The Nation Newspaper

Tag: government

  • Government, religion and politics

    In  an interview on Channels TV  this week a Nigerian Islamic cleric brilliantly distinguished between secularism  and secularity and sided with the latter  to establish his   acceptability  in the interest  of a multi – religious society. On  the same plain the beleaguered  but  leading US  Republican Presidential candidate Donald  Trump told a  campaign  audience that his Muslim ban to the US  call  was  not a religious  matter but a security issue. Meanwhile in Nigeria Shiite Muslims almost killed the army chief in Zaria on his way to an official engagement just as Iran and  Iraq  issued a peremptory  warning  to  Nigeria on the welfare of the Nigerian leader of the Shiite Islamic sect and  Iran  summoned  our envoy in Teheran,  the capital of Iran, for an explanation   on the  Zaria  incident.

    Let  me state clearly that there is nothing sacred or sacrosant  about  today’s topic and the incidents I have highlighted. I intend  therefore   to be quite frank about them as they touch on the very important issues of liberty and security which really  are  the twin bedrock  of any democracy,  including our own Nigeria .Liberty is about human rights and dignity but it is not limitless and any student of political science is taught at the beginning in the University  that – your rights end where my nose begins. Similarly democracy  thrives in a peaceful and stable environment of security of life and property and that was what compelled Mao to state historically and categorically that a revolution is not a tea party and that real  power flows  from the barrel of a gun. Democracy  therefore  is about choice of leadership  and guidance from the ritual  of elections with  the guarantee  that inherent   in that choice is the capability  and ability  to  maintain law  and order  as  well  as  the safety  of the life and property  of the electorate. It  is difficult not to remember Rousseau’s  social  contract  and its  Hobbes’ law of  might  is  right where  there is a breakdown of law and order as  in an anarchy and the social contract  breaks down.  It  follows  therefore that a government must enforce its rule to keep law and order at all times or else expect the distrust of its citizenry leading to the disavowal of  the social contract  and the descent into anarchy and the  emergence of Hobbes law  in  society. Today’s  topic and  its treatment intend  an insight into   how   the global society is sinking into anarchy and   why  it seems,  nobody is bothered about that.

    Let us go  back to the Nigerian Muslim Cleric on Channels TV whose  name I could not recall but  who stole  my heart with his candor and wisdom.  He  said he did not accept secularism because it denied religion its place whereas secularity acknowledged religion and  its  practice . I  think   the best  example   of that is Turkey  whose  founder  Kemal  Ataturk  insisted at  the outset   that  Turkey   must  be secular  even though it  remained   a Muslim  state  and  the army  guaranteed  its secularity   from  the 1920s,  until   the present  Erdogan regime  where an Islamic Party  has won four  consecutive elections  and   booted aside the military guarantee  of   Turkey’s  secularity in that nation’s  formidable  democratic  march,   with the  goal of  EU   membership   as  its major driving force.

    When asked about the knotty question of the difference between Shia Islam  and  the majority  Sunni  Islam,  he attempted an answer then asked to be allowed  to keep the difference as a personal matter.  When  told that Islam is a religion  of peace, he  ignored that homily but   then went on to say that in spite of any or all differences,  human beings  should endeavor  to keep  the peace at all  times  and in all places. Which  really  is the crux  of the matter today  and  that leads us to the Donald  Trump categorization of his Muslim  ban call as a security  matter rather than a religious issue.

    Sadly enough the recent  killing of 14  innocent   people in San  Bernardino California was the largest killing of US citizens on American home  soil after 9/11.  It  came after US President Barak  Obama  assured US citizens  of their safety in a special  address before they went on their Thanksgiving holidays.  Obviously  the terrorists in California were  trying to dent the assurance   of security the US president was giving to US citizens on their home soil and they tragically  succeeded and that is Donald Trump’s trump  card in saying that the issue is one of security rather than religion. More  so  as   the terrorist plot  now  unveiled  included a master mind now charged for a failed earlier plot which  was not totally Muslim in conception and execution. It was all American involving the viewing of Muslim sermons, videos and  lessons on bomb  making in private homes and  observers  have noticed that it threw a huge question mark on American valuation  of their liberty  and  security at  the same time.  So  what Donald  Trump  said was not utter  nonsense but a recall to a rethink about how Americans practice  their various religions without jeopardizing  the security and liberty  of fellow Americans which  really was  also  what the Shiite  Muslim attack on our army chief  in  Zaria  was  all about.

    Let  me start on the  Zaria  Shiite  ambush  of the Army  Chief envoy by recalling what  I wrote  some time that the army must protect its leadership after Boko  Haram attacked the same army chief’s village, killed people, sorted women from damsels  and  made away with the maidens. Boko  Haram was attempting what the terrorists did with the Obama assurance of security to  Americans at  Thanksgiving    time  by staging a successful terrorist act about the time of the security guarantee. Boko  Haram has attempted twice to decapitate our army by killing its head. The army and  the Nigerian nation  must never allow that to happen in the interest  of the sovereignty of  Nigeria and the social  contract between the Nigerian electorate and its duly elected and new government.  That  is what the Shiite Muslims in Nigeria must  be made to understand if they are not to be seen as trying to finish the gory work  begun by the Boko  Haram in attempting twice  now to behead  our army by killing its boss and scoring a major psychological war against our nation and its people.

    Nigerian Shiite  Muslims must  be told clearly that Nigeria is not  a Muslim state  but a secular one. It is a democracy  and  not a Theocracy  like Iran nor a  failed state like Iraq  whose  democracy is  American made  and  guaranteed, and was created   just after 9/11 in 2001. These two nations have nothing to teach Nigeria about democracy, rule  of law,  and law and order- so their  warnings to Nigeria on the Zaria ambush of our army chief convoy  was quite impertinent and meant to bring our democracy down to their own abysmal levels and that we should never allow.

    Undoubtedly  the Nigerian Shiite  Muslims are a minority amongst Nigerian Muslims so one wonders why they should think it is their lot to bring the Nigerian nation to its knees by killing its army chief when the nation is preoccupied with stopping the insurgency of Boko Haram. I am even astonished at the army’s response in talking of the rules of engagements   when it was not fighting a war or facing Boko  Haram as usual but a mob out to kill its leader in broad  daylight. The army  must  not be cowed into losing its power of deterrence against the enemies  of the Nigerian  state both within and without.  It  must  not be deterred from using superior  violence against those who threaten its  capability to defend the Nigerian  state by orchestrating demonstrations in London simultaneously as Shiite  Muslims waylay our army chief  and distribute pictures  on religious  rights at the same time. It  is the duty of the Nigerian  army to defend the Nigerian people against all enemies of the state within and without. It  is as simple as that. Once again long live the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Government unusual in Kaduna

    Mallam Nasir el Rufai’s towering pedigree as a seasoned administrator and technocrat all too easily marked him out as one who must succeed as he mounted the saddle as the Governor of Kaduna State in May.  Coincidentally, on assumption of office, the new governor had his job cut out for him. El Rufai inherited dubiously depleted state treasury, decayed infrastructure, ethnic and religious tension and hoards of hungry, angry and disillusioned citizenry. He was confronted with a people and a state desperately yearning for change and renewal. The consensus among the citizenry was (and remains) that failure by whatever guise could never be an option. Mercifully, six months down the road, the trust and confidence reposed in Mallam Nasir El Rufai by millions of voters in Kaduna State are beginning to bear juicy fruits even much earlier than expected.

    Poised to speedily rework Kaduna and restore the dignity and honour of its long-suffering people, Mallam El Rufai went to work barely minutes after taking the oath of office. With less than a month in office, he became the first governor elected in 2015 to submit the names of his nominees for positions of commissioners and special advisers to the state House of Assembly for confirmation. While at it, Mallam El Rufai also became the first governor in Nigeria to attach portfolios of his commissioner-nominees to the state House of Assembly.Expectedly this novel move aided the speedy ratification of the nominees.

    Considering that the governor inherited a near-empty treasury and given also the nation’s dwindling economic fortunes, the governor and his equally hard-working deputy, Bala Barnabas Bantex, have since taken 50 per cent cuts in their salaries and allowances while commissioners and the aides of the governor and his deputy have also taken massive cuts in their salaries and allowances. Indeed by June, just one month after taking office, the El Rufai administration had slashed overheads by a whooping 60 per cent. In the bid to plug leakages in the system, the administration among other things, prohibited the collection of cash revenues by Ministries, Departments and Agencies and promptly adopted the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

    Even more profound is El Rufai’s deliberate and tenacious efforts to bring government closer to the people with a view to having the citizenry participate fully in the formulation of crucial policies and taking decisions on how they should be governed. In Kaduna State today, a few elites no longer sit in cozy offices or hotel rooms to determine the fate of millions of other people. Governor El Rufai has introduced monthly town hall meetings across the state. At these town hall meetings, the governor and members of his team report back to the people on programmes and policies of the government and then take feedbacks from them. The feedbacks and other inputs from the citizenry at these town hall meetings have been shaping the policies and programmes of the administration.

    The governor however upped the ante on Saturday November 28 when he convened a town hall meeting on the 2016 budget at the General Hassan Katsina Government House. The event was another first – it was the first time a governor in Nigeria would be subjecting a state budget estimate to the scrutiny of the entire electorate before presenting it to the House of Assembly for approval and ratification.

    The 2016 budget for Kaduna State, which was aptly named “Budget of Sacrifice, Restoration and Change”, is anchored on the commitments outlined in the Restoration Programme, the manifesto platform on which the Kaduna State APC campaigned. The governor was clear and unambiguous about the thrust and philosophy underling the 2016 budget, which is”to make Kaduna State great again by reversing the neglect that the public interest has suffered, to restore hope in our people and foster the sort of harmony in our communities that is conducive to peace and security”.

    In the budget, Governor El Rufai underscored the determination of his administration to deepen the capacity of the people to make the best choices for themselves, if they are properly educated, given decent healthcare, and jobs in a secure environment. On this score he prioritized job creation, health, education and security

    With the budget, Governor ElRufai is also seeking to put to an end the gory era when government seemed to exist only for those who lead it or work for it. In the past, once the political elites and public servants had taken care of themselves, they usually leave too little resources for the people. For example, the previous administration in Kaduna spent a minimum of 80% of available resources on itself. Sometimes the proportion was higher. “How can the political elite justify spending public resources mainly on an influential minority? Is it fair or justifiable that the voters should be without stake in a system that draws its legitimacy from their mandate?”, Governor El Rufai queried at the town hall meeting.

    The governor noted that year after year, only the recurrent part of budgets in the state attained perfect performance. Capital investments repeatedly suffered, sometimes reaching only one percent in some sectors or 17% performance overall. Previous Kaduna State governments had reduced budgeting into a “fictographic art, with scarcely any relationship to reality.” On assumption of office, the new administration observed that previously huge annual budgets were approved without being implemented, leaving a legacy of abandoned projects. In the 2016 fiscal year, the Kaduna State Government intends to entrench the policy and culture of putting the people first. Governor El Rufai believes that democracy construes the people as the masters.

    The 2016 revenue and expenditure estimates, as eventually presented to the Kaduna State House of Assembly by Governor Nasir el Rufai add up to N171.7 billion, comprising N109.3bn (64%) capital and N62.4 (36%) recurrent components. These fiscal assumptions are based on a conservative benchmark crude oil price, at about US $39.50 per barrel.

    A major highlight of the 2016 budget for Kaduna State is that it moves away from funding government to providing infrastructure and services to citizens. It restores the 60:40 ratio in favour of capital expenditure. This is in keeping with the agenda of Governor El Rufai to expand access to Education, Healthcare, Jobs and Security. The administration’s pro-poor programmes, including interventions in school feeding, planting of economic trees, and waste collection, are expected to create 200,000 jobs. These investments in infrastructure and human capital are calculated to help the state grow at a rate that significantly surpasses the national average.

    Capital investments captured in the 2016 budget include:  renovation and construction of schools; school feeding; uniforms and tablets for secondary school students; school furniture; establishment and construction of 255 primary health care centres (one per ward), modernized, equipped with items like ultrasound scans and other tools that can assist safe deliveries; the Kaduna Geographic Information Services will develop and manage a centralized, electronic land registry to provide marketable titles for all land owners, including our farmers; a rapid rail system for Kaduna metropolis; township roads, street lighting, a new Facilities Management Agency to professionalise the maintenance of government assets; rural feeder roads; revamping of the Zaria Water works, waterworks rehabilitation projects in Kafanchan, Kaduna, Saminaka, Manchok, Kwoi and Zonkwa.

    To boost agriculture, the Kaduna State Government in the 2016 fiscal year intends to put in place a price support system to guarantee minimum prices for farmers at the beginning of the farming season for grains and other produce. The administration also intends to make available low-interest loans for the state’s farmers generally so as to increase rice production, commercial agriculture and support the introduction of a private sector driven statewide tractor hiring scheme.

    It is truly a dawn of a new and glorious era in Kaduna State as Mallam Nasir el Rufai begins the arduous task of fixing a state that was left desolate and traumatised by past inept and insensitive administrations. Mallam el Rufai and members of his team need the prayers and full cooperation of the entire people of Kaduna State. Typical of all agents of change, the governor will necessarily face stiff opposition from persons who are bent on retaining the status quo. These opponents of change would, predictably, seek at all times, to distract and even malign him. Our admonition is for the public to ignore them and judge Nasir el Rufai by his actions. We are confident that Kaduna State is at the verge of regaining its place as the pride of Nigeria.

     

     

    • Mallam Sani is the Special Adviser, Political Matters, to Governor Nasir El Rufai

     

  • UNAIDS cannot stop government from charging fees

    UNAIDS cannot stop government from charging fees

    State programme manager for United Nations’ health Programme on HIV and AIDS, Dr. Olubunmi Asa,  says the organisation will continue to do its best to help Nigeria overcome the HIV and AIDS challenge, but insists that the organisation is not a pressure group.

    The situation at the moment is grim, because a lot of people living with HIV in the country cannot access their drugs, due to the new service charges introduced. What is UNAIDS doing right to in any way influence a positive change in that area?

    UNAIDS is the United Nations joint programme on HIV and AIDS. It is a programme put together by the UN to address issues concerning HIV and AIDS in its totality and a critical point of reference for us is advocacy. That is one area we have been very dutiful over the years, since the scourge of HIV started. We have been in the forefront and the current reality that we’re facing is giving the country director, Dr Bilali Camara sleepless nights. This includes the current realities of dwindling funds; moving together with other partners to get the government of Nigeria to appreciate the current situation and see how funding and support can be mobilised to address this issue. Moreover, this is a very critical period. We have a very narrow window of opportunity to really break the virus. So if we’re able to generate investments; if we’re able to test 90% confirmation of people who are HIV positive, if we’re able to put 90% of those positive on treatment, and ensure that 90% of them have suppressed viral load, then we are able to break transmission of HIV/AIDS to a large extent; then the society and everyone benefits ultimately. That is the target that we’re working at with the government to achieve.

    NACA has announced that the spread of HIV/AIDS has reduced by 35%. A few people have countered this declaration, more of them citing the fact that some people living with the virus are now unable to access the drugs. What’s your take here?

    The reality is that a lot of strides have been made over the years in the HIV arena in Nigeria. We are not yet where we want to be, but we know that we have left the bus stop, which is why the current situation that is playing out is not something that we want to allow to thrive. If people are not accessing services, knowing their status and are not able to stay on their drugs, then certainly it’s going to boomerang. If people don’t take their drugs regularly due to one hindrance or the other, then they’re not able to take their medications and are going to lose the chance to put the virus at bay; and so the chances of transmission continues. And heaven forbids that we go back to where we started from years back. We know that the govt is sensitive to this, and we will continue to engage and ensure that the needed is done.

    How much does the UNAIDS commit to the battle against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria?

    It might not be easy to put that in Naira and kobo; but generally, we have a mandate to support the government of the day in several areas of our mandate, including HIV/AIDS. There are so many things that money might probably not buy; everything in totality that we do to address the issues of HIV/AIDS. Issues surrounding engagement with the government; issues surrounding engagement with the respective funders, engagement with civil societies, who would speak as voice of the voiceless.

    Is the UNAIDS able to mount some kind of pressure on the government of Nigeria to rescind this new payment policy?

    The UN is not a pressure group; it is not a pressure organisation. The UNAIDS would support and advocate for issues that are for the betterment of the human race. We will continue to advocate and provide evidence on why the right thing should be done at the right time in the right way. That’s what we stand for.

  • FEC meetings and changing face of government

    FEC meetings and changing face of government

     

    On top of all the worries about the Buhari presidency’s inattentiveness to the country’s deeper malaises, there are indications the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) may have become fortnightly. Reports suggest that the reasons are to reorient the Wednesday meetings away from being contract discussion sessions and time-consuming charades. The fortnightly meetings, the reports say, will become rigorous policy discussions fora where productive and stimulating ideas will be birthed.

    On the surface, the motive is incontestable. The deeper issues of state and the research and preparations that should enliven debates apparently need time and effort to project and consummate. It may also be true that during the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan, the FEC meetings might have become more a contract bazaar than policy discussions sessions. However, what says that President Buhari cannot change the outlook and focus of the FEC meetings to something much grander than he inherited? Does he need to scrap two weeks off in the month in order to refocus FEC? And can the deeper issues of state not be discussed on a weekly basis, and with as much diligence and fervour as a fortnight affords?

    If it is true that officially FEC meetings have become a fortnightly affair, it is probably due to the president’s other more time-consuming preoccupations. He travels too frequently, though not fewer and not more than his predecessors. All Nigerian rulers in fact seem obsessed with travelling abroad more than they travel locally. They have their reasons, and in particular, President Buhari may rightly justify his travels as both exploratory and to mobilise the world against Boko Haram. However, it is unlikely he can convince Nigerians that he needs to travel as much as has done, let alone disabuse their minds that he does not have a private aversion for the complicated policies, concepts and ratiocinations bandied about in state conference rooms and board rooms.

    Since the inauguration of his cabinet, President Buhari has had just one brief FEC meeting — the inaugural one. It is hoped he will soon settle down to business and get his cabinet formulating the requisite policies and ideas the country needs for development and for hatching solutions to the multifarious and increasingly disquieting issues undermining its peace and stability. Notwithstanding his private misgivings, the undisputable fact is that the president needs these weekly meetings to grow, while also needing to pay more attention to the ideas the FEC will spawn. In addition, he will need to familiarise himself with the newspeak of the times and gradually purge himself of his constant and facile recourse to his mother tongue in order to have a firm grip on the country and master its often dumbfounding complexities.

  • My plan is to institute youth based government -Paseda

    My plan is to institute youth based government -Paseda

    Prince Rotimi Paseda, the governorship candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria in Ogun State, has said his vision in politics is to institute a youth based government. He made the statement in a brief chat where he also spoke of his experiences during the last general elections.

    As he puts it: “My plan is to institute a youth based government. I made my first million pounds in England as a very young man as a result of pure friendship when I was in Cardiff University on Ogun State scholarship. My parents couldn’t have been able to afford the trip to England if not for the benefit I got from Ogun State. Incidentally, most of our leaders at the helms of affairs benefited from all these government largesse and they are now shutting the doors against the youth of today, which is what we see in every state we turn to. I had a friend in the university that was wayward and not ready to read and get serious in life, and his father was a multi-millionaire then and the father noticed the affinity between his son and me and started using me to correct his son. At a time, I was practically living in their house as one of his children, with full benefit of being his kid. He made sure his son and I hung out every time except during lectures and on a particular day he went to an auction because he was an estate auctioneer and bought us one house each for speculation at the price of a million pound and taught us the art of speculation and ever since then I have not looked back in business and every time I go back to him for advise here and there and to the glory of God his son today is a better man in business and personal life. Now tell me why I shouldn’t give back to the society, when the society made me?”

    On his experiences during the last elections, where he contested for the plum office of governor, Paseda said, “it is not strength or might that will sustain a man but the grace of God. So, when people asked who I am and my antecedence in politics, I tell them if a man will get there, he will with God on his side. So, spending money on election and different people seeing me as someone to extort is all a game to me as I am enjoying myself. For your information, I consider that episode as politics 101 for me and I have graduated a better person; the whole experience have not affected me a bit and have not changed me because I believe as an adult we all have free will to decide what to do and what not to do; so if you decide to do wrong, it’s your decision and if you decide otherwise, so, I have come out of the whole election a stronger person and with a stronger will to do more and go further.”

    The governorship candidate also commented on the attitude of Nigerian leaders, advising them to treat other Nigerians with greater civility while in office. “It is time we let our leaders know they are there to serve us and not the other way round. The other day we all saw the picture of our ex-president in London emerging from an Apple shop alone. That wouldn’t have been possible some 10 months ago, so nothing is permanent in life. So, treat others as you would want to be treated,” he told serving leaders.

  • Okowa, Delta roads and government of ‘madmen’

    At a time residents of urban cities in Delta State are contemplating whether to adopt canoe or camel as means of transportation due to the awful condition of roads in the state, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa dropped a bombshell on Sunday, October 11.

    He told newsmen at the Olu Palace (Aghofen) in Warri, after paying a condolence visit to the Regent of Warri Kingdom, Prince Eroro Emiko, on the death of the 18th Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, that “only a mad man constructs roads in the rainy season, because you would just have destroyed the roads rather than repair it. In the dry season, we will attend to the roads.”

    Some commentators see the statement as a veiled jibe at his predecessor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, who governed the state from 2007 till May 29, this year. The cold war between the former associates and leaders of the PDP is an open secret.

    A section of the debaters flayed the governor’s choice of words as unbecoming of his position as the highest political officeholder in the land.

    There is no doubt that the condition of roads in the urban areas of the state, particularly in the commercial axis of Warri-Effurun, leaves much more to be desired from those who administered and are administering the affairs of the oil-rich state.

    Roads in Warri and its environs have deteriorated to an unbearable level since Okowa took over the reign of government five months ago, and this probably led to the question that brought the ‘Madman’ analogy. The governor was seen as not only passing the bulk, but flaying his forerunner in office.

    Recall that, in the dying days of the Uduaghan administration, a contract was awarded for the resurfacing of Airport Road, one of the busiest roads linking the twin cities of Effurun and Warri.

    In a mad rush to complete the project, the contractor, a well-known politician in the state, worked in the rain and shine in those last weeks. The result of the desperate move was a new coat that did not cohere with the old, leading to its peeling off even as the new layer was being laid.

    The effect, to rephrase Okowa, was the destruction of the road, rather than repairing it. It was not the first time such contract would be awarded, and like many before that, the road and its users have been worse off.

    The Airport Road project is the first and the only road to receive the attention of the present administration in the Warri area. The contract awarded was not to repair the road, but to remove the new ‘surface’ that was debarking and making driving on the road a nightmare for motorists.

    “It is a shame that what one government spent money to lay another is spending even more money to remove! This can only happen in a society where we are led by mad men,” an aged retired civil servant, who asked not to be named because of security reasons, lamented.

    Equally sad is the fact that the contractor handling the scraping job has left the site with a large portion of the road undone, thereby making it worse off.

    There is no respite anywhere for motorists and the rains bring even more hardship.

    On a normal day and time, driving round the twin-cities–from Effurun Roundabout, through the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Expressway, to Warri/Effurun/Sapele Road-should not take more than 30 minutes. But, in the present time, it could take up to three or four hours, depending on the time of the day, weather and other factors.

    During a torrential downpour on Monday, it took over two hours to manoeuvre from the Ogunu, through the flyover bridge to Ajamimogha Road – a distance less than half a kilometre. Those going to Ubeji from the Ekpan axis of Effurun spent up to five hours through the less than five kilometre road.

    The gridlock returned to the cities after another downpour on Tuesday and like the previous days, it not only affected those living in the cities, but also travellers passing through Efurun to Ughelli, Bayelsa communities and other towns in the region.

    Mr Sunny Fole, a businessman who was taking his mother to the clinic in nearby Oghara, spent several hours at the Effurun Roundabout. But fortunately for him, the medical need was not urgent.

    Okowa has promised a new dawn for residents of the area during the dry season. But residents of the areas are used to failed promises by their government officials and so residents have adopted a ‘wait-and-see’ stance.

     

     

  • Lagos MDAs, state government agree on PRA 2014 implementation

    Lagos MDAs, state government agree on PRA 2014 implementation

    Lagos ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) last week reached an agreement with the state government on how to implement the Pension Reform Act 2014, especially the pension contribution increase, Omobola Tolu-Kusimo reports.

    In what can be described as a public hearing between an employer and employee, Lagos State government last week met with public servants on workable ways to implement the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) guided by the new pension law, the PRA 2014.

    The meeting, a one-day seminar on the Provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2014 for the State Chief Executive Officers, Directors, Administration and Human Resources and Pension Desk Officers in MDAs also threw light on grey areas of the CPS in relation to the Civil Service Rules of the State Public Service. Representatives of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) were also present at the meeting.

    It would be recalled that Lagos State began the implementation of the CPS in March 2007 guided by the PRA 2004. However, the PRA 2014 has introduced some new provisions that is expected to be absorbed in the operation of the Scheme.

    According to the Director-General, Lagos State Pension Board (LASPEB), Mrs Folashade Onanuga, the state wants to consolidate on the strides already made in implementation of the CPS and wants to ensure it retains the position it has occupied.

    She stated that the State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode however, wants an all-inclusive agreement from parastatals and agencies to avoid partial or faulty implementation of the PRA 2014 especially pension contribution increase .

    The PRA 2014 increased pension contribution rate from 7.5 per cent employee rate and 7.5 per cent employer rate to eight per cent employee rate and 10 per cent employer rate.

    Section 4 sub section 1 of the PRA 2014 states the rate of contribution under the CPS shall be a minimum of 10 per cent by the employer and a minimum of eight per cent by the employee’s monthly emoluments.

    Sub section 2 of the Act further states that the rates of contribution may upon agreement between any employer and employee be revised upwards, from time to time and the PenCom shall be notified.

    Sub section 4 also states that notwithstanding any of the provisions of the bill, an employer may agree on the payment of additional benefits to the employee upon retirement or bear the full responsibility of the scheme provided that in such case, the employer’s contribution shall not be less than 20 per cent of the monthly emoluments of the employee.

    Onanuga further disclosed that the state has made a recommendation to government to increase the funding rate of accrued rights from five per cent to 12.41 per cent recommended by our actuaries, Alexander Forbes.

    She added that the interactive session is to further instil, better understanding of CPS, how it works and the technicalities involved.

    She said: “In as much as we know that PRA 2014 is now operational in the private sector and at the Federal level with effect from July 1, 2014, it is important for us to come together and look at it closely in order to understand it better, how it will affect public servants and how to resolve the issues inherent in it.

    “The purpose of this forum is to ensure efficient management of our pension system, which in essence called for this seminar, which its main objective is to give indepth analysis of what the PRA 2014 entails. The purpose of this is to enable decision makers in MDAs have clearer and better understanding of the provision of the new law and the implications for pension administration in the state public service, most especially on the issues relating to pension contribution increase.”

    She noted that the current administration has from inauguration, emphasised a commitment to the welfare of the people of Lagos State.

    She pointed out that before the state will domesticate the provisions of the new Act into the Lagos State Pension Law, critical stakeholders will look at the increase in financial obligation arising from the 2014 Act.

    “We will look at whether we can go into it taking into consideration the happenings in the economy.

    Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson Oke representd by the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Pensions Office, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola stated that the government remains committed to consolidating on policies that would help in promoting its performance on the CPS administration.

    Meanwhile, a representative of the Lagos State Lottery Board Micheal Folarin said the agency is already contributing 23 per cent rate, which represents eight per contribution by employee and 15 per cent contribution by employer.

    He also believes that it is necessary for other government agencies to increase the rate from the present 15 per cent to minimum 18 per cent.

    Another representative from the Lagos State University, Mrs Oyele on her part said they support the pension contribution increase of 18 per cent.

    According to her, the CPS stands for the sustainability of employees after retirement and the increase is justified based on their recent standard of living.

    She added that the state is buoyant enough and can pay the increase.

    Adewale Shoyele from the Lagos State Public Service staff Development Centre, believes that the state can pay the increase if it puts proper planning in place.

    “We need to plan effectively with the pension fund. Lagos is number one state in Nigeria and in Africa.”

     

  • Boko Haram: Transport union to collaborate with government

    Boko Haram: Transport union to collaborate with government

    The Chairman of Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Lagos State Branch, Alhaji Mohammed Musa, has spoken of the willingness of the transport body to partner with the National Union of Roads and Transport workers (NURTW) in the fight against insurgency.

    Musa made this known to journalists at the weekend during the flag off campaign for the elections of the Motorcyclists and Riders Association executive members in Lagos State. He stated that this has become imperative, as every hand must be on deck to assist the federal government in its efforts to tackle the menace of Boko Haram and insurgency in the North East.

    While pledging to work with his NURTW counterpart, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, to establish a taskforce in collaboration with the government and security agencies to ensure adequate security at all motor parks, Musa added, “An arrangement has been put to place to work with my counterpart in NURTW, Lagos State branch to form a taskforce in partnership with the government and security agencies to keep watch on people coming and going into our parks.

    “This would checkmate activities in our motor parks; we would also know who drops a particular load within the park and the content. The recent unfortunate incidents in motor parks in some states where lives and millions of properties were lost is sad and totally unacceptable.”

    Musa, who is also the Deputy National President (Administration) of RTEAN, further disclosed that as part of measures to eradicate violence in motor parks, several reforms have been introduced to sensitise members on the issue, adding that the incidence of violence has been reduced to the barest minimum since he was elected as the Chairman of the transport body in October last year.

    He said: “I became chairman of RTEAN, Lagos State branch in October last year and between then and now, we have introduced reforms to forestall violence among our members”

    “This would checkmate activities in our motor parks. We would know also know who drop a particular load within the parks and its content.”

  • Mount Zion tasks Government on piracy

    Mount Zion Faith Ministry, producers of Christian movies, has urged the three tiers of government to tackle piracy so that practitioners in the movie industry could enjoy the benefit of their property.

    President of the ministry, Evangelist Mike Bamiloye, made the call while announcing the 30th Anniversary of the outfit which comes up from August 20 to 22 at Jogor event centre, Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    “Film producers have gone bankrupt due to piracy. If government has implemented a strong policy to punish them, then people behind piracy will stay off. It is also affecting us but God has been our strength. We have graduated over 2,400 people from our drama ministry and over 600 student abroad,” he said.

    According to Bamiloye, The programmes for the anniversary include an anniversary football match, documentary, special music time, live drama presentation from the past students of the ministry while Saturday, August 22 is the main programme for the anniversary celebration at Jogor event centre.

  • ‘Enforcing right to accountable government’

    ‘Enforcing right to accountable government’

    The Nigerian Economy and Nigerians

     

    The right to development is a fundamental right by virtue of which every human person and all peoples
    are entitled to participate in, contribute to and enjoy economic, social and cultural development. It is a right which includes the exercise of full sovereignty over national resources, self determination, popular participation in development and equality of opportunity.1(Footnotes) UN General Assembly Declaration on the Right to Development 1977.

    Accordingly, the Nigerian State shall direct its policy towards ensuring the promotion of a planned and balanced economic development and ensure that the economic system is not operated in such a manner as to permit the concentration of wealth or the mean of production and exchange in the hands of a few individuals or of a group.2

    Having ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Nigeria  is under a duty to ensure the exercise of the right to development  and respect the economic, social and cultural rights of the people with due regard to their freedom and identity and in the equal enjoyment of the common heritage of mankind.3 Apart from ensuring that the nation’s material resources are harnessed and distributed to serve the common good the State shall ensure that  suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, old age care and pension, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled are provided for all citizens.4

    A key component of the economic objectives of the State is the “control of the national economy in such manner as to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status.”5 Therefore, the State shall prevent the “exploitation of human and natural resources in any form whatsoever for reasons, other than the good of the community”.6 Hence, the entire property in and control of all natural resources vested in the Government of the Federation shall be managed in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly.7

    In order to establish a welfare system in the country the Constitution has imposed a duty on the State to direct its policy towards ensuring that “the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good and that the economic system is not operated in such a manner as to permit the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of few individuals or of a group. But with the hijack and control of the economy by imperialism and its local lackeys the commonwealth has been completely concentrated in the hands of a few people.

    The demand for the control of the country’s natural resources was a component element in the struggle for independence from the British colonial regime. But upon the attainment of self rule the status quo was allowed to remain in the economic front. Realising that the socio-economic rights of the people could not be meaningfully guaranteed without the control of the natural resources a duty has been imposed on the member states of the African Union to freely dispose of the commonwealth in the exclusive interest of the people.

    No doubt, the domination of the Nigerian economy by market forces has stultified the development and growth of an efficient, dynamic and self-reliant economy in Nigeria. The adoption of neo-liberal economic policies by the Federal Government has continued to promote poverty among the generality of Nigerians. Despite the abundant resources of the nation, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has disclosed that “over 100 million Nigerians live below the poverty line.” I am not unmindful of the commitment of the Buhari Administration to fight corruption. It ought to be pointed out that corruption is not the root cause of our poverty but one of the manifestations of the peripheral capitalist economy which is anchored on ruthless exploitation.

    Instead of striving by means of appropriate regulations “for the minimisation of exploitation and the concentration of wealth in a few hands, the securing of adequate means of livelihood and employment opportunities, suitable and adequate shelter, reasonable minimum living wage, old age care and pensions, unemployment and sick benefits etc”8 the State begun the systematic promotion of poverty through the implementation of the Structural Adjustment Programme imposed on the country under the Ibrahim Babangida junta.

    Contrary to the economic objectives of the nation, the State has stopped the planning of the economy, refused to harness the resources of the country and failed to address grand corruption and abuse of office.  But in view of the debilitating effects of corruption on the society the State has adopted some measures to promote transparency and accountability in governance. In addition to the penal and criminal codes which have provided for stringent penalties for fraud, embezzlement, stealing, conversion etc other laws which are designed to promote good governance are the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission Act, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, Code of Conduct Act, Public Procurement Act, and Fiscal Responsibility Act. In demonstration of its resolve to combat corruption the Government has ratified the United Nations Convention on Corruption and the African Union Convention on Corruption.

    Aside the collaboration with some countries to tackle corruption through Mutual Legal Assistance the Federal Government has enacted a number of laws for encouraging ethical standards and promoting good governance. Notwithstanding the corpus of anti-graft laws and the establishment of anti corruption agencies, official corruption has stultified growth and development and exposed the country to ridicule before the comity of nations. This is not unexpected given the nature of the country’s neo-colonial capitalist economy compounded by impunity on the part of the ruling class.

     

    Constitutionality of anti-graft agencies

     

    Upon the promulgation of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission Act by the National Assembly, its constitutional validity was taken up in the case of Attorney-General of Ondo State v. Attorney-General of the Federation.9 In rejecting the request of the Plaintiff to declare the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission Act, 2000 illegal and unconstitutional, the Supreme Court said that “The Act is meant to make justiciable by legislation a declared state policy to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power; it is to hearken to national and international concerns over corruption it is to give a national leadership and impetus to the crusade while not standing in the way of the states; it seeks, among other things, to deal with and punish specific offences on corrupt practices even including those committed outside Nigeria by citizens and persons granted permanent residence in Nigeria; see section 66. It is not in any way an attempt to embark on a general criminal law legislative jurisdiction. The eradication of corrupt practices and abuse of power will enure to the good government of Nigeria.”            The constitutional validity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004 was equally questioned in Hassan v. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 1010  (2014) 1 NWLR (PT 1389) 607.

    Where the Court of Appeal held that the commission had been duly established by an Act of the National Assembly with the responsibility of investigating and prosecuting economic and financial crimes.  In refusing the relief for perpetual injunction to restrain the Commission from further arresting or disturbing the Appellant in any manner whatsoever the Court held that “no court has the power to stop the investigative powers of the Police or EFCC or any agency reasonable suspicion of commission of a crime or ample evidence of commission of an offence by a suspect.”

    Furthermore, the locus standi of the EFCC to charge the appellants was challenged

    In Kalu v. Federal Republic of Nigeria11 by the Appellants challenged the locus standi of the EFCC to prefer against them on the ground that the funds allegedly stolen belonged to the Abia State Government and not the Federal Government. In dismissing the objection the Court of Appeal (per  Eko JCA) held that the argument of the Appellants was rooted in the fallacious ground that “the funds allegedly stolen and paid into the account of Slok Nigeria Limited was from the Security Votes of Abia State that were managed by the 2nd Respondent, as the Governor of Abia State, and that the said Security Votes are ‘unaccountable and unretireable’. The argument does not say, and it cannot be further stretched to mean, that because the funds from Security Votes are ‘unaccountable and unretireable’ they are ‘stealable’ or and can be pilfered with impunity.”

    Kola Olaniyan has contended that “corruption cannot be effectively combated by reliance only on the criminal and law enforcement approach, and a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach which incorporates human rights law will be required to adequately and effectively deal with the problem and effects on human rights”.12 With respect, corruption cannot be effectively dealt with without challenging the political economy of the postcolonial capitalist states in Africa. In view of Article 21 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which has imposed a duty on all African countries to “undertake to eliminate all forms of foreign economic exploitation particularly that practiced by international monopolies so as to enable their people to fully benefit from the advantages derived from their national resources” the expropriation of the commonwealth by a few persons including foreigners is untenable.

     

    Duty of Nigerians to fight corruption

     

    The duty conferred on citizens “to render assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law and order” has been said to include the duty to expose corruption by reporting allegations of corrupt practices to the anti-graft agencies. In Fawehinmi v. Inspector-General of Police13 the Supreme Court held that notwithstanding the immunity conferred on heads of government by section 308 of the Constitution, criminal allegations against them may be investigated by the police during their term of office. The view of the apex court was captured by Justice Uwaifo when he said that “The evidence or some aspect of it may be the type which might be lost forever if not preserved while it is available, and in the particular instances given it can be seen that the offences are very serious ones which the society would be unlikely to overlook if it had its way… It may no doubt be used for prosecution of the said incumbent Governor after he has left office. But to do nothing under the pretext that a Governor cannot be investigated is a disservice to the society.”

    The Court however turned round to hold that the police could not be compelled to investigate or prosecute any criminal complaint on ground of public policy. With respect, the Supreme Court missed the point as it failed to take cognizance of the relevant provisions of the Constitution. In other words, the discretion of the anti graft agencies to decide whether or not to investigate or prosecute allegations of corruption cannot override the fundamental right of citizens to freedom of information coupled with the duty placed on them to render lawful assistance to law enforcement agencies in the discharge of their duties.

    Convinced that they have discretion to investigate or prosecute allegations of corruption the anti graft agencies have often pick and choose which cases to investigate or prosecute. The latitude given to the police and other agencies clothed with prosecutorial powers was taken up in Alhaji Sani Dododo v. Economic & Financial Crimes Commission and Ors. (supra). Having submitted petitions to the anti graft agencies alleging corruption against a former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Muhammed Adama Aliero which were not investigated by the respondents the Appellant approached the Federal High Court for judicial review by filing a writ of mandamus.

    In striking out the case for want of locus standi on the part of the Appellant the federal high court held that the Respondents could not be compelled to investigate or prosecute the suspect. The appeal against the verdict was also dismissed by the Court of Appeal. But the locus standi of the Appellant to institute the case was recognized when the Court (per Nwodo JCA) held that “the traditional and narrow view set out in Adesanya’s case will not attain justice in the realm of public right in the light of the Nigerian cases earlier set out on issue of locus… the African Charter provision encompassing public rights should be so construed broadly to vest locus on a tax payer who is interested in good governance and shows such interest by writing a statutory body to complain on misappropriation of public funds. Such act is disclosure of sufficient interest.”

    In recognising the constitutional duty imposed on citizens to report allegations of corrupt practices by public officers to the anti graft agencies the Court of appeal said that “the Appellant, has some duty under section 24 of the Constitution 1999 to abide by the Constitution and respect its deals. He also has duty, by dint of section 24(e) of the same Constitution ‘to render assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law and order’. It is in the spirit of section 24 of the Constitution, read together with section 15(5) of the same Constitution that enjoins the state agencies to ‘abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power’ that the appellant made his complaint of corrupt practices against the 4th respondent to the 1st and 2nd Respondents, who are no doubt lawful agencies of the Federal Government charged with police powers to investigate allegations of corrupt practices and financial crimes and prosecute the offenders.”