Court orders Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan govts to account for recovered loot

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, in a landmark judgment, has held
that successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999 “breached
the fundamental principles of transparency and accountability for failing
to disclose details about the spending of recovered stolen public funds,
including on a dedicated website.”

The court then ordered the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to
“ensure that his government, and the governments of former President
Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and former
President Goodluck Jonathan account fully for all recovered loot.”

The judgment was delivered on Friday by Justice M.B. Idris following a
Freedom of Information suit no:FHC/IKJ/CS/248/2011 brought by the
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

The details ordered by the court to be disclosed include information on the
total amount of recovered stolen public assets by each government, the
amount of recovered stolen public assets spent by each government as well
as the objects of such spending and the projects on which such funds were
spent.

Justice Idris dismissed all the objections raised by the Federal Government
and upheld SERAP’s arguments. Consequently, the court entered judgment in
favour of SERAP against the Federal Government as follows:

1. *A DECLARATION *is hereby made that the failure and/or refusal of the
respondents to individually and/or collectively disclose detailed
information about the spending of recovered stolen public funds since the
return of civil rule in 1999, and to publish widely such information,
including on a dedicated website, amounts to a breach of the fundamental
principles of transparency and accountability and violates Articles 9, 21
and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification
and Enforcement) Act

2. *A DECLARATION *is hereby made that by virtue of the provisions of
Section 4 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the 1st
Defendant/Respondent is under a binding legal obligation to provide the
Plaintiff/Applicant with up to date information on the spending of
recovered stolen funds, including:
(a) Detailed information on the total amount of recovered stolen public
assets that have so far been recovered by Nigeria
(b) The amount that has been spent from the recovered stolen public assets
and the objects of such spending
(c) Details of projects on which recovered stolen public assets were spent

3. *AN ORDER OF MANDAMUS* is made directing and or compelling the
Defendants/Respondents to provide the Plaintiff/Applicant with up to date
information on recovered stolen funds since the return of civilian rule in
1999, including:
(a) Detailed information on the total amount of recovered stolen public
assets that have so far been recovered by Nigeria
(b) The amount that has been spent from the recovered stolen public assets
and the objects of such spending
(c) Details of projects on which recovered stolen public assets were spent

SERAP deputy executive director, Olukayode Majekodunmi, said, “This
judgment confirms the persistent failure of successive governments,
starting from the Obasanjo government, to respect Nigerians’ right to a
corruption-free society and to uphold constitutional and international
commitments on transparency and accountability.
“The judgment is an important step towards reversing a culture of secrecy
and corruption that has meant that high-ranking government officials
continue to look after themselves at the expense of the well-being of
majority of Nigerians, and development of the country.

“This is a crucial precedent that vindicates the right to a transparent and
accountable government and affirms the human right of the Nigerian people
to live a life free from want and fear. We are in the process of obtaining
a certified copy of the around 60 pages judgment. SERAP will do everything
within its power to secure the full and effective enforcement of this
judgment.

The Federal Government had through its counsel, Sheba Olugbenga, filed a
Notice of Preliminary Objection dated March 26, 2012 on the grounds that
SERAP lacked the locus standi to institute the action, that the action was
statute barred, and that SERAP’s affidavit evidence offended the provisions
of the Evidence Act.
On May 8, 2012 the Federal Government filed additional written address in
support of its preliminary objection, arguing against the retroactive
nature of SERAP’s request; saying since the Freedom of Information Act was
enacted in 2011, citizens cannot be demanding disclosure of government
spending since 1999.

In response, SERAP argued that the FOI Act was a special specie of
legislation to liberalize and expand access to information for all
Nigerians; that the FOI Act does not impose any requirement of locus standi
on applicants; that the only relevant limitation period in the case is that
which requires filing of suit within 30 days if information is not given;
that the right which the FOI Act seeks to protect is the right of the
public to have access to information which is in custody of a public
official or institution; and that the information sought by SERAP was not
caught by the law against retroactivity, noting that the right in question
is expropriatory in nature which justifies the granting of access to the
requested information on the ground of overriding public interest.

SERAP also argued in its pleadings that “By virtue of Section 1 (1) of the
FOI Act 2011, it is entitled as of right to request for or gain access to
information which is in the custody or possession of any public official,
agency or institution. By the provisions of Section 2(7) and 31 of the FOI
Act 2011, the Accountant General of the Federation is a public official. By
virtue of Section 4 (a) of the FOI Act when a person makes a request for
information from a public official, institution or agency, the public
official, institution or agency to whom the application is directed is
under a binding legal obligation to provide the applicant with the
information requested for, except as otherwise provided by the Act, within
7 days after the application is received.”

The organization also argued that, “The information requested relates to
the spending on recovered stolen funds since the return of civilian rule in
1999. By Sections 2(3)(d)(V) & (4) of the FOI Act, a public official is
under a binding legal duty to ensure that documents containing information
relating to the receipt or expenditure of recovered stolen funds are widely
disseminated and made readily available to members of the public through
various means.”

According to the organization, “The information requested does not come
within the purview of the types of information exempted from disclosure by
the provisions of the FOI Act. The government has no reason whatsoever to
deny SERAP access to the information sought. The requested information,
apart from not being exempted from disclosure under the FOI Act, bothers on
an issue of national interest, public concern, social justice, good
governance, transparency and accountability.”

“The power or discretion to refuse to give access to information requested
for cannot be exercised in vacuo. Such a power or discretion must be
provided for by the FOI Act itself. This means, therefore, that a request
for information can only be denied or turned down if the information
requested is one which is exempted from disclosure under the provisions of
the FOI Act. In the case at hand, the information requested for by the
plaintiff relates strictly to the spending of recovered stolen funds since
the return of civilian rule in 1999.”

“Obedience to the rule of law by all citizens but more particularly those
who publicly took oath of office to protect and preserve the constitution
is a desideratum to good governance and respect for the rule of law. In a
democratic society, this is meant to be a norm; it is an apostasy for
government to ignore the provisions of the law and the necessary rules made
to regulate matters.”

Property rights reporting Grant for Journalists

The Pulitzer centre on crisis reporting is providing grant to support the reporting of property rights issues in Nigeria. 

Here’s the link  https://www.fundsforngos.org/developing-countries-2/nigeria/pulitzer-center-on-crisis-reporting-seeking-nigerian-journalists-for-property-rights-reporting-grant/

Nigerian journalists visit Benenoir radio station, call for collaboration

by Dayo Emmanuel

Emmanuel (in blue and white), presenting the JFC/WACC publication to Turari

Chief News Editor of the Republic of Benin-based radio station, Radio Su Tii Dera, Mr. Wahab Turari, has advised on the need for a working relationship between Nigerian journalists and their Benenoir counterparts.

Turari, who played host to journalists and missionaries from Nigeria recently, gave a background of the station based in Nikki, northern part of the West African nation.

“We are happy to have you pay a courtesy visit today. This is Radio Su Tii Dera, operating in Nikki. Journalist in Nigeria and Benin are the same, we are in the same profession and it is good if we have a good working relationship,” he said.

The News Editor continued that, “We have many radio stations in Benin Republic, some are business oriented, some are Christian oriented. We have different types. Radio Su Tii Dera is a community based radio station, we broadcast news of Benin Republic, it is owned by the country and sponsored by the people. So it is established for the country and not for individuals or of private interest.”

According to Turari, the station also has established partnership with professional bodies who sponsor programs. “We have arrangement with professional bodies who sponsor us, preachers do come here to preach as well and pay for their time used,” he explained.

Talking about the law that established the station, Turari said the law establishing the radio station made provision for it to be sponsored by the people, but later, such sponsorship had dwindled with time.

On the challenges facing the station, he said, “After commencing operations, the station originally designed to be sponsored by the people, has no enough sponsorship. We run the power generating set from personal fund, as you can see, there was no power supply when you came and we were not on air, but we had to start the generator by 5pm to commence operations again.”

He therefore welcome a collaboration that could yield results. “We would speak to our superior officers on a possible collaboration with you. It is good to network, you can bring a letter so we can submit to our bosses, it is not a strange thing to us,” he said.

In his response, Administrative Secretary of Journalists For Christ (JFC), Nigeria, Dayo Emmanuel, appreciated Turari for the warm welcome.

Emmanuel, who also writes for Newswatch Times newspaper in Nigeria, said, “Journalism is the same everywhere and more so, Benin Republic and Nigeria share common boarder as good neighbours on the West African coast and therefore should collaborate to achieve greater results.

He also told Turari about the Nigerian media. “Like you may have known, Nigeria operates a robust media industry. Apart from being the most populous nation on the continent, Nigeria is also home to outstanding media organisations and media professionals who have distinguished themselves globally. Therefore a collaboration would no doubt facilitate rapid career development, which would definitely reflect on our societies.”

Also on the team, Ayokunle Samuel Oloye, a JFC member who also writes for the Peoples Daily newspaper in Nigeria, appreciated Radio Su Tii Dera for opening its doors to their Nigerian counterparts.

“I particularly thank you all for giving us the opportunity to know more about what you do here. Like you mentioned, a synergy between Nigerian journalists and your station would go a long way to strengthen the relationship between our two nations,” he said.

Emmanuel also intimated Turari on JFC, Nigeria. “Journalists For Christ is an organisation for Christian journalists and allied professionals in Nigeria. We have members from various media houses and since 1998, we meet for fellowship every third Saturday of the month to share the word of God, pray and engage in career development workshops.”

He added that, “Our recent project was a month-long media monitoring on portraying and reportage of women and girls right issues in six Nigerian newspapers, which report was published and presented to the public in January.” He continued that, “Theme of the publication sponsored by World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), Canada, is ‘Mainstreaming Gender Reporting on Affirmative Action of Women and Girls Rights Issues,’ advising that, “This is a kind of synergy we feel journalists across the African sub-region and even across the world should form to better the lot of the people.”

JFC however called on Radio Su Tii Dera to give more prominence to reporting women and girls right issues in their bulletins.

At the end of the courtesy visit, Turari, who introduced other staff of the station on duty, also conducted the visitors round the facility after which a copy of the JFC/WACC publication was formally presented to the station.

Also on the visit were Nigerian and Benenoir missionaries, including, Pastors Olusina Sadiku, Akin Ajiboye, Timothy Ajiboye, Femi Dada,  Andrae Salifu, George among others.

Firm unveils pre-event activities for Cannes advertising festival Firm unveils pre-event activities for Cannes advertising festival

• By Margaret Mwantok 

 

As Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity launches its communications campaign for 2016 titled ‘Thank You Creativity,’ the official festival representative in Nigeria, CHINI Productions, has also rolled out plans for the pre-Cannes local events in Nigeria. Activities lined up in Nigeria include the Roger Hatchuel Academy, the Young Lions Competitions, the Miami Ad School Scholarship Competitions, Lions Edit and Lions Night & Awards.

These activities are scheduled to take place from April 5 through April 9, 2016. Entries for Roger Hatchuel Academy, Young Lions Competition and Miami Ad School Scholarship competitions are already open at www.canneslions-ng.com.

The Roger Hatchuel Academy is the oldest academy in Cannes Lions and is named after the first Festival chairman. It is a high profile, intensive training for university students who intend to work in advertising upon graduation. In Nigeria, CHINI Productions has partnered with APCON for about nine years to promote this programme.

This year, the programme will see talented students gather from campuses around Nigeria to learn from leading professionals in Lagos and visit organisations in the industry during the 3-day intensive residential programme. Companies that have already indicated interest to host the students include Noah’s Ark Communications and STB McCann. The Roger Hatchuel Academy Awards this year will include Best Teacher and Best School awards. The best academy student as usual will be sponsored to attend the international academy in Cannes and the first runner-up will be sponsored to attend a sister regional festival, the Dubai Lynx.

The Young Lions Competitions will hold in Film, Design, Print, Cyber and Media categories. These are competitions among young professionals of 30 years and below working in agencies in Nigeria. The winners from each category will represent Nigeria in their respective categories at the international competitions during the Cannes Lions Festival in June.

This year, CHINI is partnering with Miami Ad School again to offer talented Nigerian creatives scholarships to study at Miami Ad Schools around the world for the certificate, first degree and master’s degree programmes respectively. This is the sixth consecutive year of the scholarship programme and earlier beneficiaries are already contributing to the industry both locally and internationally.

A new introduction to the local offering of the pre Cannes programmes is the Lions Edit. This is a platform offered to agencies, digital companies, production outfits and brands to connect their practice to the creativity essence of Cannes Lions to make topnotch presentations that will educate, inspire, enrich and grow the industry. Several companies have already indicated interest to be part of this. Special roles are expected to be played by communications experts in Health and Technology as well as Nollywood and Music in line with the new specialized festival extensions in Cannes – Lions Health, Lions Innovation and Lions Entertainment. The event is scheduled to begin at 9:00am on April 9, 2016 at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Managing Director of CHINI Productions and Cannes Lions representative, Mr. Nnamdi Ndu, said: “For many in the industry, this is as close as they can get to Cannes Lions. This is our own creative carnival! There is no reason in the world why any major brand or agency in Nigeria should not be at the forefront of this. More than ever before, we need creative solutions to get out of the present challenges we find ourselves in as a nation. And, here’s an open invitation for all hands to come on deck. If we don’t build our industry, no one else will.”

Be sensitive, responsible, NBC urges radio broad

• By Gbenga Salau 

A radio station. image source justshuddup

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has called on radio broadcasters to recognise the power of they have and exercise such with great responsibility and sensitivity.

In a message yesterday to mark World Radio Day with the theme, ‘Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster’, NBC urged radio broadcasters to produce programmes that present radio as a lifeline during emergencies and help to empower people in devastated communities, aside providing the citizenry with information that would empower them, give them a means of livelihood and sense of dignity.

The broadcast regulator described the theme as very relevant to Nigeria, in the face of mindless killing of innocent Nigerians by a misguided sect, known as Bokoharam, as well as perennial floods, which together have continued to devastate homes and farmlands and create millions of internally displaced persons in Nigeria.

“At the National Broadcasting Commission, we recognise radio as an effective medium to reach remote communities and vulnerable people to provide necessary information, essential to saving lives. We also recognise the need to ensure the safety of journalists as they cover disasters. We call for adequate insurance cover for journalists and well as reasonable access to ground zero in all cases.”

The Commission stated that practitioners must ensure that radio give access to the people to express themselves and participate in the decision-making process that would affect their lives. “In line with this, the Commission is empowering the local people to raise their voices and be heard through the grant of community radio licenses.”

It also said it remains committed to protecting radio frequencies and making sure they are available in times of emergency. “And with the successful switchover to digital broadcasting, the Commission hopes to promote the effective utilization of the spectrum, as a tool for national development.

“As we mark this year’s World Radio Day, we join the United Nations to urge all radio broadcasters in Nigeria to use radio to promote the sustainable development goals, to transform our world and demonstrate that, indeed, radio saves lives.”

Bloomberg journalism training marks first year with over 250 graduate

• By Gbenga Salau

 

Applications now open for latest cohort
The Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (BMIA) Executive Training Program to advance financial journalism in Africa marks the completion of its first year this month with 260 graduates receiving recognition at graduation ceremonies in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. The series of ceremonies concluded in Kenya on 22 February.

In a statement made available to The Guardian, the six-month certificate program is offered to journalists and mid-career professionals in business and civil society to strengthen their skills in capital markets and data analysis and enhance their knowledge in financial and economic reporting. The program is a core component of the BMIA, which aims to accelerate development of a globally competitive media and financial reporting industry as well as promote transparency, accountability and good governance in Africa.

“We hope participants will consider this exposure to business and financial reporting as a lifelong vocation to further the development, quality, accuracy and impact of the field in Africa. Bloomberg is proud to partner with preeminent journalists and leading universities in Africa to make this program possible,” says Erana Stennnett, Director, Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa. “I am proud of the journalists and executives who completed the program, and thank their employers for giving them the opportunity,” she adds.

Funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, with additional support from the Ford Foundation, the BMIA Executive Training Program brings together leading faculty from the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and five other preeminent business and journalism schools in Africa, including: Rhodes University School of Journalism in South Africa; the University of Lagos Department of Mass Communication and Radio, and the Pan Atlantic University Lagos Business School in Nigeria; and University of Nairobi, School of Journalism and Mass Communications and Strathmore Business School in Kenya.

Dr. George Njenga, Dean of Strathmore Business School, Kenya says: “Extraordinary business journalists who have completed the BMIA Executive Training Program in Kenya will help grow the financial and business sector to greater heights. This is possible thanks to Bloomberg.”

This interactive program aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of media professionals to better serve the public interest as a critical part of continental development and progress. Program participants received instruction from world-class faculty and industry experts. The 19-day program over six months consists of six modules featuring Public Policy, Financial Journalism, Financial Markets, Accounting and Finance. Delegates also receive copies of “The Bloomberg Way”, a guide for reporters and editors written by Matthew Winkler, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, Bloomberg News, as well as a free subscription to leading financial and business information system, the Bloomberg Professional service.

“It gives us a great sense of accomplishment to graduate 90 participants in Nigeria’s BMIA Executive Training program. Several graduates are already on their way to higher responsibilities in their careers, demonstrating the quality of the faculty and relevance of the program.

We hope to keep attracting outstanding candidates to the program and generating real influence in financial reporting in Nigeria,” Dr. Bongo Adi, Consortium Faculty at the Pan Atlantic University Lagos Business School in Nigeria added.

Social media and pathways to inclusive development

Ayo Olukotun

We have to encourage indigenous practitioners to be part of our larger academic community, not just studying what they produce; but creating a dialogue of respect and returning back to our community our own products for their use and validation. Toyin Falola. 19th February, 2016.

For journalists to perform their agenda setting role with respect to development and democracy in our country, they must always go behind the headlines and the ephemeral – even if convulsive conflicts of political actors – to tract evolving perspectives on issues pertaining to the Nigerian challenge. And what better way to do this than to attend seminars, lectures and conferences, which are decided features of Nigerian public life?

Of course, it is a different matter whether the proposals and insights thrown up at these events and collated in communiques ever impact on public policy or not. That notwithstanding, they stand out as markers of robust civil activity and of elite attempts, even if unsuccessful, to shape the contours of public policy.

Two such occasions are the Distinguished Public Lecture, delivered at the University of Ibadan last Friday by Toyin Falola, who is the Jacob and Francis Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas at Austin, and another one on social media at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research monthly seminar with a lead presentation by Nosa Owens- Ibie, professor of mass communication at Caleb University, Lagos.

As the opening quote suggests, Falola’s lecture was devoted to making a case for incorporating into mainstream academic discourse and research the hitherto marginalised indigenous knowledge systems, which he describes as “ritual archives”. The distinguished historian argued that the colonial archives, upon which the reconstruction of our history as a people is based, cover a mere 65 years coinciding with the period of formal colonisation. In contrast, however, our history and cultural repertoire between the Stone Age and the onset of colonial rule have been almost totally ignored, because there are hardly any written texts about them.

Falola insists that the challenge is how to recover the vast treasure of mainly oral literature and ritual performances expressed in proverbs, songs, poetry, philosophies and festivals that define our people. One advantage of this mission of cultural recovery and restitution is that they will constitute knowledge systems with which Nigeria and the rest of Africa can begin to interrogate received theories and ways of thinking, packaged as universal philosophy. In other words, our scholars can no longer afford to be consumers of so-called expert knowledge validated by the prestige of elite universities in the west. On the contrary, they should employ “ritual archives” to throw up theories and philosophies for others to use. Doing this, will, of course, involve serial turf battles with those who currently control the knowledge industry as well as define what is academically sound.

Let me illustrate Falola’s ideas with reference to the status of Chinese science and technology, which were once derided by the west as crude and substandard. As China, leaning on its indigenous knowledge system and discerning adaptations from the west, emerged as an economic powerhouse, the west, in recent years, has been forced to learn from Chinese developmental models. In other words, a country or civilisation is not respected or could not really grow as long as it is an avid consumer of knowledge from other climes. It is only when external models are thoughtfully examined in the light of indigenous perspectives that they can lead to genuine development. Hence, what we have here goes beyond the familiar plea to pay attention to indigenous science, to underline how inclusive and genuine developments are bound up with the recovery of a once derided cultural substructure.

In this connection, Falola draws attention to current events in South Africa that have established research and institutional frameworks on indigenous knowledge systems, which include important matters such as bio economy – defined as African traditional medicine – food  security, technology, nutraceuticals, health and cosmetics. Others include alternative and clean sources of energy, environmental management, technology innovation, as well as methods of learning and classifications based on indigenous knowledge systems. Seen in this perspective, the advocacy for reframing the debate on inclusive development by leaning on indigenous knowledge turns out to be not an idle or rarefied academic excursion, but a quest for redefining national priorities by showing the limitations of received notions and systems of thought. Turning this into policy will, of course, involve a wider debate on the precise ways in which Nigeria can begin to recapture its lost ‘ritual archives’, as well as incorporate lessons from other countries and cultures that have made substantial progress in this area.

The seminar on social media addressed itself to the various ways in which outlets, such as Facebook,YouTube, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn, among others, are rapidly transforming our social universe and democratic participation.  Interestingly, the seminar coincided with the hosting in Lagos of a social media week. Owens-Ibie noted correctly that the number of internet users in Nigeria, put at almost 80 million, is higher than the entire population of the United Kingdom and France. Also, it is the highest in Africa and the 8th highest in the world. That is probably why so much controversy was generated when Senator Bala Ibin N’allah proposed a ‘Frivolous Partitions and Other Matters Connected Therewith Bill’, subsequently nicknamed the antisocial media bill. Happily, wise counsel prevailed and the proposed bill was shelved.

 Obviously, the growing traffic of conversation on social media is a major force for empowerment, civic engagement and democratic participation. As many will recall, since the 2011 elections, social media have played important roles in the shape and fortunes of the presidential elections, most notably, in 2015 where they became an instrument of youth mobilisation. For the same reason, however, the ruling All Progressives Congress may pay a heavy price if it fails to live up to the expectations aroused on social media during its campaign. One of the important issues raised in Owen-Ibie’s exposition is the way in which social media are alternately empowering a growing segment of the population, while disempowering others.

In other words, Nigeria will only begin to reap the dividends of enhanced participation when it overcomes pronounced obstacles to inclusive Internet led development. According to the scholar, in order to overcome the problems associated with a marginalised new minority, the country must, among other things, come up with a “technology plan” to incorporate digital and media literacy into education.

Other policy suggestions made in the paper include the building of an educational environment to address issues of evolving language on social media, remedying issues of costs as determinants of access for increased participation, enhancing engagement and social activism online, as well as ensuring that access to public information is made easier at all levels of governance. Equally important is the domestication of the Freedom of Information Act to effectively counter rumour propagation online, and increasing the synergy between old and new media.

In fact, the two public events generated rich policy insights in respect of agenda building on inclusive development. Policymakers would do well to pay attention to the wealth of submissions at these and similar conversations.

Lagos Assembly set to domesticate FoI Act

Lagos Assembly set to domesticate FoI Act

Lagos – The Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) on Thursday said preparations were in top gear to domesticate the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act for the enhancement of good governance.

Mr Tunde Braimoh, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the bill would soon be read for the first time.

According to him, the Assembly prides itself as the people’s parliament and will not shy away from anything that will bring dividends of democracy to the masses.

“The Assembly is in top gear and we are at the very advanced stage of domesticating the FoI Act.

“The bill has been circulated for our perusal and adaptation to our local peculiarities and idiosyncrasies. Presently, we are looking at the bill.

“Very soon, it will go into first reading,’’ the lawmaker said.

He said that the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Mrs Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, had started collating the views of each of the 40 parliamentarians of the House on the subject.

He said that the committee would come up with a draft of an amended FoI bill for local purposes before holding a stakeholders’ meeting on it.

NAN reports that a non-governmental organisation, the United Action for Change (UAC), had on Feb. 15, presented the FoI and Whistle Blower bills to th3e Assembly for its domestication. (NAN)

RATTAWU decries political interference in govt media outfits

• By Collins Olayinka

 

Yemisi Bamgbose

THE frequent change of leadership at government-owed media outfits is threatening professionalism of the organizations, the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria, RATTAWU has said.

National President of the Union, Yemisi Bamgbose, in a reaction to the sack of Directors-General of federal government’s media parastatals in the nation recently, said government’s undue censorship and unnecessary interference in the professional judgment of its media-controlled organizations has had negative effects on the expected professional competence and development that are expected from organizations.

Bamgbose, who spoke in Abuja after the union’s meeting, explained that such undue interference in the professional competence by political leaders has introduced god-fatherism by non-professionals in the system.

He expressed regrets that media practitioners always appreciate the prerequisite of government in the appointment and removal of its political heads appointees but argued that such appointments and removals at the pleasure of any government in power would not enhance professional competence and goal setting.

Bamgbose noted that the problem in the Nigerian media today was not about professional competence on the job but what is obtainable in the political system, and called for the constitution of a media stakeholder forum, aimed at determining the expected high performance of media in Nigeria.

However, the RATTAWU president stressed that while it was essential that government should always undertake a thorough overhauling in the system, the constitution review committee of the National Assembly should create good laws including television and radio sets tax laws to allow the professionals in their workplace operate well to enhance optimum performance.

He stressed the need for government to always look inwards at getting competent hands from the system to enhance the credibility, stability and competence, which would help support the media heads in performance of their duty.

Bamgbose also enjoined government on an adequate funding plan which would support equipment performance in the hands of competent media personnel at all times, particularly information and culture sector to turn a money-spinning venture.

He advised the Ministry of Labour and Salaries and Wages Commission to remunerate media practitioners duly as elixir for their optimum professional performance.

The RATTAWU President expressed regrets that such essential equipment were not available presently to run the system unlike what obtained in the developed world and were run on competent hands, especially in the realization of the 2017 television digitalization policy deadline.

He commended government for undertaking a due process in the nation’s general administration, economically, politically and socially in the last few months.

‘Social media as the ombudsman’

• By Gbenga Salau 

 

Country Manager, Mara Social Media, Bolanle Olatunji (left); Founder, olodonation.com, Social Media Influencer, Ibrahim Salawu; Lead Consultant, Market Adv Conulting, Emmanuel Otori and Founder, olorisupergal.com and Social Media Expert, Oluwatosin Ajibade at the equipping the unengaged through Social Media and Mentoring of 2016 Social Media Week in Lagos

The Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, (BPSR) Dr Joe Abah has said that with the Freedom of Information Act and social media platforms, the citizens would make governments accountable as well as make the jobs of public servants a lot easier.

Abah said this in Lagos yesterday as a member of a two-man panel during the ‘Citizens, Government and Technology’ session at the on-going Social Media Week, hosted by EiE and Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement (SACE). The two senators and the Governor of Kaduna State that ought to be on the panel did not show up.

Abah said that his Bureau was set up principally to make government function better for the citizens. According to him, social media is giving more people access to governance though it is not yet fully translating into better service delivery for the people especially in terms of citizens-government relationship. He also felt that the present government benefit from social media in riding into power, so he expected that the same government will not restrict its use.

On his part, Head, Complaint Response Unit, Nigeria Police, CSP Abayomi Shogunle, disclosed that the need to make the Police more accountable and address complaints from Police-Citizens interaction gave birth to the Nigeria Police Complaint response unit. According to him, the focus of the Unit and that of the IGP is about giving Nigerians a Police force, the people can trust and call their friends. He said that social media platforms were being greatly deployed in executing that mandate as the Unit is being manned 24-7. He listed some of the social media platforms being deployed to execute its mandate to include Whatsapp, twitter and facebook.

Abah also talked on how his organisation is using social media to drive public service. He also disclosed how he declared his assets, salaries and allowance as a public servant and that of his staff using twitter handle.

Shogunle assured that the Complaint Response Unit which celebrated its first 100 days last Sunday would continue to serve the people even after the present Inspector General of Police leaves office.

He said that the IGP gave the Unit a free hand to operate because when the Unit was being set up and the personnel were being trained, it was agreed that to make the Unit work and achieve its set out goals, the Unit must detached itself from the Nigeria Police and not be the spoke-person for the Police but working for the good of all. This, he said, is why complaints are treated urgently including punishing officers who misbehaved. He also talked about how different trainings being received by personnel in the Nigeria Police is helping to build a better Police Force including doing better policing job compared to the past.

On the issue of mental health state of Policemen in the country, he said that he had mooted that idea of having counselling for members of the Police Force, after two of his men were fell by armed robbers in 2008 and he had to contend with the psychological imbalance of that action for almost three months. He said that with the new directive from the IGP that Policemen should go through mental health test, he hopes that the issue of mental health among Policemen would be taken more serious because many officers go through horror experiences and needed some psychological counselling to get balanced and be in the right frame of mind again. For him, when a Policeman sees his colleagues get gun down by armed robbers, it has some psychological implication which needs counselling in order not to later transfer that aggression to the citizens. Shogunle implored Nigerians to continue to engage with the Police as the Police Force under the IGP Solomon Arase is ready to take suggestions.

On the bill aimed at regulating social media, Abah said, “The highest law of the land is the constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and nobody can take that away.”

Speaking on why his hosted the session, Chief of Party, USAID Civil Society Project, Charles Abani, said that SACE does a few things, one is supporting specific partners and organisations to develop their capacities to begin to engage issues. He said there is another project supporting ideas promote citizens engaging with government, using social media. According to him, one of the programme is the 2.0 Mindset Series, aimed at showing practitioners and activists who have succeeded in bringing about change.

“And the Mindset Series is on a road show around the country, identifying and highlighting the successes and challenges of different activists across different parts of the country. We have had sessions in Abuja, Lagos, Owerri; we are moving to Uyo, Kano in other to continue to showcase successful advocates who are making change to happen.”