₦airaland Forum

The Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, on Saturday, said comprehensive rehabilitation of the 11.8-kilometer Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos would begin on November 1 for a period of three months.

Umahi said this during an inspection of the under deck, lagoon sections of the Third Mainland Bridge and other bridges.

Umahi, a team of engineers, directors of the Federal Ministry of Works and journalists inspected the lagoon sections of the Third Mainland, Carter, Independence and Falomo Bridges.

Umahi also inspected the Marina Bridge in Apapa.

He said the entire stretch of the Third Mainland Bridge would undergo total resurfacing with minimal discomfort to road users, and the repairs would be carried out by midnight during the weekend.

The minister said he carried out inspection of the top surface of the bridge on Friday before embarking on inspection of the Lagoon portions.

The minister explained that patching of various sections of the top surface of bridge had led to undulating surfacing, which was not healthy for its safety, hence the need to remove and relay the entire asphaltic covering.

“We are going to mill out the excess asphalt and retain only two millimetres,” he said.

The minister said the proposed maintenance of Third Mainland Bridge, which would last three months was the first phase meant to secure the integrity as well aesthetics of the upper deck components of the bridge.

He explained that the maintenance of the aesthetics would include replacement of the railings, installation of solar-powered lights and CCTV cameras for optimal security of the bridge.

The minister assured road users that the three-month maintenance work would be without discomfort to motorists, as it would take place only between midnight and 4am and during weekends.

He added that more than one contractor would be engaged due to the emergency nature of the work, which would end in Phase Four; that will entail the repairs of deflected slabs, bearings, piers and pile caps.

The minister lamented that most of the bridges were about 60 years old and had outlived their design lifespan, hence the need for constant rehabilitation.

Umahi, who is a civil engineer, said the Marina Shoreline had deteriorated and was threatening the foundation of some parts of the Blue Rail Line, hence the need for urgent protection which had begun.

“Marina shoreline is gone,” he said.

The minister warned that henceforth a 10-year maintenance responsibility would be attached to projects for contractors to bear repair costs within the period if the road failed.

He added that contractors who constructed roads that failed within two years risked jail term in line with global practices to curb shoddy constructions.

Third Mainland Bridge was earlier closed for 24-hour repairs from midnight on October 21 to midnight October 22 for emergency resurfacing of some bad portions.

A report has indicated that nearly one out of 12 Italians are living in absolute poverty due to inflation in the country, Euro News reports.

According to the report published by the country’s National Statistics Institute (ISTAT) on Friday, there are now over 5.6 million Italians who cannot afford the cost of bare essentials like food, shelter, education and healthcare.

The reports further added that the number of Italians living in “absolute poverty” has risen dramatically over the past 10 years, meaning that 5.67 million individuals and 2.18 million families had an income below a level that would ensure they and their families meet basic needs of life including food, shelter, education and healthcare.

That’s up sharply – several percentage points – in just a few years.

ISTAT stressed that the reason for this climb in the poverty rate is mostly due to the rise in inflation in the country, which in 2022 surged by an estimated 8.7%. In September 2023, the latest data available, inflation was 5.3% – much lower than last year but still higher than the European Central Bank’s target of close to, but below, 2%.

Crucially, the rise in the cost of living impacted lower-income families more significantly than wealthier ones. The government’s support towards families struggling to pay their energy bills last year is estimated to have kept the poverty rate lower than it could have been would these measures had not been implemented.

Speaking on the recent statistics, an Italian economist, Tito Boeri, said, “‘Absolute poverty’ in Italy can be calculated to mean earning less than €817.56 per month after taxes if you live in a city in the north; earning less than €733 each month after taxes if you live outside of a city in the north; and earning less than €554 per month after taxes if you live outside of a city in the south.

“Italians in the south are also among the majority of the country’s poor. According to the ISTAT’s latest report, 10.7% of all poor families in Italy live in the south, with a total of 2,038,000 poor individuals and 699,999 poor families considered to be in absolute poverty.

“By contrast, some 1,832,000 poor individuals and 609,000 poor families live in the north (7.5% of all poor families) and 871,000 poor individuals and 311,000 poor families live in the centre of the country (6.4% of all poor families),” he maintained.

Stears has announced that Nigeria’s inflation rate may rise to 30 per cent by December 2023.

The data-driven insights provider announced this while unveiling its Pan-African inflation forecasts. It projected that Nigeria’s annual inflation rate is set to climb steadily until year-end, culminating at around 30 per cent, a level not attained since the country’s modern democratic era.

The firm stated that its forecasts are based on trusted econometric tools that consider a myriad of factors driving inflation, from general to country-specific dynamics.

In a statement, Stears’ Head of Insights, Fadekemi Abiru, said, “In September, we saw the exchange rate premium—the differential between official and parallel rates—rise to 25.2 per cent, which is a significant increase from what it was in August.

“We expect this gap to keep widening and exerting further inflationary pressures unless we see significant dollar inflows into the economy. We have also had heavy and prolonged rainy season, which has affected harvests. Following the recent release of Nigeria’s September 2023 inflation data, the country’s forecasts have been prioritised, with Kenya’s projections scheduled for early November and forecasts for other African nations coming in early 2024.”

The firm noted that its forecasts aim to guide corporates, professionals, and policymakers in their short-to-medium term pricing, investment, and policy decisions. It added that its inflation forecasts, spanning from October 2023 to December 2024, include both average and year-end predictions for 2023 and 2024.

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Nigeria has one of the highest inflation rates in the world and an estimated four million people were pushed into poverty between January and May 2023 because of the worsening cost of living.


According to the World Bank, the removal of fuel subsidy and devaluation and unification of the exchange rate system will continue to increase the inflationary pressure in the country in the near term and erode the purchasing power of the average Nigerian.

In its recent Africa Pulse report, the World Bank noted, “The incoming Tinubu administration implemented a series of reforms that included the removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation and unification of the exchange rate system.

“Petroleum prices have more than tripled since the subsidies were lifted at the end of May. The naira has weakened by nearly 40 percent against the US dollar since the mid-June devaluation. Although these measures are intended to improve the fiscal and external accounts of the nation, their inflationary effects in the near term can erode the purchasing power of households and weigh on economic activity.”

The country’s inflation rate is now well above the World Bank’s projected inflation rate of 25 per cent for 2023.

In its recent World Economic Outlook report, the International Monetary Fund predicted that high inflation is expected to slow Nigeria’s economic growth to 2.9 per cent in 2023.

In a bid to secure the musical rights of the works of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, the House of Representatives, on Thursday, summoned controversial singer Azeez Fashola, Naira Marley, to appear before it.

The House Committee on Justice, Youth and Legislative Compliance, also invited Mohbad’s manager, Jiggy Adeoye, to appear on October 31.

Mohbad, a former signee in Naira Marley’s record label, died on September 12, 2023, in controversial circumstances. The Lagos State Government ordered a coroner’s inquest into the death of the 27-year-old singer.

The House resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by Babajimi Benson, the lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Lagos State on Thursday.

Benson emphasised the need to review the laws governing the entertainment industry in a bid to safeguard artists’ copyrights and royalties.

The Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has said that Nigerians will pay less for transportation with the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Finance, Stephen Kilebi, on Thursday.

Edun said this during a town hall meeting with the management and staff of the Ministry in Abuja.


The statement noted that the minister sought the cooperation and support of the staff to enable him to deliver on the mandate given him by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

It read, “The meeting, which was held at the instance of the minister, was aimed at exchanging views with the management and staff on how best to deliver on the mandate of the Ministry in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.”

Edun further assured of continued staff welfare for better and more efficient service delivery.

He was also quoted as saying, “Things are going to change and be better, not only for Nigerians but will make the Ministry attain global competitiveness.”


The statement added, “He assured that staff welfare would be given top most consideration to ease their suffering, disclosing that plans were on the way for the provision of Compressed Natural Gas buses to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy, stressing that with CNG buses Nigerians would pay less for transportation.”

One of the palliatives to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidies is to spend N100bn to acquire 3,000 units of 20-seater CNG-fuelled buses.

In August, Tinubu established the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, targeting over 11,500 new CNG-enabled vehicles and 55,000 CNG conversion kits for existing PMS-dependent vehicles.

In October, Tinubu also announced the imminent introduction of Compressed Natural Gas conversion kits.

The president stressed the administration’s commitment to enhancing affordability and accessibility in public transportation.

The Supreme Court has agreed with the Court of Appeal that the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is like other states.

The presiding justice of the panel, John Okoro, asked, “Are you saying if someone scores 25% votes in 30 states but not in Abuja, he should not be president? Is that how you interpret the law?

“That is not the law. Supreme Court agrees with the Court of Appeal,” he added.

Details later…

The Federal Government, on Wednesday, announced that it had secured a grant of €1m from the European Union to execute the instrument for nuclear safety projects in Nigeria.

It announced this in Abuja through the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, after EU nuclear safety experts visited the NNRA and held discussions with the agency for three days.

The NNRA, in a statement issued in Abuja by its Head of Information and Protocol Unit, Ekaette Bassey, said the discussions centred on the commencement of the European Instrument for International Nuclear Safety Cooperation project on enhancing the regulatory framework for nuclear safety in Nigeria.

It said, “The EU experts were in Nigeria to interact with their counterparts in NNRA on the modalities for the implementation of the first bilateral cooperation project on nuclear safety and the safe management of radioactive waste in the country to be supported by a grant from the EU.”

The Director-General, NNRA, Yau Idris, thanked the EU for finding the request made by the agency worthy of a grant, covering a period of two years from October 1, 2023, to September 31, 2025.

He indicated that the implementation of the project would be closely monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure compliance with international best practices and regulations.

Idris stated that part of the grant was meant for the NNRA to implement some aspects of the IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service mission.

He stated that, during the mission, the IAEA sent a team of 12 senior nuclear regulatory experts from 11 countries and three of its staff to Nigeria to review the country’s radiation and nuclear safety regulatory framework and activities against relevant IAEA safety standards and international nuclear safety treaties.

The DG also noted that in July 2023 the IAEA conducted an International Physical Protection Advisory Service mission to Nigeria.

“The mission was made up of eight international experts from the United States, France, Argentina, Indonesia, Romania, Lebanon, Slovakia and Pakistan together with NNRA staff and with the assistance of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“They visited facilities with high-risk nuclear and radioactive material, including the Nigeria Nuclear Research Reactor, located at the Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

“The goal was to assess Nigeria’s compliance with the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its 2005 Amendment, Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources as well as the relevant IAEA Nuclear Security Series publications,” Idris stated.

He said both IAEA missions concluded that Nigeria, through the NNRA, had established an excellent nuclear safety and security regime that was in the process of being significantly improved through the update of legislative and regulatory framework and other ongoing initiatives.

“Key issues requiring urgent attention are the passage of the NNRA Bill and its presidential assent and the provision of a permanent headquarter office,” the agency’s boss stated.

He said the EU chose the NNRA for the project based on several positive reports by all the IAEA missions to Nigeria and its leadership in Africa as regards nuclear regulatory activities and competence.

“The project will focus on capacity development and training, enhancing regulatory framework for nuclear safety and ensuring that Nigeria implements the recommendation of all the IAEA missions in respect to its regulatory infrastructure,” Idris stated.

The founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, on Wednesday, said he has no plan to retire, noting that he is fit to run a relay race.

The 82-year-old renowned clergy arrived in Benin City, the Edo State capital, around 2 pm for a six-day ‘Global Crusade with Kumuyi with the theme, “Loose Him, Let Him Go” to take place at the Garrick Memorial Grammar School, Ekhewan Road, Benin City.

While fielding questions from journalists in the VIP Lounge at the Benin Airport, he expressed optimism that the six-day conference would also impact positively on the physical and spiritual lives of the people.

When asked if he was considering retiring after decades as the founder of the ministry, he said, “If you rest while you are not tired, if you rest while your vision is becoming brighter, If you rest when you see farther than you saw 50 years ago, you will not be called the wise man.

“I’m getting the vision, more anointing, strength, and power. I can run a relay race today more than I could 50 years ago. When I start getting tired, I can start thinking of retirement. But for now, the vision is coming so fast that I’m trying to catch up. So, no retirement yet.

“I have great remembrance of what took place in earlier years when I started coming to Edo State. I’m thinking about things that happened and am excited. I want to see greater things happening at this time,” he added.

Kumuyi also recalled the impact of similar conferences, saying, “There was a woman that was paralyzed and was brought from the village and came to the crusade, and I prayed for everyone, and lives were changed.

“I told this woman to go and that she has gotten her miracle and she cried. She got to her village and low and behold when they wanted to help her from the lorry, the power of God came upon her and she stood up from the lorry herself and it was a great scene,” he added.

A man identified as Sodirudeen Rufai has been arrested for attempting to set fire to the Guaranty Trust Bank building situated in the Oke-Ilewo Area of Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Tuesday.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the suspect claimed he decided to raze the bank after his several complaints that an unauthorised N500,000 was debited from his account fell on deaf ears.

Our correspondent further learnt that he was said to have been advised by the Area Commander, Metro, Abeokuta, that he should allow the bank to follow its procedure in unraveling the circumstances behind the deduction when he reported the matter.

However, PUNCH Metro learnt that the matter took a turn for the worse after the bank told him that he had been defrauded.

After receiving the news from the bank official who attended to him, our correspondent learnt that Rufai was said to have gone back to the bank with petrol and began to sprinkle it on the banking hall.

While the drama was unfolding, some customers scampered for safety, while others, along with the bank security staff members, wrestled Rufai to the ground before he could use the lighter in his hand.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the bank’s Chief Security Officer, Godwin James, handed the suspect to the Ibara Police Division.

Meanwhile, during interrogation, the suspect was said to have claimed that he took the action to attract the attention of the necessary authorities about what the bank did with his money.

Speaking with our correspondent on Wednesday, the state police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, said Rufai would be charged with attempted suicide and murder.

Odutola said, “He was fighting a noble cause in an ignoble way. He has a right to make a complaint that his money is missing. But the way he went about it was wrong. We are going to hold him for an attempt to commit suicide with murder because if he had succeeded, he would have killed himself and every other person in the bank.”

The Senate has raised an ad hoc committee to investigate all the contracts awarded for the rehabilitation of all state-owned refineries said to have gulped N11.35tn in 13 years.

It also mandated the panel to interrogate the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and the Bureau of Public Enterprises on the best approach to commercialise state-owned refineries.

The Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary, named Senator Isah Jibrin Echocho as the chairman of the committee.

Other members are chairmen of the committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream, Upstream and Gas), Finance, Appropriation, and Public Accounts.

The committee was given four weeks to submit its report.

The resolutions followed a motion by Senator Sunday Karimi during Tuesday’s plenary.

Nigeria’s four refineries in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt had become moribund for years despite a series of repairs executed under various turnaround maintenance contracts that have gulped huge amounts.

Karimi, in his motion, expressed concern that the state-owned refineries had been a drain pipe of public finance, depriving the citizens of the benefits of being an oil-producing nation.

He said from 2010 to date, Nigeria had spent about N11.35tn, excluding other costs in foreign currencies, such as $592, 976, 050.00; £4, 877, 068.47 and €3, 455, 656.93, on the renovation of refineries, yet the refineries remained unproductive.

He said despite the moribund state of the four refineries, their operating costs between 2010 and 2020 is estimated at N4.8tn.

Senators, in their various contributions, said the country could not continue to spend money on an unproductive venture and urged the relevant authorities to ensure that those responsible for the state of the refineries were sanctioned.

In his contribution, Senator Adams Oshiomhole said, “The amount so far spent on the refineries can build brand new ones. Senators must take the issues with all seriousness it deserves.”

The Deputy Senate President stressed that “It is very important that a thorough investigation should be done to make sure that everything that we need to know is brought open to us. ”

“Who are those who are sabotaging the efforts of government? Anybody who has a hand, sabotaging the efforts of the government to bring these refineries into operation and those who have taken money that is meant to turn around these refineries must be brought to book. We must know them and decisive actions must be taken,” he said.

The National Leader of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Shettima Yerima, said the Bola Tinubu who was once a pro-democracy activist, is no longer the one in the seat of power today at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Yerima said those of them who were pro-democracy activists in the trenches with the president to enthrone the nation’s fledgling democracy now have reservations about him.

The National President of the AYCF who was a former Youth Director of the political pressure group, NADECO, which fought the late General Sani Abacha military junta, in the early 90s noted that judging from the current policies of the ruling APC administration, he hoped that President Tinubu has not been hijacked by the usual “Aso Rock Cabal” as experienced in the immediate past regime.

Specifically, he raised doubt over some of the appointments of the president that tend to neglect the youths in preference to the old brigades.

Yerima, who spoke with Arewa PUNCH, stated, “Some of us now have our reservations about the President. The Bola Tinubu that I know and that I once worked in the trenches is a totally different person now. I hope it’s not what I am thinking, and I don’t want to believe that he would be hijacked by the same characters.

“I expect that by the coming of Tinubu, certain things would have happened where he would begin to believe in this present generation than the old men of the past who had worked with him and the same people coming back tactically behind the doors. Some of them have a lot of influence on the government. I hope that he will not allow himself to be carried away.

“He should learn from what happened to his predecessor. I hope he will be remembered positively because my prayers are that this present government that I ascribed as ‘our government’ should live up to expectations.

“I have my reasons when I said it’s our government. It is our government because it’s a product of our struggle. Even though I have worked closely with him and recently, from a far distance, I still relate very well to him. I am one of those behind the scenes with my counterpart, Muhajid Asari Dokubo, making statements for Tinubu’s presidency.”

The youth leader admonished the president to learn from former President Muhammadu Buhari, who surrounded himself with those who caged him while presiding over the affairs of the country between 2015 and 2023.

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede, has directed staff members of the commission to immediately declare their assets in line with civil service regulations and procedures.

He gave the directive on Tuesday at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja while addressing senior staff members of the EFCC, stressing that, fighting corruption required those at the vanguard to be above board.

The EFCC boss assured the commission’s staff members that adherence to the rule of law would be an article of faith and a defining principle of work.

“The EFCC is a creation of the law. We must do our job in line with the dictates of the law. This is a standard international practice and we would ensure that it is our established norm.



“All of us are going to declare our assets; from Level 17, downward. I did mine, so there’s no reason for anyone to be afraid to do the same. Even the commission’s secretary did, you all may also have done it in the past, but there’s a need for all of us to do it again. We will declare our assets, and we are going to investigate them.

“We must live above board by setting the pace with good examples. As anti-corruption fighters, our hands must be clean, so we must declare our assets,” the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale quoted Olukoyede as saying in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday.

While urging the operatives to be professional, he further called on staff members of the commission to pay premium attention to the basis of fighting economic and financial crimes, pointing out that, such efforts should be geared towards growing the economy of the nation, creating rightful environment for enhanced investment and strengthening the productive base of the economy.

Olukoyede added, “We must do our job to add value to the nation. Investors must have confidence in the economy and we must help the country to be governed in an accountable and transparent manner. By doing this, it will offer us a new direction to redeem the image of the nation.

“Please, I beg you, let our hands be clean and put our house in order. Some may not like me, but I am going to do the right thing and treat everybody equally irrespective of religion, ethnicity and region.”

He assured the staff members of a better welfare package, enhanced training and equal opportunities to ensure higher productivity. He warned “those compromising their works and position to desist from such conduct, as dire consequences await every unsavoury tendency.”

The Business and Property Court in London on Monday halted the enforcement of the $11bn arbitration award in favour of P&ID against Nigeria in a case marked CL-2019-000752, The PUNCH reports.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Robert Knowles, it was held that the process through which P&ID secured a 2010 contract to build a gas processing plant in Calabar, Cross River State, was fraudulent.

“In the circumstances and for the reasons I have sought to describe and explain. Nigeria succeeds in its challenge under section 68. I have not accepted all of Nigeria’s allegations. But the Awards were obtained by fraud and the Awards were and the way in which they were procured was contrary to public policy.

“What happened in this case is very serious indeed, and it is important that section 68 has been available to maintain the rule of law,” Justice Knowles said in his ruling, a copy of which was sighted by our correspondent in Abuja.

The PUNCH reports that over the years, Nigeria has been involved in a fight with Process & Industrial since the company accused the Nigerian government of botching a deal by failing to provide gas to them.

The country had suffered a $6.6bn judgement debt in 2017 when the arbitration tribunal ordered the country to pay P&ID with interest to start counting from March 2013.

P&ID, in its claims, said Nigeria violated the terms of its agreement by failing to provide gas for the power plant it wants to build for the country.

The government of Former president Goodluck Jonathan reached an out-of-tribunal agreement for the payment of $850 million and passed on disbursement to the administration of President Buhari.

Buhari baulked at the idea of paying the negotiated sum, set aside the settlement agreement, and challenged the enforcement of the award before the English Commercial Court. But the London court added $2.4 billion in interest, making it $9bn.

The judge granted Nigeria’s request for a stay on any asset seizures while its legal challenge is pending but ordered it to pay $200 million to the court within 60 days to ensure the stay. It also must pay some court costs to P&ID within 14 days.

The original decision on August 16 converted an arbitration award held by P&ID to a legal judgment, which would allow the British Virgin Islands-based firm to try to seize international assets.

In 2018, Nigeria began investigating the company through the EFCC and found evidence of two bank transfers totalling $20,000 made by Dublin-based Industrial Consultants (International) Ltd. — part of the P&ID group of companies—to Grace Taiga, a Nigerian government lawyer who oversaw the award of the gas plant contract.

A pathologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Sunday Shoyemi, on Friday, told a Lagos state High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square that the death of a 22-year-old fashion designer named Oluwabamise Ayanwole, was caused by a force blunt trauma on the head.

Shoyemi said the death was ascribed to craniocerebral injury following a force blunt trauma.

The witness, who is also a lecturer at the Medicine Department, LASU, told Justice Sherifat Sonaike while giving evidence at the ongoing trial of a Bus Rapid Transit driver, Andrew Ominnikoron, who was charged with rape and murder of Ayanwole.

Ominnikoron is facing five counts bordering on rape, conspiracy, felony, sexual assault and murder preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.

The prosecution told the court that Ominnikoron conspired with others now at large to rape and murder his 22-year-old passenger.

The prosecution said that the defendant had sexual intercourse with Ayanwole, without her consent, and murdered her, at about 7 p.m., between the Lekki Ajah expressway and Carter Bridge, on February 26, 2022.

“The defendant and others now at large on February 26, 2022, unlawfully killed one Ayanwole by throwing her out of a moving bus between Lekki- Ajah expressway and Cater Bridge,” the statement read.

According to the prosecution, the offences committed contravened Sections 411, 223, 260, and 165 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

However, the 48-year-old defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Friday, Shoyemi, who was led in evidence by Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, told the court that prior to the autopsy, the body of the deceased had been embalmed.

He said that the body had no clothing but a silver-coloured ring was found on the middle right finger of the deceased.

Shoyemi testified that he observed a bruise on the left side of the forehead of the deceased, a bruise on the right temple just above the ear on the right temple.

He also told the court that he observed a large bruise on the back of the skull of the deceased.

“In addition, there was a bruise on the elbow region. These findings were the external appearance.

“Upon opening, I saw what we call Subdural hematoma, which means bleeding into the soft tissue covering the skull, or bleeding into the brain. This was noticed in the frontal area as well as on the back of the skull.

“At the back of the skull, there were multiple fractures, which meant bone broken into two or more pieces. There was a fracture at the temporal bone, the bone above the ear.

“I also observed the bleeding into the brain called Subdural. I checked for deep bruising, the bruising you would not be able to see under the skin excerpt the skin is removed.

“Bruises were found on both lower lips and the organs were essentially normal except the right ovary which had cysts which had a fluid collection. It was an incidental finding which has nothing to do with the death,” he said.

The founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola, believes politics has become the only lucrative business in Nigeria.

The legal icon spoke during the 11th convocation ceremony of Afe Babalola University on Saturday, lamenting that education is gradually being relegated to the background with politics taking centre stage.

The ABUAD founder recounted his experience with a first-class graduate who turned down further education after a master’s degree because he saw a secondary school colleague who didn’t go to a higher institution achieve material success in politics.

“I was the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos and a young man came out with first class in Chemistry and had the highest score that year. I called him and said, ‘I am going to give you a scholarship to do your master’s.

“He was very happy and he agreed; he passed his masters. I had forgotten all about him, then he came in and said, ‘Sir, thank you for the scholarship given to me’ and I said ‘Yes, proceed to your Ph.D.’ and he said ‘No’ and I said ‘Why?’

“He said, ‘My colleague who was in class with me in secondary school did not go to university; he is the chairman of the local government of my place. He is riding a car; he has a house.’ I was depressed.

“I said, ‘What do you want to do now?’ He said, ‘I want to go into politics.’ I wept inside me. That is what your country has made of Nigeria. The only business in this country today which is lucrative is politics,” Babalola said.

He said that while he does not disapprove of any political ambitions, he believes that politics has become less ethical and more of personal gain than about serving the public good.

“I do not say you cannot be a politician but to be a politician is different from what we have now. Who thinks that politics is for making money? Politics is for service,” the legal icon added.

“I was a Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor before and I never had a kobo because I saw it as service. People go now to make money from public money given to them.”

According to him, the nation lacks strong leadership and high-quality education.

“Our problem in this country is leadership in Africa. People believe that when they come out of university, they should go and work or alternatively, go into politics,” he said.

“What we need in this country is quality education. When you have quality education, you have power and when you have power, every other thing submerges,” Afe Babalola said.

The trial of Bishop Feyiropo Daniels, the founder of “I Reign Christian Ministry”, in the Lekki area of Lagos, continued on Friday at the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in the Ikeja.

The Bishop, who took to the witness box in his own defence, testified that he believes three out of the four women who accused him of sexually assaulting them conspired to turn against him.

While answering questions under cross-examination, the prosecution’s lead counsel, Babajide Boye, sought to establish that the defendant, Bishop Daniels had a ‘personal relationship’ with the four women.

Mr Boye alleged that the defendant had counselled one of the women, given the amount of N100,000 to another for hospital treatment, paid school fees for a third and related with a fourth, as a leader in the campus fellowship affiliated with his ministry at Akungba-Akobo in Ondo State.

But the Bishop denied giving money to one of the women for treatment. He said, “I believe all three ladies turned against me, but not (name withheld), because she later apologised to me.”

When asked why the accusations from the ladies were all sexual in nature, the defendant said he didn’t know.

Mr Boye also accused the defendant of using his position as a Pastor to manipulate persons who come to him for counseling .

“You are a man of God. Are you not? A powerful man of God. You get trained to counsel, and you use wisdom and the leading of the spirit to manipulate.”

Bishop Daniels denied this allegation. He said, “I am not a powerful man, I am a pastor. I do not use power to counsel people, I am not a manipulator”.

The Prosecutor further grilled the defendant, “You visited your Akungba fellowship centre and when she (one of the alleged victims) saw you, she hissed. Were you not surprised as a pastor?

“No. She was disgruntled because I couldn’t help her financially.”

“Are you her father?”
“No”
“So she isn’t your responsibility.
“yes”

The defendant also denied tampering with the WhatsApp messages between him and one of his alleged victims.

During the cross examination, the prosecutor also sought to tender four statements purportedly written by the defendant whilst in police custody at various intervals last year.

“There are contradictions between the defendant’s testimony and contents of the documents. We seek to use them to impeach his testimony. We rely on section 232 of the Evidence Act, that evidence even though obtained improperly is still admissible and we urge the court to admit same,” Boye said.

The defence counsel, Adebayo Adegbite, raised objections to the admissibility of the statements. He argued that the statements were not made by the defendant and that the Bishop signed them under duress.

“The statements are a mixture of confession and denial. We leave it to the court to determine whether they amount to a confession. Right from the start of this trial, the defendant has denied the charges, that’s his plea. The documents weren’t made voluntarily. Even if there were contradictions, he wasn’t the maker of the documents, they were written by the police,” Adegbite stated.

In his ruling, Justice Rahman Oshodi, admitted the documents. The judge said, “By section 9(3) and (4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State (2021), the presence of a video testimony of the suspect is desirable but not compulsory. I will admit the documents and later consider the evidential value to place on them. The objection of the defence is hereby overruled.”

Justice Oshodi then adjourned the matter to December 20, 2023, for the adoption of final written addresses of the parties.

PDP governorship candidate in Kogi State, Dino Melaye, on Politics Today, Monday, October 16, 2023,


The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Kogi State Dino Melaye says one of his plans is to recruit graduates to boost the state’s agricultural sector.

He made the comment on Monday when he was featured on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

“We are going to work on agriculture. We are going to work on mechanised agriculture. We are going to go into plantation agriculture. We are going to have farmhouses. We are going to recruit our graduates into agriculture,” he said.

While lamenting the state of education in the Confluence State, Melaye promised to revamp the sector if he wins the November 11 election.

“After working on our economy, we are going to work on our education. As I speak with you today, apart from Ekiti State, we have the highest number of professors in this country yet our universities are like glorified secondary schools. Today, there is no functional primary school in Kogi State – no teachers,” Melaye maintained.

“Education is the bane of our development as a people. We are going to work on it. We are going to introduce ICT. We are going to work on the curriculum from primary school to our universities.”

‘First Responsibility’
He also pledged to unite the people.

“My first responsibility would be to unite our people and that is why the slogan of my campaign is: One Kogi, One Destiny,” the former lawmaker added.

The PDP candidate also accused Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State of running a proxy third term via the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Ahmed Ododo.

“Don’t be deceived that Yahaya Bello is not on the ballot. Ododo is physically on the ballot but Yahaya Bello is the one seeking a third term through a proxy [Ododo].

“I will not want this debate to be about Yahaya Bello, rather I would like to market my political party and market what we have for Kogi State,” he said.

The Ogun State government has called on factories operating in the state to ensure that their workers are provided with proper kits, including protective goggles, in order to safeguard their eyesight.

The state said its finding had shown that blindness was more predominant among factory workers in the state.

The Commissioner of Health, Dr Tomi Coker, said during a press conference in commemoration of World Sight Day 2023 with the theme, ‘Love your eyes at work,’ “We are speaking to factories and employers as well, they must make sure that they provide protective goggles for their employees as well as make sure that there’s safety around the workplace.

“We have realised in Ogun State, in particular, that the number of blind people that we see within the factory workers is far higher, the proportion is far higher among the people working in factories than in the general population,” the commissioner said.

The commissioner disclosed that the government had distributed 250 free eyeglasses, otherwise known as ‘Jigi Dapo’ to the artisans at the Mechanic Village, Abeokuta.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the February 25 election, Atiku Abubakar, has urged the Supreme Court to allow him to present fresh evidence to back his claim that President Bola Tinubu forged the document he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He said presenting forged documents by any candidate is a grave constitutional issue that must be discouraged.

This was contained in Atiku’s reply on the point of law to Tinubu’s objection to the leave. He sought to present fresh evidence before the apex court.

“Presenting forged documents by any candidate, especially by a candidate for the highest office in the land, is a very grave constitutional issue that must not be encouraged, ” he said.

Tinubu had urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the application, describing it as a crass abuse of court processes.

But in his response on the point of law, Atiku urged the court to jettison technicality and grant his application.

He argued that the issue of merit ought not to be determined or pronounced upon at the interlocutory stage.

To refuse to grant the leave, as the respondents have argued, will amount to undue technicality.

“The Supreme Court, as the Apex Court and indeed the Policy Court, has intervened time and again to do substantial justice in such matters of great constitutional importance, as it did in the case of AMAECHI vs. INEC (2008) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1080) 227 and OBI vs. INEC (2007) 11 NWLR (Pt. 1046) 565. The Supreme Court applied the principle of ubi jus ibi remedium to ensure substantial justice is done in such novel scenarios.

“The need to rebuff, eschew, and reject technicality and the duty of Court to ensure substantial justice is very germane in this matter, given the gravity of the constitutional issue involved in deciding whether a candidate for the highest office in the land, the office of President of the Country, presented a forged certificate or not.

“In urging the Honourable Court to overrule the objections of the Respondents, we can do no better than to commend to your noble Lordships the insightful words of the Supreme Court in ASSAH & ORS V. KARA & ORS (2014) LPELR-24212(SC), per Rhodes-Vivour, JSC as follows:

“Law is blind. It has no eyes. It cannot see. That explains why a statue of a woman with her eyes covered can be found in front of some High Courts. On the contrary, justice is not blind. It has many eyes, it sees and sees very well.

‘The aim of Courts is to do substantial justice between the parties and any technicality that rears its ugly head to defeat the cause of justice will be rebuffed by the Court, ” he stated.

Atiku stated that his stance was not if Tinubu attended the Chicago State University or not, adding that Tinubu presented a forged certificate to INEC.

“That the case is not whether the 2nd Respondent attended Chicago State University but whether he presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“That at the trial, a National Youth Service Corps certificate with serial number 173807 presented by the 2nd Respondent to the 1st Respondent was equally tendered by the Appellants/Applicants at the trial as “EXHIBIT PBD 1A” with the name Tinubu Bola Adekunle, which is annexed herewith as EXHIBIT “J”.

Also, Atiku described Tinubu’s allegation that he was not consistent with his name as immaterial and pedestrian.

Atiku held that there was no petition challenging his qualification.

“That it is immaterial that the 1st Respondent had since June 24th, 2022 published the fictitious credentials of the 2nd Respondent as presentation of a forged certificate by a candidate for election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a post-election matter under Section 137 (1) (j) of the Constitution”.

In a 20-paragraph affidavit in support of the application, deposed to by one Uyi Giwa-Osagie, he noted that should the Apex Court grant his application, adding that there would be no need for argument.

He said, “There would be no need for any further argument other than the written address in support of same showing that the 2nd Respondent is in violation of the provisions of Section 137 (1) (j) of the Constitution by presenting a certificate disclaimed by the institution from where he purportedly procured same.

“That contrary to paragraphs 16(xi) of the 2nd Respondent’s Counter-Affidavit, there was no ex parte communication with the Honourable Court, but the letter was forwarded to the Registrar of the Court just as was done in the case of Uzodinma vs. Izunaso (2011) 17 NWLR (Pt. 1275) 30, at 56 (paragraph h of the affidavit on page 56) in which Counsel for the 2nd Respondent and Counsel for the Appellants/Applicants were both involved.

He argued that Tinubu’s objection was baseless.

He said, “The presence of the 1st and 3rd Respondents at the discovery and deposition was not necessary.

“That I know that the 2nd Respondent’s appeal was to prevent the discovery and deposition and that the said Appeal failed.

“That I know as a fact that the discovery and deposition were ordered by the District Judge, and was not out-of-court.

“That the Appellants were not indolent in their pursuit of the discoveries and deposition as it was also the letter tendered as EXHIBIT XX2 by the 2nd Respondent in the course of his defense purportedly issued by Caleb Westerberg that clearly gave the Appellants/Applicants further reasons to build on the evidence of PW27 by the discovery proceedings for the documents and Deposition on Oath of the same Caleb Westerberg.

“That the process for the discovery and deposition was commenced by the Appellants/Applicants with several initial preliminary processes by their U.S. Attorneys culminating in their eventually filing a Petition for the issuance of Subpoena, a copy of which is annexed herewith as EXHIBIT “K”.

“That the process was severely stalled by the vehement opposition of the 2nd Respondent, citing irreparable damage to him, amongst other excuses, and I annex herewith as EXHIBIT “L” the motion the 2nd Respondent to quash the subpoena, which application failed.

“That the process was also further delayed by a motion to join or intervene filed by the 2nd Respondent, which was granted, a copy of which application is annexed herewith as EXHIBIT “M”.”

“That eventually the subpoena was ordered, and annex herewith a copy of the subpoena along with the documents that accompanied it as EXHIBIT “N”.

He argued that the president made a move to block the release of credentials while he had equally applied through his lawyer for the release of the document.

“That the 2nd Respondent has been in primary possession of all the facts sought in the discovery but took every step to block their release, notwithstanding that the 2nd Respondent had equally applied through his Attorney in the United States, Mr. Wole Afolabi, for the release of the said documents, which were released to him as shown is EXHIBIT “P” presented in the course of the discovery and deposition process”, he said.

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, approved the staggered takeoff of six out of 14 public universities established in the twilight of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who revealed this to State House Correspondents, said the choice of the universities — two colleges of agriculture, education and medicine each—was strategic to the skills-empowerment goals of the Tinubu-led administration.

The Buhari administration approved the establishment of no fewer than 75 universities, encompassing federal, state and private institutions within seven years.

However, Mamman said the Federal Government lacked the funds and qualified staffing to kick start all institutions at once as they are capital intensive.

He added that the Tinubu administration will be “conservative” in doling out approvals for the establishment of new universities.

“And then there are quite a number of universities and institutions which were approved in the last days of the last administration, which because of issues of funding, and even staff it may not be prudent to get these institutions to take off altogether at once.

“So Mr. President has directed we stagger their commencement, their takeoff so that the government can properly support them,” the Former Baze University Vice Chancellor said, after he briefed Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says the federal government paid a total of N171.25 billion as electricity subsidy in the first six months of 2023.

NERC, in its second-quarter (Q2) report dated October 17, 2023, said the subsidy was due to the absence of cost-reflective tariffs across all distribution companies.

During the first half (H1) of the year, the commission reported a total subsidy of N171.25 billion, with N36.02 billion incurred in the first quarter (Q1) and N135.23 billion in Q2.

According to the commission, the increase in Q2 can be primarily attributed to the government’s policy of harmonising exchange rates.

“In the absence of cost-reflective tariffs, the government undertakes to cover the resultant gap (between the cost-reflective and allowed tariff) in the form of tariff shortfall funding,” the report said.

“This funding is applied to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) invoices that are to be paid by DisCos.

“The amount to be covered by the DisCo is based on the allowed tariff determined by the Commission and set out as their Minimum Remittance Obligation(MRO) in the periodic Tariff Orders issued by the Commission.

“It is important to note that due to the absence of cost-reflective tariffs across all DisCos, the government incurred a subsidy obligation of N135.23 billion in 2023/Q2, which is an increase of N99.21 billion (+275%) compared to the ₦36.02 billion incurred in 2023/Q1.”

The report also highlighted that, on average, the subsidy obligation incurred by the government per month was N45.08 billion in Q2 2023.

The NERC said the government’s subsidy obligation meant that in 2023/Q2, Discos were only expected to cover 53.25 percent of the total invoice received from NBET.

DISCOs RAKE IN N267.9BN, Q2 COLLECTION EFFICIENCY AT 75.5%

According to the NERC, DisCos revenue for Q2 stood at N267.86 billion achieving a 75.5 percent collection efficiency.

In Q1, the collection efficiency stood at 68.75 percent.

Collection efficiency is the ratio of the amount that has been collected from customers relative to the amount billed to them by the DisCos.

For example, collection efficiency of 70 percent implies that for every N100 worth of energy billed to customers by DisCos, approximately N30 remained unrecovered from the billed customers.

NERC said: “The total revenue collected by all DisCos in 2023/Q2 was N267.86 billion out of the N354.61 billion that was billed to customers.”

“This translates to a collection efficiency of 75.54%. The DisCos overall collection efficiency increased by 6.79 percent point from 68.75% recorded in 2023/Q1.

“While the total collections increased by 8.41% (compared to N247.09 billion in 2023/Q1), the total billings declined by -1.33% (compared to N359.38 billion in 2023/Q1).”

The report also shows that all other discos apart from Yola discos recorded an improvement in collection efficiency in Q2.

The top performing DisCos were Kaduna, Ikeja and Enugu with (44.27 percent to 59.38 percent ), (87.19 percent to 95 percent ) and (68.55 percent to 76.29 percent) increases in collection efficiency respectively.

Yola DisCo had a decrease from 45.71 percent to 45.27 percent in collection efficiency within the
same period.

The House of Representatives has directed the Committee on Public Account to look into claims of improper handling of COVID-19 intervention funding.

The order came from a motion moved on Tuesday, during plenary by Nyampa Zakari, a PDP member from Adamawa State.

Zakari claimed in his motion that numerous ministries and organizations misused the COVID-19 intervention monies during the pandemic.

The parliamentarian said that the federal budget had earmarked more than N183.9 billion for the intervention money, adding that money was donated to the coffers by other international donors.

“The disruption of economic activity made it necessary to implement several programmes, laws, and interventions to help families, small enterprises, and public corporations and to strengthen their economies.

“To battle the COVID-19 pandemic on the populace, the Federal Government of Nigeria launched several initiatives, including financial provisions and money from international donor organisations.

“A sum of N83.9 billion was appropriated for the COVID-19 response in the 2020 Appropriation Act, as well as another sum of over N100 billion as intervention funds through the supplementary budget and international donor agencies,” the lawmaker added.

The alleged mishandling, according to Mr. Zakari, was detailed in one of the Auditor General’s reports.

He said that the poor handling would discourage future donations to Nigeria from donor organisations.

“Auditor-General’s report and other sources reveal that significant funds for COVID-19 palliatives and international donations were diverted and unaccounted for by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government.

“Lack of proper accountability of funds allocated for COVID-19 intervention by the federal government and global donor agencies could potentially lead to negative economic ratings and loss of opportunities for Nigeria,” he said.

Speaking on the motion, Borno APC member Ahmed Jaha stated that the probe was essential because the House has already been charged with receiving benefits from the COVID-19 intervention money.

Imagine how many schools would have been built if each constituency received N500 million, Mr. Jaha said.

As a result, the House instructed the committee to look into the COVID-19 intervention funds distributed to federal ministries, departments, and agencies between 2020 and 2022 and provide a report within four weeks for additional legislative action.

After being placed to a vote by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, the resolution was adopted by the House by a unanimous vote.

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, approved the promotion of all civil and public servants whose promotions were due in 2022.

The PUNCH reports that the Makinde administration conducted the 2017-2022 promotion exercises; and for 2022, the governor had also given approval for the conduct of the promotion of 7, 276 civil servants.

A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, in Ibadan, the state capital, said the approval was taken during the Executive Council meeting.

He stressed further that the development was consistent with the government’s policy on workers’ welfare in the past four years.

Oyelade said, “The state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Musbau Babatunde, said the Exco approved the realignment of the 2023 supplementary budget, to be presented to the state House of Assembly for approval.

“He said the decision was necessitated by the twin economic policy of subsidy removal and the unification of exchange rate has led to some shifts in macro-economic fundamentals in the state, with respect to inflation, exchange and interest rates. The government took into decision certain projects that are going on, overridden by costs. The requests by Ministries, Departments and Agencies on the need to situate their current budget performance in the context of the shift in macroeconomic fundamentals.

“The increment in the 2023 budget size is from N310,432,500,000.00 to the sum of N352,382,500,000.00. The idle funds in some MDAs have been realigned in line with the current economic realities. He said the government is currently negotiating with the Nigeria Labour Congress, and decisions taken from the meeting will be included in the realigned supplementary budget.

“The Medium Term Expenditure Framework (2024-2026) on which the 2024 budget will be premised has been approved by the Exco. The approved figure for this is N424,410,611,938.00. This is an increase of the sum of N69,237,658,025.00 which represents 19.49 per cent over the 2023 pre-empted figure of N355,172,953,913.00.

“He said the current realigned budget of N352,382,500,000.00 mirrors the Oyo State Government’s projection perfectly, for the year 2023. We expect the Medium Term Expenditure Framework to be a good guide for the fiscal balance of the year 2024 budget,” he explained.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has warned Lagosians that the Blue Rail Line tracks are not a marketplace.

Sanwo-Olu said this on Monday while announcing the resumption of the Blue Line Rail which was earlier suspended at the weekend.

“I am happy to announce that the LRMT Blue Line is back on track energised with an increase in trips from 12 trips to 54 trips per day and this will rise to 74 trips by the end of November, thanks to the hard work of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority.

“The first trip starts at 6:30 am and your daily commute has now become even smoother with a schedule you can plan around as well as with the Cowry Card and discounts to help you plan your expenses better.

“We temporarily paused the Blue Line this weekend for your safety, and now we have fully energised the line for a brighter future,” Sanwo-OLu wrote on X via @jidesanwoolu.

Warning against nefarious activities around the rail tracks, the governor stated: “Please do not attempt to access the rail tracks for any nefarious or otherwise activities and it bears repeating that the train tracks are not a marketplace.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government, on Monday, ordered the reopening of Mile 12 International Market after it was sealed on Friday.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the market was reopened after a thorough assessment, covering various aspects of environmental compliance, waste management practices and general cleanliness within the market.

He noted that issues critical to the environment, public health and safety were not negotiable as the government would not watch helplessly as those values were compromised and eroded by the conduct of a few people.

“We cannot continue to be nonchalant about our environment. Our negative attitude towards the environment must stop.

“The way we treat the environment is the way the environment treats us. We cannot fold our arms and allow the nonchalance of a few to affect the generality of the people.

“Following full compliance with environmental standards and safety measures earlier listed as a precondition for reopening shut markets, the Lagos State Government has ordered immediate reopening of Mile 12 International Market.”

He urged the traders to play by the rules of acceptable standards, by putting a premium on hygiene for their health and that of the public, stressing that the government would not shy away from shutting down any market that returns to the old filthy ways.

Hadiza Bala Usman, special adviser to the president on policy coordination, says each minister would sign a performance bond with President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking during an interview with TVC News on Tuesday, Bala Usman said the bond will contain key performance indicators (KPIs) that would be reviewed quarterly.

She added that the bond will also come with a consequence management framework for appointees who fall short.

“The role of my office is to ensure that there is coordination across ministries, departments and agencies. We have effectively commenced our work,” she said.

“We have also looked to see that while there are policy deployments across MDAs, there is also understanding of the respective deliverables expected of the MDAs of government.

“We are looking to commence an assessment of the respective ministers in January 2024. We are going to have quarterly assessments of performance which will culminate in an annual score card.

“In addition to that, we are going to have a cabinet retreat in November with Mr. President. At the end, this would culminate in the performance bond that will be signed by each ministry.

“Every minister and the permanent secretary would sign a performance bond with the president which would detail what they are expected to do within the one year 2024 budget cycle.

“And that performance bond is what we are going to use to track the performance of that minister.

“One of the things that we are keen to ensure, and Mr. President has clearly given us that directive is that performance is a very important thing.

“He has made a commitment to Nigerians and that commitment is what he is going to ensure is delivered by his respective appointees.

“And it is not only for the ministries, but also largely for the whole governance structure for all of us to know that we are hitting the ground running and we are ensuring that we deliver on our respective mandates.”

Bala Usman added that Nigerians would see a difference in governance from the way the president manages his team.

“You are going to see a huge difference in President Tinubu’s approach towards ensuring his appointees adhere to the key performance indicators that he is giving them,” she said.

“As we know him, he is somebody that is very strong in delivering on his promises to citizens and I believe we are all going to witness that in how he is able to ensure that ministers are delivering.

“And we can see within the short period we have had a very clear economic direction that he has given and he is very strong in ensuring that all hands are on deck and also every appointee is clear on delivering on their mandate.”

SECURITY A TOP PRIORITY FOR TINUBU

Bala Usman added that security is top priority for Tinubu.

“Security is a top priority of President Bola Tinubu, and he has ensured that all resources are prioritised for security deployment,” she said.

“We can see within our supplementary budget; within areas that the president has made pronouncements.

“He has prioritised our security and we can see a lot of key achievements have been done within the shortest period by the agencies in the security architecture of the country.”

Bala Usman served as chief of staff to the governor of Kaduna from 2015 to 2016.

She was also managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) from 2016 to 2021.

She was appointed into her current role by President Tinubu on June 19, 2023.

The Federal Government plans to spend 61.63 per cent of its planned 2024 on personnel and debt service costs, The PUNCH has learnt.

The personnel and pension costs of N7.78tn and the debt service cost of N8.25tn make up N16.03tn out of the N26.01tn 2024 budget.

The PUNCH also observed that the government would spend more on debt servicing than it would spend on paying the salaries and pensions of its workers.

Also, the amount budgeted for personnel and pension costs is expected to increase from N5.87tn in 2023 to N7.78tn in the 2024 budget.

This showed an increase of N1.91tn or 32.54 per cent amid concerns for a reduction in the cost of governance.

The PUNCH also observed a 30.74 per cent increase in debt service cost from N6.31tn in 2023 to N8.25tn by 2023.

The World Bank in June 2023 stated that the Federal Government’s spending on personnel costs and debt servicing exceeded total revenues in 2022.

According to the Washington-based bank, this was the first time the Federal Government’s personnel costs and debt servicing surpassed its total revenue.

The bank added that due to this, spending on capital expenditures weakened.

According to the bank, personnel costs and interest payments on loans comprised 59 per cent of the government’s 2022 total expenditures.

The Federal Government also spent 102 per cent of its revenues on personnel costs and interest payments during the period under review.

Increasing budget spending

Also, the Federal Government on Monday said it was projecting N26.01tn as expenses for the 2024 fiscal year.

This was an increase of 19.15 per cent from the N21.83tn approved in 2023.

This is as it approved the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for 2024 – 2026.

The FG affirmed that the administration would maintain the January – December budget implementation cycle as President Bola Tinubu would soon present the 2024 appropriation bill to the National Assembly to ensure its ratification before December 31, 2023.

“The aggregate expenditure is estimated at N26.01tn for the 2024 budget, which includes statutory transfers of N1.3tn non-debt recurrent expenditure of N10.26tn. Debt service estimated at N8.25tn as well as N7.78tn being provided for personnel pension cost,” the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, told State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Bagudu clarified the increased debt service, saying it was “because N22.7tn Ways and Means was securitised, meaning it became a Federal Government debt at nine per cent.”

Equally, personnel costs rose significantly due to transfers from the agreement between the Federal Government and the Organised Labour.

The PUNCH earlier reported that the Federal Government might incur an additional N315bn in wage bills in the next six months for the newly introduced allowance for federal workers.

This came as the Organised Labour agreed to suspend its proposed nationwide strike for 30 days, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government after a marathon meeting.

The PUNCH also reported that the total spending by the Federal Government on palliatives and loans to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal may hit N3.27tn.

These palliatives included N100bn to acquire 3,000 units of 20-seater CNG-fuelled buses, N200bn to boost agriculture production, N75bn for manufacturers, N125bn for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal sector, N185bn as palliatives for states, N1tn on student loans and other programmes.

Others included N315bn to pay federal workers’ N35,000 allowance for six months, N1.13tn to 15 million households at N25,000 per month for three months from October to December 2023, N70bn earmarked as palliative measures for lawmakers, and N75bn loan facility to 1.5m market women.

Supplementary budget

The FG also said it would present a supplementary budget given its growing obligations since the removal of petroleum subsidy.

“Yes, there would be a supplementary budget because there are continuing obligations and responses to security which can be immediate,” Bagudu affirmed.

He explained that the perceived delays would not truncate the January – December implementation cycle because the President engaged with the National Assembly long before presentation day.

“Mr President is mindful of those and is assessing them. But he is also committed to the budget process and its integrity. He wants to ensure that monies that are appropriated will be spent in the period for which they are appropriated.

“And then in terms of presentation of the budget, Mr President has been engaging with the National Assembly leadership, even ahead of the presentation, to say, ‘these are our assumptions, these are our thought processes,’ so that it can reduce the lead time for which the budget has to go through such considerations.

“We believe that this budget will be presented in good time, particularly the 2024 budget will be passed and signed before December 31, 2023,” explained the Minister.

Through the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Federal Government had earlier said it commenced the preparation of the 2024 budget, which it planned to submit in October 2023.

FG targets N700/$

Reading the details of the discussion of the Council on the 2024 budget, the former Kebbi State Governor said the Federal Government made informed assumptions about the reference price for crude oil, pegging it at $73.96 per barrel, an exchange rate of $700/N1, oil production of 1.78 million barrels per day, and debt service of N8.25tn.

The Federal Government assumed an inflation rate of 21 per cent and an annual GDP growth rate of 3.76 per cent.

Bagudu said, “The council members acknowledge the medium-term expenditure framework and agreed that we can proceed to the next step of consultation and presentation to the National Assembly.

“The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework is a requirement of the Fiscal Responsibility Act. This Fiscal Responsibility Act is for the years 2024 to 2026. The several hundred-dollar reference price assumes optimism that investment flows will continue. Given all the engagements, given all the positive tractions.

“We are seeing from investors from the engagement led by Mr President personally, two different countries, in particular India, UAE and France, the engagements led by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the trade and investment minister and other ministers. We believe that these inflows will help us to clear the backlog, and the exchange rate will begin to reflect a stronger value than the current weakness.

“The assumptions include the oil price benchmark, which I said for 2024 we are assuming $73.96 per barrel, oil production of 1.78 million barrels a day, the exchange rate of $700. Then, the inflation of 21 per cent and GDP growth rate of 3.76 per cent. The aggregate expenditure is estimated at N26.01tn for the 2024 budget, which includes statutory transfers of N1.3tn, non-debt recurrent expenditure of N10.26tn, debt service estimated at N8.25tn and as well as N7.78tn being provided for personnel and pension cost.”

Meanwhile, FEC meetings will now be held on Mondays, a shift from Wednesdays as was held in the immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari and before. The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, who disclosed this to journalists after Monday’s FEC meeting, also noted that the meetings would be held when necessary and not every week.

Idris explained, “The President has approved that Federal Executive Council meetings will now be happening on Mondays as against the traditional Wednesdays that we are used to.

“So FEC meetings have been moved to Mondays. Of course, that does not mean that it has to happen every week. If there are no issues to discuss, it will be shifted to the following week.”

Reacting to the 2024 budget proposal, an economist and the Foundation for Economic Research and Training Chairman, Professor Akpan Ekpo, expressed worry that the country was getting more indebted.

“My own is that I hope they have the resources to manage that type of expenditure. Because we were told that we were still looking for over $1bn World Bank loan for project support, we are getting more indebted. That is my worry. And the medium-term expenditure framework is about time we abandoned it because there is an economic development plan.” He added.

He said, “And once the House approves that plan, the medium-term expenditure plan would stop because that is a measure that was designed when there was no planning. So, since we have a development plan, which the minister said we would adopt, the medium-term plans become super flawed. I have not checked whether the capital component of the medium-term development plans is consistent with the budget.

“Because normally the capital component of the budget is derived from the medium-term expenditure framework. Otherwise, if we say we have revenue challenges, we have to be careful of the resources we need for the budget. I think one way of solving the problem is that it is not a revenue problem; it is an expenditure problem; we need to cut down the expenditure. They need to cut down drastically on the cost of governance. That is the way I see it.”

Also, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Muda Yusuf, said, “It is in order, it is not too much, and the budget is not too much for the size of our economy. Even the steps they are already taking to improve our economy, I don’t think it is too ambitious; I think it is realistic. I also hope there won’t be too much of a deficit.”

Meanwhile, a professor of economics at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sheriffdeen Tella, said, “They have to explain where they are going to be getting the money from because if it is from that loan, it’s unfortunate because I think that what the government should be doing is to cut its coat according to the size of its cloth rather than be looking for loans here and there.

“I want to believe that the projection will be an adjustment for inflation rather than just getting an additional loan because a loan that they have put forward that they want to collect, I must confess that I’m against it, but if they are going to get a loan again to finance that budget, it’s unrealistic and not good for the economy. They have to project whether we will have more income from our output or if it is expected from our output growth but if it is because they are relying on loans, it is not tidy enough.”

Monica Dongban-Mensem, president of the court of appeal, has directed that all appeals arising from election petition cases across the country be transferred to the Abuja and Lagos divisions.

The order affects gubernatorial, national and state assemblies’ elections, which held between February and March 2023.

Although the appeals from the various state tribunals are supposed to be heard across the 20 appellate courts in the country, only two divisions of the court would preside over the election appeals.

The Abuja division will handle appeals from 19 northern states while 17 southern states’ cases would be heard in Lagos.

The directive was issued following allegations and petitions against state tribunal judges.

Some political parties and their candidates had alleged that the judges at the state tribunals had been compromised by governors.

The aggrieved parties also expressed concerns that they may suffer the same fate if the appeals are to be determined in the various states.

The transfer of the appeals is aimed at guaranteeing the independence, integrity and impartiality of the appellate court.

The appeal court president said having fewer divisions handle all cases will enable her effectively oversee the judges.

Parties and their counsels are said to be complying with the fresh directive and moving their files to the two cities despite the huge costs.

The federal government Monday is proposing N26 trillion as the 2024 budget which will be submitted to the national assembly before December 31.

Atiku Bagudu, minister of planning and budget, announced the budget proposal at the end of the federal executive council (FEC) meeting held on Monday, at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Bagudu said the council has approved the 2024-2025 medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) and fiscal strategy papers (FSP).

He added that the executive is required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act to present to the national assembly ahead of a budget presentation, a document which will provide the medium-term economic outlook for the economy.

He said FEC made assumptions about the reference price for crude oil which is at $73.96 per barrel as well as an exchange rate of N700.

“Now, it was presented on the background of the commendable measures that have been taken since June in order to restore macroeconomic stability particularly the deregulation of petroleum prices, which we maintained that subsidies are gone and indeed the regulation of the foreign exchange market,” the minister said.

“So Council deliberated, as well as the implication of this and all measures promised in the renewed hope agenda consumer credits, mortgages, reversed or dismissed institution as well as funding the newly aligned institutional changes particularly ministries with specific functions that are able to generate growth so that would be better for our country.

“The council members acknowledge the medium-term expenditure framework, and it is agreed that we can go ahead to the next step of consultation and presentation to the National Assembly.”

The Police Service Commission (PSC) in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has invited interested Nigerians to apply as constables.

The PSC also invited applications for enlistment as artisans into specialised fields.

The fields include medical assistant, veterinary assistant, band section, communications or info-tech specialist, driver or mechanic, marine, plumbers, masons, painters, tilers, electricians, welders and carpenters.

In a statement issued on Friday, the PSC said the online application portal will be opened for six weeks from October 15 to November 26, 2023.

It said applicants must be of Nigerian origin by birth, must possess the national identification number (NIN) and must possess a minimum of five credits in not more than two sittings in WAEC/NECO or its equivalent with credit passes in English and Mathematics.

“Applicants must be aged between 18-25 years, Applicants must be medically, physically, and psychologically fit and must not be less than 1.67m tall for male and 1.64m tall for female,” the statement reads.

“Applicants must not have less than 86cm (34 inches) expanded chest measurement for male only. Female Applicants must not be pregnant at the time of entry.

“SSCE statements of result or certificates relating to examinations taken before 2015 will not be accepted. Applicants must be free from any financial embarrassment and not convicted of any criminal offence.”

For applications into the specialised fields, applicants must possess a minimum of four credits in not more than two sittings in WASSCE/SSCE or its equivalent with credit passes in English and Mathematics.

“Medical/Veterinary Assistants must possess a minimum of 5 credits in not more than 2 sittings in WASSCE/SSCE or its equivalent with credit passes in English and Mathematics while any Certificate in relevant fields will be added advantage,” the statement reads.

“Applicants must be aged between 18-28 years.”

Interested applicants should visit www.apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng to fill the online application form.

The Lagos State Government has stated that allottees of unoccupied home units in all government-owned estates have been given a 3-month notice to occupy their apartment or forfeit their allocation.

The Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, gave this ultimatum during a facility tour on Friday, to assess the level of completion on site at Sheridan Garden Estate, Urban Shelter, and LagosHOMS Sangotedo Phase II, in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state.

He said, “Allottees of unoccupied home units in all Government Owned Estates have been given 3 months’ notice to occupy their apartment or forfeit their allocation, a more robust plan has been developed to ensure a high level of maintenance culture in our estates and stringent guidelines have been reeled out for Facility managers and allottees who default.

“Mr. Governor has directed that low-income earners be targeted and that is why the Ministry is working with companies that can optimally make use of technology so as to deliver more affordable homes as the State Government is not out to make a profit but rather make most Lagosians homeowners.”

Akinderu-Fatai further disclosed that not less than 3,500 ongoing home units scattered all over the 5 divisions of the State would be ready for a flag-off by the end of the first year of the Sano-Olu’s administration.

He added, “The tour will afford the Ministry the opportunity to meet with contractors while on the field, discuss their challenges, give a first-hand assessment of work done so far, and proffer possible solutions to the challenges at hand.

“All hands are on deck to ensure that the vision of Mr. Governor Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu towards the realization of affordable and decent mass housing for Lagosians is actualized in no time.”

The commissioner expressed dissatisfaction at the slow pace of work by some contractors while urging them to be professional in the execution of their contracts adding that contractors who are not going by the terms and conditions of their contract will have it terminated.

Thereafter, the Special Adviser to the Governor on housing, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, advised real estate developers to be duly registered with the agency and shun quackery.

She further urged Lagosians to patronise only registered real estate developers and forward complaints to the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Abdulhafiz Toriola, during the tour advised residents of the credibility of ‘Government Owned Schemes’ urging interested homeowners to approach the Ministry of Housing to signify interest and gather all information needed rather than going through unverifiable sources.

The West African Examinations Council has denied any association with a publication that declared Abia State as the top-performing state in the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for Nigerian school candidates.

In a disclaimer issued and signed on Thursday, by the Ag. Head Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, WAEC asserted that the claim was entirely false. WAEC also cautioned against giving any credibility to media outlets spreading this inaccurate information.

The statement added that certain platforms, driven by a desire for controversy, were attempting without success to involve the council in political matters and tarnish its reputation.

The statement read: “The attention of the West African Examinations Council has been drawn to a social media post stating that Abia State, has been rated as the best-performing State in the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2023, in Nigeria.

“This is far from the truth. The Council completely and totally disassociates itself from the publication.

“For the avoidance of doubt, The West African Examinations Council DOES NOT RANK the PERFORMANCE of States in its examination. This we have always stated.

“Thus, any media circulating this wrong information should be disregarded. They are mischievous platforms that trend on controversies, and their intention is purely political. They are trying unsuccessfully to drag the Council into the political arena and bring its good name to disrepute with the intention to cause disharmony among the states competing for superiority!

“Furthermore, the Council has not decided on the best candidate(s) for WASSCE for School Candidates, 2023. Any report to the contrary should be disregarded.

“The general public should please take note.”

The Lagos State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, said it was renewing its interest in the case of the late Bamise Ayanwola, the 22-year-old fashion designer who was murdered after boarding a Bus Rapid Transit in the state.

The House, therefore, said it would invite “the family of the deceased, the related government agency and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights for an update on the case which has been in the court,” a statement said on Tuesday.

The statement quoted the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, as saying that the issue, which was brought up by a member of the House, Steve Ogundipe, under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’, was worthy of deliberation.

“The issue of Bamise was brought to this House when it happened and I received the protesters, but at that point, the case was before the police and the court of law.

“Unfortunately, the judiciary is an institution on its own and we do not have the power to dabble in their activities. We cannot compel the judiciary but can only lend our voice by saying the people of the state are eager to know about the case.

“We need to invite the family, the civil society group and the agency of the government that has a role to play so that they can let us know how far they have gone.

“If we are encouraging people to make use of public transportation, then we must build that confidence that they are safe. All the buses on our roads must have CCTV cameras. Our new trains and terminals should also have. The essence of this is to prevent crime. Security is very crucial,” the Speaker was quoted to have said.

Obasa noted that, if in six months, the family of Bolanle Raheem, the lawyer who was murdered by a policeman, could get justice, there should also be justice for Bamise.

Bringing the issue to the notice of the House, Ogundipe said the incident happened in February 2022 and had continued to linger.

The Majority Leader of the House, Noheem Adams, recalled that the CDHR and the family of Bamise recently protested to the House, adding that about 500 protesters were promised that the House would act on their concern.