Category: News

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday assured that delivery of projects in his second term will be bigger in scope and speedily delivered.

An unidentified air traveller was removed from a flight over his insistence on President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu not being sworn in come May 29.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged the Department of State Services (DSS) to disclose identities of those planning to instal an interim government.

On Wednesday, the secret police, in a statement by its spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunaya, said it had confirmed a plot by some key players to install an interim government and stop the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu from being inaugurated on May 29.

The DSS said the plot includes embarking on violent protests nationwide to engineer the declaration of a state of emergency as well as securing frivolous court injunctions to stall the inauguration.

But Atiku, in a statement by his media aide, Timi Frank , alleged that the alarm of a plot to prevent Tinubu from being sworn in as president was a calculated move to arrest the PDP presidential candidate and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and clampdown on protesters before May 29.

“The DSS’ purported intelligence is fake. It is a plot to crackdown on protesters and arrest opposition political leaders before May 29,” he said.

“We have credible information that the DSS issued the statement in preparation for its planned disruption of ongoing protest by Nigerians who are demonstrating peacefully to demand justice and the restoration of their stolen mandate.

“Where was their intelligence when the Independent National Electoral Commission and Mahmood Yakubu were compromised to rig the 2023 general election?,” he asked.

He contended “Nigerians have been under siege by bandits, kidnappers and terrorists for a long time now, but the DSS never gave intelligence to foil kidnapping, heinous attacks, maiming and killing of innocent Nigerians.

“The only time you see the DSS coming up to talk about intelligence is whenever Nigerians are preparing to either protest against obnoxious government policies, rules, human rights abuses or carrying out lawful political activities.

“The DSS must stop this method of intimidating Nigerians, especially politicians, whenever they want to exercise their constitutional rights.

“In fact, we dare the DSS or any other security outfit in the country to arrest Atiku and Obi before May 29 and see the wrath of Nigerians.”

He called on protesters not to be intimidated by “this DSS’ fake intelligence of a phantom ING plot.”

He enjoined the UK, US and EU to immediately call on the Nigerian government to allow Nigerians to exercise their democratic rights which are to ensure that the stolen mandate of the Nigerian people is restored through peaceful protests and the judicial process.

“We are aware that the DSS is planning to sponsor counter-protests across the country to clash with the peaceful protesters and use that as an excuse to clampdown on them.

“We dare the DSS to name those involved in the phantom plot if they genuinely have the ‘intelligence’ about a plot to instigate an ING so the world will know those who plan to stop the inauguration of the president.

“But we know they are not being sincere. This is often their style whenever they want to engage in propaganda and do a hatchet job.

“On the contrary, let them name the purported politicians involved in the plot. Their real intent is to clampdown on protesters and arrest Atiku and Obi before May 29. Nothing more.

“We use this opportunity to call on the international community to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the DSS to order and stop them from meddling in the democratic process.

“The DSS is the one that is about to scuttle democracy in the country at this moment by plotting to arrest Atiku and Obi and other top opposition politicians,” he said.

He admonished the DSS not to allow the agency to be used to truncate democracy or as purveyors of fake news.

He claimed that the DSS had recently attempted albeit unsuccessfully to arrest and prosecute the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele for allegedly financing terrorism in the country.

“They later pulled back following the outcry that trailed the move. This is another of such hoaxes and it is one too many,” he said.

Count us OUT – LP

Reacting yesterday, LP denied plotting an insurrection.

Yunusa Tanko, spokesperson of the party, described the development as a “conspiracy against the state” in which the LP had no part.

He, however, accused the DSS of not reacting to attacks on his party members during the elections but only speaking afterward.

“When we went on the streets to campaign and our members were maimed and attacked, where was the DSS? When our member was killed, where was the DSS? When MC Oluomo made inflammatory statements saying people of certain tribes should not come to vote in Lagos, nobody said anything. In fact, it was alluded that the statement was a joke. He wasn’t invited by the DSS,” Tanko said.

“Is it now that the Nigerian people are speaking to defend the sovereignty of the country that the DSS is making statements?

“For us, we are following the due provisions of the federal republic of Nigeria. Protests are part of the democratic system. In fact, the DSS and the security agencies should come out and protect us even if we are on the streets protesting.

“We are ready to follow the rules of engagement in our democratic setting. That is why we went to court. We are not making any inflammatory statements or mobilising anybody to come out on the streets to fight.

“We are not part of any insurrection plans whatsoever. But what I am saying is that we would protect the interest of Nigerian people based on the provisions of the law which provides that where you are hurting, you have the right to protest and that you would do so with the defence and protection of the Nigerian security apparatus. That is what we would do but we would not support any insurrection in any way.”

Interim government unconstitutional – SAN

Meanwhile, Olisa Agbakoba, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has said there is no provision for an interim government in the country’s constitution.

The senior lawyer said “the gravest possible consequences must be applied” to those allegedly behind the plot.

Reacting in a statement yesterday, Agbakoba said the “secret plans” must be rejected by all Nigerians.

He said parties aggrieved by the presidential election should approach the courts for possible redress.

“It is shocking to learn from the Department of State Security that secret plans are underway to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process and transition, by arrangements of what is described as an interim government. This will be a major set-back and we must all resist.

“I suggest that the gravest possible consequences must be applied to all who are associated with this treasonable intent. The general elections have held, albeit under the most challenging circumstance.

“But a president-elect has emerged and we must respect and accept this as fact. At least for now. All leading Presidential candidates have approached the courts with grounds of complaint concerning what they consider as electoral irregularities.

“If the presidential candidates have accepted the democratic process by lodging petitions before the courts, then it is very difficult to understand upon what basis anyone considers that an interim government is a viable and legal alternative. We must all reject this nonsense and respect our Constitution, which has no provision for interim arrangements.

“As the President-elect is sworn into office on May 29, the judicial process will ultimately render a decision. As Nigerians, we must turn to the Courts to render a decision on the petitions before them. The Judicial process will certainly carry a huge responsibility in the process of democratic consolidation.”

Agbakoba added that the “contraption referred to as interim government has no place in our lives and our constitution.”

Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, also described the alleged call for an interim government as an act of treason and synonymous with joining a terrorist group.

“Nigerians, especially youths, must avoid treason in promoting any so-called interim government, a high crime, on the same scale as joining Boko Haram, ISWAP or any terror group. All gains will be lost,” he wrote on Twitter.

(Sun)

The Empowering Girl Initiative Committee of Rotary International District 9125 and five clubs have commissioned over N8million worth of toilets and bathrooms for Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS) in Dutse, Abuja.

Both the district committee and the clubs built five toilets, five bathrooms, 13ft by 12ft soak away, and renovated four toilets and four bathrooms.

The partner Rotary clubs are Abuja Kubwa, Abuja Prestige, Abuja Aso-Golf, Abuja Maitama, and Abuja Lugbe VON in District 9125.

The Governor for District 9125, Goddy Nnadi, said the projects covered many areas of focus, including disease prevention and treatment; water and sanitation; maternal and child health and basic education and literacy..

Mr Nnadi said Rotary places premium on impactful projects.

He said the organization would continue to embark on projects that wouldl touch lives in the 23 states and Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) in the district.

He said: “All the projects we have done are projects that will impact on human beings. We will continue to do more to improve the quality of life in the society.

Explaining how the district’s committee selected, GGSS Dutse, the governor said: “We conducted needs assessment.

“When we came here, the first thing we did was engagement. We engaged the school authorities to identify their areas of need. This assessment is important for you to know what they want, and that it makes sense to them.

“And then we realized that the environment was not so good, especially for our young girls. It is a kind of human debasement when you have a lady bathing and defecating outside. There were not enough toilets and some toilets had collapsed.

On the cost of the project, Mr Nnadi said: “The project should be about N8million. The whole project took us less than eight months to complete.

“I’m so pleased that it is so impactful that when they get in there, they will feel dignified, to stay inside, take their shower and come out”.

The GGSS School Principal, Fatima Muhammad, who commended Rotary for the intervention, assured that the facilities would be adequately maintained.

The Principal said: “I am too excited that my girls would conveniently go to toilet and use the convenience as expected for either bathing or the other call of nature. “

On what the situation was before Rotary Club’s intervention, she said “it wasn’t looking good. She added: “It was not habitable in any way and not conducive. But today we are smiling. But we feel like pulling out buckets of water and running in there now to bath”.

“The children are already receiving training and sensitization on maintenance, especially on the need to ensure that they enter the toilet with adequate water to wash and then always leave the toilet the way they want to meet it again. So this is the slogan we are using now. Leave the toilet the way you would want to meet it again”.

Also speaking, the Chairperson Empowering Girls Initiative and District Committee Chairperson, Lovina Okorn-Ntui, disclosed that the intervention was informed by Rotary International (RI) mandate to impact the life of the girl child.

She said: “So, when we got to this school, it broke my heart that the girls were bathing outside. Just in the open and you know, the female is open. And when you’re open and you’re bathing what happens? You can easily contract infections, which may affect their reproductive organs “So it gave us concern. We came here, we gave them sensitization. We did a foundation laying of the project, and to the glory of God, we’re here today to commission”.

On his part, the Head of the Department of Works, Secondary Education Board, Abubakar Haruna Kawo, appealed to other non-governmental organizations to emulate Rotary.

(Premium Times)

…says it’s time to deliver good governance on the mandate of the people

The Enugu State Governor-Elect, Dr. Peter Mbah, has dedicated the March 18 governorship victory and his certificate of return to the electorate in the state who made it possible through their massive votes and support at the polls.

Dr. Mbah, who, alongside his deputy, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, and 23 other House of Assembly members-elect were issued with their certificates of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Enugu on Thursday, said the mandate given to him by the people of the state would be reciprocated with good governance, massive development, industrialisation and deliberate strategic policies that inspire development.

While extending his hands of fellowship to candidates from other political parties to join in moving the state forward, Dr. Mbah noted that the era of politics, acrimony and the bitterness associated with it was over, stressing that the collective interests of the people and the state and how to achieve them should be the next step as he could not afford to let the people down.

He vowed to deliver within time on his promises, saying the certificate presented to him contained an unwritten pact between his administration and the people of the state to restore peace and security, attract investments, create jobs, provide running water within 180 days, ensure new infrastructure and take the state to its desirable and enviable place in the comity of Nigerian states.

The entrepreneur who further reiterated his resolve to run an all-inclusive administration that would carry everyone along irrespective of party affiliations, zones and leanings, added that he would be guided by the principles of transparency, accountability and traceability that would enable the people to assess the performance of his government.

His statement reads in parts: “A while ago, I received the Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This certificate is not just an ordinary paper. It is a legal document which contains an unwritten pact between our administration and the good people of Enugu State.

“Today is indeed another memorable day in our journey to greatness, development and prosperity.

“In the build-up to the campaigns and electioneering process, we played politics. It was understandable and fit for the purpose of that time. For some aspirants and candidates, it was a game of survival of the fittest and elimination of the weakest. To some others, it was, fair is foul and foul is fair. Today’s handing over of the certificate of return to us should end all such atrocious politicking. It is time to move on.

“History will never forgive us if, at a time like this, when we should be pursuing the interest and development of our dear Enugu State, we are still enmeshed in the pursuit of political gains and cleavages.

“It is why I extend my hands of fellowship to all my brothers with whom I ran the race for the hearts of the Enugu electorate. While we have different political platforms to achieving the Enugu dream, we are united by our passion for the growth of our state.

“As I said earlier, politics has ended. Ndi Enugu have shown their preference. Let us end the politics of acrimony and focus on how to move our state forward

“Let us recognize that Enugu State is bigger than all of us. We thus must all work in her overall interest, which is development and growth.

“Since my announcement as winner of the March 18 election, I have set forth at dawn. I sleep and wake like the woman weaving the tapestry. Ideas of how to weave an Enugu State that will be the joy of all of us spin daily in my head. But, I cannot do it alone. I ask all of us to come on board and let us jointly take our dear state to its desirable and enviable place in the comity of Nigerian states.

“As I have said time and again, we are passionate about creating an environment that is conducive for peace and security to reign. We will do all within our powers to create an Enugu State that is highly prosperous and which is strategically developed.

“In doing this, we will be guided by a governance philosophy that is underpinned by transparency, accountability and traceability. We will codify a citizens’ charter that will define all our promises to Ndi Enugu. All that our people will need to do is to score us on account of this irrevocable charter. This, we will do, God willing.

“Let me use this opportunity to congratulate the newly elected House of Assembly members and the people of Enugu State. This is our collective government. It is not the government of any section of this state. The massiveness of the votes from all the zones of our state points at the collectivity and joint ownership of this mandate. We will reflect this in our administration and spread the dividends of democracy to every citizen of Enugu State.

“Let me also thank all the stakeholders for your tireless efforts in ensuring the peoples’ voices were heard, the media, which creditably fulfilled their role as the 4th estate of the realm, holding all participants and stakeholders accountable from the beginning of the elections to the end.

“Permit me to thank you all for your rapt attention and the joint labour of love for our state. It is time to do even more. Enugu State needs us more than ever before. It is time to serve her with all our strength.”

Earlier on, in their separate addresses, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States, Chief Ken Ukeagu, and the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, noted that the issuance of the certificates of return to candidates that emerged victorious in elections was part of the electoral process recognized by the law which must be done within 14 days of the conclusion of election.

They explained that a certificate of return issued by the INEC is evidence and authority that shows that one has been duly elected in an election conducted by the commission, adding that INEC had shown its impartiality throughout the conduct of the elections.

The commissioners charged the newly elected candidates to put the collective interests of the state above personal interests while ensuring that every constituency is carried along in the state.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on Wednesday, said the Federal Government has approved a pay raise for civil servants in the country.

Ngige, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, said the pay raise is a peculiar allowance for civil servants in view of the current economic reality.

He explained that the money will help the government workers navigate through inflation, rising cost of living, hike in transportation fare, housing and electricity tariffs.

“The Federal Government is looking at giving people in the public service a pay raise to take care of the increased cost of living,” he said.

“In the Presidential Committee on Salaries, we have done something for the civil servants for those who are on Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and some corporations, MDAs that are on that CONPSS. CONPSS is the salary scale for civil servants.

“We put a percentage for the President to approve, we have approved it at our own committee level. We said it should take effect from January 1, 2023.”

According to the minister, the current administration has made provision for the increment of civil workers’ salaries in the 2023 budget.

During the interview, the minister also spoke on the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), saying the policy has curbed insecurity and vote buying during the 2023 general elections.

He, however, admitted that the implementation of the policy was not smooth.

(Channels TV)

Some key political players are plotting to foist an Interim Government in Nigeria, according to the Department of State Services (DSS).

President-Elect Bola Tinubu is due for inauguration on May 29, but in a statement on Wednesday, Dr. Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, stated that some persons have weighed various options, which include foisting interim government after obtaining frivolous court injunctions to forestall the inauguration of new executive administrations and legislative houses at the Federal and State levels.

Afunanya said such persons were also considering sponsoring endless violent mass protests in major cities to warrant a declaration of State of Emergency.

“The Service considers the plot, being pursued by these entrenched interests, as not only an aberration but a mischievous way to set aside the constitution and undermine civil rule as well as plunge the country into an avoidable crisis.”

“The illegality is totally unacceptable in a democracy and to the peace loving Nigerians. This is even more so that the machination is taking place after the peaceful conduct of the elections in most parts of the country.”

The DSS which said it supports a hitch-free handover, vowed to work assiduously in this direction.

“Consequently, the Service strongly warns those organising to thwart democracy in the country to retract from their devious schemes and orchestrations.”

“Stakeholders, notably judicial authorities, media and the Civil Society, are enjoined to be watchful and cautious to avoid being used as instruments to subvert peace and stability of the nation. While its monitoring continues, the DSS will not hesitate to take decisive and necessary legal steps against these misguided elements to frustrate their obnoxious intentions,” the Service said.

(Daily Trust)

President Muhammadu Buhari has made fresh appointments in the Federal Civil Service.

The Head of Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, disclosed this in a circular on Wednesday.

President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in the new chairman of the Police Service Commission, former Inspector-General of Police Dr Solomon Arase (retd).

Arase took his oath of office at 10:05 am at the council chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in the presence of Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and other FEC members.

Recall Arase’s appointment was confirmed as chairperson of the PSC by the senate.

This came on the heels of his name being forwarded by the President on January 24, 2023, asking the upper legislative chamber to confirm him in line with sections 153 (1) and 154 (1) of the constitution as amended.

Arase, 65, who retired in 2016, was the 18th indigenous Inspector-General of Police (between April 2015 and June 2016) and has served in various capacities including as head of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the foremost intelligence-gathering unit of the Nigerian police.

The President also swore in five board members of the Code of Conduct Bureau.

They include Murtala Kankia from Katsina State (North-West); Zephaniah Bulus from Nasarawa State (North Central) and Farouk Umar from Yobe State (North East), Taofeek Abdulsalam from Ondo State (South West) and Prof. Juwaria Badamasi from Kogi State (North Central).

Council members also observed a moment of silence in honour of Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya (retd) who died on Sunday, March 26, 2023.

Diya served as Chief of General Staff and Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council under the Abacha regime.

Born on April 3, 1944, at Odogbolu in Ogun State, Diya joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and fought during the Nigerian Civil War.

He was appointed Chief of General Staff in 1993 and Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council in 1994.

As Chief of the General Staff, he was second in command and the de facto vice president of Nigeria under General Sani Abacha from 1994 to 1997.

The Federal Executive Council meeting thereafter went into a closed-door session at about 10:30 am.

(Sun)

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday extended the ultimatum issued to CBN to make naira available in commercial banks by two weeks.

The two organisations had earlier threatened to picket all branches of the CBN beginning from 29 March if government and the CBN did not end the nationwide cash crunch.

NLC President Joe Ajaero told a news conference in Abuja that the decision to extend the ultimatum was reached after consultations with affiliate members of both unions and their National Executive Councils.

He said reports from state branches of the two organisations indicated that there had been partial compliance by the CBN with a Supreme Court judgment to make cash available in banks.

“We agreed that we have to monitor this compliance for the next two weeks to establish whether it is sustainable.

“CBN rushed to move money to commercial banks, but some of the banks are getting empty again. Queues are returning to some of them.

“It will be very naive of the NLC to hurriedly call off the action. We would want to loosen up for another two weeks, however.

“The NLC and TUC have decided to allow March 29 to pass without any picketing, but to watch for the next two weeks.

“After two weeks from today, the NEC of the two organisations will meet to decide whether the CBN has fully complied and whether its compliance is sustainable to drive the economy,’’ he said.

The NLC president said committees had also been set up at the national and state levels of the two organisations to monitor the level of compliance by the banks.

He observed also that some banks did not comply with the CBN directive to operate at the weekend.

“We equally wish to advise the CBN to play its regulatory role because it can sanction banks that are not compliant as Nigerians have suffered so much,’’ Mr Ajaero said.

In his contribution, TUC President Festus Osifo corroborated Ajaero’s submission that the two organisations had agreed to sustain the push in the next two weeks to ease the hardships of Nigerians.

“With reports that came from the states, there had been some level of compliance, but some banks refused to comply or refused to open and they did not open at the weekend.

“We call on the CBN to encourage them to sustain the availability of cash as the confidence in the system has been eroded.

“The CBN needs to do much more. It needs to supply much more money into the economy,’’ Mr Osifo stressed.

(Premium Times)