VOL. 11 No. 10, OCTOBER. 2017A PUBLICATION OF CISLAC

Continued on page 4

www.facebook.com/cislacnigeria@cislacnigeria website: www.cislacnigeria.net

Cont. on page 4

Collective Resolution to Enhance Transparency in Humanitarian Aid

By Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) aid had informed a new report by

Transparency International (TI),

i n t e r r o g a t i n g c o r r u p t i o n ,

mismanagement and diversion of

humanitarian aid across four

different countries, launched by the

he fast-eroding culture of

integrity, transparency and Ta c c o u n t a b i l i t y i n t h e

management of global humanitarian

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy

Centre (CISLAC) also the National

Contact of TI in Abuja.

Although the Report entitled

'Collective Resolution to Enhance

Group Urges Effective Delivery ofFree MNCH Services - P. 11

CISLAC Cautions FG Against Dangersof Long Term Corporate Tax .. - P. 13

CSOs Bemoan Growing Inequalitiesin the Fight Against Corruption - P. 15

From L-R: Abraham Misoi, Transparency International (TI), Kenya; Larissa Schuurman, Global Initiatives, TI-S; Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Executive Director, CISLAC; Chantal Uwimana, International Consultant on Anti-corruption at dissemination workshop of Synthesis Report of the “Analysis of Integrity Risks in Complex Humanitarian Crises” organised by CISLAC in collaboration with TI in Abuja. Photo: Onyekachi Eke|CISLAC

ivil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) is a non-governmental, non-profit, advocacy, Cinformation sharing, research, and capacity building organisation. Its mission is to strengthen the link between civil society and the legislature through advocacy and capacity building for civil society groups and policy makers on legislative processes and governance issues.

CISLAC was integrated as a corporate body (CAC/IT/NO22738) with the Nigeria's Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on the 28th December 2006. Prior to this incorporation, however, CISLAC had actively been engaged in legislative advocacy work since 2005. The organisation is also compliant with the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2007. The Organisation reports to SCUML, any transaction that is above One thousand dollars, detailing the payee, purpose and the other KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements. This is done on a weekly or monthly basis depending on the volume of transactions and to ensure appropriate compliance with anti-money laundering laws. Also, CISLAC is registered organisation under the National Planning Commission.

As indicated above, the organisation emerged from the need to address the gaps in legislative advocacy work of civil society and government access to civil society groups. CISLAC's engagement with Federal Ministries, National and State Assemblies, Local Government Administrations, private sector interests, and non-government organisations, has opened a window through which the public and policy officials can interact and collaborate.

CISLAC through its engagement of the governance processes in Nigeria has facilitated the enactment of several primary legislations such as the Fiscal Responsibility Act, Public Procurement Act, and Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative Act which promotes transparency and accountability in governance as well as the domestication of international conventions at the Federal and state levels in Nigeria. CISLAC also supported the passage of the Freedom of Information Act. Other pieces of legislations such the National Tobacco Control Bill, National Health Bill, Disability Bill, Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill, Violence and Persons Prohibition Bill, Whistleblower Protection Bill, Prison Reform Bill, etc. are also supported by CISLAC.

As a renowned CSO in Legislative advocacy in the region, CISLAC has on several occasions shared its experience on best practises for legislative advocacy on invitation from its international partners such as the World Bank Parliamentary Forum and the United Nations Millennium Campaign in African countries such as Kenya and Zimbabwe. Similarly, Ghana, Kenya, and Democratic Republic of Congo have also requested support from CISLAC for replication of their work in Legislative advocacy. In many West African countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Cameroon, Niger, Togo and Benin Republic, CISLAC has carried out experience sharing and advocacy exercises on the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative processes through supporting the passage of extractive industry initiative laws in these countries. CISLAC has also undertaken capacity building for legislators, CSOs and Media on policy engagements in the above countries.

CISLAC's sub-granting experience includes grants to national organisations. With skilled, committed, experienced and proactive leadership and employees, particularly in the areas of coalition building, tenacious advocacy, community mobilization and the clout needed to engage lawmakers at all levels, the organization proven capacity to attract international solidarity, engage policy makers and mobilize local civil society groups and communities into action.

GOAL

“To make legislature accessible and responsive to all”.

VISION

“A Nigeria in which citizens are participating in governance; the government is safeguarding the rights and welfare of the people; and non-state actors are providing space for citizens to demand accountability”.

MISSION

“To increase the legislature and CSOs' impact in the legislative process”.

ADVOCACY VISITS

CISLAC has successfully engaged key members of the National Assembly in order to wield their influence in ensuring that civil society positions are accommodated. In 2006, for instance, CISLAC targeted key players and created public awareness on draft legislation and questionable provisions incorporated by the National Assembly. Such efforts improved the levels of discipline, transparency, and accountability in the management and openness of fiscal responsibility, public procurement, and the nation's extractive Industry sector in Nigeria.

Through such efforts, CISLAC has empowered communities mostly affected by the extractive industry sector, improved the levels of information dissemination, and ensure due process and transparency in the payments made by extractive industry companies to the Federal Government and its agencies. It has also educated State and Federal legislators, their advisory staff, CSOs, the media, and key stakeholders on their oversight roles in legislation and has reviewed their commitment in implementation.

PUBLICATION OF MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS

CISLAC has strengthened civil society intervention by the publication of a monthly newsletter Legislative Digest and Tobacco Control Update which have been in circulation for both public and legislative consumption since October 2006 and June 2013 respectively. It has been a central medium of accountability, as it monitors the performance of Legislators, and a channel for advocacy on critical issues that need legislation. Also, CISLAC has a wide range of publications such as Textbooks and Policy Briefs.

CISLAC'S MAJOR DONORS

1. Oxfam Novib

2. Oxfam International

3. Oxfam GB

4. Ford Foundation

5. Mac Arthur Foundation

6. PACT Nigeria/USAID

7. United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC)

8. Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)

9. Heinrich Boll Foundation (HBF)

10. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

11. Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK)

12. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

13. The Federal Public Administration Reform (FEPAR)/DFID

14. T.Y. Danjuma Foundation

15. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)

16. Voice for Change (V4C)

17. National Endowment for Democracy

18. Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP)

19. USAID/Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement (SACE)

20. International Organisation for Migration (IOM)

21. African Capacity Building Foundation

22. Australian Government

23. North East Regional Initiative (NERI)

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE

This is the policy-making organ of the organisation. It approves the budget of the organisation, provides contacts for operational funds and supports the operation of the secretariat.

1. Mr. Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani)

2. Mr. Adesina Oke

3. Mr. Y.Z Y'au

4. Ms. Nkoyo Toyo

5. Ms. Hadiza Kangiwa

6. Mr. Adagbo Onoja

ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Advisory Council is an advisory organ consisting of people with vast experience and knowledge of socio-economic and political dynamics in the country and across the world. 1. Hon. Uche Onyeaguocha

2. Prof. Okey Ibeanu

3. Prof. Sam Egwu

4. Chom Bagu

5. Gen. Ishola Williams (rtd)

6. Dr. Afia Zakiya (Ms)

7. Prof. Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan

8. Halima Ben Umar (Ms.)

9. Bukhari Bello

THE SECRETARIAT

The Secretariat is vested with the day-to-day running of the organization. It implements the decisions of the Board of Trustees. It is headed by an Executive Director who oversees the day-to-day running of the organisation while a Senior Program Officer oversees programmes implementation along with other programme staff.

Head Office, Abuja:

Mr. Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) - Executive Director

Mr. Kolawole Banwo - Senior Program Officer (Extractive,

Environment and Security)

Mr. Okeke Anya - Senior Program Officer (ECOWAS & AU)

Ms. Chioma Blessing Kanu - Snr. Program Officer (MDGs, Gender, Reproductive Health and Anti-corruption)

Mr. Salaudeen Hashimu Nurani - Program Officer (Human Rights/Migration, Agriculture/ Livelihood)

Mr. Abubakar Jimoh - Head, Communication and Information

Mr. Chinedu Bassey - Program Officer (Tax Justice)

Mrs. Hauwa'u Bin Abdallah - Admin Officer

Mr. Gonji Dadoh Timbut - Assistant Finance Officer

Mr. Ibrahim Idris - Asst. Finance Officer

Mrs. Abimbola S. Okoilu- Miró - Secretary/Assistant Program OfficerMr. Augustine Erameh - Assistant Program OfficerMs. Lovelyn Agbor - Monitoring and Evaluation OfficerMs. Onyekachi Eke - Media OfficerMr. Muhammed Murtala Muhammed - Asst. Program OfficerMs. Abiodun Oladipupo - Office AssistantMs. Fatima Shaibu - Office AssistantMr. Vaclav Prusa - Integrated ExpertMr. Bathsheba Tagwai - Legal officer

Regional Office: Kano

Mr. Nura Maaji - Program Officer

About us

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 20172

EDITORIAL

he Civil Society Legislative Advocacy

Centre (CISLAC) commends the recent

well deserved appointment of the Timmediate past Country Representative of

Nigeria at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,

Dr. Mairo Mandara as a member of the Advisory

Group of the Central Emergency Response

Fund (CERF) by the United Nations Secretary-

General, António Guterres.

While we applaud the Secretary General for the

appointment well deserved, we are convinced

that the appointment is an appreciation of Dr.

Mandara's wealth of experience and

demonstration of the confidence Nigeria and

international community repose in her and the

remarkable legacy lived by her leadership as

the Senior Country Adviser in Nigeria to the

David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Nigeria-

based Health Systems Adviser for the Earth

Institute at New York's Columbia University, and

Country Representative of Nigeria at the Bill &

Melinda Gates Foundation.

We also consider the appointment as an

endorsement of her competence and

commitment to contribution to human and

Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani)

Editor-in-Chief

Abubakar JimohEditor

Chioma Kanu

Abimbola S. Okoilu-Miró

REGIONAL OFFICE: KANO

3rd Floor, NISTF Building

No. 1A, Social Insurance Road Behind Trade Fair Complex

Zaria Road, Kano

P.O. Box 10210

Kano State

REGIONAL OFFICE: ADAMAWA

Government Lodge Area

Off Main Drive

Dougerei Layout

Jimeta, Yola

Adamawa State

REGIONAL OFFICE: YOBE

Suite 5, Bugon Plaza

Opposite Eco Bank

Along Maiduguri Road

Damaturu

Yobe State

CONTACT ADDRESS:

Flat 3, No. 16 P.O.W. Mafemi Crescent

Off Solomon Lar Way

Behind Chida Hotel

Near Daily Trust Newspapers Office

Utako District, Abuja - Nigeria

Tel: 234-08033844646

Website: www.cislacnigeria.netEmail: cislac@

cislacnigeria.net

CISLAC Lauds Appointment of Dr. Mandara as Member of UN Advisory Group

A Publication of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 2017 3

national development which was proven in her

decades of priceless service in the private

sector.

We recall and commend Dr. Mandara's

profound interest and patriotic involvement

hitherto in enhanced mutual interaction among

the government, electorate and development

partners on issues affecting the nation's social

sector investment and good governance.

We are hopeful that her appointment will

enhance transparency and accountability in the

global humanitarian aid management,

especially at this moment when humanitarian

crisis has been amplified by massive

corruption and reported diversion of aid across

the globe.

Dr. Mandara stands out as a great mentor to

young women in Nigeria, as she provides hope

to thousands through dedicated charitable

educational and empowerment programmes

for young girls and vulnerable women.

We are hence, convinced that she will bring her

experience, values and excellent qualities to

bear in the new responsibilities.

COVER STORY

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 20174

s t r a t e g i e s a n d a l l o c a t e

responsibilities to all stakeholders to

achieve the economic resurgence.

In order to achieve its vision, the

Federal Government initiated a 5-

year special intervention package to

q u i c k e n t h e s o c i o - e c o n o m i c

development of the states in the Zone

by building functional partnership

involving the Federal Government,

state and local governments.

The establishing objectives of the

Fund include to identify sources and

ways of raising sustainable funding

to support victims of Boko Haram

terror activities; manage, disburse

and/or administer support to the

victims as appropriate; address

related challenges as may be

appropriate; advise Government;

develop appropriate strategies for

the fund raising; ascertain the

persons, communities, facilities and

economic assets affected by Boko

Haram terror activities; assess and

determine the appropriate support

Collective Resolution to Enhance Transparency in Humanitarian Aid Continued from page 1

Accountability and Transparency in

Emergencies' focuses specifically on

Afghanistan, the response to Ebola in

Guinea, southern Somalia, and

operations to assist Syrian refugees

in Lebanon, it would not be a surprise

to see fact - f indings there in

corresponding with the unforgiveable

monumenta l corrupt ion and

diversion of humanitarian assistance

rocking Nigeria's emergency spheres.

In recent times, the worsening

humanitarian crisis has been

amplified by massive corruption and

reported diversion of aids for

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

and other victims of terrorism

allegedly perpetrated by officials or

organisations saddled with the

management of humanitarian crisis.

This practice which continued

unchecked for years had not only

exacerbated the crisis but also eroded

citizens' confidence in humanitarian

aid, especially in the North-Eastern

part of Nigeria where nearly 100,000

lives and $5.9 billion property were

lost to various insurgent attacks with

2,114,000 Internally Displaced

Persons.

It is noteworthy that lack of

transparency and accountability in

the management of humanitarian aid

in Nigeria had in August 2017

triggered violence and undesirable

reactions by Internally Displaced

P e r s o n s w h o d e s c e n d e d o n

humanitarian workers, destroyed

property, and inflicted varying

degrees of injury on many in

Maiduguri, Borno state.

Taking a lead role in the peace,

rehabilitation and reintegration

process in the region, the Federal

Government consul ted s tate

governments in the region to define a

shared vision, develop workable

How Corruption Marred

Previous Interventions

COVER STORY

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 2017

Nigeria's overall framework for

humanitarian response.

As explains by the new report by

Transparency International (TI),

“when aid money is channelled

through public institutions, weak

f i n a n c i a l m a n a g e m e n t a n d

accounting systems, resulting from

limited capacities including human

resources, hardware, software and

electricity, create an enabling

environment for malpractices

leading to the erosion of aid

integrity”.

For instance, on July 24, 2016 in a

report titled “Disturbing Reports

About Diversion of IDPs Funds and

Materials” published by This Day

Newspapers, revealed the growing

but unchecked diversion of items and

funds meant for internally displaced

persons in various parts of the

country, calling on the authorities to

rise to the occasion, and proactively

save the IDPs from those who were

out to profiteer from their situation.

By October 2016, the House of

Representatives Committees on

Emergency and Disaster Prepared-

ness; Loans, Aids and Debt

Management; and IDPs, refugees

and initiatives on North-east

… when aid money is channelled through

public institutions, weak financial

management and accounting systems…create

an enabling environment for malpractices

leading to the erosion of aid integrity.

While the primary goal of humanitarian

assistance is to provide support to the most

vulnerable,…attempts to improve the

government's response like Victims Support

Fund have been marred by corruption,

mismanagement, and diversion.

investigating alleged diversion of

funds and materials meant for

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs),

raised alarm over the alleged use of

N270million merely to clear grass by

the office of the Secretary to

Government of the Federation (SGF).

The joint Committee was

mandated by the House to

investigate the allegation and had

invited SGF to explain, Babachir

Lawal to explain how his office spent

about N12 billion allocated for the

IDPs' challenges.

It was also charged to investigate

the expenditure of purported

allocation of N188.69million for

Nigerian refugees living in Minawao,

Republic of Cameroon? by the

Presidential Initiative on the North-

East (PINE) es tab l i shed to

c o o r d i n a t e d o m e s t i c a n d

international humanitarian efforts.

The House expressed worry over

series of allegations of diversion of

the donated funds meant for the

wellbeing and welfare of IDPs,

stating that “despite all the

donations, a large number of these

IDPs are living in hunger, very

d e p l o r a b l e a n d u n h y g i e n i c

c o n d i t i o n s w i t h o u t a n y

rehabilitation in sight”.

Consequently, in response to

continued neglect and to ensure a

more cohesive push for government

attention, some of the victims of

various explosions had united under

the aegis of Bomb Blast Victims

Association of Nigeria, BVAN.

I n S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 6 , t h e

Chairman of the association, Kayode

Olatunji, was quoted in a report by

5

required in each case.

Through the listed objectives, the

initiative aimed at promoting

economic empowerment for victims of

terrorism (women), providing

educational and psychosocial

supports for terror-affected and

displaced children; facilitate foster

programming for children orphaned

by terrorism; providing financial

assistance for over-stretched

hospitals on free treatment to victims

of terrorism; carry out critical

assessment of state of insurgency

including socio–economic analysis of

the impact of insurgency on the

victims.

At inception, N2billion was

earmarked in the 2014 budget to

alleviate the challenges of the worst

hit states - Borno, Yobe and

Adamawa in addition to the Victims

Support Fund as a complement from

the Private Sector for the same

purpose.

However, these interventions

have not achieved their stated

objectives of restoring peace, stability

and prosperity to the Zone. Hence,

there exists a need to change our

strategies and approach in order to

create lasting peace within the Zone.

While the primary goal of

humanitarian assistance is to

provide support to the most

vulnerable, implying strong efforts

on assessment, targeting, specific

modalities in delivering assistance

and services, as well as post

distribution monitoring, attempts to

improve the government's response

like Victims Support Fund have been

m a r r e d b y c o r r u p t i o n ,

mismanagement, and diversion of

funds as well as lack of clarity in

COVER STORY

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 20176

initially mistaken by local health

officials for an outbreak of epidemic.

Consequently, hundreds of people

in communities like Ossissa, Isele-

Egwu, Olor and Onu-Aboh were left

looking gaunt with bloated tummies

and sunken eyes, forcing families

who could afford it to rush their sick

members to hospitals while others

resorted to prayer houses. The

development had exposed diversion

of cash, food and relief materials

meant for disaster victims and other

illegal activities of the Flood Disaster

M a n a g e m e n t a n d V i c t i m s '

Rehabilitation Committees set up by

the state.

Similarly, in a recent flood

disaster that displaced thousands in

Benue State, Internally Displaced

Persons (IDPs) were reportedly

engaged in physical battle and

overpowered the security guards at

International Market, Makurdi in an

attempt to prevent diversion of relief

Premium Times lamenting that “the

most fortunate of those affected by

the bomb blasts were only assisted by

government during the early stages

of the incidents”.

“Every member of the BVAN will

tell you, like it was the case with me,

that they only got help for a while at

the hospital,” said Mr. Olatunji.

Mr. Olatunji who was affected by

the April 8, 2011 bomb explosion at

the Independent National Electoral

Commission, INEC, office in Suleja

explained that he still has some

treatments pending for his eyes, ears

and bones.

Also, following the dreadful flood

disasters that that sacked Nigeria's

30 out of 26 states with resultant

d e a t h s o f 4 3 1 p e o p l e a n d

displacement of over 2.1 million

people in 2012, diversion, lack of

transparency and accountability in

the administration of relief funds and

m a t e r i a l s h a d r e p o r t e d l y

exacerbated the suffering and misery

of affected people and communities

who were abandoned by their

governments.

In several communities of Delta

State, a report by Centre for

Investigative Reporting exposed how

hundreds of hunger-torn flood

victims denied basic relief materials.

The situation which dragged the

victims into eating corn seedlings,

which unknown to them were already

treated with pesticides. Women,

children and the elderly were hit in a

mass food poisoning that was

Following the dreadful flood disasters that

sacked Nigeria's 30 out of 36 states with resultant

deaths of 431 people and displacement of over 2.1

million people in 2012, diversion, lack of

transparency and accountability in the

administration of relief funds and materials had

reportedly exacerbated the suffering and misery

of affected people and communities who were

abandoned by their governments.

In a recent flood disaster that displaced

thousands in Benue State, Internally Displaced

Persons (IDPs) were reportedly engaged in

physical battle and overpowered the security

guards at International Market, Makurdi in an

attempt to prevent diversion of relief materials

by camp officials.

materials by camp officials.

A l t h o u g h t h e N a t i o n a l

Emergency Management Agency

was established via Act 12 as

amended by Act 50 of 1999, to

coordinate resource towards efficient

and effective disaster prevention,

preparedness, mitigation and

response in Nigeria, however, the

A g e n c y a n d i t s s t a t e - l e v e l

counterparts lack the funds or the

capacity and experience to manage a

prolonged, large-scale humanitarian

operation.

In Aug 2016, a report by Internal

Crisis Group, a Non-governmental

Organization based in Belgium,

published on ReliefWeb observed

that the Nigerian government's

response had been hampered by

constrained resources and multiple

pressing security problems such as

resurgent rebellion in the Niger

Delta, separatist agitation in the

south east, and increasing violence in

the Middle Belt, recent clashes

between pastoralists and farmers

over land and water, as well as a

severe economic and budgetary

crisis.

In order to prevent the current

humanitarian emergency from

claiming more lives, prolonging the

conflict and fuelling longer term

Weak National Emergency

institutional capacity

Reactive National Response

COVER STORY

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 2017 7

address the root cause of the

insurgency in the North East a well-

structured, holistic and integrated

approach is required. The solution

must be driven and coordinated by an

institution with relevant statutory

mandate.”

T h e C o m m i s s i o n w i l l b e

responsible for the coordination of all

e f f o r t s t o w a r d s p e a c e a n d

socioeconomic empowerment of the

Zone; and interface with the Civil-

Military Cooperation Directorate

(CMCD) established by the Office of

the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and

other soft security initiatives in order

to synchronize civil and military

efforts in an integrated manner.

“These responsibilities are

important to note because the key to

winning any counter-insurgency war

is to win the hearts and minds of the

civilian population. Hence, it goes

without saying that when there is

cooperation between the civil

populace and the military, it would be

just a matter of time before the

insurgents are defeated militarily

and peace restored in the Zone,” Sen.

Nyako explained.

The modes of operation of the

Commission must be unambiguous

and transparent to ensure greater

The modes of operation of the Commission

must be unambiguous and transparent to

ensure greater accountability to the

concerned citizens in order to foster a sense of

ownership and build confidence in citizens.

insecurity in the region, the Group

recommended that the government

must match its military campaign

against insurgents with strong

commitment to addressing the

immediate humanitarian needs and

longer-term development and

reconstruction assistance to rebuild

the north east.

The lost accountability and

oversight in the management of

humanitarian aid led to a resolution

by the Nigeria Senate to establish a

Senate Ad hoc Committee on the

Humanitarian Crisis in the North-

East as well as the introduction of

N o r t h E a s t D e v e l o p m e n t

Commission (Establishment) Bill,

2017 which was recently assented to

by the President Muhammadu

Buhari.

The commission has the mandate

to receive and manage funds

allocated by the Federal Government

and international donor agencies for

the resettlement, rehabilitation,

integration and reconstruction of

roads, houses and business premises

of victims of insurgency.

Senator Abdul-Aziz M. Nyako

representing Adamawa Central,

Adamawa State noted that the scope

of the Commission will include all

activities that promote the economic

growth and wellbeing of citizens

through regional development.

He said: “The Commission's

intervention will largely focus on

strategic priorities of the North East

Zone, which include: security,

infrastructure, education and

agriculture.

“To foster a sustainable solution

to the problem of insecurity and

The Commission will be responsible for the

coordination of all efforts towards peace and

socioeconomic empowerment of the Zone…

accountability to the concerned

citizens in order to foster a sense of

ownership and build confidence in

the Commission.

More importantly, strategies and

solutions to be proffered by the

Commission must not only address

issues of physical insecurity but more

fundamentally the socio-economic

ones that will ultimately restore

citizens' trust and commitments to

their Nation and vice versa.

The report pro f fers good

governance, existence of legal

frameworks on corruption, engaging

multiple sub-contracted partners

procurements and suppl ies ,

development of sophisticated

methodology for the selection of

possible partners, proper Monitoring

a n d e v a l u a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s ,

m a i n t a i n i n g a p p r o p r i a t e

communication channel with

communities, recruitment based on

reference and integrity rather than

mere ly paper qua l i f i ca t i on ,

persistent auditing and reporting,

solidified procurement process, as

important factors in combating

g l o b a l d i v e r s i o n a n d

mismanagement of humanitarian

aid.

It is hopeful that the report will

open critical discussions around

transparency and accountability in

the global humanitarian aid

management and provoke holistic

reactions and oversight activities on

humanitarian aid process at country

level.

Holistic recommendations by

Transparency International

(TI)

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 20178

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

he Senate Committee on Land

Transport has held a public Thearing to deliberate on a bill

focusing on the compulsory

provision of transport by employers

for their workers.

Chairman of the committee,

Senator Gbenga Ashafa, said the bill

would ensure protection and

enforcement of safety and dignity of

Nigerian workers.

The bill sponsored by Senator

Babajide Omoworare, if passed will

necessitate employers to make

provision for “safe and convenient

means of transport” for their

workers.

Ashafa said: “I believe that the

focus of this bill is the plight of the

Nigerian workers and the fact that

that it draws inspiration from the

constitutional provision of the right

to the dignity of the human person is

genuinely commendable.

“It is important to note that this

piece of legislation is a novel foray

into the development of our labour

laws in Nigeria. We have to look into

the manner in which employers

convey their workers, from one

point to the other and in this regard,

the safety and dignity of our labour

force must come first.

“This would have a direct effect

on the productivity of the average

worker and in essence, translate to

a more vibrant economy.”

he Senate President, Abubakar

Bukola Saraki has assured that Tthe National Assembly and the

executive would work together to

ensure the passage of the 2018

Appropriation Bill in December.

But speaking to journalists after

an interactive dinner hosted by

President Muhammadu Buhari in

honour of principal officers of the

National Assembly in Abuja, Saraki

he House of Representatives

has passed for second reading, Ta bill which seeks to establish a

foreign exchange market and to

provide for the regulat ion,

monitoring and supervision of the

transactions conducted in the

market.

The bill sponsored by Jones

Onyerer i , chairman, House

Committee on Banking and

Currency, also seeks to repeal the

Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and

Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap.

P34, Laws of the Federation of

Nigeria, 2004.

According to Onyereri, the bill

seeks to “promote the effective

regulation of the Nigerian financial

industry with a view to promoting

financial system stability under the

CBN Act, 2007, and entrenching the

deepening of financial markets,

stated that its presentation lay in

the hands of the executive but the

Assembly would receive it upon

readiness by the executive.

He also promised cooperation of

the National Assembly with the

execut ive to ensure better

administration of the country.

“We assure Mr. President that

we will continue to cooperate with

the executive,” he added.

which requires the necessary legal

framework to ensure that the goals

of stability and growth are

achieved.

“The cultural nature of the

economy has exposed the financial

system to risks associated with the

vagaries of movements in the

foreign exchange rate and the

nation's reserves that may quickly

results in systematic failure. This

has made a review of this area of law

imperative in light of the dynamic

nature of the foreign exchange

system.”

The Bill seeks to convict “any

person who either with the intent to

defraud, forges, mutilated, utters or

defaces any foreign currency, or

other instrument of exchange in the

market to 5 years imprisonment or

a fine of five times the amount of

foreign currency involved.”

he Senate has charged the

Finance Ministry to prioritise Trelease of funds to the Ministry of

Health to revitalise Federal

Government-owned hospitals.

This resolution followed a motion

sponsored by Monsurat Sumonu,

seeking to improve the condition of

Federa l Government - owned

hospitals across the country.

Presenting the motion, Mrs.

Sumonu, noted that despite

Nigeria's strategic position in

Africa, the country's health sector is

great ly under -s ized due to

inadequate health facilities and

incessant strikes by health workers.

She observed that despite a

N308, 464, 276.782 allocation to the

sector in the 2017 budget,

government-owned hospitals are

unable to provide basic medicine

w h i l e m e d i c a l e q u i p m e n t

malfunction due to lack of

electricity.

She said that “renovation or even

constructions (of government-

owned hospitals) are baseless if

hospitals are not well-equipped with

basic facilities to save lives.”

“Every senator should ensure

that the law we passed and was

assented to by the executive is

properly implemented.”

Adopting the resolutions, the

Senate charged the Ministries of

Finance and Budget to prioritise the

Ministry of Health in the release of

annual budgetary allocation.

NASS Assures Passage of 2018 Budget in December

House Passes Bill to Regulate Foreign Exchange Market for Fecond Reading

Senate Proposes Compulsory Transport For Workers

Senate Laments Poor State of Govt-owned Hospitals

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 2017 9

STATE ASSEMBLY

he Akwa Ibom House of Assembly Th a s c o n f i r m e d t w o

nominees—Ibanga Akpabio from

Essien Udim Local Government Area

and Prof. Victor Bassey from Oruk

Anam Local Government Area for the

position of commissioners in the state

executive council.

The confirmation followed the

consideration and adoption of the

report of House Committee on

Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and

Public Petitions.

The Chairman of the committee,

Aniefiok Akpan, said that the

committee cleared the nominees

having found that there was no

petition or adverse report against

he Lagos State House of TAssembly has sworn-in Hon.

Noheem Adams to replace Hon.

Ademola Alimi Kazeem from Eti-Osa

Constituency 1, who died on July 18,

2017.

Adams was elected after a bye-

e l e c t i o n c o n d u c t e d b y t h e

Independent National Electoral

Commission (INEC), on Saturday,

September 30, 2017, to fill the vacant

position.

Speaking after the swearing-in,

which was held at recent plenary in

the House, the Speaker of the

Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru

Obasa, prayed that the tenure of the

lawmaker would bring development

to the state and the country in general,

adding that the incident that led the

bye-election in the first place would

not be experienced again.

“The event that brought you here

will not occur again. We pray you

abide by the oath of office you have

taken today,” Obasa said.

On another development, the

ollowing a request by the State

Governor, Seriake Dickson, FBayelsa House of Assembly has

approved N40 billion loan for the state

government to complete ongoing

projects.

The request for the facility was

contained in a later dated Oct. 30 and

addressed to the Speaker of Bayelsa

House of Assembly, Hon. Kombowei

Benson.

The letter sought among others,

permission to restructure existing

bank loans to enable the state channel

more funds to projects.

Assembly has passed the Bill for a

Law to Establish the Lagos State

College of Nursing (Schools of

Nursing, Midwifery and Public

Health Nursing) and Other Connected

Matters.

The college is expected to make

these facilities available on proper

terms to such persons as are eligible to

benefit from them. It shall “provide

courses of instruction on Nursing,

midwifery and Public Health as the

College may consider fit. “It shall

conduct examination award degree

programmes, National Diploma,

Certificates and Higher National

Diploma in Nursing, Midwifery and

other related courses”.

The bill had earlier scaled through

the Third Reading before it was

passed through a voice vote led by the

Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa.

The Speaker of the House directed

the Clerk of the House, Mr Azeez

Sanni, to forward a clean copy of the

bill to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for

assent.

Also, the State Commissioner for

Works and Infrastructure, Lawrence

Ewhrudjakpor said the loan would be

useful in the enhancement of speedy

completion of ongoing projects in the

three senatorial zones in the state

such as the Sagbama/Ekeremor Road,

Isaac Boro Road with street lights and

the Bayelsa International Airport.

Other uses include the Senate

Building inside the Niger Delta

University; internal roads, especially

in Ogbia local government; and ? the

bridge leading to the Tourist Island,

among others.

he Nasarawa State House of

Assembly has received the Tnomination of 11 local government

Interim Management Committee

(IMC) Chairmen from Governor

Umaru Tanko Al-Makura for

screening and confirmation.

The speaker of the House, Alhaji

Ibrahim Balarabe made this

announcement in Lafia, after the

majority leader of the house, Tanko

Tunga read the letter of the governor

at the floor of the house.

According to him, “we have

rece ived a le t ter f rom His

Excellency, Tanko Al-Makura

through the majority leader and we

slated tomorrow October 24 for the

screening of the 11 local government

a r e a I n t e r i m M a n a g e m e n t

Committee (IMC) chairmen and

their IMC members in order to boost

grassroots development.

“We hereby direct the clerk of the

h o u s e t o c o m m u n i c a t e t h e

appointees and ask them to submit

30 copies of their credentials before

9am tomorrow, October 24,” he said.

While presenting the governor's

letter at the floor of the house, the

Majority Leader, Alhaji Tanko

Tunga, said that their appointment

was based on their track records.

Nasarawa Assembly Receives List of 11 LGA IMC Nominees

Akwa Ibom Assembly Confirms Commissioner Nominees

Lagos Assembly Swears in NewMember to Replace Dead Lawmaker

Bayelsa Assembly Approves N40b Loan for Existing Projects

them.

He said the nominees had met the

constitutional requirements for

appointment as commissioners as

outlined in sections 106 and 107 of the

1999 Constitution as amended,

urging the House to confirm their

appointment.

The Speaker of the House, Onofiok

Luke, said the nominees' had the

needed credentials to occupy the

office, advising them to work

diligently and add value to the

executive council to improve on the

wellbeing of Akwa Ibom people.

MATERNAL HEALTH

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 201710

here are indications that poor

Primary Healthcare service Tand poor communication

channel on health services to the

communities are major contributory

factors to maternal deaths in Kaduna

state.

This was made known by a group of

state and non-state actors working on

maternal health accountability in a

communiqué issued at the end of

Executive, Legislative, CSOs and

Media Dialogue on Maternal Health

Accountability organized by CISLAC

with support from MacArthur

Foundation in the state.

The group said: “Kaduna State

Government had in recent times

recruited additional health personnel

and refurbished some existing but

dilapidated Primary Healthcare

facilities, primarily to enhance

effective healthcare service in the

state. “Systemic corruption remains

an inherited challenge impeding

efforts of the State Government in

Kaduna: Stakeholders Urge Proper Information Dissemination on Maternal Health Services

By Chioma B. Kanu effective maternal health service

provision and delivery.

“Delay in the implementation of

existing legislation on health

hampers maternal healthcare

delivery at all levels.

“Accountability for maternal

health is determined by effectiveness

of relevant stakeholders in the

performance of their respective

mandates, value for money in the

provision of maternal health services,

confidence in governance and

responsiveness to demanding

community.

“Inadequate information sharing

on policy performance hinders civil

society and the media efforts at

tracking and reporting maternal

health budget.”

To achieve adequate, accessible,

affordable and effective maternal

healthcare system in the state, it

recommended persistent policy and

legislative advocacy by civil society to

the executive and legislative arms to

galvanize issues on maternal and

child health; full involvement of civil

To achieve adequate, accessible, affordable

and effective maternal healthcare system in

the state, it recommended persistent policy

and legislative advocacy by civil society to the

executive and legislative arms to galvanize

issues on maternal and child health…

Participants in a group photo at “Legislative, Executive, CSOs and Media Dialogue on Maternal Health Accountability” organised by CISLAC in Kaduna State.

MATERNAL HEALTH

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 2017 11

group of state and non-

state actors working on Am a t e r n a l h e a l t h

accountability in Jigawa state have

urged appropriate monitoring of

the implementation of Free

Maternal Newborn and Child

Health (FMNCH) services by

relevant authorities to ensure

greater accountability and effective

delivery of the services in the state.

The group made this call in a

communiqué issued at the end of

'Executive, Legislative, CSOs and

Media Dialogue on Maternal

Health Accountability' organized

by Civil Society Leislative

Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) with

s u p p o r t f r o m M a c A r t h u r

Foundation in Dutse, Jigawa

state's capital.

According to the group, with

N180million allocated to Free

Maternal Newborn and Child

Health services in 2017, the service

was accessible only in 24 out of 686

Health facilities in the state.

“ P e r s i s t e n t m i s u s e a n d

commerc ia l izat ion o f drugs

(provided by the State Government)

by healthcare receivers in the

remains a serious challenge to

achieving effective maternal

healthcare services in the state.

“Overstretched healthcare

system, especially by healthcare

receivers from neighbouring states

is an inherent challenge to

accessible healthcare service in the

state.

“Inherent delays in accessing

maternal health and individuals'

over-reliance on free maternal

healthcare services contribute

largely to maternal deaths in the

state,” it noted.

The g roup re commended

m a s s i v e s e n s i t i z a t i o n a n d

awareness at individual level on the

precarious effects of diversion and

commercialization of drugs meant

for personal use.

It endorsed the establishment of

a Committee by the State

Government to critically screen and

prioritize the state's healthcare

receivers over neighbouring

communities to ensure accessible

Jigawa: Group Urges Effective Delivery of Free MNCH Services

By Abubakar Jimoh healthcare services in the state.

“We recommend appropriate

monitoring of the implementation

of Free-MNCH services by relevant

authorities in state; increased civil

society advocacy for the effective

and efficient delivery of F-MNCH

services, and public sensitization

on the existing Free-MNCH

services; appropriate political will

by the executive and legislative

arms in discharging their

respective mandates towards

maternal accountability in the

state,” the group added.

The meeting which aimed at

bringing the state's executive,

legislative, CSOs and the Media

under one roof to brainstorm and

proffer holistic recommendations

on adequate, accessible, affordable

and effective maternal health

within their respective mandates

drew about 20 participants from

the State House of Assembly,

Ministries of Health, Budget and

P lanning , Women Af fa i r s ,

Education, State Primary Health

Care Development Agency, Civil

Society and the Media.

society groups in governance process

to ensure appropriate dissemination

of maternal health information to

inform policy and legislative process.

The group endorsed increased

media involvement in investigative

journalism, dedicated programmes

and activities to raise public and

policy consciousness on maternal

health, giving cognizance of the

emerging social media.

It noted: “We recommend effective

p o l i c y f o r m u l a t i o n a n d

implementation, and policy transition

into legislation to ensure sustainable

intervention in maternal and child

health; accessibility to reliable data on

maternal health across the line

Ministr ies , Departments and

Agencies to complement civil society

engagement, investigative journalism

and reportage on maternal health.”

They canvassed creation of Civil

Society Desk Office in the State House

of Assembly to encourage constructive

relationship among the legislature,

civil society and media relation;

appropriate channels and timing by

civil society and the media for

maternal health data collation to

inform policy and legislative process;

and proper information dissemination

by NOA at community level with the

involvement of all stakeholders.

The group pledged to engage:

individual re-orientation by civil

society groups and the media to

ensure appropriate articulation of

maternal health policy objectives;

proper monitoring and evaluation of

projects and programmes to ensure

a c countab i l i t y and e f f e c t i ve

implementation, especially at

grassroots level; development of

legislative framework on maternal

health to aid legislative process and

susta inable maternal heal th

interventions; create synergy

between media and civil society for

complementary information sharing

on maternal health; and create a

platform for information sharing

among the executives, legislative,

media and civil society.

The meeting drew about 20

participants from the State House of

Assembly, Ministries of Health,

Women Affairs, Education, Budget

and Planning, Civil Society and the

Media.

PHOTO SPEAK

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 201712

Participants in a group photo at “One-day Legislative, Executive, CSOs and Media Dialogue on Maternal Health Accountability” organised by CISLAC in Kano state. Caption the 2nd picture as: Participants in a group photo at sensitization for women groups and citizens to educate them on their rights organised by CISLAC in Asaba, Delta state. Caption the 3rd picture as: Participants in a group photo at “One-day CSOs/Legislative Stakeholders' Round Table Meeting on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) organised by CISLAC with support from Facility for Oil Sector Transparency and Reform (FOSTER).

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), with support from Facility for Oil Sector Transparency and Reform (FOSTER), held a one-day CSO / Legislative Stakeholders' Round Table Meeting on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) on the 25th of October, 2017. The meeting was to provide an opportunity to interact with stakeholders in the Petroleum sector and dialogue on how to forge collaboration in support of the Bill and also contribute to its successful and historical passage.

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), national contact for Transparency International (TI) in N i g e r i a , c o n d u c t e d o n e - d a y sensitization for women groups and citizens to educate them on their rights. The sensitization took place at Best Western Plus Elomaz Hotel. Plot 22A/B-27 Core Area, DBS Road GRA, Asaba, Delta State on 16th October, 2017

As part of the activities under the “Integrity, Mobilization, Participation, Accountability, Anticorruption and Transparency in Nigeria (IMPACT N i g e r i a ) p r o j e c t , C I S L A C , i n collaboration with Transparency International, Berlin, held a one-day training on Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) and Compliance for partner organizations in Kano recently.

TAX JUSTICE

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 2017 13

he Civil Society Legislative

Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has Tc a u t i o n e d t h e F e d e r a l

Government against institutionalizing

a policy of granting long-term tax

incentives to corporate businesses to

achieve project implementation.

While giving this warning in a press

statement, the Executive Director of

CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa

(Rafsanjani) said the position was

necessitated by tendency of the

proposed decision by the

Federal Government to

create a distorted fiscal

picture essential for

sustainable revenue and

expenditure planning.

He said: “It is also

susceptible to abuse and

creation of complex tax

a d m i n i s t r a t i o n

frameworks that would

result in long term

revenue loss to the nation.

“We are worried that

the failure of government

to deliver on its promise to

N i g e r i a n s o n

infrastructure development, after over

two years in office, due to the financial

challenges because of dwindling

revenues from oil is driving her into

panic mode and making her resort to

desperate measures, including falling

back on discredited and obsolete

approach of handing out tax incentives

to show results, probably for

electioneering campaign prelude to

2019. This must however not be done at

the expense of long term national

interest and development.

“CISLAC finds it disturbing that a

country that is posting a debt to GDP

Ratio of 16 percent and a budget deficit

of about 31 per cent of her annual

budget in 2017, planning to borrow

another $5 Billion (about 1.9 Trillion

Naira) to fund the 2017 budget, while

already spending about 36 percent of

scarce revenues to service debts and is

in danger of losing international

funding to provide social services, still

finds it convenient to concede revenues

through the use of incentives. That this

is done in exchange for road

construction is quite embarrassing and

an indictment of the government.”

The Executive Director advised the

Federal Government to rather embrace

alternative source of fund mobilization

t h r o u g h d o m e s t i c r e s o u r c e

mobilisation for infrastructural

development.

“We remind the Government that in

the era of falling prices of commodities,

including oil, dipping national oil

reserves and waning demand for fossil

fuels, countries are seeking alternative

sources of revenues through domestic

resource mobilization with emphasis of

maximizing tax revenues to finance

development and meet SDG goals.

They are blocking tax loopholes,

addressing illicit financial flows,

tackling tax evasion and avoidance, re-

negotiating fiscal regimes in contracts

and doing away with granting of tax

incentives.

“CISLAC understands that the

arrangement reached with the Dangote

Group to offer tax incentive in exchange

for road construction falls within the

CISLAC Cautions FG Against Dangers of Long Term Corporate Tax Incentive

purview of the CITA (Exemption of

Profits Order 2012). However, the new

National Tax Policy envisages that tax

incentives are sector based and not

directed at entities or persons, provide

a net benefit to the country, are

available equally to all persons in the

same class and be very clear and avoid

ambiguity.

“We find no evidence that these

principles have been followed in this

case. The fact that the design and cost

of the proposed road project is

unknown, reveal the quality of

thinking that went into

this decision. We also

find the review of the

Order to extend from five

years to ten curious.

“We are aware that

this tendency for hasty

and discretionary award

of tax incentives is what

makes it prone to abuse

and corruption as has

been with previous

arrangements such as

the Pioneer Status

Incentives which this

administration have had

to cancel and review.

“CISLAC observes that the process

leading up to this has lacked clarity

and transparency as a cost-benefit

analysis and report has not been

publicly disclosed, there are no

indications that similar corporate

e n t i t i e s w e r e o f f e r e d e q u a l

opportunity. We find the very idea of

offering firm tax incentives to build a

road from which it directly benefits

undesirable,” he explained.

The CISLAC's boss called on the

Minister of Finance to review this

decision and shun the proposed

practice to avoid setting a dangerous

trend that would hurt the nation in the

long run, urging the National

Assembly Committees on Finance to

interrogate the decision to ensure

transparency and equity.

CISLAC observes that the process

leading up to this has lacked clarity

and transparency as a cost-benefit

analysis and report has not been

publicly disclosed, there are no

indications that similar corporate

entities were offered equal

opportunity.

By Kolawole Banwo

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 201714

ANTI-CORRUPTION

he Civil Society Legislative

Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), TN a t i o n a l C o n t a c t o f

Transparency International (TI) in

N i g e r i a , h a s c o n d u c t e d

sensitization training for women

groups and citizens in Delta state on

their rights in exposing and

combating corruption in all

ramifications.

The training was organized

under the aegis of a project entitled

“ I n t e g r i t y , M o b i l i z a t i o n ,

Participation, Accountability, Anti-

corruption and Transparency in

Nigeria” in collaboration with the

TI-International Secretariat, Berlin

and with support from Global

Affairs Canada.

Speaking at the training, the

Executive Director of CISLAC,

Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani)

represented by Barr. Adeshina Oke,

Member Board of Trustees of

CISLAC, highlighted the effects of

corruption on citizenry and the

country at large, adding that the

training was organized to inform the

p a r t i c i p a n t s o n t h e i r

responsibilities in fighting corrupt

practices.

Also, Program Officer, IMPACT

Project, Barr. Bathsheba Tagwai

said the sensitization was also

organised under the Advocacy and

Legal Advice Center (ALAC) project,

which sought to empower and

encourage citizens to participate in

governance and the fight against

corruption in Nigeria by providing

citizens with legal advice and

forwarding the reports to relevant

authorizes while following up to

ensure the victims receive redress.

She said: “The Center raises

awareness of the existing forms of

corruption; informs and educate

citizens on their rights; receives and

handles citizen's reports about

corruption through a toll-free

Anti-corruption: CISLAC Sensitizes Women Groups in Delta

By Bathsheba Tagwai hotline and social media platforms;

co l laborates with MDAs of

government as well as private

organizations.”

In a paper titled “Your Rights

and Responsibilities as a Nigerian”,

the Director, Delta State National

Orientation Agency, Mr. Okoro Ivan

explained that citizens' ignorance of

their constitutional rights hinders

t h e i r f r e e d o m t o d e m a n d

accountability.

Similarly, a representative of

Independent Corrupt and other

related Practices Commission

(ICPC), Mr. Jimoh Sulaiman said

for the country to achieve success in

the fight against corruption there

was a need for collective effort

among the government, CSOs,

NGOs and citizens.

The training was third in a series

of four planned to be held in

different geo-political zones of the

country including the FCT.

Barr. Adeshina Oke addressing the women group at the workshop.

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 2017 15

ANTI-CORRUPTION

Babachir Lawal, by the vice president

led investigation panel. The report

was submitted to the president, but

the details have also remained

hidden. Babachir Lawal was accused

by the senate for scamming the

g o v e r n m e n t o f a w h o o p i n g

N270million in the guise of cutting

grass at the Internal Displaced

Persons' camp, in the north-east

region of Nigeria. What remains

unclear is why the president

instituted an investigation panel to

conduct the investigation, and why

the Economic and Financial Crimes

Commission was not directed to

handle the cases from the very

beginning.

“Regardless of these anomalies,

the president maintains an alarming

silence. Justice remains delayed and

the credibility of the anticorruption

fight, led by the president himself, is

in jeopardy.”

The group continued: “In the same

vein, the Inspector General of Police,

Ibrahim Idris, has been accused by a

serving senator of embezzling police

funds to the tune of N10billion

monthly, being income accruing from

paid services rendered to private

citizens. Rather than the IGP being

investigated and being suspended

group of Civi l Soc iety

Organisations (CSOs) under Athe aegis “Say No Campaign”

h a s e x p r e s s e d c o n c e r n o v e r

u n p e r t u r b e d m a n n e r a n d

lackadaisical attitude of the chief

executive in handling corruption cases

against certain public officials in

recent times.

The group made this known at a

press conference held recently to

address contentious issues bothering

the nation.

It said: “The reality of seemingly

protecting sacred cows stares us right

in the face and thus has become

difficult to ignore. It is increasingly

difficult to dismiss the albeit self-

serving criticism of the corrupt

opposition that the anti-corruption

fight of this regime is selective and or

targeted only at the opposition.

“For a president, reputed for

having zero tolerance for corruption

and famously stating explicitly that 'if

we do not kill corruption, corruption

will kill us', there has been very

disturbing silence over allegations of

corruption in critical positions that

should have never been overlooked.

“The report of the outcome of the

investigation headed by the vice

president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and

submit ted t o the pres ident ,

Muhammadu Buhari, on allegations

of fraud against the Director General

of National Intelligence Agency, Ayo

Oke, has remained a secret despite the

humongous amount of $43million

involved in the scam. There has been

no word uttered from the presidency

on the outcome of the investigation,

neither a cause of action initiated,

except that Ayo Oke remains

suspended, and presumably still

earning a salary.

“Similar investigation was carried

out on the Secretary to the

Government of the Federation, David

CSOs Bemoan Growing Inequalities in the Fight Against Corruption

By Gloria Chinyere Okwu

p e n d i n g t h e o u t c o m e o f a n

investigation, the government

decided to take the whistle blower to

court.

“What is even more worrisome

about all of these is that the Attorney

General of the Federation (AGF)

would take on the task of suing on

behalf of an individual against

another individual.”

In the interest of transparency,

accountability and justice, the group

called for immediate publication of

the result of investigation of fraud

against the SGF and the DG NIA with

expedite action by the EFCC and

other relevant institutions to ensure

justice for all. It further called for

instant suspension of the Inspector

General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to

enable appropriate investigation by

the EFCC.

“The president should desist from

interfering in corruption cases but

rather provide support to strengthen

the existing institutions that will

sustain the fight against corruption.

EFCC, ICPC and police should take

up their constitutional role of

investigating offenses and cases of

corruption regardless of the position

of the public official involved,” it

demanded.

Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Executive Director of CISLAC (first from left) with other activist at the press conference.

COMMUNIQUE

16 Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 2017

Preamble:

ISLAC with support from MacArthur Foundation organized One-

Day Executive, Legislative, CSOs and Media Dialogue on

Maternal Accountability in Katsina state. The meeting aimed at Cbringing the state's executive, legislative, CSOs and the Media under

one roof to brainstorm and proffer holistic recommendations on

adequate, accessible, affordable and effective maternal and child

health accountability in the state, within their respective mandates.

The meeting drew about 20 participants from the State House of

Assembly, Ministries of Women Affairs, Education, Civil Society and

the Media. After exhaustive deliberations on various thematic issues,

the following observations and recommendations were made:

Observations:

1. The significant priority of maternal and child health remains the

fundamental objectives of democratic leadership and has prompted

the presence and contribution by various development and local

partners towards reducing the rising maternal mortality and

morbidity in the state.

2. High level poverty remains a major contributory factor impeding

effort at reducing maternal mortality and morbidity in the state.

3. Existing restrictive measures institutionalized against media delay

investigative journalism and reportage on maternal health.

4. Accountability for maternal health is a collective obligation or

willingness to accept responsibility for actions, activities and

appropriate disclosure of results including money and other valuables

entrusted.

5. Maternal accountability indicators include Input indicators—what

goes into a project or process; Output Indicators—Visible measurable

aspects of the project/process; Process Indicators—Steps, procedures,

processes involved in the making of the project; and impact

Indicators—Overall results of the project/process on the beneficiaries

over time.

6. As related to maternal health, the salient focal areas include resource

utilization, program or project execution, value for money, benefits

delivery and impact.

7. The State House of Assembly appropriated N12billion (an increase of

N2billion from 2016 Appropriation Act) in 2017 Appropriation Act for

health sector with potential for improvement.

Recommendations:

1. Relating maternal health budget target with performance is

paramount to ensure judicious utilization and appropriate delivery on

maternal and child healthcare services in the state.

2. Developing a holistic synergy among the policy makers and civil

society groups to ensure connectivity between the citizens and

maternal health service provision and delivery.

3. Developing an accurate maternal health data bank by Ministry of

Health and other line ministries to ensure easy accessibility and use of

maternal health fact-findings to inform appropriate policy decision in

maternal and child health service provision.

4. Appropriate and persistent constituents' consultation on maternal

and child health related issues to identify priority and connectivity in

maternal health service provision and delivery in the state.

5. Continued provision of delivery kits to pregnant women to reduce the

monetary burden and encourage attendance for maternal health

services.

6. Persistent budgetary performance review by legislative and executive

arms to drive desired improvement in maternal health provision and

delivery in the state.

7. Appropriate performance supervision across facilities by the relevant

ministries through monthly report submission and review to ensure

compliance in service delivery by healthcare workers in the

state.

8. Increased curiosity by the media for maternal accountability

through investigative journalism, targeted report and

programmes to raise public and policy consciousness on

maternal health.

Action points:

Formation of a health education committee comprising civil

society and the media to monitor and engage massive

community sensitization and awareness on maternal and child

health.

Community driven effort in budget tracking and monitoring,

project supervision and reporting.

Introducing nutrition as a compulsory subject in the state's

primary, secondary and tertiary education curriculum by

Ministry of Education.

Making food technology and nutrition inclusive of men in the

state's educational system by the relevant ministries.

Institutionalizing professional nutritionists across facilities in

the grassroots to render services giving cognizance of their

professional mandates.

Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with Ministries of

Health and Information should champion the training and

retraining programmes for Traditional Birth Attendance

(TBA) in the state to encourage referral and promote

sustainability.

Office of Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on

Development Partners and Donor Agencies should monitor

capital receipts to avoid duplication of activities in maternal

healthcare by development partners

Civil society groups to monitor development partners'

programmes that align with state government's programmes

to avoid duplication and wastage of resources and corrupt

tendencies.

Entrance examination and admission process to state owned

health institutions for nurses and midwives should be done

with fairness.

Re-engaging retired community health workers to train

Nursing students and fill existing manpower shortage in

healthcare service delivery.

Sustaining the recruitment of the best three students from

Nursing School with further training and mainstream them

into the state's health sector.

The media to cascade sensitization of male folks across the

communities.

Noticed absence of Ministry of Health representative.

Having CSOs involvement and participation in legislative

oversight visits to facilities.

Signed:

1. Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanajani)Executive Director, CISLAC

2. Hon. Murtala Ado KaitaKatsina State House of Assembly

3. Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim TVC, Katsina state

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COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF ONE-DAY EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE, CSOs AND MEDIA DIALOGUE ON MATERNAL ACCOUNTABILITY ORGANISED BY CIVIL SOCIETY LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY CENTRE (CISLAC) WITH SUPPORT FROM MACARTHUR FOUNDATION HELD AT MAKERA HOTEL, KATSINA STATE ON 19TH OCTOBER, 2017

COMMUNIQUE

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 2017 17

4. Creation of well researched civil society score card on maternal health as a baseline to inform policy focus and performance on maternal and child health.

5. Full involvement and participation of civil society groups and the media in the overall budgetary process to identify role and responsibilities in tracking and reporting maternal health budgetary allocation, release and utilisation.

6. Ensuring accessibility to reliable data on maternal health to aid civil society engagement, investigative journalism and reportage on maternal health.

7. Mainstreaming the informal sector—Market Association and Business Communities,

8. in maternal health policy formulation and development programmes for greater connectivity with diverse expectations.

Action Points

Strengthening Ministry of Health and civil society engagement through a quarterly meeting to present current trend and situation to inform policy focus and direction on maternal health in the state.

Leveraging the quarterly meeting to brainstorm on existing commitments by the Ministry of Health on Maternal Health.

Strengthening monitoring system by the Ministry of Women Affairs on the existing women empowerment scheme across the 44 local governments in the state to address financial gaps in maternal health accessibility and attendance.

Full operationalization of Freedom of Information (FOI) Act by civil society and media to enhance accessibility to maternal health information and data in the line ministries.

Immediate oversight activities by the State House of Assembly on the existing laws and resource allocation to maternal health to ensure compliance and full implementation.

Formation of a Maternal Health media platform and development of a media strategy on maternal and child health

Signed:

1. Alhaji Haladu Musa, Kano State House of Assembly

2. Dr. Tijjani Hussaini, Kano State Ministry of Health

3. Ibrahim Yahaya Yakasai, Kano State Ministry of Education

4. Hadiza Bala Fagge, WWODI

5. Kubra Ibrahim, Ministry of Women Affairs

6. Hauwa Umar Ibrahim, Ministry of Planning and Budget

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Preamble:

ISLAC with support from MacArthur Foundation organized One-Day Executive, Legislative, CSOs Cand Media Dialogue on Maternal Accountability in

Kano state. The meeting aimed at bringing the state's executive, legislative, CSOs and the Media under one roof to brainstorm and proffer holistic recommendations on adequate, accessible, affordable and effective maternal and child health accountability in the state, within their respective mandates. The meeting drew about 20 participants from the State House of Assembly, Ministries of Women Affairs, Health, Education, Budget and Planning, Civil Society and the Media. After exhaustive deliberations on various thematic issues, the following observations and recommendations were made:

Observations:

1. Accountability for maternal health is a collective obligation or willingness to accept responsibility for actions, activities and appropriate disclosure of results including money and other valuables entrusted.

2. Maternal health accountability indicators include Input indicators—what goes into a project or process; Output Indicators—Visible measurable aspects of the project/process; Process Indicators—Steps, procedures, processes involved in the making of the project; and impact Indicators—Overall results of the project/process on the beneficiaries over time.

3. As part of the efforts to deliver on maternal and child healthcare services, Kano State Government has keyed into various policies and initiatives like tripartite agreement, Save 1million Lives Initiative, and Free Maternity policy with potential for improvement.

4. Competing priorities in budgetary allocation and existing low skilled birth attendance are systemic challenges to adequate budgetary provision and delivery on maternal and child health service in the state.

5. The existing sensitization, policies and laws on maternal health have not made expected impact owing to implementation neglect and poor maintenance culture of health facilities, especially in the grassroots.

6. Lack of openness and poor accessibility to budgetary data on maternal health backpedal civil society and media engagements on maternal and child health in the state.

Recommendations:

1. Persistent evidence based advocacy by civil society groups to raise policy and public consciousness on maternal and child health accountability.

2. Bottom-up approach to maternal health accountability to ensure connectivity and community involvement in maternal health policy planning and implementation.

3. Provision of more medical schools to increase enrolment of female students to bridge personnel gaps and enhance maternal and child healthcare service delivery in the state.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF ONE-DAY EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE, CSOs AND MEDIA DIALOGUE ON MATERNAL HEALTH ACCOUNTABILITY ORGANISED BY CIVIL SOCIETY LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY CENTRE (CISLAC) WITH SUPPORT FROM MACARTHUR FOUNDATION HELD AT NASARAWA GUEST, KANO STATE ON 26TH OCTOBER, 2017

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 201718

COMMUNIQUE

implemented to block leakages that currently exist, and provide enabling environment for citizens to demand accountability.

Signed:

Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Kano

Haj. Fatima Ibrahim Badamasi Gender Support and Youth Empowerment Initiative, Kano

Peace Initiative, Kano, Kano State.

Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement, Kano.

Aminu Umar Ahmad, Chairperson (NLC) Sokoto State

National Union of Journalist (NUJ), Sokoto state.

Educational Empowerment Initiative, Sokoto State

Nigerian Bar Association, Sokoto State

Community Mobilization and Development Initiative, Sokoto State

Every Girl, Every Woman Initiative, Sokoto

Alh. M. Ibrahim of Center for project development and grassroots empowerment Kebbi.

Aliyu Jajirma, Chairman, National Union of Journalist (NUJ) Kebbi state council.

Kebbi Youth Vanguard, Birnin-Kebbi

Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Kebbi state

Coalition of Civil Society in Nigeria, Kebbi state.

Mindset Initiative, Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi state

Umar Sani Audi, Women for Peace in Nigeria, Katsina State.

Community Information and advocacy initiative, Katsina state

National Union of Journalists (NUJ), Katsina

Pan African Development Education and Advocacy Programme, Katsina

Basirka Community Development Initiative, Jigawa state

Partnership for Development Action, Jigawa state

Haruna Adamu Hadejia, Knowledge and Community Development Awareness Initiative (KCOMAI), Jigawa

Abdul Yusuf, Campaign For Democracy (CD) North West Zone Office, Kaduna.

Trade Union Congress, Kaduna

Connecting Voices/Know your budget, Kaduna

Nura Garba Dauran, Help the Poor Foundation, Zamfara State.

Community Based Development Centre, Zamfara

Nigerian Bar Association, Zamfara State

Trade Union Congress, Zamfara State

Millenium Development Centre, Gusau, Zamfara State

Voluntary Aid Initiative, Zamfara State

· Nigeria Labour Congress Gusau, Zamfara State.

. National Union of Journalist (NUJ), Zamfara State.

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Preamble

ivil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), in collaboration with the Tax Justice Network-Africa, C(TJN-A) and with support from the Open Society

Foundation (OSF) held a two-day Stakeholder Interface session on the New National Tax Policy in Nigeria. The session, which was held in Kano state on 30 – 31st October, 2017 was attended by 38 participants drawn from seven states of the North-West geo-political zone of Nigeria. These included representatives of tax authorities, private sector, professional bodies, civil society organizations, Organised Labour and the Media.

The objective of the interface was to popularise the content National Tax Policy (NTP), assess the new Tax Policy against the yardsticks of fairness, equity, progress and effect on investments, inequality, transparency and accountability.

The session was participatory with presentations on the tax situation in Nigeria and an overview of the National Tax Policy recently approved by the Federal Executive Council. After robust state specific discussions and presentations, the participants made the following observations and recommendations:

Observations

1. The new policy is a great improvement on the old one as it is all inclusive and takes care of key sectors of the Nigerian economy.

2. The Policy has identified key actors in its implementation.

3. Multiple-taxation has created apathy among citizens in the area of tax compliance.

4. Provision of tax holiday in the policy is not clearly defined, as such it creates avenue for tax evasion and avoidance.

5. The provision of automated tax payment system in the policy is laudable it will reduce leakages in the tax system.

6. The observance of tax Thursday by the federal government immediately after the approval of the National Tax Policy (NTP) is equally laudable as it creates awareness on the policy.

7. Implementation of the National Tax Policy (NTP) becomes more complicated in view of vested interests and interference by people in power.

Recommendations

1. All levels of governments are enjoined to fully comply with the provisions of the National Tax Policy.

2. Relevant stakeholders should create awareness on the provisions of the new tax policy.

3. Government should involve citizens in policy initiation and implementation of tax system.

4. There should be harmonisation of all taxes and streamline tax agencies in the states

5. CSOs, Professional Bodies and pressure groups should work together to track budget implementation at all levels.

6. Automated tax payment system should be properly

COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF A TWO DAY STAKEHOLDERS' INTERFACE ON THE NATIONAL TAX POLICY ORGANISED BY CIVIL SOCIETY LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY CENTRE (CISLAC) HELD ON THE 30TH – 31ST OCTOBER 2017 AT CHILLA LUXURY SUITES, KANO STATE, NIGERIA.

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 2017 19

PEACE BUILDING

hile ethnic diversity and

shape sectarian divides Walways had potential to

provoke communal strife, the

persistent violence in plateau state in

recent times has defied containment

which in absence of proactive and

holistic action by relevant authorities

may exacerbate unwary situation in

form of reprisal attacks preached by

unscrupulous elements. In this report,

SALAUDEEN HASHIM examines

the situation in the state with holistic

recommendations.

The relative peace which Plateau

State has been enjoying in recent

times was suddenly shattered by the

gruesome killings in separate attacks

on vi l lagers in Bassa Local

Government Area where thirty five

people were killed recently. The first

attack happened in the afternoon

that faithful Sunday around Baju

village where six Fulani people were

allegedly killed. The second attack

took place at the Internally Displaced

Persons camp inside a primary school

at Nkiedonwhro village where

twenty nine people were allegedly

killed in the early hours on Monday.

Plateau, which was a dreamlike

place to be by both foreigners and

Nigerians because of its weather and

landscape, suffered major inter-

ethnic and inter-religious conflicts

from 2001 to 2004. The conflicts

consumed hundreds of lives, maimed

many and displaced others, while

many people relocated to other states

to escape the carnage. Millions of

naira in businesses and houses were

also destroyed. The killings in

Yelwan Shendam in 2004 where 600

people were killed made the then

president, Olusegun Obasanjo to

declare a state of emergency in the

state.

During the tenure of two-term

governor Jonah Jang (2007-2015),

Plateau State again erupted in crises

following the local government

election of November 20, 2008.

Notable among the crises was the one

in Kuru Karama in January 2010

where many people were killed and

thrown into wells. Buildings,

mosques and a police station were

burnt. According to Human Rights

Watch, one hundred and fifty people

were killed in that village. Another

one was a “reprisal attack” that took

place in Dogo Nahawa village, where

hundreds of Christians were killed in

March 2010.

By Salaudeen Hashim

However, with the coming of

Governor Simon Lalong in 2015 the

peace that has eluded Plateau in

spite of the Joint Task Force's special

presence soon became a reality.

Unlike Jang who was roundly

accused of being a party to the

conflicts, Lalong sees everybody

living in the state as a Nigerian

citizen worthy of protection, hence

his relative success in maintaining

the peace.

The recent upsurge in violence

must therefore be nipped in the bud

before it spirals out of control and

engulfs the whole state once again.

These kinds of conflicts between

farmers and herders almost always

occur either because herders' cattle

ate farmers' crops or herders accuse

local communities of cattle rustling

or killing their folk. So-called

reprisal attacks soon follow, followed

by counter-reprisal attacks. It is up

to the Plateau State government

headed by the level headed Governor

Lalong to break the vicious cycle of

attacks and reprisal attacks and get

to the root of the latest outbreak of

killings. All those who had a hand in

the sordid affair should be made to

face the music.

Looking back at the responses to

attacks in Plateau and other parts of

the Middle Belt, one would be

tempted to assume that some lives

are more precious than others. In a

gory scenario that has become all too

familiar, gunmen crept up on

villagers at Nkiedonwhro in Bassa

Plateau State: Mitigating the Terrific Communal Crisis

Looking back at the responses to attacks in

Plateau and other parts of the Middle Belt,

one would be tempted to assume that some

lives are more precious than others.

This mindless loss of lives cannot be allowed to

continue. Significantly, most of the massacres took

place at a time of full curfew, prompting women of the

state to take to the street on several occasions to

protest alleged soldiers' biased handling of security in

the area.

Continued on page 21

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 201720

OPINION

n recent times, corruption

remains a remarkable issue Iparticularly in Nigeria's

political arena.

I n N i g e r i a , b r i b e ry a nd

corruption carpets all three arms of

government including the private

sector which must be tackled

otherwise will hamper the nation's

development.

M e a n w h i l e , P r e s i d e n t

M u h a m m a d u B u h a r i l e d

Administration has launched the

anti-graft war though suffers

setback from the other two arms

including the executive arm itself as

well as some other unpatriotic

citizens within the country coupled

with poor participation by the

general people.

However, the achievement of any

policy requires full support of all the

three arms of government including

the citizens but for Nigeria the case

is different. The Transparency

International, a leading anti-

corruption organization in the world

defined corruption as involving

behaviour on the part of official in

the public and private sectors, in

which way improperly or unlawfully

enrich themselves and/or those close

to them or include others to do so by

misusing the position in which they

are placed.

Bribery is a form of corruption. A

bribe is a gift bestowed to influence

the recipient's conduct. Bribery

around the world is estimated over

S1trillion. It undermines the rule of

law and damages economic

d e v e l o p m e n t . B r i b e r y a n d

corruption result in conflict of

interest between a person's interest

and person's duty to perform a task.

Corruption constitutes a major

obstacle to democracy and the rule of

law. Offices and institutions lose

their legitimacy when they are

misused for private advantage.

Accountable political leadership

cannot develop in a corrupt climate.

Corruption can lead to the depletion

of natural wealth when national

resources are placed in control of a

small number of individuals for less

than their true value. Corruption

undermines people's trust in the

political system and breeds

frustration of the population.

On March 14th, 2015, the EFCC

Head of legal prosecution, Lagos

Zone, Iliyasu Kwarbai said that

$182 billion was siphoned and

laundered from the country in 9

years, compiled by the United State

Global Financial integrity relaying

on data from World Bank and

International Monetary Fund

(IMF). Nigeria ranked 8th of the

20th of the notorious financial

outflows. And that the proceed of

money laundered are infused into

financial system and transferred to

other locations and or financial

institutions followed by litigation.

In January 2016, president

Muhammadu Buhari has signed an

agreement on stolen funds with the

U n i t e d A r a b E m i r a t e o n

repatriation of stolen fund and

extradition of culpable officials. At

least $200 billion allegedly stolen

from the country's treasury by

former government officials is

believed to have been stashed in

banks and invested in properties in

Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Since 1999, at least 14 audit

reports sent to the Public Account

Commit tees (PAC) o f bo th

chambers of the National Assembly

by the office of Auditor- General of

the Federation (OAUGF) have been

gathering dust without being

presented to the plenary for

consideration and action. The audit

reports exposed fraudulent

practices in federal Ministries,

Department and Agencies (MDAs)

which prevented the reports from

being handed over to the executive

a r m o f g o v e r n m e n t f o r

implementation, thus robbing

Nigerians of the economic gains

that would have occurred if the

report were implemented. The

Auditor-General of the Federation

insisted that the anti-corruption

campaign of this government would

only be succeeded if the National

Assembly treats with passion, audit

reports.

From the aforementioned

statement, it is evident that the

country is highly involved in bribery

and corruption which demands all

three arms of government to

collectively take urgent action to

By Usman A. Aliyu

Nigeria: Anti-graft war, the role of three arms, the people (1)

Corruption constitutes a major obstacle to

democracy and the rule of law. Offices and

institutions lose their legitimacy when

they are misused for private advantage.

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 2017 21

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

and support from the general public.

T h e a g e n c i e s c o m b a t i n g

corruption in Nigeria include;

Economic and Financial Crimes

Commission (EFCC), Independent

Corrupt Practices Commission

(ICPC), Department of State

Security (DSS), Nigerian Police

Force (NPF), Court of Conduct

Bureau (CCB) and Court of Conduct

Tribunal (CCT), Nigeria Extractive

Industries Transparency Initiative

(NEITI), Office of the Auditor

General of the Federation (OAGF),

Bureau of Public Procurement

(BPP) and the office of the Attorney-

General and Minister of Justice.

These agencies should be

strengthened by giving them free

hand, equipping them and trained

personnel to discharge their

functions through reviewing laws

that established them. For instance,

the EFCC has power to prosecute

directly without recourse to the

Attorney-General Office while the

ICPC can only prosecute through

the Attorney- General Office.

EFCC is also primarily charged

with responsibility of enforcing law

relating to banking, money

laundering, Advance feed fraud

(419), miscellaneous offences and

other related offences applicable to

both public and private services

while the ICPC is to enforce laws

relating to fraud, corruption and

embezzlement of fund applicable to

public service only.

Local Government Area of the state

in the early hours of October 16,

when some of them were probably

still sleeping. It was reportedly the

third of such visitation by the

bloodthirsty hounds in just a matter

of days.

This is unbelievable for a

military upon which lies the

responsibility of defending the

territorial integrity of the country if

ever she comes under attack by

invading foreign forces. Perhaps the

security approach should come

under critical review; it is now

getting to a point when villagers

shou ld be a l l owed t o a rm

themselves to effectively fend off

any attack as the Nigerian state has

so miserably failed to guarantee

their security over the years. This is

already working well in the North-

East, with the invaluable role of the

Civilian Joint Task Force in the

ongoing war against Boko Haram.

History cannot just continue to

repeat itself in Plateau, while

everybody looks on in utter

helplessness. The Nkiedonwhro

a t t a c k s b e a r a n u n c a n n y

resemblance to what happened in

2012 when some hoodlums believed

to be herdsmen killed 60 people,

mostly women, children and the

elderly, from Barkin Ladi and Riyom

LGAs, right inside a church, where

they had sought refuge.

As if the massacre was not

repuls ive enough, when the

communities gathered the following

day to bury their dead, the killers,

this time in military kits, descended

on them again and slaughtered

scores more, bringing the number of

souls lost in the two days to over 100.

Among those killed were a serving

senator, Gyang Dantong, and the

Majority Leader of the State House of

Assembly, Gyang Fulani. A member

of the House of Representatives,

Simon Nwadkom, owed his survival

to a timely intervention of a medical

team that revived him after he

fainted.

By a conservative estimate, about

3,000 lives were lost between 2001

and 2010 in internecine warfare in

Plateau State, starting with 1,000

persons confirmed dead in 2001 and

the 500 of 2005. By 2008, when the

crisis erupted again, 700 were

reported killed, followed by 750 in

2010. This mindless loss of lives

cannot be allowed to continue.

Significantly, most of the massacres

took place at a time of full curfew,

prompting women of the state to

take to the street on several

occasions to protest alleged soldiers'

biased handling of security in the

area.

Besides, there have been several

reports by panels and commissions

of enquiry that have yet to be

implemented. They include the late

Solomon Lar, Emmanuel Abisoye

and Niki Tobi reports. Others were

also carried out by both the state

assembly and the National

Assembly. Buhari has to dust down

these reports and implement them

and hope that they would be

sufficient to guarantee a peaceful

coexistence.

Finally, media houses should

avoid sensationalism and undue

stereotyping in these conflicts.

Experience has shown that

criminals on all sides ignite these

conflicts for their own nefarious ends

which end up consuming the

innocent including women, children

and the elderly.

End The Killing Spree On The PlateauContinued from page 19

reduce it to a minimal level,

including effort of every citizen.

Firstly, the executive arm of

government which is responsible for

implementing government policies

is the first to be considered when

tackling corruption, followed by

others. In the first place, the

executive arm must provide an

environment that will make bribery

and corruption di f f icult by

s t r e n g t h e n i n g f i n a n c i a l

regulations, empowering law

enforcement agencies in combating

c r i m e s , c o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h

s t a k e h o l d e r s i n c l u d i n g

international anti-graft agencies,

The Executive

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 201722

BILLS UPDATE

Nigeria and for Related Matters reading Mohammed Tahir Munguno

17 HB 1087 A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and to formulate Policies and Guidelines Relating to the Management of Disasters in the FCT and for Related Matters

2017 Second reading

Hon. Sergius Ogun Oseasochie

18 HB 1078 A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal University, Asaba and to make Comprehensive Provisions for its Due Management and Administration, to ensure Equity and Access to Tertiary Education in the country and for Related Matters

2017 Second reading

Hon. Joan Onyemaechi Mrakpor

19

HB 1086

A Bill for an Act to Further Amend Section 143 (2) of t he Electoral Act, 2010 by inserting a new Sub-section (3) to Address Issues Relating to Remuneration, Salaries, Allowances and Emolument of Honorables

Members of the National

Assembly and for Related Matters

2017 Second reading

Hon. Albert Abiodun Adeogun

20

HB 1072

A Bill for an Act to Establish the Institute of Chartered Sales Professionals of Nigeria to regulate the Standards of Practice of Salesmanship in Nigeria and for Related Matters

2017 Second reading

Hon. Sylvester Ogbada

21

HB 1083

A Bill for an Act to Amend the assets Management Corporation act to among other things Empower the Corporation to obtain Access to any Computer System Component, Electronic or Mechanical device of any debtor with

a view to Establishing the

Location of funds belonging to the debtor and to obtain Information on the Debtor’s Private Account; and for Related Matters.

2017 Second reading

Hon. Jones Chukwudi Onyereri

22

HB 301

A bill for an Act to repeal the public officers’ protection Act, Cap. P41, laws of the federal republic of Nigeria,2004; and for related matters

2017

Second reading

Hon. Shehu Shagari

23

HB 958

A Bill for an Act to amend the national Universities Commission Act, Cap.N81, laws of the federation of Nigeria,2004 to expressly give the commission power to regulate the condition of service and procedure for the engagement of academic staff(other than Non Academic staff members) on a part time basis or visiting lectureship; and for related matters

2017

Second reading

Hon. Abbas Tajudeen

24

HB 1091

A Bill to for an Act to amend the National Film and Video Censors Board Act,Cap.N40,Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004 to Expand the Functions and Membership of the Board to include Representatives of Associations of Theatre Arts Indigenous Languages Film

Producers and practitioners respectively ,for the purposes of Promoting and Protecting Indigenous Nigerian Languages and Culture from Disservice by Certain Direct-to Home-pay-Television Schemes; and for Related Matters

2017

Second reading

Hon.Oladipupo Adebutu

25

HB 941

A Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigerian Institute of Steel Development to provide for its detailed Identification of management Training Manufacturing Programmes to meet the Needs of Managers in the Steel Sector of the Economy; and for Related Matters

2017

Second Reading

Hon. Ahmed Tijani

26

HB 1158

A Bill for an Act to establish the Regional Centre for Oral Health Research and Training Initiative to among other things, be responsible for Advising, Implementing, Training and Coordination of Collaborative Research and Training in Consultation with the World Health Organization and other National ad International Allied Agencies; and for Related Matters

2017

Second Reading

Hon.Gyang Istifanus

27

HB 1153

A Bill for an Act for the Politi cal and Administrative Structure of the Federal Capital Territory; and for Related Matters

2017

Second Reading

Hon. Timothy Golu, Hon. Jonathan G.Gaza, Hon. Jisalo B. Zaphania

Continued from Back page

Legislative Digest Vol. 11 No. 10, October, 2017 23

BILLS UPDATE

28 HB 1100 A Bill for an Act to Amend the University of Abuja Act,Cap.U12, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004 to specify the Minimum Qualification for the Chairman of the Governing Council, Ownership of Intellectual Property for Pre-cation Notice to the University Authority; and for related matters

2017 Second Reading

Hon. Zaphaniah B. Jisalo

29 HB 1102 A Bill for an Act to Amend the University of Calabar Act,Cap.U5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to specify the minimum Qualification for the Chairman of the Governing Council Ownership of Intellectual Property and to Provide for Pre-action Notice the University Authority; and for Related Matters

2017 Second reading

Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe

30 HB 1103 A Bill for an Act to Amend the University of Ibadan Act, Cap U6,Laws of the federation of Nigeria,2004 to specify the Minimum Qualification for the Chairman of the Governing Council Ownership of Intellectual Property and to Provide for Pre-cation Notice to the University Authority; and for Related Matters

2017 Second reading

Hon. Saheed Fijabi

31 HB 13 A Bill for an Ac to Amend the Nigerian Institute of Management Act No14 2003 and for other matters thereto

2017 Second reading

Hon. Mao Ohuabunwa

32 SB 260 A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of National Institute of Credit Administration and for other Matters

Connected Therewith

2017 Second reading

Hon. Ben Murray Bruce

33 SB 92 A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of the Nigerian Council for food Science and Technology and for Allied matters connected therewith

2017 Second reading

Hon. Ajayi Borrofice

34 HB 573 A Bill for an Act to Establish the National institute for Arid Research and Desertification Control and to make comprehensive Provisions for its Due Management and Administration and for related matters

2017 Second reading

Hon. Ahmed Babba Kaita

35

HB 1084

A Bill for an Act to Amend the Provisions of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act,Cap.M8,Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004 to increase the Penalties for Offences under the Act and for Related Matters

2017 Second Reading

Hon.

Dozie

Ferdinand Nwankwo

36

HB 1069

A Bill for an Act to Establish the Niger Delta Institute of Technology and Skills Acquisition, Egbema, Imo state, and to make comprehensive Provisions for its due Management and Administration, Provide for detailed Identification of Areas in Technology and Skills Acquisition and for Relate matters

2017 Second reading

Hon. Goodluck Opiah

37

HB 711

A Bill to Amend the Central Bank of Nigeria Act,Cap.C4,Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Enhance Transparency, Entrenchment of Parliamentary Accountability and Enhancement of The Banks Efficiency in the discharge of its duties to provide for Appointment of a person other than the Governor as the Chairman of the Board, Divest the Board of the Powers of Determining and Fixing its own Salaries and allowances and the Powers of Considering and Approving the Annual Budget of the Bank and for Related Matters

2017 Second reading

Hon. Binta Bello and two others

38

HB 1055

A Bill for an Act to Provide for Farmer’s Registration Act that will Create a Database of Farmers in Nigeria to Professionalize Farming and Diversify the Economy with a view to Boosting Food Production and Economic Activities in Nigeria and for other Related Matters

2017 Second reading

Hon. Michael Adeniyi Omomgbehin

39

HB 1085

A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Provisions of the Export Prohibition Act,Cap.E22 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004; and Related Matters

2017 Second reading

Hon. Dozie Ferdinand

Nwankwo

40

HB 1090

A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Regulation of Manufacture, Sale, Installation and General use of Elevators and lifts and for Related Matters

2017

Second reading

Hon. Mohammed Jafaru Ibrahim

BILLS UPDATE

BILLS UPDATE (OCTOBER, 2017) Compiled by CISLAC

S/N BILL NO BILL NAME YEAR STAGE SPONSORS

1 SB 424 A bill for an Act to Establish the \Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria to serve as a regulatory body for persons serving as Directors in both Public and Private sectors, to ensure professionalism and promote corporate governance values by Directors and related matters

2017 Second reading

Sen. Ike Ekweremadu

2

SB 340

A Bill for an Act to establish the Council for Facility Management of Nigeria charged with the responsibilities to among other things register persons seeking to be facilities as well as regulate and control the practice of Facilities Profession and related matters

2017 Second reading

Sen. Ahmad Abubakar

3

SB 194

A Bill for an Act to establish the Chartered Institute of Facilities Managers, set regulations and standards, inspect facilities as well as regulate and regulate and control the practice of Facilities Profession and related matters

2017

Second reading

Sen. Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai

4

SB 395

A Bill for an Act to Establish the Ecological Fund for the purpose of funding certain Federal Agencies dealing with environment and ecological problems and for related matters

2017

Second reading

Sen. Mohammed Hassan

5

SB 330

A Bill for an act to establish the Nigerian Tax Academy in order to provide training, develop standard curriculum for continue education of tax administrators and collectors to facilitate effective service delivery and for other related matters

2017

Second reading

Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi

6

SB 325

A Bill for an Act to provide for the regulation and supervision of Assisted Reproductive Technology and for matters connected therewith

2017

Second reading

Sen. Lanre Tejuoso

7

HB 980

A Bill for an Act to Amend the Standard Organization of Nigeria Act,No.14,2015 to Empower the Organization to carry out Inspection of all goods to be imported into Nigeria at all Nigerian Borders, Sea and Air Ports to Ensure Quality Control of all Imported Goods; and for Related Matters

2017

Second reading

Hon. Emmanuel Akpan

8

HB 921

A Bill for an to Amend the Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act,Cap.N86,Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004 to clarify the Appointment into certain positions in the Commission for Proper Representation, Equity, Fairness, Justice among Member States; and for Related Matters

2017

Second reading

Hon. Victor Akinjo

9

SB 435

A Bill for an Act to amend the Legal Practitioners Act CAP C11 LFN 2004 and other connected matters

2017

Second reading

Hon. Godswill Akpabio

10

SB 333

A Bill for an Act to amend the National Orientation Agency Ac t, CAP N100 and for other connected matters

2017

Second reading

Hon. Dino Melaye

11

SB 462

A Bill for an act to establish the National Tea and Coffee Development Council of Nigeria and for other matters connected therewith

2017

Second reading

Hon. YusufA. Yusuf

12

SB 385

A Bill for an Act to establish the National Youth Development Commission and for other matters connected therewith

2017

Second reading

Hon. Ogba Obinna

13

SB 449

A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of Federal Task Force on Revenue Defaulters Privacy and National Heritage Protection and other related matters

2017

Second reading

Hon. Samuel Anyanwu

14

HB 221

A Bill for an Act to repeal the Recovery of Public property (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. R4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and for related matters

2017

Third reading

Hon. Mohammed Tahir Munguno

15

HB 827

A Bill for an Act to amend the National Institute for Legislative Studies Act, 2011 to, among Other Things, Change the Name of the Institute from National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies in order to Empower the Institute to provide Training and Research Services in Legislative and Democratic Studies and for Related Matters

2017

Third reading

Hon. Mohammed Tahir Munguno

16

HB 41

A Bill

for an Act to Establish the Forest Research Institute for 2017

Third Hon.

Continued on page 22