Opinion I As 2018 Appropriation Bill Receives NASS' Nod

AS 2018 APPROPRIATION BILL RECEIVES NASS’ NOD

        On Wednesday, 16^th May 2018, in its plenary, members of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly (NASS) unanimously passed the 2018 Appropriation Bill into law.

        The bill was presented in Tuesday, 7^th November 2017 by President Muhammadu Buhari before the joint session of the two Chambers of the NASS. In the bill, the 2018 budget was estimated to be serviced with about N8.6trn fund.

        However, after all keen deliberations by the NASS’ Appropriation committees, the estimated sum of the proposed budget was upwardly reviewed, reportedly owing to variations in market survey as well as change in the oil benchmark suggested by the Executive Arm. As a result of the review, the budget was passed for N9.1trn.

        It was gathered that the oil benchmark, which was initially placed at $45 per barrel, was inflated to $51/barrel. It’s noteworthy that the crude oil is currently sold at about $80 per barrel as against $63 which was its price as at the fourth quarter (Q4) of last year when the bill was presented.

       Similarly, it’s not anymore news that there’s an astronomical inflation presently witnessed in the country. It suffices to say that the increase in the budget’s figure wasn’t unconnected with these developments as was revealed by the Senate.

        If the budget was influenced due to the aforementioned parameters, then the NASS doesn’t unequivocally deserve an accolade. Going by the presentation, the proposed budget, if eventually assented to, shall as usual be mainly serviced by oil revenue and taxation.

        If there’s an obvious increase in the oil price, is there any assurance that the price of the said commodity will continually soar? In other words, that the oil is being sold at over $70 today does not imply that it cannot depreciate to a mere $40 tomorrow considering the present situation experienced in the petroleum sector.

        In the same vein, since taxation would be one of the major sources of financing the budget, I expected the lawmakers to have understood that most established corporate bodies in Nigeria are at the moment undergoing liquidation, thereby warranting their extinction. So, if most of these firms perished within the fiscal year in question, what then becomes the fate of the budget?

        I’m glad the legislators testified that there’s an ongoing soaring of the prices of goods and services in the country. This alone, signifies that the amount inflated in the total cost of the proposed budget might not even be enough to cater for its full implementation in the long run.

        Of course, since inflation is now occurring on an astronomical basis, the prices of the commodities captured in the budget may be multiplied by three or thereabouts before the 2018 fiscal year fades out.

        Hence, rather than increasing the budget by 6 per cent resulting in an additional N508.3bn, which is over half a trillion naira, the NASS would have judiciously thought of reducing the degree of projects enshrined in the proposed budget, especially when realized that we still have over N2trn debt to be serviced and about N1.95trn deficit as captured in the appropriation bill.

        The bitter truth is that the additional figure, which is enough to service the annual budgets of over five states in Nigeria, may end up causing more harm to the economy than good because it is apparently unrealistic.

        On the other hand, it’s clear that the expected increase in the workers’ minimum wage wasn’t captured in the 2018 budget. This implies that there’s likely to be a supplementary budget in the future, because virement would definitely not be an alternative.

        In view of the anticipated additional fund in the recurrent expenditure, Nigeria that’s currently struggling to overcome numerous economic challenges might end up having over N10trn as her annual budget. This indeed smacks of danger for the epileptic economy.

        More so, acknowledging that a budget proposal tendered by the executive was passed by the NASS six months after is enough reason to exercise worry. Such an attitude, which has abruptly become a tradition, invariably triggers mixed feelings among patriotic Nigerians.

       We aren’t unaware that tremendous deliberations cum interrogations are involved towards passing an appropriation bill, but it’s imperative for the lawmakers to acknowledge that a budget is the basis of any governance, hence the need to take such consignment more seriously.

        The Presidency, on its part, ought to be presenting the appropriation bill at most before the end of the third quarter (Q3) of the year preceding the affected fiscal year, so that, at worst the budget would be passed in the first quarter (Q1) of the concerned fiscal year.

        Most pathetically, it is a shame that there was a downward review of the proposed capital spending in the education sector. The figure was reduced from N61.73bn to N15.7bn, but the Senate claimed that the inflated fund was spread across the key sectors in the budget. How do we reconcile this?

        As we ‘applaud’ the NASS for passing a budget of almost N2trn deficit, the Presidency needn’t be told that there ought to be an extensive review before assenting it. Think about it!

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

National Coordinator, Right Thinkers

_________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador            

  

Opinion I Still On 2018 World Day For Cultural Diversity

PROMOTING TOURISM VIA CULTURAL DIVERSITY

        On Monday, May 21, the world over celebrated the 2018 World Day for Cultural Diversity. Each year, the global community celebrates the day.

        In 2001, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. Hence, in December 2002, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in its unanimous resolution, declared May 21 annually to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The Day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together better.

        Heritage is described as the inheritance such as buildings, monuments, or any property of an individual or a society. Whilst cultural heritage, are the inherited qualities, traditions, ideas, or style of living of an individual or a given society, which have continued over many years, especially when they are considered to be of historical importance.

        On the other hand, cultural diversity is defined as the situation whereby the cultural heritage of a person, group or society varies or consists of different conditions, qualities, or types. In other words, the diversity of a given culture is the state at which it comprises or made up of varieties.

        Undoubtedly, cultures such as dancing, masquerading, dressing, sewing, hunting, fishing, singing, wrestling, moulding of sculptures, painting, and so on, are essential developmental tools in any country. Culture is strongly connected with identity; and identity expressed through culture is a necessity for all human developments. It creates the fundamental building blocks in our respective personalities and in the ties that link us to various communities as well as any nation we find ourselves.

        Culture plays a unique and crucial role in a development policy especially issues relating to human rights. A free and staunch cultural heritage has the tendency of promoting other rights and values to include freedom of expression, diversity and debate about needs in a society. In the same vein, culture is a key player in the link between freedom of expression and democratization.

        Culture can also encourage the economic growth of either a nation or an individual. For instance, a country that’s tremendously gifted with swimming, which is a globally recognized lucrative sporting activity, can substantially boost its Gross National Product (GNP) if a meaningful attention is given to such heritage. Creative areas including music, paintings, drawings and sewing, can equally serve as revenue sources. In fact, the encounter between culture, creativity, technology and economy embodies a great potential in creating work places and increasing exports, and also contributes to social inclusion.

        Culture can equally assist in checking socio-political crises or differences. It ensures unity during crisis, and influences identity, debate and dialogue; thus, it is needed for nation building, and for peace and reconciliation. Needless to say; it inspires change, which we all anticipate. Survey indicates that cultural cooperation is one of the most equality-oriented forms of co-operations in existence.

        The entertainment industry cannot be left out while discussing the impact of cultural heritage in nation building. Similarly, the tourism of any country cannot be discussed without mentioning the country’s cultural diversity. It is obvious that the cultural heritage of any society contributes over sixty-five percent (65%) of its tourist sector, which remains one of the paramount Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) sources of any developed society.  

        Surely, tourism is one of the backbones or engine rooms of any developed country in the world, and this cannot be possible without the impact of cultural diversity of the country in question. This implies that Nigeria, which is made of over two hundred and fifty (250) ethnic groups in which each of the groups is endowed with different cultural resources, can as well consider harnessing her tourist sector as she is currently thinking of economic diversification or beyond oil and gas.

        As the world celebrates the World Day for Cultural Diversity, there is a compelling need for us to acknowledge that our cultural diversity is a stimulator of creativity, and investing in the creativity can transform societies. Hence, it is our civic responsibility to develop education and intercultural skills in our young ones as well as learn to live together in the diversity of our cultures, languages and religions in order to bring the desired change.

       So, as Nigeria joins the global community in celebrating such remarkable event, the Nigerian government needn’t be reminded that it’s another golden opportunity for the President Mohammadu Buhari – led administration to look inwards toward rejuvenating the country’s cultural heritage in its entirety with a view to boosting her tourism industry that’s currently seemingly moribund.

       In view of this, there is no gain reiterating the fact that it is high time the Nigeria’s cultural heritage is reviewed by the appropriate quarters or authorities, so that, credible ones would be sustained or harnessed via institution of cultural carnivals by governments at all levels, promotion of the various existing communal cultural festivals, establishment of museums, and other related practices.

        By so doing, the unacceptable ones would either be addressed or completely abolished, with a sole motive of boosting the country’s tourism industry as well as encouraging human empowerment. There cannot be a better time than now to do the needful. Think about it!

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

National Coordinator, Right Thinkers

________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador 

  

Opinion I On Okorocha's Automatic Promotion for Imo Workers

ON OKOROCHA’S AUTOMATIC PROMOTION FOR IMO WORKERS

       The last time I checked, the generality of the workers of Imo State – the Eastern Heartland – had yet another great reason to grin, not just smile. Such expected outlook is informed by the thunderous pronouncement recently made by the state’s Executive Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha.

       It’s not anymore news that two weeks ago during this year’s Workers’ Day celebration, precisely on Tuesday 1^st May, the number one citizen graciously announced to the delight of the civil servants present at the occasion that they had been automatically promoted to the next level, hence ought to henceforth start enjoying the financial benefits enshrined in the new level.

       In a bid to throw more light, he said, “This promotion is not about step. You are not being promoted to the next step but to the next grade level.” The clarification was intended to inform the targeted beneficiaries that the latest development was not about Step one, two, three or what have you, but an automatic promotion to the next Grade Level of the respective workers irrespective of their jurisdictions or places of assignment.

       The event, which took place at the Heroes Square, Owerri, instantly metamorphosed into an arena meant to pop Champagne as the workers were seen in their numbers celebrating and cheering up the governor the very moment the unexpected announcement was made. Gov. Okorocha who acknowledged that the civil servants had been very supportive, patient and tolerant, equally mentioned that another promotion – perhaps automatic too – might come up prior to his exit as the state’s governor.

        It would be recalled that the governor had earlier – on 19^th April 2018 to be precise – announced to Imolites that the Imo workers in their entirety would soonest begin to experience what he described as a ‘new salary structure’. This signifies that the automatic promotion came barely two weeks the said pledge was made.

       It’s noteworthy that for about seven years now since the present government came on board, the Imo workers hadn’t experienced or enjoyed any form of promotion. This ugly scenario, which the governor also noted on that fateful day, had unabated kept the workers deeply worried. In some quarters, some of them had almost lost hope, saying they may not enjoy any iota of promotion again till further notice.

       One might say the pessimists in the midst of the civil servants regained their optimism on that very day the pronouncement regarding automatic promotion was dished out. Another school of thought may say the promotion wasn’t enough to heal the wound incurred so far. Whatever the case might be, the fact remains that the governor should be appreciated for, at least, remembering as well as announcing that the workers had been denied of their promotion for seven years now.

       However, there are a few matters arising from the automatic promotion. Understanding that these ebullient workers had been deprived of their promotion for several years, such a pronouncement made by the governor ought not to be seen as largesse, hence doesn’t in any way calls for jubilation.

       If ‘automatic promotion’ is a right thing to do by any sitting governor, or a constitutional gesture, I would have suggested that the Imo workers ought to be granted an automatic promotion to the next three Grade Level, not just one as was pronounced by the number one citizen. But as a constitution and rights activist, I see everything wrong with that gesture called automatic promotion.

       Why I fault that gesture is because successive governments might decide not to implement the promotion owing to the fact that the due process was not adhered to. We are aware that government is a continuum, but a successive government can decide to ignore any policy initiated by its predecessor if due process wasn’t reverenced.

       And then, if such reaction eventually took place, the workers would stand to suffer it. Every promotion has a procedure, thus must be strictly followed by any government so that cock and bull stories wouldn’t be told in the future. Promotion should strictly be by merit; not everyone deserves it.

        Even if the automatic promotion must be held, I’m strongly of the view that the governor was supposed to collaborate with the lawmakers towards giving it a legal backing. But, I’m afraid, the legislators may decline from doing so with an excuse that the Constitution or extant law does not permit such legislation. Besides, any proposed promotion is meant to be captured in the budget because it will definitely affect the recurrent expenditure for the subsequent fiscal years. This shows that the gesture in question calls for more fear.

        Notwithstanding, I pray that the workers would enjoy the entitlements accruable to the automatic promotion as it lasts. Hence, I enjoin the governor to mandate the state’s Accountant General to ensure that such a gesture is duly implemented without much ado. This would enable the workers enjoy the first batch of the ‘largesse’ in the current month being May.

       On the other hand, there’s an ongoing speculation from the government’s axis that what the governor promised the workers was automatic promotion to the next step, not next level. Against this backdrop, the governor should in his capacity, through his good offices address the anomaly.

       If such trending issue isn’t addressed headlong, it would portray a bad image for the Rescue Mission Administration. The people can’t be publicly informed on a certain thing and someone would from the window state something totally different from what was initially tendered.

        As I urge His Excellency to ensure that the automatic promotion is thoroughly implemented, I equally plead with him to conduct an exercise that would ensure a normal and standard promotion of the overall workers so that apt documentation would be made thereof. This would make the amiable workers not to exercise any fear of the unknown. What is worth doing is worth doing well.

        They truly deserve a sigh of relieve at such a critical time like this, hence ought to be given every support that would warrant such feeling. My concern is to ensure that this smile being worn by them wouldn’t be tremulous in the long run. Think about it!

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement

_________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Follow me: @mediambassador