The Ethiopian Prime Minister has been named to head a committee, set up by African leaders, to draw up a plan of action on how to wipe out terrorism from the face of Africa. The plan of action is expected to be tabled before the next African Union meeting between June 25 and June 26 in Malabo, Equitorial Guinea. The committee is made up of ministers from selected countries and is aimed at forging a continental resistance against the spread of terrorism across Africa. The committee emanated from the meeting of Heads of government in Africa which was concluded in Pretoria, South Africa yesterday. The meeting was attended by the leaders of South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Congo, Kenya, Uganda, and Cote D’Iv oire as well as President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria Breifing news men today on the outcome of the meeting, the Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati said the leaders discussed modalities for defining a stronger framework for cooperation and partnership amongst African states to deal with terrorism. According to Abati, the African leaders recognized the fact that no one country can on its own deal with the challenges of terrorism in Africa. “That what is required is not just a country-based approach or a regional approach but a continental approach which requires the cooperation of All African States. The realization, of course, is that when there is a threat of terrorism in one country it runs to another. And it has also been established in the narrative about the threat of terrorism in Africa that indeed there is a continent wide network and that many African states are facing this particular threat.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that President Goodluck Jonathan has shown by his actions and utterances that there is no hope for the rescue of abducted female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state by Boko Haram on April 14. The party wondered how President Jonathan has abdicated his responsibility to Nigerian citizens with the statement that those who are calling for the safe return of the girls should address their protests to Boko Haram, rather than to him as President or the government he leads. In a statement issued in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed today, the party said that it is now logical to conclude that at this point, there is absolutely no hope for Nigeria and her citizens “under this capricious government. ”A government that is unwilling to take any responsibility for anything, and one that is unwilling to recognize that its raison d’etre is to ensure the welfare and security of its citizens has simply abdicated its responsibility, and should not be counted upon to do all that is necessary to rescue the over 200 girls who were abducted under its watch.” APC said that the insurgents who have inflicted so much pain on the nation would not have succeeded as much as they have if the government had believed that it had any responsibility to the people, in which case it would have taken its responsibility very seriously instead of engaging in its pastime – blame game! ”If the Jonathan-led government is right, then anytime a country suffers from deadly flooding, for example, the people should rather blame the sea or the sea goddess instead of looking up to their government for succour. If the Jonathan-led government is right, then the US, Britain France, China as well as the UN, which have all been asking the government to do more to secure the homeland, are wrong and do not understand the concept of governance. Certainly, there is a problem somewhere.” This is even as APC said thatit will neither be browbeaten nor blackmailed into abdicating its own responsibility as a virile opposition party by keeping quiet in the face of the government’s continued to tread on the dangerous path of running the nation aground. ”There seems to be a grand plot by the Jonathan Administration to silence all criticisms and sweep all ongoing corruption investigations and government incompetence under the carpet under the guise of uniting to fight terrorism. ”This is fraudulent as President Jonathan is only trying to profit from his own corruption and incompetence. While we are ready to partner with the Administration and join all Nigerians in the fight against terrorism, especially in efforts to ensure the safe return of the missing girls, we refuse to be cowed or tricked into submission and allow the looting of our resources and the bad governance to continue unchallenged. ”A government that is quick to accuse others of failing to sympathize with the victims of the insurgency that it had allowed to fester has no qualms campaigning aggressively for a second term of office for a President who has made a failure of his first term. A government that rushes to the media to condemn even an INEC-sanctioned rally, rather than the illegal rallies it engages in, has no shame running a daily advert, under the guise of the hitherto unknown Protectors of Nigerian Posterity, thus showing no respect for the mood of the nation. ”If the Jonathan and the PDP want to be taken seriously, they should ask their campaigners to apply the brakes out of respect for the mood of the nation. They should try to make a success of their yet-unfinished term of office before even seeking another. ”President Jonathan and the PDP cannot continue with their campaigns and then continue to blackmail us into keeping quiet. If anyone is exploiting the national tragedy, it is Jonathan and the PDP. If anyone is politicizing the insurgency, it is Jonathan and the PDP! Thankfully, Nigerians are aware of this double-standard of this feckless, clueless and incompetent federal government.”
Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, today, launched National Prayer for Peace and Security in Nigeria. The event was held at the National Mosque in Abuja, the nation’s federal capital territory. At the launching during which Prayers were offered by renowned Muslim clerics from all over the country for continued peace, unity and the development of Nigeria were Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar III. Also at the occasion were the Acting Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar, Deputy Governors, members of the legislature, federal executive council members, royal fathers and several Muslim faithfuls. Speaking at the launching, Vice President Namadi Sambo advised Nigerians to continue to pray for peace and tranquility in Nigeria, saying that prayer is a strong weapon against any adversity. He said that the government is ever committed to provide adequate security and ensure the stability and unity of Nigeria. “Let me reiterate that when any adverse situation befell the (Muslim) Ummah during the time of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and the Sahabah, their greatest weapon was resorting to prayers to seek for Allah’s intercession. “We shall continue to organize prayers as frequently as possible and Allah SWT in his infinite mercy, will answer our prayers in removing, in totality the act of terrorism by the Boko Haram and all other vices in Nigeria.” Vice President Namadi Sambo called on Nigerians to continue to pray for lasting peace and unity of the country, even as he also called on the Muslim Ummah to promote the ideals of Islam by living according to the tenets of the religion, which promotes peace, good neighbourliness and kindness. He further advised Muslims not to allow few disgruntled elements to portray Islam and Muslims in bad light. He similarly called on Muslim clerics to apply modesty in their sermons and preaching and that they should adhere to the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW). On the ongoing efforts to ensure the safe return of the abducted Chibok girls, Vice President Sambo said that government is working assiduously to support the efforts of the military by increasing their capacity in the search of the abducted girls and to further secure the territorial integrity of the nation. The Vice President expressed appreciation of Nigeria to the support of it’s neighbours, including, Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon and Benin Republic and all African countries in the fight against the scourge of terrorism in the country. He also commended the United Kingdom, France, as well as the United States of America, China and all other countries of the World that are against the terrorism in Nigeria, Africa and the World in general. Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said that the National Assembly would do everything within its constitutional powers to support the government’s effort to fight terrorism. Also Sa’ad Abubakar stressed the importance of justice, equity and fairness to the maintenance of peace in every society. He advised Muslims, especially those in leadership position to shun corruption and any act that affect the development of the country.
Stage for conflict is now set between parents and the authorities of Caleb University, one of the second generation private universities in Imota, Lagos over the authorities’ imposition of N150 million surcharge on all its students. The university authorities said that the N150 Million would be used to offset the alleged damages done to the school’s property during a riot by some male students on May 13. The male students had allegedly protested against what they called school’s “very strict dress code and other strict code of conduct.” In the wake of the protest, the authorities closed the institution and sent all the students back home on May 15. It was learnt that the next thing the students heard were text messages sent to their parents on May 23, asking male students to pay N100,000 each and females to pay N50,000 each as surcharge for damages to the school’s property during the riot. The authorities asked the affected studnents to pay the surcharge before they would be allowed to resume on June 2. It is learnt that the school will rip huge amount of N150 Million from about 1,500 students currently studying in the institution even as sources hinted that what the instution actually needed to put the damaged structures in place is about N2 million. “How can they force us to pay so much for damages? The university authorities have seen this riot as another opportunity to milk parents,” one of the parents said bitterly. Another parent described the university as greedy, callous and heartless. “Rather than fish out the culprits and punish them appropriately, they are scheming to make money from the crisis. “What kind of repairs are they going to carry out with about N150 million? “Are they planning to build a new university by exploiting parents? “The NUC (National Universities Commission) must step in to save parents from these exploiters at Caleb University.” The text message sent to parents by the university on May 23 reads: “CUL parents and students are hereby notified that school resumes Monday, June 2. Exams start Monday, June 9. Male students are to pay N100,000 while the female would pay N50,000 by bank draft into Ecobank Account 1993000979 to offset damage to school property. Balance of school fees should be paid into Sterling Bank Acct. 0020022195. “No student would be allowed into the university premises without evidence of payment of school fees and the surcharge. A guarantor must accompany each student with a letter of undertaking to be of good behaviour.”
Malawian President, Joyce Banda has announced the annulment of this week’s general election which she is losing to opposition. She said that the election is being annulled “because of voting “irregularities,” even as the electoral chief, Maxon Mbendera, insisted that there were no serious irregularities to warrant such Presidential action.
President Banda, who said that the election was marred by rigging, multiple voting and computer-hacking fixed new election to be held within 90 days, even as she said that she would not stand again in the new poll.
However, the head of the electoral commission said the president did not have the power to annul the vote.
Malawi’s election was chaotic, with one BBC correspondent reporting people voting two days after the Election Day because of delays in distributing polling material.
Frustrated voters set one polling station alight and smashed election material at another.
In some places, voting boxes or lids did not arrive so officials used buckets and plastic wrap.
The head of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) said despite problems involving the electronic count, the poll remained valid and vote-counting would go on.
Late on Friday, MEC said Joyce Banda’s rival candidate, Peter Mutharika had taken a lead with 42%, while President Banda got 23%.
Today, announced: “I am nullifying the elections, using the powers invested in me by the Malawi constitution.”
She told newsmen: “I want to give Malawians an opportunity to choose a candidate of their choice in a free and fair manner. When elections are to be held again, I will be stepping aside.”
Mrs. Banda had previously accused a party, which she did not name, of infiltrating and hacking MEC’s counting system even as the MEC chairman denied that its system had been hacked.
In a previous statement about the elections, President Banda had said that there were irregularities, included the arrest of presiding officers who were “caught in the act of rigging and some people voting up to three times. There were also “serious anomalies” where some candidates won more votes than the number of registered voters.
About 7.5 million people were eligible to vote in the fifth elections since the end of one-party rule 20 years ago. This is the first time that Malawi held presidential, parliamentary and local elections on the same day
The idea of a multiple approach to tobacco control came from several ‘academic advances.’ In 1993, a decision was made by Ruth Roemer and Allyn Taylor to apply to tobacco control. Taylor was the idea that the World Health Organization (WHO) should utilise its constitutional authority to develop international conventions to advance global health’. After several negotiations most of which were initially resisted, on February 27, 2005, the WHO gave birth to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and soon after gained world-wide acceptance. Similar to other UN advocacies, most of the advocacy for the adoption of the treaties of the FCTC is largely driven by local and multinational NGOs who are heavily funded by foreign partners to ensure local adoption by governments all over the world.
Tobacco control advocacy is a heavily funded activity hence an extremely attractive venture for many anti-tobacco lobbyists. Whilst majority of the stakeholders involved in tobacco control policies agree that industry regulation is extremely important, the successes recorded in the tobacco control debate over the past decade is often at variance. In some instance, studies have shown that tobacco consumption especially in the western world has decreased and focus has now shifted to the developing world, in other studies, it has been found that smuggling in tobacco has negated the effects of tobacco control policies. Even more frightening is the fact that tobacco smuggling is controlled by those who perpetuate the acts of terror.
Whilst the whole world waits eagerly for solutions to the perceived issue of tobacco scourge, anti-tobacco lobbyists adopt the strategies of smear campaigns, believing that the uglier the industry looks the more difficult it is for them to operate. The concept of effective policy control, however, belies this strategy. Has it has been proven without a shadow of a doubt that industries like the tobacco and alcohol are part of the solution and not outside of it. The tactics of the anti-tobacco lobbyists, however, also belies the intent and motives and expected outcomes from their campaigns. The aggression with which they push for a cause seems totally unconnected to the need for reduction of consumer intake of tobacco. The tactics and lack of depth of their various and seemingly spurious media allegations underscores the amount of funding which is often at their beck and call.One of the main funders of the anti-tobacco lobbyists, Bloomberg, lists as amongst the recipients of the donations received organisations like Environmental Rights Action ‘ERA’. It was stated that they received a total of $657,960 between the period of September 2007 to November 2009, this funding was meant for ‘a consolidated campaign for passage of FCTC implementation bill’. This amount translates to over a whooping N100 million (one hundred million Naira). In the period between 2010 – 2012 they received a total of $297, 456 (N47, 592, 960.00), in period Aug 2007 – August 2007; they were given another $32, 225 (N5, 156, 000.00) for the same purpose. In the period December 2007 to August 2008, they received a total of $186,188 (N29, 790, 080.00) for the purpose of mobilising high profile support for litigation and other tobacco control activities in Nigeria. Other recipients to the Bloomberg fund as listed on its web site include the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) who also received various amounts from Bloomberg from the tune of $185, 380 (N29, 660, 800.00) for engaging the legislature towards the passage of the National Tobacco Control Bill in Nigeria from the period of May 2013 to May 2014 and $12,000 (N1, 920, 000.00) from the period of July 2013 to October 2013 to support the official launch of the GATS report in Nigeria. Another anti-tobacco lobbyists the New Initiative For Social Development got $29, 886 (N4, 781, 760.00) for strengthening the implementation and enforcement of Ekiti state Law on Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places and Mobilisation of Support for the Passage of the National Tobacco Control Bill and the Tobacco Control Foundation of Nigeria has been given a sum of $67, 942 (N10, 870, 720.00) for the advocacy for the passage and presidential assent of the tobacco control bill in Nigeria The amount of money which has been passed into the hands of the lobbying groups is enormous, one, however, wonders where the consumer is in the middle of all these and how judiciously and ethically such funds have been utilised. It is obvious that the overriding focus of the lobbying groups is the tobacco industry and one tactic that they have sought to deploy is something they call de-normalisation. De-normalisation is apparently used to categorise all well intended activities coming from the tobacco industry as bad. While such tactics may seem good enough for some, one begs to ask the question for whose benefit is this for? The lobbyists who seem to be getting more funding or the consumer who languishes away in the heat of their tobacco smoke desperately waiting for some protracted consumer education that will help empower them for better choices, or the provision of another alternative like a coke zero is to the beverage drinker (We should also have a tobacco zero which will give the consumer more pleasure and no harm) or the smuggler who eagerly waits in the shadow for the triumphant moment that big tobacco will make room for it; or public health? In a funny twist of events, another entrant came into the scene a couple of years ago, an American ‘franchise’ anti-tobacco lobbying organisation called CTFK – Campaign For Tobacco Free Kids, who appears more aggressive and also more social media savvy. CTFK has introduced other streams of advocacy into the campaign – tagging along with this organisation are youths and popular actors who they use to pass on their message and champion their cause. CTFK states that ‘The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has been designated as one of five partner organizations to coordinate activities under this initiative, working with governments and non-governmental organizations to implement effective measures to reduce tobacco use! ’As part of this initiative, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids provides legal, media, and research support to governments and non-governmental organizations around the world to assist in promoting, adopting and implementing tobacco control policies.’ The organisation in a style that is typical of anti-tobacco lobbyists has also launched series of attacks against the industry. Whilst the tobacco company, BAT, has through the media on a number of occasions stated its support for regulation, balanced regulation they call it, CTFK continues to allege that the company and industry wants to ‘stop or significantly weaken legislation’. Although this ‘hate mongering’ is just picking up momentum in Nigeria, the unethical tactics deployed by CTFK and its cronies has been going on abroad for several years. According to a highly respected US based publication ARCHIVE 11 under the caption ‘THE CORRUPTION OF THE ANTI-SMOKING CARTEL’, made up of articles logged from December, 1999 to February 2000. They said that the Hate-mongering anti-tobacco pornography has been pulled off the air after complaints from the tobacco industry.The pornographic ads, designed to instigate hatred of smokers especially by minors, are divulging medical frauds and half-truths concerning the unproven health effects of smoking. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids receives heavy money for divulging information that is as stomach-turning as it is unsubstantiated. Nevertheless, like the rest of the cartel CTFK is intolerant of opposition and it has even the face to take paternalistic tones towards its intended victims. Again on February 13, 2000 the headline ‘BRITISH REPORT SAYS RISK FROM PASSIVE SMOKING OVERSTATED’ appeared in several scientific journals in London. According to ARCHIVE 11, The British press is reporting that estimates on exposure to second hand smoke turn out to have been exaggerated. The Italian media have also reported the news extensively on February 11th 2000. So far, no study ever performed on passive smoking (about 40), except a minor one, have shown any serious risk, but the anti-tobacco cartel and its major mouthpiece, the WHO, continue to lie about second hand smoke dangers. The Warwick University specialists estimated that some 23 earlier studies that did not link passive smoking with lung cancer may have been ignored. Researchers often average all previous findings, but the overall picture may be distorted because some reports with negative findings have not been written up in journals.” Perhaps antismoking should be added in all synonym dictionaries next to the word corruption. ARCHIVE 11 again has this to say about the CTFK and its voodoo scientific findings: On February 12 2000, the following headline made a sudden global appearance: PHYSICIANS’ GROUP CRITICIZES CLINTON TOBACCO FINE PROPOSAL (CNSNews.com) – ‘The Association of American Physicians Thursday criticized President Clinton’s proposal to fine tobacco companies based on the number of underage smokers as a precedent for pervasive and intrusive interference with all aspects of private life. Dr. Jane Orient, Association President, said in a statement, “Concern about health does not justify using Third Reich measures against corporations engaged in a legal business. What’s next ” Fining auto makers for each speeding driver, nailing Hershey for every diabetic who eats a candy bar, or gouging McDonald’s for all obese people who order a Big Mac”The end does not justify the means – especially when the end isrotten, and the means are a threat to liberty, individuality, and freedom of choice. And physical health is not the only element of health. Actually, being physically healthy in a liberty-free world dominated by hatred, persecution and suspicion is a true assault to public health. The question now is how much of the information both scientific and moral that CTFK and its anti- tobacco cronies regularly spew out can be trusted? The issue of regulation and the right form of tobacco in Nigeria cannot be understated. The focus is, and should never be, the tobacco industry. If this is the case then public health proponents stand the risk of not being able to identify the solution to the problem when it arrives. With so much funding availed for the sole purpose of mudslinging and truth twisting one is obligated to ask what the real aim of this campaign is. Attacking interest free loans and other similar initiatives is a tactic that puts the integrity of such organisations to question. The loss of focus puts the entire smoking population in grave danger, and this can be seen in an overriding push back to the new e-cigarettes that is said to be less harmful. One would have assumed that for such campaigns which seek to protect human health, the immediate reaction will be to put resources and efforts into testing the science of e-cigarettes, with the aim of finding harm free options for the consumer. It is, therefore, pertinent that media sensationalism should stop the use of twisted tactics, falsehood and a deliberate attempt to subvert the appropriate process of legislations through spurious allegations. There must be genuine intent to bring in and establish the right kind of legislation and this should be done in the right way. Policy that is unfavourably skewed towards one side of the divide has never worked. It is also important that all the stakeholders, most importantly the tobacco industry should sit down at the table and fashion out what is best for Nigeria, not what has been handed down by others outside of this community. We must sift what has been successful from that which has not been successful. We must understand our terrain and what comes with it i.e. the porous borders, the number of terror organisations who are capable of taking over the industry and the vulnerability of the youths where no ID system works plus the lack or otherwise of enforcement capabilities on ground and determine what form of legislation is appropriate and what part a compliant industry will play within it. We must also demand that these anti-tobacco lobbying groups desist from their unethical ways and play by the integrity that is expected of such types of organisation. The word out there is that the intensity of their campaigns is largely driven by motives outside of what it is intended for. Their strategies tell all.
A billionaire businessman at the heart of a $2.6 billion state bank scam, the largest fraud case since the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, Mahafarid Amir Khosravi, also known as Amir Mansour Aria has been executed at Evin prison, north of Tehran, capital of Iran.
The Teheran state television reported today that the execution came after Iran’s Supreme Court upheld his death sentence.
Khosravi’s lawyer, Gholam Ali Riahi, was quoted by news website khabaronline.ir as saying that his client was put to death without any notice.
“I had not been informed about execution of my client,” Riahi said. “All the assets of my client are at the disposal of the prosecutor’s office.”
State officials did not immediately comment on Riahi’s claim.
The fraud involved using forged documents to get credit at one of Iran’s top financial institutions, Bank Saderat, to purchase assets including state-owned companies like major steel producer Khuzestan Steel Co.
Khosravi’s business empire included more than 35 companies from mineral water production to a football club and meat imports from Brazil. According to Iranian media reports, the bank fraud began in 2007.
A total of 39 defendants were convicted in the case. Four received death sentences, two got life sentences and the rest received sentences of up to 25 years in prison.
The trials raised questions about corruption at senior levels in Iran’s tightly controlled economy during the administration of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Mahmoud Reza Khavari, a former head of Bank Melli, another major Iranian bank, escaped to Canada in 2011 after he resigned over the case. He faces charges over the case in Iran and remains on the Islamic Republic’s wanted list. Khavari previously admitted that his bank partially was involved in the fraud, but has maintained his innocence.
Europe is under increasing threat from global energy prices as their fossil fuel stock dry up.
This was the frightening picture which the director of the Global Sustainability Institute at Angilia University, Dr. Aled Jones painted on May 16. The sordid signal that is manifesting in Europe in the area of energy crises is not restricted to fossil fuel alone, but is inclusive of gas and coal. Experts have actually come to the same conclusion that oil, gas and coal are fast drying up in European countries, including the United Kindom and may be gone in the next five years or less! One of the experts, Professor Victor Anderson was emphatic when he said: “Coal, oil and gas resources in Europe are running down and we need alternatives.” According to a report into energy sources, Britain’s oil, coal and gas reserves will run dry in a little over five years. The Global Sustainability University foresees a number of European countries, including France, Italy and the UK that are facing critical shortages of fossil fuels as the 2020 begin.
It said: “using the most recent data on known reserves and current consumption, researchers found the UK has five and half years of oil, four and half years of coal and three years of gas remaining. The UK urgently needs to be part of a Europe-wide drive to expand renewable energy sources, such as waves, wind, tidal and solar power.” Other countries facing similar problems are Bulgaria, Poland, Germany, Russia and others.
Of course, there are other countries across the world that are facing the same problem at varying degrees, but not many of them have taken the kind of futuristic measures some European countries are currently taking.
If many developed nations are heading for dry-up oil, gas and coal and are taking measures for alternative sources of energy, one is not very sure if African countries are even aware of what is happening in the energy world not to talk of looking for alternative measures.
Specifically, Nigeria appears to be pretending that the dangerous news coming from Europe has nothing to do with it, especially with the fact that it has been ranked as one of the largest oil producers in the world.
We may be behaving like ostrich, but we need to be moved into action by the uncheering news about inadequate amount of gas so far to fire the various power projects that have been springing up across the country. Indeed, Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has said time without number that the danger Nigeria is facing is not necessarily the inadequate power supply for domestic and industrial revival, but more importantly, the inadequate gas to fire the mega watts that are being added to the national stock.
It is no longer a new thing that industry has gone comatose in most parts of the country, arising mainly from lack of power, and one can imagine what will happen if and, indeed, when one wakes up suddenly to discover that there is no fuel for domestic, industrial and other numerous uses, including, of course, movement with automobile; there is no gas and coal to power the few industries that are surviving today.
Our experts have to urgently go into the boardrooms to begin to think of alternatives to the looming reality in the world energy sector, with particular reference to the drying up of oils, gas and coal across Europe. We need to hasten up before such frightening situation ground not only the country in all its ramifications, but individuals that daily make use of such sources of life.
Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has finally signed into law, the 2014 spending plan of 4.7 trillion naira ($29 billion), five months into the year as a result of some disputes with lawmakers.
The budget of Africa’s biggest oil producer is based on a crude output of 2.388 million barrels a day at a benchmark price of $77.5 a barrel and an exchange rate of 160 naira to the dollar. Total spending for the year will reach 4.96 trillion naira, with the addition of 268 billion naira in savings from the reduction of fuel subsidies in 2012, according to the Finance Ministry.
The President immediately handed the signed budget to the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Director, Budget Office, Dr. Bright Okogu for implementation.
Speaking to newsmen, Okonjo-Iweal said that the late signing of the budget will not hamper the running of the economy, adding: “the effect of the late passage has been effectively minimal.’’
She estimated the budget deficit at around 1 percent of the size of the economy, which is Africa’s biggest.
In medium-term expenditure proposals sent to lawmakers in September, Jonathan said revenue from crude exports was expected to drop in 2014 due to output disruptions caused by theft from pipelines. Nigeria depends on oil for about 80 percent of government funds and more than 95 percent of foreign income, according to the Finance Ministry.
The budget is the last before the 2015 election year, when Jonathan as well as lawmakers and state governors are due to seek new mandates in general elections, though Jonathan has not said whether he plans to stand for re-election.
Lawmakers in both houses of parliament passed a budget of 4.7 trillion naira last month. Investors are monitoring Africa’s top oil producer for signs that spending will surge in a pre-election year as it did before the 2011 presidential vote, when it climbed 17 percent.
Okonjo-Iweala said yesterday the government will stick to its economic growth forecast of 6.75 percent for this year even after a series of bomb attacks by Islamist militants left hundreds dead, threatening to undermine investor confidence.
Meanwhile, there was uproar on the floor of the Senate yesterday following a perceived re-introduction of 2014 budget proposal of some federal agencies for consideration by the senators.
The senators were agitated over an entry titled: `2014 budget proposal of Federal Government parastatals’, which was listed in the day’s Order Paper.
The senators unanimously condemned the attempt to present another budget for the federal agencies which were already captured in the recently passed 2014 national budget of N4.6 trillion.
The document read by the Deputy Senate Leader, Sen. Abdul Ningi contained 2014 Budget estimates for 52 federal agencies including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), among others.
Sen. Smart Adeyemi (PDP-Kogi) described the document as an attempt by the Executive to indirectly return the 2014 budget to the National Assembly through the back door.
“This amounts to indirectly returning the budget to the National Assembly through the back door.
“We have completed work on the budget and it is waiting to be assented to by Mr President.
“So, I do not see any reason for anybody to bring any budget or expenditure of any agency back to the chamber here, ” he reacted.
Sen. James Manager (PDP-Delta) said the re-introduction of the 2014 budget document amounted to rubbishing the work already done by senators on the 2014 budget.
Manager urged the senate to reject the document in its entirety because Nigerians were anxiously looked awaited the President’s assent of the the budget
“This is strange. That means the committees did not do anything during the budget defence.
“Almost all the issues here have been dealt with during the budget defence. There are some isolated cases like the CBN.
“The National Assembly and the entire country is expecting our brand new budget to be assented to by Mr President, “he declared.
Also rejecting the document, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia) said: “We have already dealt with the budget.
“And if there is no substantive motion for rescission we can no longer consider anything that comes on this floor as a national budget.”
Similarly, Sen. Ahmed Lawal (APC-Yobe) urged the senators to throw out the document because it did not come as official communication from the President.
“I wish to note that even the tone of the correspondence and the way Rules and Business scheduled this is wrong because this is supposed to be a money bill.
“It should be noted that there was no letter read here with regards to this particular request by Mr President.
Sen. Ayogu Eze (PDP-Enugu) called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the re-introduction of the document by the Rules and Business Committee.
“If we had allowed this to slip through this chamber, it would have been a very dangerous development that would purport and assume on our Order Paper that there was communication from Mr President.
“So, I think that the senate should take a very serious view of this matter and find out where Ita Enang got this letter in the first place,”he urged.
Responding, the Chairman, Rules and Business Committee, Sen. Ita Enang, explained that the document was presented alongside the national budget by the Budget Office.
Enang said the budget document was listed to ensure compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act which required that the budget proposals of the parastatals should be attached to the national budget estimates.
This document is from the Budget Office of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja.
“It came along with the national budget and this is not a document that I in any way had tampered with.
“It was produced and given to the Appropriations Committee and these copies are gotten from the Appropriations Committee and circulated.
Ruling on the matter, the Senate President, Sen. David Mark agreed with Enang that the document was in accordance with the directive that national budget must come with budget of the parastatals.
Mark said the the Rules and Business Committee should have listed out only few parastatals whose budgets were not yet treated because majority were captured in the 2014 budget.
He directed Enang to withdraw the document and list out only those agencies whose budget are yet to be treated before re-introducing the document on the floor of the senate.
Italian Serie’ A’ side, Inter Milan FC, may have arrived now at Nairobi, Kenya for their first-ever African playing tour where they will play friendly match with the country’s national team, Harambee Stars.
The team’s visit has been made possible by Football Kenya Federation and the Italian Football Association, under the technical cooperation between both football bodies.
Inter Milan, which finished fifth in the just-ended Serie ‘A’ league, will comprise a strong squad minus some of those engaged with their World Cup-bound team.
Kenya is expected to use the tie to gear up for their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations first-round qualifier return match against Comoros on June 1.
Kenya beat the Comoros 1-0 in the first leg match in Nairobi May 18.
“The federation, is in partnership with the Government, and our parent Ministry of Sports, Arts the Culture, the Kenya Tourism Board and the SSMB, have played a major role in ensuring the team’s historic visit to Kenya.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Sam Nyamweya said: “the visit serves as a strong indicator of the federation’s efforts to support the Tourism Ministry’s Campaign toward the Tourism Recovery Programme and to showcase our ability to host International football teams.
“We are extremely delighted and deeply honoured for hosting the team in our country and this visit is an indicator of the great strides that has been taken by our federation.’’
The visit comes barely a few weeks after the very successful tour to Kenya by the Italian U-18 team that played two matches against the Kenya Under-20 team and Kenyan Premier League side Gor Mahia Under-19.
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The Ethiopian Prime Minister has been named to head a committee, set up by African leaders, to draw up a plan of action on how to wipe out terrorism from the face of Africa. The plan of action is expected to be tabled before the next African Union meeting between June 25 and June 26 in Malabo, Equitorial Guinea.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that President Goodluck Jonathan has shown by his actions and utterances that there is no hope for the rescue of abducted female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state by Boko Haram on April 14.
Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, today, launched National Prayer for Peace and Security in Nigeria. The event was held at the National Mosque in Abuja, the nation’s federal capital territory.
Europe is under increasing threat from global energy prices as their fossil fuel stock dry up.
Anti-Tobacco Lobbyists, Culture Of Misinformation And Corruption By Isa Korede
The idea of a multiple approach to tobacco control came from several ‘academic advances.’ In 1993, a decision was made by Ruth Roemer and Allyn Taylor to apply to tobacco control. Taylor was the idea that the World Health Organization (WHO) should utilise its constitutional authority to develop international conventions to advance global health’. After several negotiations most of which were initially resisted, on February 27, 2005, the WHO gave birth to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and soon after gained world-wide acceptance.
Similar to other UN advocacies, most of the advocacy for the adoption of the treaties of the FCTC is largely driven by local and multinational NGOs who are heavily funded by foreign partners to ensure local adoption by governments all over the world.
Tobacco control advocacy is a heavily funded activity hence an extremely attractive venture for many anti-tobacco lobbyists. Whilst majority of the stakeholders involved in tobacco control policies agree that industry regulation is extremely important, the successes recorded in the tobacco control debate over the past decade is often at variance. In some instance, studies have shown that tobacco consumption especially in the western world has decreased and focus has now shifted to the developing world, in other studies, it has been found that smuggling in tobacco has negated the effects of tobacco control policies. Even more frightening is the fact that tobacco smuggling is controlled by those who perpetuate the acts of terror.
Whilst the whole world waits eagerly for solutions to the perceived issue of tobacco scourge, anti-tobacco lobbyists adopt the strategies of smear campaigns, believing that the uglier the industry looks the more difficult it is for them to operate. The concept of effective policy control, however, belies this strategy. Has it has been proven without a shadow of a doubt that industries like the tobacco and alcohol are part of the solution and not outside of it. The tactics of the anti-tobacco lobbyists, however, also belies the intent and motives and expected outcomes from their campaigns. The aggression with
which they push for a cause seems totally unconnected to the need for reduction of consumer intake of tobacco. The tactics and lack of depth of their various and seemingly spurious media allegations underscores the amount of funding which is often at their beck and call.One of the main funders of the anti-tobacco lobbyists, Bloomberg, lists as amongst the recipients of the donations received organisations like Environmental Rights Action ‘ERA’. It was stated that they received a total of $657,960 between the period of September 2007 to November 2009, this funding was meant for ‘a consolidated campaign for passage of FCTC implementation bill’. This amount translates to over a whooping N100 million (one hundred million Naira).
In the period between 2010 – 2012 they received a total of $297, 456 (N47, 592, 960.00), in period Aug 2007 – August 2007; they were given another $32, 225 (N5, 156, 000.00) for the same purpose.
In the period December 2007 to August 2008, they received a total of $186,188 (N29, 790, 080.00) for the purpose of mobilising high profile support for litigation and other tobacco control activities in Nigeria. Other recipients to the Bloomberg fund as listed on its web site include the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) who also received various amounts from Bloomberg from the tune of $185, 380 (N29, 660, 800.00) for engaging the legislature towards the passage of the National Tobacco Control Bill in Nigeria from the period of May 2013 to May 2014 and $12,000 (N1, 920, 000.00) from the period of July 2013 to October 2013 to support the official launch of the GATS report in Nigeria. Another anti-tobacco lobbyists the New Initiative For Social Development got $29, 886 (N4, 781, 760.00) for strengthening the implementation and enforcement of Ekiti
state Law on Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places and Mobilisation of Support for the Passage of the National Tobacco Control Bill and the Tobacco Control Foundation of Nigeria has been given a sum of $67, 942 (N10, 870, 720.00) for the advocacy for the passage and presidential assent of the tobacco control bill in Nigeria
The amount of money which has been passed into the hands of the lobbying groups is enormous, one, however, wonders where the consumer is in the middle of all these and how judiciously and ethically such funds have been utilised.
It is obvious that the overriding focus of the lobbying groups is the tobacco industry and one tactic that they have sought to deploy is something they call de-normalisation.
De-normalisation is apparently used to categorise all well intended activities coming from the tobacco industry as bad. While such tactics may seem good enough for some, one begs to ask the question for whose benefit is this for?
The lobbyists who seem to be getting more funding or the consumer who languishes away in the heat of their tobacco smoke desperately waiting for some protracted consumer education that will help empower them for better choices, or the provision of another alternative like a coke zero is to the beverage drinker (We should also have a tobacco zero which will give the consumer more pleasure and no harm) or the smuggler who eagerly waits in the shadow for the triumphant moment that big tobacco will make room for it; or public health?
In a funny twist of events, another entrant came into the scene a couple of years ago, an American ‘franchise’ anti-tobacco lobbying organisation called CTFK – Campaign For Tobacco Free Kids, who appears more aggressive and also more social media savvy. CTFK has introduced other streams of advocacy into the campaign – tagging along with this organisation are youths and popular actors who they use to pass on their message and champion their cause. CTFK states that ‘The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has been designated as one of five partner organizations to coordinate activities under this initiative, working with governments and non-governmental organizations to implement effective measures to reduce tobacco use!
’As part of this initiative, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids provides legal, media, and research support to governments and non-governmental organizations around the world to assist in promoting, adopting and implementing tobacco control policies.’
The organisation in a style that is typical of anti-tobacco lobbyists has also launched series of attacks against the industry. Whilst the tobacco company, BAT, has through the media on a number of occasions stated its support for regulation, balanced regulation they call it, CTFK continues to allege that the company and industry wants to ‘stop or significantly weaken legislation’. Although this ‘hate mongering’ is just picking up momentum in Nigeria, the unethical tactics deployed by CTFK and its cronies has been going on abroad for several years.
According to a highly respected US based publication ARCHIVE 11 under the caption ‘THE CORRUPTION OF THE ANTI-SMOKING CARTEL’, made up of articles logged from December, 1999 to February 2000.
They said that the Hate-mongering anti-tobacco pornography has been pulled off the air after complaints from the tobacco industry.The pornographic ads, designed to instigate hatred of smokers especially by minors, are divulging medical frauds and half-truths concerning the unproven health effects of smoking.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids receives heavy money for divulging information that is as stomach-turning as it is unsubstantiated. Nevertheless, like the rest of the cartel CTFK is intolerant of opposition and it has even the face to take paternalistic tones towards its intended victims.
Again on February 13, 2000 the headline ‘BRITISH REPORT SAYS RISK FROM PASSIVE SMOKING OVERSTATED’ appeared in several scientific journals in London.
According to ARCHIVE 11, The British press is reporting that estimates on exposure to second hand smoke turn out to have been exaggerated. The Italian media have also reported the news extensively on February 11th 2000.
So far, no study ever performed on passive smoking (about 40), except a minor one, have shown any serious risk, but the anti-tobacco cartel and its major mouthpiece, the WHO, continue to lie about second hand smoke dangers.
The Warwick University specialists estimated that some 23 earlier studies that did not link passive smoking with lung cancer may have been ignored. Researchers often average all previous findings, but the overall picture may be distorted because some reports with negative findings have not been written up in journals.”
Perhaps antismoking should be added in all synonym dictionaries next to the word corruption. ARCHIVE 11 again has this to say about the CTFK and its voodoo scientific findings:
On February 12 2000, the following headline made a sudden global appearance:
PHYSICIANS’ GROUP CRITICIZES CLINTON TOBACCO FINE PROPOSAL (CNSNews.com) –
‘The Association of American Physicians Thursday criticized President Clinton’s proposal to fine tobacco companies based on the number of underage smokers as a precedent for pervasive and intrusive interference with all aspects of private life.
Dr. Jane Orient, Association President, said in a statement, “Concern about health does not justify using Third Reich measures against corporations engaged in a legal business. What’s next ” Fining auto makers for each speeding driver, nailing Hershey for every diabetic who eats a candy bar, or gouging McDonald’s for all obese people who order a Big Mac”The end does not justify the means – especially when the end isrotten, and the means are a threat to liberty, individuality, and freedom of choice. And physical health is not the only element of health.
Actually, being physically healthy in a liberty-free world dominated by hatred, persecution and suspicion is a true assault to public health. The question now is how much of the information both scientific and moral that CTFK and its anti- tobacco cronies regularly spew out can be trusted?
The issue of regulation and the right form of tobacco in Nigeria cannot be understated. The focus is, and should never be, the tobacco industry. If this is the case then public health proponents stand the risk of not being able to identify the solution to the problem when it arrives. With so much funding availed for the sole purpose of mudslinging and truth twisting one is obligated to ask what the real aim of this campaign is. Attacking interest free loans and other similar initiatives is a tactic that puts the integrity of such organisations to question.
The loss of focus puts the entire smoking population in grave danger, and this can be seen in an overriding push back to the new e-cigarettes that is said to be less harmful. One would have assumed that for such campaigns which seek to protect human health, the immediate reaction will be to put resources and efforts into testing the science of e-cigarettes, with the aim of finding harm free options for the consumer.
It is, therefore, pertinent that media sensationalism should stop the use of twisted tactics, falsehood and a deliberate attempt to subvert the appropriate process of legislations through spurious allegations.
There must be genuine intent to bring in and establish the right kind of legislation and this should be done in the right way. Policy that is unfavourably skewed towards one side of the divide has never worked. It is also important that all the stakeholders, most importantly the tobacco industry should sit down at the table and fashion out what is best for Nigeria, not what has been handed down by others outside of this community. We must sift what has been successful from that which has not been successful. We must understand our terrain and what comes with it i.e. the porous borders, the number of terror organisations who are capable of taking over the industry and the vulnerability of the youths where no ID system works plus the lack or otherwise of enforcement capabilities on ground and determine what form of legislation is appropriate and what part a compliant industry will play within it.
We must also demand that these anti-tobacco lobbying groups desist from their unethical ways and play by the integrity that is expected of such types of organisation. The word out there is that the intensity of their campaigns is largely driven by motives outside of what it is intended for. Their strategies tell all.
[myad]