They should be told that the
electorate are aware that the subsidy
is an evidence inefficiency, poor
perception and a fallout of the
Federal Government’s inability to
harness the black gold under
Nigeria’s soil for the optimal benefit
of the people.
This is the 13th year of the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) in power at
federal level, it is bereft of ideas to
make the nation’s four refineries
produce at full capacity not to talk of
building a new one.
Is it not a shame that Africa’s largest
oil producer is importing bleached
products to augment the shortfall of
home production for local
consumption. The governors want
to take back from workers the
increase in salary in form of hike in
fuel prices. They have forgotten that
those in the private sector and the
self-employed may have to wait for
sometime before the spiraling whirl
on the new minimum salary pool
reaches them.
As transport is central to the
economic activities of the nation,
any hike in the price of petroleum
products will undoubtedly kick-start
a fresh rise in inflation that may toe
the path of hyper-inflation that
would send the economy into tail
spin.
In a word, the Federal
Government’s incessant claim of
paying huge amount of subsidy on
bleached products consumed in the
country is a ruse and blackmail
against the people. If those in power
are proactive and proved
resourceful, Nigeria supposed to be
exporting bleached products and
not crude oil as it is the practice
now. Malaysia and Indonesia are
endowed with oil as Nigeria but their
people pay far less for fuel than
Nigerians.
From whichever perspective one
may look at it, the present system
of national cake sharing is not, to all
intent and purposes, fair. It is
lopsided. The executives at the
various tiers of government and the
legislators are taking the lion share,
leaving little or crumbs for capital
development and workers. Their
productivity is not commensurate
with what they take from the
nation’s pool.
The Central Bank Governor, Lamido
Sanusi’s declaration last year that
members of the National Assembly
– the Senate and House of
Representatives consumed more
than 50 per cent of the concurrent
expenditure of the federal annual
budget was an exposee. The
lawmakers’ only defence of
devouring the nation’s collective
wealth is that the ministers, aides
and advisers to the president are
also taking mind-boggling salaries
and allowances. In a word,
government in Nigeria is for profit.
Any other claim is nothing but
deceit.
In Britain, there are many
government workers earning more
than the prime minister not to talk of
other ministers tagged secretaries
and advisers.
Is it not regrettable that Nigeria is
rich but her people are poor.
Insensitive government you say.
•Concluded
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
The question of quality education in NigeriaThe question of quality education in Nigeria
Nigeria’s educational failure will
continue to subsist unless the
following variable, indices or factors
are challenged by a revolution and
revolution only.
Firstly, the appointment and
promotion of teachers from the
primarily schools through the
secondary schools to the
universities has been drastically
compromised since 1980s. Stake –
holders of education in Nigeria know
very well that people from no
where are lifted out of social or
pecuniary interest and appointed
lecturers whose primary
contribution is to became
professors and head of institutions
the way they were appointed.
Secondly the idea of institutional and
university autonomy is like a blanket
power vested on the heads of
institution to appoint lectures and
professors without merit, which at
any rate justified by the currency of
bourgeois autonomy constructed
where professorship is lacking in
international content in most
universities in Nigeria.
Thirdly that some universities reject
some professors for appointment
for sabbatical or substantive
positions only portrays quality of
Nigeria professors and teachers as
well as that teaching and learning is
questionable in some universities
Fourthly increasing population and
expansion of number of universe
are not being managed to
correspond in geometrical
proportion to the quality of
education instead it has brought a
rapidly alarming rate of educational
corruption; as this phenomenon has
released unmerited unwanted
lecturers and teachers who cannot
afford to sit down for at least one
hour to ponder, cogitate on
“problem predicate” yet our system
appoints and promote lecturers and
professors indiscriminately every
year.
Fifthly, sorting-out, bribery and
favoritism in higher institutions of
learning are a society induced , a
symptom of primitive and barbaric
capitalism.
A streaming population of
unrestrained youths fall into the lap
of ethnic , sectional and sectarian
generated corrupt lecturers in order
to grease the elbow of get certificate
quick syndrome.
The problem of Nigeria education
has passed the level of describing it
as facing challenges but is in a state
of near irreversible chaos which
however can be paradoxically and
mutably re-written in new
education history and constitution
for our country. When a piece of
history gets to its dead end only a
revolution can re-define it.
The jump to education organized
for industrial age without first of all
meeting the demands of education
based on knowledge economy is
fallacy: a blind action without
premise that has set African
educational system, especially
Nigeria on the perpetual teeth of
failure and somersaulting and fifthly
good governance is the bottom line
answer to educational failure in
Nigeria without which democracy
will not be sustained and corruption
triumphs. In a corrupt country even
private initiative in education will be
corrupt
There is a adage that says that
anything worth doing at all is worth
doing well. Democracy and good
governance must go along with
social responsibility and non-
governmental initiative and
participation in education. If the
government continues with its
lackadaisical attitude to education,
the wind of change that started
favouring private primary and
secondary schools in the 1970’s will
begin now to favor private
universities disbanding our primary
and secondary schools as well as
our polytechnic and universities as
republics of the poor and the never
–do- wells.
continue to subsist unless the
following variable, indices or factors
are challenged by a revolution and
revolution only.
Firstly, the appointment and
promotion of teachers from the
primarily schools through the
secondary schools to the
universities has been drastically
compromised since 1980s. Stake –
holders of education in Nigeria know
very well that people from no
where are lifted out of social or
pecuniary interest and appointed
lecturers whose primary
contribution is to became
professors and head of institutions
the way they were appointed.
Secondly the idea of institutional and
university autonomy is like a blanket
power vested on the heads of
institution to appoint lectures and
professors without merit, which at
any rate justified by the currency of
bourgeois autonomy constructed
where professorship is lacking in
international content in most
universities in Nigeria.
Thirdly that some universities reject
some professors for appointment
for sabbatical or substantive
positions only portrays quality of
Nigeria professors and teachers as
well as that teaching and learning is
questionable in some universities
Fourthly increasing population and
expansion of number of universe
are not being managed to
correspond in geometrical
proportion to the quality of
education instead it has brought a
rapidly alarming rate of educational
corruption; as this phenomenon has
released unmerited unwanted
lecturers and teachers who cannot
afford to sit down for at least one
hour to ponder, cogitate on
“problem predicate” yet our system
appoints and promote lecturers and
professors indiscriminately every
year.
Fifthly, sorting-out, bribery and
favoritism in higher institutions of
learning are a society induced , a
symptom of primitive and barbaric
capitalism.
A streaming population of
unrestrained youths fall into the lap
of ethnic , sectional and sectarian
generated corrupt lecturers in order
to grease the elbow of get certificate
quick syndrome.
The problem of Nigeria education
has passed the level of describing it
as facing challenges but is in a state
of near irreversible chaos which
however can be paradoxically and
mutably re-written in new
education history and constitution
for our country. When a piece of
history gets to its dead end only a
revolution can re-define it.
The jump to education organized
for industrial age without first of all
meeting the demands of education
based on knowledge economy is
fallacy: a blind action without
premise that has set African
educational system, especially
Nigeria on the perpetual teeth of
failure and somersaulting and fifthly
good governance is the bottom line
answer to educational failure in
Nigeria without which democracy
will not be sustained and corruption
triumphs. In a corrupt country even
private initiative in education will be
corrupt
There is a adage that says that
anything worth doing at all is worth
doing well. Democracy and good
governance must go along with
social responsibility and non-
governmental initiative and
participation in education. If the
government continues with its
lackadaisical attitude to education,
the wind of change that started
favouring private primary and
secondary schools in the 1970’s will
begin now to favor private
universities disbanding our primary
and secondary schools as well as
our polytechnic and universities as
republics of the poor and the never
–do- wells.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Ministerial nomination: : Will 35% affirmative for women work?
As President Jonathan is about to
submit list of ministerial appointees
to the National Assembly for
screening and confirmation,
Nigerian women from different
pressure groups and Non-
Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
are working round the clock to
ensure that they are not left out in
the scheme of things. RAZAQ
BAMIDELE reports:
In different fora, these women, who
have formed formidable
associations will complain to
whoever cares to listen that Nigerian
women are not being given their
dues in the political affairs in the
country. Some of the advocacy
groups formed and headed by high
fly professionals are Yoruba
Women Initiatives under the
leadership of a veteran journalist,
Dr. Doyinsola Abiola, Business and
Professional Women of Mr. Angela
Ajala and International Federation of
Women Lawyers of a lawyer, Dr.
Keziah Awosika.
Others include Nigeria Association of
Women Journalists(NAWOJ),
Women Arise of Dr. Joe Okei
Odumakin, Female Leadership
Forum of Mrs. Comfort Ogunye,
BAOBAB Women Human Rights as
well as Project Alert of Mrs.
Josephine Effah Chukwuma. In an
interview at one of her group’s
events, the founder and President of
Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei
Odumakin told Daily Sun that the
motive behind the establishment of
the forum is to advocate for the
rights of women within the society.
According to her, some women
don’t even know their rights,
explaining that her group is all out to
sensitise them to know their rights
on one hand and to know how to
claim it on the other hand. Dr.
Odumakin, who doubles as the
President of Campaign for
Democracy (CD) further stated that
the Women Arise is always in
collaboration with other like minds
in other women based associations
to advocate and fight for women
rights by organising series of events
like workshop, seminars, symposia,
lectures, protests and retreats.
When recently a One-Day Yoruba
Interactive Forum was organised in
Lagos by Lagos State Gubernatorial
Advisory Committee under the
leadership of a University don,
Professor Adebayo Williams,
former Managing Director of the
Concord Newspapers, Dr. Doyinsola
Abiola was there to make a case for
women recognition.
Dr. Abiola, who is the leader of the
Yoruba Women Initiatives
expressed delight over the
recognition given to the women by
the Forum, adding however that
“the recognition must be in
concrete, practical terms and not
only a lip service because of the
undeniable ability of the Nigerian
women in the scheme of things.”
The erudite scholar and wife of the
winner of June 12 presidential
election unjustly annulled by former
President Ibrahim Babangida made
it abundantly clear that credible,
competent and qualified women
abound for whatever category of
offices that may be allotted to them.
On Tuesday, the women, at a
forum in Lagos still continued the
agitation for their rights, this time
with particular reference to the
affirmative action about reservation
of 35% of political and appointive
positions for the women.
A socio-political pressure group,
More Women Movement (MWM), at
the forum urged President Goodluck
Jonathan not to forget his
electioneering promise about 35%
appointive position for women
nationwide.
The Movement’s Convener and
Secretary, Dr. Keziah Awosika and
Comfort Ogunye respectively urged
the President to “implement
affirmative action by reserving 35%
of all elective and appointive position
for women in his appointment and
in the forthcoming Local
Government elections.”
This, according to the women, was
in line with National Gender Policy
(NGP), which provides for 35%
representation for women in
governance, pleading with the
President “to implement the policy
without articulating any mechanism
by which this can be achieved.” The
Movement also demanded for
“establishment of a mechanism by
which Curricula Vitae of credible
women will be collected, screened
and appropriately fitted for the
appointive positions,” requesting
that “priority be given to women
that lost during the parties’ primaries
and the general elections.”
While appealing to Mr. President to
make sure that the appointment
transcend party affiliations, they
assured him that they were ready
“to make available to the relevant
authorities, Curricula Vitae of
credible women from our data
bank.” The women group lamented
the unprecedented reverses in their
electoral fortunes in the recent
general elections against the
previous ones stating that “we will
in due course investigate and find
out the root causes of the reverses
and then re-strategise and come up
with a workable blue print starting
from the forthcoming Local
Government elections.”
A retired Custom Officer, Mrs.
Mojisola Maciver, who aspired to the
House of Representatives on the
platform of the Action Congress of
Nigeria (ACN) in the last election told
Daily Sun that Nigeria could not be
in short supply of competent
women to occupy high political
offices.
She reminded that “the feats the
likes of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr.
Oby Ezekwesili and Professor Dora
Akuyili performed in office as
Ministers can not be wished away,”
therefore imploring the President to
give the women special
consideration in the day to day
running of the country’s affairs.
submit list of ministerial appointees
to the National Assembly for
screening and confirmation,
Nigerian women from different
pressure groups and Non-
Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
are working round the clock to
ensure that they are not left out in
the scheme of things. RAZAQ
BAMIDELE reports:
In different fora, these women, who
have formed formidable
associations will complain to
whoever cares to listen that Nigerian
women are not being given their
dues in the political affairs in the
country. Some of the advocacy
groups formed and headed by high
fly professionals are Yoruba
Women Initiatives under the
leadership of a veteran journalist,
Dr. Doyinsola Abiola, Business and
Professional Women of Mr. Angela
Ajala and International Federation of
Women Lawyers of a lawyer, Dr.
Keziah Awosika.
Others include Nigeria Association of
Women Journalists(NAWOJ),
Women Arise of Dr. Joe Okei
Odumakin, Female Leadership
Forum of Mrs. Comfort Ogunye,
BAOBAB Women Human Rights as
well as Project Alert of Mrs.
Josephine Effah Chukwuma. In an
interview at one of her group’s
events, the founder and President of
Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei
Odumakin told Daily Sun that the
motive behind the establishment of
the forum is to advocate for the
rights of women within the society.
According to her, some women
don’t even know their rights,
explaining that her group is all out to
sensitise them to know their rights
on one hand and to know how to
claim it on the other hand. Dr.
Odumakin, who doubles as the
President of Campaign for
Democracy (CD) further stated that
the Women Arise is always in
collaboration with other like minds
in other women based associations
to advocate and fight for women
rights by organising series of events
like workshop, seminars, symposia,
lectures, protests and retreats.
When recently a One-Day Yoruba
Interactive Forum was organised in
Lagos by Lagos State Gubernatorial
Advisory Committee under the
leadership of a University don,
Professor Adebayo Williams,
former Managing Director of the
Concord Newspapers, Dr. Doyinsola
Abiola was there to make a case for
women recognition.
Dr. Abiola, who is the leader of the
Yoruba Women Initiatives
expressed delight over the
recognition given to the women by
the Forum, adding however that
“the recognition must be in
concrete, practical terms and not
only a lip service because of the
undeniable ability of the Nigerian
women in the scheme of things.”
The erudite scholar and wife of the
winner of June 12 presidential
election unjustly annulled by former
President Ibrahim Babangida made
it abundantly clear that credible,
competent and qualified women
abound for whatever category of
offices that may be allotted to them.
On Tuesday, the women, at a
forum in Lagos still continued the
agitation for their rights, this time
with particular reference to the
affirmative action about reservation
of 35% of political and appointive
positions for the women.
A socio-political pressure group,
More Women Movement (MWM), at
the forum urged President Goodluck
Jonathan not to forget his
electioneering promise about 35%
appointive position for women
nationwide.
The Movement’s Convener and
Secretary, Dr. Keziah Awosika and
Comfort Ogunye respectively urged
the President to “implement
affirmative action by reserving 35%
of all elective and appointive position
for women in his appointment and
in the forthcoming Local
Government elections.”
This, according to the women, was
in line with National Gender Policy
(NGP), which provides for 35%
representation for women in
governance, pleading with the
President “to implement the policy
without articulating any mechanism
by which this can be achieved.” The
Movement also demanded for
“establishment of a mechanism by
which Curricula Vitae of credible
women will be collected, screened
and appropriately fitted for the
appointive positions,” requesting
that “priority be given to women
that lost during the parties’ primaries
and the general elections.”
While appealing to Mr. President to
make sure that the appointment
transcend party affiliations, they
assured him that they were ready
“to make available to the relevant
authorities, Curricula Vitae of
credible women from our data
bank.” The women group lamented
the unprecedented reverses in their
electoral fortunes in the recent
general elections against the
previous ones stating that “we will
in due course investigate and find
out the root causes of the reverses
and then re-strategise and come up
with a workable blue print starting
from the forthcoming Local
Government elections.”
A retired Custom Officer, Mrs.
Mojisola Maciver, who aspired to the
House of Representatives on the
platform of the Action Congress of
Nigeria (ACN) in the last election told
Daily Sun that Nigeria could not be
in short supply of competent
women to occupy high political
offices.
She reminded that “the feats the
likes of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr.
Oby Ezekwesili and Professor Dora
Akuyili performed in office as
Ministers can not be wished away,”
therefore imploring the President to
give the women special
consideration in the day to day
running of the country’s affairs.
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