Alternative Blueprint For Nigeria’s Economic Recovery - Year 2007 – 2011 

By

Israel Esehoghene Abraham

 

Electrical Engineer

PHCN Plc, Abuja

 

elkarisnig@yahoo.com israelesehogheneabraham@yahoo.com

 

Below is MY SOLUTION to the seven point agenda of Mr. President, Alhaji Umar Shehu Yar’Adua: That NIGERIA MAY BE GREAT

1.   Energy (Power) – 2011; 30,000MW, 2015; 50,000MW

2.   Agriculture and food security.

3.   Wealth creation.

4.   Mass transportation system.

5.   Land ownership – Land Reforms

6.   Security

7.   Human Capacity Development.

 

ENERGY (POWER) - {2007 - 2011; 30,000MW}

 

Power (Electricity) is central to any economic development. The industries and factories require stable and uninterrupted power supply to function. Without power, even small and medium scale enterprises will be strangulated. With power, quality life will be visited on the populace because there will be new way of doing almost everything; learning, manufacturing, cooking, washing etc. The industrialized world is accepted so, because electrical power is readily available for research, experiment and production.

 

To chart a way forward therefore, I make the following submissions as an electrical engineer & one who should know.

 

-         Adequate funding & severe monitoring for all ongoing power projects to completion to actually consolidate the pronounced ten thousand mega Watt (10,000MW) by the end of this year

 

-         Completion of all existing power plant in the Nigerian grid network to their FULL capabilities as envisioned and ALSO completion of the existing power plant expansion capabilities (i.e. Kainji, Sapele, Delta, Geregu, Egbin, e.t.c). Here we are bound to harvest about Three thousand Mega Watts (3,000MW).

 

-         Ten new Thermal Power Stations with high generating capabilities than the present ones; 200MW or 300MW per turbine unit. This initiative will harness for us about twenty thousand Mega Watts (20,000MW). These power plant should be gas fired turbines to maximize the gas been flared daily in the Niger Delta region. thus, reducing air and water pollutions 

 

-         Ten (10) new Bio-Mass Thermal Power Stations with low generating capabilities per turbine unit. These stations are to be located in the various (major) cities in Nigeria (Ibadan, Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Kano, Kaduna, Abuja etc. This initiative will harness for us about One thousand Mega Watts (1,000MW). These power plants will be utilizing the liquid waste from our sewage systems that are ever abundant in these cities. It will also help to achieve urban development initiatives through reconstruction of sewage lines (Network) in the cities and thus, reducing air, water and environmental pollutions. 

 

-         About twenty (20) new hydro power plants are possible with the numerous water bodies already short listed for such across the country. These water bodies must be harnessed immediately by awarding same to competent hydro power plant contractor to provide/produce power (Zungeru, Goronyo etc.). This initiative will harness for us about Five thousand Mega Watts (5,000MW) or even more.  

 

-         The Oji-River power plant must be reactivated using existing power Engineers at PHCN Plc (Retired & serving officers)

 

-         A new Coal Powered Plant at Enugu must come on stream before the target date of 2011 with a capacity/capability to producing a minimum of ten thousand Mega Watts (10,000MW).

 

-         Six new SOLAR Powered Plant should also be constructed in the Six Sahel (Sun) States of the Northern Nigeria. The Solar plants as obtainable in America and Europe where the Sun intensity is one-hundredth of ours is about Five thousand Mega Watts. This means, we could harness about Five or even Ten thousand Mega Watts (5,000 - 10,000MW) from what God has deliberately used to differentiate AFRICA from the rest of the world – Continent under the SUN.

 

-         With the above consciously & willfully implemented, we will surely surpass the thirty thousand Mega Watts (30,000MW) earmarked for year 2011.

 

 

 

ENERGY (POWER) - {2015; 50,000MW}

 

Finally, the Federal government can then begin the next stage of the power (Energy) development by awarding the construction of at least two (2) Nuclear Powered Plant. Such technical power plant could be negotiated by the Nigerian government with the United States Government to commence from the year 2011- 2014. Two (2) such medium sized plants can harness for us about Thirty-thousand Mega Watts (30,000MW). Other sources of power generation like Wind, Ocean thermal, etc. can be explored during this second phase.

 

ENERGY (OIL & GAS)

 

The energy industry is epitomized by oil & gas. At this moment, the present government of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has put in some effort which must be continued to eliminate gas flaring and pollution in the Niger Delta.

The major challenge in the energy sector however is appropriate (strict) regulation. After about four years of refinery licence to private firms/ corporations, none of them was able to come on stream. Infact, they all refused to even clear the plot acquired/allocated for their intended refinery preferring instead to use the licence to import fuel. The government was helpless because those with these licences were politicians and friends of P.D.P who needed them for some financial transaction with fictitious foreign partners. The result is as experienced today, many refinery licences, no refined Petroleum product in Nigeria (Surprise about it?).

 

Secondly, the government needs to engage in massive (Network) installation of gas & oil pipelines installation around the entire country. This will enable gas to be readily available to the people for their domestic use (Cooking), and also enable the government to build new thermal power plants up north of the country (Geregu G.S) but most importantly, the amount of tanker trucks (trailers) plying the roads will be greatly reduced since the Fuel deports across the country will have been networked to achieve maximum stocking of petroleum products.

 

 

AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY.

 

Food security is the first and pronounced security of any given people. A nation which can not feed his people is a security risk to the world. Such a country becomes and perpetually a dependant entity. Nigeria is a country of vast arable lands. Farming and animal husbandry is a lucrative venture in Nigeria by the big time practitioners – Shagari Farms, Waziri Farms, Obasanjo Farms, Ibru Farms, Abdulsalami Farms, etc. Therefore, government intervention must come in form of infrastructures & incentives to encourage Mechanized faming. Our country’s agricultural sector needs to add value to its products (Crop & livestock) to create for us sustainable wealth and employment for our teaming population.

 

Agriculture is the greatest employer of human labour because of its many potential. A concrete attention to it can solve our country’s unemployment problems. Farming should be made much Lucrative & attractive to attract the youth of the country. Farming is a diversified opportunity employer; fish (fishery), rabbit, piggery, snail, farming, poultry, aviary, animal husbandry (Herdsmen), cash and food crops etc.

 

To chart a way forward therefore, I make the following submissions.

 

- The establishment of meat processing factories near grazing reserves**

 

- The establishment of milk manufacturing/processing factories near grazing    reserves. Ditto for all other types of crops or livestock to create wealth and    employment opportunities

 

- The reestablishment of Farm centers with agricultural extension technical staff

 

- The reactivation of River Basin Authority as obtainable in the past

 

- The reactivation of marketing board/Silos for storage of food and cash crops    in each state of the federation

 

- More fertilizer plants to be available so that fertilizers are available at        agricultural shops as when required like loaf of bread at the shops.

 

- Partnership programmes with Israel, Thailand, China, America and other      agricultural organization could be explored as witnessed in the Zimbabwe    white farmer’s initiatives in Kwara State.

 

- The initiatives and the prevailing boom of cassava export of the immediate    past administration should be sustained by encouraging more cassava farmers to produce so as to feed the diverse increasing needs of the entire world while    earning the much needed foreign exchange for the Nigerian nation. At this    moment, Two (2) ethanol refineries are being established to convert cassava    tubers to high grade ethanol for vehicular fuel. This initiative could be    expanded to begin power (ELECTRICITY) production using ethanol spirit    as alternative source of fuel.

 

- The reestablishment of **GRAZING RESERVES ZONES** in all states of    the federation. Two (2) grazing reserves zones in each state of the saheal northern states and one each for the others states.

 

- The establishment of silage purchasing boards at each local government    level. These boards are responsible for buying hays, crops remains, after    harvest stalks etc. from farmers to be resold to the grazing reserves zones   

 

GRAZING RESERVES ZONES.

 

The grazing reserves zones are large arable lands separated exclusively to cater for livestock grazing purpose. These grazing reserves zones will be homes and offices to the many herdsmen & their families who daily roam the wild and farm lands of peasant’s farmers with their animals. Thus, they are attacked by wild animals or are always in conflict with the local farmer whose crops their animals has grazed upon. These herdsmen & upspring and themselves remain uneducated and unenlightened. The result is a people who lack the slightest technology to upgrade themselves, their trade, & their future. The country in turn loss the opportunity to produce enough milk like Denmark/Holland, enough meat at affordable cost for the Nigeria public like America and enough skilled manpower for our livestock industries. This area must be carefully selected and demarcated to contain a natural river/stream passing through it.

 

These grazing reserves zones are settlements for herdsmen and zoological extension staff. It is to have the following when fully operational:

 

-         Provided with extension technical staff to counsel and aides to train & re-train herdsmen to acquire basic skill (Techniques).  

-         With facilities for housing the patrons (Herdsmen & families).

 

-         Provided with primary & secondary schools for upspring of the patrons.

 

-         Provided with an adult education school for the teenage and middle age members of the herdsmen family.

 

-         Provided with veterinary research unit outlet.

 

-         Provided with a technology appreciation centre.

 

-         Provided with an hospitals, markets, pipe borne water, electricity etc.

 

-         The silage purchasing boards; these board sells their wares to the grazing zones administrators who in turn sells same to the herdsmen’s to improve the feed intake of their live-stocks.

 

The result of this initiative will be the Texas Cow boys herdsmen as seen in advanced nations of the world. The children of herdsmen are groomed to become part of society and contributing to national development. Ultimately, higher milk and meat production emerge and new factories to add value are created. Mr. President, about one million sustainable jobs is created by this initiative when implemented

WEALTH CREATION.

 

Creating wealth involves a lot of factors. The Land Reforms, Energy and Power, general security and all the other pillars on the seven point agenda when taken together simultaneously will eventually bring about wealth for the nation and its citizen. The land reforms, predicated on defined mortgage facility will remove men (Nigerians) from the dust, Ghetto, Slums & Shacks for habitable shelter. Such scheme is capable of recreating the middle class again.

 

To chart a way forward therefore, I make the following submissions.

 

-  Let the Reform Bureau get the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) to employ a sustainable framework in disposing the various government companies & parastatals to the private sector. Such sustainable framework will involved allowing the staff/workers/ civil/public servants the concession of compulsorily buying at least thirty (30%) percent of the total assets/shares of the business. The result is that patriotism of the civil/public servants will be unleashed and instant end to every form of corruption. Why? Because the company/business is now theirs. “Mine own and our own no be the same”. Please remember the Japanese example on privatization programme where workers are encouraged to own equity/shares.

 

Every loop-hole in business concerns of the federal government of Nigeria is already known to the Nigerian civil/public servants and He will ensure no one cheats him of his wealth. The core investor manages/ control ownership of the business concerns but the staff/workers/civil/public servants will continue to gain with every improvement in the business concerns. This is wealth for us all.

 

The staff should be encouraged to pay for these concessions using their salaries. Twenty percent is given to the Nigeria public through the Nigeria stock exchange (NSE) while the remaining fifty percent (50%) is given to the prefer bidder so as to control the company’s management. Parastatals like PHCN, Ajaokuta steel mills, ALSCON, NNPC, NSPMC, etc.

 

-  With the mortgage scheme implemented, about Fourty million houses could be built in four years by the people themselves with the government acting as guarantor. The greatest handicap to real wealth creation is the inability of the Nigerian people to be able to access land, obtain mortgage and security of otherwise landed titles.

-  Social security scheme for all non employed Nigerian graduates using the security votes of Governors  & Chairmen of L.G.

 

- SALARY EQUALISATION REGIME FOR ALL CIVIL & PUBLIC SERVANTS (Federal staff) – CBN, NNPC, PHCN, NSPMC, Ministry, Presidency etc.

 

I have tried unsuccessfully to be able to communicate with you so as to be able to help my beloved country. I knew you have a good heart to help the citizens of this great country. Just few months ago, the former President announced to the country's civil/public servant a Salary increase of 15%.  This was a very SAD NEWS to the Nigerian people. I couldn't believe my ears, its shear absurdity.

 

 WHY? You may ask;

 

What the country's civil/ public servant need at this critical economic crunch is not a salary increase of 15% but the SALARY EQUALISATION scheme. Any increment across the board as presently carried out will be “going round in circles”. The problem remains as before the increase was made, even if by 70% or 100% increase. Infact, a worse scenario is now prevalent with the recent (15%) percent salary increase, because 15% salary package (Take-home pay) of certain parastatal staff (NNPC/CBN) is equal if not more than the entire annual salary package of other Parastatals/Ministry staff. This is unfair and a precept for nepotism and endless rat race for job change.

 

The bench mark for all our country's civil/ public servant emolument (Take Home Package) should be defined in such areas as;

 

-         Basic salary as per level/step

-         Housing

-         Transportation

-         Utilities

-         Furniture’s allowances

-         Hazard Allowance &

-         Extra/Shift duty Allowance.

 

That way, our country's civil/ public servant could actually earn a LIVING WAGE irrespective of whether they work in a parastatal or in the ministry, at CBN, NSMPC, NNPC or at PHCN Plc.

 

What I am trying to establish is a system where a level grade one (1) staff in any Parastatal, Ministry or Corporation/Commission is PAID THE SAME amount as basic packages, ditto for all other grade levels. The different in pay packages however exist ONLY in Hazard and Extra/shift duty allowances. The implication will be that each discipline will have a certain percentage of their basic salary as Hazard and Extra/shift duty allowances. This will create a level playing field for all persons. The rush for people to be willing to work only in CBN, NNPC, NSPMC and State House will be systematically eliminated. It will also eliminate the fight for incessant wage increase from different quarters.

 

Most importantly, it will make the civil/public service an orderly and well motivated workforce responsive to the aspiration of the good of our nation. Give us reformed salary structure not increase. This will put to end inequality of people & the brain drain syndrome - since people are expected to have godfathers to secure jobs in these “choice” government establishments.

 

As at today, a grade Level 3 civil/ public servant at NNPC/CBN earn better than an officer with Grade level 13 at the ministry/PHCN. Such unequal pay packages are very unhealthy for our polity. It was my belief that the Public Service Reform bureau (BPSR) in dealing on salary will sort out this vital issue once and for all. For God sake, we all go to the same market and work for the same Government, unfortunately the bureau failed GOD and Nigerians. I believe this could be rectified to give this country an orderly & disciplined workforce.

 

Secondly, I wish to use this opportunity to appeal to you and the rest of your TEAM, SSG, Federal Ministers, Director-Generals/Permanent Secretary to be easily accessible. Make it possible for ANY Nigerian to be able to reach you: By phone, Fax, intercom, emails etc. It will help the country grow positively.

 

Thirdly, and very important too, the reform in the Civil/Public service requires the input of the civil/public servants to enable the reforms succeed. As I write this mail to you, there are more than a hundred thousand civil/public servants who wish to leave the civil/public service if only their severance entitlement will be paid instantly to them after turning in their letters of resignation/ Retirement. But they are dead scared to attempt it because the reform which you inherited from our former President is still suffering from the old disease of delayed entitlements payment to retiring/retired personnel’s

 

Fourthly, and this is dear to my soul, METROPOLITAN Allowances MUST be introduced as part of the reforms to give it the desired meaning. This new allowance is to cater for workers at Abuja, Port Harcourt & Lagos. These cities are relatively expensive to stay in. The cost of Accommodation, Transportation and even feeding (Purchase power) of the civil/public servants in these cities are pitiable when evaluated. The allowance is expected to ease off the extra burden which comes upon the civil/public servants as a result of his residency in these cities so as to enable him carry out his official duties dutifully. Mr. President, please read my write up to USAID in respect to Housing/Mortgage loan scheme as attached.

 

Lastly, and for the GOOD OF YOUR CHILDREN and MINE – posterity of your office, Let the take home pay (salary) of civil/public servants be able to take them home. Let the Reform which you lead today give hope to today and future generation of Nigerians. Let dignity be seen upon those who work and not scorn, that is, let there be job satisfaction and civil/public servants naturally shun corruption and corrupt tendencies as a result of good reward for their labour. Let your REFORM remove CURSE (s) from the land. The civil/public servants today (Apart from CBN/NNPC/NSPMC) virtually steal to be able to pay for their annual accommodation, transportation, feeding and educational training of their children. Most of them don’t even see it as such again (Reprobate mind set) but as survival strategy and for those of us who choose to be different, the salary equalization scheme through the Civil/Public Service Reform is our only hope. You and I know that a well motivated, well trained, well equipped and well remunerated workforce will always be productive and an invaluable assets to the nation. In one word, the Nigerian worker need better pay packages so as to preoccupy his mind with how to invest his monthly savings rather than waiting for what his retirement benefit will be and when it will be paid to him. The good Lord will give you understanding sir (Amen).

 

-  PROPERTY RECOVERY COMMISSION (PRC)

The government needs to set up a Property Recovery Commission (PRC). This commission is to be saddled with the responsibility of recovering used government properties from ministries, parastatals & corporation.

 

In most government offices, abandoned cars, trucks, equipment, furniture etc are daily been put out of use and declared used/unserviceable items. Regrettably however, some of the item cost a lot of money and may only require only few “nairas” to get them back to good working condition, but these officers prefer to buy new ones so as to make new contract or to be able to sell the declared items back to themselves as scraps. This commission therefore is to collect such item and redirect same to other government establishment for appropriate use.

 

Typical example is the much computer hardware been daily churned out of government offices; these could be collected and redistributed to local primary/secondary schools for use. Many school buildings in Nigeria have not even seen a computer set let alone to own one. It’s an irony that our children in villages study under trees while these valuable equipments, furniture’s & rugs rots. For other items as cars, trucks & other heavy duty machinery, these are sold off immediately they are so declared to create space and also avoid depreciation. Some of these are given to the faculty of engineering technology to enable them recreate new ideologies from them and thereby add to knowledge.

 

At the premises of every office of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) & Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), there lie hundreds of vehicles, and other sundry materials/equipments rusting away and depreciating in value by the second, some of these items are accident remains, sized goods from armed robbers and disused equipment from the Nigerian Police itself.  

 

Ultimately, the government recovers some of the monies invested in the items. As I write this minutes, there are more Two Hundred Billion Naira (#200,000,000,000.00)  worth of furniture, office equipments, rugs, cars, trucks & other heavy duty machinery scattered all over the country wasting away.

 

With this commission in place, the various ministries are under law to inform the commission monthly of their declared used items and further necessary action is taken to enable government profit from them.

 

 

 

 

 

MASS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

 

The existence of a mass transportation system is central to any developed economy. The need to move goods and services in the most cost efficient manner is unavoidable.

 

-         The standard gauge rail network already started must be vigorously pursued to its logical completion all over the country. This will enable large movement of goods and services to be conveyed from one place to the other. Apart from these, the entire trunk A roads in the country must as a matter of necessity be upgraded from two single lanes or two double lanes to becoming four or even six double lanes.

 

-         FERMA must be re-organized

 

-         Individuals and corporate organizations must be encouraged to build & maintain standard road network which will be NAMED after them.

 

-         Light rail system commencing at Abuja & Lagos must be extended to other major cities

 

-         Underground (Rail & Road) system should be envisaged now and adequate plans made to achieving a modern towns & cities transportation

 

-         Also high speed trains should be envisaged now and adequate plans made to achieving a modern towns & cities inter and intra transportation system.

 

 

 

LAND OWNERSHIP – LAND REFORMS

 

The most important reform to be undertaken by any government in Nigeria that will have direct effect on the populace is Land (Land ownership) Reforms. This is because; shelter is the second most important need of MAN and First visible need for man.

 

In Nigeria today, the number of growing Ghettos & Slums is increasing by the day because there is no defined land allocation scheme in place all across the country – Local govt., State govt. and even the Federal government. Worse for Nigerians however is the glaring fact of about Ten (10) billion naira (#10,000,000,000.00) used to build illegal /temporary shelters every other year. This money can be saved and wealth created with good land allocation scheme to ensure permanent housing needs for everyone. Typical example is the recent demolition exercises in Lagos (Tinibu), Abuja (El-Rufai), Port-Harcourt and other cities across Nigeria.

 

The estimated amount in cash for this exercise in just three years was put at about Two Hundred Billion Naira (#200,000,000,000.00). That money is more than enough to serve as mortgage facility for fourty million Nigerians. The waste could also have been avoided if a DEFINED land allocation scheme has been in place. But I posit today, better late than never.

 

To chart a way forward therefore, I make the following submissions;

     

-         Land must be accessible like any other commodity at a provision store. The federal, state, and local governments must as a matter of urgency employ qualified land, town & regional surveyors/planners to mark out and put for sale, plots of residential purpose, land at very affordable prices to the lowest of the society. This will reduce or even remove the existence of city slums and ghettos. It will also transform villages to habitable towns with necessary minimal infrastructures to be provided by the people themselves.

 

-         Mortgage schemes. The existence of a vibrant mortgage scheme is a sin qua non to easy access to housing for all Nigerians in the first four years with the government serving as guarantors for its people. The fund is generated from the present existing Pension funds, newly capitalized commercial banks and the NSITF. At present there is over Eight hundred billion naira (#800,000,000,000.00) available in these funds. The commercial banks should be encouraged massively to get involved in the mortgage financing with the CBN putting in modalities to having a lending rate of less than four (4) percent and twenty (20) to thirty (30) years repayment period.

 

HOUSING AND URBAN REGULATORY COMMISSION.

 

The government needs to set up a new regulatory commission to help drive the new land reform (Land Ownership reforms). This body to be constituted using technocrats in the engineering, building, fire safety and environmental engineering discipline. The present Federal Housing Authority (FHA) must be collapsed to form a section, not a full fledge department of this new commission. This is to enable the government be a facilitator not an arbiter.

 

The function of building houses by the federal government must be stopped forthwith. All existing government houses must be put up for sale to civil servants who reside where the structures abound on mortgage. The government does not need to build for its citizen to enable them own habitable homes, its only need to provide the enabling environment, the acceptable regulation and the necessary incentives like mortgages and extremely low interest rates through the banks. With the political will in place, Mr. President, the Nigerian public will put in place a minimum of Fourty (40,000,000) million houses in four (4) years (2007 – 2011). This is achievable your Excellency. Please read my column Mortgage Schemes in WEALTH CREATION above.

 

This new commission when created will have as its objective or mandate as the following (Though not limited to):

-         Provide a comprehensive data base of all available usable lands in every location, local council & villages etc.

 

-         Project, design make available for the general public, divers plots of lands for sale, at affordable cost with adequate provision for roads, markets, schools, recreation, etc. while taking into account future projects and prospect for the area. These plots MUST be readily available on request with a maximum of one year to build or forfit same.

-         Management & coordinator of Geographical Information System (GIS) Offices nationwide

-         Ensuring fire safety status of every building/structure with other around it

-         Monitoring & evaluation of every building plans/Model to conform with the

-         Available to provide counsels, building plans &

-         Development control division to enforce conformity with all required standards.

     -   Certification of buildings for ten year (renovation) term to ensure           aesthetic features of our cities & towns.

 

 

 

 

 

GENERAL SECURITY

 

1.     THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE

 

Security in Nigeria has been undermined. The Nigeria Police is responsible for maintain law & order in the country. The Police head the other sisters’ organs in the management of internal security. But the Police are very much a disorganized entity at the moment. The economic, political & social realities in the polity have overwhelmed the force. Issues like Niger Delta, politicians corruption ridden lifestyles, lack of obedience to law court rulings, armed Policemen being used to kidnapped sitting governors, constitutional provision with conflicting interpretations etc.

 

To start with, certain ills that are presently prevalent in the Police force should be exorcised to create for the POLICE a credible image, viz:

-         Daily returns for police superiors after road blocks must be checked

-         Sales of police uniforms and other ancillaries to police personel.

-         Posting to very remote areas as punishment for disciplined policemen/Officers who are non conformist to corrupt tendencies

-         Fight and intense struggle for posting as orderlies to politicians and other public appointed officers

-         Posting on duty to “choice” location on election days

-         Equipment inadequacies, ill-equipped/kitted men & officers

-         Poorly motivated and remunerated personnel

 

Pillars of effective policing.

-         No barracks for police personnel – Yearly Bulk house rent payment be made to them with deliberate instruction for them to stay in the locality of their primary assignment – this is true community policing.

-         Vertically and horizontal relationship within the police personnel

-         Use of intelligence, Surveillances and Preventive policing to detecting crimes and malefactors rather than crime fighting policing. Typical examples are citizen with expensive lifestyles & criminal acts. Such member of the public is censored and necessary proactive action is taken to track them down.

-         Good remunerations, adequate & continuous mental and physical training, technically kitted to operate and insured comprehensively for life by the police service commission. Terminal/Severance packages must be paid one week after the stepping out of every officer/men

-         Good communication equipment to make back up effective to every policeman On or Off duty. The Police force is 24Hours operational in its affairs.

-         Payment of security allowance of at least one thousand naira per month to enable them make/receive emergency calls from the public

-         Incentives: Housing loans, car loans, e.t c. These incentives must be very accessible to every rank and file of the police personnel. This will reduce and ultimately remove their dependant upon the Nigeria public whom they have tasked daily to pay #20, #50 or #100 each time they cross their path – “family support”, the extra bonus to support their income.

-         A reorientation programme for the entire police force should be carried out immediately to inculcate into the police a new mind set that they are people’s police and not government police as presently constituted.

-         The minimum entry qualification for the police should be raised to be a graduate. This will eliminate illiteracy and also ensure that recruited/commissioned policemen will be able to meet up with modern policing which is ICT compliant. Today policing involved high tech engineering solutions, professional graphic/Fine artist who through their imagination can detect crime by addition of few pieces of information. The issue of **GRADUATE POLICE RECRUIT** should be considered as part of the reforms for the police. The main thrust of Police is to maintain law & order. But the custodian of the law must be knowledgeable enough as well, even more. Because as long as we are willing to employ primary & secondary certificates school as entry qualification, the Nigerian Police will remain largely illiterate – especially with federal character implementation. No price is too big to pay to achieve a well trained, well equipped well remunerated and a robust security organization that is highly mobile. No graduate Police recruit will let himself low to ignore checks on fellow citizen and opt for twenty naira (#20.00) as alternative because his (SALARY) take home packages, promotions and career progression are clearly spelt out. He knows that as a graduate Police recruit, his becoming the police I.G. is accessible.

 

 

 2.  Social security

-         Establishment of a Job Creation Commission for graduates. The present civil service commission is collapsed into this new commission. Emphasis should be on getting the Nigerian graduates to be employed rather than tribal, federal, regional and other parochial interest. The oil from the Niger Delta feed the entire country than itself. This will encourage other children to see the worth for education (Eastern Nigerian kids) as against money (Ego) as an end.

-         Payment of monthly social security allowance to unemployed graduate through the commission above mentioned until they secure some form of livelihood. The funds presently been wasted in National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) can be rightly channeled to eliminating literate restiveness

-         National Directorate of Employment (NDE) should also be collapsed to be a sector under the Job Creation Commission.

-         Funds for this commission is accessed from the President, Governors security votes and yearly NAPEP budgetary allocations

-         Young beggars (Almajiri), Child traders/sellers & also young girls who sells themselves for want of the good things of life must be stopped by ensuring that every child that is not up to eighteen (18) years can not be seen on the streets between the hours of 8.00AM & 2.30PM. This is possible with the schools operating at optimum capacity and absorbing every child of less than Eighteen (18) years. This must be backed by a policy and necessary Police enforcement on the general public. Any child found defaulting will be punished accordingly.

-         All GSM providers must review their subscription by ensuring that every line has a name & personality attached to it. In other words, no line is sold out without someone registering it for him/her by availing the GSM customer data base with his personal information. A person can have more than one GSM line.

-         At age twelve (12), every Nigerian child MUST have a national identification card which he must carry along with him/her and this card must be renewed every two years. while at at age eighteen (18), every Nigerian teenager MUST have a national identification card, national voters registration card, national population registration card, national health insurance scheme card, national school registration card, and a national housing card all of which he must carry along with him/her and these card must be renewed every Four (4) years. These initiatives will eliminate crime and criminal tendencies since everyone has been identified at least six times apart from Bank card, GSM registration card, and National drivers’ license etc.

-         Security allowance for all working population (Public & Private establishment) and all retired people as well – at least one thousand naira should be earmarked for this purpose per person. These will make workers, non workers and even the retired personnel to be part of the security initiatives of the community.

-         The immediate SIGNING into law of the Freedom of Information bill & the Fiscal Responsibility bill will ultimately put every man as a watch dog of his environment. This is one law which will single handedly reduced CORRUPTION to less than 5% prevalence as against 99% today. Zero tolerance to corruption will be achieved and EFCC will have fewer jobs to do and also have easy access to otherwise “security documents”.

-         As major security check, the Nigerian police force MUST begin to have a fingerprint data base of all Nigerians from the age of twelve (12). This will be complimented by data base from the national population commission (NPC) and INEC data base.

-         The Police department Must be made to publish and placed on bill boards across the country local telephone security numbers for citizens to feed back and report crime to the police as was applicable in this country years ago when it was common knowledge to call 199, 999 etc. during emergency period . These local lines can be highly subsidized by the network provider so that callers don’t have to pay much to give vital security information to the law custodians. A post paid call back lines will be ideal.

-         A major break through in security will be the use of the GSM network. Infrastructures. As applicable in some developed economies, every GSM lines must be duly registered by individual or corporate bodies. Purchasing of GSM lines on the street and using same to make anonymous calls after which they are discarded to avoid been traced. Facilities must be put in place get personal information, fingerprints, instants photo shots etc. at the point of purchase. This will bring about a major altitude revolution because by the use of a GSM line the security organs can track down any fraudsters when the need arise (Only).

-         A second major break through in security will be the use of the car tracking security GSM network. The federal road safety commission (FRSC) can expand this new initiative been commercialized by private firms to create a data base within one year of all vehicles in the country. Stolen vehicles and getaway vehicles of law breaker can be easily tracked by the police along the route of transit. The police along the route of transit are alerted to make the required arrest. The days of Police chasing criminal all over the place are over for good (Remember Lawrence Anini of the Babaginda era?.

-         Provision of at least one Police surveillance helicopters in every zonal command to effect aerial patrol when necessary.

-         Finally the urgent need to take advantage of the satellite launch of our country to providing satellite surveillance of the entire country and narrowing down to specific locations when required.

 

 

3. Niger Delta

   -   Oil companies & service companies must employ locals (50%) so as to        make the natives stakeholders in the Nigeria project.

  -    NDDC must be de-politicized in it’s board members and staff; only        professionals/technocrat must be used or engaged to manage the        implementation of the funds be released to it with no political/politicians        influencing which contractor get what  job.

 -    13% derivation fund should be human capital (Education) & infrastructural        development. All logistic expenditures should be Bourne by the state               government. Every project must be made and seen to be financially           prudent. These will reduce the fritting away of these funds by state        governors who hide under immunity clause to incur over 60% expenditure        on the 13% DF from the federation account.  

 

4.  Elections

-    the various flaws experienced at the just concluded 2007 elections needs      to be worked upon to give life to the entire citizens who seems to have     lost faith in the electoral process.

-   Elections to be by electronic method to avoid ballot snatching and stuffing.       Also, delay in announcing of election results.

-  The formation and funding of political parties should be critically looked at.     For equity and justice to reign, every political party must have the same     allocation from the federal government, which in itself should be a stipend to    assist them (parties). The main bulk of the funding for political parties MUST    be by membership subscription and monthly dues/donations.

-  Availability of comprehensive voters registers which is accessible on the     internet, and in the offices of any political party.

 

5.  Constitution review

 

The constitution amendment exercise suspended just before the close of the last national assembly session must be hastily revisited and signed into law before the end of the year 2007 to give the every Nigerian citizen faith in the Nigerian project. Of some urgent concerns are issues below among so many;

 

 -   Electoral reforms; a detailed overhaul is needed to make for credible leaders.

 -   Fiscal federalism and not political federalism, thus responsibility is given      to the different federating states and government units to exercise.      Devolution of power and responsibility from the federal to the states and      also from the states to the local government’s councils

 -   Introduction of state Police which will be under the federal police for at      least twenty (20) years before independently operating as obtainable in      advance democracies like the USA where the sheriff operate in the states.

 -   13% Derivation Fund should be reviewed to 30% for the Niger Delta States   

 -   Chairman, INEC, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Attorney General            (AG), Accountant General for the Federation (AGF), Auditor General of the       Federation, etc should be men & women of integrity (Nigerians) who      believe in their capabilities and as such apply for such post through the      National assembly, where the general public has access to screen them as      well. The top three most qualified will be forwarded to the president for      appointment from which only one is eventually accepted by the President.

-    Recall process for non performing legislators must be made easier and      unambiguous.

-   Creation of local government areas and funding should be the sole function     of the federating states houses of assembly.

-   The question, who is a Nigerian? Must be clearly defined and the issue of     Nigerian foreigners should also be addressed. A man who has lived all his     life in a particular environment should have some rights and privileges     accorded to him after all; he pays his tax and contributes to the development     of that society.

-  Immunity for Governors to be expunged

-  President to have only moral and social immunity not financial immunity

-  Federal Character Commission needs to be reviewed to accommodate    excellence and eliminate mediocrity and nepotism. Great nations of the world    make use of their best human resource to strive ahead of others. We can’t be   different in our approach to achieving greatness like we have set to do!

 

 

6. Sport Facilities and Developments

Sport is one major vehicle for dousing excess energies and also making money. With good management, sport is the greatest employer of labour in most developed economies while also engaging idle minds. I believe the government need to provide enough funds to all primary, secondary and tertiary institution to fund sporting activities. The Niger Delta youth could be engage using sports and formal Education for the tender ones.

 

Two prong approaches is needed here. Firstly, all schools will be mandated to engage in literary & debating competitions (Mental), and secondly, the corporate organizations need to be encouraged to reappraise their yearly sports budget to contribute their quota to physical & mental education of the Nigerian populace while government may make a deliberate intervention fund for all schools to organize sporting activities & events. There are over fifty types of sporting activities & event with each of them also having varying category of junior, intermediate, senior, under ten (10), under fifteen (15) etc. the opportunities are inexhaustible & inestimable. Mind and bodies are engaged and laurels are won which translates to wealth – foreign exchange, sometimes more than petrol dollars.

 

 

 

HUMAN CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

 

For any country to make meaningful impact at the world stage, economically, politically, technologically or otherwise, it must build its people to efficiently exploit it resources. Many developed economies today lack material resources (Japan, Singapore etc.) but relies upon its human resources to rule over other more endowed like Nigeria. This trend must be reversed urgently to put Nigeria on the “YEAR 2020” developed status.

 

To start with, the reforms in the education sector must be sustained and technically speeded up to give our children a purchased future. It will also finally put to rest “the rush for certificate” – rat race between “inferior or superior certificates” etc. Our schools certificates must be harmonized to reflect a wholly Nigerian make while conforming to international ethics. As at today, we borrowed certificate nomenclatures from all climes of the world – this is unhealthy, because struggle & struggling as to who is who or what has been the order of the day.

 

The federal government MUST play the fundamental role of regulations, supervision, inspections and schools approvals. The funding from the federal government should be tailored towards research, technological developments institutions and the federal universities. The secondary schools, including federal secondary schools, must be managed by the federating states, while the primary schools must be managed by the local government. States can also fund universities education as is presently done all across the nation now. The rest schools are by individuals & corporate organization. Every local council wish to get its people educated, so are the states. The federal government must shirk off too many undue responsibilities (NPEB) of trying to manage local primary schools which exist in remote hamlets across the entire country in a country of over one hundred and Sixty million people. It is shear corruption to budget for primary schools in hamlets and villages which a federal minister may not be able to locate in an enlarged Nigeria map. To me, Mr. President, to monitor these states and local government budgets (Monthly allocation) is to speedily sign the Freedom of Information bill (F.O.I. ACT), the Fiscal responsibility bill and ADOPTION of Fiscal federation principle.

 

To chart a way forward therefore, I make the following submissions;

     

1.   Tuition fees

-         Tuition fees – University undergraduates - #5,000.00

-         Tuition fees – Secondary school students - Nil

-         Tuition fees – Primary school pupil -  Nil

 

2.  Compulsory Two (2) Year Post Working Service Scheme (Corps)

 

 Reminiscent of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) in which fresh graduate  are engaged by law/policy to mandatory serve their nation and also get to understand the diversity of its people & cultures, the Post Working Service Scheme (PWSC -Corps) is dynamic service scheme in which retired, professional in every discipline are co-opted into the Nigerian tertiary institutions to “down load” from their wealth of practical experience for the benefit of our undergraduates; Nurses, scientist, Doctors, Engineers, Architects, Pharmacist, Business Administrators, Geologist, Lawyers, e.t.c,) for a period of two years. These professional and technocrats are scheduled for this assignment at least a year before their eventual retirement. These groups of person are expected from Asia, America, Europe and Nigerian captains of industries (Technocrats Managing Directors of firms in Nigeria & elsewhere in the world)

 

The government must as a matter of urgency begin this program (scheme) to be able to reclaim & ultimately reverse our education from brain drain syndrome. Every Nigerian who have been employed in the civil, public & private sectors and has spent Thirty years MUST be co-opted into the schools (Universities & Secondary schools) where they are expected to shed /impact the upcoming generations with their wealth of experience for a minimum period of Two (2) years; that way, the students are fed with qualitative materials and knowledge is enhanced. Most importantly, the issue of teachers selling handouts will be eliminated because this scheme will provide men and women who are already financially okay and so are not interested in the cheating perpetrated by some lazy rich students and poverty stricken, corruption ridden accomplice lecturers

 

 

3. Uniform criteria for obtaining approval to setting up schools

 

   -    Every school must meet with the minimum criteria for a school to be so         regarded. Some of which is: available qualified teachers, enough         physical structures to accommodate the pupils /students, enough land         space  for recreations, future expansion, agricultural practical, all         sporting arenas, teaching gears & equipments (Laboratory models)

  -    Every higher institution should consolidates on a maximum of ten (10)        programmes (courses) in which they are expected to produce disciplined        graduates who can competes with any of their counterpart any where in the        world. Infact, six (6) COURSES will be adequate and just efficient.        Presently some schools run almost one hundred (100) courses. This is bad       news! And a prerequisite for half baked or badly baked graduates.  

 -    Few higher institutions should be customized to improved research and       technology development, such as, University of Petroleum Development,       University of Television technology, University of Metallurgy (Steel       Development), etc. The government need not create new Universities to       achieve this proposed customized universities, the existing universities       through their college of engineering technology (former polytechnics) can       bring this to bear.

 

4.  Production of educational instructional (school) material

     The government must invest more in the production of educational      instructional (school) materials like books, and science models. This      factories are already producing but at a very low capacity. The production of      educational instructional (school) materials must be customized to avoid re-     sale into the Nigeria market by unscrupulous officials at the education      ministry. This materials when distributed to schools will enable these school      to have library, enough mathematical & science laboratory models as      teaching aids.

 

5.  Introduction of e – learning teaching aids.

    The need for using electronic teaching aids, electronic boards (Blackboard).     Electronic libraries for every Nigeria University. 

 

6. Introduction of Civil Right & Responsibility Course in Schools.

 

A new subject MUST be introduced into the school curriculum from primary to tertiary level to be known as Civic Right & Responsibility. This new subject does not need any resources to procure/produced. The fundamental information that makes a man knowledgeable about his society is package together and updated every month base on present and prevailing realities in our polity. Issues to be compiled into this new subject include:

-         The entire Nigerian constitution

-         All Acts & Edicts passed by the Nigerian national assembly

-         All offences managed by the Nigerian Police Force on behalf on the Nigerian state

-         All offences managed by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on the Nigerian roads for behalf on the Nigerian state

-         All offences managed by the Nigerian Security & Civil Defence Corps on behalf on the Nigerian state. Ditto for other agencies and commission.

-         DOs and DON’Ts of the society.

 

The intention of this Subject in our school curriculum is to inculcate into the Nigerian child, teenager & adult, the tenets of what it takes to be a true Nigerian. What is lawful and criminal, the norms of the society and the repercussion if breached. The daily Policies of government based on laws passed by the nation legislators – policy trust. The new subject will make it mandatory for every Nigerian to recognize the avenues available to him to make contributions to his society & also receive the tutelage of what to do concerning his country. The effect of this subject on the populace is an enlightened citizenry who is not innocent before the law. Mr. President, remember this noble “Police” statement “Innocent of the law is no excuse”

 

CORRUPTION & FAITHLESSNESS IN NIGERIA.

 

The national orientation agency (NOA) must employ a paradigm shift from the propaganda approach to ICON human examples – Prof. Dora Akinyuli, etc. The agency directors and every officer in government circles, from your humble self, Mr. President to every member of your cabinets and affiliates

 

Orchestrated character and altitudinal revolution need to be foisted on the entire nation by erasing but not limited to the following:

 

-  State Governors convoy, Federal Ministers convoy, Emir/Oba/Obi convoy, from insulting the people they have chosen to serve. These groups of supposed political leaders of the people drive through their communities in dark tinted convoyed vehicles. To the average Nigerian on the street it means we owe you no responsibility. It must be stopped to give citizen a belief that elected/traditional leaders are servants – service providers not oppressors or taskmaster as is presently experienced.

 

-         The use of siren convoyed vehicles and cars are to be limited to fire fighting vehicles and hospital ambulance. No political leader is expected to “sirened” his ways pass the people who elected him for their service. That is treachery. Today, every government establishment executive, from L.G. Chairmen, Police I.G., Commissioners, D.P.O.,  Immigration Prisons, Permanent Secretary, Director-General, Fed. Ministers, Governors, Special Assistants, Senior Special Assistants, Personal Assistants, Advisers, and all manner of portfolios holders including traditional chiefs move from their homes to their neighbor’s house in very long convoy of vehicle. A minimum of about seven. (7) Vehicles with itinerary of staff and security guards. This is a show of affluence and inestimable waste of the people’s scares resources.

 

-         People caught in fraudulent activities must be seen to have been punished by government. A fraudulent Chief Executive must be treated the same way as a thief on the street. The use of euphemism to cover a thief is in itself criminal – fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, etc.

 

-         There MUST be a permanent stop to government houses and liason units having more than ten (10) vehicles for servicing their needs. At the moment, the federating states government houses each have more than two hundred and fifty (250) cars & vehicles (DTGH, ABGH, ADGH, KNGH, BNGH, CRGH, RVGH, LAGH etc.) for servicing their domestic needs WHILE the State Hose Abuja has more than five hundred and fifty (550) cars & vehicles for servicing their needs with another five hundred and fifty (550) cars for the presidency. Its shear waste and show of ego. This nation can do with all the money for maintenance, serving and replacement of this unnecessary bargages. Sincerely sir, the fight for political power (Office) is the war on who controls more wealth and affluence as against who serve more. I am happy however about your emergence; you made me and other believe you are here to serve. I pray you will be true to your words sir. Just cut down these wasteful expenditures and corruption, then the despondency that pervades the land will give way to patriotism & nationalism.

 

 

NEW TAX SYSTEM

 

Every Nigerian and non Nigeria must be given a tax identification card to reflect his personal tax, cars, water, electricity, & houses. This initiative is another form of security checks in the polity, because the gaps between the haves and have not need to be bridged using economic concepts so as to reduced envy due to poverty. “Know this Mr. President; it is a crime to be law abiding in a country of crooks”. The rule of law must be the watch word of every Nigerian government; the law should not be bent backward for some individuals while others face it differently. The law is accepted blind to human face.

 

The federal government needs to urgently put in place a new tax regime in housing and vehicles. This tax regime is expected to take a geometrically cumulative approach. A man with one car is billed one thousand naira per month for parking/road/fuel, and those with two cars four thousand naira, (#4,000.00) those with three cars twenty seven thousand naira (#27,000.00) and so and so forth.

 

Also, a man with one house is billed one thousand naira per month for tenement, and those with two houses four thousand naira, those with three house twenty seven thousand naira and so and so forth. The tax is implemented differently in high brow areas as much as ten times

This implication of this tax system will be the drop in ego and insatiable thirst for material acquisition because the owner will have to pay every other month the cost of houses, cars, water, electricity personal tax, etc. no body likes tax burden.

 

 

SUMMARY

 

In summary, Mr. President, your priority to declare a state of emergency in the Energy & Education sector is a step in the right direction. But this declaration will be Fruitless if you lack the political will to face the negative factors which makes these sectors to remain comatose in the first place. These conspicuous factors are still prevalent and ominous in Nigeria today; CORRUPTION & FAITHLESSNESS IN NIGERIA. This problem can be solved by a Nigerian leader who wishes to “bell the cat” and in turn Free the entire “rat kingdom” from annihilation. The Nigerian elites and political class is a greedy bunch who sees every government office, projects & programme as avenues to obtain some more personal wealth. The immediate past administration tried to fight this hydra-headed monster but has only 10% success. Thanks to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. A better way to uproot the corruption monster is to speedily pass the Freedom of Information bill (F.O.I. Act) and thus make the Nigerian people the watchdog of their resources.  As an experienced Electrical engineer, I am knowledgeable enough to helping find a practical solution to our intractable power outage problem, however, “many are called, but very few are chosen

 

In this write up to you, I have summarized my solutions to the seven (7) point agenda of your administration thrust. To give an in-depth details of this solutions will be attempting to writing a complete book which time does not permit for now considering the fact of your just be elected and sworn in about a month now. However, I promised to dedicate my spare time to re-package this piece, with a view to highlighting the subjects, the key areas of action & the modalities for implementation same to achieving success in them. Before then sir, let your Think-Thank advisers sieve through this piece to criticize its validity.

 

While Electrical Engineering (Power) is my professional discipline, I have only attempted to proffer in-depth Economic solutions to other subjects of the seven point agenda based on experience and many years of interaction with other patriotic Nigerians of diverse discipline & background.

 

From the entire piece written, one glaring issue emerge; Funds, funds & more funds will be required to tackle the entire economic Projects and Programmes to fruition. Our country is very rich, but over Eighty percent of this wealth is kept in few individual personal accounts because of their opportunity of holding political offices. I have highlighted some of these avenues above, be sincere and courageous enough to eradicate wasteful expenditures and WE will have these monies to actualize our country’s dream and even more that will come from other Nigerians my proposed solution is a very simple one, its require a truly courageous leader (Not rulers & lords).