In
my own view, this Terrorism Victims' Support Fund has achieved three
things. One; it might have subsided the government's effort of
borrowing N160 billion to fight terrorism, even though the loan was
meant to purchase weapons and not to support the victims. Two; it
has indicated that the government has changed
its mind of taking care of
terrorism victims only after the war has been brought to an end,
which was never a good idea. Three, it has united Nigerians; it has
shown that we care for each other. We are all victims of terrorism;
it is only that some are more affected than others.
Terrorism has affected our economy, international image and
internal unity.
Despite commending the fund raiser, we however have no cause for
celebration yet. This is because fund raising is quite different
from funds receipts and proper distribution and utilization of
funds. we shall only celebrate when at least 75% of those who made
promises that night, redeem their pledges and the funds raised
reaches the actual victims without ending up in the pockets of
corrupt bureaucrats.
Let's take a short walk down the memory lane. In 2012, an
unprecedented flood ravaged several states in Nigeria, affecting
over 7 million people, displacing about
2.3 million people, killing
over 363 persons, destroying about 597, 476 houses. To ameliorate
the situation, in October 2012, the Federal Government of Nigeria,
apart from immediately providing a total of almost N18 billion, also
mobilized the richest people in Nigeria to raise funds to help the
flood victims. Several months
after these funds were announced and even up to date, many
communities are still agitating for the funds.
Where did all the funds go?
A
34-man Presidential Flood Relief and Rehabilitation
Committee, co-chaired by business mogul, Aliko Dangote and frontline
lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), were left with loads of empty promises
from well-respected 'big' people. The committee at its inauguration
at the Presidential Villa stated that it was targeting the sum of
N100 billion, and instantly, donations and pledges made by prominent
Nigerians amounted to over N11billion.
Many
of the prominent Nigerians, who made pledges in the presence of
President Jonathan at the launch of the fund refused to redeem their
promises, several months after and even up to today. Interestingly,
some of those who pledged but never redeemed, were alleged to have
gone ahead to enjoy the tax incentives attached to their pledges.
The committee at a time read a riot act to the pledge defaulters,
threatening to publicly publish their names in national newspapers.
My attention was also recently drawn by Pius Adesanmi when
he raised the issue of Fund Raising Politics in Nigeria. Adesanmi
captured Segun Adeniyi's narration on pledges, promises, and
donations by the usual suspects during the launching of Turai
Yar'Adua's International Cancer Centre in 2009 thus: "On the actual
amount of money raised, I understand that the Chief launcher, who
publicly pledged N500 million gave N10 million. He reportedly said
that on the day of the event, he came with the intention of donating
N10 million but the organizers told him that if he pledged such a "paltry sum", it might discourage other potential big donors, so he
announced 500 million. Unfortunately, that is what obtains at most
launchings in Nigeria where "chief launchers" are made to pledge
scandalous amounts they are not expected to redeem, just in the bid
to get others to make big donations. Another businessman who is now
a governor in one of the southern states pledged the sum of N210
million but up till today, not a kobo has been received from him.
One particular donor who also made pledge of a hefty amount gave a cheque of N10 million that bounced. By the time they met him on the
issue, Yar'Adua was already in Saudi Arabia and Dr. Goodluck
Jonathan had become the Acting President. The businessman said when
he made the pledge, he did it in anticipation that he would get
contracts from Yar'Adua's government but since that didn't work out,
they should bear with him. So, at the end, he gave nothing! But at
least he was honest. Several other people who pledged jumbo sums of
money just vamoosed the moment Yar'Adua was out of the scene.”
Concerning fund raisings for one philanthropic reason or the other,
I would like to raise three fundamental issues.
First, must all funds be raised from the richest people in Nigeria?
Aren't we troubling them by asking them to donate their money all
the time or whenever there is any calamity? Don’t we remember that
they are businessmen and some of them are only after their business
interests and would therefore only be willing to fund profitable
ventures like politicians' campaigns for example? The moment you
directly or indirectly force some of them to donate, what you will
get at the end are empty promises.
Secondly, why don't we make fund raisers to support whatever
emergency, a completely Nigerian issue, rather than a rich and big
men affair? Although people handling the fund raisers usually
announce that donations are made open to the public, but they seldom
put in place any practical framework to make that happen. For
example, recent statistics released by the National Communications
Commission has shown that there are more than 120 million active
telephone lines in Nigeria. A well-publicized appeal can make such
subscribers to donate from between N20 to N200 with the potential of
generating between N2.4
billion to N24 billion. These amounts are far much better than N100
billion in pledges.
Thirdly, I once heard a state governor said, whenever you hear a
government setting up committees, task force, fund raisers and so
on, then someone is not doing his work somewhere. With all the
manpower and resources at government's disposal, if everyone is
doing his work effectively, hardly would any situation overwhelm the
government so much so that, it has to seek donations from private
individuals in whatever form. The more a government seeks favours
from individuals in whatever form, the more it erodes its
independence and impartiality. Fund raisers should be for NGOs and
other charities, but it should not be what the government does
always.
While I acknowledge that, some exceptional cases
of emergencies may not be effectively handled by the government
without the intervention of private individuals, I strongly advocate
that, governments must limit fund raising activities to the barest
minimum.
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