The case of Olisa Metuh, former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), involving alleged financial malpractices amounting to sum of N400 million, ran into a hitch today, Monday, when he collapsed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The former PDP chief spokesman was said to have collapsed inside the court roon as he was being led to the dock even as family members and his physician rushed to assist him.
The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang had to wait for him to be attended to and in the resumption of the trial, Metuh’s counsel, Emeka Etiaba, disagreed with the point that the case should continue.
He threatened to withdraw from the case, arguing that he did not know the condition of his client who was on a stretcher after the fall.
Justice Abang however refused his decision to withdraw from the case
Sports minister, Solomon Dalung has made it clear that Nigeria will go ahead to play its friendly match with the Democratic Republic of Congo in spite of the reported outbreak of Ebola in that country.
The minister, who answered reporters’ questions shortly after a private meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari today, Monday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, insisted: “Nigeria is going to play the friendly with DRC.
“I have discussed with the Federal Ministry of Health, with the World Health Organization in participation and we have reviewed the situation and received adequate information about it. So we have agreed on major approaches.
“One, the DRC team is coming through a chartered flight, including all those coming for the match. They will be using that chartered flight and they would have been screened from the DRC and they will be screened here in Nigeria.
“There is going to be no any other person that is going to be admitted using any other means of transportation for the match. We also discovered that the Ebola outbreak is limited to a particular place and it has not escalated. So we wouldn’t want to run the risk of setting a precedent which we will later be a victim of.
“Based on that, we only introduced strict policies to ensure that the match takes place and the match will take place.”
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has released reports indicating that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown by 1.95 per cent year-on-year- in real terms in the first quarter of 2018.
The Bureau, which released the figures today, Monday, in Abuja, said that the oil sector’s contribution to GDP remains below 10 per cent, adding that though the nation recorded some growth in the oil sector during the period, the contribution formed only 9.61 per cent of the total, with the non- oil sector accounting for the rest.
It said that despite an increase in the daily oil production to an average of 2.0 million barrels per day (mbpd), higher than the 1.95 mbpd in the fourth quarter of 2017.
The report said that real growth of the oil sector was 14.77 per cent (year-on-year) in first quarter of 2018. This represented an increase of 30.37 per cent points relative to rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2017. Quarter-on-Quarter, the oil sector grew by 13.24 per cent in first quarter, 2018.
The NBS said that this was up from 8.53 per cent in the first quarter and 7.35 per cent in the fourth quarter recorded in 2017, adding: in comparison, non-oil sector grew by 0.76 per cent in real terms during the quarter under review.
This was higher by 0.04 per cent point compared to the rate recorded same quarter of 2017 and 0.70 per cent point lower than the fourth quarter of 2017.
The report stated that the sector’s growth was driven mainly by agriculture (Crop production), financial institutions and insurance, manufacturing, transportation and storage as well as information and Communication.
“In real terms, the Non-Oil sector contributed 90.39 per cent to the nation’s GDP, lower than 91.47 per cent recorded in the first quarter of 2017 and 92.65 per cent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017.
“Overall, the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.95% (year-on-year) in real terms in the first quarter of 2018.
“The bureau stated that the figure shows a stronger growth compared with the first quarter of 2017, which recorded a growth of –0.91 per cent indicating an increase of 2.87 per cent points.
“Compared to the preceding quarter, there was a decline of -0.16% points from 2.11%, NBS said.
“Quarter on quarter, real GDP growth was -13.40% as oil production estimates for the third and fourth quarters of 2017 have been revised and oil GDP for those quarters have been adjusted accordingly.
“According to NBS figures, aggregate GDP for the first quarter stood at N28.4 trillion in nominal terms.
“This performance is higher when compared to the first quarter of 2017 which recorded a nominal GDP aggregate of N26.028 trillion thus, presenting a positive year on year nominal growth rate of 9.36%. This rate of growth is however lower relative to growth recorded in Q1 2017 by -7.70% points at 17.06% but higher than the proceeding quarter by 2.14% points at 7.22%.”
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has advocated the re-engineering of the Nigeria’s border policies in view of the challenges the country face as a result of the wide and borders.
“It is time to rethink and re-engineer our border policies. This is the paramount responsibility of the commission and we trust that you will deliver.”
The Vice President, who spoke today, Monday, in Abuja, at the National Boundary Commission (NBC) retreat on border management, said that the country has over 4,000 kilometers of external borders, including its Atlantic coastline.
This, he said, is in addition to the thousands of kilometers of borders that the 36 States and the FCT share with one another.
“What happens along these borders greatly affect what happens within them. All you need is a cursory look at the daily news headlines to realize just how much of the issues they embody are determined by activities taking place at or across our land and maritime borders and boundaries; whether it is the smuggling or illegal oil bunkering, or the impact of undocumented migration on the security situation in the North Central, or communal clashes arising from boundary disputes.” Professor Osinbajo said that The National Boundary Commission is responsible, according to the Act that established it, for defining and delimiting Nigeria’s internal and external boundaries, resolving disputes, promoting trans-boundary cooperation and coordinating all activities on our international boundaries. “This means that the Commission has a very important role to play in mobilizing and coordinating various stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, sub-national governments, foreign governments, bilateral and multilateral organizations, and others, to collectively deal with any and all boundary issues.” he gave assurance that the Federal Government fully recognizes the significance of the National Boundary Commission’s role, adding that as part of efforts to strengthen the Commission and reposition it to more effectively fulfill its responsibilities; President Buhari has approved the appointment of six distinguished Nigerians as members of the Board. The six appointed members, representing the six geo-political zones of the country, Osinbajo added, will work hand in hand with the ex-officio members of the Commission’s Board – Ministers, State Governors, Security Chiefs – as well as the management and staff of the Commission. The Vice President stressed the importance of members working harmoniously, not only among themselves as a Commission, but also with all external stakeholders.
“As a Commission whose mandate includes ensuring harmonious border relations, charity has to begin at home.”
Hui Masjid (China) Mosque built for for one of China’s ethnic minorities
The China Islamic Association (CIA) has announced that all the country’s Mosques would be expected to raise the national flag to “promote a spirit of patriotism” among Muslims.
The CIA, which is the country’s top Islamic regulatory body, declared this measure as the Communist Party seeks to tighten its grip on religion.
It said that the flags should be hung in a “prominent position” in all Mosque courtyards, according to a letter published on Saturday on its website.
It added that the move would further strengthen the understanding of national and civic ideals, and promote a spirit of patriotism among Muslims of all ethnic groups.
“Mosques should also publicly display information on the party’s “core socialist values”, and explain them to devotees via Islamic scripture so that they will be “deeply rooted in people’s hearts.”
The China Islamic Association is a government-affiliated body and has the sole power to accredit imams.
The letter comes on the heels of China’s newly revised Regulations on Religious Affairs, which came into effect in February and prompted rights groups to voice concern for religious freedoms.
The new regulations intensified punishments for unsanctioned religious activities and increased state supervision of religion in a bid to “block extremism” and tackle what Beijing sees as internal threats.
Mosque staff should organize study of the Chinese constitution and other relevant laws — particularly the new religious regulations, the letter said.
They should also study Chinese classics and set up courses on traditional Chinese culture, while being sure to focus only on Muslim sages of Chinese rather than foreign origin, it added.
The goal, it said, was for mosques to become “a solid platform for the study of the party and the country’s laws and policies” in addition to houses of worship, and thereby develop among Muslims “an understanding of a common Chinese identity” with the majority Han.
Islam is one of the five religions officially recognised by the atheist Communist party. The country is home to some 23 million Muslims.
But restrictions on them are intensifying, particularly in the northwestern province of Xinjiang which is home to the mostly Muslim Uighur minority, where there are bans on beards and public prayers.
Tens of thousands of Uighurs have been sent to shadowy detention and re-education centres for perceived offences and can be held indefinitely without due process.
Authorities say the restrictions and heavy police presence in Xinjiang are intended to control the spread of Islamic extremism and separatist movements, but analysts say the region is becoming an open-air prison.
Since last month, April 17 or there about, other health workers in government hospitals in Nigeria, apart from medical doctors, have stayed away from their duty posts, protesting government’s alleged neglect of their demands for better conditions of service.
The health workers, under the umbrella of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) are made up of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Medical and Health Workers Union (MHWUN), Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals (SSAUTH), Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (RIAI), Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) and Non-academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutes (NSUEAI): these are simply Nurses, Pharmacists, laboratory technicians and record officers, among others.
Whether anyone would admit it or not, the government hospitals across the country have since the strike began, been empty. Medical attention to downtrodden, helpless Nigerians had suffered serious setback even as many private hospitals, owned by medical doctors in most of the public hospitals, have been enjoying swell time, and yet, more than 30 days after the health workers embarked on sit-at-home strike across the country, the government is putting on an I-don’t-care posture at worse and deceptive concern at best.
Whether also anyone wants to admit it or not, the striking health workers are the heart of the health delivery system anywhere in the world, much more in Nigeria. These are the category of health workers that are close to poor patients and therefore, understand their health conditions at close-range.
Indeed, the seeming lethargy on the part of the government suggests a total lack of will to bring the crisis generated so far to an end, and consequently, playing with the health of the poor Nigerians.
What are the demands of the JOHESU which the minister of health, Professor Isaac Adewole in particular and the government in general has so much ignored and about which they prefer to cut corners?
The union is demanding an upward adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) Salary Scale, arrears of skipping of CONHESS 10, employment of additional health professionals, implementation of court judgments and upward review of retirement age of health workers from 60 to 65 years among others.
This is in a system where medical doctors, working in the same establishments are placed on grade level 12 fresh from university, equivalent to assistant director in public service. This is in a system where a graduate Pharmacist, Physiotherapist, Medical Lab Scientist, Nurse would have to spend about 10 years in service, from grade level 06, before catching up with such fresh medical doctor at his point of entry, i.e. grade level 12.
While the JOHESU members are crying their hearts out to the government to improve their work conditions, the medical doctors, who, of course, are also employees of the same government, are asking the government not to listen to their supposed colleagues working in the same hospitals.
The medical doctors, at the height of the JOHESU confrontation with the government, warned against acceding to JOHESU demands, and warned that acceding to the demand would precipitate a crisis that might lead to the collapse of the health sector of the country.
The doctors, under the banner of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), even had the temerity to describe JOHESU as an ‘illegal body’ and asked the government to ignore its threat.
The NMA President, Mike Ogirima, at a press briefing said: “nobody is preventing them (JOHESU) from getting a salary increase, but all over the world, there is relativity package for medical workers different from other health workers.
“In Nigeria and other countries, doctors are always at advantaged position which is why most of these other health workers are trying by all means to get that degree called medical doctor. But we know the difference because doctors are trained in all paraphernalia of medical practice, that is why all over the world doctors have a different salary package from others,” Ogirima said.
He advised the government to thread with caution in engaging with JOHESU so as not to “allow rascality in the health sector. It is high time the government regulated the activities of this JOHESU. We are not going to fight with them. We are humane and the health of our patients is central.”
Also the NMA chairman in Abuja, Chiedozie Achonwa, said that medical doctors would be in the hospitals and continue to attend to patients as JOHESU members embarked on strike.
“I think everybody is entitled to make demands for an increase in salary, including JOHESU. But what the government should put into consideration is that there is an internationally accepted relativity in remuneration for health workers and that relativity must be maintained. Any attempt to distort that relativity means they want the health sector to collapse and I don’t think any of us wants that.” The NMA had earlier in an open letter to the minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, said that doctors are not prepared to receive same salary with other health workers. In fact, top on the list of issues raised by doctors was that JOHESU has no justification to demand for adjustment of salary scale as was done in the case of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for medical and dental officers in the federal public service.
However, JOHESU members have explained that they were not clamoring for equality with doctors, but equity and justice, even as they advised medical doctors and the Federal Ministry of Health to change their perception of the demands.
Our concern in Greenbarge Reporters, after listening to the two sides, is the issue of doctors opposing JOHESU’s demands on the government. It is like two brothers asking their father individually to give them something, and one of the brothers asking the father not to grant the request of the other brother. In fairness, such attitude amounts to rudeness or bullying or both, which is not befitting of even the lower cadre of the medical worker.
If doctors have no ulterior motive and they really want to show solidarity or esprit-d-corps to the colleagues with whom they work in the same hospitals, they either should have assisted the JOHESU members to fight their course with the government for the purpose of unity of purpose in the health care delivery system or kept quiet and allow JOHESU members to do the fighting.
Indeed, what the doctors have succeeded in doing is refusing to wake up from the old notion or practice in which other health workers, including nurses, were made to be their messengers who should dare not stand to talk to them or with them. As a matter of fact, the doctors are now assuming a posture of “we are masters and can do all things and we don’t need any God-damned other health workers.”
That the government, especially, the health minister is giving doctors an open support on this master-servant perception by doctors, even him saying that doctors are masters in the health care delivery system, is to complicate the matter. As a matter of fact, it is careless and undiplomatic to classify the status of players in the health sector as masters and servants.
A fresh graduate in medicine can certainly not be a master to say, a senior nurse who must have been in practice for over 10 years and, who can guide the fresh doctor through the rudiments of even the hospital system, administratively, professionally and other processes of learning-on-the-job.
The danger that looms in the health care delivery system, beyond the current strike by JOHESU members is the issue of cohesion, collaboration, friendly environment for every worker to operate smoothly, without bloated ego, superiority complex and grudge, which we now face starkly. When the sense of camaraderie is overtaken by such negative attitudinal indices, what we are likely to have is the two sides; doctors and other health workers, working at a serious cross purpose, which is dangerously unhealthy for the government hospitals. It is dangerously unhealthy too that agents of government, no matter the sentiment, is and should take side with any of the two needless combatants.’
We suggest that efforts should be made by the minister of health and other stakeholders in the health system, to calm the frayed nerves, call the doctors to order on a matter that does not concern them and find ways of rebuilding the solidarity or the much needed esprit-d-corps between the doctors and other health workers for the purpose of smooth operations, and in the interest of the common man and advancement of health delivery system in the country. [myad]
Senior Special Assistant to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Human trafficking and illegal migration, Solomon Okoduwa has announced that no fewer than 100 female students of Idogbo Secondary School, Benin, have been shipped to Libya in the last four months.
The governor’s aide, who spoke today, Sunday, in Benin during an advocacy programme said thatv some teachers in the school are concerned about how the institution has become the harvesting ground for traffickers.
Okoduwa made it clear that the state would step up its campaign against trafficking and that the state Task Force Against Human Trafficking will be on the trail of the human traffickers.
He warned the students to be wary of the antics of the traffickers who are bent on deceiving them into embarking on the dangerous journey.
“Henceforth, report anyone who tells you to travel to Europe. They are simply taking you through Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea and you may eventually end up in Libya. The number of students that have been trafficked from your school in this short period is overwhelming.
“The truth is that many of them might have been imprisoned there or facing one challenge or the other. Taking the route of Sahara Desert and other illegal routes is hellish. Many died of hunger, many were drowned in the Mediterranean Sea in search of greener pastures.
“Worst still, the families of those people that died on their journey were made to pay for the travel expenses, when unknown to them, their loved ones have gone to the great beyond.
“If anyone tells you to travel abroad through Libya, tell him or her capital ‘NO’. If you must travel for any reason, travel the right way.”
It was gathered that so far, the state government had received no fewer than 3,400 Libya returnees within the last six months.
Muslims who gathered to observe prayer in a Mosque in Gashua village in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe state have successfully apprehended a female suicide bomber in the Mosque and threw her out before the bomb exploded.
Information reaching us said that the female Boko Haram suicide bomber had infiltrated the mosque, while members were about to commence a prayer session but was detected when struggling to detonate a suicide vest strapped to her body.
It was gathered that vigilant members of the prayer congregation quickly restrained , arrested and handed her over to soldiers at Azare. it was learnt that members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Component of Operation Lafiya Dole at the location have safely defused the suicide vest, while the suicide bomber is currently receiving medical attention due to injuries sustained during her arrest.
The Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO), led by Justice Suleiman Galadima, (Rtd) has listed many factors that are militating against speedy disposal of corruption cases in court.
In its interim report presented at the 86th meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Suleiman Galadima’s committee said that one of such factors is poor prosecution.
Others are absence of counsel for parties in Court, reliance on irrelevant documentary evidence, multiplicity of charges, non-adherence to Court rules\procedures, retirement\transfer of Judges, re-assignment of cases to start de-novo, amendment of charges after commencement of trial and cumbersome record transmission process to Court of Appeal and others.
The Committee said that it distilled the issues from its findings from discussions with Heads of Courts and observations made from the surprise visits of the members to Courts handling corruption and financial crime cases in some parts of Country.
The analysis on the matter go thus:
POOR PROSECUTION:
On the part of the prosecution, the Committee observed the following:-
· that offenders are charged to Court before proper investigations of the charges are done, and afterwards, expecting the Court to detain such alleged offenders till conclusion of their investigation;
· inadequate prosecuting personnel at the prosecution Agencies;
· that some prosecutors lack the requisite experience to prosecute corruption cases, which invariably leads to poor handling of such cases;
· lack of commitment on the part of some prosecutors and collusion between them and defence counsel to pervert justice either by stalling the trials of cases or achieving pre-determined results;
· that there is no threshold to the number of witnesses the prosecution calls;
· inadequate funding of prosecution Agencies to carry out thorough investigation of the corruption cases with attendant low quality prosecution cases; and
· frequent requests for adjournment by the Prosecutors.
DUPLICATION OF CHARGES:
The Committee submitted that the prosecution in most cases duplicate charges which could be up to 170 against a Defendant, but at the end, are unable to substantiate them, leading to the discharge of such Defendant.
MULTIPLICITYOF CASES:
The Committee also observed the issue of multiplicity of cases involving the same Defendants, and on similar subject matters going on in different Courts at the same time. This particular factor makes it impossible for some trials to proceed. In spite of the fact that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, provides for day-to-day trials of Criminal Cases, a Defendant who is undergoing trial in other Courts is always unavailable for trial.
ABSENCE OF PARTIES IN COURT:
This is a major factor delaying criminal justice administration as cases are mostly adjourned when parties are absent in Court.
EXTRA JUDICIAL STATEMENT:
Where the defence challengesthe voluntarinessof a confessional statement, the Judge has to order a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of the confession, thereby causing delay.
DOCUMENARY EVIDENCE:
The Committee submitted that both the defence and prosecution are often culpable by relying on irrelevant evidence they would not necessarily use thereby causing unnecessary delay.
COURT:
On the part of the Court, the Committee identified the following as contributing to the delay in quick dispensation of corruption cases:
· retirement\transfer of Judges handling such cases. When this happens, such cases which may have gone far are re-assigned to another Judge to start de-novo;
· granting of remand order by a Court without following up to ensure suspects are brought to Court;
· inadequate provision for proper record keeping and shelving of Court files and other relevant documents in some Courts;
· cumbersome process of transmission of records from trial Courts which impedes the early disposal of appeals; and
· difficulties associated with ascertaining addresses for service of process by Bailiffs
PRISON:
Prison on its part contributes to the delay by failing to remind Court of subsisting order to reproduce suspects in Court and most times lack means to convey awaiting trials to the law Court.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
For the speedy trial of corruption cases, the Committee recommends the following:-
· importance of proper training for prosecution in the area of investigation, especially in the area of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015;
· need for prosecuting Agencies to have competent prosecution departments manned by qualified personnel;
· synergy between the various prosecution Agencies to enhance proper prosecution of criminal cases;
· use of professionals, such as accountants, auditors, etc, to investigate high profile and complicated cases;
· need for training and re-training of staff of Court handling criminal cases;
· need to provide Judicial Officers with a Legal\Research Assistant to make their work easier.
· proper funding for the Judiciary and prosecuting Agencies;
· deployment of more Judges to handle designated corruption cases;
· complete overhaul of both physical and technical infrastructures in designated Courts as some of them are small and not well ventilated; and
· need to come up with Practise Directions for corruption cases trial to cure anomalies in the trial of the cases.
The Committee will continue to monitor corruption and criminal cases all over the country and to meet with stakeholders on the way forward.
Top opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members have been granting press interviews and addressing zonal political rallies talking about “CHANGING THE CHANGE” in next year’s general elections, without defining what exactly that means.
As the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) gears up to celebrate the completion of three years of the Buhari government in the centre on May 29th, Nigerians need to be reminded of what the reversal of the achievements of this administration will amount to.
The real meaning and cost of the “Changing the Change,” is that if they win the next election, they will not take us back to where we were in 2015, they will mostly reverse the progress the APC has brought to the nation. The main reason for the defeat of the PDP in 2015 was corruption. The present administration at the centre led by President Muhammadu Buhari has so far presented a corrupt-free image of itself. It has also succeeded in abolishing grand corruption at the top and as attested to by the American President, Donald Trump. The government has significantly brought down the level of corruption in the whole country. It has, however, warned over and again that corruption was fighting back.
Many who are discerning would have read this from President Buhari’s speech when he inaugurated the impressive new headquarters building of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) a week ago. He narrated how and why he was overthrown as a military Head of State in the 80s.
In that speech, he said not only was he kicked out because he fought corruption, the ones who took power freed all those that he had jailed, and whatever they stole was returned to them. He took their place in prison and stayed there without trial for 36 months, until that day when a journalist in Benin, now in Edo, broke the story that he had lost his mother. That was when he was allowed to go home.
The real difference between the PDP and the current APC administration is that although they mouthed a flood of rhetoric against corruption, in fact rightfully lay the claim of founding the institutions now in the forefront of fighting corruption as a government, the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, they had intended to keep them as toys, or bulldogs which teeth had been removed. No, they never intended that the war against corruption would be taken this far.
To change the change would mean that the teeth of the bulldog will be removed. It would then only bark but not bite.
In this country, politics is often considered as synonym of corruption. The previous government came under huge criticism for scandals like that discovered in arms procurements in the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA which transformed itself into a major source of funding of the PDP; NNPC crude oil thefts, broadband spectrum licensing scandal, oil subsidy scam and so many others but the present government has not faced any such corruption allegations.
Although he said he was unafraid and would not bend, the President’s concern, and fear on the part of many is that if a corrupt leader takes over, it will be happy days all over again for former Oil Minister Diezani Allison-Maduekwe who has so far forfeited USD 153 million, N23.4 billion, and USD 4m and USD 5m in separate accounts. “Change the Change” would mean she will get the money back. So would the former Managing Director of the maritime agency, NIMASA get back GBP 578,080 seized from him and the Ikoyi apartment owners have back their USD43.4m; N23m and GBP 27,800.
The hidden owner of the Lagos cash shop may then step forward to reclaim their N449.6 million; the ex-Naval Chiefs will have returned to them the already forfeited N1.8 billion; the Governors Forum paid back their N1.4 billion and the major oil marketers, from whom the EFCC has so far seized N328.9 billion will smile their ways to the bank.
The banks themselves will equally join the party, happily getting back N27.7 billion they “ate” from taxes they failed to remit; the scion of the Akinjides, Jumoke will have N650 million awarded to her while those scammers in INEC who coughed out N1 billion will equally get money back and charges standing against them in court may be dropped.
But the happiest of them all will be Mrs. Jonathan, who will get the first priority when the refunds start coming for obvious reasons. The former First Lady would not anymore need lawyers to keep her mountain of gifts, counted in huge millions of dollars, billions of Naira, hotels and buildings.
The list of people who oppose the Buhari government and yearning to ‘‘change the change’’ include a number of parliamentarians, policemen, customs officials, immigration officials, civil servants now rooting for other political parties, not leaving out those various businesses and platforms owned by these political parties directly or indirectly.
The Buhari win in 2015, and the possibility of four more years have crumbled their dreams of endlessly looting the state and the growing list of achievements of the administration is not doing any good for them.
“Change the change” means also that the biggest tax revolution since independence, the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) now being implemented, and about which many of our rich citizens are unhappy may be scrapped. A recent report shows that there are four million new taxpayers, including companies and individuals, resulting in N700 billion increase in tax revenue in 2017.
The early casualties of ‘‘changing the change’’ may include initiatives like the Whistle Blower policy by which the government is able to recover stolen or concealed assets through information provided by citizens. This has changed the ethical and moral tone of the business transaction space in the country. The whistle blower is entitled to between 2.5%-5.0% of amount recovered.
Sometime last year, the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, told the world, “we are going after those who have stolen our money. We have put in place a very successful whistle-blower programme that is delivering results and allows those who report illicit activity to receive up to five per cent of any funds that we recover.” The response has been so fabulous that in just four months, it yielded N17bn, as revealed by the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.
Another formidable group unhappy with the change and wish it reversed are the importers of diesel and generators. Nigeria ranks as the second biggest importer of generators all over the world.
Buhari is bad business for them because he has raised electric power availability from 2,600 MW in 2015 to 7,000 MW and is targeting 10,000 megawatts by the year’s end. Increased power availability means less purchase of generators and less consumption of diesel. Noticeably, they are rooting for parties that are bent on changing the change. Rooters of ‘‘Changing the Change’’ campaign also include the beneficiaries of the malaria economy which costs Nigeria N132 billion and 300,000 lives annually, an economy now threatened by the administration’s National Malaria Elimination Programme, NMEP, by which tens of millions of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (ITN) are being freely distributed. A part of this order is now made in Aba, Nigeria.
The government’s moves on ease of doing business which has attracted international attention and investment and significantly improved the ranking of Nigeria as a place of doing business, in fact achieving a place in the World Bank’s top 10 reforming economies would suffer a hit from those bent on proving that on-going change is not working. But this is how the World Bank saw Nigeria: “Overall, the 10 top improvers implemented the most regulatory reforms in the area of getting credit, starting a business, dealing with construction permits and paying taxes,” the report said.
It’s really hard for the beneficiaries of the old order to see and appreciate what the Buhari government is doing considering that they ran an economy based purely on oil, the price of which was as high as US$140 per barrel. They reticulated oil revenue through personal spending and corruption, wasteful expenses and salaries. Nigeria did not record a single major infrastructural project in the 10 years before the Buhari administration. The money was mismanaged. No savings were made. To compound the problem, they borrowed heavily and owed contractors, and international oil companies.
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II and Professor Chukwuma Soludo, both eminent former Central Bank Governors had had occasion to warn the government of the day about the wrongful way of doing things and the accompanying wastage but they were clobbered. The dire warnings of the dangers to economic health and the wellbeing of the people were both ignored.
Increase in government spending in infrastructure which is beginning to show results with sectors like employment, and returning growth to the recessed economy may equally suffer. Under the 2017 appropriation budget which is about to lapse, government’s capital spending is expected to hit N1.5 trillion. In the PDP years, the highest this got to was N450 billion or 21 per cent of the capital allocation in 2014. Doing more with less.
The Railways, on which the common man travels, is being changed for the better. The 3,500 monorail that had existed has been leased to the American company, General Electric. They are to refurbish it and are bringing new locomotives and hundreds of coaches. All trains and coaches are being modernized. New standard railway tracks are being laid linking Ibadan and Lagos. Kaduna-Abuja, partly completed when President Buhari took over is now in use and contracts for the entire stretch, Lagos to Kano have been awarded. Lagos-Port Harcourt will follow and by the Presidential directive, all state capitals are to be linked by the new, standard gauge railway.
“Changing the Change” means that we will go back to the old ways of doing things. A strong and diversified economy has been on top of President Buhari’s achievements. Key drivers of the economy such as agriculture and solid minerals have been progressing with over 7% growth rate, an indication of positive signs for the future. Is everyone happy with this? No. We cannot say this of the importers of rice who have seen their import business go down following the tremendous success of the home-grown rice schemes. Over two billion USD have been saved as a consequence.
Then, you must also count those who got USD 200 million every year from the Central Bank and ended up bringing in low standard fertilizers. They lapped a government subsidy of N60,000 annually and sold a bag each for between N10,000-N13,000. Now, a government-approved price, by the common consent of local producers is N5,500 per bag. Those who fed fat on the perennial shortages and the subsidy regime would desire nothing but “Changing the Change.”
There are many today who take for granted the declared victory over the Boko Haram terrorists, forgetting the reign of the bomber who made it almost impossible for regular attendance in markets, Churches and Mosques in many of our cities, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
But again, as we have seen from the heist in the national security establishment, even Boko Haram was an industry from which money was scooped. Boko Haram was the hallmark of a flourishing business of corruption. The beneficiaries won’t like that the security threat is eliminated. Yes, for them, “Changing the Change” is an opportunity for a resumption of business as usual.
Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Sports minister, Solomon Dalung has made it clear that Nigeria will go ahead to play its friendly match with the Democratic Republic of Congo in spite of the reported outbreak of Ebola in that country.
Senior Special Assistant to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Human trafficking and illegal migration, Solomon Okoduwa has announced that no fewer than 100 female students of Idogbo Secondary School, Benin, have been shipped to Libya in the last four months.
Muslims who gathered to observe prayer in a Mosque in Gashua village in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe state have successfully apprehended a female suicide bomber in the Mosque and threw her out before the bomb exploded.
The Consequences Of “Changing The Change” By Garba Shehu
Top opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members have been granting press interviews and addressing zonal political rallies talking about “CHANGING THE CHANGE” in next year’s general elections, without defining what exactly that means.
As the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) gears up to celebrate the completion of three years of the Buhari government in the centre on May 29th, Nigerians need to be reminded of what the reversal of the achievements of this administration will amount to.
The real meaning and cost of the “Changing the Change,” is that if they win the next election, they will not take us back to where we were in 2015, they will mostly reverse the progress the APC has brought to the nation. The main reason for the defeat of the PDP in 2015 was corruption. The present administration at the centre led by President Muhammadu Buhari has so far presented a corrupt-free image of itself. It has also succeeded in abolishing grand corruption at the top and as attested to by the American President, Donald Trump. The government has significantly brought down the level of corruption in the whole country. It has, however, warned over and again that corruption was fighting back.
Many who are discerning would have read this from President Buhari’s speech when he inaugurated the impressive new headquarters building of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) a week ago. He narrated how and why he was overthrown as a military Head of State in the 80s.
In that speech, he said not only was he kicked out because he fought corruption, the ones who took power freed all those that he had jailed, and whatever they stole was returned to them. He took their place in prison and stayed there without trial for 36 months, until that day when a journalist in Benin, now in Edo, broke the story that he had lost his mother. That was when he was allowed to go home.
The real difference between the PDP and the current APC administration is that although they mouthed a flood of rhetoric against corruption, in fact rightfully lay the claim of founding the institutions now in the forefront of fighting corruption as a government, the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, they had intended to keep them as toys, or bulldogs which teeth had been removed. No, they never intended that the war against corruption would be taken this far.
To change the change would mean that the teeth of the bulldog will be removed. It would then only bark but not bite.
In this country, politics is often considered as synonym of corruption. The previous government came under huge criticism for scandals like that discovered in arms procurements in the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA which transformed itself into a major source of funding of the PDP; NNPC crude oil thefts, broadband spectrum licensing scandal, oil subsidy scam and so many others but the present government has not faced any such corruption allegations.
Although he said he was unafraid and would not bend, the President’s concern, and fear on the part of many is that if a corrupt leader takes over, it will be happy days all over again for former Oil Minister Diezani Allison-Maduekwe who has so far forfeited USD 153 million, N23.4 billion, and USD 4m and USD 5m in separate accounts. “Change the Change” would mean she will get the money back. So would the former Managing Director of the maritime agency, NIMASA get back GBP 578,080 seized from him and the Ikoyi apartment owners have back their USD43.4m; N23m and GBP 27,800.
The hidden owner of the Lagos cash shop may then step forward to reclaim their N449.6 million; the ex-Naval Chiefs will have returned to them the already forfeited N1.8 billion; the Governors Forum paid back their N1.4 billion and the major oil marketers, from whom the EFCC has so far seized N328.9 billion will smile their ways to the bank.
The banks themselves will equally join the party, happily getting back N27.7 billion they “ate” from taxes they failed to remit; the scion of the Akinjides, Jumoke will have N650 million awarded to her while those scammers in INEC who coughed out N1 billion will equally get money back and charges standing against them in court may be dropped.
But the happiest of them all will be Mrs. Jonathan, who will get the first priority when the refunds start coming for obvious reasons. The former First Lady would not anymore need lawyers to keep her mountain of gifts, counted in huge millions of dollars, billions of Naira, hotels and buildings.
The list of people who oppose the Buhari government and yearning to ‘‘change the change’’ include a number of parliamentarians, policemen, customs officials, immigration officials, civil servants now rooting for other political parties, not leaving out those various businesses and platforms owned by these political parties directly or indirectly.
The Buhari win in 2015, and the possibility of four more years have crumbled their dreams of endlessly looting the state and the growing list of achievements of the administration is not doing any good for them.
“Change the change” means also that the biggest tax revolution since independence, the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) now being implemented, and about which many of our rich citizens are unhappy may be scrapped. A recent report shows that there are four million new taxpayers, including companies and individuals, resulting in N700 billion increase in tax revenue in 2017.
The early casualties of ‘‘changing the change’’ may include initiatives like the Whistle Blower policy by which the government is able to recover stolen or concealed assets through information provided by citizens. This has changed the ethical and moral tone of the business transaction space in the country. The whistle blower is entitled to between 2.5%-5.0% of amount recovered.
Sometime last year, the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, told the world, “we are going after those who have stolen our money. We have put in place a very successful whistle-blower programme that is delivering results and allows those who report illicit activity to receive up to five per cent of any funds that we recover.” The response has been so fabulous that in just four months, it yielded N17bn, as revealed by the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.
Another formidable group unhappy with the change and wish it reversed are the importers of diesel and generators. Nigeria ranks as the second biggest importer of generators all over the world.
Buhari is bad business for them because he has raised electric power availability from 2,600 MW in 2015 to 7,000 MW and is targeting 10,000 megawatts by the year’s end. Increased power availability means less purchase of generators and less consumption of diesel. Noticeably, they are rooting for parties that are bent on changing the change. Rooters of ‘‘Changing the Change’’ campaign also include the beneficiaries of the malaria economy which costs Nigeria N132 billion and 300,000 lives annually, an economy now threatened by the administration’s National Malaria Elimination Programme, NMEP, by which tens of millions of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (ITN) are being freely distributed. A part of this order is now made in Aba, Nigeria.
The government’s moves on ease of doing business which has attracted international attention and investment and significantly improved the ranking of Nigeria as a place of doing business, in fact achieving a place in the World Bank’s top 10 reforming economies would suffer a hit from those bent on proving that on-going change is not working. But this is how the World Bank saw Nigeria: “Overall, the 10 top improvers implemented the most regulatory reforms in the area of getting credit, starting a business, dealing with construction permits and paying taxes,” the report said.
It’s really hard for the beneficiaries of the old order to see and appreciate what the Buhari government is doing considering that they ran an economy based purely on oil, the price of which was as high as US$140 per barrel. They reticulated oil revenue through personal spending and corruption, wasteful expenses and salaries. Nigeria did not record a single major infrastructural project in the 10 years before the Buhari administration. The money was mismanaged. No savings were made. To compound the problem, they borrowed heavily and owed contractors, and international oil companies.
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II and Professor Chukwuma Soludo, both eminent former Central Bank Governors had had occasion to warn the government of the day about the wrongful way of doing things and the accompanying wastage but they were clobbered. The dire warnings of the dangers to economic health and the wellbeing of the people were both ignored.
Increase in government spending in infrastructure which is beginning to show results with sectors like employment, and returning growth to the recessed economy may equally suffer. Under the 2017 appropriation budget which is about to lapse, government’s capital spending is expected to hit N1.5 trillion. In the PDP years, the highest this got to was N450 billion or 21 per cent of the capital allocation in 2014. Doing more with less.
The Railways, on which the common man travels, is being changed for the better. The 3,500 monorail that had existed has been leased to the American company, General Electric. They are to refurbish it and are bringing new locomotives and hundreds of coaches. All trains and coaches are being modernized. New standard railway tracks are being laid linking Ibadan and Lagos. Kaduna-Abuja, partly completed when President Buhari took over is now in use and contracts for the entire stretch, Lagos to Kano have been awarded. Lagos-Port Harcourt will follow and by the Presidential directive, all state capitals are to be linked by the new, standard gauge railway.
“Changing the Change” means that we will go back to the old ways of doing things. A strong and diversified economy has been on top of President Buhari’s achievements. Key drivers of the economy such as agriculture and solid minerals have been progressing with over 7% growth rate, an indication of positive signs for the future. Is everyone happy with this? No. We cannot say this of the importers of rice who have seen their import business go down following the tremendous success of the home-grown rice schemes. Over two billion USD have been saved as a consequence.
Then, you must also count those who got USD 200 million every year from the Central Bank and ended up bringing in low standard fertilizers. They lapped a government subsidy of N60,000 annually and sold a bag each for between N10,000-N13,000. Now, a government-approved price, by the common consent of local producers is N5,500 per bag. Those who fed fat on the perennial shortages and the subsidy regime would desire nothing but “Changing the Change.”
There are many today who take for granted the declared victory over the Boko Haram terrorists, forgetting the reign of the bomber who made it almost impossible for regular attendance in markets, Churches and Mosques in many of our cities, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
But again, as we have seen from the heist in the national security establishment, even Boko Haram was an industry from which money was scooped. Boko Haram was the hallmark of a flourishing business of corruption. The beneficiaries won’t like that the security threat is eliminated. Yes, for them, “Changing the Change” is an opportunity for a resumption of business as usual.
Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity.