20 July 2004
Lagos — Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe, member, representing Ahiazu state constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, granted correspondent EMMA OGU, an interview recently, in which, among others, he justified his advocacy for youth-related issues. Excerpts:
HOW often do you get in touch with people of your constituency?
First and foremost, I want to bring to your knowledge that I operate from my home town, that is my village. I decided to do this so as to be close to my people and have a better feel of their problems and aspirations.
I also have a functional constituency office in two areas in my constituency. Besides, I also have a constituency liaison officer attached to me in Owerri. So as a matter of fact and in the schedule of the House of Assembly every Monday is committee day and Fridays are constituency days.
I must tell you that after committee work here every Monday and Fridays I am always at my constituency office. Besides, I also run my constituency office on Saturdays. I operate from 8am till 12. So through these ways I have been able to stay close to my people and attend to their problems. I have been able to solve the problems that are within my capacity to solve and those I could not solve I referred to the appropriate authority.
I am sure they will be expecting dividends of democracy from you. So how have you been able to deliver these?
Well, dividends of democracy, I will say, are multifaceted. This year alone, I have been able to offer about 60 scholarships to vocational and commercial schools in my constituency.
Like I have always said, I was attracted to this scheme because vocational and commercial schools take care of education of children from very poor homes where parents cannot afford the high fees of secondary or grammar schools. I came down to the very poor among us.
I have also been able to encourage women to enhance social cohesion among themselves by organising women dance competitions. It has really given them a sense of belonging and created opportunities for them to come together and interact.
At the state level, I have been able, through the Ministry of Public Utilities to make representations to the state on behalf of some communities and in fact about 70 per cent of the requests I made have been met by government through provision of transformer, electric power and pipe-borne water. I also liaise with the chairman of Ahiazu LGA to make sure that most of the things needed by the local communities are provided for them. So I am happy to say that 90 per cent of rural roads have been graded to a very good condition.
We have solicited the assistance of the state government in encouraging Agriculture in Ahiazu. Most of the farmers have been made to go into cooperatives to receive loans and bonds from the Ministry of Agriculture and that of commerce. We have seen tractors donated to each LGA for mechanised agriculture. People now can cut the cost of labour and production by hiring the tractors at very subsidised rates.
We have also noticed on-going federal government electricity projects. My constituency is a beneficiary. We have seen the presence of federal government in Okirika Nweke in particular. This is as a result of my close contact with the authorities. So far, so good my constituency must be grateful to this government because they have received appreciable attention from the government of Chief Achike Udenwa.
Your motion on the floor of the House on the issue of Imo State University's policy of not admitting students with NECO and NABTEB certificates generated much interest. The House has given directive to IMSU management to reverse its policy. What further steps are you considering to ensure that the House's decision is not flouted by the university authorities?
As a legislator, I have a responsibility to speak for the voiceless and to defend the defenseless. What we are trying to say here is that there are some people that have been denied their right to have equal access to higher education. So the issue is not that of sentiment. In as much as we appreciate that such position may have been taken to uphold standards, the House of Assembly has a responsibility because we swore an oath to defend the constitutional matter. That is, you have to give everybody equal right, especially when the certificate in question has been approved by the federal government through an Act of the National Assembly.
So what we are saying is that no law, no policy, no regulation is this land, can override provisions of the constitution. That was explained in section three of the constitution. Also, section 18(1) states that a state shall operate its policy in a way to give equal educational opportunity to all citizens at all levels. So we are bringing the attention of Imo State University to the provisions of the constitution.
The constitution says since these bodies and certificates are approved by an act of the National Assembly, that is, NECO was approved by Act No. 1 of 2002 and the constitution said in section 4 sub-section 5 that any law made by any institution that is inconsistent with provisions of an Act of the National Assembly shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void. We now say that it is our responsibility to call IMSU to order and nobody is above the constitution. Imo State University was established by law of Imo State House of Assembly.
Now if that is the case we are saying that IMSU is infringing upon the fundamental right of certain groups of people in the society. They should bring everybody to a level playing ground. We are not talking of admission space which is determined by facility on ground. What we are emphasising is that if admission space is 2000, allow everyone to compete for it.
NABTEC was established through Decree 70 of 1999. So, it did not just start now. So what the federal government has done is to recognise our freedom to make choice by establishing the different examination bodies. What they told us is that you can now take WAEC, NECO or NABTEC to get into the university.
The one million dollar question is this: Do you regulate yourself? Obviously you are under the regulatory authority of some institutions which include Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the JAMB and what have you.
Let's start with the last one. JAMB recognises NECO and NABTEC as an entry requirement. The NUC approved and recognises NECO and NABTEC as accredited certificates. Now the Joint Consultative Committee on Education approved it and of course, the National Council on Education which is the highest education policy making body. It recognises and approved the two certificates and that is why the federal government has to approved them.
The funny thing is this, if we have to come back home and look at the issue, the Minister for Education is from Imo State and now it is in his own university that the Federal or National Education Policies issued by his ministry are not being recognised or respected. What is the message that we are trying to send out to other states? Is that the way we are trying to tell the federal government that we are unappreciative of the appointment given to us? What are you trying to tell our brother (Prof. Fabian Osuji) over there, that we don't want his office or his ministry to succeed?
But those are secondary issues. The primary issue there is that the constitution in Section 17 (1) says the state social order shall be founded on the ideal of freedom, equality and justice. You must have freedom to choose whatever you want to choose. The existence of these three examination bodies have enhanced the educational sector.
For example, you see that WAEC releases results within three months now. It now carries embossed pictures. These are innovations and they came as a result of competition.
One other question that we have to look at is this; why do you cry about the primary entrance qualification certificate which is secondary school certificate either by NECO, NABTEB or whatever, when they are not means to an end.
What I mean is that to possess seven A's in any of the examinations is not automatic ticket. There is another one to come which is the JAMB. So no matter how good you are in NECO or NABTEB, you are expected to do the same in JAMB which is a neutral, central examination body before you can get into the university.
Also, every university has its own internal control measures. This is where the law gives them the power to enhance standard. In their faculties, for example in most universities, at the end of the first year, if you don't meet an average of 1.5 grade point, you will not proceed to the other level. In others, if you fail a course two or three times, you are thrown out of the university. Some will have a maximum of one year additional for carry overs. So there are other internal control measures which the university can use to enhance their standard. Each university has its own admission requirements in the area of subject selection. JAMB also has its subject choice for any course. This is where the law recognised but not on the certificate.
So now we have called IMSU to order to let the authorities know that this is a constitutional matter. We referred them specifically to section 18(1) which says government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels. Secondly, if you look at NABTEB, it conducts commercial examination for commercial and business schools which are more spread and distributed in the rural areas, taking care of educational needs of children from very poor homes.
What will happen should IMSU refuse to comply with the directive of the House?
Well, I can't pre-empt anything until the next admission exercise. The House has passed a resolution and directed them to review their policy to accommodate these examination certificates. We expect those at the helms of affairs there to be people who know the implication of a resolution passed by a House of Assembly. This is the Assembly that is now calling them to order that some of their activities are unconstitutional and they have to realise that the constitution is above every other person including the House of Assembly. So I think they will be well advised.
You also have a grouse against the National Youth Service Corps. What is the problem?
Yes, I saw an advert in one of the national dailies of May 10 by the Director-General of NYSC. The body released a new policy that those to participate in the exercise as from this September shall possess JAMB admission letters.
I am always concerned with issues pertaining to the well-being of the youths because indirectly I represent the youth constituency in this government and I will not hesitate to react to any national issue bordering on the youths.
I believe that any policy should be able to take care of all groups in the society. I said a vacuum in the new policy. I am thinking of people from very poor homes. This is my concern. You will appreciate the fact that not everybody after secondary school will proceed immediately to write the JAMB examination or go into the university as a result of family financial incapability. The only option left for them is patience. They can get into any paid employment and gradually get into the higher institution while working.
Now the question is how do we take care of these group of people who did not write JAMB. They may have gone through distant learning or sandwich programmes and were able to finish their courses before the age of 30. What we are saying is that the NYSC should give us a better strategy as to how to accommodate this group of people.
Finally, if that policy must be, then I am advising that the earlier policy that before a graduate gets employment he has to produce the NYSC discharge certificate should be abolished. If we look at this, it is no more feasible. That is to say that those who went to school to improve their lot but did not write JAMB will no more get a better job because they did not have NYSC certificates. The policy in a way has totally defeated the spirit of the NYSC exercise. Remember that they called it compulsory national service. I think it is better we now call it selected national service because it will only take care of a certain group of people within the system.
My worry is that looking at it nationally, this is the only one meaningful all-embracing programme by the government that has a direct or encompassing bearing on the youths.
At this point, we are crying that government should even bring out more youth oriented programmes to give us a sense of belonging. Instead, the one available is being reduced. These issues must be addressed for us to know the position of those who are going to be denied opportunity to participate in the programme.
I see this policy as running counter to the objective of the Federal Government in establishing the open university system., One of the objectives of the system is to serve as a learning source for those who could not afford to go into the regular universities after their secondary education who are now working to be able to receive university education. How do we reconcile that? We cannot be playing hot and cold at the same time.
Let's now look at the present democracy. We clocked one year of the second term on May 29. What is your assessment of the government at the Federal and State level?
I think we should have cause to rejoice. One fundamental thing is that with the rebirth of democracy, the freedom of the ordinary man has been guaranteed. They are no more under threats, bullets and guns. At least you can come out now and express your views regarding any person you are not comfortable with. Before now, you could not do this.
People can now go to courts and fight for their rights. I am in support of the popular saying that the worst civilian government is better than the best military rule. One of the things our democracy has achieved is that of raising the confidence level of the International Community on Nigeria.
Since then you can see the inflow of foreign participation in our economy. Before now I remember that the then Minister of Communications said that telecommunications is not for the poor. That it is only for the rich. But you can count how many people who have come to own telephone lines in Nigeria since the advent of democracy. Investors now have more confidence in the economy and stability of the nation.
Coming down to the state, we have seen meaningful development. When we take a look at the secretariat, it is about to be completed. A lot of organisations have been scheduled for privatisation. They have been revitalised.
The government has tried its best to get this economy to be private sector driven. It is attracting foreign investments. You can also see how much revenue Concorde hotel has been yielding since it was handed over to a foreign partner who will pump foreign funds into the state.
You have seen the Imo State Teaching Hospital. The state of work there is really commendable. The Governor's tripod policy has been pursued with vigour.
The government in its wisdom has acquired a lot of tractors in the area of agriculture and they have been distributed to local governments.
If you look at the roads, I must indeed commend the government. In Mbaise, I was part of the team that commissioned the Aboh Itu road. Nkwogwu-Ekenguru road has also received very good technical constructive touch.
If you go to Okigwe, the roads there are now wonderful. The Nekede Housing Estate is also nearing completion. Teachers' salaries are being paid as and when due and allocations are coming to LGAs regularly.
I am really happy with the developments and expect the society to reciprocate this. If you look at the meagre resources available to this government you will know that it has really done well.
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