The Nation Newspaper

Tag: corruption

  • Corruption, governance and ailing health sector

    Recent developments in the nation’s health sector suggest that all is not well. Particularly, they serve as warning signals to the health minister, Professor Isaac Adewole, and other principal officers in the ministry to keep their house in order. At the time of writing, the nation’s health institutions are almost paralysed as a result of industrial actions by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU). Sadly, this is coming on the heels of the exchange of accusations of fraud between the Health Minister and the Executive Secretary, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf.

    In the view of industry watchers, part of the reasons for the crises was because matters were left to degenerate under the watch of the minister and his team as they failed to pay attention to burning issues thereby losing the opportunity to nip the crises in the bud.

    A persistent challenge in the Nigerian health sector is human resources’ crisis, which has the tendency to cripple the sector. Inadequate investment, weak administration and corruption remain the cause of poor health workers’ welfare and the widespread inefficiency in the healthcare work force. The importance of a country’s health workforce cannot be overemphasized; it is the building block needed for health systems to function effectively and to have a healthy populace. A vibrant health workforce can only be driven by the existence of a dedicated healthcare governance structure which provides the administrative framework for the health system to successfully function and achieve set national health objectives.

    No doubt, the lingering crises within the health work force are a big constraint to health system development and sustenance in the country. If not given the desired attention by the health minister and the minister of labour and productivity, the crises will simply compound the existing shortfall in the national health coverage. When health workers’ unions embark on incessant industrial actions as a result of unfulfilled promises or resolutions by government and health authorities, it creates more burdens for the already inadequate healthcare services and disease control efforts.

    A key reason often attributed to the incessant strikes in the nation’s health sector is poor remuneration and welfare of health workers. Workers in different health institutions in the country have, on different occasions, expressed their grievances over poor and inconsistent salaries and deplorable working conditions through industrial actions or threats of such actions. The recently suspended strike by doctors under the umbrella of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and other professional unions in the health sector exemplify this.

    There have also been supremacy tussles among medical professional unions, complaints of marginalisation and discrimination in the appointment of health authorities in the Ministry of Health, widespread discrepancies in the remuneration of health workers on the same grade levels across the various levels of government, among others. Allegation of undue favouritism/privilege towards a particular professional group in the health sector at the expense of other professional groups is also rife. This supremacy tussle, which is usually between medical doctors and other healthcare professionals, has prompted the alignments and realignments among various professional unions in the sector.

    Furthermore, poor healthcare services and the failure to fix the health sector are other issues that should be critically examined. They are often the primary reason for the rampant overseas medical treatment by many wealthy citizens of the nation who have lost faith in the Nigerian health system. This practice, which has come to be known as medical tourism, is now commonplace and grossly abused. It is no longer news that some personnel and professionals in the health ministry now run a racket with it by indiscriminately and corruptly recommending overseas medical treatment for top government functionaries for all manner of ailments, including those that can be handled in the country’s healthcare facilities and by its health experts. Health Minister, Professor Isaac Adewole, rightly attested to this at a public forum sometime last year where he noted that “medical tourism to India is a racket and the country loses billions of naira yearly due to the fraud.”

    It is imperative for the President to swing into action to prevent the crises in the health ministry from festering. The Ministry of Health should demonstrate the capability to address grievances by trade unions of workers under its employ. The Ministry of Labour must endeavour to bring all warring parties in this matter to the table in order to seek an amicable resolution. This crisis, if not checked by the appropriate authorities, will ultimately hinder the nation from achieving optimum healthcare delivery to its populace.

    Moreover, failure to swiftly resolve this crisis may result in public healthcare services being further priced beyond the Nigerian masses, many of whom cannot afford private healthcare services given the present economic situation. It is instructive to note that the seeming inability of government to effectively tackle prevalent health sector crisis in the country is the reason private healthcare service is barely affordable by the average Nigerian. This reason also directly or remotely accounts for why child and maternal mortality rates remain alarmingly high and preventable/curable diseases like malaria, meningitis and poliomyelitis continue to afflict the country.

    Above all, the minister of health must show strong resolve in ensuring efficient healthcare governance and management of their workforce. Any nation that wants to boast of a viable economy must have a vibrant health sector.

     

    • Odusile writes from Lagos
  • Corruption may ‘kill’ Nigeria soon – Oyebode

    Corruption may ‘kill’ Nigeria soon – Oyebode

    Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, University of Lagos, Akin Oyebode, has warned that “If drastic measures are not put in place urgently to contain it, corruption might ultimately result in the mortality of Nigeria as a nation-state”.

    Oyebode spoke on Thursday at a roundtable organized by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in collaboration with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and held at the CITIHEIGHT Hotel, Sheraton Opebi Link Road, Ikeja Lagos.

    Delivering a paper pn Strategies for Mobilizing Mass Action to Demand Anti-Corruption Reforms and an End to Impunity for Grand Corruption in Nigeria insisted that “mass action by the citizens is urgently needed to put pressure on authorities to end impunity for grand corruption in the country.”

    According to him, the people must be enlisted in the war against corruption. Nigerians should start anti-corruption clubs in schools, radio jingles should be put in place to fight corruption, carry placards, go outside, organize sit-ins like SERAP is doing presently, Nigerians should be mobilized against corruption and now take their destiny in their hands. The fight should not be left alone to organizations like SERAP and when the State wants to attack organizations like SERAP, the masses should fight for them.”

    Related:  Stealing is not Corruption

    Oyebode also said: “The recent attempt by the National Assembly with the NGO bill to control, monitor and eventually sequester CSOs all because of the excuse that some CSOs are corrupt should not be allowed. Cutting off the head is not the cure for a headache, the bill is an overkill. If they cage organizations like SERAP, who will fight for the masses. The government does not want anybody to act as an impediment to their thievery activities.”

    “Corruption is now thriving more than ever before, despite the ongoing fight against it. However, international law has really helped with a plethora of laws against corruption, it now behoves on citizens to take advantage of these laws to fight against corruption,” Oyebode also said.

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami SAN who was represented by his Senior Assistant Abiodun Aikomo said, “The disconnect between our prosperity and where we are is corruption. We have to be patriotic, only Nigerians can do something about corruption. To file paper in court, you have to shake body. Corruption as unfortunately attained legitimacy in Nigeria, we are all encouraging corruption that is killing us. Imagine a million citizens fighting against corruption, we have a government committed to the fight. Let us all fight it and shun greed”

    Human rights lawyer Femi Falana SAN in his contribution said that: “We must stop our lawyers from terrorizing our courts and judges. We must get our judges to take charge of their courts.”

    According to Falana, religious leaders should stop confusing our people. Our churches and traditional rulers should stop praying for thieves. This is how low we have sunk. What are we as individuals doing to stop these politicians, let’s start with Lagos, let’s start asking our legislators how much they are being paid for doing what? Let our church stop conferring honours on criminals. Also, our universities should be encouraged to join in the fight.”

    Participants at the event included: Chief Barr. O.M Bakara- representing HRM, Elegushi of Ikate Land Mr Osita Nwajah, representing Ibrahim Magu the chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; Rabiat Umar ICPC; Chief Abayomi Sunday and Chief Moshood Onikoyi, representing Oba Onikoyi of Ikoyi & Imoba Land; Padma Igbabe Ford Foundation; Dr Dayo Ayoade, Faculty of Law UNILAG; Marijke Petri Wife of the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria; and Depo Adeniran, Coalition against Corrupt Leaders.

    All participants committed themselves to promoting an end to impunity for grand corruption in the country by among others, ensuring the effective prosecution and jailing of high-ranking corrupt officials and securing recovering of stolen public assets.

    Oyebode’s paper reads in part: “It is not enough to have fanciful anti-corruption laws. More important is the need to get the generality of the popular masses wedded to the crusade in order to make it a success. The reticence and lethargy of our people generally would need to be confronted. Without the cooperation and collaboration of generality of the people, the anti-corruption bodies might end up little more than paper tigers.

    “The legality or validity of the anti-corruption war is not in doubt. However, the practical implementation of the relevant laws is fraught with considerable difficulty, not least, the extent to which the generality of the populace is at one with the government. Jurisprudentially speaking, validity is a question of imputation while efficacy is more a matter of fact or causation. Accordingly, it is imperative to consider the role of the people in relation to the struggle to contain corrupt practices.

    “It is on record that Nigeria has a set of anti-corruption laws reflecting the will and intention of the government to battle the virus to the hilt. However, the efficacy of anti-corruption legislation, coupled with judicial pronouncements and conviction and sentencing of corrupt elements would require the complement of mass action and commitment arising from general awareness and resolve to collaborate with on-going efforts. Inevitably, government action in this regard must be undertaken for the anti-corruption struggle to bear fruit.

    “It is hardly an exaggeration that corruption has levelled, perhaps, the most virulent attack on Nigeria’s bodypolitik. Despite all the hue and cry over the debilitating consequences of corruption on the country’s socio-political fabric, it is sad but true that the virus has continued to fester in leaps and bounds. The sad situation today is that despite its pernicious nature, corruption seems to have found a comfortable nest in the lives and consciousness of many of our people, thereby giving the false and erroneous impression that Nigerians have generally accepted it as a fact of life.

    “To the extent that Nigerians take the saying that there is no free lunch literally, the culture of the customary gift or dash, jara, egunje, etc, have been internalized among the population so much so that there is little surprise if and when a Nigerian evinces corrupt practice in the form of bribe-taking, over-invoicing and kindred under-the-table dealings. There are even popular sayings approving of all manner of unjust enrichment at the point of duty.

    “In a country where a President could once declare that stealing was not corruption, the most important Commandment would seem to be the Eleventh: Thou shall not be caught or found out!

    “In Nigeria, there is a plethora of laws against corruption and related manifestations of the “ugly and unacceptable face of capitalism.” Aside from the Criminal and Penal Codes, the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 laid the ground rule for combating the odious crime.

    “The establishment of the ICPC, EFCC and Code of Conduct Tribunal as well as promulgation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act and designation of special courts to handle cases of corruption in addition to the establishment of a scheme for whistle-blowers and witnesses protection are clearly pointers to the resolve of the Nigerian government to aggressively confront the ogre of corruption.

    “Perception is an important factor in the efficacy of law generally. Therefore, a lot of work still needs to be done concerning the extent of popular understanding of requisite anti-corruption legislation and appreciation of the commitment of the government to its anti-corruption programme and policy. This necessitates broad mass enlightenment on the various laws with a view to eliciting the understanding, support and collaboration of the masses of the people.

    “The people must be made aware of the nexus between corruption by the political leadership and their niggardly circumstances. Once they realize that misappropriation of the nation’s resources by leaders at various levels leads to their impoverishment, their approval and support for all measures adopted to contain graft and unjust enrichment within the polity become pretty well assured.

    “The people must be enlisted in the war against corruption by encouraging them to engage in mass action through their participation in mass rallies, street demonstrations, public debates and write-up in the mass media against corrupt practices. More anti-corruption clubs need to be organized in the schools and higher educational institutions to collaborate in waging the anti-corruption struggle.

    “However, it would seem that no better encouragement and sensitization against corruption exist more than the palpable resolve of the government to take decisive action against those who have been proven to violate the laws and social ethos against the odious and unwholesome practice of corruption. By effecting prompt and adequate sanction against acts of malfeasance, the anti-corruption crusade would win new and more committed converts among the population.

    “Religious bodies, churches and mosques should not be left out of the anti-corruption crusade. The leaders of religious organizations should be encouraged to be at the vanguard of the campaign against corrupt practices, more so as they exercise tremendous influence and impact among their various congregations.

    “It is my considered opinion that the effort to contain corrupt practices should no longer be seen as just that of the government. Of equal if not, in fact, a more important role is that of society which needs to be on the same page if the anti-corruption war is to succeed. Admittedly, no country has been able to wipe out corruption in its entirety but there examples of countries where the vermin has been curtailed to its barest minimum.”

  • Buhari vows to continue fight against corruption till death

    Buhari vows to continue fight against corruption till death

    President Muhammadu Buhari, has vowed to continue the  fight against  corruption  until it is completely eradicated from nation’s polity.

    Buhari stated this at the 2017 Annual National Management Conference organised by the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) in Abuja.

    The President, who was represented by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, said his administration will fulfill its vow of eliminating all forms of corrupt practices in Nigeria so as to put the country on the path of greatness and prosperity.

    Buhari said: “To set this country on the path of greatness and prosperity, complete elimination of all forms of corrupt practices must be in the front burner and our collective consciousness always.

    “You will agree with me that a great nation is the reward of great leadership built on good governance with strict adherence to the ideals and principles of corporate governance. This is our motivation and value proposition. My administration will, therefore, continue to fight corruption and associated social vices at all levels until they are exterminated from our body polity.”

    He said the theme of the conference – Corporate Governance and Institutional Performance, was apt and relevant towards charting a new course and national reorientation.

    “By choosing this theme as the focus of this year’s conference, the institute has further demonstrated that it is committed to supporting the Federal Government in achieving its drive to reposition and turn around the nation’s economy,” he added.

    Buhari said the institution of corporate governance had aided his administration in delivering the dividends of democracy to the nation’s teeming populace especially in  providing security, fighting corruption, employment generation and diversification of the economy.

    “I further challenge the institute to improve its visibility at public sessions of the National Assembly when bills are being considered so as to make more robust professional management input that will be most relevant in the public domain,” he said.

    NIM’s President Prof. Munzali Jibril, in his remarks, said the institute would continue to support the Federal Government as it strives to eliminate corruption across the country.

    “As we journey into the future, we will neither relent in our quest to bequeath a well-trained and productive workforce to the nation, nor will we be tired until mismanagement, maladministration, corruption and other social vices which have hampered Nigeria’s development are minimised in our polity,” he said.

     

  • Corruption, nemesis of disoriented society

    SIR: The current society is one that extols materialism far above intellectualism. The undue attention and respect, ostentation attracts, cuts across all imaginable dichotomies. From places of worship to corridors of power, money seems to direct affairs and when it speaks, reasons would bow. A spade could be called a hoe and vice versa; the culture which disparages honesty and hard work but apparently glorifies opulence without interrogating its source only wets appetite for avarice and get-rich-quick syndrome.

    When politicians of pre-independence era canvassed for actualization of the nation’s independence, selfless service embellished their nationalistic zeal. Corruption would have been the last thing in their wildest imagination. But only after six years of attainment of independence, the military staged a coup-de-tat which overthrew that republic on the grounds of corruption by the leaders of the government of that time. Ironically, in 1979 when the military handed over power again to civilian government, they were more enmeshed in corruption than the people they accused

    In fact, many historians have concluded that corruption festered unabatedly during the successive military regimes as the proceeds of those days of oil boom would have bequeathed years of prosperity to its posterity and not the austerity which only exacerbates and offers no hope to abate soon. The military did not show accountability in the management of the nation’s resources throughout those years of dictatorial regimes, thereby entrenching corruption in the national psyche. And when they handed over power at the advent of democratic governance in 1999, Nigeria was a shadow of itself. By this time, corruption had already assumed a full life of its own. Our political space was then captured by dictators who paraded as democrats. We had kleptocracy dressed as democracy.

    A former British Prime Minister, David Cameron who was reportedly shocked at the rate of corruption in Nigeria, exclaimed that if all the monies carted away from the country in the past 30 years were stolen from UK, then it would cease to exist – a situation which made him described Nigeria as fantastically corrupt country.

    Lamenting the difficulty, the international financial system poses in repatriating these assets, Vice President Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, while addressing the anti-corruption and integrity forum of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, early in the year, also suggested transparency in financial transfer and proscription of secrecy jurisdiction.

    The recent signing of bilateral agreement on anti-corruption between governments of Nigeria and United Arab Emirates (UAE) has already offered EFCC a leeway to investigate about 22 Nigerians allegedly said to have hoarded about $200 billion in Dubai. The primitive acquisition of wealth by some of our leaders is best described as legendary. They amassed so much that they may not even have need for. Is it a case of cupidity or outright stupidity? This mania that drives an insatiable passion to embezzle the nation’s treasury is a corollary of a dysfunctional society.

    The docile and tensile nature of a gullible citizenry only presents a lamentable narrative of a myopic generation, who would rise to support leaders that have ruthlessly looted away their future, simply because the culprit is from their tribe. When such leaders are investigated for an alleged corruption, many would see such prosecution as persecution. We have continued to see in this country unfortunate scenario, where convicted corrupt leaders are given heroic reception and the rush of even SANs to defend proven cases of malfeasance in courts, though not necessarily for justice but to get some crumbs of the loots is both tragic and pathetic.

    The famous statement by President Muhammadu Buhari that, if we do not kill corruption, it will eventually kill us, is better appreciated in the context of Nigerians’ life expectancy rate, which now stands at 50 as against over 70 years enjoyed by many countries of Europe, America and Asia.

    Until we stop eulogizing those with dubious affluence and interrogate the source of sudden stupendous wealth, then economic deprivation with its collateral attendant cases of death, diseases, penury and pains would continue to aggravate our plight.

     

    • Itaobong Etim,

    Calabar.

  • Return loot, join us to fight corruption — Magu

    Return loot, join us to fight corruption — Magu

    Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, on Wednesday said repentant looters were free to join the fight against corruption.

    “We are calling on every Nigerian to join us; you can even return loot, face consequences then join us to fight corruption,” Magu said, according to a statement from the commission.

    He reportedly spoke at a parley with members of labour unions, civil society organisations, and social media personalities at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

    In the statement, spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said the EFCC boss harped on the need for a united front in the anti-corruption crusade.

    “We have reached a level where nobody can stop us in the fight against corruption.

    “But we all must realise that we are all stakeholders, and this fight is for the future generation,” he said.

    Magu reiterated his belief that corruption is the major factor impeding the country’s development, and the root cause of every evil in the land.

    “The EFCC alone cannot fight and defeat corruption; the battle requires the support of everybody to be won.

    “All stakeholders must step up the battle; you are not doing it for yourself.

    “You are doing it for the future of the country and the future generation in order to bring back the change that we really crave for,” he said.

    The anti-corruption czar restated the commission’s resolve to intensify the anti-corruption campaign, urging the stakeholders to “maximise the political will being currently enjoyed under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Let us do the right thing and insist on it because change begins with you and me.

    “From our households to our kids, places of work and beyond, by also living a life of integrity,” he stressed.

    Ayuba Wabba, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)  commended the EFCC leadership for its steadfastness in the fight against corruption.

    Wabba, however, noted that the efforts could only be successful if the relevant laws were fully implemented.

    “All Nigerians must play their roles, because EFCC can only do its best, but we must support the agency.

    “The law should also take its course, policies should be strengthened, and punishment must be meted out in good time,” he said.

    Dan Nwanyanwu, a lawyer and politician, used the opportunity to commend the EFCC, and stressed the importance of giving the anti-graft agency the necessary support.

    “Every right thinking Nigerian must support every effort being carried out by the EFCC to recover our stolen money and our patrimony,” he said.

    On his part, Mr Joe Abah, a former Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, also commended the EFCC for taking the gauntlet in the fight against corruption.

    “EFCC is a strong institution and it is the same institution that has produced credible leaders from inception,” he said. (NAN)

  • Our Girls; ‘Corruption aka stealing’

    Our girls are still missing since April 15, 2014. Work for their release.

    Smug politicians point to the USA and its perpetual Democratic vs Republican wrangling and Presidential Vs Congress face-offs as excuses for today’s National Assembly (NASS) antics. Practiced since 1766, the USA has a formidable country and proud citizenry. Some faceless Nigerian officials, unilaterally manipulated that USA Presidential system for the worse and the system imposed on Nigeria by the imposed ‘1999 Constitution’ has achieved little development advances even since ‘democracy’ in 1999- a need for change -restructuring!

    Since 1999, even a visionary Presidential and Ministerial leadership set against a reactionary cantankerous NASS weighed down with mostly selfish interests have achieved zero or even negative development. Do some politicians have a ‘Secret First Amendment to the Oath of Office – the decision to abuse their oath by demanding ‘money for votes’ in most Houses of Assembly – allegedly in the past some politicians’ favourite toy for self-enrichment? Are politicians deprived of this corruption in this government? Is this why the budget took forever to pass?

    What is the ‘Development Score Card’ for the federal government since the 80s using an apolitical yardstick? The federal government system as practiced since 1980s has failed every single United Nations (UN) and all other international development indices – an abysmal failure resulting in the renewed demand for ‘restructuring’  i.e. true federalism, fiscal federalism, removal of many items on the exclusive List, a proper US government system or better a UK parliamentary system, unicameral parliament with dissolution of the senate or joining of the two and halving the total number, sitting allowances only for politicians and which are paid by their states to keep them focused; Value Added Tax (VAT) spent where it is made, land use changes, re-nationalization of all past oil-blocks with new negotiated limited leases e.g. 5-10 years with much more going to LGA and nation.

    In addition, if the judiciary is [an ass], corrupted, unresponsive, unreliable, slow [justice delayed is justice denied], and indecisive [the last hope of the common man], there will be negative development i.e. minus development and a loss of ‘Happiness’ and even the perpetual ‘Hope’ – all key ingredients of ‘Gross National Happiness Index’, a UN measure of development. We await a generation of politicians who love Nigeria more than themselves and will put their vision of Nigeria above themselves and their pockets.

    Corruption, aka stealing, in the 60s used to be at 10%. How do we explain or exist financially in 90-100% corruption today? Corruption, aka stealing thrives on secrecy. Is corruption a drug that the corrupt, aka thieves, must be weaned off slowly?  No. From the child stealing food in the kitchen to the minister taking cuts from inflated contracts, corruption, aka stealing, can be stopped immediately.

    Everyone: Corruption can stop today. A personal decision – ‘Today – To be or not to be- A corrupt person, a thief? That is the question’! Buhari cannot answer for you. Is Buhari to stop corruption as if ‘CORRUPTION, aka STEALING, IS A LEGITIMATE RIGHT OF TRUSTED OFFICIALS TO MANIPULATE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDS AND CONTRACTS WITHIN THEIR CARE’? He does however need a well led and widely deployed army of ‘honest’ proactive CID, EFCC, ICPC and tax people, under close scrutiny themselves, to intimidate you into stopping corruption on fearful, if not moral grounds. When the corrupt get caught, we rise to their defence. They entangle the country in reality TV court drama, smiling at every ‘adjournment’ opportunity and becoming ‘corruption, aka thieving celebrities’. And now we plea-bargain for the return of part of our stolen money. Imagine what the huge funds returned so far would have done for Nigeria if properly spent  on salaries as and when due, services and infrastructure. Perhaps these ASUU, NARD and the subsequent strikes would never have been necessary and the pain to workers avoided? This is the huge ‘Lack of Development Cost of Corruption’ affecting every Nigerian. Corruption, stealing, is an iceberg destroying and sinking Nigeria’s Titanic development. We see only 5-10% of any iceberg with the 90-95% still hidden behind the ‘smiles and lies’ of the corrupt, aka thieves! In this country the wheels of government are held back by the corrupt and greased for movement only after a greasy bribe -corruption.

    Just as INEC cannot stop you from ruining elections, Buhari is back but cannot stop you from being corrupt, a thief. Only you can stop that. However Buhari has responsibility to install ’Zero Corruption Strategies’ and act on the ‘N400b Corruption National Bureau of Statistics report’ and  institute ‘Weekly Corruption Perception Reports’ among all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) especially the ones dealing with roads, ports, drugs. After two years in office it is unacceptable that ‘2017 New Corruption’ still exists on our streets! These MDAs must be cleaned up or government will lose the next election. President Buhari will not police corruption at every customs border, Police or FRSC checkpoint or NAFDAC license application or raid. However he must challenge, query, suspend and sack heads of MDAs if they fail to halt corruption for ‘Zero Corruption on My Watch Target’ in public perception. If Buhari questions his MDA heads, the heads will question their subordinates who will repeat the process down to the checkpoint, border and drug raid. All this can be achieved in one month.

    NB: Nigerians discover a new generation of untainted ‘I LOVE NIGERIA’ KNOWLEDGEABLE CANDIDATES for 2019.

  • Senators earn N3bn per annum – Sagay

    Senators earn N3bn per annum – Sagay

    Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay has disclosed that an average Nigerian Senator earns three billion naira per annum.

    He made the revelation while delivering the Nigerian Society of International Law (NSIL) Public Lecture titled  “The Many Afflictions of Anti-Corruption Crusade in Nigeria” as Guest speaker on Wednesday in Lagos.

    “From the information I have gathered, a Nigerian Senator earns about #29 million a month and over #3 billion a year,” Sagay stated.

    The comprehensive breakdown of the salary of the Senators given by Professor Sagay amounted to  #3, 264, 329, 264.10 per annum.

    The breakdown of the salary of 29 million naira per month is as follows:

    Basic Salary #2, 484, 245.50;

    Hardship allowance, 1,242, 122.70;

    Constituency allowance #4, 968, 509.00;

    Furniture allowance #7, 452, 736.50;

    Newspaper allowance #1, 242, 122.70;

    Wardrobe allowance, 621,061.37;

    Recess allowance #248, 424.55;

    Accommodation 4,968,509.00;

    Utilities #828,081.83;

    Domestic staff #1,863,184.12;

    Entertainment #828,081.83;

    Personal Assistant #621,061.37;

    Vehicle Maintenance Allowance 1,863,184.12;

    Leave Allowance #248,424.55;

    Severance Gratuity #7, 425,736.50

    Motor Vehicle Allowance, #9, 936,982.00.

    “The younger the more corrupt”

    Sagay also spoke against the rush of younger politicians in haste to run the affairs of the country, noting that Nigerian politics has quickly declined since the first  Republic.

    According to Sagay, “One common thread that runs through the attitude of recent politicians borders on greed, avarice, self-service and accumulation of wealth at the expense of the country.”

    “Why the rush? A young politician who wants to run at 25 will still become 30, it is just a matter of five years. Why can’t they wait to run? Most politicians are just consumed by greed and the younger they get, the corrupt they become,” the professor said.

  • When women artists tackled corruption with Art-titude

    When women artists tackled corruption with Art-titude

    Some 20 women artists from the Southwest, under the auspices of the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAAN), are of the view that true change is possible, but it begins with attitudinal change. They are opposed to some pessimists, who doubt if truly the much-envisaged change will come. Their two-week art campaign-cum exhibition, tagged: Art-titude, which ended last Friday at the Yusufu Grillo Gallery, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos (YABATECH), supported their optimism. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

    The Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH)  was alive for two weeks with brilliant displays of diverse artworks that left guests spellbound.

    For two weeks, the prestigious Yusufu Grillo Gallery was set aglow with drawings, paintings, ceramics, sculptures, photography, textiles, installation and mixed media by 20 women artists from the Southwest.

    Tagged: Art-titude, the exhibition-cum art campaign, which came to a close last Friday, was put together by the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAAN), in collaboration with Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH).

    From the theme, one could see that the artists were making a special case for attitudinal change.

    Curated by Taiwo Sorunke of YABATECH, the exhibition featured over 40 works, highlighting themes around women, in addition to corruption, politics, agriculture, security and environmental degradation, among others.

    “The exhibition and its theme is a call for change in attitude, for unity, for creativity and all that the woman in Proverbs 31 stands for,” began FEAAN Vice President Dr Stella Awoh, adding: “It is not about feminism, but we have chosen a united voice to call for a change, especially of attitude, through our arts. Corruption is attitudinal. To change Nigeria would require a change in our attitude.”

    Decrying the dearth of women practising art in the country, Awoh attributed this to lack of proper art empowerment, art infrastructures, art policy and support from government and society. While encouraging women artists, who have lost their brushes in the face of the bedevilling challenges, to pick them up again, she said there would be another opportunity for women to exhibit again in November/December.

    “We can sustain this mandate/exhibition yearly through the support of all, including the government, corporate bodies, art lovers and the society at large. We are grateful to the project team and YABATECH for the support. We are looking forward for more partnerships with the school, other galleries to give us their space for free and corporate and government support,”she said.

    Over the last 10 years, FEAAN has held several exhibitions, touching on social, political and gender-based issues. Art-titude, according to FEAAN National President, Mrs Ngozi Akande, is a maiden edition by its members based in the Southwest, led by the Southwest Coordinator, Mrs Ayoola Omovo.

    The artists included Awoh, Omovo; Secretary of the Southwest Zone,  Clara Aden; the zone’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mayen Owodiong; the zone’s Treasurer, Queen Nwaneri; Nike Okundaye Tabitha Odigli; Dr Rita Doris Ubah; Rev. Abigail Lemon; Patience Anthony-Euba; Oluchi Zom; Jaachinman Nwaje; Funmi Akindejoye; Jane Nwaopara of YABATECH; Titilayo Omuighe of YABATECH; Aisha Idirisu; Hafsat Kabir Zayanu; Evelyn Osagie (Senior Correspondent with The Nation; Esuru Belema Ichoku and Sophia Omon Igbinovia.

    “For over a decade, we have been celebrating women and womanhood every March 8 as International Women’s Day by showcasing inspiring and provocative artworks of Nigerian women artists, each telling their unique story. This exhibition, which ran from August 18 to Friday, September 1, is another initiative that seeks to encourage and give women artists visibility. It is also part of our mandate of empowering women by creating platforms for them to exhibit. It is also part of our drive to reach out to more women artists all over Nigeria through the zones,” Akande said.

    The exhibition drew notable names from the art community, including art scholars, curators, art enthusiasts and students.

    At the unveiling were former President of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA),  Kolade Oshinowo; the Dean of YABATECH School of Art, Design and Printing, Kunle Adeyemi; Ato Arinze, a sculptor; Emodi Tony, an artist and Rasheed Amodu, an artist.

    Oshinowo called for more of such initiatives and partnerships, urging more women artists to come forward with their talents.

    Adeyemi said: “It is no news that Nigerian art sector is rich with talented women. However, there is need for increased support for the womenfolk. Art-titude is another splendid contribution by talented Nigerian women to the art world. I commend the display of talents and quality of works being exhibited. More needs to be done to harness the talents and energies of these women. Their contribution has its impact on the art world and Nigeria.”

    Sorunke reiterated Adeyemi’s words, observing that women in the arts have suffered under-representation in Nigeria’s contemporary art community.

    “The works are communicative, challenging and play significant role in the society. The exhibition is an expositive of ‘green’ areas which the stakeholders have hitherto not looked into. We, at the school of art, YABATECH, are more than ready to encourage fundamental development that will project contemporary art when it has to do with the collective will of our women. We will as much as possible encourage the world gender balance,” he added.

  • Buhari’s aide: corruption, inefficiency killing judiciary

    Buhari’s aide: corruption, inefficiency killing judiciary

    A case filed at the Supreme Court 10 years ago is yet to be assigned a date for hearing, a presidential aide said yesterday.

    The Special Assistant to the President on Prosecutions, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, who filed the case, believes the delay is dues to corruption and inefficiency.

    Obono-Obla said lawyers and litigants “pay through their noses” to have cases assigned or court papers served.

    The judiciary, he said, is averse to reform and should learn from the Kenyan example, where every stakeholder worked towards an efficient justice system.

    Obono-Obla, in a statement, said: “Why is the judicial system in Nigeria adverse to change? Look at Kenya and how it has reformed its own system.

    “See how effective and efficient the judiciary in Kenya is. See how audacious, bold, courageous and fearless judges in Kenya are.

    “See how an election petition was heard with dispatch, just three weeks after it was filed!  See how lawyers work together with the bench to deliver a landmark judgment.

    “In Nigeria, lawyers would devise all manners of legal maneuverings steeped in crass legal technicalities to frustrate justice. The judgment would be leaked several weeks before delivery.” According to him, the appellate courts are chaotic and have refused to adopt technology despite increased funding.

    “Before I was given an appointment while in law practice, I have appeals I have filed in the Court of Appeal for the past six years but till now, have not been heard. I also have several appeals I filed in the Supreme Court since 2007 and  till now, no date have been given for hearing of these appeals!

    ”To obtain a court ruling, you must pay through your nose; to obtain a certified true copy of judgment, you must pay through nose; to cause a court bailiff to serve a court process, you must pay through your nose.

    “To get a case to be assigned after filing, you must pay through your nose! Even in the Supreme Court to get an appeal to be assigned for hearing, you must pay through your nose.

    ”The registries in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court are a study in chaos, disorderliness and confusion. They have refused to embrace Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to organise their registry in line with international best practices,” he said.

    Obono-Obla  said judges hate progressive and forwarding lawyers, who do not parley with them to institutionalise corruption.

    He said the Kenyan judiciary was notorious for corruption and underhand dealings but was reformed with the cooperation of stakeholders.

    He said efforts to reform the judiciary had been frustrated by judges and lawyers.

    “The judicial system is just not working! Looking at how judges are frustrating trial of corrupt politicians despite the provisions of Administrations of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 (ACJA.) Section 396 (3) say matters must be heard day-to-day but judges are not enforcing it.

    “This government increased the budgetary allocation of the judiciary for the first time in 50 years, yet no reciprocation on the part of judges to reform the system! They are not interested! Otherwise, why would the judiciary allow it registry system to still remain the way it was one hundred years ago?

    “Why is it not possible to get a ruling or judgment as soon it is delivered? Why can’t we use ICT in filing of court processes? Why are appeals delayed in the Court of Appeal? The Court of Appeal is just a court of review; no evidence is adduced at that stage, so what is responsible for the delay?” Obono-Obla said.

    He also faulted judges’ appointment, saying it was not based on merit.

    “The appointment of judges is a lesson or study in corruption and nepotism! To be eligible to be appointed a judge, you must be well-connected; you must be a crony or lackey of a senior judicial officer or a relative or son or daughter of a senior judicial officer!

    “You must be seen to be a plaint or conformist or yes man! You must be ready to hobnob or kowtow to influential senior lawyers!

    “No wonder the recent survey carried out by the UNODC and National Bureau on Statistics named the judiciary and the police as the most corrupt public institutions in Nigeria,” Obono-Obla said.

  • Nigeria Police, corruption and human rights

    The Nigeria Police Force was established not for the purpose of business but for protecting the lives and properties of the citizens. But with what is obtainable today, it seems that the main aim of its establishment has been either rejected, abandoned or forgotten. Maybe the aim of the Force has been changed in the modern times since it was established in 1930, who knows?

    The abstract belief is that police is the friend of the people. In fact, the motto of the police is: “The police are your friends’’. Wait, whose friend?

    One doubts the authenticity and reliability of this motto with the way and manner the Nigeria Police performs its duty. The notion of an average citizen or almost all Nigerians is that: police is the greatest enemy of the citizens. They have caused more evil than good to people.

    If one is to study corruption in Nigeria, the Nigerian Police Force should be the leading case-study. On the infringement of fundamental human rights, the police are always on top of the list. For convenience, there is need, therefore, to discuss the two highlighted issues one after the other.

    On the issue of corruption, the Nigeria Police Force is not left out. The truth is even that, the synonym of corruption is the Nigerian Police. The whole system seems to be very corrupt. When those meant to fight ‘corruption’ are also very corrupt, what is expected of such body? To deliver the expected goods? What even amazes me the most is that, the process of recruiting candidates into the force is corrupt and that is a more reason why it is having the serious problems today.

    Many of the men who are into the Force are there, not because of the passion they have for the job, but for the extra gain that comes from it. The policemen seem to have metamorphosed the force to a business concern. Their main aim is no more to do their job but to make financial profit into their tattered pockets. They extort vehicle drivers and even threaten their owners. They waste people’s time without any good reason. What they need is just a token of N50 or N100. In fact, our roads have been “nairalised’’. No naira, no thoroughfare – this is just a total sorry case!

    Whether we believe this or not, that is the way they operate. To keep your soul from trouble, one just needs to ‘settle’ these men in black. If not, things funny can happen. There have been series of cases where police that are meant to fight criminal activities in the society are caught involving themselves in the same ridiculous act. It is no more news; it is known to all and sundry. We have heard news of how policemen cut-short the lives of those that have refused to bribe them. Uncountable cases of how the police have being colliding with criminals; all because of money. Many a times, criminals have been operating successfully due to the corruption spirit in the police. Once they are ‘settled’ they forget about the main purpose why they are on duty.

    Our police stations are the home of corruption too. No one visits the police station without dropping something. In fact, to get matter settled in your favour, the only thing to do is to be the highest bidder. Where your bid is lower, even if the case in the real sense is in your favour, the highest bidder will always be favoured. Virtually all the DPOs are aware of these corrupt acts – they all share the profit in their business; and this is the reason why the police can never be trusted by the common man. This indicates the fact that the Nigeria Police Force looks very much like a business concern with the way things are done.

    On the area of human rights, they are the key violators of rights. One of the functions of the police is to serve as the agent of government protecting people’s rights. What is seen in Nigeria is a very different case. The policemen violate the rights of citizens than any other institution. They are just too inhumane. They have killed, injured and dehumanized many without apology and with immunity. Without respecting the provision of the constitution pertaining to fundamental rights, they encroach on people’s rights in public.

    No doubt, the Police have, at least, some responsible officers. There are men and women of transparent honesty and proven integrity, but they are only few. And since the good percentage of the Force are all guilty of the charges levied above, there is need for the overhauling. You know, when palm oil is splashed on a part of a white handkerchief, the handkerchief completely loses its usefulness.

    First, government needs to finance and improve the Force. Mere seeing some policemen, at times, one just need to “settle’’ them because they look so ‘hungry’ and a hungry man is an angry man. Some of them wear tattered uniforms. All these signal the fact that the police force is not really catered for and that is why the government needs to do something – as urgent as possible.

    They need to be given training and orientation on what it takes to be a policeman. This is needed because many of them don’t even know what they are really into. They see the Force as a limited liability company that makes profit. This is not so, and many of them are not aware or pretend to be unaware.

     

    • By Dennis Anombem Ikedikwa Soeze