₦airaland Forum

It emerged yesterday that the terror group Boko Haram has a new leader – Mahamat Daoud – raising speculation that its past leader Abubakar Shekau, who has not been seen in the group’s videos for months, may have been killed.
Making this known, Chadian President Idriss Deby said Shekau had been replaced by Daoud who has never been heard of before.
Deby also declared that efforts to combat Boko Haram had succeeded in “decapitating” the group and would be wrapped up “by the end of the year”.

Addressing reporters yesterday in the capital, N’Djamena on the 55th anniversary of Chad’s independence from France, Deby said: “Boko Haram is decapitated. There are little groups (of Boko Haram members) scattered throughout North-east Nigeria, on the border with Cameroun. It is within our power to definitively overcome Boko Haram.”

“The war will be short, with the setting up of the regional force, it will be over by the end of the year,” Deby added, referring to a new five-country force aimed at ending Boko Haram’s bloody six-year Islamist insurgency that he said would be “operational in a few days”.
Benin, Cameroun, Chad, Niger and Nigeria have all pledged troops towards the new force.
According to AFP, Deby further claimed that Boko Haram was no longer led by the fearsome Shekau and that his successor was open to talks.

“There is someone apparently called Mahamat Daoud who is said to have replaced Abubakar Shekau and he wants to negotiate with the Nigerian government.
“For my part, I would advise not to negotiate with a terrorist,” said Deby.

While claiming progress in the fight against the jihadists, who have repeatedly hit border areas of Cameroun, Chad and Niger, and wrought havoc in North-east Nigeria, Deby admitted that suicide bombers still posed a threat.
The challenge, Deby said, was to “avoid terrorist acts and that’s why we must organise at the regional level to prevent bomb-making materials and other explosives entering our countries”.

Last year, the Chadian leader was said to be brokering peace talks with Boko Haram. But the negotiations never happened and were widely seen as a sham, so some analysts will question how much credence to give to Deby’s latest comments about the jihadist group.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/boko-haram-gets-new-leader/

The Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Samuel Ukura, on Wednesday recommended the recovery of about N183 billion Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) funds allegedly diverted between 2008 and 2012.

Ukura who made this disclosure while submitting three special audit reports on Niger Delta to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, said the funds were meant for the development of Niger Delta but were diverted for other purposes.

According to him, the diversion was discovered during periodic audits of activities and programmes of the commission. Of the sum, Ukura said N70.4 billion was paid as mobilisation fund to various contractors who never reported at the sites, adding that another N90.4billion was spent as extra-budgetary expenditure heads and sub-heads without approval by authorised institutions.

Ukura further said N10 billion was discovered as tax deductions without any evidence of its remittance to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), adding that NDDC also spent N5.8 billion as payment to contractors for projects that were either not executed, stalled or abandoned. He added that a sum of N1.2 billion was discovered as taxes not deducted from contractors as the case should be.

Further disclosures made by Ukura were the transfer of N3.1 billion to unauthorised accounts; N1.7 billion as outstanding staff advances not accounted for and diverted N785 million out of N1.1 billion meant for the supply of furniture to various schools in Delta State.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/auditor-general-recommends-recovery-of-n183bn-diverted-niger-delta-funds/

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced that out of the 1,593,442 candidates that sat for the just released May/June 2015 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), 616,370 (38.68 per cent) obtained credit in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

The Head of the Nigeria National Office (HNO), Mr. Charles Eguridu, who disclosed this in Lagos yesterday, said the result indicated a slight improvement in candidates’ performance, as it recorded 31.28 per cent in May/June last year and 38.30 per cent in 2013.

Further breakdown of the results showed that 1,498,069 candidates, representing 94.01 per cent have their results fully released, while 95,373 candidates, representing 5.99 per cent have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors mainly traceable to the candidates and schools in the course of registration or writing the examination.

“Such errors are being corrected by the council to enable the affected candidates get their results fully processed and released subsequently.”

Eguridu said 758,849 candidates, representing 47.62 per cent obtained six credits and above; 949,862 candidates, representing 59.61 per cent obtained five credits and above; while 1,114,988 candidates, representing 69.97 per cent obtained credits and above in four subjects.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/only-38-of-students-pass-mayjune-2015-waec-exam/

The National Population Commission (NPC) yesterday in Abuja said it would require N273 billion to conduct next year’s population census even as President Muhammadu Buhari directed government agencies to harmonise collection and usage of biometric data in the country, instead of replicating their efforts in this regard.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said Buhari, gave the directive after receiving a briefing on the activities of the National Population Commission from the Chairman, Eze Duru Iheoma (SAN), who led other national commissioners to the Presidential Villa.

Thee statement said Buhari wondered why each agency would gather its own biometric data, when such data could easily be shared.
“It will be more cost effective if you work together. It helps even the credibility of the election process, as Nigerians of voting age can be identified easily,” the president said.

Government organisations that currently collect biometric data include the National Population Commission, National Identity Management Commission, Federal Road Safety Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, among others.
The president added that all the agencies should collaborate with each other instead of going in different directions, stressing that adequate data was necessary for planning and development in any country.

Iheoma had earlier briefed the president on what would be required for the commission to conduct a national census next year, 10 years after the last exercise, as stipulated by the United Nations.

A national population census, the chairman said, would cost about N273 billion, while about N10 billion of the amount would be needed immediately.

He told the president that a biometric-based census was being proposed because it would eliminate multiple respondents, and ghost respondents, while making the outcome easy to audit.

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/n273bn-required-for-2016-census/

The National Economic Council Ad hoc Committee on the Management of Excess Crude Account Proceeds and Accruals into the Federation Account on Thursday resolved to engage two international accounting companies to support them in the exercise.

The committee is made up of five state governors including Governors Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Ibrahim Dankwanbo (Gombe), Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) and Nasir El Rufai (Kaduna).

At its inaugural meeting on Thursday, the committee had met with representatives of the revenue generating agencies including customs, Securities and Exchange Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria, and Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

Representatives of the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation,and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) were also present at the meeting.

Oshiomhole who is also the Chairman of the committee, said while announcing the outcome of its meeting that the committee decided to engage the services of the two accounting firms in order to thoroughly investigate how proceeds into the account was managed.

He said the names of the two accounting firms would be announced at its next meeting next week.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/foreign-forensic-auditors-to-probe-jonathan-administration/

President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, have been dragged before a Federal High Court in Lagos for failing to keep to their promise to Nigerians during the electioneering on the public declaration of their assets.

A lawyer and rights activist, Kabir Akingbolu, who initiated the suit, is contending that by declaring their assets secretly, Buhari and Osinbajo have violated Section 172 and Section 11 (1) and (2) of the Code of Conduct for public officers under the fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution.

Apart from Buhari and Osinbajo, other defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

Buhari and Osinbajo had declared their assets to the CCB secretly, a development which drew public condemnation, with many insisting that it was a sharp departure from the anti-corruption posture of the president and his deputy.

Akingbolu, who formulated three questions for the court’s determination, is seeking an order declaring that it was mandatory for the CCB to publicly publish the assets of Buhari and Osinbajo.

He is also seeking a declaration that the secret declaration of assets by Buhari and Osinbajo was unconstitutional, and an order mandating them to publicly declare their assets in line with the Code of Conduct for public officers under the fifth schedule to the constitution.

Akingbolu, in an affidavit in support of the suit, recalled that Buhari and Osinbajo made it abundantly clear while canvassing for votes from Nigerians that they would publicly declare their assets in order to prove that they would run a transparent government.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/buhari-osinbajo-sued-for-failing-to-declare-assets-publicly/

Nigerian Bank customers with US dollars or any foreign currency will no longer be able to pay cash into their domiciliary accounts. This is because the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has proscribed the acceptance of foreign cash deposits by commercials banks operating in the country.

The policy became effective yesterday when the central bank gave the directive in a circular addressed to all authorised dealers and the general public.
Prior to the CBN circular, banks in the country had been rejecting foreign currency deposits from their domiciliary account holders since last week.

To this end, the CBN said it considered the recent statement by banks concerning the large volume of foreign currencies in their vaults and their decision to stop accepting foreign currency cash deposits into customers’ domiciliary accounts as a welcome development.
“Therefore, in its continued effort to stop illicit financial flows in the Nigerian banking system which aligns with the anti-money laundering stance of the federal government, the CBN prohibits from the date of this circular, the acceptance of foreign currency cash deposits by banks,” it added.

In a related development, the Senate yesterday expressed grave concern over the continuing depreciation of the naira and consequently summoned the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to brief it on the situation.

source:http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/cbn-finally-stops-acceptance-of-foreign-cash-deposits-by-banks/

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited has faulted the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative’s (NEITI’s) claim that it has not remitted about $11.6billion (N2.32trillion) to the Federation Account.

The company, in a statement yesterday, said its dividends were paid to its shareholders, which include the Federal Government, represented in the shareholders’ structure by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with 49 per cent, Shell Gas BV, SGBV, with 25.6 per cent, Total LNG Nigeria Limited, with 15 per cent, and Eni International (10.4 per cent).

NLNG said the NNPC received the dividends on the Federal Government’s behalf and should remit to the Federation Account.

Its statement signed by General Manager, External Relations, Kudo Eresia-Eke, reads: “NLNG remains responsible to its shareholders and pays dividends to them according to the shareholding structure.

“NLNG also wishes to emphasize that it continues to conduct all its businesses in full compliance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and existing tax regulations, championing compliance and meeting all its applicable tax obligations to federal, state and local governments. A case in point is NLNG’spayment of $1.6 billion to the Federal Government recently as Company Income Tax and Education Tax for 2014 financial year.

“In line with our vision to help build a better Nigeria, NLNG supports the principles and objectives of NEITI, including the promotion of transparency in payments by extractive industry companies to governments and government-linked entities.

“Nigeria LNG remains the most significant arrow-head of the Federal Government’s continuing efforts to eliminate gas flaring and derive value from the country’s 187 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves.”

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/nlng-its-not-our-duty-to-remit-cash-into-federation-account/

The General Manager, Services, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Abubakar Muhammed, has said the nation’s four refineries would operate at 90 per cent capacity on completion of the ongoing Turn Around Maintenance (TAM).

Muhammed gave the assurance at the ongoing four-day international conference of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and exhibitions on Tuesday in Lagos.

The 38th edition of the conference has the theme: ‘Natural Gas Development and Exploitation in an Emerging Economy Strategies, Infrastructure and Policy Framework.’

The NNPC director said out of the 90 per cent production capacity of the country’s output of crude production, about 40 would be channelled to the production of petrol.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he said additional refineries would be expected on the long and short term to increase the country’s refining capacity and boost domestic consumption.

Muhammed said the federal government was committed to the gas development programmes and revival of its infrastructure.

He said the nation needed renovation and Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that would define the country’s future oil and gas production and generation.
“The PIB has been in the pipeline for 15 years. We are hopeful that the present legislature will address the bill,” he said.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/nnpc-refineries-to-operate-at-90-capacity-after-tam/

Unemployment rate is on the rise, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) alerted.

The Bureau said the unemployment rate in the second quarter (Q2) of the year rose to 8.2 per cent from the 7.5 per cent rate it was in the preceding quarter.

The latest rise was the consecutive jump in unemployment rate since the third quarter of last year.

NBS explained that the economically active population or working age, comprising persons within the 15 to 64 age bracket, increased to 103.5 million in the Q2 up from 102.8 million in the first quarter.

It also disclosed that the labour force population, comprising those within the working age, who are willing, able and actively looking for work, increased to 74.0 million in Q2 from 73.4 million in Q1, indicating an increase in the labour force by 0.81 per cent.

By implication, 574,498 economically active persons aged between 15 and 64 joined the labour market during the quarter under review.

The agency attributed the decline in the number of full employment or those working less than 40 hours despite a rise in the labour force to job losses or previously fully-employed persons, choosing or being forced to work part-time or in underemployment.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/nigerias-unemployment-rate-rises-to-8-2-per-cent/

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode approved the appointment of 19 new permanent secretaries in the state public service.

Fifteen others were retired from the service.

A statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, said the appointments were in line with the governor’s drive to restructure the civil service for efficient performance and service delivery.

The appointments came following the streamlining of some existing ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to ensure greater efficiency.

The new permanent secretaries, the statement said, have been deployed.

They are Mr. Bamgboye Abiodun; Mrs. Dapo-Thomas Boladele Aderemi; Mrs. Ariyo Elizabeth Olabisi; Mrs. Adekanye Adebunmi Elizabeth; Mr. Bode Agoro; Dr. Ayandele Olufolayimika Abiose; Dr. Sodeinde Nuriat Ibironke; Mr. Odeyemi Mohammed Adesina; and Mrs. Odulana Arinola Olufunmilayo.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/ambode-appoints-19-permanent-secretaries/

After a brief interregnum, former Governor of Rivers State Chibuike Amaechi has emerged from his hiatus to reveal that his conscience did not allow him to join those who may have soiled their hands in the N1.9 trillion oil subsidy scam allegedly committed during the Former President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Speaking during a Sunday night dinner held in honour of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Amaechi, who had a running battle with the former president, added that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government in Rivers State was jittery of his being considered for political appointment under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Amaechi, who served as the Director-General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation during the 2015 presidential election, said contrary to the notion held in certain quarters, he was not disposed to the pursuit of self-aggrandisement to the detriment of the wellbeing of the people of Rivers State.

“When the trouble between me and the former president started, as chairman of the governors’ forum, the oil subsidy was N300 billion under (former) President Obasanjo, it remained the same under Yar’Adua.

“But in six months of President Goodluck Jonathan, the oil subsidy rose to N1.9 trillion. Was it that the country had doubled its population or bought more machines or started manufacturing?

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/amaechi-i-refused-to-share-from-jonathans-n1-9tn-oil-subsidy/

The federal government through the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has awarded licences for the establishment of 12 new vehicle assembly plants in the country.

This is contained in a document made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by the spokesman of NADDC, Mr. Bello Rasheed, in Abuja monday.

The document stated that the benefitting companies are automobile manufacturing giants such as Toyota, Honda, General Appliances West Africa, Perfection Motors Company, and Richbon Nigeria.

The others are R.T. Briscoe Nigeria, Nigeria-China Manufacturing Company, Nigeria Sino Trucks, Coacharis Motors, DAG Motorcycle Industry Nigeria, Globe Motors Nigeria, Century Auto-Assembly Nigeria, and Concept Auto Centre.

The plants are expected produce a wide range of automobile products such as sport utility vehicles (SUVs), passenger cars, pickup vans, buses, tricycles and motorcycles, among others.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/fg-grants-12-new-auto-assembly-plants-licences/

The inspector – general of police (IGP), Solomon Arase, has said that the police investigation into the alleged forgery of senate rules over appointment of principal officers in the senate was still ongoing.

The IGP made this known weekend during his first official visit to the FCT police command headquarters where he said that the investigation involved several parts and there was no time limit when it would be concluded.

Arase, who said the investigation had entered its forensic screening and analysis stage, noted that it was wrong for anybody to say the preliminary report of the investigation submitted, was inconclusive.

He said people should not rush and conclude on an allegation as sensitive like the matter in question stressing that in investigations, there were usually no time frames until the final outcome was arrived at.

“Right now, we are carrying out a forensic screening and analysis of our findings based on the allegations that the documents were doctored. Until we arrive at the end, we cannot close the investigation,” he added.

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/igp-investigation-into-forgery-of-senate-rules-ongoing/

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, on Sunday told the people of the state that he does not need praises from them.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Zaria, the governor said what he needed from the people is constructive criticisms that will put him on the right track and not praises.

According to him, praises will not bring out the best in his administration, but constructive and objective criticisms will be beneficial to the government.
“We are human beings and we are bound to make mistakes. Don’t praise us. We don’t need praises. Tell us when we are going the wrong direction so that we can take correction and do the right thing,” El-Rufai told the gathering.

He said for the past two months since he took over, the government had been striving to fulfill its campaign promises.

El-Rufai promised that his administration would complete the multi billion naira Zaria water projects which would be beneficial to eight local government areas neighbouring Zaria.

The governor explained that worked at the project had stopped because the previous administration was owing the contractor N3.5 billion.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/el-rufai-to-kaduna-people-i-need-criticism-not-praise/

Banks are exposing the businesses and people behind the mountain of debts threatening to kill the sector – courtesy of a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive that expired at the weekend.

Barring unforeseen developments, some banks will begin the publication of their debtors’ list today.

The publications are coming on the heels of the July 31, 2015 deadline set by the apex bank for the debtors to pay up.

The lists, an official of one of the banks said, is just a part of the whole. “Some debtors have entered into various payment schemes to avoid being shamed by this exercise,” the bank official, who pleaded not to be identified because of “the sensitivity of the action”, said.

The debtors are to be blacklisted and banned from participating in the foreign exchange market as well as trading in the Nigerian Government Securities market. The publication of the debtors’ lists is to be a continuous exercise.

Union Bank is owed huge sums by 176 debtors. Six customers collectively owe the bank N27.91 billion. They are Dec Oil & Gas, owing N15.7 billion following a 1999 contract finance loan that expired in 2000. The directors of the company are Patrick Ugboma and Pius U. Malaka.

Other debtors include Alliance Energy, which is owing the bank N4.92 billion. The term loan approved in 2004 expired 2006. The directors are Akinwale Omoboriowo, Kojo Anan and Timi Austen-Peters.

Hajaig Construction is owing the bank N2.99 billion on a loan approved in 2012 and which expired in 2014. The directors are Abdul Nasser Hajaig, Rud Wan Hajaig and Mohammed Hajaig.

Sapta International Industries Limited is owing the bank N1.87 billion over a 1987 term loan that expired in 1988. The directors are Alex Aloy Nwokodikwa and Clement Nwokodikwa.

Petroleum Project International has a debt of N1.25 billion over a term loan obtained in 2004 that expired in 2007. The directors are Akinwale Omoboriowo, Kojo Anan and Timi Austen-Peters.

Best Aluminum owes N1.11 billion for import and lease facilities obtained between 2010 and 2012. The directors are Chief Godwin Nweke and Chief Pius Nweke.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/banks-reveals-debtors-list-has-cbn-deadline-ended-july-31-2015/

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday said that with the formation of a stronger regional military coalition, Nigeria and neighbouring countries now have an increased capacity to deal effectively with Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.

Also Friday, the Boko Haram Victims Support Fund headed by Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma disclosed that donors have now redeemed about N23 billion of their pledges. Buhari on his part ordered the immediate release of federal government’s N5 billion pledge to the fund.

Speaking at an audience with Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa, Buhari reaffirmed his belief that the full activation and deployment of the Multi National Joint Task Force established under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission will lead to the speedy defeat and elimination of Boko Haram.

The President added that with the Command and Control Centre of the Nigerian military now in Maiduguri, Borno State, the morale of troops in the front-line states had improved significantly.

“You can tell the Secretary-General that we are doing our best and our best will be good enough for the nation and the sub-region,’’ Buhari told Ibn Chambas.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/buhari-we-now-have-capacity-to-eliminate-boko-haram/

The majority leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed how he almost dumped his House leadership bid after the contest was portrayed as a personal ambition instead of a struggle to ensure party supremacy.

Gbajabiamila, who spoke to journalists during an interactive session at the National Assembly in Abuja yesterday, he said President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) however declined his offer to withdraw from the race.

“A lot of people do not know this, but long time ago, I saw the President, I saw my party, I explained to them that this thing has been framed to be about me. So I said I wanted to withdraw for the sake of the House and the country.

“I told them I would leave this thing in a heartbeat without even thinking about it and I will go and sit on the floor of the House without even accepting anything, not even chairmanship. I have never been a committee chairman or deputy, I have never even asked. So I told them, I have turned things down.

“But on principle, the President did not accept it, my party did not accept it and I thank God for the kind of confidence they have in me to be able to deliver the goods for the party. Who am I to say no? It was on principle that we stayed on course,” he said.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/gbajabiamila-i-almost-dropped-out-of-house-leadership-race/

KADUNA State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai yesterday got a dossier of corruption in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Hajiya Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, handed over the dossier on the sharp practices in the Corporation to him at the Government House in Kaduna.

El-Rufai is one of the four governors appointed by National Economic Council (NEC) to investigate the management of the accounts of the NNPC and the Excess Crude Account (ECA) by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The committee of four has a mandate to unravel the whereabouts of the N3.8 trillion not remitted to the Federation Account by the NNPC between 2012 and May as well as the $2.1bn said to have been deducted from the ECA without proper authorisation by the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).

In her presentation yesterday on how billions of dollars of oil revenue not remitted to the Federation Account by the NNPC, the NEITI chief said about 160 million barrels of oil, valued at $13.7 billion, were stolen between 2009 and 2012.

Calling on the Federal Government to privatise the nation’s refineries, Hajiya Ahmed said there was no proof that the $11.631 billion subsidy payment captured from 2005 – 2012, was remitted into the Federation Account by the Corporation.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/oil-sector-probe-el-rufai-gets-detailed-report-on-nnpc/

An Abuja-based lawyer, Chief K.J. Gadzama (SAN) has refuted the allegations as published in a national daily that he collected the sum of N950m as legal fees from the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to wind up the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Reacting to the report, Gadzama in a statement, said: “While recognising the freedom of the press to publish fair and accurate reports, it is imperative that the authenticity of the reports be independently ascertained before publication.

‘The obvious defamatory context in which the newspaper has vehemently stated its views constitutes a grave professional delinquency.
‘There are core values such as respect for truth, accuracy, fairness and balance which are basic standards of journalism.

“While journalists for about a dozen media houses contacted us and the BPE to verify the allegation and eventually jettisoned the story, the Nation Newspaper decided to believe their story tellers hook, line and sinker.”

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/gadzama-i-didnt-collect-n950m-to-wind-up-phcn/

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj-Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, has approved massive changes with the postings and appointments of 334 officers of the Nigerian Army with various effective dates.

Buratai, in one of the first major strategic decisions since assumption of office as the 20th army chief, took the urgent decision following the retirement of several generals.

These changes which were contained in a statement signed on Wednesday by the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, included some Principal Staff Officers at Defence and Army Headquarters, Corps Commanders and General Officers Commanding (GOCs) as well as other commanders.

Those affected in the redeployment included 37 Major Generals, 57 Brigadier Generals, 128 Colonels, several Lieutenants Colonels and others.

Some of those affected were the General Officers Commanding 1, 2, 3, 81 and 82 Divisions, Operations Pulo Shield and Safe Haven of Niger Delta and Plateau States. They are: Major General MA Koleoso who is now Commander TRADOC, Major General SN Muazu who moved from 2 Division to the Headquarters Infantry Corps and appointed Commander, Major General MT Ibrahim, from Department of Army Standard and Evaluation to Nigerian Defence Academy and appointed Commandant.
Others included Major General LKJ Ogunewe who is now the Chief of Policy and Plans, Major General FO Alli, is now Chief of Training and Operations and Major General AA Salihu, Chief of Logistics.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/new-chief-of-army-staff-effects-massive-shake-up-in-the-army-redeploys-334-officers/

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, yesterday named Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos) as the majority leader of the 8th House, thereby ending weeks of bickering in the House over who occupies the office.

Besides Gbajabiamila (South West), a former minority leader of the House in the 6th and 7th National Assemblies, Dogara also announced the names of Hon. Buba Jibrin (North Central) as the deputy house leader, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa (North West) as the chief whip, and Hon. Pally Iriase (South South) as deputy chief whip.

The development is a fallout of a series of meetings with President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Monday night to the early hours of Tuesday.

Earlier at the resumed plenary of the House yesterday, proceedings could not start until about 11.41am when the Speaker was led into the chamber by the mace bearer in company of Deputy Speaker Lasun Yusuf and the chairman of the House ad-hoc committee on rules and business, Hon. Orker Jerve.
Dogara said the traditional opening prayer and was greeted with a resounding “amen” from members, a development that earlier pointed to possible drama ahead as a large number of spectators thronged the House gallery as early as 10am to witness the proceedings.

After a few minutes, a new member of the House, Hon. Linda Ikpeazu from Anambra State, was sworn in by the Clerk, Mohammed Sank Omolori, after the court sacked the former occupant few weeks ago.

At 11:55am, anxious spectators became disappointed as Dogara settled down for the day’s business without a mention of the much-awaited outcome of the meeting on the House leadership crisis.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/reps-rift-ends-as-gbajabiamila-emerges-house-leader/

A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to stop the police from its ongoing investigation of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and some others in relation to the alleged forgery of the 2015 Standing Rules of the Senate.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in a ruling yesterday, refused an ex-parte application filed by Senator Gilbert Emeka Nnaji, seeking to among others, restrain the police from proceeding with the investigation and making public the report of the inquiry.

Nnaji had applied for interim orders to restrain the defendants in the case – the Inspector General of Police (IG) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) pending the determination of his substantive suit.

The plaintiff is challenging the constitutionality of the investigation within the context of the doctrine of separation of power.

Justice Kolawole said he could not grant the prayer sought by the plaintiff at ex-parte stage when his court possesses the power to conduct a judicial review of the action complained about in the substantive suit.

He also refused the plaintiff’s request to abridge the time within which the defendants could respond.

The judge held that while the court’s rules allow defendants 30 days within which to respond, a reduction in the period must be with the consent of parties in the suit.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/alleged-forgery-of-senate-rules-court-refuses-to-stop-police-investigation/

1. Microbiologist

Job Type: Full Time
Qualification: BA/BSc/HND
Experience: 5 years
Location: Rivers



Job Details
The Microbiologist reports to the Quality Assurance Manager and the key responsibilities of the role are:
•Monitor and control cleaning and sanitizing program for all processing equipment and bottling equipment and carry out microbiological analysis to check the effectiveness of the cleaning and sanitizing procedures for all equipment.
•Carry out microbiological analysis on intermediate and final products to ensure distribution of high quality products to the market place to refresh the consumers.
•Ensure good Housekeeping /Hygiene practices of infrastructure and work environment within the manufacturing and total plant operating area.
•Ensure implementation of Consumer complaints reduction programs.
•Handle Consumer Complaints in a proactive and efficient manner that ensures the complainant’s satisfaction.
•Ensure lockers in cloakroom are kept free of all unwanted materials
•Carry out microbiological analysis on all ingredients, raw and packaging materials, process inspection, intermediate products and finished products to ensure production of high quality products.
•Provide leadership for and facilitate the formalization of plants’ manufacturing / operational processes.
•Ensure full implementation of HACCP and microbiological monitoring programs within the manufacturing function.
•Ensure full implementation of Pest control of the plant.
•Ensure plant operations is in compliance with all local and TCCC requirements on Environmental Management System set to preserve and protect the operating environment through effective.
• Effluent management & discharge
• Solid waste management and disposal
• Hazardous Energy control
• Environmental metrics collation Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Desired candidate profile
B.Sc. Microbiology with a minimum of 5 years cognate experience in a related industry. Good understanding of quality assurance and microbiology processes, requirement and specification. Strong analytical skills. Good knowledge of physical and chemical properties of ingredients and materials. Good knowledge of data gathering and interpretation. Exceptional written, oral and presentation skills.
2. Quality Assurance Manager

Job Type: Full Time
Qualification: BA/BSc/HND
Experience: 5 years
Location: Rivers

Job Details
The Quality Assurance Manager reports to the Plant Manager and the key responsibilities of the role are:
• Coordinate all quality, food safety and environmental activities.
• Develop and implement appropriate procedures in line with the Coca-Cola operating requirement and ISO standard to ensure products meet stipulated quality and food safety standards.
• Ensure that all generated waste are properly managed.
• Prepare financial budget to support actualization of goals, targets and plans set in the business plans.
• Attends plant’s monthly and weekly management reviews, other planning sessions and other business activities in order to achieve plants corporate objective.
• Ensure the general aesthetics and safety at workplace for product, personnel, manufacturing facility and equipment according to the food industry standards/specifications at all times by enforcing the implementation of cleaning and sanitation program (GMP), identification of critical control points (HACCP) and proffers measures to monitor and forestall any possible food safety issues that can adversely affect consumer health and company image.
• Quick response and resolution of consumer complaints .
• Identify the root cause of consumer complaint and develop appropriate corrective action.
• Ensures facility wastes (solids, liquid, gases) are discharged in line with procedures that conform to Company and Government (international, national and local) standards which guarantee environmental protection and promote corporate citizenry.
• Attends to government and regulatory agencies to ensure conformance to all statutory requirements. i.e. NAFDAC, SON, State and Federal Environmental Agencies, State Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Commerce – Weights and Measures Dept., etc. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Desired candidate profile
B.Sc. Food Science/ Technology, Biochemistry or other related courses with a minimum of 5 years cognate experience in a related industry. Good understanding of quality assurance processes, requirement and specification. Strong analytical skills. Good knowledge of physical and chemical properties of ingredients and materials. Good knowledge of data gathering and interpretation. Exceptional written, oral and presentation skills.

Click link to Apply
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/microbiologist-quality-assurance-manager-needed-at-the-nigerian-bottling-company-limited/

Contrary to earlier reports that the federal government gave a bailout to states to meet their indebtedness to workers, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said no state has got a kobo from the federal government as bailout funds.

The governor, who spoke at the weekend at a reception for the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Solomon Arase, in Sabongida Ora, Owan West Local Government Area of the state, however said the cheering news is that President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to seeing an end to the situation where up to fifteen states owe workers’ salaries.

He said some conversations are going on between the federal government and the governors and the president has been extremely positive in recognising that he does not want to preside over a country whose workers are not paid.

“At the end of the day, it is not acceptable where fourteen to fifteen states cannot pay salaries. The good news is that the president is standing by us and there is always a time lag between when you conceptualise and when you implement.

“For now, no state government has got one naira under the bailout arrangement.”

On the IG who was being honoured by the people of Ora on his elevation, the governor said: “The celebrant is not just a man of history, there are many people who could become the IG by political connection, but he has a very unique ability.

“I also believe that your present elevation is a demonstration of the way you have sought to manage your office, deal with the challenges of the police force without being partisan, This is a difficult position to maintain. As an Edo man, you represent the finest tradition with courage, determination and intellect to your job no matter whose ox is gored,” he said.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/oshiomhole-no-state-got-bailout-from-fg/

The Nigerian Army (NA) on Friday ceremoniously pulled out 11 retired generals- eight major generals and three brigadier generals, of the Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps in Lagos.

While some of them retired in 2013, others retired in 2015, after completing their years of service.

The Maj-Gen’s are Manhood Yerima, Abiodun Amao, Olayemi Abidoye, Boniface Azurunwa, Adekunle Martin’s, Christian Ugwu, Bode Ogini and Mashudy Adekanye, while the Brig-Gen’s are Kachallah, Godfrey Nwafor and Gabriel Oladipo.

In his valedictory speech, Gen. Yerima, former Chief of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters, expressed appreciation for the gesture.
Yerima pledged that the retired officers would continue to keep the Nigerian flag high, adding that serving military personnel must continue to be loyal and be extra-vigilant.

He said, “Your loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria can best be given through vigilance and security consciousness.

“You must continue to demonstrate total commitment to your duty to the nation just as you have exemplified in your recent successes in the fight against terrorism in the north-east.

“The Nigerian people, especially the retirees are expecting a lot from you in the face of the current insurgency.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/nigerian-army-pulls-out-11-generals-from-service/

The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) have formally clarified that it did not received any bail out money from the federal government. The governor’s however stressed that they would continue to demand for their legitimate earnings from the federation account and also pledged to work with President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure coherent policy actions that will create a clear policy direction and stimulate domestic production.

The Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, who stated this after a meeting of the 36 governors in Abuja, said, “It is also to inform our brothers in the media that the federal government has not given any bailout to any of the states.”

“What had been shared last time was monies from NLNG and FAAC and as we have been saying, we have not been looking for bailout, instead, we have been looking for all monies that are in the coffers of the federation most especially we are talking about some of the monies that are in the coffers of government to be brought together for the purpose of sharing.

“The CBN governor raised some issues that taking the monies from those accounts most especially as our reserves are going down will affect the exchange rate and also the naira will have pressure, so they decided to make the naira available as loan to states for some of us complaining about the salaries.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/govs-forum-we-didnt-collect-bailout-from-fg/

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has introduced a self-deployment system to enable prospective corps members choose where they wish to serve.

This was part of resolutions at the end of the 2015 Batch ‘B’ pre-mobilisation workshop which held in Kaduna.

Similarly, pregnant women, nursing mothers and students undergoing postgraduate studies have been banned from participating in the scheme until they are free to enlist for the service.

The NYSC, in a communique issued at the end of the meeting, said the new system of self-deployment is aimed at addressing the fraudulent activities associated with the previous method of deploying prospective corps members.

“In a bid to tackle the problem of deluge of concessional requests with which the NYSC is being inundated, prospective corps members will henceforth be given the opportunity to choose states of their choice outside their socio-cultural and linguistic areas, using ICT,” the communique said.

It added: “Given the negative implications of assigning invalid or wrong Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) numbers to prospective corps members during the mobilisation process, corps-producing institutions have been advised to always take advantage of the window of opportunity created by the JAMB and regularise the admission of their graduates and advise the affected graduates to activate such numbers before presenting them for mobilisation.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/nysc-to-start-self-deployment-for-corps-members/

The Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta, has affirmed that the immunity clause in the Nigerian Constitution never bars public officers from being investigated, contrary to wide held views.

Nta made the clarification when he featured in a television programme monitored in Abuja.

He said the issue of immunity which many Nigerians spares public officers from being investigated has never been a save haven for some corrupt serving public officers.

According to him, “Immunity does not cover or bring to an end criminal investigation, there is no act in existence today that says you cannot investigate anybody, what it is says is that you cannot prosecute some sitting officials at certain levels.”

Nta emphasised that the major function of anti-corruption agencies and the police “is to get any accused into the law court with whatever evidence the commission has against them and for the law court to determine the merit of any such matter, so that we don’t become persecutors.”

On effectual implementation and assessment of the national budget, which is largely done by the legislative arm of government, the ICPC boss reiterated the committed efforts by the anti-graft agency to spur various ministries and MDAs to be accountable for whatever quota accrued to them.

He said for anyone to get a true picture, “It is from there that you monitor what is going on through their oversight functions, but we do have reports from the auditor general of the federation.”

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/icpc-immunity-clause-never-protects-public-officers-from-investigations/

African intellectuals and politicians must work together to revive public service and bring about transformative governance for the continent’s socio-political and economic growth, former Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi said yesterday.

He said it was only when intellectuals and politicians abandon their differences to complement themselves that “the public good, which is the essence of democratic governance, can be fully realised”.

He spoke in a keynote speech at the Third Edition of the President Atta Mills Memorial Lecture at the John Evans Atta Mills Centre for Law and Governance, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Achimota, Accra, Ghana.

Speaking on the topic: “Intellectuals in Politics and Governance in Africa: The lessons and legacies of John Evans Atta Mills”, the ex-governor noted the contributions of notable public intellectuals, like Nnamdi Azikwe, Kwame Nkruma; Julius Nyerere, Obafemi Awolowo and Leopold Senghor in the liberation struggle and early democratic governments in Africa.

He said the idea of philosopher-king in the contemporary African politics was to “advocate the marriage of politics and principle, and to yoke public policy to public intellection”.

“The good politicians may not need to be brilliant intellectuals, but they also should not have contemptuous disdain for the life of the mind”, said Fayemi, who advocated a hybrid of the two.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/fayemi-why-african-politicians-intellectuals-must-engage-in-teamwork/

Any parent who refuses to educate his children will now be liable to criminal offence if a bill before the Sokoto State House of Assembly is passed into law, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has said.

The move, which is considered both radical and revolutionary, is aimed boosting school enrolment and providing quality education to every child as required by local and international laws.

And as part of measures to enhance the implementation of the new policy, government will build and equip 240 primary and tertiary healthcare centres in the three senatorial zones of the state.

Making this known yesterday while addressing religious, traditional and political leaders from 11 local government areas of the state who paid him a Sallah visit in Sokoto, Tambuwal said the policy becomes necessary in view of the high percentage of parents who deliberately frustrate government efforts to educate children.

He said the state government had already made adequate arrangement to cater for the educational needs of its citizens, adding that anyone caught flouting the new regulation will not be spared.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/to-deprive-a-child-of-education-is-now-a-criminal-offence-in-sokoto-state/

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday confirmed that ministers will not be appointed until September. He said the delay in naming members of the yet-to-be constituted Federal Executive Council (FEC) is to allow for critical reforms which will guide the conduct of the ministers when appointed.

President Buhari dropped the hint in an article published by the Washington Post. He said it will neither be prudent, nor serve the interest of sound government to have hastily made ministerial appointments immediately after coming into office without the necessary reforms.

Buhari, who criticised recent calls in some quarters about the slow pace of his administration said the task cannot be rushed, insisting that Nigeria must put new rules of conduct and good governance in place before making key appointments.

Buhari said: “When cabinet ministers are appointed in September, it will be some months after I took the oath of office. It is worth noting that Obama himself did not have his full cabinet in place for several months after first taking office; the United States (U.S.) did not cease to function in the interim.

“In Nigeria’s case, it would neither be prudent nor serve the interests of sound government to have made these appointments immediately on my elevation to the presidency; instead, Nigeria must first put new rules of conduct and good governance in place.”

The President who met with the U.S. President Barack Obama yesterday, stressed the importance of carrying out the critical reforms correctly before appointing ministers. He said it was also crucial to install correct leadership in the military and security services before fully taking the battle to Boko Haram.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/buhari-why-i-wont-appoint-ministers-till-september/