The Nation Newspaper

Tag: advocates

  • CBN advocates reforms to stabilise economy

    CBN advocates reforms to stabilise economy

    There is need to carry out radical reforms in the financial system of the country to achieve stability in the economy, Central bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Suleiman Barau, has said.

    Speaking at this year’s EuroFinance Conference in Lagos at the weekend, Barau, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Banking Supervision, Steve Nwadiuko, said such the restructuring was the only way to avoid massive corporate failure witnessed during the financial crisis of 2007 to 2009, which exposed the weaknesses in many banks.

    He said reforms were needed to strengthen the stability and resilience of the global financial system and prevent the reoccurrence of systematic crisis.

    He said chief finance officers of banks across the globe need to design strategies that would adequately address possible hitches in the financial system.

    He said in Nigeria, the CBN has carried out reforms that are aimed at achieving financial system stability and instituting sound corporate governance. These, he said, has ensured that the financial system thrives to add needed support to the real sector and the economy.

    He said the reforms are anchored on enhancing the quality of banks, establishment of financial stability and ensuring that the financial sector contributes to the economy.

  • Don advocates world class varsity

    Don advocates world class varsity

    Prof Hakeem Tijani of the Faculty of Arts, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State has said the establishment of world class university will go a long way to bridge the widening gap between manpower and resources available for development.

    Tijani was a guest lecturer at the 52nd birthday anniversary of Prof Siyan Oyeweso, Provost, College of Culture and Humanities Osun State University, Ikire Campus.

    Tijani argued that world class universities hold the key to development and are accessible to knowledge. He added that the kernel of his lecture was how to turn existing universities in Nigeria to world class so Nigeria can develop the necessary manpower required for economic stability.

    Speaking further, he said Nigeria could learn from world class universities such as Oxford, Harvard, whose immense impact in their countries has resonated worldwide.

    “The international rankings have attracted even more attention than originally anticipated, and the impact has been dramatic. In a number of countries, the results are a source of national pride,” he said.

    On his part, the celebrator, Oyeweso, said the country must evolve education framework that would guarantee the best attitude to research and scholarly input. He said additional fund to institutions of learning would enable scholars obtain grants to undergo research.He said for a world class university to exist, it must be capable of attracting international scholars who would blend their ideas with those within the system.

    “All world-class universities are research universities, and they always play a critical role within the tertiary education system in training the professionals, scientists and researchers needed for the economic development and generating new knowledge in support of the national innovation system,” he said.

    Oyeweso noted that the Osun State University is moving toward this direction and in due course would be amongst the sought after institutions in the country.

     

  • Health official advocates equal treatment for patients

    The Coordinator of the FCT Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Dr Saddiq Abdurrahman, has advocated equal treatment for people suffering from leprosy.

    Abdurrahman told journalists in Abuja that people affected by leprosy had the same rights as other patients and should be accorded equal treatment.

    He said that leprosy globally had reached its elimination target, while the cases in Nigeria had declined significantly, with few recorded cases in some states.

    According to him, Leprosy is one of the neglected tropical diseases and this gives wrong impression that the disease is no longer of public health importance.

    “Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by a germ known as mycobacterium Leprae, transmitted via nasal droplets.

    “Early sign is lighter skin patch with loss of sensation,’’ he said.

    He, however, said that it was curable as treatment was available using Multi Drug Therapy (MDT), provided free in all health facilities in the FCT.

    Abdurrahman explained that preventive measures include health education, awareness creation, training and retraining of health care givers and conducting outreach activities.

    “FCT Administration, in its quest to ensure all persons affected by leprosy are well looked after, provided about six hectares of land at Yangoji Alheri Village in Kwali Area Council.

    “Basic infrastructure such as houses for each family, clinics staffed with doctors and nurses, schools, motorised borehole, market stalls and power supply with a step down are provided,” he said.

     

     

     

    The doctor said some socio-economic rehabilitation activities such as provision of farm lands, establishment of microfinance corporations registered with microfinance banks had also been put in place.

    He said the FCTA also provided physical rehabilitation activities for the leprosy patients to take care of their limb ulcers by themselves.

    “The FCTA Health and Human Services Secretariat (HSS) had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Leprosy Mission of Nigeria,” he said.

    According to him, the World Leprosy Day, which is usually held on every last Sunday of January, has its theme as “ Equal Rights and Justice for Persons Affected by Leprosy and Their Family Members”.

     

    The coordinator explained that the purpose of the day was to create awareness within the community and the general public on the causes, early sign, mode of transmission and prevention of leprosy.

    The World Leprosy Day is set aside by WHO to commemorate awareness creation on the leprosy disease.

     

  • US advocates political solution

    US advocates political solution

    THE United States (U.S.) is advocating a political solution in Mali while backing French military strikes against Islamist militants in the North of the troubled West African nation.

    Sharing French military goals in the fight against Islamist militants, the Barack Obama administration has pledged to help the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) troops.

    On Tuesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed that support with Liberian President Mrs. Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf.

    “The Secretary did outline the support that we are prepared to offer to ECOWAS countries, as she did make clear that we support the French forces and that we are looking at how best to respond to the requests that they’ve made as well,” said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

    With rebels in Northern Mali linked to al-Qaida, the conflict holds risks for security across the region.

    “This constitutes not just a threat against a sovereign state but potentially a trans-national threat that can move across the borders into Niger, into Burkina Faso, into Mauritania, into Senegal as well as Algeria and other places,” added Johnnie Carson, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

    Helping Malian forces regain ground will involve Algeria.

    “It has a military that knows the terrain,that knows the players, that has dealt with this before. And so it is going to be absolutely critical to get them engaged,” noted Jennifer Cooke, with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

    Algeria and the U.S. are working to bring moderates among the Northern rebels into a political solution. Ambassador Carson said that is essential.

    “Equally important for us, as well as for the people of Mali, is that they move forward in an expeditious manner as quickly as they can to put in place a roadmap and the United States is pushing for elections by April,” said Carson.

    Cooke says that is unlikely given the weakness of the transitional government in Bamako.

    “There’s so little trust right now in any political structure in Bamako that it’s going to take I think a lot of external pressure and external support and oversight to make that work,” she stated.

    If Mali’s transitional leaders are unable to organise elections by April, there will be outside pressure for a reconstituted interim administration with less military influence and greater participation from the North.

  • Expert advocates diversification of economy

    Nigeria needs to diversify its economy to enable it

    to develop enough buffers that would protect it against global financial crises, the Director-General, West African Financial and Economic Management (WAFEM), Prof. Akpan Ekpo, has said.

    Speaking at the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) Roundtable on Economy held in Lagos, he explained that there are indications that the world economies are still encountering challenges and Nigeria has to prepare against implications of those occurrences in the economy via diversification.

    According to him, many developed countries have cut aid to developing countries and this is a pointer that economies of those countries are facing some problems.

    He said oil and gas revenues cannot be sustained for too long because they will dry up in the future.

    He said developed economies, such as United States of America, United Kingdom, did not perform well in 2012 as a result of economic challenges. However, some African and Asian economies experienced relative growth.

    He said Nigeria remains an import dependent economy and needs to change from this economic direction if it wants to develop.

    He said the time was ripe for Nigeria to pursue the diversification of the economy to make the country less vulnerable to movements in oil prices.

    The European Central Bank last year slashed its Eurozone growth forecasts and warned that recession will drag on into the middle of this year, sending the euro plunging below 1.30 euro to the dollar.

    Greek lawmakers have also passed a tax bill seeking to raise state revenue by 2.3 billion euro, part of commitments demanded by international creditors to continue to receive further bailout funds. Euro-area finance ministers approved 49.1 billion euro of rescue payments to Greece in December 13 to keep the recession – wracked country solvent, with 34.3 billion Euros paid immediately.

     

  • Fashola advocates attitudinal change

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has advocated change in attitude for things to be better in the country. Hosting members of the Island Club, Onikan, Lagos on Monday night, Fashola said the challenges facing the nation border on the choices people make daily. He said there was nothing wrong with the constitution, adding that it is the people that make the constitution and not the other way round.

    Fashola said: “I think that with the right values, we can succeed even with the worst constitution. The Constitution can only be as good as what we put into it.”

    He cited examples of nations across the world which have advanced and grown as a result of adherence to law and order. “I believe that the dreams we aspire to as a people and as a country cannot be delivered to us by anybody. We must want it hard enough to begin to act to earn it.

    “Law and order must be our gold standard. No revolution will bring a better life to us either, because I have heard the various calls for revolution. But the revolution we need is in our hearts. No leader can also force us to do that unless we are persuaded that it is necessary and I believe it is necessary,” he said.

    Fashola said Nigerians must decide what they want and work hard to achieve it, adding that the time has come to replace finger-pointing and blame trading with “individual; family; community; state and national action to change things that are not acceptable.

    “Sometimes, I struggle to understand where we want to go. But in spite of those struggles, I am clear in my mind what kind of society I want to live, grow old and die in. That is clear to me. In my lifetime, I want to see a reliable electricity power supply in Nigeria. It is not just praying about it. It is about talking about it and doing something about it”, he said.

    He said his administration did not only produce transformers and downstream electrical equipment to take advantage of the distribution aspect of the Federal Government’s Power Reform when it comes on stream, but built an Independent Power Project to supply constant electricity to some health and Judiciary institutions on Lagos Island.

    The governor highlighted other steps taken to better the lives of Lagosians as elevating Gbagada General Hospital to an annex of the State’s University Teaching Hospital to serve as Cardiac and Renal Centre, Kidney Centre and Burns Unit; the construction of light rail to improve transportation and improvement in security through the establishment of Security Trust Fund, among others.

  • Gowon advocates electoral college

    Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, yesterday advocated the use of the Electoral College System in the conduct of future presidential elections in the country, beginning with the 2015 poll.

    He urged the National Assembly to end the agitation for the creation of new states.

    Kaduna State Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa lamented the insecurity in the North, saying it has driven away investors.

    Speaking at a two-day conference on the “North and Strategies for Sustainable Development”, the former head of state who was represented by the Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, said the North must unite to forge a common front to experience development.

    Although he did not elaborate on the Electoral College System, he said: “Unless we come together in the North, we will continue to have problems. I met with the Senate caucus in the North in Abuja last week and asked them to reconsider the introduction of the Electoral College in electing the president.”

    Gowon said the creation of new states would increase the cost of governance, adding that it would not solve the problems bedevilling the country.

    Addressing the gathering, Governor Yakowa said the North has remained a catalyst for the unity of the country, adding that despite the insecurity, the region would remain a rallying point for the unity and development of the nation.

    He said:“ The North has been a catalyst for the unity, stability and development of the country. The country has been relying for direction from the North. This is contrary to what some out there would want the world to believe about the North.

    “History has shown that the unity and strength of the North, with a collective sense of purpose and focus has been the bastion for the unity and strength of Nigeria. We must do everything to sustain this responsibility bestowed on us by providence.”

    The governor, who hailed the organisers of the conference for their foresight, said it was gratifying that Nigeria has remained a country despite the security challenges, adding that “we must give credit to Nigerians and to God that Nigeria still remains a country, albeit beleaguered by towering insecurity challenges.”

  • Sanusi advocates 50 per cent sack in civil service

    Sanusi advocates 50 per cent sack in civil service

    •CBN governor, Uduaghan differ 

     

    Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has advised the Federal Government to sack at least half of its workforce to maintain a sustainable economy.

    In a presentation at the second Annual Capital Market Committee retreat in Warri, Delta State, Lamido said Nigeria cannot build its economy when 70 per cent of its earning is paid as salaries and entitlements of civil servants.

    The CBN Governor also advocated a more compact and less expensive system of government that would reduce overhead and free up capital for infrastructure development.

    He said: “At the moment, 70 per cent of Federal Government’s revenue goes for payment of salaries and entitlement of civil servants, leaving 30 percent for development of 167million Nigerians. That means that for every naira government earns, 70kobo is consumed by civil servants.

    “You have to fire half of the civil service because the revenue government has is supposed to be for 167million Nigerians. Any society where government spends 70 per cent of its revenue on its civil service has a problem. It is unsustainable.”

    Sanusi said the country does not need over 100 senators and about 400 representatives to make laws. He said when the expenses of lawmakers, civil servants and the executive arm of government are added, Nigerians will find out that the revenue has been consumed by government, lawmakers and civil servants.

    Besides, Sanusi faulted “wastage” of funds for the maintenance of 774 local government council chairmen with aides, councillors and other appendages of the third tier of government.

    “Do we need 774 local governments, do we need 36 states some of which are unviable? Why not just remove them and have only state governments?”

    “There are state governors whose monthly allocation is barely enough to pay salaries. I hear such governors complain and I say ‘why complain when the solution is simple?’ It is irresponsible to use all money to pay salaries and wait for another month’s allocation and pay salaries and after four years, you would have done nothing.”

    Sanusi insisted that the Federal Government would have to totally remove petrol subsidy. To do this effectively, he suggested that those who stole subsidy funds must be brought to book, adding: “People have the right to demand transparency. If you want to remove subsidy, you have to show what happened to those who stole.”

    The CBN governor also challenged the Federal Government to stop investments on infrastructure that can be concessioned to allow the private sector handle those areas so that it can concentrate on building of schools, health centres and other social services.

    Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the host governor, faulted Sanusi’s call for a mass sack in the federal and state civil services.

    The governor said the country was already contending with mass unemployment, adding that taking the CBN boss’ advice could further worsen the employment situation.

    In his keynote address, Uduaghan identified the capital market as one of the sources of procurement of fund for execution of good projects to uplift the social and economic lives of its people.

    He remarked that the nation has drifted from financial stability in the post-civil war era to a period where governments rely heavily on borrowing to finance project.

    “Not that borrowing in itself is necessarily bad, but the management and deployment of such funds is crucial. In fact, I dare say that with the state of affairs today and the paucity of funds, government can hardly do without borrowing. What is at issue is what government and public funds managers do with the funds at their disposal for the good of all,” Uduaghan said.

     

  • Aregbesola advocates recognition of monarchs

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said the recognition of traditional rulers is not subject to the Constitution, but rooted in the culture and tradition of the people.

    Aregbesola spoke at the maiden edition of the Oba Okunade Sijuwade Annual Leadership Lecture and Distinguished Award Series in Ile-Ife at the weekend.

    He said the nature and character of a Republic is to make everyone equal before the law.

    The governor said this, however, appears contradictory in respect of kings, who he said cannot be equal to their subjects.

    He said until a viable atmosphere is created to reward the palace, there would be fruitless clamour for a befitting role for traditional rulers.

    Aregbesola said people must recognise their culture and tradition and prevent any person or group from violating them.

    He said culture and tradition, rather than constitutional roles, are the greatest powers of a king, and decried the relegation of the traditional institution to the background.

    The governor said: “What we must do as independent people is to give our monarchs their traditional authority and place of honour. This is not constitutional, but rooted in the culture of our people.

    “If our traditional rulers have been totally relegated by constitutional authorities to the extent that they do not have security and are exposed to being kidnapped, how then do we ask them to guarantee peace in their domains? Does this not amount to a contradiction?

    “Therefore, we must ask for a paradigm shift from the miserable nature of support given to traditional rulers to something more worthy of them, so that they can execute their traditional roles properly.”

  • FRSC advocates safety for road users

    FRSC advocates safety for road users

    Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Head of Operations, Abuja Command, Mr Uche Wihioka, has urged road users to take issues of safety seriously.

    Wihioka, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, urged the public to be safety conscious, especially drivers.

    “Road users should be safety conscious in all applications and the public should be enlightened on the use of vehicles and the risks of inadequate safety precautions.

    “It is our duty to sensitise road users in Nigeria on this issue from time to time and this is why we have organised many safety programmes in various zones.

    “We are carrying out an awareness programme for now, after which there will be enforcement of the law and punishment for any violators,’’ he said.

    According to him, every individual has a role to play in reducing the rate of accidents on the roads, and one of such roles is to possess adequate safety equipment in vehicles.

    Mrs Chinyere Nweke, a safety expert, enjoined government and safety institutions to work harder to ensure reduction of accidents.