Nigerian economy to hit $1trn in 2025 – Expert

A South African economist, Dr Martyn Davie, on Tuesday predicted that Nigerian economy would hit One trillion Dollar benchmark by 2025.

Davies, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Frontier Advisory Ltd., gave the prediction at the opening of the 2014 Africa Hotel Investment Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Frontier Advisory is a leading research, strategy and advisory firm that specialised in Global emerging markets.

He noted that the Nigeria’s economy being the largest on the African continent in terms of size was currently leading South Africa by 20 per cent.

Davies, however, advised Nigeria to take advantage of her demography and invest to diversify its economy, which was largely dependent on oil export.

“The political economy of Africa is increasingly becoming complex, making the Africa rising narrative no longer applicable as development needs, when viewed through multiple lenses,’’ he said.

According to him, GDP was no longer a measure for growth, saying growth had become complex comprising of diversification and quality not just quantity.

Davies insisted that both government and the private sector must invest heavily in basic infrastructure and manufacturing to hasten industrialisation, and sustain its growth among emerging economies.

The expert also canvassed for economic friendly legislation to attract investments given the advantage of population of young persons and markets.

Besides, he urged African countries to address the security challenges that would attract Direct Foreign Investments (DFI) and speed up growth.

Davies also expressed concern over the slow pace of the continent’s economy growth saddled by fragmented markets due to cultural and language barriers among nations.

He said Ethiopia and Kenya would also hit 100 billion dollar benchmark between2025 and 2027, given their pace of growth in the East African region.

No fewer than 500 hotel operators, managers and developers as well as government officials from 24 countries, including Nigeria, are attending the conference. (NAN)

Civil Servants in Edo state to retire at 60yrs and not 35yrs, as governor Adams scraps retirement Policy

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state has abolished the 35-year retirement policy for workers in Edo state as the state workers are now to retire at the age of sixty regardless of whether they have put in 35 years in the state civil service.

Delivering the Independence anniversary gift to the workers at a meeting with labour leaders at the Government House, on Wednesday 1 October, Oshiomhole described the compulsory 35 years as obnoxious.

“Our own anniversary gift to workers of Edo state, especially those in the public service has to do with the issue of pension. Over the years, while I was in the NLC, I had wondered why we have a policy in the public sector which is unique to the public sector in which we appear to punish experience. We are compelled to retire because you have put in X number of years.

“Having taken the pains to clean up our records and carry out appropriate biometrics of our public servants, we believe that about 90 to 95 per cent of our records as regards to age can now be said to be correct.

“That being so, there is no reason for us to continue to use our obnoxious policy of 35 years as a basis to determine one’s years in the public service. Therefore, this government has decided to abolish this policy and uphold only that aspect of retirement that has to do with age.

“So in Edo state with effect from today, I will effect an executive order to abolish the federal circular which imposes 35 years as a condition for retirement. Henceforth, Edo state public servants shall retire only when they have attained the age of 60. However, if any public official chooses to retire earlier, that will be seen as a voluntary retirement and will be accordingly allowed to retire,” he said.

He said “In other climes, number of years of experience is something to be rewarded. It is not a basis for termination or forced retirement but I do understand that some other aspects of our national life, we have evolved policies on seeking the easiest escape route to a complex problem because government could not cope with the issues of falsification of age, people swearing to false affidavit, I think over the period, government appeared to have resolved the issue by compelling everybody to retire once there is evidence that you have put in 35 years.

“We have reflected on all this. This year I have seen a lot of young people, still strong and hardworking, and we have lost them because they had to retire because they have put in 35 years even when they were not 60 years old. I have seen some people retire at the age of 55, some even at the age of 44 because they started working at the age of 20.

“Consistent with our commitment to reforms, and interrogating every public policy that we inherited, I am convinced that this policy is no longer in the interest of the people of Edo State and certainly not in the interest of workers and employees in the public service.

“It is my hope, comrades that with this policy, we recognise that whatever we are trying to do has a purpose and ultimately there is only one thing that is important to us, ensuring that in all that we do, we keep our eyes on the board and taking Edo to the next level by ensuring we get value for our money”.

Appreciating the governor for the gesture, Chairman of Joint Negotiating Council, Mr Shaka Otoide and the Chairman of the State branch of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Emmanuel Ademokun, thanked the governor for the gesture adding that it had brought another innovation to the service and the entire Edo state workers.

According to Ademokun, “the Comrade Governor is the only state governor in Nigeria that has given Level 17 to workers. He was also the first to implement the new minimum wage. Now he has again shown that he is the best worker-friendly governor in the country by abolishing the 35 year retirement policy.

“On behalf of the entire public sector, we assure you that we are not going to let you down and by the grace of God, we are going to live up to expectation to ensure that this gesture you have given us, the state will not regret it”.

US to send medical experts to study Nigeria’s Ebola Containment methods: As Another Liberian man Exports Ebola to US

Marveled by the manner with which Nigeria contained the deadly Ebola Virus Disease from mushrooming into a serious outbreak in the country, the United States has expedited personnel of her Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC to study the model and strategies used to prevent the outspread of the disease.

The United States are now faced with a similar situation that occurred in Nigeria when Liberian born American citizen Mr. Patrick Sawyer transported the disease into the country on July 20, 2014; they fear the disease might be on the rise in their country and are rapidly seeking intervention.

US CDC Director Tom Frieden noted that “the nation needs a quick and thorough response to its first Ebola patient,” after a suspected person tested positive to the disease on Tuesday in Dallas, Texas.

The suspect, a man who traveled from Liberia into the US, noticed signs of the disease and without informing authorities went to an hospital; he was later confirmed positive and isolated; reports also suggest that the Nurse who treated him is being isolated as well.

Frieden said they turned to Nigeria for aid because “their extensive response to a single case of Ebola shows that control is possible with rapid, focused interventions.” CDC personnel will also visit Senegal and possibly other infected countries in Africa to conclude its research.

Controversy Trails APC’s Proposed Indirect Primaries

The adoption of the indirect primaries for the election of candidates for the 2015 elections by the All Progressives Congress(APC) is generating controversies within the party.
A group of legal practitioners in an open letter to the leadership of the party said the adoption of the indirect primaries by the party may lead to many inconveniences since the party has no elected delegates for conducting party primaries.

“APC has elected delegates for the purpose of state congresses and National Convention, any attempt of the conversion of the said delegates, special convention must be conveyed before such conversion can be effectively done in line with the provision of the APC Constitution,” the letter said.

Quoting the released guideline of the party and sections 86 and 87 of the 2010 Electoral Acts as amended and Article 20 of the APC Constitution 2014 as amended, they faulted the suitability of the indirect primaries in ensuring a credible primary election by the party and suggested the party adopts the direct primaries which according to them is more suitable for the conduct of the primaries by the opposition party.

It said if the party insisted on the use of the indirect primaries, it must comply with the rules and regulations as laid out in the Electoral Act, the party’s Constitution as well as other relevant laws governing the conduct of primaries by political parties.

A group under the aegis of ‘True Progressives Coalition’ had in an earlier paid advertorial accused the party of breaching the provision of its constitution in its choice of method for primaries which has since been dismissed by the party.

Responding to the earlier allegation, national organising secretary of the party, Osita Izunaso said the party will not breach its constitution to satisfy some vested interests.

He said the party adopted the indirect primaries in order to give its members opportunity to elect the party candidates and to make the process more democratic.