Tuesday, November 30, 2010

USA Africa Dialogue Series - RE: Jonathan's Bribe: Eye-Witness Account

Great anlysis of this issue by Dr Ola Kassim! He spoke my MIND on several of the wonderments surrounding this issue, especially the following:
1. "In a nation in which close to half of her 150 million citizens live in abject poverty, Nigerians must ask the President about the justification for this kind of largesse and where the money is coming from."
2. "....the fact that the dirty money was promptly returned to the sender completely absolves the SNG  of either having committed a criminal offence or a moral sin,......The return of the illicit funds represents the silver lining in the black cloud of this ugly transaction....The SNG is no longer the issue in this matter; I believe that they have absolved themselves of any guilt by returning the brown envelope containing $50,000.00 intact."""
3. ""There is certainly no doubt that any amount, small or large doled out in this manner either as gift or bribe and in whatever currency represents a missed opportunity for fellow Nigerians. These are funds that should  have been spent on healthcare and education and in providing other essential services for the citizens of Nigeria."""
 
As I earlier today in connection with the ECOWAS Court ruling that Nigeria should use her surplus resources to educate her citizens, it is really sad that the minority of Nigerians who currently enjoy the nation’s wealth just want to continue the cronyism, greed and amassing of unneeded riches at the expense of the advancement of society and people. In particular, Nigerian leaders appear to be antipathic to issues, programs and projects that benefit the people and the majority of the Citizens. This psychology may at least partly explain why there is no City in Nigeria with mass transit, public pipe-borne water, regular electricity and infrastructures or projects that benefit the masses. Poor Naija! Daalu Dr. Kassim. Take care all. JUI (Getting ready to go spend QUALITY TIME with Mom at Agenebode!)


From: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com on behalf of OlaKassimMD@aol.com
Sent: Tue 30-Nov-10 11:53 PM
To: nigeria360@yahoogroups.com; naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com; nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com; omoodua@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] Jonathan’s Bribe: Eye-Witness Account

Dear Fubara:
 
I share your frustration on this issue. The Aso Rock incident involving the prinicpals
of the SNG, its aftermath`and our individual and collective reactions to the
incident are symptomatic of what Nigeria has become-- a totally immoral and decadent
society in which both the rulers and the majority of the ruled have lost almost all
sense about what is right or wrong and what is decent or indecent. The legal luminary
Prince Ajibola lamented our moral state in a speech he delivered about one year ago.
I couldn't agree with him more!
 
Nigeria is now a nation where the citizens are unable to tell the difference between
what is offered as a gift and what is offered as a bribe.
 
Regardless of the  intention of the giver/offerer, the majority
voice in decent communities in most jurisdictions throughout  would probably
not have had any difficulties in condemning this act.
 
Yet, as Nigerians we remain divided about the amoral underpinnings of this
ugly incident. Some are busy rationalizing this indecent transaction-- offering their
support on the basis of their ethnic affliation with the players in the interaction,
whilst others are blaming the SNG for returning the money. Others based on ethinic
and other affiliations can see no evil on the part of the SNG no matter what..
One netter--I believe Eric Ayoola even suggested that the money should have been
 kept and receipted by the SNG and deployed
to run its programs. I refuse to accept this idea of the end
justifying the means. Such warped mentality is at the root of the mess we have created
for ourselves in Nigeria.
 
As  Dominic Ogbonna observed yesterday, If the amount of $50,000..00  was meant as a gift
--we need to ask how often this kind of gift is offered
to visitors at Aso Rock not only under the GEJ regime, but under previous
administrations
 
 If this is an official gift from the government of Nigeria and the
President was acting on behalf of the citizens, we must ask under which expense
account  this amount and similar ones are being dispensed to visitors to Aso Rock.
 
If on the other hand it is a personal gift from the President, the Press on behalf of
the citizens of Nigeria should be asking how the President became so rich, that
he could dispense such sums of money from his official salary. But no one is asking!
 
If on the other  this was meant as a bribe, (a scenario already denied by the Presidency)
then a crime has been committed on the part of the Presidency.
 
As I have pointed out in all my submissions, the fact that the dirty money was promptly returned
to the sender completely absolves the SNG  of either having committed a criminal offence or a moral
sin, even if their handling of the aftermath leaves much to be desired. The return of the illicit funds represents the
silver lining in the black cloud of this ugly transaction.
 
There seems to be just as much confusion about the nature of the transaction even within the leadership
of the SNG. One half of the leadership has insinuated that the offer was a bribe--without really using the word
bribe or graft ( "as they would not ordinarily have wanted to embarrass the Presidency")--
paraphrasing Yinka Odumakin),
while the other half, Pastor Tunde Bakare has publicly declared  that the money was a GIFT,
(specifically reimbursement for transportation--bus or air ticket expenses). in Yoruba culture this practice is referred
to as--Owo Irinse as we were reminded by Sister Triple A yesterday. However there exists a reasonable limit] amongst the
Yoruba about what amounts are acceptable as Owo Irinse, regardless of how wealthy the giver is and how needy'the
recipient is respectively. In other words $50,000.00 is too much for Owo Irinse!
 
In a nation in which close to half of her 150 million citizens live in abject poverty, Nigerians
must ask the President about the justification for this kind of largesse and where the money is
coming from.
 
If the money is for air transportation alone--it is certainly more than what is required
for the travel expenses of the 20 or so delegates who attended the midnight meeting at Aso Rock.
 
If it was meant to pay for their time (i.e. compensation for loss of income on the time spent visiting
Aso Rock)--we must ask whether the Presidency has a written policy and a schedule that guides
such payments to visitors.
 
Either way one looks at this matter --gift or graft--I believe strongly that Aso Rock has a case to answer..
SNG, in all fairness does not have any case to answer.
 
Even more disappointing is our individual and collective  responses to this incident. Just like Nigerians
at home, the netters (if indeed we are an accurate representation of the entire Diaspora) are also equally
divided regarding the nature of this transaction. I sincerely doubt if citizens of many other nations
would be in as much quandary as we have been in telling the difference between a GIFT and a BRIBE
and once this is decided about the appropriateness of such offers in official engagements.
 
There is certainly no doubt that any amount, small or large doled out in this manner either as gift or bribe
 and in whatever currency represents
 a missed opportunity for fellow Nigerians. These are funds that should  have been
spent on healthcare and education and in providing other essential services for the citizens of Nigeria.
 
The SNG is no longer the issue in this matter; I believe that they have absolved themselves of
any guilt by returning the brown envelope containing $50,000.00 intact.
 
Rather the moral burden on this matter remains  with the Presidency. The buck stops at the president's
desk!
 
Bye,
 
Ola
-----Original Message-----
From: Fubara David-West <davidwest62@yahoo.com>
To: nigeria360@yahoogroups.com; naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com; nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, Nov 30, 2010 9:31 pm
Subject: Re: [Nigeria360::Live] Jonathan’s Bribe: Eye-Witness Account

 
I do not know if other readers now understand what this "bribe" was supposed to be buying.
This group had a meeting with the president, during which  the president's performance in office was discussed.  After the meeting, someone passed on some money (the bribe?),  to the group.  Why would the president's men do that?  Is this something that Nigerian presidents do, under normal circumstances?  Otherwise, why would the president's assistants think that the Bakare group should be paid some money?  Was this an attempt to buy the silence of a vocal critic? 
 
I thank you.
 
Fubara David-West. 

--- On Tue, 11/30/10, Mr. Seyi Olu Awofeso <awofeso@mwebafrica.com> wrote:

From: Mr. Seyi Olu Awofeso <awofeso@mwebafrica.com>
Subject: [Nigeria360::Live] Jonathan’s Bribe: Eye-Witness Account
To: nigeria360@yahoogroups.com, NewnaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 3:11 PM

 

 
Jonathan’s Bribe: Eye-Witness Account
By Yinka Odumakin
  
“After the meeting with the President, he left the wing where we met for another [wing] and said ‘please don't go yet I'm coming’. Sensing what that could [mean] we headed for our cars…We would have left before Orubebe emerged from the president with a brown envelope but for the fact that the drivers were not allowed to stay in the cars.”
Odumakin further explained: “Before we could drive off he [Orubebe] brought the ‘gift’ from the President and he said so. We rejected the money instantly but he was persistent. Wisdom dictated we couldn't be creating scene at the [Aso Rock] villa gate after midnight.”
“We headed to our hotel and called Mr. Tony Uranta to come up with us. We then called Orubebe and put him on speaker to let him know that we are returning the money through Uranta back to him and to the president. Mr. Uranta then said that he appreciated our integrity.”
Mr. Odumakin revealed that the $50,000 came in “five bundles and all $100”. He added that, in order to guarantee that the money was returned to source, they also called Oronto Douglas, a senior adviser to Jonathan, to inform him of their action.
 
“We had moved on and we ordinarily would not have embarrassed the Presidency on this matter,” Mr. Odumakin further wrote, adding, “But 48 hours after the visit Saharareporters called to inquire if we visited Jonathan, which we confirmed. We then learnt that the meeting leaked through the other party. At that point, it became clear that some people were out to do some dirty job. It was later revealed to us that the story that was actually sold was that we collected money from the Presidency.”
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 10:08 AM
Subject: President Jonathan Offered $50,000 Bribe, But We Returned It - Pastor Tunde Bakare Confirms

 

President Jonathan Offered Us $50,000 Bribe, But We Returned It - Pastor Tunde Bakare Confirms

Posted: November 29, 2010 - 00:42
Posted by siteadmin
By SaharaReporters, New York
Fiery Lagos-based pastor, Tunde Bakare, has confirmed to Saharareporters that President Goodluck Jonathan provided a $50,000 cash bribe to a delegation of the Save Nigeria Group that visited him last Monday, but that the group sent back the money.
Pastor Bakare’s confirmation came in the midst of a tepid denial of our earlier report by Tony Uranta, one of Mr. Jonathan's political operatives. Uranta had claimed on his Facebook page yesterday that Saharareporters misrepresented the crux of the meeting between the president and the Pastor Bakare-led delegation.
Specifically, Uranta denied that Jonathan discussed his ambition to run for office with the SNG delegation. He also stated that no money was offered to the SNG team and claimed that, contrary to our earlier report, the Bakare group had not asked him to return the bribe money to Jonathan.
But in a telephone interview with Saharareporters on Sunday evening, Pastor Bakare confirmed that the details of our earlier exclusive report were factual and unimpeachable.
Bakare, who has a reputation for speaking out fearlessly on current political issues, affirmed that the Minister of the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, had offered the SNG delegation the sum of $50,000 on behalf of President Jonathan. The SNG had met with Jonathan to review his performance in office.
In the phone interview, Pastor Bakare stated categorically that his team was indeed offered money after it submitted a position paper on why it was opposed to the president's ambition to be re-elected. He confirmed that the cash was immediately returned to sender through Uranta, shortly after it was presented to the SNG delegation.
The SNG convener told Saharareporters that his team felt terribly embarrassed and offended by the orchestrated attempt by Jonathan and his team to buy the SNG’s support through illicit means.
An obviously angry Bakare said, “You can quote me. I don't do deals and I don't lie. Tony [Uranta] could be saving his own face. Tony lied that he didn't collect the money from us. There are living witnesses. Orubebe has confirmed to me that the money was returned. Mr. President is aware through Oronto Douglas that we returned his money through Tony.”

Bakare said he, Yinka Odumakin and other SNG officials went to the meeting with Jonathan with a written document that explained why the SNG would not support his candidacy.
“We submitted a document regarding the culture of impunity in which he (Jonathan) continues to swim," he said.
As Saharareporters had exclusively reported, Jonathan sought a meeting with the Save Nigeria Group to discuss his ambition to run for office after it dawned on him that former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, the consensus candidate chosen by the so-called Northern Political Elders Forum, was going to present a stiff political challenge.
A close aide to Mr. Jonathan told Saharareporters that, whilst Atiku is steeped in corruption, the president was also aware that the Atiku group had a dossier on corrupt deals by both Jonathan, his wife and his close associates and advisors, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
After Bakare made his presentation and accused Jonathan of having abused the goodwill offered him by Nigerians, the president tried to buy the group’s loyalty by giving its officials $50,000 through Orubebe.
An Abuja-based democratic activist told Saharareporters that, by attempting to buy the SNG's support, Mr. Jonathan had “exposed himself to charges of hypocrisy and doing the opposite of what he preaches.”
In a speech on Saturday, Mr. Jonathan had urged Nigerians to ignore politicians who seek to win elections by offering money to groups and individuals.
The president gave the do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do sermon at the 2010 graduation ceremony of the Senior Executive Course 32 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Plateau State. Vice President Namadi Sambo represented the president at the event and read the speech on Jonathan’s behalf.

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Recent Activity:
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USA Africa Dialogue Series - Project 2011 Swift Count of Elections Launched in Nigeria

 
 
Launch of Project 2011 Swift Count on Thursday, September 16,
2010 at Lagos/Osun Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel
 
TOWARDS ELECTION 2011: ENSURING YOUR VOTE COUNTS
 
What are our Objectives?

The principal objectives of the partners are the following:

 To promote free, fair, peaceful, credible and legitimate elections in Nigeria;
 To deter possible fraud and mistakes in the electoral process by observers
throughout the process;
 To enhance transparency of the electoral process by providing timely, systematic and
representative reports on the conduct of voting and counting;
 To build confidence, when appropriate, in the accuracy of the official results as
announced by INEC through independent verification; and
 To demonstrate the strength and benefit of partnership and collaboration among
Nigerian civil society towards enhancing the credibility of the electoral process;

In meeting these objectives, the partners will be guided by the Nigerian Constitution, the
recently amended electoral laws,the international and regional standards for the conduct of
elections and election observations. Our activities will also be informed by "Declaration of
Global Principles for Nonpartisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Citizen
Organizations". These principles were drafted by the Global Network of Domestic Election
Monitors (GNDEM) and affirm Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UNDH) which essentially promotes genuine democratic elections, expressed by the free will
of the people, as the basis of the derivation of governmental authority.
 
 
Contact
12 A.E Ekukinam Street, Utako District, Abuja
Tel: 09 8700764 or 07098120144
Email: info@pscnigeria.org
Website: www.pscnigeria.org
Face book: Project 2011 Swift Count
Twitter: swiftcount
Media inquiries should be directed to: Muritala Abdul-Rasheed at +234 8163464024
 
 
 
Project 2011 Swift Count involves comprehensive observation of the 2011 general election including systematic observation of voting and counting at a representative random sample of polling using the PVT methodology and employing information and communication technologies (ICTs). The partner organizations will jointly deploy and receive reports from a total of 9,000 observers who will be stationed at 4,500 polling stations located in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as in all 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Through "Project 2011 Swift Count" the partner organizations will jointly seek to provide the public, political parties, electoral authorities with.


There is a lack of confidenceamong Nigerians in the conduct of elections and the accuracy of the results following successive elections that have failed to meet international and regional standards. However, in response to the public commitment of the President to genuine elections and the appointment of a new Chair for the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), Project 2011 Swift Count is being undertakento promote free, fair, peaceful, credible and legitimate elections for all Nigerians. This endeavour is being jointly implemented by: Federation of Muslim Women's Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN); Justice, Development and Peace/Caritas Nigeria (JDPC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Transition Monitoring Group (TMG).

This initiative involves comprehensive observation of the generalelections (beginning with voterregistration) using advanced observation methodologies.As part of theproject, observers are deployed to a representative random sample of polling stations in all 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs). It is possible to draw a statistically sound sample because, in accordance with the Section 46 of the Electoral Act 2010,INEC provides a comprehensive list of all polling stations. Project 2011 Swift Count also employs information and communication technologies (ICTs) to rapidly transmit observer reports. Observers send coded text messages via mobile phones directly into a computer database located at a national information centre.

Deploying observers to a sample of polling stations and rapidly transmitting their reports using text messages,permits the initiativeto use time-tested statistical principles to provide quick,precise and representative information on voting and counting. In addition,because observers record the individual results from sampled polling stations,Project 2011 Swift Count canindependently verify the accuracy of the official results as announced by INEC in Abuja.The projectwill not announce official results. This is the responsibility of INEC.
As this is the first time the methodologyis being used in Nigeria, Swift Counts are being undertakenfor the presidential election and six gubernatorial elections (one in each geo-political zone).
Project 2011 Swift Count will carry out its observations in accordance with the "Declaration of Global Principles for Nonpartisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Citizen Organizations".

Goal of Project 2011 Swift Count
Project 2011 Swift Count'svisionis a Nigeria where elections are free, fair and peaceful as well as viewed as credible and legitimate by its citizens. To achieve this goal, project seeks toenhance the confidence of the public and political contestants in the electoral process and the official results as announced by INEC. By providing more precise and representative information on voting and countingas well as independent verification of the official results as announced by INEC, Project 2011 Swift Count can: deter possible electoral fraud; increase transparency in the electoral process; and ensure that the elections truly reflect the will of the people.

Use of the Swift Count Methodology
The Swift Count methodology was first developed by citizen observers in the Philippines in 1986. It has been used in numerous countries in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe. In Africa, the Swift Count approach was recently employed for the Constitutional Referendum in Kenya in August 2010. It has also been usedin Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.For Project 2011 Swift Count, the methodology is being adapted to the unique conditions present in Nigeria.

Project 2011 Swift Count Leadership
National Steering Committee (NSC) 1st Co-Chair is Akuro George the 2nd Co-Chair is Mashood Erubami. The other NSC members are: Dr. Aisha Akanbi; Rev. Fr. Zacharia Samjumi; Priscilla Achakpa; Rev. Fr. Bernard Asogo; Ruben James; and Farida Sada Yusuf. In addition, Hajia Bikisu and Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) are honorary members.

Project 2011 Swift Count Structures
A joint National Secretariat, headed by Victor Agbogun,is responsible for the day-to-day manage-ment of Project 2011 Swift Count. The structure includes State Coordinating Committees in all 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well asLGA Supervisors in all 774 LGAs. For the general elections, Project 2011 Swift Count is deploying thousands of volunteer observers to polling stations located in every LGA.All staff and observers are:recruited from the four partner organization; trainedthrough Project 2011 Swift Count; and accredited by INEC.

Support to Project 2011 Swift Count
Project 2011 Swift Count partners are responsible for the design, implementation and conduct of the initiative as well as the content of all observation statements.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) provide support for Project 2011 Swift Count. The project receives technical assistance from the National Democratic Institute (NDI). A Memorandum of Understanding exists to ensure ownership of the initiative by the Project 2011 Swift Count partners.

_________________________________________________________________________________

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USA Africa Dialogue Series - RE: | ECOWAS Court orders Nigeria to provide free education for every child

We wish there is an enforcement mechanism for this ruling, so that we can encourage a serious follow-up on this issue. Unfortunately it is really sad that Nigeria is turning out to be of those few strange NATIONS that would like to stymie progressive advocacy for GOVT to use the nation's resources for the citizens and people. It appears the minority of Nigerians who currently enjoy the nation's wealth just want to continue the cronyism, greed and amassing of unneeded riches at the expense of the advancement of society and people.

Nigerian leaders appear to be antipathic to issues, programs and projects that benefit the people and the majority of the Citizens. Any surprise why there is no City in Nigeria with mass transit, public pipe-borne water, regular electricity and infrastructures or projects that benefit the masses? Poor Naija! JUI

 

From: NigerianID@yahoogroups.com [mailto:NigerianID@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kayode Adebayo
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 4:45 PM
To: nigerianid@yahoogroups.com; nidocanada@yahoogroups.com
Subject: NigerianID | ECOWAS Court orders Nigeria to provide free education for every child

 

Source: Vanguard

LAGOS — The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja has ordered the Nigerian government to provide as of right, free and compulsory education to every Nigerian child. The court had earlier in a ruling declared that all Nigerians are entitled to education as a legal and human right.

The ECOWAS Court's judgment read in open court, followed a suit instituted by the Registered Trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, against the Federal Government and UBEC, alleging the violation of the right to quality education, the right to dignity, the right of  peoples to their wealth and natural resources and to economic and social development guaranteed by Articles 1, 2, 17, 21 and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.

The Court also ruled that the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, failed to discharge its responsibility pursuant to its foundational instrument to monitor how states are spending and using states' natural wealth and resources in order to ensure that the resources are spent for the purposes for which they are meant.

The court granted the following reliefs asked by SERAP:
A declaration that every Nigerian child is entitled to Free and Compulsory Education by virtue of Article 17 of the African Child's Rights Act, Section 15 of the Child's Rights Act 2003 and Section 2 of the Compulsory Free and Universal Basic Education Act, 2004.

An order directing the defendant to make adequate provisions for the compulsory and free education of every child forthwith.

The court also said the ICPC report on the diversion of the sum of N3.5 billion from the UBE fund by certain public officers in 10 states of the Federation of Nigeria constitutes only a prima facie evidence of theft of the public funds until the officials involved are successfully prosecuted before national courts.

On this ground, the court did not elaborate on the provisions of Articles 21 and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

The Court said that the right to education can be enforced before the Court and dismissed all objections brought by the Federal Government, through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), that education is "a mere directive policy of the government and not a legal entitlement of the citizens."

Reacting to the ruling, SERAP's Solicitor Femi Falana, who filed and argued the case before the Court with Adetokunbo Mumuni, said, "This is the first time an international court has recognized a state obligation to provide legally enforceable human right to education to its citizens, and sends a clear message to ECOWAS member states, including Nigeria and indeed all African governments, that the denial of this human right to millions of African citizens will not be tolerated."

"We commend the ECOWAS Court for its ground_breaking judgment, which has permanently re_defined human rights jurisprudence in Africa. The ECOWAS Court has consistently demonstrated courage and industry in the discharge of its vital role in putting an end to violation of all human rights and impunity of perpetrators in the sub_region. We also acknowledge the important contribution of Dr Kolawole Olaniyan of Amnesty International in London, to the case," said Falana.

SERAP's suit followed a petition sent by SERAP to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which led to the discovery by the ICPC of massive corruption and mismanagement of the UBEC funds.

The investigation also resulted in the recovery of stolen N3.4 billion, meant to improve the quality of education and access to education of every Nigerian child. The organization used the findings of the ICPC as the basis for its suit before the ECOWAS Court.

The Federal Government had alleged, through the UBEC, that "the Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the action filed by SERAP on the grounds that the Compulsory and Basic Education Act 2004 and the Child's Rights Act 2004 are Municipal Laws of Nigeria and not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court because it is not a treaty of ECOWAS; that the educational objective of Nigeria under the 1999 Constitution is non_ justiciable or enforceable; and that  SERAP has no locus standi to institute or maintain the action."

Dismissing all the objections by the government, the ECOWAS Court reaffirmed its earlier ruling to the effect that: "It is important to assess the basis of SERAP's claims in determining the justiciability or otherwise of its claims with respect to the right to education and whether it can be litigated before this Court.

Though SERAP factually based its claim on the Compulsory and Basic Education Act and the Child's Right Act of Nigeria, it alleged a breach of the right to education contrary to Article 17 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and not a breach of the right to education contained under Section II of the 1999 Federal Constitution of Nigeria It is trite law that this Court is empowered to apply the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and Article 17 thereof guarantees the right to education."

"It is well established that the rights guaranteed by the African Charter are justiciable before this Court. Therefore, since SERAP's application was in pursuance of a right guaranteed by the provisions of the African Charter, the contention of the government that the right to education is not justiciable as it falls within the directive principles of state policy cannot hold", the Court further ruled.

On the objection that the court lacks jurisdiction, the Court said: "It is a well established principle of law that jurisdiction is a creature of stature. Under Article 9(4) of the Supplementary Protocol, the Court clearly has jurisdiction to adjudicate on applications concerning the violation of human rights that occur in Member States of ECOWAS.

The thrust of SERAP's suit is the denial of the right to education for the people of Nigeria, denial of the right of people to their wealth and natural resources and the right of people to economic and social developments guaranteed by Articles 1, 2, 17, 21 and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights of which Nigeria is a signatory. The Court has jurisdiction over human rights enshrined in the African Charter and the fact that these rights are domesticated in the municipal law of Nigeria cannot oust the jurisdiction of the Court."

The Court also said that "As SERAP's claim is premised on Articles 1, 2, 17, 21 and 22 of the African Charter, the Court does have subject matter jurisdiction of the suit filed by SERAP."

Dismissing the government's argument on locus standi, the Court stated: "The authorities cited by both the government and SERAP support the viewpoints canvassed by them. However, we think that the arguments presented by SERAP are more persuasive for the following reasons: first, the doctrine of 'Actio Popularis' developed under Roman law to allow any citizen to challenge a breach of public right in Court was a way of ensuring that the restrictive approach to the issue of standing would not prevent public spirited individuals from challenging a breach of a public right in Court. Second, SERAP citied authorities from around the globe which all concur in the view that in a human rights violation the plaintiff need not be personally affected or have any special interest worthy of protection."

The Court also said: "Public international law in general is in favour of promoting human rights and limiting the impediments against such a promotion, lends credence to the view that in public interest litigation, the plaintiff need not show that he has suffered any personal injury or has a special interest that needs to be protected to have standing. Plaintiff must establish that there is a public right which is worthy of protection which has been allegedly breached and that the matter in question is justiciable.

This is a healthy development in the promotion of human rights and this court must lend its weight to it, in order to satisfy the aspirations of citizens of the sub_region in their quest for a pervasive human rights regime."

 

 

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Recent Activity:

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SEE YOU IN TORONTO IN 2011

Nigerians In Diaspora Organization.  Our mission is to promote the spirit of patriotism, networking, and cooperation among Nigerians in Diaspora....

Support the PUSH TO VOTE IN NIGERIA at http://www.ProudNigerians.Org 

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USA Africa Dialogue Series - STAR INFORMATION: Unemployment Rates and Other Related Information in Nigeria (March 2009) {Re: Unemployment rate highest in Bayelsa, Katsina, others-Ogun has the least- NBS

 
 
_________________________________________________________________________________________
 
 

CONCEPTS /DEFINITIONS

 

Total Labour Force is made up of all persons aged 15 – 64 years excluding students, homekeepers, retired persons and stay-at-home parents, and persons unable to work or not interested in work.

 

Unemployment Rate is defined as the proportion of Labour Force who were available for work

but did not work in the week preceding the survey period for at least 39 hours.

 

Table 1: National Unemployment Rates (2000 - 2009)

 

 

Year

Rates

2000

13.1

2001

13.6

2002

12.6

2003

14.8

2004

13.4

2005

11.9

2006

12.3

2007

12.7

2008

14.9

2009

19.7

 

Table 2: Unemployment Rates in Nigeria by State, March  2009

S/N

State

%

Unemployment

(in declining order)

1

Bayelsa

 38.4  

2

Katsina State,

 37.3  

3

Bauchi

37.2

4

 Akwa Ibom State

 34.1

5

Gombe State

 32.1

6

 Adamawa State

 29.4

7

Rivers

27.9

8

 Borno

27.7

9

Kano

 27.6

10

Yobe

 27.3

11

Taraba

 26.8

12

Jigawa

 26.5

13

Sokoto

 22.4

14

FCT

 21.5

15

 Imo

 20.8

16

Ekiti

 20.6

 

Nigeria

19.7

17

Lagos

19.5

18

Kogi

19.0

19

Delta

18.4

20

Anambra

16.8

21

Enugu

14.9

22

Ondo

14.9

23

Oyo

14.9

24

Abia

14.5

25

Cross-River

14.3

26

Zamfara

13.3

27

Osun

12.6

28

Edo

12.2

29

Ebonyi

12.0

30

Kebbi

12.0

31

Niger

11.93

32

Kaduna

11.6

33

Kwara

11.0

34

Nassarawa

10.1

35

Benue

8.5

36

Ogun

8.5

37

Plateau

7.1

 

Table 3: Unemployment Rates by Educational Group, Age Group and Gender  

(March 2009)

 

ITEMS

Urban

 Rural

 Composite

All Groups

 19.2

 19.8

 19.7

Educational Level

 

 

 

Never Attended

20.6

 20

20.1

Below primary

18.4

22.9

22.3

Primary

15.1

14.7

 14.8

Secondary

 21.4

25.3

23.8

Post secondary

 13.9

26.4

 21.3

Age Group

 

 

 

15-24

49.9

39.6

 41.6

25-44

16.3

 17.3

 17

45-59

10

12.1

11.5

60-64

18.2

 16.2

 16.7

Gender

 

 

 

Male

17.2

16.9

 17

Female

 21.7

 23.9

23.3

 

 

Table 4: Distribution of Unemployed Persons by Educational Level, Age Group and

Gender, March 2009

 

 

ILO

Nigeria

Educational Level

Urban

 Rural

 Composite

 Urban

 Rural

 Composite

Never Attended

0.0

0.8

0.5

0.8

3.2

2.5

Primary

5.7

13.9

11.0

20.4

37.3

32.7

JSS

1.8

4.1

3.3

5.0

8.1

7.2

Vocational /Commercial

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.0

SSS

43.7

62.1

55.6

37.2

39.2

38.7

NCE/OND/Nursing

16.1

6.9

10.2

15.1

5.7

8.3

B.A/B.Sc/B.ED/HND

32.0

11.6

18.8

19.1

5.1

8.9

M.Sc/M.A/M.Adm

0.5

0.

0.5

1.5

0.1

0.5

Doctorate

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Others

0.2

0.1

0.2

0.9

1.2

1.1

Age Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

15-24

39.0

50.8

46.7

28.9

32.8

32.0

25-44

54.8

43.6

47.4

53.0

46.0

47.5

45-59

4.8

4.3

4.5

14.5

16.5

16.1

60-64

1.4

1.3

1.3

3.6

4.6

4.4

Gender

 

 

 

 

 

 

Male

50.4

57.4

55.0

48.4

52.9

51.9

Female

49.6

42.6

45.0

51.6

47.1

48.1

All

100

100

100

100

100

100

 

 

 
NEWS ITEM:
 
 
 
Unemployment rate highest in Bayelsa, Katsina, others-Ogun has the least- NBS

 

UNEMPLOYMENT rates in 16 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, are higher than the 19.7 per cent national average, the National Bureau of Statistics has said.

Bayelsa State has the highest composite unemployment rate of 38.4 per cent, followed by Katsina State, whose rate stands at 37.3 per cent, according to a survey recently concluded by the NBS.

The Statistician-General, NBS, Dr. Vincent Akinyosoye, disclosed these in a paper on "The Phenomenon of Economic Growth Without Job Creation: Evidence from Nigeria", obtained exclusively by our correspondent on Monday.

He said the annual collaborative surveys on socio-economic activities, jointly conducted by the NBS, Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission provided the results of the annual Labour Force Survey.

Other states with higher-than-average unemployment rates, according to the survey, are Bauchi State (37.2 per cent), Akwa Ibom State (34.1 per cent), Gombe State (32.1 per cent), Adamawa State (29.4 per cent), Rivers State (27.9 per cent), Borno State (27.7 per cent) and Kano State (27.6 per cent).

Yobe, Taraba, Jigawa, Sokoto, Imo and Ekiti states' unemployment rates stood at 27.3 per cent, 26.8 per cent, 26.5 per cent, 24.4 per cent, 20.8 per cent and 20.6 per cent, respectively, in the review period.

The FCT also recorded an unemployment rate of 21.5 per cent.
According to the NBS, the high incidence of unemployment amid economic growth reveals major dislocations in Nigeria's socio-economic system.

"On a general note, the fact that Nigeria is experiencing economic growth with high incidence of unemployment indicates some major dislocations in its socio-economic system," it said.

The bureau noted that unemployment rates in oil producing states like Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers were higher than the national average because "the oil industry that dominates economic activities in those areas is a capital-intensive industry that has very limited space for unskilled labour, which is abundant in the affected states."

It said, "Again, unemployed persons tend to migrate to the oil producing states, thereby, increasing the job queues in these areas.

"The ease with which able-bodied persons in the oil producing areas derive benefits from illegal oil bunkering and other unwholesome activities also makes the urge to look for paid employment very low. Nevertheless, they declared themselves 'unemployed' when asked about their job status."

The NBS report also said that states, which generated high economic activities, without corresponding employment opportunities, experienced higher unemployment rates than neighbouring states with smaller economies.

"This may explain why Lagos State, from the survey, had an unemployment rate of 19.5 per cent in 2009 as against neighbouring Ogun State with a lower figure of 8.5 per cent," it said.


 

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