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Tag: National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS)

  • CSOs advocate value change in fight against corruption

    CSOs advocate value change in fight against corruption

    Eighteen civil society organisations (CSOs) have called for behavioural change in the fight against corruption in the country.

    The civil societies, which make up a cohort, include Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, Accountability Lab Nigeria, Step-Up Nigeria, Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Arewa 24 and Chatham House.

    Others are National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Anti-corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), and Al-Habibiyya Islamic Society.

    They worked on a six years project on corruption on the platform of the Behaviour Change Cohort of the MacArthur Foundation.

    Read Also: Why I once criticised Nathaniel Bassey’s Hallelujah Challenge – Ifu Ennada

    The CSOs said in the cause of the project, they observed that several approaches against corruption have yielded little or no result, hence the decision to adopt preventive measures by championing a campaign that will herald positive changes in the people’s behaviours and attitudes towards corruption.

    During an interactive session with reporters in Abuja, representatives of the CSOs, in their different submissions, highlighted how corruption has affected the socio-economic growth and development of Nigeria, and stressed the need for collective efforts to tackle the challenges.

  • Internal, external factors responsible for security challenges – Buhari

    …Receives security report from NIPSS

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday declared that the security challenges facing the country were caused by internal and external factors.

    He made the remark while receiving security report from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, the security challenges his administration met in 2015 was threatening the lives and property of the country.

    Towards finding a sustainable solution to the problem, he said that it necessitated the commissioning of NIPSS to have a holistic view of the country’s security problems.

    He said, “In November 2017 I tasked the management of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies with the responsibility of strengthening the nation’s internal security framework through community policing by proposing borders, policy, offence and strategy. And I think this is what the report is all about.

    “The decision of government was borne out of sincere desire to find sustainable solutions to the many security challenges inherited by this administration. These challenges not only threaten the security of lives and property of our people but also the sovereignty, territorial integrity of our country.

    “We are confronted by Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, worrisome conflict with respect to farmers and herdsmen which has resulted in wanton destruction of lives and property across the country. Furthermore there is the crisis of separatist agitation in the South East, and militancy in the South-South.

    “Government is convinced that these security challenges are rooted in both internal and external factors. Most importantly, government is also convinced that finding sustainable solutions to these challenges will require the support and collaboration of security agencies and communities,” he said.

    The report of NIPSS, he said, was timely as it came at the time his government was changing security strategies of the country.

    The President said that he would study the report and its recommendations.

    He assured NIPSS that the Ministry of Budget and National planning will work towards providing necessary funding for the institute.

  • Political parties are based on godfatherism – NIPSS

    The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Nigeria’s highest Policy research and training Institute has said that many political parties in the country are based on fragile foundations, including godfathers or dominant personalities and ethno-regional alliances.

    Director of Research of the Institute and Chief Operating Officer of the Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre Habu Galadima who disclosed this at a two day training for party leaders in Abuja also said that political parties in the country have frequently mobilized supporters based on ethno-regional, religious, and personality politics.

    Read Also:NIPSS wants more women, youth, PWD in leadership position

    Prof Galadima stressed the need to ensure all-inclusiveness in political participation by all members of the political parties; the training was designed based on identified gaps in the management of political parties in the country.

    He said “The gaps identified necessitate the review of the training curriculum, and the handbooks. It was fathomed from the baseline and the poll survey that political parties in Nigeria are confronted with quite a number of challenges.”

    According to him, Political parties in the country face considerable challenges in the area of internal democracy with party elites frequently manipulating party rules to subvert internal party democracy for their personal political interests.

    He said further that it was unfortunate that women, youth and People with Disabilities are particularly disenfranchised within party leadership, occupying a minimal percentage of party leadership positions and having very limited influence on party decision-making.

    “Nigerian parties continue to be based on fragile foundations, including godfathers or dominant personalities and ethno regional alliances. Parties have frequently mobilized supporters based on ethno-regional, religious, and personality politics.

    “Party development over time also witnessed the dominance of party elites at the expense of members and the use of undemocratic methods by these elites to struggle for control over the parties. For these reasons, Nigeria’s parties have faced particular challenges in building stable identities over time and attracting consistent membership through appeal to particular
    ideological values.

    “Political parties in Nigeria are conscious of the need to embody and internalize the norms, values and ethos of a democratic society which are anchored on respect for rules, the harvest of diversity and inclusivity, in defining party governance, the formulation of policies when they are in government, and accountability to the general public, both in terms of their Conduct whether they win power or in the opposition.

    “It also means the degree of respect for civility of parties and the promotion of virtues such as the rule of law, openness and accountability. We are delighted to note that the curriculum has been revised along with the training modules.”

    The training is sponsored by EU -Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Project (EU SDGN) and aimed at enhancing Internal Democracy and Respect for Rules in Political Parties; Strengthen Adherence to Legal Requirements on Party Funding and Campaign Finance and Strengthen Engagements among lnter-Party Advisory Council (IPA C), Independent National Electoral Commission (NBC) and other Relevant Stakeholders.

  • NIPSS wants more women, youth, PWD in leadership position

    The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) wants political parties in the country to involve more women, youth and People Living with Disability in leadership positions within the parties in line with international best practices and the national gender policy.

    The Institute, which is the country’s highest Policy Institute, said a situation where women are reduced to occupying only the position of women leader within the political Parties, while women and People with Disability are practically left of decision making processes is not good for democratic governance in the country.

    Speaking at two separate trainings for party leaders and women in Abuja, Director of Research of the Institute and Chief Operating Officer of the Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre (PPLPDC), Prof. Habu Galadima said women, youth and people with Disability should be mainstreamed into leadership positions within the parties.

    Read Also:FG, DisCos begins talk on use of remote NIPPs

    “This is part of the programmes being supported by the EU to improve the participation of women in leadership positions. If you go by the statistics, it is quite clear that women are underrepresented in both elective and appointive positions and this start from the political parties.

    “How many women are Chairmen of political parties. We are tired of hearing only women. We want to see women becoming Chairmen and secretaries of political parties. We want to see more women presidential aspirants, more women senators and more women represented in the state and National Assembly, women governors and it all begins with the political parties.

    “You have to take leadership position in the political parties and through that, you can influence policies that can enable women rise up and take up elective positions as well as appointive positions in the political parties.

    “That is why it is important that this workshop be organised to help sensitise women to ensure that they participate actively in political decision making processes in their parties and to ensure that they are aware of the gender policy in this country so that it can be mainstreamed into the political parties and ensure that they adhere or comply with those policies set by them as political parties.

    “The objective of this workshop is to enhance the understanding of women leaders in the political parties on extant laws on inclusivity and gender policy in Nigeria.

    “It is also to sensitise women leaders of political parties on the need to integrate inclusivity and gender in their political parties and address issues and challenges affecting compliance with gender policy by political parties and evolve strategies to promote and integrate inclusivity of gender policy in the political parties.

    “You must ensure that the gender policy is mainstreamed into the political parties and is complained with we want to see more women occupying top positions in this country. If the women can organise successfully, they can wrest power from the men.”

    Addressing the training Programme for party leaders, Galadima said since people living with Disability participate in the electoral process by voting for candidates, they should also be qualified to be voted for.

    He said the nation has a population of more than 21 million people living with Disability with voting rights, saying this is a significant number of people should be mainstreamed into decision making processes in the political parties.

    He said it was unfortunate that most of the political parties in the country does not have people living with Disability occupying leadership position at the highest level in their party.

    He said “We have come to agreement that a significant population of this country is made up of the youth. Also, people with disability also constitute a significant number. More than 21 million people of voting population of this country are people with disability.

    “So, you can imagine if a political party can get the support of 21 million voters of this country and add that to the youths. That is a significant voting population and yet, most of them have not been mainstreamed into the political offices in this country.

    “Most political parties in this country don’t have youths and people with disability mainstreamed in their leadership position. How many political parties in this country have people living with disability mainstreamed into Leadership position at the highest level in their political parties.

    “These people need to be integrated. If they can vote you into office, it also means that they can also be voted for and so, should be given an opportunity. We also want to see more youths in leadership position in this country and it is important that we begin to mainstream them.

    “We are not saying they should take over leadership positions in this country, but they should be involved in decision making process at all levels. We should also ensure that people with disability are recognized and given their fair share of the political processes of this country”

    National Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Alhaji Mohammad Nalado said women must get more involved in the political process to be eligible to occupy elective office, adding that women cannot sit at home and expect to be elected.

    Nalado said; “We believe that women are going to play a big role in ensuring that more women participate in political activities. That is why we have women leaders and we believe that they should work harder to ensure that more women participate in political activities.

    “It is only when women participate in political activities that they can be elected into elective offices. You cannot sit at home and expect to be voted for. So, this challenge is also for women leaders of the various political parties. IPAC can serve as an advisory body to the political parties to have inclusiveness of women.

    “Political party leaders should encourage women to occupy more party offices. We have to start from ourselves by putting more women in party positions.”

  • 2019: 54 parties sign code of conduct

    …PDP shuns signing

     

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, registered political parties in the country have adopted and signed the reverse code of conduct for political parties to guide their operations before, during and after the conduct of the general elections.

    The adoption and signing was witnessed by the National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in charge of Election and Party Monitoring, Prof. Anthonia Okorie-Simbine after a two day workshop on the validation of the code organised by the Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).

    While the Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Lawal Shuaibu led 54 other political parties to sign the reversed code, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led the 14 parties that were conspicuously absent at the event.

    Read Also:2019 elections: Buratai warns soldiers against partisan politics

    Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prof. Okoosi-Simbine who represented the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu assured the parties of the commitment of the Commission to ensure a level playing field for all political parties in the conduct of elections in the country.

    Prof. Simbine said INEC remains committed to strengthening its internal systems and providing a level playing Field for all political parties and candidates by ensuring the sustenance of a credible electoral environment.

    She said further that Political Parties as principal actors in the electoral environment will no doubt play a significant roles towards the success of the 2019 General Elections and beyond.

    According to her, “it is vital that political party leaders take their commitment to the code of conduct beyond the official signing of the document by translating the provisions of the code to visible actions that impact positively towards sustaining and enhancing the gains of Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

    “By contributing to and signing the code of conduct, political parties have indeed committed to a pact with Nigerians that their activities will, going forward, be consistent with international best practices and enhance the confidence of citizens in our evolving democratic culture.”

    Prof. Simbine said INEC has been a significant partner at various stages of the evolution and development of the code of conduct with the technical and financial support of international development partners, particularly the UNDP/DGD project first, and now the European Center for Electoral Support (ECES).

    She stressed that “Although the principal objective of having a code of conduct for political parties was centered on the need to have a set of mutually agreed and acceptable behaviour and best practices that guide the conduct of political parties, their candidates and supporters, before, during and after elections, the code also became the instrument for the establishment of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) which without doubt, now plays a significant role as the umbrella body of all registered political parties.

    “It is in this context that the Commission has remained committed to both encouraging political parties to abide by the tenants of the code of conduct as well as actively support the activities of IPAC towards attaining the ideal electoral environment that is characterized by a general commitment of all stakeholders to the entrenchment of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.”

    She asked the political parties to use the umbrella of IPAC to exert peer pressure for the adoption of best practices in key areas including the promotion of internal democracy, provision of expanded roles for disadvantaged social groups particularly Women, the Youth and Persons living with disabilities, as well as deliberate commitment by leaders of political parties to the rule of law and strict compliance with the provisions of respective political party constitutions.

    The code of conduct sets the parameters of acceptable behavior for political parties, their candidates and their supporters throughout the electoral cycle.

     

  • Kano to create agency in combating drug abuse

    Kano state Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje yesterday announced plans to establish an agency with a mandate to fight drug abuse and addiction among youths in the state.

    Ganduje made this  Known,while receiving delegations of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies ( NIPSS ), Kuru at the Government House, Kano.

    “What is worrying us now is this issue of drug abuse. The use of illicit drugs by the people. We are therefore urging that, we need to work side by side with this Institute in curtailing this menace,” He said.

    According to him, “the state would also establish an agency that would look into the issue of drug abuse in the state.”

    “As experts in policy formulation, implementation and evaluation we really need to work together with you, in order to see how we can address this problem of drug abuse,” he added.

    Ganduje also said community policing is part of the secret of success in achieving peace in the state.

    “We have the cooperation of all, while embarking on this strategic initiative. While at the same time people believe there would be no development without peaceful co-existence among our people. That is part of the strong reasons why we have achieved that feat, ”

    “We, as a state, believe in the community policing. That is the main reason why we are establishing an agency for community policing,” he added.

    Ganduje applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for “setting the pace and evolving ways to improve the security of the country in general, which also has direct bearing on the states.”

    In his remarks, Director of Research of the Institute, Prof. Habu Galadima, who led a delegation to Ganduje, commended the governor for his efforts in securing the state.

    He said they were in Kano for a study tour to the state with the Senior Executive Course No 40, 2018.

    “The theme for the Course under study in 2018 is Strengthening Internal Security Framework and Community Policing in Nigeria: Models, Policy Options and Strategies. We are assuring you that Kano is key in this area,” he said.

    Galadima added that they visited the state “to study the internal security mechanism being used to enjoy this peace and stability in the state. To also look at how community policing strategy is working effectively. We really appreciate the pattern taken by the state government in tackling the issue of insecurity.”

    He further said Kano was selected “because of the immense peace and stability achieved recently, despite its large population size.”

  • Nigeria yet to have National Policy on Policing – Arase

    Nigeria yet to have National Policy on Policing – Arase

    Former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has said that 57 years after the nation’s independence, the country was yet to develop a national policy framework and a national internal security policy that will recognize, strengthen and adopt community policing as an internal security model in the fight against crime and maintenance of law and order in the country.

    Arase said such a policy should have defined the principles of policing and pathways to strengthening public trust and partnership between the police and the citizens, stressing that one if the major factors that has sustained lack of trust between the police and the citizens has been the inability to introduce reforms needed for the reorientation of the police force inherited from the colonial masters.

    The former Inspector General of Police spoke at a Think tank conference on policing the Nigerian federation organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) with the theme “towards integrating community policing in Nigeria’s security architecture: models, policy options and strategies”.

    While, saying that Community policing is historically the rock upon which policing and internal security management rests, he said there was the need to give sustainable effect to the model within the Nigeria security space,

    According to him, the needed national policy framework will define  pathways for the attainment of the community policing initiatives define specific roles of all strategic community actors as well as law enforcement community component and also clearly define the interrelationships and obligations of each of the actors.

    He said “Police legitimacy draws from public consent and trust and lack of effective partnership between the police and the public can only sustain ineffective policing and insecurity among citizens”, adding that community policing which demands effective police public partnership and trust in crime prevention is the best form of policing.

    The former IGP said further that “even among police personnel themselves, a research carried out in 14 states discovered that if community policing strategy is adopted, it could assist to eradicate most of the challenges attributed to the traditional reactive police culture.

    “There is no debate about the efficacy of community policing model of internal security management. Community policy has been in practice in local communities in nigeria long before colonial period.

    “As we make to advance the concept of community policing in our drive to perfect our internal security, we should not be under the faulty perception that we are advocating a move, crime control practice. In co trust, community policing is part of our culture, our evolution as a natio. And our way of life until it was disrupted by colonialism and dislocated by the constitution which institutionalize central policing framework.

    “What we are pushing for is that we go back to the basics by re embracing, modifying, adapting and re adopting our traditional, community policing model to meet the dynamics of crime and modern dictates.

    “Trust is central to the effective implementation of community policing. It is recognized within the Nigerian policing space that police efficiency is dependent on citizens approval of the existence, actions and behaviors of the police.

    “Whatever line the debate tilts towards, what is not debatable is the reality that community policing is driven by trust between the local police and the community and the conduct of the local police determined the extent and strength of such trust. “By implication, it is possible that a police detachment populated by officers and me. Within the police locality may not regain the trust of the community not secure their willing partnership in crime control functions if such personnel conduct themselves in unprofessional manner towards the community members.”

  • Na’abba blames Obasanjo for frosty executive/legislature relationship

    Na’abba blames Obasanjo for frosty executive/legislature relationship

    Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of being behind the frosty relationship that has existed between the executive and legislature since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

    The former speaker said former President Obasanjo wanted what he described as a subjugated legislature, but met a stiff opposition in the House of Representatives.

    They spoke just as former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu said the political clash in the country has sinned against God and thee Nigerian people and must be on their knees to seek forgiveness ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Speaking at a national conference on “political party supremacy and the dynamics of parliamentary autonomy”, organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), the former speaker said the decision of former President Obasanjo to impose a leadership on the National Assembly and the resolve to fight back by the lawmakers is responsible for the relationship that has existed between the two arms of government since 1999.

    Tracing the origin of the crisis, Na’Abba said Obasanjo1’s first step was to change the date of the inauguration of the National Assembly from June 3, 1999 to June 6the to allow him ample opportunity to manipulate the election of the Senate President, thus paving the way for the emergence of Evan Ewerem as Senate President instead of Chiba Okadigbo that was preferred by most senators.

    According to him, “the action of 3rd June 1999 by Obasanjo, the election of Ghali Na’Abba as speaker of the House of Representatives on 22nd July, 1999 and the election of Senator Chiba Okadigbo as Senate President convoluted to define the relationship between the legislature and the executive.

    “The relationship between the National Assembly and the executive arm became characterized by antagonism. It was clearly more than the necessary kind of friction which was desirous for the proper functioning of the legislature.

    “In doing what he did in the senate, the President did not carry the PDP along. The intention of the President in all of those was to ensure that he governed with a subjugated legislature. In the House of Representatives, he met with stiff resistance. That was the reason he insisted that the Speaker be impeached. Up to the time the House came to an end, he did not succeed. In the senate, Senator Chiba Okadigbo was impeached eight months after he was elected.”

    Also speaking, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim also blame the former President for the lack of party supremacy in the current political dispensation, pointing out that by declaring himself as the leader of the party, he succeeded in eroding the powers of the party to control their members.

    He said1: “The original sin was committed in 1999 when the then newly elected President, Olusegun Obasanjo declared himself the leader of the party thereby usurping the power of the party chairman.

    “Once he did that, sitting governors in the state declared themselves party leaders at the levels. Party executives then became simple figureheads without real power or influence.

    “One of the most serious consequences of this development is that the party becomes completely incapable of insisting that their elected executives and legislature implement the programmes on which they have been elected. The notion of party supremacy has completely disappeared in Nigeria’s political culture since 1999.”

    In his paper entitled political party supremacy and the challenges of executive and legislative relationship in Nigeria, former deputy senate president, Ibrahim Mantu said said the Nigeria nation has seen the worst of all sorts of bad governance, pointing out that while there is corruption all over the world, the type of corruption in Nigeria “is uniquely different. There is element of greed in our brand of corruption. In other words, we are greedily corrupt.”

    He said “As we approach 2019, we must put our house in order. We, the politicians have sinned against Almighty God, the giver of power and have sinned against the very people God used to endorse His anointment by voting us into power.

    “Our sins have reached saturating point and the natural law of gravity would bring everything down to ground zero. We must therefore purge ourselves and be on our knees to ask Almighty God and the good people of Nigeria for forgiveness.

    “In doing so. We must honestly and sincerely pledge to embrace the path of righteousness from now on and to do only that which would meet the expectations and aspirations of Nigerians henceforth.”