The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NGO

  • NGO urges implementation of AU’s convention to fight corruption

    A NON-govermental organisation (ngo) Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), has asked leaders and governments in Africa to implement all articles contained in the African Union Convention for Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) if they are serious about fighting corruption in Africa.

    It said the AUCPCC has 28 articles, all if implemented by AU member countries could reduce corruption in Africa.

    Although, AU heads of government declared 2018 as year for ‘African Anti-Corruption Year’, with the theme: “Winning the Fight Against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation”, CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani) lamented that corruption is still ravaging Africa.

    Musa, who spoke at the Preliminary launch and presentation of Findings of the Country Report on the implementation of the African Union Convention for Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), said: “President Muhammadu Buhari was designated as champion for the year, making it a call to responsibility of all well-meaning actors to get more involved in the anti-corruption war in Nigeria.”

    He explained that in the case of Nigeria, which has ratified the convention, the problem with the country has been that of domestication and level of implementation of its articles.

    Musa, therefore,  urged civil societies in different African countries to start demanding that their government implement the convention to rid the continent of the cankerworm. The NGO scored AUmember heads of states and governments low in the fight against corruption, including Nigeria which has ratified the convention.

    According to him, AUCPCC “serves as the shared roadmap for states to implement governance and anti-corruption policies and systems domestically and jointly at continental level. It also “contains strong provisions that can go a long way in resolving the corruption challenges on the continent”.

    Although the AU member countries have ratified AUCPCC, he regretted that the convention has yielded poor results due to insufficient commitment and implementation, not just in Nigeria, but across the African continent.

    He said the report on the AUCPCC revealed that the level of the awareness of the convention remained low “while compliance with the provisions of the convention is also a source of concern as there is huge room for improvement”.

    Musa explained that this was why CISLAC, as the national chapter of Transparency International (TI) joined forces with other nine chapters on the continent to initiate an intervention known as “Towards Enforcement of Africa’s Commitment against Corruption (TEA-CAC).

    One of the research assistants, Kunle Salmon, while giving insight into the research conducted by the group, said the concern on the non-implementation of the convention by African leaders was informed by the debilitating level of corruption and its effects “in our governance, economy and social realities”.

    “Every country has laws to address corruption but in spite of this, the level of corruption has been increasing”, he lamented.

    In the case of Nigeria, he said there are 23 different laws for fighting corruption by agencies such as Economic and Financial Crimes Corruption (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission  and Related Offences Tribunal (ICPC), Money Laundering Laws among others.

  • NGO equips Makoko residents with sewing machines

    A Non-Governmental Organisation, Marversity Foundation, has donated 10 sewing machines, 400 mosquito nets to residents of Makoko, a Lagos slum.

    The event, themed: ‘Makoko Tour’ held at Whanyinna Nursery and Primary School, the only school in the water front area, and was well-attended by the natives, including a representative of the Baale of Makoko, Taiwo Shemede.

    Founder of Marversity Foundation Cosmic Kalu Macduff, while donating the items, said: “We do not have to depend on the government before we can get change. We can always make a change from where we find ourselves, where we sleep and wake up, in our street and our communities. I believe that when we have real people, we create real stories and together we can make real change.

    “Having spent about two years in Lagos State, I said to myself, I need a place where I can make great impact on people’s lives, and I discovered Makoko, Yaba, Lagos. So, I decided to set up a competition. We were able to select 10 beneficiaries by picking the most penurious ones who have the passion, determination and commitments towards their work but lack equipment to stand as entrepreneurs, especially in tailoring.

    “Today, we are presenting 10 sewing machines to the winners of our competition as a reward for their hard work, and 400 mosquito nets to the residents. We thank God for allowing us to be an instrument of change to these people.

    “Makoko Tour is a spiritual movement of love that is geared towards bridging the gap between skill acquisitions and financial empowerment. We are not leaving them; we have put in place practical measures to monitor and ensure they don’t sell the machines, but they use it to create their own wealth.”

    Shemede thanked the organisation for the gesture and for fulfilling its promises to his people. He said: “We say thank you to Marversity Foundation because no other NGO has given us sewing machines. What many of them give are mosquito nets. The first time they came to meet the Baale, saying they wanted to donate sewing machines to youths who are learning tailoring but didn’t have machine, it was like a joke because when other people promise to come back, we won’t see them again. Marversity has proven they are real, we give kudos to them.”

  • NGO sues PSC, IGP over planned demotion of 3,791 officers

    A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), the Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation (GAFAMORG), has sued the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, over planned demotion of 3,791 offficers.

    In the suit before a Federal High Court, Lagos, GAFAMORG is seeking a declarative perpetual orders to restrain the Police Service Commission  (PSC) from effecting the planned demotion of over 3,791 police officers promoted between 2016 and 2018.

    The GAFAMORG, established for keeping alive the memory and ideals of the late human rights crusader, Chief Ganiyu Oyesola Fahenmi (SAN), claimed it instituted the action  in the public interest and defence of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended).

    Joined as co-defendants in the suit No. FHC/CS/2011/2018, are the newly constituted PSC headed by Alhaji Musiliu Smith (IGP rtd), and the incumbent IGP.

    The suit, which is yet to be assigned to a judge, is supported by 62-point affidavit in support of the originating summons, by a human rights lawyer, Debo Adeleke, defending the down-trodden and staunch member of the GAFAMORG, the plaintiff.

    According to the deponent, the suit was prompted by a press conference by the PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, on October 2, 2018, when it was confirmed to newsmen that PSC had set up a panel headed by a retired Justice of Supreme Court, Justice  Clara Binta Ogunbiyi, (a member of the PSC), to review promotions made by the Police between 2016-2018.

    It was also averred that the planned demotion of the concerned officers was earlier confirmed by Olayinka Balogun, a retired police commissioner and Personal Assistant to the PSC Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, on September 19, 2018.

    Besides, the deponent also averred that a letter titled: “Re: Planned Demotion of Police Officers Promoted between 2016 and 2018 by the newly constituted board of the Police Service Commission”, dated September 23, 2018 by the IGP addressed to the PSC Chairman, was sighted by the plaintiff to buttress the fact that the planned demotion was not a mere rumour.

    Upon this discovery, the plaintiff said it wrote the PSC Chairman, pleading for a change of the planned action and to serve as a pre-action notice, which was yet to be responded to.

    “That the silence and or refusal to respond to our letter by the 1st Defendant is an indication that it planned to go ahead with the proposed demotion of officers promoted by the former PSC Board between 2016-2018 on recommendation of the IGP, based on their gallant performance, despite our pleadings,” the deponent averred.

    The deponent further argued that more worrisome was the inclusion of 45 gallant officers attached to the IGP Intelligent Response Team (IRT) headed by a courageous officer named DCP Abba Kyari and other police officers promoted by the PSC.

    The deponent further averred: “That the 45 officers of IRT were given special promotion consequent upon their investigation, successful  tracking and finally arresting the notorious billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudume Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans and his 21-member kidnapping syndicate”.

    He further argued that the concerned officers were recommended and approved  for promotion in line with the Nigerian Police policy on promotion and Force Orders by the IGP.

    It was further noted that the promotion was based on special performance to encourage and motivate the officers for improved performances.

    “That it is a fact that not only incontrovertible, but highly indubitably contested that IRT led by DCP Abba Kyari and his gallant officers have been exceptionally professional, efficient, committed, dedicated and superlatively courageous in carrying out their duties.

    “That the IRT officers led by Abba Kyari have distinguished themselves as special corps that believe in the corporate existence of our dear motherland and in the course of fighting crime in our society, they constantly stand the risk of sacrificing their precious lives in the course of carrying out their lawful duties galantly.”

    Part of achievements of the concerned officers, which the authorities considered worth appreciating and rewarded, according to the plaintiff, include: capturing of the deadliest kidnapper in the history of Nigeria, Henry Chibueze, a.k.a. Vampire in Owerri;  arrest of 22 Boko Haram terrorist gang responsible for kidnapping of Chibok girls in 2014 and responsible for series of suicide bombings/several attacks and ambush against security agents in Borno,  Yobe and Adamawa states.

    Others include: Arrest of notorious criminal, who threatened to kill former Vice-president Atiku Abubakar and  his entire family and arrest of 25 bank robbers, who invaded Offa, Kwara State and robbed five commercial banks, the gang also murdered over 31 innocent Nigerians.

    Urging the court to consider granting his prayers and halt the planned demotion,  the deponent averred that the affected officers will be highly demoralised and it will adversely affect their performances and consequently the security of the country will be negatively affected if the planned demotion is allowed.

  • NGO seeks religious leaders’ support against corruption

    A Non-Governmental Organisation, His Marvelous Grace Support Foundation has appealed to religious organisations to join the ongoing war against corruption.

    Its Founder Oluwadamisi Ladega, insisted that for the fight against corruption to be total and effective, religious leaders must be involved due to their influence in the society.

    Ladega made the call in Lagos at the Launch/Presentation of findings of the African Union Convention for Preventing Combatting Corruption (AUCPCC), organised by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC).

    She noted that the religious leaders and Community Development Associations (CDAs) are the ones that have the direct link to the grass roots.

    She said: “These set of people have a role to play to fight corruption. When they are involved in the fight, things will be better because they influence the grass roots. Let the churches and mosques begin to talk more about corruption. Let the traditional rulers across each state and the CDA’s come together to sensitise the grass root. As individuals, we need to talk to ourselves to end corruption because the change starts from us. We need transparency; unity, integrity and we need to speak out.”

    Executive Director, Community Women’s Right Foundation, Alhaji Lateef Akinborode, said: “Nigeria has been battling with corruption over the years; it cannot be eradicated in two years. What we need to do is to start educating the younger generation on the need to shun corruption. We should let them know what the law says about corruption and and let the law prevail on all those involved in any form of corrupt practices,” he said.

  • NGO sponsors free open heart surgeries in Enugu

    An Enugu-based non-governmental orgnanisation , Spiritan Self Awareness Initiative led by Revd Fr. Charles Ogaga, has arranged for 25 free pediatrics open heart surgeries to be carried out by doctors from India who are expected in the country with their hi-tech equipment early January 2019.

    Ogaga, who spoke to journalists in the company of his partners, lamented that there were over 89,000 cases of congenital heart problems among infants, adding that facilities to take care and save their lives were still lacking.

    According to him, over 100 infants had been screened but due to the dearth of capacity and space for patients after the surgery, they had to slate only 25 for now while arrangement and capacity were being made to do more.

    “This medical outreach is part of an ongoing intervention aimed at saving children from heart diseases. We have our partners coming from India who would use some facilities of the UNTH to perform the procedures.

    “Were there enough facilities to take on the operations, the team coming could have handled more than that but UNTH that we are collaborating with limits the number of people they can take after the procedure, so we have to reduce the number to 25.”

     

  • NGO embarks on sanitation project

    An organisation has mobilised its members in the clearing of refuse on some streets and drainages in Oputu Town in Lekki, Ajah area. The group, known as Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu… Touching Lives (BOS…TL), while cleaning some streets in the area, promised to sustain the gesture even with the coming in of the next administration.

    The convener of the organisation, Sesan Sonoiki, in a chat with The Nation newspaper, pointed out that the group while supporting Sanwoolu is at the same time pushing home some key values in the society as regards health, education and the environment.

    His words: “We are here to mobilise the youths in the area on the need to keep their environment clean and for sanitation to be positive.

    “While sanitation is about physical cleanliness, education is also important. If you don’t take your education seriously, then you can’t be a valuable citizen in the society.”

    He added: “From discussion and interaction with Sanwoolu, a clean environment is his top priority and

    he will do all he can to ensure a cleaner Lagos.”

    The group moved around kitted in hand gloves, nose covers, carrying waste bags and parkers around Oputu town cleaning areas that were dirty. The aim of the project in the words of one of the founding members of the organisation, Mr. Gbenga Akintola, is using a stone to kill two birds.

    “We want to support the candidacy of Sanwoolu as well as imbibe the culture of proper waste disposal in this community,” he said.

  • Release of prison inmates: two NGOs provide transportation

    Two Non-Governmental Or-ganisations (NGOs), the Prisoners Rights Advocacy Initiatives   (PRAI) and Knights of St. Mulumba, have facilitated the movements of 16 inmates who were granted freedom by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, in three federal prisons in the state.

    PRAI with the support of Citizen Gavel provided  in addition, barbing equipment and accessories to an inmate who learnt barbing in prison.

    According to PRAI Executive Director, Ahmed Adetola Kazeem, “We shall be providing job and educational support for the awaiting trial inmates released by the Chief Judge  as well as convicts who have been released or due to be released this December”, .

    He said: “We thank our donors, the Prison Service , the Judiciary and most importantly our volunteers for making this experience worthwhile. We also appreciate the Chief Judge for her efforts, but express disappointment on the number of inmates released compared to the total number of awaiting trial in  persons’’.

    He however expressed optimism that the next phase of release will be better.

    He also said that PRAI will strive to ensure that the inmates stay out of prison through positive engagements and job support for them.

    It would be recalled that  PRAI had asked for a review of the criteria for release in its letter dated  November 1, 2018 and some of the suggestions were taken into consideration by the the  Chief Judge.

    Sir Edwin Okolie, who also spoke on the occasion, commended Justice Oke for the freedom granted the 16 inmates,

    He urged the chief judge to make prison visit a quarterly affair to quicken prison decongestion especially those unlawfully incarcerated by the Police and the state’s task force.

     

  • NGO threatens to sue NAICOM over SIP

    A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Transparent Protection Ltd/Gte has threatened to sue the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) over the newly released guidelines for State Insurance Producer (SIP) policy.

    The NGO’s solicitors, Mike Onyeka & Associates, in a letter to NAICOM, said the Commission acted ultra vires its powers under Section 49 (1) (b) of the NAICOM Act 1997, which empowers it to make guidelines for insurance institutions only.

    It made this known in a letter titled: “Notice of Intention to Sue Pursuant to Section 51 of the National Insurance Commission Act, 1997”, dated December 3, 2018.

    The reliefs to be claimed by the NGO are, a declaration that the purported “State Insurance Producer” operational guidelines 2018 are ultra vires the powers of the Commission; a declaration that the said guidelines violated Sections 34 and 36 of the Insurance Act, 2003 and are contrary to Section 49 (5) of the National Insurance Commission Act 1997, and any other Order or other Orders as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances”.

    The letter reads: “We refer to a recent publication by National Insurance Commission (The Commission) titled: “State Insurance Producer Operational Guidelines, 2018”,  expected to come into effect on January 1, 2019.

    “The said guidelines are ultra vires the powers of the Commission as enshrined in the National Insurance Commission Act 1997 and Insurance Act, 2003, and we hereby give you notice of our client’s intention to sue the Commission as follows:

    It said the guidelines on “State Insurance Producer” issued by the Commission violated Sections 34 and 36 of the Insurance Act, 2003, and is contrary to Section 49 (1) (b) of the National Insurance Commission Act 1997:

    Through the guidelines on “State Insurance Producer” the Commission has purportedly created “Corporate Insurance Agents” in the states, contrary to Sections 34 and 36 of the Insurance Act 2003. 2. By issuing the said guidelines, the Commission, without reference to the National Assembly, has amended the provisions of the Insurance Act 2003.

    “The Commission acted ultra vires its powers under Section 49(1) (b) of the National Insurance Commission Act 1997, which empowers it to make guidelines for insurance institutions only. Section 65 of the National Insurance Commission Act 1997 defines “insurance institution” as “an insurer, a reinsurer, an insurance broker or loss adjuster…”

    In making the guidelines, the Commission failed to observe the due process of law as required.

    “Reliefs claimed a declaration that the purported “State Insurance Producer” operational guidelines 2018 are ultra vires the powers of the Commission. A declaration that the said guidelines violated Sections 34 and 36 of the Insurance Act, 2003, and are contrary to Section 49 (5) of the National Insurance Commission Act 1997. Any other Order or other Orders as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances”, it stated.

    Contacted, the Commission said it is not bothered by the threat. While reacting to the development, NAICOM’s spokesman, Rasaaq Salami said the Commission is not shaken by the threat to be sued.

    He stated that the Commission has acted in the best interest of the industry, pointing out that the Commission will continue to introduce policies that can grow the industry.

  • NGO, foundation empower physically-challenged

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Movement for Disabled Right Forum, in conjunction with a United States of America-based health foundation, the Xanderena Foundation, has organised a one-day health talk on how people will change their perception towards people living with disabilities.

    Its Coordinator, Comrade Kehinde Oshilaja, speaking during the programme held at the weekend in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, said not everybody living with disabilities should be seen as beggars.

    Some of them resorted to begging because the government failed to assist them, he said.

    Oshilaja urged the government to create a special budget for the educated and serious ones among them.

    According to him, the government should assist the physically-challenged financially and morally.

    He said most of them are intelligent and can compete favourably with their counterparts who have no defects, if given the opportunity like able-bodied people.

    “We call on our rulers and politicians to assist us, because we deserve to be treated equally like able-bodied people. We are all Nigerians,” Oshilaja said

    The founder of the foundation, Irene Iwerebon, said free medications would be distributed at the event.

     

  • NGO donates uniforms to indigent pupils

    A Non-governmental organisation (NGO), Blossom Africa Initiative, creating awareness on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), yesterday donated uniforms to indigent pupils in Lagos State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group, which took the SDGs campaign to Agidingbi Primary School in Ikeja, Lagos, gave pupils with torn uniforms new ones.

    The group’s president, Mr. Tope Musowo, who led members of the NGO to the school, said they were moved seeing pupils wearing torn and worn-out uniforms.

    He said the group provided the uniforms to contribute to the realisation of the SDGs.