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Shouts Of The Pocket …Or Pure Executive Power Play?
Each time the mass media imput selfish motives of germane national concerns by patriotic Nigerians in apparent rehash of debatably fallacious saying: ‘Man is moved to action not by man’s intellect or reason but by man’s desires and appetites’, I feel a nagging pain in my groins.
But when same is ascribed to genuine protests by public institutions or knowledgeable Nigerians like members of the Honourable House of Representatives, it should rise above My Agony to become a National worry.
In the past few weeks, for questioning the seemingly slow and selective implementation of the 2012 budget, members of the House have themselves become subject of national debate and victims of the hasty conclusion complained of in the opening of this discourse.
Curiously,the ‘sin’ of the House seems, the threat to impeach the President and head of the Executive Arm of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan for, among other concerns, an alleged lackluster implementation of the 2012 budget. As demanded by law, the President’s appropriation bill of N4.55 trillion had been sent to both chambers of the National Assembly for proper scrutiny and possible passage. In the process, the National Assembly approved N4.88 trillion, an addition of about N33 billion.
However, President Jonathan before signing the Appropriation Act into law pegged it at N4.7 trillion. That ceremony of signing into law, the 2012 budget took effect April 13, 2012, thirteen (13) days into the second quarter of the fiscal year.
Now, the House’s key grouse with the executive arm is that the implementation of the budget is below average, standing at about 34 per cent by the end of the second quarter, ending June 30, 2012. Secondly, that approved budgetary allocations to ministries and agencies were being released piece-meal, in a manner that compromised anticipated development milestones. Thirdly, that the executive arm picks and chooses which projects and institutions to fund without recourse to national projections, needs and aspirations and finally, that the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, be made to explain why the House should not have cause for worries, by providing facts to contradict conclusions reached, based on valid information from the office of Federal Accountant General.
For raising these concerns, some Nigerians, using a section of the media have repeatedly imputed that members of the National Assembly were saying things different from what they truly worry about. That the major reason for protest is not the slow pace of work to Federal roads; failure to address the country’s energy needs; poor handling of the nation’s security challenges; alleged unco-ordinated education and health sectors reforms or even non-implementation of the National minimum wage by any state of the Federation.
Instead, they claim, the House members’ anger stems from the delay in release of funds for their own constituency projects, a major source of wealth generation for individual members, in recent years.
All these insinuation have been denied by the House. Infact, chairman of the House Committee on Media, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, last week told journalists that the House is troubled by the stubbornness of managers of the nation’s finances who refuse to allocate funds to projects that are of direct need to the Nigerian people. He denied insinuations that the smooth implementation of the 2012 budget was being hampered by the Assembly’s tinkering with the budget proposal, resulting in the increase from N4.55 trillion proposed by President Jonathan to N4.88 trillion, that the National Assembly eventually approved.
According to him, once a budget is passed into law, it becomes a legal document which must be adhered to and not left to the whims of the Executive arm, to pick and choose which to implement. Zakari dismissed as untrue, claims by the Finance Minister that the implementation of the budget was on course and said the executive arm is simply suffering from military hang-over, a veiled reference meaning totalitarianism often associated with military regimes.
If these are indeed so, Nigerians ought to be worried. But they should be more worried if in the long run, it is proved that the House’s protests are actuated by malice arising from the Executive arm’s insistence that public funds cannot be released for projects without passing through due process, which is also a legal document that ought to be adhered to, religiously.
Addressing newsmen a forth-night ago, Co-ordinating Minister of the economy, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala insisted that public funds must be spent responsibly, after due process has been followed, saying, those days when public funds were released for projects, without necessary adherence to approved milestones, were over. According to the Finance Minister, implementation of the budget in most respects had gone far beyond 50 per cent while other areas are far above 34 per cent.
Apart from challenges posed by failure of some contractors to meet laid down guidelines on project implementation with emphasis on transparency, capacity and competence, some over-priced works are yet to be defended by affected contractors. The bottom-line is that while, the federal government is committed to pursuing its development agenda, it is no longer prepared to release funds recklessly without proof of readiness, competence and capacity to meet set standards.
Are constituency projects, proposed by law-makers part of such works desiring answers and structural appraisals? Yes. If so, House members need not be ashamed of it, afterall, all such projects, as provided for in the budget, are intended for their constituencies and by larger implication, all Nigerians.
Yes, Nigerians are aware that some members of the National Assembly in the past used such appropriations for their personal needs and wants, covering expensive auto-mobiles, built palatial mansions in choice areas of various Nigerian cities and used the difference to conduct free eye tests in one or two villages but there is no signal yet that the present crop of honourable members would do the same.
Apart from the stains to their reputation, caused by allegations of demanding and receiving bribes from institutions and oil companies under their various probes, and the story of a loud-mouthed member in the crusade for impeachment, now known to have been barred from legal practice on account of fraudulent transactions, members of the House have shown considerable honour.
It is also honourable to be worried that their constituency projects are being delayed. But a more honourable way would be to say so and not query the mode of budget implementation. As they have thus far done.
For instance, the budget became law on April 13, 2012. If by end of June, 2012, the executive arm has hit between 35 and 55 per cent, in spite of the numerous distractions caused by security concerns, President Jonathan demands commendation not impeachment threat. Another is the fact that Nigeria, in years passed, did not get real value for public works ordered through plum contracts, therefore, one of the best ways of fighting corruption and ensuring adherence to details in project implementation is proper monitoring. In this regard, it becomes foolhardy for government to release 100 per cent funds for projects undone.
Under the due process regime, certain steps must be taken before mobilisation is granted and another tranche released after meeting specific milestones. This means, implementation of a given budget cannot be judged only by the amount of funds disbursed but also by the level of works and the speed with which various ministries, agencies and even contractors meet certain targets.
That being the case, dangling of impeachment threat over perceived delay in implementation of the budget, which passage was also delayed in the first place, inadvertently lends credence to the allusion that members of the National Assembly are not fighting the people’s wars but theirs.
My Agony is that try as I have in ages to believe in myself, I am heading to the sad conclusion that most times, “greedy” men are moved to action not by their intellect or reason but by their desires and appetites.
I pray some members of the House of Representatives do not take me there. At least not yet.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
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Our Legacy’ll Leave Lasting Impression On Rivers People -Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.
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We’re Determined To Leave Legacy Of Quality Education -Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has promised to give the best attention to the education sector so that standard and quality learning will never be compromised in the State.
The governor emphasised that in achieving such legacy, schools in the State will be driven with a curriculum that will equip school-aged children to become competitive, innovative and self-reliant.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Governing Council of Rivers State University at Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
He said: “There is a lot of noise everywhere: people asking what we are doing; that we are not focused, and that we don’t have direction.
”But I want to tell the world that we are focused and aware that we cannot grow if our energies are not channeled to education. Not just education, but purposeful education.
”Education that is creative. Education that gives you independence. We have left the era in the world when you speak too much grammar. We are in such times when it is what you can do with your hands.
”Our purpose for education is that we should bring back our academic programmes to where, at the end of your studies, you don’t need a job but you create jobs. When one creates a job, you automatically employ others. That is what I want this council to see as their task.”
Governor Fubara noted the non-existence of public secondary schools for the male child in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
He said such negligence leaves children in that area who have completed primary education, and whose parents cannot afford sending them to far away secondary schools, to roam the streets, and therefore becoming willing tools for criminality.
Governor Fubara assured that such fundamental problem will be addressed by his administration as a measure to curb the negative impression associated with Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
The governor said he trusts in the capacity of the members of the Governing Council of Rivers State University to bring about positive change in the institution while also contributing their quota to improving the general education standard in the State.
”I charge you, not just in terms of administering the affairs of the university, but let us add something different from the normal things that we already have to see new things.”
In her response, on behalf of the other members, the Pro-Chancellor of the Governing Council of Rivers State University, Justice Mary Odili (rtd), thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve in such capacity.
Justice Odili assured they will work assiduously as a team to solve the problems that agitate the mind of the governor and ensure their contributions form part of the legacy that will be bequeathed by his administration.
The members included Justice Mary Odili (rtd) as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council with Barrister Mela Oforibika and Chukwuma Chinwo, Esq.
Others were Adata Bio-Briggs, Esq., Dr. Jonathan Nimi Hart, Ngo Martins-Yellowe, Dr. Nancy Nwankwo, Dr. Igoni William-Park, and Mr. Ogbugbu Barisua.
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Fubara, Others Eulogise Rivers First Lady’s Mother
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, and key stakeholders of the State on Wednesday paid glowing tributes at the Service of Songs held in honour of late Mrs Adeline Jaja, mother of the wife of the Governor, Lady Valerie Fubara, at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
Speaking at the event, Governor Fubara described his late mother-in-law as a great and visionary woman who lived on truth and conviction in what she believes.
“Mama was a great woman. She wasn’t a materialistic person. When she believes in you, she’ll be all out for you. She stood for me. I feel pained that, like my own mother, she left at this moment.
”Mama believed so much in God, and the wonders of God. I thank everyone, particularly the Church. On behalf of the bereaved family, we will support the Church to immortalise her name,” the Governor said.
In his homily, Vicar of the Church, Ven. A. A. Ijon-Ama, who spoke on the gains of death, said physical departure from earth was not an ultimate end but an opening for higher and permanent gain and perfection.
He pointed out that when a man has a good relationship with God, he stands to gain more in death.
Ven. Ijon-Ama described late Mrs. Adeline Jaja as a devout Christian, who exuded deep sense of hospitality, and endowed with accommodating spirit, noting that she will be greatly missed by all.
The Vicar, who prayed for the repose of the soul of Mrs Adeline Jaja, also solicited for Divine fortitude for the family to bear the great loss, and called for the immortalisation of the deceased to keep her good legacies alive.
Some family members, who spoke at the Service of Songs, extolled the virtues of the deceased, describing her as “a great community leader, counsellor, peace maker, and caring mother, who provided for the needy, and participated actively in Church activities.
Highlights of the event were special prayers for the bereaved family, conducted by the Anglican Bishop of Evo Diocese, Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu; remarks by key family members, choir ministration, among others.
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