₦airaland Forum

Beaf: [size=14pt]Omoigui-Okauru: One good story out of Nigeria[/size]
With Dan Onwukwe ( 08023022170 dan_onwukwe@yahoo.com )
Wednesday April 18 , 2012

In journalism, bad news, oftentimes, is the best news of all. When floods ravage communities and bombs explode, killing hundreds; when a man in the street who, ordinarily, should have no place in newspapers, throws his wife off the balcony of a three-storey building; or, as taught in journalism schools, when a man bites a dog, it is a big story.

The “badder” the news, it would appear, the bigger the story. And the better it sells. Ask both editors and newspaper readers. They will tell you that news of multi-billion naira pension fund scams and the sleazy details of the fraudulent, fuel subsidy scheme make more interesting writing and reading than that of President Goodluck Jonathan launching one boring scheme or the other in Abuja.

But, for many Nigerians who have been inundated into “unshockability” by a deluge of bad news in recent times, bad news hardly stand out, these days. Stories of corruption, rape, bombing, kidnapping and armed robbery are fast becoming the norm, and not the exception. They have become trite. Regular fare. Routine. One would be almost surprised to open a newspaper any day and not read about a case of corruption, murder, rape or robbery.

That is why the bombing on Easter Sunday was almost predictable. It would have been odd, somewhat, for Boko Haram not to unleash terror on Nigerians on that significant day.
However, from the overflowing basket of unsavory stories from Nigeria, in recent times, one good one stands out. It is that of the former chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui- Okauru, who bowed out of service last week.

The inspiring story of this notable Nigerian woman is that of a heroine who served the nation meritoriously for eight years as head of the national tax agency, and increased tax revenue to the federal government from N1.2 trillion in 2004 to N4.6 trillion in 2012, without the slightest whiff of corruption trailing her. In today’s Nigeria, that is the public administration equivalent of climbing Mount Everest!
Newspaper reports on this remarkable First Class Accountancy Graduate of University of Lagos underscore her integrity and uncommon vision for tax administration in Nigeria. For example, there had been controversy on when her tenure was due to expire prior to her disengagement from FIRS last week. She was appointed into office for a four-year by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on May 3, 2004. Three years later, in 2007, an Act establishing the FIRS came into effect. The Act stipulated a limit of two terms for the chief executive of the agency. When her four-year term in office expired in 2008, the late president, Umaru Yar’Adua, reappointed her for another term.

Since, then there has been controversy on whether the period she was in office before the FIRS Act of 2007 amounted to a term or not. There were, indeed, unconfirmed rumours that she was trying to get another term based on this confusion.
But, last week, she laid the controversy to rest when she stepped down honorably. She reportedly told some journalists in unequivocal terms: “I’ve done two terms. I came in on May 3, 2004. The first term started before the FIRS Act and it’s now two terms. Whether it’s before or after (the FIRS Act) does not change the fact that I was in a term of office, (between 2004 and 2008) and this (2008 – 2012) is another term of office. So I have done two terms.

“And you know life is such that when you are used to something, you think it would never end, but it would always end. So please, there is nothing like running away. My term has ended and it’s time to say thank you and goodbye.”
What a gracious and exemplary way to bow out of office!

Reports that have trailed Omoigui-Okauru’s exit from the FIRS top seat after two terms in office point her out as an Amazon that is worthy of both celebration and engagement in other critical areas of our national life to which her experience these past eight years is best suited.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service was not in a good enough shape to increase tax revenue generation at the time of Omoigui-Okauru’s appointment in 2004. Some reports indicate that the service was in disarray, and generating much lower revenue than it was capable of. Indications were that, as with virtually every sector of our national life, there was corruption. There were reports of non-remittance of tax collected, widespread tax evasion by individuals, private and public organisations and fraudulent revenue leakages.

There was so much impunity as much of the taxes collected ended in private pockets. Most highly placed persons, including the president, did not pay taxes, as they should. Nigeria was an Eldora do for both big and small time tax evaders. Omoigui-Okauru did much to change the situation. Coming to the job with many years of experience with the notable accounting firm, Akintola Williams and Co. and Arthur Anderson, she chanced upon FIRS with the same missionary zeal that Mrs. Dora Akunyili changed the face of the National Agency for Drug and Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala negotiated Nigeria’s exit from the Club of creditors during her first coming as Finance Minister.

In the eight years that she held sway at FIRS, she superintended the institution of a new tax system and a harmonised tax reform agenda, which significantly improved tax returns. The tax agency, under her watch, launched a new National Tax Policy, which is expected to help deliver the government’s transformation agenda for taxation. The policy has been praised in several quarters by those who say it will help maximize revenue generation by all tiers of government, and improve fiscal responsibility.

It has also been said that it will help ensure income re-distribution by reducing tax payable by low and medium income earners. A Personal Income Tax Amendment Act was passed in 2011. It requires the president, vice president and state governors to pay tax on both official and non-official income. A new special tax regime is being formulated for those in the informal sector of the economy. The Act also proffers a solution to the problem of multiple taxation, over which businesses have been complaining in recent years. She also initiated the ongoing review of all tax laws in Nigeria.
Under the watch of this golden tax lady, many organisations were convicted for tax fraud and evasion. She also did a lot to improve the pay structure and working conditions of FIRS personnel.
All Nigerians will soon have Tax Identification Numbers (TIN). Omoigui-Okauru also initiated establishment of tax appeal tribunals at which all disputes on tax matters can be adjudicated. She also emplaced strategies for continuing good performance of the agency, including the 2012 – 2015 medium term projection.

In spite of these achievements, the lady, who also has a Master of Science degree in Management Science from Imperial College, University of London, has remained her humble, self-effacing self.
In response to praises for her achievement, she was quick to say all she had done in the last eight years was to build a foundation for tax administration in the country. She told journalists: “we have not even started putting anything on that foundation. It looks like we have achieved a lot but there is still so much more that still needs to be done.” This humility, coming from one who did so much to raise revenue from taxation from N1.2 trillion to N4.6 trillion in eight years, is touching. This is more so when we compare her with some former political office holders who devoted their entire tenure to looting the treasury, yet came out boasting of non-existing achievements. Her successor will need to put in his best to improve on her performance and continue to make FIRS a notable revenue earner for the government.

Omoigui-Okauru is, indeed, an outstanding Nigerian woman. She deserves all the accolades coming her way. There is no arguing the fact that Nigeria is in dire need of people like her. I believe she can replicate the FIRS transformation success story in other sectors of the economy, so
President Goodluck Jonathan will do well to charge her with greater responsibility. This, certainly, is one woman who can help with the transformation agenda of this government.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/opinion/2012/apr/18/opinion-18-04-2012-001.html

True talk! She is such a distinguished Nigerian who had worked with COURAGE UNDER FIRE to transform a nearly moribund Service in to a world class institution. eventhough, sadly for her, in this part of the world, Heroes don't make it on the front pages but Boko haram and Corrupt politicians. I deeply admire this woman and hope posterity would remember her.

bilms: REPOST-DIFFICULTY IN TACKLING THE ALMAJIRI SYNDROME: A SUMMARY OF FINDINGS BY MEMBERS OF THE ALMAJIRI TSANGAYA FOUNDATION BY HABU KALE YAJIWA, SANI MUHAMMAD GUSAU, AHMED DE DON, MIKAIL IBN JUMMA ATOLAGBE AND FIRYAL BASHIR

Over the years, much has been said and proposed on how to tackle the social ills that crept into the almajiri system practiced in the Muslim dominated parts of northern Nigeria. An assignment was thus carries out by some member of ATF to seek out the reasons why the system has continued defy all proposed and implemented measures despite coercive, persuasive and financial inducement. The findings showed that the almajiri has been held hostage by the circumstances of poverty, cultural and socio economic environment and the insurmountable difficulty in salvaging him lies in the fact that these factors have not been tackled from the root. Below is a summary of this findings.

FIRST ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM: SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS, CULTURAL AND TRADIO RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

ENDEMIC POVERTY
The prevalence of begging in Northern Nigeria in whatever form is indisputably prompted by chronic and excruciating poverty which is worsened by population explosion that is in a stiff competition for limited and dwindling economic resources. Regrettably enough, northern Nigeria has the highest poverty rate in the country which is almost endemic in the rural areas. This predicament pushes both children and adults into the cities in search for survival and the almajiri got carried along. He thus voluntarily or involuntarily transforms from a noble student of learning into a vagabond street beggar.
ABUSE OF POLYGAMY
The pervasive abuse of polygamy that abound in the north, were women are married and remarried as often as they were divorced and re-divorced due to lackadaisical attitude towards the religion has warranted many to bear children more than they can cater for . These parents see the system as an outlet or drainage of excess or troublesome children at home. They delegate the responsibility to a third party at no cost at all under the pretext of memorizing the Quran. One allaramma told habu kale “Some of the children are brought as a result of being out of control or being a burden”. This also brings a sense of economic relief to the parents as they turn a blind eye on the right of the child regarding food, clothing, shelter, guidance and proper upbringing. This make the children ill equipped towards facing the economic and moral challenges of the future.

LEGITIMIZING BEGGING
Like some forbidden things in Islam, begging is reluctantly allowed in some few, extreme and exceptional cases. But lackadaisical attitude towards the religion made many to legitimize such exceptional allowances in order to justify unnecessary/professional begging and self-imposed destitution for their conveniences. Begging also became sustained by the belief of the downtrodden poor that it is the only source of survival despite the debasement that accompanies the sordid practice. Therefore the almajiri and non almajiri, Young and old, able and disabled took to the streets, on a permanent basis, legitimizing begging on socio-economic and religious basis via the cult of Almajiranci in Northern Nigeria.

DOGMATIC BELIEFS
Despite the fact that the knowledge is right at our doorstep and scholars now abound everywhere so that no one had to send his/her child far to learn, some continue to send this children out of the belief that Almajiranci is not only Islamic but a religious obligation that had to be endured maintained and propagated by every male member of the family. Mohammad sdq pointed out that, there is a wrong notion that dedication to memorize the Qur’an necessarily entails going through severe hardships, destitution, prolonged and exhaustive stress, Such notion is what motivates even some affluent parents to voluntarily expose their kids to such “hell” on assumption that only going through it can lead to the sound memorization of the Qur’anic. It is therefore not uncommon to see an Almajiri from well off homes whose fathers are wealthy traders or commercial truck drivers, yet abandon at a barely weaned age to the streets. Those who conform to such belief continue to resist and undermine every effort to reform the system. Mallam Sule Bala, who was once an almajiri from Kano State, but now settled in Kaduna with his family, said in pidgin English: “walahi” no government in north go stop almajiri because the people no go agree as the thing done be part of their culture. Even if any government try it, people no go let the policy work.”

OPPOSITION TO WESTERN EDUCATION
There is the age-long cultural belief that the western education is contradictory to whole essence of Islamic belief. This is ingrained in the belief that the western education called Boko is of Christian-European origin and therefore anti-Islamic. Some nurture the fear that a child with western belief will eventually lose his Islamic identity and embrace vices that negates the values and principles of Islam such as alcoholism, fornication, semi naked dressing, partying, abandoning the prayer, fasting, zakka etc. This has made it difficult to reform and integrate the system into the mainstream educational system.

SECOND ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM: OPPOSITION FROM ALLARAMAS
Another factor at the core of the almajiri syndrome is the Alarammomi also known as the Baba gonis. These are the custodian of the institution who act as surrogate parents to the wards under their care with or without upkeep allowance. Sister firyal suggest that tacking the issue will need them fully involve as she said “ I think without them we will not succeed because most of this kids are loyal to the mallams, willimg or unwilling. Mohamm q in his article “ Why tackling the almajiri is tricky” said “for some die-hard Alarammomi, such obvious government failure confirms the validity of almajirci, which they believe is being supported by Allah the Almighty against its detractors, who would always fail in their endeavors yet fail to realize the reason for their persistent failure. This notion has always been a source of pride and inspiration for such Alarammomi, which also explains how they often regard any initiative to check almajirci as an exercise in futility, for (according to them) it seeks to challenge Allah’s wish. But below are possible reasons why they have such notion.

PERCIEVED PREJUDICE FOR THE SYSTEM
Attempt by northern elite to reform the system is perceived as insincere and prompted only by incessant insults and ridicule the region’s elite are subjected to by the southern press who finds the almajiri phenomenon as a handy weapon. The language with which some chose to discredit this surviving indigenous institution is laced with contempt, disdain and even disgust which is often found offensive to the innocent alarammas and perceived as prejudice to the system. Although exceptions abound, labeling the system as a breeding ground for social miscreants, theft, thuggery and terrorism creates more alienation. Also painting a gory picture of every alaramma as the wicked man with a whip, who separate children from their parents and send them out begging simply for his economic interests creates more antagonism especially among those who deem it a religious obligation to uphold the ssytem.

PERCEIVED THREAT OF ERADICATION
The alarammas also suffers from the refusal of the society the system which they hold dear. An unconscious refusal to accept the origin of the system as a well structured and intellectual traditional system of learning that can impact greatly and positively in the society has not allowed many to realize the value and status of the system in the lives of its adherent. There has been failure to realize that Islamic knowledge remains central to the almajiri's existence from which he will not be divorced and for many, the system remains the best way of acquiring knowledge in a traditional setting. Therefore integrating the quranic school into the UBE with a bias toward western education has been perceived as a threat to eradicate the system and its original goal of religious learning. This is echoed in the grievances of one Allarama who said to one of our members Habu kale “you may be an NGO now, but at the end of the day, you will end up joining hands with the government and start introducing some new things” another one said “Just because of the monthly #3000 they give us they want to adulterate our ancient long tradition

OPPOSITION TO LAWS AND BILLS
The almajiri bill sponsored by some northern members gave a glimmer of hope but it contents which seeks to punish any proprietor of an unregistered Tsangaya school with two years jail term has been opposed by those who believe they are observing a religious injunction. Other controversy surrounding this bill is the Child`s Rights Act 2003 by the National Assembly which allow a child to seek redress in the courts against his parents should he feel his rights have been trampled upon. Other contentious sections are giving equal rights to children born in and outside wedlock and prohibition of child betrothal and teenage marriage. The argument is that the contents contradict Islamic values and is a deliberate attempt to bring western values

EXPLOITATION BY SOME ALLARAMA
Not far from the truth is the exceptional case of some unscrupulous allaramas who view reforms as a move of scrapping their means of survival. They are those who use the system as a means of living rather than a way of life itself. They exploit these pupils by instigating them to beg and imposing on them a some form of mid week tax called the kudin sati. Some also use these boys for manual labors in farms. Some use these boys to perpetrate perverted and selfish political agendas after a good pay off by politicians. Some train the boys as charlatan sorcerers who rip off gullible individual by demanding fees for saukan karatu (quranic recitaion), kariya (protection), bugun kasa (predicting the future), animal sacrifices, amulets, prayer chants, etc

THIRD ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROLEM: PROBLEM OF AUTHORITIES
CORRUPTION AND LACK OF POLITICAL WILL
The monstrous problem of corruption and paucity of political will in Northern Nigeria as in other parts of the country has worsened matters. The political leadership in Northern Nigeria is absorbed in self indulgence to the neglect of the ignorant poor populace. Effort (though feeble) made by some few governors in improving the social infrastructures and improving the status quo of the almajiri has yielded very little result because of fund embezzlement, lack of transparency and accountability and poor political willThis worsens the living standard of the populace and in turn produced all manner of societal ills inimical to stability in Nigeria including begging, communal conflicts, unemployment, armed robbery, etc

UNPRAGMATIC REFORMS
Certain state reform implemented with good intention has instead further fuel the problem. For instance the “feed the almajiri initiative” ended up attracting more almajirai, (some from neighboring states), into the city instead of convincing them to stay and learn at home. Also some say the state government was initially giving monthly allowance and food items to the mallams to feed themselves and the children, but government stopped it when it learnt that the mallams were diverting or appropriating the money. Galadanci, however, denies the claim, saying that the programme was stopped because the burden of financial commitment was much on the state government as “it was a big challenge feeding 26,000 Sangaya schools and maintaining 3,000 conventional schools.”

FOURTH ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROPBLEM: COLLECTIVE IRRESPONSIBILITY OF THE MUSLIM UMMAH
MUSLIM INDIVIDUALISM
The “I am on my own” and “every man for himself” syndrome that crept into the ummah has kept the muslims disunited and abdicate the obligation of catering of every member of the society. The word umma is now a thing of the past as pointed out by ahmed aliko. “We no longer act as one ummah that we once were” he lamented in one of his post. Therefore the muslim continue to turn their backs on the collective responsibility of solving the almajiri problem as long as their children are not part of it.

RANKA YADADE SYNDROME
Because the Muslim northern society ignorantly sees nothing wrong with begging, we seldom discourage as we tend to help only those who beg us. This gives a psychological approval enjoyed by beggars which often transpires into the ‘ranka ya dade’ syndrome, which abuses and dehumanises the people by offering them stipends out of the often stolen wealth, and encourages laziness while some of us go about in arrogance.

DIUNITY AND SECTERIAN DIFFERENCES
Sectarian difference mainly among Muslim `religious leader has not allowed a unity of one voice to be used in forging a permanent solution in the light of authentic Islamic injunctions. While some sects continue to oppose and preach against the social ill that accompanies the system some continue to justify their stance on its legitimacy.

THE BLAME GAME
For the North, yes, it is true we could blame the British almost 100% for deliberately destroying our indigenous education system into this pitiful sate but we also have our collective negligence in allowing the system to continue unabated in its present form fifty after the British departure.
We as well blame the government and expect it to take sole responsibility in salvaging and rectifying the system. This has resulted in nothing but general inertia towards Almajiranchi in the North and the practice continue in a depleted form without our concerted efforts to check it.

This is very thorough, ecompassing and insightful. Only if people in authority will use this document for policy design. Nigeria: Everyone knows the problem but no one has the will to solve it. God help us!

[quote author=na2day!]ileke idi
thats not how to do it o!
LWKMD

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afam4eva: I guess she will be replaced with a northerner.

Blame it on zoning, rotation and federal character!

osajojo: Where's she from, I remb her cus her administration was scandal less

Yeah!she is a technocrat that knows her Onions. A Nigerian from Edo state.

"FIRS boss, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okaru, has stepped down from office after an impressive term as the federal government's chief tax collector."
A very outstanding Nigerian woman, Intelligent, Hardworking and committed to Service.
I personally wish her good tidings in her future endeavours.

Indeed! wonders shall never end,  moral corruption at its peak.

Too bad for jay-z, i envisaged that for him before now coz they arent for each other.

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