Over the years, Lagos State has become less dependent on federal allocation as it has seen a significant increase in its internally generated revenue (IGR). Prior to 1999, the state’s IGR was a mere N600 million per month, compared to N7 billion realised monthly between 1999 and 2007.
Analysing the figures, it shows that the state recorded N185.9 billion in 2010, which increased to N202.76 billion in 2011 and rose further to N219.2 billion in 2012.
About N120.25 billion was realised from Pay as you Earn (PAYE) in 2011; N7.97 billion from direct assessment, and N74.54 billion from other sources, while N104.681 billion came from PAYE in 2010; N7.51 billion from direct sources, and N73.704 billion from other sources.
The IGR, is projected to increase to N400 billion by this year. Lagos realised the highest revenue of N172.44 billion through PAYE. A total of N4.36 billion came from road taxes, N1.89 billion from direct assessment of companies domiciled in the state, while N40.513 billion came from other revenue sources.
Lagos Inland Revenue Services’ success is a model with many states, including Edo, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Kano, Delta and Bayelsa substantially adopting the ‘LIRS manual’ for use.
Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, testified to these figures during the 2012 Annual Public Lecture of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). And also, data from the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS) and Joint Tax Board, (JTB), attest to the success of the tax administration revolution spearheaded by the LIRS. Released last December, the figures showed that Lagos State generated more revenue than any other state of the federation between 2010 and 2012.
As a result of this, the LIRS has put in place efforts to generate more revenue in the state being the agency charged with tax administration and revenue enhancement in the state.
The remodelling process began with the appointment of Babatunde Williams Fowler as pioneer permanent secretary/executive chairman of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue in 2005, which was made autonomous and self-accounting entity in 2006, following the passage into law of the Lagos State Revenue Administrative Law and it made the agency first of its kind to be autonomous in the country.
A US-trained economist and international business administrator, and a banker of vast experience. Fowler has helped to drive the vision of successive governments in the state to raise its IGR.
In his presentation made as a guest speaker at the WTS Adebiyi and Associates 2014-Annual Tax Seminar held recently in Lagos, themed: Tax Administration in Nigeria: Looking at the event of the last two years and a preview of the future, Fowler gave insights on what is expected of employers to ensure effective tax payments.
He said, (citing Section 3 of the Personal Income Tax (Amendment Act 2011) that the taxable income of an employee includes any salary, wage, fee, allowance or gains or profit from employment including compensation, bonuses, premiums, benefits or other perquisites allowed or given or granted by any person to any temporary or permanent employee, other than, so much of any sums as expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties, from which it is not intended, that the employee should make any profit or gain.
“Employers’ duty to deduct taxes from their employees’ income is imposed by section 82 of PITA. It is the duty of the employer of a foreign national who holds a Nigerian employment to deduct appropriate taxes from such employee’s income and remit same to the relevant tax authority in Nigeria,” he said.
Compliance status is the primary responsibility of the management and not that of the consultants or auditors he explained further, adding that taxes deducted must be remitted as and when due and necessary books of accounts and other documents must be made available for inspection whenever the need arises.
Fowler said the LIRS expected cordial and effective cooperation from employers with its field officers by providing needed information as may be required from time to time, adding that employers of labour should not hesitate to refer grey areas to the tax authorities for clarification and where they disagree should utilise dispute resolution procedures available in the tax laws.”
Noting that tax payment was obligatory with sanctions for non-compliance in line with statutory provisions, he said employers were expected to build and maintain international best practice in line with tax compliance.
He stated that challenges with employers included non-remittance, under remittance and late remittance of PAYE and other taxes.
“Deliberately under-taxing employees’ income through the design and implementation of various schemes aimed at tax evasion such as refund of tax paid – tax on tax, country-based – hazard index allowance, non-disclosure of offshore income arising from the Nigerian employment, house ownership/building loans with no repayment plan or clause, acquisition of fixed assets in the names of the employees and willful non-disclosure of employees’ total taxable income, allowances and other perquisites,” said Fowler.
He also noted that while there were still challenges, it there is no doubt that the agency has achieved a wider taxpayer base, increased rate of voluntary compliance, accurate and timely payment of taxes, and increase in IGR, which has made Lagos State less dependent on proceeds from federal allocation.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Over the years, Lagos State has become less dependent on federal allocation as it has seen a significant increase in its internally generated revenue (IGR). Prior to 1999, the state’s IGR was a mere N600 million per month, compared to N7 billion realised monthly between 1999 and 2007.
Analysing the figures, it shows that the state recorded N185.9 billion in 2010, which increased to N202.76 billion in 2011 and rose further to N219.2 billion in 2012.
About N120.25 billion was realised from Pay as you Earn (PAYE) in 2011; N7.97 billion from direct assessment, and N74.54 billion from other sources, while N104.681 billion came from PAYE in 2010; N7.51 billion from direct sources, and N73.704 billion from other sources.
The IGR, is projected to increase to N400 billion by this year. Lagos realised the highest revenue of N172.44 billion through PAYE. A total of N4.36 billion came from road taxes, N1.89 billion from direct assessment of companies domiciled in the state, while N40.513 billion came from other revenue sources.
Lagos Inland Revenue Services’ success is a model with many states, including Edo, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Kano, Delta and Bayelsa substantially adopting the ‘LIRS manual’ for use.
Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, testified to these figures during the 2012 Annual Public Lecture of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). And also, data from the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS) and Joint Tax Board, (JTB), attest to the success of the tax administration revolution spearheaded by the LIRS. Released last December, the figures showed that Lagos State generated more revenue than any other state of the federation between 2010 and 2012.
As a result of this, the LIRS has put in place efforts to generate more revenue in the state being the agency charged with tax administration and revenue enhancement in the state.
The remodelling process began with the appointment of Babatunde Williams Fowler as pioneer permanent secretary/executive chairman of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue in 2005, which was made autonomous and self-accounting entity in 2006, following the passage into law of the Lagos State Revenue Administrative Law and it made the agency first of its kind to be autonomous in the country.
A US-trained economist and international business administrator, and a banker of vast experience. Fowler has helped to drive the vision of successive governments in the state to raise its IGR.
In his presentation made as a guest speaker at the WTS Adebiyi and Associates 2014-Annual Tax Seminar held recently in Lagos, themed: Tax Administration in Nigeria: Looking at the event of the last two years and a preview of the future, Fowler gave insights on what is expected of employers to ensure effective tax payments.
He said, (citing Section 3 of the Personal Income Tax (Amendment Act 2011) that the taxable income of an employee includes any salary, wage, fee, allowance or gains or profit from employment including compensation, bonuses, premiums, benefits or other perquisites allowed or given or granted by any person to any temporary or permanent employee, other than, so much of any sums as expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties, from which it is not intended, that the employee should make any profit or gain.
“Employers’ duty to deduct taxes from their employees’ income is imposed by section 82 of PITA. It is the duty of the employer of a foreign national who holds a Nigerian employment to deduct appropriate taxes from such employee’s income and remit same to the relevant tax authority in Nigeria,” he said.
Compliance status is the primary responsibility of the management and not that of the consultants or auditors he explained further, adding that taxes deducted must be remitted as and when due and necessary books of accounts and other documents must be made available for inspection whenever the need arises.
Fowler said the LIRS expected cordial and effective cooperation from employers with its field officers by providing needed information as may be required from time to time, adding that employers of labour should not hesitate to refer grey areas to the tax authorities for clarification and where they disagree should utilise dispute resolution procedures available in the tax laws.”
Noting that tax payment was obligatory with sanctions for non-compliance in line with statutory provisions, he said employers were expected to build and maintain international best practice in line with tax compliance.
He stated that challenges with employers included non-remittance, under remittance and late remittance of PAYE and other taxes.
“Deliberately under-taxing employees’ income through the design and implementation of various schemes aimed at tax evasion such as refund of tax paid – tax on tax, country-based – hazard index allowance, non-disclosure of offshore income arising from the Nigerian employment, house ownership/building loans with no repayment plan or clause, acquisition of fixed assets in the names of the employees and willful non-disclosure of employees’ total taxable income, allowances and other perquisites,” said Fowler.
He also noted that while there were still challenges, it there is no doubt that the agency has achieved a wider taxpayer base, increased rate of voluntary compliance, accurate and timely payment of taxes, and increase in IGR, which has made Lagos State less dependent on proceeds from federal allocation.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The Chief Executive Officer of Savvycorp Limited, Mr. Okey Ezeh, speaks with Kunle Aderinokun on factors affecting job creation in Nigeria and the country’s peculiar place among the MINT countries…
The theme of the 24th World Economic Forum on Africa, which ended last week in Abuja, was “Forging Inclusive Growth, Creating Jobs”. How apt was this theme given the current economic realities in the country today?
Growth is a means to an end rather than an end on its own. Growth should not just be about some arcane statistical juggling act. It should be the proverbial horse that drives the cart of development. It should translate to the existential realities of citizens as measured by living standards, level of self-esteem needs, freedom from oppression and even the quality and scope of choices. On paper, Nigeria is one of the fastest growing emerging markets, but also one of the most abysmal performers on the Human Poverty Index. I think the theme reflects a consciousness by government to correct this seeming paradox.
There is the notion that there is a dearth of skilled manpower in Nigeria despite the large army of unemployed people in the country. Do you not think this is a dis-incentive to creating jobs?
I totally agree that the quality of skilled manpower in Nigeria has plummeted over the years and I really do not think there is any prize for guessing the cause. Our educational system, now comatose, has been in a freefall for years and it is an illusion for anyone to dream economic development without a quality public educational system. I see no strong nexus between the quantum of jobs that can be created and the quality of available manpower.
We are not talking about hi-tech jobs here. All that we need to revolutionise the employment situation is to go back to the basics. Fiscal discipline, improved infrastructure and sustained investments in agriculture and education can lift a significant percentage of the population out of the poverty trap within 10 years. When you pull people out of poverty, you would have empowered them with greater choices even in job placements and required skill-sets that will drive production.
Do you think Nigeria’s place among the MINT countries is well-deserved?
Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey share certain developmental features compelling enough for Jim O’Neil to coin the MINT acronym but the fact still remains that each country has its own uniqueness that it must manage to greatness. Nigeria is easily the most unstable in that group, stranded as it were in a region where civil strifes and military campaigns are more rife than trade blocs and economic co-operation.
Its inclusion in the MINT bloc could actually spur it to finally assert itself in the global economy as an important investment destination. Our demographics and other endowments favour a rapid-fire transition from a struggling economy to an economic star performer so long as the necessary variables are made to jell.
There is the school of thought that fiscal discipline is difficult to maintain in Nigeria because of our peculiar governmental structure that is institutionally unwieldy and too expensive to operate. Do you subscribe to this view?
There is nothing peculiar about the Nigerian governmental configuration. We did not invent the presidential system of government that we practice.
If anything, we have the benefit of learning from the success stories of other countries that have operated a similar system but with more salutory outcomes. Epileptic power, rampant corruption, piracy, oil theft, kidnapping and creeping terrorism are far more devastating to the polity and there is not yet any empirical evidence suggesting that these evils are direct consequences of Nigeria’s experiment with the presidential system of government.
What we need to make progress is to enthrone strong institutional safeguards that will ensure that the nation’s resources are consistently put to use for the good of the greater number of our citizens.
Do you agree with the recent rebasing exercise carried out by the National Bureau of Statistics that revised the calculation benchmark of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in such a way that Nigeria now surpasses all other countries in the continent?
In all fairness, I do not think that the purpose of that exercise was just to produce figures to trump all of Nigeria’s competitors, notably, South Africa. There was a real need to review the calculation benchmark given that the parameters had been left untouched since 1990 – a whopping 24 years during which period the economy had radically metamorphosed. For instance, 1990 Nigeria had no telecommunications industry or Nollywood to speak of and it would have been a big travesty to continue to measure economic output on a model that excludes these significant game-changers. That said, I do not think that the pronouncement that our economy is the largest in Africa should evoke any chest-beating. It should actually serve as a wake-up call to all Nigerians as to what the country can actually become if we remove the shackles that have perenially held the country down from achieving her true destiny. Massive infrastructural improvements, good governance, higher living standards and secure environment would actually cement the country as the destination of choice for anyone looking to invest in the continent. It is only then we can roll out drums to celebrate.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Chief Hinks Dumbo was once the director of business development of the defunct Prudent Bank and chairs a civil engineering outfit, Building Concepts. In this interview with Chineme Okafor, he said the embattled Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has valid reasons to continue with her job as Nigeria’s oil minister
Putting into perspective the operational state of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon industry in the last two years, what is your thought on the petroleum minister, Alison-Madueke’s management of the sector especially looking at seeming strong opposition against her leadership style?
I feel quite uncomfortable when people who should know better than a good number of Nigerians decide to play the ostrich for selfish gains and thereabout mislead naive Nigerians into misjudging good-spirited public officers that work diligently to accomplish their responsibilities to the country.
But if you ask me, I think that Alison-Madueke has grown a thick skin over the past two to three years that she has superintended over affairs of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry; she was practically thrown into a deluge of opposition from the first day the president appointed her as minister of petroleum resources.
People who never anticipated to see a female oil minister in Nigeria were taken aback by that, they kicked and shouted but the president stuck to his guns. They almost knew that with the traditional diligent mindset of women, a woman oil minister was going to be a hard-nut to crack and perhaps, a spanner in the wheels of their phony games in the sector; they began to see the twilight of their games.
Few months into her appointment, we were beginning to see their fears with Alison-Madueke’s indication of the kind of picture the Nigerian oil and gas sector should depict and two years down the line, the facts are there for people to judge from.
Could you be specific on these facts that you talked about from which people can judge the minister?
While I will admit that there are inconsistencies in Nigeria’s petroleum sector which really require the firmness and measures that is exerted by Alison-Madueke to correct, I will also point out that the Nigerian petroleum sector had remained unproductive for a very long time; its ‘poster-boy’, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had indeed acted as a cash-cow to different interests in the country long before Alison-Madueke was appointed, but turning around the fortunes of the sector as well as the operational strategies of its various agencies became an obsession for Alison-Madueke who immediately got the support of her employer to reposition most especially, the NNPC and its subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) that was hitherto churning out abysmal production outputs.
Despite increase in crude oil theft, Nigeria’s crude oil production still averages on 2.30 million barrels per day (mbpd) and her crude oil reserve base as at the last count stood at 36.8 billion barrels while gas reserves are 182 trillion cubic feet (Tcf).
In deep-water operation, the Usan Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO), the new deep offshore Production Sharing Contract (PSC) field which is currently producing at about 103,000bpd was commissioned within Alison-Madueke’s watch while the next major project in Nigeria’s deep water, Egina project that is expected to cost about $15 billion and about 180,000bpd to the country’s crude oil production capacity is underway.
I can also talk about Nigeria’s upstream oil production where the minister has superintended over increased exploration in frontier areas and sustained production in spite of incessant crude theft and pipeline vandalism. The midstream (gas) sector has also recorded increased gas supply to power plants in the country, enhanced gas commercialisation and implemented the gas infrastructure plan and gas for industrialisation.
In the midstream (oil) sector, the repairing and upgrading of facilities in the nation’s refineries and pipelines distribution network has also taken place to sustain in-country product supply, while in the downstream operations, Alison-Madueke has ensured stable supply of petroleum products in spite of pipeline vandals and product theft. Effective and efficient administration of the subsidy programme which remains unsustainably expensive has also been articulated.
I will mention that within 2012 to 2013, 33 work-over wells were drilled in the sector consisting of 32 work-over wells under Joint Ventures and one work-over well in production sharing contract (PSC). Nigeria has nine basins of which the most prospective is the Niger Delta. Others such as Anambra and Chad basins are also known to be rich in hydrocarbon. Presently, exploration has been stepped-up in the entire inland basins of Chad, Anambra, Benue, and Bida/Sokoto/Dahomey; all these are happening under her watch.
But why are there still claims that the minister has not really taken firm steps against corruption in the sector?
How justifiable are these claims, are they just claims without facts? Because I am aware that one of the most controversial policies of Alison-Madueke is the government’s planned removal of state subsidies on fuel prices which had been corruptly managed in the past and which Nigerians were naively misled on.
She supports the discontinuation of petrol subsidy on the grounds that it poses a huge financial burden on the government, disproportionately benefits the wealthy and encourages inefficiency, corruption and diversion of scarce public resources away from investment in critical infrastructure. Now, think of such person seeking to discontinue all sources of corrupt practices as now being accused of nurturing corruption.
Nigerians are witnesses to what went through in the subsidy administration; huge amounts of government monies were expended discretionally, yet the minister in reaction to this, initiated reforms in the sector which a lot of beneficiaries of the old order are kicking against. These are matters of interests, you know.
She set up special taskforces on the much awaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), petroleum revenue, and corporate governance in the NNPC as well as other quick measures to sustain gas supply to power plants for stable electricity generation. These taskforces were equally headed by distinguished Nigerians that include Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Senator Udo Udoma and Dotun Sulaiman, a renowned management consultant and expert in organisational development, enterprise transformation and business process re-engineering.
These people are there for Nigerians to speak to; results from these measures are beginning to trickle in, the PIB is before the National Assembly for passage into law, the NNPC which Nigerians consider corrupt is now been pruned of bad eggs in anticipation of its new role in the post PIB.
What about other claims of an unaccounted $20 billion oil revenue by the NNPC which the CBN alleged?
I am glad you also said it is a claim but there are several inconsistencies in that claim which I thought that by now should have been boring to talk about, nevertheless, when the suspended CBN governor raised the alarm that as much as $49.8 billion which represents 76 per cent of crude oil lifting in 2012 and 2013 was missing from the federation account because the NNPC had allegedly refused to remit the accruable crude oil revenues into the account, I thought to myself that this was serious considering its possible effects on our economy.
But few days later, the stories began to have various shades and tones and it turned out to be that the CBN was wrong with its claims, its allegations were found to be untrue, after due diligence meeting between all relevant revenue management entities of the government and it was discovered that instead of $49.8 billion, it was about $10.8 billion that was actually unaccounted for but not missing as claimed.
As discovered, the CBN lied and misinformed its principal and Nigerians about the true position of things; possibly, the CBN was ignorant of the fact that the National Assembly had within the contentious periods refused to accept and approve budgetary allocations for subsidy on petroleum products in the national budget, that the NNPC continued to buy crude oil at international price rates, refine and or import to distribute same petroleum products to Nigerians at government’s subsidised rates without funds given to it and that no country can lose such amount of money without feeling its shock.
The NNPC also explained that the $10.8 billion was largely spent on repairs of the country’s 5,000 kilometres of petroleum pipeline network which is constantly subjected to vandalism, unpaid subsidies on kerosene and petrol, as well as its maintenance of national strategic reserves for petroleum products which Nigerians have enjoyed for two years now. It is however good to note that the president has ordered a forensic audit of operations in the country’s oil industry, we therefore await the outcome.
Are you bothered about incessant calls for Alison-Madueke’s removal as minister of petroleum resources?
Not as much as I am bothered that people have a penchant to remain divisive and discriminatory against people that have the heart and capacity to work. We have had more than a dozen voices of judgement and fingers of accusation point at Alison-Madueke for alleged roles in high profile corrupt practices in the sector; from claims by five oil producing communities in Delta State that the minister and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Limited have been involved in a N58.9 trillion shady oil deal, to allegations that she superintended the disbursement of over N1.7 trillion to oil marketers for bogus fuel subsidy claims and then alleged mismanagement of processes in the NNPC, even down to recent claims by indigenous oil and gas firm, Oando Plc that its planned acquisition of the business interests of US firm, ConocoPhillips (COP) was being threatened by delay of its consent by Alison-Madueke.
Oando with its claims which amount to deliberate arm-twisting tactics adopted to force the federal government into signing off the $1.55 billion oil assets acquisition deal without due diligence on the transaction, soon forgets that it is the same minister who pushed for the signing of the Nigerian local content law by the president, to enable its likes stake huge claims in the country’s oil and gas sector.
For me, Alison-Madueke has really busied herself working to clean up decades of rot that have come to be synonymous with the Nigerian oil sector, I will rather concentrate on what I have seen her do and not what people say she has done but cannot prove. She has not just done well for the womenfolk but for the global oil industry which deemed it fit to elect her based on her strength as the alternate president of OPEC. I am proud of her as a worthy daughter of Bayelsa state and should continue her job based on the merits she has garnered overtime.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
After several attempts, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and Cameroonian President Paul Biya finally met Saturday at a regional summit hosted by French President Francois Hollande in Paris at the request of President Jonathan.
At the meeting, Nigeria and its neighbours vowed to work together to combat Boko Haram.
President Jonathan and his counterparts – President Biya of Cameroon, President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic, President Boni Yayi of Benin and President Idriss Deby of Chad also approved an action plan designed to counter the terrorist organization blamed for 2,000 deaths this year alone and which has caused global outrage with its abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls.
"This latest attack is a wake up call for all of us. A line has been drawn in the sand; a test is put to each one of us. Nigeria will rise up to this challenge and will prevail. I call upon each one of you to stand up and be counted with us in this fight," President Jonathan said, while also disclosing that the campaign of terror by the sect had claimed over twelve thousand lives.
"We have seen what this organisation is capable of," French President Francois Hollande said at the close of the summit. "They have threatened civilians, they have attacked schools and they have kidnapped citizens of many countries. France in particular has been a victim of it.
"When more than 200 young girls are being held in barbaric conditions with the prospect of being sold into slavery, there are no questions to be asked, only actions to be taken," Hollande added.
The action plan would involve coordination of surveillance efforts, the sharing of intelligence and joint efforts to secure the porous borders in the region against the deadly group that had forged links with terrorist groups all over Africa, Hollande said.
"Religious intolerance has no place in Africa," said Benin President Boni Yayi, while his Cameroonian counterpart President Paul Biya said, "We are here to declare war on Boko Haram."
Chad's Idriss Deby warned: "Terrorists have already done enough damage. Letting them continue would run the risk of allowing the whole region to fall into chaos."
A statement issued by the office of the French President at the end of the meeting tagged 'Paris Summit for Security in Nigeria', said the summit had "helped intensify regional and international mobilization to combat the terrorism of the Boko Haram group"
It noted that the summit came up with several decisions that would strengthen cooperation between regional states, both to enable the liberation of the abducted school girls and more generally to combat Boko Haram.
"The partners present (the European Union, France, the United States and the United Kingdom) are committed to supporting this regional cooperation and strengthening the international means to combat Boko Haram and protect victims. All these states reaffirm their commitment to human rights and particularly the protection of girls who are victims of violence and forced marriage or threatened with slavery," the statement said of the summit which was also attended by representatives of the United States, United Kingdom and European Union.
On regional cooperation, the statement said, "Nigeria and its neighbours will build analysis and response capabilities that will contribute to enhancing the security of all populations and the rule of law in the areas affected by Boko Haram’s terrorist acts."
To combat the Boko Haram threat, particularly as recently manifested through several murderous attacks and the abduction of more than 270 school girls, it said Nigeria and its neighbours had decided to immediately take certain bilateral and multilateral steps.
On a bilateral basis, it said the summit decided to: Implement coordinated patrols with the aim of combating Boko Haram and locating the missing school girls; establish a system to pool intelligence in order to support this operation, establish mechanisms for information exchange on trafficking of weapons and bolster measures to secure weapons stockpiles; and establish mechanisms for border.surveillance;
On a multilateral basis, it said the summit resolved to: Establish an intelligence pooling unit; and create a dedicated team to identify means of implementation and draw up, during a second phase, a regional counter-terrorism strategy in the framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
"The United States, the United Kingdom, France and the European Union will coordinate their support for this regional cooperation through technical expertise, training programmes and support for border-area management programmes," it said, "the participants commit to accelerating the implementation of international sanctions against Boko Haram, Ansaru and their main leaders, within the United Nations framework as a priority."
It said the EU would dedicate a certain number of its programmes to these aspects and would strengthen its efforts to combat radicalization, adding that a follow-up meeting would be hosted by the United Kingdom next month at ministerial level to review progress on the Paris action plan.
President Jonathan, while speaking at the event, defended his decision to cancel a visit to the town of Chibok from where more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamist militants more than a month ago.
"What is of interest now is to locate the girls. The girls are not in Chibok," he said. The last-minute cancellation of a visit to the town, ostensibly for security reasons, was widely criticised. "I will visit Chibok," he said, but did not give a date.
Jonathan also dismissed criticism that the Nigerian response had been slow, saying the terror "only started in 2009 and we didn't have the architecture to deal with that."
"As we progress you will see that the Nigerian military will cope. Definitely we will overcome it," he said, referring to the Boko Haram group.
"We are totally committed to finding the girls, wherever they are," Jonathan said, adding, "The major challenge that we have faced in our search and rescue operation so far has been the deluge of misinformation about the whereabouts of the girls and the circumstances of their disappearance.
"We have deployed about 20,000 troops to the area, intensified aerial surveillance, and strengthened local intelligence resources. We shall spare no effort, we shall explore every avenue; we shall turn every stone, to ensure the return of the girls to their families and that the terrorists are defeated."
President Jonathan said, "We will not succumb to terrorists and their dangerous tactics. Terrorists will not be allowed to define who we are or instil fear in our people and cause destruction and mayhem. The time has therefore come for all peace-loving peoples of the world to unite against this new threat to global peace and stability.
Jonathan called for United Nations sanctions on the terror group and their leaders, adding, “the Boko Haram that said no to Western education in 2002 is not the same Boko Haram operating today.”
"At the international level, we should take concrete steps to designate the Al Qaeda in West Africa, alias Boko Haram, as a Terrorist Organisation on the basis of the Proscription Order that my government has already imposed on the organisation" the president averred.
He canvassed for acceleration in the implementation of other international sanctions, particularly under the auspices of the United Nations, on Boko Haram, Ansaru and their principal leaders.
The president informed the summit that already, his government was making thorough intelligence efforts to identify their sponsors and their sources of funding and arms supply.
Jonathan noted that with the cooperation of Nigeria’s neighbours, it would be possible to rein in these organisations until this scourge is ultimately eliminated and defeated.
On reports that Cameroon was not co-operating with Nigeria, Jonathan noted that “Cameroon has in the past helped to intercept arms meant for terror operations in Nigeria.”
He said though international laws bars Nigerian troops from crossing Cameroon border to engage the terror group, but stressed that “that does not mean Cameroon is not co-operating with us”.
Going down memory lane, he said, "But let me state clearly from the outset that what started as a local insurgency in North Eastern Nigeria has now evolved into the new frontier of the global war of terrorism against our civilization, our way of life, and against the many prospects of stability in our region. This is not anymore a challenge to Nigeria alone; it is a threat to each and every one of us in this room.
"The group is hostile to democracy; it uses every means to indoctrinate its members; its ultimate objective is to destabilize the country, and take over Nigeria in order to turn it into a base of operation in West Africa and the entire continent.
"Since 2009, we have had to contend with many attacks and killings, which have now developed into a full-scale war targeting the stability and integrity of our nation. Boko Haram has launched a vicious guerrilla-style campaign against the government and the people of Nigeria. It has attacked schools, slaughtered students in their dormitories, destroyed villages, communities and government infrastructure and has wreaked havoc on the economic and social life of our people.
"This unconventional war has so far claimed over twelve thousand lives, with more than 8, 000 persons injured or maimed, not to mention the displacement of thousands of innocent Nigerians.
"We have developed intelligence, which indicates that global terrorist networks are deeply involved in the recent activities of Boko Haram, which has now turned into an integral part of the Al Qaeda network as the West African Branch. More tellingly, the group runs an international network of training and incubation centres in such places as Gao and Kidal areas of Mali, the Diffa, Maradi and Maina Soro areas of Niger Republic, Maroua and Garoua areas of Republic of Cameroun, the Zango and Ridina quarters in Ndjamena, Chad, the Ranky-Kotsy area of Sudan, and also some cells in the Central African Republic" the president noted.
He said, "We believe that it is the success of our administration’s Transformation Agenda, evident in the growth of our economy and increasing opportunities for our people, that has prompted the terrorists to intensify the war against Nigeria, because our success is their failure.
"The activities of the terrorists have also been felt across Nigerian borders particularly in Chad, Niger and Cameroon. Border and cross-border attacks have taken place with Boko Haram terrorists seeking refuge in our neighbouring countries. So many Nigerians, fleeing from terror attacks, have also become refugees in our neighbouring countries creating additional burden (security and financial) in those countries.
Meanwhile, just hours ahead of the summit, the Islamist group carried out another brazen attack, this time killing one Chinese worker and kidnapping 10 others in Cameroon – underlining the regional threat posed by the group.
There were however other reports that said the location where the attack took place was Nigerian territory – Kusuri village in Gwoza local government area of the troubled Borno State.
Militants were said to havestormed an encampment used by Chinese road workers late on Friday in a region of northern Cameroon just across the border from the town where they abducted the girls a month ago.
"The Boko Haram militants were heavily armed, they came in five vehicles," an official in Waza, a town near the site of the attack, said on condition of anonymity.
He said the camp where the Chinese road workers stayed was usually guarded by soldiers from Cameroon's elite Rapid Intervention Battalion, but many of the troops were in Yaounde for a military parade.
"Cameroonian soldiers retaliated and the fighting lasted until 3:00 am (0200 GMT)," said a local police chief. He said one Chinese worker was killed and 10 others had been missing since the attack and were believed kidnapped by the Boko Haram gunmen.
A source close to the Chinese embassy in the Cameroonian capital Yaounde spoke of 10 missing and one wounded but would not confirm or deny whether one had been killed.
In another deadly incident, about 29 persons were feared killed in an attack on a market in Ngurosoye village in Bama local government area of Borno State, residents of the area have claimed.
It was gathered on Saturday that the insurgents came on several motorcycles and six Hilux Pick-up vehicles and immediately went about shooting indiscriminately and firing rockets at the market which caused the death of some traders.
A security source who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity said, 29 lifeless bodies were counted moments after the attack, which also caused injuries to several other people.
He lamented: "The attacks of the insurgents on the state rather than decreasing is seriously increasing and the killings these days are in greater number," urging that: "I think it is time government allow us to cordon this Sambisa and destroy all these evil people."
It would be recalled that this makes it the third time insurgents are attacking the same market since the Boko Haram crisis began in 2009.
Ngurosoye village is about 56 kilometers from Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, which is also a gateway into the dreaded Sambisa forests.
A resident of Bama town who spoke anonymously with journalists said, the people had heard rumour of possible attack on the area by the insurgents about two weeks ago.
It would be recalled that gunmen marauders few days ago attacked some villages around Gwoza town where 17 people were reported to have been killed and properties worth millions of naira were destroy by the attackers.
Commissioner for Tourism in the state, Dr. Vilita Bashir, who visited the area to commiserate with the people told them that, the governor, Kashim Shettima was touched by their lost.
She also presented some relief materials to the victims of the attack on behalf of the Borno state government and urged the people to continue to pray for the return of peace in the northeast region.
The attackers also destroyed a bridge linking the various villages in the area, where the Chinese construction workers were working, it was gathered.
Attempts made to get the Borno State Police Commissioner Lawal Tanko and the spokesman of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Col. Muhammad Dole, yielded no result as at time of filing this report.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
There is considerable disquiet in the national conference about an attempt by some delegates to angle for tenure elongation for President Goodluck Jonathan. Promoters of the agenda are basing their move on the current security crisis in the country and trying to angle the national conference towards the recommendation of an 18-month term extension for Jonathan.
Their argument is that the situation of the country would not be conducive to the conduct of a general election, a position that coincides with recently suspected moves to extend the tenures of the governors of the three North-east states of Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa, which have been under emergency rule since the last one year.
But the plot has sharply divided delegates at the ongoing conference.
It is the second time in a decade that an otherwise desirable conference called to resolve issues threatening the corporate existence of Nigeria would be imperilled by arguments bordering on alleged tenure extension by the president, who is usually the conference’s organiser. The National Political Reform Conference organised by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 was ruined by widespread suspicion that he had purposed to use it as a ploy to secure a third term.
The roots of the brewing discontent at the current national conference, which had hitherto been discussed in hushed tones, manifested recently in the Committee on Public Finance and Revenue chaired by the former governor of Kebbi State, Adamu Aliero. A member of the committee, Chief Okon Osung, from Akwa Ibom State, was said to have brought the idea of the president’s tenure extension to the committee chairman, who directed him to share his views with other members of the committee.
A source told THISDAY that when Osung disclosed his proposition to members of the committee, it was vehemently opposed by many of them, creating a sharp division in the committee.
But undaunted, Osung addressed a press conference on Friday where he openly canvassed the elongation of the tenure of the president and other elected officials whose terms would be ending in May 2015.
“At this crucial juncture in our national history, a presidential or National Assembly declaration of a politico-administrative moratorium or cooling-off period before the conduct of the third transitional elections scheduled for February 2015 has become an imperative necessity,” Osung stated.
He elaborated, “This calls for the postponement or deferment of the scheduled 2015 elections by at least 18 months, while retaining all the democratic institutions at all levels of governance and across the entire spectrum of the country’s political divide, without any bias to the statutory termination dates of such democratic institutions.
“This implies the retention of the presidency, offices of governors in the states, the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives), state Houses of Assembly, local government chairmen, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the respective State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs). It is imperatively necessary to speedily put the proposed politico-administrative moratorium into effect, and Nigeria would not be lacking in terms of historical precedent of having to rise to a difficult and unforeseen contingency or occasion for which the country’s constitution had not made adequate provision. A ready example is the Doctrine of Necessity under which Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had transformed from Vice President to Acting President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria following the untimely demise of our beloved president, Umaru Yar’Adua. As the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, had declared at the time, ‘the Doctrine of Necessity requires that we do what is necessary when faced with a situation that was not contemplated by the constitution… In doing so, we have as well maintained the sanctity of our constitution as the ultimate law of the land.”
According to Osung, “The said presidential/National Assembly declaration (or proclamation) has become an inevitable action Nigeria cannot shy away from in a situation in which governments need to pause, think, re-tool and re-focus (electorally-speaking), in order to avoid an impending catastrophe by way of a constitutional crisis or deadlock of unimaginable proportion. The impending constitutional crisis could be exacerbated as Nigerians prevaricate over whether to submit the national conference report to a referendum or to the National Assembly for ratification!”
Buttressing his position with the book, This House has Fallen: Nigeria in Crisis, written in 2000 by American journalist Karl Maier, Osung said the picture painted by Maier was “a reminder that Nigeria is approaching a disaster or ‘a tropical firestorm’ that may lead to its breakup.”
Osung referred to the ethnic, religious, and geopolitical tensions as well as corruption and unemployment threatening Nigeria, which Maier identified in his book. Like Maier, he believed Nigerians needed to discuss in a national conference and agree on the terms of their association by means of a referendum.
“The congruence between Karl Maier’s 2000 prescription on the impending crisis in Nigeria and what the Goodluck Jonathan administration is doing currently is not far to seek. A very strong reason why the national conference report should be put to a referendum!” he said.
Osung, who struggled hard to read the text of his press conference, an indication to many that he was not the original author of the statement, but a mere hatchet man, tried to make a distinction between past attempts at tenure extension and the current call. He said, "While tenure elongation bids by previous administrations aimed at profiting individual incumbents of public office, or their cliques, to the detriment of the general public, including opposition groups, and apolitical Nigerians, the current proposal, which is non-partisan, aims at profiting all Nigerians across the political divide – both protagonists and antagonists of the 2015 elections…
“In fact, at the terminal stage of the moratorium, a government of national unity should be put in place, comprising representatives of major political parties and other important stakeholders in the country.
“Additionally, the proposed temporary postponement of elections is intended to guarantee security and peace throughout the Nigerian federation – a sine qua non for the attainment of any developmental goal in any society – as well as to stabilise the system for the good of all. After all, there is no virtue or valour in dismal failure; neither would any Nigerian stand to profit from orchestrating any deliberately contrived stalemate or constitutional crisis!"
Osung said, “A second plausible argument in support of the proposed postponement of election is the ardent need to stave off the phenomenon of military intervention now that Nigeria seems to be experiencing gradual institutionalisation of democratic processes, given the background that the country has already had two previous successful civilian-to-civilian transitional elections (in 1999 and 2003). Yet, most of the essential ingredients that normally uncork coups d’état in Third World countries appear to be present in Nigeria presently:
“The North-east has been infested with (or virtually taken-over by) Boko Haram terrorists/insurgents, despite the declaration of a state of emergency there; the South-south with the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)and other militants, who specialise in the vandalisation of oil installations and in kidnapping; the South-east with the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), who specialise in kidnapping and robbery; while the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in the South-west is hobbled by lynching cultism, ritual killings and other fetish bestial practices. Fulani herdsmen are ravaging the North-central, killing and maiming innocent civilians.
Osung also mentioned the recent defections in the National Assembly, which he said portrayed an awful lack of ideology among the political class, as part of the inconsistencies in the system necessitating a postponement of the general elections.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
After three weeks of intensive committee work, the plenary session of the national conference will commence tomorrow in Abuja with a detailed examination of reports of the 20 committees assigned various national issues.
While some of the committees had already submitted signed copies of their reports to the conference secretariat before the weekend for distribution to delegates, others were still busy at the weekend with the collation of their final reports.
This was as facts emerged at the weekend on the roles played by vested interests within the South-south as well as the North, South-east, and South-west in dashing the hopes of fruitful negotiation on the issues of resource control and derivation principle. Many of the delegates had dug their heels in and would not shift from the fixed ideas they had come to the conference with.
Submission of committee reports to the conference is in line with Order 12 (d-e) of the National Conference Procedure Rules 2014, which states, “Each committee shall submit to the conference the report of its activities. The report of a committee is the collection of all views expressed showing the consensus on decisions reached by seventy-per cent (70%) of majority of delegates present and voting.”
The modality for consideration of the reports would be made known at the plenary, and it is likely to include a clause-by-clause consideration of the recommendations in each report, with votes taken on items on which there is no clear consensus.
The pattern of voting is contained in Order 11 of the National Conference Procedure Rules 2014. It states, “All decisions of the conference at plenary and committee stage shall be reached by consensus; or in the absence of that, the chairman shall, at his discretion adjourn proceedings to allow for further consultations.
“In the case of failure to reach a resolution on the matter by consensus, it shall be decided by a vote of seventy per cent (70%) majority of delegates present and voting.”
After the item-by-item consideration of the 20 reports, and in line with the Order 13 of the National Conference Procedure Rules 2014, a final report of the conference shall be drawn up and approved by the delegates. The rule requires that the final report of the conference should be signed by the chairman, deputy chairman and the secretary before presentation to the president.
“Should the final report lead to the drafting of issues of law and policy, the conference shall in consultation with the six principal officers of the conference advise the government on the legal framework, legal procedures and options for integrating the decisions and outcomes of the national conference into the constitution and laws of the country.”
Meanwhile, THISDAY at the weekend got hints on how the hopes of an increment in the 13 per cent derivation principle and move towards resource control by the federating units were dashed.
The two cochairmen of the Committee on Devolution of Power, Attah and Coomassie, were determined to defend the interest of their zones, while Coomassie, who is also chairman of the northern socio-political group, Arewa Consultative Forum, had signed a document stating the position of the North that there would be no increase in the derivation principle.
Delegates from the oil-rich Niger Delta had sought an increase in derivation to 50 per cent and a provision to allow the oil producing states to own their oil wealth and pay a specified percentage of the proceeds as tax to the federal government. As the debate progressed, the Niger Delta states found good allies in the South-west and South-east delegates.
South-west delegates like Ayo Adebanjo, Niyi Akintola and Gbagegesin Adedeji supported increased derivation. The South-east delegates led by Prof. ABC Nwosu and the former president of Ohanaeze, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, also spoke in support.
Akintola and Adebanjo argued that the old Western, Eastern and Northern Regions had enjoyed 50 per cent derivation in the First Republic, explaining that the development initiatives by late Obafemi Awolowo and the Ahmadu Bello were facilitated by the control of 50 per cent of the proceeds of the regions’ resources endowments.
But the strong South-west support for resource control and increased derivation was said to have waned when they learnt that the South-west’s demand for a lose confederacy, return to the parliamentary system, and creation of state police was threatened by delegates from the North and South-south.
The South-east delegates were alleged to have reduced their support for the South-south position when it became clear that the eastern quest for an additional state, to bring it to the same level as the other zones, had been made an all-comers affair. The conference received 31 requests for state creation.
Besides, on the part of Attah, whose state, Akwa Ibom, derives most of its oil revenue from offshore production, it made political and economic sense to allow the derivation principle to remain at 13 rather than stretch the debate, which was tending towards a suggestion that the littoral states should give up their claim to offshore deposits in return for increased derivation for oil producing states.
Given the conflicting interests, the safest thing for the delegates, obviously, was to allow the status quo to remain.
Attah said the decision to maintain the 13 per cent derivation principle was a victory for all.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
You’re a veteran in the industry, when did you start acting? First of all, my name is John Okafor, Mr Ibu and I hail from Ezeokwe in Nkanu West Local Government, Enugu State. My first experience on camera was 1978 December 3. It was a soap opera in Benin City. A soap opera they called Hotel de Jordan. I was just a passerby and then they called me to be part of it, part of the crowd. My face wasn’t even showing but I was comfortable, I was contented being part of that big work.
Why did you decide to become an actor? That is the bone breaker. I had nothing in mind before when all of us were in school, from elementary school to secondary school. Then I didn’t really have something in mind I was going to be but I know I was having medicine in my mind. At the end of the day, when I came across the camera, I was so crazy about watching people doing things on television. I said well maybe I will diversify and that’s exactly how I found myself here
How has your acting career been so far? The career has been so interesting and we’re enterprising. Very fantastic, I must confess. The industry has made me 99.9% of who I am today. It’s a very wonderful constituency and I am happy to be a part of it.
Have you won any awards? Yes. I was the first Nigerian to win the best comedy actor in English films in Africa in London. That was 2002/2003. I also won the same thing 2005 in Germany (Best Comedy Actor in English films in Africa). Then the same 2005, the first national comedy award in Nigeria, I won it.
In 2006 also, I won it, organized by Virgin Productions or something. It was all about national thing. So I won it two times consecutively 2005 and 2006 and then my film was the best film of the year that same year. Other awards, I have City people awards, a whole lot of them. I have plaques in my house.
What is the name of the movie you’re shooting now? Well, the reason why we don’t want to expose the name of the movie is because we have virus in the industry and this virus which is piracy, means we try as much as we can to make sure we conceal the title of the movie otherwise, once they get hold of the title, they would go further before we even start.
How was it like working with the cast and crew? The cast and crew we have here, I will give them 99.9% in attitude, in presentation, in accuracy, communication I will give them 50% and then welfare, I will give them 40% and then caring, I would give them 100%. Acting generally, I would give them 80% so the cooperation is fine. They have pass mark.
You’ve been in Nollywood for a while now. What is your general view of the industry? The industry is not really giving us what we expect now because when we started with the heavyweights, there was a lot of network guarding the industry. But unfortunately as the thing proceeds like this, we begin to discover that people who are not supposed to be in the industry are here and they are making the whole journey very steep for us. However, we believe in God.
The industry has not stopped. We are still going further and the more we go further, the more we learn more things and we are beginning to use more than one camera in a production unlike before, we used only one camera. Today, we can use like 2, 3. The white men, they use like 100 cameras, 50 in one production. I was involved in one in Germany, we used 20 cameras at a role. However, I’m not trying to measure or probably compare our own production with them but the issue is that we are growing
If you could change one thing in Nollywood, what would it be? I will definitely change the system of distribution because the distribution system here is very poor. We have only 3 major outlets while we have about 36 states and FCT. If you do a movie and an approximate of about 3,000 copies are sold in each of the states, count how many you’re going to sell. But we are bent on buying the pirated copies and then trying to view it for free, waiting for DSTv to show it and all that, so it is actually dragging us down.
You recently celebrated the dedication of your first son? That’s not my first son, my first son is 24 years, my second son is 21 and the other one is 19 and then my smallest son is almost a year.
So you have 4 kids total? 4 boys. It was 5 but I lost one to kidnappers.
What attracted you to your wife? She’s beautiful, face of Imo State then. So I decided to look for beauty because I want to see a contrast
What More should fans expect from Mr Ibu? I’m still on location. I’m still doing what I’m doing. Let them keep praying and I will never disappoint them by the special grace of God and I’m advising those who are greedy, who are coming to the industry all because of money, come into the industry, work on your face first, discover who you are in the industry, learn, ask questions, get the proper thing to do then before the money would come in.
You won’t even know when the money starts coming. And then I advise those girls that pay for roles, if you’re one of those that go to producer, director to give money to get roles, you will never get out of this industry. You will never see the light of the day. Leave that thing. Go ahead and allow God to give you your own position in the industry. Keep doing what you’re doing. The one that is yours is yours, the one that is not yours, forget about it.
Do not go and give your body because of roles. Do not go and give money because you want to get a role in a production. That is not how the industry grows. If you pay, they will give you something you’re going to do, you’re not going to be anybody. The industry is like a spirit. They will reject you immediately you begin to pay yourself in.
What is going to happen to those who are studying Theatre Arts in the University? What will they do when they come out? Will they be paying for roles again or will they be paying for having spent time in school to learn or will they be paying for serving you? I’m angry about that. I don’t want to go further about that.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Days after the uprising of a battalion of disgruntled soldiers against the former General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, Nigerian Army Maiduguri’s Maimalari Barracks, Major-General Ahmadu Mohammed, the Nigerian military authorities are yet to classify the incident as mutiny. A final decision, a well-placed source clarified, would only be arrived at after the Investigative Team had concluded its work.
According to the source, the consequences could be dire should it be conclusively determined that the actions of the erring soldiers falls under mutiny. “We are not calling it mutiny now until we have enough evidence to determine if it is mutiny because if it is eventually established its mutiny it’s a grievous offence, especially during war situation [and] that attracts death sentence,” said the source.
“During war you will be eliminated by firing squad, meaning they are supposed to be tied to a stake and fired. So it can also be attributed to a case of cowardice and desertion of duty, which is another serious offence.”
Describing the incident as unfortunate, the senior officer said the military were shocked beyond belief that the soldiers could have killed their GOC. “Can you imagine that they fired at him?!”
“The soldiers were sent on a mission to Chibok but on returning they were ambushed with some of them dying in the process,” the officer narrated. “As would be expected, by the time they (the surviving soldiers) returned, the GOC went to the hospital to encourage them and visit the wounded. That was when this set of soldiers insisted he must address them (the battalion).
“It was during this address that the soldiers started abusing him, firing shots in the air. Other officers and soldiers, in a bid to intervene, urged the GOC to enter his car for safety. They were however surprised when their colleagues started firing at their GOC. They fired his car as he tried to escape, can you imagine?!
“Definitely, the full wrath of law is going to be applied, which is death by firing squad because mutiny during the war is a serious offence.”
Investigations further revealed that the military authorities are determined to apply full weight military law through court-martial to determine the offences of the erring officers who fired at the immediate past GOC.
According to well-placed military source, a double-pronged investigation is on-going to determine the veracity of their offences and applied full wrath of the law in accordance with the Armed Forces Act (AFA) CAP A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004.
Speaking to THISDAY, the intelligence personnel noted that the level of indiscipline being exhibited by the soldiers needed to be nipped in the bud and the on-going investigation will help determine the culpability of those involved and the offences ranging from cowardice, desertion, insubordination, absence without leave and outright mutiny.
He said Section 181 of the AFA CAP A20 LFN 2004 provides how offences will be determined and punished through court-martial proceedings in the armed forces. According to him, some of the punishment may include demotion, summary dismissal, various jail terms and maximum of death sentence or life imprisonment.
On Wednesday last week, Mohammed, who has since been replaced by Brig-Gen. MY Ibrahim, escaped death by a whisker when a group of angry soldiers rebelled against him in protest over Boko Haram ambush that killed some of their colleagues.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Aniedi Awah Noba isn’t a name that would cause a stir because it is a face that works behind the cameras. But the man, like most directors are the ones who pull the strings and oftentimes dictate the tunes to which the actors must dance.
For Aniedi, he doesn’t believe the sexual harassment issue is a big deal. To him, it is a question of two adults, meeting up and making up their minds to make out.
“If a director is a man and the actress is a woman and they find themselves attracted to each other, they’re permitted to do anything because they are adults. Where it becomes bad is when one person puts a gun on the other person’s head and make unhealthy demands through some blackmail.
Sexual issues are not things you can really predict because they are human related. Anybody can sleep with anybody anywhere in the world as far as it’s an agreeable venture. So if I’m a director and I see an actress and I say I want to sleep with you and the actress agrees I don’t see anything wrong with that.
Where it becomes bad is when I say I will not give you a job until I sleep with you. Now, we over-flog this issue of directors sleeping with actresses. A man will meet a woman anywhere, any day and they will sleep with each other. Let anybody sleep with anybody they want, life goes on. Let’s just do the work” he asserted
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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