The Nation Newspaper

Tag: dialogue

  • UFUK Dialogue on national unity

    Recently, Nigeria has come under a deluge of hate speeches threatening to rend its very foundation apart. From provocative and violent language by Biafra separatists in the South-east, to the corresponding incitement by Arewa youths, the country has simply been pushed to the edge. Although those causing the trouble belong to the younger generation, some elders from both northern and southern parts of the country have done nothing to lower the political temperature. Rather, they have caused further tension.

    In reaction, acting President Yemi Osinbajo summoned major ethnic leaders to Abuja. During the meeting, he threatened fire and brimstones to ‘troublemakers’, insisting that the destinies of the various ethnic groups that make up Nigeria are permanently interwoven. Since we did not know what they told Professor Osinbajo, should we assume that what happened at the meeting was a monologue rather than a dialogue?

    Meanwhile, a civil society organization brought together opinion leaders in Abuja in a dinner dialogue. The event, organized by UFUK Dialogue Foundation and themed “Friendship and Dialogue Dinner”, had in attendance prominent religious leaders from both Islamic and Christian faiths, traditional leaders from both southern and northern parts of the country, prominent political officeholders, amongst others. They all preached peace and urged all to bury the hatchets.

    Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, who was in attendance restated the importance of cautious utterances and peaceful coexistence. He said there was no alternative to living together as One Nigeria.  ”God has put us all in this one boat called Nigeria,” he said. “And we really have no other option than to try to live together in peace with all our differences. We all must recognize and respect these differences. If we do not take that route, I do not see another alternative.”

    He reinforced the fact that the alternative to living in peace was a civil unrest.

    Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, spoke in similar fashion. He said the principle of UFUK Dialogue could resolve current challenges bedevilling the country. “One thing that struck me at this UFUK Dialogue programme is this saying, ‘Reserve a seat In Your Heart for Everyone’,” he said. “That is the solution to the complexity that constitutes the problem in a country like Nigeria, in terms of interrelationship. If you reserve a seat in your heart for everyone, you won’t promote insurrection. You won’t demand for your own republic. If you reserve a place in your heart for everyone, you wouldn’t give a Quit Notice to anybody on the basis of tribe.” I cannot agree any less.

    I believe that behind every veil of agitations and tribal jingoism are dissatisfied politicians. The average Nigerian, on his own, does not really care where his fellow countrymen hail from, by and large. When doing business, he will not abandon a good transaction or better product on tribal sentiments. When seeking for the services of an artisan, he simply wants someone who can do a good job. He doesn’t care if the plumber is a Yoruba, Hausa or Ibo. He won’t go looking for a Niger Delta plumber or Middle Belt mechanic. He will ask for a good plumber or mechanic.

    A look at the reaction that trailed the recent bank robbery video in Owerri will further reinforce this point. In the video that went viral, a policeman was seen gallantly engaging the armed robbers, and, as we later learnt, lost his life in the process. In other to support the family he left behind, a national daily, with some civil society organizations, set up a fundraising with a $15,000 target. This target was exceeded within 24 hours. And who were the donors, considering that the event happened in the South-east and to an Igbo? The larger part of the funds came from non-Igbo living outside South-east.

    The illustrations above indeed show that the threat to national unity does not come from the average Nigerian. Politicians are directly or indirectly responsible. I, therefore, urge them to desist from actions that are inimical to our unity. As the US-based Islamic cleric, Fethullah Gulen, recently noted, dialogue, mutual respect, meeting at universal human values and instilling security for people are necessity to our survival as a nation. “Although there have been some recent provocation based conflicts that appear to be religious oriented,” he said, “I hold the belief and hope that Nigeria is strongly proceeding towards a peaceful and happy future thanks to the broad-minded people and the educated generations, who view the future with hope.”

    Although Gulen, whose works were referred to by the President of UFUK Dialogue Foundation, Mr Kamil Kermabci, expressed confidence that Nigeria would overcome its challenges, I must add that such optimism can only materialize if Nigerians are resolved to extol national unity above all else. The followership must realize that the ‘leaders’ only play the tribal card when they are not personally benefiting from the ‘national cake’. That is when you hear the song of marginalization. We must remember that the current Biafra agitation began with complaints that Igbo were being left out from federal political appointments. But in reality, what has the ordinary citizen from the North benefited from this administration despite its so-called deep northern coloration? Is he better off because the President and his inner circle hail from his region?

    The truth is, the real marginalized are the poor, whether from North or South. The real marginalized are those who cannot have education. The real marginalized are those that cannot afford good medical care. The real disadvantaged Nigerian is the one that does not have decent roof over his head. Thus, we, the ordinary Nigerians, should not add to that list by creating victims of civil unrest because in the event of tribal conflict, our rulers won’t be the ones to be affected. They will be on the next flight abroad with their families.

    So as Cardinal Onaiyekan said, there is “no other option than to try to live together in peace with all our differences. We all must recognize and respect these differences”. If we do not take that route, the consequences, I’m afraid are too grave. We must, indeed, reserve in our heart a seat for everyone.

     

    • Oboh is an Abuja-based public affairs analyst. 
  • NUPENG seeks dialogue over Capital Oil crisis

    NUPENG seeks dialogue over Capital Oil crisis

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called on the Federal Government to embrace dialogue to resolve the lingering impasse between the management of Capital Oil and Department of State Security (DSS).

    There has been disagreement between Capital Oil and DSS over the former’s alleged illegal sale of petroleum products stored in its tank farm by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    But NUPENG, in a statement  by its President, Comrade Igwe Achese, stressed that it did not support the illegal diversion and sale of petroleum products stored in Capital Oil’s tank farm by NNPC.

    It, however, stated that it was of the opinion that the Federal Government cannot sit down and watch workers lose their jobs, as in the case of Capital Oil, where over 2,000 workers are idle.

    NUPENG stated that workers had the right to protest the non-payment of their salaries and allowances and that the Federal Government should secure the jobs of those working in the sector. It added that the global practice was for the government to secure and create jobs.

    The union cited the case of Seawolf Oil Services that was taken over by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) where the workers have not been paid the backlog of salaries and entitlements for over five years.

    Achese said NUPENG believed that the job creation mantra of the government should be allowed to come into play, rather than paving way for job losses as with the closure of Capital Oil.

    He called on the government to allow the workers resume work at the depot and load products so that their salaries can be paid instead of throwing them into the unemployment market for no fault of theirs.

    The union urged the government to use social dialogue to resolve the Capital Oil impasse, so that the 2,000 workers in the organisation and their families do not suffer untold hardship.

  • Inter-Generational Dialogue on Nigeria’s future

    My hypothesis is that most successful nations in history are those who have consciously engaged their elite formation and have tapped into what those elites have been able to offer the nation. Those which have negatively engaged their elites, and driven them into the Diasporas or into exile, have paid very heavy prices in terms of human capital underutilisation.

    Nigeria has a generational capital problem that feeds into her incapacity to facilitate a steady infusion of human capital development into her development process. Generational capital efficiency or deficiency derives from the accumulated utilisation or underutilisation of human capital over decades of a nation’s historical existence. In Nigeria, I have been concerned with three generations. The first consist of those who were present at the moments before and immediately after Nigeria’s independence. These were the “founding fathers” that negotiated Nigeria’s liberation from the colonial yoke. The second generation are those who confronted Nigeria’s postcolonial predicament arising from the booby-traps of colonialism, the volatility of the dynamics of post-colonial state formation and perhaps, the failings of the first generation that degenerated into civil war. That generation did not spare itself. It pronounced itself as a “wasted generation”.  The third generation in line is my generation (those in their late 40s up unto the 60s) which is far removed from trauma, euphoria and disillusion of Nigeria’s independence but which is nonetheless confronted with Nigeria’s protracted inability to build a nation out of its diversity. And we must not dare forget the next generations in line that are barely even managing to connect with the idea of “Nigeria”.

    The proposed inter-generational dialogue I am advocating takes its cue from several points of departure. One, there are the issues having to do with the unconnected historical dots relating one generation to the other in Nigeria’s development trajectory. Two, there are issues resulting from why each generation has failed to impact Nigeria beyond discrete achievements and engagement. Three, there are also issues concerning the relevance of the lessons from the successes and failures of these generations for Nigeria’s future. How are all these to be cumulated into a solid reform dynamics and framework deployed towards Nigeria’s development? An inter-generational dialogue is founded on the need to facilitate an elite alliance and network across and beyond ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious lines. It feeds into the professional but patriotic engagement with the Nigerian state in a manner that emphasises the relevance of an uncontaminated elite factor in national development. It has the singular potential, outside of the constraints of politics and political economy, to not only undermine the centrifugal factors that have kept elite apart and at each other’s throat over the obstacles the state places on their path. There is also the advantage of facilitating a genuine discourse across generations and historical contexts with the solid benefit of an accumulated understanding of what ails Nigeria and how her generational capital can be unleashed. Dialogue, says Jim Maclachlan, “is the oxygen of change.” That is, a dialogue that is motivated by a genuine love for country.

    At the core of this dialogue will be a major inter-generational conference that will unpack and unravel several issues relating to Nigeria’s development from past to present. And the agenda for this major conference will constitute one of the focuses of the dialogue. The least issue in such an agenda is who should facilitate. The answer would be anyone with the right patriotic and organisational wherewithal that cannot be subordinated to the whims and objective of government. I am willing to loan the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP) to this historic conversation around the future of Nigeria. Indeed, the objectives of the School revolve around making Nigeria work better than it is presently doing for the sake of democracy and development. But the choice should really be left to the decision of the critical mass of stakeholders involved in the dialogue. On methodology, the Dialogue will essentially be constituted around a multidisciplinary professional framework made up of scholars, thinkers, politicians, statesmen, entrepreneurs, young people, writers, professionals in various fields, professional organisations, NGOs, etc.

    One arbitrary process that will creep into the methodology of the dialogue would be the decision on those to deliberate on the event, its agenda, and terms of reference. This will require certain critical set of people whose engagement with the Nigerian state is beyond reproach. I have names at various levels— an Obasanjo/Anyaoku/Joda/Danjuma/Asiodu/Mabogunje/Bolanle Awe as statesmen, Osinbajo in politics, an Utomi in public intellection, Dangote/Elumelu/Atedo Peterside in industry, Chimamanda Adichie in literature, a Jibrin Ibrahim in civil society, a Toyin Falola in academia, a Matthew Kukah, in religion, Soludo in economics, Adamolekun in public administration, Imobighe/Sam Momah/Adekanye in military/defence, Chude Jidenwo in youth, Nkoyo Toyo in gender, Bolaji Aluko/Festus Odimegwu in S&T, Godwin Sogolo in philosophy, Ray Ekpu in media, Odia Ofeimum in poetry, Alex Gboyega in local government, Yemi Kale in statistics, Said Adejumobi in discourse, Osaghae in ethnicity, Suberu on federalism. The list can go on. Once this initial core group is determined, then an agenda can be outlined underpinned by core objectives, significant comparative and historical lessons, expected outcomes, and methodological frameworks around multi-pronged initiatives and programmes that will move the Dialogue forward beyond rhetoric and advocacy to policy imperatives and praxis. The specific outcomes that will be generated by the Dialogue would be sufficiently compelling to snap the government out of any doldrums.

    The initial agenda for the Dialogue and the initial preparatory discourse on the conceptualisation, design and implementation of the Dialogue would be underpinned by several critical items. First, there will be an ongoing population of a database of relevant personalities and organisations that will be relevant to the inter-generational dialogue. The database will be domiciled in a functional and dynamic website dedicated to the idea. Second, there will also be a massive national and diasporic enlightenment and public education programme aimed at different segments of the Nigerian society. The objective of the enlightenment programmes will be to facilitate a significant buy-in from the Nigerian population, as well as from critical policy actors at various levels of governance. Third, there must be a strenuous effort at integrating the Dialogue idea into existing administrative, sociopolitical and cultural institutional platform in a way that facilitate the leveraging of these institutions as critical success factors. Fourth, there must also be a serious research component that allows the Dialogue to connect with significant insights in scholarship and history. Nigeria is due for a radical reconsideration of her development options.

     

    • Dr. Olaopa is Executive Vice-Chairman,

    Ibadan School of Government & Public Policy (ISGPP)

  • We’re ready for dialogue, militants tell Buhari 

    We’re ready for dialogue, militants tell Buhari 

    Niger Delta agitators have expressed readiness to dialogue with the Federal Government for peace to return to the troubled oil-rich region.
    Four militant groups, under the aegis of Coalition of Niger Delta Militant Groups, spoke yesterday after their meeting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
    A statement by General John Duku, Leader of Niger Delta Watchdogs; General Ekpo Ekpo, Leader of Niger Delta Volunteers; Commander Henry Okon Etete, Leader of Niger Delta Peoples Fighters and Commander Asukwo Henshaw, spokesman for BFF, said the militants were ready for peace.
    They hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for asking Niger Delta militants to dialogue with the Federal Government during a visit of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to him on Christmas Day in Abuja.
    The statement reads: “We wish to assure Mr. President that Niger Delta militants and the people are 100 per cent ready to dialogue with him. We have no personal grudges against him and his government. We promise to work together to make Nigeria better.”
    The militants condemned the call for the resignation of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, by the Senate.
    They said such a call was not in the interest of the nation.
    The agitators said they uncovered a plot by some politicians to sponsor militants to protest for the removal of Lawal, warning that they would resist any attempt to sack the SGF.
    The statement added: “The allegation levelled against Mr. Lawal is baseless. They are not based on facts.
    It is the handiwork of some saboteurs who are planning to bring down and destroy this government by all means, knowing very well that the SGF is the engine room of this government. He is hardworking, 100 per cent loyal to the President and a threat to some self-centred politicians.
    “It is on record that Lawal has resigned his position as the Managing Director of the alleged company as soon as he was appointed the SGF. He neither presided over nor acted on behalf of the company anymore. However, a Senate committee refused to invite the SGF for public hearing because they knew what they were up to and must deliver, based on the directive from their paymasters.
    “We are fully aware of the ongoing plan to mobilise some Niger Delta youths and ex-militants to protest against the SGF. Millions of naira have been moved into Niger Delta to actualise this plan by using some powerful governors in the region.
    “At this crucial time, this government needs someone like Mr. Lawal, a trusted, loyal and hardworking man beside the President. Mr. Lawal must not be removed from office because of such frivolous allegations without proper investigation by authorised agency of government. We shall resist any force and any protest from any quarter to remove Mr. Lawal as SGF.”

  • Dogara: Championing interfaith dialogue

    For many devout Christians, the idea of combining the practice of their faith with active partisan politics is so antithetical that the mere thought of it is seen as a sign that one has backslidden. This is because active partisan politics, especially in Nigeria, is said to be a dirty game and adjudged to be associated with the things that Christianity vehemently preaches against: lying, covetousness, stealing and mentioning God’s name in vain, amongst others.

    Therefore when a group of politicians under the aegis of Northern Nigeria Christian Politicians converged on Abuja penultimate Saturday to honour the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Babachir Lawal, many critical observers were quick to dismiss it as an incongruous gathering. Not a few also wondered aloud about the capacity of politicians to hide under any guise to advance their cause.

    Never one to miss such an opportunity to articulate his thought, Speaker Yakubu Dogara would use the forum to hit squarely at the very issue that has continued to draw the northern part of the country backward: distrust among Christians and Muslims.

    “There are those who said look, time has come for the North to go back to those days of Sardauna where those who call themselves, or are referred to as the core North, will deliberately fashion out ways of patronizing their Christians brothers in the North,” he said.

    Dogara, who praised the efforts of some notable northern Muslim political leaders in cementing the hitherto fractured relations between the two dominant religious groups in the north, admitted that had northern Muslim leaders prevailed on their Reps not to vote for him, he would never have emerged as Speaker.

    It is his belief that the support he got from northern Muslims and the appointment of Engineer Lawal as SGF by President Muhammadu Buhari, is sending strong signals to all northern Christians that there is now as open invitation to them from their Muslim brethren for a renewed friendship that will foster unity and religious tolerance in the region, as in the days of the late sage and Premier of defunct northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto.

    As the speaker noted, one can say without fear of contradiction that it takes only a person of President Muhammadu Buhari to appointment a Lawal, a Christian from Adamawa State as the SGF, which is the first time such a plum position is ceded to northern Christians despite strong opposition from those who believed in maintaining the status quo.

    “It may interest you to know that among Sokoto State members, we lost only two votes. If all the members from Sokoto State alone had decided to vote for my opponent, there is no way we would have won that election. And in Zamfara, we lost one vote. But what does that speak to us? It speaks volumes: It’s an invitation to all of us to go back to the ways of our founding fathers. What ways?  When we used to work together and when we used to live together as brothers and sisters. That is the only way that we can live in peace which is a key ingredient for development. Without peace, we cannot even practice our religion. And as long as we don’t enjoy peace in our region, there is no way that we will experience development because even if we are developed, lack of peace will destroy it. Syria is a case in point. So that is the challenge before us. As they open their arms to embrace us, we should also open our arms to embrace them so that we can write a new political history” he told the gathering amidst thunderous applause.

    “For some of us who think Nigeria is a mistake, or that the North, having aggregated so many ethnic groups and then two dominant faith, is a mistake, I want to advise us to have a rethink.” According to him, “the one who put together Nigeria and the North is God and He has a purpose or reason for putting together the North or Nigeria that way. Therefore, anyone fighting for the disintegration of this country will not succeed because I believe God has a plan for Nigeria and likewise, anyone fighting to eliminate any faith in Northern Nigeria or for the destruction of Northern Nigeria will not succeed because I believe God has a plan for northern Nigeria too and until God is done with his plan, the north will remain as it is and similarly Nigeria will remain as it is. If anyone can upturn that, it means he is greater than God”. Gladly no one is greater than God.

    On his emergence as Speaker, he noted that Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, supported by many prominent northern Muslim leaders, worked tirelessly to bring about the present leadership of the House so as to give a sense of belonging to northern Christians in the APC government. Coincidently, whereas Dogara, hails from same place as Tafawa-Balewa, Tambuwal is not only from Sokoto just as Sardauna, he is also the governor there. It is worth recalling that just as Sardauna was able to galvanise support and rally people from all ethnic and religious groups in the north and even appointed northern Christians such as Sunday Awoniyi, Jolly Tanko Yusuf and others of blessed memory as his close aides and associates, Tambuwal too, seems to be treading Sardauna’s noble path in his time.

    This writer recalls with nostalgia, that on August 18, 2014, Tambuwal, then Speaker of the House of Representatives, along with the then Sokoto Governor Aliyu Wamakko, on the invitation of Dogara, visited Tafawa-Balewa to launch constituency outreach programme for his Bogoro/Das/Tafawa-Balewa Federal Constituency, the first of such visits by any top ranking northern Muslim political leaders in our recent history.

    They went not for politicking but with a strong message: peace and unity. When he mounted the rostrum to speak at the event, Tambuwal reminded the people of the long term relationship between Tafawa Balewa and the Sokoto caliphate which started with the late Premier Sardauna and Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa and urged the people to embrace peace. Less than one year after, Dogara, with the support of Tambuwal and others became Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    This is why the speaker appealed to his Christian brethren to, as a matter of necessity, reciprocate the gestures extended by our Muslim counterparts and forge a new era of northern unity as it existed in the days of Sardauna and Tafawa-Balewa. Not only that, he also had a strong message to the rather disparate Christian groups in northern Nigeria, “your growth will remain stunted for as long as you fail to provide a leadership for yourselves that is focused and ready to lead.”

    “We really need leadership and this event speaks to leadership. Without leadership, you cannot achieve anything. And if we thought in the Christian community in the north that progress is automatic, then we are mistaken.”

    “Alexander the Great said something which was quite true of his time and even now. He said he is never afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep but that he is always afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion. So that tells you that without leadership we cannot make progress. Leadership is so central and important that with the wrong leadership we won’t make progress. Therefore, as a community, we cannot afford to just stay without leadership, without organisation, without a platform where we articulate visions and how we can pursue them and hope that we can make progress. If we do that, we will be deceiving ourselves”.

    It is Dogara’s conviction that working together, we can forge a strong union and take back the region to the good old days when it was the envy of others.

     

    • Hassan is Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs to Speaker Dogara.

  • Navy to Niger Delta: respect dialogue

    The Navy has advised Niger Delta residents, especially militants in the creeks, to embrace and respect the dialogue between the region and the Federal Government.

    Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command (CNC) Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba spoke at the weekend when he led a medical outreach to Etegwe community in Yenagoa Local Government of Bayelsa State.

    Garba noted that if militants failed to embrace dialogue and continued with their criminal activities, they would lose public sympathy.

    The FOC said the free medical rhapsody was part of Navy’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) to boost civil-military relations.

    He said: “I expect the people to remember that the struggle is not drawing a line and making it look like a kind of crusading spirit. There must be ways of reaching compromises and concessions.

    “You can only reach those compromises and concessions through dialogue. The government has already given room for dialogue; so, let them embrace it. If they embrace it, it is better for the society and Nigeria.

    “But if they refuse to go into dialogue, there might be a tendency that that sympathy they are gaining from the people will be lost. It means they are now surrendering the call for peace to chaos and violence, which is not good for the society.”

  • Ogun workers strike: NLC writes Amosun, calls for dialogue

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has advised the Ogun state government to embrace meaning dialogue in resolving the current crisis between it and workers in the state or face a major industrial dispute from organised labour in the country.
    In a letter dated October 27, 2016 addressed to the the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, the congress offered to mediate between the government and workers in the state to ensure an amicable resolution if the crisis that has paralyzed activities in the state.
    In the letter signed by the General Secretary of Congress, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, the NLC also warned against the use of police to harass and intimidate labour leaders in the state, pointing out that the demands of the workers are legal and covered by extant labour laws in the country.
    The letter reads: “We convey to you greetings from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter on the above subject matter.
    “We are surprised by the stance of the state government on genuine agitations of the workers in Ogun State. Instead of the state government to create an avenue for dialogue and resolution of the crisis, it is engaging in name-calling which will only exacerbate the problem.
    “We are also surprised to hear that the Nigeria Police have cordoned-off the office of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Ogun State and have resorted to intimidating the Labour leaders in the state. We are also disturbed by attempts being made on the lives of the Labour Leaders in the state.
    “The Nigeria Police are expected to be neutral in this matter and are not expected to harass or intimidate workers who are pursuing their legitimate demands recognized by Nigerian Laws.
    “The present industrial action embarked on by the workers arose because of the failure of government to fully implement the March, 2016 collective bargaining agreement which led to the suspension of the strike in March. It should also be noted that a valid notice of intention to resume the strike was served on government which failed to avail itself of the period of notice to resolve the issues.
    “Meanwhile, we wish to restate the premise on which the agitations of the workers are hinged. These are the illegal withholding of deductions from workers salary in the last one year. These include 72 months of unremitted deductions of contributory Pension, Cooperatives deductions and other bank repayment loans as well as 12 months union check-off dues.
    “It also include unpaid gratuities of retirees for the last 2 years; sixteen months of unpaid workers’ salaries of the state-owned Tai-Solarin College of Education and the abolition of the Joint Account on Allocation Committee which has made salaries of Local government workers to be paid behind schedule.
    “According to the unions, all attempts to amicably resolve the issues through dialogue with the state government have not been successful. Not even the intervention of revered traditional rulers like Obas and other well-meaning citizens of the state could help change the position of the state government.
    “It is apparent that the withholding of these deductions and non-payment of gratuities and salaries of the affected workers have grossly affected meeting their basic needs and rendered their savings fruitless and ineffective.
    “We are of the view that the prevailing atmosphere of industrial dispute, which could snowball into a major industrial conflict between labour and government, is avoidable if government could step back and embrace meaningful dialogue to resolve the lingering issues with the unions.
    “If it becomes necessary, the NLC offers to be of assistance in making this engagement possible between the unions and government. It will be recalled that in pursuance of this bridge-building process, we had written Your Excellency on October 17, on the above subject but the letter was returned to us un-opened.
    “While hoping that you will give due consideration to our observations and suggestions, kindly accept the renewed assurances of our goodwill and best wishes.”

  • LCCI holds public-private dialogue on port efficiency

    LCCI holds public-private dialogue on port efficiency

    The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), in collaboration with the Financial Derivatives Company, an economic consultancy firm, is set to hold a Public-Private dialogue on Port Efficiency & Maritime Sector Roadmap in Nigeria. In a statement made available by LCCI, it said the objective is to design a roadmap for the transformation of the Nigerian maritime sector.

    The Stakeholders’ forum, which is billed to hold today by 9:30am in, Lagos, is expected to bring together key government agencies, major players at the ports, importers, exporters and other stakeholders to discuss the current state of the ports and proffer solutions to many problems militating against the growth and development of the sector and improve ease of doing business.

    LCCI Maritime Ports Research conducted in the third quarter of this year said the efficiency of port operations is a major driver of trade and economic activities across countries. It regretted that users and operators at the  ports have been facing lingering challenges and bottlenecks.”

    It further stated that improving ports governance for greater efficiency has major implications for the development of non-oil sectors at this time. It noted that growth and promotion of trade and economic activities could only be pragmatic, when economies thrive to provide a conducive and friendly environment.

    It reiterated that public authorities and the private sector have come to the realisation that the starting points for activating the diversification objective of the present government is fixing the ease of doing business at the nation’s ports.

  • Abdulsalami seeks dialogue to end security challenges

    Abdulsalami seeks dialogue to end security challenges

    ex-Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar has called for dialogue in resolving the nation’s security challenges created by the agitation of militant groups

    Gen. Abubakar spoke with reporters in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Saturday.

    He said there was no need for the threats arising from these agitators – Boko Haram, Niger Delta Avengers and Biafra.

    “All I can say is that there is no need for the insecurity in Nigeria.

    “I am appealing to Nigerians, irrespective of what their grievances are, to come to a roundtable and try to resolve these issues.

    “We have amicable ways of settling these issues because there must be peace before we can progress as a country,” he said.

    Gen. Abubakar admitted that the economy was passing through a difficult time, but urged Nigerians to be patient.

    He hoped the Federal Government would fix the economy.

    The former leader urged the private sector to complement the government’s effort in revamping the economy, just as some industrialists were doing in Nnewi.

    “Unfortunately, Nigeria is not an island; all over the world, there is economic recession and that is what is affecting us.

    “Let us join hands to save this economy; the private sector must come in to help us to resuscitate the economy, just as Nnewi has shown,” he said.

  • Boko Haram: Dialogue won’t stop our rescue mission – Buratai

    Boko Haram: Dialogue won’t stop our rescue mission – Buratai

    •Says 20,000 abductees so far rescued

    THE military has no intention of back-pedaling on rescuing Nigerians being held hostage by the terror sect, Boko Haram, irrespective of whether the group agrees to dialogue with government or not, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai, said yesterday.

    Among those still being held by the terrorists are the over 200 school girls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014.

    Buratai said   20,000 persons abducted by the Boko Haram insurgency have so far been rescued by the military and more will still be rescued.

    The army chief told journalists shortly after indugurating the  Nigerian Army Officers Wife Association (NAOWA) Day Care, Nursery and Primary School at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna, yesterday that  the move by the federal government to negotiate with the insurgents will not stop the military’s rescue operations.

    He appealed to anybody with useful information that could boost the rescue operations to volunteer such information to the military.

    He said: “We have so far rescued over 20000 abducted persons, and we are still rescuing more and we will continue to do that.

    “We will continue to carry out our rescue operations. This rescue is ongoing, as far as the Army, and indeed the military is concerned, we will continue to play our own part.

    “The negotiation is left for the appropriate arm of government, but we are looking for any information to rescue anybody that is being held hostage.”

    He visited the headquarters of One Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna where he had a closed door meeting with officers and men of the division.