Issues
Local Challenges And Global Economic Trend
We live in an era of extra
ordinary challenges and changes. Individuals and organisations need to undergo extra ordinary metamorphosis in order to sustain their relevance in the new paradigm. Surely, complacency remains the biggest risk in our world of uncertainties and wrenching changes.
If you are asked: what’s the greatest challenge facing you as an individual, your organisation, your community or your country? Most persons cannot provide an answer in a sentence showing that they are not concerned with developments and changes around them. They are content living on a day to day basis.
What’s the consequence of failing to understand these macro issues? They simply submit to the directions of the media and their interests, and what’s the interest of the media? They market bad news, because in the media ‘bad news is good business.’
A cursory glanc’e around us shows that myriads of negative traits are struggling for attention. These are evident from news headlines: stock market collapse, Niger Delta. crisis, widespread terrorism, exploding inflation eroding your savings, the gyrating price of crude oil, monstrous
corruption, bank failures, falling standard of education, ozone depletion, business closures and the attendant layoffs, skyrocketing crime rate and on a general note what appears to be a system breakdown.
What happens when an individual feeds himself with these mega doses of negative information without the ability to dig deeper, analyse and sift these information? Chances are that person might start thinking negatively, might make decisions based on fear, and that could dampen the persons spirit, and sometimes the spirit of the entire nation might start sinking., just as is happening now.
We will quickly take a cursory look at some of the news that has been making waves in recent times:
*Global Economic Meltdown
*Outbreak of Swine Flu
*Global Economic Meltdown
*Banks Averted Crisis
*Proposed Deregulation of Petroleum Product Pricing
*Ongoing Strike in the Nations Tertiary Institutions
*Niger Delta Crises
The purpose of this address is not to frighten the listener with cold statistics of failures, but to prove that it is no longer business as usual, that the current economic downturn has a cause, and not a mere historical cycle. Again, you do not need to be terribly smart to understand the trend and reposition. I also believe that the current trend does not portend massive business failure or total collapse of the economy, rather demands conscious effort to make visible difference in our lives and the organisations we manage.
It is within our powers to make positive changes because we have a duty to ensure that the mistakes of the past is not repeated. To do this, an insight into the root of the problem is a necessity.
The global economic meltdown
The United States of America, the Great Britain. Germany, France, Japan, the Asian Tigers and Africa are all experiencing economic crisis of varying degrees. The current crisis tagged ‘Global Economic Meltdown’ is native to America, and like a gangrene speedily spread to the rest of the world.
Beyond doubt, America steers the world, and somehow we have all consciously consented to the belief that ‘when America sneezes, the rest of the world must have pneumonia.’ This understanding unfortunately is behind our submitting to what is fundamentally American.
The current global crisis has an identifiable cause. It is not just a mere historical cycle. It is a product of financial recklessness on the part of the business people in a hurry to make profits, the weak regulators on the side of government and the consumers with unbridled taste fuelling a culture of ‘buy now pay later.’
The average America is guilty of false lifestyle. Their homes, automobiles, electronics, furniture, cooking utensils, wardrobes, marriages, funerals, even their own education and that of their children are all on credit. It has even extended to tourism and leisure activities . You can posses virtually anything .if you can make a little deposit.
All these are going on blissfully, while the productivity of the American worker was at its lowest. The factories cannot compete due to outdated technology and they have been heading to Washington for bailout one after another. Their serv.ice sector is accused of poor quality service delivery and unresponsiveness, rather than improve, they have been perfecting their cost-cutting strategies. Again America has always had the lowest individual savings average in the developed world, currently at zero minus. The Fortune 500 Companies have been silently shedding millions of job on the guise of restructuring. When suddenly the pyramid got inverted, they tagged it ‘Global Economic Meltdown, , to make us believe that they are not alone.
Amidst all these downward spiral, the Bush administration was focused on fighting unnecessary wars in Iran, Afghanistan and other parts of the world on the guise of fighting terrorism. An estimated $16 trillion U.S dollars went down the drain with lots of life gone.
We must however not forget that America has gone beyond seeing themselves as the police man of the world. They see themselves as the world, thus, a Boxing or Wrestling context between two states in America is tagged World Championship. It is not therefore not surprising that when they pulled down their economy, it was tagged Global Economic Meltdown.
The good news now is that America is no longer talking about economic meltdown, they are talking about recovery, and they are really recovering fast courtesy of Presidents Obama’s recovery package.
But why are we affected? The twin factors of Globalization and Information Technology is behind this. First, Information travels today at the speed of light owed to the explosive developments and technical convergence in the sector. Second, globalisation has meant the free movement of capital, people, finance around the world. This, in effect creates a common tie. It was in the late 1990s that we got the first taste of financial globalisation downside:
Thailand’s 1997 financial crisis set off another in Korea the same year, and in early 1999, Brazil was forced to abandon its fixed exchange rate policy. These countries has little in common, yet the financial crises propagated from one to the next like a virus because of the links created by the new global economy.
The reason was simple: although the destinations of foreign direct investment were far flung and diverse, the source of the capital was not The Western bank that held Thai baht also held Brazil real. The fund that owned Korean bonds also held Russian bills. In the belief that the IMF, with the United States behind it, was willing to bail out economies that ran into short-term trouble, many of these institutions has loaded up on these assets. Once a crisis started, however, these institutions has to reassess the risk of their entire emerging market portfolios. Such a reassessment would precipitate a progressive sell-off, with assets in the weaker countries going first.
This accounts for why in the face of the meltdown of the US economy, they had to dump their investments in the Nigerian Stock Market. Further, the factory and business closures that greeted America meant less demand for Nigeria’s crude oil, thereby reducing our crude export amounting to less revenue for our country.
The global economic order
Its commonplace to say that we live in a period of unprecedented change. Today, sweeping economic change threatens older industries, traditional ways of living, and social and national cohesion by exposing economies and societies to new and powerful competitive forces.
Emerging nations and former communist countries, once only loosely connected to the global commercial and financial system, feel the shock waves of periodic economic crisis resulting from the rapid exodus of foreign capital and sudden adverse shifts in international trade flows, which lead to large numbers of lost jobs and bankruptcies. Some individuals, groups, and regions initially benefit greatly from expanded opportunities like the ability to sell more abroad, work for foreign companies in their own countries and overseas, or obtain foreign capital [or their business. Others, however the least educated and least skilled, feel left behind, and disenfranchised.
The global trend today appears to have headed for a disorder which is opposed to first President Bush idea of a ‘new world order.’ That order was largely based on two assumptions: first, that a healthy economy and sound financial system make for political stability, and second, that countries in business together do not fight each other.
U.S. foreign policy number one priority was clear: to encourage the former communist countries of Europe and the developing nations in Latin America, Asia, and Africa to adopt business friendly policies. Private capital will then flow from the developed world into these countries, creating economic growth and jobs. The argument is that when free enterprise takes hold, traditional grievances, resentments, and hostilities would fade.
This policy was backed with lots of money, in the form of direct aid, loans and multilateral lending institutions such as the IMF, and a liquid market for governments to issue bonds to international private-sector investors. The message from the D.S to the developing nations was adopt economic reforms, and we will be there to bail you out if your economy gets into trouble.
This reform path, often called the ‘Washington Consensus, involved fiscal discipline, trade liberalisation, privatisation, deregulation, and expanded property rights through legal reforms. Promoters of these reforms hoped the changes would make developing countries more attractive to foreign investment and would integrate these countries even further into a competitive, but peaceful, global economic network. In its most extreme form, the vision became one in which these developing countries become part of a liberal, open world economy that promoted western values such a democracy.
Amidst protests from our elite class, Nigeria keyed in like most of the developing countries, hence the several reforms in terms of deregulation, privatisation, liberalisation etc. It seemed more dangerous to stay out of the trend than to plunge in. By August 2000 the member nations of the WTO has risen to 139.
No sooner did economic watchers and analysts discover that the package and promises sounded too good to be true and so it proved. The new world order of Bush which Clinton sustained were soon replaced by the ‘new world disorder’ of the second Bush.
From order to disorder
It was in 1990 that we got the first taste of financial globalisation downside: Thailand’s 1997 financial crisis sent off another in Korea the same year. The economic virus spread to Russia the following year, and in early 1999, Brazil was forced to abandon its fixed exchange rate policy. These countries had little in common, yet the financial crisis propagated from one to the next like a virus because of the links created by the new global economy.
The reason was simple. Although the destinations of foreign direct investment were far flung and diverse, the source of that capital was not. The Western bank that held Thailand also held Brazil. The fund that owned Korean bonds also held Russia. The belief is that the IMF supported by the US was willing to bail out economies that ran into short-term trouble.
At first, the IMF stepped in to help, but the costs of repeated multilateral bailouts became less and less affordable. Eventually the Russian government defaulted, rendering worthless the almost $40 billion in domestic government debt held by financial institutions and more than having the $100 billion value of Russian equities. The bailout to Russia by the IMF managed to provide just a month solvency, and people began to question the ability of developed world to supply economic support to the developing nations. The developed world on their part began turning off the tap.
The second President Bush put the final nail on the coffin of the new world order. Even before September 11, the administration was signalling that it has a very different vision of international engagement from its predecessor’s, one based on security, not economic concerns. And security was now defined not just in the narrow Cold War terms of safety from attack from a hostile, though stable, superpower, but very broadly to include safety from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, as well as vital economic inputs such as oil.’
In May 2001, President Bush and Vice President Cheney’s national energy policy stated, ‘Energy security must be a priority of the U.S. trade and foreign policy. We must look beyond our borders and restore America’s credibility with overseas suppliers. In addition we must build strong relationships with energy-producing nations in our own hemisphere, improving the outlook for trade, investment, and reliable supplies.
The implication was clear: security in this case, energy security, was now the foremost consideration in US trade and foreign policy. The National Security Strategy of the United States of America published in September 2002 shows that the thinking developed from there. It then became clear that the Bush administration defines international engagement in terms of bilateral relationships with strategically important allies and unilateral confrontation with almost anyone else.
This understanding is behind the war in Iraq, the removal of Afghanistan’s Taliban, and urder of Saddam Hussein, hoping that this will murder to a stable Middle East which will in turn ensure a steady supply of oil especially if Iraq’s reconstruction goes well. This is also responsible for Russian government under Putin aligning with America for economic and diplomatic interests.
With this new stand of the United States, there is no more encouragement for developing countries to pursue reforms.
The nigerian experience
The major challenge before our political and business leaders is to identify where our competitive advantages lie and create an enabling environment for us· all to build on it. This is exactly what other developing countries have been doing.
What we have witnessed in Nigeria in the past few years is an addening misallocation of scarce economic resources to the financial sector. It all started with 9/11 which prodded the US Congress to enact the Patriot Art with its panoply of anti-money laundering structures. Suddenly, the Bin Laden dividend reached Nigeria’s shores. Thieves who stole from both the public and private sectors could not easily wire their stolen funds outside, meanwhile, the EFCC was watching over their shoulders. As a result, they have no place to easily hide their stolen loots except in the Nigerian Stock Exchange and Real Estate. That explains the meteoric quantum rise in stock and property values in Nigeria in recent times. Those who followed the case of the disgraced former boss under Obasanjo’s Administration may recall that he invested his stolen loot in the Nigerian Stock Market and Real Estate.
Meanwhile, oil revenue flooded Nigeria, and banks conducted several rounds of public offerings and raise huge sums, first to satisfy the new mandatory recapitalisation requirement by the Central Bank of Nigeria, and went again and again to raise huge sums for the balance sheets. And while all these were going on, weak stock market regulation added to the speculative frenzy as bankers who also doubled as investment bankers engaged in self dealing and hyped up stock market investing. The fix was on and our stock market was blasting in full throttle. Everyone was investing in the stock market.
Suddenly the stock market capitalisation that was in excess of 15 trillion naira fell to a little over four trillion, and because no condition is permanent, the market is gradually bouncing back, and our enthusiasm is gradually being rekindled, then the news of the averted bank crisis.
The bank crisis
The recent revelations by the Central Bank of Nigeria on the debt portfolio of 5 major commercial banks in Nigeria is a pointer to the irregularities in the system as it affects the private sector. The almost one trillion naira non-performing loans by these banks within a few years of recapitalisation and repeated rounds to the stock market for fresh IPOs has exposed their inefficiency in managing large sums. Their response has been attempts at raising fresh deposits through aggressive marketing, road shows and many innovative packages.
Thanks to the discerning leadership of President Yar Adua that quickly responded with a bail out of N420 billion. While the EFCC stepped in to assist with the recovery of the bad loans.
It is also worthy of note that Nigeria is not alone in the issue of failed banks. In the past one year, the United States has lost about 89 banks to bad loans, and some more are joining the cue.
The Niger Delta Crisis
The militancy in the Niger Delta, and the failure of successive administrations to manage the situation successfully has added them conspicuously in the list of the nations problems, especially with the effect on the revenue generation capacity of the country. Interestingly, the amnesty which is currently in force has made it possible for our crude oil quota to increase from 1,200 bpd to 1, 700bpd .
All stakeholders must make frantic and sincere effort to stem the tide and find lasting solution to the crisis.
The striking Nigerian Tertiary Institutions
Ideas have been described as the currency of the 21 st century economy. This is because business has moved from the hierarchical Ford Motor Corporation of the 1920s which employed a large number of people to perform repetitive tasks in precise rapid ways to achieve a consistent objectives. This was the operational style of all organisations in the industrial age. Sad to say, decades into the information age many organizations including our tertiary institutions still carry on with the operational styles of earlier glorious but no longer relevant generation.
The essence of authority of ideas can be best appreciated if we understand the role of learning institutions. If we take Harvard University for example. At Harvard, we consider it an extremely important accomplishment when a 25 year old student who has been there for just 18 months makes a discovery that disproves the pet theory of a 55 year old professor who has been there for 30 years. Indeed, the professor whose theory has been disproved might be the first to congratulate that graduate student.
The notion that of the community’s most junior members would be applauded for upending the life work of one of its most senior would seem exceedingly strange in many organisations and countries. Yet it is fundamental to what Harvard and other American universities are about. And if you look at the organisations in the economy where the greatest value is being added, they are increasingly the organisations that share the values and character of universities.
Organisations that foster an environment where creativity is rewarded, that prepare themselves to respond to challenges and execute their strategy in a nimble way, and that discourage rigid adherence to hierarchy will best be able to meet with the challenges.
To be contd
Godswill C. Onyekwere
Issues
Is Okocha A Happy Man Being Perpetual Hireling?
The man Tony Okocha, the devastated tattered ragtag remnant Rivers APC factional, but Caretaker, Chairman, is known for being notoriously a hireling willing to play in the mud just for the pay or settlement. To Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, he did against Chief Nyesom Wike. To Senator Magnus Abe, he did against Rotimi Amaechi. To Chief Nyesom Wike, he did against Magnus Abe. Having maintained such unbefitting character trait, it is not surprising to see him at his demeaned best showing off his tainted skill of grandstanding and loquaciously struggling fruitlessly almost every day to castigate the popular Rivers people’s Governor with very glaring false, bogus and unsubstantiated claims such as:
1. That Governor Fubara is wasting state fund in the name of thanksgiving across 23 Local Government Areas.
2. That Governor Fubara has withheld Local Government funds.
3. That Governor Fubara runs the government without input from the State Executive Council.
4. That nothing is happening in the State with respect to governance.
To the above false claims of Tony Okocha, every reasonable, right thinking and well-meaning Rivers person would effortlessly puncture all as rascality and mendacity taken too far.
Apart from the fact that Governor Siminalayi Fubara had said he is not sponsoring the massive SIMplified Movement Thanksgiving events across the Local Government Areas of the State being organised by elated Rivers people who feel liberated from an era of overbearing and suppressive form of leadership in the State, Tony Okocha should be asked to prove his false claim with indisputable facts and figures. Until then, let Tony Okocha respect himself and learn to keep quiet as an elderly person who is saddled with such a responsible position as Rivers State Representative in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Board. A position that places a huge responsibility on him to ensure that the core objectives of the commission are actualised in the State, by not only ensuring that Rivers State gets its fair share of its dues in terms of projects, programmes and activities, but by synergising with the state government on development matters concerning the state vis-a-vis the responsibilities of NDDC to the State. In summary, the SIMplified Movement is all about a happy and joyful people of Rivers State who have decided to stand and stick together to defend and uphold their common heritage and patrimony. It is a voluntary venture, not sponsored by the government.
To his claim that the Governor has withheld Local Government funds, Mr Tony Okocha should also be asked to prove that with facts and figures and explain why the Governor would do such. More so, what is Tony Okocha’s business, assuming, but not conceding, that a PDP Governor withholds money against PDP-led 23 Local Government authorities? Did Local Government workers across the state complain to Okocha, the meddlesome hireling, an acclaimed APC Caretaker Committee Chairman in Rivers State?
On his ignorant and false claim that the Governor runs the government without input from the state exco, Okocha, the busybody wannabe should explain how he was employed or engaged as the spokesperson of members of the Rivers State Executive Council. He should also tell us his source of information to that effect, if it is not just a proof that he is making himself known as a perpetually irredeemable hireling notoriously good for playing the spoiler’s role.
On Mr Okocha’s assertion, probably, borne out of lack of more convincing lies, that nothing is happening in the State with respect to governance, is sure a proof that the man is only acting a bad and an unsellable script to justify the reward of expected gratifying filthy lucre, which is the compelling reason for condescending so low and evilly so. How else is governance measured, if not by executing meaningful and impactful projects, giving hope, inspiring and putting smiles on the faces of the people with joy of fulfilment in their hearts, both civil servants and everyone living and doing business in the State? Is Okocha blind to see and deaf to hear of the good works of the Governor Fubara led Rivers State Government? Civil servants are happy, teachers are highly elated. Several projects are ongoing. Investors are trooping in. The health sector, education, agriculture, sports have been highly boosted under Governor Fubara-led administration. To Okocha, there’s no governance in the State because patronage of free money is not getting to him from the Governor but from other sources that are likely against the Governor.
Let Tony Okocha weep more. Rivers State is breathing fresh air already and is liberated.
Let Tony Okocha tell us how he has, so far, as Rivers State Representative in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), clearly effected development in the State through the NDDC, and why he lied that there was Cholera outbreak with deaths recorded in Soku in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area with the intent of raking in about ¦ N5billion for non-existent mitigation programmes?
Odike is Special Assistant to Rivers State Governor on Social/New Media .
Bernard C. Idike
Issues
Day Asari-Toru Declared Massive Support For Fubara
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, commonly known as FDR, was an American statesman and politician who served as the 32nd President of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. He was a member of the Democratic Party and is the only United States President to have served more than two terms.
In one of his popular quotes, he said, “The creed of our democracy is that liberty is acquired and kept by men and women who are strong and self-reliant, and possessed of such wisdom as God gives mankind – men and women who are just, and understanding, and generous to others — men and women who are capable of disciplining themselves. For they are the rulers and they must rule themselves.”
This explains the recent gathering of creme la creme of Asari-Toru political gladiators converged at the inauguration of the Simplified Movement, ASALGA chapter to reiterate their unflinching support for the Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara whose mantra revolves around liberation.
The event which took place at the Autograph in Port Harcourt on the 1st of March, 2024, to galvanise strong support for Governor Fubara attracted over 500 members of the Simplified Movement from the Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The gathering of supporters of Governor Fubara’s government, under the umbrella of the Simplified Movement, the ASALGA chapter led by an astute politician, former member of the Federal House of Representatives and two- time member of the Rivers State Executive Council as Commissioner, Chief Hon. Paworiso Samuel Horsfall comprised both the old and young generation political helmsmen drawn from all the 13 Wards of the local government area.
The nerve-““““““wracking gathering had the likes of the 1999 democratic system pioneer Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Council and former two-time Special Adviser to ex-Governor Nyesom Wike, Hon. Opakirite Mackson Jackreece; former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Adokiye Young-Harry; former member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Daisy West and former Special Adviser to ex-Governor Nyesom Wike, Chief Hon. Iboroma Norman Wokoma.
Others were the incumbent Vice Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Council, Hon. (Mrs.) Tekena Wokoma; former Commissioner of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Hon. Dr. Hope Barango; the South-West Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Sule Amachree and the Secretary of the Local Government chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Cladious Princewill; former Chief of Staff of Council, Hon. Ajumogobia West and former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ASALGA, Hon. Onari Awo Tariah.
Also present at the event were past caretaker committee chairmen of the Local Government Council including, Hon. Waite Harry, Hon. Dawari Hamilton Ibinabo, Hon. Wright Warmate and former Deputy Mayor of the Port Harcourt City Council, Hon. Adokiye Horsfall amongst others. My humble self belongs to the movement. The list is inexhaustible.
Speaking at the inauguration, the member representing Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru Federal Constituency and leader of the Asari-Toru political family, Hon. Boma Goodhead assured the people of the commitment of the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to extend visible dividends of democracy to the people of ASALGA.
The federal lawmaker who spoke through her representative, Dr. Sule Amachree, said Governor Fubara means well for Rivers people, particularly the people of ASALGA and urged them to remain calm, peaceful and resolute in their support to the administration of the State Governor.
“His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara is the Governor ordained by God to liberate Rivers people from the snares of poverty and oppression. He is God-sent to bring visible and even development to Rivers State and Asari-Toru people are on the top of that agenda of development,” she said.
Hon. Goodhead reiterated her confidence in the capacity of the leader of the Simplified Movement, ASALGA chapter, Chief Hon. Paworiso Samuel Horsfall to mobilise massive support and a huge source of encouragement for the Government of Sir Siminalayi Fubara to succeed.
“I urge you to continue to stand firm with our Governor. Be rest assured that His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara is a man of peace, focused and determined to deliver on the mandate given to him by the people of Rivers State. He will not fail you,” she said.
In his speech, the leader of the ASALGA chapter of the Simplified Movement, Chief Hon. Paworiso Samuel Horsfall described the movement as a child of necessity born out of the hunger of Rivers people for a paradigm shift from oppression to liberation.
“As witnessed across the length and breadth of Rivers State, the Simplified Movement is a child of necessity, born out of the hunger for a paradigm shift from oppression to liberation, with one core objective to promote and defend the interests of Rivers State and her people. It is on this account, we stand as dependable allies giving strong support to the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara in his pursuit of peace and commitment to the genuine development of Rivers State.
“It is our position that with the elections come and gone, it is practically a time to face governance and to ensure deliverables of dividends to the people of Rivers State in the atmosphere of peace, security and stability,” he said.
Chief Samuel Horsfall explained that Rivers people saw the leadership qualities needed to achieve the sole objective to genuinely defend and promote the interest of the State in Governor Fubara, hence the spontaneous massive support expressed in the birth of the Simplified Movement.
He recounted avalanche of achievements made by Governor Fubara within six months in office. “We appreciate the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his resilience and determination to make a difference. It is on record and attestable by all, the numerous projects being executed by his administration.
“Such as the ongoing construction of the gigantic Port Harcourt Ring Road project, the 20,000 housing units for low income earners, the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Unity road, the near completion of the 10km Old Port Harcourt-Bori road, the Emohua-Kalabari road, the 6.5km Woji-Alesa-Refinery link road and the inclusion of the remaining part of the Trans-Kalabari road project in the 2024 budget. “Moreover, the promotion of the State civil servants, first time in history payment of N100,000.00 Christmas bonus to civil servants across board, approval of promotions and implementation of N30,000.00 minimum wage for local government workers and the N4 billion single digit interest loans facility for Small and Medium Scale business operators in Rivers State. All these achievements within six months in office are eloquent testimonies of Governor Fubara to deliberately improve the welfare of Rivers people.
“We are convinced that such a proven great mind and well experienced, tested and trusted administrator/technocrat, Governor Fubara has demonstrated the capacity to deliver effectively the needed democratic dividends to Rivers people. It is on this convention we are gathered here for the umpteenth time to reaffirm our unalloyed support and commitment to his administration,” Chief Samuel Horsfall declared.
He disclosed that the gathering was to put in place citizens mobilisation strategy to forge a collaborative bond with the Governor to foster partnership for the development of ASALGA and the State. He, therefore, advised those he called detractors of Governor Fubara’s administration to desist forthwith and allow the Governor to remain focused in his quest to deliver on his mandate.
“All detractors should desist from further attacks on the Governor and the Chief of Staff, Government House, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie and allow the Governor to focus on the delivery of the good policies and programmes to Rivers people. We unequivocally condemn attempts by disgruntled Abuja politicians to employ intimidation antics against the former Speaker of the 10th State Assembly and current Chief of Staff, Government House, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie and others who are standing on the path of justice and good conscience for the collective good of Rivers State.
“We equally urge the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to be discreet in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities in the State and not to allow themselves to be used by selfish individuals who do not mean well to fuel political crisis in Rivers State.
Chief Samuel Horsfall also commended the federal lawmaker, Hon. Boma Goodhead for her doggedness and resilience in supporting Governor Fubara since the wake of the political crisis in the State.
Several other personalities spoke to express their support to the State Governor and urged the people to ASALGA to maintain their peaceful disposition and remain steadfast in the Simplified Movement to give the state government maximum support to continue to render good governance to Rivers people.
Highlights of the event were the inauguration of the elders and stakeholders of the Simplified Movement for the 13 Wards as well as the executive committee of the movement in Asari-Toru Local Government Area.
Amieyeofori Ibim
Issues
Human Capital Development …Panacea For Poverty Reduction In Nigeria
Experts have over time emphasised the relationship between Human Capital Development (HCD), poverty reduction and good standard of living. They view human capital development in the light of increasing the number of persons who have skills, education and experience that are required for the economic growth and development of a nation. They also view it as a people -focused plan of action aimed at providing knowledge, skills and productivity for the development of a nation. The World Bank in its publication, “The-Human-Capital-Project-in-Sub-Saharan-Africa-Stories-of-Progress”, states that “Human capital, which is the sum of a population’s health, skills, knowledge, and experience, accounts for the largest share of countries’ wealth globally. “It allows everyone to reach their full potential and is increasingly becoming recognised as a primary driver of a nation’s economic growth.”
The World Bank in analysing how countries have fared with regard to HCD, stated that based on a new index, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa saw major reductions in under-five mortality between 1990 and 2015. It however, stated that “the number of children who die under the age of five mostly from avoidable causes such as complications related to respiratory infections, diarrhea, or malaria, is still high at about 2.9 million every year. “Countries such as Somalia, Chad, Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Nigeria have child mortality rate above 100 deaths per 1,000 live births, one of the highest in the world.” Also, according to the World Bank, Nigeria ranked 152 in the 2018 Human Capital Index (HCI). In furtherance of Nigeria’s poor rating, the World Bank 2020 HCI indicates that, “a child born in Nigeria just before the pandemic will be 36 per cent as productive when she grows up as she could be if she enjoyed complete education and full health.
“This is lower than the average for the Sub-Saharan African region (40 per cent) and Lower Middle Income countries (48 per cent).
Nigeria’s poor rating is corroborated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), global data on out-of-school children, which indicated in 2022 that Nigeria has about 20 million out-of-school children. In the same vein, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said a new global maternal mortality report showed that 82,000 women in Nigeria die from pregnancy and childbirth-related cases annually. Part of the fallout of the Nigeria’s poor Human Capital Index unfortunately is the current surge in human capital export popularly called “Japa”, which has led to huge manpower gap in various sectors of the Nigerian economy. This capital export, which has seen doctors, nurses, teachers and other professionals leaving the shores of the country in droves, has also led to shortage of skilled manpower. This development has further affected critical sectors of the economy that are key to measuring the level of human capital development like the health and education sectors.
To find lasting solution to the problem of poor HCI, the World Development Report (WDR) 2019 stated that “investing in human capital must be a priority for governments in order for workers to build the skills in demand in the labour market. It further stated that, “governments need to enhance social protection and extend it to all people in society irrespective of the terms on which they work.” To fund these investments in human capital and social protection, the report offers some suggestions as to how governments can mobilise additional revenues by increasing tax base. In view of this reality and as part of efforts to change the narrative, the National Economic Council in March 2018, inaugurated the Human Capital Development (HCD) Programme in Nigeria. The programme is designed in recognition of the critical role human capital development plays in addressing poverty and ensuring sustainable economic growth. It is also aimed at increasing investments in the Nigerian people, thereby improving Nigeria’s human capital development indices.
The immediate past Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at a Peer Review meeting recently held for HCD State Focal Persons under the programme, said, Nigeria must accord attention to HCD to drive the desired economic growth. He emphasised that human capital development plays a critical role in addressing poverty and ensuring participatory and sustainable economic growth. The former vice president urged the focal persons not to relent in sensitising state governments to ensure the impacts of the programme were felt at the grassroots. “We have since inception made tremendous strides in the implementation of the programme at the national and sub national levels. “Notable achievements included the inauguration of the national HCD strategy, constitution of state HCD councils and technical working groups. “Others are the development of national HCD communication strategy and the organisation of regional HCD conferences as well as strategic partnerships and alliances being forged across several stakeholders’ groups,’’ he said. Osinbajo expressed optimism that the successes achieved so far would provide the needed confidence in implementing the third phase of the programme successfully.
“As we begin the third phase of the programme implementation, the objectives of this programme will be met and the 2030 HCD target will be achieved in all, across the three thematic areas (level of education, standard of living and health of humans).“This phase is crucial to national success as it would be taking HCD to the grassroots where change is most needed and advocacy critical in where the programme is adopted,’’ he said. Osinbajo said that the third phase includes the inauguration of the community-based demonstration of the HCD programme in its simplest form. He said that successes recorded could be replicated across various communities in each local government area across Nigeria. Also speaking, the Coordinator, Core Working Group, HCD in Nigeria, Ms. Yosola Akinbi, said that critical areas of the implementation and management of the programme must happen at the grassroots. While noting that HCD was the software of any development, Akinbi said “we must build a country where the skills will be retained.”
In the same vein, some of the focal persons during their state presentations, said that the core of the HCD drive was the empowerment of youths to have the capacity and skills needed in creating or seeking employment. A participant from Akwa Ibom, Mr. Isaac Uduak, narrated how Akwa Ibom State Government under the former governor, Emmanuel Udom, took labour force participation seriously through its industrialisation policy that leveraged a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to revolutionise industries in Africa. “The average Nigerian will agree that policy formulation has never been a problem, implementation is usually the challenge. “The administration of Governor Emmanuel Udom understood this and went beyond mere policy implementation to ensuring the effective execution of its industrialisation policies in creating wealth for its people,’’ Uduak said.
The Nasarawa State Focal Person, Mrs. Habiba Suleiman, said that the programme in the state was concentrating on youth development. According to her, the Nasarawa State Government through the HCD Office with OXFAM in Nigeria as funding partners had trained youths in courses such as Team Building, Work Ethics and Business Model Canvas. “Others are Problem Solving, Presentation Skills, Telephone Etiquette, Customer Service among others,’’ she said.
In the account of the Adamawa State delegate, Mr. Amos Nuhu, the state under the programme built the capacity of 1, 000 health workers while improving the utilisation of child health and nutrition. “In addition, we have 10 skills acquisition centres and we are providing technical knowledge to improve efficiency for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in shoes and bags making. “More so, the state has its priorities in education through training and retraining of teachers as well as operating free education at the basic level,’’ Nuhu said.
Meanwhile, working in line with the vision to develop human capital in the country, the immediate past governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, had also pledged the state’s commitment to developing the human capital crucial in the growth of industries. He said, “we will work with the entire Nigeria to ensure that we develop the human capital which is needed for the growth of industries. Analysts have opined that the new leadership of the states and the nation should give prior attention to the issue of Human Capital Development, take the works of their predecessors in this regard to higher level and initiate some projects and programmes, where they are lacking, so that more Nigerians will be equipped to contribute to the development of their states and the country at large.
They said that leaders across the three tiers of government should play down on amassing public funds for themselves and generations yet unborn and rather use these monies to rebuild the various sectors of the nation’s economy so that Nigeria will be a better place to live in.
By: Calista Ezeaku
-
News4 days ago
‘God Sent Fubara To Liberate Rivers People’
-
Nation4 days ago
Ebonyi Community Petitions Nwifuru, Police Over Insecurity
-
News2 days ago
US Bans Underaged Children From Having Social Media Accounts
-
News2 days ago
Group Begins Mobilisation For Fubara
-
Business4 days ago
Food Vendors, Others Relocate To New Site At PH Airport
-
News4 days ago
Don’t Let Kanu Die In DSS Custody, Family Begs Tinubu
-
Niger Delta4 days ago
Easter: Diri Tasks Bayelsans On Love
-
Sports2 days ago
Ilechukwu Eyes NPFL Title After Win Against Heartland