Geoff Andrews
A successful, intimidating prime minister has moulded Italy’s public life in his own image. A fearful, supine opposition is paralysed by his achievement. But there is one source of hope, says Geoff Andrews.
It has been clear for a long time that Silvio Berlusconi is a leader very far from the classic professional politician of the western liberal-democratic mould. Rather, Italy’s premier is a postmodern populist who employs a highly personalised style of leadership in which television plays a central part. His rule during three periods in office (1994-95, 2001-06, 2008-) has been a celebration of image and power fuelled by a constant appeal to the gut instincts of the people. His wealth is at once the source of his route to power, a measure of his invincibility, and a constant reminder to Italians of his entrepreneurial success and ability to get things done.
In all this, Berlusconi draws a winning symbolic contrast with the older type of political leader - locked in the world of newspaper columns and council-chamber meetings. driven to explain policy by reference to ideology, constrained (however grudgingly) by claims of accountability and transparency. No wonder Italy’s official opposition is afraid of him.
Indeed, Berlusconi’s current period in office (since his victory in the elections of April 2008) has seen fear acquire increasing political importance. The prime minister regularly uses his media influence to remove dissidents from the main public-broadcasting channels; assails his opponents as communists or conspirators; harasses his critics with legal writs; denounces judges (whom he sees as his main adversaries); and even speaks out against the president of the republic.
This aggressive stance has paralysed Italy’s official opposition. Its main representative, the Partito Democratico (Democratic Party) - itself relatively new, but led by ex-communists and ex-Christian Democrats shaped by the political failures of an earlier era - has been unable either to confront the source of Silvio Berlusconi’s political power during its brief period in government or to begin to construct a plausible vision of a post-Berlusconi world. Italy’s opposition has yet answer the big questions surrounding Italy’s future in any credible way.
The overall result is that a kind of fatalism now pervades Italian public life. Almost every week brings fresh allegations about Berlusconi’s behaviour (of mafia associations or corruption scandals, for example), which are widely reported in a foreign media fixated on the idea of “Berlusconi in crisis”; yet these continue to have little effect on those that matter - the Italian people. In another notable departure from the norms of everyday European politics, many Italians even perceive the prime minister’s human frailties (as others see them) as virtues of his leadership. An almost incredible aspect of this bizarre political situation is that amid a morass of condemnation and vitriol, Berlusconi - one of the wealthiest and most powerful figures in modern Europe - has been able successfully to present himself as a victim.
The artists’ answer
This questions that arise from this situation are obvious: how can it be understood, and - if the leader is so commanding and the opposition so stultified - where will real challenge come from?
Italy’s artists offer answers to both. The filmmaker Erik Gandini has created an extraordinary social document called Videocracy which in effect argues that Silvio Berlusconi has (mainly through the vehicle of television) initiated a cultural revolution that has moulded Italians in his own image. In this perspective Berlusconismo’s drenching celebrity culture has a sinister twist - consolidating the leader’s almost unassailable personal power by creating a public culture in his own image. As a result what the Italian think-tank Vision refers to as the “B-factor” continues to dominate Italy and set the terms of political debate.
Italy’s public broadcaster RAI banned trailers for Gandini’s film being shown, part of a now familiar pattern of threats and censorship in response to artists’ interventions. The same scorn was poured on Sabina Guzzanti’s new film Draquila: L’Italia Che Trema (Draquila: Italy Trembles), which the Italian culture minister Sandro Bondi dismissed as a “propaganda film..that insults the truth and the Italian people”. The film, whose title combines Dracula and L’Aquila (the Abruzzo town devastated by an earthquake in April 2009 which killed almost 300 people and made 60,000 homeless), is a courageous attempt to address the plight of these citizens who feel abandoned by their government. Guzzanti, one of Italy’s leading satirists, has through this work engaged directly with citizens and local movements, such as the “Yes We Camp” group I met when I visited L’Aquila (see “Italy and the G8: voices from L’Aquila”, 10 July 2009). Draquila won a standing ovation at the 2010 Cannes film festival.
An earlier example of an artistic effort to make sense of Italy’s predicament under Berlusconi is Nanni Moretti’s Il Caimano, released just before the 2006 election. Moretti had already played a major role in civil-society movements such as the girotondi, which campaigned against Berlusconi’s conflicts of interests in the absence of any leadership from the official opposition. “With these leaders we will never win”, he famously told a crowd in Piazza Navona in Rome in 2002, with the centre-left functionaries behind him – largely the same crowd which leads the Democratic Party today.
More recently, the comic blogger Beppe Grillo - a constant critic of the corrupt nature of Italy’s political class - has moved from marginal dissident to serious political opponent; in the regional elections of March 2010 his Movimento a 5 Stelle (Five-Star Movement) captured half a million votes. His challenge extends beyond Berlusconi to the timid and compromised politicians of the official opposition, among which only Antonio Di Pietro’s Italia dei Valori (Italy of Values) Party offers an exception. Beppe Grillo’s imaginative use of new media has helped him to establish an extraordinary political network.
On their own, these “cultural critics” cannot end Berlusconismo and change Italy. But in two ways they can provide a new opposition and revitalise Italy’s public life. First, they use a language which enables them to reach beyond the restrictions of the orthodox politicians and can help galvanise rather than alienate other dissentingl voices in civil society. Second, they interrogate in a courageous and creative way the darker sides of the Berlusconi phenomenon.
Above all, they understand the nature of Silvio Berlusconi’s power as well as its limits. They do not retreat from difficult questions. They have gone where the official opposition has feared to tread. They provide hope, if not yet a vision, of a different Italy.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
How Finance, Economic Planning Ministries Are Killing Delta Owned Media Houses
Three years gone, one year to go, yet the state of the Delta state owned media houses, Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), Asaba, (DRTV),Warri and the Pointer Newspapers, Asaba still remain a big shame to an oil rich state where billions of naira roll in monthly from the Federal Government allocation.
The Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s led administration, no doubt since inception has channeled several billions of naira into other facet of government yet the state owned media house remain a mirage. Every now and then the state government roll out coloured adverts spread across some of the notable private owned media where huge sum of state funds are spent but in the state owned media houses, nothing to write home about.
Despite all the out cry by Deltans from every nooks and crannies, government seems not to be interested about the state owned media houses.
The Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s led administration, no doubt since inception has channeled several billions of naira into other facet of government yet the state owned media house remain a mirage. Every now and then the state government roll out coloured adverts spread across some of the notable private owned media where huge sum of state funds are spent but in the state owned media houses, nothing to write home about.
Despite all the out cry by Deltans from every nooks and crannies, government seems not to be interested about the state owned media houses.
Dr Nnamdi Onochie Addressing Uduaghan Vision Elders Council on the need to support Governor Eweta Uduaghan come 2011
When the state Information Commissioner, Mr.Oma Djebah initiated the idea for the need to have a reputable media houses in the state, the idea was immediately keyed into by the state government starting with the re-branding of the Pointer Newspapers which the Delta State government launched in Lagos in 2008 which out come was welcomed by every one.
But today, the beautiful idea of such a young man may have been dashed following the inability of the state government release funds to continue with the idea. As I talk today, the paper is still crying and begging for survival.
It would be recalled vividly that Mr. Djebah while inaugurating the Boards of Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba and Warri recently in Asaba, said “My ministry will spare no efforts at ensuring that the three media organs of the state government perform effectively and efficiently to enlighten and educate Deltans on the polices and programmes of the state government.
It is towards the realization of the Ministry’s vision of revamping, re-engineering and re-positioning the state owned media organs for better service delivery that in November 2007, set up a 14 man committee which comprised of seasoned journalists from both the print and electronic organs across the country was set up to re-appraise the conceptional frame work and operational modalities of the establishments and come up with workable suggestions that will enhance the fortunes of the outfits and the performance of their staff”.
Ogbueshi Douglas Okolotu mapping out strategies on the way forward for the realization of Uduaghan Vision to Elders and Ward Leaders ahead of Delta North Rally for Governor Eweta Uduaghan
According to the widely traveled and experienced seasoned Journalist of international repute. “The revamping of the two electronic media establishments has been broken into three phases. The first phase is the refurbishing of the radio arms of the two stations which will commence soon, while the second phase will entail the refurbishing of the television arms. Work on the third phase will involve the refurbishing of the booster stations and the inter-connectivity of the two stations, to enable them give out better service to Deltans.
My Ministry will also ensure that in the next stage of revamping process, the Delta Printing and Publishing Company Limited, publisher of the Pointer title will be completely overhaul with the installation of brand new machines, purchase of vehicles, computers and training of staff, to improve its operations and service delivery in order to attract greater leadership and patronage from advertisers” Mr. Djebah assured.
But the big question now is that, in actual sense of the gentle man’s big ideas, has government been able to release funds for the prosecution of these laudable ideas of Mr.Djebah, the answer is as good as capita NO.
After three years, the three government media houses are still in comatose, still in shambles, still in slumber and horrible working condition, staff complaining here and there, suffering from bad working environment, what a big shame and disgrace to an oil rich state like Delta state.
This could be very shocking that a whole DBS, Asaba still hire cameras outside. Though it was learnt that about two cameras were recently bought to support the only two cameras the station had before.
Just take a look at this, In the News department, a full broadcasting outfit like DBS, Asaba, there are no vehicles, studio in a very terrible and disarray state where cut and nail jobs are carried out. Eleven years of democracy and three years of Uduaghan's administration, DBS TV is not on air for over three weeks now and the governor seems not bothered.
Just take a look at this, In the News department, a full broadcasting outfit like DBS, Asaba, there are no vehicles, studio in a very terrible and disarray state where cut and nail jobs are carried out. Eleven years of democracy and three years of Uduaghan's administration, DBS TV is not on air for over three weeks now and the governor seems not bothered.
Authentic information before this writer has it that there are certain cabal in the Uduaghan’s government who never want to see the state owned media houses grow to a standard.
A senior Director in the Ministries of Finance who pleaded for anonymity who confided in this writer disclosed that the Ministry and the Economic planning Ministry have since inception contributed to the lingering problems militating against the state owned media houses.
Explaining further, the Director who is pained over the situation stated that government can not beat its chest to tell Deltans that actually they really mean well for these media houses but rather, government prepares to channels all its resources to physical projects the people can see with their naked eyes.
According to the Director, whenever government make pronouncement for approval of funds to change the life of these media houses, these two Ministries frustrate all efforts to see that the money is released because the idea is that any money spent is a waste. “My brothers don’t be deceived government knows where the problems of these media houses lie. I want to say without fear or favour that the Information Commissioner as a young man and first timer in government has tried his best to make the media houses a haven for modern broadcasting”.
I know because of fear and as a government man, Mr. Djebah, the Information Commissioner will not tell you all this, but the truth is that he is not the cause of the predicament been faced by the state media houses that I can assure you. However I am not holding brief for him, but the truth must be told”.
Investigations carried out revealed that the equipment been used presently in the state owned electronics media houses were bought ten years ago by Hon. Young Daniel Igbrude then Commissioner of Information and all the equipment are now absolute compared to the current modern standard of Broadcasting.
Hon Onochie Nash Okonkwo supporting the Pro-Uduaghan movement at the Elders Forum For Uduaghan
A visit to AIT, Channels, and Silver Bird Television Stations in Lagos
My brothers and Sisters I must beg that you people should take the pains to visit the Asaba DBS station, you will marvel at what is going on there, all the equipment there have collapsed.
The POINTER, DBS and DRTV are gradually going into extinction with the irregular off the air and the unattractive daily and weekend Pointer which have been nicknamed “Photocopy”.
The POINTER, DBS and DRTV are gradually going into extinction with the irregular off the air and the unattractive daily and weekend Pointer which have been nicknamed “Photocopy”.
After Over 40 years of silence, these American Professors (Fraser Ottanelli -male- and Elizabeth Bird -female-) are helping Asaba October 1967 genocide survirors seek and obtain peaceful redress and bright future.
My brothers and Sisters it is a big shame that for a state like Delta blessed with enormous human and material resources, cut and nail works are still been carried out in its TV and Radio stations even the Pointer Newspapers and the workers work in a very terrible environment or are you talking of several days the Radio station will go off the air and upon all these, the government of the day is there boasting to have delivered to Deltans the dividends of democracy.
It beats ones imagination if actually the Uduaghan's government really knows all what dissemination of information is all about or the vital rolls of government owned media.
On August 27, 2009, Delta state clocked 18 years and in this digital and computer age, the state cannot boast of standard media houses to showcase its activities, what a big shame and disgrace.
Recently, the Best Sisters Health Association of Nigeria organized a step-down training on Roll Back Malaria Campaighn for community health care workers and peer educators at Oshimili North LGA, Delta State.
It would be recalled that on August 27, 2008, who is who in the media World across the globe gathered in the Prestigious Grand Hotels, Asaba to grace the state first information summit and official unveiling of the True Face of Delta (TFD) by the state governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan.
The event which was packaged by the state Information Commissioner, Mr. Oma Djebah had the former Secretary -General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku as the chairman of the occasion while the likes of Chief John Odey, Minister of Information Communication, Alhaji M.D. Yusuf, former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Timi Alaibe, MD/CEO, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, former Minister of Information were Guests of honour in the one day event.
The event which was packaged by the state Information Commissioner, Mr. Oma Djebah had the former Secretary -General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku as the chairman of the occasion while the likes of Chief John Odey, Minister of Information Communication, Alhaji M.D. Yusuf, former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Timi Alaibe, MD/CEO, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, former Minister of Information were Guests of honour in the one day event.
The concept of the event according to the initiator, Information Commissioner, Mr. Djebah was to bring Delta state into the World map of comity of nation against the backdrop that so many people have tagged the state with all sort of unimaginable and unprintable names to the detriment of the good people of Delta state.
The True Face of Delta (TFD) project is driven basically by a strategy assembled under the auspices of the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Mr. Oma Djebah which has Mr. Oma Djebah, Commissioner for Information as Head (TFD), Mr. Richard Mofe-Damijo, Commissioner, Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Oke Epia, Special Assistant to the Information Commissioner as Manager, (TFD), Mr. Austin Mowah—Director of Information, Delta State,Mr. Sunny Ogefere, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Norbert Chaizor, Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri and Mr. Lucky Omokri, Head, Website Unit as Members of the team.
Perception they say is every thing. In these days of media power, governments all over the world are increasingly becoming aware of the need to strategically map out information management systems to promote their efforts and showcase their development policies for the citizenry to make input.
Perception they say is every thing. In these days of media power, governments all over the world are increasingly becoming aware of the need to strategically map out information management systems to promote their efforts and showcase their development policies for the citizenry to make input.
This vibrant team said “It has also become very much important for governments, while providing the enabling environment for businesses to thrive, to showcase investment opportunities in the state.
For a state like
It is against this backdrop that the TFD project comes in. True Face of Delta is a Perception-Re-ordering and strategic marketing concept aimed at promoting the rich socio-cultural heritage of Delta State, the prevailing peaceful climate, investment opportunities and the overall development strides of the Administration of His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan within the context of the Three Point Agenda (TPA).
TFD is wide in scope and reach. Its campaigns and activities will have national and international reach without losing sight of Deltans in Delta as it is one of our goals to make Deltans true Ambassadors of their homeland” they said..
Today several states like Imo, Lagos and Anambra among others have keyed into the beautiful initiative of Mr.Djebah where you can find a face of this and face of that in so many of these state across the nation.
Mr.Djebah might not be a politician but has done his best even more than these so called politicians who deserve nothing but to die by hanging, a source said.
Government house sources who confided in the writer revealed that they were sometime ago privileged to witnessed a presentation by the Information Commissioner before EXCO on the need to pay more attention to the state media houses but some persons sees it as not important and even when monies are approved they are not release which they said have hindered progress in the media houses.
The sources however warned that if before the Uduaghan’s government elapses nothing was done to the media houses, the Finance and Economic planning Ministries must be held responsible not Mr.Djebah.
According to the government house sources, Mr. Djebah’s proposals to government to revamp the state media houses were presented to government in EXCO even before government came up with the idea of focusing more attention on street lights projects, Asaba International Air-Port, Roads Dualisation, even the recently built multi-billion naira government Asaba Conference center (DOME) among others.
The governor who refuted a newspaper publication that he refused to sign the 2010 budget said "The budget was not signed because it was not ready" according to him "Government is running and we are still paying contractors, so I don’t see any reason why it should be a political issue".
The budget is made up of a total recurrent expenditure of 115 billion naira and total capital expenditure of 218 billion naira, shortly after the governor signed the bill into law; he said "I assure you that with this budget we will fast track our developmental activities for the benefit of Deltans".
Governor Uduaghan had on December 9th, 2009 presented a budget proposal of 235.71 billion naira to the Sate House of Assembly after which it was increased by the legislative arm to 322 billion naira.
Recently, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), chairman, Committee on the Third Anniversary of the Administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, in a press briefing, Thursday, 20th, May, 2010 at the Press Center, government House, Asaba had told Journalists that the state Broadcasting station (DBS), Asaba, will soon be connected to the satellite.
According to the Deputy Governor “Government was poised to reposition the TV station and this year’s budget the sum of N1.6 billion has been approved to reinvigorate the TV station, DBS and another N150 million for the Pointer Newspaper” promising that the government intends to put DBS on satellite very soon”.
Why is the revamping of the state owned media houses been politicized when the governor is aware that he uses the medium to reach out to the grassroots mostly now that another election is around the corner again.
I challenge the governor to as a matter of importance and priority to wake up to the responsibility of giving the state media houses the needed and deserve face lift, having a trusted and tested media guru with him as the Information Commissioner so that when his administration ends, his name will be written in gold.
Reacting to the pitiable condition of the media houses, Delta state 2007 Governorship Candidate, People’s Redemption Party, (PRP), Comrade Igbini Odafe Emmanuel accused Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of hiding under the ineffectiveness of the state owned gloried media houses to continue to steal state funds to the detriment of Deltans.
Comrade Igbini also lambasted the state government of losing focus in revamping the three glorified owned media houses which are in the state of comatose.
Meanwhile when contacted over the predicaments been faced by the media houses in the state, Information Commissioner, Mr. Djebah said it has not been easy at all in the past three years.
According to Mr.Djebah who debunked the insinuation from some quarters that the N1.6billion for DBS and N150million for Pointer Newspapers has been released to him stated that every challenge been faced by the sector will be a thing of the past by the grace of God as according to him those who are not in government, who don’t understand how government is run only sit somewhere and begin to talk what they don’t know.
Mr. Djebah however assured Deltans that government will do everything with its resources to see that the state has a befitting standard media houses.
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT- DR GOODLUCK JONATHAN ON THE GLORIFIED PHCN INFRASTRUCTURE
Akin Lawanson
Good day to you sir. I am sorry to barge in to your tight schedule this morning sir. It is due to a matter of very pressing importance. Thanks for your indulgence sir. may God continue to be with us as we move nearer to the promised land.
I am using this medium to communicate to your excellency the extent of damage the epileptic/unreliable power supply is doing to the economy of our dear nation. we all know that stable power supply can actually reduce the contribution of the oil sector to this economy to an insignificant percentage. This is what the nation needs most.
The cost of power has doubled the cost of most things from phone tariffs to cement prices. from the price of a bottle of coke to house rents. Nigerians pay highest for consummables the world over. This is solely because of the unreliable/epileptic power supply which leads to high cost of power for manufacturers. Our per capital income is at an abysmal low, yet we pay astronomical prices for products. From pure water to automobiles.
Sir, what I am earnestly pushing for is the total deregulation of the power sector. We should throw caution to the wind. We should not let anything deter us. for clarity, we may assume we are in the 1870s when the national grid was never heard of. Let us overhaul the national grid.
Nigeria is generating more than 6000 Mw already as generators are humming away all over the nation. What we need is organisation. we are the only nation left in the world as market for portable generators.
The PHCN is one company. They should remain. Much like NITEL is remaining in communications. But we need enabling laws to allow for new investors to come in with their own infrastructure.
States/LGs may come in bringing in new companies as partners. they either bring their own infrastructure or negotiate with PHCN.
Or as an alternative, licenses may be sold to new companies to come in as NATIONAL POWER PROVIDERS. How to generate, transmit, distribute should be their headache. Again they either negotiate with PHCN or bring in their own infrastructure.
IN A FEW YEARS, THE GLORIFIED PHCN INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BECOME ANTIQUATED.
This thing will work. All it needs is will power. It will not cost government a kobo, but will bring more money.
God bless you sir, as we wait holding our breath, in anticipation of the favorable consideration of this proposal.
God save Nigeria.
Good day to you sir. I am sorry to barge in to your tight schedule this morning sir. It is due to a matter of very pressing importance. Thanks for your indulgence sir. may God continue to be with us as we move nearer to the promised land.
I am using this medium to communicate to your excellency the extent of damage the epileptic/unreliable power supply is doing to the economy of our dear nation. we all know that stable power supply can actually reduce the contribution of the oil sector to this economy to an insignificant percentage. This is what the nation needs most.
The cost of power has doubled the cost of most things from phone tariffs to cement prices. from the price of a bottle of coke to house rents. Nigerians pay highest for consummables the world over. This is solely because of the unreliable/epileptic power supply which leads to high cost of power for manufacturers. Our per capital income is at an abysmal low, yet we pay astronomical prices for products. From pure water to automobiles.
Sir, what I am earnestly pushing for is the total deregulation of the power sector. We should throw caution to the wind. We should not let anything deter us. for clarity, we may assume we are in the 1870s when the national grid was never heard of. Let us overhaul the national grid.
Nigeria is generating more than 6000 Mw already as generators are humming away all over the nation. What we need is organisation. we are the only nation left in the world as market for portable generators.
The PHCN is one company. They should remain. Much like NITEL is remaining in communications. But we need enabling laws to allow for new investors to come in with their own infrastructure.
States/LGs may come in bringing in new companies as partners. they either bring their own infrastructure or negotiate with PHCN.
Or as an alternative, licenses may be sold to new companies to come in as NATIONAL POWER PROVIDERS. How to generate, transmit, distribute should be their headache. Again they either negotiate with PHCN or bring in their own infrastructure.
IN A FEW YEARS, THE GLORIFIED PHCN INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BECOME ANTIQUATED.
This thing will work. All it needs is will power. It will not cost government a kobo, but will bring more money.
God bless you sir, as we wait holding our breath, in anticipation of the favorable consideration of this proposal.
God save Nigeria.
NIGERIAN SENATE... ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
(A statement issued by Transform Nigerian Movement (TNM) on the planned jumbo pay by the Senators for Themselves)
Our attention has been drawn to the decision of the members of the National Assembly to jack up their quarterly allowances from N45m to N95m.
ThisDay of June 14, 2010 reports the senate intends to outdo their House of Representatives counterparts who are asking for 100 percent increment in pay of N45 million per member. Their reasoning: if each member of the House of Representatives wants N45M quarterly allowance, each Senator should take N95M every 4 months!
Transform Nigeria Movement notes that 80% of Nigerians live on less than $2 a day, the minimum wage is 7,500 Naira, and the salary of the average worker is a far cry from a reasonable pay that can sustain families and provide their basic needs in present day Nigeria.
To these civil servants who do the bulk of the professional tasks in the ministries and department, a pay day is a day of sadness and sorrow.
Nigerians need to know that in addition to the regular and legitimate salaries and allowances of N17 million ($113,333) and N14.99 million ($99,933) which senators and Representatives were collecting yearly and the irregular allowance of estacodes, duty tours etc, they were also collecting N192m ($1.28m) and N140m ($0.93m) respectively in illegal quarterly allocation which is not provided for by Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC. (See VANGUARD of June 20, 2010)
Based on the new package approved by the RMAFC, suggested by Late President Yar’adua, each of the 107 senators (excluding the Senate President and his deputy) should collect N11 million in basic salaries and regular allowances every year while a member of the House of Representatives will get N9.9 million.
This means that even with the reduced salary package, a Nigeria senator still get paid N11 million ($73,333) in regular salaries and allowances annually and N152m ($1.03m) in four (quarterly) allocation making a total of $1.11m plus irregular allowances like estacodes and duty tour allowances.
Nigerians are not sure, now that President Yar’Adua has passed away, whether his suggestion was adopted.
Because of the refusal of the members of the National Assembly to pass the Freedom of Information Bill we now hear stories flying around that senators and members of the House of Representatives reportedly take home up to N351 million and N147 million per person respectively. Overall, the National Assembly is projected to cost a whooping N138 billion, according to the 2010 budget. (What an expensive democracy!)
But with the budget already passed and signed into law, senators and House members began fresh moves to push quarterly allowances to N100 million and N45 million per person respectively.
BusinessDay reports that the assemblymen and women have settled for N60 million and N45 million per senator and House member respectively.
We must ask the RFMAC to confirm all these numbers floating around. Why must we the Employers of these people not know for sure how much they are being paid?
If the above is true, a Nigeria senator earns overall at least 8 times as much as an American senator and more than 3 times the American president - a Nigerian senator was taking home at least $1.40m ($1.28m quarterly allocations + $0.113m regular salaries and allowances) as against the $0.174m an American Senator takes home.
Whereas a Senator in the U.S earns N21million the same as a member of the House of Representatives; a UK Member of Parliament earn £64,766 (N15 million) In other words, a Federal Legislator in Nigeria is paid more than double what a Member of British Parliament earns per annum. (See the appendix for a graphical comparison of the earnings of Nigerian politician’s vis-Ã -vis their counterparts in the USA)
As if this unreasonable increment of our law makers pay does not constitute enough hemorrhage in the nation’s weak economy, our checks reveal that the Senate President alone takes N250 million quarterly or N83.33 million per month.
Senate Deputy President gets N150 million per quarter or N50 million a month, earning in 4 months, six times what the UK Prime Minister earns in a year!
(The British Prime Minister David Cameron goes home with £190,000 per annum (N44 million; even the US President earns only $400,000 per annum, a figure that pales into insignificance when compared to what a senator earns in Nigeria’s beleaguered economy)
The House of Representatives has just “forced” the speaker, Dimeji Bankole to reduce his quarterly allowance from N140m ($933,333) to N100m ($666,667) or from an annual allowance of N560m ($3.73m) to N400m ($2.67m). (Nigerian Compass; 28 May, 2010)
We also painfully note: the Senate has allocated more than N1billion as quarterly allowance to its 10 principal officers, known collectively as the Senate leadership. The eight other principal officers, individually takes home N78 million every three months or N26 million per month.
Besides, for this year, the Senate has voted N2.6 billion for local travel, N2.45 billion (foreign travel), N1.25 million (security), N2.28 billion (contingency), N750 million (guest houses for Senate and deputy), and N500 million (establishment of radio and television stations).
This brazen looting of our treasury has turned our National Assembly into an instant millionaires club.
We find the mere fact that our law makers are only interested in satisfying their selfish and insatiable desire to acquire wealth intolerable, outrageous and evil. Leaders who care about the masses will first and foremost think about the welfare/well being of the people above their personal considerations.
Transform Nigeria Movement therefore earnestly implores all well-meaning Nigerians to rise, condemn and resist this Federal legislators’ conspiracy against the nation’s fledgling economy and her poor people. There is no doubt at all that the nation’s battered economy being bled to death by this leachy political class cannot support this fraudulent practice and no decent society will accept it.
If this is allowed to go through unchallenged, then the nation must have surrendered to the replacing of military dictatorship with civilian version. The time to act is now or we forever keep silent!
In a country where a police constable earns between N22, 000 and N27, 000 monthly depending on his length of service and accommodation plan, while a sergeant’s pay is about N30, 000 and a Police inspector earns about N50, 000 monthly; Is it any wonder that armed robbery and kidnapping is rampant where they observe their representatives smile home with more than N5million Naira monthly in some cases?
What else do we expect the civil servants to do when their pay cannot provide the basic necessities of life?
In some states, while the state government claims not to have money to pay workers, it finds it convenient to pay politicians hundreds of thousands as monthly salary for doing practically nothing than looting the state blind.
How can a state government justify the over N300, 000 salary paid to a ward councilor (and over N60, 000 to a councilor’s wife) while the highest paid teachers collects less than 30 percent and the least paid teacher collects less than 4 percent of a councilor’s pay? (Some teachers get N25, 000 monthly)
The total annual salaries of councilors in a state like Osun State (running to over N1.4 billion) are enough to employ 2,240 workers on N50, 000 monthly salaries. This is pure robbery!
Mohammad Danjuma Goje, the governor of Gombe State, and his deputy, John Yoriyo, paid themselves the sums of N200million and N100million respectively, as part of their benefits when their first terms in Gombe State government ended in May 2007. This is outside their legitimate earnings while in office (NEXT May 27, 2010)
Yet, these States reject the payment of N52, 200 minimum wages that the national leadership of NLC and TUC are fighting for.
All these are happening in an economy that has taken more than a fair bashing of the global economic meltdown. It is a wild decision that Transform Nigeria Movement notes as callous, reckless, irresponsible, mean-spirited and reprehensible.
We call on the RMAFC, ICPC, and the EFCC to investigate this looting of the treasury and trashing the constitution.
For the avoidance of doubt, Transform Nigerian Movement wants to categorically state: what the legislators receive at the center is already scandalously too high and further upward review such as the proposed over 100% hike in their take home is provocative, risks rejection by the same masses that elected them to office, and will be the height of callousness on the part of the federal legislators.
Transform Nigeria Movement notes that the Federal Legislators have completely abandoned the people of Nigeria; ignored their statutory responsibility of working to reduce the debilitating poverty in the land and have turned their plenary sessions into a house of commotion, fracas and disgrace.
Indeed, the National Assembly has turned the Apo Village into a den of robbers by recklessly and frivolously pursuing their own happiness at the expense of the nation.
Let be known, we will not hesitate to call on the Nigerian masses to protest and resist it with all legitimate means available to them if this decision is not reversed forthwith.
Starting Monday, June 28, 2010, the Transform Nigeria Movement will start a nation-wide mobilization of all Nigerians to call our rampaging Federal Legislators to order – to save the legislature from itself. For both the future and solutions to our nation’s problems are in our hands as citizens of the Nigerian nation who have no other country to call their own.
Enough is enough!
Signed:
TRANSFORM NIGERIA MOVEMENT
Our attention has been drawn to the decision of the members of the National Assembly to jack up their quarterly allowances from N45m to N95m.
ThisDay of June 14, 2010 reports the senate intends to outdo their House of Representatives counterparts who are asking for 100 percent increment in pay of N45 million per member. Their reasoning: if each member of the House of Representatives wants N45M quarterly allowance, each Senator should take N95M every 4 months!
Transform Nigeria Movement notes that 80% of Nigerians live on less than $2 a day, the minimum wage is 7,500 Naira, and the salary of the average worker is a far cry from a reasonable pay that can sustain families and provide their basic needs in present day Nigeria.
To these civil servants who do the bulk of the professional tasks in the ministries and department, a pay day is a day of sadness and sorrow.
Nigerians need to know that in addition to the regular and legitimate salaries and allowances of N17 million ($113,333) and N14.99 million ($99,933) which senators and Representatives were collecting yearly and the irregular allowance of estacodes, duty tours etc, they were also collecting N192m ($1.28m) and N140m ($0.93m) respectively in illegal quarterly allocation which is not provided for by Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC. (See VANGUARD of June 20, 2010)
Based on the new package approved by the RMAFC, suggested by Late President Yar’adua, each of the 107 senators (excluding the Senate President and his deputy) should collect N11 million in basic salaries and regular allowances every year while a member of the House of Representatives will get N9.9 million.
This means that even with the reduced salary package, a Nigeria senator still get paid N11 million ($73,333) in regular salaries and allowances annually and N152m ($1.03m) in four (quarterly) allocation making a total of $1.11m plus irregular allowances like estacodes and duty tour allowances.
Nigerians are not sure, now that President Yar’Adua has passed away, whether his suggestion was adopted.
Because of the refusal of the members of the National Assembly to pass the Freedom of Information Bill we now hear stories flying around that senators and members of the House of Representatives reportedly take home up to N351 million and N147 million per person respectively. Overall, the National Assembly is projected to cost a whooping N138 billion, according to the 2010 budget. (What an expensive democracy!)
But with the budget already passed and signed into law, senators and House members began fresh moves to push quarterly allowances to N100 million and N45 million per person respectively.
BusinessDay reports that the assemblymen and women have settled for N60 million and N45 million per senator and House member respectively.
We must ask the RFMAC to confirm all these numbers floating around. Why must we the Employers of these people not know for sure how much they are being paid?
If the above is true, a Nigeria senator earns overall at least 8 times as much as an American senator and more than 3 times the American president - a Nigerian senator was taking home at least $1.40m ($1.28m quarterly allocations + $0.113m regular salaries and allowances) as against the $0.174m an American Senator takes home.
Whereas a Senator in the U.S earns N21million the same as a member of the House of Representatives; a UK Member of Parliament earn £64,766 (N15 million) In other words, a Federal Legislator in Nigeria is paid more than double what a Member of British Parliament earns per annum. (See the appendix for a graphical comparison of the earnings of Nigerian politician’s vis-Ã -vis their counterparts in the USA)
As if this unreasonable increment of our law makers pay does not constitute enough hemorrhage in the nation’s weak economy, our checks reveal that the Senate President alone takes N250 million quarterly or N83.33 million per month.
Senate Deputy President gets N150 million per quarter or N50 million a month, earning in 4 months, six times what the UK Prime Minister earns in a year!
(The British Prime Minister David Cameron goes home with £190,000 per annum (N44 million; even the US President earns only $400,000 per annum, a figure that pales into insignificance when compared to what a senator earns in Nigeria’s beleaguered economy)
The House of Representatives has just “forced” the speaker, Dimeji Bankole to reduce his quarterly allowance from N140m ($933,333) to N100m ($666,667) or from an annual allowance of N560m ($3.73m) to N400m ($2.67m). (Nigerian Compass; 28 May, 2010)
We also painfully note: the Senate has allocated more than N1billion as quarterly allowance to its 10 principal officers, known collectively as the Senate leadership. The eight other principal officers, individually takes home N78 million every three months or N26 million per month.
Besides, for this year, the Senate has voted N2.6 billion for local travel, N2.45 billion (foreign travel), N1.25 million (security), N2.28 billion (contingency), N750 million (guest houses for Senate and deputy), and N500 million (establishment of radio and television stations).
This brazen looting of our treasury has turned our National Assembly into an instant millionaires club.
We find the mere fact that our law makers are only interested in satisfying their selfish and insatiable desire to acquire wealth intolerable, outrageous and evil. Leaders who care about the masses will first and foremost think about the welfare/well being of the people above their personal considerations.
Transform Nigeria Movement therefore earnestly implores all well-meaning Nigerians to rise, condemn and resist this Federal legislators’ conspiracy against the nation’s fledgling economy and her poor people. There is no doubt at all that the nation’s battered economy being bled to death by this leachy political class cannot support this fraudulent practice and no decent society will accept it.
If this is allowed to go through unchallenged, then the nation must have surrendered to the replacing of military dictatorship with civilian version. The time to act is now or we forever keep silent!
In a country where a police constable earns between N22, 000 and N27, 000 monthly depending on his length of service and accommodation plan, while a sergeant’s pay is about N30, 000 and a Police inspector earns about N50, 000 monthly; Is it any wonder that armed robbery and kidnapping is rampant where they observe their representatives smile home with more than N5million Naira monthly in some cases?
What else do we expect the civil servants to do when their pay cannot provide the basic necessities of life?
In some states, while the state government claims not to have money to pay workers, it finds it convenient to pay politicians hundreds of thousands as monthly salary for doing practically nothing than looting the state blind.
How can a state government justify the over N300, 000 salary paid to a ward councilor (and over N60, 000 to a councilor’s wife) while the highest paid teachers collects less than 30 percent and the least paid teacher collects less than 4 percent of a councilor’s pay? (Some teachers get N25, 000 monthly)
The total annual salaries of councilors in a state like Osun State (running to over N1.4 billion) are enough to employ 2,240 workers on N50, 000 monthly salaries. This is pure robbery!
Mohammad Danjuma Goje, the governor of Gombe State, and his deputy, John Yoriyo, paid themselves the sums of N200million and N100million respectively, as part of their benefits when their first terms in Gombe State government ended in May 2007. This is outside their legitimate earnings while in office (NEXT May 27, 2010)
Yet, these States reject the payment of N52, 200 minimum wages that the national leadership of NLC and TUC are fighting for.
All these are happening in an economy that has taken more than a fair bashing of the global economic meltdown. It is a wild decision that Transform Nigeria Movement notes as callous, reckless, irresponsible, mean-spirited and reprehensible.
We call on the RMAFC, ICPC, and the EFCC to investigate this looting of the treasury and trashing the constitution.
For the avoidance of doubt, Transform Nigerian Movement wants to categorically state: what the legislators receive at the center is already scandalously too high and further upward review such as the proposed over 100% hike in their take home is provocative, risks rejection by the same masses that elected them to office, and will be the height of callousness on the part of the federal legislators.
Transform Nigeria Movement notes that the Federal Legislators have completely abandoned the people of Nigeria; ignored their statutory responsibility of working to reduce the debilitating poverty in the land and have turned their plenary sessions into a house of commotion, fracas and disgrace.
Indeed, the National Assembly has turned the Apo Village into a den of robbers by recklessly and frivolously pursuing their own happiness at the expense of the nation.
Let be known, we will not hesitate to call on the Nigerian masses to protest and resist it with all legitimate means available to them if this decision is not reversed forthwith.
Starting Monday, June 28, 2010, the Transform Nigeria Movement will start a nation-wide mobilization of all Nigerians to call our rampaging Federal Legislators to order – to save the legislature from itself. For both the future and solutions to our nation’s problems are in our hands as citizens of the Nigerian nation who have no other country to call their own.
Enough is enough!
Signed:
TRANSFORM NIGERIA MOVEMENT
LESSONS FROM THE SUPER EAGLES
Fela Durotoye
I commiserate with every Nigerian who dreamed of watching our beloved SUPER Eagles win a team that had never scored nor won a game in a World Cup final.
My heart bleeds as I reflect on yesterday's match. My sadness knows no bounds. My tears won't stop flowing.
I was driving through Lekki (Lagos, Nigeria) today & my attention was drawn to the many terrible roads and there was a particular one that was flooded with thick, murky, muddy water. The street looked like a slum, but it had the most beautiful houses on it.
My mind immediately went to the Super Eagles: great individual talent but for lack of planning, investment and adequate preparation, we play like an unskilled team.
So you see, it's the same problem whose symptoms we see everyday in huge generators, overhead water and diesel tanks.
Beautiful lampshades with no light.
Beautiful taps with no flowing water.
Hugely talented players without wins.
Roads without drainage.
Police without security.
Judges without justice.
Hospitals without health care.
Graduates without education.
Businesses without profit.
Workmen without skill.
Can't we see?
It's the same problem! It will require the same solution!
Our nation is calling for Leadership required at all levels.
People who will take responsibility to build & transform their area of gifting until the entire nation is fixed.
Which aspect of Nigeria has God called YOU to transform?
Have YOU started transforming it yet?
Who are your closest friends?
Which aspect of Nigeria has God called them to transform?
Have they started transforming it yet?
Nigeria is bleeding and crying for leaders to emerge out of the shadows and the sidelines of the spectators and commentators.
We need players on the field of leadership.
It's already half time and we are a few goals down but the game is not over!
We need to substitute the Rulers on the field with LEADERS on the bench.
Get off the bench & start warming up.
It's time to Arise and Shine!
It's time to deliver the future.
You can. You must. You will.
I commiserate with every Nigerian who dreamed of watching our beloved SUPER Eagles win a team that had never scored nor won a game in a World Cup final.
My heart bleeds as I reflect on yesterday's match. My sadness knows no bounds. My tears won't stop flowing.
I was driving through Lekki (Lagos, Nigeria) today & my attention was drawn to the many terrible roads and there was a particular one that was flooded with thick, murky, muddy water. The street looked like a slum, but it had the most beautiful houses on it.
My mind immediately went to the Super Eagles: great individual talent but for lack of planning, investment and adequate preparation, we play like an unskilled team.
So you see, it's the same problem whose symptoms we see everyday in huge generators, overhead water and diesel tanks.
Beautiful lampshades with no light.
Beautiful taps with no flowing water.
Hugely talented players without wins.
Roads without drainage.
Police without security.
Judges without justice.
Hospitals without health care.
Graduates without education.
Businesses without profit.
Workmen without skill.
Can't we see?
It's the same problem! It will require the same solution!
Our nation is calling for Leadership required at all levels.
People who will take responsibility to build & transform their area of gifting until the entire nation is fixed.
Which aspect of Nigeria has God called YOU to transform?
Have YOU started transforming it yet?
Who are your closest friends?
Which aspect of Nigeria has God called them to transform?
Have they started transforming it yet?
Nigeria is bleeding and crying for leaders to emerge out of the shadows and the sidelines of the spectators and commentators.
We need players on the field of leadership.
It's already half time and we are a few goals down but the game is not over!
We need to substitute the Rulers on the field with LEADERS on the bench.
Get off the bench & start warming up.
It's time to Arise and Shine!
It's time to deliver the future.
You can. You must. You will.
FREE MARKET ECONOMY BY HALF
Akin Lawanson
If we start from resource control, it will be a good starting point. The federal government hands over the control of natural resources to the concerned states. This does not reduce much from government revenue but reduces much from government activities. How the states will solve the fresh tussle for resource control among states and their oil bearing communities is left to them to settle. Na their own wahala. This new system may ensure that all federal revenue is denominated in naira. And dollar auctions by the CBN will become a thing of the past. Only this will have a profound effect on its own. People holding dollars will be obliged to change it at their convenience and will be obliged to pay naira taxes. This will strengthen the naira against the dollar. And inflation will drop. The masses may smile for the first time in decades.
This can control/stop inflation but may not stop corruption. Corruption will dip as individual states continue to get more and more of their finances from their citizens via taxes. As people are being increasingly taxed, there will be an increasing need for accountability. Accountability will increase with increasing citizen contribution to fiscal resources. Our only fear is that unpopular governments may never muscle up enough wherewithal to tax their citizens.
On the alternative, state allocations should be in naira and dollar components as it accrued to the FG. The naira component of revenue may be shared in naira while the dollar component may also be shared in dollars. So that the burden of changing billions of dollars a year will not be solely borne by the federal government. This too may stabilize forex rates and keep the inflation rate at reasonable levels. Not at 11.5%.
Another alternative is to continue practising communal ownership of natural resources as is presently being done. But to make it more effective and reduce sharp practices, the government will do well to embrace communism as a state policy. If this is done all Nigerians will be banned from the ownership of any private property whatsoever and this will go a long way in solving our problem of corruption. We can not continue to practise capitalism and free market economy by half. God save Nigeria.
If we start from resource control, it will be a good starting point. The federal government hands over the control of natural resources to the concerned states. This does not reduce much from government revenue but reduces much from government activities. How the states will solve the fresh tussle for resource control among states and their oil bearing communities is left to them to settle. Na their own wahala. This new system may ensure that all federal revenue is denominated in naira. And dollar auctions by the CBN will become a thing of the past. Only this will have a profound effect on its own. People holding dollars will be obliged to change it at their convenience and will be obliged to pay naira taxes. This will strengthen the naira against the dollar. And inflation will drop. The masses may smile for the first time in decades.
This can control/stop inflation but may not stop corruption. Corruption will dip as individual states continue to get more and more of their finances from their citizens via taxes. As people are being increasingly taxed, there will be an increasing need for accountability. Accountability will increase with increasing citizen contribution to fiscal resources. Our only fear is that unpopular governments may never muscle up enough wherewithal to tax their citizens.
On the alternative, state allocations should be in naira and dollar components as it accrued to the FG. The naira component of revenue may be shared in naira while the dollar component may also be shared in dollars. So that the burden of changing billions of dollars a year will not be solely borne by the federal government. This too may stabilize forex rates and keep the inflation rate at reasonable levels. Not at 11.5%.
Another alternative is to continue practising communal ownership of natural resources as is presently being done. But to make it more effective and reduce sharp practices, the government will do well to embrace communism as a state policy. If this is done all Nigerians will be banned from the ownership of any private property whatsoever and this will go a long way in solving our problem of corruption. We can not continue to practise capitalism and free market economy by half. God save Nigeria.
US: We’ve Missed Nigeria’s Voice on Global Platform
Ugochukwu Ezeagwula
The United States of America yesterday declared that Nigeria 's voice on the global platform has been missed, expressing its desire for “a really dynamic and robust leadership, which Nigeria
US Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Robin Sanders, who spoke at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum said, “We look forward to working with Nigeria.We‘ve missed Nigeria’s voice on the global platform and we look forward to having Nigeria’s energy and dynamism back on the world stage as a non-permanent member of the UN Securrity Council.”
Sanders said her country was really looking forward to having a great friendship and working together with Nigeria
She reaffirmed the US pledge to extend technical assistance to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to organise credible, free and fair polls in 2011, noting that giving technical assistance is one thing but that ‘internal political democracy’ is what Nigeria and Nigerians should do for themselves.
According to her, no outside friend can do such for Nigeria
“So, the big challenge is that you do not know when the elections are going to be held yet, though it is in the hands of the National Assembly. Those are the things that we were briefed on from your side and I hope resolutions will be made very quickly. Election date is one of the things that will figure out everything else.
In discussing with our Nigerian friends, we thought that will be one of the most important, given the fact that Nigeria Washington
On the level of relationship between Nigeria and the US
Sanders noted that with the consummation of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) recently, which, she noted, is a new strategic dialogue for mutual engagement with Nigeria on a number of bilateral issues, “who knows how that is going to grow!”
The BNC, the US
“We have heard a lot of things from our counterparts, including INEC’s representative as well - how they plan to do that. On our side, we talked about what assistance we could provide to support the efforts that are already on ground; to try to achieve that very lofty goal. We have heard what Nigerians say they want for 2011, and so, some of the things we have offered, we are going to discuss. I can highlight them here as well.
US Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Robin Sanders, who spoke at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum said, “We look forward to working with Nigeria.We‘ve missed Nigeria’s voice on the global platform and we look forward to having Nigeria’s energy and dynamism back on the world stage as a non-permanent member of the UN Securrity Council.”
Sanders said her country was really looking forward to having a great friendship and working together with
She reaffirmed the US pledge to extend technical assistance to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to organise credible, free and fair polls in 2011, noting that giving technical assistance is one thing but that ‘internal political democracy’ is what Nigeria and Nigerians should do for themselves.
According to her, no outside friend can do such for
“So, the big challenge is that you do not know when the elections are going to be held yet, though it is in the hands of the National Assembly. Those are the things that we were briefed on from your side and I hope resolutions will be made very quickly. Election date is one of the things that will figure out everything else.
In discussing with our Nigerian friends, we thought that will be one of the most important, given the fact that
On the level of relationship between
Sanders noted that with the consummation of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) recently, which, she noted, is a new strategic dialogue for mutual engagement with Nigeria on a number of bilateral issues, “who knows how that is going to grow!”
The BNC, the
“We have heard a lot of things from our counterparts, including INEC’s representative as well - how they plan to do that. On our side, we talked about what assistance we could provide to support the efforts that are already on ground; to try to achieve that very lofty goal. We have heard what Nigerians say they want for 2011, and so, some of the things we have offered, we are going to discuss. I can highlight them here as well.
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