Abuja Time
As 331 local and foreign companies submit Expressions of Interest (EoIs) to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to acquire majority stakes in Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure, a Brazilian investor has proposed $100 billion to take over majority stakes in the entire 23 power plants slated for privatisation under the ongoing reform of the power sector.
On the transmission side, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) said it would submit a revised offer for the management of Nigeria’s electricity grid to be constructed at a cost of $3.5 billion.
THISDAY gathered that this special offer by the Brazilian firm, PROINFRA, was not part of the interest expressed to the BPE by the other 331 companies.
Under the BPE exercise, Essar, an Indian conglomerate; Tata Group, also of India; and ContourGlobal of the United States were among the 331 companies jostling to have the majority stakes in the power generating companies.
BPE had revealed that 174 applications were received from investors interested in acquiring the four thermal stations and the two hydro stations, while 157 prospective applicants expressed their interests in acquiring the 11 distribution companies.
Essar was said to have expressed interest to invest over $2 billion for a generating capacity of at least 2,000 megawatts, an equivalent of two-thirds of the country’s current average electricity output.
But outside the BPE arrangement, the Brazilian investor has proposed a $100 billion special offer to acquire the majority stakes in the entire plants.
Minister of State for Power, Mr. Nuhu Wya, told THISDAY Sunday that the special offer was a demonstration of the success of the ongoing power reform and the confidence of foreign investors in the reform agenda.
Wya stated that at the various investors’ fora held in London and other cities in the world to showcase the numerous opportunities in Nigeria’s power sector, the foreign investors demonstrated an unprecedented level of enthusiasm in the reform.
“A company in Brazil offerred $100 billion to take over 23 power stations across the country and this is outside BPE bid,” he said.
Wya, who urged electricity workers and their various unions to support the privatisation process, also reminded them that they would be the greatest beneficiary of a reformed power sector.
He assured the workers that the new investors would look out for the best among them to run the plants, instead of bringing workers from outside the sector.
“Nobody, no wise business man, will do that; no wise business man will like to let off anybody. Nobody will come and say that he wants to sack anybody. I, for one, will not do that and I believe that I am a successful business man. I will not do that because without human resources, whatever machines you put in place will be in vain,” he said.
The minister also stated that discussions were still ongoing over the successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), adding that no final decisions had been taken to hand over the plants to the core investors.
“We want to be as transparent as possible. We don’t have any hidden agenda. This is one thing with this administration. What we want is to ensure that we improve power supply in this country for the benefit of all Nigerians,” he added.
BPE had between December 13 and 20, 2010, published advertorials in local and foreign media inviting prospective core investors to express interest in the 11 distribution companies unbundled from PHCN.
It also invited prospective core investors to express interest in the four thermal power stations and as concessionaires for the two hydro power stations. The initial deadline for receipt of the EoIs, which was Friday, February 18, this year, was extended to Friday, March 4, 2011, following representations by prospective investors, who attended the five-city Electric Power Investors’ Forum that attracted world class investors willing to participate in the privatisation exercise.
Meanwhile, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) has said it will submit a revised offer for the management of Nigeria’s electricity grid.
The Indian state-run power giant was among the three companies shortlisted by the BPE during a 2007 bidding round for the management of the Transimis-sion Company of Nigeria (TCN).
The other two were Canada's Manitoba Hydro and Electricity Supply Board of Ireland.
Under the power roadmap, electricity generation and distribution would be privatised, while the Federal Government will continue to own the national grid but its management will be privatised.
PowerGrid said in a report on its website yesterday that the Nigerian government had called for revised offers for the management of the national grid, after enhancing the scope of the project.
A senior executive of the company was quoted in the report as saying the deal would be finalised in the next two to three months.
“We expect to bag the deal in next two to three months,” said the unnamed company executive.
Top executives of the company last month met with Wya to restate the company’s interest in the management of the TCN.
Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mahesh Sachdev, who led the delegation of representatives from PGCIL and India's National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to Wya’s office in Abuja, said the delegation had come to restate its commitment to work for the improvement of Nigeria’s transmission system for faster economic transformation.
He said: "India and Nigeria could be economic talking points of the globe in the next decade if they work together and appropriately deploy their surplus natural and human gifts.”
PGCIL had said on its website recently that it was the lowest bidder amongst the three parties that submitted offers for management of Nigeria's transmission company.
"We had been short-listed two to three years back, but there had been delays and now we have been named the lowest bidder," PGCIL Chairman S K Chaturvedi said.
PowerGrid Corp. had in 2007 won a three-year contract to manage Nigeria's electricity transmission network. The arrangement then, would see Nigeria pay the company $5.1 million in fees to manage the ailing network, which had suffered from decades of neglect. Ireland's state-run ESB International was the runner-up bidder, at $7.6 million, while Canadian Manitoba Hydro entered the highest bid at $8.5 million.
However, the Indian utility company was declared the preferred bidder as sources said, government was interested in seeing the ailing company managed by foreign experts with technical competence.
"PowerGrid Corporation of India is hereby declared the preferred bidder," said a member of the NCP, Mohammed Hayatudeen, at an official bid opening ceremony conducted in 2007.
The deal, which was subject to approval by the NCP, had been delayed due to the non-implementation of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Act, which was passed in 2005.
The Act set up a sector regulator, stripped the PHCN of its monopoly and unbundled its grid into six generation companies and 11 distribution firms.
To revive the power sector, President Goodluck Jonathan, in August last year, launched the power roadmap. The PHCN’s generating plants as well as 11 distribution companies were slated for sale to private investors.
In a related development, the BPE has issued the requirement for the next stage of the privatisation process. The BPE boss, Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa, said on receipt of Information Memorandum and Request for Proposal, pre-qualified bidders would be given access to physical and e-data room; would be able to carry out physical due diligence; would be issued with draft copies of the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO); would be encouraged to submit comments on MYTO; and Bidder comments on MYTO would be subject of conference to be organised by sector regulator, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
She pointed out that the objectives of the electric power sector reform were to increase electrification; ensure cost reflective tariffs; attract private sector investments into the sector; create competitive electricity market; induce investments in new power generation facilities; rehabilitate existing power generation facilities; improve efficiency by increasing collections; reduce costs and technical and non-technical losses; and improve customer service. The BPE said the firms would be shortlisted and the requests for proposal sent to the successful ones.
The core investor sales to be carried out through international competitive bidding will cover the 11 electricity distribution companies in the country.
They are Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Benin Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc; and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company Plc.
Others are Jos Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Kano Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Plc; and Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc.
The Federal Government had stated that the national electricity grid would be jointly financed with the private sector and development agencies. The BPE said once the bid was finalised, the management of the new super grid, expected to boost electricity generating capacity to over 14,000 megawatts (MW) by the end of 2013, would be handed over to the successful firm by the end of the year.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Nigerian soccer player Wasiu Sanni and wife sentenced to seven years for smuggling cocaine
A FORMER Nigerian soccer player and his wife had their young daughter with them when they were caught smuggling cocaine into Brisbane, a court heard.
In the Supreme Court in Brisbane, Commonwealth prosecutor Kylie Ward explained most of the submissions in the case were done in writing because of the language difficulties for both Wasiu Sanni, 52, and his wife Mutiat Sanni, 52.
Ms Ward, in her written submissions, said Mr and Mrs Sanni raised the interest of Customs Officers when Mr Sanni could not name any of the Australian cities they intended to visit.
She said a drug detection dog gave a positive reaction to Mr Sanni and a bag containing child’s clothing.
Ms Ward said the Sannis were later taken to hospital where 74 pellets of white powder were collected from Mr Sanni, and 77 from Mrs Sanni.
It was discovered that in total Mrs Sanni was concealing 913.1 grams of powder, which was 53.7 percent pure cocaine for a total weight of the drug at 490.3 grams.
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Mr Sanni had 946.6 grams, with a purity of 55.7 percent being 527.2 grams of pure cocaine.
In the Supreme Court in Brisbane, Commonwealth prosecutor Kylie Ward explained most of the submissions in the case were done in writing because of the language difficulties for both Wasiu Sanni, 52, and his wife Mutiat Sanni, 52.
Ms Ward, in her written submissions, said Mr and Mrs Sanni raised the interest of Customs Officers when Mr Sanni could not name any of the Australian cities they intended to visit.
She said a drug detection dog gave a positive reaction to Mr Sanni and a bag containing child’s clothing.
Ms Ward said the Sannis were later taken to hospital where 74 pellets of white powder were collected from Mr Sanni, and 77 from Mrs Sanni.
It was discovered that in total Mrs Sanni was concealing 913.1 grams of powder, which was 53.7 percent pure cocaine for a total weight of the drug at 490.3 grams.
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Mr Sanni had 946.6 grams, with a purity of 55.7 percent being 527.2 grams of pure cocaine.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Nigeria Sets Sights On Natural Gas
ABUJA, Nigeria, March 25 (UPI) -- Foreign investments of around $25 billion in Nigeria will boost the country's natural gas sector under plans outlined by the country's president.
A cornerstone of the investment plans is a $3 billion deal between Italian energy company Eni and Nigeria's Oando to process gas from the Niger Delta, said Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
Nigeria, to increase domestic supplies, aims to end the practice of flaring off gas from oil fields. The gas processing plant in the Niger Delta could be online as early as 2012, though foreign oil companies working in Nigeria said 2013 is a more realistic date for the halt to gas flaring.
Nevertheless, Jonathan said his country was positioning itself as a major gas state.
"It is our expectation that by 2013, we would have positioned Nigeria as the regional hub for gas-based industries of fertilizers, petrochemicals and methanol," he was quoted by the Platts news service as saying.
British energy company BP estimates Nigeria as of 2009 held around 185 trillion cubic feet of gas. Jonathon said there is an undiscovered potential of nearly 600 tcf.
Nigeria is set for presidential elections April 9.
A cornerstone of the investment plans is a $3 billion deal between Italian energy company Eni and Nigeria's Oando to process gas from the Niger Delta, said Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
Nigeria, to increase domestic supplies, aims to end the practice of flaring off gas from oil fields. The gas processing plant in the Niger Delta could be online as early as 2012, though foreign oil companies working in Nigeria said 2013 is a more realistic date for the halt to gas flaring.
Nevertheless, Jonathan said his country was positioning itself as a major gas state.
"It is our expectation that by 2013, we would have positioned Nigeria as the regional hub for gas-based industries of fertilizers, petrochemicals and methanol," he was quoted by the Platts news service as saying.
British energy company BP estimates Nigeria as of 2009 held around 185 trillion cubic feet of gas. Jonathon said there is an undiscovered potential of nearly 600 tcf.
Nigeria is set for presidential elections April 9.
New map that shows which countries have men with the biggest and smallest...'you know what'..*cough*
Ah ah Naija men where una name for the list on the left? How can Ghanaian men upstage you guys like this? Which kind of yawa is this? lol
Meanwhile Congolese men, we hale o. Asian women, my condolences...lol
But seriously, who conducted this research and how did they reach such conclusions?
Friday, March 25, 2011
Top female Rapper (@kelonline), Kelechi Ohia "KEL", Enmeshed In Exams Fraud
The final year undergraduate of the citadel of higher learning who was enmeshed in a double-shuffle's romance scandal a couple of months back was penalised for her involvement in the examinations fraud.
“She was asked by the examiner to stand up for one hour while others were busy writing their papers. The shame that followed thereafter was too much to bear, as popular as she’s, no one ever imagined she would involve herself in such a dirty act. It’s so obvious that she has to reseat for the paper, that is if she won’t be asked to spend another year.” One of her course mates revealed to us.
Kelechi is the third born in the family of four, she hails from Umuhia in Abia State. Kel has featured in so many songs with prominent Nigeria’s artistes. To mention but a few is Danny Young.
Effort to reach Kel for her comment was futile,however, we were able to reach her manager, Miss Osagie and she told us that there is no iota of truth in the story. when we now told her about the papers she was writting when the bubble burst, she remained calm for few seconds and ended the call with 'i have no more comment'. We shall inform you of the goings as event unfolds.
Meet Nigerian 28-year-old ‘rocket Inventor’
Two solid-fuelrockers launchedby ShehuBalami in Kaduna
Since year 2000 when he was still in secondary school, 28 year old Shehu Balami, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna has been researching into rocketry trying to make rocket that will fly, although he initially made many smaller models that instead of flying, exploded due to very low power and lack of enough thrust to drive the rocket. He said that after making the smaller models that, he started making some horizontal tests produced enough power to drive the rocket and it was then he started to believe that he could actually make a rocket that can fly. “My family especially my mother encouraged me to continue even when the rockets were not flying,” he said.
“The first successful rocket I made that flew was to demonstrate before my work project was titled “Design and construction of an amateur solid propellant rocket” after producing it, it flew and that was how i eventually got it in 2008,” he stressed, adding that, the project was the best in his department in year 2008.
In February, 2011, the young-engineer apart from the rocket he produced as his project work, he invented and launched two solid-fuel rockets along the new Kaduna Millennium City road in Kaduna state.
Speaking at the site of the launching, Balami explained that he started working on the rockets since February, 2010, and had wanted to launch them in October, 2010 to celebrate Nigeria at 50 but could not because of financial constraints. He said that was the reason for designing the rockets in Nigeria national col-our: green white green.
He disclosed that he developed interest in rocketry since he was a child not only with the aim of building them but to enable him build space satellite for Nigeria in the future. “I have a special passion for anything that flies be it aeroplane or rocket and that was the reason why I started researching into rocketry, and in fact it informs the choice of my project topic in the university,” he stated.
The two rockets Balami launched flew impressively well into the space at normal speed but could not reach the calculated distance of 1.3 Km due he identified as scarcity of unadulterated materials in the local market.
“The rockets I launched did not reach the calculated height of 1.3km, it could be from the potassium nitrate which I suspected might have been adulterated because I did not change the mixture i used for the previous ones that flew well,” he added.
The rockets numbers are J03 and J04, explaining that the ‘J’ stands for his mother’s name Jummai because of her contributions and encouragement towards the realization of his dream and aspiration of inventing a rocket that could fly.
According to him the components of rocket include: fuel (potassium nitrate, sulphur, and carbon), mild steel for the casing, the fins were also made of mild steel while the nose was made of plaster of Paris (POP). The calculated speed of the rocket was 660km/h, takeoff weight – approximately 1kg, propelling weight for the first one was 344 grams while that of the second was 364 grams. The engine length according to him was 300mm while the outside diameter was 4.8cm.
On how he gets funding to produce the rockets, he said he has been getting support from his friends and family members. He said the first rocket he produced in 2008 that flew cost him about 10,000 naira only, but the two he launched in February, 2011 cost him approximately 30,000 naira each adding that he used hundred percent local contents.
He said he was able to invent the solid-fuel rocket with the support from his friends under the auspices of Movement for the Propagation of Science and Technology in Nigeria, a group which comprises friends with interest in science and technology.
“Our aim is to create awareness on the practical application of what is learnt in school for the development of the society. The group started from the university when, we delivered lectures to students on science and technology from jet and, rocket engines to electric circuit. The name of the group in school was Passion for the Application of Engineering and Technological research Information (PAETRI),” he explained.
He said their movement had written letters to the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) but is yet to get response.
He explained that, the rocket is a vehicle that uses engine proportionately so that it can to convey equipments and satellites to space and also assist the take-off of heavy aircraft. It has a military application and it can carry a war-head and in that case it is called a missile.
He lamented Nigeria’s reliance on advanced countries to send her satellite into the space due to lack of conducive atmosphere for indigenous talented inventors to strive in the country after 50 year of independence, noting that there is need for the federal government to recognize and provide conducive atmosphere for scientists and technologists if it wishes to attain the desired vision 20:2020.
“If government pays attention to local scientists and technologists and supports them financially, with this kind of invention I just launched, I believe strongly that one day we will be able to build our own satellite or the engine that will take the satellite to the space and save Nigeria a lot of money,” Balami stressed.
Engineer Balami said that he has also started researches in building of Remote Controlled Aircraft, which he intends to go into immediately after the launching of his rocket.
His friends Shittu Zumungai and Mohammed Abdulmalik Abdulrahaman in their separate remarks described Balami as an embodiment of talents and a gift to his generation, reiterating that he has to be properly utilized so that he can contribute his quota to the technological advancement of Nigeria.
Since year 2000 when he was still in secondary school, 28 year old Shehu Balami, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna has been researching into rocketry trying to make rocket that will fly, although he initially made many smaller models that instead of flying, exploded due to very low power and lack of enough thrust to drive the rocket. He said that after making the smaller models that, he started making some horizontal tests produced enough power to drive the rocket and it was then he started to believe that he could actually make a rocket that can fly. “My family especially my mother encouraged me to continue even when the rockets were not flying,” he said.
“The first successful rocket I made that flew was to demonstrate before my work project was titled “Design and construction of an amateur solid propellant rocket” after producing it, it flew and that was how i eventually got it in 2008,” he stressed, adding that, the project was the best in his department in year 2008.
In February, 2011, the young-engineer apart from the rocket he produced as his project work, he invented and launched two solid-fuel rockets along the new Kaduna Millennium City road in Kaduna state.
Speaking at the site of the launching, Balami explained that he started working on the rockets since February, 2010, and had wanted to launch them in October, 2010 to celebrate Nigeria at 50 but could not because of financial constraints. He said that was the reason for designing the rockets in Nigeria national col-our: green white green.
He disclosed that he developed interest in rocketry since he was a child not only with the aim of building them but to enable him build space satellite for Nigeria in the future. “I have a special passion for anything that flies be it aeroplane or rocket and that was the reason why I started researching into rocketry, and in fact it informs the choice of my project topic in the university,” he stated.
The two rockets Balami launched flew impressively well into the space at normal speed but could not reach the calculated distance of 1.3 Km due he identified as scarcity of unadulterated materials in the local market.
“The rockets I launched did not reach the calculated height of 1.3km, it could be from the potassium nitrate which I suspected might have been adulterated because I did not change the mixture i used for the previous ones that flew well,” he added.
The rockets numbers are J03 and J04, explaining that the ‘J’ stands for his mother’s name Jummai because of her contributions and encouragement towards the realization of his dream and aspiration of inventing a rocket that could fly.
According to him the components of rocket include: fuel (potassium nitrate, sulphur, and carbon), mild steel for the casing, the fins were also made of mild steel while the nose was made of plaster of Paris (POP). The calculated speed of the rocket was 660km/h, takeoff weight – approximately 1kg, propelling weight for the first one was 344 grams while that of the second was 364 grams. The engine length according to him was 300mm while the outside diameter was 4.8cm.
On how he gets funding to produce the rockets, he said he has been getting support from his friends and family members. He said the first rocket he produced in 2008 that flew cost him about 10,000 naira only, but the two he launched in February, 2011 cost him approximately 30,000 naira each adding that he used hundred percent local contents.
He said he was able to invent the solid-fuel rocket with the support from his friends under the auspices of Movement for the Propagation of Science and Technology in Nigeria, a group which comprises friends with interest in science and technology.
“Our aim is to create awareness on the practical application of what is learnt in school for the development of the society. The group started from the university when, we delivered lectures to students on science and technology from jet and, rocket engines to electric circuit. The name of the group in school was Passion for the Application of Engineering and Technological research Information (PAETRI),” he explained.
He said their movement had written letters to the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) but is yet to get response.
He explained that, the rocket is a vehicle that uses engine proportionately so that it can to convey equipments and satellites to space and also assist the take-off of heavy aircraft. It has a military application and it can carry a war-head and in that case it is called a missile.
He lamented Nigeria’s reliance on advanced countries to send her satellite into the space due to lack of conducive atmosphere for indigenous talented inventors to strive in the country after 50 year of independence, noting that there is need for the federal government to recognize and provide conducive atmosphere for scientists and technologists if it wishes to attain the desired vision 20:2020.
“If government pays attention to local scientists and technologists and supports them financially, with this kind of invention I just launched, I believe strongly that one day we will be able to build our own satellite or the engine that will take the satellite to the space and save Nigeria a lot of money,” Balami stressed.
Engineer Balami said that he has also started researches in building of Remote Controlled Aircraft, which he intends to go into immediately after the launching of his rocket.
His friends Shittu Zumungai and Mohammed Abdulmalik Abdulrahaman in their separate remarks described Balami as an embodiment of talents and a gift to his generation, reiterating that he has to be properly utilized so that he can contribute his quota to the technological advancement of Nigeria.
Words That Sabotage Your Cv!
Creating a winning CV is a feat of strategy involving focus, wording, design and content selection. To achieve a career marketing document that wins interviews, all areas of the strategy must be spot-on and consciously used in the most effective manner. One of the most common mistakes job candidates make when writing their CVs is not paying attention to strategy and word selection.
There are actually words that can have a detrimental impact on the effectiveness of the CV. When most job candidates write them, they don't consider word choice because they are primarily worried about getting down the basic information. Wording is critical and the wrong one can sabotage your CV.
The average agent and/or hiring manager sees hundreds of CVs from qualified candidates. CVs begin to look and sound the same to them. Here are some words and phrases to avoid:
Soft-skill descriptions
Job seekers feel they need to communicate their soft-skills to the employer because they believe they are the traits that make them unique, but this couldn't be further from the truth. Soft-skills are so common that recruiters pay no attention to them.
Phrases to avoid or severely limit:
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong work ethic
- Personable presenter
- Detail-oriented
Do not bore the reader to tears with these trite, overused and tired phrases. After all, no one will write that he/she takes long lunches, is lazy and argues a lot with peers. Hence, it is much more effective to write a description that is action-based and demonstrates these abilities rather than just laying claim to them. For example, rather than just stating you are an "excellent presenter," you could say "Developed and presented 50+ multi-media presentations to prospects resulting in 35 new accounts, totalling £300,000 in new revenues."
Age, health, appearance
Many seasoned job seekers are facing that scary time warp known as pre-retirement and fear age discrimination. They feel they can counter this perceived hurdle by giving a description of their age or health. But this can be death to a CV.
Phrases to avoid:
- Youthful
- Athletic
- Fit
- Healthy
- Mature
Additionally, unless specifically requested, there is no need to include personal details such as date of birth, marital status or whether you have children. This information is typically used to exclude candidates from consideration in the hiring process rather than include them. Unless the employer specifically asks, keep this information confidential.
Passive voice
Many people write in the passive voice because that is how we've been taught "formally" in school composition. The problem with the passive voice, however, is that it is just that passive! A CV needs to have punch and sparkle and communicate an active, aggressive candidate. Passive does not accomplish that.
Indicators of the passive voice:
- Responsible for
- Duties included
- Served as
- Actions encompassed
Rather than saying "Responsible for management of three direct reports" change it up to "Managed 3 direct reports." It is a shorter, more direct mode of writing and adds impact to the way the CV reads. On the flip side, whilst action verbs are great, don't overdo it.
I have actually seen:
- Smashed numbers through the roof'
- 'Electrified sales team to produce, '
- 'Pushed close rate by 10 per cent'
Take your time
A CV is a marketing document for your career just as a brochure is a marketing document for a product or service. Companies put careful thought and consideration into each and every word that goes into marketing copy and you should do the same in your CV. These words stand in your place with the employer and need to showcase you in a powerful way. In a perfect world, these things would not matter, but in the reality of job search today, they matter a great deal. Be wise - stop and give some thought to the words you choose.
There are actually words that can have a detrimental impact on the effectiveness of the CV. When most job candidates write them, they don't consider word choice because they are primarily worried about getting down the basic information. Wording is critical and the wrong one can sabotage your CV.
The average agent and/or hiring manager sees hundreds of CVs from qualified candidates. CVs begin to look and sound the same to them. Here are some words and phrases to avoid:
Soft-skill descriptions
Job seekers feel they need to communicate their soft-skills to the employer because they believe they are the traits that make them unique, but this couldn't be further from the truth. Soft-skills are so common that recruiters pay no attention to them.
Phrases to avoid or severely limit:
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong work ethic
- Personable presenter
- Detail-oriented
Do not bore the reader to tears with these trite, overused and tired phrases. After all, no one will write that he/she takes long lunches, is lazy and argues a lot with peers. Hence, it is much more effective to write a description that is action-based and demonstrates these abilities rather than just laying claim to them. For example, rather than just stating you are an "excellent presenter," you could say "Developed and presented 50+ multi-media presentations to prospects resulting in 35 new accounts, totalling £300,000 in new revenues."
Age, health, appearance
Many seasoned job seekers are facing that scary time warp known as pre-retirement and fear age discrimination. They feel they can counter this perceived hurdle by giving a description of their age or health. But this can be death to a CV.
Phrases to avoid:
- Youthful
- Athletic
- Fit
- Healthy
- Mature
Additionally, unless specifically requested, there is no need to include personal details such as date of birth, marital status or whether you have children. This information is typically used to exclude candidates from consideration in the hiring process rather than include them. Unless the employer specifically asks, keep this information confidential.
Passive voice
Many people write in the passive voice because that is how we've been taught "formally" in school composition. The problem with the passive voice, however, is that it is just that passive! A CV needs to have punch and sparkle and communicate an active, aggressive candidate. Passive does not accomplish that.
Indicators of the passive voice:
- Responsible for
- Duties included
- Served as
- Actions encompassed
Rather than saying "Responsible for management of three direct reports" change it up to "Managed 3 direct reports." It is a shorter, more direct mode of writing and adds impact to the way the CV reads. On the flip side, whilst action verbs are great, don't overdo it.
I have actually seen:
- Smashed numbers through the roof'
- 'Electrified sales team to produce, '
- 'Pushed close rate by 10 per cent'
Take your time
A CV is a marketing document for your career just as a brochure is a marketing document for a product or service. Companies put careful thought and consideration into each and every word that goes into marketing copy and you should do the same in your CV. These words stand in your place with the employer and need to showcase you in a powerful way. In a perfect world, these things would not matter, but in the reality of job search today, they matter a great deal. Be wise - stop and give some thought to the words you choose.
Nigerian Scientist Makes New Findings On Tomato !
A Nigerian professor, Odunayo Adegboye, has made a breakthrough in vegetable research at Bonn University, Germany.
In the research, Adegboye proved that the Nigerian snake tomato, whose botanical name is Trichosanthes cucumerina, is richer than vine tomato.
He said that people looked down on the plant, grown in South-West, Nigeria, but that research had shown that the plant “does not go sour as quickly as the paste of the vine tomato.”
Adegbooye, who is the Head of Department, Agronomy, Osun State University, Osogbo, said his research had caused snake tomato to be cultivated in Germany.
In his inaugural lecture delivered at Osun State University, Osogbo, on Thursday, Adegboye said that many people were unaware of the potential of snake tomato to prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and cataract.
He said, “Despite the good qualities of the fruit of snake tomatoes and its wide consumption by poor rural population in Nigeria, many people are not aware of its protective potential against many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and cataract.”
In the research, Adegboye proved that the Nigerian snake tomato, whose botanical name is Trichosanthes cucumerina, is richer than vine tomato.
He said that people looked down on the plant, grown in South-West, Nigeria, but that research had shown that the plant “does not go sour as quickly as the paste of the vine tomato.”
Adegbooye, who is the Head of Department, Agronomy, Osun State University, Osogbo, said his research had caused snake tomato to be cultivated in Germany.
In his inaugural lecture delivered at Osun State University, Osogbo, on Thursday, Adegboye said that many people were unaware of the potential of snake tomato to prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and cataract.
He said, “Despite the good qualities of the fruit of snake tomatoes and its wide consumption by poor rural population in Nigeria, many people are not aware of its protective potential against many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and cataract.”
Miss Ireland Under Fire For Dating A Nigerian Brother
Stunning Miss Ireland Emma Waldron told yesterday in a forthright interview how she will never let ‘ignorant’ racists affect her love for Nigerian boyfriend Manners Oshafi.
Emma, 21, has been the victim of a vicious internet campaign because of her relationship with a black man and was forced to report an online poster targeting her with hateful and abusive racist comments.
The beauty (21), who came fourth in Miss World, found herself at the centre of a racism row when an online tormentor branded her “disgusting” for being in a relationship with a black man.
Emma explained her shock at the attack, and encouraged Irish people to become more open minded, describing her relationship with her boyfriend as “beautiful”.
Speaking exclusively to the Herald, she said: “I don’t wish to talk in too much length about the issue as there are feelings involved and I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by making an issue out of this.
“There is only one race, the human race. What matters in friendship and love is the heart and soul of the person you have a relationship with, not their colour, nationality, creed or background.
“I love my boyfriend with every cell in my body and nothing anyone says will change that.
“It upsets me that people have negative things to say about a love and friendship that is so beautiful.
“I love my boyfriend and nothing like this will ever affect us because we have love and that’s all we need. We don’t need others approval.”
Emma, 21, has been the victim of a vicious internet campaign because of her relationship with a black man and was forced to report an online poster targeting her with hateful and abusive racist comments.
The beauty (21), who came fourth in Miss World, found herself at the centre of a racism row when an online tormentor branded her “disgusting” for being in a relationship with a black man.
Emma explained her shock at the attack, and encouraged Irish people to become more open minded, describing her relationship with her boyfriend as “beautiful”.
Speaking exclusively to the Herald, she said: “I don’t wish to talk in too much length about the issue as there are feelings involved and I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by making an issue out of this.
“There is only one race, the human race. What matters in friendship and love is the heart and soul of the person you have a relationship with, not their colour, nationality, creed or background.
“I love my boyfriend with every cell in my body and nothing anyone says will change that.
“It upsets me that people have negative things to say about a love and friendship that is so beautiful.
“I love my boyfriend and nothing like this will ever affect us because we have love and that’s all we need. We don’t need others approval.”
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Facebook Will Soon Share Users’ Phone Numbers And Addresses With 3rd Parties
It's been a while since we've had an uproar over Facebook's handling of its users personal information, so we suppose the time is ripe.
So cue the online outrage: Facebook announced today in a letter to Congress that the social-media platform is moving forward with plans to give third parties access to user information, such as phone numbers and home addresses.
In a letter to Reps. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Joe Barton (R-Tex.), who both expressed concerns over Facebook's plan to make such data available, company officials reiterated their now-familiar pledge to leave it up to users to decide whether they want their personal contact information to go out to app developers and outside websites. Markey has previously said that "Facebook needs to protect the personal information of its users to ensure that Facebook doesn't become Phonebook."
The company, meanwhile, sounds as though it has no plans to trim back its information-sharing ambitions.
"We have not yet decided when or in what manner we will redeploy the permission for mobile numbers and addresses," the letter states. "We are evaluating whether and how we can increase the visibility of applications' request for permission to access user contact information. We are also considering whether additional user education would be helpful."
Facebook has incited user revolts in the past by arbitrarily re-calibrating its privacy settings and then making it difficult for even the most seasoned web geeks to figure out how to reset them. And once again, anger is roiling among tech industry observers.
"Facebook is the slowly warming pot of water and we, my friends, are the frog. By the time we noticed our peeling skin, another hunk of our privacy is long gone," MSNBC tech writer Helen A.S. Popkin wrote about the latest move. "This is how Facebook rolls: Strip away a huge chunk of your privacy, cry 'Our bad!' and roll it back when users and/or privacy advocates complain. Then wait awhile, and do whatever it is Facebook planned to do anyway. Voila! Boiled frog."
Or as Facebook VP Elliot Schrage bluntly (if less colorfully) put things in the midst of a similar uproar last year: If you don't want Facebook to share your personal information, don't share your personal information with Facebook.
So cue the online outrage: Facebook announced today in a letter to Congress that the social-media platform is moving forward with plans to give third parties access to user information, such as phone numbers and home addresses.
In a letter to Reps. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Joe Barton (R-Tex.), who both expressed concerns over Facebook's plan to make such data available, company officials reiterated their now-familiar pledge to leave it up to users to decide whether they want their personal contact information to go out to app developers and outside websites. Markey has previously said that "Facebook needs to protect the personal information of its users to ensure that Facebook doesn't become Phonebook."
The company, meanwhile, sounds as though it has no plans to trim back its information-sharing ambitions.
"We have not yet decided when or in what manner we will redeploy the permission for mobile numbers and addresses," the letter states. "We are evaluating whether and how we can increase the visibility of applications' request for permission to access user contact information. We are also considering whether additional user education would be helpful."
Facebook has incited user revolts in the past by arbitrarily re-calibrating its privacy settings and then making it difficult for even the most seasoned web geeks to figure out how to reset them. And once again, anger is roiling among tech industry observers.
"Facebook is the slowly warming pot of water and we, my friends, are the frog. By the time we noticed our peeling skin, another hunk of our privacy is long gone," MSNBC tech writer Helen A.S. Popkin wrote about the latest move. "This is how Facebook rolls: Strip away a huge chunk of your privacy, cry 'Our bad!' and roll it back when users and/or privacy advocates complain. Then wait awhile, and do whatever it is Facebook planned to do anyway. Voila! Boiled frog."
Or as Facebook VP Elliot Schrage bluntly (if less colorfully) put things in the midst of a similar uproar last year: If you don't want Facebook to share your personal information, don't share your personal information with Facebook.
Nigerian Man Shoots Wife Five Times In Atlanta, Georgia
Indeed, it has happened again! That was the cry among the Nigerian community in the United States when news about another family violence death broke. Sorrowfully the list of list Nigerian accused of murdering or attempted their wives grew today as a Nigerian man, Maximillian Ezimora, has been arrested in Atlanta after shooting his wife, Uchenna Ezimora, five times. The wife, described by a source as a hard working registered nurse in the Atlanta area, survived the shooting and is currently hospitalized.
Reports say 500 Nigerians are in US Jails charged with femicide
Mr. Ezimora, who reportedly hails from Adazi, Anambra State, is being held in Fulton County jail in Atlanta. He is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of firearms while committing a felony.
The couple owns a business, Maxing Groceries, on Fletcher Street in Atlanta. Reports have that the business license is in Mrs. Ezimora’s name.
Last year A Florida based Nigerian pharmacist, Olufemi Ademoye was charged for second degree murder for allegedly killing his wife over what family friends alleged as dispute over the paternity of the couple's 17 year old son. While on Aug 2010 One of Nigeria’s most respected poet and professor of English and Literature, Dubem Okafor died in the United States after shooting his wife Cheryl 37.
Other cases that made headlines are the Police arrest of a suspect, 41-year-old Kelechi Charles Emeruwa, on a first-degree murder warrant in the death of his wife. The children were unharmed and taken into custody by police. The children would be cared for by Child Protective Services until they could be placed with family members, according to police.
Emeruwa was charged in court the following day, Tuesday, with the murder of his wife.
In another case a Texas Dallas County jury recommended life in prison for Theophilus Ojukwu, 47, a Nigerian national after he pleaded guilty to the murder of his 36-year-old wife Melvina. The judge consequently sentenced him to life imprisonment. Theophilus on Saturday, March 25, 2006 reportedly fatally beat his wife on the head with a socket wrench while their four children, ages 4 through 9, were in the house and heard her screams.
Theophilus pleaded guilty after the 911 tape was played for the jury. In the recording, he admitted to the slaying. He is spending 40 years in prison before eligibility for parole.
Till Death Do Us Part’ seems to be a catch-all phrase demonstrative of how deeply in love bride and bridegroom are with each other when exchanging vows before a clergy, family members, friends and well-wishers. Little did Chidiebere, a nurse, know that her death would come in the hands of a man she once loved; a man that solemnly swore to protect her in sickness and good health, in poverty and in riches, and of course, a man that swore to be there for her until death do them part. Sadly, little did Ms. Ochulo know it was going to be a deadly broken vow!
This is another Nigerian marriage that ended deadly was in Burtonsville, Maryland on New Year, Monday, January 1, 2007. Another Nigerian abruptly ended the life of his wife in Burtonsville, suburb of Washington, DC. Mr. Kelechi Charles Emeruwa, 41, of Old Umuahia on New Year, cut short of his wife’s life, Chidiebere Omenihu Ochulo, 36, of Old Umuahia in their 4200 block of Dunwood Terrace in Burtonsvillle, Maryland home. It was reported that Chidiebere died from stab wounds. However, Officer Melanie Hadley, spokesperson for Montgomery County Police, could not confirm it citing, “official autopsy report is not out”.
Other similar stories of deadly domestic violence among Nigerians in the United States are the case of Mr. Theophilus Ojukwu, 46, of Enugwu-Agu, Ihe in Ogwu LGA, Enugu State, who killed his wife in their 5400 block of Barcelona Drive home in Garland, Texas on Saturday, March 25, 2006 has since been sentenced to life in prison.
Similarly, in Grand Prairie, a suburb of Dallas, Texas, Mrs. Monireti Abeni Akeredolu, a 46-year old Nigerian lady met her untimely death in the hands of her estranged husband, Mr. Ebenezer Akeredolu, Sr., 48, on Thursday night, September 8, 2005, a day after her birthday.
Also, on August 10, 2005 in Euless, a suburb of Dallas, another Nigerian husband, Johnny Omorogieva, 45, murdered his wife, Mrs. Isatu Omorogieva, 35, by savagely striking her on the head numerous times with a hammer in the full glare of his 7-year old daughter.
With the exception of Mr. Emeruwa who’s awaiting trial, these men have since been sentenced to prison. Unfortunately, the surviving children of these families are left to grow up without their parents.
Some people continue to wonder why some of these marriages end deadly. It appears that the gargantuan societal pressure of living a good life coupled with an undue burden from family members in Nigeria continue to exacerbate the already troubled many Nigerian marriages. Additionally, some Nigerian marriages in the Diaspora are steadily and surely growing out of love. Compounding the marital problem is the issue of infidelity on both sides.
Sadly, infidelity has ruined some Nigerian marriages in America. Some of the recent divorces have claims of infidelity as their primary causes of marriage travails. Marital infidelity is causing a vast majority of Nigerian marriages flagging with the inevitability of total collapse. No other Nigerian community has suffered more jinx of infidelity than the Dallas area Nigerians.
The aspersion has permeated the fabric of what was once considered a cohesive community. This has broken the trust members of Nigerian community once had with each other. Sad still, the infidelity among Nigerians has been worsened by the recent trend.
The latest trend is the annual visit—pilgrimage as some call it—the men pay to Nigeria in the month of December. While in Nigeria some of these men engage in a high risk behavior with flawed boldness and reckless and perhaps, short-lived excitement in the face of ravaging effects of AIDS. This reckless behavior is utterly deplorable.
Nevertheless, it’s not only dreadfully wrong, but also sacrilegious for anyone to take the life of the other, especially his or her spouse. There are other options to get out of a marriage besides killing a spouse. Domestic violence is not one of them; Nigerian community everywhere must help stop this madness—domestic violence!
Reports say 500 Nigerians are in US Jails charged with femicide
Mr. Ezimora, who reportedly hails from Adazi, Anambra State, is being held in Fulton County jail in Atlanta. He is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of firearms while committing a felony.
The couple owns a business, Maxing Groceries, on Fletcher Street in Atlanta. Reports have that the business license is in Mrs. Ezimora’s name.
Last year A Florida based Nigerian pharmacist, Olufemi Ademoye was charged for second degree murder for allegedly killing his wife over what family friends alleged as dispute over the paternity of the couple's 17 year old son. While on Aug 2010 One of Nigeria’s most respected poet and professor of English and Literature, Dubem Okafor died in the United States after shooting his wife Cheryl 37.
Other cases that made headlines are the Police arrest of a suspect, 41-year-old Kelechi Charles Emeruwa, on a first-degree murder warrant in the death of his wife. The children were unharmed and taken into custody by police. The children would be cared for by Child Protective Services until they could be placed with family members, according to police.
Emeruwa was charged in court the following day, Tuesday, with the murder of his wife.
In another case a Texas Dallas County jury recommended life in prison for Theophilus Ojukwu, 47, a Nigerian national after he pleaded guilty to the murder of his 36-year-old wife Melvina. The judge consequently sentenced him to life imprisonment. Theophilus on Saturday, March 25, 2006 reportedly fatally beat his wife on the head with a socket wrench while their four children, ages 4 through 9, were in the house and heard her screams.
Theophilus pleaded guilty after the 911 tape was played for the jury. In the recording, he admitted to the slaying. He is spending 40 years in prison before eligibility for parole.
Till Death Do Us Part’ seems to be a catch-all phrase demonstrative of how deeply in love bride and bridegroom are with each other when exchanging vows before a clergy, family members, friends and well-wishers. Little did Chidiebere, a nurse, know that her death would come in the hands of a man she once loved; a man that solemnly swore to protect her in sickness and good health, in poverty and in riches, and of course, a man that swore to be there for her until death do them part. Sadly, little did Ms. Ochulo know it was going to be a deadly broken vow!
This is another Nigerian marriage that ended deadly was in Burtonsville, Maryland on New Year, Monday, January 1, 2007. Another Nigerian abruptly ended the life of his wife in Burtonsville, suburb of Washington, DC. Mr. Kelechi Charles Emeruwa, 41, of Old Umuahia on New Year, cut short of his wife’s life, Chidiebere Omenihu Ochulo, 36, of Old Umuahia in their 4200 block of Dunwood Terrace in Burtonsvillle, Maryland home. It was reported that Chidiebere died from stab wounds. However, Officer Melanie Hadley, spokesperson for Montgomery County Police, could not confirm it citing, “official autopsy report is not out”.
Other similar stories of deadly domestic violence among Nigerians in the United States are the case of Mr. Theophilus Ojukwu, 46, of Enugwu-Agu, Ihe in Ogwu LGA, Enugu State, who killed his wife in their 5400 block of Barcelona Drive home in Garland, Texas on Saturday, March 25, 2006 has since been sentenced to life in prison.
Similarly, in Grand Prairie, a suburb of Dallas, Texas, Mrs. Monireti Abeni Akeredolu, a 46-year old Nigerian lady met her untimely death in the hands of her estranged husband, Mr. Ebenezer Akeredolu, Sr., 48, on Thursday night, September 8, 2005, a day after her birthday.
Also, on August 10, 2005 in Euless, a suburb of Dallas, another Nigerian husband, Johnny Omorogieva, 45, murdered his wife, Mrs. Isatu Omorogieva, 35, by savagely striking her on the head numerous times with a hammer in the full glare of his 7-year old daughter.
With the exception of Mr. Emeruwa who’s awaiting trial, these men have since been sentenced to prison. Unfortunately, the surviving children of these families are left to grow up without their parents.
Some people continue to wonder why some of these marriages end deadly. It appears that the gargantuan societal pressure of living a good life coupled with an undue burden from family members in Nigeria continue to exacerbate the already troubled many Nigerian marriages. Additionally, some Nigerian marriages in the Diaspora are steadily and surely growing out of love. Compounding the marital problem is the issue of infidelity on both sides.
Sadly, infidelity has ruined some Nigerian marriages in America. Some of the recent divorces have claims of infidelity as their primary causes of marriage travails. Marital infidelity is causing a vast majority of Nigerian marriages flagging with the inevitability of total collapse. No other Nigerian community has suffered more jinx of infidelity than the Dallas area Nigerians.
The aspersion has permeated the fabric of what was once considered a cohesive community. This has broken the trust members of Nigerian community once had with each other. Sad still, the infidelity among Nigerians has been worsened by the recent trend.
The latest trend is the annual visit—pilgrimage as some call it—the men pay to Nigeria in the month of December. While in Nigeria some of these men engage in a high risk behavior with flawed boldness and reckless and perhaps, short-lived excitement in the face of ravaging effects of AIDS. This reckless behavior is utterly deplorable.
Nevertheless, it’s not only dreadfully wrong, but also sacrilegious for anyone to take the life of the other, especially his or her spouse. There are other options to get out of a marriage besides killing a spouse. Domestic violence is not one of them; Nigerian community everywhere must help stop this madness—domestic violence!
Ten Years Jail Term For Money Launderers.
The Senate yesterday passed the Anti-Money Laundering bill, with a recommendation of a maximum jail term of 10 years, but not less than five years, for offenders, in addition to fines that may be applicable.
Some financial crimes analysts, however, warned that the maximum punishments prescribed in the bill may not discourage offenders, especially compared to what is obtainable in other crimes.
However, the passage of the bill brings Nigeria to the verge of totally fulfilling the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), established by the G7 Summit in Paris in 1989.
The new anti-money laundering bill will replace the 2004 version of same bill, which is said to lack the relevant provisions that will make it fully compliant with FATF recommendation.
Full compliance will, however, depend on the speed with which the House of Representatives passes its own version of the bill, which is already awaiting final reading in the House.
Thereafter, major discrepancies between the House and Senate version of the bill will be harmonised in a clean copy that will be adopted by both chambers and forwarded to the president, who appears to be eagerly waiting to sign it into law.
Raised bars
The bill passed by the Senate is slightly different from the version forwarded to the legislators by the president. It raised the bars for cash transaction that can be made outside a financial institution from N500, 000 and N2 million to N5 million and N10 million for individuals and corporate bodies respectively.
The Senate also raised the amount of international transfers that ought to be reported to government agencies from $2,000 to $10, 000 for individuals. It places a duty on bankers and other financial institutions to report international transfers of funds exceeding $10,000 to the Central Bank of Nigeria, from where the records can be accessed by security operatives.
Transportation of cash or negotiable instruments in excess of $10,000 or its equivalent by individuals in or out of the country shall be declared to the Nigerian Custom Service, section 3 of the act prescribed.
Offenders of this section “shall be liable upon conviction to forfeit not less than 25% of the undeclared funds or negotiable instrument or to imprisonment of not less than two years or both.”
The bill also obligates casinos and jewellers, as well as bankers, to properly identify its customers, report transactions exceeding the stated amounts to the appropriate government agency, and subsequently hold their records for at least five years.
Section 9 of the Act requires all banks to designate compliance officers at management level, branches and local offices, who are expected to feed a centralised data base with information.
The Central Bank of Nigeria is empowered by the bill to impose a penalty of not less than N1 million or the suspension of any licence issued to the financial institution or designated non financial institution for failure to comply with this section.
Meanwhile, the Act raised the amount of individual and corporate transactions that all financial institution are mandated to report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from N1 million and N5 million to N5 million and N10 million respectively.
Any financial institution or designated non financial institution that contravenes this provision of this section is liable to a fine of not less than N250, 000 and not more than N1 million for each day the contravention continues.
The Act prohibits numbered or anonymous accounts and empowers EFCC, CBN, and other regulatory authorities to place surveillance on suspected bank accounts, access to computer systems, and other records. It, however, denies them the right to tap suspects’ phone lines.
The bill covers offences including converting or transferring resources or properties derived directly from illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotic substances, and participation in organised criminal group, racketeering, terrorism, terrorist financing, bribery and corruption, tax evasion, sexual exploitation, and others.The Senate yesterday passed the Anti-Money Laundering bill, with a recommendation of a maximum jail term of 10 years, but not less than five years, for offenders, in addition to fines that may be applicable.
Some financial crimes analysts, however, warned that the maximum punishments prescribed in the bill may not discourage offenders, especially compared to what is obtainable in other crimes.
However, the passage of the bill brings Nigeria to the verge of totally fulfilling the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), established by the G7 Summit in Paris in 1989.
The new anti-money laundering bill will replace the 2004 version of same bill, which is said to lack the relevant provisions that will make it fully compliant with FATF recommendation.
Full compliance will, however, depend on the speed with which the House of Representatives passes its own version of the bill, which is already awaiting final reading in the House.
Thereafter, major discrepancies between the House and Senate version of the bill will be harmonised in a clean copy that will be adopted by both chambers and forwarded to the president, who appears to be eagerly waiting to sign it into law.
Raised bars
The bill passed by the Senate is slightly different from the version forwarded to the legislators by the president. It raised the bars for cash transaction that can be made outside a financial institution from N500, 000 and N2 million to N5 million and N10 million for individuals and corporate bodies respectively.
The Senate also raised the amount of international transfers that ought to be reported to government agencies from $2,000 to $10, 000 for individuals. It places a duty on bankers and other financial institutions to report international transfers of funds exceeding $10,000 to the Central Bank of Nigeria, from where the records can be accessed by security operatives.
Transportation of cash or negotiable instruments in excess of $10,000 or its equivalent by individuals in or out of the country shall be declared to the Nigerian Custom Service, section 3 of the act prescribed.
Offenders of this section “shall be liable upon conviction to forfeit not less than 25% of the undeclared funds or negotiable instrument or to imprisonment of not less than two years or both.”
The bill also obligates casinos and jewellers, as well as bankers, to properly identify its customers, report transactions exceeding the stated amounts to the appropriate government agency, and subsequently hold their records for at least five years.
Section 9 of the Act requires all banks to designate compliance officers at management level, branches and local offices, who are expected to feed a centralised data base with information.
The Central Bank of Nigeria is empowered by the bill to impose a penalty of not less than N1 million or the suspension of any licence issued to the financial institution or designated non financial institution for failure to comply with this section.
Meanwhile, the Act raised the amount of individual and corporate transactions that all financial institution are mandated to report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from N1 million and N5 million to N5 million and N10 million respectively.
Any financial institution or designated non financial institution that contravenes this provision of this section is liable to a fine of not less than N250, 000 and not more than N1 million for each day the contravention continues.
The Act prohibits numbered or anonymous accounts and empowers EFCC, CBN, and other regulatory authorities to place surveillance on suspected bank accounts, access to computer systems, and other records. It, however, denies them the right to tap suspects’ phone lines.
The bill covers offences including converting or transferring resources or properties derived directly from illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotic substances, and participation in organised criminal group, racketeering, terrorism, terrorist financing, bribery and corruption, tax evasion, sexual exploitation, and others.The Senate yesterday passed the Anti-Money Laundering bill, with a recommendation of a maximum jail term of 10 years, but not less than five years, for offenders, in addition to fines that may be applicable.
Some financial crimes analysts, however, warned that the maximum punishments prescribed in the bill may not discourage offenders, especially compared to what is obtainable in other crimes.
However, the passage of the bill brings Nigeria to the verge of totally fulfilling the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), established by the G7 Summit in Paris in 1989.
The new anti-money laundering bill will replace the 2004 version of same bill, which is said to lack the relevant provisions that will make it fully compliant with FATF recommendation.
Full compliance will, however, depend on the speed with which the House of Representatives passes its own version of the bill, which is already awaiting final reading in the House.
Thereafter, major discrepancies between the House and Senate version of the bill will be harmonised in a clean copy that will be adopted by both chambers and forwarded to the president, who appears to be eagerly waiting to sign it into law.
Raised bars
The bill passed by the Senate is slightly different from the version forwarded to the legislators by the president. It raised the bars for cash transaction that can be made outside a financial institution from N500, 000 and N2 million to N5 million and N10 million for individuals and corporate bodies respectively.
The Senate also raised the amount of international transfers that ought to be reported to government agencies from $2,000 to $10, 000 for individuals. It places a duty on bankers and other financial institutions to report international transfers of funds exceeding $10,000 to the Central Bank of Nigeria, from where the records can be accessed by security operatives.
Transportation of cash or negotiable instruments in excess of $10,000 or its equivalent by individuals in or out of the country shall be declared to the Nigerian Custom Service, section 3 of the act prescribed.
Offenders of this section “shall be liable upon conviction to forfeit not less than 25% of the undeclared funds or negotiable instrument or to imprisonment of not less than two years or both.”
The bill also obligates casinos and jewellers, as well as bankers, to properly identify its customers, report transactions exceeding the stated amounts to the appropriate government agency, and subsequently hold their records for at least five years.
Section 9 of the Act requires all banks to designate compliance officers at management level, branches and local offices, who are expected to feed a centralised data base with information.
The Central Bank of Nigeria is empowered by the bill to impose a penalty of not less than N1 million or the suspension of any licence issued to the financial institution or designated non financial institution for failure to comply with this section.
Meanwhile, the Act raised the amount of individual and corporate transactions that all financial institution are mandated to report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from N1 million and N5 million to N5 million and N10 million respectively.
Any financial institution or designated non financial institution that contravenes this provision of this section is liable to a fine of not less than N250, 000 and not more than N1 million for each day the contravention continues.
The Act prohibits numbered or anonymous accounts and empowers EFCC, CBN, and other regulatory authorities to place surveillance on suspected bank accounts, access to computer systems, and other records. It, however, denies them the right to tap suspects’ phone lines.
The bill covers offences including converting or transferring resources or properties derived directly from illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotic substances, and participation in organised criminal group, racketeering, terrorism, terrorist financing, bribery and corruption, tax evasion, sexual exploitation, and others.
Some financial crimes analysts, however, warned that the maximum punishments prescribed in the bill may not discourage offenders, especially compared to what is obtainable in other crimes.
However, the passage of the bill brings Nigeria to the verge of totally fulfilling the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), established by the G7 Summit in Paris in 1989.
The new anti-money laundering bill will replace the 2004 version of same bill, which is said to lack the relevant provisions that will make it fully compliant with FATF recommendation.
Full compliance will, however, depend on the speed with which the House of Representatives passes its own version of the bill, which is already awaiting final reading in the House.
Thereafter, major discrepancies between the House and Senate version of the bill will be harmonised in a clean copy that will be adopted by both chambers and forwarded to the president, who appears to be eagerly waiting to sign it into law.
Raised bars
The bill passed by the Senate is slightly different from the version forwarded to the legislators by the president. It raised the bars for cash transaction that can be made outside a financial institution from N500, 000 and N2 million to N5 million and N10 million for individuals and corporate bodies respectively.
The Senate also raised the amount of international transfers that ought to be reported to government agencies from $2,000 to $10, 000 for individuals. It places a duty on bankers and other financial institutions to report international transfers of funds exceeding $10,000 to the Central Bank of Nigeria, from where the records can be accessed by security operatives.
Transportation of cash or negotiable instruments in excess of $10,000 or its equivalent by individuals in or out of the country shall be declared to the Nigerian Custom Service, section 3 of the act prescribed.
Offenders of this section “shall be liable upon conviction to forfeit not less than 25% of the undeclared funds or negotiable instrument or to imprisonment of not less than two years or both.”
The bill also obligates casinos and jewellers, as well as bankers, to properly identify its customers, report transactions exceeding the stated amounts to the appropriate government agency, and subsequently hold their records for at least five years.
Section 9 of the Act requires all banks to designate compliance officers at management level, branches and local offices, who are expected to feed a centralised data base with information.
The Central Bank of Nigeria is empowered by the bill to impose a penalty of not less than N1 million or the suspension of any licence issued to the financial institution or designated non financial institution for failure to comply with this section.
Meanwhile, the Act raised the amount of individual and corporate transactions that all financial institution are mandated to report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from N1 million and N5 million to N5 million and N10 million respectively.
Any financial institution or designated non financial institution that contravenes this provision of this section is liable to a fine of not less than N250, 000 and not more than N1 million for each day the contravention continues.
The Act prohibits numbered or anonymous accounts and empowers EFCC, CBN, and other regulatory authorities to place surveillance on suspected bank accounts, access to computer systems, and other records. It, however, denies them the right to tap suspects’ phone lines.
The bill covers offences including converting or transferring resources or properties derived directly from illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotic substances, and participation in organised criminal group, racketeering, terrorism, terrorist financing, bribery and corruption, tax evasion, sexual exploitation, and others.The Senate yesterday passed the Anti-Money Laundering bill, with a recommendation of a maximum jail term of 10 years, but not less than five years, for offenders, in addition to fines that may be applicable.
Some financial crimes analysts, however, warned that the maximum punishments prescribed in the bill may not discourage offenders, especially compared to what is obtainable in other crimes.
However, the passage of the bill brings Nigeria to the verge of totally fulfilling the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), established by the G7 Summit in Paris in 1989.
The new anti-money laundering bill will replace the 2004 version of same bill, which is said to lack the relevant provisions that will make it fully compliant with FATF recommendation.
Full compliance will, however, depend on the speed with which the House of Representatives passes its own version of the bill, which is already awaiting final reading in the House.
Thereafter, major discrepancies between the House and Senate version of the bill will be harmonised in a clean copy that will be adopted by both chambers and forwarded to the president, who appears to be eagerly waiting to sign it into law.
Raised bars
The bill passed by the Senate is slightly different from the version forwarded to the legislators by the president. It raised the bars for cash transaction that can be made outside a financial institution from N500, 000 and N2 million to N5 million and N10 million for individuals and corporate bodies respectively.
The Senate also raised the amount of international transfers that ought to be reported to government agencies from $2,000 to $10, 000 for individuals. It places a duty on bankers and other financial institutions to report international transfers of funds exceeding $10,000 to the Central Bank of Nigeria, from where the records can be accessed by security operatives.
Transportation of cash or negotiable instruments in excess of $10,000 or its equivalent by individuals in or out of the country shall be declared to the Nigerian Custom Service, section 3 of the act prescribed.
Offenders of this section “shall be liable upon conviction to forfeit not less than 25% of the undeclared funds or negotiable instrument or to imprisonment of not less than two years or both.”
The bill also obligates casinos and jewellers, as well as bankers, to properly identify its customers, report transactions exceeding the stated amounts to the appropriate government agency, and subsequently hold their records for at least five years.
Section 9 of the Act requires all banks to designate compliance officers at management level, branches and local offices, who are expected to feed a centralised data base with information.
The Central Bank of Nigeria is empowered by the bill to impose a penalty of not less than N1 million or the suspension of any licence issued to the financial institution or designated non financial institution for failure to comply with this section.
Meanwhile, the Act raised the amount of individual and corporate transactions that all financial institution are mandated to report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from N1 million and N5 million to N5 million and N10 million respectively.
Any financial institution or designated non financial institution that contravenes this provision of this section is liable to a fine of not less than N250, 000 and not more than N1 million for each day the contravention continues.
The Act prohibits numbered or anonymous accounts and empowers EFCC, CBN, and other regulatory authorities to place surveillance on suspected bank accounts, access to computer systems, and other records. It, however, denies them the right to tap suspects’ phone lines.
The bill covers offences including converting or transferring resources or properties derived directly from illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotic substances, and participation in organised criminal group, racketeering, terrorism, terrorist financing, bribery and corruption, tax evasion, sexual exploitation, and others.The Senate yesterday passed the Anti-Money Laundering bill, with a recommendation of a maximum jail term of 10 years, but not less than five years, for offenders, in addition to fines that may be applicable.
Some financial crimes analysts, however, warned that the maximum punishments prescribed in the bill may not discourage offenders, especially compared to what is obtainable in other crimes.
However, the passage of the bill brings Nigeria to the verge of totally fulfilling the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), established by the G7 Summit in Paris in 1989.
The new anti-money laundering bill will replace the 2004 version of same bill, which is said to lack the relevant provisions that will make it fully compliant with FATF recommendation.
Full compliance will, however, depend on the speed with which the House of Representatives passes its own version of the bill, which is already awaiting final reading in the House.
Thereafter, major discrepancies between the House and Senate version of the bill will be harmonised in a clean copy that will be adopted by both chambers and forwarded to the president, who appears to be eagerly waiting to sign it into law.
Raised bars
The bill passed by the Senate is slightly different from the version forwarded to the legislators by the president. It raised the bars for cash transaction that can be made outside a financial institution from N500, 000 and N2 million to N5 million and N10 million for individuals and corporate bodies respectively.
The Senate also raised the amount of international transfers that ought to be reported to government agencies from $2,000 to $10, 000 for individuals. It places a duty on bankers and other financial institutions to report international transfers of funds exceeding $10,000 to the Central Bank of Nigeria, from where the records can be accessed by security operatives.
Transportation of cash or negotiable instruments in excess of $10,000 or its equivalent by individuals in or out of the country shall be declared to the Nigerian Custom Service, section 3 of the act prescribed.
Offenders of this section “shall be liable upon conviction to forfeit not less than 25% of the undeclared funds or negotiable instrument or to imprisonment of not less than two years or both.”
The bill also obligates casinos and jewellers, as well as bankers, to properly identify its customers, report transactions exceeding the stated amounts to the appropriate government agency, and subsequently hold their records for at least five years.
Section 9 of the Act requires all banks to designate compliance officers at management level, branches and local offices, who are expected to feed a centralised data base with information.
The Central Bank of Nigeria is empowered by the bill to impose a penalty of not less than N1 million or the suspension of any licence issued to the financial institution or designated non financial institution for failure to comply with this section.
Meanwhile, the Act raised the amount of individual and corporate transactions that all financial institution are mandated to report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from N1 million and N5 million to N5 million and N10 million respectively.
Any financial institution or designated non financial institution that contravenes this provision of this section is liable to a fine of not less than N250, 000 and not more than N1 million for each day the contravention continues.
The Act prohibits numbered or anonymous accounts and empowers EFCC, CBN, and other regulatory authorities to place surveillance on suspected bank accounts, access to computer systems, and other records. It, however, denies them the right to tap suspects’ phone lines.
The bill covers offences including converting or transferring resources or properties derived directly from illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotic substances, and participation in organised criminal group, racketeering, terrorism, terrorist financing, bribery and corruption, tax evasion, sexual exploitation, and others.
Dutch Police Arrests Niger-Delta Activist, Sunny Ofehe
Dutch authorities have arrested Niger-Delta activist, Sunny Ofehe, in his home in Charlois, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. A team of Dutch police men raided the house of Mr. Ofehe, who is the President/Founder of the Hope For Niger Delta Campaign (HNDC), on February 22, 2011. T
The secrecy surrounding his arrest and the refusal of the Dutch authorities to charge him to court are sources of concern to his family. Just four weeks ago, Sunny Ofehe spoke at a Dutch Parliamentary Commission in The Hague, Netherlands. The Commission held a hearing on oil extraction in Nigeria and its impact on the local population.
““There are many people in the villages who are waiting for the outcome of this hearing,” Mr. Ofehe told the Commission. “And I want to tell you that, while you do your duty as elected representative of this country... you might face pressure from the giant companies who have the money and the resources to stall this process that has begun today. But as you ponder... I want you to have deep down in your heart that more than 26 million people are dying from environmental devastation... every fuel tank you fill [is] at the expense of somebody's health.”
In a press release obtained by Saharareporters, the family called the attention of the world to the unlawful detention of Sunny Ofehe for over 48 hours after with arrest without charging him to court.
“The family believes the activist’s current travail is being masterminded by a multinational oil corporation in the Niger Delta, which has very strong influence in the Netherlands government and is becoming increasingly uncomfortable over Ofehe’s campaign in Europe against environmental and social injustice in the region,” the press release says.
According to Mrs Ofehe, on that Tuesday morning, “a detachment of policemen stormed our home in Charlois, Rotterdam. They took my husband away before ransacking the house for about five hours in the presence of our children. Till now, the children are still traumatized by the Gestapo-style invasion of the Dutch police, who refused to produce even a warrant for his arrest.
“Since then I have not been allowed to see him or know where he is being detained. I’m worried that this could be happening in a European country, which claims to uphold the rule of law. At the moment, we are not sure of his condition.”
Sunny Ofehe’s elder brother, Goodie, expressed similar fears on the fate of the activist.
“We are already afraid that he might have been harmed. Our brother does not live in Holland illegally. He is also a Dutch citizen and has been living there for the past 16 years. So why is he being treated that way?
“We learnt that they held him because they have not concluded investigation into a matter they refused to disclose. But why detain somebody for more than 24 hours because you are investigating a matter? Is he a criminal? They should disclose his offence and charge him to court,” Goodie Ofehe said.
Goodie Ofehe plans to lodge a formal protest with the Dutch embassy in Abuja.
Sunny Ofehe’s arrest came two days before he was scheduled to travel to Nigeria for the funeral rites of his late mother.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Senate stops withdrawal from excess crude account
Plans transfer of funds to Sovereign Wealth Account
ANY further withdrawal from the controversial Excess Crude Oil Funds by the Executive arm of government may no longer be tolerated by the Senate, which yesterday described its existence as alien to Nigeria’s Constitution.
To the operators and beneficiaries of the account, the Senate directed them to await the passage of the Sovereign Wealth Bill currently before the National Assembly, which spells out the usage of such monies.
The Senate also hinted yesterday that it would push for the use of the excess crude funds to execute the 2011 budget and frowned at the budget envelopes given to the ministries and parastatals by the Budget Office.
Commenting on the operation of the excess crude account during a budget defence session with officials of the Ministry of Information and Communications, led by the minister, Labaran Maku, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Communications, Ayogu Eze, said instead of allowing the tiers of government to continue to operate the illegal account, the funds should be used to execute the budget so that Nigerians could enjoy the dividends of democracy.
The account was created by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, from where funds above the budget benchmark due to the rise in oil prices in the international market were saved for sharing by the three tiers of government.
But Eze told the beneficiaries of the excess funds yesterday to wait for the Sovereign Wealth Bill to be passed before they operate the account again. He said Nigerians were yearning for the dividends of democracy and their representatives in the National Assembly would do all that was necessary, including using the excess crude account to improve on their well-being.
“Those who are operating the excess crude account should wait for the Sovereign Wealth Bill to be passed. The excess crude account, as it is today, flouts the Constitution. It is illegal to keep money in an account that is unknown to the Constitution. Our people are yearning for democracy dividends and that is what we are here to give them. That money belongs to the people of this country and we should use it to deliver the dividends of democracy to them,” he insisted.
The committee also frowned at the provision of budget envelopes for ministries and parastatals by the Budget Office. It said the “mandate given to the National Assembly by Nigerians is not to be teleguided by any budget envelope when the chunk of money is kept in an illegal account.”
According to the panel’s members, the Budget Office does not have knowledge of the needs of the people like their representatives at all levels.
“It is not a healthy practice that the budget is restricted to the Budget Office of the Executive arm of government, which is either issuing envelopes or ceiling. Our mandate is not to come and accept budget envelopes. The committees are here to scrutinise the needs of the ministries and apply what is just and not to be teleguided. We will do our work based on the reality on the ground and what we think is good for the people of this country. We are in a better position to decide what the budget should be,” the panel declared.
Presenting the ministry’s budget, Maku said it had a ceiling of N1.8 billion, which was later reduced to N1.4 billion. He also said the capital vote presented by the ministry was equally reduced. He, however, justified the reduction of the budget by the Presidency, noting that the country was going through hard time, which required sacrifice on the part of everybody.
Maku warned against preparing budgets based on the rise in the price of oil owing to the crisis in the Middle-East, stressing that projections should be modest so that when the oil price falls, Nigeria would not be caught unaware.
“There are shocks in the oil market. Sometimes the price rises and sometimes, it goes down very low. The wisdom of the Executive branch is that we should be modest in our projections and that is the right thing to do now. There is an increase in salaries and this will jack up the wage bill. We are taking into account emerging challenges,” he said.
Maku explained that as part of efforts to make the country one of the most developed economies of the world in 2020, the government would soon embark on awareness campaign to make all Nigerians identify with the vision. “The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has taken a decision that from this year onwards, we should show greater commitment and sensitivity to the Vision 20:2020 and as a government, we have been conducting seminars for budget units, parastatals and implementing agencies to be sure that we factor into whatever we are going to do between now and 2020 into the national plan.
“When I talk of supplementary budget, our ministry also has the responsibility to incorporate into our plan the mass public education for Vision 20:2020 plan, because it’s not all about government budgeting, that plan is about what citizens will do in the private sector, the community, the non-governmental organisations, what is the implication for the various sectors of the society outside government? I believe that has not been adequately realised.”
ANY further withdrawal from the controversial Excess Crude Oil Funds by the Executive arm of government may no longer be tolerated by the Senate, which yesterday described its existence as alien to Nigeria’s Constitution.
To the operators and beneficiaries of the account, the Senate directed them to await the passage of the Sovereign Wealth Bill currently before the National Assembly, which spells out the usage of such monies.
The Senate also hinted yesterday that it would push for the use of the excess crude funds to execute the 2011 budget and frowned at the budget envelopes given to the ministries and parastatals by the Budget Office.
Commenting on the operation of the excess crude account during a budget defence session with officials of the Ministry of Information and Communications, led by the minister, Labaran Maku, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Communications, Ayogu Eze, said instead of allowing the tiers of government to continue to operate the illegal account, the funds should be used to execute the budget so that Nigerians could enjoy the dividends of democracy.
The account was created by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, from where funds above the budget benchmark due to the rise in oil prices in the international market were saved for sharing by the three tiers of government.
But Eze told the beneficiaries of the excess funds yesterday to wait for the Sovereign Wealth Bill to be passed before they operate the account again. He said Nigerians were yearning for the dividends of democracy and their representatives in the National Assembly would do all that was necessary, including using the excess crude account to improve on their well-being.
“Those who are operating the excess crude account should wait for the Sovereign Wealth Bill to be passed. The excess crude account, as it is today, flouts the Constitution. It is illegal to keep money in an account that is unknown to the Constitution. Our people are yearning for democracy dividends and that is what we are here to give them. That money belongs to the people of this country and we should use it to deliver the dividends of democracy to them,” he insisted.
The committee also frowned at the provision of budget envelopes for ministries and parastatals by the Budget Office. It said the “mandate given to the National Assembly by Nigerians is not to be teleguided by any budget envelope when the chunk of money is kept in an illegal account.”
According to the panel’s members, the Budget Office does not have knowledge of the needs of the people like their representatives at all levels.
“It is not a healthy practice that the budget is restricted to the Budget Office of the Executive arm of government, which is either issuing envelopes or ceiling. Our mandate is not to come and accept budget envelopes. The committees are here to scrutinise the needs of the ministries and apply what is just and not to be teleguided. We will do our work based on the reality on the ground and what we think is good for the people of this country. We are in a better position to decide what the budget should be,” the panel declared.
Presenting the ministry’s budget, Maku said it had a ceiling of N1.8 billion, which was later reduced to N1.4 billion. He also said the capital vote presented by the ministry was equally reduced. He, however, justified the reduction of the budget by the Presidency, noting that the country was going through hard time, which required sacrifice on the part of everybody.
Maku warned against preparing budgets based on the rise in the price of oil owing to the crisis in the Middle-East, stressing that projections should be modest so that when the oil price falls, Nigeria would not be caught unaware.
“There are shocks in the oil market. Sometimes the price rises and sometimes, it goes down very low. The wisdom of the Executive branch is that we should be modest in our projections and that is the right thing to do now. There is an increase in salaries and this will jack up the wage bill. We are taking into account emerging challenges,” he said.
Maku explained that as part of efforts to make the country one of the most developed economies of the world in 2020, the government would soon embark on awareness campaign to make all Nigerians identify with the vision. “The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has taken a decision that from this year onwards, we should show greater commitment and sensitivity to the Vision 20:2020 and as a government, we have been conducting seminars for budget units, parastatals and implementing agencies to be sure that we factor into whatever we are going to do between now and 2020 into the national plan.
“When I talk of supplementary budget, our ministry also has the responsibility to incorporate into our plan the mass public education for Vision 20:2020 plan, because it’s not all about government budgeting, that plan is about what citizens will do in the private sector, the community, the non-governmental organisations, what is the implication for the various sectors of the society outside government? I believe that has not been adequately realised.”
I’ll Remove Immunity Clause – Buhari !
Former Nigeria‘s military Head of State and Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has promised to facilitate the deletion of the controversial immunity clause from the nation‘s constitution if he gets the nod of Nigerian voters in the April elections.
”We will amend the constitution to remove immunity from prosecution for elected officers in criminal cases,” Buhari states in his manifesto which was released in Abuja on Monday.
Section 308 of the nation‘s 1999 constitution shields the President, his deputy, the governors and their deputies from criminal and civil prosecution during their term in office.
Sub-section 1 of section 308 says, ”(a) No civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against a person to whom this section applies during his period of office.
”(b) A person to whom this section applies shall not be arrested or imprisoned during that period either on pursuance of the process of any court or otherwise; and
”(c) No process of any court requiring or compelling the appearance of a person to whom this section applies shall be applied for or issued.
Sub-section 3 states, ”This section applies to a person holing the office of President or Vice President, Governor or Deputy Governor; and the reference in this section to ‘period of office‘ is a reference to the period during which the person holding such office is required to perform the functions of the office.”
In a country with a multitude of corruption allegations against public officials, there had been hot debate over the propriety of shielding the beneficiaries of the section from being made to go through judicial test, even while in office, if the need arises.
The nation‘s anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, for instance, on several occasions had complained that they were helpless in dealing with the alleged corruption by serving governors.
Buhari promises further to initiate action geared toward amending the constitution with a view to encourage true federalism.
”We will initiate action to amend our constitution to amend with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench federalism and the federal spirit,” he states in the manifesto.
Buhari came to power on December 31, 1983 when the second republic government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari was overthrown in a military coup announced by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.).
Buhari,, interestingly, was also sacked in another coup spearheaded by Babangida on August 17, 1985.
”We will amend the constitution to remove immunity from prosecution for elected officers in criminal cases,” Buhari states in his manifesto which was released in Abuja on Monday.
Section 308 of the nation‘s 1999 constitution shields the President, his deputy, the governors and their deputies from criminal and civil prosecution during their term in office.
Sub-section 1 of section 308 says, ”(a) No civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against a person to whom this section applies during his period of office.
”(b) A person to whom this section applies shall not be arrested or imprisoned during that period either on pursuance of the process of any court or otherwise; and
”(c) No process of any court requiring or compelling the appearance of a person to whom this section applies shall be applied for or issued.
Sub-section 3 states, ”This section applies to a person holing the office of President or Vice President, Governor or Deputy Governor; and the reference in this section to ‘period of office‘ is a reference to the period during which the person holding such office is required to perform the functions of the office.”
In a country with a multitude of corruption allegations against public officials, there had been hot debate over the propriety of shielding the beneficiaries of the section from being made to go through judicial test, even while in office, if the need arises.
The nation‘s anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, for instance, on several occasions had complained that they were helpless in dealing with the alleged corruption by serving governors.
Buhari promises further to initiate action geared toward amending the constitution with a view to encourage true federalism.
”We will initiate action to amend our constitution to amend with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench federalism and the federal spirit,” he states in the manifesto.
Buhari came to power on December 31, 1983 when the second republic government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari was overthrown in a military coup announced by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.).
Buhari,, interestingly, was also sacked in another coup spearheaded by Babangida on August 17, 1985.
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