Speaker Abbas Vows To Bring Binance’s Blackmailers To Justice Over $140 Million Bribery Scandal
AFOLABI
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, on Tuesday, vowed that the 10th Assembly will ensure that those behind the blackmailing over the $140 million bribery scandal are brought to book.
Speaker Abbas issued the threat notice during the press briefing in Abuja held at the instance of the House Committee on Financial Crimes chaired by Hon. Ginger Obinna, who made public the 3-page Committee’s “report into the Binance Holdings Limited’s illegal operations in Nigeria and recommendations,” dated May 13th, 2024.
The Speaker, who was represented by the Chairman, House Committee on Monitoring, Evaluation and Implementation of the Legislative Agenda, Hon. Patrick Umoh, reiterated his stance to protect the integrity of the House, just as he assured Hon. Obinna of the House’s resolve to ensure that he comes out clean.
He said: “We are here on the mandate of the honourable speaker to one, monitor proceedings and protect the image of the 10th House of Representatives. That’s why we are here Mr. Chairman.
“And we are part and parcel of what you are doing because we are all very interested in the credibility of the 10th House of Representatives and we also have to ensure that Nigerians know the truth.
“This is the people’s House and as far as I’m concerned, as far as 10th House of Representatives is concerned, anti-corruption is a core mandate of our committee when it comes to monitoring and evaluation of our agenda.
“It is with dismay that we have observed the trend where the 10th House of Representatives has been blackmailed by individuals, corporate organizations, some organizations who are themselves not known to law, coming to blackmail the Committee on anti-corruption.
“So, the House notes with dismay, the House is worried, the House is uncomfortable that when negative news trends we should also be interested in what is the truth. We are here elected by the people of Nigeria to represent this country and to ensure that we make laws for the good governance of our country Nigeria.
“And the best, the only compliment that we should enjoy from Nigerians is that encouragement. So, Nigerians particularly members of the National Assembly should be interested when we hear of these blackmails, this trending news, the negative news, unprintable things said about the 10th House of Representatives.
“Mr. Chairman, we can vouch for your integrity, which is why you are appointed to chair the anti-corruption of financial crimes Committee of the House. So, be rest assured that we will stand by you and we would defend you because we know you. You have worked with us and we have worked with you to protect the collective integrity of the 10th House of Representatives.
“So, Mr. Chairman let us assure you as a committee that we are interested in this matter and we will ensure that you come out clean because we know you are clean, you are responsible.
“For all reliefs, decisions the Committee has taken we would partner with this Committee to ensure that those involved, those concerns pay for it. They will be brought to justice because liability has to be attached to every action, particularly negative action that is projected at bringing down the integrity of the 10th House of Representatives.”
Speaking earlier, Hon. Obinna, who denied the $140 million bribery allegation, challenged the promoters of the allegation to unveil the “unknown persons” who approached Binance employees and suggested to them to make a payment in settlement of the allegations.
He said: “Following formal communications between the Committee and Binance, 10th January 2024 was agreed upon by the parties as a convenient date for a Public Hearing on the matter. Subsequently and before the agreed date, Binance through their Counsel reached out to the Committee to request for a pre-hearing meeting to give them deeper insight into the allegations against them which will assist them in preparing for the Public Hearing. The Committee approved the request of the Binance team and scheduled the pre-hearing meeting for the 8th day of January 2024 at the National Assembly Complex.
“On the 8th day of January 2024, the Committee represented by three of its members and its Clerk led by Hon. (Chief) Peter Akpanke (Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency), met with a six-member team representing Binance. Detailed facts on the allegations against Binance as contained in the aforesaid.
“Petitions were made available to the Binance team to assist them in preparing for the Public Hearing scheduled for the 10th day of January 2024. The meeting was open, transparent and ended on a cordial note. No solicitation or demands of any type was made by representatives of the Committee to Binance at the meeting.”
According to him, “in order to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians and the general public with the view to draw away the attention of the world from its unlawful refusal to appear at a legitimate and Constitutional Parliamentary Public Hearing to answer to allegations of criminal and fraudulent activities, Binance belatedly came up with fabricated, false and malicious allegations of solicitations for bribes by the Committee. The allegations are totally false and unfounded.
“The Committee wishes to emphasize that all interactions with Binance were formal, open and transparent. The Committee never met with the Binance team outside the National Assembly nor did the Committee delegate any individual or entity to meet with the Binance Team on its behalf for any purpose.
“It should also be noted that the Committee formally communicated the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) to ascertain the tax liabilities of Binance. No amount in figures was conveyed to the Committee as per the extant tax default by Binance.
“Although Binance has refused neglected and/or failed to appear before the Public Hearing scheduled by the Committee, the Committee has proceeded with its investigations which have so far revealed prima facie incidents of unlawful infractions by Binance, among which are:
(a) Tax evasion having operated illegally in Nigeria, generating Billions of dollars in profits with zero tax remittance; (b) Providing a platform for money laundering activities and illegal transfer of funds to foreign shores; (c) Providing a platform for terrorism financing, enabling terrorists and enemies of the Nigerian State receive ransoms without trace thus facilitating purchase of sophisticated arms and weapons.
“(d) Adversely manipulating the Nigerian Forex space which led to a sharp spike in the price of foreign currencies against the Naira.
“(e) Operating outside the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).”
While dismissing the allegation, Hon. Obinna assured “all Nigerians of the integrity, transparency and competence of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes which I have the privilege and honour to chair.
“We refuse to be diminished or deflated by the shenanigans of Binance and other enemies of Nigeria. The Committee will continue with its functions and assignments undeterred. We recognize that the blackmail by Binance is merely an attempt to distract and draw attention away from the serious allegations of criminality against it which is now compounded by its role in the security breach of the sovereign Nigerian State.
“It is notable that it was after it had unlawfully and criminally smuggled Mr Anjarwall out of lawful custody while its purported Head, Financial Crime Compliance (FCC), Mr Tigran Gambaryan had been remanded to pre-trial custody at Kuje Correctional Facility, Abuja on the lawful orders of a Nigerian Court, that Binance on 7 May 2024, belatedly made allegations of solicitation of bribes purportedly made by the Committee on 8 January 2024, after four months.
“The Committee will continue with its legitimate functions as indicated and will update the relevant authorities, the general public and the press as the need arises.”
The Federal Government has asked the organised Labour not to derail its transformation plan for the electricity sector.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had picketed offices of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Distribution Companies nationwide over the hike in electricity tariff.
The unions had described the upward review, demanding outright cancellation.
Addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Tuesday, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said labour had the right to protest.
“We cannot stop them from organizing peaceful protest or laying down their demands. Let me make that clear. President Bola Tinubu’s administration is also a listening government.”
“We have heard their demands, we’re going to look at it, we’ll make further engagements and I believe we’re going to reach a peaceful resolution with the labor because no government can succeed without the cooperation, collaboration and partnership with the Labour unions. So we welcome the peaceful protest and I’m happy that it was not a violent protest. They’ve made their positions known and government has taken in their demands and we’re looking at it.
“But one thing that I want to state here is from the statistics of those affected by the hike in tariff, the people on the road yesterday, who embarked on the peaceful protests, more than 95% of them are not affected by the increase in the tariff of electricity. They still enjoy almost 70% government subsidy in the tariff they pay because the average costs of generating, transmitting and distributing electricity is not less than N180 today.
“A lot of them are paying below N60 so they still enjoy government’s subsidy. So when they say we should reverse the recently increased tariff, sincerely it’s not affecting them. That’s one position.
“My appeal again is that they should please not derail or distract our transformation plan for the industry. We have a clearly documented reform roadmap to take us to our desired destination, where we’re going to have reliable, functional, cost-effective and affordable electricity in Nigeria. It cannot be achieved overnight because this is a decay of almost 60 years, which we are trying to correct.”
He said there was the need for sacrifice from everybody, “from the government’s side, from the people’s side, from the private sector side. So we must bear this sacrifice for us to have a permanent gain”.
“I don’t want us to go back to the situation we were in February and March, where we had very low generation. We all felt the impact of this whereby electricity supply was very low and every household, every company, every institution, felt it. From the little reform that we’ve embarked upon since the beginning of April, we have seen the impact that electricity has improved and it can only get better.”
The Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate in the 2023 General Election, Mr Peter Obi, said he was the highest beneficiary of Judiciary in the country when there were incorruptible judges.
Obi stated this during the Justice Anthony Aniagolu’s Memorial Lecture organised by the family and hosted by the Godfrey Okoye University (GOUNI), Enugu on Tuesday.
Delivering a lecture on the topic “The Judiciary And The Future of Nigeria”, Obi said he won election in Anambra State and another candidate was declared winner and he approached the court for justice.
“I spent three years in court and it was given to me and after few months I was impeached but judiciary restored me to power. After one year in office, they conducted another election and elected another person.
“But I went to Supreme Court where judges with respect for rule of law reinstated me to complete my tenure.
“All these things happened because there were incorruptible and independent judges,” he said.
The former Anambra Governor, who noted that such jurists were hard to find in the present day Nigeria said, “Our judiciary are weak and compromised by the executive and highest bidder.”
According to him, the future of our society is compromised because independent of the judiciary has been destroyed.
“We need strong judiciary to fight criminality. Rule of law is the foundation in which any society survive and develop and the only thing that makes it sacrosanct is the independent of the judiciary.
“And it is a strong judiciary that makes businesses, investments and democracy to thrive,” Obi said.
He pointed out that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was not the problem of Nigeria but judiciary, whom those denied their rights approached but ended up being disappointed.
Obi explained that institutions were weak because there was no strong judiciary where litigants could report wrongdoings and got desired justice.
Proffering solutions, Obi advocated for independence of judiciary and non interference by the executive, saying “as a governor, I never appointed any judge but left the power to the Chief Judge.
“I bought cars for them but never appointed any judge throughout my tenure”.
Obi, however, extolled Aniagolu for his exemplary life, stressing that he served his country and practiced his law in an exemplary manner.
In a remark, Gov Peter Mbah of Enugu State represented by the state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof Emmanuel Obi, described the lecture as “apt”.
Mbah said that the state had made several laws saying that the government used the instrument of law to create enabling environment for business to thrive.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of GOUNI, Prof. Christian Anieke, described Aniagolu as an “erudite jurist and incorruptible judge” who laid foundation for the establishment of GOUNI.
He commended the family for their support and resolve to immortalize him, saying “God will continue to bless you”.
He equally thanked Obi for accepting to deliver the 5th Memorial Lecture on Aniagolu, saying “our choice of you is based on our understanding of the spirited ability you have with Aniagolu.
“You cherished the late Aniagolu’s sacrifices on the alter of legal technicalities.
“You share with him that integrity and legacy one can bequeath to younger generation as well as your understanding in Nigeria democracy,” Anieke said.
The son of the late jurist, Prof Chukwuemeka Aniagolu, described his father as an icon who contributed immensely to the growth of the judiciary in Nigeria.
He thanked Mr Peter Obi for, the university and guests for honour given to the family. (NAN)
• Billions of naira lost to complimentary e-tickets
President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, members of the National Assembly and state Assemblies, as well as military personnel, will, henceforth, pay the required fees for e-tags (tickets) at toll gates and airports in the country.
The decision was one of many taken at the reconvened Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by the President at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.
The approval followed a memorandum by Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, who argued that the government was losing over 82 per cent of the revenue it should have earned from the e-tags that provide access at tollgates.
Fielding questions from reporters at the end of the meeting, Keyamo revealed that the country loses over N10 billion through complimentary e-tickets to VIPs, including members of the National Assembly and their convoys, military officials and other high-profile Nigerians.
He explained that the presentation had prescribed an exemption for only the President and the Vice President before Tinubu overruled the submission and directed that he and his deputy should be included.
Keyamo regretted that VIPs, including federal lawmakers, members of state Assemblies and military personnel, who should pay, have defaulted over the years. He said only poor people are charged, adding: “This must stop.”
He said: “What we sought and obtained is the mandatory payment of access fees by all visitors at our federal airport tollgates nationwide, no more exemptions. When we came to the office, we met a tradition on the ground, where at the end of the year, all manners of VIPs approach us for what they call complimentary e-tags or complimentary stickers. You see them coming into our airports nationwide. They don’t pay access fees. They don’t pay for parking and they don’t pay for essential services at airports. I told myself and my team that under my watch, it would not happen. If this tradition has existed for years, I will not allow it to happen.
“It is inconceivable that in our country, it is the VIPs that don’t pay for services. It is the poor that pay. The VIPs, who are supposed to have money, don’t pay for services, but they compel poor men to pay for services, and I said no.
“Let me give you the shocking statistics. The figure that we get at the end of the day from the complimentary e-tags is 82 per cent in the negative. In other words, when we are supposed to have a 100 per cent income from these e-tags that we print, it is only 18 per cent that we end up selling. That is how bad it is. And 82 per cent of these e-tags are given out free of charge to VIPs.”
Keyamo added: “Imagine the loss in my sector. I ask myself, which other sector will I go to where they will give me anything free? So, why would everybody come to my sector and want to get free passage? Not possible.”
After several weeks of hiatus, the tripartite committee set up by the Federal Government will finally meet today (Wednesday), May 15, 2024, sources familiar with the matter confirmed the development to our correspondent in Abuja on Monday.
The Labour unions also stood their ground on their proposal of N615,000 minimum wage while insisting on May 31, 2024 deadline.
The development comes after the failure of the Federal Government to present a nationally acceptable minimum wage to Nigerians following the expiration of the old minimum wage on April 18, 2024.
President Bola Tinubu, through the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on January 30, 2024 inaugurated the 37-member tripartite committee to come up with a new minimum wage.
With its membership cutting across federal, and state governments, the private sector, and organised labour, the panel is to recommend a new national minimum wage for the country.
Shettima, during the committee’s inauguration, urged the members to “speedily” arrive at a resolution and submit their reports early.
“This timely submission is crucial to ensure the emergence of a new minimum wage,” Shettima said.
He also urged collective bargaining in good faith, emphasising contract adherence and encouraging consultations outside the committee.
The 37-man committee is chaired by the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Goni Aji.
In furtherance of the assignment, a zonal public hearing was held simultaneously on March 7, 2024 in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, and Abuja.
The NLC and the TUC, in different states, proposed various figures as a living wage, referencing the current economic crunch and the high costs of living.
In their different proposals on the minimum wage, the NLC asked the South-West states to pay N794,000 as the TUC mentioned N447,000.
At the North-Central zone hearing in Abuja, the workers demanded N709,000 as the new national minimum wage, while in the South-South, N850,000 minimum wage was demanded.
In the North-West, N485,000 was proposed, while the South-East stakeholders demanded N540,000 minimum wage.
The organised labour would later propose N615,000 as a living wage.
Since the March 7 zonal hearing, nothing much has been heard about the committee’s activities.
However, confirming the resumption of negotiations to The PUNCH on Tuesday, three competent sources, who spoke off the record as they were not authorised to speak to the press, said the committee will sit on Wednesday.
One of the sources said, “Yes the minimum wage committee will be meeting on Wednesday.”
According to him, all the zones across the country have submitted their reports.
He said, “Our expectations are clear. We have given the Federal Government till the last day of May for all the processes around national minimum wage to be concluded, if not, we will be forced to take the necessary action to compel them to do the needful.
“So, we expect that as they meet, they will also have an eye to that particular deadline that has been given to them to ensure a speedy conclusion of the process because organised labour has made a demand to the Federal Government, and we have not received any concrete offer from the government.”
The source added that the Federal Government should make its offer public.
“That is this actual negotiation exercise, they must make a realistic offer.
“The Federal Government should make an offer that has the interest of workers and also the interest of Nigeria because when workers are paid well, they are motivated, which means that productivity will increase, and it will directly make the economy thrive,” he said.
The source said a reasonable new minimum wage would increase workers’ purchasing power, which would have a positive effect on the economy.
“The moment workers’ salaries are increased, there will be more money in their hands, and they will buy more, and the local manufacturers will produce more, employ more people and the economy will thrive.
“We are not asking for charity; we are asking for what is good for all of us and for the nation. Nigerian workers are the lowest paid workers in Africa, our minimum wage is the lowest in Africa, that is the reality,” he said.
Also speaking to The PUNCH, another source said, “We are not meant to speak openly to the press but I can confirm to you off the record that we will finally be sitting on Wednesday. All the work done by the sub-committees will be reviewed. We hope to have a headway.”
Another, source who also confirmed the authenticity of the meeting, said, “Yes, we will be meeting on Wednesday.”
Speaking with our correspondent In Abuja, the National Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, noted that the unions still stand their ground on the proposal of N615,000 minimum wage while adding that the May 31, 2024 deadline remains sacrosanct.
“We are still standing on the N615,000 and the deadline of May 31 still stands,” he said.
Earlier, The PUNCH reported how top officials of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak on the issue, said while the organised labour was insisting on N615,000 minimum wage, the government and the private sector were proposing between N60,000 and N70,000, resulting in a stalemate in negotiations.
But the NLC President, Joe Ajaero said the proposed N615,000 minimum wage by Labour was arrived at after an analysis of the current economic situation and the needs of an average Nigerian family of six.
He said the last minimum wage of N30,000 expired on April 18.
He had also described as mischievous the pay rise of between 25 and 35 per cent for civil servants across various consolidated salary structures announced by the Federal Government recently.
He added, “We should be in the regime of a new minimum wage as of today. Discussions were supposed to have been concluded.
“The Federal Government, through the National Assembly, legislated on it. But we saw that the discussion ‘entered voice mail’ because the Federal Government refused to reconvene the meeting that was adjourned.
“I think the (25 per cent) announcement now appears mischievous because there is no wage increase that the government is announcing. For them to announce it now, it is an issue that we are worried about at the NLC and even at the TUC.”
Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, Emmanuel Onwubiko, proposed a middle-of-the-road approach between the government and organised labour, noting, however, that the government seemed uninterested in negotiating with labour.
“Labour and the government have been discussing, but it looks like a monologue. It seems only one side is saying something, and the other side is not saying anything, at least to the knowledge of the public. And it doesn’t look like the government is very committed to labour issues, because first and foremost, the person who was appointed as the Minister of Labour left his job and was made a senator by a court, the Appeal Court, in a very controversial circumstance. He left his job and went to the Senate, and the President, since then, has not appointed a substantive Minister of Labour, meaning the government does not even consider issues that have to do with labour.”
However, Onwubiko argued that the N615,000 new minimum wage being demanded by labour was unrealistic.
He said, “That amount is unrealistic as far as the resources of Nigeria are concerned; it is quite unrealistic; it is unachievable. I think it is the beginning point for negotiation, but it doesn’t look like the government is even serious about negotiating. I think we need to reach a middle-of-the-road approach,” he said.
Says Dangote petrol price won’t be fixed
By Obas Esiedesa, Abuja
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, has directed petrol marketers to open Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, points at their filling stations to increase accessibility for consumers.
The Chief Executive, NMDPRA, Engr Farouk Ahmed who disclosed this during a meeting with key oil marketing companies in Abuja yesterday, said new applications for retail licences would no longer be approved without CNG points.
Ahmed who described the push by the Federal Government to encourage the use of CNG as an alternative to petrol as a revolution, said the government was determined to reduce the burden of petrol on the economy.
“We hope to see very soon CNG add-ons in most of our upcoming and larger petrol stations just like we have PMS, AGO and DPK so that we can have easy access for the consumers. But first, we have to address the supply side and we are working with the producing companies, our sister agency, NUPRC and NNPC Limited as well as GACN (Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria) to ensure that the product is also available at competitive cost to the consumers.
“This will align us with the President’s objective of transforming the country into more CNG for mobility rather than depending heavily on PMS. So, we are appealing to the companies to also invest and ensure that the point of sale for CNG is available to consumers.
“Once we are done with consultations, we will require that CNG add-ons be put in petrol stations and for new applications, one of the requirements will be that you must have CNG add-on in the petrol station”, he said.
On the recent shortage of petrol across the country, Engr. Farouk blamed it on the logistics problem faced by NNPC Limited in moving product from offshore to onshore depots.
He stressed that though the government was encouraging local refining of petroleum products to reduce imports, it would not compel oil marketers to buy from Dangote Refinery as the decision was commercial.
“We allayed the fears of the marketers and we told them that Dangote refinery is a major achievement in our country because in the past we were importing every litre of petroleum products we required except those supplied by modular refineries. And as an oil producing country, we believe at NMDPRA that we should support our local industry. And that is why we encourage our marketers to patronize our local refineries.
“But, at the same time, it is a commercial decision that they will have to make between the suppliers and the clients. NMDPRA will not determine how much it is sold or how much you are buying. It is their own decision to go to Dangote refinery and purchase, and for Dangote refinery to determine the price it will sell. As a regulator, we are only interested that the nation is well supplied”, he added.
… gives FG 2 weeks to reinstate governing councils, resolve 2009 agreement
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has threatened to embark on another nationwide strike to protest absence of governing councils in all federal universities across the country among other issues the government is yet to address.
The body which recalled that the federal government dissolved governing councils of the universities in May,last year,has asked Nigerians to hold the government responsible for any decision it takes to protest the action of government.
President of ASUU,Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke,spoke at a press conference ,Tuesday,in Abuja, said the union rejected all the “ongoing illegalities and flagrant violation of university autonomy in public universities as a result of non reinstatement/reconstitution
of Governing Councils.”
Osodeke insisted that Nigerians must hold the federal and state governments responsible if the matter of governing councils was allowed to degenerate into an avoidable industrial crisis.
The latest ASUU statement came following its National Executive Council,NEC meeting, held at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, between Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May, 2024.
At the meeting, the union undertook a dispassionate and comprehensive review of the status of its engagements with Federal and State Governments on how to reposition Nigeria’s public universities for global reckoning and competitiveness.
The meeting also took a critical look at the worsening living and working conditions in universities and the nation at large.
Osodeke said the meeting received alarming reports on the failed promises of the Federal and State governments towards addressing the lingering issues that forced the union to embark on the nationwide strike action of February-October 2022.
He said:”As our union has consistently stated, salary awards are no substitutes for a negotiated Agreement. Each negotiated Agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) and ASUU is a comprehensive package that captures not the just salary component but also a gamut of requirements for benchmarking a competitive university system designed for addressing the developmental challenges of Nigeria.
“ASUU’s demand for negotiated salary and other conditions of service is anchored on the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Convention No. 98 which underscores the principle of collective bargaining.
“The last FGN/ASUU Agreement was in 2009. Consequent upon the union’s advocacy spanning almost one decade, our union went into the renegotiation with the FGN as in 2017.”
On the issue of governing councils, he said,”the NEC observed with dismay the continued erosion of autonomy of public universities, contrary to the provisions of the Universities Miscellaneous Act (1993, 2012).”
He added:”The illegal dissolution of Governing Councils by the Tinubu Government and many state governments has paved way for all manner of illegalities in the Nigerian university system.
“University administrations now place advertisements for the appointment of Vice-Chancellor without authorization from the appropriate quarters – the Governing Councils.
“Outgoing vice-chancellors, working in cahoots with the federal and state ministries of education, are illegally running the universities on daily basis.
“They routinely usurp the powers of Governing Councils to recruit and discipline staff as well as manage university finances in manners bereft of transparency and accountability, ” he added.
The union further lamented the unending grip of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, saying that the platform is a fraudulent one that inflicted unprecedented hardship on Nigerian academics and corruptly distorted university operations with respect to payroll management.
“ASUU also lamented the socio-economic crises in which our nation, Nigeria, is currently engulfed are multifarious and multidimensional, no thanks to the massive injection of neo-liberal policies of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
“The NEC therefore, condemned in strong terms the seeming refusal of federal and state governments to decisively address all outstanding issues with the union.
“NEC shall reconvene after two weeks from the date of the NEC meeting to
review the situation and take a decisive action to address the issues,” he added.
A professor of political economics, Pat Utomi, has revealed that the proposed mega party for the 2027 elections in Nigeria would not be like the conventional political party Nigerians are used to.
According to him, the party would be based on real issues, values and ideologies that can shape human progress.
Speaking on Tuesday during an appearance on Arie TV, Utomi lampooned the current crop of politicians in the country for always ignoring real issues but instead, focus on attacking one another based on religious, ethnic and other grounds.
“My first point of call is to create this new tribe and the new tribe is not a political party. It is a movement focused on values that shape human progress. In this, we understand, look, this politician settles against one another by talking about ethnicity, religion, and all of that.
“Nobody has become richer because of the ethnic group he comes from or has had a better life because of the religion he comes from. So they use it, and in this age, it’s very easy to play propaganda politics and put people against one another. In the end, everybody loses.
“We play a zero-sum game. So let’s accept certain fundamental values: the dignity of the human, human solidarity, and work ethic—all of those things,” he said.
Speaking further, the former presidential candidate said people that would be a part of the platform would have ideologies and goals that the citizens can hold them accountable for.
He said: “As people begin to walk their talk and live in this domain, you can say to these people that the only way that you can change the world is through a political party.
“So we have an initiative to then say, Here is a political platform in development that’s values-driven, that has to have an ideology and goals that people can be held accountable for. All of this must be in place and tested before the people.
“It can happen fairly quickly—more than people realize. Look at what happened in Senegal. It can become more challenging, depending on how the young people in Senegal manage it.”
According to Utomi, people are fed up with the political class in Nigeria and something must be done to save the country.
“I mean, somebody gave me an analysis and said, ‘Nigeria will be in popular insurrection within the next four months,’ the way things are going. Somebody sent me this analysis from Nigeria just two weeks ago, and I’m saying to myself, “we have got to stop our country,” he submitted.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has disclosed that he inherited a huge debt burden from the Nyesom Wike administration.
Fubara made the revelation on Tuesday during the commissioning of the Aleto-Ogale-Ebubu-Eteo Road, also known as Old Bori Road in the Eleme Local Government Area of the state.
He said the contractors who handled the affected projects are returning for outstanding payments.
Governor Fubara, who did not give an estimate of the debt, said he is now compelled to speak out after being pushed by his detractors.
The governor expressed his intension to appear for project commissioning project with “white paper” detailing project funding.
Governor Fubara clarified that his administration has not engaged in conflicts with the federal government, saying it has instead received support, although challenges persist due to the interest of an insider.
According to the governor, the reconstruction of the Old Bori road will provide an alternative to the dilapidated section of the Eleme axis of the East-West road.
He said: “My story as a person will not be complete if Eleme is not mentioned, that is the truth. Maybe, if I have not started from Eleme, I will not get to Level 14. At least I started here before I got to Level 14.
“And for the records, this contract was awarded to CCECC on the 14th of August 2023 not by “I” but by this administration and as we go further, we will be going with a White Paper showing the record and amounts this project was awarded.
“This project was awarded at N6.7bn and I can say boldly no kobo is remaining, we have paid the contractor completely without owing. The purpose of this is to let the world know that if there is one problem this administration has it is debts.
“Most of the projects commissioned (by the last administration), the contractors are still coming for their balance payments running into millions and billions. I have said I don’t want to talk because I am part of that system but when they keep pushing me, I will say it so that we will see the nyansh of the fowl.
“But let us leave that one until when they are ready, we will also be ready. The small one we are doing now, they are not sleeping, I wonder what will happen when we do the big one.
“The Problem we have is accumulated debts from the past government.”
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has stated that the labour union would have disowned the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, if he had adopted the policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank had he been elected Nigeria’s President.
During his appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief breakfast programme, Ajaero described the NLC’s stance on the removal of petrol and electricity subsidies as “fixated.”
He added that the labour union would have it tough with any LP President who implements the policies of Bretton Woods institutions which support the removal of subsidies on electricity tariff and petrol.
The NLC President emphasized that while Peter Obi is the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, he does not own the NLC or the party itself.
He urged a clear separation between the two entities and emphasized that any Labour Party candidate must align with the NLC’s projects and ideologies.
The NLC President asserted that anyone attempting to implement policies contrary to the NLC’s stance, such as those of the IMF and World Bank, would face opposition and disownment from the party.
The NLC President said, “He (Obi) is the presidential candidate of Labour Party but does he own NLC or the Labour Party? Why can’t you separate them? Whosoever is the presidential candidate or official of the Labour Party must buy into our projects. If he says he was going to undertake those policies, let him be elected and try such policies.
“Whether a presidential candidate of a party that Labour forms would dictate for Labour? The answer is known to everybody. The policies of Labour, the ideologies of Labour are clear and we are going to pursue it. If anybody is coming with another ideology, he is going to have it tough with us because that is not what we stand for.
“It (our approach) would have been worst for anybody flying the flag of Labour Party to come and implement these policies, to come and adopt the policies of the IMF and the World Bank. It would have been worst for the person. In fact, we would disown the person, he would be on his own. We have to make this distinction clear.”
[NaijaNews]
More...
The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has revealed plans by the Federal Government to offer N200 monthly health insurance to 37,000 women in the country in a bid to enhance their access to healthcare services.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja, Kennedy-Ohanenye highlighted that the initiative aims to support women’s well-being and aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She emphasized that the health insurance scheme, totaling N2,400 yearly, will be facilitated in partnership with a microfinance bank, PLUG.
Proposed women empowerment programs by the ministry
Kennedy-Ohanenye detailed the approach taken by the government is geared towards empowering women economically. She said the distribution of 37,000 point of sale (POS) machines is aimed to facilitate financial transactions and uplift economic status of women.
“Also, any woman that gets this POS is entitled to almost free health insurance, where you pay just N200 per month, making it N2,400 yearly for health insurance guaranteed by the same microfinance bank, PLUG,’’ she said.
She emphasized the importance of reaching out to various stakeholders, including traditional and community leaders, legislators, governors, state ministries for women affairs, and market leaders, to ensure the effective distribution of resources, particularly in rural areas.
“We are going to traditional and community leaders, legislators, governors, states ministries for women affairs and market leaders to distribute these things.
“In that way, the right people that can manage the business, even in the villages,,will be included in what we are doing.”
Furthermore, the minister announced plans to distribute 300 laptops to women and People with Disabilities (PWDs) as part of job creation initiatives and efforts to boost women entrepreneurship.
- These beneficiaries will receive training in Information Technology (IT) and will be provided with online job opportunities to generate income.
- Kennedy-Ohanenye also shed light on the Pink Riders Initiative, which is set to commence in army barracks to ensure the safety of women operators before expanding to other parts of the country.
- This initiative aims to empower women by providing them with tricycles to support their livelihoods, with the goal of eventual financial independence.
- Moreover, the minister highlighted the collaboration between the Ministry of Women Affairs and the army in agricultural programs to enhance food security and production at subsidized rates.
- She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of women and children, emphasizing the enforcement of mobile courts for speedy prosecution of offenders and ensuring justice for survivors.
[Nairametrics]
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has again lamented the dissolution of the Federal Universities’ Governing Councils by President Bola Tinubu.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke said federal universities are being run illegally without their Councils.
Osodeke stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, while giving a goodwill message during a sensitisation workshop for Heads of Beneficiary Institutions on Career Service Centres, Teaching Practice, Beneficiary Identity Management Service (BIMS) and Hostel Development, organised by Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
LEADERSHIP earlier reported that President Tinubu’s administration had in June 2023 dissolved all the governing councils of federal universities in the country.
Federal Universities have being running without Governing Councils for the past eleven months and that has led to crisis in some institutions.
Osodeke also charged TETFund to consider punishment for universities that are not utilising the Fund’s projects, while emphasising the need for a proper assessment of how the funds are utilised.
“No university in the whole world can be allowed to run for a whole year without governing councils that are saddled with the responsibility of managing the funds of such University,” he said.
[Leadership]
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have invaded a State High Court sitting in Ilaro, Ogun State, arresting two defendants.
Our correspondent reports that the development has generated outrage.
The defendants , Alhaji Isiaka Fatai and Samuel Oyero, were trial in a suit marked HCP/IC/2023 between the State vs Awode Oladosu & 13 others.
The court was presided over by Justice A.A. Shobayo.
The case bordered on an allegation of arson reported by one Chief Akeem Adigun (aka Socopao) against Alhaji Isiaka Fatai, Oyero and 12 others.
Agosasa community in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state was recently enmeshed in crisis, with property worth billions of naira destroyed and one life lost over an Obaship tussle in the town.
But there was a pandemonium when operatives of DSS stormed the court premises and took away the suspects.
Counsel to Alhaji Isiaka, Kehinde Bamiwola, in a statement , alleged that men of the DSS operatives used weapons on the two, stressing that “Alhaji Isiaka Fatai was beaten, slapped, man-handled, rough-handled and molested.”
The Principal Registrar of the High Court and Sectional Head of High Court, Ilaro, Comrade Omololu Olusanya, who confirmed the incident, described it as shocking and disrespectful to the rule of law.
He noted that even after the judge had ordered the operatives not to make any arrest within the court premises, they still proceeded to arrest the two persons.
“They still went ahead and did the act to the extent that they assaulted one of our staff members, Mrs. Fadina, while doing that act. It’s a very sad issue that caused a lot of noise within the court premises.
“It was from the source that we heard they were DSS agents. If anybody sees them, one would think they were armed robbers.
“They did not wear anything that identified them as DSS, but they came to my lord this morning and said they had some people to arrest. That was when we knew they were DSS officers.
“They approached the judge before the court session began. The honorable judge advised them that if they wanted to make an arrest, it must not be done within the court premises.
“They could stay outside and do whatever they wanted, but they refused that advice and carried out the arrest within the premises.” he said.
Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, did not answer calls or reply a text message sent at the time of filing this report.
[DailyTrust]
The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi, on Tuesday, said it looks like a tragedy to be a citizen of Rivers State.
Amadi said it would be resurrection if sanity returned to Rivers State.
Posting on X, the public affairs analyst wrote: “It looks like a tragedy to be a citizen of Rivers State for at least the last 10 years. The clowning is heartbreaking. Everyday thanksgiving service, rally & press conference.
“The day sanity is restored in Rivers will be a resurrection day. Cry for the beleaguered state.”
This is coming amid the continued cold war between Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.
Since October 30, 2023, Rivers State has been embroiled in a political crisis. The crisis became public knowledge following an explosion that shook the hallowed chamber of the State Assembly complex on the night of October 29, 2023.
Following the fire incident, the state lawmakers initiated an impeachment process against Fubara and suspended four lawmakers.
This incident has left the state Assembly deeply divided, with 27 lawmakers aligning with Wike while three remained loyal to Governor Fubara, after the resignation of one, Edison Ehie, who now serves as the Chief-of-Staff to him.
In an attempt to quell the crisis, President Bola Tinubu had in December 2023, intervened in the crisis, leading to the formulation of an eight-point resolution signed by Fubara and Wike.
As the peace pact had failed to quell the unrest in the state, Fubara noted that there might be no end in sight over the continued face-off in the state.
On Monday, the governor hinted that the political disagreement in the state might not be resolved amicably because there was evidence of a deliberate attempt to sabotage his administration.
[DailyPost]