Sunday 25 August 2013

Nigerian lawmakers are the highest paid in the world

Senate President, David Mark and Speaker of House of Reps, Aminu Tanbuwal
Senate President, David Mark and Speaker of House of Reps, Aminu Tanbuwal
 Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.—Doug Larson.

Nice job if you can get it. No wonder the Nigerian Lawmaker fights tooth and nail to stay on the gravy train. It is a known fact that Nigerian Lawmakers are the highest paid in world.

There are 109 Senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives so in terms of payment by result, the Nigerian lawmakers do not deserve such high pay and surely does not perform their duties to warrant such hyper inflated pay. In America, a Senator earns 174,000 US dollars and in the UK, a Member of parliament about 64,000 US dollars a year. So what do our lawmaker do for this generous amount can someone please tell me why they deserve this enormous amount of money. It is about time Nigerians demand better service and improvement for Nigeria and Nigerians.

No one deserves that much money while ordinary people are scavenging to make ends meet. Nigeria has got multitude of deprivation; high infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, malnutrition, inadequate health care and transportation and lack of electricity outage, high crime rates, high number of young people not in education, employment or in training. So why is some of these excesses going to improve the lives of Nigerians. So instead Nigerians lawmakers are paid for below par performance and disregard to the electorates that they are meant to represent. I feel that ordinary Nigerians have been severely short changed, cheated and insulted by these so called honourable people.

According to Professor Itse Sagay, he stated that the Nigerian lawmakers at the lower and upper chambers of the National Assembly are the highest paid legislators in the world. A senator in Nigeria earns 240 million naira (about 1.7 million US dollars) in salaries and allowances and a member of the House of Representatives earns 204 million naira (about 1.45million US dollars) per annum. It definitely rubs insult to injury for the average Civil servant who earns about 46 to 120 US dollars per month.

RMAFC disputes the allowances that the lawmakers earn as misleading and describes the allowances as befitting the political and public office holders; such as the Nigerian Senator Remuneration package comes to 1,505% of basic salary, and the other 225% for furniture .So like I said, Fine job if you can get.

Response to: A Time Will Come…?
Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first. ~Ronald Reagan

I will say this. We are being judged as a nation. As Denrele Animasaun said, we like to show our allegiances to religion yet we have lost our humanity. The elite use the ethnic divisions for their own benefit yet we are too blind to see it. Only now are we beginning to wake up to this fact. It is funny that Obasanjo talks of his former Vice President and former governor of Bayelsa in this manner yet he picked Abubakar twice in return for campaign money and forced Goodluck Jonathan onto the late President Yar’Adua, a Goodluck Jonathan who later pardoned and forgave his former boss Alamieyeseigha.

Those who are identify themselves as Ijaw who will still support Jonathan have themselves to blame if by 2019 their quality of life has not improved. They will blame the Northern elites of course or someone else other than themselves. This tribal politics has retarded our nation and many people know this. I have talked with them. However, many seem to be either on two track minds, shortsighted, or cowardly that they will return to tribal politics the next day. I will say this again, we are being judged by God now. He will not save those who do not attempt to save themselves.
- Chukwuka Okoroafor

Dear Denrele,
Your above captioned article refers. It’s acceptable that the Columnist’s job is to point out the flaws, in order to elicit appropriate response. But our peculiar situation demands that it is even more helpful for possible solutions to be proffered, especially by those of you in the diaspora, who see how things are made to work. So next time you ask these many questions, please try give at least one good answer. “A time will come” when someone might use it to better our country. Have a fine day. Regards, -Alh Musah Ali

My response:
Dear Ali,
Thank you for your email. A time will come… was very self indulgent and it was my way of exorcising the pain and frustration within me! In a country of so many talented and intelligent people you would think the solution will and can come from within. Outside looking in as diasporas, the solutions are oblivious; honesty, transparency, compassion and selflessness. All these characteristics are the bedrock of any civil society, you would expect that majority of people already have it. We as Nigerians truthfully lack most of these qualities so, about time we developed a conscience and work collectively towards building a better future. So my piece was to prick our collective conscience and judging by the number of mails I have received, it got people to think collectively that the answer lies within all of us.
Regards, Denrele Animasaun

We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. – Aesop
Whatever next? Ebenega Okorodudu, has requested that state and federal governments immortalise late Pius Akpor Ewherido. And he also would like the speedy release of former Governor of the State, Chief James Ibori, from London prison.

Where do you begin with such people, even the pope cannot beatify any one unless there has been evidence of sustained good deeds and miracles. So unless the state and the federal government have become the Vatican then I am afraid that there is a case of delusion of grandeur going on. Certainly the sudden death of Ewherido in some quarters must have evoked so much emotions but I think common sense should prevail and accept that death is a leveller. As for Ibori? The good doctor is requesting that Ibori should be pardoned; he argued that the former governor was instrumental in the improvement of his state. Dr Okorodudu seem to have no integrity or morals when he talks warmly of Ibori’s crime as the man has no shame and he has lost touch with reality and with the ordinary Deltans and Nigerians in general.

There is a big omission here; that Ibori is a convicted common criminal pure and simple. Nigerians should know right from wrong as the present crop of politicians are self serving and desperately want to hold on the last vestiges of power while ordinary Nigerian starve and pillage for need to know what is wrong form right and we cannot paint people as dignified and full of integrity when they have been caught, convicted of criminality because he has great that he improved a small part of his state, while he was siphoning the state coffers? He is where he belongs for the crime he had committed and it is evident that Nigeria would have done nothing but parade him as an honest for governor. The message to the younger generation is clear; you are honest provided that you are in government.

In his own reasoning, Dr. Okorodudu said that the Federal and States governments to fast -track a means of releasing the former governor from the British custody where he is currently serving a jail term for offences bordering on money laundering, said the ex-governor is only a human being who can err, but if after owning up and apologizing to his people and the nation, he should have been given a very minimum sentence. Am not sure what stealing vegetable by a hungry person is nowadays but, I am sure it is not a minimal sentence. Yet a thief can steal billions and we create and perpetuate a corrupt society and we shrug our shoulders and we reasoned that there is not much we can do about it as everyone is doing it! Here lies the problem, we look to others to change their ways while we continue being dishonest and incorrigible. So for an errant politician they demand a softly, softly approach. Nigeria has a problem and our lawmakers are a representational of our people and there lies our problem.

Culled From Vanguard

Monday 19 August 2013

Muslim Men Protecting A Catholic Church During Mass In Egypt

 
Saw this on the web and I wonder if this could happen in Egypt, why not in Nigeria? Or is the Quran they are using in Nigeria different? If we are supposed to be our brothers keeper, then, why is it now the other way round in Nigeria.

See the text that accompanied the picture below...

I may be against Muslims sometimes but when I see the good ones I always praise them ....... I believe human are naturally good, we are being destroyed by some certain teaching at every point. Wish this love will progress everywhere even to Nigeria " Muslim men protecting a Catholic Church in Egypt during mass. let's commend our Muslims brothers that stand by peace in Egypt. Note: I'm a Christian and I love this so so much

Thursday 15 August 2013

INSECURITY, TERRORISM: Obama Invites Jonathan For Meeting in New York


United States President, Barrack Obama has invited President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria for talks on issues bordering on terrorists activities in the African continent among others .

Disclosing this to State House correspondents, United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, who is leading a delegation to the US- Nigeria bi-national commission meeting, said all was set for both leaders to meet soon and discuss issues bordering on security, governance, education and agriculture.

According to her, while she came to the presidential villa to deliver a letter from Obama to the Nigerian President Jonathan who was gracious enough to accept the letter, adding that "We look forward to working further on the basis of the letter." She said, "The binational commission is really an invaluable tool for both nations to work together for a strong relationship, especially to support
Nigeria as it moves forward to tackle its challenges. Our presidents are likely to meet soon. I will leave that announcement to the President of the United States and the President of Nigeria.

"The issues before the bi- national commission range from security to governance, education and agriculture. Nigeria is a very important country, not only here on the continent, but around the world. Nigeria has served on the Security Council of the UN and it is likely to do so again in future.

"He is the head of the Committee on Democracy and has been leader in so many ways, like in ECOWAS as a peace-keeper all around the world. These are the partnerships that are important to us. Secretary Kerry had a meeting with President Jonathan in Addis at the AU summit, and so, we look for every opportunity to strengthen our relationship."

Monday 12 August 2013

Private jet owners barred from govt terminal

 

The last has not been heard of the Federal Government’s reforms of the aviation sector, particularly in the private and chartered jet sub-sector.
Barely three months after unveiling a new policy for general aviation, which barred private jet owners from carrying their friends and associates, the Federal Government has stopped private jet owners and chartered jet operators from using the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos for foreign travels.
The order, which has taken effect, was conveyed through a memo from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to the heads of all the security agencies operating at the MMIA.
Airport sources told our correspondent on Friday that following the order, some private jet owners and chartered jet operators had stopped travelling through the international wing of the MMIA.
As a result, private jet owners and chartered jet passengers travelling out and coming into the country will not go through the required security screening, including that of the Immigration, Customs, narcotics control and the State Security Service at the MMIA.
The memo, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, also directed the heads of security agencies to deploy personnel to a privately-owned Fixed Base Operation facility to conduct the necessary checks on the private jet owners and passengers before and after foreign trips.
A FBO facility is a mini terminal or an aviation facility where private jet owners and chartered jet operators can also do fuelling, route planning and dispatching, among others.
The FAAN memo was copied to the Director, State Security Service, MMIA; Commissioner of Police, Police Airport Command; Military Airport Commandant, Nigeria Air Force; Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service, MMIA; Controller, Nigeria Customs Services, MMIA; and Airport Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
However, stakeholders, especially private jet owners and chartered jet operators, have opposed the order, saying the development would lead to higher cost of operations.
The operators claimed that the directive would increase the cost of owning and operating private jets as the use of a private facility instead of the government-owned MMIA before embarking on foreign travels would lead to the escalation of their costs.
Some operators have also accused FAAN of conniving with the operator of the FBO to rip off private jet owners and chartered jet operators.
A chartered jet operator, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said, “I think this is an unfair deal. Why should we all be forced to leave the international terminal to a private facility? This is not best practice any where in the world for the government to force operators to be patronising only one Fixed Base Operation.
“What is wrong with our present arrangement? Is this free to us all or this will be an additional cost to our already strained budget? No consultation whatsoever from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria on this before the implementation. There are so many questions. Is this another ‘food for the boys’ arrangement? This is so unfair.”
However, FAAN has directed the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to clear private jets and charter jets from the private facility.
The directive, it was leant, took effect a few weeks ago, but some industry stakeholders said the development would lead to lax security measures for private and chartered jet passengers.
They said that having to screen high profile passengers, who constituted the bulk of private jet owners and passengers at a private facility instead of the government-owned international terminal, might lead to massive compromise of standard security screening required for international travels.
But FAAN, in its memo to NAMA, said it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the owners of the private FBO and that requisite security personnel had been deployed to the facility.
The FAAN memo, dated July 4, 2013, signed by the Regional Manager, Mr. E. A. Olarerin, read, “Commencement of international business and private jets operations through Quits Aviation Centre at the MMIA: This is to inform your good office that FAAN signed an MoU with M/S Quits located in the MMIA to begin processing all business and private jets at the Quits Aviation Centre.
“Already, all relevant security agencies involved in this operation have performed due diligence on the facility and have given it a clean bill of health, and have subsequently deployed their staff to the centre. In view of this, we hereby solicit the cooperation of NAMA to direct all such flight to process at the new facility.”
However, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said there was nothing like barring private and chartered jet operators from the international wing of the MMIA, noting that they were free to operate from there.
But a top official of FAAN, who did not want his name to be mentioned because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said the Federal Government had cancelled the MoU with the FBO operator due to increasing pressure from various quarters over the development.
He said the private jet owners and chartered jet operators were free to go back and start flying through the international wing of the MMIA.
However, findings by our correspondent revealed that most of the private jet owners were not aware of this development as most of them are still flying through the FBO facility.
The last has not been heard of the Federal Government’s reforms of the aviation sector, particularly in the private and chartered jet sub-sector.
Barely three months after unveiling a new policy for general aviation, which barred private jet owners from carrying their friends and associates, the Federal Government has stopped private jet owners and chartered jet operators from using the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos for foreign travels.
The order, which has taken effect, was conveyed through a memo from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to the heads of all the security agencies operating at the MMIA.
Airport sources told our correspondent on Friday that following the order, some private jet owners and chartered jet operators had stopped travelling through the international wing of the MMIA.
As a result, private jet owners and chartered jet passengers travelling out and coming into the country will not go through the required security screening, including that of the Immigration, Customs, narcotics control and the State Security Service at the MMIA.
The memo, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, also directed the heads of security agencies to deploy personnel to a privately-owned Fixed Base Operation facility to conduct the necessary checks on the private jet owners and passengers before and after foreign trips.
A FBO facility is a mini terminal or an aviation facility where private jet owners and chartered jet operators can also do fuelling, route planning and dispatching, among others.
The FAAN memo was copied to the Director, State Security Service, MMIA; Commissioner of Police, Police Airport Command; Military Airport Commandant, Nigeria Air Force; Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service, MMIA; Controller, Nigeria Customs Services, MMIA; and Airport Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
However, stakeholders, especially private jet owners and chartered jet operators, have opposed the order, saying the development would lead to higher cost of operations.
The operators claimed that the directive would increase the cost of owning and operating private jets as the use of a private facility instead of the government-owned MMIA before embarking on foreign travels would lead to the escalation of their costs.
Some operators have also accused FAAN of conniving with the operator of the FBO to rip off private jet owners and chartered jet operators.
A chartered jet operator, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said, “I think this is an unfair deal. Why should we all be forced to leave the international terminal to a private facility? This is not best practice any where in the world for the government to force operators to be patronising only one Fixed Base Operation.
“What is wrong with our present arrangement? Is this free to us all or this will be an additional cost to our already strained budget? No consultation whatsoever from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria on this before the implementation. There are so many questions. Is this another ‘food for the boys’ arrangement? This is so unfair.”
However, FAAN has directed the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to clear private jets and charter jets from the private facility.
The directive, it was leant, took effect a few weeks ago, but some industry stakeholders said the development would lead to lax security measures for private and chartered jet passengers.
They said that having to screen high profile passengers, who constituted the bulk of private jet owners and passengers at a private facility instead of the government-owned international terminal, might lead to massive compromise of standard security screening required for international travels.
But FAAN, in its memo to NAMA, said it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the owners of the private FBO and that requisite security personnel had been deployed to the facility.
The FAAN memo, dated July 4, 2013, signed by the Regional Manager, Mr. E. A. Olarerin, read, “Commencement of international business and private jets operations through Quits Aviation Centre at the MMIA: This is to inform your good office that FAAN signed an MoU with M/S Quits located in the MMIA to begin processing all business and private jets at the Quits Aviation Centre.
“Already, all relevant security agencies involved in this operation have performed due diligence on the facility and have given it a clean bill of health, and have subsequently deployed their staff to the centre. In view of this, we hereby solicit the cooperation of NAMA to direct all such flight to process at the new facility.”
However, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said there was nothing like barring private and chartered jet operators from the international wing of the MMIA, noting that they were free to operate from there.
But a top official of FAAN, who did not want his name to be mentioned because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said the Federal Government had cancelled the MoU with the FBO operator due to increasing pressure from various quarters over the development.
He said the private jet owners and chartered jet operators were free to go back and start flying through the international wing of the MMIA.
However, findings by our correspondent revealed that most of the private jet owners were not aware of this development as most of them are still flying through the FBO facility.


The last has not been heard of the Federal Government’s reforms of the aviation sector, particularly in the private and chartered jet sub-sector.
Barely three months after unveiling a new policy for general aviation, which barred private jet owners from carrying their friends and associates, the Federal Government has stopped private jet owners and chartered jet operators from using the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos for foreign travels.
The order, which has taken effect, was conveyed through a memo from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to the heads of all the security agencies operating at the MMIA.
Airport sources told our correspondent on Friday that following the order, some private jet owners and chartered jet operators had stopped travelling through the international wing of the MMIA.
As a result, private jet owners and chartered jet passengers travelling out and coming into the country will not go through the required security screening, including that of the Immigration, Customs, narcotics control and the State Security Service at the MMIA.