Opinion I Setting Impeccable Agenda For Buhari

By Fred Nwaozor




The long awaited Presidential polls have eventually come and gone to the Glory of God who made it possible, and a victor has consequently emerged to the people’s delight.
At the moment, it is obvious and unarguable that come May 29, 2019, the incumbent President of Nigeria in the person of Muhammadu Buhari would be enthroned once again to lead the country for another four-year term.
In view of the aforementioned fact, it has become pertinent and ideal for any right thinking citizen within the shores of the Nigerian State, or anyone who thinks well of Nigeria at large, to be deeply concerned and jittery over what the country’s fate would entail in the impending tenure of President Buhari.
Such a feeling as stated above is not unrelated to ‘fear of the unknown’, which has hitherto been not uncommon fever that invariably greet the mindset whenever a certain era is strongly being awaited by the human race. Hence, that of Nigeria’s political system wouldn’t be an exception.
As a true and rational citizen of Nigeria, I’m of the view that what’s rudimentarily actually expected of me as an individual is to candidly wish the incoming government well as well as think on its behalf towards making the needed progress.
If this assertion holds water, or anything to go by, then it would be reasonable to, in my capacity, assist the awaited administration in setting a concrete agenda for the good of all concerned. It was on this premise I thought it wise to come up with this analysis.
For a formidable agenda to be set, we must critically consider what we can currently boast of, or have really achieved so far. Either as an individual or entity, you cannot set an agenda, or formulate a policy, without looking inwards with a view to acknowledging your immediate possessions coupled with the efforts being made thus far toward actualizing the lofty goals you set previously.
Since the impending government is equally expected to be led by the same man who is leading the present government, before an agenda would be set for the former, it’s imperative to cross-examine what has been accomplished in the latter.
It’s worthy of note that there was an agenda set upon the inception of the ongoing administration. So, for a subsequent agenda to be set, it’s ideal to consider if there was any reasonable and tangible effort made or step taken towards accomplishing the previous one or the one currently in use. This measure would guide the persons involved to set a sound and better agenda for the days ahead.
I’m here to set a concrete agenda for the awaited government having painstakingly considered the aforesaid parameters and rudiments. It’s noteworthy that the ongoing administration is predicated on a change mantra, which entails anti-corruption, security and economic boost. So far, how far?
Having taken a candid note of the above question, I want to begin by urging President Buhari to ensure that the incoming government is built with a good and sound foundation. The foundation in this case is centered on the kind and nature of individuals that would make up his cabinet. This ought to be the first agendum to be seriously put into consideration on the agenda list.
It’s worth noting that no policy or motive, as might be the case, would be achieved if the president’s cabinet is porous. Hence, he is urged to look inwards toward recruiting the best and reliable brains that are tested and trusted. It’s on this premise I enjoin him to consider contracting only technocrats with proven integrity.
Secondly, Mr. President ought to consider disintegrating the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. The ministry is required to be split into two or three. Power supply remains the bane of the country’s economic stride, hence should be given a whole and critical attention.
In view of the above, a separate ministry ought to be created for the power sector. Such a step would enable the government tackle the electricity quagmire with all the needed measures. Additionally, such a ministry must be manned or overseen by an apt and well-experienced hand. Technicalities mustn’t be taken for granted if the needful must be done.
Thirdly, the downstream subsector of the petroleum sector needs to be seriously looked into headlong. It’s high time Nigeria boasted of at least a functional world-class refinery within the shores of the acclaimed giant of Africa. We can’t continue to import what is being drilled or generated in the country.
This ongoing practice is an aberration, hence must be tackled without much ado. Thus, the president should be very willing to appoint someone to man the petroleum ministry, and such a person must be eligible, trustworthy and fully experienced.
All in all, the upcoming Buhari-led government must beware of sycophancy. The aforementioned cankerworm is a societal menace that blows no leader any good and has eaten deep into the bloodstream of our political system.
The worst is that most of the leaders herein are yet to acknowledge the existence of the aforesaid uncalled behaviour let alone comprehending its dangers inherent. Mr. President must, therefore, not overlook the ugly trend if he truly desires success all the way.
Time and space might not permit me to tender all the needed approaches expected to be taken by Buhari, but he must take into cognizance that the expectations of the citizenry are very high. Think about it!

Comrade Nwaozor is the National Coordinator,
Right Thinkers Movement
_________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador

Tech I On Criminalizing Estimated Electric Billing

By Fred Nwaozor




If you are a resident or citizen of Nigeria but yet to realize that blackout has overtime been synonymous with the country, then probably you have been outside minded.
There’s no day passed, you wouldn’t find a certain group in a given arena deeply discussing the excruciating effects of epileptic power supply endlessly faced by the teeming Nigerians in all corners of the country.
The acclaimed giant of Africa has thus far, to assert the least, suffered an untold hardship in the hands of electricity, yet no one can currently foresee when the affected populace would start singing a new song as regards the public utility in question.
It sounds not unlike a paradox, but it’s real, that a country that has continually generated electricity for some of her neighbouring ones cannot presently boast of uninterruptible power supply. This is the sole reason many concerned individuals cum entities are sensing something fishy regarding the ordeal.
The unfortunate situation being discussed can’t be aptly and wholly x-rayed without mentioning some key stakeholders that are involved in the day-to-day management and sustenance of the limited resources.
The three prime segments of electricity supply, which include generation, transmission and distribution, have severally been analyzed on this column. It’s noteworthy that ‘billing’ as inscribed on the topic, is not unrelated to the distribution section.
The above background signifies that only Distribution Companies (DisCos) are statutory charged with the responsibility to provide as well as issue electric bills to the electricity consumers within their respective jurisdictions.
It’s equally worth noting that billing system could acceptably be of two major forms namely, the prepaid billing and the postpaid billing. A prepaid item or service is paid for in advance, whilst a postpaid one is paid after the item/service has been purchased or rendered, as might be the case.
In Nigeria, over the years till date, electricity consumers have been used to the postpaid billing system whereby the bills of the services rendered or energy consumed are issued to them at the end of every month via the aid of the electric meter installed in each of their households, or business premises, by the concerned authority.
Through this methodology, the stipulated bill of the exact utility consumed is being provided for the consumer by the relevant distribution firm. It’s needless to enthuse that by the aid of the electronic device (meter) mentioned above, the apt bill would be worked out at the end of each month.
This has been the case even prior to the emergence of the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) that was formerly in charge of electricity distribution within the shores of Nigeria. The pattern was rightly inherited by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) till it was sent packing by the Federal Government (FG) under the watch of the immediate past administration led by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to pave way for the private investors.
The practice continued unabated not until lately when the FG instructed the DisCos, whose services are currently ‘enjoyed’ in the distribution section, to provide and issue prepaid meters to the electricity consumers across the federation towards implementing the ‘Pay as you go’ policy presently witnessed in the telecommunication sector.
This recent directive has apparently fell on deaf ears as it could be fully observed that only a few entities, not even individuals, could at the moment boast of the prepaid meters. Taking note of this derailment, a worried mind domiciled in the country may then want to know what the way forward entails.
It’s imperative to acknowledge that prepaid pattern of billing enables a consumer to pay for only the amount/quantity of electricity he intends to use within a stipulated period by purchasing and consequently slotting a prepaid card into the installed prepaid meter. This method, therefore, is widely adjudged to be very accurate, concise and devoid of any form of imposition or pranks.
Aside its merit to the consumers, the prepaid billing pattern is equally noted to be of high advantage to the DisCos as it’s meant to be labour effective. The measure would drastically reduce the degree of stress currently experienced by their employees as it’s foreseen that they wouldn’t anymore need to go from house to house towards penalizing defaulters as regards bills’ payment.
Survey rightly indicates that over 97% of Nigerians are still facing the postpaid pattern of billing, perhaps owing to the inability of the DisCos to do the needful or pay heed to the directive of the government.
It’s appalling to realize that these consumers aren’t only faced with postpaid electric bills but estimated ones, whereby the DisCos do the billing without the aid of any meter. So, as the citizens decry the high level of blackout being experienced in the country, the random method of billing adds more salt to the injury already incurred.
This unspeakable condition could be what occasioned the Bill to Criminalize Estimated Electric Bills recently passed by the Green Chamber of the National Assembly (NASS). The document, which is targeted to amend the Electric Power Reform Act, is meant to prohibit and criminalize the ongoing estimated billing of consumers.
The bill sponsored by the House Majority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, graciously scaled through third reading at the Lower Chamber. It is in protest against the ‘crazy bills’ invariably issued by DisCos to their teeming subscribers and will hopefully put to an outright end any kind of estimated billing system when eventually passed into law.
The House Committee in charge of energy consumption reported on the bill, following a public hearing held on it precisely on June 5, 2018. The report was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers present at the plenary via voice votes, hence the document was approved overwhelmingly.
The bill, which will ensure that prepaid meters are installed in all houses and what have you upon the request of the consumers, has reportedly been transmitted to the Upper Chamber (Senate) for concurrence. If the Red Chamber passes the bill, it would be subsequently transmitted to the Presidency for assent as required by the Constitution.
Mr. Gbajabiamila had, at the public hearing, strongly opined that any regulation that allows estimation of bills when the actual consumption rate could easily be ascertained “is against natural justice and equity and should not stand”.
It’s imperative to comprehend that there is nowhere across the global community where consumers of electricity, or any form of energy, are billed arbitrarily as it is the case in the country. This is to say that Nigeria is obviously operating in isolation in terms of electricity billing.
We must take into cognizance that in postpaid billing system, estimated billing can only be employed in situations where the installed meter of the consumer cannot be accessed by the service provider, perhaps due to technical hitch or whatever.
But around Nigeria, the concerned authorities can barely provide the consumers with the required meters let alone installing them. This implies that DisCos have, however, deemed estimated billing to be normal and acceptable; a belief that is highly condemnable by any right thinking individual.
The operators of this unacceptable not unusual tradition being harboured in the country, unequivocally deserve to be holistically prosecuted for a criminal act, hence the compelling need for the aforementioned bill to be hastily passed by the senators headlong.
As we keep our fingers crossed, it’s ideal to remind all relevant authorities that this lingering norm is anti-human, therefore shouldn’t be allowed to continue showcasing its inhuman muscles. Think about it!

Comrade Nwaozor, a Policy Analyst, Rights Activist & Tech Expert,
is the National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement
______________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056

Opinion I Why Imolites Must Handle Imo With Care

By Fred Doc Nwaozor

The last time I checked, Imolites in their entirety were apparently filled with mixed feelings, perhaps owing to what transpired at the just concluded gubernatorial poll in the state.
And as I write, the aforementioned set of persons is still preoccupied with same feelings. In some quarters, some are engaged with discussions regarding the outcome of the said election. Whilst, in other areas, some are deeply concerned about what the fate of the state would entail after the next political transition.
As we variously undergo or participate in this myriad of discussions bordering on the impending interregnum, we are expected to think more of the interest of Imo or be more concerned about what would happen to the state as we pass through this circumstance.
This piece, therefore, is informed by the compelling need for each of us to candidly handle Imo with care; the need for us to guard the state with absolute care as we discuss, argue, wail, or rattle over the outcome of the state’s guber election that took place on 23rd February 2019.
Imo must be well guarded with all our might because there’s absolutely no other province we can truly call Imo. We mustn’t do anything to jeopardize the interest of the Eastern Heartland. Imo really cares about us, thus we are expected to boldly and proudly safeguard her welfare at all cost.
We might have felt shortchanged in one way or the other, but that isn’t enough reason to indulge in any activity that would in any way mar the interest or progress of the state in general. Irrespective of our grievances, we must not overlook the state’s interest as we react.
Imo as a state has been impartial concerning our wellbeing regardless of the circumstance, so we are required to reciprocate such a lofty gesture in whatever dealings we indulge ourselves in.
In view of the above facts, it would be pertinent to do anything we intend to do with all manner of maturity. We must be well-behaved and well-mannered in our inactions, actions or reactions. It’s only a mature attitude that can guarantee safety in any society.
For instance, considering a nuclear family as a society, it’s only mature behaviours invariably displayed by the man of the house that can guarantee peace or calmness in the home. Thus, if the man decides to behave childishly, he would have himself to be blamed in the long run.
So, if a man of a certain house truly wants his home to remain safe and become better, he mustn’t resort to selfish attitudes or behaviours that would jeopardize the overall interest of the family. He must be willing to place the interest of the family first before considering any personal interest.
The progress of any home is predicated on the way and manner it is being handled by its overall members. And in any family, the members remain the husband, wife and of course the children. Any of these individuals has a distinguished role to play towards ensuring that the family is well protected at all times.
Now, in the case of Imo as a state, it is the statutory duty of each of the citizens to handle it with absolute care and maturity if they actually look forward to embracing a calm, peaceful, harmonized and accommodating state.
Hence, those who want to react over their grievances as regards the outcome of the guber poll or any other election must do so with extreme maturity. We can’t afford to set Imo ablaze due to our individual motives.
What ought to be of paramount important to us as we react is the motives of Imo. The state has its own goals, and it’s noteworthy that her interest is for the good of all. This is the reason we must not relegate the state’s interest to the background as we argue or react on a daily basis.
Imo is seriously in need of our true care at this trial period. We shouldn’t betray her because she has hitherto given us enough. Her love for us has been enormous that we cannot afford to pay her back with betrayal or anything of such.
Let’s individually or collectively consider the state before taking any action. An injury to Imo is definitely and unarguably an injury to all irrespective of our respective statuses. Imo shouldn’t be brought down at a time we are expected to uplift her.
As we await the impending power transition, I enjoin us to remain calm and resilient even if we were not favoured by the outcome of the polls. We must comprehend that only one contender was expected to emerge victoriously at a particular poll, hence the need for us to be rational.
Whatever our interest was prior to the elections, at the moment, we are required to throw our support behind the person whom has been declared the winner of the competition by the electoral umpire. But if we wish to object the outcome, or the declaration, we must do so lawfully as stipulated in the Constitution.
Imo has so far gone too far to be truncated by a mere interest of a certain group embedded in the state. It’s on this premise I urge us not to shortchange the state as we go about with our support, objection or what have you, as the case may be. We need to sincerely think Imo in our various dealings; this is the only way we can witness a stronger entity called Imo.
No matter the level of provocation we might be experiencing right now, I must tell us without equivocation that our actions or reactions would solely determine the wellbeing of Imo at large, hence the compelling need to act or react maturely. Think about it!

Comrade Nwaozor, is the National Coordinator,
Right Thinkers Movement