By Abdul-Rahman Abubakar

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu yesterday asked the Senate to consider the possibility of legalising prostitution in the country.

Speaking during debate on a motion on the scourge of human trafficking in the country, Ekweremadu said since it has become impossible to stop prostitution in the land, the Senate should consider regulating the act in the country.

According to him “we need to regulate prostitution in this country so that if anyone wants to indulge in prostitution, the person should be registered and issued with a license. If we say we want to stop it, it would be difficult. It is done in other countries; let us regulate it by issuing license.”

Also speaking on the matter, Senate President David Mark said it is difficult to stop the act of prostitution saying “the FCT administration has been trying to stop but they are facing stiff resistance because the prostitutes have their association and even their own legal adviser. It is a reasonably organised bad profession.”

While debating on the motion that centred on human trafficking, several senators advocated for amendment to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Act to provide for capital punishment for those involved in human trafficking.

The position followed a motion on the scourge of human trafficking in the country moved by Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta (PDP, Niger East) and 33 other senators.

In his motion, Kuta said though NAPTIP is struggling to tackle the menace of human trafficking in the country, “the situation has been on the increase and has been identified as the world’s fastest growing criminal industry, second only to drug trafficking and fraud.

In his contribution, Senator Uche Chukwumerije (PDP, Abia) said “we should upgrade the punishment for human trafficking to capital punishment. Equally to be joined are all the security personnel that are along the route where it take place. I don’t believe that it is happening without the knowledge of the security agencies along the entry and exit points.”

Also commenting, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (PDP, Borno South) said there is need for more punitive measures to end the menace saying “human trafficking is not only in terms of export. We have house boys and girls in the country that don’t have any future. Most of them are not even up to the age specified by law. They work for so many years and all they get is commendation without any form of future.”

On his part, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed (CPC, Kaduna North) expressed worry on the ugly dimension of human ritual to the crime of trafficking in persons. He revealed several instances of victims kidnapped and used for ‘devil worship’.

After the debate, Senate directed its committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters to carry out further legislative action on the matter and report back to the whole Senate.

By Christian Okeke, Abuja

Finally, the United Nations (UN) on Wednesday in Abuja released the names of 11 of its staff and 10 out of the 12 non-UN staff who lost their lives in the August 26 suicide bombing of the world body’s headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.

It said it could not identify two out of the 12 dead non-UN staff.

The list of 21 identified dead bodies released by UN’s country coordinator, Mr Dauoda Toure, comprised 14 males and seven females.

Mr Toure, who confirmed that 23 persons died during the bomb blast, noted that the UN would never forget the victims as individuals and the passion, commitment and courage with which they proudly served the mission and the ideals of the UN.

The dead 11 UN staff members and their designations, according to the UN coordinator, inclu-ded Ms Rahmat Abdullahi (Registry Clerk, UNDP); Mr Musa Ali (Zonal Logistics Assistant for the North-West Zone, WHO); Mr Johnson Awotunde (Monitoring and Evalu-ation Specialist, UNICEF); Dr Edward Dede (National Professional Officer, WHO) and Mr  Elisha Enabure-khan (Driver, UNAIDS).

Others were Mr Ahmed Abiodun Adewale-Kareem (Shipping Assist-ant, UNICEF); Mr Iliya David Musa (Receptionist, UN Common Services, UNDP); Mr Ingrid Midt-gaard (Associate Expert, UNODC); Mrs Felicia Nkwuokwu (Receptionist, UN Common Services, UNDP); Mr Stephen Oba-moh (ERT Radio Operator, UNDP) and Mr Abraham Osunsaya (Administrative Assistant, WHO).

The 10 identified dead non-UN staff included Mr Sunday James Ebere (Shi-pping Agent, Balast Agency); Mr Ndubisi Bright (Hospitality Industry Consults); Mr Paul Waziri (Nigeria Cleaning Services) and Ms Kate Demehin (Federal Ministry of Health).

Others were Ms Caroline Michael (Guard); Mr Sunday Omelenyi (Guard); Mr Yakubu Garuba (Guard); Mr Abio-dun Adeseye (Julius Berger); Ms Patricia Ekwe-ringe (Travel Agent) and Ms Joy Audu (Nigeria Cleaning Services).

A breakdown showed that 116 people, who were injured in the blast, were receiving medical treat-ment, 64 of them are UN staff, 36 non-UN staff, with 16 persons yet to be identified.

Among the injured, 17 were seriously injured victims, including 12 UN and five non-UN staff, who had been evacuated to South Africa for specialist treatment.

The conditions of those evacuated to South Africa were said to have improved.

Mr Toure, while briefing journalists, lamented that the victims lost their lives contributing to improving the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.

“We will never forget them as individuals. Nor shall we forget the passion, commitment and courage with which they proudly served the mission and ideals of the United Nations.

“We are also aware that one victim who was at the UN House has been privately evacuated to the United Kingdom. The UN, in collaboration with the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has also facilitated the travelling of accompanying family members of the evacuated persons to South Africa.

“Since August 26, the UN Country Team has focused its attention on securing medical care, counselling and other essential needs for staff members and their relatives.

“The United Nations has a long term commitment to remain in Nigeria and continue its work to improve the lives of the vulnerable people, to conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms. We are looking forward to increasing our support and not the contrary,” he added.

Meanwhile, investigations into the bombing of the Abuja office of the United Nations is yet to be concluded.

The UN Chief Security Adviser, Mr. Sorrien Scott, who disclosed this to journalists in Abuja, maintained that Nigeria was still going on with the investigations into the bomb blast.

Speaking on the issue of compensation, UN country coordinator, Daouda Toure, said “for the UN staff, what will come to play is what is called the Malicious Act.”

Regarding non-UN staff that were working for specific companies, he said, “the insurance in their companies will come to play. And the assurances we get from the government for those who are not in the categories, government has extended hand of support to them, including in helping them financially while they were on their hospital bed.”

Mr Toure spoke on the chances of finding more bodies at the blast site and said “we know that if there is still somebody under the rubbles, there would be signs like smell.”

He said though the UN was closely following the investigation of the bomb blast, it was yet to be officially informed of the arrests.

Also speaking, WHO Representative, Dr David Okello, noted that the medical care which the injured had been receiving in the country was exemplary.

By  Paul Odenyi, Abuja

The Federal capital Territory Administration (FCTA) accumulated a debt of N64 billion within one month, the Minister of FCT Senator Bala Mohammed said yesterday in Abuja.

The huge debt was built up within the period of May 29, 2011 when the previous cabinet of the President Goodluck Jonathan was dissolved and early last month when the cabinet was reconstituted.

The FCT minister confirmed yesterday at an interaction between officials of the Bureau of public procurement (BPP) and procurement officials of the FCT administration that the huge debt were all approved in the interregnum when core civil servants were in charge.

He lamented that the administration’s annual internally generated revenue is a mere N40 billion.

He said though part of the sum had been repaid by the administration,  the management of the FCT during the period it did not have a minister embarked on a spending bazaar, without regard to due process and the level of revenue at its disposal.

As a consequence, Senator Bala Mohammed said no new spending approvals would be given without evidence of inflows of revenue from the same project. “I have over N64billion to pay.

That is a commitment and I have only managed to generate about N40billion. The first step in procurement should be to know how much you have in your kitty.

I will not sit down and approve projects because they are in the budget. If you have not generated the necessary IGR or got the requisite allocation, I will not approve that,” said the minister.

Earlier while addressing the meeting the Director General of the BPP Engr. Emeka Eze, admonished the procurement personnel of the FCTA for failing to adhere to due process and procurement guidelines in its execution of contracts in the territory which he said has led to fraudulent activities.

He also accused them of using the name of the minister to perpetrate massive fraud. He disclosed that most of the fraudulent practices were done with projects worth N50 million. Under the BPP act, contracts worth N50 million and below were awarded through inter departmental tender board which are constituted by only officials of the ministry or agency.

However, for contract of more than N50 million, the agency of ministry is required to send for Federal Executive council approval.

The DG also disclosed that some personnel of the FCTA authority have been interrogated by the anti corruption agencies lately as a result of the sharp practices going on in the authority. He said many more would be sent to either the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

At the interactive session with  procurement officials of the FCTA, the DPP Director General, said the bureau would strive to minimise the incidence of faulty procurement which he explained had compelled the anti-corruption agencies in the country to interrogate some officials of the FCTA.

Eze further said: “Some of you might have been invited by the EFCC/ICPC to come and answer questions in relation to procurement that you have done. We want to reduce the incidents and believing that actually most of them were done not out of your intentions but out of ignorance.

“Suffice it to say that the last time we met here, we reminded you that the mandate secretariats have the power to initiate, process and execute projects between N10million and N250million for works and then N50million for services. When it is beyond N250million, you go back to the Permanent Secretary and if it is beyond N1billion you come to the BPP.

“There is a whole lot of complaints going on out there that a lot of under-hand practices are going on especially in projects less than N250million where most officers are involved.

“Registration with the FCDA or the secretariats is not a requirement for allowing companies to bid since they have already been incorporated by the CAC. Many at times when bids are returned, you do not make the contractor to sign. The contractors have complained that you intimidate them in the name of the minister.

That is why we insisted that the minister must be here so that he can hear what his officials do in his name. They will bring out names and say they are from the minister or the Permanent Secretary and this is why many Nigerians who have no access to power or the minister and Permanent Secretary just go about hoping that God would intervene.

“We also noted that during the evaluation of your report, you change the criteria mid-stream and the law is very clear. It says you must not introduce any criteria other than as stipulated in the approved document.

And when you confront them, they will say that the minister influenced them,” lamented the BPP boss who noted that the meeting was necessitated by the need to let the minister know how his officials have continued to use him as a scapegoat.

Meanwhile, the FCTA administration has allocated two plots of estate land to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) for the development of  residential quarters for both the staff and commission members.

This was announced by the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed while receiving the Chairman of the INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega in his office yesterday.

He said the allocation is part of the effort by government to guarantee the independence of the Commission, which has played a pivotal role in deepening democracy in the country.

He praised Professor Jega for meeting the expectation of Nigerians and the International community on the conduct of the last general election, urging him and the commission to continue to guard the autonomy and integrity of the electoral body.

Professor Jega said he was at the FCT minister’s office to congratulate him on his re-appointment as minister of the FCT.

C. Vanguard

By Turaki A. Hassan

Senate President David Mark is expected to formally open investigation into the activities of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BEP) on the privatisation and commercialization of federal government owned public enterprises in Nigeria from 1999 to date.

This was sequel to a motion on the matter sponsored by Senate Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan (ANPP, Yobe North) and adopted by the Senate pursuant to its resolution No. S/Res/004/01/11 passed on 19th July, 2011.

This is the second time in about three years former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufa’i will face a Senate probe, this time over the activities of the BPE which he once headed.

Back in 2008, El-Rufa’i had appeared before the Senate panel that probed activities of the FCT administration, which he headed from 2003-7. He is to appear before the new 7-member panel in his capacity as the first Director General of the BPE in 1999-2003 to explain what senators described as the failure of the privatization policy.

Senator Lawan and 25 other senators had sought to open a comprehensive investigation of the privatization and commercialization of government companies undertaken by BPE since 2000.

All other former heads of the BPE as well as officials involved in the privatization process are expected to also appear before the Senate panel which has been mandated to conduct a thorough investigation into factors that caused the failure of privatised companies.

Lawan had argued that privatised or commercialised government companies had failed with huge consequences for the nation’s economy due massive job losses.

Though the Senate had given the panel four weeks to submit its report there are strong indications that the time may be too short for it to do a thorough job.