Yar’Adua, give railway priority

I would be very much grateful if I could be given a space in your most informative newspaper to express my view about the double lines railway project initiated by the past administration of President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

On November 28, 2006, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, flagged-off double lines modern railway project at Kajola in Ifo Local Govern-ment of Ogun State. This laudable project was to revive the railway which had been paralysed by the carefree attitude of the previous administration (before Obasanjo’s) for the selfish interest of a certain people.

The revival of the railway will be of great benefit to the entire people of Nigeria because it will boost the nation’s economy in terms of increased revenue for the government and job opportunities for thousands of unemployed people. Railway transportation will also drastically reduce accidents on our roads involving oil tankers and articulated vehicles. It is an open secret that these tankers and articulated vehicles owned by private individuals, are being used instead of the railway.

The double lines railway project is one of the best legacies of Obasanjo’s administration which should not be allowed to die or suffer set­back by the present administration. It must be given the priority it deserves. Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria, was quoted as saying that “the reformists have done their job and it is now left for the transformists to do theirs.”

I want to seize this opportunity to appeal to our God fearing and amiable president, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua not to allow sycophants, hypocrites and bad advisers to mislead the present government. Finally, the double lines modern railway project should be executed as it was initiated by the former administration in accordance with the contents of the contract agreement between Nigeria and the Chinese engineering company handling the project.

Ladi Durodola,
046 Lafaya/Arikeuyo Area,
Ijaye Road,
Moniya, Ibadan.

Open letter to Prof. Soludo

We, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) pensioners highly commend you for the bold steps you have been taking in managing the nation’s economy since you were appointed the CBN governor in June, 2004.

The successful consolidation effort in the banking industry among others, will remain a lasting legacy of your great courage, wisdom and clarity of vision. We also wish to thank you for all you have been doing for our former colleagues who are still in the service of CBN. The promotion exercises of 2006 and 2007, particu-larly that of 2006 where over 2,000 members of staff of various grades were elevated is unprecedented.

Furthermore, the generous upward review of emoluments of our serving counterparts in June last year which was backdated to January I, 2007, with arrears, is also worthy of commendation. Our only grouse is that some of these goodies are not extended to pensioners; for what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander.

Rather, the pensioners are left to die in penury. While you have been doing well in managing the nation’s economy and in handling matters affecting CBN serving staff welfare, you have not paid any serious attention to CBN pensioners’ welfare since you assumed office. It would appear that you regard pensioners as spent forces, at best, meant only to be tolerated. We are hereby pleading with you to change that attitude.

Sir, you are aware that pension is a legitimate and constitutionally guaranteed right of pensioners and a simultaneous upward review of pension whenever emoluments are reviewed is guaranteed under Section 173 (i-iii) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution. We are, therefore, not happy that several months after the emoluments of CBN serving staff were upwardly reviewed and paid to them with handsome arrears, the pensioners have been left with nothing but to suffer hardship arising from the inflationary trend in the country.

The CBN Pensioners who have so far been denied these goodies are also Nigerians like those who have received them and also buy from the same Nigerian markets. We are therefore most humbly appealing to you to ensure we receive the enhanced pensions and medical allowance with some arrears before Easter which comes up on March 23 this year.

Toyin Owolabi, Chairman, Okey Eze, Secretary,
For and on behalf of the CBN Pensioners Welfare Association.