Columnists

THIS means that in the U.S. democracy, policy conception, budgeting and coordination are directly undertaken by suitably advised elected persons (President and Parliament), while their appointees merely implement, under the sharp scrutiny of the elected persons.

WHILE  the citizens  are willing to accept  the  plea  of President Muhammadu Buhari and his loyalists to be patient  for him  to prove  that  he is the right person  the nation needs as a helmsman  now,  he is  sadly  not eager  to help himself in this regard.

BANKING is critical to efficient mobilization and allocation of financial resources for individual, national and global prosperity, with lending at the nexus. There is no true alternative.

ON Wednesday September 2, 2015 the diplomatic community in Washington, together with several dignitaries, family, friends and well wishers gathered to witness a solemn event held in memory of an exemplary Nigerian patriot, erudite scholar and consummate diplomat as they paid tribute to an outstanding public servant – Ambassador Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye, whose sudden passing the week before, has left us all stunned.

IT is necessary to distil some of the economic management lessons from the first three months of President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime and highlight needful reforms. Five issues stand out.

DEAR Mr. President, the importance of the oil and gas sector can hardly be overemphasised. As I have advised elsewhere, the most strategic decision you can take in tackling the challenges of the sector is to appoint a competent hand as Minister of Petroleum Resources. Please, appoint a minister.

THREE months ago, the course of Nigeria’s future changed for the better. The APC won a historic election. Tired of the broken promises and damaged public institutions wrought by 16 years of PDP misrule, the people demanded change.

IN seizing power from General Gowon (80), the then Military ruler, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed (1938-76) told the nation on July 30, 1975 that “this Government will not tolerate indiscipline.

A LARGE amount of work has been done in the U.S. and Canada on the health effect of gas flaring. There are statistics in this and related environmental problems like acid rain, etc.

TRUST matters in politics. It is the expectation that arises within a community of regular, honest and cooperative behaviour, based on commonly shared norms, on the part of other members of the community.

AGAINST the backdrop of scarcity of good news that could enliven the heart in this clime, the spirit is daily assaulted and crushed by nerve rending news like bad governance, bad roads, no electricity, kidnapping, robbery, strikes, mayhem, fuel scarcity, looting, bombing, unbridled corruption, etc. It is, therefore, a thing of joy to have cheery news.

CHAPTER Two of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, defines the “Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy”; this chapter crystallizes the inalienable duty of government to promote policies that would improve the quality of life of all Nigerians who are bound in this social contract.