By Donu Kogbara
AT the time of writing, speculation about Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s career plans is rife. Some say that the former Minister of Finance and current Managing Director of the World Bank will soon leave Washington behind and come home to play a key economic management role within President Jonathan’s administration.

Others say that Okonjo-Iweala is happy with the prestigious and well-paid position she already holds and is unlikely to accept Jonathan’s employment offer.

I say that I wouldn’t touch a Nigerian government job with a barge pole at this point in our history if I was in Okonjo-Iweala’s extremely fortunate position!

A clever, globally respected lady like Okonjo-Iweala possesses the ability to significantly boost this country’s ailing image and add a lot of value to the government’s day-to-day operations. But I doubt that she will be able to do the best possible job in the current climate; and I don’t see why a distinguished international-level professional should take risks with her hard-won reputation.

Okonjo-Iweala served Obasanjo faithfully, but her 2003-2007 stint did not end particularly well. She was unceremoniously removed from the Ministry of Finance and sent to handle Foreign Affairs, which was not her area of core competence. And I think it is fair to say that she did not welcome this transfer.

I fear that she will be disappointed again if she returns to the depressingly amoral bear pit that is the Nigerian political scene, especially since Jonathan is proving to be even more prone to errors of judgement than Obasanjo was.

And I must tell you that almost everyone with whom I’ve discussed this issue heartily agrees with me and feels that Okonjo-Iweala – who is in her late ‘50s – should not even consider the possibility of packing bag and baggage to Abuja.

There are times when it makes sense to throw caution to the winds and grapple with tough challenges…and times when it makes sense to totally stay away from scenarios that are not only messy but potentially frustrating and degrading.

The bottom line is that this accomplished gentlewoman does not need a Nigerian government job and can help her compatriots in other ways, via the World Bank.

Wetin Lagos do?

MANY of my Lagosian friends are absolutely furious with President Jonathan at the moment because he has “foisted” Segun Aganga, the ex-Minister of Finance, on them. Since Aganga is from Edo, not Lagos – and does not have any strong connection to Lagos State – they are bitterly querying Jonathan for insisting (for the second time around) on giving their ministerial slot to him.

These enraged Lagosian protestors don’t have anything against Aganga – who is, if most accounts are to be believed, a jolly decent fellow. But they feel that their state is too important to be so disregarded and they wonder what they have done to deserve this lack of respect and lack of indigenous representation.

I myself am also scratching my head and wondering.

Re:Nigerian VIPs and enlightened self-interest

A Vanguard reader (who wishes to remain anonymous) took exception to the flattering comments I made about the CBN Governor last week and sent me the following email. He claims to have been a victim of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and I’ve decided to publish his email because everyone deserves a voice.

I felt highly amused that you credited Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the current Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to have made the assertion: “We need a civil war in government. We need people who will fight for change…”. Let Donu hear this:

When our late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha was in office, he initiated a change (reform) in the Civil/Public Service. A panel was set up and a White Paper was issued on the Report of the Panel.

In the White Paper, harmonization of pensions, amongst others, was approved for all retired civil/public servants with effect from January 1, 1997. Harmonisation of pensions seeks equal pensions for pensioners who served their establishment for the same length of time, were on the same salary grade level and on the same step of the salary grade level, at the point of retirement, irrespective of when they retired.

The purpose was to continually increase/enhance the pensions of older pensioners in relative to those of newer/later pensioners who retire on increased total emoluments thus eliminating the stagnant pensions which had characterized the system. CBN refused/ignored to pay their pensioners the harmonized pensions when the circulars were out. Consequently, the pensioners took CBN to court.

They won the case throughout the Judicial grill – Federal High Court (FHC) Lagos – 22/05/2000; Court of Appeal (CA) Lagos – 05/12/2006 and Supreme Court (SC) 21/05/2010. For over 12 months today since the Supreme Court gave its judgement, on 21/05/2010, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and his management team are yet to comply with the Supreme Court order to pay harmonized pension to CBN pensioners. Is this not impunity, lawlessness and callousness to the dying pensioners? Dear Donu, is Sanusi practicing what he preaches in your column?

Screening sagas

SOME of the ministerial nominees got such an easy ride during their Senate screenings that some folks with dirty minds and foul mouths are saying that they suspect that at least some of the senators were paid to ask bland questions and to not rigorously follow up on unsatisfactory answers.

I have told such cynics off and expressed the view that Nigerian senators would not dream of collecting bribes or selling cabinet seats…and only gave ministerial nominees easy rides because they (our beloved senators) are extremely kind by nature and extremely keen to largely ignore damaging allegations and give everyone they encounter the benefit of the doubt.