₦airaland Forum

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has said that the executive and legislative arms of government must collaborate to lift Nigerians out of poverty. Addressing senators during the resumption of plenary yesterday in Abuja, Lawan said there was serious poverty in the land and that only concerted efforts by the two arms of government could address the issue. He said in the past few weeks he had been meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on the challenges facing the country and that he would continue to do that in his position as Senate President.

“If we must build an economy that lifts majority of our people out of poverty, there is need for a serious collaboration between the executive and the legislature. “I intend to work closely with President Buhari in the interest of Nigeria without compromising the integrity of the National Assembly as an independent arm of government with oversight powers.”

He said as someone that has been in the National Assembly for the past 20 years, he understood the principle of separation of powers fairly well, saying “The system of checks and balances which we practice in Nigeria today was enshrined to safeguard the values of justice and the rule of law and deliver public good. “Therefore, in a season when majority of Nigerians are more concerned with outcomes that reflect their concerns, the best way to serve that interest is through cooperation and collaboration.

“So, in exercising our mandate as lawmakers, we must at all times, and in all circumstances, be guided by how our action will positively impact the greater majority of our people,” he said. He tasked his colleagues to remain patriotic and constructive in their engagements both inside and outside the chambers of the Senate, saying they must also tolerate one another. “On my part, I pledge to lead in a bipartisan and unifying manner,” he said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/executive-legislatures-collaboration-will-lift-nigerians-out-of-poverty-lawan.html

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has expressed optimism that Nigeria will surmount its current security challenges. He, however, urged leaders to always moderate their utterances for the unity and peaceful coexistence in the country.

Tambuwal stated this Tuesday while receiving the Deji and Paramount Ruler of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Sokoto.

The governor stressed the need for Nigerians to work together with a view to rebuilding the country to the level of greatness. Earlier, the Deji of Akure, said that they were in Sokoto to brief the Sultan on their forthcoming Lekute festival in September during which the Sultan would be the guest lecturer.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/tambuwal-urges-leaders-to-moderate-utterances-2.html

hmmm

oshio baba

The Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), High Chief Peter Ameh, says the council is proposing a dual transmission process for election results. He said while INEC was perfecting plans to go fully electronic, “we still retain our old collation method from PU’s, ward, LGA, state and federal levels to serve as fall back plan.”

He said political parties must constantly step up on their vital intermediate role between citizens and the state, represent citizens’ interest and translate these into a policy that responds to citizens’ concerns. “We believe INEC needs support as it is presently spread too thin. If the commission is allowed to concentrate solely on elections as its name suggests, it would serve Nigerians more efficiently,” he said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ipac-takes-stand-on-electronic-result-transmission.html

Uncertainty over principal officers A total of 21 ministerial nominees have been cleared by Department of State Services (DSS), multiple sources told Daily Trust. The clearance by the intelligence agency comes ahead of today’s resumption of the two chambers of the National Assembly from their recess.

It was further gathered that list of the nominees would be transmitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation in line with the 1999 Constitution soon. The presidency had severally pledged to Nigerians that the constitution of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) won’t be delayed this time around. In 2015, it took the president six months to send the list of his ministerial nominees to the Senate.

Security and presidency sources confirmed to Daily Trust that the DSS has cleared a total of 21 of the nominees. A security source, who spoke anonymously, said the vetting is being conducted discreetly in order not to jeopardize or politicize the process. It was gathered that the DSS Department of vetting, headed by a deputy director was in charge of the vetting of the nominees. A source close to the presidency, said so far 21 nominees have been cleared by the DSS from different states. The source said, however,‎ that while there was an official communication by the DSS to the presidency on the clearance of 14 of the nominees, that of seven of them was yet to be officially communicated.

“The screening has been going on since about four weeks ago. Based on what I know, there were no issues with most of the nominees invited by the DSS. I know that 21 of them have been cleared so far. Out of that number, 14 have their clearance communications with the presidency. “But the official communication for seven of them has not reached the presidency yet, although they have been cleared.‎ If you add the two together, that gives you 21 nominees that have been cleared so far,” the source said. Asked about when the National Assembly would get the ministerial list, the source said it would not exceed the next two weeks.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, recently said in an interview that President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet will become a reality in July after the National Assembly resumes from its recess. “They’re still working on some of the names of the nominees from the states. The final list of all the nominees should be ready this week. But I doubt if the Senate will get it this week. It may have to be next week or in the next two weeks,” the source said.

Among those cleared, Daily Trust gathered, were some immediate past ministers. Two of the former ministers have intimated their aides of their clearance, it was gathered. The president had on May 28 dissolved the federal cabinet and but his key aides including the SGF, Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, among others, have continued to discharge their duties without being reappointed.

How DSS is screening nominees It was learnt that a confidential list of candidates was submitted to the DSS. The agency then carried out background checks on each of the candidate. The intelligence agency also requested the candidates to submit curriculum vitae (CV), which it then vetted to confirm if there is conflicting information or false claims. “Sometimes we even send our officers to listed schools and work places to confirm the veracity of the details contained in the CV.

“Often institutions and organizations receive written requests from the Service with enquiries about candidates being vetted,” the source said. It was gathered that weeks ago some of the nominees were individually invited to the headquarters of the DSS for an interview, for face to face verification or clarifications.

Our correspondent further gathered that the DSS had written their findings on some of the nominees to the presidency for necessary action. Uncertainty over principal officers Daily Trust learnt that as the two chambers of the National Assembly resume today, there is still uncertainty as to who gets what with regards to various principal officers. Sources said both the APC and PDP have reached an advanced stage in picking those that would form the principal officers for both majority and minority parties.

But it was learnt there was no final decision yet on both sides. At the Senate, it is not yet clear who will become Senate Leader as Senators Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa) and Yayaha Abdullahi (Kebbi)‎ are said to be considered for the seat. Other positions, namely Senate Chief Whip, Deputy Senate Leader and Deputy Chief Whip are still unclear. As for the PDP leadership in the Senate, the party had settled on Sen Eyinnaya Abaribe (Abia) as Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba) as Deputy Minority Leader and Clifford Odia as Deputy Minority Whip. But the party was said to be considering replacing Odia with Sahabi Ya’u from Zamfara State.

Doguwa will be House leader – Oshiomhole In the House of Representatives, the APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole ‎announced yesterday that ex-Chief Whip Alhassan Ado Doguwa, being the most ranking member from the Northwest, will be the House Leader.

‎Speaking when a delegation led by the Kano State Deputy Governor, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, visited him in Abuja yesterday, Oshiomhole said: “To whom much is given, much is expected. Kano has given us a lot as a party, has given a lot to our president and we must therefore reciprocate. “This is the sentiment that formed the idea of zoning the leadership of the House to Kano and of course, you will also realise that the gentleman who happens to be my namesake as far as my collation goes, is the most senior ranking member in the House of Representatives. “By going with this tradition, people will realise the benefits of loyalty, consistency and of team spirit.

When people learn from that, Nigerian democracy will mature much more. I have no doubt whatsoever.” But Oshiomhole was silent on other principal officers’ positions in the House. A source said‎ a meeting held last night and the names of principal officers of the House may be announced today. He however said

“The list being paraded in media reports and on social media are just speculations, and the APC National Working Committee (NWC) has said so.” The source added that it would be premature to expect the announcement of the names of the principal officers today‎. He, however, explained that underground consultations and lobbying by lawmakers are still ongoing. ‎But a member of the committee, Abubakar Yunusa (APC, Gombe)‎, said: “It’s the intention of 9th Assembly to be mindful of the machinery that brought it in. We have a platform, a political party, which brought us into office.

What the speaker has promised to do in terms of the opposition is a statement of fact.” Another member, Bamidele Salam, (PDP, Osun, said the office and seats were ready as at the time of filling this report. “I want to believe that the resumption on Tuesday is not threatened‎. Mr. Speaker is a man of his words and I believe he will deliver on all the commitments he made during the campaigns.”

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/dss-clears-21-nominees-as-n-assembly-resumes-today.html

The organised labour have alerted Nigerians that plans were underway to embark on industrial action if the current state of affairs on the issue of consequential adjustment arising from the new national Minimum wage of N30,000 per month remains the same. It is operating under the aegis of the Trade Union Side (TUS) of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC); the eight Unions in the Public Services of the Federal and 36 State Governments. In a press statement in Abuja on Monday, the TUS Acting Chairman, Mr Anchaver Simon, and the Secretary, Mr Alade Lawal, expressed disappointment by government’s effort to derail the implementation of a new National Minimum Wage.

“As things are right now, the government side is only prepared to pay peanuts to workers as adjustment under the pretext that it will soon be undertaking general salary review in the Public Service.” The committee on Consequential Adjustment of Salary agreed to set up a technical body to work out different scenarios in respect of salaries that would be paid to workers who are in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that draw their emoluments from the government treasury. The technical committee met severally and series of computations that were to be presented for the plenary for consideration were developed.

The labour leaders stated that the TUS had initially proposed that since the minimum wage was increased by 66.66 per cent; from N18,000.000 to N30,000.00, salaries for officers on Grade Levels 01-17 should be adjusted accordingly to maintain the relativity that exists in the salary structure in the Public Service. “But when the Government side argued that such increase across board would raise the total wage bill too high, the TUS side reviewed its demand downward and eventually settled for 30 per cent for officers on Grade Levels 07-14 and 25 per cent for those on Grade Levels 15-17. “The Government side on its part was insisting on 9.5 per cent salary raise for employees on Grade Levels 07-14 and 5 per cent for those on Grade Levels 15-17.

“The two sides then agreed to capture the two positions in the technical committee’s report which will now be presented for discussion at the plenary.” According to the TUS, it received a rude shock at the last meeting of the Technical Committee when the government side began to hold on to a non-existent position that the Technical Committee’s term of reference was to base its assignment in respect of salary adjustment on what was provided for it in the 2019 budget.

It regretted that the implication of Government’s position was that the Technical Committee cannot go beyond what the Government was pushing for which is 9.5 per cent salary increase for officers on GL 07-14 and 5 per cent for those on GL 15-17. “With this turn of event, it is quite clear now that some fifth columnists in this administration are hell bent on pushing President Muhammadu Buhari to enter into a collision course with millions of Nigerian workers in the Public Service. This is very sad,” the Union stated.

The TUS recalled that after the Ama Pepple committee recommended N30,000 monthly new National Minimum Wage, the Government Side went to the press to announce that the negotiation was inconclusive. “This is why the eight Trade Unions in the Public Service have resolved that enough is enough and that if the Federal Government fails to call its officials to order and direct them to negotiate openly the issue of Consequential Adjustment arising from the new National Minimum Wage, millions of workers at the Federal and 36 States Public Services will have no other alternative than to take some necessary Trade Union actions to seek redress.

“The time for President Buhari to act is now,” the Union emphasised. Meanwhile, a meeting of officials of the TUS of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council across the Federation is being arranged with the sole aim of setting the records straight. At the same time TUS is preparing for appropriate Trade Union measures to be deployed to get justice for public service employees. (NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/breaking-labour-plans-nationwide-strike-over-minimum-wage.html

The senior pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, has urged Nigerians to pray for him as he steps aside from the church’s pulpit, following public outcry over rape allegation. Daily Trust recalls that Fatoyinbo had been in the news since Friday following rape allegation by Busola Dakolo, a celebrity photographer and wife of Timi Dakolo, a talented Nigerian entertainer. In a video interview which went viral on social media last week, Busola had accused him of raping her when she was a teenager.

In a statement released on Monday via his Instagram account, Fatoyinbo urged all to pray for him and the congregation of COZA to overcome “these turbulent times.” The statement reads: “I have taken time to pray and seek spiritual counsel from Christian leaders around the world who feel very concerned about the ongoing reports in the media.

“I have solicited their guidance on actions I should take that is honouring to our Lord Jesus Christ and the work he has called me to do. “Drawing from their counsel and that of the leadership of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly and owing to my love for God’s work and the sacred honour of my calling, I have decided to take a leave of absence from the pulpit of the church. “This step enables me to submit to the concerns of my spiritual mentors as they consider all the issues that have been raised against me.

“My confidence in the Lord remains unwavering. Though I do not understand all that is happening, I trust the Lord to lead and guide me one step at a time. Kindly pray for me and the congregation of COZA as we seek the face of the Lord during these turbulent times.”

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/rape-pray-for-me-coza-pastor-biodun-fatoyinbo-urges-nigerians.html

The Federal Government generated N5.994 billion from licence fees and regulatory charges in 2018 but spent N4.938bn on salaries, post-employment benefits and other allowances for the seven commissioners and 165 support staff at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Documents obtained by Daily Trust revealed that the spending on the payments was over N1 billion higher than the N3.930bn paid out to six commissioners and 166 staff in 2017. This paper reported last week that the salaries alone gulped N503m in 2018. However, it was learnt from insiders that the seven commissioners got 40 per cent of the payment.

The Chairman/Chief Executive of NERC, Prof. James Adeche Momoh, was appointed in April 2018 bringing to seven the total number of commissioners, an audit report noted. How NERC got N5.9bn funding Analysis of the N5.9bn revenue generation reflected in the audit report shows that Nigerian electricity consumers are solely responsible for paying the huge benefits and salaries to the commission by way of 1.5 per cent fee included in the cost per 1 kilowatt hour (kwh) consumed by an electricity user across the 11 power Distribution Companies (DisCos). It gets another 1.5% on licences from generation firms and licensees.

According to the Deloitte report, NERC received N5.535bn for 2018 from consumers in the electricity market and N5.337bn in 2017. The Federal Government through budgetary subventions released N355m in 2018 and N900m in 2017. NERC also got N76.6m as grant from MacArthur Foundation in 2018 after it had received N45.80m grant from the same foundation in 2017 for capacity building. The audit report, which was prepared by Deloitte & Touche Chartered Accountants in Abuja, was approved by the commissioners on May 23, 2019.

It was signed by the Vice Chairman, Sanusi Garba; the Commissioner for Legal, Licencing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye, and the Commissioner, Finance and Management Service, Nathan Rogers Shatti on behalf of the other four. Despite the burden on electricity consumers to pay these commissioners, many have not gotten value in terms of improved electricity supply. Power sector records show that poor regulation, lack of holding investors to boost their networks, non-implementation of six reviews of the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2015 and past unrealistic projections for power generation and distribution by NERC have caused a shortfall of over N1.3 trillion in 2019 making the private-led sector to drag.

Concerns over N3bn ‘other benefits’ at NERC According to the salary scale of the commission, the seven commissioners including the chairman, Prof. James Momoh, receive over N85m annually while the six others receive remunerations that are over N40m per annum. A breakdown of the N4.9bn payments in 2018 revealed that post-employment benefit expense (pension) took N621.6m while post-employment ‘benefit’ was N716.7m. The heaviest of these was the unexplained ‘other benefits and allowances’ of the commissioners and staff which consumed N3.096 billion in the year. It was separate from the salaries and pension contributions.

Sources privy to this at the commission confirmed a series of investigation by Daily Trust in 2015 showing the former commissioners allocated salaries and allowances to themselves without recourse to the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) as directed by the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) 2005. It was learnt that the daily travel allowances of the chairman and commissioners are reported to be $1,300 and $1,200 respectively and all travel on business class tickets, without seeking approval on foreign trips from the Presidency through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

An official referred to a public hearing on the N2.7bn NERC Severance payment by the House Committee on Power in 2016 which was an action triggered by a Daily Trust investigation in 2015. The Chairman of NSIWC, Mr Richard Onwuka Egbule, in a presentation said “the salaries and remunerations of the commissioners are unrealistic and illegal and should be stopped.” It was alleged that new aides of the commissioners were recruited in total disregard of the extant policy that they are not entitled to have federal government paid aides. However, about N198 million has been expended on them.

Any vacuum at NERC by 2020? For the chairman, Prof. Momoh, this paper gathered he would be 70 years old by 2020 and that would have been just slightly two years of serving as chairman. He will earn about N300m as severance package and other benefits which the former commissioners had set precedence. The EPSRA 2005 stipulates he retires at 70 years as chairman. More so, when the tenure of commissioners elapses, they are not permitted to work in the power sector for two years. The former commissioners led by Dr. Sam Amadi set severance package for themselves on the basis of this. There are also fears that the power sector could see another regulatory vacuum when Prof. Momoh retires by 2020 as the NERC commissioners’ tenure ought to elapse by 2021. They were appointed early 2016, 13 months after the former commissioners left. The vice chairman, Engr Sanusi Garba, acted for 14 months until Momoh assumed office in May 2018. So leaving by 2020, means over 12 months of space again. To get his position on these financial concerns, poor regulatory actions and his looming retirement, NERC Chairman, Prof. Momoh, on telephone said, “There is no misappropriation in the commission as I know. There is no such thing. I have a five-year appointment and I was delayed for one year.

I have a legal appointment of which I lost a year and all that time, I had no income from it.” Speaking on the recourse to NSIWC for setting NERC salaries, he said: “No that is not true. We have our own local ways and independence. We have gone through all that in meetings at the National Assembly. “I think everybody is just looking for things they can use to keep us away from our work. We have a lot of work to do than to be spending time on finance,” he noted.

The chairman said he was focused on the real job at NERC. “People like us are putting almost 16 hours on the job and so it is with other members of the staff. The issue is that people who are not happy with us and can’t find fault, they are trying to create one.”

“We are doing our work and people are wasting their time. They are not worried about how things were damaged and we are trying to fix them. There are a lot of challenges of things that were not done properly before and we doing that,” Momoh said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nerc-earned-n6bn-in-2018-spent-n4-9bn-on-7-commissioners-others.html

Senior pastor of the Commonwealth or Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo has cancelled the church’s upcoming week-long programme as protests seeking his dismissal gather momentum. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event tagged ‘7DG’ billed to hold from July 1 to July 7 was cancelled on Sunday during the church service with protesters holding a peaceful demonstration around the premises.

The protests tagged #ChurchToo and #PastorStepDown are currently being held at COZA branches in Lagos and Abuja with participants urging the church to suspend the clergy activities of Fatoyinbo pending investigations into the alleged rape accusations. NAN recalls that on Friday, Busola Dakolo, celebrity photographer and wife of singer, Timi Dakolo accused Fatoyinbo of raping her at 16 in a now-viral video interview.

Dakolo detailed the events that led to the alleged rape, which she revealed happened twice in one week. The allegations caused an uproar on social media with some Nigerians calling on Fatoyinbo to respond. Although Fatoyinbo denied the allegations in an official response, protesters still urged him to step down as pastor of the church until the investigations are concluded. They marched to the church premises in their numbers with placards.

In Abuja, they were met with opposition from some unnamed security agents and another group protesting in support of the pastor and the church. Meanwhile, Fatoyinbo’s wife, Modele also denied the allegations against him on Sunday, adding that even before becoming a pastor, he has never raped anyone. “Not even as an unbeliever will my husband rape someone,” Mrs Fatoyinbo said during the church service. (NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/embattled-coza-pastor-cancels-programme-after-protests.html

An Abuja-based pastor, Apostle Basil Princewill, who raped and procured abortion for a 14-year-old girl in 2011, has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment. In sentencing the convict, the trial judge, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf of the FCT High Court in Maitama, held that the commission of rape was bad enough, “but it became more worrisome when the convict was someone looked upon as a man next to God”.

He held that the convict’s action was a desecration of the house of God and an act capable of destroying the life of the victim. The judge added that he hoped the convict would use the four walls of the prison to become a born again. ADVERTISEMENT Justice Baba-Yusuf thereafter sentenced Princewill to seven years imprisonment for the offence of rape and five years for the offence of attempting to carry out miscarriage on the victim.

The judge however, discharged and acquitted him on two other counts; that of impersonation and abetting miscarriage. While reviewing the evidence before the court, the judge said he was impressed with the testimonies of first, second and third prosecution witnesses. Mrs. Ngozi Offor, the mother of the victim had testified as the first prosecution witness. The victim testified as the second prosecution witness. Called as the third prosecution witness was the medical doctor that eventually carried out the abortion after the drugs administered by the convict had led to bleeding for the victim.

The court was told that Princewill, who was then 33-years-old, forcefully had sexual intercourse with the victim between July 27 and December 31, 2011 at Mountain Mover Ministry International and his house both at Nyanya, Abuja, without her consent and got her pregnant. The court heard that Princewill slept with the victim under the guise that he was carrying out deliverance on her and threatened to kill her should she tell anyone. He subsequently gave her Postinor tablet and alcohol with the intention of aborting the pregnancy for her.

Thereafter, he falsely personated to be the father of the girl when he took her to a medical centre to procure abortion for her. The case was filed by the police on June 4, 2012 with the prosecution closing its case on December 9, 2016 after calling five witnesses to prove its case. The convict called two witnesses including himself. He denied raping the victim. He said he only paid the hospital bills for the victim after he was told that the son of a senior pastor in his church raped her.

However, the court held that his story that he merely paid the hospital bills without asking what services was rendered was discredited by the testimonies of the victim, her mother and the medical doctor that performed the abortion.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/abuja-pastor-gets-7yr-jail-term-for-rape-abortion.html

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday reiterated his commitment to end farmers/herders’ crisis in the country. The president gave the assurance when he hosted a ‘special delegation’ from Nasarawa state led by the Governor, Abdullahi A. Sule at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. “The incessant conflicts between herders and farmers an age long problem, this administration is determined to find lasting solutions.

“I implore all leaders of opinion to help maintain peace while we are putting in place policies and permanent solutions,” he said. The president commended Nasarawa elders and leaders for maintaining peace within the state. ADVERTISEMENT “In the last four years, you collectively put aside your political, religious and ethnic differences for the interest of stability and prosperity. We must continue to preach peace and understanding in your various community,” he said.

In the next four years, the president assured that he would remain committed to the change agenda of his administration. In an interview, the governor said they came to thank the president for appointing Nasarawa state Indigenes as the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the NYSC.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/im-determined-to-end-farmers-herders-crisis-buhari.html

The Presidency last night reacted to the protest by Concerned APC National Stakeholders (CANS) who called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack some of his trusted allies described as “cabal). Presidential spokespman Garba Shehu described what happend as “sponsored protest.”

“You are going to see more of such sponsored protests. In one of the hotels here in the federal capital, there is shop that sells packages of protests. At a given fee, they will write the protest speech, the placards and give you the marchers, men and women as well as the lead speaker who in many cases is a lawyer. “So we are not surprised at all. Very soon, reporters and photographers will be buying this service to attack editors they don’t like.

“One thing to note is that this President is not the kind that can be swayed by this chicanery. He has a mind of his own and he alone will decide who he will work with and who he will send away. In effect, this demo(stration) will change nothing,” he said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/abuja-protest-sponsored-presidency-says.html

Too bad

Ogun state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Monday said he inherited a state treasury with “almost nothing” upon assumption of office on May 29. Abiodun, who was silent on the amount he met in the state’s account, said he had to borrow money from his friends who are Managing Directors in some commercial banks, in order to pay May salary, which he puts at over N7billion.

He spoke shortly before he went into a closed-door meeting with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at MTR Hall, Ibara Housing in Abeokuta today. The governor, who said he could not describe “in the open the Ogun State that we inherited”, however vowed not to make issues out of his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s actions or inactions.

According to him, we have by far, too many things to do than to begin to be bogged down by what someone did or what he did not do. He said “30th of May was our first day in office. And on the 31st, it dawned on me that it was the end of the month and we need to pay salary. “So, I called the Head of Service. I told him that we must pay salary. But he said to me that “you’re new in government and everybody understands that you just assumed office and we don’t have that expectation of you paying salary now. They (workers) will understand. There is very little or no money. We can talk to them.”

“But I told the HoS ‘either they are expectant or not, it is my promise to the people that salaries will be paid as and when due.’ So, I picked my phone and called my friends who are MDs at different banks. I told them I need to pay salaries and this is the little I have; almost nothing in the state account. I requested for a credit facility to allow me to pay over N7billion which is the state wage bill. That day, my intention was that maybe one or two will oblige me, but the five banks that I called obliged me.

“To the glory of God, we paid salaries that day. Civil servants began to get their alerts that evening. And I began to feel a sense of upliftment and fulfilment. And this was my first task in office, and I managed to accomplish it.” The governor further vowed that his government would not tolerate banditry and another criminal activities, saying he would soon declare amnesty for hoodlums to lay down their arms.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/i-inherited-almost-empty-treasury-ogun-governor.html

yeah

vintino:
Wow FTC for the first time... How I wish NL pays for FTC,.. I would have add it as side hustle .....
Now to the matter at hand, salary is different from salary... Someone receiving anything 400k+ in Nigeria can live a very good n comfortable life... In as much he lives within his means!..
I am not saying side hustle is not good but the fact is we can't all engage in side hustle... It's the same side hustle that is sending some ppl back to the village....
The point is even if you want to go into side hustle please kindle know much about the hustle or the business... So you don't keep on incubating a spoilt egg!

Know yourself,
know your capacity,
understand the business,
And don't invest either your time or finance into something you don't understand!

My 2cent..

We will all make it at the end!

Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle has been re-elected as the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), after defeating Elder (Dr.) Caleb Ahima of TEKAN/ECWA block, for another three-year term. Ayokunle, who was first elected in June 2016, had polled 54 votes to defeat Prof. Joseph Otubu of the Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Movement with 28 votes in his first term.

However, at Tuesday’s election conducted by Rev. Fr. Mathew Hassan Kukah-led electoral committee in Abuja, Ayokunle scored 59 while Ahima scored 44. Ayokunle is the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention while Ahima is the Chairman of the TEKAN/ECWA block in CAN.

Ahima, according to the Constitution of CAN, now becomes the Vice President to replaces the immediate past Vice President, Elder Joseph Otubu. Kukah charged the new leadership of the CAN “to work for the unity of the Body of Christ in Nigeria and to speak truth to power without necessarily being antagonistic towards the government. “You should not be too close to the government at the expense of the Church but to speak for the church when the need arises. This does not mean you are to be confrontational or fighting the government.

“And you should work with those who contested against you, those who voted for you, who worked for you and those who worked against you. God gives us the freedom of choice and it is that gift we have just demonstrated. I am so happy that the election was free and fair as we can all see it.” In his remarks, Ayokunle promised to continue carrying the leadership of CAN along in all his actions and to work together with his new deputy. He charged church leaders in the country to avoid contradicting the position of the Association on national issues.

“We are one but our actions must show that we are one. I advised all our leaders to borrow a leaf from Pastor Enoch Adeboye who said he does not need to be speaking again on any issue once the CAN President has spoken over it,” he said. On his part, Elder Ahima pledges to work harmoniously with Dr. Ayokunle on how to speak for the church in the country at times like these. The 104 members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the members constituted the delegates who voted in the exercise.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/can-re-elects-ayokunle-as-president.html

The United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, has condemned the use of children as human bombs in any combat or non-combat roles in any region. Condemning the use of children for such roles in North-east Nigeria, UNICEF’s representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins appealed to all those involved in the conflict to protect children at all times and to keep them out of harm’s way.

He said reports revealed that three children, two girls and a boy (ages unknown) were used to detonate explosives that killed 30 people and injured 40 others at a community football viewing centre in Konduga, Borno yesterday. “This incident brings the number of children who have been reported as having been used as human bombs to five, since January 2019. In 2018, 48 children, including 38 girls, were used in suicide attacks.”

He said they were calling on all parties to the conflict in north-east Nigeria to immediately cease all attacks against civilians, to stop using children in this conflict, and to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/unicef-condemns-use-of-children-as-human-bomb.html

Enough food for them

The Supreme Court has slated July 5 for judgment in the appeal by PDP candidate in the Osun governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke challenging the election of Governor Gboyega Oyetola. A seven-member panel of justices presided by the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, yesterday, fixed the date after listening to submissions from the parties in the matter.

The apex court also reserved for judgement the amended briefs of argument by Adeleke and replies by INEC, APC, and Governor Oyetola. Adeleke filed four appeals challenging the May 9, 2019 judgments of the Court of Appeal, Abuja and restored the majority judgment of the Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja.

Arguing the appeals yesterday, Adeleke’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) asked the apex court to set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal, adding that the supplementary election of September 27, 2018 was unnecessary since Adeleke had already satisfied the constitutional requirement by scoring the highest lawful votes cast in the main election of September 22, 2018. In the fourth appeal filed by the PDP, Ikpeazu argued that the INEC official did not have quasi-judicial function to cancel the result of the elections in some polling units and order a rerun. He said only the election tribunal could make the cancellation.

He asked the court to set aside Paragraph 44 of the INEC Guidelines relied on for the rerun election for being in breach of Section 178(4) of the Constitution. In their counter affidavits and objections, lawyers to Oyetola, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Bode Olanipekun (SAN), INEC Yusuf Ali (SAN) and APC’s Olumide Olujimi asked the apex court to dismiss the appeals by Adeleke and PDP for lacking merit and being incompetent.

Bode Olanipekun submitted that Section 178(4) of the Constitution is not applicable in the circumstance of the case as the entire state is the jurisdiction of the electoral umpire.

“Where elections have not held in the entire state, the appellant (Adeleke) cannot contend that he won the election, as against the 2nd respondent (Oyetola), who won the election as conducted across the whole of the state,” Olanipekun said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/osun-govship-s-court-fixes-july-5-for-judgment.html

A new political group, the Coalition of Integrity Political Parties, CIPP, have reacted to the Democracy Day address by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 12, 2019. Mr. President, in his nationwide address, promised to govern, in his second term, as the President for all Nigerians.

It will be recalled that recently, at a world press conference in Abuja, marking the inauguration of the new splinter group of 35 political parties from the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), which took place on Friday June 7, 2019, the Coalition called on President Buhari to overlook political, sectional, ethnic and religious differences in forming his government; pointing out that Mr. President needd to embrace an inclusive governance in order to promote peace, stability and development. Reacting to President Buhari’s Democracy Day speech, the Coordinating Spokesperson of the group, Dr. Yakubu Shendam and National Chairman of New Generation Party (NGP) referred to President Buhari as a “Born Again”; with a good sense of departure from previously perceived sectional leadership.

In his statement, Dr. Shendam stated, “I believe President Muhammadu Buhari has turned a new person and ideology after his first 4 years experience. The new resolve to be the President for all Nigerians and not for a sectional 97% against 5% is reminiscence of a man who has repented and woken up to governance in Nigeria.” Dr. Shendam referred to President Buhari’s decision to give heed to the demands and advice of the opposition parties and groups, in the interest of the Nation, as a benevolent leadership quality that had to be put to practical repentance, for a better and more united Nigeria.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/second-term-buhari-now-a-born-again-cipp.html

This old man self..

With the exit of Sen. Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe) from the race for the Senate presidency, Sen. Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) is now the remaining contender who will slug it out with Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe) for the position of the Number 3 Citizen. In this brief interview, he bared his mind on the unfolding scheming ahead of the inauguration. Have you also withdrawn from the race for the Senate presidency just like Sen. Danjuma Goje did?

Why’re you asking whether I’ve withdrawn or not? I’ve been in the race ab initio; Goje did not at any time formally announce that he was contesting for the Senate presidency. It’s too late for me to withdraw; we’ve passed that level because there’s no reason for that. Afterall, give me one reason why I should withdraw.

You’ve said it severally that you believe the president will not intervene or ask someone to withdraw in favour of another candidate, but here we’re, Senator Goje was with President Muhammadu Buhari and he announced his withdrawal from the race soon after the meeting. Don’t you think this is a departure from what you thought will not happen?

Of course, it’s actually a departure but it will not

We also heard that the president will most likely invite you. Will you honour the invitation?

If Mr President asks me to meet him is a different matter. He’s my leader, I will honour the invitation but stepping down is another thing. If he calls me anytime, I will go and discuss with him; but the issue of Senate presidency is an entirely different thing. I do visit the president even without invitation; but stepping down at this period will be disastrous to my political career and it’s not necessary because there’s no one and convincing reason for me to stepdown.

But don’t you think now that senators Lawan and Goje are together there’s no way you could make any good outing?

You can never tell until the 11th (day of inauguration of the 9th Assembly).

Has Governor Nasir el-Rufai who is the go-between met you at any time on this issue?

No, no. As I said severally, power comes from God and He gives it to whomever He wants at the time He wants. And it’s only on the 11th of June that Allah will decide who’s going to be the Senate president. If He decides it’s me, alhamdu Lillah and if He decides it’s someone else, I’ll still say alhamdu Lillah.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/senate-presidency-its-too-late-for-me-to-withdraw-for-anyone-ndume.html

good...sai baba

Twenty-nine governors were elected during the last polls, but only 12 of them are ‘brand new’. These newly-minted state execs hit the ground running, engaging in all sorts of activities, some of them quite dramatic. Daily Trust Saturday spotlights them. One thing noticed by observers across the states, is that the circumstances that led to the emergence of 12 brand-new governors directly inform the way they are taking decisions as they begin their running of their states’ affairs. While those who were ‘anointed’ tend to take things very gently, those who fought their way appear more ‘extra’ in their approach, leading to all kind of dramatic events.

Ogun

Contrary to high expectations, the new “sheriff” in Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun has been foot-dragging, with observers saying this is because he is a product of many power brokers and he is being careful not to offend any of them. Though a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abiodun is not the preferred candidate of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, but he made it as a result of support he got elsewhere.

Thursday, June 6, the new governor made his first major appointment with the announcement of Mr. Sunday Olakunle Somorin as his Chief Press Secretary, and it seemed that was all. However, assuming office on May 29, Abiodun inspected some key offices like Finance, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Civil Service Commission. Same day, he held a closed-door meeting with heads of security agencies, and the body of permanent secretaries. Next day, he met with members of the State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Suraj Adekunbi.

Our correspondent learnt that the sudden change in the Adekunbi-led legislature, which used to be a tool in Amosun’s hand, is believed to have been engineered by Abiodun, who had threatened to review his predecessor’s valedictory decisions.

The Ogun Assembly had hurriedly passed a bill reversing last-minute appointments of 75 traditional rulers and civil servants, as well as promotions of permanent secretaries by Amosun.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/inside-drama-of-12-brand-new-governors.html

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a certificate of return to former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha.

Justice Okon Abang on Friday ruled that the having been declared by the Returning Officer as the winner of the February 23 senatorial election for Imo West Senatorial District (Orlu Zone), INEC has no reason not to issue him certificate of return.

Justice Abang overruled the submission by candidates of the PDP, Jones Onyeriri and APGA, Osita Izunaso that the matter ought to be taken to the election petitions tribunal since it has become a post-election matter which robbed the court of jurisdiction under sections 285, 251(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

The judge held that petitions to the election tribunal under Section 133 of the Electoral Act should be made by the losers, and not the person declared winner whether under duress or not.

“The reliefs sought by the plaintiff (Okorocha) does not relate to the validity of the election to warrant him filing petitions at the election tribunal,” the judge said.

“The tribunal has no jurisdiction to answer questions as to the validity of INEC’s action. Action of INEC not to issue certificate of return is unknown to the Constitution and the Electoral Act.”

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/court-orders-inec-to-issue-certificate-of-return-to-okorocha.html

One of the three contenders for the Senate presidency, Sen. Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe), yesterday, withdrew from the race after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Goje, who chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations, announced his withdrawal at the end of an hour-long meeting with the president.

The meeting, attended by Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan and senator-elect for Kaduna Central Uba Sani, was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. With Goje’s withdrawal, Lawan is set to slug it out with Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno) on Tuesday, June 11, when the National Assembly would be inaugurated. Speaking to State House correspondents, Goje said he withdrew from the race in the interest of unity of the party and President Buhari. He also announced his endorsement of Lawan for the Senate presidency.

Goje, a former governor of Gombe State, said he was not compelled to step down for Lawan. “I don’t think there is any imposition. I am not compelled to step down but as a reasonable person and at my age, I think I have the capacity to think well and to respect my elders and my party. “I have been in party politics since the second republic. I have been winning my elections several times, from local government to House of Assembly to National Assembly to governorship. I was also a minister.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/senate-presidency-goje-endorses-lawan-after-meeting-buhari.html