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Fuel price hike: Atiku tackles FG, says price should have dropped if we truly deregulated

A few says after he rejected electricity tariff hike, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, has frowned at the sudden increment in the pump price of petrol by the Nigerian government.

Atiku in a tweet on Tuesday said the hike in fuel price did not in any way support certain claims regarding deregulation in Nigeria.

Atiku said his view on the matter stemmed from his experience as a businessman “who is seeing things from an economic perspective.”

He argued that in the US and Europe, fuel prices were far lower than they were in 2019, adding that if Nigeria truly deregulated, then fuel prices should have dropped.

Petrol stations across the country increased the price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, on Thursday, September 3.

The prices ranged from N155 to N162 per litre across the country observed.

Budget support: IMF, World Bank conditions behind subsidy withdrawal, electricity tariff hike

The Federal Government’s removal of petrol subsidy and the increase in electricity tariff are in line with reforms being sought by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, economic experts have said.

The IMF had on April 28 approved Nigeria’s request for emergency financial assistance of $3.4bn to support the country’s efforts in addressing the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 shock and the sharp fall in oil prices.

The Washington-based fund also published the country’s letter of intent in a detailed report released on April 29.

In the letter, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, and the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, pledged that fuel subsidy would not return.

The sharp drop in crude oil prices on the back of the spread of coronavirus saw the landing cost of petrol hit a record low in March, wiping off subsidy on the product. The Federal Government, on March 18, reduced the pump price of petrol to N125 per litre from N145.

“The recent introduction and implementation of an automatic fuel price formula will ensure fuel subsidies, which we have eliminated, do not reemerge,” the Federal Government told the IMF in the letter dated April 21, 2020.

In a report on August 17, Reuters quoted sources as saying that the World Bank was unlikely to approve a much-needed $1.5bn for Nigeria in August as planned due to concerns over desired reforms.

It said the World Bank, which had said Nigeria could be heading towards its greatest fiscal crisis in 40 years, had aimed to bring the loan to its board for approval last month, but the sources said negotiations over what Nigeria would do to secure it were incomplete.

According to the report, World Bank loans are often contingent upon reforms, and it has not outlined any demands, but said previously that it was ‘recommending’ a more unified, flexible exchange rate.

Reuters said fuel subsidies and electricity tariffs were also being discussed, adding that a banking source said the loan could now not be approved until October.

An economist and Chairman of the Foundation for Economic Research and Training, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, said, “Once a country does not run its economy well and it wants to borrow from the IMF, it will be given conditions. If the economy is well-run, the country may be given soft conditions.

“But if the economy is not well-run, the country will be given tough conditions. At times, the reforms the World Bank or IMF wants the country to implement may not augur well with the common man. Some reforms are in our interest.”

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr Johnson Chukwu, told our correspondent that apart from the World Bank and the IMF, some Nigerians had been advocating the removal of fuel subsidy.

He said, “With or without external pressures, there was an absolute need for Nigeria to remove subsidies on consumption and channel the resources to more critical sectors of the economy that will stimulate the economy.

“What the IMF and the World Bank were emphasising was that Nigeria had some inefficiencies in resource allocation and that if the country wanted them to give it support, the inefficiencies should be eliminated.

“They were urging the government to plug the wastages in the system.”

Chukwu said to optimise the use of the loans, the government should provide critical infrastructure that would help to create jobs and help the economy to grow.

An economist and Senior Lecturer, Lagos Business School, Dr Bongo Adi, said, “We know what the Bretton Woods institutions stand for. They are pro-market, liberal economic institutions. Before you access their loans, you have to be ready to meet certain conditions.

“Surely, you can see that there is a linkage between the loans we are trying to get and the conditionalities they have always traditionally required of any country seeking loans.”

Adi described the removal of fuel subsidy and the move towards cost-reflective electricity tariff as right policies but said they were being implemented at the wrong time.

THE PUNCH

SERAP condemns arbitrary electricity tariff, fuel price hike

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned “the patently unfair and arbitrary hike in electricity tariff and fuel price by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

”The group said , “This is unjust to many people living in extreme poverty, and entirely incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations.

”Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP deputy director said in a statement that: “The hike will endanger lives and increase inequality and poverty exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.“SERAP will challen

ge this travesty in court if the Federal Government does not immediately drop these retrogressive measures against the Nigerian people.

“Specifically, the increase in electricity tariff and fuel price clearly violates Nigeria’s obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which the country is a state party, not to take ‘deliberately retrogressive measures’ unless there are no alternative options and full consideration has been given to ensure that the measures are necessary and proportionate.

“SERAP urges President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately drop the misguided hike, and to establish independent impact assessment of the increases on the poorest segments of society, and to identify alternative measures, such as cutting the bogus allowances of people in the Presidency and members of the National Assembly.“The hike is lacking in compassion, as it will hit the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians the hardest, increase inequality levels in an already very unequal Nigeria. It definitively signals that socio-economic rights are a very low priority for this government.“President Buhari should reconsider these arbitrary measures and put human rights at the centre of his government’s policies.”

Human rights activists, students protest increase in price of PMS, electricity tariff in Osun

By Richard Akintade, Osogbo

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Tuesday gave the Federal Government a three-week ultimatum to reverse the increment in petrol pump price, electricity tariff among others, stating that the students would stage another protest on October 1st, 2020 if the government failed to grant their request.

According to our Correspondent in Osogbo, the protest was organised by NANS in collaboration with Joint Action Front (JAF) and Amica Ideological School Movement ( ACIS-M).

Some members of NANS and other human rights groups in Osun during the peaceful demonstration expressed their grievances through protest against incessant bank charges as well as hike in PMS pump price, cable network, and electricity tariff in Nigeria.

The protesters who held placards bearing inscriptions such as “We condemn the insensitivity of Buhari-led government to take current hardship faced by Nigerians. Palliatives, not inflation!” “Reverse PMS price. Reverse electricity tariff. Don’t ruin our democracy.” were seen along Olaiya road, Osogbo on Tuesday morning.

One of the stakeholders, Kola Ibrahim, who is the Secretary of JAF, said, “Our aim is to resist all anti-people policy of the Buhari government and its surrogates across the states.

“All of us are aware of the devilish policy being doled out by the Buhari government vis-a-vis the increment in electricity tariff and increment in fuel price. Everybody knows the impact of this, but they don’t care. They don’t pay for fuel. They don’t pay for electricity. They are subsidised from our collective purses, and that is why they don’t care.

“If we allow these policies to be implemented, we are going to lay a basis for the ruling class to continue to attack our economic rights and democratic rights. It is for this basis that the Nigerian students have risen to say no to all anti-people policies, no to capitalist policies.”

Mr Ibrahim maintained that the government did not care for its citizens and the only way Nigerians could protect their interest was by destroying the political corrupt structure that the government had built.

While noting that Nigeria had no functional refinery despite being the eight largest oil-producing country, Mr Kola lamented the government’s passivity in building refineries or revamping the existing ones.

He said, “You can imagine that in Nigeria, a country that has crude oil, the eighth biggest oil producer in the world does not have one functional refinery. In June 2020, Nigerian government spent up to hundred billion naira on NNPC but NNPC did not produce just single petrol. South Africa does not have crude oil, but they have refineries.

“Buhari’s government has been in government for more than six years, it takes less than two years to establish a refinery Even the existing ones have refused to revamp them.

“They are solidarising Dangote to build his own private refinery. They want to destroy the public refinery and bring in private refineries the same way they destroyed public education for private education. They are doing the same thing in the health sector. They don’t care about us.

“We can only care about ourselves by mobilising ourselves and building and destroying that political corrupt structure that they have built, and it is on this basis that I wanted to commend the Nigerian students. We must know that number is important, but number is not the only important factor. The quality of number is also another important factor. We are the seed of the revolution now.”

Also speaking, the convener of JAF, Comrade Alfred Adegoke, who supported the cause of the students, said, “This struggle has just started. We must stop it. The president has said that petroleum is going to N300, are you prepared to pay that? If we accept that today, education will be more commercialised. Electricity, you can’t buy. House, you can’t buy. Food, you can’t
buy. Government cannot provide water, houses or job. That is the mess we have been seeing. Irresponsible government all the time. We say no that this must end.

“We say no to all oppressive and exploitative government. This struggle has just started. Power for the people. Power for the workers. Power for the students.”

Echoing a similar view, the Coordinator of ACIS-M, Comrade Akin Asifat ,noted that Nigerian students are prepared to take the future in their own hands, adding that it was time to let the government realise that Nigeria belonged to all Nigerians.

He also called upon other bodies to support the move to resist the anti-people policies of the Buhari-led government while maintaining that the government had failed in its promises to provide social welfare for all the citizens.

In his words, “Nigerian people, the poor working masses with Nigerian students are ready to take the future in their hands and say enough is enough. There is no aspect of the economy in Nigeria that the poor can hang their head. Electricity in Nigeria hike, fuel price hike, stamp duty.

“Everything in Nigeria is poor. It is time for us to say it loud and clear even when you are enjoying crumbs from the table of those at the statehouse over there. We have to let everybody know that nobody is safe in this kind of noxious, wicked, anti-people policy of the most corrupted capitalist government of Buhari.

“Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians. It does not belong to Buhari alone. It does not belong to Osinbanjo alone. It does not belong to Aregbesola alone. It does not belong to Oyetola alone. The government has failed. They are being sworn in with a constitution of which under the state principle they promised to provide social welfare for all the citizens.

“This is just a prelude, an introduction to the big show. We shall decide on the streets. We are resuming back to the barricade. We would show the government that this country belongs to every one of us. You can’t kill us before our death comes. We will resist the anti-people policies.

“We can’t do this in isolation. TUC, NLC, they have not said anything. And we know the meaning of that silence. Silence has a meaning. If they don’t want their people to stamp them to death on the street, they have to come out now and issue a statement.

“Join the champ, join action fronts for Nigerians to mount well-compressive and coordinated programmes that will give a fightback to this government of the looters and bodyguards of Buhari-led APC.”

Re: The Constitution Of The BOSAN Committee On Audit Of Some Of NBA’s Past National Elections

By Sylvester Udemezue

I will find time next week to offer what I humbly believe to be a disinterested opinion on the MERIT of the Committee recently set up by BOSAN (the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria) to audit some of NBA’s past elections.

In the meantime, is the BOSAN Committee not dead on arrival? Chief Joe K. Gadzama, SAN, heading a Committee to audit NBA‘s past elections? Do not get me wrong; I have nothing against the person of the distinguished legal giant, Chief Gadzama. He is a very well respected silk. I personally hold him very high. He is a complete, renowned bar man. But, in respect of the present BOSAN Committee on audit of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Elections, I respectfully ask, What has become of nemo judex in causa sua? Recall that learned silk Gadzama is himself an aggrieved, interested party, being an NBA presidential candidate in 2016. How on earth did the respected BOSAN arrive at the decision to appoint him to head such a Committee? With the greatest respect to BOSAN (I mean no harm ooo) this is a gross breach of nemo judex in causa sua.

This position holds true even if the terms of reference of the BOSAN audit committee exclude the 2016 NBA national elections; this is because Sir Joe Gadzama, SAN, is one who is already known to be NOT HAPPY about the way NBA elections have been conducted within the past five years, and about the persistent complaints and crises regarding credibility of the entire NBA electoral process, especially since the introduction of the universal suffrage and the regime of electronic voting. Don’t forget that Mr Gadzama had contested the NBA 2016 presidential elections in court and “lost.” With due respect, the learned silk is obviously an aggrieved party/person as far as the NBA electoral process is concerned. Let us consider what a reasonable, fair-minded onlooker would think. “Reasonable likelihood of bias” is the primary consideration here; it’s not “actual bias.”

 Permit me now to humbly refer to my comment in the 40-page “Personal Memorandum Submitted To Nigerian House Of Representatives On February 02, 2018 On The Planned Joint-Committee Public Hearing On The Firdaus’ Hijab Controversy by Sylvester Udemezue:”

”In the case of Metropolitan Properties Co. (F.G.C.) Ltd. vs. Lennon (1969) 1 Q.B. 577, 598, Lord Denning, M.R., after reviewing the facts in the case before him, stated, in respect of the law regarding nemo judex in causa sua, as follows:“A man may be disqualified from sitting in a judicial capacity on one or two grounds. First, a “direct pecuniary interest” in the subject matter. Second, “bias” in favour of one side or against the other. Regarding likelihood of bias, the same Lord Denning, MR, in R. v. Amber Valley DC, ex parte Jackson [1985] 1 WLR 298, [1984] 3 All ER 50, gave an insight into the determining factor, as follows: ‘The court looks at the impression which would be given to other people. Even if he was as impartial as could be, nevertheless if right-minded persons would think that, in the circumstances, there was a real likelihood of bias on his part, then he should not sit. and if he does sit, his decision cannot stand”. It is irrelevant whether he was in fact biased, because “justice is rooted in [public] confidence.’ This rule has been applied in several cases, in Nigerian and elsewhere, to strike down decisions reached in such circumstances of reasonable likelihood of bias. The cases of R. v. Bow Street Magistrate ex parte Pinochet (No. 2) [2000] 1 AC 119 , [1999] 1 All ER 577 and R. v. Secretary of State ex parte Kirkstall [1996] 3 All ER 304 easily come to mind. See also the Nigerian case of ZAMAN v. STATE (2015) LPELR-24595(CA) where the Nigerian Court of Appeal stated as follows: ‘In considering whether there was a real likelihood of bias, the Court does not look at the mind of the Chairman of the tribunal, or whoever it may be, who sits in a judicial capacity. It does not look to see if there was a real likelihood that he would, or did, in fact he would, or did, favour one side at the expense of the other. The Court looks at the impression which would be given to other people. Even if he was as impartial as could be, nevertheless, if right-minded persons would think that, in the circumstances, there was a real likelihood of bias on his part, then he should not sit. And if he does sit, his decision cannot stand; see R. vs. Huggins (1895) 1 Q.B. 563 and R. vs. Sunderland Justices (1901) 2 K.B. 357 at C.A. per Vaughan Williams, L.J. Nevertheless, there must appear to be a real likelihood of bias. Surmise or conjecture is not enough: see R. vs. Camborne Justices, ex p. Pearce (1955) 1 Q.B. 41 and R. vs. Nailsworth Licensing Justices, ex p. Bird (1953) 2 All E.R. 652, D.C. There must be circumstances from which a reasonable man would think it likely or probable that the justice or chairman, as the case may be, would, or did, favour one side unfairly at the expense of the other. The Court will not inquire whether he did, in fact, favour one side unfairly. Suffice it that reasonable people might think he did. The reason is plain enough. Justice must be rooted in confidence; and confidence is destroyed when right-minded people go away thinking: ‘the judge was biased.’…. As Lush, J., said in Serjeant vs. Dale (1877) 2 Q.B.D. 558, 567: ‘The law, in laying down this strict rule, has regard not so much perhaps to the motive which might be supposed to bias the Judge as to the susceptibilities of the litigant parties. One important object, at all events, is to clear away everything which might engender suspicion and distrust of tribunal, and so to promote the feeling of confidence in the administration of justice which is so essential to social order and security.’’ In the case of Olve & Ors. vs. Enenwali & Ors. (1976) 1 NMLR the Supreme Court of Nigeria (quoting the dictum of Brett, Ag. C.J.N, in the case of Obadara and Ors. vs. The President, Ibadan West District Grade “B” Court (1964) 1 All NLR 336) has held at page 49 to 50 (per Nasir, JSC, as he then was), as follows: ‘The principle that a judge must be impartial is accepted in the jurisprudence of any civilized country and there are no grounds for holding that in this respect the law of Nigeria differs from the law of England or for hesitating to follow the English decisions.”
(See: https://thenigerialawyer.com/personal-memorandum-submitted-to-nigerian-house-of-representatives-on-february-02-2018-on-the-planned-joint-committee-public-hearing-on-the-firdaus-hijab-controversy-by-sylvester-udemezue/).

Permit me to humbly also refer to another comment of mine:
“Issues relating to whether or not a court of law [or tribunal, Panel or Committee] has jurisdiction are fundamental and lack of jurisdiction is fatal. See OTUKPO v. JOHN (2000) 8 NWLR (669) 507; BRONIK MOTORS v. WEMA BANK (1983)6 S.C. 158; see also OMOKHAFE v. Military Administrator (2005) 2 MJSC 173. In the Supreme Court case of MADUKOLU v. NKEMDILIM (1962) 1 ALL NLR 589, the Supreme Court had provided the following guide as to determining whether a court has jurisdiction. Hon Justice Vahe Bairamian (FJ) while delivering the lead judgment in that case stated as follows: ‘Put briefly, a court is competent when: (1) it Is properly constituted as regards numbers and qualifications of the members of the bench, and no member is disqualified for one reason or another; and (2)
the subject matter of the case is within its jurisdiction, and there is no feature in the case which prevents the court from exercising its jurisdiction: and (3) the case comes before the court initiated by due process of law, and upon fulfilment of any condition precedent to the exercise of jurisdiction.

Any defect in competence is fatal, for the proceedings are a nullity however well conducted and decided: the defect is extrinsic to the adjudication.” (See: “Does Nigeria’s Supreme Court Have Original Jurisdiction to Entertain the Case Filed by the Senate Over CJN Onoghen (A Legal Opinion by Sylvester Udemezue)” published on https://thenigerialawyer.com/rule-of-law-alert-does-nigerias-supreme-court-have-original-jurisdiction-to-entertain-the-case-filed-by-the-senate-over-cjn-onoghen-a-legal-opinion-by-sylvester-udemezue/). I think Point Number 1 above is relevant to the present circumstance regarding the BOSAN Committee.

Respectfully,
Sylvester Udemezue
(Udems)
08/09/2020)

thenigerialawyer

Soldiers kill Gana, Benue’s ‘most wanted criminal’

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of Mr Terwase Akwaza, alias “Gana,” the ‘most wanted criminal’ in Benue state.

The Commander, 4 Special Forces Command, Doma, Nasarawa state,  Maj.-Gen. Moundhey Ali, told newsmen on Tuesday that Gana was killed at a roadblock mounted by the Army along Gbese-Gboko-Makurdi road following exchange of gunfire.

The Benue State Government had in 2015 granted amnesty to over 500 persons including Gana, who were terrorising parts of Benue and Taraba states, but most of them  relapsed into criminality.

Gana was later in 2017, declared wanted by the Police while the Benue State Government placed a N10 million bounty on him.

According to Ali, the army has recorded another breakthrough in their efforts to rid the country of the activities of bandits, terrorists and other criminal elements.

He said: “At about 12:00 hours today (Tuesday), we received strategic information on the movement of the dreaded bandit Terwase Akwaza Agbadu AKA Gana along Gbese-Gboko-Makurdi road.

“Troops of Operation ‘Ayem Akpatuma III’ moved swiftly and mounted snap roadblocks along the routes.

“At about 13:00 hours, there was an engagement with the convoy of Gana, a shoot out ensued and the bandit was killed.”

The Commander also said that 40 armed members of Gana’s gang were captured during the operation.

He said the captured gang members were in Army custody and would be handed over to the appropriate authority for prosecution.

Ali also disclosed that several rifles, pump action guns, ammunition, charms and explosives among other items were recovered from the gang.

He said Gana’s corpse had been deposited in an undisclosed hospital mortuary. (NAN)

I want freedom, not ‘Igbo president’

This is not an effort to join issues with Dr. Chidi Amuta’s provocative article: “2023: Igbos and the Politics of Moral Conscience”, or Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah’s equally engaging rejoinder: “Of Igbos, 2023 and ‘Politics of Moral Conscience”.

These two intellectual mandarins offered their valuable perspectives on how a Nigerian president from the Igbo stock is or should be achievable in 2023, provided certain terms and conditions are met.

I used to yearn for an Igbo to emerge as president of Nigeria. In 1982 when the concept of zoning was perfected in the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, it was agreed that the presidency would be zoned to the South in 1987. President Shehu Shagari had adopted his Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, for a second term.

When the ticket was reelected in 1983, it was almost inescapable that Ekwueme would replace Shagari in 1987. For me as a university student and a child who witnessed the Biafra-Nigeria Civil War, I felt that an Igbo as president of Nigeria would help heal the wounds of the war, perfect national integration, and set the country on the path to a glorious future.

Unfortunately, Major General Muhammadu Buhari led a coup that terminated that dream on January 1, 1984. His junta reversed the NPN’s Igbo integration efforts. It is still widely believed in some circles that the coup was staged by ambitious Northern officers to ensure that the Igbo, whose sons supposedly killed some Northern leaders in 1966 and plunged the nation into a civil war, did not rule Nigeria just 17 years after the war.

Buhari ran exactly the same brand of ultra-North, anti-Igbo government as he is doing today. What makes those still huffing for “Igbo president” think that this same Buhari who is perceived to be pursuing the archaic Caliphate agenda, will fertilise the ground for an “Igbo president” in 2023?

In 1998/1999, I not only hoped for an Igbo to become president of Nigeria, but I was also part of the Igbo political interest group, People’s National Forum, PNF, which worked towards Dr. Ekwueme’s emergence. After the June 12, 1993 election was annulled and General Sani Abacha set up the National Political Conference in Abuja between January 1994 and October 1, 1996, Ekwueme played roles that made many Nigerians look up to him as the next logical president after General Abacha’s handover.

Pursuing the old NPN agenda at the Conference, Ekwueme fronted the debates that converged national consensus around the creation of more states (Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nasarawa, Bayelsa, and Zamfara), approval of the informal six geopolitical zones (South East, South-South, South West, North Central, North East, and North West) and the rotation/zoning of the presidency between the North and South.

The Northern delegates had fanatically fought “rotational presidency” and zoning, using their numerical strength to defeat the vote. But General Abacha and the Provisional Ruling Council, PRC, approved this policy because of the need to ensure that no part of the country monopolised leadership thenceforth.

It was also at the Conference that important elements of the 1999 Constitution, such as the Federal Character principle (which Buhari has jettisoned) and the 13 per cent Derivation for oil-producing states, were approved, all in efforts to bring disenchanted Nigerians back on board.

After the conference, Ekwueme also led the All Politicians’ summit in Lagos which eventually gave Abacha’s military government the October 1, 1998 quit notice. When Abacha suddenly died on June 8, 1998, while persecuting leaders of the summit, Ekwueme led the efforts that culminated in the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, through the late Chief Bola Ige later led some South West elements to pull out and form the defunct pro-June 12 Alliance for Democracy, AD.

Ekwueme was in pole position to emerge Nigeria’s elected president in 1998. I worked for it, believing that only those who fought the military would give us a new beginning; democratic governance devoid of military mentality and culture.

Unfortunately, the military executed another “coup” aimed at stopping Ekwueme and “Igbo presidency”. The General Abdulsalami Abubakar junta which replaced Abacha, rallied the Northern political class to forfeit their presidential ambitions and support a South Western candidate for president.

They suddenly realised the need to assuage the South West for annulling Chief MKO Abiola’s June 12, 1993, presidential election. The South West was given a virtual red carpet.

Contrary to Chidi Amuta’s recommendations that Igbo should go and beg or “negotiate” with other Nigerians (which some political jobbers are pussyfooting for) nobody asked them to negotiate.

The Alliance for Democracy, AD, which failed to meet the Dr. Abel Guobadia-led Independent National Electoral Commission’s registration criteria was registered, while the United Progressives Grand Alliance, UPGA, which was later renamed All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, which was being touted as an “Igbo party”, was denied registration.

The military, supported by Northern leaders, brought out General Olusegun Obasanjo from Jimeta Prisons. Abacha had jailed Obasanjo for alleged complicity in the 1995 coup plot. Obasanjo was supposed to be the June 12 election annullers’ compensation to the South West over what they did to Abiola, yet the South West was not allowed to produce Chief Olu Falae whom they chose as the befitting substitute for Abiola.

The 1984 Buhari coup was perceived to have been plotted to stop an Igbo president in 1987. The Abdulsalami Abubakar military junta brought out Obasanjo from jail to stop an Igbo president in 1999, ostensibly as their recompense for Abiola’s destruction.

In the second part of this article next Wednesday, I will narrate the final straw that extinguished my interest in the “Igbo presidency” pursuit. I will also explain why an Igbo president is no longer a solution and why it will actually work against the interest of the Igbo nation.

Digital Number to replace the National Identity Card

By Chibuike Nwabuko

Federal government has clarified rational behind the transfer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy said with the development, the concept of Digital Number would be prioritized to replace the National Identity Card.

He made the disclosure in an interview with PRNigeria’s Economic Confidential.

Pantami confirmed that the contribution of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased in the second quarter of 2020.

The minister said broadband penetration rose significantly from a little above 30 percent to more than 42 percent in the last year.

“Any country where broadband penetration increases by 10 percent will witness GDP increase of between 1.6 percent and 6.8 percent. Digital economy indeed is the future, and it is all about prioritizing digital innovation and digital entrepreneurship.”

He explained that when the digital number becomes the new national identity, Nigerians will be able to access relevant services offered by government agencies and private institutions.

“The new approach is the digital number, not the card. The number will be in the country’s database and linked to the person’s passport, driver’s license, among others.

“If an individual wants to access any kind of service, it will be through the digital number provided. There is no point promoting the digital economy and people are going out with cards. It should be optional”, Pantami added

Abuja (Sundiata Post)

Re: An Open Letter To The Federal Minister Of Education

 
By Ahmed Joda

Iread on one of the social media platforms an open letter to Malam Adamu Adamu, the Honorable Minister of Education by our Ambassador in Mexico, to which I think I should make a contribution that may interest the minister in addressing the issues at stake.

In February 1971, almost 50 years ago, I became the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Education. When I entered the office, I found two files on the table. One was the handing over note by the departed Permanent Secretary, the other was a very thick file that contained four sets of documents: the first was a report from the Federal Scholarship Board describing the processes that led to the selection and recommendation of awards of the Federal Scholarships and Bursaries for the 19171/72 Academic Year. The second was the full list of the names of the successful candidates and third, the Council Memorandum by the Federal Minister of Education recommending  the Federal Executive Council to approve the list and the fourth, the Council Conclusion giving its approval.

All that was required of me was to sign for the public announcement of the awards for that academic year. Even if I was of the mind to go through the three thousand names on the list, I could not have changed anything because all the necessary processes had been complied with and the highest authority in the land had approved.

The awards were duly published and all hell was let loose. In 1971, the Federation of Nigeria had 12 states; the six northern states and six southern states. There were 3000 awards. These were shared about 2,750 to the six southern states and 250 to the six northern states.
When further analyzed, more than 500 went to the two North Central states of Kwara and Benue Plateau. No one analyzed what the figures for the two main religions were.

There was an angry outburst at the “lopsidedness of the Award” for the North. The anger was targeted at me personally, because I was the Permanent Secretary who signed the “Release Document” and because as a northerner just having “crossed the Carter Bridge and drank the lagoon water”, I had forgotten my roots. The governors, the Kaduna press and radio were unanimous in calling for my immediate removal.

While I was trying to understand the situation I had found myself in, I received a midnight call from the Head of State who asked me whether I had been reading the northern press and listening to their radio. And whether I had any satisfactory explanation to give.

At that point I realized that although the attacks were directed at me personally, any response must be the government’s response and must be based on all the available facts. I requested 48 hours to prepare the response.

Within those hours, the facts were gathered and subjected to detailed analysis. The conclusions were inescapable. The defunct government of Northern Nigeria and the successor governments of the six Northern states bear the full responsibility for what they were now complaining about. Not the Federal Government of Nigeria. Why is this so? Because of the following:

a) Under the Constitution of Nigeria, Primary and Secondary Education including Teachers education is the responsibility of the Regional/State Governments NOT that of the Federal Government. It is also not a responsibility that is shared between the two tiers. The class of students in consideration are candidates who have completed their secondary education

b) Only those who apply in response to invitation to apply for Federal Government scholarships and who qualify can be considered. In some of the Northern states only very few applications were received. The official explanation was that newspapers did not circulate in the North generally and that, in any case most northern students either did not have access to newspapers or did not have the reading culture of newspapers

These points were obviously not taken into account by the board. In subsequent years, action was taken to remedy the situation, but it did not lead to increased numbers of applications from the northern states. The reason given was that the northern governments’ scholarships were more attractive than the federal ones.

The federal offer to northern students who receive federal awards, for them to accept the federal awards, accept the federal allowance and receive the difference from their states, was rejected.
This incident led the Federal Ministry of Education to undertake a critical examination of the educational imbalance in the country. It was recognised that it was a time bomb, which must be quickly defused.

While the political and social implications of the education crisis could be foreseen, it was difficult for most to appreciate that it is not an issue that has a political solution. It is an issue that is determined by the natural development of the human being.  That it is the physical and mental development of the human child that we are dealing with.The child must be born. He must attain the school going age of six years. He must spend six years in primary school, six years in secondary school and at least four years in the University etc. This time period cannot be compressed.

At this time in 1971, Lagos State was enrolling nearly 100% in primary schools, the Mid West was recording about 90%, the West well over 60% while the North West, North East and Kano were enrolling less than 5%. It would take at least two decades to draw parallel and draw level for the whole country. But account must also be taken of the fact that the more educationally advanced states would not be standing still. They would be galloping forward.
Taking all these factors into account the Federal Ministry of Education made far reaching recommendations to prepare for a giant leap forward in the development of education for the whole country.

First, it was decided that immediate steps be taken to expand the teacher training effort. A crash programme for teacher training was initiated using expanded facilities in Teacher Training Colleges around the country.

Three Advanced Teacher Training Colleges were to be immediately set-up. Three polytechnics were also established. Grants in Aid were approved and disbursed to all secondary schools, which ran Sixth Form Classes and the Colleges of Preliminary Studies run by the Ahmadu Bello University campuses in Zaria and Kano.

The federal government also approved special grants to expand all existing State Secondary Schools in the six Northern States.
On top of all of the above, the federal government with the assistance and collaboration of UNESCO and the involvement of all the five existing universities in Nigeria, embarked on the ambitious project of introducing Universal Primary Education beginning 1st January 1976 that would ensure education of every Nigerian child born after the official end of the Nigerian Civil War in January 1970.

I have gone over the history of the education crisis from 1971 when I became involved to today in order for us to understand where we are coming from.
The figures in the Open Letter to Adamu Adamu have similarities to the situation I found in 1971. I do not know what level of studies these awards were. But the distribution is somewhat similar, suggesting that the situation now remains somewhat the same to that of 1971.

We need to relate these figures to what we know to be the education crisis in Nigeria today. In about 2012, former President Goodluck Jonathan lamented that there were 10 million out of school children in Nigeria. Obviously meaning that these out of school children are in Northern Nigeria. He set out to build Almajiri Schools in the belief that that would address the situation.

His successor, President Muhammadu Buhari has been quoted as saying that the figure of out of school children in the country is now 12 million, meaning the figure has grown and is likely to continue to grow.
I know that from 1973, funds for the preparation for the UPE were being paid to every state in the country not only for building the schools that would be needed but the expansion of teacher training facilities and the provision of teaching materials.

After the elections that brought President Obasanjo, the Universal Basic Education was introduced and money was being transferred to every state of the federation. It is now 20 years since the introduction of the UBE Programme and that much money has been expanded.

We must ask the question, where are those millions of out of school children to be found? Obviously in Northern Nigeria! We have been spending money in the belief that we are providing education for every one of the children we bear for 50 years without making progress.

Who is to account for what has been happening and is continuing to happen?
Surely the fault lies with us. And by us I mean us in Northern Nigeria. Both the leaders and the led.
 
Ahmed Joda, an elder statesman and former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, writes from Yola, Adamawa State.

2015 to now: Milestones and prospects in Nigeria’s telecom sector, By Umar Garba Danbatta

SPEECH BY THE EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (NCC), PROF. UMAR GARBA DANBATTA, FNSE, FAEng., FRAES, FNIEEE, AT THE INTERACTIVE SESSIONWITH MEDIA CHIEFS AND NEWS EDITORS ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2020

I am indeed very delighted to be with you at this exclusive first virtual interactive media session and it is my pleasure to welcome you all. Let me begin by thanking you on behalf of the Board and entire Management team of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the immeasurable support you have given to the Commission over the years in reporting our regulatory activities accurately, timely and adequately.

An event of this nature should ordinarily be taking place in a location outside Abuja, as has been our practice. However, the prevailing COIVD-19 situation with the attendant restrictions has forced us to hold this important meeting via a virtual platform. That notwithstanding, I am very hopeful that our interactions will be engaging, interactive and fruitful.

As you are aware,at the expiration of my first-term of five years in office as the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the NCC on August 3, 2020, I was reappointed by President MuhammaduBuhari, GCFR, in June, 2020 and subsequently confirmed by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on July 21, 2020. I, therefore, consider myself privileged to be entrusted with the task of steering the regulatory affairs of our telecoms industry for another five years, and I am grateful to President MuhammaduBuhari, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami and the Senate for the vote of confidence and more importantly, for your unreserved support.

The current Board of the NCC is comprised of technocrats and seasoned professionals.

  • AdeoluAkande assumed Chairmanship of the Board of the Commission in February 2020 after his nomination by President MuhammaduBuhari.
  • UbaleMaska remains Executive Commissioner, Technical Services,
  • Barrister AdelekeAdewolu is the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management.
  • Non-executive Commissioners include Mr. Clement OmeizaBaiye, Prof. Millionaire Freeborn Abowei, Mr. AliyuSaiduAbubakar, Malam Salman Abdulazeez and Chief UcheOnwude. Together, the new board of Commissioners will raise the bar of leadership and ensure positive industry growth.
  1. Strategic Vision Plan (The 8-Point Agenda)

Gentlemen of the Press, the last five years have been very exciting for me as the task of leading the regulation of a dynamic sector such as the Nigerian telecommunications industry presents enormous opportunities and challenges.

  • Let me begin,however,with our Strategic Vision Plan(SVP).
  • The 8-point agenda rested on a tripod of ‘A’s which include Availability, Accessibility and Affordability of service.
  • Through diligent implementation of each of the elements of the agenda,has significantly and measurably improved digital access and deepened broadband penetration thus expanding the frontiersfor a truly national digital economy.

2.1      Facilitating Broadband penetration

  • In 2015, broadband penetration in Nigeria was less than 6%;
  • We have an impressive 42.02% in broadband penetration as at July, 2020.This achievement is as a result of key policy initiatives to improve broadband penetration embarked upon by the Commission.These include increasing the number of licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCo) to six across the geo-political zones, spectrum refarming,spectrum re-planning, spectrum auctions, and administrative spectrum assignments, among others. The Commission is presentlyin the process of finalizing the six Infraco’s counterpart funding agreement to ensurethefull rollout of broadband infrastructure on an Open Access Model (OAM) and this will ensure there is Point of Access in each of the 774 local governments in the country.

The increase in broadband penetration has enabled the growth of the subscriber base which was 199,307,796 as at June 2020. Teledensityhas risen to 104.41 while the percentage contribution to GDP in Q2 2020 was 14.2%.

The NCC is working with the Nigeria Industrial Policy and Competiveness Advisory Council(Critical Infrastructure Sub Committee) under the auspices of the Vice President,YemiOsibanjo GCON, on various initiatives towards improving Broadband Penetration.

To underscore the importance of the sector to the economy, in June 2020, the Federal Government designated telecoms facilities as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and all security agencies have since been notified of Mr. President’s directive to that effect.

2.2      Improving Quality of Service

On assumption of office in 2015, the Commission gave priority to Quality of Service and observed that two prominentfactors identified as “technical” and “non-technical” were impacting its delivery. We took steps to address the issues by constitutingan Industry working group on QoS, Short codes and Multiple Taxation; Deployment of QoS and SpectrumTools, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Colocation Service Providers.In 2018, the adoption of 3G and 4G KPIs was formalised, as well as thatof Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Collocation Service Providers (CSP) and their monitoring has since fully commenced. These regulatory initiatives have put operators on their toes to improve quality service delivery to consumers.

2.3      Optimising usage and benefits of spectrum

To optimize the usage and benefit of spectrum, a number of initiatives such as spectrum trading, infrastructure sharing, satellite infrastructure and wirelessinfrastructure have been put in place to drive socio-economic development. For instance, the transfer of the spectrum licence of 2X 10MHz in the 900MHz E-GSM Spectrum band from Intercellular Nigeria to Airtel networks Limited amounted to the sum of N8.9 billion. The amount generated through that singular initiative has brought significant revenue to Government.

The Commission has also remitted N362.34 billionfrom 2015 to date to the Federal Government Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) through spectrum fees and operating surplus, which has helped to boost the revenue-generation drive of the current administration.

It is interesting to mention that all the initiatives above have helped the Commission in identifying potential frequency bands to be harmonized for 5G deployment, which include26 GHz, 38GHz and 42GHz.

2.4      Promoting ICT Innovation & Investment Opportunities

In recognition of the fundamental role of research in innovation, in 2016, theCommission created a Research and Development Department. The department has continued to collaborate with the academia to support the development of innovative services and life-changing solutions with the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) to promote Indigenous Content Development.The Commission has so far awarded the sum of N336.4 million as research grants to the academia and has endowed professorial chairs in two Nigerian universities.

More importantly, we have empowered Nigerian youths by promoting their ingenuity and innovation in the development of locally-relevant technology solutions. The latest of such was the 2020 NCC Virtual Hackathon, where we gave N9 million in grant to three top promising tech startups for solutions aimed at addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and epidemic diseases in the thematic areas of Health, Community, Productivity, Economy and Transportation.

TheCommission recognizes that the key to the survival and growth of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria is sustained investments. In the last five years, the Commission has deliberately and consistently engaged investors in different fora to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs). We showed investors the Commission’s roadmap for Broadband, which includes the Open Access Model Initiative, the Infraco Project, our 5G readiness and the AccessGaps for market opportunities that new entrants could leverage on in the Nigeria’s telecom space.

To build confidence in the sector and ensure that current investors and new players flourish, the NCC has activated mandatory compliance tothe Code of Corporate Governance for the telecoms industry. This initiative seeks to further strengthen telecoms entities, sustain sector’s role as a driver of economic growth and social transformation, and attract investments.

2.5      Facilitating Strategic Collaboration and Partnerships

One of the areas I identified as deserving increased attention on assumption of  office in 2015 was the need for the Commission to increase stakeholders’ partnership and collaboration. Accordingly, we made this one of the cardinal pillars of the 8-Point Agenda.

In the last five years, the Commission has engaged key stakeholders, includinggovernment agenciesand the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF)in several consultations, which have helped to address the issues ofmultiple taxation, multiple regulations and minimum uniform Right of Way (RoW) charges, as well as address other issues impeding telecoms infrastructure deployment in some states.  Ekiti,Imo, Plateau and Katsina States have complied with the National Economic Council (NEC) resolution, with Kwara State reducing RoW charges to N1 per linear meter of fibre, while Anambra and Kaduna States, waived the charge. Ogun State, also, waived 250km for Mainone to lay fibre in Ogun State.

The NCC has continued to collaborate with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the banks in the area of National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS). Today, Mobile network Operators (MNOs) participate fully in the provision of mobile money services to help actualize the 80% financial inclusion target of the Federal Government by the end of 2020.  Through the issuance of USSD Short Codes to banks and other financial institutions, we have helped to boost financial inclusion.

2.6      Protecting and empowering consumers

The consumer is king, hence our consumer-centric regulatory initiatives to ensure consumer protection, information and education have continued to top our agenda. To further empower consumers, in 2016 we introduced the Do-Not-Disturb (DND), 2442 Short Code, which gave consumers the power to opt-in or -out of unsolicited messages on their respective networks.

We prioritised consumer satisfaction by declaring 2017 as “the Year of theConsumer”, and set out with various projects to bring telecoms consumers closer to the Commission and their various network operators.

The Commission also upgraded the NCC Toll-free Number 622 as secondary complaints mechanism to further empower and resolve consumer complaints.

We also issued Directions on Data Roll-over and another on Forceful Subscription of Data Services and Value-added Services (VAS). The two directions have ensured effective protection of telecoms consumers.

In 2019, we revised the NCC Consumer Complaints and Service Legal Agreement (CC/SLAs) with the Operators in order to ensure prompt response to consumer complaints while we have also reviewed the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations at a Public Inquiry. The draft regulations are being concluded for publication in official Gazette.

We initiated the Mobile Devices Management Systems (DMS) in collaboration with other agencies aimed at protecting consumers from the negative effects of substandard devices on the networks and the health of telecom consumers. The DMS project, when fully implemented, will help in combating the proliferation of fake, counterfeit and cloned communication devices in the telecommunications industry.

Similarly, we have developed Regulations on E-Waste. The Regulations will ensure that, we are also able to rid our environment of indiscriminate disposal of malfunctioning and disused gadgets, which are capable of posing health risks to consumers.

I also need to mention our commitmentin protecting the lives and property of telecoms consumers bygetting rid of improperly registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards. We conduct periodic audit of the networks to ensure the MNOs do not harbour improperly registered SIM cards on their networks any further.

I am happy to reportthat nineteen (19) Emergency Communications Centres (ECC)have been activated across the country. The 112 National Emergency Numberallows Nigerians in distress toget helpin emergencies. The Commission has received special recognitions for its role in enhancing security of lives and properties of Nigerians and by implication, promoting the protection of telecoms consumers.The 112 number hasbecome a major channel of communication during this COVID period asover one thousand two hundred and nine (1,209) COVID-19 related calls were made to the 112 national emergency toll free number between March and June 2020 from the various ECCs across the country.

2.7      Promoting fair competition and inclusive growth

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, also worthy of mentionis the NCC’s proactive intervention in nipping the cases of call masking and call refiling in the bud. In the wake of 2017, the Commission started receiving complaints about cases of call masking/call refiling and SIM boxing, which was an anti-competitive practice and a threat to national security. Working with the Office of the National security Adviser (ONSA), wetook drastic actions to identify culprit licensees, sanctioned them accordingly and barred mobile numbers identified to have been involved in masked calling from their networks. We also went further to carry out a Proof of Concept (PoC) and MNOs have now developed technology solutions to prevent, detect and filter masked calls on their networks.

Our regulatory interventions in the area of issuance of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Short Code to banks and Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) have helped in deepening financial inclusion. To further ensure fair play between the MNOs and the banks regarding applicable charges for USSD, the Commission in July 23, 2019, issued a Determination for USSD Pricing. The Determination defined a USSD session as 20 seconds, the price floor per USSD session is N1.63k, while the Price cap per USSD session is N4.89k.

As you may be aware, an attempted commencement of the end-user billing by the MNOs for USSD usage was greeted by public outcry, necessitating a temporary suspension of the provision of the USSD determination by the Hon. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, pending when there would be proper understanding among stakeholders. However, the NCC has revised the USSD determination putting an end to a protracted dispute between MNOs and financial institutions on the applicable charges for USSD services and the method of billing.

The Commission also determined that MNOs must not charge the consumers directly for the use of USSD channels for financial services in the form of end-user-billing. Rather, the transaction should be between the MNOs and the entity to which the service is provided (i.e. banks and OFIs).

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, I am sure you are aware that the efforts of the Commission, through its firm regulatory approach and foresight, also culminated in the listing of telecoms companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).  I am proud to say that the telcos’ listing has helped to translate into action an important objective of the Commission, which is to promote indigenous investment and ownership in the telecom sector. Since their listing, the quoted telecoms companies have been keeping the Nigerian bourse upbeat and bullish with prospects for more listings in the future.

3.FOCUS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

Ladies and gentlemen, our plan for the increased growth of telecom in Nigeria is clear. We will leave no stones unturned, we will not on oarsto ensure we achieve our goals. We have our job cut out for us andwe willstart with broadband because that is the key to touching the lives of every Nigerian. We hope to takebroadband penetration to 70 per cent to at least 90 percent of the population by 2025 in line with new target in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NBBP), 2020-2025.

We want to continue to protect consumers and ensure they have value for their money. We want to continue to support and fast-track the digital economy drive of the Federal Government of Nigeria and this has led to the creation ofa Digital Economy Department in the Commission.

The Commission is placing emphasis on growing the digital economy in collaboration with sister agencies under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMoCDE).

We hope to consolidate onspectrum trading to ensure maximum and efficient usage of available frequencies; continuous SIM registration audit to provide security and curtail incidences of banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery; completion and commissioning of Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) in the remaining states to enhance security and provide relief to citizens in distress.

Finally, we are committed to the execution of the counterpart Funding Agreements with the Licensed InfraCo to facilitate increase in fibre deployment in the country and ensure, at least one Point of Access (PoA) in each of the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria to enhance digital transformation.

0.4      CONCLUSION

Gentlemen of the Press, the foregoing is by no means, the complete portfolio of our focus. As you are aware, our role is to drive major digital initiatives and policies of the government, hence, we have continued to work with government as a critical stakeholder.

The NCC remains committed to driving the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) and the NBBP 2020-2025 for advancing the digital economy vision of the Federal Government.

I will not conclude this address without making reference to the recently unveiled new NCC Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-20204. The SMP is the NCC’s visioning document for planning and defining its strategic goals and set objectives. The strategic plan has five strategic pillars, which include regulatory excellence, universal broadband, promote development of digital economy, market development; and strategic partnering.

The SMP provides the focus for us, as a regulator of the telecoms sector, for effective and efficient utilisation of internal processes and resources towards growing the sector and satisfying external stakeholders. It provides for us the pedestal for meeting government’s expectations from the Commission with respect to delivering on its mandates of driving digital economy by advancing industry growth through strategy, professionalism, innovation and regulatory excellence in the next five years.

I also want to use this opportunity to, once again,extend my gratitude to you all and to request your continued support for the programmes and activities of the Commission. We will continue to work with the various media institutions as partners in achieving our goals because you are a critical stakeholder in the sector. In the spirit of this partnership which we share, I will also expect that you will be very objective in your coverage of our regulatory activities and the industry, as you have been over the years.

I, therefore, invite you to be part of our aspirations to create more awareness of the Commission’s regulatory activities among our stakeholders, especially the consumers of telecommunications services.

Thank you for listening.

Professor Umar GarbaDanbatta, FNSE, FAEng, FRAES, FNIEEE

Executive Vice Chairman/CEO

September, 4, 2020

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