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Tag: Ogakwu

  • CSO Calls On Tinubu To Sign NATCOM Bill Into Law

    CSO Calls On Tinubu To Sign NATCOM Bill Into Law

    A group, Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) has issued a fervent call for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign the National Commission for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NATCOM) Bill into law to enhance national security.

    This urgent appeal comes amidst escalating concerns about national security and the proliferation of illegal firearms.

    CSGGG President Chief Ogakwu Dominic made the call on Monday in Abuja.

    Quoting Rohini Nilekani, he stated, “We cannot be mere consumers of good governance, we must be participants; we must be co-creators.”

    The group underscores this sentiment, emphasizing the critical role that NATCOM could play in not just curbing illegal arms but also creating economic opportunities and employment for Nigerian youths.

    Dominic said NATCOM is envisioned as a pivotal institution aimed at restraining the illicit trade of firearms while simultaneously generating revenue and providing employment for over 7,000 unemployed youths in each state of the federation.

    He noted that if operational, the commission is expected to self-fund and provide substantial financial packages to over 10,000 graduates without government appropriations.

    He highlighted the devastating consequences of uncontrolled weapons proliferation, which fuels violence, insecurity, and economic instability.

    “The illegal circulation of arms trade fuels violence and insecurity. It empowers criminals, disrupts communities, and creates a climate of fear,” he said.

    Dominic emphasized that the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) has been a significant factor in Nigeria’s security challenges, leading to increased banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.

    He noted that the NATCOM Bill, passed by the National Assembly, proposes the establishment of a specialized commission to address these issues comprehensively.

    The group’s plea emphasizes that signing the NATCOM Bill is not just about enhancing security but also aligns with international and regional conventions such as the United Nations Protocol on Firearms and the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.

    He said by doing so, Nigeria would reaffirm its commitment to these agreements and take a significant step towards addressing the national security threat posed by illegal arms.

    He reiterated that in addition to security gains, the bill promises substantial economic benefits by creating a safer environment conducive to investment and sustainable development.

    He stressed that the operational activities of NATCOM are expected to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and encourage local businesses to expand.

    He furthermore said the commission is projected to complement existing security outfits such as the Police, Customs, Civil Defense, Immigration, and the Military, enhancing overall effectiveness through collaboration and information-sharing.

    Dominic urged all stakeholders to support this critical initiative, emphasizing that the assent to the NATCOM Bill is a moral imperative for safeguarding the nation’s security, advancing economic prosperity, and fostering social cohesion.

    “Together, we can build a safer, more prosperous future for generations to come,” he said.

  • CSOs React To Jackson Ude, Sahara Reporters False Allegations On NEMA

    CSOs React To Jackson Ude, Sahara Reporters False Allegations On NEMA

    • Says Ude’s allegations, baseless, unfounded, malicious and highly misleading
    • Commends Tinubu on Steve Oronsaye’s report.

    The Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) and Integrity Advocacy for Development Initiative (IADI), has reacted to reports emanating from the twitter handle of controversial journalist, Jackson Ude, where he alleged that the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), looted 3 billion naira via contract racketeering in one month.

    Reacting to this allegation during a press briefing, at the weekend in Abuja, the coalition led by Comrade Ogakwu Dominic, and Chris Ofomhi, described the allegations as another attempt on blackmail, campaign of calumny.

    While providing detailed explanation to the issue, they said one had to have a deeper understanding of how NEMA operates, adding that “NEMA is an interventionist organization whose major mandate is to address issues that require urgent and prompt responses and in doing so, the agency most times carries out emergency procurement in line with the stipulations of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and other extant regulations.”

    They,however, said the DG should be commended for initiatives he had brought to reshape the agency.

    They said: “The allegations that the DG of NEMA looted over N3 billion between January and February is baseless, unfounded, malicious and highly misleading.

    “Mustapha Habib Ahmed’s tenure as the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has been a tenure marked by a series of commendable achievements, commitment, leadership showmanship, dedication, strategic and sterling vision in handling emergency response and disaster management in Nigeria.

    “Overtime, he has played a pivotal role in raising public awareness about disaster preparedness and mitigation whilst through commitment to innovation and collaboration, positioned NEMA as a key player in disaster management not only within Nigeria but on the global stage.

    “The DG deserves much better than to be placed on twitter if not a social media grill. Under his leadership, the Agency developed solutions to emerging challenges that will enable performance of its functions in line with international humanitarian standards.

    “In a world where integrity and sincerity can, at times, be scarce, it is crucial to note that the expository in question lacked detailed facts and credibility, as it heavily relied on hearsay and not absolute fact.

    “It therefore poses on the readers and digesters of such cancerous reportage to pose crucial questions before accepting false information as infallible truth.”

    In a related development, the coalition also frowned at a recent publication on one of the online news outlets on calls to probe NEMA over alleged failure to refund $4.8 minion unspent after Nigerians’ evacuation from Ukraine.

    “What is unknown to them is that NEMA actually refunded unspent balance of the approved fund to the tune of $648,600 USD in two batches of $450,300 and $198,300 respectively to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “From the above finding, it is obvious that the allegation is frivolous and baseless. Instead of the frivolous allegations, the National Emergency Management Agency deserved to be commended for being diligent in carrying out the national assignment of safely bringing stranded compatriots back home, and also being prudent in the application and expending of the allocated fund for the project”.

    The coalition also in same vein, commended the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda which came with gratifying reforms, one of which is the implementation of the Steve Oronsaye Report, an action scheduled to restructure and rationalize federal government agencies and parastatals to reduce costs of governance, streamline operations, and improve efficiency.

     

  • CSGGG Boss, Ogakwu Dominic bags ‘Jagaban Kata’ title in Niger

    CSGGG Boss, Ogakwu Dominic bags ‘Jagaban Kata’ title in Niger

    For his outstanding contribution to the people of Niger, Comrade Ogakwu Dominic, President Civil Society Groups for Good Governance, CSGGG was confered the ‘Jagaban Kata’ chieftaincy title on Saturday.

    The turbaning which was done by Sani Ismaila, the Zaki Kata at the Sakatayi Palace Tafa LGA in Niger State, saw in attendance notable men of valour who also received several titles for their contribution to the community.

    Speaking during the ceremony, the Zaki stated that the honour was to reciprocate the commitment, respect, and love shown to his community by the civil society group under Ogakwu’s leadership.

    The Zaki acknowledging Ogakwu as a detribalised comrade who believed in national development, peace, and unity appreciated him for his services while enjoining him never to rest on his oars.

    In appreciation, the recipient Comrade Ogakwu, who led a delegate of other CSOs, stated that the honour bestowed on him is in tandem with the ideals of national integration.

    The Jagaban Kata, thanking the Zaki and his entire cabinet members for the distinguished honour, however called for unity amongst all ethnic groups in Nigeria, stressing that the civil society organisation will continue to preach the gospel of unity and integration because the peace and unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable.

  • Naira Redesign: CSGGG Hails CBN, Comments On New Monetary Policy

    Naira Redesign: CSGGG Hails CBN, Comments On New Monetary Policy

    • Policy needed to address alarming volume of currency outside banking system – Ogakwu

    A coalition of over 190 civil society organisations identified as Civil Society Groups for Good Governance, CSGGG has applauded the leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria for its move to redesign the nation’s
    N200, N500 and N1, 000 naira notes.

    In a statement signed on Thursday by its president, Comrade Ogakwu Dominic, stated that the development is a strategy which will curb inflation and wrest control of the nation’s economy from the crippling and stifling grip of economic saboteurs, whose stock-in-trade is to weaken the naira and cash in on the losses of the nation, for selfish security and socioeconomic interests.

    It read:”The Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG), has thrown its weight behind the Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor – Godwin Emefiele – and his new monetary policy which has generated so much controversy in the public domain lately.

    “At such a time as this, when Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world, with insecurity crippling our economy, the Central Bank of Nigeria has tightened its grip on the economic jugular of the nation – a move which many pundits have denounced as socioeconomic mass murder of poor Nigerians. Nigeria currently stands at a crossroads with two potentially unpopular choices to make – continue on our economic trajectory to a certain socioeconomic implosion or impose a paradigm shift and risk the ire and angst of Nigerians? Which is the lesser of the two evils?

    ” One look at this gloomy and explosive cocktail, reveals one common denominator connects all the scenarios above – excess cash or currency in circulation, which are not being used in productive activities, but to sponsor non-state actors and threaten peaceful coexistence. More worrisome, the illicit transactions involving these unaccounted excess cash, is completely out of the radar of our government, meaning that individuals who seem larger-than-life and more influential than our government, are controlling the economics dynamics which determine the fate of the whole country. And if these monies are not quickly recovered before the fast- approaching 2023 general elections, it is very obvious that these daredevils intend to use this humongous amount of money in vote-buying and other electoral malpractices which rob Nigeria of credible leaders and leadership. Hence something needs to be done urgently to withdraw these excess cash and forestall potential electoral fraud as well as circumvent criminality in Nigeria. That is where the new CBN’s monetary policy comes into force.” it added.

    On the issue of the new monetary policy, the group emphasized that the policy will not only control the nation’s overall money supply but enhance the achievement of sustainable economic growth.

    The group, commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his timely approval of the planned redesign of the currency notes, however pledge it support to the CBN governor Godwin Emefiele, while chastising those whose stock in trade is condemning the latter on this new policy initiative.

    The CSO further urged anti-graft units of all security agencies and commissions to use the opportunity created by the new and existing currencies exchange window from December to January 31, 2023 when the existing currencies shall cease to be a legal tender, to monitor illicit and illegal financing, money laundering, terror financing, votes buying amongst others.

  • Coalition demand expedite action on appointment of Substantive AGF

    Coalition demand expedite action on appointment of Substantive AGF

    Issues 30 days Ultimatum to FG, Minister of Finance

    Coalition of Civil Society Organisation, under the aegis of Civil Society Group for Good Governance CSGGG, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite action on the appointment of a new Accountant General of the Federation.

    The group decrying the government hesitation in appointing a new AGF, recalled that the peaceful protest which held earlier today in Abuja at the Federal Ministry of Finance, is in futherance to the group’s previous actions on the issue which so far yield no result.

    The president of the Comrade Ogakwu Dominic addressing newsmen noted that CSOs are concerned about the interim appointment of an acting Accountant general of the federation owing to the sensitive role the office plays in the economic development of the country.

    Ogakwu disclosing that concerned CSOs, had overtime selflessly and graciously tasked themselves to hold two press conference, series of media engagement, formal letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Secretary to the government of the federation, the Head of Service, the Ministry of Finance and other relevant stakeholders to drive home demands all to no avail, however issued a thirty days ultimatum to the FG for the substantive appointment of a new accountant general of the federation.

    A co-convener, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta, reiterating the importance of the office, urged Buhari to punish everyone found culpable in frustrating the appointment of a substantive officer, noting that Nigeria cannot be a nation of accountability without the office of the accountant general of the federation.

    Meanwhile the Coalition earnestly prayed the Federal Government, Hon. Miinister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, to avoid the pitfall of recruiting an inexperienced individual to man the office, emphasising that the exercise should be limited to well experienced directors in the pool within the four walls of the ministry.

  • Declare State Of Emergency In The Power Sector- Stakeholders Urges FG

    Declare State Of Emergency In The Power Sector- Stakeholders Urges FG

    Stakeholders in the Power Sector have called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency for total overhauling of generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in the country.

    They made the call in Abuja at the Third edition of Civil Society Roundtable discussion with Stakeholders in the Power sector .

    The stakeholders argued that the Nation could not develop without the Power sector; hence the urgent need for state of emergency.

    Addressing the stakeholders, the president of the Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG), comrade Ogakwu Dominic Ogakwu said despite the investment of over $16 billion spent by previous administrations, Nigeria could only generate 5000 megawatts of electricity as against the current capacity of over 11,000 megawatts needed by consumers.

    Comrade Ogakwu said: “Even more worrisome is our inability to equitably distribute our generated capacity while faced with a stark reality that productivity and industrialization of any nation is hinged on Power supply.”

    He explained that the roundabout was to proffer solutions to the “critical challenges” of the power sector in the short term and suggest what could sustain the power supply in the long run.

    “The responsibility to get things right should not just rest on the regulator or electricity distribution companies alone, but civil society and electricity consumers must join hands to demand and direct the trajectory for improving service delivery as constitutionally required,” he advised.

    Declaring the event open, The Minister of power, Abubakar Aliyu revealed that government had initiated a series of reforms, including the vision 30-2030 and the strong desire to complete all the power projects across the country.

    Represented by the director, Reform Coordination and service improvement in the Ministry, Titilayo Agbeyo, the Minister said government would continue to play it’s role in providing the enabling environment for stakeholders and investors.

    Highpoints of the Roundtable included presentation of power sector documentary to the Stakeholders and certificate of performance to the Minister of power.

    The event, which brought together hundreds of participants from across the country, had as its theme “Boosting Nigeria’s power sector performance for overall socio-economic development of the nation”.