₦airaland Forum

johnkay1:
That's the spirit
I see a stable government devoid of drama.
With all those dramas of Saraki and Dino for Four years nothing was achieved. So, let's see how this one will be.

In other words, we await a Rubber-Stamp legislature...
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lexy2014:
What is d "lot of care" that goes into "maintaining" organic trees compared 2 artificial trees?

Artificial trees, once properly installed, is pretty much set...
Natural trees, on the other hand, have to be REPEATEDLY watered, “fed”, pruned, checked for bugs/disease, etc.
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Rossikk:
ERM...The US, Russian, and Chinese PRESIDENTS meet regularly with, and "fete" Kim Jong Un. You gonna criticise them too?

They don’t meet to celebrate Democracy...

Meanwhile, I have nothing against relations with North (and South) Korea, but it has NO business being associated with democracy.
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Bros, there are easier ways to meet women...

CONGRATS and happy married life.
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AMEN!

Desmond, don’t you have a zinc latrine to commission somewhere?
Neglecting the job your constituents elected you to do in Lagos to go do Dobale in Abuja.
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North Korea being feted at a day supposedly honoring democracy in Nigeria tells you all you need to know about Nigeria...
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She made a symbolic statement for the rest of us...
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Nathdoug201:
Someone said the assault on that dude is the only hit peruzzi have in the industry
And he still featured a bouncer

5 years later and counting...
Dude will be wondering why he did not just accept an apology and a beer or transport money.
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Houseofglam7:
Artificial trees
What would it take to plant real ones

Vic74real:
Why put artificial trees when u can plant natural and beautiful trees.That clown...

lexy2014:
But d whole idea of "planting" artificial trees leaves me stunned. Y would anyone do that in d first place? Y not plant organic trees which not only beautify d city but also add value 2d environment

captianfreeman:
Natural tree no dey grow for that side?

Natural trees would be a disaster and waste if you guys cannot maintain artificial trees that are relatively easy to maintain...
People seem to have this misguided notion that you just stick natural trees onto the sidewalk and let it flourish. It requires a LOT of care.
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The judicialization of our politics...
And the politicization of our judiciary. SMH
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kirkwood:
Waow! First to comment. Not that I care about the news above me.

Apparently nobody else did either, before you...
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DISGUSTING!
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allsaint2000:
I see your point. However, this definition I googled seems to oppose your point that a tax-holiday is a TOTAL exception from tax.

It is usually a TOTAL tax exception for the period of the holiday, not forever...
For instance, the GSM companies enjoyed a 10-year tax holiday and are now paying taxes after the 10-year period.

The distinction with a tax credit is that you are only getting an offset up to the value of the (in this case) project cost...
Accordingly, if during (not after) the period of the credit, your tax liability exceeds the value of the project, you pay the excess liability.
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AgentOfAllah:
That said, none of this addresses the questions in my original post. Again, they are:

1) What is a "real democracy"? Give examples of such.

2) What is the link between good government administration and "real democracy"?

1) It is NOT the UAE, because it is NOT any sort of democracy at all...

2) Largely spurious question because “good government” is NOT a universal principle. What may be “good government administration” to some people (eg, the ability to vote and to have or say in their own governance) might not necessarily be the same to others. Nonetheless, if you are merely going to “expose” folks to so-called “good government administration” be specific rather than deceptive. After all, there are many people who could rationally argue that a system whereby one person can simply snap their finger and deprive you of your property rights or even your liberty could not be rationally described as “good government administration” despite a higher material standard of living.

Anyway, do not intend to further belabor the point, but it has become glaringly obvious that neither you nor the author of the letter quite grasp the basic nous of democracy. The essence is NOT about outcomes and/or results, but rather about PROCESS.
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AgentOfAllah:
Okay, I've read the letter and I do not see where it was "stated" that it "was to learn from an "advanced democracy"". That is a concocted interpretation you have imposed on the letter. In fact, UAE might not be an advanced democracy, or a democracy at all, but may still practice government administration as is being practiced "in advanced democracies worldwide". Likewise, despite its lack of democracy, UAE might be host to some sort of institute that prepares administrators for governance similar to what is practiced in advanced democracies. As you see, there are other ways to interpret that letter which don't require one to assume that the UAE is a democracy at all.

Now, I do not claim that these other ways of interpretation capture the intent of the author. The fact is that since I have not spoken with the author of the letter, I don't know what they meant by that statement. Neither do you, I assume. There is simply not enough information to make one come to the conclusion that you have come to.

That said, none of this addresses the questions in my original post. Again, they are:

1) What is a "real democracy"? Give examples of such.

2) What is the link between good government administration and "real democracy"?

Why would you go to an absolute monarchy to be “exposed” (since you seem to preferring chasing the shadow of nomenclature over substance) to the “practices” of “advanced democracies”. Perhaps, the letter writer (and presumably you as well) do not know that many “practices” of local governments in “advanced democracies” are subjected to PUBLIC debate and vote. Dude, you cannot put up a street sign or change the days of garbage collections (for example) in most “advanced democracies” without an open local council hearing and vote.

Taking folks to the UAE to supposedly “expose” them to the practices of “advanced democracies”...
Is akin to taking someone to a basketball game to “expose” him/her to the practices of table-tennis (ping pong).
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ZombieTERROR:
I'm really happy they dropped iheanacho...

But the omission of Tyrion Ebuehi is what I don't understand... Is he injured?..
He's far more better than Shehu

Tyrone was injured in preseason...
Missed the entire 2018/19 season, and is just getting back on track.

Is there anything in Nigeria that does not have an "Association"?

ceasare:
Right now the contractors are not on d agbara send route.b4 d elections they were active immediately after elections they left site.i ply badagry route almost every fortnight....d alakija-agbara axis as of today June 11th 2019 is a nightmare.

That's unfortunate...
I hope they come back soon.

The difficulty of building modern infrastructure...
For a population with segments still stuck in the Middle Ages.

But we shall PERSEVERE nonetheless...Eko Oni Baje!
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Owambe Governors!

We are NOT serious in this country...
One holiday to enable Governor to go jollificate in Abuja, and another day of jollification in Ilorin! SMH
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AgentOfAllah:
Did you read my questions? That UAE is not a democracy is a foregone conclusion. I am less concerned about what the UAE is or isn't, as I am about the presumed inherent properties of a "real democracy" that makes it a more qualitative alternative for learning government administration.

[b]To simplify my quest for clarification for you, I am trying to understand why the commenter believes that it is better to learn government administration from a "real democracy" [/b]as opposed to a Monarchy. But first, it is necessary for us to understand what the commenter means by "real democracy", following which we can then examine these so-called examples of real democracies for internal contradictions. If all checks out, we can then discuss what exclusive properties of real democracies make them the best examples of good government administration.

Do not assume that I favour one system over the other. My ignorance allows me no such privilege. Therefore, I'm open to being convinced one way or the other.

Because the letter approving and authorizing the trip stated that it was to learn from an "advanced democracy" (see letter below)...

www.nairaland.com/attachments/9591483_fbimg1560113337178_jpeg8ddf3ac34456fcf55af8e075b8f4efc3
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HisMajesty1:
If Lagos-Badagry road is not of topmost priority to him then I don't know which other road in Lagos would.

ceasare:
The FG is joking if Lagos badagry is no fear to their heart!!! It's a shame that from some to Lome to Accra to Abidjan u will never see d eyesore of a road u will see from some to Lagos.yet u keep Wondering if truly their is a govt in Nigeria both local n federal....that road is living hell no country has such.shame on bihari ambidextrous,fashola,tinubu and all ministers of Lagos descent their are all complete dissident

The federal government approved a contract of over N63 billion in October last year (2018) for the reconstruction/expansion of the Badagry Expressway, specifically the 46 kilometres stretch of the road from Agbara-Badagry-Seme Border. Of course, the reconstruction of the section from Eric Moore to Okokomaiko is already being carried out by the Lagos State Government. In February, the project contractors GCC Nigeria mobilized to site. The Agbara to Badagry section will be expanded, while Badagry to Seme border will only be reconstructed.
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https://www.thecable.ng/dangote-get-3-year-tax-relief-apapa-oworonshoki-road

“We hope to get back our money after three years by removing the sum from the tax we are supposed to pay.”

He explained that the company proposed to the government to take out 50% of the total cost of the road from its proposed tax in the first year after completion and 25% in each of the next two years.

“The government came forward and said, good enough your company is repairing a road that is very important to all Nigerians… is it possible to help us do proper road construction of 35 kilometers from Apapa to Oworonshoki?

“We advised the government to go for a competitive bidding and also that we will take it up at a cost that will be lower than the lowest bid received by the government.

“Since the government may not be handy with cash, we proposed that we will recover our money over three years in installments against our future tax.

“The reality is the government will not pay us for the construction, but we will only offset our costs against our three years tax.”

All of the highlighted are evidence/characteristics of a tax CREDIT....
Which is not surprising since Executive Order No. 07 only provides for tax credit.
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allsaint2000:
You are right. It is 3 years, not 10. But I thing you were wrong, it is not a tax credit. but a tax-holiday.

https://www.thecable.ng/dangote-get-3-year-tax-relief-apapa-oworonshoki-road

The article seems merely a case of POOR reporting...
The colloquial language employed is in direct CONTRAST to the substance.

Starting from your last underlined paragraph, and going on for the next 6 paragraphs...
Every uttered sentence indicates a CREDIT against tax liability (hence a tax credit), rather than a holiday.

A tax holiday means there will be no tax liability accrued at all...
While a tax credit means that tax liability will accrue but will be OFFSET against the value of the project.
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Without prejudice to this dude...

Abegi, let it NOT be just about being young but about being BETTER...
Because if we get BAD young people in office, they will stick around for a LONG LONG time!

CONGRATS!

CONGRATS!

But I am praying that law was a second profession/life for this dude...
Because a 33-year-old law students does not exactly jump out as bright!

But then again, it took the last Sports Minister 10 years to get his law degree.

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Why is virtually every official event in Nigeria decorated like a GHETTO PROM?
These are supposed to be somber and serious-minded occasions - but you know there was likely a HUGE decoration budget/contract!

www.nairaland.com/attachments/9596440_img20190610wa0003_jpegc182c0b8d3f86ccb11caa504db74cf53
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AutoJoshNG:
Due to ageing, the expressway (especially the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway axis) had virtually collapsed from the damaging effects of heavy axle load vehicles carrying goods to and from the ports.

On Wednesday 31, July 2018, the Federal Government approved a contract for the complete reconstruction of this expressway.

The project will span the roads from Creek Road, Liverpool Road, Marine Beach all the way to Mile 2, Oshodi, Oworonshoki, to the Lagos end of the Toll Gate on the Ibadan Expressway.

The reconstruction contract was awarded to Dangote Group. The contract was signed on September 12, 2017.

In exchange, the Federal Government will grant Dangote Group a ten-year tax holiday.

The amount approved for the construction project is N72.9billion.

The reconstruction work is being carried out by Hitech Construction Company.

Please stop repeating the highlighted misinformation...
It's NOT a tax holiday, but a tax CREDIT (offset against audited tax liability) over 3 years (not 10 years).

For clarification sake, this contract is a PPP under Executive Order No. 07 of 2019 which provides that private infrastructure providers shall be able to offset actual audited tax liabilities accrued over any 3-year period within the 10-year lifespan of the Executive Order (which expires in 2029) by taking a credit against such tax liabilities, up to the contract amount involved in each of the covered projects

There are presently 6 companies availing themselves of the tax credit provided under Executive Order No. 7. (in addition to the Dangote Group, the others are Lafarge Africa Plc, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Nigeria LNG Limited, and China Road and Bridge Corporation Nigeria Ltd.) by financing the construction of 19 federal road projects in 11 states across each of the six geopolitical zones.
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Without prejudice to this particular case...
In Nigeria, it is sometimes difficult to tell where Yahoo ends and Producer begins.
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AgentOfAllah:
Two questions arise from your objection, so I ask them to allow you the opportunity to expand on the validity of your alternative:

1) Define "real democracy", then tell us where it is practiced.

2) Describe the necessary link, if any, between government administration and true democracy.

Thank you

The UAE is NOT a democracy at all (“real” or otherwise)...
Democratic government is premised on the ELECTION of leaders. The UAE is a MONARCHY!
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