A Nigerian Socio-Political commentary

http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/blog/moffic/content/article/10168/2106458

The West Africa College of Physicians concluded the second diet of exams recently. The faculty of psychiatry declared a pass rate of 13.8% at its part one membership exams (8 of 58 candidates). The faculty of public and community health recorded a 32% pass rate (23 of 70 candidates) Twice every year, candidates from all over the country converge in Ibadan and Lagos for the West Africa college of physician and National post graduate medical college exams respectively, each diet of examinations consisting of written, objective structured clinical exams, picture tests and oral/long case exams as the case may be. It is usually a very grueling and trying time for any candidate with psychological, emotional, financial and sometimes physical consequences. A minimum of sixty thousand naira (#60,000) is paid for each exam attended without consideration of transportation, feeding, and other ancillary expenses incurred. It is funded by the candidate after an initial one time sponsorship by the t...

1. Nigeria is awash with money, floating literally, free and up for grabs by anyone who has the audacity, way and means to dip into the till. This is partly because these moneys are not tied directly to structures or programs which benefit Nigerians personally and directly, and little impact is made in the lives of Nigerians. 2.Also as a result of the huge budgetary allocation yearly to little more than white elephant projects, the avenues to steal are teeming, consequently the very high rate of corruption. 3.70% of Nigerian’s live in penury and poverty, mostly abject. 4.There is presently no benefit the average Nigerian derives from its government-no social welfare/security, no social housing and no formal (official) succor. Nigerians are left entirely to their own vices; if you die, you die. 5.Related to point number one is the need to curb crime and insecurity through a national fingerprint database. The data base will help the police for forensic purposes, crime detection etc. 6....

Subsidy removal has engendered certain discourses which hitherto were an open secret, but were somehow forbidden, never received due attention, or conveniently swept under the carpet because people never had the platform, opportunity or cohesiveness to push them. The debate over Fuel subsidy removal and the attendant wide spread protest however has provided a platform and opportunity to speak. For me, these are issues that have been nagging, and fuel subsidy removal pales into insignificance. If the Nigerian Labor congress would bring these to the table as a bargaining chip, and demand change, it would have achieved much. What are the issues? 1. Operation of a constitution bequeathed to us by the military. Until now, the people of Nigeria have not sat at a table, freely of themselves, in a democratic dispensation to discuss the basis of their existence, cohabitation, and nationhood. An article of faith, stating that “we the people of Nigeria declare….” freely debated, freely entered in...

Nigerians are a complex and curious lot. So vocal, so vociferous and passionate about issues they sometimes little understand, if only to be seen saying something! The punching bag of any and every baby that can blab is the government. The recent menace of Boko Haram brings this to the fore. Most associates of mine severely castigate the president, Goodluck Jonathan as being weak, lame and unprepared for leadership of this country. Their assumption is that he is doing less than required since we still hear of bomb explosions every now and then. He inept they surmise. They posit that former President Obasanjo would have crushed the menace of Boko haram by now! I never knew Nigerians could be this nostalgic for Baba Iyabo! What they fail to see however, is that Nigeria is is not alone in this experience and that the government is doing her very best in these situations. The IRA held North Ireland hostage for generations, detonating bombs at will, even killing the much revered Lord Mountb...

''It is almost certain that the embattled former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission {EFCC}, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, will be extradited from his United States of America’s base, following an order for his arrest, on Friday, by the Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting in Abuja over his refusal to present himself for trial. The tribunal is prosecuting him for alleged failure to declare assets while in office between 2003 and 2008 as required by the fifth schedule to the 1999 Constitution'' Ribadu Faces Extradition - Conduct Tribunal Orders His Arrest Lanre Adewole, Abuja - 21.11.2009

However, the Action Congress (AC) has described as "infantile and diversionary" the bickering between the two chambers of the National Assembly over which of them should host the joint sitting for the President's budget presentation. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said the "mundane supremacy fight between the Senate and the House does not show that the legislators appreciate their role, which is to make laws for the betterment of the country." It said the fact that the bickering had already led the President to postpone his budget presentation showed that, "it is a great disservice to the suffering masses of our people who have continued to wait in vain for this do-nothing National Assembly to make laws that can improve their lives. "Nigerian federal lawmakers are perhaps the best paid in the world, yet they are turning out to be the least productive. The only time people hear their voices are when they are ...