The Nation Newspaper

Tag: needs

  • Govt needs N500b to settle PHCN workers

    Govt needs N500b to settle PHCN workers

    The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUAE) has said about N500 billion would be required to pay the entitlement of workers in the power sector.

    The union’s General Secretary, Mr Joe Ajaero, spoke at the weekend at an interactive session with reporters in Lagos.

    Ajaero said that of the amount, N400 billion would be required for workers’ gratuity, while N100 billion would be use to pay pension arrears.

    He said that it was not the Ministry of Power that should announce what the Federal Government would disburse as severance package to PHCN workers.

    According to the general secretary, the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) was in a better position to announce the cost of settlement.

    He said it was regrettable that in industrial relation practise, implementing an agreement was always a major problem, after all issues had been resolved.

    He expressed the hope that in 2013, the entitlement of the workers would be paid to enable Nigerians enjoy the expected 5000 mega watts of electricity.

    “We are expecting about 5000 mega watts of electricity from the Nigeria Integrated Power Project (NIPP) by next year. We believe this will boost electricity supply to consumers,’’ he said.

    The union’s scribe noted that the NIPP project, which had gulped about N37 billion, should have been inaugurated before the end of last year.

    If the project had been naugurated this year, it would have coincided with the effort of the private investors to improve electricity supply, Ajaero said.

    He, however, warned those giving various interpretations to the agreement signed between the government and the union, to desist from doing so, to enable the workers get their severance benefits.

    Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) at the weekend said electricity generation in the country had reached 4,500 megawatts.

    A statement signed by Mr Dave Ifabiyi, the TCN Assistant General Manager on Public Affairs, attributed the achievement to the commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan to fulfilling his promise of improved electricity supply.

    “A new power generation peak of 4,502.2 megawatts was achieved on December 21, 2012, and was efficiently wheeled by TCN,’’ the statement said.

    It said that the generation was attained on Friday and described it as an improvement on the 4,454.1mw of December 19.

    It said that as more National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) became functional, transmission and distribution companies would continue to harness “every available generation to ensure delivery of stable electricity supply.”

    The statement quoted the Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Mr Olusola Akinniranye, as giving an assurance that the company would not relent on efforts toward the transmission grid for greater efficiency.

    Akinniranye said that efforts were on to restore the Benin-Egbin 330kV line and complete the new transmission/distribution interface projects to further enhance the company’s power evacuation capacity.

    He appealed to energy consumers to continue to partner with TCN in protecting electricity installations and forestall vandalism, which constituted a major setback to efforts to improved supplies.

  • The family needs deliverance in Nigeria

    The family needs deliverance in Nigeria

    SIR: It is worrisome that there has been consistent destruction of those values that had kept the family functional. The family (with of course, marriage) has been so battered that even most contemporary social scientists are now confused as to what actually the family definition is. The direct and indirect attacks on this most crucial human aggregate include those from individuals, organized groups and governments of nations.

    The unjustifiable ‘assaults’ on the family are borne out of mad pursuit of self-satisfaction; growing ideology of individualism; the dream of evolving man at the pace of technological advancement; pressure from deviants and their sympathizers for recognition and approval; bad and insensitive governance of the human societies in the last four decades; affluence that come with the industrial revolution, and poverty that come by reason of public corruption; and neglects, etc.

    Particularly involved in the vicious social assault on the family and its institutions are the technologically advanced nations like the US, UK, France, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, etc.

    The consequent rots which include escalating youth delinquencies; runaways; rising illegitimate births; rise in divorce; rising domestic crimes; proliferation of unhealthy alternatives to the traditional nuclear family (cohabitation, gay-couplings, homosexuals and lesbians); increasing legalization of prostitutions; expanding drug problems; unemployable army of adults; and low productivities; etc now overwhelming and the efforts to curtail these phenomenal social decays, is gulping annually billions of dollars!

    The global war against the family is evident in such areas as loose public/political definition of the family; careless interpretation of human rights; legislation of anti-family state acts (e.g no-cause divorce and gay-coupling bills); encouragement of deviant alternatives to the traditional nuclear family; sex liberalisation, and legalization of prostitution; unregulated access to the mass media, whose family value-eroding crusades are cleverly concealed in entertainments; shifting the landmarks on the social meaning of modesty and morals; cutting down of funds available to departments and ministries directly concerned with human development and the health of the family; political insensitivity to the plight of families; mass corruption, looting, and so on.

    The forceful western culture infiltration with resultant social pollution, coupled with large-scale corruption and culture of insensitivity and social injustice of the successive governments have enlisted Africa especially, and Nigeria in particular, into the bunch of nations where the family and its institutions are under growing hopelessness, increasing jeopardy and decay. In Nigeria today, not even the strongly cultured easterners or the highly religious westerners are exempted.

    Today, many Nigerians have swallowed hook, line and sinker, deviant behaviours from the West, in exchange for our family-centred, rich cultures and values. These socially deviant practices are wrapped up in TV Entertainments; Outdoor Advertisements; College civilization, Women liberation campaigns; Child’s Rights protection; Globalization; Culture transfer and so on. What will be your reaction of you wake up tomorrow to hear that a Bill on Incest is to be debated by the House of Representatives? Thanks to God that saved us from the West-orchestrated Gay Bill from sailing through! The stoppage of the bill gave me some hope in some of our representatives.

    The growing neglect, relegation, perversion and vicious attacks on the family, as prevalent today among western cultures, which like wild fire, are consuming the globe, were not so from the start. It came with the Industrial Revolution, and its attendant unconventional behaviour and adventure into wild values, under the cover of social changes.

    The war against the family, whether as subtle as the smuggling into school curriculum, anti-family sexual freedom philosophies as it happened in the United States in the 20th century, is immoral. The battle against the family, whether as violent as the legalization of prostitution as it is in United Kingdom or the passage of no-cause Divorce Bill as it currently is in some western nations, is a social disruption inimical to human development.

    Families in their millions are breaking down as the result of the insensitivity of our leaders and their lip-service. The war against the family, whether its as ‘interesting’ as promoting promiscuity by the TV Media –showcasing naked array of ladies under ‘Beauty Contests’ or featuring ‘stars’that have married ten times with six children for ten fathers, is an immoral revolution! The TVs don’t show the pains and shame behind the fames! The war against the family, its values is a subtle means towards the extinction of humanity. It is an immoral revolution and Nigeria must rise against it.

    Oluleke Petersen

    Director, Omegalph Foundation

    olupetersen@yahoo.com,http://www.omegalph.com/

  • Why Nigeria needs state police, by Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday said Nigeria needs state police to keep its nooks and crannies safe at all times.

    Ajimobi told reporters in Ibadan, the state capital, that although the police are doing their best to ensure security, the present imposition of a centralised police force on Nigeria’s federal structure has rendered the force inefficient.

    He said Nigeria, as a country that practices the Federal System of government, is ripe enough for state police.

    The governor said other countries practicing the Federal System, such as the United States (US), Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, India and Ethiopia, have state police.

    Nigeria’s Federal and Presidential systems are patterned after those of the US, but the policing system has no bearing to the US’s system.

    He said: “The constitution of the US allows the federal, state, local and even special districts, such as universities, to perform police functions. The relationship among all the police services is properly coordinated for the exchange of intelligence and crime prevention.

    “The Federal Government of Australia maintains police forces alongside the federating units. Germany is a federation made up of Landers (equivalent of states). The German Constitution concedes most of police powers to the 16 Landers, even though the Federal Government is allowed to legislate on the subject.

    “In Switzerland, the constitution empowers the federating units, which are called the Cantons, to share policing functions with the Federal Government. In Canada, the national government shares policing functions with the federating units, which are called provinces.

    “In India, each state has its police force. The State Police Force is responsible for maintaining law and order in the townships and rural areas, while major cities have their respective Metropolitan Police Services.

    “It is evident from the foregoing that Nigeria’s refusal to reflect the federal structure in its policing structure is the exception, rather than the rule in comparative federal systems.

    “The challenges of the police, such as funding, manpower and training, could be easily addressed if Nigeria adopts a federalist police structure through state police.”

    The governor said the review the 1999 Constitution should include the establishment of state police.

    He said: “My conviction is based on my experience. I was a member of the Senate between 2003 and 2007 and I partook in the federal exclusive legislative responsibility of police functions.

    “I have been governor for about 19 months now and anyone conversant with the history of Oyo State will know it is no mean feat to be the Chief Security Officer of a state like Oyo.

    “When I assumed office, the state was one of the most turbulent states in Nigeria. Brigandage, violence and a culture of impunity were the order of the day.”

    Ajimobi praised officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force for complementing his administration’s initiatives to address the fundamentals that predisposed the state to such violence.

    He said: “While the officers and men of the police have been supportive, the structure of centralised police has made it impossible for us to move at a desirable speed.”

    The governor said the provision of state police should come with checks and balances that would preclude the police from abuse by governors.

    He suggested the establishment of a state police service commission, of which the Chief Judge, paramount traditional rulers, representatives of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (SCIA) will be members.

    Ajimobi said a review of the national revenue formula and a change in the priorities of states could ensure that state police, when created, could be effectively funded by state governments.

  • Nigeria needs people-friendly constitution, says Oshiomhole

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said Nigeria needs a constitution that will protect the people’s right to live in any part of the country.

    He spoke at the Government House, Benin, during an interactive session with members of the House of Representatives from the state and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) caucus leaders.

    Oshiomhole said the indigene/settler dichotomy divides the people and should be addressed.

    He said: “Edo people are energetic and enterprising and they reside in all parts of the country. We should, therefore, work out a constitution that removes discrimination in all guises, so that people can live and thrive wherever they choose to.

    “People cannot continue to be strangers in a place they choose to live and settle in. I want my children to inherit a nation united on a purpose and not on a configuration of ethnic divide.”

    Oshiomhole urged the lawmakers to reflect on the issue and arrive at decisions that will “serve the interests of the people and safeguard their welfare and well-being”.

    He urged the National Assembly to amend the 1999 Constitution to ensure a truly free society, where people will have equal opportunities.

    The governor said from his experience in the last election in the state, where he won across the 18 local government areas, the people will support leaders with vision.

    He said before the constitution is amended, leaders must ask themselves the following question: “Who is this democracy meant to work for? The elite or the masses?”

    Those at the interactive session include Mr. Samson Osagie, Mr. Rasaq Bello-Osagie, Mr. Rasaq Momoh, Mr. Jim Adun, Mr. Isaac Osahon, Mr. Pally Iriase, Dr. Pius Odubu, Deputy Governor Peter Obadan, Chief Amos Osunbor, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Chief Tom Ikimi, Chief Osaro Idah and House of Assembly Speaker Uyi Igbe, among others.

  • The leader Nigeria needs

    The leader Nigeria needs

    SIR: Fifty-two years of nationhood is a time for celebration. If for anything that the entity called Nigeria still stands, against the expectations of our detractors. Though this is a time to be merry, yet it is a time for sober reflection, a time for stock-taking, a time for introspection. We are 52, but we all know that we are nowhere close to where we should be as a nation. Many things have helped slow our progress, but the most significant is bad leadership. Nigeria has had a perennial lack of good leadership going forward.

    Our founding fathers made the sacrifices and won us independence, all along showing us the way of good leadership. But we lost the way. If Nigeria must take its rightful place in the comity of nations, then good leadership must be a cardinal aspiration.

    We must start early to sort out the wheat from the chaff. Nigerians must not be driven to vote by anything else but by what, how and when a person will deliver. A political office holder in Nigeria, with all the indices showing failure, still goes into office to complete a term, and even ready to get a second term, if not third term to “correct his mistakes”.

    Nigeria is no guinea pig for charlatans.

    Any politician who does not sit down to have an in-depth analysis of what he is going to face, and proffer solutions even beforehand is no better than the ordinary Nigerian and should not lead those who are perhaps smarter. Nigeria, like any nation is an on-going study. And only a studious and brilliant politician can succeed.

    Politicians should search themselves well before offering themselves to lead. Those with nothing to offer should steer clear, and cheer from behind. And those lucky should hit the ground running. Appointment to political offices should be solely on merit and not to please political godfathers, or any ethnic or religious interest. To a good leader, Nigeria comes first before his political party.

    In addition, manifestoes must be made clear before-hand, and not to foist any policy arbitrarily to blackmail Nigerians when the person has got into office. No matter how the issue of fuel subsidy may seem altruistic to those who understand it, President Goodluck Jonathan would not have gotten one vote if he had as much as hinted it. Any contraption has to go through a referendum. If Nigerians say no, or if Nigerians cannot be convinced or carried along, then so be it. Democracy is about the will of the people. A good leader must know that the more important constituency is his people.

    There cannot be any plausible excuse for non-performance, except ineptitude. Not even insecurity. In war times, flowers bloom and warring couples still have children. Even those that are fighting the government can be won over by good leadership.

    There are many potential great leaders with innovative ideas scattered all around Nigeria who will never get the chance to showcase it because they are not anointed by one godfather or the other or do not belong to a particular party, or affiliation and in the end the country is the loser. This is no way to achieve greatness.

    Sadly, there is hardly any sector of Nigeria that we can give a pass mark. Government in a shoddy manner allowed the former Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji to leave, and since then the little light we saw has disappeared. Just when you think the bombs have stopped exploding, they go off again, taking lives and property with them. Who can stop the killings?

    Youths, and graduates are roaming the streets in search of non available jobs, and in the absence of jobs some have resorted to all sorts of crimes. Who can change that? Nigerian roads have long remained death traps killing Nigerians along the way. Who can fix them? Many Nigerians who may have had dreams now do not believe in their country any more. Who can win them back? Only good leadership can change our fortunes.

    At 52, we must strive to avoid repeating the same mistakes. We must put in power those who have been tested and trusted, irrespective of where they come from, or which party they belong. Leadership is about selflessness, compassion, passion, and vision. Till date, no Nigerian leader is iconic, as far as Africa is concerned. Nigeria deserves more.

    • Dr Cosmas Odoemena

    Lagos