THE civil service has remained at its lowest ebb due to corruption in the system despite its modest gains, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday.
He spoke at an inaugural quarterly civil service lecture series at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.
It is themed: “Civil Service in a Change Environment: The Change is Now”.
Osinbajo noted that the civil service, which had firmly stood against injustices and high-handedness that characterised the military era, suddenly came crashing when civil servants began to see their functions as means to achieving personal aggrandisement, rather than interest of the Nigerian state.
He said: “It was the judiciary that told the military then that while it may make laws, those laws should still respect the inalienable rights of the people as enshrined in international human right conventions to which the country had voluntarily acceded.
“These were individuals without guns, just sitting down on platforms up there in the court, who insisted on holding the military responsible.
“Despite the criticisms that civil servants are subjected to, I am sure that you know that sometimes civil servants are described as ‘evil servants’ but you must take heart. The best professions are usually the most criticised. But I must say that the wholesome privilege of public service is very easily abused or taken for granted. The public service elite represents as we have seen the most important factor in mass development.
“The power to do great good or evil lies with a few people, who form what we refer to as our civil service. When some in such an elite see the opportunity as one for self-enrichment by corrupt practices, then the nation faces a monumental tragedy.”
Osinbajo added: “There is no excuses anywhere in a nation where the majority are still poor and are struggling to make a living that anyone who has the benefit of good education and good fortune of a job in the civil service should subvert that service for personal gains. I think it’s the greatest tragedy that a nation can experience.”
Head of Civil Service of the Federation Winifred Oya-Ita took a swipe at the media and noted that it had been awash with shortcomings of the service while leaving out the modest gains in the system.
According to her, the Federal Civil Service, in particular, has been in the forefront of national cohesion and has ensured smooth transition of power from one government to another – whether military or civilian administration.
Tag: Osinbajo
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Corruption eroding gains in civil service, says Osinbajo
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Presidency: Osinbajo is executing Buhari’s policies
‘Opposition trying to cause division between President and his vice’
The Presidency yesterday described those hailing Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and criticising President Muhammadu Buhari as enemies of the government who are trying to create division between the two topmost state officials.
President Buhari has been on vacation in the United Kingdom since January 19. He is also undergoing medical tests. Vice President Osinbajo has been acting for him.
Some Nigerians have been commenting on the situation in the country since Osinbajo started acting for his boss, claiming that things are better.
But Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters Babafemi Ojudu said Nigerians were seeing results of the policies introduced by the government, under the same Presidency.
He said Prof. Osinbajo consults with President Buhari and that since it is a joint ticket, all achievements should go to the government.
According to him, without Buhari, Osinbajo would not have been acting president.
He said: “I think it is thoughtless. I also see it as a ploy by the opposition to cause an unnecessary division. It is a joint ticket; the president and the vice president were elected based on the manifesto of the party and since they were sworn in they have been committed to implementing that manifesto.
“The same people who said we never had economic team, no policy, nothing, are the ones saying this. It is now that the policies we are implementing are maturing and they are seeing the result. It is not a question of one person being better than the other person.
“I will give you an example. There is nothing that has been done since the vice president started acting that is not something that started far back in the past. A good example is the Niger Delta initiative. The President called the vice president and said I am giving you the mandate, go into the Niger Delta, meet with everyone who is a stakeholder, all the communities, talk to the militants and make sure you solve this problem for the benefit of Nigerians.
“We are losing 1.2 million barrels of oil per day; all the gas pipelines powering the turbines are being blown up. And the President has said unless and until we resolve this problem, we will not get out of recession. The vice president took up the mandate and went to the Niger Delta. It is the initiative of Mr. President not that of the Vice President.
“These are mischief makers, those who do not wish this country well, who are always promoting crisis, who will not allow the people to benefit from this democracy, are the ones promoting this kind of divisive tendencies.”
Ojudu added: “Almost on a daily basis, there are things he still needs to consult the President I mean it’s not a regular thing but major decisions he still has to consult Mr. President. The president is still the president.”
He insisted that Buhari is still in charge even on medical vacation.
“He is in charge but like I said earlier on, this is a joint ticket. The president of Nigeria remains the president of Nigeria. He is acting because it is one government and the same. He is more experienced, he has been in the game longer than the vice president and if there are major issues that he needs to take decision on, he could call on him and say, ‘sir, what do you think about this; we are about to take decision on it, do you have opinion?’ That does not mean he is not in charge,” Ojudu said
He added: “Again, one other thing you have to see is that if you give someone a responsibility, he must be able to show to Mr. President that despite that he is not around, it is not going to create any vacuum. He can then decide not to sleep at all, all through the time the president is away just to show him that he is capable of ensuring that Nigeria goes on well while he is away.
“And the President could also have given the mandate, let nothing go wrong, I believe in you, I appointed you as my vice president; you must make sure that you do this. If you have a boss who gives you an assignment you will want to impress him and Nigerians as well and that for me is what has happened. ýIt is not that one person is better than the other; certainly not.”
According to him, those reports were aimed at causing division in the Presidency.
He stressed that the Presidency would not allow those behind the reports to succeed.
“I’m telling you that I have seen some things sent out intentionally to cause some kind of division within the Presidency. Some people who have been condemning everybody in the past, I see them on twitter and on facebook and generally on social media. Some people are trying to promote division and we are not going to allow that.
“This president and vice president work together in tandem and I know they both have confidence in this nation,” he said.
Opposition politicians and some former officials of the previous administration, have been extolling Osinbajo, suggesting that the president could continue to stay away.
Among those in this group is Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, who said the acting President should “do away with the cabal around the president.”
Another person in this category is Reno Omokri, who said: “We have an action Acting President and a blaming real President!”
Reacting to some clerics in Katsina State claiming that the president was poisoned, Ojudu said: “The way I will react to that is that those of you in the media should be careful what you pick from the social media now, it is becoming a factory for fake news in the Nigeria.
“A lot of things you see on social media can never be true. I saw that, I read it and I assessed it using the prism of these factors, those indices we use to analyse stories in the media and found out that, it cannot be true.
“For example, they said somebody kept N77 trillion somewhere; imagine that. What is the total value of Nigeria’s economy that because of somebody keeping N77 trillion, therefore, some people want to poison him so that they can inherit the money.
“I mean we have a president that nobody in this country can question his integrity. As a young officer, a middle officer, a senior officer and as a head of state till now, nobody has been able to tarnish his image or come up with anything.
“For me, it is not even worth responding to. As soon as I read it, I dismissed it. It is so ridiculous. Again it is the handiwork of our enemies, the problem is fakeness has almost become global and universal, other countries are experiencing it. Those who want to destabilise the country they come up with all kinds of stupid stories, some kind of unimaginable stories so we should just discountenance those things.” -
NOUN law graduates write Osinbajo on Law School case
THE Law Graduates Forum (LGF) of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has written to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on alleged failure to deliver judgment in their case against the Council of Legal Education (CLE).
They sought his intervention in the case challenging their non-admittance to the Law School.
Their letter, dated February 20, was signed by the forum’s chairman, Carl Umegboro, secretary Samuel Adeola, public relations officer Prince Daniel and Victor Mpamugo.
LGF is in court following CLE’s refusal to extend admission quotas to NOUN in the Law School despite the open university’s accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
They sued at the Federal High Court in Port Hourcourt. Three years later, judgment was fixed, but the judge was transferred .
The law graduates alleged the case spent three years in court due to “unjustifiable delays and politically-motivated technicalities”, which it said were adopted to frustrate them.
They said the case was argued on December 7, after which Justice B.O. Quadiri fixed January 27 for judgment.
“As scheduled, on our arrival from all geographical zones as delegated to the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, the ugly news was broken that the judgment we travelled far distances to witness would not be delivered as the judge has been transferred to Abuja Division after fixing the judgment but without directives on the matter,” they said.
The forum fears that the matter already fixed for judgment may begin afresh, which it believes would amount to “aberration, intimidation and tyranny”.
“We reject such vindictiveness and undue influences, and request that you (Osinbajo) use your good offices to see that the needful is timely done.
“We also solemnly call upon all well-meaning Nigerians and civil society groups to stand against tyranny and acts capable of thwarting the rule of law before it is too late,” the group said.
LGR said its members had gone through “agonising intimidations and frustrations by the CLE in conjunction with the judiciary as a whole over our rightful admission and training in the Law School, a facility solely-owned by the Federal Government.”
Copies of the letter were addressed to the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), the NOUN vice-chancellor, activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), among others. -
Osinbajo, Saraki, Jonathan greet Shagari at 92
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki and former President Goodluck Jonathan have congratulated Second Republic President Shehu Shagari, on his 92nd birthday.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, the acting president praised Shagari’s selfless service, leadership and steadfast commitment to the advancement of Nigeria over the years.
The Acting President expressed confidence that the honesty and strength of character with which former President Shagari had been known, would continue to be a source of inspiration.
Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, hailed the sterling contributions of the nonagenarian to the sustenance of democracy, national peace and growth.
He said: “I am delighted to join millions of Nigerians to wish you a happy birthday as you clock 92, while looking forward to partake in many more joyous moments to celebrate your eventful and most successful life.”
Jonathan, in a statement by his media adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, said: “In and outside office, you have continued to inspire generations of Nigerians through your patriotism, selflessness, simplicity and unwavering commitment to the peace and unity of our dear country.
“You diligently served your nation as a teacher, parliamentarian and President and have continued to serve her, even in your old age, as an elder statesman and sage, who calmly offers his wise counsel on national issues.”
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OPEC Sec-Gen to meet Osinbajo, Kachikwu on oil sector dynamics
•Barkindo in Nigeria for conference
Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo will this week discuss market dynamics in the oil sector with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr Ibe Kachikwu.
Dr. Barkindo, who arrived in Nigeria yesterday, will also attend the 16th Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference (NOC) and Exhibition during his four-day working visit.
The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) spokesman, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, as saying that the fallout of Barkindo’s visit will be felt in the sector for a long time.
Ughamadu was quoted as saying: “Yes, it is a big event that will affect our markets positively. He is leading an eight-man delegation and his advance team arrived earlier and will talk on the oil and gas market outlook.
“I believe whatever policies put in place here will be strictly adhered to and give our economy the needed boost. I’m excited. It’s a big event.”
At an earlier news briefing, Ughamadu said Dr. Kachikwu would give a keynote address on Repositioning the Oil and Gas Sector’ and that the NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru, would speak on “`Commercialising the NNPC”.
The four-day conference will end Thusday.
More than 6,000 delegates, 250 exhibitors, from over 20 countries, many oil and gas experts and hundreds of government representatives and other stakeholders from different countries would attend the conference.
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‘No link between Osinbajo’s visit to MMIA, aviation shake-up’
Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika has denied any link between the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s visit to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and the reorganisation in the aviation agencies.
Sirika said this in a statement issued in Abuja by Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs, Ministry of Transportation Mr. James Odaudu.
He said the visit of the Acting President on Thursday was to assess the state of facilities at the nation’s number one airport.
It was also to identify possible areas that needed the government’s immediate attention, he said.
According to him, a section of the nation’s media decided, rather inexplicably, to establish a link between Osinbajo’s visit and the reorganisation at the nation’s aviation agencies.
“It must be made clear that there is no basis to link both events together.
However, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma, an engineer, has directed engineers of the authority to immediately begin repair works on all equipment at the terminal.
Dunoma gave the directive after inspecting the facilities at the airport at the weekend.
During the inspection, the FAAN boss in company of FAAN Director of Commercials and Business Development Mr. Sadiku Abdulkadir Rafindadi and others, inspected the escalators, conveyor belts, departure terminal, arrival terminal and other sections of the airport.
Speaking to reporters after the tour, Dunoma said the tour had become necessary because the Acting President had visited the terminal.
He noted that the visit was to come up with plan to implement his instructions immediately.
Dunoma said: “There are few things we need to fix immediately. I say immediately; immediately means immediately. This is a Presidential directive. We will not waste time and that is why you see us working on a Saturday. We will still work tomorrow. We just have to come up with strategic implementation plans so that we don’t disrupt operations. This is key to us.”
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Understanding the Buhari/Osinbajo Presidency
SIR: Most pairings in politics are meant to balance the ticket. In many cases, the two persons are like-minded, have a harmonized action plan and work in the same direction. Nonetheless, these two could also be at variance on certain issues, have conflicting views of certain phenomena and maybe sometimes disagree on things.
Nigerians are used to sit-tight leadership at all levels that see political positions as personal, abhors delegating authorities, see their deputies as rivals and a threat; a leadership that often have disdain for their second-in-command; and one that will never support their deputies in anything, let alone transfer power to them to act in their absence. Nigeria has witnessed numerous cases of leaders and their assistants turning against one another. Some have even turned out to become sworn enemies- The Obasanjo/ Atiku feud is a good example.
But President Muhammadu Buhari and Acting President Yemi Osinbajo have re-established the ideal of one presidency and it is working well for the good of the country and democracy. The two have redefined how we view the President vis-a-vis the Vice President. They have created an atmosphere of progressive political synergy never seen in Aso Rock villa in recent times.
Both have unique chemistry. Civility of the two distinguished men has kept the Buhari/Osinbajo relationship close, warm and friendly.
So far, so excellent is Osinbajo’s performance. Acting President Osinbajo has been a good representative of the Buhari School. He has shown that he has not been a figure-head vice president, rather an astute complementing figure to President Buhari’s drive to take Nigeria to greater heights.
He has inaugurated five commissioners of the National Population Commission, constituted the Presidential Task Force on Food Security with the mandate to reduce prices of food items in the country, declared open, the Agenda for Consultative Forum on Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. He sent the name of Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen to the Senate for confirmation as substantive CJN. The acting President has also inaugurated the National Road Safety Advisory Council which he heads. Osinbajo has presided over a meeting of the National Economic Council on February 16. The meeting, among other things, directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to review the foreign exchange policy- which already yielding some positive results. On February 17 the acting president signed seven bills into law. On February 20 he presided over a meeting of the Presidential Task Force on wheat and rice and assured that the nation would attain self-sufficiency in food security. On February 21, Osinbajo presided over an expanded meeting of the Presidential Enabling Business Council and unveiled a 60-day national action plan for ease of doing business. The acting president also sent the name of Mr. Adeyinka Asekun from Ogun state to the Senate for confirmation as non-career ambassador.
When one looks at the relationships between many leaders and their deputies in the past and present, it is apparent that there have never been two persons like Buhari and Osinbajo who have shown Nigerians how delegating power is used for the benefit of the nation and for the development of democracy instead for personal motives. The two have set a standard which should become a model for leaders and assistants to follow, if our democracy must continue to flourish.
- Zayyad I. Muhammad,
Jimeta, Adamawa State.
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Osinbajo’s rapprochement
The Acting President’s dialogue with stakeholders is the answer to the Niger Delta crisis
After about 19 months in office, the Buhari administration opted for a change of strategy in handling the crisis in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. The 2015 general election had shown that the people of the region stood with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that fielded Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate and voted massively for him. Unfortunately, the political contest did not end with the election. No sooner did General Muhammadu Buhari assume office than a new militancy group – the Niger Delta Avengers – emerge. The group swore to bring the Federal Government to its knees. Week after week, crude oil pipelines were vandalised and oil workers abducted. Consequently, crude oil production plummeted from 2.2 million barrels daily to a little over one million barrels. This was at a time when the price of the commodity on which the federal revenue depended suffered a significant decline. It was a crisis.
The Buhari administration responded by wielding the big stick. Heavily armed soldiers were deployed to crush the militants. Helicopters, warships and armoured personnel carriers were sent to pummel the militants to submission. President Buhari pledged to hammer the saboteurs in the same way he had moved against the Boko Haram insurgents in the North. But, the haemorrhage continued.
However, realising that the nation’s economy continued to bleed, the administration changed gear towards the end of 2016. It initiated dialogue sessions with elders from the region and promised reconciliation. In the President’s New Year Speech, he pledged that new initiatives would be unfolded in the year. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s shuttle diplomacy that has taken him to states in the zone, and saw him meeting with a cross-section of the people, including elders, traditional rulers and the youth, appears to be yielding fruits. Oil production has since shot up to about two million barrels per day, while the creeks are now relatively calm. This is the road to travel. We note that in one of the sessions the Pan-Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) held with President Buhari last year, a 16-point demand was made.
During his visit, Acting President Osinbajo announced that the government had acceded to the demands. He promised that the National Maritime University at Okerenkoko would soon take off. To demonstrate seriousness, too, he said the Ogoni environment clean-up scheme which he launched with fanfare last year had commenced, with Shell making an initial contribution of $10 million. The Board of Trustees has swung into action and it is expected that, in accordance with the agreement by all, SPDC will contribute $200 million before the end of 2017.
Professor Osinbajo promised that, “the Ministry of Petroleum, in collaboration with the oil companies, is working on several initiatives for host communities, including working with illegal refiners in oil-bearing communities to participate in modular refineries to be established. There is no doubt that thermal power stations should be stationed here, it makes sense; the gas deposits are here.
“The biggest benefit we can obtain is to attract more investment to the region. But investors have a choice. They will go where they find an enabling environment, especially security. It is up to us as government and people to assure the necessary enabling circumstances for investment.”
This is the crux of the matter. The elders must find a way of permanently reining in their young hot heads if peace is to reign and investment is to be drawn to a territory that has been neglected for so long. We urge all the stakeholders to accept the olive branch from the government, realising that all the wrongs of ages, including those by their own state and local governments, cannot be remedied in one year.
Governments in Nigeria have a reputation for breaching agreements. We hope the Niger Delta case would be different. Equity and justice are the bedrock of modern development. Unless the governments in Nigeria deal equitably with the communities and people in all parts of the country, the future may remain bleak. As the Acting President acknowledged, the Niger Delta is the region that lays the golden egg and, if treated well, it could yield even more. The people have valid points in calling for attention to the neglected environment. If both sides live up to the demands of the moment, the country’s future is indeed bright.
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Osinbajo seeks ease of doing business
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday gave a directive for speedy conclusion of projects critical to easing ways of doing business in the country.
He spoke after paying a surprise visit to Nigeria’s major international airport in Lagos.
Already, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, (PEBEC) has adopted a 60-day Action Plan to push Ease of Doing Business reforms.
A statement by Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, quoted the acting President as saying: “As part of our work on the Ease of Doing Business, on making the environment friendly, not just for local businesses but also for those who want to come and do business in Nigeria, the airport obviously is one of the major places where we need to ensure that facilities are working and that things are being run properly.
“So we have looked around, we’ve seen some of the equipments. There are many many things that need to be done, many things that need to be corrected, and we have to work on them as quickly as possible.”
During the unscheduled visit, the acting President checked out the toilets, noticed some of the non-functioning carousels in the arrival hall, went to Immigration officials to check the progress of plans to grant visa on arrival to foreign investors, observed the non-functioning air-conditioners and chillers in the Departure and Arrival halls, the escalators and elevators that are in a state of disrepair among others.
He was accompanied by Minister of State (Aviation) Hadi Sirika.
At Tuesday’s meeting of PEBEC, Prof. Osinbajo had said: “we are trying to improve the business environment in three broad respects; the entry and exit of goods, the entry and exit of persons into Nigeria, and then general government transparency and efficiency in government agencies & parastatals.”
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Osinbajo visits Lagos airport, inspects facilities
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo paid an unscheduled visit to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday.
The visit, which caught many airport workers by surprise, was the first by either a vice president or president in acting capacity.
Osinbajo, who dressed in navy blue attire with black shoes and cap to match, arrived the airport terminal at about 3:00 p.m. in company of security operatives.
The acting President, who was in Lagos for other engagements, took time off to carry out on the spot assessment of facilities at the international wing of the airport.
From the Presidential Wing where the convoy took off, Osinbajo and the Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, were conducted round the check – in areas, baggage carousel axis and Visa Issue on Arrival unit, where he specifically instructed official of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) to switch on the baggage reclaim equipment.
At the international terminal, he asked for up to date knowledge of facilities and what would be required to fix the travellator at the boarding gate areas.
The apparently bewildered aviation personnel struggled to provide clues on how to fix some of the sore points at the airport.
Aviation workers who gathered in groups to take a glimpse of the acting President wondered why he decided to tour the airport.