28th December 2015 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,401

MONDAY, 28 DECEMBER, 2015

I'm not plotting against Buhari —Atiku —P6

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Army arrests 7 suspected bomb-makers in Kaduna —P38

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@nigeriantribune

Deregulation only solution to fuel scarcity —Independent marketers —P10

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N150

FG suspends airport officials

•Investigates Turkish Airlines fiasco —P7

How we'll fund N6trn budget —Buhari —P4

Shiite placed 24 youths on wanted list before Zaria crisis —Communities —P5

Clergy in police net for burying charm in church •I was there to remove the buried charm, he says —P14

Children enjoying their Xmas holiday at Trans Amusement Park, Ibadan, on Sunday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

Boko Haram, soldiers in gun duel in Maiduguri

Europe on alert for New Year's Eve terror threat —P42

—P4

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune PHOTOS: TOMMY ADEGBITE

XMAS FUN SEEKERS AT TRANS AMUSEMENT PARK AND AGODI GARDEN, IBADAN

A swimmer at Agodi Garden.

Funseekers inside boat.

Xmas picknickers inside the train.

Another funseeker at Trans Amusement Park.

Rotating horse for funseekers. Fountain effects at Agodi Garden.

Children enjoying their Christmas holiday at Amusement Park.

Rolling machine.

Monday, 28 December, 2015

XMAS FUN SEEKERS AT MILLENIUM PARK, ABUJA

Fun seekers at Millenium Park, Abuja.

Another set of fun seekers at the park.

Merry makers enjoying train ride.

Christmas ride indeed

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a merry xmas

Savouring the breeze of fountain at the park.

Children enjoying themselves.

Nigerian Tribune PHOTOS: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI

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Monday, 28 December, 2015

How we’ll fund N6trn budget —Buhari Leon Usigbe - Abuja

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said dwindling oil revenues notwithstanding, if leakages are properly blocked, the Federal Government would have enough money to fund the 2016 budget he submitted to the National

Assembly. Speaking in an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service, translated by Premium Times, the president said Nigeria is not a poor country after all. This was as he said his administration had about N3.7 trillion local and foreign debts to contend with

as it tries to fund the over N6 trillion 2016 budget in the midst of dwindling oil revenues, adding that he inherited N1.5 trillion domestic and N2.2 trillion foreign debts. Asked how his government intended to fund the budget, he said Nigeria was not a poor country, saying that if leakages were prop-

erly blocked, there would be enough money to meet government’s expenses. He said: “As a government, we inherited N1.5 trillion domestic debts. We have about N2.2 trillion foreign debts. Everybody knows that Nigeria is not a poor country. We are rich and we have human resources. The problem had

Senior pastors of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Oyo Province 1, presenting Christmas gifts to widows at a programme held at Bolumole, Ibadan, on Sunday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU.

Boko Haram, soldiers in heavy battle in Maiduguri James Bwala - Maiduguri with Agency Report

GUNMEN believed to be members of the Boko Haram sect were, on Sunday evening, involved in a shoot-out with soldiers in Aladuwari village – about two kilometre away from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The attackers arrived the area at about 6.00p.m. local time, Premium Times gathered. At about 8.00p.m., two suicide bombers, believed to be females, detonated explosives near Fomwan School in Jiddari area of Maiduguri. The casualty figure from the explosions is yet to be ascertained. The battle, still ongoing as of press time between the Operation Lafiya Dole arm of the military and the Boko Haram sect, the Nigerian Tribune gathered, left many casualties mainly among the insurgents and members of the civilian JTF. Nigerian Tribune gathered that the terrorists, who were trying to make an inroad through Ajidalari along the suburb of Jiddari Polo, were intercepted by

troops and members of the vigilante group popularly called civilian JTF, resulting in heavy exchange of fire powers from both sides and forcing residents indoors. One of the security operatives detailed to the scene of the operation told the Nigerian Tribune that they were in pursuit of the insurgents, adding that many of them (the terrorists) were killed during the exchange of fire power. Attempt to speak with the spokesperson of the Operation Laifya Dole, Colonel Mustapha Anka, failed as his telephone line was busy as of the time of going to the press. Residents of Polo and Damboa areas in Maiduguri

said the sounds of heavy artillery and gunshots, which they had not heard for a long time, brought back the memories of the dreadful days. “Wallahi, it is not good at all. The sounds of gunshots were too much in our area. It was as if the shootings were happening in front of my house. I saw a lot of Civilian JTF with sticks and daggers running towards the old Molai Road with soldiers on foot also amongst them to stop the Boko Haram boys,” Bulama Shettima, a resident of Polo in Maiduguri, said. Another resident of Damboa told the Nigerian Tribune that the situation was “a clear reply to the Presi-

dent Buhari’s December deadline to overcome Boko Haram. “I always say that Boko Haram members are only buying time. Now, all of us are locked in our houses. We do not know what the end result can be, but from the gunshots, many sad stories would follow,” Usuji Suleh said. Speaking with one of the civilian JTF of Sector 4 at the Post Office area, he said from what they gathered, some civilian JTF were killed by Boko Haram, adding that the military also killed some of the Boko Haram members. “The soldiers and some of our boys are repelling the attack as of now,” he said.

Osun assembly minority leader dies Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

THE minority leader and the Chairman, House Committee on Regional Integration and Special Duties, Osun State House of Assembly, Honourable Samson Dejo Makinde, on Sunday, died at the age of 48 after battling with an undisclosed ailment. His death, which oc-

curred in a hospital located in Ekiti State, reduced the number of legislators on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the assembly to one as only two members were elected on the platform of the party in the last general election in a parliament of 26 members. Popularly called “Igwe”,

Makinde, who represented Ife Central Constituency, was a former chairman, Ife Central Local Government Area of the state. Nigerian Tribune authoritatively gathered that his corpse had been deposited at the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital mortuary. Continues on pg5

been that leadership did not take curbing corrupt tendencies seriously. “Apart from highlighting our debt profile, we have also shown the changes we have made, in the Customs for instance, how much we are making from the Customs service; how much from petroleum, that is NNPC; how much we are making from the ports. “There have been lots of leakages in these sectors. If we block these leakages, we would make much more money to run the country despite the fall in the price of oil.” Buhari was confident that the leakages could be blocked beginning from appointing new people at the helm of government agencies as those below them would take a cue. He said: “It is generally believed that a fish begins to rot from the head; once the head is rotten, the whole body is also rotten. We have tried to remove all the heads of the organisations, and most of the lieutenants have been changed. “A lot is happening that people do not appear to understand; many permanent secretaries of ministries have been changed; we used to have 42 ministers, now we have 36 because the constitution requires that each state of the federation must have a minister; we used to have 42 ministries, now we have 24.” He assured that his administration would concentrate on curbing insecurity, unemployment and corruption, saying: “That is why those who stole monies meant for arms procurement and shared it among themselves are being arrested and are being shown documents, so that they would be asked to refund the money or face prosecution; we would use those documents to prove what they stole, collect all the assets acquired from the proceeds and then jail them.” On the plan to pay N5,000 monthly stipend to the vulnerable poor, the president said it was not possible to pay everyone even as he remarked that his administration was working with state governments to identify beneficiaries. According to him, “It is not possible for everyone needing it to get it; but the Federal Government has said it would collaborate with the states and local governments. “At the local government level, almost every-

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one knows each other. It would be easier to identify those to give who will go into trading and how to get it back. It would be like a cooperative and we all know how it operates. “Also, state governments would identify those who have the capacity to employ more people and all we need to do is to empower them. Our people already know how to go about implementing these modalities to create employment for the citizens.” Asked whether his December deadline to the military to end Boko Haram insurgency remained, he asserted that the war against the terrorists has been won. His words: “I want people to understand that after I settled down and got good grasp of what the country is going through, we removed all the service chiefs and appointed new ones. “We also undertook an investigation and found out how the monies meant for arms procurement were diverted and shared by officials in the last administration. They sent the boys to the war front without arms and ammunition, leading some of them to mutiny after which they were arrested and detained. “We have been able to raise money and fund the war. Go and ask the people of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa; how many of their local governments were under the control of insurgents? And how many are currently still under the insurgents? “Maybe we would not win the war completely by the end of the month, but the insurgents have now resorted to putting on explosive vests on young children, mostly girls aged 15 and below and then sending them to markets, mosques and churches to detonate. Boko Haram themselves know that the era of taking over communities and local governments are over. “If people would be fair to us, they would know that the Nigerian Army has basically met the deadline and are winning the war. “You cannot find any significant number of Boko Haram members in Adamawa, and Yobe, only may be in about three local governments of Borno in the area around our borders with Chad Republic. They are not in a position to threaten Nigeria now, so we have won.”

news Shiite placed 24 youths on wanted list before Zaria crisis —Communities 5

Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

ARIA and Sabon Gari communities of Kaduna State have alleged that the Shiite placed 24 youths in their areas on wanted list for criticising activities of the group. Speaking at a news conference in Kaduna at the weekend, the spokesperson of the affected communities, Idris Mohammed Baba, said the Shiites had held people in Zaria and Sabon Gari local government areas of the state hostage with impunity. He said the sect was running a parallel government before it clashed with the army. Baba noted that in May 2015 the sect declared 24 youths persona non grata for challenging their activities in Gyellesu community where Zakzaky resides. The affected youths, he said, had relocated for their safety. Narrating their ordeals in the hands of Shiite followers for over 20 years, Baba said: “My experience with Shiite followers was disastrous and terrible. At a point, Shiite boys threatened to kill me. “There is one Shiite boy call Ali. He is the leader of El-Zakzaky’s notorious boys who always accompany him anywhere he goes. We are happy over the military action against Shiite’s movement in Zaria because we have fresh air now blowing in our areas. “Before, we can’t grant interview to the world about Shiite’s activities, but now we are sleeping with our two eyes closed. “As a community, we wrote letters to the government about the ungodly activities of Shiites but no single action was taken. “We no longer report Shiites to police because they will never honour police or security invitation. These Shiites are authority unto themselves, they don’t respect authority. “We are Muslims, but we discovered that Shiites activities are contrary to Islam. They carry dangerous weapons openly, molesting innocent people in our areas. Human rights should also look into our pains.” Also speaking, an elder of the Gyallesu, Alhaji

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Saidu Garba, said the once booming economic activities in the area had been crippled due to the activities of Shiite. According to Garba “After El-Zakzaky was released from detention in 1999, he settled in Gyallesu and since then there is no peace in our area. “We thank Allah for touching the heart of government and the military for liberating us from Shiites’ untold hardship. Shiites killed many of our people who challenged their activities. We buried them and we cannot talk to the world because of their threat. “We were living like slaves in our own land which Shiite leader, Sheikh El-Zakzaky, met us. We residents of Gyallesu are calling on the Federal Government to ban Shiite movement in our community and Kaduna State as a whole. “Government should put a stop to Shiite’s ungodly activities in our area,” he stressed. The Zaria community also made available documents dated May 18, 2015 in which the Shiites declared some youth persona non grata. A document, signed by Secretary of Gyallesu Elders Forum, Mukhtar Gambo, read “We the elders are calling for the return of our children who left their homes in order to save their lives due to attacks and threat by the Shiite followers.” The community, in another letter dated May 20, 2013, signed by Chairman, Voice of Gyallellesu Community, Bilyaminu Muhammad and addressed to the Emir of Zazzau, cried out for intervention over Shiite activities which it said would paint the area black in the eyes of the world if not checked. The letter reads in parts: “Your Highness sir, Gyallesu is cosmopolitan area in your land due to schools like ABU and FCE. It is just a mini Nigeria. The students will start phoning home that there is problem because of the activities of Shiite in your land and consequently will affect the whole nation.” The community, in the letter, decried the activities of the sect and the group’s resistant to allow

any uniform personnel to enter the area. “People of Gyallesu are

highly religious but unfortunately the Shiites are trying to paint us black.

It is amazing today your Highness, that part of your land is not governed

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by the government or you, but by the Shiite sect,” the letter stated.

Founder, David Mark Scholarship Foundation, Senator David Mark (right), exchanging pleasantries with children at the Otukpo carnival sponsored by his foundation, in Otukpo, Benue State, on Sunday. PHOTO: NAN.

From left, Globacom’s National Sales Coordinator, South-East, Mr Gabriel Okoli; Glo subscriber, Miss Sommy Eze; Glo Brand Ambassador and highlife music king, Flavour and Mr Mike Ogbalu III, Divisional CEO, Interswitch, at the Enugu edition of Glo slide ‘n’ Bounce concert, at the Golden Royale Hotel, Enugu, recently.

Osun assembly minority leader dies Continues from pg4

Confirming his demise in a statement issued yesterday, the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, said the death of the lawmaker came to the assembly as a great shock. The statement noted that though the late lawmaker was battling with illness, but his response to medical attention gave his colleagues the confidence that he would soon be back to join in the legislative busi-

ness in the house. It reads in part, “It is shocking that late Honourable Makinde died at this critical period that he is needed in his immediate and political family most. “In Osun Assembly, we are really saddened to hear of the death of one of us. We will mourn deeply his passing due to his valuable contributions to deliberations in the Assembly. “Politics apart, his oppositional engagement as a minority leader on the floor of the house had assisted the

sixth Assembly to arrive at reasonable conclusions on several issues. “Though, he is a member of the opposition in the Assembly, but he was not taken as one when it came to issues relating to the development of the state, hence, we will miss him dearly,” the statement stressed. It sympathised with the immediate and political family of the late lawmaker, consoling them to take solace in the fact that he lived a worthy life.

The Assembly also prayed that God almighty should grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. “Please accept our condolences and may our prayers help comfort you and hasten the journey of his soul to heaven. May our Lord bless and comfort the family during this time of grief.” When contacted, Osun State chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, informed newsmen that the lawmaker died as a result of health complications.

news

Monday, 28 December, 2015

I’m not plotting against Buhari —Atiku Segun Olatunji-Abuja

ormer Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday, dismissed the speculation making the round that he was plotting against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that rather, “the success of the Buhari administration has been my preoccupation.” In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Sunday, by his media adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe, the former Vice President said that he was embarrassed by the deliberate falsehoods being spread against him by his political opponents that he had been hosting political meetings at Burj Al-Arab, Dubai, against the administration of Buhari. The former Vice President declared that contrary to the rumours being bandied around by political opponents, “he is currently in Dubai with his family for physiotherapy on his injured knee.”

While describing those behind the rumour as “illmotivated busybodies that don’t wish the country well,” the Turaki Adamawa explained that his medical treatment “is my private affairs, which should not be politicised by anybody to achieve sinister objectives.” Atiku said that he was entitled to enjoy his private life, including the right to attend to his health, without being harassed and lied against by political opponents. He stated that contrary to the insinuations by political opponents, the

success of the Buhari administration had been his preoccupation, and that any true APC member should have the same zeal. According to him, “rumour mongers that seek to cause distrust and distraction in Buhari’s government do not mean well for the APC administration. The former Vice President said that with the challenges of providing good governance for the country and creating job opportunities for Nigerians, including reducing the impact of poverty, President Buhari needed all the goodwill and support in

this endeavour. “Whether at home or abroad, the Turaki is preoccupied with his unassailable support to President Buhari and his administration, especially in this critical time, as it works assiduously to turn the fortunes of our dear country around and make Nigeria work for the greater good of Nigerians,” he stated. According to Atiku, “rumour mongers and mischief makers are toxic to the progress of the APC and the country at large, the campaigns are gone, and therefore, all energies should be constructively

devoted to the success of the Buhari administration. “This is yet another plot of the enemies of our country and democracy to divide, divert attention and distract the APC in its avowed commitment to secure the country, provide jobs for the mass of unemployed youths, build needed critical infrastructure, enthrone a regime of probity and accountability and pull the country out of the economic woods it has been consigned to by locust years of mismanagement,” he declared.

NCAA laments airlines huge indebtedness •Felicitates over Xmas, New Year Shola Adekola-Lagos

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has expressed concern over the huge debt airlines are owing it and other aviation agencies. The debts, which were accumulated through the failure of the airlines to settle promptly invoices as at when due, the regulatory body said poses serious financial challenges to the various parastatals that benefit from the five per cent Ticket, Charter and Cargo Sales charges. “Consequently, the Authority would be pleased to see that the Airlines put plans in place towards the full liquidation of all outstanding indebtedness. The settlement of those debts will go a long way in assisting the Authority fulfil its statutory obligations to the country and the world at large. It is pertinent to point out that the Authority is fully committed to strict enforcement of compliance to safety Regulations in order to engender safe operations at all times.” Meantime, the regulatory body has congratulated all Airline Operators and all aviation stakeholders on the celebration of Christmas and the coming New Year.

Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, exchanging greetings with the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran. With them is the former Inspector General of Police, Dr Mike Okiro (left), during the 2015 Iwude Ijesa Festival at Owa’s Palace, on Saturday.

FG to involve EFCC, DSS in prosecution of pipeline vandals The Managing Director, Petroleum Products and Marketing Company (PPMC), Mrs Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, says the Federal Government will involve some security agencies in prosecuting pipeline vandals. Ogbue disclosed this on Sunday, during a visit to Mosinmi Depot and Ajebo pipeline in Obafemi

Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. She listed the security agencies to be involved as the Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS). Ogbue said that the involvement of these agencies would facilitate the prosecution of the vandals

at the courts of competent jurisdiction. “We are looking at all ramifications on how to bring these criminals to book; they have to be treated as criminals and pipeline products thieves. “The pipelines are the most efficient way of moving products and then for the first time in a very long time we are pushing prod-

Man electrocuted trying to steal electric cable AN unidentified middle aged man was electrocuted at the early hours of Sunday, while trying to steal electric cable at a power supply installation in Kaduna. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident happened at Accra Crescent by LEA Primary School, Unguwar Rimi. The traditional ruler of the area, Dan Iyar Unguwar Rimi, Alhaji Muhammad Gidado, confirmed the incident. Gidado said that the corpse of the vandal was evacuated from the scene by the police from Ungu-

war Rimi Division. According to him, the vandal was unknown to them in the area and urged law enforcement agencies to step-up patrol as the community has suffered from the activities of vandals lately. Gidado explained that the deceased tried to steal the 150mm four core upriser cable at the distribution sub-station along Accra Crescent when nemesis caught up with him. The Head, Corporate Communications of Kaduna Electric, the operator of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, Mr Abdulazeez Abdullahi, also

confirmed the incident. He appealed to customers of the company to be more vigilant and report suspicious movement around power supply installations to the police, especially in the night. Abdullahi lamented that the activities of these hoodlums was causing set back to the company’s effort at providing steady power supply to its customers. He warned criminal elements to desist from damaging or removing power supply equipment as the consequence could be very tragic.

ucts all the way to Ibadan. “We intend to move to Ilorin, reduce bridging from Lagos area so that people can go and pick up their products in Ibadan and Ilorin,” Ogbue said. She expressed optimism that partnership with EFCC, DSS, Police and host communities would yield positive results and the culprits would soon face the full wrath of the law. Ogbue said that Federal Government would start deploying trackers on trucks carrying fuel from its depots to filling stations across the country to check diversion of the product. The PPMC boss explained that with the trackers government would be able to monitor the movement of trucks vis- a-vis their destinations. Ogbue lamented that fuel diversion was a serious problem with undesirable consequences on the economy. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the federal government operates 22 depots nationwide, including Atlas Cove, which is located in Lagos.

Oyo celebrates 2015 Maltina best teacher award winner By Kehinde Adio

Oyo State government, through the state Ministry of Education, has celebrated Mrs Adefunke Ogundairo, a teacher from Timothy Lajide Oyesina Model Secondary Grammar School, one of the public secondary schools in Ibadan, who won the 2015 Maltina Teacher Award for the state. Following the declaration of Mrs Ogundairo as the best teacher in this year’s Maltina Teachers’ award league, the staff of the state Ministry of Education assembled at the Ministry’s conference room recently to honour the recipient for her outstanding performance in the competition. The state Ministry of Education’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Aderonke Makanjuola eulogised the award recipient for making the state public school proud among their pairs in the country. She enjoined all other public school teachers in the state to put more efforts into their calling to reap their labour with pride. In her response, the award winner, Mrs Ogundairo, appreciated the state government for giving her the platform to practice her teaching profession in the state. She promised the state government to do more to better the lots of students in public schools in the state.

Kano govt constitutes committee on how to improve IGR Kola Oyleee-Kano

KANO State governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said that as a measure to improve the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR), his government has resolved to constitute a committee, charged with the responsibility of attracting both local and international investment to the state, so as to enhance its revenue base. The governor, who disclosed this while signing into law, the State Government Investment Bill 2016, explained that it was approved by the state Assembly legislators, maintaining that it would enhance the administration’s efforts in enhancing internally generated revenue (IGR). According to the governor, very soon a managing director for the Investment Agency would be appointed to lead the agency, so as to guarantee its viability.

news FG suspends airport officials

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Orders investigation into Turkish Airlines fiasco FromClementIdokoAndShola Adekola

HE Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has ordered immediate suspension of three officials of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, over invasion of tarmac by Turkish Airlines passengers at the airport. Sirika gave the order after listening to explanations by the airport officials on the incident, on Sunday, in Abuja. He added that the Ministry had also ordered thorough investigation to ascertain the cause of the breach, as well as why the

airline brought in passengers without their luggage, adding. This was contained in a statement by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Aviation on Sunday in Abuja. The suspended officials according to him are the Airport Manager, Terminal Manager and Head of Airport Security, who were ordered to handover to their next in rank pending the conclusion of the investigation. “There has been an incident where some agitated passengers of the Turkish Airlines arrived without their luggage making them to force their way into the tarmac which is a breach

of security. The explanation given is not satisfactory because the primary purpose of the government is to ensure safety of lives and property of its citizens. “The cardinal objective of this administration is to secure the country and manage it and we cannot fail in aviation. We cannot fail in this important assignment at a very important point. “We have ordered for the investigation into the matter immediately and all the people that are manning the various places, Airport Manager, Terminal Manager and Head of Security should handover the next man in rank pending the outcome of the investigation.

Expert urges Nigerian business women to build right skills, network By ’Ronke Sanya

Nigerian business women have been urged to focus on building right skills and network in order to achieve targeted business goal and for successful business activity. This was stated by Mr Olusola Osinoiki of Pricewater House Coopers LLP, at the concluding edition of Digital Business Academy organised by Tech4her Africa. He added that women, especially at the end of a business year, should rethink and always be ready to restrategise. “Women

should be able to identify core business goal and build the right network of skills and expertise to achieve targeted goals.” Tech4Her Africa according to the founder, Miss Elizabeth Olorunleke organised the Digital Business Academy, “with the focus to expand economic opportunities for Nigerian women and in collaboration with Institute of Commercial Management (ICM) United Kingdom (UK).” The business-tech event, which took place at Oak Business School, Ogba

‘Folic acid develops the brain, spinal cord of unborn babies’ DR Ategbese Simeon, a medical doctor at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, has said that folic acid is essential in the development of brain and spinal cord of unborn babies. He made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi, on Wednesday. Dr Simeon said, “the lack of folic acid can cause defect which is known to be neural tube defect.” He added that professionally, pregnant women should begin to take folic acid in the first three months. “Folic acid helps in the development of brain and spinal cord, so pregnant women should be encouraged to take their medication as prescribed by doctors.

“Folic acid is not expensive; pregnant women can afford it and it enables them to have healthy babies.’’ The medical doctor also advised pregnant women to do some exercises that would strengthen their pelvic muscles, the uterus, the bladder, the small intestine and the rectum. Simeon explained that many factors could weaken the pelvic muscles, which he said includes pregnancy, childbirth, surgery, aging, excessive straining from constipation or chronic coughing, and being overweight. He called on wom en to always seek medical advice and ask questions where necessary to gain more medical information on maintaining their health, especially during pregnancy.

Lagos, featured experts from various Business and Information Technology firms. Course modules taught at the Academy include: Idea and Business retooling with Digital Technology, which was taught by the CEO, Digimarketing Africa, Suman Ramesh; Building Brand Identity in Competitive Markets was anchored by a Lead strategist, Headstart Consulting, Folu Adeyeye; Seyi Adenekan, who is an ICM UK expert facilitated the training on Buyer Behaviour and Consumerism; Digital Television and Radio Journalism was also lectured by the ICM UK expert; Human Resource and Financing for Startups was tutored by Oluwakitan Adenmolu (HR, Oando). Other course module taught include: Blogging for Business by a TrendSavvy Blogger, Emeka Obia; Google Apps for Business by DBM, Google expert, Bola Oguntade; Cloud Tech for Startups by Tony Udomiaye of TM, Oracle; Digital Storytelling for Business by a media expert, Olakunle Agboola. One of the business women at the training, Modupe Ogundare, who expressed great delight at the business nitty gritty taught them said, “I had a great time during the training and enjoyed all the sessions. The training on Google Apps for Business was the one I enjoyed most. We would naturally do more in our businesses because we have learnt so much here.”

“As to the airline also, the Consumer Protection Unit of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been ordered to find out what happened, how compliant they are and deal with it accordingly,’’ he said. Sirika said the ministry was yet to get the flight manifest to be able to ascertain the number of passengers involved, which he added were many in number. According to him, they got agitated and apparently they got access into the prohibited area because there was security lapse. The Minister stated that the nation’s aviation sector had the capacity to grow, adding that it was already showing signal that it could tremendously contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to him, Aviation is carrying by value,

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

31 per cent of the world cargo which make it a very important industry as the fastest means of transportation more efficiently. “You could see how we grew from Kano Airport where the first plane landed in the country to about 22 Federal Governmentowned airports plus several other privately owned airports. “On the whole, aviation I can say has grown to an appreciable level in the country and it has the capacity to grow more which is important to the economy of the country,” he said. Sirika added that the country also had good manpower such as pilots and engineers to move the industry forward. He disclosed that the government was determined to deliver a more vibrant and efficient aviation sector in 2016 by making

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safety, security and efficiency its watch word with regards to transportation. “It is not about the beauty of the airports or planting flowers or other vanities, it is about safety, security and efficiency as far as aviation is concerned,’’ he added. Earlier, Mr Bashir Hausawa, Acting Head of Security explained to the minister that the security personnel were overpowered by the angry passengers over the non-arrival of their luggage. Hausawa added that the shortage of manpower was responsible for the incident, adding that there was only one man manning luggage area of the airport during the incident. He said they were 192 security men manning the whole of the airport resulting in the shortage of manpower distribution to various units of the airport.

I, Olalekan Muniru Oluwafemi am the same and one person as Olalekan Muniru God’slove. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLALEKAN MUNIRU OLUWAFEMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. UBA Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adegoke Dorcas Moyirade now MRS. OLADIPO DORCAS MOYIRADE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Taiwo Roseline Omotunde now MRS. ADEMOLA ROSELINE OMOTUNDE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Tescom and general public take note.

I, Mrs Adeleke Zainab Abebo am the same person bearing Olayiwola Elizabeth Ronke and Adeleke Elizabeth Ronke. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MRS. ADELEKE ZAINAB ABEBO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. GTBank, First Bank of Nigeria Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oladipupo Monehin Oluwabusola Moradeke now MRS. ODETOLA OLUWABUSOLA MORADEKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Jaiyeola Olabisi now MRS. AKINGBALA ADERONKE ADEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Odebunmi Olubukola Tunmise now ADEMUYIWA OLUBUKOLA TUNMISE. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adepeju Hajarat Adesina now MRS. ADEPEJU AVIELA WILLIAMS-OJO. All former documents remain valid. Centennial College, Toronto Ontario, Canada, GTBank, Access Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Oguma Omolola Patience now PATIENCE RHIVWIRO OMOLOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

This is to confirm that the bearer of these names Oguntoun Olatunde Alaba and Olatunde Alaba refers to one and the same. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OGUNTOUN OLATUNDE ALABA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Sterling Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adejare Olubunmi Sarah now MRS. AKINTOLA OLUBUNMI SARAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known as Ololade Ajaolawal now wish to be known and addressed as Abidemi Sule. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Onyanta Emma Nwangwu am the same person bearing Onyanta Emma Sunday. Documents bearing both names are mine and remain valid. My date of birth is 07/11/77 and not 24/06/78 as it appears in some documents. Zenith Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogedengbe Catherine Kikelomo now MRS. OMOLADE CATHERINE KIKELOMO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Iyanuloluwa Adebowale Sosanya now MRS. IYANULOLUWA ADEBOWALE OLADAPO. All former documents remain valid. Peaklane Schools and general public take note.

I, Fasasi Omobola am the same person as Fasasi Suliyat. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as FASASI SULIYAT OMOBOLANLE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Wema, GTBank, and general public take note.

I, formerly Olayinka Babatunde Ojo now MR. Olayinka Babatunde Williams-Ojo. All former documents remain valid. Multipro Consumer Product Ltd., GTBank, Access Bank and general public take note.

I, Geke Enuwe Brozie Mac am the same person as Brozie Enuwe. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OGHENEBROZIE ENUWE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. NECO and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Agboola Tolulope Mary now MRS. OJO TOLULOPE MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogunlade Adeola now MRS. FAGOROYE ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajeigbe Omolola Rita now MRS. AKINOLA OMOLOLA RITA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Adeleke Kemi now ADELEKE OMOLEYE ABIGEAL. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank, First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

THIS BOX IS FOR SALE CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Afolabi Rasidatu now AFOLABI HAFUSAT DAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank, Zenith Bank, O.A.U.T.H.C and general public take note.

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Lagosmetro Police accuse cultists of murdering rival member Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

From left, Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, his wife, Bolanle and wife of Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Mrs. Ronke Solomon, during a Christmas party at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Friday.

Ibeju-Lekki: Akiolu blames stakeholders for crisis Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

OLLOWING an inquest into the crisis in some communities in Ibeju-Lekki, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has appeared before the panel of inquiry. The Oba blamed stakeholders in Ibeju-Lekki for the crisis in the community, especially the deadly conflicts over disputed land. The inquest is mandated to investigate the causes of crisis in the Ibeju-Lekki community culminating in several deaths. One of the more recent deaths is that of Tajudeen Disu, Managing Director of the Lekki Free Zone. Oba Akiolu criticised state government officials, noting their greed had fuelled the crisis. He noted that some state government officials were insincere and blinded by their greed, leading to actions that were against both good conscience and the interests of residents of the

community. In addition, Oba Akiolu stated that some traditional rulers in the Ibeju-Lekki area were only concerned with their selfish financial interests. He accused them of cutting

deals over land rather than focusing on planning for the larger community and seeking the interests of their people. He praised inhabitants of the community for resisting the hijack of their commu-

nal land by greedy officials who have sold most of the land without helping to re-settle the displaced residents. “The land belongs to the dead, the living and the unborn,” he said.

Lawmaker gives back to constituency Chukwuma Oparaocha A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Sola Giwa, has sponsored 21 persons for free eye surgeries. Giwa, who marked his 200 days in office, said 49 people from his constituency were diagnosed with cataract and other severe eye defects, but 21 of them turned up for the surgery. The lawmaker also revealed that he fumigated several streets in Lagos Island East during the monthly environmental sanitation. He, however, enjoined Lagos residents to embark on self-discovery and see what they could do to make the nation great. He promised to table the

constituency’s demands before the leadership of the assembly. Giwa said in preservation of Lagos cultural heritage, he organised an annual in-

ter-school debate in Yoruba language, describing it as an eye-opening competition as students saw the essence for upholding the diversity of their roots.

He dared any of the local rulers to oppose his position on the issue, stating that they were too preoccupied with cutting deals in order to obtain cash largesse from business owners interested in acquiring land in the area, but with no concern for peace with the inhabitants. Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi who oversees the inquest therefore adjourned the inquest till early next year for continuation of the hearing.

TWO men, Suraj Ramon and Ahmed Ademola have been accused of killing a 35-year-old man, Agboola Joseph. Ramon (33) and Ademola (24), were arrested by the Lagos State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) operatives. The police accused the men of belonging to an unlawful cult, called Eiye Fraternity. It was gathered that they shot Joseph dead on December 1 at the Bajulaiye canal in Somolu The defendants’ plea was not taken by an Ebute Meta Magistrate Court because the court has no jurisdiction to try them. Their lawyers, led by Spourgeon Ataene, however, urged the court to grant them bail, pending legal advice by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). The presiding magistrate, Nurudeen Layemi, ruled that he has no jurisdiction to entertain a case bordering on capital offence and referred it to the DPP for advice. He adjourned the case till January 25, next year.

Olulade vows to improve health sector Chukwuma Oparaocha THE Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Segun Olulade, has said he would do everything within his power to draw the attention of the state government to the deplorable state of many of the state-owned hospitals and health centres. Olulade who represents Epe 2, made this known

during an interactive session he had with media men and members of the Lagos House of Assembly Correspondents Association (LAHACA)in Lagos. Olulade was particularly asked what he intended to do to help revive the state’s ailing health sector, especially the state-owned General Hospitals, many of which were reported to be in

short supply of basic medical infrastructure such as adequate beds, water and other necessary amenities. “You would recall that the first statement I issued as the Chairman of the Health Committee had to do with efficiency in our health centres and our hospitals. Now, it will no longer be business as usual in the sector. We thank God for the governor of La-

gos State and the state government for this new budget, because it will provide us infrastructure that would enhance health services in Lagos State,” he said. Olulade also stressed the importance of the state’s health insurance scheme, through which he said funds would be raised to enhance infrastructure and healthcare services.

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By Lanre Adewole

08037863902 | olanreade@yahoo.com

From left, special adviser to the governor of Lagos State on Public Health, Dr. Femi Onanuga, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Hide Idris and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Models Osunkiyesi at the ministry’s end of year briefing, held in Lagos. Photo: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Dead officer to face trial over multiple murders Olalekan Olabulo DEATH may not have saved the policeman, who shot and killed three people and killed himself at a Lagos Hotel in Ketu area of Lagos State as the police in the state have concluded arrangement to go ahead with his trial. This came as the police command is investigating the legality of the posting of the policeman to the hotel where the killing took place. Residents have also been warned to desist from selling or giving alcohol and other forms of liquor to uniformed personnel. The deceased policeman, Sergeant Stephen James, will still undergo trial and would be dismissed from the force. The state police boss, Fatai Owoseni, who confirmed this on Sunday, condemned the killing of the brothers, Taiwo and Kehinde and their friend, Jeje. The police boss stated that the deceased policeman’s uniform would be used to represent him during his trial. A police source at the state police headquarters told Lagos Metro that the post-

humous trial is to serve as a deterrent to police officers who see death as a way of escaping from justice. “The CP is not happy with the killing and he is determined to ensure that justice is done even when the policeman has killed himself,” the source said. With the posthumous trial and dismissal, the family of the killer policeman would not be entitled to any gratuities from the Nigeria Police Force. The image maker in charge of the state police command, Joe Offor told Lagos Metro that the police would also investigate the posting of the policeman to the hotel. He also added that the police would look at the source of the liquor which got the policeman intoxicated while also pointing out that it was an offence to sell or give liquor to police officers while on duty. A resident who lives beside the hotel, but refused to mention her name for fear of being persecuted, revealed that the late police officer had often told people that he was in charge in the hotel and that the security of

the hotel was in his hands. “Many times, he had threatened people, both residents of this area and those who patronise the hotel. “When he is charged, he would yell at people at any slight provocation and threaten to shoot and kill. “He would often say he is on official assignment and as a result, has licence to

kill and that he could kill and label a person an armed robber and that instead of punishing him, the police authority would promote him,” the woman said. She added that as a result, people were very scared of him because he went about armed. Residents of the area confirmed that he was often

drunk. Some said he often smoked too. A source said some of the staff of the hotel had been arrested by the police and that a police officer told the residents that the owner of the centre or those who had a hand in the incident would be prosecuted because it was wrong to give a policeman in uniform alcohol as

specified in the Liquor Act. A resident said there was an unverified claim that the affected twins were the only children of their parents. The addresses of the victims could not be immediately ascertained, but it was learnt that residents around the scene of the incident scampered when it occurred.

Communal clash: Govt seeks monarchs’ support Bola Badmus THE Lagos State government has called for support of traditional rulers in the state to curb intra and inter-communal clashes in the state. Speaking at the workshop organised for traditional rulers, the Commissioner for Local Government and Communities’ Affairs, Musiliu Folami, said the state government wanted the monarchs to play active part in preventing communal clashes in their domains as custodians of traditional institutions. He said the theme of the workshop: ‘Roles of Traditional Rulers as Community Developers and Managing Communal and Intra-Com-

munal Conflicts,’ was apt as the traditional rulers know how to manage such conflicts in their localities. Folami stated that the state government was concerned about the improvement, uplift, sustenance and protection of traditional values and institutions in Lagos State. According to him, at the end of the workshop, the traditional rulers were expected to be re-awakened to their roles in maintaining peace, stability and harmonious co-existence in their different domains. In her paper, entitled ‘Traditional Rulers as Community Developers: The Expectations’, Olutoyin Falade, a consultant from Douglas and Payne Consulting Limited,

said the traditional rulers were responsible for determining feasible community development programmes based on the needs, priorities and available resources as well as provide information to rural people on where and how to obtain farm input and also enforce government’s laws such as tax and rate payments through dialogue and persuasion. “It is your responsibility to awaken the political consciousness in the community and develop proposals for funding by the community, governmental or non-governmental bodies. You are also to settle household and community-based disputes and also arrest hoodlums in the community,” she said.

In her second paper, entitled ‘Conflict Resolution--Leading a Community with a Win-Win Result,’ Falade recommended that the traditional institutions could adopt the alternative dispute resolution mechanism due to frustration, delay of justice, prohibitive cost and unsatisfactory determination of cases in the court system. On conflict resolution, Falade urged the monarchs as mediators, to first of all identify the source of the conflict, look beyond the incident, request solutions from the warring parties, identify solutions both disputants could support and then allow the parties to reach agreements.

Monday, 28 December, 2015 10 businessnews FG is not thinking of fuel subsidy —Kachikwu

•Deregulation, solution to fuel scarcity —Independent marketers From Muhamad Sabiu, Chima Nwokoj And Olatunde Dodondawa-Lagos

he Minister of State for Petroleum,Dr Ibe Kachikwu has said that the Federal Government is not thinking of fuel subsidy as its main priority is to ensure that the refineries are back on stream. The minister dropped the hint in Kaduna on Sunday while on a familiarisation visit to Kaduna Refining and Petrolchemicals Company (KRPC). He said the president’s main objective is to fix the refineries to be producing to optimum production. Kachikwu affirmed that the processes in fixing the refineries were on and Nigerians had started seeing the results and so the government was not contemplating subsidy. “We have reduced the prices of petroleum products, our refineries have started working. Portharcourt refinery is back and Kaduna refining has started production. By earlier next year, Warri refinery will be back. “So hopeful at the end of January, all our refineries would have been fixed and they would be producing about 10 million litres of petrol daily,” he stressed. Commenting further, the minister also dispelled the idea that the refineries would be sold, saying that, “it is not the president’s idea to sell the plants. “His main priority is to fix our refineries and not to sell them. We can even start thinking of selling them in this state. If you want to sell something you sell a good product.” On his assessment of Kaduna refinery, he said, he was satisfied with what he saw and he could see the commitment of the management and staff to sustain the current level attained. When the subsidy on petrol is removed, the price of petrol may be lower than what it is today, finance and economic analysts have said. For Wale Abe, Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Market Dealers Association of Nigeria (FMDA), the government should subsidise areas that are critical to the economy and stop subsidising fuel. In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, he said finding ways of subsidising such areas as infrastructure would add value to people’s life, rather than subsidising petrol for a few individuals. The FMDA executive

officer noted that about a year or two ago, he had spoken against subsidy removal but now, “I am fully in support of it because whether it is removed or not, the poor and low income earners are not benefiting.” Abe, who said he bought petrol on Sunday at N120 per liter in Ibadan, added that this was at a time when the subsidy could be said to still be in place. “Looking at the cost of crude oil in the international market, the cost of petrol per litter should be

less than N85,” he said. On how importers would be affected, Abe said in a deregulated environment, risk would be less. Banks, he believed, would be more interested in funding importation of petroleum products because they knew how to structure petroleum import finance once the government removed its hands from regulating the sector. According to him, petroleum importers would not have to wait too long to have the subsidy paid, which has been one of the

risks that banks shy away from. “So, it is a good thing that the sector is being deregulated because, among other things, it will be more profitable to build refineries and for players to operate and ensure that the product is available,” he emphasised. Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC) also said that fuel subsidy removal would have a positive effect on the country’s external reserves. He maintained that sub-

sidies are distortional and breed corruption in the system, adding that undue pressure on the local currency would disappear with fuel subsidy removal. “Subsidies are distortional: first of all, get rid of the system so it doesn’t breed corruption and if there are no subsidies, with the price of oil today at $38 per barrel, this means that you might actually find that the price of petrol may be lower than what it is today,” Rewane stated. Nevertheless, he said not removing fuel subsidies would only make the poli-

From left, member of the Panel of Judges, Tolu Erogbogbo (Chef Eros); Senior Brand Manager, Three Crowns Milk, Mrs Maureen Ifada; Grand Prize winner, Three Crowns ‘Cook Like Mine’ competition, Ms Onome Uriemu and member of the Panel of Judges, Uzo Orimalade at the grand finale of the Three Crowns ‘Cook Like Mine’ competition in Lagos, recently.

Customs CG warns NAGAFF against public hearing on corrupt officers Tola Adenubi-lagos

The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Hammed Ibrahim Ali, has warned the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarder (NAGAFF) against the association’s proposed public hearing on corrupt customs officers. This was even as the CG quoted a report on the issue published in the Nigerian Tribune of 14th, December, 2015 in his letter to NAGAFF. According to the letter dated 21, December, 2015, with reference number NCS/ADM/MGT/018/ S.126/C, the Customs CG warned NAGAFF about holding a public hearing on custom officers because the NCS workforce was subject to the authority of the Federal Government but not a private association. The letter, which was signed by Acting Comptroller General of Customs, (ACG) Headquarters, A.U. Sanusi, stated that, “with

reference to a newspaper publication on the Nigerian Tribune of 14th, December, 2015, I am directed to inform you that it has come to the notice of the Comptroller-General that your association has planned and is already holding public hearing on some ‘corrupt’ serving customs officers. “I am also to inform you that the officers are subject to the authority of the

Federal Government and not a private association like yours, and as such, it is government’s prerogative to carry out such a hearing on the officers. “You are to be reminded that in line with this government’s ‘change mantra’, the Comptroller General has zero tolerance for corruption and has publicly repeated his resolve to deal decisively with any

officer found to have compromised the service trust reposed in him. “In view of the above and in the spirit of collaboration for smooth trade facilitation, you are requested to furnish the CGC, through my office, with all the facts available to you that point to the indiscretions of all the officers your associations have discovered to be corrupt, please.”

Cargo lull: Maritime labour predicts gloomy 2016 Tola Adenubi-lagos

Following the persistent cargo lull that has bedevilled port activities at Nigeria’s seaports, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has stated that 2016 remains a bleak year for seaport workers due to the attendant job losses that have trailed the cargo drought at the nation’s seaports. Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune in an exclusively interview, the PresidentGeneral of MWUN, Comrade Tony Nted, stated that

the government needed to address the issue of vessel diversification to other neighbouring ports in the West African sub-region. According to him, “for now, 2016 remains bleak to us at the MWUN because as I am speaking to you, there is no single vessel berthing at the whole of Apapa and Tin-Can port due to unfavourable government policies. “Prior to now, vessel used to compete for space at the Apapa and Tin-Can port during this end of the

year period. Sometimes, we used to have about 27 vessels at Apapa while about 15 vessels will be at the Tin-Can port. That was how we used to have our hands filled up during the end of the year rush. “But all that has gone. As I speak to you, Apapa and Tin-Can ports are virtually empty. There is no activity going on at the ports. The government policies on rice and the auto policy have led us into the worst ever end of the year activity in 2015.

cy adjustment more painful, as fuel subsidy alone account for 30 per cent of the country’s import bill and form major sources of leakages in the system. In an earlier interview, Rewane stated: “The truth is that refineries were producing before subsidies were introduced. Subsidies are a gap between the price and the cost. Even if you produce at the refineries and you are selling at below the cost of production, then you create a subsidy. “The subsidy is a number; the subsidy system is a system that breeds corruption. Get rid of the subsidy system and then the number will be an efficient number,” he said. Other analysts believe that as the price of crude oil goes down, the need to remove fuel subsidy becomes imperative. “What we are being told is market forces do not work in Nigeria. No other time is ripe for fuel subsidy removal and cancellation of petroleum equalization fund than now, so that petroleum product pricing could reflect carrying cost,” stated Damian Ugo, an economist and former banker with defunct Oceanic Bank Plc. Opeyemi Agbaje, Senior Consultant/Chief Executive Officer, RTC Advisory Services Limited, in a paper, ‘Nigeria in an Era of Forced Economic Restructuring’, recently presented at the Financial Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) forum in Lagos, said, “The falling prices of crude oil in the international market has placed Nigeria in a situation where policy makers must restructure the economy. And one way of doing so is subsidy removal.” Meanwhile, following failure of the Federal Government to curb the lingering fuel scarcity which commenced over two months ago across the country, marketers are again calling for the deregulation of the downstream sector. Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, the National Operation Controller, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mr. Mike Osatuyi, FCA, stated that the only solution to the problem of perennial scarcity is for the Federal Government to deregulate. According to him, “The ultimate is to deregulate the downstream sector. Let the Federal Government deregulate. We are the stakeholders, we are the players.”

business

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

daily summary (equities) for WEDNESDAY, 23 DECEMBER, 2015

LAST WEEK top 5 gainers

LAST WEEK top 5 losers

news

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Clerics preach love at Christmas By Tunde Ogunesan

he Bishop, Methodist Church Nigeria, Wesley Cathedral, Elekuro, Ibadan, Right Rev Olumuyiwa Odejayi, has urged Nigerians to love one another as demonstrated by Jesus Christ. Reading from Isaiah 9: 2-7, Bishop Odejayi said that the birth of Jesus Christ in a manger was a

demonstration of his love for humanity regardless of status, tribe and position. The Methodist minister also enjoined the congregation to shun such vices as greed and covetousness to endear them to Christ who lived a life of holiness. Rt Rev Odejayi also enjoined the people to share gifts with others as Christmas was a time of joy. Also at Cook Memorial Baptist Church, Oja’ba,

Ibadan, the presiding minister, Reverend (Dr) Isaac Awoniyi, ministering on the topic “Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ,” called on Christians to

cleverly observe the reasons Christians celebrate the season. Reading from Isaiah 9:19, Rev (Dr) Awoniyi expatiated on the reasons, time,

how and where Christmas should be celebrated. He noted that the birth of Jesus exemplified total love, high sense of gift and humility in lifting the fortune

of the less privileged during Christmas celebration. He used the occasion to enjoin Christians to shun celebrations that God frowns at.

Preach tolerance, Gani Adams urges religious leaders The National Coordinator of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Chief Gani Adams, on Sunday, advised religious leaders to preach tolerance to keep the nation together. This was contained in a statement signed by his Director of Media and Publicity and made available to newsmen in Lagos. According to the statement, religious intolerance has resulted in pockets of violence by some fanatics, particularly in the North East in the guise of religion. The statement said that the OPC leader spoke at

the maiden Christmas Carol and Nine Lessons sponsored by Gani Adams Foundation and held at All Season Plaza in Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos. “Even within the same Christianity, whenever there was a festival, we would go from one Christian denomination to another to wine and dine without giving a damn whether the family is Pentecostal or white garment. “Such was the excitement in those days, but unfortunately this practice has nearly faded away as everyone now lives in suspicion of his neighbour.”

Shoprite: Akure residents lament early closure on Xmas day Hakeem Gbadamosi -Akure

Hundreds of customers in Akure, Ondo State capital, were on Christmas Day, turned back by the management of newly inaugurated Shopping mall, also known as Shoprite, as the mall closed all transactions about 3p.m. While other shops within the mall remained open for business, the main store, Shoprite Store, which occupies 27 per cent of the mall, was closed at exactly 3 p.m. Most customers who visited the mall after 3p.m. went back disappointed and lamented the development as all other supermarkets within the state capital have also closed to observe the Christmas holiday. Some of the customers

who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune expressed disappointment over the development and said the management of the store should have issued a prior notice that the shop would close earlier for the day. Speaking, Mrs Matilda Akinfayomi said “I visited the Shoprite in the morning and picked some few things since we were on our way to the church, we believed we can always come back to pick some few things we will need after the church service, but I was shocked when I got here to find the place locked.” She explained that she had visited other shopping malls in Ibadan and Lagos on Christmas Day where they opened for business 24 hours on such day.

Wife of Ekiti State governor, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose; wife of the deputy governor, Deaconess Janet Olusola; wife of the speaker, state House of Assembly, Mrs Moji Oluwawole; state PDP Women Leader, Mrs Yemisi Afolabi, flanked by children, to cut the 2015 Christmas party cake, at the Government House ground, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Governor Wike, wife, host children to Christmas party Pledges children’s welfare promotion Wife of Rivers State governor, Justice Suzzette Nyesom-Wike has declared that the state government would always promote the welfare of Rivers children as a way of securing the state’s future. Justice Wike and her husband, the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Boxing Day, crowned the Christmas by celebrating with Rivers children from all backgrounds. According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the governor on electronic Media, Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, the children’s Christmas party, held at the Fore-court of the Government House, Port Harcourt, saw Governor Wike and his wife interacting with the children, playing games and riding on a train with them. Speaking at the event, wife of Rivers State governor, Justice Suzzette Wike said that the Christmas Party was organised to fos-

Hoodlums mar turnout at National Theatre SOME food vendors at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos State, on Sunday, alleged that actitivites of hoodlums have marred turnout of fun seekers at the place. The vendors operating in the premises told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the activities of the urchins on Christmas day had reduced turnout drastically. The vendors and other business operators in the theatre urged fun seek-

ers to visit the theatre as usual, saying that security had improved and that no calamity would be condoned. They also appealed to relevant authorities to provide adequate security in the theatre during all festive periods. Alhaja Modinat, a vendor, said the hoodlums operated with impunity on Christmas day, which had affected their sales.”Even with the presence of a police post within the theatre,

hoodlums still operated unabated,” she said. Another vendor, simply identified as Mama Biliki, told NAN in Yoruba language that the low turnout since the Christmas day was due to the criminality experienced. According to her, this has tarnished the image of the theatre, which was a go to destination for fun seekers. “The theatre has never experienced such a tremendous amout of criminality in past years.

ter friendship amongst the future leaders of the state. The governor’s wife noted that the Wike administration would always implement programmes and projects that would guarantee the future of Rivers children.

She said Christmas is a season of sharing love and gifts, premised on the ideals laid down by Jesus Christ. According to her, the joy shared with the children and the happiness that flowed from all the interac-

tions were the true essence of Christmas. Present at the children’s party were leaders of Rivers State top government functionaries and women groups. The children were also entertained by comedians and musicians.

Christmas celebration defies religion —Senator Folarin The former Senate majority leader and the gubernatorial candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in April 2015 governorship election in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin, has joined Christians in the state to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. He stated that the Christmas celebration is one that defies religion, expressing

that it was a time to express love and charity. He noted in a release made available to CEOAfrica that the Christmas season was one dear to all mankind, adding that Nigerians should be peaceful and accommodating during and after the festive season. “On behalf of my family and I, we heartily express

our seasonal greetings to the good people of Oyo State. “This joyful season is dear to everyone because of its significance in the life of mankind. It is an occasion to genuinely express love and charity regardless of religion boundaries because it can unite and help withstand the hard time we presently find ourselves.”

APC chieftain berates Kogi govt over bleak Xmas Yinka Oladoyinbo -Lokoja

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, Dr Tom Ohikere, on Sunday, berated the state government over its inability to pay salaries of workers, leading to a bleak Christmas celebration in the state. He said the four-year tenure of the state governor, Captain Idris Wada, was a waste, saying the administration had nothing to show for its four years in office. Ohikere, a former Commissioner for Information in the state, said the people had a bleak Christmas celebration this year because of the failure of Wada led administration to pay workers their salary and other entitlements. He said in a civil service

state like Kogi, every economic and social activity depends on salary payment, noting that non payment of salary had negatively affected the economy of the state. The APC stalwart positioned that in a recent meeting with stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the governor was quoted as promising to offset all salary arrears before he leaves office, adding that incidentally workers in the state public service have embarked upon indefinite strike as a result of nonpayment of salary for three months. Ohikere, who was the head of the Press and Publicity of Audu/Faleke Campaign Organisation, said following the strike action, there is general lock-down in the

state, with hospitals shut against patients and public utility completely paralysed. He also accused the administration of being selective with the payment of contractual obligations, saying that some of the contracts were yet to be completed or executed. Apart from this, he alleged that new contractual agreement is being entered into, especially at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). Ohikere however maintained that the present political imbroglio in the APC would be decided at the election tribunal as the issues involved had their kernel in constitutional interpretation, not particularly an issue of presentation of witnesses.

Monday, 28 December, 2015

news

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Fayemi defends FG's 2016 budget

Okowa releases N2bn for pensioners

Decries under-utilisation of solid mineral potential Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

HE Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has defended the N6.08 trillion 2016 budgetary proposal by President Muhammadu Buhari, saying it was not bogus. Fayemi, who spoke in his native home, IsanEkiti in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on Sunday at a special thanksgiving Mass on his appointment as a minister, also lamented what he described as the neglect of the mineral potentials of the country, since independence. He noted that the solid minerals sector of the country had the capacity to turn around the country’s economy, when its local consumption by industries and export benefits were considered. He said: “The former governor of Lagos State, who superintends over the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing with about N433 billion budgetary provision, cannot say the amount is enough to turn around the facilities of this country if you look at what was involved. “Lagos-Ibadan expressway alone will gulp a sum of N250 billion while the remaining amount may go with the second Niger Bridge, so no Minister can say the amount budgeted is more than enough.” Speaking on the budget, the minister said the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing that received N433 billion share in the 2016 budget could still not boast that the amount would be enough to turn around the infrastructural facilities across the nation, saying no amount, that is budgeted to develop a vast country like Nigeria, was too much. Fayemi said the 2016 budget was targeted at improving Nigerians' lives, promising that it will be pursued with passion to realise its focus. He said: “The budget presented by President Buhari has a focus and the focus is to improve on the well being of all Nigerians and to improve on the infrastructural facilities across the nation. So, what we need now is to prove our mettle by being innovative and creative. We need to work very hard to actualise the focus of this budget and this will only be measured

by the level of impact we are able to make on Nigerian masses.” On the solid mineral potentials of the country, Fayemi said the Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in cement production was enough to attest to the fact that the country was richly blessed. “Nigeria is well endowed. Our self-sufficiency in

limestone for production of cement, marble, ceramic and many others in terms of local consumption and export rate, one would know that Nigeria is endowed. “In Isan Ekiti here, we have clay and kaolin and that was why we are regarded as pottery capital of Ekiti, but what have we

achieved or done with this potential? This endowment can be replicated a thousand folds across Nigeria. “In Ijero Ekiti, there is feldspar, tantalite, Kaolin and many others. Even just look at the stones across the country, if it is just to cut and polish and use as tiles, one cannot imagine

the huge economic gains and the employment it will generate, let alone the export earnings involved. “We have been getting cheap money from oil and now the cheap money is gone. Now, we have to look inward and that was exactly what the budget is targeted to achieve,” he explained.

DELTA State Government has released the sum of N2 billion to the Central Bank of Nigeria for the payment of pensioners in the state through the contributory pension scheme. The Commissioner for Finance in the state, Olorogun David Edevbie made the disclosure in a briefing after the executive council meeting presided by the state Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa. Also at the press briefing, which was coordinated by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah was the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Chiedu Ebie; the Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye; and the Commissioner for Energy, Newworld Safugha. According to Olorogun Edevbie about six states were working with the contributory pension scheme and the Delta State government believes that it was a good platform to take care of the pensioners.

FFS trains 60 state fire fighters From left, Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi; his wife, Bisi; a former deputy governor of Ekiti State, Professor Modupe Adelabu and the national deputy chairman (South West), All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Segun Oni, during a thanksgiving mass, in honour of the minister, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Isan-Ekiti, on Sunday.

Clergy in police net for burying charm in church •I was there to remove the buried charm, he says Banji Aluko-Benin City A Benin-based clergy, Ikenna Okafor, is now cooling his heels at Esigie Police Division in Benin after he was alleged to have buried an unidentified item in the frontage of his church. The lid was blown open by one Chinedu Nnamdi, who lives in the neighbourhood of the church. Nnamdi said he saw the

man of God when he buried something in the ground, in front of the church at about 2:00 a.m. on Saturday after he was alerted by his father, who first observed unusual movement within the premises of the church. He added that Okafor performed what he said amounted to rituals by walking round the church several times before driv-

ing away. Residents thronged the area on Saturday to catch a glimpse of what was buried in the ground even as words spread that it was an animal. It was learnt that residents of the area, who noticed the unusual act, attacked the clergy on Saturday morning when he came to the church. The clergy was reportedly whisked away by police

and is now in the custody of the Esigie Police Division. Police sources informed that Apostle Ikenna said he went to the church to remove a charm buried by some people as the land was in dispute. Spokesman for the Edo Police Command, DSP Osifo Abiodun, confirmed the incident, adding that the matter was being investigated.

Glo-sponsored One Lagos Fiesta kicks off THE countdown to the New Year has begun in an exciting fashion for Lagosians as the One Lagos Fiesta, a end-of-year programme introduced by the state government and sponsored by Globacom kicked off in five locations in Lagos State, on Sunday. At Globacom’s stand at Bar Beach, the event commenced at 8:00 a.m. when a Disc Jockey (DJ) began blasting all genres of lively music, while facilities for amusement such as table

soccer and snooker tables engaged the attention of the crowd. A number of local artistes, including comedians later took turn to entertain the excited crowd, who gathered at the stands while more thrilling acts are slated for later in the day and the remaining four days in 2015. Globacom’s stands at the other locations, namely Ikorodu Town Hall; Badagry Grammar School; Agege Stadium and Epe

Youth Center were equally full of activities. Globacom’s Senior Manager, Events, Sola Mogaji at the inauguration of the event earlier in the month said: “Our participation in this noble entertainment project is our way of reinforcing government’s efforts at creating commercial value within the entertainment industry. Lagosians should expect the premium Glo treatment that promises optimum fun with the full

complement of our iconic brand ambassadors who rank among the best in the industry.” The Lagos State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Folorunsho Folarin-Coker said the concept of One Lagos Fiesta (OLF) will entrench arts and culture in Lagos State. Top artistes who will be on parade during the Grand Finale include African China, 9ice, Sound Sultan, Baba Dee, May Dee, Y Cee, Jaywon and Dr Sid.

THE Federal Fire Service (FFS) has trained 60 fire fighters in a twoweek intensive course on fire prevention and code enforcement against fire incidence during the yuletide and beyond. The training, which was held at the National Fire Academy (NFA), Sheda, Abuja is targeted in keeping the commitment of the FFS to boost relevant knowledge and skill on the fire fighters towards domestication of the code and its enforcement. While issuing certificates to the participants, the Controller General, FFS, Anebi Joseph Garba said the FFS has offered to organise Fire Safety Plan Examiners and Code Enforcement and Fire investigation, respectively, for the benefit of Fire Service personnel in the states. Impressed by the number of participants from the states, the Fire Service boss charged them to take back to their various State Fire Services all that they had acquired as an ambassador of the college and impact positively on other colleagues in order to ensure effective Fire Prevention and Code Enforcement at State and Local Government levels.

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune PHOTOS: TOMMY ADEGBITE

XMAS FUN SEEKERS AT TRANS AMUSEMENT PARK AND AGODI GARDEN, IBADAN

Swimmers at Agodi Garden.

Enjoyment galore.

Merry makers at Park.

Busy with phones.

Another set of swimmers at Agodi Garden.

Fun seekers at Amusement Park.

A female swimmer.

Merry Xmas.

Monday, 28 December, 2015 With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

Former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao- Akala and his wife, Oluwakemi, during the Christmas thanksgiving ceremony held at First Baptist Church, Ogbomoso. PHOTO: ALABA IGBAROOLA.

Chief Rotimi Olagunju and his wife, founder of Sola Olagunju Foundation (SOF), Chief (Mrs) Olusola Olagunju, presenting a gift to the special children of H.I.A. Agodi-Gate, Ibadan, during the 2015 Christmas party for children with special needs, at Trans Amusement Park, Bodija. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU

From left, Apostle Ogundele, Deaconess Olaoye, Mr Oluwafemi Ogundele and his wife, Folake, Deacon Olaoye and Prophetess Ogundele, during the wedding of Mr and Mrs Ogundele, at Ibadan North West Local Government, Onireke, Ibadan, recently.

National Chairman, Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam (right), receiving an award of Leadership of Excellence from the national chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Chief Peter Ameh, in Ibadan, Oyo State, during the IPAC national conference, recently.

Mr Adebayo Emmanuel Adejumo, flanked by his parents, Archbishop Julius Adejumo (second left) and Mrs Deborah Adejumo (second right). With them is Mr and Mrs Folabi Dada, during the graduation ceremony at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, recently. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

From left, Centre Manager, United Parcel Service, Ibadan, Mr Olaniyi Bashorun; Charter President, Rotary Club of Ibadan Onireke Neighbourhood R.I District 9125, Mr Adedotun Amori; Head-Teacher, Methodist Primary School III, Ayankoya, Oke Ado, Ibadan, Mrs R.O Layo-Isinkaye; Executive Director (Operations), Zygosis Nigeria Limited, Dr Adebayo Kolade and the Marketing Manager, Indomie Instant Noodles, Mr Olufemi Dennis at #Giving Tuesday 2015 organised by Rotary Club of Ibadan, Onireke Neighbourhood, recently.

The celebrant, Mrs Stella Oyindamola Adebogun (fifth right); Chief Nelson Adejumo Adebogun, her husband (fifth left) with their children, cutting the 70th birthday cake at a reception held at Genesis Hotel, Molete, Ibadan, recently. PHOTO: Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;TOYIN

Bishop Abiodun Adeniyi cutting his 50th birthday cake with his wife, Oluwatoyin Priscila, at thanksgiving reception held at Christ Life Church, Garden of Victory, Old Ife Road, Ibadan. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU

Mr Samson Abiodun Omisode and his wife, Juliana Funmilayo (nee Adegbite), during their wedding held at The Apostolic Church, Imalefalafia District Centre, Oke-Ado Area, Ibadan, recently.

For bookings, contact â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Laolu Afolabi on 08054681741 or Tommy Adegbite on 08116954631

INSIDE LAGOS

Monday, 28 December, 2015

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From left, Chidinma Ekile; Harrysong; General Manager, Product & Innovation, MTN Nigeria, Aishat Mumuni and Sound Sultan at the re-launch party of MTNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Music+, recently.

From left, Vice Chancellor, Mountain Top University, Professor Elijah Adebowale Ayolabi; Visitor and General Overseer, Mountain of Fire Ministry, Dr Daniel Kolawole Olukoya; his wife Mrs. Shade and Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mountain Top University, Mr Ademola Abimbola Bobola at the official opening and first matriculation ceremony of Mountain Top University held at the Multipurpose Hall of Mountain of Fire Ministry Prayer City, on Monday.

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (middle); Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (4th left), in a group photograph with Commander, Nigeria Navy ship Beecroft Apapa, Navy Commodore Abraham Adaji; Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello; Commander, 9 Mechanised Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Mohammed Sabo; Commander, 435 base Service Group, Ikeja, Air Commodore Danladi Santa Bausa; State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Olukunle Ojo, during the l aunching of the Year 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem Appeal, at the Lagos House, Marina.

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SYLVESTER OKORUWA: 08115708541

Staffs of African Newspapers Plc, publishers of Tribune titles, cutting the cake to mark end of the year party/love feast at the Lagos office of the company.

From left, Co- ordinator, Zero to Export Initiative, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr Kola Awe; Director, Office of the CEO, NEPC, Mr Olajide Ibrahim and Director, NEPC, Mr Babatunde Faleke, during the graduation ceremony of second batch of Zero to Export trainees in Lagos, on Thursday.

Head, Public Relations and Events, Dufil Prima Foods PLC,Mr Tope Asiwaju and Coordinator, Indomie Fan Club, Mrs Ibe Ifeyinwa, flanked by Indomie Fan club members during the 2015 Indomie Fan Club end of the year party held at Parkland Maryland, Lagos.

18 LETTERS TO THE

Monday, 28 December, 2015

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letterstribune@yahoo.com or by sms to 08055001747 or 08054005323. It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

A letter of gratitude to Gov Ambode

want to sincerely thank Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State for having started to fulfill some of his electoral promises, which he made to the people of the state during his campaign. Among the electoral promises was his resolve to end the trend of casualisation in the State’s Civil Service. Recently, Governor Ambode made good his promise by regularising the employment status of the medical doctors who were engaged some years ago as casuals. Many doctors who benefitted from this gesture of the governor have heaved a sigh of relief having been saved from many years of tortuous wait during the period that they were in that pitiable condition. The ugly effect of their status if they had remained

as casuals would have been that they would stagnate on the same position forever without any growth! These are young and brilliant doctors, who would have wasted away due to frustration, and for no fault of theirs. Having known Governor Ambode to be a thoroughbred technocrat, who held an enviable position in the State Civil Service and retired meritoriously before he went into politics, I am confident that with his wealth of experience, he will build a very healthy, cordial and enviable working relationship with the state workforce; the workers in return, will continue to support his government to enable him fulfill his electoral promises to the people of Lagos State But, I wish to respectfully appeal to him to go further steps and kindly look

into the plight of many lawyers, most of them in their prime, who were also engaged as casual workers many years ago into the State Civil Service. Some

of these lawyers have spent between five and 10 years and have stagnated on the same position that they were engaged! Many of them are very brilliant

with bright career prospects if they are given the opportunity to grow in the state employment. I also recall that some of them were not paid their

salaries for the period that they agitated for improvement on their conditions of service. • Emeka Damian, Lagos.

could be painful. Further, economic progress in foreign countries has its limitations in many ways. Granted, the reason most Nigerians leave the country is to pursue a better chance at success, which the economic realities at home do not avail them. Efficiency of economies abroad leaves room to absorb ready and able workers. However, an immigrant’s ambition could be frustrated by habitual discrimination. The likelihood exists that posh jobs could be exclusively reserved for indigenes. This preferential treatment has a way of affecting the psychology of an immigrant adversely. The lack of total acceptance of foreigners overseas is mostly what spurred the return of Chinese immigrants back to

their country. It is not so much patriotism but the desire to use their acquired skills abroad to develop their own enterprise that motivated them. Zealousness of these entrepreneurs has turned the Chinese economy to a prosperous one. Nigerians abroad complain of what is not working in the country. They expect anomalies in society to settle before they could land like a golden eagle to shine their expertise on the paved terrain. Unfortunately, time seems to be passing them by. The knowledge gap is being bridged by information revolution. The diaspora power is evidently diminishing. •Pius Okaneme, Umuoji, Anambra State.

Nigeria can be truly great Circumstance places me in a position to interpret the import of diaspora influence. The instinct for wishful thinking arises, especially when one is dwelling in a land where things work accordingly. One may genuinely intend to transport the normalcy of his or her environment to the homeland. Reality is that the home circumstance brings its own peculiar resistance. Inability to confront this situation forces many in the diaspora to choose not to return. The intention of many

Nigerians was to travel abroad to seek ways to better their lives and come home to enjoy their success with families. Only one who has not lived abroad for a long time or those who are nomadic by nature, will envy the disconnection from ancestral longing. No matter how well one is disposed to assimilate to another’s society; there remains that subtle reminder that one is an outsider. Loneliness during holidays because one does not have one’s family to celebrate with

GIS and urban planning A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyse, manage, and present all types of spatial or geographical data. GIS is a broad term that can refer to a number of different technologies, processes and methods. It is attached to many operations and has many applications related to engineering planning, managements, transport, logistics, insurance telecommunications and business. Also, GIS has become almost routine particle in the management, analysis and display technology of spatial data, their impact on society extends in many dimensions. GIS allows efficient and flexible storage, display and exchange of certain kind of spatial data. GIS is also used extensively in applications such as land parcel and land use mapping for tax assessment and urban planning purposes. Networks are

mapping in transportation route for deliveries and emergency response and also by utility companies for gas, water and electricity and communications network management. More recently, especially in Nigeria, GIS is playing a regular role in diverse areas such public health, surveillance and precision agriculture. The wide range of application users include private firms and individuals, national, regional and local government and their agencies, non profit organisations, grassroots and community groups, universities and research institutes. Nigeria as a nation must key into this technology especially now that we need to redefine our borders and improve on our social infrastructure. •Yusuff Aminat Abisola, Dept of Geography and Resource Management, Osun State University, Okuku Campus.

editorial

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Harder times ahead for the populace?

INISTER of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, said on Monday December 14, 2015 that although the Federal Government had initiated measures to revive the economy, there could be greater hardship than expected. The minister, who was speaking during the consideration of the 20162018 Medium Term Expenditure Frame (MTEF) at the Senate, underscored the need for substantial reductions in spending pattern so that the desired change could be realised. He said the objective of the government was to effect “a dramatic shift from spending on recurrent to spending on capital aspects of the budget.” The free fall in the price of oil – the single product on which Nigeria has depended for so long - has been having serious consequences on the country’s economy. While it has always been a well-known fact that the oil money would not flow forever, successive administrations seemed to believe that it would not be in their own time. They did not only fail to lay a solid economic foundation for the future, they also recklessly mismanaged what accrued to the country from the oil. Basic necessities are either inadequate or unavailable. Petroleum from which the free money has been flowing in has not been developed into an industry. It is only a source of rent which has not been used for the development of infrastructure and the benefit of the ordinary people. What has not been wantonly mismanaged has ended up in private pockets. Nigeria has the unenviable distinction of being a major oilproducing country that lacks the refining capacity to process the crude into finished products for its own domestic consumption. For more than three decades, Nigeria has been importing petroleum products and the entire process is mired in corruption. The resolve of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to tackle the scourge of corruption and ensure discipline in the entire governance process is being widely applauded as a welcome development. This is why Nigerians have placed a lot of hope on the present government to put an end to decades of decadence that brought the country to this sorry pass. The common folks are eagerly waiting for the promised change.

While the people can appreciate the fact that it may first get worse before it gets better, the government, on its part, should ensure that the harder times that lie ahead will not be a one-sided affair. If the people are being compelled by prevailing circumstances to tighten their belts, the rulers should not continue as if nothing is amiss. Nigerians have been notified that an increase in electricity tariff is in the offing. As it were, the increase will not initially be for any noticeable improvement in power supply but to enable the DISCOS to boost their businesses. Should efficient service not come before higher tariff? Nigerians from diverse background, especially top politicians, have been calling for the removal of fuel subsidy as from 2016. In fact the budget for next year has no provision for petrol subsidy. This will naturally lead to a hike in the price of petrol. The effect of these price hikes will be felt by all Nigerians especially the under privileged citizens of the country. The barbers, hair dressers and others who need electricity to ply their trades in their small-scale businesses and are compelled to buy petrol on regular basis will largely bear the brunt because the state has failed to provide the basic necessity. In spite of the constant call for a drastic cut in the cost of governance, there has been no visible evidence that the lifestyle of the people in authority is being scaled down. Nothing concrete has been done to effect the necessary reduction in the remunerations of political office holders in tune with the reality of the present situation. The convoys of most of the political office holders are not getting shorter. For civil servants in many states of the federation, it will be a very bleak Christmas because the wherewithal is not there to pay their salaries. The governors who cannot pay N18,000.00 minimum wage are living at the people’s expense. In the face of the current economic adversity, the Senate has not only increased the number of its standing committees, it has also placed orders for sports utility vehicles for every member of the chamber. The vehicles, ostensibly purchased for projects, will be maintained at public expense in spite of the monetisation of benefits. Should the harder times ahead be for the populace alone? Leadership should be by example and not by precept.

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opinion

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Lasisi Olagunju Lasgunju@yahoo.com (08111813053)

OU remember elementary Maths and the puzzling Number Systems: Decimal, Binary, Hexadecimal? That is the topic in which your Maths teacher told you it is not in all situations that 2+2 would be 4 and that the positions of number symbols determine their values. Remember Decimal in which you encountered units, tens, hundreds, thousands? The farther left they go, the stronger they become in value. Numbers to the right can only be weak tenths, hundredths,thousandths. The symbols are the same, but positions determine values. Just as in Maths, it appears the value of citizens, even in a democracy, is determined by their positions in the public sphere. Last week Thursday, I posted on Facebook my late mother’s lineage praise names (oriki) and a line caught the critical attention of an ever alert academic: Omo onibo kan ibo kan t’oju onibo mendinlogun (Child of owner of one vote that is greater than owner of sixteen votes!). How can one vote be greater than 16 votes,? he asked. That line has always sounded some intriguing notes in my ears too. How can someone with only one vote be of greater importance than the one with 16 votes? Or more directly, how can 16 votes be inconsequential in the presence of one vote? i.e. 16<1; 1>16. That is a mathematical puzzle and experts would laugh and query such a statement in incongruous calculation. But President Muhammadu Buhari solved the problem for me immediately. He is a great Maths teacher ( and this is not about $1=N1 or $36/barrel = N85/litre). I saw the solution in the details of the Appropriation Bill 2016 he submitted to the National Assembly last Tuesday. A direct vote of N2.3billion is right there for 11 persons to earn and spend, in opulence and in wealth, leaving 150million other Nigerians to fast and pray that the country makes enough for them to earn their miserable salaries and pensions. In simple mathematical terms, Buhari’s statement is that eleven powerful ex- presidents/ Vice Presidents are greater in value than 150million ordinary, struggling folks i.e. 11>150,000,000. Maths can

Mathematical Buhari: Eleven votes greater than 150million

be very interesting especially if you choose not to use the sensible Decimal Number System a.k.a. Base 10 in doing your calculation. That is when 2+2 won’t be 4 again. It is the same in politics and in funds allocation - some individual votes are greater than some combined votes in weight and in value. That can be the only explanation for the forever pampering of persons who have always lived off Nigeria. All unjust systems use the weak to subsidize the strong. The poor is made compulsorily to feed and clothe the rich. That is why Buhari would put it in black and white that you and I would contribute N2.3billion for the personal accounts of Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Shagari, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Goodluck Jonathan and their deputies. If Abacha were alive, the figure would

have even been higher, definitely, and despite everything, you would have, from your sweat, added to his loot everyday of his/your life till death do you part. To tell you and me how lowly we count, the billions were even announced to a hungry nation! Won’t it have been better if Buhari had hidden the allocation under some nebulous votes in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation or under some security votes somewhere? An insult you do not hear does not hurt you. Waving it in our faces tells us we are not allowed to feel insulted that a government that would borrow a large chunk of its budget in a year is hiding behind the finger of an elite law to pamper billionaires with our unearned billions. Why are we doing this to ourselves? Do these people really need this money? Do they? Are we not even insulting these men of means with these miserable billions? I imagine each of these men laugh at our folly as we give out to them what should be used to better our lot. “Do they really know how humongous our wealth is?” They would exchange notes with one another and hiss. The law these men made says we must pay them. Yes. But how about begging the big eleven to donate this big money to, for instance, a university? Or to sink boreholes for the thirsty millions in these big men’s areas of birth or residence? Won’t it make a lot of sense to productively channel these billions since we must spend the money? Friends of Buhari would tell me he hasn’t done any wrong appropriating these billions to his colleagues. No wrong because it is what the law says. Yes. But Buhari was elected President because he promised Change. Instead of sending that appropriation bill to the National Assembly with that obnoxious allocation of N2.3billion to eleven men, one expected him to have forwarded a bill repealing that law that says we must house, feed, clothe and pamper these men who do not need our food, our cloths and our five bedroom apartments. That would have given a loud meaning to the Change noise we are afflicted with. Yes.

Developing Nigeria through science and technology By Abdullahi Garba Ramat

SCIENCE and Technology is so broad and has many aspects and definitions but all agreed that its a systematic enterprise that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about nature and the universe while technology is an act of applying the knowledge to provide practical tasks. A scientist can also be a technologist, and vice versa. Both are necessary in any society for it to prevail. Basically, Man has an unquenchable innate curiosity and has continually tried to find out through scientific research how the natural world works. Scientific research can be classified into three — basic research, applied research, and developmental research. Basic research is the fundamental search about nature for its own sake, aiming at contribution to the pool of new knowledge and providing a better understanding of the nature itself but its intent is not to create or invent a product. In contrast to basic research, applied research is usually carried out to address a specific problem and it leads to products or services or to solutions . Applied research is usually funded and carried out by companies, government, research institutes and universities. However, a research which aimed at turning applied research discoveries into large-scale, marketable commercial concerns is called developmental research. In Nigeria this quintessential continuum from basic to applied to developmental research is, as yet, practically nonexistent. Technology can immensely affect the economy through direct job creation, contribution to GDP growth, creation of new services and industries, workforce transformation and business innovation, while it can also be linked to marketplace transformation, living standards and more robust international trade improvement, Technology has revolutionised virtually every industry, its advancements

in the computer industry coupled with that in telecommunications, have increased job opportunities and strengthened economic growth. The Internet has overcome the physical barriers to communication over distances to an extent now that organisations and individuals can easily place orders through online platforms. “The world has changed far more in the past 100 years than in any century in history. The reason is not political or economic but technological,” said Stephen Hawking. Recent analysis shows that economic growth over the period from 1950 to 2010 is indebted to the innovations, incentives, and productivity gains arising from technological advancements as advances in science and tech help to diversify the economy, by improving productivity in sectors like agriculture, while defining new ones. Despite the overzealously talented youths in Nigeria, science and technology has failed to thrive, mainly because successive Nigerian administrations since political independence have not given our schools and science education the type of support and treatment it needs to prevail effectively, the result of which threw us to background zero, making us very poor in the pace of having enough indigenously educated manpower such as scientists, engineers, technologists et cetera who from the wealth of their erudition can grow our science and technology while making it as competitive as anyone’s. History tells us, reminds us and proves to us that science and technology can not and will never thrive in a country where most of the schools are sub-standard and have no laboratories or adequately trained science teachers. Albeit, Nigeria is making some contributions to the development of science and tech, we are still underperforming. According to NEPAD’s African Innovation Outlook (2010), South Africa produced over 86,000 scientific papers – about 37 percent of the total research output of 19 African countries, Egypt produced nearly 60,000 (27%). Nigeria has only produced 27,743 papers

( 12%), Similarly, South Africa was able to secure more than 1,000 patents in 2010 alone, according to data obtained from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO); whereas, Nigeria secured only 18 patents in the last 8 years. This is unbelievably low and still we are allocating a vast portion from telecommunication sector to South Africa. It’s not too late to change course but only if we take immediate and dramatic action. We need a better and more coherent national strategy to curtail the endemic dilapidation, as the sector remains highly fragmented, lacking effective coordination and all what is necessary for it to predominate, our scientists are bitterly complaining about lack of funding. I do buy the fact that fast growing economies must invest in science and tech. Our Higher institutions are plagued with inadequate facilities for practical skills development, our laboratories lack the basic equipment for thorough scientific research. The quality of our education system is extremely low, it has deteriorated to an extent that students cannot acquire the necessary skills needed to be employable or innovative in an increasingly ever-changing world, upon graduation. I asked, where is the Ministry of Science and Technologists? Where are those people masquerading as scientists and technologies? Nigeria is churning out thousands of science and tech graduates each year, but several of them are underemployed, going into banking and other non-scientific sectors. It is time for our policy makers at all levels to be keenly aware that only few countries can achieve developmental goals of economic diversification, food security, health systems, cleaner energy, generating wealth and jobs, and reducing absolute poverty, without the scientific, engineering, and technical capacity to handle these challenges. •Abdullahi, an engineer, lives in Abuja.

Monday, 28 December, 2015

tribune

business

Nigerian Tribune

Group Business Editor Sulaimon Olanrewaju

m:08055001708 e:lanresulaimon@yahoo.com t:@lanresulaimon

2016 budget: Can N6.4trn bail out the Nigerian economy?

Systems (GIFMIS) to improve financial management. “The recently established Efficiency Unit is working across MDAs to identify and eliminate wasteful spending, duplication and other inefficiencies. We engaged costing experts to scrutinise the 2016 budget proposals. They have already identified certain cost areas that can be centralised for economies to be made,” the President told the lawmakers.

From Gbola Subair and Chima Nwokoji

igerian economy is in a fix, with myriads of problems erupting day in day out. For some weeks, now the naira has been engaging in macabre dance with the US dollar, from around N220 to N230 per dollar exchange rate in November, the exchange rate moved to N280 per dollar before it moved down to N260 per dollar on Tuesday last week, courtesy of dwindling oil price in the international market, which greatly affects Nigeria’s earning capacity as a result of overdependence on oil and gas economy. Added to the problem of depreciating naira is the issue of high rate of unemployment. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that Nigeria’s unemployment rate increased to 9.90 per cent in the third quarter of 2015 from 8.20 per cent in the second quarter of 2015, averaging 11.45 per cent from 2006 until 2015 when it reached an all time high of 23.90 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2011 and a record low of 5.30 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2006. Low productivity occasioned by poor infrastructure is also a problem Nigeria is grappling with. Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, in a discourse recently, listed three major challenges facing Nigeria’s economy that President Muhammadu Buhari needed to quickly address. According to him, Buhari needs to tackle unemployment, increased power generation and reduce corruption. Dangote, who said unemployment is a pervasive problem in the country, however, stated that it was not peculiar to Nigeria, stressing that “all over the world, there are growing issues of unemployment. And what we are saying is that the government can achieve a remarkable success in this regard if it declares an emergency on unemployment and tackle it decisively. “You know the organised private sector will or should play a key role in this. And that is why we are concerned.” Having taken cognisance of some of the economic problems confronting the country, it is everybody’s expectation that the 2016 national budget presented by President Mohamadu Buhari should address these issues and revive the Nigerian economy. Presenting the 2016 budget to the joint sitting of the National Assembly on Tuesday last week, President Buhari presented a N6.08 trillion budget with a revenue projection of N3.86 trillion resulting in a deficit of N2.22 trillion. After reviewing the trends in the global oil industry, the Federal Government set a benchmark price of $38 per barrel and a production estimate of 2.2 million barrels per day. Over the medium term, the government said it is expected to increase revenue and reduce overheads, to bring the fiscal

President Muhammadu Buhari deficit down to 1.3 per cent of GDP by 2018. In 2016, oil related revenue is expected to contribute N820 billion. Non-oil revenue, comprising Company Income Tax (CIT), Value Added Tax (VAT), Customs and Excise duties, and Federation Account levies, will contribute N1.45 trillion. By enforcing strict compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 and public expenditure reforms in all MDAs, the government projected up to N1.51 trillion from independent revenue. Although the Federal Government is working to diversify the economy, it is, however, stressed that restructuring the oil and gas sector which has been marred by corruption

If the Federal Government is to make any headway as far as the 2016 budget is concerned, policies aimed at reducing the army of the unemployed must be vigorously pursued.

and plagued with inefficiencies will be given utmost attention. “I have directed the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to adjust its pricing template to reflect competitive and market driven components. We believe this can lower input costs and attain efficiency savings that will enable PPPRA to keep the selling price for all marketers of petrol at N87 per litre for,” the president said in his address. With a focus on non-oil revenue by broadening the tax base and improving the effectiveness of revenue collecting agencies and the full implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the government said it expected significant improvements in the collection and remittance of independent revenue. To tackle the issue of corruption, the Federal Government reiterated its determination to ensure that resources are managed prudently and utilised solely for the public good. To set the proper tone, President Buhari said one of the early decisions was the adoption of a zero based budgeting approach, which ensures that resources are aligned with government’s priorities and allocated efficiently. “In addition to the proper linkage of budgeting to strategic planning, we are enhancing the utilisation of the Government Integrated Financial Management Information

Should oil subsidy continue? This is a question that the government has not really addressed. In the 2016 budget, the government made a provision of N63.2billion for subsidy payment, however, it is not really clear if the government will have the muscle needed to remove subsidy payment once and for all considering the threat of the organised labour should the government goes ahead to remove fuel subsidy. If the Federal Government eventually removes subsidy payment, this will be doing according to the recommendations of the World Bank to the Nigerian government. The bank had advised President Mohamadu Buhari to remove subsidy if he really wanted a sustainable economy. According to the World Bank’s lead economist, John Litwack, “the best time to take such a decision was now that global crude oil price is at its lowest level, doing so would not push the retail pump price beyond an average of N100 per litre, or generate the kind of pressure that would negatively impact on the people beyond what they are currently facing.” Litwack, who spoke at the launch of the new edition of the Nigerian Economic Report, said a strong tendency existed for the fuel subsidy to rise over time due to the fact that escalating demand for petroleum outpaces growth in oil output and revenue. He said the inability of Nigeria to accumulate a fiscal reserve in the Excess Crude Account (ECA), a feat that would have shielded the country from the current price shock, was attributed to the $35 billion cost of the fuel subsidy between 2010 and 2014, noting also that fuel subsidy obligations were expected to reach 18 per cent of all the government oil revenue in 2015. Beyond the subsidy payment removal, it is noteworthy that the government is spending huge sums of money in critical areas of Nigeria’s economy, such as defence, 221.7 billion and education N369.6 billion. Looking at the deficit of N2.2 trillion in the 2016 budget, it is definitely on the high side. However, when we look at the global trend, the Federal Government has not committed any sin by planning to borrow such a huge amount of fund. The real issue is how such borrowing is deployed. President Buhari has, however, allayed the fear of many Nigerians regarding the high Continues on pg22

tribunebusiness

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

CAN 2016 budget revive Nigeria’s economy? Continues from pg21

level of budget deficit when he disclosed that 2016 borrowings will be principally directed to funding capital projects. He said the sum of N113 billion would be set aside for a Sinking Fund towards the retirement of maturing loans; while N1.36 trillion has been provided for foreign and domestic debt service. Besides, he said the deficit, which is about 2.6 per cent of the country Gross Domestic Product (GDP), would just give us a debt to GDP ratio of 14 per cent, a globally acceptable threshold. If the Federal Government is to make any headway as far as the 2016 budget is concerned, policies aimed at reducing the army of the unemployed must be vigorously pursued. President Buhari realised the hydra headed monster called “unemployment” when he said, “We are conscious of the current rate of unemployment and underemployment. This is a challenge we are determined to meet; and this budget is the platform for putting more Nigerians to work. I can assure you that this administration will have a job creation focus in every aspect of the execution of this budget. “Nigeria’s job creation drive will be private sector led. We will encourage this by a reduction in tax rates for smaller businesses as well as subsidised funding for priority sectors such as agriculture and solid minerals. “As an emergency measure to address the chronic shortage of teachers in public schools across the country, we also will partner with state and local governments to recruit, train and deploy 500,000 unemployed graduates and NCE holders. These graduate teachers will be deployed to primary schools, thereby, enhancing the provision of basic education, especially in our rural areas. “We also intend to partner with state and local governments to provide financial training and loans to market women, traders and artisans, through their cooperative societies. We believe that this segment of our society is not only critical to our plan for growing small businesses, but it is also an important platform to create jobs and provide opportunities for entrepreneurs.” Through the office of the Vice-President, President Buhari said the government was working with various development partners to design an implementable and transparent conditional cash transfer programme for the poorest and most vulnerable. He said the programme would be implemented in phases, adding that already, the compilation of registers of the poorest persons was ongoing. This programme, lofty as it seems on paper, is fraught with many dangers. According to the NBS, no fewer than 1.8 million young Nigerians enter into the labour market annually, it is yet to be seen how this programme can work, as many experts have said it amounts to throwing money away without critically solving the problem. Rather than using poverty reduction approach, they said, the government should tackle the unemployment issue headlong. Though the issue of the free fall of the naira is purely a monetary policy affair, President Buhari has, however, assured that the root problem, which is the scarcity of foreign exchange basically as a result of low earnings from oil, will be given utmost attention it desires. He said the Governor of Central Bank (CBN) had been mandated to come out with policy and programmes aimed at fine-tun-

Dr Ibe Kachikwu, NNPC GMD

Analysts are worried that the government oil revenue projection of N820billion may have been too ambitious considering the fact that the price of oil in the international market may still fall below the projected $38 per barrel. ing its forex management strategy with a view to stopping currency speculation and round tripping. The government’s stand on this issue is generating controversies in the economic circles. Some economic pundits were of the opinion that the CBN should stop “holding” the naira and allow it to find its own level through the forces of demand and supply, while others believe that the apex bank should go ahead with its current forex management regime with a little fine-tuning. Former Governor of CBN and Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, is one of those who believe that the naira should be further devalued to safe the Nigerian economy from collapsing. Views in support of the budget Ever since its presentation on Tuesday last week, analysis of the 2016 by politicians, economists and finance experts have tilted in favour of the document. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr Bismark Rewane, has described it as “a good and optimistic budget, to be honest with you.” His judgment is premised on the fact that even though the exchange rate of N199 to a dollar is not realistic, $38 per barrel is realistic. This is because he expects oil prices to

hover around $45 to $50 per barrel (pb) in the second half of 2016. To him, Nigeria will have to borrow more because the debt service ratio will change as interest rate will come back up. The deficit of N2.2 trillion will expand and Nigeria will borrow more. It is in Nigeria’s best interest to look at 2 million barrels of oil production per day. “In 2016, there will be more certainty. There will be modest and low risk. In 2015, what we had was high uncertainty. You wake up in the morning things have changed. You can use your card today, you can’t use it tomorrow. That is uncertainty, which kills value and confidence. We are going to reduce uncertainty, and manage risks. This budget is about moving from vanity to reality,” Rewane said in a television programme monitored in Lagos at the weekend. Former scribe of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and Convener of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), Chief Ayo Opadokun, described the N6.08 trillion 2016 budget as the best ever in the nation’s history. Speaking with journalists during the 13th edition of Ayo Opadokun’s Christmas Carol in Offa, Kwara State, Opadokun said the budget is practically pro-masses. He said with the allocation of larger proportion of the budget to capital expenditure, Nigeria, is moving towards real change, all round transformation, growth and development. According to him, since the discovery of Nigeria as a country, the nation has never allocated such a huge percentage of resources to infrastructural development. Also, immediately after the presentation of the 2016 budget, a few ministers were interviewed by journalists and they corroborated the claims of President Buhari. All of them assured that once the budget is passed, things will begin to turn around for good in the country. The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udoma, said: “Given the state of the economy right now, we must revive it and the only way to revive it is to spend on infrastructure which is what we’re doing in this budget. It’s an infrastructure

and jobs budget. We also set aside money for social intervention. As the president explained, we’re going to recruit teachers; we’re going to get loans for market women and do various projects to stimulate the economy and create jobs.” For the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, “What you [Nigerians] are to expect is job, job, job! We’re going to create jobs and then if you look at the budget, it’s an intervention budget for job creation. There are so many programmes that will run under them but all of them end up being for job creation.” Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture, declared: “They [Nigerian farmers] should expect a key support in training, extension services, post-harvest management, in a bigger market abroad for their produce. They should expect innovations in livestock and tree crops. And the beautiful news is that the demand for Nigerian produce abroad has never been this high. That’s what makes it marvelous. And then the private sector; Nigerians are responding amazingly to the call for agriculture.” Other analysts said the budget is clearly consistent and is part of the three-year Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). It seeks to stir Nigeria off the path of oil dependence. It hopes to achieve this through a focus on non-oil revenues by broadening the tax base and improving the effectiveness of revenue collecting agencies in Nigeria. However, ambitious as the 2016 budget appears, it is yet to be seen how the N6.08-trillion budget will bail out the Nigerian economy from its current doldrums. Analysts are worried that the government oil revenue projection of N820billion may have been too ambitious considering the fact that the price of oil in the international market may still fall below the projected $38 per barrel. Even the 2,2 million barrel crude oil production per day is seen as highly unrealistic considering the fact that at present, Nigeria is not producing that quantum of crude oil per day. Analysts were of the opinion that since the country had survived on a lower price benchmark before, the government should have taken the best path of sanity and stability by working with a lower oil price benchmark to avoid finding itself in a precarious situation when oil price slides further. Since President Buhari promised to diversify the Nigerian economy away from oil, the revenue projection of N1.45 trillion from non-oil sources such as Company Income Tax (CIT), Value Added Tax (VAT), Customs and Excise duties, and Federation Account levies of N1.45 trillion and about N1.51 trillion from independent revenue due to strict enforcement of Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and public expenditure reforms in all MDAs is a welcome development. Contrary views However, antagonists of further devaluation of the naira based their arguments on the import dependent nature of the Nigerian economy, which does not favour Nigeria. According to them, currency devaluation would have been appropriate for Nigeria if it had products to export. To make matter worse, the oil we depend upon is subject to the vagaries of international pricing while the supply is being influenced by external sources. While many Nigerians lauded this ‘Budget of Change,’ the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the N6.8-trillion budget Continues on pg30

Monday, 28 December, 2015

+ entrepreneurship People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily — Zig Ziglar

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Ruth Olurounbi

m:0811 695 4637 e:ruth.olurounbi@tribuneonlineng.com t:@Olurounbi

How to run your start-up like Richard Branson —P25

Business trends that will shape 2016 By Ruth Olurounbi

015 has been a remarkable year for entrepreneurs across the globe. Africa, in particular, experienced substantial growth in the number of entrepreneurs engaging on the continent. Significantly, in 2015, 1,000 entrepreneurs were, in one fell swoop, unleashed on the continent to do great things, thanks to the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP), among other programmes of the year. Six months ago, several millions of dollars were pledged and distributed as grants by different organisations and conglomerates, at the Global Entrepre-

neurship Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, for the development of entrepreneurship and Africa. Nigeria has its unique stories of triumphs, as well as innovation and challenges in this space. 2015 has been a transformative year for many entrepreneurs, and 2016 promises to be better, if forecasts by industry watchers and experts are anything to go by. Billee Howard, the founder and chief engagement officer of Brandthropologie, and president of Mojo Risin Studios, who began her career at age 22 as press secretary for the president of the Philippines, and subsequently worked at the world’s largest PR firm, Weber Shandwick and joined Allison + Partners, where she launched the

Brand Innovation Lab, has some thoughts on business trends that will shape 2016 for daring entrepreneurs looking to build on the change and transformations the outgoing year gifted the world. Sound system driving new brand of business models Howard, in her guest post for isocialyou. com, entitled 10 Business Trends For Entrepreneurs in 2016 suggested that “sound will continue to emerge as the new word,” adding that “the audio headphone industry surpassing the $8 billion mark.” Recall that 2015 popularised “podcasting” as alternative to radio shows, with millions of people embracing it across the globe.

Come 2016, Howard projects, TV experiences will be built off of audio experiences, thus expanding a shift that will “continue to percolate with new business models that make sound experiences more accessible.” As the paradigm shift continues, she projects, “radio will continue to experience a renaissance period and will potentially re-emerge as a centerpiece of marketing strategy, as opposed to an ancillary component.” According to her, “audio text messages will surge as well with new apps and technologies appearing to amplify this trend. Continues on pg25

+ entrepreneurship Monday, 28 December, 2015

How to run your start-up like Richard Branson KRISTOPHER B. JONES, a prominent internet entrepreneur, investor, public speaker, and best-selling author, founder and former President and CEO of Pepperjam (sold to eBay), managing partner of KBJ Capital (13 companies), and the founder of lseo.com, writes that Branson’s formula to success is simpler than you may think.

7 low cost business ideas for 2016

2016 holds so much promises, and opportunities. For those looking to start a business, but on a tight budget, these seven great business ideas, put together by RYAN ROBINSON, an entrepreneurial expert, will come in handy for you.

TARTING and successfully growing a business is without exception, a difficult endeavour. Most seasoned entrepreneurs will tell you that building a company from the ground up is hands down one of the most trying, yet rewarding, experiences of their lives. Starting a business takes so much more than just a great idea. You need a winning combination of great opportunities, determination, passion, time, and for most businesses, a bit of funding to get your idea off the ground. Today, we’re focusing on a few low cost business ideas that you can get started on (and start seeing results) in as little as just a couple of days. Here’s even more business ideas you can start while you’re still working at your day job. Start a niche website Picking a hyper specific topic that has proven search volume (you can check Google monthly average search volume for specific terms using the Keyword Planner Tool), will give you the opportunity to become an authority in a relatively small space if you can create a lot of value for the existing audience. If you start generating highly valuable blog content, videos, images, or other engaging pieces of content around a topic like camping with babies, and can slowly build up your regular audience, this authority placement will afford you many different monetization opportunities. From affiliate sales, to ad revenue, sponsored content, and paid partnerships with well-known

brands, you can start generating revenue as soon as you have a steady flow of traffic coming to your site. Launch an online course Are you an expert within a specific domain? If so, there’s without a doubt an audience of people who’d be willing to pay you for an accelerated learning experience that’ll get them up to your level of expertise. Just recently, I launched my first online course on how to win freelance clients, and it’s been immensely successful because I have a vast amount of experience in starting and growing a freelance business. Perhaps your skill set is drastically different. You could be a writer, marketer, designer, or even a nurse, technician, or in retail sales. Whatever your experience is in, there’s a way to teach others how to become more successful, make more money, get started quicker, or advance in their careers within your niche. Once you’ve chosen your topic, easy-to-use online course platforms like Teachable and Udemy can get your course business off the ground in a matter of hours. Sell digital downloads Creating and selling digital downloads like eBooks, in-depth guides, templates, and case studies, are incredibly great ways to generate relatively passive income online. Once you create a piece of useful content that’ll help an online audience accomplish something within their lives or businesses, it’s just a

matter of getting your digital goods in front of that group of people. You’ll want a basic website in place, so that you have a destination to bring in targeted traffic with related blog content and other useful information about what your digital download is going to help them accomplish. I’ve been creating and selling eBooks for a number of years. On average, it takes me just a couple of days to research and write a highvalue eBook that’s a few thousand words in length. From there, I’ll identify forums, websites, and social media channels where my target audience spends time online and start promoting the digital download there. Start a podcast Recently, podcasts have become increasingly more lucrative as a source of sustainable income. If you create a podcast on a specific topic, such as launching start-ups like Rocketship.fm accomplishes very well, and you interview wellknown figures in the industry, you’ll quickly amass a high number of regular listeners if you learn how to market it well. Once you’ve grown your listenership to a reasonable level (shoot for at least a thousand listeners per episode), you can start bringing on some premium sponsorships. It’s not uncommon to charge $2,000+ per month to established sponsors to get their product or service message in front of your targeted audience. Become an online coach

Again, if you have a marketable skill set that you’re passionate about, you can offer your coaching services in a one-on-one style setting. Tools like Savvy.is and Clarity.fm offer you the opportunity to quickly hop on and offer online coaching sessions at your pre-determined hourly (or by the minute) rate. What’s more is that these communities already have a built-in user base of people seeking career guidance, life coaching, and actionable learning on how to clear their obstacles. Start freelancing within your industry Just about every job can be done on a freelance (even remote) basis in today’s digital world. What’s even better is that you can launch a freelance business while you keep your day job. From writing, to editing, graphic designing, developing, marketing, video production, business consulting, and more, there are tons of great websites that regularly feature highly paid freelance gigs. Start with looking around for industry-specific forums and contract job posting boards, as those will always have more engagement, but sites like Upwork and Freelancer.com are great starting points for bringing on your first clients as well. Start a YouTube channel There are many YouTube users generating a healthy income from ads on their regular videos. Some of them even make well into the millions each year.

All it takes to build a healthy YouTube following is to identify high search volume topics, develop your own unique spin on creating video content, and learn how to engage well with your audience. From there, you’ll be able to start implementing ads on your videos and if you want to take it a step further, launch your own website which gives you even more monetization opportunities.

EDUCATION is the cornerstone of any successful formula in young entrepreneurship. As entrepreneurs and their respective businesses grow, the ones that focus on continued education will have a smoother path to the top. I learned this quickly while building up my first company, Pepperjam, which, through parent company GSI Commerce, was sold to eBay Enterprises. Part of this success can be attributed to the education I received by studying Richard Branson, one of the world’s most influential entrepreneurs. Branson, who suffers from dyslexia and dropped out of school at 16, started Virgin Records in 1973 at the age of 20. He began expanding the Virgin name into other sectors, including phones and planes. Today, the Virgin Group holds more than 400 companies. Branson’s lessons are rooted in simplicity, which makes them easy to approach. I’ve constantly returned to them because they produce winning formulas and approaches to success that have pushed me along my personal entrepreneurial career from first-time start-up entrepreneur to seasoned entrepreneur with a port-

folio of 15 companies and multiple successful exits. Here are five lessons from Branson: Have dreams and take risks Live big. Every success story begins with a dream. Sometimes these dreams appear out of reach, and many will try to bring you down by offering negative judgment. Branson loved music and built a business empire around this passion. Many thought he was crazy for doing things like signing the controversial band the Sex Pistols. This took a risk, but paid off tremendously, considering the band is credited with starting the punk movement. But besides dreaming, there is also the risk factor. You must go for it, though you may get knocked down. Branson reminds us that success rarely comes from the safe route. And though risk may lead to failure, you must be reluctant to stop because, as Branson reminds us in his autobiography Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School, “there’s no such thing as a total failure.”

Plan ahead and bounce back from mistakes Entrepreneurship is an adventure, but don’t make it a reckless one. Branson teaches us to believe wholeheartedly in our ideas, but to pursue them in a thought-out manner. One way to do this is by asking for a second opinion. In his autobiography, Branson says to bounce all ideas “off numerous people before finally saying, ‘We’ll give this one a miss,’ or ‘Let’s do it.’” Plan ahead, and propose solutions to any situation, even the direst ones. But if you do make a mistake, bounce back quickly and move ahead. Mistakes will be made, but do as Branson has done in his 40-plus years of entrepreneurship--uncover the problem and fix it. Don’t dwell on the mistake; turn that energy into positivity, and the solution will arrive quicker. And if it is you who makes the mistake, own up to it. Branson teaches that honesty is the best-and only--policy. Remember to share this with your employees as you grow. It’ll help out the business tenfold in the future.

Don’t be a boss, be a leader An inherent role of entrepreneurship is being the one in charge. But be a leader--not a boss. Branson despises the idea of “the boss” in the workplace. Bosses just push ideas down the throat of employees. Branson says that when a boss demands something in the workplace, an employ-

ee’s reaction is usually agreeable, but 90 percent of the time these employees don’t actually agree and may actually have a better solution. Branson teaches one to not be a boss who orders, but rather a leader who organizes. A corporate leader who organizes is able to execute his or her ideas while inspiring others to bring something else to the table.

Applications open for Inc’s 2016 30 under 30 By Ruth Olurounbi INC’S aplications now are opened to under-30 company founders across the world. The company, which celebrates entrepreneurship, says on its website, inc.com, that its annual 30 under 30 feature highlights 30 founders from a variety of different industries. The company says the only requirement for submitting an application is to “wow” it. “Apply now and tell us why you should be on the list. For

instance, will your revenue growth blow us away? Are you making an amazing product? Are you disrupting your industry? Will your origin story inspire and amaze us? Note that we give more weight to high quality start-up stories, as well as founders who aren’t shy about revealing financial information. Inc. is a business publication, after all!” it said on the website. Deadline for application is 5 p.m. Eastern on January 29, 2016!

Top 2016 business trends for entrepreneurs Continues from pg23

“We may also be able to look out for binge radio on the horizon. In the year ahead, ears will continue to become a critical canvas for expression and monetisation.” With the stimulation of technology in Nigeria, technology enthusiasts say they are cautiously testing the waters in this spectrum and are willing to take on the opportunities this expansion brings. Explosion of sharing economy At the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) 2015 held in Milan, attention was drawn to the explosive nature of the sharing economy, which began in the United States of America 15 years ago, and was predicted that the world has not seen enough of the economic phenomenon. Sharing economy, according to Benita Matofska, a worldwide expert on the Sharing Economy, renowned speaker, writer and award-winning social entrepreneur, is described as a socio-economic ecosystem built around the sharing of human and physical resources; which includes the shared creation, production, distribution, trade

and consumption of goods and services by different people and organisations. Matofska is also the pioneer behind the Global Sharing Week and also the Founder of Compare and Share, the world’s first comparison marketplace of the sharing economy and corporate consultancy helping businesses succeed. The sharing economy will continue to explode but will move away from the notion of “altruism” to profiting for the many and not the few, Howard says. “We will see a continued push towards sharing business ecosystems that embrace the we instead of the me and provide value and benefit to the communities they operate in as a whole,” she adds. And as the Economist puts it, “this idea of businesses benefiting themselves, the consumers they serve, and local people seeking freelance employment, will become more evident and an obvious sign of the permanence of our new Uber X economy.” The way Howard sees it, “sharing economy will also continue to identify new untapped pockets of opportunity that can benefit from sharing and also potentially serve a greater or ‘social’ purpose.” Although many experts regard the

sharing economy to be at its infancy, it is, after all, 15 years old, many players in the industry are of the belief that this business model is on the verge of exponential growth and 2016 is the year to birth that growth. Already, the consumer peer-to-peer rental market, an arm of this collaborative consumption system, is valued at $26bn (£15bn), with new services and platforms popping up all the time, Wikipedia notes. Howard posits that questions will continue to circulate about the long-term viability, efficacy and safety of the sharing economy, “as traditional businesses continue to be threatened by new collaborative commerce insurgents, and puzzled politicians on the campaign trail,” but assures that “as the innovation of our new economy continues to help transform society for the good, it is inevitable that regulation will begin to keep pace with innovation,” provided there is the political infrastructure required to make this happen. More disruption Of course “as sharing economy chal-

lengers continue to emerge,” Howard foresees that “they will begin to push market insurgents to finally begin to disrupt themselves in response to the recent tectonic shifts in the global economy. “As this new paradigm shift ensues, we will see a mix of old and new economies leading the era of collaborative commerce forward and new consumer offerings provided across the board that re-imagine what is possible in a given market niche. This push will place a premium on small batch offerings and we will continue to see the notion of all things bespoke impact everything from alcohol to Amazon.” Cybersecurity & mobile Mobile will continue play a significant role in business in 2016. The Cisco projection held that there will be, by 2016, eight billion mobile devices in the world. What this means is that: “All those devices will drive mobile data traffic up 18fold, reaching 10.8 exabytes per month, or 130 exabytes a year, by 2016.” “By 2016, 60 per cent of mobile users, three billion people worldwide, will belong to the ‘Gigabyte Club,’ each gener-

ating more than one gigabyte of mobile data traffic per month,” Cisco vice president of product and solutions marketing, Suraj Shetty, said in a statement. “By contrast, in 2011, only one-half per cent of mobile users qualified. This impressive growth in mobile traffic will be driven by more powerful devices, notably smartphones and tablets, using faster networks, such as 4G and Wi-Fi, to access more applications, particularly data-intensive video,” Shetty added. As 2015 launched a vigorous campaign for mobile compliance, professional experts and business owners expect that in 2016, cyber threats will take a new whole meaning, thus, “businesses must secure data,” and not only that, but must “implement new mobile strategies.” Tara Duveanu, founder and digital planner, Nollar, was quoted by Business News Daily (businessnewsdaily. com) as saying that: “One thing we’ll see in 2016 is an increase in cyberattacks targeting small businesses.” Now that more services are cloud-based, the implication is that cybersecurity is a must. And this is where many cybersecurity enthusiasts and products come in.

Nigerian Tribune

Monday, 28 December, 2015

moneymarket

anchor Chima Nwokoji

m:08032637535 e:chimatitus@yahoo.com

Cost of borrowing to stay flat till New Year as businesses wind down Chima Nwokoji -Lagos

OST of fund are expected to remain at the low levels throughout the year; a level it emerged from last week as businesses and other corporate organisations close down to prepare for the New Year. Nigeria’s overnight lending rate eased marginally to 0.75 per cent on Wednesday from 1 per cent in the last five weeks after the central bank refunded cash set aside by banks to buy dollars. Traders said the impact of the refund and anticipated injection of additional cash from November budgetary allocations to states and local governments also helped to reduce cost of borrowing among banks. The secured open buyback (OBB), the rate at which lenders can borrow from the interbank market using treasury bills as collateral, held flat at 0.5 per cent it has traded in the last five weeks, far below the central bank’s benchmark rate. Traders said about N300 billion additional funds expected to have come in from the budget disbursal

NIFEX December 23, 2015

Bid Offer Change (%) Spot($/N) 199.0000 199.1000 0.00

NIBOR December 23, 2015 Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 1.0150 9.0981 10.8002 12.9468

Change (%) -0.11 0.27 0.12 0.42

NITTY December 23, 2015 Tenor 1M 2M 3M 6M 9M 12M

Rate (%) 1.1683 1.5724 3.3014 5.5724 8.1656 8.6459

Change (%) 0.02 0.34 0.41 0.51 0.38 0.39

Government Securities Auction Date

12/16/2015

Security Type

NTB

Tenor

Auction No

16-12-2015-91 Day

Auction

Primary Market

Maturity Date

3/17/2016

Total Subscription

179656.85

Total Successful

60000

Range Bid

2.0000 - 10.5000

Successful Bid Rates 2.0000 - 4.0000 Description

Issue

Rate

True Yield

4.0403

Amount Offered (mn)

60000

before the close of business on Wednesday. They said although market liquidity dropped to around N230.5 billion on Wednesday from N400 billion on Friday before last, it was expected to rise

again helped by the refunds and possible budget disbursals. Meanwhile, fresh facts emerged last week that financial institutions including Deposit Money Banks are desperately

Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun

searching for outlets to invest the over N1 trillion of excess cash in their vaults. This anxiety was reflected in trading for treasury bills (government securities), where banks and other investors demanded for 291 per cent more bills than the amount offered for sale by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) penultimate week. Trading results show that banks and other investors demanded for N791.42 billion worth of treasury bills but the CBN offered N202.4 billion. Analysis has shown that in the secondary market, where existing bills are sold, the CBN offered N50 billion worth bills (Open Market Operation, OMO) while investors demanded for N236.84 billion, out of which the apex bank accommodated N233.84 billion. At the Primary market, where fresh bills are sold, the CBN offered N152.4 worth of fresh bills, while investors demanded N554.58 billion, out of which the apex bank accommodated N155.4 billion. This is in-spite of the lowering of interest rate CBN

CBN Rates as at 12/22/2015 Currency US DOLLAR US DOLLAR POUNDS STERLING EURO SWISS FRANC YEN CFA YUAN/RENMINBI RIYAL

Buying(NGN) 196 196 291.5108

Central(NGN) 196.5 196.5 292.2545

Selling(NGN) 197 197 292.9981

214.4632 197.8 1.6205 0.3046 30.2469

215.0103 198.3046 1.6246 0.3146 30.3246

215.5574 198.8092 1.6288 0.3246 30.4022

52.2165

52.3497

52.4829

DANISH KRONA SDR

28.7356 271.4012

28.8089 272.0936

28.8822 272.7859

FGN Bonds Date of Auction Security Type Tenor Maturing On 2/13/2020 2/13/2020 3/14/2024 3/14/2024 2/13/2020 2/13/2020 3/14/2024 3/14/2024 Amount Offered (N mn) Subscriptions (N mn) Tot. Successful (N mn) Net Sales (N mn) Range of Bid Rates Successful Bid Rates Marginal Rate

12/9/2015 FGN Bonds 204.7868 5 Year 180 10 Year 180 5 Year 82227 10 Year

12/9/2015 FGN Bonds 205.4112 170.7672 1.4001 0.3028 240.1376 26.7946 15000 4161

11/11/2015 FGN Bonds 206.0355 171.2862 1.4044 0.3128 240.8675 26.8765 5000 2740

11/11/2015 FGN Bonds

1155 1155

17019 30 86.81 30.00

4161 20 58.97 20.00

2740 30 71.05 30.00

20 83.90 20.00

9.0000 - 15.5400 9.0000 - 10.9520 10.952

9.0000 - 14.5000 9.0000 - 11.0000 11

7.0000 - 15.5400 7.0000 - 10.2490 10.249

6.0000 - 14.5000 6.0000 - 10.0100 10.01

CBN Bills Date of Auction Security Type Tenor Maturing On 11/13/2003 2/20/2003 11/21/2002 9/19/2002 Amount Offered (N mn) Subscriptions (N mn) Tot. Successful (N mn) Net Sales (N mn) Range of Bid Rates Successful Bid Rates Marginal Rate

5/15/2003 CBN Certificate 204.7868 91 180 180 180 26.7127 82227 37767

2/25/2002 CBN Certificate 205.4112 170.7672 1.4001 0.3028 240.1376 26.7946 15000 4161

11/26/2001 CBN Certificate 206.0355 171.2862 1.4044 0.3128 240.8675 26.8765 5000 2740

17019

4161

2740

20.5

9/24/2001 CBN Certificate

1155 1155

19.5

pays on bank’s excess cash deposited in its Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) to 4.0 per cent from 11 per cent on November 24th. Since then banks have been battling with where to invest their excess cash.

Investigation however revealed that volume of excess cash in bank’s vaults rose last week due to reimbursement for unmet demand for foreign excess exchange, and payment of matured treasury bills.

weeklyreview

Money Market TRADERS said activities in the money market last week was driven by liquidity level of penultimate week. The level of liquidity in the financial system remained robust last week, due to the reimbursement of the unfulfilled demand at the foreign exchange (FX) auction. Thus, money market rates stayed at low levels with the Overnight (O/N) and secured Open Buy Back (OBB) instruments closing at 0.5 per cent and 1.0 per cent respectively on Monday. According to Afrinvest Plc, “Money market rates stayed at low levels with the Overnight (O/N) lending and secured Open Buy Back (OBB) lending instruments closing at 0.5 per cent and 1.0 per cent respectively on Monday of week before last. “The level of liquidity remained robust at over N1 trillion mid-weeks as we saw additional inflows of N155.4 billion from maturing T-bills, hence money market rates recorded marginal changes.” Foreign exchange market review The Nigerian Naira firmed to N266 to the dollar on the unofficial market on Wednesday last week, gaining 1.5 percent. This was after the central bank sold dollars to exchange houses and as demand for the U.S. currency slowed, traders said. The Central Bank of Nigeria at the close of business on Wednesday shut the interbank foreign exchange market till January 4, 2016. The closure, which is the norm in the banking sector, was expected to have been done not later than Monday, considering the position of the Naira at the parallel market. The Naira had fallen to a record low of N280 to the dollar at the parallel market after beating what was initially regarded as a 42-year-low. The local currency, however, appreciated to N270 on Friday, after the sale of over $20million by the CBN to the Bureau de Change operators. The CBN is expected to pump more forex into the parallel market while the interbank foreign exchange market remains shut throughout the festive period, but analysts said it remains unclear if this will be done. Bond Market Review Recently at a one-day enlightenment programme in Lagos, the director-general, of Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, assured Nigerians that the country is in a strong position to raise funds from the bond market to finance any deficit from the 2016 budget if it is so required. He said that the Nigerian bond market has the capacity to bridge the funding gap in the budget. According to him, the slump in crude oil prices in the international market has made the case of deficit budget inevitable next year and that the DMO is prepared to borrow on behalf of the government to fund the deficit. Nwankwo said the Nigerian bond market has the capacity to provide whatever funds might be required by the government to meet its budgetary requirements. Meanwhile, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) bond market was broadly bearish last week despite the high level of liquidity in the financial system. The fundamental driver of the bearish sentiment was the short to medium term re-assessment of the domestic macroeconomic fundamentals and level of government borrowings in 2016, in light of slide in crude oil prices last week below US$38.0per barrel ( pb) proposed in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and by most state governments.

moneymarket

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Foreign online retailers reject naira denominated ATM cards

Skye Bank MD, Timothy Oguntayo

AHEAD of January 1, 2016, effective date for the ban on the use of naira denominated Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards abroad, foreign online retailers have already started rejecting cards issued by Nigerian banks. Investigations reveal that there have been complaints by citizens who have tried to make purchases but have been turned down. In a circular passed to all commercial banks within the country on Monday, 21 December, 2015, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ordered commercial banks to stop customers from using their debit and credit cards outside the country. The directive which takes effect from January 1, 2016

is aimed at stemming the flow of foreign currency out of the country. The decision by the CBN to ban credit and debit card purchases abroad comes amid declining foreign exchange liquidity. Most online traders are already complaining about difficulties in carrying out transactions. A bookseller at a bookstore located within the heart of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja was reported to have revealed her frustration by saying: “Merchants are rejecting the naira mastercard, so I can neither buy books nor pay for shipments. I have no choice but to wait and hope that I do not run out of stock before a solution is found.”

the hit. Udemezue believes that the solution lies in cutting down on expenditures both in government and in individual lives. To him, Personal Assistants (PAs) and ministers are still being duplicated and each of them is doing the same thing. If the

country must borrow, he added, whether in dollars or in naira, the cost of borrowing will continue to rise, so “We should borrow to boost power, invest in production, and to develop infrastructure. If we borrow to service recurrent expenditure, we will be in more difficult situation.”

How America’s interest rate hike’ll affect Nigeria in Q1 2016 —Experts Stories by Chima Nwokoji -Lagos

herd of financial experts have observed that the link between Nigerian economy and the rest of the world especially the United States of America (USA), will be put to test next year as the decision to increase interest rate taken by the US Federal Reserves (the Fed) is set to affect emerging market economies including Nigeria. Following the conclusion of the last meeting of the US Federal Reserves for the year on Wednesday 16th December 2015, in line with market expectation, the Fed Chair, Mrs Janet Yellen, announced an increase in the Fed-Fund rate to 0.25 per cent -0.50 per cent, from the previous 0.0 per cent-0.25 per cent. This came after about a decade of near-zero interest rate environment in the US; a decision taken as a measure to revive the US economy following the devastating effect of the global financial crisis in 2007. Former banker and financial market analyst Orji Udemezue, said the impact is going to be huge. According to him, funds that ought to be invested in Nigeria will begin to flow to the US and the cost of borrowing will increase. Expressing concern that 2016 is going to be more challenging than 2015, the financial expert advised that “We have to begin to position ourselves to cushion the impact.” Udemezua in a TV pro-

gramme monitored by Nigerian Tribune in Lagos noted that as government continues to borrow to fund the 2016 budget, interest rate will continue to go up. On the effect on Naira, he regretted that the local currency is in a free fall because the country did not devalue the Naira before

this time. “If we had devalued earlier than now, the degree of falling of Naira would have been minimal. But because we refused to devalue, speculation and uncertainties continue to rise. Because we did not take the right step at the right time, the naira will continue to take

In a similar development, the CBN has promised that it would not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions against banks that flout laid down regulations and international best practices. Director, Banking and Payments System Department of the CBN, Mr Dipo Fatokun, stated this while delivering a paper on ‘Overview of Electronic Payments Regulation and Development in Nigeria,’ at a recent seminar. “The CBN has consistently ensured a review of compliance status of banks with regulations and international standards. Appropriate sanctions are applied, where banks are found to have defaulted.” On the e-payment system, the CBN Director said that in view of its role in the economy, the payments system must be reliable, secure and efficient in meeting the needs of users for the purpose of settling payment obligations. “The regulatory framework for the smooth functioning of the payment system is therefore, critical to building confidence and encouraging usage and development of the payment system,” Fatokun said.

Xmas shopping: Access Bank’s 50% discount runs till January AS part of initiatives aimed at helping customers’ to have a fulfilled Christmas festival, Access Bank has made arrangement for a 50 per cent discount for all

customers who use its ‘PayWithCapture’ product to make purchases from some of the leading stores, retail outlets and eateries nationwide.

The promo tagged ‘12days of Christmas’ according to the bank will run for 12 days, starting from December 21, 2015 – January 1, 2016. According to the bank,

only customers who uses Access Bank’s ‘PayWithCapture’ in making payments will be allowed to pay half of the original price of items bought.

Sterling Bank bags ISO 20000-1 Certification IN recognition of its attainment of best Service Management Standards and global best practices in service management, Sterling Bank Plc has received the TCIC ISO 20000-1Certification. With this development, Sterling Bank has met one of the components spelt out in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) roadmap for Technology Departments of deposit money banks in the country. TCIC Global Certification Limited is a Management System Certification Independent Audit/Assessment Accredited Training provider founded in 2003. The company provides the certification audit of the management system, independent audit/assessment services, the personnel certification/ registration and the Accredited Training Providers alongside other value-added

service for the clients. The bank, in a statement signed by its Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Mr Shina Atilola, explained that the journey to implementing ISO 20000-1 commenced in July 2014 and ended in February

2015. The training and certification audit took place between July and August, 2015. Having achieved the ISO 20000-1 demanded by the CBN from the banks, Sterling Bank according the Mr Atilola is already reviewing

proposals on the implementation of other components spelt out by the apex bank as part of its road map in ensuring that technology deployed by financial institutions in the country are in line with international best practices.

Skye Bank trains 100 journalists on digital reporting A total of 100 practising journalists in Lagos and Rivers States have been trained on “Digital Reporting” to widen their journalism horizon and efficiency in today’s digitalised world. The three-day training workshop, held in Lagos and Port Harcourt was organised by the management of the Skye Bank as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The beneficiaries, drawn from the print and electronic media, were exposed to how I -phones, android and smart-phones, coupled with many applications,

could be used to break news speedily to a wide spectrum of audience. Specifically, the participants were finance, capital market, labour, crime and judicial reporters. The resource person, Mr Taiwo Obe, a Commonwealth fellow, in his lecture entitled “disruption of things,” said technology had blurred and erased the line of divide between those in the print and electronic media. Obe who is a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), said journalists are now story tellers “who

tell stories in a digital age.” According to him, media practitioners’ smartphones, Android and iphones are not only journalists’ “powerhouse,” but also the seamless tools they need to convey their stories to the target audience. Another facilitator who is the Managing Consultant at Michael Sage Consulting, Mr Yinka Olaito, advised the journalists to build their own community of online followers and share quality information with them as a basis for recognition.

To participate in the ’12 days of Christmas’, customers are expected to download PayWithCapture from the Apple store, Google Play Store and Blackberry World. With this, PaywithCapture customers can follow the instructions and start paying for items such as airtime, movie tickets, food, creameries and taxi services from Domino’s Pizza, Cold Stone Creamery, Genesis Deluxe Cinema, Filmhouse Cinemas, Silverbird Cinemas, Ozone Cinemas. Others are Sweet Kiwi Frozen Yoghurt, SPAR, Debra’s Grace, Easy Taxi, Bungalow’s Restaurant, Spice Restaurant, Traclist, PayPorte, Mall for Africa, Terra Kulture, LG, Edmark, SLOT, MedPlus, Addidde, Rhapsody’s Ikeja, and Bazaar Farm & Stores. “We are big on giving back. We want to ensure that our consumers enjoy this festive period, and these offerings on PayWithCapture’s ‘12days of Christmas’ provide a valid opportunity to usher them into a prosperous New Year”, enthused Amaechi Okobi, Head, Strategic Brand Management.

Monday, 28 December, 2015

capitalmarket

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba

m:08057336640 e:kehinde_07@yahoo.com

Direct cash settlement kicks off Jan 4 AS part of the ongoing initiatives to protect investors and eliminate fraudulent activities in the Nigerian Capital Market, stakeholders in the market under the leadership of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) will, with effect from January 4 2016, commence the Direct Cash Settlement initiative, which is the direct payment of proceed of sale of securities into an investor’s nominated bank account. According to the Steering Committee on Direct Cash Settlement, with the effective takeoff of Direct Cash Settlement, investors in the Nigerian Capital Market would be credited

Oscar Onyema

NSE: Investors stake N114 billion Stories by Kehinde Akinseinde -Jayeoba - Lagos

ESPITE the short three-day trading last week as a result of the public holiday on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 to celebrate Eid-el-Maulu and Christmas, the Nigerian stock market made impressive gain as it recorded positive returns. The market capitalisation, gained N114 billion to closed at N9.238 trillion on Wednesday, as against the N9.124 trillion of the previous week. The All-Share Index increased by 333.88 points or 1.26 per cent from 26,537.36 points to close at 26,831.24. The NSE sector indices closed bullish aside NSE Consumer Goods and NSE Insurance which had weekly losses of 0.44 per cent and 1.02 per cent. Transactions by volume and value of trades declined by 36 per cent and 51 per cent respectively as turnover of 743.12 million shares worth N6.59 billion in 8,325 deals were traded by investors on the floor of the Exchange compared to 1.15 billion shares valued at N13.32 billion exchanged in 13,285 deals recorded in the previous trading week. Unity Bank Plc led the gainers’ table by 28.77 per cent to close at N0.94 per share, followed by Skye Bank Plc with a gain of N18.70 to close at N1.46, while E-Tranzact went up by 14.70 per cent to close at N3.20. Mobil Plc advanced by 13.64 per cent to close at N143 and Forte Oil Plc appreciated by 12.81 per cent to close at N286.65 per share On the other side, PZ Industries

Plc led with a loss of 7.18 per cent to close at N26.90 per share. Fidson followed with a decline of 6.72 per cent to close at N2.50,

while Avon Crown depreciated by 4.61 per cent to close at N1.45 per share. Continental Reinsurance de-

clined by 4.59 per cent to close at N1.04 and Portland Paints went down by 4.47 per cent to close at N3.42 per share.

OANDO Plc to acquire OER minority share OANDO Energy Resources Inc. has announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement with Oando Plc and Oando E&P Holdings Limited, a private company incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oando Plc (the purchaser). According to the notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), under the agreement, Oando Plc would acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of OER, excluding the common shares held by Oando Plc and those held by M1 Petroleum Limited, West African Investment Limited and Southern Star Shipping Company Inc. (collectively, the institutional shareholders) (such common shares, excluding those of Oando Plc and the institutional shareholders being the minority shares), pursuant to a plan of arrangement for cash consideration of $1.20 per share, subject to the receipt of relevant lender consent and regulatory approvals. Oando Plc holds, either directly or indirectly, 746,107,838 of the common shares, representing approximately 93.7 per cent of the issued and outstanding common shares. In pursuant to the plan of arrangement, the purchaser would acquire all of the common shares that are held either directly or indirectly by the institutional shareholders and Oando Plc. In consideration for such transfer,

they shall receive such number of shares of the purchaser as reflects the number of their contributed common shares for the purposes of completing the transactions contemplated by the plan of arrangement. The consideration represents a 177.2 per cent premium to the 20-day volume weighted average price of the common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the period ending December 21, 2015, using the Bank of Canada US$ to CDN$ closing exchange rate of 1.3965 on December 21, 2015. The transaction provides total consideration to holders of minority shares of approximately $13.7 million and implies an equity value for the Company of approximately $955.3 million. The Board of Directors of OER has determined that the plan of arrangement was fair to shareholders (excluding Oando Plc and the institutional shareholders) and it would be in the best interests of the company to enter into the agreement. The determination of the Board was made on the recommendation of a special committee of independent directors (the “Independent Committee”), and after consideration of the advice of legal and financial advisors to the Independent Committee and the Company. Bill Watson, Chairman of the Independent Committee stated “This proposal represents a significant premium to the 20 day

volume weighted average price of the Common Shares prior to today’s announcement. We recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the Plan of Arrangement at the special meeting of shareholders to be held for the purposes of approving the transaction.” FirstEnergy Capital Corp. (“FirstEnergy”), which is acting as financial advisor to the Independent Committee, has provided an opinion to the effect that, as of the date of the opinion and based upon and subject to the limitations and qualifications therein, the consideration to be received by the shareholders (excluding Oando PLC and the Institutional Shareholders), is fair, from a financial point of view, to the shareholders (excluding Oando PLC and the Institutional Shareholders). FirstEnergy has also prepared and delivered a formal valuation of the Common Shares under the supervision of the Independent Committee as contemplated by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”). FirstEnergy concluded that, subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations provided in the formal valuation, that the fair market value of an OER common share is in the range of CDN$0.10 to CDN$0.50 as at the date of the formal valuation.

directly with the net proceeds of stock market transactions which would address the illegal sale of investors’ securities. Direct cash settlement is a process where cash proceeds from trades executed by brokers on the Exchange settles directly into investors’ bank account. It starts when a client gives his broker the mandate to sell his or her shares. Once those shares are sold, payment is made directly into the client’s account. This is in contrast to the current practice where proceed from sale of securities is paid directly into the stockbroker’s account and stockbrokers then deduct transaction fees and remit the balance to the client’s account. Historically, issues have arisen on occasions when the proceed of sale were not remitted into the clients’ accounts, thereby necessitating the need for the initiative. Director-General of SEC, Mounir Gwarzo, stated that, “with the Direct Cash Settlement initiative, the moment securities are sold, the consideration will be paid into the client’s account. I am happy to report that at the last CMC, our members unanimously agreed that the Direct Cash Settlement initiative will commence on 4th of January 2016. So, we believe this will also improve investor confidence in the market.” As against the current general practice where the proceed of sale for investors’ transactions go into the bank accounts of the brokers for onward disbursement to their clients, the practice under the ‘Direct Cash Settlement’ would be to send the net proceeds directly from the clearing and settlement system to investors’ accounts while the existing practice of payment through brokers would only happen where clients opt not to participate in the initiative. Under the proposed framework for Direct Cash Settlement, brokers were mandated to forward their clients’ bank account details to the CSCS, the agent of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the clearing and settlement of securities traded on the Automated Trading System (ATS) of the NSE for clients opting to participate in the Direct Cash Settlement initiative. Settlement of subsequent trades carried out on the ATS would then be effected by direct payment into the client’s account as provided to the CSCS. Investors are, therefore, encouraged to contact their stockbrokers for more information on how to opt in to the Direct Cash Settlement initiative.

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

labour Migrants Day: A call to action of respect for migrants’ rights By Eustace Imoyera James

N 4 December 2000, the UN General Assembly, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, proclaimed 18th December each year- International Migrants Day. On that day, in 1990, the Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. This year, 2015, marks the 25th anniversary of the UN’s International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (commonly referred to as the Migrant Worker’s Convention or Migrant Rights Convention). In commemoration of the International Migrants Day, one looks at “A Call to Action for Respect for Migrants’ Rights” It is imperative to highlight the importance of migrant’s rights in the society and community at large. The call for actions to honor and lift up human rights of all migrants, and an end to detention of migrant children and their families is vital. In recent times, there have been reports on dehumanizing tendencies displayed to Migrants and their Families, mainly at international borders. It is worthy to notes that the International Migrants Day derives its origin from the UN Convention that affirms the human rights of all migrants, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, and recognizes that migrants are men, women, children, and families – not just economic commodities. Therefore, we should use this opportunity to remember and mourn the millions of people around the world (especially Nigerians), who lost their lives in a bid to search for greener pastures across Nigerian borders. I recall reports that this year alone, nearly 6,000 migrants lost their lives, crossing parched deserts, remote mountains, and treacherous seas. Globally, more people are now forcibly dis-

Dr Chris Ngige, Labour Minister placed (IDP’s) both internally and internationally than at any other time since World War II. There are no simple solutions since the opportunities for safe, legal, and orderly migration are limited. The sordid business of human smuggling and trafficking is flourishing and becoming more institutionalized and profitable. As we deliberately observe the International Migrants Day, the call for respect of human rights of all migrants and their families cannot but be of utmost importance. I reiterates that the International Migrants Day is a day to express support and solidarity to all immigrants; particularly, in this era when economic crises and insecurity has intensified. Current unjust policies and pub-

lic discrimination against immigrants have intensified globally bringing about anxieties regarding issues on world migration. I solicit for respect, tolerance, and justice for all migrants, regardless of their status. The World Migrants Day provides an opportunity to highlight important issues affecting immigrant communities, and also serves as a day for reminder of the rights guaranteed to all migrants by the Migrant Workers Convention, and to make the clarion call for all nations, to ratify and adopt its standards. The Government and all relevant actors must take the following proactive steps: Government obligated without delay to expedite actions towards the re-integration

of migrants willing to return to their homes, particularly the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across Nigeria. In doing this, compliance with international human rights and refugee protection law and standards is very critical. The strategies and actions towards creation of jobs for the swelling teem of youths should be intensified in order to dissuade incessant irregular migration among Nigerian youths. The international community must join hands to seek peaceful settlement of disputes that trigger forced migration currently taking place in some countries. More so, it is important to strengthen enforcement and prosecute offenders by ensuring that those responsible for acts of bias-motivated violence (BMV) targeting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are held accountable under the law. The prosecution of such acts against any individuals regardless of their legal status in the country is a priority for the criminal justice system. The global community should (with immediate effect) rise up to withstand the wanton destruction of lives and property ongoing in different parts of the world through insurgency. There is a high need therefore, to advocates that in other to achieve the above, the government and policy makers should imbibe and comply with the migration policies and practices with mandated obligations under international human rights and refugee law. The overall objective is to ensure better migration Management as a tool for National Development, by harnessing the positive potential associated with migration, proffering durable solutions to the challenges of forced displacement occasioned by insecurity. Promoting safer corridors for youth migration, combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and recognise migration as a tool for positive social and economic changes and fostering national unity and citizens’ identity. James is an Assistant General Secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress, Abuja.

Proposed PIB: PENGASSAN vows to resist sack of workers By Soji-Eze Fagbemi- Abuja

THE Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has, vowed to resist the plan by the Federal Government to retrench workers, especially employees of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as a result of the restructuring in the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). The union, which condemned the proposed bill and described it as anti-labour, said the planned sack was not in tandem with the “change agenda” promised Nigerians by the President Muhammadu Buhari Government; especially in the area of job creation. Reacting to the official release of the proposed draft institutional and legal frameworks for reforms in the oil and gas industry by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, the PENGASSAN acting General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa,

said the provisions in the proposed PIB are not only anti-labour but also not in the national interest. The PENGASSAN scribe, who commended the renewed effort by the minister to rejuvenate the reforms after several failed attempts in the past, stated that PENGASSAN has always been in support of the reforms in the oil and gas industry but with a caveat that it must be transparently done to make sure that stakeholders in the oil and gas industry are carried along. He added that the PENGASSAN would not support any reforms that jeopardises the welfare of its members, noting that the restructuring will be resisted if it negatively affects the Association’ members. On the planned to sack half of the current NNPC’s employees, Okugbawa said the plan if carried out will further compound the unemployment situation in the country, adding that there is nothing wrong with the unbundling of the NNPC

to bring about greater efficiency and effectiveness. He said the unbundling and repositioning of the corporation should be done with human face. According to him, “we have said on many occasions that the problem of the NNPC is not the workers but the high level of political interference in the corporation and we are satisfied that the current government has promised to give the corporation free hand to operate for better service delivery to the Nigerian nation.” Giving the inconsistencies in the proposed bill, he pointed at a subtle ploy in Section 87 (Transfer of Staff) to retrench or drop some of the work force transiting to the new Nigeria Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPRC) with the contentious clause transfer of certain employees. He also condemned the inability to specify the role or status of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (Management Board)

which hitherto is vested with the responsibility of ensuring uniform pricing of petroleum products in Section 3 of the draft bill. Apart from the uncertainty of the agency’s institutional role, he said the draft bill as currently drafted would create job loss, as no provision for absorption or transfer of service for the work force is contemplated. He said the cessation of employment and transfer of staff should be automatic and guaranteed as provided by the Public Service rules and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. PENGASSAN, therefore, called on the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources to engage the national body of the union as a matter of priority on the anomalies noticed in the draft bill and quickly address the contentious sections of concerns to the unions, especially as it affects job loss, so as to avert industrial crisis in the industry.

tribunebusiness

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Will 2016 budget tackle unemployment? change for the better.

Continues from pg22

as a big fraud and executive conspiracy tailored towards mortgaging the future of the nation. The party, through its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, queried President Buhari’s decision to borrow N2 trillion, the biggest in the history of the nation, as the height of recklessness and deceit from a government that trends on propaganda. According to the party, “There has never been any known economy in the world where government deliberately mortgages the future of its nation by borrowing excessively to finance partisan interests while hiding under bogus welfare programmes. This is more so important as the APC in reeling out their bogus campaign promises never informed Nigerians that they would mortgage their future through excessive borrowing.” Whether the PDP see the budget as a huge fraud or the All Progressives Congress beat their chest for fashioning out a budget that will change the face of the Nigerian economy, some Nigerians believed that there is no good budget and there is no bad budget. They opined that many good budgets had fallen victim of bad implementation while a supposedly bad budget turned out to be a good one if faithfully implemented. Dr Pat Utomi, a renowned political economist, speaking on a Channel TV programme recently, described the budget process a huge joke due to non-budget implementation. According to him, there is no discipline in budget process, stressing that “we go through budget as public relations exercises because they are supposed to be done and decision makers go ahead to do whatever they want to do.” He said the main reason why the budget was not working in Nigeria was leadership, which was leading the country in the wrong direction. The issue of poor budget implementation in Nigeria has been a recurring decimal as there has never been a time a federal budget is implemented up to 80 per cent in recent years. Also, economic analysts are concerned that given this economic reality of 36.7 per cent misery index, Nigerians now have to cut their coat to their cloth. The government’s anti-corruption policy, though income-saving, may not be sufficient to give Nigerians the lifestyle they dream about. The government has to seriously look for avenues to diversify the country’s revenue base from oil. There has to be a move from rhetoric to action as there has always been an inverse relationship between the decibel of rhetoric on revenue diversification and action. According to Bismark Rewane, Nigerians should also be educated or informed on the level of infrastructural development that can happen. We should know that we are not completely broke, we are not as rich as we think. Let us save more, spend less and be realistic. What is in it for the poor, small businesses? “The average man on the street wants to know how the budget will affect him. Is my life going to be better in 2016 than it was in 2015? If I am unemployed, am I going to get a job? Am I going to buy things higher than the price I bought them last year? This explains the idea of inflation and unemployment which, added together, will give you the misery index, already at 35 per cent. Over and above that, is another question; am I going to queue for petrol and kerosene? If you answer those three things, then you have got it right” Rewane explained.

Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor Anticipating the needs of the poor, the budget speech reads in part: “We aim to ensure macroeconomic stability by achieving a real GDP growth rate of 4.37 per cent and managing inflation. To achieve this, we will ensure the aligning of fiscal, monetary, trade and industrial policies. As we focus on inclusive growth, we are conscious of the current rate of unemployment and underemployment. “This is a challenge we are determined to meet; and this budget is the platform for putting more Nigerians to work. I can assure you that this administration will have a job-creation focus in every aspect of the execution of this budget. Nigeria’s job creation drive will be private sector led. We will encourage this by a reduction in tax rates for smaller businesses as well as subsidised funding for priority sectors such as agriculture and solid minerals.” To satisfy Nigerians’ expectations and desire for a better life, the current administration is proposing the largest budget in the country’s history, the welfarist government would most likely fund this deficit budget by borrowing. It is targeted at the poor and the bottom of the pyramid. The budget sought to protect the poor with a social safety net, including scholarships and food provision in schools. Social protection is concerned with pro-

I think that all put together, 2016 is going to be a better year for the ordinary person. But that does not mean we should deceive Nigerians that they will wake up on January second and find themselves in Eldorado, no.

tecting and helping those who are poor and vulnerable, such as children, women, older people, people living with disabilities, the displaced, the unemployed, and the sick. “We now have to get social intervention programmes. For instance, through the Bank of Industry, the small scale investor can access credit,” Rewane explained. The government has reduced the taxes for smaller businesses. There is a proposal to reduce taxes for companies that wish to list so as to encourage them to go and list on the exchange, thereby driving market activity which is already down. To the public policy analyst,” I think that all put together, 2016 is going to be a better year for the ordinary person. But that does not mean we should deceive Nigerians that they will wake up on January second and find themselves in Eldorado, no. There is a lot of work to be done by Nigerians, including policy makers in terms of understanding that markets will work; and that policies should be consistent, with reduced uncertainty. “Once there is that consistency, investors will bring their money in and we should realise that though corruption is a problem, inefficiency is a worst problem than corruption.” With an example of a particular state governor who was travelling by air with 12 persons who has nothing to contribute to the governor’s trip, Rewane said most of them are still living like oil sheiks and that is inefficiency. “Nigerians believe that we have more money than we can spend and that corruption is the main reason why Nigerians are not enjoying the good things of life like other oil producers. While the malaise of corruption has definitely affected income distribution, it is becoming clear to most Nigerians that the country is not as rich as they had always imagined,” he said. Despite having a solid growth for the past five years, there is inverse correlation between growth and income inequality. This is borne out by the slow but increasing level of the misery index, which has increased from 32.3 in quarter four (Q4 2014) to 36.7 in Q3 2015, indicating that people are having a more difficult life. Nigerians expect this to

How the budget conforms Keynesian counter cyclical spending Most economists after studying the 2016 budget, concluded that it conforms to the principle introduced by the renowned British economist, John Maynard Keynes. The neo-Keynesians preached the gospel of mega-deficit spending by governments. The classical economic theory as developed by Keynes holds that in times of severe economic contraction in the private economy, it is permissible for the government to go into debt and increase spending to compensate for the falloff in consumer and other private sector expenditures. The present administration has decided to borrow more money in order to finance the 2016 budget. It proposed a deficit of N2.2 trillion as against a deficit of N1.075 trillion of 2015. Nigeria will borrow as much as N900 billion abroad to fund its budget deficit which is expected to double to N2.2 trillion in 2016. It also plans to borrow N984 billion locally. This is to enable the government to revive Nigeria’s weakening economy by tripling capital expenditure. The N882 billion loan earlier proposed by the past government to finance the 2015 budget had to be raised to N2.10 trillion, due to emerging realities in the country. Though advocates and opponents can offer differing views on the historical validity of Keynes and his counter-cyclical concepts of sovereign intervention in the economy, there is no doubt that his theory is intellectually good and based on a serious analysis of economic problems, particularly in regards to the Great Depression of the 1930s. Exchange rate The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria will hold on the 18th and 19th of January 2016. Monetary policy according the economists is for the people. What happens to the exchange rate touches the people. So, expectations are high that the meeting will focus on finding ways to align its policies with the budget and maintain stability of naira. Its focus should be specifically on what to do to keep inflation within check, bearing in mind that a currency adjustment is inevitable. Once the currency value is adjusted, the price of imported goods becomes more expensive and that builds into inflation. “I expect that the central bank will come up with exchange rate policy which ties available resources to the pricing of our exchange rate,” Rewane stated. The country’s foreign reserves hover around $29 billion. Price of oil is around $36 per barrel. He believes that it is political to be regimenting what Nigerians buy and what they should not. Instead, the country should look for things that can be sold and bought both domestically and internationally without fear of competition, and move from protectionism to competitiveness. India and other countries, he cited, have done. In a summary of the proposed budget 2016, FDC analysts stated: “The budget also clearly acknowledges current inadequacies in the supply of foreign exchange to Nigerians and its impact on traders and business operators who are hugely reliant on imported inputs. The use of administrative measures to defend the currency has negatively affected the sentiment towards the Nigeria’s debt and equity markets.” The central bank has resisted calls by investors to make further downward adjustments to the naira despite a fall in oil revenue, but the budget of change is set to address this.

politics&policy

Monday, 28 December, 2015 Group Politics Editor Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 tai_adis@yahoo.com

No PDP garrison commander can pocket me —Oyedepo Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, a lawyer, former commissioner in Kwara State and Chief Whip in the state House of Assembly, is the current chairman of the state PDP. He speaks to BIOLA AZEEZ on the challenges in PDP, ongoing moves to reposition the party for future elections. Excerpts:

HAT has been happening since PDP again lost the governorship election in Kwara state? We went through an election in Kwara and we failed. We failed because we were not united. We were fighting a sitting government, and the weapon we could have used against them was unity of purpose. That, we lost completely. About 13 people wanted to be governor in our party. And we made a lot of efforts to bring them together, provided a platform of unity, so that we would bring the most formidable of them to face the incumbent governor. But, our people had a mentality, a PDP mentality, that once you had the PDP ticket, you were already a success. So, all of them were struggling for this ticket; they were never thinking that you could have a ticket and still lose general election in PDP. Well, that might be excused, because PDP prior to that time had never lost any national election. So, our people that wanted to be governor fought bitterly. It was a bitter struggle; the type that you would never envisage would be in a family of a political party. We didn’t behave as a family. And when one eventually even emerged, some of those contestants simply walked away. Some of them went straight back to APC as if they were sent to come and destroy the chances of the PDP. Some that didn’t go away pretended to be with us and at the end of the day, they urged their supporters to vote for APC in the election. Some were even following us among them with the belief that they be part of the presidential money that may come for election; that they would have a share to recoup their losses during primaries. So, at the end of the day, it was like a party divided among four basic groups. I cannot see how such a party could have achieved victory. So, that’s the main reason we lost that election. Even those people that won the primaries were already behaving as if they were in government. So, they made reconciliation impossible. When you ask them that you are not yet a governor, they were already thinking of what they would do against those that were against them in the primaries, even while we were still running election. How can you make it in such a situation? So, that was why we lost the election. But after the election, I now sat down after I discovered that there were so many things that had to be put in place if we must move forward. You know after losing an election, there might be various options. One is, do you abandon the party and say

Oyedepo

My problem with these garrison commanders is that none of them is above me. So, I don’t see why they think they can pocket me. Is it knowledge, political experience? They are used to having chairmen they can pocket. Mine is so strange to them.

this is the end of the struggle? That’s one option. Two is, can you just travel away and face your business and when you make some little money, you come back maybe, a year to election and then start to make the struggle again?

Another option would be, let us repackage the party and make it an instrument that can win elections. Well, I opted for the third one. To rebrand PDP in Kwara is a Herculean task for some reasons. One is that PDP in Kwara is made up of

garrison commanders; people that have no respect for the structure of the party. They hoodwinked some people in the party to be their followers and they maintained that dedicated followership not because of their superior ideas, ideology or principle, but with material gains or possessions they have. Some of them may have money here and there; they may buy such items like clothing, rice, or ram during Ileya or other festivals, and because of the level of poverty in the society, they were able to maintain that followership. So, you can’t move forward with that kind of people. That was my first hurdle. How do we tame the garrison commanders was the greatest burden. They have influence, exposure, money and if you want to tame them they would react. So, that’s still the greatest problem. Nevertheless, I decided to surmount it. But, who are these garrison commanders? Majority of them were those that contested governorship election. They believe that having contested the governorship election as aspirants, they were already maybe, recognised leaders in their own rights, even if they have nothing within the structure. They act like they can pocket the party and the chairman, which I have resisted. So, they resorted to blackmail. It is more than eight months after the general election? What specific steps have you taken to reposition the Kwara PDP? Now, I decided to take the party back to the people. I and my executive embarked on local government meetings for about six weeks, meeting with party members in 16 local government areas of the state after the elections. I was able to sell new ideas of holding fortnight meetings at ward and local government levels, and to also form committees so that talents that are not available in their various executives at various structures can be in such committees to give them a sense of belonging. I also told them the need for Stakeholders Forum in wards, local government and state levels. This is to attract people people with wisdom, intellectual capacity, exposure, experience and money in the forum. When the party has one problem or the other at various levels, these people will be able to solve them. I also told them the need to get prepared for 2016 local government election in the state. Well, many people raise doubts of our chances in the election with the state independent electoral body, and I said the people that are there now claim to be fighting corruption. Corruption is not in form of stealing money alone. It should also include things like electoral corruption. Provided we are able to seriously mobilise our people, raise high level of political continues pg32

politics&policy Why Bayelsa voters must shun apathy —Kemepado 32

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Mr Alfred Kemepado, Director-General of the Bayelsa State Restoration Youth Network (Reynet), in this interview with AUSTIN EBIPADE, speaks on preparations for the governorship rerun election in Southern Ijaw LGA and units in five other LGAs. Some excerpts:

HE Independent National electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC) has fixed January 9 for the rerun poll in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA) and some units in five councils in the state. What are your expectations? First, I want to say it is a welcome decision. As a party, we welcome it because it was a unanimous decision by all stakeholders, political parties and the commission because the exercise in Southern Ijaw was widely condemned for irregularities, violence, hijacking of ballot boxes, over voting, abduction of INEC staff and ad hoc staff. Hence in the estimation of observers, local and international, the poll was below standard. I also want to say that we are prepared and ready to go back to the poll and further consolidate on our comfortable lead with 33, 000 votes, and win convincingly to ensure that INEC declares our countryman, Governor Seriake Dickson, having scored majority votes and returned elected. How do you see the recent abduction of Governor Dickson’s sister and his commissioner for women affairs with the rerun poll just around the corner? Frankly, I want to say that this is a region, where we have continued to experience the abduction of fellow Bayelsans. When you

Kemepado look at the trend and persons abducted visà-vis the earlier warning by the State PDP of plans to kidnap some members of the party; and not too long the governor’s sister (Nancy Dickson) and the Commissioner for Women Affair (Mrs Sarafina Otazi), it will not be wrong to allude that it is politically motivated. Some Bayelsans have kicked that since INEC has fixed the rerun election in Southern Ijaw LGA and some units in five LGA on January 9, they are of the view that

with 44 units in Ekeremor cancelled, the total result of the PDP should be altered? It is layman’s thinking that the PDP already leading with 33, 000 votes would have its result altered. Governor Dickson is winning and will still win after the exercise. Ekeremor LGA is the governor’s stronghold and the units cancelled are not outside the council, and these units are not the APC Director General, Heineken Lokpobiri’s area. Neither are they (the units) APC stronghold. As it stands, the governor has promised the people a deep sea port at Agge and the road to their community is almost completed. So on the strength of these dividends, the people are not ready to take chances other than to cast their votes for the governor. Aside that, they are elated that they have Governor Dickson from their senatorial district (Bayelsa West comprising Ekeremor/Sagbama) and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development; and they are tenaciously holding to it as a precursor that would determine their votes. With 33, 000 votes separating the PDP and the APC, what advice do you have for your party and its supporters? I want to advise our supporters and Bayelsans to be calm in the face of harassment and violence; they should get accredited on time and ensure they get the

electoral officers’ mobile that would conduct the exercise, and to ensure that the results are declared in their presence. Also, I want to advise that party representatives be appointed to escort results to collation centre to ensure nothing is altered in transit. The APC members are defecting in their numbers to PDP, Therefore the PDP members should come out and vote massively to further widen the gap and subsequently commence the victory dance after the poll. The INEC has asked the police to play a major role during the January 9 poll, in view of the volatile nature of the coastal communities. Does it mean the military will have to go to sleep on the Election Day? Election is civil assignment, therefore the police according to INEC, will play a major role. But because of our peculiar terrain, the military will support the exercise; and we appeal to them to support the police adequately. The December 5 poll was marred by violence, intimidation, killings, abduction of INEC staff and adhoc staff, which created voter apathy. Against this background, how is your party handling the possibility of majority of voters staying away from the January 9 rerun poll? You are not wrong, but even the national average of 40 per cent was met, and we hope that in the January rerun election, the national average will also be met, as we have began to consult with our people, assuring them that now that their PVC counts.

‘Funding now a major problem’ continued from pg31

awareness, and get the committed to what we represent, we can make a difference in local government election. And by and large, this was well accepted by 16 local government chapters of our party, and they are prepared. We also told them about being financial members of the party in order to be real members. They’ll be recognised; they will be able to vote and be voted for. What are the other core problems facing the state PDP? We are not without problems. The first one is from those people I call garrison commanders. They feel they are above the party and so, they don’t want to participate in the affairs of the party unless they pocket the chairman. But, my problem with these garrison commanders is that none of them is above me. So, I don’t see why they think they can pocket me. Is it knowledge, political experience? They are used to having chairmen they can pocket. Mine is so strange to them. The second challenge arises from the first one as in if they don’t have opportunity as part of us or to boss us, they can also campaign to others not to even move near us. So, they engage in blackmail against my leadership. And we have financial challenges arising from all these. They won’t give you assistance and I will be left to look for money here and there, including seriously bleeding myself at times to sustain the party. But, we thank God. There’s practically, no money. That’s the problem. If we have money, in fact, I can tell you that this place would be too stuffy for the

people in government, because they have a lot to explain to the people of the state. And we need to tell the people what they should expect from a government they elected. Last week, some of the garrison commanders were on radio castigating my leadership. They say they don’t want me to continue as chairman of the party thinking that having been elected last year, and there’s a congress next year March, that I must compulsorily vacate my seat and other executive members. But, I refer them to the PDP Constitution. In our party, you are elected for four years. Why will my own be different? They should be patient till the end of my four years. They are trying to cause crisis so that Abuja national headquarters may say it will dissolve the party’s EXCO in the state. It doesn’t work like that. They are people, who could be used even by the people in government. Surely, the people in government wouldn’t want a vibrant opposition. What makes the present leadership

of the paryty distinct from the past ones? On our part as leaders, we’ve been accountable and transparent in our financially dealings in the party. That’s about what we’ve been doing and we hope that people will get to witness the result of the efforts in due course. I also established a unique radio interactive programme every Thursday on Harmony FM, where leaders of the party go to talk to the people of Kwara, particularly our members. It has been a serious challenge to those in authority, as they have also established a counter-programme so that whatever we say, they clarify to their members. We have done all these, but we plan to do more for a proper foundation for future. We didn’t have that proper foundation when we came in and we didn’t behave as a political party when we contested the last election. But now, we are rebuilding to achieve a level of unity. Talking

again,

about

garrison

They should be patient till the end of my four years. They are trying to cause crisis so that Abuja national headquarters may dissolve the party’s exco in the state. It doesn’t work like that.

commanders, you and some members of your executive were accused of romancing with one of the governorship aspirants in last election when you were expected to be neutral. What do you have to say about this? Yes, I think they have that notion that I had my preference among the contenders. Well, during the governorship contest, I had my preference, especially for Dele Belgore. It was not for any other thing but for the fact that even looking and gathering public opinion, people thought that’s the person they could vote for. I’m a chairman that mixes with people and know the views and opinions of Ilorin people, Kwara South and North people. People would even be saying to me: if you want to win just put Dele Belgore. It was not because I have ever tested the man. But, I only wanted to win election. I was for him. But, I didn’t manipulate anything for him. I didn’t change anybody’s delegates’ list for him. The only thing I did for Dele was that anywhere I had influence, I told them vote for Dele. I would not be the first political leader to do that. And when Belgore couldn’t make it as it went to Senator Simeon Ajibola, I shifted to Ajibola. I even persuaded my friends to donate money for his campaign. And even in the election we did, my own local government election result was the best for PDP in the state; better than that of the candidate. Even if I was for a particular candidate, that was the primaries. When somebody emerged, it becomes the party’s candidate. I couldn’t have worked against the party, which I didn’t do, like his so called friends did in the elections.

33 politics&policy

Monday, 28 December, 2015

I will vote against APC if... —Obazee The suspended chairman of Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Honourable Osaro Obazee, in this interview with BANJI ALUKO, speaks on the reasons his suspension from office by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

at the time the election was conducted, the governor was at loggerheads with the judiciary, teachers and so many other people in some sectors. These things worked against the party (APC) and affected the election. I explained these things to him but he still exercised an illegal power. So, you are convinced that your closeness to Pastor Ize-Iyamu was largely responsible for your suspension. A lot of people around the governor told me that I was too close to the pastor and that the governor could not trust me.

OW has investigation concerning your suspension gone? I was suspended on September 6, 2015 by Governor Adams Oshiomhole. I belong to the third tier of government and I was popularly elected by my people. So, I was shocked when I heard that the governor had suspended me. I don’t think he has the right to suspend me. I have approached a court and the state government has been duly served. Without mincing words, my situation is a clear case of political witch hunt. The man judged me, even before my trial. As I speak with you now, the governor who said a panel would be constituted to investigate me has not set up any panel. He first suspended me for two months and extended it by one month. I have approached the court because I want to know if he has the power to suspend a council chairman the way he suspended me. We operate at different tiers of government, even as the constitution has given the State House of Assembly the power to oversee the affairs of the local governments. We also have legislative arms in the local governments, and one of their duties is to serve as check and balance. They accused me of diverting funds at a time I was unable to pay workers’ salaries for seven months. Do you divert funds that are not available? The way and manner the governor suspended me shows that he is incapable of setting up an unbiased panel. I do not have faith in any panel that is set up by a governor, who has already judged me before my trial. Do you think you will ever return to your office, considering the fact that your tenure runs out by April 2016? Don’t you think the time is too short for you to get justice? Whether justice is served or not, laws are not only meant for today but particularly the future. I am not doing this for myself but for those coming after me. As a matter of fact, I am willing to get to the Supreme Court on this matter so that we can for once free the local government from the control of governors. It appears your name keeps coming up over the ticketing and revenue issues in Oredo Local council, despite the fact that you are no longer the council chairman. What is the story like? I am no longer the council chairman and the question is best answered by the acting chairman. What I have been hearing is that the issue may not have occurred if I was in the council. I just believe that government cannot be held to ransom by a party man who has the support of highly placed persons to take over points that were not allocated to him. One person cannot think that might is right. It appears your political ascendency was stalled by your suspension. Where do you go from here? Justice could be delayed but cannot be denied. I thank God the governor is not a court

Does that mean you are fully in support of Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s governorship ambition? He has the right to contest. As a friend, if the APC brings an unpopular candidate I will vote for Pastor Ize-Iyamu. Will you campaign for him? I will not hesitate to even do that in the public. What party are you know? I am in APC, I am a liberal democrat. So, how do you think local governments could get out of the control of state governments? The real issue is not about having chairmen in the councils but making the councils autonomous. If autonomy in all ramifications is not given to local government, then that tier of government should be made like an appendage of state governments like a parastatal or ministry so that those going to that office will know that they are going for self enslavement.

Obazee

I am willing to get to the Supreme Court on this matter so that we can for once free the local government from the control of governors. of competent jurisdiction, otherwise I would have been convicted by now and it that would have affected my career. To me, this is a blessing in disguise because I know that I am highly accepted by the people. I didn’t become popular because I became a council chairman; even the chairmanship position separated me from some people because of their expectations. I actually overrated the office. I thought it was one that will afford me an opportunity to empower my people but I discovered lot of limitations in that office. I want to apologise to those I could not meet their expectations. I, however, was able to tar roads, build markets, electrify communities, build schools, health centers and other things that created collected benefits. I started with the remodeling of the council secretariat. The suspension has not affected my career in any way. Oshiomhole met me in the APC as I was one of those persons who received him and gave him the necessary support. If you say your suspension was po-

litical, what were the political differences between you and the governor? A lot of people have reported me to the governor saying that I have refused to let go of my relationship with Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. I said people could be different in terms of political affiliations and all that but that should not stop relationships that had long existed. When Pastor Ize-Iyamu celebrated his birthday, he invited me and I attended. My problem actually started that day. People started saying that there was no way to separate us and all that. I remember that when the governor had his wedding, Ize-Iyamu was there. So, they went to the governor and said that Osaro Obazee is PDP and all that. I had long told Oshiomhole that he would be the first person to know if I wanted to go to the PDP. I have been accused severally by the governor that we were compromised during the last presidential election. What they forgot was that the failure of the party was not restricted to Oredo council alone. You will recall that as

Are you saying that is the position now? That is it and I don’t have any doubt about that. This much was revealed when the bailout came. Local governments duly applied for the bailout and the state government guaranteed it. I applied for over N400 million because I also paid pensioners 100 per cent just like I paid teachers. Immediately the money arrived, the governor invited us to a meeting and asked us to submit our vouchers and account numbers of staff memberss. I told the governor that his action amounted to usurpation of the functions of the third tier of government, which is the local government. I told him that if he felt the funds could be misused, he should set up a monitoring committee. I said by so doing he would be corroborating speculation outside that he was taking part of the local governments fund. The governor did not actually take money from the accounts of the local governments save for the fact that local governments pay the salaries of teachers and pensioners 100 per cent. The teachers’ salary, on its own, was supposed to be a joint payment between the state and local governments with the local government the lesser contributor. As for the pensioners’ money, for two years and six months that I was council chairman, a total of N22.5 million was withdrawn from my account every month. It was only stopped about three months ago. The 10 per cent internally generated revenue that was constitutionally assigned to be paid to the local government was also not paid throughout the two and half years that I was council chairman. As for my revenue base, the juiciest one which is the tenement rate was taken from me.

34 politics&policy

Monday, 28 December, 2015

How APC can win in Ondo —Abraham AN All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant for the 2016 poll in Ondo State, Dr Segun Abraham, in this interview with some journalists, speaks on his party’s preparations so far, scramble for APC ticket, power blocs, among other issues BOLA BADMUS brings the excerpts:

S preparations for the 2016 governorship poll in Ondo State begin to gather momentum, what are the challenges facing the state chapter of APC? Like any institution, there are challenges. The challenge is to ensure that all the interest groups unite to avoid division. This is common to all political parties. In any institution or organisation, there are diverse interests. They need to be protected. We are now solving the problem, using the experience of the last election to resolve it and we are making progress. What is your position on the agitation for power shift by the people of Akure and Akoko? The agitations are legitimate. Our party will promote equity, fairness and justice. What gives you the confidence that you are capable of defeating other aspirants during the APC governorship primary election? My good work will speak for me. With God’s support and my work speaking for me and the people that God will use, my victory at the primary is assured.

Abraham

There is a feeling in some quarters that the activities of APC aspirants in Ondo State have polarised the party? The opposite is the case. The more you have the aspirants, the more activities you have in the party. It becomes more exciting. More people are involved. A lot of people are coming out with different ideas, vision and programmes. On the economic aspect of it, there will be boom in the economy of the state. Printers will be busy. People will be more engaged in political activities. It increases the awareness of the people politically. There are some of the aspirants, who just want to be known; they are not spending money. They may be using it to negotiate for other positions. These are nice political activities. We also had rumours that some of them may be moles for other political parties. The party’s State Executive Committee (EXCO) is aware of these activities in the party and they are very experienced. Since they know the intention of some of the candidates, it is easy to know those candidates that are serious, competent and fit to be the governor of the state. They know the candidates that are qualified to contest and the governor will emerge from among them.

The lesson we have learned is that we must not sacrifice the interest of the society or the party at the altar of the group. At our level, we build the party politically, socially, psychologically and financially, in all ramifications. That is why our group is called the Unity Forum. It is the only group in the state that is reaching out to the other groups so that we can have a united front to drive away the PDP government from the state. The leader of the Unity Group is the only person that has no grouse against any other group, but I have been organising other groups for unity. This can be described as the bride without spot as quoted by the Holy Book. None of the groups have anything against our groups. Therefore, they all find it easy to work with us. That is why the Unity Forum is growing fast and rapidly.

Are you not confounded that some of the aspirants are building personal structures, instead of building the party? What you refer to as personal structures are groups, which must be integrated into the party. All over the world, there are interest groups that must be formed. The only thing is that the leadership of the groups must subject the interest of the groups to the interest of the party, and that is in conformity with the principles of democracy.

You took part in the 2012 governorship race. What are the lessons you learned from your participation of the contest? The first lesson I learnt was that our people may not be rich, but they are people of integrity and very intelligent. Based on my integrity and the services I had rendered in the past, they rallied round me because they wanted me to be their governor. I discovered that people will like you when you have compassion; when you are honest, truthful

The lesson we have learnt is that we must not sacrifice the interest of the society or the party on the altar of the groups. transparent and concerned about their welfare without what you will gain from them; or without any attachment of personal interest to your pursuits. You can imagine a woman of 80 years distributing my leaflets in the local governments; old men campaigning for me because they have seen the works of my hands in the past. Imagine the physically challenged holding meetings and campaigning with all their disabilities! Imagine students spending their money to campaign for me in the neighbourhood! All these gave me the practical lessons that we are to live here and serve God and humanity alone. As a matter of fact, it is a revelation that when you say, ‘love God,’ it will reflect the love you have for the people. This shows that in all vocations, professions, vocation and relationship, we are ministers of God. Our work is an act of service to God. All the leaders should realise this. This should be a good lesson to all human beings who want to have good relationship with God and mankind. Our good character can only manifest in our work and service to humanity. To what extent are core stakeholders in the state involved in your decision to join the governorship race? During the last primary, when I was not picked by the leadership of the party, the people of the state were utterly disappoint-

ed. Some of them had heart attack and they were rushed to the hospital. Some people were wailing as if they were bereaved; as if they lost people. Others could not manage the disappointment and they moved to another party. Others refused to vote. About two-thirds of members of the party left. Some went to the PDP. Others went to the Labour Party (LP). Some were passive. I did not know the extent of their love for me until all these things happened. Despite my efforts to persuade them, some could not be consoled. Some resigned to fate. After the election, I returned to what I wanted to do in the last three years. I scaled down on my business, went to the university to do Christian Studies and Theology. I wanted to know more about God. I wanted to become a missionary; this gives me fulfillment. Because of the love my people have for me and I have for them, they are still in contact with me and I am in contact with them. While away, I was doing the right thing to the party, instead of building self-interest group. This can be seen in the record of my contribution to the party. These people felt that they needed somebody, who they could trust, who has been providing leadership, who has the economic fortune and the capability to turn around the state. They are looking for a virtuous, conscientious leader, somebody who has international connection that can bring investments to the state. They are looking for a leader who has the fear of God and integrity, a leader who has a vision and a mission. They are fed up with the government of the day. That is why they are making a clarion call for me to come and serve. In the last three years, they have been calling on me to remember that I have a duty to perform for them. I have searched and investigated and found out that over 95 per cent of the people genuinely want me to come and serve them. They are desirous of change. We are in the era of change mantra. I have made up my mind, I have discovered that my service will be incomplete until we have a state that will take care of all categories of people and also assist people in the areas of their life. What do you want to do differently from the current practice, if voted into office? First and foremost, we will work hard to restore our lost virtue and value. We will develop technological and managerial capability in order to harness our various resources, with little dependence on foreigners. We will develop organic food that is now the new paradigm shift in economic returns, apart from IT, so that Ondo State can become the hub for organic food globally. We will avail them of various opportunities offered by our international connections, from African Pacific Funding and Management and other multi-lateral institutions. Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment will be established, with offices in Europe, America and Asia. This will increase our international profile, export drive and employment generation. We should be able to generate about 500,000 job opportunities through this drive. We will set up Government Demand Industry (GDI). Through this, a lot of industries will be set up to complement the major industry that will support the government policies and programmes. For example, if we are rehabilitating schools, industries will be set up to provide roofing sheets and other education infrastructure. We are going to set up People Demand Industry (PDI). Right now, 80 per cent of what our people need are brought in from outside.

politicscommentary

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Constitutions and presidents: How formal rules constrain and empower By Anna Fruhstorfer

LTHOUGH presidential power is a hot topic in political science research, little attention was paid to presidents in non-presidential systems with a powerful parliament and prime minister. So far, scholars have mostly been focusing on semi-presidential systems, whereas parliamentary systems with an indirectly elected president like in Germany or Estonia are hardly ever discussed (with the exception of Tavits 2009). Thus, in my research, I study presidential power in both parliamentary and semi-presidential systems. In addition, little is known about the role of constitutions in presidential power. Treating constitutions as the explanatory variable is unusual. However, some influential studies have sought to explain the central role of constitutions in the conceptionalisation of presidential power. From different angles, Amorim Neto and Strøm (2006), Tavits (2009), Schleiter and Morgan-Jones (2010) or more recently Bucur (2013) have significantly contributed to our understanding of presidential power. Nevertheless, because these studies are mostly concerned with explaining why a discrepancy between constitution and reality occurs, they do not pay much attention to how constitutions influence reality. In my thesis I answer the how question. I argue that specific characteristics of constitutional power make presidential institutions more sensitive to outside influences than others. Therefore, presidents that act within these institutions adapt their behaviour accordingly. What emerges from these actions and what we can observe are different patterns of presidential leadership. Empirically, that means that I conduct a comparative case study of 46 countries for a time frame of up to 75 years. First, I compile an original dataset for these countries (CPS data set)[2], which is based on a new measurement tool of constitutional presidential strength (CPS index). Secondly, using the data set, a principal axis factor analysis is used to confront the unidimensional perspective of presidential power and form two dimensions of constitutional power. This two-dimensional perspective then lays the ground for the third step; a typology of presidential institutions with four types (CPS typology). In the course of the development of the stated argument and the conceptualisation of power, it became clear that established measurement tools of presidential constitutional power do not always adequately describe the president’s role in parliamentary systems. Nevertheless, these facts were necessary for my research project. Hence, I have developed the index of constitutional presidential strength (CPS) for this study. It advances established tools to better capture the functional logic of parliamentary systems, to facilitate both lowlevel and high-level constitutional competences, and to enhance methodological and conceptual issues. Conceptually, the CPS index emphasizes the functional logic of parliamentary systems. This means that it treats the power distribution with the government’s survival placed in the parliament’s hands as its most important element. Methodological-

Saraki ly, the CPS index builds on Fortin’s (2013) description of measurement shortcomings of other measurement tools. The CPS data set, established by implementing this measurement tool, provides a unique data collection of presidential power. From a historical-comparative perspective, the measurement and the data display a picture of great diversity of presidential power within a system of checks and balances. As a result, I observe consistently higher values compared to the normalized overview proposed by Doyle and Elgie (2015), as well as to individual measurement tools. The main reason for these differences is that the CPS index provides a more pronounced portrayal of the presidential role in power-sharing modes. The differences in the constitutional power in Germany and India as parliamentary systems and Austria and Mozambique as semi-presidential systems stand

in stark contrast to each other. Some directly elected presidents are therefore not even strong on paper, such as in Austria, Iceland, Ireland, Macedonia or Montenegro, while indirectly elected presidents are already strong on paper, e.g. Bangladesh (1972-1974; 1991-2013), Estonia, India, Latvia, or Slovakia. From a large-N perspective, empirical evidence shows that the two groups of directly and indirectly elected presidents differ significantly from each other. Hence, statistically, direct election goes hand in hand with a higher level of constitutional power (as well as the president’s role in the cabinet and the command of the armed forces Based on this comparative perspective, I further stressed the effect of constitutions on how their power shapes and determines presidential behaviour in decisionmaking. Whereas these effects are diverse, there are also clear patterns. The strong-

The differences in the constitutional power in Germany and India as parliamentary systems and Austria and Mozambique as semi-presidential systems stand in stark contrast to each other. Some directly elected presidents are therefore not even strong on paper, such as in Austria, Iceland, Ireland, Macedonia or Montenegro.

weak spectrum of constitutional power cannot fully account for these different patterns of de-facto power. An exploratory factor analysis (PA) of the measurement data indicates that constitutional power is indeed a two-factor construct (see also Fortin 2013). These two dimensions are the basis for a typology of presidential institutions with 4 types, which can be characterised by the differences in their level of discrepancy between constitution and reality. Semi-presidentialism research has already shown that countries have alternate patterns of leadership. These patterns vary between “dominant pattern(s)), be it either a dominant president, a dominant executive, or “a shift from one dominant pattern of leadership to another” (ibid.). What I argue and provide evidence for on a case-based description, is that these patterns are driven by the constitutional structure. Presidential institutions labelled the notary (e.g. Austria, Germany, Albania, Czech Republic), i.e. with little power on both dimensions, are not able to change their de facto role. Empirically neither a patrimonial leadership legacy combined with a problematic democratic development, such as in Albania, nor exceptional political situations, such as in 1999/2000 Austria, nor even the newly introduced direct election in Czech Republic allow for an increase of presidential de-facto power. The same pattern can be observed for presidential institutions like the almighty (e.g. Georgia, Bangladesh, Ukraine). Presidencies with above-average competences on both dimensions are so powerful, that they do not (have to) vary their de facto role. These almighty presidencies are largely insensitive to outside influences. Their dominance in most power-sharing situations offers hardly any room for other political actors to establish an influential position. The strong negative correlation with the democracy level of this type is therefore no surprise. For presidencies labelled custodian and firefighter (e.g. France, Slovenia, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine), varying patterns of de facto power can be observed. These cases confirm expectations and established literature regarding the questions of why the de-facto power of presidents varies] – surprisingly both for directly and indirectly elected presidents within these two types. The Estonian case (and Moldova after 2000), for example, provides some evidence for different patterns of presidential de-facto power. Presidential involvement or ‘activism’ (Köker 2014) increases in times of cohabitation; Estonian Presidents for example veto legislation more often and with a higher frequency in this situation. In times of cohabitation, indirectly elected presidents do not have roots in the ruling party. In most cases, the constitution does not even stipulate a role in cabinet meetings. Presidents therefore lose any influence on the decision-making process within the cabinet and the parliamentary majority. Thus, it is no surprise that these presidents use their legislative veto power frequently. Fruhstorfer summarises the main argument and findings of her PhD thesis on the subject matter, at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany.

Monday, 28 December, 2015

features

Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 081 118 450 48

For pensioners, it’s regret, starvation in retirement A 60-year-old retiree who slumped and was revived during a protest by pensioners in Lagos.

Every salary-earning worker looks forward to retirement, basing their expectations on a realistic pension scheme. However, for the Nigerian pensioner, it has been one long night of frustration. VERA ONANA, in this report, claims that despite the Pension Reform Act not much has been achieved.

T is every worker’s dream to retire someday and begin to enjoy the benefits of fervently working. Sadly, however, the expectations of several retirees nationwide do not see the light of the day as pensioners struggle after retirement, fighting tooth and nail to receive what naturally should have been given to them. The failures of pension schemes in the country have been attributed to poor pension fund administration, outright corruption, embezzlement of pension fund, inadequate build-up of funds and poor supervision. Nationwide, pensioners are languishing as their allowances have not been paid in months.

The Pension Reform Act There was hope when the Pension Reform Act was enacted in 2004. But the nightmares of the pensioners worsened as two major employers of labour—private companies and state governments— were discovered to be the major defaulters following their refusal to fully implement the Contributory Pension Scheme. However, in as much as the retirees are being made to suffer untold hardship by their employers, some government officials make living even harder for pensioners by diverting funds meant for their payment. In Nigeria, pension scams are fast becoming normality as perpetrators are left unscathed by the sword of justice.

A while ago, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), declared Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, wanted. The commission, in a statement by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said Maina was wanted for his role in the fraudulent biometric contracts through which himself and former Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye, and two others allegedly stole over N2 billion of pension funds. Pensioners die during verification exercise Recently, the Adamawa State branch of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners confirmed the death of three of its members during the Local Government Pension verification in Yola. The state chairman of the union, Samson Almuru, said that the deceased slumped and died during the exercise, while some other members also collapsed. He said: “We lost three of our staff at the ongoing Local Government Pensioners verification exercise and many people also collapsed. “The exercise is the fourth of its kind this year and there has not been any significant result from the previous verifications.” Recently, Nigerian Tribune visited one of the numerous monthly meetings organised by the 2011/2012 pensioners forum of one of the States in the country, which operates under the auspices of the

A cross section of pensioners at a verification exercise. Nigeria Union of Pensioners. Those present at the forum spoke at length about their sufferings due to the inability of government to pay their allowances including gratuities as and at when due. ‘I am owed 32 months pension allowances’ C.A. Kafidiya, a member of the forum, stated that “I retired as a principal in 2008. I spent 29 years in the teaching service. I have an accumulated pension of 49 months but the government owes me 32 months out of the 49. All of that sums up to a little more than N2 million. “It has been extremely hard to survive. My wife is also a retiree so you can imagine the severity of my plight. I still have dependants both within and in the extended family.” ‘Our arrears are being paid in frac-

tions’ Bosede Ayunbi, another retiree who served in one of the state governments for three decades lamented bitterly. “I retired as a school principal. I am being owed several months. I retired in December 2012 and for most of us that retired at that period, we were not placed for about 11 months. When we finally got placed, we were forced to open accounts with EcoBank so that all our arrears would be paid. “Unfortunately, the arrears are being paid in averages of 40, 50 and 60 per cent as the case may be. The rest is yet to be paid. Under normal circumstances, if one retires today, one should immediately start receiving the allowances as and at when due but at the moment, that is not the case. The debt keeps piling.” Continues on pg37

features

Monday, 28 December, 2015

The failures of pension schemes in the country have been attributed to poor pension fund administration, outright corruption, embezzlement of pension fund, inadequate buildup of funds and poor supervision.

‘We don’t deserve to die by starvation’

their children sit at home and be unable to do something about it. We have served the government with all our energy, our youth. We don’t deserve to be dying due to starvation. It is sad. The government should be friendly to pensioners.” On December 2, 2015, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, South West zone, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the case of pensioners in the zone. This was contained in a letter to the president, entitled: “Myriad of problems of Nigerian pensioners and issues of local government pensioners and retired primary school teachers,” made available to the Nigerian Tribune. The letter, which was signed by the South West chairman, Alhaji Nojeem Ibrahim and secretary, Mr Olusegun Abatan, noted that pensioners had become endangered species. Decrying the state of retired primary school teachers and local government retirees, they said untold hardship, which had led to disability and premature death, had been the lot of some members. They also traced the cause of the problem to the withdrawal of five per cent counterpart fund payment to Local Government Pensions Board by the Federal Government in 2010.

Another exhausted pensioner during a protest Continued from pg36

‘Many of us are languishing in hospitals’ For Gbolahan Olufidipe, another pension, surviving can be likened to finding a needle in the proverbial haystack after serving their employer. “The government that I worked for owes me about N3 million which encompasses both the gratuity and the pension. The government doesn’t care about the plight of the people. Many of us are languishing in hospital beds. Surviving has been difficult. I have four children. One of them graduated recently and two are still in the university while the last one is in secondary school. I can’t even pay their fees,” he said. ‘Retirees should be paid immediately’ Speaking on the modus operandi of the old pension scheme, he said “Going by the old pension scheme, immediately one leaves the service, one is expected to process one’s papers and begin to receive the pension allowances. If at all there are any arrears, it shouldn’t exceed a month or two but that is not the case now.” ‘A pensioner committed suicide’ Olufidipe claimed that “We have lost over 300 retirees including executive members of this forum. Recently, a retiree got involved in an accident and when he was rushed to a teaching hospital, his family members were asked to make a deposit of N250,000 due to some internal injuries. The forum went to plead for help from the accountant general but we lost the retiree because the government did not respond in good time. Also, another retired civil servant committed suicide about a year ago.” ‘Our children are dropping out of school’ “We need the people of Nigeria to plead our cause and ensure that the state government pays us. Our children are dropping out of school,” Olufidipe lamented.

Arasanmi Fatai

Gbolahan Olufidipe

Bosede Ayunbi

Kafidiya

‘We have only received crumbs’ Cecilia Ojetayo who served a state government for 31 years and retired in 2011 said “the state government is owing me about three million as gratuity and I still have about N600,000 on pension arrears. Surviving has been hard but God has been sustaining us. It is just a little easier because all my children are married and I have no direct dependant. Even with the bailout funds, we have only received crumbs. We just want the government to give us our allowances and we will be satisfied.” ‘There have been so many avoidable deaths, family crises’ For Arasanmi Fatai, another pensioner, life has been difficult. “The state government that I served owes me 22 months arrears aside the gratuity. That is about N2.4 million on pension arrears and over 5 million for the gratuity,” he began and added “many pensioners are suffering. Many of our members have died due to the non-

Cecilia Ojetayo

Sola Oke chalant attitude of the government. There have been so many avoidable deaths and family crises due to the nonpayment. “A pensioner had a motorcycle accident recently on his way to pick his children from school, a sum of N50,000 was requested by the medical personnel as down payment. His leg was amputated as a result of the accident but because he could not cope with the medical bills, he had to leave the teaching hospital for a smaller clinic. He later had a tetanus infection and died three days later.” ‘We don’t deserve to die by starvation’ Sola Oke, who retired as a school principal three years ago, said “the unstable payment has got to the peak and that is why we decided to confront the state government with protests. I started a business ten years ago and that has made it a little bearable for me and my family but many of us are suffering. Children are dropping out of school. It is a horrible situation and a thing of shame for parents to watch

Govt not consistent in remittance— Lawyer Speaking on the Pension Reform Act, Mr. Doyin Akinsulore of the Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said “the government is trying to divert the control of pension unlike how it used to be before. The current reform act states that government is to contribute half and the person involved as well is to contribute the other half. The contributions will then be saved in the CBN. “But the government is not holding up their end of the bargain and that is where the problem lies.” We are committed to pensioners’ welfare —FG The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to meeting the expectations of the country’s pensioners. He said this during the just concluded 2015 Pensioners Day held at the Labour House in Abuja. The event was organised by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP). The minister, who was represented by Mrs Hauwa Abubakar, said that government would from 2016 implement programmes that would positively affect the lives of vulnerable citizens in the country. He added that “my ministry will work with the union to see how best to assist them in ensuring that their plights are reduced to the barest minimum.” The Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment of Public Matter, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, who was also at the event said the National Assembly was aware of the challenges faced by the pensioners in the country, stressing that “the primary challenge is having a reliable system for payment of pensioners; our pension system is not yet developed. The system is plagued with factors that make it unreliable.”

news

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Fire guts Ilorin Market Biola Azeez-Ilorin

u l t i million goods Naira were destroyed in Oja Tuntun, one of the modern markets in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, on Saturday midnight. Nigerian Tribune gathered that 20 shops were completely razed by the fire incident, while huge cash kept inside the shops by some owners of the shops was also burnt into ashes. An eyewitness revealed that the incident was caused by a spark from an

electric cable, during power interruption. Some night guards at the market were said to have noticed a billowing smoke from one of the affected shops, and so notified the leadership of the market

about it. It was also gathered that timely arrival of the state fire fighters at the scene, prevented the fire from spreading to other shops. Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government Council,

Alhaji Tajudeen Zulu-Oloje, who visited the scene of the incident, said he received a distress call from one of the market executives around 2.00 a.m that some shops had been gutted by fire. Zulu-Oloje, who said

the council was battling with lean purse, however, added that it would do its best to reconstruct the burnt shops, even as he commended men of the state fire service for their quick response.

Kidnapping:

Kabba community sends SOS to IGP Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

Residents of Kabba in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State have sent a Save-OurSoul (SOS) to the InspectorGeneral of Police, Solomon Arase, over alleged incessant kidnapping of the people of the community. They urged the police boss to come to their aid as a matter of urgency, to nip in the bud the embarrassing trend before it gets out of hand. Speaking through the socio-cultural umbrella body of Kabba people at home and in the diaspora, the Kabba Development Union (KDU), the people lamented that the kidnappers had been terrorising them in the last few months, as many of them had been whisked away to unknown destinations in broad daylight. A statement signed by the president of KDU, Mr Molomo Olorunfemi, said peace had eluded the ancient town, as the kidnappers had continued to terrorise and abduct innocent citizens without any reprisal from security agents. The group alleged that no fewer than 30 prominent people in the town, had been abducted by the kidnapping syndicate in the last few weeks, with several millions of naira demanded for their release. The statement added that the development had created fears in residents, while citizens and visitors that wanted to come home for the Christmas celebrations, were scared about being abducted. It said further that most of the victims were abducted in the daylight, adding that the police and other security agency in the area, appeared helpless, as none of the perpetrators had been brought to book.

President, Lovecity Charity and Development Foundation, Mr Obayomi Augustine Kayode (middle), presenting food items to one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Josephine Olusanya, while others look on, during the end of the year party, held at Lovecity office, Town Planning, off Ring road, Ibadan, recently. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

Army nabs suspected bomb-making specialists in Kaduna Chris Agbambu - Abuja

Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested seven suspected bomb-making specialists in improvised

explosive devices (IEDs) for Boko Haram terrorists. Details of the suspects were not made available as of press time, but Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman

the acting Director Army Public Relations, disclosed in a statement that the terrorists were arrested in Kaduna, after painstaking surveillance and proactive

Man kidnapped in Niger by fleeing kidnappers •Pays N3m as ransom Adelowo Oladipo-Minna

Last Christmas celebration would have gone without any security breach in Niger State, had it not been for the kidnap of a prominent Fulani herdsman by some hoodlums at Babana village, a border community between the Republic of Benin and Nigeria, through Borgu Local Government Area of the state. The incident occurred on December 22, when the yet-to-be identified kidnappers, who were said to be fully armed, swooped on their victim, Alhaji Lade Dalla, with their operational vehicle, after which he was whisked off to their criminal hideout. Nigerian Tribune further gathered that no sooner had the suspected kidnappers abducted the victim than they called the relations of the victim on Telephone and demanded for N17 millions ransom for his release, with an alleged threat that he would be killed, should they fail to meet their demand. It was further learned that the suspected kidnappers also warned

Alhaji Dalla’s relations about the implications of reporting the matter to the state police command for forceful release of their breadwinner in their custody. Further checks also revealed that no sooner had negotiations commenced between the kidnappers and relatives of the victim than an agreement was reached for the payment of a ransom in the sum of about N3millions cash to the gangsters. An insider police source who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune, on Sunday, in Minna, stated that the victim was in the custody of his abductors until the early hours of Saturday, December 26, 2015 when the suspected kidnappers were said to have been paid the sum of N3 million, at an undisclosed location in the state, after which the victim was released unscathed . Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bala Elkana confirmed the incident in a brief interview with the Nigerian Tribune in Minna, just as he denied knowledge of the payment

of N3 million ransom to the suspected kidnappers, who are now at large . “Police were not part of the negotiations with the criminals because as far as we are concerned,’ we don’t negotiate with criminals and we were unaware of the payment of any amount to the kidnappers, whom I believed, were Fulanis, kidnapping one of their own.” “In fact the uncooperative attitude of some Nigerians with the police was responsible for the inability of the police and other sister security agencies to come to the rescue of some victims of kidnapping in some parts of the state, especially when they were being held by their abductors . “While I also blamed inadequate information, especially from the relatives of kidnap victims with regards to the operational strategies of the kidnappers and their criminal hideouts, with the view to quickly move to the place and get them arrested and prosecuted for the crime,” Elkana stated,

intelligence operations, over a period of time. He stated that the suspects were in Kaduna to conduct suicide bombings, kill and maim innocent citizens in the state and its environs, during the festive period. Usman recalled that some of them were recently arrested in Maiduguri, while trying to detonate IEDs concealed in food containers in public places. “The arrest of these suspects would no doubt assist in the fight against terrorism in the country, more so as the military have technically defeated the Boko Haram terrorists in the field, the terrorists have resorted to attacking soft targets through suicide bombings, IEDs and harassing attacks on isolated communities,” he said. “The public is please requested to continue to be more vigilant and security conscious, by reporting suspicious persons and movements to the security agencies. “This request has become necessary because the terrorists have resorted to mingling with the public across the country, after sensing the futility of their encounter with troops in the north east. Therefore, they adopt other methods of perpetuating violence in the society,” Colonel Usman said.

Nigerian Tribune

Dogara condoles with Musdafa, CBN governor, on mothers’ death The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has commiserated with the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Barkindo Musdafa, on the death of his mother, Hajiya Sa’adatu Musdafa. Dogara also comisserated with Mr Godwin Emefiele, Governor, the Central Bank of Nigeria, on the passing away of his mother, Mrs Alice Emefiele. These condolences were contained in a statement signed by Mr Turaki Hassan, Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the Speaker, on Sunday, in Abuja. Dogara, who described the death of the two women as a big loss, said they exited at a time the country and its leaders needed their elderly, motherly guidance and wisdom. According to the Speaker, Hajiya Sa’adatu and Madam Alice lived a fulfilled life, as they lived to see their children attaining higher positions of leadership in the country. Dogara also condoled with the immediate family of the late Hajiya Sa’adatu, Adamawa Emirate Council and the people of Adamawa.

Aseyori crusade holds tomorrow The Aseyori Crusaders International (ACI) in conjunction with Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Crown of Glory Parish (Aseyori) District “B” Headquarters, Ibadan holds a powerful crusade programme of prayers, praises and preaching tagged: “ T R A N S F O R M A TION (IYIPADA)” on Tuesday, December 29 , 2015 at the Aseyori Crusade Ground, Opposite Fire Brigade, Aleshinloye-Alalubosa, Ibadan, Oyo State, at 10.00p.m. Ministering are Prophet Adeleke Adelekun the convener and the chief host, prophets Gabriel A.Evans, Owatunde Marshal, Adewale MichealSokunbi and other anointed clerics, alongside songs ministration from SAMGEE, Adimula, Taye and Kehinde Adegbodu, His Majesty Choir-City of David and others.

Prophet Adeleke Adelekun

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Monday, 28 December, 2015

NASS won't compromise on equity, fairness —Ekweremadu

HE deputy senate president, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has assured Nigerians that the National Assembly will not compromise in upholding equity, justice and fairness in its constitutional obligations. He said this during a thanksgiving service in his honour at All Saints Covenant Church, Mpu, Aninri Local Government Area, Enugu State. Governors of Delta, Enugu and Ebonyi States, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Chief David Umahi and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, respectively were among dignitaries who thronged All Saints Covenant Church, Mpu, Enugu State, venue for the thanksgiving service. Others dignitaries included senators, members of the House of Representatives, severing and past political office holders as well as family and friends of the deputy senate president. He said that the rights of every Nigerian would be protected and called on other arms of government to partner with the National Assembly in charting a new course for the country. Recalling the events that led to his emergence as the deputy senate president, Chief Ekweremadu, described it as God’s will and charged politicians to make the unity of the country uppermost in their hearts. Explaining that the

thanksgiving service was to appreciate God for his reelection as a senator and

deputy senate president, he affirmed that he and his family would always

Wife of the president, Hajia Aisha Buhari, admiring a portrait of her husband, then 34-year-old LieutenantColonel Muhammadu Buhari, when he served as the governor of the old North-Eastern State, from August 1, 1975 to March 31, 1976, presented to her by Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, during a recent visit to Maiduguri.

projects that would have direct positive bearing on the people. In a sermon, the Archbishop of the Enugu Province, Anglican Communion, the Most Reverend Emmanuel Chukwuma, said God gives power to man to impact positively on the people and the society. Most Reverend Chukwuma commended Senator Ekweremadu for his foresight in meeting the needs of the people and charged other politicians to emulate him through regular interface with people of their community. While calling on Nigerians to ensure the continued unity of the country, the cleric enjoined them to intensify their prayers for the nation and leaders at all levels. Governor Okowa alongside other top government functionaries later joined the deputy senate president and his family in giving thanks to God. A civic reception was later held in honour of the deputy senate president.

Foundation offers free medical treatment to 20 cancer patients in Osun Oluwole Ige - Osogbo A group, MicCom Cancer Foundation, has offered free medical treatment to 20 cancer patients in Osun State, just as it advised that early detection of the disease

would make its treatment less expensive and effective. Addressing a press conference as part of the activities, summarising its activities between January and December, at Ada, Osun State, over the weekend, the proj-

Cleric stresses role of marriage institution A cleric, Pastor Segun Ariyo, has linked the uniqueness of institution of marriage to that of the eagle bird which so unique among its contemporaries. The cleric made the submission at the weekend during the 2015 annual retreat of the Jesus Discipleship Ministry, Challenge, Ibadan, with the theme “The Eagle Believer,” at the church auditorium. While saying that the concept of marriage is viewed from different perspectives, he averred that the general conceptual framework of what marriage is from the Holy Bible. Pastor Ariyo, who specifically based his sermon on “The eagle believer and his marriage”, said “one of the things I read about eagle as a bird is that it pitches its tent in a rocky area and its activities makes man curious about it because it doesn’t leave where man can easily see it. The eagle is so unique among all birds, likewise marriage institution. While saying that there is a remarkable difference between marriage and wedding, he averred that a lot of people wedded but not married. “What you learn from your parents about marriage is

remain thankful to God and promised to intensify programmes, policies and

temporary but you need to have the understanding of God to make your marriage last,” he said. Nothing makes relationship work, especially marriage, than to accept each other as you see yourselves.” He then admonished Christians to call on Christ into their marriage so that He will build them like the eagle bird, adding that

marriage that depended on prayer and Christ last long. Meanwhile, the senior pastor of Jesus Discipleship Ministry, Olusola Ayodele, has said that eagle believers cannot do without life challenges as they are people with a difference, unique life style with viable vision. Pastor Ayodele said this while discussing on “Eagle believer living above

ect director of MicCom Cancer Foundation, Dr Tolulope Kuye, said "we have given free treatment to 20 cancer patients between the period under review". She listed risk factors of cancer to include hereditary

challenges,” adding that an eagle believer must be spiritually senistive to overcome life challenges, most especially in support of the wife and children. He said that an eagle believer must be a unique individual, concentrate on biblical orientations, abstain from sinful acts as well as a highly envisioned person.

Government needs support to fund social needs —Experts There is the need to raise funds from private initiatives such as ‘I Will Give’ (IWG) for government to finance costs associated with social needs of the people, a panel of experts said at a forum in Lagos, recently. The panelists, who featured at the formal presentation of ‘I Will Give’ to the Nigerian public, included the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, the executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme ( NHIS) Mr Tunde Akingbade and Mrs Toyin Saraki, observed that it was becoming increasingly difficult for government at all levels to fund health and social needs.

‘I Will Give’ is a domestic financing platform developed by Chestrad International for Special Intervention in health, education, women and youth, and empowerment, using crowd funding strategy. Professor Innocent Ujah, the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Professor Innocent Ujah, who represented the Minister of Health, said available statistics indicated that the way to fund our social needs is through the private-public partnership. On his own part, Dr Idris said ‘ providing healthcare for over 23 million in Lagos State is a huge task which consistent increase in allocation to health sector has not been able to address. He

said while it is good to seek assistance from abroad, charity must, however, begin at home with private initiatives such as ‘I Will Give’. Dr Tunde Akingbade observed that the government cannot bear the cost of funding all social needs and there is a compelling need to take care of the vulnerable. ‘I Will Give’ as a social enterprise aligns its objectives with the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and especially the United Nations’ Secretary General’s updated strategy of ‘Every woman, every child’. The forum was used to commence a new ‘Giving is Living’ campaign aimed at encouraging the spirit of giving in Nigeria.

and environmental influences, stating that all women who have had children were at risk of cervical cancer. According to Kuye, "MicCom Cancer Foundation, which was established in memory of late Mrs Funke Ponnle, who died of endometrial cancer on October 29, 2012, has stayed true to its vision to empower individuals and communities to reduce the burden of cancer in Nigeria. "Our mission is to promote cancer awareness and prevention through education and to checkmate its burden by early detection through community wide screening and facilitated treatment of early cancers, particularly, cancer of the breast, cervix and prostrate," she said. While calling on eminent Nigerians, corporate bodies and philantrophic groups to support the foundation in its resolve to offer treatment for the disease, Kuye contended that "the existence of this laudable programme depends on constant availability of donated funds from organisations, governments and persons of high calibre". She added that during the period under review, the foundation had offered free health talk and screening for Primary Health Care (PHC) centres and comprehensive health care centres in Osun State, disclosing that "we have also partnered with Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTHC) for free HPV screening for over 50 women in Ile-Ife and Ilesa, among others".

Group appeals to Buhari on federal roads in Kwara Biola Azeez - Ilorin The Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure completion of the construction and rehabilitation of major federal roads linking Kwara State with other parts of the country. The national president of the union, Alhaji AbdulHamid Adi, made the request in his welcome address, at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of IEDPU annual conference and launching of N500 million endowment fund. Adi also urged the Federal Government to relocate the federal prisons currently at Oke-Kura in Ilorin and advised the state government to declare a state of emergency in the areas of public primary and secondary schools education. “While we acknowlege the efforts of the Federal Government in the provision and maintenance of road networks in the country, roads linking Kwara State with other states, especially IlorinMokwa, Ilorin-Ibadan, Ilorin-Kabba are in terrible condition and fastly becoming impassable.

Group drums up support for Dickson Youths of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have declared support and reaffirmed their resolve to vote for Governor Seriake Dickson, in the re-scheduled January 9 election in the area. The youths, represented by the presidents of the various communities in the local government area, in an enlarged meeting with Governor Dickson, at the Government House, Yenagoa, premised their support for him on his sincerity of purpose and sterling leadership qualities in the almost four years of the restoration government. According to them, Dickson has proved himself as a worthy leader, whose achievements will stand the test of time, particularly, in the areas of security, infrastructure development and human capacity building. Governor Dickson urged them to mobilise their people and vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the party has already won the election, in spite of INEC declaring it inconclusive.

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Monday, 28 December, 2015

Make universal health insurance realistic to Nigerians, health minister advised By Tunde Ogunesan

HE Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole has been advised to ensure that the priority of the Federal Government’s health policy is centred on adequate and realistic funding of universal health insurance scheme in the country. This appeal was made by the Managing Administrator of Alafia Hospital, Ibadan, Mr Babatunde Agbaje, at the 40th anniversary of late Dr Anthony Saka Agbaje memorial programme, on Sunday, on the premises of the hospital, Ibadan. Late Dr Anthony Saka Agbaje, was the founder of the first private hospital in the whole Western region, Alaafia Hospital, and the first Ibadan-born medical practitioner. Babatunde Agbaje said the

‘Divert N17bn cargo airport funds to rural integration’ Ademola Adegbite- Lafia

FORMER Minister of Information and gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) during the just concluded 2015 general elections in Nasarawa State, Mr. Labaran Maku, on Sunday, admonished Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of the state to shelve his administration‘s plans of constructing N17 billion cargo airport, and divert the money for rural integration. He gave this advice in an interview with newsmen at Wakama in Akun Development Area of the state. According to him, “if such huge amount of money could be channeled to build factories and provide infrastructural facilities to the rural populace, this would go a long way in providing job opportunities, as well as fighting poverty and thereby boosting the standard of living of the rural dwellers in the state. “I am not saying that Lafia, the state capital should not have an airport but it should not be at this time where there is economic hardship, non payment of workers` salaries, lack of infrastructural facilities in communities and villages across the state.

hospital, having been able to keep the dream of community health service alive, as projected by the founder, decided to offer free health screening services to people on cervical cancer, HIV, prostrate cancer, cholesterol, among others. He noted that the vast majority of Nigerians could not afford or access good medical services, adding

that the only difference this administration could make regarding health policy, is to cater for the less privileged in the society. “The only thing that I think this government must lay emphasis on is to find a way to adequately fund universal health insurance scheme. “This is the only step that I think can make health care services available to vast

majority of Nigerians who cannot afford or access good medical services till date. The percentage of this class of people I am convinced is the highest, going by our experience here which was made possible by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NIS) in Oyo State. “Because Oyo State subscribed to the NIS scheme, a ‘Mr Joe Average’ was able

to benefit by accessing a surgery operation worth over N200,000 with an NIHS account of just N2,400. If not for such scheme, an average Nigerian might not be able to access good medical services. “So, this government owe Nigerians a lot by making it a reality, by funding realistic health insurance scheme,” Agbaje advised.

Vice Chancellor, Mountain Top University, Professor Elijah Adebowale Ayolab (second right); the visitor and General Overseer, Mountain of Fire Ministry (MFM), Dr Daniel Olukoya (left); his wife, Shade and the university's mace bearer, at the official opening and first matriculation ceremony of the institution, at the Multipurpose Hall of MFM Prayer City, Ogun State, recently. PHOTO:SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

NAPTIP boss seeks media collaboration in fighting trafficking Clement Idoko-Abuja

Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, has expressed concern about increased cases of human trafficking in Nigeria and appealed to the media to support the agency in the efforts to eradicate the crime. Jedy-Agba, who noted that human trafficking debases the essence of humanity, said it was unfortunate that most victims of the “modern day slavery” were the poor and voiceless members of the society. The NAPTIP boss, spoke at a training programme on human trafficking for journalists in Minna, Niger State, where she disclosed that the perpetrators of the crime used deception of false monetary and job offers to entangle their victims. According to her, most of the victims were usually vulnerable children of 10 to 16 years, enslaved by their “madams” for sexual exploitation and hard labour. She added that prevention of human trafficking could

not be effective if the media did not collaborate with NAPTIP in sounding warning through anti-trafficking messages, aimed at raising awareness of the heinous crime. Jedy-Agba, also appealed to Nigerians to stop stigmatisa-

tion of victims of human trafficking reintegrated into the society after rehabilitation by the agency. She disclosed that the agency had so far rescued over 8,000 women and girls from both within and outside the country, who were

trafficked for sexual exploitation and hard labour. She noted that one of the greatest challenge faced by the agency, was the stigmatisation of those that had been rescued, rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society.

Don’t judge Islam on misbehaviour of some Muslims — Don By Tunde Ogunesan

A senior lecturer at the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Professor Abdul Hafiz Oladosu, has called on world leaders not to judge Islam as a religion from the negative attitude of some Muslims. Professor Oladosu made the appeal at a formal opening programme of the 100th edition of annual Islamic Vacation Course(IVC) organised by Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Southern Zone, at the IVC permanent site, kilometre 30, Lagos -Ibadan Expressway. He said the misbehaviour of some Muslims should not be used as a basis for judging

what Islam really stands for. “It’s not Islam that should be held responsible for the misbehaviour of Muslims. The same way you don’t hold a car responsible when it has an accident. You need to question the driver and owner of the car. Allah gave the religion of Islam to the Muslims. It is we the Muslims that are misrepresenting the gift from Allah. The world should try to read about Islam and not about Muslims.” The don called on Muslims to find their way back to the teachings of Islam so as not to allow the public to stigmatise Islam as a religion of troublemaker rather than a religion of peace. He also explained that the

West could not be exonerated from the rising insecurity in the world. “The gun and the bullet being used by ISIS is not manufactured in Iraq. It’s the West that produced the weapons being used by ignorant Muslims who believed that it is when they use it that they can achieve certain aims. The West should stop this hypocritical posture.” In his remark, National President of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Mallam Muhammad Jameel, urged the Federal Government to disregard the banning of Islamic dress in the name of security as such would lead to denial of fundamental right to practise one’s religion.

T-Tan commends Amosun Tricycle Chairman, Transport Association of Nigeria, Comrade Joseph Adebajo, has described the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun as a responsible, responsive, listening and a peace-loving leader. Comrade Adebajo made this disclosure while commending the governor on the construction of Ijebu-Ode township road, during the T-TAN end of the year party. Comrade Adebajo said the construction of the roads would definitely improve the traffic gridlock in the city while encouraging investors to come to the town. “Without being immodest, with the physical infrastructure being put in place all over the state, Governor Amosun is not only doing marvelously well, he is also fulfilling his electoral promise to rebuild Ogun State. He has continued to exceed our expectations with his developmental strides in the state,” he stated.

NACA screens 5,000 for HIV/AIDS in Ekiti Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

The National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) has announced that it has shifted attention to giving free medical care to Nigerians, as a new method of further reducing HIV and AIDS prevalence. A Senior Programme Officer with NACA, Mr Ola Ojo, made the disclosure on Monday, at Ikole-Ekiti, headquarters of Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, at a Free Medical Programme organised by the agency. According to Ojo, NACA organised the free medical outreach, in collaboration with SURE-P so as to increase access by Nigerians to HIV counseling and testing (HCT), as well as act as linkage of positive clients to treatment. He added that the exercise covered 20 states and FCT, with Ekiti State alone, having 5,000 residents as beneficiaries of the free medical outreach.

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Monday, 28 December, 2015

Sokoto govt to sustain non-discriminatory fees in schools —Tambuwal

o v e r n o r Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, on Sunday pledged to sustain the non-discriminatory policy on payment of school fees introduced by his predecessor, Senator Aliyu Wamakko. Tambuwal said this in Sokoto when he hosted the Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev Nicholas Okoh, who led members of the church on a Christmas courtesy visit. He said: “Às part of measures to boost communal harmony, my administration will sustain the policy of non-discriminatory fees paid by all students in public schools started by the last administration.” The equally invited all Nigerians willing to contribute to the development of education to come to the state and exhibit their talents. He enjoined Christians to also sustain the centuries old peaceful and harmonious co-existence with their neighbours in the state. Okoh had earlier said that Nigeria can learn a lot from Sokoto’s peaceful disposition for rapid development of the country. He said: “Even though there a one or two issues with conflicts in Sokoto in the past, that has not af-

fected the overall peaceful disposition of the state.” The cleric commended the Sokoto State govern-

ment for its efforts in promoting harmony among diverse religious and ethnic groups in the state.

While urging all Nigerians to take the issue of protection of environment seriously, Okoh said the

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike (middle); state Head of Civil Service, Rufus Godwins (left) and the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Odagme Theophilus, at the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital, Port Harcourt, during an inspection of Doctor’s Quarters razed by inferno, on Sunday.

Ondo 2016: Kuku inaugurates campaign committee HakeemGbadamosi-Akure Ahead of the 2016 governorship election in Ondo State, the former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs and the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, has constituted a committee which will steer the activities of his campaign ahead of the party’s primary.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by Kuku and made available to journalists in Akure, Ondo State capital, disclosing that the group known as Kuku Support Group, will be coordinated by the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Ebenezer Alabi. Kuku, who has been recuperating in an hospital in United States of America

after a kneel surgery, said the formation of the group became imperative in order to make it easy for him to interact and interface with his supporters who have been concerned about his state of health. Kuku said in the statement “l have been overwhelmed by messages from persons at home and in the Diaspora, genuinely concerned about my medical trip in the United States

New ICT blueprint ’ll be out in January —Minister Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, has said that a new blueprint for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry will be out in January 2016. In a statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) ,on Sunday, in Lagos , Shittu said that the blueprint would transform the ICT sector. He said that the blueprint would make the ICT industry a cash-cow for the economy. According to him, the new blueprint will help to transform the ICT industry into a new revenue earner for the country. “By the grace of God, in mid January, I will be addressing the country on the blueprint for ICT development in the country. “We have been receiving a lot of inputs from stakeholders across the country and from Nigerians in the diaspora; some of which will form part of the details of the blueprint.

dangers posed by desertification is real and should be accorded the attention it deserves.

“We have set up two days to do a retreat in Kaduna State, in January, after which the blueprint will be out. “Certainly, what you should be assured of is that you have a new minister who is passionate about development. “A new minister, who does things the way they should be done, with a view to developing optimally the sector to gener-

ate a lot of employment in the economy,” he said. The minister said that the planned ICT blueprint would bring about training and retraining of major experts and consequently, generate more revenue for Nigeria. According to him, government wants to put an end to the dependence on oil, even with the dwindling resources coming through oil.

He gave stakeholders assurances that government would continue to encourage local investment in the ICT sector to enhance growth of the sector. Shittu also said that a committee, whose membership would comprise public and private sector stakeholders, would be set up to advise government on critical ICT issues that bordered on national development.

Your job not means to riches, Wike tells aides DapoFalade-PortHarcourt Governor Wike of Rivers State has warned political appointees under his administration not to see their appointments as a means to personal riches. This was as he told them that whoever joined his administration with the mindset to make money would be disappointed, saying that there was no money in the state. He gave the warning while performing the swearing-in

of 15 newly special advisers at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Saturday. The governor told the special advisers not to see their appointments as an opportunity to make money but rather ,as a privilege to serve the state. “Your appointments should be seen as an opportunity to serve the state and contribute your own quota. “If you have joined this administration to make money, then, you will be disappoint-

ed. There is no money to be made. You can only serve the state”, he said. The governor, however, assured the people of the state of sustained developmental programmes that would further enhance their living condition. He urged the new aides to join the implementation of the development agenda of the state, adding that they were appointed to contribute their own quota to the growth of the state.

of America and trending events in our polity, especially Our sunshine state. “By the schedule of my treatment, I am now at the concluding and very critical physical therapy stage, after which I shall return home in due course of time “With the messages coming from well - meaning individuals, professional bodies, youths and women groups, associations of market women and artisans, it has become necessary for me to appreciate and recognise these persons and organise them under this platform to make it easy for me to interact and interface with them from time to time.” He expressed confidence in the ability of Alabi in carrying out the task and stated that Alabi was picked as the coordinator of the group because of his political experience and said the former chairman will be working with other tested and trusted hands to ensure smooth operations of the group. “ Alabi is trustworthy, reliable and completely detribalised individual, who is totally committed to the PDP in Ondo State and Nigeria at large. “Hence, I have no doubt he will deliver on this assignment. Once again, l wish to express my sincere gratitude to all those who have demonstrated this uncommon love for me.” the statement stated.

Ogun civil servants to enjoy free calls in 2016 By Joseph Ajayi

To ensure that civil servants in Ogun State communicate more effectively, the State Bureau of Information Technology, has concluded arrangements to connect civil servants to Free Voice Over Internet Protocol to enhance productivity and hitchfree communication in the discharge of their official duties. This disclosure was made by the Director of Information Technology, Bureau of Information Technology, Mrs Olatundun Adekunte, while speaking with newsmen in her office. Adekunte hinted that the voice over internet protocol would be put in place in the new year at the government secretariat to allow civil servants access to free calls during official working hours as arrangements were ongoing to procure mobile phones and other accessories. “There is an existing network for communication though, restricted to few individuals but come 2016, all civil servants in the state will be connected to the network to make communication more effective and thereby increase productivity”

NLC commends Jigawa govt's decision on N18,000 minimum wage

MALAM Usman Ya'u, the Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Jigawa State, has expressed joy over the state government's decision to continue payment of the N18,000 minimum wage. Ya'u, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Dutse on Sunday, said that the gesture would boost morale of civil servants in the state. NAN recalled that Governor Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa State, had on December 12, promised to continue paying the N18,000 minimum wage. "As the head of NLC in Jigawa, I am very excited with the decision of the Jigawa State government. "This is because some state governors had a meeting where they said they cannot continue paying the minimum wage. "So on behalf of the entire civil servants of the state, I want to use this opportunity to commend Badaru for his decision to continue paying the N18,000 minimum wage. "It will go a long way in boosting our morale. It would also encourage service delivery in the state," Ya'u said.

Monday, 28 December, 2015

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Europe on alert for New Year’s Eve terror threat

N unnamed “friendly” intelligence service has warned several European cities of possible terror attacks, according to a statement released by police in Vienna, Austria. Quoting from the statement, CNN reported the attacks would involve explosives or guns and occur sometime between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, according to the state-

ment, which did not name the cities that have been warned. The warning did include the names of several possible attackers the Vienna police have investigated without finding “concrete further results.” “Overall, this is a lead, which stipulates a higher than general abstract state of danger,” the Vienna police said. In response to the terror

threat warning, Vienna and other police in Europe have heightened the security alert by increasing police observation and surveillance at public venues, especially at key events and high-traffic areas. Among the precautions, police will initiate more thorough security checks, ensure quick readiness in case of an emergency, and increase vigilance in terms of empty suitcases and

bags, Vienna police said in the statement. French National Police refused to comment on the warnings when contacted by CNN, but did say that more than 48,000 police officers are dedicated to security at sensitive sites during the school holidays from December 19 through January 4, and France plans to recruit 2,000 new police officers next month.

Massive flooding wreaks havoc in UK, 4,000 homes evacuated

HOUSANDS of properties remain submerged in floodwater in parts of northern England on Sunday, resulting into widespread devastation caused by the latest wave of flooding. Homes in York city centre were besieged by chesthigh floodwater and some 4,000 residents had to be evacuated by the army and mountain rescue teams overnight after the Rivers Ouse and Foss burst their banks, Mail Online said. Dozens of severe flood warnings remain in place in Yorkshire and the north east on Sunday, and engineers worked to restore power to more than 7,500 homes in Greater Manchester and Lancashire. More than 20 roads have also been closed in York alone due to the danger posed by the floods. The widespread flooding is the result of “unprecedented” heavy rain across northern England, which has caused every river in Lancashire to reach a higher level than ever before. A month’s worth of rain fell in just one day over some areas, CNN affiliate ITN reported. The swollen, raging currents of the River Irwell were so intense that they destroyed and washed away parts of a historic pub in Summerseat. Britain issued 24 severe flood warnings on Sunday, each one meaning there is a “danger to life.” While hundreds of resi-

A resident being rescued by emergency services from her flooded home in York, on Sunday. PHOTO: NORTH NEWS & PICTURES LTD. dents evacuated, some stayed behind and tried to clear floodwater from their homes with buckets but to no avail. British Prime Minister David Cameron chaired an emergency Cabinet meeting Sunday and said more troops will be deployed to assist with the flooding. “I’ve just chaired a COBRA meeting on the unprecedented flooding.

A police car is submerged in the flood water in Littleborough, Greater Manchester, as torrential rain wreaked havoc in the North of England. PHOTO: DEMOTIX.

China’s two-child policy begins Jan 1, 2016 FROM January 1, 2016, China will allow two children for every couple. Chinese lawmakers rubber-stamped the new legislation on Sunday during a session of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, which governs the country’s laws, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. “The state advocates that one couple shall be allowed to have two children,” according to the newly revised Law on Population and Family Planning.

A boat full of residents we by members of Clevelan re rescued from their homes in York city centre d Mountain Rescue and IMAGES. soldiers. PHOTO: GETTY Huge thanks to the emergency services and military for doing so much,” Cameron tweeted. “Also my sympathy for

those affected at this time of year. More troops are being deployed as part of a plan to do whatever is needed.”

tures were damaged. Three additional deaths were reported in Collin County, said Chris Havey, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office. He declined to release any more information until authorities can fully assess the situation. In some neighborhoods in Garland, the storms ripped facades off houses, leaving gaping holes. Cars that had been in driveways ended up inside homes after the tornado barreled through, witnesses said. Officials said earlier that five of the deaths were related to vehicles hit by a tornado in

southeast Garland. Garland resident Pat McMillian said the tornado left neighborhoods in darkness. “All I heard was the roaring of the tornado, and my mom told us to get in the bathroom,” McMillian said. “Then we went across the hall to make sure everyone was okay. The church across the street was destroyed.” Afterward, they left their house and sought shelter elsewhere. “We are in our car now, and I’m not sure where we are going to go,” McMillian added. “It’s extremely hot, and there is no power.”

This effectively dismantles the remnants of the country’s infamous onechild policy that had been eased in recent years.

China’s President Xi Jinping

Pope urges help for Cuban migrants stranded in Central America POPE Francis urged Central American governments on Sunday to find an urgent solution to help thousands of United States-bound Cuban migrants stranded on the border between Costa Rica

Pope Francis

Tornadoes, storms hit US, 11 people killed SEVERE storms and tornadoes tore through north Texas, United States, killing at least 11 people in the latest incident of deadly weather in the nation, CNN reported. The storms hit Dallas suburbs Saturday evening, with Garland suffering the most casualties, authorities said. Lt. Pedro Barineau with the Garland Police Department confirmed Sunday morning that eight people died in the storm that ripped through Garland. Barineau said 15 people were hurt and 600 struc-

otherNEWS

and Nicaragua, Reuters reported. Nicaragua has refused to let the growing number of Cubans trying to reach the United States who have become stuck in Costa Rica pass through its territory. About 5,000 Cubans are estimated to be on the border. Speaking from his window overlooking St. Peter’s Square to ten of thousands of people gathered for his Sunday blessing, Francis said many of those stranded were victims of human trafficking.

Trump slams Bill Clinton’s ‘sexism’ in attack on Hillary DONALD Trump has slammed Hillary Clinton by citing her husband’s history of marital infidelity and alleged sexual misconduct, escalating the increasingly personal feud between the Republican frontrunner and the leading Democratic presidential candidate. “Hillary Clinton has announced that she is letting her husband out to campaign but HE’S DEMONSTRATED A PENCHANT FOR SEXISM, so inappropriate!” Trump tweeted. The “penchant for sexism” line refers to an in-

Bill Clinton

terview Hillary Clinton gave earlier in the week to the Des Moines Register, when she used those words to describe the real estate mogul after he said she got “schlonged” in her 2008 primary loss to then-Sen. Barack Obama, a remark widely seen as sexist. Trump then appeared to threaten Clinton over the remark in a tweet the next day, CNN reported. “Hillary, when you complain about ‘a penchant for sexism,’ who are you referring to. I have great respect for women. BE CAREFUL!” he said Wednesday night.

Donald Trump

foreig naffairs

Monday, 28 December, 2015

South Africa initiates nuclear power procurement process

OUTH Africa has started a process that could lead to it adding up to 9,600 megawatts of nuclear power to its national grid, the department of energy said on Sunday. The department, according to Reuters said the cabinet had earlier this month given the green light to issue a request for proposals from the nuclear industry, which would be put to the cabinet for approval before a request was issued for formal bids. It gave no timeframe for the process but the broader plan to boost nuclear power extends over the coming 15 years. Africa’s most industri-

South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma

alised economy, which relies heavily on coal for electricity, has been grappling with power shortages that have curtailed economic growth, and the Treasury in October set aside 200 million rand to consider the costs, benefits and

risks of building more nuclear power stations. Yet the costs of nuclear power make it a controversial option. Analysts estimate the nuclear project will cost as much as 1 trillion rand ($66 billion), sparking criti-

cism from opposition parties of the expense and of construction agreements being made behind closed doors. Former Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene pledged that the nuclear programme would be transparent and his successor Pravin Gordhan has said his office would ensure that South Africa stuck to fiscal prudence, including on any deals relating to the building of nuclear power stations. In Sunday’s statement the department of energy said it was committed to cost effectiveness and transparency, adding it would ensure that the process is done within the government’s fiscal policy framework.

Taliban says no contacts with Russia over Islamic State THE Taliban denied reports that representatives had met Russian officials to discuss the common threat from Islamic State in Afghanistan as a British newspaper reported that President Vladimir Putin had met the Taliban leader. Last week, a senior Russian official was quoted saying that Russia’s interests “objectively coincided” with the Taliban in the fight against Islamic State, which has established a foothold in eastern Afghanistan. According to Reuters, he said channels of communication had been established with the Taliban to exchange information. Moscow, currently conducting a bombing campaign in Syria it says is directed against Islamic State forces, has been concerned about the possible spread of the radical movement from

Syria’s rebel leader, Zahran Alloush

Afghanistan into neighboring states including Tajikistan or Uzbekistan. In a statement, the Taliban said it was in contact with countries in the region but had not discussed support against Islamic State, which it calls Daesh. “The Islamic Emirate has made and will continue to make contacts with many regional countries to bring an end to the American invasion of our country and we consider this our legitimate right,” it said, using its formal name. “But we do not see a need for receiving aid from anyone concerning so-called Daesh and neither have we contacted nor talked with anyone about this issue.” Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper this week quoted an unnamed “senior Taliban commander”

Chicago police officer kills two, one by mistake IN a city troubled by allegations of police misuse of force, a Chicago officer early on Saturday shot and killed a male college student and a mother of five, both black, and the police department later said the woman’s death was both accidental and tragic. Hours later police shot another person at a separate location, Reuters said. “Officers were confronted by a combative subject resulting in the discharging of the officer’s weapon which fatally wounded two individuals,” the police department said in a statement. A woman, 55, “was accidentally struck and tragically killed,” it said, adding “the department extends its deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends.”

Iran’s Rouhani says it’s up to Muslims to correct Islam’s image

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani IRANIAN President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that Muslims must improve the image of their religion, which has been tarnished by the violence of hardline groups such as Islamic State, “It is our greatest duty today to correct the im-

age of Islam in world public opinion,” Rouhani told a conference on Islamic unity in Tehran in a speech broadcast by state television. His remarks, according to Reuters were rare for a leader of Iran, which considers itself an authority in

the Islamic world and often blames the “enemies” of the religion for problems in the Middle East. “Did we ever think that, instead of enemies, an albeit small group from within the Islamic world using the language of Islam, would present it as the re-

It said the shootings were being investigated by the Independent Police Review Authority. The police department of the nation’s third-largest city is under a federal civil rights investigation for its use of deadly force and officer discipline. A recently released video of the shooting death of a black teenager by a white officer in 2014 has sparked protests, with activists calling for Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s resignation. The fatal shootings happened in the West Garfield Park neighbourhood on the city’s west side. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office identified the dead as Bettie Jones and Quintonio Legrier, 19. ligion of killing, violence, whips, extortion and injustice?” Rouhani said. Rouhani, a relative moderate, said Islamic principles opposed violence and the extremism of groups such as Islamic State stemmed from “narrow-mindedness and a lack of moderation”. Rouhani criticized Muslim countries for “being silent in the face of all the killing and bloodshed” in Syria, Iraq and Yemen - conflicts in which Iran plays a role. Iran supports the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has close ties with neighbouring Iraq, and condemns the Islamic State group which fights both governments. The Islamic Republic is also an ally of the Houthi movement which seized control of most of Yemen last year and has fought a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia for nine months.

otherNEWS Evacuation plan stalled after Syrian rebel leader killed MONITORS and security sources say a United Nationsbrokered plan to evacuate thousands of jihadist fighters under siege near the Syrian capital has been delayed following Friday’s killing of an anti-government rebel leader, Zahran Alloush, who was to guarantee safe passage to

the militants. VOA said the evacuation of some 4,000 fighters and their families from southern Damascus had been expected to take place early Saturday. But the Britain-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human

Rights said the deal stalled hours after rebel leader Zahran Alloush was killed Friday in an airstrike near Damascus. Monitors say Alloush was prepared to guarantee the extremists safe passage from Damascus as part of a U.N. plan aimed at ending

five years of civil war that has devastated Syria. Details of Alloush’s death remain unclear. Some reports say the military forces of President Bashar alAssad’s government had killed him in an airstrike. Other reports say Russian airstrikes killed Alloush.

The U.N. has not commented publicly on the evacuation deal’s latest developments. But U.N. negotiators and foreign governments have in recent months stepped up efforts to broker a series of local cease-fires and safe-passage agreements to curb fighting.

Benin prime minister unharmed after helicopter crash-landing BENIN’S Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou walked away unharmed after the helicopter he was travelling in crash-landed in the north of the West African nation on Saturday, his daughter said. It was not immediately

known why Zinsou’s helicopter made the forced landing in the town of Djougou, where he had been due to meet local people, Reuters said. “My father is fine. There were no victims in the he-

licopter accident in Djougou,” Marie-Cecile Zinsou, who is also a member of her father’s communications team, wrote on her Twitter feed. “He is safe and sound as are all the other passengers.”

Zinsou, an economist and former investment banker, confirmed this month that he will stand for president as the candidate of the ruling Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE) party in elections next year.

Benin’s Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou

communitynews

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Monarch urges industrialists to invest in Ibeju-Lekki

he traditional ruler of Ibejuland in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, Oba Rafiu Salami, has assured local and foreign investors of a conducive environment in their quest to industrialise the area. Salami told newsmen on Monday in Lagos that he was making overtures to them because the community was blessed with enormous tourism potential, human and material resources that had not be exploited by prospective investors. “We are in a capitalist society where everybody strives to survive by exploiting every God-given potential to the fullest. “Therefore, sincere investors will be given opportunities to contribute to the development of the community. “The people of IbejuLekki are ready to collaborate with local and foreign investors on such laudable schemes as practised all over the world,” Salami said. He said that industrialisation was vital for local and state development. The monarch assured investors of cooperation from youths of the community to promote peace and unity. Salami also advised the

Lagos State government to embark on the development of infrastructure that would aid development and bring unprecedented growth to local and state economy. He also urged the state

to take a cue from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) initiative by embarking on projects that would enhance the economy of the locality and the state in general. Salami appealed to the

Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola and the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, have restated the need for people to pay tax in order to fast-track development in the state. Both the governor and the monarch spoke in Iwo at the 25th edition of Iwo Day celebration, the first since the new monarch was installed. Aregbesola, who was represented by his former Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, said there was no doubt that the state still has a long way to go to make it attain the height envisioned by the administration. According to him, “with the dwindling revenue from oil, it is getting clearer by the day that agricultural activities remain the only way to energise the economy. We, therefore, implore our people that in the face of the realities in our country and the need for us not to relent on the development of our state,

whenever they travelled in and out of the village due to the deplorable state of the roads. “We don’t have sufficient public schools, ultra-modern market and health centre to accom-

This failed part of Adigbe-Obada Oko link bridge is calling for the attention of Ogun State government. PHOTO: OLAYiNKA OLUKOYA

modate the residents. More people are relocating to that axis on a daily basis,” he said. He said there was the need for government to alleviate the sufferings of the people by improving these infrastructural facilities. The traditional ruler also lamented that the dilapidated drainage system in the area was causing serious erosion during rainyseason. The monarch, therefore, appealed to the government to reconstruct the drainage whenever it decides to construct the roads. “The poor drainage system here contributes to the bad state of the roads during rainy season, especially the one that leads to the expressway. “The road has been like that for years and government has not done anything about it, `` he said. He urged residents of the community to imbibe the spirit of cleanliness, by dumping their refuse at designated dump sites approved by the community and the government.

Isiwo-Ayegbami association holds community day Isiwo-Ayegbami Community Development Association (CDA) in Isiwo, Ijebu-Ode Local Govern-

ment Area of Ogun State, will hold Community Day on January 2, 2016 as part of mobilisation activities

Aregbesola, Oluwo renew calls for tax payment on Iwo Day Oluwole Ige-Oosgbo

government to expedite action in building more public schools, modern markets, health centres and access roads in the community. He said residents had to go through hard times

let us carry out our duties by paying taxes”. Aregbesola, however, congratulated the people of Iwo on the emergence of a new monarch, adding that with the support demonstrated by the people, it showed that the king is the choice of his people. Oba Akanbi while addressing the huge crowd of residents and visitors, who witnessed the Iwo Day celebration, said as responsible citizens, the people of Iwo would lead in the campaign for the payment of taxes, adding that nowhere in the world do people expect development without fulfilling their own side of the bargain. While expressing appreciation to the governor for endorsing his candidature as the new Oluwo, Oba Akanbi said he was poised to key into the development agenda of the administration. “I wish to place on record that the development of our town is most paramount to me. I have come at a time when my people yearn for devel-

opment. I have come at a time when my people need jobs. We call on all and sundry to join hands with us as we embark on this journey to take our land to a greater height,” the monarch added.

for the new year. The event is being hosted by the CDA chairman, Dr. Bisi Olawunmi, a senior lecturer at Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State. In a statement, Dr. Olawunmi noted that the community day is to kick off activities for the new year by bringing together community residents and its friends in a social environment to foster bonding and mobilise funds for community projects. He pointed out that one

of the challenges of self help community development efforts in rural areas is the fact that many indigenes are absentee landlords and landladies, who come home mostly during major religious festivals. According to him, it had become imperative to devise various strategies of mobilising community members to appreciate the need to make sacrifices in the provision of some facilities in their localities rather than leave everything to

Lawmaker presents items worth N8m to constituents Anthony Ubong-Calabar

The member representing Boki II State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Honourable Hillary Bisong, at the weekend, presented items worth N8 million to members of his constituency as a demonstration of his commitment to improve the economic and social well-being of his people. Bisong made the presentation while opening his constituency office in Okundi, Boki Local Government Area of the state. He said he was committed to bringing democratic dividends to his people. The lawmaker gave out 10 motorcycles, 25 sewing machines, 20 laptops and

other items. He also gave financial assistance of N100,000 to two widows. According to the lawmaker, those who benefited from his kind gesture are students and those who have showed commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “I have put an executive secretary incharge of this constituency office and he will be paid on a monthly basis, it is the little I can do. “We will have a functional office, equipped with IT equipment so that our young people will no longer embark on journeys to Ogoja and Ikom to carry out online activities like buying and filling of JAMB forms, checking results

and others’’, he said. Bisong, who noted that “power comes from the people,” promised to sustain the empowerment programme. He said through the empowerment, he can make a difference in the lives of his people. One of the beneficiaries, Mr Bankong Abang, commended the lawmaker for the initiative to empower members of his constituency. He promised to use the laptop meaningfully in his academic pursuit. Other members of the constituency who also spoke during the occasion, thanked the lawmaker for bringing democratic dividends closer to the people.

government. Dr Olawunmi listed some of the priority projects of the CDA to include road rehabilitation to mitigate the problem of erosion, power and water supply. He commended some community members who have made voluntary financial investments by providing concrete electricity poles and effecting palliative measures at road rehabilitation. He indicated that part of the moves planned for 2016 is accessing counterpart funding of the Ogun state government for community projects. “The mobilisation of community members is to ensure that we are able to show substantial progress on our priority projects as a bargaining chip with the state government for appropriate support,” he stated. The CDA chairman acknowledged that providing community leadership can be very demanding pointing out that he had to visit home regularly, about twice a month, from his base in Osun state, in spite of physical stress and financial costs. “But I believe no effort is too much in fostering development of one’s home community, rather than make perpetual complaint sagainst government,” he declared.

communitynews

Monday, 28 December, 2015

UNICEF tasks communities on early childhood education By Kehinde Adio

O bridge the gap between early childhood education development in urban cities and rural areas in Oyo State, the Education Officer, United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF), Mrs. Justina Onifade, has called on community leaders and residents in all the 33 local government areas of Oyo State to support early childhood education programmes in their communities. She also urged lawmakers at local, state and federal levels to key into the early childhood education programme for its sustenance in their communities. Mrs Onifade made this appeal at a one-day stakeholders meeting on early childhood education in Oyo State, organised by the Universal Basic Education Board in collaboration with UNICEF B-Field Office, Lagos, at Wallan Hotel, Ibadan. According to her, it has become obvious that government will need community residents’ assistance in the development process of pre- primary school programme in their localities. Her words: “ It has become imperative for Oyo State government to comply with the improved school system of one year pre- primary school programme in the country. Pre-primary school education is a national programme in the country whereby every child’s education process, from age two and five, irrespective of their backgrounds, takes off before they proceed to primary school. This new educational system, which is being introduced in government schools, will afford children the opportunity of knowing the importance of schooling and what its entails before

starting primary school education. “Recent survey conducted in Oyo State revealed that there are many of these children across villages in the state who are still with their mothers, constituting nuisance in the communities, instead of being in school as their counterparts in urban centres. This is appealing to lawmakers, philanthropists, at home and abroad who are indigenes of the communities to support the development of this school in their areas. UNICEF will want the state government to replicate its effort in early childhood education development in the state.” Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Yinka Osuntogun, represented by Mrs Lucy Eniola, the Director, Social Mobilisation and Information Communication Technology of the board, stated that pre-primary school programme is a necessity in the Nigerian education system, stressing

that Oyo State government would ensure the development and sustenance of the programme in the state. While commending

UNICEF for its support for the development of education in Nigeria, she charged the participants to mobilise their people

children ‘seducation. She also appealed to religious leaders to support the programme.

Education Officer, United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF), Mrs Justina Onifade (third right); Dr Olusola Adesina, from Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo (left) and staff of Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) at the one-day stakeholders meeting on early childhood education development in Oyo State communities, held recently at Wallan Hotel, Ibadan. PHOTO: KEHINDE ADIO

Traders want adequate security for Igbudu market TRADERS in Igbudu Market, Warri, have appealed to the Delta State government to provide adequate security in the market to save them from the activities of cultists. President-General of Igbudu Market Traders Association (IMTA), Mr Lucky Otu, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Warri on Sunday. Otu said cultists had been posing security threats to traders in the market which is the biggest in the Delta commercial city. He said in spite of the presence of some soldiers and local vigilantes in the market, more security personnel were needed to save

lives and property in the market. ‘’The only challenge we are facing in this market is the issue of cultism. Sometimes, cultists invade the market, intimidate people

and loot property. ‘’Though there are soldiers and local vigilantes on ground, we need more of them to completely stem the activities of criminals in the market,’’ he said.

in public primary and secondary schools in the state. Adi said apart from overcrowding of classrooms, many schools in the state have dilapidated buildings and obsolete equipment. He called for urgent intervention of the state government to save the foundation of education from collapsing in the state. Adi also appealed for

The president-general, however, commended the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Mr Mofe Edema, for clearing some of the drains in the market.

‘’We hope that by next year, government will clear the remaining drains especially the ones in the lower area of the market to enable water to flow into the canal,’’ he said.

WELA president fetes orphanage children, seeks support for women Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

THE President of Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA), Mrs Funmi Falana, has paid a visit to Erelu Adebayo Children’s Home in Iyin-Ekiti community in Irepodun/ Ifelodun Local Govern-

ment Area of Ekiti State to fete them in her annual Christmas get-together for the inmates of the home. Mrs Falana, while speaking on the occasion, advocated opportunities for women to occupy positions of president of Nigeria and state governor.

Ilorin emirate union raises N20m education endowment fund ILORIN Emirate Descendants Progress Union (IEDPU), has raised N20 million for its Education Endowment Fund. The money was raised at the annual conference and 50th anniversary of the union in Ilorin, on Saturday. National President of the union, Alhaji AbdulHamid Adi, at the event, appealed to the Kwara State government to declare state of emergency

in their different local areas and sensitise them about their direct involvement in the programme in the interest of their

good working relationship between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki. He further urged the Federal Government to relocate the federal prison at Oke-Kura in the traditional area of Ilorin to its permanent site. Also speaking, Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed, said government was working hard to ensure salary arrears owed civil servants

were paid. Ahmed, represented by the state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Ayinla Yeketi, lauded the union for its achievements so far. The highest donations of N5 million each to the endowment fund came from a Lagos-based businessman, Alhaji Layi Gobir and the Senate President, Dr Saraki.

The WELA president said the call became imperative since “women are better managers and can manage the affairs of the country better.” She bemoaned inadequate women representation in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari and appealed that “women should not be marginalised. Women should be given a voice. The girl-child should stand up and not feel inferior. What a man can do, the woman can do better.” The WELA boss, who said that the inability of the Federal Government to rescue the kidnapped Chibok girls about two years after was painful, however, expressed hope that they would regain their freedom soon. She said: “We are telling the government that it is not doing enough on securing the release of the

girls from their abductors so that they can be reunited with their families. The security of every Nigerian is the responsibility of government. So, it must be seen to be alive to this responsibility.” Mrs Falana, who was at the children’s home with gift items including food, drinks, clothes and others, said her yearly celebration with the children was “to show the children that we care for them. “We are using this occsion to tell the children that the circumstance of their birth will not limit their destinies. It is a way of giving the underprivileged a sense of belonging and telling them that they are important,” she said. The human rights lawyer, however, appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to show love to the underprivileged by ensuring that they do not lack.

Monday, 28 December, 2015 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Sunshine Stars players protest unpaid wages

KSA, Wizkid, Awilo, others for Glo-CAF awards gala As the countdown to 2015 Glo – Caf Awards hots up; top artistes from different parts of Africa have been lined up to light up the Awards night holding in Abuja, Nigeria, on 7th January, 2016. The top acts expected to entertain guests and VIPs at the event include Salif Keita, an afro-pop singer cum songwriter from Mali, who is rated highly because of his reputation as the “Golden Voice of Africa”, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African male choral group that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They rose to worldwide prominence when they sang with Paul Simon on his 1986 album Graceland, and have won multiple awards, including four Grammy Awards. The impressive line up also includes Awilo Longomba, a Congolese musician who was a drummer in Viva la Musica, Stukas, Nouvelle Generation. In 1995, he finally quit drumming for singing and released his first album Moto Pamba with help from Shimita and Ballou Canta. Awilo is well known in Africa and revered worldwide by lovers of his genre of music.Other acts billed to perform at the show, which will be watched live all over the world are Shatta Wale, Ahmed Soultan, Wizkid, King Sunny Ade, Dija, Korede Bello, Flavour, Omawumi, Sammy Okposo, Bez and Ego.Ghanaian Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr popularly known as Shatta Wale, is a producer and reggae-dancehall musician. He is best known for his biggest breakthrough hit song Dancehall King which led to his winning the Artiste of the Year at the 2014 edition of the Ghana Music Awards. Ahmed Soultan, a Moroccan singer artist, isconsidered as one of the leaders of the “Nayda” (new urban Moroccan scene). Soultan is often called the OSNI (Objet Sonore Non Identifié), meaning”Unknown Sounding Object”, for his very particular style and Sammie Leigh Bush Jr. known professionally by the mononym Sammie. He is an American R&B singer best known for his hit, “I Like It” (1999) from his debut album, From the Bottom to the Top (2000). He released his second studio album, Sammie in 2006. He is about dropping his third album Coming of Age on his own label, StarCamp Entertainment, which partnered with Twenty Two Recordings and EMI.Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, aka Wizkid, is a Nigerian recording artist, songwriter and performer and multiple-award winning star.

Ikhana

Enyimba to replace coach Ikhana V ETERAN coach, Kadiri Ikhana will not be in charge of Nigeria champions Enyimba when the 2015/2016 Globacom Premier League kicks off next month, officials have announced. The contract of Ikhana as the Enyimba head coach has run out and it will not be extended despite guiding them to a seventh league

crown in November. The club media officer Farriel Alaputa said a new coach will be announced soon. “Kadiri Ikhana’s contract as Technical Adviser of @EnyimbaFC will not be extended. A new manager will be appointed in the coming days to replace Kadiri Ikhana and guide the team next season,” tweeted the Enyimba

spokesman. Super Eagles assistant coach, Salisu Yusuf, has been in talks with top Enyimba officials to return to the seven-time Nigeria champions who will feature in the 2016 CAF Champions League. In February, they will face Ugandan champions, Vipers FC in a preliminary round of the Champions League.

Sunshine Stars players have threatened to take to the streets if the club management refuse to settle their outstanding salaries and match bonuses. The Akure Gunners finished sixth in the just concluded Globacom Premier League season, and the players claimed they have been abandoned by Akin Akinbobolaled board owing to their inability to grab a continental ticket. In the fore of this complaint are Prince Aggreh, Tunde Adeniji and goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa who expressed their agony as they are being owed three-month salary and match bonuses for 11 games. “We gave our all during the season, played with injury and we are celebrating this festive season on empty stomach,” a key member of the team told Goal. “The management has always treated us as slaves and not assets. All we want is that they should pay us our salaries else we are going to take to the streets like FC Taraba players. “Most of us are ashamed to go home for Christmas because we have nothing to give our family after a torrid season. This is unacceptable.” However, the management told Goal that the players will smile home soon as the club are not losing grip over the situation. “It is so sad that we have found ourselves in this situation. We hold our players in high esteem and share in their pains,” media officer of the club Wahab Bankole told Goal.

GOtv Boxing Night: Edo Boy wins N1.5m, Light Welterweight title Stanley “Edo Boy” Eribo, on Saturday, became the national light welterweight boxing champion when he defeated Sunday “Capo” Olalekan by knockout at the GOtv Boxing Night V, which took place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos. Cheered on by the capacity crowd at the venue and using his longer as well as superior guile, Edo Boy toyed with Capo. He effectively held off his opponent’s savage punches, while delivering his own with brutal efficiency that yielded a tenth-round knockout. Edo Boy was adjudged the best boxer of the night, winning the cash prize of N1.5m and the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy. In another explosive title fight, Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi dethroned Sadiq “Police Machine” Ahmed as the national welterweight champion. Fijabi, who made his professional debut last year at the GOtv Boxing Night, was not in the charitable mood of Christmas as he thumped the Police Machine

into a daze. The former champion became unsteady and unable to continue in the fifth round. In the night’s major bout, Nigeria’s Waidi “Skoro” Usman lost the chance of becoming the African Boxing Union featherweight champion when he lost to Edward “Ring Messiah” Kakem-

Edo Boy poses with the dummy cheque and the trophy he won.

bo of Uganda by a split decision. The Ugandan, who had earlier boasted that beating Skoro would be his Christmas gift to his countrymen, was better on the night. He was lightning -fast in offence and clever in defence, evading Skoro’s punches. In the national super middleweight chal-

lenge contest, Rasheed “Afonja Warrior” Abolaji defeated Sunday “Golden Child” Ajuwa by unanimous decision. Sponsored by GOtv, the event was supported by MultiChoice, SuperSport, Paragonis Multimedia Limited, Newsbreak.ng, KSquare Security, Brila FM and Bond FM.

47 tribunesport

Monday, 28 December, 2015

Arsenal set to sign Elneny Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny is set to complete a move to English Barclays Premier League side Arsenal in the January transfer window. According to reports in England, the deal to bring the 23-year-old to the Emirates Stadium from FC Basel is believed to be around £7 million. Arsenal and FC Basel are reported to have agreed on a fee for the player but the English club will wait to sort out personal terms and medical exams with the midfielder before signing him. Elneny is now expected to fly from Egypt, where he is on holidays, to London to perfect the talks and seal a move to the Emirates. The Gunners have turned to the Egyptian star following a long list of injury concerns to midfielders Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla, Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere. Arsenal could complete the deal to land the former El Mokawloon man in the coming days.

Maltese club offloads 5 Nigerian players

Van Gaal

Hiddink

United, Chelsea in showdown at Old Trafford

anchester United against Chelsea has often been a seminal fixture in deciding the destiny of the Premier League title in recent years but today’s clash at Old Trafford has a very different backdrop. United have slipped to sixth in the

standings following three successive defeats while champions Chelsea languish in 15th place after a dismal start to the campaign that brought about the dismissal of their manager Jose Mourinho last week. Louis van Gaal hinted after United’s feeble 2-0 loss at Stoke City on Saturday that he could quit before being forced to relinquish the hot seat and the game against Chelsea, managed by his Dutch compatriot Guus Hiddink, could well be his last. That Mourinho has been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford adds another intriguing sub-plot to the game and the United players know they must step up. “It’s Manchester United we are playing for, it’s a special club and it’s a privilege to play. We need to do better, it’s as simple as that,” midfielder Michael Carrick said after the Stoke game. “We have got another game quickly to get ourselves ready for

and we have got to stand up and be ready for that.” Hiddink led Chelsea to an unconvincing 2-2 home draw with Watford in his first game in charge. “Every Chelsea versus Manchester United game is big but this one is especially of course,” he said. “I hope we can show the same ambition there that we showed in a big part of this game.” Chelsea did fight back from 2-1 down against Watford thanks to two goals from striker Diego Costa who will miss the United game due to suspension. Van Gaal left his captain Wayne Rooney on the substitutes’ bench against Stoke and his introduction prompted an improved performance after a shambolic first half in which the hosts scored twice. The England striker has endured a frustrating season in a team that has failed to play with any of the attacking brio that brought United 13 Premier League titles under manager Alex Ferguson.

...As Hiddink rues Costa’s injury

Elneny

Guus Hiddink admits the absence of Diego Costa is a major blow to Chelsea’s hopes of taking advantage of Manchester United’s struggles when they travel to Old Trafford today. Hiddink took charge of his first game since being installed as Chelsea interim manager, overseeing a frustrating 2-2 draw against Watford at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The result left Chelsea in 15th place and came at the cost of a fifth booking of the season for Costa, who will now miss the meeting with United while he serves a one-match ban. The Spain striker had confirmed his value to Hiddink’s side by scoring twice against Watford and the Dutch manager said: “It’s a setback of course. “Costa’s performances are improving. I can complain (about the booking), but it’s not my nature. I have to go on and find a solution as soon as possible.” Loic Remy is expected to step into the line-up for the meeting against United, whose 2-0 defeat at Stoke means they are going into the game without a win in seven matches. Hiddink acknowledged United are going through a difficult time, but he refused to consider the uncertainty surrounding the future of Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal. “Manchester United were first and now they are in a different

period. I can’t comment on another manager’s position,” Hiddink said. Hiddink did, however, express sympathy for the difficulties facing Memphis Depay, the young Holland forward signed by United for £23 million from PSV Eindhoven during the close season. “In Holland, Memphis Depay was a star player at a young age,” he said. “He has the talent but is now battling the demands of the Premier League, playing three games a week. These players need the cover of experienced players. “We will go to Old Trafford, it will be difficult, but I hope this team will show, in every game, the ambition like they showed against Watford we are going there for the win.” Costa put Chelsea ahead and salvaged a point after a Troy Deeney penalty and an effort from Odion Ighalo had put Watford ahead.

Maltese club, Mosta FC, have sent packing five Nigerian players after an agreement with a Nigerian investor crashed. Former Enyimba striker, Fidelis Saviour, who scored four goals in the league, and former FC Taraba star Yau Hassan are among the five Nigerians thrown out. It is believed that part of the agreement with the Nigerian investor was for the players to be issued residence permits and this was not done by the club. Mosta are seventh on the 12team league table with 25 points from 16 matches. The league in Malta will thus resume on January 9 after the holiday break without the Nigerian players.

Mikel

Mikel backs Chelsea for top-four finish Mikel Obi will not rule out Chelsea finishing in the top-four in the English Premier League even though they now find themselves closer to the relegation zone. “We have to win every game now. The top four is still achievable, we can still do it so why not? It is not beyond our reach,” the Nigeria international told the Chelsea website. “The cups are always important as well. We are still in the Champions League, the FA Cup is going to start very soon so we have to take those very seriously at the same time, but we also want to concentrate on the league because we know we have to push up the table.” Mikel became the 21st player to make 350 appearances in the 110 year Chelsea history after coming on as a second-half substitute in the 2-2 draw with Watford on Boxing Day. “I want to push on and see how many more appearances I can get. For me it has been a great time here, I still enjoy it and ever since I walked into this football club I knew this was the place for me,” he said.

SIDELINES

no 16,401

MONDAY, 28 DECember, 2015

T this time of the year that is going into eternal oblivion in four days’ time, I should be addressing a subject that is not out of tune with the hot air that is equally moving with it out of our current memories. In fact, I should state quickly that I had a series of debate with myself with respect to the matter I should give attention to in my last writing of In and Out in 2015. I wanted to write on “In the end, we all die.” Because the ending year has been what rightly we can call a year of years, in varying respects, on account of my private losses – losses of close friends and relations – and public losses - deaths of national and semi-national figures – I was motivated to dwell on the brutal fact about our existence on this mortal sphere. What subject can be more universal in significance and meaning than the subject of death? What subject more than the subject of death can remind us of the brutal fact that our existence on this earth plane is confined? What subject more than the subject of death drums it into us that after all said and done, we all take our leave from here, from this earth plane? What subject more than this tells us that, ultimately, we all die, that, in the end, we all die? It’s a philosophical and phenomenological subject/preoccupation I try to espy. As the dying year is dying, I attempt to face it and its dying swan. But another glance at other matters and at the state of our union especially shifts my gaze. It is indispensable to shift attention to President Buhari, and to end the dying year with him and his presidential performances so far in his short but pregnant presidential reign. Maybe the dying year will jail/kill his short-comings. Maybe the dying year will mean nothing to his presidential vision for Nigeria. Maybe the dying year may be his best presidential year ever! Whatever we make of President Buhari and 2015, one thing is certain: the lanky president of Nigeria shall ever be remembered as the first Nigerian politician and presidential candidate to throw dust in the eyes of an incumbent Nigerian central controller of government, a central government-controller, who, in the end, was compelled to bite and lick

n150

Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole has said that given the current situation of the nation’s economy, the year 2016 will be tough. Needless to say that we need no soothsayer to tell us how the new year will be, Nigerians can only pray that it will not be tougher than expected.

in&out with Tony Afejuku

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Buhari’s best the dust. Of course, in the incunabula of the presidential campaigns and the dust and ashes they raised, this column came out forcefully - and without qualms – to announce that incumbent President Jonathan would get a dusty presidential end. In fact, this columnist was the only one in the land who announced the “miracle” that would for the first time ever remove from central power a Nigerian central administrator. Now, since ex-President Jonathan’s presidential dream has been jettisoned out of Aso Rock forever, what has the killer of the former’s questionable vision for our country given us? A correct answer to this question will certainly elicit different reactions from us. There are those who will call President Buhari a president who “panics and speaks of things he knows nothing about.” There are those, on the other hand, who will admire the gangling but gainly president for his choice of a “beautiful, distinguished wife” one may be tempted to liken to Jackie, the famous wife of John F. Kennedy (1917-63), US Democratic statesman and 35th president of the US (1961-63). Still there are those who speak of our current president as a “HausaFulani oligarch whose presidency is the height of Hausa-Fulani conservatism.” Those who are in this group see nothing and will always see nothing in what President Buhari has done so far for Nigeria. They will tell you quickly that the man is a globetrotter, whose globe-trotting

Inthispassingyear, Buharihasrightly quakedcorruptionin Nigeria.Intheyearthat willrollintoourlives shortly,mayhekill corruptioncompletely andwipeitfromthese shores. activities will merely fetch him privileges that will end up threatening our corporate Nigerian existence. His mantra of change is a mantra of change that is not a mantra of change. Because President Buhari has not really taken care of the problems of the masses, those who frown at him with passionate dislike and hatred may be said to have a solid point. Yet, it must be said, without a pinch of salt, that there are many, and many persons who demonstrate passionate affinity with President Buhari on account

of what he has done so far to bring to book those who want to kill Nigeria with the deadly weapon of corruption that is very deadly indeed. Dislike or like him, hate or admire him, draw a full myth or minimyth around him, create and re-create, or, dis-mount and destroy his fabled myth relating to his good intentions, and vision and dream for our country, demystify or mystify him, one thing is certain and will remain certain:“If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us.”Buhari’s invention of this consistent slogan is his best for us so far. This slogan is among his “new frontiers” for our country. And he has since gone beyond the realm of sloganeering to the firm ground of practically quaking and killing corruption in the land. What we now rightly know as or call Dasuki-gate is Buhari’s best, his real presidential best, so far. In this passing year, Buhari has rightly quaked corruption in Nigeria. In the year that will roll into our lives shortly, may he kill corruption completely and wipe it from these shores. To those who may say that Buhari’s practical act in this direction is discriminatory, I will only tell them thus: Be patient with the president. The corrupt ones in his party and elsewhere especially in the judiciary will not escape. On this score, however, let me be obmutescent for it is imperative for me to dangle my obmutescence here and now. Indeed, for now, I must obnubilate the looming loom. What do I mean? Exactly what I mean – poetically speaking.

FIFA bribery scandal:

Prince Alli wants Michael Garcia’s report published Fifa presidential hopeful, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, on Sunday called for the immediate publication of Michael Garcia’s report on alleged bribery and corruption during bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The Jordanian prince made the remarks at a conference in Dubai alongside Uefa general-secretary, Gianni Infantino, another candidate in the race to be elected the head of world football’s governing body on February 26. Prince Ali urged Fifa to have “some basic norms, like publishing the Garcia report immediately, because even those who are

running for the position of Fifa president need to know what has been going on in this organisation, and the public needs to know as well.” Former US prosecutor, Garcia resigned as Fifa’s chief corruption investigator last year in protest at the body’s handling of his report on the decisions to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Garcia said he had found “serious and wide-ranging issues” in the bidding process for both of the World Cups. He had complained that a summary of his report released by Fifa’s top judge,

Hans-Joachim Eckert, was “incomplete and erroneous”. Eckert had insisted there was no evidence of corruption and that there should be no new vote on the venue for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Fifa has defended its refusal to publish Garcia’s report on the grounds it would undermine a promise to all those who gave evidence on condition of anonymity. “There have been a lot of proposals for reform within Fifa, but the main issue is not the proposals themselves, but the implementation of these proposals,” said Prince Ali.

Prince Alli

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 28/12/2015.