, social and economic.

    “From the political angle, this administration has overheated the polity more than any other administration in the history of Nigeria. His government has progressively dissolved the mutual ties among the divergent religious and ethnic groups in Nigeria. His government has proven to be more interested in empowering ex-militants and political cronies than addressing the basic issues of under development.

    “Economically, Nigerians are worse off. Despite the huge oil earning, it has not reflected in the quality of live of Nigerians.

    “Socially, the level of poverty in the country is alarming and is threatening the peace and stability of the nation. He has impoverished Nigerians and has created a class of beggars.”

    False claims

     Former President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) Olasupo Ojo echoed what Lame said. He said the agenda is simply surreal.

    “As far as I am concerned, you have to know where you are coming from to be able to decide where you are going to. This administration has not transformed anything and to the best of my knowledge there is no transformation agenda.

    “Government is living on false claims; they are not telling the people the truth. They are only pretending that there is a project they are executing which is not real. If anything, it is a strategy at siphoning public funds.

    The only thing the administration is concerned about is to be in power. They do not care whether the people are hungry or not. Between you and me, you know that there is so much hunger in the land, between you and me, you know that graduate unemployment has never been this high, between you and me, you know that crime rate has never been this high. There are all kinds of criminal acts going on, some we never heard before. I think all they are interested in is just to remain in power. That is why you hear things like ‘I don’t care’. To me, there is no transformation agenda anywhere”, he said.

    Lagos lawyer Festus Keyamo said the administration should focus on the two major challenges facing the country. He identified them as security and power.

    “I would want to advise the government to focus on two very challenging areas. These are security and power. The government has not been able to transform these sectors that it promised to address”, he said.

    The critical question, however, is whether the Transformation Agenda is on course. If it is, where will Nigeria be in 2015? If not, what should President Jonathan do to steer it back on course? Nigerians certainly want answers to these questions sooner than later.

  • 2015 and the feelers from OBJ

    2015 and the feelers from OBJ

    You know you can help somebody to get the job, but you cannot help him to do it. If somebody cannot do the job, we have Sule Lamido who we are confident can do the job.” With the above words, former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave indications of where his support is likely to swing during the forthcoming 2015 presidential election.

    Obasanjo was speaking to a gathering of would-be investors, dignitaries and ordinary folks in Dutse, capital of Jigawa State. The people who had him talk were Nigerians and foreigners alike.

    Though the former President did not elaborate on his statement, political analysts say he was talking about the 2015 election. Jigawa State Governor Lamido is being rumoured to be interested in the presidential race with Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate. The Dutse incident would not be the first time Obasanjo will be dropping hints of what could happen in 2015. He has been critical of the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration.