The Nation Newspaper

Tag: accountability

  • Group seeks accountability in fund use

    The Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG) has called for transparency and accountability in the utilisation of the Global Fund (GF) allocations to Nigeria for 2014-2017.

    In a statement by its Programme Officer Juliana Iregbu-Ihejirika, the group said Nigeria with an allocation of $1.1billion tops the list of a group of 15 countries who will receive over half of the total allocation of $14.67billion by the Global Fund.

    Global Fund’s allocation for HIV in Nigeria is pegged at $477 million, while malaria gets $500 million, it was learnt.

    The group said the civil society, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and others, should pay attention to his this money is used by demanding accountability.

    “The optimistic determination of the Global Fund donors to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB to a halt with such a laudable commitment should also translate to a heightened resolve of those in charge of utilizing the funds in Nigeria to do what is right and a steadfast zeal of civil society and key populations to police these monies,” Iregbu-Ihejirika said.

    She added: “Only about three percent of HIV positive mothers in Nigeria are said to have access to antiretroviral treatments, a large number of inmates in congested prisons across Nigeria are living with HIV and AIDS and most often without treatments. The rate of TB infections is also tilting towards an epidemic level”.

    Iregbu-Ihejirika urged the civil society to ensure that “there is effectiveness and efficiency in the utilisation of the current global fund allocation to Nigeria to enable us turn the current state of the Nigerian health sector around.”

  • ‘Accountability, transparency vital in govt’

    An economist and finance analyst, Dr. Alaba Olusemore, has said to mitigate the likely socio-economic and political consequences of the slide in the price of crude oil and the devaluation of the naira, there is need for accountability and transparency in government finances.

    According to Dr. Olusemore, who is also Managing Consultant, Nesbet Consulting, a Lagos-based firm of management and finance consultancy, a devalued naira means high cost of doing business, which invariably will lead to high prices of consumer goods. This, he said, will fuel higher rates of inflation.

    He said those to be worst hit by the policy are consumers on fixed income who will be left with lower disposable income thus, becoming poorer in relative terms. He also said many manufacturers may not be able to finance their import bills, adding that those who will do will likely have shrinking profit margins. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) he said, will suffer more.

    Olusemore argued that with devaluation, cost of importation of petroleum products will go up further and chances are that government may remove the subsidy after the general elections next year. “The consequences of removing subsidy would be social, political and economic,” he warned.

    He pointed out that beyond the number of austerity measures announced by the government to mitigate the impacts of the fall in oil price and keep the economy running, there is urgent need to begin to diversify the economy. “Let’s go beyond sweet talk and truly begin to base our expenditure pattern and tastes on income from non-oil revenue,” he recommended.

    Olusemore also said there is need to fix the local refineries or give people the opportunity to establish refineries. He asked rhetorically: “Why should Nigerians go to other countries to establish refineries?”

  • NOC advocates Federations’ feedback, accountability

    NOC advocates Federations’ feedback, accountability

    Introduction of proper feedback and accountability mechanism for all sporting federations in Nigeria have been identified as the tonic for proper development of sports.

    This was disclosed by Professor Clement Fasan’ at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Olympic Committee holding in Gombe.

    “Give them money at the beginning of the year and at the end of the year, they should be able to tell us what they have done or achieved with the budget they got,” he said.

    Prof Fasan of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) expressed this while presenting a paper he titled ‘Sports development from the grassroots to the podium”.He said a whole lot of things must come into play.

    He ,therefore, advocated the creation of solid structure with the proper legal backing for sports development efforts to be complete while formulating policies that would correct past mistakes.

    He observed that while attention is geared towards school sports development at the grassroots level, Nigeria’s tertiary institution system at the moment does not encourage sports development due to the very rigorous nature.

    He equally observed that the lack of synergy among the three tiers of government on sports have adverse negative effects on the development of the sector.

    He advocated for a strengthened programme on early discovery of athletes and the introduction of a scientific development programme by which athletes can best be developed as it helps to gauge athletes’ development and highlight areas of concentration.

    Earlier, former Minister of Sports and President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, Sani Ndanusa said the AGM would among other things look at grassroots sports development. He said Nigeria must have a roadmap of high performance in sports development, “this will enhance our preparations international in international competitions.”

    Chairman of Gombe State Sports Commission, Farouk Yarma said the Commission had started delivering on its mandate of reviving sports in the state by forming a formidable synergy with the state’s Ministry of Education and the Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for school sports development.

  • EFCC: Nigerians should demand accountability from their leaders

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said the battle against corruption and graft can only be won, if Nigerians ask their leaders to account for their actions.

    The anti-graft agency said it was not enough for Nigerians to elect leaders into various offices and just watch those in leadership positions but to “ask questions” when things were not being done right.

    The EFCC spoke at the weekend in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, through its Chief of Staff, Mr Kayode Oladele.

    He said it was by holding leaders accountable for their unfulfilled promises and agenda that an “effective leadership” culture could be instituted in the country.

    Oladele spoke during the Royal Banquet Against Corruption, organised by the Eagleping, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), which crusades against economic and financial acts of malfeasance.

    He said: “…People should not just limit their civic responsibility to going to the polls to cast votes for their leaders and turn their backs. They should be asking questions about their leaders. There are promises the leaders made to them during the election. So, they should be bold enough to ask questions.

    “The leaders too should be courageous to give them feedbacks. The price of liberty and freedom is eternal vigilance. This is because, if you vote people into offices and you don’t ask questions regarding things they have promised you or the agenda they said they were going to implement, of course, the tendency is for them to think that you don’t know. So,they will go on doing their own things.

    “For there to be effective leadership, the electorate should make sure that they task their leaders questions on promises and performance.”

    Oladele, who also addressed reporters after the programme, said the EFCC was investigating officials of the Aviation Ministry on the N255 million bulletproof cars bought for the Aviation Minister, Ms Stella Oduah.

  • NOA advocates accountability

    The national Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged public office holders to be accountable.

    NOA Director-General Mike Omeri spoke yesterday at the Southwest Zonal Stakeholders’ Conversation on the mid-term report at the Civic Centre in Idi-Ape, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    Omeri, who was represented by the Director,Planning Research and Strategy, Mr. Bonart Tagwai, said Nigerians have applauded President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to present his administrations mid-term report for public scrutiny.

    The NOA DG urged leaders to be honest and courageous.

    He said: ”No leader can rise beyond the limitations of his character.

    This is why NOA initiated its flagship value re-orientation programme, tagged: ‘Patriotism and Ethics First.’

    “This theme lays emphasis on character in all segments of our society. So far, several public service institutions have embraced the PEF and have included patriotism education as part of their training curriculum.”

    Omeri urged leaders to always fulfill their promises to the people. He said this would create trust in governance.