The Nation Newspaper

Tag: obstacles

  • Obstacles to state police, by senator

    Senate Committee on Police Affairs Chairman Abu Ibrahim, yesterday listed issues that may hinder the smooth passage of the proposed state police bill pending before the National Assembly.

    The Katsina South senator said unless the issues are adequately addressed, it might be difficult to get the required number needed to pass the bill.

    Ibrahim said the obvious inability of most states to fund state police, a possible abuse by governors, and disagreement between some governors and federal lawmakers from their states, threaten the bill’s passage.

    He also highlighted the need to amend the allocation formula to give more funds to the states as a necessary step that should be taken before the creation of state police.

    The lawmaker noted that apart from Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kano and possibly Kaduna states, other states were likely to find it difficult to fund state police.

    Proponents of the bill said safe guards to prevent abuse by governors were created by some provisions of the bill.

    Ibrahim said: “My fear is the required number. The disagreement between National Assembly members and governors may kill the bill because I know many senators and House of Representatives members think if state governors get state police, they can trample on them, arrest and detain them.

    “So this may kill this particular bill. From my assessment, there is no way that it will get the two-thirds in the National Assembly.

    “Probably the bulk of Southwest senators will go for it because there is some control and there is synergy because of the control system.

    “I do not want to mention names but there are states that there is no way, from the way I see it for nine states out of 37 will not vote for it. But let us see how it goes.

    “But I fear that it may not get the two-thirds in the National Assembly.

    “Well, basically, the problem with the Police is funding.

    “If you create state police, will you get better funding? What are the main reasons for failure, if it is regarded as a failure, of the Federal Police system? The reason is lack of funding.

    “You give Nigeria Police N20 billion as budgetary allocation when they require about N300 billion.

    “Even the N20 billion is not fully released; sometimes it is between 40 and 50 per cent release.

    “So, will state police do better? They may know the locality better but do they have the resources. Can the states pay them their salaries and allowances? So, these are things we should look into.

    “I thought what we should do is, take the bull by the horns and get the internal security system overhauled and properly funded.

    “Many states right now cannot even pay workers’ salaries. They have to be salvaged by the federal government to pay salaries and we want to add another weight on them.

    “What we could have done was to look at the federal structure. If you are removing some powers of the federal police and devolving them to the states, then you need to change the revenue allocation formula to give states more money.

    “But if we leave it the way it is, maybe Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Kaduna may pay. But after that, who else?”

    “This is a federal function. If I have to take a federal function to state, it is reasonable that I reduce the amount going to federal and give more to the states.

    “Also questions like, how many functions do you take from federal to states? We cannot just say, create state police with the present allocation formula. It will not work and that is besides the political angle I spoke about earlier, that is, the relationship between governors and lawmakers.”

    The first reading of the Constitution Alteration Bill for the Establishment of State Police and other related matters was taken at the Senate plenary two weeks ago.

    The Bill sponsored by the Deputy Senate President and the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, also has all members of the Committee as co-sponsors.

     

  • Fed Govt seeks removal of obstacles to loot recovery

    The Federal Government and other stakeholders have called for the removal of obstacles to the recovery of looted funds from foreign countries.

    They want those who facilitate illicit financial flows (IFF) to be held accountable, as well as an end to international tax evasion and trade mis-invoicing.

    Countries holding monies looted from Nigeria were also urged to simplify their legal procedures that make recovery difficult.

    These were part of the “Abuja Declaration on promoting international cooperation to combat IFF and  enhancing asset recovery (AR) to foster sustainable development” made at the end of a three-day conference held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

    The Conference tagged ‘Abuja IFF/AR’ was organised by the Federal Government through the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), the ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs, in partnership with some development partners, such as the Government of the Kingdom of Norway.

    Participants included government officials, experts, lawyers, lawmakers, business executives drawn from Africa and other parts of the world, as well as members of the diplomatic corps, regional bodies, intergovernmental organisations, United Nations agencies, among others.

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo opened the conference; ministers of finance and foreign affairs Kemi Adeosun and Geoffrey Onyeama, as well as Attorney-General of the Federation Abubabar Malami (SAN) were among the speakers.

    Participants affirmed that international tax evasion is a significant element of illicit financial flows, including substantial sums of money lost through transfer mispricing by multinational companies.

    They underscored the need for collective effort to strengthen international cooperation and mutual assistance in addressing the challenges of transfer and trade mispricing.

    According to the declaration, there is the need for financial institutions to subject accounts held by certain persons to greater scrutiny and monitoring, including senior government officials, leaders of political parties, executives at state-owned enterprises and others with access to large amount of state assets and the power to direct them.

    Speakers called on countries to prevent, detect and deter in a more effective manner the international transfer of proceeds of crime and funds of illicit origin.

    They also called for enhancement of compliance by financial and designated non-financial institutions to identify, trace, seize, recover and return the proceeds of crime and funds of illicit origin, including enhanced due diligence on financial flows from identified high risk jurisdictions.

    Developed countries were urged to consider waiving or reducing to the barest minimum reasonable expenses deducted when recovering assets, particularly when the requesting state is a developing country.

    The declaration urged asset holders to bear in mind that the return of illicitly acquired funds contributes to inclusive growth and sustainable development.

    The declaration reads in part: “Participants reiterated the need for countries to ensure that there are adequate mechanisms in place to manage and preserve the value and condition of assets pending the conclusion of confiscation proceedings.

    “IFF when tracked should not remain in the custody of enabling financial institutions but should be transferred into escrow account, preferably in development banks pending return to countries of origin;

    “Participants also underscored that the non-repatriation of IFF from destination countries to source countries in a timely and collaborative manner is a denial of human rights as it deprives developing countries of resources required to progressively realise the right to development and implement social investment programmes aimed at alleviating poverty.”

  • Buhari vows to remove obstacles to rail development

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday pledged in Johannesburg that his administration will take necessary action to correct lapses which have hindered the implementation of agreements signed with China under past administrations for the development of rail transportation in Nigeria.

    Speaking at bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping at the  Forum of China-Africa Cooperation, President Buhari said that the Federal Government will strive to fulfil Nigeria’s obligations under the agreements as their implementation will help to boost the country’s economy and generate thousands of new jobs.

    “I have looked into the previous agreements and we will now keep our part of the bargain,” President Buhari assured President Xi Jinping.

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also applauded China’s ongoing support for the development of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, noting that Chinese advisers deployed to some states of the federation were helping to train farmers on water conservation and the use of more productive seeds.

    President Jinping described Nigeria as a very important ally of China in Africa, saying that the two countries need to boost their bilateral relations, for the good of their citizens.

    He said that China was keen to work with Nigeria for the mutual benefit of both countries.

    At the opening session of the summit attended by President Buhari and more than 30 other African leaders, the Chinese President had pledged $60 Billion Dollars of new development aid to African countries.

  • ‘Health Bill ‘ll remove obstacles to universal health coverage’

    ‘Health Bill ‘ll remove obstacles to universal health coverage’

    The Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, has said the National Health Bill, which was recently passed into law by the National Assembly, will fast-track Nigeria’s quest for universal health coverage.

    The minister spoke at the weekend in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, during a meeting with the management and workers of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).

    Chukwu said the bill was awaiting President Goodluck Jonathan’s assent to make it a law and for its implementation to start.

    The minister said there were some factors preventing the achievement of universal health coverage, adding that weak private sector health care services was a major drawback in having an effective health care delivery in the country.

    He said other factors militating against universal health coverage included the inability of people to pay and key into the health insurance programme and the absence of standards to achieve universal health coverage.

    Chukwu stressed that the insurance scheme was an integral part of the health care delivery system in any modern society.

    The minister regretted the inability of state health authorities to set the standards needed in the sector because they lacked the capacity to do so.

  • How to overcome obstacles, by Oyedepo

    The head of the Living faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, yesterday said it takes the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome social challenges and conquer obstacles posed by the devil.

    He said without what he called the “spirit of power”, putting the “enemy” where it belongs will be impossible. According to him, it is important to seek such power from God.

    Bishop Oyedepo, who spoke at the yearly Shilloh at Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, said when the devil senses a higher power, he runs away, adding: “Therefore, a Christian must connect with the spirit.”

    “You cannot rule unless you are in power. It takes power to rule in the midst of darkness and wickedness. God is the only one with the authority to give, take and transfer power. Without power, you cannot rule

    “The spirit of power is given to silence the enemy; it is essentially to put the enemy where he belongs and in check,” Bishop Oyedepo said.

    He spoke during a sermon on the second day of Shiloh 2012 entitled: “Unveiling the blessedness of the transference of spirit.”

    According to Bishop Oyedepo, power, which is given by the Holy Spirit, is the only language the enemy respects.

    Quoting from the 2 Chronicle 22:7, he said: “Power is not about grammar. The spirit of power is designed to put you in command over life’s difficult situations and circumstances.”

    He added: “There are forces that must be cut down for your destiny to be released and it takes power to cut them down.

    “In every man’s promised land, there are giants and you need power to overcome and destroy them. This is the spirit that will enable you possess your possession.”

    Among the benefit of power, Bishop Oyedepo said, is the authority to subdue forces militating against open doors and the ability to cross over to the next level.

    He went on: “When the devil senses a higher power, he clears off the way. This is why you must connect with the spirit because when it enters you, it drives you to manifestation. It takes power to possess your possession.”

    To gain power, Bishop Oyedepo said there must be a genuine thirst and a longing, quoting Psalm 63: 1-30.

    According to him, “what you do not crave for, you are not entitled to.”

    He said one of the most important keys to the transfer of power and its ultimate manifestation is obedience to God