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The suspension of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, his questioning and probe of the activities of the commission from 2015 till date has cast dark clouds on the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria. However, a cross section of Nigerians are of the opinion that this has exposed the worrisome state of affairs among the leadership. Interestingly, the panel’s roles are not stated in the constitution, even as the insinuation is that it has been five years of chasing shadows. In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. SabitU Olagoke says that the country is soaked in corruption. Excerpts :

The presidential panel on corruption is now saddled with the responsibility of looking into the activities of the suspended Chairman of the EFCC and the commission from 2015 till date. What is your reaction ?

Consider the present state of institutional indiscipline and impunity on the issue of sins and crimes in all sectors and spheres of life.

The environment is fraught with rent-seeking, hypocrisy, nepotism, Nigeria loss of identity(lack of patriotism) and kleptocracy where corruption is deeply ingrained in in our collective psyche through institutional indiscipline, impunity, blackmail and intimidation. This land is soaked with corruption, transgression, sins and crimes. Hence, there is a dire need for an enabling act as an antidote. Section(i) of the EFCC Act(2004) limits the appointment of the EFCC Chairman to ; ‘’Serving or retired member of any of the government security or law enforcement agency no t below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent.’’

The law was adjusted to make the EFCC answerable to the Attorney Genetral of the Federation, that should be more of probe, rather than monitoring the looted assets auctioning process profile.

One expects the agency(EFCC) to be answerable to the Presidency where the Presidential Advisory Committee(PAC) should be doing the monitoring of the process of the looted assets recovery and disposal system through due process.

This would have made the President to have first hand information and monitoring of the process through direct and timely briefing.

When will a civilian boss emerge with law background and antecedent of integrity with clean records and relevant experience ?

The Senate refused to confirm Magu’s appointment twice, based on security reports that declared him as a security risk or ‘danger’ to the anti-corruption war.

The present moral incompetence charges justify his detractors’ claim.

The anti-corruption agency has the antecedent of record of being used by the Presidency to witch hunt the opposition or perceived enemies of the powers that be. With this reduced status to a moral blackmail, the agency with its anti-corruption crusade, the whole process will by implication become questionable through doubtful integrity and credibility.

One expects that lessons ought to have been learnt with full determination of purpose to identify with the charge mantra of the government that appointed Magu as the acting chairman. However, for lack of autonomy the political wind could have beclouded Magu’s sense of professionalism an objectivity.

The war against corruption ought to have been worn out for the structure and architectural defects as well as attitudinal challenge of officers and the society including, governance, the battle process is always fraught with fictional resistances. All anti-corruption agencies need to be built upon clearly spelt out premises, while the monitor of the terms of references and training that dwell on :

1. Emphatic policy analysis and implementation process.
2. Monitoring mechanism and coordination structure.
3. Sociological consideration for corruption tendency. For example, past records of Timocracy and Kleptocracy at any given opportunity to serve at any level of operation
4. Sources and environment that enable corrupt practices.
5. Key trends in the evolution of sharp and corrupt practices.

 Process flow analysis of checking leakages based on the concept of prevention is better than cure, with the regulation mechanism in place such as :

1. Expenditure controls.
2. Audit systems and monitoring.
3. Assessment and evaluation framework.

All these must be the orientation of all officers of the EFCC and in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies and government functionaries including parastatals, Executive, Judiciary and Legislature with emphasis on on the need of transparency and accountability probity and auditing that corruption is nipped in the bud before it become full blown. To this end the following must be in place

• Autonomy of the agency is required to be immune from undue political influence. The independence of the anti-corruption agency must be guarded in law to protect its credibility and objectivity for maximum efficiency to produce deterrents .
• Periodical workshop on best attitudinal attainment for anti-graft officials to be reliable and dependable without disappointing people’s trust is sacrosanct.
• This must be driven through adequate training, capacity building, adequate resources, professionalism and rigorous ability to prosecute offenders.
• For effectiveness, the following must be given credence for enhancement :
• Conceptually grounded system analysis of corruption with basic consideration for :
• Level and dignity of labor.
• Location and characteristic attitude of the people in the environment.
• Magnitude of corruption a the strategy level to be able to restrategize.
• Keen focus on the drivers and enablers of corruption.
• Ensure that legal, societal and normal norms are fully aligned within the framework that enable operators to full fight the cabals, cartels and the yahoo yahoo boys and girls on quick money making syndrome.
• Above all, checks to regulate living not above our means deserve a wider and effective mechanism that would enable the anti-corruption commission and the society at large to naturally identify with the objectives and goals of the anti corruption agencies.
• Character and judgement are crucial and more important than professional background for the position of chairmanship of the EFCC, hence, the need to try a civilian pedigree in experience, education and impeccable character with a clean state of past records.

State Governments in Nigeria which have reopened schools in the heat of the coronavirus pandemic  have been called upon to commence tests for the coronavirus among students, teachers and other staff.

This call was made by the All Workers Convergence(AWC) through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, in a chat with Poverty Line.

‘’Now that some state Governments have reopened schools, it is very necessary for these governments to conduct COVID 19 tests among teachers, students and other staff in the various schools that have reopened in the states. This is what is expected of governments which project and are not ready to risk the lives of their people. As a matter of fact we need not remind these state governments to conduct the tests, if the intention of reopening schools was not to perform unnecessary experiment with our students or put their lives in jeopardy’’, Comrade Emelieze concluded.

Pick pocketing is now a means of livelihood for the young and old in  major cities  in Nigeria.

Young men and women, including the aged are noticeable at bus stops and other public places such as markets and events centers plying their trade. 

At bus-stops they are always out waiting for their victims, who board buses, tricycles, motorcycles and cabs. Sadly, their collaborators are in the law enforcement agencies

Ever since the privatization of the power sector, Nigerians have continued to pay for darkness even though the expectations was that the privatization would ensure that electricity would be stable and regular. Sadly, this is not the case.

Of worry, is the fact that estimated billing, in the face of the irregular electricity supply all over the country by the Electricity Distribution Companies(DISCO) has been more of a night mare for serious minded Nigerians.

In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head, Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that increase in electricity is not the way to go since 90 per cent of Nigerians are contending with poverty and hunger. Excerpts :

Darkness persists despite the privatization of electricity supply in Nigeria, do you think increasing tariffs is the solution?

Th system of government in Nigeria has always been characterized by insensitivity to the records of the history for its performance to put in place a value system that is not only maintainable but sustainable for the future. The consequence has always has always been a case of worsening situation through successive governments till date.

The level of corruption at all levels of its management became embarrassingly high to the detriment of our development even in the areas of economic diversification projects, vocational and entrepreneurship ventures and the general economy that is artisan driven. As the home comfort suffers, the industrial sector suffers more.

The solution to aid better performance became directed towards using metering system to avoid the further issuance of estimated or ’ crazy’ bills even in the absence of regular power supply. It is unfortunate to note that the failure of this sector has adversely affected the realization of the vision 20–20–20 project which experts projected that same would require a minimum of 6,000 megawatts power generation for Nigeria to be able to rise to be among the first 20 economically viable nations in the world.

It is embarrassing for government to direct its search light towards the masses of which 90 per cent of the population had already been impoverished to pay for the debt they never incurred through their attempted policy to increase the tariffs. It is equally embarrassing for the National Assembly and DISCOS to ask the Federal Government to subsidize electricity consumption without putting in place some measures such as proper metering before such hike could be implemented.

With the Coronavirus pandemic collapsing the economy and further impoverishing Nigerians who do not have access to jumbo pay, it is not proper to add more to the people’s challenges of coping with the present hardships through the so called cost reflective tariffs.

Lesotho Prime Minister Dr. Moeketsi Majoro  has expressed worries over the unending  corruption in the country's civil service.

Dr. Majoro made this know on Monday in a nationwide broadcast.

"Corruption, especially within the civil service, is a cancer that has been ravaging Lesotho's economy for a very long time... We are determined set a precedent on this matter and His Majesty's cabinet, principal secretaries, senior government officials and heads of procurement and supply chains will have declared their assets in the next 14 days," he stated.

The Prime Minister assured that the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) would be  given all the assistance it needs to perform its statutory functions.

Dr. Majoro stressed that farming was the mainstay of the country's economy saying ''"This is why food security is every government's obligation to its people. We need to produce food in order for us to win the fight against hunger and poverty.

"Furthermore, we will ensure a wider access and usage of green houses and shed nets as well as embarking on agricultural technology."

Equity and Justice is not a priority in a sizable number of nations. Indeed. 

Those in charge  at all levels ought to learn form the above. Prehaps.

Labor unions in Nigeria have been called upon to resist any attempt by the Federal and State Governments to slash the salaries of workers and retrench.

This call was made by the All Workers Convergence(AWC) through tis National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

‘’The AWC is calling on labor to immediately wear another toga and resist any attempt to slash workers salaries or reduce the workforce. The AWC suggests that rather than been creative and finding out ways through which the poor can survive the coronavirus crisis, our government is there planning and trying to use clandestine means to sack workers and reduce their salaries that have never been a living wage’’, Comrade Emelieze concluded.