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On Thursday night, gunmen believed to be members of the Eiye Confraternity shot and killed the manager of a hotel in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.
The deceased who was identified as Anthony Balogun was the one running the hotel owned by his mother before the unfortunate incident.
The sad incident occurred at about 8 pm on the ill-fated night inside the premises of the hotel located in Olunlade area of the Ilorin metropolis.
Daily Post reports that two gunmen allegedly entered the hotel and requested to see the manager.
The deceased, who thought that they were prospective customers, came out of his room to meet them at the reception.
The assailants reportedly called him out of the reception and shot him at close range on the chest, according to sources.
They were said to have macheted him on the head, hands and legs after some gunshots.
Kwara State Police Commissioner, Victor Olaiya, who confirmed the development, said it was the outcome of the 8/8 cultists activities after the 7/7 celebration of another confraternity known as Aiye.
Responding to questions from journalists in Ilorin on Friday at the police command headquarters, the commissioner who described the case as a fresh one after the efforts of the police to mitigate the fallout of the nationwide hunger protests in the state, assured that the culprits would be hunted and brought to justice.
The case was reported at the Ganmo Divisional Police Station, close to Ilorin, while the body of the deceased was deposited at the Kwara State General Hospital, upgraded as the Kwara state University Teaching Hospital, Ilorin.
The Abia State Government has stated that it has not received the 20 trucks of rice intended as palliative aid from the Federal Government.
The State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who stated this, said no such palliative had arrived in the state, adding that there was no communication from the Federal Government for any such palliative.
He described as fake news, reports that the Federal Government had also distributed 50kg bags of rice to states for sale at the cost of N40,000.
“We didn’t see any truck of rice from the Federal Government. And the issue of selling a 50kg bag of rice for N40,000 is fake news.
”We don’t deal with rumours and speculations. There has been a way the federal government communicates with us when it has to do with palliatives, and no such message has come from the federal government,” he said.
Fielding questions on whether it was not proper for the government to open channels of communication with the federal government on the issue, the commissioner said it was not necessary.
“There is no point for us to be wasting our time looking for where to verify the news. If the news was authentic, we could have gotten the message as a government straight from the federal government. No such thing happened!”
Reacting to an inquiry on the efforts of the state government to alleviate the effects of the economic hardship on Abia residents, he said the state government “believes in teaching the people how to fish,” in addition to giving them palliatives.
The Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Whiskey Mistress, Mrs. Adenike Isi Adeeko, said she was committed to pushing boundaries, innovation, and staying at the forefront of the nightlife industry in Nigeria.
Adeeko, who spoke in a statement to mark Whiskey Mistress’ second anniversary, said looking to the future, they were excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.
She said: “We are committed to pushing boundaries, innovation, and staying at the forefront of the nightlife industry.
“Our vision extends beyond just being a venue for enjoyment; we aspire to be a catalyst for transformative experiences. We will continue to listen to your feedback, adapt to your evolving preferences, and exceed your expectations.”
The nightlife industry leader further said, “As we embark on this exciting journey, we remain resolute in maintaining the highest standards of service, cleanliness, and safety.”
According to the Whiskey CEO, two years ago, Whiskey Mistress opened its doors with a vision to create a space where people could come together, unwind, and enjoy extraordinary nightlife experiences.
“Right from day one, our commitment to excellence has been unwavering.
“We have meticulously crafted every detail, from our exquisite cocktails to the carefully curated music and performances that have become the heartbeat of our establishment.”
The statement read in part: “Over the past two years, Whiskey Mistress has become more than just a venue; it is a community. A place where friendships are forged, memories are made, and dreams are cultivated.
“We have embraced diversity and inclusivity, ensuring that everyone who walks through our doors feels welcomed and valued.
“Our success is not just measured by the positive experiences we create, but by the smiles on their faces and the joy in their hearts.
“As we celebrate this milestone, it’s important to acknowledge the incredible team behind Whiskey Mistress. To our dedicated staff, your hard work, passion, and commitment have been the driving force behind our success.
“You have gone above and beyond to ensure that every guest has an unforgettable experience. Thank you for your unwavering dedication and for being the heart and soul of Whiskey Mistress.
“To our loyal patrons, thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. You are the reason we strive for excellence every day. Your feedback, your laughter, and your presence have been the fuel that drives us forward.
“With your continued trust and loyalty, we promise to deliver the extraordinary experiences you have come to expect from us.”
[Leadership]
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has clarified the nagging issues surrounding some deductions in the salaries of some civil servants in the state.
Otti made the clarification at the Government House, Umuahia, on Friday night during his monthly media interaction with newsmen.
He said that the government had conducted investigations in response to the complaints by some civil servants about deductions in their salaries.
Otti said that the investigation revealed that the migration from the use of the 2018/2019 tax rate to the current tax rate in deducting the taxes from salaries was responsible for the difference.
“A lot of people who felt their salaries were being reduced, when we investigated those complaints, we found that what actually happened was that before now an old tax rate was being applied.
“The 2018/2019 tax rate was being applied and there was a 2021/2022 tax law, which of course, has come into effect.
“I find it difficult to accept that somebody is pinching salaries, then how do you even do it, because the money leaves the account of the state and hits the account of the beneficiary?
“So, at what point would somebody deduct the salaries, and if you deduct, where do you take it to?”
The governor also said that the government had investigated the complaint about salary disparity in some Local Government Areas of the state and “we found that it is not true”.
Otti also attributed the development to tax deductions, using the current rate.
He said that the government had evolved a policy that allows the payment of overtime allowance to a civil servant that performs “overtime duties”, based on the request of the government.
He said: “If you were getting paid overtime and you were getting some overtime now the government says you are not supposed to work overtime.
“Except if there is a need for that and it is the government that would ask you to do that.
“I think that is what people are mistaking for salary being deducted.”
On minimum wage, Otti said that the government had set up a committee to look into the issue as it awaited more clarifications from the Federal Government on the matter.
He said: “You know the minimum wage announcement was just about the minimum wage of N70,000.
“What that means is that every other person’s salary would go up.
“So, it is not just going to be a minimum wage for civil servants every other salary would be adjusted accordingly.”
According to him, the government and the Nigerian Labour Congress are already interfacing to work out a solution that would be practicable and within the state’s meagre resources.
Otti said that the government had placed the issue of the new minimum wage on the front burner.
(NAN)
Nigerian businessman, Tony Elumelu says the government and security agents in Nigeria should be able to tell Nigerians who steal the country’s crude oil, especially using vessels that move through the territorial waters.
Elumelu stated this in an interview published by the Financial Times on Friday.
Elumelu who dreads oil theft said the menace contributed to the divestment of international oil companies in Nigeria.
He said he discovered first-hand why international oil companies were partly divesting from onshore assets after criminal gangs began stealing crude from his pipelines.
In 2022, when things got to a point where his company had to shut down production, Elumelu took to social media, tweeting: “How can we be losing over 95 per cent of oil production to thieves? Look at the Bonny Terminal which should be receiving over 200,000 barrels of crude oil daily, instead, it receives less than 3,000 barrels, leading the operator Shell to declare force majeure. The reason Nigeria is unable to meet its OPEC production quota is not because of low investment but because of theft, pure and simple!
“Meanwhile, oil-producing countries are smiling as their foreign reserve is rising. What is Nigeria’s problem? We need to hold our leaders more accountable!”
Speaking with Financial Times, Elumelu, expressed optimism, saying, however, that oil thieves still take away 18 per cent of crude from his field.
“42,000 barrels of crude pumped out daily. Theft still takes away about 18 per cent of production, he stated.
Asked who is behind the theft, he replied, “This is oil theft, we’re not talking about stealing a bottle of Coke you can put in your pocket. The government should know, they should tell us. Look at America — Donald Trump was shot at and quickly they knew the background of who shot him. Our security agencies should tell us who is stealing our oil. You bring vessels to our territorial waters and we don’t know?”
The 61-year-old founder of Heirs Holdings recalled how the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari allegedly stopped him from acquiring an oilfield.
He disclosed that Heirs Holdings had been looking to purchase the oilfield since 2017, having raised $2.5bn to purchase a different one.
But in a twist, he claimed that former president Buhari and his late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, blocked the deal.
He said he was told Nigeria could not allow something of such strategic importance to fall into the hands of a private operator.
“This defied logic,” he added since he would have been purchasing it from a foreign company.
As one of the few Nigerians who made their fortunes outside of oil, Elumelu revealed that his decision to buy a 45 per cent stake in an oilfield three years ago when international oil companies such as Shell, Total and Eni were selling off their shallow water assets in Nigeria was to give the country energy security in the face of low power supply.
“We wanted to become a Fortune 500 company and we estimated what we needed. It’s not naira, it’s huge dollars. Energy security is crucial for a country that doesn’t produce enough electricity for its roughly 200 million citizens,” he added.
Speaking on the japa syndrome, Elumelu declared, “I support it, totally. “I don’t have a problem with people saying ‘I’m going to Canada, UK or US.’
“Joblessness is the betrayal of a generation. You’ve gone to school and come back with your dreams and aspirations and you don’t have the opportunity . For people who decide to find solutions elsewhere, no one should stop them. But for those who decide to stay, they should try to create an impact and build a legacy.”
[Punch]
The crisis rocking Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is far from over as Dangote Refinery said it is yet to receive 26 million barrels of crude allocation facilitated by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC.
The spokesperson of Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
The statement was reacting to NUPRC’s claim that it facilitated 26 million barrels of crude oil allocation to Dangote Refinery in the first quarter of 2024.
NUPRC also announced a plan to review its Domestic Crude Supply Obligation Regulations 2023.
However, Dangote Refinery said it is yet to receive the crude allocation.
“We would like to thank them for this allocation but at the same time let them know that we are yet to receive these cargoes.”
According to Dangote Refinery, NUPRC has only facilitated the purchase of one crude cargo from a domestic producer.
“Aside from the term supply we bilaterally negotiated with NNPC, so far NUPRC has only facilitated the purchase of one crude cargo from a domestic producer. The rest of the cargoes we have processed were purchased from international traders,” Dangote Refinery stated.
The company further urged NUPRC to facilitate the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act which accounted for domestic crude obligation.
“All we are asking for is for refineries in Nigeria to buy crude directly from the companies that produce it in Nigeria rather than from international middlemen. This is specified in the PIA,” the company added.
DAILY POST recalls that Aliko Dangote, the President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, had accused NUPRC of reluctance to implement domestic supply obligations by International Oil Companies and other refiners in Nigeria.
The feud between Dangote Refinery and NUPRC is a testament that all is not well with the country’s oil and gas sector despite President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive to Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, to sell crude to Dangote Refinery and other local refineries in Naira.
The directive is yet to be implemented.
[DailyPost]
Oil refineries are the industrial behemoths that transform crude oil into a myriad of products, are crucial to the global economy.
They are complex facilities that require massive investments and advanced technology.
Here are the top 10 largest oil refineries in the world:
1. Jamnagar Refinery, India
Owner: Reliance Industries
Location: Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
Capacity: 1.24 million barrels per day (bpd)
2. Paraguana Refinery Complex, Venezuela
Owner: Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA)
Location: Paraguaná Peninsula, Venezuela
Capacity: 940,000 bpd
3. SK Energy Ulsan Complex, South Korea
Owner: SK Energy
Location: Ulsan, South Korea
Capacity: 900,000 bpd
4. Ruwais Refinery, United Arab Emirates
Owner: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)
Location: Ruwais, United Arab Emirates
Capacity: 827,000 bpd
5. Yeosu Refinery, South Korea
Owner: GS Caltex
Location: Yeosu, South Korea
Capacity: 840,000 bpd
6. Onsan Refinery, South Korea
Owner: S-Oil Corporation
Location: Onsan, South Korea
Capacity: 669,000 bpd
7. Dangote Refinery, Nigeria
Owner: Dangote Industries
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Capacity: 650,000 bpd
8. Galveston Bay Refinery, United States
Owner: Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Location: Texas City, Texas, United States
Capacity: 631,000 bpd
9. Beaumont Refinery, United States
Owner: ExxonMobil
Location: Beaumont, Texas, United States
Capacity: Approximately 630,000 bpd
10. Port Arthur Refinery, United States
Owner: Motiva Enterprises
Location: Port Arthur, Texas, United States
Capacity: 600,000 bpd
[TheNation]
‘End hunger, reverse fuel subsidy removal’ – Protesters beat Police siege, converge on Abuja on Day 10
Admin
In fulfilment of their vow to come out for a one million man march as part of the end bad governance protest, the protesters turned up in their numbers on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at two venues, Apo district and Lokogoma district, both in Abuja.
The protesters who strategically skipped the MKO Abiola National Stadium after the City Gate and the Eagle Square, following heavy Police and Military Presence at both venues, streamed to Apo and Lokogoma as early as 7 am.
The protesters who displayed several placards were chanting “End hunger” and “Reverse fuel subsidy removal,” among others.
Recall that the protest which kickstarted on August 1, turned ugly as hoodlums hijacked the process and embarked on massive looting, destruction of critical infrastructure and attack on motorists among others.
In many Northern states including Kano, Zamfara, Kaduna, Bauchi and Kaduna, many of the violent demonstrators resorted to carrying and flying foreign nations flags and calling for a regime change, a call that has been roundly condemned by Nigerians, the armed forces of Nigeria and other security agencies, as well as the organizers of the end governance protest themselves.
[Vanguard]
Hauwa ‘Jaruma‘ Muhammad, the self-proclaimed sex therapist, has spoken about her battle with substance abuse.
In 2023, there were speculations that the entrepreneur was under rehabilitation after a video of her looking distressed went viral.
Tosin Silverdam, the blogger, had claimed Jaruma was rehabilitated in Abuja for substance abuse.
But speaking in an X space organised by NDLEA on Friday, Jaruma revealed that she started to abuse drugs when she came to the limelight.
The sex therapist said a close friend invited her for a hang-out and tried convincing her to take marijuana but she refused.
“I once made a video on YouTube discussing something. It was just a plan; I didn’t know the video would go viral and turn me into the Jaruma everyone knows,” she said.
“I was trying to get a job and earn a regular income. Being in the spotlight, I made some mistakes. I never got involved in drugs during my secondary school and university days because I was my mother’s only child. One day, a friend who I knew was into drugs (marijuana) invited me to hang out. We were chilling together, and she offered me the marijuana, but I refused, saying I was okay.
“She then asked me how I relax since I don’t drink or smoke, mentioning that every celebrity has a way to relieve stress. I told her I can’t do drugs or drink because I’m Muslim. A few days later, I saw them with a balloon, and I wondered what on earth they were doing with it. I had no idea what it was. She said, ‘Let me show you.’ If I had known what the balloon (hard drug) was, I would have refused it, just like I refused the marijuana earlier because I know what weed (cannabis) is, what codeine is, and all that stuff, so when offered, I can say no.”
Jaruma revealed that when she eventually yielded to her friend’s request and inhaled the balloon, her brain function ceased and she started to drool.
“I was on the floor, and then my friend said that’s the initial effect, but after I do it one, two, three, four times, I’ll get used to it, and it will become normal, and I won’t be drooling anymore,” she said.
“This was something I didn’t know. She gave me the balloon, put it in my mouth, and said, ‘Just inhale it,’ and I did.
So, after I regained consciousness, I left because I was so upset. So, I left and never spoke to her again.”
HOW LAGOS-BASED COSMETIC SURGEON INTRODUCED ME TO HARD DRUGS
The entrepreneur, who runs a sex enhancement brand, said she started using hard drugs after she met Anuoluwapo Adepoju, the Lagos-based plastic surgeon.
Jaruma said she was “deceived into believing” that the drugs would help fight off her depression and she kept taking it until she became addicted to substance usage.
The graduate of International Relations and Human Therapy from Istanbul Kultur University, Turkey said she attempted to commit suicide after “I became tired of everything”.
“Then Dr. Anu came. She had told me some things. She said some people have been paid to bring me down and tarnish my image. She said some people are after me. The details are not for here, you can follow me on Instagram or Twitter. I will post more details on that. I reported Dr Anu to my fathers Buba Marwa and Femi Babafemi. They were getting ready. I sued her in court. Sooner, you are going to see the petition with the date and everything. NDLEA were so mad when I told them what happened,” she said.
“… she said ‘let me give you one injection. If I give you that injection, you are going to sleep like you have never slept before. She claimed I was going to forget all my problems. She grabbed my arm and did the injection. The moment it touched my blood. I felt something at the back of my neck onto my shoulders. The body had felt something it had never felt before. As she was pushing I was collapsing. I was falling off my bed until I was completely knocked out.
“I did not know where I was. I did not know what I was doing. I was knocked out completely for like two weeks. When I woke up, my hands and veins were swollen. A few weeks later, when someone started saying something about me, I called and asked if I could get that sleeping injection. One pack was N60,000. I think I paid N720,000 to her.
“She would sometimes send the injections to me or come do it herself. I got nurses who would be injecting me every night. And then at some point, one stopped working for me. I mean one dose. I started using two doses. Two stopped working. I started doing three doses. Sometimes I do five at once. And that was when my body started jacking like I had epilepsy. And then foam was now coming out my months.
“Cocaine makes you hyper. Drugs make you low. After that initial feeling that the injection is sweet. When you wake up you feel one kind of depression. You even feel worse every time you wake up. I feel like crap.
“One time I got fed up and I just wanted to die. I was just tired. I knew what five doses did to me. So, I purposely injected myself with 10 doses. When my workers found me I was not breathing. I did the injection myself and used a very big vein on my wrist. I was becoming unconscious. As I was becoming unconscious, the needle fell out, and the blood from the big vein was gushing out. It was a horrific sight to see.
“Next thing, I just saw myself in a white environment with big machines and doctors around me. Doctors trying to bring me back to life. And I said I am still not dead?”
[TheCable]
The Management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has insisted that it is not yet getting enough crude required for the effective optimization of its refinery from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNP).
The Refinery Management, in a release signed by, Group Chief, Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina revealed that, “we therefore still insist that we are unable to secure our full crude requirement from domestic production and urge the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), to fully enforce the domestic crude supply obligation as mandated by the PIA.”
Chiejina clarified that his company has never accused NNPC of not supplying “…us with crude. Our concern has always been NUPRC's reluctance to enforce the domestic crude supply obligation and ensure that we receive our full crude requirement from NNPC and the IOCs.”
He further explained that “For September, our requirement is 15 cargoes, of which NNPC allocated six. Despite appealing to NUPRC, we've been unable to secure the remaining cargoes. When we approached IOCs producing in Nigeria, they redirected us to their international trading arms or responded that their cargoes were committed.
Consequently, we often purchase the same Nigerian crude from international traders at an additional $3-$4 premium per barrel which translates to $3-$4 million per cargo”
More...
Music superstar Wizkid has reemerged on social media to back his fellow artist, Ahmed Ololade, popularly known as Asake, following the release of Asake’s latest album, Lungu Boy.
Wizkid, who is featured on the album, took to his social media page to promote the new project, marking a rare public endorsement from the typically private artist.
In a show of solidarity, Wizkid retweeted the cover art of Lungu Boy, using the album title as his caption.
This move is particularly noteworthy given Wizkid’s reputation for being reserved on social media, often preferring to support his peers through retweets rather than direct posts.
His endorsement is seen as a significant boost for Asake’s new release.
The tweet has garnered considerable attention and engagement from fans and the music community.
The support comes amid widespread acclaim for Wizkid’s contribution to the album, with his verse on the track “MMS” being highlighted as a standout moment, stirring emotional reactions from listeners.
Car Dealership Owner Files Suit Against Tonto Dikeh For Alleged Assault, Trespass, And Breach Of Contract
AFOLABI
The Chief Magistrate’s Court, Wuse Zone 6, has summoned popular Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh and her bodyguard, one Gbenga, for alleged assault and trespass.
The suit, with case number CR/359/2024, was filed by the Chief Executive of Skyewise Group Limited, Elvis Abuyere, the owner of an Abuja-based car dealership company.
In the court summons dated August 6, 2024, Iyanna ordered the two defendants to appear before the court on August 24, 2024, to answer the charges against them.
He stated that Dikeh had, in January, approached the car company for the purchase of a brand-new Changan Uni-K 2023 model from Mikano Motors.
The complainant, who was reported to have a dealership relationship with Mikano, subsequently paid N85 million as full payment for the car to Mikano, with an agreement that Dikeh would pay the balance in installments within three months upon receiving the car.
The first deposit by Dikeh was her used 2008/2009 Lexus, which was worth N37 million. She made an additional payment of N3.5 million but failed to settle the balance by the end of April, at the expiration of the payment window, thereby breaching the agreement.
On May 1, Abuyere retrieved the car from Dikeh after efforts to collect the balance proved futile. Dikeh later paid N20 million, N17 million, and N5 million, leaving an outstanding balance of N2.1 million.
On July 30, the actress contacted the car company to have the car serviced, and it was taken for maintenance. Upon completion of the repairs, the car company demanded the remaining N2.7 million from her. However, she was reported to have forcefully entered the business premises of the complainant in Maitama, Abuja, alongside her bodyguard and two ladies, thereby committing “criminal trespass.”
Dikeh is also accused of assaulting the complainant and some staff members of his company. The four individuals disrupted business operations at the car company, damaged property, and threatened to use social media to harm the complainant’s business.
They were later arrested by the police.
Earlier today, the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit of the Nigeria Police Force invited Dikeh to its headquarters in connection with an investigation into criminal defamation, cyberbullying, and forgery, among other charges.
In the invitation letter signed by the Head of the IGP Monitoring Unit, A.A. Elleman, it was stated that the actress’s name prominently appeared in the investigation being conducted by the unit.
In a statement on her Instagram page on Friday, Dikeh stressed that she was neither arrested nor jailed by the “police or any law enforcement agency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I am in my house enjoying the goodness of God.”
The Nollywood actress noted that she’s a “law-abiding citizen”, and that getting involved in crime and criminalities is not one of the things she can be involved in.
The statement read further, “At no point in my life has there ever been a search warrant, arrest warrant or any other form of warrant from the Good office of the Nigeria police to my humble self.
“I will always honour invitations extended to me whether to help the law enforcement agencies in their job or to provide clarifications on issues. This is without prejudice to the fact that I will exercise my rights against anyone, persons or group of persons who attempt to peddle fake stories about me or my brand or defame my character. I will come for you. This is just to let those behind this false Narrative know that they failed woefully.”
The World Bank has strongly refuted claims made by Nigeria’s Women Affairs Minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, alleging that the bank’s officials collect 40% of every loan granted to Nigeria as consultancy fees.
The minister was reported to have made these allegations while claiming she was being victimized for refusing to sign a $500 million World Bank loan for women’s projects.
In response to inquiries, Mansir Nasir, a senior external affairs officer with the World Bank, unequivocally denied the minister’s assertions. “World Bank staff do not receive 40 per cent of project funds as ‘consultation fees’ nor are ministers entitled to five per cent of project funds for signing loan agreements. Both assertions are unequivocally false,” Nasir stated.
The World Bank recently approved a $500 million loan for the ‘Nigeria for Women Project’ (NFWP-SU), aimed at improving the livelihoods of women in Nigeria. The project, a collaboration between the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Nigerian government, is set to run for five years, starting in six pilot states representing each geopolitical zone.
Minister Kennedy-Ohanenye reportedly claimed that her life was “at stake” for refusing to sign the loan due to unclear terms and conditions. However, days later, the ministry denied the reports, describing them as “false” and stating that the president had approved restructuring the loan to remove unnecessary expenditures and ensure direct benefits for the target beneficiaries.
The World Bank emphasized that its funded projects are implemented by recipient governments and are subject to rigorous policies to prevent misuse of funds. Nasir clarified that the recruitment of project staff is the sole responsibility of the government ministry in charge of the project, not the World Bank.
Despite the Supreme Court judgement of July 11, 2024, granting financial autonomy to the country’s 774 local government areas, state governors across the federation are yet to abolish the controversial state/ LG joint accounts.
Consequently, the third tier of government still gets its federal allocation through the joint account as against the direct payment ordered by the apex court.
However, investigations conducted by LEADERSHIP Weekend in the nation’s six geopolitical zones showed that most state governments have initiated moves to obey the Supreme Court judgement.
While some state governors have directed their LG chairmen to activate their treasury system to implement the ruling, others have adopted what they described as “guided implementation,” citing the councils’ lack of capacity to go full swing.
A top LG administrator in one of the North Central states told LEADERSHIP Weekend that the local governments have been given three months to perfect certain account documents before they can receive direct allocations.
He said, “We have been given a grace period of three months to link the local government accounts with the National Identification Number (NIN) and the Treasury Single Account (TSA). After meeting these criteria, we can get our allocations directly from the federation account. In July, we received our allocations through the state/LG Joint Account.”
He added that the local governments are ready to utilise the autonomy granted them.
In Kwara State, the problem of local government administration started in the administrations of President Muhammadu Buhari and former Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed when there were zero allocations to both the states and local government areas.
During that period the local government areas could not even pay staff salaries in full, not to talk of executing any developmental projects.
But when the administration of the incumbent Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq came on board in 2019, it injected life into the local government administration.
The AbdulRazaq administration not only cleared the backlog of salaries owed local government staff by the former administration, but also ensured the regular payment of their salaries in full.
However, the government’s inability to conduct local government elections since 2019 due to legal obstacles was a major setback for the local government administration in the state, as it was administered by unelected officials who were not accountable to the people.
LEADERSHIP Weekend observed that the local government areas in the state have structures that could aid good governance at that level and support the autonomy recently granted to them.
The local government areas have their respective secretariats: administration, works, finance, and health departments.
The chairman of Kwara State Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Umar Shero, said the local governments are fully prepared for autonomy, adding that “this is what they have been longing for.”
On structures, Shero said the local government areas have their secretariats and various units and departments just like the state governments.
He said the legislative arm of government will oversee the financial activities of the local government administrations at that level and by the Office of the Local Government Auditor General.
In an interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend, an assistant chief planning officer of the Kano State Ministry of Local Government Affairs Garba Bello said the state is prepared for the financial autonomy of the LGAs.
He said the state has put financial memoranda on the ground for financial regulation to ensure checks and balances.
According to him, the memoranda spelt out how expenditure should be incurred or spent, with limits for local government chairman’s expenditure not exceeding N500,000. Where it exceeds, the councillors would have to give their approval.
The Ekiti State government has said there is no cause for concern over the financial autonomy recently granted to the local government.
The commissioner for local government affairs, Chief Folorunso Olabode, told LEADERSHIP Weekend in Ado Ekiti that the councils had always been autonomous.
Olabode said, “We don’t have issues with financial autonomy. The local government areas in Ekiti state are autonomous in terms of their finances.
“The governor has nothing to do with it, and due process is always followed in their spending”.
He said the state was recently commended by the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees for its openness in managing and administering local government.
All 774 Councils Are Prepared For Financial Autonomy – ALGON President
Meanwhile, the national president of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Aminu Muazu Maifata, has declared that the 774 LGAs in the country are prepared for full autonomy granted by the Supreme Court.
He said the issue of autonomy is not new to the councils; it existed before its eventual breach.
According to him, shortly after the judgement, the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) met in Nasarawa State in July to brainstorm on strategies ahead of implementing the verdict.
“We are fully aware of the responsibility and the weight of our mandate as spelt out in the constitution, and I can assure you that the third tier of government is prepared and ready for the independent it has consistently clamoured for and got.
“And one thing we have going for us is the calibre of persons manning the councils as executive chairmen. They are persons who have vast experience in their various fields and left legacies of service where they previously worked, be it in public and private sector. So, they are ready to bring these experiences to bear now that there will be no meddlesomeness in their activities,” he assured.
He said the chairmen during the NEC vowed to prove skeptics wrong by working assiduously to transform the grassroots while efficiently using resources that will come their way.
On whether there are strong structure at the councils to leverage on, he explained that ALGON as a body is initiating capacity building for all actors and stakeholders to drive the process, beginning from the legislative arms and civil servants.
“Beyond that, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission displays our allocations on their website. Given that situation, we must ensure that every kobo is accounted for,” he said.