The Nation Newspaper

Tag: tackle

  • Unfair tackle

    Unfair tackle

    • Why would Justice Dattijo wait till  after 47 years  to criticise the judiciary?

    The darts thrown at the Supreme Court by retired Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad, during his valedictory, on the structure and operations of the apex court, has left critical stakeholders scampering for cover. The social media that has been dragging the justices of the apex court in the mud over some of its decisions, has been feasting on what it considers as worm-infested cracks in the court.

    No doubt, Justice Muhammad’s scathing remarks have portrayed the judiciary in bad light. We urge a thorough  investigation of the issues raised by the retired justice.

    But we also wonder why it has taken this long for him to see the light.

    Unfortunately, the present Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, is made to look as the culprit for all that Justice Muhammad complained about. We don’t agree with that, however, at least with regards to some of the systemic issues raised by the learned justice.

    Some have argued that the former justice was driven by bile, considering that the system of preferment in the apex court did not treat him like a deputy chief justice of Nigeria, a position unknown to the constitution. There are also muted reports that he is angry he was not appointed to head the presidential election appeal tribunal.

    One of the issues raised by the retired justice  is the over-concentration of powers in the office of the chief justice. The retired justice mentioned important institutions like the National Judicial Commission (NJC), Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), National Judicial Institute (NJI) and Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), all enamoured with immense constitutional powers, which the CJN heads.

    He warned that absolute powers corrupt absolutely. We agree.

    The systemic challenge of the nation’s judiciary is further compounded by the fact that whereas we are framed as a federal republic, we are welded together as a unitary state. There are instances when state governments fall out with the centralised judicial organs, sometimes for good, and sometimes for bad, making a mockery of the federalism we profess to practice. With command and control of the federal and state judiciary in the office of the CJN, the potency of abuse truly abounds. 

    Another issue raised by Justice Muhammad is the constitutional expectation of diversity in the apex court. He narrowed his complaint to the composition of the presidential election appeal tribunal, which to us is absurd. We agree with him that more justices should be appointed as much as possible from all the zones with depleted representatives, to ensure adherence to the federal character enshrined in the 1999 constitution (as amended). As we have also complained here, the depletion in the number of justices of the apex court deserves urgent attention.

    We however do not agree with the ethnic colouration of judicial pronouncements, which should reflect the laws of the land, and not tribal affiliations. Such postulation can only do harm to the sanctity of the judicial process, since there are other cases apart from election petitions. To agree to Muhammad’s proposition will mean that when litigants approach the apex court, they should be looking at the ethnic nationalities of those constituted to hear their cases, instead of the interpretation of the law, with respect to the issues raised before the members of the panel. The integrity of judgments should depend on the integrity of the justices, not on tribal affiliations.

    Read Also: Ondo Speaker accuses Aiyedatiwa of ignoring APC peace moves

    There are strong arguments that the justices of the Supreme Court should be populated by intellectuals, and those who have distinguished themselves as legal practitioners, instead of the current practice of elevating only Justices of the Court of Appeal to the apex court.

    No doubt, infusing law professors and senior advocates into the apex bench would deepen the jurisprudential potency of that institution, with grave constitutional powers.

    However, ordinarily, when Justice Muhammad, an immediate past  member of the apex court laments at his retirement ceremony that “this is not the judiciary I loved and aspired to serve in”, there should be cause to worry. Indeed, when the public make a caricature of the judiciary that should naturally be held sacred, and call out justices as delivering cash and carry justices without fear of contradiction and consequent retribution, stakeholders must awaken to the cries in the wilderness. To pretend that all is well with our judiciary is to play the ostrich.

    But more worrisome is the fact that it took Justice Muhammad about 47 years to see these logs in the eyes of the judiciary. This is the same judiciary he had served in several capacities before being elevated to the Supreme Court of Nigeria on July 10, 2012, till his retirement last month. Indeed, he was appointed Deputy Chairman, NJC in June, last year.

    We therefore see his outburst against the judiciary on his retirement as opportunistic. He would appear to be playing to the gallery because, as a top member of the judiciary for years, he was a part of the so-called rot in the system. He had ample opportunity to contribute to measures to improve on the situation but chose rather to see no evil and hear no evil while in service.

    While we agree that there are issues to be addressed in the judiciary, we think it does not lie in the mouth of Justice Muhammad to denigrate the judiciary the way he did. The issues he complained about did not just crop up during the time of the incumbent CJN. They had always been there, even when Justice Muhammad was in service.

    We therefore see his comment against the judiciary as an unfair tackle that is unbecoming of a justice of his stature.

    All said, while we do not subscribe to the practice of using executive powers to intimidate the judiciary in the guise of fighting corruption, we believe there is the urgent need to weed out corrupt judges from the system. The NJC should be at the vanguard of self-cleansing, and if it requires tinkering with the constitutional provision on its membership, then let’s do it.

  • Tackle air pollution, Fed Govt told

    THE African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), a non-governmental organisation, has urged the Federal Government to address the rising menace of air pollution.

    In a statement, its Senior Programme Officer, Amodu Lawal, said: “Air is critical to human existence as without it, there can be no life. Yet, a polluted air has the capacity to unveil numerous health problems, including respiratory diseases that have led to loss of several lives even in Nigeria.’’

    He noted that air pollution constitutes lead in  environmental risks estimated to have resulted to seven million deaths globally.

    He said Nigeria ranks fourth deadliest globally with 150 deaths per 100,000 attributed to air pollution.

    Lawal said air pollution is common in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta, where gas flaring is prevalent.

    The statement also noted that a  report on gas flaring has shown a considerable increase despite government’s determination to reduce the danger.

    He said: “Air pollution is a big concern the world over. The respective peoples of the world, including Nigerians, can’t stop breathing due to the rampaging advent of air pollution and therefore it behoves on all stakeholders, governments, oil companies, communities and civil society organisations to work to reverse the phenomenon. This will, no doubt, help to improve our air quality and better impact on the lives of the peoples of the world.”

    This year’s World Environment Day held with the theme, ‘Beat air pollution’, urged people to explore renewable energy and green technologies and improve air quality in cities and regions.

    Spearheaded by China, the host of the World Environment Day celebrations, United nations (UN) Environment’s campaign theme was #BeatAirPollution. It culminated into many registered events and commitments.

    “Protecting our blue skies may be difficult, but our future relies on it,”  UN Environment Acting Executive Director,, Joyce Msuya, said during the global celebrations in Hangzhou.

    “And they are our blue skies. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Beijing or Beirut, when we look up we see the same sky. And I think when we look to China, we see many examples of how to protect it.”

    Over the past decade, the Chinese government has taken drastic measures to limit air pollution in its biggest cities, bringing back blue skies in Beijing, Shanghai and other megacities, benefitting the health of millions.

    President, People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, said: “Humankind only has one planet. Environmental conservation and sustainable development are the common responsibility of all countries. Ecological civilisation is built into China’s national development architecture and strategy. China will work with any and all to implement the 2030 agenda to protect our only planet.’’

    “Today, we face an equally urgent crisis. It is time to act decisively,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message to the World Environment Day.

    “My message to governments is clear: tax pollution; end fossil fuel subsidies; and stop building new coal plants. We need a green economy not a grey economy.”

    According to him, air pollution goes to the heart of social justice and global inequality.

  • Nigerian, US defence colleges tackle terrorism

    The National Defence College, Nigeria and the College of International Security Affairs, National Defence University Washington have held a bilateral training workshop for faculty members on combating terrorism and irregular threats. The workshop which took place at the Centre for Strategic Research and Studies of the National Defence College, Nigeria, was another major step forward for the college in its strategic partnership with various global institutions across the world.

    The workshop was geared towards sharing knowledge and exchanging ideas between faculty members of the institutions on strategic level estimates on irregular threats.

    According to the Public Relations Officer of the College, Commander Edward Yeibo, the plenary covered irregular threats in the contemporary security environment, lexicon on operational design and framework as well as strategic framework estimate on the Boko Haram insurgency.

    “It also covered the speciality issues, Sri Lanka on counter terrorism/ counter insurgency, the Nexus and linkages and also practical exercises on Boko Haram insurgency. A strategic estimate framework was developed and used as a critical tool in dealing with current security challenges in Nigeria and the Sahel region,” Commander Yeibo added.

    Commander Yeibo explained in a statement issued by the NDC authority on the partnership that prior to the commencement of the workshop, the leader of the College of International Security Affairs, National Defence University Washington delegation, Ambassador Erica Barks Ruggles paid a courtesy call on the Commandant, National Defence College, Nigeria, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo to discuss issues of interest to both institutions in line with the memorandum of understanding.

    Yeibo said, “She used the opportunity to applaud the developmental strides in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja compared to the last time she visited Nigeria 20 years ago.  Ambassador Ruggles asserted that College of International Security Affairs, National Defence University Washington mission is to educate and prepare senior civilian and military security professionals and future leaders of the United State and partners as nations for the strategic challenges of the contemporary security environment.

    “She emphasized that the College of International Security Affairs, National Defence University Washington is the US Department of Defence flagship training institution for education and the building of partnerships capacity in combating terrorism and irregular warfare at the strategic level.

    “Ambassador Ruggles expressed her appreciation to the National Defence College Nigeria for the collaboration and the hosting of the workshop which she described as unique in all ramifications. She expressed her desire for further cooperation and collaboration between National Defence College Nigeria and College of International Security Affairs, National Defence University Washington”.

    The statement noted that during one of the series of lectures lined up for the workshop, Dr Thomas Marks, one of the resource persons from the United States opined that protecting citizens in all spectrum in a democratic dispensation is the fundamental responsibility of governance.

    To him there is the need to understand the root causes and drivers of radicalization which leads to violent extremism. He added that at the strategic level, it was necessary to develop a framework for a strategic response, which was prompted the one week conduct of the workshop.

    In his contributions at the workshop, the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies, Major General Peter Dauke, observed that the facilitators have done justice to the subject matter as it relates to terrorism and other irregular security threats

    Major General Dauke submitted among others that a strategic leader must be critical in studying and analysing any given situation before action. He added that, if one cannot be able to identify a problem, he or she cannot be able to resolve it appropriately.

    He told the gathering that as part of efforts to enhance the relationship between the two institutions, the National Defence University Washington has invited the Commandant National Defence College Nigeria, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo, to visit the United States in order to explore areas for further collaboration.

  • Tackle skilled manpower challenge, NCS urges Fed Govt

    Nigeria Computer Society (NCS)President, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, has urged the Federal Government to raise modern manpower that could sustainably drive the nation’s economy.

    He lamented that nearly 90 per cent of technologies used in the country are imported despite the huge knowledge infrastructure of 162 legally recognised universities, 125 polytechnics and more than 500 agencies.

    “It is sad that after 58 years of independence, Nigeria had failed to come up with neither a globally recognised company nor product originating from Nigerian indigenous technology because the national economy had not been technology-driven,” he said.

    Giving a Keynote Address at the first International Conference on ICT for National Development and its Sustainability organised by the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Ilorin, to mark its 10th anniversary, Aderounmu urged the Federal Government to develop the ICT sector through the establishment of research centres, technology parks and incubation centres across the country. He added that the provision of reliable and affordable infrastructure and provision of fiscal incentives for indigenous software developers would also spur the development of the sector.

    Speaking on: “Leveraging ICT for National Development and its Sustainability”, Aderoumu, who is a Professor of Computer Science at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ife, Nigeria, lamented that the country’s economy has not fully embraced technology as its driving force.

    He further suggested that the government could develop the sector through the creation of a special fund to assist start-ups as well as grow existing developers, enactment of a law that mandates MDAs to patronise indigenous software while mandating the immediate implementation of the approved scheme of service for IT professionals.

    While recommending that priority should be given to registered IT professional in the award of IT contracts in the country, Aderounmu equally tasked the academia to promote productive collaborations and partnerships both internal and external and create learning opportunities for the students.

    He said: “The system of mentoring, apprenticeship and tutelage, which existed in the past should be re-introduced and strengthened. Split-site arrangements should be encouraged to enable young researchers to be acquainted with new trends, globally. Spend a considerable portion of its yearly budget on global promotion activities”

    Speaking earlier, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem, assured participants that the university would do everything possible to ensure that conferences are successfully held in the institution.

    He submitted that conferences are crucial to the students’ development and growth as it gives them exposure and cross-fertilisation of ideas, adding that students should be invited in large numbers to attend conferences.

  • NCC seeks Academy’s partnership to tackle multiple taxation, others

    The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, has sought the partnership of Nigeria Academy of Engineers to tackle the non-technical issues affecting quality of service (QoS) in the telecoms sector.

    He said the NCC would continue with the culture of support and cooperation with the Academy.

    He spoke when the Vice President of the Academy, Prof Fola Lasisi,  led other distinguished professors on a courtesy call on him to convey the readiness of the group to induct him as Fellow of the elite engineering body, at NCC Headquarters, Abuja.

    Dambatta urged the Academy to also lend its voice on the issues of Right of Way (RoW), multiple taxations, and multiple regulations to ensure that all the non-technical factors that affect the QoS are tackled.

    He said: “We will leverage the experience of the Fellows of the Academy and bring this to bear in improving QoS. QoS is normally measured, using four key performance indicators, and we believe that more additional indicators can be brought in to improve the QoS further,” he explained.

    Speaking earlier, Prof Lasis said the addition of the NCC chief to the body is a testimony to the quality of his leadership at the NCC.

    Danbatta will be inducted as a fellow of the Academy on June 21, 2018, just some 48 hours before he receives an honorary Doctorate Degree from the University of Jos.

    Prof Lasis said: “We want to show that NCC has always had very brilliant people at the top. Engr. Ernest Ndukuwe was also one of us and became a fellow when he was here. Prof Danbatta continues in the same way, so we want to congratulate him and tell him that we appreciate his becoming a Fellow.”

    Danbatta  lauded what he described as the tradition of excellence in the NCC, adding that his induction as a fellow of the Academy will be a big honour to the regulatory agency.

    “We acknowledge this recognition as a great honour to the NCC. I, therefore, pledge to continue to impact in a way and manner that will lead to the transformation of the industry, its stability, resilience and general contribution to the economy,” he said.

  • Synod tells FG to tackle insecurity

    The Archbishop of Lagos Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Rev. Luke Odubanjo, has called on the federal government to halt the killings in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa and other parts of the country by suspected herdsmen.

    He also called on security agencies to arrest the high rate of kidnapping among Nigerians.

    Odubanjo, in his address at the 56th synod opening ceremony of the Lagos Diocese at Igbogila Ota, said government must stop at nothing to defend the defenceless.

    He said: “Our leaders should stand up to defend the helpless citizens that are being kidnapped in their schools in Dapchi, Yobe State, and as well being killed in Benue State, Kaduna, Adamawa State, Plateau State, and Kogi State respectively.”

    He said peace and security remained top priorities that government must ensure for Nigerians, saying the current insecurity in the nation was worrisome.

    Odubanjo also commended Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for “brilliant performance in the area of commerce, infrastructure, salary payment, religious harmony, investment of N25billion for employment purpose, provision of trucks and van for the police, leadership that fears God, Love and dedication to service of humanity.”

    He however appealed to the Governor to clear the embarrassing reappearing wastes across the state as soon as possible.

    The Archbishop tasked Christians to work toward peace everywhere they find themselves as well as pursue holiness at all times.

  • Alakija, others tackle marriage deadlocks

    Alakija, others tackle marriage deadlocks

    Determined to make marriage achieve its values, despite the socio-economic or ethno-religious challenges, one of Africa’s foremost business magnates and evangelist, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija, has teamed up with relationship experts to wage war against marriage deadlocks.

    According to Mrs. Alakija, building a harmonious marriage is not an impossible feat, either for young or older generation of couples. A peaceful and glorious union, she said, is not measured by the absence of friction or differences, but the mutual cooperation and resolve of both parties to keep the union together.

    She spoke at this year’s Rose, of Sharon Glorious Ministry International organised University of Marriage Conference in Surulere, Lagos, with the theme: “Unlocking Deadlocks in Marriage”.

    The conference was a robust introspection into the domestic and social factors inhibiting the purpose and intent of the marital institution and the perspective of the Almighty in sustaining the union. Convener of the conference stated that a winning marriage must jettison some destructive behavioural patterns, including infidelity, disrespect, obstinacy, argumentative discussion, noting that when such factors persist with an unrepentant urge to contain it, the diminishing effect accumulates into deadlocks.

    Mrs. Alakija noted that there must be equal commitment to the marriage vow and the bed, adding that a good marriage setting must prevent undue switch of the bread wining roles. The Almighty, she explained, originally designed marriage to be heaven on earth and not an endurance of the turbulent adventure.

    “The purpose of God concerning marriage was for the man and the woman to live happily, raise Godly children and advance His kingdom on earth together. The devil knows this and tries to cause mis-communication in the marriage, just as he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden, thereby causing them to lose out on the best God had for them.

    “This, he does by planting seeds of doubt, disobedience and disharmony. The resultant effect is disagreements, leading to deadlocks and ultimately destruction of marriage. God is still the author of marriage and He wants our marriages to be heaven on earth. He has made a way for us to enjoy and not to endure. No matter how far gone or bad the situation has become, when we invite the prince of peace into hearts and homes, there will be full restoration,” she said.

    President, Funke Felix Adejumo Foundation, Mrs Funke Felix-Adejumo, in her contribution, said irrespective of the fact that the institution of marriage is a blissful gift of God to mankind, it is a very expensive concept that only the currency of hard-work can sponsor.  “There is no institution as stretching as the marriage because it is about building, blending and bonding,” she said.

    Deadlocks, she said, are characterised by major character defects in both spouses, which are not irresolvable. She said the onus lies on the couple to deliberately channel efforts towards a peaceful and enduring union except the threat to life becomes imminent.  According to her, the covenant of life is superior to the covenant of marriage.

    She said: “In my research, I have noticed that there are a minimum of 14 deadlocks in every marriage. Some are personal, caused by the devil, natural, self-made, government policies, in-laws, friends, career or occupation, children, religion, sexual or third parties. But the first is character problem in both spouses. As parents prepare their children for JAMB, Cambridge and different life exams, they should prepare them for marriage.”

    Urging women to embrace submission to their heads as ordered by scriptures, pastor Adejumo stressed that submission was not synonymous with subjugation or slavery, but the immersing or humbling of strength under the control of the family head.

    She, however, urged bread winners to be so, indeed, noting that husbands must of necessity support their families with a tight spiritual head gear, defend and provide for their needs.

    The Daystar Christian Center Pastor, Nike Adeyemi, stressed the need for spouses to reconfigure their mindset and approach to marital dealings, saying unlocking deadlocks was impossible without the master key of forgiveness, especially in the context of  agape love. “There is need for certain keys in unlocking deadlocks. Love and forgiveness are powerful tools to heal any issues,” she said.

    Pastors of Grace Family International Churches, Reverend Yinka and Deaola Ojo both illustrated the importance of chemistry in marriages. They defined good marriage as one composed of two forgivers. Pastor Yinka countered the claim that men were naturally polygamous, explaining that since the human makeup has been modeled after God, men can also achieve excellent marital outcomes. He advised Christian couples not to assume the word of God as merely readable, but practical principles for their marital journey.

  • ‘How govts, church can tackle insecurity, religious intolerance’

    Governments and the church have a vital role to play in tackling insecurity and religious intolerance in the country, it has been learnt.

    This was the centre of discussions yesterday at a symposium organised by the Cathedral Church of Saint Jude at Ebute Meta in Lagos.

    It was part of activities to celebrate its 150th anniversary with theme: Tackling insecurity and Religious Intolerance: Agenda for the State and Church.

    Venerable Okey Ifomu, of the church, said the first step governments should take to tackle insecurity and religious intolerance is setting personal examples in the way they run governance.

    He said: “Governments must be fair to the various interest groups in the polity. If Nigeria desires to live in peace and security, it must sincerely address injustice and oppression. The clamour for a restructuring of the country and the obvious resistance of key elements of the present Federal Government to the demand can only stoke the fire of insecurity by reinforcing separatist tendencies.

    The cleric noted that in a democracy, nothing is beyond negotiation.

    He said those holding the helms of affairs must understand that they are merely the servants of the people.

    Ifomu said: “Governments must also see it as their responsibility to implement policies that can alleviate sufferings and other conditions that predispose people to resort to self-help, thereby undermining security of life and property. Functional social welfare policies must be adopted in a time of recession, such as the one the country is passing through now. That way, the incidence of poverty-linked crimes can be abated.”

    The cleric said the church owes it as an obligation to properly orientate its members.

    He said: “Christian leaders and preachers should continually emphasise Christ’s message of love for one’s neighbours, regardless of their faith or ethnicity. For every true Christian, the practice of Christianity is the practice of love and tolerance. The Bible urges the faithful, in Romans 12 verse 18, to ‘live peaceably with all men’.

    “Jesus Christ himself encouraged his followers to seek peace at all cost by turning the other cheek: by forgiving as often as possible those who have wronged them; by seeking the good of others and by loving those who hate them. Those who kill or harm others in the name of God and His only begotten son are wrong. Christian leaders have a responsibility to instruct their audiences or congregations on the true mission of Christ.”

    The church, Ifomu said, had an obligation to preach peace and mutual coexistence since all men and women are creatures of God.

    He said: “The enormous influence of Christian preachers on the minds of their listeners and viewers has made it important that their words must be such that promote tolerance and harmony in the society. Bigotry and hatred must find no room in their sermons. They are to discourage the faithful from treading such paths.”

    “Even though the church should not deepen our fault lines, Christian preachers must be bold in speaking out against obvious injustices and economic inequities that plague our country. This is vital, given the fact that such injustices and inequities are generally the primary sources of much of the conflicts in our societies, which in turn result in insecurity.

    “The church must teach its members that their religious obligation does not include re-enacting the bloody crusades of past centuries. We cannot force our religious beliefs or views on others. We are to reason with them by persuasion. The church should strive to win others through personal love and overcome evil with good.”

    The cleric noted that collaboration between the church and the state could help in tackling religious intolerance and stemming the attendant social insecurity.

    Pioneer Dean of the Cathedral, Ven. Layi Akinwande, said Christians must practise what the Bible says and set example for others.

    The cleric said this would prevent insecurity and religious intolerance.

    He said: “The church should show good examples, ensure there is justice in the church because where there is injustice, there cannot be security.”

    Mr Babatunde Ogala urged the church to work against insecurity in the land.

    He said: “Spiritual leaders are to define values and orientation. They are supposed to be the role models to lead this charge. But it is unfortunate that they have been too quiet. They are not condemning cases of insurgency, kidnapping and drums of war, among others. We cannot continue to sit down in the church to pray; we must come out to condemn injustice, irrespective of who is involved.”

  • How to tackle youth unemployment, by experts

    How to tackle youth unemployment, by experts

    More than 25 per cent of Nigerian youths are unemployed, and a huge skill gap exists in the labour market. Therefore, there is the urgent need to re-jig tertiary institutions’ curricula to reflect current needs of the private sector.

    Also, there is the need to shift emphasis on theoretical teachings to practical transfer of skills to prepare youths for the workplace environment. Youths, on their part, should embrace self-employment through entrepreneurship opportunities available in agriculture and services sectors.

    These are part of the recommendations in a communiqué issued at the end of one-day Chief Executive Officers’ Summit on Youth Employment in Nigeria with the theme: “The Challenge of Skills-Mismatch & the Roles of CEOS in Tackling Youth Unemployment”.

    The Summit, which held last week in Lagos, was organised by Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL). Its aim was to address the problem of skills mismatch on youth employment by bringing together high-profile CEOs and youth representatives to discuss the challenge and proffer practical solutions.

    It was also aimed at assisting participants from diverse sectors in the private sector to deliberate, understand and appreciate the dynamics, implications and future impact of youth unemployment on their businesses and growth, and development of the economy.

    Recommending a re-jig of the curricula of tertiary institutions, the Summit observed that tertiary education curricula are antiquated in most cases, behind technological developments and therefore, not properly aligned to the needs of the modern labour market, particularly the private sectors.

    It also observed that the absence of entrepreneurship studies at secondary and tertiary levels of education system has blinded youths to potential opportunities available in self-employment in the economy. It, therefore, recommended that all secondary and tertiary institutions be compelled to establish Career Development Units to provide guidance and counseling to youths.

    The Summit also recommended that government should institute a ‘Ranking System’ to rate tertiary institutions in terms of quality of teaching staff and associated resources in order to engender competition and self-improvement similar to the practice in the United States (US).

    While describing the industrial training scheme of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) as novel and should be sustained and improved, the communiqué, however, advised the government to improve its financial administration in order to ensure release of funds as at when due to ITF. This, according to them, will enable it meet its obligations to students on industrial attachment.

    The CEOs were also advised to form closer alliance and establish advocacy group to contribute to policy articulation, with the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA) providing immediate platform to implement the recommendation.

    They were also urged to design human capital development programmes for current and future employees as part of strategic growth plan and drop the mindset that trained staff have the tendency to quit employment after training.

    The Summit mandated CVL to organise a fresh summit to provide a platform for interface between businesses and the academia, adding that a partnership with the National University Commission (NUC) should be explored in this regard.

    Attendance at the Summit included chief executives representing multinational firms and Small and Medium Enterprises; personnel and recruitment consultants; civil society organisations in the employment space, donor and development partners.

  • Police, monarchs tackle herders-farmers clashes

    Police, monarchs tackle herders-farmers clashes

    For two days in Abuja, the police, traditional rulers, the Leadership Group, and others sought answers to perhaps Nigeria’s most pressing challenge, PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU and FAITH YAHAYA report.

    ‘We must provide an enabling environment for the herdsmen who do not require electricity or road. All they need is water and it is not being provided. I am an individual, I drink water and it is a private thing but animals also have the right to survive. When we bring in the argument of private business, we are linking it to ethnic or religious dimension; we are not looking at it from the business angle. Markets, dams, roads and others are provided by government. If we should tell a taxi driver to construct a road for himself because he plies the road, it makes mockery of Nigeria’

    The horrors of herders-farmers clashes are everywhere in their gory details. People, among them women and children, are murdered in cold blood, farmlands, houses are destroyed, herds are killed or rustled in thousands.

    Socio-economic activities are brought to a halt in affected communities, which affects the economy of the nation. Hunger, poverty and unemployment become the order of the day, posing grave threats to national security.

    No fewer than 12 states-Adamawa, Zamfara, Kaduna, Ekiti, Delta, Niger, Plateau, Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra and Taraba-are battling with the crisis, apart from such other security challenges as communal wars, kidnapping and armed robbery.

    This was why the office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris convened a national security summit in collaboration with the Leadership Group and the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN).

    Participants at the two-day summit held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, expressed worries that the herders-farmers clashes might break the country if nothing was done to stop it.

    The participants included Governors of Kaduna, Benue and Gombe states, Nasri el-Rufai, Samuel Ortom and Ibrahim Dankwabo respectively, Minister for Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau; Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Emir of Gumi, Justice Lawal Gunmi, Chairman, Leadership Group, Sam Nda-Isaiah, Professors Oshita Oshita, Sani Luga, Jospeh Golwa, Hamidu Sharabutu, Olu Ogunsakin and Armstrong Adejo, Director General, Awareness Trust, Dr. Lydia Umar, legislators, as well as representatives of herders and farmers.

    They agreed there should be a standard operating procedure for livestock farming, just as the issue of forest guards, rehabilitation of grazing reserves and adoption of cattle ranching topped the discussions. The participants also suggested a harmonious relationship between the wives of herders and farmers, noting that it would nip clashes in the bud.

    IGP Idris said the way out of farmers-herders conflict was for Nigerians to be tolerant with each other.

    He said, “The main way to tackle the issue of herdsmen and farmers is for us to be our brother’s keeper. We grew up in this country and we saw how people migrated to other places and settled peacefully. I think it is just the element of give and take that is lacking and like somebody observed, Nigerians are becoming intolerant of each other. Until we stop the intolerance and believe that we have to forego something in order to get something, the communal clashes and ethnic disagreements would continue. The reason for the summit is for all stakeholders to assemble and proffer solutions to improving security across the country.”

    Nda-Isaiah suggested that the government should use the same force it deployed in tackling Boko Haram on the farmers-herders crisis, adding that the police should be equipped and deployed not only the military.

    Sharabutu, who’s the President, Veterinary Council of Nigeria, said the standard procedure would minimise open grazing and also stop young Fulani children from being herders. He said it would make the herders responsible for the actions of their cattle, adding that it would also stop night grazing.

    Sharabutu presented a paper on “identifying regulatory controls for movement of livestock and the cultural relationship with farming communities: Options for peaceful co-existence.” He said the lack of infrastructural provisions for grazing was the main cause of the conflicts.

    He lamented that the established and developed stock routes for grazing have been either overtaken by buildings, farmlands or abandoned, noting that the development has forced herders to keep moving in order to save their cattle.

    According to him, cattle need at least six hectares of land per year to survive and there were approximately 19million grazing cattle in the country, forcing herders to scavenge.

    Sharabutu said though there were 417 grazing reserves to cover four million hectares, only about 170 were gazetted, just as he pointed over taxation from authorities and lack of water for the cattle as other reasons herders avoid road shoulders.

    On the way forward, Sharabutu said all herders must be registered and identified, adding that government should provide necessary infrastructure that would encourage people to establish livestock farms and settle down.

    He said: “The issue of infrastructural provision for the existing grazing reserve is the main thing. Why we keep talking about maintaining animal farms, those establishment (grazing reserves) particularly in the northern parts of the country, have no deliberate allocation that would solve the problem of these livestock farmers.

    “If we have to do that, then we must provide for them in the budget and make sure that these established grazing reserves must work at all cost. The Ministry of Environment must provide forest guards to police our bushes.

    “Most of our security agents are resident in town. It should look at the issue of forest guards. If we had forest guards that are operational in Sambisa forest, Boko Haram would not stay there and dug tunnels, where ammunition were buried without people knowing.

    “Already, the Minister of Agriculture has brought the issue of Agro Rangers but that is to protect farm lands and crops, forest guards are meant to protect those areas and they are to be provided by our own institutions in this country.

    “Everybody will tell you cattle rearing is private business. Agriculture and farming are private business. Who gives them the feeds and who promulgate policies? Who build access roads and markets for traders? Who gives them loans? Why can’t the government provide dams for the herders?

    “So, there is an extent to which we talk about private business. We must provide an enabling environment for them. The typical herdsmen do not require electricity nor road, all he needs is water and it is not being provided. I am an individual, I drink water and it is a private thing but animals also have the right to survive.

    “When we bring the argument of private business, we are linking it to ethnic or religious dimension; we are not looking at it from the business angle. Markets, dams, roads and others are provided by government. If we should tell a taxi driver to construct a road for himself because he plies the road, it makes mockery of Nigeria.”

    Sharabutu talked about the functionality of traditional rulers and prosecutors, whom he said, are usually heads of professional bodies such as the blacksmiths, farmers and herders.

    “Now if we make them functional, they will be very serious and thereby solve the problem at the beginning point. Traditional rulers must be given a proper standing not the ceremonial kind of leadership. We have cited example on how they are commended but they do not have any legal backing to actually implement their activties.