Labor conference rejected push for federal anti-corruption commission

The Labor frontbencher and former ALP national secretary Gary Gray rejected a push for an Icac-style national integrity commission at the party’s conference because he says existing federal bodies are working.

Tony Sheldon, national secretary of the Transport Workers Union and a former party vice-president, had included a motion for a federal independent commission against corruption at last weekend’s national ALP conference but it was taken down at the last minute.

It failed to get internal parliamentary party support, including from Gray, Labor’s shadow special minister of state.

Asked by Guardian Australia why he did not support the concept of a federal Icac, Gray said the ALP national conference had never done so.

“The [final] resolution spelled out in detail the multiple levels of integrity and assurance in place at the federal level which already work,” Gray said. “An Icac-type body is needed where there is a lack of institutions to protect the integrity of public processes and the public interest. This is not the case federally.

“Although the need for an Icac-type body has been discussed for 30 years, the ALP has always rejected a federal Icac while supporting and reviewing existing integrity measures.”

The conference finally passed a series of policy reforms, including real-time reporting of political donations and contributions, reducing the disclosure threshold from $13,000 to $1,000, capping donations and campaign spending, public funding of election campaigns, uniform disclosure laws across states and territories and funding support for nationally registered parties. Labor discloses donations above $1,000 voluntarily.

The Coalition immediately ruled out any changes to political donation laws after the Labor platform change.

The final Labor conference motion “acknowledged …independent corruption commissions such as the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption have exposed corruption and ethical lapses in numerous state jurisdictions”.

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It agreed to review “existing commonwealth institutions to adequately capture a national system”. Those bodies included the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity, the Australian National Audit Office, the inspector-general of intelligence security, the public accounts and audit committee, Senate estimates committees, the Australian Public Service Commission and the Australian Crime Commission.

Political donations were in the spotlight again this week when Fairfax Media reported that the Menzies 200 club, a fundraising organisation for the defence minister, Kevin Andrews, received money from the gambling lobby while he was in charge of formulating the Coalition’s response to poker machines as social services spokesman before the 2013 federal election.

In August 2013 Clubs New South Wales donated $20,000 to the Menzies 200 club, Fairfax reported.

The minister strongly denied any wrongdoing, pointing to the fact that the Coalition’s opposition to dollar limits on poker machines was known well before the donations were made.

At the royal commission into trade unions, it emerged that Bill Shorten’s 2007 campaign to enter parliament received about $75,000 in previously undisclosed support, including a company-funded campaign director. Shorten wrote to the Labor party’s Victorian division two days before his appearance at the royal commission asking it to update its returns to the Australian Electoral Commission.

Bill Shorten has used the ALP conference to claw back some authority

Lenore Taylor

Lenore Taylor  Read more

While the notion of a federal Icac has won support in the past from independents such Tony Windsor and senator Nick Xenophon, the major parties have shown a distinct lack of appetite for such a body.

Sheldon told Guardian Australia he would continue to push for a federal Icac, which he described as “inevitable”.

“We will continue to campaign for a national integrity commissioner because it is pointless to have electoral reforms without a body to pursue the application [in the law],” he said.

Sheldon said the many federal investigatory bodies listed in the resolution were not coordinated. “Corruption and political donations have to be seen under one umbrella,” he said.

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“You have all those bodies but you have to have state and national federal coordination and interaction. If a donation is improperly dealt with it leaves people open to potential of corrupt behaviour.”

He said a proper coordinated federal system would need to be transparent and would need to ensure politicians were not left in limbo, such as the former NSW police minister Mike Gallacher, who moved to the crossbenches pending a resolution to an NSW Icac investigation.

“You have to get the balance right,” Sheldon said. “I find it offensive that Mike Gallacher is in limbo, he has yet to be given the all clear. No human being should have to go through that – and I am hardly one of his voters – but then you also need exposure of unethical behaviour with complete political transparency.”

Sheldon’s push reflected a motion passed by NSW Labor conference last year which supported a national Icac modelled on the NSW body, which would investigate white-collar crime and corruption at a federal level.

“People have confidence in leaders and to know someone will be held to account,” Sheldon said. “It’s not going to be that everyone will be pure of heart and of mind.”

NORTHERN SPEAKERS SUPPORT BUHARI’S ANTI-CORRUPTION CRUSADE

Speakers of the 19 northern states Houses of Assembly have declared support for the federal government’s fight against corruption.

Rising from a one-day meeting in Kano on Monday, the speakers under the auspices of Northern Speakers Forum, pledged to support President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s war against corruption in all sectors of the economy and various levels of governance by making laws that would enhance the anti-corruption agencies.

In a communiqué signed by the acting chairman of the forum, the speaker of the Yobe State House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Dala Dogo, the speakers appealed to all the 36 states government to  emulate the commitment of federal government on the war against corruption.

Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sunusi Garba Rikiji, who read the communiqué, sympathized with the victims of recent bomb blasts in Borno, Gombe, Plateau, and Yobe states.

He also commended President Buhari on his resolve to fight insurgency and rebuild the North-east destroyed by insurgents.

The 16 speakers who attended the meeting resolved to maintain good relations with the executive arm of government to ensure rapid development of their states.

The Role of the People in Anti-corruption War ByGuest Columnist FEMI FALANA

Nigerians recently voted for the All Progressive Congress (APC) because it promised to change poverty to prosperity, tackle insecurity of life and property, combat impunity and corruption, fix infrastructure, restore rule of law and transparency in governance and make warmer the relationship of the country and the international community. In terms of the ideological orientation of its leadership, the APC promised to promote a private sector-led economic system.

No doubt, the avowed commitment of President Buhari to fight corruption and end impunity in the country has attracted the goodwill of the international community. Apart from his invitation to attend and address the last meeting of the G7, President Buhari was recently in the United States on the invitation of President Obama. Before then, Nigeria had hosted the meeting of her neighbours in the renewed fight against terrorism.

At the meeting of the G7, President Buhari pleaded with the leaders of global capitalism to collaborate with Nigeria in fighting terrorism and in fixing her comatose economy. Convinced that the destiny of the nation lies in the hands of Nigerians I pleaded with President Buhari to look inwards. In particular, I suggested that Nigeria should reject any bailout and make a strong case “for the repatriation of our looted wealth in the vaults of western banks”.

Happily, President Buhari has requested the Obama Administration to assist in the repatriation of about $150 billion looted from the public treasury in the last decade.

Since the war against official corruption commenced under the Buhari Administration corruption has decided to fight back in a vicious way. Apart from attacking the leadership of the EFCC the regime has been accused of engaging in dictatorial and authoritarian tactics by the few unpatriotic elements who have stolen the country dry. While the decision of the Federation Government not to interfere in the work of the anti-graft agencies is a welcome development the National Assembly should forward to President Buhari for his assent the Witness Protection Bill and the Whistle Blowers’ Bill. The National Assembly deserves commendation for enacting both laws together with the Administration of Justice, 2015.

Under the new Act the granting of stay of proceedings and other delay tactics have been banned in the trial of criminal cases. Accordingly, a criminal trial shall be concluded within 6 months unless there are exceptional circumstances which may prolong any trial beyond that period. Indeed, the elevation of trial judges to the Court of Appeal will no longer lead to fresh trial before other judges as judges will be given the fiat to conclude part heard matters.

Those who are opposed to the renewed fight against corruption have begun to accuse President Buhari of waging a persecution war against some alleged enemies. While urging the anti-graft agencies to ignore such campaign of calumny it is germane to remind Nigerians that since 1994 all successive regimes in Nigeria have waged a war against corruption. It was the Sani Abacha junta that enacted the Failed Bank Decree and the Advance Fee Fraud Decree to deal ruthlessly with bank fraud and the offence of obtaining money by false pretences.

Following the death of a maximum dictator, General Abacha on June 8, 1998, his successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar ordered investigation into the grand looting of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 1993-1998. At the end of the probe it was established that the late military ruler stole about $5 billion from the vaults of the CBN. The said stolen fund has since been traced to over 140 bank accounts in western countries and some remote islands in the world. Based on report of the investigation the Federal Government recovered funds and properties worth over $1 billion from the family and associates of General Abacha. The forfeited assets were promulgated into law by General Abubakar on 26th May, 1999. Upon our request under the Freedom of Information Act, the immediate past Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim confirmed that the said funds and assets had been forfeited to the Federal Government.

Upon the restoration of civil rule in May 1999 the Olusegun Obasanjo Administration embarked on the recovery of the remaining Abacha loot.

Contrary to the misleading information of the then Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that only $500 million was recovered under her watch we have established that the Government of Switzerland assisted Nigeria to recover $700 million which was handed over to the Federal Government while another sum of $350 million was recovered from family members and business associates of General Abacha in respect of the Ajaokuta contract scam. It has also been revealed that the proceeds from the sale of shares of the late dictator in a refinery located in Sierra Leone worth $450,000 were forfeited to the Federal Government at the material time.

It is on record that the recovery efforts of the Federal Government continued under the Goodluck Jonathan Administration. In justifying the withdrawal of the criminal charges filed against Mr. Mohammed Abacha over his role in the diversion of the stolen fund, the Federal Ministry of Justice disclosed, sometime last year, that another sum of $970 million had been recovered from the Abacha loot.  Shortly thereafter, the United States’ Government announced that it had recovered the sum of $458 million from the Abacha loot. The said sum of $458 has not been repatriated to Nigeria for obvious reasons.

During the recent electioneering campaign, President Goodluck Jonathan boasted that his administration had fought corruption more than previous regimes. He therefore warned Nigerians not to vote for General Buhari as he was likely to jail corrupt people. As Nigerians actually wanted corrupt people jailed they decided to vote for the retired General. In fairness to President Jonathan, the fight against corruption under his regime recorded some success. Apart from an ex-governor who escaped the arrest of the EFCC only to be arrested, tried and jailed abroad the era witnessed the conviction of a few influential people who were convicted for stealing billions of Naira but asked to pay ridiculous low fines. Indeed, the regime charged Mr. Dick Cheney, a former Vice President of the United States and the Nigerians who were indicted in the Halliburton scandal even though the cases were struck out for want of diligent prosecution.

The APC recently called on President Buhari to investigate the missing sum of $4.1 billion paid by the NLNG but which was never remitted to the Federation Account by the NNPC.  With respect, the call is totally uncalled for in view of the unchallenged audit reports of the NEITI on the subject matter. In its 2013 annual report the NEITI disclosed that “NNPC holds 49% share of NLNG on behalf of the Federation. So far NNPC has reported receipt of $3,789,107,000 as dividends from NLNG for the years 2006 – 2008. However, NNPC did not confirm remittance of the money to the Federation Account. Financial flows from NLNG include dividends and loan repayments which sum up to $4.84billion was received by NNPC during for 2006-2008 audits. This is in addition to the $3.996 billion reported to have been received in the previous audit reports totaling $8.836 billion. The report confirmed that the funds received by NNPC were not remitted to the Federation account.”

NEITI reiterated the finding in its 2014 annual report when it stated, “NEITI audit reports have confirmed that the sum of $8.836 billion has been received by NNPC but not remitted into the Federation account as required by law.” During a recent visit to President Buhari, the NEITI Board members pleaded with him to ensure that the sum of $19.3 billion including the NLNG fund was remitted to the Federation Account by the NNPC. I am not unaware that the National Economic Council has constituted a team of four governors to inquire into the funds being withheld by the NNPC. Disturbed by the alleged monumental corruption associated with the NNPC, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has called for the liquidation of the body.

With respect, it is the interpretation of a section of the law setting up the NNPC, which ought to review. According to the Governor, “the NNPC only remitted 58 percent of the monies earned between 2012 and the first half of 2015. A company with the audacity to retain 42 percent of a country’s money has become a veritable parallel republic!”

Incidentally, when Mallam El-Rufai was the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises the deductions from the proceeds of the sale of public assets was challenged in the case of Attorney-General of Ogun State v. Attorney-General of the Federation (2002) All NLR 27. It was unanimously held by the Justices of the Supreme Court  that “Section  20  of the Public Enterprises (Privatization and Commercialization) Decree No 28 of 1999 provides that the Bureau of Public Enterprises shall establish and maintain a fund from which shall be defrayed all expenditure incurred by the Bureau. ...By section 21 subsection (2) of the Decree  the Bureau shall cause the net surplus of receipts and payments made to it in every year to be paid to the Government of the Federation.”

In relying on the judgment of Attorney-General of Ogun State v Attorney-General of the Federation (supra), the NNPC has continued to insist that the fund not remitted to the Federation Account is the “expenditure incurred” in the course of its operations. Instead of liquidating the NNPC those who are justifiably critical of the huge fund unilaterally deducted from the revenue generated by the body before remitting the remainder to the Federation Account should demand that the budget of the corporation be appropriated by the National Assembly.

Instead of killing or privatizing the NNPC it should be reorganized to eliminate corruption and waste. The National Economic Council is advised not to waste precious time on the investigation of the NNPC. A firm of auditors should be engaged to study and reconcile the reports of NEITI, KPMG, the Ribadu Panel and PWC on the NNPC. Since the National Assembly has failed to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill it should amend the Petroleum Act so as to exercise parliamentary control over the budget of the NNPC.

Another agency of the Federal Government, which approves its own budget, is the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The CBN believes rather erroneously that its autonomy granted by the Act setting it up does not allow the National Assembly to appropriate its budget.

In the case of Dr. Uzor Ikebudu v. Central Bank of Nigeria  (Unreported Suit No: FHC/L/CS/343/2013) wherein the Plaintiff sought declaratory reliefs to compel the Defendant to submit its budgets from 2007-2013 to the National Assembly for appropriation. In opposing the suit the Defendant relied on the independence of the Central Bank of Nigeria by virtue of Sections 1, 5, and 6(3) of the CBN Act, 2007; section 35 of the BOFIA Act, and Section 22(1) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007. The Federal High Court (Per Saliu Saidu J.) agreed with the Defendant that the action was statute barred with respect to the budgets for the past years of 2007 - 2013 but held that “There is no doubt in my mind that the legislature intended that the CBN must submit its budget to the National Assembly through the Minister of Finance for proper appropriation.”

The reliefs were however granted by the learned trial judge. For challenging the breach of the Constitution by the CBN the trial judge awarded the Plaintiff damages in the sum of N10 million and granted a perpetual injunction restraining the CBN from further failing or refusing to submit its budget to the National Assembly for appropriation on a yearly basis. But in complete defiance of the valid and subsisting judgment the CBN has continued to approve its own budget. On its own part, the National Assembly has failed to exercise oversight powers on the CBN in line with the terms of the said judgment! In the circumstance, it is hoped that President Buhari will henceforth incorporate the budget of the CBN in the Appropriation Bill submitted to the National Assembly.

There is no doubt that official corruption has continued to arrest the development of the country. This is not unexpected given the nature of the country’s neo-colonial capitalist economy compounded by impunity on the part of the ruling class. If the Buhari Administration is going to confront the menace of corruption it has to ensure that the stolen wealth of the nation is recovered and invested in promoting the welfare of the Nigerian people.

To that extent, all the welfare laws enacted pursuant to chapter II of the Constitution should be implemented in order to promote the welfare and security of the people.  The EFCC and ICPC should leave no stone unturned in the recovery of the nation’s looted wealth. Henceforth, state and local governments should cooperate with the EFCC in the investigation and prosecution of those who have diverted public funds belonging to them.

To guarantee the maximum cooperation and participation of the citizenry in the fight against corruption the Federal Government should direct all public officers to comply with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. In addition, President Buhari should sign the Whistle Blowers Bill and the Witness Protection Bill into law. In granting autonomy to the anti-graft agencies the regime should ensure that there is no selectivity in the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases while the rights of all criminal suspects are respected.

• This column is a revised version of the Keynote Address delivered recently by Mr. Falana, SAN, at the 7th Annual Distinguished Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (Lagos State Chapter).

Coalition Wants NOSDRA Probed…Urges Buhari To Implement Orosanya Report On The Agency

The Coalition Of Civil Society Groups Against Corrupt Practices has called on the Federal government to widen the scope of its probe to the National Oil Spill Detection and Regulatory Agency NOSDRA.

The group in a statement made available to media men in Abuja said the probe of the Agency is imperative considering that the agency has not done anything to justify its existence. The statement which was signed by the Leader of the Coalition Mr. Olayinka Bode said Nigeria must ensure accountability in every government establishment stressing that whenever an agency of government cannot justify its existence the best thing for the government is to put in place appropriate mechanisms to ensure its effectiveness and efficiency.

The group wondered why the former administration which set up the Orasanya committee failed to heed to the recommendation of the committee to merge the agency with the Department of Petroleum Resources just because the Director General is the right hand man of the former President.

The Coalition said it will soon present documents to substantiate the sleaze at the agency which has not impacted on the environmental degradation that has affected the Niger Delta region despite the money budgeted for its activities. It said the President will do Nigerians great good especially those interested in a better environment by probing the activities of the management of the agency in order to clarify Nigerians as to its usefulness.

The Coalition of Civil Groups Against Corrupt Practices specifically asked the anti-corruption agencies to investigate the purchase of the anti-spill detection vessel by the agency which they say was done in the most nontransparent manner. “The acquisition of the spill detection vessel by the agency was done in a manner that smacks of corrupt practices and we will soon make our findings known to the appropriate government agency so as to effect action” the statement added.

Bayelsa gov poll: Groups bicker over Dickson’s candidacy

 

Socio-cultural group, Bayelsa Development Forum, has disagreed sharply with socio-political group, Bayelsa Democracy and Development Initiative, over Governor Seriake Dickson’s electoral value.

The BDDI had warned the Peoples Democratic Party against fielding Dickson in the December 5 governorship election.

The group said the party would fail woefully if it allowed the governor to be its standard bearer for the poll.

But an elder statesman, founder of the PDP and member of BDF, Chief Thompson Okorotie, said Dickson remained the best foot of the party for the election.

The BDDI, coordinated by former Chief Press Secretary to former President Goodluck Jonathan while he was governor in Bayelsa, Dr. Konrad Welson, said based on a field research conducted by the group, Dickson lacked a re-election value.

According to him, before coming out with the verdict, the group interacted with people from the urban and rural areas of the state involving men, women, students, workers, professional bodies and youths.

Welson said, “We conducted a field research and survey with the findings showing that a good percentage of people of the state are not favourably disposed to the re-election bid of the state governor.

“The state of affairs is as a result of what the people perceive as failure to live up to the expectations of the people in electing him (Dickson) in 2011, coupled with his hostile and divisive leadership style and that being the flag bearer of the PDP, may lead to the loss of the party in the state.”

He claimed that the group’s interface with the political class and civil society organisations in the last three months revealed deep seated disdain and disappointment in the quality of leadership offered by Dickson.

He said Dickson’s leadership style caused acrimony in the PDP and the inability of the state government to offer basic amenities such as roads, hospitals and potable water  after three and a half years in the saddle.

He advised the political class in the state and the entire civil society to work collaboratively in electing the best person as a way of achieving social justice and good governance in the state.

But Okorotie, said the governor was very much electable, describing him as the best foot of the PDP for the election.

Okorotie said, “First, he has performed creditably, comparatively with any other governor that has ever ruled here. What he did in three and a half years in the state is history. What has slowed project down is purely a function of economic downturn.

“You can only develop with money that you have, especially when you are running a government of prudence, moreso when you are running a government that is not corrupt.

“He has credibility. Apart from that, he is going into areas other governors did not have the courage to go into. For example, the three senatorial roads, they are federal roads, but he has gone to them.

Road has gone to Nembe. Road is approaching Oporoma.”

Meanwhile, a Coalition of Civil Society Groups in the state has slammed Dickson over the presentation of N46m for the payment of stipends and allowances to the members of the local security outfit, Bayelsa Security Volunteers.

The group said such funding was a waste and payment for the planned violence against the people  during the forthcoming election.

The group, led by Mr. Bright Igrubia, said though a four-year youth empowerment and mobilization plan was presented to the administration of Dickson, the establishment of the Bayelsa Volunteer and the presentation of funds was not part of the plan.

Credit: Punch

Corruption: Stop Shielding, Emboldening Amaechi, Match Words With Action – PDP Tells Buhari

The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, frowns at the manner President Buhari appears to be carrying on his anti-corruption activities, describing such action as selective, insincere and ill-conceived.

The PDP says its position is based on the fact that in spite of the obvious cases of looting of public facilities, siphoning of Rivers State funds, fraudulent sales of State-owned establishments and monumental financial frauds committed by Rotimi Amaechi and his administration in Rivers State, and for which a Judicial Commission of Inquiry has been duly set up by the present administration to investigate, the President has continued to shield the former Governor, the latest of which is his inclusion in the Presidential team to the United States to meet with President Obama.

The PDP believes that if the President was sincere and dispassionate in his efforts to bring to book corrupt leaders in the country, the former Governor (Amaechi) will not be dining and having complimentary handshakes with him at the Presidential villa. If President Buhari was also serious and not had marked certain citizens, particularly members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and those that served former President Goodluck Jonathan, for his selective punitive actions, Rotimi Amaechi will not be flying abroad with him, but would be made to answer corruption charges against him and the administration he superintended for the period under review.

The Party feels strongly disappointed and worried that Mr. President is only being skewed in his widely publicized purported anti corruption drive, as he has failed to match his words with action by not demonstrably condemn and dissociated himself from the visibly emboldened fraudsters and corrupt leaders, who are chieftains of his All Progressives Congress, APC, flocking around him.

In view of this, we believe the President and the APC government are only on a witch-hunt mission against members of the PDP, which to us is unacceptable, unjustifiable and capable of causing undue anxiety and dissatisfaction with such programs of government at the centre.

As a responsible Party, we reiterate our unflinching disposition to transparency and accountability in governance, as well as total intolerance for corruption. We do not believe that certain persons should be treated as sacred cow, while others haunted unjustly.

We again, welcome any genuine efforts at fighting corruption in the land, a stand that informed the setting of the judicial commission of Inquiry in Rivers State, but we appeal to the President to stop shielding APC leaders, including former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and emboldening them with appointments and treatments that negate his claimed intolerance of corrupt practices and fraudulent acts. We urge him to allow Amaechi face corruption charges against him, if he is committed and sincere in the corruption probe.

It would be recalled that the Rivers State government has set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the investigation of Rotimi Amaechi’s administration with respect to the sale of valued assets of Rivers State and other related matters.

Signed:

Jerry Needam        

Special Adviser on Media to

State PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Fear Grips Niger Delta Over ex CSO To AGEJ

Palpable fear has gripped Nigerians over the news of the failing health of the former Former Chief Security Officer to the ex-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan with some persons suggesting that the former CSO has lost his life in detention.

It should be noted that the former CSO to Goodluck Ebele Jonatyhan who hails from Ogbia Local Government area in Bayelsa state was arrested by men of the Department of state securities under reasons that are yet to be verified.

Civil rights groups and major stakeholders have kicked against his arrest which comes on the heels of the House arrest which the former National Security Adviser suffered.  Major human rights groups including the governor of Ekiti State have condemned the action with the Nigerian Women Forum For Good Governance describing it as the height of tyranny.

Calls and SMS put through to close members of the family have not yielded any result due to non-response.

We at Niger Delta Renaissance will not fail to bring you the story as it unravels.

Nigerian Women Condemn Illegal Detention Of GEJ’s ex CSO…Calls For Release

A civil society group the Nigerian Women Unity Forum For Good Governance has called on the Department of State security DSS to as a matter of urgency, release the past Chief Security Officer to former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Mr. Godwin Obuah the former CSO to the ex-President was arrested last Thursday for yet to be disclosed reasons. Reports from sources also suggest that Obuah being a diabetic patient has not been able to be attended by a doctor or has he seen members of his family.

The group through its National Leader Mrs. Felicia Okoro said the continued detention of the former CSO amounts to a complete abuse of his human rights. The statement said it is regretful that the present administration has chosen the ignoble road of trampling on the rights of Nigerians whom he swore in the constitution to defend. It wondered why the reason for his arrest is been kept warning that Nigerians will not fold their hands while innocent persons are hounded by the present administration through the DSS.

The group warned the APC led government at the center to avoid the pitfalls associated with the military which their Leader Muhammadu Buhari unfortunately, is part of. The group said as women interested in women development, it is appalled that a man like Mr. Godwin Obuah will be incarcerated and kept out from seeing his family. While condemning this act it said it feels the pains of his wife and family who will be suffering strong psychological trauma especially considering the way and manner he has diligently served the country.

The group advised the President and those prodding him in his road to infamy to look at better ways of delivering their ‘change’ promise without been seen to be trampling on the rights of their perceived enemies stressing that Nigerians will stand up to fight against such tendency no matter the excuse given to rationalize what it calls ‘selective witch hunt’. “We believe that the fact that Buhari became the president of this country despite failed attempts is not to selectively deal with members of the opposition party and his perceived enemies but to do his best to clear the rot left by those who have milked the country dry from the days of independence. He should learn to carry out his anti-corruption crusade quietly without being seen to be persecuting his enemies. This is democracy and the tenets of democracy must be respected no matter how in hurry he may seem to be” the women group posited.

NSITF: From Moribund To Nigeria’s Social Security Flagship

This article was supposed to have come out during the last May Day Celebrations but due to some circumstances beyond my control, I couldn’t really piece it up together. But as a Nigerian who will always remain grateful to the transmutation of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund NSITF and as a son with aged parents, I find it difficult to take away the drive in me to ensure that Nigerians no matter their place of residence, religion or creed remain inundated with the good works that have taken place at the fund in the couple of years or so.

It is a common cliché that a well-informed society makes the society better. One major problem our country has faced over the years is that of lack of information. This makes it impossible for people to grow or make positive impact in the society. As a worker and an activist who have fought for better deal for Nigerian workers, I must state lucidly that what we are witnessing in the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund NSITF is one of the major achievements of the past administration from the point of view of an average Nigerian worker. It will not be out of place to state that the last administration will always be referred to as the most labour friendly administration in Nigeria’s recent history. It will be recalled that aside raising the minimum wage of the Nigerian worker, this same administration came to the rescue of the Nigerian labour community by accenting to the Employees Compensation Act an act that provides for the compensation of workers who may have sustained injuries in the course of carrying out their duties.

The Employees Compensation Act which many consider as overdue has elicited strong hope in the Nigerian worker. This Act is made much better because it covers for both workers in private and public sectors. I remember one of my uncles who worked in a textile factory but whose service in the industry was caught short when his hand was accidentally amputated by one of the machines he was working with. The sad story this uncle of mine was that he was not even given the benefit that should have covered his amputated hand.

The above is not an isolated case because there are many more who are suffering such ugly plight in various sectors. The enactment of the Employee Compensation Act to compensate workers by the 7^th Senate no matter the vitriol against them from any quarter will go down well as one of its success stories.

The fact that today the Nigerian social Insurance Trust Fund can be said to be the country’s flagship for social security cannot be overemphasized. Apart from the Employees Compensation Act, the NSITF under the Dr. Ngozi Olejeme led board is also saddled with the responsibility of providing social security to the aged and unemployed. To underscore the transformation of the NSITF from a moribund  government institution to Nigeria’s social security flagship and to buttress the impact of providing social security to the aged and unemployed, it is pertinent to quote the Managing Director of the board Mr. Munir Abubakar who posited that  “The lack of any kind of social security is more pronounced among the vulnerable groups such as people with disability, orphans, widows and old people who are largely outside the labour force and cannot count on family support and who have not made adequate provision for their own pensions.”  He therefore declared that the adoption of basic social security floor for Nigerians cannot be over-emphasized adding, “it will establish and implement a non-contributory social security scheme to provide protection floor containing basic social security guarantees that will ensure that over the life cycle of citizens of Nigeria in need can afford and have access to essential healthcare and have income security at least at a nationally defined minimum level. All persons ordinarily resident in the country will have the financial protection to access a nationally defined set of essential healthcare services including maternal healthcare, all children enjoy income security at least at a nationally defined minimum level through family/child benefits in cash or in kind aimed at facilitating access to nutrition, education and care. Those who are unable to earn sufficient income enjoy minimum income security through social assistance; maternity benefits, disability benefits, and other social transfer in cash or in kind. These are the benefits that are expected to accrue to Nigerian who are socially excluded.”

As the present administration gears up to impact on Nigerians, it is the expectations of all Nigerian workers that the legacy of Dr. Ngozi Juliet Olejeme as Chairman of the board of the Fund and the Munir Abubakar led management is sustained. Anything short of this will be a big disappointment to the Nigerian labour force.

Adams Ede contributed this piece from Port Harcourt the Rivers state capital

Siege On Dasuki’s Home: Group Raises Alarm On Human Rights Abuse

The Niger Delta Renaissance Organisation has raised alarm over the threat to Nigerians’ human rights under the guise of probe by the present administration under President Buhari a former military dictator.

The group made this known while reacting to the clamp down on the residence of the former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki. It should be noted that this same Dasuki was reported to have arrested the present leader of Nigeria when he was overthrown by former military President Ibrahim Babangida in 1985.

The group said the President should realize that Nigerians have not forgotten his record with human rights abuses as a military dictator and will not fail to tackle him on that.

The group in the press statement signed by its national Coordinator Comrade Nwokoma Messiah and  Director of Publicity Amakiri Christiana said the President should carry out his change mantra without recourse to trampling on the rights of Nigerians. It said the nation has moved away from the era of militocracy and dictatorship and urged the President to do same.

The NDRO decried the arrest of some top politicians whom it described as perceived threats to his administration. “It is disheartening that the present administration is now seen to be doing something worse than what they accused the former ruling party of doing. We smell a case of victimization against top shots of the PDP” the group said in the statement.

The Niger Delta Renaissance Organisation also picked holes in the anti-corruption posture of the present administration accusing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of being selective in its fight against corruption. “It is suspicious that people like Timi Sylva who has been under EFCC probe for his alleged financial impropriety and the former governor of Rivers state Rotimi who squandered the resources of Rivers state have been working free while the likes of Sule Lamido whose presidential ambition is known to all are been haunted by the Commission that has suddenly realized it has teeth to bite. We condemn their selective investigation which smacks of nothing else than to witch hunt opposition politicians. We thought we have gone past this stage when former President Obasanjo left power. We will resist such selective probes using all legal and legitimate instruments available to us as a group and as democratically minded Nigerians” the NDRO statement concluded.

“Atawodi Will Deliver APC Governorship” Youth Group Tells Kogi APC

As the quest for the Kogi state governorship primaries for the various parties heats up, the Kogi Youth Assembly For Good Governance has called on the All Progressives Congress APC in Kogi state to ensure it gives the party’s Governorship flag to Air Vice Marshall Sulieman Atawodi (rtd).

The youth group says it is mobilizing its members for the delegate elections also urged other delegate hopefuls to ensure that they give the retired military man the party’s ticket because they believe he can do well to change the state for the better.

The group in a statement signed by Mr. Kazeem Audu said it is regrettable that the state despite its prospects has suffered retrogression due to the non-developmental politics of the PDP over the years. The group said the state can retrace its step towards development if it puts the right persons in positions of authourity and responsibility. “As a father and an astute administrator with wide range of experience, Suleiman Atawodi has all it takes to govern the state and push it to the developmental el dorado which we have always craved for and the party must ensure that they make this possible by urging all delegates when the time comes to vote for him as the flag bearer of our great party and at the end, we will see what he will do in delivering the party at the polls and bringing democratic dividends to our people” the group said.

The Kogi Youth Assembly For Good Governance pledged their loyalty to the APC in the state and President Muhammadu Buhari stressing that it is committed to seeing the dismantling of the PDP structure in the state which has become a clog to the development of the state. It urged Kogi youths to join the APC tsunami sweeping across the country in order not to be left out of the new order of progressivism in the country. “We cannot afford to be left out of the new Change order that is sweeping across the country today. We must be aligned to the center of Nigerian politics if we hope to get our due share of the national cake. Kicking the PDP out and installing an APC led government under AVM Suleiman Atawodi rtd is the answer” the group posited.