The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Stakeholders

  • Stakeholders seek empowerment of girl-child

    Stakeholders seek empowerment of girl-child

    ARE service givers have been urged to tailor their initiatives towards the  empowerment of the girl-child to guard against abuse.

    Those who gave the advice included the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, wife of the Governor of Lagos State Mrs Bolanle Ambode, Chief Magistrate Kikelomo Ayeye, Director-General, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Mrs. J Bob-Manuel, and Chairperson, Lagos State Chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs Ngozi Ogbolu, among others.

    It was at the celebration of the International Day of the Girl-Child, 2016 organised by the International Charitable Initiatives for Girl- Child and Women Development Foundation (ICI-GWODEF) in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) and Lagos State Ministry of Youths and Social Welfare.

    The venue was the Girl’s Correctional Centre, Idi Araba, Lagos.

    Ki Moon, in a speech delivered on his behalf by the United Nations information Centre (UNIC) National Information Officer, Mr Oluseyi Soremekun, said investing in girls was the right thing to do by social organisations.

    “We need to make sure that our initiatives are reaching all girls: girls living in extreme poverty; in isolated rural areas; girls living with disabilities, in indigenous communities and those that are refugees or displaced within their own countries,” he said.

    Mrs Ambode, represented by wife of the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources Dr. Arinola Oluwo, said the girl-child was faced with many challenges which made her to fall below social expectations.

    She said: “There is hope for them. However in helping them to be positive change agent as God has created them to be, some of the things that we need to do, do as adults, parents, teachers, principals, is to ensure that they have education. In all of these, their education is very important, regardless of what brought them to the centre. We must help them to chart their way back to school.

    “Education is the winning attitude, an attitude that makes them to believe in themselves, in their ability and potential for greatness. It is the right attitude that gives you confidence. This attitude is a much desired courage that can make you stand anywhere in the world and face whatever challenges on your way.”

    Mrs Ambode said  the state had enacted several laws and set up institutions to protect girls from all forms of violence and discrimination, adding that they could obtain help through agencies, such as the Office of the Public Defenders (OPD).

    ICI-GWODEF president Mrs Helen Ibeji urged stakeholders to ensure that girls were agent of positive change by giving them support and ensuring their development.

    “We must encourage the girls to come out of their shells to make meaningful contributions to the development of the society. The society must ensure that those barriers the girl child faces in the form of violence in public and private, harmful traditional practices and discrimination are totally eradicated,” she stressed.

    Chief Magistrate Ayeye, in her lecture on the UN sustainable development goals, advised girls to speak out and not hide anything from their parents when they faced with threats of violation and defilement from any quarter, adding that parents should not dismiss such reports.

  • Coach Abubarka hails stakeholders on Gombe Utd promotion

    Coach Abubarka hails stakeholders on Gombe Utd promotion

    Chief Coach of Gombe United, Coach Hassan Abubarka has praised the Governor of Gombe State , Hassan Ibrahim Dankwambo for his morale and financial support to Gombe United which has resulted to the promotion of the team back to the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL).

    The former Niger Tornadoes, Zamfara United, Kaduna United, Juth FC of Jos and Olympic FC of Niamey coach spoke of his appreciation for the enormous support from the governor and the former accountant general of the federation to Gombe United.

    Abubarka who spoke to crestnewsng.com with delight of his team’s promotion to the NPFL was also full of praise to  Salisu Ahmed Saad, the General Manager of Gombe United, Ibrahim Kwairanga, a board Member, Haruna Garba the Team Manager and other associates of Gombe United and football stakeholders in Gombe State of their selfless contributions, sacrifices and concerted efforts that contributed in bringing back the Jewel of Savanah to the Nigerian  elite league.

    He also thanked God Almighty with special acknowledgment of the contributions of his assistant coach, former youth international, coach Oladuni Oyekale for the feat they both achieved, though  an enormous task as at the time of his engagement to Gombe United.

    The Coach did not leave out the contributions of the Supporters Club and football fans in the state and promised to build on the successes achieved so far with Gombe United as soon as hostilities resume in the 2016/2017 football season.

  • How to make ACJA effective, by stakeholders

    Stakeholders in the criminal justice system met in Abuja last week to fine-tune strategies for the effective application of the various provisions of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

    The event, facilitated by the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS), was attended by representatives of the Federal Ministry of Justice (FMJ), the Nigerian Police (NP), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other -related offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS), among others.

    The gathering reviewed a document titled: Draft strategy for effective implementation of the ACJA. Participants suggesteds how best the identified strategies, contained in the document, could be fine-tuned to ensure effective application.

    The document contained short, medium and long-term measures to be adopted by various players in the criminal justice system, particularly the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and head of the NPS, among others, in addressing identified challenges.

    Some of the such challenges include delay in trial process, poor quality of investigation, lack of criminal records, inadequate work tools for judges, magistrates and prosecutors, inadequate, poorly trained and poorly remunerated personnel, among others.

    CSLS President Prof Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN) said his centre convened the meeting to receive further input and suggestions for improving the draft strategy for the effective implementation of the ACJA introduced over a year ago.

    He said though the Act had brought about greater dynamism in the prosecution and defense of criminal cases since its introduction, there was the need for enhanced understanding and application of the innovative provisions of the law by stakeholders within the criminal justice sector.

    “Judges must be proactive in giving a purposeful interpretation to the provision of the ACJA. The prosecuting agency must be better equipped to make more efficient use of the law,” he said.

    Akinseye-George called for a detailed review of criminal cases. He stressed the need for prosecuting agencies to ensure that prosecution of cases was done within the framework of the rule of law and respect for human rights for it to be effective.

    “Unless we pay special attention to the justice sector, the economy will not be able to attract the much desired investments from local and foreign sources. Without confidence in the justice system, investors would not bring in their resources. Prolonged and inefficient justice administration and weak law enforcement give our country a bad name and discourages investors,” Akinseye-George said.

     

  • Stakeholders hail Lagos Assembly for bill on cancer institute

    Stakeholders at a one-day public hearing for the establishment of a cancer institute in Lagos State has hailed the House of Assembly for the bill, which, they said, was important and timely.

    The public hearing yesterday at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, was called: “A Bill for a Law to establish Lagos State Cancer Institute to provide for promotion, aid and co-ordination of researches relating to cancer and cancer related illness and for connected purposes”.

    The stakeholders emphasised the need to prevent cancer, saying the Federal Government hardly sponsors medical research.

    Former Majority leader Dr. Ajibayo Adeyeye said treating cancer was not cheap, adding that the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) has a research institute for cancer.

    “The bill should be amended to make it part of the hospital’s research institute, as creating another structure would put pressure on the lean health care budget of the state,” he said.

    Another stakeholder, Mr. Wale Adegbite, stated that the government hardly sponsors researches, and could not be depended upon.

    This view was supported by the Medical Director of Gbagada General Hospital, Dr. Lateef Tayo Lawal, who said “prevention of cancer is better”, adding that cervical cancer was preventable.

    The Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who sponsored the bill, and was represented by Deputy Speaker Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun, said the bill would check the disease, and make it easier for cancer patients to access treatment.

  • Stakeholders call for greater investment in cassava production

    Leading cassava stakeholders have called for increased investment in cassava production to guarantee long-term competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

    This was  one of the resolutions of the roundtable meeting of cassava value chain stakeholders on cassava supply chain development organised by Agribusiness Supplier Development Programme (ASDP) initiative of the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) ‘s Private Sector’s African Facility for Inclusive Markets (AFIM) Unit. It held in Lagos.

    UNDP’s African Facility for Inclusive Market (AFIM) is a regional programme that is working to accelerate progress toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by supporting the development of inclusive, pro-poor markets across Africa.

    Participants at the roundtable meeting  include staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), representatives of cassava farmers, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), off-takers, suppliers, processors, end-users, input providers, service providers, among others.According to the roundtable, policy makers cannot ignore the sector’s need to stay at the forefront of technological innovation, in order to provide solutions for the agricultural and food security challenges ahead.

    In a communique issued at the end of the roundtable, stakeholders argued that a functional cassava industry is best guarantee for growth, investment, and innovation in the agricultural sector, allowing the nation to have a productive, sustainable, and resilient agricultural base.

    The roundtable observed that for the development drive in the cassava value chain to increase local and foreign earnings as well as improve Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per year, there should be increased focus on cassava processing to ethanol, starch, flour mills and livestock feed plants.

  • Govt, stakeholders mull tax incentives for stock market

    Govt, stakeholders mull tax incentives for stock market

    Ministries,  agencies,  regulators and  stakeholders have launched a scheme to review the tax structure in the capital market – to encourage companies enlist on the stock market.

    The discussion is targetted at the stock market includes the Ministry of Finance, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and representatives from the Capital Market Committee (CMC), a body of all stakeholders in the market.

    The committee is expected to fashion out a new tax structure for the stock market, including concessions and incentives that are expected to encourage listing of companies on the Exchange and ensure greater disclosures by listed companies.

    Beside corporate the tax of 30 per cent, education tax of two per cent and other statutory charges, government collects 10 per cent withholding tax on cash dividends and charges stamp duty on capital market deals.

    The government, after long-drawn consideration, had in the throes of the recession in 2012, granted exemption on value added tax (VAT). The formal implementation however started in 2014.

    Capital market stakehold-ers have cited the multiple taxes at the stock market as disincentives to listing on the stock market, especially since listing subject companies to greater disclosures and scrutiny by several agencies unlike private companies.

    Stakeholders consider corporate tax and withholding tax as duplication since both are drawn from the profit of the company. Indirectly, shareholders, the owners of the companies, are paying some four levels of taxes on their investments. Stakeholders have also called for a differential and reduced corporate tax for listed companies, since public disclosures and scrutiny ensure that public listed companies are less susceptible to tax avoidance and underestimation.

    Sources said the discussions were aimed at streamlining the taxes on the capital market on one hand and working out concessions as incentives for public-listed companies.

    The sources said the tax incentives would be considerate enough to encourage companies to list their shares on the stock market.

    Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Director-General, Mr Mounir Gwarzo, said the government had extended tax concessions granted to conventional corporate bonds to Sukuk bonds-the non-interest bonds.

    To develop the debt segment of the capital market, the Federal Government granted tax concessions on government and corporate bonds in 2011.

    The Personal Income Tax Amendment Act 2011 (PITA Amendment), which was gazetted in January 2012 but with a commencement date of July 14, 2011, provides tax waivers to investors in corporate bonds. This was further complemented by the Companies Income Tax Exemption Order and Value Added Tax (Modification) Order, which had commencement dates of January 2, 2012. These exempted incomes and proceeds from the disposal of debt securities from income tax and VAT.

    The PITA Amendment exempts bonds issued by all tiers of government and their agencies; corporate and supranational bodies including World Bank and Africa Development Bank from personal income tax while the amended companies income tax grants exemption to companies on their trading incomes from corporate bonds, government bonds, treasury bills and other fixed-income securities. Debt issues are also exempted from value added tax (VAT).

    Most of Nigeria’s largest companies, especially in the major economic sectors of oil and gas and telecommunication, are not listed on the stock market. Debate about the mechanism to open up such companies has centered on incentives and waivers that could encourage their listing rather than compulsion.

    MTN Nigeria, Nigeria’s largest telecoms company,  recently announced its listing plan as part of a regulatory forbearance package. MTN has already appointed the advisory team and set out a roadmap towards listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in 2017.

    Airtel Networks Limited, Nigeria’s second largest telecoms company, has also said it may consider listing its shares on the NSE, after a review of the MTN process.

  • Stakeholders reject post-UTME ban

    Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Peter Okebukola has called for the restoration of the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-Utme).

    He made the call while delivering the keynote address at the maiden education summit of the Education Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN), with the theme: Integrity of public examinations and admission to universities in Nigeria.

    He was joined by former Education Minister, Mrs Chinwe Obaji, National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, and other stakeholders, who all spoke against the ban.

    Okebukola noted: “It is a mistake in the long-term interest of quality of the Nigerian university system to abrogate Post-utme.”

    He called for the restoration of the Higher School Certificate (HSC) to rectify the short coming of poor quality of students.

    Okebukola said: “To shoot for five-star quality from the present one-star, the admission process through the UTME and Post-UTME should move a notch or two higher in stringency. Reintroduction of the HSC could pull the magic. On the quality front, enrolling beyond programme carrying capacity is recipe for poor quality products. NUC should continue to apply sanctions to breaches of carrying capacity.”

    On her part, Mrs Obaji said the purpose of the post-UTME was to overcome the difficulties posed by admission of poor quality of students, among others.

    At the event, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) threatened to go on a nationwide strike from this week if its grievances are not addressed by the Federal government.

    Chairman, ASUP, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Mrs Margaret Olowofila said all lecture rooms in the polytechnics would be shut, because of the shortcomings of the government in its institutions.

    Mrs Olowofila said: “Most of our polytechnics are understaffed; they have been paying us fractional salaries since January; they are not addressing infrastructural issues; there are some departments that are run by only five lecturers and government wants them to start Higher National Diploma (HND). We have had talks with them and sent letters but they have refused to attend to our grievances. So we will be forced to take our fate into our own hands if they still don’t answer us by Monday.”

  • Stakeholders reject post-UTME ban

    Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Peter Okebukola has called for the restoration of the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-Utme).

    He made the call while delivering the keynote address at the maiden education summit of the Education Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN), with the theme: Integrity of public examinations and admission to universities in Nigeria.

    He was joined by former Education Minister, Mrs Chinwe Obaji, National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, and other stakeholders, who all spoke against the ban.

    Okebukola noted: “It is a mistake in the long-term interest of quality of the Nigerian university system to abrogate Post-utme.”

    He called for the restoration of the Higher School Certificate (HSC) to rectify the short coming of poor quality of students.

    Okebukola said: “To shoot for five-star quality from the present one-star, the admission process through the UTME and Post-UTME should move a notch or two higher in stringency. Reintroduction of the HSC could pull the magic. On the quality front, enrolling beyond programme carrying capacity is recipe for poor quality products. NUC should continue to apply sanctions to breaches of carrying capacity.”

    On her part, Mrs Obaji said the purpose of the post-UTME was to overcome the difficulties posed by admission of poor quality of students, among others.

    At the event, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) threatened to go on a nationwide strike from this week if its grievances are not addressed by the Federal government.

    Chairman, ASUP, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Mrs Margaret Olowofila said all lecture rooms in the polytechnics would be shut, because of the shortcomings of the government in its institutions.

    Mrs Olowofila said: “Most of our polytechnics are understaffed; they have been paying us fractional salaries since January; they are not addressing infrastructural issues; there are some departments that are run by only five lecturers and government wants them to start Higher National Diploma (HND). We have had talks with them and sent letters but they have refused to attend to our grievances. So we will be forced to take our fate into our own hands if they still don’t answer us by Monday.”

  • Convene stakeholders meeting to save judiciary

    SIR: The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) frowns on the sundry cases of counter-judgements on political cases, and calls on the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, and the National Judicial Commission, NJC, to convene a stakeholders meeting to arrest the obnoxious trend.

    This is in view of the recent Abuja division of the Court of Appeal that nullified an earlier judgement by a Federal High Court, which sacked Dr.OkezieIkpeazu as governor of Abia State. ANEEJ believes that the incessant flip-flops in the judicial pronouncements tend to be politically motivated rather than based on legal precedents, antecedents and precepts.

    Justice is one of the pillars upon which humanity stands. It must not be bought and sold. If the perception that it can be politically driven gains ground, then it no longer is the hope of the common man. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) must intervene and convene a stakeholders’ seminar or meeting to give the NJC powers to redeem the image and reputation the judiciary as the arm of government which interprets the law impartially and fairly.

    In the recent past, judicial decisions/pronouncements have had a tendency to incite and divide Nigerians rather than unite them. A political party in Nigeria today has two party chairmen instead of one, and this has already added to the insinuation in international political platforms that Nigeria does not have strong institutions. The judiciary has often willy-nilly helped to weaken structures of governance by its inconsistent pronouncements and judgements, and is often seen as colluding with other arms of government to fight against the anti-corruption stance of the present administration. ANEEJ has reason to cite how these judgements which prop up two party chairmen, have diminished the value of the electoral process where an erstwhile party chairman props up his own candidate.

    ‘What we are witnessing is shocking and bewildering and does not augur well for our political development. Apart from putting Nigeria in bad light before the international community, it rubbishes any effort to create a stable, peaceful and conducive environment, where leadership is transparent, accountable and efficient in delivering justice, equity and good governance to the people.

    ANEEJ insists that stakeholders in governance and the judiciary take the lead to frustrate the attempt by self-seeking individuals and politicians, bent on destroying the image of the judiciary, and initiate efforts to restore its confidence in discharging fair judgements, enthronement of transparency and the entrenchment of justice in the polity.

     

    • Rev David Ugolor,

    Benin City.

  • Stakeholders reject post-UTME ban

    Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Peter Okebukola has called for the restoration of the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-Utme).

    He made the call while delivering the keynote address at the maiden education summit of the Education Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN), with the theme: Integrity of public examinations and admission to universities in Nigeria.

    He was joined by former Education Minister, Mrs Chinwe Obaji, National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, and other stakeholders, who all spoke against the ban.

    Okebukola noted: “It is a mistake in the long-term interest of quality of the Nigerian university system to abrogate Post-utme.”

    He called for the restoration of the Higher School Certificate (HSC) to rectify the short coming of poor quality of students.

    Okebukola said: “To shoot for five-star quality from the present one-star, the admission process through the UTME and Post-UTME should move a notch or two higher in stringency. Reintroduction of the HSC could pull the magic. On the quality front, enrolling beyond programme carrying capacity is recipe for poor quality products. NUC should continue to apply sanctions to breaches of carrying capacity.”

    On her part, Mrs Obaji said the purpose of the post-UTME was to overcome the difficulties posed by admission of poor quality of students, among others.

    At the event, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) threatened to go on a nationwide strike from this week if its grievances are not addressed by the Federal government.

    Chairman, ASUP, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Mrs Margaret Olowofila said all lecture rooms in the polytechnics would be shut, because of the shortcomings of the government in its institutions.

    Mrs Olowofila said: “Most of our polytechnics are understaffed; they have been paying us fractional salaries since January; they are not addressing infrastructural issues; there are some departments that are run by only five lecturers and government wants them to start Higher National Diploma (HND). We have had talks with them and sent letters but they have refused to attend to our grievances. So we will be forced to take our fate into our own hands if they still don’t answer us by Monday.”