National Conference and Us! Issues and Questions

National Conference Processes and Procedures

Dayo Olaide Less than 48hrs after inauguration, the conference was forced to adjourn so that they could agree on some technical issues. Do you see early resolution of those issues? How much cohesion and negotiations would be seen between intra-groups (e.g within CSOs) and inter-groups considering the initial suspicion which forced an early adjournment?

Sunkanmi Adesina What is the essence of having a National Assembly, which I elected to represent me and amend constitutions as at when due? What are we discussing at the conference that cannot be discussed at the National Assembly (NASS)? Why waste N7 billion on a mere national conference which will still pass through the National Assembly (NASS) that is being usurped in the 1st instance? Now that they are talking of 2/3rd ratification of confab decisions, what is the difference between this gathering and the National Assembly?

PHOTOSPEAK: Araromi Residents Protest Protracted Power Outage

This morning, scores of residents of Araromi, near Iyana Ipaja in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State staged a peaceful protest to the Zonal Office of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria located in Egbeda, Lagos. Protesters lamented the protracted power outage in their community which has lasted for three months and counting. 

Speaking to Spaces for Change, many of them decried the increasing bills they pay for unending darkness. "PHCN continues to send us crazy bills even though we have not had light in the last three months. We are citizens of this country. We don't deserve this kind of wickedness", he fumed. 

Another protester named Sharon joined in the lamentation. "My salon has closed down after months of running the place on fuel and generator. All the little profit I make is spent on buying fuel, fuel and fuel. Now my generator has spoilt and my customers have all gone. I cannot continue like this",  she wept.

National Conference and Us!

On behalf of Spaces for Change, we specially invite YOU to the above-named web-conference aimed at deepening consultations and engagement with national conference delegates. About 6,635 online participants will directly participate in the web-conference with 5 out of the 492 national conference delegates drawn from diverse backgrounds cutting across natural resource management, law, labour, environmental justice, community activism and human rights.

S4C Files FOI Request to Verify Job Creation Statistics

Spaces for Change (S4C) has filed a request to inspect public records and statistics of jobs created in Nigeria between 2011 – 2013 to the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the National Bureau of Statistics and the Office of the Chief Economic  Adviser to the President. 

The FOI request seeks to inspect or obtain copies and public records of the official statistics regarding the number of jobs created in Nigeria between 2011 – 2013 in addition to copies of enabling policies, executed and ongoing projects and programmes for bolstering job creation and youth employment.

IWD 2014: Inspiring Change to Overcome Domestic Violence

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Each year International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Inspiring Change is the 2014 theme for International Women’s Day (IWD2014) which saw thousands of advocacy groups hosting various events around the world to lend their voices and support for women's advancement everywhere in every way. 

 

In commemoration of IWD 2014, Spaces for Change’s S4C’s Funmilayo Fakeye featured on a radio program on Thursday, March 13, 2014 on Nigeria Info 99.3 FM, Lagos to discuss domestic violence and the road to justice. The one-hour program, including a phone-in session urged women and victims of domestic violence to break the barriers of silence as a way to inspire positive change.

Rights of Citizens under the Petroleum Industry Bill

Being part of the paper presentation delivered by Spaces for Change's executive director, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri on Consumer Rights Day at an event convened by Consumer Rights Project on March 14, 2014

Since its introduction over 4 years ago, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) continues to face persistent setbacks to its passage despite its enormous prospects for improving the technical, operational and regulatory efficiency in Nigeria's oil industry operations. If passed into law, the PIB would obligate the government to make its oil deals and revenue earnings more transparent and accountable, ending decades of corruption that has diverted billions of dollars of oil revenue that could have been used to clean up oil-devastated poor communities and create employment for restive youths. 

What the Rights of Citizens and Consumers of Petroleum Products under the PIB?

PHOTOSPEAK: PROTEST MARCH AGAINST THE MYRIAD INJUSTICES IN NIGERIA

Spaces for Change.S4C coordinated a protest march on Friday, February 28, 2014 involving mainly young Nigerians embittered by the unpralleled official corruption, non-stop violence, abduction and massacres of citizens across the country, most of whom are young people. Compounding the $20B oil revenues allegedly missing from the national treasury, 50 students of Federal Government College, Buni Yadi in Yobe State were massacred by gun men suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents. The killings occurred days after 20 young female students were abducted from Government Girls Senior Science Secondary School and Ashigar School of Business and Administrative Studies.

Protesters gathered at the popular Tai Solarin statue at Yaba Bus Stop, Yaba Lagos where they took turns scribbling words of rage on their paper placards and card board sheets. Most of the protesters were Facebook friends, and were meeting each other for the first time. Warm hugs, tight embraces and handshakes melted into organized street action and communication of diverse protest messages in very strong terms.