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Tag: Transparency

  • My take on Transparency International’s latest rating of Nigeria

    My take on Transparency International’s latest rating of Nigeria

    For Nigeria to significantly improve in its corruption perception rating, change must begin with every individual Nigerian.

    Nigeria and the world at large woke up on 22 February, 2018 to read the following sombre story on Nigeria’ corruption perception status:
    Corruption still high in Nigeria –Transparency International
    “Corruption is getting worse in Nigeria, according to the latest corruption perception index (CPI) released by Transparency International (TI), yesterday.
    While Nigeria scored 27/100 and was ranked 136th in 2016, the latest CPI scores Nigeria 28/100 but, with a rank of 148, out of 180 countries surveyed—a significant 12 places below where it was the previous year.
    This will come as a blow to the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, which came into office on the strength of his anti-corruption credential …”

    Since the report, all manner of analysts have gone to town lambasting the Buhari government’s anti – corruption efforts, with the political opposition hoisting it as a banner to their several critique of the President’s number one programme.This piece will take a critical look at the report, which did not come as a surprise to the columnist but for reasons far more than “grassgate”, Mainagate – gate and the lot.

    But first, two very illuminating take on the report by two individuals who know exactly what they are talking about.

    First Professor Bolaji Aluko who in: “http://www.nigerianmuse.com

    /2 0061213120517zg/sections/essay s/nigeria-10-years-of-transpar ency-international-monitoring- perception-of-nigerias-corrupt ion/

    And

    http://nigerianmuse.com/essays /?u=corruption_nigeria_how_why .htm has for long demonstrated a keen interest in analysing T.I’s reports on Nigeria, dating back to both the Abacha and the Abubakar years. He wrote as follows on the latest report:

    “This gleeful conclusion cannot be correct, and buys into a biased narrative. TI’s corruption index is 0 to 100, with 0 being worst and 100 being best. Nigeria has successively scored 25, 27 and 28 in 2015-2017 – and yet the conclusion is that “Corruption is getting worse in Nigeria?”

    No, our anti-corruption is yielding fruit albeit slowly, and so slowly that other nations’ efforts are outstripping ours so that they are out-ranking us.  That is a distinction with a big difference, and may be an indication of how much corruption is entrenched in our country, and the need to take more drastic action.   It also calls on us to look at what those who recently out-ranked us did to pull off their feat

    I have been studying TI index for over 20 years now, particularly Nigeria’s position in it, I look not only at the index itself, but the rank, the number of countries ranked, the indices used and even weightings.  These change from year to year, and only the uninitiated just looks at one number or another, and then says Aha, that is an undisputable conclusion.

    I am fully aware that the worst corruption of the PMB administration in these three years is nowhere close to the rapaciousness that I observed at close quarters under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration in six years, or under PDP in sixteen.   Nigeria is a pyramid of corruption – and yes we are going through challenging times, and corruption is fighting back. No doubt, Babachir and Oke and Kingibe (at NIA), Maina at Pencil, NHIS’ Yusuf and the Magu/NASS fiascoes have put a dent into perceptions, but the anti corruption effort must continue. If we stay the course things will improve significantly”

    Wrote multi- award winning journalist, Adewale Adeoye:

    “Transparency International works on verifiable data through its numerous agencies in Nigeria. Our country remains ‘fantastically corrupt’. Just this morning, I read in The Punch how NDLEA in Enugu abducted a man. He was forced to visit his ATM and 160k extorted from him at gun point. He raised the alarm. Police came. The NDLEA officials settled the police and police left. The most graphic images of corruption confront any visitor to Nigeria right from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport. The officials openly ask for “What did you bring.” Right outside the airport, you are welcomed by the social disorder and chaos that rule Nigeria from head to toe. The policemen on the highways continue to collect bribe in our very eyes. Fighting corruption is not just about arresting and putting in jail some big men. Fighting corruption means changing the values and mindset of the Nigerian people. This may involve using state controlled strategic means of mass communication and this must be legalised through leadership examples.  I totally agree with the views that corruption will continue as long as the current Senate leadership remains. At present, the APC is half PDP and half APC. PDP is entrenched in APC and makes the machine difficult to roll by. The thickening plot to democratically overthrow the President Buhari government is being hatched. The plot began on May 29, 2015. The agenda was to use President Buhari to stabilise the wobbling system, having used him, it is now time to throw him away like an empty sack. Unfortunately, President Buhari is less endowed with critical thinkers and an effective strategic caucus. He is also slow and less decisive.  If he had, he would have long cut into pieces the wings of the rogue cells that have effectively taken over the two arms out of the three arms of government.”

    However, my take on the report, which is far simpler than those of the two eggheads quoted, but which daily stare us in the face, go as follows:

    I am not in the least surprised at the latest T. I report on Nigeria. In the first place the party that stole  Nigeria to bare bones  in its 16 year stranglehold, still has within it, not only humongous, stolen financial resources,  but much more malignant is its usurious connection,  and power, over the top echelons of both the Nigerian  judiciary and  middling to senior levels within the Nigerian  security apparati. With these, and as long as money is still in use in Nigeria, they will continue to leverage on these strategic assets to make nonsense of almost every anti corruption agency or effort, thereby, keeping corruption alive and kicking even luxuriating.

    It is under these instrumentalities that the following happened in Nigeria in the last three years:

    1. Saraki and co got installed in senate leadership using significant financial resources from PDP elements who have since literally taken over the inner core of the legislature, forever doing its best to frustrate Buhari’s every effort since  majority APC members are nothing more than birds of passage in the party;
    2. Judges homes became richer than any bureau de change as copiously shown by efcc’s discovery of millions of dollars, yen, pounds from them in a sting operation;
    3. SANs continue to buy judges, and court decisions, for their high heeled clients who pay fees and bribes in millions of dollars. This has been duly attested to by judicial authorities which has disciplined many, and therefore, not hearsay.
    4. Some leading members of the silk introduce their clients to judges and funnel the bribes. There are cases in court affirming these.
    5. Whilst the above happen, only God knows how much PDP looters, anxious to escape justice, have bribed elements within the police and other security personnel;

    There’s no way Transparency International, working through its local resources, could have missed out on these infamies, or on the fact that bribery within the Nigerian police, especially through bribes right on the highways which has been shown through documented research, totals in billions daily.

    For Nigeria to significantly improve in its corruption perception rating, change must begin with every individual Nigerian. We, as citizens of this otherwise great country, must change our anti social and evil ways. There is no two way to it and since Buhari’s well known personal integrity has not succeeded in changing us, we must all now realise that we will all, on the last day, account to God for all our actions on terra firma.

  • Sagay: Transparency International report erroneous

    Sagay: Transparency International report erroneous

    Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) chairman Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) yesterday described the latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International (TI) as erroneous.

    The index, which ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

    While Nigeria scored 27/100 and was ranked 136th in 2016, the latest CPI scores Nigeria 28/100.

    It ranks 148 out of 180 countries surveyed —12 places below where it was the previous year.

    Sagay said corruption was perceived to still be high because of frequent revelations of acts of graft.

    To him, TI misinterpreted the fact that acts of corruption were being exposed on daily basis.

    He said: “Transparency International is making a major error. It is confused between the actual level of corruption and the level of revelation of acts of corruption. Corruption was worse than now.

    “But, because of the activities of the anti-corruption agencies, particularly the EFCC, virtually no day passes without one act of corruption or the other being revealed.

    “To someone who is just relying on statistics of what is revealed, it’d seem that corruption is increasing. In fact, it is decreasing, because those that are revealed involve prosecution of suspects or forfeiture of assets.

    “Corruption is being dealt with. So, that’s the error there.”

    PACAC Executive Secretary Prof Bolaji Owasanoye said the index relies on public opinion, but that fighting corruption was an ongoing process.

    “The way the study is conducted is that public opinion is sought on perception,” he said.

    According to him, people may perceive corruption as being high because of low conviction rate.

    “They have not seen people in jail, but of course that is a process that cannot be short-circuited, and all manner of reforms are going on around that,” Owasanoye said.

    Special Assistant on Prosecution to the President, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, described the report as a “sham” which does not reflect the reality.

    “Indication cannot be the reality. Those reports are based on assumptions and sometimes they are not true. Are we not fighting corruption? We cannot kill people. Do they expect us to slaughter everybody before they know that this government is fighting corruption?

  • NCC, CBN query Barclays’ transparency in sale of 9mobile

    NCC, CBN query Barclays’ transparency in sale of 9mobile

    The two regulators that saved former Etisalat Nigeria (now 9mobile) from being taken over the a consortium of local lenders, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), have questioned the handling of the sale process of 9mobile by Barclays Africa, its financial advisors.

    A letter jointly endorsed by the heads of the two regulators to GTBank, which is the facility agent for the 9mobile syndicated loan, expressed displeasure with the “unwillingness of Barclays Africa” to follow due process in the bid.

    In the letter, dated November 4, 2017,  and endorsed by NCC’s CEO, Prof Umar Danbatta, and CBN Governor,  Godwin Emefiele, the two regulators said they made it clear from the outset that the sale process must be “transparent and fair, with the financial and technical capabilities of the final bidders without question”.

    They said they now have “serious concerns” since the appointment of Barclays Africa as financial advisors.

    “They have repeatedly exhibited signs of opacity in the sale process for 9mobile. Given the overriding public interest in the company and the need for transparency, we advised that Barclays advertise the call for ‘expression of interest’. Barclays declined, insisting instead that the company being a private one, should not be taken through a public sale.

    “This lack of a transparent process has proven to be selective and arbitrary, leading to allegations that the process is being teleguided to a rigged and predetermined outcome. The CBN and the NCC will not fold their arms and allow this to materialise,” the letter read.

    Danbatta and Emefiele said they had received reports and petitions from various stakeholders, including some bidders, which have further heightened their concerns—but their suggestions to the board of 9mobile and Barclays on how to restore credibility to the process have been ignored.

    The CBN and NCC then directed that all steps and decisions taken by the financial advisers as well as other advisers from the end of “expression of interest” must be communicated to CBN and NCC, who will have to approve in writing.

    They also directed that the final bid process must be “open and transparent” in line with international best practices.

    Danbatta and Emefiele said the December 31, 2017 deadline for the handover of 9mobile to the preferred bidders “remains sacrosanct”.

     

    Ten  firms are said to have moved to the financial stage of the bid process to acquire the ailing telco.

    The companies listed are Globacom Nigeria Limited, Bharti Airtel, Alheri Engineering Limited, Smile Telecoms Holdings, Helios Towers, Centricus Capital, Africell, Abraaj Capital, Teleology Holdings Limited, Ericsson, Africa Capital Alliance (ACA) and The Carlyle Group.

    The company formerly known as Etisalat Nigeria changed its brand name to 9Mobile in July after the Mubadala Group, the major investor from the United Arab Emirates, pulled out of Nigeria’s fourth largest mobile operator following a N541 billion debt.

    The debt is owed to a consortium of 10 banks, with GTBank acting as the facility agent.

    The sale of 9mobile, with 21 million subscribers, is expected to bring in the needed capital to restore it to good health.

  • Transparency in NNPC, oil sector: what role for PIB?

    Transparency in NNPC, oil sector: what role for PIB?

    The row between Minister of State for Petroleum Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director Dr. Maikanti Baru has refocused attention on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which analysts believe has the capacity to entrench transparency in the sector, writes EMEKA UGWUANYI.

    Rev. David Ugolor, the Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), believes the row between Minister of State for Petroleum Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director Dr. Maikanti Baru would not have happened if the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari had concluded the passage and assent of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill.

    Ugolor said the conclusion of the enactment of the law would forestall that kind of row and also ensure transparency in the oil sector.

    He said: “We believe that the inconsistencies being thrown up by the startling revelations from the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources include some of the issues which the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill seeks to address and redress.”

    A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West, is, however, not excited about the PIB.

    David-West said: “Some people also said that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would have prevented that kind of situation if it had been passed. That is not correct. The PIB is not the solution to the problem in the Nigerian oil industry. In fact, if passed the way it is, it can destroy the industry. I have read it. It is not a serious bill. It has only 40 words. If they don’t look at it carefully before passing it, it can destroy the industry.”

    President of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Mr. Abiodun Adesanya, said: “This issue brings to the fore the issue of passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). PIB has solution to this problem and it becomes surprising why the House Representatives is sitting on the Bill while the Senate is giving it speedy treatment.

    “Let us not allow political issues to destroy the good deeds achieved in the sector. The President should call Kachikwu and Baru, resolve the issue amicable and ensure such issues are treated and resolved internally and kept away from public consumption in future.”

    For the Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Mr. Eze Onyekpere, the issue calls for need to speedily and totally pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law. He said the managers of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources should be more concerned with maximizing value from the resources for the benefits of Nigerians especially as oil and gas are being threatened by shift to use of renewable energies.

    Onyekpere said he is yet to see any company law that doesn’t present its activities to the board before implementation, adding that the issue is test case for the reforms for the sector.

    “The situation presents a water-tight case for the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) because the world is not waiting for Nigeria. The nation is currently facing the challenges posed by the increasing production and choice for renewable energy worldwide.

    “The world is moving away from use of fossil fuels and we should be concerned as a nation what to do with the hydrocarbon resources we have before it becomes totally useless. The world is leaving Nigeria behind.

    “The allegations against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are critical because they border on lack of transparency and lack of due process and should be taken seriously irrespective of who is involved.

    “I want to look at the company law that says a company doesn’t report its activities to the board. It is nonsensical to classify firms that lift crude oil as off-takers. Also at what point did the NNPC present the report to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and who presented the report to FEC when the Minister of Petroleum was not aware? Is it the President the presented it to FEC or was it the Vice President when the President was away?

    “What is happening is an aberration and a watertight case for reforms for the oil and gas sector that is the mainstay of the country.”

    Members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) alleged that over N235 billion had been lost in the last 17 years that the bill’s passage had been delayed.

    NUPENG Chairman Hyginus Onuegbu expressed worry that the aspect of the bill passed by the Senate only deals with the governance and institutional framework of the country’s petroleum industry. The other aspects of the PIB, which was unbundled into five different components, ostensibly for easy passage, include: Petroleum Fiscal Framework Bill; Petroleum Industry Downstream Administration Bill; Petroleum Industry Revenue Management Framework Bill and Petroleum Host Community Bill.

    He said: “We look forward to the passage of the other aspects such as the: The Petroleum Fiscal Framework Bill; The Petroleum Industry Downstream Administration Bill; The Petroleum Industry Revenue Management Framework Bill and the Petroleum Host Community Bill.

    “The bill, as passed, will not deliver the full benefits of the intended reforms, except a legislation is made in the other parts. It is worrisome that no mention was made of the petroleum host community fund, particularly as it is the major challenge in the Niger Delta area.”

    The Managing Partner, J.O Adidi and Co., Mr. John Adidi, expressed his disappointment over the passage of the PIGB, which is an aspect of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) by the Eighth Senate. He described the PIGB as a component of the original Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

    “It’s not the most critical aspect of the PIB as far as the IOCs and indigenous operators are concerned”, Adidi said.

    The Eighth Senate, under the leadership of Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Joint Committee on the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), chaired by Senator Tayo Alasoadura, passed the PIGB 2016, after PIB’s 17 year’s hiatus.

    Adidi and other industry experts argue that the National Assembly put the wrong foot forward by first passing the PIGB without first considering other critical aspects of the bill, particularly the Petroleum Host Community Bill and the Petroleum Fiscal Framework Bill.

    He said: “Now you have passed the PIGB and the other bills are nowhere to be found, what will the PIGB do on its own without being complemented by the Petroleum Fiscal Framework Bill, the Petroleum Industry Downstream Administration Bill, the Petroleum Industry Revenue Management and the Host Community Bill?”

    According to him, splitting the PIB into six components and passing an aspect that has nothing to do with fiscal and host community concerns will hurt current efforts at driving significant investments in the industry.

    “We are just dancing in circles. The most important bills have not even gone anywhere in the House. The first reading in the House is just for mention. The international investors are watching and they would want to see what has been passed”, Adidi said.

    The Chairman, Enfrasco Energy and Infrastructure Services, Mr. Chukwuma Okolo, said the unbundling of the PIB into components and their passages in instalments would hurt investment.

    He accused the National Assembly of avoiding the real subject matter (fiscal matters and peace and stability in the Niger Delta) and settling for the least important issue (governance and institutional framework).

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Gacmork (Nigeria) Limited, Alex Neyin, advised the Senate to pass a bill that would be conclusive, insisting that it was wrong for the Red Chamber to have passed the governance bill and ignored the component that is expected to add value to the lives of the host communities.

    He said: “If you pass the bill without the host community part of it, then it could be classified as scam because you cannot be telling the people that you are going to compensate them and you will now turn around and talk of how much money to make out of them without thinking of what to put back to improve their lives.”

    Mrs. Ibilola Amao of Lonadek Consulting and Local Content Advisory Services also stressed the need for the communities to be more involved in the exploration and exploitation of resources in their areas. She said there must be equity and fairness.

    Mrs. Amao, who commended the PIB, however, said there must be adequate provision that the owners of the resources are engaged more effectively. This, she said, will make them more participatory stakeholders.

    Her words: “We would like to see that the communities are more involved. The primary intent of the PIB was to commit the communities to maximising the return on investment for harnessing their natural resources so that it would create jobs and wealth for members of the communities.”

    Mrs. Amao also accused governors in the Niger Delta for not addressing the welfare and wellbeing of people in their domains.

    According to her, the state governors see the assets as avenue to enrich themselves and not to address the local community issues rather.

    She said: “The state governments should be engaging with the oil companies and the people in the communities to make sure that work goes on, and not seeking for their own personal interests. We need to go back to equity and fair play if we want to move forward as a country.”

    She emphasised that no investor (local or foreign), would want to put his money in a volatile atmosphere.

    The PIGB, which split the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into three different entities, was also faulted by Okolo. He expressed doubt over government’s readiness to run the NNPC in a way that it would compete with its peers such as Petro Brass, PETRONAS or Saudi Aramco.

    The PIGB as passed by the Senate created three entities from the NNPC, including: Nigeria Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPRC), National Petroleum Assets Management Company (NPAMC) and Nigeria Petroleum Company (NPC).

    The NPRC will serve as a regulatory entity for the entire petroleum industry (upstream, midstream and downstream), the NPAMC will serve as the counterpart and administrator of production sharing agreements and such other risk-based agreements as the government may decide to conclude.

    On the other hand, the NPC will serve as an integrated oil and gas company operating as a fully commercial entity across the value chain.

    Its activities include: joint venture operations, operation of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), frontier exploration and other upstream/service activities, refineries, and petrochemicals, among others.

    Okolo said: “I don’t think we are yet politically mature to run a true international oil company that is owned by the government. You don’t make somebody competent by passing a law, without competent hands. The skills set necessary to drive the oil and gas industry does not exist within Nigeria, it does not exist in the NNPC.

    “If the government wants to run an organisation with competent hands, then it should select people purely on the basis of competence and merit. There must be consideration to quota system, ethnicity or even nationality.

    Neyin recommended that the NNPC workers and other government employees be reoriented, adding that their attitudes have never made the system profitable.

    The Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Federal Character, Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Sergius Ose Ogun, informed that the bill had gone through the second reading in both chambers.

    Ose Ogun said that an ad hoc committee was set up to look into it. According to him, both the host community and the fiscal framework bills were all in the component bill that went through the second reading in the Senate and in the House.

    He added that they are being considered all together. “The committee set up had met and hopefully before the end of the year, the bill will be passed into law,” the lawmaker assured.

    The Head of Energy Desk, Ecobank, Mr. Dolapo Oni,  said as much as the passage of the PIGB was welcome, the knotty part of the PIB that has kept the bill on the table has not been tackled.

    It remains to be seen if the National Assembly will hearken the calls for the conclusion of work on the PIB.

  • Body seeks transparency in projects’ implementation

    Association of Micro Enterpreneurs of Nigeria (AMEN) President, Prince Saviour  Iche, has called  for renewed commitment for  industrial strategy, which he said, would create good jobs for everyone in every part of the country.

    Iche said his organisation was ready to work with the government to  pursue an industrial strategy  that  takes an active role, not just in improving individuals’ abilities to access the labour market through boosting skills or transport links, but in how well local economies can  provide jobs.

    According to Iche, the nation requires private sector partnership to push an economic strategy, which creates more and better jobs, adding that the  national picture on jobs was good and a deeper dive into people’s experiences of the labour market shows  issues that need attention.

    He stressed AMEN’s commitment to partnership with government to work to identify infrastructure and skills’ needs and then provide services and skills to ensure local people  benefit from inward investment. He called for improved transparency in infrastructure projects’ provision to prevent wastage of public funds.

    Iche said infrastructure projects should t offer value for money, pointing out that poor investment decisions could lock the economy into inappropriate infrastructure systems for many years with significant harmful effects on future prosperity.

    He  warned against focussing on white elephants projects that deliver scant economic dividends leading to wasting of public money in the process.

  • Lalong advocates transparency in welfare programme implementation

    Lalong advocates transparency in welfare programme implementation

    Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has called for transparency in the implementation of the Social Investment Programme (SIP).

    He praised the Federal Government for introducing it, saying its implementation must be devoid of corruption.

    Lalong said the programme proved the welfarist disposition of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.

    “We must take ownership of the process by transparently adhering to laid down procedures,” the governor said.

    He spoke during an interactive session with beneficiaries of the programme in Plateau State.

    Lalong said: “The introduction of the Federal Government Social Safety Nets with the highest single allocation in the budget, of N500billion for 2017, the first of its kind in Nigeria, is a statement of purpose that has proven the welfarist disposition of the Buhari administration.

    “Putting in place a policy on Social protection with focus on poverty reduction, assistance to the vulnerable persons, provision of startups, rural health care improvements and Agro-based economic development programmes are necessary triggers that will enhance the social wellbeing and economic self-reliance of the citizens of Nigeria, particularly those who are at the poverty stratum of our society.

    “Our administration on the Plateau, in line with our mission statement of repositioning the atate on the path of social and economic transformation, proactively keyed into the programme, which was flagged off by Mr. President in May, 2016.”

    The governor said the state was celebrating the implementation of SIP’s four components, namely the N-Power Programme, the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, the Social Support Programme for the poorest of the poor and the Government Enterprises and Empowerment programme.

    Lalong added: “Plateau State as a caring and people oriented government, has endeavoured to provide the environment for the effective implementation of all the components of the Social Investment Programme. On our part we are focusing on the recent partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to build the capacity of our youths and subsequently economically empower them.

    “The attention paid on the Anchor Borrowers Scheme which has a link with the Home Grown School Feeding Programme under SIP; improving primary health care services through renovations and upgrading of facilities, and rebuilding access roads which serve as links to the value chain in the area of agriculture.

    “The SIP is no doubt a connector between government and the citizens.  Through it, the citizens can feel the pulse of government as efforts are being made to make life better for all.

    “We must take ownership of the process by transparently adhering to laid down procedures. I am confident that by the end of this important intervention, Plateau and indeed Nigeria will be positively transformed.”

    The governor urged the beneficiaries to be committed to their duties so as to add value to the process.

    “I congratulate all the beneficiaries for being part of the team to actualise the manifesto of our great party, the All Progressive Congress (APC),” he added.

    Executive Assistant to the Governor/ Focal person of the programme, Dr. Hamza Sumaye  thanked the Governor and beneficiaries. She urged them to remain committed to the programme to ensure maximum results.

    She said: “I must at this point appreciate our leader as the main pilot of the process for providing the enabling environment within which SIP is implemented in plateau State. His commitment made it possible for the State to commence implementation of the four component s of SIP.”

  • Paris Club refunds: Bayelsa and imperative of Transparency Briefing

    Paris Club refunds: Bayelsa and imperative of Transparency Briefing

    When the Federal Ministry of Finance introduced the publication of funds allocated to various tiers of government, it was designed to let the public know the resources available to government at all levels.

    The publication of funds allocated to states from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee was also meant to promote transparency and avoid rumour mongering as one cannot expect government to perform beyond its finances.

    Unfortunately, that policy was not adopted by many states, thereby creating crisis of confidence, especially when state governments claim that they cannot fulfil some obligations because of paucity of funds.

    However, the recent publication of money received by each state of the federation by the Federal Ministry of Finance under the Paris Club Refund had generated controversies.

    Though the controversy cut across all the states of the federation, in the oil rich Bayelsa, the government had to brief the people on the true situation.

    There were conflicting figures on what was published by the Federal Ministry of Finance and what the Bayelsa Government said it received.

    The figure published by the Federal Ministry of Finance showed that Bayelsa received N24.895 billion, while the Bayelsa Government said it received N21.168 billion.

    The Deputy Governor of the state, retired Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah, who addressed the issue during the Transparency Briefing in April, said the state received N14.5 billion in November last year out of the N21.168 billion due to the state for the first tranche of the Paris Club refund.

    The deputy governor, however, disclosed the receipt of additional N6.61 billion in the month of March, as the balance of the N21.168 billion, out of which N1.9 billion was released to the local government councils.

    His words: “The Paris Club refund to states is not a gift from the Federal Government to pay salaries; it is state governments’ money that was deducted without consulting the states. At a meeting, it was decided that the money should be paid in two installments.

    “A chart was drawn up and the entitlements of every state were written. But, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria decided to pay the money in four installments that is 25 per cent at a time.

    “When the first 25 per cent was paid, Bayelsa ought to get N21.168 billion, but then, when the money came, they only released N14.5 billion to us.

    “ The first tranche was supposed to have been N21.168 billion. But again, the N14.5 billion was not for the state government alone because out of the amount, N1.3 billion was for the local government councils. So, what actually came to the state government was N13.2 billion.’’

    The deputy governor also said that the state recorded N1.13 billion as its internally generated revenue in March 2017 as against N983 million declared in February, attributing the increase to deliberate efforts to beef up the revenue base of the state.

    He said the government would sustain the current drive, particularly in the area of wooing investors to boost the revenue.

    As a result of public outcry after the release of states’ shares from the Paris Club refund, governors have pledged to judiciously spend the second tranche recently approved by Acting- President Yemi Osinbajo.

    A statement by the Nigerian Governors Forum said all the 36 governors made the pledge at a recent meeting held at the Abuja residence of Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara.

    Mr Bello Barkindo, the governor’s spokesman in a statement, said the governors met in anticipation of the release of the money approved by vice-president.

    “The governors met in anticipation of the release of the other half of the Paris-London Club refund which has been gratuitously approved for payment by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the funds are expected to hit the states accounts within the month.

    “We all agreed that a substantial amount from the next tranche of the Paris-London refunds be used in the settlement of workers salary and pension arrears,” Barkindo quoted Yari as saying after the meeting.

    Also, ahead of the release of the second tranche, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC ) had enlisted the support of anti-graft agencies to ensure judicious use of the funds.

    The TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama, said that the union had involved the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe states which defaulted in using the disbursements to pay workers.

    “We have asked the ICPC and the EFCC to probe those states; we already called for their probe. The call we made to the EFCC and ICPC is not only for the first tranche, but subsequent tranches; the agencies and the TUC have been interacting well on the probe.

    “We are working with the Federal Government which directed that the fund be used first for the payment of arrears and pensions before the states do anything else. So if the states do anything else, it would be contrary to the directive.

    “We have been liaising with the anti-corruption agencies to make sure that they follow these disbursements. We also asked our TUC state levels to monitor the disbursements,’’ Kaigama said.

    Similarly, the NLC Secretary Peter Ozo-Eson said, “We have involved the anti-corruption agencies.

    “From the first bailout, we partnered the ICPC to monitor the funds and we expect this to continue.

    “Our directive to the NLC state councils is to also monitor the funds and ensure that the payment of arrears of salaries and pensions take priority.’’

    In the light of this, analysts commend the Bayelsa Government, observing that it is not surprising that the state government took time to address the controversies associated with the Paris Club refund.

    They also note that regular briefings on state finances are already part of government’s policy.

    They observe further that Governor Seriake Dickson, during his first tenure in office in February 2012, adopted the monthly publication of state finances by introducing the Transparency Briefing.

    An executive bill, The Bayelsa Transparency Initiative Bill, was then passed by the Bayelsa House of Assembly to provide legal backing to the policy.

    The Transparency Law makes it mandatory for the governor or his representative to make public on a monthly basis, the financial standing of the state.

    Dickson insists that he introduced the briefing because the people have the right to know about the affairs of government.

    “On transparency, we believe that it is the right of the people of the state to know what funds accrue to the coffers of the state and the various local government councils and how they are utilised.

    “This is the only way to secure the trust and confidence of the people in whom sovereignty lies.

    “I have directed all local government chairmen to comply with this paradigm shift on the issue of transparency, probity and accountability to reflect the new Bayelsa we are building.

    “The government also widened the scope of access to public perusal of government’s income and expenditure by introducing a website, Bayelsa Watch,’’ he said.

    While inaugurating Bayelsa Watch, Mr Jonathan Obuebite, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, said: “It is specially dedicated for the publishing of government’s income and expenditure profile, including the Federation Account Allocation Committee receipts and other monthly deductions.

    “When this administration came on board, precisely Feb. 14, 2012, it introduced the monthly Transparency Briefing, which was the first of its kind in the country.

    “The sole aim was to intimate people and the world at large with government’s earnings and spending, including award of contracts.

    “As a responsible and responsive government, we have decided to take a step further with the launching of our website, so that people can take advantage of it and scrutinise our financial records in line with our transparency and accountability policy.

    “The introduction of the website is aimed at letting the people know that there is absolutely nothing to hide.

    “And this effort of ours will definitely shut down the rumour mill factory trailing government finances for some time now.’’

    He noted that the Transparency Briefing was meant to showcase the state government’s transparency and accountability policy.

    Stakeholders, nonetheless, note that although the Bayelsa Government has publicly made it known what it received from the Paris Club refund, the onus is on the authority that published the figures to dispute the claim.

    They also advise other state governments to emulate Bayelsa and brief their people monthly on their finances for transparency and accountability.

    • Ukoh is of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

  • Group tasks elected Urhobo lawmakers on transparency

    A group, the Urhobo Summit Group, has tasked its elected representatives from to be more accountable to the people.

    They urged elected representatives to frequently give account of their stewardship.

    Speaking at a summit in Asaba-the Delta State Capital, the group also canvassed the development of the Urhobo nation.

    It lamented that the Urhobo people have been relegated in terms of socio economic and political development, given its significant contribution to national development in the past five to six decades of the nation’s existence.

    The Urhobo summit, a non-political organisation, bemoaned the lack of feedback mechanism between elected representatives and constituents, charging them to act as a bridge between government and them.

    The group’s president, Professor Victor Jike bemoaned the dearth of federal infrastructure in Urhobo land and called for urgent steps to redress the injustice.

    According to him Sapele community, host to the Ogorode power station have no electricity supply.

    Other speakers at the event which included former Finance and Economic Planning Commissioner, Olorogun Kenneth Okpara, Dr Godwin Ogbegor of Delta State University Abraka and Omiragwa Henry Diejamaoh were unanimous in their view that the teeming youths of Urhobo land should be empowered.

    They also advocated for skills acquisition and capacity building for youths, urging elected Urhobo representatives to chart the way forward and do the needful by proposing development models.

  • Makarfi urges transparency in management of Buhari’s health

    Makarfi urges transparency in management of Buhari’s health

    The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has urged the Presidency to be more transparent in the management of President Muhammadu Buhari’s health issues.

    In a statement yesterday by the spokesman of the Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the faction joined other Nigerians to welcome the President back home from his 50-day medical vacation to the United Kingdom.

    The statement said: “We pray for the President’s complete recovery and advise the Presidency to be more transparent in managing the health of President Muhmmadu Buhari.

    “Nigerians deserve to know the  health status of their President and how it is being managed.

    “In the same vein, we thank the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for holding fort creditably while the President was away; and urge him to continue to work assiduously to lift the nation out of this debilitating economic recession.

    “To achieve this, all hands must be on deck. There is therefore the need to reduce political tension and bring all Nigerians together.

    “We call on all Nigerians to continue to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari’s quick recovery; and wisdom for the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo in the onerous task of steering the ship of state.”

  • Buhari, victim of transparency — Lai Mohammed

    Buhari, victim of transparency — Lai Mohammed

    Information Minister Lai Mohammed on Wednesday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari had become a victim of his own transparency in relation to his current vacation abroad.

    The Mohammed stated this while speaking with State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the interest Nigerians have shown in knowing the President’s health status.

    According to him, the President is hale, hearty and absolutely in no danger.

    “I can say it without any equivocation, Mr President is well, he is hale and he is hearty; no question about that.

    “I want to assure you, Mr President is well and he is in absolutely no danger.

    “Mr. President, like I said elsewhere, is probably a victim of his own transparency.

    “He was going on leave, he did what the constitution said he should do, transmitted it to the National Assembly and Acting President was put in place.

    “And he said `while I am on leave, I am going to conduct some medical tests’ which many, or all of us do without announcing it.’’

    Mohammed said it was surprising that Buhari was pronounced dead by some people, less than six hours after he arrived in London.

    He noted with regret that even those, who saw the President board the aircraft in Abuja en route London, claimed that he was flown to that country via an air ambulance.

    The minister, who said that the Acting President had been speaking with Buhari on a daily basis, added: “I can assure you that the President is well he is hale and hearty and there is absolutely no cause for concern.’’

    Reacting to the suggestion that the Federal Ministry of Information should be releasing hourly bulletins on the President’s health condition, Mohammed said there was no need for that.

    “Mr President is not ill, he is not in hospital and there is no reason to give anybody any bulletin about his health, pure and simple,’’ he said.

    The minister said that all organs of government were working closely with the ministers and going about their normal duties across the country.

    According to him, there is no cause for alarm. (NAN)