Autonomy for local government, state legislature, and state judiciary

Source: wikifarmer.com

Dangling! Dangling! Dangling! It's dangling right before our eyes, like an orange in an orange orchard. Many thanks to the National Assembly and all stakeholders. However, if we make no effort to protect and harvest the orange, birds will peck at it for food and destroy it. It has dangled before, with many thanks to the previous National Assembly and all stakeholders, but birds pecked and destroyed it because we went to sleep when the orange was getting ripe.

Once again, the National Assembly has passed a number of bills towards amendment of the 1999 Constitution. These include the ones that grant autonomy to the local government, state legislature, and state judiciary. If we keep silent and go to sleep again, history may forgive us for being docile as usual but history will not forget to write our names in unattractive colours for future generations to see.

Now that the ball of autonomy is in the court of Sate Houses of Assembly for consideration before final constitutional amendment, we need to start putting our state legislators and state governors under pressure. It would be helpful if many of us, as responsible individuals and groups, could get their phone nos. to let them know where we stand on this important and progressive issue of autonomy. In addition, we can use print, electronic, and social media to showcase our inalienable standpoints. As much as possible, we can also organize town hall meetings at the LGA and/or state levels, with or without the hon. member(s) present, and send written and audio-visual reports (if available) of the meetings to the respective legislators and governors. Stakeholders must be encouraged to take proactive action. Civil Society Organizations have critical roles to play and must not stop their interventions at the level of the National Assembly.

Any hon. member of a State House of Assembly who argues or votes against autonomy for local government, state legislature, and state judiciary in defiance of his/her people's wish is neither a democratic nor a progressive representative. He/she should be recalled, or denied another term, or blacklisted against future political offices.

In the very likely and usual event that the voting is done secretly, the governor of any state where the proposed autonomy fails or is not considered at all by the state legislature should be held responsible for twisting the voting hands of state legislators. Civil Society Organizations, pressure groups, political parties, and individuals must mobilize to deny him 2nd-term (where applicable), or blacklist him against senatorial ambition or future political offices. The governor takes responsibility because, under normal circumstances as we all know, there's no reason why legislators will, at the very least, not vote for their own autonomy except that they're forced to kowtow to the wishes of a paymaster. Little do the legislators learn from the experience of others that sheepishly doing the bidding of their governor does not guarantee automatic ticket to return to the house or succeed in some other political aspirations. The typical governor, as a strategic political animal - who operates based on his enlightened self-interest and gross selfish interest - can and will in the morrow dump you who consider yourself as his political friend today in favour of his yesterday's or today's political enemy. 

In our society, we have an undemocratic, unproductive, and unhelpful culture of giving our executive and legislative representatives excessive latitudes of power to do and undo like kings and emperors in the olden days. We sometimes forget that they are supposed to work for our collective interests and not for their personal political or economic interests. We sometimes do not remember that they are expected to be answerable to us as electorates. We oftentimes do not realize how powerful we can be as a people if we mobilize and deploy our collective powers against 'democrats' profiting from democracy but working against democracy and the people.

Under the supreme sovereignty and power of God who rules over the affairs of men, we the people are the owners of sovereignty and power. As development-conscious human beings, patriotic citizens, committed change agents, and progressive democrats, we must begin to work towards making things happen for us and not just allow things to happen to us.

Onward ever: federal, state, and local governments! Onward ever: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary! Backward never: Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Bolaji Oladejo

JOB OPPORTUNITIES - APPLICATION CLOSING DATE: 9 APRIL 2022

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS 

The West African Health Organization (WAHO) is the health institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) charged with leadership and coordination of health improvement programs across the ECOWAS region. WAHO is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the under-listed vacant positions. Interested applicants are advised to visit www.wahooas.org or www.ecowas.int to download the relevant Job Description as well as the Job Application Form. All applications must be sent electronically to the email address specified for each post, and must include a Cover Letter of not more than one page on the motivation for applying, a completed Job Application Form, a signed current Curriculum Vitae, and a certified copy of Birth Certificate. 

GENERAL CONDITIONS 

Candidates must be ECOWAS citizens and must not be more than 50 years of age at the time of recruitment (the age criteria does not apply to internal candidates). Submitted documents will not be returned; and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisting and interview processes shall be based on the ECOWAS Staff Regulations. Closing date for Applications: 9 April 2022

1. VN91 PROGRAM OFFICER, PHARMACY & ALLIED HEALTH 

QUALIFICATIONS 

A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine or Pharmacy or Nursing or Medical Science or any Allied Health Sciences from a recognized university. Candidates must have at least 5 years of progressive responsible experience in the implementation of healthcare programs. An understanding of the issues regarding human resources for health in the ECOWAS region, a knowledge of quality assurance standards and an ability to manage relationship with partner organizations, Ministries of Health and other relevant regulatory bodies. 

DUTIES 

Under the supervision of the PPO Human Resources for Health, the incumbent shall update course modules as well as lead the development and standardisation of training (basic and post-basic) curriculums within the region. S/he shall advocate for the development of the Pharmacy and Allied Health Profession and collaborate with training institutions and bodies such as the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP) to promote high quality training of Pharmacists and Allied Health professionals in the region. 

2. VN92 PROGRAM OFFICER, TRADITIONAL MEDICINE 

QUALIFICATIONS 

A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine or Pharmacy or Nursing or Medical Science or any of the Allied Health Sciences from a recognized university. Candidates must have at least 5 years’ experience in the implementation of healthcare programs, a sound knowledge of quality assurance standards in the ECOWAS region and an ability to manage relationships with partner organizations, Ministries of Health and other relevant regulatory bodies to foster cooperation. 

DUTIES 

Under the supervision of the PPO Healthcare Delivery, the incumbent shall lead and effectively coordinate the Traditional Medicine (TM) program at WAHO and support ECOWAS Member States to integrate it in their health systems. The incumbent shall be required to consolidate the gains made and introduce other innovative activities, particularly in the areas of harmonization of national policies and regulatory frameworks, development of training tools for TM practitioners and other health professionals, promotion of dialogue between TM practitioners and conventional medicine practitioners, promotion of research and development of plant medicines, conservation of medicinal plants and protection of indigenous knowledge. 

3. VN93 PROGRAM OFFICER, NURSING & MIDWIFERY 

QUALIFICATIONS 

A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine or Pharmacy or Nursing or Medical Science or any Allied Health Sciences from a recognized university. Candidates must have at least 5 years of progressive responsible experience in the implementation of healthcare programs. An understanding of the issues regarding human resources for health in the ECOWAS region, a knowledge of quality assurance standards and an ability to manage relationship with partner organizations, Ministries of Health and other relevant regulatory bodies. 

DUTIES 

Under the supervision of the PPO, Human Resources for Health, the incumbent shall organise workshops, seminars and course modules updates, engage in the certification processes for nurses at basic and post basic levels, and assist in the development of the curriculum for Nursing and Midwifery training across the region. S/he should produce a monthly journal on nursing activities in the region and will work closely with training institutions including the West African College of Nursing (WACN) to promote high quality training of nurses and midwives. 

4. VN94 PROGRAM OFFICER, HEALTHCARE STANDARDS & QUALITY 

QUALIFICATIONS 

A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine or Pharmacy or Nursing or Medical Science or any of the Allied Health Sciences from a recognized university. Candidates must have at least 5 years’ progressive experience in the implementation of healthcare programs, a sound knowledge of noncommunicable disease strategies, and an understanding of quality assurance standards in the ECOWAS region. He/she should be able to manage relationships with partner organizations, Ministries of Health and other relevant regulatory bodies. 

DUTIES 

Under the supervision of the PPO Healthcare Delivery, the incumbent shall be responsible for developing a region wide health facilities quality assurance programs, and promoting patient safety and risk management programs. He/she shall direct the efforts of all the performance improvement initiatives to ensure compliance with all regulatory standards. This role shall involve working independently and collaboratively with other Program Officers to ensure the establishment of quality healthcare standards and clinical risk frameworks. 

5. VN95 PROGRAM OFFICER, RESEARCH – Industries & Third Sector 

6. VN96 PROGRAM OFFICER, RESEARCH – Academic Institutions 

QUALIFICATIONS (for VN. 95 & VN. 96) 

A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine or Pharmacy or Nursing or Medical Science or any Allied Health Sciences from a recognized university. Candidates must have at least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in management and implementation of public health programs or in public health research. Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the health needs and problems in the ECOWAS Member States, and a knowledge of the epidemiology of the recurrent infectious diseases and other threats to regional health security. 

DUTIES (for VN. 95 & VN. 96) 

Under the supervision of the PPO Research and Grants, each appointee shall be responsible for the linkage of WAHO with “Industries and Third sector” (VN. 95) or with “Academic Institutions” (VN. 96) as appropriate on the following aspects: (i) development and implementation of regional research programs in WAHO’s areas of interest, (ii) development and the implementation of the Regional Research Capacity Strengthening, and (iii) dissemination, synthesizing and translation of research results into policy and practices. 

7. VN98 PROCUREMENT OFFICER 

QUALIFICATIONS 

Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent) in Business Administration, Finance or a related field from a recognized university. Candidates must have 5 years of relevant experience in all areas of Administration, Financial Management, Accounting, and Project Management that are relevant to Procurement functions. S/he must demonstrate professional competence and mastery of the subject matter, and an ability to provide technical advice on a broad range of administrative, financial and accounting areas related to Procurements. A knowledge of ECOWAS Financial Regulations and Procurement Code will be an advantage. 

DUTIES 

Under the supervision of the PPO, Administration & Human Resources, the Procurement Officer has the responsibility to manage the routine procurement activities of the organization from the preparation of tender requests, opening of bids, establishment of purchase orders and monitoring of the delivery of goods, works and services 

8. VN99 GENERAL ADMISTRATIVE OFFICER 

QUALIFICATIONS 

Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Administration or a related field from a recognized university. Candidate must have 3 years of progressively responsible experience in Administration, Public Administration or a related area. Candidates should possess a demonstrated ability to use basic SAP/MM modules to carry out administrative functions, including basic data entry, extraction and interpretation, and be familiar with administrative and financial policies and procedures related to government or international organizations. He/she should have an understanding of ECOWAS Financial, Administrative and Procurement Regulations and Procedures. 

DUTIES 

Under the supervision of the Administrative Officer, the General Administrative Officer shall play an active role in the overall organization, management and delivery of office support services by ensuring smooth operation of ongoing administrative functions across WAHO including the creation of a conducive work environment, promotion of health and safety practices, assets and facilities management, information storing and retrieval systems, etc.