AMENDED TAX EDUCATION #special

Prior to oil being the main source of revenue for Nigerian Governments all the regions depended on other resources as follows:
The agricultural sector was spread across the four regions: North, East. West and Mid West (Adebimps 2015). Balogun further observed that each region was known for key export oriented agricultural produces as follows: “The North was known for its groundnut, cotton hides and skin: the East for its palm produce and coal, the West for its cocoa and the Mid West for its rubber and timber”.
Unfortunately following the discovery of oil, all the regions abandoned the agricultural sector in favour of oil revenue. According to Oseni (2013) since the early 1970s when oil became the major source of Nigeria revenue, other sectors of the economy which had put the three regions on the high pedestal of financing had been nose diving. At monthly Federation Account Committee meetings some states receive allocationswhich are in excess of 85% of their projected total revenue.
The list of taxes and levies approved by government and published by the Joint Tax Board for a state government is as follows: (Taxes and Levies Act No 21 of 1998
1. Personal income tax in respect of
(a) Pay –As-You-Earn (PAYE); and
(b) Direct taxation (self-assessment)
2. Withholding tax (individuals only)
3. Capital gain tax (individuals only)
4. Stamp duties on instruments executed by individuals.
5. Pools betting and lotteries, gaming and casino taxes.
6. Road taxes
7. Business premises registration fee in respect of-
(a) Urban area as defined by each state, maximum of-
(i) N10, 000 for registration; and
(ii) N5, 000 per annum for renewal of registration; and
(b) Rural areas-
(i) N2, 000 for registration; and
(ii) N1, 000 per annum for renewal of registration.
8. Development levy (individuals only) not more than N100 per annum on all taxable individuals.
9. Naming of street registration fees in the state capital
10. Right of occupancy fees on land owned by the state Government in urban areas of the state,
11. Market taxes and levies where state finance is involved.
It means that some of the state governments generate only 15% from these approved taxes and levies as their (IGR).
There are, however, many problems and challenges affecting the generation of adequate revenue from the approved list of taxes and levies.
PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES OF TAX ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION IN NIGERIA.
Some of the problems and challenges against efficient and effective tax assessment in Nigeria include but not limited to.
1. Inefficient tax administration arising from the following:
BIR is still treated in some states as part of civil service.
Lack of qualified staff.
Lack of training and retraining.
Which will in part afford them the opportunity ofmodern technologies?
Lack of motivation.
Poor office accommodation.
Lack of mobility and security.
It has been observed that some tax officals tend to be aggressive thereby putting the tax payers on the defence (Adebimpe2015)
2. Lack of information or adequate data
Many businesses do not prepare accurate financial statements for tax assessment.
Tax officials resort to best of judgment assessment.
3. The court or judicial process in trying tax offenders is frustrating.
4. Some self employed persons operate with no fixed address (Bassey 2013).
5. Non compliance with the use of tax clearance certificate to transact some businesses egaward of contracts, registration of business with CAC. as provided by the tax law.
6. Multiple taxation.
Some of the negative impacts or tendencies of multiple taxation in the Nigerianbusiness environment include (Offiong, 2013);
Some states and local governments in the country charge arbitrary taxes which are not inconsonance with the tax laws. Tax officials or revenue consultants in some cases come up with very high figures as taxes and then expect the taxpayers to negotiate. Sometimes new taxes and levies are introduced by the different tiers of government outside the approved taxes and levies.
Display of lawlessness in the process of tax collection, contrary to the procedures laid down in the relevant tax laws for tax collection. Some states and local governments utilize the services of security personnel and thugs to force taxpayers to pay taxes and levies. Sometimes business premises are shut down without prior notice or court order.
Businesses which involve movement of goods inlorries, trucks or pick-up vans from one state to another are often subjected to all manners of taxes and levies along the route. Failure to pay is usually met with violence such as harassment of transporters and impounding of motor vehicles.
It creates rooms for unauthorized persons to get involved in the collection of taxes and levies (probably for themselves and not forthe government). For instance, the Daily champion (2010, p. 23; cited by FIRS, 2010c), reported.
Residents of Abahave flayed the increasingmenance of touts, parading themselves as government tax agents to extort unsuspecting persons. Indications are that the group, comprising able-bodied men, operated in front of Aba town hall situated at the secretariat. They intimidated unsuspected passers-by by requesting for their tax receipts in order to make them part with various sums of money ranging from N100 to N2000.
The issue of multiple taxation has attracted negative criticisms and created an unfavourableimage of the business environment. It acts as a disincentive to investment in the Nigerian economy.
It adds to the cost of doing business in Nigeria. It makes planning difficult since many firms cannot determine the number of levies and taxes chargeable within a state.
7. Bribery and Corruption.
There have been reported cases where some tax officials were alleged to have embezzled millions or billions of naira tax revenue.
In 2015 Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC arrested a banker and three others for diverting N240 million value added tax (VAT) payments from BayelsaState. This is just one out of so many alleged cases.
8. Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance.
A resident person is assessable to tax on his/her global income ie income accruing in, derived from brought into or received in Nigeria. Tax evasion and its sister tax avoidance are one of the fundamental problems of tax administration in Nigeria (Soyode and Kajola, 2006).
Tax avoidance is the use of legal methods to modify an individual’s financial situation in order to lower the amount of income tax owed. Human nature and human activities are so complex and vary so much that it is difficult to make catch – all laws. There are likely to be loopholes and a typical tax avoider tries to exploit the loopholes in order to reduce his tax liability.Although tax avoidance is legal, the twin sister, tax evasion, is illegal.
Tax evasion is an illegal practice or act where a person, organization or corporation intentionally avoids paying his/her/its true tax liability. It is commonly associated with the informal economy. One of the means of measuring the extent of the evasion (the tax gap) is the amount of unreported income, which is the difference between the amount of income that should be reported to the tax authorities and the actual amount reported. Tax evasion is a global phenomena. For instance in Italy it was reported that Italian Police probing top football clubs over alleged tax evasion has seized assets worth 12 million euros as part of an investigation into alleged large scale tax evasion involving 35, Italian football clubs, according to judicial services.
Tax evaders are generally subjected to criminal charges and substantial penalties. A person who is convicted is subject to a prison sentence, a fine, or both. The U.S. supreme Court in Spies V United States, 317 US 492, 63S.Ct 364, 87 L. Ed. 418 (1943), ruled that an Overt Act is necessary to give rise to theoffence of Income Tax evasion. Therefore, the government must show that the tax payer attempted to evade the tax rather than passively neglected to file a return, which could be prosecuted as a misdemeanor.
According to the Supreme Court in Sansone V United States, 380 US 343, 853 Ct 1004, 13L. Ed 2d 882 (1965), a conviction under section 7201 (ie charged with felony) requires proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt as to each of three elements; theexistence of a tax deficiency,willfulness in an attempted evasion of tax, and anaffirmative act constituting an evasion or attempted evasion of the tax.
An affirmative act is anything done to mislead the government or conceal funds to avoid payment of an admitted and accurate deficiency. Affirmative behavior can take two forms: the evasion of assessment and the evasion of payment. Affirmative acts of evasioninclude evading taxes by placing assets in anothersname, dealing in cash and having receipts or debts paid through and in the names of another person. Failing payassessment; without more, does not constitute tax evasion.
9. Lack of visible Government Programmes and Projects that justify Citizens payment of Tax.
In and around where the tax payer resides the roads are bad, the schools are dilapidated, no drinking water, the hospitals have no qualified personnel and drugs and security is non-existent. Under such circumstances it will be difficult if not impossible for people to be motivated to pay their taxes willingly.
The effect is summarized by Ibe et al (2010)
What consolation when the taxespaid - legitimate and illegitimate – are not used for set purposes andobjectives?
What motivation for tax payers when the state of infrasture keeps decaying despite taxes and levies collected by the government.
9. Lack of Tax Education of the Taxpayers. Many individual taxpayers do not understand why they should pay taxes and the tax system itself.
10. Non-Remittance of Pay- As – You Earn deductions and Withholding Taxes by individuals and corporate Organizations.
The fall in oil prices has led to a dramatic fall in the revenue of the Federation. This has in turn impacted negatively on the economy of most states. There is a compelling need for every state to look inwards on how to generate and grow its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
It is gratifying to note that before this workshop – Anambra State government has taken some bold steps in an effort to increase its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano moved the states Internally Generated monthly Revenue from N500m which he inherited to N1.1 billion. He setfor himself a new revenue target of N3.3 billion per month. The governor assured staff of the Revenue Board that government would provide them with the required logistics to carry out their duties effectively, including vehicles and adequate security while government was equally working on 32 offices of the board to provide conduciveworking environment.
The steps taken so far arelaudable and commendable.
However in order to increase the revenue of the state, the following additional issues need revisiting.
The problems and challenges facing tax assessment and collection in Nigeria need to be addressed.
Autonomy of BIR
Following the footsteps of Lagos, Kwara and other states, if the Board is granted fullautonomy with the responsibility and concomitant authority to generate and manage the state revenue, it will result to better efficiency and effectiveness.
Board to determine strategies
Plan, engage appropriate ICT, motivate its personnel
Liase with stakeholders etc.
2. Taxpayer Education;
Following from autonomy of the board, it should embark on improving service delivery to the taxpayers.
It has been observed that lack of voluntary tax compliance compels revenue authorities to use costly and coercive methods for tax enforcements (F Jeldstad and Ranker, 2003). Taxpayer education is a tool designed to enable taxpayer to understand tax laws and procedures. It involves training of special units within the revenue department for providing education, counseling and support to the taxpayers, through different media which includes newspapers, television, radio programmes, websites, seminars and front desk help to disseminate key information to the taxpayers. (Machogu and Amayi, 2013).
Tax education is expected to enable the taxpayer to understand tax laws and procedures as well as createpositive tax compliance attitude (Normala 2007, Roakand Stephen, 1994; Machoguand Amayi, 2013).
3. Diversification of the State Economy;
The state has many solid mineral deposits, gas and oil yet to be tapped (ASSP, 2012 to 2013).
The agricultural potential is yet to be exploited – Recall the Impact ofFarm Settlement Scheme under M.I. Okpara, on the economy and people of Eastern Region.
The government can facilitateavailability of credit to organized farmers, supply inputs such as seedlings, fertilizer, tractor services and other inputs. These projects will not only generate revenue for the state but will also provide employment, reduce idleness and its associated criminal tendency.
4. Embarking on people oriented programmes and projects anddeemphasing ostentatious/falselife.
Tax the Rich in proportion to their earning.
5. Anambra State is one of theStates that can survive with oil orwithout oil.
If the revenue potentials in Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka are properly exploited and judiciously used (If all sources of revenue leakages especially through Taxpayers, Tax officials and Banks are blocked) the state could survive.
6. Accountability
Report the revenue collected
Report the revenue budgeted
Report the variation.
Find out why?
 Report the actual Expenditure
Report the Budget Expenditure
Report the variation and explain why to enable the public evaluate the performance.
When the citizens see what is done with their tax they will be motivated to pay their taxes as and when due.
When the citizens see what is done with the tax they will be motivated to contribute more – Church Donation or Community.

MSMEs GROWTH in ANAMBRA STATE

A Paper Presented By Sunny ChubaNwachukwu, (FICCON, B.Sc. Hons.Chemistry UNIBADAN 1982; MBA Mgt.UNEC) at Finotel Hotels Awka; on Wednesday 27th Jan. 2016; at the 2016 Anambra State Economic Summit. PROTOCOLS: “OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF MSMEs’ GROWTH IN ANAMBRA STATE; WITH ITS GROWTH IMPLICATIONS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY”


In, “firming the economic foundation for a more prosperous Anambra state”, the Private Sector has a vital role to play and therefore, ought not to be regarded as a push-over in the economy. The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)are the veritable engine block that drive the economy in the society. This saying is a hard fact that remains undisputed, regarding the strategically positioned space of SMEs in the business spheres. SMEs invariably, influence, maintain, direct or even dictate the pace/tempo of economic activities and the mannerbusinesses could flow within the specified market area. This makes it imperative that the MSMEs should be taken seriously or be regarded and handled with utmost care and caution by the government to make the economy work, if actually she would succeedeconomically. Without such stand being taken by the government of the day, the tendency is that the economy could stand the risk to suffer adversely (directly or indirectly).
Challenges:-
1. The Challenge of Multiple Taxation:
In government and business, it is the responsibility of the government in power to simply create an enabling environment for the players (Traders, Manufacturers/Industrialists and the other Entrepreneurs) to freely operate without undue hitches, through fiscal policies. In Anambra for instance, the issue of “Multiple Taxation” has exacerbated the situation of economic growth by the MSMEs in the economy (and the mostly affected through “illegal Tax/Levy collections with daily extortion”, are the vulnerable market women that hawk Fruits & Vegetables in the streets, beingthat these are their families’ BREAD-WINNERS). This is as a result of unchecked faceless operators all over the state (posing as Government Agents on revenue drive), thereby creating uncountable loopholes and windows for “leakages of revenues” that otherwise would have accrued or trapped into the coffers of the Government of Anambra state. Not only does the state surfer losses of revenues but, the excruciating aspect of it is that the small businesses that operate within the economic space are constantly sucked dry by these unscrupulous group of lawlessindividuals, virtually in all market locations in Anambra state. At this juncture, let me digress a bit and thank the efforts of a civil society advocacy group in the state (presently fighting this scourge) known as “Njiko Anambra Tax Payers Association” (NATPA).
2. The Challenge of Financial Support:
On Funding; accessibility of Funds to SMEs to engage in more meaningful business operations that could expandand navigate to well established and properly structured money-making Ventures in the state, (in most cases) are not actualized by the operators because, they face conditionality of stumpy loans that the business operators can hardlymeet or would never satisfy. This is therefore, a major challenge in growing small businesses in Anambra state. These local entrepreneurs are not in any form, assisted/supported financially through spontaneous interventions (unlike their counterparts in other economicclimes) nor identified with, either; by financial institutions (especially the Nigerian Commercial Banks) for their much needed & desired responsive, adequate financial support (no matter how they struggle to prove their mettle,genuineness or with convincing evidence, talk less their clear visibly expressedwillingness to contribute towards the state’s industrial and economic growth, unless they have “long-leg”/”connections” in the society), considering also, the damaging impact of delays (i.e. not averting lost time incidents) . This unfair singular challenge facing most small businesses beats one’s imagination and comprehension;especially when economic policies and government initiatives keep preachingPoverty Alleviation, Wealth Creation, Economic Empowerment and all sorts of Support to small businesses. These initiatives range from the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), National Poverty Eradication Program (NAPEP), Funds for Small-scale Industries (FUSSI), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND),YouWIN (an initiative, packaged as our youth enterprise program under the former Minister of Finance); and of course the current 50/50 partnership arrangements between Anambra state government and the Bank of Industry (BOI) and many others. In spite of these, our numerous and uncountable number of such genuine local investors (small enterprises) are mostly left out of such intervention schemes, suffering and languishing without actualizing their dream projects due to lack of financial help from the appropriate quarters. In most economies of the world where such financial assistance are extended to those entrepreneurs that stand out towards impacting positively on the growth of the government economy; testimonies areshared/heard times without number, how their governments/banks intervened and came to their rescue, why is it not so in our own society and economy?
When government talks about Socio-economic programs and services; through provision of public social welfare packages/schemes on health-care, education and etcetera (in building an equitable society), where families survive by offer of affordable access (with protection) on basic human rights/needs (i.e. projects majorly done through programs on social investments and public expenditure); could as well be better approached indirectly and achieved by prompt and adequate Intervention Funds/Financial Support (Loans) by the government for essential, laudable and viable projects (that might have even been over 75% completed and self-financed) in the real sector by our numerous entrepreneurs, who shall in the long run, end up creating job opportunities for the labor market that could account for well over 50% ofemployment opportunities; (cumulatively, at macroeconomic level) than such direct budgeted spending by government on other social programs. This fact has been proven by SMEs in contributing to the economic growth in most of the developed economies but, not so in our own business clime because Nigeria’s insensitive approach appears a recalcitrant case; making our economy to lose. For Anambra to firm a more prosperous economic foundation; I believe we need to learn our lessons, take corrections, re-strategize and hit the ground running (to avoid the mounting/ever increasing unemployment embarrassment).

3. The Challenge of Unemployment:
The Delta state government just passed out trainees after two government sponsored programmes (Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme called YAGEP and Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme known as STEP) that exposed them to basic business management techniques and practices; resulting to 776 small businesses being established across various cities of the state, after the passing out on 14th January 2016. Thisshall in no small measure curb crimes, poverty, unemployment and other social vices in that economy; and on one hand boost productivity, create more jobs, create wealth and impact positively on their overall social wellbeing. Such laudable programmes, if prudently implemented and executed shall improve the state’s economy (along with supporting existing genuine investors in Anambra to actualize their vision that would make their operations and the government’s economy stand firm)otherwise, it is the government that loses in the long run! This is the strategy for the firm economic foundation towards a moreprosperous Anambra’s economic growth, sought about by reason of this Summit,expected to grow in leap and bounds in the near future.
4. The Challenge of Technology:
The state government on another side needs to constantly encourage SMEs to improve technologically. This is very essential because, for an economy to besustainably competitive (both in the local and the international markets with her range of products), Research and Development in terms of standards with modern industrial machineries that could comfortably position them to compete favorably with their contemporaries on imports, they must be trendy in all aspects (including cost effectiveness, and this is where “economy of scale” as a result of Technology sets in); this is especially observed on food imports that are even cheaper and better marketed in our local market. I am sincerely sorry to say that, banks are not helping matters. If Anambra’s economy must prosper; the government of the day should step up action by mediating on behalf of “genuine” SMEs in Anambra state (with their banks). This is so because, it is a foolhardy venture too, for this group of SMEs to try the so called NERFUND loans or the likes and succeed. It is all in theory (with due respect), whenever the print media report on the beneficiaries of such loans/facilities (Nigerian Investors); the potential economic engine block for growth in the economy (the actual applicants who really needed it for growth) are not reached and they never benefitted (we need to wonder who are the actual beneficiaries). The government needs to look into this critically and factor a schedule on how the viable small manufacturers in the private sector that shall add value for growth in Anambra economy are encouraged and assisted, now that Non-oil Exports is the in thing!Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) needs to testify at this point, if it is not a statement of fact. Very sincerely, the Real sector invariably, appears to offer virtually all necessary alternative solutions to our economic challenges because, economic policies of Import Substitution, Backward Integration, attraction of Foreign Direct Investment and more; through local manufacturing in all known economic sectors, shall in overall terms give a boost to the state’s economy with the expected high productivity that drives the GDP growth rate and wealth creation at a steady increase, where unemployment rate, crime rate (though security challenges isalready dealt with by Governor Obiano’sAdministration) and poverty are constantly put at a reduced percentage, with a steady increase in the social wellbeing of the entire Anambra economy.
5. The Challenges of Power Supply andPoor Educational Enrolment:
The other two challenges (though will not be discussed in details in this discourse) are adequate Power Supply needed to sustain steady productions in the state. I know very well that alternative arrangements are on for a privately arranged Independent Power Project for SMEs in the state, through supply ofNatural Gas. This of course, would be in addition to the high hopes, all & sundryhas on the current strategy and performance expected of the Minister for Works, Power and Housing; Raji Fashola(SAN). The other challenge on SMEs in Anambra is the poor male enrolment in secondary schools. This is a very serious issue which portends danger in the future of the state because, “education is the key to Success” (most especially in this 21stCentury); Anambra cannot succeed economically if there is no future ordecline in educational exploits of Anambra citizens because they say, “knowledge is power”.
Opportunities:-
Opportunities abound! Looking atObiano’s 4 Key Economic Pillars/the Enablers (Agriculture, Industry, Trade & Commerce; and finally Oil & Gas), his economic policies and initiatives are very visionary; they are indeed the economic foundations that need fortification for more prosperous Anambra economic growth; through the efforts of the SMEs.Should we talk about Agriculture and discuss on the vast arable land in the state,cash crops that thrive within and have enormous comparative advantage over the other states of Nigeria? On Trade & Commerce, Igbos as predominantly Traders (which runs in our veins); should we talk about our age-long exploits as world-class International Merchants or the famous Old Onitsha Main Market with all the millions of people trained and produced through apprenticeship with marketing skills, scattered all over the globe? On Industry, should we talk about our naturally endowed skills to function as entrepreneurs, always creating and recreating through Artisanship, diligence and capacity to withstand pressure and challenges that are inherent in manufacturing? We have the prowess to excel in the Real sector of the economy.
Please permit me to zero down and talk about the gains in local manufacturing, with specific reference to the Oil & Gas subsector of the Nigeria’s Downstreamsector! Although, Anambrarians shall be more and better equipped on this, come 29th November 2016; here in Awka, when a Professor of Chemistry (at the Official Opening Ceremony of the Anambra Trade Fair); will be lecturing and educating all of us on things to do in our economy with our Oil & Gas. The Theme of the 2016 “Jubilee Fair” is, “To harness Anambra’s Natural Resources for Non-oil Exports, as a world-class Trade Hub”. Please, make sure that you partake in this coming all important Trade Exhibitions, billed to start on the 25th of November.
Based on the premise and known factthat, “an economy can only be as strong as its manufacturing base”; and considering this Summit’s Theme(“Firming the Economic Foundation for a more prosperous Anambra State); one is left to nothing than to hit the nail on the head! PETROCHEMICAL is it!!! We have Oil & Gas in the state, in fact, our Natural Gas Vein and stock is the best in Nigeria (from studies carried out). So why can’t we explore that avenue in the nation’s Downstream Oil & Gas sector of the economy, especially now that the future incrude business is murky? No doubt, it is a very ambitious Vision (considering the Investment, with huge Financial Outlays &Implications) but, from my professional angle I know “we can” because, it is a“money spinner”! Focusing on the Real sector (Manufacturing) with much emphasis on the Oil & Gas Downstream sector; Petrochemical Industries, Gas Projects, Fertilizer Plants and various shades of Chemical Industries in Anambra are enough to reposition our state Economy on the right path towards Economic growth and Development. Especially when it is known that over 80% of the products of the class of Industries mentioned above are “Primary” or/and“Intermediates” (“Feedstock”) for major end use manufacturing Industries in all known sectors of any economy (globally)! These render real support as the rightmanufacturing base with a solid foundation that forever sustains growth by itself. Apart from the following under-listed Primary Petrochemicals and Intermediates (methanol, ethanol, ethylene, polypropylene, isopropanol, formaldehyde, resins, ethylene glycol, phenol, acetone, polyols, synthetic rubber, latex, Nylon 66, polyvinylchloride,polyvinylacetate), major end-use markets broaden the productive potentials of so many sectors as shown below; Plastics, Adhesives, Fibers, Paper & Textile sizing, Solvents & Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals, Paints, Urethane Foam products, Tyresand Rubber products. This economic ideas and strategies on increased domestic output, export-boost on Non-oil goods, and general reduction on importedgoods; are synergic with my concept of targeting Trade Surplus for Anambra’s Economy, if local manufacturing is encouraged.
From the macroeconomic point, the foreign sector is either considered as a closed economy or an open economy for a country’s pattern of trade transactions or dealings with the rest of the world. For instance, Nigeria’s open economy is alsocharacterized as an import-dependent economy as well as basically, a mono-economy (in terms of exports, of which our Oil accounts for as much as over 90% our total export trade accruals). But, we need a paradigm shift to an open economy that is characterized as “Export-oriented” as well, with multiple exports earnings. My take and input here is, a PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIALIZATION that would positively position Anambra’s economy with the right kind of manufacturing base; such that supports a stable self-sustainable economic growth & development, so that whenever Anambra state talks about “Export-oriented Economy”, we mean it. We have the “Rod” in our hands (as Moses of the Bible).
RECOMMENDATIONS:
 The Government of Anambra state should have an “Economic Development Plan”; to alleviate Poverty and Unemployment among the teeming fresh University graduates. This initiative shallappreciably drive the development of the Economic sector in the state.Indeed, to sustain the impressive economic growth Anambra aspires to achieve, our Policy Makers need to focus and learn the best practice in fostering Technology Transfer and identifying critical InnovationBarriers and Gaps towards achieving increased Productivity and Structural Transformation of Anambra Economy.
For this Economy to sincerely make a sustainable progress, Real sector (including small businesses) must be encouraged, by making the government (including the 21 LGAs) monitor very closely theaffairs, problems and challengesfacing these small units/establishments, and promptly respond positively to assisting them avert any lost time incidents (LTIs), whenever they are seen grappling with any form of business challenges (especially on Finance, by mediation with their Banks).
To make Obiano’s 4-Key Economic Enablers more meaningful, “Value Addition” along Value Chains of Anambra’s Natural Resources, ought to be implemented (with specific reference to Agriculture, Oil & Gas).
To streamline collections of Tax & Levies (among state and the 21 LGAs) by effectively engaging the state’s Board of Internal Revenue with the assistance of NATPA (for instance) in the Revenue Drive. This will drastically reduceleakages on accruals and, at the same time Improve the state’s generated Income profile.
 Mechanized Agriculture, at all levelsand categories of Farming in thestete’s 21 LGAs should be implemented; in view of“Agribusiness”.
The Government and ANSIPPA should further sensitize Investors (both Local and Foreign, through Partnerships) with emphasis, to setting up Petrochemicals Plants in Anambra.
Thank you!
Sunny Chuba Nwachukwu (FICCON)
Chairman, 2016 Anambra Trade Fair Planning Committee
VP Membership, Onitsha Chamber of Commerce
Secretary-General, DMGS Old Boys’Assoc. (World-wide).
CEO, Schub Nigeria Limited

ANAMBRA STATE AT A GLANCE

Anambra State was created in 1976 from the then East Central State by the regime of General Murtala Mohammed with capital at Enugu. A further state creation exercise by the then regime of General Ibrahim Babangida on 27th August 1991 divided Anambra into two states, Anambra and Enugu. The capital of present day Anambra State is Awka.

BIAFRA: SECESSION WOULD BE AN ECONOMIC CATASTROPHY – E- COMMERCE EXPERT, ECONOMIST …criticizes PMB’s car; reveals wealth secrets. O’star Eze

Bruno

Today, every clear thinking adult knows that there is a need for practical entrepreneurship. As the paradigm shift from an oil-based economy to an agro-industrialized one gradually dominates the consciousness of the populace, various economic experts have proposed several models and theories as a way out. Bruno Ibekilo, a lecturer in OdumegwuOjukwu University, Igbariam, is a passionate modern day economist with a very seasoned, analytical mind as well as a practical one. He speaks from a depth of street wisdom and business wizardry that only a life experience like his – starting from the floor, can produce. There is a guarantee of innovative outbursts to anyone who dares to absorb every word of this economic enigma. I wish the powers that be would listen.

The market is no longer the ‘armchair-business-as-usual’ thing. Even from what you see on the road.

How do you prepare the youths for the reality that there are no jobs?

There is a maxim that government doesn’t have any business doing business. Therefore, people should learn to be creative enough to go into things that are not conventional. That is the sincere idea - where you think there is no money. Before now, waste collectors were viewed as mad people. But today, they are big. You see them separating wastes into metals and plastics. It is not for separating sake. Those things will be sold to people who recycle them and it is money. Presently in my university (UNIZIK), there is nobody who comes in to collect waste paper. And the university is a place where, every day paper is being generated. If you have 6000 students, in a space of 4 months, each of these 6000 students will do 8-9 courses inclusive of carry over.They would do assignment and term papers. And after marking them, these materials become a waste. But this waste can be money, but who is cashing in on that now? The people who are cashing in on it are people who are not graduates. You see them collecting the waste and you call them impoverished. Where I was staying before, a man started collecting garbage at one erosion site at Emma Nnaemeka street. Today that man is living in his own house and was able to train his two children in the university. So, have we started to look at other ways of making money that are not the normal ways? Somebody will graduate from the university, and he wants to go and open a boutique. There are already a thousand and one boutiques around. Boutique is good, but what is special in that which is ordinary. Do that special thing, and money will start spinning in. A trailer load of metal is a good sum of money. A lot of money. There is a chain of intermediation in the business. Some people will go and collect the waste. Others will sort them. Others still will buy to resell to the companies that recycle them. You give them at 300 and they sell 350. So, they are making 50 naira just because they have the license to sell to that company. I’ve done it before. I was selling paper. Clean white paper was as rewarding as 65 naira per kilo. So you are sure that the worst paper is 30 naira. You have institutions springing up everywhere and people are throwing away their old notes. That is money. An internet platform will now connect the people who will source direct to the people who will need it.

How are the institutions of learning preparing people for this new reality?

That is why entrepreneurship has become a compulsory course up to the post graduate level now in Nigerian universities. That is a way of preparing people for the realities of the labour market. Remember,labour market here is not white collar job but preparing you to see money on the streets. There is money on the streets. What are you going to do? In Anambra state now, they still have people who walk around the streets and say they are land agents. In an economy like Anambra state made up of Igbowho conquer the economic environment wherever they are, what are we going to do, BECAUSE IT IS A VERY BIG MARKET? HOW DO WE CASH INTO IT? THAT IS WHAT AN AVERAGE YOUTH SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT. Before now, the economy was growing but now the economy is shrinking because of the oil price fall. Yet, even while there is complaint of economic strait, you still find people buying lands and building houses. Where are they making the money from in the same economy? It is a question of how one has cashed into an economy. THINKING.

 But the problem in Anambra here as well as in some other parts of the world is that once you establish something, before you know it, people will rush into the business and kill it. At leastin Awka, you would notice that there has been a radical increase in the number of car wash spots.These are services. For you to open a car wash, you may just need anopen space to start. Buy cheap water. You’ve started business. You can graduate into mechanizedwashing over time. So, services arethe thing now. Look at laundry business. Though they have not started doing real dry cleaning, people are getting so busy working and may not have the time to wash your clothes so you take them to the laundry. But an average graduate may not consider doing that kind of business. The reality of time says it is time you have to do them. And when you do it, you do it like somebody who is a graduate. You will apply skill and expertise. Maybe in the way you render the services; like house to house collecting and returning of clothes. Presently hotels are now outsourcing their laundry. So, if they say for every room, you have two pillow cases one bed-sheet and towel, and you charge them 100 naira per room and a hotel sells twenty rooms, you make 2000 naira. For 7 hotels, you are making 14,000 naira. Imagine making 14000 naira a day. In ten days, you are about hitting my salary. I was taking my students on entrepreneurship and I started producing tissues. Today, it is moving for me because there is nobody that doesn’t use it. You must clean. Though, now they are trying to innovate. There are toilets where after using them, you press a button and water will gush out and clean you. It hasn’t come here yet but I know it will still come here. There are a lot of products in the market. Most women may be having problem easing themselves in most places where they are not gender sensitive. There is one plastic now that a woman can place on her members and ease herself with ease and safely, justlike a man. At that sink where she would wash her hand, she will just wash it up and put it back inside her bag. So, theory don’t need special urinary as her composition demands. It’s just an ordinary plastic. So, somebody who is producing plastic cups can equally produce that and you can leverage on that; get somebody who produces plastic a model, he develops it and you go into the market. Creativity and thinking; that is knowledge based economics. And if you have an internet shop, you can sell them.

What is your take on the proposition that we go into finished goods and conquer Nigerian market?

I’ll tell you one thing that is happening in Nigerian market now. Go and look at all the products that are being imported into this country, the prices are up. Whilethose goods that are produced in Nigeria have static prices. Look at roofing sheet, step stone tiles; what WICHTECH makes a lot of fortune from. The price has gone from 2000 to 3000 something. While theAluminum sheet which comes from china equally but is being produced in Nigeria, the price has remained stable, adding a little sum. Now, what does that tell you, we have to start doing the right thing. There was a time in Indian when all they had was encouraging Indians to buy made in India products. They said “think India; buy India.” Then,India’s population was not more than one billion. Now, India’spopulation is way above one billion and imagine a country that produces for more than a billionconsumers; less than one billion industries. Today, India is exporting and you cannot talk about somecommodities without talking about India; drugs, fashion, ICT. In SiliconValley in America (America’s IT market); 70% is manned by Indians. But remember, before; if you graduate from a university in India, they would take you as a second class graduate and it was said that nothing good comes out of India. But today, India is one of the melting points, pilgrimage for education; iron and steel industry has Indians as the market leaders. But they started gradually. You can hardly see a world power that is a small country. SO, THOSE TALKING ABOUT BREAKING OF NIGERIA.THAT IS ANOTHER BIG MISTAKE IN MY OWN THINKING. I STAND TO BE EDUCATED. Most world powers you know are big countries. Except countries who were there before but are not there now. Today,France is trying to be a leader. But they cannot take it away fromGermany. UK is trying to hold Europe at its sway. It is because of what UK was before not what they are now. Today, their economy is not good. So, population counts. Market is the main thing. By market her I mean those people that are going to buy from you. Consumers.Ogbonnaya Onu said that he will be using only Made in Nigerian cars. It is something he did for himself and for the economy. And he stood by it. Has the president cued into that? Before, they said that governors would use only Peugeot. Then it was Peugeot company, Nigeria. It was a Nigerian car assembly plant. But, today our president drives Mercedes X class. To the detriment of those cars assembled in Nigeria.

It is rumored that Innoson Motorshas laid off 50% percent of her staff?

It is possible. It is very possible. The fact that Innoson is an assembly plant, majority of their raw materials come from abroad and dollar is nowhere to be seen; the exchange rate is not favourable. So if a car of let’s say 1million comes out of Innoson, it may now be coming out at a higher price. Before I bought this my car, I got KIA serato at a price at almost the same price with this. But because of track record, brand name, I went for this (Toyota). So, you find out that people needs to be encouraged. Innoson is doing a wonderful job but he needs to be encouraged. This automotive mobile policy; will the president have the willpower to implement it to the later, so that local car assembly plants will start to function again. These are the things the government will do for us. Enabling environment in terms of legal framework. Criminalize importation of some products. There are 41 products today that you cannot have access to dollar to buy. Those 41 commodities must be produced in Nigeria. Why should we be importing toothpick? One of the fastest dying industry in nIgeriaas at the early eighties and nineties, was the textile industry. Because people wear foreign clothes more.China China China. We have Abatextile mill, Asaba textile mill and a thousand and one of them, but they are all dead. But in India, it became illegal to wear foreign clothes. Look at the dress code of Mahatma Gandhi. People now moved away from the way he was tying wrapper around and resorted to what they called Indian wears. At a time, the fashion came to Nigeria. They all came from India because they recognized their local fabric. But inNigeri, being well dressed amounts to donning western clothes. So, what are we doing? In Anambra state, there is a law by the state house of assembly that onwednessdays, everyone must go to work on traditional attire and speak Igbo more. Is it being enforced? So, these are the things we need to put in place. So that people who are in that industry can move ahead. There is one guy that used to come here. He picks people’s measurements and sows for them. He is a graduate. People like that should have an internet shop. He can produce and sell. There is one of my students that grew up in Aba. So, he started sewing all thosesenator’s suit. I advised him to go and get a label. Start with ordinary printed label. He started. Today, he is big. Unfortunately, we lost him toDubai. Today he is in Dubai. Hesews his cloths in Dubai. Nigerians go there to import his clothes.Because we want imported clothes, instead of sewing in Nigeria, he went to Dubai and started sewing and that made his clothes importable. When he was in Nigeria, he wasn’t making as much as he is making now.

So, we need serious reorientation, don’t you think?

Changing the psyche of the average person in Anambra is imperative. Because when you talk about knowledge based economy and the economic growth of Anambra state, at the end of the day, how can we Anambrarianscash into it. If you say e-commerce, e-transact, internet comes in. a lot of things can be done; people paying their tax through the convenience of their phones. A lot of us do e-transact with banks from our phones. Now, people who collect tax can as well cash into that. If you can transfer money from Mr A to Mr B, for business transactions, you can as well transfer money from account A to account tax to pay your tax. Board of internal revenue; have they started to cash in on this? Go to your ATM today. From that ATM, you can recharge your phone, transfer money into an account,recharge your DSTV. You can as well pay your taxes from there, using your tax identification number (TIN). That is e-commerce. In Lagos state, the ministry of finance is not just state ministry of finance, but federal ministry of finance incorporated. What does it mean? That it is a business outfit of its own. They pay their bill and give government the balance. But what do we do here in Anambra state?Government cannot collect the revenue into government quarters. They will employ contractors. Those contractors will now lie to government and like the Zaccheusyou know, they will collect a lot and give government a paltry sum. So, in this age of dwindling oil prices, if you are working for the ministry of finance and you are laid off because the government is commercializing to have the capacity to collect revenue pay their staff and remit the remaining to the government. Government can then remove the state ministry of finance from its pay schedule. If I lose my job; government will use those money they had collected to provide infrastructure and I can now, as somebody who has been paid off, cash into the infrastructure government has provided and establish my own business. That is an adjustment mechanism. What I know is that, I may be earning about 40 thousand naira as a staff of ministry of finance, but if I start my own business, I can be earning as much as 50 thousand naira and employ others. So, what have you done? You have removed one person from the payroll of the ministry of finance and empowered him to earn more and employ three more. So, if Anambra state now decides to have an independent power plant and there is good road network and good roads, you have opened up communities. I may decide to leave Awka and go to my village which is 15 minutes drive from here. I won’t be paying house rent and I will be saving a lot of money every year. Put that money back in my business. So, what do I have? There was a friend of mine from my village. He hardly used to come back for Xmas celebrations and gave hard times as his reason. I advised him to come down to the east. Today, he is in the village. Today, he has a small farm, produces pork meat and has gone to adding value to his produce. He is into food processing now. He will grind beans, process, package and sell. So, if I want to do moi moi, I just get his product, add water and cook my moi moi. A painter of beans may be 800 naira and he sells his 1,100, he makes 300 naira but you don’t mind because he saves you time whenever you want to cook moi moi. He did the same thing for okpa. I now told him that people are now wary of what they eat and may want to go forplantains and cocoyam instead of foofoo.

Do you think the call for an agrarian society is in the right direction?

Most agrarian societies don’t grow. And now, people are moving from production to service. What you may be thinking of doing in Nigeria is to encourage the value chain in Agriculture so that it won’t be just planting crops or rearing animals;but also processing them. That processing is production and has a value chain. Both the person processing and the person selling makes money. Remember the farmer has produced the fowl. You buy the fowl, process it, it is now a frozen chicken. I have added value. So, you, as a hotelier, can buy from me, instead of going to the village to buy the fowl. So, at every level there is money to be made. But the issue is, are our youths being encouraged to go into that? It is not giving them money, but providing them the right information. We need to market these ideas. We have looked at wealth from waste, agriculture, production. So, there is a whole lot to do. And when you start to do that, the economy becomes robust.

ECONOMIST PROPOSES NIGERIA NEVER HAD AN ECONOMY

Dr Chukwuma Agu of the Department of International Development Studies, an economist of wide repute, has asserted that Nigeria never had an economy. Agu alsoreferred to the present ongoing economic crunch and naira crisis as history repeating itself. He made these bewildering remarks atFinotel Hotel, Awka during the paper presentation in a 2 day Economic Summit organized by Voice to the People Project in collaboration with Anambra state government. Telling it like an intriguing story, the doctor of economic philosophy left all Anambra major stakeholders in attendance fired up with fullcoloured mental pictures of an Anambra that could learn from history, see the present economic situation as a blessing in disguise and properly harness both her human and physical resources towards economic emancipation and financial freedom. Agu said that doing thus portrays Anambraas truly the light to the rest of the 35 states of the federation.
Citing history and in-depth research results, Dr Agu, who also has been appointed by Anambra state’s executive governor, Chief Dr. WillieObiano, as the chairman of the Committee on Internally Generated Revenue, illustrated that Anambra state is living far below its potentials. Chukwuma went ahead to show that this is because there is lack of synergy between government and the private sector.Agu noted that though change is here, it is not the kind of change we applied for. He therefore said that though he is not opting for Biafra, Nigerian Federal Government does not have the solution to Anambra’seconomic problems. He further demonstrated that the Igbo region has not helped themselves.

Going back to what he referred to as “the story that would not be told”, he contextualized the present situation, positing that Nigeria had gone through this stage before but mismanaged the opportunity. That was when he said that what people are calling economic crisis is an opportunity if we want to utilize it.
About ten years ago there was a boom in the whole of Africa. And both the IMF, the economists, the UN started clapping for Africa. It was hoped that Africa had finally arrived. In Ethipia, the Chinese made massive investments. It was thought that Africa had finally found the magic for growth.contrary to the trending thought, the economist wrote a paper saying that he was yet to see any country that got developed as a result of natural resources. That the structural foundation needed to be able to grow Africa on a sustainable basis does not yet exist. Agu noted that though Nigeria receives a lot of money in Foreign Direct Investments, the whole money goes into exploration and exploitation of natural resource. He observed however that unfortunately most countries that had grown in the past had been able to transit from natural resources to industries of finished products.
At this point, the economic sage outlined certain problems with dependence on natural resources. He said that natural resources are always in an enclave as only two percent of the people that own it, enjoy it, the rest don’t. thereforewhen government begin to give a inordinate or disproportionate attention to natural resources, it disenfranchises a large portion of the population.
In a nut shell, he said that the crash is as a result of this, all over Africa. He noted that we had never really had an economy and that oil was used to cover our nakedness and that today, because oil price is low, the capacity of the central bank to support the naira is weakened.
He revealed that whereas the state has 3.5 billion as her internally generated revenue, she is owingabout 14.1 billion. He noted that a large percentage of the debt is owed to commercial banks with short term interests and short term loan and volatile repayment terms.He then explained that many states were declared insolvent; unable to take care of their day to day responsibilities, and that was why the federal government gave out the bail out money that went on the news recently. He then pointed out with dismay that giving the money was a mistake as the money was not targeted on anything that would produce economic value butt on settling bills used for consumption. He then projected that the end to the dismal economic situation is not in view. He noted that restructuring is almost impossible as the capital to achieve that was not saved for.
Agu drew illustration from the “coal” experience that used to be very valuable but today is of no use. He projected that because there is a great investment in alternative means of powering engines, a time would come when crude oil will be as coal. He noted that given that the present budget runs a 40% deficit when it used to run 5%, with reduction in the value of the naira, the deficit widens. He also noted with dismay that Nigeria, compared to other countries, has very low funds in her reserve and therefore cannot withstandeconomic shocks.
He also pointed out from CBN report, that South East, compared to other parts of the country, receives the lowest in revenue from the federal government. He said that despite this, south east is not doing badly and that is because of individual effort and not the government. We are doing better than most other regions in electricity and water because of private input. We dropped so low in secondary education and even further in tertiary education,” the economist illustrated using a statistical drawing from a research work. Agu said that we are not doing enough to give enough incentives to the young ones to love education. In his words,“if it takes putting Airconditioners in a school to encourage children to attend, we should do it. We need to be deliberate about investing in our young.”
He said that the reason our children are not enthusiastic about formal education because they keep seeing graduates after five yearsexisting like vegetable and living on handouts from their uneducated trader mates. He observed that given that they are ambitious, theyshortcircuit the trend and go fortrading. There was also evidence that the south eastern states have a big gap between per capita tax and per capita income. This he said is because the middle men between the entrepreneurs and the government, namely, tax collectors,do not allow most of the money collected get to the government. In his words, “Unless we dismantle that man standing between the government and the people, we won’t go so far ahead.”
Speaking on the continued low expenditure on agriculture, the keynote speaker reminded Ndigbothat the civil war was lost as a result of hunger. This was because, given we depended on importation for our basic dietary needs, when there was a blockage as advised byObafemi Awolowo, the finance minister in 1966. At this point, DrAgu observed that given we are still landlocked without a standard sea shore or airport, the radical call for Biafra cannot be pursued militarily with success.
Agu also decried the deplorable state of our health sector because it is not getting enough attention. “There is a particular hospital inAba; if you go in as a pregnant woman, you are definitely coming out a corpse…all because we are not investing money in areas we ought to.”
He also frowned at the fact that we in the east are also not taking advantage of certain programs meant for our benefit, such as Agricultural Creative Guarantee Scheme Fund, ACGSF, a federal government project where money can be issued guaranteed by the central bank so that if you can’t pay the money, the central bank will pay. He revealed that it is with this money that the northerner invest in agriculture thereby supplying us most of our food items.
The economist also went ahead to expose why Nigeria remains stuck in growing debt. “We mostly use the money borrowed on consumer goods, oil and gas, and general services; thereby wasting the whole money, gaining only increase in corruption, brain drain. Our agricultural practice remains as crude as it was centuries back.” He also revealed that we use half of our revenue on servicing debts.
Reading with the eyes of an economist, the economist predicted that in the days ahead there will be massive unemployment, a lot of macro instability with inflation likely to escalate, a total crowding out of the real sector.
He said that we have two choices in the situation; repeat the mistakes of the past or do it right this time. Referring to the past, Agu said that when this kind of situation was encountered, the first thing the government did was to shrink; they started laying off and started reducing the sectors that government should invest in. “That was the period they cut off educational subsidy, agricultural and health subsidies. Most of the problems we are seeing now is as a result of the sudden cut off of subsidies in them.” He said it would be a mistake for government to shrink now and suggested that, rather, government should invest in areas of high returns.
He also decried the practice of poverty alleviation and hand outssaying it always makes people lazy. He said it is an insult to south easterners who, according to him, are not structure to live like that. He rather suggested building industries where the people can work and earn wages based on the value they have added.
The philosopher criticized the individualistic trend in our business practices and advised it would bebetter if we borrow a leaf from institutions like Shoprite, Hyundaimotors, and build institutions. It was at this point that he frowned at the way the government bought her shuttles from india when he had a brother that produces motor vehicles – Innoson motors. He intimated that what made Toyota,Hyundai motors and some other international firms so great is because their governments and people have understood and harnessed the power of collective effort. “No matter how wonderful several individuals’ effort can be, one institution of collective efforts dwarfs them all.” He then advised that government should start investing in big players like Innosonmotors. The government should call research and development to help such big players so that they develop into institutions, he admonished. This he said will increase their employment capacity and making them multinational firms. Agu at this point suggested that a table be provided where failed businesses and problems of businesses are recorded. This he said would help the government know and address their problems. He said that this approach would reverse the distrustful andantagonistic attitude of business owners towards government. “You need to recognize the power of organization and the organization of power.” This, he said, is what gives the north an edge. He also proposed that as dollar prices imported goods out of reach for the larger number of the middle class, the state needs to increase their capacity to supply the alternative products. In the light of this, he proposed building of big shopping malls like Shoprite. The economic philosopher ended by saying that we need to start celebrating impactful individuals so that the children can adopt the right value system. And thus did Dr ChukwumaAgu lay out the blueprint for firming the economic foundation for a more prosperous Anambra state.

V2P/ANAMBRA STATE HOLDS ECONOMIC SUMMIT

Voice to the People project, in collaboration with Anambra state government has engaged all major stakeholders in Anambra state economy on a two day intensive economic summit.

The event which held at Finotel Hotel, Awka on January, 27/28 featured well researched paper presentations aided by power point presentations. While Dr Chukwuma Agu laid out a blue print on the why's and how's of firming the economic foundation for a more prosperous Anambra state; Professor Nkamnebe represented by Dr. Titus Okeke from Department of Marketing, UNIZIK, Awka, spoke on Trade and Commerce - Informal markets: Growth and Challenges in Anambra state; Sunny Nwachukwu addressed the Opportunities and challenges of Medium, Small Scale Enterprises; Professor Nwadialor E O, the chairman of Awka and District Society Chartered Institute of Taxation, proposed ways IGR can be improved while discussing their peculiar problems. Mr Oguebue P, ADP programme manager discussed Poverty Reduction and Food Security through agriculture in Anambra state and Ibekilo Bruno, from Odumegwu Ojukwu University spoke on the problems, prospects, and proposals in e-commerce and Knowledge-based economy and economic growth of the state.
After several panel sessions, the attendees made up of representatives from Civil Rights Concerns, Awka Chamber of Commerce, Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, ASATU, Ministry of Public Utility, Ministry of Industry, Organisation of African Instituted Churches, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy matters, Post Primary School Commission, PPSC, Ministry of Water Resources, e.t.c, a communique was developed from the suggestions made by the groups intended to be forwarded to the Anambra state government for implementation.

One of the organisers of the event, Mr Onyeka of the Civil Rights Concern, while interacting with the press, disclosed that the economic summit was designed to address the issues that would help consolidate the economic stance of the state, especially now there is economic crisis in the globe. He expressed his confidence in the present government's resolve to entertain and implement whatever good suggestions made during the program.

Another participant, Dr Uju Ezenekwe of Economics Department, UNIZIK expressed her satisfaction with the outcome of the event. In her words, "I'm glad people are beginning to think seriously in the direction of economic paradigm shift. Though I wish the governor and commissioners were here in person to be directly involved with these deliberations, i believe the lofty ideas and suggestions raised here should get to them and get implemented.
It should be noted that Voice to the people project is a programme that supports vulnerable communities in Nigeria to hold state and local government and their leaders to account. The seven partners working on V2P are Christian Aid, Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Development in Practice, Civil Rights Concern, The Justice, Development and Peace Commission, JDPC, Onitsha, JDPC, Awka and JDPC, Nnewi.