The Nation Newspaper

Tag: GOVT

  • MEND: Avengers plan to derail Buhari govt

    MEND: Avengers plan to derail Buhari govt

    •Seeks cancelation of Amnesty Programme

    The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has described the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), as a tool designed to destabilise the Muhammadu Buhari  administration.

    The MEND also dissociated the Niger Delta region from the secessionist call by the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), saying it believed in a unified and truly federated Nigerian state.

    The group, in a statement circulated by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, restated is opposition to the continued running of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), noting that it was a signature of the corruption of the past administration, which has no intention or capacity to bring a sustainable answer to the recurring Niger Delta question.

    MEND, which hinged its support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration on the need to allow it time stabilise the nation, which it said had suffered continued abuse for years, however said the president should see to the freeing of its incarcerated leader, Henry Okah and his brother, Charles Okah.

    According to the group, this is key to a genuine dialogue that would bring peace to the Niger Delta.

    The MEND statement said: “After a rigorous and robust analysis, debate and review of political events in Nigeria within the past 12 months; particularly as they affect the Niger Delta region, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has resolved to continue to respect the unilateral ceasefire of hostilities declared May 30, 2014 against key economic interests of the Nigerian State.

    “The painful but necessary resolution to respect the ceasefire was borne out of MEND’s belief that as President Muhammadu Buhari marks his first year in office, he deserves more time to stabilize the country that was ran aground by the ill-fated, corrupt and visionless immediate past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan which pauperized the Nigerian people to the alarming degree we all experience today.

    “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) wishes to condemn and dissociate itself from the recent activities carried out by a group known as the “Niger Delta Avengers”. Their sudden emergence has absolutely nothing to do with the Niger Delta struggle but rather a tool by certain elements to destabilise the current government. Going by their actions and subsequent statements, it has become very apparent on who the sponsors of these group are.

    “MEND serves notice to the International Community that the Niger Delta region shall NOT be part of a secessionist Biafran State. Rather, the group believes in one strong united Nigerian federation where the principles and ideals of Resource Control; True Federalism; Rule of Law/Respect for Human Rights; Democracy; Free Enterprise and a Vibrant Civil Society are well entrenched in the grundnorm and put to practice.

    “However, The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) remains vehemently opposed to the fraudulent and unsustainable Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) headed by Brigadier General Paul Boroh (rtd) which still runs on the corrupt bureaucratic and operational template of the past administration. We have always made it very clear that unless the root issues which gave birth to the agitations in the Niger Delta region are addressed, in the form of a sincere dialogue, this programme will only continue to remain a mere cesspool of corruption.

  • Shun witch hunt in corruption fight, Onaiyekan advises govt

    •‘Judges should not be harassed’

    The Federal Government has been advised to ensure fairness and transparency in the anti-corruption battle.

    Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, at the weekend, agreed that there was an intolerable level of corruption to which something should be done about. He however urged caution..

    “Government should not let people have a feeling that the war on corruption is about targeting certain or a few people. That will defeat the war against corruption. My feelings about this whole thing is based on my understanding of the fact that the kind of corruption in Nigeria we had was systemic, endemic. While not saying people who took money should be allowed to go free, I would have felt that the emphasis should be on the system.

    “Reorganise the system of governance in the country in such a way that it would not be easy for anybody to steal millions and billions of naira because of the position he or she had held in government.

    “ Find a way to block all the holes in the system. Insist that the structures that regulate the affair of governance especially the financial aspect be done in such a way that you don’t have to be a saint to be able to remain honest”.

    The Cardinal noted that it would be difficult to find anybody who had a hand in the affairs of this country in the last 20 years not to have something against him or her and cautioned against creating the impression of witch hunting.

    On the trial of former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr Stephen Oronsaye, the archbishop said:  “If we have a situation where someone had stepped on powerful toes while in government and he is now being unjustly punished. I would have thought that this would be a concern of government that this does not happen”.

    “That being the case, the way we deal with the so called corrupt people needs to be carefully addressed, so as not to appear, in the words we are hearing nowadays, witch hunting.”

    Onaiyekan also advised that judges be allowed to do their work without harassment and intimidation.

    “When I talk about structures we are to include not only how business should be conducted in the civil service but how the law should be administered .The whole scenario of 100 lawyers invading a court over one case. That is ridiculous .We should find a way to prevent such charade.  We have to see that judges are in position to do their work without intimidation, without harassment.  We are talking of separation of power, without anybody telling them what to do. I would have hoped that the whole process of dealing with the cases of corruption can be dispensed with without too much rigmarole and we still ensure that justice was done”.

  • Ambode: We’ve rekindled people’s hope in govt

    Ambode: We’ve rekindled people’s hope in govt

    With the ongoing construction of 114 council roads, Lagos State has rekindled the people’s hope in government, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said.

    He said his administration would provide rapid infrastructure development throughout the state.

    The governor commissioned eight roads in Ikosi-Isheri, Coker-Aguda and Onigbongbo Local Council Development Areas.

    At Ikosi-Isheri, Ambode, represented by Commissioner  for  Special  Duties  and  Inter-Governmental  Relations  Oluseye  Oladejo,  commissioned  Oladele,   Shoyebi, Ademola  Taiwo,  Alamu  Taiwo  and  Ogunsola  streets.

    Four  of  the  roads, Oladejo said,  were  inter  connected  and  are  located  in  Ketu.  The fifth road, Shoyebi is in Isheri-Olowora.

    The governor said his administration’s achievements  in  the  last  one  year  were in  fulfilment  of  his  campaign  promises,  adding that  the people’s support  to  their  actualisation.

    Ambode  said:  “Before  we  assumed  office,  we  promised  you,  Lagosians,  that  our  government  will  be  an  all-inclusive  government.  I  am  happy  to  tell  you  that  we  remain  committed  to  this  cause”.

    Ikosi-Isheri  LCDA Executive  Secretary  Afolabi  Kazeem said the council constructed Oladele, Shoyebi and Ekiti roads because it is government’s job to  provide  social  basic  amenities  for  the  people.

    At Coker-Aguda LCDA, Special Adviser on Transportation to the governor Prince Anofiu Elegushi, who represented Ambode, implored the residents to take charge of the projects.

    Elegushi commissioned Adekunle Kuye/ Rosanwo Street.

    The council’s Executive Secretary, Ismail Bello, said the road would reduce pressure on the adjoining streets.

    At Onigbongbo LCDA, Commissioner for Wealth Durosinmi Etti commissioned Bisi Ogabi, Joel Ogunnaike and Lagos Homs road.

    He told residents to expect more from the Ambode’s administration.

  • Govt warned against peace talks with Avengers

    The Riverine Security Outfit (Coast Guard of the Federation) yesterday warned the Federal Government to avoid negotiation with the militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), because of its activities and claim to vandalising oil pipelines in Niger Delta.

    The Commandant General of the Niger Delta Riverine Security outfit, Commander Bibi Oduku, who addressed men of the security outfit, said the same people who previously accepted Amnesty, denounced their membership of militant groups and submitted their weapons, had turned round to attack oil pipelines.

    Oduku noted that any attempt by the Federal Government to enter into an agreement or negotiation with the NDA would be a big mistake and a wasted effort.

    The security leader said NDA’s bombing of oil pipelines had no other reasons rather than a lack of patriotism.

    Pledging the commitment of the security outfit to the Federal Government to carry out its operations in the region, Oduku said hitting hard on the NDA would restore normalcy in the area and curtail the nefarious activities of the militants.

    According to him, if the security outfit is able to cover the coastal region of the federation, pipeline vandalism, bombing of oil installations and other attacks will become history.

     

  • Govt plans N750b agric funds

    The Federal Government is discussing with some multilateral international financial institutions to create a financing pool of some N750 billion for the Nigerian agricultural sector.

    Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, said the government is in discussions with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to create a N750 billion agricultural fund that could provide amenable finance to operators in the Nigerian agricultural sector.

    According to him, access to finance has been one of the major challenges of the agricultural sector and government is working to address this and other challenges.

    He said the funds would through the Bank of Agriculture and other commercial banks lend money to farmers at a single-digit interest rate in order to boost the development of the sector.

    He said the Islamic Development Bank has indicated that it could provide $2.5 billion, about N498 billion, while AfDB has also shown interest in financing the sector. Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, is now AfDB president.

    Lokpobiri, who spoke at the annual poultry summit of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) in Lagos, indicated that the new funds might come at below nine per cent, noting that though there are existing funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that farmers can access at interest rate of nine per cent, the contention is that nine per cent is still high for agricultural businesses.

    He added that part of government’s social investment of about N93 billion in 2016 would be given to the association to boost the country’s poultry industry.

    He stressed the importance of developing the agriculture sector, noting that Nigeria is losing on both fronts by expending scarce foreign exchange on food imports and exposing itself to smuggled products with health hazards.

    In his address, President, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, said the poultry sub-sector deserves better attention from the government as it contributes more than 25 per cent of the Agricultural Gross Domestic Product (AGDP) with an annual turnover  in excess of N800 billion.

    He lamented that the past 16 months have been the most challenging period for the Nigerian poultry industry with the outbreak of Avian Influenza, which occurred in January 2015 and have been ravaging the industry since then.

    “We have had over 3.5 million birds officially depopulated and the farms quarantined without payment of compensation to about 80 per cent of the farmers.

  • Govt offices shut in Ado Ekiti

    Business boomed in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital as major markets, shops and private business offices opened on day-two of the strike.

    Traders were not molested unlike what obtained on Wednesday.

    But government offices and schools remained shut.

    Labour unions restated their readiness to revisit the 24-hour ultimatum issued to Governor Ayo Fayose to pay deductions from the workers’ December 2015 salaries or face another industrial action.

    Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Odunayo Adesoye said they were waiting for the nationwide strike to end before embarking on their internal strike.

    NLC chairman Ade Adesanmi and Joint Negotiating Council Chairman Blessing Oladele said labour was monitoring compliance to the order.

    “The strike has been successful in Ekiti, though some private businesses are on. Nigerians are with us in spirit in this struggle.

    “People may stay at home and still not support us, but they are at work and still believe in us, so we are pleased with their commitment to this struggle.

    “I praise civil servants who fully complied with the directive, this has really helped us and we will continue until government reverses the price,” Adesanmi said.

  • Improve workers’ welfare, govt urged

    Improve workers’ welfare, govt urged

    Union leaders have urged the Federal Government to give priority to workers’ welfare.

    The unionists lamented that workers’ welfare was poor across the country.

    The President, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Alhaji Ibrahim Khaleel, urged the three tiers of government to take necessary steps to improve workers’ welfare.

    According to him, some state governments are owing workers 10 months’ salaries. “I urge government to step in and address our immediate problem, which is the inability of government to pay workers’ salaries as and  when due,” he said. He lamented that government has failed in the payment of workers’ salaries, particularly local governmen employees.

    Describing it as a serious challenge, Khaleel said President Muhammadu Buhari needed to make good the promise he made when he was sworn in last year. “I recall he promised to address issues in the local governments to make them more functional,” he said.

    He urged workers to seek effective ways of ensuring service delivery across the county to create more wealth.

    The Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), FCT Chapter, Mr.  Amaechi Lawrence, decried the high cost of living in the territory and urged the FCT minister to look into it and provide more affordable houses for civil and public servants.

    He also urged the government to build more roads to reduce the traffic on the Nyanya-Mararaba Road.

    The Chairman, Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Mr. John Gabriel, said government should look into the issue of fuel scarcity and put an end to it.

    “We want Nigeria to be a better place; there is also fuel shortage intermittently; so the prices of things are jacked up, even the cost of maintaining one’s car becomes higher.

    “For this reason, many people park their cars at home, leaving our members with no job and no money to take home for our families,’’ Gabriel said.

    The Chairman, National Union of Hotels and Personal Service Workers, Mr Jankat Pius, urged the Federal Government to immediately start implementing the 2016 budget, noting that the late passage of the budget is already affecting Nigerians negatively.

    “There is no money in circulation and everything is hard in the country; I know good things don’t come easy but I believe government can do something to make the life of the people better,’’ Pius said.

  • ‘Why govt shouldn’t cap fuel price’

    It was wrong for the Federal Government to have capped the price of petrol following its deregulation, an oil magnate, Chief Bintan Famutimi has said.

    He said the price of the product should be set by market forces since government no longer subsidises and have opened up the subsector to private investors. This he noted will lead to competition in the industry and a further reduction in the price of the commodity.

    Chief Famutimi, who doubles as the Chairman of Tricontinental Oil Services Limited and President of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, spoke on phone. He  argued that  government has no business in fuel marketing, importation and distribution, adding that this has been the position of the Association of Oil Marketers for long.

    He said this is the reason why the country has ‘traditionally’ been suffering from fuel shortage, saying it is also the reason why private investors are yet to set up refineries in the country.

  • Govt, NLC faction raise panel to review petrol price, minimum wage

    Govt, NLC faction raise panel to review petrol price, minimum wage

    The meeting between the Comrade Joe Ajaero-led faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the federal government yesterday resolved to set in motion modalities for the review of the national minimum wage and the N145 pump price of petrol.

    Ajaero re-emphasized the group’s earlier position not to be part of the strike scheduled to begin today, saying they opted for the option of negotiation.

    The meeting which ended at about 7.00pm also agreed to set up a committee to among other things work out modalities to constitute the board of the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and review the N145 pump price of petrol.

    Reading the resolution between government and the faction, Edo state Governor Adams Oshiomhole said the discussion between government and the Ajaero faction was fruitful and exhaustive.

    He said: We had an exhaustive discussion as a follow up to yesterday’s meeting. You recall that when we adjourned, they promised to go and consult with their constituency and come back for yet another meeting for them to share with us their position on issues under conversation.

    “We have listened to one another and had further conversation and we have all agreed that we will work towards setting up a frame work for the review of the national minimum wage because we all agreed that this has to be a tripatite body.

    “Secondly, Labour appreciates the decision of the federal government to set aside half a trillion naira in the 2016 budget to cover what the Minister of Budget described as social investment.

    “With regard to the management of these social investments and the components, the two parties agreed that laboiur should be involved in this process and come up with suggestions.

    “To deal with this matter, a committee made up of the organised labour and government under the chairmanship of a nominee of government would meet and within two weeks resolve these and other relevant issues including the setting up of the board of the PPPRA which you know what its statutory responsibilities are in relation to the issues under focus.

    “We have agreed that both parties should work as quickly as possible and conclude on all events not later than two weeks. The report of this joint committee will be submitted to a committee of the whole to deliberate and take a final decision for presentation to the federal government”.

    Ajaero added: “When we spoke with you yesterday, we insisted that there was no way we could mobilise, sensitise and even commence an action tomorrow and that we will rather negotiate and that it is only when that collapses that we take the option of going into any action.

    “On the basis of that, we agreed that a committee should be set up to among other things look at the issue of minimum wage, look at the issue of the N500 billion social investment, reconstituting the board of the PPPRA and review the N145 new pump price of petrol. The committee is to report back in two weeks time”.

  • Govt urged to create enabling climate for breastfeeding

    Govt urged to create enabling climate for breastfeeding

    The three tiers of government have been urged to enact enabling  laws and create an environment  for mothers to breastfeed.

    According to the Director of Child Health Advocacy Initiative, Mrs. Lola Alonge, the  government should raise awareness, improve maternity laws, enforce crèches in the work place, designate private areas for mothers to breastfeed at work, and prevent aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes because of the negative effects on the nation.

    Mrs Alonge, who wrote the  book, Breasfeeding made easy, said breastfeeding was one of the most cost-effective interventions for newborn health, but the support needed is not always available. There must be policies and structures in place to allow mothers breastfeed successfully.

    “Breastfeeding is not just a matter of health; it’s a matter of human capital. Breastfeeding provides short and long term economic and environmental advantages to children, women, and the society. To realise these gains, powerful political support and financial investments are needed to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. Investing in breastfeeding is an investment in the future of the country,” she said.

    According to Mrs Alonge, “Majority of mothers say they want to breastfeed, but while 77 percent start the process, only 16 percent is still exclusively breastfeeding at six months. Lack of support is one of the biggest challenges. Organisations such as Child Health Advocacy Initiative (CHAI) and Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PHN) have taken the lead in the country to educate and inform mothers on how to breastfeed successfully through training programmes in communities, primary healthcare centres, and schools. We also engage in advocacy programmes and distribution of information materials and books on breastfeeding.

    “It is time for policy makers to step up and recognise that breastfeeding makes countries healthier and wealthier. The growth and development of societies depends on good nutrition. Recent studies show that breastfeeding provides protection against infections, prevents obesity, and improves intelligence in children. And for the nursing mothers, it gives protection against breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and improves birth spacing. Breastfeeding has also been identified as a high impact intervention to achieve the global strategy for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (2016-2030), which was launched alongside the Sustainable Development Goals as a roadmap for ending preventable deaths in a generation. Breastfeeding is not the sole responsibility of a woman. Society has a collective responsibility to promote breastfeeding, and to create an enabling supportive environment,” she stated.