The Nation Newspaper

Tag: INSECURITY

  • ‘Good governance panacea for corruption, insecurity’

    A House of Representatives member, Oladipupo Adebutu, yesterday urged Nigerian leaders at all levels to provide good governance to the people.

    The lawmaker said this is the only way to secure their “exalted positions and wealth”.

    He noted that high fences or trenches could hardly secure anybody but would just entrap one in an environment with poor governance.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker representing Remo Federal Constituency in Ogun State, spoke at the Ake Palace in Abeokuta, the state capital, when he met with the Alake of Egba, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, and his chiefs.

    He was at the palace to thank the Egba paramount ruler for his prayer in 2015, when he contested for the National Assembly seat and to seek further blessings from the royal father on his governorship ambition in next year’s elelction.

    Adebutu said good governance would bring genuine growth and development to the people and curb corruption.

    The lawmaker noted that with proper orientation, fear of God and compassion for others, a leader would shun corruption and other vices.

    Adebutu, who was accompanied to the palace by chieftains of PDP in Ogun State, including former Speaker Titi Oseni, said he was frightened by the situation in the state.

    He pledged to translate his good upbringing to “good governance”, if given the mandate.

    According to him, if one has the compassion at heart for others, it would be difficult for one to appropriate collective wealth for personal benefits.

    Oba Gbadebo, who recalled the lawmaker’s quality upbringing, prayed for the success in his aspiration to govern Ogun State in 2019.

    He said: “What you want, God will give you. Your desire to serve your people (Ogun State) shall not be truncated. Let this desire not elude you.

    “Success will be yours and all those following you will not regret. You are somebody well brought up. You will succeed beyond your father.”

  • Insecurity: Falana seeks removal of service chiefs

    UNLESS the federal and state governments discarded impunity, the destruction of properties and killing of law abiding citizens, including children, by arsonists and others will not stop, activist lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has said.

    He, therefore, called for removal of service chiefs, who have proved incapable of discharge their constitutional duties to arrest the ongoing killing.

    Falana stated this while addressing the Catholic community in Ekiti State last Friday at a public lecture delivered in honour of Bishop Felix Ajakaiye.

    The human right lawyer, who blamed incompetence and impunity for the wave of insecurity, warned that the nation may be witnessing internal sabotage from the security forces by young military and police personnel, who are protesting the incompetence of the service chiefs.

    The Lagos lawyer identified official impunity on the part of the nation’s Attorneys-General as a major cause of the reckless killing and kidnap of citizens by armed gangs.

    “It is on record that the hundreds of murder suspects indicted by several administrative and judicial tribunals of inquiry for killing innocent people in Plateau State in the past 10 years have been treated like sacred cows by the state government.

    Falana noted that the unimaginable incompetence displayed by the Federal Government in preventing the massacre of innocent people has endangered the country’s corporate existence.

    He said: “President Buhari and his officials have not helped matters as their reactions have tended to give the impression that the Federal Government is conniving with armed herders and bandits.

    “For instance, during his last visit to the United States last year, President Buhari blamed the killings by herders on Gaddafi’s men, who had infiltrated the country through our porous borders. The Federal Government has since turned round to blame disgruntled politicians for the killings.”

    The senior advocate joined issues with the federal government for accusing the Benue state government of vicariously liability by enacting an anti-grazing law.

    He wondered why the Federal Government has failed to adduce any reason “for the bloodletting in Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Zamfara states which have not enacted anti-grazing laws.”

  • Why insecurity persists, by Malami, Oyebode, Apata

    •Attorneys-General, others plan strategic legal approach to tackling challenge

    Minister of JustIce and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami, Professor of Law Akin Oyebode and Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF) Dayo Apata have identified factors behind the seeming intractable security challenge in the country.

    Malami blamed the mounting trend of insecurity on the rising tempo of political activities and activities of looters of public treasury, who were uncomfortable with the present administration’s anti-corruption efforts.

    Oyebode blamed the problem on inadequate action on the part of the government and its relevant agencies.

    Apata called for a collaborative effort of all stakeholders to address the security challenge plaguing the country.

    They spoke in Abuja yesterday at an event tagged: “An emergency high level dialogue on law, justice and security in Nigeria,” put together by Federal Ministry of Justice.

    The two-day event, being attended by states’ Attorneys-General and other stakeholders in the nation’s legal circle, according to Malami, is meant to among others, design a more potent legal response to the country’s present security challenges.

    The AGF regretted the negative effect of the incessant killings on the government’s effort to engender peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

    The AGF said: “As we are all aware, these horrendous incidents in Plateau State were not isolated events but followed a pattern in some other states, notably Benue, Taraba, Zamfara and Adamawa states, which has become a deep source of concern to the Federal and state authorities.

    “The statistics of deaths and displacement in these incidents involving various communities are depressing and alarming and appear designed to challenge our common humanity and claims to civilisation in the 21st Century.

    “From an informed assessment of the situation, permit me to first situate the apparent upsurge in these incidents to the advent of another political season of elections and the fierce contestation for power, which appears to now over-shadow all pretensions to patriotism and respect for human lives, in certain quarters.

    “You will recall that when this administration came to power in 2015, it made security of lives and property a cardinal principle of its governance.

    “Tremendous successes were achieved, particularly in decimating and degrading the Boko Haram terrorist group.

    “As we approach another general election in 2019, it is easy to see the hands of corrupt politicians with contrary positions in our present security problems as they desperately attempt to discredit all the gains made by this administration, for pure political gain. We must resist these negative tendencies.”

    As a solution, Malami suggested firm application of laws in cases of identified infractions and cautioned against adding religious colouration to the security problem being experienced.

    Oyebode, who gave the keynote address, noted that the main duty of a government is to provide adequate security for the citizens. He urged the Federal Government to play its part effectively in ensuring adequate security in the land.

    The law teacher, who spoke on the theme: “Law, justice and security in Nigeria: A plea for good governance,” noted that “where and when the sanctity of the lives of citizens cannot be guaranteed, the mortality of the state looms in the horizon”.

    Apata explained that the gathering was part of government’s efforts to address the mounting challenge of insecurity.

    He urged participants to be frank because every “contribution is very important to finding solution to the problem confronting us”.

     

     

     

  • Corrupt politicians fueling insecurity, says Presidency

    The Presidency yesterday attributed the insecurity in parts of the country to corrupt politicians trying to distract Nigerians.

    It added that the harsh attacks against President Muhammadu Buhari were coming from people who had become used to a life style that they can no longer sustain.

    The Presidency also said there are 2,000 megawatts of electricity which the Distribution copmpnaies DIsCOs are unable to evacuate for use by Nigerians.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who spoke to reporters during hisvisit to the All Progressives Congress (APC) national secretariat, said the competition for political power in the country had become so fierce, adding that the stakes were very high and opponents of the President ware doing everything possible to bring him down.

    However, he said, the ordinary Nigerian is aware that the Nigerian elite are going places, sitting in posh homes around the world, trying to thwart the good will of the President towards the ordinary Nigerians, adding that the economy is being rebuilt, more foreign investment is coming and more infrastructure being provided for Nigerians.

    He said they were confident that despite the attacks on the President, he would win the 2019 Presidential election especially in places where he did not do win during the 2015 elections.

    He said: “The problem is that the competition for power in the country has become fiercer and fiercer because the stakes are very high and I will give you one example.

    “The President has unleashed on the country a war against corruption, the type that has never been seen before. Assets are being recovered from powerful people. The President is lucky that he has a judiciary which is transforming itself and on the same page with the President in fighting corruption.

    “You know that two former governors are in jail. A lot of people thought that this war against corruption is a joke and that the back and forth that had characterszed the process over time would continue.

    “One of the two cases that we are talking about was determined after eleven years of back and forth between lawyers and Judges, kicking the ball from this court to that court. But now, there is a new era in the country with the conclusion of these cases.

    “A lot of these harsh attacks against the President are coming from people who had become used to life style that they can no longer sustain. We have on record that we have people in this country, that because they were influential, they have permanent suites attached to them in major hotels in Abuja.

    “They will just come, take the key and live lavishly a public expense. When they are leaving, they are accompanied by bags of Ghana must go. The President has blocked access to national resources by lazy people and so, he is being fought not because people are not happy.

    “This is a government that is building long delayed infrastructure. This country will be a country of railways. There is no stage in the country where a minimum of two federal roads are not being constructed or being reconstructed.

    On whether the government will release former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki following the bail granted him by the court, he said “I have not been briefed on that, but I read it in the social media.

    “When I was making inquiries about these things, I came to realize that you may be accused of about five things and you are granted bail on one or two. But I am going to speak with the Attorney General of the Federation and ask him to address the the media on that issue.”

  • Labour warns Fed Govt over killings, insecurity

    The organised labour has warned the Federal Government over the killing of innocent citizens across the country.

    The organised labour in separate statements expressed worry over the insecurity threatening the nation.

    The United Labour Congress (ULC), in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, described the recent killings in Plateau State as the most barbaric and wicked.

    He lamented the insensitivity of the government and security agencies.

    “We have watched with heightened fear as lives and property of Nigerians are wasted daily in our communities especially in the North East and North Central. We have raised alarm severally but our leaders seem to have become deaf and insensitive to the bloodlettings and the butchering of innocent lives in these communities. It is like we have bred a crop of leadership that are inured to the deaths and sufferings of fellow Nigerians to the extent that they have become impervious to the cries of anguish from Nigerians.

    “The galling reports of the slaughtering of men, women and children and the recent sacking of whole communities in Plateau State has left us panting for breathe and wondering whether we still have a group of people whose duty it is to ensure that lives and property are protected”.

    Ajaero said the mindless butchering of about 200 persons was the height of the exacerbated insecurity challenge threatening the nation.

    He said it was a clear demonstration of a total system failure in governance at all levels.

    “It shows that the government in Nigeria has collapsed completely. The near helplessness and wringing of hands by those in charge; the buck-passing and the blame game leave us deeply worried and aghast. A serious sign of a failing state if not a failed state.

    “It is mind-boggling to see the entire national security apparatus lying prostrate in the face of this rabid wantonness. It is unbelievable that the same security agencies to which billions of naira were allocated annually cannot stop the continued extermination of lives of fellow citizens in these numbers. It is completely paradoxical that same security operatives, who can swiftly harass, intimidate and arrest sitting Senators and Supreme Court judges cannot gather enough intelligence to stop these killings that have become a daily occurrence and a signpost of the depth of governance failure and decrepitude in Nigeria,” he said.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) described it as senseless, saying that it threatens to shatter, once and for all, the bonds of brotherhood and peaceful co-existence.

    “We are disturbed by the range of targets, the duration of these attacks and the scope of casualties and destruction. Even in a full-scale war with another country, the statistics are numbing.

    “Therefore, for the umpteenth time, we condemn these killings in their entirerity. They are senseless and barbaric and threaten to shatter, once and for all, the bonds of brotherhood and peaceful co-existence.

    “Accordingly, our security, though stretched, must be seen to do more to restore the confidence of the civil populace. If the emerging allegations are true that the attacks went on unchecked for hours, then something needs to be done about the reaction time of our dedicated internal security operations in the state,”Ayuba said.

    He said the Federal and Plateau State Governments, in consultation with the parties to this bloody conflict, should design a framework for an enduring peace, including taking pro-active measures.

    He said governments should quickly move to rebuild these communities and restore shattered lives as well as put an end to the anarchy.

  • Alaafin, Yoruba leaders seek return to regionalism

    Prominent leaders of thought, intellectuals and young entrepreneurs in Yoruba land, including those from Kogi, Kwara, Edo and Delta states met in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital penultimate Tuesday to discuss issues affecting them as well as to take a holistic look at state of the nation. OPEYEMI SAMUEL writes that the interactive session organised by Yoruba KO’YA Movement-a Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group- served as a platform to demand return to regionalism.

    •’Restructuring panacea to under-development, insecurity’

    When the advocacy for a restructured Nigeria along regional lines seemed to have ebbed, the issue reverberated in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital penultimate Tuesday. This time vociferously.

    Prominent leaders of thought, intellectuals and young entrepreneurs in Yoruba land, including those from Kogi, Kwara, Edo and Delta states met in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to discuss issues affecting them as well as to take a holistic look at the state of the nation.

    Convinced that the current federal structure is antithetical, the Federal Government was urged to return Nigeria to the regional system of government which was in practice before the military coup of 1966, even as they described the current political, economic and social structures as a marriage of inconvenience which would continue to breed disunity, starvation, under-development and insecurity.

    Led by the Alaafin of Oyo Kingdom, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the Aare Onakakafo of Yoruba land, Aare Gani Adams, retired Archbishop of Methodist Church, Ayo Ladigbolu, retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Alapini, eminent scholar, Prof. Wale Fatunde, media entrepreneur, Otunba ‘Deji Osibogun, unanimously called on all states in Western Nigeria and Yoruba sons and daughters to prioritise agriculture in their scheme of things.

    The leaders spoke at an interactive session on “Food Security in Yoruba land” organised by Yoruba KO’YA Movement-a Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group held at Atiba Hall, Ibadan the Oyo State capital.

    Presenting a paper entitled “Protecting Yoruba land”, Oba Adeyemi called on President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the implementation of the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference.

    “Before the military coup of 1966, what we had was a regional system of government where every region controlled their resources. But after the military took over, it moved everything away from the regions to the centre, thereby rendering the regions powerless.

    “Regionalism is the way out. The current quasi-federal system of government would continue to promote hunger, ethnic intimidation, religious intolerance and infrastructural imbalance. I demand a return to where we were before 1966.

    “When we were under regionalism, Yoruba was exporting cotton, calabash, textile raw materials, yam, plantain, cocoa and we occupied prime position in education. We were the first to have a dual carriageway in Nigeria in 1959-Mokola-Secretariat Road Ibadan-inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth. We were the first to produce the first female lawyer, medical doctors, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    “We were the first to build a skyscraper, (cocoa house, Ibadan) which was described as the tallest building in Africa.  We used cocoa money to build the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). But the soldiers came and destroyed everything. They established Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) which is now causing Ijamba (accident) to Nigerians.

    “Today, a Yoruba man will score 240 while Hausa man will score 120, yet they are both offered admission to study same course in the same university. They created education dis-advantaged states to their favour. Enough is enough,” he said.

    Speaking further, he  said: “We all met in 2014 political reform conference and discussed the problems confronting Nigeria. Far-reaching resolutions were reached, but all the resolutions have been swept under the carpet without any justifications. I want them to revisit everything.

    Ladigbolu, a pro-democracy crusader and ex-chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) said Yoruba people should go back to farm, stating that “our source of income and revenue before the advent of oil in 1953 was agriculture.”

    “Our Obas should also rise up. They should lead Yoruba people from the front. Our farms must be rescued from the Fulani cows that are tormenting our people in Oke Ogun,” he said.

    Gani Adams, who was represented by Yinka Ogundimu, a lawyer, said the Yoruba should wake up from slumber.

    “We should work hard to enhance our economy. We are ready to work with Yoruba KO’YA Movement to salvage Yoruba land,” he said.

    Alapini averred that “a well-controlled and organised state police  would help to end killings of farmers and innocent people.

    Speaking on behalf of other groups, the representative of the Yoruba in Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris said the Yoruba-speaking communities in Kogi State are now living in isolation as if they have been erased from the map of the state. He called on Yoruba in Southwest to come to their aids.

    “We no longer have peace in Okun land; over 10 farmers are killed daily by the Fulani herdsmen. From Mopa to Iyarra, from Ayegunle Gbede to Ayetoro Gbede to Kaba, it’s free flow of blood on daily basis.  Yet we have a governor whose sole interest is to defend the Buhari’s administration. I am here with my people to let you know that our lives are no longer safe.” Ibrahim said in emotion-laden voice.

    In his remarks, a co-convener of Yoruba KO’YA Movement, Osibogun said he joined some like-minds to convene the movement in order to salvage Yoruba land and deliver Yoruba people from external incursion.

    “We will make laws to deliver and protect Yoruba land. No land for cattle colony in Yoruba land. We demand restructuring of Nigeria. Enough is enough of killings of our farmers, enough of destruction of our farms lands.  Let us use what we have to get what we need.”

    Osibogun further stated that the movement is not a political one neither is it fighting anyone, even as he said the Yoruba will only support any presidential aspirant for 2019 general elections who is ready to restructure Nigeria.

    Dignitaries who attended the event were former Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Femi Babalola, traders associations in Yoruba land led by the Iyaloja of Oyo Kingdom, Alhaja Peju Bakare, Prof. Wale Fatunde, 109-year-old leader of Agbekoya, Alhaji Tunji Ayanolu, son of former Ooni of Ife, Prince Gboyega Aderemi, President of Yoruba Council of Youths, Aremo Dotun Hassan, vigilance groups, hunters’ associations, farmers and the representatives of the Yoruba indigenes in Kogi, Kwara and Edo states, young entrepreneurs and youths organisations, among others.

  • Insecurity: Aregbesola urges couples to embrace family planning 

    The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has called on Nigerians, especially married couples to embrace family planning so as to curtail population explosion in the country.

    The Governor said that with the spate of insecurity in the land, all hands must be on deck to ensure that the population of the country must not get to the level that the Nigerian state cannot handle.

    Aregbesola while addressing people at the 2018 Ramadan Lecture‎ organized by the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), at Oke-Baale in Osogbo, stated that the increase in population had contributed to the security challenge the country is facing.

    He said for Nigeria and other parts of the world to enjoy relative peace, parents must begin to inculcate values and virtues into their wards and children.

    Read Also:Ramadan: Let’s pray for people in difficulties – Aregbesola

    Aregbesola, speaking on the theme of the Lecture: “Insecurity in Nigeria, Islamic Perspectives to Finding Solution”‎, said it has become incumbent on parents to complement government efforts at ensuring security of lives and property by reducing the number of children to the number they can adequately take care of.

    He described the lack of parental care, poor upbringing and unchecked procreation as causes of security challenges confronting the nation.

    Aregbesola charged government at various levels to come up with pro-masses programmes capable of empowering citizens and support their needs for national integration, growth and development.

    He emphasised that one of the practical ways to fight insecurity and rescue the country from the menace is for parents to begin to inculcate in their children the virtues of “Omoluabi”.

    “As parents, we must do all we could to give our children the best in term of training, education, character and virtues if we are truly serious about addressing security challenges.

    “We must be conscious of our population and see the need to embrace family planning as population explosion has been the major factor to security challenge in our country.

    “Today, a sizable number of our youths are unemployed, thus contributing to security threats and societal unrest.

    “While government at various levels are charged to be alive to their constitutional responsibilities, Nigerians must support and complement government in ‎the actualization of these goals,” Aregbesola stressed.

    Earlier in his lecture, the guest lecturer and Chief Imam of Offa, Sheik Muideen Saman Hussain‎, advocated good governance as panacea to security challenges in the country.

    The cleric called on well-meaning Nigerians and religious leaders to support government’s efforts at ensuring the security of lives and property of the citizenry.

  • Insecurity: Muslim society identifies hunger as cause

    The Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (ADSN) has identified hunger as a major cause of insecurity ravaging the country.

    Poverty is the main reason people are taking to social vices, ADSN said, urging multinationals and corporate organisations to be alive to their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSRs) as part of measures to tackle insecurity and other socio-economic challenges facing the country.

    The Abuja branch chairman of the organisation, Alhaji Abdur-Rasheed Oyetunji made the call at the 2019 Pre-Ramadan media conference, ahead of the 24th annual Ramadan lecture coming up on May 19 at the Mosque premises, Maitama Abuja.

    “We are concerned about the state of poverty and insecurity in the country and how these twin issues can be addressed for the benefit of all in our country. We believe the forthcoming Ramadan which is about weeks from today provides a veritable platform as a starting point to addressing these challenges.

    “While we commend the government for its efforts at combating insecurity, we believe that other Nigerians, including corporate organisations have bigger roles to play in addressing these issues. This explains why we have as our theme for this year’s Ramadan Lecture “Corporate Social Responsibility: Antidote to Insecurity and Poverty in Nigeria – Islamic Perspective” to be delivered by Sheik Muhyideen Ajani Bello,” Oyetunji said.

    According to him, while the organisation as a religious body believes in efficacy of prayer, Islam preaches about work and prayer, hence its stance on the need to go beyond prayers to confront poverty and insecurity in the country.

    He said, “If people are no more hungry, the insecurity in the country will reduce. Poverty is the cause of insecurity in this country. Government should ensure that people are not hungry. Government should make sure that we are our brother’s keeper. We are willing to compliment the Federal Government’s effort on the steps government is taking to combat crime and solve the security problem.

    “Although the main motive of business is to earn profit, corporate organisations should take initiatives to secure the welfare of the member of the society. This can only be achieved when they discharge their CSR to their immediate host, neighbourhood or community effectively and adequately.”

  • Synod tells FG to tackle insecurity

    The Archbishop of Lagos Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Rev. Luke Odubanjo, has called on the federal government to halt the killings in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa and other parts of the country by suspected herdsmen.

    He also called on security agencies to arrest the high rate of kidnapping among Nigerians.

    Odubanjo, in his address at the 56th synod opening ceremony of the Lagos Diocese at Igbogila Ota, said government must stop at nothing to defend the defenceless.

    He said: “Our leaders should stand up to defend the helpless citizens that are being kidnapped in their schools in Dapchi, Yobe State, and as well being killed in Benue State, Kaduna, Adamawa State, Plateau State, and Kogi State respectively.”

    He said peace and security remained top priorities that government must ensure for Nigerians, saying the current insecurity in the nation was worrisome.

    Odubanjo also commended Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for “brilliant performance in the area of commerce, infrastructure, salary payment, religious harmony, investment of N25billion for employment purpose, provision of trucks and van for the police, leadership that fears God, Love and dedication to service of humanity.”

    He however appealed to the Governor to clear the embarrassing reappearing wastes across the state as soon as possible.

    The Archbishop tasked Christians to work toward peace everywhere they find themselves as well as pursue holiness at all times.

  • Wike: workers ‘ve failed by not showing concern about insecurity

    RIVERS State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike yesterday accused labour of failure by refusing to act in the face of killings in some parts of the country.

    The governor said it was uncharitable for labour to be only concerned about salary increment when their  kith and kin were being killed daily.

    In an address during the 2018 Workers Day in Port Harcourt, Wike said: “Labour is only after the increment of wages and emoluments without showing concern for the mass killings going on across different states of the federation.

    “Labour is quiet in the face of deaths. Of what benefit will increment of  salaries be when all your children, friends and relatives are killed in the course of this national insecurity?  It is incumbent on labour to rise up in defence of Nigerians by demanding for immediate cessation of killings.”

    The governor said labour has a duty to work towards the progress of Nigeria as they  battle for their welfare.

    He added that labour must rekindle their pre-2015 posture when they participated  in occupy Nigeria during the Jonathan era.

    The governor urged labour to defend the nation’s democracy,  which, he said, is under threat by the alleged failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-Federal Government to respect the rule of law and democratic tenets.

    He said the state was investing in building a strong economy that would enable workers earn decent wages, empower entrepreneurs to create jobs and provide improved livelihood opportunities for Rivers people.

    He said: “We have  approved an interest-free revolving loan scheme for civil servants. The annual sum earmarked for this programme is N1, 200,000,000 only, with a monthly disbursement of N100, 000,000.00 only.

    “We have also approved another interest-free loan for owners of small businesses to access to enhance their businesses, create jobs and grow the economy. An annual sum of N2, 400,000,000.00 only has been set-aside for this purpose with a monthly disbursement of N200, 000,000.00 only.”

    The governor said his administration was already working to fix some of the subsisting challenges, including the contributory pension scheme, the contributory health insurance scheme and the payment of gratuities to retired civil servants.