CROSS-OVER PROFESSIONALS IN GOVERNMENT

On the 23rd of June 2021 in Abuja, NextierSPD held a hybrid conference tagged 'Getting big things done: Improving the effectiveness of cross-over professionals in government'. I was a stakeholder at the event. The parley began with the paper presentation: 'Public service reforms: Unlocking the gridlock' by Osita Chidoka (Former Minister, Aviation). Then came an overview of the findings as regards efficiency in the public service by Patrick Okigbo III, Founding Partner, NextierSPD.

                                                               Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa 

There were two panels. Panel 1 was 'Understanding the Public Service' moderated by Dapo Oyewole (Senior Yale World Fellow & Special Adviser to Speaker, House of Representatives). The speakers were: Prof. Tunji Olaopa (Executive Vice Chairman, Ibadan School of Government & Public Policy); Nabila Aguele (Special Assistant to the Minister of Finance, Budget & National Planning); Mrs. Bunmi Dipo-Salami (Executive Director BAOBAB) & Dr. Joe Abah (Executive Director, DAI, Nigeria). The gist of the conversation was that public service as it is needs to be properly understood before any meaningful 'reformist' agenda can be effective and efficient.

The panelists in the second session were: Dr. Shamsudeen Usman (Former Minister, National Planning), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru (Former CEO FIRS), Engr. Umar Bindir (Agricultural Engineer & Former SSG, Adamawa state) & Bunmi Onabanjo-Kuku (Executive Director/Partner Advisory @ Ernst & Young). Dr. Usman said in spite of the fact that public officers and even Ministers detested the reforms he introduced, he stuck to his guns. This was possible because he had the support of his principal. Each  Minister was made to sign a 'Performance Charter'. There was initial resistance, but they came around eventually.

Mrs. Ifueko Okaru, former boss of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), informed the audience that she spent the first six months 'studying the system'. She did not bring along any external 'Special Assistants'. She sourced the needed 'Assistants' from within the system after six months in office. This made for less resistance to her and by extension a more amicable work environment. Engr. Umar Bindir informed us that COPs should not come into government looking down on public officers. That would be a recipe for failure. Respect those you meet on ground, while not compromising your principles. 

On the whole, it was clear from the discourse that the rookie COP needs to tread softly, understand the system, imbibe humility and learn from public officers with years of experience in the saddle. Caution: Whatever you do, never compromise your integrity...   

   

VIOLENCE AGAINST PERSONS IN NIGERIA: STEMMING THE TIDE

The Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 was again x-rayed in Abuja on 21st June 2021. The meeting was a hybrid one with participants in the hall at Treasure Suites & Conferences while others joined us via Zoom. Dr. Amina Salihu, Senior Programme Officer, McArthur Foundation set the tone with a comprehensive review of the proposed amendments to the document. Her submission elicited reviews from the audience.

Dorothy Njemanze, Founder, Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, mentioned the fact that the landmark judgement by the ECOWAS Court in 2017 in her favour against the Federal Government of Nigeria  affirmed the violation of the Maputo Protocol. Dorothy and two others won N6m each, a total of N18m. None of the plaintiffs has received the said compensation for illegal detention and harassment by Security Agents to date. 

See for example, https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/.../245936-ecowas-court-orders-nigerian-govt-pay-n18-million-women-maltreated. See also Dorothy Njemanze & 3 others vs FGN - Suit No: ECW/CCJ/APP/17/4; Judgement No: ECW/CCJ/JUD/08/17. See also ECOWAS Court awards N90m in damages to Nigeria Air Force woman for rape...https://www.premiumtimesng.com; https://thenigerianlawyer.com  

Photo L-R: Ms. Ene Ede (VAPP Coordinator FCT), Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, Charles Angelo (Director Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs - FMHAMSI) & Mrs. Bunmi Dipo-Salami (ED BAOBAB)

In my intervention, I urged the state governments apart from the 21 that have ratified/domesticated the Act to follow suite and do the same. Priscilla Usibiofo, a gender activist, was of the view that victim protection and the stigma attached to rape remain 'big' issues. For Ms.Ene Ede, VAPP Coordinator FCT, all hands must be on deck to stem the tide of violence against persons in the country.

Photo L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, Ms. Ene Ede, Ms. Priscilla Usibiofo (Gender activist), Mrs. Bunmi Dipo-Salami

I believe that continuous refining of the contents of the VAPP Act in line with current realities, would lead us in a positive direction...  

Related Links

*To break the cycle of violence, we must address the root causes, i.e. the reasons people fight    https://lnkd.in/e8-K4jP

*VAPP Law: Bauchi government launches N3.7b costed action plan     youtube.com

*The other pandemic: Rape & sexual violence in conflict    youtube.com
     

WOMEN AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

Concerned Women Against Drug Abuse (CONWADA), is an off-shoot of the NGO, Women, Youth & Children Care Organisation (WYCCO), founded by Barr. (Dr) Mrs. Farida Waziri, OFR (Former Chairman of the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission - EFCC). I am a valued member of CONWADA, which paid a courtesy call on the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Rtd. Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (Former Military Administrator of both Borno and Lagos States on the 2nd of June 2021, ahead of the 26th June International Day Against Drug Abuse.

 I recall that I was the Head of Department of Political Science, Lagos State University (LASU) when General Marwa was appointed Military Administrator of Lagos State in the 1990s. We were all very excited, and he did not disappoint. 'Keke Marwa', has been replicated in many parts of Nigeria. 'Operation Sweep' rid Lagos of criminal elements under his watch. As Military Administrator and by extension Visitor to LASU, Gen. Marwa initiated far-reaching reforms that put the University on the path to greatness. Am I digressing? That is what happens when you are discussing a high achiever like Brig-Gen Buba Marwa. You cannot but remember his antecedents. 

The same vigour and astuteness he was known for in his earlier endeavours has been replicated at the NDLEA in just four months of his assumption of office - N90bn worth of drugs has been seized! This impressive feat was high in the consciousness of members of CONWADA when they visited the NDLEA boss.

L-R: Brig-Gen Buba Marwa (Chairman NDLEA), Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, Dr. Ngozi Madubuike (Director, Drug Demand Reduction/Rehabilitation, NDLEA), Barr. Dr. Mrs. Farida Waziri (Fmr. Chairman EFCC & Founder WYCCO/CONWADA)

Concerned women and indeed mothers both within and outside WYCCO/CONWADA are aware of the extensive damage done to the lives of young (and not so young) men and women by the consumption of illicit drugs. There is a nexus between the consumption of hard drugs and criminality. Insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, rapists, ritual murderers, etc commit all these heinous crimes under the influence of psychotic substances. The new Czar on the bloc, Brig-Gen Marwa is mopping up these dangerous drugs at source before they get into the hands of the end users who are destroyed by same! Kudos. Many lives and families have been wrecked by hard drugs.

L-R: 3rd left - Dr. Farida Waziri, Brig-Gen (Rtd.) Buba Marwa, Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, Mrs. Bunmi Dipo-Salami

In her speech, Barr. Farida Waziri emphasised the fact that the youth bulge, unemployed and unemployable graduates of various institutions constitute a critical mass of individuals that could be used to foment mayhem in our clime. As they say, 'The idle hand is the devil's workshop'. She said CONWADA was ready to partner with NDLEA for the celebration of the 'International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking 2021' and that modalities had been put in place to enable families and individuals that have struggled or are struggling with drug abuse to tell their heart-rending stories. Mrs. Waziri noted that as at December 2020, there were 170 Universities churning out graduates into the job market. But where are the jobs? Besides, are the graduates equipped for the job market of the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

Brig-Gen Marwa responded by commending WYCCO/CONWADA for the visit. He said Kano state government is already testing potential political office holders for drugs/drug addiction. He says such drug tests should be carried out for persons at all levels - even potential national office holders! He also suggested that potential couples should be tested for drugs before being allowed to marry. We don't want drug addicts as parents or abusive spouses. Nigeria is indeed facing a drug epidemic that is disabling young men and women in their prime.

Besides, Gen Marwa said money realised from hard drugs is used to fund criminal activities. The President is committed to ridding Nigeria of hard drugs. He warmly welcomed the advocacy against illicit drugs by WYCCO/CONWADA. He charged his guests with the task of continuing to emphasise the role of good parenting and indeed the home front in the fight against the trafficking and consumption of hard drugs. Besides, the stigmatisation of women who are addicts should be discouraged. They need to be encouraged to come forward and access treatment.

The meeting ended on the convivial note of a symbiotic relationship between WYCCO/CONWADA and NDLEA going forward...

L-R: Barr. Farida Waziri, Brig-Gen Buba Marwa, Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa & Mrs. Bunmi Dipo-Salako

Related Links

*NDLEA arrests woman with wraps of cocaine tucked in her private part    ait.live

*Cocaine diguised ascharcoal worth up to $41m seized by Police in the US     cnn.com