Latest News
FEATURES
SPEECH DELIVERED BY BASHORUN J. K. RANDLE, OFR, AT THE CONDOLENCE VISIT BY NEPAD BUSINESS GROUP NIGERIA TO THE FAMILY OF LATE MR. OLABODE JUSTIN EMANUEL, ON MONDAY 6TH JANUARY 2025.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and Management of the NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NBGN), I convey our deepest condolences to the entire Olabode Emanuel family on the painful demise of their patriarch, late Mr. Olabode Justin Emanuel.
The news of his passage came to us as a rude shock, and we are yet to come to term with the loss of Mr. Bode Emanuel who was one of the foremost and outstanding leaders of Corporate Nigeria par excellence. He can also be aptly described as a Grand Board Room Guru and Director of Directors. As a corporate colossus who traversed Nigeria’s private sector for more than sixty years Mr Emanuel will be sadly missed.
Mr. Emanuel was one of the foundation members of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Business Group Nigeria at its inception when it was inaugurated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on 1st July, 2004 in Abuja. The other founding members include Alhaji Bamangar Tukur and Mr Goodie Ibru who was Pioneer Chairman. Mr. Emanuel who was elected as the 4th Chairman of NBGN in May, 2022 succeeded Chief (Mrs) Nike Akande who was the 3rd Chairman.
NEPAD Business Group Nigeria was formed to domesticate the mission of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) in 2001 as its economic development programme at the 37th session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Lusaka, Zambia. NBGN was one of the national business groups that were established in AU member states to mobilise Africa’s private sector towards playing leadership roles in the continent’s economic transformation envisioned to eradicate poverty in Africa and improve the living standards of Africans.
Mr. Emanuel’s contributions to the growth and development of the twenty-year-old organisation shall remain indelible. During the two years and seven months that he served as Chairman Mr Emanuel led the reorganisation of NGBN as a prelude to relaunching its operations to enable it impact more positively on Nigeria’s development and by extension that of the African Continent as envisaged by its founders that included the late President of the African Development Bank Mr Babacar Ndiaye.
In order to reform NBGN into a fit for purpose organisation and in readiness for the task ahead Mr Emanuel provided leadership for:
1) Reviewing the Mandate, Objectives & Operations of NBGN having them aligned with contemporary realities that have continued to unfold since its inauguration in 2004. These include the African Union’s Agenda 2063 that was launched in 2013, the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement that was signed in 2018 and ongoing efforts at fostering economic partnership between African and Caribbean countries by the African Export Import Bank (AFREXIM). The exercise while benefiting from the lessons of hindsight was also futuristic as it leveraged Mr Emanuel’s great foresight and those of the other leaders of NGBN.
2) The foregoing meant reviewing NBGN’s Memorandum and Articles of Association. A process which also incorporated a succession plan which resulted in the creation of the position of Deputy Chairman. It was as if Mr Emanuel had premonition that he would not lead us for long as he went ahead to nominate me to be the organisation’s first Deputy Chairman who would invariably be his successor. I subsequently emerged as his second in command because my nomination was unopposed. On behalf of the Board and Management I promise that we shall continue implementing Mr Emanuel’s bold vision for NBGN.
3) The other progressive steps taken included reconstituting the team that was saddled with the task of drawing up a Five-Year Strategic Plan.
4) As a prelude to the organisation’s relaunch a Communication Machinery was put in place to enhance NGBN’s visibility and interactions with the public and private sectors as well as the international development community.
5) A robust plan for supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Government is also being drawn up. Because this has to be done in consultation with leading members of the President’s team meetings had actually been scheduled for next week with:
I) Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy
II) Minister of Industry Trade & Investment
III) Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria
Indeed man proposes God disposes. Because of Mr Emanuel’s unfortunate demise at this point in our nation’s development we have concealed these meetings.
While thanking God for Mr Emanuel’s highly accomplished and very well lived life we at NBGN are grateful to God for gifting us with such a divinely endowed great and resourceful leader. The organisation as well as its corporate and individual members benefited immensely from his rich depth of knowledge and vast wealth of experience in the public service and the private sector over the past 60 years plus. For example, we drew lessons from his involvement with the construction of the Kainji dam especially its financing by the World Bank. So also is his spearheading of private power generation in Kwale, Delta State at a time that NEPA was the monolist power generator in Nigeria. Many will find it difficult to believe that his company, Borino Prono, built the Lagos Third mainland, - the longest bridge in Africa until recently- and handed it over on time to the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1991. Few knew oneof his companies was a member of the consortium which built the world famous bosphorus bridge in far away Istanbul, Turkey in the 1970’s. Till today, that bridge connects Turkey to China, thereby connecting the continents of Europe and Asia. I can go on and on, but I must say that Mr. Emmanuel was in deed a bridge builder among people, businesses, countries, and continents of the world.
We also benefited from the experience that he gained while promoting private sector development through domestic and foreign investments as well as providing leadership especially at the board level for many successful enterprises across various sectors of Nigeria’s economy.
We want the family to be consoled by the fact that, Mr. Olabode Justin Emanuel lived well and has contributed significantly to the growth and development of our dear nation, the African Continent and indeed the World at large. We at the NBGN pledge to continue to build on his legacy by rededicating ourselves to the pursuit of the organisation’s mandate and objectives and the implementation of the robust plans that were designed to impact positively on Nigeria’s economic and social development and that of the African Continent.
Adieu Mr. Olabode Justin Emanuel.
Bashorun J. K. Randle, FCA, OFR.
The chairman of Nasarawa local government area council in Kano State, Yusuf Imam, popularly known as ‘Ogan Boye,’ has approved the appointment of 60 aides to serve in various capacities within the council.
The appointments were conveyed in a letter dated January 6, 2024, and signed by the Local Government Secretary, Ado Muhd Hotoro. According to the letter, the move was part of the chairman’s efforts to promote development and strengthen governance in the local government area.
“Sequel to the efforts of the Honourable Chairman of Nasarawa Local Government to promote and develop the local government area, I wish to convey the approval for the appointment of the following prominent individuals to various roles across different fields and professions,” the letter stated.
The list of appointees includes 18 Special Reporters tasked with overseeing various departments, markets, and primary healthcare centers. Other positions filled include Executive Assistant, Chief Protocol Officer, Chief Details Affairs I and II, Principal Personnel Secretary, and eight Director Generals, among others.
The letter emphasised that the appointments were made based on merit, dedication, honesty, and commitment, reflecting the chairman’s vision for effective governance.
Chairman Imam expressed confidence in the appointees, urging them to perform their duties diligently to support the local government’s development agenda.
HND graduates with part-time National Diploma backgrounds staged a protest on Monday at the Lagos NYSC secretariat, decrying a proposed policy barring them from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
The demonstrators, holding placards with messages such as “Say No to Discrimination in NYSC” and “Equal Rights for All,” called for an immediate reversal of the policy as Batch C Stream II registration commenced.
Majaro Temitope, an HND graduate from Yaba College of Technology, described the policy as discriminatory, noting it unfairly penalises those who switched from part-time National Diploma (ND) programmes to full-time HND studies.
“Many of us struggled through our ND on part-time, only to face exclusion now. We hope our peaceful protest sparks a dialogue,” Temitope said. He urged the NYSC Director-General and the Minister of Education to intervene.
The protesters claimed to have written to relevant authorities, including the NYSC and JAMB, without receiving a response.
Adebola Osunfunrewa, from the Education Rights Campaign, criticised the proposed exclusion, calling it a setback for Nigeria’s educational system.
“How can over 3,000 graduates eager to serve be denied in a country facing teacher shortages?” he queried.
Responding to the protest, the Lagos NYSC Coordinator, Christiana Salwang, represented by Assistant Director Ehimuenma Itohan, assured the graduates their concerns had been forwarded to the NYSC Director-General.
“The director general is reviewing the matter and is committed to addressing your grievances within policy guidelines,” Itohan stated, urging protesters to remain calm.
The outcome of the deliberations remains awaited as the mobilisation process continues.
Three persons, including two women, have been crushed to death in a ghastly motor accident on Tuesday morning at Takie Roundabout in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
It was gathered that the accident happened when a container-laden truck lost control and overturned onto a commercial tricycle, killing its three occupants instantly.
The incident happened around 9:30am, leaving people in the area in shock.
According to an eyewitness, the truck lost control while negotiating a bend around the roundabout, causing the container to fall and crush the tricycle, commonly referred to as ‘Keke NAPEP’.
It was gathered that two female passengers and the tricycle operator were trapped beneath the container.
Despite rescue efforts, all three were eventually discovered dead.
Authorities are currently working to remove the container from the road to ease the free flow of traffic in the area.
Motorists have been advised to exercise caution when approaching the accident site
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed off a Chinese supermarket in Abuja for allegedly selling expired products labeled exclusively in Chinese without the required English translations.
NAFDAC, in a statement on Tuesday said that the supermarket, located at Azba Mall, 2 Durban Street, Wuse 2, is managed by Chinese nationals who claimed they were in the process of obtaining a NAFDAC license and translating product labels into English, in compliance with regulatory requirements.
Director of Investigation and Enforcement of the NDLEA, Pharm. Shaba Mohammed, who led the enforcement, said the action followed credible information about regulatory violations at the supermarket.
“We conducted due diligence to verify the claims,” he said.
Mohammed said the agency will continue its investigation to determine how such products, which violate labeling regulations, were imported into the country without being intercepted.
He added that the investigation would extend to the warehouse where the goods were stored, noting that 90 per cent of the products on the shelves were labeled in Chinese.
“This action aims to protect public safety by preventing the sale of these items,” he emphasised.
“Selling products labeled in foreign languages without English translation is a clear violation of our laws. If a product is labeled in languages such as Arabic, Chinese, or Hindi, it must have an English translation. More than 90 per cent of the products we found were labeled in Chinese.”
He also highlighted concerns about Nigerian customers being unable to read the labels. “Some of the products are expired and still being sold,” he pointed out.
“Even if the supermarket had a Global Listing permit, the products should have been labeled in English. They have not provided any NAFDAC documents for these items. This is unacceptable, which is why we had to seal the supermarket,” he said.
He stressed that NAFDAC will invite operators of the supermarket for a thorough investigation.
“You cannot operate in Nigeria and disregard our laws. This is a country, and we have rules that must be followed,” Mohammed stressed.
Daniel Bwala, the special adviser on policy communication to President Bola Tinubu, says governors opposed to the tax reform bills are prioritising revenue over the welfare of Nigerians.
The proposed legislations comprise the Nigeria tax bill, Nigeria tax administration bill, Nigeria revenue service establishment bill, and the joint revenue board establishment bill.
One of the most contentious elements is the proposed revision of the value-added tax (VAT) sharing formula, which has drawn widespread opposition, particularly from stakeholders in northern Nigeria.
During a presidential media chat in December 2024, Tinubu said the tax reform bills “have come to stay”.
The president also signalled a willingness to make concessions to address stakeholder concerns.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Monday, Bwala said the tax bills are not regional issues.
He added that the debate over the passage of the bills is part of the normal lawmaking process in the country’s legislative system.
“There are governors who are from other parts of Nigeria that are not from the north who are also objecting to it. There are some of them who are not vocal on it but have expressed their minds,” Bwala said.
“I choose to make my argument completely out of this prism of regionality. Because that is where it is inflaming the passion.
“The tax reform bills have come to stay, and they will be passed. Let us forget that it is the north vs the south; it is the governors who are going to be impacted.
“It is the governors from states where their income will reduce if the derivation is applied. These set of governors are in the majority of the states and not limited to the north.
“Maybe the governors from the north have decided to be vocal about it.
“But in the midst of this cacophony of positions between the governors and the federal government remember, even the case of local government autonomy wasn’t a case of region, it was still the governors because local government autonomy from the beginning was considered an initiative that would weaken their powers… that is the same approach we are giving to this tax.
“To the governors who believe or think that their revenues are going to go down, to tell them that if our focus is the Nigerian people, then it should be more about the generality of Nigerians who are more than 36 anyway.
“Because the governors are 36 plus the minister of the FCT which makes it 37. But those who will be impacted positively by the implementation of this tax are 200 plus million people in Nigeria.
“Because if you look at the content, you will see a lot of initiatives that will benefit the Nigerian people.”
A former prison officer in the UK has been sentenced to 15 months in jail after being filmed engaging in sexual activity with an inmate.
Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, was identified by senior prison staff when the footage surfaced online and quickly went viral.
Abreu was arrested at Heathrow Airport while attempting to board a flight to Madrid with her father.
She had previously admitted to misconduct in public office.
Andrew Davy, the governor of Wandsworth, expressed the broader consequences of Abreu’s actions in a statement to Isleworth Crown Court.
He stated that her behavior had undone “less than a day” the years of effort female staff had invested to build respect and trust in the all-male prison.
He also noted that many female staff members reported being “hit on” more frequently by inmates and now felt “considered fair game.”
The court heard that the incident captured in the viral video occurred between June 26 and 28, and further investigation revealed additional misconduct.
A recording of Abreu performing a sex act on the same inmate was discovered on her prison-issued body-worn camera.
She admitted to having sexual relations with the prisoner on another occasion as well.
Judge Martin Edmunds KC described the viral video as part of a pattern of repeated misconduct rather than an isolated incident.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that investigations into the two prisoners identified in the video are ongoing.
A spokesperson for the Prison Service commented: “While the overwhelming majority of Prison Service staff are hardworking and honest, we’re catching more of the small minority who break the rules by bolstering our Counter Corruption Unit and strengthening our vetting processes. As today’s sentencing demonstrates, where officers do fall below our high standards we won’t hesitate to take robust action.”
The Prison Officers’ Association, which represents prison staff, acknowledged that corrupt individuals like Abreu undermine the efforts of their colleagues but emphasized that such cases represent a small minority.
Cases of the infection human metapneumovirus (HMPV) have surged across northern Chinese provinces in recent days, mainly among children.
The virus – responsible for packed hospital waiting rooms in China and eerily similar to the early days of Covid – has seen a ‘marked increase’ in recent weeks – slightly higher than at the same time last year.
HMPV typically causes symptoms similar to the common cold, including a cough, runny nose or nasal congestion, a sore throat and a fever that clears after around five days.
But more severe symptoms such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia can occur, with sufferers experiencing shortness of breath, severe cough or wheezing.
Experts urged to be cautious of flu-like symptoms over fears it could be HMPV.
Professor John Tregoning, an expert in vaccine immunology at Imperial College London, told MailOnline that it has very similar symptoms – in children at least – to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.
‘It is part of the cocktail of winter viruses that we are exposed to and, like other viruses, it will transmit in coughs, sneezes and in droplets.
‘Protecting yourself by being in well-ventilated spaces, covering your mouth when you cough and washing your hands will all help,’ said Professor Tregoning
Similar to the advice related to Covid and RSV, those infected must ‘rest, stay hydrated and try not to spread it to others’, he added.
‘If you do feel very unwell, go to your GP. As it is a virus, antibiotics won’t have any effect.’
Unlike Covid, there is no vaccine yet or specific antiviral treatment for HMPV and treatment primarily involves managing symptoms.
Jaya Dantas, a professor of international health at Curtin University in Australia added: ‘We need to use a cautious and measured approach, as we know so much more since the Covid pandemic.
‘We need to get tested, stay home and away from others, wear a mask in public and protect our most vulnerable.
‘In young children, the elderly and those who are immune compromised, HMPV can lead to severe cases and can move to the lower respiratory tract and may lead to pneumonia.’
Other experts, however, cautioned that the rise in cases ‘is not something that should cause undue concern’.
Professor Jonathan Ball, a virologist at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, added: ‘HPMV has been known about since 2001, and has been circulating in humans for at least 50 years – probably a lot longer.
‘Unfortunately, it is associated with pneumonia, particularly in young children, but this is thankfully rare.’
Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious diseases at the University of East Anglia, also told MailOnline: ‘Almost every child will have at least one infection with HMPV by their fifth birthday and we can expect to go on to have multiple re-infections throughout life.
‘It is one of the leading viral causes of respiratory infections in children under five-year-olds.
‘In England, we have seen a fairly marked increase in recent weeks.’
However, he added: ‘One of the issues involved in these types of infection is that they are being diagnosed more frequently, so it is not always easy to know whether, year-on-year, increases are due to actual increases or just because we are diagnosing a greater proportion of infections.’
Health officials in Beijing have downplayed the developments as an annual winter occurrence.
But the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that rates of multiple flu-like illnesses are on the rise.
In its latest report, for the week of December 29, data suggested that 7.2 per cent of outpatient visits to local hospitals in northern provinces were due to a flu-like illness.
This was up 12 per cent on the previous week and above the levels for the same week every flu season since 2021.
Data for the southern part of the country suggested that 5.7 per cent of outpatient visits were due to flu-like illness.
This was up 21 per cent on the previous week, and also above the level for the same week in 2021 when 4.1 per cent of visits were due to flu-like illness.
It was, however, below the levels in 2022 and 2023.
The UK itself is currently battling its own tidal wave of flu. Surveillance programmes that monitor England’s outbreak suggest flu hospital admissions are quadruple that of a month ago.
Figures show that more than 4,500 beds alone were taken up by flu patients every day last week, up 3.5 times on the same week last year.
Of these, 211 were in critical care – up 69 per cent on the previous week.
Experts also said they expect ‘things to get worse before they get better’ given more people have socialised indoors over the Christmas and the New Year period.
Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, has criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, for what he describes as inflammatory remarks directed at Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the same election.
Atiku described Morka’s comments as a “disturbing emblem” of the current administration’s strategy to stifle opposition voices. He also expressed concern over the prolonged detention of Mahdi Shehu, a prominent government critic, and others, suggesting these actions indicate a shift toward authoritarian governance.
“The choice of words used by the APC spokesperson, particularly the ominous suggestion that Obi has ‘crossed the line,’ reveals an alarming disdain for democratic principles,” Atiku said. “Such language, rooted in hostility, has no place in a free society where civil discourse and engagement should reign supreme.”
Atiku emphasized the vital role of opposition leaders in fostering accountability and improving governance, arguing that a true democracy thrives on a healthy exchange of ideas. He expressed alarm over Morka’s statement that Obi should “be ready for whatever comes his way,” calling on the APC to clarify this “chilling threat.”
The former Vice President also condemned the APC spokesperson’s framing of Obi’s calls for constructive engagement, likening them to a lawless “Wild West” scenario. Atiku described this language as crude and unbecoming of a ruling party, urging the APC to issue a formal apology to Obi and the Nigerian public.
In addition to the remarks against Obi, Atiku highlighted the case of Mahdi Shehu, who remains in detention without clear justification. He argued that the Tinubu administration’s actions are eroding fundamental freedoms and setting a dangerous precedent.
“If there is anyone who has truly ‘crossed the line,’ it is the Tinubu administration, whose continuous vilification of opposition figures as mere irritants to be crushed is a dangerous precedent,” Atiku said.
The PDP candidate called on Nigerians and the international community to demand an end to what he described as the stifling of dissenting voices, warning that the survival of Nigeria’s democracy depends on the protection of free speech and opposition rights.
Atiku concluded by urging President Tinubu’s administration to recalibrate its approach to dissent, emphasizing the need for dialogue, engagement, and respect for democratic principles.
…Says Govt Spending Expanding At Expense Of Private Sector Growth
…Claims Tinubu’s Economic Reforms Not Working
The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has warned that the N13.39tn deficit in the 2025 budget will put pressure on the naira and lead to its further depreciation against the United States dollar.
The President of NACCIMA, Dele Oye, said this on Tuesday in an interview on Arise TV.
President Bola Tinubu had presented the N49.7tn Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 18, 2024, and requested that the lawmakers pass it expeditiously.
The budget has a revenue projection of N36.35tn which is 40.51 per cent rise from the N25.87tn in 2024 and a deficit of N13.39tn, up by 45.86 per cent from the N9.18tn deficit in the 2024 budget.
But, the NACCIMA president said that the budget will crowd out the private sector, which could lead to a worse economic crisis.
Oye lamented that the current inflation and foreign exchange woes resulted from poor policies and the government outspending its revenues.
He said, “There is the tendency of the government trying to borrow or increase taxes to fill the gap. If you do that, you only make Nigerians poorer.”
In 2014, Nigeria was the biggest economy in Africa with a GDP of $568bn but the numbers have crashed to $191bn in 2024.
He said, “This year’s budget is far lower in real terms than last year’s budget. Look at our standing in the African GDP, we are about number five and may be going to six.
“All these are due to domestic policies that have been made like deficit financing. What you are seeing is that the private sector is shrinking and the public sector is expanding.”
The naira closed in the full year of 2024 at N1,650 per dollar as against around N1,000 per dollar in January 2024.
Experts have blamed the depreciation of the currency on policies, including the floating of the naira in June 20203 and other policy misfires.
The NACCIMA boss said economic indices show that government policies failed in 2024.
Oye said, “NACCIMA is not advocating for the reversal of government reforms. What we are asking is that the way it is currently being implemented will not lead us anywhere.
“This government has been here for almost two years. If it is not working and the economy is shrinking, it is time for the government to change the procedure.
“The reason why the naira is falling is because the government is running a deficit budget. A N13tn deficit? What do you expect? it is going to affect the value of the naira.
“If we cut government expenses, the naira will start to appreciate. Until you cut the excess, we are going to continue to borrow in an uncontrollable way and you can see the effect- our naira will continue to go down.”
He called for proof that government policies are working, adding that the government should suspend any tax raise.
He added that last year, president Tinubu made several foreign trips to woo investors, adding that Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) are far below expectations.
More...
An eyewitness account of the explosion that rocked the Islamic school in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday, has said the bomb was brought to school by one of the students.
The blast at the Sani Uthman Islamiyya School, Kuchibuyi Village, Bwari area council had claimed two lives and injured two persons.
Our correspondent who visited the school on Tuesday said the school is a three-classroom block, built for nomadic education (Almajiri school)
Findings revealed that the student who brought the explosive to school came in from Katsina State a day before the tragic incident.
A police team was sent to the scene of the incident. Photo: Sodiq Adelakun/Channels Television.
“The explosive detonated at the point the boy from Katsina was showing the object to another child in the school,” the eyewitness said.
The boy who was holding the explosive died instantly, while the second boy died later at the hospital.
The incident recorded two survivors- a little girl who is receiving treatment at the Kubwa General Hospital, and another boy who has been referred to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.
Gory photos of the incident emerged on Tuesday, revealing the aftermath of the blast on the school.
The school premises have since been sealed by the FCT police.
A Monday statement by the FCT Police Spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, had said the explosives were brought into the school premises by three men, contradicting eyewitness accounts.
Adeh had said a team of police operatives, including the Command’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was mobilised to the scene after the incident.
She said, “The area was immediately cordoned off to protect residents and facilitate a thorough investigation.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that three men from Katsina had visited the owner of the Islamic school, Mallam Adamu Ashimu.
“The three visitors are suspected of having brought the explosive device with them.
“Tragically, two of the men died in the explosion while tampering with the improvised explosive device (IED), on the school Veranda, while the third man and a female trader sustained severe injuries and are currently receiving treatment under police guard.
“The FCT Bomb Squad has confirmed that it was an IED explosion, as remnants of the device have been recovered.”
The police spokesperson said the owner of the school has been taken into custody for questioning, and further findings would be communicated in due course.
The FCT Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, behaviour, or items that may resemble improvised explosive devices to the police.
Retired military personnel staged a demonstration on Tuesday, barricading the entrance to the Ministry of Finance in Abuja to demand the full settlement of their unpaid entitlements.
The protesters, equipped with canopies and chairs, blocked access to the ministry, disrupting normal operations.
This marks the second such protest in recent months, following a similar action in December when the retirees also shut down the ministry over unresolved claims.
Despite receiving official approval for payment, the government cited a lack of funds as the reason for the delay.
The retirees are owed a salary increment of 20% to 28%, covering the period from January to November 2024.
They are also demanding payments for other outstanding benefits, including:
– Palliatives for October 2023 to November 2024.
– A ₦32,000 pension increase.
– A lump sum payment of the Security Debarment Allowance.
– A refund of pension deductions from medically discharged soldiers.
Following their December protests, the Federal Government paid 50% of the outstanding entitlements and pledged to clear the balance.
However, the retirees allege that the government has failed to honor this promise, leading to the renewed demonstration.
During Tuesday’s protest, the retirees blocked the ministry’s gates with their makeshift setup, preventing vehicles from entering.
Staff members were forced to park their cars outside the premises as the protesters refused to back down until their demands were addressed.
See Photos from the protest below:
An aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015, Reno Omokri has revealed why he stopped backing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Omokri, a long-time supporter of the former Vice President, has thrown his weight behind the present administration headed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a political rival of Atiku.
Speaking to Tribune, Omokri, a pastor and social media influencer, revealed why he abandoned Atiku after the 2023 general election.
He said: “I helped Atiku Abubakar put together his Media Team and, in the course of doing that, I brought one or two persons who have served quite well in the Team. But a few of them turned out to be backstabbers and very disloyal to me personally.
“And I sat down and gave Atiku the opportunity to do the right thing because loyalty must be met with loyalty. When I am loyal to someone, it is 100 percent loyalty and I expect loyalty back, and with the kind of almost blind loyalty I gave him, I expected him to take action. And when he did not take action, I didn’t take any action publicly until I went directly to him to say, ‘Sir, listen, because of this thing you have done, I can no longer be with you and Iam going to pitch my tent somewhere else’.”
Speaking further, Omokri said he made up his mind to leave Atiku’s camp before the 2023 elections.
He said: “I called a trusted person that was trusted between me and Atiku and I told the person that, whatever the case, after the election and either Atiku wins or not, I am going to leave him because of this thing. The person is still alive. Atiku Abubakar will continue to have that problem because he is not able to know the difference between loyalty and sycophancy.
“Other than that, Waziri Atiku Abubakar has what it takes to be Nigeria’s leader. He is almost at the par with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Leader of the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, Banji Akintoye, has reiterated the group’s unwavering commitment to the establishment of a sovereign Yoruba Nation, insisting there is no turning back on the quest.
Akintoye, speaking with Punch on Monday, revealed that approximately 60 million Yoruba people worldwide support the movement’s cause.
“We are not going back. We must leave Nigeria, or our nation will perish,” Akintoye stated emphatically.
He added, “Don’t you hear our voice in the streets? Yoruba Nation now, no going back. We mean, the Yoruba people in Nigeria, roughly 55 to 60 million people. We want to establish a country of our own. There will be no Nigeria where we have our country. But if the rest want to continue as Nigeria, they are okay.”
UK Government Response
Akintoye disclosed that the movement had written to the United Kingdom government about its agitation, receiving an acknowledgment that the matter was being attended to.
“We knew from the beginning that we were dealing with one of the most powerful governments in the world and that it is not something you can expect a response to in a month or two.
“But we have got a general kind of acknowledgment that our letter was being attended to. We got the acknowledgment on a date after we submitted the letter. It’s the British government. We cannot rush them; so, that does not mean they are not giving it the needed importance. They are doing it their way,” he explained.
Panic Within Nigerian Government
In a separate letter to the Nigerian government requesting a peaceful breakaway, Akintoye claimed the movement had evidence that the communication had unsettled authorities.
Akintoye said, “Yes, they (the Nigerian government) are working on it. We know that they are working on it and we have seen evidence that our letter is causing them some trouble. But they don’t have to have any trouble with us.
“Certain things they must take into consideration. First, is that we have a right to ask for the self-determination of our people.
“The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People affirms that very clearly that every Indigenous people in the world have a right to self-determination and separation from their country to which they currently belong; that they must do it peacefully and not violently and in a disruptive manner. And we are following those directions very carefully.”