₦airaland Forum

Former Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Prof Tam David-West, in this interview, speaks on the constitution review embarked on by the National Assembly and what should be done to make the process legal.

He also speaks on the demand for the adoption of 1963 Constitution and report of 2014 National Conference to restructure Nigeria, exclusion of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State from a delegation of Nigerian Governors’ Forum that visited President Muhammadu Buhari in London few days ago as well as proposed conduct of local government election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) among other sundry issues. Excerpts:

The National Assembly has embarked on amendment of some parts of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. Do you support the review of the constitution?

We have to go to the fundamentals. Constitution is not sacrosanct. Constitution can be reviewed, and that is why every constitution has provision on how to review it. In every constitution, the provision to alter the constitution is only very stringent. It is not a play thing. I am talking about democracy where there is written constitution.
Britain has no written constitution so it is not a democracy. But any democratic government or state that has a written constitution and the constitution is the fundamental document of the state, then the constitution is sacred, and it is the most important document of the state. In every country, there is democratic constitution. So, being a sacred fundamental document of the state, to alter it cannot just be like a play thing.
Every constitution gives very stringent conditions, so even if I accept that constitution can be changed with time, provisions can be changed with time, but even after saying that, I feel sorry for Nigeria.
American Constitution has been on for over 200 years, with very few constitutional changes. Here, we have got so many constitutions, so many changes. I participated in drafting the 1979 Constitution. Since the 1979 constitution was drafted, we have got about three changes of it. But as much as I say you can change it, you must follow the rule, you must follow the constitution. The 1999 Constitution is almost like 1979 Constitution, only few changes were made.

How to alter provisions of the constitution is clearly written there. So, whatever the senate is doing, to me right now, is just a proposal. They cannot, the senate cannot in Abuja alter the constitution. So, all that they are doing is nothing more than proposal to change. Even, if all the senators, all the House of Representatives members voted 100 per cent, they cannot change the constitution. It must follow the procedures in the constitution. Two-third majority must agree to the proposal before you make any change.
Then, two-third of the 36 state houses of assembly, two-third, which is 24 must also approve the amendment. When that is approved, then it goes back to the National Assembly. Then, they have an act that must be made into law, which the president will sign. I will like to believe that the senators read the constitution because as a lawmaker, you must have read your constitution. If a senator does not read the constitution, it’s like saying a Christian does not read the Bible or a Muslim does not read the Quran.

There are 33 parts of the 1999 Constitution that were marked for amendment, though majority of the sections scaled through while a few did not. But do you agree that the exercise is meant for the progress of Nigeria?

No, let’s get this clear. I’m not saying that some of the provisions they are making are not good. I’m not saying that at all, some of them I approve. I canvassed for some of them when we were drafting the 1979 Constitution. To say that they are good does not mean you should not follow the rule to do it. However, as good as it is, if it is 100 per cent good, and you don’t follow the legal way to change it, it is null and void. When my friend, Gani Fawehinmi was alive, he would have challenged what they have done ass illegal and I know that Femi Falana would do the same thing.
Good intention done in an illegal way is nullity. It does not mean anything. You must follow the right way. It’s like saying that a student is so super bright but you will give him degree without going through examinations.

But the National Assembly had met with Speakers of the 36 Houses of Assembly before starting the amendment process. Do you still hold the position that the lawmakers have not been following the rule of constitutional review?

I know that they have met. But meeting the speakers is not the same thing as a whole House of Assembly. The leadership of the National Assembly had met the speakers, but the Houses of Assembly could as well throw out the bills. So, it is immaterial whether the National Assembly has met with the Speakers or not.

So what do you suggest the National Assembly should do if they have good intention and those amendments would actually culminate into development for Nigeria?

They should follow the constitution. One of the things that the lawmakers proposed that I like is independent candidacy. When we were doing the 1979 Constitution, I was on the sub-committee of Aminu Kano, the 49 of us were broken into about eight sub-committees. I was on the sub-committee chaired by Aminu Kano, which also had eminent people like great Bola Ige on board.
In my proposal, I supported independent candidacy, but I lost.
Why did I support independent candidacy? I supported independent candidacy because an independent candidate will be voted for by the community based on his quality; he doesn’t have to have money. If the community feels that you are good, they will vote for you. So, the suggestion by the National Assembly for independent candidates is supported by me.
My reason for supporting independent candidacy is clear; you don’t have to have money to win election.

Even, President Muhammadu Buhari has shown that you don’t have to have money before you win an election. So, I support the National Assembly on independent candidacy. Then the other thing federal lawmakers suggested, which I don’t like, is that they said the president must be 35 years; you are trying to disqualify the other people. I don’t like that at all because that you are old as Methuselah does not mean you are as wise as Solomon. You can be as old as Methuselah but your brain can be dull as that of an elephant.

There are some very bright young men that have good intentions for this country, more than the adults. So, don’t fix it.

If the constitution says that you are adult enough to vote for somebody, you should also be adult enough to hold any office.

One of the bills passed by the National Assembly is the one that says deputy governors or vice president, in the event of the president or governor resigning or death, will have the opportunity to complete the tenure of his boss and will also have the opportunity to go for another four years if he wins. How would you appraise the bill?

That is not new, that is the normal practice. What amuses me is that most of the things they are suggesting are already in the 1979 constitution, most of those things are not new. This was what happened when former President, Umar Yar’Adua died. The vice president, Goodluck Jonathan, completed the tenure of the administration and contested in 2011 presidential election and he won.

The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) met in Ibadan recently, and issued a communique at the end of the meeting that Federal Government should adopt 1963 constitution and the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference to begin the process of restructuring the country, saying the 1999 Constitution as amended should be jettisoned. Do you support the demand?

Not at all. The people that met are great elders and I respect them. I don’t think they have read the 1963 Constitution. When we were doing the 1979 constitution, under the chairmanship of great Rotimi Williams, every one of us was given a copy of the 1963 Constitution to study and write out what we think is wrong with it. We spent at least one month criticising the 1963 Constitution. It was thereafter that we decided to do the 1979 Constitution. If you have read the 1963 Constitution, you won’t say go back to it. I don’t think my elders, with great respect, have read it completely.
In the1963 Constitution, it was stipulated that if you are arrested by law enforcement agents, you can be left or detained till an appropriate time. Then, who decides the appropriate time? It is them. So you can be arrested and detained there for one year without being heard. In the 1979 Constitution, we said not more than 48 hours. There are many examples.

The YCE also said that the 1963 constitution did not make the legislative work a full time business, but part time, saying it will be good for the country. Is there nothing good in the 1963 Constitution?

I agree with them. I don’t see why a senator in Abuja or a lawmaker will earn more than the President of America. They should be part time. I completely agree and if they make it part time, most of them will not contest. They spend a lot of money to rig elections because they know that if they get there, they get four times more than that. So, I support part time legislators.

Would you not rather say we should take the good aspects of the 1963 Constitution and good aspects of reports of the 2014 National Conference to restructure Nigeria?

The 2014 National Conference never did anything different from what was there before. The 2014 confab is not a magic wand. What has 2014 National Conference recommended that was not in the Constitution of Nigeria.
If you commit suicide, you don’t want me to come and pity you. They said the centre is too powerful and bloated, I said whose fault is it? If the centre is too powerful, it’s because you are weak. The constitution is clear, Nigeria is a federal republic. In a federal republic, the centre is weak, while the state has enormous power.


Look at the United States, former U.S President, Barrack Obama made a lot of things to the extent that state governors, even Mayors, have power. A governor can say the centre cannot do a particular thing in his state, and the centre cannot.
But Nigeria is a federation. If a particular president takes more power to himself and gets away with it, it’s because the states are weak. They can challenge him; when you were sworn in as the president, you swore by the constitution that you would protect the constitution but you are doing something contrary to the constitution. With the constitution, they can impeach him and take him off. But any president that takes power to himself, don’t blame him, don’t blame the constitution, blame yourself, because he’s acting contrary to the constitution, he swore to protect, because the states are weak, the governors are weak.

The Senate and House of Representatives voted against devolution of power to the states ….
(Cuts in) It is most ridiculous. Is it not in the constitution? Devolution of powers? Why do you have the exclusive list and the concurrent list? Look at the exclusive list, there are certain things you can take off from the Federal Government concern. So, no angel will come and do it for us. The states should challenge this in the Supreme Court.
On local government autonomy, my answer is yes and no. We have three tiers of Government – federal, state and local government. The constitution never made local Government subservient to state government. But what we have on ground is that.
In fact, local government should get their money directly, but the state government subverted it and local governments are silent. If all the local government chairmen challenge the state governors that they are taking their rights from them, and they go to court, they will succeed. But they keep quiet.
If you don’t fight for your rights, then don’t blame me for taking it from you.

The National Assembly also worked on the bill that will take away the conduct of local government election from State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIEC) and place the responsibility on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). What is your take on this?

I agree with a caveat that the states should not make themselves more holy than INEC. INEC has this impression of being independent. INEC conducting local government election is a lot of job. To me, it is likely to be fairer than the state government. The state government is a government of a party.

How do you feel about the cheering news coming from London that President Muhammadu Buhari is recovering miraculously?

For me, I knew that all they were talking negatively about Buhari is not true. I know his condition in London every week. A governor said Buhari is recovering miraculously, there is no miracle there. A miracle is something you never expected. I expected it. I knew all they were saying was wrong with him, is mischievous.
A day before he left for London, I was in Abuja. He welcomed the released Chibok Girls at Aso Rock in a big civic reception. The following day, he walked into the plane, he was not taken out on a stretcher. I am confident that by the grace of God he will come back very early. I will be surprised if he doesn’t come back before the end of this month.



The Nigerian Governors’ Forum visited President Buhari in London recently. Would you not rather view it that Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, should have been a member of the forum’s delegation so that he would see for himself and come back to tell Nigerians what he saw?

Fayose is a governor, and I did not say he is irresponsible. But he has made a lot of irresponsible statements. Fayose said Buhari was on life-support. That was absolute rubbish and false. If Fayose was so sure that his anti-Buhari dispensation is right, and all others are wrong, let him pay himself to London, and I can assure you that the doctors will allow him to see Buhari.
If Fayose goes to London and he is not allowed to see Buhari, he can come back and blow the story. He should not wait to be sponsored by the state. The Nigerian High Commission in London will help you contact the doctor; I am sure, Buhari will tell him to come and see him, if he wants to see him.

www.sunnewsonline.com/constitution-amendment-i-feel-sorry-for-nigeria-tam-david-west/

To pass the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, senators received kickbacks in form of job slots and cash reward from the promoters of the proposed paramilitary organisation, PREMIUM TIMES can report.

Scores of senators received at least seven employment slots each to back the bill, which was passed to, amongst other things, create the Nigerian Peace Corps as the country’s newest law enforcement agency.

Some of the lawmakers considered key to the passage of the law got as much as 500 slots, our findings show.

Other senators received cash rewards for their acquiescence, multiple senators, including those who benefited, told PREMIUM TIMES.

The bribery scheme became so brazen that some senators who were members of the committees that worked on the bill pointedly accused each other of being bought by the Peace Corps.

But the leadership of the Senate quickly weighed in, made peace amongst the feuding senators and hushed up the case, consequently saving the upper chamber from another major embarrassment, our sources said.

But the Peace Corps denied offering bribes to lawmakers to secure the major milestone in its decade-long quest to become a government agency.

“At no point did our organisation offered any bribes to lawmakers,” Milicent Umoru, the group’s spokesperson, told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday. “The bill actually suffered a whole lot before it was finally adopted a few days ago.”

Both chambers of the National Assembly passed the bill “because they see it as necessary to curb acute unemployment amongst Nigerian youth,” she added. It remains unclear Saturday whether members of the House of Representatives also took bribes to pass the bill.

The Senate approved the harmonised version of the controversial bill on Tuesday, despite deep scepticism from its own Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters that the bill offers virtually no unique service to the public.

David Umaru, the committee chairman who was mandated by the Senate to look into the significance of the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, delivered a scathing review of the paramilitary group when he laid the findings of his committee before the Senate Tuesday.

“The powers, functions, e.t.c., of the Peace Corps call for concern and this committee would wish that they are subjected to further examination,” Mr. Umaru, APC-Niger East, said.

The senator said the attempts by promoters of the Peace Corps to make government absorb it was strange and starkly different from the approach of its sister organisation in the United States.

“The American Peace Corps, which is used as a model, does not operate as a permanent and pensionable employment as intended in Nigeria under this proposed legislation,” Mr. Umaru said. “Rather, its employment is for a limited period of five years only for regular employees and 24 months for volunteers.”
Yet, Mr. Umaru went on to recommend that the Senate should proceed with passing the harmonised version of the Peace Corps Bill, clearing the way for its onward transfer to the president’s desk for assent.

Dickson Akoh, Peace Corps’ national commandant, said his organisations would offer what the American Peace Corps offers and even more.

The Peace Corps will achieve capacity building for youth creativity and intervention; capacity building for youth development and empowerment in agriculture; and peace education and conflict resolution, Mr. Akoh said.

But a majority of existing government agencies expressed strong opposition to the creation of the organisation.

At a House committee hearing during consideration of the bill, the Office of the Head of Service (HoS) said several government agencies with similar mandates as Peace Corps already exist and listed the Ministry of Youth Development and Ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity and Ministry of Environment as examples.

Other existing law enforcement agencies include: Ministry of Education, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, National Orientation Agency, National Poverty Eradication Programme and, National Directorate of Employment. The list is far from being exhausted, the head of service said.
Consequently, the HoS urged lawmakers to consider “the implications of the proposed creation of Nigerian Peace Corps on the cost of governance and duplication of duties of existing agencies.”

Law enforcement agencies have taken measures against the Peace Corps since at least 2003 when the State Security Service arrested Mr. Akoh and shut down his offices across the country.

He resumed operation in 2007. But when the SSS clamped down on his organisation again, he launched a civil lawsuit which has dragged since then.

This year alone, the police have detained Mr. Akoh at least twice.

At the first incident, armed officers from police, SSS and the Nigerian Army stormed the head office of the Peace Corps and took Mr. Akoh and more than 40 others into custody.

The head office was also shut by the police, and has not been reopened ever since.

Mr. Akoh said he had won at least 11 cases against different security agencies over the past 15 years. The police will neither confirm nor deny this assertion.

While several agencies under executive control have openly expressed opposition to the Peace Corps, President Muhammadu Buhari and Acting President Yemi Osinbajo have not said whether they will assent to the bill or reject it.

Enquiries directed to presidential spokespersons, including Garba Shehu, Laolu Akande and Femi Adesina, went unanswered throughout Thursday.

Senate sources with knowledge about the tactics of the Peace Corps told PREMIUM TIMES the group’s promoters gave millions of naira to some senators.

“Apart from the cash bribes that they offered, they even gave some key lawmakers who worked to ensure that the bill was passed more than 1000 job slots,” a senator said.

But PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm if Mr. Umaru received cash bribes from the Peace Corps.

Promoters of the Peace Corps also put pressure on some lawmakers through their constituents.

“They asked our constituents to inundate us with calls about jobs prospects in the Peace Corps,” the senator said.

Senate spokesperson, Abdullahi Aliyu, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES request for comments on the allegations.

But Enyinnaya Abaribe, PDP-Abia South, denied receiving any bribes from the Peace Corps.

The “allegation is beneath contempt,” he said.
“None at all,” he said while responding to specific question on whether he received cash bribes.

Mr. Akoh was said to raised funds from the sale of forms to unemployed youth seeking job placement in his organisation. He has been selling employment forms to prospective recruits at N1,500 per copy.

But he told PREMIUM TIMES in January that the N40,000 he collects from prospective members was meant for registration, training, procurement of kits, amongst others.

“The ICPC has investigated us in 2004 and established that we’re not extorting money from the youth,” he added.

Other than the possible employment opportunities that an established Peace Corps could bring to Nigerian youth, there appears to be no other unique reason for its creation.

But even “this can be achieved by strengthening existing agencies and not necessarily creating a new one so as not to overburden the federal government,” Mr. Umaru said.

Yet, the senator declined requests from PREMIUM TIMES seeking to know why he urged his colleagues to allow the Peace Corps Bill scale through in disregard of the findings of his committee.

www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/238524/-exclusive-nigerian-senators-took-bribes-pass-peace-corps-bill.html

Quality20:
With d way CAN and xtians tag every single thing a Muslim does as islamixation. I think we too should start talking and asking questions . For instance we need the whole of Friday as a work free day just like Sunday is and other discrepancies be corrected too

CAN and Christians tag everything Muslims do as islamization because of "Inferiority complex".

#Truth is Bitter.

The Bastards can quote me negatively. Amofias....!!

ShobayoEmma:
I hope when there is christian bank, the thereligion of peace will be free to borrow from it without fear or intimidation.
Hbd to myself.

Bro, on what premise will Christianity base its banking doctrines and operations? because throughout history have never read nor heard about Christian banking hence, I don't no if u may educate us more on the biblical sayings with regards to banking. Pls I want to learn more because am conversant with your bible.

Mind you, am not attacking ur religion neither am I attacking you but, trying to set the records straight.

Islamic banking has come to stay because of its enormous potentials, opportunities for investments and low interest borrowing.

If it will interest you, the so called west are fast becoming one of the big borrowers from Islamic banks and financial institutions.

Back home, a chunk of Jaiz Bank customers are non-muslims.

The bottom line here is that, both Islamic and conventional banks strive to drive growth and development of not only Nigeria economy but the world at large

July Alertz......!!

The Nigeria Police has redeployed all police officers currently serving in different formations along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.

According to a statement by Jimoh Moshood, the Nigeria Police spokesperson, the affected officers include all junior and senior police officers.

The affected officials include “Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, all other Officers, Inspectors and Rank and Files serving in the Police Divisions, Police Stations and out posts situated on Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria Highways …” Mr. Moshood, a chief superintendent of police, said.

“New Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, other superior Police Officers, Inspectors and Rank and Files have been posted to take over from the outgoing ones,” he added.

The police said the redeployments were to ensure “total success of operations Absolute Sanity currently ongoing on Abuja-Kaduna Highway aimed at routing out gangs of kidnappers and armed robbers terrorising Abuja-Kaduna Highway.”

The highway has become notorious for kidnappings and other criminal acts despite the high presence of security operatives there.

“The redeployment is to bring in new experience and fresh impetus to the fights against kidnappings, armed robberies and other violent crimes on these Highways, and ensure full execution of Operations Absolute Sanity’s strategies in achieving the stipulated mandates of the operations,” Mr. Moshood said.

The spokesperson also confirmed that a police inspector, Idris Musa, was given post-humous promoted promotion after he died in a battle against Boko Haram.
Read Mr. Moshood’s full statement below.

To ensure total success of operations Absolute Sanity currently ongoing on Abuja-Kaduna Highway aimed at routing out gangs of kidnappers and armed robbers terrorizing Abuja-Kaduna Highway, the Inspector General of Police has ordered the immediate redeployment of Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, all other Officers, Inspectors and Rank and Files serving in the Police Divisions, Police Stations and out posts situated on Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria Highways starting from Zuba Division in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to all Divisions and Police Stations and Posts in Niger State located along the Highway to Kaduna, and those other Police Divisions, Police Stations and Outposts throughout the Highways to Kaduna and Zaria City in Kaduna State.

New Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, other superior Police Officers, Inspectors and Rank and Files have been posted to take over from the outgoing ones.

The redeployment is to bring in new experience and fresh impetus to the fights against kidnappings, armed robberies and other violent crimes on these Highways, and ensure full execution of Operations Absolute Sanity’s strategies in achieving the stipulated mandates of the operations.

In another development, the Inspector General of Police has promoted post-humously late Inspector Idris Musa to the rank of an Assistant Superintendent of Police for act of bravery, gallantry and supreme sacrifice of losing his life in active service to his fatherland, Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force. The late Police Officer will be remembered as one of the heroes of the Nigeria Police Force in the fight against Boko-Haram insurgency in Nigeria.

It will be recalled that Inspector Idris Musa eventually died at about 0100hrs of 24th July, 2017 from injury he sustained along with two (2) other Police Officers who survived when they came under IEDs attack from the remnant of Boko-Haram insurgents who were moving out to attack public centres, place of worships and other locations in Kano metropolis in the early hours of 23rd of July, 2017.

The Inspector General of Police has directed that the late Inspector Idris Musa be given a befitting burial.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/238263-just-nigeria-redeploys-police-officers-serving-along-abuja-kaduna-highway.html

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Itse Sagay, has advocated “stiff punishment for counsel, particularly senior advocates, SANs, who have turned obstruction and frustration of proceedings on high-profile corruption cases into an art.”

Mr. Sagay, a law professor and senior advocate, said such punishment for SANs must include denial of right of appearance in such high profile and grand corruption cases.

He said this on Wednesday at Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)’s latest media roundtable titled: ‘Strategies and Approaches for the Successful Completion and Effective Prosecution of Abandoned and Unresolved High Profile Cases of Corruption in Nigeria. Combating Grand Corruption and Impunity in Nigeria’.

The roundtable held in Ikeja Lagos was organised in collaboration with TrustAfrica.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ogun State, Olumide Ayeni, who chaired the event said, “Any person who loves this society will welcome and attend events of this nature. It is a very important subject we are here to discuss, to find ways of addressing the cankerworm that has evaded our society.”

Okoi Obolo-Obla, Special Assistant on Prosecution to President Muhammadu Buhari who represented the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said, “I admire what SERAP is doing. It is not Buhari’s work to fight corruption alone, it is all our fight. It is corruption that is fuelling this agitation by the different groups.”

G.K Latona, Head of Legal of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, representing EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu said, “We are not working at cross purposes with the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation; we are cooperating with them. We have a wide range of corruption cases in concert with state agencies. The Attorney General Office has the right to initiate new high-profile corruption cases and investigate it themselves without waiting for cases initiated by the EFCC. We are also working on best practices manuals for the prosecutors and investigators If you want a corrupt free society, we must all work towards it.”

Abubakar Mahmoud, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, said “lawyers should report to NBA anything they observe in court that is corrupt.”

In his paper, Mr. Sagay also urged prosecuting counsel in grand corruption cases “to apply to reinstate any case struck out for want of prosecution. In cases requiring appeal, the authorities must apply for leave to appeal out of time, and prepare evidence and legal arguments thoroughly, including by inviting consultants to advise.”

According to Mr. Sagay, prosecuting authorities must “Insist on full application of Sections 306 and 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, namely: No stay of proceedings under any circumstances – S. 306.Any preliminary objection must be taken together with the substantive issue – S. 396(2), and hearings shall be on a daily basis, but in exceptional cases, adjournments not to be in excess of 14 working day, may be granted. Such adjournments not to exceed 5 in any proceedings – S. 396 (3) and (4).”

The don also recommended that, “A High Court Judge who is elevated whilst presiding over a criminal case, should be allowed to conclude the case without any effect on his new status. The head of various courts, namely Chief Justice of Nigeria; President, Court of Appeal; Chief Judge of the Federal High Court; and Chief Judges of State High Courts, should be sensitized about the very critical nature of the fight against high-level official corruption to Nigeria’s development and the welfare of its peoples.”

Mr. Sagay’s other recommendations read in part: “Pending the establishment of a Special Crimes Court for the whole country, Criminal Divisions should be created in the Federal and State High Courts. Specially vetted and selected Judges, known for integrity and self-discipline should be posted to man such Courts.”

“It is very important to deploy the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee and Civil Society Groups to monitor all high profile corruption cases on a day to day basis (i) to ensure that corruption cases are heard speedily and in full compliance with Sections 306 and 396 of the ACJA, (ii) to report non-compliance by any Judge to the National Judicial Council (NJC).”

“All suspected proceeds of crime should be placed under temporary forfeiture during the trial of a high-profile person.

Prosecuting authorities should resort to Non-Conviction Based Asset forfeiture, where proof beyond reasonable doubt is difficult to achieve because of technicalities. Prosecuting authorities should also consider resorting frequently to the Plea Bargaining Provisions of ACJA in order to save time and state resources.”

Another lawyer, Babatunde Ogala, on his part said that “The moment you take public office, the expectations of you are very high. Corruption is a problem in all of us, our values encourage corruption, pressure from family and well-wishers, once you attain political office. Government is fighting corruption to the best of its ability.”

The Guest Speaker, Yemi Akinseye-George, said that, “The best way to rob a country is to buy its political system. There are several high profile corruption cases that are stuck and unresolved – no acquittal, no conviction. The National Judicial Council should be proactive in tackling corruption.

Judiciary must purge theme selves of corruption so that they can avoid executive interference We also need to leverage on e- recording of proceedings and put an end to writing in long hand by judges.”

According to the professor, “There is need for authentic and reliable source of information on corruption cases. Civil Society Organisations should be apolitical, they should focus on the issue and not the persons. SERAP is at the forefront of the campaign for the efficient prosecution of high corruption cases. Please sustain the advocacy. Civil societies like SERAP can help build independent data basis which can be updated regularly. This will help a lot. Questions like who and who have been plea bargained, what are the conditions, the agreements, etc can then be answered.”

Others represented at the event included the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC; the Nigeria Labour Congress, the National Human Rights Commission; Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, the U.S. embassy, the Royal Netherlands embassy, members of the civil society and the media.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/238197-sagay-seeks-punishment-sans-frustrating-major-corruption-cases.html

India’s Bharti Airtel is looking to merge its Nigerian arm with 9mobile, which has just rebranded from Etisalat Nigeria following takeover as a result of financial problems, a source close to the telecom company has said.

France’s Orange mobile and United Kingdom’s Vodafone had earlier emerged as potential bidders for the Nigerian fourth mobile network. The two companies were said to be in “strong running” to buy 65 per cent of the telco.

Reports have said “no fewer than five” companies had expressed interest in Etisalat Nigeria, although only the two international telco giants - Orange and Vodafone - have shown “concrete interest”.

The Economic Times of India had reported that Bharti was looking to boost its assets in Nigeria, and this may explain its interest in 9mobile.

Presently, Nigeria is Bharti’s largest African market, where it generates around 30% of its revenues.

“The collapse of Etisalat Nigeria - and the withdrawal of Etisalat itself - is seen as a potential opportunity for consolidation (by Bharti),” the Economic Times of India claims in one of its reports.

The Bharti Airtel chairman, Sunil Mittal, had previously spoken of the potential for mergers in some of its African assets as part of a rationalisation plan, according to reports.

Despite being a major market, Bharti’s unit has not broken into the top two operators in Nigeria since it bought Zain Group’s sub-Saharan Africa assets.

Analysts said acquiring 9mobile could see Airtel Nigeria overtake Globacom, and give it the power to compete with market leader MTN. Vodafone lost the opportunity to operate in Nigeria during the early days of GSM as the company turned down request by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to buy the then ailing NITEL.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/business/bharti-airtel-joins-orange-vodafone-in-race-for-9mobile/206921.html

Terminally-ill Baby Charlie Gard has been set free by his parents to die, two weeks before he marked his first birthday on earth.

The parents tearfully gave up their legal battle to keep the baby alive on Monday, saying his condition had deteriorated too far for any possible recovery, in a case they said had touched the world.

The parents said their 11-month-old son might have been able to live normally if he had received experimental U.S. treatment earlier but too much time had been “wasted”.

“We have decided to let our son go,” his mother Connie Yates told London’s High Court, where a judge had been due to hear final arguments as to why a hospital should not turn off life support.

“Charlie did have a real chance of getting better. Now we will never know what would have happened if he got treatment.”

“We are now going to spend our last precious moments with our son Charlie, who unfortunately won’t make his first birthday in just under two weeks’ time,” Gard said.

Charlie has a rare genetic condition causing progressive muscle weakness and brain damage and his parents had sought to send him to the United States to undergo therapy, in a campaign backed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Pope Francis.

Britain’s courts, backed by the European Court of Human Rights, refused permission, saying it would prolong his suffering without any realistic prospect of helping the child.

The parents had begun a final attempt to reverse that decision, saying there was new evidence which showed the therapy offered by Michio Hirano, a professor of neurology at New York’s Columbia University Medical Center, could work for Charlie.

Hirano had said he believed there was at least a 10 percent chance his nucleoside therapy could improve the condition of the boy, who cannot breathe without a ventilator, and that there was a small but significant chance it could aid brain functions.

But the court heard on Monday that scans last week showed Charlie’s muscular condition had deteriorated so much that treatment would no longer work.

A Vatican spokesman said Pope Francis was praying for Charlie and his parents and that he “feels especially close to them at this time of immense suffering”.

“There is one simple reason for Charlie’s muscles deteriorating to the extent they are in now – time. A whole lot of wasted time,” his father Chris Gard said outside the court, where supporters chanted “Justice for Charlie” and waved blue balloons.

“Had Charlie been given the treatment sooner he would have had the potential to be a normal, healthy little boy.”

The case has attracted heated debate about medical ethics and whether doctors or parents should decide a child’s fate.

Staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), where Charlie is on life support, have received death threats and abuse, something condemned by the parents and the judge.

The judge hearing the case, Nicholas Francis, said no parents could have done more for their child.

GOSH and the family will now discuss the immediate future and the parents plan to set up a fund in his honour.

(NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/international/baby-charlie-gard-set-free-to-die/206982.html

OCcool:
Good morning bro. Please can you direct me on how to get to chamscity from Wuse zone 5 axis? Thanks a lot.

If you are taking a drop just tell d cab man maitama by Zenith bank d school is a stone throw from their and if u are taking along.... enter along coming to maitama through farmers market, wen u pass farmers market d zenith bank I said earlier is by ur left...just drop their and walk down d bank.

Goodluck

House, pls how can I locate Chamscity/Sascon Sasaon International School located at Yesdeam Street, Maitama-Abuja.....i will be coming from Kubwa axis.....

Anybody with clue....

#Npower

As we visit States across Nigeria, we see the impact you are making in your communities as N-Power volunteers. What you do matters and brings us so much joy.

That is why it is sad when we come across volunteers who have been paid since the inception of the programme and have hardly worked at their Primary Place of Assignment.

PAYMENT ON HOLD
Below is a list of N-Power volunteers whose payments have been put on hold because they have not been/hardly been to their Place of Primary Assignment. Subsequent lists will also be posted.
N-Power is a full time volunteer job. Treat it with all the seriousness it deserves.

# NPowerNG

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=280177085722441&substory_index=0&id=134422306964587&refid=17&_ft_=top_level_post_id.280177085722441%3Atl_objid.280177085722441%3Apage_id.134422306964587%3Athid.134422306964587%3A306061129499414%3A69%3A0%3A1501570799%3A3787015703469194533&__tn__=%2As-R

I Bet You....The Guy Enjoy the encounter ooo

You were in power for 16 years but failed to restructure Nigeria – APC fires back at PDP


The All Progressives Congress, APC, has slammed the former ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over its ongoing calls for the restructuring of Nigeria.

The party wondered why PDP suddenly woke up to realize that Nigeria needed to be restrucutured but failed to do so while it was in power between 1999-2015.

Speaking with Nation, Hon. Hilliard Etta, the National Vice Chairman (Southsouth) of the party said, Nigerians needed to give the APC time as it would surely fulfill all electioneering campaign promises.

He said, “I don’t know if it is essentially about the APC. But some Nigerians are very quick to enter judgement when it comes to APC. The APC has been in power for two years and in these two years, you are aware of what has attended our presidency. It is disingenuous for people to now look at the APC and say those types of things that they say.

“If is unfortunately because, whenever these things are done, I think they are just amplifying or reciting the propaganda of the PDP. The PDP was in power for 16 years and never cared about restructuring. Today, PDP is all over the place talking about restructuring. I think Nigerians should be a little patient with us.

“It is unfortunate that the unsustainable sub structure of Nigeria has brought the current agitations in the manner it has come and at this time when the APC is in power. We we are not afraid of the responsibility and the challenges of the time.”

Asked his take on the cries of marginalization, which has lead to one form of ultimatum or the other, Etta said, “there is agitations from almost all parts of the country. The almajaris are agitating for a better life, the Yoruba man is agitating for better governance, the Igbo man is agitating, the Calabar man is agitating.

“There is no ethnic nationality in this country that isn’t agitating. Now we must interrogate who they agitating against and who should they agitate against? I laugh when I hear my Igbo brothers agitating against the Hausa/Fulani, are they to saying that it is the Hausa/Fulani that has marginalized them.

“When I see the Almajiris agitating, are they to saying that it is the Hausa/Fulani that has marginalized them? It is the same thing for the Yoruba, the same for the Igala people, the same thing for the Efik people, the same for the Ibibio people. The truth of the matter is that Nigeria is sharply divided into two; the leaders and others and the people that have marginalized all ethnic nationality are less than one percent of the population of Nigeria and they come from all ethnic nationalities.

“I have done a personal interrogation of those who have superintended over Nigeria and very sadly, I have come to realise only three Hausa/Fulani people have been in charge of Nigeria since independence. The first was Tafa Balewa, the second was Buhari and the third was Yar’dua.”


http://dailypost.ng/2017/07/18/power-16-years-failed-restructure-nigeria-apc-fires-back-pdp/

The Presidency will soon approach the Supreme Court to make a pronouncement on the lingering crisis between the executive and the National Assembly over the powers of the President to appoint some heads of government agencies without recourse to the Senate based on the provisions of Section 171 of the Constitution.

A Presidency source, who disclosed this to journalists in Abuja, on Sunday , said the development was based on legal advice made available to the government on the different interpretations of the law on the matter.

The Acting President , Yemi Osinbajo, had , in an interview in April , ruled out the possibility of President Muhammadu Buhari replacing the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, whose nomination was rejected by the Senate twice.

He had said he aligned himself with the argument of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria , Mr . Femi Falana , that Senate confirmation was not needed for the EFCC chairman based on the provisions of Section 171 of the Constitution.

Osinbajo ’s statement drew the anger of Senators , who , penultimate Tuesday , resolved to step down all requests for confirmation into executive positions from the Presidency.

A source in the government said on Sunday that the legal advice , prepared as a working document in the Presidency regarding the differences in the constitutional interpretations on matters of certain federal appointments , recommended that a judicial pronouncement, preferably by the Supreme Court , would settle the matter.

He said although the Presidency believed that Section 171 was clear that certain appointments did not require Senate ’s consent, it ( the Presidency) was not behaving as if its interpretation of the law had become a policy.

The source stated that the Presidency was persuaded that its interpretation was the correct one , but it was conscious and aware of the fact that only a proper judicial ruling on the matter would make it a settled policy on point of law.

He added that the advice unearthed a ruling of the Supreme Court on the matter , where the current Chief Justice of Nigeria , Justice Walter Onnoghen , before his elevation as the CJN , had ruled in line with the view of the Presidency on the matter.

Onnoghen was quoted to have ruled that wherever and whenever the Constitution speaks , any provision of an Act / Statute on the same subject matter , must remain silent.

“ The divergent positions being held by the executive and the legislature on the subject of confirmation is one that requires timely and ultimate resolution . Such resolution could only be reached through judicial process.

“ Such interpretation would lay to rest the lingering crisis between the two arms , ” the source stated , quoting the recommendation made in the legal advice.

Specifically on Magu, he said the advice concluded that “ the rumblings in the discourse on the confirmation of the EFCC chairman have more to do with politics that with the law . ”

The advice , which affirms the powers of the President to appoint , in acting capacity , into positions such as the EFCC chairmanship , according to the source , also noted that “ in the recent past, the ministerial nomination of the late Prof . Abraham Babalola Borishade ( Ekiti State ) by ( former) President Olusegun Obasanjo was rejected repeatedly by the Senate .”

It added , “ In fact , it will be recalled that this particular nomination was presented four times in 18 months before it was eventually confirmed by the Senate.

“ This position is because of the long established and entrenched principle of law that any legislation , that is inconsistent with the provision of the Constitution , is null and void and of no effect whatsoever to the extent of such inconsistency . ( See the Supreme Court cases of DR. OLUBUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI v . FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ( 2016 ) LPELR - 40013 ( SC ) and CHIEF ISAAC EGBUCHU v . CONTINENTAL MERCHANT BANK PLC & ORS ( 2016 ) LPELR - 40053 ( SC ).

“ In the case of CHIEF ISAAC EGBUCHU v . CONTINENTAL MERCHANT BANK PLC & ORS ( Supra ) , Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen , who today is the Chief Justice of the Federation , held , at page 19 , paragraph C , ‘ The time- honoured principle of law is that wherever and whenever the Constitution speaks any provision of an Act / Statute , on the same subject matter , must remain silent’ .”

Despite its position on the matter , the government official said it was not accurate to say the Presidency had started to act unilaterally on its own interpretation of Section 171.

“ Since the time the Acting President spoke and when Senate recently expressed its disagreement , we have been sending nominations on several occasions, including into the INEC and other boards and commissions.

“ So, we are clearly not acting unilaterally based on our own interpretation of the law , even though we believe firmly we are right , ” he added.

Activists , Falana , others ask Presidency to approach apex court.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer , Femi Falana ( SAN ) , and some other prominent activists on Sunday , called on the Presidency to approach the Supreme Court for the interpretation of the 1999 Constitution regarding the confirmation of non - ambassadorial and non - ministerial nominees.

The advice was contained in statement jointly signed by Falana and some activists including Prof . Jibrin Ibrahim , Lanre Suraj, Anwal Rafsanjani and Ezenwa Nwagwu.

The activists said since the Presidency and the Senate could not agree on the confirmation of Magu, it had become necessary for the Presidency to approach the Supreme Court.

They , however, maintained that the upper chamber of the National Assembly had no right to sack Magu since it had no power to hire him.

The statement read in part, “ While the dispute over the budget had yet to be resolved , the Senate passed two controversial resolutions. The first resolution directed the Acting President to remove the acting Chairman of the EFCC , Mr . Ibrahim Magu , from office.

“ In a bid to ensure that the resolution was implemented , the Senate decided to put on hold any appointment which requires the confirmation of the Senate . Without mincing words , the Presidency has rejected the call for the removal of Magu.

“ The executive is advised to seek judicial resolution of the stalemate over the confirmation of Magu ’s appointment as the substantive chairman.

“ Meanwhile, we assert that the Senate cannot annul his ( Magu ) acting appointment since his appointment was without the consultation with or confirmation of the Senate.
”
The human rights crusaders also criticised the House of Representatives for the summons to the Minister of Power , Works and Housing , Mr . Babatunde Fashola ( SAN ) , who questioned the powers of the legislature to insert personal projects into and alter the budget .

The statement added , “ This self - serving action of the National Assembly is capable of distorting the development agenda of the government .

‘‘ It is hoped that the minister will take advantage of the invitation to convince the legislators on the urgent need to restore the development projects deleted from the budget .”

http://punchng.com/magu-presidency-gets-legal-advice-to-approach-scourt/

Aisha Buhari, the wife of the President, has given an insight into the power play at the Nigerian seat of power in the wake of a sickness that has kept her husband out of the country for over two months.

President Muhammadu Buhari had flown to London 63 days ago to resume medical treatment after an earlier round early this year.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Mrs. Buhari took a cue and alluded to some elements around her ailing husband as “the hyenas” and “the jackals,” hoping that they would soon be sent out of “his Kingdom”.

Mrs. Buhari who is presently in the United Kingdom to see her ailing husband, made the post while responding to a proverbial Facebook post by the senator representing Kaduna Central District, Shehu Sani.

Mr. Sani’s post read:

“Prayer for the absent Lion King has waned; until he’s back then they will fall over each other to be on the front row of the palace temple. Now the hyenas and the jackals are scheming and talking to each other in whispered; still doubting whether the Lion King will be back or not…

“It is the wish of the Hyenas and the Jackals that the Lion King never wakes up or come back so that they can be kings. It is the prayers of the weak animals that the Lion King comes back to save the kingdom from the Hyenas, the wolves and other predators”

Responding to Mr. Sani’s comment also proverbially, Mrs. Buhari said:

“God has answered the prayers of the weaker Animals. The Hyenas and the jackals will soon be sent out of the kingdom. We strongly believe in the prayers and support of the weaker animals”.

Mrs. Aisha’s comment attracted some comments from her followers on Facebook, wishing her husband quick recovery.

Mrs. Buhari had returned to the UK last week after an earlier trip last month after which Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, claimed she was not allowed to see the president by an alleged cabal around him.

Upon her return to Nigeria back then, the President’s wife had said he was recovering well and that he expressed appreciation to Nigerians praying for him.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/236427-hyenas-jackals-will-soon-sent-husbands-kingdom-aisha-buhari.html

A Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on Thursday rejected the bail applications filed by four men who are standing trial for the unlawful importation of 661 pump action rifles into the country.

Justice Ayotunde Faji, in his ruling, said he would rather grant accelerated hearing of the case due to the magnitude of the allegation against the defendants.

Mahmud Hassan, Oscar Okafor, Donatus Achinulo, and Salihu Danjuma were arraigned on June 14 on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, importation of prohibited firearms, forgery, uttering of forged documents and bribery.

The fifth accused person, Matthew Okoye, is said to be at large.

They had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The defendants had on Monday applied to the court seeking to be released on bail pending the determination of the case.
Counsels to the accused persons – Yakubu Galadima, Godwin Okaka, Olumide Oyewole and Adamu Ibrahim – had urged the court to release their clients on bail, promising that they would not abscond but make themselves available for trial.

But the prosecuting counsel, K. A. Fagbemi, a lawyer from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, had opposed the defendants’ bail applications, saying it would be too risky for them to be released on bail.

Mr. Fagbemi, who noted that one of the accused persons, Mr. Okoye, was still at large, argued that releasing the other defendants on bail could endanger their lives.

“He’s still out there,” the lawyer said. “He could be a risk to their own lives. It’s one of the grounds that the defendants should not be granted bail for their own good.”

Mr. Faji, while delivering her ruling on the bail applications, said he was in total agreement with the prosecution’s submission. He consequently refused the defendants’ bail applications.

In the charges, the AGF said the accused persons brought 661 pump-action rifles into the country from Turkey through the Apapa Port in Lagos, using a 40-feet container, which they falsely claimed contained steel doors.

To facilitate the illegal importation, the accused allegedly forged a number of documents including a bill of lading, a Form M and a Pre-Arrival Assessment Report.

According to the prosecution, in order to evade payment of Customs duty, the accused allegedly forged a bill of lading issued at Istanbul on January 9, 2017, falsely claiming that it was issued at Shanghai, China.

In the forged bill of lading, they allegedly filled “steel door” as the content of the container instead of rifles.

They were also said to have allegedly offered a bribe of N400,000 to an official of the Nigeria Customs Service attached to the Federal Operative Unit to influence the said officer not to conduct a “hundred per cent search on the 40-feet container with number PONU 825914/3.”

The prosecution also alleged that the first accused, Hassan, corruptly gave N1m to government officials at the Apapa Port in order to prevent the search of the container by Customs officials.

In the last count, the Federal Government alleged that the defendants had between 2012 and 2016 illegally imported several double-barreled shotguns, pump-action rifles and single-barreled shotguns into the country through Lagos.

The offences were said to be contrary to sections 1(2)(c), 1(14) (a)(i) and 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/236124-661-rifles-importation-court-rejects-alleged-importers-bail-application.html

AmeerahFKI:
Alert received!

Na wa for u ooo. we no dey see ur break light.....until Alert hit ur phone....hmmmmm....!!

Latest....!!

“They have every right to do so provided they also know that I have the right to Christianise the whole of Nigeria.
“The answer is not in complaining and crying; stand up like a man and Christianise Nigeria,’’ the cardinal said.

He said that Christians had the mandate to preach Jesus Christ to everyone without being distracted with material things.

Mr. Onaiyekan urged Christians to defend their faith by preaching the gospel in words and deeds without compromising the message of the Cross.

He said that the disciples of Christ preached the crucified Christ, accepted persecution and that many even died for their faith.

“People complain that Christianity is being persecuted; they are saying that some people want to Islamise the nation.
Just know that nobody can’t Islamise you unless you agree to be Islamised.

“For as long as you are not ready to stand up and carry the Cross, you are on the verge of losing your faith; if you don’t want to lose your promotion for Christ sake, you are also not worthy to be a Christian.

“Anybody who presents another programme different from the programme of Jesus Christ on the Cross will lose, you will drop; you will just drop like an overripe apple.”

According to him, Christians cannot achieve the feat by compromising their faith, it can only be achieved by carrying their cross and following Christ.

“You don’t Christianise the nation by standing up and looking for prosperity or material benefits.

“You Christianise a nation, if you are ready to stand up for the truth, preach the gospel, carry the Cross and follow the Lord Jesus.’’

Quoting from the Gospel of Mathew Chapter 10 verses 37 to 42, Mr. Onaiyekan said that anyone who loved his or her mother, father, children, husband more than Christ is not worthy of His kingdom.

He, however, said that the message of Cross is that of salvation, which was gradually being reduced to the message of prosperity, adding that it was natural to face suffering in the world.

The cardinal said that Christianity had survived over 2,000 years and the religion became more established even when the apostles faced persecution and were even killed.

“The apostles went through horrible suffering because of that, the Church took root when everybody thought it was the end of the story of Jesus, who died on the Cross.

“That is the mystery of Christianity, if it is not God’s own doing, Christianity would not have survived,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr. Onaiyekan administered sacrament of confirmation to 63 Catholics in the parish and also laid a foundation of the 2,000-capacity new church.

According to Catholic teaching, the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.

For by the sacrament of Confirmation, the baptised are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with special strength of the Holy Spirit.

Hence, they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the Christian faith by words and deeds.

Also, 30 candidates received first Holy Communion at the service.

(NAN)

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/235620-nobody-plans-islamise-nigeria-onaiyekan-tells-christians.html

The Kogi State Town Planning Board has reportedly ordered that work on Senator Dino Melaye’s constituency office at Kabba, Kogi State should stop forthwith.

Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Ijumu Local Government Area, Mr Gbenga Bright made this claim in a statement issued during the weekend.

He alleged that there was “desperate move” by the state government to stop work at the Kogi-West constituency office being built at Kabba, the headquarters of Kogi-west by Senator Dino Melaye.

“Information reliably gathered had it that the governor issued a directive to the GM, Kogi State Town Planning and Kabba Bunu LGA administrator, Mr Moses Tolorunleke, via Kabba/Bunu Local Government Council town planners to issue (a stop work) directive with their satanic intention to frustrate the finishing torches going on at the site.

“I also wish to inform the public, our esteemed party leaders, members and the loyal electorate of Kogi-west senatorial district that all necessary legal rules, payment and processes of town planning procedures for the project were done satisfactorily, and all papers given to us before the commencement of the building which is now due for commissioning.

“Senator Dino Melaye is bringing development to Kabba town, and a governor who hasn’t done anything positive for Kogi people, despite huge resources collected so far, is attempting to stop development and progress.

“Surely, this move by the Kogi State government is not in tune with the yearnings and aspirations of the good people of Kabba and Kogi-west in general,” the statement said.

Responding, the General Manager of Kogi State Town Planning and Development Board, Yisau O. Aliu said the recent clampdown on violators of town planning laws in the state had no political undertone as being alleged.

“We want to state categorically that the state Town Planning and Development Board is not a political body but a government agency with clearly stated and defined mandate.

“The agent was advised to seek alternative site or possibly acquire more space to meet up with the required ratio and process relevant title documents but he failed to adhere to the directives and went ahead to develop the said site.

“Several ‘stop work’ notices were served without response from the developer or his agent. The State Town Planning and Development Board had no option than to enforce relevant laws, hence, the marking of the structure.

“Mr. Gbenga Bright did a massive disservice to the public by attributing the marking of the building to politics when all available facts point to gross violation of town planning laws by the developer. If the building is allowed, it will constitute a great danger to its inhabitants and immediate environment.

“As a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and an anti-corruption crusader, it is expected that he will fight against any act of law infringement.

“We expect the senator to lead the fight against lawlessness and recklessness on the part of people in high places. No amount of blackmail can force us to succumb to the blatant irregularities which characterized the development of the said constituency office of Senator Dino Melaye. The law is a no respecter of anybody,” Aliu said.


http://dailypost.ng/2017/07/02/kogi-west-troubles-dino-melaye-bello-stops-constituency-project/

Idris Ahmed wrote on CUPS

A Must Read


A Buhari hater wrote:

The idle presidential aircraft in London consumes 4k pounds everyday for parking lot and its idleness. By 12am this morning,it would be 50days it has stayed idle and if you multiply that by N400/1pounds for 50days it will amount to N80,000,000.00 doing nothing but waiting for the president to get well. And a patriotic and well informed Nigerian replied him:It's a lie. I don't know why Nigerians like to demonstrate their ignorance in public!

The writer's conscience must have been kidnapped by the witches in his village. PMB's aircraft is not in London. The aircraft spent only one day in London after dropping him.

Almost all the time PMB visited London he uses Stanstead Airport in London which hosts the Headquarters of the British Airforce and his Aircraft is always parked at Diamond Hanger at the airport which was owned by a Nigerian who is also my Boss. Before I responded to this message, I first of all called the Hanger Director to inquire and he confirmed to me that the aircraft was therefor only a day before the crew returned to Nigeria!

Credit: Alkasim Haruna Tahir.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10210939897826714&id=1031387723&refid=7&_ft_=qid.6437170995265639931%3Amf_story_key.4271909792761979595%3Atop_level_post_id.10210939897826714&__tn__=%2As

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has expressed deep concern over the recourse of the National Assembly’s spokespersons to name calling over his observations on the 2017 Budget.

In a Press Release signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Hakeem Bello, the minister said he was worried that the National Assembly spokespersons failed to address the fundamental points about development-hindering whimsical cuts in the allocations to several vital projects under the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing as well as other ministries.

Mr. Fashola had, in a recent interview while acknowledging that legislators could contribute to budget making, disagreed with the practice where the legislative arm of government unilaterally alters the budget after putting members of the Executive through Budget Defence Sessions and Committee Hearings to the extent that some of the projects proposed would have become materially altered.

While acknowledging the need for legislative input from the representatives of the people to bring forward their developmental aspirations before and during the budget production process, the minister had observed that it amounted to a waste of tax payers money and an unnecessary distortion of orderly planning and development for all sections of the country, for lawmakers to unilaterally insert items not under the Exclusive or Concurrent lists of the Constitution like boreholes and streetlights after putting Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAS, through the process of budget defence.

Specifically with regards to the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Fashola listed the Lagos- Ibadan Expressway, the Bodo-Bonny road, the Kano-Maiduguri road, the Second Niger Bridge and the long drawn Mambilla Hydropower Project among others as those that the National Assembly materially altered the allocations in favour of scores of boreholes and primary health care centres which were never discussed during the Ministerial Budget Defence before Parliament.

In their responses, both the spokespersons of the Senate and the House of Representatives accused the minister of spreading “Half-Truths” and making “Fallacious “ statements because he (Fashola) should have known that they only interfered with projects that had concession agreements and private sector funding components. They also accused the minister of wanting to hold on to such projects in order that he may continue to award contracts.

However, while dismissing the allegations in the course of an official trip outside the country, Mr. Fashola said it was sad that the lawmakers would resort to name calling even without understanding the facts of what they were getting into. Taking the projects which the lawmakers chose to focus on one after the other, the minister insisted that there is no subsisting concession agreement on the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway adding that what the Infrastructure Construction Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has is a financing agreement from a consortium of banks which is like a loan that still has to be paid back through budgetary provisions.

There is no fallacy or half truth in the allegation that the budgets were reduced, he said. The spokespersons admitted this much and now sought to rationalise it by a concession or financing arrangement that has failed to build the road since 2006. The biggest momentum seen on the road was in 2016, Mr. Fashola added.

In the case of the Second Niger Bridge where one of the spokespersons alleged that the provision in 2016 budget was not spent and had to be returned, Mr. Fashola said that this displays very stark and worrisome gaps in knowledge of the spokesperson about the budget process he was addressing.

According to him, a budget is not cash. It is an approval of estimates of expenditure to be financed by cash from the Ministry of Finance.

“The Ministry of Finance has not yet released any cash for the Second Niger Bridge, so no money was returned.”

“Three phases of Early Works of piling and foundation was approved and financed by the previous government in the hope that a concession will finally be issued, which has not happened because concessionaires have not been able to raise finance.

“The continuation of Early Works IV could not start in May 2016 when the budget was passed because of high water level in the River Niger in the rainy season.

“The contract was only approved by the Federal Executive Council in the first quarter of 2017 and the contractor is awaiting payment.”

Dismissing the allegation that the works mnistry under him was holding on to projects that could be funded through Public Private Partnerships (PPP) so that he could award contracts as a tissue of lies, the minister said from Day One of his assumption of office, he made it clear publicly and privately that his priority would be to finish as many of the several hundreds of projects that his ministry inherited which had not been funded for close to three years.

According to Mr. Fashola, if the spokesperson was in tune with the Public Procurement Law which the National Assembly passed, he would realise that the minister has no unilateral power to award such contracts whose values are in billions of Naira, adding that all the new projects presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval were either federal roads requested by state governments or those put in the budget by the legislators to service their constituencies.

Mr. Fashola stated that the focus on contracts by the spokesperson is probably a Freudian slip that reveals his mindset and interests; when indeed he should be focused on developmental projects that strengthen the economy, which is the focus of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan endorsed by the legislature.

Also responding to the issues that the budget for the Mambila Power Project was slashed because it contained a “whooping N17 billion” for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the minister said there was indeed a mis-description of that particular Expenditure Head which could have happened during the classification of so many thousands of budget heads in the budget estimates.

According to him, what was described as a Budget Head for EIA was actually the nation’s counterpart funding to the China- EXIM loan to fund the building of the Mambila Project, adding that this was brought to his attention only after it had been slashed and that if the intention was not to slash arbitrarily it should have been brought to his attention to explain.

“At a joint meeting convened at the instance of the Budget Minister when I complained that the budget was slashed, the issue of EIA was brought to my attention and I explained what it was meant for,” Mr. Fashola said.

On the issue of the N20 billion provision in the Ministry’s Budget which the spokesperson alleged that the minister failed to give details of, Mr. Fashola said the spokesperson is hiding behind a finger.

The minister explained that it was a very basic principle of good planning to make provision for unforeseen contingencies; adding that in the 2016 budget , a similar provision enabled the ministry to respond to the failures of the Tamburawa Bridge in Sokoto, the Ijora Bridge in Lagos and the Gada Hudu Bridge in Koto Karfe along the Abuja – Lokoja Highway. Similarly, the ministry was able to pay N1 billion to the contractor handling the Suleja to Minna road.

The recent failures caused by flooding along Tegina-Mokwa-Jebba road and Tatabu in Niger State could not have been provided because they were not foreseen and there may be more. “This is what good planning is about,” Mr. Fashola said.

Noting that the Senate spokesperson missed the point in the haste to cast aspersions on him because he was not at the meetings he was speaking about, Mr. Fashola said he would have expected a more sober approach to the matter.

“In any event, allegations of half truth is only a flawed response to the constitutional and developmental issues that have plagued Nigeria from 1999 about how to budget for the critical infrastructure in Nigeria. It shows the conflict between the Executive that wants to build big Federal Highways; Bridges ; Power Plants; Rail; and Dams on one hand and Parliament that wants to do small things like bore holes, health centres , street lights and supplying grinding machines ,” he said.

According to the minister, being an institutional and not a personal issue, it won’t be out of place to seek a resolution of the conflict at the Supreme Court in order to protect the country’s future, because it is a clear conflict about how best to serve the people.

“As long as budgets planned to deliver life changing infrastructure are cut into small pieces, Nigeria will continue to have small projects that are not life changing, and big projects that have not been completed in 17 years . If a project would cost N15 billion and the contractor gets only a fraction of that, then things won’t move. Success should be defined by how many projects an administration is able to complete or set on the path of irreversible completion and not how many poorly funded contracts are awarded,” he said.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/235148-%E2%80%8E2017-budget-ignorant-fashola-blasts-senate-house-spokespersons.html

I foresaw this coming because the hardest part of the process of recall has been achieved.

Dino Melaye is precariously sitting on a time bomb. Him shopping for Mike O. won't help him much because the judiciary know very well that, they're on the spotlight at the moment.

If this event were to happen during past administration the outcome of his prayers will be....... Your guess is as good as mine but, I don't see any court cum judge granting his prayers because this is a constitutional matter.

Anyway, am keenly awaiting the judge that will stoop so low in granting this prayers.

June Alertz Inna Arah....!!

It has been a rewarding 29-day spiritual activity: a period of recompense, a period of closeness to Allah, a period of illumination by the Glorious Qur’an, a period of re-direction of destinies and possibilities, of charity, of divine blessings. It is indeed a memorable period.

Having passed through this spiritual exercise, we are no doubt a better being. It is time to celebrate, but an important part of the celebration is to express warm wishes to your neighbours and invite them for a meal. One could chose to celebrate it with the poor to make them happy.

At this junction, it is important to remember one of our cardinal responsibilities this month— Zakatul-Fitr . It is obligatory at this time we are bidding farewell to Ramadan. That is why the suffix fitr is attached to it— to commemorate the occasion of breaking the fast.

A man has to pay on behalf of himself and his wife— even if she is wealthy on her own— and his children and parents, if they are poor, and his daughter, if she is married but the marriage has not yet been consummated.

If his son is rich, he does not have to give Zakatul-Fitr on his behalf. A man has to give Zakatul-Fitr on behalf of a divorced wife, whose divorce process (T alaaq) is not yet concluded (i.e., she is still in the 'iddah of a first or second talaaq ). But not in the case of one whose divorce is finalised.

A son does not have to give Zakatul-Fitr on behalf of a poor father’s wife, because he is not obliged to spend on her. A Muslim traveller is also enjoined to pay his Z akat where he spends the last two days of Ramadan. If a person dies before Maghrib, on the last day of Ramadan, Zakatul-Fitr would not be obligatory upon him even if he fasted all the other days of the month. But if a child is born after Maghrib, it would be obligatory to pay Zakatul-Fitr on his or her behalf.

It should be given on one of the foodstuffs which is commonly consumed in the society, such as rice, beans, maize and garri. The popular measurement of it is four handful on behalf of one person. If it has to be given in money, although this is not encouraged but the societal demands and circumstances sometimes call for it, it has to be well-calculated that the appropriate money equivalent is given in accordance with the existing price of the desired foodstuff in the market; and at the right time too, to meet the immediate need and purpose to which it was given.

In essence, the rationale behind it is to make others happy during the festive period; it purifies the fasting Muslim from any shortcoming during the fast. And since every Muslim needs this, it is therefore obligatory on him whether rich or poor to pay Zakatul-Fitr.

The Prophet (SAW) said: “Make them (i.e. the poor and destitute) rich on the day of `Eid-ul-Fitri. The Qur’an says: “

The Zakah are only for the Fuqaraa (poor), and the Masaakeen (the needy) and those employed to collect (the funds); and for to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allah’s Cause, and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise” (Q9:60).

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/ramadan-saying-goodbye-zakaatul-fitr/

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has said 32 million Set Top Boxes (STB) are required for the full switchover from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting in Nigeria.

The Director-General of NBC, Mr Ishaq Kawu disclosed this during a news conference on Digital Switch Over (DSO) held in Lagos last Friday.

Kawu said the number was arrived at by dividing 191 million Nigerians by six, which represented the number of a household.

He said that the DSO process was a huge financial, technical and logistical challenge adding that switching on a huge country like Nigeria requires tremendous financial commitment.

He said that an STB costs 45 dollars and the commission had made a commitment of eight million units which would amount to $26 million.

Kawu said the unit price is a huge cost for Nigerians hence, the Federal Government subsidised it to N1,500 per STB.

After the switchover in Abuja last December offering 30 channels, he said a firm, The Outsource Company (TOC) was appointed to be the call centre managers for the switchover starting from Abuja.

“They commenced with appointing 30 call agents, but that was soon increased to 90. So far, a total of 745,480 STBs have been imported into the country; 566,478 have been delivered, while 485,409 have been sold and 332,095 were activated in Jos and Abuja,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/it-world/nigeria-needs-32m-set-top-boxes-for-digital-switch-over-nbc/202374.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Wednesday received signatures from the electorates in Kogi West Senatorial District demanding the recall of lawmaker representing the zone, Dino Melaye from the Senate.

The electorates submitted their signatures at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja in six bags.

DAILY POST had on Tuesday reported that INEC will today, Wednesday, receive petition to recall Melaye from the senate.

A source in the Kogi Government had confirmed the development to DAILY POST.

The source who pleaded anonymous, added that all that needed to be done had been completed and “it is left to INEC to take the next course of action.”

A total of 188,580 electorates from Kogi West, signed the recall register form of Senator Melaye.

Details later….

http://dailypost.ng/2017/06/21/breaking-inec-receives-signatures-dino-melayes-recall/

Ade Adesomoju , Abuja

The Federal Government , on Tuesday , filed 11 grounds notice of appeal against the June 14, 2017 judgment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal which acquitted Senate President Bukola Saraki of 18 counts of false asset declaration and other related offences.

The charges were preferred against Saraki , a former governor of Kwara State , in September 2015.

The CCT , in Abuja, had , on June 14, 2017 , discharged and acquitted Saraki of all the 18 charges.

The two - man panel of the CCT , led by its Chairman, Danladi Umar , unanimously upheld the no - case submission which Saraki filed after the prosecution closed its case with the fourth and the last prosecution witnesses testifying on May 4 , 2017.

There were 48 documentary exhibits tendered in the course of the trial.

Umar , in his lead ruling , exonerated Saraki of all the charges on , among other grounds , that failure of the prosecution to invite Saraki for interrogation was fatal to the case.

In its notice of appeal , the Federal Government stated that the judgment “ effectively ” overruled previous decisions of the Court of Appeal delivered with respect to Saraki ’ s trial and other criminal cases.

“ The judgment of the lower tribunal is unwarranted, unreasonable and against the weight of evidence , ” the notice of appeal read in part.

The notice of appeal was signed by the lead prosecuting counsel , Mr . Rotimi Jacobs ( SAN ) , and an Assistant Chief State Counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice , Mr . Pius Akutah.

Describing the judgment as “ unconstitutional and without jurisdiction ” , the appellant stated that the CCT erred in law by upholding Saraki ’s no - case submission “ when the onus of proof” was on the Senate President to show “ that there was no infraction in the Code of Conduct Forms.

It added , “ By the provisions of paragraphs 11 ( 2 ) , ( 3 ) and ( 13 ) of Part 1 , 5 th Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , 1999 ( as amended ) , once the Code of Conduct form filled by the public officer is investigated and found to be false or that some assets are beyond the legitimate income of the public officer or that the assets were acquired by means of corrupt practices , the public officer concerned is deemed to have breached the Code of Conduct and it is for him to show to the tribunal that there is no infraction in the form.

“ The honourable tribunal wrongly placed the onus of proof on the prosecution contrary to paragraphs 11 ( 2 ) , ( 3 ) and ( 13 ) of Part 1 , 5 th Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , 1999 ( as amended ).

“ The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , 1999 ( as amended ) clearly excluded the presumption of innocence on the allegation of infraction of the Code of Conduct by public officers and the Tribunal wrongly applied the presumption of innocence contrary to the constitutional requirement.

“ The tribunal’s decision is unconstitutional and without jurisdiction .”

But in the notice of appeal filed on Tuesday , the Federal Government sought two prayers which are “ an order setting aside the ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal delivered on June 14, 2017 upholding the no- case submission raised by the respondent ( Saraki ) at the close of the prosecution ’ s case” and “ an order calling upon the respondent to enter his defence . ”

The Federal Government in its notice of appeal faulted all the grounds on which the CCT predicated Saraki ’s acquittal.

The appellant stated among others that the CCT “ failed to analyse and evaluate the evidence of prosecution witnesses” before reaching the conclusion that there was no case made against Saraki.

It stated that the tribunal also failed to point out the evidence of prosecution witnesses discredited by the defence.

According to the appellant , the tribunal also failed to apply the provisions of sections 302 and 303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act , 2015.

The notice of appeal stated in part, “ The learned members of the tribunal, in their consideration of no -case submission, failed in their duty to look at the offences charged, the ingredients of the offence and the evidence adduced by the prosecution before upholding the respondent’s no - case submission.

“ The learned members of the tribunal failed to analyse and evaluate the evidence of prosecution witnesses before reaching their conclusion that there is no case made out against the respondent.

“ The tribunal failed in its duty to point out the material evidence adduced by the prosecution witnesses touching the ingredients of the offence charged that was discredited by the respondent’ s counsel during cross- examination.

“ The learned members of the tribunal failed to consider and apply the decision of the Supreme Court in Daboh v State ( 1977 ) 5 SC 197 at 315 , where the Supreme Court held that if the submission is based on discredited evidence, such discredited evidence must be apparent on the face of the record and that if such is not apparent , then the submission is bound to fail.

“ The learned members of the tribunal failed to point out any apparent discredited evidence on the face of the record before it upheld the submission of a no case.

“ The tribunal failed in its duty to point out the essential ingredients of the offences charged and the evidence adduced by the prosecution to show that the available evidence could not establish the ingredients of the offences.

“ The tribunal failed to apply the provisions of sections 302 and 303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act , 2015 in upholding the no- case submission made by the respondent .”

In the second grounds, the appellant held that in upholding the no - case submission, the tribunal ought to have only discharged Saraki , but wrongfully went ahead to discharge and acquit the Senate President.

The notice of appeal stated , “ The power of the Tribunal when upholding a no - case submission is to discharge the defendant and not to acquit him.

“ By section 302 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act , 2015 , the only order the Tribunal can make when a no - case submission is upheld is an order of discharge and not acquittal .”

Also , the appellant faulted the claim by the CCT that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which investigated the case against Saraki , failed to invite him for interrogation before charging him.

It contended that the CCT ’s finding was against the evidence adduced by the prosecution.

It stated that contrary to the CCT ’ s finding , the EFCC invited Saraki and obtained his hand - written statement made by him under caution and the prosecution tendered the document before the CCT as exhibit 45.

It added that the decision by the CCT amounted to overruling its earlier ruling delivered on March 24 , 2016 and the judgment of a superior court , the Court of Appeal , where “ it was decided that the defendant ( Saraki ) needs not to be invited . ”

The notice read in part, “ PW 1 never said that the EFCC did not invite the respondent in the course of investigation of the petition against him but that PW 1 did not personally invite the defendant.

“ The tribunal’ s decision is against its earlier ruling delivered on March 24 , 2016 and the decision of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No : CA/ A / 172 C / 2016 where it was decided that the defendant need not to be invited.

“ The tribunal wrongly overruled the decisions of the Court of Appeal and itself .”
It argued that then CCT erred when it described the testimony of a prosecution witness as hearsay.

The notice of appeal read , “ PWIII is an investigator with the Code of Conduct Bureau who gave evidence of the role he played, what he saw and the outcome of his investigation.

“ The Tribunal failed to consider paragraphs 11 ( 2 ) , ( 3 ) and ( 13 ) of Part 1 , 5 th Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , 1999 ( as amended ) which imposed the onus of proof on the respondent to justify his declaration.

“ The evidence of PWIII is not hearsay evidence.”
In another grounds of appeal , the appellant faulted the decision of the co- member of the CCT , William Agwaza, who held that the joint investigative team, comprising operatives of the EFCC , the Department of State Services and the CCB was unknown to law.

The appellant stated , “ The respondent, by his own application dated 1 st March , 2016, had raised the same issue that it is only the Code of Conduct Bureau that could investigate him and that the power of investigation cannot be delegated to the EFCC or any other body or agency.

“The tribunal, by its ruling delivered on 24 th March , 2016 , ruled and dismissed the application of the respondent and he appealed to the Court of Appeal in Appeal No : CA/ A/ 172 C / 2016.

“ The Court of Appeal in the judgment delivered 27th October, 2016, by Aboki , PJCA , dismissed the appeal and held that “ there is nothing in any law preventing the Code of Conduct Bureau, an agent of the Federal Government, from collaborating or acting in concert with any other organs of the Federal Government , which are also engaged in investigations and prosecution of criminal matters in order to achieve its mandate under the constitution and the law.”

“ By the ruling of Hon . Agwadza , he has unwittingly sat on appeal and overruled the earlier decision of the Tribunal and the decision of the Court of Appeal.

“ The decision of Hon. Agwadza borders on judicial rascality and impertinence. ”

The notice of appeal also faulted the CCT pronouncement that the prosecution did not tender the original asset declaration forms of the respondent and his statement when they were available.

It stated , “ Exhibits 1 to 6 , 26 and 45 qualify as public documents under Section 102 of the Evidence Act , 2011 , and there is no law that makes only the original of public documents admissible in law.

“ The Tribunal failed to consider the provisions of Sections 102 , 104 , 105 and 146 of the Evidence Act, 2011 to the effect that a certified true copy of a public document or part thereof may be produced in proof of the contents of the public document or a part thereof.

“ The Tribunal effectively overruled the decisions of the Supreme Court in Odubeko v. Fowler (1993) 7 NWLR (Pt. 308) 637 and the Court of Appeal in Tumo v . Muwana (2000) 12 NWLR ( Pt . 681 ) 370 that courts must presume certified true copies of public document as genuine and act on it unless there is a contrary evidence.

“The Tribunal completely closed its eyes to the fact that the prosecution produced the original of the assets declaration forms before the Tribunal and requested the Tribunal and the defendant to compare the original with the certified true copies without any objection from the defendant.”

The notice of appeal added, “The Code of Conduct Tribunal erred in law in upholding the no - case submission raised by the respondent at the close of prosecution ’ s case and in discharging the respondent.

“ By the authorities cited , the prosecution only has a duty to show that there are some infractions of the Code of Conduct prescribed for public officers under the Constitution and the prosecution had established those infractions through his witnesses.”


http://punchng.com/fg-appeals-says-sarakis-acquittal-unreasonable/

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, on Tuesday urged federal and state governments to pay pension and workers’ salaries before the Sallah festival.

The union said in a statement issued in Abuja by its General Secretary, Actor Zal, that the gesture would ease current hardship and allow pensioners and workers celebrate the event without hassle.

It particularly noted that most pensioners depend solely on their paltry pensions to meet their financial obligations.

The union lauded the acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, for the recent release of funds for their payment, and urged for similar release of their pension for June.

It stressed that state governments should also make prompt payment of pensions and salaries a priority especially during festivals.

The union said that pensioners and workers have spent their little savings observing the Ramadan fast and have little or nothing left to celebrate the Sallah.

“We believe that this is a listening government and we are sure the government will accede to our request so that our people can have cause to smile during the celebration,” it added.

(NAN)

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/234592-pay-salaries-pension-sallah-union-urges-nigerian-govt.html

The Kaduna State Government on Wednesday formally announced the introduction of residency card for all its residents.

The government said the move was to enable it plan and provide social services.

The state’s Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Muhammad Abdullahi, told journalists the initiative was crucial for planning purposes.

He spoke shortly after he was registered for the card at the North West Zonal Office of the National Identity Card Management Commission (NIMC) in Kaduna.

He said: “Kaduna State Government is currently providing a number of free social services for the people in the state.

“But to achieve the desired impact, we need to have the accurate figure of those residing in the state. We need to know who and who resides in our state and where.

“When we know the number of people residing in the state and where they are, it will help us to plan and provide better services and for all residents. ’’

He said people would soon be required to present their residency card before they could access such services.

“Kaduna state is open for everyone due to its strategic location, geographically, economically and politically.

“But if you are going to stay in the state beyond 180 days, you would be required to register and obtain our residency card.

“This is very important not only in planning, but also in ensuring security. We gathered that most of the security issues we are having in the state are cause by people from other states,” he said.

The commissioner explained that the registration exercise was being carried out in partnership with NIMC and open to all residents of all ages.

He appealed to everyone to come out en mass and get registered in the more than 31 centres across the state.

The NIMC North West Zonal Director, Oyesola Taiwo, explained that registration for the residency card was linked with the NIMC data base.

“The process is very easy, if you already have the national identification number, all you need to do is just to present the number and you will be captured immediately.

“In a situation that you do not have, the first step is to register for the national identification number, after, you will be captured for the state residency card,” he added.

Idris Abdullahi, Chairman, Kaduna House of Assembly Committee on Budget and Planning, said the exercise had legal backing and was appropriated for in the 2017 budget.

He enjoined all residents in the state to support the government in meeting their needs by coming out with their families, friends and relations to register.

(NAN)

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nwest/234133-kaduna-govt-introduces-residency-card.html