The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday said the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), had approved the relaxation of restriction placed on churches and mosques starting from Tuesday (today).

The Chairman of the task force and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, who disclosed this at the PTF press briefing in Abuja, said the reopening of churches and mosques would be based on guidelines issued by the task force and protocols agreed on by states.

But the Coordinator of the PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu, gave detailed explanations of the recommendations approved by the President.

In its reaction, the Christian Association of Nigeria told The PUNCH that it was awaiting the details of the reopening of worship centres.

Mustapha said the ban on interstate movements, which the President, in his April 27 broadcast, imposed on the nation, remained. He stated that the second phase of eased lockdown would begin on Tuesday (today) and end on June 29.

Buhari had on April 27 imposed an 8pm to 6am curfew on the nation and introduced a total lockdown on Kano State, which recorded a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Mustapha said the PTF on Sunday submitted a report to the President based on its review of the eased lockdown. According to him, the second phase will be guided by “data and science.”

He said the PTF recommendations were, among others, based on the impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and all national economies as well as pain the lockdown brought upon the poor.

He said the PTF took into consideration the advisory of the World Health Organisation on the need to follow a slow and phased approach that is data driven.

The chairman said, under the eased lockdown, Nigeria’s confirmed cases increased, adding that the majority of the confirmed cases were in 20 out of the 774 local government areas in the country.

Second phase of eased lockdown begins Tuesday ends June 29

Mustapha stated, “The PTF submitted its recommendations and the President has approved the following for implementation over the next four weeks spanning June 2 to June 29 subject to review: cautious advance into the second phase of the national response to COVID-19.”

FG rolls out guidelines for second phase of eased lockdown

According to him, during the second phase, there will be mobilisation of resources at state and local government levels to create public awareness on COVID -19.

He also said there would be “ban on gatherings of more than 20 people outside of a workplace (and) relaxation of restriction on places of worship based on guidelines issued by the PTF and protocols agreed by state governments.”

Other recommendations approved by the President, according to him, include “managed access to markets and locations of economic activity to limit the risk of transmission; ban on inter-state travels except for movement of agricultural produce, petroleum products, manufactured goods and essential services; mandatory use of non-medical face masks in public places and provision of hand washing facilities/sanitisers in all public places.”

There will also be extensive temperature checks in public places; maintenance of two metres between people in public places.

Mustapha said the President also approved easing the total lockdown of Kano State and introduction of phase one of the eased lockdown in the state.

We lack infrastructure to isolate all COVID-19 patients – PTF

Mustapha also said government did not have not enough infrastructure to isolate everyone that tested positive for COVID-19.

The SGF said, “We have been able to interrupt the level of transmission and we can now situate the level of transmission within 20 local government areas that account for the total figure of 60 per cent of 10, 107 that we have for today,” he said.

“What we need to do now is to apply a precision intervention process so that we can deal with the transmission at that level and those particular localities. Provide care for those that are infected and also put in place home management guidelines because very soon as the figure scales out, we would not be able to provide isolation for everybody that has tested positive.

“It’s not done anywhere. We lack the infrastructure, we lack the capacity to do that. It is not even advisable. What we have to do is to provide care at the home management level for those that are asymptomatic and can’t dangerously transmit the virus.”

Curfew now between 10pm and 4am

But the national coordinator of the PTF said the nationwide curfew would be between 10pm and 4am, with effect from Tuesday (today).

Aliyu said, “From tomorrow, Tuesday, 2nd of June, 2020, the easing of the lockdown will be characterised by the following: the nationwide curfew will remain in place but the timing of this will be reduced to 10pm – 4am. Vehicles that are on essential duty, including but not limited to those involved in the provision of health care services, media services and critical infrastructure, are exempted from the curfew.

“Open interstate travel by individuals remains prohibited except for essential travels and movement of goods and services. Just to make it clear: all restriction on the free movement of goods and services is now removed in this phase.

Banks to begin full operations

“There will be full opening of the financial sector, with banks now free to operate normal working hours, five days a week.

He, however, said state governments would supervise relaxation of worship centres

“Restricted opening of places of worship will be based on state governments’ protocols and with strict guidelines on physical distancing and other non-pharmaceutical interventions. Just to clarify: this will apply to regular church and mosque services only,” he said.

Aliyu also said the mandatory supervised isolation of persons arriving from outside the country would continue to be for 14 days until a new policy comes into place.

“Just to clarify again: there will be no further evacuation of Nigerians until the new policy that is currently being developed with the private sector comes into being. So, any prior arrangement for evacuation of Nigerians from outside the country is suspended until the new policy comes into place,” he stated.

FG bans street trading, hawking

The PTF national coordinator further said while markets would be opened and artisans could run their business, street hawking was prohibited.

He said, “In terms of general movements, persons may go out for work, go out to buy necessary foods and for exercise, provided they abide by the curfew hours. Movement between local government areas is strongly discouraged unless for critical reasons such as health care and work.

“I will like to emphasise that it is still safer to stay at home and avoid crowds. The pandemic is not over in this country and the relaxation of some of the rules does not mean that it is safer to go out. If you do not need to go out, please continue to stay at home.

“Hawking and street trading is also prohibited and we will be looking into this in greater detail with state authorities.”

“With interstate travels, movement across state boundaries remains restricted other than the free movement of goods and essential travels. Security services are requested to please cooperate with members of the public and ensure that goods are provided with free passage, as this particular phase is directed at ensuring the economy starts moving again.

“With intrastate travel, we will implement new travel processes for areas of the country with high-burden local government areas, and this will be restricted to essential travels.”

The task force coordinator listed the new guidelines for reopening of offices in the public and private sectors.

He said, “For the industry and labour sectors, in terms of working hours, normal working hours will apply to offices other than government offices, provided this is kept within (outside) the curfew hours of 10pm to 4am. Offices are to maintain working at 75 per cent capacity while maintaining the two-metre physical distancing.

“For government offices, they can open between the hours of 9am and 2pm. So, no changes in opening hours but can work from Monday to Friday. Prior to this, we allowed three working days. However, all persons within the Grade Levels of 14 and above at both the federal and state governments will be allowed to come to work.”

…Bars, clubs, gyms to remain closed

Aliyu also announced that while hotels could reopen, their restaurants must obey safety guidelines. He, however, said bars, recreation parks and communal sports remain barred.

He said, “Hotels may reopen but must observe all mandatory non-pharmaceutical interventions. Restaurants other than those in hotels must remain closed for eat-in but are allowed to prioritise and continue practising the take-away system.

“Bars, gyms, cinemas and night-clubs are closed until further evaluation. We will continue to support the agricultural sector to ensure food security for our citizens, and in this regard, farmers are requested to please go ahead with their normal activities provided they observe all mandatory health interventions.”

…Schools remain closed, final year students to prepare for exams

He added, “All schools to remain closed until further evaluation. The Federal Ministry of Education is instructed to work with schools to start the process of preparing students that require exiting exams, to allow them to take exams early in the next phase of the lifting of the lockdown. But for the moment, schools are to remain closed.

“I have already mentioned places of worship. Restricted opening will apply subject to the guidelines issued by the PTF as well as the protocols agreed by respective state governments, working with religious leaders.

“Recreational parks and communal sports to remain closed until further evaluation.

He said for funerals, the task force was limiting the crowd to 20 people including family, with physical distancing adhered to, as well as hand washing.

At the press conference, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the Federal Government was anticipating a second wave of COVID-19 infections after the relaxation of the lockdown.

FG sends technical team to Lagos over rising cases

Ehanire added that the Federal Ministry of Health had sent a technical team to Lagos State because of the “special situation” in the state which called for support and advice.

He said, “The mission of the Federal Ministry of Health led by the Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency has arrived in Lagos. It also includes the Department of Family Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. They are there to see how Lagos is doing and finding ways in which the Federal Government can offer support and also share experiences. Before now, we had spoken of similar missions to Kano State.

“The experience we have is that once we have lockdown relaxed in certain places, you have a second wave of infections. Here, we are aware of that and we are anticipating that if anything like that happens, we should be able to counter with measures. That is why we have emphasised non-pharmaceutical interventions that are driven by not only the government but by citizens – everyone.

“Those who are vulnerable should stay at home – you are safest in your homes. If you live in a home of many people, keep your masks on at home. With all these non-pharmaceutical measures, we do hope we can temper the second wave if there is one.”

On the threat by resident doctors to embark on strike, the health minister urged them to allow the Federal Government to resolve their demands, saying the decision to go on strike should be shelved.

We await further details- CAN

Meanwhile, the Special Assistant on Media and Communication to the CAN President, Adebayo Oladeji, said the association was awaiting further details.

He said, “We want to get the details before we will react fully. But in the interim, it is a welcome development. It is our prayer that God will surely deliver Nigeria from the pandemic in Jesus Name.

“If Christians and Muslims return to their worship places to pray for victory over COVID-19, God will surely answer us. The closure of the worship places is not acceptable to God. We thank God for opening the eyes of our government to the reality.

“The Church is ready for the reopening and willing to follow the NCDC guidelines and while waiting for them. We have already directed all churches to keep to the hygienic regulations whenever they meet and to pray for the victory over COVID-19. The new development is as a result of our meeting with the religious leaders.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1591090151/opens-churches-mosques-relaxes-curfew-can-awaits

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The Jigawa State Police Command said it had arrested 11 men for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl in the state.

It was gathered that the men raped the victim on different occasions.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects were arrested when one of them allegedly lured the victim to the Limawa Market in of the Dutse Local Government Area of the state.

Upon interrogation, the victim named the other suspects, who had carnal knowledge of her.

The News Agency of Nigeria quoted the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abdu Jinjiri, as saying that the suspects were arrested on Saturday after the police received a complaint that one of them tried to have sexual intercourse with the victim.

He said, “A case of rape is being investigated at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department in Dutse following a report received by the police that a 57-year-old man from Ma’ai village, Dutse LGA, was seen in the Limawa Market trying to lure a 12-year-old girl of the same address to seclusion to have sexual intercourse with her.

“In the course of interrogation, the victim listed the names of 11 men, who had sexual intercourse with her at different times, and to this end, the police arrested the listed suspects, who will be charged as soon as investigations are completed.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1590998774/men-arrested-for-raping-year-old-girl

The Federal House of Representatives candidate for the All Progressives Congress for Ibadan South-East/North-East in Oyo State in the 2019 general election, Mr Deji Aboderin, has defected to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

Aboderin was Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

While addressing journalists on Sunday, Aboderin attributed his defection to what he termed as the uncomplimentary attitude of some of the elders in the party.

He alleged, that some of the party leadership worked against his victory in the last election.

Aboderin, who said his decision to defect from the APC was following months of consultation with members of his constituency, described as the Lamist group in the APC as the main problem confronting the party in the state.

He said, “When I ran for an election under the APC as the Federal House of Representatives candidate, I had issues because of this same problem going on within the APC. I had issues with the secretary of the party and the state chairman who never wanted me to be the candidate of the party and they vowed that they would make sure that I didn’t win the election because of the son of their godfather.

“On election day, they worked against me whereas all of us as party members, including the party chairman and secretary, were supposed to work together for all the candidates. I was leading up till the midnight. I got a call from someone that they had begun to void my votes for no reason.

“Party leaders kept ignoring my calls. It showed that there was conspiracy from day one for me to lose that election, and if I was going to win through the court, they had already perfected their plans.

“I would have gone before the APC reconciliation committee, but my team noticed that the new administration is doing well. I am still a youth and we got a youth in power. What matters now to me is to support any individual that is doing well for his people.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1591000092/deji-aboderin-dumps-apc-for-pdp

The Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Wednesday, alleged that the Dr. Kayode Fayemi-led administration had sold the State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

The state PDP Caretaker Committee Secretary, Diran Odeyemi, asked the governor to explain to Ekiti people the status of the property located at T.Y Danjuma, Asokoro, Abuja.

Odeyemi, said this in a statement in Ado Ekiti. He claimed there was credible evidence to show that the property had been sold, adding that “Governor Fayemi must explain to Ekiti people why the building was demolished and a new structure being built on the land.”

He alleged that the Fayemi-led All Progressives Congress administration “got the state government to buy a property belonging to him in Abuja, to be converted to a new Governor’s Lodge after selling the one in Asokoro, Abuja.

The party scribe said, “Should spending billions of naira on a new Governor’s Lodge in Abuja be the priority of the same Fayemi’s government that sacked over 3,000 workers under the pretext that there was no money to pay them?

“As at today, the edifice sitting on 2000sqm on T. Y. Danjuma, Asokoro, Abuja is no longer there. It has been demolished and new structure is being built on the land. At the site, no signpost stating the owner of the new structure, the contractor and consultant as it should be if the new structure is being built by the state government.

“Also, assuming but not conceding that the new structure with like 15 feet bunker is being built by the state government, what is the justification for pulling down the old structure and building a new one at this time? At what time did the former structure become dilapidated to warrant total demolition to pave way for a new one?

“It is therefore our demand that Governor Fayemi must explain to Ekiti people what happened to the multi-billion-naira edifice in Abuja.”

However, the state Commissioner for Works, Mr Sola Adebayo said, “We have heard about the allegation from the PDP. I don’t think we have any reason to rush in replying because there is nothing like fraud as regards the Abuja property. We will respond very soon.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1590654013/pdp-alleges-fayemi-sold-abuja-governor-lodge

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, said alleged hostilities among top government officials was an indication that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Executive Council (FEC) has become “cancerous” and incapable of driving an organised, result-oriented system.

The PDP, in a statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, said FEC should be disbanded as brickbats among officials in the Presidency, including presidential aides, ministers and heads of agencies have exposed an alleged “scandalous breakdown of the administration’s central command system.”

The opposition said situations where government officials were constantly engaged in endless clashes, “backbiting, betrayals, leakage of sensitive documents and internal bickering over pecuniary and political interests, in manners not different from street skirmishes of common cult groups” is unacceptable to the country.The PDP said it was shocking that the alleged acrimony among top government officials have reached a level where Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, reportedly evicted staff of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) from their allocated office, while the Chairman of the Commission, Abike Dabiri, was on official assignment with the President.

According to the party, “currently, the newly appointed Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, are said to be at each other’s throat, with the SGF reportedly querying the decision of the president to sack the former Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Mr. Usman Mohammed. The situation had degenerated into serious confusion in the federal executive.

“Nigerians can recall the bitter wrangling, wherein the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen Babagana Monguno, earlier this yearalerted that presidential responsibilities, including presiding over sensitive security

matters, have been hijacked by the late Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, thereby frustrating the fight against insurgency and acts of violence ravaging our country.

“Furthermore, the power sector is still under the stress of squabbling between the SGF and the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, with the SGF, reinstating some officials, who were sacked by the minister in December last

year. “The nation has also not forgotten the embarrassing public fight between the First Lady, Aisha Buhari and President Muhammadu Buhari’s cousins, over rooms in the Presidential villa, which further exposed the chaotic situation in the President Buhariled administration.

“Before then, the First Lady had alerted the nation that a cabal had hijacked the federal executive and taken over governance of our nation.”

The PDP added: “It is sad that presidential hostilities had resulted in escalated cases of internal sabotage including the leakage of sensitive

documents as exposed by the Head of Service, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan and recently witnessed in the embarrassing leakage of President Buhari’s draft COVID-19 speech.

“Nigerians can now see how vulnerable our nation has become and why it is

extremely difficult for our country to witness any progress under the Buhari Presidency, which has also ruined all the gains achieved under the PDP.

“Indeed, no nation can achieve meaningful development under a rancorous and

shambolic Federal Executive Council as currently constituted with the height of irredeemable division among them. Such a situation never obtained under the watch of the PDP in the glorious years of our nation. Our party therefore counsels President Buhari to re-direct the course of our Nation’s tides by disbanding his poorly assembled and dysfunctional federal executive council.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1590589434/buhari-led-fec-cancerous-pdp

Presidential spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, says Nigerians are lucky to have the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), as their leader.

Adesina has come under fire following some of his comments.

He insists his boss is performing well, despite the contrary opinions held by regime critics.

But the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity said on Monday he owed no one apologies for being a ‘Buharist’, adding that he would continue to remain one.

“In fact, we are lucky to have him at a time like this,” he tweeted on his handle, @FemiAdesina.

“I am a Buharist any day, no apologies, and I believe the President is leading the country well.”

Adesina was reacting to comments made about him by persons he described as “mischief-makers”.

He wrote, “A quote from mischief-makers is making the rounds, ascribed to me. I just dey laugh.”

He has faced more heat since the appointment of Prof Ibrahim Gambari as the Chief of Staff to the President.

Adesina’s critics, in their latest attacks, reminded him of how he vilified Gambari in the past over the latter’s alleged supportive role in the trial and execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa by the Sani Abacha regime.

Some mocked him, saying he might have to eat his words now that the same Gambari had become his boss at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

READ ALSO: Petrol sold above N130 in 17 states, says NBS

Weeks back, amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic, Buhari came under attack following his initial silent approach to the pandemic, as they demanded that he address the nation.

Before Buhari made his first March 29 nationwide broadcast, Adesina had defended the President’s silence, saying that leadership, like “stylistics” in literary appreciation, was about an individual’s style.

He argued that while other world leaders addressed their citizens about the pandemic, it was Buhari’s style to remain taciturn while agencies of government did their work.

However, a few days later, the President reversed his style by addressing the nation.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1590576974/nigeria-lucky-have-buhari-says-adesina

Personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory have arrested 42 suspected cultists in the Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The suspects, who were handed over to officials of the state government on Tuesday, were allegedly attending an initiation when they were rounded up on Sunday.

The Commander of the NNSVS, Rear Admiral Vincent Okeke, who briefed journalists, said the suspects were arrested following a tip-off.


Okeke, who was represented by Captain Ibrahim Gwaska, said the navy standby team was informed that the suspects had gathered in Akpabuyo for an initiation and other activities.

He said intelligence gathered revealed that there was going to be a clash between members of the Klans and confraternities.

Okeke stated, “We are here for a routine handover of 42 suspects to the Cross River State Government’s representative. Accordingly, the base responded to a tip-off and cordoned off the area in Akpabuyo. In that raid, we arrested 61 suspected cultists.

“On arrival, preliminary investigation was conducted and 42 out of the 61 persons were confirmed to be cultists.

“It is in this regard that we will be handing over the suspects to the state government and officials of the Anti-Cultism and Kidnapping Squad for onward investigation and prosecution.”

The suspected cultists were handed over to the State Security Adviser, Southern Senatorial District, Mr Ani Esin.

Esin commended the navy for acting swiftly on the tip-off it received.

He stated, “As a state government, we are doing our best in ensuring that the issue of cultism is dealt with squarely. We are going to hand over the suspects to the relevant security agency for investigation and prosecution.

“For a few days now, we have been carrying out operation with other security agencies to make sure that all suspected cultists are arrested and prosecuted accordingly.”

An official of the Anti-Cultism and Kidnapping Squad, Mr Ogini Chukwuma, took custody of the suspects for prosecution.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1590565610/suspected-cultists-arrested-during-initiation-cross-river

A career ambassador nominee from Kogi State, Mrs Regina Ingekem Ocheni, has come under fierce attack for allegedly falling short of the requirements of established rules and guidelines in Nigeria’s Federal Civil Service for an ambassadorial position, a petition before the Senate has revealed.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in a letter dated May 6th and addressed to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, nominated 42 career ambassadors across the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for screening and confirmation.

According to the petition sent to the Senate and dated May 14th, Mrs Ocheni whose husband, Prof Stephen Ocheni, was the immediate past Minister of State for Labour, hails from Cross River State as against her claim of indigeneship of Kogi State.

The service-wide extant regulation authored by the Federal Character Commission stipulates that an officer is prohibited from claiming the State of Origin of her spouse for the purpose of any appointment in Nigeria’s public service.

In the petition to the Senate President, a copy of which was obtained by Daily Sun, the upper legislative chamber was urged by the petitioner, Mr Adam Umar Bako, who is the most senior career officer from Kogi State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reject the nomination of Mrs Ocheni which was described as a ‘flagrant breach of laid down rules and regulations in Nigeria’s civil service.’

According to the petition, Mrs Ocheni violated a circular of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs which directed all officers laying claim to their spouse’s state of origin to revert to their indigenous state on the strength of the Federal Character Circular dated March 1st, 2011.

‘This rule she (Mrs Ocheni) has infracted upon and indeed has gone to arrange a local government indigeneship certificate in response to the ministry’s circular Ref No: 2/AS.285/S.139 dated 13 February 2020, that demanded all officers claiming their husbands’ state of origin to revert to their indigenous state,” the petition disclosed.

The petitioner lamented the grave injustice being done to him by presenting Mrs Ocheni’s name in place of his, having put in about 30 years of meritorious service to the country’s foreign service compared to Mrs Ocheni who only joined the Foreign Affairs Ministry less than 10 years ago.

‘She possesses an HND certificate in Secretariat Study…More troubling is the fact that at the time she joined the Foreign Service, the law harmonising HND and First Degree had not been passed and assented to, therefore, she could at best have been on Grade Level 14 which was the bar for all HND holders as at then. The crucial and worrisome question is, how did she come into the service on Grade Level 15 without additional qualification?,’ he queried.

In the petition which was copied to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, the petitioner sought for the restoration of his right as the most senior officer from Kogi State in the service, adding that, ‘leaving her (Mrs Ocheni’s) nomination to proceed to confirmation on the basis of misrepresentation of facts among other illegalities will occasion a grave injustice, kill morale and create bad blood in the service.’

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1590499234/pressure-buhari-replace-ambassadorial-nominee

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Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Ogun State has threatened showdown with Chinese quarry operators who allegedly treat Nigerian workers “like animals.”

The NLC expressed worry that many quarries owned by Chinese companies in the state treat their workers badly in terms of condition of service and remuneration, deploying what they termed “use-and-dump tactics.”

The NLC State Chairman, Emmanuel Bankole spoke at the weekend during a meeting with representatives of the quarry owners at the NLC Secretariat, Abeokuta.

The meeting which was facilitated by the State chapter of Nigeria Union of Mine Workers (NUMW) was attended by the Federal Comptroller of Labour, Comrade Anthony Olawoyin, the Federal Mining Officer, Bunmi Ayelabola, and the Chairman of the State NUMW, Comrade Fasiu Abiola.

According to the NLC Chairman, the quarry operators, apart from poor condition of service, have no adequate provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect workers from hazards.

“Information at our disposal revealed that many quarries owned by the Chinese, operating in the State hire Nigerians for cheap labour. They hire and fire at will; they use Nigerians as casual workers.

“The NLC law says a company is only allowed to employ a worker as casual staff for six months, after which such worker must be made a staff; but these quarries employ Nigerians for more than 27 years as casual workers,” he said.

Bankole alleged that many of the quarries do not allow their workers to unionise, saying “Unionisation is a fundamental human right that nobody and no employer can take away. If people are willing to unionise, you cannot take it away from them. They are free to unionise, to join any union of their choice.”

“The NLC shall take this no more, we are ready to contend with you (quarry owners). This is Nigeria and we will not allow anybody under any guise to come to Nigeria and use Nigerians anyhow they want. This is a country that is governed by rules and regulations.

“This meeting is not to witch hunt anybody but we are doing this for our country. It is because Nigeria is good, that they (Chinese) are here to do business. If Nigeria is not conducive, they will go back to their country. But this is our own country, and we have nowhere to go. This is why we owe it a duty to protect the weak,” Bankoke said.

While responding, one of the representatives of the quarry operators, Fase Olukayode denied the allegations.

Olukayode, a consultant to CCECC quarry, a Chinese company said, “As far as we are concerned, these allegations are not true. For the quarries that I’m consulting for, we have union, we have union leaders on our sites and there is no way the union will be looking at the Chinese maltreating our people; this is not possible,” he said.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1590418266/chinese-quarry-operators-use-and-dump-nigerians

The Ondo State Police Command, on Monday, confirmed the arrest of four men, who were allegedly caught with human heads.

The suspects, who were said to be workers at the Akure South Local Government Council’s cemetery, are Adewale Abiodun, 40; Akinola Sunday, 69; Oluwadare Idowu, 67; and one Olomofe, 45.

It was gathered that the suspects were apprehended while severing the head of a newly-buried corpse at the cemetery on Saturday.

A source said a few hours after the corpse was buried, the family of the deceased returned to the cemetery to make arrangements on how to cover the grave in concrete.

The source stated, “On getting to the grave, the family members met the suspects digging the grave with the intention of exhuming the corpse.

“It was at that point that it was discovered that the suspects had four severed male heads and a female head.

“They immediately invited men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, who arrested the suspects.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Tee-Leo Ikoro, said investigation had commenced into the case, adding that other members of the syndicate would soon be apprehended.

“The ongoing investigation will reveal everything, particularly other members of the gang. From what we have found out, that was not their first time. It is something they have been doing; it is a routine thing,” the PPRO stated.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1590479000/ondo-cemetery-workers-arrested-with-human-heads

The Federal Government has threatened to dismiss officers caught leaking official documents on social media.

It said recent “unfortunate unauthorised disclosure of official documents on social media” was embarrassing and therefore unacceptable.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, issued the threat in a circular marked HCSF/109/S.1/120 with the title, ‘Unauthorised circulation of official documents/information on social media.’

Our correspondent obtained a copy of the circular dated May 22, 2020 on Sunday.

Yemi-Esan issued the threat barely a week after a query she issued the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Mohammed Bello Umar, for allegedly buying what she described as “uncompleted carcass” building for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the sum of N7bn became a public knowledge.

The HCSF had claimed that Umar superintended over the transaction for the purchase when he was still the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

She also accused the permanent secretary of giving out seven deep drilling rigs for borehole procured at N1.3bn to some unnamed individuals under “fraudulent arrangements.”

Umar’s six-page response to the query dated May 14, 2020, in which he denied all the allegations levelled against him and described them as mere concoction based on malice also found its way into the media.

The text of the April 28 nationwide broadcast of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on measures being taken to curtail the spread of COVID-19 was also leaked on social media platforms some hours ahead of the 8pm broadcast time.

Yemi-Esan, in the May 22 circular, however, described leaking of official documents as “an act of serious misconduct” which attracts dismissal as contained in the Public Service Rules.

The circular read, “The attention of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation has been drawn to the recent unfortunate unauthorised disclosure of official documents on the social media.

“In some cases, official documents that have been minuted on are also leaked. This irresponsible and reckless action is an act of serious misconduct with a penalty of dismissal from service as provided for in Public Service Rules Nos. 030401 and 030402.

“The ugly development is embarrassing to government and therefore not acceptable. Any public officer caught engaging in this act of serious misconduct will be severely dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Rules.

“Permanent secretaries are to draw the attention of all their staff to the content of this circular and the consequences of breaking the rules.”

The circular was addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President; Deputy Chief of Staff to President, Office of the Vice President; all ministers; Secretary to the Government of the Federation; all permanent secretaries; and service chiefs/lnspector-General of Police.

Others are the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; chairmen of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Police Service Commission, Code of Conduct Bureau, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Federal Character Commission, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, National Population Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Others who were copied are the Clerk of the National Assembly; Secretary, National Judicial Council; Auditor-General for the Federation; Surveyor-General of the Federation; Chief Registrar, Supreme Court of Nigeria; as well as Directors-General and chief executives of parastatals/agencies.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1590485927/threatens-dismiss-officials-leaking-official-documents

A 23-year-old security guard, Sunday Ezra, has reportedly been beaten to death by yet to-be-identified persons at the New Trafford Hotel and Suites in the Gwallameji area of Bauchi metropolis.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident occurred around 2am on Monday when residents of the area descended on the deceased and beat him until he became unconscious.

A source told our correspondent that a mobile phone got missing on the premises of the hotel and the deceased was suspected to have stolen it, but he protested his innocence to no avail.

The source added that the crowd that gathered did not believe him and started beating him with the aim of recovering the phone, but he was said to have maintained his innocence.

In the process, Ezra was said to have slumped and lost consciousness, while the missing phone was later found by a corps member, who returned it.

Another source and a neighbour to the deceased, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that Ezra sustained fractures on his left arm and right leg as well as injuries to his face.

He added that the deceased was stripped and abandoned in a hut on the hotel premises until the security guard, who was to relieve him, saw him in that state and quickly alerted their security outsourcing firm.

The neighbour said, “The security company sent its supervisor, who came to the place and when he saw Ezra’s condition, he informed his grandmother and she called me.

“We went to the Yelwa Divisional Police Station and made a report, but the police personnel said we should go and bring him.

“We went and conveyed him to the station in a tricycle and from there, we rushed him to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital around 2pm and medical officials pronounced him dead around 3.15pm.

“What surprised us was how they dumped him in that place for several hours without anyone taking him to the hospital until his colleague came.

“He sustained fractures in some parts of his body. It was while the doctor was trying to pass the drip to him that we noticed that he had stopped breathing.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1590478907/hotel-patrons-beat-guard-death-over-missing

In this interview with ENIOLA AKINKUOTU, Mrs Dorcas Jolayemi, the wife of a journalist detained for criticising Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, recounts her eight-day ordeal in the custody of the Kwara State Police Command

A human rights organisation claimed you spent eight days in police detention because of your husband’s poem, which was critical of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed. Can you narrate the events that led to your arrest?

On April 29, 2020 policemen came to my house in Ilorin, Kwara State, but I was not at home. I had gone to visit my brother-in-law. I was told that when they realised I was not at home, they came to my brother-in-law’s house in a Hilux van. They were about four policemen altogether. They said they had come to arrest me and I stood up. They kept asking me where my phone was and I told them it was with my son.

They said I must follow them to their station with my phone. Eventually, I got the phone and we left. On getting to the State Criminal Investigation Department, they began to interrogate me. They asked why I obstructed the arrest of my husband. I asked them what they meant by that.

They asked me when last I spoke with my husband and I told them I spoke with him in the morning. They said they wanted to arrest my husband and he fled to Maro in Kwara State. They said I was the one who advised him to run away and switch off his phone. They played a recording of my phone conversation with my husband.

Apparently, they had bugged my phone and that of my husband. I admitted that, indeed, I told my husband to run away, but it wasn’t a crime because I didn’t harbour him. I only asked him not to come home, which is what a typical wife would do. I heard the police wanted to arrest him and I didn’t know the reason why they wanted to arrest him. I told him to run away because I wanted him to be safe. They said for that, I would pay for it. I was brought before their boss and the man insulted me, calling me a stupid woman. He said I shouldn’t have advised my husband to run away. The man said I would pay for it and they took my statement. I was there from April 29 to May 6.

What exactly was your husband accused of doing?

While I was in detention, they played a recording of the poem that was recited by my husband. They asked if I could confirm if the voice belonged to my husband and I said it was his voice. They said how could my husband be insulting Lai Mohammed, a minister. They said it was Lai Mohammed that ordered them to arrest him.

When you were in detention, were you tortured by the police?

My experience in police custody was horrible. It was my older sister that was bringing food to me. I wasn’t allowed to communicate with anybody. They didn’t let me speak with my son. I slept on the corridor of the toilet. The place was horrible. I couldn’t sleep most of the time because of mosquitoes. I would stay awake most nights to ward off the mosquitoes.

Did you have access to your lawyer during that period?

No. They didn’t even allow me to talk to anyone, not even to my lawyer.

Did the police also arrest other relatives of yours?

My husband’s younger brother, Mr Joseph Jolayemi, was arrested on April 28. He was arrested because of my husband. At the time of his arrest, he was accused of possessing a stolen cell phone. However, on getting to the SCID, he was interrogated. The police asked him questions about my husband. They subsequently played a phone conversation he had with my husband. It was obvious that his phone had also been bugged. My brother’s older brother, John Jolayemi, was also arrested.

Who took care of your children in your absence?

My brother-in-law’s wife was the one that took care of them.

Did you bribe the police before you were released?

When my husband finally presented himself a week later, we were released. He came with a lawyer. So we signed some documents. I can’t really say what happened afterwards. I don’t know if the police were given money or not. My brothers-in-law may know.

How has your health been since your release?

My two brothers-in-law and I were all hospitalised after we were released. We spent about a week in hospital. We had severe malaria. It was a traumatic experience.

Have you had contact with your husband since his arrest?

The last time I saw or spoke to my husband was on May 5, 2020, the day he turned himself in at the SCID. On Thursday, which was May 7, he was taken to Abuja and since then, he has remained there.

Do you know if he is alive and well?

Sincerely, I don’t even know if he is alive or not because I have no access to him. Even his brothers are getting information about him from third parties. I don’t know whether he is sick or well. I worry about him every day.

Have you made attempts to plead with Lai Mohammed to drop the case?

According to my brothers-in-law, they sent representatives to plead with Lai Mohammed to drop the case. They said the Oba of Ilala in Kwara State and some other traditional rulers had gone to the minister to plead with him, but he has refused to respond. Some even went to the minister’s hometown in Oro to plead with elders in his community, but there has been no positive response.

Who has been providing for your family since your husband’s arrest?

At present, we are staying with my brother-in-law. He is the one that is taking care of us.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/i-spent-eight-days-in-detention-because-my-husband-criticised-lai-mohammed-housewife/%3famp=1

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), said on Sunday that he observed the Eid-el-Fitr prayers at his State House residence because of the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

He explained that his decision was in compliance with the measures put in place by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 which prohibited mass gatherings.

Buhari was joined at the prayers by family members, including his wife, Aisha, and son, Yusuf.

In a brief interview after the session, Buhari urged Muslims to reflect on the lessons of the period.

He said, “I held Eid prayers at home today with my family, in keeping with the protocol of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 against mass gatherings, as well as the directive of the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, suspending Eid congregational prayers across the country.”

Buhari noted that COVID-19 was so devastating that it had reduced developing and developed countries to be on the same level.

He stated, “Nigerians can see that COVID-19 has reduced us, both the developing and developed countries, to the same level. In fact, we have fewer casualties than they we have.”

He called on farmers to double their efforts in producing more food for the country by taking advantage of the rainy season.

“I hope the rainy season would be bountiful so that we get a lot of food.

“I wish the farmers will go to farms and save lives so that we can produce what we need in sufficient quantity so that we don’t have to import food.

“In any case, we don’t have any money to import food. So we must produce what we are going to eat,” he added

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1590400125/covid-developing-advanced-countries-the-same-level

The Federal Government has cautioned governors to rethink their decision to lift ban on congregational, adding that the Coronavirus pandemic was still much with us.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of PTF on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, said this at the daily briefing one the task force, while reacting to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, announcing lifting of the ban on congregational and ‘Eid’ prayers while insisting that congregants must continue to obey the physical distancing rule.

The governor’s directive came moments after the SGF announced President Muhammadu Buhari’s extension of the lockdown in Kano by additional two weeks.

Mustapha said: “I’m particular about congregational gatherings. Large gatherings will exposed even the 20 persons that we want to protect. We want our sub-nationals government to really reconsider their decisions on allowing large gatherings to take place until when we have been fully prepared and we can adjudge that the moment has come for that to be allowed.”

Mustapha, who shared stories of people he knows who have lost their lives to drive home the point that COVID-19 is real, said in the virtual meeting of the National Economic Council with Vice President and all the governors earlier yesterday, the issue of alignment of their state level actions with the guidelines issued was emphasised.

“Similarly emphasised is the need for states to diligently implement and enforce compliance. Particularly, I underscored the need for the governors to provide personal and strong leadership, carry the policy of community ownership to the grass roots and create deeper awareness.

“The governors were also advised on the decision taken by some of their colleagues to permit large gatherings as such decisions could inadvertently endanger the elderly, the sick and those with underlying factors during such gatherings. The strong advisory from the PTF is that large gatherings beyond 20 persons remains prohibited and should be adhered to.”

PTF National Coordinator, Sani Aliyu said governors will henceforth own the response as the centre will not continue to drive the process.

“First of all, I will like to say that the continuous measures that we advise, always take into cognisance the social, economic, religious, cultural implications of these measures. In addition to that, we know that the effectiveness of the measures really depends on the acceptability, the owning by the communities. Whenever the PTF puts out guidelines, it is never done in isolation to state governments. We always tell them in advance what the likely recommendations will be. If we get approval from Mr. President, we go back to them and tell them what part of their recommendations have been agreed on or not.

“We will continue to work with the state governments to make sure that whatever is put in place is in the best interest of their citizens.

“We are in the business of saving lives. When it comes to restrictions, I will like to give you an example. Saudi Arabia for instance, I’m sure you are aware, they had about 240 deaths, they have had over 40,000 infections. So, their case fatality rate is much lower than Nigeria’s. But what have they done? They are planning to actually lockdown the country, 24 hours lockdown for five days during the period of the eid. Have we had any umrah this year? No. Are we likely to have hajj? We probably wouldn’t. So we are living in an usual situations, we are living in an usual times. As far as we are concerned, the role of government is to protect the lives of the citizens and ensure their well being.

Avoid self-medication

Meanwhile, the SGF has warned against self-medication, noting that it is fraught with danger of increasing risks of avoidable casualties.

“Through the surveillance system set up by the PTF, we have received reports that Nigerians have been purchasing Hydrxoychloroquine in large quantities. We wish to reiterate that this drug has not been certified for use in treating COVID-19 in Nigeria by the relevant health and pharmaceutical authorities…If you’re sick, please seek medical advice and if you are confirmed positive, kindly self-isolate in an approved facility. The COVID-19 is highly infectious and dangerous.”

Early discharge of positive patients

Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, has announced plans to discharge patients earlier than their required treatment and isolation period at the different centres, even though they were still positive.

Ihekweazu said in a bid to decongest isolation centres, the Centre has begun testing people for COVID-19 only once as against its earlier stance on second testing before discharge. This is also done to

“Up till now, we have kept patients in care or advised that patients be kept in care until they turn out to be negative on the test that we are using the PCR tests. New evidence is emerging that even when the test is still positive, in certain circumstances, after that patient have been in care for a certain amount of time.

“It is possible and safe to discharge that patient to home isolation. So we are looking at the evidence and we might change our guidelines over time,” he said.

Oil revenues fall by N125bn

The Federal Government said oil revenue target earlier put at N940.91 billion has crashed to N125 billion in the first quarter of 2020.

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, attributed it to the raving impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

According to her, the fall represented 31 per cent of the projected oil revenue target.

She also said the government would suspend debt reductions from states’ allocations to support their economies.

Ahmed, said with Nigeria’s poverty rate put at 40 percent, this drastic fall in oil revenue would only exacerbate Nigeria’s state of squalor, pointing out that economic situation will be worsened with the gross domestic product (GDP) growth expected to contract by 8.94 per cent this year.

She, however, said if the measures being put in place to ameliorate the state of the economy works as planned, the contraction might only be by 4.4 per cent without fiscal stimulus.

Ahmed also explained that with effective fiscal stimulus in place during this pandemic, the situation might bring the contraction down to as low as 0.5 per cent.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1590155553/govs-frustrating-covid-fight-says

Loyalists of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, in the Edo State chapter of the party, have urged Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to stop acting like the mouthpiece of the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

The advice was contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson for the group, Chris Azebamwan, on Thursday.

Odigie-Oyegun, who is the immediate past national chairman of the APC, had while charging the party to hold credible primaries in both Edo and Ondo states, also expressed delight that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, (retd.), had endorsed a gentlemen’s agreement to allow Obaseki and his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akerodolu, enjoy the right of first refusal.

Odigie-Oyegun said, “I also welcome most warmly the news that Mr President has firmly endorsed the agreement reached to settle the disruptive leadership crisis at the national level that was threatening the very existence of the APC.

“The immediately relevant part of the agreement was that both governors – Mr Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki of Edo State and Mr Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN of Ondo State, have performed creditably and should be returned unless they do not so wish.

“This means that the party, in unity, should organise to support the return of both governors.”

He further said among other things that “the nature of the primary election in Edo State will determine the shape and survival of the APC as a political party.

“It will show Nigerians, and indeed the world whether the APC is a party of truth, change and progress driven by the principles of fairness, social justice and equity, or if it has become a party that believes and promotes business as usual.”

The former APC national chairman warned of a possible “political consequences” should fairness and justice be jettisoned in the handling of the primaries.

However, in response, Oshiomhole’s loyalists dismissed the former national chairman’s claims that an agreement had been reached to grant automatic tickets to the two incumbent governors.

The group said it was not in its character to take “an elder to task’’ especially an elder who recently turned 80 and paraded several credentials including being a former federal super -permanent secretary and national chairman of a major political party.

It also said it was at a loss “to understand why Chief Odigie-Oyegun would make utterances that portray him as a mouthpiece or hireling of Godwin Obaseki.”

While assuring that the forthcoming primaries in Edo State would be credible because it would not serve anyone’s interest to compromise the process, “and in so doing, give room for the courts to intervene and upturn the results.”

The group stressed that the leadership of the APC was determined to conduct credible primaries.

It challenged the former Edo State governor to name those he claimed were contriving a crisis in the state.

Azebamwan said, “The more worrisome part of Pa Odigie-Oyegun’s outburst is his claim that as part of the reconciliation process, an automatic ticket was promised Godwin Obaseki.

“To the best of my knowledge, Chief Odigie-Oyegun was not at the meeting where reconciliation was discussed. He is no longer a principal officer of the APC, and is in no position therefore, to lay claims to the inner workings of the party.

“One wonders why the National Reconciliation Committee headed by Chief Bisi Akande would have needed to be set up, if positions had been taken on crucial issues like the ticket for the Edo State governorship election.

“We operate a democratic dispensation and Pa Odigie-Oyegun should allow the process throw up the best man for the job instead of attempting to throw a spanner in the works by promoting his personal opinion and the desperate ambition of Godwin Obaseki as decisions or resolutions of our party leadership.

“He is an elder statesman and should not allow himself to be dragged into the fray. That would be a tragic fall from the high pedestal to which we are accustomed to place him.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1590132974/oshiomhole-loyalists-oyegun-stop-acting-like-obaseki

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The Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Matthew Kolawole, has called on the Federal Government to consider ending the lockdown imposed to control COVID-19 pandemic.

The Speaker made the call on Monday in an interactive session with journalists in Lokoja, the state capital.

The Speaker, who aligned himself with the position of the state Governor, Yahaya Bello, on the pandemic, said, “Honestly, I want to align myself with the position of the governor that the issue is more political than reality, the symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, catarrh and pneumonia, which we are all familiar with and we have our own way of treating them.”

According to him, the state House of Assembly has enacted legislation to help the state to tackle the virus if it spreads to the state.

He said the house had also set up a committee under the leadership of the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Ahmed, to liaise with the squadron committee set up by the governor under the leadership of the Deputy Governor, Edward Onoja to address the pandemic.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1589883910/kogi-speaker-says-covid-political-tool-for

Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested five persons in connection with the death of a 25-year-old peacemaker, Monsur Kareem, who was beaten to death during a misunderstanding.

The suspects, Toheeb Popoola, Ibrahim Ridwan, Mutiu Tijani, Akeem Ishola and Lawal Afeez, were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly beating Kareem to death.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Oyeyemi said the suspects were arrested following a report by the deceased’s father, Najeem Kareem, at the Sango Police Station.

According to him, Najeem reported that his son was beaten to a state of unconsciousness by the suspects following a minor misunderstanding he had with Popoola.

“The deceased was rushed to hospital but he was confirmed dead by the doctor,” the PPRO stated.

According to Oyeyemi, upon the report, the DPO, Sango Division, CSP Godwin Idehai, led detectives to the scene in the Ijoko area, where the five suspects were apprehended.

He added, “Preliminary investigation revealed that while a landlord in the area was coming in his tricycle loaded with kegs of water, he fell down with the kegs of water and while picking the kegs, Toheeb Popoola, whose house is situated in the place, came out to question him for staying there.

“This led to an argument between them and it was at that point that the deceased met them and tried to intervene.

“His intervention did not go down well with Toheeb, who invited the other four suspects to the scene, and ordered them to beat both the deceased and the tricycle rider.

“In the process, the deceased was rushed to hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

“The corpse of the deceased has been deposited in the Ifo General Hospital’s mortuary for autopsy.”

Oyeyemi said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Kenneth Ebrimson, had ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation and diligent prosecution.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1589795888/five-arrested-for-beating-peacemaker-death

A MEMBER of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, Dr. Farah Dagogo, has said the Federal Government’s COVID-19 National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) is a scam and dishonest scheme.

Dagogo, who represents Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency, spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Lawal, in a statement in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Dagogo, who represents Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency, spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Lawal, in a statement in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1589553856/fed-govt-covid-school-feeding-scam-dagogo

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has faulted the latest review of the 2020 budget by the Federal Government, saying it shows that the regime has lost touch with current global economic realities.

Rather than reviewing the budget, Atiku advised the FG to sell eight or nine of the presidential jets and cancel the N27bn earmarked for the renovation of the National Assembly complex.

Atiku said this in a statement in Abuja, on Thursday. He expressed disappointment that despite the crash of oil prices in the international market and the nation’s inability to expand its revenue base, the regime only slashed the budget by a “mere 0.6 per cent.”

The former Vice President explained that significant cuts in funds budgeted for presidential feeding and transport as well as non-essential sub heads will go a long way in ensuring that Nigerians get a better deal.

Atiku said, “It is to my consternation that despite the crash in the price of oil, and the inability of Nigeria to expand our revenue base through the non-oil sector, the Federal “Government of Nigeria has only seen fit to slash our budget by a mere 0.6 per cent, from N10.594trn to N10.523trn. This represents a reduction of only N71bn.

According to him, as at the time the budget was first presented to the National Assembly on Tuesday October 8, 2019, it was predicated on a crude oil production of 2.18 million barrels a day, at an expected oil price of $57 per barrel. He said this situation has since changed.

He pointed out that Saudi Arabia, a nation with a much stronger production capacity than ours and with a larger global market share, as well as foreign reserves that is 12 times ours, has slashed her budget by almost 30%. Ditto for other oil economies.

He said, “My counsel to the Federal Government of Nigeria is this: put Nigerians first and cut your coat, not according to your size, but according to your cloth.

“Realistically slash the budget. Every pork barrel has to go. The billions budgeted for the travels and feeding of the President and Vice President has to be reduced. The N27bn budget for the renovation of the National Assembly has to go.

“The massive budgets to run both the Presidency and the Legislature has to be downsized. The budget for purchasing luxury cars for the President, his vice, and other political office holders must be jettisoned. Leave the salaries of civil servants alone, but reduce the salaries of political appointees. Sell 8 or 9 of the jets in the Presidential Air Fleet.

“Any budget slash that is less than 25% will not be in the interest of Nigeria. And beyond a budget slash, Nigeria needs a budget realignment, to redirect expenditure away from running a massive bureaucracy, into social development sectors like education, infrastructure, and above all, healthcare. We must invest in the goose that lays the golden egg – the Nigerian people.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1589528282/2020-budget-sell-presidential-jets-cancel-n27bn

An Islamic group, Joint Action Committee for the Preservation of the Rights and Honours of Imams in Oyo State, has urged Imams and Alfas in the state to shun the Ramadan Iftar invitation by Governor Seyi Makinde.

It described the invite as a gross violation of the social distancing directives of the Federal Government in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group, in a statement signed by one of its executive members, Abu Aisha Muhammad, expressed shock that the governor’s action contradicted his position on social distancing directive.

The statement partly read, “Our attention has been drawn to a letter of invitation to a Ramadan Iftar by the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde.

“We have sought jurisprudential opinions and advice of the Islamic scholars on the said Iftar, which some scholars described as an Iftar of violations and contraventions of the Federal Government Law by the Oyo State Government, which has a penchant for going against anything by the Federal Government.

“As much as this group is not holding brief for the Federal Government, neither is it acting as the mouthpiece of the National Centre for Disease Control, we view with dismay and indignation the non-statesmanship conduct of the state governor who, in spite of the pandemic, organised an Iftar for the League of Imams and Alfas in Oyo State.”

It said in accordance with the dictates of the Shariah to obey constituted authority, the group would not want the clerics to attend the programme as it was in contravention of Federal Government’s directives, “and for fear of our imams contracting the coronavirus and transmitting it, we ask our imams and alfas to boycott it.

“Some of the scholars and leaders cited the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic as one of the reasons. Secondly, the day fixed for the Iftar falls within the day the search for lailatul qodr begins and no one could say if the night of that day is exactly the lailatul qodr. If this happens, then substantial number of the Imams, who would attend, would have missed the majesty and magnificent benefits of that night.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1589449599/ramadan-shun-makinde-iftar-invitation-group-tells

Ahead the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, an aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Isaac Kekemeke, on Tuesday declared that he was ready to contest the primary and become the standard bearer of the ruling party for the election, coming up in October.

Kekemeke, the immediate former chairman of the party, who expressed assurance that the APC would retain power in the state, said his vision, when he became the governor of the state was to create employment for the people of the state and develop science and technology.

He stated this while speaking with our correspondent, in Akure, the state capital.

He said, “My vision clearly is the creation of a prosperous and peaceful Ondo State where citizens would be productively engaged to enable them to live meaningful, comfortable and decent lives. The mission is to, with the aid of information, science and technology, maximally impact government resources on the human capital and abundant natural resources of the state to create wealth.

“We intend to make government seeable, touchable and feel-able. And our objective in government is to fight five wars, using the entire governmental power to fight war against hunger, poverty, unemployment, insecurity and to rescue our decaying basic infrastructure.

“We have goals that we call the ‘Lekeleke Development Goals’, economic and social goals; all of these geared towards creating a conducive environment for individuals to thrive and live well.”

On the deadly coronavirus disease that is ravaging the country, the former Secretary to the State Government, advised the government to adopt indigenous herbal medicine for the disease.

He advised the government to begin to look into how to empower the people rather than sharing food items to them as palliative, noting that only contractors were being empowered more through provision of relief items to the people.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1589357712/the-race-for-ondo-gov-primary-kekemeke

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has asked judicial officers not to allow the COVID-19 pandemic to slow down the administration of justice in the state.

He spoke on Tuesday during the swearing-in of eight newly appointed judges of the High Court of Lagos.

A statement said the event held in the Executive Council Chamber at the State House, Alausa.

Sanwo-Olu noted that members of the judicial arm must acquaint themselves with the new culture of justice dispensation being driven by technology.

He said, “This chamber we are holding the swearing-in has just been opened for the first time in the last two months. This is the reality of the global coronavirus pandemic, which has evolved new culture in our interactions at homes and offices.

“In this period of public health emergency, we need the judiciary to keep the wheel of the justice system moving. The administration of justice system must not be halted because of the health crisis. Our judiciary should fully adapt to the evolving culture and be at the services of those who seek redress and justice at the court.”

The governor said the judges earned their nominations and appointments to the High Court of the state based on their sterling credentials and experience in the respective areas of engagement.

He charged them to dispense justice without fear or favour, advising them not to soil their reputation and family names in the course of discharging their duties.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, said the quality of credentials of the appointed judges would be brought to bear in fast-tracking the administration of justice system.

The new judges are Justice Dorcas Olatokun, Justice Yahqub Oshoala, Justice Omotola Oguntade, Justice Olufunke Sule-Amzat, Justice Rasul Olukolu, Justice Sharafa Olaitan, Justice Ezekiel Ashade and Justice Adeniyi Pokanu.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1589371330/coronavirus-shouldn-delay-justice-sanwo-olu

A 22-year-old mother, Oluwafunmilola Adisa, has been arrested for killing her daughter, Oluwanifemi, at their place of residence on Plot 221 Gowon Estate, in the Ipaja area of Lagos State.

The incident, which happened on Monday, also saw the woman dropping a note for her sister, Damilola, chronicling how she perpetrated the crime.

She blamed Oluwanifemi for the hardship she had been facing after she gave birth to her 21 months ago, adding that the daughter’s arrival cost her an admission to study law.

In a bid to alleviate her suffering, Oluwafunmilola said she drowned her baby in a bucket of water, adding that after committing the crime, she went to the Gowon Estate Police Station to report herself.

Explaining the events leading to the baby’s death, the Ogun State indigene stated, “I turned myself in after killing my daughter on Monday, May 11, 2020. “At first, I was thinking of strangling her, later I thought of suffocating her with a pillow, but my sister warned me to keep Oluwanifemi away from water after she had a dream and that gave me the idea of drowning her.

“On the day of the incident, around 2pm, Oluwanifemi was assisting me to dress up, because she thought that I would take her out with me. But I told her that she was not going anywhere, because she would die that day and I would be going to the police station after killing her. So, I opened a big bucket of water, threw her in and covered the bucket, but she was able to push away the cover.

“The water in the bucket was not much, so, I poured more water in it, but she was still able to push away the cover to breathe, so I turned her upside down, threw her in the bucket of water and closed it.

“After some time, I saw her floating and when I brought her out, she was still breathing. I put her in again and brought her out after some time, but she was still breathing and at the third attempt, I left her for some minutes till she died. I didn’t feel any pain killing her, because I was desperate.”

After perpetrating the crime, Oluwafunmilola stated that she wrote a letter to her sister, Damilola, to inform her that she had fulfilled the promise of killing her baby, adding that she took the action because of the shame the baby’s birth had brought to her and aas a result of lack of money.

She stated, “The reason for the drastic decision is lack of financial help; I was tired and ashamed; when I gained admission to study law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, I got pregnant and deferred my admission, which I later lost.

“So killing my baby and losing my admission have a connection. I felt I would be free if I kill her and would be able to go anywhere I like and no one would disturb me that I had a daughter outside wedlock.

“After she died, I removed her from the bucket of water, placed her remains on a pillow and covered her with a white cloth. I confirmed that she was dead, because her legs and hands were very pale; her tongue also popped out in between her teeth.

“I also dropped the note I wrote to Damilola beside her corpse and the reason I wrote the letter was to let my sister know that I was the one who killed Oluwanifemi and that I was going to report myself at the police station.

“I had been telling Damilola of my plans to kill her, but she usually prevailed on me. I wanted to carry out my plan on Sunday, but Damilola started calling our parents and the pastor, so I postponed it till Monday, when I was home alone with my daughter. Damilola had gone to work when I killed her.”

The letter that Oluwafunmilola wrote to her sister read in part, “Good day Damilola, thanks for everything you have done for me and Mama (Oluwanifemi), for the fake love, real love, false accusations, lies, and everything. The purpose of writing this letter is because Mama (Oluwanifemi) is dead. I soaked her inside a bucket filled with water and I am telling you to know that I have fulfilled it. Extend my greetings to father, pastor, friends. Goodbye forever, don’t look for me, save your money and invest.”

She claimed that the father of her baby, one Folarin Yusuf, abandoned her after she got pregnant.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said Oluwafunmilola was in custody, adding that she would be charged.

Elkana stated, “When we got the report that a woman was suspected to have killed her baby, our homicide detectives went there and found the baby dead on the bed. But the woman left a note beside the baby’s corpse that she was the one who killed her.

“She confessed that she dipped the baby in a bucket of water three times till she died and said she was frustrated and killed the innocent baby, because she was tired of life. The State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department has commenced investigation into the matter. The suspect will be charged for the crime.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1589355524/woman-drowns-daughter-bucket-water

Uncertainty on Tuesday surrounded the appointment of Prof. Ibrahim Gambari as a new Chief of Staff to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, had in a statement on Tuesday signed by his media aide, Abdulazeez Arowona expressed appreciation to the President for appointing Gambari as his new chief of staff.

The statement seemed to have lent credence to earlier online media reports that Prof. Ibrahim Gambari had been appointed to replace the late chief of staff, Abba Kyari.

An online news medium, TheCable, wrote, “Gambari to be unveiled as new chief of staff on Wednesday (today)”

It stated, “Although his (Gambari’s) appointment has not been officially announced, TheCable confirmed from Presidency sources that he would replace Abba Kyari, who died from COVID-19 complications last month,” the medium reported.

The statement from the Ilorin Emirate read, “Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Prof. Ibrahim Gambari as his new chief of staff.


“He noted that the choice of the former diplomat would be justified by his outstanding contributions, administrative experience, scholarship and excellence, which he would inject into the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government towards ensuring good governance, democratic dividends as well as shared prosperity in the nation.”

But even with the reports and the Emir’s congratulatory message, the Presidency, as of 6.29pm, made no official confirmation or denial on Tuesday of the reported appointment of Gambari.

The Presidency made no official announcement to confirm or deny the appointment.

Both presidential spokespersons, Mr Femi Adesina and Mr Garba Shehu, made no confirmation as of 6.29pm.

Shehu merely replied to an enquiry, writing, “I have not been briefed.”

Former CoS, Mr Abba Kyari, had died of complications associated with COVID-19 on April 17.

When the emir’s palace was contacted on Tuesday for clarification, a palace source, who confided in The PUNCH, said, “What we acted on is a speculated statement, the appointment of Prof. Gambari has not been announced in a statement signed either by Femi Adesina or Garba Shehu, who are the two spokespersons of the President.

“Please, discountenance the statement purportedly to have been issued from the palace of the Emir of Ilorin as of now.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1589355857/buhari-cos-uncertainty-surrounds-gambari-reported-appointment

[img]"https://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/13112059/gambari.fw_.png"[/img]

The Peoples Democratic Party has accused the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and the All Progressives Congress of betraying Almajirai and Nigeria’s poor and vulnerable after using them to grab power in 2015.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbodiyan, said this in a statement in Abuja, on Monday.

The party noted that the APC and its regime had continued to show their true colours especially as manifested in the neglect and dehumanising treatment they had meted out to poor and vulnerable Nigerians since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The statement read in part, “The PDP notes that APC’s disdain and desertion of our citizens had further exposed it as a deceitful party which used lies, propaganda and false promises to mislead the people in 2015 to denounce a system of governance which had their interest at heart and worked day and night to ensure a better life for them.

“Today, the APC and its government have succeeded in wrecking the lives of ordinary Nigerians; stolen their common patrimony; rendered many homeless, turned their joy into sadness, hope into hopelessness, fortune into abject poverty; reneged on all their enticing promises, swindled and abandoned our citizens to a life of misery.

“From Katsina to Lagos, Kano to Edo, Kaduna to Osun, Yobe to Ekiti; Plateau to Kogi and all the places where the APC has left footprints at the federal and state levels, the downtrodden people have been exploited and now abandoned; treated by the APC as sub-humans in their own country.”

It also accused APC leaders of taking delight in insulting Nigerian youths who they denied job opportunities calling them lazy and unemployable.

Ologbodiyan noted that the same APC derided the then PDP administration which took the initiative towards solving the almajirai problem once and for all.

He further said, “Unfortunately, what we witness today are total reneging on these promises, degradation of citizens, hunger and starvation, intimidation of dissenting voices, untold corruption, neglect of our infrastructure, annexation of electoral and judicial system, violation of human rights, in addition to escalation of insurgency and bloodletting while the President, who promised to lead from the front, recedes very far into the luxury and safety of Aso Presidential villa.

“Nigerians can recall how the PDP championed the cause of the downtrodden, established Almajirai schools, the e-wallet initiatives for rural farmers, built new universities, revamped our economy, overhauled our health care system, established the National Health Insurance Scheme, revamped the mortgage system to give Nigerians access to own homes and expanded the political space to promote youth and women participation in governance, among others.”

The PDP accused the APC of reversing all those gains within a five year period. It maintained that the COVID-19 pandemic had further exposed the APC as a party without plans for Nigerians, which only came to grab power to enrich themselves at the expense of ordinary Nigerians.

The party urged Nigerians not to despair, but to rally among themselves, help each other and ensure that a party like APC, did not come to power at any level after the end of this tenure.

“On our own part, the PDP as a party, will continue to stand with Nigerians, especially the downtrodden and remain committed to protecting their interests at all times,” the statement added.

In response, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said, “The baseless accusations of the PDP have become familiar. However, let them know that the almajirai system is not an APC policy, he should talk to the states.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1589271896/pdp-tells-buhari-apc-you-betrayed-almajirai