The Nation Newspaper

Tag: GOVT

  • ‘Govt needs N3.25t to generate 20,000Mw of power’

    The Federal Government requires $20 billion (about N3.25 trillion) to provide 20,000 megawatts (Mw) of electricity by the year 2020, the Managing Director of KAIROSTS Nigeria Limited, a financial advisory firm, Mr. Olajuwon Olaleye, has said.

    Olaleye, who was an aide to the former Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, said the sector would receive new impetus when the National Assembly approves the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and other key officials, adding that the government expects the Senate to expedite actions on the process soon.

    Olajuwon in an interview with The Nation said the appointment of officials of the Commission and other agencies in the sector are crucial to the government,  as it would impact on the sector positively.

    He said Nigeria needs $1million to generate megawatts (Mw) of electricity, which means that the country would be spending $20billion to provide 20,000Mw of electricity.

    He said the country was in a critical financial position and that it would need to raise funds through Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and signing of agreements with donor agencies in Europe and America to be able to provide 20,000Mw of power and further improve supply.

    Olajuwon, an adviser on Investments, Finance and Donor Relations to Prof. Nebo during his tenure as the Minister of Power, said it had become imperative for Nigeria to partner donor agencies abroad, in order to finance the sector in view of the recession plaguing the economy.

    Olajuwon said: “There is no doubt that Nigeria is in a very critical situation financially and would need to partner donor agencies and foreign investors in order to finance key infrastructural projects in the petroleum and power sectors. Once this is done, activities would be galvanised in areas such as power generation, distribution and transmission.”

    He quoted the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun,  as saying at the ongoing World Bank conference in Washington, United States, that the country needed money to finance its power sector and others that were germane to the growth of the economy.

    “The Finance Minister, Adeosun, last week in Washington, overtly or covertly expressed the desire of Nigeria to welcome foreign investors and institutions that can raise fund to finance the economy, especially the power sector.  This shows that Nigeria needs external funding sources to bring the economy, nay the power sector back to life,’’ he said

    In a related development, former President, International Association of Energy Economists (IAEE), Prof Adeola Akinnisiju, said money needed to be injected into the electricity sector to make it viable.

    He said power industry survives in developed economies such as the United States, Europe and others because it is well managed and also boasts of good managers.

    “When money is properly channeled into the power sector, coupled with good management, the industry will perform optimally and generate enough electricity for the country.  The sector is in a comatose because problems exist across the value chain – generation, distribution and transmission,” he said.

  • Govt axes 22 FAAN top officials in shake-up

    Govt axes 22 FAAN top officials in shake-up

    Agale of sack hit the Federal Airports Authority Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday. Over 22 senior officials were relieved of their jobs.

    It was learnt that directors, general managers and deputy general managers were among those affected. 10 out of the 11 directors in the agency were swept away by the shake-up.

    There were indications that the Managing Director and the Director of Human Resources might have been spared of the sack.

    A source also hinted that many general managers that were not properly placed were demoted.

    According to sources, the sack is the first batch of major job erasure planned by government to reposition the airport authority

    The restructuring of FAAN it was learnt, is a fallout of a panel’s report headed by Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, which recommended proper placement in the authority.

    It was gathered that the  restructuring was a fallout of a petition written to the Ministry of Aviation by aviation unions over improper placement of personnel.

  • Don’t clampdown on schools, AFED begs Lagos Govt.

    The Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), has reiterated its  remained a formidable partner in economic and educational progress in Lagos State.

    The association spoke through its National President, Mrs Ifejola Dada at the International Literacy Day, which held at the National Stadium  last week. The theme of the event was “Read the past and write the future”.

    At the event, 1800 pupils from 40-member schools were in attendance. A representative from each school was requested to read a chapter of a work of literature aloud.

    Mrs Dada appealed to Lagos State government to refrain from its planned clampdown of 10,000 private schools as released in its statement, saying it portends great damage to government and business owners.

    Dada said: “The education sector is the hub of human capital development and transformation of the entire system. It is feeding the rest with the required human capital which is why it requires enabling policy from state leaders”.

    She continued: “Under AFED, we have 5000 members; in each school we have minimum of nine teachers to 50 pupils. If we multiply that, how many people will lose their jobs and be unemployed peradventure the government carries out its threat? The two million pupils in our different schools that were taken off the streets, return there?  We all know that our public schools are filled up and not enough to cater for these children”.

    While praising Lagos government for its cooperation, Dada recalled that the immediate past administration used more civil ways in handling the matter without closing down the schools.

    She said: “The administration of Mr Babatunde Fashola set up a committee in the Ministry of Education. They created the education stakeholders quarterly meeting, the grading assessment of private schools (GAPS), and the extension of public service provision by the British government”.

    She, however, assured the government that AFED was committed to delivering quality and functional education. She said the association will start to issue yellow cards to member schools that are deficient in one facility or the other, noting that such schools would be given the option of either closing down or merging and joining resources with nearby member schools in order to meet requirements.

    Director-General, Office of Education, Quality Assurance, Mrs Ronke Soyombo, said the Literacy Day was to enable pupils inculcate  the habit of reading, comprehension and not just speaking grammar.

    She said reading culture in children needs to be reawakened so that efforts can be made by schools, parents and other stakeholders to ensure that pupils cultivate that habit flawlessly.

    “We have to give big kudos to AFED for organising such a laudable event. To me, it is a day we are all coming together as stakeholders to promote literacy in Lagos State. We are celebrating the culture of reading as well as encouraging literacy,” she said.

  • MAN, govt to dialogue on policies, private sector concerns

    MAN, govt to dialogue on policies, private sector concerns

    The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) will, tomorrow, host President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, chief executives and others to a dialogue on scaling up productivity with robust policies and tackling critical private sector concerns.

    The guest speaker, President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, will speak on “Diversifying Nigerian Economy: Role of Government in Manufacturing”.

    MAN President Frank Jacobs said government should show commitment in eliminating bottlenecks in the operating environment.

    He said an appraisal of the economic setbacks and progress areas in the last one year will be on focus.

    “We believe diversification of the economy can best be driven by the private sector, especially manufacturing. We also know that government has to create enabling environment for manufacturing. What we are trying to do is call attention of the government to the fact that the manufacturing sector has a role to play and government has to function. We are hopeful that government would continue to adopt home grown policies and strategies that have the capacity to offer required economic fillip to the sector,” he said.

    Notable heads of international organisations, diplomatic officials, including the minister of Trade and Investment are expected at  the event, which is an opportunity to showcase made-in-Nigeria products, among others.

  • Group solicits support for govt on economy

    Group solicits support for govt on economy

    The Police Assistance Committee (PAC) has solicited the support of every Nigerian for the Federal Government in its quest to address the current economic recession and move the country forward.

    In a communiqué issued in Lagos after a one-day workshop organized for its members comprising trade associations and artisans operating in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) category, the organization pleaded with Nigerians in all facets of economic endeavour to join hands with the Buhari administration by offering workable suggestions and ideas to fast-track rebuilding the economy rather than criticizing every attempt by government to address the situation.

    In the communiqué signed by its Director-General, Dr. Martins John-Oni, the PAC told participants at the workshop, comprising chairmen, secretaries and PROs of trade associations and artisans to mobilize their members on how they can key into various government economic policies being projected to bail the country out of economic recession within the quickest possible time and shun all vices that can adversely affect the economy.

    Dr. Oni noted that the Nigerian project is faced with several challenges, ranging from security, social, political and economic, and, therefore, urged all well-meaning Nigerians across board to assist the government in proffering workable solutions to address the various challenges, confronting the country, adding that the Nigerian project is everybody’s project and all hands must be on deck to salvage the country.

    The PAC helmsman pledged that the organization will keep intensifying its efforts in the area of assisting our security agencies with information and intelligence in the area of crime detection and combating.

  • Govt, farmers to boost forex

    Govt, farmers to boost forex

    The Federal Government is determined to collaborate with farmers in Bayelsa State to boost foreign exchange earnings and create jobs.

    The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said this when he visited some farms in Bayelsa State where he inspected an exhibition of farm produce. He also held a town hall meeting with farmers.

    Lokpobiri, who is from the state, assured his people of the Federal Government’s  assistance in tapping the resources of Bayelsa.

    He stressed the need to rewrite the history of the state from what it was known for – militancy – to being a huge revenue generating state that is blessed by God with rich human and natural resources, land for farming and aquaculture.

    Lokpobiri visited some farms, including Zada Farms and Investment Company, Eresere, Frefa Investment Company with a modern technology, where over 4000 day old chicks are managed technologically till maturity.

    He visited Chief Ebikiri Akpolus’s Farm and Achiever’s Farm where there was an exhibition of a farm produce and town hall meeting.

    The Federal Government, the Minister said, has organisations which are willing to assist farmers. He listed these as National Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Bank of Agriculture (BOA) West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) and the Federal Department of Agriculture and Agribusiness.

    Bayelsa State Chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Chairman Mr. Suoyo Amaran, thanked the Minister for the visit and believed it would open a new page for farmers. He, however, enumerated some of their constraints to include – access to funds, issue of collateral and high interest rate, availability of relevant equipment, lack of training and retraining of farmers and lack of government’s support.T

  • ‘It is worrisome that govt treats private schools as a source of IGR’

    ‘It is worrisome that govt treats private schools as a source of IGR’

    Dr. Segun Oyebolu, Director and Board of Governors member, Premier College, Ijebu-Ode, talks about his foray into education and technology, in this encounter with HANNAH OJO. 

    Are ivy schools excluded from the challenges facing the educational sector in the country? 

    This is not so because the  challenges in running a school in modern day Nigeria are indeed many. One major challenge is the dearth of good teachers. Our universities are already failing our nation. The quality of teachers graduating from these institutions nowadays leaves much to be desired. It is now fashionable in Nigeria to see graduate teachers who are unable to construct simple sentences. Inconsistent government policies are also a great disservice to education. The fact that our government now sees and treats private schools as major sources of IGR should be worrisome to right-thinking citizens. How do you enforce standards, if all you care about is taxes and fees? Public infrastructure is next to nothing and support systems are nonexistent in most situations to help private schools meet desired goals. If we don’t change our current strategy for educating our children, then we will only have ourselves to blame as we keep on producing degree-wielding but uneducated graduates.

    Being a businessman with interest in other fields, what inspired your move into the educational sector?

    I am involved in education because I strongly believe our super ivy schools are letting down our children.  These so- called ivy schools are not impacting the lives of our children in a meaningful way. The endless teaching system and excessive home assignments are choking up these kids and ultimately turning otherwise brilliant students into robots. These schools have elevated the “agberu gbeso” system that is making our children to becoming experts at passing examinations without necessarily knowing the subjects. This has very adverse effect on our kids and the future of our nation. It is one more reason that Premier College stands very distinct in the comity of ivy-league schools.

    How do you think technology education can impact the society?

    My impact on society has been chiefly focused on technology education and children and it is noteworthy to say that in the whole of Nigeria, I was the first person to present and implement a statewide computer education project for high school students as far back as 1994 when I partnered the then Ogun State University to introduce Computer Education into public secondary schools throughout the State.  This project, the first of such magnitude in Nigeria came about because of my extreme dedication to ensuring that no student graduates from our public school at the time without skills in Computer Education. This was a project that set the ball rolling in Nigeria and confirms that Public Private Initiative can indeed succeed in the Nigerian Education sector. In 2004, at the invitation of the then Ondo State Government, I returned home from Canada to implement the Ondo State Computer Education Project, a project that covered and connected over 300 public secondary schools in Ondo State. For our children to operate in the new world order and be significant players, they must be taught and be well grounded in technology education. This belief is our guiding principle at Premier College, Ijebu-Ode.

    What high moments have you  recorded in  your designation as a school owner?

    We are a school building tomorrow’s global leaders. Recently, our school came 3rd in the Roche Forte L’Afrique International Spelling Bee Competition which took place at the National University of Benin Republic that featured 27 top secondary schools from 3 West African countries (Ghana, Benin and Nigeria). Aside placing 3rd overall, we were also the best performing school of the 9 schools that represented Nigeria at the competition. On the home front, in June of this year, our school also emerged 3rd in the International Kangourou Mathematics Competition conducted all over Nigeria by the National Mathematical Centre, Abuja. Not only did we come 3rd, 3 of our students also scored above 70 percentile in the same competition – these are results I am proud off.  It shows without overburdening our students, they are excelling on their own.

    You once mentioned getting students acquitted with reading newspapers, how has this effort paid off in improving standards?

    On a weekly basis, we  give Newspapers to our kids to enable them understand what is going on around them and also improve on their English composition and comprehension. We observe reading newspapers rrhas improved our confidence in spoken and written English. My experience with Nigerian graduates’ poor grasp of English was part of what led to this early initiative. I am thankful to God that this singular effort has paid off greatly. The 2016 WAEC Result for our 5 candidate amply shows the effect of this effort as 3 of them scored A1 while the other 2 scored B2 in English Language. I am happy that a core part of our effort is already yielding fruit. Our school boarding unit operates like any normal home and not a dorm. Our House parents are genuinely passionate about the kids and their academic goals.

    They lend very good hands in the supervision of these kids ensuring they complied with school rules and overall goal of their being in school. Our cardinal goal for science education is to consistently drive the “what if” question, to open our students to new discoveries and encourage creative solutions in sciences. We also allow  intending students to sit for its entrance examination from the comfort of their home (via online channel). The CBT process takes less than 60-minute and admission decision is made within 48 hours. Also, part of ensuring this work-level skill is obtained by each of our children is making available to each of them, a personal laptop that is available for their studies and inquisition at all times. Computer Studies is our own entrepreneurial subject.

    How has partnership or association is helping your school to thrive?

    Our school is a member of the SchoolOnline project of the British Council.  We have partnership agreement with a number of schools worldwide, it is partly for this reason that about 10 of our students will be visiting London this summer. This travel experience will give them ample opportunity to see and learn firsthand the culture, heritage and way of life of the average Englishman. Those are things you can never teach correctly in a classroom no matter how hard you try.   Also, fine-tuning our curricula to compare favourably with any school curriculum anywhere in the World is a continuous exercise. We are mindful of our JSS 3 graduates who have done very  well in the state-conducted examination. These students will be part of our new internship project and we look forward to ensuring that the next three years enable them to gain tremendous edge.

  • Govt job scheme gets 749,000 applications

    The Federal Government says it has received 749, 000 applications under its Social Investment Programme aimed at recruiting 500,000 graduates and 100,000 trainees. The 749, 000 applications were received at the close of the online portal on August 31.

    Special Assistant to the President on Social Investment Programme, Mariam Uwais,  said the N-Power programme received applications from all the 774 local government areas of the country with the highest figures coming from Lagos, Oyo, Rivers and Bauchi.

    She said those in charge of the programme were about compiling the applications and commencing the training of successful applicants by October, adding that the training would last a month before participants are deployed to states to provide extension services.

    Uwais said the participants would be provided with a training device, which would be used for the extension services, adding that the aim of the programme was to help young Nigerians acquire and develop lifelong skills needed to become solution providers in their communities and players in the domestic and global markets.

    She explained that the programe has been divided into three sections namely: Paid Volunteer Teacher Corps for Graduate (N-Power Corps), Training and Empowerment for Knowledge Work (N-Power Knowledge), Build Nigeria Programme for Training and Empowerment of Artisans (N-Power Build).

    Uwais added that the aim of the N-Power Corps was to provide temporary jobs in primary education, agriculture, public health and community education, adding that the programme, which would last for two years, was targeting  50,000 unemployed graduates.

    She said trainees would be deployed to their immediate rural  communities, where they would assist in meeting the inadequacies in the education, health and agricultural sectors, adding that state governments would assist in the deployment of beneficiaries to the communities.

    According to Uwais, others include the N-Power Knowledge, which would train 25,000 Nigerians in technology, and N-Power Build, which would train another 75,000 in building services, construction, utilities, hospitality and catering, automotive vocations, aluminium and gas services.

    “Besides their monthly pay estimated at about N23, 000 each, the selected 500,000 graduates will also get computer devices that will contain information necessary for their specific engagement, as well as information for their continuous training and development.

    “According to the plan of the Buhari administration, the N-Power Teacher Corps programme is an invaluable opportunity for young Nigerians to make immense economic and social contributions to the nation while developing their skills. It will also help to address the problems of inadequate teachers in public schools,” Uwais said.

  • Fed Govt trains 5,000 graduates in Anambra

    Over 5,000 graduates have been trained in Anambra State under the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS).

    Before the training in Awka, the state capital, about five groups of 50 graduates each had been trained, with additional five groups taking their turn next.

    Speaking at Geo-Gold Hotels in Awka, the project Director, Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS), at career development and entrepreneurship skills said the federal government was trying its best in making sure that the youth are employed.

    He was represented by Mr. Fola Jimoh, who said that the FG’s scheme had given hope to thousands of youths in the country.

    Jimoh said, “The federal government is not ready to fail on this exercise; rather the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is doing everything possible to fight graduate unemployment.

    The era of unemployment is over in this country with this (GIS) programme, but whatever stipend being owed to anybody will soon be paid by the government”.

    Jimoh was in Anambra State with Mr. Johnson Iyiola, project implementation unit (GIS), Garba Shehu, Principal Officer Ministry of Finance and Jamey Yakubu of Nansel selzing-N-Miz International Limited for the programme.

    He said the initial plan by the previous administration was to recruit 50,000 which according to him did not work until the present administration came in and raised the stake.

    “However as long as thousands of graduates still remain unemployed, we will continue to improve the capacity of the scheme to absorb more applicants”

  • Scholars advise govt, citizens on road to peace

    HOW to achieve national and global peace was the issue when scholars gathered in Lagos.

    While speaking during a symposium tagged “National Integration for Global Peace” they agreed that  achieving global and national peace begins with the individual.

    While identifying essentials of bringing about global peace through a given national system, Dr. Douglas Anele, Associate Prof., Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos argued that national integration for global peace would remain elusive as long as the average man on the street could not agree with himself in bringing about a peaceful state.

    He stressed that disgruntled and hungry individual would find it difficult to identify with any cause that borders on integration of a nation for global peace. He, therefore, called on all tiers of government to put in place measures that will develop patriotic spirit in individuals.

    H also urged government functionaries to live and feel the pain experienced by the average citizen by denying themselves of free gifts. He said: “Government officials don’t feel the impact of power outage and fuel scarcity; they lack virtually nothing.”

    He concluded at the symposium organised by the Rosicrucian Order, Lagos Zone, that it would take such measures to develop patriotism in an individual, thereby encouraging him or her to eschew violence.

    Also speaking, the Provost Michael Otedola College of Primary Education Noforija-Epe, Lagos, Prof. Olu Akeusola, underscored the importance of education in bringing about an egalitarian society.

    He said: “Education has been regarded as a medium through which enlightenment is achieved. Therefore, the curriculum of our schools should emphasise moral education in different subjects taught in schools. These should include Religious Studies, Civic Education, Social Studies and Moral Instruction. Extra-curricular activities should promote moral discipline through songs, drama, poetry and arts. Leaders in different spheres of the society should lead by example and display high level of moral integrity.”

    In his paper entitled “Good Character: Panacea for Peace and Progress in Nigeria”, Akeusola identified stealing, greed, dishonesty, unhealthy rivalry and competition and covetousness as character traits hindering peace and progress in Nigeria.

    He identified trustworthiness, respect for others, sense of responsibility, fairness, care, performing civic duties as some of the traits needed to foster peace and progress in Nigeria.

    In his speech, Alagba Oladipo Yemitan said loss of Omoluwabi (good character) for “bereft of dignity and pride in ourselves and our country.”

    “The concept, virtues and values of an Omoluwabi need to be revived and embraced by Nigerians so as to be peaceful, lawful and progressive the way we should. We certainly need to revisit and re-invent it,” he said.

    Others at the event included Prof. Femi Otubanjo, consultant and politician and Prof. Friday Ndubuisi, Head, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos, Prof. Isaac Alaba, an Independent Consultant on Culture and Languages.