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Tag: accountability

  • Accountability key to North East development plan – Saraki

    Accountability key to North East development plan – Saraki

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Friday said that accountability and oversight were necessary components in the country’s efforts to rebuild the insurgency-ravaged North East zone.

    A statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said that Saraki was responding to the conclusion of a four-day visit by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights, Dr. Chaloka Beyani to internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps.

    It said that Saraki indicated that he was encouraged to learn that the international community was beginning to pay more attention to the suffering in the North East.

    Oloniyonu quoted Saraki as saying, “We are hopeful about the increasing international attention being shown toward the North East. On our part, we need to make sure that our accountability mechanisms generate confidence in our ability to absorb and monitor the delivery of aid material and resources.”

    It said that the Senate President, who added that Nigeria was heading in the right direction in tackling the North East’s humanitarian crisis, however noted that “there are still many issues in the areas of accountability, such as sexual abuse, lack of protection and the provision of basic services that need to be addressed.”

    Saraki said “Gradually but surely, we are heading in the right direction. However, let us not take our foot off the gas pedal. We must make accountability an expectation in Nigeria’s humanitarian relief infrastructure. Accountability must be built into all aspects of the relief to rehabilitation effort to promote greater confidence in our capacity.”

    Saraki, the statement said, also emphasized the need to focus less on the sensational stories of corruption in the relief effort and instead focus on more transparent systems to root out corruption and profiteering.

    It said that Saraki assured that when the 8th Senate resumes sitting later in the month, the humanitarian crisis in the North East will be a high priority.

    “As Senate President, I am sure that I speak for many of my colleagues when I say that we are more than willing to work with any and all Nigerians and international stakeholders to restore development, dignity and hope to the people of the north east,” he stated.

  • LASIEC chief prods students leaders on accountability

    Lagos State Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Mr Lateef Raji, has said unionism among students will be a lot better if leaders are accountable.

    He said student leaders who present their scorecards show humility and openness and would carry their followers along.

    Raji spoke as outgoing Students’ Union executive of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Oto Ijanikin, presented a report of their activities to students.

    In his address titled: “The role of students and youths in election process: Local government election as case study”, Raji told students that their education equips them to be change agents who should show interest in how their society is governed.

    “It is true you may not have the (political) experience; but your education and age imbue in you fresh ideas that can help in giving Nigeria a new direction,” said Raji, who encouraged the youths to participate in the forthcoming local government elections in Lagos.

    Raji encouraged the students to endure the current economic hardship and terrorism in the Northeast, describing it as a phase in the nation’s life.

    “All these terrorism and economic challenges Nigeria is experiencing at present are not in any way unusual. Many of the developed societies we see today had gone through same phase at one point or the other in their quest for greatness.  So Nigeria is not an exception.

    “As youths, you represent the most adventurous segment of the society.  Youths all over the world have played significant roles in driving change or kicking against draconian government policy, so you should not be an exception,” he said.

    Presenting his scorecard, outgoing SU president, Muhammed Amoo, said since his election on September 14, last year, his administration has succeeded in reducing tuition fees to N10,000 across board; reducing Acceptance Fee from N5,000 to N1,000; posting raw scores on students’ devices; installing streetlights; providing students’ ID card as well as waste bins around campus; getting management to donate computer to the union, among others.

    Under his administration tagged ‘Renaissance Era’ Amoo said the SU also successfully reviewed the constitution; organised seminars on empowerment and health, disbursed students insurance equitably; organised its maiden quiz contest, to mention a few.

    Amoo admonished the new leaders to embrace dialogue, saying that his set did not stage a single protest while in the saddle.

    “Let me say: this executive did not stage a single protest or shut down the gates of the college, yet our modest achievement has been due to continuous dialogue. There were times that we differed on issues but once management saw sense in our demand, they would acquiesce. Therefore I am recommending this to my successor. It worked in my time; it can work again,” Amoo said.

    Earlier, the Provost, Dr Omolola Ladele, advised the students to be proud of their NCE certificates.

    She said: “Many people often see those with NCE as second class, but I say it is not so. There are many of us who have taken teaching as a profession. The qualification I had in my time could get me to any tertiary institution but I chose college because I knew NCE would expose me to the right environment which deals more in practical.”

    She advised the students to be good ambassadors of their alma mater.

    The high point of the event was presentation of awards to Mr Raji, Dr Ladele and National president AOCOED Alumni Association, Comrade Adeyemi Adesanya.

     

  • NEITI, EFCC partner to enforce accountability

    NEITI, EFCC partner to enforce accountability

    The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) is to sign a pact with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to enforce accountability in the extractive sector.

    NEITI’s Director of Communications Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji said this yesterday in Lagos.

    He was speaking at a capacity-building training for 25 media personnel, sponsored by the Natural Resource Governance Institute at the Pan-Atlantic University in Ibeju Lekki.

    Orji said NEITI was interfacing with the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies to prosecute economic offenders in the extractive sector.

    “We have gone to borrow teeth from the EFCC so that we can bite companies found wanting in accountability and transparency,’’ he said.

    Orji said NEITI’s management and the EFCC were fashioning out a memorandum of understanding on the modalities for a smooth relationship.

    The NEITI chief said to ensure accountability and transparency in the oil and gas sector, NEITI should  partner anti-graft bodies to track funds accruing to government.

    “To ensure that anyone found guilty of misappropriating the country’s oil revenue is prosecuted, NEITI is partnering EFCC to study audit reports of companies to identify areas where financial crimes have been committed.

    “The extractive industry remains the backbone of the economy, which necessitates NEITI’s efforts toward ensuring accountability and transparency in the sector.’’

    He restated that in the 2013 audit report of the extractive sector, the Federal Government’s total revenue flows to the federation account stood at $58.07 billion while its revenue losses stood at $3.8 billion.

    Orji said 41 oil and gas companies and 16 government agencies were involved in the 2013 audit report.

  • Falana, others form new group to fight for justice, accountability in Africa

    Falana, others form new group to fight for justice, accountability in Africa

    Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), and eight other African personalities on criminal law have formed a new group, the Africa Group for Justice and Accountability, to fight for justice and accountability on the continent.

    The Africa Group for Justice and Accountability is an independent group of senior Africa experts on international criminal law and human rights.

    Its members include political figures, members of international and domestic tribunals and human rights advocates.

    The group will support the efforts to strengthen justice and accountability in Africa through domestic and regional capacity building, advice and outreach as well as enhance cooperation between Africa and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    The formation of the new group, which was launched last week alongside other activities of the ICC Assembly of States Parties, in the Hague, was announced by the Berlin, Germany-based Wayamo Foundation in a statement yesterday.

  • Enthroning accountability, fiscal discipline in Enugu

    Enthroning accountability, fiscal discipline in Enugu

    It is gladdening to note that Enugu State under the leadership of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has witnessed a remarkable level of financial discipline, probity, transparency and accountability borne out of his burning desire to keep the state on the right track of steady progress for socio-economic and political advancement.

    Barely three months into his administration, the governor through his vision, steadfastness and innovations has made steady progress and engineered far reaching reforms geared towards the restructuring, re-engineering and re-invigoration of the state’s economy on the altar of accountability, transparency and fiscal stability. This is in keeping faith with his campaign promise to pilot the affairs of the state to the satisfaction of the masses who voted him into office.

    Today, the consequence of the downturn in the oil sector on the nation’s economy has made it imperative for government at all levels to review several issues hindering development and proffer solutions on how best to service the people.

    In this regard, it is pertinent to note that this new thinking has taken the centre stage in Enugu State in line with the governor’s desire to give the state quality leadership and render selfless service in an atmosphere of peace, accountability and fiscal discipline.

    Many believe that Ugwuanyi has started well through his visionary leadership and spontaneous innovative actions that have started yielding positive results. He has also made accountability and fiscal discipline the watch-word of his administration in order to put an end to the incessant attitude of financial recklessness, misconduct and other forms of mismanagement by those at the helm of government agencies.

    Even though the menace of corruption in the country remains a source of worry to many, the truth is that no responsible government would sit down and watch, while its resources are being drained to coma and vehemently abused to the detriment of the people.

    This unfortunate nightmare, no doubt, informed the reason why the governor did not hesitate, shortly after he took over the mantle of leadership of the state, to launch an administrative review into the affairs of major government agencies and local government administration with a view to plugging all avenues of leakages and wastages that have hitherto threatened the economic fortunes of the state, mostly at the grassroots.

    As a visionary leader, one is impressed to note that within few weeks into his administration, he constituted series of sensitive and fact finding committees to review some of the endemic lapses in governance both at the state and local government levels.

    Consequently, there is no doubt that the news of the inauguration of the 11-man Committee on Local Government Staff Audit and Biometrics Data Capturing Exercise, to address the irregularities undermining the progress of the local government system in the state, has strengthened the confidence of the people in the ability of the governor to institute fiscal discipline and accountability.

    Governor Ugwuanyi mandated the committee, which is headed by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi, to among other things, “identify and flush out ghost workers and plug all avenues of leakages and wastages that have hitherto weighed down the finances of local government councils”.

    It is worthy of note that the governor in his firm commitment to transparency and progress of the local government administration also noted that “the committee’s report will be central to the successful execution of government’s plans to institute far reaching reforms and take requisite measures to standardize and restore sanity to the manner with which staff matters and related issues are handled in our local governments”.

    From all indications, it is obvious that the essence of the whole exercise is to enforce fiscal discipline, probity and accountability in the state to be able to save cost and deliver on its promises to the people.

    As a man of integrity, the governor did not only stop at this, he equally, inaugurated an 8-man Administrative Committee on the Completion of Enugu State Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) projects in the primary schools of Enugu State, with a vow to take disciplinary action against any contractor or official of the government that contributed to the poor conditions of primary schools in the state which have undermined the conducive learning of the children.

    While disclosing that the constitution of the committee was in line with his campaign promise to improve the standard of education and educational facilities, he added that it was also fallout of his unscheduled visits to the primary schools in different locations of the state, which he revealed were in “shockingly, deplorable and unbefitting state”.

    As a spirited leader who believes in the progress and welfare of the children, he disclosed that “no responsible government would allow such conditions to continue to exist in its schools” adding that “we considered it urgent and imperative, to constitute a committee to investigate this ugly situation and recommend the most appropriate measures to ensure that it is promptly and completely reversed”.

    While x-raying the seriousness and importance of the exercise to his administration’s vision for development, the governor charged the committee to discharge “this very crucial assignment with unreserved diligence, firmness and detachment” bearing in mind that “the security, welfare and proper education of the children remain the cardinal and inescapable responsibility of his administration”.

    It is also notable that the Chairman of the investigative committee and Deputy Governor of the state, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, has assured the governor of the willingness of her committee to discharge their duties diligently without fear or favour, in order to ensure that the premium the governor places on education is sustained.

    Governor Ugwuanyi has also embarked on innovations and remarkable projects geared towards development and alleviation of the sufferings of the people.

    Notable among them include: the commissioning of a civic centre at Ezi-Nze, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State and the 15km Inter-Town-Connection (ITC) 2.5MVA Injection Sub-Station that will provide electricity to communities across Udi, Uzo-Uwani and Igbo-Etiti Local Government Areas of the state; the completion of the hitherto intractable Ogbete Main Market entrance road project; commencement of rehabilitation work at  Airport Roundabout/ Orie Emene/ St. Patrick’s College/Eke-Obinagu Road project; provision of fund as 30 percent Equity Contribution for Enugu State Civil Servants, between grade levels 01-10, for the purchase of 100 units of one bedroom flats at Elim Estate, Ibagwa Nike, Enugu; constitution of a 4-man committee to review the status of the Enugu State School of Basic Midwifery, Awgu, in order to facilitate its re-accreditation and re-commissioning for the training of midwives to enhance pre-maternal and child healthcare  delivery in the state.

    Others include constitution of an Economic Advisory Committee to advice government on best economic policies that will engender sustainable growth and development for the state to navigate through the adverse effects of the negative development in the nation’s economy; setting-up of a committee on Nsukka Urban Renewal as part of his vision for the development of new cities in the state,  advertisement for the  expression of interest for the bidding of the construction of eight major roads across the state; approval of fund for the provision of electricity, water and other ancillary works at the new state secretariat complex; near completion of the new Government House lion building, quick resolution of the six-month judiciary workers’ strike impasse in the state, and numerous social responsibility engagements in schools, hospitals, churches, markets; among others.

    In all, the point remains that Enugu State has taken the lead towards the advancement of good governance and socio-economic and political stability through its commitment to restore the widely cherished norms and values that guarantee effective administration.

    The public, especially, relevant stakeholders can only be advised to give this reinvigorating drive the necessary assistance, cooperation and support it deserves for the governor to be able to achieve his lofty dreams of restoring probity, accountability and fiscal discipline for a better and prosperous Enugu State.

    –Amoke is Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media

  • Corruption, stability and accountability

    As  the anti  Corruption train  of Nigeria’s  President  Muhammadu   Buhari  gathers  steam, there  is no doubt that it is going to be an uphill  task and that those  who  know  they  are   neck  deep in the  murky and dubious game of using public  money  to feather  their  own  nests  and   coffers  are  bound  to  desperately   look  for a way  to escape their looming nemesis. Given  the   announced volume  and billions  of dollars  and  naira  stacked  away,  the Federal   government  must expect to traverse  a very rough road  in tracking these  fraudsters and  should   be on the look out for distractions and  diversionary tactics from  high  and low places in its quest to clean  our  Augean  stable  in  the life of this   Buhari  Administration.

    Today  we  shall  envisage such diversionary tactics  and the danger they  pose  to our political  stability as a nation and stress  the need  to surmount such  ploys  in order  to make accountability and transparency the bench mark  public  finance  and  socio –economic  and  political  system  in   our nation. The  first  of such   salvo  has been fired from  the religious sector by the  Catholic  Bishop of Sokoto Rev  Kukah  who  reportedly said that the  Buhari Administration should  concentrate on  governance  rather than probing past governments. That  is an unexpected  statement and in  bad taste coming from a Catholic priest  and  Bishop. I  wonder  what someone  like Anthony  Okogie  the  retired   Catholic  Archbishop of  Lagos and  a fiery  anti corruption crusader even during  our  military  regimes who  constantly  spoke  out against corruption, stealing of public funds  and military dictatorship,  would say  to  that.  Obviously  Bishop  Kukah  misjudged the public  mood  and should retract  his extravagant  and annoying  warning at this particular  time. He  probably  needs  to refresh his knowledge of  Liberation  theology especially in  Latin  America  where priests  like  him led the fight to bridge  the gap between  the rich  and poor which  our anti  corruption charge is all  about. In  addition  he should read  about the present Pope  Francis and his love for the poor and needy  which  Kukah’s  call on  governance  seem  to ignore. Surely  governance  does  not entail  a blind eye  to dishonesty  and theft and  a priest  should  know that. I think  Kukah should read  what the Emir  of Kano Mallam  Muhammadu  Sanusi II  said that government should plug all avenues  to leak  our  revenues  and he knew  what  he was saying because he  was  the Governor  of  the CBN.  In  addition  to that he is the religious  leader of Muslims  in  Kano  and was brave enough to speak  out against  Boko  Haram who bombed his mosque in the palace in  Kano   consequently. However  that  has not deterred him  in any way because he knows  a true leader must  stand up and be counted against anti  social and corrupt  practices if he is to lead correctly as he should  by  example and not  foot dragging and dithering in guiding  the polity  aright which Kuka’s warning entailed.

    Undoubtedly  the present  administration has  three main issues it must tackle if only  for the fact that the issues will  not  go away unless they are tackled head on  and defeated. The  first  is the anti  corruption battle  which  has already  started. The second  is the annihilation  of  Boko  Haram on which the President  gave the Chief of Defence and  Service Chiefs three months to achieve  when  he decorated them  with the Vice  President in Abuja this week. The  third  is  the relationship  with the legislature which is bound to get tough and testy  especially with the Senate  over  the forged rules the Police  have confirmed in the last  leadership elections in the  Senate. Let  me now comment    serially  on these  three  issues  of  great  public concern and  interest.

    The  fact  is that Nigerians  voted  for the present president  because  they were fed  up with the  corruption that was the hallmark  of the defeated Jonathan Administration. President Buhari  has a zero level  tolerance  for corruption and is a man of integrity as attested even by the American  President Barak  Obama who said  as much during Buhari’s  last  visit  to  the US. It  is gratifying to know that in spite  of taunts on the speed  of his administration  he has kept  to his goal  and road  map  on fighting  and  routing corruption in Nigeria. That  is clearly  visible  from  the actions and  utterances  of the new  helmsman at NNPC. It is also  palpable   from the president’s  personal  observation  that when he was Oil  Minister he used  to  get the  Executive  Council  approval  for his estacode  on official foreign trips  before  leaving  on such  journeys. So  you  can imagine how he felt when the US told him and his entourage  that a Nigerian Minister in the last  regime had over $6bn in his or  her   private account as reported  in the media  during  the US trip. Surely  the war  against  corruption  is  a war  that must  be won  by this  administration.

    Similarly  the insurgency  of  Boko  Haram must  be crushed  by  November  as the President  demanded and  I think the military  is in a right frame  of mind to deliver this time  around. It  is nice to know  that the military tribunals of our soldiers  for  cowardice  has been halted on the orders  of the president. How  can  soldiers  lacking equipment be tried   for cowardice when  at  long  last their  boss on  his  retirement admitted  he led an  army  that lacked  funds  and equipment? I expect  the new  Service  Chiefs  to shore up the spirit de corps  amongst  the commanders and officer cadre fighting  the insurgency  and the officers  in turn  should  make the welfare of their troops a priority  as advised  by the Commander-in-Chief, so  that  Boko  Haram can  be  sent  packing before  the end of the year as the president  has directed.

    Thirdly the President should  be careful  in enlisting the help  of the legislature  in fighting  corruption. This  is because  of the saying  that those  who  live  in glass  houses  should  not throw stones. The  Senate  especially  must  purge itself of the corruption of forgery of election rules which the Police is fighting rightly  to a logical  conclusion – which should  be the prosecution for criminality of those involved in the forgery. Which  means  that the legitimacy  of the present senate leadership  is  suspect. In  fighting corruption those  come  to equity  must come  with  clean  hands and the Senate  and its leadership  cannot  be an exception. In  our  practice  of separation  of powers under  the presidential system the legislature  can use its powers to delay approval  of appointments, budget and expenditure but even that prospect should  not be allowed to get in the way  of getting rid or minimizing corruption in our political  system as the present administration is  bent  on doing.

    Undoubtedly the war on corruption will  tax the mettle  of our present leaders but they  should be resolute  and focused  because they are  doing the right thing and it is never too late to get stolen money back. The  government  must  however be vigilant and be on the lookout for those who  want to derail the anti corruption brigade such that it does not reach its goal of sanitizing our system of governance  and free our economy from the killing and debilitating cancer of corruption. The  targets of the anti corruption war  have  huge means to pervert the law and even make an ass of it as we shall  soon see. What is important is that the government should never waver  in its resolve and the sky is the limit in  achieving success and bringing those  who loot  public  funds to  book  once and for all as a deterrence   to potential  and real crooks  in our corridors  of power.

  • Insecurity due to weak accountability

    A criminologist and university teacher, Prof Eddiefloyd Maduabuchi Igbo, has hinged the prevalence of crime and insecurity in the country on the weak accountability system by the executive, judiciary, legislature and the police in their statutory roles.

    He said the war against crime and insecurity can only be won when effective accountability system is instituted for police and the three arms of government.

    Igbo stated this last weekend while delivering the fourth inaugural lecture of the Niger State owned Ibrahim Babangida University Lapai (IBBUL) with the title: Addressing crime and insecurity in Nigeria.

    He maintained that the non accountability of policing in the country to the people has created a strain between the force as an institution and the public.

    He said: “Crime and insecurity bourgeons fester, flourishe and persist in Nigerian society majorly because the executive, the judiciary, the legislature and the police have been non-accountable in playing their respective constitutional roles as major public sector stakeholders in the fight against crime and insecurity in Nigeria”.

    Though he advanced other reasons why crime and insecurity persist in the country, the don called for the full implementation of recommendations on police reforms to check insecurity in the country.

    “Government should fully implement the recommendations of the various presidential committees on police reform in order to enhance the working capacity and functional efficiency of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF),” Igbo advocated.

    On the insurgency in the Northeastern part of the country, Igbo advised government to dialogue with genuine leadership of the insurgents with a view to addressing their grievances and end the senseless killing of innocent souls in the region.

    Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University Prof Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, said the aim was to promote development of Nigeria through researches and teachings.

     

  • ‘PWC law will ensure accountability’

    ‘PWC law will ensure accountability’

    THE Chairman, Committee on Works and Infrastructure of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, has said the Bill for the establishment of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (PWC) would ensure accountability when passed into law.

    At a public hearing on the Bill at the weekend, Olowo said the Bill is meant to replace the 2003 Law, which backed the establishment of the Lagos State Works Management Board.

    According to him, there was a need to have a Bill to take care of the corporation and give it a Governing Board through which funds would get to the corporation, in addition to receiving donations from members of the public and private organisations.

    He noted, “We don’t want the corporation to be like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Our own gifts and donations would be accounted for, and we need to have a board that would take care of the funds for accountability and transparency purposes.

    “We also want to have a Secretary for the board. The Bill would allow for efficiency and accountability. It would take care of how money comes in and how it is spent. The corporation is an agency of the government funded by government’s money and their income and expenditure would be open to members of the public.”

    Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of PWC, Mr. Gbenga Akintola, disclosed that the new Bill, when passed into law, would enhance good governance.

  • Enhancing votes accountability

    Enhancing votes accountability

    The 2015 general elections have shown what our dear country could gain from an efficient electoral process. From the results, the fears of those opposed to the use of the card reader is well founded. With the use of card readers, Nigerianshave been able to eschew any landslide victory for those who are in control of the security agencies or who could buy the officials of the election management body. To a large extent, the card reader squarely placed the voter in the vortex of who wins or loses elections. Going forward, what Nigerian must do, is to consolidate on the gains of accountability of the votes.

    From hindsight, the run-up to the general elections exposed the worst fears of our political elites; whose fame and fortune at elections,are tied to unscrupulous process. I am referring to pseudo-democrats, who operate in fear of one man one vote.While the card reader did not prove to be perfect, Nigerians have been able to get results reflecting substantially the will of the electorate. The next step if Nigerians wish to consolidate the democratic process, is to introduce electronic voting. Any person who opposes that transition, I can say without equivocation, is clearly an anti-democrat, regardless of any pretences.

    To that effect, members of the national assembly who hitherto opposed electronic voting, must turn a new leaf, in the interest of our country. As many of the current members of the national assembly may now realise, Nigerians are determined to gain control of the electoral process. Those who were able to win elections for the next legislative assembly must show gratitude to the electorate,by supporting a more efficient andtransparent electoral process.For the incoming executive administration, a bill to approve electronic voting, should be one of her first bills to the national assembly; after all, but for substantial electoral accountability, there is no way an opposition could win an incumbent.

    So for the incoming administration, supporting a more efficient electoral process, would amount to showing appreciation to the Nigerian voters.While Nigerians would be expectant of economic gains from the administration, a more enduring legacy would be to promote the culture of accountability at all levels of governance.I am confident that the beneficiaries of the enhanced accountability of votes, would appreciate that the greatest benefit they can give to their electors is to support greater accountability. So while the expectation for economic miracle would be high, the more important task is to ensure that those elected, henceforth realise that they owe their positions to the electorate.

    In this regard, it is important to forewarn that any attempt to derail the electoral gains would be foolhardy, as it will surely backfire. As the recent election showed, the demography of Nigeria, places the youths as the majority of the Nigerian electorate. The import is thatconsidering the impatience of the youth, any attempt to derail the endless possibilities that accrue from an accountable electoral process may be resisted with every ounce of youthful energy. What they will strive for, would be a more efficient process, and the incoming administration owes that to the youths, and indeed to all Nigerians.

    As the recent elections also showed, part of the challenge of the current system, is the few attempts by some of the incorrigible election riggers to manipulate the election, using the result sheets. Such possibility will be eliminated by the electronic voting system. Again, the recent election has put a lie to the fears expressed before the polls, that Nigerian are not literate enough to use modern technology. I believe that the same pleasant surprise would await Nigerians, if they embrace the electronic voting system. What the incoming administration should strive to do, is to ensure that the improvement is put in place as early as possible, so that it would be test run, well before the 2019 general elections.

    Again to facilitate the accountability of votes, it is important that Nigeria honestly and tenaciously follow through with authentic national census. The incoming administration must resist the urge to allow the hawks around it, to seek to manipulate the process, for immediate gains or to just show off that they are now in power. It is important to remember that apart from the traditional socio-economic benefits of a proper census, a cleanhead-count would substantially help to eliminate foreigners who pass off, as Nigerians. It will also help to deal with the complaints of under-aged voting, or similar vices associated with the old system of doing things.

    Having consolidated on permanent voters register, it is important that efficient continuous voters’ registration is adopted. If that is done, election management will seize to be an ad hoc process, at every election cycle. Again those who have complaints against the voters register, should use the interregnum before the next general elections to see through their complaints, if it is genuine. With a successful transition from one political party to another through the ballot box, Nigerians have shown that our democracy is maturing, and all patriotic efforts should be made to consolidate on that.

    With the successful national and state wide elections, it is important to extend the democratic process to the local government levels. The shameful exercise were only the party in control of the state, wins all the chairmen and council seats, in a stage-managed elections, must now stop.  If we insist on allowing the local government as a third tier of democratic government, then we must embrace democracy at that level also. The recently elected state governors and legislators, while holding their heads high as the authentic preferences of the electorates, must also hold genuine democracy high,at the grassroots.

  • For accountability’s sake

    Nigerians have the right to know how defence ministry spends its security vote?s

    Is it proper to jettison transparency and accountability under the guise of managing the affairs of the nation’s defence ministry? That is the message being passed across by the Ministry of Defence that got appropriated funds for security vote but seems not ready to give account of how the vote was spent. But, we consider as cheering the insistence by the Senate Committee on Defence and Army to unearth how the ministry spent over N1.275 billion security vote budget in its 2014 fiscal year.

    Senator George Sekibo, Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, was unsparing as he pointed out discrepancies in the fund appropriated for the ministry, especially under the subhead of security vote, including operations/ration and allowances for Brigade of Guards. He wondered what could account for ‘duplication since Service Wide Vote, which was provided for in the year under review, covered the issue of security vote for Brigade of Guards.’ Sekibo’s committee also discovered the glitch showing that the ministry always brings to the new budget the same items that were budgeted and supplied in the previous year. The committee, ostensibly in the bid to get to the root of the matter subsequently called off consideration of the ministry’s 2015 budget proposal because of disparity in figure as the ones with the ministry was different from the figure with the committee.’

    Like the committee, we consider as discourteous, General Aliu Gusau, Minister of Defence’s consistent refusal to appear before the committee to defend his ministry’s budget. Rather, Aliyu Ismaila, the permanent secretary in the ministry was always saddled with the duty. Gusau, as the political head should be bold enough to personally defend how money appropriated for his ministry was spent in 2014. Otherwise, this might be misconstrued as arrogance against the Nigerian people that elected those legislators on the Senate’s committee.

    We consider as equally confounding the fact that the ministry could be in possession of N1.275 billion security vote budget last year alone and would still not be able to procure modern weapons for soldiers fighting against Boko Haram in the northeast.

    We ask; what is the rationale behind the provision for security vote that nobody among the recipients at the presidency, among the state governors, local government councils’ chairmen and ministries, amongst others in the land, is willing to share with the public? What does such an obviously uncontrolled fund stand for? More importantly, we are yet to see a clear constitutional provision in the current grundnorm of the country giving legal cover for such vote. This brings up another salient question: How does the country come about security vote that has become a serious drain on public till? Could this be assumed to be a fraud, under the guise of tradition, designed by those in authorities to fleece the country of her hard-earned money?

    There is need, soonest, for a definite pronouncement from whatever quarters, against this illicit official tradition that has not been of any eventful security advantage to the nation at large. We call on not only this Senate committee, in the discharge of its oversight functions, but also the Auditor-General of the Federation, to commence forthwith, a comprehensive audit of previous budgets of the Defence ministry and other beneficiaries of security vote so as to block bleeding avenues in the nation’s haemorrhaging till.