The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

  • Why due process must be followed in Kebbi State

    Why due process must be followed in Kebbi State

    Aminu Usman, who is both the Solicitor-General and Chairman Bureau for Due Process, Kebbi State, tells Adetutu Audu in this interview how the due process office is saving the state millions of naira that would have been otherwise unchecked

     

    The due process you chaired, what is it all about and how has it been helping the government?

    Due process is a mechanism put in place to facilitate the procurement process in the state. This is to ensure that whatever is done in procurement is done in compliance with all the processes that has been put in place, whether they are financial or administrative. And for this purpose, a strict legislation was enacted by the Kebbi State Assembly. The first legislation is the one establishing the due process mechanism itself and the title of the legislation Kebbi State Bureau on Price Intelligence which is the bureau I am chairing, which is responsible for ensuring compliance in the system and the budget in construction of works goods and services in Kebbi State. So, the bureau is to ensure that all ministries, departments and agencies of the government of Kebbi State in under taking procurement of work and service comply with the law. Basically that is what we do at the due process office.

    How has it helped the effective running of the government?

    If I am to respond to that question, I will have to use a before and after for it to be a little bit clear. Before the coming of the two legislations that govern how the due process mechanism operates in Kebbi State, the scenario can be described as one in which for instance, decision could be taken to award a contract for the purchase of goods and materials where for instance, no appropriation has been made by the government to undertake that procurement so, when you pick the budget, you find out that there are no funds appropriated by the House of Assemble for that procurement but a decision will be taken to undertake procurement where a budgetary allocation is not provided. So, what the due process mechanism is saying is that you can not take a decision to procure work, goods and services without any enabling appropriation. So, with the due process mechanism in place, immediately a procurement decision is taken, we will need to ascertain that there is a budgetary provision for that, if there is no provision, there will be no procurement. So, in other words, we are looking for budget discipline.

    Since you came in, what would you say are the milestones?

    In a nutshell, for me milestone has been the fact that now, you find that there is a tremendous improvement in terms of matching procurement decision with the budget. In the sense that if the budget has been said to be implemented, it is not just that billions have been earmarked; you could see it on ground.

    Projects for which public funds have been used to pay for. For example, in the health sector, when the government budgeted for the upgrade of hospitals, if you go round the state, you will find a lot of hospitals that have been upgraded from primary health care centres to general hospitals in Kebbi state. Here in Benin Kebbi, there was an appropriation to construct from scratch a 200 bed hospital on the road to Kalgo, you will see that edifice that was constructed for about N3 billion. So, those are the things that I can point to as an improvement in the implementation of the budget. Something that has been earmarked and can be seen on the ground. There are so many other examples to cite. In education sector, more than 60 new schools have been constructed across Kebbi state and most of them will be coming on stream to admitting new students this September or October. I think the state government is involved in the process of putting furniture, books and other items in the place for the enabling environment for them to admit students.

    What have been the challenges of your office?

    The challenges are enormous. First of all, there is the paradigm shift because the business as usual has stopped and it is an uphill task for somebody to appreciate the position you are coming from that what you are doing is not against the interest of that person but in his interest. When you look at the due process mechanism in essence, you can reduce whatever it is doing to accountability. All we are trying to do is to say that take X Y decision into a path that will lead to Z. They don’t want to take that fact into consideration but will rather continue doing things the way they know how. You need to tailor all your resources to what positive it is going to deliver to the people and therefore it is an uphill task not only within the confines of government but even out there with the people themselves for them to understand.

     

     

  • North West governors and 2015 presidency

    North West governors and 2015 presidency

    Individual ambition of some northern governors may scuttle the desire of the zone to produce a successor to President Goodluck Jonathan, sources have revealed. In the last few weeks, several news reports have indicated that the Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, may contest the 2015 presidency. But Ripples can reveal that aside Lamido, about four other governors in the North-West zone, who are presently serving a second term in office, are also alleged to be interested in the nation’s number one seat. The list: Ibrahim Shema of Katsina; Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso of Kano; Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto and Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State.

  • Sharon Ikeazor remains loyal to CPC

    Sharon Ikeazor remains loyal to CPC

    She fits the description of a woman blessed with the twin gifts of beauty and brain. Another stunning thing about Sharon Ikeazor is that she loves to be a lone ranger even if it amounts to her disadvantage. That is the depth of her conviction, but sometimes it makes her subject of intense criticism. For example, her friends and close associates are currently worried because of the way the National Woman Leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Ikeazor, has been spending huge personal resources to fuel her current political train.

  • ‘Orji is building enduring legacy for Abia judiciary’

    ‘Orji is building enduring legacy for Abia judiciary’

    Abia State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Umeh Kalu, recently conducted newsmen round the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary to showcase the achievements of Orji administration. He spoke of plans to leave behind an enduring legacy for in-coming administrations after 2015. Excerpts

     

    In 2009 when Abia State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Umeh Kalu, first mounted the saddle of office, he was confronted with the usual problem private sector players experience when recruited to drive another sector populated by technocrats. Living in Lagos where private and public sector people hit the road to beat traffic as early as 4 am was a huge contrast to life in a state capital where workers even with minimum or no traffic congestion to battle with, still stroll to work as late as 10 am with offices embracing empty seats. Add this to decaying infrastructure and a total lack of goal-driven work ethic, then the challenges become obvious for a political appointee and thorough bred professional, who wants to make a difference and justify the relevance behind his choice in the midst of the multitude chasing the same job.

    That was the scenario painted by the AG on his first day in office. So, how did he go about setting his goals for a purpose driven ministry of justice in Abia State?

    “I introduced innovations after an open discussion with the staff. I put regulations in place and while some staff were hostile, some showed commitment from the beginning but within a given time frame, everyone adjusted and we turned on to the same page. Our achievements now speak eloquently of the right decisions made at the time.”

    Kalu moved on, and went on to identify the basic needs of the ministry-tables, chairs and computers in the short run and turning around the internal and external environments in tandem with what is expected of a modern office complex in a 21st century setting. Says Kalu: “What was on ground was not edifying enough. For that reason, I approached His Excellency Governor Theodore Orji; he listened and we started addressing the issues.” Kalu’s first priority was the library, which needed an update of law reports, referral text books, encyclopedias and compendiums as well as research materials and publications by legal luminaries. He also proposed a befitting structure for the Ministry of Justice office complex with state of the art offices completely equipped with IT centred network and a new conference hall. By year end, he, adds, a brand new Ministry of Justice was in place. What about the men manning the materials, the legal minds as well as their support staff? Kalu points to salary harmonisation, adding that staff of the ministry, in addition to their basic salaries, earn allowances for wardrobes and hazards with staff and pool vehicles that define a status way ahead those of similar ministries in other states.

    Of course the Judiciary was a major challenge to him. Kalu explains he met a judiciary that was derelict in form and content. There were no basic working tools; a judiciary that relied heavily on type writers presented a picture of a quaint old man living in an 18th century medieval life style and this was unacceptable in the land of God’s people. Again, he got the nod of His Excellency and the turn around that took place came with an impressive transformation of members of the judiciary at the work place. Today, judges and magistrates have been upgraded with an NJC consolidated salary structure, with new cars such as Toyota Corolla and Camry with back up vehicles and modern offices equipped with IT compliant staff. In the past, judges could not attend conferences abroad and so were not globally updated regarding new lines of thoughts and ways of doing things

    The Honorable Attorney-General points at massive renovation and restructuring of court halls as work in progress that will mature and be commissioned in a matter of months. The Umuahia High Court with six court halls and the Customary Court of Appeal are witnessing state of the art technology restructuring. In Aba Judicial Division, four court halls are under construction fenced with new gates and landscaping on all sides and these extend to the Aba Magistrate Court as well as the Umuahia High Court, down to Ohafia, Obingwa and Ukwa judicial districts. “The Governor has always been the arrow head; in the last four years, he has provided this ministry with a supplementary budget of one billion naira from which most of these projects are being funded. The idea is to provide a cosy and ideal environment. It was really bad before now.”

    Kalu says what is going on is a revolution in the justice delivery system. In the past, laymen manned the customary courts and it was only natural that what you expected was commensurate with the principle of garbage in and garbage out because this affected the quality of judgment coming from those courts. The House of Assembly passed a law insisting that only lawyers would be recruited to take charge of these courts. So, today we have over 66 lawyers who have been appointed chairmen of these customary courts. The state government has also employed over 36 magistrates driving the magistrate courts provided with vehicles and facilities needed to do their work. Kalu adds: “The governor has our pass mark for this great turn around which was not there before now… We may not have achieved maximum success but we are moving to a point where the Judiciary will be self accounting. Kalu explains further: “The Judiciary in Abia stands above average when it comes to the dispensation of justice. Till date it has not been indicted in any way by the National Judicial Council. When you look at the outcome of appeals that go to the Court of Appeal, it has often happened they were neither accompanied by scandals nor were there spectacular cases of corruption while the three arms of government work independently but mutually exlusive of each other.”

    On the legacy he is leaving behind, Kalu said: “The Theodore Orji administration will go down in the history of Abia as a revolutionary government on account of the set goals that are people oriented. What is happening is a revolution, especially if you remember where we were, where we are and where we are headed for. Our vision in terms of our intellectual property, structure, and generally our facilities which also include IT, has presented a package or basket of superior objectives that will be comparable to Abuja. Our legacy will remain a challenge to successful governments in terms of putting structures that have an enduring value.

    “The governor has an uninterrupted tenure of four years. He has spent one year plus now and we have less than three more years of serious issues of governance to contend with in actualizing the Ochendo vision and foundation for a future Abia. Indeed, the people of Abia should look forward to greater things from the governor. If you go to Abia State, you will see what is happening with gigantic projects such as the new Umuahia or state capital laid out with the new conference hall, secretariat, Government House and Governor’s Lodge. These are enduring legacies that will outlive the Orji Administration, the justice and judiciary complexes inclusive.”

    He added, “Therefore, in the spirit of this unfolding new Abia State, I want to leave this ministry better than I met it; those who come here will tell you that so much is happening; it is not only for me leaving a legacy but for the governor, because if you look at Chief Theodore Orji, he is a product of the rule of law; his emergence as governor was only possible because due process was adhered to in spite of the efforts to truncate his victory at the polls; that is why I tell you he has so much passion for the happenings in the judiciary and he is doing so much in that direction. Each time I proffer advice, he is always willing to listen.

    “For me the emphasis is the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice. I must leave the ministry better than I met it, such that no one will come here to reverse the hand of the clock. I am boosting the morale of lawyers. What is being designed is one of the best working environments you can think of, and they can compete favorably with any such environment elsewhere whether in Nigeria or abroad because the tendency or the belief is that lawyers in state ministries don’t put in much effort in terms of work rate like those outside because they practice as if they have nothing at stake. We set to change that mentality and today I can tell you we rank above average.

    Asked to comment on the current controversy regarding the property demolition in Aba and its environs, he said, “The on-going demolitions in Aba and its environs are aimed at restoring the commercial city otherwise known as Enyimba to its original master plan which has suffered a lot of abuse in the hands of inordinate businessmen who have turned every space in that town to either a shop or market place in vagrant disregard of town planning regulations. You will be amazed at the quantum of Government resources that goes into Aba in an attempt to fix the roads and provide basic infrastructures but because of the disregard for planning regulations, drainages are blocked by unauthorised structures resulting to constant damage to existing roads thereby negating Government’s determination to fix the roads in Aba.”

  • Niger 2015: Battle to succeed Aliyu Babangida begins

    Niger 2015: Battle to succeed Aliyu Babangida begins

    The speculated entry of Mohammed Babangida, son of former military ruler, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, into the 2015 governorship race in Niger State, is generating heated discussions among stakeholders. In this report, Remi Adelowo analyses the chances of the younger Babangida and other governorship hopefuls

     

    For Mohammed Babangida, the eldest son of former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, it is not a matter of if, but rather when he would announce his intention to contest for the Niger State governorship seat come 2015.

    In the last few months, the political circles in the North Central state has been agog with the alleged ambition of the 42-year-old businessman to succeed the incumbent governor, Dr. Aliyu Muazu Babangida, whose second term in office will lapse in 2015.

    This would not be the first time that the young man’s name has been mentioned in the rundown to a general election. Early in 2011, speculations were rife that Mohammed was keen to battle Aliyu Babangida for the PDP governorship ticket.

    Unconfirmed reports had it that an alleged frosty relationship between the governor and some influential stakeholders in Niger State, most particularly two former Heads of State, who hail from the state, (Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar) had given Mohammed the impetus to stake a claim to the exalted seat.

    The governor, it was alleged, incurred the wrath of the retired generals due to his consistent refusal to listen to ‘wise counsels’ in the running of the state.

    For Aliyu Babangida, his election as governor was as dramatic, as it was thorny. Sources revealed that he was not the first choice of major political stakeholders to succeed the then governor, Abdulkadir Kure, in 2007.

    Babangida had just retired from the Federal Civil Service as a permanent secretary and reportedly had no desire to plunge into politics just immediately. But as fate would have it, a bitter acrimony generated in the aftermath of the primary election to elect the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in 2007, prompted the national headquarters of the party to intervene.

    The outcome of the intervention, allegedly instigated by the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was the choice of Babangida, who in his eventful civil service career, served as permanent secretary in the ministries of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), national planning, industries, to mention but a few.

    And ever since he became governor, Babangida has grown in stature and political influence, culminating in his current position as the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF). Known for his outspokenness on issues of national importance and independent mindedness, these traits, it was learnt, had allegedly put him on a collision course with some powerful forces in his state in the last five years.

    A source close to Mohammed Babangida, however, disclosed to The Nation that talks about his father’s cold war with the governor was a figment of the imagination of some unnamed politicians in the state. “My father is on good terms with the governor, so am I,” Mohammed was quoted as telling a friend at a polo tournament held in Malaysia a few years ago.

    As a proof that all is well between the governor and the Babangidas, The Nation gathered that Mohammed had, early in 2007, been offered the position of a commissioner by the governor, but the former politely declined the offer for ‘personal reasons.’

     

    How prepared is Mohammed?

    To his critics, Mohammed Babangida appears too young to shoulder the responsibility of governing a state. His relative political inexperience, the critics further alleged, may also turn out as his Achilles’ heel in the battle to succeed the incumbent governor.

    But those rooting for the young man revealed that contrary to widespread notion that he is inexperienced, Mohammed has, in the last few years, prepared himself for the task ahead. A source told The Nation, “In spite of what anyone might say, he (Mohammed) has acquitted himself both in his private and business lives, but unfortunately, his critics still look at him in the shadows of his father. Though he is quiet, he is very intelligent.”

    While pooh-poohing the argument that Mohammed is too young to be a governor, the source continued, “this argument is not only laughable but ridiculous; here is a man who is 42-years-old, far older than the age many of the present governors were elected. Add that to the fact that for over 15 years now, Mohammed has been the CEO of his company, Profile Group, which is into oil and gas, properties and security consultancy.”

    The Nation gathered that preparatory to his joining the governorship race sometime next year, the scion of the Babangida dynasty has, in the last one year, been holding consultations with opinion leaders on his alleged ambition. “This is asides his various empowerment programmes in the grassroots, which he has been doing quietly without much fanfare,” added another source.

     

    Other likely contenders

    Though difficult to read his body language regarding his choice on who succeeds him in 2015, an unconfirmed speculation that Governor Babangida may have zeroed in on his Chief of Staff, Professor Yahaya Abubakar, has refused to die down.

    Believed to be the most powerful man after the governor in the state executive council, Abubakar had previously served as the Secretary to the Government before he was redeployed as COS due to what a source said was for ‘strategic reasons’.

    In the words of an aide to the governor who prefers not to be named, “Abubakar largely determines who gets what, when and how in Niger State. The governor reposes too much confidence in him. That is how powerful he is.”

    What may prove a stumbling block to the alleged desire of the governor to handover to Abubakar, is the resolve of the ‘Minna Generals’ to determine who governs the state in 2015.

    The Nation gathered that another option before the governor if the Abubakar ticket does not fly is to support his deputy, Ahmed Ibeto, who has reportedly enjoyed a warm relationship with his principal.

     

    Abu Sani-Bello joins the race

    Full name Abubakar Sani-Bello, this young man is the son of Col. Sani Bello (retd), a wealthy businessman and Vice-Chairman, MTN, with major stakes in other key sectors of the economy. The younger Sani Bello, who is married to one of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar’s daughters, is also alleged to be working behind the scene to contest the governorship in 2015.

    The entry of Sani-Bello into the race is expected to bring fresh permutations in what promises to be a dicey succession battle. Observers are already pondering what the outcome of a contest between Mohammed Babangida and Abu Sani-Bello would be based on the long standing friendship between their fathers and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who is an-law to the Sani-Bellos.

    With the governorship hopefuls likely to contest the governorship race on the platform of the PDP, it remains to be seen how the battle to succeed Aliyu Muazu Babangida pans out.

  • NJC queries Enugu Chief Judge over APGA

    NJC queries Enugu Chief Judge over APGA

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) has queried the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike over his conduct in suit no E/270/2012 between Ichie Jude Okuli and the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Victor Umeh.

    Umezulike was given one month to respond to the query, dated October 4, 2012 and personally signed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman of NJC, Justice Aloma Mariam Muktar (GCON).

    It reads: “I forward herewith a petition dated 21st September 2012 by one Chief Victor Umeh JP, APGA National Chairman, on the above subject matter. The petition is self explanatory. I shall be glad to have your comments within one month from the date of receipt of this letter, please.”

    The query issued to the Chief Judge by the NJC was prompted by a petition lodged to the council by Umeh, the only defendant in the suit, complaining about the gross abuse of due process of the law by the Chief Judge.

    The APGA boss alleged that Justice Umezulike erred in his handling of the case, especially by refusing to rule on the preliminary objection which he brought before the court, and was duly argued by both counsels.

    Umeh informed the NJC that the Chief Judge extended the life span of the ex-parte order he made against him on July 25, 2012 by extra 48 days against the High Court Rule of Enugu State which satipulates that an exparte order cannot last beyond 14 days. He explained that by the action of the Chief Judge, the ex-parte order which ought not to last more than 14 days was extended to 55 days without any request by any of the parties in the matter.

    Part of his petition reads: ”By 31st July, 2012, the CJ took full arguments on notice of preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case. The CJ adjourned the matter to 17th September, 2012, for a rendition of the considered ruling of the court on the notice of preliminary objection

    “In adjourning the matter, the CJ stated that ‘if this court accedes to the contentions of the defendants/ applicants on any of the above issues, this suit shall legitimately come to an end …In the event, I shall adjourn the case for a considered ruling on the merits. In the circumstances, the interim order of this court shall endure against the parties and against the convention of any APGA Executive Committee Meetings as stated under the order until the court’s rendition of a ruling which I now fixed for the 20th day of September, 2012,” Umeh said.

    He, however, regretted that on the day when the ruling ought to have been delivered by the Chief Judge, to the amazement of the people who gathered in court, the Chief Judge declared that he has remanded his ruling and would instead hear the main suit and deliver judgment on the preliminary objection and the main suit together.

    The direction taken by the court, Umeh said, has exposed the Chief Judge as being desperate to get into the main matter and deliver judgement against him, knowing that the notice of preliminary objection was strong enough to have legitimately terminated the suit, being grossly incompetent as APGA was not made a party.

    The APGA Chairman noted that in his letter of 19th September 2012 to the Chief Judge, he requested for the Transfer/Re-assignment of the case to another judge”, and informed the Chief Judge that he no longer has confidence in obtaining justice in his court, being reasonably satisfied that he is biased, compromised and was intent on causing mischief for their dear party, APGA.

    He regretted that since July 25, 2012 till date, activities in the party had been halted because of the exparte order, which had paralyzed the entire party apparatus and therefore urged the NJC Chairman to urgently intervene by calling Justice Umezulike to order, and ensure that the due process is followed.

    “In this era of Rule of Law, as an ardent believer in the ideals of democracy, I have no doubt that judicial impartiality is an important hallmark of due administration of justice . I will be grateful if the Chief Judge of Enugu State is made to understand that every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to justice and fair hearing” the APGA boss stated.

    Meanwhile Umeh has appealed against the interlocutory injunction granted last Monday by Justice Umezulike restraining him from acting as the National Chairman of APGA, pending the determination of the substantive suit before the Court. Umeh also filed a motion before the Court of Appeal, asking for a stay of execution of the injunction granted by the Enugu State High Court.

  • Has impeachment threat lost steam?

    Has impeachment threat lost steam?

    Before the lawmakers went on a two month vacation, they were emphatic in their resolution that failure to meet their demands, the President should be prepared to contend with impeachment proceedings. On July 19, the President was accused of gross violation of the Appropriation Act, 2012 through selective implementation of the budget and subsequently passed a resolution mandating the Minister of Finance, to stop forthwith, the violation of the 2012 Appropriation Act by releasing the funds as and when due for quarter one and two and subsequent quarters. However, on resumption from the vacation, and following the controversies and expectations that trailed the threat, the House decided to consider the reports of its various Committees before embarking on the physical inspection capital projects across the country.

    A week before the resumption, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal had directed all Committees of the House to conduct a thorough appraisal of the status of the implementation of the 2012 Appropriation Act before resumption. The Committees were to request all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDA) over which they exercise oversight to submit the status of all releases of funds; how much has been assessed, contracts awarded and general implementation status of the 2012 Appropriation Act.

    On Thursday, September 20, the House was set to consider the collated reports at the plenary but the move was truncated as some of the Committees were not prepared, except for a few. As at that day, the lawmakers felt that there was no enough fool-proof evidence to nail the President or his Finance Minister. Either by omission or commission, some vital MDA’s refused to make available documents, backed with facts and figures to some Committees. It would be recalled that the Ministry of Aviation, that has been engrossed in the $11.4b Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) fund controversy was cited as an instance. The ministry was alleged to have attempted to influence federal lawmakers on the usage of the controversial fund by sponsoring some members of the Aviation Committees overseas for oversight function. The Senate Committee allegedly refunded money collected for the trip while the House rejected the trip outright.

    The Speaker set the ball rolling by asking committee chairmen to present their findings that would be appraised on the floor which, according to him, would guide the syndicate groups going for the inspection. However, before the debate went full throttle, House Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila (ACN, Lagos) faulted the essence of the debate, saying it was unnecessary at that stage as the House would be better informed on the true situation on ground after the syndicate groups would have returned with their findings.

    But before the debate was truncated, Chairman House Committee on Appropriation, John Enoh (PDP, Cross Rivers) presented the findings of his Committee. According to him, available evidence has shown that, as at September 14, the Ministry of Finance has released only 50 percent of the total budget to the MDAs with the release of N701b instead of N1.3trillion to MDAs. According to him, while the aggregate release so far was just 50 percent, the release for the three quarters was actually less by 25 percent. He opined that many MDAs seem to be unaware of what is due to them, saying, “It has become imperative to make it mandatory that releases are made in the first month of the quarter through the instrumentality of the constitution. This is because if allocation for the last quarter for this year is not released in October, then the 2012 budget will fail. Close to 90 percent of procurement for the year is being given out in September”.

    According to him, the Ministry of youth development got N2.8b from total of N7.1b for the three quarters, Agriculture ministry got N23b from N48b, Water resources got N31b from N48b, Ministry of Power got N35b from N75.5b while Ministry of Works got N80b from N159.4b.

    Next was the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Abudulmumin Jubri (PDP, Kano) who said nothing has changed since the last resolution of the House two months ago on the level of finances accruing to the country. He, however, requested the leadership of the country to question the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the rationale behind the fall in revenue generated from sales of crude oil between July and August claimed to be 2.7 million barrels per day.

    To him, it has become necessary to review all business arrangements with international companies, like the joint venture agreement, among others. Jubrin questioned the essence of independent revenue accruing to the Federal Government alone. He also faulted independent revenue generated by some agencies that goes to the coffers of the Federal Government alone to the exclusion of other tiers whereby N1.116trillion was projected but the expenditure of the agencies was put at N1.305trillion.

    “What we can confirm is that, today all our revenue generating agencies are meeting and surpassing their projected targets. The implication is that no one can come and tell us that some agencies were unable to meet their target by the end of the year. They are posting well and should be encouraged.

    “There is no problem with the Federation account. As at July, we have surpassed the projected target of N3.517 trillion. We have raised N4.801 trillion while N1.386 trillion has been transferred to the Excess Crude Account. Earning from Petroleum Property Tax has also been surpassed by N941b. The estimate for the year was N1.793 trillion and while the projection for this period was N1.199 trillion but we have raised N2.137trillion so far and the year has not ended,” Jubrin said.

    He also revealed that the nation’s earnings from royalties has also increased substantially, adding that the budget estimate for the year was N731b but by August; while the projection for the period was N487b. “By August, we have realized N732b giving us an excess of N245b,” he said.

    On her part, Chairman House Committee on Environment Uche Ekwunife explained that Nigerians should realize that the operation of the Ecological Fund does not reside with the Federal Ministry of Environment. Ekwunife spoke against the background of the belief that the ministry was in control of the fund. According to her, the ministry is indebted to the tune of N10b and that the contractors handling various projects for the ministry are on the brink of bankruptcy. She said many have gone to their early graves while so many others are in shock at the turn of their fortune.

    On the other hand, Chairman House Committee on Aviation Nkiruka Onyejeocha pleaded that legislative mechanism be put in place for the executive to take the resolutions of the National Assembly serious. She said neither the ministry nor its departments and agencies responded to the directive to supply the Committee with details of their budget implementation status. House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research took the matter a little further by preparing two documents chronicling detailed capital budget implementation across the country. The two comprehensive documents were made available to the lawmakers to aid them in ascertaining facts between projects on ground and documents made available by the MDAs.

    At this point, the Speaker heeded the suggestion of the Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila that the debate on the level of budget implementation should be put on hold. According to Gbajabiamila, members would be better informed after the reports of the committees that were going on physical confirmation of budget implementation would have been completed and turned in. Jerry Manwe (PDP. Taraba) who backed the Minority Leader also suggested that the invitation of the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala be put on hold till the conclusion of the project inspection exercise.

    Thrown in the mix on September 18 was the presentation of the Mid Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy paper (MTEFFS) 2013-2015 by the President, in compliance with the Fiscal Appropriation Act. The lawmakers appreciated the presentation of the document but before the lawmakers could settle down to examine the document, the President informed the legislators that he wants to present the budget for 2013, on October 4. The move was promptly rebuffed. As if President Jonathan wanted to stampede the lawmakers into a making a hurried job of scrutinizing the MTEFFS paper and the 2013 budget proposal itself, he was reminded that the consideration and passage of the MTEFFS paper is a prerequisite for the presentation of the next budget.

    To underscore the decision of the lawmakers, House Spokesman, Zakari Mohammed said the importance of the oversight function cannot be overemphasized, while pointing out that the stance of the lower chamber was not a muscle flexing against the executive. He said: “The question of Mr. President coming to present the budget on 4th is ruled out because by next week we are not going to be available. Also, the MTEF must definitely be looked into first, by convention before the budget for the incoming year is considered. These are issues of law; it is not about the House trying to flex muscles. Maybe later, a convenient day would be fixed for Mr. President to come and present the budget. We are considering an aspect of the 2012 budget and not yet completed, yet another one is coming. October 4, is just not realistic, we are going on the oversight and be back on 9th.

    “Already we have the inventory of all projects and ready to go. We made it known in the very week we resumed but have to push it by a week just to be better informed. We know a lot of people will not be happy with the oversight function because of the expose that might follow but it is a very critical function of the legislature”.

    Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) Dakuku Peterside backed him up saying, the issue of passage of the MTEF before the presentation of the in-coming budget is mandatory and not optional. He said for instance, government agencies in the petroleum sector have done well on paper in terms of allocation releases but that there is need to analyze the presented documents with realities on ground.

    Peterside, who questioned the return of queues in filling stations across the country, pointed out that the documents on hand showed excellent release of allocations to the petroleum agencies. “Doing well in terms of budget performance does not necessarily translate to having the right impact on Nigerians. For instance, government has released all funds for the Petroleum Product Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) yet we still have long queues everywhere because marketers have not been paid and payment process was also too long”.

    According to him, the only means of ascertaining the facts was to physically feel the pulse of Nigerians, “If we don’t get our assumptions right, as contained in the MTEF then we will certainly not get the budgeting process right. What the House is doing is right in terms of law and strategy to ensure that we get our assumptions right, to make the budget implementation done with the right impact,” he added.

    Another respondent who pleaded not to be named said Nigerians should not expect anything out of the ordinary from the lawmakers. He said Nigerians should read between the lines because the little information at the disposal of the lawmakers was enough to commence the impeachment process if they were sincere. According to him, Nigerians have been hinted on what the outcome of the threat would be.

    “At the beginning of the whole thing, I was particularly happy that, at last we are getting to that point when our lawmakers would make good the long-awaited check on the excesses of the Executive which feels it does have to account. With all the facts they presented at the beginning of this whole drama, that was before they went on their holiday, I was of the opinion that, this time, the Executive would be forced to reappraise their steps on the funding of infrastructural projects. This is because they did a thorough job that even the Executive could not fault.

    “But on resumption, to say I am disappointed is an understatement with how they seem to be foot-dragging on their threat. What else are they looking for? One of the chairmen said nothing has changed, what miracle are they looking for in two weeks? We have been told that if the money for the last quarter of the year was released in October, then the budget would fail because total release is standing at 50 per cent today rather at 75 per cent.

    “So what are we talking about? They were saying that the consideration of 2013 budget is dependent on what they make of the implementation of 2012 budget, but I assure you, nothing will change. They will end up applauding the President after presenting the next budget at another joint sitting of the federal lawmakers. I won’t be surprised if those people have seen themselves behind closed doors, my own is that Nigerians should not expect much from the whole drama”.

    Meanwhile the committees took time out to inspect the N701b capital projects nationwide but the zeal and expectation of the Speaker might be compromised by some committees that failed to heed the Speaker’s directives on including journalists on the inspection teams.

    According to a source, the Speaker’s intention was to allow Nigerians see by themselves what has happened to the funds.

    “Mandating the Committees to be joined by journalists was to ensure adequate coverage of the inspection so that Nigerians can form their own opinion before the House will come out with its conclusion on the matter. If we are going to be sincere, this is one major event in the life of this country that the executive is being taken to task on how it spends public funds. By the time the House comes out with its final decision on the matter, Nigerians would not be surprised because they would have had the opportunity of seeing some of the findings before the official House position.

    “But my worry is those committees that went without the journalists, I am sure though, that the Speaker would not allow such committees to hamper the good intentions of the majority by finding other means to verify whatever findings such committees would be presenting. My only prayer is that Nigerians should see the good intention behind this and that is making the government responsible and accountable to the people. Even if the impeachment threat ends up as a mere threat, something must have changed about governance because the executive must have come to realize that we have begun the journey of holding the government accountable to the people. If the desired result is not met today, surely the journey has started and we are sure to get there, probably sooner than later because not to start at all would not augur well for our democracy”.

    However, when on Wednesday President Jonathan presented the 2013 budget, Tambuwal delivered a damning verdict on the 2012 Budget. Notwithstanding the standing ovation that President Jonathan got, Tambuwal reminded him that the implementation has been very poor. Whether the House will do more than what the Speaker has done only time will tell.

  • Uniport Four: ACN calls for justice

    Uniport Four: ACN calls for justice

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has strongly condemned the lynching of four students of the University of Port Harcourt by an obviously deranged mob, saying such a barbaric act ‘’debases our humanity and strips us all of our dignity’’.

    In a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said all those involved in the horrendous and callous act should be fished out and brought to justice to serve as a deterrence.

    It said that in a society governed by law, it is imperative that those who are deemed to have committed any offence whatsoever be allowed to have their day in court rather than be subjected to mob justice.

    ‘’This is what informs the saying that it is better that 10 guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer,’’ the party said.

    It described as encouraging the statement credited to the Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, that the police will investigate the killing and that such act is unacceptable in any democratic society where the sanctity of human life remains key.

    The party said all Nigerians should be concerned that the situation in the country has deteriorated to such a level that human beings could be so cruelly treated, so mercilessly beaten, so senselessly hacked and so callously doused in petrol and set ablaze, a treatment that should not even be meted out to animals.

    ‘’The implication of the incredible act of wickedness meted out to these young men is that many of our people are becoming numb to actions that should ordinarily jolt human sensibilities. This is what happens in an environment of uncontrolled violence as we have across our country now, where mass killings are becoming the norm.

    ‘’This is why the Federal Government, supported by all state governments and indeed all Nigerians, must wake up to its responsibility and strive to end the pervasive insecurity in our land,’’ the party said.

  • My gains, my pains as governor

    My gains, my pains as governor

    On October 16, 2010, Dr. Olukayode Fayemi took charge of Ekiti State. He was sworn into office, following a decision of the Court of Appeal declaring him the duly elected governor. What difference has he made in the lives of the people who look up to him for succour? He spoke with OLUKOREDE YISHAU on these and many more. 

    It has been two years since you were sworn in as governor. How has it been?

    It has been tough, challenging but ultimately fulfilling. It is not entirely surprising the way things have gone. I guess I was not unprepared for the ups and downs. Naturally, two years is that point that political analysts, watchers will tag as mid-term. I must say that we have it together here. We have the ups and downs but for someone who is an incurable optimist, I see the challenges as opportunities. In all of the areas that we promised to make a difference, I think, by and large, we have changed the culture of governance. It is a lot more transparent and accountable. We have changed the perspective of our people. Education is probably the area, where we have made the biggest impact based on the lackadaisical nature of things before now. I must say it has earned me opponents as well who genuinely feel I have been more unrelenting in my attack on the areas that were creating problem for Ekiti existence. Our health, sector together with our social service sector, has also been impacted on, but there is still a lot of work to be done, a lot of roads to travel. There is tourism and environmental sustainability. We have worked on Ikogosi and using it as a hub for the tourism corridor. We are about achieving that primary objective. We have facility managers because we have always said we are not in the business of managing business. We should leave it for the private sector to run decently. We are getting in more private sector, especially in the agric sector, cassava processing plant. It is all geared towards realising the objective of making poverty history in Ekiti State. When we were campaigning in 2005, that, we promised. Of course, health and education are the intangible things we have done. But, the one most people talked about are the infrastructure, like roads, the water plants, the Legacy projects that we have. By and large, we are achieving our objective of creating optimum communities because we are not just doing these things in a vacuum. Even though we have a vision of where we want to travel, you cannot do development to our people, you must do development with our people.

    From your experience, what really do the people expect from the government?

    We give them the opportunity through our village square meetings to input policies and budget-making from their own perspective. What are their own issues? What are their own priorities? What do they want from government? They don’t ask for anything extra-ordinary. They ask for the basics. Give us water, give us light, help us make our young people useful in the society by giving them jobs to do. They want us to tackle ecological problems, purely basic things.

    So after two years, would you say you have met these needs?

    I think I can reasonably say after two years, there is nothing we promised our people in our campaigns in 2005, such as lap tops per child, social security for the elderly, land management for youths in commercial agriculture, that we have not done. Everything we promised we have managed to do. They may not be completed, but the course is steady. And we are progressing.

    What would you consider the high points of your administration so far?

    I think the high point is our social security benefits. It was not something I started from day one of my administration, although it was in my inaugural speech. I campaigned on that issue. We started a year later on October 4, 2011. We were almost one year in office. So, social security has been in operation here in the last one year. Everywhere I go, the way the adults, the elderly come out to thank me shows how much difference this has made in their lives. I consider it a high point. Of course, the lap top initiative, which has also resulted in Samsung partnering with us by building an engineering academy here, is another high point. Development agencies have returned to Ekiti in droves. They took off in the past when things were a bit awry. But, they are all virtually back now. World Bank is here, helping us with development. The UK DFID is here. The European Union is here.

    What are the challenges facing your administration?

    There are challenges. The resources are just limited. That is one of the big challenges a state like Ekiti confronts for a government that wants to do a lot. We obviously have to be a lot more creative and innovative in our management of resources. In fact, even now a lot of people still ask, ‘where do you get this from?’ This is because they know we are not an oil-rich state and we are not reeling in enormous wealth. So, how do you cope? Frankly, I think it is a bit of foresight on our part. We knew we had an agenda to deliver to our people. Of course, we knew we were going to get money from the capital market. We got money from the capital market nine months into being in office. The money we have hardly meets our operational needs, our recurrent expenditures. So, you have to look for money for development. And that has had to come from the capital market and international development partners and other agencies that are interested in development at the local level.

    What do you consider the low points of the last two years?

    I don’t want to say there are low points. There are moments of despair. I would not want to describe them as low points. I get worried about the quality of public examination results in Ekiti. Again, I have just seen the WAEC results and I am worried about why we have the challenges we are confronted with in public examination. I really am cracking my brain and asking myself what do we have to do to turn things around as far as public examinations are concerned? There is a thin line between success and failure, but once you miss the boat, it might destroy the life of that young person for life and it does get to me, having grown up in this system, having been produced by this structure in Ekiti. I think there is a lot we can do in that regard.

    Another thing that worries me is politics of bitterness that we play in this part. There is a lot of ill-motivated, unfounded and irresponsible politics. May be, the intellectual in me, not the politician in me, finds it odd to stomach this unscrupulous business that comes from the opposition. The opposition has the right to be critical. But, in a state where we have a freedom of information law, where information is available at the tip of your fingers, just for you to request, why do you resort to irresponsible claim? This is the only state where we have domesticated the freedom of information law. I don’t read these things, but it gets to me because people will ask my CPS or the Ministry of Information. For me, the greatest joy is when I see those old people because, for them, they are not playing politics with the lives of Ekiti people. Those who want to entertain themselves, which for me is the way I see what they do, they have the platform to do that. When you are in this vocation, a lot of brickbats get thrown at you and you must have the capacity to accommodate these things.

    What would you say being the governor has taken away from you?

    Oh, my privacy. I am a very private person. I cherish, I don’t want to say, my lonesomeness, but I am the last child in my family and there are certain things that are associated with being the last child. You cherish your own environment. You don’t like the disturbance of a crowd. You are even selfish with your time. Politics does not allow me that luxury. I am out there, doing my village square meetings. So, I straddle both worlds, which is why when I wrote my exile memoirs, I entitled it Out of the Shadows. I enjoyed being anonymous, but it is also a duty you owe people, particularly in politics, to let the people feel you. They want to feel their leader and they want to own you. There are supporters of mine who sit in beer parlours in town and call me just to prove to their friends that ‘I have got Mr. Governor on the line. We are here with our people o. Mr. Governor, greet Lagbaja’. That is the reality of politics. It is not my forte but I have to adapt. I am also lucky. I have a spouse who has a public persona, who does not mind that space. So, I cede that space to her. She does a lot of hand holding for me in the public space, attend all the social events and I think it is a nice balance. She is far more equipped in dealing with the public, yet she is also very intellectual. It is a unique balance that I am still struggling with.

    What mistakes have you made in the last two years?

    I am sure I have made a lot of mistakes in two years. I must say I have an advantage. I am surrounded by people, who are very loving and supportive. I have leaders that are fantastically supportive of me. I stand on the shoulders of giants. What do I mean by that? I have people who have occupied this position and they understand what it means to be in a public office as sensitive as this and they are supportive without being overbearing, which is a very tight rope to walk in politics. You will not see Otunba Niyi Adebayo here all the time, but he is always at a moment’s notice, if I need to get him for anything. I can invite him on issues; I can invite him on a particular matter, to even go and represent me. He is always willing to back for me, ditto Evangelist Olumilua, who you saw here very early this morning. I am lucky in that sense. I also have a lot of Ekiti elders who are not even partisan or who do not even share my own political ideologies or belief. I had Chief Afe Babalola here this morning, talking about an issue of concern to the development of Ekiti. Sir Remi Omotoso, Prof. Oyebode, I have Chief Wole Olanipekun. They all have things they do for me and mostly advisory. It is not what they can make from me as governor. I think I am luckier than most governors who have overbearing people sitting on their necks, trying to do things out of their agenda.

    Initially, there were criticisms that you were slow…

    The people are fastidious. So, all the time I have to think of how they will react to things I do. So, that generally makes you to be more careful. At first, they didn’t quite understand where I was coming from. They thought we were taking too much time to plan some of the things we were doing and they were critical, responsibly so. The same people when they see me now, on the road ,inspecting one project or the other, they are funnily adulating about what they see as different, either the quality of the road, constructing or the bearing of the initiatives we are taking like the social security for the elderly. They just find these things very strange. One of the areas I think I haven’t done well and I think I refer to it early is that I need to develop my people’s skill.

    Why are you and your deputy not fighting?

    Why are we not fighting? One, my deputy was not imposed on me, just as I was not imposed on my party. There were many people who wanted to be deputy. Our party showed preference for us to have female deputies and we were given all the support to look for people who could fit into that position. I never met my deputy before the search for the position began. When I met her, a professional to the core who spent virtually all her life in the corporate world, in the banking sector, she understood where I was coming from and she walked into the vision completely. I think that is something that has helped us. She is not in any competition with me on the vision to transform Ekiti State. So, to that extent, she understands what is at play. Two, I think it also has to do with my wife and I will be the first to admit that my wife played a major role in ensuring I have a female deputy. We have a clear division of labour in what she does and what I do and I see it, if we will describe it in managerial terms, I am more of the CEO and she is more of a COO, Chief Operations Officer of a multinational conglomerate. What really matters is to ensure the vision is truly shared.

  • Ondo’s redemption rallies and new songs

    Ondo’s redemption rallies and new songs

    PRIOR to the flurry of activities and frenetic pace at which rallies were held last week, anyone would be forgiven if he had the impression that the Labour Party was the only one with the structure needed to run the governorship election in Ondo State. The view must have stemmed from the usual predominance of the parties in power in Nigeria. It is believed that they can do whatever they want and have everything available.

    But, this is fast changing as it is antithetical to the tenets of democracy. In a democratic setting, the people are central and key to the choice of leaders and decisions. It may look difficult to remove a sitting governor because he controls the instruments of state, but it has been demonstrated in some cases that the will of the people can be made to prevail. This much happened in Oyo and Osun states very recently. It was also the case in Imo State where Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) upstaged the former Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, at the poll last year.

    With what was seen on ground during last week’s three days of redemptive rallies in the three senatorial districts (Ondo North, Ondo South and Ondo Central), it has become apparent that Dr. Olusegun Mimiko seems to have been alienated from his people in terms of meeting their expectations regarding the provision of good governance. Mimiko, the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the October 20 election, seems to have forgotten all the things he promised his people before mounting the saddle.

    The journey from Lagos to Ondo State went on with high expectations of witnessing the much-talked-about ‘achievements’ of the Mimiko administration. But after crossing the Owena/Ijesha Bridge that demarcates Osun from Ondo state, this reporter was eagerly anxious to see a beautiful Akure, the state capital that would be reminiscent of what he left some few hours after leaving Lagos for Akure. But alas, that was not the case. Akure was bereft of the green revolution of Lagos. It cannot even match the neatness of Osogbo, the capital of Osun State or Ilesa where Aregbesola is silently creating a modern city.

    On the Ilesa/Akure express road that passes through the front of Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) began the disappointment of the day. For an oil-rich state that reportedly had collected about N500billion allocation, far higher than what Lagos collected, in three and half years from the centre, the state of disrepair of that road was a confirmation of higher disappointment awaiting us in places that the reporter visited. The fact that the road is a federal road should not have stopped the Mimiko administration from dualising it as he had promised before he got to power. Afterall, most inhabitants of the state and their visitors ply the route and their safety should be of utmost concern to the helmsman. Mimiko has obviously abandoned the people’s welfare.

    The eagerness to see the current state of the celebrated Oba Adesida road in Akure was doused by the filthy state of that road. The constructed few bus-stops on the road look more like make-shift items. Obviously copied from Lagos, they are far below the Lagos exemplar. The drainage system servicing the road needs to be desilted but the Mimiko administration does not seem to consider this important. Thus, an avenue that could have been used to create thousands of employment and add value to the environment is rotting away because the Ondo government is undiscerning.

    At the Chicken Republic eatery at the Oba Adesida junction, this reporter sat on the same table with a man, obviously a visitor to the state who chuckled: ‘this town is too dirty and the roads are narrow, bad and need urgent attention.’ The man, who simply identified himself as Ajenifuja, upon this reporter’s inquiry, could not be faulted.

    The median constructed by the Mimiko administration and the flowers/trees planted on Oba Adesida road look so tousled and malnourished. The state of that median, the colourless outlook of the plants and the dishevelled position of that road all underscore the debilitating state of infrastructure over the years. Such scenery would definitely make the people regret ever voting Mimiko to power.

    During the reporter’s journey to Ikare, Ondo town and Ore, where the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) redemption rallies took place, Ajenijuja’s observation became apparent. The Akure-Owo and Akure-Ondo roads look more like death traps. It is inconceivable to think that roads leading to major towns where the large chunk of votes come from in that state could be that bad and neglected by the Mimiko administration in over three years of having reportedly collected whopping allocations.

    If the crowd of ACN supporters that witnessed the Ikare rally was rousing, that of Ondo town where Mimiko hails from was tumultuous and that of Ore was incredible. But in all of these places, the presence of government had not be felt. Bad roads, silted environment, forlorn faces of inhabitants seeking for help (which the ACN promised to offer) are routine. The case of Mimiko’s town, Ondo, is more pathetic as he could not even complete in over three years, the five-kilometre road that passes through the famous town. Perhaps the imperativeness of the question: What has happened to the aphorism that charity begins at home? The people of Ondo town inhale more dust than fresh air even when their son is a sitting governor. They would definitely not prefer this to continue for another four years. Definitely not!

    In Ore where Mimiko promised to dualise the road leading to Akure, the only visible achievement of his administration is the air-conditioned Public Toilet that was built very close to the express road. Of all the infrastructural needs of that area, is Public Toilet the best that Mimiko can offer? Ondo, especially Ore people should ponder over this!

    If a government is only performing on paper with no empirical dividend to show for it, as the reporter has observed in Ondo, then its people must earnestly be redeemed from perfidy arising from maladministration and corruption of the Mimiko administration. That is why the redemption rallies that ACN recently held in the three senatorial districts in the state were more auspicious. It shows from the massive authentic crowd at those rallies that signalled the final arrival of broom revolution in Ondo state,

    The same crowd that rooted for Mimiko in 2007 is now calling for his head: The same people yearned for Adefarati in 1999 but later voted him out. These same people booted Agagu out through votes, prayers and the court when they got tired of him after his first four years. They voted in Mimiko and in just three and half years of lacklustre performance, it is obvious that the days of Mimiko and his Labour Party in power are numbered. Ondo people are saying that come October 20, they need a new lease of life, a fresh and not dusty breath; they need redemption, not the deception for which the Mimiko government is known. They are saying that the one-tenure-per-governor policy must stand. The people’s feelings during the redemption rallies and the new songs of the broom revolution highly favours the ACN.