The Nation Newspaper

Tag: GOVT

  • Govt advised to tap ethanol, others for more revenue

    The Federal Government has been advised to improve its revenue base by utilising other products from oil and gas, such as ethanol and gas automotives, among others.

    A Professor of Petroleum Resources and Policy Research  at the University of Port Harcourt, (UNIPORT) Wunmi Iledare, who gave said the United States (US), Germany, Britain and other developed nations were using such fuels.

    He urged Nigeria to take a cue from those countries by turning oil and gas into some finished products that are not commonly used in Nigeria, for economic growth.

    He said as the fall in price of crude and its attendant impact on national revenue persist, Nigeria has no choice than to rev up its revenue, by converting oil and gas into more finished and highly sophisticated products such as ethanol.

    Iledare said the US and Germany have been converting ethanol to a source of energy to drive engines. He noted that oil price has crashed from its towering  $140 per barrel in 2008 to $34 per barrel, arguing that the development suggests that Nigeria should adopt a more proactive method of generating revenues.

    According to him, the crash will continue in view of the face-off between Saudi and Iran, entry into the US market and other non-Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC) members, among other problems.

    He said: “There are likelihoods that oil price would rebound in the near future. Once OPEC is able to control oil supply from the Middle East, among other initiatives that are being implemented to increase the international prices of crude oil, oil producing would be better for it. However, Nigeria will do herself good, by exploring new frontiers in the sector.  One way of doing this is to convert oil and gas into finished products such as ethanol and others. Through this, the country would make money that would help in financing critical infrastructural projects. When this happens, the fiscal gaps would be filled.’’

    He said the government should be thinking of how to diversify its revenue base if it wants fiscal programme vis-a-vis budget to be sustainable. “In the milieu, the government should be thinking of another means of funding its budget in the years ahead.  Price volatilities and instability in crude oil production are some of the major features of the market, and these directly or indirectly are affecting Nigeria, being an oil dependent nation.

    “What Nigeria has got to do is to look at ways of diversifying products from oil and gas to up its revenue, and consider other measures that would have positive impacts on the economy,” he added.

  • Monarch urges govt to provide school, hospital

    Monarch urges govt to provide school, hospital

    The Oniba of Iba, His Royal Highness (HRH) Oba Goriola Oseni has appealed to Governor Ambode to establish public secondary school and hospital for residents of the community. The monarch made the appeal during his 40th coronation anniversary.

    Though he said his four decades on the throne were fraught with several challenges, Oba Oseni feels fulfilled.

    He regretted that one of his greatest challenges as a traditional ruler is the numerous litigations in which his throne was enmeshed and which affected the finances of the monarchy.

    Oba Oseni lamented the millions of Naira that lawyers took from him every year as legal fees in order to defend his community.

    This development, the monarch lamented, was due to what he called his predecessor’s lack of education; a situation that made him to enter into certain agreements which later became an albatross to his monarchy.

    “It’s good for people to be educated. If my predecessors were educated, I wouldn’t have been facing these challenges now. For instance, how can our customary tenant claim to be land owners? Do you expect me to fold my arms and watch? It might interest you to know that some of them wanted to install themselves as Oba in Awori land.

    “Many years back when I ascended the throne, lawyers could charge you N50, 000 or thereabout. But you get a case and approach a lawyer today, your bill runs into millions. I have won some of the cases and I believe God would assist me to win others,” he said.

    Looking back, the monarch is grateful to his Creator for helping him to weather the storm.

    “Unease lies the head that wears the crown! I faced a lot of problems but with the help of Almighty Father, I conquered everything. Some people who were installed as kings died after two or four years on the throne; but here we are today. If anybody had said I would still be alive, I would have doubted it,” he said.

    One of the monarch’s greatest achievements is the unprecedented development which the ancient town has experienced. The monarch recalled that Iba Kingdom is diametrically different from the ‘jungle’ it once was when he mounted the throne.

    “I’m happy about the development of Iba. In 1975 when I was called back home, one could not have access to this area. Who are you coming to meet in Iba apart from the indigenes and the isoko palm wine tappers that I met here when I came?

    “I was living in Ajegunle then. You had to enter the bus from Ajegunle, get off at Iyana-Oba and trek down here.

    “During the dry season, we would cut palm leaves and lay them on the ground; during rainy season, it was always terrible. But see the way things are now; various small-scale factories littering everywhere, hotels, private schools, LASU, our LCDA is also here.

    “When I celebrated my 35th year on the throne five years ago, I appealed to the state government to fix certain roads, and I’m grateful that ex-Governor Babatunde Fashola did very well, with the exception of Ijagemo and Ijododo. But I’m sure that by the grace of God, it will be done this time.

    On his regrets in the past 40 years, Oba Oseni said there were none.

    Everything he ever did was based on his conviction as he always consulted God before taking any action.

    He said: “I have nothing to regret since the beginning of my reign. In 1976 a year after I was installed as king, the followers of my fathers and my predecessors instituted a case against me. I was less than six months on the throne then, but some of the good works I did before I returned home, gave me lots of courage.

    “Somebody must be God-fearing and I believe in my God; that is why I still insist I have no regrets,” he said.

    Many of his contemporaries and subject understand Oba Oniba on his principled stance on issues. He is not the one to be easily tantalised with cash.

    On principles, Oba Oseni said: “I have principles. “Once I the Oniba of Iba, says ‘no’, everybody within my domain and beyond knows I will maintain that stance. You cannot convince me with money. I know I’m not rich but I can never be tempted with money to do things against my principle.”

    He noted that the immediate past chairman of the Iba LCDA had already acquired a parcel of land in the community for the proposed school.

    “Unfortunately, the Ojo Military Cantonment has acquired most of our lands. We are also contemplating a general hospital but where do we site it? So, we are appealing to government to cede a part of the land acquired by Fashola before he left office as governor so that we can build a hospital there.

     

  • Striking doctors’ demand impossible, says Osun govt

    Striking doctors’ demand impossible, says Osun govt

    •Govt action laughable— Doctors’ spokesman

    Osun State government yesterday described the demand of striking doctors in the state as impossible in the face of the present economic reality of the country.

    Chairman of Osun Special Committee on Health, Dr. Simeon Afolayan, during a press conference in Oshogbo stated that in the face of the current economic realities, it remains unbelievable that doctors would insist that they would not be bound by the modulated payment regime agreed to by over 39,000 other workers of the state.

    Afolayan, a former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and the Hospital Management Board, held that the decision of the state to live within its means in the light of the shortfall in revenue to the state was taken by all stakeholders including all the representatives of labour unions and government.

    He added that the doctors were dully represented on the committee that sits on all the revenues coming to the state and decides what goes into payment of salary and the running cost of government.

    “There is no way we could back down on this because, in the first instance, other professionals had accepted the agreement reached with labour.

    “Doctors were eager to join the general strike called by NLC even though they claim they are not affiliated to NLC but they refused to resume work when the strike was called off. When it is convenient for doctors, they hearken to the voice of labour unions only to claim decisions taken by the same union is not bidding on them.”

    He added: “The doctors have remained recalcitrant despite all entreaties by leading lights of medical profession.

    “They refused the popular agreement, what should government do? How can we reverse a decision accented to and agreed with by over 39,000 workers because about 100 people are dissatisfied.”

    He said because of the seeming emergency situation the abandonment of work has created by the doctors, the state would not fold its arms and watch the health sector suffer any hitch as a result of the abandonment.

    He said the government is deploying doctors from the Ministry of Health, Bowen University, the police, army and others to mitigate what could have been the effect of the works abandonment.

    Afolayan called on well-meaning Nigerians to look at the issues involved in the demands of the doctors and see whether they are in tune with the realities of the current worsening global and national economic situation and how it affects Osun.

    He pointed out that doctors have embarked on different actions bordering on abandonment of their duty post for about 11 months out of which government had even paid them for six month without working.

    He added that by civil service regulation, workers who absent themselves from work beyond certain limit are deemed to have resigned their appointments, adding that the rule has taken effect and those doctors, who still want to render services, have been given fresh opportunity to do so by government.

    He added: “The government cannot be seen to be promoting and encouraging lawlessness by a group or individuals. This is a recipe for anarchy.

    “That the doctors have abandoned their duty post for about 11 months and the state’s healthcare delivery system is still functioning calls to question their relevance.

    “The government commends the civil servants and other workers in the state for their loyalty, sacrifice understanding and commitment to the service of the people of the state in this special time and deplores the selfishness and blackmail antics of the doctors.

    “In the face of the current economic realities, it remains unbelievable that doctors would insist that they would not be bound by the payment regime agreed to by over 39,000 other workers in the state which was arrived at after a rigorous deliberation on the finances of the state within the context of the national economic realities.

  • Falana to govt: recover outstanding $66.5b loans, others

    Falana to govt: recover outstanding $66.5b loans, others

    Lagos Lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) yesterday urged the federal government to recover its outstanding $66.5billion in loans, royalties, levies and other recoverable revenues instead of “seeking an emergency loan of $3.5 billion” to fund ots ambitions N6.8 billion loan

    In a letter to Minister of Finance Mrs Kemi Adeosun dated February 12,  Falana hinted of his plan to seek the leave of the court “not later than February 29” to stop the government from taking the loan, since “you have not deemed it fit to react to the serious issues raised in the letter.’

    Falana had written a letter dated February 5, addressed to the minister, cautioning the government against taking an emergency $3.5 billion loan.

    But the federal government has since announced that it is not taking “any emergency loan” to fund its 2016 budget plans.

  • Okpekpe race organisers hail Lagos State govt

    • On successful organisation of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon

    Organisers of the prestigious Okpekpe 10km road race have congratulated the Lagos State government on the successful organisation of the first Access Bank Lagos City Marathon last Saturday in Lagos.

    Mike Itemuagbor, owner of Okpekpe road race, the only IAAF labelled road race in Nigeria, believes Lagos State, particularly Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Deji Tinubu have succeeded in putting Lagos on the map of the world as one of the destination areas as far as international marathons are concerned and wants the organisers of the Lagos City Marathon to build on the successes they  recorded in this first edition.

    ‘I want to sincerely congratulate Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his total commitment to the organisation of the race which many have adjudged to be very successful. It shows that he is a sports loving governor,” said Itemuagbor.

    ‘I also want to congratulate Deji Tinubu as well as the Athletic Federation of  Nigeria for a job well done,”he  said and hopes this race and the Okpekpe 10km road race can help nurture that culture of long distance running that was aborted following the controversy that trailed the last full marathon held in Lagos in the 90s.

    Apart from the athletics and tourism benefits that can be derived from the organisation of the Lagos City Marathon, Itemuagbor also wants the government to promote the health benefits inherent in running long distance road races as well as use the marathon to promote specific purposes or events or projects.

    ‘The health benefits in running a marathon or any road race are huge. Beyond helping you to lose or maintain weight, there are lots of other health benefits,” said Itemuagbor.

    “Running will strengthen your heart and ensure the efficient flow of blood and oxygen throughout your body, which helps decrease your risk of a heart attack,”he said. He believes if a culture of running is developed,it will lead to people engaging in exercises which is one of the best ways to naturally reduce blood pressure if it’s above normal and it can help keep high cholesterol in check.

    “Running also improves your immune system, so your body functions are more effective and efficient at fighting off germs,”he added.

    Itemuagbor also wants the organisers to use the race to promote specific events or projects.

    ‘We are using the fourth edition of the 10km Okpekpe road race on May 7 in Okpekpe to promote cancer awareness among the rural women in the locality.I will like the organisers of the Lagos City Marathon to have this in mind when planning for the second edition,”he said.

  • ‘How govt can boost printing’

    •Firm takes printers to German exhibition

    Printers have offered suggestions on how the government can boost the local printing industry to strengthen non-oil revenue and fortify the economy.

    Speaking at a workshop organised by Trade Fair Services Limited, the printers agreed there is need for the country to take advantage of the growing machinery by providing incentives for printers to acquire hi-tech equipment to boost the local market.

    The workshop is aimed at sensitising printers on the new innovation and technologies to be showcased at Drupa 2016, the world largest printing fair in Dusseldorf, Germany, in May.

    Registrar of the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPN) Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar said government should revive local paper mills to bring down the cost of printing. He said high interest rate and over-dependence on foreign expertise by local printers were obstacles hindering the local printing industry.

    He said: “Printing technology is growing faster but Nigeria has not fully tapped into this opportunity. Every minute, printers are established and this tells us that the market is wide. The challenge to grow the industry is not to be solved by printers, but the government. We are an import-dependent nation; we don’t manufacture the equipment here. Even the pins that we use in stitching papers are imported.”

    Speaking on Drupa 2016, Director of Trade Fair Services Limited, which is the regional representative of Messr Dusseldorf GmbH, Akhigbe Itua, said the event would herald a new shift in innovation to reflect the development brought about by the Internet and digital technologies.

  • Govt urged to give priority to education

    In accounting and management consultant, Chief Olukayode Shonuga, has urged government at all levels to give priority to the Education sector.

    He said this would enhance national development.

    Shonuga noted that the future of any nation could only be assured when the government gives the citizenry have effective education.

    The consultant, who spoke with our reporter at Abbeycome Nursery and Primary School, Ojodu, Lagos State, said effective education appreciates rather than depreciate over the years.

    He said: “The government should invest in education. This is because education doesn’t depreciate but appreciates. When you have a good education, you can attain anything in life. So, it is just like security for anybody that has it.

    “With your education, nobody can take your certificate from you; without education, the certificate won’t be there. That’s because it is an investment. I’d advise and even beg our dear President Muhammadu Buhari to please invest more in education.”

    Shonuga hailed Abbeycome Nursery and Primary School for maintaining a high standard.

    He said: “We thank God that He has answered our prayers. This is because when it was first started, we didn’t know it was going to be like this. If you put God first in anything you do, initially it might be slow-moving. But slow water is better than stagnant water. That is why I’m so happy because over the years the number of children has kept increasing.

    “With God’s help, the standard of education here is high. If the standard was not good, the parents would not bring their wards here…”

  • Devaluation not solution to economic woes, Labour tells govt

    Devaluation not solution to economic woes, Labour tells govt

    |The President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Bobboi Bala Kaigama, has said naira devaluation is not the answer to the country’s economic problems.

    He urged the Federal Government not to embrace devaluation  unless the percentage of devaluation is equivalent to the percentage increase in the national minimum wage.

    Speaking with The Nation, Kaigama agreed that a combination of the after-effects of years of fiscal indiscipline, mismanagement of resources, unacceptable electioneering spending, corruption, policy reversals, unproductive borrowing, falling crude oil prices and serious issues of internal security had dealt a blow to the economy.

    He said inflation had hit double digit, while the value of the naira had collapsed against major international currencies, noting that as an import-dependent country, the implications for the ordinary Nigerian are enormous. Apart from forcing the cost of living to rise, the purchasing power has dropped and jobs are being lost.

    Charging the Federal Government to look inward, the TUC boss cited countries, such as India, China, Malaysia, South Africa, Indonesia, and others, which were nowhere in terms of development in the 1970s/80s, but have transformed into giants and premium net exporters of goods and services and are doing well today.

    He advocated for the re-negotiation of Nigeria’s current loans in the light of the burden debt-servicing constitutes to the budget –  about 23 per cent of the total budget.

    The United Action for Democracy (UAD), in a statement titled, “IMF never means well for working class-people, the poor must not bear the burden of “Recovery”, also warned that nothing good can be expected by working class people from the international financial institution.

    Its National convener, Baba Aye, said IMF would never throw its weight behind a developmental agenda that is beneficial and is driven by the working masses.

    He said: “The removal of fuel subsidy by sleight with the mask of price modulation is itself based on IMF policy advice calling for deregulation.

    “Without fixing the problem of domestic refining, fuel pump price is likely to rise despite falling global prices of oil, as a result of freight and related costs of fuel importation. Removing fuel subsidy instead of pulling down the house of corruption that has smeared it amounts to throwing away the baby with the bath water.

  • Surveryors urge govt to involve experts in policy matters

    Participants at a public lecture by the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) have advocated the involvement of professionals in to end are policy formulation and execution sustainable growth and development.

    They spoke at the 11th Annual Surveyor Adekunle Kukoyi Memorial Lecture in Lagos, which had Landscape: Challenges and Responsibilities for African Future as its theme.

    Ambassador Oladapo Fafowora, who chaired the event, said: “It is my impression that professional associations are not accorded the desired attention; very often, they are not consulted on policy matters that affect them, or that are of direct interest to them,” noting that professional association should not be seen as adversaries, but rather as partners in progress.

    Following this path, Fafowora argued, will ensure that the country is moved further towards a corporate system of governance, in which the private sector, surveyors and other professional bodies, is taken seriously by the government and their views taken into account in policy formulation.

    NIS Chairman, Lagos Chapter, Mr. Gbenga Alara, extolled the legacies of the late surveyor, Adekunle Kukoyi, adding that the lecture series in his honour have significantly contributed to setting agenda for national development. Besides, the series is also aimed at stimulating thoughts and imaginations of Nigerians towards a better and saner country.

    Similarly, NIS National President Mr. Ben Omo-Akhigbe urged the practitioners to be diligent in their endeavours and strive to be leaders of people just like the late Kukoyi, who, he said, rejected government’s appointment to ensure that things were done professionally.

    “If Kukoyi wanted to satisfy personal interest, he wouldn’t have rejected the offer to be the surveyor-general of Lagos State,” Omo-Akhigbe said.

    The guest lecturer at the event, Prof Gabriel Ogunmola, who is also the Chancellor, Lead University, Ibadan Oyo State, said strong measures, including rebuilding of public institutions, should be introduced to address the challenge posed by corruption to Nigeria’s prosperity, stability and security.

    He regretted that the humongous amount so far discovered in the arms purchase scandal involving the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and other prominent Nigerians was a national shame.

  • Govt allays traders’ fear over Ogunpa market

    Govt allays traders’ fear over Ogunpa market

    Two decades after it was destroyed by flood, the Ogunpa market in Ibadan, Oyo State is to get a facelift.  It is being reconstructed by the government through public-private partnership (PPP) with Kamiluiz Nigeria Limited. On completion, it is expected to accommodate over 1,000 shops, as well as modern facilities, such as an automated motor park and spaces for food vendors.

    According to Mr. Segun Abolarinwa, who represented Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the government decided to adopt the PPP model for the development of the market in the face of current economic realities. The project, which is said to be in line with the vision of the governor to transform the state, is to be completed before the end of the year.

    The government’s resolve to transform the market through PPP generated tension between the traders and other stakeholders. Some of the traders expressed fears that since the project would be executed by a private developer, they might not be able to afford the cost of the shops, which they said might be too exorbitant.

    Besides, they are worried that the original traders ma y be shut out on completion of the market with the shops allocated to  the affluent.

    These fears were, however, assuaged at a meeting attended by representatives of the government; the Chairman, Oyo State Market Advisory Council, Alhaji Dauda Oladapo; his deputy, Mrs. Abake Lawal and other market leaders.

    “I want to assure the stakeholders that no underhand dealings will be permitted in the course of the project and in the allocation of the shops. No individual will be allowed to acquire multiple shops to the detriment of others,” he explained.

    Abolarinwa said the Market Advisory Council and the executive members of the Ogunpa Market Traders Association would be involved in the allocation of the shops upon completion. He also assured that upon completion, the state government would employ facility managers for the market.

    The Managing Director of the firm handling the project, Alhaji Kamil Orotoye, said the project would last for six months, urging marketers to be patient. He said on completion, it would improve the socio-economic status of the state.

    “The government is going to employ people who will be working in the complex. It will add to the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). We are going to build police station for safety of our people, sick bay (clinic), fire station, toilet and other amenities for the usefulness of our people. Everything will be present in the complex because it is designed to be of international standard. We will complete it within six months and I am assuring you that it will be offered to the occupants and not politicians,” he assured.

    Ogunpa market before now was a major concern to government and the people of the state because of the challenges facing the market. Such challenges included security, defecating in open places which cause diseases, having more than 12 to 15 shops by one individual while others are struggling to own one, selling on the roadside, and disrupting free flow of traffic in that axis.