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Tag: challenges

‘My challenges running building construction firm’

You run into Bukunola Gadzama, CEO Buildcon, a real estate and construction company at the Bay Lounge, Lekki Lagos. Looking radiant in a black dinner gown, she takes Yetunde Oladeinde into her world, the challenges in the sector and plans for the new year.

WHY are you interested in the housing sector?

I am into real estate, interior decoration and the CEO of Buildcon Global Service. The event that we just had now is the company’s end of year party. What we decided to do was that we needed to take some steps next year to improve business. The most important task ahead is improving our customer’s satisfaction and we have put a number of measures in place to ensure this.

I used to work with CMB Building, a maintenance and investment company, as AGM Marketing and Business Development, Integrated MicroFinance Bank Nigeria Limited, British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited and also worked as a senior banking analyst with National Bank of Nigeria. As Managing Director and CEO of Buildcon, I am involved in overseeing the development and preparation of company’s plan, operational and financial budget and approval of same in conjunction with the board in line with the company’s vision.

In addition, I am involved in supporting the operations and administration of the board by advising and informing board members, interfacing between board and staff, and supporting the board’s evaluation and decisions.

I am also involved in overseeing the building preliminaries, approval of the architectural designs and overseeing the preparation of the bill of quantities, analysing all projects to ensure profitability as well as overseeing the construction of the projects to ensure adherence to timelines and specifications while ensuring quality is maintained.

Apart from all this, I am involved in ensuring construction timelines are met and exceeded while maintaining strict adherence to budget with emphasis and focus on construction below the bill of quantities. My duties also include providing off takers for the project to ensure immediate sales before the completion of the project, employing project-specific artisans and construction workers for the execution of specific building projects. Others include overseeing and approving all marketing materials, sourcing for viable projects in good locations and overseeing the market research and survey analysis and interpreting same for informed decision making.

What are some of the changes that you hope to see?

Next year, our desire is to try to satisfy as many customers as possible. Your customers dictate your products and so we are going to listen to them, improve on what we are doing and try as much as possible to give them what they want.

How would you describe the sector in 2015?

For me, 2015 was a turning point in the business. It was a year when a lot of things started to go right for the company. We got things right and we were able to sell most of what we had currently. The real estate industry has gone through a lot of changes. A lot of people when they buy their houses spend almost half of what they would have used to build the house to redo the house. We help our customers to build their houses from scratch to finish taking care of details like tiling and décor. Basically, we are building for them and they need to have something that they can live with and we are happy with that. In addition to that, we also give our clients a grace of six months once they move in and we fix anything that is not working properly without collecting any money from them.

What are some of the challenges that you experience on the job?

Yes, there are challenges like every other sector. It is tough when you have to go back and forth to get things from some customers. Apart from this, you also have the issue of costing, this happens when some clients want products that are more expensive and others want something that is slightly cheaper. So, the difference in cost can be an issue but usually we work round this.

How is the sector doing at the moment?

The sector has a few challenges. Unfortunately, one of the problems is that you have the money but you cannot keep the product with you. You have to keep it with those selling until you really need it. Also, the mortgage system in the country is a big issue and then when you look at it, you find that everybody wants to have their own houses but again the question is how many people can afford it? For instance, someone with a salary of N100,000 per month cannot afford a standard house. We are trying to get as many people to be able to afford their own houses.

What are the things that you would like to see in the sector?

We would like the National Housing Scheme (NHS) to be accessible. This gives each contributor 15million naira and partial contributors get N13 million. Also, the interest rate on the NHS is quite minimal when you compare this to the 35 per cent that the banks are asking for.

What is the secret of your good looks?

You just have to be you, be natural, there is no other secret. What I am not, I am not.

Secondly, I eat right. The most wonderful place to be in the world is Nigeria. We have all kinds of foods that we do not appreciate. I eat so much vegetables and I am happy. There are times you find me laughing on my own. It makes me look younger. It is also important to have a good relationship with your client, staff and the people around you.

It’s quite interesting and it’s humbling too. The greatest experience one can have. What other people see as challenges are things that I see as opportunities and they propel me to do better.

We believe that the capacity we are building would make our clientele grow, as well as make us better and look at things from the positive angle. Being a woman is a positive thing, what you are going through is an opportunity to be better and excel.

January 17, 2016
Boroffice: our challenges’ll be over soon

The senator representing Ondo North District, Prof Ajayi Boroffice, has assured the people of better days ahead.

In his New Year message, the chairman, senate committee on science and technology appreciated the endurance of the people, despite various challenges and hardship.

This he attributed to poor management of resources and lack of focus on the part of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state.

Boroffice, a governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urged the people to approach the New Year with optimism and unshakeable faith.

According to the lawmaker, Ondo State is richly blessed and with proper management of its resources, the state would attain greater heights.

The Asiwaju of Akokoland sought the support of the people to mobilise for APC in the coming election, stressing that the APC is imbued with masses-oriented programmes.

Boroffice urged Nigerians to work with President Muhammadu Buhari and support the current anti-corruption crusade.

January 4, 2016
Challenges ahead: Poisoned chalice?

The Itsekiri group is often described as a minority within the minority ethnic groups in the Southsouth region. What they lack in population is made up in the abundance of natural resources. Their resilience and ability to unite in times of national difficulty and challenge, such as the death of their monarch, is seen as their greatest asset.

A Delta State-based reporter, Omon-Julius Onabu, was one of those stunned by the way Ogiame Ikenwoli’s emergence united his people. He said: “I think the Itsekiri are the most closely-knitted ethnic group in Nigeria today. Ogiame Ikenwoli’s coronation simply bears eloquent testimony to that fact.”

Nevertheless, Ogiame Ikenwoli, would need loads of wisdom and conscious efforts to get his kigdom back on track. He inherits a kingdom widely divided along political and several other lines.

Traditional leadership and youth bodies in several communities are enmeshed in succession strife, arising from the scramble for the oil wealth and patronages. Not left out of the intrigues are community leaders and youth executives, who have amassed mind-boggling wealth but unwilling to make way for others. The natural processes of choosing Olare-Aja (traditional community heads and the oldest member of the community) and other leaders are being subverted by younger elements and wealthier men. Elders, who should know and speak out, have been silenced by filthy lucre.

This is the scenario playing out in various communities, notably Ugborodo, where tussles for the headship of the community have led to avoidable deaths, Deghele and other communities.

The situation which worsened during the reign of Atuwatse II, outlived him and now being inherited by the Ikenwoli. There are concerns that the rivalries in the communities could fester. But the dawn of the new era appeared to have united major players. How the new Olu manages the crisis would define his reign, going by the role some of the protagonists played in his coronation.

There are also concerns that Ogiame Ikenwoli’s soft and amiable disposition might not be enough to instill the needed discipline. “His humility is rare in this age, he has always been a reserved and cultured man,” a source revealed.

His immediately younger brother, Prince Benjamin Emiko, described him as a rallying point (Agbebijo).

“Beyond his exterior”, a close friend said, “is a very strong disciplinarian, who would not brood disrespect to the Itsekiri people, which he represents and vowed to protect.”

At a news conference he addressed on Monday, the monarch gave a hint of what to expect from him: “I vow to provide true and transparent leadership and will never engage in any matter that will embarrass our people.”

The Olu pledged to abide by the tradition of the people and promised to “encourage the evolvement of community heads through naturally process rather than imposition, and ensure that youth elections in communities adhere strictly to democratic norms, credible process and devoid free.”

In recognition of the degeneration of tradition and value system of Itsekiri over the years, he promised to reinvigorate the “comatose and moribund traditions”, adding that he hopes to take the Itsekiri back to glory and fame and consolidate on the peaceful co-existence, love and unity which were the hallmarks of his late father, Erejuwa II.

His closing remark was particularly significant in view of the belief that some troubles would have been avoided if his predecessor had handled issues differently. For instance, the 19th Olu refused to participate in traditional rites due to his Christian background. His attempt to abolish traditional norms in the September 2013 New Order declaration was defeated because the people rose against him.

In a clear departure, Olu Ikenwoli was the Okparan (Chief Priest) of the Emiko family and there are strong feelings that he would resuscitate some of the ‘traditions’ which strongly sanctions erring members.

Dr Uduaghan told The Nation why he thinks Ogiame Ikenwoli’s reign would be very successful: “He knows everything about Itsekiri culture, tradition and the challenges. He is being in it and by God’s grace he will pilot us into success. He is a very cool man, a deeply understanding person, who analyses issues every sensibly and most importantly, he carries people along. From our interactions, he is somebody who is inclusive.”

The Orodje of Okpe, Felix Mujakperuo, said: “When a righteous king reigns, the people rejoice.”

Apart from support within his kingdom, the monarch had tremendous external goodwill from the Federal Government’s delegation led by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. David Lawal, to All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who led chieftains of the party to once-in-a-lifetime event, Publisher, Vanguard newspapers, Mr.s Sam Amuka-Pemu and Chairman, Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Amaju Pinnick.

Former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, governor Okowa, Oshiomhole among the dignitaries at the coronation. The Emir of Zauzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris led royal fathers from the North, Igwe Anaemeka Afred Achebe, led the Southeast delegation and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, led a high-power delegation from the Southwest to witness the occasion. Leading the Bayelsa State delegation was the Amayanabo of Nembe Kingdom, Chief Edmund Dakoru and the Jaja of Opopo, Dandeson Douglas Jaja, led adelegation of first-class monarchs from Rivers State. Other royal fathers came from Cross River and Akwa Ibom states. With the array of dignitaries at his coronation, the Olu Ikenwoli knows that ‘to whom much is given, much will be expected.’

December 18, 2015
Visions and challenges on terrorism and looting

At the conference of the National Human Rights Commision to commemorate its 20th Anniversary, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomole called for the prosecution of the former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo Iweala on her admission that she made available 322m dollars from the recovered Abacha loot to the office of the former NSA Sabo Dasuki for the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram in the North East of the country. At about the same time US Republican Party front runner in the US 2016 presidential elections Donald Trump called for a ban on the migration of Muslims to the US and raised such a furore that US President Barak Obama at the 150th Anniversary of Slavery in the US cautioned against the rise of bigotry even as he called slavery the ‘original sin‘ on that occasion. I will spice these two stories with the news of the sack of Nnlalah Nene, the Finance Minister of S Africa by President Jacob Zuma who announced that the Minister who has been largely described as reform minded and fiscally prudent was just being moved to a more strategic position in the cabinet after just 18 months.

On the surface, all these are quite controversial issues. But an analysis will reveal that they are new ways of looking at the problems of governance, leadership and corruption and are evolving in a speedily   changing world that is becoming degraded and dehumanized by the impunity of terrorism and Islamic Militancy led by the brutality of Islamic State and Boko Haram. The saying that desperate diseases need desperate cure is bound to evolve from our analysis of these issues on discussion today as I ask you to join issues with my chain of thought on them.

Let us start again with Adams Oshiomole’s seemingly endless grouse with Okonjo Iweala that she should be prosecuted for approving money for purchase of arms that were not bought and in which funds were diverted for other purposes. The Finance Minister’s media aide has been at pains to explain that the Edo State Governor has an axe to grind with Okonjo Iweal a because she did not approve a World Bank loan that Edo state was pursuing. But the Finance Minister’s reason for the loan was intriguing. She said that since there was an outcry that the Jonathan Administration was not funding the war effort in the North East enough she prepared a memo for a Committee approved by the president and gave the money to the office of the NSA. Which sounds like an ordinary housewife’s defence of why she bought more meat than fish with the feeding allowance given by the husband. Except that this was the Finance Minister of Nigeria at her second coming in that office after being recruited from the World Bank by the Obasanjo Administration at her first calling during which she got paid in hard currency against the labor laws of the nation. The same Finance Minister was promoted by the World Bank after her reforms in Nigeria based on the recipe of the Washington Concensus which emphasizes high interest rates and budget deficits when it was obvious that these were leading to economic stagnation, high unemployment and social upheaval from the ensuing growth of poverty and income   inequalities instead of   real economic growth and development.

Governor Oshiomole’s insistence on the prosecution of the former Finance Minister is not in any way misplaced. If anything it is patriotic and salutary. Has the National Assembly no role to play in the disbursement of funds for war according to our constitution? Why should an educated Finance Minister give the sort of excuse she gave that the government succumbed to public opinion and averted due process in giving the nations funds behind the door and on the authority of a kitchen cabinet instead of that of the National Assembly as demanded by the separation of powers inherent in our Presidential Constitution? Governor Oshiomole may be an insistent former labor leader and no friend of the World Bank because of its inhuman economic prescriptions but he certainly knows what he is saying when he calls for the prosecution of the former Finance Minister on account of conspiracy in giving out funds for fighting insurgency illegally and making the fraud of diversion a grim possibility and a huge drain on the dwindling resources of our nation.

Equally intriguing and   definitely more alarming was Donald Trump’s call for a ban on Muslims going to the US because of the rise of terrorism on the US homeland the latest   being the killing of 14 people by a radicalized US couple in California. How Trump came about such a statement still baffles me but he insists that what he has said is popular and has not recanted which is unfortunate. But then he has touched a raw nerve and since he is the leading Republican candidate in spite of all odds so far, his party has to look for a way to contain him. If in spite of this he wins the Republican Party’s nomination then that party can never be the same again and the nature of the 2016 presidential election will be quite unpredictable though it will be quite exciting as usual. However l do not subscribe to the view that Trump’s antics may give Hillary Clinton an easy presidential election next year. Clinton will have to react to these dangerous things that Trump has been dishing out and the way she does will determine her presidential fate and that of the Democratic, Party in 2016. Trump has been so bold as to postpone a trip to Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu who has a soft spot for him as a Republican candidate, on the excuse that he will do that trip after he has been elected president of the US. Already Israel’s President has retorted to Trump’s Islam ban by saying that Israel is not at war with Islam but extremists who are wickedly bent on killing innocent people for no justifiable or sane reasons. Really I wonder at Trump’s emergence and his staying power which confirms that there is some anger out there against politics as usual in the US and established political parties and politicians had better be on the look out for as the saying goes no one can stop an idea whose time has come. Just like no one got it when a seasoned Democratic Party Convention Speaker emerged from no where to thwart Hillary Clinton’s ambition in 2008 to become the 44th and first black president of God’s own country. The rest is history and this rumbling Trump looks more like an approaching political volcano on the US political arena than an ill wind that will soon and   readily blow away. Americans   therefore and   indeed the world at large   should prepare like the Chinese would say, to live in interesting times and so too should terrorists and those who kill and maim innocent people globally prepare for a most unusual foe and enemy.

Lastly the sack of S Africa’ Minister of Finance, Nnlalah Nene is   a story that has parts and bits of the last two issues on our former finance Minister and Governor Oshiomole and of course Donald Trump and I will illustrate vividly. The first is tha the Finance Minister was sacked for among other things failing to approve the purchase of a presidential jet for the S African president and for failing to approve salary increment for workers. I commend the Minister for having the guts to chop off the presidential jet although he now knows that he who pays the piper dictates the tune. I disagree with him on the refusal to increase the workers salary as Governor Oshiomole would do and vehemently too and my reason is that such an act smirks of an IMF conditionality for which Finance Ministers like those of France, Indonesia and Nigeria have been rewarded with plum IMF jobs after leaving office for services well rendered for IMF even though such measures bred inevitable social unrest and violence in the nations of such ministers. Perhaps President Zuma saw through the Minister’s gambit to play to an international audience at the expense of the S African economy although there is no denying that the chopping of the presidential jet was enough ammunition for President Zuma known for opulent life style to have sacked him. Obviously the sacked S African Finance Minister now knows better that in politics as in religion you cannot serve God and Mammon. Just as Governor Oshiomole made very clear in his very public and strident call for the prosecution of our former Finance Minister. Again long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

December 12, 2015
Our challenges, by Lagos Safety Commission boss
Fouad Oki is the Director-General, Lagos Safety Commission. He described Lagos State as a megapolis because its population is inching towards 23 million people. In this interview with BUNMI OGUNMODEDE and SUNDAY OMONIYI, Oki highlighted some of the challenges the state is experiencing.

Lagos has a number of regulatory bodies. What is the need for the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC)?

It is true that there are other regulatory agencies in Lagos State which complement one another. But contrary to people’s belief, the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) is not a regulatory body. It is enforcing compliance with traffic rules and regulations. Its men are essentially transportation traffic managers. They are on the road to ensure traffic safety. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) is also not a regulator. It is the coordinator of the first response groups in Lagos. It coordinates government emergency response to situations. Usually, there are different ministries and agencies of government involved in emergency management committee. In Lagos, LASEMA is the first responder to emergency situations. We have as members of the committee the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC), the ministries of Health, the Environment and Physical Planning. Other line ministries, agencies and parastatals are also involved in emergency management.

So, the state needs the commission?

Exactly, especially when you situate the issue of a regulator within the context of Lagos which is already a megapolis contrary to a widespread belief that it is a megacity. Megacities are populated in human density of between 18.5 to 20 million people. Lagos is already inching towards 23 million people. So, it is a megapolis and one of the five megapolis in the world. Looking into the required volume of service delivery to such huge, highly cosmopolitan and diversified city in terms of enthnicity, language and composition, we look at this vis-a-vis which service delivery is expected. So, every facet of our lives need to be regulated. What we have in Lagos so far is less than 10 regulatory agencies. And if you look at what we regulate, it’s quite enormous. There is the water regulatory commission and this is key because what we hear in Lagos is water…water everywhere, yet none to drink. So, I strongly think the number of regulatory bodies that we have are grossly inadequate for a mega polis.

But with your mandate, is Lagos not too wide for your commission to effectively cover?

We have been grappling with these challenges and one thing that is sure is that we’re not overwhelmed. The fact is that we need more regulators to have the Lagos of our desire.
- Our role goes beyond nipping disaster in the bud. One thing is very clear in the law establishing the commission. The LSSC is an ombudsman on matters of public safety. It is an ombudsman in the sense that, it monitors and it sanctions offenders. Part of its responsibilities is what we call Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Acts. Occupational safety essentially covers how we live, the work place, the play area for the children, the schools, the stadia, churches, mosques, health centres, roads, rail tracks, water ways, factories, industrial parks and motor parks. If you look at Section 9 of the law establishing the commission, it is clearly stated that the commission shall have as part of its responsibilities in policy formulation, advisory and regulatory body for the coordination of all government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) on matters relating to safety of lives and properties at all levels and all other safety-related issues. The law also states that the commission shall set safety standards for all sectors involved in the socio-economic activities of the state. This involves the issuance/withdrawal of compliance certificates. In sub-Section 10, the LSSC is further empowered to clearly define safety standards for all MDAs. It states that the commission and adopt safety policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all relevant laws, bylaws and regulations on safety in the state. If you place this vis-à-vis sub-Section 10 F, the commission shall have power to act as may be necessary to improve any condition which it would have done if the commission has been the enforcing authority for the purpose of enforcing safety. So, the role of the commission is all encompassing. It is everything about our community and socio-economic life. Security is an aspect of safety and no one is secured where there is no safety.
So, the LSSC operations cut across virtually every sector of the socio-economic life?

In other climes, the public order and safety sector of governance is usually coordinated by the Public Safety Commission. Even the police have a code of draft just as the military would say there is the rule of engagement. It is not just for the police to be on the beat in a neighbourhood but for the people to be sure that their lives and properties are safe. So, the LSSC is expected to look at every aspect of the socio-economic life in Lagos. We, at the commission, are saddled with the responsibility to ensure that the food consumed by the people is safe because you’ll agree that most of the things we consume are not properly regulated and that those in the food processing business need to be regulated. The food business is now an all-comers’ affair. You can see what NAFDAC is doing with Guinness. We are also moving in, not only into the Guinness issue but other businesses involved in the value chain of food processing. The same thing goes for the manufacturing and industrial sectors. Today, the people are killed for nothing – either out of sheer negligence or irresponsibility on the part of employers of labour. The LSSC in collaboration with the Office of Public Defender, the National Complaints Commission (NCC) and the inspectorate unit of the Ministry of Labour & Productivity have been working to ensure a safe work place, it is unfortunate that we are losing, avoidably though, lives daily to the carefree attitude of employers. Today, Nigerians lose limbs, fingers and arms to occupational injuries and accidents which are avoidable. The occupational health is worrisome. We also have occupational diseases growing all over the place and as we have said, the era of impunity is gone. If people want to make money in Lagos because the market is here, they must be prepared to do the right thing. They must abide with occupational safety and health rules. This is what we are committed to doing.

What level of cooperation are you enjoying from business owners in the state?

Well, so far, I would say none and the reason for that is that by law, companies have responsibilities for self-reporting. The law is there. But it is saddening to note here that companies are not coming around to pick copies of standard regulations, code of practice and guidance. So, they have not been cooperating. Even when our inspectors move round, they don’t find them cooperating.

Is there any institutional support?

The governor has given the marching order and the directive is very straightforward. Mr. Governor said there is no room again for those who do not respect the law in Lagos. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has given me the marching order to maximally sanction erring companies or residences. Now that we are approaching the dry season, we are worried and scared because this is the period of the year that we record more fire incidences. And these are avoidable things. So, the governor already read the riot act and he has given us the directive to ensure that Lagos is safe. Our objective is that to ensure that in 24 months, we would get Lagos certified as a safe city and a safe place to work and live in. Our determination is to invite the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) to come and certify Lagos as a safe place. UNEP is the global coordinating body for OSH Acts.
December 9, 2015
Challenges before new Unibadan VC
On Monday, November 30, a significant event took place at the Nigeria’s premier university, University of Ibadan (UI). Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka was inaugurated and sworn-in as the 12th indigenous Vice Chancellor of the institution. Following the smooth transition which culminated into his appointment after a rigorous selection process at the expiration of the tenure of Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole – now the Minister of Health –Prof. Olayinka will be leading the university for the next five years.

Olayinka who came first among the 13 eminent professors who vied for the position has thus, by the reason of his appointment, achieved historical immortality, joining the exclusive club of intellectuals privileged to lead the premier university. But beyond the celebration of this great achievement, there are inherent challenges awaiting the occupant of the hot seat. Prof. Olayinka is of course aware of the fact that, having being appointed to lead the orchestra, he must be ready to take in his stride, all manner of burden, headache and pressure.

The job, a difficult task requires an extra ordinary amount of courage. Perhaps, the kind of courage Olayinka is expected to demonstrate in this job is defined by G.K Chesterton who says courage simply means strong desire to live, taking the form of a readiness to die. In other words, a leader who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing. If truly, the task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been, then, Prof. Olayinka should know that from now till 2020, there is no looking back in taking UI forward.

One of the major challenges the new UI VC will be facing is paucity of funds. Prof. Olayinka is coming at a time that is regarded by many as tough. He has a lot to do with money but the resources are not just there. Economic indicators from the federal government clearly show that Nigeria is in dire-strait. The price of crude oil, the nation’s mainstay has crashed considerably. Many states are unable to pay salaries just as budgetary allocation to different government’s agencies and parastatals are no longer be guaranteed.

Yet, before now, there had been general outcry about poor funding of education! Prof. Olayinka has to permanently put on his thinking cap with respect to raising additional funds to augment whatever that is coming from the government. Again, this is where the new VC needs to take a look at the activities of those who are hired to raise money for the university, but are perpetually looking for overseas training at the expense of their assigned task. Rather than raising money for the university, they prefer travelling in order to get estacode. The new VC must ask them critical questions, such as how much did they make for the university last year? How much have they raised this year? How much has the university spent on them? Where is their annual report? The current economic reality does not allow lackadaisical attitude to work.

Closely related to funding is the need to maintain ageing infrastructure. Most of the structures in UI, put in place in the 50s and 60s are old. Many of the classrooms require facelift. Cables for electricity are old. Water pipes are begging for replacement. All of these and more demand attention which is predicated on money. Although the immediate past VC, Prof. Adewole tried his best to remedy the situation, it is apparent that there is still a long distance to cover.

Staff welfare is another challenge that is waiting for the new VC. This is where his predecessor brilliantly succeeded. Prof. Adewole creatively wormed his way into the hearts of the workers by taking their welfare as priority. Many workers in UI will forever be grateful to Prof. Adewole with some steps he took. The question is, where will the new VC get money? Will the workers understand that resources have considerably diminished? This is where Prof. Olayinka will need to deploy his scientific mind to persuade the workers to show understanding in the face of “money palaver”.

Beyond financial constraints, the 57-year old professor must find a way to fight the inherent lethargy and bureaucratic bottlenecks that usually delay service delivery in public service. As an institution, services should be computerized in such a way that alumni get their statement of results and certificates without facing frustration. The university has offended some of its former students by not attending to demands expeditiously.

Prof. Olayinka who is a world-renowned scientist should not hesitate to initiate some innovation that will bring about a dramatic change in the modus operandi of the university. He needs to confront and fight laziness; after all, he himself is not indolent. Usually, he does not close from work earlier than 10pm. He may need to punish one offender in order to warn hundred against bringing anachronistic mentality to the 21st century.

Leadership, according to Warren Bennis, is the capacity to translate vision into reality. Therefore, the laconic new VC owes it a duty to unlock people’s potential so that they can become better. It is his duty to ensure that the university’s vision of becoming a world-class institution does not just remain a mere refrain. To achieve result, he may need to wield a big stick. Stick and carrot approach may serve as deterrent to misdemeanour, just as commendation and reward for hardworking staff can perhaps stimulate productivity.

Apparently, the job at hand requires courage and bravery. For Prof. Olayinka to take UI to greater heights, he should not be afraid to step on toes. There is no higher fortitude than stubbornness in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds. This Professor of Geology should know that fate loves the fearless. Obviously, there will be some forces that will be working for his failure, but with prayer and hard work, it is certain that the gate of hell shall not prevail.

A leader is a dealer in hope. He should be hopeful of the best. He is expected to be the distributor of God’s goodness. He should not hesitate to promote people’s well-being. Yes, a leader is the one who knows the ways, goes the way and shows the way. Prof. Olayinka who is today leading in UI is expected to chart the direction with which UI can be more recognized globally. The good news is that he has the capacity, and he is not lacking in experience. He understands the system. He is a scientist of methodological appropriateness. He can do it.

In addition to his intellectual fecundity, the new VC enjoys popular support in UI. His amiability which has drawn the admiration of the majority of members of the community will certainly go a long way to assist him to achieve success. He equally has a solid contact across the globe as a result of many years of teaching and community service. This is the time he needs the support of all his friends and well-wishers. He must succeed in this yeoman’s job. All eyes are now on him.

If UI is to be listed among the best 20 universities in the world, this is the time to activate the momentum. It is a task that requires the support of all and sundry. It is not only about money, stakeholders could come forward with useful pieces of advice, suggestions, and opinion – all towards making UI greater than it is.
- Saanu is of the Directorate of Public Communication, University of Ibadan.
December 4, 2015
Desperate challenges facing Yoruba South-west

One of the major foibles of Nigeria’s development management since independence is that Nigeria’s federal rulers generally prefer to adopt an integrationist attitude to the issues of development. Every group that somehow steps into the control of the Federal Government assumes that it has been given the duty and authority to micro-manage all development issues and all sections of Nigeria.

Such an integrationist stance ignores the huge size of Nigeria as well as Nigeria’s intense diversity in geography, people, culture, history, levels of development, people’s orientations, desires and development choices, etc. Each people, region and section of Nigeria has its own package of development challenges, and each package evolves along a logic and trajectory of its own, and keeps perpetually producing its own peculiar kinds of new challenges. In the final analysis, therefore, the aggressive integrationist orientation of our federal rulers has been wasteful and foolish, and it has generated enormous waste and discord. In fact, to spell out fully how foolish, wasteful and destructive it has been, one would need to write a whole book – a book that could become a worldwide text on how to lead a country to failure.

But the theme of this column today is not the folly and destructiveness of the Federal Government’s mismanagement of Nigeria but the peculiar and urgent development needs of the South-west region of Nigeria. The Southw-est came into the 20th Century and into Nigeria as the most developed part of tropical Africa. Its defining strength was its urbanism, with towns and cities at short distances from one another, a situation that did not exist in any other part of tropical Africa. Partly because of this, what is now the South-west of Nigeria was better able to absorb and utilize the incoming transformations at the beginning of the 20th Century. There were already schools in probably most Yoruba towns by 1900. In fact, Yoruba people had been producing new college-educated elite in Engineering, Law, Accountancy, Medicine and so on. By 1859 Yorubaland already, had a newspaper and by the end of the century, there were newspapers in many Yoruba towns. Yoruba authors had written books in various subjects all the way from History to Fiction to the Sciences etc. Then in the 1950s, a peculiarly business-like regional government pulled the South-west much further ahead still. Fortunately also, the Yoruba had a culture that respected the religious choices of individuals and accepted and included people from any other culture of the world.

The consequence of all these, as Nigeria has declined since independence and as poverty has intensified all over the country, is that people have been fleeing from all parts of Nigeria to the South-west. Within only the past few decades, many Yoruba towns and cities have become almost unrecognizable as a result of rapid increases in population. Most who come, do so because of what they believe to be abundant opportunities waiting for them in the South-west. But sadly, many of them are now discovering that the opportunities are not as abundant as they expected. The level and intensity of poverty in the South-west is becoming frightful. Many Yoruba towns are losing all of urban beauty and many parts of many cities are simply growing slums. The crowds of young people peddling little handfuls of articles in the streets represent an underemployed mass.

In a better managed federation with more sensitive leaders, a region that comes under such bombardment would be considered for special input and assistance by the Federal Government. However, nobody who knows Nigeria would ever expect that Nigeria’s Federal Government will make such special considerations for the South-west or any other part of Nigeria. The summary then is that the South-west is being asked to bear a burden it is unable to bear, and the result of this is that the quality of life in the South-west is deteriorating rapidly.

Of course, we in the South-west have a lot to criticize our state and local governments for but the bigger problem is from the federal source. This bigger problem is not merely that the Federal Government will not help the South-west, but that in fact they are forever trying to hold the South-west back. The examples of federal efforts to hold the South-west back are legion and the result is that life is being made difficult not only for the people of the South-west but for the millions flooding in from other parts of Nigeria.

There is no point asking anything of the Federal Government. A new situation has arisen now, however, in which the party holding power at the centre may be fairly reasonably expected to relate more sensibly and more productively to the South-west than ever before. We in the South-west are expecting and waiting for that to happen and hopefully it will happen. But even if it happens, the main burden is still on us the people of the South-west, our state and local governments and the traditional Yoruba institutions that served the interest of our communities.

The first direction we must go is to make our masses of educated youths seriously productive members of society. By our youths I do not only mean the indigenous Yoruba youths but all youths. We need without further delay to establish programmes whereby our youths will be equipped with modern job skills in various directions as artisans, machinists, modern farm hands and farm managers, builders, plumbers, masons, computer operatives and so on. We need to empower some of our businesses to offer such training in-house. We also need to encourage private individuals who are interested in contributing to education to participate in the establishment of technical and skills institutes. Side by side with these skills, our youths need to be educated to be good workers – loyal to their employers, ambitious for the companies they work for and dependable in the performance of their duties.

The investment world out there is already interested in the South-west, but the fear is that the workers are not there. If we could create the skilled and dependable workers, we could turn our fortunes around in just a few years. Then we need to dig deep into the resources of our culture in order to carry out this transformation. We must assist those of our people already in small businesses to improve the quality of their services. An American who travelled widely in the South-west recently remarked that the small business culture (not just in trading) already exists and is an ancient culture with the Yoruba people. For example, he pointed out that if public authorities would assist the countless thousands of Yoruba women who cook food for sale in ‘bukas’, this industry could attract a lot of foreigners to the South-west.

The South-west also has one of the richest resources for cultural tourism on earth. This is an industry that people of the South-west can develop at little expense. Thirdly, the Yoruba produce a whole range of traditional products, garments, fabrics and works of art which is another area which the governments of the South-west should look into. Moreover, Yoruba women have the reputation of being, in history, some of the greatest traders on the African continent – another area in which their governments should help them to improve and modernize.

The summary is this. The people of the South-west command the capabilities and the means to transform their region and to help Nigeria to pull ahead. Those who hold the reins of power in the region owe their people and the world the duty of attending to all these possibilities without delay. That is the challenge of the Southwest today. The situation can be changed quickly and radically. But if we delay, it can become too complicated to handle. Nobody can stop the many millions coming to the South-west. The onus is on the South-west to seek urgently to command the strength to accept and include them constructively.

December 3, 2015
Challenges before Buhari’s ‘change agents’

Nigerians expect the incoming ministers to hit the ground running by executing the policies of the Buhari administration in their respective ministries. The expectations from the administration are very high. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI and Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN highlight some of the challenges that would confront the new ministers.

Given the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari rode to power on the waves of the ‘change’ agenda, there is high expectation among the populace that it is not going to be business as usual. Indeed, since the administration came into power on May 29, Nigerians have challenged President Buhari to fashion out a broader vision that would truly transform the economy to start creating jobs for the teeming youth population.

Against the background of the expectations, the President reiterated that part of the reason why he did not appoint ministers immediately he took office was to put new rules of conduct and good governance in place before they come on board. He read out what could be termed the rules of engagement during the two-day retreat for the incoming ministers, when he told that they are expected to drive the change agenda the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) promised Nigerians during the electioneering campaign.

But, what manner of change should Nigerians expect in the coming months? Stakeholders have tried to chart the way forward, by setting an agenda for the new cabinet.

Need for clear road map

A United Stated States-based Nigerian, Dr. Kole Odutola, wants the new administration to first prepare a clear road map that will guide its journey. Odutola, a lecturer at the University of Florida, said: “A nation on its knees needs all hands on deck. The most important agenda is the road map for Nigeria. A quick period of stock taking is imperative to determine how to get to the next destination with the lean resources at our disposal.

“Our thinkers need to decide how to fashion out a workable, sustainable development plan that can be applied from the community level to the national level. As we think about production at the national level, we also need to work on creating an integrated system that can kick start economic development without compromising our environment.

“In short, cottage industries must be assisted to produce items that can feed into what industries may need. Tourism must be designed around the culture of local areas. Regional targets must be set for agriculture based on ecology of the place. I see a concentric circle of urgent activities revolving around security, economy and re-education of the generality of the people.”

Odutola wants the APC-led administration to adopt the crisis-management approach, by asking the following questions: “Where are we now? Where do we want to be? What resources do we need to get us to the Nigeria of our dream?” He said the Nigeria of his dream is one where the citizenry would live in an environment where they can fully realize their potentials; a society that creates room for citizens to pursue their personal, intellectual and spiritual growth.

Health

Due to the fact that it has been neglected over the years, the health sector is almost comatose. It is a sad commentary about the affairs in the sector that political office holders are usually flown abroad each time they catch cold. This is mainly because they failed to make provisions for equipping the nation’s hospitals and making them what they should be.

Public office holders and other Nigerians who travel overseas for medical checkup and treatments annually do so because of lack of confidence in the system in place at home. During the ministerial screening, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan and one of the new ministers, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said about one to three billion dollars is spent yearly on medical tourism abroad by Nigerians, because of the dearth of medical facilities in Nigeria. Adewole said the missing link in the country’s health sector is poor funding and infrastructure. He said would have been cheaper getting treatment in Nigeria, if the country had standardised and well-equipped hospitals. The irony is that many Nigerians who travel abroad end up being treated by their compatriots working in foreign hospitals. Given the dwindling resources available to the various tiers of government, including the Federal Government, how is the country going to develop the much-needed infrastructure in this sector?

Petroleum resources

Under the former ruling party, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was described as a cesspool of corruption. It would be interesting to see the company chart a new direction under the present administration. This is particularly at a time when the collapse of the price of oil in the international market has put Nigeria’s economy in dire straits, because over 70 per cent of the country’s revenue comes from that sector.

The charge that the country does not know how much of its oil is produced daily by the multinational oil companies and has to rely on the same multinational joint venture partners to come up with a figure at the point of export leaves much to be desired. The incoming minister must come to terms with the above, which borders on the corruption within the system. The administration must also come to terms with the reality of the country’s dwindling revenue from sale of crude oil, by proffering long-lasting solutions, which would include diversification of the economy from crude oil resources.

President Buhari has hinted in an interview in the United States that the NNPC will be divided into two successor entities under his administration. The President, who stated this in an interview in Washington DC during his four-day visit to the country, explained that the decision would form one of the key steps of his reform of the country’s oil and gas sector.

Security

The biggest security challenge facing the nation at the moment is the Boko Haram insurgency. In this regard, experts say the administration must begin to fashion out how to support the communities, to keep them away from Boko Haram. It is also expected to work towards providing jobs and economic growth, to stabilize the region in the long run.

Beyond security, legal luminary, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) said all eyes are on the new ministers particularly those that will be posted to the ministries of Works and Transport; Education and Justice.

Works

According to Akintola, the Minister of Works will be judged by the way and manner he quickly fixes deplorable highways like Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and the Onitsha-Owerri-Port Harcourt Highway.

Akintola said: “The Abuja roads are in state of disrepair. If nothing is done it will be difficult to move freely in the Federal Capital Territory in the next five years. If you see the traffic gridlock in Apo, Nyanya and Gwagwalada, you will think all Nigerians are living in Abuja. I suggest the Buhari administration should embark on underground rail system in Abuja to minimise the traffic jam in the city. The Minister of Works has a lot to do; he has a job caught out for him.”

Education

On education, the legal practitioner described the decay in education infrastructure in public schools as unprecedented. He said the over centralisation of education system in the country is responsible for the decay.” It is wrong to centralise education; the Federal Government should only set standard. Every state should be allowed to operate the system that is convenient to them. There should be devolution of power. Education is in shambles.” He advised the Minister of Education to come up with measures that will restore the old glory of education in the country.

Judicial reforms

Experts believe that there is need for judicial reforms to drive the change agenda, because efficient justice delivery is central to the nation’s economic growth and development. Continuing to do things the same way and expecting a different outcome, they say, amounts to wishful thinking.

The justice machinery, reputed to be the last hope of the common man, is squeaking under the weight of the growing number of cases yet to be sorted out and other problems. The criminal justice system has endured prolonged delay in the administration of justice, congestion of courts, inadequate infrastructure and lack of access to justice by the poor, a majority of who cannot afford the services of lawyers, the congestion of prisons with the daily influx of accused persons or suspects awaiting trial, the persistent issue of the holding charge, arrest of suspects’ relatives in place of suspects, the use of torture by the police to extort extra judicial confessions and allegations of corruption against judicial officers.

In addition, some of the country’s laws are outdated and out of tune with modern trends. Some of them are nothing but mere relics of colonial legislation that ought to have been reformed long time ago. Most of the laws brim with anachronistic provisions that take no cognizance of the changes and developments that have occurred over the years.

The experts say the envisaged judicial reform requires both cultural and systematic change in the delivery of justice. This, they added, should include repealing/amendment of antiquated laws, enactment of modern laws to meet the needs of ever changing socio-economic conditions, court modernization and restructuring, legal reforms and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, training of judges, court personnel, and lawyers, students and civil society; and improved access to justice. The starting point for these programmes should be a clear plan that focuses on activities that have a high probability of success and that provide immediate benefits.

Although justice is most of the time, a matter of finding the appropriate rules for settling disputes, resolving grievances and trying the accused persons with basic fairness, no justice system can be worthy of that name unless it provides for judges who are independent of the state which appoints them and operate without any pressure to decide cases in favour of government.

In addition, certain offences like corruption, terrorism, kidnapping, election fraud, etc., should be designated as serious crimes and should attract severe punishment without option of fine. There should also be a time limit of 12 months for criminal trials to ensure speedy dispensation of justice. In cases where the accused does not have counsel when a matter is called, the state should appoint a counsel to represent him before the adjourned date. It is further suggested that various tactics employed by parties to judicial proceedings to delay and undermine the justice system, should be sternly deprecated.

Former Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, Mr Monday Ubani, and Akintola emphasized the need for reforms in the judiciary. They called on the new Minister of Justice to introduce policies that will transform the sector.

Finance

Ubani wants the Minister of Finance to give diversification of the economy a priority. He said the fall in oil price has proved that it is dangerous to run mono-economy. “We should invest on agriculture which was the main stay of the Nigerian economy before the discovery of oil. We should embark on exploitation of solid minerals. Nigeria is endowed with solid minerals like bitumen, coal, gold which have not been tapped. The multiplying effects of economic diversification include more revenue for the government and job opportunities for the unemployed graduates.

Ubani said liberal industrialisation policy will attract both local and foreign investors to invest in the economy. According to him, security and power supply situation must be assuring for the investors to make Nigeria their destination. With the establishment of small and medium scale industries, the problem of unemployment that is responsible for high level of crime will be addressed.

He advised President Buhari to assemble a crack economic team that will come up with policies to rejuvenate the economy, improve the standard of living and put food on the peoples’ table.

The new ministers are: Chris Ngige (Anambra); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers); Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano); Aisha Alhassan (Taraba); Ogbonaya Onu (Ebonyi); Kemi Adeosun (Ogun); Abubakar Malami (Kebbi); Hadi Sirika (Katsina); Adebayo Shittu (Oyo); Suleiman Adam (Jigawa); Solomon Dalong (Plateau); Ibe Kachikwu (Delta); and Osagie Ehanire (Edo). Others are: Audu Ogbeh (Benue); Udo Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom); Lai Mohammed (Kwara); Amina Mohammed (Gombe); Ibrahim Jibril (Nasarawa); Khadija Bukar Ibrahim (Yobe); Omoleye Daramola (Ondo); Anthony Onwuka (Imo); Geoffrey Onyema (Enugu); Dan Ali (Zamfara); James Ocholi (Kogi); Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna); Okechukwu Enelamah (Abia); Muhammadu Bello (Adamawa); Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Borno); Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto); Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa); Adamu Adamu (Bauchi); Isaac Adewole (Osun); Abubakar Bwari (Niger); and Pastor Usani Uguru (Cross River).

November 16, 2015
Challenges before Buhari’s ‘change agents’

Nigerians expect the incoming ministers to hit the ground running by executing the policies of the Buhari administration in their respective ministries. The expectations from the administration are very high. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI and Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN highlight some of the challenges that would confront the new ministers.

GIVEN the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari rode to power on the waves of the ‘change’ agenda, there is high expectation among the populace that it is not going to be business as usual. Indeed, since the administration came into power on May 29, Nigerians have challenged President Buhari to fashion out a broader vision that would truly transform the economy to start creating jobs for the teeming youth population.

Against the background of the expectations, the President reiterated that part of the reason why he did not appoint ministers immediately he took office was to put new rules of conduct and good governance in place before they come on board. He read out what could be termed the rules of engagement during the two-day retreat for the incoming ministers, when he told that they are expected to drive the change agenda the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) promised Nigerians during the electioneering campaign.

But, what manner of change should Nigerians expect in the coming months? Stakeholders have tried to chart the way forward, by setting an agenda for the new cabinet.

Need for clear road map

A United Stated States-based Nigerian, Dr. Kole Odutola, wants the new administration to first prepare a clear road map that will guide its journey. Odutola, a lecturer at the University of Florida, said: “A nation on its knees needs all hands on deck. The most important agenda is the road map for Nigeria. A quick period of stock taking is imperative to determine how to get to the next destination with the lean resources at our disposal.

“Our thinkers need to decide how to fashion out a workable, sustainable development plan that can be applied from the community level to the national level. As we think about production at the national level, we also need to work on creating an integrated system that can kick start economic development without compromising our environment.

“In short, cottage industries must be assisted to produce items that can feed into what industries may need. Tourism must be designed around the culture of local areas. Regional targets must be set for agriculture based on ecology of the place. I see a concentric circle of urgent activities revolving around security, economy and re-education of the generality of the people.”

Odutola wants the APC-led administration to adopt the crisis-management approach, by asking the following questions: “Where are we now? Where do we want to be? What resources do we need to get us to the Nigeria of our dream?” He said the Nigeria of his dream is one where the citizenry would live in an environment where they can fully realize their potentials; a society that creates room for citizens to pursue their personal, intellectual and spiritual growth.

Health

Due to the fact that it has been neglected over the years, the health sector is almost comatose. It is a sad commentary about the affairs in the sector that political office holders are usually flown abroad each time they catch cold. This is mainly because they failed to make provisions for equipping the nation’s hospitals and making them what they should be.

Public office holders and other Nigerians who travel overseas for medical checkup and treatments annually do so because of lack of confidence in the system in place at home. During the ministerial screening, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan and one of the new ministers, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said about one to three billion dollars is spent yearly on medical tourism abroad by Nigerians, because of the dearth of medical facilities in Nigeria. Adewole said the missing link in the country’s health sector is poor funding and infrastructure. He said would have been cheaper getting treatment in Nigeria, if the country had standardised and well-equipped hospitals. The irony is that many Nigerians who travel abroad end up being treated by their compatriots working in foreign hospitals. Given the dwindling resources available to the various tiers of government, including the Federal Government, how is the country going to develop the much-needed infrastructure in this sector?

Petroleum resources

Under the former ruling party, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was described as a cesspool of corruption. It would be interesting to see the company chart a new direction under the present administration. This is particularly at a time when the collapse of the price of oil in the international market has put Nigeria’s economy in dire straits, because over 70 per cent of the country’s revenue comes from that sector.

The charge that the country does not know how much of its oil is produced daily by the multinational oil companies and has to rely on the same multinational joint venture partners to come up with a figure at the point of export leaves much to be desired. The incoming minister must come to terms with the above, which borders on the corruption within the system. The administration must also come to terms with the reality of the country’s dwindling revenue from sale of crude oil, by proffering long-lasting solutions, which would include diversification of the economy from crude oil resources.

President Buhari has hinted in an interview in the United States that the NNPC will be divided into two successor entities under his administration. The President, who stated this in an interview in Washington DC during his four-day visit to the country, explained that the decision would form one of the key steps of his reform of the country’s oil and gas sector.

Security

The biggest security challenge facing the nation at the moment is the Boko Haram insurgency. In this regard, experts say the administration must begin to fashion out how to support the communities, to keep them away from Boko Haram. It is also expected to work towards providing jobs and economic growth, to stabilize the region in the long run.

Beyond security, legal luminary, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) said all eyes are on the new ministers particularly those that will be posted to the ministries of Works and Transport; Education and Justice.

Works

According to Akintola, the Minister of Works will be judged by the way and manner he quickly fixes deplorable highways like Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and the Onitsha-Owerri-Port Harcourt Highway.

Akintola said: “The Abuja roads are in state of disrepair. If nothing is done it will be difficult to move freely in the Federal Capital Territory in the next five years. If you see the traffic gridlock in Apo, Nyanya and Gwagwalada, you will think all Nigerians are living in Abuja. I suggest the Buhari administration should embark on underground rail system in Abuja to minimise the traffic jam in the city. The Minister of Works has a lot to do; he has a job caught out for him.”

Education

On education, the legal practitioner described the decay in education infrastructure in public schools as unprecedented. He said the over centralisation of education system in the country is responsible for the decay.” It is wrong to centralise education; the Federal Government should only set standard. Every state should be allowed to operate the system that is convenient to them. There should be devolution of power. Education is in shambles.” He advised the Minister of Education to come up with measures that will restore the old glory of education in the country.

Judicial reforms

Experts believe that there is need for judicial reforms to drive the change agenda, because efficient justice delivery is central to the nation’s economic growth and development. Continuing to do things the same way and expecting a different outcome, they say, amounts to wishful thinking.

The justice machinery, reputed to be the last hope of the common man, is squeaking under the weight of the growing number of cases yet to be sorted out and other problems. The criminal justice system has endured prolonged delay in the administration of justice, congestion of courts, inadequate infrastructure and lack of access to justice by the poor, a majority of who cannot afford the services of lawyers, the congestion of prisons with the daily influx of accused persons or suspects awaiting trial, the persistent issue of the holding charge, arrest of suspects’ relatives in place of suspects, the use of torture by the police to extort extra judicial confessions and allegations of corruption against judicial officers.

In addition, some of the country’s laws are outdated and out of tune with modern trends. Some of them are nothing but mere relics of colonial legislation that ought to have been reformed long time ago. Most of the laws brim with anachronistic provisions that take no cognizance of the changes and developments that have occurred over the years.

The experts say the envisaged judicial reform requires both cultural and systematic change in the delivery of justice. This, they added, should include repealing/amendment of antiquated laws, enactment of modern laws to meet the needs of ever changing socio-economic conditions, court modernization and restructuring, legal reforms and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, training of judges, court personnel, and lawyers, students and civil society; and improved access to justice. The starting point for these programmes should be a clear plan that focuses on activities that have a high probability of success and that provide immediate benefits.

Although justice is most of the time, a matter of finding the appropriate rules for settling disputes, resolving grievances and trying the accused persons with basic fairness, no justice system can be worthy of that name unless it provides for judges who are independent of the state which appoints them and operate without any pressure to decide cases in favour of government.

In addition, certain offences like corruption, terrorism, kidnapping, election fraud, etc., should be designated as serious crimes and should attract severe punishment without option of fine. There should also be a time limit of 12 months for criminal trials to ensure speedy dispensation of justice. In cases where the accused does not have counsel when a matter is called, the state should appoint a counsel to represent him before the adjourned date. It is further suggested that various tactics employed by parties to judicial proceedings to delay and undermine the justice system, should be sternly deprecated.

Former Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, Mr Monday Ubani, and Akintola emphasized the need for reforms in the judiciary. They called on the new Minister of Justice to introduce policies that will transform the sector.

Finance

Ubani wants the Minister of Finance to give diversification of the economy a priority. He said the fall in oil price has proved that it is dangerous to run mono-economy. “We should invest on agriculture which was the main stay of the Nigerian economy before the discovery of oil. We should embark on exploitation of solid minerals. Nigeria is endowed with solid minerals like bitumen, coal, gold which have not been tapped. The multiplying effects of economic diversification include more revenue for the government and job opportunities for the unemployed graduates.

Ubani said liberal industrialisation policy will attract both local and foreign investors to invest in the economy. According to him, security and power supply situation must be assuring for the investors to make Nigeria their destination. With the establishment of small and medium scale industries, the problem of unemployment that is responsible for high level of crime will be addressed.

He advised President Buhari to assemble a crack economic team that will come up with policies to rejuvenate the economy, improve the standard of living and put food on the peoples’ table.

The new ministers are: Chris Ngige (Anambra); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers); Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano); Aisha Alhassan (Taraba); Ogbonaya Onu (Ebonyi); Kemi Adeosun (Ogun); Abubakar Malami (Kebbi); Hadi Sirika (Katsina); Adebayo Shittu (Oyo); Suleiman Adam (Jigawa); Solomon Dalong (Plateau); Ibe Kachikwu (Delta); and Osagie Ehanire (Edo). Others are: Audu Ogbeh (Benue); Udo Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom); Lai Mohammed (Kwara); Amina Mohammed (Gombe); Ibrahim Jibril (Nasarawa); Khadija Bukar Ibrahim (Yobe); Omoleye Daramola (Ondo); Anthony Onwuka (Imo); Geoffrey Onyema (Enugu); Dan Ali (Zamfara); James Ocholi (Kogi); Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna); Okechukwu Enelamah (Abia); Muhammadu Bello (Adamawa); Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Borno); Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto); Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa); Adamu Adamu (Bauchi); Isaac Adewole (Osun); Abubakar Bwari (Niger); and Pastor Usani Uguru (Cross River).

November 11, 2015
Challenges of rebuilding Gombe

The state is determined to give its capital city a befitting status but some residents whose buildings are demolished are putting up quite a resistance. VINCENT OHONBAMU reports

Every administration since 1995, when the state was founded, has tried with little success to change Gombe’s village status. Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo seems to be making the boldest efforts. But a few challenges are getting in the way. Slums are springing up as population grows in the capital city. Land developers are also selling off parcels in places government would rather they did not.

•Shehu Durbi

To straighten things up and achieve its plan, the Dankwambo administration deployed its bulldozers and pulled down structures said to be impeding the master plan. Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Durbi, Chairman, Committee on the Recovery of Government Layouts, admitted that though his committee was not mandated to demolish structures, some structures could give way nonetheless where necessary. The committee went to work.

That was when it ran into rough waters. Shongo Jauro Bello community cried foul, even alerted the Federal Government and the National Assembly, asking them to intervene and stop the committee’s work. The community also accused the state government of seizing their land and demolishing structures without compensation.

Malam Shehu Mohammed, spokesman of the community, said, “It is now 26 years that Shongo Jauro Bello community and government have been struggling over ownership of this land. All this while, no administration has done to us what Governor Dankwambo’s is doing now.

“Shongo Jauro Bello community had existed for over thirty years before Gombe relocated to its present location; we are the fourth generation here and nobody has paid us anything as compensation to either our fathers or us.

“We have documents indicating that the then Emir of Gombe in 1959 during our then leader, Jauro Bappah approached us to allow him make our farmland a forest reserve area with a promise to release it back to us in due course.”

Mohammed admitted that 22 building plots were allotted to the community by the state Ministry of Lands and Survey when government decided to convert the place to a residential area some years ago.

The community leader also added that at least 30 houses have been demolished.

•Demolished houses on the outskirts of Gombe

Responding, Shehu Durbi said Shongo Jouro Bello community had no right whatsoever over the area which he said was gazetted a forest reserve in 1961.

He read a part of the document which states: “The Forest Ordinance Chapter 75 of the 1948 Law, the Gombe Native Authority Shongo Forest Reserve Order 1961; Date of commencement, 6 April, 1961”.

“The area was deforested in 1984 and given to farmers on loan for farming purposes only during the military regime of present president of this country, Muhammadu Buhari to facilitate peoples participation in his then ‘Back to Land’ programme.

“And by 2006, Gombe was already a state and people wanted to build, so government developed that plan and labelled it GDP 16; plots were created and were allotted to people for their own usage.

“The people of Shongo Jauro Bello also benefited 60 plots, aside from the 22 they were initially given; not because they have right there, No, it was only a matter of courtesy that government gave them and they gave us undertaking for that”, he added.

He said the 60 plots of land were demanded as part of the terms for agreeing to sign a peace agreement and an agreement totally surrendering the land and they were allotted plots H1 to H60 in fulfilment.

Besides, government had compensated for every economic tree and plant before it took over the land through an agreement signed by their then leader, who happens to be their present Emir, the Emir of Gona, he added.

He said “They even went to court about two or three times with the Ministry of Lands and Survey and the judgement was against them. So they are just noisemakers”.

Durbi further recalled that “a law was passed during Gov. Abubakar Hashidu’s administration designating Gombe town as urban centre with 15km radius. And within that 15km radius, nobody has any right to give out land except government and all the GDPs that I mentioned fall within the 15km radius.

“So, the essence of the committee is to make sure that the master plan of Gombe metropolis is restored and to make sure that the original owners got their rights and because government cannot fold its arms and allow slums to be springing up at the centre of the city uncontrolled.

“Where there is a clash between a genuine owner and one who was cheated, it will form part of our report and government in its wisdom knows how to settle such cases.

He called on affected individuals not to entertain hard feelings or feel witch-hunted by government, adding that they were free to lodge their complaints to their complaints to the committee.

November 10, 2015