Wednesday 26 December 2012

KWANKWASIYYA: CRITICS AND PROSPECTS


WRITTEN BY NAJIBULLAH A.NUHU
The swearing in of the newly elected Public Officials on 29th may, 2011 usher in a fresh public Agenda namely, calculation of gains and loses. This is especially after the three mouths of these elected Public Officials in office. The modest objective of this piece is to closely examine some of the activities of the State Government to improve its leadership where there is slip-up and further strengthen its credit side.
After the Federal Grants, internally generated revenue is the most significant source of State Government income that is contributing an appreciable amount of money to finance its activities. However, many states in Nigeria (Kano inclusive) are known for their incapacity to fully realize such revenue and this consequently hamper the socio-economic transformation of such state. It is on record that, immediately after the swearing in of Governor ‘Kwankwaso’, he made an attempt to meet with his colleague of Lagos who is known to be the best Governor in revenue collection in Nigeria on how to improve the internally generated revenue of Kano State. Kudos to kwankwaso. His visit have materialize as the money that is now been realize per month is far beyond that of previous administration
Other credit sides of the current administration include; the revival of the important but abandoned monthly sanitation, ongoing construction classes in some selected primary schools across the state, lightning of main roads in the State at night, procurement of new vehicles for police force to enhance security in the state, prompt disposal of refuse from public places, provision of employments opportunities to the teeming youth of Kano to mention but few.
Having briefly discussed some of the prospect we have recorded let me turn to some of the critic. The most topical and tragic lose the good people of Kano state experience since the Inception of the present administration is the rapid transformation of the full-fledged democracy that has been in existence in the state for long to democracy without freedom of speech particularly democracy without opposition.to this end the government is employing all the means at its deposal to silence the voice to enlighten critics and subdue politicians who dare subjects the administration to scrutiny. The Government abandons the suppose search for more legitimacy but instead concentrate its energies in liquidation its rivals as anyone who stands up for opposition is its enemy and must be crushed. To paraphrase the words of Nnoli, the government has surrounded itself with its henchmen.
The government erroneously believed that because it can pass out  outlandish laws in the state House of Assembly and also be going round the State to speak to public in a style of Political Comedians that they can muzzle opposition it is because of this wrong belief that the Head of the Government called for his predecessor to take political asylum somewhere on the pretext that his presence in the State is not only a treat to security but also signifies the existence of two (2) governors (His Excellency as the Governor of the People and his Predecessor as the Opposition Governor). This really sound comedian and baseless! After this call has failed to survive public and judicial hostilities, the State House of Assembly on 30th November, 2011 attempt to pass a law which will prevent Traditional title holders in the State from participating in politics especially sardaunan Kano (the immediate past governor) this notwithstanding several politicians that are expressing their political views over radio (popularly known as ‘sojojin baka’) were taken to court and imprisoned for the crime of criticizing the present administration!
It is the responsibility of the press, scholars, and opposition parties and of course the whole fellow ‘Kanawa’s’ to wake up from our slumber and fight against tyranny and dictatorship regardless of all the dangers this may involve only then each of us can be truly free. Your excellency, in the words of sunusi lamido sunusi  ‘…the best of leaders are those who welcome criticism and use it as basis of improving the institution of governance.’ Sir, please remember it is opposition that brought you back to office  without which you will have been somewhere else by now. Besides, what is most surprising to every painstaking analyst is that, you are seriously claiming to be one of the disciplines of the late Mal.Aminu Kano far from being anti-opposition he died as opposition politician and vehemently fought for the rights of opposition during his lifetime. May I remind you that any attempt muzzle opposition in a politically vibrant state like Kano will make people to be even more critical instead of being deterred? Thus be warned, don’t unnecessary steer your administration to its waterloo!

Another critic, the good people of Kano is suffering from the continuous personalization of Government and its properties by His Excellency under the name of kwankwasiya. Let me cite some vivid examples to support this assertion: the government pledged to build a model village which was a name kwankwasiyya village, the ongoing construction of class’s bear the name of kwankwasiya in some selected primary schools across the state is another clear example. Thirdly, the cars that were purchased to transport secondary school students to and fro school also are not only bearing the name kwankwasiyya but also bear a drawing of the red cap of His Excellency. Similarly, the table water that is given to primary school pupils under the so-called feeding program of the Government is again carrying the name of kwankwasiyya. This is a clear manifestation of the monarchical political culture of the ruling clique. Please sir, remember all the above mentioned projects and many others are not carried out with your personal money rather with the public treasury of Kano state government. In this way, why not all projects bear the name kano state government? I think the year in which the projects are or will be executed is enough to tell that is done under your leadership. Please think about it!

Educationally speaking, the good people of Kano record huge loos. Why? Because throughout the 8years of the past administration female secondary schools students were not paying school fees but this is now history with the coming of this administration as such many students drop out of school and go back to hawking! Please sir, remember that education is a tool of mental liberation and a gateway to civilization and prosperity. Therefore, please stop being skeptical about our education.

Health wise, the present administration in its campaign promised the people of Kano an improved and free maternal care but this is still more of hope than reality. However, instead of pursuing the above and several other promises done with respect to the health sector the government have recklessly and disdainfully reduce the 22million that is used to be given to the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital quarterly to maintain it maternity section to just 9million! On the other hand, 7million that has been given quarterly to some hospital to maintain its emergency section has also been drastically reduce to just 1 million! In the same vein, the government set aside over 3million to produce drugs and vaccines for the immunization of mad dogs in the state! This is inhumane.

Lastly, my advice to the present administration is to go back to the drawing board and think about its weakness for self-correction and also open its ears widely to the voice of enlighten criticisms which can be harness to improve the machinery of government. With regards to your strengths keep it up and try to be more sensitive to yearning of people of Kano. I wish you a successful tenure throughout your stay in government.  

Tuesday 25 December 2012

THE LOST GLORY OF STUDENT UNIONISM IN BUK


The experience of the universities has shown that when the climate is ripe, and the susceptibility to radicalization is married to a heightened sense of social injustice, educational institutions can indeed become factories for the production of idealistic Social Reformers and even highly committed Revolutionaries. For about five solid years in BUK am into Struggle, Agitating the Yearning and Expressions of the entire Bukites.

 

Last year academic session (2010/2011), I run the office of Public Relation Officer but God on to his mercy did not give me, (Pls. read ‘Campus politics is not yet over in this Diary). I might one of my Sufi brother he told me and I quote ‘in this mundane affairs whatever I love and don’t get it, am not a looser and I past the level of that thing, because as a Muslim who believe in Islamic monotheisms and have health, just have to thank God” this assentation motivate me to re-contest for President next coming year. In the short run after we resume to another fresh session, I was told that, the current SUG Speaker than, will be running the office of the President, then I now go back to my drawing board and calculate the scenario, for him as Speaker and Deputy Amir of the Muslim Ummah at the same time, definitely he would have a massive support and vote.

Therefore I re-planned my aspiration to run for Sec-Gen. as time goes on, I participated fully in the government, when the called for any Protest, will be in the front role and whenever there is any NANS convention in any state, will followed.  I meet with the Speaker informed him about my aspiration and he told me that, it is a welcomed Development and that should keep on doing my mobilization underground before the would lift the ban for campaign. Have been doing so, meeting President of various Associations and Clubs seeking for their support and advices.

Few days to Dissolution of Exco’s and formation of BUKIECO. I learned that almost five Students from Jos would aspire for Sec-Gen. I meet with the SUG Speaker, he told me that, he would like to give me an advice and that he is the only one that can told me that advice in this school and I quote ‘sadiq sec-gen is highly demanded and competitive, I do not want you to loose is better for you to run for departmental senator so that, you be carry alone in the government’ which I think over it and discussed with my friends. Finally told him, that people see well in me and that is why they said I should aspire for Sec-Gen, therefore I will stand my position no going back. He openly told me that, if that is the case, we cannot be in the same team because I have my own sec-gen.

The President of  JOSCOF called a meeting with all the aspirant of each office and including those that are running same office in other to sort things out, as part of the tradition even in Jos real politics, the council of  Ulamah” sit down and select one, that would be voted for, so we started the negotiations with other three aspirant seeking for Sec-Gen. two withdraw. I and one guy stands, then the share paper on which he got 14 votes and I get 6 votes. Therefore, the mandated me to step down for him, I said to them ‘let the bukites decide’ because to me the election is not free and fair, the other guy when together with his friends and even the President is backing him.

Shed tears and cry! Called my Dad on phone informed him about the event, he council and console me, because I know that very guy that we would be running same position. He is my senior in secondary school, a friend than and I know his habit, indeed because of such unscrupulous attitude which he has, make us not friends again for almost 10 years ago. Last SUG election, he is among the student that stands against me on which a class mate of mine became victorious and this year he came out to seek for the same office that have been dreaming and hoping for almost a year.

I called a mini meeting with my friends on how to actualized my goals, friends suggest that since am not in Speaker Structure, than why not, I should join the Deteacher Structure to ease things, I reason with then, because there is one President of one Club IN BUK OLDSITE  have been visiting him for almost a year but when election come’s he told me that, he only have one interest and that sec-gen to him is blank until what  Deteacher brought to them, therefore  Deteacher adopt me as his Sec-Gen.

On election day, BUKIECO refused to bring Election Materials till 2pm, then our team when to the Security Office and agitate over, that the Ballot Paper should be brought out, counted and burn into ashes because half of the ballot paper is been brought by Okada man without any Security Escort. The three presidential aspirants have a meeting with the Dean and CTC, therefore the agreed that election should take place the next day, when Deteacher informed his Campaign Director that election is tomorrow, he said, ‘ who is going to work for you tomorrow’.


The three president aspirants have a meeting overnight, excluding the Speaker and finally conclude to withdraw from the election; I alone with few friends mobilize our self as Agents for the race! To be obvious the Overpower me, the other Sec-Gen has all Support from all angles and God give him Sec-Gen. what baffles me is three idiot from my own department that openly campaign against me! In politics, learn to have enemies, if do not have any. Diary would remember Babee 10k for my Poster, cmr.shamma 3k for banner and salis 2k for the form. I spent off to 30k, stress and stigma that keep on following in my vein. Thanks to all friends especially Marriam, Zainab, Uncle Ido,Wakili, Abbas, Honorable, Bara’u, Aliyu, Abdullahi  and Almakura,  to name but few.

Student unionism as a social movement which should seek deliberate and radical changes in society. The Nigerian student movement in any university needs a social and political climate which allows opposition and criticism and which is not repressive. Such a climate should not be hostile to it. But allow it, the freedom to organize and to propagate its ideals among its followers. And ultimately to bargain in the political arena. Under such a free atmosphere students will be able to join other social groups in the formation of public opinion by providing ground for discussion of the social and political problems that plague the country in the search towards nationhood. In the process. There will be constructive criticism of the government's activities. For me…….Campus Politics is now over! But Real Politics continue by will of God and victory is our prayer, hope and dream.

Friday 21 December 2012

GENEVA 2012

My speech as World Bank observer in the WTO MOCK SUMMIT B.U.K. it was superb.......kudus to the organizing comitte and our father M M YUSIF. Diary would remember you in future!

I am grateful that today presents yet another opportunity to interact with fellow observers and distinguish delegate across the globe on multilateral trading systems. I am convinced that regular dialogue with parliamentarians strengthens the democratic foundation of the WTO. World Bank has a long history of friendship with WTO.

There are huge differences between WTO members in terms of resource capacity constraints, national trade policy and investment priorities. These affect the ability and willingness to incur the costs associated with implementation on agreement reach on Round of negotiations, as well as the net benefits of doing so. A major constraint impeding progress in the Doha round is how to deal with demands by many developing country WTO members for strengthened and more effective “special and differential treatment” (SDT).

 

 Traditionally, developing countries have sought ‘differential and more favorable treatment’ in the GATT/WTO with a view to increasing the development relevance of the trading system.

 

The premise behind SDT is couched in the belief that trade liberalization under most favored nation (MFN) patronage does not necessarily help achieve growth and development insofar as industries in developing countries need to be protected from foreign competition for a period of time. This infant industry (import substitution) rationale is reflected in greater flexibility and “policy space” for developing country trade policies, as well as the call for preferential access to rich country markets.

 

However, SDT goes beyond market access and limited reciprocity—it also spans the cost of implementation of agreements. Hence the need for SDT to be recast if the WTO is to become more effective in helping poor countries use trade for development. There is a basic choice to be made between the pursuit of universal rules that in principle apply to all members, and that will by necessity require SDT-type provisions to account for country differences, and a move to a two- or multi-track trading system. Below are World Bank recommendations:

 

v Acceptance of the core rules by all WTO members: MFN, national treatment, the ban on quotas, and binding of maximum tariffs, as well as engagement in the market access dimension of WTO negotiating rounds.

 

v Greater reliance on explicit cost-benefit analysis to identify net implementation benefits for countries and the magnitude of negative (pecuniary) spillovers created by development-motivated policies on other countries.

 

 

v Movement towards the adoption of mechanisms that strengthen the consultative and “pre-panel” dimensions of WTO dispute settlement by mandating a focus not just on the legality of a policy instrument but consideration of the rationale and impact of policies used by developing countries that may be inconsistent with WTO disciplines, with the aim of assisting governments to attain their objectives in an efficient way;

 

v A credible commitment to establish a global funding mechanism to provide their sources to address adjustment costs, including those resulting from an erosion of trade preferences, and enhancing supply capacity, in recognition of the need to transfer some of the gains from trade from winners to losers.

 

Thanks for giving me your ears. Wishing delegate and fellow observers a merciful trip back to their respective destinations.   

Friday 14 December 2012

NIGERIA; A PAPER NATION


 

Some days back I was watching the London version of who wants to be a millionaire when the man on the hot sit was asked; what name do we call someone or something that appears to be strong but in real sense is weak? The man on the hot sit did not waste his time to choose option  (D) paper tiger, while other options were A paper lion, B paper leopard and C paper cheetah.

Suddenly, I place Nigeria in this position after a long thought: Nigeria is believed to have the highest population in Africa with an estimate of over 106 million people; secondly, Nigeria has the strongest force militarily in Africa with the most sophisticated technological facilities. Thirdly, Nigeria is the only country in Africa that lunched a satellite in the orbit. Fourthly, it is the fastest growing economy in Africa and the third in the world according to a recent statistics.

But on the other hand, so many questions could be driven from this development which may view the position of the country in a rather negative way. For instance, why are the citizens of this great country impoverished? Why are they not reaping the dividends of democracy which was promised to them by their candidates i.e. the ‘pollu-ticians’? Why is the supposed fresh air polluted by the daily roast of human flesh in bomb attacks and gun fights between gun men and security, on the one hand, innocent people and security and gun men and innocent people; especially in the northern part of the country?

Why are these innocent people who know nothing but strive to live on less than a dollar per day killed and the only thing the authorities say is “we are investigating,” “the culprit will be brought to book.” These innocent people have never killed a rat not to talk of other higher animals. These innocent people are those who wake up daily without bread on their table.

Why are the real thieves moving freely after stealing billions of naira and the small thieves roast in the prison for stealing money less than five thousand naira. This is one of the reasons why people are now taking actions into their hands.

While the government and its agencies are busy spending money on what will not and has never benefitted the masses, the politicians are busy counting days either to get political appointment or to contest election. The security agencies on the other hand are busy killing innocent people, thereby reducing the God given wealth of population of the country, especially in the north.

The north now is an abattoir; no day will come without a report of the killing of not less than five people or even more. I was reading a newspaper, and then I lay my hand on a police report who are begging the police force not to post them to the north, in their words “we don’t want to die.”

Nigeria is a blessed country and the people there are also good people. The only way to achieve the Nigerian dream is for the people to wake up from their slumber and unit to fight the war against tyranny, against, this injustice, against the killing of innocent souls and against all societal-vices. God bless Nigeria, amin.

Monday 12 November 2012

WHY HUMAN LIFE IS IMPORTANT


 

 

“I am strongly pro-life, and have fought to protect the rights of the unborn my entire career. I will continue to fight for this cause because I value the sanctity of all human life.”  Rob Bishop

 

“I believe all life has value, from conception to natural death. And I believe the intentional taking of human life, except to save lives, should be a capital offense, as it is in most states in America today.”Tom Coburn

 

Back in the years when the only blood we saw being shed was during the celebrations; Sallah, Christmas, wedding occasions, naming ceremony, Easter or other form of celebrations to make the event or period more lively. We saw how goats, cows, rams, pigs, ducks, chickens and turkeys were slaughtered and we gathered round the butchers but they pursue us away by pouring little amount of blood to stain us  without any intention to harm us.

It is never like that today, it is humans that are subjected to these killings and inhumanity. Human lives have become nothing and valueless that we count death not by one or two or three on the newspapers, radios and TVs but by tens or dozens and more every day we turn to them (the media).

I am new to the media industry but from the little knowledge I have when fresh reports of accident, bombings, murder, clashes (farmers versus herdsmen, religious, ethnic), building collapse, gun men and security etc reach the news desk. The first question the news editor asks is how many lives are lost?

Just as Steve Nwosu wrote on the back page of daily sun newspaper. “Don’t be surprise if the news editor dismisses the report on the ground that ‘only three people died’, meaning the story is not significant. Yes even though we are talking about human life.”

Religiously, human life does not deserve worthlessness and humiliation of all kind, but we wake up every day to be told that Mr. A kills Mr. B or Mr. C rapes Ms D. human life requires respect, honor, dignity, caring and pity for the weak who as humans cannot meet up with the challenges of confronting life itself so that they could be equal to other creatures and humans alike.

 

Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat Al-Isra’, (Verse 70); "We have honored the children of Adam and carried them on earth and in the sea and provided to them the good sustenance. And we made them better than many of what we created."

Also, the Bible tells us in (genesis 2:7) that; “And the lord formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

 This is to incite men to control what is around them from other creatures, without having to humiliate themselves to anything and without fear. This way, pride and honor are built within men, and their feeling of being grateful to God.

Another importance of human life stem from the fact that man has the ability to distinguish between good and evil, but it is a pity today that man has taken himself to the extreme side of evil without thinking of the consequences of his act. In his pursuit to living, men want to be identified as the highest in rank or position in the society. This led them to deviating from the good to bad.

 Lastly, man is responsible and accountable and he will get the reward of his action and deeds. The prophet Muhammad (SAw) said in an authentic hadith reported by Imam At-Tirmithi, “The servant of Allah will be asked about four things on the Day of Judgment: about his life and what he did with it? And about his knowledge and what he did with it? And about his money where he got it from and where he spent it? And about his body how he used it."

 Enjoy life.

 

 

Sunday 11 November 2012

LOVE LESSON



It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is more painful is to love someone and never find courage to let that person know how you feel. May be god wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right ones, but when you we finally the right, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

Love is when you take away the feeling; the passion and the romance in a relationship and find out you still care for the person. A sad thing in life is when you meet someone who means a lot to you only to find out that in the end it was never meant to be and you just have to let go.

When the door of happiness closes, another opens but often times you looked so long to the closed but we don’t see the one which has been open for us. The best kind of friend is the kind you can just be with never say a word and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had.

It is true that we don’t know what we got until we lose it, but it is also true that we don’t know what we have been missing until it arrives. Giving someone all you have is never an assurance that they love you back. Don’t expect love in return. Just wait for it to grow in their heart, but if it doesn’t  be contend it grew in yours.

There are things you would love to hear that you would never hear from the person you would like to hear them from. But don’t be so deaf as not to hear it from the one who says it from their heart.  Never say goodbye if you still want to try, never give up if you still feel you can go on. Never say you don’t love a person anymore, if you can’t let go. Love comes to those who still hope.

Although, they have been disappointed, to those who still believe although they have been betrayed, to those who still needs to love although they have been hurt before and to those who have the courage and faith to build trust again. It takes a minute to get a crash from someone, an hour to like someone and a day to love someone, but it takes a life time to forget someone.

Don’t go for looks as it can deceive, don’t go for wealth even that fades away, go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make dark days bright. I hope you find that someone that will make you smile

THE AIR IS STILL FRESH!

written by Abbas Abubakar

Permit me to quote Ho Yanxi who lived during the Sung Dynasty and contributed his own to humanity by commentating on the Sun Tzu’s Art of War. This quote is also derived from the same book of strategy by Sun Tzu The Art Of War. Yanxi quoted ancient classics in governance and leadership by saying “the one who treats me well is my leader, the one who treats me cruelly is my enemy. The question is, which side has a humane government and which side has a cruel government?”

The clock has tick and it’s a year now since President Goodluck Jonathan ascended the most valuable seat on May 29, 2011. During his campaigns, the president’s first promise was a “breath of fresh air” then the ‘transformation agenda’ etc, because Nigerians believe that if you want to test a man’s credibility give him power.

The president ran the 2011 election and as God will have it won ‘hands down’ as optimist in all facets of life would say. As soon as the president was announced winner of the election by the INEC chairman, a political professor, Prof Attahiru Jega, the air in the north where the main challenger of the election came began to smell fresh. The youth, unhappy with the result took to the street to quench their anger and their fury sprouted like a spark of light and converted to a wild fire which leaves nothing that blocked it way. Lives were lost and properties worth millions were destroy, yet the air still smell fresh and the transformation continues.

From then, the security of lives of the common people change hands from the security agents to God as they (security agents) cannot shoulder the responsibility- because their lives are also threatened by boko haram or as the media will report it ‘gunmen.” Reason for this is the police headquarters bombing in Abuja as well as other police stations and the killing of police men in the north.

Another fresh air blew on January 1. A day when Nigerians join the world to celebrate new year. The federal government announced the removal of the oil subsidy which triggered Nigerians to unite against the Jonathan’s administration. At least two people were reported killed. The removal shot fuel prices from #65 to #140. This led transport fares to sky rocket doubling the actual transport fare that they used to pay with more than double of the original price.

But an intervention by the NLC and other parties lessen the situation and the government reduced the price to #97 per liter, yet the transport fare didn’t decrease. The senate constituted committees to investigate those accused of fuel subsidy fraud. Since then, many skeletons were found in top government officials’ cupboard. A typical example is the police pension scam, the rolex scam and the oteh scam.

There is no doubt that in the first one year of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as president, not much was achieved in improving the lives of people living less than a dollar a day. You can’t even evaluate the performance of this government which promises life but give death, which promises transformation but destroy and which promises ‘fresh air’ but ends up polluting the polity. Yet the air is still fresh.

There is a saying in Hausa which says “in gani a kasa, ance da kare ana biki a gidanku,” simply translated as “seeing is believing.” Nigerians will surely judge this government by what is actually happening on ground: the suffering of the masses, the insecurity of life and property, the corruption/ fraud issues, the politicization of religion, the brain drain in all sectors of the society, the instability in power and increase in tariff , the rotten system of governance and make a stand cum 2015. Long live Nigeria.

Thursday 1 November 2012

House Rents, Transport Fares and the Meaning of Despair


 After the reading the full text speech of 2013 budget proposal to National House of Assemble by President Goodluck Jonathan, recast my mined to 2012 budget criticism by Nasir Elrufa’I to which I have strong believed on him by his constructive criticism. Here is another critic of 2012 budget implementations and the recent 2013 budget proposal.

 

by Nasir El-Rufai

Just when you think President Goodluck Jonathan should have finished settling his political debts to enable him focus on easing the hardships that most Nigerians face simply to remain alive, the man decides that the welfare of Nigerians and job creation are not his priorities. How else can one explain his plan to spend a staggering N2.4 trillion to run government in 2013? Actually, the question should be: Which government?

Broadly speaking, the major functions of government include protecting the state from external aggression, provision of stable legal and social frameworks, delivery of public goods and services, redistributing incomes where needed and stabilizing the economy. Going by that definition, one can safely conclude that Nigeria has no government, despite planning to spend an outrageous N2.4 trillion – the equivalent of some $15bn on itself next year. This is against the backdrop that this year’s budget has barely achieved 30% implementation. In essence, Nigeria is spending 70% of its income on about one million government officials that can only achieve 30% of annually-set budgetary targets.


The absence of social infrastructure is particularly glaring, since this is an aspect that can help create part of the three million new jobs that Nigeria needs annually just to clear the backlog of the rising unemployment. And nowhere is the absence of government more manifest than in the provision of public goods and services, especially in housing and transportation. Thus, even with the new minimum wage, house rents and transportation costs consume about 80 per cent or more of average household incomes in Nigeria.

Across Nigeria, the massive shortage of housing and transport infrastructure mean that in addition to rising food costs (which our government has denied), many Nigerian families spend most of their income on accommodation and transportation. What would be left for other essentials of life? What about healthcare, education, clothing and other basic essentials? It is no wonder that Nigeria remains in the list of top 15 places with the highest incidence of poverty, with over 112 million out of our 162 million people living below the absolute poverty threshold in 2011. It is sad that one of the top crude oil and gas exporters is now ranked the 25th poorest country in the world.

Incidentally, there is nothing new about these figures. What is painfully obvious is that government does not have the right statistics of housing deficits in Nigeria, nor a workable transport sector development strategy under implementation. For example, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, recently said the Federal Government would require more than N56 trillion to provide 16 million housing units to bridge the housing deficit in the country. However, assuming that each household has an average of 6 residents, it means that 96 million Nigerians are homeless. That does not sound intuitively accurate.

Another related agency, the Federal Housing Authority of Nigeria (FHA) which has the statutory responsibility of providing housing for Nigerians has only built about 40, 000 houses nationwide since its inception in 1973. This, according to the FHA, has resulted in a deficit of about 25 million houses in the national housing scheme, suggesting that about 150 million Nigerians out of about 162 million in 2011, are homeless – even more far-fetched!. Which figures do we work with, 16 or 25 million? The figures do not add up!

In order to facilitate the sales of federal government houses in Abuja, we initiated a pilot mortgage which enabled many public servants and other citizens to buy houses. Unfortunately, the plan to mainstream the system nationally was truncated by our successors-in-office. This is why today, the only hope honest Nigerians have of owning homes is through the traditional and tortuous method – self-purchase and direct labour from life savings which is herculean since only a few people can own houses through legitimate sources. Now that this year’s flooding has destroyed thousands of homes across Nigeria, more Nigerians have been made homeless.

Apart from the massive housing deficits and the exorbitant rents Nigerians are forced to pay, rising costs of transportation occasioned by abysmal infrastructure in the sector is also consuming significant portion of household and personal incomes in the country.

Transportation is critical for economic growth in every country, but due to our poor transportation infrastructure, logistic costs for our goods and services are now typically more than 20 per cent of sales from the global average of 2 per cent. In Nigeria, transport costs alone can be as high as 15 per cent of the costs of goods or services.

Statistics indicate that for many growing economies, the value added by transportation to the economy accounts for 3 to 8 per cent of GDP while employment in transport sector ranges between 2.5 and 11.5 per cent of total paid employment. But in this year’s budget, government earmarked only 6 per cent to the Works, Transport and Aviation ministries combined, without any clear policy to get the private sector incentivized to invest more in the sector. For a struggling economy like Nigeria, intensified investment in transport will not only increase disposable incomes for millions of Nigerians, but also create millions of jobs and stimulate critical sectors of the economy.

In addition, an effective transportation system can have direct and significant effect on the daily lives of our people. Properly targeted and managed investments in transport facilities will mean efficient travel that could save time, fuel and reduce pollution. Lives will be saved and there will be fewer delays and hassles for the average Nigerian.

Efficient highways, rail systems, airlines, airports, harbors, and waterways will not only provide the backbone to grow our economy by moving people and goods around seamlessly, cheaply and safely, it can also employ millions of workers to generate substantial share of economic output in the country. If well exploited, transportation can actually contribute in excess of 10 per cent of our total domestic product annually.

Most Nigerians travel by road because we do not have a functional railway system and air travel is beyond the reach of most (though the fear of our skies has also driven more people back to our death traps on the ground). This has further compounded an already appalling situation. The state of our roads is distressing because of the level of deterioration, volume of traffic and the countless number of fatalities every day. At the moment, only about 15% of our roads are paved and of this, only about 28% can be easily used by motorists.

The excessive number of federal roads which have overstretched available resources and project management capacity of the government are largely responsible for their long construction periods and poor maintenance of existing roads. Yet every Wednesday, the Federal Executive Council awards more roads contracts that cannot be completed, while the legislature introduces more and more federal roads as ‘constituency projects’.

There is certainly the compelling need to rehabilitate our road networks and invest in road widening schemes to increase capacity through increased total lane length. Compared to the Republic of South Africa which has a population density of about 40 persons per square kilometre, with a total road network of about 754,000 kilometres that are well maintained, Nigeria with a population density of about 150 per square kilometre has only 108,000 kilometres of poorly maintained roads, most of which are unpaved. This year’s flooding has washed away important roads, including major arteries, leaving tens of thousands of travellers stranded and communities disconnected.

Why is it that despite having about 8,600km of waterways, Nigeria has been unable to put them to meaningful use? It is worth stating that effective inland water transportation has the potential to make commerce more competitive and our economy more vibrant.

Well structured, the aviation sector can be a key growth engine for our economy. An efficient and modernized aviation sector, with regulations and incentives for the private sector to thrive can make air travel an essential form of transportation, create jobs and economic growth. Nigeria needs to leverage on transport infrastructure development urgently to eliminate the avoidable logistic costs that are up to 50 per cent higher than what is normal for operations in all spheres of our economy. Such a programme would create millions of jobs and open up the entire country to rapid economic and social development.

Government must live up to its responsibility of developing and implementing policies that would strengthen primary mortgage institutions while simultaneously embarking on social housing projects across the length and breadth of Nigeria. It must also invest heavily in public transportation systems like roads, railways, aviation and inland waterways systems. That way, apart from providing urgently needed social infrastructure, the processes involved would create millions of jobs in Nigeria, promote house ownership for families and facilitate the emergence of a middle class which would in turn form the basis of economic development, security and political stability.

Why is government yet to find creative solutions to develop this vital economic artery? Why can’t we find ways to innovatively leverage the three trillion naira pension funds sitting quietly in banks, the sovereign wealth fund and whatever is left of the depleted excess crude account to address these critical infrastructure deficits?.

For now, it remains a tale of despair for majority of Nigerians who go to bed thinking of landlords, estate agents and house rents, with the voice of rickety bus conductors still ringing in their ears, “no change!” Paradoxically, what most Nigerians want and deserve is just that: Change

Wednesday 31 October 2012

JOS YOUTH’S UNEMPLOYMENT AND WAY OUT


 

Plateau state government has side-line Jos city, no meaning project, no good road and no standard market for the past year’s, Jos city was double alienated first, marginalised by the state government and secondly was been engulfed by the issue of settlers-indigene issues which often escalated crisis and  which keep on occurring and reoccurring. What could a youth of Jos site should do? To be educated and to be reasonable in other confront those challenges.

 

Unemployment simply means any resources that is not fully utilized but in these piece am referring to human resource precisely ‘THE YOUTH’. Man most work in other to survive and he has nothing but his labour power, which here by submits his power to the market, in search of his daily bread.

 

Nigeria has almost 163 million population according to population census(2004).70% of the population are below the age of 40 years, therefore apart from oil and other natural resources Nigeria has youthful and productive population. The disturbing trend in youth transformation in Nigeria is unemployment. According to the Federal Ministry of youth Development in an Administrative record shown that Nigeria generate about 4.5 million new entrant into the labour market annually and the labour market is often able to absorb only 10% and therefore living about 4 million people who are either unemployed or underemployed. This led to many social vices and crisis across the federation which include armed robbery, political thuggery, and other act of terrorisms.

 

It is obvious that youth unemployment crisis has substantially contributed to the nation high poverty incidence currently estimated that about 54.4% large number of the population living in abject poverty, because of growing divergence between economic growth(GDP), similarly in Jos city, poor quality of education, training  and skill development

 

The state government under the administration of governor jang,  banned commercial motorcycles in Jos and some local government area of plateau state, in other to cushion the menace of insecurity, which bring an agitations by angry youths to the extent that lives  and properties  of individuals was been vanish. The good will is that, the state government could have provide sufficient ‘kekenape’,  commercial car’s that would circulate the city, and other developmental and empowering youth   skills acquisitions centres., that would make them, self-employed.  Indeed most of our youth remained unemployed because ‘okada’ is the only means of self-sustenance to them; some has wives and children’s. yet a couple of mouth ago, MTN Nigeria closed its jos network centre which lead to another catastrophe to jos youth because hundreds of graduate remained idle at home with no job.

 

Plateau state government need to empowered the youth to provide job opportunities in other to make them busy because ‘an idle mind is a workshop of devil’. More so to remove the sentiment of enthnocentricism, also urge the Member state House of Assembly Jos North-North in person of BABS and Member National House of Assembly Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency in person of Suleiman Yahaya  as our only hope and heroes in plateau state to initiate Developmental Programmes that would up-lift Jos city and to revive the loose glory of democracy.

 

 


 

Friday 19 October 2012

THE NEMESIS CALLED SURE-P (2)


Last two weeks president Goodluck Jonathan presented 2013 budget proposal to the joint session of national assembly at Abuja with the theme of ‘Fiscal consolidation with exclusive growth’. As Nigeria is moving toward economic freedom and self-sufficiency by Mr. President Transformations Agenda.

If my memory will serve me well, President Goodluck Jonathan had assured Nigerians that the incomes of the partial withdrawal of petroleum subsidies will be applied to implementing the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P). In the 2012 fiscal year, the federal government also voted for N180 billion for the implementation of social safety net programmes, road and rail infrastructure projects. So far, N36.5 billion of this amount has been utilized to support maternal and child health programmes as well as mass transit, roads and rail projects and job creation through the Community Services and Public Works programme.

 

The SURE-P Board under the able chairmanship of Dr. Christopher Kolade is presently working hard to ensure the successful oversight of the implementation of this programed. Also Mr.prsident launched the Community Service, Women and Youth Empowerment Program (CSWYEP) under the SURE-P in February 2012. Which is now working in pilot phase in 14 states, and to be replicated in other states in 2 weeks. The federal government innovate the Graduate Internship Programme, in which participating private companies provide one-year internships to 50,000 graduates, paid by the Federal Government. So far, 700 firms, and 20,000 young graduates have applied to participate in this scheme.

 

President Goodluck Jonathan assured Nigerians in his 2013 budget  proposal speech  that the SURE-P will continue with the expected resources of N180 billion in 2013 augmented by the projected 2012 unspent balances bringing the total to about N273.5 billion. Urge the law makers to look into Mr. president 2013 budget proposal by proper debate before  the approval in other to ensure Mr. president Good will to Nigerians.

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 17 October 2012

NANS: UNITY OR DIVERSITY?


 

Nigerian student movement is relevant as any other group in the plural societies of Nigeria for it development. They have an historical responsibilities in political, economic and social activities of the country. History also informed us how Nigerian student struggle for the emacipetation of Nigerian independent in 1960. As the banning of National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) in 1978, student regroups into National Association of Nigerian Student (NANS). Then, student unionism was full of patriotism and selfless services for student and by all students. NANS of today is NANS of NONE STUDENT, as stalk holders which are universities drop out, deliberately have a spill over as the case may be and remained in NANS for donkey years with what they called interest and they decide ‘on who is or who is not’ on NANS leadership.

As Nigeria a federal and a heterogonous nation with almost 250 ethnic tribal groups, which up till date Nigeria is searching for it unity in diversity because It is obvious that, the standard of living among average Nigerians stands at zero level and corruption seem to be progressing every day. Poverty and crime rate are simultaneously at multiplier effect, the state of our education system is nothing to write home about; bedeviled with insuffiency in providing the basic necessities. The government cannot even secure the lives and properties of the citizens, needless to say that such government has failed.

Similarly in NANS politics, as educated leaders of tomorrow that was mainly made for student but a great paradox where by NANS representing their pocket and self-centered interest. Indeed NANS has a chameleon pieces with a policy of ‘no winner no looser’ strongly believed that if you have a mined and you can with stand any difficulties and challenges that might come your way. Therefore, one can declared self as a leader. The current NANS president in person of Muhammed Dauda has four factional leaders, which are executing their programs as NANS leaders, collecting money from government and other politician.

As Robert Greene in his book ‘the 48 law of power’ law number one assert that ‘never outshined your master’. In NANS there was no master but gang of educated illiterate because even HIM muhmmed Dauda is there as NANS president to enrich himself while universities management are increasing tuitions fees to student, insecurity seems to be the order of the day in porthencort, sokoto, mubi to name but few and student welfare is very poor. Nigerian students did we really need change and are we ready to be the leaders of tomorrow?

 In sequel to the preconvention and senate meeting of muhammed Dauda in Ibadan and that of kole Otaye in sokoto state on which muhammed Dauda set Jigawa state to be his conventional ground and kole Otaye set Taraba State be his conventional ground all in name of NANS which would schedule to take place in December for an election to a new government. We only have one president in Nigeria, only one moon and one sun, then why NANS has more than two presidents?

The hope of liberation of Nigerians falls on the youth and (we) must rise up to act, to speak and reject all forms of incompetency and irregularities in governances. I urge comr. Jude Imgwe Speacial Asistance on Student and Youth Matters to his excellency president Goodluck Jonathan. Who I know as student and once a factional president of NANS 2010 but now a leader and an elder to called a unity convention to also restructure and reshape NANS leadership. I strongly belived sir, that you can do it because you know NANS more than I do.