The Nation Newspaper

Tag: crippling

  • IKEDC estimated billing crippling MSMEs

    IKEDC estimated billing crippling MSMEs

    SIR: I wish to share my experience with the Ikeja Electricity Development Company (IKEDC), which needs to be addressed urgently to help small businesses survive, especially in Agodo Alara area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.

    I run a micro ice block production enterprise in Agodo Alara, Ikorodo but the IKEDC power bills invoiced to my small business in the last three years have been alarming. The problem started about three years ago when I was charged over N100,000 in one month. I just have a handful of machines to produce ice block and a few workers who make a living from the mini factory, and the new bill was a total shock because the business could not sustain such. So I invited the IKEDC officials to assess the premises and the business operations. Specifically, one Godwin from IKEDC Odogunyan business office came with me for the inspection and after assessing the place, assured that there would be a reduction from the following month’s billing. It’s unfortunate that rather than reduce, the bill kept increasing and as at today, the ‘estimated’ bill has increased to over N800,000.

    Why I know the estimated bill is inaccurate is that my machines have reduced significantly in the last two years due to wear and tear, yet the IKEDC power charges keeps skyrocketing. I have tried all within my power to get the prepaid meter, including sending letters of complaint and visiting the IKEDC head office but my efforts have been in vain. The IKEDC officials claim that they do not have prepaid meters.

    The story is similar for other small businesses in the area. I therefore plead that you publish this story and perhaps, the IKEDC and the Ministry of Power can come to our rescue.

    Permit me to note that many countries that have pulled out of economic recession allude to the role of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSMEs) and the manufacturing sector in their successful comeback. They share stories of how the ingenuity of small businesses and individuals improved productivity, created employment and wealth which quickly turned around the economic fortunes of many communities for the better. But here in Nigeria, specifically in Agodo Alara, Odogunyan, Ikorodu in Lagos State, the IKEDC seems to rather target micro and small businesses for ‘the kill’. Every month, they invoice our small businesses with outrageous estimated bills which do not commensurate with the size of our operations, supply nor actual consumption. IKEDC, please provide us with prepaid meters in Agodo Alara, Ikorodu or review your estimated bills in line with the reality of our operations.

     

    • Mrs. Margaret Adeyemi,

    Ikorodu, Lagos. 

  • Crippling Olugbon of Orile Igbon’s stool?

    SIR: The above question becomes imperative because of the controversy trailing the surprise installation of a new Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Francis Olusola Alao, in Surulere Local Government, Oyo State. The last Olugbon, Oba Samuel Adegboyega Osunbade, Adeyelu II, FCA, FCIS joined his ancestors on October 14, 2016.

    The installation of a new Olugbon took people of the town and Ogbomoso Township as a surprise on Wednesday July 19, when the news flittered in their Olugbon had been installed. Since his installment, local radios have been airing conflicting news and disclaimers from the ruling houses of the Olugbon. From the feelers, the new Olugbon does not belong to any of the five ruling houses in the towns that have been ruling the town since about AD 1200.

    The drama ensuing from the Olugbon installation to me is unfortunate because it appears unseen forces are behind the confusion created for Olugbon’s throne. Besides, it appears there is a plan to truncate the gains of Olugbon Osunbade’s era at Orile Igbon. If not, Olugbon of Orile Igbon is a first class Oba in Oyo State. He is also vice chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs, chairman, Surulere Local Government Traditional Council, and is a part 2 recognized Oba. According to the customary law guiding the selection of the Olugbon and recognized by the Chiefs Law of Oyo state as amended in 2000, there are certain steps to be taken in installing a new Olugbon.

    Firstly, after the demise of the Olugbon, Oyo state government will give 14-day notice to the community, most importantly, on the vacancy on the stool due to the demise of the Oba. Secondly, this notice would be conspicuously pasted in all nooks and crannies of the town as a public notice. At the expiration of 14-day notice, since Olugbon stool does not have a chieftaincy declaration, the whole ruling families would meet to select candidate or candidates to fill the vacant position in the town. The meeting will be witnessed by security agencies and the minutes of the meeting would be taken by the secretary to the local government who acts as ex officio for the meeting. The secretary will compile the minute of the kingmakers’ meeting and the name of the Oba-elect and forward same to the governor through the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters.

    From all indications, this process was not followed. Instead of following the law, Surulere Local Government was tasked to conduct the selection. The process of selecting the present Olugbon shows that there is a ploy to cripple the throne which is highly unfortunate. The stool and Orile Igbon town witnessed a lot of vicissitudes before Olugbon Osunbade rejuvenated them. Therefore, it is surprising to see the kind of controversy emanating from the stool.

    One is sad that when Oyo state government is making efforts to review Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration to make the stool proactive, the same government is promoting discord in another town.

    • Cornelius Olatoye, Gambari, Surulere LG, Oyo State

  • Crippling the wings of corruption

    SIR: Corruption has been with us for long so we need to be diplomatic in solving it.  In fact we need a 20-year plan to reduce corruption from 75% in the public sphere to less than 30%. It will never be an overnight battle and corruption can never be totally eliminated anywhere in the world.

    Without believing in the country, any money that is budgeted for development will be diverted. Fact is that over 70% of leaders in Nigeria don’t believe in Nigeria, so we need to work on our belief system. Pensioners are not paid; graduates cannot get jobs even after waiting for 10 years. Minimum wage goes nowhere, naira is facing serious trial. One should not be deceived; corruption will thrive in this environment.

    According to the revenue mobilization commission, N1.1trillion naira is being paid to 17,000 workers in Nigeria as salaries and allowances from the President to the councillor, about 10% of the federal and states budget. This is very unfair but to pay N18,000 minimum wage is a hard task. The National Assembly’s budget is N115b for less than 4,000 persons (their aide’s and workers inclusive) while a state of three million persons has N100b as budget. Their oversight function have not increased electricity or built new refineries in the past 16 years. N20billion budget is more than enough for the National Assembly. Our president, lawmakers and ministers are one of the highest paid in the world but our minimum wage is the lowest in the world. Inequitable distribution of wealth equals corruption.

    The government needs to establish the anti-corruption ministry which will work with the National Orientation Agency to develop subjects and courses on corruption in our primary, secondary and higher institutions, appeal to our religious institutions to verify the zakat, tithes and offerings they receive, carry out anti-corruption seminars in the civil service, appeal to all Nigerians to shun corruption, produce adverts, dramas, soap operas and movies on the ills of corruption. This will help the nation greatly.

    About 70% of lawyers in Nigeria are corrupt; they are out to defend their income no matter the source. The government needs to reform the judiciary and set up anti-corruption courts.

    The Presidency and the civil service are riddled with corruption. Some are experts at paddling the budget, while others are ghost workers generators. A law should be passed to prevent any public servant from obtaining court injunction against being investigated. Once a public servant, it must be possible to be called at any time, even after 50 years, to explain the role you played in any department of the administration.

    Fighting corruption selectively is corruption itself.

     

    • David Atta,

    Abuja.

  • Insecurity crippling North’s economy, says NASCO

    Insecurity crippling North’s economy, says NASCO

    The Management of NASCO Group of Companies has lamented that the prolonged insecurity in some parts of the North has crippled the economy.

    The Jos, Plateau State-based manufacturing firm also said the dreams of business operators and company owners in Nigeria, especially in the North have been reduced to nightmare due to insecurity.

    Its Senior Administrative Manager, Shehu Sule Nyatau, who spoke yesterday in his office in Jos, the state capital, when the new executive members of the Correspondents Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists, paid him a visit, lamented that the development had taken a terrific toll on business.

    Nyatau said:“NASCO Group of company is one of the largest employer of labor in the north, but the prevailing insecurity in the north has killed our market in the country.

    “The major market of NASCO is northern Nigeria; we do record up to between 60 and 70 per cent sales in the north, but following the crisis in the zone, our sales have dropped down to as low as between 10 and 15 per cent.

    “Most of our distributors in the north take our products to neighbouring countries through routes in the north. “But all these have stopped because our drivers cannot even take goods to some states in the north because their safety is not guaranteed.

    “NASCO is still striving to penetrate markets in the East and Southern parts of the country because there is a concentration of manufacturing company there. So, unless the government acts fast in addressing the level of insecurity in the north, so many companies, such as NASCO will soon go out of business.

    “If you go to our wharehouse, you will see that we have piles of unsold stock and these stock has time frame to be sold or it will expire. We have laid off most of our workers because we can’t pay them.”

    Nyatau urged the government to step up action to curtail Boko Haram insurgency to give the economy a breath of fresh air.

    He, however, said the insecurity is a temporary challenge, adding that NASCO will bounce back when the heat is over in the North.