Overhauling Govt Agencies Towards a Greater Nationhood

OVERHAULING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TOWARDS A GREATER NATIONHOOD

     The last time I thoroughly checked, numerous federal cum state government’s agencies and commissions were earnestly yearning for overhaul toward ensuring that the respective prime essence of establishing them are duly actualized. Suchlike lapses, if not adequately addressed, are liable to bedevil the anticipated manifestation of the ongoing change mantra informed by the President Buhari – led administration.

     A government agency or commission is a permanent or temporary arm, which is often peculiar to a democratic setting, that’s responsible for the administration and oversight of specific functions. In any country across the globe, there are quite a number of government agencies set up for different unique purposes. A given government agency is usually distinct both from a department or ministry, and other kinds of public structures established by the government. The functions of a government agency are mainly executive in character since different forms of agencies or commissions are most commonly constituted for an advisory role.

     It’s noteworthy that, a government agency may be set up by either a federal government or state government within a federal system. The term is not commonly used for a body or an organization established by the powers of a local government otherwise known as the ‘third-tier government’. Agencies can be set up via legislation or by executive immunity. Moreover, the autonomy, independence and accountability of government agencies also vary based on the ground or principle on which they were constituted.

     Similarly, a regulatory agency is a governmental body whose establishment is solely approved by a legislature to implement and thereafter enforce specific laws. a regulatory agency or commission has quasi-legislative, executive and judicial functions, in the sense that while exercising its obligatory functions, it can in some occasions act like a legislature, an executive arm, or a judicial body, as the case may be.

     For instance, a regulatory agency can set up a special court via the government’s approval; in such case, it can exercise the statutory functions of the judiciary with the aid of the judicial custodians employed by the establishment. This is why a regulatory agency is expected to, in all circumstances, be made up of individuals that have no trace of any criminal record or questionable background.

     If you own or run a business venture, you probably know it is subject to a cornucopia of laws. Undoubtedly, your business is subject to laws that govern social and economic matters including income taxation, payroll taxation, occupational health, as well as environmental, safety, real estate, employment, and criminal laws, coupled with other laws that are specifically related to your particular industry.

     With the help of regulatory agencies, the government could handle or oversee the aforementioned civic responsibility. Regulatory agencies exercise two basic roles namely, implementation of laws and enforcement of laws. Regulations are the means by which a regulatory agency implements laws enacted by the legislature of the country or province in question, as the case may be. Thus, regulations can be described as formal rules based upon the laws of the affected country/state that govern specific social and economic activities.

     Regarding implementation of laws, regulatory agencies use a specific procedure to create and implement regulations. The federal process, for instance, abides by a procedure comprising advance notice, proposed regulation, public comments, review of comments, as well as final regulation. An agency that is about to commence drafting new regulations would publish advance notice of its proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register.

     The proposed regulations are published and the public would be therein invited to comment. Thereafter, the agency is expected to review the public comments and may or may not make any changes in this regard. Consequently, the completed regulation is published in the Federal Register and will eventually be added to the Code of Federal Regulation which is essential a list of all federal
regulations broken up into titles and chapters. Finally, the regulation is implemented or made effective, and enforcement commences immediately.

         Regulatory enforcement, which is often abused in a country like ours, is another rudimentary role exercised by regulatory agencies. Agencies have a responsibility to monitor businesses or individuals to ensure they are complying with regulations. Though agencies vary on how they perform their respective enforcement responsibilities, generally they abide by investigation, decision, and appeal. If an agency has reason to believe that a certain business or an individual has violated its regulations, the agency is meant to commence an investigation without much ado.

     The investigation may include interviewing relevant witnesses and reviewing documents. Some investigation may include scientific testing. In Nigeria, some regulatory agencies are usually partisan while conducting their investigations, thus such anomaly requires an urgent cross-examination by the apt authority.

     Furthermore, after the investigation, the agency would make a decision, demand any corrective action if necessary as well as impose any appropriate penalty on the offender as authorized by the law. A firm or an individual possesses a right to appeal any decision made by an agency. Most times, an agency’s decision is appealed through the agency that rendered the decision which is known as an administrative appeal. Sometimes, such appeal can be handled by the effort of a special court.

     It was the late great philosopher, Socrates that said “An unexamined life isn’t worth living”. Taking a painstaking study of the federal and state governments’ agencies in Nigeria, particularly the former, it’s needless to reiterate that most of these agencies or commissions, especially those established to exercise regulatory functions, are seriously crying for a compelling review or reexamination towards achieving a more effective and efficient productivity.

     To this end, it’s high time we reviewed most of the laws biding these agencies so we could make amends if need be. Aside the conventional agencies, the regulatory ones such as, but not limited to, the National Drug law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) were set up to assist the government in the enforcement of severe laws that otherwise could not be properly enforced.

     However, it’s appalling and pathetic to note that most of these agencies, rather than doing the needful, end up doing otherwise at the long run owing to corruption. We could boast of an agency like the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC); still, plagiarism prevails in the country and is currently on the rampage.

     It’s not anymore news that most of these agencies have been characterized by several uncalled factors including partisanship, favouritism, mediocrity, and what have you. These constituted bodies are meant to be independent in the discharge of their lawful duties, but on the contrary, in most cases you would observe that they dance to the tune of most influential Nigerians or corporate organizations thereby abusing the laws or principles on which they were founded.

     Inter alia, some similar federal agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related crimes Commission (ICPC) alongside the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) are meant to be merged headlong, whilst few others that are currently incapacitated or no longer in vogue ought to be scrapped or better still embedded in other related agencies, towards enabling space for creation of new ones that the country is presently in need of. Currently, Nigeria is arguably yearning for establishment of bodies to include commission as well as tribunal for electoral violence that would tremendously assist the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in fighting crimes occasioned by political unrest.   

     In the same vein, agencies like the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) ought to be strengthened. The Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme currently taking place in the scheme should be made compulsory by the management; especially at this point the country is deeply concerned about uplifting entrepreneurship drive among our young ones or the citizenry at large. It’s worthy to note that most of the corps members dodge the said programme in the process, thus the management of the agency need to employ a device toward ensuring that every corps member participate actively in the programme.

     Above all, there’s need for the leaders of all the existing federal agencies in Nigeria to regularly read the riot act to their entire staff or personnel so that they would be conscious of them at all costs; the state owned ones should also follow suit. More so, in their oversight functions, the legislatures of both the federal and state governments, as the case may be, are expected to from time to time summon the leadership of any agency to their chambers whenever skepticism arises or if they sensed any foul play. Let’s overhaul them now for greater nationhood. Think about it!

          

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

The IMSU Strike and Okorocha's Perspective

 

THE IMSU STRIKE AND OKOROCHA’S PERSPECTIVE

    The last time I checked, the overall staff of the famous Imo State University (IMSU) were still on an industrial action owing to the arrear of salaries owed them. In addition, they are also agitating for immediate reversal of the ongoing free education programme in the university since the programme’s financier - the state government, can no longer boast of a robust economy contrary to the state of its financial muscle when the laudable initiative was introduced.

    It would be recalled that the aforesaid workers embarked on the strike few weeks ago and since then all efforts made by the Imo State government towards calling off the unbearable action proved abortive, thereby making the institution wear a pathetic physiognomy at the moment. You can imagine how a university would look when the unit chapter of the three major unions that constitute the community comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) are all on strike.

     However, the emergence of this piece was occasioned by the news reportage I came across in the Vanguard Newspaper penultimate week, on Wednesday 24^th May 2016 precisely, credited to the Imo State governor in the person of Chief Rochas Okorocha. The intriguing story had it that the governor categorically and unequivocally disclosed that he was considering concessioning IMSU to any interested private investor after recruiting new staff that would replace the striking ones, on the grounds that the ongoing industrial action of the IMSU workers was informed by their personal hatred for him (the governor).

     According to the Vanguard, the governor made the statement during his media briefing with the entire Imo State based practising journalists held in Owerri the state capital. I equally reportedly learnt that the governor seemed devastated and unfriendly for such ‘unnecessary’ attitude being displayed by the workers, stating that they closed down the university just for one-month salary owed them while their counterparts in most states across the country were still owed salaries ranging from four to six months.

     The governor went further to say that the IMSU staff were paid more than most of their counterparts in other states, thus deserved to be described as ingrates for having taken such ‘uncalled’ action in the name of strike. I regretted being inevitably absent in the state on the day of the meeting, which I would have love to attend, because I deeply detest to digest some certain critical and sensitive stories on the pages of newspapers.

     Well, I’m of the notion that the governor made that statement in error or maybe he only intended to frighten the workers so they could hasten up towards returning to their various duty posts. If not, I wouldn’t in any way believe that the amiable governor would nurture suchlike thought in his noble mindset let alone making it public. And I don’t think anyone who has been keenly following the governor would ever agree that such statement was made by his Excellency.

     Without mincing words, he’s a man I owe enormous respect owing to his genuine passion for education as well as compassion for the less-privileged, thus I’m aware what he could mean at any given time regarding issues relating to education. But if truly he has such intention or plan, then the governor really needs to embrace a rethink before the gods of our land become angry with him.

     Even if workers are owed for only half a month or were in any way maltreated, they deserve the right to strike. Industrial action is a way the workers in any setting are expected to showcase their grievances in a practical term. Strike might be displayed in various ways as it pleases the workers or based on the nature of the matter on ground; it could be sit-down strike, warning strike or indefinite strike.

     I’m of the view that workers cannot just go on strike, because they aren’t animals; there must be a tangible reason for an industrial action. Throughout the governor’s first tenure, no Imo worker embarked on an industrial action, if not the one that was displayed towards the 2015 elections’ era by the same IMSU staff; no doubt, it’s a historic record we shall all live to remember.

     If there’s no fund to settle the arrear of salaries owed them, you dialogue. They shouldn’t be mandated to go against their wish. Workers in some sectors or parastatals might be patient enough to wait while few others in other sector may lack the required patience; that’s individual temperaments or differences. Moreover, the striking staff are as well lamenting that the ongoing free education is just like robbing Peter to pay Paul, hence ought to be suspended for the interest of all concerned, especially the university. We must tell ourselves the gospel truth; the programme in question is negatively affecting both the entire university community and the state government, thus should be reviewed. Rather than making it totally free, let it be subsidized.

     An Igbo adage says ‘Eji la ihere ata oji nshi,’ meaning literally don’t consume a poisoned Kola due to shyness. Of what benefit would it be if having enjoyed a free education, after graduation the beneficiaries become mere cucumbers when they are expected to pose as proud graduates? The university is a very delicate arena that’s supposed to serve as a research centre for any society where it’s situated, but in Nigeria the reverse seems to be the case because our universities among other citadels of higher learning are poorly funded. We must acknowledge that no country or state can grow beyond its educational status; suffice it to say that the educational standard of any society determines the level of that society.

     Hence, I enjoin Gov Okorocha not to worsen the good works he has been doing since he assumed duty as the governor of Imo State. A test of faith determines how tolerant a leader is, so every leader mustn’t expect the odyssey to be smooth as long as it lasts. We all have our flaws but we must at all times and at all cost try not to let them becloud our sense of logic.

     The striking workers on their part should please avoid going astray; don’t allow any one or group incite you against the state government, thus you must remain objective. An industrial action of this kind ought to have been a warning action rather than indefinite. Respect, undoubtedly, is reciprocal. Considering the stance of education in any society, you shouldn’t make your retaliation as regards any maltreatment linger so much or become an indelible circumstance. All in all, we must take into cognizance that the future of our dear children or wards are at stake. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador 

         

Oru East, Yearning for Rescue

ORU EAST, YEARNING FOR RESCUE

    As Imo North Senatorial District is currently wearing a pathetic physiognomy at the federal level, the famous and proactive Oru East Local Government Area (LGA), among others, is indeed not unlike an arena that’s gradually approaching a state of extinction at the state level. The fate of the former, which is synonymous with that of the latter, is even bearable or far better because each LGA in the said district, except Isiala Mbano, could currently boast of a representative at the Federal House of Reps which is a federal legislature as well as the Imo House of Assembly.

    The last time I painstakingly checked, Oru East LGA was earnestly crying for a messiah that would arrest the heart of the electoral umpire towards ensuring that a state assembly election is hastily conducted without further ado. I seriously felt for the LGA the moment I observed the unspeakable scenario not just that I’m part and parcel of the constituency, but simply because I understood the gravity of the implications of suchlike lapse.

     In case we have forgotten, or for the sake of those who may presume I’m speaking or writing in Latin, presently Oru East LGA cannot boast of or doesn’t have a representative at the Imo State House of Assembly. This experience was occasioned by the judgement issued by the Appeal Court of Nigeria few months back; the said verdict nullified the result of the election that produced Hon Nkenna Nzeruo as a Member representing Oru East State Constituency, instructing the INEC to reschedule a fresh election in respect to that.

     It’s imperative to acknowledge that it isn’t only Oru East that’s passing through such fate; other LGAs in the state such as Owerri West and Isiala Mbano are equally wearing similar shoes. One may wonder how these constituencies are coping right now as regards governance. While you wonder, I’m deeply thinking if they were created to experience such ordeal; but on the contrary, I’m not of the view that anyone or thing was created to suffer.

    The awaited rerun polls were earlier scheduled by the INEC to hold on Saturday 20^th February 2016 but were outrightly cancelled unannounced barely twenty-four hours to the polls, and therein postponed indefinitely. Till date, the affected Imolites are yet to hear not even a whisper from the electoral umpire on the new date for the polls. Pathetically, the INEC is not showcasing any indicator regarding the awaited election. Frankly, this attitude of the INEC isn’t just annoying but astonishing and mind-blogging.

    The members of Oguta State Constituency would testify how it pinches if any constituency is deprived of such right, because they were rightly in similar shoes during Gov Okorocha’s first tenure. During their time, the circumstance really told on them, just to say the least. Without being told, any rational being could sense how painful and troubling it is for one’s prerogative to be abused. In other words, sometimes some sermons aren’t consequential toward convincing people on how you feel as regards a certain unbearable situation that abruptly befell your person.

     Right now, Oru East is ostensibly like a forgotten monument situated along an ancient pathway that leads to an outdated junction. It’s undoubtedly a pity to realize that a locality reckoned to be part of the engine room of Imo State, the Eastern Heartland is presently relegated to the background in the state in question, just like an interestingly beautiful old woman. Of course, a pretty aged woman who was irresistible during her youthful stage may have lost the attention of all and sundry at this moment of her old age as she lies pitiably in her Deck chair.

     Someone who truly cares for Oru East ought to comprehend that she’s seriously crying foul, thus seeking for a compelling rescue. In fact, I’m perplexed; suffice it to say that I don’t know the apt words I would use to express what the entire people of the said constituency are experiencing at this point in regard to governance. Their space at the Imo Assembly is obviously vacant, thus no one speaks for them or on their behalf.

     At a point, I was tempted to sue INEC but when I realized how long the proposed court proceeding might last, I refrained from the candid motive. Considering what’s at stake, it’s needless to insinuate that someone or a group somewhere is inciting the electoral umpire against the harmless electorate; rather, anyone can categorically assert that the INEC is derailing. No doubt, there’s something fishy going on.

     The truth is that, we can’t continue like this. Surely, Oru East of all people cannot be relegated to the background like a quack soccer team. For the umpteenth time, Oru East is politically old and mature to be treated like a coward. Why the predicament is very cumbersome is because it isn’t telling only on the indigenes of Oru East LGA but the entire Imo State; even the governor of the state in the person of Owelle Rochas Okorocha can boldly attest this assertion. I don’t intend to exaggerate, but Oru East without a legislator at the Imo House of Assembly is apparently not unlike Imo State without a legislature. Maybe someone needs to think about it.

     But, come to think of it; what’s actually happening to us? Why does everyone appear docile in spite of the enormity of the dangers inherent in the ongoing crisis? This is really appalling and bilious, hence totally unacceptable. Someone shouldn’t wait to be reminded of his/her civic responsibility. When your right is being shortchanged or infringed, it’s your prerogative to stage a protest or better still keep crying until you are attended to. If you don’t shout, no one would feel how aggrieved you are. Thus, sometimes noise is highly consequential and extremely rational.

     But, is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) truly independent as its name implies? I’m beginning to have a rethink with regard to its modus operandi or the principle on which it was founded. Even if the commission is on relegation, its officials ought not to be notified that issues concerning emergency are expected to be handled as such.

     At this juncture, I call on the Imo State government, particularly the state’s legislature, to call INEC to order before it’s too late. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador