Features
Nigeria’s Fiscal Discipline And Economic Growth
Policy analysts claim that one of the factors inhibiting Nigeria’s economic growth over the years is the lack of transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline in the day-to-day governance.
They argue that the country can never attain any meaningful development if drastic measures are not adopted to reposition the national economy through appropriate and translucent accounting standards.
The experts, nonetheless, stress that developing nations are mostly prone to challenges emanating from fiscal indiscipline, as the world gradually recovers from the global financial crunch.
Observers, however, insist that fiscal discipline is very vital to the development of all the countries of the world, stressing the need to evolve schemes aimed at managing the countries’ resources prudently.
At the recent 42nd Annual Accountants Conference, Mr the President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr Adedoyin Owolabi, called on government at all levels to address issues relating to the rising cost of governance, which had taken a heavy toll on the economy.
“Nigeria requires strong institutions that will make development and regulatory environment conducive to effective operation of economic development and democratic process that is consistent with good governance.
“The task of building such strong institutions must start today for the benefit of tomorrow.
“We must take those painful but necessary decisions that will lead us to where we desire to be as a nation by the year 2020. As leaders, we need to think outside the box and act strategically,’’ he said.
Owolabi said that Nigeria could still achieve a remarkable infrastructural development with the available resources, if projects were properly evaluated and monitored.
In his speech, President Goodluck Jonathan commended ICAN for its contributions toward efforts to set up the Nigerian Accounting Standards Board (NASB) in 1982.
He said that the Board later metamorphosed to the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) in 2011, in attestation of his administration’s commitment to promoting best practices in financial reporting.
Represented by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr Niyi Otunla , the president noted that abandonment of development planning and inadequate performance benchmarks for public officers had posed great challenges to Nigeria’s development.
He, nonetheless, expressed his government’s determination, through pragmatic policies, to tackle these development challenges headlong.
“Our aim is to re-institutionalise development planning, place greater premium on capital allocation in annual budgets and deliberately set performance benchmarks for public officers, so that the citizens, on whose behalf they hold office, can objectively assess their performance,’’ he said.
Jonathan stressed that his administration was creating an enabling environment for the country’s growth through fiscal, monetary and legislative initiatives for private-sector investments in telecommunications, wholesale and retail trade, tourism and entertainment, manufacturing, building and construction.
“I would like to assure you all that financial prudence, discipline, transparency and value for money will continue to guide the implementation of these initiatives
“ We will not sacrifice accountability on the altar of political or economic expediency,’’ he vowed.
Jonathan, nonetheless, urged ICAN members to take up the challenges of fostering Nigeria’s economic transformation and social rebirth with their creative expertise as professionals.
He urged them to strengthen the institute’s public sector department, stressing that his administration was rebuilding enduring institutions around its Public Financial Management Reforms programme.
“Through high fiscal discipline, we have not only brought down the fiscal deficit, we have also enhanced the predictability of public expenditures,’’ he added.
Jonathan said that his government had initiated some measures to promote the country’s financial management system and accountability.
According to him, these include the new Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), improved Cash Management System through Treasury Single Account (TSA) as well as other non-financial reforms.
The president noted that these reforms had created a big challenge for the capacity building of financial experts within and outside the civil service, expressing the hope that ICAN would provide invaluable support for the initiatives.
All the same, economic experts contend that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are pivotal to the growth and progression of the economy of any country.
In the light the above, the conference’s participants harped on the need to give priority attention to the development of SMEs in Nigeria.
Mr Vernon Soare, the Executive Director of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW), urged Nigeria to empower its domestic entrepreneurs, saying that this was one of the factors behind the economic growth of developed countries.
“ It is good for foreigners to invest in a nation but domestic investors should also be encouraged.
“Small-scale enterprises should be made to grow in all spheres of the country’s economy and as for the shareholders, they need to be aware of the ups and downs of the stock exchange market,’’ Soare added.
Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Oscar Onyema, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), expressed the need to empower shareholders and domestic investors to enable them to make appreciable impact in the running of their companies.
He stressed the need for the creation of an avenue that would allow shareholders to have a voice in the companies’ management, adding the shareholders’ views ought to be respected in management issues.
“Shareholders own the company; so they should have the right to be informed on what is going on in the organisation,’’ he added.
Besides, Onyema called on the government to empower domestic investors, especially those who owned small-scale enterprises, to strengthen them for the capital market.
“So much emphasis is being placed on foreign investors but the truth is that ‘charity begins at home’; the Federal Government should work more on empowering home-grown investors,’’ he said.
Onyema underscored the need to strengthen the country’s SMEs to meet international standards, adding that the NSE had already taken the initiative in that regard.
“The NSE has introduced a forum to assist SMEs to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards method and to get access to legal backing to grow their business,’’ he said.
Mr Sunny Nwosu, the National Coordinator of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), however, bemoaned the lackadaisical attitude of courts when entertaining cases filed against companies.
“Right now, we have several cases in court where we have sued companies but some of the courts are not responding well to the lawsuits.
“There is a policy somersault in this country; this has to be checked, particularly to promote the shareholders’ interests,’’ he said.
In his speech, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State appealed to ICAN to reposition the accountancy profession for effective service delivery, while ensuring the elimination of corruption in the country.
The governor rejected the notion that accountants largely functioned as instruments of corruption, arguing that the fact that accountants were the custodians of funds did not make them agents of corruption.
He noted that ICAN had resolved to act as a preventive force against corruption, while adding value to governance and humanity.
“We, as the members of the noble profession, are determined to contribute our quota to the development of the economy, while building a virile institution that will sustain the economy.’
“So, we have resolved to readjust and strive to ensure that corruption does not find a place in the economy,’’ he said.
Dankwambo stressed that the ICAN leadership had empowered its president to take disciplinary measures against any member who was found wanting on the issue of corruption.
However, experts believe that the theme of the ICAN conference was apt, particularly now when the federal and state governments were preparing their 2013 budgets.
Mr Bode Augusto, a former Director-General of the Budget Office, called on the government to be more prudent in its management of resources.
In his comments on the Federal Government’s proposed budget for 2013, Augusto urged the government to invest more in capital projects.
“In the past nine years — 2003 to 2012 — a large chunk of the nation’s revenue was used to service the Federal Government’s daily expenditure, while a small fraction was left to fund vital national needs,’’ he said.
Financial analysts, therefore, stress the need for ICAN to play a major role in advising the government on budget implementation processes, noting that poor budget implementation has somewhat led to a decline in citizens’ the quality of life.
They also underscore the need for the government to consult professional accountants on all budgetary and fiscal issues so as to engender the country’s economic growth in a pragmatic way.
Okoronkwo writes for News Agency of Nigeria.
Chijioke Okoronkwo
Features
Farmers/Herders Clash: Livestock Ministry As Solution
The persistent clash between farmers and herders in Nigeria has been a longstanding issue. These conflicts, often, over resources like land and water, have led to loss of lives, destruction of property, displacement of large numbers of people, deep-seated mistrust between communities and insecurity. Herders, traditionally nomadic, move their livestock in search of grazing land and water. Farmers, on the other hand, require the same resources for their crops. This competition often leads to clashes, especially in areas where land is becoming increasingly scarce due to population growth, climate change, and environmental degradation. As these clashes intensify, there has been a growing call for sustainable solutions. Two weeks ago, President Bola Tinubu took a bold step towards tackling the issue by inaugurating the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms and creating the Ministry of Livestock Development.
The committee which has the president as the chairman and the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega as the deputy chairman has the mandate to address obstacles to agricultural productivity and open up new opportunities which benefit farmers, herders, processors, and distributors in the livestock-farming value chain as well as propose recommendations aimed at fostering a peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers, ensuring the security and economic well-being of Nigerians.The establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development was part of the recommendations of the National Livestock Reforms Committee. Part of the 21 recommendations submitted to the president include: “This agenda should include the establishment and resuscitation of grazing reserves as suggested by many experts and well-meaning Nigerians and other methods of land utilisation.
“Create the Ministry of Livestock Resources in line with practice in many other West African countries. In the alternative, Federal and State Governments should expand the scope of existing Departments of Livestock Production to address the broader needs of the industry,” among others. Experts in the agricultural sector have posited that the livestock industry can create millions of jobs directly in farming, processing, and distribution, and indirectly in related sectors like feed production, veterinary services, and marketing. It provides livelihoods for rural populations, helping to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in rural areas. It also increases the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign exchange earnings through the exports of livestock and livestock products such as meat, dairy, wool and leather.
According to them, a well-funded livestock industry supports the growth of agro-processing sectors, such as meat packing, dairy processing, and leather manufacturing, adds value to raw products and creates additional economic activity as well as stimulates the development of supply chains, including logistics, packaging, and retail, contributing to broader economic growth. It enhances economic resilience by diversifying the agricultural sector and providing a buffer against crop failures or other agricultural shocks and many more. Some other agriculturists have also opined that the livestock industry in Nigeria is currently underdeveloped and that by the creation of the ministry of livestock development will open up the industry which will be a huge money spinner for Nigeria.
Reports have shown that a Livestock Ministry can play a pivotal role in mitigating conflicts between farmers and herders by implementing policies and programmes aimed at fostering coexistence and sustainable resource management. The Ministry can work towards clearly demarcating grazing routes and farming areas. This would reduce instances of trespassing and accidental crop destruction, a common flashpoint for conflict. While introducing rotational grazing systems can ensure that land is used sustainably, preventing overgrazing and land degradation, establishing water points and boreholes specifically for livestock can reduce competition for water resources. Similarly, promoting the development of pasturelands through reseeding and controlled burns can improve grazing conditions.
According to a veterinary doctor, Dr Andrew Obadiah, by providing training for herders on sustainable livestock practices and for farmers on conflict resolution, both parties can understand the importance of coexistence. He said that extension services of the ministry can offer advice on improving livestock health and productivity, reducing the need for large herds and extensive grazing. “Setting up local committees involving both farmers and herders to mediate disputes can provide a platform for dialogue and peaceful resolution. Encouraging community-based conflict early warning systems can help prevent clashes before they escalate”, he emphasised.For Mrs. Stella Ugwu, a farmer, having a ministry dedicated to the development of the livestock industry can help in diversifying income sources for both farmers and herders and in turn reduce dependence on land.
”For instance, promoting agro-pastoralism can provide farmers with livestock and herders with agricultural produce”, she explained, adding that providing incentives for adopting sustainable practices, such as subsidies for fodder production or crop insurance, can ease economic pressures. Ugwu was however of the opinion that the creation of a new ministry to handle livestock affairs was uncalled for, since the job can effectively be done by the Technical and Service Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and food security and its equivalent on the states level.In some countries, the establishment of a Livestock Ministry or similar bodies has shown promising results. For example, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture includes a dedicated department for livestock which has successfully implemented programmes to improve pastoral livelihoods and reduce conflicts.
In Kenya, the establishment of the National Drought Management Authority has helped manage resources better, thus reducing clashes between herders and farmers during dry seasons.The president of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Othman Ngelzarma, sees the Ministry of Livestock Development achieving the same feat for Nigeria in the near future. He told newsmen that, “MACBAN expresses its deepest appreciation to the Federal Government for creating a ministry of livestock to unlock the trillion-naira livestock economy and create qualitative and productive jobs across the value chain to improve the Nigerian economy. With this development, MACBAN believes the hope of the Nigerian pastoralists is now achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
However, the Middle Belt Forum took a different view of the proposed Ministry of Livestock Development, saying it was not enough to sustainably resolve the decades-long farmers-herders crisis in the country. According to the National President of the association, Mr. Bitrus Pogu, what is needed to end the perennial farmers/herders clashes is a deliberate action by regulatory bodies and the government to stop criminal elements from carrying out deadly attacks on innocent Nigerians, mainly farmers. Hear him: “If the reason for creating the Ministry is to stop clashes, I think it is wrong because all of these attacks and killings that are happening have nothing to do with conflicts between farmers and herders. “Farmers have never connived at any given time to go and attack herders, but rather, criminals who happen to be Fulani gang up and attack farmers, kill, maim and chase them out of their ancestral homes.
“Then, the Fulani will come and occupy them. So, it is more about invasion, criminality, and terrorism. And the majority of those they hire to do these evils are not even those who have cattle. So, a deliberate action has to be taken by the government against the perpetrators, which will address the criminality.” Mr. Pogu suggested that the government should adopt ranching for productivity and enduring peace between the pastoralists and farmers in particular and the entire country in general.While the establishment of a Livestock Ministry presents a viable solution, it is not without challenges. Funding constraints, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and corruption can hamper its effectiveness. Additionally, deeply ingrained cultural practices and mistrust between farmers and herders can be difficult to overcome.
Critics argue that without a holistic approach that includes land reform, climate change adaptation, and broader economic development, a Livestock Ministry alone may not be sufficient. Therefore, it must work in tandem with other governmental and non-governmental bodies to ensure comprehensive solutions. “A dedicated Livestock Ministry, with its focus on sustainable resource management, conflict resolution, and economic incentives, offers a promising avenue to address the root causes of these clashes. However, its success depends on effective implementation, adequate funding, and the cooperation of all stakeholders involved. With the right strategies and commitment, devoid of any political or selfish interest, it can play a crucial role in fostering peace and prosperity in affected regions”, they advised.
Calista Ezeaku
Features
Developments In Rivers’ Health Sector …A Leap To Greater Height
Features
Infertility And Family Stability
Mrs Tamunobarabiye (not her real name) is an indigene of one of the riverine Local Government Areas of the oil-rich Rivers State of Nigeria, She was happily married to a man whom she described as her heartthrob. And the marriage thrived peacefully for ten years when suddenly there was a twist of events in the marital relationship. The relationship turned sour because of the absence of the fruit of the womb. The marriage was characterised by accusations and counter accusations compounded by pressures from external influences especially the husband’s relatives who blamed their son’s wife for not giving a child to their son. They described the woman as “another man in the house”, The union which started well with the Bible at the centre, was cat and rat, until medical procedures vindicated the woman. Such is the fate of many marriages and the unfortunate condition of many homes in Nigeria with the woman disproportionately blamed for lack of child bearing in marriage.
It is not saying something new that In most countries of the world, especially the African countries, infertility has posed great challenge to stability of marriage. Some marriages have failed because of inability of couple to have children. In a typical African tradition, where misguided myth and superstition hold sway, more often than not, women are speculatively and presumptuously blamed for the lack of procreation in the marital relationship while the husband is saintly in disposition and in the biased evaluation of his relatives. Gynaecologists however, have proven that either husband or wife or the both could be responsible for infertile challenges encountered in marriages. It is not exclusively an act of witchcraft as many African homes are prone to, and captivated by such superstitious belief. Gynaecologists and other medical experts have cited ignorance and the lack of awareness as major contributory factors to the rising incidence of infertility in marriages.
The specialists in women challenges spoke at the 2024 Fertility Conference, held recently in Lagos. The annual event, themed, “Infertility – Need for Knowledge and Early Intervention,” was organised by the Parah Family Foundation(PFF). The Lead Speaker, Preye Fiebai, a Professor and Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist from the University of Port Harcourt, also noted that Nigerian men were unaware that the ability to ejaculate did not equate to being fertile. According to Fiebai, research has shown that 20-45 percent of women in Nigeria are infertile, but often, the cause of infertility in marriages is not the women.
The Specialist Obstetrician said research breakdown shows that 40 percent of infertility cases are due to male factors, 40 percent to female factors, 15 percent to combined male and female factors, and five percent are unexplained.
Fiebai listed causes of infertility in men to include: erectile dysfunction, impotence, decreased libido, psychogenic issues, endocrinopathies, age, and over weight, among others. For women, the medical expert pointed to cervical factors, uterine factors, diseases of the fallopian tubes, and problems with ovulation. Also, a professor of Surgery from the University of Lagos, Kehinde Habeeb Tijani, added factors such as age, weight, stress, excessive alcohol consumption, exposure to radiation, and constant exposure of the testicles to high temperatures as contributors to infertility. For his part, Managing Director, Lifeline Fertility Clinic, Kemi Alioje and Tony Akinyemi, while affirming the submission of the other speakers, offered various remedies to overcome infertility. They also advised women over the age of 54 to avoid aspiring for pregnancy due to the associated risks.
Also speaking, the Conference Convener, Dayo Odukoya described the infertility rates and causes as “alarming.” She emphasised the need for ongoing awareness to encourage couples experiencing infertility to seek solutions early in their marriages rather than delaying. According to her, “The foundation’s primary objective is to share vital information, enlighten and provide the relevant support system for families undergoing fertility challenges to eradicate ignorance, the misguided myths and social stigma associated with delayed fertility in our society. “The choice of the theme for this year’s conference; infertility- needs for knowledge and early intervention; is to further reiterate the importance of continued awareness, and knowledge about the challenges of infertility and more importantly, action to be taken as early as possible if not, it may cause further delays, especially in late marriage and aged women.
“The journey to parenthood is lonely and must not be treaded alone. There is a need for a support system on this journey and that is where the Parah Family comes in,” she said. The effects of infertility is better imagined than experienced. It is daunting, overwhelming and emotionally devastating. It triggers uneasy calm, quarrels, fighting, accusations, and divorce. The effects defy religious membership as some Christian marriages are not free from the attendant challenges caused by infertility..
Mrs Veronica, a victim of infertility induced crisis said infertility in marriage is a nightmare that a woman should not wish her enemy. According to her, it is stigmatizing, and leads to exclusiveness in a matrimonial home.”You know this thing called infertility is a bad thing that one should not even wish it happens to her enemy. It is a very bad experience. You are not free in your marital home.
Almost every member of your husband’s extended family sees you as the cause of their brother not having a child”. For Mrs. Beauty, infertility is a challenge that some women brought on themselves ignorantly when they were young. According to her, abortion may cause infertility. “You know that no woman knows her fertility status – that is the number of children a woman can give birth to, in a normal condition. Some women might have several pregnancy abortion and may still have a child or children. But some may abort only once, yet may not have any child”. She warned against the temptation of abortion of pregnancy. She said no pregnancy is “unwanted”. Rather than trading blames and accusations, married men and women should undergo medical checks to ascertain their fertility status even before marriage. Those who are medically deficient should access medical facility to solve the problem.
Igbiki Benibo
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