The Nation Newspaper

Tag: effective

  • Graft: Lagos seeks effective, efficient public procurement process

    •Govt, customers, stakeholders parley

    Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr. Idiat Adebule has stressed the need for an effective and efficient public procurement process to strengthen anti-corruption efforts and curb excesses of public officials.

    Dr Adebule stated this yesterday in the keynote address she delivered at the engagement of Business Community in Procurement Process organised by the Lagos State Procurement Agency (LPA) at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, the state capital.

    The theme of the discussion was: The Role of Public Procurement in Ensuring Good Governance.

    The deputy governor, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Urban Development, Mrs. Yetunde Onabule, noted that efficient public procurement processes are among the vital tools to achieve efficient management of public resources and delivery of infrastructure to the residents.

    She said these are the hallmarks of any responsible government.

    To the business community, Dr Adebule said: “Your role is significant to realise our objectives of doing more for our citizens with the scarce resources at our disposal. Ultimately, it helps to guarantee good governance anchored on transparency, accountability and probity.

    “The significance of our collective commitment to the procurement law and implementation will guarantee our ability to get more for less.”

    The deputy governor said the programme was organised for further enlightenment of stakeholders, particularly those interested in doing business with the state government “on the need to ensure compliance with relevant provisions of the procurement law, procurement guidelines, procurement manual and operational guidelines”.

    She said public procurement is central to better and quality government service delivery to the citizens.

    According to her, “a well-functioning public procurement system must seek value for money in meeting the needs of government agencies for goods and services to support public good”.

    Dr Adebule noted that good governance programmes require that public procurement reforms support essential concepts and values like: accountability, responsiveness, professionalism, transparency, competition and appeal rights.

    Read also: Three reasons most people get stuck in life

    LPA’s General Manager Idowu Onafowote said it is in the interest of the state government to create opportunities for businesses to increase their capacity, create jobs, sustain themselves, produce wealth as well as foster innovation and contribute to the Gross Development Product (GDP).

    He said the forum was meant to engage customers and other stakeholders on the new approaches to doing business with the state government in line with the established procurement law.

    The general manager said the government was planning to have an effective procurement methodology where high levels of governance and due diligence with a greater degree of automation will prevail.

     

  • Presidential candidates chart course for effective, efficient housing

    The controversial Land Use Act, seen by many stakeholders in the housing and real estate sector, may be repealed just as Nigerians may benefit from a better, stronger and properly managed mortgage system. With these in place, Nigerians are likely to heave a sigh of relief from the accessible and affordable housing yoke ravaging the country and leaving her with a deficit of over 17 million housing units.

    These were the hopes and assurances given at the weekend by the Presidential Candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), in this year’s February 16 Presidential election, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, while speaking on the state of the housing market at a Town Hall meeting organised by the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development of the University of Lagos. About five political parties, excluding the two major political parties- the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), attended the meeting.

    According to Moghalu, if elected into office, his administration would initiate an aggressive policy on housing reforms,  innovative approach to housing construction,   reduce the costing and improving the slums by providing adequate water and sewage management systems. These policies, he explained, would begin with the repeal of the infamous Land Use Act introduced over 40 years ago, to enable especially Nigerians in the middle and low income earning class have access to land without reducing their scope of ownership of the Land.

    The YPP hopeful lamented the failure of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FCMB), in meeting the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians. This failure by the government-owned mortgage institution, he further explained, is encapsulated in the FCMB’s ability to have only been able to build 17,000 housing units across the country through the National Housing Fund (NHF) it has managed in 25 years. Moghalu, therefore, assured that mortgage would be made accessible to all Nigerians as his administration would channel more funds to mortgage refinancing to enable the system have a subsidised mortgage support.

    Also at the meeting, the Presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Oby Ezekwesili, cautioned that while it would be politically difficult to repeal the Land Use Act, upon her election, she would institute a workable data on how the Act has limited not just housing but in making lands accessible. By extension, the overall economy would be a key focus for all stakeholders to work on.

    Ezekwesili remarked that tackling the level of poverty in the country is very paramount as this would not only improve the living conditions of the citizens but will also in the long run improve housing stock on the supply side, in the country.

    On the plethora of abandoned Federal Government buildings in Lagos State, Ezekwesili, a  former Minister, was emphatic that such assets would be privatised to generate funds for the Federal Government.  “I will not raise expectations that will not be realised. The total budget for 2019 is $30 billion. We need all the resources we can find,” she said.

    On the part of the Presidential candidate of the African Action  Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, the housing strategy would involve putting in place a transparent land registry system that would aid planning process.

    “Part of the problem we have is that we do not have a proper documentation of houses because nobody wants to reveal how houses are built, who owns them,  how much was it sold. Most of the houses in this  country are owned by just few.  We need a transparent land registry system. Without that, we cannot even start to plan,” Sowore said

    He revealed that if elected, his administration would set aside $3.6 million for housing and  increase the minimum wage to a N100,000 as part of its policy on mortgage for low income earners. “We are in need of 17 million homes. Over 80 million Nigerians are without homes.  In Nigeria, an average family of five: a father, mother and three kids should be entitled to a home,” he said.

    On the redevelopment of abandoned federal government buildings, Sowore said:  “I will not give any more of our public institution to private the sector; they have gotten enough. We will convert them to schools, hospitals and for other use that will benefit the Nigerian people. If given to the private sector, it will end up in the hands of our minsters,  governors,  party leaders, national leaders among others.  We do not even have enough space to cater for our social needs, we can’t continue to give our properties to them.”

    The Presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Fela Durotoye, a state of emergency on housing would be declared, while there will be a convocation of stakeholders in the housing sector to create a vision that promotes access to affordable,  safe and functional houses.

    He said if elected, his administration would target creating 3.75 million houses in his four years. This would be achieved through his establishment of a national emergency housing fund to the tune of $ 3.6 billion as well as putting in place a policy framed around engaging the public in the development of houses. “The building capacity will increase every year.  In my first year, 250,000 housing units would be created. In the second year,  500,000, third year, one million and in the fourth year, two million” he said.

    For the Presidential candidate of the Accord Party (AP),  Mr. Isaac Ositelu, regenerating the slums and ensuring lands are well surveyed before they are sold as well as conversion of abandoned buildings to an upgraded students accommodation would be the focus.

    Earlier, the Director of the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, Prof Timothy Nubi, expressed concerns over the neglect the housing sector has experienced over the years.  He regrets that notwithstanding the various programmes of successive governments, the increasing housing deficit, as well as the high growth of slums and the predominant population living in slum-like conditions are  testaments to the failure of the programmes.

    Underscoring the importance of housing to social and economic growth, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Academics, Prof Oluwole Familoni advised the candidates to efficiently deliver their manifestos when elected.

     

     

  • Senator Tinubu promises effective representation

    Senator Tinubu promises effective representation

    The well-being, effective representation and promotion of better opportunities for the people of Lagos Central will continue to motivate my actions, the senator representing the district, Oluremi Tinubu, has said.

    She spoke while reviewing her performance in the last two years as a senator.

    The senator said the last one year has been economically difficult for most Nigerians.

    Mrs. Tinubu hailedcitizens for being resilient. But, according to her, better days are here.

    “The 2017 budget of Economic Recovery and Growth which was recently passed is positioned to consolidate the benefits of the 2016 budget of change and set us on the right path to a robust economy,” she said.

    In a message on the occasion of Democracy Day, entitled: “Half-year Review”, Senator Tinubu said: “I congratulate the Nigerian Government and citizens on the celebration of the inception of the Nigerian Democracy.

    “This day, 18 years ago, Nigeria made a conscious choice – a choice to be free, to uphold the rights of the common man and to ensure involvement and participation of its citizenry in governance. It has not been an easy journey and has often, failed to meet the expectations of the average Nigerian.

    “However, there is no doubt that this administration is on the right track and given the right tools and effective application, this democracy will yield the Nigeria of our dreams.

    “This democracy day also marks half term of this democratic dispensation and administration. It is a time of sober reflections, reviewing performances and creating frameworks and action plans to ensure that shortcomings are made up for.

    “As the senator representing Lagos Central, it is time to review my performance in the last two years to ensure it is up to date in addressing problems/needs of my constituents and Nigeria as a whole.

    “Governance is a marathon, and for best results, is predicated on continuity and consistency. Thus, my commitment over the last six years has not waned. The well-being, effective representation, and promotion of better opportunities for the people of Lagos Central will continue to motivate my actions.

    “I must however commend Nigerians for being so resilient and sacrificial. The last year has been economically difficult for most. However, better days are here. The 2017 budget of Economic Recovery and Growth which was recently passed is positioned to consolidate the benefits of the 2016 budget of change and set us on the right path to a robust economy.

    “I assure Nigerians that the APC administration at both state and national levels is committed to putting in place solid structures that will ensure that Nigerians enjoy full dividends of democracy even at their doorsteps.

    “Once again, I felicitate with all the good people of Lagos Central, Lagos State, Nigerians at home and in the diaspora and wish you all the merits of democracy.”

  • Nigeria requires 80,000 base stations for effective coverage

    Nigeria requires 80,000 base stations for effective coverage

    • NCC dismisses health concerns over emission

    For Nigeria to join the league of countries that will tap from the enormous potential of Internet of Things (IoT) that rides on 4G and 5G networks, the country will need between 70,000 and 80,000base transmission stations (BTS), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said yesterday in Abuja.

    Its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO Prof GarbaDanbatta, who spoke during the sitting of the House Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee investigating the health implications of mounting BTSin residential areas, lamented that the country currently has less than 50,000 BTS.

    He said: “3G, 4G going to 5G networks are going to usher this country into smart applications, the IoTor the smart world and cities we are talking about. And of course, because of the additional burden on infrastructure, the present capacity of telecom infrastructure is grossly inadequate to cater for these additional platforms or services we are talking about.

    “Therefore, we will need between 70,000 and 80,000 base transceiver masts to be able to provide the effective capacity that’s needed to deploy 4G going to 5G.”

    He therefore urged other approving agencies at all levels of government in the country to synergise with the NCC with a view to achieving the target. He noted that the United Kingdom (UK), with a population of almost one third of Nigeria’s already has close to 60,000 masts.

    On concerns about health implications to exposure to electromagnetic field, Danbatta said researches so far conducted in the area have not indicated any adverse health concerns.

    “With regards to other professional bodies like Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) we don’t have any quarrel with their positions. The only question is when we say exposure to electromagnetic field is hazardous to health, what level are we talking about?  We have to define the level of exposure that is hazardous to human beings.

    “Of course if you generate a massive electromagnetic field of unprecedented proportion and put a person inside, there will be medical consequences. But what we are saying is that: provided the limit specified is observed and NCC is there to ensure compliance with that limit, there is no health hazard.  There is a limit of safety below which electromagnetic fields do not cause any harm to health,” he explained.

  • Pathway to effective public service delivery

    The public service is an important institution anywhere in the world. It is the machinery that formulates and implements the decisions and policies of the government. To that extent, the success of any government in carrying out its statutory and constitutional responsibilities of maintaining law and order as well as engendering socio-economic and political development of any nation depends largely on the type of civil service which the country has. Thus, there is the likelihood of a government to meet the aspirations of the mass of the people over which it rules if the public service, which executes policies, is proactive, enlightened and incorruptible. Conversely, no government can achieve the modernization of the society if its public service is made up of mediocre and corrupt officers who divert the resources meant for the commonwealth to their private pockets.

    There is no doubt that the Nigerian public service has, over the years, contributed to the development of the country. Although the country has been characterized by political instability and socio-economic problems which have negatively rubbed off on all other institutions of the state, the principle of anonymity and non-partisanship of the civil service have largely empowered it to do justice to its statutory duties over the past decades. Much as military governments, which ruled this country for many years, dealt a devastating blow to the principle of security of tenure of public servants by subjecting public servants to premature retirement, many civil servants have continued to contribute their quotas to national development.

    To be sure, the overconcentration of power in the hands of some public servants by the military, as in the case of the era of “super perm-secs” and the prevalence of the culture of corruption in the country, in no small way impaired the role perception of these public servants. However, many of them lived above board. They performed and continue to perform their duties truthfully and conscientiously. In spite of the avarice, greed and the culture of primitive accumulation of wealth which reign supreme in the country, many of these public servants remain contented with their salaries. They have refused to join the pillaging of the national treasury. In the discharge of their official duties, they do not solicit for bribes. They treat all Nigerians they meet in the line of duty equally. It is this type of public servants who had no problem to go along with the practice of “Due Process” in civil service when former President Olusegun Obasanjo introduced it. It is also this set of civil servants who saw nothing bad in “mopping up” the treasury of ministries and government departments at the end of each year. The underlining factor behind their ability to adapt to the new rules of accountability, particularly the excellent financial control mechanisms introduced by the Federal Government since the civilian government of Obasanjo is their incorruptibility, their patriotic disposition and the abiding desire to maintain their honour and integrity in a country where honest men and women are in short supply.

    But for many, the ethics of their work have no meaning. And unfortunately, this group of erring public servants is in the majority. They have no conscience. They have no interest of the country at heart. Rather than play the role of agents of national development which they are statutorily meant to play, these public officials have, by their conduct over the years, sabotaged the efforts of successive governments to modernize Nigeria. Instead of faithfully executing the policies of government, they look for ways of cutting corners. Self-aggrandizement is uppermost in their mind. In order to cater for their interest, records are falsified with impunity, they embezzle public funds kept into their care, solicit and take bribes and are only concerned with what comes to their pockets rather than quality service delivery.

    The adverse effects of unethical behavior of some public servants cut across all the sectors of the society. For instance, most of the roads in Nigeria which are mere death traps are today in that sorry state as a result of corrupt activities of government officials. After taking kick backs, roads which are clearly sub-standard are approved as jobs well done. The diversion of patients from government hospitals to private hospitals is another dimension of the unpatriotic conduct of some public officials. Through this singular act, government has lost huge amount of revenue that would have contributed substantially to the provision of social amenities to the people. The relative ease with which the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of People and Goods is exploited by organized criminal groups to traffic human beings, firearms and hard drugs in Nigeria is a function of corrupt security agents who, for pecuniary gains, allow these traffickers to move freely within Nigeria and across the borders.

    The security challenges currently bedeviling Nigeria in the form of proliferation of militant groups across the country and terror attacks by Boko Haram are fuelled by the availability of arms and ammunitions which flow freely in the country as well as the widespread circulation of narcotics in the country, the proceeds of which are used to fund insurgency. The list of the negative effects of unethical behavior of some public servants in Nigeria is almost inexhaustible. It suffices, however, to say that the signature of corrupt behavior of some public servants in the country cut-across all the facets of the Nigerian society.

    In the light of the damaging consequences of this immoral behavior, what steps do we need to take in order to reap maximum benefits of a people-oriented public service and bring Nigeria to the pathway of steady national growth? First, government must holistically re-orientate the public service. The idea of reducing the workforce by way of sacking civil servants can only be counter-productive. For public servants to shun corrupt practices, their job security must be assured. Governments at all levels must enlighten their workers on the need to stick to work ethics and the advantages of having the interest of the country at heart while they discharge their duties.

    Secondly, the Civil Service Commission, the Code of Conduct Bureau, SERVICOM, the Public Complaints Commission and other bodies that are statutorily charged to ensure ethical conduct and practices should be manned by people of integrity who are wholeheartedly committed to the task of uprooting moral decadence in the country. These agencies should be well funded, independent and supported by both public and private sectors in carrying out the onerous duty for bringing about the desired ethical renaissance across the Nigerian populace.

    Equally important is the need for the country’s judiciary to be truly independent and incorruptible. This important arm of government, which interprets law, should live above board in all its activities. As a deterrent to any judge with corrupt disposition, stiff sanctions should be spelt out for any proven manipulation of judgment. The judiciary should be the last hope of the common man. But in many cases, it is not so in Nigeria. The rich are often favoured at the expense of the poor. This has allowed criminals with the wherewithal or well-heeled godfathers to get away with their evil acts. No individual should be bigger than the law. In this case, the government must demonstrate the political will at all times to investigate and bring to justice the rich who are behind most of the crimes that have been perpetrated in this country.

    Last but not the least, government at all levels must take the welfare of public servants seriously. Salaries and allowances of workers must be paid as at when due. No matter may be the efforts of government on the orientation of its citizenry, particularly the workers, these efforts will count for nothing if their salaries are not paid regularly. This is so because no hungry worker will reject bribe. It is therefore imperative for government to put in place a long-term plan that will prevent its frequent inability to pay workers’ salaries regularly. No nation can experience developmental strides without the wholehearted commitment and loyalty of its workforce.

    • Bamigbetan is of the National Commisiion for Museums and Monuments, Owo, Ondo State.
  • Strategies for effective legislation

    Strategies for effective legislation

    The 24 members of the Kwara State House of Assembly recently converged on Ede, Osun State, for a-three day retreat on budget assessment, bills, motions and petitions processing.

    Out of the 24 legislators, only six of them are second timers. The remaining 18 are first term lawmakers.

    Resources persons were drawn from the National Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS), Abuja and private sector. A retired clerk of the House of Representatives, Chief Niyi Ajiboye was also on hand.

    No fewer than 20 members of the Osun state House of Assembly led by their Speaker, Najeem Salam witnessed the closing session of the retreat.

    Some of the legislators spoke on their experience at the retreat.

    House Majority Leader Alhaji Hassan Oyeleke said: “The seminar was actually designed to address some basic areas. One, assessing budget in line with new International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAs) methods; to assess anything you have to knowledgeable about it and we were taken through has increased out knowledge and understanding of how IPSAs as a new method of accounting system can be used to assess budget.

    “The other has to do with how members can function very well. I mean processing of bills and motions. It is important because we come from different backgrounds and the moment one becomes an honourable member, you have to understand your responsibility as a member of the house to address issues properly. This will make us better legislators. It will have a ripple effects on the state government too.”

    The legislator from Oke-Ogun Constituency, Kalman Fagbemi said the retreated had fortified him for legislative functions.

    Fagbemi, a lawyer, said: “There were certain things we did not know before but now we have conscientised. We are going to use the knowledge which we have acquired here in the passage of 2016 budget. I will urge first timers to use the knowledge which they have acquired in this retreat in discharging their legislative duties.”

    Ahmed Ibn Muhammed representing Kaiama/Wajibe/Kemanji constituency said “I want to tell you that with this training I am more equipped with ways to draft bills and motions. This will help me in my legislatives in the state. I believe that with this we are going to apply it.”

    The member representing Ilorin Northwest, Abdulrafiu Abdulrahaman, noted that the workshop has been a good adventure.

    “We have been able to acquire new skills; because as a legislator you have to be acquainted with the basic rudiments in legislation and as a legislator you have to be involved in research,” he added.

    Hajia Aisat Budurin from Ilorin East and a first timer hailed the timeliness of the seminar, saying that it has exposed her to the rubrics of legislation.

    She added: The retreat has exposed us more knowledge about budgeting. It will assist us on how to do our oversight. They have prepared us to know what to do before, during and after the oversight.

    “The resource people are competent hands. They have prepared us well on how to draft motions, bills and petitions which are what we are in assembly for. This will prepare us to be more active in the floor.”

    The speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad, said that: “The main reason for the retreat is that bulk of members is first timers. The art of legislation is a technical one. So we need to train and retrain. We hope that at the end of the exercise our legislators will be at par with others in any part of the country.”

    The former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary decried the high turnover rate of legislators in the country.

    He said: “The high rate of turnover of legislators in the country is hampering effective and efficient legislative functioning in the country. Nigerians should know that it is tax payers’ money that is being used to train new members. It is like bringing a new law student to come and argue motions in court. Nobody can stand up and argue motions or prepare motion; you have to go through the rubric.

    “So, if you keep bringing new members those states will keep spending money to train the new members; money that could be used for something else. This expenditure is unnecessary and avoidable.

    “The people should start clamouring to our governors, parties and stakeholders to reduce the turnover rate to the minimum so that the money that will be used in training the legislators will be expended on something else.

    Alhaji Najeem Salam aligned with his colleague, saying: “Sometimes it is out of the personal interest of some leaders to change the house members. Otherwise, the experience gathered for years is enough for the House of Assembly to continue and you can see the money being wasted on the training of members. Nobody is saying some members had to in the house perpetually.

    “Look at what happens in developed democracies, in America, members of the parliament will be there for years. Why they are doing it is because of the experience they had gathered over the years that can be deployed to develop their members and state. There had to be a drastic reduction in the number of new members that will be coming into the assembly.”

    Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Ngion Najeem said it was time the various state Houses of Assembly are weaned financially from the executive.

    Salam added that without financial independence for the state legislators “all these trainings will amount to theory and exercise in futility.

    “We, therefore, appeal to the presidency to sign the amendment act that will give room for the independence of the states Assembly into law. It is only Lagos state House of Assembly that has partial independence from the executive.”

    He urged state assemblymen to put the era of impeachment behind them to ensure stability in the country’s democracy.

    “Unnecessary impeachment will not guarantee stability in the country. I appeal to our colleagues not to allow that to happen in Kwara State,” he added.

    Former Clerk of the House of Representatives Chief Niyi Ajiboye spoke on the domination of the legislature by the executive.

    It is a very serious issue and it is not that easy for the legislature to completely extricate itself from the domination of the executive.

    The retired clerk said financial independence of the legislature would make that arm of government more vibrant and effective.

    His words: “This is because the executive controls the purse. Whoever controls the purse has the power of almost everything. Without adequate finance for the legislature, it cannot survive and if the legislature does not pander sometimes to the executive, it can be starved of funds. This is the biggest weapon the executive uses against the legislature.

    “The only way out is continuous education on their responsibilities, they can overtime during interaction with the executive convince it to leave them alone to manage their affairs; if we have the right people in the right place.

    “But this can happen in the state that has a governor that is forthright, ready to work and has no skeleton in his cupboard.

    Speaking on “effective legislative exercise,” the Head, Research, NILS, Dr Asimiyu Abiola, said the state Houses of Assembly were more susceptible to executive interference than federal.

    He attributed executive interference to inadequate experienced members occasioned by high turnover of legislators.

    Dr Abiola recommended strengthening of oversight functions of the legislators to reduce corruption and enhance sustainable development in states.

    Others are “independence of anti-corruptions agencies from the executive rather they should report to the legislature; there is a great need to support public trust and confidence about the legislature and other public institutions charged with oversight; indeed, Nigeria does not need so many of the anti-corruption agencies –or anti-corruption laws-if oversight of these agencies and laws can be made more effective.”

    This, according to him, will require reversal of legislators’ high turnover more for legislators in the art and science of oversight functions.

    He advocated for effective implementation of the Code of Conduct Bureau.

    On the budgeting system, Dr Abiola said that Nigeria would only experience growth and development when its budget is 70 percent capital and 30 percent recurrent expenditure.

     

  • Strategies for effective legislation

    Strategies for effective legislation

    The 24 members of the Kwara State House of Assembly recently converged on Ede, Osun State, for a-three day retreat on budget assessment, bills, motions and petitions processing.

    Out of the 24 legislators, only six of them are second timers. The remaining 18 are first term lawmakers.

    Resources persons were drawn from the National Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS), Abuja and private sector. A retired clerk of the House of Representatives, Chief Niyi Ajiboye was also on hand.

    No fewer than 20 members of the Osun state House of Assembly led by their Speaker, Najeem Salam witnessed the closing session of the retreat.

    Some of the legislators spoke on their experience at the retreat.

    House Majority Leader Alhaji Hassan Oyeleke said: “The seminar was actually designed to address some basic areas. One, assessing budget in line with new International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAs) methods; to assess anything you have to knowledgeable about it and we were taken through has increased out knowledge and understanding of how IPSAs as a new method of accounting system can be used to assess budget.

    “The other has to do with how members can function very well. I mean processing of bills and motions. It is important because we come from different backgrounds and the moment one becomes an honourable member, you have to understand your responsibility as a member of the house to address issues properly. This will make us better legislators. It will have a ripple effects on the state government too.”

    The legislator from Oke-Ogun Constituency, Kalman Fagbemi said the retreated had fortified him for legislative functions.

    Fagbemi, a lawyer, said: “There were certain things we did not know before but now we have conscientised. We are going to use the knowledge which we have acquired here in the passage of 2016 budget. I will urge first timers to use the knowledge which they have acquired in this retreat in discharging their legislative duties.”

    Ahmed Ibn Muhammed representing Kaiama/Wajibe/Kemanji constituency said “I want to tell you that with this training I am more equipped with ways to draft bills and motions. This will help me in my legislatives in the state. I believe that with this we are going to apply it.”

    The member representing Ilorin North-West, Abdulrafiu Abdulrahaman, noted that the workshop has been a good adventure.

    “We have been able to acquire new skills; because as a legislator you have to be acquainted with the basic rudiments in legislation and as a legislator you have to be involved in research,” he added.

    Hajia Aisat Budurin from Ilorin East and a first timer hailed the timeliness of the seminar, saying that it has exposed her to the rubrics of legislation.

    She added: The retreat has exposed us more knowledge about budgeting. It will assist us on how to do our oversight. They have prepared us to know what to do before, during and after the oversight.

    “The resource people are competent hands. They have prepared us well on how to draft motions, bills and petitions which are what we are in assembly for. This will prepare us to be more active in the floor.”

    The speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad, said that: “The main reason for the retreat is that bulk of members is first timers. The art of legislation is a technical one. So we need to train and retrain. We hope that at the end of the exercise our legislators will be at par with others in any part of the country.”

    The former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary decried the high turnover rate of legislators in the country.

    He said: “The high rate of turnover of legislators in the country is hampering effective and efficient legislative functioning in the country. Nigerians should know that it is tax payers’ money that is being used to train new members. It is like bringing a new law student to come and argue motions in court. Nobody can stand up and argue motions or prepare motion; you have to go through the rubric.

    “So, if you keep bringing new members those states will keep spending money to train the new members; money that could be used for something else. This expenditure is unnecessary and avoidable.

    “The people should start clamouring to our governors, parties and stakeholders to reduce the turnover rate to the minimum so that the money that will be used in training the legislators will be expended on something else.

    Alhaji Najeem Salam aligned with his colleague, saying: “Sometimes it is out of the personal interest of some leaders to change the house members. Otherwise, the experience gathered for years is enough for the House of Assembly to continue and you can see the money being wasted on the training of members. Nobody is saying some members had to in the house perpetually.

    “Look at what happens in developed democracies, in America, members of the parliament will be there for years. Why they are doing it is because of the experience they had gathered over the years that can be deployed to develop their members and state. There had to be a drastic reduction in the number of new members that will be coming into the assembly.”

    Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Ngion Najeem said it was time the various state Houses of Assembly are weaned financially from the executive.

    Salam added that without financial independence for the state legislators “all these trainings will amount to theory and exercise in futility.

    “We, therefore, appeal to the presidency to sign the amendment act that will give room for the independence of the states Assembly into law. It is only Lagos state House of Assembly that has partial independence from the executive.”

    He urged state assemblymen to put the era of impeachment behind them to ensure stability in the country’s democracy.

    “Unnecessary impeachment will not guarantee stability in the country. I appeal to our colleagues not to allow that to happen in Kwara State,” he added.

    Former Clerk of the House of Representatives Chief Niyi Ajiboye spoke on the domination of the legislature by the executive.

    It is a very serious issue and it is not that easy for the legislature to completely extricate itself from the domination of the executive.

    The retired clerk said financial independence of the legislature would make that arm of government more vibrant and effective.

    His words: “This is because the executive controls the purse. Whoever controls the purse has the power of almost everything. Without adequate finance for the legislature, it cannot survive and if the legislature does not pander sometimes to the executive, it can be starved of funds. This is the biggest weapon the executive uses against the legislature.

    “The only way out is continuous education on their responsibilities, they can overtime during interaction with the executive convince it to leave them alone to manage their affairs; if we have the right people in the right place.

    “But this can happen in the state that has a governor that is forthright, ready to work and has no skeleton in his cupboard.

    Speaking on “effective legislative exercise,” the Head, Research, NILS, Dr Asimiyu Abiola, said the state Houses of Assembly were more susceptible to executive interference than federal.

    He attributed executive interference to inadequate experienced members occasioned by high turnover of legislators.

    Dr Abiola recommended strengthening of oversight functions of the legislators to reduce corruption and enhance sustainable development in states.

    Others are “independence of anti-corruptions agencies from the executive rather they should report to the legislature; there is a great need to support public trust and confidence about the legislature and other public institutions charged with oversight; indeed, Nigeria does not need so many of the anti-corruption agencies –or anti-corruption laws-if oversight of these agencies and laws can be made more effective.”

    This, according to him, will require reversal of legislators’ high turnover more for legislators in the art and science of oversight functions.

    He advocated for effective implementation of the Code of Conduct Bureau.

    On the budgeting system, Dr Abiola said that Nigeria would only experience growth and development when its budget is 70 percent capital and 30 percent recurrent expenditure.

    He added that Nigeria’s budget system had over the years been traditional, but he subscribed to the zero budgeting being proposed by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

    “Nigeria’s budgeting system has been traditional. We need outcome based budgeting. Zero-based budgeting is better than traditional but it is not the best,” he said.

    He called for a budget act that would specify when the president or governor should present the budget to the legislature, “at the discretion of the president or governor.”

    He said budget is expected to “increase employment opportunities or reduce unemployment; reduce inequality and reduce poverty.”

  • How to make cybercrime law effective

    How to make cybercrime law effective

    A lawyer, Mr Basil Udotai, has called for a central prosecuting agency to enforce the Cyber Crime Act of 2015 effectively.

    He said a provision in the Act which empowers nearly all agencies with prosecutorial powers to enforce the law may make its implementation less effective.

    Udotai, who is the Managing Partner at Technology Advisors, a law firm with specialisation in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) law practice, spoke with journalists in Lagos at a seminar by the Financial Services Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where he was a guest speaker.

    The lawyer said an existing security agency, such as the police, could be equipped to set up a dedicated cybercrime and cyber security unit for effective enforcement because of the cost involved in having multiple units.

    According to him, a special entity can also be created by regulation, which the Act allows, to enforce the Act.

    “It will be legal if the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) adopts a regulation under the Act and creates a special dedicated unit to tackle cybercrime. Part of the reason that should be the way to go is because the resources to set up a cyber crime investigative environment are very high.

    “I don’t think government thought about this properly, because where will you get the money with falling oil prices? It costs millions of dollars to set up cybercrime investigation systems and to replicate it across all law enforcement agencies. It doesn’t make any kind of sense,” he said.

    Udotai, who is the immediate past Director of Cybersecurity and pioneer Head of the Directorate for Cybersecurity, Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), said the Act will need a review in the future.

    “In the long run, the law needs to be amended. The law is already in force. I guess part of the reason the law is not so overwhelmingly enforced now is because there is really no single entity that is giving the leadership. When there are several law enforcement agencies, who is the boss? So there is a terrible oversight. Nobody knows who to go to,” he said.

    In his paper, Udotai criticised the law as it relates to the financial services sector, saying technology laws are supposed to be technology-neutral, not technology-specific. He added that Cybercrime laws are supposed to be generic in provisions, not particular, as is the case.

    He said all provisions specific to technologies and particular to processes in the financial sector can be removed from the Act, without any impact on the substance of the law; adding that leaving those provisions intact is guaranteed to cause severe harm to the sector – especially banks and payment services providers.

    Besides, he said the law challenges the regulatory integrity of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the CBN Act by criminalising certain internal procedures of the banking system, thereby creating “chilling effect” on investments in creative and innovative solutions in the sector.

    Udotai, who served as Coordinator of the Nigerian Cybercrime Working Group (NCWG) for two years, urged financial services players to petition the President on the provisions they consider onerous and which can affect their transactional and compliance burden.

    “The Cybercrime Act though long in coming and beset with major challenging components, may be applied to effectively tackle cybercrime and cybersecurity issues in the country. However, the chances of this happening naturally are slim to zero.

    “Thus, deliberate efforts must be made by the key players – Office of the NSA and the Office of the AGF, working with stakeholders, to strategically position this law to take us to this highly desirable end.

    “Those efforts must aim, amongst others, in seeking to – in the short run: create a single enforcement authority; prevent the enforcement of technology specific and industry particular provisions (financial sector mostly); while proposing a comprehensive amendment in collaboration with the National Assembly,” Udotai said.

     

     

  • Path to effective inter-religious dialogue

    Muslim and Christian leaders responsible for inter-religious dialogue have been enjoined to lead the way in promoting effective religious harmony through attitudinal change.

    A former Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, Akoka Prof. Murtadha Bidmos, said this at a lecture titled: “Peaceful Co-existence in a Multi-Religious Society,” at the 33rd Triennial National Conference of the Muslim Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Lagos.

    Prof. Bidmos lamented that since early 1970s to date, religious leaders have consistently used the inter-religious dialogue fora to vent their anger against each religion as well as condemning the patronage each other enjoy from government at all tiers.

    According to him, “the patterns at such fora are tripartite: accusations/counter accusations, adoption of resolutions and the permanent burial of resolutions on shelves.”

    He also claimed that the religious leader, beyond such a meeting, also occasionally used the mass media in a cold war manner for posting messages, “which are decisively packaged in a rough and pedestrian language”.

    He explained that there had never been a time when an attempt was made at drawing a modus operandi for the implementation of resolutions at such meetings.

    He stressed that government sometimes succumbs to pressure to address some of the claims as manifested in the setting up of a Christian Pilgrimage Welfare Board as well as the appointment of a Muslim joint chairman for the national confab organised by President Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration.

    The former university Don hinged importance of inter-religious dialogue on the fact that “societies are heterogeneous, where dialogue is required to communicate”, adding that even in societies that were homogenous, “dialogue is equally required for communication.”

    He argued that nobody has the monopoly of wisdom, except God, adding:  “Therefore, dialogue is required in all human circumstances to iron out issues of contention and of common interest”.

    He urged Muslim and Christian dialogists to consider an attitudinal change as a remedy and therapy.

    “Since doing wrong things is a matter of attitude, they should heed the Quranic injunction, which recommends change of attitude or change of whatever condition they found themselves in as a means of healing the kind of ailment that has so far inflicted them,” he said.

    He also listed the passion for wealth and position such as clamouring for government’s attention, sponsorship on pilgrimage, membership of parastatals and ministerial appointments as parts of reasons that dragged the religious dialogists into unhealthy rivalry.

    He enjoined the dialogists to apply heart cleansing exercise, incorporate shared values in the curriculum at all levels of education and wage  war against commercialisation of religion, “which has made a lot of “men of God” throw decorum and courtesy into the winds as they use every occasion to solicit for offerings in the mercenary manner.”

    He added: “The pragmatic way to stop this obnoxious practice is by introducing a professional training for Imams and any calibre of men of God. This, of course, must be backed up with the issuance of ethnics and methodology in form of a code of conduct that must be strictly enforced.

    “This methodology of conducting Inter-Religious Dialogue will effectively divert the attention of dialogists from the culture of accusations/counter accusations. This becomes imperatives as a proof of their being true and worthy “jihadists” and “missionaries” in the cause of God.

    “The beneficiaries of this new methodology are the dialogists themselves and the nation.”

    The MAN president, Alhaji  Sulaiman Yusuf, in his address, said the association had over the years made remarkable landmarks and improvements since its inception in 1959 by eminent Muslim educationists, legal luminary and politicians, the likes the late Prof. Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa, Sheikh Abdul Afeez Abou (OFR), Justice Bola Babalakin and others.

    Yusufu explained that the aims and objectives of the association include catering for the spiritual, moral and social needs of all Muslims, and cooperating with other Muslims organisation for the propagation of Islamic faith.

    Others, he said, include promoting education and scholarship among the generality of the Muslims, building and monitoring Islamic Institutions such as Islamic centres, hostels, schools and promoting activities whose ultimate goals will include the empowerment of Muslims and others in the society.

    In pursuit of these aims and objectives, he said the association is a member of Muslim Ummah of the South Western Nigeria (MUSWEN), an adjunct of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

    He added that it also organises the Annual National Dawah Camp for students in Secondary School and tertiary institutions; the Annual National Ramadan Public Lecture as well as addresses burning domestic or international issues Iike the Boko Haram saga, abduction of the Chibok School Girls, “where we outrightly condemned as outrageous, barbaric, criminal and un-Islamic, the activities of the insurgents and we exonerated the Muslim Ummah.”

    A former Deputy Governor of Central Bank, Alhaji A.O.G. Otti (FCIB, FCIS, OON, OFR), was formally invested as one of the founding fathers of the association at the event.

    New national executive members of MAN were also elected at the event.

     

  • Tips & Traps for writing an effective business plan

    Tips & Traps for writing an effective business plan

    BOOK REVIEW

    Author: Greg Balanko-Dickson
    Publisher: McGraw-Hill
    Reviewer: Goke Ilesanmi

    Having an effective business plan is critical to the success of any business. That is why we are X-raying this text entitled “Tips & Traps for Writing an Effective Business Plan”. It is written by Greg Balanko-Dickson, a third-generation entrepreneur, Licensed Professional Business Coach and founding member of the Professional Business Coaches Alliance.

    According to the author, whether you want to start a business or grow one, buy or sell one, attract investors or obtain a loan, fine-tune your operation or restructure it, attempting to do it without a well-crafted business plan is like going to the sea without a compass.

    This text is divided into five parts of 27 chapters. Part one is generically christened Introduction and contains two chapters. Chapter one is interrogatively entitled “What is a business plan? Why do I need a business plan?” In the words of Balanko-Dickson, “A business plan is an instrument used to document the intent and plans of the owner regarding every aspect of the business. The document itself can be used to communicate plans, strategies, and tactics to your managers, partners, and investors.”

    This author adds that business plan has an equation structure of Goals + Research+ Strategy = Business plan. Balanko-Dickson educates that a business plan is much more than notes on a napkin or to-do list and is a roadmap to guide the business, its owner(s), and its employees on the journey to success.According to him, developing a detailed business plan will provide you with an opportunity to shape a powerful business development strategy, whether your goal is to get financing to start a business; get financing to expand your business; be more organised and increase your success level; identify the value of your business and prepare a plan for selling your business, etc.

    This author identifies ten sections of a business plan as industry analysis; market analysis; products and services; business description; marketing strategy; operations and management; financial plan; implementation plan; contingency plan; and executive summary.

    Chapter two is based on the subject matter of understanding the process and getting prepared. Here, Balanko-Dickson discloses that the benefits of writing a business plan are often misunderstood. “Yes, a business plan will help you get the money you need when you’re starting a business. But it will also help you make an existing business more effective,” educates this author.

    In part two having a general thematic focus of the ten sections of a business plan and containing ten chapters (chapters three to 12), Balanko-Dickson discusses concepts such industry analysis; market analysis; products and services; business development; marketing and sales strategy; operations and management; pro forma financial plan; implementation plan; contingency and emergency plan; and executive summary.

    Part three is summarily tagged “Writing a business plan in 30 days” and covers three chapters, that is, chapters 13 to 15. Chapter 13, like the whole part, is entitled “Writing a business plan in 30 days”. This expert says writing a business plan can be a time-consuming task. You are planning your business for the next three years, and you want to give it the attention it deserves.

    Balanko-Dickson says the more familiar he is with the industry and market, the faster he can get the plan finished. He adds that you can easily minimise distractions in writing your business plan by getting away from the business to write your plan. This author educates that if you are unable to get away from the business, choose a quiet period of the day to work on your business plan.

    In chapters 14 and 15, this author discusses common mistakes in writing a business plan and working with professional advisers.

    Part four is based on the broad subject matter of special considerations for specific businesses and covers ten chapters, that is, chapters 16 to 25. Here, Balanko-Dickson beams his intellectual searchlight on concepts such as business planning for investors; business planning for a retail business; business planning for a manufacturing business; business planning for a service business; business planning for consultants and professionals, etc.

    Part five, the last part, is generically labelled “Getting the money you need” and contains two chapters, that is, chapters 26 and 27. Chapter 26 is entitled “Applying for a business loan”. According to Balanko-Dickson here, small business loans can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, a business loan can help you buy a business, start a new business and expand your business. He says you will deal directly with the bank’s loan officers and major small business loans are reviewed by loan committees. The author educates that loan officers are not part of a loan committee.

    In chapter 27, this expert discusses the concept of getting funding from investors, family and friends.

    Stylistically, the language of this text is simple, yet standard. The presentation is unique in that it is didactic and logical, while the text is embroidered with graphics to reinforce readers’ understanding. Balanko-Dickson includes a “Tip and Trap” section typified by graphical thumb/hand manipulation in every chapter, where he injects additional information and guides readers.

    However, the whole of part three is already summarised in chapter one, meaning that chapter one could have been harmonised with part three. Probably this author deliberately uses this style of repetition to ensure long memory on readers’ part.

    On the whole, this text easily passes for a masterpiece on business development. It is highly recommended to all existing and prospective entrepreneurs. It is simply fantastic.