The Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party (LP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of being responsible for the internal crisis in the opposition party.

Naija News reports that the LP National Secretary, Malam Umar Farouk, made the accusation on Friday at a press conference held at the party’s National Secretariat, Abuja.

Farouk alleged that the ruling party has been sponsoring the Lamidi Apapa-led faction and other dissidents to destabilise the party, which has changed the political landscape in the country.

He said the ruling party has deployed all manner of strategies to stifle the LP in order to ensure a subjugation of its chances in the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.

Farouk said the expelled members who rebelled against the party leadership have gone ahead to misinform members of the public on the progress being made by the party.

He said: “As you already know, the party surprised many Nigerians with the huge success it achieved during the last general election. The party became a household name, all to the envy of the older political parties. You also know how the ruling party, forced itself into power at the expense of the Labour Party and the entire Nigerians.

“We are still in the tribunal challenging both the process and outcome of the presidential election. In order to ensure a subjugation of the Labour Party, the ruling party has deployed all manner of strategies to stifle the party, part of which was to sponsor insurrection amongst some suspended former members of the party, Lamidi Apapa and a few others.

“Their assignment was to ensure that no progress is achieved in the party. The heavily funded dissidents have tried to mislead the courts and some sections of the media to harass the party leadership, but all have failed. Only recently, the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City affirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of Labour Party (LP).”

Speaking on the Imo governorship election, Farouk said the only recognised candidate of the party and a product of properly conducted primaries by Abure-led NWC is Senator Athan Achonu.

He added, “Only yesterday, the Court of Appeal Owerri, which sat in Abuja, while giving judgement in the case brought before it by one Basil Maduka, one of the two aspirants that were deceived by the Apapa camp to participate in their illegal primaries also ordered that the status quo remains with Senator Athan Achonu as the validly nominated candidate of Labour Party for 2023 Imo governorship election. It noted that Basil Maduka has no locus to seek redress in the court as he is not known by the Labour Party.

“For emphasis, you may recall that the Apapa group had hoodwinked and arranged governorship primaries for two members of the Labour Party, namely Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu and Sir Maduka, after which Ukaegbu won the contest.

“Maduka was piqued by the outcome of the fake primaries and had gone ahead to challenge the emergence of Ukaegbu. He sued both Ukaegbu and the Labour Party.

“Neither the authentic Labour Party led by Barrister Julius Abure nor its candidate Senator Athan Achonu was put on notice and were not aware of the situation. The case was decided on behalf of Ukaegbu against Maduka. The matter has nothing to do with the leadership of the party or the candidacy of Senator Achonu, a product of properly conducted primaries by Abure-led NWC.

“With this judgement, the pro-Apapa choice, Chief Ukaegbu, had gone to town declaring himself as the Labour Party candidate for the Imo governorship election.

“For emphasis, the court never pronounced him as the candidate of the Labour Party. No court has given judgement de-recognising Barrister Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party up till today.

“Meanwhile, the Labour Party appealed the Bayelsa court ruling on the ground that it lacks the jurisdiction to entertain a suit filed by the Apapa camp without putting the leadership of the party, which is known to law, into notice.

“ Senator Achonu, who was also not a party to the suit filed by Sir Maduka but, on hearing about the matter before the Federal High Court, sought to be joined as an interested party.

“However, the Court of Appeal re-emphasized the implication of lack of jurisdiction in a Motion for leave to appeal as an interested party and held that the Motion was filed out of time hence, it lacked jurisdiction.”

Famous Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has said policies of President Bola Tinubu-led government has left the country in a parlous state and pushed it to the brink of the precipice.

He stated that some policies of the present administration are capable of knocking the nation off the cliff, the edge of which it is now teetering on.

Gumi admonished Tinubu to revise some of the policies before they destroy.

He gave the admonition in a 22-second video clip posted on his official Facebook page.

Gumi asserted that if those tough policies are not reversed, the inferno that would erupt from them would also engulf the government.

He urged the president to consult experts before implementing certain policies, saying he should not depend on sycophants.

He said, “President Tinubu, you have to revise your policies; if not they are going to destroy the nation and they are also going to destroy your government.

“Your political and economic policies, you have to review them. You have to ask people who know better and don’t depend on these sycophants”.

Members of the House of Representatives in the 10th Assembly will get a total of N54bn for constituency projects as each member would get N150m.

According to one of the lawmakers who pleaded for anonymity, the constituency allowances are part of the few privileges available to lawmakers to directly impact their various constituencies.

Constituency or zonal intervention projects in Nigeria refers to developmental projects sited in the constituencies of members of the state Houses of Assembly, members of the House of Representatives or Senators as budgeted for under various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Such projects often have banners stating that a project was implemented with the name of the lawmaker.

The salaries and allowances of lawmakers have always been at the centre of controversies because it was often shrouded in secrecy.

In the ninth assembly, it was disclosed that each House of Reps member got N100m, while each lawmaker in the Red Chamber got N200m for constituency projects.

However, amid hardship and the need to call for the masses to endure the hard times in anticipation of the good times and the ‘Renewed Hope’ of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, the constituency allowance of the lawmakers has increased by N50m.

The lawmaker said, “In the House of Reps, our constituency allowance is N150m. This is the only opportunity we have to help our constituencies with one or more projects.

“We usually don’t have power over the real projects. So, this is often like palliative for us to give back to our constituencies. Many of us often use our money to do all the projects that we do for our constituencies.

“And this year, we are getting N150m in the House of Reps; I don’t know how much they will get at the Senate.”

Writes Police To Arrest Abure 

The crisis in the Labour Party (LP) has taken another dimension as the Lamidi Apapa-led faction on Friday issued a warning letter to the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The Apapa camp also, in a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police, demanded the arrest of Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

Apapa and Abure have been engaged in a protracted legal battle over the leadership of the party.

The warning letter issued to Obi, with reference number LP/NWC-NEC/WARNING LETTER/PO/ABUJA/VOL.1/2023/02, was dated August 24, 2023 and signed by Apapa as Acting National Chairman and Saleh Lawan as Acting National Secretary respectively.

According to the letter seen by THE WHISTLER on Friday, Obi was issued the warning for recognising Abure as the national chairman of the LP during the flag-off of Athan Achonu’s campaign for the November 11 governorship election in Imo State.

The letter was titled ‘Warning letter over your serial violations as contempt of court order and judgements; and disclaimer of the Imo State gubernatorial campaign flag-off by Mr. Peter Obi, Barr Julius Abure and Sen. Athan Achonu, on Tuesday, 22nd August, 2023 in Owerri’.

Addressing Obi, the letter said, “The Labour Party (LP) NEC and NWC declared to you that Alhaji Lamidi Bashiru Apapa is the Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party in Nigeria till today and contrary to your declaration at the venue of your illegal, unlawful and unauthorised gubernatorial campaign flag-off for Senator Athan Achonu on Tuesday, 22nd August, 2023.”

In another letter addressed to the IGP, dated August 23, 2023, with reference number LP/NWC-NEC/WARNING LETTER/PO/ABUJA/VOL.1/2023/01, the Apapa faction said Obi should heed the warning with immediate effect to prevent himself from being “suspended from the Labour Party”.

The letter, equally signed by Apapa and Saleh, further demanded the arrest and prosecution of Abure and members of his Labour Party national executive committee.

The Apapa camp said Abure and his faction are guilty of serial contempt of various court orders which affirmed Ikechukwu Ukaegbu as the candidate of the Labour Party for the November 11 governorship election in Imo State.

THE WHISTLER reports that Ukaegbu emerged as candidate in a primary election conducted by the Apapa faction on April 16 while Achonu emerged as the party’s flag bearer in another primary election held by Abure’s camp on April 15.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) however recognised Achonu, and other candidates produced by Abure’s camp, as LP flag bearer for the November 11 gubernatorial polls in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa.

But Apapa claims that Abure and members of his executive committee colluded with INEC officials to upload illegal names on the Commission’s portal.

Both the Obi and Abure camps could not be reached for comments.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service will begin its new Value Added Tax regime for companies by September as the Federal Government doubles its search for revenues.

The FIRS said subject to the Finance Act 2023, VAT withheld or collected, VAT on items excluded from building, the new Tertiary Education Tax rate of 3 per cent and Investment Allowances and Convertible Currencies will become effective September 1, 2023.

Certain amended provisions of the Finance Act 2023 were enacted on 28th May, 2023 with the effective date of 1st May 2023.

However, the effective date was changed to 1st September 2023.

Some of the amended Sections are 14 (3) which deals on VAT Withheld or Collected.

The VAT Act was amended to the effect that persons appointed to withhold or collect VAT shall remit the VAT withheld or collected on or before the 14th day of the month following the month in which the VAT was withheld or collected, the FIRS said.

“Consequently. All VAT withheld or collected in August 2023 shall be remitted to FIRS on or before the 14th of September 2023. Similarly, VAT withheld or collected in subsequent months shall be remitted to FIRS not later than 14th day of the month following that in which the VAT was withheld or collected,” FIRS said.

FIRS also said the definition of “building” was amended in Section 46 of the VAT Act to exclude any fixture or structure that can be easily removed from the land.

Examples of items excluded are radio and television masts, transmission lines, cell towers, mobile homes, caravans and trailers.

It added, “As such, all the items removed from the definition of land have become chargeable to VAT. Companies letting. trading in or providing services with such items must charge VAT at the prevailing rate with effect from 1st of September, 2023.”

Companies will also begin the payment of the new 3 per cent rate on Tertiary Education Tax (TET).

By the amendment to Section 1(2) of TET Act, the rate of TET was changed to 3 per cent of assessable profits. The new TET rate of 3 per cent will take effect for TET becoming due in respect of the accounting period ending on or after 1st September, 2023.

On investment allowances and convertible currencies, Sections 32, 34 and 37 of the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) granting allowances in respect of capital expenditure incurred in certain circumstances, and tax exemption on income earned in convertible currencies from tourists by hotels have been repealed.

“Consequently, the said allowances and tax exemption are no longer available for tax returns becoming due in respect of the accounting period ending on or after 1st September, 2023,” the FIRS said.

Bandits have demanded N4 million in ransom for the release of one of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members kidnapped in Zamfara State.

On Friday, armed gunmen allegedly kidnapped eight members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) along a highway in Zamfara State.

The graduates were alleged­ly traveling in an Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus from Uyo, Akwa Ibom, to Sokoto State to participate in the mandated national service when their vehicle was stopped.

Emmanuel Etteh, the father of one of the victims, Glory Thomas, confirmed the latest development to an online medi­um, in a telephone conversation on Friday.

Etteh said the bandits called with their number to inform him about the abduction of his daughter and asked him to pay N4 million to secure her release.

“They called me with their line; they asked me to pay N4 million. I spoke with my daugh­ter because I asked how they wanted us to pay; she said we should contact the AKTC,” the troubled father said.

“Since that time, they have not called and I have not spoken with my daughter. I don’t know if they have released them but my daughter has not called me.”

The police command in Zamfara State has not passed any comment on the abduc­tion.

However, a military source who preferred anonymity had earlier confirmed the bandits’ ransom demands, adding that a rescue team is currently comb­ing the forest in order to rescue the victims unhurt.

An Ogun State Magistrate Court sitting in the Isabo area of Abeokuta, the state capital, on Thursday, sentenced one Ibrahim Giwa to one-year imprisonment for burglary and stealing.
Giwa was sentenced to a three-count boarding on felony to wit malicious damage and stealing.

The PUNCH METRO gathered that Giwa, on Monday, broke into a dwelling house of the Federal Government of Nigeria Housing Estate in the Ajebo axis of the state.

The Prosecutor, ASP Olakunle, told the court that Giwa damaged and stole some transformer cables worth N1,700,000, aluminum window worth N85,000, OX ceiling fan worth N21,000, aluminum window net worth N25,000 and heat extractor device worth N21,500.

The charge against the defendant before his conviction reads,”That you Ibrahim Giwa ‘m’ sometimes on 21st August 2023 at Federal Government Housing Estate Ajebo Road OGTV Area, Abeokuta in the Abeokuta magisterial district broke into a dwelling house of Federal Government of Nigeria Housing Estate with intent to committee felony to wit malicious damage and stealing, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 413 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State.

“Thal you brahim Giwa ‘m’ sometimes on 21st August 2023 at Federal Government Housing Estate Ajebo Road OGTV Area Abeokuta in the Abeokuta Magisterial district did willfully and unlawfully damaged some transformer cables worth (N1,700,000), Aluminium window worth (N85,000), OX ceiling fan worth (N21,000), Aluminium window net worth (N25,000) and HEAT extractor device worth (N21,500), and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 451 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun state of Nigeria 2006.

“That you Ibrahim Giwa ‘m sometimes on 21st August 2023 at Federal Government Housing Estate Ajebo Road OGTV Arca Abeokuta in the Abeokuta Magisterial district did stole transformer cable worth (N1,700,000), Aluminium window worth (N85,000), OX ceiling fan worth (N21,000), Aluminium window net worth (N25,000) and HEAT extractor device worth (N21,500), thereby committed an offence contrary to section 393 and punishable under section 390 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria.”

The magistrate, Mrs O.O Odumosu, who found the convict guilty of the allegations, sentenced the suspect to six months imprisonment for the first count, three months for the second count and three months for the third count.

Odumosu ordered the convict to pay a N30,000 fine, noting that the one year should be spent concurrently.

Emmanuel Osodeke, president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has dispelled rumours of a fresh strike by lecturers.

The insinuations have been making the rounds following a ruling in favour of the federal government’s ‘no work, no pay’ policy.

Nigeria’s public universities have seen repeated disruptions in academic calendars over the years, with striking lecturers protesting funding deficits, poor conditions of service, and decay in infrastructure.

ASUU embarked on its 16th strike in 23 years in 2022. The strike lasted for eight months.

In September 2022, the National Industrial Court (NIC) stopped ASUU from continuing with the strike, pending the determination of a suit.

The federal government insisted that the lecturers would not be paid for the period they were on strike, due to its ‘no work, no pay’ policy.

On May 30, the court upheld the government’s stance on the matter.

ASUU revisited the issue on August 19 during a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of Maiduguri.

Osodeke said the ‘no work, no pay’ policy ignored the fact that only the teaching component of academic work was suspended during the strike.

Reports have been making the rounds that the union is considering a fresh strike over the ruling of the industrial court.

Osodeke while responding, described the reports as “malicious and unfortunate”.

“We never mentioned the issue of another strike. Are we looking to create confusion? I’m just confused,” he said.

Among the issues raised during ASUU’s NEC meeting in Borno were promotion arrears.

The union traced distortions in promotion arrears to the forceful enrollment of academics on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Osodeke said the job racketeering scandal uncovered in the IPPIS has “eroded university employment tradition”.

He said ASUU received reports of mass exit of academics from public universities due to poor working conditions.

“We call on the new administration to save our nation by rejecting the pervasive neo-liberal policies that have brought untold hardship on academics, the working class, and all underprivileged Nigerians,” Osodeke said.

The Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has reportedly appealed the judgment of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos which ordered him to disclose how over N200 billion public funds were spent by the government of Ifeanyi Okowa.

The funds in dispute flowed to the government from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) fund and from the Federation Accounts.

The judgment was delivered by Justice Daniel Osiagor, following a Freedom of Information suit (FHC/L/CS/803/2019) filed by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

SERAP based its suit on the case of seven year-old Success Adegor, who was sent home because her parents could not afford N900 school fee/levy.

Miss Success was seen in a viral video in March 2019 saying, “No be say I no go pay, dem go flog, flog, flog, dem go tire.”

The trial court had in June 2023 ordered Oborevwori to disclose “details of budgetary allocations and actual spending by the Okowa government between 2015 and 2019, including specific projects carried out to improve primary education in Delta State, and the locations of such projects.”

But on Friday, SERAP tweeted that the trial court judgement has been appealed by the government.

Though it did not state the division of the Court of Appeal where the appeal was filed, it vowed to challenge the appeal when the matter commences.

“Delta State government has filed an appeal against the judgment ordering Okowa government to account for over N200bn education funds and allocations from the Federation Accounts. We’ll see them at the Court of Appeal,” SERAP tweeted.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri has said that the Port Harcourt refinery will be ready by December 2023.

This was stated in an August 25 statement signed by Garba Deen Muhammad, Chief Corporate Communications Officer at NNPCL.

The statement read:

“The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ending petroleum product importation soon, as efforts are being redoubled to restore the nation’s local refining capacity.
“This was made known by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, during an inspection tour of the rehabilitation work progress at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd. plant, in Port Harcourt on Friday.
“The Minister, who was in the company of his counterpart, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ambassador Gabriel T. Aduda, and the Group CEO, NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari, said considering the level of progress recorded in the PHRC rehabilitation project, the plant will come back on stream by December this year.
“Our objective in coming here today is to ensure that in the next few years, Nigeria stops fuel importation. From what we have seen here today,
“Port Harcourt Refinery will come on board by the end of the year, Warri will come on stream by the end of the first quarter of next year, and Kaduna will also come on board towards the end of next year. If you add that to the Dangote Refinery, we will be able to stop fuel importation, and Nigerians will enjoy the full benefits of deregulation,” the Minister assured.
“The Minister also said he was satisfied with the ongoing rehabilitation work at the Port Harcourt refinery, noting that once all the refineries are back on stream, Nigerians will enjoy a better supply of petroleum products, and foreign exchange will be domesticated, leading to an improved economy.
“Earlier in his remarks, the Group CEO, of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari, said bringing back the refineries to their optimal levels is a national aspiration, and the Company remains focused on delivering that.
“We are aware of our nation’s challenges in terms of fuel supply. But we are not here to give excuses. We are focused on delivering this rehabilitation project, our two other refineries, and all other investments towards revamping the nation’s refining capacity. We are hopeful that in 2024, this country will be a net exporter of petroleum products,” Kyari stated.
“Also speaking, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo said: “We are here to go into the field. Yesterday was the era of subsidies. Today, we don’t have subsidies. Today, people are in a desperate situation to heave a sigh of relief; and see how to live. You all know that petrol is very vital to our economy. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the refineries are working,” he stated.
“During the visit, the two Ministers also participated in the Refineries’ Rehabilitation Steering Committee meeting and held a meeting with the refinery’s Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) Contractors.”