₦airaland Forum

The FG should target federal allocation money used to enforce sharia.

Cut it off. Nothing else, just sharia.

If we don't act soon and Sharia becomes too entrenched, there WILL be another civil war, as in Pakistan currently. But we cannot afford to have a war with 50% of our population.

Give the people their resource wealth
By Martin Sandbu and Nicholas Shaxson

Published: June 4 2009 20:34 | Last updated: June 4 2009 20:34

In 11 months, the price of a barrel of oil has gone from $145 to $30 and it is again pointing up. But whether prices are high or low, natural resources such as minerals or oil are a mixed blessing for ordinary people in countries that sell them.

Countries too dependent on extractive industries face three problems. Large foreign exchange inflows lead to the “Dutch disease”: local costs go up, so imports undercut domestic manufacturing and agriculture. Gyrating commodity prices play havoc with budgets. And mineral rents infest politics with corruption and conflict. As everyone fights over the mineral cake, good governance falls apart.

The solution is simple but radical: distribute extractive revenues directly and equally to all citizens. Instead of fighting each other for oil rents, political elites would have to bargain with the people for tax revenues. If the government did not tax everything back, direct distribution would dram­atically transfer wealth to the poor. This has nothing to do with privatisation: the government could still get funds for roads and schools – but with pressure to spend the money well.

This proposal is not yet taken seriously in policy circles. Instead, western advice makes three main prescriptions: establish savings funds to stabilise vulnerable economies and save wealth for future generations; build infrastructure and diversify the economy; and improve transparency.

These matter, but the politics and problems that make them necessary are the same ones that blunt them.

Savings funds work in Norway, with its political pressure for self-restraint. But in Nigeria, savings have been tempting targets for crooks. And politicians hate telling citizens they must wait before spending the cash: East Timor’s government last summer tried to raid its savings fund by more than double the legal amount.

Diversification is hard because natural resource dependence feeds on itself. Dutch disease, corruption and revenue volatility damage other sectors, making commodities more dominant. More than 99 per cent of Ang­ola’s exports are from oil or diamonds.

Transparency should always be improved, but how much can it solve? The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative is the world’s foremost transparency scheme, but even its flagship project in Nigeria, though it has improved transparency, has hardly empowered ordinary citizens.

Today’s prosperous democracies became what they are because their rulers taxed the population to finance government, forcing them to grant the people a share in power. “No taxation without representation”, and vice versa: mutual dependence underpins a social contract. But resource-rich states tax extractive companies, not citizens. When citizens lack leverage, the social contract withers.

Our proposal is the only policy that directly addresses this power imbalance. It is automatically transparent: people can see what is in their hands.

Direct distribution can be combined with the other approaches, but it is self-sustaining. It needs no external financing and, once implemented, which ruler would dare take it away?

Direct distribution is the right answer for many oil or mineral exporters. But can it be done? Implementation would be tough – but not much harder than organising elections or mass vaccinations. A trusted outside agency may have to ensure that money flows directly from extraction to citizen, bypassing politicians. In a country that tried it, citizens would be eager to make it succeed. Examples exist, such as the US state of Alaska and (non-oil-related) cash transfer schemes in Mexico.

Most politicians will not want it. But some will. An opposition leader may need a populist platform to win an election. The government of a new or future mineral producer, still untainted by entrenched interests, may be open to it. An ageing ruler may want to do leave a legacy. (Maybe that is why Libya’s Muammer Gaddafi recently proposed it.) Once introduced successfully in one developing country, citizens elsewhere will be more likely to demand it.

This must now become part of the toolkit for resource-rich states. Development groups must build up the practical support so that if, say, an African politician wants this, help is there. Once wealth flows to the people, power and citizenship will follow.

Nicholas Shaxson is associate fellow, Chatham House, and author of ‘Poisoned Wells: The Dirty Politics of African Oil’. Martin Sandbu is economics leader writer for the Financial Times
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009




http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1e842a9c-513d-11de-84c3-00144feabdc0.html

The 2011 general elections will not be held on one day if the proposal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is accepted by the National Assembly.
Under the 2006 Electoral Act, elections into a particular category of public offices – such as National Assembly, Governorship and Presidential – are to be held on the same day in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, except in the case of litigation.
However, the logistical nightmare with the movement of materials, recruitment and deployment of electoral hands as well as provision of adequate security nationwide might have influenced INEC’s decision to send a bill to the National Assembly to stagger the elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu, also told journalists in Abuja yesterday that the commission had decided to do away with ad hoc staff who, by nature, have no allegiance to the commission and who are susceptible to manipulation.
Under the staggered election proposal, elections may be held on different days in the six geo-political zones of the country.
THISDAY learnt that the proposal was informed by the relative peace and security under which the rerun elections ordered by various elections petitions panels have been held in seven states of the federation. These are Kogi, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Kebbi, Cross River, Sokoto and Ekiti.
INEC’s case was further strengthened in Ekiti where the governorship election was held in 10 local governments last month. Fears of violence led to the postponement of Oye-Ekiti election, which was eventually held without any major incident.
Nigeria had experimented with staggered presidential primaries in 1991 during the botched transition to civil rule, but they were eventually annulled and the candidates disqualified by the military government of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida on the ground of mal-practices.
“The way things are now, the governorship elections would, by accident, not be held on the same day anymore, because all the states where we have conducted rerun elections are already out of tune with the rest of the country,” an INEC official told THISDAY.
In India, elections are staggered, but in the United States, only the primaries are staggered as the general election is held on the same day across the country.
INEC’s decision to do away with ad hoc staff, Iwu said yesterday, would ensure effective surveillance and control of future elections in Nigeria.
However, if the elections are held on the same day, INEC says it does not have enough men and women on its staff to conduct the poll, further strengthening its case for “staggering”.
Under the proposed arrangement, only INEC staff and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) would be used for such elections.
Iwu expressed hope that youth corps members would be less liable to being compromised because “they are educated, have fixed addresses and have a stake in Nigeria's future”.
Iwu did not state the stage the bill was or when it is expected to be present before the National Assembly.
On the future of democracy in the country, Iwu underscored the need for optimism, maintaining that cynicism, “no matter how elegant, robust and vigorous” could not offer solutions to our problems, especially those confronting the electoral process.





http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=145329

Kobojunkie:
Excellent slam!!!

Tell em!!

Preach it!!

Great!

Abi ooO!!!


Common sense!!


Ofcourse!

I think agree on the most with the above! Now, we can only hope he does his job and do it right.

I agree, but he' not a politician.

He is a CBN governor, most of what he has mentioned he has no direct power over.

He is not terrible, at least he's not a completely hot-headed buffoon, it could be far worse. While has been president (basically Jan 2009+) he has been pretty 'ok'.

Fashola could make a decent president, but I hope he remains Lagos state gov for another 4 to 2015.

Is Yar'Adua even interested in a second term? He spends too much time in hospital.

Yar still has 2 years left, plenty of time to prove he is a capable individual.

Civil rule isn't as effective as full democracy, but still far better than military rule.

Let's hope we remain under civil rule uninterrupted for the duration of our existence.

Sharia council condemns move on death penalty
Latest news
Written by Yusha’u A. Ibrahim, Dutse
The Jigawa State chapter of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria has condemned the current move by the House of Representatives to abolish capital punishment.

Speaking yesterday at a news conference, the state chairman of the council, Alhaji Tijjani Inuwa Tashi said, “The ongoing debate at the National Assembly particularly the House of Representatives on the criminal justice system reforms with particular reference to capital punishment is nothing but a heartless and faithless exercise”.

Alhaji Tijjani called on the members of the National Assembly to in the interest of justice, fairness and respect for human right drop the move, saying abolishing capital punishment would seriously affect Muslims.

“We would like to remind our fellow Muslims at the House that they should know that they are representing Muslim communities and by extension the interest of Islam. It is therefore a fundamental Islamic duty on them to first and foremost, protect and preserve the tenets of the religion before any other interest,” said the chairman.

Alhaji Tijjani further stated that religion of Islam had provided for death penalty among other options in the event of murder, adding that Qur’an chapter two verses 178 categorically spells out everything concerning capital punishment, hence, for anyone to attempt to abolish it, he is trying to wipe out a section of the holy Qur’an.

The council, he added, has also noticed with concern, the current move by the Jigawa State House of Assembly to enact a new Child Rights law, calling on the state Assembly to as matter of urgency discontinue with the processes set in motion towards enactment of the law in the state.

“The main objective of the Child Rights Act is to take over the functions of the Shai’ah courts and finally undermine the Islamic legal system in such a way that cannot be reversed easily,” he said.






http://www.news.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=548:sharia-council-condemns-move-on-death-penalty&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=119

Back in the 60s they could.

But now I don't think any state, north or south is prepared to live without Niger Delta oil.

State police is only a matter of time.

The North already has their religious police running around so why not nationwide state police force?

Soludo's tenure has expired, and no decision yet.

Nigeria now has no finance minister. I wonder what our investors think of this.

I blush

He got a point.

Look at who rigs elections. The governors. But then who makes sure the elections are rigged? The youth, who are the youth? The men who will rig tommorrow's elections.

The men who share looted funds, who are they? Nigerians, not martian. Where do they come from? Nigeria! Who do they loot the funds with? Citizens, who are civil servants. Are civil servants our leaders? No! Then why do they loot too? Because, they are Nigerian.

It all comes back to us as a society. We are bleeped up. Not just Nigeria, all over Africa.

Look at Niger, the president has suspended parliament to become king. Niger, Nigeria, Congo, it don't matter. Same shit different toilet.

Africa needs a Stalin to purge a million people to make us scared to commit crimes.

Oil, and the North is afraid of becoming an impoverished, land locked desertified hellhole.

For what its worth, we are smart people (Nigerians), as Nigeria continues to democratically develop, we can use the North to extract much $$$ from the Arabs.

The north will become a cash cow for us, give it 20 years.

Fashola, the only governor with a brain?

"Mr." Fashole, the only governor that does not obsess over his title.

The pic is Thailand though, but under Fashola Lagos has been developing head and shoulders over other parts of the country.

We should appoint people on merit. I'm tired of this ethnic rotation crap. The next president of Nigeria should be elected on merit, not on "it's my turn" policy.

And its certainly very important for the CBN governor to be well ready if we plan to gather further foreign investment.

I believe Nigerians need to fight for their individual land titles.

As long as the government treats Nigerians like squatters in their forefather's ancestral lands there will be unrest.

It can happen to any tribe, any people.

wanville:
I don't get it? Are you trying to insinuate that I am upholding tribalism?FYI am not even hausa, youruba or igbo, so wethin concern aeroplane with bridge?

I am pointing out that allegiances on Nairaland and in Naija in general are based on tribe or family, not merit or hard work.

Ribadu did his job, and that is why he was destroyed.

wanville:
Some people that have posted on this thread are not thinking like liberated individuals!!HOLD UP NOW!!What is this talk about Ribadu being a theif? Dude!!That guy was putting his life on the line by going after the top shots in 9ja so you aspect them to be paying him 20,000 naira every month. Same goes with this double O's, the riskier the job- the higher the pay.What is a lamgorhini?9ja pple sef
As for the people that are talking about Ribadu not prosecuting OBJ's allies, Are you trying to suggest that you prefer all or nothing, if he won't prosecute everybody then he should let everyone embellezze as much money as they want. Lets remember here that Ribadu is not superman(he deos not have super powers). Obj was like the Godfather behind EFCC so Ribadu hands were tied.
Personally am proud of Ribadu, I got his back any day anytime, Abeg he shouldn't give up the fight, I know 9ja will get better some day if our leaders of tomorrow don't take over the mantel of corruption, Same goes with El rufai, just because he tried to beautify the country's capital- he is hated like a plague, Abeg i don tire sef

"Let no one be discouraged by the belief that there is nothing one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the world's ills -- against misery and ignorance, injustice and violence, Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation,
Robert kennedy

Naija tribalism 101 for ya.

People think with their tribal hat on first and foremost.

Igbo this, yuroba that, housa blah blah.

Bleep the chinks and Arabs. We don't need their shit in Nigeria. Nigeria is for Nigerians, let the chinks stay in china arabs in the desert.

ifele:
Fashola is just a megalomaniac. He tells us to help the poor but he himself does not want to help them.

He deported so many destitutes to Oyo and Ogun states. Now he is saying help the poor.

It is good to help the poor out of kindness but the government has to set up food banks and soup-kitchens to address the hunger problem.

Hunger is a major problem in the cities now. Poor folks come to cities hoping to find jobs when they fail they face all kinds of urban problems.

There is food in the rural areas but most of it is going to cities where the grocers and farmers can make more profit.

By the time the food gets to a market like Tejuosho in Yaba the cost has been multiplied to the extent that low-income earners cant afford it.

So either you control the inflation of food prices or you make enough to go round. Dont be a fan of megalomaniacal leaders you are just helping

them burn you later. Banning adverts thats unncessary we have an oppressor on our hands.

Typical Nigerian African "give me something for nothing" mentality.

Fashola should start offering bare minimum wage for slum dwellers to beautify the city and earn their money honestly. He should do the same with canalization and maintenance of sewage.

Also FYI he can't control the prices of food and inflation, he is not the Central Bank governor, nor the president, although the latter would be highly preferable in 2011.

Typical, typical Africa man mentality. "Give me give me give me". NO! Work for it.

Good Job Fashola, keep doing what you are doing, we need more leaders like you.

Poor guy I do feel for him.

But he's crying like a bitch. The US senators are just looking to cut aid to Africa, its about time too. Aid is nothing but free money to prop up failed regimes.

ElRazur:
Yeah you know this because you know it all. And one more thing, keep attacking the messenger and not the issue at hand. Nice.

We know the issue at hand. The issue at hand is a product of ourselves. We are our biggest enemy.

We are not people who are ready for a culture of meritocracy, hence, how can we have a democracy?

I am still amazed at how business is done in Nigeria. People are lazy, people expect handouts, and hence, when these same people rise to the top they don't change. Nigeria needs a cultural change. Politics is one part of it but hardly the whole picture.

The people who posted are Nigerians all around the world, and they can't spell and have no basic grasp of grammar.

Yar'Adua is a product of the nation.

Nigeria is messed up because Nigerians are.

We don't know if we have politicians or tribal chiefs.

London - the best place to be
Posts: 66

Online




i SEE,

Nuclear power is for countries who can maintain shit.

[quote author=sleek_p link=topic=273228.msg3879841#msg3879841 date=1242570627]Shouldn't we all just leave and maybe wait for America to rebuild it so we can move back? Genius idea.[/quote]No, you can only cherish something if you built it.

We'll just turn it into "Nigeria" again.

I actually think it would be a decent idea, as long as we keep the military, and certain principles of the constitution unified.

Who cares about Britain.



What about Nigeria?

When do we get a leader? An actual leader, not looter/thief/idiot/lameduck?

[quote author=tosh_acer link=topic=273228.msg3879787#msg3879787 date=1242569486]Let them run away, they will soon run back.[/quote]No they won't. Not if Nigeria continues down this road.

Its not the government, its the people.

They make up the government.

The government is not made up by Aliens.