The Nation Newspaper

Tag: trouble

  • The trouble with electricity billing

    SIR: In the service industry, one can never eliminate accounts receivable due to the need to certify services provided, upon which payments are based. The service provider owes the duty to prove that services contracted have been delivered in the right quantity and quality. Disputes can and often arise with regards to these two issues. Resolutions often involve discounts, where service quality is below par, and sometimes, resolution may involve the issuance of credit notes.

    With regards to infrastructure, the need for accurate and transparent billings is a sine-qua-non. The curious case of Nigerian electricity billings and receivables include the situation where a utility service provider would brazenly continually provide bills on estimation, the basis of which is unknown to the consumer. The service provider fears no dispute nor loss where he makes no attempt whatsoever to provide a means of ascertaining the quantity or quality of services rendered.

    Another curious case in the Nigerian electricity industry is that in which Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will obtain appropriation in the annual budget for utilities and still refuse to pay the service provider for continuous periods. The question is – what happens to the funds appropriated for that purpose? How would such an MDA obtain appropriation for the settlement of utility bills (power) for previous physical periods without being queried?

    In Nigeria, the art involved in power billing to the individual consumer consists mainly of the art of pole-climbing – the popular extortionist tactics of NEPA – PHCN – DISCOS. It also includes the sneak distribution of bills when the consumer is most unlikely to be available to challenge the bill.

    Another component of this art is the haggling and negotiations involved in arriving at the non-disconnection or on-the-spot reconnections fee. The final component of this art is the skill involved in arriving at the estimation. The marketing officers take casual inventory of the type of car the consumer uses, his fashion preferences, and possibly the facial ambience of the property occupied. These are the requirements for providing an expert judgment of power consumption – no meters required! In other climes, meters are the only basis for charging utility bills.

    With the level of technological advancement and knowledge freely available, I can bet with any Disco that a set of junior secondary school kids will design a tamper – proof App that will ensure electricity meters cannot be circumvented. The greed of the Discos is the major factor at play here. The continuous issuance of estimated bills is nothing but extortion from the helpless individual consumers to make up for the shortfalls from MDAs who are powerful enough to resist the monthly balloons of estimated bills.

    I believe its high time government beams its searchlight on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to ascertain why they are reluctant to apply the sanctions in the privatization agreement or relief to the consumers. How can we explain a situation where a consumer has been placed on estimated billing for years without being offered a meter? Obviously, the service provider “does not give a dam!”

     

    • Dan Aibangbe,

    Lagos.               

     

  • This generation is in trouble

    This generation is in trouble

    Money is a very powerful thing, it builds empires and breaks down kingdoms, it allows for dreams to come true and it takes others away, it makes some people happy and others completely miserable. Today the pursuit of money is almost directly linked to the pursuit of happiness, many will argue that money = happiness.

    However, this is inherently problematic as this mindset leads many people to stray down a path that doesn’t best suit them. When people choose their careers, they are sometimes blinded by money and so choose to follow the paper trail. Although money is great and can buy us all the things that will temporarily make us happy, no amount of money can buy time. Time is our most valuable asset and it is something, that while on this earth, we should spend most wisely. You shouldn’t feel like you’re mindlessly wasting your life away

    This generation is particularly in trouble because jobs are scarce and many of us will be stuck doing jobs we hate just because we need money. Although this may be the right move for our careers now, this shouldn’t be something we do for the rest of our lives. it is best we search for something we are passionate about. Here are the 10 reasons why you should follow your passion and not the money.

    Working for money may seem like good enough motivation for one to keep at their career

    Every morning Monday through Friday you go to work 9 to 5 sitting their punching away the hours stressing about the work at hand. This is not a way to enjoy your life. Working for 8 hours a day 5 times a week at something that makes you miserable is not the way you live life to the fullest.

    Many people who choose careers that don’t make them happy will tell you that they would all do it differently if they had the chance. You only have one life, so don’t waste it working somewhere you hate just because of the money.

    You’re more passionate about the work you are doing

    There is nothing worse than having to wake up every morning during the week to mindlessly go do work you don’t even care about. However, this is never really an issue when you are passionate about the work you do. If you are not forced to work somewhere because of monetary constraint, you truly enjoy what you do and you never really work a day in your life.

    You can relate more to the work and come up with better ideas

    Being forced to do work is one of the most draining experiences. While there are times at every job where you may feel the work may be draining and dull, you have to realize that not every day is going to be an enjoyable one. There are highs and lows, but when you are passionate about the work you you look past the dull days. Your creative process is also different. You are more inclined to come up with creative ideas when you like what you do.

    Work doesn’t feel like it’s forced upon you

    When you value money over your overall health and your passion, you will find yourself in an endless cycle of misery. Work no longer becomes a career or a journey, but more of a  taxing nuisance on your mind and body that has to get done.

    Every day that you go to work with this mindset you begin to hate your job more and more. While many people feel that they must work hard to retire and have money to enjoy themselves, what’s the point of enjoying yourself in your later years when you spent your life being miserable?

    No matter how much money you make, nothing will help you overcome the feeling of doing something you hate

    Many accountants come into corporate America, put in reckless hours during the week and make a great paycheck on pay day. Many of them have all this money piled up, but they never really get to enjoy the fruits of their labor because their labor takes up most of their lives.

    Many of them hate their jobs because they aren’t really passionate about what they do. Is there a worse feeling than doing something you hate? Eventually this hatred will cause stress and in the long run, it will have lasting effects on your health.

    You are more inclined to work later hours

    When you work somewhere that you are passionate about, putting in later hours isn’t as much of a burden as it is when you don’t like what you are doing. To you, putting in the extra hours doesn’t hurt as much because you don’t feel like you are forced to do it, which makes the experience that much more enjoyable.

    Every industry has a busy season and without a doubt there will come a time when you will need to put in the extra hours. Will it be easier for you to work longer on something you can relate to or something you can’t stand doing?

    You are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty

    Certain obligations at your work will require you to go above and beyond the call of duty. In certain times during the busy seasons, you may be asked to do certain tasks that are not part of your everyday schedule. It is much easier for you to put in the extra work if it’s something you actually care about. Because you are passionate about your job, you will be willing to put in the extra effort to go beyond what is required of you.

    No obstacle will stop you from achieving success

    When you really enjoy what you do, nothing will stop you from getting your work done. Because you are passionate about what you do, you feel unstoppable and nothing can obstruct you from achieving greatness. Your passion ignites your work, and like a rocket, it accelerates you past road blocks that may come about. Any obstacle that comes your way is accepted and fought off with a creative solution.

    Our working careers will consume most of our lives, so we might as well do something we enjoy

    You will spend a majority of your life working and there is no other way around this fac,t unless you are born into a wealthy family or marry rich. For the rest of us who weren’t fortunate enough, we will be spending a good portion of our lives working in order to make ends meet.

    There is no way around this, so we might as well accept the cards we are dealt. Many people go about this the wrong way because they feel like work is something they have to do rather then something they can enjoy. Once you realize that your career should be something you enjoy, then you will lead a more happy and fulfilling life.

    You will get more fulfillment when you finally make it.

    There are few feelings better than achieving a level of success you set out for yourself. Nothing like crossing off your bucket list of goals you set out for yourself to achieve. When you finally reach the pinnacle, it is that much more enjoyable knowing you got there doing something you love. Remember work doesn’t have to be something that you hate doing, stay true to yourself and always do what makes you happy.

     

  • Committees: Trouble returns to Dogara’s House

    Committees: Trouble returns to Dogara’s House

    The last may not have been heard about the tension generated in the House of Representatives by last week’s appointment of standing chairmen and their deputies. This is because there are indications that more Legislators may be planning to announce their rejection of positions given to them in protest of what many of them have described as the lopsided nature of the appointments.

    The announcement of House Committee and Deputies by the Speaker Yakubu Dogara on October 22, caused a lot of furore in the National Assembly. Tempers rose, accusations and counter accusations trailed the list which was considered unfair by the APC lawmakers in the House.

    Tension boiled over during the week when Garba Datti Muhammed, representing Sabon Gari Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, and Sunday Adepoju representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal constituency of Oyo State publicly rejected  the committee positions given to them by the Dogara-led lower House of the national assembly.

    While Muhhammed had been named the chairman of the Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Adepoju was named the deputy chairman of the committee on special duties. Dogara announced the names of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of 96 of 97 Standing Committees penultimate Thursday.

    Though the House leadership, in a swift reaction, reportedly replaced Datti with another lawmaker from his state, Suleiman Samalia, it is yet to comment on Adepoju’s decision to toe the same line. Both members, it was gathered, are loyalists of the House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, who was Dogara’s main challenger for the Speakership position.

    Muhammed, while announcing his resignation, said he wasn’t consulted before his appointment. “I feel as a former principal officer, I should have been consulted before my name was announced. I just heard of it on the floor. And I have my own principles. I have decided on my own to withdraw as the chairman of that committee,” he said.

    Resigning his appointment, Adepoju at plenary said, “It’s nothing personal but we have a duty to ensure that the party we all fought for and succeeded in taking this far should not fail. Conceding key committees to the opposition is another way of ensuring that the programmes APC has for this country are truncated.”

    The Nation also gathered that more lawmakers, especially those in the camp of House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, may announce their rejection of committee positions in a move that is meant to express the group’s rejection of alleged attempt by Dogara to sideline APC lawmakers in the day to day running of the green Chamber.

    The  grievances

    Giving an insight into what may befall the House under Dogara in the days to come Muhaammed said it is unacceptable to APC members, being the majority party in the House, to have PDP lawmakers manning the most sensitive committees as announced by the Speaker.

    “I’m a bit worried with the composition, about how the committees were shared. This is a government of change and we have been in the opposition for the last 16 years and the National Assembly has been controlled by the majority party, the PDP. Even in the last House in the 7th Assembly, we supported Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to emerge as Speaker, but at the end of the day, all the critical committees he shared it to his own party members -the PDP, people that did not even vote for him.

    “But we were not worried because we knew they were the majority party and it’s the practice all over the world. In the US, we have 16 standing committees and these 16 standing committees, the Republican Party are in the majority. And all the 16 committees are headed by members of the Republican Party. It’s only the deputy committees that are given to the minority. You cannot as a party give all the sensitive committees to your opponent.

    “If you can recall, just yesterday the National Publicity Secretary to PDP, Olise Metuh came out to say that all the members of the PDP should brace up and oppose this government. So, if you’re giving them such committees, what is the implication? So these are some of our fears and it portends a lot of danger to this our democracy,” Muhammed said.

    According to a reliable House source, a fresh crisis may be looming in the House as anti-Dogara forces in the chamber are regrouping with the sole aim of forcing the House leadership to review the committee appointments which they claimed is skewed against the majority party.

    The Nation reliably gathered from a ranking House member elected on the platform of the APC that Gbajabiamila has been inundated with complaints even as he said members have also made their views known to the leadership of the ruling party.

    “However, we have learnt a big lesson from what happened during the tussle for the Speakership. We are not going to wait endlessly on the party to reject this anomaly; we have decided to move against this obvious impunity. I can reliably tell you that the Majority Leader was not properly carried along in the constitution of these committees. This is against the spirit of democracy.

    “As the majority party in the House, and the party in government at the federal level, we must not make the mistake of being pushed to the position of minor partner in this government. If we do that, then the change we promised the people is threatened. That is why we have resolved to resist this attempt to sideline us in our own government,” our source added.

    Another source told The Nation that the APC caucus in the House will meet by the weekend to review the development and take a formal position. “We are meeting by the weekend to discuss the development. We want to hear what actually happened from the principal officers. It is after that we will take a formal position. But as we speak, the popular position is that many of us will toe the line of those rejecting their committee positions.

    More  complications

    But the Speaker’s camp has consistently defended Dogara’s granting of 46 seats to the opposition PDP against the ruling party’s 48 slots. The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Publicity, Abdulrazak Namdas, noted that it was normal that some people would raise issues after any appointments whether at the legislative level, or in any sector.

    “We are called the National Assembly, and what the Speaker has done is a pan-Nigerian thing, we have to balance everything, and we have done our part. But on the overall, it was done catering for all interests,” Namdas said.

    Responding to questions on why APC lawmakers are posed for a showdown over the matter, Adepoju said there is no way the majority party or its members will be comfortable with the arrangement as it is capable of derailing the programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    All over the world, the majority party takes over government, likewise, Committees that will drive the policies of the government are given to party members. The reason is simple, it is to enable effective execution of the manifestos of the government. In our own case, when the list of headship of Committees was read out, it was a different case altogether.

    “This is because key Committees that can drive the change agenda of President Buhari were conceded to the opposition. Now, without being biased, how do we go about influencing policies that will drive the change we craved for if those in charge are our opponents,” he said.

    To further heighten the tension in the House, Gbajabiamila, on Friday, told reporters that contrary to the lower chamber’s rules, he was not consulted in the selection of Committee chairmen by Speaker Dogara. This is contrary to claims by the Speaker’s camp that all principal officers of the House were carried along in the selection.

    Noting that he only saw the final list at the meeting, the House Leader said, “The list speaks for itself. I saw it for the first time at 10a.m., a couple of hours before the announcement was made. This falls short of the consultation with Principal Officers required and mandated by our House rules.”

    The Nation also gathered that the Majority Leader is expected to make a public pronouncement on the development soon. Lawmakers close to him said he is as upset as any of his party men about the treatment meted out to APC lawmakers by the Speaker. “I can tell you that the leader will make an official statement on the matter quite soon,” our source said.

    But Namdas insist there is no reason for Gbajabiamila to be aggrieved as he was part and parcel of the decisions that led to the composition of the committees. “I want to tell you that Gbajabiamila was carried along in this process. This is the position, he was carried along. When he became a leader, and the first APC House Caucus held its meeting, Gbajabiamila and the Speaker both embraced themselves and we all agreed that all differences have been put aside,” he claimed.

    This is just as reports have it that some PDP lawmakers are also angry with the Speaker over the committee appointments. According to House sources, some of them are displeased with the positions given them while some caucuses are accusing the Speaker of short changing them in the number of Committee chairmanship allotted to them.

    Reports have it that the Minority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, met with the aggrieved Ekiti State Caucus in the House to assuage their feelings over the single slot granted the state by the Speaker. Ekiti State secured the Chairmanship of the Committee on Youth Development which was given to Segun Adekola Alexander.

    “We are displeased with such treatment after our caucus gave the Speaker 100% support in his bid to lead the House. To be given just a single chairman position is to be short changed. Even our leader, Governor Ayodele Fayose, is disappointed by the development. We intend to protest this seriously,” a House member from the state told The Nation on Friday.

    The committees according to Dogara

    The committees and their chairmen include Agricultural Colleges and institutions, Linus Okorie; Airforce, Samson Okwu; Army, Rima Shawulu; Aviation, Nkiruka Onyejeocha; Banking and currency, Jones Onyereri; Capital markets and institutions, Tajuddeen Yusuf; FERMA, Jerry Alagaoso; gas resources, Agbedi Frederick; health institutions, Betty Apiafi; NDDC, Nicholas Mutu, petroleum resources (downstream), Akinlaja Joseph; petroleum (upstream) Victor Nwokolo.

    Others are committees on ports, harbours and waterways, Patrick Asadu; power, Daniel Asuquo; public procurement, Busayo Oluwole Oke; works, Tobi Okechukwu; Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, foreign affairs.

    Other committee chairmen include Ibrahim Babangida Mahuta, finance; Abdulmumin Jibrin, appropriation; Zakari Mohammed, basic education and services; James Abiodun Faleke, customs and excise; Aminu Suleiman, tertiary education and services; Mukhtar Betara, defence; Herman Hembe, FCT; Ahmed Idris Wase, federal character; Aminu Shehu Shagari, federal judiciary; Jagaba Adams Jagaba, interior; Razak Atunwa, Justice and Amin Sani Isa, land transport.

    Also listed are maritime safety, education and administration, Mohammed Umar Bago; navy, Abdulsamad Dasuki; pensions, Hassan Adamu Shekarau; police affairs, Haliru Dauda Jika, privatization and commercialization Ahmed Yarima; Nasiru Baballe Ila, House services; Mustapha Bala Dawaki, housing; Aliyu Bahago Ahmad-Pategi, water resources.

    Other committee chairmen and their deputies are Kingsley Chinda (PDP) public accounts, Ibrahim Baba (APC) deputy; Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC), agricultural production and services, chairman; Mukhtar Chiromawa, deputy; agricultural colleges and institutions, Linus Okorie (PDP), chairman; Abdullahi Idris Garba (APC), deputy.

    Other committee chairmen include Adeyinka Ajayi (aids, loans and debts management), Safana Dayyabu, deputy; Akinloye Hazeez (anti-corruption), Amiru Tukur Idris, deputy; Peter Akpatason (civil societies and development partners), Williams Samuel Olusegun, deputy; Samuel Onuigbo (climate change), Kunle Akinlade, deputy; Sylvester Ogbada (commerce), Aminu Ashiru Mani, deputy; Lawal Abubakar Garba (constituency outreach), Debe Eke Uchenna, deputy; Kingsley Ibenyi (cooperation and integration in Africa), Tasir Raji, deputy; Ihama Omoregie (culture and tourism), Shadaffi Adamu, deputy and Rita Orji (diaspora matters), Shehu Aliyu Musa, deputy.

    Others are Simon Arabo (delegated legislation), Babajimi Benson, deputy; Eucharia Azodo, (drugs and narcotics), Samaila Suleiman; Aishatu Dukku (electoral matters), Zakari Angulu, deputy; Satumari Jibril (emergency and disaster preparedness), Ali Isa JC,deputy; Obinna Chidoka (environment and habitat), Boma Goodhead, deputy; Ossai Nicholas Ossai (ethics and privileges), Emma Egwu, deputy; Zaphania Jisalo (FCT area councils), Kabiru Shuaibu, deputy; Yunusa Ahmad Abubakar (FRSC), Solomon. Maren, deputy; Oladele Kayode (financial crimes), Goodluck Opiah Nnanna, deputy and Idu Emeka (FOI), Garba Ibrahim, deputy.

    There are also Husseini Suleiman Kanagiwa (governmental affairs), Isiaka Ibrahim, deputy; Chike Okafor (healthcare services), Mohammed Usman, deputy; Emmanuel David Ombugadu (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria control), Saidu Yusuf Miga, deputy; Pwajok Gyang (human rights), Moyeed Alabi, deputy; Mohammed Sani Zorro (IDPs, refugees and northeast initiatives), Adaji Awulu, deputy; Abubakar Hussaini Moriki (industry), Jerome Amada Eke, deputy; Odendum Olusegun (information, national orientation, ethics and values), Lawali Hassan Anka, deputy; Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo (information technology), Ahmad Garba Bichi, deputy; Olufemi Fakeye (insurance and actuarial matters), Daniel Henry Ofongo, deputy; Samuel Okon Ikon (inter-parliamentary relations), Diya Babafemi, deputy and Ezenwa Francis (labour, employment and productivity), Munnir Babba Danagundi, deputy.

    The breakdown further showed other committees’ chairmen to include Sabo Garba (Lake Chad); Timothy Golu (legislative budget and research), Ochiglegor Idagbo, deputy; Abiodun Adiola (legislative compliance), Abubakar Chika Adamu, deputy; Emmanuel Okon (local content), Hassan Saleh, deputy; Abdulrazak Saad Namdas (media and publicity), Gaza Jonathan, deputy; Jephther Foingha (national planning and economic development), Bashir Baballe, deputy; Mohammed Abdulkadir Mahmud (population), Akinjo Kolade Victor, deputy; Mohammed Ali Wudil (poverty alleviation), Sid Yakubu Karasuwa, deputy; Uzoma Nkem Abonta (public petitions), Abubakar Hassan Fulata, deputy; Aminu Sani Jaji (public safety and intelligence), Shiddi Usman Danjuma, deputy; Gogo Bright Tamuno (public service matters), Sani Bala, deputy; Orkey Jev Emmanuel (rules and business), Olabode Ayorinde, deputy and Ladi Adebutu (rural development), Anaya Edwin, deputy.

    Others are Beni Lar (science and technology), Onyeamaechi Joan, deputy; Garba Datti Mohammed (solid minerals development), Adamu Entonu, deputy; Nasiru Sani Zangon-Daura (special duties), Sunday Adepoju, deputy; Goni Bukar Lawan (sports), Anayo Nnebe, deputy; Idrisu Lawal Muhammad (steel), Lawal Maina Mahmud, deputy; Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe (sustainable development goals), Ukoete Emmanuel, deputy; Saheed Akinade Fajiba (telecommunications), Chukwuemeka Ujam, deputy; Balogun Yakub Abiodun (treaties, protocols and agreements), Aliyu Danladi, deputy; Olatoye Temitope Sugar (urban development and regional planning), Mohammed Fagen Gauo, deputy; Princess Uchenna Stella (women affairs and social development), Owodigha Ime, deputy; Evelyn Oboro (women in parliament), Asabe Vilita Bashir, deputy and Segun Adekola Alexander (youth development), Iboro Asuquo Ekanem, deputy.

     

  • Trouble with Nigeria

    Trouble with Nigeria

    SIR: The “Trouble with Nigeria” the title of the late Chinua Achebe’s book gives a fitting and exhibit description of the state of the nation. Nigeria is not a great country. It is one of the most disorderly nations in the world. It is one of the most corrupt, inefficient places under the sun. It is one of the most expensive countries and one of those that gives least value for money. In short, it is one of the most unpleasant places in earth.

    Add to that, a country of kleptomaniacs whose insatiable quest for power has put a country of great potential and promise on an almost irreversible track of imminent explosion.

    We celebrate independence at a time when insecurity in varied forms like terrorism, kidnapping and armed robbery is at an all time high. Government says the economy is growing when factories are either closing down or functioning far below installed capacity: they are winning the war against corruption but indicted persons in monumental frauds like the fuel subsidy mega-scam are cosseting with their co-travellers in the corridors of power. Misrule and resultant poverty are traced to the rise in religious extremists in Northern Nigeria. Boko Haram has crippled the economy of the North and sent thousands of innocent Nigerians to their early graves.

    It is unfortunate that a country that offered so much in hope and possibilities for its citizens at independence has today become a land of suffering, insecurity and near hopelessness, signposted by youth unemployment, poor electricity supply, incessant ethno-religious crisis, no thanks to rudderless and bumbling leaders who have failed to lead a well-endowed nation to harness the talents of its vibrant, energetic and resilient people.

    Nigerians must turn deaf ears to the rhetoric that celebrate growth without visible development. Infrastructural deficit has become the opportunity cost of corruption, negatively impacting our socio-economic development. We must reverse the high cost of running our federal system of government. We must do away with tyrannical tendencies that engender impunity, disregard for the rule of law, and the fundamental right of Nigerians. The political class and the ruling elite must take the blame for the abyss the country find itself. Nigerians must as a matter of urgency begin to build a nation of our dreams. We cannot continue to tax, but take off.

     

    • Bello Ibrahim,

    ibrahimbello349@gmail.com

  • Trouble brews in Lord Dike Udensi’s home

    Trouble brews in Lord Dike Udensi’s home

    If the dead could make a wish, the first on their wish list would be turning back the hands of time for them to live again and put the affairs of their homes in order. The late Lord Dike Udensi must be rolling over in his grave on account of the turn of events in his home after his death. A misunderstanding between mother and daughter has ended up in the law court.

    The former Chairman of the defunct Citizens International Bank Limited, Lady Joyce Dike Udensi Ifegwu, has filed an application before the Federal High Court in Lagos praying it to determine whether the police can investigate an allegation of forgery of marriage certificate against her for a second time. According to her originating summons marked as FHC/L/CS/1319/15, the former bank chief wants the court to determine whether the police can reinvestigate or investigate her, after men and officers of the Nigerian Police Force from the Zone Two Command headquarters, Onikan Lagos, had concluded investigation into the allegations.

    Surprisingly, it was the daughter of Lady Joyce, Mrs Nnenna Enweliku, nee Dike Udensi, who wrote a petition against her mother to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone Two on January 27, 2014 alleging that her mother was not legally married to her father and that the marriage certificate she presented for the purpose of getting a letter of administration for the estate of their late father, Lord Chief Dike Udensi Ifegwu, was forged.

    Dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigation by the Zone Two Police Command, she wrote a second one to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, detailing the manner and nature of the alleged forgery.

    In her defence, Lady Joyce Dike averred that she had eight children for the man, including the petitioner who is her first child. She added that she made statements to the investigating police officer on how her late husband misplaced the original marriage certificate contracted at Aba Local Government marriage registry in 1978. She said they could not get a certified true copy of their marriage certificate in 1992 because a registrar, whose name she could not remember, told them that the register containing their marriage certificate was lost in the process of moving documents from the marriage registry in Aba Local Government to Aba South Local Government.

  • What is the trouble with the power sector?

    What is the trouble with the power sector?

    Despite the fact that a whopping $20 million had been sunk into the power sector in the past 16 years, electricity supplies reamin expensive as many businesses and homes rely on self-help. In fact, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry says only small-scale industrial concerns have 40 per cent dependent on public supply from the National Grid. The multi-nationals depend 100 per cent on private power generation. But, a senate committee will today launch a probe into the problems even as the National Electricity Regulatory (NERC) has  raised a 14-member task force to shore up supply, write  Onyedi Ojiabor and John Ofikhenua.

    National Integrated Power Project (NIPP)
    •Alaoji Generation Company (Abia State)
    •Benin Generation Company, Ihovbor, (Edo State)
    •Egbema Generation Company (Imo State)
    •Gbarain Generation Company (Bayelsa State)
    •Calabar Generation Company (Cross River)
    •Geregu Generation Company (Kogi State)
    •Omotosho Generation Company (Ondo State)
    •Ogorode Generation Company, Sapele, (Delta State),
    •Omoku Generation Company (Rivers State)
    •Olorunsogo Generation Company (Ogun State).
    •They have a combined installed generation capacity of 5,453 megawatts (Mw) but currently injecting less than 2,000Mw into the National Grid.

    PHCN successor companies
    Some of the Electricity Distribution Companies DISCOS
    Abuja, Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ibadan, Ikeja, Jos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Yola and Kaduna
    Some of the Electricity Generation Companies (GENCOS) •Afam Power Plc
    •Egbin Power Plc
    •Kainji Hydro Electric Plc
    •Sapele Power Plc
    •Shiroro Hydro Electric Plc
    •Ughelli Power Plc
    •Geregu Phase I
    •Olorunsogo Phase I,

     

    NNPC JV
    •Okpai Power Plant (AGIP) operational

    •Afam VI Power Plant (Shell) operational

    •Agura Power Plant (Chevron) in the pipeline

    •Qua Iboe Power Plant (ExxonMobil) ongoing

    Independent Power Projects (IPP)
    •Omoku (Rivers)
    •Mabon (Gombe)
    •Wempco (Ogun)
    •AES (Lagos)
    •Trans Amadi (Rivers)
    •Notore (Rivers)
    •Ibom Power (Akwa Ibom)
    •Geometric (Abia)

    THE COMMITTEE’S TERMS OF REFERENCE

    • Examine the entire power value chain (generation, transmission & distribution)

    •Abysmal performance of generation segment •Turn Around Maintenance (TAM)

    •Gas pipeline vandalism •Deteriorating infrastructure

    •Explanations of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)

    •Pre-privatisation states of power plants.

    • Sucessor companies’ investments so far (including metering)

    •Motive behind request for bailout/loan by successor companies.

    SENATORS will today begin investigation into alleged unwholesome practices in the power sector.

    A statement by the Clerk of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Power, Cletus A. Ojabo, said that the power sector probe will be in form of investigative hearing and interactive session.

    Ojabo said that the investigation will centre on funds appropriated for the power sector since 1999 and the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

    The statement was, however, silent on those that have been invited to appear before the probe panel.

    It is expected that all those who played key roles in the power sector since 1999, including ministers and heads of government departments and parastatals, will appear before the panel.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki inaugurated the ad-hoc committee to conduct a comprehensive probe of allegations of questionable practices in the power sector.

    The committee, headed by Senator Abubakar Kyari (Borno North), is to examine the entire power value chain, including generation, transmission and distribution with a view to identifying the sector’s problems in the sector are.

    At the committee’s inauguration three weeks ago, Saraki noted that the task before the panel is huge, as he frowned at the irregular supply of electricity, despite the huge investments in the sector.

    Kyari, in his remarks, detailed the nature of the investigation his committee is saddled with.

    He said: “A close look at the entire power value chain (generation, transmission and distribution) calls for review of our policies in order to obtain optimum performances across the board.

    “The abysmal performance of the generation segment is no longer news in view of the current deteriorating power supply which hovers around 4,600 megawatt (MW) for a population of over 170 million people, despite the huge resources committed into the sector.

    “This compared with our contemporaries it is highly regrettable. No wonder so many companies have relocated from the shores of this nation, due to increasing cost of production.

    “The issue of turnaround maintenance and gas pipeline vandalism,just to mention a few, are some of the teething problems bedeviling the sector.

    “We must address it now in order to stem this destructive tide. The committee will beam its searchlight in this direction to put things in proper perspectives.”

    Kyari added: “Having realised that the transmission segment is the major linkage between the generation and distribution fronts, increasing our capacity in this direction is also very necessary, since power produced must be utilised immediately.

    “Deteriorating infrastructures in this segment must be addressed forthwith. The Committee attaches great importance to this and would work assiduously in ensuring that all these leakages or slippages in this area are brought to the front burner and dealt with.

    “It is in line with this objective that the committee would be seeking explanations from the management of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on the terms of their management contract with the Federal Government as it relates to assets inherited, funds injected into the Company so far and the achievement recorded.”

    On distribution, Kyari noted that the committee is desirous of ascertaining the level of funds committed into it before privatisation since the segment is currently solely private sector driven.

    He said: “It calls for vigilance as successor companies are expected to bring in investments to improve the quality of services in terms with the agreement.

    “Signals emanating from their activities show that excessive profiteering has been the major determinant of their decisions.

    “It is on record that some of the distribution companies rejected power load allocations to reduce cost.

    “Their metering system calls for fundamental review, since the emphasis has been on estimated billings and imposition of fixed charges for services not rendered.

    “There have been a lot of unwholesome practices by some of these companies and the committee has to get down to the root of these problems especially where provisions have been made in the past through appropriation, prior to privatisation and funds were not properly utilised.

    “We must find out what has brought us to this sorry state. The National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) was designed to fast-track the improvement of electricity supply nationwide, hence it was involved in project implementation across the gamut of the power chain.

    “However, some of the power plants built have not been able to contribute meaningfully to the power generation through the National Grid.

    “The resources committed to these projects are enormous and the committee, in keeping with its mandate, will be seeking for answers in order to chart the way forward.

    “The Federal Ministry of Power, its departments and agencies and other key players within the power sector will be appearing before the committee to provide needed information in order to achieve our laudable objectives”.

    He added: “The second arm of the committee’s mandate is in respect of the unbundling of the power sector, which was midwife by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

    “The committee will be seeking inputs from the establishment on the process of privatisation as it relates to funds committed to the privatisation process, funds generated, the settlement of laid-off employees of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and successful bidders (companies) financial profile.

    “Of importance is the need to verify why these companies are already asking for bail out/loan facilities from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).”

    Kyari however noted that “this committee is not out to witchhunt any person or organisation. We are on a fact-finding mission and would pursue our mandate objectively”.

    NERC raises task force for attainment of 5,000MW

    DETERMINED to raise power generation to 5,000megawatts for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) by the end of the month, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday inaugurated a 14-man task force.

    It is part of plans to end the year with the attainment of the 6,000 megawatts mark.

    A peak capacity generation of 4,800 megawatts was achieved few weeks ago on account of stringent regulatory measures applied by the NERC with the cooperation of operators in the power sector.

    It was also the operators’ response to the Federal Government renewed commitment to improve power supply.

    NERC Chairman Sam Amadi constituted the 14-man industry-wide taskforce with the terms of reference to ensure recovery of stranded 1,800 megawatts within the network; articulate measures for effective delivery of the stranded power to consumers; and initiate actions to continuously ramp-up generation.

    Challenging the commission’s employees on the 6000 megawatts target, Dr. Amadi said: “We are witnessing increase of gas supply to power plants. This has resulted in the historic 4,800mw generation a few weeks ago. From the report of the System Operator, it is clear that we could have reached 5,000mw if we did not have load rejection by distribution companies and some frequency control issues as gas supply improved.”

    He said that the present administration has “ensured discipline and zero tolerance for corruption has created a political environment that is aligned to NERC’s transparent, accountable and effective regulatory approach.”

    The NERC chief noted further: “But, the success we have recorded is still precarious and fragile. We have genuine fear that unless we continuously monitor the network and focus on proactively solving small problems.”

    He listed such problems as as load rejection by electricity distribution companies with attendant shrinkage in gas supply that could damage the long-term prospect of capacity growth in the market.

    Reminding the workers on the task ahead, Amadi said the commission has solved the commercial reason for load rejection by abolishing the imbalance trading in electricity and has subsequently remove the disincentive for rejection of power.

    “Therefore, we need to deal with the technical reasons which include poor network management by the electricity distribution companies and poor frequency control by the generation companies and Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).”

    He told the employees that the challenges ahead of them will entail increased enforcement activities as well as ensure the implementation of regulatory regimes that incentivised sustainable investment and efficient management of the network.

    He said: “In order to ensure that we are able to effectively deliver 5,000mw daily by the end of the month and 6000mw by the end of the year, I constitute a task force that will remove any obstacle to achieving the mandate.”

    The task force is headed by the NERC Commissioner in charge of Engineering Standards and Safety, Dr. Abba Ibrahim, with representation from National Control Centre/System Operator; Transmission System Provider; Market Operator; National Integrated Power Project; a representative each of distribution and generation companies.

     

     

  • Trailers of trouble

    Trailers of trouble

    I want to tell a story. A story of grace and miracle. It carries with it a proof of the existence of a Divine Power. Without this power, this writer would have been six feet under. Lost and forgotten. But God keeps me alive.

    I visited my cousin during leisure time. After the enjoyable time we spent together, it was time to take my leave. She accompanied me to the point where I had to cross the road to continue my journey home. After I carefully watched out for vehicles as crossed the road, bidding my cousin goodbye, a truck on top speed emerged from nowhere and moved in my direction. It was a shout by my cousin that drew my attention to the approaching danger. Somehow, a force pushed me across the road. I escaped being crushed by the speeding truck. As usual, the truck driver moved on, without a word. He was driving on the wrong lane, the one they call “one-way”. That was the reason I didn’t notice him.

    This same force recently came to the rescue of Ibukun Laughter – the lone survivor of a fatal accident that claimed the lives of eight students. The force saved her from the jaws of death. It would seem she was rightly christened “Laughter”, because her family could only give praise to God and laugh after the gory incident. Her name gave her triumph over death. No wonder Rick Riordan, author of The Lightening Thief, said “names have power”. Perhaps, he understood names have certain effect on a situation.

    Heavy-duty vehicles may have their usefulness, but they can be terrible. The recklessness of drivers of these vehicles makes the road unsafe for commuters. No other vehicle can beat their carelessness. They somehow have a perverted fulfilment in driving on the wrong side of the road. This warped form of satisfaction recently led to the death of some students.

    Truck drivers divert at ease and make careless decisions when they drive. They are like the politicians who surrounded former President Goodluck Jonathan. They were neither here nor there. They are in opposition today, and tomorrow, they join the ruling party. They were shameless political prostitutes. They seemed to be lost and, most times, were truly lost.

    They were ignorant of the lyrics of Patrick Rothfuss: “We understand how dangerous a mask can be; we all become what we pretend to be.” Pretence may be a smart virtue in politics. But, when ignorance meets pretence, it leads to a state of emergency.

    Not all truck drivers are bad. Some still drive on the road with a conscience and a level of soberness. But, whether they drive with soberness or altered minds, they tend to have a knack for driving on wrong lanes. Meanwhile, only a handful of them are experienced while a large chunk is just test-driving; they are green-horned and foolish. They express this foolishness at the expense of lives.

    The poignant story of the OOU8 depicts how callous truck drivers can be. The victims had decided to take a rest after a hectic semester. But they got a different version of rest, which is eternal. Reports had it that majority of the victims were in their early years in school. They were yet to feel the vibes of being in a tertiary institution. Their lives were cut down in their prime.

    But how can we stop this menace that has been with us since ages past? How can we ensure our roads are free of dangerous drivers? It would appear the killer drivers are sent after students. Some years back, a trailer killed a good friend of mine on her way back from Lagos, where she went to write her post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). A trailer had a head-long collision with the bus she was travelling in.

    Another sad experience was that of a Corps member, who almost lost his legs to dangerous driving on our highways. He escaped after the vehicle in which he travelled  collided with a trailer on a one-way road. Why do we have to allow these preventable accidents to happen?

    Where are the road safety officers? They are supposed to be the managers of our roads. Why would they set up road blocks in the city, disturbing commercial drivers asking for documents that may have no significant use to safe driving? There seems to be a lot of ‘whys’ to trailers killing people on the roads. But whatever may be the cause of the perverted road use, it must be stopped. The government must ensure alternative routes are created on the road. Road officials must ensure that whenever there is a need for motorists to share a lane they must not drive above a certain speed limit.

    Now that the change the people sought for is here. We need a change of behaviours in our transport sector. May the souls of all students killed by truck drivers rest in peace. May God deliver us from these trailers of trouble. Politicians who loot the money meant for road repairs should realise road accidents do not discriminate between the rich and the poor. Time is now to free our highways of agents of death which the truck drivers have turned out to be.

     

    • Ezekiel is a 400-Level Pharmacy student of UNIBEN

  • Trouble in the People’s Paradise

    it is called the People’s Paradise and for good reason. Cross River has earned the status of being the most peaceful state in the country. Its capital, Calabar, has been referred to an acronym of Come And Live and Be At Rest. Crimes and vices that characterised other areas of the country were near absent in the Southsouth state. Even during elections when the pressure to keep the peace is stretched to its limit, the state still managed to come through unscathed from the violence that are found elsewhere.
    This political season, however, things are no longer the same. With assassination attempts and kidnappings, it appears the halcyon days now belong to the past in the state, which prides itself as a destination in the West African sub-region. This is besides the rate of crime that has also escalated in the past few months. The peace, which has been sustained for so long, appears to have been broken.
    The first sign that an ugly trend had come to characterise the political atmosphere in the state was when gunmen attacked the Speaker of the State House of Assembly in his house on Parliamentary Village Road in Calabar, late last year.  The assailants jumped into his compound and fired shots at the house. A policeman was shot in the process. It was then strongly believed in political circles to be an assassination attempt. This was a strange development as far as the state was concerned and the police had dismissed it as a random armed robbery attempt. However, they were still strong reservations among the people over the incident. These reservations in the times that have followed that incident up to this moment, however, have proved not be unfounded as the situation has escalated.   In February, there was a suspected assassination attempt on the life of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the southern senatorial district of Cross River State, Mr Gershom Bassey.
    Earlier this month, unknown gunmen again attacked the house of the Labour Party’s House of Representatives candidate for the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency, Dr Alex Egbuna, in Ekorinm, Calabar.
    They were resisted by the security on guard and a policeman was shot and his rifle taken.
    Only last Sunday, the LP candidate for the Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr Dominic Edem, was atatcked in his Calabar home by unknown gunmen.
    Up till the moment, his whereabouts remain unknown.
    Again, at least three persons were reportedly killed and several injured in Ekori, Yakurr Local Government Area in a violent political clash.
    LPchairman in the state, Mr Austine Ibok, decried the level of insecurity and the attacks he said were targeted at his party due to its growing popularity.
    In an interview, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Christian Ita, dismissed the accusations againt the ruling PDP on the upsurge of violcnce as attempts at scoring cheap political points.
    The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in the state has condemned the development, especially the kidnapping. The council’s chairman, Mr Goddie Akpama, said: “IPAC condemns in totality, the kidnapping of illustrious son of Cross River. And the government has not done anything about it. We had earlier called the government to order on the issue of non-internal democracy in PDP, which caused problems. We were condemned for that. But today we are vindicated because the problems it has created has become worse.”
    While the accusations and counter accusations continue, residents live in palpable fear. Already there are indications that the situation could increase the level of voter apathy during the elections, as many residents said they would rather stay home on Election Day than risk their lives at polling units.
    All the people want now is that the peace of the state, which appears to be yielding to the pressure of politics, be regained and sustained.
    This paradise should not be lost so that there will be no need for expending energy regaining it in the future. The madness should stop now. Yes, right now.

  • Oyo APC accuses opposition of fomenting trouble

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has said there is a gang-up among the opposition parties, especially Accord, Labour and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to instigate violence.

    The party, in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Olawale Sadare, said: “We do not need to join the emergency advocates of peace which  Rashidi Ladoja (Accord), Adebayo Alao-Akala (LP) and Teslim Folarin (PDP) have been since they started campaigning to come to the Agodi Government House. They are all one hand of violently leprous fingers.

    “We do not have to convince the people that ours is not a violent government or party.

    “In the three and half years of our being in government, we have demonstrated that we hate violence.

    “Can Ladoja and Alao-Akala say the same about violence? Their governments almost grounded Oyo State. They are like the proverbial Ebolo vegetables, which cannot but manifest its smelly antecedent.

    The APC said having identified that the election would be between a government that stood for peace against successive administrations where there were political murders, arson, violence and brigandage, the opposition parties were struggling to paint the APC “as a violent party too”.

    According to the party, the violence in Ibadan South East which reportedly led to the death of one person, as attested to by the police, was a gang war between Accord thugs, and had nothing to do with the APC.

    “If our people don’t know anything about Ajimobi, they know he can’t stand violence. He ordered a Pilgrims Board member sacked and charged to court for being violent. That violent man is with Alao-Akala now.

    “He is one governor who does not go about with thugs. Let them tell us their  antecedents. Luckily, the world knows the truth,” said the APC.

    On the allegation of capital flight, the party said it was an attempt by the opposition to profile its government, stating that no government had patronised local contractors as the Ajimobi government.

    “Our party-led government will soon publish the names of all contracts awarded in Oyo State wherein we have Ladoja, his wives and campaign director as beneficiaries.

    “Let them explain to the world how that amounts to capital flight. The truth of the matter is that, in about four years, non-local contractors are less than five, the rest are sons and daughters of Oyo State,” the party said.

     

  • ‘Stop fomenting trouble’

    ‘Stop fomenting trouble’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is planning to foment trouble during the election.

    The Buhari/Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Group said it had alerted the security agencies and other stakeholders to take action against the alleged plot.

    The leader of the group, Ife Oyedele, said: “Details of the plan, upon verification, consist of mobilisation of party thugs and hired hoodlums to induce and attack voters on election day.

    “They are also paying N2,000 to each voter for access to copy the VIN and other bio-data on the Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

    “The objective is to clone the cards and use them on election day. These cards will be invalidated by INEC’s new technology; the card readers which ultimately invalidates the original voters’ data and cards.

    “The ultimate goal is to cause confusion during the voting process and ultimately disenfranchise thousands of legitimate voters.”

    The group called on the electorate to remain resolute, ignore intimidation and perform their civic responsibility and secure it by standing by their votes until results are declared.

    But the PDP through its spokesman, Banji Okunomo, described the allegation as spurious.

    He said APC is threatened by the outcome of the reconciliation efforts of the PDP and its mega party status, since its merger with the Labour Party (LP).