Thur 02 May 2013 The Guardian Nigeria

10,000 megawatts not realisable by December, says Nebo From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja

Blueprint for private sector’s investment in transmission underway

OING by existing realities, G the country’s goal of attaining 10,000 megawatts

Chinedu Nebo.

The minister spoke to reporters in Abuja on the goal set by his predecessors and some other government officials.

But he said that something

(mw) of electricity by December is not realisable, according to the Minister of Power, Prof.

close to the figure would be realised in December, stressing that 10,000mw would be achieved by first quarter of 2014 based on a professional and realistic analysis of the

will get close to it, but the truth is that we cannot get 10,000mw by December,” he said.

Meanwhile, the controversy trailing the Bureau of Public Enterprises’ (BPE) decision to sell the Enugu Distribution

sector.

“As an engineer and knowing the realities on ground, we will achieve this by first quarter of 2014. We need time to achieve part of the target. We

Company despite the existence of a 20-year pact with Aba Power Limited that ringfenced the Aba Business Zone to the firm seems to have ended. This is because Nebo promCONTINUED ON PAGE 6

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Vol. 29, No. 12,544

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N150

Rivers PDP denies plot to impeach Amaechi • Lawyers oppose removal bid From Ibe Uwaleke, Bertram Nwannekanma(Lagos) and Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt) ONTRARY to the position C of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly,

Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu (second left); Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Abdulwaheed Omar; President Goodluck Jonathan; Trade Union Congress (TUC) President, Peter Esele and others, during the 2013 Workers’ Day celebration in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

Otelemaba Amachree, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has no plan to impeach Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

The state party chairman, Felix Obuah, who declared this yesterday, said the claim by Amachree that a fake mace had been smuggled into the state to enable five members of the House hold an emergency session was aimed at misleading the public.

Already, some lawyers have condemned the alleged move to remove Amaechi.

While addressing members of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Peoples Forum led by Ibe Eresia-Eke, Oduah observed that some party members in the state were aggrieved and that his primary mission was to CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Pope, global workers, others decry austerity, slave labour

By Bola Olajuwon (Lagos) and Collins Olayinka (Abuja) (with agency report) CROSS the globe, from A Nigeria to Greece, down to Turkey, Spain, Indonesia, among others, workers and unions yesterday used the May Day to express their anger against austerity measures, unemployment and poor labour conditions.

According to agency reports, Pope Francis was at the forefront of the condemnation of “slave labour” and the conditions of hundreds of workers killed in a factory collapse in Bangladesh.

The pontiff urged political leaders to fight unemploy-

• Jonathan indicts union leaders for pensions fraud • President decries economic growth without jobs • NLC supports amnesty for Boko Haram ment in a sweeping critique of “selfish profit.”

The Pope said he had been particularly struck by a headline saying workers at the factory near Dhaka were being paid just 38 euros ($50) a month.

“This is called slave labour!” the Pope was quoted by Vatican radio as saying in his

homily at a private mass in his residence to mark May Day. More than 400 workers have been confirmed dead and scores are missing in the collapse, which occurred in a suburb of the capital, Dhaka, last week in the country’s worst-ever industrial disaster.

“Today, in the world this slavery is being committed

against something beautiful that God has given us – the capacity to create, to work, to have dignity,” Agence France Presse (AFP) cited the pope as mass. the at saying “How many brothers and sisters find themselves in this sitsaid. he uation!”, Bangladeshi protesters enraged by the deadly factory

collapse led rallies across Asia against low wages and poor working conditions, as more demonstrations were rolled out across austerity-hit Europe.

In Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday indicted labour leaders for contributing to massive diversion of pensions funds in the country.

The President spoke during the celebration of this year’s May Day at the Eagle’s Square in Abuja.

Jonathan decried economic growth without an attendant job creation. He said: “We are

Buhari gives terms to drop presidential bid — Page 7

not unmindful of the fact that the ultimate benefit of some of economic growth must reflect on the lives of the citizens. I agree totally that until we create jobs; until Nigerians can wake up and find food to eat; until Nigerians who are sick can walk to hospitals and get treatment, the economic indices are meaningless to them.”

Indeed, Labour had threatened to embark on a one-day protest to demand a speedy action on the probe and prosecution of the perpetrators.

But the President quickly called on both leaderships of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its Trade Union CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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NEWS May Day Rallies Delta okays jobs for 1,072 casual workers

Mark, govs pledge better welfare, urge more commitment

From Isa Abdulsalami-Ahov (Jos) Iyabo Lawal (Ibadan) Niyi Bello (Akure) Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Azimazi Momoh Jimoh (Abuja) Tunji Omofoye (Osogbo) Tunde Akinola (Lagos), Eric Meya (Sokoto)

S Nigerian workers yesterA day joined their counterparts world wide to celebrate May Day, a common thread ran through the goodwill messages by governors and other top public officers: Better welfare for workers and the need for greater commitment in the quest for nation building.

In his goodwill massage, Senate President, David Mark, enjoined the workers to make productivity the cornerstone of their engagement in order to boost the economy and bring prosperity to the nation.

He noted that only a productive nation was capable of feeding her citizens, raising per capital income and maintaining acceptable standard of living for the people.

He also frowned at the penchant of always resorting to strike at every disagreement with authorities, saying that resort to strike is always counterproductive “because at the end of the day we still return to the table for dialogue.”

In Osun Sate, Governor Rauf Aregbesola urged workers to increase productivity in

Low key celebration in Ekiti over deputy gov’s death From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti

N honour of the late Ekiti IMrs. Sate Deputy Governor, Funmilayo Olayinka, who died of cancer on April 6, this year, workers in the state yesterday held a low key May Day celebration.

The workers, who converged at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado Ekiti where Governor Kayode Fayemi was present, described the late deputy governor as a pride to the state and a vanguard of gender equality during her lifetime.

In separate addresses delivered by the Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Kolawole Olaiya and other allied unions, they agreed that nothing was too much to honour the late deputy governor considering her immense contribution to the development of the state.

Addressing the workers, Governor Fayemi warned them against engaging in partisan politics.

order to enhance the economy of the state.

Aregbesola, who led members of his cabinet to the playing ground of Technical College, Osogbo, the venue of the May Day rally said his administration had spent about N59.8 billion so far to settle workers salaries since November 2010 when he came on board.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, expressed his resolve to sanitise the state workforce and sharpen it for effectiveness.

Specifically, the governor who spoke at the Workers Day celebration in Akure, the state capital, said his government would not spare any worker indicted in the ongoing verification exercise.

Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, who was represented by the Head of Service, Mr. Ezekiel Dalyop, acknowledged the immense contributions of the workers in the state, saying that they have done a lot and are still doing more.

Jang, who was booed and heckled while speaking, pleaded with the workers to allow him to at least have the patience to listen to the “lies” he was going to tell them. But the undaunted and unwavering governor said the present government had the interest of the workers at heart, believing strongly that the government meant well for

From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba a memorable May Day IofTforwas the 1,072 casual workers Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Delta State Government yesterday as their appointment was regularised by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ovuozerie Macaulay, Uduaghan, deplored casualisation, a policy which he insisted was neither his nor that of his predecessor, saying that it was perpetrated through indiscriminate engagement of staff and in violation of due process.

OATUU tasks workers on poverty, unemployment

By Yetunde Ebosele O commemorate the 2013 May Day, the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) has advised workers to fight against poverty, mass unemployment, and all scourges that still plague the continent.

In a message to mark the event, OATUU said the tragic events in Chicago, United States (U.S.) in May 1886 in which workers were killed, others injured and some labour leaders hanged, was meant to discourage trade unionism and destroy the Labour movement.

Urging workers not to lose hope, Secretary General of the group, Owei Lakemfa in a statement said: “Rather, it further unified workers, strengthened our unity and has become a symbol for workers’ solidarity and struggle to improve their conditions of work and life”.

T

A worker in Lagos...yesterday the workers.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi promised to remove the barriers hindering the promotion of graduate teachers in GL 14 in the civil service to enable them exceed their

present level starting from first week in May. The state wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) had at a recent meeting with the government appealed for the raising of bar for teachers

PHOTO: GABRIEL IKHAHON who were university graduates from Grade Level 14.

Ajimobi while addressing the workers said the bar had been removed and that it would take effect from May 1, 2013.

Employees seek improved deal, end to graft, insecurity, others From Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna) Dele Fanimo (Lagos), Gordi Udeajah (Umuahia), Lawrence Njoku (Kaduna), Charles Ogugbuaja (Owerri), Charles Coffie Gyamfi (Abeokuta) Ann Godwin (Port Harcourt), Joseph Wantu (Makurdi), Isah Ibrahim (Gusau) and John Akubo (Dutse) ORKERS across the counW try yesterday marked May Day with a call on government to check graft, particularly among public officers; improve their welfare and those of retirees; halt moves to raise fuel price; provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youths and ensure peace and security in the country.

In Kaduna Sate, the workers protested massive corruption by public officers in the country as they urged President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately sanction those indicted to prevent the collapse of the nation’s economy.

In Abia State , the state Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Christopher Okpara in his address queried the Federal Government’s moves to deregulate the downstream sector.

He also added that although

labour appreciated government’s approval of payment of terminal benefits to Power Holding Company of Nigeria(PHCN’s) workers, he however, urged the Federal Government to involve labour unions’ leaders in the sector on the issue.

In Jigawa State, workers called on the state government to employ more teachers and medical personnel in the state.

Speaking at the occasion of the Workers Day, held at the Kaduna Township Stadium, the state chapter chairman of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Shehu Mohammed, said that “the monster that is assailing this nation presently at an alarming rate, is the unbridled corruption”, pointing out that “the number and volume of corrupt practices in the country have gone up astronomically in recent time such that Transparency International has branded Nigeria as the 35th most corrupt country in the world”.

In Ogun Sate, workers who spoke through the TUC state chairman, Mr. Seyi Adebanjo, called for a pension ministry, adding that the call had become imperative in view of

the fact that “all other organs of government charged with the issue of pensions have failed”.

He also called on the National Assembly to legislate that any government, be it at the federal, state or local level, that owed pensioners for three consecutive months should have its share of the Federal Government allocation withdrawn until such arrears were paid.

In Benue State, workers urged Governor Gabriel Suswam to implement the 18 per cent minimum wage to primary school teachers as well as update payment of workers’ leave grants, promotions and death benefits.

The state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Simon Anchaver, who made the call at the IBB Public Square in Makurdi, the state capital, also appealed to the state government to lift embargo on employment.

For workers in Rivers State, they expressed worries over the political rift in the state, warning that they would not fold their hands and watch politicians distort the peaceful atmosphere in the state.

The state chairman of NLC, Chris Oruge, stated this while

delivering his speech at the Isaac Boro Park, venue of this year’s May Day celebration.

According to Oruge, “the labour union would not be silent and watch a group of individuals destroy the peaceful atmosphere in the state”.

In Kwara State, the workers urged the Federal Government to tackle unemployment in the country which had led to insecurity and social vices.

The state NLC chairman, Bose Daramola urged the state government to provide jobs for the state teeming graduates who were recently screened for employment.

In Enugu State, the labour unions restated their demand for living wage, calling on the state government to work out better ways of attending to their welfare packages so as to promote friendly relationship in the state.

Addressing a workers’ day rally in Enugu, state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Nze Chukwumaife lamented the attitude of government to issues and entitlements due to the workers of the state, stressing that a labourer deserved a living wage.

Chukwumaife said that the issue of teachers’ enhancement allowance of 27.5 per cent of basic salary which was agreed by the governors’ forum to be paid to teachers since 2008, while only 10 per cent had been paid, urged the government to pay the balance of 17.5 per cent.

But emotion heightened when the state indigenes disengaged from Abia State civil service appeared during the march past.

Clad in black attire and carrying a black banner with white inscription, the workers marched with great dedication before the crowd.

As soon as they got to the spot of taking salute, they knelt before Governor Sullivan Chime, a development interpreted by many to mean that they were in dire need of employment in their own state, having been sent packing from Abia.

Oil workers under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria(PENGASSAN), have raised alarm over the current underhand dealings of employers in the oil and gas sector to short circuit workers’ career.

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NEWS

Lawyers oppose alleged plot to remove Amaechi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 unify all contending groups.

Obuah was declared the chairman of the party last month by an Abuja High Court which sacked the Godspower Ake-led state executive of the party said to be pro-Amaechi.

The chairman’s suspension of 27 out of the 32 members of the State House of Assembly from the PDP and declaration of their seats vacant as well as the issuance of a 48-hour ultimatum to Amaechi to explain the status of the state’s Bombardier BD 700 Global Express jet, had generated anxiety of a possible ploy to impeach the governor.

He explained that his mission as chairman of the party was not to create problems for the administration of Amaechi whom he declared he was ready to work with to ensure

that the state’s resources were evenly distributed among all the local councils.

The chairman explained that he did not at any time plan to use the five members of the state legislature not suspended to impeach Amaechi whom he described as the political leader of Rivers State. He, however, warned that the party would no longer condone any elected official who fails to deliver on his mandate.

“None of my executive has thought to impeach the governor. It is not my duty to impeach the governor. I know the limit of my office as party chairman…we want prudent management of our resources. The party will support the government to use our resources judiciously. I have not hatched a plan to impeach the governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi”, he said.

On the 48-hour ultimatum given to the governor to ex-

Blueprint for private sector’s investment in transmission underway CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ised yesterday that government would respect the agreement.

The Guardian had reported recently that efforts by the BPE to privatise the entire Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) despite the existence of a 20-year lease agreement which the Federal Government entered into with a private concern for the management of the Aba metropolis was creating a fresh concern over the privatisation programme of government.

The Federal Government, the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA, as it was then known) and Aba Power Limited entered into a lease agreement on April 28, 2005 for the distribution of power to the ring-fenced residential and commercial consumers at Aba, Abia State. The contract covered Aba Business Unit and Ariaria Business Unit, both of which form part of Enugu Distribution Company (Enugu Disco).

Following the agreement, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in 2006 granted a licence to Aba Power Limited to distribute power within the ring-fence.

On December 12, 2012, a group of chieftains under the umbrella of Ndigbo Lagos, led

by Prof. Anya O. Anya, wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan asking him to respect the terms of the agreement with Aba Power Limited.

The Federal Government went ahead on February 20, 2013 and signed an agreement with bid winners of the Enugu Distribution Company, Interstate Consortium.

But in a swift reaction, Wole Olanipekun & Co on February 21, 2013 advised the general public to desist from any act, purchase or negotiation in respect of any offer to sell, lease, transfer any right in the Enugu Disco, which does not expressly exclude Aba and Ariaria Business Units.

But responding to questions on what government was doing to resolve the impasse, Nebo told reporters: “Government intends to honour the agreement with Aba Power Limited for the ring-fenced Aba and Ariaria Business Units.”

Reviewing the state of the

power sector, the minister also called on Nigerians to exercise a little more patience with government as the power reform agenda would be executed.

On the generation capability, he stressed: “Currently, installed available generation capacity has risen to 6,000mw. Peak generation is slightly above 4,500mw. We intend to add additional generation capacity of about 2,200mw from the NIPP projects (1,896mw), IPPs (292mw) and FGN legacy assets (514mw) before the end of 2013.

“The Federal Government is also investing heavily to boost generation through large, medium and small hydros with a total capacity of over 4,234mw.”

He said a $3.4 billion investment would be required to expand the transmission grid to be able to evacuate all the generated power.

He said the ministry was collaborating with the Finance Ministry to work out a blueprint for private sector’s investment in transmission, stressing once again that the Transmission Company of Nigeria would not be sold to a private concern, but would remain a government-owned entity.

plain the ownership of the state jet, Obuah said the party in its magnanimity would meet to consider the extension of time to be briefed on the status of the contentious jet.

Obuah charged Amaechi to be transparent in his leadership of the state as the party was not antagonistic to his administration.

He stressed that the primary focus of his administration was to ensure that the party emerged victorious in the 2015 general elections and other subsequent ones.

He berated the Leader of the State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, for referring to him as a factional leader of PDP. He said that there was only one PDP family in Rivers State for which he was the authentic chairman.

The youth leader of the party, Major Jack, has urged youths in the state not to allow themselves to be used by politicians who might want to capitalise on the prevailing situation to cause chaos.

Condemning the purported move to impeach Amaechi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) chieftain, Chief Emeka Ngige, said: “It is

not a new phenomenon in our national politics. It has been done before in Anambra, Oyo, Bayelsa, Plateau and Abia states during the inglorious regime of Olusegun Obasanjo. To the credit of the Judiciary, those illegal impeachments were nullified.”

He continued: “So, history is repeating itself and sadly, the politicians have learnt nothing from history. I think with a no-nonsense National Judicial Council (NJC) now watching, let us see whether a kangaroo impeachment will be allowed to play out in Rivers State.”

Also reacting, a former NBA first vice president, Mr. Ikeazor Akaraiwe, said in Enugu: “President Jonathan wants to sow the wind. He may reap the whirlwind. The world has moved on since Obasanjo. He (Jonathan) may not get away with what Obasanjo got away with.”

In his own reaction, a Lagosbased Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adekunle Ogunba, said: “That is a classical example of tyranny of the minority patently backed by federal might. It is a template of our variant of democracy, which is ordinarily the manifestation of the will of the majority.

We practise democracy in the reverse order”.

The Chairman of the NBA, Ikeja Branch, Mr. Monday Ubani, described the planned removal as a pure absurdity.

Ubani said it was a sign that Nigeria was gradually descending into dictatorship and a state of anomie because of the ambition of few people who want to remain in power at all cost.

He said: “We have passed through this road before and we knew where it took us to.

“Again, we are witnessing a repeat and we shall see the end of this absurdity.

“The Nigeria Judiciary will again be called to examine the absurdity of their action if they dare carry out their illegality and I am hopeful that they will declare their stupid action null and void at the appropriate time. Let us watch and see.”

His Lagos branch counterpart, Taiwo Taiwo, however wants President Goodluck Jonathan to act like a statesman and a true democrat by calling on the troublemakers to sheathe the sword.

And Lagos-based constitutional lawyer, Fred Agbaje, said the development would only heat up the polity.

He asked: “Why is the Federal Government so jittery about the rising political influence of Amaechi? Is Amaechi not a Nigerian citizen who can aspire to any political office in Nigeria?

“Political sovereignty constitutionally lies with the people of Nigeria not our political rulers. Therefore, they should allow the people of Nigeria to decide who will govern them instead of the present approach aimed at silencing opposition.”

For the Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, whatever that is done without compliance with the constitution’s prescription is invalid and would be nullified by the court.

The constitution is clear that only two-thirds of the members of a state House of Assembly can impeach a governor.

He, however, said that the lesson for the likes of Amaechi who supported the removal of fuel subsidy was that supporting or being part of dictatorship was a doubleedged sword.

Another human rights lawyer, Malachy Ugwummadu, said it was still within the realm of speculation.

Former Taraba State governor, Rev. Jolly Nyame (left); Senator Aisha Al-Hassan and Senator Nenadi Usman, during the inauguration of a computer training centre donated by Al-Hassan for youths in Jalingo… yesterday.

Jonathan indicts labour leaders for pensions fraud CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Congress (NLC) to hastily adopt peer review mechanisms to put the issue in perspective.

The President said: “Labour has been at the fore-front of the demand for good governance and greater action against corruption, and these issues are being vigorously tackled on various fronts. Prosecutions are being pursued on matters arising from well-published fraud, embezzlement of pensions funds and other malpractices demystified by this administration. Given that some of these perpetrators are high-ranking and also junior members of labour unions, greater attention to peer review action on the part of labour would be appreciated.”

Jonathan also called on labour to maintain its princi-

pled stand on national issues, which has insulated the movement from the grasp of politicians who have the penchant for deploying all opportunities within their reach for political gains.

The President described most of the perceived dissenting voices from labour as born out of nationalism and patriotism and not out of hatred for government.

“Their (labour) voices are very strong and because they do not have private agenda is the reason those of us who are politicians have not been able to use them for our own selfish interests,” he submitted.

The President went ahead to label the 2013 May Day as, “centenary labour May Day as it coincides with the amalgamation of Southern and Northern protectorates, which has become the modern day Nigeria. This year’s

commemoration specially affords special recognition to the historical and contemporary importance of the labour movement in the national project.”

He said that since inception, this administration had always seen labour movement as not just part of history but part of Nigeria’s past, present and its collective future.

He went ahead to enumerate the factors that had influenced the choice of the administration’s policies thus: “Since the advent of this administration, we have created atmosphere where everyone can achieve his or her dreams, which is the thrust of our transformation agenda. The transformation agenda is about taking and implementing measure today in order to give our people a brighter tomorrow. It is about creating jobs, wealth and ensuring a

better deal for Nigerians. Central to this transformation is the creation of stable political environment where economic development activities would flourish.”

During the event, the President of the NLC, Abdulwaheed Omar, expressed support for amnesty for Boko Haram members, and urged them to accept dialogue and save the nation the agony of unnecessary loss of lives.

The NLC considered the recent pardon for a former governor as a veiled endorsement of corruption, saying, “… we find the pardon granted a former governor who was convicted of corruptly enriching himself as unfortunate and a major dent on the government’s commitment to fighting corruption. To reclaim lost ground, government needs to reassure Nigerians that it is still committed to fighting

corruption by conclusively dealing with all pending cases corruption.” of On his part, the President of TUC, Peter Esele, said the deployment of a database that would form the core of a new security landscape would reduce the propensity to comcrimes. mit “We implore all members of the sect to embrace the option so that the country will make greater and faster progress.

We also charge the Federal Government to view the entire incident as a clarion call and opportunity to develop a new security architecture. This would entail the following: establishment of a data bank that would contain details on every person and group of persons within our borders; laying special emphasis on top-class intelligence gathering; improving the justice syshe tem,”

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

Buhari gives terms to drop presidential bid

NERC denies owing workers’ salaries From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja IGERIAN Electricity ReguN latory Commission (NERC) has refuted a report by a national daily of Wednesday, May 1, 2013, which claimed that the Commission could not pay salaries.

Officials said yesterday that NERC does not owe its workers any salary arrears.

An official said the reference to a disgruntled contractor, who took the Commission to court, was actually an attempt to force it to make payments for a disputed transaction that predates the current leadership of the commission.

“The case is still in court and the transaction was not about the purchase of vehicles and has nothing to do with President Goodluck Jonathan,” NERC noted.

The Commission’s Chairman, Sam Amadi, said in Abuja that NERC is financially strong and has duly audited accounts.

The Commission, therefore, dismissed the report and the attempt to malign the President as deliberate acts of political mischief.

ANAN establishes accounting labs in seven varsities

By Chijioke Nelson MMEDIATE past president Itional of the Association of NaAccountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Hajia Maryam Ladi Ibrahim, said the association has established seven accounting laboratories in Nigerian universities.

Ibrahim made this declaration in her valedictory speech on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of a new ANAN President, Alhaji Sakirudeen Labode.

The universities are: University of Jos, Bayero University, University of Abuja, Ahmadu Bello University, Usman Dan Fodio University, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and the University of Uyo. She said the laboratories were in addition to that of the Nigerian College of Accountancy (NCA), Jos, a post-graduate training arm of the association.

Listing her achievements, Ibrahim said the association also improved in collaborative efforts with universities and polytechnics where the college took its students.

The former ANAN president noted that the association also donated books to 15 universities and polytechnics, saying that besides taking awareness campaign to many universities and polytechnics, the association has taken the campaign outside Nigeria.

According to her, “the association gained itself the following recognitions: International Federation of Accountants (IFAC); Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA); and the Association of Accounting Bodies of West Africa (ABWA).

She also said the association has gained regional and international integration with the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria; Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), IFAC, PAFA, ABWA, International Association for Accounting Education and Research (IAAER) and Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) Nigerian project.

From John Ogiji, Minna ORMER Military Head of State and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011 general elections, General Muhammadu Buhari, has signified intention to drop his presidential ambition for 2015 election under the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) if a better and formidable candidate emerges as the party’s standard bearer.

The former Head of State, who spoke with journalists in Minna on Wednesday at the maiden edition of the publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah Annual Lecture Series, pointed out that his intention to take a shot at the Presidency in 2015 was to answer calls by well-meaning Nigerians who are yearning for a genuine and transparent leadership. But he, however, said he was ready to rest his ambition under the yet-to-beregistered APC. According to him: “I will be ready to step down if there is a formidable and better candidate. It is not about me but for the survival of the party and the country. APC is about ensuring internal democracy and transparency. So, whoever emerges is the person I will support and I will be ready to step down”.

General Buhari insisted that Nigerians must be rescued from the hands of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and this can only be achieved if a formidable candidate emerges as the standard bearer of the newly formed but yetto-be registered APC in 2015 general elections.

Also speaking, the former presidential candidate of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2011 general elections and a leader of APC, Mallam Shehu Shekarau, who was at the lecture, said that APC will be democratic in electing its standard bearer for the forthcoming election despite the array of

F

Legal Adviser, Real Estate Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (RELAN), Adekunle Oyesanya (SAN) (left); Vice President (Academics), Prof.

Imran Oluwole Smith (SAN); Executive President, Prof. Charles Ilegbuna (SAN) and Vice President (Operations), Adekunle Omotola, at a briefing on the forthcoming National Conference on “Forclosure Law and Processes in relation to Mortgage Security in Nigeria” at University of Lagos, Akoka…yesterday PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Tambuwal warns Constitution Review panel against personal bias From Terhemba Daka, Abuja S the ad-hoc committee on A constitution review began work on the draft bills arising from the review exercise yesterday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu has Tambuwal, Waziri charged the members not to allow the personal bias of the House to influence their judgment.

The panel began a three-day retreat yesterday preparatory to the next stage of the on-going constitution amendment process, following the presentation to the House of the collated opinions from public sessions.

Tambuwal, who declared the retreat open at Protea Hotel, Abuja, specifically tasked the 51-member committee to ensure that the draft bills were free from personal prejudices, rather, “these bills must reflect craftsmanship, detail lucidity.” and He said: “I must again emphasise the need for your work to be free of all personal

bias. You must work only on data provided by the nationwide public hearing and your conclusion should reflect the aggregate opinion of fellow Nigerians.

“As you well know, our country today faces many challenges and some of our people have been asking questions about the very nature of our union. We hope eventually to provide Nigerians with a constitution that will answer some of these questions and further cement our hard-fought unity.”

The Speaker noted, however, that the exercise might not satisfy the yearnings of all Nigerians, but charged the committee to ensure transparency in the process. He added: “We cannot promise that after this exercise, all Nigerians would be fully satisfied with the result or that all agitations would stop.

“However, we can promise that it will be transparent, fair and reflect the true desires of our people. We can also promise that the constitution

we will finally present to Nigerians will be better than what we have presently.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review, Emeka Ihedioha, disclosed that membership of the panel was deliberately selected to represent all relevant interests because of the sensitive nature of the constitution review process.

“It is based on state representation, so that each state and the Federal Capital Territory has a member chosen by the state caucus in the House. Five members represent interests of women and special interests”, he explained.

Meanwhile, Ihedioha pointed out that for the process to work, the House and Senate Constitution Review Committees must work together to propose the same bills and vote on the same issues. They must as well reach agreement before any section of the constitution is amended, he said.

Ibori’s appeal comes up today From Tunde Oyedoyin, London HE long-awaited appeal by the former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, against his 13-year sentence after plea bargain comes up at the Royal Courts of Justice today.

A court’s spokesman confirmed that it is actually listed for this morning. However, another source said the convict-applicant would not be present at the hearing.

Ibori, who is serving a 13-year jail term (to just four years and some months, because of discounts for pleading guilty before jury trial started) for fraud and money laundering to the tune of £50 million during his term as governor, is appealing the sentence, and if successful, may be out of jail much earlier.

Having been jailed at the Southwark Crown Court in April last year, he successfully launched an appeal to have his term slashed a couple of months after his conviction.

And having spent a year of his four and some months’ term, he is praying the court to reduce the number of years left for his crime.

Ibori was convicted by Justice

T

Anthony Pitts and is currently serving at Her Majesty’s Prison in Long Lartin, South Littleton, Worchestershire.

He also has a three-week assets’ confiscation hearing list-

ed for Southwark Crown Court from September 16, and sources have confirmed that he would attend the Southwark Crown Court during that period.

formidable presidential materials in the yet-to-be registered party.

According to the former Kano State governor, “it is too early to talk about who will be the party’s candidate or to have a presidential candidate. In APC, we will have to embrace democracy that will guide the party. Let us have the party on ground first and congresses will be held at various levels that will produce our candidates. At that point, anybody can contest and the party will support the best candidate that emerges”.

Shekarau, therefore, said that as soon as all the merging parties are through with their national conventions, a formal request will be made to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for APC registration to give room for other activities that will climax in the emergence of the party’s candidates.

Assuring that a government by APC will bring holistic change in government and in the nation, the APC chieftain said: “We are not talking of just dismantling the PDP, we want change.

We are not just talking about change in democracy but change in attitude, change in approach, change in character, change in conducting the business of government. That’s why our slogan is change. We are determined to change Nigeria for better”.

Earlier at the lecture, which was organised by Integrity Icons International, titled: “The role of youth in sustaining democratic values in Nigeria”, Buhari said the media should be courageous and not shy away from keeping leaders and those in government on their toes.

He also called on leaders and those in position of authority to ensure a viable environment for people to thrive, adding that the media should constantly demand and put leaders in check.

“The moment there is nobody in the country to make our leaders create a viable environment, then the nation is in trouble,”

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

8 | NEWS

NAFDAC refutes report of attack on Orhii

FG appeals verdict against deregulation

By Chukwuma Muanya

By Bertram Nwannekanma

HE National Agency for T Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has refuted a media report, (not The Guardian), that the DirectorGeneral, Dr. Paul Orhii, was attacked in Benue by irate youths who were allegedly protesting the citing of destruction site for fake and substandard drugs and food products within their locality.

According to the report, the Director General’s car was smashed by the irate youths who were protesting over the potential deleterious effect on health of the fumes from the destruction on the health of the inhabitants.

It would be recalled that Orhii was in September 2010 attacked by unknown gunmen, along the MakurdiAbuja road. He was on his way to Abuja from Ge-Mbagwa Lessel in Ushongo local council of Benue State after the successful commissioning of an ambulance he donated to the Lessel General Hospital and the rehabilitated LGEA Primary School.

Acting Director (Special Duties) of NAFDAC, Abubakar Jimoh, told The Guardian yesterday that the report, which was a front-page story in the daily, was politically motivated. He said Orhii was not attacked because the convoy was alerted about the irate youths who had put on burnfire on the road waiting for the DG and members of the NAFDAC Governing Board that were riding with him.

Abubakar said: “The attention of NAFDAC has been drawn to a political motivated story on the front page of a national daily (name withheld) that the NAFDAC DG was attacked in Benue State over protests on the destruction of counterfeit drugs in their area. I want to state categorically that the story is not true.

“The story was politically premeditated with some faceless political elements in the state who may have planned to attack the DG to attract negative publicity. The story on the attack on the DG can be described as a Freudian slip on the part of the reporter who might have preview to a planned arrangement to attack Orhii.

HE Federal Government T through the Attorney General of the Federation, Minis-

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno (left) with Governor Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, during the later’s sympathy visit to Borno Government House over the Baga carnage in Maiduguri … yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Senate alleges bias in NIMASA recruitment From Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja HE Senate has criticised T the Director-General, Nigeria Maritime Security Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi for flouting the Federal Character principle in the recent recruitment exercise undertaken by the agency.

The Upper Chamber, through its committee on Federal Character, also expressed dissatisfaction with the NIMASA boss over alleged forced retirement under the guise of golden handshake, where younger and inexperienced personnel were used to replace superior ones on the ground of ethnicity.

A member of the committee, Senator Ali Ndume, said the so-called golden handshake to four of the staff of the agency who were said to have been retired four years before their due date, was indeed “an arm-twisting exercise aimed at creating space for some younger elements

• It is not true, says DG from a particular zone of the country.”

Chairman of the committee, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, described the last recruitment exercise conducted by the agency as unhealthy. According to him, Bayelsa State had 25 people employed while its neighbouring Rivers State had only three people recruited.

He therefore called on the chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Prof. Abdulraham Oba, to furnish the committee with the names of the right and genuine candidates that would fill the posts being vacated by the affected people in the golden handshake.

This list, he said, would help to ascertain whether the agency has totally violated the federal character principle.

In his response, the Director General of NIMASA denied the allegation favouring certain states or geo-political zones of the country in retiring people from the service.

Akpobolokemi, who appeared before the Senate Committee investigating the alleged job racketeering in the government agencies, also admitted that his agency is not up to 80 per cent compliant to the federal character principle but it is doing everything possible to ensure that it complies in its recruitments.

On the compulsory retirement, he explained that there has never been a time that the agency forced anybody

out of service, adding that those who left the agency did so voluntarily.

He added that there was no mistake in the area of the golden handshake, as the four staff who were leaving would also be sent to the

United Kingdom for pre-retirement training at the expense of the agency. He maintained that many other members of staff have been expressing their willingness to leave service before their due date of retirement.

ter of Petroleum Resources and the Minister of Commerce and Industry have appealed against the decision of a Federal High Court, Abuja which nullified the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry.

The court presided over by Justice Adamu Bello had, in his verdict delivered on March 19, 2013 on a suit filed by a Lagos rights activist, Bamidele Aturu against the Minister of Petroleum Resources, granted all the claims of the plaintiff and nullified the deregulation of oil industry.

But in a nine-page Notice of Appeal dated April 10, 2013 and filed by Dr Fabian Ajogwu, the Federal Government is praying the Court of Appeal for an order setting aside the judgment of the lower court and dismissing the respondent’s matter in its entirety or striking it out on the ground that the respondent lacks locus standi.

The Appellants also filed a motion before the trial court praying for an order staying the execution of the judgment of the court pending the determination of the appeal against the judgment.

NBA ex-scribe faults judge’s suspension From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief ORMER Secretary of the FNigeria Makurdi branch of the Bar Association (NBA), Jubrin Okutekpa (SAN), yesterday, faulted the one-year suspension of Justice Abubakar Talba of the Abuja High Court over his role in the police pension scam case involving one John Yakubu Yusuf.

The National Judicial Council had placed a one-year ban on the judge due to public outcry for sentencing Yusuf who pleaded guilty to a three count charge, to two years in prison with an option of N750,000 fine which the accused immediately paid.

But Okutekpa told Journalists in Kaduna shortly after presenting a paper entitled “Bail: scope, purpose and limits “ at the 2013 Kaduna NBA Law Week that the NJC played to the public gallery by suspending the judge, while expressing fears that such an action may encourage corruption in the judiciary.

According to him, “the suspension of Justice Talba is uncalled for, it’s unjust and there was no basis for it. There is no evidence as far as I am con-

The NJC cannot punish a judge for exercising the discretion vested on him by law. Section 309 of the Penal Code provided for a maximum of two years. It provided for an option of fine without specifying any amount, which he also gave. The convict forfeited the sum of N327 million and 32 landed property in Abuja. Those were what the judge took into account in awarding the fine. cerned that the judge took bribe neither is there any evidence that he was influenced outside the law.

“The NJC cannot punish a judge for exercising the discretion vested on him by law.

Section 309 of the Penal Code provided for a maximum of two years. It provided for an option of fine without specifying any amount, which he also gave. The convict forfeited the sum of N327 million and 32 landed property in Abuja. Those were what the judge took into account in awarding the fine. “Under our criminal jurisprudence, the law says that once a person pleads guilty to a crime, you give him the least punishment, yet, he gave the maximum which is two years and a fine of N250,000 for each count charge and for the

three counts, that amounts to N750,000.

He argued: “My contention is that if there are eight accused persons and you recover N327 and 32 landed property from one, there are still other accused persons. In any case, the man was not accused of eating the money, but accused of aiding and abating the disappearance of the money. My fear is that if care is not taken, we will soon produce what I call judicial zombies and that will be bad for all Nigerians and us. If a judge cannot exercise his discretion, then we are finish. Secondly, it is my view that what they have done will encourage corruption because all a judge needs to do to exercise his discretion is to say give me money so that if I am punished, I will still have something to fall back to.”

Yoruba group flays six-year single term for president, others

By Abiodun Fanoro PAN-YORUBA socio-political organisation, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), has criticised alleged plan by the Senate to approve a six-year single term for the office of the president, vice-president, governors and their deputies.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, the ARG described the decision as diversionary and that it portrayed the Upper Chamber as trivialising serious matters such as insecurity in the country and the increasingly uncertain future of the na-

A

tion.

“Whilst Nigeria is being confronted daily by the hazards of the Boko Haram’s insurgency and the inability of the government to tackle the issue correctly, and as there are other sundry matters begging to be resolved by our government, our legislators have to spin a yarn, ‘The Six-Year Tenure Card’ to divert our attention from the national miseries of our time. Going by media reports, the Senate Committee on Constitution Review has recommended a single, six-year tenure for the

offices of president, vice-president, governors and their deputies,” the statement reads in part.

Examining the recommendations, ARG faulted the provision preventing both the vice-president and deputy governors from having the opportunity to contest for the offices of their bosses at the expiration of their tenures.

“If we understand the recommendation as it was reported, the vice presidents and deputy governors would not be able to present themselves for election into the of-

fice of their bosses, should they ever occupied that office, even if for one day and by whatever means (illness or impeachment of their bosses),” the group noted. It kicked against the six years recommended and suggested a five-year single term.

ARG, however, lauded the recommendation seeking to limit the tenure to one term. In its view, a single term could compel the occupier of any of the offices to work hard and seek to leave some legacies having realised that he or she has only one term.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

NEWS 9

Govt okays military base for Ekiti, leaders meet over security • To introduce surveillance cameras From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti S part of measures to A ensure security of life and property of its citizens, Ekiti

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State (second left) cutting Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) cake with the NLC officials during the 2013 WorkPHOTO: GABRIEL IKHAHON ers’ Day in Lagos…yesterday

Oyo to float N30b bond YO State government is to O float a N30 billion bond for the implementation of the 2013 budget, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Dr. Olaniyi Olarinde, has said.

Olarinde gave the information during a breakdown of the budget in Ibadan.

According to him, the 2012 budget could not achieve more than 70 per cent performance because the government could not obtain a N50 billion bond expected to form part of the estimate.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Olarinde also said the state government would require additional N2.9 billion external loan and N4 billion internal loan to finance the budget.

The House of Assembly had on March 19 approved the budget with more than N5 billion addition to the N152.15 billion presented to it by Governor Abiola Ajimobi in January.

State Government has disclosed plan to install surveillance cameras in strategic parts of the state to make it a no-go area for men of the underworld.

Governor Kayode Fayemi made this known in Ado-Ekiti during a meeting with traditional rulers, security agencies and representatives of different sub-ethnic groups as well as transport unions in the state.

Fayemi, who also announced that he just got a message from the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, informing him of the president’s approval of the establishment of a military base in

North will overcome Boko Haram insurgency, says Kwankwaso From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri OVERNOR Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State has donated N20 million to the Borno State government to cushion the devastating effects of the Boko Haram insurgency, particularly the Baga crisis.

Speaking yesterday in Maiduguri at the Government House to “commiserate and condole” with the people and the Borno State government over the Baga carnage, Kwankwaso said the people of Borno and Kano states have been facing the challenge of insecurity to lives and property for many decades, until the four-year Boko Haram insurgency in the North.

His words: “In Kano State, we are facing the same inse-

G

• Kano donates N20m to Borno With the good leadership of the affected states in the North, we will be able to weather the storm of Boko Haram insurgency. The leadership of Shettima has gone a long way in restoring peace and unity in the state and the entire North. curity challenge caused by the Boko Haram insurgents and we are working round the clock to overcome it in the North. I, therefore, on behalf of the Kano State government and its citizens, present a token of N20 million to cushion the devastating effects of the Baga and Bama crises that claimed many lives and property.”

Kwankwaso noted that

“with the good leadership of the affected states in the North, we will be able to weather the storm of Boko Haram insurgency. The leadership of Shettima has gone a long way in restoring peace and unity in the state and the entire North.”

He added that even before the Boko Haram insurgency of July 2009, there had been ethnic, religious and Sharia

legal system crises in the region for many decades, in which many lives and property were lost.

Governor Shettima, in his brief remarks, said: “I am filled with tears of joy and brotherhood, because since the Boko Haram insurgencies at the border towns of Baga and Bama in Borno State, we have not got a dime from any government, be it federal, state or any individual, except from Governor Kwankwaso of Kano State and the people.”

According to Shettima, “Kwankwaso was the first governor to visit Borno over the recent attacks and killings at Baga and Bama, where many people, including security personnel, were killed and many houses, shops and market stalls torched.”

Ekiti State, said the operation of the proposed cameras, which would first begin in Ado-Ekiti, will help security agencies in tracking and curbing crime.

He stressed the need to beef up security in Ekiti in order to curb spill-over of crimes from neighbouring states, especially as the Ekiti is the gateway between the South-West and the northern part of the country.

Fayemi announced that the men of the Nigerian Army will now have patrol points in all the boundary towns in the state to prevent criminals from creeping in from neighbouring states.

The meeting which lasted for about six hours, according to Governor Fayemi, was informed by the need for collaboration among the different stakeholders and security agencies in the state. He said a similar meeting will also be held with political parties in order to douse the tension that may arise over the 2014 governorship election in the state.

According to him, the state government is in talks with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to obtain emergency lines for citizens to communicate with security agencies as well as men of the newly revitalised State Fire Service and paramedics.

On citizens’ complaints about the way some security agents allegedly expose identities of informants, the governor said the state government would soon send a bill to the House of Assembly for protection of witness as many of the stakeholders asserted that people were no longer ready to give information to security agencies.

In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sotonye Wakama, urged residents not to leave the security of life and property to security agencies alone but collaborate with them, especially in giving out information to the agencies.

Bayelsa plans 100mws power plant

Group seeks FG’s intervention in Ebonyi, Ibeto face-off over NIGERCEM

HE Bayelsa State governT ment yesterday signed a memorandum of under-

From Leo Sobechi, Abakaliki

standing (MOU) with IPP Energy Limited and GMB Leasing Partners for the development of a 100 megawatts (MW) power station.

Speaking at the ceremony in Yenagoa, Governor Seriake Dickson described the event as a proof of government’s commitment to boosting electricity supply and making Bayelsa an investment haven.

According to the governor, the project is aimed at delivering uninterrupted power supply to residents of Bayelsa and setting the pace for industrialisation.

“The gas powered plant, which will be located at Imiringi in Ogbia Local Council Area, has the capacity to achieve the feat when completed. I am delighted to be a witness to the consummation of this partnership today.

We are a state that is in a hurry for development and so, we are everywhere talking to people to come and invest in the new Bayelsa.

GROUP, League of South A East Professionals, has petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the National Assembly over the alleged stand-off between Ebonyi State government and Ibeto Group of Industries, saying if left unchecked, the fight could compromise national security.

In the petition dated April 17, 2013, a copy of which was made available to The Guardian, the group noted that “a threat to national security is rapidly crystallising in Ebonyi State over the disagreement between the government and Ibeto Group over the ownership and management structure of NIGERCEM”.

The state government has, however, denied any present or imminent threat to peace and security in the state or in the NIGERCEM host communities.

Titled, “Threat to National Security in Ebonyi State: Re-

Stand-off between Ebonyi State Government and Ibeto Group over NIGERCEM, Nkalagu” and signed by Larry Onah and Dr. Chijioke Nwandikom, President and Secretary of the group in that order, the petitioners invited Jonathan, Senate President, David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to urgently intervene to arrest the ugly development.

The group revealed that after carefully investigating all the contending issues regarding the battle for possession and ownership of the foremost cement factory, NIGERCEM, it came to the inevitable conclusion that youths from the host communities of NIGERCEM “may display their discontent in a socially disruptive manner”.

It added that nerves have been frayed in the area, stressing that matters took a turn for the worse after the state government allegedly withdrew the certificate of occupancy for the

The country cannot afford to manage another crisis in the South East as there is a clear and present danger if the Federal Government does not immediately intervene to restore peace in the area and also restore the affected traditional rulers to their positions knowing fully well the role of traditional rulers in the promotion of peace and resolution of conflicts in the country.

NIGERCEM land and dethroned four traditional rulers for welcoming Ibeto’s plans to resuscitate the comatose cement firm.

“The youths believe that Ebonyi State government is unmindful of their economic plight. They accused the government of being influenced by Ibeto’s competitor to thwart the investor’s plans of reactivating NIGERCEM. And under this climate of suspicion, it is only a question of time before a major uprising of cataclysmic proportion

erupts in the place,” the Professionals warned.

Part of the petition read: “Historically, the communities where NIGERCEM is located have been known to engage in frequent intercommunal skirmishes and have recently come out of a bloody war that claimed several lives.

“The youth of the area are very restive and volatile and are gearing up for a major showdown with the state government over the dethronement of four traditional rulers in the affected

communities. The action of the government is a threat to national security as it can ignite war in that area. The government should be called to order to reverse their position and embrace constructive engagement with all parties involved.

“The country cannot afford to manage another crisis in the South East as there is a clear and present danger if the Federal Government does not immediately intervene to restore peace in the area and also restore the affected traditional rulers to their positions knowing fully well the role of traditional rulers in the promotion of peace and resolution of conflicts in the country.”

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Chike Onwe, said the government was not aware of any plans by the youths to resort to self-help or protest, adding that the government has not taken any other action on the dethroned traditional rulers.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

10

WorldReport Africans stand to lose as U.S. moves to cancel visa lottery S the United States (U.S.) A reforms its immigration laws and eliminates the green card lottery, Africans could be the big losers owing to the fact that they are the main beneficiaries of the visa programme, agency report indicated yesterday.

But around 100,000 people were yesterday picked from several million hopefuls who applied to get the Green Card, in what could be the last batch of the yearly lottery slated to vanish under the proposed reforms.

The system that will replace it in 2017, Agence France Presse (AFP) reported yesterday, is merit-based and will also give Africans a chance. On average, they are more educated than people from other continents.

And English-speaking Africans would get a boost because of that language skill, the report claimed.

However, the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People said the number of African immigrants would go down even with the meritbased system. “In essence, we’re concerned,” said Hilary Shelton, the NAACP Washington bureau director.

Dame Babou, who hosts a radio show that caters to Senegalese people in New York, said the scrapping of the lottery is disheartening for Africans.

“Every year, many people thought this was going to be their year,” Babou said.

“Again, what is being eliminated is hope,” she said.

Half of the 50,000 residence permits handed out at random each year are earmarked for Africans. It is a hugely popular programme that has allowed hundreds of thousands of Africans to settle in

America since the mid 1990s.

But the ambitious reform project under debate now in Washington, which would provide papers for million undocumented immigrants, contains a clause that would do away with the lottery.

In its place, would be a more selective immigration system based on skills, career and family ties.

Each year, 50,000 permanent residency permits are allocated to people from countries that see relatively few emigrants depart for the U.S. The lottery system, which was created in 1995, aims to diversify the range of places from which people migrate to the United States.

Because of the wildly popular programme, millions of applicants have joined the train – a figure that has only grown in recent years.

But it has long been in the crosshairs of U.S. Republican lawmakers, who control the House of Representatives and said it adds no value to the economy.

“It’s clear that there are better ways to allocate visas than to randomly give them out through a lottery system,” said Bob Goodlatte, the Republican who leads the House Judiciary Committee.

“Our immigration laws shouldn’t be based on the luck of the draw; rather, they should be designed strategically to benefit our country.”

Now, they have included a plan to scrap it in the comprehensive immigration reform plan currently being debated in Congress.

A final vote on the reforms is not expected before this summer, but if it passes, the diversity visas would vanish from next year.

2014 applicants asked to check website

Obama

Half of the 50,000 residence permits handed out at random each year are earmarked for Africans. It is a hugely popular programme that has allowed hundreds of thousands of Africans to settle in America since the mid 1990s.

When they applied, this year’s crop of hopefuls did not know that this might be their last chance.

Those who enter the draw

for 2014, filed a free online application in October 2012.

And from 1600 GMT yesterday, the candidates will finally be able to check their status

on the government website www.dvlottery.state.gov, using their personal confirmation number.

Some 100,000 names were selected in a first round, because not everyone will complete the process for a visa, and a maximum of 50,000 green cards will ultimately be given out.

In the 2013 lottery, 7.9 million people, with 4.6 million spouses and children, submitted applications.

More than 18,000 Africans – more than from any other continent – got Green Cards through the lottery in 2012.

Half of the lottery is reserved for applicants from the continent, which could now lose out.

Countries that sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the past five years are excluded from the lottery.

So, Mexicans, Chinese and Filipinos, for instance, are not eligible. This year, a range of countries, including Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, mainland-born China, Mexico, Pakistan, South Korea, and Britain (except Northern Ireland), will be affected.

The 2014 winners will be given interviews from October, where they will have to show proof of a high school diploma or at least two years of work experience, as required under the programme.

All applicants need is a high school diploma or two years of work experience.

Between 2010 and 2012, one in five Africans who came to the United States to stay did so through the lottery. That made it the third most common method, at 21 per cent of the total, after family reunification (43 per cent) and refugee status or asylum seek-

ers (23 per cent).

By comparison and in the same period, only 10 per cent of Europeans who became permanent residents and three per cent of Asians did so through the lottery.

“It has proven to be a way of helping those who come from the continent of Africa, those who come from a number of other areas where it is very difficult to get a visa,” said Sheila Jackson Lee, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, whose members are all Democrats.

But in an effort to preserve the comprehensive reform being negotiated for months by the two parties, the Democrats and President Barack Obama agreed to ditch the lottery.

Representative Charles Schumer, who authored the programme in 1990, said it was impossible to keep it.

Schumer said the system that will replace it in 2017 is merit-based and will also give Africans a chance. On average, they are more educated than people from other continents.

And English-speaking Africans would get a boost because of that language skill.

But Michael Fix of the Migration Policy Institute said: “It really probably won’t admit enough people to offset the effects of the loss of the diversity visa for some years after that. It’s a long time away. It won’t be immediately offset by any means.”

The diversity visas would vanish starting next year under the reform being negotiated.

Only four per cent of African immigrants – compared to 21 per cent of Asians and 22 per cent of Europeans – received a green card for employment reasons in 2012.

Cuba urges Washington to close Guantanamo, hand back base From Oghogho Obayuwana, Foreign Affairs Editor (with agency report) OLLOWING a vow again by FPresident United States (U.S.) Barack Obama to shut the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla – Cuba’s foreign minister – yesterday asked Washington to close down the controversial jail and return the long-held military base to authorities in Havana.

Parrilla made this known at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, a day after Obama pledged again to shut the military prison, saying it was damaging U.S. interests.

“We are deeply concerned about the legal limbo that supports the permanent and atrocious violation of human rights at the illegal naval base in Guantanamo, a Cuba territory that was usurped by the United States, a centre of torture and deaths of prisoners who are under custody,” Parrilla said during a review of Cuba’s own rights record.

He said 160 people had been detained in Guantanamo for

10 years , “without any guarantees, without being tried by a court or the right to legal defence”.

“That prison and military base should be shut down and that territory should be returned to Cuba,” he said.

The hunger strike by the inmates, now into its 12th week, has heightened the pressure on Washington to shut what Obama has called a legal “no man’s land”.

Following the persistent hunger strike, Obama said America could close the prison that has been a theatre of torture in recent years, sending ripples of recriminations across the world. The Bay currently holds no fewer than 166 inmates, most are being held without charge.

Citing recent convictions of terror suspects to argue the civilian justice system was adequate for such trials, the US president said the detention centre was “contrary to who we are” and harmful to U.S. interests.

A United Nations (UN) spokesman said late Tuesday that the force-feeding of prisoners was also a probable

human rights violation.

Although the U.S. Congress has blocked efforts to close the prison, Obama said he would renew discussions with lawmakers. He told reporters he had asked a team of officials to review operations at Guantanamo Bay and said he was not surprised there were problems there.

“It is inefficient, it hurts us in terms of our international standing, it lessens co-operation with our allies on counter-terrorism efforts, it is a recruitment tool for extremists, it needs to be closed,” quoted by various global news organs, president Obama added Established in January 2002 by the George W. Bush administration, the Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a detainment and interrogation facility located within Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.

It is meant to hold detainees whom the American government deems to be connected with opponents in the Global War on Terror including Afghanistan and later Iraq, the Horn of Africa and Southeast Asia. It is operated by the Joint

Task Force Guantanamo (JTFGTMO) of the U.S. government.

Indicating that the days of the Bay are numbered, president Obama on Tuesday described the detention facility as a “lingering problem” that would worsen if it remained open. “I think it is critical for us to understand that Guantanamo is not necessary to keep America safe,” He further told reporters.

Even before the creation of the jail, the US Navy base was a source of dispute between Havana’s communist rulers and bitter rival Washington.

The United States signed a long-term lease for Guantanamo Bay after helping Cuba throw off Spanish colonial rule at the end of the 19th century.

Already strategic for Washington’s Caribbean regional policy because of its location in southeastern Cuba, it acquired additional importance during the Cold War after the 1959 Cuban revolution.

Since then, Cuba repeatedly has pressed for its return and has refused to cash in the rent, which Washington pays into an escrow account.

According to him, with the war in Iraq over and detention authority in Afghanistan transferred to Afghan forces, the facility in Cuba was no longer necessary. But the president said he would need the help of Congress to devise a long-term legal solution to the prosecution of yesterday detainees.

The hunger strike in the Bay

had spread in recent weeks to include more than 100 of the 166 inmates at the facility. They have been protesting against their indefinite detention.

Most are being held without charge.

Already, UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay has said that Guantanamo Bay should be shut immediately.

The UN has also called the continued detention of so many people without trial a “clear violation of international law”, though it understands the Congress blockade.

Aid agencies are reportedly convinced the situation there cannot go on.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, the only agency with access to individual detainees, says there is now an unprecedented level of desperation at Guantanamo.

We are deeply concerned about the legal limbo that supports the permanent and atrocious violation of human rights at the illegal naval base in Guantanamo, a Cuba territory that was usurped by the United States, a centre of torture and deaths of prisoners who are under custody

POLITICS | 11

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

Politics 2015: Reading the President’s lips

By Ehichioya Ezomon (Group Political Editor) HEN the issue of President Jonathan’s secW ond term ambition was first mooted in 2012, barely a few months in office as an elected national leader, his crowd of aides was quick to label the discourse as premature, and at best speculative.

However, consistent public querying of the ‘rumour’ that won’t go away forced the president to issue a rebuttal. Yet, he was to modify that position, pleading that he be given up to the end of 2013 — perhaps, after a mid-term report of his stewardship —before he would answer the festering agitation.

Well, it is still seven months+ to the closing of 2013, and Jonathan has finally come out clean with his second term aspiration, declaring recently that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win 32 of the 36 States in Nigeria in the 2015 election.

Although the president was euphemistic in his assertion, his message was unambiguous: My party and I would win in 32 states.

No person begrudges Jonathan wanting to elongate his tenure beyond four years. It’s his right, as guaranteed by the Constitution, to seek to rule for eight years. But the manner of announcing his intention to grab the inalienable statutory offer has reawakened an ugly past: the ‘do-or-die’ electoral conquest, as propounded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

And come to think of it: The president delivered this rankling message through no other person than the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

Receiving members of the party from the Southwest in his home in Abuja, Tukur, while appealing to them to close ranks for the onerous task in 2015, spilled the beans.

“We need to work hard now because we have a presidential mandate to move beyond 23 states in our control and win at least 32 (states),” Tukur said. “We have to show electoral strength this time. In doing it, we will work hard and work well. We will move with the speed of (a) jet and we will deliver without any foul antics.”

A presidential mandate to move from 23 states currently controlled by the PDP to 32 means “winning” additional nine states in 2015.

This is a legitimate wish of any political party, especially a ruling party for that matter! But in an environment where political contest is viewed, and indeed, regarded as a war, heavy weather will be — and is already being made of the presidential declaration through Tukur, who, himself, recently likened the 2015 elections to a “battle.”

Interestingly, the pledge by the PDP to win 30+ states in 2015 appears being synchronized, with topnotch of the party making similar proclamations at different avenues.

For instance, as Tukur was addressing party faithful in Abuja, the Chair of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, was at the head of a reconciliation delegation to the Abeokuta Hilltop Mansion of former President Obasanjo.

Anenih, who had a closed door meeting with Obasanjo, did not give anything away that they had discussed.

But asked by journalists about the fate of the PDP in the 2015 polls, considering the coming together of some opposition parties to form a formidable body, “to chase out PDP from power,” Anenih was characteristically boastful.

He said: “When the time comes, we will know.

PDP is the party to beat. When the time comes, I assure we will do what we know how to do best.”

Obasanjo did not also divulge anything they discussed or agreed on but simply re-joined: “Did you hear what our chairman said?”

To people who know — and most Nigerians of voting age know — the electoral antecedents of Obasanjo and Anenih, PDP’s intention to win at least 32 states might not be wishful thinking.

For one, Obasanjo (or his political aides) it was that introduced (and/or reinforced the use of) three frightening phrases into the nation’s political lexicon. These are: ‘Do-or-die,’ ‘Garrison Commander,’ and ‘Capture’ of the opposition’s strongholds. And these slogans were deployed by the PDP, for maximum effect, to prosecute the 2003 and 2007 general elections.

The results: The PDP snatched five of the six states of the Southwest controlled by the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and four of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the 2003 elections.

The ‘capture’ of the five Southwest states was really stunning as it was intriguing. Obasanjo, a former Head of State and retired General, had no political base. He was forced into partisan politics on account of the circumstances of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by his fellow Ogun citizen, the late Chief MKO Abiola.

Even though he won the 1999 presidential election, Obasanjo lost virtually all votes in the Southwest, including those of his ward, that it became a matter for concern for his party in the run-up to the 2003 elections.

Added to Obasanjo’s headache was the opposition within the PDP to his candidature, especially that of his deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, prompting him to devise strategies to at least secure the full backing of his people.

Eventually surviving the party primary, the wily General pulled out the last card for the general election. He rallied the Southwest governors and spoke to their emotion, asking them to “rub my back, and I will rub your backs.” This, in political parlance, means the governors should support him to retain the presidency while he (Obasanjo) would reciprocate at the governorship poll.

In what has been described as political naiveté, five but one of the AD governor fell for this gambit, and paid dearly, politically, for it at the polls. Having rallied their people to vote for him, Obasanjo turned his back against the governors, and the PDP swept into power effortlessly in the geopolitical zone.

Only then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Lagos State survived the political tsunami because he saw through the General’s antics, and thus became known as “the last man standing.”

Although Obasanjo failed in his bid to elongate his two-term tenure by the famed ‘Third Term,’ he prospered in handpicking his successor, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and the latter’s beneficiary and incumbent President Jonathan.

ORTHY of note are the prominent and pivotal roles that Chief Anenih played in the Obasanjo electoral acquisitions. Flattered as ‘Leader’ and ‘Mr. Fix It’, only few elections had escaped his fixing since early 1980s when he came into political reckoning as the Bendel State chairman of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

Suffice it to say that what the NPN lost to the rival Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the 1979 governorship in Bendel State, it gained in the 1983 poll, thanks to the “moonslide” winning formula of the NPN at the centre, which was executed to the letter by the Anenih-led party officials in the state.

The electoral malpractice was more than daylight robbery; what with teachers and other capable young men kitted in mobile police uniforms, armed with assault weapons and unleashed on polling booths across the entire state.

These political thugs went to the remotest hamlet and snatched ballot papers and boxes from the UPN strongholds, mutilated results sheets that were mutilatable, cancelled those that were cancellable and burned others that were burnable.

In the end, the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), headed by now late Justice Ovie Whiskey, declared for-

mer military governor of the state, BrigadierGeneral Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia (Rtd) as elected on the platform of the NPN. However, the bubble sooner than later burst on the underhand dealings that characterised that election. As the allegation went, Anenih demanded recompense for the requisite electoral services he rendered to install Ogbemudia as governor.

But Ogbemudia, whose record of achievements still stands today in both Edo and Delta that mutated from Bendel State, reportedly told the ‘Leader’ that he bought his victory at the polls, and thus, nothing to pay back.

In the interim, the defeated UPN and its governor, the late Prof. Ambrose Folorunso Alli, were at the verge of retrieving that “stolen mandate” at the election tribunal when the iron men, MajorGeneral Muhammadu Buhari and Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon dethroned the infamous Shehu Shagari government on December 31, 1983. The rest, as they say, is history.

It is sufficient to report that when democratic governance was about to be restored pre-1990, Anenih had graduated from the state to national political level; and he was in the thick of the melee when self-styled military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, began an endless experiment with a transition to full civil rule.

Anenih worked hard to make his friend and business partner, the late Major-General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (Rtd), the front-runner from the crowd of politicians eying the presidency. Then again, Babangida banned all the mushrooming political associations and their promoters he had encouraged to enter the fray, and established a two-party system for the country.

While many of his colleagues, including Yar’Adua, were bruised and left to leak their wounds, Anenih emerged the national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) that faced the rival National Republican Party (NRC) at the preceding state elections and the June 12, 1993 presidential contest.

It would be an understatement to say that Anenih worked assiduously for the victories the

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state Assembly and governorship elections and the National Assembly and presidential polls.

A case in point was the campaign of the SDP presidential candidate, Chief MKO Abiola, in Edo State. Anenih, who accompanied Abiola on the hustling, received the campaign train at about 2am at the Eguare Primary School, Uromi, his hometown. What’s more, he was able to rally thousands of enthusiastic and energized party faithful and well-wishers to listen to Abiola’s message of ‘Bye, Bye To Poverty.’

In the end, the SDP and Abiola won the presidential election, which, nonetheless, was annulled by the Babangida regime on the alleged connivance of many political and pro-democracy activists, including Anenih, who should ordinarily claim credit for that electoral feat described even till date as the freest and fairest in Nigeria and, indeed, Africa. The former policemanturned politician has denied the alleged “sell-out’ for the umpteenth time; and from revelations ever since, he could be absolved.

But these insinuations notwithstanding, Anenih was to emerge the strongest, most revered and feared personality in the political calculus and scheming in the Fourth Republic beginning from 1999. Even in the camp of the opposition, the fear of Anenih was the beginning of wisdom.

You underrate and/or undermine him at your political peril.

Little wonder he raked in victory after victory for the disparate but largely well-organised and widespread PDP from the local government council, national and state assemblies, governorship and presidential elections in 12 years — 19992011.

Like a diviner, Anenih’s lot it was to foretell which political office was vacant and which was not vacant for the opposition — within and without the PDP — to contest. His uncanny refrain, ‘No vacancy in Aso Rock’, came handy for President Obasanjo’s second term bid in 2003 and President Jonathan’s first election in 2011.

Some wisecrackers continue to postulate that had Obasanjo fully enrolled and mobilised Anenih for project ‘Third Term’, Baba could still be in Abuja today!

Any way, Jonathan is in charge of the seat of power today, and from his recent actions and body language towards 2015, he seems to have fully enrolled and mobilised Anenih towards that goal.

Besides being reappointed as chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Esan High Chief has also regained the chair of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, and he’s touring the country in the behest of the president to attempt reconciling the multifarious factions in the ruling party. And Anenih appears to be succeeding where the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, had literally failed.

As a respondent opined recently, “with Anenih occupying such powerful and sensitive positions in government and in the party, President Jonathan is actually planning for 2015. And very soon, you will hear, ‘There’s no vacancy in Aso Rock.’”

Case closed!

SDP garnered from the

Jonathan

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

TheMetroSection Workers defy the rains to mark May Day in Lagos

Briefs Akata Fishing Festival holds June 4 HE 2013 Akata Fishing T and Cultural Festival will begin on Tuesday, June 4,

Workers decry high rate of corruption in the country

Workers defied the rains to mark Workers’ Day...yesterday HE downpour started during the wee T hours of the morning, but it did not deter or dampen the spirit of workers in Lagos, who turned out en masse at the parade ground at Onikan Stadium, to participate in the 2013 May Day parade.

This year’s rally had its theme as “100 years of Nationhood: Challenges of National Development.”

Speaking at the rally where he inspected march pasts from various unions, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), spoke extensively on the adverse effects of strike actions, saying that the attitude of unions to call for strike actions at the slightest disagreement to issues of wages and workers welfare, not only undermines productivity but also impacts negatively on development.

“Strikes for me, should only be a weapon of last resort for employees. It is perhaps the vehicle that is used only when other options have failed not when the management of a union is angry with an employer. In essence, strikes don’t do

anybody any good, it decreases productivity and affect progress and development of any society.”

He congratulated workers on the May Day celebration, urging them to participate more in nation building by helping to proffer solutions to developmental challenges.

In his message at the occasion, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr Emeka Worgu, commended Nigerian workers for their great contributions to the development of the country.

Worgu, who was represented by the State Controller of the ministry Alhaja Nafisatu Agunbiade, said the present administration owed workers a lot of gratitude for helping to implement its Transformation Agenda.

The Minister said government was tackling the issue of anti-labour practices, such as improper casualisation, urging workers to report erring organizations for punitive actions.

Lagos Chairman of the Nigeria Labour

National Association of Nigerian Students ...yesterday

Congress (NLC), Comrade Idowu Adelakun said the significance of this year’s rally coinciding with the nation’s 100 years of existence was a period that calls for sober reflection on how far the nation has fared and the way forward as it affects workers in the country.

According to him issues of corruption, insecurity and unemployment have remained insurmountable challenges for successive governments saying “government has acceded their rights to provide the traditional needs of its citizens to private enterprise and concerns whose primary goal is to increase profit and pauperize the workforce”.

He also lamented government’s failure and lack of political will to address the decay in most of the sectors of the nation’s economy, submitting that the nation can hardly make meaningful development with moribund institutions.

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most.

Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins urged the

Federal Government to be more sensitive to the plight of workers and should create an enabling environment that would adequately reward productivity and at the same time uphold the dignity of all workers.

In a release signed by the Director of Social Communications, Msgr. Gabriel Osu, Martins called on the government to be more proactive in providing adequate job for the teeming Nigerians, adding that government should also ensure that they are well provided for through prompt payment of their pensions and gratuities after their eventually retirement.

Frowning at the recent monumental fraud uncovered in the management of the nation’s pension scheme, the Catholic Archbishop wondered why the government, through the law enforcement agencies and the judiciary, have been foot-dragging for long in bringing to justice those implicated in the pension scam.

...Lagos State Internal Revenue Service also celebrated...

PHOTOS: GABRIEL IKHAHON

Igbodo Union builds befitting police station for community From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba ITH too many allegations of corrupt practices and brutality, which have made millions of Nigerians to lose faith in the Nigeria Police, it is a thing of joy that some people still see the police as friends. The hard truth is that only a few die-hard optimists still believe that policemen are truly friends in need.

But for the people of Igbodo, Ika North East Local Council of Delta State, their faith in the police seems to be sincerely steadfast and was the reason why they recently spent millions of Naira to build a police station in the agrarian community.

Last February, members of the Igbodo Development Union began to build a befitting Police Station in the small town.

So, it was with a deep sense of satisfaction that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Ayo Aduba, commissioned the modern police station, which

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was built through communal effort in less than two months by well-meaning sons and daughters of the town. The police station is located on the busy Benin-Agbor-Onitsha Expressway.

The commissioning provided a platform for some of the town’s famous people to exchange banters. The traditional ruler, Obi Obi Ikechukwu Osadume was

The police station

there. So also was Mr. Victor Nwokolo, the member representing Ika Federal Constituency, Chief Sunday Uzuh, the Isicht Umungo 1 of Igbodo and a host of others.

The Police Commissioner recalled that when Mr. Chris Ubani, one of the facilitators of the project, came up with the idea earlier this year, he was very excited about it considering the

alarming cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and banditry in the state.

The new edifice, therefore, has excised Igbodo from the nearby Umunede Division and make it a full-fledged division as more policemen would be drafted to the town to beef up security in collaboration with the local vigilance group in the on-going crusade against banditry.

The President General of Igbodo Development Union, Worldwide, Chief Peter Ozili, gave his own reasons for embarking on the project: “We embarked on the project because security is a collective responsibility. Having realized that policing is everybody’s business, we decided to contribute our little quota to the security of our community and environs by embarking on the Igbodo Divisional Police Headquarters building project some two months ago. This is also in response the Inspector-General

of Police’s patriotic call to all citizens of this country to assist police formations to perform their duties effectively and efficiently. We collectively agreed to embark on the project on the premise that when there is security, development will spring up; and the well-being of the people would be improved.”

Ubani said that no matter the number of policeman posted to the station, they would be offered free accommodation for one year, adding that the locals have zero tolerance for crime and that security of lives and properties in the community was the major motivating factor for the benevolence.

He said that it did not make sense for communities to perpetually wait for the government to do things for them, but they should be in the lead through self-help.

2013 in Katsina-Ala, Benue State. It will continue on Wednesday, June 5 with Made in Benue Expo, cultural and entertainment night, will end on Thursday, June 6 with a Gala/ Awards Night Principal Consultant, Green Business Dimensions, Mrs. Rosemary Duamlong in a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday said the festival would help individuals and organizations to expand the scope of their businesses and also tap into the opportunities in Benue State.

Revival at GAC, Ejigbo OSPEL Apostolic Church G (GAC) will hold a revival tagged: My Year of Laughter, on Saturday, May 4, from 3.00p.m. -6.00p.m. at No. 4, Asimi Asiwaju Street, off Goloba Street, Ebenezer Bus Stop, Orilowo Ejigbo, Lagos.

Host is Pastor S. A. Gbadebo.

Faith Family begins yearly convention AITH Family Bible Church Fconvention will hold its yearly five-day tagged Passion 2013, with the theme: “Freedom from Limitation & Stagnation” from Wednesday. May 8 to Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 6.00p.m. daily.

Ministers/workers’ seminar holds on Thursday, May 9 and Friday, May 10 at 10.00a.m. daily. A night of praise holds same day at 4.00p.m. same day.

It will end on Sunday, May 12, with a thanksgiving service at 9.00a.m. at 17, Alhaji Kosoko Street, off Berger Bus Stop, Ojodu, Lagos Hosts are Rev. & Pastor (Mrs.) David K. Aboderin.

Pastor Alex Omokudu, Apostle Abraham Aboderin, Dr. Emiko Amorsuka among oth-

HR practitioners meet in Lagos June 3 UMAN Resources (HR) H Leaders in Africa 2013, a major HR conference, will hold at the Four Points, by Sheraton in Lagos from June 3June 6, 2013 Nigeria. HR professionals will gather to share ideas and discuss policies at the forum, which is themed Bringing World Class Innovation in Human Resources.

HR Specialist at Economic Community of West African States, Tobi Odunowo, said: “It’s vital that we alter the perception of HR within the business. HR’s role is changing in response to the dynamic business environment, thus we're getting much more involved in setting strategic directions for the business. It is, therefore, important that HR Departments strive to be truly perceived as being more relevant to the business now than in known history.”

The conference speakers are drawn from leading local and multinational organisations as the conference will focus on the potential strategic advantage that organisations can gain through best practice and high performance HR.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

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14 | THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

TheGuardian Conscience Nurtured by Truth

FOUNDER: ALEX U. IBRU (1945 – 2011)

Conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it. Uthman dan Fodio 1754-1816

Editorial To get the head count right HEN Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Festus W Odimegwu, asserted recently that “we do not really know our population…because the entire census ever conducted in this country ended in controversy”, he merely stated a well-known fact. The story, or more appropriately, the politics of census in Nigeria is one of manipulation of facts and figures by virtually every ethnic and other interest groups with a view to claiming population-derived advantages such as political representation, voting power and allocation of economic resources. “We do our work, but politicians interfere and at the end you do not really know what population or census figures are”, lamented Odimegwu.

The sole purpose of this fraud is maximum extraction from the common-wealth as opposed to maximum contribution to it. Needless to say, this is a manifestation of the corruption that has increasingly taken the country over in every area of life.

And, this especial act of dishonesty is conceived and executed by the elite in leadership positions – the politicians and the civil servants who guide, direct, and supervise how a head count must be skewed in favour of their respective narrow interests.

This is a heinous disservice to the nation because a credible, reliable population count is a sine qua non for economic, social, and just about every type of planning for a country and its people. Pray, in the absence of accurate population enumeration, how can the Ministry of National Planning carry out its mandates to, among others, “undertake periodic review and appraisal of the human and material resources capabilities of Nigeria with a view to advancing their development, efficiency and effective utilization”, and “to formulate and prepare long-term, medium-term and short-term national development plans and to co-ordinate such plans at the federal, State and local government levels”? How can people in business plan their product designs and marketing strategies? How can even Nigeria’s development partners plan their areas of intervention, in say, public health and education?

The tragedy of a flawed head-count is rooted in the flawed structure of the nation, of course. There is good reason therefore to fear that, given the extractive mentality that drives the politics of census, Nigeria may never have an accurate, truthful census unless true federalism is enthroned and practiced. The nation cannot wait to have an acceptable census and the NPC must not fail to deliver one.

The NPC is empowered by the 1999 Constitution as amended, to “undertake periodical enumeration of population through sample surveys, censuses or otherwise”, to “establish and maintain machinery for continuous and universal registration of births and deaths throughout the federation”. So, even now, it is quite possible for the commission to work with the several sources of population data available – birth and death records, school enrolments, registration for elections, telephone registration – to, with the professional help of demographers and data processing specialists firstly, update the information at its disposal and arrive at some extrapolated figures and secondly, disaggregated data on sex, ethnicity, religion, education, age groups, and more. To get an accurate, trustworthy population figure necessarily requires doing the right things – using tested, transparent and internationally accepted procedures and methodologies. And also an honest, patriotic political class.

The NPC chairman may have correctly identified interference as a major obstacle to an accurate population enumeration in the country, it is appropriate to add that an incompetent or unwilling and often far-from-credible NPC leadership is one obstacle too. Odimegwu’s challenge now is to do everything to prove cynics wrong, and give this nation credible population facts and figures.

LETTER

Looming breakdown in the health sector IR: The neglect of the rule of monopolise the post is a person who is not a fully registered Medical Laboratory Shealth law is causing ripples in our constitutional misnomer.

The illegal creation of the Scientist under the Act shall be sector. This will reach a crescendo by May 3, if they are not attended to by relevant authorities as the National Union of Pharmacists, Medical Technologists, and health workers allied to Medicine (NUPMTAM) declares a nationwide strike. What are these anomalies?

The denial of the rights of other health workers to head the hospital. Decree 10 of 1985, which established teaching hospitals stipulate that the post of the Chief Medical Director (CMD) be occupied by a qualified person in the health sector? These are physiotherapists, pharmacists, clinicians, medical laboratory scientists, radiographers and others who had undergone medical courses in undergraduate studies.

So, the unilateral decision of a group of health workers to

office of the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (DCMAC) against the provision of the law that approved the appointment of the CMD him/herself is another blunder. It is like a man who crossed the bridge and blew up the same after reaching the other side. Besides, it is a waste of taxpayers’ money on an illegal office and the office holder.

The appointment of laboratory physicians (pathologists) as director of medical laboratory services contrary to the federal scheme of service and Act 11 2003 of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), statutory regulatory agency for medical laboratories, which stipulates that no

entitled to hold any appointment in the public service of the Federation or State or any private establishment or institution is wrong.

The denial of other medical workers of the right to reach the peak of their career (Directorate) against the recommendations of the Abdullahi Bello presidential committee’s report on harmonious relationship among health workers in October, 2011 is unacceptable.

In conclusion, these evidences have been provided to the public and the verdict is clear: change. The laws were made to ensure peace and harmony.

May God bless Nigeria!

• Abiola Fashina, Member, Association of Medical Laboratory Science of Nigeria, Ibadan, Oyo State.

LETTERS

The concept of feeding-bottle federalism “The Federal Government is not a super government. The Federal Government is not our supervisor.

This kind of feeding-bottle federalism does not exist anywhere I know.” These were the words of the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in a recent interview published by Tell Magazine.

IR: Federalism is a system of government, consisting of a central government and independent component units referred to as regions, states or provinces. Countries that are federations include United States of America (USA), Canada, India, Ghana and so on. In practice, aspects of federalism in India could differ from federalism in the USA, but the single common trend is that federating units are not subordinate units.

The fact that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for over 60 items in the Exclusive Legislative List alone is an error.

Over the years, the practice of federalism in Nigeria has played out a very high disregard for the independence of state governments in making critical local decisions.

The arguments that project the sovereign wealth fund idea tend to create the notion that it is only the Federal Government that knows how to save, while the state governments cannot handle savings. This is what Governor Fayemi means when he says the central government is overbearing. Instead of the touted federal system of government, Nigeria has over the years, practiced a unitary system of government under which the

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central government enjoys absolute control of the component units under it, and dictates what they do and how they do them.

My interpretation of Governor Fayemi’s concept of feeding-bottle federalism is a situation whereby state governments always go cap-inhand to receive allocations from the Federal Government, which determines when to release the allocation and how much is to be released to which state.

Under feeding-bottle federalism, a Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Abuja is expected to supervise agricultural activities in a locality under a state government. A Federal Ministry of Rural Development even exists. One wonders how rural areas in the 774 local councils across Nigeria can be practically developed from, and by an Abuja office. Besides, what constitutes the primary duties of state and local councils?

Feeding-bottle federalism has led to a situation whereby state governors constitute themselves into unionists, forming a sort of trade union known as Governor’s Forum as a means of holding the Federal Government to account on issues, and attracting the central government’s attention to themselves; nay, their states.

I have never heard that the President of the United States summoned all the State Governors for a meeting in Washington or any city in that country. This is a frequent odd feature in Nigeria’s version of federalism. The Federal Government is playing the role of a supervisor to the state governments even in most of their internal affairs. The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution must ensure that the exercise produces a constitution that enables the practice of true federalism in Nigeria, while eliminating the existing feeding-bottle federalism.

• Albinus Chiedu, Lagos.

Family values and corruption The concluding paragraph of The Guardian editoSrialIR: of April 29, is non-sequitor.

Which family values should serve as template for the country? The corrupt Nigerians and thieves of public wealth also have family values. The heroic portrait of the United States as global police over corruption is unjustified.

Most of the oil companies that pillage, plunder and pollute Niger Delta communities and waterways are American.

President Clinton and other

self-appointed moral janitors have never sponsored private bills in Congress to convict these oil vampires.

The U.S. and her capitalist allies promote state terrorism and corruption in the Middle East.

These imperialist nations are not models of anti-corruption campaign. If The Guardian has issues with the Federal Government it should deal with them without taking umbrage under hypocritical America.

• G.G. Darah, Abraka.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

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Business Appointments P23 Govt targets 185,000 new jobs through community service scheme Bayelsa signs MOU for 100 MW power plant HE Bayelsa Government on T Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IPP Energy Limited and GMB Leasing Partners for the development of a 100 megawatts (MW) power station.

Gov. Seriake Dickson, while speaking at the ceremony in Yenagoa, described the event as a proof of government’s commitment to boosting electricity supply and making Bayelsa an investment haven.

He said the project was aimed at delivering uninterrupted power supply to residents of Bayelsa and setting the pace for industrialisation. ``The gas powered plant, which will be located at Imiringi in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state, has the capacity to achieve the feat when completed. ``I am delighted to be a witness to the consummation of this partnership today. We are a state that is in a hurry for development and so we are everywhere talking to people to come and invest in the new Bayelsa. This partnership is a confirmation of all our efforts geared towards making our state an attractive investment destination.

According to him, this is a vote of confidence that Bayelsa is ready for business and that state is a good place to invest in,” he said.

Dickson said it was in realisation of government’s drive for investment that it established the Bayelsa Development and Investment Corporation, to attract investment to the state.

He expressed optimism that the energy company would live up to its contractual obligation and deliver the project in record time.

The Vice President of the IPP Energy Limited, Augustine Akwesehor, said the company would commence work on the power project without delay to meet the power needs

Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Dr. Demola Sogunle (left); Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transport, Akwa Ibom State, Offiong Udoffe, Head, Benefits Administration, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Bunmi Dayo-Olagunju and Head, Business Development, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Nike Bajomo, at the official opening of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited’s office in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday.

AfDB approves new strategy for Africa’s economic transformation HE African Development T Bank (AfDB) has initiated a 10-year strategy for the economic transformation of the continent.

A statement by AfDB’s President, Donald Kaberuka in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire said the new plan spanning 2013-2022 would dwell more on the quality and sustainability of economic growth of the African people.

He said the approval of the strategy was done out of a ``very careful and deep consultation within and outside the bank’’.

According to him, the plan reflects Africa’s vision for itself, a vision of transformation that is achievable. ``It is a 10-year vision, which can make this continent the

pole of global growth. A place fit for our aspirations and those of our children,’’ the AfDB president said.

He said the plan re-affirms the bank’s strategic choices around infrastructure, economic integration and the private sector.

Besides, the strategy would also focus on building resilience to climate change and sustainable management of natural resources.

According to him, the strategy has identified five main channels of focus to ensure the improvement of quality of growth in Africa. ``The key areas include infrastructure development, regional economic integration, private sector development, governance and

accountability, skills and technology,’’ he said.

The AfDB boss said the plan would seek new and creative ways of mobilising resources to support Africa’s transformation, especially by leveraging its own resources.

He expressed optimism that wider use of public-private partnerships, co-financing arrangements and risk-mitigation instruments would draw in new investors.

He said: ``In a decade of seismic shifts in the global economy, Africa has defied the pessimists and experienced significant growth. This economic growth must now translate into real economic transformation which will bring jobs and opportunities to its citizens.''

NSITF partners PENGASSAN to promote Employees’ Compensation Scheme O address compensation T scheme challenges in the country, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has expressed its readiness to work for the success of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS).

NSITF Managing Director, Umar Abubakar, made this known at a meeting in Abuja recently with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

According to a statement by NSITF's Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs,

Aliu Zubairu, the NSITF boss said the Fund was ready to partner with PENGASSAN in this line, saying the partnership would ensure the success of the compensation scheme being run by the Fund.

He stated that the Fund would ensure that the scheme achieved the purpose for which it was enacted, especially in tackling injuries both in and out of work places.

Besides, he said, ``NSITF has concluded plans to visit employers and industrial unions across the country to

discuss benefits of the scheme. The visit will enable NSITF to learn about challenges being faced by employers and employees in the different sectors of the economy.”

He urged PENGASSAN to work with the Fund to ensure that employees in the oil and gas sector were carried along in the scheme.

Highlighting the benefits of the compensation scheme, the NSITF chief executive said the law guiding ECS had not put a ceiling on how much could be spent on a benefici-

ary adding that it can graduate to something that looks like a pension.

Abubakar further stated that the NSITF was working with stakeholders to find a way to simplify the process and make it dynamic to the advantage of workers.

In his remarks, President of PENGASSAN, Babatunde Ogun, lauded the law establishing the scheme.

He said it was noteworthy that the scheme covers workrelated diseases many years after the employee would have retired.

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16 BUSINESS

Immediate Past President of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Hajia Maryam Ladi Ibrahim (left); new President, Sakirudeen Labode; and Second Vice-President, Shehu Ladan, during the decoration of Labode with the chain of office, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

ANAN tasks govt on multiple tax regime

By Chijioke Nelson HE Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), wants the country’s tax authorities to take a holistic look at the multiple taxes in the system.

The President of the association, Alhaji Sakirudeen Labode, who said this at his inauguration, noted that the Federal Government and other tiers of government should do away with multiple taxes, as it has become a clog in the wheels of progress of the economy.

He said the withdrawal of multiple tax system has become necessary in view of the introduction of a new tax

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regime in the country, adding that multiple taxes usually distract businessmen and wouldbe investors.

According to him, by doing away with multiple taxes, more corporate organisations and individuals would be brought into the tax net. “Let me emphasise that apart from Pay As You Earn, any tax assessment not based on verifiable financial statement is punitive, unfair and unjust,� he said.

Labode, a former Director of Finance and Supplies of the Defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), urged government to ensure strict adherence to necessary financial regula-

tions and standards in both the public and private sectors.

He pointed out that the focus of his administration shall be on technical capacity building for members and the development of the Nigeria College of Accountancy (NCA), Jos, the post-graduate training arm of the association.

Labode expressed gratitude to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria for the role it played in the attainment of the new status of ANAN, urged more cooperation to jointly move the profession forward in the jurisdiction, region and continent.

Besides, he said his administration would also focus on

corporate governance and global best practices, as well as infrastructural development.

He said that attention would also be given to the fulfillment of international obligations, improved corporate social responsibility, assistance to tertiary institutions and public policy advocacy, adding that NCA would be repositioned as the most preferred centre for training of professional accountants on the continent.

Katsina establishes fertilizer plants From Nkechi Onyedika, Katsina HE Katsina state governT ment has established four fertilizer blending plants, 52 cottage industries worth N117million across the state.

Besides, it has concluded plans to commence the distribution of 40,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer to farmers for this year's planting season at a subsidised rate of N1,500.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Musa Adamu Funtua, disclosed this when the National Good Governance Team visited one of the fertilizer depot located in Daura.

Heobserved that the state spends N 500million on the procurement of assorted grains for distribution to farmers every year.

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, noted that fertilizer is very crucial for the development of agriculture in the country and urged the states to partner with the federal government to ensure the availability of fertilizer to farmers at all seasons.

Maku who stressed the need for more investment in agriculture observed that the northern region has the capacity to feed Africa with grains, especially rice.

He observed that the federal government has completed the 25,000 metric tonnes Strategic Grains Reserve in Dutsinma, Katsina state.

Speaking at the Youth Craft Village in Katsina, the state governor, Shehu Shema, said about N2billion has been spent by the state government in human capital development, adding that about 555 youths have been trained and N106million spent on youth entrepreneurship.

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‘Nigeria requires international shipping code for efficient maritime trade’ HE Minister of Transport, Sen. the Nigerian Ports Authority sonnel to "detect security threats T and take preventive measures Idris Umar, has said that safe (NPA). navigation is required in line The ISPS is an amendment to against security incidents affectwith International Shipping and Ports Security Code (ISPS) for efficient maritime trade in the country.

Umar made this known recently in Abuja at the inauguration of the newly reconstituted pilotage boards within the four compulsory pilotage districts of

the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention (1974/1988) on minimum security arrangements for ships, ports and government agencies.

Having come into force in 2004, it prescribes responsibilities to governments, shipping companies and port/facility per-

ing ships or port facilities used in international trade.

Umar explained that safe navigation was required in line with the ISPS because a greater volume of imports and exports was conveyed through the ports.

He said due to the importance of the ports to the development

of the Nigerian economy, international maritime trade could not be over-emphasised.

He recalled that the tenure of the former pilotage board of the pilotage districts appointed in 2006 by his predecessor had lapsed and there was a need to reconstitute another one.

The four pilotage districts include Lagos, Warri, Bonny/Port Harcourt and Calabar. Their

duties as spelt out in Section 45 of the Ports Act of 1999 are to hold inquiries concerning the conduct of pilots and to license pilots for the pilotage district on behalf of the authority.

The minister tasked the boards to ensure that pilots were appropriately appointed, monitored and sanctioned where necessary for safe navigation of the waterways.

Responding on behalf of the board members, Capt. Alimi Abdul, Harbour Master, Lagos Pilotage District, said the members would work tirelessly to transform the country's maritime industry.

"We will put our experience to bear on the pilotage activities to ensure compliance with relevant laws as provided for in the Ports Act," he said.

Reps call for efficient public procurement policy in Nigeria

By Chika Goodluck-Ogazi HE Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, Uzor Azubuike, has stated that an efficient public procurement policy is vital to the development of Nigeria.

Speaking at the opening of a retreat for Chief Executive Officers in federal government ministries, departments and agencies at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), recently in Lagos, Azubike said that the 2012 budget implementation was below 30 per cent, because of

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the late presentation and signing of the budget, which he said delayed the commencement time for implementation.

According to him, “Contracts should not be awarded at inflated prices. We should stop giving specific contractors more contracts than they can handle. Contractors that have records of abandoning contracts should be blacklisted.

The BPP should not stop at procurement, but go ahead to monitor contracts awarded to ensure Nigerians get value for money."

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Appointments Govt targets 185,000 new jobs through community service scheme From Collins Olayinka, Abuja HE Federal Government is T to create185,000 new jobs through its Community Service Scheme (CSS), the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chukwuemeka Wogu, has said.

Speaking at a meeting with the chairmen of the State Coordinator and Implementation Committee of the scheme in Abuja, the minister explained that while 3,000 unemployed persons from the 36 states of the federation including Abuja had benefitted from the scheme, another 2,000 per state are expected to benefit soon.

He added: “3,000 hitherto unemployed persons that cut across the 36 states of the federation, including Abuja, have benefited from the Community Service Scheme since inception. We will begin the next round very soon and 2,000 persons are expected to benefit.”

Wogu, who lauded state governments that have replicated the scheme, said the Federal Government is funding the scheme through its share of the partial removal of petroleum subsidy.

“The Federation Government is funding this initiative from its own share of the partial withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products that was done last year January. While we deploy our own to areas that can generate employment, the 36 states also have their own portion and they have been receiving it. Therefore, the states are also expected to deploy their share of the fund to better the living standard of their people. It is heartwarming that some states have replicated what we are doing at the federal level in their states,” he explained.

The minister also denied insinuations that the scheme favours unemployed persons from the ruling political party.

He stated: “I must state here that the CSS is for all Nigerians. There are no discriminations and participation is not influenced by party affiliation. Our being here today is to brainstorm on some teething problems

that may have been noticed and how we can collectively correct them and move the scheme forward.”

He also hinted that government is planning an exit strategy that would ensure that the beneficiaries are fully

engaged after their participation in the scheme.

Providing the background to the meeting, the Project Director of CSS, Dr. M.E Nwordu, said the aims of the parley included a review of the implementation status, a

brainstorm session on practical modalities to tackle challenges and to strategise on the way forward towards a more successful, impactful, resultoriented and sustainable implementation of the CSS nationwide..

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State (right); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Abiodun Alabi, and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Direct Labour, Mobolaji Tunde-Suara, inspecting facilities at the inauguration of the ultra-modern mechanic village and spare parts market in Akure...recently.

Commissioner decries inadequate manpower in police force From Anietie Akpan, Calabar HE Cross River State T Commissioner of Police (CP), Kola Sodipo, has decried the lack of adequate manpower in the Nigerian Police Force, saying this is not good for effective policing.

The CP, who was speaking during a press briefing at the police headquarters in Calabar said: “We can’t have 4,000 policemen in the country to police a population of over 154 million.

He pointed out that by United

Nations standards, it should be one policeman to 250 persons, but bemoaned the reality on grand.

With the ever increasing security challenges in the country, he said it would be an uphill task for the small number of police personnel in the country to effectively tackle crime and cover all areas.

“It would be a difficult task to effectively contain the security challenges owing to the shortage of manpower in the Police Force”, he lamented.

He however appealed for the

recruitment of more policemen as well as the provision of more operational vehicles, which according to him will serve as a recipe for crime reduction in the country.

The CP pointed out that the act of policing is a collective responsibility and therefore tasked members of the public to support the police by giving out useful information, which will enable the police serve them better.

Sodipo, who was recently posted to the state, assured that there will be no hiding

place for criminals as his command has put in place watertight security strategies aimed at enhancing successful clamp down on criminals.

He solicited for cooperation from members of the public to assist the police succeed, by giving out information as “policing strategy all over the world today is community based”.

The CP disclosed that recently 20 suspects were arrested for armed robbery and 12 firearms and five stolen vehicles recovered in the state.

FCTA suspends 15 district heads’ appointments From Terhemba Daka, Abuja HE Federal Capital T Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday ordered the suspension of the appointment of 15 district heads by the Abaji Area Council.

The Minister of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide, in a letter to the Executive Chairman of Abaji Area Council, Hon. Yahaya Mohammed, stated unequivocally that the 15 district heads were created without recourse for the approval of the FCTA. A statement made available to The Guardian in Abuja yesterday said the minister directed the Abaji Area Council chairman to suspend forthwith the appointment of the district heads until further notice.

“The FCT Administration has equally recognised the separation of functions between the Area Councils and the State (in this instance the FCT Administration) on the creation of District Heads and Community Leaders vesting such appointments within the jurisdiction of the Area Council as enshrined in their bye laws’’, Akinjide stated.

“However, in all matters of appointment of District/Community Heads, the FCT Administration’s approval must be sought before such appointments are made by any Area Council.

“Consequently, based on this breach of procedure on the appointment of District Heads by the Abaji Area Council, the appointment of the 15 District Heads is hereby suspended henceforth until proper procedure and methods of appointment of the District Heads are thoroughly scrutinized in compliance with the laid down procedures, rules and administrative processes.

She advised the Abaji Community and leaders to remain law-abiding and peaceful until the appropriate procedure was adopted on the matter.

ISACA trains members on strategies to curb income leakages

By Tosin Fodeke O further equip informaT tion systems auditors and reassurance officers with the requisite managerial skills, Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), Lagos chapter, has trained members on the essentials of checking revenue leakages.

Some of the strategies according to the group include the use of proactive, reactive and active approaches, which should

be applied throughout the lifetime of project or operation of a firm.

President of the Chapter, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, while speaking at the association’s yearly general meeting and Continuing Professional Education programme, explained that the association took time to get the best facilitator to properly dissect the topic.

She highlighted that some of the association’s achievements included making the boby more vibrant and getting people to offer support

on voluntary basis.

According to her: “ISACA has a more critical role in supporting members as they embrace change and view new horizons. In addition to creating new practical educational and training opportunities and increased attention was placed on addressing business risks.

At the meeting, a new board was elected with Peter Ineh emerging as the new head.

He promised to build on the success of the immediate past president with great emphasis on bridging

knowledge gaps among members.

Earlier, First Bank Nigeria Plc’s Senior Manager, Information Systems Audit, Robert Omogbeminiyi, who took participants through the rudiments tagged “Revenue Assurance: Detecting and Blocking Income Leakages”, emphasized that revenue reassurance is a function that cuts across various department and as such every officer has to be carried along in the execution of the process.

Omogbeminiyi said:

“Revenue assurance is done by blocking income leakages and reducing costs. It is important for profit maximisation and it also helps in regulatory compliance and moving ahead of competition. One quality that is paramount for every reassurance officer is the ability to carry everybody along in the execution of duty. ” He added that the processes should be applied throughout the entire lifetime of a project even as it should involve continuous monitoring for improvement.

Omogbeminiyi stated further that leakages could come when there is no clear revenue assurance framework in an organisation, absence of tax management framework, excess charges, ineffective credit verification, rate discount and waivers.

Other sources he listed included error in rate and charges, incomplete transaction records, penalties and fines and account duplication or proliferation (in the case of malfunctioning software).

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APPOINTMENTS

‘We have pensions scheme, minimum wage for maids’

By Sony Neme OUSEMAIDS are on the H verge of enjoying pension scheme with minimum wages. This was revealed in an interactive session with journalists by Ifeyinwa Onu, Business Owner, Whitebell Maids, Limited, with offices in USA and Nigeria.

Onu said: “After a thorough research on home keepers as a career, we decided to make it a respectable profession, with something to look up to on retirement. That way, we would be providing employment and encourage them to offer their services better in a more professional manner.”

She further said that her motivating factor stems from the important role home keepers (not housemaids, she insists)

play in most households, especially as it affects career mothers in Nigeria.

Her words: “Only a female Hercules can attend to her children, husband and house chores without the services of a maid. Your home is a sanctuary, a place of refuge or safety and in maintaining the standards you already set that will eventually transform the house into a home, you need a helping hand and this brings the domestic helper into the picture. We also train and provide cooks, chef, drivers, stewards and nannies.”

She stressed that, “most people experience challenges in their homes due to the facts they hired the wrong people or signed contracts with incompetent agencies and eventually do not get the

required services paid for.”

Onu who insists that the difference between a maid and the helper is on their job descriptions, elaborated on the needs of the employer.

“Firstly, choosing a helper or maid the employer needs to identify areas of need, to help ease the stress of the woman in the house, because making dinner after a stressful day can be really challenging, so a cook is needed. For a working class mother of two or more kids, keeping the house neat is a herculean task, so a maid in that house is not a luxury but a necessity.”

She averred: “For a family that resides in a private compound (not block of flats) a househelp is needed to attend to the flowers, wash the cars and generally keep the compound

clean. In applying above listed examples, an employer has a clearer picture of the services required in his or her home and what to expect in signing contracts with any agency. It is important to note that having a maid means living with them in same residence, and so that comfort you enjoy should also be extended to them to get the best services needed.”

She said a few tip to live happily with your new family members (the maid and helper) is among others. “When hiring a maid, consult with the best maid agency that engages experts in routine medical checks on their registered maids/helpers; basic trainings in housekeeping and guest services, such as table setting before and after meals, bed making and personal hygiene

Newly elected President of Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Victor Famuyibo,(left), the out-going President, Abiola Popoola, and Chairman, CIPM Electoral Committee, Oladimeji Alo, shortly after the Presidential election of the Institute at the 44th AGM held in Lagos

generally; and ensure that the maid’s agency adheres to strict rules governing such business like inspection of your home before dispatch of maids or helpers to ensure proper

advice from experts on the number of maids required in the house and avoid the temptation of over stretching your maid/helper with loads of work.”

Interpol seeks collaboration with EFCC on fight against graft From Abosede Musari, Abuja HE International Criminal T Police Organisation (Interpol) is seeking collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in training graft fighters in West and Central Africa.

An officer of INTERPOL from its Lyon, France headquarters, Hapaz bin Nazar, approached EFCC for the partnership during a courtesy visit recently in Abuja.

EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, explained that the request was made to the Commandant of the EFCC Academy, Karu, Ayo Olowoniyi.

“The Interpol officer said they were at the Academy to seek the assistance of the EFCC to host and train participants in a training programme on AntiCorruption in West and Central Africa”, Uwujaren said.

Olowoniyi, who received the delegates, expressed his appreciation that such event was coming to Nigeria. He said though the Academy is seen as a baby of the EFCC, it has been organising training programmes for workers and other stakeholders, including members of the civil society.

He bemoaned the situation where Nigerians are held liable for economic and financial

crimes committed abroad even when such culprits are not Nigerians.

In his remarks, Nazar said the proposed training programme was a response to the demand and requests from across the globe for Interpol to play a more active role in the fight against corruption Meanwhile, the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) has arrested an official of real estate firm, First Group and those of two hotels in Abuja for non-compliance with extant regulations mandating Designated Non- Financial Institutions (DNFIs) to register with the unit in line with the anti-money laundering laws.

General Manager/Accountant of First Group, Isemede MacHenry, was arrested as well as Managing Director of Alexis Hotel, Fadipe Emmanuel Abiodun, and Managing Director of Rittman Suites, Ekanem Ibok Essien in a special operation conducted in conjunction with the EFCC. Aside from enforcing compliance with regulations, Head of SCUML, Angela Nworgu, said the intelligence-driven raid was aimed at uncovering the beneficial ownership of entities that could be used to launder money within and outside Nigeria.

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Occupational diseases kill 2m workers yearly, says ILO From Collins Olayinka, Abuja REVELATION has come A from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that about 2.02 million workers lose their lives to occupational diseases worldwide.

The report, entitled, “The prevention of occupational diseases”, was issued to commemorate the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

Reacting to the findings of the report, the ILO noted that

despite killing more than six times more than accidents, occupational hazards receives less attention globally.

It further noted that occupational deaths take 2.02 out of the estimated 2.34 million yearly work-related casualties A breakdown of the deaths shows a daily average of 5,500 deaths.

The report also estimates that about 160 million cases of nonfatal work-related diseases occur yearly.

The international labour

watch body therefore called for an “urgent and vigorous” global campaign to tackle the growing number of workrelated diseases.

In his comments on the report, the Director General of ILO, Guy Ryder, said: “The ultimate cost of occupational disease is human life. It impoverishes workers and their families and may undermine whole communities when they lose their most productive workers. Meanwhile, the productivity of enterprises is

NISCN tasks employees on workplace ailments

By Adebisi Olonade and Adeniyi Adunola ORKERS in both public W and private sector in the country have been advised to be careful and do everything possible to prevent attracting diseases that are associated with their respective nature of jobs.

The National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria (NISCN) gave this advice on Monday at a seminar to mark the 2013 edition of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, held at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Lagos. The theme was “Prevention of occupational diseases”.

Speaking at the seminar, the Chairman of NISCN, Mr. Tunji Sekoni, said the organisation strongly believes that the prevention of occupational diseases is best done when a system that is consistent in committing both employer and employee to health and safety in the workplace is created.

He added that social dialogue is happen to him on the way to another system that compli- and from workplace and in the ments the Employee field of duty. And that such Compensation Act by placing employee could only claim the responsibilities of inspec- compensation if he notifies the tion on the workers and employ- employer of the related injury ers themselves in cordial and or illness within 14 days. harmonious manner.

According to him, Nigeria is getting it right with Employee Compensation Act, which is said to be a no-fault-scheme and has the potency of forcing employers to be more efficient in man- By Tony Nwanne aging safety in the workplace.

Lecturing on the Employee IGERIA can become one of Compensation Act (ECA), the the world’s leading Director of National Social research-based country if only Insurance Trust Fund, Mr. there are well-trained personDavidson Enwere, said the main nel to carry out up-to-date anafeature of the law is to minimise lytical research with modern financial losses, reduce person- equipment in order to attain al, physical and emotional suffering likewise encourage and the Vision 2020 economic blue promote safety in the work- print.

The Director General of the place.

He said an employee is covered Federal Institute of Industrial on death, injuries, mental stress, Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Dr. occupational diseases and Gloria Elemo, explained that healthcare in as much as these Nigeria needs to brace up to modern ways of analytical

reduced and the financial burden on the state increases as the cost of health care rises.

Where social protection is weak or absent, many workers as well as their families lack the care and support they need.”

Ryder posited that prevention is the key to tackling the burden of occupational diseases, and is more effective and less costly than treatment and rehabilitation.

He said the ILO was calling for a “paradigm of prevention with comprehensive and coherent action targeting occupational diseases, not only injuries. A fundamental step is to recognise the framework provided by the ILO’s international labour standards for effective preventative action and promoting their ratification and implementation.”

The head of the International

Organisation of Employers (IOE), Brent Wilton, said: “The ILO is well placed to lead a concerted and holistic effort to address OSH challenges by providing integrated webbased information that is practical and easily accessible to workplace actors, prevention and treatment centres, employers and workers’ organisations, enforcing authorities and labour inspectorates. We have an opportunity to ensure that countries are better equipped to avert the risk of facing the same OSH challenges by learning from shared experiences.”

For her part, the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Sharan Burrow said: “Our societies must not accept that workers can lose their health to make a living.

And we must not forget that occupational diseases put a

huge burden on families and the public purse – a burden that is preventable.

Harnessing the knowledge of workers, backed by their unions, is crucial for preventing death and illness.

Protection, including true respect for workers’ rights to trade union representation, and government legislation and enforcement following ILO standards and guidance should be expanded.”

Technological and social changes, along with global economic conditions, are aggravating existing health hazards and creating new risks. Well-known occupational diseases, such as pneumoconioses and asbestos-related diseases, remain widespread, while relatively new occupational diseases, such as mental and Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), are on the rise.

‘Nigeria needs research-based experts to attain Vision 2020’

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researching in all ramifications.

Elemo disclosed this during the official opening ceremony of Shimadzu Training Centre for analytical instrument, a division of Labstock Nigeria Limited, at the Nigeria Stored Product Research Centre, Yaba, Lagos, recently.

According to her, technology is here in Nigeria, adding that what needs to be done is to get well trained analytical researchers who knows the nitty-gritty of each of these equipment to enable us moni-

tor what is being produced in the food production sector.

“For us at FIIRO, we have been actively involved in R&D (Research & Development) into food and agro-processing, pulp and paper as well as prototype equipment design and fabrication for over 50 years now. That is why we need to transcend this and encourage individuals to be researched based oriented, hence the launching of these equipment”, she said.

The equipment, which comprises of analyti cal instruments including, GC and LC

Chromatographs, GC-MS and LC-MS Spectrometers, UV-VIS, FTIR and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers. ICPS and OES Spectrometers, XRF, XRD and EDX Analysers and Total Organic Carbon Analysers, are modern researched based equipment.

The FIIRO boss noted that a lot of R&D outputs have been developed and are yet to impact on our people due to a limited capacity to produce the equipment in large quantities and translate these technologies for the benefit of the general public.

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ScienceGuardian ASTRONOMY With J.K. Obatala

Eclipses are where you find them!

ITH regards to eclipses, 2013 is, from the vantage W point of Nigerians, an interesting – if not altogether enthralling – year. Out of a combined total of five

AIDS vaccine... the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH)reported over the weekend that it had stopped immunizing volunteers with the experimental vaccine known as HVTN 505 because it had become clear that the vaccine does not prevent HIV infection.

Mixed results trail AIDS vaccine development

By Chukwuma Muanya, with agency reports IXED results have continM ued to trail the development of a vaccine for Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

While the quest suffered another setback with a report by the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH), over the weekend, that it had stopped immunizing volunteers with the experimental vaccine known as HVTN 505 because it had become clear that the vaccine does not prevent HIV infection.

However, Danish scientists in another study said they are expecting results that will show that “finding a mass-distributable and affordable cure to HIV is possible”.

They are conducting clinical trials to test a “novel strategy” in which the HIV virus is stripped from human Deoxy ribo-Nucleic Acid (DNA)/genetic material and destroyed permanently by the immune system.

The move would represent a dramatic step forward in the attempt to find a cure for the virus, which causes AIDS. The scientists are currently conducting human trials on their treatment, in the hope of proving that it is effective. It has already been found to work in laboratory tests.

The technique involves releasing the HIV virus from “reser-

voirs” it forms in DNA cells, bringing it to the surface of the cells. Once it comes to the surface, the body’s natural immune system can kill the virus through being boosted by a “vaccine”.

Meanwhile, since the NIH trial began in 2009, 1,250 volunteers had received the vaccine and 1,244 others had gotten a placebo- both as a series of shots over 24 weeks. Most participants were men who have sex with men. Among volunteers who had been in the study for at least 28 weeks, 27 infections occurred in those getting the vaccine and 21 in placebo recipients. Of all study participants, regardless of how long they were in the study, 41 HIV infections showed up in vaccinated volunteers and 30 in those who got the placebo.

The vaccine used a double-hit strategy designed to rev up immune protection. Three early shots were intended to prime the immune system.

Then, 16 weeks later, participants received a booster shot

that delivered genetic material that made molecules produced by HIV, with the goal of eliciting an immune response against the virus. The vaccine could not itself cause HIV infection.

An independent data and safety monitoring board assessed the results collected as of April 22 and recommended stopping the trial. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which sponsored the trial, agreed.

NIAID and the study investigators will continue to monitor volunteers for five years and analyse the data.

Meanwhile, in vitro studiesthose that use human cells in a laboratory- of the new technique proved so successful that in January, the Danish Research Council awarded the team 12 million Danish kroner (£1.5 million) to pursue their findings in clinical trials with human subjects.

These are now under way, and according to Dr. Søgaard, the early signs are “promising”.

The technique involves releasing the HIV virus from “reservoirs” it forms in DNA cells, bringing it to the surface of the cells. Once it comes to the surface, the body’s natural immune system can kill the virus through being boosted by a “vaccine”

Dr. Ole Søgaard, a senior researcher at the Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark who is part of the research team, said: “I am almost certain that we will be successful in releasing the reservoirs of HIV. “The challenge will be getting the patients’ immune system to recognise the virus and destroy it. This depends on the strength and sensitivity of individual immune systems.”

Fifteen patients are currently taking part in the trials, and if they are found to have successfully been cured of HIV, the “cure” will be tested on a wider scale.

Sogaard stressed that a cure is not the same as a preventative vaccine, and that raising awareness of unsafe behaviour, including unprotected sex and sharing needles, remains of paramount importance in combating HIV. With modern HIV treatment, a patient can live an almost normal life, even into old age, with limited side effects.

However, if medication is stopped, HIV reservoirs become active and start to produce more of the virus, meaning that symptoms can reappear within two weeks.

Finding a cure would free a patient from the need to take continuous HIV medication, and save health services billions of pounds.

The technique is being researched in Britain, but studies have not yet moved on to the clinical trial stage. Five universities - Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College, London, University College, London and King’s College, Londonhave jointly formed the Collaborative HIV Eradication of Reservoirs UK Biomedical Research Centre group (CHERUB), which is dedicated to finding an HIV cure.

They have applied to the Medical Research Council for funding to conduct clinical trials, which will seek to combine techniques to release the reservoirs of HIV with immunotherapy to destroy the virus.

predicted obscurations (lunar and solar), three were projected to be visible, from our location.

The first of these occurred last Thursday. It was a partial lunar eclipse, which reportedly lasted for just under 30 minutes. I say “reportedly,” because all I have to go by is the published time schedule and a series of phone calls from two of my readers, in Abuja and Lagos.

According to the United States (U.S.) Space Agency, NASA, the partial phase began at 19:54:08 and ended at 20:21:02. Nigeria is on West African Time (WAT), which is an hour ahead of Universal Time (UT –formerly Greenwich Mean). So the obscuration started a little before 8:00 p.m. here.

Prior to the eclipse, a phalanx of recalcitrant clouds closed ranks over Port Harcourt. It was impossible, even to imagine where the Moon might be – much less get a glimpse of what was going on beyond the bedimming masses of water vapor.

But by all accounts, it wasn’t a lot. In one of his phone calls, Col. Ayo Olaniyan (rtd) reported from Lagos that a “thin crescent of darkness” had touched the left side of the lunar disc. Kufre F. Akpan, a young physicist at the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission, in Abuja, made a similar observation.

This, of course, is just what astronomers had predicted: A “shallow” eclipse, in which Earth’s shadow would cover only one percent of the Moon’s disc. “A partial lunar eclipse this shallow hasn’t occurred since May 3rd, 1958 (0.9 per cent),” noted Emily Sutherlin, on examiner.com, “and won’t be topped until September 28th, 2034 (1.4 per cent)”.

The orbit of the Moon is tilted 5 degrees to the imaginary sheet of glass that extends from Earth to the Suncalled the “ecliptic,” because when the Moon passes through this plane, an eclipse is possible. The Moon’s orbital tilt though, means Earth’s satellite passes over or above this plane most of the time.

The exceptions are 34 day intervals called “eclipse seasons,” during which, says Wikipedia, “the inclination of the Moon is low, hence the Sun, Moon and Earth become close enough in alignment (syzygy) for an eclipse to occur”.

This will happen from May 10th to 15 days (a half lunar cycle) after last month’s partial eclipse – giving rise to the first solar obscuration of 2013. The Moon will swing halfway around the Earth, with its sunlight side facing away from us and its phase switching from “full” to “new”.

Passing between Earth and Sun, it will block out light and cast its shadow over a 171 to 225 km wide swath of Earth’s surface. Our planet spins at about 1700 km per hour. So the dark tract will, as NASA puts it, traverse “Australia, eastern Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Gilbert Islands”.

Unless you’re somewhere in the South pacific on the 10th, this annular obscuration is mainly of academic interest. The lunar shadow won’t come anywhere near West Africa. It’ll dangle over these islands, regaling observers with a magnificent spectacle - a darkened disc, ringed in brilliant light.

A cycle of phases ends on May25th, with another full Moon: Thirty days after April’s partial obscuration and still within the eclipse season. But this time, the Moon misses the dark core of Earth’s shadow, the umbra, entirely and passes through the light-infused outer region, termed the penumbra.

Although the Moon will be visible in North and South America and in western Africa, you’d be better off playing a game of scrabble or warri, than trying to see the obscuration—which is too short and too shallow for the naked eye to detect.

Fortunately, NASA’s Fred Espenak thinks sky-watchers in Europe, eastern Canada and Africa might fare better in October, even though the last lunar eclipse of the year is also penumbral.

He predicts that, on the 18th, the lunar disc will plow deep into Earth’s shadow and pass close to the dark umbra. The eclipse “should be easily visible to the naked eye,” he advises, “as a dusky shading in the southern half of the Moon”.

As if to atone for earlier slights, nature has scheduled a grand finale for November 3rd—and reserved celebrity seats for equatorial Africa. Magnanimously, she is feting observers in the two Congos, Gabon, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia with a total solar eclipse!

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NaturalHealth Researchers endorse more herbs for prostate cancer treatment RESEARCHERS have endorsed extracts from plants, such as Serenoa repens, Urtica dioica, Pygeum africanum, Secale cereale, Curcubita pepo, Hypoxis rooperi, Piper cubeba, Bixa orellana, coconut (Cocos nucifera), and fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis), as potent botanicals in the management of prostatic diseases. CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes.

Fluted pumpkin

Coconut ENIGN prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) B is the most common benign tumour of the adult male and men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) from clinical BPH constitute a great percentage of patients seen in urology clinics. Its treatment does constitute a significant economic burden.

There are various options of treatment depending on the stage of the disease with many urologists preferring medications in the early stages and surgery for the more advanced stages or complicated cases. Different medications of proven efficacy over the years include adrenergic blockers like prazocin, doxazocin, tamsulocin, alfuzocin and 5 alpha reductase inhibitors like finasteride and dutasteride.

The use of locally available materials, mostly of plant origin, has recently gained recognition as alternatives to orthodox medicine. In fact, almost 90 per cent of all medicines prescribed for BPH in Germany and Austria are phytotherapeutic agents. The biodiversity of plants found in Africa, which is arguably the richest in the world, coupled with the low purchasing power of

Africans, especially with respect to orthodox drugs, make this type of research even more important.

According to a recent study published in Malaysian Journal of Medical Science, titled “Towards the Prevention and Management of Prostatic Diseases in Nigeria: A Framework” currently, extracts from plants, such as Serenoa repens, Urtica dioica, Pygeum africanum, Secale cereale, Curcubita pepo, Hypoxis rooperi, Piper cubeba, Bixa orellana, Cocos nucifera, and Telfairia occidentalis, are known to be potent botanicals in the management of prostatic diseases. It is reasonable to expect that many other locally available plants harbour phytochemicals that can be used to manage prostatic diseases.

Also, another study published in the International Research Journal of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics reviewed the anti-cancer properties of some plants used in traditional medicine in Nigeria.

A team of researchers from the Department of Chemical Sciences, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, led by Taye T. Alawode, identified

onion, shallot, pineapple, garlic, Resurrection plant, lime, wormwood, Sodom apple, red palm oil, sausage tree, mango tree, sour-sop, bitter leaf, among others as potent against cancers.

It has also been shown that pumpkin seed oil and phytosterol-F can block testosterone/prazosin-induced prostate growth in rats.

Researchers from the Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Urology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan in a study published in Urology International investigated the effects of pumpkin seed oil alone or combined with Phytosterol-F on testosterone/prazosin-induced (T-P) prostate growth in rats.

Forty adult Wistar rats were divided into five groups, including: one control group, rats treated with vehicle only, one group treated with T-P, and two groups of T-P-treated rats, one receiving orally pumpkin seed oil alone and one group receiving orally pumpkin seed oil combined with Phytosterol-F. Two weeks later, the prostatic weightto-body weight ratio was determined after sacrifice. The total protein concentration was measured by using a protein assay. Some ventral prostatic tissues were histologically examined after hematoxylin-eosin staining.

Histological sections of the ventral prostate showed that the architecture of the prostate glands became hyperplastic in the T-P rats, but not in the control or vehicle-treated animals. As compared with the control or vehicle group, T-P rats had a significantly higher prostatic weight-to-body weight ratio for the ventral prostate, but not for the dorsolateral prostate.

The T-P rats had significantly higher protein levels within both lobes. As compared with the T-P-alone rats, the TP rats treated with pumpkin seed oil alone or pumpkin seed oil combined with Phytosterol-F had a significantly lower weight ratio for the ventral prostate and significantly lower protein levels within both lobes. In addition, Phytosterol-F had some additive effect on the total protein synthesis within the ventral prostate.

“Pumpkin seed oil alone or combined with Phytosterol-F can block the T-Pinduced increases in prostatic weightto-body weight ratio and protein synthesis,” they concluded.

Researchers from the Centre of Natural Products, National Centre for Scientific Research, Havana City, Cuba, in another study published in Journal Pharmacy and Pharmacology studied the effects of coconut oil on testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia in SpragueDawley rats.

The researchers wrote: “Saw palmetto lipid extracts (SPLE), used to treat BPH,

have been shown to inhibit prostate 5a-reductase, and some major components, such as lauric, myristic and oleic acids also inhibit this enzyme.

“Coconut oil (CO) is also rich in fatty acids, mainly lauric and myristic acids.

We investigated whether CO prevents testosterone-induced prostate hyperplasia (PH) in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Animals were distributed into seven groups (10 rats each). A negative control group were injected with soya oil; six groups were injected with testosterone (3 mg kg(-1)) to induce PH: a positive control group, and five groups treated orally with SPLE (400 mg kg(1)), CO or sunflower oil (SO) (400 and 800 mg kg(-1)).

“Treatments were given for 14 days.

Rats were weighed before treatment and weekly thereafter. Rats were then killed and the prostates were removed and weighed. CO (400 and 800 mg kg (-1)), SPLE (400 mg kg (-1)) and SO at 800 mg kg (-1), but not at 400 mg kg(-1), significantly reduced the increase in prostate weight (PW) and PW: body weight (BW) ratio induced by testosterone (percentage inhibition 61.5 per cent, 82.0 per cent, 43.8 per cent and 28.2 per cent, respectively).

“Since CO and SPLE, but not SO, contain appreciable concentrations of lauric and myristic acids, these results could be attributed to this fact. In conclusion, this study shows that CO reduced the increase of both PW and PW:BW ratio, markers of testosteroneinduced PH in rats.”

The Malaysian Journal of Medical Science study led by Chukwunonso Ejike concluded: “The development of a Central Prostatic Diseases Unit (CPDU) in the Federal Ministry of Health is advocated. The CPDU would be responsible for planning research and information dissemination programmes. Emphasis should be placed on targeting modifiable risk factors at the population level, proper surveillance to identify emerging trends, and research on both the operational dynamics and the efficacy of locally available herbs that could be useful in the management of prostatic diseases.”

Another study on “Effect Of The Plant Extracts Pygeum africanum And Urtica dioica On Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Due To Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia In Nigerian Men” by researchers from Lagos State University College of Medicine published in The Internet Journal of Urology evaluated the effect of a combined extract of Urtica dioica and Pygeum africanum on LUTS in Nigerian men.

The researchers reviewed the clinical records of patients with LUTS from BPH who had used the combined extract of Urtica dioica and Pygeum africanum.

Again obesity tied to prostate cancer risk NEW study adds to eviA dence that obese men may have an increased risk for

future prostate cancer.

Researchers studied biopsies of 6,692 cancer-free men, 11 per cent of whom had precancerous lesions. They selected 494 who went on to develop cancer and matched them with 494 who did not. Their results were published online in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

After 14 years of follow-up, and after adjusting for other risk factors, they found that being overweight or obese increased the risk of prostate cancer by 57 percent. The association held for all cases- lowgrade and high-grade, early stage and late, nonaggressive and aggressive disease.

Some of the difference may reflect the challenges of examining the prostate in obese men, making it more difficult to discover early malignancies, but the study’s prospective design and availability of detailed records add to its strength.

The lead author, Andrew Rundle, an associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia, said the study might help in deciding what kind of clinical follow-up is required with obese men. “The data here are not at a point where you would say to follow obese men only,” he said. “But this may help discriminate which men really need intense coverage and which do not.”

Poor sleep reduces sperm count by 33% LEEP problems can drastiSyoung cally lower the fertility of men, warns a study.

Those struggling to make it through the night have more problems than those enjoying a sound rest. Their sperm counts were cut by a quarter and they also had smaller testicles.

The latest research is the first to look specifically at whether broken rest affects male fertility although links between sleep and health have been well-studied.

Sperm counts have been tumbling in recent years amid fears that male fertility is being harmed by poor diet and lifestyle or even ‘genderbending’ chemicals in the environment.

But work at the University of Southern Denmark suggests that modern sleep patterns may also be a factor.

The scientists examined nearly 1,000 men in their late teens or early 20s about to do military service. They gave sperm samples and answered questions about how well they slept.

Questions included how often they slept badly and how often they found it difficult to nod off. The men were also asked if they regularly woke up during the night and found it difficult to go back to sleep.

Those who frequently retired late, woke many times in the night or struggled to nod off in the first place, had a sperm count 25 per cent lower than those who had no trouble.

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Lagos pledges to reduce child mortality rate by 30%

By Kemi Ajani HE Lagos State government has said that it is committed to reducing maternal and child mortality rate by 30 per cent by the year 2015.

Briefing journalist at the weekend on Maternal and Child Reduction in Lagos, the Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris, said that different health facilities have been made available in all primary, secondary and tertiary health centre’s for health care providers to improve the quality of pediatric and maternal care offer in the hospital.

Idris noted that lack of health education and poverty is the major cause of maternal and child mortality in the rural areas.

He said: “If a pregnant woman undergoes proper ante-natal programme, health workers would have identified if her baby will develop complications at birth and the can refer her to the appropriate quarter.

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Jide Idris We must ensure the safety of the mother and that of the child”.

The commissioner said that several strategies and initiative have been demonstrated by the state government towards ensuring the process of procre-

ation that no woman should die while giving birth.

He said that health education and public enlightenment programmes is the major strategies developed to tackle maternal mortality rate among the pregnant woman,

“We have trained our health workers on the use of equipment and drugs in both primary and tertiary health care system. We provide education materials on the need for antenatal care and the kind food to eat during the pregnancy period.”

Idris opined that maternal mortality reduction is a multisectoral approach that must involve not only the state government alone but also all other stakeholders in the community if success must be recorded.

Idris noted that some of the strategies put in place to take maternal and child health care closer to the people by reducing the travel time mothers takes to hospital as well as improving the quality of such care to the highest possible standard gave birth to the building of primary health care centre’s and organising the town hall meetings in strategic location in each local

government area.

The commissioner stated that when the Maternal Child Mortality Reduction programme was launched last year they get involved the stakeholders in the community to mobilise people on the need to patronise primary health-care within their area.

He noted that the percentage of the disease burden in children under the age of five years is poor maternal health.

The commissioner advised mothers to adopt family planning and child spacing as this will reduce maternal and child mortality rate. “If nursing mothers can space the number of children they would have they would be able to give adequate care of their children at all cost.

He said that it is very necessary for nursing mothers to know the essence of family planning and child spacing, “If a woman give birth it is very necessary to let the body rest for two years before a woman get pregnant again.

The commissioner said that the state government cannot reduce maternal mortality by hundred per cent considering the limited resources and the poor transportation system in state.

He noted that malaria is one

of the causes of maternal and child mortality rate and the state government is making progress in reducing the infant and under-five mortality rate by giving all the pregnant women malaria drugs during the pregnancy. He advised the pregnant women to stop patronising quacks doctor during the child delivering.

On why pregnant women still dying in Lagos despite the government intervention, the commissioner said government can only reduce the maternal death by hundred per cent but it can only be reduce base on the limited resources at the government disposal.

Speaking on the recent statistics on maternal deaths in the state, Idris noted that the new report on Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) conducted in the 20 local Government Area of the state has indicated that the rate of maternal death in the state remains unacceptable with 555 per 100,000 live births.

Speaking on the challenges towards providing optimal health care the citizenry, the commissioner said that Lagosians needs to pay their tax regularly so that the state government can provide adequate facilities and invest in agriculture.

LUTH graduates 316 students

By Paul Adunwoke AGOS State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) graduated 316 students of 2012 academic sessions. The event served as a forum to foster unity among the graduating students, lecturers, parents and guidance.

There were presentations of certificates to the graduating Students indicating that they had successfully completed their programmes.

Awards were also given to the best graduating students who perform excellently to emerge best candidates among other students in their various Departments.

The LUTH year 2012 joint graduation ceremony, organized by the management held at New Great Hall, LUTH Mushin Lagos.

Chief medical Director of the School professor Akin Osibogun said the programme was joint graduation ceremony because the school runs nine different prorammes and decided to graduate all the students at the same time. “It is joints because we have nine different schools programme, school of health information

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management, nursing, Medical laboratory Sciences, medical social psychiatric training programmes, among others and we organized it in such a way we would have one graduation ceremony”, he said.

Osibongun disclosed that all the programmes the School runs are accredited, adding that they had challenges of accreditation in the past. “ There are challenges, but we have various regulatory bodies, which regulate training of these professionals, so they would come here on our accreditation. And once they come for accreditation, they want to look at our facilities and the number of the students we are admitting, they want to look at our trainers qualifications and preparations of our trainers. And once they are satisfied, they go ahead and give us permission to go ahead and train these professionals. we have done very well with the regard of this regulatory body and they have given us approval; that is why we are graduating these students, almost all our programmes are accredited”, he said.

US, Nigeria partner on Naval Hospital staff’s training

By Paul Adunwoke NITED State of America (USA) in partnership with Nigeria has started the training of the staff of Naval Hospital Ojo, Lagos. The training focused on how prepare medical providers to effectively treat trauma injuries through review of current trauma literature, scenario training, hands-on tourniquet and ultrasound training, triage event training with mass causalities and lectures covering trauma assessment and interventions. The goal of the training was to solidify the connection between field treatments of military causalities and treatment options once transferred to the hospital settings.

The 40 beneficiaries of the four days training programme included medical assistants,

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students, nurses, and physicians.

The training programme for the staff of the Nigeria Naval hospital, sponsored by US held at Naval Town Ojo Lagos.

Dr. Michael Owens from US said the training focused on trauma and to provide basic skills for healthcare providers in Nigeria. “We are doing training programme for healthcare providers, want to provide basic skills, trauma, Physical examination and medical training skills that can provide immediate saving lives interventions. And also to take some of the medical staff to the next level, to empower them to perform better than they are doing. I believe that anybody who participated in this training programme would save live at least 25 percent lives when it comes to trauma.

Some victims that have very

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NMA commends Jonathan, FEC for rejecting report on harmonious work relationship among health workers ‘Prepares’ members for possible strike by JOHESU

By Chukwuma Muanya HE Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for rejecting the report of the Retired Justice Bello Gusau-led presidential committee on a harmonious work relationship amongst health workers and professional groups in the health sector on the ground that the report was bound to trigger more disharmony, ill-will and conflagrations in the health sector rather than resolve the disharmony.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday, April 24, 2013, in a resolution discarded the report.

President NMA, Dr. Osahaon Enabulele in a statement yesterday also commended the decision of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, and the Federal Executive Council to constitute an independent committee to physically visit some foreign countries to see how the health system is managed in those countries, particularly in terms of the roles and relationships of professionals in the health sector.

The NMA also directed all doctors nation-wide to remain at their duty posts and to work relentlessly to render uninterrupted services, particularly emergency cases, in all hospitals during the planned strike action by Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the ‘Association of Allied Health Professionals’.

The association advised all Chief Medical Directors/Medical Directors to provide undiluted support to doctors to enable them effec-

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Enabulele tively provide quality uninterrupted healthcare services to Nigerians, by providing security, and ensuring access to hospital materials, equipments and other healthcare facilities in the hospitals.

“We assure all Nigerians that NMA shall continue to promote professionalism, patient-centred care and international best practices,” Enabulele said.

Enabulele said: “This highly commendable decision of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, and the distinguished members of the Federal Executive Council confirms the unequivocal position of the Nigerian Medical Association that the report was evidently premeditated, biased, unjust and extremely jaundiced with the unholy intent to serve some predetermined ends, particularly as it

threw caution to the wind and stood logic and international best practices in the health sector on their heads.

“NMA salutes the stoic courage of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, and members of the Federal Executive Council for refusing to be intimidated by the outright blackmail, falsehood, gangsterism and streetlike agitations of some support staff in the hospital who rather than face the reality of their roles in the health sector have decided to abandon their job descriptions and qualifications for an unnecessary equality beauty contest with medical doctors.”

The association commended and saluted Mr. President and the Federal Executive Council for this courageous resolution, which will help enthrone sanity and international best practices in Nigeria’s health sector. “We repeat that Nigeria cannot operate her health system in isolation from what is internationally accepted. For Nigeria’s health system to make progress all the stakeholders and health workers must accept to imbibe international best practices,” he said.

Enabulele, however, said as the Independent Committee is constituted the NMA calls for the selection of individuals with the required experience, knowledge, unquestionable character and integrity, and unbiased disposition.

“Now that the report of the Presidential Harmony Committee has been rejected, we advise all players in the health sector to give peace a chance and focus more on patient-centred care rather

than fissiparous tendencies and recurrent threats of strike action,” he said.

The NMA President said the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan,GCFR and the Federal Executive Council, has made it crystal clear to all

that no amount of blackmail, intimidation, falsehood and street-like agitation can sway Mr President, the Honourable Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, and members of the Federal Executive Council

from doing what is internationally acceptable in Nigeria’s health sector, especially being widely travelled intellectuals with innate abilities and ideological clarity to appreciate reality.

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Doctors take free medical services to Makoko, Lagos suburb

By Tony Nwanne a continued effort to bring ItheNgood healthcare services to door steps of Nigerian, the Nigeria Medical Association, (NMA) through her yearly medical mission, provided a twoday free medical screening for the residence of Makoko suburb in Lagos.

The two days screening, which took place at the Aiyetoro Healthcare Centre, on Monday and Tuesday, in Makoko, Yaba, Lagos, is a kickoff event ahead of NMA national conference which is coming up at a time when the association is undergoing a critical re-evaluation of its activities and embarking on reforms to place her in the pride of place to which she traditionally belongs in our country.

NMA, under the leadership of Dr. Osahon Enabulele and his National Officers Council has raised the flag in this direction, to making sure that Nigerians do feel the vacuum which the governments has left opened for its people.

While declaring the screening open on Monday, Enabulele noted that Nigeria is still lagging behind in, and indeed over 70 per cent of all the total healthcare expenditure in this country is borne by poor Nigerians, this is because they cannot trust governments anymore to give them the total

good healthcare services that is expected to be made available.

“Nigeria cannot even boast of 30 per cent of total health coverage from the government.

South Africa has at least 60 per cent of health coverage, Rwanda has 50 per cent, but our own government pays less attention to the people.

That is a serious indictment on our government, its shows that a lot still needs to be done because they need to empower the national insurance managers to make sure that they take good medical services to people in the rural areas in the country where people resides, to enable them drive forward good medical service in the country, which prompted this medical mission”, he said.

As an association, Enabulele noted that, this is the association’s own way of bridging the gap to make sure that people benefits from the society that has given a lot to the association.

According to him, “we will be giving them standard health care services that the government seldom provides to the general masses. And that is what we have planed to do as our own mission, even as Nigeria will be celebrating the centenary anniversary, instead of being flamboyant, we have decided to put together different efforts to eradicate some basic health challenges our

people are going through at the moment, with the supports from necessary sundries.

In the last eight months, through the health missions, NMA has covered more than 6,000 Nigerians, due to the poor state of health coverage of Nigeria, and the need to indulge Nigeria by preventing them from catastrophic health care expenditure, has been the aim of NMA since its inception, and focuses has been on the non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and general good healthy living.

“Today, each spending made

by Nigerians leaves a big hole in their pockets, and that is what I mean by catastrophic health expenditure.

We want a situation where Nigerians can get any health care services they want at any point in time”, he said.

The patients, ranging from infants, teenagers and adults were screened with diabetes, breast examination, hypertension, eye surgery and dentition.

Meanwhile, the Lagos chairman of NMA, Francis Faduyile, who play host to the mission commended the efforts of the association for deeming it fit to come to the aid of the people of Makoko, adding that this is what the government is supposed to be doing, but the association has taken it upon themselves to step into the govern-

ment shoe by providing good healthcare services for its people, not only in Lagos, but beyond the shores of the country at large.

According to Faduyile, “the medical mission is part of NMA Corporate Social Responsibility to making sure that people from the rural areas in different communities are given best of medical care mostly because of the concentration of people in the communities.

Overtime, the association has been to different communities outside Lagos to give out free medical services, which we are happy to embark on this kind of mission of giving back to the society”.

Faduyile further stated that for any emergency situation that erupts as a result of the screening, the association has already linked up with some hospitals around that will continue the medical works free of charge.

Applauding the initiative, the Yaba Local Community Development Chairman, Jide Jimoh, commended the efforts of the association for coming out en masse to support the Makoko community by giving them good quality health care services. He noted that this will indeed go a long way in making sure that people living in densely populated communities across the nation are appreciative of their efforts.

Nutrition can tackle lead poisoning, says don

By Yemi Ogunsola HE simple ingestion of calcium supplements directly or through the diet may drastically check lead poisoning ravaging some states in Nigeria, especially Zamfara.

This was the submission of a Professor of Environmental and Health Physics from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof. Joshua Ojo, at the 255th inaugural lecture of the institution recently.

According to Ojo, while soil remediation and chelation therapy (removal of lead from bloodstream) currently in use adequately tackles exogenous (from outside) lead poisoning, they fail to address the endogenous (from inside) exposures to lead. A better and far less costly method, he said, is to render lead in the human body.

This can be done, he said, by preventing the natural process, which releases lead stored in the bones into the bloodstream, as well as fortify the body against the toxic effects of lead by improving the nutritional status of people. This can be done, he said, with the intake of calcium pills or calcium-rich diet.

Prof. Ojo explained: “It is well known that the main storage sites for lead in the human body are in the bones, where lead can remain (safely) stored up for over 20 years. Such stored-up lead is released into the blood of women at certain critical periods, particularly during pregnancy and during breastfeeding. This happens because at these critical times, there is greater need for calcium in the woman’s body to meet the need of her rapidly growing baby.

“However, as this needed calcium is released from its storage sites in the bones, lead, which is also stored in these same sites… is also released into the

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blood stream…”

This process, he noted, rubbishes all the efforts to clean up the external environment of the woman via the very expensive soil remediation programme (costing, according to the Daily Trust of June 19, 2012, about N1 million per compound of mud houses).

Even chelation therapy for adult patients, he said, becomes questionable since more lead would simply be released from the bones to replace the lead removed from the blood via this medical procedure. Since such releases are pronounced only during pregnancy and lactation, Ojo argued, they have devastating impact on the babies who are either aborted at the foetal stage or are born with impaired mental faculties.

He therefore advocated that while soil remediation and chelation therapy might be applied in very bad cases, more efforts and resources should be directed towards preventing the release of bone lead into the blood via “nutrition therapy”, i.e. intake of calcium.

In a telephone chat with The Guardian, Ojo stressed that the calcium therapy holds great promise for children and women because children are more susceptible to lead poisoning due to their lower tolerance for the heavy metal.

According to the professor, lead stored in the bones of women will remain harmless there, but they become susceptible to poisoning when they become pregnant or lactate since both lead and calcium are now extracted from their bones.

Citing a study in Mexico City, Ojo said it was demonstrated that if adequate calcium is provided to pregnant and lactating women through their diets, the body will have no need to extract more calcium – and the associated lead – from the bones.

In the Mexico study, he said, the daily oral administration of calcium supplements to pregnant women resulted in up to a 31 per cent reduction in blood lead level. He showed further that preliminary results from his own studies suggest that combining selenium supplements with calcium might yield even better results.

He therefore urged government to facilitate local research into this alternative approach to tackling lead poisoning, not only in Zamfara but other parts of the country.

How wheatgrass can help cancer and other terminally ill patients

HAT is Wheatgrass? Simply W put wheatgrass is the slender leaf of the wheat plant. The young sprouts are cultivated for nutritive and health purposes and for these the wheatgrass is presented either as wheatgrass juice, tablets or chewed fresh and raw. Like any other plant the full benefits of wheatgrass are derivable from the raw plant.

Wheatgrass is said to contain 13 vitamins and all the 20 amino acids that the body needs, including the nine that are referred to as essential amino acids that cannot be produce in the body.

Wheatgrass is therefore a very important source of the essential amino acids. Also, as a green leaf, wheatgrass contains a lot of energy-rich chlorophyll and in particular, this is an easily digestible and usable chlorophyll. Also, wheatgrass that is planted in an organic soil is able to absorb 92 of the 102 minerals found in the soil. All these properties and contents of wheatgrass make it an important anticancer agent and a plant most suited for our wellbeing. Regular use of wheatgrass as a juice by a patient undergoing chemotherapy will help the patient to cope better with myelotoxicity.

Myelotoxicity is the destruction of the bone marrow by chemotherapy drugs with the result that the immunity becomes compromised. The capacity of the blood for oxygen carrying becomes reduced and the white blood cells decrease affecting the immune system severely.

In research findings involving 60 breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment in 2007 and published in the Nutrition and Cancer Journal, it was discovered that patients receiving daily serving of wheatgrass juice during the first three cycles of chemotherapy experienced a significantly low level of myelotoxicity. Their requirement for drugs to help increase white blood cell production was very low. Also, researchers working in India found that there is significant improvement in the level of protein and albumin among those that consume wheatgrass juice and there was

Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Gana Muhammad; Minister of State for Health and Chairman Presidential Taskforce on Polio Eradication, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate; Director General World Health Organization (WHO), Margret Chan; and Technical Assistant to Minister of State for Health, Dr. Faisal Shuaibu, at the International Vaccine Summit held last week in Abu- Dhabi, United Arab Emirate (UAE).

an overall improvement in patients’ wellbeing.

Because of the chlorophyll in wheatgrass the oxygen capacity is highly increased. This means that a lot more oxygen and nutrients get to reach the cells and tissues; a condition that is most unfavorable to cancer cells.

Other benefits of wheatgrass are: • wheatgrass has antibacterial properties making it both an internal and external cleanser; • it is a liver cleanser; • it cleanses the colon when it is held in the colon as an implant for about 20 minutes; • wheat grass rebuilds and balances the blood stream correcting anaemia in the process; • it stabilises the pH of the body through the alkaline minerals dissolved in the blood; • it improves and restores fertility in animals and humans; • wheatgrass improves general wellbeing of patients with chronic conditions; and, • it is a better detoxifier than carrots. It is said that 15 pounds of wheatgrass is equivalent to 350 pounds of carrots, lettuce and celery.

A summary of the antiseptic properties of wheatgrass include the following; clearing up the foul smelling odour from the mouth, neutralising streptococcus infection, clears up inner ear infection and cures chronic sinusitis. Wheatgrass also heals wounds, clears scars and acne, reduce varicose veins, cures typhoid fever.

Furthermore, wheatgrass causes vasodilatation and blood pressure reduction. It is also effective for correcting blood disorders.

Wheatgrass neutralises toxins in the body and chelates heavy metals.

From the foregoing we can see that chlorophyll (wheatgrass) is one of those natural substances along with all the minerals and vitamins (antioxidants) that can be used to combat the harmful effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In actual fact there are centers in Germany, Spain and America where such natural products are being used to compliment these orthodox practices and a lot of people including Nigerians are the better for it.

Treatment of cancer has reached a stage where death may no longer be an option. It is therefore most disheartening that we are still losing our mothers, sisters, daughters etc to breast cancer and our men to other cancers. The way I see it, whatever will be beneficial to the patient, he or she should have. If the patient will defeat cancer with both chemotherapy, radiotherapy and alternative medicine, so be it.

The truth is that in combining these two forms of treatment the patient will do well, having a lower dose of chemotherapy with little or no side effect. This is the practice in certain clinics in those countries abroad and I think our people must begin to experience this breakthrough also. Next week we shall look at Water Cress - a powerful anticancer and antihypertensive plant, a weed, that may have been growing wild all these years in your back yard.

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Education

Tenebe

When the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) took off for the second time in 2001, many people did not give it a chance. But it forged ahead with determination, nevertheless. Its pioneer Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede had to contend with many challenges and the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Tenebe, who took over from him, has taken the institution to a higher ground.

Tenebe told ROTIMI LAWRENCE OYEKANMI that NOUN’s path to greatness is assured. Excerpts: IGERIA is hosting this year’s Pan N Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF7), being organized by the Commonwealth of Learning. How far has the National Open University, which has the responsibility of putting the structures in place, gone with the preparations?

The seventh Pan Commonwealth Forum (PCF7) is being hosted by Nigeria. The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is just the lead institution co-hosting, but the major host is the Federal Ministry of Education. Being the lead institution, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is based here and is being chaired by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics. We have members from all other sister institutions, especially tertiary institutions that have anything to do with Distance and Open Learning.

Already, abstracts are being harvested online.

In terms of preparation for accommodation, the conference would be taking place in Abuja and we have already gone round to identify the hotels that are appropriate to accommodate our international partners as well as other people who are coming from all parts of the world. Of course, you know that in Abuja, being the fastest growing city in Africa and a model one for that matter, we have all sorts of hotels that would meet the requirements of our international partners and friends from all over the world.

The story of NOUN is a sweet/bitter one. You have been on the hot seat and you have also witnessed so many phases. How far has the institution gone?

Yes, the story of NOUN is a bitter/sweet one, but it has also been very interesting. It’s been challenging because Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is relatively new in this part of the world. It is interesting because it gives us the opportunity to enlighten people who, hitherto, did not know

NOUN will have 1.5 million students in five years, says Tenebe anything about open and distance learning.

The most interesting part is that by the time you expose people to ODL, they would discover the pleasure in it. They would discover the advantage in it. They would discover that it has a lot of characteristics that differentiate it from the conventional system. They would then find that the ODL is a system that makes education absorbable and easy within the system because it gives you all the liberty. It democratizes education, without putting you through stress while, at the same time, it is not undermining quality.

How has NOUN coped with the challenge of providing instructional materials and other online resources?

I always say that nothing good comes easy.

Instructional materials in ODL are an important area that you do not joke with and also an area that you cannot approach with haste. The instructional materials are not just study materials. They also represent the teacher or lecturer, who is not standing in front of the students, so you have to go through all the steps and procedures required to make sure you bring out the best of materials that would meet the needs of the students in the absence of the lecturer.

So, it is not a one man’s job. There is a team. Every single material that is written goes through a team. The writer is different from the subject editor and the subject editor is different from the print editor. After going through all these, sometimes, after the writer had finished and the professional who is the subject editor goes through the work, he could conclude that the material is too watery. In that case, we have to step the material down and start all over again.

Sometimes, the minimum time you spend to develop a course material, even for a one credit unit course, may be about three months, that is, all the processes of writing, giving all the examples, instructional designers and so forth. With all these requirements, I will always let Nigerians

know that, when this university started, we did not have a single course material. But we were under the presidential direction to start and we couldn’t have refused.

It was when we started that we commenced the development of course materials and that is why we have always been accused. We didn’t want to go into the world and copy other people’s materials or plagiarise. So we had to assemble a team and gradually, to the glory of God, we have gotten most of the materials written. I can assure you that more than 95 per cent of the courses that are offered in this university, the materials have been developed.

The only challenge we have right now is that we are yet to print some of them. And the reason why we have not printed some of them is because we have not finished with the final editorial requirements of dotting the Is and crossing the Ts, to ensure that we remove all the typographical errors and other minor grammatical errors.

But because our students cannot wait and we also cannot wait, we had to put everything on the web and that is why students can download course materials online. And because of that, our materials have become open to the whole world.

Everybody now downloads our materials, including the conventional universities. They don’t pay, they just access the Internet and they are able to download the materials free of charge.

Due to the complaints of most of our students, that since they have already paid for the course materials, why did they now have to download from the internet; we have come up with another solution, by not only putting the materials on the web, we have also downloaded the materials ourselves and put them on Compact Disks.

So, when our students register and they indicate the subjects they are taking in a particular semester, for example, if a student has about eight courses to offer in a semester and he has about three or four of those courses available in print

materials, we still give a CD that contains all the courses as written in the electronic form.

You might have some courses in print form, while those you don’t have, you can slot in your CD into your system and you can read or print.

That is an intervention that we have now done. It would reduce the problem that students go through when they need to download from the Internet because sometimes, the system could be slow and sometimes there could be no network. It would also help our students who are in the rural areas, who might not have access to the Internet.

What is the cost of taking a course at NOUN to an average student? For instance, how much will it cost a student to study Accounting?

Since we are flexible, it depends on the number of courses that the student might eventually take.

There is a minimum requirement, but there is no restriction to the other courses that you can take or borrow as your wish.

As a federal university, we do not charge tuition fee here. All the charges we give the students are what they have to pay for the course materials, which are also highly subsidized. But they also pay minimally for examination, identity cards and so on.

For an average student, the requirement for a semester would be about N35, 000 for course materials, with other things inclusive. But there are some students who pay up to N50, 000 to N52,000, depending on the courses they are taking or the requirements. If they have deficiencies in some areas, the department may recommend some extra courses and you have to pay for those materials.

Has NOUN fulfilled its promise of opening up access? What is the population of your students now? What does the future hold?

The future is very bright. We have come out of the blues. The only challenge we have is to ensure that we get the facilities to meet up with the upsurge in the number of students. When I took over this office, the student population of about 32,000 dropped to about 16,000, which is 50 per cent, because of the problems we were having.

Sixteen thousand students in this whole country?

And this was partly due to some people, who were saying NOUN is not a recognized university; that its courses were not accredited and that some things were illegal, including a whole range of issues. And again, our inability to produce course materials, because we didn’t even have the resources and enough time to do it, contributed, so the number of our students dropped.

However, when we faced these problems without hiding any facts from anybody and the general public now realized that we were working positively, we had a rise again.

Last semester, 76,000 students wrote examinations across the country. And one thing people don’t realize is that the Open University is so flexible and accessible that we are running two semesters at any time. Nigerians are yet to get used to this. Every semester that commences is the first and second semesters. We have fresh students now, who are being admitted for the programmes and there are also students who just finished their first semester of that same course, and are registering for their second semester now. No university does that.

We just closed registration for both new and returning students and students are still asking for extension. We have 36,000 new students who have registered and paid. By the time you add the 36,000 to the 76,000 who wrote examinations last semester, you will have over 100,000 and these are just the active students.

If I give you the total roll call of both active and inactive students, then we are already clocking about 180,000 mark. But I am not satisfied because I promised that before the end of my tenure, in another two and half years, this university should be talking of a student population of over 500,000 students. My dream is that, in the next five years, whether I am here or not, this university should be talking about 1.5 million students. That is how it should be. If India could have 3.8 million students, then we want Open University in Nigeria to have at least 1.5 million students.

The other thing we need to explain to Nigerians is that this university, unlike the conventional universities, is not just meant to admit students for first degrees or PhDs. We also have the Centre for Lifelong Learning, where we give out skill acquisition. In fact, that is where we should have more students, to enable people set out on their own and it is an indirect way of creating jobs.

That is why I am calling out to our good President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, to look towards us more if he wants to actualize his promise of creating more jobs for Nigerians. He should focus more on Open University, because this is the only university that can be utilized to create jobs for our restless youths. This is the only university that is available in all the 36 states.

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Lagos Assembly seeks education sector review

By Wole Oyebade MARTING from the fallout SUnified of the last Saturday’s Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday adopted a motion for the review of the educational sector in Nigeria.

The lawmakers, in the motion, called on the Federal Government, Federal and States’ Ministries of education and other stakeholders to critically appraise the education system, with a view to improving it to accommodate vocational and skills acquisition.

Moving the motion on the floor of the Assembly yesterday, Chief Whip of the House, Rasak Balogun called attention of the House to a report in the media that about 500,000 candidates of 1.7 million that sat for the UTME could only be admitted into tertiary institutions.

Balogun, representing Surulere II, said it was regrettable that the Nigerian education system had started exploiting the young ones and its examination, a lottery.

Balogun informed the lawmakers that none of the applicants had enrolled for the examination free of charge, coupled with enormous stress candidates went

through to register and sit for the examination. “So, why did the Ministry of Education allowed Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to take so many applicants when it is clear that vacancies are so limited?

Continuing he said: “It is in this same country that is supposed to be making progress that the Federal Government announced the creation of more Universities when exist-

ing ones have not been well funded to near international standard. We have graduates that cannot compete with their mates around the world.

We must really begin to de emphasize prominence placed on university certificate in this country. I think it is time members of this House rise up and speak against these unfortunate trends,” he said.

Balogun added that the issue

must be taken seriously by the Federal and State governments because most of the vices in the society today were as a result of youths that could not get into school to learn or could not get employment after graduation.

Supporting the motion, Omowunmi Olatunji-Edet said the Ministry of Education owe the country an apology for “deceiving Nigerians.”

In similar vein, Rotimi Olowo, Shomolu I representative added his voice as he called for the declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector.

According to Olowo: “The education sector is distressed and that is why we have our people going to Universities to read courses like Philosophy, Political Science, Yoruba, Igbo language and others that have no relevance

to social, political and economic life! We need more of vocational and technical educations,” he said.

Deputy Majority Leader, Lola Akande, though disagreed that some courses are useless, she called for a review of school curriculum and better funding for education sector.

The plenary, presided over by Deputy Speaker, Taiwo Kolawole, put voice to vote to adopt the motion.

Women group advocates special education for autistic children

By Wole Oyebade WOMEN group in the A country, WOW DIVAS, has advocated for special education and supportive policies to improve the plight of about a million children living with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Nigeria.

The group, at their third Autism Seminar held in Lagos recently, said special education system was important to develop the “exceptional learners” into normal adults.

WOW DIVAS was worried that while very few primary schools in the country accommodate children with ASDs, there are no secondary schools or University that is

equipped to cater for special needs.

According to them: “WOW DIVAS believe that persons with ASDs are in the same category with genius. In fact, a person with ASD is on the flip side of genius, which means they have their own unique abilities that must be nurtured in order for them to be the best they can be. There are multiple abilities in ASD,” they said.

Among those that made this call at the interactive forum are Paediatrician, Dr Abiodun Eke-Aluko; Director Autism Associates, Okey Nwokolo; Special Education Practitioner, Lola Aneke; Chief Executive Officer, WOW

DIVAS, Udo Maryanne Okonjo; Advocates of Children with Autism, Kerry Brooks, Ifeyinwa Osime, Ifueko Karibi-Whyte among others.

Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. The United States (U.S.) embassy in Nigeria estimates that one in every 50 young person in Nigeria has some form of ASD. Speaking on ‘Effective educational services for children with special needs (ASD),’ Aneke noted that contemporary research and technology

has led to great achievements in the delivery of effective education to children with autism.

She, however, added that in Nigeria, among other developing countries, children with special needs still have little or no access to special education and related services.

Meanwhile, in countries like the United States, where educational system is properly designed to cater for persons with special needs, the methods of instruction are specialized to include special materials, teaching techniques, equipment and facilities.

Aneke noted that related services are essential to this process, and these services include special transportation, speech-language pathology; audiological services; interpreting services; psychological services; physical and occupational therapy among others.

“Indeed, for a child with special needs such as ASD, special educators are trained to offer not just effective instruction, but instruction that is highly individualized, intensive, relentless, urgent and goal directed.

“The special educator would have to work as part of a team consisting of the individual, the parents and other support staff. Thus, the goal of educating a child with special needs can only be reached through the application of these special education and related services using research-based practices,” she said.

Another speaker, Nwokolo, added that special education and services for children with autism was one of the objectives in the Autism bill currently before the Federal House of Representatives. The bill is seeking to establish a national centre for diagnosis, management and welfare of people with autism.

Nwokolo added that it was important for the executive arm of the government to inaugurate committee that will design policies in key areas and to standardize the care and management of ASD. Co-coordinator of WOW DIVAS Autism Initiative, Karibi-Whyte, said further that the lawmakers in Nigeria should be aware that parents of special needs children, unlike the norm in many parts of the world, still get no subsidies or pay outs from government.

Continuing, she said: “Caring for a child with ASD is extremely expensive and can be a life time of continuous expenses for medicals and education. If the Nigerian government cannot subsidise these costs today; we humbly request that our lawmakers sponsor a bill that will exempt parents of special needs children from paying taxes. The savings from taxes will go a long way in accommodating the expenses of a child with ASD,” she said.

WOW DIVAS is a network of purposeful, professional and businesswomen whose vision is to encourage, inspire and actively promote strong women, through finding their place and purpose in life.

Ogun takes malaria campaign to schools AMPAIGN effort towards C mapping out malaria in Ogun state has been taken to the public and private schools in Abeokuta, the State capital, as part of activities marking this year World Malaria Day. Speaking at the programme organised by the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with a pharmaceutical company, Sanufi, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, said efficient healthcare delivery is part of the five points cardinal programme of the state government, pointing out that the focus was especially for mothers and children.

“Mothers and Children are the agent for health transformation and we are using children as our change agent for better health”, he stated.

Represented by his Special Assistant, Dr. Sade Adebanjo, the Commissioner said it was important for parents to

ensure strict adherence to maintaining clean environment urging them to keep their wards away from unhygienic and unhealthy habitat.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr. Olaoluwa Lawson, advised the public to always take cognizance of clearing their surrounding, avoid stagnant water and use insecticide treated mosquito net.

In his remark, the Project Manager of Sanufi, Mrs. Taiwo Aderinsola described malaria as a disease that need the attention of government and relevant stakeholders saying that, “We believe children are the future, by the time we inculcate this attitude in them and they grow up with it, I believe they will be able to communicate with their parent on how malaria can be prevented.”

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LearnAfrica restates commitment to promote Nigerian books EARNAFRICA Nigeria Plc, formerly known as Longman Nigeria Plc, has restated its commitment to continue to celebrate indigenous authors and their works at home and abroad.

At the just concluded London Book Fair, where the company was the only Nigerian publishing outfit that hoisted the country’s flag at the global event, the books exhibited include: Dayo Oladele-Ilori’s Cruel Passion; Wale Okediran’s After the Flood; Vincent Chukwuemeka Ike’s Conspiracy of Silence; Femi Osofisan’s Twingle Twangle; Dibia Humphrey’s A Drop of Mercy; Uche Bialonwu’s The Long Claws of Fate; Iheanyichukwu Duruoha’s Eaters of Dust, Ifeoma Okoye’s Chimere, Grace Akpan’s Spider Web, Bayo Williams’ The Year of the Locusts and Emeka Nwabueze’s Guardian of the Cosmos, among others.

According to Mr. Allwell

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Nwankwo, the Head of Marketing of the company, the fair is a global marketplace for rights negotiation, sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels.

According to him, the fair attracted more than 1,500 exhibitors from 113 countries and over 25,000 participants, Nwankwo said: “We were there to show the world, once again, the quality of content from Nigeria, especially in creative writing. That’s indeed the least we can do for a country that has produced iconic writers that are respected all over the world.

We have a rich history of producing world class works and we should continue to make them available at global publishing forums like the London Book Fair, in addition to other channels we currently use. We appreciate the great enthusiasm visitors to our stand have shown.”

Don stresses importance of adult education

By Isaac Taiwo HE Vice-Chancellor, T University of Lagos, Prof.

Rahamon Bello has encouraged as many adults as would want to benefit from adult education, to seize the opportunity, adding that education is a continuous thing and that there is no age limit to learning.

Presiding over the 5th inaugural lecture delivered at the University’s hall by Professor Oluwayemisi Ayedun Obashoro-John of the department of Adult Education on the topic “Programme Evaluation: Back to the Future”, Bello who commended the efforts of ObashoroJohn on the lecture which he described as a well-researched work, posited that the world is now a global village and anyone who disdains education or learning would not be able to follow the trend of increasing technology.

“Anyone without prejudice to age who refuses to identify

Osun launches Opon Imo computer tablet May 9 HE Osun state governT ment will on May 9, formally launch the distribu-

tion of customized computer tablets tagged, “OponImo” (Tablet of Knowledge) to students in the S.S.1 to S.S.3 classes, in the state’s public secondary schools.

Built to improve learning and prepare students for external and internal examinations, each tablets is designed in the form of an iPad and would be distributed free-of-charge.

The state’s Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, who also oversees the education portfolio, noted that the tablets “are installed with the software of all the subjects being offered in secondary schools; incorporating different text books, lesson notes, past questions and answers on the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE); the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) being conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO), as well as the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).”

with the present dispensation of daily innovation in technology through continuous learning will apparently be living in the past.

“There is no age limit to learning and reading and that is why I commend Prof. Ayedun Obashoro-John for her effort in throwing light into what adult education means and ensuring every aspect of what is known as adult education is covered. The strength of any nation is education and a nation that stops learning would definitely stop growing”

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen kill WAEC officials, policeman From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri RAGEDY struck in Maiduguri, Bornu State at the weekend, when gunmen suspected of members of Boko Haram sect ambushed the official Hilux pick up van conveying two officials of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) a policeman and candidates’ examination scripts from Biu to the Maiduguri office of the examination body and shot dead Mr Peter Boni and the policeman attached to the vehicle.

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the gunmen targeted the WAEC officials, before snatching the vehicle that contained all the examinations scripts. He said: “I was overlooking how the gunmen stopped the driver of the vehicle and fired several gunshots into the heads and chests of the policeman, and two WAEC officials sitting in the front. We had to run into the bush when the gunmen started firing at the officials, conveying examination scripts of students in Biu town. The soldiers rushed to Dalawa, the scene of the attack and killing, 30 minutes after the victims were killed.”

The gunmen, according to him, fled towards Bulabulin Ngaura on the Maiduguri-Biu road with the snatched Hilux van, and dumped one of the bodies there, before the soldiers picked remains to the hospital mortuary for deposition and identification.

An anonymous official of WAEC in Maiduguri told The Guardian that the trio including the driver, departed Biu at 3pm last Friday, “but tragedy struck our officials who were on active duty, as they were assassinated in cold blood along with a

policeman who was to give protection to both the examination scripts and lives in the vehicle.”

It was also learnt that the bodies of the two officials and a policeman, were deposited at the Specialist’s Hospital, Maiduguri for identification and collection by family members of the deceased.

Speaking on the incident Sunday, the Borno State Police Command spokesman, Gideon Jibrin said there was an attack near Molai, where two officials of WAEC and a policeman were feared killed by suspected armed hoodlums.

Old students meet, pledge better deal for Lagos school

By Felix Kuye BOUT 29 years after losing contact, following completion of their secondary school education, old students of Iponri Grammar School, Lagos regrouped at the weekend to launch an alumni association and hold their inaugural meeting with a view to taking their alma mater to greater heights.

It was an opportunity to reenact the joy of old as the old students, some of whom came from outside the country to attend the event, hugged each other, exchanged banters and danced enthusiastically together.

In his address, the Administrative Secretary of the Iponri Grammar School Old Students Association (IGSOSASS) Class of 1983/84, Oladepo Kehinde hailed all his colleagues, home and abroad who

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worked for the convening of the meeting and sympathized with the families of those who had lost their lives since they parted.

He urged the old students to brace for the task of assisting the school to attain greater heights.

The current Principal, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, and his vice, Mr. Olayiwola Kamarudeen, who were full of joy, seized the opportunity to brief the old students on the major developments in the school since they passed out.

Kehinde and Mr. Taiwo Olasupo, who came from the United States to attend the meeting, said the old students are set to give back to their alma mater.

They spoke of equipping the school’s new hall with chairs, decorate the stage, and possibly provide air conditioners to make it attractive to event planners who will higher it for use, towards generating funds for

the college.

The first Senior Girl of the school, Oshodi Olubunmi Omolara, and a member of the event’s planning committee, Mr. Mobolaji Claudius Olumuyiwa urged their col-

leagues who are yet to team up with the old students, for one reason or the other, to do so in the interest of development of their alma mater and the gains which such association holds for the individuals.

University teacher identifies weakest link in education HE gap that has persisted T between those that formulate education policies and those that make budgetary provisions for the sector has been identified as the main problem confronting education in recent times not only in Nigeria, but in Africa as a whole.

Speaking at the Seminar Series organized by the Faculty of Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria on Tuesday, the Guest Lecturer , Professor K. Venkateswarlu who spoke on

the topic: Trends and Concerns of Planning for Affordable and Sustainable Education, said the main purpose of the education in the years past was primarily to achieve broad but laudable goals and that whatever the goals there were , did depend on the means and that there were plans to achieve them.

He added that because of the rising costs involved in the sector, governments became involved in planning, and subsequently took over the control of education on the continent.

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Opinion Chinua Achebe: A personal tribute (2)

By Edwin Madunagu ALKING about the attribute they call realism T reminds me of one of the battles Leon Trotsky had to fight to save his revolutionary career, reputation, legacy and ultimately his life after the Russian revolution. That Trotsky was not “proletarian” enough, in both his political writings and his literary theory and criticism became one of the ancillary charges that were heaped on him by forces and individuals that are now correctly described as “barracks socialists”, those who see revolution, socialism and social transformation generally like the enforcement of decrees. If what I have said so far does not refer to what is actually meant by realism then forget the term and retain what I have said.

I used to be embarrassed whenever a work of art was dismissed on the grounds, and only on the grounds, that it was not “proletarian” or not “proletarian” enough; and conversely. I do not intend to pursue this matter beyond this point – except to say this: Any Nigerian, or indeed, African, revolutionary who intends to use literature in his or her campaign and comes across Chinua Achebe’s fictions but cannot see them as powerful weapons needs a fundamental self-examination.

Let me illustrate: I have read the following story in at least one of Chinua Achebe’s collections of essays: A snake, riding a horse along an almost deserted road, passed a tortoise who was resting by the roadside. The tortoise laughed so loudly that the snake stopped. The tortoise went up to the snake and saluted. The snake asked why the tortoise was laughing and the tortoise replied: “Mr. Snake, that is not how to ride a horse, rolling into where you should put one of your feet! The snake quietly crawled down the horse, on to the road. “Mr. Tortoise, please show me how to ride”, the snake requested his tormentor. The tortoise quickly jumped on the horse, balanced himself property – the “normal” way – and rode down the road.

The tortoise soon returned. “Thank you very much, Mr. Tortoise. You may now come down”, said the snake to the tortoise. The tortoise jumped down from the horse and the snake crawled up into the place he usually positioned himself on the horse. As the snake was

about to ride off he said to the tortoise: “Thank you again, Mr. Tortoise, thank you for teaching me how to ride a horse. But it is better to have than to know”. This, as I said earlier, is a story I use in my ideological discussion with young people here. I use the story in preference to hundred of “proletarian” stories within my easy reach.

In a communication shortly after the death of Chinua Achebe, a veteran socialist intellectual and activist regretted that Nigerian socialists have not been able to fully recognize and utilize the works of progressive humanist writers like Achebe. He confirmed that Achebe was the post-war convener of the Nsukka branch of the Movement for People’s Democracy (MPD). He said of Achebe: “Achebe impressed me as an urbane craftsman with quiet charms and full of courtesies. As general secretary of MPD I found Achebe a good listener, full of commitment... displaying in praxis his perception of reality..”

I said earlier that when reading Chinua Achebe’s non-fictional works I sometimes frown – mildly or deeply, briefly or for quite some time, all depending on the seriousness of my displeasure or disagreement. But, as I also added, I quickly recover and continue with my reading. The areas of displeasure, as I also said are two: ideology as it relates to political economy, classes and class struggles and the national question. These two areas are fully supplied in two of his non-fictional books that I have read and re-read very closely: The problem with Nigeria (1983) and There was a country: A personal history of Biafra (2012).

What I have said about Achebe’s works in general can also be said about these two books in particular: I enjoy reading them. Beyond this subjective and unquantifiable statement and beyond my strong displeasure with areas I have identified, the two books are sources of knowledge for what I had not known or had not thought about; they offer a confirmation, just one, but important confirmation, for what I had known but needed confirmations and elaborations; and they provide counter-propositions: powerful, articulate, lucid and enlightened counter –propositions, right or wrong.

The claim can be made that The problems with Nigeria is popular in Nigeria; the central thesis there, or one of the central theses, namely, that

the main problem with Nigeria is that of leadership, also enjoys wide acceptance among the political class in particular. But I reject that thesis. The problem with Nigeria, the Nigeria I have known since I became politically conscious, is capitalism – capitalism in its various historical phases and forms and through various maladies it develops as it continues on its dehumanizing and destructive trajectory. My thesis is this: Ultimately, for individual nations and for humanity as a whole, the singular question of survival will be: How do we put an end to this mode of production and, with it, this social formation, that put the accumulation of profits into private pockets ahead, much ahead, of human life and the fate of humanity?

Chinua Achebe’s last book has so far been controversial and has therefore received mixed reactions. That is inevitable. The subject-matter and the content, the title of the book and the stature of the author all combine to make the book inevitably controversial. I frown from time to time when reading There was a country not because it contains falsehoods (I have so far discovered none) but because of its omissions, the failure of the dialectic “when one thing stands another thing stands beside it”; using Biafra and Igbo almost interchangeably as if they are the same; inadequate treatment of Biafra’s ethnic minorities; and, above all, almost total absence of the class and mode of production perspectives.

These four “weaknesses” are, for me, inseparable. For this reason, any critique of the book that separates them or omits any of them will suffer more “weaknesses” than the original book. Conversely, a revision of this book that honestly tries to correct these “weaknesses” would produce a wonder: the controversies would no longer have any bases; but the main theses and propositions would still stand.

Concluding testimony before the court of history: My love of history emanated, I believe, from my love of stories generally. Later, my revolutionary consciousness made it increasingly imperative for me to be a student of history. The history of the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) has been a particular subject of my studies since that war ended. In the course of these years, I have read many accounts, listened to many debates and disputations, visited many places connected with the more frightening reports

of atrocities, ferocious battles, heroism, military feats and sheer human tragedies. I have conducted many interviews and crosschecked many charges. The least I can say in relation to the frightening events reported by Chinua Achebe in his There was a country is that far from writing a fiction, Achebe was actually restrained in the way he reported on these events. My reservation is over what he omitted rather than what he included.

I wish to bring this personal tribute to a close by offering two references for further reflection. Both of them are from Professor Biodun Jeyifo. First, check Jeyifo’s 2008 keynote address at an international conference marking the 50th anniversary of the appearance of Things fall apart. The conference was held at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), IleIfe. That address is one of the two essays that make up his book Things fall apart, Things fall together (Bookcraft, Ibadan, 2010). For the second reference, see Biodun Jeyifo’s five-part review of There was a country in The Guardian under the title First, there was a country; then there wasn’t: Reflections on Achebe’s new book (December 3 and 30; 2012; January 6, 13 and 20, 2013).

Chinua Achebe was a prominent, respected and famous Nigerian before the Civil War; he was a prominent, respected and famous Biafran during the Civil War; and he became, once again, a prominent, respected and famous Nigerian after the Civil War. Only few people whose lives had traced this particular trajectory had managed to live through it with the degree of dignity and humility commanded by, or associated with, Achebe.

Chinua Achebe’s life has again demonstrated the limitlessness of the human spirit: the wish, will and ability to continue to live in the face of serious personal adversities; not to live and nurse one’s adversity, but to live to continue to work for humanity with the skill and weapon that one still has. Thinking of this aspect of Achebe who died on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at the age of 82, conjures the image of Antonio Gramsci, a genius of Marxist thought, one in the long list of martyrs of the socialist struggle.

• Concluded • This column is proceeding on break for the next two Thursdays.

Who guards the guardians?

By Anthony Okogie HROUGH the many, sometimes obfuscating arguments T for the offer of amnesty to the Boko Haram sect, we wake to learn that our security agencies are themselves under attack by this group and so far are unable to definitively stem the tide in their favour. The killing of six police officers and the abduction of the Divisional Police Officer in Borno and Yobe states in broad daylight is a recent case in hand. This current attack and abduction may pale when compared to the attack of the same terrorist group on the police headquarters itself in Abuja in June 2011 and the military base in Kaduna. Still, it begs the question, that if our guardians cannot guard themselves, how can they guard us? If the military and police are so challenged thus far in the fight against this terrorist, it becomes less difficult to see what little hope there is for the ordinary Nigerian in the crossfire? Is there

When would we learn? Are we ready to learn? Or could it just be the case that we are all part of an elaborately orchestrated contrivance of statecraft, wherein this “Terrorist Act” is merely a sub-plot to ensure that resources are disbursed and disappear in what has been the most endemic problem of Nigeria; corruption?

Small wonder an amnesty “package” was being considered for a faceless and numberless group.

light at the end of this tunnel or are we facing a dark tunnel and the end of the light?

It is most disturbing and indeed worrisome that such incidents as this, even and especially when there have been clear and embarrassing precedence, should be allowed to reoccur.

Has nothing been learnt from our past alliances with this group. Is nothing being learnt from the experiences of nations around us who face similar challenges? In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing, was nothing learnt from the way the security agencies systematically locked down the State and hunted down the terrorist until found? Is Borno or Yobe State bigger than the State of Boston? Are they more sophisticated in infrastructure and town planning than Boston? Or are our security agencies not sufficiently trained to think out, strategize and implement effective responses to this style of threat? If so, what are they being taught in their respective colleges of training? How are all the monies allocated yearly for security spent? Are our security agents actually prepared for this fight or are they unwitting pawns in the chess game of political gladiators? Are they being deliberately deprived of funds, training and information needed to deal decisively with this issue? How sincere is the Nigerian government in taking up this fight? Apart from the statistics of deaths and damages caused by this group, why are other newsreels of the culprits and others implicated to be associated with them not kept on the front burner on a daily basis but hushed up after some initial sensationalism?

Why are Nigerians not kept abreast of the fruits of the interrogation of suspects? Why is there silence over the big names that were mentioned with the capture of Sokoto Biu, mas-

termind of the Madalla Christmas bombings? Is this silence in hope of wishing the problem away or an attempted cover up for the creation of a Frankenstein that can no longer be controlled? If after every attack, these terrorists melt back into the community they continue to terrorise, how is it that the community members themselves do not turn them in (as was the case in the Boston bomber captured alive)? Is it the case that the people themselves perceive that our security agencies have been subverted or compromised and so would rather take their chances with fate? Does the killing of 185 people, mostly women and children in Baga, Borno State by security forces, in retaliation for a Boko Haram strike, justify security forces’ determination in the fight against Boko Haram? Does such an act not only further alienate the cooperation of the people they should be protecting, but also creates a sympathy base for a group whose sole aim appears to be anarchy?

When would we learn? Are we ready to learn? Or could it just be the case that we are all part of an elaborately orchestrated contrivance of statecraft, wherein this “Terrorist Act” is merely a sub-plot to ensure that resources are disbursed and disappear in what has been the most endemic problem of Nigeria; corruption? Small wonder an amnesty “package” was being considered for a faceless and numberless group.

In all of these ruminations, my heart goes out to all the security agents whose lives have been forfeited in our ill-prosecuted fight against terrorism in Nigeria. For it was my thought for them that birthed these other thoughts, hence I conclude as I started, “who guards the guardians?”

• Cardinal Okogie is Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

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Opinion Unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential

By Sola David-Borha HE Nigerian economy has continued to exT pand rapidly over the past decade, outperforming most sub-Saharan Africa peers, the majority of emerging markets and the developed world. This positive performance, coupled with the size of the Nigerian market, makes the country an investment destination that simply cannot be ignored internationally anymore.

Even so, the full economic potential of Nigeria has yet to be unlocked – a key challenge to be addressed in the coming years. What remains critical is our ability to transform elevated growth rates into sustainable economic development via the implementation of core structural reforms – particularly reforms that involve coordinated interventions in the real sector as well as the nation’s financial system.

In terms of real sector reforms, the StanbicIBTC Group supports the Federal Government’s ongoing privatization of the power sector, the introduction of a more comprehensive regulatory framework for the petroleum industry, the emphasis on recent reforms to rebuild and enhance agriculture value chains, as well as the creation of a framework for public-private-partnerships to attract private capital into infrastructure development projects.

Recent fiscal and financial sector interventions have paved the way for such wide-ranging structural reforms. A fundamental aspect of the recent fiscal reforms is the launch of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, which is designed to accumulate fiscal savings and smooth government spending over long-term oil boom and bust cycles by decoupling spending revenues from expenditure.

In terms of financial sector reforms, building a modern and more forward-looking banking system remains an important policy priority given the large funding needs of the Nigerian economy, not only in the infrastructure space, but also at the SME and retail levels. There is a strong consensus on the vital role that banks and other financial institutions play in stimulating overall economic development, especially given the critical financial intermediation responsibility of this sector.

The banking and financial services industry has over the last decade been involved in its own elaborate policy reforms process from the previous banking consolidation initiative to the

recent repeal of the universal banking model.

From 89 a few years ago, the number of Nigeria’s banks was initially reduced to 25 and later 20, creating institutions that were far better primed to funding major capital-intensive projects, especially in such areas as infrastructure as well as oil and gas. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), bank branches also grew from 3,247 in 2003 to over 5,837 in 2010 in addition to considerable growth in virtual banking outlets, including ATMs and Internet banking, helping to gradually enhance financial inclusion by expanding access to banking facilities across the country.

To further drive financial inclusion, a mobile money regime has since commenced. By making banking less bureaucratic, yet more accessible and convenient, mobile money seeks to bring millions of previously unbanked Nigerians under the formal banking umbrella. For instance, entry requirements are far less onerous than for opening new accounts. Furthermore, the pervasiveness of the mobile money agent network, that includes neighbourhood retailers among others, implies that millions of hitherto unbanked are being systematically availed a compelling reason to join the formal financial sector.

Policy reforms in the banking and financial services sector have entailed greater focus and attention to such vital areas as corporate governance, data quality and risk management. As in many other emerging markets, these reforms followed a period of distress in the domestic banking system following the margin-lending crisis in 2009 and the empirical realization that financial supervision is key to preventing systemic shocks. Rebuilding a strong financial system following the meltdown experienced four years ago was also supported by the launch of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), in late 2010 and its subsequent intervention to acquire the banks’ non-performing loans and clean up their balance sheets.

AMCON’s interventions through the acquisition of N4.2 trillion worth of bad loans between 31 December 2010 and 28 December 2011 have improved the sector’s asset quality materially.

Furthermore, the steps taken by the CBN to emphasize robust risk management now sees risk management officers featuring prominently in banks’ boards and credit decision processes.

Additionally, the Federal Government initiated reforms in sectors such as the agriculture and power sector in a bid to increase productivity and reduce dependence on imports. Consequently, the CBN has set a target for the banking sector to increase loan book exposure to the agriculture sector to 10 percent by 2017 from the current level of 3.5 per cent. In order to support this drive, the CBN set up a N200 billion agriculture scheme and also developed the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), to support credit growth to the agriculture sector.

A crucial reform by the CBN is the repeal of the universal banking model leading to the emergence of international, national, regional and even specialized banks in Nigeria. Banks are now required to either divest from non-bank subsidiaries or adopt a holding company structure, which in our view, further reduces risk in the banking sector by separating commercial banking business from investment banking and capital market activities, which are perceived to be more risky. The UK’s Independent Banking Commission’s recent proposal for the UK banking sector to follow a similar route to manage financial sector risks underscores the CBN’s visionary approach to banking regulation in response to the global financial crisis.

For a banking group with a 150-year heritage and an unwavering commitment to support economic development in sub-Saharan Africa, we see the banking and financial sector reforms as a very welcome development. If Nigeria must truly unlock its formidable potential for economic development, then coordinating strategic fiscal policies and financial sector interventions will remain an urgent imperative.

In the case of our banking group, we have, in compliance with the CBN directive, transformed into a holding company structure.

Leveraging on the combination of our domestic expertise and our membership of Standard Bank Group, StanbicIBTC Holdings sets a policy framework for all our subsidiaries, which operate independently. The holding company model ensures that we can continue to provide exceptional end-to-end financial services to our clients and customers, within enhanced risk management parameters, which ring-fence the interests of our retail depositors from the nonbanking operations conducted elsewhere within the Group. Furthermore, as part of the

larger Standard Bank Group, the new operating model allows StanbicIBTC subsidiaries to draw directly upon the experience, expertise and other resources of dedicated product and business teams across 30 countries in which we have a presence globally. The new structure, we believe, repositions our banking group to be better focused at discharging our core financial responsibilities to our various regulators, as well as delivering better value across a wide spectrum of key stakeholders – from clients and customers, shareholders and investors, to employees and host communities.

The process of transiting to a holding company structure within the timeframe stipulated by the CBN was fraught with various regulatory and fiscal challenges. Our banking group was not alone in embarking on this transformative journey. Together with four other banking groups, we constituted an industry group of financial institutions committed to adopting the holding company route to compliance with the CBN’s reforms. This industry group had a fruitful engagement with numerous regulatory and fiscal authorities on the challenges, and I must commend the unwavering support and continuous commitment of the regulatory agencies that were instrumental in facilitating our successful transition.

In particular, the industry group is indebted to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, her team at the Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service for the exceptional fiscal support they provided for the transition into the holding company structure. Their colleagues at the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the Pensions Commission of Nigeria and other members of the Financial Services Regulatory and Coordinating Committee were also very supportive of the CBN’s reforms in this regard, and deserve our thanks.

The recent financial sector reforms illustrate how a coordinated policy response of the government created incentives and opportunities for private sector led restructuring of Nigeria’s banking and financial services, resulting in a more robust and resilient system that has weathered the vicissitudes of the recent global and domestic financial downturn.

• David-Borha is Chief Executive, StanbicIBTC Holdings PLC.

The hope from geometric power plant

By Romanus Uwa HEN President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on November 1, 2007 W laid the foundation stone for the construction of the 140 megawatts Aba power plant to be constructed by a private power company – Geometric Power Systems Limited (GPSL) at the plant site in Osisioma-Ngwa, Abia State, not many Nigerians believed that the project would materialize at all. This was due to the persistent and perennial failure and crisis that had accompanied power sector reforms in the country that had thrown vast part of the country into perpetual darkness for years now. A development, which had grounded many industries and discourage foreign investors from investing in the country.

The project, according to its designs was expected to be commissioned in April 2009, but will now be commissioned next month, as deadlines were shifted to accommodate contingencies and tackle challenges. GPSL company, which was owned by former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji initiated and commenced the construction of the model power plant with an intention to serve the industrial hub within the Aba-Port Harcourt axis.

Most industries in the area have gone into extinction owing to poor power supply system of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and so constructing of a model integrated power plant like the Aba plant was not only a good business initiative, but also good move to save the economy of the southeast region from total collapse.

As the power plant is set to take off operation any moment from now, kudos and praises must go to the brain behind this noble project, an illustrious son of Igbo land, Prof. Barth Nnaji for believing in the country called Nigeria, despite the disappointment and humiliations he has suffered in it. Also to be commended for making the project a reality is the Abia State Government under the leadership of Governor Theodore Ahamuefuna Orji whose government provided enabling and secured environment for the project to be executed.

The company encountered a lot of challenges in the area while constructing the project. Top among these challenges was the problem of insecurity, which was occasioned by the kidnapping menace that crept into the state then. A menace that compelled workers of the company at the site to flee for fear of being kidnapped. This was at a time notorious and politically motivated kidnappers took over the commercial city of Aba and its environs in a desperate bid to ground governance in the state for selfish reasons. Works were brought to a halt at the site, while commercial activities were grounded and residents fled for safety.

There were calls for the state of emergency to be declared in the state by some people, which include opposition politicians in the state and the then President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN).

Orji’s government was never deterred with the kidnapping challenges then; rather it tackled the challenges headlong by providing all the needed logistics for the security agencies in the state to dislodge the rampaging kidnappers and restore normalcy in the area. This the security agents achieved when they gunned down the leader of the kidnapping gang in the area in a gun battle and flushed out his co-kidnappers in the state. That was how normalcy was restored to the area and the power company continued their project: a feat the cynical political enemies of the state did not believe government could overcome.

Obviously, if normalcy and security were not restored in the area by the state government then, there is no way the power plant could be executed and the idea of Aba returning to its lost glory would be a thing of the past by now. Ahead of the commissioning of the power plant, the state government has already completed the Osisioma Ngwa-Geometric road making access to the project site easy for the company workers and other communities around the area.

Fulfilling her promise during the rainy season last year, the state government had since the ending of last year commenced the massive rehabilitation and reconstruction of some federal and state roads in Aba.

Some of them, which include Azikiwe road, Geometric Power access road, Constitution Crescent, Brass junction by Faulks Road, Milverton Avenue, and Constitution Crescent were completed and commissioned by Governor Orji recently amidst praises and fanfare by the residents of the commercial city. The development is already boosting commercial activities in the city with the massive influx of business projections ahead of the Geometric Power Plant take off that will guarantee steady power supply to the city.

Besides, the state government had last year partnered with the Federal Government to evacuate power from the 132/33KV Transmission sub-station in Ohiya Umuahia. Since the commissioning of the project, there has been steady power supply in Umuahia and its environs, a situation that has made the state government’s rehabilitation of the Umuopara Regional Water Scheme a possibility, as the Water Scheme has since commenced operation, providing clean water for the residents of the state capital and its surrounding communities. Since then also, the medium and small-scale industries and several artisans in the state capital who were before now off business due to epileptic power supply have re-opened shops and business is booming.

With the take off of Geometric power plant any moment from now and Integrated Power Project at Alaoji nearing completion, Aba will soon and surely become a haven of investment drive in the country as the ailing industries in the commercial city will be revived and employment opportunities would be created for teeming unemployed youths. It is a credit to the present government in the state that these giant strides are being made possible at this point the government is on a rescue mission in the state taking it to the next level in the area of infrastructural developments, security and peaceful co-existence. With the steady power supply in Umuahia, Aba and its environs, Abia State may go down in history as the first state in the country with steady power supply since the return of democracy in the country in 1999.

• Dr. Uwa, a medical practitioner wrote from Aba, Abia State.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

NigeriaCapitalMarket NSE Daily Summary (Equities) as at Tuesday PRICE LIST OF SYMBOLS TRADED FOR 30/04/2013

CAPiTAL MArKET 55

THE GUArDiAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

NSE Daily Summary (Equities) as at 30/04/2013

PriCE GAiNErS

LOSErS

FCMB posts N15.3bn profit in 2012, N4.2bn in Q1

By Helen Oji irST City Monument Bank Fgross Plc (FCMB) has recorded earnings of N116.8 billion against N75.70 billion posted in 2011 and profit after tax (PAT) of N15.3billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2012.

Besides, the bank’s unaudited result for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013 showed a PAT of N4.2billion, which

represents an increase of 3per cent from the N4.1billion posted in the corresponding period of 2012.

The bank also declared a bonus of one additional share for every 25 unit of shares held for its shareholders.

According to a statement by the bank, the percentage increase in gross earnings for the full year stood at 54.3 per cent while PAT rose by 256 per cent.

Also, the bank’s loans and advances grew by 10.7per cent to N357.798billion last year compared to N323.353billion the previous year, while the bank’s total assets equally rose to N909billion as at the end of 2012, as against N602billion in 2011.

The statement added that FCMB’s merger with the defunct Fin Bank also impacted positively on the performance of the bank as its operat-

ing income grew by 48per cent.

Speaking on the bank’s performance, the Group Managing Director of the bank, Ladi Balogun, said, “we are pleased to have returned to profitability after the challenges of 2011 doing so, whilst also successfully executing the recent merger makes the year’s performance all the more remarkable”.

He added, “the trend contin-

ued in the first quarter of 2013 and we expect our performance to gather momentum as we begin to improve productivity of the immense resources and capacity we have acquired”.

Balogun pointed out that going forward, attention would be placed on improving efficiency, customer experience and employee morale and productivity in the entity, to enable it achieve it achieve

its target of being among the top five banks in Nigeria by the year 2015.

The FCMB boss expressed confidence that, “these will translate into greater profitability and sustainable market share growth in 2013 and beyond”.

Financial analysts described the results as, “healthy and an indication that the bank is well positioned to compete at the highest level in the Nigerian banking sector”.

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

Sports I don’t want to play for Super Eagles now, says Anichebe UPER Eagles’ striker, Victor Sready Anichebe says he is not to play for Nigeria now because he wants to “manage his body accordingly.”

Lagos-born Anichebe, 25, who was tipped to replace the injured Emmanuel Emenike in Nigeria’s Confederations Cup and World Cup qualifiers’ squad, told BBC Sport yesterday that for the time being, he does not want to be considered for the Super Eagles.

“The best thing for me at the moment is to focus on club football,” he said.

Anichebe has been plagued by injuries over the past few years, including a groin problem on his last appearance for Nigeria in a 2-0 win over Madagascar in 2011.

He insists he is proud to play for his country, but for the moment his Premier League side Everton are his priority.

“Without club football there is no international football and everyone at Everton was with me every step of the way during my injuries and rehabilitation and so I owe it to the club to manage myself correctly,” he explained.

“I didn’t feel that the Nigerian federation was there for me then in the same manner, which was especially disappointing given that I got the injury representing my country.

“But I don’t blame anyone for this nor do I have any issues with anybody from the NFF or

Stephen Keshi our coach.

“He has done a fantastic job and is building a team that Nigerians can be proud of.”

A former England youth international, Anichebe switched allegiance and played his first game for Nigeria in March 2008.

He scored on his debut in a 2-0 win over South Africa to help them reach the 2008 Olympics and was then part of the squad that went on to win silver in Beijing.

Despite the recent setbacks and decision to put club over country, Anichebe has no regret to have chosen Nigeria over England.

“A lot of people ask me if I was sad that I wasn’t part of the Nations Cup winning team but I couldn’t have been happier because it brought so much happiness to Nigerians, especially after there has been so much tragedy,” he said.

“I know football cannot take away some of the pain it has caused but it was good for the country. I am just like the 170 million Nigerians out there, I am a fan obviously, as well as, a player.

“If I had gone would I be playing for my club at the level I am now? Perhaps not, so it worked out well for both sides.

“The time is just not right for me to resume my international career as of yet but I would certainly love to represent my country in the nonetoo-distant future.”

Kano Pillars battling with El Kanemi in a recent game. The LMC has ordered a replay of the abandoned game between Pillars and Heartland of Owerri.

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI.

PHOTO: AFP

Ideye may move to English Premier League

LMC orders Pillars, Heartland to replay botched game in Abuja

KY Sports understands a Sclubs number of Premier League are tracking Dynamo

Nigeria Professional Football League

HE League Management T Company (LMC) has ordered Kano Pillars and Enugu Rangers to replay their abandoned Week Eight

Minister/NFF may decide league dispute From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja OLLOWING the inability of the League Management Company (LMC) and the club managers to resolve the lingering crisis in the Nigerian League, the minister of Sports/chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the management of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) would likely

F

rule on the issue ‘in the interest of Nigerian football.

The LMC and the club managers met in Abuja for over six hours on Tuesday to resolve the dispute, but the club managers walked out of the meeting ‘because the LMC was not ready to meet our demands.’

A member of the club managers group told The Guardian after the stalemat-

ed meeting that they may seek the intervention of the minister and the NFF for a final resolution to the crisis, stressing that the club chairmen have become fed up with the LMC. The member, who pleaded anonymity, said the group insisted that the LMC must be registered, adding that the interim committee must revert to the Interim League Management Committee, which he said was the name given to body by the NFF.

match on May 29 in Abuja.

The game was abandoned after a policeman shot a fan inside the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

LMC Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar told MTNFootball.com that the body arrived at the decision after listening to both clubs presentations on Monday and Tuesday.

“We have ordered a replay of the game on May 29 at the FIFA Goal Project Abuja,” Abubakar disclosed.

Pillars had hoped that the match would be awarded to it because Heartland allegedly refused to continue the game even after normalcy was restored following fans’ protest as a result of the police shooting.

Heartland also demanded it be given the three points and

three goals because the home fans encroached on the pitch.

In its protest letter sent to the League Management Committee (LMC), Heartland claimed that a fight broke out between the security men and a group of armed supporters belonging to the home team, who tried to force their way on to the pitch 30 minutes after the game had been played without a goal from either side.

It added that the fight resulted in the firing of gunshots, which killed a fan and left about three Kano Pillars supporters with bullet wounds while the policeman accused of carrying out the shooting was stabbed to death by the angry supporters, who also sacked the players and officials from the pitch.

Kiev’s striker, Brown Ideye.

The 24-year-old Super Eagles star joined the Ukrainian club in 2011 after spending time in Switzerland with Neuchatal Xamax and then a stint in France with Sochaux.

He has impressed during his time in Kiev and was linked with a move to Chelsea last summer as a potential replacement for Didier Drogba.

Reports have also previously claimed that fellow Premier League clubs, Newcastle United and Swansea City, have been tracking Ideye’s progress.

Ideye’s agent, Hootan Ahmadi says there are clubs showing an interest in the forward, but will not rush into a decision over his next move.

Government frustrated my Workers Day celebration long ago, says coach Igwe

By Gowon Akpodonor S workers all over the A world trooped out for the Workers Day celebration yes-

Coach Igwe (right) with Bukola Abogunloko during one of the country’s international outings.

terday, one man, who refused to be part of the activity in Nigeria is renowned Athletics Coach, Tobias Igwe.

Igwe’s contribution to the success story of Nigeria’s sports, especially athletics, remains unbeaten, having discovered the best crop of athletes at different times for the land and led the nation to victories at various continental championships, including the Olympic

Games, Commonwealth, All Africa Games and the Afro-Asia Games.

But the coach is a sad man following many frustrations he had encountered in life, especially in the hands of his employers. Toblow, as he is known in the sports circle, was sent away when Abia carried out a massive disengagement of non-indigenes from the state’s civil service.

His wife, who was working at Ohafia Local Council of Abia State, was equally swept away during the exercise and the family has been ‘living from hand to mouth’ for about two years now.

His appeal to Imo State government, his home state, to employ him has not seen the light of day. The sack by Abia was the second time Igwe would suffer such calamity in the hands of his employers, as he was earlier disengaged by the government of Enugu State about 15 years ago on the same reason that he is not an indigene of the state.

In an emotional Workers Days message to The Guardian yesterday, Coach Igwe wrote: “Good morning and happy Workers Day. I am supposed to be part of this celebration going by my contribution to

this great nation, but here I am gnashing my teeth in agony with members of my family.

“I did not expect that my pathetic condition will stretch close to two years in this land of plenty. I did not also believe that people in high places at the state and national level would keep quiet waiting for my demise before raising their voices. Today is Workers Day and it is so sad that my colleagues all over the world are celebrating and the man, who led African athletes to two World Cups is languishing somewhere.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

SPORTS 59

Okpekpe Road Race will thrill foreign athletes, says Itemuagbor • AFN, Club owners preach peace after athletes protest

By Gowon Akpodonor S foreign and local athletes A trickle in for the maiden Okpekpe Road Race this

Heartland and Lobi Stars contesting the 2012 Nigeria FA Cup trophy at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. The states’ finals hold this weekend in centres across the country.

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI.

Neros Pharmaceuticals Anambra State FA Cup

Ikpeazu Redoutables tackle Global FC, as Anambra XI meet Flying Eagles • FA honours Super Eagles stars RGANISERS of the 2013 O Neros Pharmaceuticals Anambra State FA Cup have promised a funfilled grand finale of the competition on Saturday when the Onitshabased Ikpeazu Redoubtables take on Global FC at the Neros Sports Stadium, Nanka.

At stake is a trophy worth N2 million and the bragging right as the best team in Anambra State.

Both teams by qualifying for the final have already picked the tickets to represent the state in the national version of the competition.

To qualify for the final, Ikpeazu Redoutables proved bookmakers wrong by beating Nigerian National League (NNL) side, Gabros, 1-0 in the semifinal also played at the Nanka Stadium.

Bobby Ikpeazu scored the solitary goal of the match in the 50th minute to send his

team and fans into frenzy mood.

Global Academy Football Club overcame the tough challenge of Dynamic Sports Football Club 3-2 at Rojenny Stadium, Oba, to book its ticket for the final showdown, with Eric Okorie making the difference with just nine minutes to go when he scored the decider after the game had tied at 2-2 and was heading to penalty shoot out.

Global Football Club of Onitsha came a distant fourth last year, while Ikpeazu Redoutables is making its first debut in the fiesta.

Before the final match, the Anambra Eleven, a team of players selected from the clubs that participated in this year’s State FA Cup, will take on the Flying Eagles in a friendly match.

The friendly match comes up by 2pm while the final takes

…Warri Wolves, Atete FC clash in Delta FA Cup final ARRI Wolves Football W Club will clash with Atete FC, Ovwian, on Sunday in the final of this year’s ECO BANK sponsored Delta FA Cup. The match billed for Warri City Stadium will commence at 3.00pm. Before then, Warri Wolves Feeder team will slug it out with Invincible Leopard FC of Warri in the third place match at 1pm.

Speaking on the final showdown with Atete FC, Coach Solomon Ogbeide of Warri Wolves, whose team is gradually finding its bearing in the League, advised the players not to underrate the Atete boys, who are made up of former players of Warri Wolves and the defunct Delta United.

Ogbeide said he was looking forward to lifting the FA Cup and would not want anything that will stop this

dream.

Speaking to the players yesterday, Ogbeide said, “it is my dream to lift the FA Cup and my candid advise to you is not to underrate the opponent. Majority of those currently featuring for Atete FC have played for Warri Wolves before and will want to prove a point. We have started finding our bearing in the League and what we need to do now is to consolidate our position in the state.”

Warri Wolves team Captain, Azubuike Egwuekwe, promised to lead the team to victory and urged the players to play out their hearts.

“I know the match will be tough because we each other very well, but we are equal to the task. We just have to play well and finish the work within ninety minutes and I know we can do it.”

place by 4pm.

At the end of the Anambra FA Cup final, the first, second, third and fourth placed teams will go home with N2 million, N1 million, N500, 000, and N100, 000 respectively.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Football Association in partnership with NEROS Pharmaceuticals Limited will honour some Anambra State indigenes in the Super Eagles team that won the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa early this year.

The players include John Mikel Obi, Emmanuel Emenike, Austin Ejide, Obiora Nwankwo, Azubuike Egwuekwe and assistant Coach, Sylvanus Okpala. The event takes place on the FA Cup final day.

weekend, promoter of the race, Mike Itemuagbor, has pledged that the Edo State government would make every aspect of the race a lasting memory for both athletes and their officials.

The declaration by Itemuagbor came yesterday, just as officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the various Club Owners/Managers at states level have reached an agreement on the way forward following the protest by athletes last weekend, which led to the boycott of the second leg of the Golden League at the University of Benin Sports Center.

The protest resulted to threeyear ban each of three athletes.

At the end of the meeting between the AFN Technical Committee headed by Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama and 12 club owners, the states’ AAAs/Club Owners/Military and Paramilitary club owners backed the action taken against the ‘rebelling’ ath-

letes, saying that every genuine reform process would naturally come with resistance and so the action of the athletes could be a natural phenomenon of resistance to change.

The Club Owners noted that the AFN’s technical strategic plan was good for both the athletes and the nation, and agreed that AFN set standards should be upheld to encourage improved performance of the athletes.

They directed that all athletes interested in competing in the Golden League must register and compete under a State AAA/Club or Para Military body, adding that unattached athletes would no longer be entertained.

“The only exception is at the All Nigeria Championships where foreign-based athletes can participate on invitation,” they stated.

They also agreed that the Federation should henceforth deal directly with States AAA/Clubs, military or para military organisations. “This includes payment of deserving rewards and incentives.

These bodies would henceforth take responsibility for their athletes’ conduct.”

Speaking with The Guardian

yesterday on the arrangement for the Okpekpe Road Race holding on Saturday, Itemuagbor said the Adams Oshiomhole-led government would not disappoint the athletes, adding, “we have a government that is very responsible when it comes to organisation of sporting events. Our local and international roadrunners will want to return to Okpekpe community after Saturday’s event. They will tell the good story at the end of the day.”

The Road Race in Okpekpe, a sleepy town 25km from Auchi, in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, is the first of its kind in the country. Okpekpe town is famous for its hilly scenery and according to Itemuagbor, the 10km race course will wind around the hills. The race has mouth-watering cash prizes, starting from $25,000 dollars for the first placed athlete to $3.000.00 for the athlete in the 8th position for males.

For the females, the prizes range from $5,000 dollars to $1000, while the prize money for Okpekpe community athletes ranges from N100, 000 for first position to N5,000 for the athlete in eighth position.

Zenith Bank basketball league resumes today in Asaba

By Adeyinka Adedipe HE second phase of the T Zenith Bank Basketball League will resume in Asaba with the teams expected to arrive yesterday in readiness for the jump ball on Friday.

The technical meeting involving the teams and the league board will hold today to iron out modalities for staging the event.

First Deepwater and First

Bank basketball clubs are leading their respective groups after winning all their games in the first phase in Abuja.

They are expected to continue their dominance of the league, but will also have Sunshine of Akure and Dolphins of Lagos to contend with. These teams can shock the two top teams on their good days having proved to be forces to reckon with in the past seasons.

Coach Adewunmi Aderemi of First Bank is already planning to wrestle the title from First Deepwater, the reigning champions, while Lateef Erinfolami of Deepwater is hoping his team triumphs for the fourth consecutive time.

The fans are expected to have a swell time even as the organiser, Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBF), expects a better turn out of spectators in Asaba.

60 | SPORTS

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

Champions League Fallout

How Dortmund boss expressed relief inside toilet ORUSSIA Dortmund B Chairman, Hans-Joachim Watzke locked himself in a Bernabeu toilet as he could not bare to watch the final minutes of Tuesday night’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

The German side conceded two late goals before clinging on to secure a 4-3 aggregate win and book their place in the final at Wembley.

“It seems like we only can do it with drama,” Watzke said on the club’s official website.

“For the first time in my life I had to give up due to heart problems. I went to the toilet

for the last minutes, locked myself in, covered my ears and looked at my watch. I had all kinds of thoughts going through my head.”

Director of sport Michael Zorc also admitted he struggled to cope with the nailbiting finish, and five minutes of injury time, after goals from Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos put the hosts within sight of a remarkable fightback.

“We have earned ourselves a huge reputation in Europe.

In the last minutes I was close to a heart attack. But when there is a positive outcome,

it’s all good.

“It was great. In the second half we played a really good game. In the space of 10 minutes we had four golden chances.

“When you don’t take them then you are often punished.

That’s why it was really tight again. That was not in the plan. But, in retrospect, it was only a slight deviation from the plan.”

Defender Neven Subotic was one of Dortmund’s star performers on the night, along with central defensive partner, Mats Hummels and goalkeeper, Roman Weidenfeller.

Mourinho hints at Real exit EAL Madrid Coach, Jose R Mourinho gave his strongest hint yet that he is ready to return to Chelsea this summer after watching his side exit the Champions League at the semi-final stage.

A 2-0 win at the Bernabeu last night was not enough to reverse the damage of the first leg in Germany as Madrid lost 4-3 on aggregate to Borussia Dortmund.

After the match, Mourinho turned his attention to a future that appears certain to lie away from Madrid, and said he wanted to return to where he was “loved.”

He told ITV, “perhaps I won’t be here next year, I want to be where I want to be.”

He later told a press conference, “I haven’t made a decision because I have a contract

Defeated Ronaldo up for the cup RISTIANO Ronaldo wants C to put Tuesday night’s Champions League semi-final

Ronaldo after the defeat on Tuesday

exit to Borussia Dortmund to one side and win the Copa del Rey. A 2-0 win at the Bernabeu was not enough to mend the damage of the first leg in Germany as Real Madrid lost 4-3 on aggregate to Dortmund.

Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos both scored in the last eight minutes to set up a pulsating finish, but it was not enough for Jose Mourinho’s side, who have fallen at the final hurdle for the third year in a row under his guidance.

It is now thought the Portuguese will not lead

them into next season’s campaign after he strongly hinted he wants to return to England, with Chelsea mentioned as potential suitors.

There is silverware on offer before then, though, and Ronaldo believes if they show the same desire against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on May 17 the result will be different.

“We scored late. There were five minutes of added time but we couldn’t turn it around,” he told realmadrid.com.

“I think the first match was key because four goals are a lot in the Champions League, but the team were focused on trying to reach the final.

“We scored two goals but we could have had four or five, (Gonzalo) Higuain, (Mesut) Ozil and I had chances in the first half.

“We showed that we are better than them. We’re a bit sad because we thought we could have been in the final. The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It will be a different match and if we go out with the same desire I am sure that we will win.”

Ronaldo also played down talk of him leaving the Primera Division club, after Manager, Mourinho hinted he could return to England.

The Real striker said, “I have two years of contract and I’m not worried about my renewal.”

Mourinho

here (with Madrid). In football people break contracts when they want to but more than the contract, its the respect I have for the club and for the players.

“I know that in England I am loved by the fans and the media, who are fair with me.

They criticise me when they have to but give me credit when I deserve it.

“I know I am loved by some clubs, especially one, but in Spain it’s a bit different, some people hate me, many of them are in this room (Spanish journalists), so its difficult for me because I like the club.”

Mourinho stressed he would not make any announcement until the end of the season, with Madrid still chasing silverware as they prepare for the Copa del Rey final against Atletico Madrid.

“I want to play the final, finish the season, win the final and finish second, and then

sit down with Florentino Perez, my president and my friend,” he said.

Late goals by Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos were not enough for Madrid to eliminate Jurgen Klopp’s side, who made it to Wembley thanks to their 4-1 win in the first leg in Dortmund.

Mourinho admitted he was disappointed to not make the final, but defended his tenure at the club.

“It’s not my culture to be satisified by not winning the competition but we know that its a difficult competition, you don’t win it when you want to, you win when things go your way,” he said.

“I don’t live for near achievements, nor does this club. But after the club won the three European Cups (in 1998, 2000 and 2002) Madrid entered a period of not even making it to the quarter finals.

“We weren’t even seeded when I got here and my first worry was qualifying from the group stages.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 2, 2013

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TheGuardian

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Mathew Dadiya HE Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which was conceived almost a decade ago by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo when he set up an Oil and Gas Reform Implementation Committee to assess modality for the reformation of the oil industry; was meant to carry out a comprehensive reform of the oil industry with a view to bringing the Nigerian system under the international best practices and to replace the unfathomable secrecy of our oil industry with transparency, is seeing as a mirage and has been weighed down with a myriad of problems.

The bill which is currently before the National Assembly (NASS) is meant to change everything from fiscal terms to overhauling the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), promote Nigerian content and significantly increase domestic gas supplies, especially for power generation and industrial development; with the ultimate aim of refining the Petroleum laws, after more than 50 years of oil and gas operations in Nigeria.

In as much as issues are being raised on the credibility of the certain parts of the bill, it is also important to note that if the bill is passed, all facets of the petroleum industry would be liberated from all government constraints and hurdles which hitherto rock the industry making it unattractive to good investors.

The National Assembly should for national interest, if nothing else, put their grievances aside, collaborate with the NNPC and other stakeholders to leveled the perceived contours in the PIB that have been generating controversies.

The leadership of the National Assembly in the persons of Senator David Mark and Speaker Aminu Tambuwal are rare gems, patriotic citizens and men of credible characters whose antecedents are unequalled and immeasurable. With the committees recently setup by the leadership of the Assembly to look into the cause of the delay in the passage of the PIB and fast track the process of passing it into law, it is believed that Nigerians would soon have the bill they have long anticipated.

No doubt, what appears to be holding the density of the argument and delay in the non-passage of the PIB should be the purport 10 per cent Community Equity which mandates every oil company to pay 10 per cent of its holding in any PML to the fund established for host communities addition to the 13 per cent currently enjoyed by the oil producing states.

However, predictably this did not go well with some people who already felt

T

The imperative of passing the bill into law cannot be over emphasised, considering the fact that the PIB gives incentives to both small and big players in the industry through transparent and fair rules of participation, good corporate governance and strong fiscal framework that will move Nigeria clearly towards the international best practices in the sector

Please send reactions and feedback for YOUTH SPEAK to:

editorial@risenetworks.org and 07067976667- SMS ONLY

PIB: Why NASS, NNPC must work together

In as much as issues are being raised on the credibility of the certain parts of the bill, it is also important to note that if the bill is passed, all facets of the petroleum industry would be liberated from all government constraints and hurdles which hitherto rock the industry making it unattractive to good investors

ers in the industry through transparent and fair rules of participation, good corporate governance and strong fiscal framework that will move Nigeria clearly towards the international best practices in the sector.

Of course, it is good to redress the dark sides but we should also understand that, the bill has far-reaching provisions on the issues of Nigerian content, which should not be impeded. For instance, it provides that no project can be approved without a comprehensive “Nigerian Content Plan” which must include obligations on the part of the investor to purchase local goods and services, increase employment, as well as focus on training, education research and development. It also requires the foreign investors to follow guidelines in order to assist local companies. Adherence to the provisions of the bill will surely boost the purchase of local goods and services leading to higher employment opportunities for Nigerians.

It is worth noting that the bill has in Senate President, David Mark it, a series of landmark provisions to correct the anomalies of the current petroleum regime. For example, it is an indisputable fact that the Deep Sea Water Blocks contract that Nigeria entered into in 1993 with foreign investors is one of the worst contracts any oil-exporting nation can enter into as it seems to foster unilateral advantages only on the foreign partners with Nigeria having very little or no gains under the production sharing formula in the agreement. The royalties accruable to the country are zero per cent! The foreign partners take I00 per cent of the products. Even the taxes system under the said “bad deal” contract does not provide much benefit for the country as the tax regime included generous tax credits to these foreign investors which wiped out a great percentage of the collectible tax by the Federal Government.

I think the National Assembly should not only relent on redressing the 10 per cent community equity but also look at this issue very critically and possibly Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke insert a clause that can bring about marginalised in the revenue allocainto law cannot be over emphasised, enforcing the redress of such dreadful tion. considering the fact that the PIB gives contract for the good of our economy.

It is our utmost belief that the The imperative of passing the bill incentives to both small and big playNational Assembly will give the bill the The YOUTHSPEAK Column which is published daily is an initiative of THE GUARDIAN, and needed attention it deserves by passing powered by RISE NETWORKS, Nigeria’s Leading Youth Development Centre, as a substantial it into a law considering the benefits advocacy platform available for ALL Nigerian Youth to engage Leadership at all levels, engage Society and contribute to National Discourse on diverse issues especially those that are pecuNigerians stand to derive from it. liar to Nigeria. Regarding submission of articles, we welcome writers‘ contributions by way of The general belief is that a regime of well crafted, analytical and thought provoking opinion pieces that are concise, topical and openness and transparency would be non-defamatory! All articles (which are not expected to be more than 2000 words) should be ushered in. Neither the NNPC nor the sent to editorial@risenetworks.org To read the online Version of this same article plus past National Assembly is gaining from the publications and to find out more about Youth Speak, please visit www.risenetworks.org/youthspeak and join the ongoing National Conversations’’. prolonged delay in the passage of this all-important bill linked to underground manipulation of vested interAlso join our on-line conversation 21676F3E @risenetworks RISE GROUP ests. Whatever maybe the situation, Nigerians are appealing to the lawmakPublished by Guardian Newspapers Limited, Rutam House, Isolo, Lagos Tel: 4489600, 2798269, 2798270, 07098147948, 07098147951 Fax: 4489712; Advert Hotlines: ers saddled with the responsibility of Lagos 7736351, Abuja 07098513445; Circulation Hotline: 01 4489656 passing the bill into law to expedite All correspondence to Guardian Newspapers Limited, P.M.B. 1217, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria.

E-mail letters@ngrguardiannews.com; www.ngrguardiannews.com action and save Nigeria.

Editor: MARTINS OLOJA ABC (ISSN NO 0189-5125) • Dadiya wrote from Wuse 2, Abuja. .