Opinion II On Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking

ON DRUG ABUSE AND ILLICIT TRAFFICKING

         

Today, June 26, the global community commemorates the 2018 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The day was established by law in the year 1987 by the United Nations (UN) to create awareness on the inherent dangers in all kinds of drug abuse.  

        

Drug abuse is a social ill that involves two distinct dimensions. It could be the misuse of a substance used as a medicine or the improper intake of medicine. On the other hand, it could be the intake or misuse of a stimulant that’s not supported by law such as cocaine, cannabis, marijuana, and Indian helm.

        

The former is often as a result of ignorance or negligence, while the latter is wholly a criminal and illegal act and appears to be more dangerous to both human and animal health compare to the former.

          

Prior to the resolution for the day, the UN General Assembly understood that in spite of the continual and increasing efforts by the international community, the global drug predicament continued to constitute a severe threat to public health, the safety and well-being of humanity especially the young people, and the national security and sovereignty of States thereby undermining the socio-economic and political stability of the affected nations.

          

As the world celebrates this remarkable day, I call on governments, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), religious bodies, civil societies, medical experts, every concerned law enforcement agency, the media, and all well-meaning individuals across the globe, particularly Nigeria, to do everything humanly possible to raise awareness of the unquantifiable harm caused by drug abuse and its illicit trafficking.

        

We can contribute our respective quotas by ensuring that anyone caught in the act is reported to the apt quarter as soon as possible to enable the law act aptly as requested. Similarly, the traditional rulers can be of vital help by fishing out the bad eggs in their midst regarding drug abuse and thereafter drag them to the nearby concerned authority for onward prosecution.       

          

In regard to self-medication and other forms of drug abuse attributed to ignorance or lack of orientation, a thorough awareness campaign on the dangers inherent in intake of drugs without the consent of a qualified physician ought to be embarked on by every relevant body, and every avenue including the mass media should be used to reach out to the general public.

          

The plight occasioned by illicit trafficking cannot be adequately addressed without the candid and holistic involvement of such concerned authorities as the Nigerian Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

         

The former must ensure that their personnel are equally mounted on our various major roads toward ensuring that various vehicles as well as travellers are duly checked if necessary. The latter, on their part, ought to endeavour to work hand-in-hand with the former at the various borders toward attaining accuracy and efficiency at all times.

         

Both agencies shouldn’t hesitate, either individually or collectively, to prosecute any suspect no matter whose ox is gored to serve as a deterrent to other intending traffickers. Above all, the Ministry of Interior must ensure that all the relevant agencies or commissions are living up to the expectations, come rain come shine.    

         

The individuals or group of persons abusing the drugs are also expected to help themselves. They must take into cognizance of the fact that misuse of medicine such as self-medication, consumption of medicine without consulting an apt medical expert, and intake of over/under dose contrary to the doctor’s prescription, are all a death-trap that can take one’s life unannounced.

        

Those who take hard drugs or the ones forbidden by the extant laws, which invariably lead to anxiety, panic, depression, brain fag or damage of brain cells, mental imbalance, protracted illnesses, death, or what have you, should note that the ongoing restrictions as stipulated by law are solely for the sake of their well-being.  

         

Those involved in the illegal cultivation, production, or peddling of the hard drugs ought to also be fully aware that many have lost their precious lives in the process while many are presently rotting in jail. Hence, the compelling need to comprehend that the law is no respecter of any person or authority.

          

Though most of these hard drugs are very useful raw-materials often used in several firms to manufacture a quite number of useful products or finished goods, the obvious fact remains that we aren’t meant to consume them when they are still in their raw states. Thus, we must be very conscious of this assertion irrespective of the circumstance we find ourselves.

        

There is also need for us to acknowledge that absolute decency is required while consuming those stimulants that are not forbidden by law such as snuff popularly known as ‘Utaba’, cigarette, cigar, whisky, dry gin otherwise referred to as ‘Kai-Kai’, or even beers, et cetera.

        

We are required to comport ourselves in whatever action we take or while exercising any lifestyle, so that, our paramount desire of embracing an ill-free and tranquil society would be duly actualized. A word, they say, is enough for the wise. Think about it!

FDN Nwaozor

National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador            

          

TechDeck I Impact Of Computing On Routine Office Works

IMPACT OF COMPUTING ON ROUTINE OFFICE WORKS

          

Computing has presently proven to be the best way a job could aptly be done in the office or any formal setting anywhere across the global community. It suffices to assert that any establishment that’s yet to appreciate the essence of the said technology is still lagging behind.

          

Computing is simply the activity of using a computer and writing programs for it. It can further be described as any goal-oriented activity that requires as well as benefits from a mathematical sequence known as algorithm, through the use of systems (computers), among other devices alike. The major fields that involve computing include: Computer science, System engineering, Software engineering, and Information technology.   

          

Information Technology (IT), or computing generally, has become a veritable and integral part of every business plan coupled with day-to-day office works. From multi-national firms who maintain mainframe systems and databases, to small establishments that own a single computer, IT obviously plays a key role.

           

The impact of computing on everyday activity in the office is so vast. Adequate use of computing can enable any firm, regardless of size or status, to handle its human resources effectively. A sound computing would enable the firm to boast of viable and reliable database of the overall staff alongside their designations.

           

It would also help the company to update the database in terms of death rate, employment, transfer, maternity leave, or what have you. By so doing, the establishment would invariably realize the worth of its workforce towards boosting efficiency and job control. The Nigeria’s human resources, for example, can only be aptly handled via computing.

          

Similarly, with a proper use of computing, employment process would be carried out expressly by the human resources department. With IT, also known as information systems, job seekers can apply without getting to the firm/office involved, thereby avoiding foreseen congestion that could compound office stress or workload. And, having applied, the various applicants can be easily and properly assessed via the use of computing. We must acknowledge that manual system of interview is no longer in vogue if we intend to get it right, especially in the area of Aptitude Test.

          

Management coupled with communication among the staff or between the existing branches of an establishment cannot be overlooked while discussing the essence of computing. Part of management is gathering and disseminating information, and IT can make this routine more accurate by allowing managers to communicate rapidly. Emailing is quick and effective, but the managers can use information systems even more efficiently by storing documents in folders that they share with the employees who need the information. Such activity can be aided with adequate use of networking system.

         

Furthermore, how you manage your firm’s operations depends on the information you have. Information systems can offer more complete and recent info, allowing you to operate your firm/office more efficiently. You can use IT to gain a cost advantage over competitors, or to differentiate your firm’s content by offering better customer service.  
         

For instance, sales’ data give you insights about what customers are purchasing and let you stock or produce items that are selling well. Hence, with guidance from the IT, you can streamline your operations. Additionally, apt use of IT would enable the firm to easily reach out to the public via advertisement, thereby boosting sales or services, as the case may be.

          

Computing can equally help you make excellent decisions by delivering all the required information. Decision-making involves choosing a course of action from several alternatives and carrying out the corresponding tasks. If you can boast of accurate and up-to-date info, you can make the choice with confidence.

          

If more than one choice seems appealing, you can use the available information system to x-ray different scenarios. For each possibility, the system can calculate key indicators such as costs, sales/services, and profits, toward helping you determine which channel gives the most beneficial result.

         

Record purposes are not left out. Your establishment needs records of its daily activities for financial and regulatory purposes, and for ascertaining the causes of problems towards taking corrective measure. Computing enables the firm to store the needed documents as well as revisit histories, communication records, and operational data. The trick to exploiting this recording capability is organizing the data and using the system to process and present it as useful historical information. You can use such information to prepare cost estimates and forecasts, and to analyze how your actions affected the key indicators of the firm.

         

In spite of the overwhelming positive impact of computing on routine office works, mainly in the areas stipulated above, it’s quite appalling that several establishments or parastatals across the country are yet to embrace the routine. To this end, governments at all levels and other relevant stakeholders are expected to make investors and public servants see the routine as priority with a view to embracing a society where every activity would be done with ease, and in an orderly manner.

         

Though the roles of computing in office works can’t be overemphasized, it’s worth noting that a wrong use or application of it can cost the user an untold loss. Thus, every establishment enjoying the services must endeavour to regularly consult professionals as well as train its staff on various computer skills.

          

The impact of computing on the present days’ society remains inevitable, but its wrong use ought to be avoided at all cost towards averting imbroglio. Think about it! 

FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub

______________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador

Opinion I As Buhari Alters Democracy Day

AS BUHARI ALTERS DEMOCRACY DAY

        

On Wednesday, 6^th June 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari boldly and proudly tendered a historic proclamation to the greatest surprise of most Nigerians. He informed the general public that, henceforth, June 12 every year shall be recognized as Democracy Day as against the already existing May 29.

        

The unannounced decision was reportedly informed by the notion that June 12, which was the day the most credible election in the history of Nigeria that would have enthroned Chief Moshood Abiola – now of the blessed memory – as the second democratically elected president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, took place to the delight of the teeming citizenry.

        

The president further clarified that since the Democracy Day for the year 2018 had already been marked, the newly approved commemoration would take effect from the subsequent years, commencing from 2019. In addition, the message notified that the new democracy day, which would automatically replace May 29, would be observed as a national public holiday.

         

Mr. President equally informed the citizens that in view of the declaration, the government had decided to award posthumously the highest honour of the land, GCFR to the late Chief Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 annulled elections. Similarly, his running mate, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe would be invested with a GCON award.

        

He also stated that the “tireless fighter for human rights and democracy in general” late Chief Gani Fawehinmi would equally receive posthumously a GCON award. It’s noteworthy that the event for the investiture, which was scheduled for 12^th June 2018, had successfully been conducted.

       

While Nigerians in some quarters were jubilating over the president’s unexpected avowal, some others were bitter that the procedure followed was ill-advised. Based on their view, the president’s decision was necessitated by the fact that the country’s general elections were fast approaching, hence was only targeted to achieve cheap political goals.

        

Some Nigerians who had also criticized the gesture opined that it was a way of reviving the president’s popularity, which was allegedly on the decline, in the South-Western part of the country. According to their argument, Pres. Buhari was gradually losing his political significance in the said geopolitical zone, thus thought it wise to employ such an avenue towards reclaiming the ostensibly lost glory.

         

As most Nigerians are baffled about the politics and timing surrounding the declaration, I’m only much concerned about the due process that was neglected while such a sensitive decision was taken. I’m saddened that it never occurred to the Presidency that a constitutional matter was in question, hence the need not to overlook the lawmaking ambit of the government.

        

I wonder why Mr. President would think that the existing Democracy Day invariably commemorated on May 29 as recognized by the Nigeria’s Public Holidays' Act would easily be written off by merely dishing out a statement from the country’s Seat of Power. I wonder why it didn’t occur to His Excellency that he would have started his consultations from the revered legislators before making his lofty intention public.

        

Though the president unarguably has a constitutional power to proclaim any day as public holiday, he doesn’t possess the right to write off any clause enshrined in the Constitution at the comfort of his home. So, as we applaud him for having considered making Chief Abiola’s soul to eventually rest in peace, it’s paradoxical to realize that the man who had acted like a true advocate of democracy didn’t take into cognizance the real essence of due process.

        

Besides, rather than annulling the widely accepted May 29, the June 12 can be recognized as something else. It can be called Electoral Reform Day because that was the day the country’s electoral process witnessed an obvious reformation, or even Abiola Day.

         

More so, I pondered on the president’s refusal to include the brain behind the success story of the June 12 elections, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu in the list of those that deserved the national award, particularly the GCON, especially now he’s still alive. Or, should we wait until he is dead?

       

Another controversy trailing the proclamation was that it was in conflict with the Act binding the National Honours. The Act stipulates that the honour shall be bestowed on only the citizens of Nigeria. So, the question was if Chief Abiola, who is now late, is still the citizen of the country.

         

If truly that someone was deprived of a certain honour when he/she was alive, I see nothing wrong carrying out the investiture in retrospect whether the recipient is dead or alive. Hence, from my view, this very case didn’t require the legislature to amend that particular clause before we could correct our past mistakes. The question we ought to rather be asking is; did the supposed recipient really deserve the honour while alive?

        

Meanwhile, as we celebrate Chief Abiola in grave, I equally await a day he would be declared as one-time Nigerian President since the award granted to his person is only reserved for those who must have served, or still serving, the country as president. Think about it!

FDN Nwaozor

National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador