I HAVE KISS A GUY

’ve kissed a guy... I’ve kissed guys. I just haven’t felt that thing.... That thing... that moment when you kiss someone and everything around you becomes hazy, and the only thing in focus is you and this person. And you realize that that person is the only person you’re supposed to kiss for the rest of your life. And for one moment you get this amazing gift. And you wanna laugh and you wanna cry, ‘cause you feel so lucky that you’ve found it, and so scared that it’ll go away all at the same time."


Submitted by Emily

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Scores dead, villages flattened in devastating Samoan tsunami

Survivors of a deadly earthquake-triggered tsunami which hit the Samoan islands Tuesday have described how they watched the inrushing sea swallow up coastal towns and villages leaving devastation in its wake.

iReporter Alden Tagarino captured this image of the damage caused by the tsunami in Pago Pago.

1 of 4

more photos »

At least 111 people are confirmed killed in Samoa, neighboring American Samoa and Tonga. But officials in the Polynesia region have expressed fears the toll will rise as rescue workers struggle to reach outlying villages submerged and flattened by the wave.

American Samoa resident Frances Faumatu told CNN she had fled to Aoloau, the highest village on the island, as the earthquake shook her house.

"All of a sudden we heard on the radio everybody had to run for safety," she said. "Right after the quake, the tsunami came."

Faumatu and others stayed on the mountain for two or three hours until the warning was lifted, watching as the sea swallowed Pago Pago, island's capital, and then receded.

At least 22 people are confirmed dead in the U.S. island territory. Cars, debris, and parts of buildings were randomly strewn over the landscape where the powerful waters dropped them. See iReporter images of the aftermath »

But in some cases, the sea left nothing behind. "Other villages were taken to the ocean," Faumatu said.

The 8.0-magnitude quake hit the small cluster of Samoan islands in the South Pacific early Tuesday.

In Samoa, the death toll stands at 82, according to government minister Maulolo Tavita. But he said he feared the number of casualities would continue to rise.

Around 220,000 people live on the two main islands which make up the nation of Samoa. The population of American Samoa is about 66,000. See a map of the affected region »

Salamo Laumoli, director of health services at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center in Pago Pago, said he feared more fatalities would turn up as rescue workers strived to access parts of the island severed by damaged infrastructure.

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"I thought it was the end of the world," said Laumoli. "I have never felt an earthquake like that before."

Patients at the hospital were briefly moved to higher ground, but they were soon brought back and the hospital is operating, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency said. The airport in the capital of Pago Pago was also operational and being used for emergency flights, FEMA said.

"The wave came onshore and washed out people's homes," said Cinta Brown, an American Samoa homeland security official working at the island's emergency operations center.

The same happened on the hard-hit east and west sides of American Samoa, said Brown, who was standing in a parking lot when her sport utility vehicle began rocking left and right.

She said she could hear the rattling of metal of a large chain-link fence around the lot. "It shakes you because you know something else is coming," she said.

The British Foreign Office said one of the dead in American Samoa was a British national, but no other details were provided.

In Tonga, Lord Tuita, the acting prime minister, said at least seven people had been confirmed dead on the northern island of Niuatoputapu. Three others were missing and four people were being treated for serious injuries, he said.

"The hospital on the island is reported to have suffered major damage; telephone communications has been cut as a result of damage to equipment and facilities on the island; homes and government buildings have been destroyed; the airport runway has been severely damaged making it impossible for any fixed wing aircraft to land," a statement from the Tongan prime minister's office said. Were you there? Send us your photos and video

A series of aftershocks reverberated through the region Tuesday as reports emerged of entire villages flattened or submerged by the tsunami. The walls of water were so strong that they twisted concrete beams and mangled cars. See an explainer on tsunamis »

Laumoli said people in outlying villages on one end of the main American Samoa island had been cut off because the connecting bridge was washed away. Listen to Laumoli speak about the impact of the quake and tsunami »

American Samoa Gov. Togiola Tulafono, speaking from Hawaii, said Tuesday's quake ranked "right up there with some of the worst" disasters on the island. He said he had spoken to the military about mobilizing reserve forces for assistance.

Tulafono was on his way back home from Hawaii on Tuesday night on one of two U.S. Coast Guard transport planes delivering aid. He told reporters Tuesday it had been hard being away from home as the disaster unfolded. It was a time, he said, for families to be together.

U.S. President Barack Obama declared American Samoa a major disaster area, ordering federal aid to supplement local efforts.

The Coast Guard is transporting more than 20 officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to American Samoa, said John Hamill, external affairs officer for FEMA in Oakland, California.

The FEMA team will include a variety of debris experts, housing experts, members of the Corps of Engineers, and other disaster relief specialists, Hamill said.

The quake generated three separate tsunami waves, the largest measuring 5.1 feet from sea level height, said Vindell Hsu, a geophysicist with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Preliminary data had originally reported a larger tsunami.
By: CNN

Soul is the ultimate G-spot for happiness'

• Story Highlights
• Author says ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle's advice for dating still relevant.
• "Soul is the ultimate G-spot for happiness," writer translates
• Soul mate is someone who nurtures your soul, thereby promoting insight and growth
• Pleasure, utility and shared virtue are 3 types of relationships that bring happiness

September 29, 2009 -- Updated 1312 GMT (2112 HKT)

• Next Article in Living »

(OPRAH.com) -- When I was a teen, I tried to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. My goal: Memorize its contents, be on TV game shows, win cash and prizes, run away from home, move to Manhattan and become a professional writer.

Instead of focusing on getting Mr. Right, focus on finding Life Plan Right, says author.

I got as far as Asparagus. To this day, I know a little about a lot of words beginning with "A." Some favorites: ants, atoms, alchemy.

Plus, Aristotle was a childhood crush, because I've always loved philosophy. When I finished reading his one-page encyclopedic write-up, I bought books about him. I'd been saving these dog-eared, underlined Aristotle books, as well as the "A" book of Britannica, all to be used in a novel, where I'd been planning to bless my protagonist with the quirky detail of knowing all things "A."

I recently rediscovered these Aristotle books when moving apartments. I flipped through and was surprised to discover Aristotle said a lot of the same things about love and happiness as modern psychologists. Only Aristotle obviously said it first, having been born at least 300 years B.C. Plus, Aristotle said it truly wisely.

Indeed, much of what Aristotle said hit home big-time -- in particular about a sexy, smart, funny, rich, lying, cheating, don't-get-me-started Prince Harming I'd just broken up with. I could almost hear what Aristotle might say to me if we were to chat over souvlaki.

'Sold your soul to be with him'

"Mea bene, Karen," Aristotle would say. "You know what your problem was with your ex? He was not your soul mate -- but your 'sold' mate -- because you sold your soul to be with him. Sure he was sexy, smart, rich, funny -- but alas, he was a liar and a cheat."

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"You're an intellectual guy." I'd correct the regaled philosopher called the "Mind of the Academy" by Plato. "I'm surprised you believe in something as namby-pamby metaphysical as a soul mate!" Oprah.com: 10 rules to soul mate love

"Absolutely!" My fave Greek philosopher buddy Ari would respond emphatically.

"Actually, I sort of coined the concept of 'soul mate.' If there'd been a little TM trademark thingy back in the 300s B.C., I'd be a very rich man today. I firmly believe caretaking the soul is incredibly important for happiness. I describe a soul mate as a 'soul-nurturing mate.' Someone who nurtures your soul, thereby promoting insight and growth. I pushed folks to find soul mates because, in my opinion, real happiness only comes when you stimulate your core self -- and grow into your highest potential. Basically, the soul is the ultimate G-spot for happiness."

Of course, I'm paraphrasing for my philosopher buddy. But if Aristotle were here, I know he'd agree with my verbal modernization. Plus, Ari would go on to describe how he views the world as offering three kinds of relationships, only one of which brings true happiness.

3 kinds of relationships

According to ancient philosopher Aristotle, there are three kinds of relationships, only one of which will bring you true happiness. Find out how your relationship measures up!

1. Relationships of pleasure

Partners who are about sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. You share soulless, passionate sex and playful banter -- but they're about the body or ego. They never soul-nurture you with insight and growth, so they never bring real-deal happiness. Oprah.com: How to break your bad man habit

2. Relationships of utility

Partners you spend time with in hopes of garnering status, power, money and beauty like the rich guy with a trophy girl. Again, this is about body or ego and doesn't bring true joy.

3. Relationships of shared virtue

Partners who challenge and inspire you to grow into your highest potential and nurture your soul. A good example is when Jack Nicholson's character in "As Good As It Gets" says, "You make me want to be a better man." When you prioritize seeking a partner who supports you becoming your best self -- instead of crushing on "superficial lures"(hotness, funniness, smartness, success, etc.) -- you wind up with a soul mate/a Prince Charming/a definite keeper!

With this in mind, if you want to be happy in love, you must take time to see past a guy's "superficial lures" and look inside his "superinsidehimself." Unfortunately, those fumes of chemistry can often dizzy a gal into making stupid love choices. That's why it's important to remember: Hot, steamy chemistry eventually fades -- and what's always left beneath is a person's true soul.

Yes, if you want to be happy, you must seek a good-hearted, ethical soul who brings you great growth -- not simply a hottie who brings great grope Oprah.com: The best things to do for your relationship

Confession time: Another superficially alluring quality I've been suckered in by is humor. I am Silly Putty in a friggin' funny man's hands. I once had a boyfriend who teased me that the secret to getting me into bed was to crack five good jokes in a night. He'd count down his jokes as the night progressed. Unfortunately, funniness is a mere decorative quality -- sometimes developed to avoid talking about real-life issues. Which is why in the past, after a few months of dating a friggin' funny guy, I've witnessed all that fabulous ha-ha-ha laughter often gives way to tears when the guy's true character -- true soul -- shows up as one that avoids honest communication, warm empathy and the desire for growth. Then, when I try to connect soul to soul -- heart to heart -- I am greeted by a gigantic, unmovable whoopee cushion wall.

Basically, friggin' funny is only the tiniest tip of a person. Meanwhile, a person's soul is a person's foundation!

For the record: Aristotle wasn't against finding someone friggin' funny or friggin' sexy or friggin' rich. He believed these pleasure-bringing qualities were good for stirring up passion, which humans need to be our fullest selves! But Aristotle recognized "superficial lures" and material goods were simply what he called "means to the ends" of happiness, not "the final ends," which is always to grow into your most esteemed self.

As Aristotle said: "Men imagine the causes of happiness lie in external goods. That is as if they were to ascribe fine and beautiful lyre playing to the quality of the instrument rather than the skill of the player."

Or as I like to say, "It's just as easy to complain about a rich man as it is to complain about a poor man."

Basically, it doesn't matter how rich a guy is if his behavior makes you twitchy and miserable.

While on the subject of money, Aristotle was no fan of slackers either. He recognized that being or dating poor brought its share of problems. He even admitted the lack of a certain amount of wealth was as much an obstacle to happiness as deprivation of freedom. He gladly accepted that some wealth was needed to be happy -- just as exciting bodily pleasures were needed. But again, wealth and bodily pleasures were mere means to the ends of happiness -- these ultimate ends being to nourish your soul, so you can reach your most esteemed level of self.

A big secret to happiness? Stop focusing on finding a Mr. Right! Start focusing on finding Life Plan Right. When a Mr. Potential Right comes along, you must ask yourself if this guy will lead you to Life Plan Right or Life Plan Wrong.

As you get to know the guy, look to see if he:

1. Offers you exciting growth as well as exciting grope

2. Has developed good character -- so he'll be a positive influence on your character development.

If the guy scores two for two, you're likely in Prince Charming territory. Oprah.com: What you could learn from dating 100 men

Adapted by Karen Salmansohn from her book, "Prince Harming Syndrome." She is a best-selling author known for creating self-help for people who wouldn't be caught dead reading self-help.

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By Karen Salmansohn

In Kano, laurels for excellent media performance

THE grand finale of the 2008 Edition of the Nigerian National Media Merit Awards (NNMA) penultimate weekend may have come and gone, but it has left some historical imprints on the commercial city of Kano. The reason being that it is only the first time it was holding there or any state capital in the North West, it also witnessed two additional prizes instituted for competition.

Besides, the event witnessed the largest gathering of media practitioners, who competed for laurels and over 200 journalists went away with medals. This much was attested to by Prince Tony Momoh, former Information and Culture Minister, who is also Chairman of the Award Nominating Panel of the NMMA. In all, Momoh said there were a total of 44 winners selected from the different categories of media works.

His panel, he revealed, received 610 entries from 442 entrants, as against last year's 753 entries from 539 applicants. A breakdown of the figures showed that 32 prizes were contested by practitioners from the print media, six prizes were won by the radio and seven were won by television journalists from different media in the country. Altogether, 64 prizes were won by over 200 winners at the yearly largest gathering of media practitioners.

Of the figure, 391 entries were received from the print media, as against 532 that were received from 555 entrants last year. He lamented, however that the entrants were largely in favour of Lagos area probably because of the heavy media presence there and used the opportunity to plead for more entries from journalists outside Lagos.

The choice of Kano, Momoh stressed, was partly informed by a deliberate attempt to mobilize journalists from all the segments of the country to identify with and compete with others with the hope of winning laurels that would improve their professional standings, knowing that winners represented the very best of the core of the professionals in the country.

He disclosed that the winners were carefully selected so as to keep to the tradition of the awards which started almost 18 years ago, noting that, the tradition would be maintained as long as practitioners identified with the awards.

Momoh's views struck a cord with that of Malam Garba Shehu, media consultant to the former Vice President, and a director of newly established Abuja-based Peoples Daily Newspapers, who also bemoaned the low level of participation in the awards by journalists from the north.

He hoped, in a chat with The Guardian at the Government House that the hosting of the event at Kano would spur media practitioners from the northern part of the country, especially from Kano to start making their relevance felt in the industry by competing favorably with their counterparts from other parts of the country for laurels.

Publisher of the defunct Nigerian Economist, Dr. Haroun Abdulrasheed Adamu, himself an indigene of Kano traced the history of media practice in the north and submitted that Kano pioneered private newspapers in the north, while Zaria pioneered the publication of government-owned newspaper, as reflected in Gaskiya Tafikwabo.

The host governor, Ibrahim Shakarau said the decision to bring the hosting of the event for this year to Kano was a wise one that would impact positively on the national character and image of the NMMA and would also facilitate the attainment of its objectives.

According to the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Abdullahi Tijani Mohammed Gwarzo, "the rotation of the awards night from one state capital to another is certainly a more ideal way of providing a forum whereby Nigeria media merit awards laureates, who are some of the most eminent media personalities with tremendous skills and first minds can come together. It will also give the members the opportunity to go round the whole federation, thereby familiarizing them with the problems of this country as well as achievements recorded by the states in various fields of human endeavour."

But he used the opportunity to appeal to policy makers in the industry to critically look at the areas that are deficient in the media practice in the country, the important role of the media as the link between government and the people. According to him, it was a common knowledge these days for media practitioners to write baseless and unfounded reports on individuals with a view to smearing the image of the personalities and bring them down politically.

"It is in the light of this unfortunate attitude among journalists, the Board of Trustees of the NMMA should not only reward media excellence among practitioners, but device means of penalizing erring media practitioners who indulge in false reporting and other unethical practices, because it is this ugly trend among journalists that is scaring away some legislators at the National Assembly from the quick passage of the freedom of information bill (FOIB)".

He added that while Nigerians supported the FOI Bill, because of its potentials for enhancing checks and balances in governance, "we need to say that journalists need to do more to convince the Nigerian public and the country's lawmakers that the bill would not be abused."

While admitted certain lapses in the practice of journalism in the country, he, however, said very little could be done to punish erring journalist unless the Press Council is given enough teeth to bite. To that he said all the stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); the Nigerian Guild of Editor (NGE) as well as the Newspaper Proprietors should all join hands together to ensure the objective of sanitizing the profession is achieved.

Information and Communication Minister, John Odey, in his remark thanked the Board of Trustees of the NMMA for having been able to sustain the awards, which spanned over 16 years, in-spite of all odds. For him, "it takes an excellent mind to recognize excellence and expressed happiness for them for forging a healthy competitive spirit among media practitioners.

Represented by the Acting Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Mrs. Maria Ode, the minister expressed the determination of the government to support the body in everything possible, and lauded the Kano government for agreeing to host the programme.

One feature of the Kano outing was that the awards had increased by two as Shekarau, a former teacher, endowed a Prize for Education Reporter of the year with effect from next year, while Chevron Company also endowed a prize for Oil and Gas Reporter of the year. While the governor placed the sum of N5 million for his Prize, Chevron prize for Oil and Gas was N2 million.

Founder of the African Refugees Foundation (AREF) and former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Chief Olusegun Olusola, who stood in for the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the NMMA, Alhaji Alade Odunewu, reminded the gathering that next year's awards ceremony scheduled for Enugu would coincide with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of television in the country.

He, therefore, solicited the cooperation of the governors towards making the event more successful, given its historical importance as the event marking the establishment of that genre of media would be marked in a grand style. The Late doyen of Nigerian journalism, Dr. Ismail Babatunde Jose was also remembered at the occasion.

Olukayode Thomas and Ronke Olawale were among the reporters that won awards at the occasion. While Thomas won the Bashorun MKO Abiola Prize for Sports Reporter of the year, Olawale won the Ernest Sisei Ikoli Prize for Newspaper Reporter of the year.

Other categories of awards that were competed for included the Abubakar Imam prize for Newspaper Features Writer of the year which was won by Adeboboye Tope of the Daily Sun Newspaper, while Omokaro Thomas Arikawo of National Standard won the Olu Aboderin Prize for Entertainment Reporter of the year.

The Buba Marwa Prize for the Defence Reporter of the year went to Olu Ojewale, an Associate Editor with Tell Magazine, who also won the Gani Fawehinmi Prize for Human Rights Reporter of the year; Gbadamosi Kehinde of Vanguard Newspaper won the News Photographer of the year award and Adeniyi Kolawole of Broad Street Journal (BSJ) clinched the UBA prize for Money Market Reporter of the year.

Igbalade Oluwaseun of IT & Telecom Digest won the MTN Prize for Telecommunications Reporter of the year; Babatunde Jimoh of Vanguard Newspaper won the Bukola Saraki prize for Agriculture Reporter of the year, while Taofeeq Kunle Yusuf of Tell Magazine won the Oyinlola Prize for Culture and Tradition Reporter of the year.

Philip Akinsuton of Tourism Digest won the Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu Prize for Travel and Tourism reporter of the year, Tony Manuaka, a Senior Associate Editor of BSJ won both the Intercontinental Bank Prize for Capital Market Reporter of the year as well as the Union Bank Prize for the Banking and Finance Reporter of the year; Ajero Chidi Chris, an Associate Editor with Newswatch Magazine clinched the Lateef Jakande Prize for Political Reporter of the year, while Kelechi Obasi of BSJ won The Guardian Newspapers Prize for Investigative Reporter of the year.

Emmanuel Maya of Sunday Sun Newspaper won the NAFCON Prize for Environmental Reporter of the year; Sam Omatseye, the Chairman of Editorial Board of The Nation Newspapers clinched the Alade Odunewu prize for Columnist of the year, while the IGI Prize of Insurance Reporter of the year went to Sola Alabadan of Daily Independent.

Also, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Prize for cartoonist of the year went to Moses Olorunleke; the Beatrice Bassey Ita Prize for Female Reporter of the year went to Stella Sawyer of Tell Magazine; the Cecil King Prize for Print Journalist of the year was clinched by John Ogunro Julius of National Standard. The Sunny Odogwu Prize for Business Reporter of the year went to Anayochukwu Agbo of Tell Magazine, while the Conoil prize for Energy Reporter of the year went to Salif Alhassan Atojoko, an Associate Editor with the BSJ.

Muyiwa Lukas, a Senior Writer with the BSJ clinched the BAT industry Reporter of the year Prize; Iwuori John of THISDAY Newspaper won the NPA Prize for Maritime Reporter of the year; Nigerian Tribune picked the Prize for the Editorial of the year; Patience Bukola Afolabi of The Week Magazine won the Peter Odili Prize for Power Reporter of the year, while Andy George Umunenze of The Source Magazine won the Aviation Industry Reporter of the year.

The Babatunde Jose Prize for Newspaper of the year went to the Daily Independent, whose editor, Mr. Ikechukwu Amaechi also won the Dele Giwa Prize for the Editor of the year. The WAMCO Prize for the Newsmagazine of the year went to Tell Magazine.

In the electronic category (radio), Aigbe Hilda of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) picked the Radio Presenter of the year award; Funke Treasure Durodola of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) emerged the winner of the Radio Production of the year award; Kareem Temitayo Abolanle of the Gateway Radio Ogun State picked the Prize for the Radio Programme of the year and Raypower Radio emerged the NBC's Radio Station of the year.

In the television category, the Cadbury Prize for TV Reporter of the year went to Deji Badmus of Channels Television; Babajide Maurufonu, an Independent Producer won the Television Production of the year prize; Shiju Alabi of MBI Television won the Television Newscaster of the year; the Television Programme Presenter of the year went to Derinola Osiname of Channels Television, while the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Network News won the Television Station of the year

From Mohammed Abubakar, Kano

MEND picks Soyinka, Akhigbe to negotiate with govt * Nominees okay deal

A FRESH opportunity to stop the violence in the Niger Delta apparently emerged yesterday with the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) releasing the names of those who would represent the group at peace talks with the Federal Government.

MEND disclosed its latest position barely four days to the expiration of the Federal Government's amnesty on October 4. But MEND has emphatically declared that it will not accept the deadline until the root causes of militancy and agitation in the Niger Delta are addressed by the government.

The team of eminent persons whom MEND described as the Aaron Team include former Chief of General Staff, Vice Admiral Okhai Mike Akhigbe (rtd), Prof. Wole Soyinka, Maj.-Gen. Luke Kakadu Aprezi (rtd) and Prof. Sabella Ogbobode Abidde. MEND has also nominated Annkio Briggs to liaise on behalf of the group with the team.

Yesterday, The Guardian contacted Soyinka, Abidde and Briggs who confirmed that they are on the MEND's list of negotiators. Akhigbe who is expected to be the leader of the team was said to be out of the country as at yesterday.

MEND's spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, said that these eminent Nigerians had graciously accepted to dialogue on their behalf with the Federal Government, "whenever the government realises the need to adopt serious, meaningful dialogue as a means to halting the violent agitation in the Niger Delta."

MEND said that the Akhigbe-led team would have the mandate to oversee a transparent and proper disarmament that conforms with international standards as the current disarmament is flawed and lacks integrity.

"The hope for peace in the Niger Delta and Nigeria in general now rests squarely on the shoulders of the Nigerian government," MEND said.

In an online interview with The Guardian, Gbomo said: "MEND will not heed the October 4 deadline to disarm. This we have stated categorically in our recent (yesterday) statement announcing the MEND's Aaron Team. We are looking beyond the 4th of October because we do not even recognise the deadline in the first place."

He continued: "We are not expecting the government to extend its deadline out of pride and fear of being seen as weak. When our ceasefire ends and the government is still not willing to talk now that we have mediators, then we will do what we do best to force them to negotiate the future of the Niger Delta."

Gbomo accused the government of not showing willingness to dialogue with MEND. According to him, the government has instead continued to make what he described as "wild unrealistic threats, purchase more useless military hardware, and dole out bribes to traitors to our noble cause as has been obvious in its so-called disarmament process.

"Those that hide under the cloak of government to perpetrate the injustice and rape against the Niger Delta have realised we cannot be compromised and that is a major concern to them. But we are confident that at the right time they will be the ones seeking out the Aaron Team to save Nigeria from destruction," he said.

Besides, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has advised the Federal Government to tackle the core issues that led to the emergence of militants groups in the Niger Delta and stop treating the amnesty offer as an end in itself.

INC spokesperson, Victor Burubo, told The Guardian yesterday that the government should be concerned about the reason some of the key militants are still reluctant to embrace the amnesty.

He said: "The amnesty itself, is a contraption of government. It was not a bilaterally agreed matter. It was government that said we are granting amnesty and of course there was a threat of military attack on anyone that does not accept amnesty. The amnesty is not the solution."

The INC said "we are accepting it cautiously as a means to an end. The government is treating it as if it is an end."

He continued: "As long as you do not remove politics from what you are doing, the result will constantly be the same. Right now, there are a lot of factors that have come into play that should not have been the case. If they remove politics from this deal, we will begin to see results."

Soyinka said in a terse response to The Guardian e-mail inquiry: "All that I consider appropriate to say, at this stage is: Yes, I was

contacted, and I agreed to serve in the capacity of Observer."

Abidde who is in the United States (U.S.) replied: "Yes, MEND, indeed solicited my inclusion in the Aaron Team of negotiators; and it is my hope that the wellbeing of the people of the Niger Delta and of all Nigerians will be paramount."

Briggs said on her part: "Yes, it is true I saw the confirmation of my nomination by MEND online."

On whether MEND gave the Aaron Team any guidelines when they eventually meet the Federal Government, Briggs said: "My role is very clear to me".

And to the question on what she hopes for from the talks, she said: "Honesty, transparency, and justice."

Tony Uranta, who also travelled outside the country last week, said that as the Secretary-General of the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS) he helped to confirm the acceptance of all five members before MEND issued their statement yesterday. "I personally got the confirmation of their readiness to serve from Prof. Soyinka, Admiral Akhigbe, Gen. Aprezi, Dr. Abidde and Ms Briggs before and after the Aaron Team was announced.

"We seize this opportunity of The Guardian reaching out to us to call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to seize the time and promptly invite this Aaron Team to meet with government, in a bid to speedily resolve the Niger Delta impasse and avoid any further economic or social pains being inflicted on the longsuffering people of the cheated region."

By Onajomo Orere (Lagos) and Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt)

S-T-R-I-K-E : 700,000 varsity students to walk naked in Abuja - Plan to disrupt U-17 FIFA World Cup - ASUU, NASU protest in Abeokuta

ABOUT 700,000 students from various universities have decided to storm Abuja next month to go naked, because of the strike that has kept all of them at home.

This was made known by the Students Mobilisation Officer of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Mr. Sylvester Eze, while briefing newsmen in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Tuesday.

According to him, the NANS meeting, which is coming up next month, would be an avenue to show the world their grievances by going naked. He explained that they would be having their bath openly and eating openly in all the major streets and roads of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

He said President Umaru Yar’Adua made education one of his seven-point agenda, adding that any government that could not develop its human resources through education had no need to continue in office.

He said: “And for failing to carry education along, we hereby pass a vote of no confidence in the president’s seven-point agenda.” Eze pointed out that the benchmark budget for education by UNESCO was 26 per cent, adding that Nigeria had consistently approved budget less than eight per cent for education with this year’s allocation, two per cent, being the worst.

He added “As part of plans to make government sign the agreement, we are mobilising and conscientising students across the federation not to allow the forthcoming U-17 World Cup to be hosted in Nigeria and so we will do all that we can to see that that event does not succeed if we are still at home before it kicks off.”

Meanwhile, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) of the University of Agriculture, (UNAAB), Abeokuta, took to the streets of the Ogun State capital, on Tuesday morning, protesting the alleged insensitivity of the Federal Government to the demands of the unions.

The peaceful protest virtually brought both vehicular and commercial activities to a halt as the protesters carried placards with various inscriptions asking the Federal Government to implement the agreement, earlier signed with the unions.

The protesters went through major areas like Isale–Igbein, Omida, Oke-Ilewo, and Sapon. The chairman of ASUU, UNAAB branch, Dr. Agboola Adesina, appealed to the Federal Government to go back to the negotiating table with ASUU and sign the agreement on increased funding of the nation’s universities, improved conditions of service for members, among other demands.

The union leader appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on President Yar'Adua, the Education Minister, Dr. Sam Egwu, and Professor Julius Okojie, Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), who were all lecturers in the university system to end the current crisis which has paralysed the nation's universities since June.

Adesina said that ASUU had made spirited efforts to ensure that a conducive atmosphere for learning was created in all the nation’s universities, as he stated that there was enormous decay in physical facilities and that there were no facilities to teach the students.

The ASUU leader pointed out that the Federal Government had failed in the area of meeting the 26 per cent budget recommendation for education by UNESCO as he said that only 1.7 per cent of the current budget was allocated to education.

ASUU, therefore, called on senators, legislators and councillors to ask the Federal Government to sign the ASUU-FG agreement now. SSANU chairman, UNAAB branch, Mr. Olayiwola Salaam, faulted the Federal Government for rescinding the decision agreed on with the union on salary structure, saying that the collective bargaining freely entered into with the union was disclaimed, as it announced a unilateral increase of 40 per cent for ASUU and 20 per cent for other unions.

Salaam explained that the struggle by the unions was not for their personal interests but for all Nigerian youths and the nation at large on the need for qualitative education in the nation’s universities.

In a related development, hope for eventual resolution of the lingering crisis in the nation’s university system came alive on Tuesday with the commencement of the much-awaited renegotiation between the Federal Government and ASUU. The meeting took off at about 7.30 p.m. at the secretariat of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The ASUU executive members of the union, led by its national president, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie were the first to arrive at about 5.30 p.m. and wait for the arrival of the Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu.

Others in the team were the Vice Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Fegge; former national presidents, Drs. Dipo Fashina and Abdullahi Sule-Kano, among others.

Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who is the mediator, came just before 7.00 p.m., while Dr. Egwu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Professor Oladapo Afolabi, chairman of the Federal Government/ASUU Negotiating Team, Mr. Gamaliel Onosode, Director, Tertiary Education, Dr. Jamila Suara and other members of the negotaiting team arrived at 7.27 p.m.

Comrade Oshiomhole apologised for the late commencement of the meeting, saying that it was due to another meeting that was held after the meeting he earlier had with the union.

Oshiomhole, in his remark before the closed door meeting, said the meeting convened to revisit the dispute with the hope to finding amicable resolution to the crisis.

From Joe Nwachukwu and Olayinka Olukoya - 30.09.2009

Good example from FRSC

In a demonstration of transparency and honesty, officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) from the Ondo Unit Command, along the Ondo/Ore Highway, recently returned N2 million to one Mr. Kunle Makinwa, a victim of armed robbery attack.

According to a statement by the Commission’s Public Education Officer, Samuel Obayemi, the FRSC patrol team was operating along the Ondo-Ore route when a Nissan Primera vehicle was driven to their point of patrol by the driver, who had escaped from an armed robbery attack with serious injuries.

Makinwa reportedly handed over a bag containing the sum of N2 million to the FRSC operatives, who subsequently rushed him to a hospital for medical attention. Later, the road safety officials contacted the victim’s boss, Mr. Franklin Aladenika, and the Enuowa Police Station, where it was confirmed that a police officer had earlier been attacked by the same armed robbery gang.
Following a proper identification and evidence of withdrawal of the same amount before the incident, the recovered money was handed over to Aladenika while the injured driver was treated and discharged from the hospital.

We commend these FRSC operatives for discharging their duties with passion, care and high sense of patriotism and accountability. This is not the first time that members of the Commission would demonstrate this type of good conduct. Available records show that FRSC operatives from different units in the country have reportedly returned similar amounts, or those higher in value, to victims of road accidents. They have even gone ahead to return belongings, including money, of dead victims of road mishaps to their family members.

This is a confirmation that there are still honest Nigerians, the strangulating economic condition notwithstanding. The actions of these fine officers should be recommended to the rank and file of the FRSC for worthy emulation. We also call on other security agencies, especially those that work on the highways, to copy the sterling performance and exemplary attitudes of these officers. It shows that the authorities of the FRSC inculcate in their men ethical and moral values that make them value the lives of others, as well as their belongings, even when money is involved.

The police, particularly, whose men also work on highways, should borrow a leaf from the example of the FRSC officers and let it influence their attitude to work and relationship with victims of road accidents. What the operatives have done goes a long way to show that honesty remains the best policy in all that we do, and that there is still hope for this country.

All Nigerians, irrespective of where they work, should be prepared to demonstrate honesty in their personal lives. That is the only way the government can succeed in its re-branding campaign.
Nigeria has come to a sorry pass due largely to the neglect of our ethical and moral values. It is time we re-invoked the agelong cherished values that had earlier guided our attitudes and regulated the way we do things.

We call on the FRSC, and indeed the country and other private organisations, to reward these worthy ambassadors for distinguishing themselves on duty. Let those in charge of national honours also consider Nigerians who have displayed high sense of responsibility and honesty such as the FRSC officers and men. Over time, the list has been saturated with names of people commonly associated with the nation’s politics, in total neglect of the other sectors. The time we are in now calls for moral re-armament and ethical orientation, hence the need to give honour to all these beacons of hope and honesty in our society.

There are many wicked people in govt

•Senator Adeyemi

Senator Smart Adeyemi (PDP Kogi West) is gradually becoming a brand name in the Senate of the Federal Republic owing to his radical position on issues.

In this interview with Daily Sun Senator Adeyemi expressed concern about the budgetary process wants it to be more participatory and people driven in practice.
The former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) now known for his radical ideas in the Senate which has earned him the title of “Senator Radical Solution” is however disturbed about the spiritual disposition of people in government saying; “There are too many wicked people in government that were elected by the people.”

Senator Adeyemi who stood firm in support of the desire of his people to have a Ministerial slot on the floor of the Senate during the Ministerial screening exercise as against the choice of Kogi State government, said that he had no regret standing on the side of his people even as he said that the development put him at cross purposes with the State government that is bent on sponsoring a candidate against him, saying that he is not deterred by such moves since the people know what he has so far done for them.

The journalists turned politician declared that it is ungodly for people to start talking about 2011 now when there are more pressing and challenging issues to be addressed saying that he does not want to be distracted from his programmes for the people.
This was even as he said that the Executive arm of government is aware that there is so much corruption in budgeting system in Nigeria.

Excerpts:

You have evolved radical ideas in the Senate that you have been labeled “Senator radical solution”. What do you really what to achieve with radical solution in the National Assembly?
Over the years, we have been following the same system of governance, the same approach to budgeting and the same approach to solving problems. We do a lot of grammar and a lot of talking and nothing has changed in Nigeria. If you maintain a particular position for about fifty years and it’s not yielding results, won’t you start looking elsewhere? Over the years, our approach to solving our problems has not yielded any result. So we need to evolve a system that is more drastic within the framework of the Constitution so that things can work. So, radical approach to issues, for me, is to abandon the old system of solving problems so that we look at more challenging approach.

They may be expensive, but it’s the best approach; radical approach in the sense of looking at issues without sentiment. In Nigeria over the years, opinion leaders, people in government and the executive have been looking at issues from mundane point of view. The time has come after fifty years that we must address issues with the zeal and political will that is required to succeed. In doing that, you should do away with sentiments. You do not look at the implication of your action, vis-à-vis how people want to interpret it. You look at it from the objective you want to attain, which is basically to improve the standard of living of the people and to do that, you have to step on toes. I’m sure it has never happened in the history of the Senate that the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will read out the names of people who were involved in the collapse of banks in Nigeria.

That was a radical approach. We must be courageous enough in solving our problems. We must be courageous enough to dispassionately address issues, rather than looking at it from the perspective that we do not want to step on toes of people. There cannot be any meaningful change as long as we continue to do things the way it’s been done over the years. There can only be a meaningful change in the socio-economic and political development of our nation when we take a new approach, which of course will take into consideration the failures of the past so that we do not fail.

So, radical approach is to jettison the old order that has never helped us and we look at it from the angle of the challenges of governance in the 21st century. Nigeria has been run on a kind of analogue system over the years in the sense of the approach we inherited from the colonial masters. Even the colonial masters have jettisoned those processes in their own countries so we have to jettison the old order and face the reality of the 21st century. It’s like somebody still using typewriter today when already people are going to moon. So, we must fathom a new approach to solving our problems.

Late chief Awolowo said one of the advantages of developing nations is that they do not have to start the approach of development the way the developed nations started. We met developed nations at the peak of where they are. But in Nigeria, we are not ready to meet them at the peak. We are still going back to the process, which the white man went through to reach where he is. If we want our nation to develop, we will not have to be looking at issues from the centuries past of the white man. We will be looking at the level of achievements and development of the white man of today.

Threat to Senatorial position towards 2011
I’ve had cause to excuse myself from passing comments on 2011. I’m still very busy working for the people and because I’m still very busy, I would not want to be distracted. To me, it would be ungodly for anybody to start talking about 2011 by now. Tomorrow is in the hand of God. My father taught me that whatever I’m doing, I should do it very well. So, for me to be talking of 2011 today will be a distraction to me. I don’t want to go into any campaign for 2011. I’m presently too busy fighting for those who elected me. The project I have at hand, which I’m currently pursing here, is to persuade the University of Ilorin to look at the possibility of moving the Institute of Education to Kabba. Those are the things I want to engage myself with now.

I’m a member of the Constitution Review Committee and I want to engage myself more on the problems confronting my people at home – Local Government creation, State creation, looking at how we can attract more Federal Government presence. To me, it’s too early to be talking of 2011.
I’m aware the government is propping up somebody. The people will decide whether the government of Kogi State will have to appoint a Senator for them or the people themselves will elect the person who will represent them. I’m a member of the PDP and the PDP governs Kogi State. The only problem I have with the government of Kogi State was my disagreement over the Ministerial nominee. I had a choice of whether to be a government man or to be the man of the people. I chose to stand by the wishes of my people. History taught me that there is nobody that stood with his people that ever regretted it. As long as you stand by the need and aspiration of your people, you will never regret it. That is what I have learnt over time in quite a number of biographies of people I have read. So, I chose to stand by my people, rather than compromising the position of my people. That is the only offence I have committed.

My conscience is clear that I have represented my people very well. I have defended their aspirations in Abuja. I have equally given them dividends of democracy within available means and I’m sure they are happy for that. if defending the position of my people is the sin I’ve committed against the Kogi State government, when the time comes, the party will decide as to whether I did well or not. Don’t forget that the issue of party ticket is the responsibility of the political party. Don’t forget too that in a democratic setting, there is always an option. If you don’t get the ticket and you are convinced, you can go to court and you can protest. There are so many options. So, what is important for me is not to be distracted over these issues. I want to focus on the programmes I have set before myself for my people and I’m pursuing these programmes very well.

For your information, I’ve provided not less than 25 boreholes for my Senatorial district. As I’m talking to you, I’m constructing a cottage hospital at Odo- Eri. It’s going to be a 30-bed hospital. As I’m talking to you, I’ve just completed a 30-lockup shop at Odo-Egbe market. It cost me some N25 million. I just completed the Oba-Palace road in Isolu town. I’m constructing about three roads in that town and I’m constructing a road in Odu Eri. I’m constructing another health center in Igbagun. Just last week, I ordered 60 cars to be given as empowerment.

Already, 15 cars have arrived Kabba now and a multi-purpose town hall in Kotonkarfe. There are quite a number of projects like that. I want to engage myself more with the needs of my people rather than election. When the time comes, the people will speak and the work of my hand will speak for itself. When the time comes, God himself will speak. God is more powerful than any Governor. So, I’m not going to engage myself on the pages of newspaper against a Governor or a Commissioner who is supposed to be busy thinking of how to improve the well-being of our people but he has chosen to be campaigning for now. When the time comes, God will use the work of my hand to justify whether I should be a Governor or a Senator. It’s not for me to decide. For me, I’m focused and I don’t want to go into any campaign. Let me just say that my people are happy with me and I’m happy that I’m serving my people.

I’ve taken the risk of confronting the State government not out of hatred for my Governor but out of conviction that I’m elected to speak the minds of those who have elected me. There is nothing personal between me and my Governor. The disagreement I have with the Kogi State government is basically because of the fact that as a journalist practicing politics, I can’t allow my people to be oppressed and I keep quiet. Then I have not justified my mandate. You know I served as NUJ Chairman in Kwara, I became Vice President and National President two terms. That’s just very simple background and I don’t want to forget the fact that I’m a journalist.

The issue of budgeting has continued to reoccur in the Senate. In your own view, what do you think are the problems of budgeting in Nigeria?
I hold a very strong view that budgeting in Nigeria is faulty in the sense that it has failed to meet the needs and aspirations of the people and to a large extent, budgeting in Nigeria to me, has not really improved the well-being of the people. This is so because over the years, we have a kind of command structure and military approach to the issue of budgeting. Budgeting must take into consideration the needs and aspirations of the people. But what we have is a system whereby somebody sits down at the centre and determines what you need and what you get down the ladder, which is wrong and, of course, undemocratic. We must democratize budgeting in such a manner that the representatives of the people who are given the power by law, to come with the needs and aspirations of the people participate fully in the initial process. That is when you can say the people’s budget. What we have today is budgeting just for the sake of budgeting. Our budgeting system today is corruption driven and faulty. That explains why successive governments in Nigeria at the federal level do not implement budget proposals to the latter.

Under the Obasanjo administration, I think about 40 percent or 45 percent was implemented throughout the tenure of that government. We have just been told a couple of weeks back that only 20 percent has been implemented in the 2009 Appropriation bill. The hidden fact which no government would want to tell you is that the Executive is aware that this structure we are running is faulty. But none of the successive governments in Nigeria have had the courage to say let us change this approach because doing that probably means conceding powers of the Executive to the Legislators. Until when we have a government that is courageous enough and that can muster the political will for a change for the better that we can have a realistic budget that will meet the expectations and aspirations of the people. So, in a nutshell, what I’m saying is that our budgeting over the years has been driven by corruption. It’s a budgeting system which has legalized and institutionalized corruption and that explains why they are not implemented; and when they are not implemented, nobody has had the courage to take the Executive to court for non-implementation of budget. Even in the process of budget implementation at all tiers of government that are involved, there is element of corruption along the line.

You need to give a legal backing or a legal teeth to the process of budgeting. In essence, those who have been elected should be allowed to say the needs of our people and they should be held responsible when they are not implemented. Until when you do that, the common man on the street won’t have improved standard of living, the common man wouldn’t have his needs and aspirations met in budgeting. So, if we want the common man on the street to have the impact of governance and to have the impact of the Appropriation bill, those who have been so elected by the people by law should be able to come with the needs and aspirations of the people. If it’s going to be in 6 different sectors and you have 2 critical areas in each of these sectors to be addressed, if at the end of the year, the 12 points which is 2 per sector from your own Senatorial District is not implemented, then you have a responsibility to take back and give a feedback to those whose standard of living is tied to those requests.

If for instance the education sector and health sector of Kogi West have two critical projects and at the end of a particular year, those two projects in each of these sector is not met, I am in a position to tell my people why those projects were not carried out. I am in a position to tell my people why they were not met and we now look forward to the following year. But today, we have projects which were initiated by the first civilian administration in Nigeria in the First Republic and many of them have not been completed because there is no monitoring system for proper implementation of budget; there is no feedback and there is no check and balances in budgeting in Nigeria. There are project proposals that are not completed or executed and that’s the end. Nobody asks question. That project may not see the light of the day for another ten years because of the command structure. But when you have a system whereby the representatives of the people are compelled by law to give account of the budget of that particular year, then they can look forward to another year, if much is done in a particular year.

As it is today in this country, for instance the 2009 Appropriation Bill, there are quite a number of Senatorial Districts without a single project. This is so because their representatives are not involved in the process of budgeting. Somebody sits down in Abuja and determines what you get.
You will recall I was the first to kick against the budget in 2007 when it came to the Senate. I said this is not budgeting and I don’t have any input into it. One major aspect that will differentiate a democratic government from a military government is when budgeting itself is democratized in such a manner that those who have been elected are in a position to say these are the needs of our area.

How then can we get the representatives of the people really involved in budgeting?
It’s not a difficult thing. The executive must be determined to muster the political will for a change and the people themselves must show concern. Nigerians should know that the Appropriation bill is meant for them and not for the Executive alone. So, when budgets are not implemented, they have cause to ask questions as to why projects are not done. The first and foremost thing we should do as a nation is to put in place the legal framework for change of budgeting in Nigeria. I’m talking about a bill that will effect a total change in the way and manner budgets are prepared.

Don’t forget that President Yar’Adua was about taking the National Assembly to court to determine whether or not we have a right to insert projects in the body or we are empowered by the Constitution to examine those projects that are coming from the Executive. I would have loved the President going to court so that we get some of these things corrected once and for all, as to who has that power. Is it those who have been elected by the people who are accountable because the Executive is not really accountable to the people? Those who are accountable to the people are the legislators who have been elected by the people to represent their interest.

The President and the Vice President are duly elected by the people but the Ministers are not elected. They are appointees. So, the Ministers do not have power to determine budgets.
But today in Nigeria, it’s the Minister that determines what you get. The Ministers in the Ministries prepare the budget proposal, based on the input from the Civil Servants, whereas the reverse should be the case. The Legislature should submit to the various Ministries the need of each Senatorial district. I would like a situation whereby the Local Government Councils, through their Councilors prepare their budget proposals, take to the State house of Assembly to scrutinize and is then pushed forward to the members of the National Assembly of each Senatorial District of each state. That is when you can have the budget of the people by the people.

The advantage that will give to us is that those who will now be Councilors will be educated people who will know the needs and aspirations of their people and who will now forward this to the State House of Assembly, whose duty is just to vet and scrutinize what they are sending to the National level that these are their needs for next year from Kogi West Senatorial District. It gets to the Senators and House of Reps members. They will scrutinize it and put a covering note back to the Ministers of the various Ministries that are responsible or that are in charge of such requests. That is the way it should be done. If it is not done the following year, you can then revisit those issues that were submitted to the previous year and you push it forward. That is the only way we can do that.

Again, that will equally help us to keep data and information. For instance, how many people are unemployed in your Senatorial District? Once you know that, you have a responsibility to feed the Federal Executive. The Federal Government would be able to collate and devise a means to solve the unemployment problem. But as it is today, we don’t have a proper data or statistics as to how many people are unemployed in Nigeria. Nobody can give you an accurate figure. But if you democratize the budgeting system in such a manner that Councilors, Council Chairmen and Honourable members of the House of Assemblies of the States are involved, then you can now have an idea of the needs of every area. You can have an idea of even the medical problems, the needs in education sector and in labour. All these things would be easily collated and it would to a large extent minimize corruption.

Why is it difficult for National Assembly members and states to look at the sincerity or otherwise with which budget proposals come before them?
I just mentioned to you that sometimes last year, President Yar’Adua contemplated taking the National Assembly to court that we do not have rights to insert new projects in the budget. We made that attempt because we discovered there are lots of misplacement of priorities at the Ministry level. There are quite a number of projects that when you ask the Ministries, they cannot even give you the location where those projects are situated yet they are in the budget. There is something fundamentally wrong about the way we do our budget.

The man who is in Abuja cannot be telling you about Gboko whereas there is an Honourable Member from Gboko Local Government; or somebody in Abuja in the Ministry of Works is telling you that the health center in Ogori-Magogo requires additional ward. You ask him what his statistics is. He doesn’t have it. You ask him how does he know that in Kabba, there are over 2,000 unemployed youths and he cannot answer. Yet, he’s telling you that they are preparing budget. Until when we have a framework whereby legislators and Local Government Chairmen have input in the nation’s budget process, what we have today is a kind of military budget structure, which cannot fit into democratic dispensation.

Is that why budget cannot be implemented?
Again, you have a system whereby there is institutionalized corruption in the process of budgeting in such a manner that it is equally legalized because those who are preparing the budgets at the Ministry level are not representatives of the people. The Minister who is presiding over that Ministry is not elected by the people. He was appointed. So, he’s not going to have the same commitment because he did not stand election. I stood for election. I made promises as to attracting Federal Government presence. I made promises that some of the roads that the late Sardauna started in my place that he couldn’t finish, I will bring it to the attention of the Federal Government. But today, we are not involved in budgeting because there is no law compelling the Minister to ask me what my area needs. So, he goes ahead to award contracts across without asking me which are the areas that my people need government attention.

Why is it difficult to enact such a law when you members of the National Assembly are feeling the pinch?
In a democratic setting, you discover that there are quite a number of issues and interests you must take into consideration for even bills to be passed into law. You need the political will of the party and of the Executive. We are all members of the same party. So, if you want to make a change, you must ensure that the Executive and other stakeholders are convinced in the need for that change.

Have you made that move?
That explains why we are Holding Zonal workshop for inclusive budgeting process in Nigeria. I was happy when I saw the NGOs that came. We need such pressure groups to make things to equally work even in the National Assembly because that helps us to get to know the pulse of the nation on such issues. When you see the NGOs around, you tend to believe these are serious issues that the people would want to see us effect a change. When we brainstorm and get back, I can tell you that I’m going to push for a change. Personally, I’m going to work towards looking at the possibility of sponsoring a bill towards changing the budgeting process.

That’s the life wire of any government and many governments would find it difficult to relinquish the power of budgeting from the executive to the legislature. To them, it’s like relinquishing political power. These are the issues that people find difficult to discuss. Why is it that the budget is not implemented 100 percent and nobody is talking? It’s because even the Executive is aware that there is corruption in the process of budgeting in Nigeria and they are in a dilemma as to whether they should relinquish the power of budgeting to the legislators.

How do we get out of the constant crisis over budget between the executive and legislature?
It is so because there is no proper legislation in place. It is so because nobody questions the Executive. Don’t forget that so many people you see in the Executive today were in the military government in the past. So, they still have this mentality of a military government that is why they get pricked easily on why you are questioning their budget. So, they just expect the legislators to rubber stamp and pass the budget.

By: AMOS DUNIA