CORRUPTION AND THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC FINANCES IN NIGERIA

The bane of the management of public finances in Nigeria is not corruption. Corruption is a human problem and is not peculiar to Nigeria. The heart of man is desperately wicked. Because of man's fallen state and greed, most would steal, kill and destroy IF they believe they can get away with it. Our real problem in Nigeria is the absence of the rule of law. It is almost certain that there will be no consequences for stealing public funds.

Those corrupt public officers whose postings/assignments do not give them access to public funds have devised ways to still get at our patrimony in collusion with their peers who do to use shell companies and fronts in cornering public procurement contracts. It is now rare to find a public officer in all tiers of government (Federal, State and Local Government) and in all arms of government (Executive, Legislature and Judiciary) who is not a contractor.

Another dimension is our system of official mismanagement of public funds. The system encourages and promotes profligacy. This is why our recurrent expenditure is so high. Public sector salaries are low but the allowances and other pecks of office for those in the executive cadre (that is Assistant Directors and above) are obscenely generous. The system is wasteful; most executives in our ministries, departments and agencies have large retinue of personal servants: personal assistants, secretaries, messengers, cooks, drivers, gardeners, security details and sundry hangers-on who are all paid from the public purse. The esta code allowances for foreign trips are too high and foreign trips by our officials (for "training" and various trivial issues which could be handled by emails or phone calls) are too frequent.
The sheer quantity of "Notes Verbale" written daily by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting that various foreign embassies grant visas to our public servants (and their family members, friends and girl-friends/boy-friends) is scandalous!

We must also revisit the rationalisation of public sector agencies as recommended in the Steve Oronsaye Report and prune the work-force. The Federal, States and Local Governments have a bloated civil service. Apart from the perpetual problem of "Ghost Workers" despite the computerisation of the pay-roll system, too many civil servants are actually idle.

The fight against corruption must first be waged against the man/woman in the mirror. We will not have victory in the public space unless we win the battle at the personal level.

God bless Nigeria!

Nigeria di fure!!

THE AFRICAN CULTURE AND DEMOCRACY

The problem with Democracy in Africa is our CULTURE. The African Culture is largely Patriarchal and leadership is essentially Geroncratic. We defer to elders such that they are deemed virtually infallible and all-knowing. 

Traditionally, we rarely question our leaders even when their folly is evident. In Yoruba, we say to the King "Kabiyesi"; that is literarily "Unquestionable"! 

We almost deify our leaders. In the past, our Kings were actually regarded as gods and treated as such. Any wonder then why most Africans still see their political leaders as "gods" who are to be worshipped and served? We fear to hold them accountable. Even when they are corrupt and blatantly loot our treasuries, we are still grateful to them if they remember to tar a few roads and repaint some of our schools. We say they are "performing". Or we exalt them as "progressives"; especially if they are out of power and become "social critics". We defend them to no end and say they are being "persecuted" should they ever come under investigation not to talk of being put on trial for corruption. We love it so. 

So, we will have no revolution. There will be no "African Spring" ("African Harmattan"?). We are "resilient". We love our culture. We like the status quo. Anyway, it suffices for us that we can vent on Facebook and other social media. And our "leaders" know us only too well.

* Sigh *

Whither Africa, my Africa?

But, Nigeria di fure!

Africa di fure!!

DEATH BY INCOMPETENCE

The incompetence and ineptitude of the leadership of the Nigeria Immigration Service is mind-boggling! Where in the world do you invite hundreds of thousands of applicants to contest for 5,000 vacancies?! Why were applications not evaluated and a short-list of say 10,000 persons made? Why were the written tests not organised in several locations across the country with no more than 500 people per examination centre? Could an on-line test not have been done? 

And to compound matters, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Abba Moro, displayed gross insensitivity and nonchalance by attempting to rationalise the stampedes at the examination centres and even blaming the candidates for the tragedy!

There must be consequences for those whose inefficiency and incompetence led to the avoidable deaths. The President should mandate a thorough investigation and those found culpable should be sanctioned. 

Meanwhile, it is untenable for the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service to continue in office. They should resign immediately or be duly sacked. 

We are much better than this. 

God bless Nigeria.

Nigeria di fure!

P.S:

Friends, 

Please sign this petition: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the-president-of-the-federal-republic-of-nigeria-dr-goodluck-ebele-jonathan-relieve-the-minister-of-interior-comrade-abba-moro-and-the-controller-general-of-immigration-david-s-parradang-of-their-positions?share_id=GnRxuGhsvt&utm_campaign=share_button_action_box&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition

I HAVE!

LEGISLATIVE IMPERATIVES TO WIN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

Nigeria's anti-corruption laws are too weak and mild. Today, a pick-pocket who manages to steal a few Naira and gets caught would go to jail for a very long time if successfully prosecuted while someone who steals billions of Naira, even if convicted, may not stay in jail for more than six months. We need to amend our laws to give teeth to the agencies which are supposed to fight corruption. Our laws are not strict enough to ensure that sentences are stiff for fraudsters and looters even when conviction is eventually achieved.

We also need legislation on Assets Forfeiture which places the onus on an accused person to prove that he/she rightfully earned th...e income with which he/she acquired properties which appear to be beyond his/her legitimate resources. If a public official cannot account for how he/she earned enough money to own companies, shares in quoted companies, a hill-top mansion, fleet of cars etc., such properties should be forfeited to the Federal Government by a Court Order at the instance of ANY NIGERIAN INDIVIDUAL OR AGENCY. When an Asset Forfeiture case is initiated and successfully prosecuted at the instance of an individual, such a person should be placed in a Whistle-Blower Protection Programme by the Federal Government to ensure that he/she and his/her family are not exposed to any negative repercussion whether physically, economically or psychologically.

Consequently, a Whistle-Blower Protection Act which protects the identity, safety, security and economic well-being of bona fide whistle-blowers in both the private and public sectors should be enacted. Such a law should also have provision for punishment for false or malicious whistle-blowing to deter abuse by persons who may have scores to settle with those whom they wrongfully accuse of corruption.

God bless Nigeria!

Nigeria di fure!!

ON NIGERIA'S CENTENARY CELEBRATION

That Nigeria has survived 100 years as one country is worth celebrating. We have been confronted with several very challenging issues that could have broken up the country long ago. Below is a partial list of some of the more serious issues we succesfully overcame.

* The Crisis in the Western Region;
* The 1966 Coup;
* The Counter-Coup;
* The Pogrom against t...he Igbos in the Northern Region;
* The Secession of the Eastern Region;
* The Civil War;
* The Assassination of Gen. Murtala Mohammed;
* The Buhari Coup;
* The Babangida Coup;
* The Annulment of the June 12 Election;
* The Interim National Government Contraption;
* The Abacha Coup;
* The Judicial Murder of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his fellow Ogoni Activists;
* The Death of Abacha;
* The Death of Chief M. K. O. Abiola;
* The Niger Delta Militancy;
* The Introduction of Shariah Law in criminal matters in some northern states;
* The Third Term Agenda of former President Olusgeun Obasanjo;
* The Death of former President Umaru Yar'adua;
* The Post-2011 General Election Killings in some northern states; and
* Boko Haram Islamist Terrorism.

Some countries were broken up for much lesser issues.

We have much going for us as a country. We are now Africa's Number One Destination for Foreign Direct Investment. We received US$7Billion in 2013 alone. With the imminent redenomination of our GDP computation base, Nigeria will soon be Africa's largest economy (bigger than South Africa and Egypt).

We have many problems, but we are definitely better off than many Nigerians like to acknowledge. The informed business globalists know they can no longer ignore Nigeria.

No doubt, the LORD has been on our side. It is time we choose as a people to cast off mere religiosity and truly be on GOD'S SIDE AND LET RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALT OUR NATION.

I am confident that the matters that divide us can be resolved amicably during the upcoming National Conference and we can rebuild our nation so that peace, justice, equity, prosperity and truth truly reign.

God bless Nigeria!

Nigeria di fure!!

SACKING CORRUPTION AND KLEPTOCRATS IN NIGERIA

I criticised the President for choosing not to publish his Asset Declaration and for granting D. S. P. Alamieseigha a state pardon. I disagreed with his decision in those two instances. I was on Radio Continental's live programme, Kubanje Direct, sometime last year and spoke about these issues publicly. I also wrote about them on Facebook and here in my blog.

However, I recognise that the war against corruption in Nigeria cannot be fought by just the Presidency. Recently, the judiciary set free Nasir El Rufai and Dimeji Bankole who had been on trial for corruption despite the prima facie cases established by the EFCC against them. Our laws place a huge burden on prosecutors of corruption cases to produce evidence beyond doubt which give accused persons too much latitude to wriggle out especially if they have very good lawyers. Moreover, even in the rare cases where conviction is achieved, the sentence prescribed by the laws for corruption cases are too lenient. We still have corrupt judges who give questionable judgments. Imagine that Peter Odili has a Court-ordained perpetual licence to enjoy his loot without the possibility of ever being prosecuted!

So we need all arms of government (the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary) to step up their game if we are to win the war against corruption. Our laws need amendment and corrupt judges must be flushed out.

In addition, we must scrutinise the activities of State Governments and Local Governments as much as we do the Federal Government. We all know that some of the ex-Governors now parading around as "progressives" really belong in jail.

The erroneous belief in some quarters that the President is not fighting corruption or that he is tolerant of corruption is fed by the notion that allegations of corruption against certain public officers is tantamount to proof that they are indees corrupt. For example, some have called for the sack of Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke as the Minister of Petroleum yet cannot produce any evidence of wrong-doing. You cannot sack people or prosecute them based on mere suspicion or orchestrated claims in social media. We must respect due process and the rule of law. Media lynching is not justice. There was a case established against Ms. Stella Oduah and she has been duly relieved of her position. Now I expect the EFCC to do its work by thoroughly investigating her case and prosecuting her accordingly.

God bless Nigeria!

Nigeria di fure!!

THE MODALITIES FOR THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE

I am excited about the framework for the National Conference as announced by the Federal Government yesterday. The system of representation and the guidelines are reasonable, fair, equitable and achievable. The budget of N7Billion is prudent and a worthwhile investment in our posterity.

Kudos to GEJ!

Some have raised concerns about the only "no-go area": Nigeria's indivisibility and the nature of representation at the National Conference.

On the one "no-go" area, I think that is rational. Some people were afraid of the National Conference only because of the prospect of it being a step towards the disintegration of our beloved Nigeria.

I believe the things that bind us together as a nation are actually much more than the things that appear to divide us. There is no evidence to believe most Nigerians are no longer interested in remaining in one country. Even the MASSOB guys who want a Biafran state do not represent the mainstream Igbo view. Separatist groups in Nigeria are largely on the fringes and a minority.

If the issue of Nigeria's existence is on the agenda at the National Conference, it will undermine the Conference and distract it from addressing the more important issues which are the real causes of our distrust, suspicion and disunity. If issues like resource control, true federalism (or confederalism), fiscal federalism etc. are well addressed, the issue of Nigeria's continuity as one country would have been effectively resolved.

And, if indeed our separation into small countries is what most Nigerians actually want, I am in no doubt that it will still happen eventually whether or not it is discussed at the National Conference. But there is no credible evidence that most Nigerians really want the country broken up. It is frustration with the injustices and inequities manifest in our faulty foundation that make some suggest we part ways. When you have MASSOB-type militant separatist groups replicated in most ethnic groups across the country one will need no other evidence that most Nigerians want the country broken up. As at today, MASSOB is still the only visible and vocal group formally advocating for the formation of a separate country for their tribesmen. And MASSOB does not even command the support of most Igbos. I doubt if their members are up to 10,000 persons world-wide.

We are better off as one country. The National Conference will help us resolve the issues of injustice and inequity which have hampered our unity and progress since 1914.

On the issue of representation at the National Conference, a general election is not feasible at this time and in the run-up to the 2015 General Election. The logistics and huge cost of organising a natioal election, ensuring it is free and fair, and giving room for litigation where there are allegations of rigging make it unviable.

Each sub-group attending the National Conference (the two main religious bodies, ethnic socio-cultural groups, professional groups, civil society groups etc.) will choose their own representatives. Democratic representation does not only happen by a general election. Each group has its own mechanism of selecting representatives who would truly represent them.

The nomination of persons by the President and the State Governors to attend the Conference is also in order. I am certain that they would ensure that they bolster their credibility by nominating only persons widely regarded as "fit and proper persons". And as elected representatives of Nigerians, who says they are not in the position to choose nominees who would go and advocate the popular views of our peoples?

The National Conference is our chance to rebuild our nation's foundation. Let us make it work.

God bless Nigeria!

Nigeria di fure!!