The Nation Newspaper

Tag: policy

  • Stakeholders reject govt’s private jets policy

    Stakeholders reject govt’s private jets policy

    There was outrage yesterday over the new aviation policy rolled out by the Federal Government.

    Under the new regime, owners of private jets are barred from carrying friends and associates.

    The Presidency in a statement by Dr. Reuben Abati justified the policy, saying it was introduced in line with international best practice.

    But concerned stakeholders, including airline operators, said the policy was inimical to the aviation industry.

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), in a statement by its spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, faulted the policy, describing it as another hallmark of emerging despotism of the Jonathan Administration.

    The statement reads: “Aviation is global, yet nowhere in the world has this kind of policy been put in place, and it is simply impracticable. Whoever is still in doubt about the transmogrification of the Jonathan administration should have a second thought.

    This policy could only have been designed to satisfy the yearning for absolute power by a democratically-elected President who will not hesitate to subject his compatriots to tyrannical rule.’’

    The party wondered “how the President’s spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, who as usual rushed to the blind defence of his boss over whether or not he is fast becoming an emperor, will rationalise an unprecedented and impracticable policy that could only have been formulated with evil intentions.

    It said: “The presidential spokesman describes his boss as ‘a democratically elected leader who is running a people-oriented, inclusive and progressive government. Under his watch, Nigeria’s democracy has been consolidated; the scope for human freedoms has been further expanded and there is respect for due process and the rule of law’.

    ‘’Words are cheap! We will like to know how the kind of controversial and oppressive aviation policy put in place by the Jonathan administration will expand the scope of human freedoms, when, in fact, it has stifled such! We will also like to know how such a policy signifies respect for due process and the rule of law, when all it does is to negate the best practices in the global industry.’’

    It called on aviation experts to speak out on the new policy, with a view to educating the administration and those it has put in charge of the country’s aviation sector on the implication of such a policy, before Nigeria is made an object of ridicule in the critical global aviation sector.

    ‘’In the meantime, we wager that in the not-too-distant future, the real reason for the policy will become clear to all, and it will be anything but in the national interest,’’ the party said.

    Aviation Roundtable (ART) President Captain Dele Ore described the policy as not only a setback but unnecessary.

    Captain Ore counselled Aviation Minister Princess Stella Oduah to focus on the challenges of the industry rather that dissipating energy on how to review a 2006 aviation policy which, according to him, enjoyed international acceptance.

    The ART chief said the 2006 policy has not been faulted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    The Secretary-General of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Mohammed Joji, said there was nothing wrong with the existing policy.

    Joji said the new policy would move the industry back in the global aviation community.

    His words: “It is better to move the industry forward than to seek its regression. It is my humble opinion that nothing is wrong with the 2006 civil aviation policy.”

  • Presidency: international best practice informed policy

    Presidency: international best practice informed policy

    Through the Special adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the Presidency yesterday took an exception to criticism of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on new aviation rules.

    Dr. Abati, who urged relevant agencies to make more clarification on the new regime of private jet operations, said the policy was introduced in line with international best practice.

    The President’s spokesman said: “I believe that in this matter, the Ministry of Aviation and the relevant agencies will issue a statement offering necessary clarification. But the truth however is that we are faced once again with the ACN engaging in its usual game of mischief.

    “ The policy that statement by the ACN appears to be referring to deals essentially with the fact that in the aviation sector, the authorities are insisting on international best practice.

    “In this regards, what is this international best practice all about? One, that if you own a private jet, it must strictly be a private jet. You cannot use it for kabu kabu and the frequency of the usage of course will determine whether you are using it as kabu kabu or not. If it is a private jet, it is a private jet.

    “The second point to note is that the government has not said that you cannot carry anybody you like in your aircraft. That is not what the policy says. This is clearly a case of misrepresentation.

    “What the policy says is that whoever you carry in your private jet, you must submit a manifest,you must declare a manifest. It is important to note that you cannot say because it is your private jet, you will carry people in it and you will not declare a manifest. It is standard international practice that for air travel, a manifest must be made available.

    “The third point has to do with insurance. Why all of this is important is that when you engage in air travel and you give people a ride or you are using it for private purposes, there must also be insurance. The aircraft itself must be insured and there must also be insurance for the people who are traveling. You cannot violate all these rules and say because it is a private jet. Rules are rules.”

     

  • Manufacturers seek review of CBN’s monetary policy

    The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the government to review fiscal policies to revive moribund industries and stimulate real sector growth.

    Speaking with The Nation, Chairman, Apapa branch of MAN, Mr John Aluya, blamed the slow growth of the real sector on the failure of the monetary policy framework to address realities in the sector.

    He raised concerns about the continued retention of the tight Monetary Policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the high interest rates, describing them as burdensome and making the nation’s products lack competitive advantage.

    According to him, the real sector, which drives the economy, has become handicapped due to unfriendly monetary policies of the government.

    He said: “The truth remains that no country in the world has ever developed with an interest rate as high as 25 per cent as this has made it almost impossible for investors to access the funds needed for investments. The insecurity in the country, especially in the northern states has led to a high inventory of unsold goods and massive loss of jobs.

    “Inconsistent government policies, dearth of basic infrastructure, multiple visitation by regulatory agencies cum multiple taxation from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), high lending rate of double digit, and unfavourable monetary policies have made cost of doing business in Nigeria as one of the highest in the world. The need to salvage our economy is now even more resounding than ever more.”

    The Chairman of MAN, Ikeja branch, Isaac Agoye, during its consultative forum in Lagos, said surplus cash in the system is responsible for CBN’s Monetary Policy Rate (MPR ) of 12 per cent and the prevailing high and burdensome anti-industry interest rate regime that makes Nigerian products uncompetitive.

    It has also led to the closure of several factories and contributed to the high level of unemployment in Nigeria.

    He said: “We recognise the dastardly blows dealt to the survival of manufacturers by smugglers. However, we note with concern that the band of smugglers, looters of the treasury and other commercial speculators fund their dollar requirement from the $2 billion or more CBN dollar allocations to Bureau De Changes every month.”

  • ‘Pay policy for workers coming’

    The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission has promised that the commission will come out with a pay policy for the public service.

    Chairman of the commission, Dr Richard Egbule, spoke with The Nation at the end of a two-day national workshop in Abuja on the development of a pay policy guide for the public service.

    He said the workshop was organised due to recent quests by government workers to improve on their remunerations in form of pay reforms and emolument.

    The chairman said that the report from the forum by stakeholders would assist the commission to work on the pay policy.

    He said the commission needs to get a draft that will be presentable to the Federal Government to ensure that the pay policy is enacted as a law.

    He added that another policy the commission was working on was a comprehensive job evaluation and grading in the public service.

    Egbule said: “Recent improvements in the area of workers’ welfare in the form of pay reforms and emolument review generated numerous enquiries.

    “The workshop was planned to provide a forum for stakeholders to brainstorm on the subject matter and generate input for developing such a document.

    “We will look at the areas the participants have mentioned in order to come out with probably a draft, because the ultimate thing now is the draft.”

  • NAICOM, PenCom collaborate on annuity, group life policy

    NAICOM, PenCom collaborate on annuity, group life policy

    The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the National Pension Commission (PenCom) are working with other relevant stakeholders in the industry to implement the provision of the annuity and group life insurance policy in the contributory pension scheme.

    The regulators, last week held a workshop in Lagos, tagged: “Towards effective annuity and group life insurance regulation in Nigeria.”

    PenCom’s Acting Director-General, Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, said the strategy is meant to carry relevant parties along in resolving pertinent issues and to address any regulatory challenges militating against the successful implementation of the scheme.

    She said the Pension Reform Act allows a retiree to utilise the balance standing to the credit of his Retirement Savings Account (RSA) for either programmed withdrawal through the Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), or annuity for life purchased from a life insurance company.

    “Section 9 sub-section 3 of the PRA 2004 requires employers to maintain a life insurance policy for its employers for at least three times their annual total emoluments.

    “It is the mandate of NAICOM to regulate the annuity and life insurance markets. It is the responsibility of PenCom to ensure that the modalities for the administration of retirement benefits through life annuity as well as terminal benefits involving group life insurance policy are strictly followed to guarantee payments as and when due,” she said.

    The helmsman said since the take-off of the payment of retirement benefits to retirees who opted for annuity, no enlightenment aimed at creating awareness of annuity was carried out.

    Speaking on different procedures guarding the operations of the annuity, which he described as a programmed payment for life, the Assistant Director, Inspectorate, NAICOM, Sam C. Onyeka, said there are many provisions, which operators must obey for the benefits to be realised.

     

     

     

     

  • ‘Keshi’s policy will make Eagles stronger’

    ‘Keshi’s policy will make Eagles stronger’

    Former Nigeria defender Bright Omokaro believes Stephen Keshi’s decision to mix his team with a blend of local and foreign-based professionals will help Nigeria to a memorable outing at the forthcoming 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa.

    Nigeria’s 32-man list is almost balanced by players from the domestic league and their counterparts overseas and Omokaro, who won silver with Nigeria in 1988, said the fighting spirits of both sets of players will be at premium which will give the nation the best set of players in order for Nigeria to make a massive impact in South Africa.

    “Before now, any coach that comes here will want to work with players that are overseas even if such players are flops in their clubs. But with the kind of approach by Keshi, you see that there is more fighting spirit in the team because the local players want to see how they can make it to become professionals abroad and in turn the overseas players don’t want to lose their shirts.”

    Nigeria is billed to confront Catalonia in a friendly game tonight and will face Cape Verde in another test game a week later.

  • Operators fault ship policy

    Operators in the maritime industry have faulted the Federal Government’s policy on ship repairs.

    Speaking with The Nation in Lagos, the operators said the government has not offered special incentives for the sector to promote and enhance efficiency in shipping-related services and make the country a logistics hub.

    One of the operators Mr Funsho Badmus said ship building is capital intensive and urged the Federal Government to make special provisions for capacity building.

    He said local ship owners face difficulties in raising funds to facilitate improved business prospects.

    He said the facilities at the existing shipyards were highly inadequate when compared to what is required at international level.

    He said ship repairs is highly competitive and should be supported by national policies and subsidies, adding that without government’s support, the growth of the industry would be difficult.

    He expressed concern over the inability of government to support coastal trade with incentives while other countries do, adding that for the sector to grow, there should be incentives such as lower taxes to offset the costs.

     

  • Arewa seeks abolition of indigene-settler policy

    Arewa seeks abolition of indigene-settler policy

    For peace to return to the North, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has asked the 19 governors in the region to abolish indigene/settler policy.

    It canvassed compulsory education for all children of school age and return of mission schools to their former owners.

    The Forum advised Northern state governments to end dependency on oil revenues because the nation’s oil might soon dry up.

    These are some of the recommendations in the ACF’s “Roadmap for Peace, Unity and Development of Nigeria which was recently submitted to the Northern Governors Forum by the chairman of the group, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed.

    The blueprint urged Northern states governors to take “practical measures” to end the conflict between Fulani herdsmen and crop farmers in some parts of the region.

    The document said: “Government should take steps to address the indigene/settler question. It is recommended that states/LGAs should adopt a common protocol making anyone born in a particular community an indigene of that community.

    “Appropriate legislation must be put in place to address the problem.

    “The capacities of local communities to take ownership of the peace building process through dialogue among all levels of leadership must be enhanced.

    “Town-planning regulations should discourage the indiscriminate building of places of worship.”

    “Authorities in the North, elders and youth, clergy and Ulama should show maximum religious tolerance and give followers of the major religions the freedom and encouragement to practise their religions without discrimination or hindrance.

    “There has to be continuous dialogue on peaceful co-existence among the leadership of the various communities and religions in Northern Nigeria .

    “Governments in the Northern states are enjoined to take practical measures that will reduce conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and crop farmers.”

    The document said: “Over-dependence on oil and the neglect of non-oil sectors of the economy opens the economy to grave risks. Immediate action should be taken to end the dependence of Northern state governments on oil revenues.

    “As oil will sooner or later “dry-up” and the North is predominantly agrarian in nature, Northern governments should endeavour to develop a lasting and sustainable source of income from agriculture. Its huge capacity for employment makes agriculture a key resource for advancing national peace, security and prosperity.

    “Another sector worth developing is the mining sector. Solid minerals like gold, tin, silver, silica, kaolin and several other solid mineral products have been found in commercial quantities all over the Northern region.

    “In view of this, concerted efforts should be made by the Northern governors towards exploring and exploiting these natural resources for more rapid economic development of the region. In doing so, adequate measures should be put in place to protect the environment.”

    Notwithstanding, the ACF asked the Northern governors to work on the possibility of oil availability in the North.

    It said: “Reports of over two decades have shown that oil might be available in commercial quantities in the Northern states, perhaps surpassing the quantities available in the Niger Delta.

    “Recent discovery of oil in Niger Republic less than 50 kilometres from the Nigerian border (in Zinder, a town bordering Katsina State ) is the surest sign of the possibility of oil availability in the North. Therefore efforts should be geared towards the exploration of oil in the Northern states.”

    On education, the ACF made six-point recommendations.

    The document said: “Return mission schools to their former owners if they desire to take them back. Thereafter, they should be given some grants by the state governments annually.

    “Enforce legislation on compulsory education for all children of school going age, especially girl child.

    Continue to build schools for the purpose of taking Almajiri off the streets. This means that the design and administration of such schools would be done in a way that facilitates the attainment of this objective.

    “While efforts are made to build schools for Almajiri, state governments are advised to consider making laws that ban street begging by under-aged children.”

  • Flooding: Insurers urged on policy

    Operators have been urged to capitalise on the flood ravaging many parts of the country to drum support for related policy, the President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Dr Wole Adetimehin, has said.

    In a statement by the institute’s Director of Corporate Communication, Joseph Obah, Adetimehin said insurance penetration in Nigeria was a result of several factors, ranging from lack of awareness to the average citizen’s scale of preference.

    He said: “In many ways, Insurance remains an essential index for measurement of national development although lacking in its expected degree of presence in individual and national consciousness, especially in developing countries like Nigeria.

    “Recent flooding of parts of Nigeria and cases of related environmental hazards make insurance the way to go for Nigerians. The insurance sub-sector must seize this as the needed opportunity to drive home its age-long message.”

     

  • Govt plans industrial policy to boost growth

    Govt plans industrial policy to boost growth

    To boost economic growth, the Federal Government will soon come up with a new industrial policy , the House of Representatives Committee on Commerce and Industry has said.

    The panel said there was need to diversify the economy through a rapid and sustainable growth plan for the industrial sector.

    Speaking during a tour of WEMPCO Group in Ikeja, the panel’s Chairman, Mohammed Onawo said Made-in-Nigeria goods would be promoted through the envisaged policy.

    He said there was hope for the economic transformation of Nigeria from what could be seen at the company.

    Onawo said the bill is expected to drive the nation’s industrial revolution , adding that it would enhance the activities of the local industries.

    The bill, he said , would also address policy issue; ensure transparent business operational procedures; enhance the economy and build investors confidence.

    A committee, Onawo said , was set up early this year by the Federal Government to work on the bill. The Committee comprises Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) ; Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA); industry leaders in various sector of the economy.

    “In the past ,inferior products were said to originate from Taiwan and recently from China, but surprisingly the Chinese are here making quality products which can favourably compete globally.

    “The Federal Government will be prompted to do more, through its industrialisation policy by the achievement of this company. It is a foolish thing to depend on one source of income (crude oil), especially with experts predicting that our oil will dry up in the next 40 years,” he said.

    Onawo said the the committee would help the company over come some of its challenges.

    They called on industrialists and investors to come forward with private bills on industrialisation that would help transform the economy.

    “A private member Bill can be sent to us by any industrialist and investor which will be sponsored by members of this committee in the House. We will continue to promote bills that will give our partners confidence and secure their investments,” he said.

    Onawo said the committee was pleased with the employment and wealth creation capacity of the company, the training of Nigerians to operate industrial machines and the promise that in the next five years, all their raw materials would be sourced locally.

    “This is an individual company generating 54 megawatts of electricity on its own, and being here for the past 40 years, it is obvious that they know more about Nigeria than China, so they can better tell the true story of Nigeria as a country of opportunities for those who are seeking success,” he said.

    In his response, the Chairman of the Group, Alhaji Tokunbo Ali, said the firm started with the manufacturing of enamel-ware, and expanded to steel, plywood, hospitality and roofing sheets, among others.

    He said the company boasts of owning the largest wood plantation in Nigeria and 15 factories across the country with around 15,000 staff in the employ of the group.

    “We are still marching on with our expansion vision because we are not a ‘briefcase Group’ and we assure SON that we will abide by their quality standards,” he said.