Blog

The World Intellectual Property Organisation  has ranked Kenya second  in Sub-Sahara Africa, behind South Africa in its Global Innovation Ratings report.

The report also state that Kenya has overtaken  other countries in matching  their level of innovation to general economic development.

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKuat), Moi University, Kenyatta University, Strathmore University and University of Nairobi  are among other private and public research agencies  in the contributors list.

Both Jkuat and Moi University’s technology assembling plants are two major  innovation milestones achieved by the country. The plants have earned the two institutions multi billion-shilling international and local tenders.

These institutions are saddled with the responsibility of  assembling and configuring  of the digital devices currently being used in the 2019 national population census.

The institutions also pioneered the implementation of the Government’s digital literacy program and are key to the achievement of the Big Four Agenda.

The report ranks  Switzerland as the leading innovation hub in the world., while Sweden ranks above the US at second position.

South Africa, number one in Africa are ranked 63rd in the world while  Kenya is 77th and Mauritius 82nd globally. 

The National Assembly/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Lokoja on Friday ordered fresh elections in the  Kogi West Senatorial District.

Senator Dino Melaye is the Senator representing the District.

The three-man panel led by Justice Anthony Chijioke   upheld the arguments of counsel to Senator  Adeyemi  that irregularities, over voting and non-compliance with the electoral acts negatively affected the outcome of the election.

In his reaction, Senator Melaye urged his supporters to calm down, saying “No cause for alarm at all”.
 

Reports indicate that the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Abba Kyari, sought explanations from the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr, Babatunde Fowler, over the unimpressive tax revenue from 2015 to 2018.

However, Nigerians have continued to groan under the multiple taxation policy of the Federal Government, even as they insist that the activities of the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS) should be thoroughly scrutinized. 

In April nine senior officials of the FIRS, mostly from the finance and accounts department including its Director, were arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) for diverting N6 billion tax funds that were supposed to be remitted to the coffers of government.

In this interview, the Founder Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that the fact that government officials have their own receipts, negatively affects revenue generation. Exceprts :

The Federal Government has expressed worries over the dwindling revenue from taxes, what do you think is wrong ?

Nigeria became worse under the civilian regime, than under the military for two major reasons : under the civilian rule, privileges are always accompanied with abuse, coupled with daylight collaborations, even to cheat in government.

The issue of discipline has not been addressed in most civilian regimes. Discipline that ensures that the citizens do the right thing.

Perhaps,. because our institution of Democracy is always accompanied with no due process and various maneuvers to constitute the executive, legislature and even in the appointment of Judges at all levels.

This is why poverty indices and tax evasions accompanied with various corrupt practices are always on the increase.

With a direct consequence on government’s poor performance in the areas of the provision of basic amenities for the people, employment and functional infrastructure. The poor signal of virtual independence challenge of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and the Judiciary alos contribute a lot in the areas fo regulation and control.

Under the such a situation, the whole Nigeria and every sector of the economy wallow in them murky waters of endemic corruption that will never allow us to meet our budgetary targets.

Apart from the foregoing, salary structure of the civil servants, most especially at the state level, is appalling and to meager to sustain the average Nigeria worker. This is another source of challenge that would ever facilitate the thriving of corrupt practices.

Successive governments till date, have not been able to explain the reason why there is disparity in the wages of the state workers and that of their counterparts at the Federal level.

When issue of social justice is to be considered, bearing in mind, that we all visit the same market to buy and sell for survival.

Equally, government is yet to justify the jumbo pay of the political class, which is on the very high side, when compared to that of the civil servants.

Are these not established channels to to support corrupt practices in the land ?

It is on record that political office holders were once members of the civil societies, little wonder then, that they feel comfortable without any concern for the poor remuneration of the civil servants.

However, if these defects are not corrected in good time, the efforts of the anti-graft agencies will never meet the expectations of the government and people alike.

It is also on record, that in all tiers of government, Local, State and Federal, some officials, low or high, do have personal receipts which are always carbon copies of the ones government issues.

This is why we have been having cases of workers on Grades levels 04 to 06 in government service, having fleet of cars and several mighty structures, kept in secret with fictitious names.

The question now is, why is it that government operatives always fail to discover this kind of sharp practices, before the thieves complete their projects ?

Why is it also, that offenders judgments, are always delayed and in most cases, influenced by nepotism and ethnicity to bail them out ?

Lack of punitive measures for offenders is dangerous and would continue to make corrupt practices very attractive to those who believe in material things while shunning decency and exemplary lifestyles.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service needs to be properly scrutinized and the outcome made public.

The nine FIRS officials arrested not long ago, is an indictment of the service and an affront to the executive.

The government will therefor, do Nigerians a great favor through be thorough, firm and blunt to be able to use the case of this government agency as a reference point for the search light to penetrate through all government ministries, departments and agencies which equally have skeletons in their cupboards and unprintable rot in their environment.

Besides this, government itself, needs to be transparent and accountable for Nigerians to trust it because Nigerians expect period checks on the activities of the Ministers, aides of the President and state Governors as well as each of the policy makers.

If government wants a high revenue turn over, from taxes, diversification of the economy is sacrosanct to boost production most especially in agriculture, mining and other areas of infrastructural importance.

The Association of Water Well Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners(AWDROP) has called on the Oyo state Government to ensure the enforcement of the regulations guiding borehole drilling  in the state.

AWDROP made this call through its National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Richard Adeyinka in a caht with Poverty Line

''I think the area the  state government  has to look at, is the strict regulation of borehole drilling in the state. I also think that Governor Seyi Makinde has done well in appointing Mr. Kehinde Ayoola as Comissioner for Environment and Water Resources. There have been haphazard drilling by foreigners, who are not conversant with the terrain. AWDROP has been agitating for the enforcement of regulations in the state 36 states and Abuja.

''The standard Code of Practice-NCP 027/2010, should be strictly adhered to. The Commissioner should look inwards and ensure that indigenous companies benefit fron the dividends of democracy, as this shall create employment for those already out of business'', Mr. Adeyinka asserted.

Zambia President, Edgar Lungu has declared that his administration was ready to accommodate investors who will respect the country's national values and who will not abrogate the labor laws.

President Lungu made this decalration on Monday at the opening ceremony of the the Expo North West Zambia 2019 under the theme; “Unveiling the hidden treasures.”

The President stressed the need for investors not to be profit oriented only, but also be  engaged in Corporate Social Responsibilties saying  “I urge all investors to interact freely during this expo to secure good investment deals, and long lasting synergies, as you seek investment opportunities in this province, and Zambia as a whole. This event is an opportunity for the private sector to leverage natural resources that this province offers to set up industries here,” he urged.

“We in the PF government believe that the private sector is a catalyst to supporting our quest to improving the lives of our people through wealth and employment creation in line with the vision 2030. In this regard, the North West Expo provides vast opportunities for potential investors to sample the enormous prospectives that north western province has to offer in all sectors of our economy.”

“Ladies and gentlemen: It gives me great pleasure to note that our traditional leaders in this province, north western province are supportive of the investors here, and are willing to welcome more investors. I was trying to find out why traditional leaders in this province are highly supportive, and i was told, they are highly educated, and one is pursuing a degree to you our chiefs, keep it up, and continue being the model let me also assure you that my government in partnership with traditional leaders, and all stakeholders in the province will facilitate inflow of investment in various sectors spread across the province,” he said.

“This country and this province too, have continued to receive foreign direct investment, as well as domestic investment, as a result of the conducive business environment, where the private sector plays a key role in the economy. I am glad to note that expos that have so far been held in Luapula, northern, central and Copperbelt province are now yielding dividends. These provinces i have named have been receiving positive responses from investors within, and outside Zambia. For this reason my government has remained focused on providing suitable regulatory environment for the private sector to thrive.”

The debate among Nigerians in the present time is on the promise made by President Muhammadu Buhari to cater for the poor and downtrodden in the country, as he positions to make a difference in his second term.

The President’s promise is coming on the heels of his directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) to stop the issuance of foreign exchange to those who import foodstuff.

Nigerians, however, insist that since the country is yet to attain food sufficiency, while hunger and poverty still remain in millions of homes, the President’s directive is an indication that the present administration does not have workable plans to rescue majority of Nigerians from the vicious cycle of poverty.

In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke asserts that the importation of edibles and related products can only be regulated and controlled when when there is food sufficiency in the land. Excerpts :

What do you think is the best way to ensure food sufficiency in Nigeria ?

In the areas of the fundamental needs of man, that is food, shelter and clothing, Science and Technology have offered a great mass of opportunity for mass production of the raw materials, in terms of mechanized farming and processing units for varieties of products to cater for Nigeria’s food sufficiency.

Unfortunately for Nigeria, the endemic culture of corruption will fail again to succeed, with particular reference to the agro-allied and textile industries. This is why Nigeria depends solely on the importation of some raw materials as well as most finished products.

Nigerians are put in the dark by successive governments till date, on the purpose for the establishment of universities of agriculture, research institutes, Polytechnics as well as universities of Science and Technology.

The All Workers Convergence(AWC)has took a swipe at the Federal Government in Nigeria for allowing the release of the 2018 Directorate level Promotion examination results when the major issue of the new national minimum wage was yet to be resolved.

The AWC's position was made known by its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

 ''Government has released the July 2018  promotion examination results for senior civil servants and at the same time refused to implement the new national minimum wage. Therefore,government will end up cheating the Nigerian workers, if the new national minimum wage is not implemented as the promotion is also implemented''.

''More so, the results were greeted  with mixed feelings as most f the workers are not happy that they were not promoted  and so they have laid their complaints with their various unions in protest against the results that seem to favor a few to the detriment of most civil servants. The AWC is calling on the different industrial unions to intervene in the  recent promotion examination results just released by the Federal Civil Service Commission.''

''''It is also important to note that as far as the new national minimum wage is  concerned, Nigerians workers are no longer expectant, workers have surrendered their fate and they have lost hope for a just wage from this government vis-a-vis their thinking that governance has been abandoned for frivolities. Workers are only waiting for the worst to come, especially in the case of a labour movement  that has compromised'', Comrade Emelieze lamented.

 The 2018 Directorate level promotion exercise results indicated  that 2,932 senior civil servants were promoted.

Of this number, 327 were from  the office of the Head  Civil Service f the Federation, while 70 were promoted from  Senior Grade levels 16 to 17.

In all those promoted were from SGL 14 to 15, 15 to 16 and 16 to 17.