Significance of Anambra bill on control of funeral ceremonies

Commentary@ITRealms:

Presentation by His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus C. Ezeokafor, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, at the Public Hearing on the Bill for a Law to Control Burial/Funeral Ceremonial Activities in Anambra State, at the Conference Room, Anambra State House of Assembly Legislative Complex, Awka, 5 April 2017

Protocols

May the peace of the Lord be with you all.

I am glad to have been appointed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Culture and Tourism as a key resource person on this public hearing on the above-mentioned bill. According to the letter written to me by the Chairman and dated 28 March 2017, I was invited “to speak extensively” on this issue. My special tributes go to the sponsor of the bill Hon. (Engr.) Charles Ezeani. To have come out with this bill shows quality representation of the people. I also thank the members of the House for allowing the bill to reach this stage. If they did not consider it worthwhile, they could have nipped it in the bud the first day it made its appearance at the floor of the House. Thank you very much.

Significance of the Bill
The extravagance displayed by our people during burial and funeral ceremonies in the State has reached such a point that there is need for an effective legislation to control; otherwise, we leave our people in such a pitiable situation and bondage into which they have been trapped. The way our people degenerate from celebration of life to celebration of death is such that, if left uncontrolled and unregulated, we may likely sink into the hypothetical Hobbesian State of Nature, where life would become “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Therefore, I consider this bill as unqualifiedly and eternally significant to the citizens of the State and beyond.

I have seen families sell their real Estates, properties, and personal belongings, in order to meet up with the expectations of the society as regards funeral expenses. Businesses have folded up, marriages have broken down, children have been out of school, and sudden deaths have been recorded, simply because people could not reel out of the devastating effects of the huge expenses incurred during the funerals of their loved ones. Families have been put in disarray, community peace has been disrupted, ụmụnna, inyomdi, and ụmụada groups have been engulfed in endless disputes, because of disagreements arising from nonfulfillment of their basic and usually very expensive and unrealistic requirements during funerals. 

As I am speaking to you, I know some families who have been in court for years on account of issues arising from funeral expenses and bills. In one of the cases, the majority of the family presumed the Igbo proverb ojinu kwaa na ọbụrọ diọkpala gburu as their operating principle, only to be surprised after the funerals by the huge bill, running into hundreds of millions of Naira, brought forward by the ojinu in the family, who insisted that it must be shared equally among the brothers. They refused, because they claimed he never consulted them before making the expenses. Then he headed for the court.

We can no longer fold our hands as if nothing is happening. Every hand must be on deck to make sure the bill scales through all the legislative processes as soon as possible. Our people need such a legislation as this, especially at this moment the country is going through one of the toughest times in its history.

Journey so Far in Awka Diocese
Awka Diocese has remained undaunted in its fight to salvage the poor from the stranglehold of this vicious circle of extravagant burial and funeral ceremonies. In 1996, my predecessor of blessed memory Most Rev. Simon A. Okafor issued a guideline entitled Death, Burial, Funeral and Widowhood in the Catholic Diocese of Awka: Guidelines and Directives. He issued this after an extensive study of issues involved by experts in the field. Since then, the diocese have not relented in its effort. I have always seized any available opportunity to speak on the dangers of wasteful burials and funerals among our people. I have insisted that what we should be talking about is how to give our people decent and befitting living and not befitting funerals, by which we mean mindless display of extravagance. 

Last year, I instituted burial and funeral committee on the diocesan level charged with the responsibility of studying the way our people go about burial and funeral ceremonies in the diocese and bringing out recommendations aimed at curbing unnecessary wastes. As the committee was still working, I centred my Lenten Pastoral Letter of 2017 on the same issue. I titled it Our True Home Is in Heaven (Phil 3:20): Befitting Burial and Funeral for the Dead (Hereafter referred to as LP). In the work, I dwelt so much on the theological, pastoral, moral, socio-cultural, psychological, and economic implications of expensive burial and funeral ceremonies. I would not like to burden you with the details of the letter. I have the booklets with me, and will gladly leave some copies with you. In the observations and recommendations that will follow, I will make references to it where necessary.

I am excited to realize that the current draft bill contains most of the issues I handled in the Pastoral Letter and even more.

Observations
Having gone through the bill, I can make the following observations:
The bill is well thought through. It took into consideration the poor masses of the State, whom the house members were elected to defend against all odds. 

It is holistic in its approach, by dealing with all aspects of the burial and funeral ceremonies from the point of death, through registration and preservation of the body, to the burial and termination of the funeral ceremonies.

I am happy that it took care of bodies rejected by family members and those without identifiable families, and the need to create burial grounds in all the Local Governments in the State to have them buried (clause 9). This is very important because burial of the deceased is one of the corporal works of mercy (Tob 1:16-2:6)

The issue of undertakers has been a very worrisome one to the Church. Regulating their activities through the bill is a welcome development (clause 15.1-2). Indeed, the Church has always taught giving due respect to the dead; and the careless tossing of the body during funerals by the undertakers does not do this. I discussed this very well in my Lenten Pastoral (LP nos. 43-46)

In my Lenten Pastoral, I discussed the unwelcome wastage of money and resources through the printing of burial and funeral invitation cards, posters, billboards, etc. I also touched on the issue of preservation of the body for too long in the mortuary, and postponement of burial and funeral proceedings for too long. On this last issue, the diocese has decided not to keep the time between death and funeral beyond two months (see LP nos. 40-42). It is gladdening that the bill is on the same page as we are, by adopting the time lag of not more than two months. Very commendable too is its restriction of the period of funeral to one day (clause 11.1). It will save our people from numerous and unnecessary troubles.

I have already banned the production of brochure in the Catholic Diocese of Awka, with effect from 1 May 2017 (see LP 48-50). The money used for this could be better applied to helping the living. The faithful already know this, and I have received countless phone calls commending the move. The bill also covers this (clause 24), and it is a welcome aspect of the bill that would bring succour to many. 
Wearing of mourning dresses/Asoebi has turned into a practice used for display of wealth and importance. Surely, it is a sign of mourning, but the way it is abused has left much to be desired. I have always discouraged the faithful from this (see LP, no. 52). The bill recognized that it has some significance hence its unwillingness to place a blanket ban on it. Restricting it to family members, church groups, ụmụnna, inyomdi, and ụmụada where applicable has taken care of the unnecessary waste in this wise during funerals (clause 16). 

 I applaud the bill for its restriction of the mourning period to a week. The restriction also took care of the widows in the society (clause 25), who are often the ones who suffer most during the funerals of their deceased husbands, through long periods of restriction of movements and the unchristian so-called state of impurity. In this wise, the bill is deeply biblical, helping to protect the widows in line with the design of God who is the protector of the widow (cf. Psalm 68:5).
 I agree with the bill’s stand on the exposition of preserved corpse (clause 12), stoppage of wake-keeping (clause 10), restriction of some burial customs (clause 20), stoppage of funeral on any local market of a town (clause 19), ban on guns (clause 21), and ban on presentation of food to sympathizers (clauses 17 & 26). 

The Catholic Diocese of Awka has already stopped all manner of food and souvenirs to priests and religious at the funeral of their parents. We wish to extend this to the laity in due course. That is why I am so happy that the house has taken the bull by the horn in this direction in the present draft bill. 
 Any legislation without enforcement cannot survive. The bill took care of this by calling for the establishment of monitoring and implementation committee in every town (clause 27). This will ensure that the good intentions of the bill, when it eventually becomes a law, are not lost.  
 I understand why the bill seeks to make the Church’s funeral proceedings begin not later than 9.00am and not last beyond two hours (clause 11.2). This will help the family and the community to be able to finish all funeral programmes the same day. That is good, but in a country like ours, where one thing or the other could cause a delay in the commencement of the funeral proceedings as stipulated in the bill, like the body not arriving early, does it mean the Church will no longer perform its duties? Or, is there a way through which they could be allowed to do this after obtaining a waiver? 
The bill did its best to handle the issue of okwuozu (clause 22), which entails the official announcement or report to the natal family of a deceased married woman by her husband’s family. The bill tried to reduce the materials required of the husband’s family to fulfil this function, listing the items needed as follows: one she goat, one jar of palm wine, one carton of beer and one crate of mineral. My question is: does this really take care of the poor? Must the announcement or report be accompanied by these items to make it worthwhile? 

Recommendations
Clause 19 which stops burial on a town’s market day needs to be reformulated. Burial can be done if a person dies on the market day, especially if the family does not want to preserve the corpse for a latter day. What the bill should legislate against is not burial but funeral proceedings, which involves a much more elaborate preparations and rituals.
Some towns have more than one market day. The bill should be more specific by stating that this restriction is on the town’s main or major market day.
Clause 18 on the feeding of ụmụnna, inyomdi, and ụmụada by the family “throughout the period of burial/funeral ceremony” seems ambiguous. The bill has stated that the funeral ceremony should not last beyond a day (clause 11). It should be specific that the feeding should be only for the day of the burial/funeral. 
I would wish that registration of funerals in the State not be accompanied by any payment, as it may discourage people from registering. Therefore, clause 4, in my opinion, needs to be revisited.
Since bodies should be buried within two months after death (clause 6), I wonder why the mortuary attendants are “bound to report to the ministry of health” once a body stays in the mortuary for more than one month. I think they should be obliged to report if a body stays beyond two months. 
Blocking of roads for funerals should be accompanied with some payments not just with permission from appropriate local government (clause 7). The payment will reduce the frequency of it, because it causes huge inconveniences to road users. 
The use of material items to announce or report deaths of a deceased married woman to her natal family, in my opinion, should be stopped. I see no reason for pushing bereaved families into such expenses.
The authority accorded the towns’ monitoring committee to give clearance for every burial (clause 30.1.a) must be well regulated; otherwise, they will utilize it for witch haunting. There have been cases where such people constituted obstacles to Christian funerals, simply because the deceased or his/her relatives refused to abide by fetish and unchristian demands from them that were very injurious to their faith.

Conclusion
I thank you very much for this opportunity and the audience given to me. I trust the ability of the members of the House of Assembly to make this bill see the light of the day as a memorable and life-uplifting law for our people. The inputs from the public will definitely enhance its quality. My earnest prayer is that it scales through the remaining legislative stages successfully, for the good of the citizens of our dear State.

Once more, thank you. Remain blessed.

†Paulinus C. Ezeokafor, Bishop of Awka
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Exiting Recession through LG Autonomy

Commentary@ITRealms:

Nigeria is struggling with local poverty and grassroots under-development. Economically, depressed nations face several challenges. Uniquely, economic depression is not of the same dimension across nations. Within each country, the challenges also vary from States to States, and within States, from local government or counties to counties.

Several strategies are therefore employed, depending on the peculiarities of each state and local government. Nonetheless, our people at the grassroots are not finding it easy. Are our states' chief executives culpable in the current fiscal squeeze and constraining strangulation across the States? My question is not directed at the usual allegations of corruption and mismanagement at state levels. That depends on how you analyze and read the situation.

There is a consensus of sort that tackling local poverty and boosting depressed economy depends on virile local government system. Many analysts think something is wrong with the near death of local governments system in the country. The virtual crippling of council administration has serious consequences for poverty crisis and social palliatives policies of the government. A paralyzed local government accelerates poverty and weakens the capacity of government to contain fallout of recession. As more than 80% of the population lives at the grassroots, the weakening of local government implies deepening distance of government from the people and a worsening state of the grassroots.

There is a feeling that most state governors do not to believe in local government autonomy. Some advance differing theories of federalism which is of course are not supported by federal practices in Germany and the USA. Some eye the local government allocation and assume that pulling local allocations together can allow for centrally planned development plan for all the local governments. So many reasons were postulated. There are merits and demerits in such postulations.

Certain facts need to be clarified. First, each local government differs from the other. There are urban LGAs and rural ones. Each local government is in various stages of developments at infrastructural and other levels. The developmental needs of each LGA differ and a centrally planned development agenda may miss the crucial point of local developmental needs and aspirations.

Two, local people deserve the right to determine what is most pressing of their needs. Deciding for local people from the state capital has the tendency to misrepresent the will and wish of the people.Politicization of developmental choices is largely one of the likely negative outcomes.

There is also a political error in denying the local people the democratic rights to pick their leaders. Democracy at local level has many positive sides. First, a generation of new leaders emerges based on performance such that there is a progression in leadership development from local to state to federal levels. That allows for responsible and experienced leadership emergence and leadership transition in national development

Two, local economy is managed and boosted through elected leadership. In those days, local people don't bother about happenings at the state capitals. Local contractors exist, handling culverts, rural roads grading and other local grassroots jobs. Over valuation of contracts are not possible and supply chains for the jobs are all locally based. The Governor is saved the headache of sending monies to local leaders as the local economy is thriving and meeting the local minimal needs of the people.

Then, there is a robust competition among local leaders to deliver on good governance. Many council bosses strive hard to execute pro-people projects as they see such as opportunities to showcase their leadership credibility. This they know is a sure way to advance further in their political career.

There is of course the legitimate concern about cost of governance. But a lot of reforms can be put in place to ensure that cost of governance at local level is reduced to the barest minimum. The salary structure can be reformed and the number of elected officials can be pruned down through a legislation of the state assembly. Part of the reform is to ensure that the State Assembly does not turn the local government into a milking point.

My point is that problem facing state chief executives are self inflicted. If you allow local government to freely run, you encounter fewer challenges when it comes to welfare politics. Local issues are tackled by the local government chairmen who are to be policed by anti graft agencies and who are to implement developmental vision relevant to their local governments. This is achievable if we develop implicit confidence in the capacity of our people to do the right thing when saddled with public responsibilities.

It is clear that governmental leaders need not be control- freak as experience has shown that it does not work. Dictating what happens at the local levels distract the Governor from the bigger picture of innovative governance at the state level. Local gossips poison his psyche and he spent more time attending to local issues which should be the preoccupation of elected local government chairmen. Precious time and energy are wasted on petty local subjects.

There is also this fear of free and fair election at local level. Where elections are conducted, many state leaders across party lines yearn for total win of all local governments seats. Eventually winners are more like imposed officials, thereby rubbing them of the needed populist support to drive development and revive the local economy. Because they lack legitimacy, they rely mostly on the Governor who also controls the purse. The consequence is that the purpose of election is defeated as the 'imposed' chairmen act more like robots without initiative, ending up compounding the governance burden facing the Governor.

There is a correlation between bad governance and rigged electoral outcome. An elected leader without legitimacy is sure not to owe allegiance to the people whom he knows did not vote for him. The outcome is an ego-driven local leader who acts with impunity as long as he is in the good book of the Governor. Developmental potentials of such local government are locked away and citizens continue to stream to the state capital, seeking for survival that should have been provided at the local level under a robust local government system.

To revive the economy, a robust, virile local government system is a must. And certain conditions may be attached to this. First, the overhead cost should be reduced through alternative engagement, not retrenchment, for excess local government employees. Two, a potent anti corruption arrangement is to be put in place to avoid corrupt tendencies in local administration.

Three, local governments are to enter into business through incorporated companies specializing in products and services in which their local government have comparative advantage. Four, local economy can be boosted when each local government get its allocation and each local leadership is allowed to determine what prioritized projects are best for it. Five, the local contracting class and chambers of commerce need to be actively revived at each local government. Local jobs and contracts should be handled at the local level. This facilitates robust local economy.

 In specific terms, local artisan groups across the trade sectors should be enabled to execute local contracts.Six, states should strive to allow local governments to handle areas of their statutory mandates as spelt out in the constitution. This allows the councils to function and build a governance structure to serve the people. Seven, the states should also strive to pay to local government the statutory contribution required from states' revenues.

Now, many may see the above as impossible. That exactly is why the nation is in a gridlock. We have taken governance away from the people. The people are largely disconnected from authorities because we have deliberately weaken and render impotent local government administration out of control disposition, obsession for local government fund and a very wrong developmental theory of deciding what the people want for them rather than the other way round.

We sit at the state capital and bring a contractor to build local culvert and adjoining roads, killing local contractors and economy. We decide who a caretaker chairman should be instead of allowing people to elect their leaders. We corner all local allocations, making council areas mere salary paying establishment and forcing citizens to stream to the state capitals.

We can get out of recession, depression, poverty and widening unemployment only when we return government to the local people, only when we revive local economy, only when we allow local people to democratically elect their leaders, only when state leaders consider the endless developmental possibilities in an elected, independent, robust local government system.

*Olawale Rasheed of Sahel Media Group sent this piece from Abuja.

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JAMB says ‘no registration on Saturday April 8 2017’ suspends mock exams

ITRealms:

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) wishes to again assure Nigerians especially the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) candidates and their parents that all hands are on deck to ensure the smooth conduct of this year’s UTME exercise, reports ITRealms.

According to the Registrar and Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said, they want to reiterate that the interest of the candidates is foremost to the Board and there is no need for any apprehension regarding the purchase of forms and registration for the examinations.

" It is our commitment as a responsive and responsible body to ensure that no willing candidate is left out and if there is a need to extend the registration deadline, the needful will be done," he said.

Meanwhile, he said, the Mock examination slated for Saturday April 8th, 2017 has suspected among other activities relating to the registration exercise in any CBT centre from 8pm today being Friday 7thof April, 2017 and  to resume on Monday 10,  April, 2017. This is to notify the candidates and the concerned stakeholders that there will be no sale of forms, registration and biometric capturing at the various centres in which the Mock Examinations are taking place.

He explained that this however does not preclude any candidate from going to Banks, NIPOST, interswitch or Remita to procure pins for registration on Monday. This is to prevent any disruption of the process and conduct of the mock examination.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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Africa telecom, finance leaders assess accelerating digital investment opportunities

ITRealms:

The telecommunications and financial technology companies have been discovered to increasing investment across Africa as the rapidly improving digital infrastructure and services, and the take up of smartphones, provide huge opportunities for business and revenue growth, reports ITRealms.

Also, ITRealms gathered that leaders from Africa's biggest telecom investment companies including MTN, Orange, Helios Towers, American Tower, Eaton Towers, Google, Microsoft, Liquid Telecom and SEACOM are meeting with investment bankers, investors and advisers in London on May 24 to discuss accelerating new investment opportunities in digital communications and infrastructure.

Telecom and tech companies are increasing investment across Africa as the rapidly improving digital infrastructure and services, and the take up of smartphones, provide huge opportunities for business and revenue growth.

“Telecom and tech companies are ramping up their investment plans for digital infrastructure and services across Africa as reach of service and demand is soaring,” commented an investment banker focused on Africa. “On the infrastructure side, operators are investing in spectrum, especially in the 700MHz band, as well as on strengthening their networks by migrating from 3G to 4G LTE-based services. Mobile tower operators are also investing heavily while submarine and terrestrial cable providers have been increasing the available backbone infrastructure.”

“Improving broadband speeds and access is also having a big impact on both business to business and consumer focused opportunities. Datacentre investment appetite is growing and Smartphone take-up is supporting the growth in m-commerce, m-money and m-banking services which presents a massive opportunity for vendors and application providers.”

Over 200 senior telecom, media and tech executives, including many industry CEOs, investment bankers and advisers will meet at TMTFinance Africa 2017 at the Hilton Hotel Tower Bridge in London on May 24 to discuss the new investment and partnership opportunities.

The executive only event, which is in its eight year in London, features over 70 speakers and 25 sessions on telecom, media and tech investment and partnership opportunities for Africa.

Participating companies include: MTN Group, Orange, Liquid Telecom, Eaton Towers, American Tower Corporation, Jumia Food, SEACOM, Savannah Fund, Fibersat, PayStack, Sliide Airtime, Connect Africa, Rack Centre, Citi, Helios Towers Africa, Standard Bank Group, Atlas Mara Ltd, Draper Dark Flow, Google, Microsoft, Ringier Africa, Norton Rose Fullbright, WorldRemit, IFC, Amadeus Capital Partners, WIOCC, Societe Generale Chanzo Capital, Africa Mobile Networks, African Broadcast Network, Intelsat, Digital World Capital, MainOne Cable, M-KOPA Solar, Flexenclosure, Hardiman Telecom and African Capital Alliance.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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NCC keen on strategic partnership – Danbatta

ITRealms:

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said it would continue to partner with governments at all levels and other stakeholders in its bid to move the telecom industry forward, reports ITRealms.

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta made this disclosure at the investment forum of Kaduna State Government, KADINVEST 2.0, Danbatta also noted that the symposium struck a chord with NCC’s strategic vision.

“I would like to congratulate Kaduna State people through his Excellency Governor Nasiru El-Rufai for organizing this timely and commendable forum,” he said.

The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has just rated NCC top in the country in terms of institutional work processes.

Director General of BPSR, Dr. Joe Abah who presented a report and plaque to Danbatta recently in Abuja noted that robust business organizational structure, policies and practices that facilitate effective and efficient service delivery were some of the high points which informed the agency’s decision.

He listed accountabilities and responsibilities for set Standardized Operating Procedure (SOP) manuals of the Commission’s 19 departments.

Accurate measurement of Responsibilities and Performance assigned to staff were the parameters for the evaluation of the Commission.

In terms of governance, the Bureau said “NCC strategic objectives are prioritized for potential impact using standardized principles including the balanced score card.”.

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Letter to Dr Agoro, Since You are Not President…

Commentary@ITRealms:

Dear Dr Agoro, Since You are Not President…

It has become so obvious that leadership in this part of the world is seen as an avenue to display all manner of excesses, abnormalities and a glaring disregard for the law. Nowhere in the world, except in Africa and particularly Nigeria, would you find that such a person would exhibit questionable tendencies and go scot-free. The national laws in those climes are sacred and binding on all the subjects. In Africa, laws are assumed to be ‘sacred’, but only apply to the average citizens but, trampled upon by the high and mighty, who believe they have all it takes to either make or mar the legal process.

  

You need not be told to step aside if accused of any wrongdoing, especially in public service, for the course of justice to take charge. But the case is different here, where, even when caught or found guilty, the accused finds a way to defy the law. Worst still, the accused prefers everything halts or goes down for his or her sake, giving pandemonium a leeway.   

But that is an aside.

Dr Olapade Agoro’s comments in his interview published in the Independent dated April 2^nd 2017 caught my attention and I would like to point out a few things. First, it is quite obvious that Dr Agoro needs someone to call his attention to the wrong information on Dr Okonjo-Iweala he so boldly disseminated in the name of granting an interview.

Dr Agoro said the former minister was dropped by former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo before been picked up by his successor, Goodluck Jonathan, and she messed up the economy. As I recall, Dr Iweala served first as a finance minister in Chief Obasanjo administration before she was reassigned to the foreign affairs ministry from where she tendered her resignation. These facts are the direct opposite of Agoro’s claim that she was dropped. Even during her first tenure in that capacity, the former minister’s achievements stood tall, not unexpected anyways, as she had held a high-rate office at the World Bank.

The man in question cannot be so forgetful of the contributions of the former minister to the Nigerian economy: the role she played in the financial reforms to include debt cancellation, the institutions of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC), Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), Treasury Single Account (TSA), publication of monthly states allocations, to evince financial accountability and disclosure, which was widely commendable as steps in the right direction.

Our memories still hold her counsel to the federal government, state governments and other stakeholders of the need to save against possible future scarcity, which was not heeded by the powers that existed at the time when there was surplus. Dr Agoro should seek more reasons Chief Obasanjo chose to speak well of the former minister. After all, did we not read in his book that he thought her qualified to be President Buhari’s running mate? Has Agoro ever received such commendation?

The personality of Dr Agoro does not make him even qualified to speak on issues of governance, in whatever capacity. History has it that Agoro who, was one time the substantive holder of the Atapami of Itapa Ijesha, had long been deposed in 1983 and the title abolished by the paramount ruler of Ijeshaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran for Agoro’s dubious acts. Yet, he still brags himself as holder of the title. Dr Agoro’s recalcitrant actions have prompted the traditional ruler to involve the police to help stop him from further unruly actions that could jeopardize the peace of the local community. The City Mirror News has the story under the headline: ‘Atapami of Itapa-Ijesha: Police Investigate Dr Olapade Agoro on Breach of Peace’ dated September 19^th 2016.

Come to think of it, that same Agoro is the chairman of the National Action Council and a former presidential candidate. Where on earth could this have been possible, if not in Nigeria? In this clime, history is merely an account, which has no recourse when it comes to the choice of leadership. If not, who would have accepted his party’s nomination or picked him as a presidential candidate? In America for instance, your history can make or mar you, and that is because references to or inferences from it would be made concerning anyone to adjudge whether he or she is worthy or not for any public position. Former President Obama’s case is a good reference. His opponents or those who raised issues about his father’s origin or citizenship status could only let go of him after due revisit to history had cleared him. Same was with the incumbent President Donald Trump, who was accused of sexual assault or how he questionably related with women in the past. History indeed played its full course in these two cases.

Yet, here we are; on the one hand, Dr Agoro said the Senate President Bukola Saraki ought not to remain on seat in the face of his trial by the Code of Conduct Bureau for his alleged false declaration of assets; on the other hand, Agoro himself has had his fair share of ‘police trouble’. Is Agoro better than Saraki?

On the case of the acting head of the anti-graft agency, Mr Ibrahim Magu, Dr Agoro’s opinion is likened to someone who’s playing the role of a comedian to say the least. How could you if you were ‘Mr President’ like you said reappoint Magu after relieving him of his job as EFCC’s boss? Is that not showing you do not have a sense of direction? Would that not suggest to everyone you needed help if at most, you do not ‘win’ the wrath of the legislators or majority of Nigerians? You cannot in any way be the president neither can you be an adviser to someone in such position, else pandemonium will reign.

Dear Dr Agoro, inasmuch as it is clear that you are obsessed with occupying the number one office in this country, it is as unattainable for you as a man trying to use a ladder to get to the moon. Simply put, you are not president.

*Ola Sunday is a public commentator, who resides in Lagos. You can send comments and feedback to the email: olasundayy@gmail.com

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30 countries set to grace Lagos Internet Freedom Forum ‘17

ITRealms:

Some 30 countries have confirmed participation at the forthcoming 2017 Internet Freedom Forum (IFF), holding in Lagos, reports ITRealms.

The 2017 edition is organised by the Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), and has been scheduled between 25 and 27 April, 2017 at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria.

Confirming this, the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, Mr. ‘Gbenga Sesan, said the forum which has participants registered from over 30 countries will bring together stakeholders working on digital rights in Africa including the academia, civil society representatives, media, technology companies, government agencies and active citizens.

He also said that at IFF 2017, participants will engage in important conversations on how to safeguard the digital rights and freedoms of citizens in Africa and beyond.

According to him, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), in its 32nd session in June 2016 had declared that “the rights that people enjoy offline should also be protected online.”

He stressed that the UN declaration is a forceful reminder to governments, telecommunications companies, civil society and all stakeholders that human rights across digital platforms must be upheld.

“As we spend more of our time online across digital platforms, protecting the same rights and freedoms people enjoy offline such as freedom of opinion, expression and association on online platforms becomes increasingly important; especially set against the background of recent Internet shutdowns, the arrests of ordinary citizens for expressing their right to freedom of expression online, the enacting of legislation which curtails free speech on digital platforms, and government mandated surveillance of citizens in Africa,” Sesan said.

He noted that there were at least 11 cases of Internet/Internet applications shutdowns in Africa in the year 2016, maintaining that the Internet has been shut-down in Anglophone speaking areas of Cameroon for about 2 months.

ICT Policy Programme Manager, PIN, Adeboye Adegoke, re-echoed the words of David Kaye, the UN Special Rapporteur for the protection of freedom of expression who described the shutdown as “an appalling violation of the right to freedom of expression and a violation of international law.” IFF has been a pre-eminent forum where the most important stakeholders in digital rights converge to shape conversations and policy direction to ensure that the digital rights of citizens are upheld.

ITRealms gathered that the success of previous editions, IFF 2017 promises to be bigger and better.

Director of Programmes, Paradigm Initiative, Ms Tope Ogundipe, said that as they expect some 200 stakeholders from 35 countries, proceedings at IFF 2017 will be bilingual – in English and French.

“Panellists and participants have been drawn using a multi-stakeholder approach. The Keynote will be delivered by Anriette Esterhuysen, the Executive Director of Association for Progressive Communications (APC),” she said.

Ogundipe gave the list of stakeholders from 35 countries to include 26 African countries; while others are Canada, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom and the United States among others.

She said that supporting the 2017 Internet Freedom Forum are Ford Foundation, Google, Facebook, AccessNow, Heinrich Böll Stiftung Nigeria, Mozilla Foundation, World Wide-Web Foundation and Internews, whereas official Media partners include ITRealms, TechCabal, RedMedia, NewsWire and TechWithCFA.

Nonye Dom/GEE  

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Nigerians in US flights to enjoy free WiFi, says Turkish Airlines

ITRealms:

The Turkish Airlines is offering a new telecommunications service that allows Nigerians and other passengers on United States-bound flights, reports ITRealms.

The airline, also said this allowance has become necessary in order to further ensure a pleasant travel to the United States on Turkish Airlines, which is Europe’s Best Airline for six consecutive years, according to recent Skytrax results.

A press statement from the airline available to ITRealms, says it extends Business Class free on-board internet services to economy passengers in exchange for their tablets or laptops while boarding their flights to the United States.

“For passengers that prefer not to stow their electronic devices in checked-in baggage during the flight, Turkish Airlines offers a special service that gives travellers to the United States and United Kingdom a safe and secure method of carrying their electronics in a special area in the cargo hold of the airplane. The devices may be used at the gate until boarding,” the airline said in a statement.

According to the statement, by continuously aiming to increase the passenger satisfaction, Turkish Airlines additionally offers high quality headphones to economy class passengers on long-haul flights.

“This new service will be effective immediately in all US flights, and for all other long-haul flights of Turkish Airlines as from May 2017. The passengers will feel more comfortable with this high quality headset, specially designed for long flight hours,” it said.

Turkish Airlines said it continuously improves its in-flight entertainment system – amongst other services – in order to make its passengers feel special throughout the entire flight.

“The comfortable headphones with much higher sound quality will allow the passengers to uninterruptedly enjoy our award-winning inflight entertainment system, Planet, that delivers thousands of hours of music and film experience,” it added.

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PENCOM takes delivery of N54bn to clear backlog

ITRealms:

The Federal Government (FG) , Wednesday said it has cleared the backlog of N54 billion with the release of this sum to the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) for onward payment to the retirees reports ITRealms.

Director of Information, Mr. Salisu Na’Inna Dambatta who confirmed this to ITRealms, in a press statement, said that FG, has shown concerned about the plight of pensioners who retired under the Contributory Pension Scheme without being paid, hence it took action.

Dambatta who quoted the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun as disclosing that FG has cleared the inherited arrears of accrued pension benefit for the year 2014, 2015 and 2016 by releasing N41.5 billion to the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) for onward payment to the retirees.

The Minister also announced that the sum of N12.5 billion being outstanding for January, February and March 2017 has been settled based on 2016 appropriation, bringing the tally to over N54 billion.

"Despite conflicting demands for available cash, President Muhammadu Buhari has always expressed concern about the plight of workers and pensioners. Consistent with this, we have released N41.5 billion which clears the arrears inherited from the previous administration relating to the period 2013-15 and underpayments in 2016. This will bring relief to thousands of our elders who have served and deserve to be paid their entitlements promptly and fully,” Mrs. Kemi Adeosun said.

The N41, 566, 565, 184 released to PENCOM was the outstanding appropriated for the year 2014 and 2016 by the National Assembly for the settlement of the retirement benefits of Federal Government employees.

She explained further that “the amount we paid includes arrears and the impact is that those who retired as far back as 2013, who had been unable to access pension under the contributory scheme due to non-payment, will now be paid.”

To avoid future accumulation of pension arrears, Mrs. Adeosun assured that henceforth “the monthly allocation to the PENCOM based on the appropriation of 2017 will regularly be paid along with monthly salaries of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).”

*Ayo Midele/GEE

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Elizabeth Ohaeme emerges 2nd millionaire in Skye Savings Reward promo

ITRealms:

An Mgbidi-based Elizabeth Ohaeme, has emerged the second millionaire in the Skye Savings Reward promo, reports ITRealms.

This follows the outcome of the second draw of Skype Bank 'Reach for the Skye' Millionaire reward promo season 2 in Owerri, Imo State at the weekend.

Forty other customers of the Bank also walked away with consolation cash reward of N100,000 for 10 and N50,000 to another 10 customers, while 20 loyal customers won N20,000 with new customers who opened account at the venue winning consolation gift like generators, blenders, standing fans and electric cookers among other gift items.

Ohaeme becomes the second Millionaire this year after Olusola Olusegun Ezekiel who won the seven digits figure during the first draw held on February 16th 2017 in Ikorodu, Lagos.

At the cheque presentation on Friday in Owerri, exactly 24 hours after she was picked as the 2nd millionaire, Ohaeme said “I am so grateful to Almighty God that made this possible. I have been banking with Skye over 20 years ago and today Skye Bank remembered me and turns my life around with N1, 000,000.00. I will continue to be loyal to Skye Bank and make sure that I spread the news everywhere”.

The N1million Naira cheque was presented to the winner by His Royal Majesty, Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri KSC, Obi of Obi-Orodo (Eze Imo), Chairman, Imo State Council of Ndi-Eze in his Palace; where the Traditional ruler congratulated the winner and thanked the Bank for such a wonderful and life-changing gesture. 

According to the traditional Ruler "I am a witness to the support Skye Bank has been giving to Imo people through their services and reward  to their customers, I urge our people to continue to bank with Skye Bank"

Skye bank has used the ‘Reach for the Skye Millionaire reward promo initiative to change lives, accelerate employment generation and develop indigenous entrepreneurs; while encouraging savings culture among Nigerians.

According to Skye Bank's Group Head of Retail Banking, Ndubuisi Osakwe, the reward promo was instituted by the Bank to encourage savings culture, especially amongst the mass market segment.

"As a bank, we are committed to continually satisfy the needs of our customers; as well as empower and encourage savings culture in them, through rewards like this and also provide opportunities for them to establish small businesses with limited capital provided.

“The reward focuses on building a long lasting relationship with our customers based on trust; as well as supporting the financial inclusion drive of the CBN meant to bring a lot more people into the financial system and the formal economy”, Osakwe said.

To participate in the draw, customers are encouraged to open any Skye savings account and make a minimum deposit of N10,000 over a 30day period. If however you already own a Skye savings account, with additional deposit of N10, 000 minimum, you increase your chances of becoming the next millionaire. The more you save, the better your chances of emerging a millionaire.

"Reach for the Skye" is a year-long promo, with series of monthly raffle draws during which more and more winners will continue to emerge.

The promo which was endorsed by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission had a representative of the Commission present during the draws in order to ensure transparency in all processes.

Skye Bank is one of the eight banks described by the regulatory CBN as a Systematically Important Bank (SIB), on account of its size, market share and financial interconnectedness in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Ntel warms up, plans big for commercial launch anniversary

ITRealms:

Ntel has said its planning big as it warms up for the celebration of the first anniversary of its commercial launch, reports ITRealms.

According to information made available to ITRealms, ntel said it would also mark 365 days of its Data Test Drive which allowed data hungry subscribers as well as heavy data users to test our network’s capabilities.

Sources at ntel, ITRealms gathered said that when the mobile operator launched, “we made a commitment to provide Nigerians with an unbeatable broadband experience – superfast Internet speeds and unlimited data and we are glad to have exceeded your expectations.”

Further, our sources pointed out that as the anniversary dawns, they are rolling out a suite of new data/voice combos as well as data only plans and products with the sole aim of giving customers more.

“You can find details of these plans and products here - http://www.ntel.com.ng/ntel-more/” official said.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Why Nigeria e-Commerce is largely traditional

Commentary@ITRealms:

Despite the growing appeal of e-commerce, available data shows that the shopping behavior of majority of Nigerians is still largely traditional – with many preferring to see, touch or experience the product in action before making the buying decision.

In this piece, Yudala – Nigeria’s leading online and offline retail chain – dissects the e-commerce revolution and why most Nigerians remain slow in changing their traditional shopping habits.

E-commerce has become a thriving global industry. A recent report released by the Oxford Business Group revealed that retail sales hit a whopping $22b figure globally in 2016, with online shopping figures accounting for a major part of this outlay. In advanced climes where access to the internet and of course, literacy levels stand at appreciable levels, e-commerce has become a lifestyle for many. Interestingly, global retail sales, of which e-commerce makes up a major part, is projected to rise further to an estimated 27 trillion dollars by 2020.

Nigeria has also been bitten by the e-commerce bug. This has been made possible by the proliferation of online stores all competing for the attention of shoppers, many of whom are eager to jump on the ease and convenience of the e-commerce train.

Nevertheless, e-commerce is still at the rudimentary stage in Nigeria as the pace of adoption and acceptance is decidedly slow. Despite the huge strides recorded in the Nigerian e-commerce landscape – especially with the massive awareness for globally celebrated shopping festivals such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, among others – the average Nigerian is still an unrepentant traditional shopper.

In spite of the massive hype and growing status of e-commerce in Nigeria, you are better off convincing the average Nigerian to make the final buying decision when you can provide him or her with an opportunity to ‘experience’ the product before parting with hard-earned money. This often involves visiting a physical or brick-and-mortar store location to interact with sales attendants and getting a chance to see a demonstration of the item before the sale is closed.

This traditional shopping behavior goes a long way to justify the unique Yudala model of combining an online store with physical offline stores located nationwide. Cases abound of most walk-in customers actually admitting to having checked out a particular product online but still preferred to physically visit the store to see the product before purchase.

A few factors are responsible for this largely traditional approach to the e-commerce revolution in Nigeria:

Trust remains a major issue: Many Nigerians live in constant dread of online fraud and will do anything to avoid using their debit card to process payments electronically. According to data from the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) the year 2014 saw 1,461 reported cases of electronic or e-fraud, with actual losses grossing N6.216 billion. In 2015, about 946 attempted e-fraud cases were also recorded by banks, Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) and Mobile Payment Operators (MPOs), resulting in an estimated loss of N5 billion. Recently, the Hon. Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu indicated that about N78 billion is lost yearly in Nigeria to all forms of cybercriminal activities. This reality has stunted the growth of e-commerce in Nigeria.

Internet access is elusive for many: It is an open secret that e-commerce is driven by access to the internet. However, internet access for many in this part of the world is an expensive venture. Worse still, the number of internet users seems to be declining. Going by the most recent statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the number of internet subscribers in Nigeria’s telecommunications networks declined to 91, 274,446 in January 2017. According to the figures released, internet users dropped to 91,274,446 in January as against 91,880.032 users recorded in December 2016, showing a decline of 605,586. This is one of the major reasons why the average shopper remains seemingly stuck in his largely traditional shopping ways.

Unsavoury experiences from delivered orders: The e-commerce experience in Nigeria has been stalled by the action of some online retailers who end up disappointing the customer with the delivery of items different or inferior in quality from the one seen or ordered online. In such a case, the customer has to bear the inconvenience of having to either navigate the thorny process of seeking a refund or waiting an extra lengthy number of days to get the right item. This is why ensuring that “What you see is what you get” remains a unique selling point in the e-commerce market.

Millions remain underserved or unreached in the hinterlands: A recent report revealed that the Nigerian e-commerce industry recorded a handsome $1.9b figure in 2016 and the figure is expected to reach an estimated $3.9b in 2020. However, e-commerce in Nigeria remains a predominantly urban phenomenon. For many in the hinterlands and rural communities hobbled by the absence of the most basic infrastructure, e-commerce will remain an abstract concept for a long time. To reach these ones, citing a physical store not too far from their location remains the best bet.

Seeing and touching sells quicker than just seeing: Ever wondered why many shoppers with access to the internet still end up carrying out most of their e-commerce purchases in physical stores? For many Nigerians, seeing and being able to touch the item beats just being able to see it on the screen of a mobile phone or laptop. Majority still want to see, touch, feel and/or experience a product before they part with their money.

Nothing can replace the plain old physical contact: Commerce in Nigeria originated from a traditional stand-point. Nothing feels better than haggling with a seller face-to-face and eventually securing a bargain. The glint in the eyes of the buyer and renewed spring in the steps are a sight to behold. For now, at least, e-commerce will struggle to completely wipe away this culturally-ingrained shopping behavior.

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