The Nation Newspaper

Tag: States

  • Federal, states, councils share N2.8tr in six months

    Federal, states, councils share N2.8tr in six months

    The three tiers of government – federal, states and local governments – shared N2.788 trillion between January and June this year, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) said yesterday.

    According to a statement by NEITI Director of Communications, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, the allocation shows a 38 per cent increase on the N2.019 trillion shared in the first half of 2016.

    NEITI said the figure is contained in its Quarterly Review, which focuses on disbursement from the Federation Accounts and Allocation Committee (FAAC).

    The review was based on data obtained by the agency at the meetings of FAAC and data from National Bureau of Statistics, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance and the Debt Management Office.

    Out of $2.788 trillion disbursed in the first half of 2017, the Federal Government received N1.09 trillion, 36 state governments received N923 billion while N549.8 billion went to 774 local governments.

    A further  breakdown  shows that total releases to the three tiers of government was N430.16 billion in January, N514 billion in February, N496.40 billion (March), N418.82 billion (April), N418.82 billion (May) and N462.36 billion  (June).

    However, despite the 38 per cent increase in disbursements in the first half of 2017 when compared with 2016, the three tiers of government suffered significant revenue decline in terms of projected FAAC disbursement.

    “Coupled with the low price of oil is the country’s difficulty in meeting the targeted/budgeted production rate of 2.2 million barrels per day. Production has consistently fallen below two million barrels per day since March 2016. Thus the double “whammy” of low oil prices and lower production that hit the country since 2014 has remained” the NEITI Quarterly Review observed.

    For instance, while the expected FAAC disbursement for the three tiers of government was N4.7 trillion, the actual FAAC disbursement to them was N2.788 trillion, representing a shortfall of over 40.67 per cent.

    According to the publication, “the volatility nature of disbursements to all tiers of government in the first half of 2017 would suggest difficulty in implementing budgets at Federal, state and local government levels. The volatility in revenue inflows will adversely affect planning and expenditure of government and thus likely hamper efforts at stimulating growth and development”.

    The quarterly review added that a total of N513 billion was spent on debt servicing by the three tiers in the first quarter of 2017.

    This was against the N1.276 trillion disbursements in the first quarter. This means that debt servicing took up 40.27 per cent of FAAC disbursement for the first quarter of this year.

    “The figure reveals that debt servicing as proportion of total FAAC allocations is generally higher in the first quarter of the year, after which it falls to lower levels. Based on this, the figure of 40.27 per cent observed in the first quarter of 2017 might be an upper threshold and it would thus be expected that this figure will be lower for the remaining quarters of the year”, the report said. However, the Debt Management Office (DMO) is yet to provide data on the figure for the second quarter of 2017.

    In this direction, the NEITI publication expressed concern that the nation’s debt in relation to revenues appears to have reached critical levels. It further noted that domestic debt servicing constituted 90 per cent of total debt servicing.

    The report remarked that “domestic debt servicing consistently outstrips external debt servicing. In the first quarter of 2015, domestic debt servicing made up over 93 per cent of total debt servicing. This figure did not change much by the first quarter of 2017 as domestic debt servicing was over 92 per centof total debt servicing”.

    On the Paris Club debt refund to the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the NEITI Quarterly Review confirmed that N760.18 billion was released by the Federal Government to the 36 states and the FCT.

    The money, which was paid in two tranches represents refunds of over deductions from FAAC allocations to states and local governments used for quick payment of debt relief granted to Nigeria by the Paris Club between 1995 and 2002.

    The NEITI publication disclosed that Rivers received the highest amount of N44.93 billion followed by Delta with N37.61billion and Akwa Ibom N35.98 billion.  Bayelsa got N34.9 billion and Kano State received N31.74 billion. The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja received the lowest amount of N2.05 billion.

  • States ignore flood warnings, says NiMet DG

    States ignore flood warnings, says NiMet DG

    he Director-General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Sani Mashi, has advised states and local governments in the country to take the agency’s flood warnings seriously to mitigate its effects.

    Mashi gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    He said government at the state and local levels had failed to act quickly to reduce the impact of flooding in their communities by leaving their responsibilities to the Federal Government.

    “There is so much expectation on the Federal Government, even though we are operating a federal system where we have three tiers of government.

    “Despite that, the obligation and expectation of the Federal Government is much higher than it can bear.

    “We predicted that we were going to receive higher than normal rainfall within certain period and there was going to be flood in different parts of the country.

    “We advised that in communities that are flood-prone, contingency measures should be taken so that, if flood occurs, at least the impact will be minimised.

    “We encouraged people to move away for a certain period because of the raining season (three or four months at most).

    “Before the rain starts, take certain measures; for instance, ensure that access rights of way of the flooding, in terms of drainages, are not obstructed.

    “So the expectation is that the local communities at State and local government levels should be up and doing.

    “Probably, they were waiting for the Federal Government, because the level of preparedness was very low like it happened in Niger.’’

  • States to earn dividend from sovereign wealth fund from 2018

    •Minister hails NSIA over achievements

    THE 36 states will start to receive dividend from the  Nigeria  Sovereign and Investment Authority (NSIA) from next year, it was learnt yesterday.

    NSIA is entrusted with the management of the country’s Sovereign Wealth Fund.

    It was set up in 2014 with a take-off seed of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account.

    The idea of the agency, which is rated 56th in the world, is to provide the country with a stabilisation fund during economic distress.

    NSIA Managing Director/Chief Executive Director Uche Orji, who spoke yesterday when he received the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,  said the agency has been able to make some gains in the last few years and also contributed significantly to the economy.

    Orji posited that though NSIA was not able to give dividends in the last two years, but with the income generated so far, it will be in position to begin to give states dividends as from next year.

    He noted that the agency in the last two years (2014-2016) earned N149.83 billion.

    “We are cautiously optimistic about market conditions as performance in 2017 may be significantly different from prior years. However, we shall undertake tactical rebalance in our assets allocation to achieve sustained profitability,” he added.

    He noted that the agency has made serious achievement in the area of infrastructure, agriculture and health.

    The agency, according to Orji, will partner in funding the $760 million second Niger Bridge project and the Lagos-Ibadan road among other social infrastructure projects.

    Besides, Orji added that the agency intervention in fertiliser has paid off as it has drastically brought down the price of fertiliser from N11,000 to N5,500.

    Overall, the NSIA boss said the agency produced and sold six million bags of fertiliser.

    This, he said, has contributed to the increase in the output of grains and cut in prices.

    He noted that NSIA has been able to revitalise 11 of the 28 fertiliser blending firms.

    The agency, according to Orji, was working on another six, which is expected to come up before the end of the year.

    He said: “An estimated $150 million has been saved in foreign exchange as a result of the local sourcing of two of the project’s raw materials.

    The minister hailed the agency for the great, “but unannounced work it has been doing”.

    Mohammed commended the agency for the adoption of the fertiliser whistleblower policy, with the aim of reducing the activities of fertiliser cabal.

     

  • OPC to states: conduct council polls

    OPC to states: conduct council polls

    The Oodua Progressives Congress (OPC) has hailed the success of the last weekend local council polls in Lagos State.

    OPC, a breakaway group from Gani Adams-led Oodua Peoples Congress, concluded after monitoring the election that Lagos State has set a template for others states to follow in how to conduct a violent free election.

    In a statement, the group said the success of election was  contrary to the speculation and rumours in some quarters before the election.

    The National President of the new OPC, Salam Olarewaju, said  “the leadership of all of all the political parties that participated in the election needs to be praised for the way and manner they comported themselves before, during and after the election.

    He added: “Moreso, the Lagos state Independence National Electoral Commission (LAGSINEC) has done a wonderful job by released the results of the election within 24 hours.

    “We also thank all the security agencies for protecting the lives and properties of Lagosians during and after the election.

    “We hereby congratulate Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu  and all the political leaders in the state.”

  • How we’ll spend Paris Club refund, by states

    How we’ll spend Paris Club refund, by states

    All eyes are on the 36 state governors, following the release of the second tranche of the London-Paris Club loans refund to states by the Federal Government on Monday. ADESOJI ADENIYI, MIKE ODIEGWU, OSAGIE OTABOR and ADEKUNLE JIMOH report the plans of some of the state governments for the windfall.

    •Osun, Bayelsa, Kwara, Edo, others list priorities

    Some states yesterday unfolded their plans for their shares of the N243.7 billion London-Paris Club refund. The windfall was released to the states by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday.

    They listed outstanding salaries and pension arrears as priorities. Also on their cards are projects that would lift the living conditions of people in their domains.

    The Nation learnt that many of governors announced what accrued to them to guard against misinformation. Some met with labour leaders to jointly agree on the disbursement.

     

    We’ll put refund to proper use, says Edo’

    After acknowledging receipt of N6, 091,126,592.49 as its share of the Paris Club refund, the Edo State Government yesterday promised to put the windfall to good use.

    It was however silent on whether refund would be deployed in the payment of some pensioners who have sustained street protests in Benin, the capital city for the past five days.

    The pensioners, made up of retirees from both local and state governments, have been appearing in red attires to protest the non-payment of their gratuities and entitlements.

    Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Mr. Crusoe Osagie told our reporter that a statement would be issued on how the funds would be applied.

    Osagie assured that the governor will not go against the rules.

     

    Bayelsa to clear salarybacklogs  

    • Dickson releases N919m to councils

    The Bayelsa State Government yesterday confirmed receipt of N10 billion share of the second tranche of the Paris Club refund from the Federal =Government.

    Governor Seriake Dickson made the confirmation in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson.

    According to the government, N919 million of the refund would go to the local government areas. Part of it, the government said, would be used to pay one and a half month salaries of civil servants.

    The governor directed his Commissioner for Finance, Maxwell Ebibai to immediately release the local councils’ share.

    According to Iworiso-Markson, the governor, who spoke in Yenagoa at a parley with labour leaders at the Government House, directed helmsmen at the council areas to use their portion of the windfall on their financial obligations, especially the outstanding salaries.

    The governor warned that the money for the councils should be properly utilised and should not be shared by a few to enrich themselves at the expense of local government employees.

    Dickson was quoted as saying: “I have directed that the money should be transferred to them latest tomorrow (Thursday). As for this money, let me make it clear that is not for them to share and chop. It is not free money. So, those who will be celebrating that money has come to be shared will be disappointed.

    “One of the greatest problems we have in this state is the fact that people always think that any money that comes is free money for them to share and chop.

    “They don’t want the state to be developed; leaders after leaders and years after years. Twenty years after the creation of the state, it is now we are building good schools and health institutions.”

    He thanked the union leaders for their support and understanding, adding that the disclosure of the fund’s receipt was in line with his administration’s open policy on public finance since 2012.

    He said: “You people should know me by now. I have been here for almost six years and any money that comes we always announce it.

    “Month after month, we disclose our income and expenditure in the Transparency Briefing. And I think we are the only state doing that.”

    The statement also quoted Information & Orientation Commissioner Jonathan Obuebite as saying that the labour leaders had agreed with the government that part of the money should be used to clear backlog of salaries.

    He said: “I am happy to announce that after a peaceful, fruitful and candid meeting, it was resolved that the government will use part of the fund to pay one and a half month salary.

    “Initially we had thought that it was N14 billion that will come in so we can pay two months but that was what came in. Pentioners are also going to be paid.”

    The local chapter Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, John Ndiomu and his Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) counterpart, Tari Dounana, commended the government for disclosing the share of the state and for interacting with them to discuss on how to utilise the money.

    They assured all workers that every outstanding salaries owed by the government would be paid to them and urged them to continue to do their best. 

     

    Kwara councils get N1b for salary arrears

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the release of N1 billion to local government areas in the state to offset part of their salary arrears, Finance Commissioner Demola Banu announced in a statement in Ilorin yesterday.

    He said the N1 billion was part of the N5.1 billion received by the state government as its share of the Paris Club refund from the Federal government.

    According to the commissioner, the N5.1 billion received by the state government was 12.5 per cent lower than the amount it expected from the Federal Government.

    Banu said the balance of the refund would be used for projects and programmes designed to enhance the welfare and security of all citizens.

    He also announced the release of N312, 191, 101.71 to tertiary institutions in the state to clear salary arrears.

    The lucky institutions are: Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin; Kwara State College of Education, Oro; Kwara State College of Education (Special), Lafiagi; College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies, Ilorin; Kwara State School of Midwifery, Ilorin and Oke-Ode as well as Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa.

    Giving a breakdown of the amount, the commissioner said the payment includes: N126, 938, 104 as the sixth instalment of the state government’s intervention for tertiary institutions in the state.

    The governor had approved the intervention in 2016 for the state-owned tertiary institutions as a palliative.

    Continuing, Banu said the balance of N185, 252, 996 represents the third quarterly payment of subvention to the institutions, stressing that the final instalment of N378, 426,018 will be paid as additional funds become available.

    He clarified that the N312.1 million would be used to pay salary arrears accrued at the tertiary institutions due to drop in allocations last year.

    The institutions, he noted have been up to date in the payment of monthly salaries.

  • MLSCN to open new offices in seven states

    The management of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) is set to open new offices in seven states.

    It is part of efforts to strengthen and expand its operations across Nigeria.

    MLSCN Acting Registrar/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Tosan Erhabor said this while giving an account of his one-year as the helmsman of the council.

    Erhabor said having strengthened the existing zonal offices, the council deemed it fit to open new offices in Oyo, Kogi, Jigawa, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Katsina states to take services to the doorsteps of practitioners.

    He noted that in its effort to boost service delivery, the council has made the provision of quality, timely and cost effective services its watchword.

    “We now offer quality, timely and cost effective services to our clients. These are verifiable facts as majority of our members can testify that it is no longer business as usual in the council. Indeed, we now respond to requests, enquiries and mails expeditiously. In short, we are now much more responsive to the needs of our members,” he said.

    Erhabor noted that in its bid to ameliorate the plight of potential interns, MLSCN has ensured accreditation of four extra facilities for training of intern Medical Laboratory scientists with many more in the pipeline.

    He added that the council is launching an advocacy demanding that those previously accredited for the purpose should increase their quota for intern Medical Laboratory Scientists’ training.

    Erhabor added that in his short reign as the helmsman, the council has ensured that the trio of 445 NAF Hospital Laboratory, Ikeja; Clina-Lancet Laboratory, Victoria Island, and El-Lab Laboratory, Festac Town, all in Lagos have been given national accreditation, using ISO 15189 standard after 18 months of continuous monitoring and inspection.

    He said: “This is the first of its kind in the country. The import of this is that the practices, processes and procedures in these laboratories are in line with international standards.”

    He noted that in his resolve to widen the horizon of the council, he has commenced discussions with some local and international organisations for mutually beneficial partnerships and collaborations.

    Such efforts, he said, have started yielding positive results.

  • The case for states Police Force

    The case for states Police Force

    The following article by me on the issue of the creation of states police force was first published in this paper in August, 2012. Now that retired General Ibrahim Babangida has made an astonishing ‘Pauline’ conversion in support of the long standing agitation for such a police force, it is being published again, without any amendments, to reinforce the argument for the creation of states police force.

    There is a growing demand in the country for the creation of states police force. It is one of the major controversial issues in the current debate on the review of the 1999 Constitution. The state governors are divided over the issue. While most of the Northern PDP governors are opposed to the idea of a state police, their Southern counterparts, particularly the ACN governors in the South West, are in favour of the proposal. The dispute is not about corruption in the Police, or its professional ineptitude. Rather, it is about the powerful role of the Police in future elections in the country. Both the ruling and opposition parties are already thinking of the critical 2015 elections and beyond, when the role of the Nigeria Police will become even more crucial and decisive.  An impartial and non-partisan police is crucial to free and fair elections. The political party that rules the country will control the Police. But the opposition parties do not believe that the Nigeria Police, under the control of the federal government, can be trusted to conduct free and fair elections in the country.

    The idea of a state police was first raised at the Lancaster House Independence talks in 1959 in London, when the Action Group, the ruling party in the former Western Region, demanded the creation of a regional police in the independence constitution. The party had become dissatisfied with the partisan role of the Nigeria Police in Nigeria’s politics and elections. Specifically, it had serious doubts that the Nigeria Police, under the control of a hostile federal government, could be relied upon to be politically impartial in enforcing law and order in Nigeria, and in ensuring free and fair elections in the country. But the federal government, led by the NPC and the NCNC coalition, that had control of the federal police, opposed the demand for regional police. With the active support of the British colonial government, the idea of a regional police was rejected at the conference. The Nigeria Police had inherited the traditions of the colonial police which was often used to smash political agitations in the colony. The Action Group found itself a lone voice crying in the political wilderness. The AG feared that the federal police would, in future, be used by the ruling party at the centre as a political instrument for intimidating the opposition parties and for rigging elections in the country. Its fears were real and proved justified later, shortly after independence in 1960.

    Before independence, most enlightened and educated Nigerians were not in support of a regional police force, which they equated with the notorious and hated old Native Authority police all over Nigeria, but particularly in the North, where it was used as an instrument of oppression against the people and the main opposition parties. It was assumed by the educated Nigerian elite that a sole federal police would be in a better position to enforce the right of free association and guarantee free and fair elections in Nigeria. But these enlightened views and assumptions soon proved unrealistic in the context of Nigerian politics in which, soon after independence, the Nigeria Police became increasingly involved in partisan politics and tended to support the ruling Party. For the NPC and the NCNC, the main coalition partners in the federal government, control of the Nigeria Police was vital if they were to maintain their dominant electoral position in the country. Under their joint control the single Nigeria Police Force could easily be used to advance their electoral interests.

    The fears of the Action Group opposition about the dangers to the regions of a sole federal police were soon justified by the 1959 federal elections in which the federal (Nigerian) Police were used massively, particularly in Northern Nigeria, to prevent the Action Group leaders from holding their political campaigns. The opposition parties were often refused police permits to hold political rallies in the Northern Region. Many opposition candidates were illegally arrested by the police, in breach of the electoral laws, and released only after the elections. Then again in 1962, during the internal crisis of the Action Group, the federal NPC/NCNC coalition government used the Nigeria Police which it controlled to intimidate the Action Group, the ruling party in the Western region, and break up demonstrations of public support for the party in the region. Specifically, the use of the police by the federal government to break up proceedings in the Western Region House of Assembly was plainly illegal and unconstitutional. Claiming falsely that there was a breakdown of law and order in the region, the federal coalition government declared a state of emergency in the region. The AG regional government was eventually turned out of office and the party destroyed. Soon after, most of the AG leaders, including Chief Awolowo, were incarcerated unfairly and subsequently tried and jailed on trumped up charges of treason. The Nigeria Police was used to carry out these unconstitutional and illegal acts by the federal coalition government to destroy the AG regional government.

    This regrettable development increased existing fears regarding the impartiality of the police in Nigerian politics and the use to which it could be put during elections to suppress the opposition. After the long military interlude, the partisan role of the Police in the 1979 federal elections and subsequent elections reinforced the growing feeling, particularly in the South, that the Nigeria Police was being used to rig elections in Nigeria in support of the ruling party. The classic case was that of the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Adewusi, who, in the 1983 federal elections, announced publicly without any authority, and even before the results of the elections had been announced by the electoral commission, that President Shagari of the NPN had won the elections. He could barely conceal his brazen and ardent support for the ruling party, the NPN, in the elections. He threatened to arrest and detain any opposition leader who challenged the results of the elections which, by all accounts, were massively rigged. His role, as the head of the Police, was clearly partisan and a clear negation of the Constitution. The Nigeria Police had become increasingly corrupt and professionally inept in discharging its statutory functions. It was no longer an independent and neutral national security institution, but an extension of the federal government, controlled by the Northern political elite. Most of the Inspectors General of the Nigeria Police have come from the North. Public confidence in the integrity and professional competence of the Nigeria Police had fallen sharply. Now it was held in contempt by the public.

    There can be little or no doubt that in 2003 and 2007, the Nigeria Police was used by the PDP federal government to rig the elections. The Obasanjo PDP federal government certainly used the police as an instrument for the rigging of the 2003 elections, the ‘do or die’ elections, particularly in the South West where the PDP, except in Lagos, unbelievably swept the polls. This is the background to the present demand for the creation of states police, in addition to the existing federal police, now considered to be highly politicized and inherently incapable of being neutral in handling elections in the country. The truth of the matter is that the Nigerian Police has been made a political instrument of the federal authorities for subverting free and fair elections in the states and the nation. It is no longer trusted by the opposition parties.

    In different circumstances, there is a lot that can be said in favour of a sole federal police in the country. But this is only if the professionalism and political neutrality of the police can be guaranteed. This is by no means the case now. The Nigeria Police are answerable to only the federal authorities. In normal circumstances, the internal security of the nation should remain the constitutional responsibility of the federal government. But even in this case, the state governors are designated as the Chief Security Officers of their states. Obviously, there is an anomaly here as the state governors are not responsible for the police even in their states where the Police Commissioners are answerable only to the Inspector General of Police and, through him, to the Minister of Internal affairs, or the Minister for Police Affairs, a federal agent. In other words, the state governors are assigned responsibility without power. The case of the former governor of Anambra, Dr. Ngige, illustrates the dilemma faced by a state governor who has no control over the police in his state. The fear that the state governors will abuse the state police in the same manner as the federal government has been abusing the federal police is real. But that should not be advanced as a reason for opposing the demand for the creation of states police in Nigeria, a federal state.

    In the context of Nigerian politics, the case for a state police has become increasingly clear and urgent. With a population of over 150 million, Nigeria is too large to have a single police force. The point has been made repeatedly that Nigeria is currently under policed. This accounts for the sharp increase in Nigeria’s crime rate. There is no country with a comparable size and population that has a single Police Force; not the USA, India, Australia, Switzerland, nor Canada, all of which have federal constitutions. Even Britain, now a quasi-federal state, does not have a single Police Force. Each region, even Metropolis, has its own separate police. At the moment the Nigeria Police is under funded, under equipped and lacking the resources needed to ensure effective internal security in the nation. It is overstretched. It simply cannot cope with the increasing crime rate in the country, not to even talk about effectively tackling the menace of terrorism in the country.

    In addition, the Nigeria Police lacks the required local intelligence to tackle terrorism. Only a state police can fill this gap. A neighbourhood police is the most effective way to gather such intelligence. If the states are allowed to have their own police forces, it will relieve the federal police of its enormous security burdens, and allow the federal government to fund and equip it better. Broadly, the Nigeria Police should have functions similar to those of the FBI in the United States. The time has come for those states that would like to have their own police force to be allowed under the proposed new Constitution to do so. This will reduce the pressure on the federal police force and the high crime rate in the country.

  • States and electricity generation

    SIR: For Nigeria to have stable power supply, all state governments must be actively involved. The issue of national grid supply should be discarded. Each state should have a minimum annual budget of N20billion for electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and waste to electricity, renewable electricity and rural electrification projects.

    Every state should set a target of a minimum of 500mw of electricity to be generated, transmitted and distributed in their domain. Out of this, 150mw should come from renewable sources and 50mw from waste to electricity projects. This should be done in partnership with selected private power investors.

    With this strategy adopted, we may no longer need to pray for power to appear in our homes, offices or industries.

     

    • David Atta,

    Abuja.

  • ‘States can promote SMEs through exports’

    The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has urged states in the country to promote small and medium scale enterprises through exportation. The council also lamented the cumbersomeness in the clearance of goods

    in Nigerian ports.

    The South-West Coordinator of the council, Rotimi Anifowoshe told reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital at the sideline of one day seminar.

    The seminar was entitled: “Enhanced packaging and quality- a viable approach to improving Kwara state economy.”

    Mr. Anifowoshe added the state government has demonstrated a strong commitment to drive exportation.

    He said “and that is the way forward. I want to urge government to harness and market exportable products from the state. Government should encourage micro and medium enterprises to improve on its exportation.”

    Speaking on the council’s challenges, NSC coordinator added “that the average Nigerian is talking about importation. No country can be a powerful shipping country when it is not driving its exportation.

    “The moment we understand that we need to move towards encouraging exportation for us to be competitive in international shipping, the earlier the better for you. If we don’t do it we are going to be having challenges because we will be at the point of disadvantage.

    “Also the procedures and processes of clearance in Nigeria are too cumbersome and we need to streamline them. It is only in Nigeria that you see people coming to the ports. Nigerian ports are like warehouses.

    “Ports are places where goods just come and move, but because we have cumbersome processes of clearance and documentations. We need to realise that profits in international shipping trade are driven by how strong the country is in its exportation.

    “The Federal Government has been doing a lot in that regard that is why we keep on having port reforms. Nigeria is not lacking when it comes into law but implementation. “But the implementation is on the part of everyone. The average Nigerian is looking for ways to cut corners. There are so many agencies at the ports. The cooperation of everybody is needed for the implementation of government policies.”

     

  • Don’t borrow for states to pay salaries

    *Labour cautions Fed Govt.

    Labour has opposed the Federal Government’s idea to borrow  for states to pay salaries, especially when the governor’s are yet to account for the bailout fund and Paris Club refund.

    President of the United Labour Congress (ULC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, who addressed reporters in Geneva, Switzerland, lamented that many governors have refused to pay workers’ salaries.

    He said it was particularly surprising and sad that after collecting the bailout and money from the Paris club refund, many of them were still unable to pay salaries and pensions.

    He reiterated that borrowing for the states to pay salaries is no solution to the problem.

    Ajaero said: “It is always a sad thing when you keep hearing that workers in the public sector are not being paid, including pensioners who are owed for nine to ten months.

    “Now, you will begin to ask if there are unions in those areas to compel governors to pay workers’ salaries because they create the wealth.

    “Now with the Paris club refund; it is sad that we are still talking about unpaid salaries. Let me say that ULC is worried about it and we were able to push for it in some states. We are committed to partnering the NLC and TUC to see how to move the struggle forward and ensure workers, who work so hard, get their salaries.

    “I don’t think if the Paris club money was given to governors, and it was not judiciously used, the next option is to borrow to give this same people. That will be clearly wrong.

    “ULC is not subscribing to Nigeria taking loan to give to governors to pay workers’ salaries, especially when they have not accounted for the previous money. Even at the sectorial level, the ULC cannot move into any sector if they are not invited because there is demarcation in union practice.”