Omicron: UK, Canada tighten noose on Nigeria

Omicron Covid-19 not in Nigeria yet; we’ve ramped up surveillance — FG •UK suspends processing of visitor visa applications from Nigeria •Asks residents travelling from Nigeria to pay £2,285 for 10-day quarantine •We can no longer accept result of COVID test from Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, others – Canadian govt •FG decides on UK’s ban on Nigerian travellers this week •Health professionals differ over UK travel ban By Chioma Obinna, Victoria Ojeme, Omeiza Ajayi & Gabriel Olawale The United Kingdom and Canadian governments yesterday tightened the noose on Nigeria, following her link with the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Recall that the Uk government had weekend included Nigeria on its ‘’red list’’ of countries placed on travel ban. UK suspends processing of visitor visa applications from Nigeria As though that was not enough, British High Commission said yesterday it would “pause making decisions” on visitor visa applications from all red list countries, including Nigeria. The decision, announced in a statement issued by the commission yesterday, came hours after the UK added Nigeria to its travel red list. “To support the UK government’s aim to protect public health from COVID-19 and associated variants of concern (VOC), UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) will pause making decisions on visitor visa applications in all red list countries, including Nigeria, until travel restrictions are lifted,” the high commission said in a statement. This is even as the Canadian government said also yesterday that it would no longer accept result of COVID test from Nigeria, Egypt, South and seven other countries on the continent. UK residents travelling from Nigeria to pay £2,285 for 10-day quarantine The UK government also yesterday came up with fresh conditions for Nigerians and its citizens travelling to the UK.from Nigeria It said British citizens and residents travelling from Nigeria to the UK should expect to spend £2,285 on hotel quarantine for 10 days. According to the UK guidance on quarantine arrangements for persons who are travelling in from countries on the red list, British citizens or residents coming in from Nigeria are required to quarantine for 10 days on arrival at a government-approved hotel at a cost of £2,285 for an adult. There is an “additional rate for adult (or child over 11)” at £1,430, while an “additional rate for a child aged 5 to 11” is £325. Quarantine costs do not apply to children under five, according to the document. However, the UK said it would consider an arrangement for persons who have financial challenges. “The price includes: transport to and from your quarantine hotel; accommodation, food and drink for the whole of your stay; any COVID-19 tests you need to take while you quarantine. “If you believe you will suffer severe financial hardship if you have to pay the full cost of your managed quarantine or testing fees before you travel, then hardship arrangements may be available to you,’’ the guideline read. Meanwhile, a petition by Dalia Elbeih, a UK citizen, to the British parliament seeking to allow fully vaccinated people coming from red list countries to isolate at home had exceeded 78,000 signatures at the time of this report. “The hotel quarantine is very expensive and non affordable. I believe that there should be an exemption for fully vaccinated people and who had a negative PCR to isolate at their place of residence,” the petition read. The petition, which the UK government had responded to on July 6, had a deadline of December 10 and will be considered for debate in the UK parliament if it reaches 100,000 signatures. We can no longer accept result of COVID test from Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, others – Canadian govt Similarly, the Canadian government said it would no longer accept results of molecular COVID tests done in Nigeria and nine other African countries. The other affected countries are Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. READ ALSO: COVID-19: UK govt restricts foreign travellers from Nigeria over reported cases of Omicron Canada had, on November 30, banned travellers from the 10 countries over concerns about the spread of the Omicron COVID variant. In the “quick facts” section of its travel advisory, the government said Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and people with status under the Indian Act who had been in the affected countries are allowed entry into Canada. It, however, added that they would be required to obtain proof of a valid negative COVID test from a third country. This implies that such travellers would need an in-transit PCR test result for entry into Canada. “Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and people with status under the Indian Act who have been in these countries—Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe—in the 14 days before travel to Canada will be required to obtain, within 72 hours of departure, a valid negative COVID-19 molecular test in a third country before continuing their journey to Canada,” the statement read. The statement noted that travellers from the aforementioned countries would also be expected to complete testing upon arrival to Canada, regardless of their vaccination status or having had a previous history of testing positive for COVID-19. ‘’They will also be required to complete a test on Day 8 after arrival and quarantine for 14 days, while those arriving by air will be required to stay in a designated quarantine facility while they await their arrival test result. “They will be permitted onward travel once they have received a negative arrival test result. Those arriving by land may be allowed to proceed directly to their suitable quarantine location. “If they do not have a suitable and robust quarantine plan—where they will not have contact with anyone with whom they haven’t travelled with—or do not have private transportation to their place of quarantine, they will be directed to stay at a designated quarantine facility. “There will be increased scrutiny of quarantine plans for travellers from these countries and rigorous monitoring to ensure travellers are complying with quarantine measures. “Further, PHAC is contacting travellers, regardless of their vaccination status or having had a previous history of testing positive for COVID-19, who have entered Canada from these countries in the past 14 days to direct them to be tested and to quarantine while they wait for the results of those tests,’’ the statement read further. However, the Presidential Steering Committee, PSC, will be .meeting within the week to come up with a robust response. This is as health professionals differed yesterday over the travel ban by the UK government as some asked the government to come up with appropriate retaliation to the ban, while others said Nigeria had no reason to complain because the federal government failed to do its job. Head, Technical Secretariat of the PSC, Dr Mukhtar Muhammed, could not be reached on yesterday as he rejected calls placed to his known telephone line, while also failing to respond to a WhatsApp text message. But, a top source in the PSC said despite Nigeria’s principle of reciprocity, the decision to counter the UK would not be unilaterally taken by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF. “There is a lot of politicking and diplomacy involved in taking such decisions. There is a summit slated for Monday (today) and Tuesday. The issue is likely to come up. ‘’The PSC will meet and take briefings from relevant organs like Foreign Affairs, Aviation and others before it can come up with a robust response to the UK,” said the source. On her part, spokesperson to the Geoffery Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Esther Sunsuwa, said the ministry will respond at the appropriate time “We will respond at the appropriate time, but for now, we have no official statement on that,’’ Sunsuwa told Vanguard on phone last night. Health professionals react Reacting to the UK ban yesterday, health professionals expressed divergent views on the issue, as the Omicron variant spread to at least 38 countries. In his reaction, President of the Nigeria Infectious Disease Society, NIDS, Prof. Dimie Ogoina, said the addition of Nigeria to the UK red list was unnecessary and not proportionate to the current threat of the omicron variant. Ogoina, who noted that the UK government’s justification for this decision was based on the 27 cases of the Omicron variant in the UK linked to travel from Nigeria, said the variant had already spread to more than 38 countries. According to him, there is likely already community transmission in most of the countries where the variant has been found He said: “Consequently, instituting travel ban for a few countries does not stop the virus from spreading. With over 120 cases already reported in the UK, it is probable there is already community transmission in this country. “It seems the institution of travel ban by most countries is out of panic and not necessarily based on science. Travel ban has never stopped international spread of any variant and the same applies for Omicron. “Nigeria should continue to strengthen its surveillance, especially at all points of entry. We must ramp up our genomic surveillance capacity, so we can detect all variants of the virus in Nigeria, including Omicron. ‘’When detected, we ought to determine the peculiarity of the variant in Nigeria, with regard to transmissibility, severity and clinical outcomes.” Corroborating his views, a renowned medical laboratory scientist & public health Analyst, Dr Casmir Ifeanyi, said the UK’s decision was a misplaced decision and condemnable, asking the federal government to reciprocate the ban. He described the situation as worrisome in the sense that when the whole world was supposed to work together as a global community, some were on a mission of building walls. He said singling out Africa countries for ban was condemnable and unacceptable. “It’s very unfortunate that Omicron variant has elicited diplomatic dimension. It’s of public knowledge that the virus did not originate from Africa, singling out African countries for ban is condemnable, unacceptable and a misplaced decision. ‘’But if we continue to build walls because of Omicron variant, it simply means that the entire globe is falling under the virus. “I expect leaders of Africa countries, particularly the Presidents of Nigeria and South Africa, to speak up and also recall diplomats from those countries. We need to show them that as a continent, we may not have advance technology, but we are resilient in nature,’’ he said. Ifeanyi said some other countries would follow the UK example, if the federal government failed to act now. ‘’This makes it important for the country to explore some other diplomatic options as well as a response to this approach in managing a global challenge. “We need to ban flight coming from United Kingdom as well as United State of America. If we do not do that, we will not come to round table to discuss and we would always be at receiving end.” On the allegation that Africa countries were cutting corners, Ifeanyi said such accusation was baseless, “Did we all recall that The Netherland came out a day after South Africa’s declaration to claim that they already discovered Omicron before South Africa? Why did they keep silent until South Africa alerted the entire world? “So who is not transparent in the entire effort to combat COVID-19 virus? The person that discovered and keeps it secret or the person who finds the variant and makes it public? If there is any reason to cut corner, it’s because they are making access to technology difficult for our people.” Also, in a chat with Vanguard, the Chairman of Bio-vaccine Board, and a Board member of the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation, GAVI, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, said people needed to look at it from the point of growing cases in those countries and the need to take proactive measures. “For instance, England has recorded over 27 cases and still counting. Significant numbers of those cases are linked to travel with Nigeria. So tell me who should be angry? “When you lie, cheat, falsify lab results of those travelling out of Nigeria, and you are caught at the other end, you should be ashamed and not angry. “Until we address this disgrace, they will continue to ban us. We need to get our house in order and stop this anger. We need to be expecting more ban. As to the implications of the ban, ask South Africa. It has affects movements, trade, holiday travels, among others, negatively.” Also reacting to the issue yesterday, President of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Prof Innocent Ujah, said countries had right to protect their citizens, adding that if Nigeria felt strongly about the UK ban, the country should update its travel restriction According to him, the ban should be seen as a protective strategy and not retaliation. “We can do the same if we feel strongly about it but unfortunately, the circumstances are not favourable to Nigeria. They have to defend and protect their people. It is no longer a question of if they are right or wrong. ‘’The reality is that they discovered Nigerians who have the Omicron variant, and they ban Nigeria just like they did to South Africa. “I cannot say country should retaliate because it is a clear policy issue. Nigeria can also ban other countries and that is not the first time they have done that. ‘’I advise that the Nigeria government should continue to investigate cases and for Nigerians to observe safety protocols.”

Obi Akaeze, the 15-year-old who became ruler of a kingdom in Nigeria’s Delta State

15 years old Nigeria's Delta State ruler All teenagers are not the same. But apart from studying, many enjoy doing things like watching movies, going to parties or the beach, shopping, being with friends, and not bearing the weight of a community on their shoulders. Five years ago, Noah Chukwuka Ofulue’s life changed when his father was kidnapped and murdered by gunmen. At just 15, Ofulue, a secondary school student and first son of the late king, Obi Edward Ofulue III, had to take over his father’s throne in the Ubulu-Uku Kingdom, a community in the Delta State of Nigeria. Installed as king on February 20, 2016, after the traditional rites were performed, Ofulue took the title of Obi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze. A prince, he was now king, bringing an end to his teenage life. Crowned as king by the kingmakers of Ubulu-Uku, he was first presented to the members of the royal family before his presentation to the council of elders at the palace as the new ruler of the kingdom. Prominent people attended the ceremony, including the President-General of Ubulu-Uku Development Union and a member of the House of Representatives representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency. Also present were traditional chiefs and titleholders, the Chairman of Aniocha South Local Government Area, religious leaders, women, young people and other stakeholders in the kingdom. People of the Ubulu-Uku Kingdom were at the time mourning the murder of their former king but the installation of his 15-year-old son as the new king brought joy. At the time, the Secretary of the Palace, Joseph Obazei, described the ceremony as “wonderful”. “This is a young man who was not even looking up to this position because his father was young and vibrant. Unfortunately, this bad event occurred. He has now been thrust upon the throne taking up the mantle of his late father. Ubulu-Uku people are very happy that we have somebody who has taken up the throne because the king never dies,” Obazei said. In other words, according to the custom and tradition of the people, a king can only be said to be dead only when a new one is installed. Obazei further explained to the Punch that per Ubulu-Uku tradition, there were not too many rites to the installation of a new king. “By our tradition, you can wake up in the morning and see the heir apparent sitting on the throne and issuing commands which will be obeyed. That will tell that something happened in the night and something has happened now. “So, this young man has taken over the stool of his father, and now he can begin to give direction to the town.” Young monarch Akaeze appealed to his subjects to give him the support he would need to make the kingdom grow. During the ceremony, it was revealed that a regent would be appointed to manage the stool while the boy-king paid attention to his education. And that is exactly what Akaeze did. In July 2019, as his father’s immediate younger brother continued to act for him as a Regent, Akaeze was conferred with a law degree at the University of Exeter, England, Vanguard reported. He was 21. Being a constitutional democracy, Nigeria elects its representatives, however, the hundreds of ethnic communities scattered across the country still acknowledge their own traditional rulers. In most communities in the northern Delta State, including Ubulu-Uku where Akaeze is king, primogeniture is practiced, where the firstborn son succeeds his parents, according to reports. Ubulu-Uku, also known as Ubulu-Ukwu, is an Igbo town that shares boundaries with Ogwuashi Ukwu to the east, Obior to the west, Isselu-Ukwu to the north, and Ubulu-Unor to the south. Farming is the main occupation of the community, with its major produce being yam, cassava, cotton, cashew, maize, and palm produce. Men are usually palm wine tappers and hunters while women are known for their cloth weaving. Security became a major issue in the town of about 10000 people but during his installation, Akaeze assured the people that he would do all he can to ensure that security is enhanced in the kingdom while attracting the needed development to it.

“My goal is to keep APC in power beyond 2023”, says chairmanship aspirant

Malam Saliu Mustapha Malam Saliu Mustapha, a frontline aspirant for the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairmanship position, has said that his major priority is to keep the party in power beyond 2023 if elected. According to a statement issued by Mr Dapo Okubanjo, Head of his Media Office on Sunday in Abuja, the aspirant said this at a meeting with APC and social media influencers. He said he would tap into his network and goodwill to achieve his desire. He added that he would rally a vast majority of Nigerian youths to support the APC ahead of the 2023 general elections and beyond if he is elected as the party’s next national chairman at its forthcoming national convention. Mustapha, former Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), said his greatest priority as APC national chairman would be achieving an overwhelming win for the party in 2023 general elections. “And this we plan to do by building on what we have as well as bringing in new ways of doing things to continue the party’s winning streak. “An extra advantage would be my ability to mobilise youths within the party’s vote banks across the country. If we are able to achieve this, the sky itself will be the starting point for the party,” Mustapha added. He commended APC social media influencers for what he described as their struggles and sacrifices for the party over the years and assured them of a different approach to their welfare when elected as the party’s next national chairman. He called for the support and partnership of the media, especially APC social media influencers, adding that their support is critical to his success if he is voted as the party’s next national chairman. The aspirant promised to do things differently, vowing that he will keep his promises. “But I cannot achieve this without your support, that’s why I welcome this level of partnership. I will do all my best to sustain it. “The new media will have a pride of place in the party secretariat with me at the helm of affairs so that we won’t have to be running from pillar to post at the approach of every election cycle,” he said. The statement quoted Mr Olusegun Dada, one of the social media influencers and one of APC’s youth leaders, as saying that Mustapha is a real bridge builder. He commended the aspirant for his foresight and doggedness, and urged him to take his aspiration to a logical conclusion. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved February 2022 as the month for the conduct of the APC National Convention to elect National Working Committee (NWC) members to manage the party’s affairs, currently being managed by the Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC). (NAN)

How Gov Ganduje May Be Affected With The Void of Emir Sanusi's Banishment From Kano

The political situation in the camp of the incumbent Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, may be considered awful as his political camp suffered what could be taken as a shocking political setback with the nullification of the banishment placed on the dethroned Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi by a court. The nullification of the banishment placed on the dethroned Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi could be described as the heaviest political defeat that the Gandujiyya political camp may have suffered, in he recent time.

It could be recalled that a Court has recently voided the banishment placed on the dethroned Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, by the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. The banishment had restricted the dethroned Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, from entering Kano. Remarkably, about two years ago, the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje commenced activities to dethrone Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who was later banished from entering Kano, after he was successfully dethroned. The dethroned Emir Sanusi chose to challenge his banishment, the case which he won with the court ordering the Kano State Government to tender an apology and pay him N10 million as compensation. How Does This Seem As Setback For Gov Ganduje?

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi Actually, the primary motive that led to the dethronement and banishment of Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi from Kano could not be, totally, separated from the political rift between the dethroned Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, ahead of the 2019 Governorship election in Kano State. It could be recall that Governor Ganduje was, then, seeking for his second term election in Office as the Executive Governor of Kano State. Considerably, the dethronement and banishment of Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi from Kano could, hardly, be unconnected to an attempt to reduce the growing political influence of the dethroned Emir Sanusi, in as much as Kano State politics is concerned. With the banishment, the political influence of the dethroned Emir could be considered checkmated because he would not have enough communication with his supporters and he may, possibly, lose out the political influence with time, if he had failed in his litigation which challenged his banishment by the Kano State Government.

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Considerably, the nullification of the banishment placed on Emir Sanusi by the court could be seen as a great political setback for Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, reasonably, because the dethroned Emir Sanusi may return to Kano to reawaken those who shared the same political ideologies with him and this may, immensely, affect the political camp of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who will be completing his second term in office in 2023.

Former Army Chief, Gen. Wushishi, Dies At 81. By Abubakar Akote

The Former Chief of Army Staff, General Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi, is dead. According to a family source, General Wushishi died at a London Hospital.... The Former Chief of Army Staff, General Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi, is dead. According to a family source, General Wushishi died at a London Hospital. General Wushishi was born in 1940 in Wushishi, Headquarters of Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State. He served as the Chief of Army Staff between October 1981 and October 1983, during the Second Republic. He served in the Nigerian Army in various capacities, including General Officer Commanding, 4 Infantry Division, Nigerian Army, 1976; Commandant, Staff College, Jaji, Dec. 1979.

Cost of governance: Restructure Nigeria into six regions, Budget Office tells FG. by Tunde Ajaja, Tope Omogbolagun and Kayode Oyero

Ben Akabueze Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze The Budget Office of the Federation has said restructuring Nigeria into six regions is pivotal to reducing the high cost of governance. It noted that the number of ministers also needs to be pruned and the number of political office holders and their aides reduced, lamenting that the huge recurrent expenditure had constrained the provision of good roads, steady power supply, health care services, quality education and quality shelter etc. This, it said, had contributed to observable underperformance of the economy, slow growth and current infrastructural challenges. These recommendations were contained in a report by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission at its Third National Summit on diminishing corruption in the public sector, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja on Tuesday. The event, with the theme, ‘Corruption and cost of governance: New imperatives for fiscal transparency’, was attended by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Mohammed; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed and the Chairman of ICPC, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN), among others. The ICPC report referenced the Budget Office as blaming the high cost of governance on bloated cabinet size, high cost of elections, corrupt budget practices, multiplicity of Ministries Departments and Agencies and high number of political office holders and their aides. It said a direct result of the expensive governance structure was that less than 30 per cent of Federal Government’s resources were available to fund the much needed capital projects. However, the Budget Office, according to the document, recommended that government should “prioritise completion of ongoing projects, restructure Nigeria into six regions and reduce the number of ministers, and build a more efficient civil service and conduct periodic staff audit.” It added that “MDAs should consider government fiscal position in reviewing salaries, adopt a cost- effective electoral system and limit the number of aides of political office holders.” While highlighting the drivers of the high cost of governance, the document quoted the Budget Office as saying that Nigeria has a large cabinet with 27 ministers, 16 ministers of state and 27 ministries, adding that MDAs raise their personnel cost by engaging in indiscriminate recruitment without clearance from the Budget Office. Nigeria has about 934 MDAs with duplicated functions and 541 public corporations and enterprises. It noted further that high cost of elections and resultant litigation contribute to the high cost of governance in Nigeria and that the current structure/size of the federal bureaucracy was clearly unsustainable for the size of the economy. “The high number of political office holders and their aides also adds to the high cost of governance,” it added. The Budget Office lamented that personnel cost for the past three years gulped N9.7tn, adding that cost of governance had generally been on the rise and personnel costs represent significant proportion of the spending. According to the report, MDAs’ recurrent spending rose from N3.61tn in 2015 to N5.26tn in 2018 and N7.91tn in 2020. This excludes the costs of government-owned enterprises and transfers to the National Assembly and the National Judicial Council. “Recurrent spending accounted for 40 per cent of actual recurrent spending in 2020 while overhead was just three per cent. Cost of governance has generally been on the rise and personnel costs represent a significant proportion of the spending,” it added. The President, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and several other leaders had repeatedly stated the need to reduce the cost of governance, but not much has been done to actualise it. Meanwhile, there has been an increasing public clamour for restructuring, with sociopolitical groups like Afenifere, Ohanaeze, Pan Niger Delta Forum, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Arewa Consultative Forum and the Coalition of Northern Groups insisting that it is the only way the country could return to the path of progress. The Presidency had in response to the agitations asked the proponents to approach the National Assembly with their request. Why we can’t punish those behind budget duplication – Budget Office The Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Mr Ben Akabueze, on Friday disagreed with the ICPC, saying only 185 projects were found to be duplicated in the 2021 budget, and not 257 as announced by the commission. He said it was beyond the responsibility of the Budget Office to discipline those responsible for the duplication because the staff of the MDAs who prepare their budgets were not answerable to his office. He however argued that errors were inevitable since the budget was prepared by human beings but that those culpable for the “willful duplication” of projects should be fished out by the ICPC and prosecuted. The ICPC chairman had at the summit said 257 projects amounting to N20.138bn were duplicated in the 2021 budget. Akabueze, who spoke on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise daily’ on Friday, stated that some of the projects identified by the ICPC were not duplicated but had description challenge. He said, “The ICPC came up with a report which they sent to us about duplicated projects in the budget. We did our own review and found that 54 of those projects were actually not duplicated. There were issues with project description, which made them look the same. “Every project in the budget has a unique identifier and for the projects found to be duplicated, funding was withheld. 185 (projects) were found to be duplicated, 54 were not.” Akabueze said there were about 20,000 projects in the budget and that if only about 200 projects were duplicated, it amounts to about 0.01 per cent. He added that the total MDAs’ in the budget estimate was under N4trn, and that the duplicated projects valued at about N20bn was about 0.005 per cent. He added, “Every system has a level of tolerance in terms of error. It is human beings that prepared it, some may be erroneous, some may be willful duplication but the important thing is that there is self-correcting mechanism. The best of systems in the world have audit attached to them because there is an acknowledgement that something can go wrong. We work collectively with the ICPC and it is part of its role as correcting mechanism.” He however said the Budget Office was working towards a zero level of such duplications. He added, “At the level of the Budget Office, what we do is withhold funding for such projects and to that extent, it doesn’t create the sort of problem you alluded to; misuse of state resources.” “As to the discipline of those people, that is outside of our own responsibilities; we look to the day where we have a structure within the budget office where the budget office can deploy its own personnel across the MDAs…to hold them directly accountable. The staff who are involved in preparing this budget in the MDAs are not accountable to the budget office and we have no line of responsibility to question them.” He said the ICPC with its investigative powers should invite the people involved to find out if the duplications were willful actions intended to defraud the government or they were erroneous. PUNCH.

Let Us Reform or Disband NYSC

The National Youths Service Corps, established in 1973, will be 50 years in 2023, when a new government will come into power, Anthony Kila argues that the idea of governing Gen Z with rules and schemes invented in 1973 is simply ridiculous and destined to fail Dear Readers As politicians and the media guide us to and through the maze of possibilities, permutations and speculations around 2023 as a prelude to new a beginning in Nigeria, here is an item for discussion and a proposed agenda for those planning to lead in 2023: Let us radically reform or disband the National Youths Service Corp (NYSC). An aside, if you are over 50 years old today or younger but familiar with the history of Nigeria, I know what you are thinking and I can guess your facial expression seeing Kila writing about NYSC. Yes, I am laughing too so please feel free to enjoy your laughter. The most obvious reason to reform or disband the NYSC is that of safety but that is a mere but crucial topical issue. The security situation in the country has muffled the sense of adventure in potential corps members and transformed the feel and aroma of NYSC into anxiety. Thus arrival of the NYSC call in Nigeria of today makes parents and guardians of young certified learned adults close to being called to join the NYSC pray and fast that their young ones are not sent to volatile areas of the country. To top up their fasting and praying, many Nigerians resolve to looking for who can influence their postings. Can you in knowledge and conscience blame them? The link between their anxiety and acts of nepotism and corruption does not need much explanation. Let us remind ourselves, the NYSC is mandatory one year scheme for graduates who finish their tertiary education under the age of 30 years. A sort of conscription for graduates that was created in 1973 with a military decree as part of efforts to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild Nigeria after the civil war. Part of its main aim was to be a vehicle that will foster development of common ties amongst the youths of Nigeria and to promote national unity. Decree No. 24 was the establishment decree. Regardless of what you think of the NYSC, I think it is safe to argue that the profile, configuration and mode of operation of the organisation would be rather different if conceived under a democratic process and not as a response to a dramatic situation like war. Military decrees and all forms of executive orders are generally swift but rarely capable of taking account of sensibilities and sustainability. A democratic country should not be guided by decrees and civil society should as much as possible review laws and practices conceived under military and emergency duress. At best, the idea of the NYSC is to give young graduates a chance to discover parts of the country, people and cultures of the country alien to them with the aim of making them more Nigerian. This seems laudable but after a closer look, a question pops up: why is it the business of the government to force young Nigerians to discover other parts of Nigeria? The mindset that conceives such idea is mindset that prioritises identity over functionality. It is a wrong and lazy way of thinking. Nigerians do not mistrust themselves because they do not know each other. Nigerians mistrust themselves because those in power fail to provide enough services and opportunities for all but insist on rationing insufficient services and opportunities through nepotism, tribalism and other forms of favouritism at the detriment of merit. Classroom is the place to learn about people, places and culture. If travel one must, then let the national tourism industry grow. Let state governments focus on making their states attractive to the curious, needy and adventurous. Let the Federal Government make sure that the constitution reign supreme so that any Nigerian can be himself or herself within the provisions of the law in any part of Nigeria. In practice, the NYSC is a very widely used means to substitute for large deficiencies of the country like teaching. It is shockingly amazing how we as a people fail to see the dangerous error in allowing youth corpers to teach in our classrooms instead of insisting on professionally trained teachers who are in the profession because they want to. I have an information for you: It was one thing to know Maths, Economics, Biology or Literature, it is another thing to how to teach it. The fact that we do not consider this simple fact is a grave indictment of our consideration for education and one of the strong reasons why our educational system is failing. Times have changed and a lot has happened since May 1973 when the NYSC was invented. The easiest thing to do is to scrap the scheme. We have two years to think of what to do with it. By 2023 when a new government will come into power and the NYSC will be 50 years old, many of those billed to serve will probably be young adults born in 2000. We are talking generation Z here. The idea of governing Gen Z with rules and schemes invented in 1973 is simply ridiculous and destined to fail. My fellow trained teachers know curriculums are currently being modified to suit Gen Z. There is no point saying they are spoilt, strange or overpampered, they are simply different. Evolution is real, we have the fortune of misfortune of dealing with a new breed of human species born into a digital and highly interconnected world. Everything is optional for them. Coercion is an aberration they don’t get; sanctions and threats are concepts alien and empty to them. They are born to be motivated, incentivised and recognised. The easiest thing to do is to scrap the scheme. We have two years to think of what to do with it. If we do not want to disband the NYSC here is an option: Let us make NYSC optional and specialised. Let it be a full voluntary military service that allows only those who want to join do so for one year and with that they get the option to, depending on their interest and ability, join the armed forces, custom, police and other security services as trained graduates. QUOTE At best, the idea of the NYSC is to give young graduates a chance to discover parts of the country, people and cultures of the country alien to them with the aim of making them moreNYSC Nigerian. This seems laudable but after a closer look, a question pops up: why is it the business of the government to force young Nigerians to discover other parts of Nigeria? The mindset that conceives such idea is mindset that prioritises identity over functionality. It is a wrong and lazy way of thinking *Prof. Kila is Centre Director at CIAPS Lagos.