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N10.6trn:FG Fires Back At Ezekwesili

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The Federal Government, yesterday, reacted angrily to
comments by the former Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili alleging
that the governments of Presidents Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan,
squandered $67 billion(about N10.6trn) in foreign reserves, describing the
allegation as “outlandish and clearly fictitious.”

Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku who addressed a
press conference on the allegations by the former Vice President of African
Region of the World Bank said the damning verdict passed on the education
sector by Mrs Ezekwesili was a self indictment, as she presided over the sector
without bringing any positive impact on it.

The Information Minister who was flanked by the Senior
Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe; Economic Adviser, Prof.
Nwanze Okedegbo and Special Adviser on Performance Monitoring, Prof. Sylvester
Monye; said the allegations of Ezekwesili were curious in the light of the fact
that she had been part of governance in the past.

According to Mr Maku, Ezekwesili’s criticism of the
education sector amounts to hypocrisy as she was part of the sector and
contributed to its sorry state, because , despite receiving N458.1billion
between 2006 and 2007 for the sector, there is nothing to show for it, in terms
of achievements.

The Minister said, “If she says education has not worked it
means she is saying she did not work”.

He accused the former Education minister of betraying a
surprisingly limited understanding of government finances in her comments at
Nsukka.

Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku flanked by the Senior
Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the President, Dr. Doyin Okupe and the
Special Adviser to the President, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Prof.
Sylvester Monye during the briefing on the nation’s external reserves at the
National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja.

He noted: “These statements are even more curious in light
of the fact that she has held senior positions in government, and more
recently, a position as a Vice President of the World Bank. However, rather
than speculate about her motives, we would focus on the facts.

“The statement by the former World Bank Vice President that
the governments of Presidents Musa Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan have
squandered $67 billion in reserves (including $45 billion in external reserves
and $22 billion in the Excess Crude Account) left by the Obasanjo
Administration at the end of May 2007 is factually incorrect. At the end of May
2007, Nigeria’s gross reserves stood at $43.13 billion – comprising the CBN’s
external reserves of $31.5 billion, $9.43 billion in the Excess Crude Account,
and $2.18 billion in the Federal Government’s savings. These figures can be
independently verified from the CBN’s records. The figure of $67 billion
alleged in her statement is therefore clearly fictitious.

“However, since President Obasanjo left office, the reserves
have experienced fluctuations, rising from $43.13 billion in May 2007, peaking
at $62 billion in September 2008 during the Yar’adua/Jonathan Administration
when oil prices peaked at $147 per barrel, and falling subsequently to a low of
$31.7 in September 2011. This fall in reserves was a result of the vicissitudes
of the global financial crisis which caused CBN interventions in the currency
market to defend the value of the naira. The Excess Crude savings, a component
of the reserves, was also used to stimulate the economy at the height of the
global financial crisis to the tune of about $1 billion (or 0.5 percent of our
2009 GDP). As a result, Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world that
did not seek assistance from international financial institutions.

He said it should be noted that the fiscal stimulus used to
shore up the economy during that period was shared by all 3-tiers of
government, including commitments of about $5.5 billion made under the Obasanjo
Administration for power projects, he added.

She urged Nigerians, especially the youths, to take their
destiny in their hands by creating a new political context in which citizens
demand for good governance and accountability by compelling their leaders to be
accountable and transparent in the management of the commonwealth of Nigeria.

According to her, ‘endowment of oil resulted in an indulgent
elite class who have made disastrous choices that have trapped the destiny of
Nigeria in oil wells.

The former World Bank Vice President attributed the economic
stagnation in the country for over fifty years to such indulgence on the part
of the emerging ruling class.

‘The fact is that our political elite suffers from delusion
of greatness simply because we sell barrel of crude oil to finance 80% of our
national budget while over 95% of our foreign exchange ad petroleum sector
earning represents a larger portion of industry’s contribution to GDP”, she
lamented.

‘I have known, at least, five cycles of commodity booms that
offered us rare opportunities to use revenues generated from oil to transform
our economy. Sadly, each cycle ended up sliding us farther down the productive
ladder. The present cycle of boom of the 2010s is, however, much more vexing
that the other four that happened in the 70s, 80s 90s and 2000s, she added.

She challenged Nigerian university graduates and
undergraduates to mobilise themselves and work towards pushing public office
holders to prudently manage our national wealth and provide good stewardship
and leadership to the people.

It would be recalled that
the former World Bank Vice President, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili had last Saturday
lashed out at successive federal government since 2007, accusing them of
squandering over $67billion oil windfall.

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Group Doles out N13m To Market Women In Isiama 

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The peaceful Town of Isiama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State was at the weekend agog with activities following the donation of over N13million to market women by Engr. Justus Ngerebara in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiatives, a non-governmental organization, as part of its first phase empowerment programme.
According to Justus Ngerebara, who is also the Executive Director of the organization, the women, numbering 108, will receive various sums based on their business proposal.
He stated that the organization will carry out an annual review of the performances of the beneficiaries, with a view to rewarding those who put the money into good use.
According to him, the initiative was a collaborative effort between himself and his wife, Dr. Unyime Ngerebara, in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiative (FDI), an organization committed to youth capacity building and community development.
He said the family believe deeply in the transformative power of women’s empowerment as a catalyst for economic growth, especially in rural communities.
“As the saying goes, when you empower a woman, you empower a community. This truth resonate strongly with us, knowing that empowered women uplift households and inspire generational change”, he stated.
Ngerebara described the programme as the beginning of more things to come and urged the beneficiaries to view the gesture “as a reflection of our deep love for the community and our commitment to easing the burdens of economic hardship.
“We encourage you to invest wisely, channel these resources into your business not frivolities.
“We will continue to follow up with each participant to monitor progress and Offer guidance.
“It is our goal to see thriving business, creative solutions to households hunger and a ripple effect of prosperity through Isiama.
“We also call on the men to stand beside their spouses, offering support and encouragement to ensure these resources are maximized for growth”, he said.
In an interview, Ngerebara said the second phase of the empowerment programme will start very soon, stressing that since inception the organization has done so much for the community.
He listed some of the programmes carried out by the group in the community to include the installation of solar powered lights, and solar powered water.
While declaring the event open, a former coymmissioner for Works in Rivers State, Engr. Sampson Ngerebara, described the event as the first of its kind in the community.
Engr. Ngerebara said the programme will go a long way to improve the conditions of not only the beneficiaries, but also the entire Isiama Community.
He also charged them against wasting the resources on frivolities, adding that their success will attract more of such empowerment programme to Isiama community
Giving a brief talk on women empowerment, a lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Dr. Awajimogobo Felix MacLean, warned the beneficiaries to justify the effort of the donor by avoiding wastages.
Dr. MacLean also urged them to be consistent in their line of business as well as avoid unnecessary competition.
She also stressed the need for them to network among themselves, while working out ways of helping the community to develop.
Guest of Honour at the occasion, Professor Uriah Oboada Alafonye, said Engr Justus Ngerebara, the initiator of the programme, has set a standard for present and future generations of leaders both in the community and the rest of Andoni to follow.
Prof Alafonye who is of the department of Arts Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, also appealed to the beneficiaries to seize the opportunity provided by the programme to reduce poverty in the community.
Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Hebron Mercy Fyneface, a crayfish seller and an interior designer, said it was the first time she was receiving such gesture from any organization or government.
She thanked Engr Justus Ngerebara for remembering the women of Isiama and urged others to emulate him.
By: John Bibor
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Fubara’s Return Excites NCSU … As Hope Rises For Civil Servants 

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The umbrella body of civil servants in Rivers State, the Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has expressed delight over the lifting of emergency rule in the State and the return to office of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu and members of the State House of Assembly, saying, the development portends good omen for workers, the people and the State.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave the indication in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the return of the Governor to office portends good omen and better days for civil servants in particular, stressing that the union heartily welcomes the Governor back to office, to resume his good works in the State, after six months of the emergency rule, as well as his deputy and members of the House of Assembly.
He noted that civil servants in the State are not only elated over the development but are also full of hope that the Governor would start from where he stopped in attending to their welfare needs.
He contended that the political crisis that recently engulfed the State and the six-month emergency rule had for over one year pulled the State backwards, but expressed delight that a permanent solution has been found to stem further political upheavals in the State, and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making this possible; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and leader of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike; Governor Fubara; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule; members of the House; and other stakeholders for agreeing to amicably resolve all contending issues.
The labour leader said this is the right time for all political gladiators in the State to bury the hatchet, work together and embrace peace and genuine reconciliation in the overall interest of the State.
He described as too hasty the resolution of the House, mandating the Governor to present a supplementary budget to it, and pleaded with members of the House to be calm, to tread with caution, and harmoniously work with the Governor.
He said the return of democratic governance in the State would fast-track progress and development in the State, and enjoined the people of the State, particularly civil servants to continue to give their support and cooperation to the Fubara administration.
Osumah expressed optimism that Governor Fubara would give prompt attention to challenges facing civil servants in the State, being a former civil servant himself, stressing that the workers truly have hope, now that the Governor has returned to office, and knowing the kind of Governor he is.
According to him, he is going to look into the controversial and contentious contributory pension scheme; rehabilitation of the State Secretariat Complex; recruitment into the state civil service; extension of service and retirement years for civil servants; provision of vehicles to industrial unions; as well as provision of befitting staff quarters for civil servants; among others.
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NDDC Organizes ADR Capacity Building for Staff

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The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has organized a one-day sensitization program for its personnel on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approaches to promote workplace compliance on transparency and due process.
The workshop, themed “Promoting Transparency and Due Process in the Workplace using ADR Approaches in Building a Culture of Accountability and Integrity,” aimed to equip staff with the skills to resolve disputes effectively.
Declaring the event open on thursday in port Harcourt,The NDDC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized the importance of using ADR mechanisms to resolve conflicts in the workplace.
Dr. Ogbuku  represented by his chief of staff,Rev Omeya Oworibo,noted that ADR approaches can encourage a culture of honesty, fairness, transparency, trust, and reduce conflicts among staff, ultimately promoting efficiency and productivity.
He averred that those disputes and quarrels if not proper resolved can derail the vision and objectives of the commission to the people, noting that the commission must as a team and unity as service provider in order to render a profitable service delivery to the people.
 “ADR approach will encourage culture of honesty,fairness, transparency ,trust  and reduce back bitting and the workforce, noting that such tendency would in turns promote efficiency and increase results in workplace.
 when integrity and honesty becomes the operandi of an organisation and employees begins to trust that their matters will be handled with fairness it will breed team work and increase in productivity.”he stated
He commended the department of DCR for organising the workshop and urged the participants to make good use of the opportunity and imbibe the culture of tolerance, integrity and teamwork in workplace.
Also speaking,the NDDC acting director of DCR ,Mr Godwin Ayewumi Ogedegbe noted that the theme of the captures the core of what the commission seeks to achieve a workplace where every action is expected to be guided by openness, fairness, and a steadfastness commitment to due process, where conflicts are not merely resolved, but prevented through structured,principled processes , and where accountability and integrity are not aspirational ideals but every day practice.
In his  keynote presentation on the theme “workplace Ethics and alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation,
Prof. Sylvester Odion Akhaine of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, delivered a keynote presentation on “Workplace Ethics and Alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation.” He stressed the importance of due process, transparency, integrity, and accountability in the workplace, noting that these values are essential for productivity and organizational goals.
The workshop aimed to promote a culture of accountability and integrity in the NDDC workplace. By equipping staff with ADR skills and promoting transparency and due process, the commission can build a more efficient and productive work environment.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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