The Nation Newspaper

Tag: suffering

  • Niger communities: Suffering in the midst of plenty

    Niger State plays host to four hydro-electric power stations, one of which is the Shiroro Hydro-Electric power station, now known as the North-South Power Company. However, some communities in the state do not enjoy electricity supply. Justina Asishana visited the communities and report on their plight.

    CHIRI

    For the people of Chiri, the hope of having electricity is a lifetime aspiration and desire which they hope would be realised soon. History has it that the people of the community were displaced for the construction of the Shiroro Hydro Electric Power Station, their land was taken over by the government and they were settled some hundreds of kilometres from their ancestral land with the promise that all social amenities would be provided for them.  Now, about 35 years later, Chiri community has not experienced a spark of electricity. Their only hope of having electricity died along with  former Senator Awaisu Kuta who brought a transformer to the community and was in the process of energizing it when he died .

    “I was born in this community and I have never experienced light,” the Head of Chiri Community in Gwada, Shiroro local government area, Alhaji Haruna Shehu Chiri said, “Our people gave up their land for the construction of the Shiroro station. We have not benefitted anything as the host community and closest neighbours to the dam. We have forwarded complaints and petitions to the management of the dam and the state government but there has been no response.

    “Our only hope of light was when the late Senator Awaisu Kuta, as part of his constituency projects, brought us a transformer but up till date, the transformer has not been energized. We have complained to the Rural Electrification Board, the state government, the ministry of works and even AEDC but all we had were officials who come to survey the place but they have done nothing. Even all the poles brought are already falling down and some of the wires have been stolen.”

    Unlike their counterparts in communities with access to electricity, the Chiri community is an agrarian one. Aminu Ahmadu is a graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) where he studied Accounting. According to him, the youths in the community cannot be productive as their other counterparts as they cannot engage in any business except selling of provisions and foodstuff, “with light, the youths in the community would have been able to partake in many trade like their mates in other communities such as welding, barbing, grinding, having internet cafes, photo studios and computer centres. You know we are in the jet age where without electricity, there are so many things we cannot do.”

    Most of the community members who have mobile phones usually power their phones through a commercial phone charger who charges them N30; the phone charger makes a wooden board of fuses (a board normally contains about 20 fuses) which he plugs to a switch powered by a generator. A phone charger is plugged into the fuses and when the battery is full, it is removed to make space for another phone to be charged. One of the commercial phone chargers, Musa said that he charges a minimum of 15 phones every day. However, he said the only disadvantage is that he has to run on generator for certain hours of the day; adding that most people charge their phones when those with generator put it on.

    The Secretary of the Shiroro HYPADEC Youth Association, Audu Kalawa Chiri, wondered why it was difficult for the authorities to energize a transformer that has been sitting idle for over five years. “The late Awaisu Kuta gave us transformer and other infrastructure, the problem now is just to energize the transformer. The transformer has been there for more than five years and nobody is doing anything about it. We have written a series of letters but to no effect. This light problem has affected the youths because we are unable to engage in profitable businesses. As it is, we just go to farm and when we return back home, if there was light, the community would be busy and people will have something to keep themselves entertained.”

    Subtle threat

    Audu said that they are not being taken seriously because the ‘Gbagyi’ people are seen as law abiding and peaceful, “if not because the Gbagyis are law abiding citizens, it would have been a different case but because we take it easy with everyone, that is why they believe they can cheat us. What would it take for them to just energize the transformer for us?”

    Ahmadu also echoed the same subtle threat, “If not because we, the Gbagyis are as patient as anything, I do not think the Shiroro Dam management would be sitting peacefully in their offices. If we decide to take the bull by the horn, so many damages would be involved. We have given them space and time to see what the outcome would be because we have our own plan, we have given them enough space for them to address our problem and when we take the bull by the horn, nobody will blame us because we know how things are being done in Niger Delta. We are still watching and waiting for them.”

    A message sent to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the North South Power Company, Samson Esumeh was replied by Sule Abubakar, an engineer, who is standing in for the Corporation Operating Officer (COO); the message said that Chiri and Zari villages rural electrification projects are receiving attention adding that due process for executing the project is ongoing.

    In the list of approved projects/programmes in 2017 provided to the Reporter, Chiri and Zari rural electrification fell under category C (batch 3), item 5 of the timetable for the execution of the organization’s Corporate Social Responsibility for the host communities. The cost of the project is valued at N4,855,800.00.

    The Niger State Electricity Board acknowledged the plight faced by the community but said that the Board’s hands are tied as the project is a constituency project which cannot just be “jumped into just like that”. The General Manager of the Board, Garba Aliyu, an engineer, said he had contacted the contractor who said his hands were tied as no fund had been released to him since the death of Senator Kuta.

    “The Chiri electrification project is a federal constituency project handled by the Rural Electrification Agency which is a federal parastatal. The work was stalled probably because of the death of the late Senator. I contacted the contractor requiring that he completes the project in order to avoid the vandalization of the project but he told me he is handicapped because the project has not been captured in the federal government budget, he said that there has been no provision for the completion of the project.

    “We want to help but it is a federal government project and there are procedures to follow if we are to take it over and we are working on that. The government is making effort to complete the project to enable the community enjoy electricity.”

    Zari Community

    It is the same fate that the Zari community is facing. The community head, Mohammed Attahiru  also disclosed that since the existence of the community, they had not had electricity. Two years ago, they had hope of having electricity as some of the defunct NEPA staff wanted to construct a quarters for their staff and a transformer was brought, it was after that time that the company was privatized and most of the staff that were involved in the exercise were laid off.

    “After the privatization, the staff came to meet us that we should handle the transformer and complete the process of energizing it. We have made attempts to continue the project but it is beyond our reach and ability.”

    The community has become disgruntled especially with their representatives as the community head stated emphatically that the community would no longer trade its future on empty promises, “we will no longer sell our birthright. As village head, I am tired of calling my people to listen to empty promises. If anybody comes now, I will not call anybody or mobilize anybody again. Now it is trade by batter, if they cannot give us what we want, we will not give them audience.”

    The President of Gwada Youth Forum, Yakubu Yunusa Alheri who resides in Zari community said the non provision of electricity has affected the youths in the community economically as they cannot engage in anything viable, “We cannot do anything apart from farming. If there was light, we would have been engaged in sale of pure water, welding, milling, tailoring and other lucrative businesses. Zari community is completely cut off from their livelihood because of this problem. There are commercial activities that need this electricity and it is affecting the whole segment of the society.”

    Speaking on Chiri and Zari community, the AEDC Niger Regional Manager, Yahaya Jere said that they had not received any report from the communities about the problem, “I am not aware of these communities but I will check on it and get back to you but I doubt if they have written any complaints to us.” This is however contrary to what the Reporter was told during visits to the communities as the village heads and youths in the areas claimed to have written a series of letters informing AEDC, state government and the management of the Shiroro power station.

    He further explained that sometimes, politicians buy transformers and dump them for the villagers without energizing it not minding that the cost of installation is more than the cost of transformers. Jere however promised to look into these communities, “we will go to the communities and see if the people are profit oriented and if they are, we will power the community, if not, we will tell them to meet their politicians to power it for them. We are profit oriented, so if we see that the community will bring us profit, we will energize them.”

    Nkangbe

    A first time visitor to Nkangbe community at night will ultimately think that the area is well lit as all shops seem to be having light in their shops, however, this impression is quickly punctured when the visitor alights and goes closer into the community; sounds of generators competing with one another greets the visitor on approaching the community.

    Nkangbe community is in Bosso local government area of Niger State; popularly called Gurara, it is located along the prominent Minna-Bida road, the community boasts of over 3,000 houses and 1,000 petty businesses. However, this community has not experienced electricity for ten months as of August 2018.

    Businesses have crumbled, some business owners have moved out of the area while landlords have constantly lost their tenants because the lack of electricity has scared visitors off the community. Mallam Ndanusa has lost two of his tenants; while the others have told him that they were not going to renew their tenancy if electricity is not brought back to the community. “Imagine I will have a house filled with rooms but with no tenants soon. Even those who want to rent will first ask how constant is electricity and when I tell them the transformer is faulty, they will just look around but will not return to take the room.”

    Pains of businesses

    On a day where there are a few customers, Bose Abiodun who owns a hairdressing salon spends N300 on the purchase of fuel while on peak days, she spends N500, “Meanwhile, this does not mean I will put it on for the whole day o! Whenever a customer comes, I put it on and when I am through, I put it off. But it is only for customers that want to do washing and setting, packing gel or wash and dry their human hair.”

    Lamenting having lost a lot of customers due to the unavailability of electricity, Bose said that, “during hot days, some customers will want to stay inside the shop and they would expect you to put on the fan but I cannot do it because at times, I will not have fuel in my generator. This issue of light has affected me so much as there will be time that there will not be fuel in my generator and if I ask them to come back or before I go and buy fuel, I will not see them again, I have lost most of my customers.”

    When asked if she considered leaving the area, “my mind is already made up. Once my rent expires, I am leaving. This light has affected me a lot. It has not been easy all these months. Let me go and find another place where I will not spend all my profit on buying fuel.”

    Mohammed Abdullahi, who runs a barbing salon said the least amount he spends daily on fuel is N400 and at times N600. He laments spending all his profit on buying fuel and the maintenance of his generator.  “If I tell you, I am happy, I am lying. How much do I charge for barbing, imagine making N1500 daily and you remove N600 from it, how much will be left and out of the change, I will still do maintenance of the generator.”

    A Computer Institute, Explicit Technologies is not left out, according to the Coordinator, Israel Michael; the institute has been unable to carry out its usual computer training because of the light problem. The Institute is adjacent a transformer brought to the community by the House of Representative member representing the Constituency, Umar Bago.  Looking at the transformer, he shook his head, “just look at the transformer which should be giving us light but we have none,” he bemoaned.

    Meetings, unfulfilled promises and protests

    Mohammed Qasim is the Chairman of the Nkangbe Landlords Association, he looks bitter especially when he recalled the failed promises of the governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello. He said, “We met with the governor, one on one and he directed the Commissioner of Works to supply us with transformer but up till now, we have not seen any. The governor is aware of our problem, I guess they are waiting for campaign time to use transformer to buy our votes, we are waiting for them.”

    He said the transformer given to the community was from the member of the House, explaining that the reason why it had not been energized was because the capacity cannot serve the whole community and the load may affect the transformer, “there are over 3,000 houses in this area and one transformer cannot serve us all. We are asking for 10 but we can make do with three.”

    A series of protests have been embarked upon which led to the blockage of the ever busy Minna-Bida road causing hours of gridlock. Interventions, pleading and false promises led to the suspension of the protests, only for the promises not to be met until another protest is staged. It became an unending circle to the extent that the youths in the community took drastic and risky steps to address their grievances. On July 31, as early as 6am the youths gathered to stage a protest while on August 7th, they blocked the roads when they heard Governor Bello was going to ply the road. They prevented the convoy of the governor from passing through; this move paid off as it brought the long awaited promised transformer to the community. The transformer was brought and dumped in the community without any plan to energize it. Till this moment, Nkangbe still hope for light. “I know that one day, we will laugh at last. We will have enough transformers to serve the area and our businesses and homes would be lit up again,” Qasim said.

    The Niger Regional Manager of the Abuja Electrictity Distribution Company (AEDC), Alhaji Yahaya Jere said AEDC is ready to power the transformers in Nkangbe community but the people have prevented them from energizing it as they are asking for more transformers, “Nkangbe community is a community that is growing very fast, we have given them a transformer and the state government has given them one also but they have refused us from energizing it saying that they need more. We know the two transformers cannot be enough for the whole community but if they allow us to energize them, everyone will have light, at least, the light would be rationed.”

    Saiko

    Amina Sani is a widow with four children but can no longer cater for the needs of her children due to her inability to spend N1,000 on fuel that would power her grinding machine for two to three days depending on the flow of customers. Her grinding business has collapsed and feeding is becoming difficult because the petty business she turned to is not yielding profit, “where will I get money to buy fuel in my machine for grinding? Even those that are buying the fuel, how much gain are they getting? Apart from fuel, I will buy engine oil and do maintenance like every week.”

    Her story is no different from Bashir Maigari, 70, who is into sharpening of implements. He lamented that the eight months blackout has affected his business and life as his wife has left him because of his inability to provide for her needs, “For several months now, I have been unable to work due to lack of light. I cannot feed myself and my wife. In fact, my wife has left me because I cannot provide for her needs. We voted for this government and this is what we get in return for our confidence in them. The governor will never know peace for putting us in such state; he has done nothing to help us. We are old people and if we curse him, it will follow him.”

    Two days protest by women, children and hope of restoration

    On July 19th 2018, the major township road from the new market area down to Maitumbi town in Minna was shut down by women and children who sat on the road for two days refusing to give up the protest despite threats from security agents. The women said that they were ready to spend weeks and even months on the road if nothing was done to restore light back to the community.

    While protests and curses are ringing strong, the Saiko community may not have light for a very long time, according to AEDC Niger Regional Manager. The company has decided to remove electricity permanently from the community because of the danger the light may cause the people. The manager explained that a lot of structures in the community are encroaching on AEDC facilities and the people of the community have refused to heed the directive of the company to steer off the facilities being encroached upon.

    He recalled that the problem began in 2017 when a power upsurge claimed the lives of two people and injured many others, before that unfortunate incident, a lot of letters had been written appealing to the people to do the needful but they refused. “After the incident, we decided to remove power permanently from that community until those structures encroaching on our facilities are removed because if people die again, we would be held liable.”

    Jere declared that protests and blocking of roads are not his concern, “I am not concerned about protests and blocking of roads, it is not my problem, having the death of someone because of my organization is my problem.”

    Ndagi Usman, one of the persons whose house is claimed to be part of the structures encroaching on AEDC facilities, said that government had not provided an alternative for him to move into. According to him, “Where will I move my family to? I built this house with my hard earned sweat, so anyone that says we are encroaching should provide an alternative building for me and my family. I won’t say more than that.”

    The Community Head, Mai Anguwan, was said to be out of town. When contacted over the plight of these people, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Council (NERC) urged the people to try and resolve whatever issue they have with the DISCOs as they can only intervene if the service is not satisfactory.

    The Commissioner, Consumer Affairs of NERC, Mr. Moses Arigu said the commission is a regulatory body and not a service provider, “Our case is just like when you have CBN and the other banks, if there is a problem with any bank, you go to the bank that serves you, you don’t go to CBN. It is only when they are not cooperating or you are not satisfied, then you can lay a complaint to the CBN. It is the same thing with electricity. We are regulators. The first thing the consumers should do is to reach out to the DISCO that serves them to know what the problem is.”

    He blamed politicians for complicating the problems because most times when procuring transformers for communities, they do not care to carry the service providers along, “They just get these transformers and expect the service providers to come and fix it. Engaging the service providers will give room for negotiations on how the refund for the transformer will be given back to the people.”

    This report was supported by Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) Regulators Monitoring Programme (REMOP) for the Energy Sector.

  • PDP suffering from selective amnesia, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is suffering from selective amnesia, forgetting the 16 years it wrecked the economy.

    In a statement to The Nation, Acting National Publicity Secretary Yekini Nabena said PDP was synonymous with impunity; institutionalised corruption and diversion of public funds.

    The party said Nigerians had not forgotten how counter-insurgency votes were given to political cronies and funding of political activities; illegal purchase of bullet-proof Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), limousines and private jet shindigs for ministers done at public expense; non-remittance of $20 billion oil revenue; among other atrocities.

    It added that such a party could not be in a position to debate good governance

    Nabena, reacting to a statement by the PDP challenging President Muhammadu Buhari to a public debate on good governance, said: “PDP in a statement issued on Sunday challenged the President Buhari-led APC administration to a debate on good governance. Incredible.

    “We view this request by PDP as another laughable example of its selective amnesia on the 16 years of locust it wrecked on Nigeria during its defunct rule…”

  • Omoyeni vows to end people’s suffering

    The candidate of the Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN), Chief Adebisi Omoyeni, has promised better life for the people if he wins the July 14 governorship election.

    Omoyeni expressed sadness that Ekiti people are going through hardship allegedly inflicted on them by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration.

    He said his experience as a former group managing director of Wema Bank Plc and former Ekiti State deputy governor had prepared him for the top job.

    Omoyeni spoke on Monday at a welcome rally organized for him as the MPN flag bearer in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, and Ikere-Ekiti, his hometown.

    The candidate was joined at the rally by his wife, Mrs. Ayoade Omoyeni; the MPN National Secretary, Mr. Adeleke Adekoya; the state MPN Chairman, Chief Dare Adekolu and other members of the state executive.

    The train moved round Ado-Ekiti and addressed a rally at the party secretariat before moving to Ikere for another rally and homage to the monarch, the Ogoga, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado.

    He described the MPN as a better alternative to both the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of contributing to backwardness and underdevelopment of Ekiti.

    The MPN flag bearer promised free education from primary to junior secondary, adding that his administration will also reduce fees paid by state-owned tertiary institutions by half.

    Omoyeni also promised to execute free health service for children, pregnant women and the aged adding that an MPN government will bring prosperity to Ekiti.

    He said: “Do you want continuity of suffering, sorrow, no salary, looting of our textile industry? Let’s join hands together to enthrone Mega Party, because the APC and the PDP represent epidemic and death.

    “We want to make life easier for our people; we will tackle the problem of non-payment of salaries. I will ensure that all salary arrears are cleared within the first eighteen months.

    “We are here to rescue Ekiti from bad governance. Under our government, there will be prosperity in Ekiti State because we are going to harness all our resources for the benefit of our people.

    “We want to wipe off the agony and sorrow of the past and from October 16, when I become the governor, people will begin to enjoy real dividends of democracy.”

    Omoyeni urged party members to go to all nooks and crannies of the state to sell the manifesto to the electorate and market the party as a better and credible alternative.

    Adekolu said Ekiti treasury is safe in the hands of Omoyeni, if elected governor. He added that he would listen to the people.

     

    • This page was supposed to have been published yesterday as page 43. The mix-up is regretted.

    –Editor

     

  • Suffering of Nigerians abroad

    SIR: It is sad tale for most Nigerians who fled the stark realities at home for an envisaged golden fleece in foreign climes. Some of them even sold their belongings, including their houses and cars just to finance their trips. Others embarked on the hazardous adventure across the Sahara and the Mediterranean in a brash move to secure a foothold in Europe. In this craze to flee one’s fatherland, even a fellow African country could be considered a potential better prospect than staying back;  hence, the sojourn of not a few of our citizens across the length and breadth of the continent is an irresistible lure to many even at the peril of their very lives.

    Nigerians in South Africa for instance have continued to be at the mercies of their hosts’ vagaries of temperamental disposition for sometimes now. At the slightest provocation, Nigerians easily become preys to the unprovoked gods of the xenophobic denizens of this once domicile of apartheid regimes. Nigeria will tolerate few attacks on her citizens in other countries with a philosophical rationalization but certainly not South Africa, whom she did so much for when it mattered most in the fight against that racial segregation of those dark years. Nigerian embassy in South Africa should continue to drum into the hearing of their belligerent hosts about the role played by Nigeria in liberating them from the nearly five decades of those repressive regimes of apartheid. They should also be reminded that no country has monopoly of violence as many South African businesses and nationals thrive un-molested in Nigeria.

    Outside the shores of Africa, Nigerians are not spared unimaginable degradations and sundry assaults. For instance early in the year, BBC reported on the multiple attacks on students of Nigerian extraction in India. Also the Daily Sun reported in May that up to 535 Nigerians in China are serving various prison terms for drugs-related offences but the truth is that not all of them are culpable, some are punished because they did not have legal representation during trial. The story is not different in Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Turkey, Dubai and Bangladesh. In Germany, for instance, a Nigerian was reportedly thrown out of a moving train when he allegedly could not afford his fare.

    While the list is inexhaustible but the most disturbing trend is the continuous deportation of Nigerians all over the world since the beginning of this year, from countries such as Cameroon, Libya, UK, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Spain to mention a few .

    The plight of Nigerians abroad would continue to fester as foreign missions are said to have bad records of not being concerned about the welfare of their fellow citizens in Diaspora. They neither speak up nor rise in their defence. Could this be a case of complacency, timidity or lack of temerity?

    A viable economy will make traveling abroad for greener pastures a less attractive venture. This, to say the least, presents a more compelling national imperative to save our eroding national pride.

    Finally, seasoned, qualified and competent people should be engaged in our foreign service to actualize the purpose of establishing these missions abroad.

     

    • Itaobong Offiong Etim,

    Calabar. 

  • When will this suffering end?

    WHAT is the question many motorists plying the Nasfat/Mountain of Fire and Miracle Church section of the Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway seem to be asking.

    The snail movement of vehicular activities has been a cause for concern to many for a while. No matter the time you must have gained coming from outside the state, it is always lost at this point.

    When I travelled on the road recently, I had a dose of those plying the road on a daily basis go through. I left Osun 6:10 AM, and by my calculation, it was going to be a 3-hour journey.  I got to Nasfat/Mountain of Fire and Miracle Church section of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at about 8:40 AM. I was sure that I would meet my scheduled appointment at the old toll gate by 9:10 AM.

    When my car entered the narrow section of the expressway, little did I know I would spend the next 40 minutes in the traffic. My journey from Osogbo to Gbongan was less than 45 minutes.

    When I narrated my experience to one of my friends, he told me that it was a daily occurrence. According to him, twice some people who were being rushed to the hospital had died in the traffic because of the traffic jam.

    To make the matter worse, any time there is break down of vehicles on that narrow portion of the road, it is better imagined than experienced.

    The pace at which the contractor handling the road is working is worrisome. The Ibadan-end of the road is a bit faster and better. It seems the work on the road is taking eternity to complete.

  • Reduce their suffering

    •Time to review upward the allowance for NYSC members

    Now, your suffering continues” is a costly corruption of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), referring to the agony of lack of jobs that youth corps members face annually, after completing the mandatory one year national service. They roam the streets in search of non-existent jobs, in some cases for years. But, today, youth corps members’ suffering begins right from their days in their respective higher institutions where, unlike those who attended the same institutions about two decades ago, they suffer all manner of deprivations and indignities.

    Only a few weeks ago, students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, were reported to be sleeping in open fields on campus because of bedbugs which had infested their hostels. Those who graduated from the university some years ago cannot believe that this is what their alma mater has become. But OAU is not alone; many Nigerian tertiary institutions are like that; they have become mere shadows of their former state.

    The N19,800 monthly stipend paid to the corps members is about the latest of such suffering.

    The Yakubu Gowon regime introduced the NYSC scheme in 1973, to foster unity among the various ethnic groups in the country. Coming less than four years after a bitter civil war, the scheme was then welcomed by most Nigerians, not only for its potential to bring together youths from various parts of the country but also, as a means of exposing them, as catalysts of the envisaged unity, to know more about the country instead of seeing everything from their narrow parochial perspectives.

    Of course, money was not Nigeria’s problem then. The affluence rubbed off on the scheme as corps members had some of the best of service uniform, from face caps to shirts and trousers, as well as befitting brown canvass shoes, all imported. University graduates for whom the scheme was originally meant looked forward to the day they too would be privileged to wear the resplendent and highly respected uniform.

    But all that is gone with the wind. Today, most prospective corps members would opt out if they had the option. As a matter of fact, there have been calls for the scrapping of the scheme because, as many people contend, it has outlived its usefulness. Indeed, the calls gained stridency in the years that Boko Haram insurgents terrorised Nigerians in the north-east. Parents did virtually all they could to ensure their wards were not posted to the ‘hot spots’.

    Without doubt, the scheme provides cheap labour for many governments and private concerns, even as corps members had been deployed for electoral duties, despite the attendant risks. Many youth corps members have distinguished themselves in the remotest parts of the country, with some honoured by the host communities.

    But then, like most other things in the country, the NYSC too is now becoming less and less attractive due to the many challenges the corps members face. This was why Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State renewed his call for an upward review of their stipend to reflect the prevailing cost of living. The governor bared his mind at the swearing-in and official opening ceremony for the 2017 Batch ‘A’ Stream I of National Youth Service Corps members at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Ise/Orun/Emure Ekiti. He was represented by the secretary to the state government, Dr. (Mrs) Modupe Alade.

    We agree with the governor and others who had shared such sentiment and urge the Federal Government to review the allowance upwards. It is sad that our youths who have been posted outside of their home states have to be given peanuts. In the past, some employers augmented the allowance for them; some provided them with free accommodation, among other assistance. These days, most of these are no more. Indeed, some institutions would even reject corps members because they cannot afford to add a dime to what the government is giving them.

    If the government is interested in retaining the scheme, it should ensure it is properly funded and corps members given allowances that reflect the present economic situation. The government should not lure the innocent youths into the temptation of engaging in social vices to make ends meet in the ‘strange land’ that they have been posted to.

  • Their suffering must end now (on NYSC)

    Their suffering must end now (on NYSC)

    So many have gone, how many more young ones must go too?  The NYSC has long outlived its usefulness and is now a setback to young lives and a very real death trap.

    Would anyone give his worst enemy a bicycle to ride from Bayelsa to Zamfara with enough clothes tied on for a year’s stay?

    What the NYSC does is much worse.  The National Youth Service Corps pays young graduates a pittance, not even sufficient to buy a bicycle tire, and this ridiculous payout is their fare to crisscross the country to the remotest villages for their compulsory service year!

    In the Nineteen Seventies, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was established as the compulsory one year service period in which graduates of all tertiary institutions, whether one studied at home or abroad had to serve, before seeking paid employment in any establishment or institution.

    It involved posting to parts of the country, from far flung states, and even where NOTHING literally was on ground, corper’s were still sent there.

    The way it was conceived, no corper was permitted to reject his or her posting; ironically, potential employees had every right to out-rightly reject corpers posted to them, in fact, a rejection slip was part of the NYSC paperwork.

    Indeed I remember the story of an amusing a funny case involving one of the graduates from my school then.  He had been posted to teach at Queens College, Lagos.  But on getting there and reporting for duty, the principal of the school had taken one look at him and promptly issued him with a Rejection Slip Clearly, she couldn’t trust someone like him around her girls!

    Anyway, the NYSC became a centre of national corruption, with huge sums paid to cronies of the federal government to produce khaki uniforms or procure boots, to supply food – whatever ‘supplies’ were needed, corrupt practices were employed.

    Today, there are even more avenues for corruption.With the frequency of deaths of corpers posted to Boko Haram States, the NYSC was forced to give potential corpers a choice of  three states they would wish to be posted to, and that gave rise to “Sorting”.  So graduates now go from state to national headquarters of the NYSC parting with good sums of money to officials in charge who then guarantee them postings to their desired states.

    Later, the list comes out and sometimes they are lucky, other times, they get scammed.  In any case, funding for the scheme is non-existent.  It is one of the reasons that President Buhari had sought permission from the National Assembly to apply for a $30bn external loan.  (The National Assembly had turned down the request). The facilities built long years ago to accommodate the few graduates of the time, are still the ones in use today – meaning the NYSC camps are HOVELS.

    The numbers of graduates had grown to multitudes yearly, until the one time Director of Army Education, and later Director of NYSC, Maj. Gen. EdetAkpan (rtd), sent a memo to the highest military ruling council then, to step down some of the graduates.  Then the size became just barely manageable.  It was thanks to him that Colleges of Education, Teachers’ Training Colleges and affiliate institutions were able to send out their graduates into the job market without being a part of the NYSC.   Otherwise, with the number of graduates today from the state, federal and private universities and polytechnics, not counting the thousands from foreign institutions, the NYSC would have then been an impossible scheme.

    Which Is Just What It Is Today.

    Half a century on, and NYSC still pays corpers the same ludicrous bicycle allowance to add to the ridiculous and insulting stipend given to university graduates to go spend 12 months of their lives in various parts of the country, deliberately chosen as far away from their home/school/state as possible.  Today though, the scheme has an added deadly dimension.

    Batch in batch out, corpers die in road crashes on our terrible roads travelling by coach which is all their struggling parents can afford for them.

    But – when it is group of government officials on posting, they would be lodged in good hotels, given fabulous allowances and luxury transportation after which they are then paid…. “HARDSHIP ALLOWANCE”!

    But the hapless corper, undergoing hardship month after month is left to die in his or her place of posting.

    Corpers are used for Nigeria’s sensitive jobs, for instance they were deployed as officers during elections,also duringcensus.  The corpers are given a pittance to the job, once done they have to chase INEC all over for payment.Corpers in Calabar were forced to stage a demonstration at INEC office for their payment in the last elections.  This stipend is less than N10,000 each!  Nothing is provided by way of accommodation and their safety on the job is not guarantee.  Recall that many corpers were killed while on duty that time too.  The Jonathan-led Federal Government had to pay their families compensation.

    Two corps members, Daniel Saanu and Tony Ochayi died within one week of each other in Sokoto just last month.  In Bayelsa, a female corp member took ill and died in camp.  Several others drowned in a boat mishap on their way to their places of primary posting.  Even before Nigeria’s insurgency, corpers were being slaughtered in scores in religious crises in Nigeria over past years.  Boko Haram targetscorpers, in addition to other targets, and killing them mercilessly, setting fire to their lodgings with then inside, burning those youths to death.

    So many have gone, how many more young ones must go too?

    The organization of the scheme is deplorable.  For the graduate today, the end of his/her education will go something like this – upon completion of studies, the graduate would wait a minimum of one year at home, wasting his life, checking for his name on the NYSC list.   Finally, he/she is fortunate for the name to “come out” and then they may go for “NOW YOUR SUFFERING CONTINUES” as the NYSC has been commonly renamed.

    The NYSC has long outlived its usefulness and is now a setback to young lives and a very real death trap.  The National Youth Service Corp must end.  This Year.

     

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  • Pensioners are suffering, says NLC

    Pensioners are suffering, says NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress  (NLC) has said pensioners are suffering because of the inability of the  Federal Government to remit accrued pension funds of its retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme(CPS), which came into force in 2004.

    It warned that the future of the CPS was under threat if the government did not move fast to remit the cash.

    Speaking at the congress of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said the CPS was being threatened by the non-compliance of its major stakeholders, especially employers.

    He decried the prevailing situation whereby retirees under the scheme  suffer alot of hardship to access their funds.

    According to him, if the challenges in the scheme were not addressed, the scheme would hit the rocks soon.

    Ayuba said: “Issues of payment of benefit in Nigeria have become a nightmare. This needs to be addressed.”

    NUP President, Dr. Abel Afolayan, highlighted some of the challenges confronting the scheme.

    He said the failure of the Federal Government to release funds had  made pensioners to suffer deprivation, lamenting that no retiree had been paid since October 2015.

    Many next of kin of deceased pensioners, he said, had not been able to access the entitlements of their relations, and that this has made life unbearable for the beneficiaries.

    He said: “Many organisations of government and employers have been defaulting on the regular remittances of contributions of workers to their pension fund administrators; this is affecting the philosophy of the scheme.

    “Non-compliance with Section 173 (3) and Section 210 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and section 15 of the 2014 Pension Reform Act (as amended) stipulates that pension shall be reviewed after every five years  or whenever workers salaries are reviewed, whichever one that is earlier. Non-compliance with the provisions of this law by government has made the contributory pensioners lose 15 per cent pension increase of 2007 and 33 per cent increase in 2010.”

  • Cleric to Buhari: Nigerians are suffering

    Cleric to Buhari: Nigerians are suffering

    The Prelate, Methodist Church, Nigeria, Dr Chukwu Emeka Uche has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians, especially from hunger and economic hardship resulting from the current economic recession.

    The cleric reminded the President that nobody voted for the present ‘change’ Nigerians are witnessing when they voted for him in last year.

    He spoke while delivering a sermon at the dedication of the new cathedral building of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, Gbogi, Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    Uche urged President Buhari to consider the plight of many Nigerians who, according to him, were languishing in abject poverty occasioned by the economic recession.

    He regretted that nothing was working in Nigeria, saying “in most states of the federation, workers are not paid, pensioners are dying of hunger after serving their fatherland diligently and retiring meritoriously, Naira has fallen to N415 per dollar, parents have no money to pay their children’s school fees, most roads have become death traps, electricity is no more accessible and nothing is working again for the masses.

    “Mr President should not be too rigid in the act of governance. His administration should have human face. He should change ministers and political advisers discovered to be stumbling block in his plan to bring succour to the suffering masses.”

    The Prelate recalled the era of the late Gen. Sani Abacha when the country was literally in hell and notable Nigerians, including Chief MKO Abiola and his wife Kudirat, were killed by gunmen, noting that at last, there was judgment day for that era.

    He said: “We love President Buhari, but he should take note of the lamentations of Nigerians by doing whatever possible to ameliorate their misery.

    “We are blessed in this country, but the management of our resources is the problem. We need to do everything possible to bring the country out of the wood.”

    The cleric urged churches across the country to bring the nation out of the wood through ceaseless prayers, stressing that Christians must pray to God to save the people from the present tribulations.

    He regretted that people were no more interested in farming, saying “we are not supposed to buy any farm products such as cassava, yam tubers, pepper and others judged from the fertile land which God has endowed us with. We are only praying to God to touch the hearts of the leaders and followers to do the right things to move the country forward.”

    Dr Uche commended the Methodist Bishop of Owo Diocese, Rev Solomon Adegbite for changing the face of the Diocese through various laudable projects. He urged him to continue in that spirit for the development of the church and its congregations.

    The Bishop appreciated all those who worked hard to ensure the completion of the church edifice.

    He noted that huge amount of money was expended on the new church building and other projects, praying that God would replenish the pockets of all those who contributed towards the project.

    The Chairman, Building Committee of the church, Lebi Sunday commended the authorities of the Methodist cathedral, Gbogi for prioritising activities that would enhance the spiritual and physical growth of the congregation.

    According to him, the high level of understanding between the laity and the clergy is a manifestation of the fact that God is not only with the congregation but in them.

    He noted that spiritual development had ensured that the church grew from strength to strength. He pleaded with members of the church to remain committed to the service of God.

  • TUC: Nigerians are suffering

    TUC: Nigerians are suffering

    The  economy is in bad shape and Nigerians are suffering, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has said.

    At a conference in Abuja, its President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, said the nation was  stagnating amid slow economic growth, high unemployment and rising prices.

    “The country’s currency, the naira, is in a free fall. There is insecurity posed by Boko Haram insurgents, problem of herdsmen and Niger Delta militants, and a host of other ills bedevilling the country.

    “In spite of all these challenges, however, we cannot afford to give up the struggle. But I see hope coupled with signals of a brighter future for our unborn generations.We will surely get there,” Kaigama said.

    He also said his union had set up a $1b Economic Development Fund for the actualisation of its Economic Development Plan.

    He said the fund would provide additional income streams for its members and affiliates and also provide loans for those still in service and after service.”

    “This fund will be used to make strategic investments into the different sectors of the economy.

    “Part of this fund will be set aside to provide loans and the required technical assistance for our members to set up and run bankable businesses when they retire from service,” Kaigama said.”

    “Through this plan, the TUC will mobilise resources from its members, affiliates, partners and other investors to invest in a number critical assets across different sectors of the economy,” he said.