Rivers
Govt’s Inaction, Bane Of Corruption In Nigeria – Prof
The inability of Government at all levels to impose appropriate sanction against citizens found culpable has contributed to widespread corruption in Nigeria.
This is the opinion of Professor Ozioma Bennett Orluweni, while delivering the 53rd inaugural lecture of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) recently at the university’s auditorium.
The Professor of Public Administration said corruption is now seen as the norm in both private and public spheres.
Nigerians, according to Professor Orluweni, are counted among the richest in the world, but their economy is underdeveloped with majority of the population wallowing in abject poverty and misery.
The country, he stated, is ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world, hence it is tagged the poverty capital of the world and among the most corrupt people on earth.
The inaugural Lecturer noted that the so-called religiosity of Nigerians has not in any way stopped those in position of power from exploiting the privilege they have been given by the people to serve at both the Local, State and National levels from abusing those positions through corrupt practices.
He informed that the Nigerian society tend to over emphasise individual goal attainment at the expense of the legitimate means of achieving these set goals.
He observed that “material acquisition has virtually become the ultimate goal, and that the society does not appear to be concerned with how one makes it. All that is important is that one has arrived”.
This, he continued, marked discrepancy between the goals and means in the society, adding that “it has invariably led to various forms of corruption, such as embezzlement of public fund, offering and acceptance of bribe, electoral rigging, examination malpractice, etc., making it difficult to have a corruption free society, especially as the Principal often times not only aid and abet corruption, but also connives in the spreading of corruption”.
Orluweni, who is the Director of the University printing press and Bookshop, hinted that the economic condition of a society induces corruption and called for egalitarian distribution of wealth to reduce corruption to the barest minimum.
He stressed the need for the establishment or reform of the existing public service to the one that is built on rules and procedures, stating that such procedures must be based on “integrity, merit, professionalism and patriotism imbued with the commitment to model against corruption”.
The Professor of Public Administration advocated for stiffer sanctions for corrupt public officials or individuals to serve as deterrence against the institutionalisation of corrupt behaviour and anti-democratic value system.
“A vibrant anti-graft agency devoid of political interest, and dependence on any powerful political class”, Professor Orluweni continued, “should be instituted in the general fight against corruption.
“Such institutions should not only be constitutionally empowered to be independent, they should also be autonomously funded with appropriate legislation.
“The rule of law and constitutionalism should be strengthened to serve as deterrence against corruption”.
The Director concluded by advising politicians to avoid the temptation to play God in politics and to be God-fearing and loving, saying “this will enable them eschew the Nigerian politician’s characteristics of shamelessness, deceitfulness and selfishness”.
These, he said, would improve democracy, strengthen institutions and good governance.
In his remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, commended the 53rd inaugural Lecturer for a job well done and welcomed him to the medal class.
He called for caution and moderation in the manipulation of societal resources and described unemployment and poverty as a bane of corruption, which has retarded economic growth and development in the country.
While lauding the Lecturer for doing justice to the topic of discourse, he urged those who amass wealth to reinvest the resources through building of factories, enhancement of massive industrialisation programme, and provision of other facilities where they can at least create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the country.
In a vote of thanks, Professor Godwin Chukwuemeka Nwaeke expressed gratitude to all who came to identify with the university and the inaugural lecture and expressed the hope that they would take the lessons learnt to better their lot and that of the country.
Continue Reading
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the people of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State have called for government’s urgent intervention to end the suspected underwater gas eruption in the community.
The groups, under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Action and Social Action, made the call during their advocacy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Port Harcourt.
The Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, said the visit was to seek clarity on the response efforts of the regulators to the development in the community.
Ebiaridor expressed concern over what he described as “inadequate response from regulatory agencies and the government concerning the incident”.
He said discussions with some officials revealed that there was still no clear timeline for action to address the situation.
According to him, in the absence of clear ownership of the facility linked to the incident, companies operating within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 should be held accountable.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had in a statement issued on March 20 by its Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the commission had commenced an investigation into a gas bubbling incident in Bille Community.
Eyesan said the commission expressed concern over the development and assured residents of its ongoing efforts to address the situation.
Also, the Resource Justice Manager of Social Action, Dr. Prince Edegbuo, warned that the situation could escalate into a public health emergency, if urgent steps were not taken.
Edegbuo called on relevant authorities to release the results of the tests reportedly conducted in the area, stressing that residents had the right to know the condition of their environment.
He also said CSOs were prepared to intensify advocacy on the matter, urging the development of emergency response measures, including possible evacuation plans.
A legal practitioner and community stakeholder, Mr. Commission Deinbo, had, on March 20, said residents had continued to witness unusual signs on the waterways in the area.
Deinbo said the signs included boiling and bubbling from the ground and river, sometimes within residential areas, as well as fire outbreaks, which the residents had always managed to contain.
He appealed to relevant authorities to come to their aid and find a lasting solution to the problem.
In a response, the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, Mr. Bello Augustin, assured the community that he would relate its concerns to the appropriate quarters.
Augustin also commended the CSOs for their advocacy and concerns to community development in the state.
By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick
The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, has called for renewed commitment, transparency, and stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the health sector, particularly between the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) and the Primary Health Care Management Board.
She made the call today, during the First Quarter Review Meeting of the Task Force on Primary Health Care, held at Government House, Port Harcourt.
She emphasized the importance of honesty in addressing challenges within the healthcare system, urging all parties to remain open and truthful in their engagements.
According to her, transparency is critical to identifying and resolving underlying issues affecting service delivery.
“If we are not truthful, we will not cure the disease, but merely cover it up,” she stated.
The Deputy Governor recounted a personal experience at a primary health centre, where a patient, despite being duly registered under the RIVCHPP scheme with completed biometric capture, was still asked to pay for services.
She explained that intervention by relevant authorities later confirmed the patient’s eligibility, thereby exposing a communication gap between the scheme and healthcare providers.
Prof. Odu warned that such incidents could discourage community members from enrolling in the scheme and ultimately undermine its objectives.
“When this happens, we are disenfranchising our people. The message that goes back to the community is that even when you register, you are still made to pay,” she stated.
While commending the leadership and staff of the Primary Health Care Management Board, the Ministry of Health, development partners, and other supporting units for their efforts, Prof. Odu cautioned against complacency.
She urged stakeholders to continuously strive for improvement, raise standards, and ensure lasting positive impact within the healthcare system.
As part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s economy, about 600 experts are billed to converge in Port Harcourt in a business conference to uplift middle-class businesses in the Niger Delta region.
The convener of the convergence, Lanre Oluseye, who disclosed this during a press briefing in Port Harcourt, said the conference, scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt for the first time, would equip middle-class businesses with the knowledge required to overcome challenges and scale up their businesses.
He explained that the convergence was conceived in response to challenges stalling business growth, particularly at the mid-level.
Oluseye noted that while Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) benefited from various interventions, middle-class businesses were often neglected despite facing significant constraints.
He added that the conference would bring together accomplished professionals and business leaders to mentor mid-level entrepreneurs on how to overcome barriers and attain greater heights.
“Convergence is a conference where thoughts, ideas and strategies come together to create a catalyst that enables business people to move to the next level.
“It is a platform that accelerates growth by bringing great minds together to chart a course for others to follow.
“Our objective is to move the Port Harcourt-based middle-class businesses to cross the barriers that are holding them down”, he said.
Oluseye continued that the conference, slated for April 18, would attract about 600 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and middle-level managers to address business challenges in the Niger Delta through innovative ideas and strategies.
He emphasised that the event would not be a mere social gathering, but a knowledge-driven platform designed to transform participants and provide networking opportunities to enhance their businesses.
He assured that participants would gain new insights, build valuable networks and engage with like-minded professionals.
Oluseye further said that top industry leaders expected at the conference included the Managing Director/CEO of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Leye Falade; former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; and the MD/CEO of Aradel Holdings Plc., Gbite Falade.
Others are Tope Aladenusi of Deloitte Africa; the Partner, Chief Economist and Lead, Strategy and West Africa, Segun Zaccheaus; and a global thinker and futurist, Olakunle Soriyan.
Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso
