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  • Minimum wage: NLC lashes governors

    Minimum wage: NLC lashes governors

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said  governors have declared a war on workers by saying that it was longer sustainable to pay the N18,000 national minimum wage.

    In a statement in Abuja yesterday, the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the declaration by the governors was an attempt to frustrate efforts by the organised labour to table a proposal for a review of the minimum wage, which was signed in 2011.

    But the congress said it was prepared to fight any attempt to frustrate improved workers’ welfare.

    Wabba said although the NLC wanted a higher wage of N52,000, labour was forced to accept the N18,000 minimum wage after two years of negotiation.

    The NLC president argued that the ability to pay minimum wage was not the problem of the economy, but the large sums of money taken away as wages by political office holders and their aides.

    Wabba said: “The governors cannot, therefore, want Nigerians to take them seriously by their present claim that the current national minimum wage was ‘imposed’ on them.

    “For us in the NLC, we know as a fact that ability to pay minimum wages is not the problem of the economy. What is the problem for states and other tiers of government is the amount of many political office holders and their unproductive aides take away as wages.

    “For the private sector, the creed to accumulate more and more profit is also always a motivating factor to keep wages down. Similarly, we have been in the forefront of campaigning that the cost of governance at all levels need to be drastically cut down, to free enough resources for development.

    “The hundreds of billions of Naira our public office holders continue to filter away in the name of governance are what are not sustainable. For instance, the annual cost to the public purse of governors security votes, which is an unaccountable drain on the public resources, is worth several thousands of minimum wages per state.

    “Secondly, Nigerians who have the means to travel by air would recall that in the last six – 10 years, majority, if not all our governors, no longer use commercial airline regular flights as a means of transportation from one place to another.  They now have ‘official’ aircrafts and helicopters, which they maintain at huge costs to the state treasury.

    “Their less ‘fortunate’ counterparts charter aircrafts and helicopters at millions of Naira cost to taxpayers to attend any manner of functions from marriages to child naming ceremonies.

    “States are in the poor financial state they are in largely on the developmental choices they have made; largely on the basis of priorities they have chosen which has nothing to do with the public good.”

    He added that as early as last May, the NLC gave notice that the N18,000 minimum wage was due for review and that workers would be submitting a new proposal once the incoming government settled down.

    “With the recent devaluation of the Naira, the attendant increase in inflation and cost of living, even without the last minimum wage Act reaching the mandatory five years when it is due for review, we would have been justified to request for review.

    “Now, the five years is here – we are at the end of 2015, and with the cost of living being so high, we will soon table our new minimum wage demand to the Federal Government.

    “If the recent statement by the governors forum is intended to manoeuvre them away from addressing these imperatives, then it is bound to fail as we are ready to do battle to raise the living standard of the Nigerian working people,” Wabba said.

  • Governors’ vigil for bailout

    Governors’ vigil for bailout

    Time to  face reality 

    Nigeria’s governors are at it again! They want more money. But for how long will they be going cap-in-hand to Abuja to look for money or ‘bailout’, as the fine bara (begging) has now become famously known? Bailout gained currency in the country when the Federal Government, perhaps in some cases for want of what to do with public funds, started giving money to some sectors of the economy, ostensibly to get them out of the woods. Thus, the textile sector, the agriculture sector and even airlines benefited from this free money that no one is sure the government can ever recover. Anyway, was the money ever meant to be recovered?

    In fairness to the governors, their financial fortune has dwindled over the last 12 months or so; with the continued fall in crude oil prices. It would appear reasonable too, as the governors argued, that they agreed to a minimum wage of N18,000 per month when crude oil was selling for $126 per barrel; it is now $41. Now that crude prices have fallen, they added, it is difficult for them to sustain the minimum wage. Zamfara State governor Abdulaziz Yari, who read the communiqué issued by the governors at the end of their meeting held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, under the auspices of their umbrella body, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) on Thursday, said: “The situation is no longer the same when we were asked to pay N18,000 minimum wage when oil price was $126 (per barrel) and continued paying N18,000 minimum wage when the oil is $41 and the source of government expenditure is from oil and we have not seen prospects in the oil industry in the near future”.

    This is the extent to which I sympathise with the governors. Even then, the sympathy should be qualified because this is not the first time that crude prices would fall. And, as a major crude oil producer, we have always known that the international oil market is volatile and that this volatility is beyond our control. Yet, we did not as a country take any practical step towards providing any cushion such that we would not catch cold whenever crude prices slump or sneeze. Year in, year out, our schools have been turning out graduates (including governors) at all levels that were taught in the various schools some lesson about diversification of the economy. We have heard so many economic experts who wrote papers upon papers delivered at seminars and symposiums about this topic, and many of these papers only gather dust in government establishments; that is when the documents have not been handed to the groundnut seller across the road in the government offices in exchange for groundnut due to lack of space to keep them.

    In other words, successive governments that should have seen the developments that eventually culminated in the slump in oil prices, including the discovery of shale oil, which have put everyone in Nigeria in a mess, merely paid lip service to diversification or, characteristically Nigerian, simply wished that no evil would befall oil prices in Jesus’ name!. Even when we lost the United States, our major crude customer, a thing that should have warned us further of the impending crisis, we celebrated the replacement of the U.S. by Russia and some Asian countries.

    It is sad that I have to return to the Goodluck Jonathan administration so early after my leave, but it is inevitable because it was under his watch that oil prices plummeted last year and the only thing that occupied the then president’s mind was reelection; a thing he did not deserve considering the result he posted after running the country for about five years.   At a time President Jonathan should be strategising on how to address the challenges facing the country’s jugular, he was busy polarising virtually everything that seemed a hindrance to his second term ambition; everything including the NGF some of whose members suddenly became exposed for the dullards that they were as they claimed that 16 was greater than 19 in an election involving just 35 persons!.

    One point the governors must realise now is that the era of sharing is gradually coming to an end in the country. It’s now time to bake. Few persons, if any, have been talking about baking, the emphasis has been on sharing; we have dissipated so much energy on revenue sharing formula when we should be talking about revenue baking formula. This is a reality that our governors have to start accepting. And I want to believe we are getting there because the governors too tasted what a vigil is like. I hear their meeting lasted from Wednesday to the early hours of Thursday last week. So, when the poor too talk about vigil, the governors would have a feel of what they (the poor) mean. I hope the governors would permanently wake up to this reality on baking before it is too late. They gave that impression on Thursday.

    And, when the time for baking comes, no one would need to tell state creation agitators that their time is up. Even as we speak, they seem to have gone into hiding since the cash crunch set in. The truth is; many of them will get silenced for life the moment states begin to fend for themselves. Even as things are, creation of some of the existing states was a mistake. because most of those who created them did so more for political expediency.

    Without doubt, the Federal Government has to shed weight even under the lopsided federalism that we are practicing. But then, the governors have to resolve this time around that if the NGF must be relevant, they would use it more for functional rather than the dysfunctional purposes that many of them used it for under the Jonathan presidency.

    It is not just a question of meeting President Buhari again as the governors resolved at the meeting; it is about being ready to take hard, even if painful decisions about unlocking the potentials buried in the bowels of many of the states and checking corruption. After all, they (governors) met with the president on the same issue in June; yet, not all of them paid their workers with the money as directed by the Federal Government which bailed them out then. The truth is; unless things improve, I foresee a situation where one of these days, all that the governors would bring back from Abuja would be the admonition given by one of the military commanders during the civil war when his subordinates told him that their food supplies at the battle front had been exhausted. The commander simply told the soldiers to “go and manage”. When he was reminded that there was nothing left to ‘manage’, he merely repeated himself; ‘I say go and manage’!

    The solution to the economic crisis is not in reduction of minimum wage as some of the governors are thinking because the N18,000 minimum wage is ridiculously low. How many of the governors with girlfriends would ‘dash’ their mistress N18,000 for transportation even for a single trip (or a single shot) and expect to see her again?

    My point is that, before the situation gets this bad, the governors should start thinking about alternatives to the Abuja ‘fine bara’. President Buhari may not be in a position to bail them out all the time if things do not improve, because he too will be under pressure from Nigerians to deliver the democratic dividend he promised them during the electioneering. Let our governors put on their thinking caps so that they won’t have to go and ‘manage’ when it is visible, even to the blind, that there is nothing to ‘manage’. In the same vein retrenchment does not seem a likely option so that we do not compound the present security situation. Rather, what is required is a pragmatic and holistic approach to getting our economy out of the woods and this involves all, the president, governors and other stakeholders.

  • Governors lament cash crunch

    Governors lament cash crunch

    THE Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) yesterday lamented that more states may not be able to pay workers’ salaries, if the country’s revenue continues to decline.

    Its Chairman and Zamfara State Governor Abdul’aziz Yari said this while briefing reporters on the resolutions of the forum at its meeting in Abuja late on Wednesday.

    He said the forum discussed the economy and resolved to look for means to enhance states’ internally generated revenues as well to cut overhead cost.

    The forum, Yari said, also resolved to diversify the country’s economy from petroleum to agriculture and mining.

    Stressing that it was becoming unbearable for some states to pay the N18,000 minimum wage, he said: “We resolved that we must look at ways to enhance revenue generation and at the same time look at ways to cut our overhead costs more, especially the political office holders’ salaries and other overhead expenses.

    “The situation is no longer the same when we used to pay N18, 000 minimum wage when oil was $126; now oil price is $41 and the source of government’s expenditure is from the oil.

    “We will diversify our economy in the area of agriculture and mining. But at the same time, we should understand our situation where some of us today are taking N100 million as monthly allocation and we have salaries of over N2 billion to pay.”

    “We are coming together in a roundtable with President Muhammadu Buhari and his team of ministers, technocrats and economic experts to see how we can tackle our situation,” the governor said.

    The governors, Yari said, also resolved to hold a roundtable with all stakeholders to tackle the nation’s economic situation.

    The NGF backed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the N2.1 trillion fine slammed on telecoms firm MTN.

    The governors insisted that the service provider must pay up in full.

    Yari said the NGF’s support for the NCC came after its Acting Executive Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Umar Dambata, briefed the forum on the matter.

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said the economic situation was worrisome as more states would reach a stage where they would not be able to pay salaries.

    “I believe that is the same situation with the Federal Government,’’ Okowa said.

    He said there was a need to look into the salaries of political office holders and others.

    “It is not a situation of being able to run government now. Most states are not able to pay salaries, not to talk of capital projects.

    “If we cannot fund capital development, then the rest of Nigerians are just shut out of government.

    “Those of us in government, both politicians and civil servants, are possibly not more than five per cent of the entire population of Nigeria.

    “What will happen to the other 95 per cent? What happens to infrastructure? Can we talk about industry without infrastructure?’’ Okowa asked.

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi said there was no way the country could continue with a situation where expenditure was more than income.

  • Buhari, Tinubu, governors bid Borgu emir farewell

    Buhari, Tinubu, governors bid Borgu emir farewell

    Borgu Emirate in Niger State was in a mourning yesterday as the remains of its Emir, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro Kitoro III (Mai Borgu), were laid to rest.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, governors and other dignitaries witnessed the funeral.

    Some of the late emir’s subjects, well-wishers and mourners broke down in tears

    The late emir, a former minister and ex-senator, died on Friday in a German hospital. He was 77.

    His remains were brought in by an Arik Air plane marked 5N-JEA, which landed at 11.00am at New Bussa Airport in Niger State.

    The body was received by Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and his Kebbi counterpart, Atiku Bagudu.

    After about 20-minute formalities at the airport, the body was brought out of the plane in a brown mahogany casket.

    While some in the crowd pushed forward to touch the casket, some of them broke down in tears on sighting it.

    Those crying were shouting: “See my Sarki, see my Sarki”.

    Many others who gathered at the Emir’s Palace wept when the body arrived in a Nigeria Air Force  hearse marked AF 221 BO1 around11:45 a.m.

    Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Minister-designate Alhaji Lai Mohammed attended the ceremony.

    Also there was Major Hamza El-Mustapha, the former chief security officer to the late Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha.

    Some of those who attended the funeral included the Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers and Emir of Bida, Yahaya Abubakar, who led other traditional rulers.

    Most churches cut short their services because of the emir’s burial.

    Markets and shops were also closed. Security was tight.

    Buhari and Tinubu arrived at the late Emir’s palace at 2:12pm.

    The President did not speak to reporters.

    Tinubu, who was turbaned Jagaban Borgu by the late emir in 2006, spoke with reporters.

    Clad in cream-colour agbada and brown cap and shoes to match, he told reporters: “He was a very close friend and compatriot. His death is a very personal loss to me. Particularly, it was very painful because when I saw him last Wednesday, he was looking radiant and ready to come back home.

    “And this sudden death is a great loss to the country. He is a patriot and a committed democrat and a valued Nigerian and a true leader of his people, not just limited to this kingdom, but across Africa. He is a bridge-builder and a unifier.”

    The prayer for the repose of his soul at the palace before burial was led by Chief Imam of New Bussa, Alhaji Ahmed Shehu.

    Some of the late emirs’ subjects spoke about him.

    Hajiya Halima Kudi said he was the emir of the people and accepted everyone into his kingdom, even strangers.

    She said: “It was during his reign as Emir that many others people came to settle in New Bussa. He was friendly to us and addressed our plight whenever we had one. His death is very painful to us.”

    Another resident Aminu Yusuf described the late emir as a good and honest man that sponsored many children in his kingdom and accepted everyone as his own.

    He said: “He sponsored our children to school and formed skills acquisition centres for them to ensure that they have some skills to fall back to. Now that he is gone, what are we going to do? Who is going to continue these things? Will there be another emir like him? Our benefactor is gone.”

    Alhaji Baba Kudu, another resident, said the late Eemir was simple and close to the people and has a listening ear.

    “No one goes into his palace without him listening to their plight and he tries his best to address it. It does not matter if you are an indigene or not; he listens to all. A very simple man with a heart of gold. He was the backbone of this kingdom. We will miss him a lot. I cannot say much, I just feel sad.”

    Another female subject, who did not want her name mentioned, said: “He is a man that has no problem with the people and government. He cares for us. He had open arms and heart, ready to welcome and help his people.

    “Although I am a stranger here, I could see the way he treated strangers and I was encouraged. His death is very painful and sudden. We never expected that such calamity will fall on us.”

  • Kamuku Forest: North’s governors, security chiefs meet

    Kamuku Forest: North’s governors, security chiefs meet

    Six northern governors of the states bordering the dreaded Kamuku Forest met with security chiefs in Kaduna at the weekend on how to wipe out criminals in the forest.

    The governors of Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto brainstormed on the ways to end security threats posed by the forest.

    In late July, a joint security task force operating in the forest in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State killed three robbers and recovered over 850 cattle.

    Addressing reporters after a closed door meeting, the chairman of the occasion and Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari said after reviewing the efforts of security agencies, it was necessary to allow them continue with operation in order to drive criminals away from the forest.

  • Ex-Kogi governor’s wife trains youths

    Wife of former Kogi State governor, Aisha Audu-Emeje has launched a  free IT training programme for youths.

    No fewer than 1000 will be trained by her A3 Foundation which is supported by the Rockefeller Foundation.

    Aisha Audu-Emeje who is the CEO/founder of the organisation, said the free ICT programme was designed to create sustainable employment for high potential but disadvantaged youths in Nigeria.

    She disclosed that the global youth unemployment rate was 13% in Year 2014 and that the pandemic of unemployment does not affect Nigeria alone.

    Her words: “For me I am giving back to the society and at the same time we will give the trainees capital to get to the next stage in life. You can see clearly that we are one of the first private organisations to go after the desire of President Muhammadu Buhari to create jobs for the youths. We have stepped out by doing 1000 and because we believe in Buhari and we know he is willing to succeed in all aspect of his administration.

    “According to a United Nations report released in January this year, an extra 10 million people worldwide are likely to be unemployed by 2019,the report mentioned that slower growth, widening inequalities and economic turbulence as reasons behind the trend.”

    The renowned politician and youth empowerment crusader said with all these daunting statistics, it was imperative for all stakeholders to put all hands on deck to tackle this problem head on adding that:” this is definitely not the time for complacency.”

    The former first lady who described unemployment as situation where someone of working age is not able to get a job but would like to be in full time employment stated that “many youth in Nigeria fall into this category with their intimidating credentials from notable schools”.

    She stated challenges such as finance, absence of good administration and inconsistent policies as factors suppressing the efforts of the Nigerian Government in reducing the unemployment rate in the country.

    “The A3 foundation has taken all these factors into consideration and has sought newer ways to address the rising unemployment rate”

    “And that is why we have embarked on the training of 1000 Youth in Nigeria in the field of ICT with support from Rockefeller foundation to further assist high potential but disadvantaged youth in taking their rightful place in society by securing decent jobs”

    “the training of these youths would not only enable youth take their rightful place but would create an environment where the youth can in turn make meaningful impact in the society at large”

    “it is our believe at the A3 Foundation that the training would go a long way to helping disadvantaged youth in the society by taking them off the streets and putting their individuals skills to good use” Ambassador Aisha added.

    She gave the assurance that based on the Foundation’s high level of commitment; the training would not be an ordinary training as the organization intends to follow up on all trainees to ensure that they are gainfully employed.

    The project manager, Ms Hadiza Emeje who said that the Registration portal was created for efficiency and transparency urged interested youth to log in to www.thea3foundation.org and apply for the training which starts from the 19th October, 2015.

    She also noted that the pilot scheme would kick off in FCT, Nasarawa State and Niger State.

     

  • Moving forward with governors

    Few can doubt that President Muhammadu Buhari’s desire and passion is to gow the country.

    That much was clear even from the electioneering days.

    Now in the saddle directing the ship of state, he does not want any part of the country to be left behind as he projects and plans.

    His focus is beyond governance at the federal level as he tries to carry every state government along towards ensuring total and even development and progress across Nigeria.

    He is putting the opportunities for economic growth he has seen at the centre at the doorsteps of state governments.

    To this end, President Buhari last Tuesday created a forum through the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja for all the 36 state governors to experience reawakening that will place their states on a path of genuine economic growth.

    The ultimate aim of the session is to boost internally generated revenues of state governments and make them less dependent on the centre.

    The state governors, during the session, were briefed by many federal government agencies and international organizations which enlightened them on the various opportunities available to them and how to run an efficient economy at the state level.

    Their eyes were opened to some developmental funds they could easily access from world bodies and potentially rewarding partnerships they could go into with some federal government agencies and international organizations.

    During the session, for instance, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health briefed the governors on how to access $500 million human development fund from the World Bank. The fund had always been there untapped by the state governments.

    On the novel initiative by the President, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari said:  “Today, this meeting was with heads of so many agencies which made presentations to us. Some of them were ordered by Mr. President to do the presentation so as to make us understand where they are and what they are up to.

    “We were supposed to take eight but because of the time constraints, we were only able to take three. We have taken United Nations Population Fund, we have taken the World Bank in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health on human development.

    “And we have also taken the GMD NNPC. By November we would take those that we are not able to take such as National Mathematical Centre and the Nigeria Communication Commission on the issue of digitalization and also NASENI. This is for the betterment of Nigeria. They have briefed us about the way forward.

    “We are going to continue with other departments so that we can understand and see how to move the nation forward.” He said

    Also commending the President for the initiative, Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi said: “I think that for the first time in the history of my being a governor, this is a very commendable effort.

    “First and foremost, we now discover that many states can partner with the NNPC. We are having dwindling resources, can we not expand our resource net to be able to bring in money?

    “For instance, each state can now partner with the NNPC in the area of downstream business activities, even to some extent, distribution activities and refining activities.

    “The Ministry of Health also made presentation. We discovered also that state governments can partner with the ministry.

    “In all, we are taking about nine stakeholders and development partners who are exposing the opportunities available for the states to leverage upon. I think it is commendable.” He said

     

    Living with terror

     

    Last week Monday, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was on one of his rare visits to the seat of power.

    His visit, on that day, was for two reasons. One of the reasons was to lead Colombia experts to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Their coming was to make presentation to the President with a view to learning how the Colombians live with and survived insurgency for more than fifty years and why Colombia failed three times in its effort to seek peace.

    Obasanjo said: “I brought a delegation of those of us who visited Colombia last year under the auspices of a foundation which I am the chairman.

    “We went to Colombia to see how all the Colombian authorities were handling the issue of insurgency which had been with them for more than 50 years.

    “As a result of that visit and the experience we had, a book was produced and I said to them that it will be interesting for us in Nigeria to learn as much as we can learn from the experience of Colombia.

    “The specific thing is that they have been fighting insurgency for 50 years. They celebrated their 50 years in existence in May last year, in fact, we went there in June.

    “So, we want to see what has kept them going, what has kept insurgency going? What has made the government of Colombia to make three attempts to seek peace, to end the war and insurgency and they failed. What is the new efforts that they are making? How likely are those new efforts going to succeed?” He said

    From the visit, it is clear that Nigeria will try to learn from Colombia how to ensure peace by quickly crushing Boko Haram, and if that fails, how to live with insurgency with minimal damages to lives and property and keeping Nigeria one like Colombia.

    Two days after the presentation was made to him, President Buhari was optimistic that Boko Haram will be defeated latest by December this year.

    Speaking in an audience with the Commander of United States Africa Command, Gen David Rodriguez, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Buhari said: “”We must thank the United States of America for sending training teams and equipment to us. The positive results of our collaboration are evident.

    “Structured attacks by the insurgents have reduced and by the end of the year, we should see the final routing of Boko Haram as an organized fighting force.” He said

    That, definitely, is the option majority of Nigerians want as they want to be able to live in their country without any element of fear or threat to their lives.

     

  • Governors get briefings on World Bank’s $500m fund, others

    Governors get briefings on World Bank’s $500m fund, others

    Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s (NGF) members were yesterday briefed by officials of Federal Ministry of Health and international organisations at the State House, Abuja on how to access $500 million fund for human development from the World Bank.

    Their Chairman and Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the briefing session.

    The governors were also briefed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) Group Managing Director (GMD), Emmanuel Ibe Kachukwu, other government agencies and international organisations.

    Yari said: “There are funds from the World Bank, which states cannot access because we don’t know how to move it forwards as a result of lack of expertise.

    “Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health briefed us on how we can access the $500 million in that area. Secondly, we use to complain on the NNPC, but with the fact we have got today, it is different in the sense that the NNPC is going to be a different organisation.

    “It is going to fund the economy fully in the sense that there won’t be any question of pipeline breaking or the stealing of oil. We have taken care of that, especially we are looking at instead of using the military only, why don’t we use technology to safeguard our pipelines?”

    He added: “Today, this meeting with heads of so many agencies which made presentations to us. Some of them were ordered by Mr. President to do the presentations so as to make us understand where they are and what they are up to.

    “We are supposed to take eight presentations, but because of the time constraints, we are only able to take three. We have taken United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) and the World Bank in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health on human development.

    “And we have also taken the GMD of NNPC. By November, we would take those that we are not able to take such as National Mathematical Centre and the National Communication Commission (NCC) on the issue of digitalisation and also National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).”

    “We decided to stand those ones down till November. This is for the betterment of Nigeria. They have briefed us about the way forward.

    “We are going to continue with other departments so that we can understand and see how to move the nation forward.”

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi said that President Muhammadu Buhari must be lauded for bringing governors together to interact with ministries, companies and international development partners.

    He said those they met yesterday showed them the opportunities available for each state to leverage upon.

    He said: “I think that for the first time in the history of my own being a governor, this is a very commendable effort.

    “First and foremost, we now discover that many states can partner with the NNPC. We are having dwindling resources. Can we not expand our resource net to be able to bring in money?

    “For instance, each state can now partner with the NNPC in the area of downstream business activities, even to some extent, distribution activities and refining activities.

    “The Ministry of Health also made presentation. We discovered also that state governments can partner with the ministry.

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun said: “The President, in his wisdom, met with the Chairman of NGF and he believes that many of the briefings that he had received should be extended to the governors so that we will have first class appreciation of what is on ground and his intention of how to drive the economy and the nation.

    “I think it is good for us. We will be having NEC on Thursday. It is good that we are abreast with some of the things we shall be discussing there.”

  • First time governors unlucky over harsh economy, says Yari

    First time governors unlucky over harsh economy, says Yari

    Nigerian Governors’ Forum’s (NGF) Chairman Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari has lamented that first term governors, who assumed office in their states in May are unlucky in view of the harsh economic realities the nation is facing.

    Yari, who is Zamfara State governor, spoke in Enugu at the weekend in company of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal when they visited Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

    The governors, who attended a burial ceremony in the state, said they decided to visit Ugwuanyi in the spirit of their cordial relationships during their tenures as members of the House of Representatives.

    The three former National Assembly lawmakers were elected governors during the last general elections in their states.

    The NGF Chairman noted that there was hope in efforts to revitalise the economy.

    “Each and every nation has its own problems, especially on the issue of the economy.

    “We were discussing with our brother here (Ugwuanyi). We came in as governors and we can say we are not lucky,  but in reality, we are lucky because we won our elections. We came in at a time when the economy is down, but we are managing.

    “You can see we have hope for Nigeria. When we have security settled and we have the economy gradually working to ensure that all the leakages are blocked, we can enhance the revenue generation to the betterment of our nation.

    “So far, I can say, it’s so good. We are making progress, more especially on the issue of security,” Yari said after Tambuwal preferred that he address reporters in his capacity as the chairman of the NGF.

    On their mission at the Government House, Enugu, he explained that it was because they had good working relationship with the Enugu governor during his days at the National Assembly and that they had come to see the Government House, wish him a successful tenure as well as see the good works he has started in the Coal City state.

  • ‘Some former governors can’t walk freely in their village’

    ‘Some former governors can’t walk freely in their village’

    Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka is an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Abia State. He was Acting Governor and former Speaker of the House of Assembly between 1999 and 2007. In this interview with reporters, Ohajuruka speaks on governance in the Southeast state, the gale of defections to the APC and other partisan issues. SUNNY NWANKWO was there. 

    What do you make of the recent defections from the PDP to the APC in Abia?

    The truth is that our people in the Southeast have realised that being in the mainstream of Nigerian politics is the best thing that can happen to them. Majority of Nigerians have embraced the change represented by the APC. We needed a change from the way things were done in the past. We needed to ensure that there is probity and accountability in governance. The people of the Southeast cannot remain aloof to the wind of change in the country.

    The last administration was the worst thing that happened to Abia since its creation. Our people were confused and misled with propaganda of the Theodore Orji administration. Sycophancy and bootlicking were the booming industry in Abia at the time. A few of us who had the temerity to challenge bad governance were hunted and cajoled and we know what we passed through. It is a good thing that majority of Abia people have realised the need for change and are now trooping into the APC. All progressive-minded persons are welcomed to join the APC and help salvage our state and Nigeria. The progressives must come together to bring about change because Abia cannot be an exception. You can find some progressive elements in APGA, PDP and other parties; they are welcome to the APC. But, we don’t need the conservatives within PDP and other parties in the APC.

    But, it appears only aggrieved PDP members are defecting to the APC…

    We have been receiving only progressive-minded PDP members into our party. If you listened to Senator Chris Adighije, he said he is no longer contesting any election, but he has come to work with the APC to salvage the state and country. We all know him as a goal getter. Look at Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, she is a woman of substance who has served well as a political leader. Everybody knows Chief Tony Ukasanya’s political antecedents and how he has always delivered in any political party he finds himself. There is also Senator Onyeka Okoroafor, who was a member of NADECO and ex-Information Commissioner, Eze Chikamnayo, among others. All these politicians who joined the APC, from the PDP, have great followership. We are glad that these quality people joined the APC. I want to tell you that many other progressives from the PDP are set to join APC because they don’t want to be left behind in the emerging order in governance and the rule of law.

    Why is the APC not playing the role of opposition in Abia?

    We had our problems, but they have been resolved. Now, everyone is working together because an individual cannot make a political party. We have all agreed to work for the common good of the people. The progressives are back to ensure that what is happening at the centre is replicated for the good of the Abia people. The APC has been repositioned and cannot be intimidated by anybody in fulfilling the roles expected of us as a party.

    Gov. Ikpeazu has just marked 100 days in office, what are your impressions?

    There is no impression. He still has vestiges of the former administration. The only time we will begin to assess Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration is when he drops the vestiges of his predecessor. During the last eight years, Abia was a definition of bad governance. I once advised Ikpeazu to be his own man and think independently. I understand he is an intellectual. As a result of his status, he is not expected to be dependent on anybody. He has no reason to rely on his predecessor who has nothing to show for his eight years of governing the state. I m saying this because Abia people are still finding this vestiges of the former administration in him; if this continues, we will strive to ensure that it won’t be the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau. Ikpeazu should avoid this as much as possible.

    You say Abia under Orji is a definition of bad governance. Have you not heard of his legacy projects?

    Let me correct an impression; there are no legacy projects in Abia. Look at what we suffered in the last eight years. Abia is an example of rape on democracy. The definition of bad governance is written all over Abia. What we had was mediocrity, sycophancy and boot-licking. In fact, the only industry in Abia prior to this period was sycophancy. This was the character of the last administration in the state. Tell me your friend and I will tell you who you are. Where are the so-called legacy projects? Is there any well-equipped hospital in Abia? No. In agriculture, I urge you to go to Bende; between Umuahia and Uzuakoli, you will see where the government reclaimed a rice farm with its natural terrain for a housing estate. Is this the character of a government interested in agriculture? Again, why will they build a new Government House when the topography of where the current one is remains the best place? It should be developed and an edifice built, but they have abandoned it to build a new one because of clannishness. Theodore Orji’s administration left no legacy in Abia State.

    A group recently petitioned the EFCC over alleged looting of state funds by the former governor. What is your take on this?

    I am not a member of the EFCC or the ICPC and I am not here to recommend people for jail. I am only interested in encouraging people who find themselves in governance to know that a day of reckoning must certainly come; you will always be assessed by your actions.

    In the course of your actions, if you are found wanting, the law will take its course. You will be called to render account of stewardship. This is why I encourage public office holders to be ready to give account for their actions. Situations where you go into hiding and cannot work freely after your tenure imply that you are not clean.

    The test of good governance after your tenure is to walk the streets without army or security agents guarding you. Any governor, who wants to test his popularity whether he performed well or not, should walk the streets without security. Most former governors can’t go near their villages without heavy security.

    If you are a good man, people will be clapping and singing your praises. Some of our former governors can’t walk freely in the local markets in their villages without being stoned. If you are only praised while in office and when out of office, people no longer sing your praises, it means you have a case to answer.