Fashola, Kachikwu, steal show at Senate screening

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62605

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

GLO— From left: Globacom Brand Specialist, Mutiat Balogun; Retail and Consumer Sales Chief, David Maji; Glo Ambassador, Van Vicker; Brand Specialist, Chineye Ojukwu and Manager, Devices and Partnership, Odafe Akerejola at the launch of Free Tomorrow and Glo CAF Award promos at the Mike Adenuga Towers, Lagos on Tuesday.

FESTAC ROBBERY: My late wife, baby'll make heaven 7 — Widower

Fashola, Kachikwu, steal show at Senate screening Adeosun too, as Buhari withdraws Ibeto's nomination

•Fashola calls for state police, apologises on deportation of Igbos

•Amaechi, Shittu, others for screening today

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BUJA — FORMER Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr Ibe Kachikwu and Mrs Kemi Adeosun were clearly the star attractions at the screening of ministerial nominees, yesterday, as the Senate cleared 18

THOSE CLEARED

BY SENATE 1.Udoma Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom) 2.Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) 3.Audu Ogbeh (Benue) 4.Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi) 5.Osagie Ehanire (Edo) 6.Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano) 7.Lai Mohammed (Kwara) 8.Amina Ibrahim Mohammed (Gombe) 9.Suleiman Hussaini Adamu (Jigawa) 10.Ibrahim Usman Jibril (Nasarawa) 11.Babatunde Raji Fashola (Lagos) 12.Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu (Delta) 13.Abubakar Malami, SAN (Kebbi) 14.Chris Nwabueze Ngige (Anambra) 15.Aisha Jummai Alhassan (Taraba) 16.Solomon Dalong (Plateau) 17.Kemi Adeosun (Ogun) 18.Hadi Sirika (Katsina).

C M Y K

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

Continues on Page 5

Boko Haram insurgency'll end by December — FG 46

Mr & Mrs MINISTERIAL SCREENING—From left, Former Governor of Lagos State and ministerial nominee, Babatunde Fashola; Taofeek Adaranijo; Majority Leader, House of Reps, Femi Gbajabiamila; Ismaila Kawu, shortly after screening of Fashola in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

COLUMNISTS: Orji Uzor Kalu and Segun Odegbami: The Nigerian FIFA presidency challenge •P.17

Knowing when to say less •P.19

Policy coordination'll be driven by FG, states — Buhari 4

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015 — 3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOMBER 15 , 2015

Policy coordination'll be driven by states, FG — Buhari •To increase tax revenue •Adopt zero base budget policy •No shortage of political will •To adopt open revenue books for public scrutiny •To streamline government agencies

By Peter Egwuatu & Emmanuel Elebeke

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HE Federal Government said, yesterday, there was need to pursue policy coordination between it and the states in order to achieve meaningful growth and development of the country.

The government also disclosed that there will be effort to increase tax revenue and also ensure that there will be efficient tax collection system in the country, just as it stated that it is going to pursue a zero base and policy driven budget for 2016 and ensure that there is effective and inclusive participation of policy and budget process.

Speaking at the 21st Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG in Abuja on the topic titled “ Public Institutions Reforms” President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said “ Professionalism is being encouraged aimed at entrenching the culture of integrity, accountability and rule of law in the system. We also aimed at creating the enabling environment to enhance competitiveness to thrive for institutional reform. In terms of specific, some of the institutional reform issues such as revenue diversification issues, and efficiency of tax collection.”

Dr. Fowler Babatunde, we expect him to replicate the wonders he did in Lagos State.”

Adoption of TSA: The President said “The critical aspect of this is the Treasury Single Account, TSA policy. This is not a new policy, so the only difference is that it is being implemented by this administration. The whole point of the TSA is to avoid government revenue agencies running different accounts.

Like in the case of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, we noticed a distortion by those running the accounts, which is not fully known to those running the economy. With the TSA, any agency wanting to spend money will do so upon appropriation and approved budget for everyone, duly presented to the National Assembly. The electronic payment system is also going to be used to check ghost workers and a situation we were able to discover the number of civil

servants. This will guide us to determine how much is spent on remuneration of workers. On Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMS), It is being used to match revenue expenditure and budget in such a way that the financial managers are able to see what is being spent and what is left.

Reduction in cost of governance: “One of the key ways to achieve that is the zero based budget, which has receive some attention. It is systems that insist every agency justifies its expenditure on every item in their budgets. Government felt that rather than the traditional incremental budget system, we should adopt this zero base policy.

That way, we believe we will be able to cut cost substantially and will make it easier to align policies with the budgets. We are working round the clock to present the document in good time.”

Why we adopted zero budget system: “ We have budget that has no policy driver, that is why we decided to have a policy to drive it. The budget office and NPC are working together to draw medium and long term plans and then define properly policies that will drive the future budget. The

policies will depend a great deal on the manifesto of the party, which will be in line with APC’s policy direction of government in the budget. We are doing a “Bottom Up” plan for our economic planning, taking into account our large number of extremely poor people as basis for the whole economic planning process. For us it is a Bottom-Top approach rather than a Top-Bottom approach which will be reflected in the policy and will also reflect in the budget.”

Presidential directive to open revenue account:“The directive of the President is that we must open the books at it were for everyone to know what is going on and we all had to take a decision as to how and when to spend out of it.

We managed to create a platform where the two tiers of government can cooperate effectively. The recent Bail out is an example of the functionality of this arrangement and that cooperation.

However, what the only issue was how to settle the debts of the states that had set up their own Debt Management Office, DMO.”

Efficiency of tax collection According to him “ In terms of policy coordination, we are working together with the states.

We are presently trying to put together to produce the document for economic planning in the nearest future. Nigeria being a federation, we have initiated collaboration between the federal and states for the economies of the states and federal government. In terms of working together, the National Economic Council (NEC) is coordinating and in the meetings, we were able to take on power and agriculture.

The absence of proper coordination had created difficulties in the past, hence reason for this initiative for proper harmonization and coordination of government policies. We have tried to adopt the policy of transparency on the federation earnings, which had always been issues between the states and federal government.''

Taxation: According to him “ This is part of the reform issues being undertaken. Though, we are determined to increase revenue base and make the collection points much more efficient, with the new tax man, C M Y K

Easy Business Millionaires Hunt 2: Yewande Towobola (m) receiving the cheque of N2 million from the Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher (2nd R) with support from Etisalat Nigeria’s Director, Enterprise Segment, Lucas Dada (L) and Chief Marketing Officer, Francesco Angelone (2nd L) and Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University, Peter Bamkole (R) at the Unveiling of Winners of Etisalat EasyBusiness Millionaires Hunt 2 in Lagos

Oil price slump: FG grants financial autonomy to joint ventures

By Michael Eboh with Agency Report

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HE Federal Government, yesterday, granted financial autonomy to some Joint Venture (JV) oil companies, in the process giving the JVs control over their budgets, empowering them to source for funds and remit taxes, royalties and dividends to the government.

Reports obtained from Reuters revealed that the decision of the Federal Government in this regard was contained in a letter

by Emmanuel Kachikwu, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

NNPC did not respond to a request for comment but several oil sources confirmed the authenticity of the letter.

The letter states that this plan will apply to five oil blocks sold by Shell in 2011-2012 to local companies, Shoreline Natural Resources Nigeria Limited, First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited, ND-Western Limited, Elcrest

Exploration &Production Nigeria Limited and Neconde Energy Limited. It also covers West African Exploration and Production Company, which bought two licenses in 2015 from Shell.

According to the letter, the JVs will be turned into firms that control their own budgets, making them similar to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), which finds sources for its own funding, pays taxes and royalties and also pays dividends.

Food prices raises inflation rate to 2-year high

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

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N F L AT I O N A R Y pressure on the economy has been sustained as headline inflation, which measures the Year-on-Year (YoY) change in the All-items Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose by 10 basis points to 9.4 per cent in September 2015, the highest point in two years.

The index was 9.3 per cent in the preceding month of August.

The CPI measures the average change over time in prices of goods and services consumed by people for day-to-day living.

The rise in headline inflation during the period was largely due to higher prices in the Food subindex.

According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, NBS, the increase in the inflation index was also contributed by other non-food divisions, which include Utilities; Clothing & Footwear and Alcoholic beverage, Tobacco and Cola.

However, though NBS reports was in consonance with economy analysts’ forecasts the analysts gave different insight into the inflationary pressure points while forecasting further rise in the inflation rate since the pressure points are still with the system.

According to the analysts the 20 basis points increase in imported food inflation index to 10.80 per cent in September was a major pressure point. WSTC Financial Services, a Lagos based investment house, attributes this to “the passthrough effect of currency devaluation and the exclusion of some food items from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, foreign exchange markets”.

In their reaction to the inflation report, WSTC added “we expect this to still run its impact on the price level in the current month” it is likely therefore, to increase the October rate.

Analysts at FSDH Merchant Bank had last week, forecast that inflation rate for September would be 9.4 per cent.

Giving the rationale behind their inched up forecast they said ''our analysis indicated that the value of the Naira was unchanged when compared with the value of the US Dollar in the month of September. ''

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015 — 5

POCKET CARTOON whose name was number nine on the Order Paper was however not called for confirmation, probably for lack of time.

Ibeto’s nomination withdrawn

CONFERENCE—From left: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Key Note speaker; Prof Akin Mabogunje, Chairman of the occasion and Prof.

Emilolorun Ayelari, Acting Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, during the First International Conference of the African Studies Association of Africa, yesterday. Photo: Dare Fasube.

Fashola, Kachikwu, steal show at Senate screening Continues from Page 1 nominees for ministerial appointment.

Fashola’s suggestions on state police, review of the Abuja Master plan and apology to the Igbo over the deportation of some Igbo residents of Lagos during his second term marked one of the major highlights of yesterday’s screening of the nominees.

So also were Kachikwu’s comments on the oil industry and Adeosun’s remarks on the economy, devaluation of the Naira and Treasury Single Account, TSA, foreign direct investment and how to improve Nigeria’s alternative sources of revenue.

Their robust comments paved the way for the approval and confirmation of 18 of the 36 nominees for appointments as ministers after two days of screening. President Muhammadu Buhari had first sent a list of 21 names.

He later sent a list containing 16 names, from which he yesterday withdrew the name of

former Deputy Governor of Niger State, Ahmed Isa Ibeto.

Ministers awaiting swearing-in, assignment

Those screened, cleared and confirmed by the Senators as full time ministers to be assigned portfolios by the President were Senator Udoma Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom); Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Chief Audu Ogbeh (Benue); Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi); Dr. Osagie Ehanire (Edo); Lt.Gen. A b d u l r a h m a n Dambazzau (Kano); Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Kwara); Hajia Amina Ibrahim Mohammed (Gombe); Engr. Suleiman Hussaini Adamu (Jigawa); and Ibrahim Usman Jibril (Nasarawa).

Also cleared and confirmed as ministers were former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Emmanuel

IT'S UP TO YOU

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BY AYO ADIO

HATEVER it is in life you want to achieve, find a way to start small and then start Today.

A year from now you may wish you had started today — Karen Lamb. It’s up to you.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

When you are satisfied to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you —Lao Tzu

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NE of the most common and destructive daily habits is to constantly compare your life and yourself to other people and their lives. And at the end of the day, you pummel your self-esteem to the ground and you create a lot of negative feelings within. Try to realize that you can’t win if you compare yourself to others.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

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O matter how dry the jungle may be, the son of a lion will never eat grass.

Ibe Kachikwu (Delta); Abubakar Malami, SAN (Kebbi); Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige (Anambra); Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan (Taraba); Barrister Solomon Dalong (Plateau); Mrs Kemi Adeosun (Ogun); and Senator Hadi Sirika (Katsina).

After yesterday ’s screening exercise which started at 11.48am and ended at 5.10pm, Senate President Bukola Saraki called for a voice vote to approve and confirm the nominees.

THOSE AWAITING SCREENING

1. Rotimi Amaechi 2. Barr. Adebayo Shittu 3. Bukar Ibrahim 4.Cladius Omoleye Daramola 5.Prof Anthony Onwuka 6.Geoffrey Onyema 7. Dan Ali 8. Barr James Ocholi 9. Zainab Ahmed 10.

Okechukwu Enelamah 11. Muhammadu Bello 12.Mustapha Baba Shehuri 13. Aisha Abubakar 14.Heineken Lokpobiri 15. Adamu Adamu 16. Isaac Adewole 17. Abubakar Bawa 18. Pastor Usani Uguru

Drama over Lai Mohammed’s confirmation

There was, however, a mild drama when Saraki called for yes or nay chant over the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed as nay chants from Senators of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP appeared to have overtaken that of the ayes during the Committee of the Whole because of their large number in the chambers, but Senate President Saraki had his way and confirmed Mohammed.

The nominee from Oyo State, Barrister Adebayo Shittu

Before the commencement of yesterday ’s screening exercise, Senate President Saraki announced that President Buhari in a letter to him had withdrawn the name of the immediate past Deputy Governor of Niger State, Ahmed Musa Ibeto.

Ibeto’s name was one of the 21 ministerial nominees first sent to the Senate on September 30, 2015. No reasons were given for the withdrawal of Ibeto’s name. Senate President Saraki had on Tuesday read the final list from the President containing 16 names and on the list was Abubakar Bwari Bawa from Niger State, obviously the replacement for Ibeto.

Why senators will screen Amaechi today

Meanwhile, contrary to the Order Paper which had former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi as one of those to be screened yesterday, the Senate shelved his appearance.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu said that it was not possible to screen Amaechi because the report on the petition against Amaechi was not ready. Senate President Saraki, however, urged members of the Committee to ensure that the report was ready today.

How Fashola rattled Senators

Former governor of Lagos state who appeared before the Senators from 11. 48am to1pm told the Senators of the need to review the Abuja Master Plan which has been distorted, just as he said that it has become imperative to decentralize the Nigerian Police as he advocated the establishment of a state policing system if the nation's insecurity problem must be addressed.

Fashola who defended allegations concerning a N78 million website and N258 million borehole, said that throughout his stay as governor for eight years, nobody has so far come out to accuse him of enriching himself corruptly, even as he said that he did not personally sign any cheque as well as his commissioners. He also apologised to

Nigerians for deporting some citizens of the state,particularly from the South-East to their states of origin.

He said: “The number available to me is that we have probably a standing Police force of about 500,000, les than a million in every event to a population that is heading to 180 million. So, we are under-policed and if the Federal Government decide to take up these responsibilities on its own, can it do so in the micro level that is necessary at the state and local government levels?

“My recommendation is a compelling urgency for decentralization. I have made those recommendations to some of the committees on constitution amendment where I was privileged to make presentations.

There have been arguments about why we should not go there but those argument did not go far. They did not address the fundamental responsibilities that government has. I have heard the argument that government will abuse the Police for political purposes.

“The abuse of political power is not as important as loss of lives, and everything we do to advance that cause makes us more respected as government that cares.

There is a process for curing abuse of institution but there is no process known to me today for recovering lives already lost.

These are challenges that are before us as a people and as a nation. At the state level, you can also wonder what governors are going through.

“They have parliaments that make laws but they have no capacity to enforce their own laws. We are talking about domestic issues — rape and domestic violence — there are criminal offences in many states across the country but who is prosecuting them? This is because the Police officer is too busy chasing a robbery. Our mothers, daughters and sisters are expected to

tolerate rape. If we are afraid of abuse, one of the things I will suggest is that we start a state Police.

“I proposed a system where we have six zonal commands from the existing Police force. It is not every state that can start if it cannot fund it.

States who can fund can decide to employ 1,000 men, the Police Service Commission will train and graduate and if at the end of the training, only 800 pass the exam, they would be employed.

The state buys their uniforms, there is a national license.”

On security, Fashola said, “ As far as security is concerned, that is the primary purpose of every government. It is the purpose for which government exists, to protect the citizens and their assets and it is the toughest job that any government can have. It is the challenge that leaders across the world are facing — terrorism, youthful gangs, cults and so on.

“My attitude was to see criminals as my competitors and in a competition, my desire was to use my resources to outspend my competitors, out-think the competition and outmaneovre the competition. But our risks are different. As a governor, my job was to ensure that nobody died, my job was to ensure that nobody robs. So, I have no magic for error. Every citizen that was robbed, I have failed that citizen.

So, I have to be right every time, the criminal has to be right only once.

“So, we brought all the stakeholders — from the banks who were being robbed everyday then without the capacity to respond and one of the things I told one of the bankers was that if he could protect and bulletproof his banks, if he cared about his workers and customers, can the government bullet-proof every home? If you bring some of this money and we put it in a pool and

Continues on Page 46

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

18-year-old arraigned over murder of school senior

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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AGOS—AN 18-yearold boy, Benjamin Sunday, has been charged before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja for allegedly stabbing his senior in school, Gbenga Adigun, whose corpse was found on the decking of a building.

The defendant, who lives at No. 4 Haruna Street, Ifako area of Lagos, was alleged to have stabbed Adigun with a broken bottle during a fight, after both of them returned from Africa Shrine.

According to a statement allegedly made by the accused to the police: “The problem started on Friday 31/05/2013 at Africa Shrine.

When I was leaving at 5am, I saw Mayowa Akinoye (deceased) who was my senior in school with six girls. They were also at the shrine and about to go as well. So we all left.

“One of Mayowa's girls started abusing me and I also abused her. Instead of Mayowa to ask the girl to stop abusing me, he shouted at me and I refused to stop as well.

The next thing, Mayowa gave me a blow and we started a fight.”

The teenager (Sunday), who looked unperturbed as he stood in the accused dock, is facing a count charge of murder.

State counsel, Mr Akin George, informed the court that the offence was contrary to Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

After listening to the witness, Justice Ipaye adjourned the case to November 19 for continuation of trial.

Lagos FT Zone boss buried amid tears, eulogies I'll miss his funny stories—Daughter

By Aolasukanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowopejo

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will miss his jokes.”

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BA—EZIAMA Police Division, Aba, Abia State has arrested a 41-year-old man, Stephen Akunewu, for allegedly raping a 3-year-old girl in Aba. Akunewu, a barbing salon operator at No. 14 Uzoigwe Extension, off Osusu Road, Aba, was alleged to have used biscuits and sweets to lure the innocent minor who is a niece to his neighbour, into his trap and took advantage of her.

Mr. Tunde Balogun, former Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture in Lagos State said: “ He is a peaceful man; very good family man and was good to a lot of people. He was generous to a lot of people and they would miss him badly. ‘’He was a very good friend of mine. we were classmates in school. He was my best man on my wedding day. We have been very close; we grew up together on Lagos Island.

“Alhaji Tajudeen was an honest, dedicated and very committed to whatever he is doing. He worked relentlessly to ensure that Lekki Free Trade Zone project got to fruition but unfortunately he could not live to see the end of the project. ‘’I pray that God upholds his family, sustain them and give them the fortitude to bear the loss.”

AGOS—TEARS flowed freely, yesterday, amid eulogies as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State led other dignitaries to pay their last respects at the burial of late Managing Director of Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ Limited, Alhaji Tajudeen Disu, at Ikoyi, Lagos.

The late Disu was murdered at Akodo, Lekki, while addressing residents of the community whose land were acquired for the LFTZ project.

Aside the governor who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule, other dignitaries at the event were Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Tunji Bello, former deputy governors of Lagos State, Mr. Femi Pedro and Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu.

Also at the event were former commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Mr. Babatunde Balogun, former Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Mr. Taofiq Tijani, former Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Central Business District, CBD, Mrs. Derin Disu,Chief Remi Makanjuola, former chairman of Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, board, the Chairman, Lekki Free Zone Development Company, Otunba Olusegun Jawando, who led other members of the LFTZ to the event, among others.

My father was a great man —Son

I will miss his funny stories —Daughter

SPECIAL PRAYERS: Tolulope Disu, Zumunta Disu, Aisha Marinho and Lolade Odalisa, all children of the deceased, during the special prayers for late Tajudeen Disu, former MD, Lekki Free Trade Zone at City Hall, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Miss Tolulope Disu, daughter of late Disu, said at the burial: “I will miss his jokes. My father loves everyone and will work to ensure that the needs of anyone beside him is catered for.

“Also, when you are sitting beside my father, he will often tell us funny stories. In fact, I

Ibrahim Disu, son of the late Managing Director, said he never knew how great his father was until his death.

“I know my father was great but I don’t know how it was until his death. Five minutes after his death, everyone had taken over the responsibilities for the burial ceremony. I must thank everyone who had rallied round the family since his death,” he said.

He died a martyr — Cleric

Dr. Zikrulahi Adenugba, lecturer from Al-Hikma University, Ilorin, while delivering the sermon at the burial ceremony, held at the City Hall, Lagos Island, said:

It was learned that a medical examination carried out on the minor showed that she was abused by the suspect as her private part was reddish and bruised.

Vanguard gathered that the minor’s guardian, identified as Mrs. Eunice, who suspected that her niece had been defiled, reported the matter to the police, while the victim fled his residence to evade police arrest.

Luck, however, ran out on the suspect as he was later arrested

Disu was a philanthropist —Balogun, ex-commissioner

Our father never took ogogoro before his death —Pa Egbobawaye's family

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN CITY—THE family of late Pa Michael Egbobawaye, the Odionwere

41-year-old man in Police net over rape

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

“He died a martyr.”

Vanguard learned that anyone who dies in such circumstances in Islamic religion was considered a martyr.

But Adenugba urged Lagos State government to keep the legacy, LFTZ, he laboured for before his death.

He added that the government should support the family in whatever they intended to do and ensure they were all well catered for.

Sheik Ahmad Olore, however, urged relatives of the deceased to ensure there wasn’t any rancour after the death of Tajudeen Disu, saying, “unity should be the watchword always.”

when he sneaked into his residence without knowing that police laid in wait for him.

A resident of the area told Vanguard that the suspect had in 2012, also lured and raped a 2-year-old daughter of his neighbour, but the family was said to have resolved not to report the matter to the police.

When contacted, spokesman of Abia State police command, DSP Ezekiel Udeviotu, confirmed the incident, adding that the suspect would be arraigned as soon as police concluded investigation.

of Nekpenekpen Street, off First East Circular Road in Benin City, who was crushed to death by a driver attached to a private company in the city penultimate week, has debunked reports that their father shared a local gin (Ogogoro) with the suspect before he met his untimely death.

In a letter signed by their lawyer, Samson Omo Uwagboe & Co, the family said: “Our late father has never tasted any brand of drink for over twenty years, strictly on medical advice as a result of his ill health. ‘’At no time did our late father share Ogogoro drink with the said driver, nor were they ever friends.’’

It will be recalled that Pa

Egbobawaye met his untimely death in the hands of a driver attached to a company, who crushed him to death after taking Ogogoro in the late Odionwere’s compound.

“The fact of the matter was that there was a traditional marriage ‘introduction ceremony,’ scheduled to commence at about 10am on that day at the bride’s home at Evbuotubu and late Pa Michael was to lead his bridegrooms family to the venue.

“He was in high spirit in preparation for the ceremony, sat comfortably on a chair in the veranda in front of his house, shaving when the driver suddenly drove the company’s vehicle into the compound, smashing our client’s father against the wall and killing him on the spot.’

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015—7

FESTAC BANK ROBBERY:

My late wife, baby'll make

heaven —WIDOWER Police to query policemen deployed to banks

By Abdul-lateef Ligali & Lucky Nwanekwu

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AGOS—MR Peter Ndirika, 42, husband of the woman killed alongside her one year, two months old baby by bullets from rampaging robbers that attacked two banks at 4th Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos, on Tuesday, said yesterday that his late wife and baby would make heaven.

This came on a day policemen from the Anti-Bomb Squad and other sections under the Lagos State police command were sighted at the affected banks, taking finger prints.

However, Vanguard gathered that an inquiry would be instituted against the mobile policemen deployed to guard the affected banks.

Ndirika, an evangelist in the Lord’s Chosen Church, reportedly left his home that fateful day with a goodbye wave from his wife, Jane, unknown to him that it was a final farewell.

Unfortunately, when he returned home, he reportedly met his apartment on Road 8 in disarray, with blood stains on the wall.

How he heard the bad news

Narrating how the sad news was broken to him, Odirika said: “When I got back home in the evening, I saw blood every where and people in the house. My wife’s relative, a lady, was cleaning the blood and at the same time exclaiming, ‘My sister!

My sister!.’ When I asked what happened to her sister, my wife, she kept quiet. Those around simply told me to go to the hospital at First Gate. When I got there, I saw my wife lying lifeless.

The next question I asked was where was my daughter . I was also told she had been taken to Navy hospital at Satellite town.

Immediately, I moved my wife’s corpse to the Lord’s Chosen Hospital, from where she was transferred to Alimosho General Hospital where she worked as a nurse. It was at the hospital that she was confirmed dead. As if her death was not enough shock, I received a phone call from my wife’s younger brother who told me that my baby was dead also.”

She was a loving companion

Describing his late wife as his best friend, Ndirika said she was also known for her service to humanity. He said: “My wife worked for humanity. She was always out to make people happy, especially the less privileged. She was a loving companion. But we don’t have to blame anyone, even God who allowed it to happen because I believe there’s nothing that will happen in this world without God’s permission.

‘’Rather, we should all learn from what has happened. I know that my late wife and little daughter are in heaven. And to all of us that are still living today, we will meet her someday because death is inevitable. ‘’What matters most is where you are going to spend your

eternity at the end of this life and I am confident that she will make heaven. So, the opportunity that we have to live everyday is a privilege to move closer to God.”

Pensive mood at Igando General Hospital

Meanwhile, at Igando General

BEREAVED: Peter Ndirika, who lost wife and daughter during the Festac bank robbery.

Hospital where the deceased worked as a nurse, her colleagues were in a pensive mood. Everyone, including members of staff and patients, described late Jane Ndirika as a kind hearted nurse.

A patient, who was discharged from the hospital yesterday, said: “She was a good woman who always counselled one while administering drugs to patients.

Even when I was complaining

about money to buy some drugs, she told me to concentrate on my health and assured that God would provide the money. True to her words, my husband was able to raise money for the drugs.

Unfortunately, she is not here for me to express my gratitude for her reassuring hope.”

Vanguard gathered that the remains of Mmesoma, the baby, was buried Tuesday night at a cemetery in Mechanic village, around Alakija area of the state.

But the corpse of late Jane Ndirika, who hailed from Anambra State, was said to have been deposited at Isolo General Hospital morgue.

The building where mother and child were killed by stray robbers' bullets.

Man runs amok, kills father, 8 others in Enugu E

By Francis Igata

NUGU—NO fewer than nine persons have been confirmed killed by a man, identified as Onyekachi Ugwu, who ran amok, and macheted his parents and set their house ablaze.

The mother was, however, said to have survived the attack, while the father died in the process.

The suspect, who hails from Ngelefi in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, was also said to have on October 13, at about 2:30am, stormed the houses of other people in the farm settlement, killing eight others, including a baby of a year and six months old.

Enugu State police command spokesman, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, DSP, who confirmed the development, said domestic animals, motorcycles and other household materials were also burnt in the attack.

He said: “The suspect visited other houses at the farm settlement where he also matcheted the occupants to death, including a baby of a

year and six-month-old in one of the houses in the settlement where he operated.

“The killing brought the total number of casualties, including his father, to nine.

Further revelation had it that the mother of the suspect was lucky to have escaped the

unfortunate incident as she would have been counted as one of the victims. ‘’The entire area is enveloped in fear due to the activity of the suspect who is suspected to have mental case. ‘’Search for the suspect has

been intensified by the combined team of the police and the Neighbourhood Watch Group who are combing bushes and suspected hideouts for the suspect in order to stop further wreaking of havoc by the suspect.”

Gunmen abduct Bayelsa monarch Y

By Samuel Oyadongha

ENAGOA—UNKNOWN gunmen have kidnapped 85year-old Luckson Oberike, the paramount ruler of Biseni in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The community, which could be accessed through water and land, is on the border fringe between Bayelsa and Rivers states.

The five gunmen were said to have stormed the community through River Nun at about 0200hrs yesterday and whisked away the monarch to an unknown place.

A community source told Vanguard that no gunshot was fired by the gunmen during the

operation, ostensibly to defuse any suspicion among the locals.

The invaders were said to have used a ladder to gain access to their target, who lived in a duplex which front door was firmly secured.

The monarch was said to be fast asleep when he was forcibly taken away at gunpoint by the kidnappers to their waiting speedboat and escaped through Idu waterways in Rivers State.

A family source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “We are really troubled about his state of health. He is hypertensive and on medication. It is our prayer that no harm comes his way.”

Contacted, the state Police Public

Relations Office, ASP Asinim Butswat, confirmed the development.

He said: “Today (Wednesday) at about 0200hrs, unknown gunmen went to the residence of His Royal Highness, Mr Luckson O. Oberike, the Clan Head of Biseni in Biseni, Yenagoa LGA. “The unknown gunmen abducted him and whisked him away through Idu waterways, in Rivers State.

The Rivers State police command had been alerted as efforts had been intensified to rescue the victim and arrest the abductors.”

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

Positions sharing stalls reconciliation at NLC's

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

E

FFORTS to reconcile the two factions of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to form an allinclusive leadership, have been stalled by positions sharing, among other issues, as agreed at the Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo Statebrokered reconciliatory meeting in Abuja.

On August 19, two factions of NLC headed by Mr. Ayuba Wabba and Joe Ajaero, at a meeting in Abuja, chaired by Oshiomhole, attended by other labour veterans, including pioneer President, Hassan Sunmonu, agreed to find lasting solution to the leadership crisis rocking the congress, following the disputed outcome of the March National Delegates Conference.

After the August agreement, Oshiomhole, a former President of NLC, had announced that a seven-man committee, including Wabba and Ajaero, to be headed by Sunmonu, had been set up to resolve the impasse.

Oshiomhole said: “A couple of things definitely went wrong. We identified a lot of things and we agreed that the way forward was to be addressed one after the other and we have to have an all-inclusive congress in which all shades of opinions are involved in decision making.”

Vanguard gathered that when the issue of an allinclusive government and harmonizing came up, it was observed that parallel NLC executives were already existing in the states through elections and that if the national leadership crisis was resolved, it would also need to sort the states out.

The source said: “At this point, the Wabba led faction said there are some offices that are vacant that they could be filled from the Ajaero-led group.

“The Ajaero faction said no, and insisted that there must be a clear case of harmonization process.

“However, Wabba group said members want to go and seek mandate from their principals. Similarly, the other group said members will also report to their principals.”

Fuel price still highest in oil-producing states— NBS

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

D

ESPITE the relative stability in the supply of petroleum products across the country, fuel sold at the official pump price of N87 per litre in only three states.

Surprisingly, oil producing states, which are closer to both local supply sources (the refineries) and imported products storage and depots, dominated the top five states recording the highest hike above the official pump price.

The other surprise is that out of the three states that have hit

the official pump price, two, Sokoto and Jigawa, are in the far northern locations far away from the point of imports and storage facilities.

According to the latest Price Watch report on premium motor spirit (petrol), released yesterday by National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, average pump price of fuel across the country in September was N95.18 per litre.

Though the average actual price was about 9.1 percent higher than the official price, the September price shows significant drop from N104.48 recorded in the preceding

month of August and also shows a sustained declining trend in the national price range.

The report has indicated that average fuel price had remained significantly above the official price so far this year, with the lowest price at N93/litre in February, while the average peak price of N118.36/ litre was recorded in May, at the twilight of the administration of former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. The national average had been in decline since June.

As the national average price normalization continued, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states joined Taraba and Yobe in the top five, recording highest state average.

The report shows that while Taraba was the highest at N124.63/litre, Bayelsa came next with N119.78/ liter, with the five states recording prices far above official pump price.

In addition to Jigawa, Sokoto and Ogun states that recorded N87/ litre, among the states in the top five with lowest average fuel prices are Ekiti and Oyo states, at N87.5 and N87.72 per litre, respectively.

ID CARD: President Muhammadu Buhari (right) receiving a prototype of his national identity card from the Director General, National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Mr. Chris Onyemenam (3rd left), at the State House, Abuja.

With them is General Manager, Corporate Communications, Alhaji Abdulhamid Umar (2nd left); Card Activation Officer, Miss Bimbo Ogunode (left) and others. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.

Reps probe BPE over sale of power assets

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—THE House of Representatives, yesterday, resolved to probe the administration of former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, on the sale of power assets.

The House, in a resolution on the motion entitled Alleged Non-transparent and Fraudulent Sale of Power Assets by the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, by Jonathan’s administration, bemoaned what it called lack of openness in the processes leading to the sale of power infrastructure to private investors.

The sponsor of the motion, John Okafor, representing Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/ Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, stressed the importance of power to every business,

family, public or private institution, household and the general growth of the nation’s economy.

Okafor alleged that the sale of power assets by the administration lacked transparency and openness and that there was unfair treatment of Nigerians that

were disengaged from their jobs in the process, while epileptic power supply continued despite the privatization of the sector.

The House unanimously passed the motion through voice votes and resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the processes

and sale of all aspects of power assets in by BPE to determine if there were malpractices and misconduct in the exercise.

The House will also, in the course of the investigation, determine whether appropriate value was had for money and if any person breached the rules and the law.

FG to ban rice importation in 2017

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA—FEDERAL Government, yesterday, said it has plans to stop the importation of rice in the next two years.

It, however, stated that the policy would not be enforced until it had developed local industries to maximally produce for local consumption.

The plan was communicated to newsmen by Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of

Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, after a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and permanent secretaries of federal ministries at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Yari said with the emerging political will power of the present government and the availability of arable land, Nigeria can sustain itself with rice production.

He regretted that so much money had gone into rice importation, which he said could be produced locally.

Yari said: “The meeting was on the new policy on agriculture and food sustainability. We discussed how we can boost rice production in Nigeria and start thinking about how we are going to put policy in place on how rice importation will be banned.

“We have the potential, the human resources and arable land. In the next two years, we will ban rice importation.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015—9

INEC insists on card reader for Kogi, Bayelsa gov polls

By Jude Opara

A

PARTNERSHIP: From left— Country Manager, Proparco, Mr. Olivier Follin; French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys Gaver; Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje; Country Director, French Development Agency, Olivier Delefosse, and Consul General of France in Lagos, Mr. Laurent Polonceaux, at the bank's partnership agreement signing ceremony with Agence Francaise de Development, AFD, to launch the Ariz Portfolio Guarantee Scheme.

Reps want federal character in recruitment of 10,000 policemen

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

Create standing c’ttee on IDPs, refugees

A

Section 14(2) (C), Section 14(3) and Section 15(2) to underscore the national integration of the country, and downplay discriminatory ground based on place of origin, sex, religion, state or linguistic grounds.

Sponsors of the motion noted “ with dismay the flagrant abuse of the above provisions of the Constitution in the previous recruitment exercises by federal agencies, especially security services (military and paramilitary).

“The House recognizes the need to ensure balance, equity, fair-play and justice in all recruitment exercises in the future in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.”

The decision of the House to establish the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, and Refugee Committee, which was before now under the Human Rights Committee, followed the adoption of a motion by Emmanuel OkerJev (APC, Benue State).

Oker-Jev had in the motion noted that the Boko Haram insurgency, which started around 2007, had constituted the single most devastating incident in Nigeria’s history since the end of the Civil War in 1970.

According to him, the murderous activities of the violent sect in the North-East had led to the death of over 200,000 people, displacement of over five million others, destruction of property worth millions of Naira and dislocation of the way of life of the people of the region.

BUJA—THE House of Representatives, yesterday, advised the Police Service Commission, PSC, and other relevant authorities to adhere to the spirit of federal character as contained in the Constitution in the recruitment of additional 10,000 police personnel as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The House told PSC, Ministry of Police Affairs, and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the “allotment of 10 slots to each of the 768 local government areas and six area councils of Abuja in the first instance.”

The House also commended the President for his “giant strides” in addressing insecurity and unemployment by the gesture and called on the relevant authorities to respect the spirit of federal character.

It also advised legislative compliance committees to ensure implementation of the resolution by relevant agencies.

The respect for and adherence to the federal character in the recruitment of the additional 10,000 police officers, as directed by the President, was part of the resolution in the motion sponsored by Muhammad Abdu (APC, Bauchi), alongside 79 other members.

Abdu said the need to enforce the constitutional provisions in the recruitment exercise was borne out of the need to uphold unity, harmony and the country’s integration drive.

... in the Constitution

He supported his argument with relevant constitutional provisions that include Section 3(6), Section 4(2), Section 14(1),

According to him, “we are concerned about the large scale of devastation of the North-East zone by the sect and the compelling need to adopt extra military measures towards rebuilding the zone which had been akin to a theatre of war.

“We are also cognizant of the level of rehabilitation, reconstruction, re-orientation and reintegration of the traumatized and displaced people of the North-East zone and it requires the creation of a standing committee devoted exclusively to handle the tasks ahead.”

C'ttee's functions

The committee is expected to oversee Ministries, Agencies and Departments, MDA, of

government responsible for IDPs, refugees, migrants and stateless persons, save those assigned to other committees.

In addition, the committee would perform oversight and legislative functions on the National Commission for Refugees or any successor agency.

Also, it would be the responsibility of the committee to relate and coordinate with multinational and supra-national agencies and bodies with respect to the rehabilitation, reconstruction, recovery, resettlement and development of the NorthEast zone comprising Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States ravaged by terrorism.

BUJA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has disclosed that it will still use card reader machines and the permanent voter cards, PVCs, for the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states later in the year.

This is also as the commission has assured that the much-awaited report on the 2015 general election would finally be released and made public next month.

National Commissioner, Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku, who revealed this in Abuja yesterday at a workshop on postelection lessons, also assured that the report will be very comprehensive and detailed.

On what led to the delay in the release of the 2015 general election report, Nwuruku said: “We have prepared them, but we are just putting the final efforts on the report.

“It has not been easy preparing it, but we will soon release it, at least next month.”

He gave an update on the Bayelsa and Kogi elections stating that “We have learned a lot of lessons from using card readers during the last election and I do not think we will have any problem using them again.”

... probe N18bn rail contracts

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—MEMBERS of the House of Representatives, yesterday, mandated the committee on transport to probe the N18 billion contracts awarded for the rehabilitation of rail tracks, standard gauge, bridges, coaches, wagons and locomotives between 2010 and 2014.

The House also resolved to probe infrastructural decay at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu State.

The motion on Nigeria Railways Corporation, NRC, and its contractors was sequel to a move by Solomon Ahwinawhi

(PDP/Delta) entitled Need to Investigate the Ministry of Transport and the Nigeria Railways Corporation, NRC, on the Award of Contracts for Rehabilitation of Railway Tracks, Maintenance of Bridges and Procurement/ Rehabilitation of Coaches and Locomotives from 20102014.

Ahwinawhi said: “The level of performance, with respect to the 463km Port HarcourtMarkurdi rail track rehabilitation of the eastern line with N19,963,752,330, out of which NRC has paid N4,017,054,841, while SURE -P paid N5,594,021,377 and only about 3km of ballast has

been done with 400km left undone and the total money released so far is N9, 611, 076, 218.

“The Abuja-Kaduna rail project had 841 million US dollars as the project cost, out of which the China EXIM Bank provided a loan of 500 million US dollars with about 25 percent of the project completed, when the entire project was envisaged to have been completed in 2014.“ He also said the Lagos-Jebba track rehabilitation project was awarded at a contract sum of N12, 293,390 with the payments made so far at N11, 699, 999,218, without any tangible work done adding that the same goes for Jebba-Kano.

10 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

SYNAGOGUE: Hearing on Coroner's suit begins Monday

L

AGOS—HEARING in the suit challenging the decision of the Lagos State Government to enforce the recent Coroner ’s indictment of the Synagogue Church of all Nations will commence before the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, October 19.

It will be recalled that 116 persons including South Africans died in a building collapse disaster at the Synagogue Church on September 12, 2014. There were local and international calls for a thorough investigation and possible prosecution to give justice to the victims.

After over a year of legal twists and turns initiated by the Synagogue Church, the Coroner’s inquest into the building collapse delivered a ruling which amongst other things indicted the Synagogue Church of all Nations for criminal negligence and recommended that it be prosecuted.

Immediately after the Coroner’s verdict, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in a determined move, pledged to enforce the verdict to the letter vowing to seek justice for the victims of the disaster no matter the circumstances. He ordered the Law enforcement agencies to immediately arrest the indicted persons and enforce the verdict.

But in a move to forestall the enforcement, the indicted Engineers of the Synagogue Church approached the Federal High Court seeking the enforcement of their fundamental human rights to fair hearing, human dignity and personal liberty as provided under Sections 34, 35 and 36 of the Constitution

1ST ANNIVERSARY: Fayose, APC bicker over performance

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

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DO EKITI—THE Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose yesterday described his performance in the last one year, as satisfactory.

Fayose was sworn-in in October 16 last year.

Fayose, who made the self-

appraisal in Ado-Ekiti while inspecting some projects, said; "Considering the lean resources available to the State due to huge debt incurred by the immediate past administration, we have done well.’’

However, the All Progressives Congress, (APC), in Ekiti State has described the first

Six-month reprieve to squatters

Also yesterday, reprieve came the way of over 5,000 residents of Olorunsogo and Olorunda areas of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, as the State Government gave them a six-month to regularise AGM: From left; Dr (Mrs) Adepeju Esan; Director (Oyo); Mr Adewale Raji, GMD, Odu'a Investment; their titles to the land.

Alhaji Tola Bello, Director (Ogun); Otunba Olajumoke Ogunkeyede, Director (Ondo) and Dr Sikiru They are to pay N100,000 per plot Tai Lawal, Director (Ekiti) during the 33rd Annual General Meeting of Odu'a Investment Company for illegally building their houses Ltd at the Cocoa House Corporate Headquarters of the company, yesterday. Photo by Dare Fasube. on the state government’s land.

Lagos seals scrap dump yard over poor safety

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

AGOS State Government, yesterday, sealed a scrap dump yard at Plot 6, Gbagada Expressway, over non compliance with safety measures in workplace.

A team of State Safety Commission officials led by Engineer Babatunde Liadi disclosed that the premises was shut due to the lack of safety measure for the operation being undertaking in the yard.

Liadi explained that the commission has intensified its safety inspection to companies and organisations by visiting new and previously inspected companies to ascertain their level of compliance.

He reiterated that the Commission’s safety inspection team would continue to visit all manufacturing and corporate organisations in the state until the safety culture is enshrined in the heart of all entrepreneurs in the state.

The team also revisited Hongxing Steel Limited whose activities were stopped by the Commission two week ago for safety default, which allegedly caused the death of one of its workers.

Speaking during the inspection of the Company, Liadi, stated that prior to the incident at the Chinese company, the Commission had notified them of their non compliance with safety meas-

SERAP threatens legal actions over Volkswagen emission

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

S

OCIO-ECONOMIC Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, yesterday requested President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently investigate Volkswagen’s business in Nigeria to see if cars sold to Nigerians are in breach of human rights including the rights to life, health and general satisfactory environment.

year of Governor Fayose’s administration as a fortune reversal for the state.

The party said the gains of Governors Segun Oni and Dr Kayode Fayemi administrations had been eroded by Fayose’s government of impunity and violence.

APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said in a statement

that the experience of Ekiti people in the last one year had shown clearly that there was nothing to celebrate in terms of achievements.

Projects inspected by Fayose yesterday include, the dualisation of Awedele road, the seven kilometer Police Headquarters road and the dredging and channelisation of erosion prone areas.

“I have said that I will leave no project uncompleted during my four–year term. It is my duty to ensure that all Ekiti residents feel the dividends of democracy.

Though, we have paucity of funds but within the little resources we have, I think I have satisfied my conscience and done creditably well,” he said.

Meantime, the APC, accused Fayose of running a one-man government without regard to the law, citing the new un-budgeted airport project that had led to the death of a farmer over shock of felling his economic trees without compensation.

In a statement signed by its executive director, Mumuni Adetokunbo, SERAP stated that unless the government urgently intervenes, the body will take appropriate legal action to hold both the government and Volkswagen accountable for breaches of constitutional and international law.

According to SERAP, it wants the government to determine whether Volkswagen activities generate carbon emissions into the Nigeria society.

It stated: “SERAP notes that the Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) recently revealed that your government has no position on the Volkswagen, VW emission scandal. Yet, the SON has stated that Nigerian citizens are at risk. ''Even Volkswagen has admitted wrongdoing for breaching the public trust and stated that that about 11 million of its cars worldwide were fitted with the technology dubbed defeat device.”

ures to no avail.

To prosecute traffic offenders Meantime, following increasing traffic gridlock across the state, Lagos State Government has threatened to henceforth, prosecute any erring motorist found flouting the state road traffic laws.

The state government made the threat yesterday, at an inter-ministerial media briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, addressed by, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation Mr. Seyi Whenu; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works Engineer Ajibade Adebowale; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment Mr. Toyin Onisarotu,

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr. Folarin Adeyemi, as well as the General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Mr. Bashir Braimoh.

They reiterated government’s commitment to ensure absolute enforcement of the state traffic laws.

Whenu said that investigations by agencies of the state government revealed that the increasing traffic gridlock being experienced across the state is not unconnected with the misinterpretation of the instruction of Governor Ambode when he said enforcement of the state traffic laws be done with human face and total courtesy.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015—11

Tribunal affirms Senator Uzodinma, Onyewuchi in in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara & Vincent Ujumadu

T

HE ELECTION Petitions Tribunals sitting in Owerri and Awka in Imo and Abia respectively, have sent cold shivers down the spines of some politicians and parties, as the tribunals quashed some results delivered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and upheld others.

In Imo State , some of the lucky politicians of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, extraction included the senator representing Orlu senatorial zone in the National Assembly, Senator Hope Uzodinma, and the member representing Owerri federal constituency, Chef Ezenwa Onyewuchi.

The unlucky ones were the PDP Senator representing Imo North senatorial zone, Chief Athan Achonu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, member representing Oru East state constituency, Mr. Nkenna Nzeruo.

The first tribunal that looked into the matter filed by Chief Osita Izunaso against Senator Hope Uzodinma, was struck out by the newly reconstituted tribunal that tried the petition.

The tribunal dismissed

Izunaso’s petition on the ground that the petitioner, who claimed that election did not hold in three local council areas of Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema and Oru East, could not substantiate his claim.

In the case Oru East state constituency, the tribunal ruled that there was merit in the petition filed by Millicent Duru of the Labour Party, LP.

The tribunal found out that apart from the fact that one party agent signed the result sheets of more than three electoral wards, the number of registered voters and permanent voters' cards distributed in the local government area, did not tally with the votes cast and results announced.

The tribunal not only quashed

....APGA vows to appeal

By Anayo Okoli

the election of the APC candidate but also ordered that a fresh election be conducted by INEC within 90 days.

For Senator Achonu of the PDP, the tribunal ruled that since the logo of Accord Party was missing in the ballot paper, the entire exercise ought to be repeated.

PRESENTATION: Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi (left) and his Borno State counterpart, Alhaji Kasheem Shettima, during the presentation of bags of Ebonyi rice and wrappers by Ebonyi State Government for Borno's Internally Displaced Persons in Abuja, yesterday.

....Uba wins in Anambra South

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WKA—THE Anambra State election petition tribunal sitting in Awka, has upheld the election of Senator Andy Uba representing Anambra South senatorial zone.

Also, the petition filed by the son of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Ojukwu jr of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, was dismissed for lack of merit by the second tribunal also sitting in Awka.

The senatorial candidate of APGA for Anambra South, Chief Ernest Ndukwe, had dragged Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the tribunal, claiming that the figures used by INEC to declare Uba winner did not emanate from the polling units

....Amuka loses in Imo Ideato South

I

N THE same vein, the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Owerri, yesterday nullified the election of the APC, menber representing Governor Rochas Okorocha’s native home, Ideato South constituency in Imo State House of Assembly, Mr Ikechukwu Amuka.

The Tribunal equally ordered INEC to immediately issue certificate of return to Mrs. Nkechinyere Ugwu, of the PDP as the duly elected lawmaker.

Justice P.I. Idong of the three-man panel, who delivered more than three hours judgment, affirmed that Amuka presented forged West Africa School Certificate Examination result to INEC to contest the April 11, 2015 election.

The tribunal further ordered the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly to immediately swear-in Mrs.

Ugwu as the genuine winner of the April 11, state legislative election for Ideato South.

Reviewing evidences and submissions by the parties, the tribunal noted that “the photography on the original WAEC result tendered by Amuka was that of one Kevin I. Amuka, who attended St. Peter Claver Seminary, Okpala”.

The Tribunal maintained that subjects claimed to have been written by the respondent were doubtful, noting that the respondent failed to prove to the panel that he at the time of the said election was qualified by law to contest.

“With the evidence before this panel, we are convinced that the first respondent presented a forged certificate to INEC and therefore lied on oath and should be prosecuted for perjury and forgery by INEC”, Justice Idong said.

in all the seven local government areas in the zone.

But Justice Nayai Aganaba, chairman of the tribunal, who read the judgment, said the petitioner failed to prove the alleged irregularities in some areas, including Uli Ward 1 and Lilu ward where he (the petitioner) claimed that agents of the PDP engaged in electoral malpractices.

According to the Judge, the petitioner merely dumped documents before the tribunal and failed to invite relevant witnesses to substantiate his claims.

“The tribunal is an adjudicator and not an investigator,” adding that the onus of proving irregularities was on the petitioner, but he failed to do so.

U

MUAHIA—ALL Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, yesterday, expressed worry over how tribunals sitting in Abia State threw out the petitions of all its candidates and vowed to pursue the matters to the highest judicial level to in search of justice.

The National Chairman of the party, Dr. Victor Ike Oye, who was in Umuahia yesterday to address party members, urged them to remain calm and go about their peaceful businesses.

The Chairman said the party was deeply worried over the way petitions of members were being treated and assured all the petitioners that the party was solidly behind them in the pursuit to recover their alleged stolen mandates.

Janet Ogun for burial

M

RS JANET Ogun (Nee Akpulu) will be buried on Friday, October 16, at Ugboha, in Esan South East Local Government, Edo State.

Late Mrs Ogun died August 27, aged 78.

She was a devout Christian and a great philantropist, who lost her husband 37, but weathered the storm to take care of her children.

Late Mrs. Ogun

JOGS 74/79 set meets

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JEBU-ODE G R A M M A r School, JOGS, Old Boys Association 74/79 set, according to the General Secretary, Adelana Adeola, will meet Sunday, October 18, 2015, to be hosted by Wole Obayomi, at Jyde Court 5, Plot 28b, Rd 35, VGC, Ajah, Lagos.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

Tribunal upholds Akpabio’s election

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—THE Akwa Ibom State National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja, yesterday, affirmed the former governor of the state, Chief Godswill Akpabio, as the winner of Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial seat.

In its judgement, the tribunal, headed by Goddy Anunihu, dismissed the petition lodged against Akpabio’s election by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidate for the senatorial district, Chief Inibehe Okori.

The tribunal held that the petitioners failed to prove that the former governor was not validly nominated by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to contest the March 28, 2015, National Assembly election.

It held that the fact that Akpabio was in an initial list that was sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by the PDP, erroneously identified as the senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North East, did not invalidate his election.

According to the tribunal, “There is abundant evidence that the

electorate, including the petitioners, were not in any way deceived as to the senatorial district in which the 1st respondent was nominated to contest the election. There is also uncontroverted evidence that the 1st petitioner bought the form of the 3rd respondent (PDP) for the same Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district before he lost the ticket and decamped to the APC.”

Noting that INEC had 30 days before the election took place, published names of all the candidates for the election and their senatorial districts, the tribunal maintained that, “If the petitioners had any reason to believe that the 1st respondent was not qualified to contest the election, they would have taken up the matter immediately and do the needful.”

It held that the election that

produced Akpabio was done in substantial compliance to the Electoral Act, 2010, saying: "We hold that the petitioners are not, therefore, entitled to any of the reliefs they sought in this petition and it is therefore accordingly dismissed.”

The tribunal ordered the petitioners to pay a cost of N30, 000 to each of the three respondents in the matter.

SUMMIT: Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC), Mr. Osagie Okunbor, conducts Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo round the exhibition stand of the company at the 21st Nigeria Economic Summit Meeting in Abuja.

ILLEGAL DETENTION: Court orders Police to pay Ugolor N1m

By Simon Ebegbulem & Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—THE High Court in Benin City has ordered the Nigeria Police to pay N1 million to the Executive Director, African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, following his incarceration and seizure of his property by the police after the brutal murder of the Principal Private Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, in 2012.

The court also ordered the Police to release all his seized property.

It would be recalled that Rev. Ugolor was in police and prison custody for 41 days before he was granted bail and later discharged and acquitted by the High Court in Benin in the murder of Comrade Oyerinde.

Ugolor had raised alarm severally that his property were seized by the police during his incarceration which he said they refused to release to him even after he was discharged and acquitted by the court.

The environmental activist approached the court through his counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi, to press for the enforcement of his fundamental rights against the Police in suit no b/57m/14 where he sued the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation and

Minister of Justice as respondents.

The judgment by Justice E. O. Ahamioje, dated October 13, 2015, indicated that the Police did not file any counter affidavit even after being duly served with the proceedings on the matter where Ugolor

was demanding for the return of his seized property and N10 million as damages.

The judge averred that the court was satisfied that the respondent was duly served and that it was not the business of the court to find out why the respondent opted out of the

proceedings. According to the judge, “The Respondents, their agents, successors, privies should release the applicant’s property in their custody forthwith. I award the sum of N1 million only as exemplary and general damages against the respondents.”

NUPENG decries killing of Shell staff in Bayelsa

By Stephen Mmadukwem

N

IGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has condemned the killing of an oil worker by gunmen at Kolo Creek Flow Station belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company in Ogbia, Bayelsa State.

The union, in a statement by

its president, Igwe Achese, said that the killing of the oil worker was one death too many, saying: “Oil workers who toil day and night to produce the hydrocarbon which is the mainstay of our economy should not be exposed to such dangers due to security lapses, despite the hazards of their jobs. The death of the oil worker,

identified as Austin Igwe, is unfortunate despite the presence of men of the Joint Military Task Force, JTF, “Operation Pulo Shield,” at the flow station. The Union expresses its disappointment at the JTF men at the flow station who were caught napping by the gunmen who carted away their caliber weapons."

EFCC blames protracted oil theft on delayed court processes

By Egufe Yafugborhi

W

A R R I — T H E Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has blamed security agencies' failure to eradicate oil theft in Nigeria on delayed court processes by the nation's judiciary.

Hameed Bawa, Head, Assets Forfeiture Unit, EFCC, passed the blame on the judiciary yesterday at the Nigerian Navy

Ship (NNS) Delta, Warri Naval Base, Delta State where Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman handed nine suspected oil thieves and a vessel, OMS OGU to the EFCC for prosecution.

Suleiman said, "The ship got a valid clearance by Navy to lift 10,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) from Matrix, a private tank farm in Warri, but a naval patrol team allegedly

caught the same ship and nineman crew using the permit to lift diesel from a far off illegal refinery on August 28, in Kantu, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta state."

Responding, Bawa said: "The challenge we have is the judiciary. Once we receive suspects and assets used for oil theft, we investigate and start prosecution immediately, but it takes a long time for a case to be concluded."

Maritime workers task vessel owners on employment of locals

W

ARRI—MARITIME Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, has called on vessel owners in the coastal areas of the country, especially Delta, Edo, Anambra and Ondo states, to place priority on the engagement of indigenous people in line with the Local Content Act. Delta State and Central Zone Chairman, MWUN, Seamen branch, under Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, Boro Ekotoro, spoke at Effurun, Delta State, before inaugurating a new 15-man executive to pilot the affairs of Ilaje Seafarers Association.

Stressing that it is the responsibility of MWUN to ensure that the welfare of maritime workers are adequately taken care of, Ekotoro warned that anyone caught flouting the NIMASA Act of 2007 would be persecuted to ensure the operations of seafarers fell within global professional standard.

He advised the new leadership of Ilaje seafarers to exhibit the highest sense of professionalism in the discharge of their assignment.

Mama Akporido passes on at 107

M

AMA Oshevure Akporido of Abraka, Delta State, is dead, aged 107. She died after a brief illness in Sapele on July 29.

According to the family, service of songs takes place at St Patrick's Catholic Church, Sapele, on October 22, while funeral service comes up on the 23rd at the same venue.

Interment holds thereafter at Orea-Abraka, Delta State.

She is survived by her daughter, Mrs OgheneMime Ogodo, grand children and several relations.

Late Mama Akporido

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015—13

Fuel scarcity hits Rivers as NUPENG begins strike

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— QUEUES have surfaced in some filling stations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following a directive by the Eastern Zone of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, to its members in the state to suspend loading and distribution of products.

Chairman of the union, Mr Godwin Eruba, said members took the action to protest alleged police harassment of its members at the premises of an oil firm, Weatherford Nigeria Limited.

He said members were picketing the firm over labour related issues when policemen allegedly started molesting the union members.

Similarly, national industrial officer of NUPENG, Mr. Bassey Harry, said the strike which commenced yesterday, would only be suspended when the police officers who harassed the union members were made to face the law.

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has expressed

support for NUPENG's action, saying the Rivers State Government, Commissioner of Police and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, should step in to resolve the crisis.

State Chairman of TUC, Mr Chika Unuegbu, said it was shocked that the Police could be so ruthless over a labour related issue.

The Police on its part denied that its men harassed members of the union.

Police spokesman in the state, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, said the Police only made effort to assist bailiffs/officials to enforce a court verdict from the National Industrial Court, Yenegoa, Bayelsa State.

DSP Muhammad explained in a statement that the court officials requested the assistance of the Police, adding that the police merely ensured that there was no break down of law and order while the bailiffs and court officials went about their assignments.

“It is relevant to state that

the Rivers State Police Command acted on the request of court bailiffs to enforce a court judgment delivered by Justice J. T. Agbambu-Fishim of the National Industrial Court,

ENATOR Magnus Abe has described Tuesday's dismissal of his petition against Olaka Worgu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja as a case of Judicial 419.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Parry Saroh Benson, Senator Abe declared that the ruling was pre-determined and wondered how the tribunal expected him to produce over 1,000 witnesses within five days when it admitted between two to three witnesses in a day and at the same time write an address to be submitted within 24 hours.

He contended that the court knew it was practically impossible to sustain it. He also rejected a situation where the court refused to

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admit any of the evidence given against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the conduct of the election while delivering its ruling.

According to the statement, “I consider what happened today (Tuesday) in court as nothing but a case of Judicial 419. How can the court give us five days to produce over 1,000 witnesses from all the polling units in the

bailiffs without police actually taking part in the execution.

The Police were merely performing their constitutional duties in line with the principles of natural justice and rule of law," he said.

AWARD: From left: Second runner-up, 2015 Maltina Teacher-of-the-Year, Mr. Daniel Udiong; 2015 Maltina Teacher-of-the-Year, Mrs. Rose Obi and the first runner-up, 2015 Maltina Teacherof-the-Year, Mrs Binta Mohammed Lawaan, during the presentation of the 2015 Maltina Teacher-of-the-Year award.

Dismissal of petition by Tribunal, judicial 419 —ABE

S

Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. In such circumstances, it is the constitutional mandate of the Police to maintain law and order during the execution of the court judgment which was purely done by the court

senatorial district when they admitted two to three witnesses in a day? The court knew from the very beginning that it was impossible to sustain such and that was why they dragged us from one motion to the other which was neither here nor there.

“Nigerians knew that there was no election in Rivers State. We are going to appeal the ruling at the Appeal Court."

14 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

CONDOLENCE VISIT S TTO O ANTHONY VILLA GE, LA GOS RESIDENCE OF LA TE TTOR OR CH VISITS VILLAGE, LAGOS LATE ORCH ORIT SEWEYIMI TTAIRE, AIRE, WHO PPASSED ASSED AAW WAY ON MOND AY. PPhot hot os bbyy L amidi B amidele.

ORITSEWEYIMI MONDA hotos

From left; Mr Akin Sanwo-Olu; Princess Aurora George-Taylor; Mrs Adefemi Taire (widow); Mrs Morenike Taire, Woman Editor, Vanguard Newspaper and Pastor (Mrs) Anthonia Adeyemo.

From left; Mrs Adefemi Taire; Chief Ephraim Faloughi and Eyitemi Taire.

Balogun Bayo Shoyoye signing the condolence register.

From left; Mr Bola Adeyemo; Professor Egerton Uvieghara and Prince Adediji Adedoyin.

MINIS TERIAL SCREENING AATT THE N ATION AL ASSEMBL A . PPhot hot os bbyy G bemiga O lamik an.

MINISTERIAL NA TIONAL ASSEMBLYY, ABUJ ABUJA hotos lamikan.

From left, former Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola; Taofeek Adaranijo; Reps Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila and Ismaila Kawu after Fashola's screening.

Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu (left) and a friend.

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Mrs Kemi Adeosun after being screened.

Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan (right)and others.

Dr. Chris Ngige (centre) with supporters.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015 — 15

As president, insults were pleasant to me — OBASANJO

By Ola Ajayi

I

BADAN—FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo said yesterday that it was a form of pleasure to him when he was being insulted as a sitting president by his critics or perceived political opponents.

To show that he enjoyed the ‘fun’, he said all those published insults were kept in the archives at his presidential library.

He said, “If you visit the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, you will find thousands of archived newspaper comics and columns meant to spite and

insult my person even as a sitting President. No individual or group of people was ever queried or jailed or repressed for expressing this freedom.

Rather, I encouraged them because I derived fun and pleasure from the humour as I know who I am and nobody needs to tell me who and what I am not .“ He said this while presenting his keynote address at the first international conference of the African Studies Association of Africa, ASAA, entitled, “African Studies in the Twenty-First Century, Past, Present and Future” which held at the International Conference

Airport users groan as car hire operators’ strike

By Daniel Eteghe

L

A G O S — Hundreds of passengers were yesterday stranded at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos following the strike embarked upon by the limousine operators and car hires over the re-routing of the former by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN. Vanguard gathered that the strike led to the grounding of activities at the airport as most of the limousine operators and car hires down tools for the day.

Vanguard further learnt that the car hire operators had complained to FAAN that the limousine operators (users of luxury cars for transport) regularly hijack their passengers, rather than using the allocated route of the Airport to the Ikeja axis alloted to them.

The protest however led

to passengers being stranded at various bus stops from Ikeja under bridge to hajj camp and international airport car parks.

Vanguard also observed that passengers who intended to use the airport walked for many hours from their various destinations and the ever busy road suddenly became light of traffic.

Speaking, one of the limousine operators who spoke on the condition of anonymity accused FAAN of re-routing the limousine operators to Hajj Camp from Ikeja while the Sienna users were re-routed to the international wing of the airport from their usual hajj camp at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO, Plc. There are no fewer than 500 limousine and car hires operators registered with FAAN at the airport, but, they all refused to comply with the re-routing order by FAAN.

LCCI to induct 160 new members

By Naomi Uzor

T

HE Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, yesterday, said all is set for the induction of 160 new companies into its membership.

In a statement by the Director General of LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, the chamber said the induction is usually organised to formally accept and welcome organisations C M Y K

operating within Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.

“The LCCI, since its establishment in 1888 has committed itself to the promotion of a conducive business environment for the organised private sector by supporting or opposing legislative or other measures affecting trade, Industry, commerce and agriculture, and this has made LCCI membership very attractive to many in Nigeria” he said.

Centre of the University of Ibadan.

The elder statesman, who described himself as incurable optimist on a brighter future of Africa, reiterated that the continent will soon wriggle out of bad governance and corruption, which seemed to be a syndrome in the continent.

He recalled the ugly past when Africans were used as slaves by colonialists.

Chief Obasanjo added that the inhumanity meted to the continent then formed the basis for the seeming backwardness being experienced at present saying, “the stain and stench of slave trade, the cold war, poor governance made some Africans to laud the good old days of colonialism, corruption and problem of human rights violations.

“In all these, I am delighted that the so-called great European historians who professed that Africa has no history lived to realise that African history and culture had impacts and ramifications on other parts of the world including theirs”, he said.

However, he was happy that all factors that militate against growth and

development were no longer in vogue in the continent.

“The right to free speech, the right to express a different view point, the right to draw personal conclusions based on selfinstituted research and to querry certain cultural practices and beliefs are part of the huge liberty that the continent of Africa now boasts of,” Obasanjo said.

Professor Akin Mabogunje, who was the chairman of the event and other speakers aligned with Chief Obasanjo on the need to use our intellect to develop the continent.

Other notable people at the occasion included Professor Toyin Falola, a keynote speaker, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Isaac Adewole was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) , Professor Emilolorun Aiyelari, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Gbemisola Oke, the Director of the African Studies of the University of Ibadan, Professor Dele Layiwola, Professor Femi Osofisan, Dr. Sola Olorunfemi, Dr. Olaoluwa Shenayon and many others.

Ambode seeks UK’s partnership for rural power

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

A G O S — GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday played host to the British Minister of State for Foreign Commonwealth Affairs and DFID, Mr. Grant Shapps and the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Ray Kyles, where he expressed the readiness of the state to explore the opportunities for partnership in the area of power supply.

Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House, lauded the intervention of the UK DFID through solar related energy in the state, expressing optimism that it would prove a viable energy alternative to more rural areas in the state.

He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to partner with willing investors to take power supply to

communities in need of it.

Governor Ambode lauded the longstanding partnership with the UK DFID, which he said has been beneficial to the state in recent times, just as he assured that his administration will sustain the relationship.

“I am also one of the partakers of the programmes that DFID put together in the course of my earlier career. ''I just want to say that they have brought so many reforms and changes to Lagos state that we have partaken in.''

Earlier, Mr. Shapps expressed excitement at the visit, noting that the economic possibilities that abound in the state coupled with its population make it one to reckon with.

He said: “There are a lot of exciting opportunities and that is why I’m so pleased to be with you and to make use of these opportunities.''

Condolences, as Torch Taire dies at 81

Late Torch Oritseweyinmi Taire

L

AGOS—SCORES of dignitaries yesterday visited the family of late Torch Oritseweyinmi Taire to condole with them over the demise of the wellknown Lagos business tycoon in his Anthony Village home.

Mr. Torch Oritseweyinmi Taire, died in the wee hours of Monday, in Lagos after a brief illness.

He was aged 81.

Torch Oritseweyinmi Taire was born into the Taire family of Effurun, Delta State. One of two children on his mother’s side, he followed his older sister to the Cameroons where he attended primary school and later to Calabar, where he attended the renowned Hope Waddell College.

TOT, as he was known, trained as a pharmacist at the University of Ibadan where he met his wife of the past 50 years, Dorcas Adefemi Abeke,

nee Williams. He went on to work for Parke Davis pharmaceutical company, after which he set up a pharmacy in Ojuelegba, Lagos.

A man of many dimensions, he later ventured into the i m p o r t a t i o n business, was a Defence Contractor with British Aerospace and later became a notable art collector. His good taste and love of fine things set him apart as a collector.

He was the MD of Stanley Torch Nigeria Ltd. A very stylish man in his heyday, many will remember him for his impeccable taste in clothes and cars, as well as his well-known 70 South Audley Street address, which was a pitstop for Nigerian society in the London of the 1980s.

He is survived by his wife, brother, children, nephews and most beloved grandchildren.

Expert canvasses 18,700 MW power

F

OR healthy economic growth, the nation’s power supply should increase to 18,700 megawatts as against the 4,800 megawatts currently being generated across the federation.

This was the submission of the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Eng. Peter Esewor, yesterday, at the ongoing 11th international conference and exhibition on power and telecommunications which kicked off in Osogbo, Osun State.

He called on electrical practitioners in Nigeria to source for alternative power supply saying this will go a long way to increase Investment opportunity and reduce unemployment rates in the country.

16—Vanguard,THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

ALLEGED ROBBERY, RAPE:

Baale, 2 others in court

TSA: FG freezes INEC’s accounts over

non-compliance

By Jude Opara

By Onozure Dania

L

AGOS—A traditional ruler at Odo- Onosa Village in Lagos State, Chief Jimoh Balogun, and two others, were yesterday, arraigned before a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere, over alleged robbery and rape.

The other defendants, including Morufu Adekoya and Adefowope Kazeem, are standing trial on a fourcount charge bordering on conspiracy, robbery and rape preferred against them by Lagos State.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them when the charge was read.

The defendants and others still at large, who were docked before Justice Raliatu Adebiyi, were alleged to have conspired to commit the alleged offence on March 26, 2014, at about 10:30a.m. at OdoOnsa, Epe, Lagos.

Lagos State prosecuting counsel, Babatunde Oguntemowo, told the court that the defendants, while armed with a gun and other offensive and dangerous weapons, robbed one Adeomi Ayomide of her wristwatches, three laptops and a cash sum of N272,000.

He said the defendants also robbed one Korede Fayibo of a television set, one DVD player, unspecified amount of money and other valuables.

Oguntemowo also alleged that the defendants raped one Adeomi Ayomide after robbing her of all her valuables on the said date.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed were contrary and punishable under sections 297, 295 (2) (a) and 258 of the criminal law of Lagos state 2011.

The prosecutor further urged the court to adjourn the matter and remand the defendants in prisons custody, in view of their no guilty plea.

Counsel to the defendants, A. O Omodele, told the court that the defendants had a bail application dated on September 23, seeking the order of the court to grant bail to Adekoya and Kazeem, already at Ikoyi prisons custody, The case had been adjourned till January 18 and February 2, 2016, C M Y K

A

BUJA—THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has frozen all bank accounts operated by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following the commission’s failure to comply with Federal Government’s directive that all ministries, agencies and departments must

operate Treasury Single Account, TSA. Findings by Vanguard revealed that the directive was carried out last week.

The commission is now cash strapped and is unable to discharge most of its responsibilities Informed sources at the commission had revealed that INEC had failed to comply with the government’s directives on

the TSA, due largely to the peculiar activities of the body as the nation’s electoral umpire which should qualify it for exemption from the new directive.

It was further gathered that the decision of the governments to freeze all accounts operated by INEC has thrown the body in a serious dilemma because even the staff salary for September is yet to be paid just as many contractors whose outstanding

ENGAGEMENT: From left: Lanre Opakunle, General Manager, Independent Power Projects, Lafarge Africa; Mrs Peju Adebajo; CEO, Cement, Lafarge Africa Plc, Fred Amobi, Director, Reddy Mix Operations, Lafarge Africa, and Mike Fisher, Head, Key Accounts, Lafarge Africa, during the Lafarge Build Save, Live Save media engagement in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau.

fees were yet to be paid on a daily basis throng the commission for their payments.

However our source further revealed that the leadership of INEC on Tuesday met with representatives of the Federal Government and CBN, with a view to resolving the issue which he added has thrown everybody almost off balance.

The source said, “It has not been easy at the commission because all activities here are almost grounded following the decision of the federal government to block all our accounts. They said that INEC has refused to comply with the directive on Treasury Single Account. As we talk now, we have not been able to pay workers salaries for September because we cannot have any access to the commission’s accounts. Our numerous contractors have been coming everyday for payments that have been due but there is no cash at hand to settle them.

“But the good news is that the commission’s leadership has finally met with them and they have agreed to sort out the whole matter.

Hopefully the commission will come back to life very soon and try to settle the issue of workers salary which is very important”.

According to him, depending on the level of resolution and funds that will be available, the issue of debts owed to contractors would also be addressed

500 persons benefit from Army free health care in Abia

By Evelyn Usman

N

IGERIAN ARMY, 14 Brigade, located in Ohafia area of Abia State, yesterday embarked on a medical outreach in the state, where over 500 villagers of

Amaekpu community were given free medical treatment.

The beneficiaries were treated of ailment ranging from hypertension, diabetes mellitus, refractive error and malaria among other ailments.

A statement by spokesman for

the 14 Brigade, Major Sydney Mbaneme, explained that the gesture was a directive from the Nigerian Army high command, to mark the nation’s recently celebrated Independence, noting that the free treatment would continue until all

FG urged to end hunger, poverty by investing in rural women

By Josephine Agbonkhese

A

S THE world marks the International Day for Rural Women today, Federal Government has been advised to support rural women to address hunger and poverty in the country.

Making this call in a joint statement yesterday, women rights crusader farmers called for improved access to land and property, agricultural finance, government programmes at national and state levels, as well as gender-sensitive policies and programmes, if women must be empowered to produce more food for the country.

Arguing that rural women constituted about 70 percent of Nigeria’s agricultural labour

force with 50 per cent living in rural areas, Founding Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC, Dr. Abiola AkiyodeAfolabi, said in spite of their role, they lacked access to agricultural inputs and finance, had less than 14 percent land holding rights, while culture, traditions and discriminatory laws continued to deny them equal access to government programmes.

Ms Mimido Akchapa of Women Rights to Education, WREP, on her part, said over 90 percent of lands in Nigeria were held under traditional titles and customs controlled by men, while women, as wives or daughters, had little or no access and control over such lands.

Meanwhile, Professor Patricia Donli, Executive Director, Gender Equality Peace and Development

Centre, and Jumoke Rasak of the Women Consortium of Nigeria, WOCON, blamed subsequent government at national and state levels for worsening the plight of rural women through the politicisation of development programmes.

residents of the area had been attended to.

According to him, the outreach was also prompted by the desire of the command to fulfil its social responsibility to the host community, as well as to encourage civil military relations.

He noted that aside medical advice to the beneficiaries, those with eye problems were also provided reading glasses.

“The gesture will continue for some time. It is a directive from the Army high command and part of series of programmes mapped out by the Brigade to commemorate the 55th Nigerian Independence Anniversary,” the statement said.

Uzere kingdom donates books, uniforms to Uzere schools

O

GRI FAMILY in Uzere kingdom, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, has donated books and school uniforms, to students of Uzere Secondary School, Uzere Primary School, Ogri Primary School and Eni Primary School in Uzere community.

The gesture is in commemoration of Ogri

Onolelamewho, who founded Uzere Primary School in 1931 and died on October 14, 1945.

Prince Ogri Ekpebe, Odio of Emuzo in Uzere Kingdom, commended the Ogri family for the annual event, while Uzere Secondary School principal, Mrs. Odezi Benerdita, expressed appreciation for the donation.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15`—17

A

FEW weeks ago, I received a call from exInternational football star, Segun Odegbami. We had not spoken for a while, but it turned out to be a very long discussion. Odegbami informed me of an audacious bid to run for presidency of the international football body, FIFA! It appeared such a daunting proposition and one would have thought that he was joking but clearly he was not!

Segun Odegbami is very serious about the bid. He had reminded me of the plan he proposed a couple of years ago, to get West African countries to jointly host the FIFA World Cup and he really did a major mobilization work for his avantgarde plan which eventually did not fly, because the Nigerian government backed out and had chosen to back the South African bid which resulted in the first World Cup in Africa, in 2010.

But Segun Odegbami is a man of remarkable courage and of very lofty ideas and he is very convinced that the present combination factors in the administration of the beautiful game, offers him the best opportunity to pitch for FIFA Presidency and he is convinced that he could win! But between now and the elections next year, there is certainly a lot to do.

Support for grassroots sports My relationship with Segun Odegbami dates back to my editorship of DAILY TRUST newspaper. I have always been a sports enthusiast and believe firmly that sports reporting and commentary were very important in building a successful newspaper. So I set out to reform and improve our sports desk but I wanted a commentator who had an understanding of sports development in Northern Nigeria and Segun Odegbami perfectly fitted the bill. He was born in Jos, speaks excellent Hausa; played sports in the North and knew many of the remarkable sportsmen from the region, understood the context of sports in the North and above all, he was an ex-International who wrote regularly! We hit it out from the first time we met and he accepted the invitation to write a column for us, a column that is still running today. Over the years, we have become very firm friends, we regularly discuss Nigerian sports and I have no doubt in my mind that Segun Odegbami combines the intellect; passion and the tremendous record to genuinely make the pitch to be FIFA President.

In truth, I think someone like Segun Odegbami should in fact be playing a very central role in the re-organization of Nigerian sports given the way things have deteriorated over the past two decades at least. He has roots in school sports and has also been involved in sponsorship of schools and grassroots sports, including founding a secondary school that combines sports with education for Nigerian youth. So between attempting to become FIFA President and playing a very

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Orji Uzor Kalu and Segun Odegbami: The Nigerian FIFA presidency challenge important role in re-organising Nigerian sports, Segun Odegbami has a very important role to play and I support the audacious pitch he is making to be FIFA President. Afterall, in life who dares, wins and Segun Odegbami is expressing the audacity of hope at the highest level of the beautiful game, a game he played for our country to become one of our best sportsmen ever!

But Segun Odegbami is not alone in the Nigerian bid for the Presidency of FIFA. I have read that former Abia state governor Orji Uzor Kalu is also making a very serious bid for the position.

I have never met him. But a few weeks ago, I met former sports administrator, Amos Adamu on a flight to Ilorin. He told me that he had just returned the previous day from Cameroun, where he met with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) helmsman, Issa Hayatou. The mission to Cameroun was to lobby for Orji Uzor Kalu’s candidacy which Amos Adamu told me was a very serious one.

Again, he reminded that the present crisis within the FIFA leadership offered an unusual opportunity that might just allow an African outsider to become FIFA President. Kalu seems a passionate supporter of football too and as governor of Abia State, he provided the financial, technical and administrative support for the Eyimba football Club of Aba to reach the pinnacle of African football. Amos Adamu reminded me that pitching for FIFA Presidency requires a tremendous ability to network

There is a deliberate effort to takeover the administration of FIFA and consequently the threat of the reintroduction of the hegemony of the old colonial powers in the running of the beautiful game

with footballing stakeholders from around the world as well as a financial clout which he said that Orji Uzor Kalu possesses abundantly.

Football administration in crisis I think these are really interesting times in the history of the administration of football. FIFA President Sepp Blatter has been suspended from all football activities for ninety days just as UEFA boss, Michel Platini, who was seen as the frontrunner for

the FIFA presidency, has also been suspended. Even though the two gentlemen have appealed their ban, the truth is that football administration is locked in a major crisis, related largely to the success that has followed the transition that football has been taken at the summit of world sports, as the most important sports event on earth.

Under Blatter’s leadership, football got a lot of sponsorships and endorsements and as the monies rolled in, the Blatter leadership put a lot into the development of the game, especially in the developing

countries of Africa and Asia. The administration of the game was put on a sound financial footing around the world while technical support was also given to even the smallest countries to be able to develop their facilities and talent. The World Cup was taken into areas of the world that hitherto won’t have received a look in, in the areas of hosting the fiesta. In all these democratic developments in football administration and development, the old powers of Europe saw their influence wane and they began a vicious propaganda onslaught against the FIFA leadership. And in a most arrogant deployment of imperialist power, the Americans, who are not a footballing power by any stretch, have extended their police functions beyond their territory to arrest FIFA operatives accused of alleged corrupt practices. There is a deliberate effort to takeover the administration of FIFA and consequently the threat of the reintroduction of the hegemony of the old colonial powers in the running of the beautiful game.

This is the backdrop for the Nigerian challenge being posed

by Orji Uzor Kalu and Segun Odegbami.

Buhari's mind on Lake Chad

O

N Monday this week, President Muhammadu Buhari received the report of the Environmental Audit on the Drying-up of the Lake Chad, carried out by the member nations of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) membercountries. He remarked that Nigeria does not only contribute 40% of the Commission’s budget, but was also committed to offering effective leadership in the fight against insurgency and other environmental issues of the Sahel region.

Significantly, Buhari expressed “personal knowledge”, on the basis of an article which he read, about a 1925 forecast by a University of London professor, indicating that Lake Chad was endangered and could dry up. He had handed former President Obasanjo the article, while Obasanjo’s administration had spent $5million on the study on diverting waters from rivers in the Central African Republic.

It is a significant development that President Buhari has shown an interest in the environmental, economic and security implications of the state of the Lake Chad.

The Nigerian National Audit Report pointed out that the Lake Chad is fast disappearing, from 25, 000 sq. km in 1963 to about 1, 500 sq. km today. The Lake Chad basin area is estimated to have a population of about 37 million people and over 60 million heads of cattle are also located in the region.

Similarly, some statistics show that annual fish production on

the lake ranged between 130, 000 and 140, 000 tons during the 1970s; these had shrunk to an average of about 84, 000 tons between 1986 and 2013. The lake has been severely hurt as a result of unregulated human activities such as excessive water extraction, construction of dams, often without environmental impact studies as well as the diversion of rivers.

Many of those who have studied the Boko Haram insurgency have pointed to the huge environmental disaster in the Lake Chad basin and the impact on the lives of millions of people as one of the many trigger points for the Boko Haram insurgency.

In the same way that migrating nomadic groups have been locked into often, violent conflicts, with sedentary farming communities far away from their homes, in the centre and south of Nigeria.

Lake Chad and security issues It is therefore clear that the fate of the Lake Chad and the livelihood it has always given to millions of people have a very central role in the security architecture of Nigeria and other countries in the basin. This has become very urgent with the Boko Haram insurgency and the ways it has affected countries in the basin. One of the most important issues remains the diversion of waters from rivers in the Central African Republic, estimated to cost between $13billion and $15billion. And in order to be able to pull through this ambitious project

of water diversion, there would be need to allay fears of the countries in the Congo Basin on the environmental impact while they must be politically mobilised for support for the project to divert waters to the Lake Chad. The money needed is a lot and the economic condition of the Lake Chad Basin countries makes it almost impossible for the project to divert water to be carried out, unless support can be secured from donors, who are not believed to be enthusiastic about the project.

It is therefore a thing of joy that President Buhari seems to understand the importance of the Lake Chad Basin and has taken a very early interest in it. It is a problem that I have also been worried about over the past few decades. We had commissioned a number of reports on the lake over the past couple of years as well as written editorials on the reclamation of the lake. The Lake Chad has supported more than forty million people and millions of animals over a long period and its crises today affect the wellbeing of millions of our compatriots.

In truth, it is an environmental, economic and security crises which demands the most farsighted leadership and forthright action to begin a process of retrieval and restitution that can redound to the benefit of the peoples of the basin and our country. That is why we should thank God that President Buhari is thinking about the Lake Chad so early in his presidency

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015 ANXIETY over the economy has not abated even as both the Presidency and the Senate appear to be ready to put in place the federal cabinet and by extension the economic team of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

Economy analysts heaved a sigh of relief when the first batch of ministers was submitted to the Senate on Thursday, September 30, 2015 after four months of long-drawn anxiety as to the direction and character of the economy being contemplated by the new regime.

A key factor of interest is the regime’s lacklustre attitude to the budgetary and fiscal policy 2015/2016 left behind by the previous regime.

While most stakeholders appear to have resigned themselves to the fate that 2015 budget is lost, every one of them is worried that 2016 is also looking bleak since nothing is being said by government less than three

Salvaging the 2015 budget months to the new year.

Due to the long processes involved in the making of the federal annual budget, actions on the upcoming year’s budget usually start as early as July culminating in the presentation of the Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly by latest November.

Economists are concerned that at the pace of the current regime, the 2016 Appropriation Bill may not get to the National Assembly this year; a development which would worsen the economic decline recorded in 2015. No

one even knows when the ministers in charge of the economy will start work.

Both local and foreign investors have blamed the currently depressed macro-economic indicators on the inability of the government to define its economic direction. They are waiting anxiously for the government to clarify the fate of this year’s budget and pave the way for that of next year.

We expect that this should be the first thing the next ministers in charge of the economy must attend to.

We expect the Budget Office and the

Finance Ministry to be on this assignment as we await the resumption of the minister in order to fast track the process.

Budgetary pronouncements would galvanise positive sentiments in the minds of investors and the commercial class and stimulate economic activities as soon as possible.

It is noteworthy that a similar swift statement by the Ministry jointly with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Debt Management Office (DMO) in the wake of the withdrawal of JP Morgan Index had saved the economy massive cash run.

The economy has grown weary of tension and depending mainly on speculations and the president’s “body language”.

We want the federal government to be up and doing, and see what it can do to salvage this year ’s Appropriation Law. Otherwise the year might pass without the budget being implemented at all.

OPINION General

election

By Edwin Mbadiwe

T

HIS contribution has been deliberately delayed out of respect to section 285 subsections 29 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

This section provides for the disposal of election petitions within a period of 180 days on which the election petition was filed. Some of the points being canvassed relate to Election tribunals. In keeping with the rule of law therefore it is important that the work of the tribunals is not influenced in any way.

One will attempt to take a holistic and uncluttered look at our electoral processes and hopefully make suggestions for the progress and good governance of our country. Our collective stake is that we have no other country than Nigeria.

To change any fruit, it is imperative that we treat the root of the tree, either chemically or biologically. To effectively change a society, one must operate from the inside.

Anyone operating from the outside is nothing but a glorified commentator and a repeater station at best. That person, with due respect, simply does not understand the ropes.

Every four years, our country comes to a virtual shut-down for a couple of weeks as we go through an electoral cycle whose aim hopefully is to renew and revitalise our democracy. That at least is our goal. An election which normally should end quickly

C M Y K

is

percursor

and painlessly in a matter of days gets bogged down with fierce election battles inflicting considerable damage on the participant and more especially to the nation.

One will attempt an overview of the process vis-a-vis the current mantra on change and corruption. To help the discussion, certain assumptions have to be made a-priori. Man by nature is intrinsically selfish, greedy and vain. It is only the strict application and enforcement of laws that has preserved the human society. Again society is continuously reforming, renewing and reinventing itself. Change therefore is in the natural order of life.

Foremost economist Adam Smith more than two centuries ago observed that most people are propelled by the law of accumulation- principally of wealth and power. Accumulation is powered by greed.

Greed and accumulation give birth to corruption. You can take this as a given.

The other universal truth is that all over the world, money plays a very important part in politics.It has been reported that when young John Kennedy asked his father Joseph, who had been American Ambassador to the court of St. James, what was required for success in politics his reply was money. He

The so-called party primary elections can be classified as a bazaar or better still an auction

to

corruption

asked him for two other requirements but the reply from his father remained the same; MONEY and more MONEY. Without money, don’t even try.

The rider to this however is that we must be vigilant and apply stringent laws to control the power of money otherwise it becomes a demon which criminal gangs, like the Mafia, hold countries hostage. Money and power will always walk pari- pasu.

Having established the platform, it is now time to address the problem.

A political system in which a holder of Nigeria Certificate of Education (NCE) displaces a Harvard trained professor from parliament calls for introspection. It is a case study for a PhD thesis. The same system in which 300 out of 360 members of the House of Representatives did not return looks more like a revolving door democracy. It has to be examined if such a system is durable enough to lay down roots and bear fruits; bearing in mind that every society gets the government it deserves. These are issues which the National Institute of Legislative Studies must address.

The journey to the next election cycle has started. It started the day the 8thAssembly was inaugurated. That is why we must make hay while the sun is still shining. Days and sometimes weeks before any election, many Nigerians resident in states other than their state of origin (another unfortunate syndrome in our march to nationhood) return HOME. They call this HOME-COMING. They do not do this because of their interest or conviction

that democracy is still the best form of government fashioned by man. They return because IT IS THEIR SEASON OF HARVEST. The people are thirsty for RAW CASH. The argument which is openly canvassed is that for four years, the constituents have not been settled financially by their representatives. It is absolutely irrelevant how many scholarships and projects that might have been attracted to improve life in the constituency. The election cycle is all about immediate cash. One of our major parties did not help matters by promoting the Slogan “SHARE THE MONEY”. Many of the candidates have to sell their immovable assets to run the elections. To show how desperate the situation was, some even went to money lenders. This is the first stage and can be classified as THE EXCAVATION STAGE FOR CORRUPTION. The party delegates are the building blocks in the proposed edifice i.e THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY and all the delegates are commodities for sale.

The so-called party primary elections can be classified as a bazaar or better still an auction in which tickets are sold to the highest bidder. Sometimes the highest bidder did not get the ticket. But for the benevolence of friends, Nigeria would have been denied the services of President Buhari who said that it was friends who purchased the N27.5m ticket that enabled him contest his party primaries.

Continues tomorrow *Dr. Mbadiwe, a former member of the House of Reps., wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015—19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Knowing when to say less

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NE theme that runs across the entire spectrum of public administration is that leaders should say less than necessary because power cannot accrue to those who squander their treasure of words. Essentially, the more you speak, the more likely you are to make mistakes.

And words are like the toothpaste – once you press it out of the tube, it cannot be put back. In the words of Cardinal de Retz (16131679), “It is even more damaging for a Minister to say foolish things than to do them”.

This is where we commend President Muhammadu Buhari – a man not given to grandiloquence; and a man who chooses his words very carefully.

There is, however, a second side to this coin. A serious commandment in public administration is that a leader should not, under any circumstance, answer questions that are not asked; or yield information that is not solicited.

In most cases, people fall into problems when they attempt to answer questions that are not asked or when they volunteer information that are not solicited.

This is one area where our President has received more than enough baptism. In the short period of four months that he has been in office, this has been where critics have caught him, sometimes, almost napping.

A few instances here will suffice: Recently, Buhari almost consigned Ministers – even the ones he was yet to nominate – to the dustbin, when he quipped rather glibly, that the job of the Ministry is done by the Permanent Secretary while the Minister is merely a loafer. Even where nobody took him up on this, it still remains a classical case of a Captain attempting to pitch his lieutenants against himself.

From historical antecedent, we know that as soon as former President Olusegun Obasanjo pulled his “khaki” uniform and put on the “agbada” as a civilian president, he dropped the appellation of General and became Chief, without singing about it and nobody raised an eyebrow.

But here was Buhari, without any prompting, announcing to the world that as soon as he was sworn into office, he would drop

the appellation of General. Then, that became an issue for public discourse. At a point, some citizens even threatened to drag him to court if he dared drop the appellation.

Buhari’s famous declaration at inauguration, “I am for everybody but I am for nobody” was perhaps an innocuous statement. But who asked him?

He was stating the obvious. He was elected as President of Nigeria, not part thereof. As soon as he released the unsolicited information, people began to speak to it. Surely, he did not expect any ovation from his party-men who stood by him throughout the struggle and who expected him to be for everybody and be for them.

Admittedly, facing Christen Amanpour, one-on-one, is not a tea party. But there are certain questions one should envisage from such an interview. Before President Buhari left for the US where he encountered Amanpour, there was already

Let nobody be deceived into thinking that there is absolute independence of any branch of government. The best anyone can ask for is a situation of healthy interdependence

The economy will pick up

A

By Roberts Orya

S important as the advancements on the anti-corruption and anti-insurgency wars are, it is noticeable that weaknesses in the economy are happening at the same time.

The new template which the President Muhammadu Buhari has been careful to put inplace, though it has delayed the appointment of ministers, will surely help the government to drive economic performances when the government is fully constituted. But it is a fallacy that the economic weaknesses are a direct consequence of anti-corruption. What is also fallacious is the tendency to do the same things and expect different results. President Buhari has been keen to avoid this. So, why is the economy under stress? The immediate reason is because the country is now earning just about half of the daily revenue it was getting from crude oil sales since oil prices resurged after the global financial crisis of 2007 to 2009.

Last November, oil prices started a precipitous fall from above $100 per barrel.

In the last couple of months, the volatility of the price of the Nigerian-grade Brent Crude has been within $45 and $55 per barrel. With little fiscal savings as a buffer against the external shock of fallen oil prices, the Nigerian economy became exposed. The effects of this exposure had started to permeate the system in the last months of the previous administration. Shortfalls in the pool of funds that is shared by all tiers of government had started to create difficulties in meeting such commitments as public sector wages, especially in the states, and payment of petroleum subsidy. The fact that the oil price slump started around the electoral cycle made things worse.It is a moot point, the extent to which a fiscal buffer would have shielded the economy from the shock. That is not to deemphasise the importance of fiscal savings.

For emerging economies like Nigeria, fiscal savings are a shield. But in varying degrees, commodity producers around the world are facing inclement economic conditions. At least, C M Y K

the economic narratives have changed for even the super savers among the oil economies. The concerns transcend the immediate impacts of lower oil prices, especially the weakening of currencies. In this regard, the naira has lost about 22 percent of its value since last November, and the pressure for further devaluation has refused to ease.However, there is a longer-term concern that we are seeing the inception of a period of adjustments in the global economy. With China entering a period of slower growth, which compounds the weaknesses in the emerging markets, dire economic consequences are likely for commodity exporters. Global asset prices have also witnessed disconcerting volatility of late.

All of this means the outlook of the global economy is dull and it cannot be brightened

by United States being the only significant spurt for global growth.

However, a deeper structural issue, at the local level, accounts for the lack of shield for the Nigerian economy against headwinds from the global market. Oil revenue still accounts for 90 percent of government’s external receipts and 70 percent of total income. Inherent in this is the fact that the economic assets that can generate revenues for the government are untapped or little developed, apart from oil.

A number of those assets have potentials to generate a significant amount of foreign exchange. But even in naira terms, tax revenue

The resolute leadership of President Buhari is a vista for the economic diversification agenda

anxiety at home over the delay in appointing his cabinet. He was already nick-named “Baba Go Slow”.

Our President had no reason to stampede himself into the unsolicited September date for the appointment of Ministers.

The interviewer would have been more than satisfied to hear the type of vacillation we were getting at home: “The situation in Nigeria is peculiar. We met a messy situation on ground, to the extent that even the Senate that would clear the nominees is not properly in place yet… so, we are taking our time to ensure we don’t make more mistakes….”

See where answering an unsolicited question has led us?

September has come and gone and the Ministers are not in place! In an attempt to fulfill all righteousness, only God knows how long it will take the Senate to confirm the patch-patch nominations now being rushed in.

Again, we cannot remember who asked President Buhari if he wanted to retain the Petroleum Ministry or any portfolio, for that matter. Former President Obasanjo occupied that Ministry for long without seeking an entry permit. President Buhari has attracted to himself the unnecessary opprobrium – all because he has been answering questions that were not asked.

Each time you answer unasked questions, you deprive yourself of answers to the ones asked. He is now being asked to submit himself for Senate confirmation – the height of ridicule!

All that is required under Section 147 of the 1999 Constitution is that he nominates at least one Minister from each State. After the

is constricted by the little progress in the formalisation of several sectors of the economy.

Therefore, a two-pronged solution is required in finding the shield for the Nigerian economy from external shocks. The Federal Government must take the lead by enacting policies, backed with unwavering implementation, to unlock the structural bottleneck to the economy. This must be accompanied by formalisation of the “informal sectors.”

A very key instrument for accomplishing the policy objective of a structurally diverse and virile Nigerian economy is trade. Trade activities map the path of production. As such, productivity incentives can be delivered through trade channels. An example for this is provision of infrastructure. But it is very much applicable to the goods and services being sold and bought. By mapping trade, several advanced economies are able to deliver price incentives or subsidies for measurable production. By developing the trade channels, it is also easier to bring producers and operators into the tax net. Thereby, the aggregate tax income for the government would increase.

Also important for mention is that by developing external trade of Nigeria’s manufactured or semi-manufactured products, the country would ease the pressure on the naira.

Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), as the official Trade Policy Bank of the Federal Government, has been at the forefront of advocacy and financing for Nigerian non-oil exports. While modest results have been achieved, it is clear to us at the Bank that much more can be achieved in Manufacturing, Agro-processing, Solid Minerals and Services. These are the sectors of the “MASS Agenda” of NEXIM Bank.

With China in another economic transition, moving from low-end to high-end manufacturing, and consequently moving from a low-wage environment, there are opportunities for Nigeria to attract investments in the global production, manufacturing and trade value-chains. Investments in the “MASS” sectors will help create jobs and increase foreign exchange revenue from diverse and interrelated sectors.

nominations have been confirmed, the unfettered right to assign portfolios to Ministers belongs to the President. At that point, he would be breaking no law even if he assigned five Ministries to himself.

Sometimes, the Constitution is at war with itself. Even where, in Section 147(1), it makes vague reference to the fact that “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the government of the Federation as may be established by the President”, it is also true that every existing Ministry is a creation of the Legislature and cannot be singlehandedly abolished by the President.

So much has been said about the Report of the Steve Oronsaye Committee, which we hear is aimed at rationalising some Ministries for optimum efficiency. Good! But that cannot be concluded without the appropriate input by the National Assembly.

Is it not on the basis of the Ministries that the Committees of the National Assembly are arranged? If the National Assembly is arranging its Committees based on say 52 Ministries, should the National Assembly not be involved in the process of pruning the Ministries to say 10?

Let nobody be deceived into thinking that there is absolute independence of any branch of government. The best anyone can ask for is a situation of healthy inter-dependence.

And what is true of the Miranda warning at investigation is also true in public life – the public official must constantly keep his tongue in-check because whatever he says can be used against him.

This proposal is not new. I have been talking about it in the better part of the past six years.

Other Nigerians of economic thoughts have also been talking about structural diversification of the economy. The new tonic, however, is that President Buhari has endorsed this thought. I am elated that he has gone as far as specifically mentioning agriculture and solid minerals as key areas for economic intervention by his administration.

Herein lies my optimism that the Nigerian economy is bound to resurge, irrespective of oil price making a slow climb from the current low level. The resolute leadership of President Buhari is a vista for the economic diversification agenda. Since he has bought the agenda, his policy support for it will be effective. His anti-corruption stare is now all over the place, ensuring that government’s interventions will be effective. A prime indication of this is the significant increase in power supply since the President assumed office. While it is true that his “body language” is not responsible for the increase in generation and distribution capacities – credit rightly due to the last administration – President Buhari’s posture has proved to be the missing part of the jigsaw puzzle on how to translate the reform and investments in the power sector to more electricity supply for Nigerians.

While the current stress in the financial market must be taken seriously, one is confident that as we continue to count the things that are working — because they should work — and because the President stares down at whatever prevents them from working (including the faceless cabal), a new narrative will emerge on Nigeria. That narrative will surely drive new productive investments into the country to complement Nigerian entrepreneurs.

Even hyper-sensitive portfolio investors, including those who are likely to exit from our securities market because of JP Morgan’s removal of Nigeria from its Emerging Market Bond Index, will trail the new FDIs back into Nigeria. *•Orya is Managing Director &CEO, Nigerian Export- Import Bank.

20—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

Land dispute: Irate youths engage top Nnewi business man •Hoodlums invaded and looted my hotel –Gabros •The land in question belongs to Gabros –Nnewi, Ozubulu elders •We’ll investigate the matter - police, Nnewi monarch

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha

A

NGRY youths, under the aegis of Nza Ozubulu Family Meeting (Youth Wing) last Friday took to the streets in protest against what they termed as trespassing and encroaching on Agbo-Ogwugwu parcels of land belonging to Nza Ozubulu community in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, by an Nnewi top business mogul and Chairman of Gabros International Company Limited, Chief Gabriel Chukwuma.

The youths, numbering over 1,000, demonstrated along Nnewi and Ozubulu streets with their placards bearing various inscriptions as: “Gabros, stop selling Nza-Ozubulu lands”; “Nnanyelugo, please keep off our lands”; “Gabros, you are pushing Nza youths to the wall”; “Nnanyelugo, Nza youths are not happy with your attitude”; Gabros, please stop looking for our trouble”, among others.

At the Police Area Command Headquarters, Nnewi, the demonstrators told the Area Commander, Hamzat Amiyi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, to advise Chief Chukwuma to stop threatening their lives and further encroachment into their lands to avoid acts likely to cause breach of the peace.

Petition to Area Commander They handed a two-page written petition to the Area Commander with a warning that henceforth, they would no longer tolerate further trespass into their lands by any person or group of persons, no matter how highly placed.

Responding, Amiyi advised the youths against using any violent method of venting their grievances in preference for lawful means, adding that he would forward their petition to the state Commissioner of Police, Hassan Karma, for further instructions.

From the Area Command headquarters, the demonstrators whose petition to the Area Commander was also copied to the traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III; the traditional ruler of Ozubulu, Igwe F. N. Oruche and the Divisional Police Officer, DPO at C M Y K

Ozubulu, moved to Igwe Orizu Ancient Palace where they were granted audience by Prince Emma Iwuchukwu, Personal Assistant, P.A to Igwe Orizu, on behalf of the monarch who was not in the palace at the time.

After going through their petition and listening to their grievances, Iwuchukwu commended them for their comportment and told them that the Igwe-in-Council would soon wade into the matter by inviting both parties to hear from them for an amicable settlement.

Accompanied by Theo Egbe, an Nza stakeholder; RockPeters Ndulue, an illustrious son and K.E.N. Ifediora, a legal practitioner and indigene of Nza, the demonstrators left Igwe Orizu’s palace and moved to both the Ozubulu Police Division to see the DPO and the Palace of Igwe Oruche of Ozubulu. As they were crossing over from Nnewi to the neighbouring Ozubulu community, they stopped at Biverly Hills Hotel owned by Chief Chukwuma and allegedly dropped his own copy of the petition with the hotel staff.

However, news later filtered into town that during the stop over at the hotel, the youths allegedly vandalised and looted some items from the hotel premises before leaving.

In the petition, jointly signed on their behalf by Mr. Okwudili Ukaigwe and Chukwuemeka Chukwuneke, Chairman and Secretary of Nza Family Meeting, Youth Wing, the youths alleged that “Chukwuma and his cohorts” have been trespassing and encroaching into their Agbo-Ogwugwu land along Nnewi/Ozubulu road, adding that they do this by

As if that was not enough, he deployed hoodlums who are fully armed with guns and other dangerous weapons as guard on Nza land, using them to terrorise, intimidate and often manhandle our people

*The irate youths during the protest

selling the land to individuals who are now making forceful entry into it.

Legal dispute over ownership of land: According to the petitioners, “the ownership of the land forcibly entered into by Chukwuma and his cohorts had been contested for at the Court of Appeal level in Enugu Division between the Ozubulu community and Anambra State government and judgement was delivered in favour of our community in Suit No. CA/E/ 161/2002”.

“The land Chukwuma is selling has now extended outside the land in dispute between himself and our community which is also pending in an Nnewi High Court and which judgement would have been delivered on September 18, this year but for the on-going industrial action embarked upon by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN in Anambra state,” they further stated.

Routine inspection They continued: “On July 30, 2015, some youths went to the land on routine inspection and saw Chief Chukwuma and his cohorts supervising construction on the land. When the youths enquired from him why he was selling and constructing on Nza communal land, he became furious and threatened to deal with them for challenging his forcible entry into the land. As if that was not enough, he deployed hoodlums who are fully armed with guns and other dangerous weapons as guard on Nza land, using them to terrorise, intimidate and often manhandle

our people who make legitimate entry into the land”.

The petitioners further stated that Chukwuma has equally been going about boasting that he will use his wealth and influence to deal with any member of the community that questions his activities on the land, adding that worthy of note is that his illegal and nefarious activities on the land have not gone down well in their community as youths in the area are spoiling for a showdown with him and his supporters if he is not called to order,particularly now that they can no longer fold their hands and watch their land forcibly taken away with impunity.

Ozubulu indigenes react, dismiss claims by youths All efforts to get in touch with Chukwuma to react to the allegation proved abortive as he was said to have travelled out of town. But when contacted on phone, he declined comments on the ground that he would not like to join issues with his accusers for now. He simply stated that he was informed that some hoodlums invaded his hotel on that fateful day, damaged and looted valuable properties in the hotel, adding that he was still considering his next line of action in that regard.

But in a reaction, a prominent indigene of Nza Ozubulu, Bartholomew Nwosu, told newsmen that Chukwuma bought the land from them legitimately, adding that he personally sold it to him.

Nwosu, therefore, warned those he described as trouble makers to desist in their own

interest because according to him, the youths were acting on ignorance because if their fathers sold land to someone, they as youths have no right to lay claim to the land many years after.

Also reacting, Chief Sir Alphonsus Okoli, KSJI, the Odu of Nnewi and member of Igwe Orizu royal cabinet, told newsmen that the land in question known as Unity Layout is situated in-between Nnewi and Ozubulu boundary, adding that in the past, the two communities were contesting the ownership of the land until the then state government acquired it. Okoli disclosed that after the acquisition by the state government, some stakeholders like Igwe Orizu, Dr, Okolo, Justice Ubaezonu, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, E. E. Udegbunam and Onyenkuzi Orizu bought the land from the owners and were building a hotel known as Villa Nation Hotels Limited in joint partnership with some Israeli.

But following the 1984 Buhari/ Idiagbon military coup d’etat that terminated the civilian administration of President Shehu Shagari of the Second Republic, the Israeli partners abandoned the hotel project and rushed home on account of insecurity in the country.

He noted that it was at that point that he approached the Obi of Nza Ozubulu, Donatus Onyeka and E. E. Udegbunam on behalf of Chukwuma and they agreed to sell the land with the abandoned hotel to Chukwuma and he paid them and acquired the land lawfully and then built the present Biverly Hills Hotel and the football stadium where his football club, Gabros International FC currently uses.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015 — 21

Manufacturers want access to N5trn pension funds ternal Tariff, CET with the aim of offering adequate protection to the local manufacturers. The approach is to discourage the importation of any product where there is adequate capacity. With this in place, we should be able to conserve the scare foreign exchange, forex, and reduce unemployment.”

Speaking further, the Managing Director explained that the company was currently on the

By Princewill Ekwujuru

T

HE Federal Government has been called upon to grant access to the over N5trillion pension funds controlled by the National Pensions Commission, PENCOM, for use by the manufacturing sector.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Aluminium Extrusions Limited, NIGALEX, who made the call in Lagos, said “the major reason for this is the misallocation of investible funds. For instance, PENCOM is sitting on about N5trillion which is only locked up in treasury bills instead of being channelled into productive ventures.”

Iyiola, while conducting newsmen the company’s newly built N10 billion plant, stated that the influx of foreign aluminium products, has impede the growth of the extrusion industry, making them to contribute only 40 percent to the Nigerian economy, while importers of substandard aluminium products account for 60 percent of the total industry supply of 20,000 tonnes.

Breaking down of the supply chain, local manufacturers contribute 8, 000 tonnes and importers 12,000 tonnes, which he stated is abnormal for the economy, thus impeding the growth of local manufacturers.

He however, stated that there is need for government intervention, even though it was obvious that various efforts by the Government towards creating enabling environment for the local industries were not successful.

His words “We need to move from mere declarations to concrete actions in the implementation of local content policy.”

Going on, he said: “To achieve this, there is need for a holistic review of the current Common Ex-

55.00

$13.96

-0.28

50.01

0.15

47.35 CURRENCY DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL SDR KRONA

BUYING 196.98 301.2213 222.9468 204.0183 1.6314 0.3204 275.9459 30.9841 52.2404 276.6258 29.8832

0.25 CENTRAL

196.48 301.9898 223.5156 204.5388 1.6356 0.3304 276.6499 30.0636 52.3737 277.3315 29.9594

quirements of modern production process.”

We shall pursue progressive expansion of our market and penetrate the market with our products as a gradual process of market dominance. We shall diversify the company’s products to cater for the various consumption strata in our economy. We shall upgrade the company’s production equipment processes and control for enhanced global standard.”

IES to mobilise $6.5bn FDI for Nigeria’s infrastructural devt

0.10

$3,129.00

products. We are ready to increase our production output through our installed capacity of 7,500 tonnages per annum and develop requisite channels to distribute these products.”

“We shall embark on effective logistical plans to enhance operation within an agreed date and time .We are already investing heavily in human capital with renewable knowledge, skills and right attitude that meet the re-

Chief of Staff to Osun Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, representing the governor (2nd left); Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NIEEE), Engr. Gracious Omatseye (left), representative of President Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Babagana Mohammed (2nd right), Engr. William Metieh of the Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency(right), during the International Conference and Exhibition on Power and Telecommunications at Leisure Springs hotel, Osogbo

By Grace Udofia

134.60

next phase of its expansion drive, business growth and re-positioning for optimal performance.

On the company’s strategic plan in the next five years, Ishola identified the efforts being put in place in order to move the company to the next level.

“We have commenced strategic popularisation of our value through effective partnering with the press to create the needed awareness for the company’s

196.98 302.7583 224.0844 205.0593 1.6397 0.3404 277.3539 31.1431 52.507 278.0373 30.0357

CBN Exchange Rate as at 14 /10 /15

T

HE Institute of Empowerment and Strategy, IES, has announced plans to mobilise $6.5 billion, about N1.3 trillion, to help drive socioeconomic and infrastructural development in Nigeria.

Speaking at the preconference summit, Director General of IES, Dr. Boniface Afifia-Oru stated that, there is a window of opportunity with huge pool of funds waiting to be accessed by individuals and organisations that desire funding.

He said, IES is an international organisation established

to intervene in the economic development and empowerment of Nigerians, noting that presently $6.5billion has already been monetized specifically for socioeconomic and infrastructural development in Nigeria.

He said, the mission of IES is to change the tide of industrial closure to an era of industrial revolution, economic impoverishment to job and wealth creation.

Continuing he said, “The projects to be funded must be socially desirable not a one man eat and run affair, economically profitable and technically feasible”. He further explained that is heartbeat is for the middle class because they contribute hugely to the development of a country”.

“To develop agriculture is their major focus, areas of education where grants will be given and

development of industrialisation on key areas like the textiles areas. The funds won’t be channelled to one area; there is room for diversification.”

Speaking further, he mentioned that the funding is when you apply and qualify you will be given funds to start your business, saying, “We are not bankers, and we are just an institution that carries out this package for either state government, federal or private sectors. When we see your proposal and your areas of interest we then package it and present it

When we see your proposal and your areas of interest we then package it and present it for you to access the funds

for you to access the funds.”

He noted that the qualifications for accessing the funds are that they must see viability, feasibility reports of your business plan and authenticity of the registration of your company.

Afifia-Oru called on the state government, Nigerian Chambers of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture NACCIMA, Captains of industries organisations and institutions to take advantage of the available opportunity by IES to access funds for their projects.

Also speaking, Dr. Glenn Prince Abbi who spoke on building the new economy to accelerate wealth creation said that “We have been spoilt by the luxury of oil which in a way has left us poorer than before”. He noted that the richest countries in the world like China, United States are not oil exporting countries.”

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

NIGERIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT 2015

Overcoming the challenges of Inclusive Growth & Global Competiveness T

HE 2015 edition of the annual Nigeria Economic Summit kicked off on Monday with an array of private sector chieftains and government officials led by the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, with the focus on how Nigeria can make the tough choices necessary to over the challenge of achieving inclusive growth and global competitiveness.

In this report, PETER EGWUATU & EMMANUEL ELEBEKE, present highlights of proceedings from the first day of the Summit.

The annual Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) is organised by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning. The last two summits focused on specific sectors. For example, the Summit in 2013, developed key recommendations and outcomes to reposition the Agricultural sector as a business to diversify the economy, while 2014 Summit focused on Education and was themed “Transforming Education through Partnerships for Global Competitiveness.

Objectives of the Summit The focus of the 2015 as reflected by the theme, “21st Nigeria Economic Summit, Tough Choices: Achieving Competitiveness, Inclusive Growth and Sustainability, was informed by the new challenges confronting the economy in the light of sharp decline in crude oil prices.

Key outcomes that are expected at the end of the three days summit include specific recommendations on how to: create jobs; dismantle the pillars of corruption; establish and build upon pillars of sustainable growth and development, which include macro-economic stability and growth (fiscal and monetary policy reforms, restructure Federal Government revenues, etc); Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SME growth (reforms to improve funding mechanisms and further diversify the economy); Institutional reforms (accountability, ICT, etc) and C o m p e t i t i v e n e s s (infrastructure, policy bottlenecks, human development, etc); Align our home-grown long-term development agenda with the UN Sustainable

Development Goals that will take effect in January 2016.

Kyari’s Opening Remarks Elaborating on the objective of this year ’s summit, Chairman of NESG and also the Chief Executive Officer, Central Securities Clearing System, CSCS Limited, Mr. Kyari Abba Bukar, said “This year ’s summit is particularly significant for two reasonsfirst because the country has witnessed for the first time a change in administration characterized by a party other than the traditional ruling party occupying the central seat of government and second because of the current dynamics on economic scene that require urgent attention.”

“Let me share with you some of the outcomes of these recommendations.

The citizen-led household survey of learning was one of five key initiatives launched at NES 21. This was in recognition of the continued slide in learning outputs across all levels of education in Nigeria, and the need to refocus interventions on quality education and skill acquisition. The committed support from various stakeholders to date has been very encouraging, and the private sector has made progress in coordinating the effort to introduce a citizenled assessment of foundational competencies in literacy and numeracy across the country through the LEARNigeria initiative.”

Continuing he said, “The summit must also emphasize the need for strong will to execute on the part of all stakeholders, particularly the Government.”

The absence of proper coordination had created difficulties in the past

From left: Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbaju, CEO of Chair Centre, Mrs. Ibuku n Awosika, Publisher of BusinessDay Newspaper, Frank Aigbogun at the ongoing National Economic Summit Group in Abuja

Vice President’s Presentation The keynote address was delivered by Vice President, Professor Osinbajo, who represented President Mohammed Buhari. The Vice-President promised that the Federal Government will continue to work with NESG and other stakeholders in the private sector to ensure that most of the recommendations from the summit would be looked at and implemented to a large extent.

He said “Professionalism is being encouraged, aimed at entrenching the culture of integrity, accountability and rule of law in the system. We also aimed at creating the enabling environment to enhance competitiveness to thrive for institutional reform.

In terms of specific, some of the institutional reform issues include revenue diversification issues, and efficiency of tax collection.

“In terms of policy coordination, we are working together with the states. We are presently trying to put together to produce the document for economic planning in the nearest future. Nigeria being a federation, we have initiated collaboration between the federal and states for the economies of the states and federal government. In terms of working together, the National Economic Council (NEC) is coordinating and in the meetings, we were able to take on power and agriculture.

“The absence of proper coordination had created difficulties in the past, hence the reason for this initiative

for proper harmonization and coordination of government policies. We have tried to adopt the policy of transparency on the federation earnings, which had always been an issue between the states and federal government. “In his address at the summit.

Secretary of National Planning Commission, Mr. Bassey Akpanyung, described the summit as a platform to promote public, private dialogue towards accelerated national development.

He said, “In the last 20 years the forum has become the largest policy dialogue for policy makers and captains of industries from Nigerian economy.”

While commending the organizers for being steadfast and consistent in their focus, he said the task of nation building is a collective

•Kyari, Chairman NESG

responsibility.

He said the theme is consistent with the change agenda of the present administration and in line with the medium term strategic plan into 2016 – 2020, which focuses on addressing insecurity in the country, fighting corruption, initiating institution reforms, addressing unemployment, caring for vulnerable groups and issues of economic growth and development.

The conference, he noted, was designed to make tough choices considering present global realities bothering on economy. In particular, the continuous reduction in oil prices, insurgency in some parts of the country and rising unemployment rate among the youth.

This, he said, had made it imperative for Nigeria as a

Continues on Page 23

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015 — 23

NIGERIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT 2015

Overcoming the challenges of Inclusive Growth & Global Competiveness Continued from Page 22 nation to start thinking out of the box and in particular consider issues on post oil economy.

Gilauri on Reforming Public Institutions During the Roundtable with the Vice President on “Reforming Public Institutions to ensure competiveness and Accountability The former Prime Minister of Georgia, Nila Gilauri, shared the transformation that took place in his country, saying this is the right time for Nigeria to toe the part of transformation and reforms.

He said his country was at one point in its history also had a low ranking in the Ease of Doing Business Index, similar to Nigeria’s current ranking adding that, it took conscious effort of enthroning reforms that now makes Goergia to be ranked ahead of Nigeria on the index.

He said for instance while it will take about 77 days to register a business in Nigeria, it takes just a day to do same business registration in Georgia , a country of about 4 million population seize. According to him, while it will take an investor about 260 days to obtain construction permit in Nigeria, it will take just 12 days in Georgia.

He admonished the current administration to be focused on its reforms agenda adding there is no better to do it than now. “This is the right time for the country to take the path of reforms and transformation, when there is significant economy down, turn when you have lower oil price, it is the perfect time to take on reforms. In Georgia, we experienced worse situation , we were at a point worse off in the corruption index of Transparency International but through concerted reforms and effort , Georgia jumped from being one of the most corrupt nations to one of the ten least corrupt nations . How did we achieve it? To u g h transformation “, he said.

E z e k w e s i l i ’ s Contribution Commenting on Gilauri’s presentation, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Former Minister of Education, noted that, the Georgian reform is a world class reform that we used when I was at the World Bank, when it wanted to get governments to buy

necessities for reform. What it does is to tell each country it can be done.

Citing Honkung, Australia, she said that those societies got to the point where they realized that the cost of corruption was too high for everybody, that even those that benefitted on net aggregate fall victim of corruption. The clamour for change is universal, but requires leaders and leadership to take place.

According to her, t o p level political commitment is also required to achieve the needed change.

Breaking it into a tripod format, she listed political will; measures that will prevent the occurrence of corruption and measures that sanction corruption. In this tripod, she said lies the factors that improve competitiveness in governance.

While lending her voice to convergence in government institutions, Ezekwesili said ‘We must insist that anything that exists must justify its existence in governance.

She further identified quality of leadership and quality of institutions as another critical area that

behaviour is high.

As a result of this, what we need is the productivity of Nigeria. Without improving our productivity level, we cannot compete with anyone in the world. I believe the job is for public, private sector and individual citizens.

Investment, strong institutions and good leadership is needed to do the job.

On his part, Dr. Joe Abba, Director General, Bureau of Pubic Service Reform, stated that, “We still have a lot of gap to catch up with Georgia. We must have continuous reform for business to thrive in Nigeria.

We look at paying taxes, trading across border, giving credit for business, enforcing contracts and closing businesses. We must build environment that will enable businesses to operate. We have to think about power, to power factories and the problem of high interest loan from banks.

These are factors that prevent businesses from growing in Nigeria.

Contributing, Dr. Konyinsola Ajayi, Managing Partner, Olaniwun Ajayi, noted, “ We have

•Dr. Oby Ezekwesili requires attention to bring change.

Citing the Georgia example, she said Nigerian government must be prepared to assemble quality individuals with strong character and building of quality institutions to drive the policies.

“We need to think of our productivity. T h e r e i s absolutely zero incentive for productivity for the civil servants. Incentive drives productivity. What we have presently is that cost of bad

multi-headed form of regulation. We have to have serious legislative action to drive change. We should consider federal character and statism, which is the fact that, many people see it as a means of political patronage, hence many people in government.

“We must ensure that federal character has meaning by ensuring there is proper representation in government and also ensure we take statism into our affairs.

•Nila Gilauri, former Prime Minister of Georgia What we have is a mindset of federal control, which we need to work on. So many things are concentrated at the centre and until we devolve power to the states, not much will be achieved. I believe that if bones can be broken by state governments, it can as well be broken at the federal level.

“We must ensure that the judicial system do not stand in the way of public service.

Principles of law are there to ensure public servants enjoy the liberty to take decisions.

He faulted the constitution of some government agencies that double as regulator and operator and called for a review of their operation.

“You cannot be a regulator and still play in the field. I think we need to begin to look into the system that with the hope that will address the problem. Our demographics are defective and needs to be taken into account for a better tomorrow.”

Joe Abah on efforts to Reforming Nigeria’s public service Also speaking, Director of Bureau of Public Service Reform, Dr. Joe Abah, said, “We have made a proposal on how we want to carry out reforms in the public service.

Following that we have made reviews of agencies and parastatals. Public service reforms in the last two years have focused

When there is significant economic down turn, when you have lower oil price, it is the perfect time to take on reforms too heavily on ministries but it is the agencies that are closer to the people and that can deliver on services. We should focus very seriously on agency reforms.

There is much duplication that has to be addressed. We should set out framework through which we can rationalize these agencies. We need to add additional focus to what the agencies deliver and cost of running them.

Improving the business climate, public finance and address the dislocations caused in the past.

We need to have convergence in this process. We have got the pressure from the citizens, now we need the power from the government as well as the willingness to achieve rapid change. It is important we have a commonality of understanding of understanding for reforming public institutions.”

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

Textile manufacturers call for restructuring of BoI loan

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CUSTOMERS FORUM:From left: Executive Director, South, Aku Odinkemelu; Executive Director, Shared Services, Chijioke Ugochukwu; President, Aba Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Lotenna Obasi; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, E.O Zubis Nigeria Ltd, Chief Azubuike Okoye and Executive Director, Lagos and South West Bank, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, at the Aba Customer Forum, organised

by Fidelity Bank for customers in Aba.

Financial Derivative faults CBN on factors driving inflation •Projects 9.4% inflation for September

By Babajide Komolafe

F

INANCIAL Derivatives Com pany (FDC) has faulted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) assertion of the factors responsible to the steady rise in inflation from 8.0 percent to 9.3 percent Meanwhile the company has projected that the inflation rate will further rise to 9.4 percent for September. This prediction is coming ahead of the today’s official release of the inflation rate for September by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The inflation rate measures the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). From 8.0 percent in December 2014, the inflation rate has risen steadily to 9.3 percent as at August this year.

Taking a swipe at the CBN, the company in its latest Bi-monthly economic bulletin stated, “The CBN in its communiqué in July 2015 said that the inflationary pressures in Nigeria were transient in nature. Ever since then headline inflation has increased again.

“Our forecast for September headline inflation is 9.4 percent, which is 0.1 percent higher than the level in August. If this forecast is accurate, it will mean that headline inflation has increased in 8 out of the 9 months so far in 2015. Is the inflationary trend now more structural than transient?

The primary catalysts of price inflation in Nigeria are cost-push factors. These are being intensified by the restriction of dollars for some critical inputs.

However, this increasing inflationary trend is happening at a time when the price of diesel has dropped by 33 percent from N160 to N108. Diesel is the fuel used by transporters of goods from the

farms to the markets.

“Despite a favourable harvest of food items such as tubers and cereals, there was a modest uptick in September ’s price levels, mainly due to the increase in the prices of imported food items such as milk, wheat and sugar. Furthermore, increased demand for livestock products due to the Eidel-Kabir celebrations led to higher

inflationary pressures from the food index.” The Company further projected that the rise in inflation will persist in October due to preparation for the end of the year activities.

The Company stated, “We expect headline inflation to increase further in October as preparations for year-end festivities will increase demand for both food and non-food items.

Affluent consumers confident of income rise —Stan Chart report

By Nkiruka Nnorom

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FFLUENT consumers in seven emerging economies expect their income to rise by 72 per cent on average in the next one year. This was one of the highlights of a survey report titled, The Emerging Affluent: Aspirational and Ambitious conducted by Standard Chartered Bank Plc. The report revealed that the figure is higher in Nigeria and India with 88 per cent expecting income rise in both countries, while 82 per cent expect their income to rise in Indonesia within the one year period.

Besides, income rise, the study of 7,000 emerging affluent consumers across seven of Standard Chartered’s markets – Hong Kong, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria and Singapore –- showed that the emerging affluent are confident about their market’s growth prospects, have clear spending plans, and are highly confident of achieving their longterm wealth goal.

A key finding in the study is a high level of confidence among the emerging affluent when it comes to the 10-year wealth goal. Respondents in six of the markets – Hong Kong, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and Singapore – say buying property is their top long-term financial aspiration, while launching their own business is the number one

goal for the emerging affluent Kenyans.

Whether the 10-year wealth aspiration is to buy property or launch a business, on average as many as 87 per cent of the emerging affluent believe they will achieve it. The figure is considerably higher in the developing markets, with 100 per cent of Nigerians and at least nine in 10 Kenyans, Indians, Indonesians and Chinese saying they are confident about achieving their long-term financial goal.

Other aspects of the finding reveal that 75 per cent of the emerging affluent expect their home market’s economy to grow in the next year. On average, 65 per cent of the emerging affluent have seen their household disposable income rise in the past year and the trend is set to continue.

Commenting, Karen Fawcett, CEO, Retail Banking, Standard Chartered, said: “At a time when many people are worried about the global economy, this study suggests it feels very different on the ground in Asia and Africa. These emerging affluent consumers are confident, ambitious and are driving wealth creation, which supports the long-term outlook for growth across these markets.

“Standard Chartered is focused on the fastest-growing cities in the world where there are high concentrations of affluent individuals seeking international banking solutions and comprehensive wealth solutions and advice.”

EXTILE manufacturers have called for the restructuring of the loan offered to the industry by the Bank of Industry (BoI).

United Nigeria Textile Limited (UNTL), Managing Director, Alhaji Isma’ila Isa Funtua made this call while speaking on behalf of textile manufacturers during a meeting between the group and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The meeting was at the instance of the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, with a view to assisting textile owners overcome challenges that hamper production.

During the meeting Emefiele emphasized that the textile industries must be assisted to operate optimally in order to create more jobs and boost the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

While expressing concern over the multiple challenges of power, smuggling and financing facing the industry, Emefiele pledged that the Bank would take the issues up with the relevant authorities.

He observed that some of the industries, in an attempt to resume full production, had accessed loans from the Bank of Industry (BoI) but had concerns about short tenure and moratorium.

He therefore sought for the commitment of the industrialists, especially those still operating at minimal scale, to assist them access more finance from the banks. Accordingly, he urged them to articulate all their concerns in a formal letter to the Bank, in order to enable the Bank take necessary action.

Responding on behalf of the textile owners, representative of the United Nigeria Textile Limited (UNTL), Alhaji Isma’ila Isa Funtua, called for the restructuring of the BoI loan as well as helping to make cotton, which is the primary raw material for any textile industry, available to the textile owners.

A committee of the textile owners was thereafter constituted and given the mandate of drafting the formal complaint to the CBN.

E-payment: Union Bank rewards customers for debit card activation

U

NION Bank has rewarded customers that responded positively to its campaign to promote activation and usage of debit cards In the draw which involved over 100, 000 customers that activated their debit cards nationwide within the period of the promotion, a school teacher at Aba, Miss Lucy Uwaezu Udeogu emerged the lucky winner of the grand prize of a trip to Dubai.

But Udeogu, who teaches civic education/social studies at Brilliant Model Schools Aba, was apparently reluctant to undertake the trip to Dubai and was consequently awarded N250, 000 in lieu of what could have been her maiden trip outside the shores of Nigeria.

At the ceremony held at the Union Bank Ngwa Road branch, Aba the grand prize winner was presented with a cheque for the sum of N250, 000 by the group head, Aba retail cluster, Mr. Friday Okosun.

Aside from the grand prize winner, 12 other lucky customers were equally rewarded with various prizes.

Four lucky customers who emerged as first prize winners got a generator each, four others who were drawn as second prize winners were given a deep freezer each while those in the third prize category shared four units of television sets.

In his remarks during the presentation, the group head, Abia retail cluster, Mr. Okosun, said that the award of the grand prize to the lucky winner was the climax of the promotion exercise which has prompted many of the bank’s customers to activate and start using their debit cards.

“We’re encouraging people to use debit cards,” he said, adding that the campaign would be a continuous exercise given that some people tend to be resistant to change”.

Vanguard, THURSDAY,

OCTOBER 15, 2015

—25

FROM BLACKBOARD TO KEYBOARD:

The classrooms Nigerian schools should have EDUCATION, described as the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university, is no doubt the bedrock of development. Little wonder governments that understand this, do all in their power to educate their citizens. In Nigeria and indeed most Sub-Saharan African countries, millions of school age children are out of school for various reasons ranging from poverty to ignorance of parents on the importance of education. With the traditional teaching method, the dream of making education accessible and affordable to millions of children will remain just that, a dream, unless technology is leveraged upon to make it a reality. In this report, Vanguard Learning takes a look at e-learning and the classroom of the future.

By Ebele Orakpo

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E V E R A G I N G technology: At a recent conference on TechnologyAssisted Learning in Nigerian Higher Education organised by the NUC and the American

C M Y K

University of Nigeria (AUN), President of AUN, Dr. Margee Ensign noted that with the rapid growth in Nigeria’s population projected to be the third largest in the world by 2025, the best solution to

NOUN graduates not qualified for NYSC — Prof. Akeusola

Int'l Day of the Girl-Child: An educational profile of the Nigerian girl

PG. 27

PG. 29

Search engines

learning environment boundless, slowly displacing teachers. Technology is the pen and paper of our time, and we have a generation growing up in a digital world,” said AyukTabe.

Blended learning: “Today, we have blended learning which can take place anywhere, anytime, by anybody and on any device. It is a combination of the LMS and video conferencing. The instructors teach via an application called WebEx and

“ Te a c h e r - s t u d e n t communication has evolved from hand-outs to use of operational software like DOS, Windows, Mac OS running application software such as Canvas, Moodles, OpenERP, Skype, and emails solely for academic purposes.

The AUN has adopted the Learning Management System (LMS), a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting and delivery of electronic educational technology (also called elearning) education courses or training programmes.

“Technology has made the

There is need to properly manage the physical space and cyberspace in the classroom to avoid distortion of learning especially where students are on social media

education is the deployment of technology as Nigeria may not have enough time or resources to build more schools.

Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Julius Ayuk-Tabe, AUN’s Assistant Vice-President of Digital Services and Chief Information Officer believes that learning has evolved from chalk and board to flicking the computer screen and search engines.

students can record their sessions for referencing and the instructor can still manage attendance which is compulsory and once in a while appear face-to-face in the classroom,” he said, adding that the teacher is no longer the center of knowledge; "students learn out of class more than in class.”

On the gains of video conferencing in teaching, Dr. Agatha Ukata, Assistant Professor of African Literature at the AUN said: “Video conferencing creates an enabling environment for students to rub minds with students in other parts of the world. It breaks the barrier of inaccessibility of persons talking on a one-on-one basis, using audio-visual tools. This collapses distance and other logistic bottlenecks and takes learning outside the immediate academic environment.”

Mr Amed Demirhan, GM/ Director at Barzani National Memorial, Kurdistan, Iraq and AUN’s former Director of Library Services believes that "if we start implementing serious ICT with video/audio

Continues on page 26

26—Vanguard, THURSDAY,

OCTOBER 15, 2015

CSR: From left, Head Teacher, Alaba Primary School, Mrs. Taiwo Olukemi Abosede; Deputy Director, Education District VI, Oshodi, Mrs. Aiyeola Olabunmi; Country CSO, NBC Ltd, Van Wilberding; Director, SUBEB, Mrs. Bunmi Oteju; Officer, LGEA, Mushin, Mustapha Razaq Adewale; and Head Teacher, Odu-Abore Primary School, Mushin, Mrs. Oyeniyi Oyewunmi Olufunmilayo at the presentation of educational support kits to pupils in the school during NBC’s ‘Back to School’ programme in Mushin, Lagos.

The classrooms Nigerian schools should have Continues from page 25 media teaching in real-time, Nigeria can recruit faculty from around the world especially those countries where the faculty salary is lower than Nigeria’s.”

E-Library: Demirhan thinks that if institutions can get the libraries (the engine room of an academic institution) right, education would become more accessible and affordable to a larger number of people. “We are applying information technology both to organisational structure, space and collection. That was why AUN was selected as one of the best innovative international projects in library in 2013. We want every school in Nigeria to know they can do what we did regardless of their resources.

University library "We spent much less than what the PTF gives to a university library in Nigeria.

Every library gets about N30 million from the fund and they erect new buildings; but if they can put that money into tablets or other devices, every university with the cost of one building, can become an AUN as far as e-library goes.”

Advantages: “A smart library is basically like a smart phone – multi-functional, efficient, has more services and because you deal with e-resources, you don’t need too much space.

We use more mobile applications. For instance, the scanner, desktop computer, laptop, photocopy machine and telephone have been replaced by smart phones, tablets and netbooks, thus providing a new level of efficiency and effectiveness. It saves money, more environment-friendly, effective, sustainable, consumes less electricity, takes up less space and that is why it is an equalizer for developing countries and very critical for national development,” said Demirhan.

Bridging the gap: Experts believe there is need to properly manage the physical space and cyberspace in the classroom to avoid distortion C M Y K

of learning especially where students are on social media, so technology is increasingly being used to create communities to foster the exchange of ideas, address difficult problems and avoid intellectual or professional isolation to bridge the divide.

Said Ayuk-Tabe: “One of the Learning Management Systems that AUN has tested to combat that segregation is the Canvas and Turnitin application. This application has drastically reduced plagiarism in the classroom.

We come from an educational community where people don’t quote sources and they copy and paste.” In this age of digital learning, students motivate instructors/lecturers to change their method of instruction to interaction.”

E-learning here to stay: Engr.

Idowu Desmennu, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Andrew D. Idowu and Co said the classroom of the future is already here.

“We have a device that turns any wall into an interactive board; no chalk, no marker. It will work anywhere."

Video animations: "Students will download each subject topic online at just N10. You teach in the day and the

We have blended learning which can take place anywhere, anytime, by anybody and on any device

student takes the lecture home to watch on his phone or parent’s phone, on TV via USB on any DVD player or on a laptop. It can be downloaded from our app if the student needs it later.

We have video animations to teach physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics.

Literature textbooks will come in video modules. We have English modules from primary to secondary.”

On envisaged challenges, Desmennu said the issues of power, security of the devices in public schools and finance, have been taken care of.

Smart devices: “Universities must be willing to spend on their bandwidth. As small as AUN is, we consume 110 megabyte per second and you must have the infrastructure, information system, steady electricity and human resources to manage elearning facilities.

People must have access to cost effective smart devices to enjoy e-learning, which is why AUN is introducing Library on a Flash, an application with more than 500 open source books embedded in the flash.

Academic materials Unlike most schools that have a library, AUN operates a digital library and e-learning center.

All academic materials are synchronized on KOHA that substitutes Google search engine.

“The difference between KOHA and Google is that KOHA helps to arrange database and filter nonacademic materials,” said Ayuk-Tabe, adding that although Nigeria may not be ready for the classroom without chalk as some remote areas still don’t even have chalk but use charcoal, he believes that elearning has come to stay in Nigeria, unarguably the biggest internet market in Africa.

“We may slowly have come of age to embrace e-learning and it has come to stay and the Nigerian educational system should afford itself the advantage of embracing it,” he said.

Anambra teacher wins Maltina Teacher-of-the-year

By Dayo Adesulu

T

HE quest for the best teacher in public secondary schools in Nigeria came to a glorious end at a grand ceremony in Lagos on Monday as a 37 year-old teacher from Anambra State, Mrs. Rose Nkemdilim Obi emerged winner of the maiden edition of the Maltina Teacher-of-the-Year.

Obi, who is equally a daughter of a teacher, teaches Mathematics and Chemistry at the Federal Government Girls College, FGC Onitsha. The year 2000 graduate of Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, Anambra State beat nine other finalists to the coveted prize. The ten finalists who slugged it out at the final lap, were winners from Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Imo, Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States.

The first runner-up was Mrs. Binta Mohammed Lawan of Federal Government College Maiduguri, Borno State, in the war ravaged North East, while her counterpart from Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Daniel Sunday Udiong emerged as the second runner-up.The award instituted

by Maltina, the non-alcoholic malt brand from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, is courtesy of Nigerian BreweriesFelix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. It is aimed at restoring the pride of teachers and the dignity of the teaching profession.

For their effort, the national winner got one million naira and one million naira will be paid into her account annually for five years. Obi will also be sent abroad for professional training on the bill of Nigerian Breweries/Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, just as the Federal Government College Onitsha, Obi’s school, has also become an instant beneficiary of a block of six classrooms.

The first runner-up got one million naira plus another five hundred thousand naira finalists’ prize money, while the second runner-up took seven hundred and fifty naira and another five hundred thousand naira for getting to the finals.

Speaking after her declaration as winner, Obi, who spoke extemporal for more than ten minutes, dedicated her victory to God and her fellow teachers.

She also thanked Nigerian Breweries, for the great honour and motivation done to teachers and the teaching profession.

“Teaching is a noble profession,

It is aimed at restoring the pride of teachers and the dignity of the teaching profession

it is a calling and it is a commitment to building the nation. I thank God today for my life, and I thank Nigerian Breweries for restoring the dignity and pride of teachers,” she said.

In his welcome remark, the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde explained that the company operates with a philosophy of “winning with Nigeria” and has championed causes that add value to the society since its inception in 1946. “In 1994, we raised the profile of our support of the education sector when we established the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund to enable us to contribute to the development of the sector.

Everywhere in the world, teachers play a vital role in sustainable national development by training, coaching and modelling which is critical to determining the quality of education, “he said.

He added that the valid entries received were subjected to an intensive selection and judging process by an independent, external panel of judges to ensure transparency, credibility and objectivity.

Credibility and objectivity The Panel of Judges which comprised eminent Nigerian academics and professionals, was chaired by Prof. Pat Utomi, Founder/CEO, Centre for Values in Leadership. Others included: Mrs. Mopelola O. Omoegun, Professor of Education, University of Lagos; Prof. Thomas I. Ofuya, Vice Chancellor, Wellspring University and Member, Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities; as well as Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, Chairman, Editorial Board, ThisDay Newspapers. Other members are: Dr. (Mrs.) Abdulrahman Binta Fatima, National President, All-Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools; and Professor Tijjani Abubakar, Dean, Faculty of Education, Ahmadu Bello University.

The race for Maltina Teacherof-The-Year started on Wednesday, 20th May, 2015 and generated unprecedented interest from teachers across the country. The initiative with prizes worth over N50 million annually, is to reward commitment and diligence to duty by exceptional teachers across the country.

Kufre Ekanem, Nigerian Breweries Corporate Affairs Adviser explained that that through this initiative, the company can inspire this nation to accord our teachers their deserved credit and bring back respect to the teaching profession in Nigeria.

Babcock varsity performs first heart surgery

By Dayo Adesulu

I

T was another milestone yesterday in Babcock University as the first heart surgery was performed there by its doctors. The operation lasted six hours. The first beneficiary of this feat in the history of the university is a 34-year-old woman who brimmed with exceptional spirit as she calmly walked through the door with gaiety into the theatre for a life saving venture in the human hands of cardio thoracic

surgeons: Professor Kamar Adeleke, Dr. Michael Sanusi, Dr. Mudashiru Lawal and Dr. Edward Anderson, all resident doctors, under God’s divine care.

Dr. Anderson led the team for the operations.

Those were not the only ones who were part of the epochmaking exercise. There were other 15 critical care personnel in the operating theatre to provide specific required services. They included perfussionists, cardiac operations

nurses, internists and anesthesiologists.

Yesterday’s surgery was a milk valve replacement. Today, another set of patients’ hearts are receiving care from the surgeons’ hearts that care. Dozens other patients are on the roll call and will have their turn as scheduled from now onwards at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital. So, what is going on now at the Tristate Heart and Vascular Centre of the University is not the last of such operations until all afflicted hearts are rid of that which prevents their effective functioning.

P r o f e s s o r Iheanyichukwu Okoro a surgeon and senior vice president of Babcock University, and Mr. Olukunle Iyanda, Vice president, development and strategy also of Babcock University, said the medical feat couldn’t have happened at a better time than this.

“This is inspirational and praiseworthy; another achievement by God through mortal men”.

Engineering firm unveils NGO on youth empowerment

By Kelechukwu Iruoma

I

N a bid to reduce the rate of unemployment in Nigeria by empowering Nigerian youths through skills acquisition, the Chief Executive Officer of Jude Elswitch Limited, Dr. Jude Nnanna has unveiled the Give Little Assistance Daily (GLAD) foundation. The foundation was nd unveiled during the 52 birthday anniversary of Dr. Nnanna at the Golden Tulip

hotel, Festac Town, Lagos.

Speaking during the unveiling, the founder revealed that, “the inspiration to set up the foundation came as a result of not only my passion to touch lives in the society, but the ugly experience I had as a youth who wanted to contribute to my own quota to the technological advancement of Nigeria, and to share my experience with people so that good heads from the universities, polytechnics,

technical and secondary schools would be turned to good hands.

The engineer who revealed that Nigeria is on the verge of having industrial explosion and revolution said, “what we really need at this moment is good heads with good hands. We need people who will do the job, not those carrying big certificates alone. I am quite convinced that there are people like me who want to change the system technologically.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY,

OCTOBER 15, 2015

— 27

Crescent varsity graduates 435, as 20-yr-old leads the pack

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TOTAL of 435 students have graduated at Crescent University, Abeokuta during the institution’s seventh convocation. The students graduated from Colleges of Information and Communication Technology, Natural and Applied Sciences, Social and Management Sciences as well as Environmental Sciences.

The founder and Proprietor of the university, Judge Bola Ajibola expressed delight that graduates of the university continued to perform exceedingly well in both industry and postgraduate studies, which according to him lent unassailable credence to the depth of the certificates awarded by the institution.

Charged the graduands, Ajibola described them as “inheritors of a legacy of success, urging them to reach out to the

world as their predecessors have done.” He further “I urge you all to exert your very best and raise the bar of expectations wherever you find yourselves, be it in industry or academics.”

The Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Ibraheem Gbajabiamila expressed delight that the four hundred and thirty-five graduands were certified worthy in character and learning as enshrined in the mission and vision of the university.

He specifically commended the overall best graduating student, Miss Oyinkansola Fagbohun and two others(Garba Gambo and Hassan Haladu) who were on kano State scholarship and finished with first-class respectively, stressing that the university’s vision of uniting the Northern and Southern Nigeria had been fulfilled.

‘Review educational system to meet unemployment needs’

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HE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sokoa Chair Centre Limited, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, has said that to tackling the nation’s high unemployment rate, which has become a social menace, is to strategically review the country’s educational system to accommodate technical and vocational skills.

Speaking on the topic, ‘Developing strategies for job creation and economic growth,’ in Lagos at the 31st Omolayole

Management Series Lecture, Awosika said the nation must not stop at present way of running the country’s educational system, but must constantly structure the system to support the economic growth it desires.

She said this is important so that the country could have the right pool of manpower to take the jobs being created. According to her, though there is high unemployment in Nigeria, at the same time there are jobs being created.

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Parents urged to allow children study courses of their passion

By Dayo Adesulu

V

ICE PRINCIPAL, Corona Secondary School, Mr. Paul Oba has urged parents to allow their children study whatever course they are good at, nothing that success in does not only depend on your discipline but on what you have passion in.

He stated this during Corona Secondary School’s three days Art Exhibition held at Gbagada branch of the school to mark the school 60th anniversary.

He urged parents to let go of their child who have talents in art. Records abound out there about people who went through education to do what their parents want them do. At the end of the day, they still came C M Y K

back to what they have passion for. People are earning their livelihood on things they take as hobby.

Oba said: “It is not about forcing the child to do what you want, if you do, the child will not be happy. Some people who obeyed their parents doing what they want, ended up dropping it for what they love.

We have a lot of parents in our school who came to us to say, “I went through this and I don’t want my children to go through that.”

Lamenting the erosion of Art in Nigeria, Oba noted that Art is more visible in music than it is in art. In Nigeria today, people are beginning to appreciate art. People are beginning to let their children

study art, which was not so in the time past. Telling your parents that you are going to study art is not what is easy to do. But we have many more people doing that today. That we could get so many things from our learners is evidence that parents are letting go the students.

Earning of livelihood There are many who studied art and are earning their livelihood through art. I major in art. Honestly it is not about ability, because every human being has a talent. I am not going to tell a child who show interest in art not to toll that way.

I will ask him to go ahead if he has the talent and passion for art.

Speaking in same vein, Mrs Yanju Olowodola, an alumnus whose children are also in Corona said that the world is innovative and dynamic such that you can excel in whatever thing you do.

According to her, you can do different things to make you excel. “Academic education is the foundation for success.

However, if you are gifted in any area, work to develop those gifts. I know the faces of some who is who in Nigeria, not because of their education, but because of their talents. You can go places with your skills,” she added.

Meanwhile, Oba went further to explain that the art exhibition held in Corona School Gbagada is a collections of works from all branches at Gbagada, Apapa, Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikoyi and Agbara. He said exhibition of art is about celebration of talents, adding that they are celebrating the talents that Corona has brought forth over the years.

His words: “We have some art here that are more than fifteen years. What we have here today are just selections of works. Our primary schools and secondary school celebrate art yearly because of its importance, however, this is the first time all our schools are coming together for art exhibition to mark its 60th anniversary.

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY,

OCTOBER 15, 2015

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

We are taking the hospital to patients — Steve Ayanruoh Dr Steve Ayanruoh is a US-based Nigerian physician and Chief Executive Officer at Ruskat Medical Equipment Corporation based in ElPaso, Texas, USA. He was in Nigeria recently as part of a US team on a trade mission to eight African countries. He spoke with Vanguard on his invention, Hospital-in-a-box and the reason for the visit.

Excerpts:

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By Ebele Orakpo

CCORDING to Dr Steve Ayanruoh, the Commerce Department of the US organised the trade mission, the largest trade mission to Africa from the US. The participating companies both from the US and Nigeria, discussed areas of cooperation with hope of signing contracts in the future.

Speaking with Vanguard Learning, Dr Ayanruoh said Ruskat Medical Equipment Corporation is in the business of making healthcare cheaper and easier to get. “We want to ensure that every citizen of the world has access to comprehensive healthcare irrespective of colour, race, religious belief, sexual orientation and economic status. We manufacture a machine called Hospital-in-abox so instead of the patient going to the hospital, the hospital goes to the patient.

Driving force: On what motivated the invention of Hospital-in-a-box, Ayanruoh said: “As a paediatrician in the US, I went to work one winter morning, only to find out that I was the only one in the clinic to attend to about three patients at the same time.

Adequate health care So, I said to myself, ‘If only I could do something that will aid their treatment.’ This was my motivation. People’s lack of access to adequate health care service is my driving force.”

Components: The components include spirometer, electrocardiogram, nebulizer, pulse-oximetry, otoscope, thermometer, cuff, wireless, AC/DC battery.

“On the desktop are icons for all the examinations that the machine can perform. When each examination is performed, the results are stored in each individualized folder, which is also on the desktop. These results can either be stored in a flash drive or sent through the internet to assigned server.

Doctors assigned to the C M Y K

* *Hospital-in-a box *Mrs Dehab Ghebreab, Acting Consul-General, US Consulate and Dr. Steve Ayanruoh at the event in Lagos. locations where the machine is being used can log into the server to review the results and send their recommendations to the site provider.

“The spirometer is used to examine how well people’s lungs are functioning. The lung can have diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive disease, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, croup, pneumonia, hard lung tissue among others.

“The nebulizer is used to measure blood pressure. It can also be used to diagnose high blood pressure (HBP), low blood pressure, systolic hypertension and dizziness due to changing blood pressure with changes in the patient’s position.

“The pulse-oximeter measures oxygen level in the blood and heart rate. It can help to differentiate lung disease such as asthma. Also, it helps to diagnose cardiac disease such as Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and endocrine disease such as Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). Not every panting patient has a lung disease just as not all bluish patients need oxygen.

“The thermometer is used to measure the temperature of the forehead in seconds. It can be used to diagnose fever, low temperature and febrile

With Hospitalin-a-box, a patient almost needs not go to the hospital; rather, the hospital ‘goes’ to the patient

seizures. The hand-held device can examine any part of the body such as ears, eyes, nose, and mouth, among others,” he said.

Hospital-in-a-box makes it possible for relevant and crucial patient information including multiple examinations results and their corresponding digitized images to be shared and compared with others elsewhere in order to properly and accurately evaluate the health of the patient. With Hospital-in-a-box,

a patient almost needs not go to the hospital. Rather, the hospital ‘goes’ to the patient.

“For example, if there is a trained provider using the machine in Lagos, he could send his results to a server in Kano or Maiduguri and the assigned doctor. The assigned doctor who is vacationing in Enugu can log into the server to review the result and send recommendations back to Lagos. The device can also be used in disasters such as

hurricane, tsunamis, floods, etc.”

Ayanruoh said the team was billed to visit eight African countries including South Africa, Angola and Nigeria.

“There are a lot of interests.

After the meetings, I will write my reports and present to the boards back in the US and then they do some due diligence on some of the companies before they decide on which companies to partner with,” he said.

NBC boosts public education with ‘Back to School’ initiative

By Dayo Adesulu

I

N demonstration of its support for educational development in Nigeria with emphasis on supporting enrolment and retention in public primary school, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd has donated school kits containing educational materials to 5,000 pupils under its Back-To-School Initiative across different public primary schools in Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Onitsha, Okigwe and Asejire.

During the presentation of the materials, the Managing Director, NBC, Ben Langat, who was represented by the Country Chief Security Officer, Van Wilberding, said: “the move is aimed at supporting parents and guardians in relieving financial burden as their children and wards return to school and further encourage enrolment in public primary schools as well as a reduction in out of school rate in primary education across the country."

Sharing her delight at the

event, Mrs. Olabisi Ariyo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Lagos State, represented by Mrs. Omolara Akin-Adekibigbe, Director, Administration and Human Resources, commended the effort of NBC in contributing to the intellectual capacity development of the Nigerian child.

Qualitative education She said: “The initiative is in line with efforts at delivering qualitative education to our children and a manifestation of government’s call for private sector involvement in developing key sectors of the economy, particularly Education.”

She added that the gesture will go a long way in supporting and motivating the pupils towards academic excellence.

In the same vein, Chief Nzemeka Olisa, Executive Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education

Board, during the presentation of the educational materials to pupils from United Primary S c h o o l , N k p o r, s a i d : “I applaud NBC for the initiative, it is a clear demonstration by the company that educational development cannot be left to the government alone because of dwindling resources.

"Other companies and wellmeaning individuals are hereby encouraged to emulate the NBC example.”

The Back-To-School Initiative, which was kick-started in 2011 has benefited over 13,000 pupils in public primary schools. The initiative instills a sense of pride and confidence in pupils as they return to school for another academic session.

Other strategic educational investment by the company include the provision and upgrade of infrastructure, capacity building for teachers and school support initiatives towards the learning and development of the Nigerian child.

Vanguard, THURSDAY,

Int'l Day of the Girl-Child: An educational profile of the Nigerian girl

By Amaka Abayomi, Ikenna Asomba & Tare Youdeowei

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DUCATION, they say, is an important foundation to improve the status of women and has also been recognised as a fundamental strategy for development as no sustainable development is possible if women remain uneducated, discriminated against and disenfranchised.

Recognising that education is a powerful instrument that enables women to access a variety of opportunities, while rendering them less vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, abuse, and exploitation, the World Bank has stated that there is no investment more effective for achieving development goals than educating girls.

It’s against these backdrops and the declining rate of the girlchild in schools that Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark the annual International Day of the Girl Child. Being the fourth edition, this year focuses on adolescent girls and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which set a range of international targets, including gender equality, to be achieved by 2030.

Gender equality Marking the International Day of the Girl Child, the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, said the newly adopted SDGs offer an opportunity for global commitment to breaking interg e n e r a t i o n a l transmission of poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination – and realizing the vision of a life of dignity for all.

Referring to the newly– adopted 2030 Agenda and its landmark 17 Global Goals, Ki-moon said “our task now is to get to work on meeting the SDG targets and making good on our promises to give girls all the opportunities they deserve as they mature to adulthood by 2030.

“That means enabling them to avoid child marriage and unwanted pregnancy, protect against HIV transmission, stay safe C M Y K

from female genital mutilation, and acquire the education and skills they need to realize their potential.

“It also requires ensuring their sexual health and reproductive rights. Girls everywhere should be able to lead lives free from fear and violence. If we achieve this progress for girls, we will see advances across society.

“Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women.

Formative years If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow ’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders.”

Also speaking, UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, said the cadre of 15-year-old girls living today were born at the advent of the M i l l e n n i u m Development Goals (MDGs) into a world of hope. Not all of those hopes were fulfilled as many have already dropped out of school to look after family members or take informal work to help support the family.

“More than 250 million of our 15-year-olds are already married, too many are facing the likelihood of HIV

Letting girls go to school is good for the family. Health and education improve.

Research studies have shown that to educate girls is the best way out of poverty

infection, especially given the high unmet needs for family planning, and every 10 minutes somewhere in the world, an adolescent girl dies by violent means. These, and the generations that follow them, are the young women for whom we are working so hard.”

Shocking statistics With children under 15 years of age accounting for about 45 per cent of the country’s population, the burden on education and other sectors has become overwhelming.

40 percent of children aged 6-11 do not attend any primary school with the Northern region recording the lowest school attendance rate in the country, particularly for girls.

Despite a significant increase in net enrolment rates in recent years, it is estimated that about 4.7

education; South-East 18.7%; South-West 17.1% and South-South 13%.

Child marriage The effect of under-age marriage on the education of the girlchild in Nigeria is particularly prominent in the north. The girl-child, according to statistics, is on the lowest rung of the education ladder. This is besides the health implication of under age pregnancy for the girlchild. In the North, for instance, many under age girls are at risk of Vesico-viginal Fistula (VVF) when they become pregnant. Despite the Senate’s attempt to clear the controversy, the girlchild lags behind in education in Nigeria and one of the factors responsible is child marriage.

To combat this, the National Assembly, in 2003, passed The Child

OCTOBER 15, 2015 —

29

Untenable excuses for Nigerian universities low ranking “Why should anyone place a university like MIT established in 1861 or Harvard founded in 1636, side by side with any Nigerian university.”

Olabisi Deji-Folutile, PUNCH, October 3, 2015, p 13.

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N the article titled “Beyond QS World Universities Ranking”, the author attempted without success to provide excuses for the woeful performance of Nigerian universities in the latest global ranking of universities.

Her main argument was based on the age of the universities which were ranked higher than Nigerian universities. As everybody knows, University of Ibadan was our first and was founded in 1948. So, on the basis of age, there should be no comparison. Nothing can be further from the truth and the author provided the evidence that age matters very little. I will provide more.

The very first university in the world was established right here in Africa. Karaouien University, in Fez, Morocco, was opened in 859 as a co-educational institution. It also recorded the first campus disturbance as the male students demanded visiting rights to the female hostel. The authorities were protecting the girls who actually did not want to be protected. The universities of Bologna and Padua, in Italy, were also established in the 11th and 13th centuries respectively. Compared to those “Methuselah” universities, MIT, Harvard and Cambridge are toddlers. But, that is perhaps insufficient proof that age does not matter much. So, kindly let me invite anybody with sufficient funds to travel to Waltham, Massachusetts in the United States of America, and visit Brandeis University. That university was established in the same year as our University of Ibadan in 1948. Just one look at the science laboratories will make you weep for U.I. It is

Why are the alumni of Nigerian universities contented to hold lavish birthday, burial, chieftaincy and wedding parties instead of donating to their universities?

The Nigerian girl-child: Endangered from birth? million children of primary school age are still not in school.

Another challenge in Nigeria is the issue of girls’ education. In the North particularly, the gender gap remains very wide and the proportion of girls to boys in school ranges from 1 girl to 2 boys to 1 to 3 in some states.

According to statistics obtained by Vanguard Learning from AfriDev.Info’s Policy Brief and Editorial entitled ‘Education, Governance, Peace and Security: Percentage of Males/ Females with no Education by Geographical Zones’, of the six geopolitical zones, the North West, with 62.8%, has the highest number of females with no education, followed by North-West with 61.1%.

38% of females in NorthCentral have no

Rights Act, which clearly states in Section 21: ‘No person under the age of 18 years is capable of contracting a valid marriage, and accordingly, any marriage so contracted is null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

‘22.1. No parent, guardian or any other person shall betroth a child to any person. 2. A betrothal in contravention of subsection (1) of this section is null and void.”

Though violation of the Act attracts penalties of N500,000 fine or five-year imprisonment, it is not binding on all states until the law becomes domesticated, which some states House of Assembly are yet to do.

Similarly, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the child stipulates in Article 11 that (1) Every child shall have the right to education.

self-delusion of the worst kind to offer excuses about why our universities are in shambles.

Ms Deji-Folutile made a more valid point when she pointed out that “Tuition fees for 2015/2016 in MIT and Harvard are $46,704 [N10,274,888] and $45,278 [N9,961,160] respectively.” But, even that point is more of an indictment of the Nigerian elite and our warped sense of values. In my ten years living in the United States, first six years as a student and last four as a worker, I never witnessed an burial ceremony in which the children of the late father blocked off a whole street and spent a fortune on the burial. Marriages, including mine and that of several friends, ended with a small get-together for not more than two dozen people. Here, the wedding cake alone must cost a fortune for it to be called a successful occasion. Parents of kids in Harvard and MIT pay the fees because none of them would be crazy enough to have ten cars in his garage. Most have just one. I know, because I lived in the Cambridge area for over six years.

The question which the author did not address, and which should be addressed, is “why are the alumni of Nigerian universities contented to hold lavish birthday, burial, chieftaincy and wedding parties instead of donating to their universities?” Most American universities, Harvard and MIT included, have an active Alumni Relations office, which keeps track of all the alumni and which frequently solicits for donations. Some actually put their schools in their wills for donations. University of Ibadan will be a lot richer if all the old students, still alive and able, contribute N1,000 minimum per month.

That is just what some of those I know spend on four bottles of Gulder or Stout in a day!!!

Instead of lazy excuses, let us tell ourselves some truths.

We have tried everything else. First, Nigerian universities need lots of money to get out of the rot in which they find themselves. That “Harvard runs an annual budget of $4.2bn [N836.6bn]” is important news to us. But, it is just like saying the world’s fastest runner clocks 9.8 seconds.

The two pieces of information only tell us what we must aim at if we want to be world class.

30—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

Senate cannot go outside Constitutional provisions — Fashanu As the Senate on Tuesday commenced its screening of the first batch of ministerial nominees forwarded to it by President Muhammadu Buhari, Vanguard Law and Human Rights focussed at issues raised by concerned Nigerians and lawyers on confirmation of the proposed Ministers and constitutionality or otherwise of the President assuming the portfolio of Petroleum Minister. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Fashanu (SAN), examined the constitutional issues involved.

Excerpt:

By Dayo Benson, Wahab Abdullahi & Bartholomew Madukwe

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ONFIRMATION of Pro posed Ministers:The President’s power to appoint Ministers is subject to confirmation by the Senate under Section 147(3) of 1999 Constitution, Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) but the confirmation is subject only to conditions imposed as to qualification and competence of the appointees as set by the constitution and not by Senate which will be illegal in my humble opinion.

The conditions as set out in Section 147 of the Constitution are that the nominee shall be qualified for election into the House of Representatives and appointment of at least one minister from each State of the federation and satisfaction of section 14(3) of the CFRN as to federal character and federal diversity.

National unity Section 14(3) states that the composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or

from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.

Requirements for qualification as Member of the House of Representatives will be found in Chapter 5 Part 1C of the CFRN some of which are being up to 35 years of age, being educated up to at least school certificate level, not to be under a sentence of death or imprisonment or fine for an offence involving dishonesty or fraud by a competent court of law or tribunal, etc.

Humble opinion Others are not to be bankrupt, be a secret society member or be indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry or Administrative Panel of Inquiry or Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act or other Law which indictment has been accepted by the Federal or State Government, respectively, or adjudged to be a lunatic or person of unsound mind, etc.

It is my humble opinion that the Senate cannot go outside these provisions of the CFRN to set separate or additional requirements for qualification as Minister for confirmation by it because the Senate, being a creation of the CFRN itself, is also subject to the provisions of that Constitution and the law.

Therefore, what we are hearing that a nominee has to

Businessman files contempt charge against Lamorde Pg 32 C M Y K

President Muhammadu Buhari be recommended by Senators from his State, if true, to me, is wrong. The President has total power and discretion to nominate anyone he likes to be a Minister so long as the requirements for qualification set under the Constitution have been met.

Therefore, the fact that some nominees are being accused of corruption should not be a reason for non-confirmation so long as the person has not been charged before and convicted by a competent court of law or tribunal for such an offence, his innocence is guaranteed under Chapter IV of the CFRN. I even believe that such a person should be confirmed if only to ridicule himself more for, if he knows he is corrupt and does not step down now,

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki his downfall will be complete as appointment as Minister does not stop his prosecution, trial and conviction and this no-nonsense President has said he will not shield anyone who is found to be corrupt by competent judicial authorities and I believe him.

About the requirement as to being indicted for embezzlement or fraud, there is no doubt that this can be politicised by a State hostile to the appointment of a nominee quickly indicting him before a court or tribunal and accepting its report upon such indictment.

It is the responsibility of the Senate to ensure that such indictment conforms with the provisions of the Law especially that the tribunal is empowered by law to try offences and that the indicted was given a fair hearing under Chapter IV of the CFRN. However, I concede that’s a tough one.

The President as Minister of Petroleum

The conditions as set out in Section 147 of the Constitution are that the nominee shall be qualified for election into the House of Representatives

There is no doubt in my mind that the President is not breaching any Law if he chooses to preside over the Petroleum Ministry.

By Section 131 (2) of the Constitution: “The President shall be the Head of State, the Chief Executive of the Federation and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation”.

Section 131(2) of the Constitution: “An election to the said office shall be held on a date not earlier than sixty days and not later than thirty days before

the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.”

As the Chief Executive of the country, the buck stops at his desk and he is answerable for everything under his government. He knows the importance of the Petroleum portfolio, petroleum being the paramount and major revenue earner for the country and to stem the pervasive corruption it has been subjected to by the immediate past regime and earlier ones, he wants to steer the ship of the major revenue earner himself as the captain.

Revenue earner As the CEO, he can act in any department of his government and there is no single provision of the CFRN or any other Law stopping him.

However, if he chooses himself as minister, he is still subject to confirmation by the Senate under section 147(3) CFRN but that should be a mere formality because he is overqualified having scaled through qualifying requirements for President not to talk of House of Representatives required for a Minister.

Section 147(3): “Any appointment under subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution:- provided that in giving effect to the provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each State, who shall be an indigene of such State.”

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015—31

“ (1) Where the Code of Conduct Tribunal finds a public officer guilty of contravention of any of the provisions of this Code it shall impose upon that officer any of the punishments specified under sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph and such other punishment as may be prescribed by the National Assembly; (2) The punishment which the Code of Conduct Tribunal may impose shall include any of the following -(a) vacation of office or seat in any legislative house, as the case may be; (b) disqualification from membership of a legislative house and from the holding of any public office for a period not exceeding ten years; and(c) seizure and forfeiture to the State of any property acquired in abuse or corruption of office; ; (3) The sanctions mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) hereof shall be without prejudice to the penalties that may be imposed by any law where the conduct is also a criminal offence;

CCT, Federal High Court status under 1999 Constitution

By Jiti Ogunye

T

HE preferment of a thirteen count charge against Dr. Bukola Saraki, “ the Senate President” by the Code of Conduct Bureau before the Code of Conduct Tribunal and his consequent filing of a Suit at the Federal High Court Abuja seeking to restrain the Code of Conduct Tribunal from proceeding with his arraignment and trial has brought the issue of the status of the Code of Conduct Tribunal under the Constitution to the front burner of legal and political discourse in the country.

The fact that the Federal High Court directed that the CCB and CCT be put on notice and that the were to come before the Federal High Court on Monday, 21st of September, 2015 to show cause why a restraining should not be made did not help matters.

That directive added fuel to the fire of the controversy.

Restraining order The fact that Senator Bukola Saraki also approached the Court of Appeal to stop his trial when the CCT did not “ comply with” the directive of the Federal High Court only added to the controversy, regardless of the fact that the Court of Appeal did not oblige or indulge Senator Saraki by granting a restraining order in his favour. What then is the status of the CCT? Is it, as it has been argued, an inferior tribunal to the Federal High Court or a High Court of a State? Can the said Courts exercise supervisory or appellate jurisdiction over the CCT? Does the exclusive jurisdiction granted the Federal High Court in Section 251 enable or empower the Federal High Court to exercise a power of judicial review or appellate power over the CCT? Our answers to the above query is short and simple. The Federal High Court has no appel-

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com

late or supervisory jurisdiction over the CCT. The CCT, albeit styled a tribunal, performs the function of a Court. It tries defendants in a criminal trial. It finds persons so tried guilty or not guilty and it convicts and sentences like any superior court of record. It can also enforce its decisions. Similarly, the Election Tribunal ( governorship, legislative houses or presidential), though styled a tribunal is a court.

Election tribunal It tries causes and gives decisions. Surely, just as no high court can restrain an election tribunal from treating an election petition or rule on the incompetence of a petition filed before an election tribunal, so also no high court properly can restrain the CCT from performing its constitutional and judicial duty. The CCT is not an administrative tribunal. It is a judicial tribunal vested with judicial powers, Paragraph 15, 17 and 18 of the 5th Schedule to the Constitution that provides for the Code of Conduct Tribunal are very apt and clear in the definition of the establishment of the CCT, appointment of its members, and its powers Paragraph 15 provides as follows: “(1) There shall be established a tribunal to be known as Code of Conduct Tribunal which shall consist of a Chairman and two other persons; (2) The Chairman shall be a person who has held or is qualified to hold office as a Judge of a Court of record in Nigeria and shall receive such remuneration as may be prescribed by law; (3) The Chairman and members of the Code of Conduct Tribunal shall be appointed by the President in accordance with the recommendation of the National Judicial Council; and (4) The National Assembly may by law confer on the Code of Conduct Tribunal such additional powers as may appear to it necessary to enable it more

Imposition of punishment

•Jiti Ogunye effectively discharge the functions conferred on it in this Schedule.”

Paragraph 17 provides as follows: “(1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, a person holding the office of Chairman or member of the Code of Conduct Tribunal shall vacate his office when he attains the age of seventy years; (2) A person who has held office as Chairman or member of

It is luminously clear that the CCT is a sui generis Court or Tribunal

the Code of Conduct Tribunal for a period of not less than ten years shall, if he retires at the age of seventy years, be entitled to pension for life at a rate equivalent to his last annual salary in addition to other retirement benefits to which he may be entitled; (3) A person holding the office of Chairman or member of the Code of Conduct Tribunal shall not be removed from his office or appointment by the President except upon an address supported by two-thirds majority of each House of the National Assembly praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office in question (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body) or for misconduct or for contravention of this Code; and (4) A person holding the office of Chairman or member of the Code of Conduct Tribunal shall not be removed from office before retiring age save in accordance with the provisions of this Code.”

And Paragraph 18 provides thus

(4) Where the Code of Conduct Tribunal gives a decision as to whether or not a person is guilty of a contravention of any of the provisions of this Code, an appeal shall lie as of right from such decision or from any punishment imposed on such person to the Court of Appeal at the instance of any party to the proceedings. ; (5) Any right of appeal to the Court of Appeal from the decisions of the Code of Conduct Tribunal conferred by sub-paragraph (4) hereof shall be exercised in accordance with the provisions of an Act of the National Assembly and rules of court for the time being in force regulating the powers, practice and procedure of the Court of Appeal; (6) Nothing in this paragraph shall prejudice the prosecution of a public officer punished under this paragraph or preclude such officer from being prosecuted or punished for an offence in a court of law; and (7) The provisions of this Constitution relating to prerogative of mercy shall not apply to any punishment imposed in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph.”

...To be concluded

32—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

Businessman files contempt charge against Lamorde

By Onozure Dania

A

BUSINESSMAN, Jyde Adelakun, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of allegedly disobeying orders made by the Federal High Court in Lagos.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa, in a judgment on September 23, declared Adelakun’s arrest and detention for five days from July 3 to 8 as illegal and unconstitutional.

He held that the commission’s freezing of the applicant’s corporate account with Skye Bank and other accounts without any court order was unlawful, null and void. Justice Yunusa ordered the respondents to unfreeze/unblock the accounts forthwith. He restrained EFCC from freezing Adelakun’s accounts or doing anything that may deny him “unhindered access to funds” in his accounts.

Unfounded speculation The judge also restrained the commission from arresting or detaining the applicant “in connection with mere suspicion and unfounded speculation.”

The commission was also directed to release all properties siezed from Adelakun to him. He and his company, Touch of Fame Energy Limited, had sought the enforcement of their fundamental rights. But Adelakun claimed the commission has refused to obey the orders. According to him, he could not access his bank account.

He has, therefore, filed Form 48 (Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Court Order) against EFCC chairman Ibrahim Lamorde. The form reads: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this court order, you will be guilty of contempt of Court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

Adelakun said both the bank and EFCC were served with the order, but that the commission was yet to unfreeze his accounts with Skye Bank, Adeola Hopewell, Victoria Island Branch. “What is now the

EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde meaning of the ‘rule of law’ when certain government parastatals

Once a person is arrested, their liberty is curtailed. It does not matter how long the detention lasted

believe that they are above the law and court orders are not to be obeyed,” Adelakun asked.

He said he met with the commission’s head of legal department so as to get his accounts unfrozen; but the orders were allegedly not obeyed. Instead, he said he was threatened and intimidated at the commission office.

“The respondent admitted arresting the applicant, but he was not arrested with a warrant of arrest. No arrest warrant was exhibited. For an arrest to be valid there must be a warrant. The respondent (EFCC) acted irrationally. The use of arrest merely to obtain information from a suspect is illegal. There is nothing to show that they did basic preliminary investigation. Why was the report of investigation not attached to the counter-affidavit?

The court cannot rely on mere averments. It must be substantiated,” the judge said.

Justice Yunusa said security agencies should be careful not to get intoxicated by their powers to the extent that they harass the citizens they were meant to protect.

“The Constitution provides that no person should be detained unnecessarily. Once a person is arrested, their liberty is curtailed.

It does not matter how long the detention lasted,” the judge said.

Rights Activist hail Buhari anti graft crusade

By Bartholomew Madukwe & Anyaegbu Mary-Jane

F

OUNDER of Students Without Borders International, SWBI, Comrade Nwodi Chinedu, has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari on the fight against corruption and observance of human rights.

Speaking at a media chat in Republic of Benin, Chinedu noted that SWBI, which is organizing the African Youth Leadership Summit on October 24, has anti corruption education as one of its focus.

“The fear of the president is the beginning of wisdom in Nigeria as corruption is reducing. It is not business as usual any more. The fight against corruption is a good start but the authority has not really dealt with corrupt leaders. Nigerian youths have lost their moral values. We celebrate corrupt people in the country.

President Buhari’s corruption war is a welcome idea which will help the nation as a whole,” he said.

Chinedu noted that the event, which will hold in Republic of Benin is in line with celebrating the United Nations Day. He added: “Each year of October 24 is the International United Nations Day. Program of activities for the event in-

clude a visit to Nigeria Embassy, French Cultural Centre and Obama Beach.”

SWBI founder (Chinedu) explained that their aim and objective is to create an atmosphere for international relationship among the African youths for unity through a framework of friendship and service to humanity.

“The Summit will serve as an effective platform to give participants the understanding, knowledge and entrepreneurship empowerment that will involve all relevant principles for responsible personal development for an average African citizen,” he asserted.

He maintained that SWBI’s area of focus are anti-corruption education, youth exchange program, youth leadership program, drug free society, human right education, agriculture for the youth, tourism, study abroad and millennium development goals.

“We are a non-political, nongovernmental and non-profit organization. This organization is created in 2006 for the sole purpose of youth development and sustainable service for humanity. We are working on making the younger generation the bedrock of the future by educating, equipping and empowering them with youth leadership development,” SWBI founder said.

Comrade Nwodi Chinedu (3rd left) with partners of African Youth Leadership Summit, 2015.

SAN advises women on Will

By Onozure Dania OMEN engineers under the aegis of the

W

Members of Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN) during its national conference and annual general meeting, in Delta State.

Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN) have been advised on the importance of a valid will.

Delta State former AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dafe Akpedeye (SAN), who spoke at APWEN’s national conference and annual general meeting, Delta, said it is only a valid will that can prevent disputes, quarrels and litigations over a deceased persons property.

In his paper titled, “WillsSpeaking from the Great Beyond” Akpedeye explained that it is only when a will is in place that personal wishes continue to prevail long after testator has departed.

“The Africans ideal on how death is perceived as a thing not good to talk about has significantly affected the making of wills, leading to litigation on deceased person’s properties.

A will enables the testator to determine who benefit and gain from his properties upon death.

Where a person dies without making a will, the principle of succession will apply to deceased’s properties which can enable persons whom the deceased may not wish to benefit from his properties actually benefit.

And the person whom the deceased desire to benefit from his estate is deprived,” he stated.

Akpedeye pointed out that: “the testator has the opportunity to appoint persons whom he trust to carry out his wishes after death. This contrast with a situation where he dies intestate and the court may appoint administrator of his estate without the deceased person having any choice in the appointment. It enables the testator to avoid obnoxious customs and statutory rules of inheritance. The will gives the testator the opportunity to extend part of his estate and properties to charity, friends, and mistresses or to say how and where he should be buried.”

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015—33

Experimentation of Third World war in Syria and threats to United Nations at 70

By Emeka Umeagbalasi

T

HE United Nations was formed following the Atlantic Charter of 1941 and the Yelta Conference of 1945. The UN Charter was later proclaimed on 26th June 1945, after which the month of September of every year was set aside to mark the birth of the world’s Confederated Body.

The United Nations has its origin traced to the Roman Empire, destroyed by its 30 years civil war of 1618-1648. The Roman Empire was replaced by the Holy Alliance, which ended in 1818 and was replaced by the Concert of Europe that lasted till 1919 when the League of Nations was formed, courtesy of Woodrow Wilson’s Four Solutions strategy to ensure world peace and security, which included human rights. The League of Nations collapsed in 1945 leading to the formation of the United Nations same year. The League of Nations was formally wound up in 1946.

The major aim of the United Nations is to ensure world peace and security and the two greatest achievements of the International World Body are prevention of another world war and drastic reduction in inter-State warfare courtesy of the collapse of the Soviet bloc and cold-war in 1989 (dismantling of Berlin Wall) and 1991 (collapse of the Soviet Union & its radical Marxist-Leninist political ideology). These great achievements are solely responsible for the continued survival of the United Nations leading to its recent 70th birthday.

Global relevance However, the greatest threat facing the United Nations that is steadily threatening its existence and global relevance and importance is the emergence in early 90s of intra-State warfare or violent conflicts within and without borders.

Presently, there are 64 active intra-State conflicts raging around the world involving 591 internal armed groups (warsintheworld.com November 2014) in over 60, out of 193 Member-States of the United Nations; mostly in Africa and Middle East, which include some former members of the defunct Soviet Union or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, founded on 30th December 1922 and dissolved on 26th December 1991.

Of this number, about 27 or more African countries are affected out of its 53 MemberStates (AU); involving 167 internal armed groups or armed opposition groups. The referenced 64 active intra-State violent conflicts have also produced 59.4 million refugees around the world as at 2014 (United Nations High Commission for Refugees Report

18th June 2015).

One of the intra-State violent conflicts threatening not only world peace, but also showing imminence of the third world war is the Syrian violent conflict that started in March 2011 over repressive and sit-tight governing styles of President Bashar al-Assad, who succeeded his late father, Hafez al-Assad in 2000, after his father had ruled Syria for 30 years (1970-2000).

The violent conflict has claimed over 210,000 lives in a period of less than five years, according to UN and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and displaced 7.6 million (IDPs) and produced 3.88 million refugees (UN High Commission for Refugees Report, 18th June 2015).

The saddest of it all is that the violent conflict has no end in sight and is getting more complicated as days go by. All the elements of Agenda for Peace theory of 1992 of Dr. Boutros, Boutros Ghali (then UN Secretary General), designed for Peace Operations in conflict situations which include peace enforcement operation, peacekeeping, peacemaking, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, all appeared to have failed woefully in the management of the Syrian violent conflict.

The most shocking part of it all is the ongoing show of military muscles and power play by the world military super powers and their allies. What looks like resurgence of Soviet Socialist and Europe/US Capitalist military power game or gun power altercation are playing out in the devastated country (Syria).

Already, millions of Syrian refugees have left and are still leaving Syria in droves or torrents; thereby over-stretching the social, economic and humanitarian

capacities of their host countries including some members of former Western and Eastern Europe that had responded by earmarking billions of dollars to quarter them.

In the said Syrian violent conflict, all kinds of formal and informal warfare including terrorism (including chemical, biological and cyber terrorism), revolution, guerrilla, asymmetric, insurgency and stationary (artillery) warfare strategies have been massively deployed by all parties to the conflict.

In all these, the weaknesses and incapacities of the United Nations particularly its Security Council; have become manifest.

The UN Security Council is so divided and incoherent that it could not enforce peace and security in Syria using its powerful Articles Six and Seven given to it by the United Nations and its Charter.

Our greatest concern and wor-

Another clear trigger of a possible third world war stems from the amount of military traffic in the Syrian airspace

ry, therefore, are the unfolding events in the country involving Russia, China, Iraq, Lebanon, Iran and Syria itself, tagged ProAssad; and United States, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Belgium, Canada, Jordan, Netherlands, Denmark and Turkey, tagged the Coalition as well as the so called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which maintains over 60,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq armed with tanks, armored personnel carriers, Chinese rockets, Russian RPGs, AK-47 assault rifles and PKM machine guns.

There are also armed opposition groups backed and trained by the United States and its western allies seeking violently to oust the despotic Bashar al-Assad regime.

Far above war of words between the West and the Russia and its allied China over Syria and its despotic Bashar Assad leadership, the Syrian airspace is increasingly congested and imminence of crash of warplanes, drones, helicopters, missiles and artillery between the two renewed antagonistic blocs is becoming a reality day in day out.

Opposition groups Russia says it has successfully carried out 55 hits on ISIS targets; while USA said it has recorded 24 attacks on ISIS targets. The armed opposition groups have also disputed the Russian claims and claimed that Russia was hitting its camps for the purpose of crippling its advances against the despotic Assad regime. And if such claims are found to be true, then they have the capacity of igniting direct military confrontations between the two most powerful military blocs, which can snowball into “a third world war”.

Another clear trigger of a possible third world war stems from the amount of military traffic in the Syrian airspace, which can lead to war planes of either side being shot down by default or mischievous intents.

Already, reports have it that some US war planes flying over Syria had to abandon targets and even bend sharply to avoid Russian jets. “In one terrifying close call, Lt Gen Charles Brown, Commander of the American air campaign in Syria, said US and Russian planes came within just 20 miles of each other – which, at the speeds they travel, is as little as 30 seconds from a disastrous impact” (UK Mirror Newspaper, 11th October 2015). All known heavy and light weapons of modern warfare except nuclear weapons, are also deployed and being used by all parties to the Syrian violent conflict.

While it is true that the United Nations has lasted 44 years more than the League of Nations

(26 years), it is also true that failure to critically address frontal challenges facing it at 70 can also lead to its collapse at 70. Of all the challenges facing the United Nations that of restructuring is the greatest of all. Permanent membership of the Security Council and its numerical strength must be revisited, redefined and expanded. For instance, the number of permanent membership of the Security Council must be increased on the basis of equality of MemberStates and Continent or Region with strict criteria for qualification and membership including improved human rights, economic, electoral or political, diplomatic and military records or capacities.

The veto power system of the Security Council members must be abolished and replaced with simple or two thirds majority. The essence of the foregoing is to make the tasks of the Security Council as enshrined in Articles Six and Seven of the UN Charter easily enforceable in the event of escalation of hostilities such as the precarious situation in Syria.

There is also need for the UN to restructure its Establishment Charter and all its organs and agencies so as to bring them in conformity with modern realities including the ravaging effects of intra-State violent conflicts. To this end, the UN must set an international standard (Declaration) with respect to municipal electoral processes and tenures of office of elected presidents or prime ministers.

Violent conflicts Our findings have indisputably revealed that most of intra-State violent conflicts ravaging over 60 Member-States of UN are as a result of presence of personal and structural violence powered by extra constitutional or elongation of office tenures as well as institutionalization of politics of exclusion and segregation (structural imbalances).

The standard must also be made diplomatically sanctionable including peace & security enforcement operations (i.e. human and material embargoes, sanctions and military options) against defiant or defaulting head of any Member-State of UN. Finally, Intersociety is of firm opinion that there are ominous signs that third world war is in the offing unless the United Nations wakes up from its slumber and does that which is popularly and internationally upright, among which exhaustively mentioned above. The UN must avoid grave mistakes that led to the collapse of the League of Nations in 1945. The antagonist and protagonist parties in the Syrian violent conflict particularly Russia and China on one part and US and key EU countries on the other part, must act with restraint and avoid plunging the world into an armada of intractable human tragedies using Syria as experimenting ground.

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15 , 20 15 2015

Employers get red card on indecent jobs As NLC factions unite on Decent Work Day

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

T

HIS year's Decent Work DAY ,DWD, celebration in Nigeria was significant in many respects. But the most memorable was that for the first time, since the March 2015 disputed outcome of the National Delegates Conference, NDC, of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the DWD brought the dramatis personae, Ayuba Wabba and Joe Ajaero, together on the battle line against increasing indecent jobs that manifest in casusalisation, contract and outsourcing of workers, de-unionisation and apathy to unionisation and poor remuneration for workers.

The feuding groups were brought together on the platform of the IndustrilAll Global Union African Region, to mark the 2015, “Decent Work Day” declared by the International Labour Organisation, ILO, October 7, annually.

Leaders of the factions, Wabba and Ajaero, attended the briefing ahead of the DWD celebration with their supporters.

Speaking, Wabba said there was dignity in labour and unions must fight for Workers Rights Act, WRA, as contained in the ILO convention.

According to him, WRA should offer social protection for unemployed because joblessness gives rise to all forms of crimes including insecurity in the society.

Insecurity in society

Similarly, Ajaero said labour would not tolerate a situation where workers were impoverished in robust industries in the country and noted that the issue of lack of decent jobs was prevalent in all sectors, including media houses where some workers were not paid for about two years.

He described poor wage and lack of decent jobs as social inequality, contending that it was wrong for workers to create wealth for others to manage.

Protest: True to the resolution to jointly mark the DWD protest, members of the factions alongside civil society allies, gathered at the Acme Road, Textile Labour house, Lagos to kick-start the DWD rally.

Before the commencement of the protest, labour leaders including both Wabba and Ajaero, addressed the gathering on the essence of the protest Addressing the workers, Mr Ajaero, said that indecent jobs remained a problem for workers in Nigeria and NLC had resolved to create more awareness for employers to provide decent jobs by visiting some companies in Lagos.

Also speaking, Mr Issa Aremu,

 Labour leaders, civil society allies, at the Decent Work Day rally in Lagos

General Secretary, National Union of Garment and Textile Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, and Chairman of the IndustrilAll Global Union, African Region, said the day was set aside by ILO to promote global awareness against Precarious Work and the need for Decent work.

According to him, “Decent work means productive, rewarding and protected work. Decent work must guarantee minimum and living wages for the workers, wages that are paid as at when and due. Decent work means work that is secured and done by free workers who are entitled to form trade unions and engage in collective bargaining to protect their rights in the world of work.

Decent work delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families, better prospects for personal development and social integration.“ He lamented that indecent jobs had permeated all sectors of the Nigerian economy, saying “in the textile and garment sector, over the last decade manage-

ment of Sino PP Woven Sacks, a Chinese owned sack manufacturing company in Kano, has frustrated the efforts of the union to assert the rights of the workers to freedom of association and collective bargaining, denying them the right to join the union in spite of favourable ruling at the National Industrial Court, NIC. Also in Lagos, Nigeria Bag Manufacturing Company still harbours hundreds of contract workers contrary to the understanding with the union to confirm these workers.

“In the Iron, Steel and Engineering sector several employers are violating employment laws with impunity, employing workers for years without letters of employment and without confirmation and denying workers the right to join the union. One of such steel factories is IPI in Ikotun, Lagos.

In the Oil and Gas sector, major players like Shell, Chevron, Agip and Mobil are busy outsourcing and engaging in casualisation of oil workers to contractors with no clearly defined conditions of service.

Conditions of service

We utilise this occasion of Decent Work Day to reiterate our commitment and resolve to work together to defend the rights of our members across sectors, particularly the right to organize and bargain collectively

The two unions in the sector NUPENG and PENGASSAN have consistently drawn attention to the grand conspiracy by the oil multinationals to phase out regular employment through outsourcing, contract staffing and casual employment. The oil majors have resorted to migrating the labour contracts to service contracts and made the workers not to join the union or the workers are victimized for joining the union. Workers are often compelled to sign not to belong to the unions, contrary to the provisions of extant labour laws.”

Our demands: The chairman of

the IndustrilAll Global Union African Region, reeled out the demands of labour, declaring “ we are opposed to casual, outsourced and contract work because under such arrangements workers are not protected and are exposed to all kind of abuses, unfair and unjust practices, namely low incomes, job insecurity, delayed payments of salaries and pensions.

Salaries and pensions

Long hours of work without overtime payment, denial of sick leave and payment for sick leave, denial of annual leave and maternity leave, job insecurity, lack of redundancy benefits, poor health and safety conditions and non-payment of compensation for injuries sustained at work, poor working conditions, poor motivation, lack of social protection, Arbitrary deduction and non-remittance of pension contributions and taxes, denial of rights to join the union and bargain collectively are some of the effects of casualisation and other unethical employment practices currently embraced by employers.

The labour law is an important regulator of the relationship between workers and their employers. Violation and open disregard for labour law by parties in the industrial relations system is capable of creating atmosphere of industrial anarchy and chaos. We observe with deep concern increasing disregard for the rule of law by several private sector employers.

Organize, don’t agonize: “We recognize that we cannot overcome rights violation at work if we do not organise. Organising is all about workers coming together to collectively solve problems encountered at their

workplaces. Some of the common problems encountered at work include discrimination (gender), lack of respect for human dignity, low wages, denial of benefits, inhuman treatment by supervisors, exclusion from decision making, unsafe working conditions, casualisation/outsourcing, indiscriminate termination of employment and other unfair labour practices by employers.

We acknowledge that the Nigerian labour laws in spite of the need for review still offer great protection for working people. We are concerned that these progressive laws are being violated with impunity by employers particularly in the private sector as workers are denied the right to organise.

Decent work day

“We therefore utilise this occasion of decent work day to reiterate our commitment and collective resolve to work together to defend the rights of our members across sectors, particularly the right to organize and bargain collectively.

We demand an immediate end to all forms of employment that offend human dignity and deny workers access to living wages, social protection and denial of the right to join the union. We ask employers of labour to respect the law and where the law is observed in breach, the Ministry of Labour and other agencies of government should enforce the law. To the millions of workers subjected to inhuman and un-dignifying employment, we are determined to join forces to embark on unbroken struggle to force recalcitrant employers to respect workers' right to join the union. It is the basis for our struggle to end precarious work in Nigeria."

Vanguard,THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015—35

Pensioners decry unpaid benefits

A cross section of pensioners protesting unpaid benefits

By Daud Olatunji

F

EDERAL Government pensioners have said 10 months of unpaid pensions and gratuity have almost turned them into destitutes, whereby they can no longer meet their obligations to their immediate families and other dependants.

The pensioners, on the platform of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Federal Contributory Pension Retirees Sector, who stormed the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, secretariat, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta, to lament their plight, displayed various placards, pleading with President Muhammadu Buhari, to save them from the National Pension Commission, PenCom and Pension Funds Administrators, PFAs.

Monthly pensions National Chairman of the NUP, Federal Contributory Pension Retirees Sector, Mr. Samuel Kojusola, claimed that they were being paid meagre sum as monthly pensions and called for an upward review of their pension in line with Section 15 (4) of the 2014 New Pension Reform Act, PRA. He decried that almost one year after the new PRA was signed into law, contributory pensioners across the country had yet to have their pension increased, saying “those of us engaged under the old scheme, Defined Benefit Scheme, DBS, should be reverted to the old

scheme. Putting us under the CPS is wicked and a deprivation of our rights.”

In another development, NUP pensioners of the Federal parastatals, have accused PenCom of operating like a cult and denying pensioners access to the commission to table their

grievances.

They lamented that the management of PenCom has turned its operations into a cult at the expense of pensioners, claiming they have no access to the organization which keeps their money.

The allegation was contained in

a communiqué by both the chairman and Secretary of the group, Elder S.A Kojusola, and Idowu Ogunjinrin respectively.

T h e communiqué was issued at the end of the National meeting and made available to journalists.

The pensioners in the 10-point communiqué, noted that for now the pension review was not extended to contributory pensioners, “because the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Section 173(3) allows for review every five years and contributory pensioners do not enjoy that.”

They argued that the essence of social security attached to the pension was being defeated as members were paid peanuts against their last pay in their places of primary assignment.

According to them, government should equate

payment of the new pensioners with the old to justify the social security that the pension wished to address.

“It seems that PenCom operates some kind of secrecy as pensioners do not have access to the organization that has the custody of their money/ livelihood’. PenCom should follow the formula for calculation of pension and gratuity in respect of retirement, as recorded in page 90 of the new pension act 2014", the communiqué said.

Other demands included that government should instruct the commission to be more open to the pensioners it was established to serve and review the placement of the pensioners on the contribution pension scheme.

According to the communiqué, “those that have put in at least 20 years in service before the commencement of the new scheme should, not be included under the contributory pension scheme. PenCom has been unable to fulfil its obligations to the pensioners as stated in the act that set it up. For example, payment of lump sum, and pension within three months of retirement have not been followed or met. Many of our members that retired in January, 2015 are yet to receive their pay. Till date, PenCom has refused to disclose the template used in calculating pensioners entitlements which is a gross violation of retiree’s rights. We appeal to Federal Government that those who have put in 20 years before take-off of the scheme should be exempted from the scheme. "

FRCN pensioners look up to PTAD for regular payment

P

ENSIONERS of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, have expressed the hope that the take-over of their pensions payment by the Pensions Transition Arrangement Directorate, PTAD, from insurance firms (underwriters) will bring about a regime of regular payment of pensions.

The senior citizens made their feelings known during sensitisation programme on the new pension arrangement held in different zones of the country.

The sensitisation took place in Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Enugu, Gwagwalada and Kaduna.

At one of the fora, at the FRCN office in Gwagwalada, Abuja, Chairman of the corporation’s pensioners association, Mr. I.K Atafo, noted that PTAD which was to commence payment of pensions of government parastatals, agencies and departments in August, 2015 delayed the payment to FRCN pensioners due to an administrative error.

Mr. Atafo like many of his colleagues, expressed the hope

•Some FRCN pensioners at a rally that PTAD would do better with their entitlements, saying their experience with IGI insurance was unsavoury.

The forum afforded the senior citizens an opportunity to seek clarifications and tender problems that PTAD would be inheriting from the

underwriters.

These problems included unpaid harmonisation arrears, outstanding pension increase arrears, outstanding FRCN share of retirement benefits to state pensioners with mixed service as well as outstanding gratuities/pension arrears due

to those still under investigation or just qualifying for placement on pension payroll and outstanding unclaimed deceased pensioners dues.

PTAD took over payment of pensions from underwriters due to complaints, ranging from delays and allegations of sharp practices with pensioners funds released by government.

The department which started pensions settlement with ministries, inherited both assets and liabilities under the previous arrangement.

As part of the take-over arrangements, underwriters are expected to disclose pension funds in their custody, submit schedules of funds released by the Federal Government in the past 5 years as well as explain how they disbursed them. These accounts are to be subjected to external auditing to determine their accuracy in line with details of fund release from Budget/Accountant General Office/Federal Ministry of Finance.

36—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

CAPRICORN: Unusual exhibition of aggressive approach by you may put people around you off the balance. It’s in your own interest not to bite more than you can chew, especially before mid-afternoon.

AQUARIUS: You may be tempted to embrace extravagant tendencies while planning your financial transactions.

Watch what you promise before early part of afternoon period.

PISCES: If you are offered what looks like Greek gift before early hours of afternoon, you are advised to politely turn it down. It’s wrong to encourage aggression.

ARIES: Tomorrow may be your lucky day. Yet, if you are more observant within your base of operation, you will not have it wrong, even today. Keep secrets.

TAURUS: Although, many will go through tension before mid-afternoon, the whole thing will work in your favour early in the day. The more ambitious you, are the better for you.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

T

O live by sight is to dwell on the facts of life so much that you fail or refuse to do s o m e t h i n g reasonable that could move you forward. The truth

Living by sight? is that situation on ground is not so encouraging.

Everything seems to be upside down.

However, if you look at it from the positive angle,you

TERROR MUDA

will see that the instability in the system is an impetus for you to dare.

For example,what would the Policeman have

in “Scavenger Elite”

been without criminals? Do not look at the problem,instead look at the prospect. Don’t allow what you see to deter you, rather live by your faith.

By Lanre Kehinde

GEMINI: Today’s line-ups will bring you under the fire of enthusiasm to achieve much along your career/business lines. Be very moderate.

CANCER: The very best for you today is to look for ways to consolidate on progress you have recorded recently.

The more willing you are to respect the law, the better.

LEO: You may face more challenges tomorrow than you can imagine now; you’re, therefore, advised not to postpone what you can conclude today. Watch your finances.

VIRGO: If you have, consciously or unconsciously, started unnecessary cold war at work recently, it would come to the head today to the resentment of people that count before mid-afternoon.

LIBRA: The zeal to work harder exhibited by you will earn you unexpected success at work to the betterment of your rating and finances. Don’t allow mid-morning blues to get best off you.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in “HEY’

By Andy Akman

SCORPIO: If it’s possible for you to wait till tomorrow before an important assignment is carried out, your cause will be better for it. Take your love life seriously.

SAGITTARIUSI: Now, you can not pretend that happenings within your (family) base of operation pleases you, but, you will need to be as diplomatic as possible.

Avoid unnecessary rush.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Is Aries a weak star?

Dear Joshua, I don’t want my data published. I have many books where Aries is described as an aggressive star sign, but I am an Arian who can’t take hard decision, especially if such will affect others negatively. Why is Aries a weak star sign, afterall?

Anonymous, Enugu.

Dear Anonymous, You are an Arian truly but, other planetary placement responsible are pointed out here under. Generally, people born when either the Sun, the Moon and/or any other important heavenly body (especially when they cluster— that is, when they are more than two) in Aries, they are categorised as member of aggressive and daring group of the Zodiac.

Yes, you were born under Aries star and basic characteristics of Aries star sign are highly pronounced in your inner-self, however, natually, many other planetary positions have greatly modified mighty Sun’s placement in your chart.

Less than 50% of pushful influence rush the conjuntion of Venus and Mercury are pointers to an Arian personality high modified. Two important influences mentioned in this paragraph may not allow raw aggressive approach to manifest comprehensively. Because, they are meant to make you less aggressive and more loving. Sometimes lover of diplomacy who will attract what he wants rather than staging a war just to press for his right.

But then, combination of the aggressive traits of Aries in your inner self and more amiable influences together with the distribution of the planets through quadrauplicity and triplcity (that is quality and element) within the Zodiacal constellations, they are indications of your being a person with balanced personality.

More importantly, however, is the placement of Saturn in Capricorn as the only planet at home when you were born. It always induces you to give priority attention to your career/image/public standing and justice.

And as your natal Sun and Moon were placed in Aries and Gemini respectively, you are mainly an Arian and partly a Geminian. These characteristics of the two said star signs are highly pronounced in you.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOMBER 15 , 2015—37

World Bank defends $75m loan to Edo B

By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY—THE World Bank has defended its $75 million loan to Edo State Government, saying it grants funds only to governments it trusts will use the funds judiciously to achieve results.

Speaking yesterday at a threeday retreat for members of Edo State Executive Council and Permanent Secretaries in Abuja, to brainstorm and re-strategise on raising the bar on governance in the state, with the theme, “Finishing Well,” two top executives of the World Bank, Mrs Gloria Joseph Raji and Dr Khwima Nthara, said the Bank trusted Edo State Government to use the fund properly as it only provided support to governments the Bank trusted to use its funds for development results.

The Bank executives said: “Each time we came to Edo State, we were quite impressed that we were taken around to see the results of these reforms and that is why it was easy for us at the world Bank to sell the reforms programmes in Edo to our Board in Washington.”

Mrs. Gloria Joseph Raji, Senior Economist, Macro-Economic and Fiscal Management, World Bank, Nigeria, said: “Through programmes for result financing, the World Bank provides finance for governments with a focus on result and capacity building. So disbursement of funds is based on specific programme results that have been pre-agreed on between the bank and respective governments. For example, we could say, if you achieve this level of vaccination with your own resources, then we will disburse some money to you.

First Developmental Policy Operation

“When we disbursed $75 million under the First Developmental Policy Operation, DPO, to Edo State, we did not

say to Edo State, you must use it to build this hospital, or this school or all of that, it was on the basis of your completion of critical policies and institutional actions which we call ‘prior actions’. So, the focus of Developmental Policy Financing is policy and institutional reforms. We work with you to implement certain policies and institutional reforms and on the basics of implementation of certain critical reforms and actions that we agreed on, we will disburse the entire chunk of the funds.”

Institutional reforms

She emphasised the need for institutional reforms, saying “institutional reforms are very important because they outlive government regimes. So, it is important for governments to undertake reforms of their systems and processes, institutionalized them and that is what the focus of DPO is, to

support policies and institutional reform efforts. The bank is usually on hand to provide policy and strategic advice. We work with the governments in designing, in thinking through your policy and institutional reforms actions and then we provide advice as necessary.

“On the basis of the completion of certain critical policies and institutional reforms action which has been agreed between you and the Bank, the loan is approved by the bank and so, funds are being transferred. The entire trunk of funds is transferred into the government bank account and they are co-mingled with your other funds. The funds are not tied to specific projects, you co-mingle them into your funds and you spend them on your needs. The Bank provides significant funding to only governments it trusts will use the funds properly to achieve its development results because if we do not trust that you will use

this fund judiciously, it would be a risk of the fund. So DPO’s are provided basically to those governments that the Bank trusts to use the funds for development results.”

'Reforms must be institutionalised'

Also speaking, the Programme Leader, Equitable Growth, Finance and Institution, World Bank, Nigeria, Dr Khwima Nthara said: “Reforms have to be institutionalized. Edo is very lucky today to have a very reform minded Governor. Next year, he leaves office. We pray that a like-minded Governor takes over from him but circumstances change. You don’t know who else is going to come after the Governor and that is why it is important to institutionalize reforms so that they should transcend individual personality."

“Even when Comrade Adams

A

BUJA—AS part of efforts to clean up Ogoniland, a group, Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) has called on Federal government to immediately commence the implementation of 2011 United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP, report.

It faulted recent announcement by the Federal Government that it was setting aside $10 million to commence the clean-up, saying the money was too small compared to what was needed for an effective cleanup process.

The group quoted UN report as saying the clean-up process required a “take off grant of US$1 billion, jointly contributed by the oil industry and the government” C M Y K

C

By Emma Una

A L A B A R — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, has been accused of taking too long to define the vision and policy direction of his government and this is affecting the nation’s economy negatively.

General Overseer of God’s Heritage, Bishop Josef Bassey, while speaking with Vanguard, said after three months, President Buhari ought to have set an agenda in motion to define the policy direction of his government.

Bishop Bassey, who is also the PresidentofCrossRiverChristian Leaders’Forum,said:“Onewould have expected that the President to have hit the ground running but that has not been exactly the caseandmanyNigeriansandthe global community are still trying to find out the policy direction of the present administration and this is worrisome.

"People do not know what the mind-set of this government in the areas of agriculture, education, power, the economy, and other facets of our national life are and that is worrisome because the engine of the nation is grinding to a halt in many areas."

Kingsley Ighodaro Abusanwan is dead VISIT: From left: Mr. Ese Onosode, eldest son of late Mr. Gamaliel Onosode; Mr. Lanre Adesanya, Executive Director, Sterling Bank Plc, and Justina Lewa, Company Secretary, Sterling Bank, during a condolence visit by the bank's team to the Onosodes at their Surulere residence in Lagos.

Group asks FG to commence implementation of UNEP report on Ogoniland

By Funmi Olasupo

‘Buhari's delay in policy direction, not good for our economy'

Speaking at a media roundtable on assessing the implementation of the UNEP recommendation for the clean-up of Ogoniland in Abuja, Executive Director, Social Action, Dr. Isaac Osuoka, recalled

that UNEP had since August 2011, released its findings that oil contamination in Ogoniland was widespread and severely impacted many components of the environment.

Represented by the Head, National Advocacy Centre, Mrs.

Vivian Bellowu-Okafor, noted that “even though oil exploitation is no longer happening in Ogoniland, oil spills continue to occur with alarming regularity, and it is a reality which the Ogoni people have to live with everyday."

LASIMRA reads riot act to service providers

L

By Lucky Nwanekwu

AGOS—LAGOS State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency , LASIMRA yesterday said it would no longer tolerate the use of substandard materials in erecting communication infrastructure in the state, by service providers.

It also warned against undue delay in completion of approved works on major roads by utility companies.

The agency’s newly appointed General Manager, Mr. BabajideOdekunle, who made the assertion in a statement, reinstated its commitment to the regulation of the communication infrastructure space in the telecommunication financial services and utilities sectors He said: “The era of impunity by service providers in the areas of adherence to using substandard materials in erecting communication infrastructure,

undue delay in completion of approved works on major roads by utility Companies will no longer be tolerated. In identifying with the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, to make governance responsive, the agency is giving out dedicated lines; 09081154716 and 08162667719 for the public to reach out to it for inquiries and report any attempttolaycableson/underanyroad in the state.”

K

INGSLEY Abusanwan alais Otitigbe is dead.

He died at UBTH, Benin on September 17, 20115 after a brief illness. He was aged 68 years.

He was a renowed tailor and socialite in Sapele. He was a member of committee of friends, Ogun-Aja Sapele.

His corpse leaves Eperakeya Mortuary Sapele on October 17 to his home town for interment, followed by reception and entertainment at 8 Anegbe Lane, off Abeke Road, Sapele.

He is survived by children, grand child, brother, sisters and numerous friends.

Late Kingsley Abusanwan

38—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15 , 2015

Itsekiri oil producing communities protest neglect by govt

MASSOB refutes affiliation with APGA

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—MOVEMENT for the Actualization of Sovereign States of Biafra, MASSOB, has denied any any affiliation with the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, and its governorship candidate in Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti.

It therefore said the movement has no basis to stage a purported protest to sympathy with the party as alleged.

It would be recalled that the Abia State Government through a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Godwin Adindu, claimed it had received information that members and supporters of a major opposition party in the state had imported thugs into the state and instigated MASSOB members to cause mayhem in Umuahia and Aba against the people of Abia during the postponed adoption of written addresses by the parties at the governorship election petition tribunal, Wednesday.

But in a swift reaction, MASSOB’s Assistant National Director of Information, Sunny Okereafor, denied any affiliation

A

N ITSEKIRI GROUP, Forum of Itsekiri Oil & Gas Producing Communities, LFIOGPC, in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo, yesterday, led other aggrieved people from Ajoki, Ajamimogba, Kolokolo, Ikara and Ajatiton coastal communities in a peaceful protest across the communities, over perceived neglect by government.

President of the group, Mr. Samuel Ireokane, claimed some individuals were working against the interest of the communities of Ikpoba Okha Local Government of Edo State, which had ld to consistent frustration of execution and completion of projects in the area.

He said, their activities were “mostly unknown to the Governor Adams Oshiomole, who for the first time since the existence of Edo State Oil Producing and D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m i s s i o n , EDSOPADEC, created a position for us on the management board of EDSOPADEC.” Mr. Samuel added that the appointment had been “hijacked by some influential persons and installing their people to the position for their selfish end, against our desire. This has kept us in the dark about EDSOPADEC and other government projects.

with any political party or its candidate, insisting that the Movement does not involve itself in partisan politics.

“We don’t play politics or get MASSOB involved in the business of political parties. May be, Abia State government is not aware of this. MASSOB has no

relationship with Dr. Alex Otti, APGA or any political party.

Again, we are not violent; all these allegation of MASSOB being hired to instigate violence in Aba and Umuahia is balderdash. What we are suspecting is that some people may have used the name of MASSOB to try to get money

IMG opens condolence register for Alamieyeseigha ... Professor Alkali mourns

By Levinus Nwabughiogu & Tare Youdeowei

I

JAW MONITORING Group, IMG, has opened a condolence register for Late former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, at the Niger Delta Hall of Fame, 71, Demurin Road, Ketu, Lagos, and will be opened till the day of his burial.

IMG in a statement by its National Coordinator, Joseph Evah, who is also, former Publicity Secretary, Ijaw National Congress, INC, and the founder of the Niger Delta Hall of Fame, IMG implored all Niger Deltans resident in the South-

West to sign the condolence register.

The statement said, “We urge all Ijaws and other tribes from Niger Delta around the world to open condolence registers in various centres to enable people express their grief as we mourn the passing away of a great leader.

All Deltans in the South-West should prepare themselves for the onward journey to Bayelsa for the burial of the late governor of Bayelsa State, and he advised that “the burial committee fix the final date of burial to coincide with Alamieyeseigha’s birthday, in November 2015.”

Meanwhile, former Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck

Geoffrey University to establish Institute for Chinua Achebe Studies

By Emeka Mamah

E

NUGU—THE Geoffrey University, Enugu is to establish an Institute for Chinua Achebe Studies in the university.

Vice Chancellor of the university, Rev, Father (Professor) Christian Anieke made this known at a briefing in Enugu yesterday.

Anieke said the decision to establish the Acbebe Institute was taken by English and Literature scholars from different institutions in the country during a recent seminar on the late renowned writer and novelist.

from Dr. Alex Otti and APGA or the Abia State government, but I assure you we have no business with any political party.”

Okereafor warned the security agencies to stop harassing MASSOB members as the movement has nothing to do with the planned protest.

He said the seminar was jointly organised by the Geoffrey University and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN. He said “Africans must do their own research and not allow foreigners to do so for them. All the books and novels ever read

by Achebe would be assembled in the institute for scholars to dig more on the life and times of Achebe. I will soon travel to America to meet Acbebe’s wife and also see his library and all the books he has read. It will enable researchers work on the quantum of knowledge available to him as a writer. We will also

visit the place where Acbebe did some administrative duties to find out for example what he minited in the files that passed through him.

“For example, we will visit the Enugu State Science of Technology, ESUT, where he was chairman of the Governing Council of the university to know how he handled his administrative duties.

"This way, researchers and indeed, the world will reflect on the different meanings of Achebe’s writings, Acbeb’s Things Fall Apart was translated into 50 different languages."

Jonathan on Political Affairs, Professor Rufai Alkali, has consoled the former president, Governor of Bayelsa State, Serieke Dickson and people of the state on the death of Chief Alamieyeseigha.

Alkali in a statement in Abuja described the late former governor as an Iroko tree that had fallen.

He further described him as a dogged fighter, mobilizer and community leader, expressing shock over his death.

The statement read: “I write with deep sorrow, to express my heartfelt condolences to the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dikson, the government and the entire people of Bayelsa State over the passing away of Chief Diepriye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, the former Governor of Bayelsa State.

“The sudden death of Chief Alamieyeseigha, a dogged fighter, a mobilizer, a highly committed community leader, who was elected the first civilian governor of Bayelsa State in 1999 came as a rude shock to all those who know him both within and outside Bayelsa State.

The demise of this illustrious son of Amasoma, in Ogboin North Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Saturday October 10, 2015, had left a huge vacuum that will be difficult to fill.

“May the gentle soul of the iroko of Niger Delta rest in perfect peace."

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On Diezani’s prayer request from Nigerians

I

advice the former Petro leum Resources Minister to sow seeds by sending some of her wealth back home so that the poor and needy in Nigeria will benefit. Nigerians need her money more than she needs our prayers. -Mr. Anthony Nneji, Administrator C M Y K

T

hese politicians are wicked, they only remember Nigerians when they need our prayer. But when they loot our tax and natural gifted resources do they care? The wicked must not go unpunished; thank God I am not the one that said it. -Mr. James Chukwunenye, Self Employed

T

he worst you can wish your enemy is cancer.

In any case, may God grant Diezani healing and health. As for our money, I pity the helpless poor masses in Nigeria. Let her return our money, even as healing is going on. -MrVitus Nwenyi, Businessman

I

have come to realize one thing about most Nigerians,that those that are killing us are the ones we show care and support for. We forget that the money she looted was meant to develop this nation yet she want our prayers? -Miss Chioma Ani, Model

T

here is no small sin ,sin is sin. What position will you and I take if we are privileged to find ourselves in the corridor of power? She is not different from any of our political leaders they all are bed of similar feather. -MrBen Onyekachi, NYSC member

L

et her recover so she and Ibori can hold prayer meetings for the next 15 years. Destroying this country and still attempting to manipulate the populace because she feels she is that smart and Nigerians are that stupid.

-Mr- Ogwu Nwachukwu, Student

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015 — 39

Lawmaker reminds Buhari of free education campaign promise

Litigation affecting NASS activities — REP

By Boluwaji Obahopo

By Aliyu Dangida

L

D

UTSE—A member of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Gudaji, has reminded President Muhammadu Buhari of his campaign promise of providing free education to all when elected as Nigeria’s leader.

Gudaji, who represents Kazaure federal constituency, made the reminder in Dutse, while fielding questions from journalists.

He said it had become imperative as one the federal legislators and a card-carrying member of the ruling APC to alert the President to urgently fulfill the promise he made to Nigerians during the election campaigns.

His words: “As you might be aware, things will be too much on our President as such he may likely forget with this vital promise he made of providing free education if voted into power,. ‘’There is urgent need to alert him so that parents will stop taking their children to private schools and end up paying exorbitant amount as school fees of their wards.”

He expressed concern about the manner proprietors of private schools charge high school fees of children, lamenting that some of the schools were yet to provide the required education for children.

He said with the introduction of free education to all the children, parents would get relief and better

FORUM: From left: Hajia Binta Bello, Permanent Secretary, Mr Ene Ekpo, Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC); Alhaji Abubakar Tsafe, Deputy Human Resource Manager, Ministry of Aviation and Capt Muktar Usman, DG, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), during the opening of the Corruption Risk Assessment forum between the Ministry and ICPC, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

3 female suicide bombers kill 10, injure 16 in Borno

By Ndahi Marama

M

AIDUGURI—NO fewer than 10 persons were killed on Tuesday night as three female suicide bombers detonated Improvised Explosive Devices, IED, at different locations around Tuka Tuka village, on the outskirts of Maiduguri, while 16 others were critically injured.

The simultaneous explosions, which rocked the city on Tuesday at about 8.25 pm, with an intervals of about 3 minutes between each explosion, seriously caused

...As Bauchi speaker lauds President over appointment of ministers

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCHI—SPEAKER of Bauchi State House of Assembly, Kawuwa Damina, yesterday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for selecting professionals with a track record of proven integrity and achievements to become his cabinet members.

He expressed satisfaction over the President’s fulfilment of his promise to release the list of his ministerial nominees, saying the screening of the ministers was not only a welcome development for the country but also came at the right time.

The speaker, who stated this during an interview with newsmen in his office in the State House Assembly complex in Bauchi, noted that although there were reactions trailing the delay in releasing the list of the ministerial nominees, what mattered was that the government was set to work in the interest of Nigerians.

He said: “ As far as I am concerned, I am satisfied with the ministerial nominees by President Buhari because of the calibre of persons who are on the list.

C M Y K

‘’The President in his wisdom, has chosen people with a track record of integrity, intelligence and achievements. “ The senate on its part, is doing a wonderful job because there are set down criteria for the ministerial position and whoever is qualified automatically passes the screening.”

pandemonium as people residing close to the area fled into the town for their dear lives.

Sources said three female suicide bombers detonated Improvised Explosive Devices wrapped on their bodies at different locations, while the fourth explosion suspected to have been planted by suspected members of Boko Haram, occurred at about 9:15pm, with no casualties.

Residents were reported to have remained indoors due to the 9pm curfew imposed on Maiduguri and its environs months ago.

However, the Acting Director, Public Relations, Nigerian Army Headquarters, Abuja, Colonel Sani Usman Kakasheka, who confirmed the attacks, said seven people, including the suicide bombers, were killed, while 11 were wounded.

A resident of TukaTuka area of Maiduguri metropolis and civilian JTF member, Ba’ana Momodu, lamented that the increasing menace of suicide

Student group hails Buhari’s zero tolerance for corruption

By Bartholomew Madukwe

F

OUNDER of Students Without Borders International, SWBI, Comrade Nwodi Chinedu, has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari on his fight against corruption.

“The fear of the President is the beginning of wisdom for Nigerians as corruption is reducing. It is not business as usual anymore.

The fight against corruption is a good start but the authority has not really dealt with corrupt leaders,” he said.

Chinedu noted that SWBI, which is organizing the African Youth Leadership Summit on October 24 in Cotonou, had anti corruption education as a main area of its focus.“Nigerian youth has lost their moral values. We celebrate corrupt people in Nigeria. President Buhari corruption war is a welcome idea which will help the Nation as a whole,” he stated.

He explained that in line with celebrating the United Nations Day, SWBI would hold its 2015 youth leadership summit on October 24 in Cotonou.

bombers around Ajilari ward since the beginning of the last Eid El Kabir to date, had caused serious concern, as hundreds of innocent people were killed in the last one month.

Momodu, while narrating the fresh suicide attacks, said the third explosion, suspected to have been masterminded by a 25-yearold lady, went off at a local tea vendor, killing herself and four, others while many were also wounded.

“We also heard that one or two of those wounded could not make it at the hospital, following severe bleeding as their relations confirmed to us that they could not be treated or attended to on time because most of the medical workers were off duty,’’ he said.

OKOJA—A member of the House of Representatives, Abdullahi Bello, has said the performance of the National Assembly was being hampered by the numerous tribunal cases involving its members across the country.

Bello, who represents Okene/Ogori Magogo federal constituency of Kogi State, made this know yesterday in Lokoja while reacting to the judgement of Kogi State National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal which ruled in his favour.

He said politicians must embrace the spirit of sportsmanship in any of their contest in order to move Nigerian democracy forward.

Bello said: “The last election was adduced to be the best and most credible election conducted in Nigeria, especially through the introduction of card readers, unfortunately; politicians still went ahead to challenge the outcome of the election in court.

“Close to 70 percent of National Assembly members have their election dragged before the Tribunal. The emotional, physical and monetary energy committed to the election litigations have taken a toll on the performance and activities of the members in the National assemblies.

Protests trail Bello's nomination as Adamawa ministerial-nominee

By Umar Yusuf

Y

OLA—A chorus of protests has trailed the submission of Muhammad Bello's name for screening as the ministerial-nominee for Adamawa State by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Senate for screening.

Bello is among the second batch of nominees submitted to the Senate last Monday.

While describing the nomination as a big political blunder capable of making the All Progressives Congress, APC, to lose future elections in the state, organizing secretary of the party in Adamawa State, Ahmed Lawal, said the state chapter of the party neither knew the appointee nor was consulted before his name was forwarded.

“As a party, we don’t know the nominee, because, as the organizing secretary of the party,

who is in charge of registration of members, I doubt if Bello is even a card-carrying member of the party.

“We were not consulted before his name was sent. He was never with us during campaigns that ushered in APC as the ruling party and we don’t know how his name got there,” he said.

He noted that when an active member of the party in person of Babachir David Lawal was appointed as SGF, no one complained as his efforts towards the victory of the party was well acknowledged, adding that the same could not be said of Bello.

He said: “If people that worked for the victory of the party are sidelined, the party will forever remain stunted.”

Also, a stalwart of APC and former interim National Vice Chairman, North East, Dr. Umar Duhu, described the appointment of Bello as the height of injustice.

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

AWARD: Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii (left), receiving an award by Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce from Mr. Akin Olawore, Deputy President of the Chamber in Lagos.

COMMISSIONING: From left— District Head, Bisanti Katcha, Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha; Managing Director, Bank of Industry, BOI, Rasheed Olaoluwa; Niger State Deputy Governor, Ahmed Mohammed Ketso; Executive Director, Small and Large Enterprise, BoI, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, and Chief Executive Officer, GVE Project Ltd, Ifeanyi Orajaka, during the commissioning of BoI-funded 24kw PV Solar Mini-Grid Project in Bisanti, Niger State, yesterday.

SKILLUP ACADEMY: From left— Group Executive Director, Dangote Group, Engr Mansur Ahmed; representative of Babatunde Fashola, former Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Shola Oworu; overall best graduating student, Eric Ogbugo; Co-founder, Red Media Africa, Mr. Adebola Williams, and Chief Executive Officer, SkillUp TVET Limited, Mr. Afolabi Imoukhuede, at the 2015 SkillUp Academy Graduation in Lagos.

VISIT: From left— Corps Commander and Head, Media Relations and Strategy, Bizi Kazeem; Corps Marshal/Chief Executive, Boboye Oyeyemi; Bayelsa Sector Commander, Vincent Jack, and Corps Public Education Officer, Imoh Etuk, during a visit by the Chief Executive to the Rivers State Command, Port Harcourt, yesterday. PHOTO: Nwankpa Chijioke.

FORUM: From left— Commissioner of Police, FCT, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu; Customer Relations Executive, MTN Nigeria, Ms. Ugonna Nwoye; former Minister of Commerce, Engr. Mustafa Bello; General Manager, Regional Operations, North, Mr. Adekunle Adebiyi, and General Manager, Planning & Customer Management, Ms. Odunayo Sanya, both of MTN Nigeria, during its customer forum in Abuja.

FILM FESTIVAL: From left— Director, Legacy of Rubies, Ebele Okoye; Director, Faaji Agba, Remi Richards; High Value Events and Sponsorships Specialist, Etisalat Nigeria, Amaka Agu, and Festival Director/ Co-Founder, Ugomma Adegoke, during Africa Film Festival in Lagos.

H E A LT H / FITNESS: From

CSR: Officials of Pillar Oil Limited and leaders of Kwale communities, Delta State, during the skills acquisition programme, donation of equipment and projects commissioning by the company for its host communitites.

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left— US Instructor, Adaari Fitness, Stephanie Zayas; Head, Broker Dealer Regulation, Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Olufemi Shobanjo; Chief Executive Officer, Ada Ari; US Instructor, Dj Cannon, both of Adaari Fitness, and Head, Human Resources, NSE, Pai Gamde, during a health and fitness session in Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOMBER 15 , 2015—41

No sacred cow in anti-corruption war —OSINBAJO

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA—VICE President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday in Abuja stated that the government of President Mohammadu Buhari will not spare any corrupt person in the fight against corruption.

The Vice President spoke at Day Two of the ongoing 21st National Economic Summit in Abuja on the topic: ‘’Reforming Public Institutions to Ensure Competitiveness And Accountability.”

He said: “there is always a sense that it is someone else that will effect this desired change. I think we must be one in deciding in this country that we want a change.”

According to him, individual Nigerians would like the rules to be enforced as long as it is not enforced on them.

He, however, regretted the ethnic and religious considerations and interpretations attributed to the fight, saying it clogged the wheel of justice.

His words: “If we pick up somebody here and want to try him, I know how many calls I will get from people in this room. I’ve had the experience in public service and I don’t mind being the tough guy. I’ve sacked people that needed to be sacked. So there are no sacred cows, the rules will be applied anyway.”

While expressing the view that it was possible to achieve the reform of the nation’s public institutions against any known cynicisms or challenges,

•Says change is collective responsibility

Osinbajo said: ‘’I think that an important message which we have taken from this discussion, is that it is entirely possible to reform our public institutions, to turn our country around. I perfectly have no doubt in my mind about that”.

The Vice president also charged the elites in the country, including the participants at the event to play a more significant role in attaining such a national objective, especially in upholding existing rules and regulations.

Talking from his previous public service experience as former Attorney-General of Lagos State, he said: ‘’I find that everybody will like the rules to

be applied so long as it will not apply to himself. We can’t apply the rules except we apply the rules to all of us; there should be no sacred cows.”

The Vice President noted that the reform of public institutions is critical for efficient and transparent use of public resources as well as sustainable delivery of public goods at national and sub-national levels.

Osinbajo further disclosed that Government was embarking on the reform of public institutions with the fundamental objective to enhance their capacity and capability effectively and efficiently in response to the needs and demands of the citizens.

He disclosed further that ‘’the key element of our institutional reform agenda, first is transparency and accountability. The whole idea is participatory governance, checks and balances which invariably will ensure policies and outputs of public institutions response to the needs and wants of citizens.”

The specific reform agenda currently being implemented by the Federal Government, according to the Vice President were focused at achieving fiscal discipline, revenue diversification and efficient collection of government revenue.

BANQUET: From left: Glo Business Director, Enugu State, Mr. Abidemi Ajagbe; wife of Obi of Onitsha, Igwenwanyi Ngozi Achebe, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, Globacom's National Sales Coordinator, South-South, Mr. Augustine Mamuro; Nollywood actress and Glo Ambassador, Mama G, and Chief Chika Okpala, a.k.a Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo, Alias 430, at the Ofala Royal Banquet, organised by Globacom, in honour of the Onitsha monarch, in Onitsha.

Glo responsible for Ofala's success —Obi of Onitsha

O

NITSHA—THE Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, has said that the cooperation and support given to the Ofala festival by Globacom was responsible for the success of the Ofala Festival in recent years.

The Onitsha monarch, who made the remarks in Onitsha, Anambra State, at the 2015 Ofala Festival celebrations held at Ime Obi, Onitsha, expressed gratitude to Globacom for its enduring faith in Nigerian culture and for putting structures in place to make the festival memorable.

He made the comments while receiving the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, the former President of Ghana, Mr. John kuffor, who was represented by the country’s former Minister of Health, Road and Transport, Hon. Richard Anane, former Nigerian Minister of Aviation and serving senator, Stella Oduah and other dignitaries, who thronged the Ime Obi to felicitate with the Monarch at this year’s Ofala celebrations.

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Igwe Achebe, who spoke on many issues ranging from local to international politics and world economy, singled out Globacom for praise for adding glamour to the festival since 2011 when it took over the sponsorship.

“It is now time to express gratitude, firstly to our long standing partner, Globacom Limited. The success of Ofala Onitsha over the past several years has depended materially on the cooperation and support we

have received from Globacom”, he declared.

Igwe Achebe added that Globacom had helped to bring out the huge tourism potentials of the festival and project not only the Ndigbo race but the entire Black Africa.

Globacom took over the sponsorship of the Ofala Festival in 2011 for an initial period of three years. Before the expiration of the contract in 2014, a new Memorandum of Understanding,

MoU, was signed to extend the sponsorship by another three years.

In his goodwill message to the 2015 festival, the Chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr., said that the company supported the festival because of its capacity to boost Nigeria’s tourism industry as well as the need to preserve the country’s traditional values and systems.

HAND WASHING DAY: Dettol

intensifies Give Life A Hand

campaign

By Chioma Obinna

L

AGOS—AS Nigeria today joins the rest of the world to celebrate this year ’s Global Handwashing Day, Dettol is intensifying its “Give Life A Hand” campaign to ensure that handwashing becomes an instilled behaviour among Nigerian youths.

Addressing Pupils of Bola Memorial Primary School, Ikeja, at an event to mark the Day in Lagos, Managing Director, Reckitt Benckiser, RB, Rahul Murgai, noted that handwashing with soap can help prevent diarrhoearelated diseases and other diseases spread by touching as well as respiratory infections, including pneumonia and flu.

Murgai who said Dettol has been in Nigeria for more than 50 years and at the forefront of providing health and hygiene solutions to Nigerians noted that nearly 0.7million children die due to diarrhoea around the world every year. In Nigeria alone 96,000 deaths occur. We can help prevent this by making hand washing with soap a habit for children.

Marketing Director, Dettol West Africa, Oguzhan Silivrili, who enjoined Nigerians to support the Global Handwashing Day by uploading a picture of clean hands with the hashtag # HealthyHands, said: “For every upload committed, Dettol will educate one child on the healthy habit of hand washing with soap. This is a part of the global campaign that has been tailored towards Nigeria."

MINISTERIAL SCREENING: Group lauds Senate on Lai Mohammed

I

LORIN—THE Kwara South United Forum has applauded the Senate and its leadership for the successful screening of the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday as a ministerial nominee.

In statement by the convener and interim legal adviser of the forum, retired Maj.-Gen. Yemi Abidoye and Barrister Rotimi Ogunwuyi

respectively, yesterday in Ilorin, the forum said that the endorsement of the former opposition party spokesman with acclamation by all the senators has underscored the maturity and patriotic approach of the senators well as their commitment to the sensitive political exercise.

It, particularly, commended Senate President Bukola Saraki for rising above petty political sentiments and divisive campaigns of some of his

supporters against the nomination of the APC spokesman.

The forum urged Senator Saraki to consolidate the gains of his political leadership of the Senate by promoting harmony among the various political tendencies in the National Assembly and the entire nation.

It also urged Alhaji Mohammed to reciprocate the confidence reposed in

him by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate and APC by rededicating himself to national ideals and service.

It advised him to demonstrate higher capacity for progressive and dynamic leadership in whatever ministry that would be assigned to him in the philosophy of “change” which he had propagated for the ruling party.

42 —

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

The award left me with a complicated feeling ---Svetlana Alexievich, 2015 Nobel Prize for literature winner

By Japhet Alakam & Prisca Sam-Duru, with agency reports

I

N a centenary when female writers are struggling to match up with their male counterparts, Belarusian author of “The Unwomanly Face of the War’’, Svetlana Alexievich has added a push to actualising this dream after she became the 14th woman to win the Nobel Prize For Literature.

Out of the 111 winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature, 14 are now women.

Alexievich’s feat will hopefully lead to greater recognition for the female authors behind some of the world’s best novels, poems and plays.

Emerging winner in 2015, Alexievich joins the likes of the last female winner, Alice Munro (2013 winner), Herta Müller (2009), Doris Lessing (2007 etc, as female winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature.

She will receive her award alongside other winners on December 10, which is the anniversary of the Prize founder Alfred Nobel’s death.

Svetlana, the Belarusian writer’s oral histories were said to have recorded thousands of individual voices to map the implosion of the Soviet Union.

Polyphonic writings The Swedish Academy, announcing her win, praised her “polyphonic writings”, describing them as a “monument to suffering and courage in our time”.

Alexievich, writer and journalist who has pricked the conscience of Russia with her accounts of ‘suffering and courage in our time’ becomes the 14th woman to win the prize since it was first awarded in 1901. The last woman to win, Canada’s Alice Munro, was handed the award in 2013.

Speaking by phone to the Swedish broadcaster SVT, Svetlana Alexievich said that the award left her with a “complicated” feeling.

“It immediately evokes such great names as [Ivan] Bunin, [Boris] Pasternak,” she said, and referring to Russian writers who have won the C M Y K

prize. “On the one hand, it’s such a fantastic feeling, but it’s also a bit disturbing.”

The academy called while she was at home, “doing the ironing,” she said, adding that the 8m Swedish krona (£775,000) prize would “buy her freedom”.

“It takes me a long time to

Alexievich's feat will hopefully lead to greater recognition for the female authors behind some of the world's best novels, poems and plays

• Nobel prize winner, Svetlana Alexievich write my books, from five to 10 years. I have two ideas for new books so I’m pleased that I will now have the freedom to work on them.”

Alexievich was born on the 31 May 1948 in the Ukrainian town of Ivano-Frankovsk into a family of a serviceman. Her father is Belarusian and her mother is Ukrainian. After her father’s demobilisation from the army the family returned to his

native Belorussia and settled in a village where both parents worked as schoolteachers. She left school to work as a reporter on the local paper in the town of Narovl.

She has written short stories, essays and reportage but says she found her voice under the influence of the Belorusian writer Ales Adamovich, who developed a genre which he variously called the “collective

novel”, “novel-oratorio”, “novel-evidence”, “people talking about themselves” and the “epic chorus”.

According to Sara Danius, the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, Alexeivich is an “extraordinary” writer.

“For the past 30 or 40 years she’s been busy mapping the Soviet and post soviet individual,” Danius said, “but it’s not really about a history of events. It’s a history of emotions – what she’s offering us is really an emotional world, so these historical events she’s covering in her various books, for example the Chernobyl disaster, the Soviet war in Afghanistan, these are in a way just pretexts for exploring the Soviet individual and the postSoviet individual.”

Bela Shayevich, who is currently translating Alexievich into English for Fitzcarraldo, also paid tribute to her skills as an interviewer which leave her work “resounding with nothing but the truth”.

Peak Choco excites kids with fun-filled independence fiesta

By Prisca Sam-Duru

T

HE 60th anniversary celebration of Peak has in so many ways, brought smiles on the faces of many Nigerian children.

It began with the Peak Art and Craft competition tagged, “Vision Nigeria Art Challenge” held for schools in which over 62 schools were in attendance. Since then, winners have also emerged in its Peak Reach for Million Promo.

In furtherance of its commitment towards ensuring it imparts children and society in general positively, and in commemoration of this year’s Independence Day Celebration, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Ltd, makers of Peak Choco delighted kids with a fun-filled gala at the Apapa Amusement Park, Lagos.

The venue was a beehive of activities as parents and teachers with their children and students, thronged the newly renovated Apapa Amusement Park for 4 consecutive days precisely from th October 1st – 4 , for a family fun weekend with Peak Choco.

The children who radiated in their school, sports and party wears, were treated to dances, music, games, competitions and every other activity that makes for fun.

According to Omolara Banjoko, Senior Brand Manager, Peak, “The sole purpose of staging the

fun-filled independence day celebration with Nigerian children is to allow them have great fun and also learn from it.

Everyday millions of Nigerian children are waiting to be excited, they want to have freedom and fun to explore new circles in life.

We believe that when they have fun in such a place, they will have the freedom to express themselves and decide to be who they want to be.”

She added that “We know we have fantastic product that is nutritious, creamy and tasty that’s not the only way we wish to make them happy but most importantly, we want children to have fun and as they have fun and nourish themselves, they can be that branded child and chose whoever they want to be, like doctor, pilot, sailor and any other career they dream of.

• Fun filled children at the fiesta

“We see an opportunity with Apapa Amusement park, when we came here it was so fantastic, so many rides, we hardly have this kind of such a wonderful place in Nigeria. So, when kids are thinking of Peak Choco, they should also think of having fun but also learning while having fun, which is the essence of what we are doing here today. So we see this as an opportunity to give back to children the experience we had as children that was why we partnered with Apapa Amusement Park to offer 4 days of amazing fun to the children.

It is an opportunity for children to just come in here and have fun. All they just needed to do is to buy a roll of peak choco and get fantastic gifts and of course they get a fun filled free ride,” the FrieslandCampina WAMCO senior manager said.

The Peak Choco 4-Day independence Ride and Fun which kicked off on October 1st, Nigeria’s Independence Day is expected to be an annual event.

The brand manager said “we hope it will be an annual event because at times like this, we want to make sure every Nigerian child has fun and gets the nourishment they deserve.

“We just kicked off in Lagos and the response has been tremendous, we hope to expand and make every Nigerian child have fun with nutrition value.”

Independence splash Parents and teachers at the event who commended Peak Choco for an amazing independence splash for children expressed delight that the Peak family will make it an annual event.

Mr. Tokunbo Adebayo, military personnel who was in attendance with his children said, “I never knew there’s a fun palace for kids as beautiful as the park.”

Also speaking at the event, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Senior Activation Manager, Grace Onwubuemeli in her remarks however explained why Peak Choco is being positioned as a fun solution for children.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

• Ecstacy, one of the works to be displayed

Iponri studios artists, others celebrate Nigeria @55

By Japhet Alakam

A

FTER their successful outing in 2010, some members of the Iponri Art Studios, Lagos and few other artists of likemind are set to paint the nation’s seat of power, Abuja with incredible works of art. The high profile exhibition which will hold at Thoughts Pyramid Art Gallery, one of the leading art galleries with a global vision in Abuja , tagged, Today in History : A group exhibition of Paintings and Mixed Media. It will open from 22nd to the 28th of October, 2015.

The exhibition which is geared towards awakening the sensibilities of art connoisseurs was billed to hold on October 1st to commemorate Nigeria’s independence , but was shifted due to logistic problems, and will feature about 40 incredible works of 8 budding professional artists who have made their marks in the art scene.

They include four from the Iponri Art Studios, Lagos and four others from across the nation that will add strenght to them.

As usual, the group who are household names in the Lagos art scene with the able support

of art collector/promoter Sammy Olagbaju, will use the Abuja show to project and promote their works and at the same time share with the art lovers about what they have been doing and what they intend to do in future.

The exhibiting artists are: Bede Umeh, Bimbo Adenugba, Kehinde Oso, Sanusi Abdulahi, Gerald Chukwuma, Uche Joel Chima, Bolaji Ogunwo and Tayo Olayode, the co ordinator. Some of the works to be shown are ; Green for sale , Fragment of thought and Ecstacy by Bimbo Adenugba ; Tussie, Bata and Our

The group is a household name in Lagos art scene with the able support of famous art collector/ promoter, Sammy Olagbaju, will use the Abuja show to project and promote their works

Domain by Sanusi;Delegates, Atime to ponder, Adaobi and Adaku by Bede Umeh; Season of Time, Tree of Love by Gerald Chukwuma;Etiolated, Rich Dad Poor Children, Out of the Blue

by Bolaji Ogunwo among others.

Speaking with art writers in Lagos recently, the coordinator, Tayo Olayode who disclosed that the idea came up when the Iponri Studios artists who have been doing it on their own for years decided to collaborate with other artists that can add strenght to them, however stated that it is not all about marketing but to make a statement about their works in the seat of power.

According to him, the occasion which promises to be great will be chaired by Chief Sammy Olagbanju, while art lovers, chief executive officers, corporate organisations are expected to be there. He also disclosed that plans are in the pipeline to take the exhibition to Dubai and New York in the future.

Calibre of artists Speaking, one of the Iponri Studios Artists, Bede Umeh stated that “this is not the first time the members of Iponri Studios are collaborating with other artists, but that this one is to make it bigger with the calibre of artists involved. We want to make a big noise so that people will know that Iponri Studios is still on.”

For Gerald Chukwuma, I saw their exhibition last year and it was great. The pedigree of the artists are high so I decided to be part of it. I love their idea of trying to give artists a space to exhibit.

For Bimbo Adenugba who has worked with some of the Iponri group said that he saw their Ghana exhibition and it was great, so the collaboration will be good as it will make it loud.

Continuing, he stated that it is not just the aesthetics,it is about their impact to the culture and others.

Speaking on the choice of Abuja and Thought Pyramid gallery, the group opined that there is need to take it outside Lagos , hence the choice of Thought Pyramid gallery,the only gallery that has the space to accomodate all the works of the artists.

Bless Nigeria with Arts Minister

O

NE portfolio for the ministry of Arts would be loaded just enough if Nigeria’s entertainment industry should make progress and mature to the commercial flavor and tempo of the world's competitive market.

One ministry for Arts Culture and tourism is calling for an overloaded disorganized jamboree that will leave no room for professional advancement and commercial viability.

If Arts and Entertainment is to serve this nation as profitably as it has done for America, England, Japan or India, then the government needs to restructure and invest on the Arts as a separate and singular Ministry. Tourism and Culture can fraternize and serve each other purpose at their tempo.

Arts and Entertainment in today ’s supermarket require regular updating innovation and sophistication at terrific tempo. The sedentary nature of culture and the placating pleasure of Tourism hospitality can marry, to caress our brilliant sunshine days for the pleasure of our guest tourist.

Our evenings and nights

If Arts and Entertainment is to serve this nation as profitably as it has done for America, England, Japan or India, then government needs to restructure and invest on the Arts

Road to Yesterday set for release

F

ILM lovers in Nigeria are in for a great deal as the second teaser from the highlyanticipated film ‘Road to Yesterday’ is scheduled for nationwide release on Friday, 27th of November 2015.

The second teaser which is coming from the coffers of T.E.N (The Entertainment Network) features and introduces Nigerian-British actor, Oris Erhuerho who plays ‘Izu’ the

C M Y K

burly husband and father.

Last week, audiences experienced the first teaser with Genevieve Nnaji as ‘Victoria’ the conflicted wife and mother.

Set in Lagos, Nigeria, Road to Yesterday is an epic love story, about a couple desperate to mend its marriage on a road trip to a relative’s funeral. However, when memories and secrets from the past are revealed, a lot more is at stake than their relationship.

Oris Erhuerho is better known

—43

for his role ‘Honore’ in the Golden Globe nominated HBO Movie, ‘Sometimes In April’.

This is Mr. Erhuerho’s first Nigerian production.

Directed by Ishaya Bako, Road to Yesterday also stars Majid Michel, Chioma ‘Chigul’ Omeruah and veteran Ebele Okaro. The Nigerian Premiere is set for Wednesday 18, November 2015 in Lagos, Nigeria.

• A scene from Road to Yesterday

well structured and organized, will be crowded with Theatre and cinema, what with dances, stage plays, cabaret, Song Stars in concerts; Not to talk of all night cinema on Big screens.

A busy minister for Art will have his or her hands full ensuring the inflows and exports of entertainment productions, there will be need for liaising with our numerous ambassadors the world over, to arrange exhibitions, and exports, for fine Arts, sculpture, photography, ceramics etc.

With these and a few creative details a knowledgeable and art oriented minister will be too busy to find time for Air terminal waist shaking maidens welcoming him at Awards.

International coffers It will definitely be a deviation from Box Office plans that will Cart in Cash into our national coffers to plan five star Hotels Dubai Style while we are thinking of regular full house Broadway style and Box Office Bonanza every night.

Over two decades ago in the Vanguard newspaper, I predicted that Nigeria Entertainment will take over and drop oil to a distant second place, indeed I can see Agriculture piping oil to a miserable third position the way things are going.

Nevertheless I hasten to say that the government needs to sow heavily into entertainment to get the over whiling results from the potentials.

I hasten to sing my old song again, we need to adorn in our nation with a hall of fame like England Madam Tussand, and get the blessing of our past Heroes in Art Entertainment, Sports, Politics and History.

44—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

•Fashola

•Fayemi

•Onu

•Udoma

•Adeosun

•President Buhari

•Aisha Ibrahim

Dissecting Buhari’s ministerial nominees

By Clifford Ndujihe, Deputy Political Editor

F

OLLOWING the criticisms that trailed his first list of ministerial nominees, President Muhammadu Buhari, in his second list has shown, arguably, that he knows his onions.

In a way, he is giving Nigerians a blend of experienced politicians, technocrats, administrators, academics and even the clergy as ministers.

Such blend, if properly harnessed can go a long way to drive and actualise his change agenda.

Change agenda A dissection of the 36-man list (since Ahmed Isa Ibeto of Niger State has been withdrawn as nominee) shows a galaxy of five former governors, nine lawyers, six women, four former senators, three academics, two medical doctors, two retired soldiers and a clergy among others.

Buhari’s love for lawyers: It appears the government will be a stickler for rule of law if

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President Buhari’s up-welling love for lawyers is anything to go by. He has nominated nine lawyers in his proposed cabinet. If all of them are approved by the Senate it will be the first time in the political history of the country that there will be 10 lawyers in the highest hierarchy.

Lawyers nominated as nominees are Raji Babatunde Fashola, SAN; Abubakar Malami, SAN; Ocholi James, SAN; Adebayo Shittu; Senator Aisha Al-Hassan; Jeffrey Onyema, a top class intellectual property lawyer; Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachukwu, a first class investment and corporate lawyer; Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; and Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

Apart from the above, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, SAN; Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Buhari, are also lawyers. With these array of lawyers in the proposed cabinet, it is difficult to guess who the Minister of Justice will be and Nigerians can only hope for a regime where the rule of law will be the order of the day.

Not yet a lady’s man: From the number of women

nominated, President Buhari has, arguably, not yet qualified as a lover of women, compared to his predecessors – Dr Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

The six women he

nominated are Aisha Alhassan, Kemi Adeosun, Zainab Ahmed, Aisha Abubakar, Amina Mohammed and Hajia Khadija BukarIbrahim.

Love for tested hands: It also appears that President Buhari wants tested and experienced administrators to stabilise the ship of state. Thus, he has five former governors on his list, namely: Chris Ngige (Anambra), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Ogbonnaya Onu (Abia).

Love for experience

It appears the government will be a stictler for rule of law if President Buhari’s upwelling love for lawyers is anything to go by

Love for experience also accounts for the presence of Second Republic minister, Chief Audu Ogbeh in the team.

Rapport with lawmakers: With his nomination of four senators – Chris Ngige, Aisha Alhassan, Hadi Sirika, Udoma Udo Udoma and Heineken Lokpobiri, President Buhari is cutting the picture of a man who wants a rapport with the legislature. And surely, he will get what he wants the way the screening of the nominees

is going in the Senate.

Love for academics: It can also be taken for granted that President Buhari has a deep regard for those in the ivory tower.

At least, he has four nominees, who have made their mark in the university system and some of them are still very fresh. They include Professors Isaac Adewole, Cladius Omoleye Daramola, Anthony Onwuka and Dr Ogbonnaya Onu. Keeping a tab on his roots: President Buhari did not, as expected, forget his military roots. He has two strong representatives from that quarters in the persons of Brig General Dan Ali and General Abdulrahman Dambazzau.

Technocrats and change agents: The team also has two medical doctors – Chris Ngige and Dr Okechukwu Enelamah; a clergyman – Pastor Usani Uguru among other technocrats and change agents, who are expected to contribute robustly at the incoming Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the overall betterment of the country.

Will they deliver? Only time will tell.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015—45

By Dapo Akinrefon & Charles Kumolu

T

HE ongoing screening of ministerial nominees by the Senate, has thrown up surprises and excitement.The first batch of nominees screened included Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Chief Audu Ogbeh; Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Lt.Gen. Abduulrahman Dambazau; Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Amina Ibrahim Mohammed; Engr.

Suleiman Hussaini Adamu and Ibrahim Usman Jibril.

Interestingly, the screening session, which commenced at 11am, saw the Senate gallery filled to the brim. To prevent overcrowding in the Senate chambers, many people, who wanted to have a glimpse of the screening procedure, were locked out.

Days before the exercise, the senators had said that it would not be business as usual.

In that light, the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, said: “It is not going to be business as usual. What I can assure you is that we will go with the constitution, the rules, we will put Nigeria first.” He added that the screening will be done with a “high level of seriousness.’’

Before the commencement, the Senate went into a closed-door session during which it considered the reports of its Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee on petitions against Rotimi Amaechi and Amina Mohammed.

I pledge to serve—Udoma The first nominee to be grilled was a former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Udo Udoma.

Udoma assured Nigerians that he would perform the onerous task ahead of him, if confirmed by the Senate. He was asked to take a bow and go.

Borrowing is critical to governance—Fayemi Next to be screened was former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who dazzled the lawmakers with his mastery of public policy issues. He, however, set the records straight on his stewardship in Ekiti State, especially the allegation of leaving behind a debt burden.

Fayemi cleared the allegation that he spent an “untoward amount” on the renovation of the Government House at the expense of public welfare.

He said, “I borrowed but not in rank of the figure being bandied around. No country exists without borrowing,'' he said.

He said his most profound legacy was the social security safety programme, which gave N5,000 to indigent people, monthly.

Justifying the renovation of the Government House, he said for 19 years, Ekiti State did not have a befitting Government House.

Having satisfied the legislators,

How nominees became ministers

•Senators during the screening exercise

Fayemi was asked to bow and go.

I believe in my competence— Ogbeh: The next nominee, a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh introduced himself as “a farmer who has interacted with some of you in the past”.

Though criticisms had trailed his nomination, Ogbeh said he was before the Senate not because he wanted anything new, but because President Buhari asked him to serve in his cabinet. “I wouldn’t be here if I don’t believe I can do it.”

To provide a soft landing for Ogbeh, Senator Godswill Akpabio moved a motion that Ogbeh should be allowed to take a bow and go. Perhaps this will be the first time that a non lawmaker would be given such privilege.

Ogbonnaya Onu: In an attempt to clear the landmines before former Abia Governor, Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Gaya, who was Onu’s counterpart as governor in 1992, urged the lawmakers to allow the nominee to bow and go.

But Senator Danjuma Goje countered the motion, wanting Onu to comment on the widespread unemployment in the country. After the remarks, Onu was made to take a bow, having excelled in his education from the basic level to the advanced level.

We must come up with a healthcare model—Ehanire Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who hails from Edo State, stated that he shared a common vision with

Impressed with their conduct and knowledge, the Senate yesterday approved and confirmed 18 of the 36 nominees for appointment. the screening continues today

President Buhari.

Asked how he intends to fix the nation’s ailing healthcare sector, if appointed as minister of health, especially in the areas of poor diagnosis, inefficient service delivery and training, Ehanire proposed training and retraining of all actors in the sector and a review of curriculum of health-related schools.

The doctor stressed the need for Nigeria to design its own health models rather than copying models that had worked elsewhere.

Grazing sites should be created—Dambazzau A former Chief of Army Staff, Abdurahman Dambazau reeled out his resume detailing his career history and accomplishments. Debunking the claim by a lawmaker that Nigeria has no defence policy, Dambazau said he was indeed contacted some

months ago to be part of a committee to review the document.

Proffering solutions to recurring herdsmen/farmers clashes, he said it was imperative for Nigeria to provide grazing lands for cattle rearers.

Aside this, Dambazau said public private partnership should be considered for the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON). “I was passionate about the welfare of the military, a reason I came up with the idea of establishing new barracks like the Abacha Barracks,” he said.

APC will not be harsh to the opposition—Lai Mohammed A nominee whose screening was also brief, is the Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lai Mohammed.

Opposition trenches The senators interrupted his speech intermittently to laugh or object to his remarks. He said he would be more comfortable to serve in government having been in opposition trenches for long.

“I stand before you to seek your support to be confirmed as minister,” he said.

Senator Akpabio said, “If I know the nominee very well, I know he will like to drop some propaganda before he leaves.”

In his brief remarks, the APC spokesman said, “four years is a short time to learn the rope in opposition. You may have to stay there a little longer. In government, we (APC) will not be as harsh as you (PDP) were to us

while we were in opposition.”

Amina Mohammed: With stiff opposition trailing her nomination, Amina Mohammed was unruffled as she spoke about her career history and accomplishments. Responding to questions, Mohammed said that the conditional grant scheme was a good initiative, if it would be applied towards improving healthcare, education and water supply among others.

Water supply According to her, the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, are a set of 17 goals comprising 169 targets and indicators for reducing poverty and improving environmental sustainability.

She spoke at length on development issues, with some interruptions from the senators obviously complaining about the length and intellectual depth of the speech. She was then asked to take a bow and go.

Suleiman Adamu: The nominee from Jigawa State, Mr Suleiman Adamu, recounted his long-standing relationship with President Buhari.

Adamu emphasised the need for the Federal Capital Development Authority to commit resources to the development of Abuja satellite towns.

Impressed with their conduct and knowledge, the Senate yesterday approved and confirmed 18 of the 36 nominees for appointment. the screening continues today.

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

Kachikwu, Fashola, steal show at Senate screening Continues from Page 5

Vanguard columnist, Donu Kogbara's kidnappers, being paraded by the police.

Boko Haram insurgency'll end by Dec, Buhari insists ...thanks the US for sending military equipment

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

B U J A — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, expressed confidence in the ability of the Nigerian military to put an end to Boko Haram insurgency by December.

President Buhari who spoke during a meeting with the Commander of United States Africa Command, General David Rodriguez in his office at the presidential villa, yesterday, said with greater support from his administration in terms of improved training, equipment, logistics and welfare, the Nigerian Armed Forces were now well positioned to meet the December deadline which they have been given to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

The President also conveyed his gratitude to the government of United States of America, USA, for its support to Nigeria’s efforts to overcome terrorism and insurgency.

“We must thank the United States of America for sending training teams and equipment to us. The positive results of our collaboration are evident.

Structured attacks by the insurgents have reduced and by the end of the year, we should see the final routing of Boko Haram as an organized fighting force, “ he said.

He also bemoaned the revenue losses arising from crude oil theft, assuring that his administration was

determined to end the criminal practice even as he called for more support from the international community to help realize the goal.

Also speaking, General Rodriguez told President Buhari that he was in the

country to strengthen Nigeria/United States military relations, and also explore further options for assisting the Multinational Joint Task Force established

by Nigeria and her neighbours, to fight Boko Haram.

Ikpeazu congratulates ex-Gov Orji over election petition victory

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—ABIA State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has congratulated his predecessor, Senator Theodore Orji, on his victory at the election petition tribunal, describing it as victory for the people of Abia State.

According to Ikpeazu, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Godwin Adindu, the ruling of the tribunal and that of the Appeal Court

in Owerri, within the week had vindicated the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and also, a victory for democracy.

Governor Ikpeazu, who described Senator Orji as the father of the modern Abia and a symbol of equity and justice, said his victory at the tribunal was “another feather to his cap and another crown of glory for his doggedness and resilience in liberating Abia and in evolving a new state of equity and balance of power.”

...submits list of commissioner nominees

By Anayo Okoli U M U A H I A — GOVERNOR Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, yesterday, submitted list of his commissioner nominees to the State House of Assembly.

The list of commissioner nominees contained in a sealed envelope was submitted to the Speaker of the House, Mr. Martins Azubuike by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr.

Chijioke Nwakodo, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters, Mr. Chinedum Elechi.

It was impossible at press time to know who made the list which the Speaker Azubuike made read out to the House during plenary today.

The Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, Chinedum Elechi, confirmed in a telephone that the list was submitted to the Speaker.

give these Policemen, it will help us and so, the point here is that there is a necessity here to decentralize.

Speaking on Abuja, the nominee said, “ In deciding what to do about Abuja, these are the real issue. First, getting a hold of its resources, knowing its districts and its problems, knowing the people, sharing with them what the thoughts are. The Master Plan itself may perhaps need to be reviewed. Plans are not static documents, they must be reviewed periodically. A level of consultation and knowledge would be necessary in order to accurately say this is where Abuja should be heading. In spite of our complaints, it is still a beautiful city, getting it to be better than it is, is a matter of choice for all of us. Laws have to be enforced and it should be rigorously followed.”

On old and young politician and how they relate to economic development, he said, “The sum total of every nation is its people. The more elderly ones are the more matured ones. No matter how hard we try, we will never discount the experience, the maturity, counselling and guiding support of people who are older than us. We must continue to interface with them. I must walk away from the tendency to condemn the level of our national development. We must begin to see our cup as half full rather than half empty.”

On the alleged website project, Fashola said: “Let me say first that it raises the question of public understanding of the role governors, public servants and some have a surprise to learn that as a governor of Lagos State, I didn’t sign cheques, none of my commissioners signed cheques. I didn’t fix contract prices. It is an institutional process.

“The only training I have is that of a lawyer.

Nobody can award contract over benchmark price. Throughout my tenure, I have been confronted with the price of things and the reality is that when you design a road, what you meet in reality when construction starts is usually not what you end up with. In all of these, nobody has alleged that I have corruptly enriched myself. I could not have been a master in computer and technology.

I need something to do my work.”

When asked about his definition of loyalty, Fashola who noted that he remained loyal to causes he believed in said: “As for loyalty, the concept of loyalty is a strange one. The real answer to that question is, may your loyalty not be tested. I always pray that my loyalty will not be tested because you might have to take a bullet for somebody. We discuss it loosely, but in public service, I have remained loyal to causes that I have signed onto and in all my life, nobody can fairly accuse me of giving my word and going back on my word.”

On deportation of Igbo people, he said: “In a federation, the right to free movement is not absolute, it carries with it a responsibility not to be a nuisance.” He said those moved to their states of origin were those who asked to be taken

home. Fashola concluded his submission by saying he apologised in the interest of national cohesion.

No palliatives, no fuel subsidy removal

Also answering questions from Senators when he appeared before them, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu who noted that there will be no removal of subsidy until palliatives were put in place, disclosed that with the non-passage of Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, Nigeria was losing 15 billion dollars yearly, adding that the Federal Government has no plans to reduce the price of fuel.

Kachikwu who disclosed that plans were on to distribute free cylinders to every home with gas stations closer to homes, said that over 40 percent of what NNPC makes is used by the corporation, adding, “in the next one, two days, you find that individuals will open their stations and products are there.

We have enough storage in this country that will last us for the next 40, 50 days.

“First of all, let me say that one of the things I’ve said to myself since resuming as GMD of NNPC is that I will not be constrained by the lack of PIB in making sure that holistic solutions to the industry continue to be propelled. So, using existing laws, we have continued to make changes. Because at the end of the day, whether or not PIB is available and passed, it really doesn’t lie within the umbrella of the executive, it lies with

this revered Assembly.

But I also do not think that the problem with PIB has been the facts of the versions. By the time the last Senate was rounding off, it had gotten a version that was clearly the version that both houses were looking at. Am I going to create a new version? Not really. What I will need to do is take the version that you have, look at it again and make changes.

“The key issue is that as long as we continue to want to pass a holistic PIB, it is going to be a very major challenge. But once you begin to break it up into critical aspects, you begin to make a faster run to passing PIB. Fiscal regime, for example, you ask yourself, why would you want to have fiscal regime inside the PIB? Because to change those fiscal regimes, which are very dynamic environment, you have to come back to this Assembly to also make changes.

"You must find a way of pulling out fiscal regimes and leave them to existing tax laws which you can amend. And additionally, look at the PSCs and Joint Venture Agreements to enable you determine fiscal regimes. The advantage in that is that you have the flexibility of changing with the times.

"At the time when oil prices was so low that nobody was willing to invest in your country, you may give some incentives.

At the time when they are so high that people are making outrageous profits, you may increase your taxes. But so long as you leave it in a holistic blue-barrelled, high voluminous PIB, you are stuck in terms of how you are going to get the required votes each time to make amendment. I think the way to go is, first of all, take what is there, look at it in the context of where we are today."

We need creative solutions – Adeosun

Mrs. Kemi Adeosun expressed the need for creative, innovative solutions to add value to our country and economy.

Responding to questions, Mrs Adeosun said that to block leakages, we need to ‘chase out cash. Every where that people transact in cash, there are leakages.”

She said the country needs to adopt other forms of cash transfer that phases out physical cash, adding that there is need to invest primarily in infrastructure. She also said that banks are not in business to sit on government money, it’s bad economics."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015—47

Benue NLC crisis: New leadership denied access to secretariat

By Peter Duru

M

AKURDI—FOUR months after the election of the new executives of Benue State council of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the new leadership has neither received a formal handover note nor allowed access to their offices.

Vanguard learned in Makurdi, yesterday, that the newlyelected Mr. Godwin Anya-led executive was allegedly denied the use of the labour office by the outgoing executive, led by Simon Anchaver, who refused to hand over to the new leadership.

Speaking yesterday to Vanguard in Makurdi, Mr. Anya said he had not been able to function fully as state chairman of NLC, following the refusal of the former chairman to handover to him.

Anya said: “Elections were conducted; I was declared winner and sworn in same day, but no handover has been done four months after the elections.”

He disclosed that Anchaver’s action could be connected to the protest by a section of the labour leaders in the state against the outcome of the election that produced the new leadership.

He said: “After the elections, some people wrote to the national secretariat in Abuja, claiming that the elections were marred by irregularities.

“Consequently, the secretariat constituted a committee and those of us that contested the last election were called to state our

cases.”

Anya said he was optimistic that Anchaver would hand over the NLC secretariat to

him in due time. He said: “He had served two terms as NLC chairman and I did not contest election with him. We have

J

ALINGO—NATIONAL and State Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal, sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State, yesterday, nullified the election of Dan-Asabe Hosea, representing Kurmi/Gashaka/ Sarduana Federal constituency in the National Assembly on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Ibrahim El-Sudi, had dragged Hosea to the tribunal, challenging his victory at the poll on the grounds that the election was conducted without compliance with the Electoral Act. Tribunal Chairman, Justice Samson Angor, who read the judgement, ordered fresh election in 19 polling units in the constituency on the grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

By Kingsley Fanwo

started talking; the process of handing over has started. I know that the matter will soon be resolved.”

A

FIDSON'S AGM: From left— MD/CEO, Dr. Fedelis Ayebae, Chairman, Mr. Felix Ohiwerei, and Company Secretary, Mr. Abayomi Adebanjo, all of Fidson Healthcare Plc, during the 16th Annual General Meeting of the company held in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Kano gov seeks Assembly’s consent for N20bn CBN loan

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

K

ANO—GOVERNOR Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has written the state House of Assembly seeking their consent to obtain N20 billion Central Bank of

Nigeria, CBN loan.

The Majority Leader, Alhaji Yusuf Ata, who read the details of the letter on the floor before the House yesterday, said the government would disburse N6 billion to the 44 local governments as bailout.

Ganduje, in the letter, stated

Tribunal annuls Taraba Rep's election, orders fresh polls in 19 units

By John Mkom

Ohi Adavi, is dead

Justice Samson Angor held that the marginal difference in votes between the winner and the runner up was less than the number of registered voters in the 19 polling units, where elections were conducted without compliance with the Electoral Act. He declared the election

inconclusive and ordered the setting aside of the certificate of return issued the third respondent, Dan-Asabe Hosea, by the first respondent, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. He ordered INEC to conduct fresh elections in the 19 polling units within 90 days.

that part of the loan would be used for settling pensioners’ arrears and the payment of salaries of newlyemployed health workers.

He further revealed that part of the anticipated loan from CBN would go into settling the arrears of workers promoted recently.

He, however, explained in the letter that the loan to be granted to the 44 local governments was payable within a period of 20 years.

Ganduje said the N6 billion to the 44 local governments was anticipated to be expended on projects that had direct bearing with the rural populace.

Sequel to the request, the Assembly directed its Committee on Finance to scrutinize the content of the letter for appropriate action.

Ocholi, a blessing to Nigeria— EX-KOGI LAWMAKER

By Kingsley Fanwo

A

retired Naval Commodore and former member of Kogi State House of Assembly, Mr. Folusho Daniel, has hailed the nomination of Mr. James Ocholi (SAN) as a blessing to the nation.

Speaking to Vanguard in Lokoja yesterday, Daniel said President Muhammadu Buhari had shown his intent of fixing the nation’s myriad

of challenges by appointing eminent and competent Nigerians into his cabinet.

He said: “The people of Kogi State will be proud of James Ocholi. He is a competent personality, who can bring his brilliance and integrity to bear on the new administration.

“Ocholi is a quintessential leader, an excellent team leader, who has justified his competence in his chosen profession as one of the

frontline legal practitioners in the country today.

“I am sure that he will perform excellently wherever the President puts him.

“Ocholi fits into the anticorruption criteria of the present Federal Government. We have great confidence in his abilities.”

Daniel called on all the ministers to do the nation proud by bringing the desired change to Nigerians.

DAVI people of Kogi Central have been thrown into mourning, following the death, in the early hours of yesterday, of their highly respected Ohi of Adavi, HRH Ohi Ibrahim Asuku.

When Vanguard visited the palace, many traditional chiefs were seen paying their last respect.

He will be remembered for enthroning peace and his role in developing Adaviland.

He will be buried according to Islamic rites.

Nigeria, Israel to strengthen non-oil ties

By Naomi Uzor

N

I G E R I A N Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, yesterday, said it had joined forces with Israel businessmen to improve Nigeria’s non-oil sector and diversify its monoproduct economy to improve trade relations.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a business meeting by NACCIMA in Lagos, its National President, Chief Bassey Edem, said with the partnership, Israel, known for hi-tech production in medicine, security wares and agriculture, would transfer such technology and know-how to Nigerian entrepreneurs, farmers and manufacturers.

GKS holds anniversary

L

AGOS State branches of God’s Kingdom Society, GKS, Church of the Living God, will celebrate the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, tagged Freedom Day Divine Service, at GKS, Liasu Road, Ikotun, Lagos, Sunday, October 18.

It will be presided over by Chairman of the Executive Board of the Church, Brother Godwin Ifeacho.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

A-Ibom lawmaker blames delay in takeoff of Ibom Deep Sea Port on FG

By Chioma Onuegbu

U

YO—CHAIRMAN, House Committee on Commerce, Industry, and Investment, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Nse Essien, has blamed the delay in the takeoff of Ibom Deep Sea Port on Federal Government's administrative bottlenecks.

Speaking in Uyo at a briefing yesterday, Essien said the state government had received many proposals from investors who were willing to invest in the project, lamenting that

because of the politics the Federal Government was allegedly playing with the project, the seaport had been dormant.

Essien, who represents Onna state constituency, said Akwa Ibom State Government also had an intention to absorb into the Ibom Deep Seaport, Uta Ewa in Ikot Abasi, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area.

According to him, the state government desired to turn Uta Ewa into a major industrial hub in West Africa by bringing in international jetty there to complement the Ibom

Kidnap suspect arrested in Delta

By Ochuko Akuopha

O

LEH—POLICE in Delta State have apprehended a kidnap suspect for allegedly dropping a threat letter to adopt one Madam Ishijenkorelu.

It was gathered that the suspect who identified himself as “Barbar” had written his GSM number and dropped it alongside the letter for the woman who resides in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

The suspect, who had expected to be called upon to collect a ransom, was instead arrested by surveillance operatives of the Special Anti-

Kidnapping Squad at the command headquarters in Asaba who acted on a tip-off.

Confirming the arrest, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Celestina Kalu, said the squad swung into action, trailed the said Barbar with the phone number and had him arrested.

According to her, while investigation was ongoing to apprehend three other accomplices whose names appeared on the threat letter, another suspect who is of Owhelogbo road in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area was arrested with arms.

Deep Sea Port.

He said: "The governor is very concerned about Ibom Deep Sea Port takeoff. I know that administrative bottlenecks are responsible for the delay in the takeover of the project. I am the chairman of the House Committee on Commerce, Industry and Investment, I know what I am talking about.

“I know the number of investors that are willing to bring their money to invest in the project. So it is not Akwa Ibom government, but the Federal Government administrative bottlenecks that are delaying the takeoff of the project. Let the Federal Government stop playing politics with the project, because it will be well for Nigeria to have many seaports.”

Meanwhile, Essien explained that the state government had rescheduled N64.5 billion loan into Federal Government bond that will last for over 20 years which is the only loan that the assembly knows about of the state.

“The N64.5bn loan we knew, we asked the governor to urge the House to reschedule and turn it into Federal Government bond that will take over 20 years.

But the ones we do not know about we have not asked questions on them because there is no reason to ask question, yet.”

FLOOD: Fear grips Edo LG over possible outbreak of water-borne diseases

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—ELDERS and leaders of Etsako Central Local Government Area, LGA, of Edo State, have raised alarm over possible outbreak of water borne diseases in the six communities ravaged by flood which rendered thousands of families homeless.

The Etsako Central LGA leaders appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to urgently deploy health workers, drugs and other necessities like potable water to the victims, to avert a looming epidemic

due to the number of people rendered homeless.

Speaking to journalists after visiting the affected communities, the member Representing Etsako Central Constituency, Mr Damian Lawani, stressed the need for NEMA to send medical materials to prevent an outbreak and spread of diseases.

Acting Chairman of the Council, Sunday Eshiesimua, disclosed that the council had commenced distribution of drugs to victims in the affected communities, but appealed for help from government and NEMA to deal with the situation.

The affected

communities include Ofukpo, Osumegbe, Udaba, Ekperi, Oghomere and Anegbite.

He said: “The affected communities are expecting so much from government and having visited, it is even something the state government alone cannot take care of. It calls for a comprehensive approach from the state, federal and local governments. What we are asking for is how the government can help us. In 2012 when a similar flood occurred, government immediately came to their aid with lots of relief materials, but this year we are having problems."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015 — 49

Early detection, treatment, key to surviving breast cancer — COPE

By Chioma Obinna

W

ITH about 13,000 women dying of breast cancer annually in Nigeria, medical experts, cancer survivors and other stakeholders in cancer care have said that early detection and prompt treatment is key to surviving breast cancer.

Speaking during a 10 kilometre walk to mark this year's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the 20th anniversary of the Care.

Organisation.

Public.

Enlightenment, COPE, in Lagos, they lamented late presentation of breast cancer patients at the hospital.

Addressing hundreds of participants during the walk which kicked off around 7:00am Saturday from the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, GRA , Ikeja to Maryland and back, Chief Executive Officer, COPE, Mrs Ebunola Anozie identified late presentation, lack of special fund and comprehensive cancer centre as major factors contributing to low survival rates in the country.

Late presentation: Anozie said the choice of a walk to celebrate COPE's 20th anniversary was informed by the fact that despite improved awareness on early detection, many Nigerian women are still presenting it late.

"Our aim is solely to raise awareness about breast cancer as part of efforts to reduce the mortality rate of breast cancer in Nigeria. Early detection can cure breast cancer and reduce the mortality rate from the disease.

On treatment challenges face by cancer patients in Nigeria, Anozie appealed to the Federal government to build a comprehensive cancer centre to aid treatment of patients. According to her, a comprehensive cancer centre would reduce brain drain as well as stop the mad rush to other countries for treatment.

On his part, Representative of Chapel of Healing Cross, Idi Araba, Wale Ogundetoun raised alarm over increasing

WALK: Cross section of participants during the 10km walk organised by COPE to mark this year’s Breast Cnacer Awareness Week in Lagos. incidences of cancer in the country.

He called for a special fund for Nigerians who cannot afford the needed resources for their medical treatment. “The government should improve our healthcare facilities. We have many people who cannot afford the treatment and they are in the hospitals without hope. With improved healthcare facilities and provision of special funds for those who cannot afford it, more people will survive and the burden will be reducedon families."

Speaking, a 17 years cancer survivor who is also the Vice President of COPE, Mrs. Kehinde Gbelee noted that there have been a lot of improvement in awareness, and treatment better than when she was diagnosed of cancer, adding that there is now chances of surviving cancer in Nigeria.

"To survive cancer, you must keep to your medicine and take your chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as do all that the doctors advised because at the end of every dark tunnel there is always a bright light."

T

HE Faculty of Dental Science of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, has called on Federal government to institute a General Dental Council in the country, as well as the inclusion of gum disease and tooth decay on the primary provider list of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS. Making the call at a book launch and award night to mark the 50th year of the Faculty, the Dean, Toyin Arotiba said tooth decay and gum disease affect nearly 50 percent of the adult population and many are ignorant about it.

Arotiba said inclusion of the two diseases on the NHIS list would give every Nigerian opportunity to visit their dentist every six months for check up.

Arotiba however called on Federal government to institute a general dental council in the country.

“In England, there is a general dental council and general medical council.

Both inter-relate. Instituting a dental council will encourage more focus on dental issues and how it affects the health of the population. They will also

come up with recommendation when government comes up with any health policy like health insurance.

“In England, there are provisions for oral healthcare, but here in Nigeria we have no provision for any oral healthcare in our health insurance scheme.

“We hereby plead the authorities to consider putting gum disease and tooth decay on the primary provider list of the NHIS to enable patients directly visit dentists every six months.”

He said it is sad to note that gum

Gum disease has been associated with other conditions like preterm births, low sperm count, diabetes, arthritis among others

Power Oil rewards consumers for burning calories

By Nkiruka Nnorom

BREAST

Don seeks inclusion of oral diseases on NHIS

By Gabriel Olawale

Expensive treatment: Another survivor, Mrs. Funmi Olufumi layo Dada called on the Federal Government to address treatment problems in the country.

According to her, the continued break down of radiotherapy machines across the country has further stretched the burden on the patients. "Due to continuous breakdown of radio therapy machines, Patients travel from Lagos to Benin, Abuja and Kaduna just to get radio therapy or some special medical investigations.

"Treatment is very expensive, some of the treatment like chemotherapy cost as high as N10 million. They should liaise with pharmaceutical companies to bring down the prices of these drugs so that it can be affordable and people can live longer.”

Speaking, representative of Skye Bank, Head Corporate Communication Function, Mr. Rasheed Bolarinwa, who said they have supported COPE in the last 10 years said the bank decided to adopt breast cancer as their baby due to the devastating effects on cancer on families psychologically, and financially.

Bolarinwa who noted that breast cancer has the highest mortality rates globally, hence the need to support organisations like COPE to do more in order to save lives.

disease affects half of the adult population and many have gum diseae but do not know. He said people with gum disease are nearly twice likely to have heart disease than those with healthy gums and that the same bacteria that cause gum disease can also spark inflammation inside the body damaging blood vessels.

“Gum disease has been associated with other conditions like preterm births, low sperm count, diabetes, arthritis etc.

The reason for these associations is not very clear at present but it is advisable to maintain good oral hygiene which includes simple brushing of teeth first thing in the morning, last thing before bed and ensuring you change your toothbrush every three months.

“If you brush your teeth and your gum is bleeding or minor trauma in your mouth and you still bleed, then it may likely to be gum disease.

“The implication is that you will continue to have inflammation until you lose your tooth and when that happens you won’t be able to chew very well so you have to visit your dentist to avoid these diseases.”

I

N line with its commitment to promote healthy living as a means of maintaining a healthy heart, and to commemorate World Heart Day, Power Oil held a consumer activation tagged ‘Pay with Calories 2.0’ in Lagos.

Participants engaged in series of workouts on treadmills and cyclers and were then rewarded with various gift items depending on the amount of calories they were able to burn within a specific time.

Free medical check-ups were also provided.

Speaking on the rationale Brand Manager, Power Oil, Disha Argawal, said rather than focus solely on sales, Power Oil is dedicated to promoting healthy living amongst its consumers.

“We try to encourage people to live healthy lives and not to use low-quality or substandard cooking oil, which, in most cases, puts consumers at risk of heart related diseases and other health hazards.

“The activation is to promote healthy living by encouraging people to exercise daily and be cautious about what they eat in order to maintain a healthy heart.

Timothy Okoh, a participant who burned 211 calories in 10 minutes described the event as an inspiring initiative by Power Oil in encouraging people to exercise and also be rewarded for doing so.”

It is estimated that over 60 per cent of Nigerians are at risk of heart related diseases, a leading cause of death worldwide.

50 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

Obama deploys 300 troops to fight Boko Haram *Troops to remain in Cameroon

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*Turkish President Erdogan (front 2nd L) visited the scene of the double suicide blasts for the first time on Wednesday . Photo: Reuters.

Pope Francis apologises for Vatican scandals

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OPE Francis has made a surprise public apology for recent scandals “either in Rome or in the Vatican”.

He made the apology

at his weekly general audience in St Peter ’s Square, but did not specify which scandals.

He is thought to be referring to a senior Polish

Ukraine’s pro-Russian rebels reject Dutch MH17 report

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senior Ukrainian rebel leader has rejected a Dutch report that concluded a Russianmade missile downed MH17 over Ukraine in 2014, killing 298 people.

Aleksandr Zakharchenko told the BBC the investigation into the disaster “hadn’t been carried out properly at all”.

Meanwhile, Russia’s aviation chief called on the UN aviation body to open a fresh investigation on Wednesday.

The West and Ukraine say the rebels brought down the Boeing 777, but Russia blames Ukrainian

forces.

The plane - flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur - crashed at the height of the conflict between government troops and pro-Russian separatists in July last year.

China hits back at US in row over South China Sea countries” for flexing

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HINA has hit back at the US in a row over marine territorial claims. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying alluded to the US when she blamed “some

Teenage sex workers rescued in US sting local police departments

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HE FBI has broken up several sex trafficking rings across the US, uncovering more than 100 sexually exploited teenagers in a nationwide operation.

Agents arrested more than 150 people on sextrafficking charges in dozens of cities including Atlanta, Denver and Seattle. The youngest victim found was 12 years old, the FBI said.

The FBI targeted hotels, casinos and lorry stops to find underage victims.

The majority of the teens found were girls.

Agents also found three boys and three transgender teens.

The FBI worked with

and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to help the teenage victims to find shelter and get medical attention.

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“their military muscles again and again” in the South China Sea. Last week, US officials said they were considering sailing warships in an area around the Spratly island chain which China claims as territory. It has sparked tit-for-tat warnings between the two powers.

China has been worrying its neighbours - and the US - by enlarging the series of tiny islands, reports the BBC’s China analyst Michael Bristow.

EBOLA: Nurse critically ill in London

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nurse who contracted Ebola while working in West Africa is now “critically ill” with complications arising from the infection. Pauline Cafferkey was readmitted to a specialist isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London last week.

The hospital said in a statement that her condition had deteriorated.

Ms Cafferkey, 39, from

Clinton clashes with rival on gun laws ILLARY Clinton has attacked her main rival Bernie Sanders over US gun laws at the Democratic presidential debate.

When asked if the Vermont senator was strong on gun control, she said, “No, not at all,” before vowing to go after the makers of guns used in

priest who was dismissed from his Vatican post after announcing he was in a gay relationship.

The Pope’s spokesman said the pontiff had not been referring to the recent resignation of Rome’s mayor.

Federico Lombardi admitted to reporters that the Pope’s apology had been “broad and generic” but said it did not refer to “political” situations involving Mayor Ignazio Marino, who resigned earlier this week over an expenses scandal.

shootings.

Mr Sanders also attacked Mrs Clinton, saying her support for a nofly zone in Syria would create “serious problems”.

His rallies have drawn big crowds and he has challenged Mrs Clinton’s frontrunner status in some key states.

Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire, contracted Ebola while working at a treatment centre in Sierra Leone last year.

She spent almost a month in isolation at the Royal Free at the beginning of the year after the virus was detected when she arrived back in the UK. She was later discharged after apparently making a full recovery, but it was discovered last week that Ebola was still present in her body.

Cafferkey

S President Barack Obama yesterday notified Congress that he intends to deploy 300 troops to Cameroon to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.

In a letter released by the White House, Obama said 90 personnel had already been deployed, and would be armed for self-defense.

A senior administration official said the deployment was “part of the counter Boko Haram effort.”

Cameroon, along with a growing number of west and central African nations, has been targeted by the Islamist militants, who are expanding operations beyond the group’s traditional base in northern Nigeria.

Scene of a collapsed bridge on the main highway between Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Twin suicide blasts on Sunday killed at least nine people and injured 29 in far northern Cameroon. Two female suicide bombers carried out the attacks in the village of Kangaleri, security and local sources said.

Nine people died when the first woman detonated a bomb in a tiny milk

and donut restaurant.

The second suicide bomber killed only herself, a local authority official said.

The attack came a day after triple explosions in Chad left 41 dead.

Both countries are part of a regional coalition that has been fighting the militants.

S/Africa suspends police chief over headed by retired judge alleged misconduct Ian Farlam.

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OUTH African President Jacob Zuma has suspended police chief Riah Phiyega while allegations of misconduct are examined, his office says.

Last month, Mr Zuma’s office launched an investigation into her role in the 2012 killing of 34 miners by officers during a strike at the Marikana mine.

It followed an inquiry’s finding that police followed a “defective” plan

to break up the strike.

Gen Phiyega disputes the findings and defends police handling of the strike. Numerous calls have been made for Ms Phiyega to be sacked over the case.

No-one has been charged or held responsible for the killings.

This suspension is significant because President Zuma is in essence implementing one of the recommendations from the Marikana inquiry,

Major bridge collapses in Johannesburg the Sandton financial dis-

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WO people have been killed and around 20 injured when a temporary bridge collapsed over Johannesburg’s main motorway, South African emergency services say.

The bridge collapsed onto the main highway between Johannesburg and the capital, Pretoria, during rush-hour.

The accident happened near a busy slip road to

trict. Emergency services were still attempting to reach some of those trapped, late on Wednesday afternoon.

“At least five of the injured are critical and the numbers may change as there are still people trapped beneath the structure,” Chris Botha, a spokesman for privately-owned emergency services company Netcare 911, told the Reuters news agency.

After 34 miners were gunned down at the Lonmin-owned platinum mine in August 2012, there were calls for the senior police officers including police commissioner Riah Phiyega to resign.

President Zuma established the inquiry, which concluded that the police had a “defective” plan and lacked adequate training for the type of protest they were dealing with. President Zuma came in for some criticism for appointing Gen Phiyega, who had no prior police background but came from a corporate environment.

*Phiyega

Tanzania rolls out birth registration by mobile phone

By Precious Ubani& Anyaegbu MaryJane

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HE government of Tanzania government has launched a nationwide system to help parents register their children’s births by mobile phone for a better health plan, education and other public services. The reason for the initiative is because the country has suffered one of the lowest rates of

birth registration in eastern and southern Africa.

Some 80 percent of Tanzanians - and more than nine in 10 under-fives do not have birth certificates, according to the 2012 census.

The new system being rolled out across the country over the next five years allows a health worker to send the baby’s name, sex, date of birth and family details by phone to a central data

base and a birth certificate is issued free of charge in days. RITA’s acting head Emmy Hudson has affirmed that the project had improved birth registration after years of stagnation.

The government expects to register about a million children under the age of five before the end of this year, and 90 percent of all newborns within the next five years.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015 — 51

FIFA hands former SAFA official 6-yr ban

CHAN qualifier moves Glo League matches

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OUTH African Football Association’s official Lindile ‘Ace’ Kika has been banned from the game for six years.

According to a statement from FIFA, Kika has been handed the ban for his role in match fixing scandal heading to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Although their suspensions were reversed, FIFA Independent Ethics Committeee has since banned Kika after a year-long probe.

“The adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert, has banned Lindile Kika, a former official of the South African Football Association (SAFA), from all football-related activities at national and international level for six years.

*Chilean soccer fans can't wait for the kick-off of the 2015 U-17 World Cup.

Gifted youngsters get Chilean chance W

ITH just two days remaining until the FIFA U-17 World Cup

Scouts Continues from BP will be in the stands on Saturday when the Nigeria U-17s clash with their United States counterparts at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago.

The players that are on the radar of the English Premier League trio are skipper Kelechi Nwakali (ASJ Academy), Funsho Bamgboye (Aspire Academy), Victor Osim-

hen (Ultimate Strikers) and Joel Osikel ( Young Eleven FC). Prior to the tournament in Chile, Kelechi Nwakali had flirted with Manchester City, with the Citizens inviting him to England and he was given a tour of the club’s training facilities.

Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidiebere Nwakali and Musa Yahaya were snapped up by English clubs after the 2013 Fifa U17s.

Eaglets Continues from BP a record four times.

16 years, 11 months and ten days will be the average age of the Nigeria squad when the tournament kicks off on Saturday 17 October, the youngest at Chile 2015.

Emanuel Amuneke will be hoping his young charges continue the good progress made by Manu Garba’s champions from 2013, with 12 out of the 21 in their UAE 2013 squad featuring at the FIFA U-20 World Cup earlier this year in New Zealand.

With 2.34 points per game (three points for a win, one for a draw) is the record-high that holders Nigeria can boast throughout the history of the U-17 World Cup. Their 40 wins, 11 draws and five defeats means they top the alltime ‘league table’ for the tournament with Ghana (2.12 points per game) and Brazil (2.04 points per game) in sec-

ond and third behind them.

1708 goals have been scored in the history of the tournament, with Chidera Ezeh of Nigeria notching the 1700th strike in the UAE 2013 semi-final, 10,324 days after Brazilian Bismarck scored the very first goal of China PR 1985.

The landmark achievements and statistics were not all about Nigeria.

11 players have gone on to win the World Cup after featuring at the U17 edition, with Toni Kroos (who appeared at Korea Republic 2007) and Mario Gotze (Nigeria 2009) joining the list after their victory in Brazil last year. The nine other world champions are Frenchman Emmanuel Petit, Brazil’s Ronaldinho, Italy ’s Gianluigi Buffon, Alessandro Del Piero and Francesco Totti and Spain’s Iker Casillas, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

kicks off in Chile, the official squad lists for the tournament have been announced. A total of 504 young hopefuls can now begin to dream of following in the footsteps of famous graduates of the tournament, such as Neymar, Ronaldinho, Gianluigi Buffon and Andres Iniesta.

Some familiar names grace the lists, including Luca Zidane, Zinedine’s son - who also has a penchant for Panenka penalties - in the France squad, while Davor Lovren, younger brother of Dejan, features in the Croatian ranks. Some of the most

talked-about prospects in world football will also grace the global stage, with Barcelona’s Lee Seung-Woo taking Korea Republic’s No10 shirt, while New York Cosmos starlet Haji Wright will don USA’s No7.

The talented youngsters will showcase their prodigious talents across eight host cities: Chillan, Concepcion, Coquimbo, La Serena, Puerto Montt, Santiago, Talca and Vina Del Mar. The opening game on Saturday 17 October will see England take on Guinea in Coquimbo, with holders Nigeria and hosts Chile making their

South Africa, will be making their debut at a U-17 World Cup in Chile. Syria and Belgium return for their second appearance after both debuting at Korea Republic 2007, while USA and Brazil make a record-continuing 15th appearance at the global U-17 finals.

2000 is the year in which Mali’s Mamady Diarra, who plays for Yeelen in his home country, was born, making him the first player to be named in a squad for a men’s World Cup tournament (U-17, U-20 or senior), who was born after the turn of the millennium.

172 goals were scored in the previous tournament, UAE 2013, a record high for the U-17 World Cup. That record was achieved in 52 games, meaning an average of 3.31 goals per game, bettered only by Japan 1993 (3.34), Peru 2005 (3.47) as well as

the record goals per game scored at Egypt 1997 and Finland 2003 (3.66).

55 centimetres is the difference in height between the shortest and tallest player at Chile 2015. Guinea midfielder Karim Conte stands 140cm tall, with New Zealand defender Hunter Ashworth towering above him at 195cm.

Only 12 players at last year ’s senior World Cup stood taller than the Kiwi.

bow in Santiago later that day. Vina Del Mar will host the final, which will take place on Sunday 8 November.

Eagles, Burkina Faso Continues from BP The Confederation of African Football has appointed Boubou Traore from Mali as Referee for the encounter. Traore’s compatriots Bobo Yomboliba, Boubacar Kinta and Harouna Coulibaly will serve as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 andreserve referee respectively.

Mr. Pedro De Morais Neto, from Angola, will be match commissioner.

Meanwhile, a total of 25 players are battling for shirts in Port Harcourt under the watchful eyes of Assistant Coaches Salisu Yusuf and Alloy Agu. There are goalkeepers Femi Thomas, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, David Obiazor and Okemute Odah, defenders Chima Akas, Austin Oboroakpo, Kalu Orji, Solomon Kwambe,

Idris Aloma, Samson Gbadebo, Jamiu Alimi and Stephen Eze, midfielders Abdulrazak Aliyu, Ifeanyi Mathew, Paul Onobi, Usman Mohammed, Bature Yaro and Osas Okoro, and forwards Ezekiel Bassey, Chisom Chikatara, Tunde Adeniji, Prince Aggrey, Bright Onyedikachi and Dayo Ojo. Nigeria failed to qualify for the first two editions of a competition reserved for senior players plying their trade in their country’s domestic league, but won bronze medal at the third edition held in South Africa early last year.

The winner over two legs between Nigeria and Burkina Faso will be eligible for a place at the 4 th African Nations Championship taking place in Rwanda early next year.

rep has insisted that his client has taken the decision of Sunday Oliseh in good faith and is available for selection for the World Cup qualifiers.

“Sunday Oliseh wanted Mikel to be vice - captain, since he has already given Musa the captain’s armband,”oneofMikel’srep told allnigeriasoccer.com.

“He only wants to be playing and is not interested in being an assistant captain.

Whenever they invite him, he will come.

“I think he was not chosen as captain because he missed the game in Tanzania but Oliseh was impressed with his performance in the friendlies against DRC and Cameroon.” Obi Mikel is the most experienced player currently in the Super Eagles fold, having made his debut in 2005, five years before Ahmed Musa made his competitive debut for the national team.

Mikel Continues from BP when Mikel openly rejected the captain’s band after Ahmed Musa made an attempt to pass it on to him when he (Musa) was substituted.

And contrary to speculations in the media that suggested the Chelsea midfielder would not honour future call-ups after he was overlooked for the captain’s armband which was given to Ahmed Musa, Mikel’s

IGERIA league Week 34 matches will now be played on Wednesday, October 21, because of this weekend’s CHAN qualifier involving the homebased Eagles and Burkina Faso.

Officials informed that the league clubs will be missing their top stars who will be in action for the home-based Eagles.

“We have just been informed league matches slated for this weekend will now be played on Wednesday because of the CHAN qualifier against Burkina Faso on Sunday,” a top club official said.

Nigeria welcome Burkina Faso to Port Harcourt on Sunday with the return leg in Ouagadougou a week later.

The overall winners of this match-up will advance to next year ’s CHAN in Rwanda.

52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

Amuneke: We are capable of defending the Cup E

MMANUEL Amuneke (MFR) was an assistant coach the last time Nigeria won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He was promoted as the team’s Head Coach early March 2014 and successfully secured Golden Eaglets’ ticket for the 16th edition of the global cadet completion which Nigeria has won a record four times following the successes recorded in 1985, 1993, 2007 and 2013.

On the eve of the team’s departure from their training camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the World Cup finals, Amuneke sat with media officer, Morakinyo Abodunrin in a special interview where he discussed virtually everything about the Golden Eaglets.

Excerpts...

It has taken you a long road to be here, and the moment of truth is here for you...how do you feel that you will be leading Nigeria to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile?

Amuneke: First and foremost, I want to thank God that has been there every step along the journey since we started in 2014. I consider it a privilege to serve the country in another capacity and we have done so with all sense of responsibility. I was clear in my thoughts about what I needed to do by assembling a team that would be able to secure a ticket through the African qualifiers. It was not easy initially because we had to build the team from one stage to another and eventually we qualified for the African U-17 Nations Cup in Niger and eventually, we also qualified for the World Cup in Chile. But it was not easy along the way; all along, I knew we had to be firm and strong in our decisions because the process at this category is full of many difficulties. So right from the start, we assumed the responsibility of doing things in the right way and to the best of our abilities. We were fair and just in all our decisions leading to this stage and it is our prayer as a team that God will crown all our efforts in Chile. We are set for the World Cup and I would be delighted if the players can put on display all that we have taught them in Chile; and we are optimistic that we are going to have a good tournament.

M

any people were of the view that you struggled to qualify for the World Cup by coming fourth at the African U17 Championship in Niger Republic. Has this in anyway affected your confidence ?

With all modesty, I think we have done reasonably well looking at our circumstances. This process has been long; we started with a lot of players and along the line we were unable to use some of them in Niger Republic because of one reason or the other.

In fact, some of our key players were affected by the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Test two weeks to the tournament

•STRATEGISING...Golden Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amuneke (m) strategising with his boys ahead of their FIFA U-17 World Cup defence in Chile. which was our sole objective going to Niger. People might feel our best was not good enough in Niger but I think the players gave their best though their best was not enough to win the tournament. The World Cup in Chile is here and we are mindful of the fact that we are going to play our first game against the USA on October 17; and we are working very hard. Hopefully, the image we gave at the African championship would be very different from what we are going to see in Chile and I’m positive that we are going to do well in Chile.

This team is not based only on Nwakali and Osimhen; we have other good players hat gives you this kind of W confidence going in the team. forward to Chile? in Niger Republic and we had to just work with the rest of the group to ensure that we qualified for the World Cup in Chile as the defending champions. I think we did our best in Niger bearing in mind that all the four teams that represented Africa at the last World Cup in the UAE were in Niger Republic. We are the only one going to Chile and that to me, is an achievement. Having said that, we have been working hard to correct some of the problems we had in Niger and we are hopeful that the new players we have added to the team would give us what we want; and add more value to what we already have on ground by the time we get to Chile.

So what has changed since Niger 2015 in February and what is the difference between the team you took to Niger Republic and the team you have picked for the World Cup in Chile?

As I said earlier on, we actually lost most of our key players especially due to the MRI Test before going to Niger and that affected our overall performance.

We missed the quality of several players in the attack, midfield and defence but all that is in the past now because we were still able to qualify for the World Cup in Chile,

I have always believed in myself and in my team; I believe in the players that I have and in what I’m doing. I have constantly transmitted the same confidence into them so that they can have the same self–belief in their abilities in order to represent the country very well. We have told the players that it was a rare privilege for them to be picked to represent the country at this level and I’m confident that those that we have picked will do their best in Chile. We have some good players in this team but what is important to me is how to see them play as a team and function effectively; we want to see them perform effectively when they have and they don’t have the ball and if they can be able to do this, our job is half done.

Why the emphasis on team work ?

My belief is that a team must play collectively because we have passed the era whereby you rely only on one player to carry the team. Even those who are sitting on the bench are part of the project and as such, I always want to look at the totality of my team and how each player in different positions would function. Though you must have two or three quality players in a team, essentially, I always want the players to function as a team rather than as

individuals. If we can function effectively, it allows the individual players to bring out the best in them.

D

o you agree with the opinion that Kelechi Nwakali and Victor Osimhen are the best players in your team?

time the tournament kicks off on the 17th, Nigerians would see and identify more talents in the team.

M

ost Nigerians usually compare your team with the 2013 World Cup-winning team of which you were an assistant coach. What is the difference between that team and the present team you are taking to Chile?

Frankly, I don’t always want to go into this kind of argument or comparison because it is difficult to change what people believe particularly for those who lack the wisdom to know that no two teams are the same. Though many people would not give us credit, this team has performed creditably well under very peculiar circumstances that I don’t even want to talk about. But this is a team that has been competing right from the beginning of our campaign in 2014; and any decent follower of the team will appreciate what we have done, though we never had the luxury of long time camping like the last team.

I really want to thank all the players that went through the process with us until we arrived at this final stage...because without them, we would not even be talking about going to the World Cup in Chile.

We were less than three weeks in camp when we went to the WAFU U-17 Tournament with players coming from all kinds of academies where they were not properly trained but I must give credit to them for always rising to the occasion and meeting our own high expectations.

Of course, we are always proud of the kind of players we had the last time but are we going to approach the tournament in Chile with the same philosophy with different set of players? By now, all the other teams must have defined how we

•Coach Amuneke I don’t have to agree or disagree with people’s opinion on such matters but I think this team is not based only on Nwakali and Osimhen; we have other good players in the team....but I don’t always like to talk about individual players; we should not forget that these are players just growing up and we should not put too much pressure on them.

I want all the players to work for each other; play as a team and that is the only way we can get the best out of them. People easily mention Nwakali and Osimhen because they have been with us for a very long time but in the process of building this team, we have seen other good players. I just want all our players to go out there and do their best and by the

play in terms of style and tactics we must design another way of achieving the same goal with a new set of players. Agreed, African players have natural abilities but our emphasis now is to ensure that we function as a unit because the kind of attention we are going to get in Chile would be different from what we got in 2013 in the UAE. I don’t always want to compare teams because no two teams are the same.

Every team has to write its own history.

What kind of history do you want to write with this team?

We want to defend the Cup we won in 2013 with the best of our abilities; but in the process, we want to see the team play very well and for the players to really enjoy themselves in Chile.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015 – 53

Falode hails Falconets

By Anyaegbu MaryJane

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OREMOST Women’s Sportscaster and Chairperson Of Inneh Queens FC Of Benin City, Aisha Falode, has hailed the qualification of the Women’s U20 National team side, the Falconets for the final round of the World Cup. The Falconets it would be recalled defeated Congo DR 2-1awayfromhomeandwon the return leg in Abuja last weekend 2-0, for a 4-1 aggregate win. That has gladdened the heart of Falode, who noted that the lasses have the capacity to go all the way and even win the World Cup. The Falconets were runners-up at the last U-20 championship.

Falode said she was

•CELEBRATION . . . The Falconets of Nigeria celebrate after beating North Korea to reach the final of the last FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada delighted that despite the poor organization and running of the Nigeria Women’s league, the Falconets through share determination and zeal were able to come this far in its bid to qualify for the World Cup. She added that she was

doublysurethattheteamwill overhaul South Africa over two legs to qualify for the World Cup proper and urged the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation to continuetoextenditssupport to the Falconets.

Greensprings Basketball Clinic Holds

By Precious Ubani

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HEGreenspringsschools willbeorganising a basketball clinic for students during the midterm holiday.

The clinic which will be organized in collaboration with the Lagos state Basketball Association will see the students drilled on

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strategic shooting skills, ball handling, passing skills, dribbling skills and game formation/defensiveskillsare features for the clinic., tagged ‘’Basket drills with a star.’’

“We believe sports is dynamic and it is important for students who will become tomorrow’s champions to be acquainted with the

techniques of basketball. We are making it an open clinic for the general public and schools and we hope we can getmorepeopleandtopclass coaches will be present to teach these rudiments,” said Oluseyi Oyebode, sports director of the school.

The clinic has been scheduled for October 27 to 30.

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HE English FA has unveiled the squad numbers of players representing the country at the Fifa Under 17 World Cup which begins in South America on Saturday.

The versatile Fulham defender Tayo Edun will sport the number 12 top throughout the competition in Chile.

Chelsea striker Ike Ugbo, who is one of the stars in the England roster to watch out for, will play with the number 19 kit.

England will tackle

FIFA U17 World Cup: 2 Nigerians in England squad

•Edun

•Ugbo

African side Guinea at the Estadio Municipal Francisco Sánchez

Rumoroso, Coquimbo in their opening game of the tournament.

150 golfers for Total charity golf

By John Egbokhan

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VER 150 golfers will be locked in a web of top golfing action this Saturday as the Total Golf Charity Tournament tees off at 7am at the IBB International Golf & Country Club, Abuja.

This year’s competition will be by Stable Ford format and played over 18 holes, with about 150 golfers set to battle for the prizes on offer.

The tournament aims to

raise money for provision and upgrading of infrastructure in some local charities as part of the company ’s social and corporate responsibility.

All the participating golfers are expected to make voluntary donations as participating fees, with the amount raised to be added to a special fund set aside by Total and presented to some identified charity organizations.

According to the sponsors, funds from this year’s event are to be be

donated for refurbishment of the Zaamar Institute, Abuja, a learning ability centre for children with autism.

“Total E&P Nigeria is proud to continue supporting such initiatives aimed at giving back to society ”, said Nicolas Terraz, Managing Director of Total E&P Nigeria Ltd. Two Charities in Lagos benefitted from proceeds of this initiative in 2013. They are, the Ajofa Special Education Foundation for the Deaf and the St. Kizito Clinic, Idi-Araba.

54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

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U-17 World Cup: Eaglets land Chile with frightening records FIFA U-17 World D Cup Fixtures

EFENDING Champions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria landed in Chile yesterday with FIFA officials hailing Nigeria for their records in the youth World Cup. The Emmanuel Amuneke-tutored recordseekers (Nigeria) have won the U-17 World Cup

October 17 England v Guinea 8pm G/Eaglets v USA 9pm Brazil v Korea Rep 11pm Chile v Croatia 12am

October 18 Belgium v Mali 8pm Australia v Germany 8pm Honduras v Ecuador 11pm Mexico v Argentina 11pm

Continues on Page 51

Top EPL scouts invade Chile for Eaglets

A

ARRIVAL: FIFA U-17 World Cup defending champions, Golden Eaglets arrive Santiago, Chile ahead of their match with the USA on Saturday.

Eagles, Burkina Faso now to play on Saturday

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HE Nigeria Football Federation has announced that the 2016 African Nations Championship final round, first leg qualifier between the Home – based Senior National Team, Super Eagles B,

and the Etalons of Burkina Faso, will now take place on Saturday.

Venue remains the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, with kick –off scheduled for 4pm.

Continues on Page 51

couple of English Premier League clubs have sent their scouts to Chile to run the rule over the top stars in the Golden Eaglets fold.

It has been confirmed that representatives of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool Continues on Page 51

•Mikel

October 20 USA v Croatia 9pm England v Brazil 9pm Chile v G/Eaglets 12am Korea R. v Guinea 12am October 21 Belgium v Honduras 9pm Australia v Mexico 9pm Ecuador v Mali 12am Argentina v Germany12am October 22 N/Zealand v Syria 9pm S/Africa v KoreaDPR 9pm Paraguay v France 12am Russia v Costa Rica 12am

•Osimhen

R-E-V-E-A-L-E-D: Mikel rejected Eagles vice captaincy I T has been revealed that Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel turned down the opportunity to be vice captain of the Super Eagles before the vacant

October 19 N/Zealand v France 9pm S/Africa v Costa Rica 9pm Syria v Paraguay 12am Korea DP.R v Russia 12am

position was handed to Eddy Onazi and Kenneth Omeruo.

This was aptly demonstrated during the friendly against Congo Continues on Page 51

October 23 GuineavBrazil 9pm Korea R v England 9pm USA v Chile 12am Croatia v G/Eaglets12am October 24 Ecuador v Belgium 8pm Mali v Honduras 8pm Germany v Mexico 11pm Argentina v Australia 11pm October 25 Paraguay v N/Zealand8pm France v Syria 8pm C/Rica v Korea DPR 11pm Russia v S/Africa 11pm

QUICK CR OSS WORD CROSS OSSWORD

TODAY'S PUZZLE

FRIDAY'S ANSWERS

ACROSS: 4 Composition (5) 7 Rebound (6) 9 Beret (3) 10 Twitching (3) 12 Gallery (5) 13 Follow (4) 15 Drugged (5) 17 Suit (6) 19 Sea-eagle (4) 20 Transparent (5) 22 Layer (3) 24 Erased (7) 27 Intelligence (3) 28 Deposit (5) 31 Muddle (4) 33 Antenna (6) 35 Tendency (5) 37 Peruse (4) 38 Boat (5) 39 Sailor (3) 41 Knock (3) 42 Maniac (6) 43 Spree (5)

DOWN 1 Reviewer (6) 2 Writer (6) 3 Illuminated (3) 4 Relax (4) 5 Digging tool (5) 6 Decorating (8) 8 Swimming pool (4) 11 Able (9) 14 Guide (4) 16 Skin (4) 18 Gang (4) 21 Purchase (8) 23 Shout (4) 25 Existence (4) 26 Performer (4) 29 Imagined (6) 30 Finale (6) 32 Stock (5) 34 Cheese (4) 36 Genuine (4) 40 Uncooked (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Stir 4, Par 6, Mock 9, Awl 10, Complete 11, Slap 14, Wad 16, Inapt 19, Appeared 21, Revel 23, Disabled 24, Layer 27, Ltd 31, Test 33, Provided 34, Nee 35, Eden 36, Yes 37, Else.

DOWN: 2, Tool 3, Ripe 4, Prepared 5, Reel 6, Mason 7, Owl 8, Clasp 12, Canal 13, Spray 14, War 15, Devil 17, Angle 18, Trade 20, Desirous 22, Lad 25, Amend 26, Eaten 28, Spry 29, Fire 30, Less 32, See.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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