As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate the World Day of Social Justice 2024, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has called on all tiers of government in Nigeria to take concrete and targeted steps to mainstream social justice into all processes, mechanisms and instruments of governance.
The theme of the 2024 World Day of Social Justice – “”Bridging Gaps, Building Alliances.” – indicates that there is no better time than now for the government to bridge the gap of increasing poverty, hunger and degraded living conditions occasioned by the rising cost of living.
CSJ in a statement Tuesday said, “This is also the time to bridge the inequality gap against the background of the ostentatious and opulent lifestyles of top level public servants and elected officials. While the average Nigerian has been subjected to misery, the ruling class revel in a competition to mismanage and abuse public resources.
“With increased resources available to the three tiers of government arising from the removal of fuel subsidy and floatation of the Naira, there was a public expectation under the Renewed Hope Agenda that these new resources would be invested for the public good in education, health, housing, roads and other infrastructure.
“Rather than investing the resources to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor and build a national alliance and consensus for development, the leaders have cornered all the resources for their personal gain as there is nothing to show for the increased resources available to the government. Promises of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu era had remained pipe dreams and none has been fulfilled.”
According to the statement, the Abacha presidency era had the Petroleum Trust Fund while the Goodluck Jonathan era had SURE-P for the investment of fuel subsidy removal gains. The Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency has NOTHING to show. Rather, we have witnessed a bloating of the cost of governance and frivolous expenditure.
“The three arms of government have not demonstrated any sense of patriotism to bridge the gap of injustice, inequality and poverty in Nigeria. On the part of the Judiciary, we have witnessed the brazen attempt of senior judges to install/appoint their relations by all means as judges of the various courts. The executive and legislature have refused to cut down the cost of governance and re-channel the bulk of the public resources to cushion the effects of poverty. It is alarming, that in the face of the current hardship plaguing the nation, the President still maintains a bloated retinue of staff with increased personnel cost, while the legislators went on a spending spree in the procurement of SUVs worth 160million each for its members. The legislature also scandalously increased its budget. The government refuses to pay the promised wage award of N35,000 to civil servants whereas the minimum wage still remains a paltry N30,000.
“We call on the government to use this occasion to reflect on implementing life-saving measures that would bridge the gap of inequality experienced by 133million multi dimensionally poor Nigerians. It is not too late for the Federal Government to review and course correct on its stringent policies such as the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira which has resulted in run-away inflation and high cost of living.
Against the background of the foregoing, CSJ proffers the following recommendations:
§ Bridge the gap of poverty by drastically reducing the cost of governance and redirect more public resources to meet the needs and welfare of the poor.
§ The President should review the economic team and build alliances with competent citizens in all political affiliations who have proven capacity to proffer solutions that will reposition the economy.
§ Social welfare programs should be created to benefit poor and vulnerable Nigerians who are currently grappling with the economic hardship plaguing the nation.
§ Principal officers of the three arms of government should be rededicated to service delivery and effective implementation of mandates as well the tenets of social justice – the national interest above the self-interest.”
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Elumelu to give keynote address at 2024 ECOWAS Mining Forum
By Segun Odunewu, Lagos
Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Tony Elumelu is expected to deliver the keynote address at the 4th edition of the ECOWAS Mining and Petroleum Forum (ECOMOF 2024) scheduled to take place at the Palais des Congrès in Cotonou, Benin from February 22 to February 24, 2024.
Elumelu who doubles as Chairman of Transcorp Group with extensive interests in energy and power will be speaking on the theme: “Geo-extractive Resources and Technologies: What Pooling Strategies for Value Creation in West Africa”.
His speech is expected to highlight UBA’s increasing effort to support and develop the African continent through strategic investments in the key sectors of mining and petroleum.
The forum which is being sponsored by the UBA group is expected to attract over 2,000 participants from diverse sectors, including representatives from the mining and oil industries, government officials, international and national investors, industry experts, ECOWAS delegates, and international organisations, ECOMOF 2024 promises to be a significant platform for collaborative dialogue and partnership building.
The regional event is expected to see a large gathering of key players and stakeholders in the mining and petroleum sectors of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
As the financial institution of choice, with a presence in 20 African countries and active involvement in major continental development projects, UBA is the preferred partner for the event, underlining the bank’s commitment not only to the growth of the mining and petroleum industry in the sub-region but to the whole African economic development.
Under the esteemed leadership of the President of the Republic of Benin, His Excellency, Patrice Talon, and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and current President of ECOWAS, His Excellency Mr. Bola Tinubu, UBA Group will at the forum aim to restate its commitment towards supporting economic and social development across the continent.
The focus of ECOMOF 2024 underscores the significance of transforming the mining and oil sectors into economic pillars by formulating attractive policies for investors, essential for the sectors’ substantial contribution to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of ECOWAS member states.
The Transnational Corporation Group (Transcorp Plc) – a diversified conglomerate with strategic investments in various sectors, including power and energy—will also actively participate in the forum.
Key officials from UBA Group and Transcorp Plc, including the Chief Executive Officer UBA Africa, Abiola Bawuah; UBA’s Group Head, Corporate and Energy Bank, Ebele Ogbue, and President/ Chief Executive Officer, Transcorp Group, Owen Omogiafo will be actively involved in discussions and panels on the sidelines of the event.
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2024 SCP: North Central states to experience delay onset of rain this year – NiMet
By Adeola Akinbobola, Abuja
The Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has revealed that the 2024 onset of rains is predicted to be delayed in some parts of the country, especially the North Central states of the country.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo while who revealed this at the public presentation of the 2024 SCP organised by NiMet on Tuesday in Abuja further said a normal onset is likely to occur over the northern states.
The conference was themed : ” Facilitating a weather resilient economy through early warnings for all to foster renewed hope and sustainable development”.
He said Borno, Abia, and Akwa Ibom states are predicted to have an early onset when compared to their long-term averages.
According to him, an early end of the season is predicted for parts of Yobe, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ogun, and Lagos states.
He further said a late cessation is predicted over the southern states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ondo,
Ekiti, and parts of Edo, Delta, Ogun, Oyo, Kogi, Kwara, FCT, Niger, and Kaduna states.
Keyamo said a annual rainfall amount is predicted to be below normal over parts of i Yobe, Jigawa, Bauchi, Kano, Kebbi, Gombe, Plateau, Taraba, Nasarawa, Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Delta and Bayelsa states when compared to their long term normal.
“However, other parts of the country are likely to observe normal to above-normal annual rainfall amounts.
“Most parts of the country are expected to experience a shorter length of season, however, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa-Ibom are likely to experience a longer length of season when compared with their mean. Normal to shorter length of season will likely occur in other parts of the country.
According to the minister, the Annual Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) document is one of the flagship products of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, providing critical information to help guide decision-making across all sectors of our economy.
He said the weather and climate have profound effects on aviation, agriculture, maritime and blue economy, water resources, natural resources, energy, disaster risk management, infrastructure investments, among others.
“Reliable meteorological information is therefore essential for supporting food security, reducing risks, improving livelihoods, and building resilience against the vagaries of weather,” he said.
Also, the Chairman of Committee on Aviation Technology, Hon Abiodun Akinlade said the importance of NiMet can not be overemphasized and they will work with them to give them all the necessary supports needed .
He lauded NiMet for the successful 2024 SCP stating that the event was apt and very useful in all sectors across the country.
Also, the Director General/CEO NiMet and Permanent Representative of Nigeria with World Meteorological Organization (NiMEt), Prof Charlse Anosike urged everyone to take all these predictions, disseminate them and make timely and positive use of them in our various sectors.
He said this is our commitment to ‘Facilitating a weather-resilient economy through early warnings for all to foster renewed hope and sustainable development’ and this should be at the forefront of our planning and economic agenda.
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Umahi to Nigerians: Tinubu is working to address economic challenges
By Tope Sunday
Abuja
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, Tuesday, assured Nigerians that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu feels their pains, adding that he is working day and night to address the current economic challenges facing the nation.
Umahi, who stated this at an award ceremony organised for him by the staff of the ministry in Abuja, also cautioned Nigerians against blaming the president over the current economic hardship facing the country.
“We need to stop blaming the president or past presidents because the problem of this country is the problem of all of us. We all must show patriotism and commitment towards contributing our quota in our efforts to address problems facing us,” he said
Umahi lauded Tinubu for the opportunity given him to serve as minister, noting that he had demonstrated uncommon belief in him and the ministry’s capacity leading to the huge resources committed towards transforming the road sector in the country.
“Our agenda for the road sector infrastructure development is to give to Nigerians good and quality road network which will ultimately facilitate robust economic development all across the country’’, the minister said.´
While praising Tinubu for the deployment of the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Yakubu Kofarmata to the ministry, he remarked that the permanent secretary has a unique leadership style.
Umahi, however, charged the staff to be part of the efforts to realise the mandate of the ministry under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration and announced the creation of a Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Committee which would periodically monitor contractors’ performance.
He also urged them to shun bribery from contractors, observing that “they want to bribe us with peanuts and thereafter cat away multi-billion from the country”
On the welfare of staff, the minister promised to upscale interventions in matters affecting general welfare, training, re-training as well as provision of staff buses; promising that the construction of a flyover in Mabushi would commence this month of March.
He also directed the establishment of a seed fund by management to be used to address the financial challenges being faced by staff; to take off by March.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Kofarmata thanked Tinubu for the appointment of Umahi as the minister for Works, noting that it is a square peg in a square hole.
