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Tag: restructured

  • Okorocha seeks restructured Police Trust Fund

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has called for the restructuring of the Police Trust Fund (PTF) to allow “good-spirited individuals” make contributions to it.

    He said this will make it possible to achieve the purpose for which the Police Trust Fund was established.

    The governor made the call when the Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris visited him at the Government House, Owerri over the weekend.

    He noted: “Nigerians have every reason to celebrate the policemen in the country who have done well despite the limited resources available to them.”

    According to him: “Constitutionally, Police personnel are not allowed to donate money or collect money from individuals but there could be a way to restructure PTF so that good-spirited individuals can also support because the Police is underfunded by every classification or category of human understanding.

    “This is why we have decided in the Governors’ Forum that there is need to support the Nigeria Police.

    “More often than not, when we see Policemen we feel they are not doing anything.

    “But just give yourself one day without police, then you will know how important the Police Force is.

    “In America for instance, the ratio is about 45 to 50 people to one policeman but in Nigeria it is one policeman to 750 people.”

    Idris said: “The Nigeria Police would continue to work and liaise with governors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders on how best to ensure maximum security across the nation”.

    He explained that more contributions is critical to a better policing.

     

  • Obi: why Nigeria needs to be restructured

    Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has backed calls for restructuring.

    He spoke at the Annual Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Owerri Branch, where he presented the keynote on: Restructuring of Nigeria, a Critical Analysis.

    Obi said since the present structure was not working, the need for restructuring was not only desirable, but imperative.

    Debunking the errorneus belief that restructuring amounts to dismemberment, Obi said restructuring was an acknowledgement that what Nigeria runs had been a failure.

    Accroding to him, when something fails,  an alternative should be sought.

    Reviewing the state of the nation as a proof that Nigeria is not working, Obi compared Nigeria to other countries in the 80s, such as China and South Korea.

    Using facts and figures, he said they have all fared better than Nigeria on all indices of development.

    He said restructuring meant  looking for what those people did that lifted them up and doing them as well.

    Obi said Nigeria, for instance, had over 10 million out of school children, and lost over 4 million jobs last year, with 16 million unemployed graduates.

    He said the country had remained incapable of generating enough power and was inexorably moving negatively as could be seen through  daily killings.

    To him, the aggregate of all these centripetal, divisive forces make restructuring imperative.

    Obi regretted that 12 years after Nigeria’s debt of $32 billion was written off, the country had accumulated a debt of over $70 billion without much on ground to show for it.

    Citing other economic woes, Obi said all aspects of the country’s life needed to be restructured.

    He said the restructuring should also be packaged in such a way as to re-direct Nigeria to look inwards and transit from transaction to transformational leadership.

    Such leadership, he said, will work towards  a paradigm shift, from baggage to knowledge economy, characterised more by intellectual contributions Nigerian can make to the advancement of civilisation.

    According to Obi, beyond physical restructuring, Nigeria needs the restructuring of the mind, conditioning citizens to think more about the country than about oneself.

    “Everyday I wake up a sad man, thinking over many wrong things going on in Nigeria. Rather than sit down and tell one another the truth, Nigerians carry on as if all is well.

    “We cannot continue like this because it is bequeathing anarchy to our children,” Obi said.

    The discussants-Justice B. A Njamanze  (retd), Prof. I.D Nwaorji,  Prof A. A Igwemma and Mr.   Chukwuma Ekomaru (SAN) agreed that restructuring was necessary if Nigeria is to fully harness her potentials.

     

  • ‘Why Nigeria should be restructured’

    ‘Why Nigeria should be restructured’

    Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment to former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim and one-time Managing Editor of ThisDay, Chief Ethelbert Okere, in this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, speaks on his book: ‘We Can’t All Be Wrong,’ the importance of restructuring and other issues. 

    Your book, ‘We can’t all be wrong’; what is it about?

    There is the urgent need to restructure the country along the line of true federalism. Even though people have noticed that the Federal Government is reluctant to follow this renewed crave for restructuring, what cannot be denied is the overwhelming preponderance that the country must have new way of relating. The people making the calls are not ordinary Nigerians; they are  elder statesmen, the clergy, nobel laureate etc. And so, we cannot continue a situation where power is concentrated in one area; that is the centre. We cannot continue to have a situation where the states are unable to pay salaries and have to look up to the President for its needs. Therefore, ‘we can’t all be wrong’ is on why the country should be restructured. Despite the fact that the Federal Government has not made the positive move, Nigerians say they want the country restructured. Again, the book is not just about restructuring, it also about other conceptual works that can make the country better. This is not the first time issue of restructuring will come to the front burner. In fact, restructuring of the country started after the amalgamation in 1914. The difference between  past calls and now, is that Nigerians are calling for restructuring under the ambience of their democratic freedom.

    Another major difference between what happened in the past and what is happening, is that Nigerians want power to be devolved. They want the Federal Government to shed power, the Federal Government has become too mighty even though the federation had been splitted into  36 states. The Federal Government still possess the over mighty powers. But, Nigerians are saying no, we must go back to true federalism. The original concept of federalism is that neither the Federal Government nor the Regional Government or what they call federating units are superior to the others. They are coordinating units all put together. The federal government is not  powerful than the Regional Government. But, what we are practicing now is that the Federal Government is superior to the federating units.

    The view in some quarters is that government is not prepared for restructuring. What is the consequence of this?

    I strongly believe that Nigeria will be restructured. The existing Federal Government may delay, may even want to kill the idea, but for me, it is an idea which time has come. We are not even saying that they should do it immediately. What we are saying is that the idea should be welcome. Nigeria as a collective should begin to work out modalities on how to go about it. What we are worried about which is wrong, is when people in power are saying you people are talking rubbish. Nigerians should not be made to believe that those calling for restructuring want to dismantle the country. I want to align myself with those who say if we don’t restructure this country, it will not get better, it does not matter how long it will take. The life of a nation is more than the eight years tenure of a particular President. So, for me, I look beyond the lifespan of the present administration, so we are looking beyond that.

    Those who don’t support the idea of restructuring are mostly from a section of the country…

    The people in the northern part of the country need a lot of reorientation. And contrary to what they believe that restructuring will result in, it is not true that it will lead to break up of the country. It is not true that restructuring is southern agenda. Restructuring is both not a southern agenda and that it cannot be proved that those calling for the restructuring of the country are mainly from the south. But, importantly is the fact that the north will even benefit much from the restructuring exercise. The research I made showed that out of 42 solid minerals, 25 of them are located in the north; they are concentrated in Taraba and Plateau states. The quantity of these minerals is more that the quantity in some countries. If you combine this with the fact that the north has an incredible arable expanse of lands, you will know that the north is the next cash cow. I think it is out of fear and the people have not been sufficiently galvanised to let them know that all sections of the country will benefit from the process. Restructuring is not something that will exclude the north or favour the south. We are of the belief that sooner than later people from the north would be fully inspired.

    What is responsible for the agitations in the South?       

    The country is poorly structured. It is because of the present faulty system we run, that is why people are agitating. Like I said earlier, the major reason for restructuring is to devolve power. The money we make in the country has its larger part going to the Federal Government and others to the federating units. When you visit my village for instance, you see some bad roads  called federal roads. Meanwhile, the minister in charge of roads may never visit my home town. The officials of Federal Ministry of Works may never visit the place too. Now people from my area drive through a road that is poorly maintained, but the state government says it a federal road and cannot do anything about it. This concept that everything is federal should reduce in our national life. If we must devolve in such a way that the federating units will take care of their environment. It is on records that most people who are having one appointment or the other in the federal administration, do not even visit their locality. They are always busy in Abuja and hardly go to their communities. They only visit their communities, when they need votes during elections. Today, state governments are not able to pay salaries and they are depending on the Federal Government refund from the Paris Club. That for me, is nonsensical. That is not the essence of federalism, it is wrong for states to be waiting for the Federal Government to issue cheques before they can pay salaries.

    How will restructuring help the situation?

    It will engender healthy competition among the federating units. Let look at the word restructuring, the legal frame work upon which we will run this country. The book I am talking about, provides the frame work and the advice on what we can do. It talked about constitutional amendment. It finally asked which one do the people want; constitutional amendment or restructuring. Some have argued that what we need is constitutional amendment. But, looking at it fundamentally, it is more than constitutional amendment. The constitutional amendments we had done are okay but, beyond that, we have to dig deep into how we want to live. A situation where resources are concentrated at the centre and the President to write cheque for states before they can pay salaries is odd. The restructuring will give the federating units power to be able to harness the resources at their units. This will make them compete favourably and would not need to go cap in hand begging the Federal Government for money to execute projects.

    What is the difference on constitution amendment and restructuring?

    The constitution is an aspect of the restructuring, we are talking about. The last national conference was a process of restructuring. Some of the recommendations made would have gone a long way if they were implemented. They would have lead to true federalism and of course that was why we took pain to publish the recommendation of PRONACO and we even review Obasanjo’s National Political Reform Conference. Some are even asking that we go farther than national conference to Sovereign National Conference (SNA). When we have SNA you cannot talk about constitution. SNA is like a revolution, it is like a military coup. It you are having SNA the constitution has to be stepped aside. The country will now be guided by the outcome of the SNA that will lead to a new constitution.

     

  • ‘Nigeria can be restructured through Constitution amendment’

    ‘Nigeria can be restructured through Constitution amendment’

    Mr. Sebastine Tar Hon (SAN) is the author of a leading reference work for lawyers: S.T. Hon’s Law of Evidence (Volumes I and II). He also wrote the book: Constitutional and Migration Law in Nigeria. A constitutional lawyer, Hon speaks on how the war against corruption can be won, restructuring and the whistle blower policy. He also speaks on why he thinks Chief Judges lack powers to grant prisoners pardon. Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU met him.

    What is your appraisal of the anti-corruption war?

    So far, so good, President Buhari’s government has taken unprecedented steps and actions in the fight against this monster. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) too is also recovering stolen moneys, using the whistle blowers’ policy. Even before then, the EFCC had recovered large amounts of money under the plea bargain regime of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. Let me add here quickly that Nigeria is ahead of advanced democracies, including the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Australia, etc, in this regard, by legislating on plea bargaining.

    Plea bargaining is practiced in those countries without a national law backing it. Let me caution that Mr. President cannot afford to fail in his anti-corruption policy, because he rode on the promise of pursuing it to power. The anti-corruption ship seemed to have taken off well some months ago, but is now being buffeted by corrosive elements in the Nigerian imaginary waters.

    What is your reaction to the seeming disagreement between the anti-corruption agencies?

    Corruption is really fighting back, there is no love lost among officials of the regulatory agencies. Also, some of the arrowheads of the anti-corruption struggle seem to be angry with or to be condemning everybody except themselves. This is not the way to go and if this trend continues, we will soon have a shipwreck. For instance, it is too sweeping and counter-productive for certain government officials to run down or rain tirades on the entire Judiciary and all senior lawyers and paint these classes of people as being responsible for the plummeting fortunes of the anti-corruption war.

    I wonder what these officials want to achieve by this posturing, other than creating unnecessary enemies. I strongly counsel that this attitude should change; otherwise, the anti-corruption drive will be another mirage. The issue of poor funding and inadequate professional training of investigators and prosecutors are some of the other contributing factors.

    Are you bothered about the loss of high profile cases?

    A house divided against itself cannot stand. “House” here means the relationship between or among officers of the anti-corruption and regulatory agencies on one hand and the relationship between this ‘house’ and the two other arms of government on the other hand. For instance, if you malign the entire Judiciary and splatter its entire components with foul content, what sympathy would you expect from a Judge if, for instance, a matter is 50-50?

    The government should also fund the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) more, because profound prosecution of offences with intent to produce results is costly. Make no mistake about this, investigation must be well funded and the prosecution lawyers must also be well paid. I have for long now been rolling out statistics to prove that the anti-corruption war has been grossly under-funded in Nigeria. Let me rehash this comparison here.

    Can you give practical examples?

    The population of the US is about twice more than that of Nigeria. This means Nigeria is about half of the US population. But the FBI, which is the equivalent of the EFCC, enjoys annual budgets which, on the average, are 50 times more than the annual budgets of the EFCC and the ICPC combined. The FBI has slightly over 50,000 personnel, while the EFCC and the ICPC combined have less than 5,000 members of staff, yet Nigeria is more corrupt than the US. That is why you see shoddy investigations and at times poor prosecution, resulting in acquittals, even when facts pointing to culpability are very glaring.

    Nigeria’s tottering journey in the technological subsector is also responsible for this; because forensic science is one sure aid to modern day investigation and crime detection. Government should establish forensic examination centres and should also train professional forensic experts in handwriting, fingerprints, blood sampling, detection of e-signatures, recovery of deliberately deleted computer documents, e-tracking of laundered cash, etc. The anti-corruption war cannot be won through the use of orthodox, call it crude, investigative techniques.

    How can the whistle blower policy be strengthened?

    So far, the policy has recorded moderate success in Nigeria. The EFCC has recovered large sums of money through this policy. I support the effort being made to pass a law to regulate whistle blowing in Nigeria.

    Why do you support it?

    With such law, every Nigerian or person resident in Nigeria interested in blowing a whistle on financial or other crimes will know his rights, obligations and liabilities. Regulatory agencies should also not just protect the identities of whistle blowers, they should also faithfully and fully reward them as initially promised. Nigerians should also jettison tribal, religious or filial relationships and blow enough whistles that would be capable of stupefying and eventually stamping out crime, especially financial crime, from our national firmament.

    There have been hate speeches, drums of secession and calls for the restructuring of the country. What is your view about these and how do you think we can resolve these challenges without recourse to violence?

    It is rather unfortunate that we have reached this level once again in our stuttering national history. The catastrophic effects of the Nigerian civil war,  the near-nationwide conflagration that followed the unfortunate annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential elections, the various ethno-religious conflicts that have consumed thousands of lives, the ongoing herders-farmers’ conflicts, the Boko Haram onslaught and several other inter and intra-communal skirmishes have almost freaked everybody out in this our dear nation.

    Let nobody, especially the Federal Government, play the ostrich or show crass insensitivity or injustice on this emerging scenario or likely total breakdown of law and order. Nigeria is dangerously hanging on the cliff. I call on the President, who is the father of the nation, to rise to the occasion and take the epicenter of championing national rebirth, national reconciliation, national understanding and national brotherliness.

    How can this be done?

    A Truth and Reconciliation Commission, manned by detribalised Nigerians, should be constituted by the Federal Government. Yes, I don’t mind if anyone says I am copying from South Africa. I am proud to do that, because every person knows the extent to which apartheid fractionalised the South African society. And everybody also knows what role the Bishop Desmond Tutu-led Commission did to bring about national reconciliation and national unity in that country.

    The immediate step before such Commission should be for the various ethno-cultural groups to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue. But as I said before, Mr. President should take the lead  as done by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. I cannot forget the steps President Obasanjo took immediately he assumed office  at the height of the Niger Delta agitations then. I will also be the last to forget the immediate chilling effects those steps had on the said struggles. Mr. President, please rise to the occasion as the ex-soldier and elder statesman you have for long been known.

    So, what is the way out in our present context?

    In our present context, Nigeria can be restructured through a massive amendment of the 1999 Constitution. A few weeks ago, my article on restructuring was published by several national dailies. I stand by the content of that write up.

    The Judiciary had been generally referred to as the last hope of the common man. Can you honestly say that about Nigerian judiciary today?

    The Judiciary, not just that of Nigeria, has always been the last hope of the common man. The Nigerian Judiciary, contrary to widespread public opinion, has been doing well from time immemorial. I remember and relish the 1970 declaration by the Supreme Court of Nigeria that the military government of that time was a defacto government, which came into power by sheer necessity and not by law.

    I also remember various ground shaking decisions of the Nigerian Judiciary on the rapaciously fierce political disputes that go to court. Remember the decision of the Supreme Court on the Rotimi Amaechi case? No matter what anybody feels, I stand with the Supreme Court on that decision. What of the 2002 “resource control” decision of the Supreme Court? I can go on and on.

    While I admit that the Nigerian Judiciary has its own problems, I don’t like the wholesale lampooning of this crucial arm of government. The Nigerian Judiciary is the weeping boy of Nigeria. Everybody, who knows how to talk or write, takes it to the cleaners, forgetting that such bashing unwittingly drives away foreign investments. I prefer that if individual Judges have credibility problems, such should be specifically addressed rather than everybody embarking on class condemnation.

    So, what is your advice?

    Having said that, I will counsel that each member of the Judiciary should strive as much as they could to live above board since one solitary instance of inappropriate behaviour is ascribed by Nigerians to the entire Judiciary. The National Judicial Council (NJC)  too should not spare the rod on any judge, no matter how highly placed, if found wanting. But again, let me state here that as among the three arms of government, the Judiciary stands out distinctively, by doing the most in terms of in house cleansing. Countless number of Judges have been dismissed or levied other forms of punishment, as opposed to principal or subsidiary officials of the two other arms of government  when everybody knows that corruption exists on a massive scale in those other arms.

    Your state, Benue, recently experienced flood with many towns and homesteads washed away. What is your feeling about this and how do you think it can be avoided in future?

    I feel very sad. It is, indeed, a very sad and pitiable development that over 100,000 families have been affected by the flash floods. Some have lost everything, making life meaningless. A few precious lives were also lost. Makurdi, the Benue State capital is on  a very low land. The River Benue, which runs through it has remained un-dredged for years, even though successive Federal Governments had always claimed awarding its dredging contracts.

    The propensity of this River overflowing its banks is very high, especially during rainy seasons. I must say that management of waterways passing through more than one state is on the Exclusive Legislative List hence,  it is the sole responsibility of the Federal Government to undertake this dredging exercise.

    Many people have blamed the state for the flood and for not doing enough to ameliorate its effects on the affected citizens, what is your reaction to this?

    Well, I am also not mindful of the allegation by the present government that billions of naira allocated as ecological funds were siphoned by the previous government. As much as I would want to remain apolitical, this is devilish and most wicked, if true. The culpable persons, who allegedly perpetrated this heinous crime against the state, must be brought to book. How can anyone start blaming the present government of that state, which inherited a default treasury and backlog of unpaid salaries?

    Let me stop here before politicians start throwing jabs at me. I call on all persons of good will and corporate organisations, especially those operating in Benue State, to come to the rescue of the hapless Benue people affected by the floods. I also appreciate the role the Federal Government has played so far to alleviate the suffering of the victims and I do hope it will make good its promises to take more permanent steps to forestall a recurrence of this.

    The Supreme Court in a recent judgment described you in sterling terms. How do you savour that?

    My attention was drawn to that judgment by a Justice of the Court of Appeal; and I obtained copies thereof from the Supreme Court and confirmed that. To me, there is nothing extraordinary about those comments, as many lawyers in Nigeria have received such plaudits from the apex Court before. But, I must admit that the Word of God, which says a diligent person will stand before kings was confirmed in that judgment. To God be the glory.

    Recently, you and a senior lawyer, Femi Falana,  have engaged in a seemingly unending arguments on the powers of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the various states  Chief Judges to release detained persons from custody. Why and how did you reached this stage?

    After deep research and introspection, I came to realise that this practice, which has been going on, offends the powers vested in courts to order such release as contained in Section 35(4) of the Constitution or the only administrative window in Sections 175 and 212, respectively of the 1999 Constitution, which sections have vested in the President and the respective state governors the power to administratively order release of either convicted or detained persons.

    I argued that in so far as the itinerant prison amnesties embarked by the Heads of Courts is not constitutionally guaranteed, it is unconstitutional for either contradicting directly the above provisions of the Constitution or for competing with them, contrary to the doctrine of covering the field. It was at this point that my learned friend reacted and maintained an opposite position.

    Since then, we both have refused to let go. He later relied on Iloegbunam vs. Iloegbunam, a decision of the Court of Appeal delivered in 2001 and gloriously submitted that the Court of Appeal upheld his arguments, validating the administrative release from custody by the CJs, under Section 1(1) of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) (Special Provisions) Act. However, no such finding was made by the Court of Appeal in that case. Rather, that Court declined to rule on that issue because it was not properly brought before it. In any case, that Act, promulgated during the military era, cannot be superior to the Constitution. So, I tenaciously stick to my guns on this issue.

    You have received multiple honours and awards. First, Gboko Local Government Traditional Council  conferred on you a chieftaincy title, then followed by the Faculty of Law students , Ekiti State University Ado-Ekiti,  and finally the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also honoured you. How do you see these honour and awards?

    I rate the chieftaincy title awarded to me by the Gboko Local Government Traditional Council very highly for two reasons: First, the fact that I did not lobby in any way to be so honoured  gladdens my heart and secondly, the meaning of the title is most encouraging to the modest effort I have, by God’s grace, put up in my life struggles.

    What does the title mean?

    I was honoured by my people with the title: “AfaAtindi U Gboko”, meaning “Mr. Know the Law of Gboko.” To me, this is most encouraging. For one to be recognised by his home Local Government and Traditional Council and to be honoured with a title that depicts excellence in his professional calling, is just as chilling as iced water.  A few weeks after receiving that title, I received a mail from the President and Secretary of the Law Students Union of the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, requesting that I should agree with them on a date they would travel all the way to Abuja to come and honour me with an award, predicating it on, according to them, my stupendous contributions to the development of the law in Nigeria. They came after we had exchanged a few mails. Then few weeks after, the National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS), one day dropped a letter in my Abuja office, requesting that I accede to their proposal to honour me with an award. Upon my acceptance, they came with what they termed the highest award any individual can receive from NANS. For all these and several other awards, I will say all glory and honour should go to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who has sustained  and imbued me with knowledge. I also feel challenged to do more.

     

  • ‘Why Nigeria must be restructured’

    ‘Why Nigeria must be restructured’

    The agitation for restructuring is rising. The proponents are using every forum to explain that a restructured Nigeria will address the imbalance and reduce tension. LEKE SALAUDEEN reports on how a public lecture was turned into a platform for debate on restructuring.

    The agitation for restructuring took the centre stage at a public lecture on how to revamp Nigeria economy. It was at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. Politicians, academia and human rights activists turned the lecture into a debate on restructuring.

    The guest speaker, Professor Oyebanji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, presented a paper titled: “A road map for getting Nigeria out of economic recession.” The paper dwelt on how to take Nigeria out of its current low status in global ranking by applying sustainable development strategies. He spoke at the Distinguished Governance Lecture organised by the Oba Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair.

    Oyeyinka, a former Director, Regional Office for Africa UN-Habitat, said structural weaknesses in the nation’s economy needed transformation, owing to declining share of agriculture in Gross Domestic Product, employment and continued rural-urban migration.

    He decried failed years of unsustainable industrial manufacturing and industrial errors such as embarking on complex, capital- intensive plants without commensurate human and technological capacity, planning based on assumptions and introduction of wrong policies.

    When it was time for comments, it appeared what interested the audience most was restructuring as majority of them argued that the economy will not improve in the absence of resource control, true federalism and a new federal constitution that will allow each region or zone to develop at its own pace.

    The Executive Secretary of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr Tokunbo Awolowo –Dosumu, said the economy would do well only if the country was restructured to reflect true federalism which her father the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo had championed since 1940s.

    She said for Nigeria not to be a mere geographical expression, it needs to be restructured. We have heard today that Nigeria became de-industrialised because wrong people were put in positions of authority. People say all we need is to revamp the economy and we’ve heard today that the economy would do well from restructuring and true federalism that Chief Awolowo had been a strong proponent from the 40s and is still being proposed today.

    “Chief Awolowo, throughout his political career till he breathed his last, was an unrepentant advocate of true federalism and that Nigerian leaders would do well if they could look critically into the matter. True federalism practised in the First Republic whereby each region was allowed to control its resources and develop at its pace is needed to move this country forward.”

    According to her, the unitary system, which the 1999 Constitution represents, is creating tension among the component units. Those opposed to true federalism will sooner or later realise their folly because truth will come out to be truth, she said.

    Senator Olorunimbe Mamora said agitations for political restructuring stemmed from the desire for self determination which was guaranteed in the Republican Constitution of 1963. According to him, the proponents of restructuring are asking the centre to shed weights by devolving more powers to the federating units as it was after the independence. We need restructuring; the easiest way to restructuring is to have a new constitution, he said.

    Mamora said: The National Assembly have no power to produce a new constitution, it can only amend; the power lies with the Constituent Assembly. The Exclusive List contains 68 items on which the Federal Government only can legislate while the Concurrent List has 30 on which the States and Federal can make laws. Where the law made by the state is in conflict with that of the Federal government, the Federal law supersede.

    “What we are operating is unitary system. Unlike what we had in the First Republic when each region controlled its resources for its development. That was when we had major development in this country. That was when agriculture was the mainstay of the nation’s economy; we had cocoa in the west, groundnut, hides and skin in the north and palm oil and rubber in the east.”

    The former Deputy Senate Minority Leader said the restructuring we need in this country is not restricted to political restructuring. He said changing from consumption to production is part of restructuring. Our penchant for foreign good is legendary. The implication of importation of every item is depletion of foreign reserves.

    “There is no reason why there should be food shortage in Nigeria because we have abundant of arable land. We should be able to produce enough to feed ourselves and even export to other countries. We must re-order our priority by moving from consumption to production.

    “We need a road map taking Nigeria out of economic recession; we need to strengthen the productive base of our economy. The first step is to develop agriculture so that we can feed ourselves.

    “Besides, our industrial base must be to strengthen through manufacturing; through that, we will be able to harness the capacity of our youths; we will be able to put them on job. We should be able to solve the problem of power generation. Manufacturing companies have closed shops in Nigeria because of power problem and relocate to Ghana and other African countries with stable power supply.”

    The guest lecturer noted that between 2000 and 2008, not less than 820 companies had relocated from Nigeria to Ghana and other African countries due to the epileptic power supply. Poverty and unemployment, he said, were major challenges of Nigeria.

    Awolowo-Dosumu is worried that the country had lacked committed leadership for some time, saying many of the leaders are only interested in serving themselves. I come to the conclusion that what we need in Nigeria is committed leadership; leadership that is totally and completely committed to the best interest of the country and its people. Flowing from that commitment is investment in human capita. And what is fundamental to human capital is education, and therefore what we need is education, not just by lip service, but in deed and in truth.

    “The education should truly prepare the entire citizenry for information building for national development and prepare those who are capable for the top echelon of the academic and those who are not so endowed to be at the production lines. She cited the cases of South Korea and Japan as those countries that became developed based on their commitment to education and development.”

    She cited the case of Japan, one of the industrial economies in the world. What they did was to educate their people. South Korea is another example and education for them was like a military campaign. It was a coordinated affair between government and educational institutions and the industry so that they produce the number and the kind of skills that are needed from time to time.

    The occupant of the Oba Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair, Professor Ayo Olukotun, noted that the problems facing Nigeria are not contingent but structural; they are not emergent but systematic. He said what are required are panaceas beyond the thirty second over generalisations that politicians and publicists offer.

    Olukotun said we should find solution to the problem of “how to move Nigeria from a consumer nation with soaring import bills on every conceivable product or item to sustain growth, which is both impressive and inclusive, which combines quantitative forward movements with horizontal gains in equity and social welfare.”

    He noted that some of these concerns are captured in the Sustainable Development Goals which aims to promote sustained inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

    However, he pointed out that Nigeria cannot realise this aspiration under the current arrangement of the de-industrialisation of the country, marked by the shut- down or relocation to other countries of industries that were once located here.

  • ‘BoA ‘ll be restructured to support diversification’

    ‘BoA ‘ll be restructured to support diversification’

    The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe has said  there is no going back on restructuring and repositioning of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) to aide in diversifying the economy from over-dependence on oil as the major stay of the country’s economy.

    Speaking yesterday in Kaduna during the launch of: Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening of Bank of Agriculture Project, the minister said President Muhammadu Buhari has  given the approval for the restructuring and repositioning of the  bank.

    Represented by Mr. Godwin Obinna Opara of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said, Ogbe said: “Restructuring, capitalising and repositioning of BoA is one of such programmes through which President Buhari has given his approval judging that its remains a key instruments required for funding agricultural activities to help diversify the economy away from this over-reliance on oil.

    “At no other time in the history of Nigeria that government has taken such interest and time to assess the operations of BoA with a view to exploring these potentials by promotion of agricultural practice through initiating and adopting appropriate financing measures needed.He added,  “Our country currently needs a financing mechanism that will help small holder farmers, agro-prenurials and SMEs access credit facilities at affordable cost. As a matter of fact, we’re looking at single digit interest rate, that’s what we believe in the Ministry.”

    The Special Adviser to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor on Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Mr. Paul Eluhaiwe said  BoA is sick and needs restructuring.

    He however, noted that BoA has all the resources to turn its fortunes for better. “Posterity will not forgive us if we fail to turn it around because the bank has all the resources in this world to be turned around for the good of Nigerian farmers,” he said.

    The Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Dr. Vincent Akpotaire,  said BoA will be restructured  to meet a model that will help it do business, particularly with rural populace that are into agricultural business.

    “Specifically, policy and regulation of the BoA will undergo due restructuring, staff capacity, financial base, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) of the bank will be restructured to meet international standard in agro-allied enterprises.

    “I wonder why BoA will not succeed in Nigeria if others have succeeded somewhere else in the world; there must be check and balance in loan being giving out, BoA should not just be a conduit for giving out loan, it should also be a conduit to recovering the loan being giving out,” Akpotaire said.

  • ‘Why Nigeria should be restructured’

    ‘Why Nigeria should be restructured’

    In a solemn ceremony to mark the 23rd anniversary of the June 12, 1993 election, the pro-democracy family pad glowing tribute to the memory of the martyr of the June 12 struggle, Basorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola; saying he will not be happy wherever he is, because many more Nigerians are going to bed hungry, compared to the situation in the early ‘90s when he pledged to banish poverty in Nigeria forever.

    At the ceremony, which was organised by the June 12 Movement under the theme, ‘Elections and Popular Change in Nigeria’, civil society activists who spoke were unanimous in their view that the dreams and aspirations of the late MKO Abiola can only be realised when the country is restructured to become a truly federal state. The event was put together by pro-democracy activist, Wale Okunniyi, and it took place at the Abiola family house in Ikeja, Lagos.

    The late Abiola’s son, Alhaji Jamiu Abiola, said he believes that President Muhammadu Buhari will eventually recognise his father as the winner of the election that took place 23 years ago and accord him all the rights and privileges as a former President.

    The young Abiola said Nigeria is like a country standing on a quicksand, because it does not stand on the truth. He said: “This country cannot move forward, because it does not stand on the truth; any country that does not stand on the truth cannot move forward.”

    In his view, the Executive Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, a civil society group, Mr. Debo Adeniran, said the June 12, 1993 election was annulled because the late Abiola was on the verge of restructuring the military, to give democracy a better footing and the military establishment felt threatened by such prospects.

    Adeniran said the late Abiola was going to liberate the country from the clutches of the military hegemony and in the process he stepped on powerful toes. He said Abiola’s programme, which contained the restructuring of the military was leaked and unnamed military officers put pressure on the self-styled former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) to annul the election.

    Writer and civil society activist, Mr. Chido Onumah, said pro-democracy activists should give themselves a pat on the back, because they are on the right track. He said people made attempts to kill June 12. “They killed the man, but they could not kill the idea,” he added.

    Social critic and public commentator, Mr. Chris Nwaokobia, said to the chagrin of those against the philosophy and idea to die that June 12 has gradually turning into a religion.

    He said: “It is tragic that we led a lie as a people; our constitution is a lie.” He said the legacy that June 12 gave to Nigeria is that of true democracy and a nation where everyone counts; inclusiveness.

    Nwaokobia said unless Nigeria becomes a true federal state, poverty will continue to increase and more citizens will continue to go to bed hungry in time to come. He said change is not served on a platter of gold and that Nigerians should remind their elected leaders that they made promises of restructuring and that it is time that promise is realised.

    His words: “It is only when we restructure that we will fulfill the dreams of the late Chief MKO Abiola, to banish poverty forever. What we owe to the memory of Abiola is to work along that path.”

    He urged the pro-democracy family to lead the struggle for the restructuring of the country, saying that one of the enduring words of wisdom his late father impacted on him is that an over-pampered generation will not be able to fix Nigeria and that the responsibility of those who went through the trenches to do so.

    Lawyer and human rights activist Mike Ozekhome, advised government to face the real problems confronting the country, saying the current restiveness in the country, particularly by groups such as Fulani herdsmen; those agitating for Biafra, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB); as well as the new Niger Delta militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), are symptoms of a bigger problem.

    Ozekhome said the late Abiola is a man who fought for fiscal federalism and that Nigerians owe it to his memory to go back to true federalism. He said: “What is the problem? Why can’t we go back to that fiscal federalism? Why do we continue to go to Abuja every month with cap in hand? This is because we have become lazy, because of our dependence on oil money.

    Lawyer, pro-democracy activist and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Tunji Abayomi, agreed with those who said it is the responsibility of civil society activists to rebuild the nation. He said it is unfortunate that the country has a good government today, but no money to finance its development programmes.

    President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Shettima Yerima, said it is sad that after 23 years the country is yet to come to terms with the legacy of June 12. He said: “We cannot get it right until we make the central government less attractive. We must do away with the present constitution; we cannot continue to manage the poor document called the 1999 Constitution.”

  • ‘Why Nigeria should be restructured’

    ‘Why Nigeria should be restructured’

    In a solemn ceremony to mark the 23rd anniversary of the June 12, 1993 election, the pro-democracy family pad glowing tribute to the memory of the martyr of the June 12 struggle, Basorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola; saying he will not be happy wherever he is, because many more Nigerians are going to bed hungry, compared to the situation in the early ‘90s when he pledged to banish poverty in Nigeria forever.

    At the ceremony, which was organised by the June 12 Movement under the theme, ‘Elections and Popular Change in Nigeria’, civil society activists who spoke were unanimous in their view that the dreams and aspirations of the late MKO Abiola can only be realised when the country is restructured to become a truly federal state. The event was put together by pro-democracy activist, Wale Okunniyi, and it took place at the Abiola family house in Ikeja, Lagos.

    The late Abiola’s son, Alhaji Jamiu Abiola, said he believes that President Muhammadu Buhari will eventually recognise his father as the winner of the election that took place 23 years ago and accord him all the rights and privileges as a former President.

    The young Abiola said Nigeria is like a country standing on a quicksand, because it does not stand on the truth. He said: “This country cannot move forward, because it does not stand on the truth; any country that does not stand on the truth cannot move forward.”

    In his view, the Executive Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, a civil society group, Mr. Debo Adeniran, said the June 12, 1993 election was annulled because the late Abiola was on the verge of restructuring the military, to give democracy a better footing and the military establishment felt threatened by such prospects.

    Adeniran said the late Abiola was going to liberate the country from the clutches of the military hegemony and in the process he stepped on powerful toes. He said Abiola’s programme, which contained the restructuring of the military was leaked and unnamed military officers put pressure on the self-styled former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) to annul the election.

    Writer and civil society activist, Mr. Chido Onumah, said pro-democracy activists should give themselves a pat on the back, because they are on the right track. He said people made attempts to kill June 12. “They killed the man, but they could not kill the idea,” he added.

    Social critic and public commentator, Mr. Chris Nwaokobia, said to the chagrin of those against the philosophy and idea to die that June 12 has gradually turning into a religion.

    He said: “It is tragic that we led a lie as a people; our constitution is a lie.” He said the legacy that June 12 gave to Nigeria is that of true democracy and a nation where everyone counts; inclusiveness.

    Nwaokobia said unless Nigeria becomes a true federal state, poverty will continue to increase and more citizens will continue to go to bed hungry in time to come. He said change is not served on a platter of gold and that Nigerians should remind their elected leaders that they made promises of restructuring and that it is time that promise is realised.

    His words: “It is only when we restructure that we will fulfill the dreams of the late Chief MKO Abiola, to banish poverty forever. What we owe to the memory of Abiola is to work along that path.”

    He urged the pro-democracy family to lead the struggle for the restructuring of the country, saying that one of the enduring words of wisdom his late father impacted on him is that an over-pampered generation will not be able to fix Nigeria and that the responsibility of those who went through the trenches to do so.

    Lawyer and human rights activist Mike Ozekhome, advised government to face the real problems confronting the country, saying the current restiveness in the country, particularly by groups such as Fulani herdsmen; those agitating for Biafra, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB); as well as the new Niger Delta militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), are symptoms of a bigger problem.

    Ozekhome said the late Abiola is a man who fought for fiscal federalism and that Nigerians owe it to his memory to go back to true federalism. He said: “What is the problem? Why can’t we go back to that fiscal federalism? Why do we continue to go to Abuja every month with cap in hand? This is because we have become lazy, because of our dependence on oil money.

    Lawyer, pro-democracy activist and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Tunji Abayomi, agreed with those who said it is the responsibility of civil society activists to rebuild the nation. He said it is unfortunate that the country has a good government today, but no money to finance its development programmes.

    President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Shettima Yerima, said it is sad that after 23 years the country is yet to come to terms with the legacy of June 12. He said: “We cannot get it right until we make the central government less attractive. We must do away with the present constitution; we cannot continue to manage the poor document called the 1999 Constitution.”

     

  • ‘June 12 has restructured Nigeria’

    ‘June 12 has restructured Nigeria’

    In this piece, All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Hon. Niran Sule-Akinsuyi says the spirit of ‘June 12’ frustrated the antics of anti-democratic forces in last year’s presidential election.

    Tribute to all those who played vital roles in the making of this historic event; and those who sacrificed their life for democracy including their families. The story of June 12 cannot be complete without recognising their roles- I mean political associates, patriots and Pro-democracy activists who were sympathetic to the cause of June 12 and the strugAs a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly in the Third Republic, and a state delegate to the Social Democratic Party convention held in Jos where Chief MKO Abiola emerged as the party’s flagbearer, I am familiar with the political exploits culminating in the June 12, 1993 presidential elections which Chief MKO Abiola presumably won. Today, it is clear that the struggle by NADECO, the Nigeria Press and other Pro-democracy activities was not a labour in vain.

    June 12 is an unforgettable political event in Nigeria, and has taught us useful political lesson which helped Nigeria to learn more about peace, unity, and respect for one another. It has brought about the emergence of two presidential candidates of two major political parties (Chief Olu Falae APP and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo PDP) from the same geo-political zone – the South-West-in the general election of a multi ethnic nation like Nigeria. Such was the importance of June 12 as a lesson of history.

    June 12 erased the idea of political discrimination, the cornerstone of the multifaceted problems besetting the country and provided a platform for ethnic minority like Ijaw to be Vice President and President of this great country. Genuine concern aimed at restructuring Nigeria took off from the making of June 12; contrary to the current agitation designed to distract the Buhari Administration. We should see how we can consolidate on the gains and sacrifices made by patriotic Nigerians involved in the making of June 12 by giving every Nigerian a sense of belonging.

    Never again will any election be cancelled or annulled in Nigeria by reason of birth, circumstances, or ethnic region where the winner comes from. Never again will Nigerians allow their leader to convert the political space into a laboratory for trying all manner of selfish political experiment. The lesson of June 12 frustrated the evil plans of the likes of Orubebe who had thought that government machinery or federal might could be used to thwart the will of Nigerians in the April 2015 presidential election the same way machinery of government was used to annul the June 12 1993 Presidential elections. We hail the heroes of June 12, we hail patriotic Nigerians who believed in the lesson of June 12 and have imbibed the spirit behind it.

    Shouting restructuring barely one year into the life of this administration is a story the proponents should not expect Nigerians to buy. As a nation we ridiculously spent the sum of N9billion on a conference to discuss this subject in 2014. Regrettably no machinery was put in place to consider or implement its recommendation before the Jonathan administration was alternated through the ballot system.

    In our political history we have had many struggles; the struggle for independence from colonisation, the struggle for unity during the civil war years, the struggle for constitutional government and democracy, and we are currently in a struggle for good governance and economic development.

    Any economic or political theory that fails to appreciate the current struggles is shallow. Those clamouring for restructuring should find accommodation under the current struggle for good governance and economic development.

    Restructuring alone cannot sit on one leg of the tripod; other vices must also be eliminated. Local government funds are siphoned East, North and West of Nigeria the same way our governors dispense security votes with impunity across the length and breathe of the country. The same goes for the bailout funds release by the Buhari administration for the payment of workers’ salaries but diverted in about 22 states. Restructuring will not provide answers to the fatal looting of our treasury. It has not been established that the Federal structure is the root cause of corruption in Nigeria. From the courts presently, public officers from Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba, Ijaw land etc  are undergoing trials and prosecution for corruption.

    Local government elections in Nigeria are not won by political parties in opposition in the states, contrary to all the hues and cries for electoral reforms. What is required from the leadership in Nigeria is honesty and sincerity of purpose in accordance with the oath of office of public officers, like what President Muhammadu Buhari is currently offering Nigerians. I feel proud as a Nigerian listening to the opinion of the Archibishop of Canterbury about our President. I feel proud when Obama introduced him as “the President of Nigeria; a man of integrity”. Nigeria is a blessed nation full of opportunities, abundant potentials and God-given endowments. Nigeria needs decent men to run the apparatuses of government to make life better for people.

    Issues such as constitutional amendments to reduce federal powers, modify revenue allocation formula, allowing state police etc could be handled by the National Assembly, if that is the desire and wishes of Nigerians. Any of the federating states obviously would not require restructuring to be prudent and faithful to their people, embark and engage in massive food production and provide good governance free from corruption and embezzlement.

    • Niran Sule-Akinsuyi is a governorship aspirant in Ondo State, former member Ondo State House of Assembly and Commissioner for Special Duties
  • Why NCAA should be restructured, by experts

    Why NCAA should be restructured, by experts

    EXPERTS have canvassed an overhaul of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) to boost  civil aviation regulations.

    They said unless a major restructuring was carried out at the regulatory authority, it might not effectively discharge its  oversight duties.

    According to a report obtained by The Nation, the experts recommended that steps should be taken by the government to address the challenges facing the authority .

    The report  put together by a team of experts who examined  the NCAA after the DANA Air crash a few years ago, recommended that a comprehensive review of the act establishing the authority should be urgently carried out.

    The report recommended that all appointments in the management cadre from the  positions  of assistant general managers  to directors should be the sole responsibility of the board of the authority, based on written examinations and assessment interviews.

    It also recommended that all levels of senior management in the authority should be by tenure.

    The report also recommended that 10 per cent of annual revenue of the NCAA be mandatorily devoted to training and manpower development.

    It reads: ” That besides the short term courses and programmes of the NCAA for various classes of airworthiness and safety oversight staff, the authority should evolve a well articulated programme of development for all grades of staff engaged in regulatory oversight from airworthiness to flight safety,  technical and cabin, medical economic and consumer protection.

    ‘’Others should include airspace, ground operations, handling, aerodromes, terminals and facilitation. That emphasis on training should shift away from ageing and contract staff as is currently the practice and rather focus on permanent and newly engaged staff for purposes of replacement and succession planning.

    “That attitude in the NCAA where very senior experienced staff and contract staff seek to perpetuate themselves , monopolise training and create a picture of indispensability does not augur well for the survival of the industry.

    The report continued: “That the NCAA board should subject all its present oversight staff to programmes on appropriate work culture,  attitudinal change and internal oversight on integrity.

    “That the NCAA should develop a clear code of conduct for all its staff , the details of which must be in public domain to check excesses of staff with undue motives.’’