₦airaland Forum

FULL EMPLOYMENT AS A POLICY OF ACHIEVING GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

As earlier observed, unemployment is at an all time high in Nigeria, at national level, stood at 18.6%, this is a recipe for an unending chaos. Full employment through value creating jobs is not just a social policy to help the needy but an economic policy to continuously sustain economic growth for a strong population with disposable income, is a key driver to attract investment into new ventures, industries and infrastructures. Economists such as Lord Maynard Keynes, who was the Chancellor of the Exchequer in England understood clearly the role of creating employment in bailing out a depressed economy in other to stimulate growth. It must be a policy of the New Nigeria Economy to stimulate employment in Agro-Allied industry, ICT, Manufacturing, infrastructure, solid minerals extraction, not just for exports but linked to the needs of local industries.

RESTRUCTURING PUBLIC FINANCE, AND THE FINANCIAL SECTOR FOR A GROWTH LED STRATEGY.

In order to direct available finance in the country for key task of industrialization; the country must prioritize available finance for modernizing the country’s infrastructure.
The trend in which 80% of revenue in the nation’s budget has been disproportionately consistently applied to recurrent expenditure; whilst capital expenditure takes the back seat at 20% must be discounted

To begin with, it must be the goal of public finance to allocate 50% of revenue to capital expenditure.
Secondly, there must be a complete change in the budgeting system from the current envelope system where annual budget are merely a repeat of previous year sectorial allocation with variations, accounting for inflation. Budgeting must become NEEDS-BASED, driven by national economic priority, based on a new plan to build modern infrastructure, make the needed social investment for the country and industrialize Nigeria.

Thirdly, another element of financial reform that Nigeria needs to undertake is to ensure banking and financial sectors make capital available to the real sector of the economy. Whereas, monetary policy formulation is within the competence of the Central Bank which has autonomy over this matters, the necessary coordination between the fiscal and monetary Authorities must be generated to allow the new reform, which must also include bringing down the present unsustainable lending rate to a single digit. At 17.5% - 25% lending rate in the Nigeria financial market, no meaningful industrialization can take place as industrialists and manufacturers from other countries take money for business for as low as 4%. In Malaysia, prevailing lending rate is 4.9%; China is 4.35%; India is 9.45%; South Africa is 10%. Nigeria must move within the single digit band.


REMOVING BOTTLENECKS TO PROMOTE INVESTMENTS IN THE ECONOMY
As previously observed, the high interest rate of return that investment posts in Nigeria plus the size of the market should naturally recommend the country as a perfect investment destination. But the ability to attract massive private sector investments both from Nigerian and foreign investors has been limited by unnecessary hurdles investors face in trying to obtain permits, licenses, approvals etc. Paper works in Nigeria take more time than even the time developer spend in building infrastructure that the nation desperately needs, whilst it was the good intention of the drafters of the constitution and various legislations to provide autonomy to many regulatory agencies to protect them from unnecessary interventions, the autonomy granted have in most cases been turned to protection for administrative incompetence, which has continuously impeded the ability of the country to net needed investments. These particular problems have acquired international notoriety. Whilst some progress has been made through the initiative of the office of the Vice President of Nigeria between 2016 – 2017, the progress made in the ease of doing business needs to be more rapid. At the moment in Nigeria was ranked 145th out of 190 countries in the World Bank ease of doing business report in 2018.

The time has come to dismantle the bottlenecks through a coordinated reform prowess that will be collaborative between both the executive and the legislative. The desired change in the regulatory system of the various sectors of the economy must reduce waiting time on licensing and permits to 90 days and not 2-3 years, as is current practice. It must also make regulatory agencies accountable in the performance of their duties as autonomy now means literally, lack of accountability.

PRIORITIZING INVESTMENT IN ELECTRICITY GENERATION, DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSMISSION
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen; Building an industrialized and modern economy will be impossible without simultaneously directing national energy to rapidly increasing electricity generation, distribution and transmission. The current national electricity generation capacity of about 6,000megawatts is too little a capacity for any meaningful development compared to South African’s generation capacity of more than 40,000megawatts capacity. Nigeria need to aim for over 160,000MW capacity within Ten (10) years to be at per with South Africa per capital generation, and also eliminate current inefficiency in electricity distribution and establish a fair and consumer friendly electricity tariff that will as well be cost recoverable to attract an estimated 200billion Dollar investments from both private and public sectors for the next Ten (10) years.
As enumerated earlier in our paper on “Facilitating Resilient and Sustainable Infrastructural Development”, there must be “Administrative and Regulated” reforms to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks in the power sector, quickly to make the needed investment to flow into the sector.

MAKING SOCIAL INVESTMENTS THE SOUL OF OUR DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
Nigeria as a country has been pulling apart because of rising incidence of poverty, squalor and unemployment. Inequality and the attendant misery have been rising, occasioning massive social instability and insecurity.
An agenda for development cannot just concern itself with expanding GDP and raising infrastructure expenditures alone. But must focus on pin-point targeted expenditure on health, education, the youth population and investment in social services.

The reason why Nigeria is experiencing massive social upheavals is not just because it has low income per capital but due also to the fact that available income is not being applied averagely for the welfare of all. Various African countries with half Nigeria’s income per capital post better development indicators.

As we have observed elsewhere, “The social problems are not going to abate except Nigeria invests immediately in the welfare of the people. According to a recent study by the African Development Information Centre, by 2030, Nigeria’s population will grow to about 210 million; 70 million of this forecast population will be living in North- Eastern Nigeria where there is currently an extremist insurgency; 35 million of which will be under the age of fifteen and would not have received any form of formal education. This is alarming!
We must invest now to bridge the social divide by making primary and secondary education completely free of all cost with feeding and welfare support at primary school levels. This must be a federally financed program worked out with local authorities for effective implementation. Free education must be entirely free indeed without hidden cost such as examination fees and cost of uniforms.
The quality of educational and health institutions must be upgraded through the recruitment of qualified professionals, training and retraining of existing hands making available needed equipment and infrastructure and improving productivity and output through a scientific audit system that ties reward and emoluments to performance.
Nigeria must quickly introduce a comprehensive program of accessible, cost-free and qualitative health service coverage for all Nigerians. Nigeria can afford these programs right now as we are already spending billions of dollars managing the social upheavals that are caused by decades of ignoring the welfare of the people especially the young and the vulnerable”.

CONCLUSION

Ladies and Gentlemen, the task before patriotic Nigeria who have assigned to themselves the role to see a new, modern, economical developed Nigeria with a prosperous population living in peace and security is daunting but achievable!

This great nation Nigeria has seen many national challenges in the past resolved by the determination of her people. Our forbears overcome colonial rule by the share power of their determination, organisation and faith in the future. Our generation paid the price to rescue the established Nigerian Democracy after independence from the jaw of military autocracy. The task at hand is to ensure a prosperous democratic Nigeria for all, where the country resources and talents will be applied for all, regardless of ethnicity and religion.

We can build that new Nigeria together. On my part, you can COUNT ON ME.

God bless GREAT IFE!
GOD BLESS NIGERIA!!.

Thank You.

HEALTH AND LIFE EXPECTANCY
Though we have earlier observed some important improvements in life expectancy in Nigeria from 46.1 years in 1990 – 53.1 years in 2015, the country’s life expectancy record is still depressing compared to Liberia 61 years, Niger 61.8 years, Sudan 64.1 years, and Rwanda 66.1 years and far apart from Cuba’s 79.1 years, Norway’s 81 years and 79.2 years in United States. All these countries have gone through sustained civil wars, some pogroms, some civil wars combined with outbreak of epidermis, but still have better life expectancy figure compared to Nigeria.

EDUCATION
While Nigerians in diaspora remains the most educated set of immigrants in percentage terms compared to their various host communities, at home illiteracy level is still as high as 46%.

HDI Ranking
Based on all indices measured in 2016, Nigerian ranked 152 of 188 countries measured in UNDP 2016 Human Development Index (HDI). It fell below Kenya and some other African countries in the West African Sub-Region.
The data from Federal Bureau of Statistics have been equally as damning on the performance indicators on sustainable development goals in Nigeria just as the UNDP HDI report. As they “say figures do not lie".
In the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’S) baseline report 2016 Published by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) most of the indicators are woeful, particularly as it affects the young and the youths. Current data indicate that Nigeria has never so ignored her young people as much as it's currently doing.
Let us review some few data here: 36% of Nigerian youths are currently unemployed. 20% of youths are currently not in any employment, education or training. They are completely hopeless. For children too, even though not so much is done for them through public policy or family; the adult in the world extract so much from them in terms of forced labour. The FBS study indicates that 47.1% percent of children between ages 5 - 17 are engaged in some form of unpaid labour or the other. It is tragic that our country has become less caring and more vicious in the abuse of her younger population.

WE CAN CHANGE THE NIGERIAN STORY.
Distinguished Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen despite the above negative indicators in human Development Index I remain optimistic about Nigerian development trajectory when we tap and build on the energy, creativity, imagination and the industry of everyday Nigerian which is the most important asset that Nigeria possess beyond her Oil wealth and Natural resources.
As we pointed out at Imperial college London in November 2016 “It is due to the hard work and industry of the ordinary Nigerians the nation’s greatest asset that Nigeria attained a GDP rebased of 510 billion USD in 2013 exceeding that of South Africa to become the biggest African Economy even in the face of her Parlous infrastructure. The fit was a result of the toiling of small scale entrepreneurs who continue to create value without adequate electricity, cottage food processor, without affordable financing, farmers with the scantest of state support artisans, bold and imaginative business men and women, dynamic financial managers, young innovators, creative artist, “hardworking professionals and intellectuals”.
Credible international consulting groups such as Price Water Cooper share in our optimism. According to Price Water and Cooper Nigerian economy will grow to be the 9th largest economy in the world in 2050 based on very dynamic key drivers of the economy that has to do with the strength of Nigerians people, the size of her market and less with excellence in governance. Below are some of the key drivers that offers possibilities for rapid investment and growth of Nigeria.
I. Nigeria has a robust middle class which according to Standard bank reportedly grew 6 folds between 2000-2010
II. Nigeria has a large market of potential consumers of modern goods and services. This consumers have an attractive profile for investors and manufacturers they already have acquired the discipline to pay for consumption through savings and earnings and have low household debt.
III. The infrastructure deficit of the country is both a challenge as well as an opportunity for investment. Out there in the global market according to Oxford economist and PricewaterCooper, there is about 4.78 Trillion USD globally to spend within Ten (10) years looking for infrastructure market to domicile. Nigeria’s hunger for infrastructure investment and with a high record of IRR (above 18%) makes it a natural destination for massive investment if simple bureaucratic hurdles that have continuously impeded investments can be dismantled.
To be added to the above strength of the Nigerian nation is the nation’s resourceful diaspora community these community of scientist, intelligentsia, innovators, professionals, footballers and Entrepreneurs are adding golden pages to the Nigeria rising story. In 2013 foreign remittances picked as much as 21 billion dollars to Nigeria, mostly coming from the Nigeria diaspora. The diaspora community will continue to form a major pillar in the architecture of Nigerian Socio-economic development. Even in the face of many other negative stories all over the world educated Nigerians are doing well and making the nation proud. The Imafidon twins Paula and Peter broke the world record in mathematics by passing the Cambridge exams at age 8, being the youngest ever to do so. Dr Victor Olalusi who scored 5.0 GPA in the faculty of clinical sciences at the Russian national medical university in 2013 is arguably the first in the world to do so. There are numbers of Americans of Nigerian decent such as Emeka Echeruo founder of hopstop.com purchased by apple at a price of 1 billion USD, who are doing the nation proud in the ICT world. Young Nigerians at home and abroad are proving their exceptional brilliance; 24years old Oluwatobi Olasukanmi won the Williams Charleny prize for the best first class law at the University of Cambridge. Nigerian youths are not just strong and energetic they are bright and brilliant and they compete well anywhere in the world.
The crisis of Nigeria underdevelopment as we have highlighted above can only confronted and resolved with a bold agenda and plan aimed at changing the present economy structure of dependence, it must be revolutionary massive and contain the following elements:
i). It must aim within 10 to 15 years to expand the GDP by seven fold in order to be able to provide the needed resources to end poverty and underdevelopment on a sustainable basis.
ii). The New Nigeria Economic Development Plan must aim to encourage Domestic Capital Formation as a source of financing development rather than dependent on revenue from primary products such as oil and solid minerals. Giving present structure of international trade, the more developing countries export primary products, the less value they get. The revenue from exports proceed is usually so little that sometimes, they compete with revenue of just one corporation from advanced countries of Europe and America. Sample for all the fuse about the high oil receipts in 2013 in Nigeria, about US$50 billion, it compares only with the revenue of Disney world, which was US$47billion. Even if no cent was stolen from the oil receipts it will still be inadequate to finance any meaningful development that a country of 180million population requires.
iii). The New Nigeria Economic Development Plan must prioritize investment both from public and private investment in foundation industries that will imbue the Economic with the technical capacity for industrialization and manufacturing. These include immediate priority investment through joint venture financing in iron and steel, machine tools, chemicals, aluminum, glass, plastics and petrochemicals. These industries will help accelerate the process of ‘Domestic Capital Formation’ as they are industries directly connected with the production of Capital goods.
iv). The New Nigeria Economic Plan must sustain Nigeria as an open economy that encourages private entrepreneurship for both foreign and local investments side by side with State investments in projects linked to the production of capital goods and infrastructure.
In order to sustain these essential features of Nigeria economy as an open society, the current relapse to the regime of impunity must be rolled back to the more positive administrative practice that respects the sanctity of contacts, a practice which encouraged Private Sector investment in the economy at the dawn of democracy in 1999 and the succeeding fifteen years after. This is important because, whereas business can handle corruption, business can not cohabit with impunity. Impunity and political blackmail of business hurts economy more than corruption.

iv). The New Nigeria Economic Plan must promote innovation, secured Property and copyright in order to make burgeoning ICT sector witness rapid expansion. Protection of copyright will also promote increase scientific research and its commercialization; it will spur innovation in science and arts.

v). Agriculture must be linked to Manufacturing and Industry. Currently, over 70% of employed hands in Nigeria are engaged in one form of agriculture or the other compared to about 2% of American. But the total productivity of these 70% engaged hands in Nigeria’s agricultural sector is less than that of 2% of Americans.
It must therefore be a central objective of the New Nigeria Agricultural policy not only to increase productivity through State support such as provision of extension services to small holders, finance at low interest rate on individual and cooperative basis; but also to link agricultural sector directly to industry and manufacturing in specifically designated zones and Economic clusters, where Agriculture is integrated with industry. Increase agricultural productivity will have meaning within the economy and that agriculture will cease to be a business just to produce for the stomach but to produce vital raw materials for industries and the manufacturing sector; the most effective way to create employment
vii) The New Nigeria Economic Plan must seek to transform the Nigeria Economy to a manufacturing Economy from agrarian economy and change it from an economy that is based on production of primary products. Currently, according to FBS record, manufacturing accounts for 9.43% of Nigeria GDP while it provides as low as 0.3% of employment. Transferring the economy to a manufacturing will entail a number of policy incentives, such as creating a fiscal environment and collaborative monetary policy that will allow promoters of manufacturing concerns to accessing finance at single digit rate, ensuring available power to reduce manufacturers’ energy costs. Ultimately, Nigeria needs to grow the manufacturing sector in such a way that it will account for 30-40% of her GDP and be a major employer of labour. China is already an example of how an agrarian economy can be transformed into a manufacturing economy. As at 2015, manufacturing accounts for 40% of GDP of China. As at 2005, the manufacturing sector was also responsible for 11% of total employment. In India, the Industrial Sector accounts for robust 25% of GDI.

What is development?

Development has been defined in multifarious ways by scholars of different shades. In the 70s a tribe of scholars of African Sociology and Economics led by the Guyanist scholar of Africa descent Walter Rodney were pre-occupied with this subject matter; they were known as Development and Underdevelopment theorists.
Walter Rodney in his seminar work “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” examined development at the individual level as “increased skills and capacity, greater freedom, creativity, self-discipline, responsibility and material wellbeing”.
Walter Rodney like his later disciples, Samar Amin, Bade Onimode, Nzogola Ntalaja et al, applied their interrogation of the subject-matter of development beyond the individual to society, and the economy and also adopted models of interpretation of history and characterization of different epochs of development. In the Economic realm, Rodney opines that “A society develops economically as its members increase jointly their capacity for dealing with the environment. This capacity for dealing with the environment is dependent on the extent to which they understand the laws of nature (science) and the extent and manner in which work is organised”.
We must however inform that apart from the development theories other Schools of thoughts such as modernist school, also at one point or the other examined these same concept of development and constructed their own modules.
For the purpose of this lecture, we shall stick to a safe zone by looking out for what is now universally acceptable for measuring development. – The tables of indices developed by the United Nations Development Project (UNDP) as indicators to measure development, this is the human development index.
Apart from economic growth the United Nations developed a number of indices through which development can be measured from country to country. According to the UNDP the human development index (HDI) was created to emphasize that people and their capacities should be the ultimate source of accessing the development of a country not just economic growth.
The HDI indices therefore includes GNI per capital, health (Life expectancy), Knowledge, (Education, School enrolment etc.).

HOW DOES NIGERIAN FARE UNDER THE HDI?
GNI per Capital:
Nigerian per capital income as at 2016 was 5,438.9 USD 1/3 of the worlds average per capital income. In comparative terms to Asian countries and other middle-income nations who were perhaps at the same level of development with Nigerian at independence in 1960. Nigerian per capital income is disappointing. Here are a few example. Thailand 17,786 USD Chile 24,584 USD, Turkey 26,453 USD, Iran 20,030 USD and Mauritius 21,628 USD. Any reasonable development plan for Nigerian must therefore hope to increase GNI per capital by 7 folds within the next 10-15years in other to achieve a level considered at per with middle income countries.

AGENDA FOR ALL ROUND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

BEING TEXT OF PAPER DELIVERED

BY

MR GBENGA OLAWEPO-HASHIM

AT

A PUBLIC LECTURE

ORGANIZED BY

THE COLLEGE OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE-IFE

ON

WEDNESDAY 23RD MAY 2018

Introduction
Mr Vice Chancellor, The provost of the college of postgraduate studies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Great Ife! I am highly honoured to speak at this important lecture at this outstanding citadel of learning.
It is a happy homecoming for me 30 years after I spoke at Oduduwa hall as a guest of the OAU Students Union. It was at the height of the advocacy for mass action by Nigerian students who were being galvanized against the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) of the military administration. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and other mass organizations were up in arms against the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) as a development path for the Nigerian Economy and State. Naira was just exchanging for 7 Naira to a Dollar, which we found most unacceptable, little did we know that the Naira will exchange for N360 to a Dollar someday.
Though slight progress has been made since the advent of democracy in Nigeria in between 1999-2015; Nigeria in all intents and purpose still remain a country classified as “Underdeveloped” making the question of an “Agenda for all round National Development” topical and germaine.
With 62% of the population living below 2USD a day, and considered poor, with life expectancy of 51 years, and over 40% illiterate population, bedevilled with a parlous infrastructure such as poor electricity distribution, poor road networks, and dilapidated health infrastructure, the underdevelopment profile was in bad relief.
Though by the sheer nature of superiority of democracy over autocracy, Nigeria made some little gains between 1999-2015. Such gains where almost completely wiped off by 2015 July-2016 when the nation’s economy started contracting leading to her worst economic recession in 25 years -2.4%..
Just for the records, some of the remarkable gains between 1999-2015, were average life expectancy in Nigeria was increased from 46years as at 1990 to 51 years, telephone use increased from 400,000 to 100,000,000 million lines, the economy posted an average annual growth rate of 6% consistently for 15 years leading to the expansion of the GDP to 510 billion USD in 2013. The Nigerian economy thus became the largest economy in Africa over taking the economy of South Africa. However the above gains especially in the economy fronts was so little to match the rate of poverty and underdevelopment of the country, fragile and unsustainable. In 2016 the bubble busted and the economy moved to a negative growth only to be reflated by massive external borrowings. The massive loans taken could only achieve a sluggish growth of 1.5% compared to a huge external debt which quickly grew to about 18 billion dollars in 2 years from a low figure of below 2 billion USD as at May 2015.
We are still waiting for outcome of various studies to show us the impact of what has so far happened to the Nigerian economy and society, since the economic recession of 2016. Current data from the Federal Bureau of statistics are horrifying and the indicators horrendous. FBS statistics reveals that unemployment picked from 6.3% in 2015 to 18.6% by 2017 an increase of 300%. Worst still among the youths, it is a record high of 36% little wonder why there is so much upheavals in the land. Therefore a platform to interrogate the Agenda for all round development of Nigeria, to fashion out a sustainable strategy for growth and development so that the country can live in peace, stability and prosperity cannot be more relevant than now.
Once again, great Ife has proved truly great for creating the platform for this important discuss.

Nigerian Music rules in South America
By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

Suriname, a country is south america bought over 10,000 tickets to watch Nigerian music star, Davido. Who said Nigerian music is not global? Who said our music can't be number one in the world?

For a moment, let us reason together.

Have you ever heard about that country before? Suriname. Honestly speaking, I just did for the very first time last night. Its a dutch speaking South American country with just a little over 500,000 population.

Davido sold out over 10,000 tickets in the unknown south american country and the crowd was so amazing.

Are these the same youths president Buhari called lazy? I doubt if anyone in that country knows Buhari or any politician in Nigeria.

The surprising part of the story was that, despite being a Dutch speaking country, the crowd sang every Davido's song word for word, including the Yoruba words.

I was like, how does these Dutch people speaks English, pigin and Yoruba so effortlessly? This can only happen through music. Indeed, music is a universal language.

PRESS STATEMENT: CALLING ON THE NIGERIA AUTHORITY TO TAKE A DECISIVE ACTION ON THE DEATH THREAT ISSUED BY A POLICE MAN ON A CITIZEN WHO VOW TO WEAR A T-SHIRT CARRYING THE INSCRIPTION - IGP TRANSMISSION.
We are calling on authorities to fish out the Policeman that made an open threat to kill a citizen who vow to wear the T-shirt carrying an inscription of the "IGP Transmission". The Police man name on social media platforms is Ahmed Rasheed which can be seen alongside this post. This is the height of unethical behavior coming from a Uniform personnel who is being paid with taxpayers money to protect and save lives. The Police man appears to be showcasing the level of impunity going on within the institution he is working. We wish to remind Nigerians and the world that the culture of mocking individuals in position of authorities on social media did not start today and will not end today. Our past Presidents and present President plus all the 1st Ladies were mocked on social media in Nigeria and other great countries of the wolrd. Head of Agencies and individual politicians were also mocked and cartooned in various publications on print & online. This culture has become part of those instruments which democracy is being measured with. Developed nations in the world have turned this into industries. There are print media houses, online platforms and television shows anchored by great men and women in countries where democracy has thrived. So, why are we making a mole out of anthill? Why will a Police man who did not care about when all those Presidents and their wives including other politicians were mocked, now come out on social media to issue a death threat to a citizen because the Inspector General of Police is involved? Is this an indirect message to Nigerians that the IGP cannot contain this democratic expression as a leader or what? Is this the best way to handle such matters? We need answers.
On this note, we the Coalition of Civil Society Movements in Nigeria - COCISM NIGERIA and the good people of Nigeria hereby condemned the unethical behavior of the Police man and call on authorities to intervene immediately and ensure that the Police man pays for his action so as to deter any other Police man who share same violent notion. Failure to do the needful, we will not only mobilize Nigerians to take on the streets, we will make these Tshirts and wear it, snap photos to be posted online before coming on the streets to protest against the Police man's threat to kill innocent citizen and the lack of action by the authorities in Nigeria.
We are also calling on the main stream media and other organizations to wade into this matter, we should not always wait for international media or organizations to wake us up on issues that concern Nigerians in our own country.
We hope that the Nigerian authorities and the Police will appreciate our conduct and approach in strengthening our democracy by seeking for peaceful way out of this issue.

Thank you.
In love & peace.

Signed:
Ibrahim Garba Wala
For:
Coalition of Civil Society Movements in Nigeria.
COCISM NIGERIA!

How will that fix the country?

https://mrrightsng..co.ke/2018/04/kwara-must-change-unveil-list-of-offa.html?m=1


Kwara Must Change unveil list of Offa robbery victims, urges govt to immortalize them

Kwara Must Change has compiled at least, 14 names of victims murdered in the deadly armed robbery attack that took place in Offa Community, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State. The names gathered so far include 10 police officers and 4 civilians. However, we shall continue to update the list as we gather more details.

It would be recalled that on 5th April 2018, a deadly armed robbery attack took place in Offa Local government Area of Kwara State, in which several innocent lives were lost.
While several figures were claimed by police and several media houses, Vigilance Group of Nigeria in Offa said vigilantes in the state counted about 50 dead bodies after armed robbers attacked and robbed five banks. It was on this basis that Kwara Must Change has set out to preserve the memory of the victims, through compiling and documenting their names, not only to ascertain the figure, but to also immortalize them. We believe that only by documenting the names of the victims, will their memory be preserved.

Kwara Must Change is aware that the April 5th attack in Offa is the fourth time in 10 years. In the past 3 incidences; there was no record of the victims anywhere, neither did the state government take any measure to improve the security of the community.

We are of the views that, had the Kwara State government properly supported the police and taken adequate measure to prevent future occurrence after previous encounter, probably this latest attack would have been averted. However, this is not a time for blame, but a time for collective solidarity. All Kwarans must come together to contribute their part in other to ensure peace and security in the state.

Finally, Kwara Must Change therefore sympathizes with the family of the victims, the Offa community and the entire Kwara State. We also call on the Kwara State government to lead the way in immortalizing the victims by engraving their names and declaring April 5th as a day to remember them. Government must also support their families to ease their pain and sufferings.

Bellow are the names of the 14 victims collated so far:

1. Mr. Jamiu Adekunle Alawode, a 40 year old banker at Stockcorp Micro-finance Bank in Offa. He left a wife and 4 children. He his from Ijagbo,Oyun local government area of Kwara State.

2. A female policewoman, Inspector Makinde Yemisi Grace, transferred from Osi Police Station in January, was also murdered by the robbers. She is popularly called Aunti Olopa. She is the daughter of a retired police inspector, James Oyeyemi.

3. Asp Pelemo Julius Ayesanmi is another police officer murdered by the robbers. Officer Palemo was due for retirement next month before his tragic murder by the armed robbers. He his from Ondo State.

4. Mrs. Kuburat Salam, sister to a former Secretary, Offa Local Government Area, Mr. Muftau Adeyemo was also murdered.

5. Ismaila Jimoh is another victim. He is a member of the Association of Unity Vigilantes, Offa Unity Headquarters. Ismaila was said to have died while saving other people. He left 2 wives, Tawa and Rukayat with 5 children.

6. Oyinlola Ajogbe Shakirat was another victim. She was born on 17th Nov 1991. Shakirat left a 9year old son, Olayinka Opeyemi Faruk.

Other victims include:

7. Inspector Oke Kayode
8. Inspector Danjuma Yusuf
9. Woman Sgt Babawale Balikisu
10. Sgt Kolawole Mustapha
11. Woman Sgt Abimbola Adedokun
12. Sgt Isha Monday
13. Sgt Doyum Nakimbo
14. Officer Abel, popularly called baba Offa is another victim.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
Kwara Must Change

Sctests:
The kangaroo group headed by a yoruba muslim called Abdulrazaq awarded his ritual-ridden, Islam-infested yoruba region as 'the most peaceful' and expected us to swallow such.

the same organization saved many Igbo from harm, when it exposed the anti igbo song circulating in the north and engaged in extensive advocacy to ensure they are protected. you should be grateful, don't you think so?

http://saharareporters.com/2017/08/05/anti-igbo-song-calling-genocide-now-circulation-northern-nigeria-group

more

Nigeria Peace Index was unveiled yesterday in Abuja, the federal capital of Nigeria by the Foundation for Peace Professionals.

I bring you images from the event.

hum

Here is a message sent out directly from one of the victims

I received a rude shock from the company I have served diligently for 13years yesterday. I, alongside almost 90 other married women were laid off simply because we are married and Dr. Mike Adenuga does not want any married woman in Globacom (Gloworld friendship centre).

I was laid off a company I dedicated my time & energy to, working tirelessly and always dedicated to my job giving my 200%. My family & friends would always say if I had a cut, my blood will be "green". Some of you would wonder what I was doing in Globacom for 13 good years, I will give you an insight of my story.

I joined the company a vibrant 22year old, freshly out of school graduate. I have worked with dedication, total commitment and loyalty. I can conveniently say I rose through the ladder being an outstanding staff and got whatever due given to such persons. Not a single one of the several bosses I have worked with can give negative report about me. I have trained several staff on the job and can proudly say that i was a good leader as I was a follower. So yes, I was not stagnant (considering that the company has no coherent organizational structure) and had every reason to believe that hard work & dedication pays until Globacom said otherwise.

We were replaced with males (some of whom have not earned the positions) single ladies (who have neither earned nor have any knowledge about the job) and newly recruited staff who are by the way poorly paid all in a bid to get rid of us.

How can experience be thrown away because of a so called new structure? How does a marital blessing with the gift of children suddenly become a disabilty to work? I'm not certain there is anyone that wishes for their child, sister, friend or even herself to be unmarried and not have children. This act is a discrimination against gender and human rights to work. We were laid off with absolutely nothing in form of compensation for what they have done! We were used and thrown away with only one month salary in lieu which they promised to pay yesterday but have obviously failed to as usual. It is only in Globacom that such injustice can be done & feel "they" will get away with it. Please we need justice over the matter, kindly forward to as many of your contacts until justice prevails, this cannot be swept under the carpet!

Thank you

https://mrrightsng..com.ng/2018/03/protest-as-globacom-sack-married-women.html

Protest as Globacom laid off married women for no reason
https://mrrightsng..com.ng/2018/03/protest-as-globacom-sack-married-women.html

Married female staff of telecommunication giant, Globacom Nigeria Limited are currently in protesting after the Chairman of the company,Mike Adenuga laid off over 90 of them in total violation of their rights.

A victim and reliable source in the company, who preferred not to be named said the management laid them off because they were married and Mike Adenuga does not want married women in his company anymore.

There is nobody called big man
https://mrrightsng..com.ng/2018/03/there-is-nobody-called-big-man.html

I have never seen your picture with any big man before, even though i know you have met many, a friend ask.

There is nobody called big man, i responded.

He looked at me some how with some level of consternation, probably not sure what i meant by that statement. So i added, big man only exist in our imagination, as programmed in our psychology by those who wants us to feel that way. But it doesn't have to be that way.

Everyone of us, rich, poor, educated, not educated, civilized, not civilized, urban or rural. We are all the same, born equal in rights and dignity, only with slight differences in world outlook, environment and available opportunities.

My friend knew where i was going, but he doesn't want to go there with me, so he re-framed his question and said. If that is how you see it, why have i not seen any of your pictures with people with slightly better position of influence in the society.

This time, i was not sure the answer he was expecting to hear. So i said, i don't really fancy taking pictures, especially with those kind of people that are referred to as celebrities or public figures and even if i do, i don't often keep a copy of such pictures, not to talk of showing it off.

My friend didn't stop. He wanted to get to the root of a puzzle. So he asked again. I know you have been leading many protest against government irresponsibility in this country, but i have never seen a picture of you at a protest ground. Why is that? I don't fancy pictures at such events i responded.

I do not lead protest to take pictures and be showing it off as achievements, i lead protest to cause change. If our protests are yielding result, those are my pictures.

Don't get it wrong, it is not as if i don't take pictures at protest grounds, i just do not do that deliberately to show off, neither do i keep such pictures so passionately. I prefer taking pictures with my comrades in our private affairs.

My friend knew that would be my response, so he offered an advise. Don't be anti social.

Do you agree that my attitude is being anti-social?

Letter to Nigerian Youths
By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

Dear Youths,

How una dey? Don’t tell me you are fine, cos I know you are not. As a typical Nigerian, we all know how the thing be.

My brother, country hard, especially for youths. Abi I lie?

As I woke up this morning and coming unto the social space, all I see across the various platforms are young people, expressing themselves with great zeal and commitment in-spite the various challenges they go through on a daily basis.

Hail naija youths, we are the only reason we smile. Check our records; we are better than our leaders. Don’t think am exaggerating, I will show you some evidence.

Nigerian youths manage the entertainment sector with zero capital. From nothing, we made the secor something to global recognition, bringing in huge income to the nation’s treasury.

But watin our leaders do? They manage the political sector, with trillion of naira as capital. Any result? Recession.

They manage the oil sector and what do we have? Looting

They also manage our education sector and any better result? They produce half baked graduates.

The only thing working in Nigeria today is the youth.

My brothers and sisters, don't be a tool in the hand of the devil, because without you, the devil is liar. Yes, without youth, the devil is useless.

Irrespective of areas of our interest, sport, entertainment, business, politics, education or others, your most important possession is seen in every of your delivery.

The most undeniable possession of a youth is power, strength, passion and efficiency. In anything the youths do, these great qualities are evidently present, to an extent that even your greatest enemies recognize the strength you possess.

I wish this important possession can be better channeled.

For example, take a look at youths promoting one politician or the other. They do it like their lives depended on it. They wake up every morning to promote and defend one politician or the other with great enthusiasm.

While I must confess, that I like your zeal. No doubt, I like your passion. Most importantly, I also like your commitment. Nobody dare dislike such great assets. But here is what I would have loved more. YOU.

I love you more than your possessions.

I would have been greatly happy, if you could show more interest in yourself, than those politicians you promote and defend. I would have been really more excited, if you can promote your business, ideas, talent and skills more passionately.

Here is a secret. If you spend half of the time you use in promoting one politician on promoting yourself, your prospect would have been far better, sure, far brighter.

As you waka commot this morning, start making yourself a priority. You can be better than those you look up to. You can be greater than those you see as great.

Yours homeboy
Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

www.mrrightsng..com

Kwara Group Indict KWHA in conspiracy, demand prosecution of Harmony Holdings Director
https://mrrightsng..com.ng/2018/03/kwara-group-indict-kwha-in-conspiracy.html

Kwara Must Change is bewildered and scandalized to learn of a bizarre resolution at the Kwara State House of Assembly, ordering an indicted and front line suspect in an unprecedented massive looting of Kwara State assets to simply be removed and return just N20million, out of the billions of Kwara State resources stolen and converted to personal use.

The Kwara State House of Assembly on Tuesday ordered the immediate dissolution of the board and management of Harmony Holdings Limited over alleged misappropriation of Kwara Government Assets in Abuja, Kwara, Lagos and Kaduna states. The order was part of the resolutions of the House after adopting the report of its Ad-hoc Committee on Allegations of Misappropriation Relating to Government Assets under the care of Harmony Holdings Limited.

The Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad while reading the resolutions of the house ordered Mr Sanni Adebayo, who is an executive director of Harmony Holdings to refund the sum of N20 million naira market value of a massive land he criminally stole and allocated to himself without any due process. The Land is located at Casement road, GRA in llorin, the state Capital.

The House as part of resolutions also directed the State Ministry of Justice to determine all monies paid into the personal account of Mr Sanni Adebayo and refunded to the State Government coffers within 90 days.

Kwara Must Change is surprised that despite establishing the fact that Mr Sanni Adebayo criminally stole government land and allocated Kwara State asset to himself without due process and also continually received payment of government properties in his personal account for years, all the State House of Assembly could do is to order him to refund N20million.

We condemn this shallow resolution, which in our opinion, is to shield the alleged criminal from prosecution.

Kwara Must Change is forced to ask, does that mean there is no punishment for criminality in Kwara State? Does that also mean any government appointee can simply go ahead to ask the public to pay into their personal account, monies belonging to the Kwara State government without any consequences?

We maintained that it is criminal for Mr Sanni to unlawfully allocate government assets to himself without due process. It is also a high level criminality for him to receive payment of dues, charges and other government services in his personal account. These practices, as already confirmed by the state house of assembly should not be left unpunished with the full weight of the law.

Kwara Must Change therefore call on the Kwara State government to immediately prosecute the Executive Director of Harmony Holdings Limited, for not only stealing government assets, but also for diverting government funds to his personal accounts, through receiving government dues, charges and others in his personal accounts all through his years in charge of the organization. What this man deserve is jail, not sympathy from the Kwara State House of Assembly and any attempt to protect the culprit will be treated as culpability.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
Kwara Must Change

Breaking News: Doctors reject salary increase, urge govt to improve health sector
https://mrrightsng..com.ng/2018/03/breaking-news-doctors-reject-salary.html

More than 500 doctors and residents, as well as over 150 medical students in Canada, have signed a public letter rejecting their own salary increase that was approved by government reports CNBC.

“We, Quebec doctors who believe in a strong public system, oppose the recent salary increases negotiated by our medical federations,” the letter says.

The doctors say they are offended that they would receive raises when nurses and patients are struggling.

“These increases are all the more shocking because our nurses, clerks and other professionals face very difficult working conditions, while our patients live with the lack of access to required services because of the drastic cuts in recent years and the centralization of power in the Ministry of Health,” reads the letter, which was published February 25, 2018.

“The only thing that seems to be immune to the cuts is our remuneration,” the letter says.

Canada has a public health system which provides “universal coverage for medically necessary health care services provided on the basis of need, rather than the ability to pay,” the government’s website says.

The 213 general practitioners, 184 specialists, 149 resident medical doctors and 162 medical students want the money used for their raises to be returned to the system instead.

“We believe that there is a way to redistribute the resources of the Quebec health system to promote the health of the population and meet the needs of patients without pushing workers to the end,” the letter says.

“We, Quebec doctors, are asking that the salary increases granted to physicians be canceled and that the resources of the system be better distributed for the good of the health care workers and to provide health services worthy to the people of Quebec.”

A physician in Canada is paid $260,924 ($339,000 Canadian) for clinical services by the government’s Ministry of Health per year on average, according to a report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information published in September 2017. On average, a family physician is paid $211,717 ($275,000 Canadian) for clinical services and a surgical specialist is paid $354,915 ($461,000 Canadian), according to the same report.

This is total gross pay, however, and does not take into account overhead each doctor pays to operate, as the Canadian Institute for Health Information is careful to point out to CNBC.

In May 2016, one physician publicly broke down the cost of running his family practice, and though he brought in $231,033 ($300,000 Canadian), he was left with $136,906 ($177,876 Canadian) after subtracting his business expenses — but before taxes and employment benefits are taken out.

The cost of medical school in Canada is subsidized by provincial governments, according to The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada.

The cost varies depending on whether a student is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or foreign student and the particular school.

For Canadian citizens or permanent residents, tuition for the first year of medical school ranges from $2567 ($3,334 Canadian) to $20,064 ($26,056 Canadian), according to The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada’s website.

The same group, the Médecins Québécois pour le Régime Public (MQRP), that published the aforementioned public letter, also published a letter on February 17 opposing $500 million worth of pay increases for specialist doctors. The group called the pay increase “indecent.”

And on February 1, the MQRP published a letter denouncing working conditions of nurses. “The nurses are exhausted by a heavy workload. They argue that the chronic lack of staff and the fatigue caused by repeated overtime, sometimes mandatory, for lack of replacement of the team, have an impact on the safety of patient care,” the letter says.

hum

That APC deception is symbolized by Saraki in Kwara

lol

hum

There won't be peace in Palestine, Trump declares
https://mrrightsng..com.ng/2018/03/there-wont-be-peace-in-palestine-trump.html

President of United States of America, Mr. Donald Trump has declared that there won't be peace in Palestine, unless the Palestine return to the table.

Trump made this known on Monday during a joint session with Israeli Prime minister,Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump threatens that there won't be peace if the Palestinians refuse to return to the negotiating table, as the Palestine vow to reject Trumps plan.

Trump said that "no one could get past Jerusalem, we've taken it off the table," adding that he believes the Palestinians intend to return to the negotiating table, "and if they don't, there will be no peace."

Trump told reporters that he intends to build the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem quickly, adding that he may visit for the planned dedication slated for May 2018. "I said we’re not going to spend a billion dollars. We’re actually doing it for about $250,000,” Trump noted.

Why investors are moving out of Nigeria, expert explains
https://mrrightsng..com.ng/2018/03/why-investors-are-moving-out-of-nigeria.html

Experts at the Investors Forum have explained the problem with Nigeria's investment sector.

An expert in the housing sector and the Managing Director of Symphony Garden City, Lagos State, Mr. Bola Adeboye explained that the strict policies of government is one of the factors responsible for low investment in housing sector by foreign investors.

Adeboye lamented that the polices of the government on housing has become unbearable for investors hence the reason they avoid the sector.

Mr Adeboye who spoke at his Investors' Forum on the proposed Symphony Garden Estate at Ogudu, Oworo - Shoki area of Lagos state decried the rate investors move their investment from Nigeria to other countries because of its stiff policies.

He said government needs to deregulate its housing policies in order for both local and foreign investors to invest in it.

He said "Government of some countries has less than 5% interference in housing unlike Nigeria where government influence is over 80%.

" Investing in housing in Nigeria is tasking because they keep bringing different policies. Just like it took us three years to get to where we are and it is only a determined soul that could go that far.

"Government should deregulates, they should give room for professionals on the field.

" It is only when government reduce interference in housing sector that would encourage investors to invest in it",he said.

He appealed to the government to deregulate and reduce their interference in housing, advising them to give room for professionals in the field

This is not just an ordinary waste, till this moment, there is no water in kwara

muykem:
There is a result. Go to UK and see choices properties for yourself then you will know result.

Yet, when he is prosecuted, some people will have the audacity to say it is witch hunting

Kwara Must Change demand explanation on why Ex- Kwara governor, Bukola Saraki and current Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed spent almost N8Billion on water project in 16 years without any result. In 2003, Bukola Saraki awarded a water contract of N2.3Billion and Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed also added another N5billion immediately he took over.

We need an explanation, on why the people of Kwara State have to endlessly continue endure so much hardship, pain and suffering due to government inability to provide basic necessity such as water.

Water is a necessity of life and its provision is a basic responsibility of all responsible government. Experts have told us that many water borne diseases can be prevented with availability of portable water to improve hygiene and healthy living, but unfortunately, the health of all Kwarans have been exposed to preventable diseases as a result of lack of water.

Kwara Must Change observes with sadness that, the 3 senatorial districts of Kwara State namely; Kwara Central, Kwara South and Kwara North are without water. Kwara Central, the senatorial district of Nigeria’s senate President Bukola Saraki doesn’t have water, despite the fact that Saraki is the immediate former Governor of the state who served for 8years. Kwara South, the senatorial district of the incumbent governor, Abdulfatai Ahmed is also without water, inspite the fact that he his already rounding up his 8 years tenure.

Similarly, Kwara North, the senatorial district of Kwara North Senator, Sha’aba Lafiaji is also without water, despite the fact that he his also a former governor of the state whom we heard is currently preparing to run for governor in 2019.
We cannot but wonder how these so called leaders sleep at night, knowing the hardship and suffering they put the people into.

On 7 June 2017, World Health Organization (WHO) was notified of a cholera outbreak in Kwara State, Nigeria. The first cases of acute watery diarrhea were reported during the last week of April 2017 and a sharp increase in the number of cases and deaths has been observed since then. Cholera is water washed disease among other diseases. As of 30 June 2017, a total of 1558 suspected cases of cholera have been reported including 11 deaths (case fatality rate: 0.7%).

Similarly,in August 2017, strange illness reportedly breaks out in Kwara State, which instantly claimed more than 70 lives in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state. The above stated examples are not the only instances of outbreak of diseases in the state which stern from lack of portable water, there are many more and they have continued to re-occur on yearly basis like an annual festival.

It is on this premise that Kwara Must Change is compelled to demand for a comprehensive explanation, on why the state government is yet to provide portable water for the people, after spending almost N8Billion on some water projects by both the administration of ex- governor Bukola Saraki and the present administration of Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed, who have both spent a combined 4 tenure of almost 16 years in the helms of Affairs.

We must warn that, any attempt to provide a superficial explanation without adequate details maybe regretted by the state government, as the consequences may be far reaching and extra ordinary. What we demand is an in-depth, truthful and factual explanation of why such a huge amount of money is expended without any result.

Kwara Must Change is concerned that, despite the availability of two major dams (Asa and Agba) dam in the state capital and several other dams in other parts of the state, the people are still going through unimaginable suffering in their quest to have access to water.

We are aware that the water problem was almost solved about 3 decades ago when Sen. Sha’aba Lafiaji was the governor. However, Sha’aba Lafiagi misappropriated the money meant for water project in the state. This fact wasn’t hidden, as his conduct became the subject of a judicial inquiry headed by Hon. Justice Isa Ayo Salami and Sha’aba Lafiagi was indicted and told to return a significant sum of money to the state.

Notwithstanding the Senator Sha’aba’s looting of water funds, the suffering of the people almost came to an end when Nigeria returned to democratic governance in 1999 and the state governor, Admiral Alabi Lawal embarked on an aggressive water project.

Kwara Must Change is aware that late Governor Lawal began the expansion of Asa Dam and Agba Dam River with the intention of pumping more potable water to the people of the state through properly fixed pipelines. This followed the erection o‎f bigger reservoirs across Kwara Central senatorial districts in order to ensure water is pumped from both dams gets to the erected reservoirs in earnest so as to allow the residents of the state get potable water in the state capital and similar project to be later extended to other parts of the state. However, we regret to observe that until this day, Governor Lawal’s massive water project, which is more than 90% completed, is completely abandoned without any reasonable explanation.

Surprisingly, Bukola Saraki who took over from governor Lawal awarded another water contract worth N2.3 Billion immediately he assumed office in 2003, giving an impression that he was working on his own water project for the people. However, after spending 8 years in office, nothing was done and the N2.3 Billion is yet to be accounted for.

We note also that, the Abdulfatai Ahmed led administration, who came in under the platform of legacy continues have also not done anything better in this regard. Governor Ahmed also committed another N5 billion to the so called water project, yet there is still nothing to show for it. The administration is already winding up and the people’s quest for water is yet to be quenched.

From Ilorin to Offa, Share to Moro, Patigi to Edu and other local government areas of Kwara State, the thirst of water remain the greatest challenge and Kwara Must Change is propelled to demand for proper explanation on the huge financial commitment without any corresponding value.

Kwara Must Change therefore demand for proper explanation on why almost N8Billion was committed into water project within the last 16 years without any result.

Specifically, the people want to know why the 90% completed water project of late governor Lawal was not completed. We also want to know, why 16years leadership of Bukola Saraki and Abdulfatai Ahmed has not yielded any positive result in terms of provision of water. This explanation is very important because almost N8Billion belonging to the people of Kwara was expended on the imaginary water project.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
Kwara Must Change