₦airaland Forum

The Federal Government has approved the promotion of 2,932 senior civil servants in the federal civil service under the 2018 Directorate Level promotion exercise.

This is contained in a circular by the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) with reference no: FC.6243/GOV/2018/VOL.ll/341 dated 5th August, 2019 and titled, “Promotion of Officers on SGL. 14 to 15, SGL. 15 to 16 and SGL.16 to 17 in the Federal Civil Service with effect from 01/01/2018”.

The circular was signed by the commission’s new Chairman, Dr. Tukur Bello Ingawa, who resumed duty in December 2018. Six months after the examinations were conducted.

The FCSC, which is the agency responsible for recruiting and promoting federal workers, conducted the promotion examination in July 2018 for both professional and administrative cadres in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for them to be promoted to the next levels.

The delay of the promotion examination result had generated controversies among top civil servants, most of who said the delay was making them stagnant in their career progression in the work force.

The spokesperson of the FCSC, Mrs. Felicia Eniola Babaoye, had told Daily Trust in Abuja that the issues would soon be addressed and the management would soon come public on the outcome of the development.

According to details of the promotion pasted on the website of the commission, most of those promoted were officers in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHoCSF).
Out of the 327 in the office, 76 were moved to Salary Grade Level (SGL) 17 from SGL 16. Seventy were administrative officers, three librarians; two programme analysts and one statistician.

Also, 135 from the office were promoted from SGL 15 to SGL 16; out of which 121 are Administrative Officers, seven librarians, four statisticians and one Computer Engineer.
Of the 116 workers promoted to SGL 15 from SGL 14; 106 are administrative officer, five programme analysts, four librarians and one computer engineer.

Other MDAs where the senior officers were promoted are Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development; Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation; Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment; Federal Ministry of Information and Culture; Federal Ministry of Health; Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs; Federal Ministry of Justice; Office of the Accountant-General of the federation; Federal Ministry of Education; Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development; and Federal Ministry of Youth and Sport Development.

The others are Federal Ministry of Water Resources; Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development; Ministry of Defence; Bureau of Public Procurement; Federal Ministry of Environment; Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (Power); Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (Works); Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (Housing); Office of the Auditor-General for the federation; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Ministry of Interior (Police Education).

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has said that with the executive order signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, no Nigerian will now get an international passport without the national identity card.

The NIMC Director in Ekiti State, Mr. Gbenga Ifayefunmi, disclosed that there are 22 collection points in the state, urging residents to avail themselves of the opportunity to collect their cards.

He spoke in Ado Ekiti on Monday when the state Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, registered at the commission’s office.

Ifayefunmi said the cards for those who registered between 2012 and 2014 are now ready, while new registrants will get their cards within the shortest possible time with improved technology in place.

Describing the national ID card as unique, Ifayefunmi revealed that it has lots of features and will be useful for the holder in accessing many benefits.

“It comes with many advantages because you will be asked to come with your national ID card before you can assess government facilities.
“It has unique numbers, social security numbers and can be used for healthcare and education, among others.

“In fact, by virtue of an Executive Order signed by President Buhari, you cannot obtain international passport or driver’s licence without the national ID card,” he said.

Speaking after getting his card, the Ekiti deputy governor urged residents yet to register for the national identity card scheme to do so without delay.

Egbeyemi also called on those who had registered to go to the office of the NIMC to collect their national identity cards which are now ready.

Egbeyemi advised the people of the state yet to register to do so to enjoy many benefits the holders of the card are entitled to.

The deputy governor noted that registration and collection of the national ID card is one of the civic duties of good citizens of Nigeria.

Egbeyemi said: “I am calling on all the people of Ekiti State who are yet to register for the national ID card to go and register.

“I have just collected my own card now. I am therefore calling on those already registered but yet to collect their cards to go and collect their cards because the cards are now ready.”

The deputy governor said government would equally work in synergy with the commission to sensitise citizens of the importance of registering and having their cards.

By Moses Alao


President Muhammadu Buhari has been challenged to respond to the United Nations’ indictment that his administration has mismanaged the economy of the country, leading to 98 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty.

Former vice-president of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday, threw this challenge to the Buhari leadership, noting that the administration, perhaps, failed to respond to the statistics by the world organisation because the report “is factual.”

A statement signed by the Media Adviser to the former vice-president, Mr Paul Ibe, also berated the Buhari administration for attempting to blackmail and disrespect the judiciary by calling it out on how it might choose to do its job.

Atiku, who is challenging Buhari’s victory in the March 23, 2019 presidential election at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, noted that another plausible reason the Buhari administration had not responded to the UN report might be because “Atiku Abubakar has yet to make a remark on the report,” promising that if his [Atiku’s] response was all it took for Buhari to address the affliction his government has brought on Nigerians, then he would always be ready to speak up for Nigerians.

“On July 10, the United Nations reawakened Nigerians to the brutal reality of how poorly the Muhammadu Buhari administration has managed the nation’s economy with a damning verdict that 98 million Nigerians live in multi-dimensional poverty.

“Like it is typical of General Buhari and his handlers, they didn’t make any comment about the scary statistics coming from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“Quite regrettably too, the administration has been groping in the dark since 2015, the reason majority of Nigerians decided not to reward their failures during the February 23 presidential poll consequently leading to the heist that characterised the conduct of that poll.

“The other plausible reason they didn’t deem it fit to respond to the report is because Atiku Abubakar has yet to make a remark on the report. If the only reason why the Buhari administration will react to the affliction it has brought on Nigerians is for Atiku to call the nation’s attention to how bad things have gone in the country under the slumber of General Buhari, Atiku will more than always be ready to stand and speak up for the millions of countrymen and women who have become victims of his (Buhari’s) misrule and grand cluelessness,” the statement said.

Atiku accused the Federal Government of living in denial and relying on propaganda, which he said was “the only machine the administration could operate without a glitch,” rather than addressing reports from reputable organisations on the welfare and well-being of troops at the frontline of the war against insurgency.

“We need to restate that Atiku Abubakar respects the practical purpose of the judiciary as an arm of government saddled with the responsibility of dispensing justice. Therefore, for the Buhari administration to call out the judiciary on how they might choose to do their job is not only an emotional blackmail to the bench, it is also very disrespectful to the integrity of the honourable justices of the court of law,” the statement added.

The Federal Government Wednesday said its financial policies have resulted in saving of over N500 billion which would have been looted from Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mohammed Dikwa, said the government was able to make this huge savings by plugging leakages and wastages in government.

He said: “If the initiative was not in place, this amount of money we are talking about would have been spent by MDAs. It was because of this initiative that was put in place that we were able to save that money from treasury looters. “When we came up with the policy, an average of 11,000 tips were received on a monthly basis, but now, we hardly receive 20 to 30 tips simply because people have reduced wrong doing in government.”

Dr. Dikwa spoke when he received in audience in his office, the Alumni of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Abuja Chapter.

He told the visitors that most of the achievements were recorded under his leadership at the Presidential Initiative for Continuous Audit (PICA), which he attributed to the experience he got from NIPSS.

He said: “Over the last four years, this administration has put in place a lot of policies on ground especially the financial policies put in place at the Ministry of Finance. There are tangible results we got over the years. One of the fundamental achievements was saving by the government of over N500billion from leakages and wastages under PICA.

“The primary focus of PICA is to put systems and frameworks in place over finance and spending of government revenue. The goal is to maximize the utilisation of the resources through continuous assurance, so as to ensure that requirements for improved efficiency, effectiveness and accountability are met.

“PICA has also put in place many measures such as the Whistle-blowing Policy. We were able to make not only recoveries, but stopped people from doing the wrong things as far as the government circle was concerned.”

According to him, in the past, when funds are released to MDAs for specific purposes, the funds were usually diverted into other things arbitrarily. “The external auditors will not know, so we came in between the external and internal audit to ensure that the money that is being released into MDAs are spent for that purpose, and we held all the Account Officers accountable for every kobo released to them,” he said.

He said the Federal Government recovered over N144.89 billion in March last year from corrupt officials through the implementation of the Whistle-blowing Policy.

Dr. Dikwa said: “Another initiative was the Fiscal Sustainability Plan. A plan that was extended to states and local governments because there was this cry from the states and local governments that all our policies were concentrated at the federal level and not being extended to states and local governments, so we came up with Fiscal Sustainability Plan.

“We gave 22 conditions to the states and local governments as an incentive for them to get a kind of support from the Federal Government, provided they follow these 22 conditions. One of these conditions was to ensure that they publish every expenditure they had through their websites and other publications; their allocations, what comes to the states monthly and budget process.”

Deji Elumoye in Abuja



The Presidency Wednesday said it was yet to be officially informed by the leadership of the Senate about the confirmation of 43 ministerial nominees sent to the upper legislative chamber last week.

Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, told reporters that more than 24 hours after the confirmation of all the nominees, the Senate had not communicated that to President Buhari.

According to him, the President is expecting official communication from the National Assembly to enable him to inaugurate the ministers-designate and assign ministries to them.

“The President upon receipt of the communication from the National Assembly, will on a date he will fix and notify the screened and cleared nominees and inaugurate them as appropriate.”

He explained that the President did not assign portfolio to the list of ministerial nominees because the constitution of the country did not ask him to do so.
“You are saying that the president should have attached portfolios. I am sure from 1999 to 2019, this question has been asked. This means that the question has been asked for the past 20 years.

“The constitution says the president shall appoint persons as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria subject to confirmation of the Senate. The constitution did not oblige the President or a governor to attach a ministry or a portfolio in his nomination to the legislature.

“The reason is that the candidate is screened and cleared as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he is not cleared as a Minister of Education or Minister of Health or Industry.”

“Portfolios may change and the structure of government may not be the same as it were. When a minister is screened and cleared, he is assigned a portfolio. It may arise in the course of his assignment, the president or the governor may decide to reassign him to another ministry at that time if you assign and the person is screened and in respect of that portfolio; that means the president may have to send the name again back to the Senate for screening or for confirmation.

“That is why the constitution did not make it mandatory to assign portfolio while sending it to the legislature. Therefore the President has not done anything wrong.”

Enang also revealed that the president had assented to two new bills including the Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru in Kebbi State bill and the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria Amendment bill
According to him, “The (first bill) is converting the Federal college of Agriculture, Zuru in Kebbi State to a full-fledged university with all the powers and authorities of a university, with all the principal officers of the university from the Chancellor down to the staffers and from the date thereon, there is now established the Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru in Kebbi State.

“The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria Amendment bill has also been assented to and what the bill is about is that it has increased fine or penalty from the N1000 it used to be to N500, 000 in appropriate places and generally enhanced the power of Architect registration process, so this bill is now law and it is an offence to go against it.”

The SSA also defended Buhari’s declining of assent to the upgrade of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo to a university while assenting to the upgrade of the Federal College of Agriculture to a university.

“When a bill is received by Mr. President, he looks at the content of the bill; he looks at the technical issues of the bill and if all is correct on the bill, he assents to it.

“When he doesn’t assent to a bill, he will state the reason that he has not. Some could be drafting issues, some could be question of duplicity in section of the bill, some could be questions of conflict with the constitution, some could be any question which is normally stated.

“Therefore the two bills I have mentioned, just assented to qualify on the basis of these technical reasons, others which may not yet be assented to something is being done to send them back to the legislature through an appropriate channel so that they can be attended to.”

by Kelvin Osa Okunbor




One of the drivers of Airport Car Hire Association of Nigeria (ACHAN), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, Mr. Adeniyi Olayinka has returned a sum of N888, 000 and an international passport forgotten by a passenger in his car to the passenger.

Olayinka told journalists at the airport that he discovered the items in an envelope left behind by the passenger on the back seat of the car shortly after he returned to the airport from Ibese Ikorodu destination of the passenger.

The driver who doesn’t have a car of his own, but works as a commissioned driver to another member of the association, said it never crossed his mind to covert another person’s belonging because it would put another family in sorrow and it is against the orientation given to every member of ACHAN in the airport.

“Though it could be tempting to some people to see such money and pocket it, especially when their income is very poor. As for me, it never crossed my mind to do so. Because it would create sorrow in another family and also such idea is against the orientation we are given at ACHAN by our leaders,” he said.

Explaining how he found the money and the passport, Adeniyi who has been operating in the airport for fifteen years said: “At about 1:30 am on Monday I met this passenger on arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. I negotiated with him and we agreed at N6000 to transport him to his destination at Ikorodu.

“I returned to the airport immediately I dropped him at his house. But no sooner I arrived and parked my car at the airport I discovered that an envelope had been left behind on the back seat of my car. I picked the envelope and opened it.

What I saw was his international passport.
“I looked further into the envelope and discovered there was another white envelope inside. I opened the second envelope only to discover that something was wrapped in it. When I removed the wrapper I discovered it contained mint fresh notes of US currency.

“They were in $100 denomination. I counted and they were 24 in number totaling $2,400. When converted at prevailing rate of N370 as at Monday morning, it amounted to N888, 000. Based on the orientation and instructions we received from the leadership of ACHAN on weekly basis, I reported the findings to the officer on duty at the arrival car park of the airport. I was instructed to drop the parcel and its contents at our secretariat at Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

“Since I didn’t have the passenger’s phone contact, I had to go to his the place where I dropped him to inform him or his family member of the discovery. But by the time I got to the passenger’s home at Ibese – Ikorodu, I was told he had returned to the airport to look for the lost parcel. As I was leaving the house in Ikorodu, I got the call from our secretariat that the passenger was already in the airport to report the loss”.

Speaking on the recovery, the passenger, Engr. Dele Ayeni who said he was a living testimony to the advantages of taking cabs from registered point at airports believes there is hope for Nigeria in many ways.

“I arrived Lagos, Nigeria from Cairo on July 29, 2019 at about 1:30 am on Monday. My intention when I arrived was to call an Uber operator to pick me home as soon as step out of the terminal building. But as I was coming out of the terminal, I met this polite driver who agreed to take me to my destination at Ikorodu at an agreed price of N6000.

“While on the way, I decided to drop my jacket on the floor of the car to avoid been notice as a very important man sitting in the rear seat of the car. Immediately we got to my house in Ikorodu; I removed my jacket from where I had kept it and also my luggage, without noticing that the envelope in the jacket had dropped on the back seat of the car.

“Unfortunate enough, I didn’t open my luggage to bring out what I had for my family members until after I woke up in the noon. That was when I discovered that the envelope was missing in my jacket. I exclaimed. I said all my suffering during the trip has resulted to total loss. My wife began to calm me down. She advised that we should look around the compound to see if it dropped in the compound, but I said no that if it had dropped in the compound I would have seen it as I was bringing in my luggage.

“I insisted that it didn’t drop in the premises but in the cab. My wife then asked me of where I took the cab; I told her it was in the airport and she advised that I should go to the airport to inquire if it has been found. I told her I didn’t know the name of the driver or the vehicle number. However, with her encouragement, I came to the airport and went to the car park where I boarded the cab. Immediately I approached and complained to one of the drivers, who happened to be the duty officer for that shift.

“He asked me for my name and I told him. The next thing I noticed on his face was a broad smile; he then told me that the envelope was found in the car and has been deposited at their secretariat. And that the driver who took me home, had gone to my house again to inform me of the discovery. This is a living testimony that Nigeria has hope. We are not all bad people. I have started campaigning to people via social media to always patronize airport registered cabs.

“The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. The registered airport cab may charge higher than Uber or Kabukabu but you are sure that if you forget anything in the airport cab, you would surely see it again. I want to thank ACHAN for having this type of arrangement in Nigerian airports. It is wonderful.

Speaking while handling the items recovered in the car to the owner, the Chairman ACHAN MMIA, Lagos Elder Olubi Ojo said Engr. Ayeni’s case was just one of the many cases the association handles on regular basis.

Elder Ojo who recalled that one of his members once returned $15,000 left by a passenger in his car, urged Nigerian passengers to place the safety and security of their lives and properties above any amount they may be charged by the registered airport cab operators because the benefits far outweigh the money paid.

“This is a regular occurrence in this airport, passengers forget many things such as passports, money and other personal belongings in our cabs, but they are very sure of finding them if truly the items are left in any of our cabs. We give regular orientation on why they should return to the secretariat any item found to have been left behind by passengers in their vehicles,” Elder Ojo said.

A 20-year-old boy, Augustine Okpako, has committed suicide by drinking fumigation chemical (Quick Action Spray) over his mother’s failure to give him N700 to settle a pressing need.

This happened at Awhire community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, DAILY POST can report.

It was learnt that the deceased had requested the said money from his mother, who in turn promised to give him the money the following day (today).

The deceased said he cannot wait till the following day, even as his mother was at the time frying garri she will take to the market so she could raise the money.

An eyewitness, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said, “suddenly we just see that he drink the chemical. He drink quick action that farmers normally used to spray grass.”

The eyewitness claimed that the container of the fumigation chemical was empty and there were signs of it on his mouth and shirt, indicating that he may have drank it to commit suicide.

The source said sympathizers rushed the deceased to a Cottage Hospital in Erhoike Community in Ethiope-East Local Government Area for medical attention with a view to save his life, stressing that he was confirmed dead by doctors in the hospital.

At the time DAILY POST visited the scene of incident, the mother of the deceased was wailing and could not speak on the matter.

The mobile phone number of the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, was switched off hence efforts to reach her for comments proved unsuccessful.

There was jubilation among civil servants in Kogi State yesterday as Governor Yahaya Bello cleared all outstanding salary arrears in the state.

A cross section of workers who spoke with journalists in Lokoja, expressed joy over the timely “salary rainfall” in the state, saying workers received all the five months salaries owed by the Kogi State Government .

The governor had assured the royal fathers in the state and all stakeholders that his administration will clear all the salary arrears before the end of July.

Speaking with our correspondent in Lokoja, a civil servant in the Bureau of Information Service, Monisola Ayelabowo, said the governor has written his name in gold by keeping to his promise.

According to her, the problem of salary arrears started during the Governor Idris Wada Administration.

She said, “We have been battling with this problem since the last administration. We were owed a few months salaries which the present administration inherited. We are happy that the State Government has been able to utilize the bailout judiciously to clear all the arrears.

“It is now that I know that the Governor is preparing for a second term in Office. We have seen all he has done in the areas of security, roads and agriculture. But without our salaries, it would have been difficult for us to support him.

But with what he has done now, he has recovered the confidence and trust of the civil servants in his government”.

Another civil servant who introduced himself as Sanni said he works with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. He said the arrears had made life miserable for the civil servants, saying the clearance of the arrears has rekindled hope in the Yahaya Bello Administration.

“It was not easy for us but now we can smile again. Now we know we have a Governor that can keep to his promise. I will support him as long as our salaries are paid regularly”, he said.

A labour leader in the state who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity said the governor has regained the hearts of the Kogi workers by paying the arrears.

He stated: “If you look at his administration, he has done very well in other areas such as education, healthcare, security, agriculture and infrastructure. The only problem has been the issue of salaries.

“We were carried along in the processes leading to the release of the bailout and he kept assuring us that as soon as he gets it, he will pay the salary arrears.

“When he got the bailout, he invited us to brief us and also listen to our recommendations. We are happy that he has cleared the arrears now and we shall be looking forward to having salaries on regular basis”.

When contacted, the state commissioner of Finance, Asiwaju Idris Ashiru, said the decision to stick to agreement of paying the salary arrears was paramount to the governor, adding that the move was more welfarist than political.

Ashiru noted: “The governor was the main driver that ensured we were able to get the bailout. And he directed that it must be applied to clear arrears of salaries.

“The decision was in line with the commitment of the Yahaya Bello Administration to ensure the welfare of the workers. It was not due to political exigencies. We also thank Mr President, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria for the roles in ensuring that was achieved.

“Going forward , the Governor has directed that we do everything possible to ensure we do not owe our workers again. What we paid now was part of the liabilities inherited from the past administration. But Government is a continuum and we have done what is needful to retain the confidence of our workforce in the administration. We also call on the civil servants to work hard to justify the renewed relationship between them and the Government”.

The Kogi state government paid a total of five months salary arrears to its civil servants.

By Ismail Adebayo,




A man who reportedly sneaked into the ceiling of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State with plans to rob it has been arrested.

It was alleged that the suspect, identified as Idam Jeremiah, had planned to hide in the ceiling until the bank closed to customers so he could steal money from the bank.

A witness, who preferred anonymity, also told our correspondent that the young man pretended to be a customer of the bank to gain entrance into the bank.

“When he entered the bank he pretended as if he wanted to use the toilet and climbed into the ceiling,” he said.

It was gathered that one of the cleaners in the bank noticed the slippers he abandoned in the toilet as he climbed into the ceiling, also leaving some stains on the wall.

“She called the attention of the security men at the bank and one of them went up the ceiling to find out if someone was there. That was how we discovered someone hiding in the ceiling,” the source said.

It was also gathered that after he was discovered in the ceiling the bank management called in the police but the man refused to come until they threatened to shoot him.

The spokesman of Kebbi Police Command, DSP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the incident to our correspondent. He said “The matter is still being investigated by the CID.”

By Azimazi Momoh Jimoh



Nigeria’s President may swear in his 43 ministerial nominees on Wednesday following their confirmation by the country’s upper house of assembly.

The lawmakers ended the screening of Buhari’s nominees for ministerial appointments on Tuesday and approved all the 43 persons sent in by the president.

But the portfolio for each of the nominees is still unknown. Buhari is expected to assign them portfolios when they are inaugurated.


A number of senior figures from Buhari’s first term will return, including Zainab Ahmed (finance minister), Babatunde Fashola (works and power minister), Geoffrey Onyeama (foreign affairs minister), Rotimi Amaechi (transport minister) and Lai Mohammed ( held the information portfolio).

However, returning ministers may not hold the same positions they held in the last four years.

Buhari was criticised by opposition figures and some analysts for being slow to name his cabinet since his victory over People’s Democratic Party Atiku Abubakar in February election.

The president was also berated for the low percentage of women in his picks. Of all the 43 nominees only seven women were listed.


Sharon Ikeazor, Gbemisola Saraki, Ramatu Tijjani-Aliyu, Sadiya Farouk, Mariam Katagun and Pauline Tallen joined returning minister Zainab Ahmed to make the seven women on the ministerial list.

While many would argue that it’s an improvement on his first term cabinet that had only six women, it doesn’t hold up to scrutiny.

In 2015, Buhari appointed six women in his 37 ministers. This means that while six women in 2015 represented a 19% of the total, seven in 2019 represents only 16%.

Buhari took six months to swear in a cabinet after the 2015 election – a delay critics contend contributed to the slow response to low oil prices that pushed Nigeria into a recession in 2016.

“You can see me smiling on behalf of Nigerian workers; President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the Minimum Wage Repeal and Enactment Act, 2019.

“This makes it compulsory for all employers of labour in Nigeria to pay to their workers the sum of N30,000 as the minimum wage.

“It also gives workers the right to sue for the balance, when compelled to accept salary that is less than N30,000.”

The above quotes were the exact words of Mr Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, after Buhari signed the new National Minimum Wage into law, on April 18, 2019.

The law mandates all employers of labour in Nigeria to pay to their workers the sum of N30,000 as the least salary, except those with less than 25 workers.

The law also mandates the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission and the Minister of Labour to serve as the principal enforcers of its provisions.

As expected, the signing of the law was celebrated by workers who saw it as a signal to better days with an improved package. The new law was, in itself, a blissful end to several months of a fierce battle between government and the workers during which threats were traded.

The joy of the salivating workers knew no bounds when government said that the implementation of the new deal would commence from the date it was signed.

But, more than three months after the law was signed, the workers are still expecting the windfall, with many still unsure of what they may get from it.

The fears, which started as some rumour, got more intense when government, on May 14, inaugurated the relativity/Consequential Adjustment Committee, which in turn set up a Technical Sub-Committee to work out the template for the adjustment of salaries of public service employees.

The fresh committees sent fears down the spines of most workers who had thought that the template was already ready and waiting for just cash backing.

To fears got even more heightened recently when the Federal Government, through the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, announced that only workers earning below the N30,000 minimum wage would be paid, meaning that the wait for the new wage was getting indefinite for those earning above that.

The commission’s chairman, Mr Richard Egbule, while addressing newsmen on the implementation of the new national minimum wage, on July 16, said that the commencement of the approved payment would be determined by the office of the Accountant-General and backdated to when the President signed the agreement.

Egbule had said that the position of government was that the implementation of the wage would start with workers currently earning below N30,000, while others would follow after the conclusion of talks on consequential adjustments.

Angered by that development, organised labour has hinted of possible industrial action if the current state of affairs as regards the issue of consequential adjustment arising from the new national minimum wage of N30,000 per month remains the same.

The organised labour, in a joint statement signed by Mr Anchaver Simon, acting Chairman, Trade Union Side (TUS), of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), 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 statement said.

Checks indicated that the committee on Consequential Adjustment of Salaries agreed to set up a technical body to work out different scenarios in respect of salaries that would be paid to workers in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), that draw their emoluments from the government treasury.

TUS had initially proposed that since the minimum wage was increased by 66.66 per cent from N18,000 to N30,000, 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 five per cent for those on Grade Levels 15-17.

The workers, through the Trade Union Congress (TUC), rejected the stance, with the TUC President, Mr Quadri Olaleye, accusing the Federal Government of “playing smart to avert industrial unrest”.

“We have read the circular released by Mr Richard Egbule, Executive Chairman of the National Minimum Wage Committee set up by the Federal Government to work out the consequential adjustments arising from the wage increase.

“Let it be known that this circular is unacceptable to us because it contradicts the reason for setting up the committee,” the statement said.

Olaleye said that the TUC considered the circular as a smart move on the part of government to discourage labour action, declaring that “labour is not fooled”.

“We wonder why anything that has labour undertone becomes the issue of rejection by government. By this circular, the government is testing the patience of workers.

“We assure them that they either go to the negotiating table to complete the assignment or risk the wrath of workers.”

Meanwhile, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, has attributed the delay in the full implementation of the new National Minimum Wage to the “unrealistic demands” by labour unions.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to implementing the new national minimum wage and that is why the presidential committee on the consequential adjustment arising from the minimum wage has been sitting to deliberate on it.

“The committee has sat with the union leaderships within the public service to come out with the consequential adjustment arising from the new minimum wage.

“There were a few, what I will call unrealistic, demands from the unions.

“So as not to continue delaying the implementation of the very dear policy of Mr President, we had to go ahead and seek his approval to implement the minimum wage effective from April,” she said.

She explained that the decision was to pave way for the federal government to continue with the discussions on the consequential adjustment.

Oyo-Ita said that the federal government would not allow the demands of the senior staff unions to affect those the minimum wage was largely meant to address – the low income earners.

The NLC and TUC, in a recent letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, urged the Federal Government to reconvene the stalled minimum wage committee meeting with the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC).

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, and TUC President, Quadri Olaleye, jointly signed the letter date July 16, 2019.

They expressed dismay in the stalemated discussion and the meagre amount being offered by the Federal Government, adding that they were particularly sad over the staggered implementation of the new minimum wage.

While commending the President for setting up the committee to work out the modalities for relativity and any other consequential effect that may arise from the new national minimum wage, it said that its initial optimism was hinged on the fact that the step would speed up the implementation of the minimum wage.

“We are, however, worried by this stalemate and must, in all honesty, point out that what the government is offering is far too small to be acceptable.

“We recall that in the immediate past exercise, 53 per cent relativity was used across board. The resort therefore to unnecessary obduracy by the government’s team is neither helpful nor reflective of precedence.

“The option of a staggered implementation conveyed in a press statement by the Chairman of the Salaries and Wages Commission is similarly not in good faith; the notion of staggered implementation is both divisive and catastrophic.

“It is important to note that the national minimum wage has always been implemented holistically in acknowledgement of the fact that we all go to the same market.

“In the light of this and the need to head off a major industrial crisis, we would urge you to do all that is necessary to ensure that the meeting of the Committee is reconvened with NLC and TUC.”

As the Nigerian workers await the next line of action by the stakeholders, experts and analysts say that reconvening the committee will help in reaching a truce in the consequential adjustments and ensure a mutually agreeable rate that would avert an impending nationwide industrial action.

They equally say that everything should be done by those concerned to end the waiting game of anxious workers who were thrown into wild jubilation when President Buhari signed the minimum wage bill into law in April.

JOY ANIGBOGU



Lagos – The Southern and Middle Belt Forum leaders made up of Afenifere, pan Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Igbo socio-cultural organization, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and Middle Belt Forum have written to Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, former head State, declining to participation in a roundtable on national issues and security which is scheduled to begin on Monday because of the inclusion of Miyetti Allah group and Gan Allah Fulani Development Association as participants.

The leaders had in joint letter sent to Abdulsalami Abubakar which was made available to Daily Independent on Sunday declined to participate in the roundtable scheduled to start on Monday, expressed their displeasure to participate in the meeting which was expected to have the leaders, Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum and service chiefs in attendance to discuss issues of security.

The leaders in the letter stated that it was shocked to have discovered that the meeting would include Miyetti Allah and Gan Allah Fulani Development Association. It said that it did not know the members of the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association and that lumping of Miyetti Allah ,a trade association for cattle herders whose members had been accused of various violations of human rights across the country sent worrying signal to them.

The letter reads, “Greetings to you from the leaders of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum.We individually received your invitation to the event holding in Minna between 29th and 30th July ,2019. We thank you for your interest in the affairs of our country which made us to accept your invitation in good faith. It was in the thick of our preparations for the journey that details of the roundtable came to our attention.

Some aspect of which has necessitated this last minute communication. We observed that the roundtable will have in attendance all the National Security Heads ,Chief of Defence Staff and notable Nigerians. Underscoring the high level of the consultations. We however noticed further that in your category of Socio-cultural organisations invited ,you listed the following: PANDEF, Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Middle Belt Forum, Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elder Forum. We were comfortable up to that point until we saw Gan Allah Fulani Development Association and Miyetti Allah.

“While we do not know the members of the first group, the lumping of Miyetti Allah, a trade association for cattle herders and whose members have been accused of various violations of rights across the country sends a worrying signal to us. It falls into the categorisation of our respected socio-cultural platforms with Miyetti Allah by Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu. We consider the above a grave insult on our bodies and our coming to a roundtable with the group would mean acquiescence to the narrative that put us in the same bracket with those wielding illegal AK-47 all over the country and inflicting terror on fellow citizens.

Even if the above was not the case with Miyetti Allah , bringing a trade group like them in the same vehicle with the nationalities organisations would not have been appropriate as there are organisations of their category for fishermen, farmers, spare parts dealers, and poultry owners among others across Nigeria who are not invited.

Towards this end, we decline participation in the roundtable as scheduled without prejudice to your peace-building effort which is appreciated. We equally regret any inconvenience our decision may cause you as we know the efforts that go into putting events such as this together. Be rest assured of our cooperation in all efforts and dialogues to make Nigeria peaceful, secure and forward-moving provided they are organised in a way that does not subtract from our dignity and value” it read.

The letter was signed by Chief Edwin Clark on behalf of PANDEF, chief Ayo Adebanjo for Afenifere, Dr. Nnia Nwodo for Ohaneze and Dr. Pogu Butrus for Middle Belt Forum.

There was a general laughter on Friday at the Senate when Sen Ali Ndume (APC,Borno) told his colleagues of how he gave out his daughter in marriage after payment of N100,000 dowry.

Dowry, in Islam is a mandatory payment, in the form of money or possessions paid by the groom, to the bride at the time of marriage, that legally becomes her property.

Raising a point of order on personal explanation, Ndume said he was absent from the morning session of Thursday’s sitting, because of an event meant for the collection of his daughter’s dowry.

He said the event later ‘translated into a ‘brief’ marriage ceremony.

“ The parent of the person that wants my daughter in marriage brought dowry to indicate interest. I didn’t know it would translate into marriage,” he said.

Ndume said he decided to explain his absence so that his colleagues will not be offended, that he did not not announce the marriage of his daughter in line with the tradition of the Senate.

Oja Oba/Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has ended a 5-year-old marriage between a woman, Tawa Omodayo and her husband, Rotimi Omodayo.

Tawa had dragged her husband to court on the accounts of irresponsibility and neglect. She added that he was always beating her.

The plaintiff told the court she has had enough of her husband’s uncaring act and therefore prayed for divorce.

Tawa further prayed the court to grant her custody of the only child in their marriage in order to give him adequate care.
Rotimi admitted to claim.

Tawa told the court that:”My husband is irresponsible and very unreliable. Our marriage is blessed with only a child who he finds a task taking care of.

“He abandoned me during the pregnancy of our child. He cared less about my health and refused to be responsible for both pre-natal and ante-natal care.

“He abandoned me in the hospital after developing complications during the delivery of this child and I almost died.

“I have been responsible for the upkeep and education of our son due to his nonchalant behaviour, “she said.

“He fights me any time I demand that he should be awake to his responsibilities. He will beat me blue black and leave me almost naked after tearing my clothes into shreds
.
“He had smashed my phone on the ground at four different times when beating me and likewise destroyed my other property.

“I have reported him to his parents on many occasions but they always take sides with him, “Tawa added.

“My lord, he has almost ruined my business; he’s in the habit of taking out of the recharge cards I sell without paying me. We often fight over this but he has not ceased from doing this.

“The last time we fought, he threw my belongings out and I brought them in again.

“I’m tired of our marriage; my husband has made our union uninteresting and unfulfilling. I, therefore, pray that you separate us.

“I also appeal to the court to grant me custody of our only child in order that I might give him the necessary attention,” Tawa concluded.

“My lord, I’m fed up with my wife and ready for divorce, “Rotimi stated before the court.

“I care for my wife and child to the best of my ability but my wife has proved to be an ingrate.

“I set her up in a business and also helped her mother in paying back the loan she took from a microfinance bank but she still accused me of being irresponsible, “the defendant said.

“My lord, I agree to divorce because my life is no longer safe with my wife. Tawa is wayward and such a woman can kill.

“Our family doctor confided in me that she developed complications during delivery as a result of her promiscuous lifestyle.

“My mother and I paid through our nose while she was on admission after delivery. My mother spent N500, 000 which was just a part of the hospital bill. Unfortunately, she didn’t appreciate this.

“My lord, her parents invited me to their family house and there I met a man who prostrated and begged me to forgive his misdeed. He confessed that he was my wife’s lover and that he had been sleeping with her since we got married.

“He stated that he had been experiencing misfortune and that everywhere he sought solution to his predicament he was told he must seek my forgiveness.

“She sleeps with some other men aside this man. I pray this honourable court to dissolve our marriage before she sends me to my early grave, “he concluded.

Giving his judgment, the court president, Alhaji Suleiman Apampa dissolved their union and granted custody of their child to the plaintiff.

The defendant was asked to be responsible for his upkeep by giving the sum of N4, 000 per month through the court as feeding allowance and be responsible for his education and health service.

Godwin Tsa, Abuja



The General Manager, Operations of the Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF), Hajiya Aisha Usman, has accused the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property (SPIP) led by Mr Okei Obono-Obla of stealing the sum of $30,000 from her Abuja residence.

She specifically alleged that on June 25, 2019, four policemen attached to the SPIP under the command of DCP Babaji Sunday, allegedly stole $30,000 from her residence, under the guise of investigations of accusations that she was not yet informed.

In a petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Usman added that the armed cops carted away the money and jewelleries from the residence of the PEF official after she was invited to the panel’s office.

She further alleged that the armed cops bundled her into their waiting vehicle, drove her to her apartment, ransacked it and took away the money without recording it.

But in a swift reaction, the Chairman of the Presidential panel, Obono- Obla dismissed the allegations as cheap blackmail and diversionary tactics of a drowning woman.

Obla who spoke with Daily Sun vehemently denied the allegations saying “it is a blatant lie against the panel by a corrupt civil servant.

“This is pure and blatant lie. It is corruption that is fighting back. She just wants to shamelessly divert attention. It is a diversionary tactics by a corrupt woman because my operatives have refused to be compromised.

“It is corruption fighting back. Ask her where she got the money from as a civil servant. Why is that huge sum of money doing in her house? If the source of the money is clean why not keep it in the bank?

She should bow her head in shame because we have evidence to send her to prison. Where did she get the money from?
My operatives are professionals who will never steal people’s money. Let her come out and tell Nigerians the source of the money.

That place is stinking with corruption. All they do is ask petroleum marketers to pay money into their accounts.

“She is saying this because our operatives have refused to be compromised. We have already arrested some of their staff who tried to bribe our operatives.”

The Special Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property (SPIP) had disclosed that it has uncovered over N3 billion in several bank accounts belonging to the General Manager, Corporate Services, Dr. Goody Nnadi, and Aisha F. Usman, the General Manager, Operations, both with the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF).

Meantime, the panel said it is investigating other management staff of the fund alleged to be involved in fraudulent activities.

Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the implementation of the newly approved minimum wage of N30,000 to all federal government workers who earn below the amount. But the announcement, rather than elicit joy, dampened the spirit of workers across the country as it fell short of their expectations.

The President’s order was disclosed by the Executive Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission [NSIWC] Dr. Richard Onwuka Egbule at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday. He said based on the president’s approval, implementation takes effect from April 18, 2019. Egbule said civil servants affected are only those who earn less than N30,000 monthly and no federal government staffer will earn less than N30,000 per month.

He also said salary structures affected include consolidated public service salary structure (CONPSS); consolidated health salary structure (CONHESS); consolidated research and allied institutions salary structure (CONRAISS); consolidated tertiary institutions salary structure (CONTISS II) and consolidated tertiary educational institutions salary structure, CONTEDNESS.

Egbule said “the negotiations between the Federal Government and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council on the consequential adjustments arising from the new national minimum wage for officers who earned salaries above N30,000 per month before 18th April, 2019 in the federal civil service will continue.” The outcome of such negotiations, he said, will be implemented with effect from the date an agreement is reached. He also said arrears arising from implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage will be worked out by all concerned agencies in partnership with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

This came after another meeting between Federal Government representatives and those of Labour ended in a deadlock. Soon after the signing of the new minimum wage into law, a joint committee was set up to work on the consequential adjustment. Till date they are yet to reach an agreement. At their last meeting, Labour proposed 30 per cent salary increase for officers on levels 7 to 14 but the government team proposed nine and a half per cent salary increase for them. Also, while labour proposed 25 per cent increase for officers on grade levels 15 to 17, the federal government offered five per cent. A stalemate therefore ensued.

The Trade Union Congress [TUC] has threatened to embark on strike over the issue. It said government appears not to be committed to implementing the new minimum wage “going by the way its representatives in the committee set up to negotiate the adjustment arising from the new minimum wage was handling the negotiations.” TUC’s President Comrade Quadri Olaleye said the entire process lacked transparency.

He said organised labour was considerate enough by lowering its initial demand of increasing salaries of GL 07 to GL 17 officers by 66.66% per cent, ‘‘yet government is only offering 9.5 per cent for levels 07-14 officers and 5 per cent for GL 15-17”. Olaleye also said the consequential adjustment is supposed to be negotiated openly in the spirit of collective bargaining. He said, “As it stands now, we may be forced to go to the trenches.”

The president’s directive to commence payment for only some workers was an anti-climax and it left many workers disappointed. While his order may have fulfilled the letter of the law, it definitely violated the spirit of the minimum wage law. This issue has dragged on for far too long, from the period when Labour began agitating for a review to the signing of the bill by the president. Instead of five years after which a salary review should be done, the last time there was an increment in salaries was in 2011. There is really no reason why, three months after signing the bill, it is yet to be implemented.

Officers earning above N30,000 also deserve quick implementation because they were also affected by inflation and depreciation of the Naira.

Both parties should return to the negotiation table and we should have a comprehensive salary table for all grades of workers very soon.

FisifunKododada:


Omoluabi keep keeping on...God bless you. God bless Nigeria

By Agabus Pwanagba



Despite the suspension of the planned implementation of the Federal Government’s Ruga Settlement Policy by President Muhammadu Buhari, a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bitrus Kaze, said its suspension has left Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, who has been in the forefront of championing the course “in public disgrace.”

Kaze, who is a stanch critic of unpopular government policies not only in his native Plateau State, but the country at large, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with DAILYPOST in Jos, the State capital.

He said, “In the first place, I have said that the federal government pretends that it wants to end the crises between herdsmen and farmers but unfortunately, all its multiple policies were pro-herdsmen.

“Remember the military under Buratai started something like the army ranching business and appointed a Brigadier-General as the General Manager.

“Shortly after that, we started hearing of cattle colony, ranching, but after that the name fizzled out and we started hearing of Ruga.


According to Kaze, who represented Jos South/Jos East Constituency in the 6th and 7th National Assembly, said, “Our quarrel with this is that the crises between farmers and herdsmen are crises between two equal stakeholders and citizens of the federal Republic of Nigeria, then what informed the federal government taking a position in favour of one against the other. Government should be a father to all and unbiased.”

Speaking on the plans to implement either the ranching or Ruga policy in Plateau State by the Governor Simon Lalong-led administration, the former legislator said, “Over the years, I have observed that one of the greatest undoing of our Governor is what he says. These are things I will call the ‘Lalong gaffes.’

“There was a time he said he gave appointment to Hausa people and there was peace; unknown to him; that was an indictment to the Hausa people.

“On this Ruga issue, Governor Lalong had even started drumming support for it and called opponents of it mischief makers, while he was drumming support for the policy, President Buhari suspended the policy. To me, he left Governor Lalong in public disgrace, even the President himself had felt the pressure and I can tell you that the Governor would have felt much more pressure because we know that in our constitution, the Land Use Act says that Governor Lalong holds the land of Plateau State in trust and the reaction against Ruga policy in Plateau State would be spontaneous.

“I’m sure you saw during the Ruga issue, that the Police had started issuing statements against public demonstration because government suspected that the people would react.

“This wouldn’t be the first reaction, you would recall that there had been several demonstrations against unpopular government policies, Plateau people have been forced to be accustomed to public protest to unpopular government policy.

He further explained that, “It wouldn’t need anybody to organize, to sponsor, to mobilize because there is widespread antagonism against the Ruga programme in Plateau; the people have rejected it at the State level, at the federal level, it has been suspended.

“Governor Lalong and everyone who has started drumming support for it on the Plateau are left in shame”, he maintained.

“But if Governor Lalong insists on implementing the Ruga policy, I can assure you that we will do everything within our power to mobilize public opinion against it, and not only Ruga but any unpopular policy in the State.

“I can tell you that the people of Plateau would not accept, if he wants to test the waters; I believe like the people reacted previously, he will see even much more. I will suggest that he should yield to the people’s opinion and tow the path of the people as far as the Ruga policy is concerned.

“Some people have said that he should take it to Ajikamai, his village or Shendam, his local government but I say no, Ajikamai and Shendam are parts of Plateau, he should not take it to any part of Plateau.

“The point is simple; Plateau people are not interested in Ruga, if the Governor wants to serve the interest of the people, why is he asking for cattle colony not pig or dog colony which are also legitimate businesses that Plateau people are involved in? He asked.

“What is his crave in pacifying the herdsmen and not his people on the Plateau?” He further asked.

“Be it Ruga, ranching or cattle colony, it is one and the same thing; all of them are pro-herdsmen and aimed at ‘Fulanization’ of the country.

On claims that Governor Lalong said some parcels of land had been gazetted for ranching in Kanam and Wase local government areas, among other places and that there is a budgetary provision of N250 million, the former lawmaker said, “Even if government is providing justification, there had been no time at all that government has subjected this budgetary provision or allocation to public opinion via public hearing in the State Assembly to ask from the Plateau people if this is their wish.

“Wherever he wants to site it in the State; let it be tested in public domain and let it be seen that it is the people that say take this land not government using the force of law like gazetting and budgetary allocation and taking over any land, and shutting out anyone who is opposing it.”

American multinational company, Stericycle Inc., recently hoisted the Nigerian flag in honour of a hardworking new employee, Mrs Omolanke Shelle.

Thirty eight years old Shelle, an indigene of Ekiti, western Nigeria, works at the company’s facility in Aurora, Illinois, where the Green-White-Green was raised in April.

This came barely a month after Stericycle gave the mother of three full-time job on March 17, following the expiration of a temporary employment that lasted for about five months.

Her supervisor, Mr John Katchka, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Shelle was honoured on account of her “attitude, work ethic, ability to learn and team spirit’’.

“Ms Shelle came to us via a temporary employment agency during our busy season’’, said in a written response to NAN’s enquiry.

“We were impressed by her attitude, work ethic, ability to learn and team spirit. When her (temporary) assignment ended, we offered her full-time employment, which she accepted,’’ he stated.

A short video of the flag raising ceremony has been circulating on social media, and has caught the attention of Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.

On July 9, Dabiri-Erewa retweeted the video posted by a broadcast journalist, AbdulRasheed Abubakar, with the comment: “Big congrats. #Proudly Nigerian’’.

By Christian Chime, Onitsha



The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has admitted that its candidate’s name was never published ahead this year’s election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Njikoka/Anaocha/Dunukofia Federal Constituency seat of Anambra State.

This clarification was made before the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal One, sitting in Awka, by Ntiham Niam, a top administrative officer at the PDP headquarters, while giving evidence as a defence witness in a petition by the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Dozie Nwankwo, during cross-examination by the lead prosecution Counsel, Dr. Kayode Fatoke.

Nwankwo is challenging the declaration of PDP’s Valentine Ayika as winner of the poll, instead of himself, by insisting that Ayika was never a candidate of any political party.

Ayika, in his evidence-in-chief, while reading out the copy of PDP National Assembly Primaries Appeal Panel’s report, stated that the primary contest was won fair and square by Dr. Richard Egenti for the constituency, not himself.

The panel report read that at the end of the primary election when the committee that organised and supervised it had concluded counting and recording proceedings and was about to announce Egenti as winner, “Ayika connived with the Returning Officer and ran away with the result.”

Ayika told the tribunal that he was aware that Egenti went to court over the matter and that the PDP appeal panel recommended that Egenti’s name be restored and forwarded to INEC, but that was curiously not done; hence several lawsuits up to Supreme Court.

Ayika admitted that his name was not listed in the Supreme Court judgment, which he has been laying claim to, because he was not joined in the suit.

While being cross-examined by the INEC lawyer, E.E. Udeh, who earlier claimed his name was published by INEC as a candidate, Ayika admitted that he got to know his name wasn’t in the list used for the election only on the actual day of the election.

There was also a mild drama when the visibly incensed Ayika looked at a copy of a document (receipt) he earlier tendered and vehemently denied its origin and genuineness. This got both the prosecution and defence Counsel tensed up, as the court became charged. It took the intervention of the chairman of the tribunal to calm him down before he looked at the document again and acknowledged it to be his receipt, blaming poor eyesight for the initial denial.

With the conclusion of presentation of witnesses with Ayika as star defence witness, the proceedings wounded up.

The respondent was given up to July 25 to file final defence address, while the prosecution was given till August 1 to respond.

Adoption/argument of final addresses was fixed for August 3.

The remaining 10 Nigerian National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) are to be privatised this year by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) as part of efforts by the Federal Government to boost power supply for Nigeria’s industrial expansion vision.

Also slated for privatisation is the Nigerian Government-owned Satellite Communications company, NigComSat, to make it more competitive.

Already, a committee to prepare the NIPPs privatisation transaction has been put in place with the target of the completion of the task billed for this year, while handover of the NIPPs to the successful investors is projected for the first quarter of next year.

Director-General of the BPE, Mr. Alex.O Okoh, revealed the government’s plan yesterday in Abuja at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an infrastructure credit enhancement firm, InfraCredit, for the guarantee of a longer tenor credit of up to 15 years for prospective investors in the NIPPs.

The aim is to de-risk the power sector investment and attract competent investors to avoid the pitfalls of the power sector privatisation bedevilled by epileptic service delivery arising from short tenor financing.

According to Okoh, InfraCredit has committed to guarantee as much as N300 billion of financing for the power divestment transaction to investors and believes the development will boost the much needed sound corporate governance culture that would ensure investible resources and create sustainable value for the economy.

“In this regard, InfraCredit intends to partner with the Bureau to de-risk the financial environment, especially with regards to power sector investments. They have a target of achieving N300 billion worth of investments deals within three years,” Okoh revealed.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Managing Director of InfraCredit, Mr. Chinua Azubike expressed his firm’s delight to be associated with de-risking Nigeria’s financial sector, aimed at assisting it to perform its mandate in Nigeria.

Azubike said his firm, a triple ‘A’ rated guaranteed company, is owned by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Agency (NSIA) and equally backed by GuarantCo, a private infrastructure development Group; KfW Development Bank and the African Finance Corporation.

According to him, InfraCredit has already played a major role in guaranteeing credit for investment with the pension funds in Nigeria among other interventions.

It could be recalled that the NIPPs project was conceived in 2004 under the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo. It was formed to address the issues of insufficient electric power generation and excessive gas flaring from oil exploration in the Niger Delta region. Seven power plants were designed in gas-producing states as part of the project.

Planned power plants included Ihovbor Power Station Benin, Edo State with the capacity of 4 x 112.5 MW (ISO 126 MW); Calabar Power Station, Cross River State with the capacity of 5 x 112.5112.5 MW (ISO 126 MW); Egbema Power Station, Imo State with the capacity of 3 x 112.5 MW (ISO 126 MW); Gbarain Power Station, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State with the capacity of 2 x 112.5 MW (ISO 126 MW); Sapele Power Station, Delta State with the capacity of 4 x 112.5 MW (ISO 126 MW); Omoku Power Station, Rivers State with the capacity of 2 x 112.5 MW (ISO 126 MW); and Ikot Abasi Power Station, Akwa Ibom, with the capacity of 2 x 112.5 MW (ISO 126 MW) (replaced later by Ibom Power Station).

Together, the projects generated contracts worth $414,000,000 for the supply of turbines and electricity generation equipment to General Electric (GE). The primary turbine is GE 9E gas turbine with a nominal ISO rating of 126MW. After adjusting for site conditions, the capacity was set to 112.5 MW. The plants are low efficiency simple cycle but have provision for future extension to combined cycle
administration changes in 2007 interrupted funding for more than two years.

The NIPP projects includes 11 power plants and 4 FGN Power Stations: Alaoji Power Station, Abia State, combined cycle plant with the capacity of 4 x 112.5 MW (ISO 125 MW) and 2x steam 255 MW;
Omotosho II Power Station, Ondo State, with the capacity of 4 x 112.5 (ISO 125 MW); Olorunsogo II Power Station, Ogun State, combined cycle plant with the capacity of 4 x 125 MW and 2 x steam 125 MW; and Geregu II Power Station, Kogi State, with the capacity of 434 MW.

Following the Afam V and Geregu I plants, Geregu II is now the third gas-turbine power plant to be constructed by Siemens in Nigeria as a turnkey project and completed on schedule. The scope of delivery supplied by Siemens for Geregu II included three SGT5-2000E gas turbines, three SGen5-100A generators, as well as all the electrical systems and the SPPA-T3000 control system.

The Ikot Abasi NIPP power plant has been replaced by Ibom Power, which is a 190 MW project of the Akwa Ibom State Government. The revised project involves large-scale transmission projects across all of Nigeria, which are crucial to ensure power distribution from generation plants to final customers.

A recent study has revealed that kissing could be a possible reason behind gonorrhoea – the most antibiotic-resistant of all the sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

This is the findings of a new study published in the journal ‘The Lancet’.

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae or gonococcus. It used to be known as “the clap”. The bacteria are mainly found in discharge from the penis and in vaginal fluid.

Gonorrhoea is easily passed between people through: unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex.

The new study indicated that a significant and previously unrecognised route of transmission of the bacterial infection was kissing.

In a report issued on June 6, 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said more than one million people catch a sexually transmitted disease (STD), or STI, every day across the globe, with chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis and syphilis of greatest concern.

“On average, approximately one in 25 people globally have at least one of these STIs,” the world body said.

On the current study, Monash University’s Professor Kit Fairley, argued that the global sexual health community “needs to recognise that gonorrhoea is on the rise and that there should be an increased awareness of the risks of kissing as a route of transmission.”

Fairley is Director of the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Professor of Public Health at Monash University.

To this end, he said: “Understanding how it is transmitted is the key to understanding how to control it – if transmission by kissing is a key route of transmission, then, it is important to investigate new methods of control, such as antibacterial mouthwash.”

The study included more than 3,600 men who have sex with men over a 12-month period from March 2016.

By mapping those who only kissed partners, compared to having sex with partners, the researchers were able to determine that the transmission of the disease was high in people who kiss only, and was higher in those who have sex with kissing compared to those who have sex without kissing.

Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja



As the country continues to face security challenges, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday reiterated his commitment to a safe Nigeria.

He gave the assurance while meeting members of Muhammadu Buhari/Osinbajo (MBO) Dynamic Support Group led by the National Coordinator, Usman Ibrahim, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Buhari said the aim was to have a Nigeria where families will be safe and children having opportunities for comfortable lives.

“As leaders in your various communities, I urge you all to take the message back to your communities. It is not about politics, religion or tribe. It is about having a Nigeria where our families will be safe and our children will have plenty opportunities to earn a living and live comfortable lives,” he said.

Thanking the group for the hard work and dedication during the 2019 campaign, he said that his administration was committed to delivering on its mandate.

He said: “Our vision for CHANGE is to have a safe and secure country for our citizens – a vibrant and inclusive economy that provides jobs and livelihoods for our young and energetic population. And of course, a governance system that is free of corruption – a system where any Nigerian has the same opportunity as the next one.”

Buhari who assured the group that he would study their demands, described Nigeria’s constitution as the fairest document where a state like Bayelsa with eight local government areas and Kano with 44 local government areas have the same number of senators (three each) representing their people.

“The constitution facilitate one thing, that is there must be a member of the executive council from each state of the federation. Why I praise the authors of our constitution is that Bayelsa with eight local governments has three senators and Kano with 44 has three senators. So, you can’t be fairer than that in the context of one Nigeria.

“Please try to understand that I appreciate you; you are doing a thankless job for which nobody is paying you. You use your resources and time to come together and discuss national resources. I pray God will help us to keep this country strong economically and morally.”

Ibrahim in his remarks earlier, described Buhari’s victory in the 2019 election as no handout but a reward of the president’s painstaking commitment he made with Nigerians.

He emphasised that the victory was achieved through the sacrifices of many Nigerians including those who paid the supreme sacrifice and others who sustained permanent disability.

Ibrahim said some members of MBO were attacked in FCT and they narrowly escaped death when one of their businesses were smashed; they lost the Kwara coordinator and the Bayelsa State woman leader, while Ogun, Abia, Bayelsa states coordinators were yet to recover from the beating they received during the elections.

He reminded the president that the group embarked on a cashless campaign but were never deterred as they ensured their members were fully on the ground.

Ibrahim said the group had developed citizen-government information flow that would help the government scaled its policies from the bottom-up approach while the citizens have a sense of belonging that will further generate wider participating governance.

The group suggested a next level summit that would address various challenges and prospect in the country.

The group also pledged its readiness to become an asset to Buhari’s administration, noting that it had qualified professionals that have excelled in various fields of endeavours that would impact the next level administration positively.

“We therefore request that you give consideration to this noble men and women; we promise that we will never let you down.”

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor



Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, on Friday attacked his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, describing it as a party dominated by ungrateful and sadistic elements.

The former minister said also that the PDP is a party that kills the spirit of loyalty, love and commitment of members, who dedicate themselves to its cause.

Orubebe, who is well remembered for openly confronting INEC’s declaration of Buhari as winner of the 2015 over Goodluck Jonathan, said that the PDP was doing sadistic things at the local government, state and national levels and that the behaviour of the party was hurting.

Orubebe, who made the damning remarks in a chat with Vanguard, said he would soon expose those behind the ominous acts in the party.

According to the former minister, the behaviour of some of the party bigwigs is also laughable and funny to him.

The former minister said: The Peoples Democratic Party is a party of so many ungrateful and sadistic people, and sometimes it sounds funny when I see and hear some of them talk on the television, radio and in the newspaper.

“One day we shall come out to call names with facts and history. It is a party that kills the spirit of loyalty, love and commitment,” he said.

Uche Usim, Abuja


The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Thursday expressed its readiness to maintain the supply of 10 per cent of India’s crude oil demand in the face of competing demand for the product from other countries.

The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mele Kyari made the disclosure during a visit by the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Abhay Thakur.

The GMD stated that Nigeria, through the Corporation, would continue to support India’s energy security, adding that the recent Memorandum of Understanding in the area of energy between Nigeria and India would be consummated to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Mallam Kyari stated that NNPC was desirous of growing the energy cooperation with India and that it was time to progress from just talking to walking the talk.

He said India was a very important market and that NNPC would ensure that the current volume of crude oil supply from Nigeria to India is secured for the collective interest of both countries.

“We are ready to have a robust engagement with the Indian trade team to provide a win-win energy scenario between us. Every trade opportunity that is available will be fully explored,” Mallam Kyari posited.

He averred that there were lots of untapped investment opportunities in the nation’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and expressed the willingness of NNPC to aggressively improve LPG infrastructure and consumption in the country.

Earlier, the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Abhay Thakur, thanked the management of the corporation for the recent renewal of the crude oil term contracts for three Indian companies and sued for increment in the crude oil supply in view of the increasing energy needs of India.

He disclosed that India was ready to provide credit line mechanisms and expertise to help NNPC revamp its massive infrastructure across the country.

“India is prepared to offer Nigeria and particularly the NNPC a credit line mechanism to help her in the areas of refinery maintenance, construction, security, surveillance and anything possible. Our expertise in Information Technology (IT) is available as well. We are ready to cooperate with NNPC to boost our bilateral relations,” Thakur asserted.

The Indian High Commissioner also congratulated Mallam Kyari on his appointment as the Group Managing Director of NNPC, noting that the confidence placed in him was well considered for national interest.

Immediate past governor of Oyo State Abiola Ajimobi has revealed his focus is on retrieving his senatorial mandate in the court as against pursuing ministerial appointment.
He stressed serving at the Senate is his personal preference.

The former governor denied he rejected ministerial appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he was not offered the appointment in the first place.
He made the disclosures in a telephone chat with The Nation on Thursday.

Reports went round on digital media on Wednesday he rejected a ministerial appointment offered him by the president.
The report added that Ajimobi said the appointment should go to a younger member of the party.

But the former governor told The Nation that it is impossible to reject what is not offered.

He said he only expressed his personal choice for the Senate, stressing it was the reason he was committed to the petition his party filed against Sen. Kola Balogun at the tribunal.

The latter was declared the winner of the Oyo South Senatorial District election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The elected senator is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while Ajimobi is of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ajimobi however affirmed the ministerial appointment should go to a younger member of the party in Oyo State since he is not the only APC member in the state.

He said: “I am in court for my senatorial election. I only expressed my preference, that I am in court because I prefer the Senate.

“How can I be pursuing the Senate and ministerial appointment at the same time? I prefer the Senate.

“I hold President Muhammadu Buhari in high esteem. I will actually prefer a younger person to be considered for the ministerial slot since I am pursuing my senatorial ambition.”

He said those behind the misleading report wanted to cause disaffection between him and President Buhari whom he has a lot of respect for.

“I don’t know the source of their report. They just want to set me against Mr President and it won’t work,” Ajimobi said.

Job Osazuwa



A media executive and former Commissioner for Information in Ogun State, Mr. Niran Malaolu and the management of Trinity International College, Ofada, also in Ogun State, are at daggers’ drawn following the expulsion of Malaolu’s daughter from the school.

A Senior Secondary (SS3) student, Oluwademilade Malaolu was expelled from the school over alleged gross misconduct, bullying of fellow students and use of contraband item in the college. And the student was also accused of recording students undergoing punishment and posting same online.

But the father of the girl said there were many questions that were yet to be answered in the allegations against his daughter. He said no one has been able to provide the link to the purported video. Also, he said no student has so far come to validate the physical injuries inflicted on her, as raised by the school management. Therefore, he said such expulsion must be reversed and Oluwademilade should be allowed to attend her graduation.

But the Board Chairman of the college, Pastor S. O. Olatunji, told the reporter on the telephone that Malaolu was only shying away from the truth. He said the management and board of the school would not take such decision in a hasty manner but only after thorough investigations, which went through four phases.

Insisting that there was nothing anyone could do about the expulsion, which he said was in line with the code and conduct of the college, he advised the aggrieved parent to go to court if he is not satisfied with the decision of the school rather than seeking public sympathy.

He expressed disappointment over Malaolu’s reaction to the punishment meted out to the alleged erring student. He said the same law applies to every student in the school.

As gathered, trouble started on June 30, 2019, when Mr. Malaolu got a text message from the school asking him, as a matter of urgency, to see the college administrator in her office immediately after the Parents Teachers Association’s (PTA) meeting.

Malaolu said he and his wife were alarmed by the message, especially as they were not in Nigeria at that moment. He said they started making frantic efforts to call the necessary people to ascertain what the exact problem was.

He said he finally got across to the Principal, Senior School (PSS), Mrs. O. R. Adeyemo the following morning, noting that she thereafter broke the news to him that his daughter had done something that is capable of dragging the name of the school in the mud.

In a letter he wrote to Pastor Olatunji, the distraught father said: “The PSS told me that ‘Oluwademilade lost her hand-fan and after lights-out at 12.00 midnight, then she packed all the SS1 students out of their hostel, lined them out on the lawn and punished them for hours.’

“I was alarmed. And I said why would she do that when she’s not their teacher or housemother. I apologised for her misdemeanour and reiterated the fact that we weren’t in the country. She said the issue had thrown the whole college into commotion, as it disrupted the PTA meeting, with some aggrieved parents threatening to take the school to court. She restated the need for me to see the college administrator urgently. I told her I would quickly begin to look for a flight immediately. We got a flight to Accra on Thursday, July 4, from where we then flew to Lagos. Our physical and emotional state is better imagined than narrated.”

He narrated that he and his wife went straight to the school upon arriving in Lagos. “The PSS then said ‘that Oluwademilade tortured the SS1 students, inflicted bodily injuries on them and then videoed them nude and posted the video online. She opened her safe and brought out the phone (exhibit) with which Oluwademilade purportedly committed the act. I almost collapsed on my seat. I was shaken to the bone marrow with guilt and sorrow.

“Thereafter, the PSS took us to the college administrator who repeated the same story. We felt so ashamed that my wife burst into tears, right there in the college administrator’s office. But we were comforted when the college administrator said that Oluwademilade had been made to realise her error via punishment by isolation since Sunday, June 30. She had apologised to the concerned students at the assembly, we were told, and that the punishment was not meant to destroy her but to correct her.

“The PSS added that the whole incident has had an impact on Oluwademilade as, for the first time, she has seen Oluwademilade broken. While we apologised profusely, the college administrator told us that there would be further consequences: that Oluwademilade would not be allowed to attend the graduation, and that she would also be expelled from the college.

“We were dazed, but we took the ‘decree’ with spiritual equanimity. We requested to see her, but we were not obliged as we were told to return the next day, July 5. We felt deflated and disappointed. We were angry with our own daughter. Why won’t we? The case against her was well-marshalled and carefully presented that any judge, no matter how benevolent, would immediately order her summary execution.

“Again, we had another ‘night of the long knife.’ I had to be sedated, as I couldn’t sleep. However, we returned to the college on July 5, and the PSS took us to the college administrator. There, we were given the letter of expulsion. Afterwards, we picked her up and drove her home.

However, we noticed that she had lost weight and had been drained emotionally. Who would not be? As we didn’t want to aggravate things, we deferred asking for her side of the story till the following day.

“We resumed calling the parents of the complainant-students to tender our heartfelt apology. We spoke to many of the parents and it was then that we found out the gross inconsistencies in the stories we have been fed all along.

“On July 6, I asked Oluwademilade for her side of the story. Her version corroborated the stories of the parents of the complainant-students. I asked her if she inflicted bodily harm on the students, videoed them nude and posted same online. She denied doing all that vehemently. It was at that point that my daughter tumbled over. She started gasping for breath. And we had to rush her to the hospital.”

He said it was shameful to him that his daughter took part in such an act and described it as condemnable, but Malaolu argued that the allegation has conveniently buried the notion of cause and effect, as key aspect in behavioural analysis.

He stated: “The allegation insinuates that my daughter just woke up, like a sadist unfit for human habitation, and marched a group of 29 students to Golgotha. Why the causality of the incident was buried baffles me. The truth is that Esther Ajuwa came to my daughter searching for her hand-fan. The colour of Esther’s hand-fan is green while Oluwademilade’s is white. She (Esther) claimed that the missing hand-fan, which was borrowed from a JS1 student, was stolen. Oluwademilade followed her in search of the stolen hand-fan. The said hand-fan was found in the locker of a certain SS1 student in Room 9. Why the investigations conveniently overlooked that fact is mind-boggling.”

On the nude video that was posted online, he said: “The phone with my daughter has no SIM card and is incapable of posting anything online. Besides, every equipment capable of posting materials online have identifiable IP address. Such IP addresses are traceable with location, date and time. The investigators probably misled the college administrator as they did the entire board.”

But the board chairman said apart from other processes of the investigations, almost all the victims as well as Oluwademilade, have written separate statements to validate the act.

But Malaolu faulted the claim. He said: “The investigators probably forgot to disclose that they made Oluwademilade to write her statement four separate times as they kept coming back dictating to her what to write and how to write it. They probably forgot that a statement gotten by coercion is a nullity before the law.

“I have spoken to some of the parents of the complainant-students, including the parent that raised the issue at the meeting. I asked them if their wards had any bodily injuries. They all answered in the negative. I asked if they had seen the ‘nude’ video of their children online and on which website. They all answered in the negative. Also, neither my wife nor I have been shown the video and the online site where the so-called evidence was posted. I wonder if the Board members have seen these ‘magical videos’ too? Therefore, if these clandestine and elusive videos are the evidence upon which Oluwademilade had suffered unimaginable mental, physical and psychological torture, including isolation like a prisoner, then, it is obvious that there’s a sinister motive at play.

“I know that Demilade is outspoken and I understand that that ‘attribute’ has made her a target of some of your officials. Sir, I am also not unaware that every incident in the college that involved her, no matter how insignificant, has ended in serious tongue-lashing or dressing down. On such occasions, she had been called ‘a failure,’ ‘a fool,’ ‘someone without morals,’ ‘someone who has no Jesus in her,’ ‘someone whose marriage will fail,’ ‘someone without home training’, among others.

“When a child is bombarded with such negative vibes in a particular environment, it is understandable that such a child, as parenting experts and child psychologists have posited, would also react to that loveless and hateful milieu. Sir, I want to believe that there are records of your staff meetings. If you interrogate such records, you would begin to understand how Oluwademilade had been a target with unending threats to de-badge her.”

Malaolu said since his daughter has written a letter of apology for each of the students; apologised before the whole school; to the school management; and taken round by the same parent who raised the issue at the PTA meeting to beg the other parents and the teachers, the expulsion was too harsh on her.

He, therefore, appealed to the management of the school, to reverse the expulsion and allow Oluwademilade to attend her graduation.

Also speaking with the reporter, the college administrator, Mrs Titi Akintemi said going to this level even when the aggrieved father knew the truth was least expected of him. She said Malaolu was out to rubbish the reputation of the college.

She said apart from Oluwademilade, another student was expelled over the same issue, revealing that the latter’s parents took it in good faith.

“This thing has been established because we set up a disciplinary committee to look into it. I don’t know why he is running to the press,” she said.

With the targeted airstrike at a migrants’ camp in Libya, it is clear the migrant crises is taking a new dimension. A good number of the victims are Nigerians but before that, Nigerian migrants trying to reach Europe have for long been falling victims to organ harvesting as our correspondent reports.

As at June 20, 2019, no fewer than 14,036 Nigerians stranded in 10 countries have been repatriated, according to figures by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Over 12,000 of the returnees came from Libya, the restive North African country.

The repatriation, started in April 2017, was facilitated by a joint initiative of the European Union (EU) and International Organization for Migration (IOM). Many Nigerians use Libya and other countries along the Sahara Desert as a transit route to Europe.

Despite the daily repatriation, thousands of Nigerians are still stranded in the war-torn country, hoping to make the crossing to Europe.

Another report says in 2016, 602,000 Nigerians attempted to migrate to Europe. In the same year, Nigerians formed about 21 percent of the total 181,000 migrants who crossed the Mediterranean Sea to Italy.
In several failed attempts, many Nigerians are held in various detention facilities in Libya. Even for those who succeeded most of them were bundled to prison by Italian authorities, at least 70,000 of these are women in detention camps.

Stemming the tide has never been easy and people from the private sector, civil society, public sector, development agencies, and the religious community convened an international conference to deliberate and proffer solutions to the challenges.

Tagged, “International Action on Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons Conference”, the forum held in Abuja drew participants from international and local agencies working on human trafficking and irregular migration. It was organised by the Nigerian Young Professionals’ Forum (NYPF).

The forum provided an avenue for all participants to brainstorm on the scary stories from Libya, the actors involved, the geographical spread.

Chairman, Ocean Marine Solutions, Captain Hosa Okunbor, who chaired the occasion, said the problem has become embarrassing, insisting it is saddening that Nigerians embark on deadly voyages to “fairy tale” destinations without minding the huge risks involved.

Chairman, NYPF, Mr. Moses Siasia, narrated how he first came across the idea of organizing a conference like that.

“I took an UBER to an embassy and was discussing on the phone. On our way, the taxi driver told me that he is a graduate who wants to travel to America,” he said. “He claimed to have saved N1.5 million, pleading that I should assist him with N1million.

I advised him against travelling, but he insisted, saying he would earn $1000 monthly as an UBER driver in the US,” Siasia said.

He lamented that stories like that are not uncommon and a good number of them are being trafficked for sexual exploitation and organ harvesting.

“Most of the youths are between 18 and 25. They embark on these trips without knowing the dangers ahead. They are deceived and in the process, their organs are harvested. Some organs are sold for as high as N250,000. For instance, one harvested heart sells for N250,000,” he added.

Deputy Head of EU Delegation in Nigeria, Mr. Richard Young called for a concerted and urgent measure from Nigeria to arrest the alarming situation.

“One in every 10 illegal immigrants who entered Europe between 2015 and 2016 was a Nigerian. 20,532 persons entered Europe illegally in those years. 2,084 were Nigerians, representing 10 percent. There is a reduction in the figures of victims since 2016 but we have to be tough on the crime. There are the good, bad and ugly sides of migration. We have to promote the good, eliminate the bad and the ugly. This is a problem Nigeria needs to fight,” he said.

Director General of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Juli Okah-Donli, whose agency has had to grapple with the huge challenges, said many young Nigerians have fallen victims of drug traffickers.

Represented by the Head of Public Enlightenment of the agency, the DG disclosed that unlike in the recent past when Edo State was the source of most trafficked persons, Oyo and Osun states are now leading in trafficked persons.

He also mentioned that the number one destination for traffickers has also changed.

“Mali, which the traffickers named Maliasia, is now the number one destination for those trafficked into prostitution. Some of them, who we rescued, said they were paid an equivalent of N140 for a round of sex and they would have to be doing that until they realised the equivalent of N2 million to secure their freedom. Some of them were trafficked when they were 13,” he said.
He adds that some Nigerian migrants sell their ovaries to fertility clinics for N140,000.

Every December, the agency organises voluntary return for trafficked victims.

Ironically, some of the returnees only come back to recruit young women and men for the prostitution rackets or organ harvesters.

“NAPTIP has arrested 5,923 suspected human traffickers and rescued 13,950 victims in its 15 years of Existence,” the DG said.

Rev. Sr. Monica Chikwe, who is of the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy and Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation (RENATE), also shared many heart-wrenching first-hand experiences with traffickers, their victims, and Italian farm owners, who exploit migrants.

The Italy-based nun said: “My job involves travelling around the world and most times, I feel ashamed hearing at conferences that Nigerians are most of the victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Europe.

“The girls practice their prostitution on the roads and bushes along the roads. You will feel bad seeing these semi-naked girls standing on the highways as they market their bodies.”

“Many people talk about the victims and hardly talk about what makes the trade to flourish. The demand is driving the supply. That is why the trade is flourishing and the traffickers are becoming daring. I had once asked at a conference if Nigerians or other Africans are the ones patronising the Nigerian prostitutes in Europe. The patronage comes from those countries, not African countries,” she said.

Dr. Ahmed Adamu of the Nile University, who is a former Chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Council, advocated for a repackaged educational curriculum that focuses on building mental energy.
“Nigeria has not moved with time. This is the time for the type of education that would equip the youths with mental tools to solve problems beyond what was learned in the classrooms,” he submitted.

On his part, the head of NYPF, Siasia called for the creation of an enabling environment capable of making traveling abroad unattractive to young people.

“As the NYPF, we are seeing opportunities in the face of challenges. Collective responsibility is required to combat the problem because people would always move from one place to another,” he added.

Lagos is notorious for its traffic gridlock. There are so many cars on the roads from private cars, commercial buses (Danfo), taxis, the Keke NAPEP (tricycles) and motorcycles (Okada).

The traffic would have been more bearable but for the addition of impatient drivers and riders, impatient pedestrians. A combination of all these factors really makes the heavy Lagos traffic unbearable.

Sadly, a brief journey which shouldn’t last for long might end up taking you longer time to travel to and fro a destination within the city.

But one thing about traffic in Lagos is that it occurs especially at specific times of the day and it can be unpredictable.

So therefore, by observing the day-to-day flow of traffic, you can get to understand the best times to leave your location and get to your destination faster.


Here are few tips on how to survive the traffic in Lagos:


* Make sure to leave home early: This is how the traffic has defined the life of many Lagosians. The routine is leave early and arrive late to avoid and survive the gridlock.


* Always listen to traffic radio/programmes: The Lagos State Government on May 29, 2012 launched the Lagos Traffic Radio 96.1FM to give Lagosians situation report on traffic. It offers information on alternative routes and locations where the gridlock is worse. They work in conjunction with the Lagos State Road Maintenance Agency (LASMA) and it is a reliable platform to get traffic information.


* Always wind up your car windows: This is a safety tip to ward-off ‘snatch and run’ thieves. Traffic jams are the perfect cover for a lot of pickpockets who pretend to be beggars, or street hawkers.


* You don’t always need to drive: For those who have the luxury of BRT buses around where they reside, it is advisable that you take public transport as an option. You actually don’t have to drive every day of the week.


* Have an insight on when and where traffic builds up: It is very important to have a little knowledge of the times of day and week when traffic is at its peak this would go a long way.


* Monitor the traffic situation on social media: There are some Twitter handles that provide authentic traffic updates daily, follow them and monitor their tweets religiously. With these updates, you can map your routes.


* Shake your head to the melodious tune of your music player: When you’re stuck in traffic, staring in space while waiting for the line of vehicles in front of you move forward, you can occupy your mind with music while you wait. Great music will soothe you and reduce the mental stress you go through in traffic.

In case you are stuck in the traffic, just relax. You’ll get home sooner or later. Anxiety or impatience won’t clear the roads or accelerate the vehicle.