The Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Samson Osagie has sent his goodwill message to Edo workers, appreciating their hard work and immense contribution to ensuring that Governor Monday Okpebholo’s vision of building a new Edo State is achieved. In a statement, the Attorney General commended the tireless efforts of all Edo workers in various sectors that have contributed significantly to the progress and development of the state. While acknowledging the crucial role workers play in building the economy, providing essential services, and shaping society, Dr. Osagie noted that their contributions are invaluable and expressed delight in recognizing their numerous achievements.
He also appreciated workers’ constant efforts in joining the Governor to ensure that Edo is repositioned in every aspect, noting them as laudable.
He reaffirmed that the Ministry of Justice team, under his leadership, remains committed to upholding justice, protecting rights, and promoting the rule of law and will continually strive to ensure that the legal system serves the needs of all Edo State citizens, pledging the Ministry’s dedication to working with all stakeholders to achieve this goal.
He further wished all workers a happy Workers’ Day and prayed that the celebration would inspire continued excellence, fairness, and prosperity for all, as he enjoined all stakeholders to continually work together to ensure a peaceful and progressive Edo State.
Clementina Agweda Public Relations Officer, Office of the Attorney General
The Nigerian government should look into the treatment of Nigerians in Ghana because there are reports of police harassment and extortion from Nigerians in the country. A Ghanaian friend recently shared a Facebook post on some police raids targeted at Nigerians. His post reads: “My apartment has been raided by the Ghana Police 4 times in less than a year. Whatever reason you think for this. It’s worse! The apartment used to be occupied by some Nigerian men who were tired of being harassed by the police”. So many Nigerians in Ghana suffer constant harassment by the police. The harassment has gone on for too long that some are tired. Yes, some Nigerians are tired of being targeted, stopped, arrested by the police in Ghana.
As the post further reveals, the raids have become a pretext for extortion:“The neighbor told me that they packed and left the day after the final raid; after they had to find 7000 Cedis bribe for the police to bail themselves out. They were not the only Nigerians who packed and left. More than five apartments became available after that raid”.
So raiding apartments where Nigerians live has become a lucrative business for the police in Ghana. Police officers extort thousands of Cedis from Nigerians, then let them go and later return to raid and extort money from them again. Nigerians have become easy prey for the Ghana police. Nigerians have become a cash cow for Ghanaian authorities. Take a look at the next part of the post:
“When I first got the apartment, even before I had finished cleaning it up, police officers showed up in Rambo style, entering into the apartment without knocking, asking where the Nigerians are. I explained to them that I was the new tenant and did not know of anyone else. Because of how the apartment was in disarray, they nodded along and left”.
Look, this was not a random raid for illegal occupants. It was a targeted police action. There are nationals from many west African countries who are living in Ghana. When I was in Ghana, I met Liberians, Sierra Leoneans, and Ivorians who were living in the country and who had taken Ghana as their home. In fact, on one occasion, I met some Fulanis in the Northern region. They entered Ghana on horses through the border with Burkina Faso. They had no travel documents.
The police in Ghana are not raiding apartments asking for Liberians, Sierra Leoneans, or Nigeriens who were illegally staying in the country. No, the police raided apartments asking: “Where are the Nigerians? So, the Ghana police have specifically been instructed to go after Nigerians!
The post recounts other incidents of police harassment: “The second time this happened, I was in my office while some friends were in the kitchen. The police surrounded the apartment, some entering from the front and some from the back, shouting and asking where the Nigerians were. I could see the fear in my friends’ eyes. I stepped in with some jokes to calm nerves, and we even offered them food to calm their nerves. The third time this happened, I had learned to keep my doors locked at all times. I heard banging on the door and someone trying to forcibly open the windows. I opened the door and a police officer rushed past me asking if I am Nigerian and where the Nigerians were. Today, I was not home. My girlfriend was.
The police came again asking for Nigerians. I came home to find their pickup still parked outside. They were moving from apartment building to apartment building looking for Nigerians. Their case: they received a tip that there are Nigerians in the area who smoke. The day before, they had raided some apartments and caught themselves some Nigerians who ultimately had to pay about 6000 Cedis, I am told, to be left alone. “. So police have raided this guy’s apartment many times. Who knows how many times these Nigerians-targeted police raids have been carried out in Ghana? Who knows how much money the Ghana police have extorted from their Nigerian victims?
In conclusion, the post states: “These raids usually happen on a weekend. The officers are always different. They always carry weapons. They always enter forcefully. They are always targeting people who look different. I am beginning to suspect this is not sanctioned by Ghana Police.
Why would the state sanction xenophobia? I am also beginning to suspect that when they run out of Nigerians to do this too, Ghanaians who are different would be the target. Most of these Nigerians targeted, are hard-working members of the community, trying to survive in their sister country. They are only guilty of being Nigerians in Ghana”.
What this kind-hearted Ghanaian has recounted is definitely the tip of the iceberg of abuse, harassment, maltreatment, and extortion that Nigerians, who are living in Ghana, suffer at the hands of the police. Probably, Ghanaian police are imitating the police in Nigeria. They have realised that the Nigerian police abuse and brutalise their citizens with impunity. They are now extending the abuse to Nigerians in their country. Police abuse of Nigerians should not be an excuse for this horrific treatment. Ghana police must be called to order. They should stop targeting, and extorting money from Nigerians.
The government of Ghana must rise to its responsibility and end this official witch hunt and maltreatment of Nigerian nationals who are living in the country.
The government should know that there are at least 500, 000 Ghanaians living in Nigeria.
Ecclesiastes 3:1″There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” This scriptural principle aptly captures the honour bestowed on these two prominent and eminent Edo Sons to wit: Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN and Professor Edoba B. Omoregie, SAN and a proud daughter and wife of a prominent Benin family Professor(Mrs) Yinka Omorogbe SAN. Their time came and God crown their professional industry with the highest honour in the Legal profession. Dr Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN was a three time member of the House of Representatives where he represented the Ovia Federal Constituency with unprecedented vigor, commitment and achievements for the Constituency. He left the National Assembly with honoursand focused on Legal Practice since 2011.He is perhaps one of the most prolific speakers and advocates of no mean repute. Professor Edoba Bright Omoregie is an accomplished academic whose flair for writing in virtually every aspect of Law, Policy and Governance is legendary. As Director of Legislative Support Services at the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies, he has made enormous contributions to the Legislative processes and procedures in the National Assembly to the admiration of many. He is an advocate of True Federalism founded on Constitutional devolution of powers under a Constitutional democracy. Our sister, Professor Yinka Omoregbe, SAN is the immediate past Attorney General of Edo State and former Secretary and Legal Adviser of the defunct Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) now NNPC Limited and has continued to hold professorial chair in tertiary institutions in Nigeria and around the world. She is an Energy Policy Law expert whose writings in Oil and Gas Law have assisted many students and policy makers. These newly elevated Distinguished members of the inner bar of the Nigerian Legal Profession are role models in all material particular and one cannot but join all well meaning and lovers of good deeds, progress of others and those who appreciates merit to congratulate each and every one of them for this professional achievement. By their successes, many will be hopeful that with hard work, tenacity of purpose and the grace of Almighty God, they will one day achieve professional excellence as well. Many more garlands to these great learned men and woman.
DR SAMSON R. OSAGIE Managing Partner Samson Ima-Osagie&Associates Legal Practitioners, Arbitrators and Notaries Public 79 4th Avenue Citec Villas Gwarinpa Estate Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Musa Bello has given approval to the Etsu Bwari to confirm on Chief John Osamede Adun, the Aiyobahan of Benin kingdom the Shetiman title.
The title which mean “Good Person” will officially be turban on Friday 22nd October, 2021 at the Palace of the Etsu Bwari in the Bwari location Authority area of FCT.
The event will witness the Minister himself presenting the staff of office and certificate to chief John Osamede Adun who is also the Serkin Pawa of Ketampa in Abuja.
The National President Butchers Union of Nigeria event will also be witnessed by the the Bwari local government area council Chairman, FCT traditional council rulers, top government officials and Butchers across the country.
The new Shetimam will officially perform the horse riding as a senior cabinet of the Emirate.
With this title, Chief John Osamede Adun will be attending all meetings, functions as so assigned by the Etsu Bwari and the council of chiefs meetings in Abuja.
AT A TWO DAY CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON DIASPORA ON WEDNESDAY 15TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2021 AT FRAISER’S SUITES, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, ABUJA.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIASPORA COMMUNITIES- ROLE OF LEGISLATORS IN THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF NIGERIANS IN THE DIASPORA BEING PAPER DELIVERED
BY
HON. SAMSON R OSAGIE, Ph.D. AT A TWO DAY CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON DIASPORA ON WEDNESDAY 15TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2021 AT FRAISER’S SUITES, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, ABUJA.
PREAMBLE:
At a time when living in Nigeria has become very difficult, with many Nigerians particularly the younger population scampering for avenue to jet out to other nations of the world for search of greener pastures, no other subject matter can be most appropriate than the theme of this paper- human rights and diaspora communities: role of the legislature in the promotion and protection of human rights of Nigerians in diaspora.
One may like to ask a few questions to agitate our minds on this all important topic.
1. First, What contributions to national development do Nigerians in diaspora make to our economy?
2. Why is it important to have the legislature promote and protect the rights of Nigerians in diaspora
3. What is or what should be the focus of the Nigerian legislature and indeed Nigerian government vis a vis the citizens of this country in diaspora
1. CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATIONS
But permit me to do some conceptual clarifications on some terms before attempting answers to the posers above.
1.1 HUMAN RIGHTS
A. What are Human Rights?
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world from birth until death. These basic rights are based on shared values likely dignity, fairness, equality, respect and independence and they are usually protected by human laws be it municipal or International Law.
In Nigeria, human rights have received constitutional recognition as contained in Chapter Four (Sections 33 to 43) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999( as amended).They include the right to life, right to dignity of human person, right to personal liberty, right to fair hearing, right to private and family life, right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, right to freedom of expression and the press, right to freedom from discrimination and right to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in Nigeria.
These rights are inviolable in that the Constitution gives anyone the right to apply to a high court of law to seek redress in the event of a violation or threat of violation of any of his rights. (Section 46).
International Human Rights Law lays down obligations which states are bound to respect by becoming parties to international treaties. Thus, States assume obligations and duties under international law to respect, protect and fulfill human rights.
The United Nations Charter, The International Bill of Human Rights, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1948, The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 1966 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966, Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and political rights, Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aimed at the abolition of the death penalty, The core International human rights instruments , Universal Human Rights Instruments, etc are some of the sources of International human rights Laws that seeks the protection of the rights that are inherent to the human persons as global citizens.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted on 10th December, 1948 by Resolution 217 of the United Nations General Assembly enshrines the rights and freedoms of human beings. As an international and foundational text in the history of Human and Civil rights, it detailed the basic rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens and affirmed their universal character as inherent, inalienable and applicable to all human beings.
What are the types of Rights there are?
As with Municipal and International Human Rights Law, rights have been classified into Economic, Social, Cultural, Civil and Political Rights.
Examples abound of the categories of Economic, Social and Cultural rights. They include the right to work in a safe environment for a fair wage, the right to access medical care, including mental health care; the right to accessible education, the right to adequate food, clothing, and housing, the right to affordable sanitation and clean water, the right to take part in cultural life, the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and the right to social security. The States are expected to protect these rights as inviolable and sacrosanct except in special circumstances prescribed by law.
The International Covenant On Economic, Social and Cultural rights established in 1976 and the Convention on the Tights of a Child are made to protect Economic, Social and Cultural rights.
On the other hand, Civil and Political rights require that people must be allowed to participate freely in Civil and political life without facing discrimination and repression. They include right to life, which is violated by actions like death by torture, neglect, and use of force, right to freedom of expression which is violated by restricting access to ideas and limiting press freedom, right to privacy, right to asylum, right to fair trial and due process, freedom to religion, freedom from discrimination etc.
All these are basic human rights intended to enable the citizens enjoy their privilege of being citizens without any let or hindrance. They are supposed to have no limitations in time and space except in circumstances where the citizens themselves violates the law.
1.2: DIASPORA COMMUNITIES
According to Meriam Webster Dictionary “diaspora means a group of people who live outside the area in which they had lived for a long time or in which their ancestors lived.”
From www.yourdictionary.com the definition of a diaspora is the dispersion of people from their homeland or a community formed by people who have exited or been removed from their homeland. An example of a diaspora is the 6th century exile of Jews from outside Israel to Babylon. … A group so dispersed, especially Jews outside of the land of Israel.
What then is a diaspora Community or Communities?
“Any community of people from the same country or region living in another country (or countries). They are considered a community if they consciously collaborate on basis of their belonging to the same country or region of origin.
This term refers to a community of people who live outside their shared country of origin or ancestry but maintain active connections with it. A diaspora includes both emigrants and their descendants”
Today, people from all races, tribes, cultural backgrounds, trades and professions have become members of the diaspora communities all over the world. And the basic motivation for people leaving their original homeland to foreign lands is more of economic than any other factor.
Now let’s focus on our own Nigerians in the diaspora. According to the Chairman, Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM)
“We have found out that there are currently about 15 million Nigerians in the Diaspora” Yes, these are the Nigerians whose rights in the global arena that we are here to talk about.
It is important to underscore the fact that Nigerians in Diaspora have become a veritable community for the social and economic development of their hosts countries and indeed their native country- Nigeria. To that extent regardless of their abode they are supposed to enjoy their fundamental human rights as global citizens by virtue of the various international declarations, conventions, treaties and protocols to which both their host nations and native country are signatories. These rights be it social, economic, cultural, civil or political are supposed to be inalienable to each and every one of them in order that they may enjoy their humanity as with the aborigines of their host countries.
Nigeria is a member state of the United Nations and a signatory to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights 1948 likewise most of Asia, North America, United Kingdom, Europe, Middle east, the Caribbeans , United States of America and African countries where diasporan Nigerians are domiciled. It therefore means that our Diasporan citizens are entitled to the protection of their fundamental human rights in countries where they live.
In asserting the inviolability of the rights of Nigerians in other nations, this important to examine the Foreign policy Of the Nigerian government as been conducted by the Country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Legislative tools of the Nigerian Legislature – the National Assembly- in dealing with the issues of human rights violations against Nigerian citizens abroad.
It is no longer news that Nigerians abroad have suffered huge level of human rights abuses arising from racism, stereotyping, unfair trial, prosecution and sometimes unlawful arrest and incarceration. To be candid though, our citizens abroad have come under intense criticisms for been responsible for the kind of treatment they get sometimes in their host countries in that some of them embarked on purely criminal enterprises like drug and human trafficking, internet fraud, immigration offences and outright stealing and robbery in some cases. Yes, no objective analyst can deny the prevalence of some of those unwholesome conduct of some of our nationals abroad but the preponderance of responsible and sought after professionals among Nigerian diaspora communities across the globe is enough evidence to warrant unqualified guarantee of the fundamental rights of Nigerians abroad.
Nigerian government have endeavored to pursue the enthronement of a secured nation devoid of international terrorism, guarantee a corrupt free country while reaching out to nations office of the world to repatriate monies stolen and stashed away in foreign banks and at the same time working with both regional and global financial institutions to revamp the nation’s economy. This three pronged objectives is the domestic basis of the foreign policy thrust of Buhari’s administration and has led it to enter into bilateral and multilateral negotiations, agreements and diplomatic relations with a number of countries. The whole idea is to make the country a better governed nation for its citizens globally to be proud of and to earn respect from others nations.
Although, these efforts haven’t yielded the desired result, it remains to be seen other very definite efforts at projecting and protecting the images of the nation. We were lucky to have a Nigerian elected recently as the DG of their World Trade Organization thus lifting the Nigerian image in the world economic matrix.
Perhaps most outstanding is the establishment of the Nigerian in Diaspora Commission(NIDCOM) headed by Hon Abike Dabiri, a former member of the House of Representatives and pioneer Chairperson of the House Committee on Diaspora Matters.
Now, let’s look at to the questions raised at the beginning of this discussion.
2.0: WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT DO NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA MAKE TO OUR ECONOMY?
As earlier hinted Nigerians in diaspora have become a major bulwark in their contributions to the Nigerian economy. From a research conducted by PriceWaterhouseCooper in 2017 alone over 1.24 million Nigerians migrated out of Nigeria with the figures increasing yearly. As a result, “Nigeria account for over a third of migrants remittance flow to sub-saharan Africa. PwC estimated that these flows amounted to US $23.63billion (2017-US$22 billion) in 2018 and represent 6.1% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)”
To underscore the significance of diaspora remittances to the Nigerian economy, by 2017 it was 7.4 times larger than the net official development assistance (foreign aid) received by the country to the tune US3.4billion. The PcW had estimated that by 2021 and 2023 diaspora remittances could hit US 25.8 billion and US34.8 billion respectively. This is by no means a huge contribution and any nation with this advantage ought and must endeavor to evolve strategies of not only to ensure good governance but also evolve diplomatic and Legislative interactions with the global community that gives respect to her citizens globally.
At the end of the day we can safely maintain that Nigerians in diaspora contribute significantly to national economic Development.
2.1: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE LEGISLATURE PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA?
The Nigerian Legislature otherwise called the National Assembly is empowered to make laws for peace, order and good governance of Nigeria or any part of it. (Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
It also has powers to provide Legislative imprimatur for the conduct of the nation’s foreign policy through the ratification of treaties entered into by the President on behalf of Nigeria (Section 12) and confirmation of appointments of Ambassadors.
By virtue of various global Legislative conventions, customs and practices the National Assembly belongs to several global legislative groupings and bodies through which it conducts Legislative diplomacy on behalf of Nigeria. For example the two chambers of the National Assembly have Committees on Parliamentary Associations like the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, African- EU Parliamentary Union, International Parliamentary Association, The PAN African Parliament etc. Indeed, some selected members of the National Assembly are members of the ECOWAS sub regional parliament.
We must not forget that the National Assembly is made up of people elected to represent the various segments in the population of Nigeria. Consequently in discussing the necessity for the promotion and protection of the rights of Nigerians in diaspora, we are actually talking about the imperative of the parliament to protect the right of their constituents where ever and whoever they are.
Louis Fisher, an American writer in his book ” Congress: Protecting The Rights of Individuals” submitted that “Deciding the appropriate role for the Congress and its institutional ability to protect individual rights requires an appreciation of historical precedents and constitutional principles….”
Our constitution and political system of Presidential democracy is modeled after that of the United States and so the underlying principles of constitutional democracy to wit: rule of Law, Separation of powers, Checks and balances, independent judiciary and the enthronement of the fundamental human rights of the Citizens are the underlying principles that informed the framers of our constitution in entrusting the parliament with enormous Legislative powers in order to be able to serve as a bastion for the protection and promotion of the citizens rights against unfair treatment.
Now, regarding the rights of Nigerians in diaspora, granted that the National Assembly cannot make laws for host nations of Nigerian citizens abroad , there are however Legislative tools for making foreign governments to respect the citizens rights.
These tools include Lawmaking, Legislative diplomacy, Advocacy and Oversight responsibilities.
For the purpose of this subject matter on the rights of Nigerians in diaspora let me talk briefly about the Lawmaking powers of the National Assembly.
As earlier postulated, the National Assembly is the repository of the Legislative powers of the Federal government of Nigeria. It is pursuant to that function that it made the Nigerian In Diaspora Commission (Establishment etc.) Act 2017 to among other things provide for the engagement of Nigerians in Diaspora in the policies, projects and participation in the development of Nigeria and for the purpose of utilising the human capital and material resources of Nigerians in diaspora towards the overall socio-economic, cultural and political development of Nigeria and other related matters which include working with various Nigerian in Diaspora Organizations across the globe for the protection and promotion of the rights and interests of its Nigerian members. This Legislation is a watershed in the attempt to crystallize the idea of citizens diplomacy not only in ensuring National development but also in providing support for the citizens abroad.
Another instrument of Legislative promotion and protection of the interest of Nigerians in Diaspora is through Legislative Diplomacy. This is concerned with the conduct of foreign affairs from the stand point of the nation’s Legislature. Very often, we are compelled to think that only Mr President and his Foreign Affairs department is responsible for all Executive issues of foreign relations. This is the “sole organ” metaphor “and actually does not represent the practical realities of parliamentary practices.
In his article “Legislative Diplomacy” Ryan M.Scoville submitted that
“But in fact members of Congress routinely engage in communication of their own. Congress, for example, receives heads of states and maintains official contacts with foreign parliaments. And individuals members of the House and Senate frequently travel overseas on Congressional delegations to confer with foreign leaders, investigate problems that arise, promote the interests of the United States (Nigeria) and constituents and even represent the President”
This is the practice today and it has assumed a much more prolific dimension arising from the incessant complaints about the ill treatment of Nigerians in diaspora.
One practical example of this will illuminate the effectiveness of Legislative Diplomacy in assisting the protection of Nigerians in diaspora.
On the 7th of July, 2007 , as Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights I moved a Motion on the Gruesome Murder of a Nigerian Citizen Osamuyi Aikpitanyi by the Spanish Security operatives while he was been deported to Nigeria on board an Iberia airline. The victim was put in a sack and drugged to death. He was a Nigerian citizen of Edo State descent. The house unanimously resolved to condemn the killing and set up ad hoc committee under the Chairmanship of Senator Seriake Dickson. The committee conducted investigations into the matter and in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a parliamentary delegation was led by my humble self in company of the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Hakeem Baba Ahmed visited Kingdom of Spain on a diplomatic protest against the incident and press charges against the security operatives that were involved.
In the end, the Spanish authorities through their then Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr.Angel Losada apologized to the government and people of Nigeria, visited Edo State Government and the palace of the Oba of Benin, repatriated the body of the victim and pay for the funeral expenses.
Years later the security operatives in Spain who were involved were prosecuted and punished.
In a similar vein, the National Assembly had continued to employ this legislative tool together with constant advocacy against the violation of the rights of Nigerians in diaspora.
However what is certain is that the parliament, being an organ of government with little or no enforcement powers will have to synergize with the President, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM and the various organized NIDO groups for effective implementation of various measures to protect the rights and freedoms of Nigerians in diaspora.
3.0: WHAT SHOULD BE THE FOCUS OF THE NIGERIAN LEGISLATURE VIS-A-VIS NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA?
a. The Legislature must however deploy its oversight tool to ensure that agencies of government responsible for the conduct of external affairs for the nation performs their responsibility.
b. The challenge of inadequate funding of Nigerian missions abroad coupled with bureaucratic bottlenecks in addressing urgent issues bordering on the rights and interests of Nigerians in diaspora must be addressed
The Legislature must engage with Ministry of Finance and Foreign affairs to reverse this trend through better funding.
c. The Nigerian Legislature must continue to focus on engaging foreign Legislatures particularly of nations whose anti Nigerian/African policies have impacted negatively on the rights and interests of law abiding Nigerians with a view to making them respect International Human Rights Law which guarantees the rights of citizens.
d. The Nigerian Legislature must escalate the numerous cases of abuses of the rights of Nigerians in diaspora before International Parliamentary organizations/Associations with a view to seeking intervention on behalf of Nigerian citizens.
e. There is need for a review of existing Treaties on Human rights with a view to ratifying those that are yet to be ratified in pursuance to Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), if there are any, to make them enforceable against their violations in relation to Nigerian citizens abroad.
f. The National Assembly should resolve by a resolution for the inclusion of fundamental human rights enforcement requirements in certain bilateral cooperation agreements emanating from states with high rates of abuses.
CONCLUSION
Nigerians in Diaspora are critical to the socio-economic development of Nigeria. The Nigerian Legislature has an abiding responsibility to improve on its Legislative engagements with government and Legislative institutions of other nations through advocacy and Legislative diplomacy in order to give confidence to Nigeria’s diasporans that the Country recognizes their impact on national development.
The Executive arm of government must seek the collaboration of the Legislature towards ensuring that treaties that guarantees basic rights for global citizens are respected by host nations of our nationals in every given situation. If need be, Nigerian government with the support of the Legislature may seek international judicial intervention in clear cases of abuses of rights of Nigerian citizens abroad.
Given the contributions of our citizens to the economy of our country and their host nations their interests and rights must be protected in much the same government (Legislature inclusive) seeks to protect rights of the citizens within the country.
REFERENCES
Arowosegbe, J.O & Akomolafe, R. J (2016): Foreign Relations Powers of National Assembly, Journals. Sagepub.com.
Ben-Naftali, O (2011): International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law-Pas de Deux.
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 1999 (As Amended).
https://www.nidcoms.com
https://www.un.org
https://en.m.wikipedia.org
Louis Fisher (2016): Congress: Protecting Individual Right.
National Action for the Protection and Promotion Of Human Rights In Nigeria, 2006 https://www. Ohchr.org
PriceWaterhouseCooper: Strength from Abroad: the Economic Power of Nigeria’s Diaspora: 2017.
NIGERIA AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES : WHAT IS THE DIPLOMATIC ROW ABOUT – DR SAMSON OSAGIE
The outbreak of the Corona Virus Pandemic is not only affecting the health of citizens across the globe, its impact on the relationships among some nations is beginning to tell on the fate of some nationals in order spheres.
Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates(UAE) have had a positive diplomatic relations particularly from 2009 when UAE established its embassy in Nigeria – Abuja followed by a visit to UAE by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 as a first country of visit in Asia and Middle East upon his assumption of office as President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
By December 2020 a Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was executed to provide a platform for both countries to engage each other bilaterally in many areas – legal, commercial, etc.
The country UAE cebrated the growing cooperation with Nigeria at its 49th anniversary in Abuja. The UAE Ambassador to Nigeria did say on that occasion that he was excited about the growing bilateral relations between the two countries across all sectors. According to him “Today marks the importance of unity and coming together to celebrate our achievements in 2020 even though it has proved to be challenging for many reasons… This relationship is nurtured, developed and reinforced by the wise leadership of both friendly nations who have continued to forged strategic partnerships for prosperity of both countries. As at 2019, the total volume of nin oil bilateral trade between Nigeria and UAE stood at $1.4 billion, but as at December 1, alongside with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama, on behalf of our respective governments signed an MoU for the establishment of a Joint Commission for Cooperation”. This was the testimony of the UAE highest official in Nigeria.
Understandably, it’s been a mutually beneficial relationship amongst the two countries in both trade and tourism relations with no major setbacks for over a decade.
However, recent events are beginning to cast some doubt on the continuity of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. As at March 2021, the UAE had declared Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa as it commenced a series of trade and investment promotion activities aimed at bolstering the bilateral trade and investment volume between Nigeria and UAE.
Earlier in 2020 at the outset of the global lock down due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the UAE national carrier Emirates airline had shut down flights to and from Nigeria owing to disagreement between the airline and the Nigerian aviation authorities on the propriety of subjecting passengers traveling from Nigeria to certain Covid-19 protocols upon arrival in Dubai. While the Federal government through the Ministry of Aviation stipulated a negative PCR test, the UAE authorities introduced additional rapid antigen test for passengers, a development that Nigeria government frowned at and resisted, thus resulting in suspension of the airline from flying to and from Nigeria. This has resulted in huge losses for the airline and travel agencies’ business for both countries.
Nigerians, very adventurous people, who desire to visit Dubai for their usual holidays, shopping and medical tourism had to use alternative airlines like Kenyan Airways or go through Cotonou, Accra or other West Africa countries. Even when they take such a detour they would have to be quarantined in Dubai for a minimum of 14 days upon arrival in Dubai. It is such a grueling experience for our nationals on the Dubai route and this has created a lot of discomfort for many travellers, with aviation practitioners proposing a diplomatic resolution between the two countries.
Speaking on the state of affairs about the suspension of the Emirates airline flight Comrade Olayinka Abioye, former Secretary General of the National Union of Air Transport Employees(NUATE) said both countries must come to use diplomacy to resolve the impasse. I cannot agree less with him.
In the midst of all of these, I stumbled recently on a news item which I understand has been running for some time now about how Nigerians in different parts of the UAE are losing their jobs in their hundreds on account of the refusal of the authorities to renew their work permits. I was jolted and seriously alarmed considering the fact that at the moment returning home for these Nigerians cannot be an option at all.
I decided to put a call through to a friend who is a railway staff in Dubai to ascertain the true situation of things and his response was as shocking as he sounded.
From the confirmed news report no fewer than 500 Nigerians have lost their jobs in UAE with many more whose working permits or visas are approaching different times for expiration. I also understand that the Chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa had taken steps to address the problem with the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria. As it is the usual case, the diplomat appears to feign ignorance of the treatment of Nigerian nationals in his country. According to him ” we are yet to get the report of Nigerians losing jobs in our country but certainly if it is the case, steps will be taken to address the problem”
Now here is my worry. The coincidence of the refusal of the authorities of the United Arab Emirates to renew working permits for legally resident Nigerians and the suspension of flights of the national carrier of the country is suspect. It appears to be a calculated strategem of the UAE authorities to pressure the Nigerian government into accepting their conditions of service for their national airline that may have lost humongous revenue from the Nigeria route since the beginning of the impasse. It cannot be less than a reprisal of some sort.
It is therefore important for the Nigerian government to swiftly engage the Arabian country in the interest of thousands of Nigerians living and working in the country to save their jobs and means of livelihood.
Refusing to renew the working permits of the nationals of a given country is the highest level of discrimination and such act offends International Conventions and the spirit of the bilateral /multilateral agreements which both nations are signatories to. In the absence of any malfeasance or criminal conduct, it is submitted that if a resident has fulfilled all the necessary conditions to live and work in a country other than his country of origin its is within his or her right in the eye of International human rights law to have his permit renewed. If there are specific cases of criminal conduct of any Nigerian citizens, such should be dealt with on its own merit or otherwise rather than subjecting every Nigerian to hardships.
What is more intriguing and saddening about the conditions Nigerians are currently facing in the United Arab Emirates now is that, that country is perhaps one of the destinations of looted funds from Nigeria owing to the tremendous investment in real estate and other businesses some unpatriotic Nigerians have done in that economy. It is indeed an eye opener. Such investments would probably have generated more jobs for Nigerians back home if they were made here and the environment conducive enough to guarantee adequate return on investment.
By and large, we owe our citizens the abiding responsibility anywhere they are in the world to intervene for them particularly in circumstances where they are being discriminated against or treated poorly on account of their country of origin.
In the final analysis, talks between the two nations need to resume in earnest in order to resuscitate what might result in a full blown diplomatic row.
Samson Raphael Osagie, a seasoned legal practitioner, arbitrator and notary public, has been providing efficient and cutting-edge professional services to clients – individuals as well as private and public organisations. With over two decades of professional service, Dr Osagie devotes a good part of his energy to fighting for justice for people that are wrongly accused, the downtrodden, and people who do not have the means to pay for legal services. Dr Osagie is currently the Managing Partner at his Abuja-based law firm with offices in Lagos, Benin, and he is also into partnership with renowned law firms in the United Kingdom. He is the Executive Director of the Centre for Advanced and Dynamic Leadership for Development and the Managing Consultant of Samraph Global Consults Ltd.
Dr Osagie began his legal career in 1996 as a Pupil State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice, Ogun State, and later moved to Benin-City, the Edo State capital to establish his law firm known as Samson Imarhiagbe-Osagie & Co. Apart from being an accomplished lawyer, he has demonstrated competence as a marketer and business development professional. In 2017, he worked as an Executive Director (Marketing and Business Development) at the Nigeria Communications Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT), a position he held until December 2019.
He ventured into politics and contested his first election into the Edo State House of Assembly for three consecutive times, while representing Uhunmwode State Constituency. As a result of his outstanding performance as a vibrant legislator, he was elected into the House of Representatives in 2007 to represent Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode Federal Constituency where he served on some important committees, including being the Chairman, Technical Sub Committee on the Amendment to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Deputy Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee on the Petroleum Industry Bill. He was also the Minority Whip of the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2015. Dr Osagie contested and won the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Edo South Senatorial District in the 2015 general election but lose out.
In the course of his public service, he has contributed immensely to human and infrastructural development of his constituency and Edo State. Dr Osagie has gained national and international acclaim for his vibrant legislative activities, particularly for the introduction of several bills. He also raised critical issues of national importance such as the non-remittance of revenue to federation accounts, the killings of Nigerians abroad, to mention but a few.
As a philanthropist, Dr Osagie has engaged in many community development services. He has facilitated the employment of youths into several government agencies and public services. Dr Osagie gives scholarships every year to indigent but academically outstanding students in secondary schools and universities, regardless of their ethnic background. He has also facilitated the construction of roads, hospitals, and electricity supply to about 20 communities while serving as a representative of Orhionmwon/ Uhunmwode constituency at the National Assembly.
He has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities as a politician and a professional, and these have earned him numerous awards such as Distinguished Service Award (DSA) by SSAUBTH; Africa Democratic Merit Award for Good Leadership; Best Legislator of the Year Award by the NYCN in 2006; African Public Service Award; Voice of Magazine Netherlands, 2015; Benin Achievers Award by the Oba of Benin, 2007; Distinguished Achievers Award by Great Ife Alumni Association, UK Chapter 2012; Certificate of Legislative Excellence, for being the most outstanding Honorable Member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, by Award Media Events (AME), 29 July, 2009; Great Achievers Award for Excellence in Recognition of Contributions to the Development of the Community, awarded by Child’s Dream on 22 May, 2010, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Award of Excellence for Steadfastness and Contribution Towards Upholding Good Representation, by the National Association of Edo State Students at OAU; African Democrat Leadership Merit Award for Outstanding Leader in Africa, by African International Media Organisation, Accra, Ghana, May 2014, among others.
Apart from his training as a lawyer, Dr Samson Osagie has obtained three master’s degrees in Law, Public Administration, and International Relations, he has crowned his academic laurels with a doctoral degree in Political Economy and Development Studies in several universities across Nigeria, including the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He also had training in Leadership, Legislative, and Business Management at Oxford, Harvard, International Law Institute among other Ivy League institutions across the globe. He is a Doctoral Fellow of the Institute of Financial Analyst of Nigeria, a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration, and an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, Nigeria and a member of the Nigerian and African Bar Association. He is happily married with children.
October 1st 2021 marks Nigeria’s 61st Independence Anniversary with a never-ending quest for a direction that gives the citizenry a definite and tangible value for their collective investment in the Nigerian State.
At independence, the country rising from the ashes of colonialism looked forward to a great and prosperous nation, regional leader and a well global player in the international system.
However, government and governance have been most focused on power acquisition and power retention with minimal attention to Industrial and economic development of our nation.
With ravaging poverty, making the world poverty capital, intractable insecurity, making life worthless, religious and ethnic tension, tearing apart National leadership, corruption ravaging every facet of our national life and inflicting a cancerous blow on the fabric of the country and the insensitivity of the political elites to national malaise, etcetera etcetera Nigeria have continued to regressed on all fronts thus leaving the country to fate and chance.
Yet, the story can be reversed. With abundant human, natural and intangible resources a focus on Industrialization by governments at all levels can change the narrative. A radical and surgical move away from primordial and conservative approach to governance have the capacity to leapfrog the nation into harnessing its potential to produce what we need, reduce dependence on imports, retain capital in Nigeria and nigerianize the commanding heights of the economy.
What are we doing with few agricultural crops? What are we doing with our crude oil? What do we do with our various solid minerals- bauxite, limestone, gold, clay, gypsum, iron ore, salt, zinc, lead,
Cassiterite(tin ore), dolomite, tantalite, marble, Magnesite, kaolin, bentonite, oil and gas, uranium, lead, zinc, lignite,Phosphate, glass, sand, lead, lignite. wolfram, columbite, uranium, magnesium, barite, coal, gemstone, to mention just a few of them scattered all over the country? Many of these endowments are either exploited by foreigners with local comprados for Exports as mere raw materials or illegally mined for a few unpatriotic business persons for their personal enrichment.
We can recreate our sense of purpose by realizing that in the words of Dr Caesar Osaheni Iyayi in his new book The ABC of How To Industrialize Nigeria when he said :
” We must take urgent steps to transform Nigeria from an agrarian society to a manufacturing economy. There is no alternative. It is bend or break. If we fail to industrialise, we will never be able to defend ourselves and shall therefore be at the mercy of foreign powers that dealt ruthlessly with our forefathers. If we fail to industrialise, then we are doomed to suffer another wave of slavery or extinction on African soil”. He went further to posit and accurately so that there is no country in the world that was Industrialize(developed) by foreigners.
Consequently, methinks that the October 1st 2021 must therefore become a watershed for our leaders and citizens to move away from the unbridled quest for power acquisition to National Economic development and Industrialization. I like to see more debates on Industrialization models and strategies rather than power rotation. It will be most beneficial to Nigerians to see leaders compete on development indices rather than throwing banters on how to retain power at national and sub national levels. The people want to see which tangible progress rather than manufactured indices which translate to visible impact on their lives. It is the expectation of the people that government encourages more Nigerian private entrepreneurs to embark on industrial ventures by employing expatriates in areas of deficit of technical expertise.
Nigeria needs to Industrialize. Our country needs to move away from the realm of potentialities. Admirably, Mr President appreciate this in his Independence broadcast when he said “I fully understand the anxiety of many Nigerians on the inability of this country to go beyond a never-ending potential for becoming a great nation to an actually great one”
Nigerians, a resilient, hardworking, skilful and dedicated people with a propensity for positive advancement in am enabling environment needs a pragmatic political leadership to lead the way. Unless and until we have such a leadership that breaks away from the culture of unworkable governance model, extraneous matters of ethnicity and religion, unnecessary politicization of service delivery, building industries, infrastructures and workable institutions will continue to be a mirage. Today, we are witnesses to how the pragmatic leadership of the late Lee Kuan Yew and his successors in Singapore moved away the country to a first world. Singapore, with little or no natural resources developed its human resources to attain its current industrial status.
Our survival as a Nation depends on our ability and commitment to Industrialize Nigeria. We cannot wait any longer.
The time is now!
Dr Samson Osagie, is a Lawyer, Governance & Development Expert
The recent resolution of the House of Representatives on the need for the Federal Government to Constitute the board of the NDDC in line with the Act establishing the commission was partly well intentioned and partly calculated to mislead the National Assembly Particularly the House of Representatives and of course Mr. President and the general Public.
While I concur with the resolution urging the Federal Government to abide by the provision of sections 4 and 12 of the NDDC Act, 2000, I am also of the view that the President did not violate the Act when he constituted the yet to be inaugurated board which was screened and confirmed by the Senate in August, 2019. Therefore, the call for the constitution of the board is mischievous as there is a board already constituted awaiting inauguration
However, assuming, but not conceding that there is a need to reconstitute the board, the consideration of which State among Edo, Ondo and Imo States (as contained in the resolution) will produce the next Managing Director of NDDC cannot be in favour of Ondo State. This is because the facts and figures on ground only shows that Edo State (and not Ondo State) is the 5th highest Oil and Gas Producing State among the NDDC member States.
For the avoidance of doubt and contrary to the impression created by Hon. Kolade Akinjo, a Lawmaker from Ondo State who moved the said motion, figures from the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) from December 2020 to May 2021 shows clearly that Edo State, (the heartbeat of the Nation) produces more Crude oil and gas than Ondo State. Infact, after the big four States of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa, Edo State is next in line in the choice of the Chief Executive of the Commission. The table below shows the chart of oil and gas production quantum between Edo and Ondo States.
STATE
PERIOD
OIL (bbl)
GAS (ft3)
TOTAL
Edo
Ondo
December,2020
1,069,060
1,004,058
10,221,008
3,077,319
11,290,068
4,083,377
Edo
Ondo
January, 2021
1,125,242
1,072,018
10,229,841
3,184,309
11,355,083
4,256,327
Edo
Ondo
February, 2021
1,161,399
1,040,412
10,951,993
2,971,263
12,113,332
4,011,675
Edo
Ondo
March, 2021
1,201,763
1,033,504
11,331,918
3,162,022
12,533,681
4,195,526
Edo
Ondo
April, 2021
1,204,559
1,022,604
11,358,404
2,946,715
12,562,963
3,969,319
Edo
Ondo
May, 2021
1,110,502
1,008,441
11,006,668
3,140,62
12,117,170
4,149,063
It is therefore important to educate those who do not understand that section 30 of the NDDC Act 2000 defines “OIL” to mean “Oil and Gas”. Therefore, given the primacy of Edo State in gas production over and above many states members of the NDDC, it is unthinkable that Edo State will come after Ondo State in Oil and gas production Quantum for the purpose of considering the leadership of the commission. This is tantamount to turning the truth on its head.
Edo State and Ondo State have had a long history of commonalities and as such it is unacceptable for some representatives to try to manipulate facts and figures to mislead the President and all Stakeholders on matters that are easily verifiable.
Therefore, I urge Edo representatives to file a fresh motion to correct the wrong impression created by the Ondo born Lawmaker in the said motion and subsequent resolution. He clearly misled the House of Representatives and it is unacceptable.
Consequently, we urge Mr. President to take urgent and decisive steps to put the NDDC on the path of progressive change by inaugurating the board he has already appointed and which the Senate has also confirmed
Given the length of time that it has taken to carry out the forensic audit of the commission, Mr. President should not give in to the manipulation of some persons to delay the smooth running of the interventionist agency. This cannot be Mr. Presidents wish and understanding of the state of Affairs of the Commission.
It is now on record, that since the last board was dissolved in 2019, the commission has been under several Management that were put together in violation of the Law establishing the commission with the result that many (if not all) of the member States of the Commission have been shut out of the Management of the Commission. This situation is not only unfair, unlawful but also unacceptable to the Stakeholders.
Edo State deserve its fair treatment as the 5th Member State of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Engr. Desmond Ogbodu is a Chemical Engineer and writes from Lagos.
German writer Esther Villar In her book “The Manipulated Man” that caused outrage and hostile criticism from women explains how women since the earliest times have manipulated men and turned them into their slaves, they have pretended to be the oppressed sex while in the real sense they are the oppressors. She explains how a woman manipulates a man skillfully by steps like courtship and finally marriage, hence the saying “a man chases a woman until SHE catches him”.
In her book she explains how the man is tricked to care for the woman all his life and her offspring. He rolls the stone like Sisyphus and in turn gets rewarded by a few minutes of sexual pleasure. We can, by observing Esther Villars assertions that a man is a slave of his desires and the woman uses and has used it for thousands of years as a stick and carrot to keep the man chasing vanity and commit his life to serving her.
She goes ahead to explain the rivalry of women, how each woman feels the powerful urge and need to own a male for herself. Like a slave owner she detests any move the man would make to offer his services to another woman. She uses all means to keep the man to herself and her offspring alone.
Esther Villar’s sentiments are captured by Nigerian Poet, critic and writer, Chinweizu Ibekwe in his book, “The Anatomy of Female Power”(AFP) and Will Farrel’s, “The Predatory Female. They all push the theory that all societies are matriarchal and not patriarchal as we are pushed and forced to believe. Matriarchy has ruled not through brawn but wits and tricks; women feigning weakness to be protected etc. Thus the male becomes the most exploited sex in human history,(in wars the man is always ready to die for the woman; he has been trained to do that).
Chinweizu calls the idea of dating and courtship, training, like that of a horse. It is during this time that a woman having kept the man on a leash by denying him sex and getting him addicted to her by false charms, trains and breaks him to whatever she wants him to become.
The marriage celebration becomes a celebration for the woman and her friends, and they all congratulate her for having succeeded in getting herself a slave. A man on that wedding day waves goodbye to his independence and his coalition of males and commits himself to a Sisyphean life, rolling the stone, an act he cannot abandon having society and the government checking on him and always ready to jail, shame or exile him for absconding his duties. Thus the government and society helps the woman in keeping her slave in check.
Chinweizu gives a narration of how women are trained by older matriarchs to tame men. He explains how a man is trained to rely on women by his own mother. A man is shamed for cooking for himself and other domestic chores by his own mother who is an agent of the global matriarchal rule.
By getting the man to hate domestic works and having it enforced by culture which warns men against going into the kitchen, doing laundry etc., the mother trains his son for the woman who will captivate him and when the time comes she takes hold of the man’s stomach and by getting the man addicted to her body she holds him by the two, in bed and in the kitchen. With those two weapons she manipulates the man and turns him into her plaything.
In the “Myth of the Male Power”, Esther Villar’s ” A Man’s Right to the Other Woman”; “The Polygamous Sex”, the authors of those books challenge the narrative that men oppress women, and by detailed research across African, Western and Eastern both in ancient and modern societies, the authors unravel the hidden power of the ruthless matriarchal power that rules the world.
Presidents, Emperors and Kings are all puppets of the matriarchy forces that rule the World by pulling the strings from behind the curtains.
