₦airaland Forum

Former governor of Lagos state and leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Ahmed Tinubu, said Sunday he was ready to face a truth he claimed many were afraid of: that President Goodluck Jonathan was behind the crisis rocking Rivers state House of Assembly.

“The PDP and the presidency were quick to disavow any involvement,” he said of the violence that erupted in that assembly last week. “However, we all know the truth but most are afraid to speak. I shall speak. There is no way the police and the small number of five lawmakers would act so brazenly unless they receive instructions for their high places.”

Despite denials from the presidency, many Nigerians have continued to place on President Jonathan, the responsibility for the crisis in Rivers state, where an attempt by five lawmakers to remove the speaker against the wishes of 27, resulted in a free-for-all on Wednesday.

While the 27 lawmakers back Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who is enmeshed in a prolonged faceoff with President Jonathan, the remaining five, led by Evans Bipi, a relative of First Lady, Patience Jonathan, are said to be in support of the president.

At least four lawmakers were injured in the violence that followed the impeachment attempt.

The presidency only issued a disclaimer days after as a swelling public opinion placed the responsibility for the incident on Mr. Jonathan and his wife.

Mr. Tinubu, a known critic of the president, said all indicators were clear for a safe conclusion that the president manipulated the events that day.

“Nigerians must ask, ‘Is this the way the President Jonathan intends to transform Nigeria? By turning it from an imperfect democracy into a perfect mess. A total lack of respect for constitutional democracy is what we are witnessing,’” he said.

“In what stable and functioning democracy can you find a President or his agents bully a governor this way or violate the federal constitution so openly with complete impunity?”

The former governor tasked other leaders to defend the Rivers state governor and deplored the alleged role of the police to stop the unrest.

“All this occurred under the watchful eye but idle hand of the police officers deployed to guard the chamber. We can say the police in Rivers became an accomplice to an illegal attack on the very government and constitution they pledged to uphold. This was a shameful moment but even worse it is a likely foretaste of the partisan role the police will take incoming elections,” he said.

“The PDP appears to have added public brawling to its list of accomplishments. The self-proclaimed largest party in Africa has turned into a fight club that employs the police as ushers for its matches.”

The ACN leader said the incident was hardly surprising as it was clear Mr. Amaechi had long been “marked” by the powers that be since his stance on the contentious border dispute between Bayelsa and Rivers state over oil wells.

“Discerning minds must locate the present crisis in the suspected injustice in the Bayelsa and Rivers State oil boundary legal battle,” he said.

“For standing up in defence of the interest of his people, Governor Amaechi became a marked person. The irreconcilable political differences between main actors in Rivers State soon magnified the crisis with heavy lifting from the presidency.”

The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State has said it is in total support of the suspension of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and accused him of already working with the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.

The party leaders, led by the state party chairman, Felix Obuah, had a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan and also apologised to the president for the governor’s actions, which they described as ‘shameful.’

The Obuah led leadership, opposed to Mr. Amaechi, is believed to be sponsored by the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, and the presidency. They were declared the authentic leadership after a court sacked the party leadership loyal to Mr. Amaechi.

Speaking to journalists after Thursday’s meeting, Mr. Obuah said, “W are pained and our heart bleeds today that the main champion of opposition in the country against Mr. President and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria is our own son, Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.”

“This is indeed shameful. We do not know what has come over the young man. Is it that he wants to destabilize the PDP before his eventual movement to his new party, having been handed over the ACN/APC structure in Rivers State?

“Unfortunately, he has repeatedly rebuffed every effort by us and well meaning Nigerians to make him show remorse and respect for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mr. President Sir, we sincerely apologize to you and the First Lady on this sad situation,” he added.

Mr. Obuah said residents of Rivers State were not in support of the actions of Mr. Amaechi against the president.

“We appeal that as the saying goes, ‘you do not visit the sin of the father on the son’ and implore your Excellency to remember us in prayers.

“To demonstrate that Rivers people are not with Governor Amaechi in this hostile attitude against Mr. President and our great party, we shall continue to support his suspension from the PDP by the National Working Committee until he retraces his steps from engaging in anti-party activities,” he said.

The party chairman said Mr. Amaechi was not only disrespecting the office of the president but is also attacking the Nigeria Police; stating that the governor’s grouse with the new Commissioner of Police in the State, Joseph Mbu, was because the new police boss refused to do what his predecessors did, which he described as “being used to terrorize innocent Rivers men and women including his perceived political opponents.”

Mr. Obuah described the new police commissioner as ‘God-sent’ saying he has refused to be used to “arrest and harass political opponents of Governor Amaechi and charging them to court on trumped-up charges.”

“It is for this reason that our Governor has been doing everything including instigating commission of crimes to ridicule and blackmail the Commissioner of Police.

“Governor Amaechi desperately wants Mr. Mbu out of Rivers State and has publicly threatened to lead a street protest in Port Harcourt with hired persons and non Nigerians. The idea of the protest we understand, is to further press for the removal of the patriotic and selfless Commissioner of Police in Rivers State,” he said.

The party chairman commended Mr. Wike, describing him as a source of inspiration “as well as many others in our struggle to restore our dignity and forge ahead as a winning party.”

He pledged the group’s support for the president, his transformation agenda as well as his polices adding that he can go to sleep with his two eyes closed “believing that at all times, we will massively support and stand with you, come rain come shine”.

Mr. Obuah said he assured the president that there was no crisis in the party and that “whoever that is not disciplined and who is not in support of our programme should be left out.”

“At every point in time, we let people realize that the party is supreme and the President is the leader of the party and we have come to show our commitment at loyalty to him”.

Mr. Amaechi was suspended from the PDP over what is believed to be his stance on major national issues which conflicts with that of Mr. Jonathan. He was suspended days after emerging as chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum by defeating the candidate supported by the PDP, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau.

The Police Affairs Minister, Caleb Olubolade said on Tuesday that to combat the recent challenges of insecurity, terrorism, and kidnapping in the country, the Nigeria Police is set to be professionalized.

Mr. Olubolade, who stated this while presenting the ministry’s scorecard in the last two years to the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja, also demanded for more funds to help the ministry carry out its plans to reposition the police.

The minister, a retired Navy Commodore, explained that his focus as a minister is to provide adequate and updated training for the police personnel.

“We have to look at the police intelligence gathering and training which is key to our focus in this administration. Police must be given enough equipment and be protected with bullet proof vests for them to carry out their assignments,” he said.

He also stated his ministry’s plan to “raise the bar” by recruiting into the police, degree holders especially those with backgrounds in the sciences.

“Fighting crimes is scientific and we must raise the bar. That is why we must raise the qualifications of those who are coming to direct the affairs of the force,” he said.

The minister said the Police Service Commission, PSC, will take advantage of the huge experience of its new Chairman, Mike Okiro, a former Inspector General of Police, in the management of the affairs of the force.

Mr. Olubolade also stated that police is looking towards strengthening “the concept of community policing” in order to tackle criminal activities at the grassroots.

He, however, ruled out the creation of state police, explaining that the force as presently constituted must be better trained and equipped before creating alternatives.

“We must make the present arrangement work first. I’m of the opinion that the present police must be trained, their welfare improved and equipments provided to them and this is the direction of my opinion now until we are assured that we are better and ready for the state police,” he said.

The minister disclosed to his hosts that 1000 Close Circuit Television (CCTV) have already been installed in Lagos and Abuja and are ready for commissioning by the president, Goodluck Jonathan. He added that the vice president, Namadi Sambo, had already inspected the cameras and confirmed they were working.

The National Chairman of the PDP, Bamanga Tukur, in his opening remarks urged Mr. Olubolade to take a look at the manifesto of the ruling party and ensure that its programs of security of lives and property are implemented. Mr. Tukur also asked the minister to encourage and provide logistics for community policing and also checkmate recruitment exercise in the police force “to avoid garbage in, garbage out.”

This is an excerpt of a brief interview with the acting Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Samson Shaibu (SS). He is still in office even though he, by civil service rules, should have retired after turning 60.

PREMIUM TIMES (PT): You are supposed to retire on June 22, yet you have approval from the Minister of Information to travel to Ireland to represent the country on July 22. Why is that the case?

SS: It is so because I have finished my retirement from service, but I am now acting DG, and that is political appointment. And the antecedents are these. The former DG who left before me was brought from retirement. Eddie Iroh was brought from retirement, and then Kevin Ejiofor was brought from retirement. Eddie Iroh was brought from retirement, and then Kevin Ejiofor was brought from retirement. The DG’s position is a political appointment. So, people are just being mischievous saying what they are saying. There are antecedents. But, my former career as a civil servant has expired. And I am acting DG, and there are antecedents. You know if you want to go emotional, the former man who finished before me was Hausa-Fulani. He was brought from retirement to serve as DG. Are there two rules in Nigeria – one for the minority and one for the Hausa-Fulani? There was an Igbo man, who was brought from retirement too (Kevin Ejiofor) and Eddie Iro. So, people are just talking about what they don’t understand.

For further information, the assignment I am going is funded by Chinese Government and not by Federal Government. So, people are just talking from half information.

PT: The recent fire incident in the studio at the corporation, how was it handled? Any report of the probe?

SS: The fire incident was teleguided by detractors who feel they should create a crisis situation for somebody they feel is not a team player. For your information, I am not a team player in corruption. I am acting DG for three months now, and if you ask the workforce, they would tell you there is an added difference. Within these three months, I have bought a bus for FRCN. Within these three months, 22 studios that were conduit pipes for corruption in FRCN have been resuscitated, and there is light there now. And if I have opportunity of meeting with you, I will give you a catalogue of achievements. This has not happened for the past 15 years. But, people who are corrupt in our system would not like to see the likes of me. For example, there are people being teleguided from the Legal Department and Admin who are beneficiaries of corruption in the system.

PT: There is an allegation that you don’t carry everyone along, particularly on issues of staff welfare?

SS: As a journalist, if you can please ask the workforce, through independent investigation, the people who ruled before me, who were carrying people along, what did they do? In these three months time of my tenureship, I have paid more T&B (travelling and basic tours allowance) than any other person in the last two years. Records are there for all to see.

PT: It is said that you employed over 125 people and ignored the people employed in 2012, yet there are no offices and tools for them to work with?

SS: That employment was done by the previous regime that I inherited. The former DG, Barrister Yusuf Nuhu is the one who employed people, and that employment, to be fair to him, I don’t want to condemn my predecessors, was a collective decision of management. I have not employed a single person since I came.

The former DG employed, I don’t know the specific figure. That is what I inherited. So, people are just peddling this. These are people who believe they must rule FRCN forever. And Nigeria is a country of six geo-political zones. I am saying this, not as a slight to any tribe, because I know that Nigeria is a partnership of six geo-political zones. Nigeria is not owned by Hausa-Fulani, neither is it owned by Igbo or Yoruba. It is owned by all Nigerians. There six geo-political zones in this country. The Hausa-Fulani has serially ruled FRCN, or ruined FRCN all these years. Thank you very much.

The Nigerian government appears set to scrap at least eight federal agencies, commissions, and parastatals out of about 220 recommended for abolition in the report of the Stephen Oronsaye-led Presidential Committee on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

As part of the rationalisation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Commission are to be merged into a single entity.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that a White Paper on the Orosanye-committee report was extensively discussed in at least three meetings of the Executive Council of the Federation, otherwise known as FEC.

As part of the deliberations on the report, a review committee on the draft White Paper, chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, approved that some agencies be either scrapped completely or merged with those performing similar functions.

PREMIUM TIMES findings reveal eight of those agencies.

The agencies to be scrapped completely include the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE); Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC); Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC); National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC); National Poverty Eradication programme (NAPEP); Utilities Charges Commission (UCC); the National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC) and the Public Complaints Commission (PCC).

Affected Agencies

Bureau of Public Enterprises

The BPE was established with the mandate of implementing the Nigerian government policy on privatization and commercialization and preparing public enterprises for privatization and commercialization.

The government has already “directed that a “Sunset Clause” should be introduced to the BPE to conclude its assignment and wound down,” according to the review committee’s conclusion.

This implies that the BPE would wind up once it concludes its assignment of privatization of public enterprises.

Fiscal Responsibility Commission

Another agency that has been recommended to be scrapped is the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, FRC, which was established to help monitor government financial activities and enthrone a regime of prudent, ethical and effective management of public monies and resources by the tiers of government.

Already, the Jonathan-headed review committee has directed the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, to initiate the necessary actions to give effect to the decision to abolish the FRC.

A third agency that could be scrapped is the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) established in 1977 to help minimize the bureaucratic bottlenecks and increase autonomy in dealing with members of the organised private sector to promote the export of Nigerian goods and commodities.

The fourth agency that may be scrapped is the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), which was established by Act 99 of 1993 charged with the responsibility of managing all issues pertaining to compensation and renumeration in the the public service.

National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), which the committee said might be scrapped, was conceived in 2001 by the Federal Government to help address poverty in the country and related issues, while the Utilities Charges Commission (UCC) was established to help evaluate trends in tariff charged to provide the government with information relating to the scheduled utilities and their tariff charges.

The other agencies that might be affected include National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC), which was established to serve as a vehicle for effective monitoring of the implementation of government’s national economic policies and programmes for the overall development of the country, while the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) was established to help bridge the gap between the elite and the down-trodden in the society.

Under the new arrangement, the NEPC will merge with the Nigerian Investment Promotions Commission (NIPC), which is currently domiciled in the Presidency, while the new organization will relocate to the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment for effective synergy and utilization of resources.

Similarly, the PCC is to merge with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC, which is currently performing the PCC functions, while the enabling Act establishing the PCC is to be removed from the Constitution of the Federal Republic through the amendment of sections 153 and 315.

The law establishing the NSIWC is to be repealed to give effect to the transfer of the agency to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), while the functions of NAPEP are to be merged with the National directorate of Employment (NDE).

Civil servants on the staff of the UCC, which is to be scrapped, have been directed to be redeployed to the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

On the other hand, parastatals, commissions and agencies the presidential review committee accepted should be retained include the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB); Council of States (COS); Federal Character Commission FCC); Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC); Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC); Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); National Defence Council (NDC); National Economic Council (NEC); National Judicial Council (NJC), National Population Commission (NPC); National Security Council (NSC); Nigeria Police Council (NPC) and the Police Service Commission PSC), whose law is to be amended to make the Minister of Police Affairs its head.

Other agencies and parastatals to be retained include Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP); the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT); Infrastructure Concessionary & Regulatory Commission (ICRC); National Pension Commission (PENCOM); Ministry of Special Duties; National Sports Commission (NSC); National Institute for Sports (NIS); Nigeria Football Federation /Nigeria Football Association (NFA), whose enabling law is to be amended to reflect the directive by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) that the organization should be named a federation.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is to be retained, but with a new structure to reflect a framework to cover critical areas of national socio-economic development that corps members should be deployed for their primary assignments, while the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre would focus on the promotion of moral values and ethical re-orientation among Nigerians.

The Council for Registered Engineers (COREN) and the Surveyors Registration Council (SRC) are to be retained, although they would henceforth not receive budgetary allocations from government from the 2015 fiscal year, while the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the Federal Highway department of the Federal Ministry of Works are to be transformed into an inter-ministerial department after the amendment of their enabling laws.

The Committee also approved the retention of the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGOF); National Boundaries Commission (NBC); Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) which is to be relocated to the Presidency; National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS); National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA); National Commission for refugees (NCR); Debt Management Office (DMO); Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), National Planning Commission (NPC); National Bureau of Statistics (NBS); Centre for Management Development (CMD); National Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

The committee also resolved to retain the Nigeria National Merit Award (NNMA); the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD); the National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (NACA); Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC); National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC); National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF); Service Compact with all Nigerians (SERVICOM), Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI); National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

The government had earlier announced that some unproductive research institutes would be scrapped while some others would be merged with relevant research units in universities.