Bizarre aextortions by Banks and Telecom Firms

BIZARRE EXTORTIONS BY BANKS AND TELECOM FIRMS

   
Aside my personal experience, I’ve in several occasions been reliably informed that quite some time now, millions of Nigerians have been subjected to an untold hardship in the hands of the various commercial banks as well as telecommunication companies situated across the federation, via instigation of unending bilious charges.

    The last time I thoroughly checked, the nauseous practice almost got out of hand that it required only a stiff measure for it to be bade an eternal farewell by its innumerable victims. I would have considered this critique as frivolous, if I were to give a listening ear to a casual and spontaneous utterance tendered by a childhood friend resident in Texas, USA; the fellow in question unequivocally asked me, albeit ignorantly, to ignore the said phenomenon since Nigerians are used to suchlike experiences.

    
The point the Texas-based Nigerian-born dude was frantically trying to make is that the ongoing anomaly, among other related ones, is peculiar to Nigeria thus not unlike a norm; I assent to the assertion. But he was ignorant of the obvious fact that not all traditions are meant to be upheld; unarguably, some lifestyles deserve to be holistically abolished without contemplation.

     Come to think of it, why would Nigeria be invariably reckoned to be a place where such uncalled and unwarranted practices are ostensibly acceptable or a step in the right direction? Rather than protecting the interests of their clients, these banks and telecom firms prefer to unleash on them villainy, as if they are mere slaves.

    
Incessant deductions often reportedly attributed to VAT, SMS alert charges, ATM service interests, monthly fees, and what have you, constantly and consistently made by the commercial banks on their clients’ accounts have become so worrisome that if left unchecked, one may wake up one morning to observe that about 95% of the total money in his/her bank account had been debited from it.

     On their part, the telecom companies would always make use of imposition mechanism to actualize their dubious motive. In most cases, their customers would be taken unawares as regards subscribing to a certain tariff or promo as if the airtime on their SIM cards weren’t purchased by them. A situation where someone would buy a #100 airtime and all the money would instantly vanish into thin air, really and absolutely calls for a public outcry.

    
The aforementioned callous and villainous attitudes of most firms operating in Nigeria, which are to say the least very appalling and thought-provoking, have become a case study to hundreds of thousands of researchers in the country. It’s indeed pertinent to acknowledge that Nigerians at large are seriously suffering in the hands of those they patronize. How would you reconcile this?

    
This lingering impunity has made many concerned stakeholders in Nigeria to insinuate that the country lacks competent and reliable regulatory bodies. Of course, in a situation like this, embracing such speculation wouldn’t be far-fetched. We are all aware that each commercial bank and telecom firm in this nation is answerable to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) respectively, as well as the Consumers’ Protection Council (CPC). But what the people aren’t aware is if the said relationship is really being upheld.

    
The other day I overheard an official of the CPC who played guest on a particular radio programme, saying that the major problem with Nigerians was inability to report to appropriate authorities whenever they are aggrieved or witch-hunted. Consequently, via a phone call, I retaliated by asking her (the official) why they would always wait for the public or consumers to lay a complaint before they take action, even in a situation where the commission or any of its members happened to be one of the victims/sufferers of the ordeal, or when the unbearable circumstance is very glaring.

     So, if a police officer, for instance, happens to be in a commercial bus and therein one of the passengers is accused of theft or was caught stealing, the said security personnel instead of arresting the accused person or doing the needful headlong would expect other passengers in the bus to come over to the police station to lay a complaint before he would take the action expected of him? I’m just thinking aloud, but every sane individual needs to think about it.

     It’s high time we awoke from our respective slumbers with a view to living up to the expectation. Any firm or person accused of any foul play or punishable offence ought to be brought to book by collective effort of the apt authorities having acquired the needed evidence for the prosecution. For crying out very loud, the consumers cannot continually be treated like nobody by these legitimate consortiums. Think about it!

·         Comr Nwaozor - Researcher, Blogger, Analyst and Activist, is the Founder, Fred Nwaozor Foundation (FRENOF) based in Owerri.

Appointment of a 'Layman' as Health Commissioner

APPOINTMENT OF A ‘LAYMAN’ AS COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH

   
Few months ago when Gov Okorocha unveiled the portfolios for the Imo State Commissioners designate, several criticisms greeted the governor’s choice of assigning the state’s ‘almighty’ Ministry of Health to a ‘layman’, particularly from the teeming members of the state’s branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). And till date, many Imolites are still aggrieved over the reportedly unfortunate circumstance.

    Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have bothered coming up with this critique but having understood that suchlike scenario, if not properly addressed, is tantamount to creating an unquantifiable lapse between the government and the governed thereby constituting fathomless upheaval in the state, I thought it wise that it was time I quit acting like a mere onlooker.

     When the news of the said incident got to my humble desk on that fateful day, as an ardent civil rights and constitution activist, the first thing I hastily did was to revisit my copy of the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, as amended, with a view to re-digesting its sections that highlight the appointment of federal Ministers or state Commissioners as the case may be as well as other appointments as stipulated therein, precisely sections 147 and 192 respectively.

   
The last time I recalled, no part or subsection of the sections in question mandated the governors or the President to appoint only a health/medical personnel as a Commissioner for Health or Minister of Health respectively as the case may be. Rather, regarding fairness and equity, what the constitution mandates the aforementioned Chief Executive Officers to do at all times is to ensure that such appointments are in conformity with the diversity of the people within their respective areas of authority.

     The above fact or directive definitely implies that the appointment of a medical practitioner as a Health Commissioner or Minister, which has seemingly been a tradition ab initio, is solely based on the choice of the governor or the President, as the case may be. In other words, the governor or the President is meant to decide whom among the nominees is fit to wear the shoes.

    
Even though such decision is the governor’s prerogative, it’s pertinent to acknowledge that a very sensitive and critical ministry like health is obviously expected to be manned by a well experienced and passionate individual. Now, in this case, since the person whom was considered fit by the governor to wear the shoes is apparently a layman in the health profession, what every concerned citizen was objectively meant to do, rather than wailing, is to crosscheck or consider the antecedents of the appointee.

     It would interest us to note that the Imo Commissioner of Health, Women Affairs and Social Development in the person of Mrs Ngozi Njoku who is a lawyer by profession, is the immediate past boss of the renowned Imo Foundation – a state owned body that majors in rendering succor to the physically and medically challenged persons in Imo State, instituted by the Gov Rochas Okorocha led administration.

   
This no doubt significantly indicates that the Commissioner in question deserves some credit when it calls for health matters or issues relating to health. I’m of the view that this might be one of the reasons that urged the governor to consider her worthy for the said ministry. Please, I’m not in any way trying to sound biased here, which is far-fetched as regards my person; rather, I’m only appraising facts.

     Besides, what’s essence of a political office holder appointing a Special Adviser (SA) or Personal Assistant (PA)? These appointees – SAs and PAs, whom function as the arms of the public officer, enable him/her to operate effectively and efficiently in every field of human endeavour. Believe me, if not for the work of these SAs or PAs, no human on this planet earth would be qualified to be the governor of a state or the President of a country. There’s no need going into detail since a word is unarguably enough for the wise.

     What the Commissioner or the Minister does is to super head; suffice it to say that he/she is meant to delegate and thereafter supervise. Hence, in any setting, those who do the actual work are the Special Advisers or Assistants; read my lips. This is the reason every political office occupant must be very careful and vigilant while appointing his/her SAs, PAs, SSAs, et al. Competence and reliability are the key words whenever it calls for such appointments or recognitions.

    
Another crucial factor we ought to take into cognizance is that being a marketer, for instance, doesn’t imply that the person isn’t qualify to handle cases concerning sciences, or engineering in particular. Though both aforesaid fields (Marketing and Sciences) have no meeting point, but we must note that beyond one’s basic profession, he/she can go an extra mile to know what’s happening in other professions, maybe owing to passion, potential skill, talent, family background, or what have you.

     I often use myself as a good example whenever such issue is discussed. It would fascinate you to realize that my primary discipline is engineering technology, but today I am practising literature to the core due to talent and passion. Of course, Fred Doc Nwaozor is a prolific novelist, playwright and poet by God’s grace; on the contrary, he bagged Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Physics/Electronics Tech from the prestigious Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), coupled with other professional honours in Engineering thereafter. It would further interest us to note that currently Comr Fred Nwaozor is concurrently practising both Arts and Sciences, which of course are like two parallel lines. Yes, it sounds paradoxical, but it’s real. The rest is history.

     At this juncture, I urge every aggrieved party as regards the choice made by the Imo governor to swallow their grievances towards creating a perpetual cordial relationship between them and the government for the interest of Imo at large. Mind you; I’m on the neutral line and here shall I remain because I can’t attempt to disappoint He who sent me.

     However, as much as the amiable governor might have a tangible reason for appointing the so-called layman as Commissioner for Health, I’m also appealing to his Excellency to always find reasonable time to address his teeming subjects whenever they misunderstand or sense intimidated over any step taken by his noble office. After all, he’s answerable to them. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

Twitter: @mediambassador 

     

Okorocha and his Leadership Style

OKOROCHA AND HIS INTRIGUING LEADERSHIP STYLE

    The last time I checked, if I wasn’t mistaken, Gov Rochas Okorocha remained one of the most intriguingly quintessential leaders Nigeria ever had. Mind you; something or someone that’s quintessential seems to represent the central nature of something in a pure and concentrated form. So, when we say a ‘quintessential leader’, we’re definitely referring to a leader whose leadership style or pattern represents the central nature of leadership in an undiluted form.

    
The leader in question massively and popularly won the people’s mandate in the 2011 and 2015 Imo gubernatorial polls respectively. Unarguably, during the said elections, the masses willingly gave him their votes unconditionally. Only a dummy or myopic entity would disagree with this assertion. His unalloyed popularity prior to the former could be traced to his charitable nature surrounding the famous Rochas Foundation College situated across the federation.

     Having been elected by the people in 2011, it seemed he thought it wise not to let down the aforesaid group that made him the governor of the state. In view of this, his paramount interest lied mainly on the need of the masses and the downtrodden. Lest I forget; in line with the first paragraph, a true leader is one who understands the actual yearning of the followers.

    
It was against this backdrop that he concluded on his extreme intention to make education free for the indigent people and the citizens at large. Going down the memory lane, we all could recall how the Imo people, particularly the indigent ones were making frantic and pitiable efforts towards ensuring that their wards’ tuition fees were paid; they were indeed making the said payment through their noses. In fact, there’s no gain laying emphasis on what the masses went through as regards education prior to that era. Thus, the rest is history.

    
Notwithstanding, the mistake the amiable governor made was extending the free education to the tertiary level without taking into cognizance the actual worth of the state’s purse as at then. What the astute education crusader would have done, rather than declaring thorough free education at the said level, was to subsidize the tuition fees of the affected students. One cogent fact we must realize is that everyone isn’t meant to acquire tertiary education; there are various reasonable and vital concernments such as craftsmanship and trading one can involve in without the knowledge of tertiary education, and he/she would be very more useful than most of those who address themselves as ‘graduates’ provided the person sticks to the needful.

     Declaring free education at the tertiary level is equally not unlike asking every dick and harry to come and study, and I tell you unequivocally that such approach isn’t wholesome in any society that truly intends to grow both socially and economically. The most important aspect of learning remains the primary and secondary education, especially the former. Someone from my home town Awo-Omamma in Oru East LGA who is presently of the blessed memory became the Headmaster of a school with only First School Leaving Certificate. Such history can be replicated by anyone who believes that with a sound primary education, one can touch the heavens even without flying.

   
Another mistake made by his Excellency was the establishment of general hospitals in all the 27 local governments in the state, and this no doubt might not be unconnected to the undiluted compassion he has for the masses. The project was occasioned by his intention to make medical services get to the reach of the people at affordable bills; we can attest to this obvious fact by taking a painstaking study of the gigantic functional Ochiedike Diagnostic Centre situated at Owerri, which was established by the governor. The stride undoubtedly, was commendable but seemingly futuristic. We must always endeavour to face reality at all cost to enable us arrive at a meaningful point.

     However, I must seize this opportunity to make us acknowledge that the prime problem with the Nigeria’s health sector in its entirety, likewise the education sector, isn’t insufficient hospitals; rather, insufficient equipped hospitals or health centres, and Imo isn’t an exception. The state is already blessed with various health points; at least at the moment virtually every local government in the state possesses a functional general hospital. Suffice it to say that, instead of setting up new ones, what the government ought to have done was to thoroughly equip the existing ones as well as uplift effectiveness and efficiency on the part of the health workers.

     Hence, without mincing words, I suggest the relentless and listening government ought to sell those hospitals whose constructions are ongoing to interested buyers, and thereafter channel the proceeds appropriately. If I had a personal relationship with the governor, I would have personally suggested this measure to his Excellency without making it public; but nevertheless, the gospel truth is that we must endeavour to state the fancy fact even if it hurts. For the governor to adhere to this instruction he must be willing to swallow his pride; thus, shouldn’t nurture a feeling that his enemies would laugh at him or his leadership if he dare carries out such proposed measure. I tell you plainly that everyone or leader is definitely bound to make mistakes provided he’s mortal; in other words, what matters is the ability to turnaround or make a U-turn having realized our mistakes.

     In the same spirit; it was still due to the governor’s passion to take governance to the people irrespective of their localities that made his Excellency to inaugurate the ongoing Community Government Council (CGC). Though the CGC, which is not wasting any of our funds, is apparently working or functional but to me, its existence makes an infinitesimal difference when compared to the impact of the Local Government Council on the people’s welfare. Believe me, if the LGAs otherwise known as the ‘third tier government’ are properly taken care of, good governance will surely get to the citizenry regardless of their locations.

     Before now, I’ve been campaigning or hammering on the compelling need for the local government Chairmen to be resident in their respective headquarters as well as the councilors residing at their various wards. Taking Imo State as a case study, you would notice that most of the aforementioned elected officers or appointees as it’s currently the case, are residents of the state’s capital territory - Owerri; isn’t it an aberration? Even the CGC where the Traditional Ruler of the affected community is meant to be the Chairman, you would also observe similar phenomenon; it’s no longer news that most traditional rulers aren’t residing in their various communities. In a nutshell, we need to strengthen the local governments for effective representation. To this end, several things including building befitting accommodation at the headquarters for the Chairmen, among others need to be put in place.

    
Aside these, there are indeed other tremendous remarkable and genuine accomplishments of Gov Okorocha that indicate how much he cares about the people’s interests to include road network, prompt payment of workers’ salaries cum pensions and massive infrastructure; though owing to the ongoing economic morass, some of these efforts aren’t being sustained. Needless to say that currently, I strongly and sincerely feel for the governor. He’s a leader who wishes he could make everyone on the street glad, but it’s pertinent to note that actualizing such wonderful wish is ostensibly far-fetched.

     If you’re discussing engagement of the youth in meaningful activities; what about the Imo Civil Guard Corps, Imo Security Network and the Imo Community Watch? Do you realize how many thousands of the Imo youth that are meaningfully engaged in these outfits thereby keeping them away from our various roads, specifically touting, which had been the case among the majority of the said group? Even if they are being paid stipend, at least they are no longer idle; mind you, idleness maims and kills too.

     For the umpteenth time, owing to his compassion for the masses Gov Owelle Rochas Okorocha can be wholeheartedly and unequivocally classified as an intriguingly quintessential Nigeria’s leader. But I candidly advise his Excellency to henceforth concentrate on rudimentary projects with a view to staying clear from excesses that is tantamount to ridiculing the state’s funds which are already wearing a pathetic physiognomy. Think about it!   

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

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Twitter: @mediambassador