The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Council

  • Workshop on council autonomy

    Issues bordering on the autonomy of the local governments in Nigeria will dominate a public discourse which will be held Tuesday next week at the Shehu Musa Yar’Ardua Conference Centre, Abuja.

    Governor of the State of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the national president, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) Dr Ozo Nwabueze Okafor will lead other discussants while speaking on the theme: Local Government Authority: How Autonomous:?, said Tola Odusote Director of the Public Affairs Unit of CMC Connect. Odusote said the duo will be joined by others drawn from across politics, academia, civil society, among others,

    Odusote said the national discourse which is the second edition is sponsored by CMC in conjunction with O’Ken Ventures a Public Relations outfit.

    “This issue’ (local government autonomy) Oduoted said, “has been preponderant in the media and the general public, whether autonomy should belong to local governments or that state should continue to manage local governments. We shall be bringing discussants from every sphere to deliberate and in the end, issue a communiqué which will be forwarded to government at all levels, civil societies and other relevant agencies.”

     

     

     

  • The task before new Nigeria National Competitiveness Council

    The task before new Nigeria National Competitiveness Council

    President Goodluck Jonathan recently inaugurated an 18-member board for the newly created Nigeria National Competitiveness Council (NNCC) which he said was in line with the recommendation of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

    The Council is mandated, among others, to coordinate the efforts of both the public and private sectors to improve Nigeria’s competitiveness, and recommend relevant policies and monitor and evaluate the progress being made at the national and sub-national levels.

    The WEF is an independent international organisation committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agenda. It conducts yearly assessment of the competitiveness landscape of 144 economies, providing insight into the drivers of their productivity and prosperity. Nigeria ranked 115 on an index of 144 in Its Global Competitiveness Index 2012–2013 report. Our neighbour-South Africa ranked 52- the best by an African country. This initiative, therefore, though overdue is a welcome relief to the charred business terrain in Nigeria.

    Competitiveness in trade involves policies that ensure that goods and services meet the quality standards of the local and world markets at prices that are competitive and provide adequate returns. Considering that our country is still struggling to provide a competitive investment environment, the new NNCC is expected as a matter of priority to ensure that all the parameters of doing business in Nigeria is streamlined to meet international best practice to garner competitive pricing and quality. This is a huge task as it is called upon to virtually transform the business culture of Nigeria, which will of necessity include review of enabling laws. Organisations that will necessarily be implicated include: Corporate Affairs Commission (speedy registration of business); Custom (import and export duties and regime); CBN (foreign exchange policies); Aviation ( competitive air tariffs); NEPA (uninterrupted power supply); Immigration (Visa and travel documentations); FIRS( taxes, rebates and exemptions); Commercial banks and allied financial institutions (reasonable credit facility regulations); land acquisition, transfer and documentation, to name a few.

    Policies, which rationalise and simplify the conditions of doing business increase the economy’s overall productivity and competitiveness. In several instances the effectiveness and efficiency of domestic policies, including the policy initiatives taken to improve competitiveness, are affected by the conditions prevailing in the international sector. Therefore, Nigeria must work with other nations in a system established to provide stability, predictability and growth in international markets. The World Trade Organisation is such a system, with its framework emphasising   good governance, open market, due process, transparency, credible dispute settlement and reducing arbitrariness in the area of international economic relations. Having been a member since 1995, Nigeria must maximise the potential it provides. There is no alternative to the multilateral trading system.

    While it is expected the new NNCC will as a matter of priority will concentrate on developing policies that will improve the landscape for foreign investment in Nigeria, increasing competitiveness also requires equal attention to improving the ability of Nigerian corporations to tap the international market with an even bigger task to create an enabling environment where more firms can emerge. The communication sector is one clear area that has the potential to birth more networks breaking the existing monopoly of a few. In hitting the ground running, the new Council should, therefore, focus on policies: to reduce costs of doing business to allow more firms to compete and engage in international trade, realign technical barriers to trade, provide better infrastructure and capacity to improve distribution services.

    Complementary to NNCC is the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) established in 1992 to, among others, protect the rights of consumers and provide complaints mechanism to redress their violation. The two Councils have the potential to transform the competitive landscape of Nigeria. Indeed while the NNCC formulates policies to attract investment amongst others, The CPC, if well positioned, should provide redress for consumers of such good and services that fall short of the international quality standards.

    The normative defect of the CPC which has hampered its effectiveness is being addressed according to the President Jonathan in his statement inaugurating the NNCC. The mandate of CPC will be expanded and the refurbished CPC will be known as “The Competition, Anti-Trust and Consumer Protection Council” and a Bill to that effect will soon be presented to the NASS, says the President.

    Of course, competition as distinct from competitiveness involves rules that restrict abuses by large, dominant firms; rules that prevent abusive use of anti-dumping; rules that allow only mergers that benefit consumers and rules that act against cartels. For consumers, the benefits of competition should be a given. When firms have to compete for consumers’ money they tend to reduce prices and innovate. Captive customers are routinely exploited. Therefore, the improved CPC should bring succour to anguished consumers who have had to contend with substandard goods and services.

    Baroness Lynda Chalker, coordinator of the Honorary International Investor Council, assured in her brief remark at the inauguration, that notwithstanding the security and other challenges, Nigeria remained one of the hubs of emerging business climate in the world. To realise this goal, there is need for a further commitment from the government to guarantee the maximum actualisation of the mandates of the two Councils. Adequate funding, independent space for the Councils to work and the political will to implement and timely too, recommended policies of the Councils are sine qua non to a vibrant industrial and service sector. Our dear country has the potential of been transformed to a precious bride with more suitors than it can handle.

    • Atoki, a lawyer is chair person, African Union Commission on Human and Peoples Rights.

     

  • Shippers’ Council to attract 3m cargoes

    The Acting Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello, has led a trade delegation, comprising port concessionaires, administrators, government officials and other shipping service providers, to Niger Republic.

    The visit is expected to attract over three million metric tonnes of cargo to Nigeria’s sea ports.

    The trip, according to a statement, was at the instance of the Ministry of Transport to convince the land-locked Niger Republic to patronise Nigeria’s sea ports.

    Bello said: “What we are doing is part of efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Government of Niger Republic to discharge their international law obligations as coastal/transit state and landlocked state.”

    He said the meeting between Nigerian maritime industry operators and the Niger Republic business community was facilitated by the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Development.

    The NSC boss told The Nation the Council aims to attract up to three million metric tonnes of Niger Republic’s consignments to the Nigeria’s sea ports annually.

    “At present, Niger Republic is doing about 2.5 million metric tonnes in Benin Republic, 1.5 million metric tonnes in Togo, and close to a million metric tonnes in Ghana. Nigerian ports can do up to three million metric tonnes annually, and up to 2,000 Niger Republic-bound containers monthly from our projection. Don’t forget also that Nigeria has strong diplomatic relations with Niger Republic, and an international obligation to landlocked countries around it. We believe the visit will open up a bundle of business opportunities for our ports.

    “It may interest you to know that, until the year 2006, about 70 per cent of Niger Republic cargo transited through Nigerian ports, as against the current zero percent. So, the mission is aimed at attracting back Niger Republic’s cargo to Nigerian ports and ensuring access of their cargo to Nigerian seaports,” Bello stated. Major imports into Niger Republic, like Nigeria, are mostly consumer goods, while the country exports uranium, sesame seed, Arabic gum, groundnut and skin.

    “Niger Republic is an oil producing country, and looks up to the ports of neighbouring countries to export crude,” he said.

    Bello, who assumed the mantle of leadership at the NSC in December last year, said his major concern is to reinvigorate the Council to play its role of trade facilitation.

    “We have started the process of reinvigorating the shippers’ associations all over the country. We are the secretariat of all the shippers in Nigeria – importers and exporters – and we must now begin to really protect their interests,” he stated. Bello said, under his leadership, service delivery will become the watchword for all NSC staff.

    “Service delivery is important. We are here to serve the shippers. We have been solving their problems and attending to their complaints but now we need to automate the process. We’ll acquire toll-free numbers where they can call in and lodge their complaints and receive prompt attention from our staff,” Bello said.

     

  • Council grants artisans loans

    In a bid to eradicate poverty, the Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area in Lagos State is set to disburse loans worth 100 million to artisans and traders in the council.

    This was disclosed by the council chairman, Hon Bolaji Muse-Ariyoh at the quarterly town hall meeting held within the council premises.

    According to him, loan will be given out to the beneficiaries’ based on their group, this he said, will help for quick repayment of the loans.

    Hon Muse-Ariyoh said the poverty alleviation and empowerment programme through the loans is in fulfilment of his campaign promises.

    “We are here today for poverty alleviation programme. We have a lot of less-privileged in our domain. So, we have made poverty alleviation and empowerment our cardinal objective; it is one of our campaign promises. We believe that this N100 million loan will be a means to boost their income,” he said.

    The council chief stressed that his administration would not allow residents of his council to suffer unjustly, promising to teach them how to fish rather than giving them fish.

    “We have decided that instead of giving our people fish, we will teach them how to fish. That is why we have decided to facilitate the granting of the loan to them. We encourage people who want to key into the programme to join an association and it must be registered with the council”, he said.

    The council boss disclosed that the council had consulted different financial houses but was able to reach an agreement with a consultant who accepted to give the loan at 17 per cent interest rate which he said was the lowest of all.

    Hon Muse-Ariyoh stated that it is one of his cardinal points to alleviate the sufferings of the residents of Oshodi Council through empowerment.

    He seized the opportunity to reel off his achievements since he came into office. He said his administration had rehabilitated roads and provided other social amenities.

    “We have been able to renovate the council secretariat, build canteen which is at 80 per cent completion, rehabilitate roads and construct drainages within the council, ” he said. He promised more dividends of democracy to the residents.

    Senior Partner, Tridone Consulting, Mr Mayowa Adebayo who is the consultant liaising between the local government and the bank, said the loan will help the traders and artisans grow in their businesses.

  • Council, hospitals take delivery of DFID-funded drugs

    KOSOFE Local Government Area on Lagos mainland and six different healthcare centres have taken delivery of health commodities and equipment worth several millions of naira as part of the Drug Revolving Fund scheme by the DFID-UKaid channelled through Partnership for Transforming Health Systems II (PATHS2), Lagos.

    The official roll-out of the first phase of the scheme which kicked off at the Lagos State Central Medical Stores, Oshodi, recently, is expected to provide drugs and equipment valued at about N750million to various public and private healthcare centres across the state.

    While presenting the drugs to Executive Chairman, Kosofe LG, Hon. Babatude Sofola, Mrs. Bisi Tugbobo, State Team Leader, PATHS2, Lagos, who led other officials of PATHS2 including Pharm. Salihu Idris, States Logistics Coordinator, PATHS2, Abuja, Logistics Adviser PATHS2, Kano, Pharm. Kabir Yusuf and Strengthening System Logistics Officer, PATHS2, Lagos, Pharm. Oluwafunmito Adeyanju, said the council was chosen for the pilot scheme having met all the requirements.

    Justifying the need for the scheme, Mrs. Tugbobo said it was a pro-poor programme which has the potential of delivering quality healthcare services to the populace.

    “With the funds from UK Aid channelled through DFID to PATHS2, Lagos, we were able to provide 3million pounds (about N750miilion) worth of drugs and equipments to 143 facilities in the first phase and additional 62 facilities in the next phase which takes off soon,” she said.

    An elated Sofola, who thanked the UKaid for the kind gesture, assured that his administration would build on the foundation laid by PATHS2 in its quest to ensure access to medical care for the under-privileged.

    In a related development, PATHS2 also presented various drugs to six private hospitals including Barbinton, Deltacrown, Firstcross, Ram Salom, Rally and Yomi Convalescent Home, all of which have signed a memorandum of understanding with PATHS2.

    Dr. Ademola Yusuf, Medical Director, Barbinton Hospital, who took delivery of the drugs for his facility at the Lagos State Central Medical Stores, Oshodi, lauded the initiative by PATHS2, saying it has the potential to improve healthcare delivery in the state.

    Echoing similar sentiments, Mr. Tachere Urhoro General Manager, Deltacrown Hospital, confirmed the receipt of over N800, 000 worth of drugs, adding that the gesture will no doubt help to reduce the cost of treatment both to the patient and caregiver.

  • Council donates to fire victims

    Esit Eket Local Government Council in Akwa Ibom State has donated some relief materials to Mr Eli Okpo and members of his family, whose house was gutted by fire on November 5 last year . Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Mr Ibanga Etang, the Chairman of the council, said the donation was in fulfilment of a promise he made when he visited to sympathise with the family over the fire incident. ‘

    ’Though these materials will not make up for the loss, trauma and difficulties you were exposed to by the incident, it will restore hope to you and assure you that the council shares your pains. It behoves us to assist our people at the grassroots who face challenges as a result of disaster, to touch their lives and restore hope to them,’’ Etang said.

    Items donated by the council’s chief included mattresses, pillows, beddings, kitchen utensils, assorted food items, vegetable oil, other consumables and cash gift. He also gave an assurance that the council would assist members of the family to rebuild their house that was reduced to ashes.

    In his remarks, Okpo praised the council chairman for his timely intervention. He noted that through the donation of the materials, Etang had demonstrated that his leadership was compassionate.

    ‘’I am very pleased with this intervention by the council; it is very unusual to find public office holders with this level of commitment to the welfare of the down-trodden. ‘’This is very remarkable and we are glad to be given hope; it has not been easy; we have been surviving by the grace of God as we lost everything we possessed to the fire,’’ he said. It would be recalled that the residence of Okpo was gutted by fire that destroyed valuables, at 2 a.m. when members of the family had gone for a vigil on November 5,last year.

  • Council inaugurates economic team

    The Chairman, Igbogbo Bayeku Local Council Development Area, Hon. Adegbenga Basanya has inaugurated an economic team for the council. The team is to improve the infrastructural facilities, tackle unemployment and poverty and make judicious use of scarce resources for the overall development and growth of the council.

    Speaking at the event, Hon Basanya maintained that the council had become a semi-urban area as a result of the influx of the middle-class group from Lagos. With a population of about 800,000 people, majority of who are living in their own houses, the community will, no doubt, need an infrastructural renewal to meet up with demands of modern development and growth.

    The council chief used the occasion to appraise the performance of his administration. He reeled off his achievements so far and said: “Undoubtedly, this administration has recorded some appreciable level of achievement in all sections, especially in the areas of education, primary healthcare and provision of other social services to the community.”

    He further said that despite these achievements, his administration would continue to make life more comfortable for the residents.

    Also contributing, former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Olorunfunmi Bashorun, who implored the committee to be dedicated in their assignment in order to bring about infrastructural turn-around for the community.

    “You all are achievers and have accumulated a lot of knowledge from all endeavours, let us come together and turn things around in this our local government which we can be proud of in our life time in order to realise Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA of our dream.

    Dr Idowu Omobitan, a lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU) who is also the chairman of the economic committee, promised, on behalf of others, to make Igbogbo/Bayeku community excel by making use of their wealth of experience to work with the chairman so that the expected desired result wouldbe achieved.

  • Kwara ACN hails Supreme Court ruling on council chair

    •Flays attack on CPC office

    The Kwara State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday said Monday’s ruling by the Supreme Court, which affirmed the reinstatement of the sacked Ekiti Local Government Chairman Dele Abiodun, is a rebuke of “the illegalities, corruption and impunity of the Bukola Saraki years”.

    The apex court, on Monday in Abuja, threw out the appeal filed by the Kwara State Government and upheld the decision of the Appeal Court, which held that Abiodun was illegally sacked and should be paid his entitlements till the day his tenure expired.

    In a statement in Ilorin, the state capital, by ACN Chairman Kayode Olawepo, the party said: “On Monday, January 7, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment, handed down a sharp rebuke to the illegalities, corruption and impunity of the Bukola Saraki years in Kwara State by upholding the Appeal Court ruling, which reinstated the sacked chairman of Ekiti Local Government, Dele Abiodun.

    “We recall that Abiodun, a staunch advocate of local government autonomy, was summarily dismissed without any form of fair hearing by the Saraki administration for no other sins than his challenge of the illegal deduction of funds accruing to his council from the Federation Account. Abiodun heard of his dismissal on Radio Kwara without receiving a prior letter. His councillors were later coerced to do a kangaroo impeachment and Abiodun was, in what was akin to the Joshua Dariye saga, sent away from the seat, for which the people of the council had elected him.

    “But, as the lower courts had affirmed, the Supreme Court said an emphatic no to the rule of thumb that was the hallmark of the Saraki administration. This ruling is indeed a confirmation of our consistent stand that the regime was as lawless as it was corrupt – contrary to the fake appellation of ‘transparent leader and democrat’ being accorded the former governor by the hungry crowd in the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “We salute Abiodun for his courage, belief in the rule of law and dogged fight for justice and fairness in the face of intimidation and political victimisation.

    “Although Abiodun’s term has lapsed, the ruling is a victory for the rule of law and fairness and a rebuke to the impunity that was the norm in that era. We hope that Kwara State will, without further delay, pay all the entitlements and the arrears due to Abiodun as an elected chairman.”

    The party also condemned the attack on the Congress for Proghressive Change (CPC) office in Ilorin.

    It described the attack as a threat to democratic freedom and public peace.

    ACN added: “We also condemn the attack on the CPC secretariat in Ilorin allegedly by some PDP thugs. We join the CPC to call on the law enforcement agencies to bring the culprits to book in the interest of communal peace. No political party should be allowed to constitute a threat to the existence of others or individuals for holding divergent views.

    “We note with dismay that the attack on the CPC office came days after the party issued a scathing criticism of the PDP for resorting to name-calling because Kwara ACN leader, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), pointed out a serious anomaly in the state’s 2013 budget, in which the recurrent expenditure far exceeds capital expenditure.”

     

  • Council declares three-day fasting, prayers for Wada

    Council declares three-day fasting, prayers for Wada

    The Kogi Youth Council on Monday declared a three-day special fasting and prayers for Governor Idris Wada, who was involved in a car crash on December 28.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Chairman of the council, Mr. Emanuel Godwin, in Abuja.

    The statement, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, stressed the need for all youths in the state to commence the fasting and prayers for the quick recovery of the governor.

    It also called on Nigerian youths to join their Kogi counterparts in prayers for the speedy recuperation of the governor, saying that “Wada was a lover of the youth.”

    Besides, the council appealed to the Federal Government to intensify efforts on road rehabilitation and construction to avoid further loss of lives daily.

     

  • Imo council chiefs: probe Okorocha for N13.5b bond

    The reinstated chairmen of the 27 local governments of Imo State have urged anti-graft agencies to probe Governor Rochas Okorocha for alleged misappropriation of the N13.5billion bond.

    In separate petitions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the council chiefs accused the governor of mismanaging the money, which was allegedly handed over by former Governor Ikedi Ohakim.

    They addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja under the aegis of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

    Besides, the chairmen urged the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and security agencies to disarm and disband the Imo Security Network, a private armed gang, which they alleged was allegedly terrorising the residents.

    The Secretary of the group, Enyinnaya Onuegbu said: ”Since June 2011, the Joint Accounts Committee in Imo State has not functioned and all statutory allocations due to the local governments, totalling over N80billion, has been misappropriated by the governor.

    “Governor Okorocha has also used the allocations due to local governments in the state as a collateral to borrow over N45billion from Zenith Bank Plc and another N28billon from Diamond Bank Plc. These borrowings are clearly illegal. State governments are not allowed to borrow more than 50per cent of their previous year’s allocation. Here again, Governor Okorocha is showing his contempt for the rule of law. By his own admission, he has committed Imo State to contractual obligations worth over N400billion. Yet, there are no documents for these contracts.”

    Onuegbu alleged that Okorocha’s first step towards dictatorship was the destruction of democratic institutions in Imo State.

    Advising the governor to stop ridiculing the Judiciary, the council chairmen urged the AGF to make Okorocha obey the Court of Appeal judgment that reinstated them after they were sacked.

    They listed the commissioners in Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), the Jusicial Service Commission, the chairman of Council of Traditional Rulers and the sacked 10,000 civil servants as those who have won judgments or obtained injunctions against the governor.

    Onuoegbu said: “To allow the governor to get away with sundry illegalities and serial disobedience of the courts is to encourage anarchy.”

    The embattled Chairman of Ngo-Okpalla Local Government also accused Okorocha of selling off the equipment the Ohakim administration bought for Imo Roads Maintenance Agency (IROMA).

    He said: “IROMA, which was established by law, acquired assets worth over N12 billion for the councils for the maintenance of roads and other facilities. Each of the 27 councils had a brand new grader, an excavator, a tipper, a Hilux operational vehicle, 100 motorcycles and other working tools…”