FROM BANKING HALLS TO DISTRESS HALLS

The idea of having a brisk and brief stop-over in some banks increasingly seem to be an illusion despite the introduction of alternative banking channels. Virtually all banks in Nigeria now have e-banking channels where customers can ceaselessly transact securely. However, banks today are characterized by long queues, overcrowded halls, over-burdened bank employees and frustrated customers.

These days, it’s risky taking excuse from your place of work to carryout card less transaction(s) in the bank, as one risk spending far longer than schedule for transactions that should ordinarily take a few minutes. Aside that, banks seem to care-less about the stress and time consuming effort it takes to carry out banking activities in recent times.

However, it is noteworthy to state that some banks have continued to introduce innovative measures to ameliorate the discomfort experienced by their customers by introducing and setting up dedicated channels like electronic channels, ATM centers and hotlines.

It is common knowledge that bank workers are considered the most over-burdened set of workers in Nigeria’s labour industry; this is due to the high volume of daily transactions and patronage. Top management team of these banks must do more in ensuring that all available resources are deployed in establishing that visiting banks in Nigeria isn’t seen as time consuming/wasting.

In my opinion, three things should be done to curb this growing menace. First; is the need to do more of educating and sensitizing their customers on the use of alternative banking channels like internet and mobile banking. A good number of these account holders have access to internet through their mobile phone or via other means; a bulk of the transaction done in banks by these customers can be carried via internet/mobile banking channels. Secondly; more should be done in setting up dedicated channels like ATM centers in densely populated areas. Thirdly; Banks must take advantage of the CBN approved agent banking rollout policy. Agent banking should be adopted so that interested SME’s can provide financial services to customers on behalf of a licensed deposit taking financial institutions.

ARTICLE BY: OLOJO VICTOR

Dele Momodu: Time to build a modern Nigeria

by Dele Momodu

Fellow Nigerians, please permit me to reveal my favourite segment on CNN. It is called Future Cities. If you have access to satellite television and stable electricity at home, you must endeavour to search for this exciting program. You will be awe-struck by the spectacular advances of man in a world where some countries like ours still live in the Stone Age. The one I watched a few days ago was the focus on the brand new airport being built in Abu Dhabi. It got me wondering why we can’t replicate such feats with our own oil money. Is it that we’ve resigned our miserable lives to fate in the fervent belief that we can’t do anything to change our outrageous situation? Have we accepted that we don’t deserve the good things of life that we see and take for granted when we travel abroad as we all love to do?

I have no doubt in my mind that we live the most squalid existence in Nigeria. Forget the fact that we parade some of the most expensive homes and drive the most exotic cars known to mankind. Please, ignore what seems to be the latest craze in this embattled country, the acquisition and the maddening proliferation of private jets. It is all shakara. Many of the owners don’t have the kind of money you imagine they’re worth. Most of them owe the air they breathe to their banks. On top of that, they have plundered our treasury dry through all manner of hanky-panky, subterfuge and even outright theft. It remains a miracle, courtesy of sedatives, how many of them can actually go to bed and catch a few hours nap.

Truth is we live in the most expensive ghettos on this planet earth. We are free to delude ourselves that ours is the ideal enjoyment, because we foolishly use the head of a cobra to scratch the body without realising the inherent danger in the poisonous snake. Or, how can you justify the madness of building a one billion naira mansion that has no passable road, power supply, chlorinated pipe-borne water, efficient security, and so on, except the owner provides all. Nigeria is probably the only country you can’t be sure if the equivalent of $2m dollars can buy you a place in your dream neighbourhood. It is also an oppressive and intimidating State where you can’t get a mortgage and car loan and pray to manage your life and live happily thereafter. You are thus consigned to a dustbin survival like a scavenger, and compelled to join the rat race as you must cough out the dough only in raw cash. The whiff of money is what has turned otherwise reasonable men into lunatics who go on rampage to grab anything in sight. They steal in arrears and in advance, and nothing is too big or small to pilfer unabashedly.

But a cash-and-carry economy can never take us to the promised land. No society has ever developed without a credit system. This has contributed immensely to the large-scale corruption in Nigeria. Any salary-earner who’s able to build sprawling mansions in rich estates and purchase outlandishly expensive cars without obtaining loans is likely to be a crook. This is one reason it is wrong and erroneous to restrict and ascribe corruption only to political office holders and civil servants. Corruption has become endemic in our clime because we live in a competitive environment where it is a crime to be poor and the attitude is that of every man for himself and God for us all.

We can’t go on like this or something cataclysmic will give one day soon. The tell-tale signs are already there. The world has become too small and shrinking and advancing, majestically, by the day. There’s so much to learn about, and from, those countries that are doing very well. Technology has made it easier to check facts and figures. A leader need not gallivant about before understanding the world we live in. Everything is available at the touch of a button. A President does not have to go on a merry-go-round while pretending to be in search of investors. True investors know where and where not to invest. Nothing is hidden these days because the masquerades of old have been stripped bare in the market place. You don’t have to travel to Germany to examine gas turbines. You have no business flying to Netherlands to see what windmills look like. There are too many power options these days that only an unserious nation would jubilate and celebrate 4,000 irregular megawatts after wasting trillions of Naira. No nation spends our kind of money without demanding nor getting results, and carry on as if nothing happened.

We can do much better than we are doing. We must begin by revamping our scandalous infrastructure. It takes our brazen and unrepentant boldface to continue to brag that we are the giant of Africa. Giants don’t live in filth and incurable sin. For donkey years, we’ve refused to make our airports visitor-friendly. Just imagine what welcomes you to Lagos, the New York of Africa, as you drive out of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, towards Mafoluku, Oshodi, Gbagada, Oworonsoki, or even the unpardonable squalor along the path of the famous Third Mainland Bridge. What’s the source of our shameless swagger when the Federal Government has failed to honour its simple obligations to the people of Nigeria after announcing stupendous budgets at its yearly ritual?

We probably have the worst network of roads in the world. Our leaders must save us from this unjustifiable ignominy by starting from somewhere. The Federal Government would endear itself to the people the day Nigerians can travel round their own country with minimum stress. A gloomy environment can only attract doom. Nigeria is a nation of perpetual bad news because the darkness that has descended on us can only breed evil spirits and demons. Many Nigerians are too frustrated not to consider or commit crime. I’m shocked that many of our leaders have not discovered the secret of what catapulted Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos to the top position amongst equals. His deliberate, determined and consistent beautification of Lagos did the trick.

The environment is always self-evident when conducive. It is the best form of advertisement a sensible government can proudly put on parade. No one would pray for a government that fails to tar a simple road between Port Harcourt and Yenogoa. No citizen would appreciate a country where you spend ten hours on a one hour journey. No inspiration can be derived from a polluted atmosphere. This is even easier to achieve than battling the anti-electricity syndicates and generator cartels. A lot of jobs would be created when various governments, from Federal down to Local Government, decide to clean up our messy environment.

Naturally, we must work on mass transit in all its ramifications. The cost, and timing, of doing business in Nigeria is excessively prohibitive. A country with our kind of population cannot continue to depend on prehistoric means of transportation. Nigerians are too stylish and widely-travelled not to see that the world left us behind some 50 years ago, if not more. The hullabaloo over the Okada ban, or restrictions, in Lagos would not have been necessary if our leaders had done the right things in the past.

Before our very eyes, our country nose-dived and became a pathetically backward nation where commuters had to risk their lives on motorbikes largely controlled by some dare-devils. A lot of the oil tankers constituting unbearable menace on our highways would be a thing of the past if we can transport our petroleum products by rail. Farm products would also be easier to distribute in same fashion. It is incredible how we’ve endured the excruciating process of distributing products all this while without demanding and insisting on what is desperately needed. We’ve been short-changed for too long by leaders who abandoned the railways and sentenced us to mass suicide on the roads.    

Next we must fix our education. The state of our education has reached tragic dimensions and catastrophic proportions. Education is everything. It is the soul of a nation. We must find the political will to close down most of the mushroom institutions that breed nothing but glorified illiterates. Most of our graduates are not employable even if there are jobs. We must merge some of the higher institutions for better and effective management. We must re-accredit the private schools that are merely fleecing innocent students and their parents. A situation where Nigerian certificates have become virtually worthless cannot augur well for our future development and progress.

Serious attention should be paid to the welfare of teachers. Nigerian teachers are too pauperised to motivate their students. Our students can never respect people who look up to sales of hand-outs for personal survival. There is also the urgent need to scrutinise our curriculum and make them relevant to our needs. We must restore our technical schools speedily to upgrade the quality and performance of our artisans. The reading culture must be re-awakened by providing well-stocked libraries. We must invest in e-libraries and take advantage of the limitless access to information and knowledge provided. It is sad that politicians are busy playing terrible politics with the future of our youths. They don’t seem to care because they can afford to send their kids to the most expensive schools in the world. But do they really know what most of these kids do abroad? Someone should please enlighten them. Too much spoliation by unrestricted access to unlimited cash often turns many of these kids into social misfits. And the parents won’t even notice when things are going wrong because they are slaves of power and wealth and have been blinded by both.

Building a modern Nigeria is not an impossible mission. I have seen many poor nations transform genuinely from penury to prosperity. We have what it takes to do it. The main ingredients include determination, dedication and honesty of purpose. We shall develop on this thesis with copious examples from around the world.
•To be continued  

Rejoinder: Hauwa Gambo: Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you have a message

I have known the writer to be very prolific, and have always showcased this through her dexterous style of writing- thumbs!

 However, I’m largely disappointed at how you handled this piece. I’m surprised at how difficult it is for you to distinguish between a strong character and a vibrant entity. This clearly exhibits your very shallow knowledge of what a political party should represent and how they operate.

First, your write up shows how much of a pessimist you are. It shows how laidback you are toward contributing to transforming the political landscape in this country eventhough you claim to be very knowledgeable.

Second, the title of your write up clearly lacks logical connection with the body of your message in that your inability to clearly state whether you had problems with the personality of Ashiwaju Bola A. Tinubu, state governors of the ACN or the party itself. I was very quick and excited to read your piece but was disconsolate to realize it fell short of what I expected from you. The fact is, there’s much to gain when you crystallize problems with intention of driving at a point. Yours’ is however a reversed case, because you have shown to many individuals like myself, who looked up to your capabilities and prowess at changing the socio-political milieu of this country, that being a prolific writer doesn’t make a transformational leader.

Third, I acknowledge the fact that during the course of several campaign rallies for the just concluded guber-election in Ondo state, inciting, unfriendly, vulgar, and obnoxious statements were made by individuals of repute and caliber. Please note that this act cuts across board. Leaders of the various political parties slandered and defamed their personalities for cheap political gains. It’s left for our generation to decide on whether or not to adopt a more civil approach in politicking.

Fourth, what happened in Ondo state clearly shows that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. Nigerians are more aware, engaged and committed towards sustaining virtues of democracy, which is very laudable. For me, the outcome of the poll in Ondo is indeed the ‘beauty of democracy’. Democracy is more about an open-ended approach to development, good governance; higher living standards et al. political parties are vehicles to specific destinations, its left for people to decide what vehicle they desire.

Fifth, yes indeed, the ACN came in with so much vibes and many hoping that the party would drive us to our desired destination. Well, it’s apt for me to state that even though we ain’t there yet, the party hasn’t fallen below expectations. As a matter of fact, considering the political terrain in Nigeria and the arch dominance and rivalry of a party like the PDP, the ACN has done fairly well. There’s no perfect system anywhere in the world; the ACN is well aware of her fundamental challenges and working toward correcting them.

Sixth, I unequivocally and clearly condemn your statement  “…as Nigerians ponder the absence of a credible alternative in our politics at the moment” – very laughable! This clearly shows you are not engaged, yet you are very quick to condemn. Dear Hauwa Gambo there are over thirty (30) political parties in Nigeria; yet you say absence of a credible alt? My very candid advice for you is identify yourself with one of these and contribute to developing our country by deploying your God given talents and other resources available to you.

Finally, please whittle down on your Nihilistic approach and be more objective in your writings.

OLOJO

Sept, 2012

Hauwa Gambo: Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you have a message

One of the distinct tragedies of our politics is that a succession of leaders has honed to an art the mind-boggling inability to learn from those before them.

The result of this is immediately apparent: a vastly variable set of leaders, but the very same set of values and, of course, consequences. We have been led by sometimes accomplished, sometimes idiotic men – but the effect has been the same; Nigeria continues to decline.

This ongoing tragedy was on vivid display last week as a posse of Action Congress of Nigeria chiefs descended on Ondo and proceeded to indulge in the kind of verbal seppuku one should only find in a slum beer parlor. Including dangerous ‘confessions’ by its national leader Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that he gave millions of pounds to Olusegun Mimiko, the party projected a loud and wild confidence that it would “crush” its rival.

Of course, pride comes before a fall. By the time the dust from their brooms settled, the ACN had lost the elections so badly that even the PDP got more votes without investing as much time, money and hot air. Mimiko, under the Labour Party, got 260, 199 votes. The People’s Democratic Party candidate, Olusola Oke, got 155,961 votes. Rotimi Akeredolu was left with a measly 143,512 votes.

It was almost impossible not to draw parallels with the PDP’s fatal misadventure in Edo barely months ago – where President Goodluck Jonathan led a boisterous, clownish parade declaring premature victory in a state which any analyst worth her salt knew the PDP was going to lose.

In that same vein, the ACN sort to supplant the humble mobilisation of votes and winning of hearts that is at the heart of democracy with a vacuous chest-thumping that undoubtedly got on the nerves of the electorate, and repelled observers across the country.

The ACN has sadly become a punch line. It came into our political space with plenty of promise, signalled by its broom party symbol, which indicated it was ready to sweep away the uglier tendencies of politics and policy in Nigeria. Instead, over the past few years, and with intensity over the last couple of months, it has slowly but steadily transmuted from hero to bête noire.

The insurgent party has become unrecognisable; the very demonstration of that which, without irony, it rails against. Even its promise of Awolowo’s lusty developmental vision has largely been a mirage.  In the South-West which it dominates, it has ambled along with juvenile irredentism (Rauf Aregbesola, Osun) arrogant elitism (Babatunde Fashola, Lagos), oblivious inaction (Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun), wanton profligacy (Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo); redeemed only by flashes of brilliance (Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti).

It has abandoned any pretense at modesty to expand its base and deepen its achievements, a path that many would have expected, not because of any inherent decency, but in the strategic realisation that hubris is the tragic flaw that has destroyed the PDP and made it incapable of transforming Nigeria.

As a student of Nigerian history, I cannot pretend to be shocked at this turn of events, but it has not lessened my disappointment. Which is why I join the popular celebration of the defeat or the ACN and Tinubu, in Ondo State on Sunday.

As surely as the sun rises in the east, the party deserved that humiliation, and as Nigerians ponder the absence of a credible alternative in our politics at the moment, the moral of this story is quite simple really: the broom is no cleaner than the umbrella.

In fact, when push comes to shove, they are, both, two fingers of one giant leprous hand. Let the buyer beware.

LESSONS FROM MALAWI

Governments around the world today are faced with enormous challenges and these challenges seem to be ubiquitous; they come as extra hidden packages. The more we pursue developmental goals and good governance the more these challenges continue to rear their ugly heads.

However, I will be drawing lessons from the south-eastern country of Malawi to espouse and analyze some of the common challenges we face as countries within the continent.  Malawi is over 118,000 km² with an estimated population of more than 13,900,000. Its capital is Lilongwe, which is also Malawi's largest city; the second largest is Blantyre and the third is Mzuzu.

Nigeria and Malawi have very little things in common asides issues of poverty, HIV/AIDS, leadership, etc. Malawian President Joyce Banda stated that her cash-strapped government will sell the presidential jet controversially bought by her predecessor. The president succeeded late president Bingu wa Mutharika after he died from a heart attack in April. President Joyce championed a national austerity drive which includes cost-cutting schemes and getting rid of government luxury vehicles and the plane, which are symbols of power and status in this poor nation where nearly 40% of the 13 million people scrape by on less than a dollar a day.

Couple of days ago, the Nigerian president presented the 2013 annual budget to the National Assembly. While many praised the executive for the timely budget presentation and also acknowledged the improvement in budgetary allocations. This time education got the highest, a very laudable step taken by the FG towards education in recent times. However, many have been quick to notice that while many countries of the world are taking austerity measures very seriously, Nigeria’s case seems to be the reverse. Allocations like feeding in the ASO ROCK, fire extinguishers and refreshment have over a billion each in allocation. This has prompted more and more questions about the need for government to make tougher austerity measures. Malawi as a country that relies on exportation of agricultural produce and foreign donation for economic gains; and have in recent times taken measures to cut cost. President Joyce Banda recently announced a 30% pay cut for her and the VP. Presidential pay cut is of course not new to Nigeria; late president Umar Yar’adua also did slash his pay as president, however, I think making meaningful austerity measures goes beyond pay cuts but looking into other aspect of governance where expenses can be whittled down meaningfully. Although, economically and demographically both countries cannot be compared, nevertheless, there’s need for Countries in Africa and particularly Nigeria to begin to cut down on unnecessary spending and acquisitions. A thorough job must be done by the national assembly to ensure that allocations must be justifiable, with an end result of enhancing productivity in all sectors.

It is also quintessential to note that Nigeria operates an incremental budget, which in my opinion needs to be checked.  More disturbing is the rising recurrent expenditure which the budget depicts; many countries are working towards downsizing civil service workforce thereby making it more efficient and effective. Good governance isn’t tied to how many individuals government can employ into its coffers but creating an enabling environment where citizens can thrive in whatever economic engineering they engage and where foreign investors can operate without impediments or negative forces.

FINALLY, issues of domestic debt seem to be on the front burner, the legislative and executive arms are still battling to reach an agreement on what benchmark the 2013 budget should be hinged. Running a deficit economy (i.e spending above earnings), excess crude account, sovereign wealth funds, etc, are issues that will remain with us for a while, until something fundamental is done to correct the way our economy is been managed. Based on the last release by the Debt Management Office (DMO), Nigeria’s domestic debt stood at over six trillion naira, which is very disturbing. There must a balance as to how we manage our God given resources and it is never a must to operate an incremental budget on a yearly basis. As a matter of information Niger republic, Nigeria’s close door neighbor has proposed a budget for 2013 seven percent (7%) lower than the previous. Governments at all levels must do everything possible to cut down spending at all cost and there must be justification for every penny spent- ACCOUNTABILITY!

Olojo V.

Oct, 2012

Reactions to 'Aluu killings' by Mark Mazadu

                                                            Mark Mazadu
"Much more devastating is the fact that our society celebrate 'bigger criminals' and kill the weak who could be helpless"

My latest reaction on the UNIPORT 4 Murder: The culture of jungle justice is satanic...Even if they were Cultist, rapist, thieves or whatever the society brands them... No human, I repeat, NO HUMAN deserves to take the life of another or deserve to die in such satanic manner. Don't get it why pple like taking the laws into their hands and cry fowl when similar 'injustice' is done to them... Shame how fellow human beings watched as humans are burnt alive...wonder if the saying do unto other as you would wish to be done unto you means anything to them. More shameful, the love of human power has replaced the power of love in our society... Much more devastating is the fact that our society celebrate 'bigger criminals' and kill the weak who could be helpless... We look up to God for mercy yet we show others no mercy. We seek Gods help, yet we forget the greatest help God has given us is Love thy neighbor as urself. May God forgive our ways... We keep shouting Boko Haram, Boko Haram, Boko Haram, yet some of us in our thoughts and ways act worst than BH. Some say its the best culture to teach the so called bad eggs among us a big lesson, I'm of the view any culture that say we should kill pple is not culture but wickedness. Wonder how those watching will go to bed and sleep sound... what we'll tell our children and our children's, children about love. May God have mercy on the souls of the departed, comfort their families and forgive the murderers. Dis madness must stop... "let he who is without sin, cast the first stone" the Bible tells us. This is indeed one of the saddest day for me in the history of humanity. (My opinion pls) @snmtravelin

AMBITIOUS YOUTHS ON A SINKING SHIP:1

Decades ago, gender and women issues were on the front burner of global development agenda. Today it is relatively inappropriate to solve challenges of developing countries without focusing on the role of women. Likewise, a remarkable shift is required with respect to youth development in Nigeria. As we might be conversant with, some of the issues affecting youths today includes education, employment, poverty, drug abuse, health and environment, juvenile delinquency, empowerment, participation in governance and globalization.

The story of Nigeria’s nascent democracy would be incomplete without the incredible efforts and sacrifices made by the youths of this country.  We all know the important roles youths played during past elections, so many noble youths paid the ultimate price, just for the good of the whole. As a young Nigerian growing up, I had my first taste of participation during the 2003 general elections, as an election observer with Justice, Development, and Peace Commission (JDPC), I travelled across the country and I had a firsthand experience of what it meant to be in service for ones’ country.

Nigeria’s youths are the most resilient, enterprising and talented. The youths are becoming more and more conscious of their political environment and desire direct control over their future.

A youth is referred to as the state of or time of being young. It is also referred to as a period of time when someone is young, especially the period between being a child and being fully grown. (Akpan & Ekong, 2006)

Nigerian youths must not be blind-folded by the cheap gains of today as against the pursuit for a better tomorrow. PDP- A party that has led this country for well over a decade and still lacks anything meaningful to show for this; political parties are meant to be vanguards of ensuring that the impact of democracy is felt; the opposite is the case as the essence of true democracy is yet to be felt by common Nigerians on the streets. They have succeeded in satisfying and enriching themselves (gluttonous bourgeois class) and also further deepening the gap between the ‘haves and have not’.

NEW WINE IN OLD BOTTLE

The concept of ‘new wine in old bottle’ is applicable to the youths of this country. Isn’t it funny and disturbing how some young folks would rather put up a sky-rise structure on an already weak and frail foundation? Identifying with a party that doesn’t have youth development/participation/mobilization/engagement programmes will be absolutely unproductive; all they care about is holding fiercely to power by whatever means.

The PDP as it is known has many youth groups and faction without a clear cut agenda/programme of engagement; national youth wing, youth circuit, youth groups, youth chapters, et al. A party where evil outweighs good, where corruption is at grand standing, where there are over eleven thousand (11,000) abandoned projects unattended to, yet new ones are being approved weekly with no guarantee that they will be commissioned, where successive administrations have done nothing but further retrogress the country, it’s been a case of one step forward and two steps backward; a party that claims to have solutions to Nigeria’s problem but has ended up creating more problems; a party where a being youth means been 60 years of age and above; a party that has failed to recognize that involving the youths in decision making process will further enhance their faith and believe in the process of governance.

Surprisingly, many youths have failed to realize the fact that a party is in power today doesn't mean it holds the key to the future. It is against this backdrop that I have decided to do this piece. To honk the sound of advice to those who are willing to listen, to those who would take a second look and retrace their parts.

PDP AS A CORPORATION

My doubts about the meaningful existence of the PDP was totally cleared, when the new chairman of the party announced the novel agenda of the party was to be registered as a corporation. This move clearly shows that the party does not have the masses at heart; they exist solely for their own interest; a party that lacks fundamental attributes of a political entity. A party that’s far from been institutionalized is pursuing economic gains. PDP has lost its essence of existence as far as we know. Political parties are the main mechanism for the organization of government and the key channels for maintaining democratic accountability, none of these values seem to be on the plane of the PDP.

We all understand the laws of nature because we live by these laws on a daily basis. A goat will give birth to a goat, an elephant to an elephant, a monkey to a monkey, so what do we expect as an offshoot of the mainstream PDP – I know you have the best answers.

PROGRESSIVE YOUTHS ON A UNITED FRONT

 The importance of developing the potentials of youths cannot be over-emphasized because the development of a society or country at large depends on the quality of its manpower, a bulk of which the youths represents. That is to say today’s youth has a pivotal role to play in birthing a new tomorrow; this is something we take very seriously on this platform.

Youths across the country must join efforts to identify with entities that have shown concerted effort and commitment toward creating enabling environment for youth development while other progressive’s should ensure that young persons are accommodated within the mainstream of their political party politics where critical decisions affecting them are dealt with. We encouraged more youths to participate actively in political process; such encouragements have gone a long way in building necessary social structures and providing the enabling atmosphere for the realization of talents and personality development.