Category: News

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has ordered the remand of a former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in Kuje Correctional Centre.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Emefiele on a six-count amended charge bordering on fraud.

Emefiele was arraigned before Justice Hamza Muazu.

Emefiele’s Counsel, Mr Mathew Burkaa, SAN, had moved the application for his bail, but Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC counsel, opposed the application on behalf of the EFCC.

After Counsels in the matter made their arguments, Justice Muazu said he needed a little time to study the exhibits supplied by Emefiele to support his request for bail.

He, therefore, adjourned the case to November 22, 2023, for ruling.

Leadership

Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu

A non-governmental organisation, the Paul Basil Iloegbouba Foundation, PBIF, has fixed its 15th Enugu Free Mega Medical Outreach for December 12, 2023.

In a statement jointly signed and made available to Pacesetter in Enugu by the Founder/CEO of the Foundation, Engr. Pastor Paul Basil Iloegbouba and wife, Paul Favour Chinelo, the outreach which will hold at the popular Michael Okpara Square, Independence Layout, Enugu, by 7am is expected to benefit about ten thousand persons from or resident in Enugu.

Iloegbouba who is also the CEO of one of the largest real estate companies, Horizontal City Property Developers Limited stated that “the medical outreach team will comprise of 60 Doctors, 20 Nurses, 20 Pharmacists, 10 Physiotherapists, 10 Dentists, 10 Surgeons, 10 Ophthalmologists and 10 Optometrists”.

Going further, the Assistant Pastor Dunamis International Gospel Center Enugu Central, outlined that “the team of medical experts totaling about 150 persons will examine beneficiaries in the areas of dentistry, optometry, physiotherapy, ophthalmology, health education, surgical operations and different medical laboratory tests”, while further conducting physical fitness/sports.

While emphasizing that the Free Enugu Mega Medical Outreach “is a means of giving back to the society from the little that God has blessed me with and ensuring that people live a healthy life”, he maintained that “no beneficiary will pay a dime for any of the medical services listed above”.

He called on people to seize the opportunity for a general medical examination.

“Even if you do not need it (the free medical examination), you can inform someone in your extended family, church, place of work or neighborhood to be present. Drugs and other medical supplies will be given free of charge”, he added.

The Paul Basil Iloegbouba Foundation, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, has been at the fore of offering free medical services for years. It hopes to continue in that direction.

…NLC, TUC commend governor

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has announced cash awards of between N10,000 and N25,000 to the state workers till April 2024 while also assuring that the new minimum wage negotiation would soon be concluded.

Mbah stressed that the welfare of workers remained the priority of his administration, as his laudable goals for Enugu could not be attained without a happy workforce.

Dr. Mbah also announced an increase by his administration of the state social register enrolment from 43,000 to 260,000, promising to lift more indigent citizens through cash transfers and other social interventions.

He made these known during a joint media briefing with the state’s labour leaders at the Government House, Enugu, on Wednesday, saying the administration was also making other social interventions apart from the cash transfer to better the lives of Enugu State workers.

“As you may be aware, since the removal of the petroleum subsidy, we have been in constant negotiation with the labour unions in the state, crafting a way forward on how we can provide palliatives to our teeming workforce.

“So, by the time you put a monetary value to all the social services we have provided, it will weigh well above N100,000 minimum wage.

“But in addition to that, with effect from next month (December), we are going to also make a flat payment to all categories of our workers, beginning from our local government to the primary and secondary school teachers, and civil servants. We are going to categorise them and there will be flat payment of between N10,000 and 25,000, depending on the category. That payment is going to continue till April.

“Our hope is that by the end of April, the committee that is reviewing the minimum wage would have come out with what would then become the new minimum wage in the state. So, from there, we are just going to carry on the implementation of what is then set as the minimum wage”, he stated.

Governor Mbah reiterated the determination of his administration to achieve zero per cent poverty headcount index by 2031, saying the state had set aside N1.5 billion for social development programmes like water and sanitation in the communities in addition to constructing 260 model primary healthcare centers and 260 smart schools with accompanying teachers’ quarters.

“Importantly, the state is just concluding the update of our social register. We have now expanded our social register from 43,000 to accommodate up to 260,000 indigent people in our state. That is also a platform that we are going to use to do cash transfers to engage our indigent ones”, he added.

In their reactions, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Fabian Nwigbo and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Benneth Asogwa, thanked the governor for his proactive steps towards the welfare of Enugu workers, saying they were happy that Enugu workers did not have to lobby, protest, or embark on strike to have their salaries and welfares addressed.

“I am overwhelmed by your pronouncements this afternoon. We are grateful for the announcement because there was no ‘war-war’ to get this. This one came on a platter of gold. We did not come begging and crying or shouting and agitating. It was out of the abundance of your heart that you decided to greet us with this big news.

“Actually, it has been great for the people of Enugu State, especially the workers under your administration. First of all, our salaries come as and when due. Our promotion is also on the way for 2023. In the past, you have to spend years before you get promoted. So, as workers, we will do all we can to ensure that this government succeeds”, Nwigbo said

Adding his voice, the TUC state chairman, Asogwa, said: “You have made us today to understand that all that you said during the election were no political promises. We have come to realise that you meant business. If you could move this far within a few months of taking over as the governor of Enugu State, that means we are very sure that our tomorrow is bright”.

The Presidency has described the planned strike as an attempt to blackmail the government.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Monday said the planned action is an abuse of privilege and one that contravenes a restraining order by the Industrial Court against the strike.

He noted that Ajaero’s assault in Imo though condemnable is a personal issue that shouldn’t force the whole country into punishment.

The statement read,  “This decision by the NLC and TUC other than being an ego-tripping move is clearly unwarranted. It is an attempt to blackmail the government by the leadership of the NLC.

“We are still at a loss as to why the NLC and TUC decided to punish a whole country of over 200million people over a personal matter involving the NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, whose error of judgment led to assault on him in Owerri while he was planning to incite the workers in Imo State into a needless strike.

“While the Federal government does not condone any form of violence and assault on any citizen of Nigeria regardless of his or her social and economic status, it is on record that the Inspector General of Police has ordered an investigation into what happened to Ajaero while the Commissioner of Police in Imo State under whose watch the incident happened has been transferred out of the state.

“Calling out workers on a national strike over a personal issue of a labour leader despite a clear court order against any industrial action amounts to an abuse of privilege. Power at any level should never be used to settle personal scores. Rather, it should be used to promote collective progress and advance national interest.”

The statement added that the strike action is a sinister move to cause further hardship on the masses, noting that the labour movement should not be seen as one that shows disdain against the rule of law.

“Our national economy and social activities should not suffer because of the personal interest of any labour leader.

“This flagrant disobedience to a court order and lack of respect for the judiciary should not be what the organised Labour would champion.

“The labour movement has always been a champion of the rule of law and respect for the judiciary. It is a sad irony that the current labour leaders have shown disdain and utter disregard for the court orders.

“We reiterate that this strike action is illegal, immoral, unjustifiable and irresponsible. What the strike notice issued Monday night after official hours suggests is it’s designed for a sinister and hidden agenda to cause undue hardship and civil disturbance in our country. This is unacceptable,” it concluded.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its members to join the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, a professor of soil science, directed compliance in a letter to ASUU zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons across the country.

NLC had on Monday announced the commencement of the industrial action from midnight of Monday, 13t November.

The action of the unions followed the brutalisation of the NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, on 1 November in Imo State.

“As an affiliate of NLC, all members of our union are hereby directed to join this action of NLC to protect the interest of Nigerian workers and the leadership of the union. Zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons should immediately mobilise our members to participate in the action,” Mr Osodeke wrote in the letter.

Meanwhile, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, on Friday, restrained the labour unions from embarking on strike.

The judge, Benedict Kanyip, ordered the two major labour unions, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), to stop their industrial action scheduled to commence 14 November.

The interim order followed an ex-parte request by the Nigerian government through the office of Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, due to the Labour unions’ threat to embark on strike.

On Monday, the AGF office advised the unions against strike, asking them to respect the subsisting court order.

ASUU has raised concerns over “the deeping socio-economic” crises in the country, which it said was an attendant effect of the implementation of “neo-liberal economic policies” by the government of President Bola Tinubu.

“In particular, NEC noted the unbearable rising cost of living and increasing hardship foisted on the Nigerian masses since the unplanned deregulation of the prices of petroleum products and the unbridled devaluation of the Naira,” it said in a statement released after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Kaduna State University (KASU) at the weekend.

The union also noted that its struggles for improved conditions of service and funding for the universities have had little gains.

ASUU and the Nigerian government have been at loggerheads over the latter’s failure to meet the union’s litany of demands.

The demands include the revitalisation of the universities, autonomy and academic freedom, and removal of federal universities from the imposed Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

The university lecturers have also made a yet-to-be-met demand for the amendment of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act to curb the unbridled proliferation of state universities, and other related matters.

“NEC observed that successive governments have failed to honour several Agreements reached with our union, especially the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement,” the union said.

Premium Times

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has assured American and other global investors that the state is safe for business and investment with recent government’s deliberate policies at enabling the ease of doing business and strengthening of institutions.

Mbah, who urged investors to consider investing in Enugu’s huge investment opportunities with promise for high return on investment during his address, yesterday, to a global business audience in Houston, Texas, United States, organinsed by Fidelity Bank themed “Fidelity International Trade and Creative Connect (FITCC)”.

Addressing over 700 delegates and investors which included representatives of AFREXIM Bank, USEXIM Bank, the Houston Port Authority, Houston Airport Authority, Woodland Chamber of Commerce Houston, NIPC, Central Bank of Nigeria, Fidelity Bank, and a host of other global investors, in a speech titled, “Enugu State is Ready to Deal: Investment Opportunities and her Compelling Competitive Advantages”, the governor said his administration had already set the trajectory that would make the state the most attractive environment for both local and foreign direct investment in motion.

Represented by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Enugu State Investment Development Authority (ESIDA), Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, Governor Mbah disclosed that policies that would make the business environment most friendly in terms of transparency, accountability, traceability and liberalization had been activated, adding that more investors had started indicating interest in the state.

He further shared insights on the ongoing transformation agenda of his administration and market investment potential enabled by strong institutions that would not only protect investors but also guarantee their investments.

“Our administration adopted an integrated sector-based productivity growth strategy. This strategy is designed to shift economic focus away from low productivity activities to sectors with the greatest potential for growth. Prioritizing sectors that hold latent comparative advantage will ensure that we meet our $30 billion GDP target through accelerated competitiveness and industrialization,” he added.

While highlighting some of the key productive sectors that would be of interest to investors in the state, the governor said the agriculture and agro-allied sector, the energy and mineral sector, the state multi-modal transport system, the ongoing investment in infrastructure and information and communication technology would help to transform the status of the state and also guarantee a high return on investments for investors.

“We have commenced our e-governance process, and our vision is to increase broadband internet availability, establish ICT and tech clusters, build a tier 4 hyperscale commercial AI data centre, implement structured ICT education in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, and increase skill acquisition in four areas of interests: fintech and digital technology, IT services, cyber security, and e-commerce.

“We will harness the rich tourism sites in Enugu and deploy investments in eco-tourism. Our goal is to build enabling infrastructure around existing forest reserves, caves, and waterfalls and construct resort areas to promote tourism. Enugu will invest in a film and movie academy, as well as an arts and crafts village.

“This administration recognizes private investment as a key driver of long-term economic growth and prosperity. I declare that our administration is passionately committed to fostering a business-friendly environment through targeted incentives, effective security measures, and transparent, convenient, and effective governmental services. Enugu State will fully support domestic and international partners who are looking forward to expanding their presence in the state,” he further stressed.

Also in attendance were the Mayor of Houston, Hon. Sylvester Turner, the Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Dr. Mrs Uzoma Emenike, the First Ladies of Oyo and Lagos states, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde and Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, respectively, the Chairman of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Chike Obi, the President of AFRIEXIM Bank, Prof. Oramah, the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Nigeria, Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, among other top dignitaries.