Yabagi Sani, the Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has openly expressed disappointment at President Bola Tinubu over the character of his ministerial lists forwarded for confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

Sani, who noted that he highly regards Tinubu as a figure that personifies democracy, accused the President of choosing politicians who had been rejected by the people during the 2023 elections as ministerial nominees.

Speaking on Wednesday when he was featured on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Sani did not mince words about how disappointed he was to see names of politicians who have “baggage” on the lists.

According to him, it sends the wrong message for Tinubu to “put faces that personify corruption as your lieutenants” because the ministers would be exercising his powers in whatever ministries he’s assigning to them.

Noting that some of the nominees do not hold the best interests of the people at heart, the IPAC chairman said: “You know why I’m so disappointed? President Tinubu personifies the politics of this country (and) democracy. He lived all his life as a democratic individual who fought with his life to ensure that we have the democracy that we are enjoying today.

“So, how can you come and then embark on policies that you know are anti-people and you now put people that you know were rejected? Some of the people that he put as ministers contested and were rejected by the people (in the 2023 election).

“So, how can you then bring them through the back door and say they must preside over the affairs of the people? That’s not the kind of country that we want to have. We must begin to give Nigerians confidence,” he said.

While Sani did not mention names, the immediate past governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mattawalle, and ex-Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Atiku, fit his description.

In May 2023, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed that it was investigating Matawalle for allegedly diverting a N70 billion loan sourced from a bank for purported execution of projects across the local governments in Zamfara.

The former governor, who was listed among the second batch of ministerial nominees Tinubu sent to the Senate on Wednesday for confirmation, had accused the former EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, of going after him because he denied him (Bawa) $2 million bribe.

Meanwhile, Bagudu, who served as Kebbi governor from May 2015 to May 2023, was listed in the Pandora Papers investigation led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists as being “involved with all the offshore front companies and bank accounts – from the British Virgin Islands to Ireland, Switzerland, England, Guernsey, and Jersey – used to steal and launder billions of dollars belonging to Nigeria under the Abacha regime as a director.”

The Pandora Papers investigation also revealed that the former Kebbi governor was “signatory on accounts or prime beneficiary” of the offshore accounts as shown in U.S. court documents and incorporation filings.

Tinubu, according to the IPAC chairman, should have picked persons with capacity and without links to corruption as ministers to avoid dampening the spirits of Nigerians who voted for him hoping that he would make a difference.

“When you talk of capacity and when you talk about track record, we have people that have capacity and track record.

“And for God’s sake, it is not about the minister. The minister does not work alone, he has experts around him but if you bring somebody that has baggage surrounding him, what do you think the other lieutenants would do? Don’t put faces that personify corruption as your lieutenants because what the ministers are doing is that they are exercising your powers of Mr. President in those ministries. They are the presidents actually. So don’t tell me that this people are you,” Sani added.

THE WHISTLER reported that President Tinubu sent additional 19 names to the Senate in his second batch of ministerial nominees for confirmation.

Among the nominees are former Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola; former Kebbi governor Atiku Bagudu; former Zamfara governor, Bello Matawalle; former Yobe governor, Ibrahim Geidam; former Plateau governor, Simon Lalong; a former senator from Bayelsa State, Heineken Lokpobiri and Shuiabu Abubakar Audu, son of a former Kogi State governor, Abubakar Audu.

Former senators on the new list are Sabi Abdullahi from Niger State, Alkali Ahmed Saidu from Gombe State, and Heineken Lokpobori from Bayelsa State.

A former chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Zephaniah Jisalo, also made the second list.

The second came after the Senate had concluded the screening of the 28 ministerial nominees on the president’s first list.

The Federal Government on Wednesday filed a contempt proceeding against the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, for allegedly embarking on an industrial action contrary to a June 5, 2023, exparte order by the National Industrial Court, NIC.

The “notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court” filed before NIC in Abuja, was addressed to NLC President, Joe Ajaero; Deputy Presidents, Audu Aruba, Prince Adeyanju Adewale and Kabiru Sani; General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja; TUC President, Engr Festus Usifo; Scribe/ Chief Executive, Nuhu Toro.

The contempt notice signed by Senior Registrar, Balogun Olajide, reads: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, delivered by Honourable Justice Y. Anuwe on June 5, 2023, as per the attached enrolled order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to Prison.”

The FG also attached a copy of the exparte order made by Justice Anuwe on June 5, 2023, to the notice of contempt proceeding forwarded to the NLC and TUC officials.

The order reads in part: “Having therefore considered the totality of this application, I make the following orders: The defendants/Respondents are hereby~ restrained from embarking on the planned Industrial Action/or strike of any nature pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice dated June 5, 2023.

“It is ordered that the defendant/Respondents be immediately served with the originating processes in this suit, the Motion on Notice and the order of this court hereby made.

“The Motion on Notice is hereby fixed for hearing for June 19, 2023. The Hearing Notices to that effect shall be served on the defendants/Respondent along with the other processes.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, says it has little or no control over the price of either Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or the dollar.

A Principal Manager with the apex bank, Mr Osagie Clement, disclosed this when he appeared before the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the recent hike in the price of fuel.

Mr Clement stated that the demand for PMS has gone down by 30 per cent due to its low demand following the hike in the price.

He said on a monthly basis, 150 million dollars is being deployed to PMS importation from CBN intervention and urged the federal government to discourage importation and encourage local production, which he said would reduce the current challenges in the nation's economy.

He however expressed optimism that there are positive times ahead in the next four months for forex to benefit the Nation's economy.

"The PMS market, perhaps it is envisaged that it is expected that there is no more subsidy, no more bottlenecks so it becomes real market enterprise so more people will come into that business and you see competition will bring the price down.

The Executive Director of distribution systems of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA) Mr Ogbugo Ukoha, also speaking at the meeting, stated that the market forces of demand and supply determine what the prices of products would be.

According to him, the Petroleum Industry Act PIA, has however given regulators the authority to intervene to avoid cartel building, which is why the agency introduced competition to also deal with illegal profiteering.

"PIA has given the authority quit enormous power to intervene to avoid cartel building which is why we have introduced competition and to also deal with illegal profiteering and more importantly to work with Federal Consumers Protection Council in relation to consumer protection," he added.

Speaking earlier at the meeting, the Chairman of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the recent hike in the price of fuel Hon. Babajide Benson, noted that the Petroleum Industry Act PIA has however given regulators the authority to intervene to avoid cartel building but noted that the low demand for petrol due to its hike is worrisome.

To this end, the committee adjourned till further notice.

[Vanguard]

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Abuja, has dismissed online report stating that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) is assembling its forces for military action in Republic of Niger.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Acting Director Defence Information, Brig-Gen. Tukur Gusau made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

Maj-Gen. Gusau stressed that the AFN is yet to receive any order from the appropriate authority to commence military action, against the Military Junta in Niger.

He said,”The attention of the Armed Forces of Nigeria has been drawn to an online report stating that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) is assembling its forces for military action in Republic of Niger.

“The AFN is yet to receive any order from the appropriate authority to commence military action, against the Military Junta in Niger. It’s no longer news that some members of the Republic of Niger Armed Forces seized power from a democratically elected government through un-constitutional means. In reaction to this illegal takeover of government the ECOWAS Heads of Government met and a series of options were reached on how to intervene in the crisis.

“Military option was the last option to be taken in case every other option fails to reverse the situation and return the Government of Republic of Niger to constitutional order.”

He added,”At the moment, ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff is currently holding an extraordinary meeting in Abuja to discuss the political situation in Republic of Niger and submit their plans to the committee of Heads of States and Government of ECOWAS for consideration.

“In conclusion, the Armed Forces of Nigeria cannot proceed on any operation in any of the member states of ECOWAS without the mandate from the Authority of Heads of States and Government.”

[newsdiaryonline]

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered immediate investigation to ascertain the cause of the failure of elevator that killed a medical doctor, Dr. Vwaere Diaso in the state.

Diaso died on Tuesday at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, after an elevator she took developed a mechanical failure.

In a statement on his verified social media handles on Wednesday, Sanwo-Olu expressed his commitment to ensuring that the investigation would be conducted with utmost transparency and fairness.

He said: “In light of this tragedy, I have taken immediate action to initiate a thorough investigation into the cause of the mechanical failure. It is my sincere commitment that this investigation will be conducted with utmost transparency and fairness, leaving no room for any biases or favoritism.

“Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this heartbreaking incident.

“May Dr. Vwaere Diaso’s soul rest in eternal peace.”

The governor also commiserated with the deceased family, friends and colleagues, particularly the Nigeria Medical Association, Medical Guild, doctors, and healthcare professionals in the state.

“I was deeply saddened to hear about the tragic loss of Dr. Vwaere Diaso, a dedicated medical professional whose life was taken due to a mechanical failure within the elevator at the Doctors’ quarters of the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island. It is distressing to think that such a promising young doctor had her life cut short in such a devastating manner.

“As a parent myself, I cannot help but feel the pain and sorrow that Dr. Diaso’s loved ones must be experiencing during this difficult time. My heart goes out to her parents, family members, friends, and colleagues who are grieving this profound loss.

“To the Nigeria Medical Association, the Medical Guild, and all doctors in Lagos State, I extend my deepest sympathies. Losing a fellow healthcare professional is a tremendous loss for the entire medical community,” Sanwo-Olu added.

According to reports, the elevator fell from the 10th floor of the building, while Diaso was on her way to the ground floor to pick up a delivery from a dispatch rider.

Earlier on Wednesday, house officers at the hospital protested and demanded justice for the deceased.

It was gathered that Diaso was going to complete her housemanship in two weeks before the tragic incident happened.

… To Unveil Workable Roadmap To CNG Alternative Next Week

President Bola Tinubu has assured the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) that the Port Harcourt refinery will begin production by December.

The president revealed this during a meeting with the labour unions at the presidential villa in Aso Rock Abuja, on Wednesday.

This meeting came a few hours after the senate pleaded with the labour unions to beat them but not kill them while demanding a seven days window to attend to their demands.

The organized Labour embarked on protests across States in the country on Wednesday over the removal of petrol subsidy without adequate palliative measures.

In a statement signed by the NLC president Joe Ajaero and the TUC president Festus Osifo, it disclosed that Tinubu agreed to review the wage for Nigerian workers immediately.

“It is pertinent to inform Nigerians that the extent of the success of the protest is underlined by the request of the President of the federal republic of Nigeria Bola Tinubu to meet with the leadership of the NLC and TUC in a closed-door session.

“The engagement was fruitful that immense mileage was gotten with regards to the issues that bogged down the work of the Presidential Committee on Subsidy removal and necessitated the protest viz.

“He committed to an immediate restructuring of the framework for engagement in line with the input of the Labour leaders.

“He pledged to ensure that Agreement is reached on the Wage Award for Nigerian workers immediately.

“Also, he (Tinubu) let out a certainty that the Port Harcourt refinery will commence production by December this year while promising to unveil a workable roadmap to the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) alternative next week,” the union said.

The Labour unions also urged vigilance on the part of all workers and masses to protect the nation and it’s decisions while they await the response of the Government through the National Assembly as was assured by their representatives during the protest.

They further urged all Nigerian workers to resume at the courts wherever they may be across the nation on the days of the court sittings to hear the contempt proceedings against the leaders of trade unions.

Nigerian Breweries (NB PLC) has taken a significant step that is set to impact beer lovers across the nation, as they announce a price increase on all their products effective August 10, 2023.

The company cited the need to review prices due to the continued rise in input costs and the necessity to mitigate its impact.

As one of Nigeria’s leading breweries, this move is likely to have a ripple effect throughout the country’s beverage market, prompting consumers to brace themselves for the reality of paying more for their favourite brews.

The decision to raise prices is attributed to several factors that have put immense strain on the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry.

With inflation reaching 22.79% in June and the managed float of the forex market leading to the naira exchanging for as high as N869/$ at the I&E window last Thursday, companies like NB PLC have faced significant challenges.

In their half-year financial results, NB PLC reported N70.6 billion in forex losses as of June 30, 2023. Coupled with rising production costs and the ever-increasing cost of raw materials, this has created a challenging financial environment for the brewing giant.

The overall slowdown of the Nigerian economy and currency devaluation have further impacted profitability across various industries, including brewing.

As the leading player in Nigeria’s brewing industry, Nigerian Breweries’ actions are closely watched by competitors and may set a precedent for price adjustments within the sector.

The demand-supply dynamics in the beverage market will also come into play, with competitors facing similar cost pressures and possibly making similar decisions.

With the price increase set to take effect on August 10, 2023, consumers will inevitably feel the impact when purchasing their favourite beverages.

Already grappling with challenging economic conditions and stretched disposable incomes, consumers may find themselves compelled to cut back on their beer consumption or seek more affordable alternatives.

This shift in consumption patterns could potentially impact brand loyalty within the industry.

Furthermore, insider sources reveal that between January and July of this year, around 540 employees left the service of the brewing giant for reasons such as voluntary early retirement, redundancy, and the so-called “Japa syndrome.”

As Nigerian Breweries gear up to implement the price increase, consumers must prepare for a more expensive beer-purchasing experience.

The decision reflects the ongoing challenges in the economic environment, characterized by rising costs and inflationary pressures.

Competitors may follow suit, and innovative pricing strategies may emerge. In the meantime, consumers will have to adjust their beverage budgets, raising a glass to toast in a costlier era of their favorite brews.

[NationalDaily]

The National Caucus of the governing party, All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday perfected moves to clear legal hurdles to pave way for the emergence of the immediate past governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, as national chairman of the governing council.

Ganduje’s appointment as national chairman, LEADERSHIP gathered, will be ratified alongside that of spokesperson of the 9th Senate, Senator Ajibola Basiru, as the national secretary today at the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting billed to hold today at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

It was learnt that at its meeting at the presidential last night, the national caucus of the governing party mandated the party’s leadership to work out modalities to clear all legal hurdles impeding the smooth takeover of the former governor as national chairman today.

According to sources who should know, the caucus chaired by the party’s leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said it is conscious of some legal and constitutional obstacles, which might serve as bottlenecks to the realisation of Ganduje’s leadership.

The caucus was directed to do away with such impediments that might lead to legal action against Ganduje’s leadership. 

Findings by LEADERSHIP revealed that Ganduje is expected to assume leadership of the party during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party today if the caucus eventually delivers on the assignment last night.

The notice of the national caucus meeting was issued pursuant to Article 12.5 of the APC constitution.

The NEC meeting is scheduled to hold today in pursuant of Article 25.2 (1) of the party’s constitution.

According to Article 12.5 of APC’s constitution, members of the caucus of ruling party include the national chairman; deputy national chairmen in charge of North and South; national secretary, national legal adviser, national treasurer; national organizing secretary; national woman leader, national youth leader and leader of persons with disabilities.

Others are past and present presidents and vice presidents, who are members of the party, past and present senate presidents as well as past and present Speakers of the House of Representatives.

One of the sources close to Ganduje told LEADERSHIP that the meeting was sequel to the discovery of some legal hurdles in the constitution of the party, which might serve as hindrance to the emergence of Ganduje as national chairman of the party.

This newspaper was informed that the caucus was mandated to work out strategies to remove those constitutional hurdles standing in the way of Ganduje ahead of the NEC meeting today.

One of our sources said some provisions in the constitution of APC made the emergence of Ganduje as national chairman an impossible mission.

None of our sources, however, disclosed the legal nuances against the former Kano helmsman.

Meanwhile, 37 chairmen of the party in the 36 states and federal capital territory yesterday met with Ganduje in Abuja.

The forum was also attended by the spokesperson of the 9th Senate, Senator Ajibola Basiru, who is being proposed as the national secretary of the party.

The forum of the state chairmen formally recognised Ganduje as national chairman of the party ahead of his unveiling during the NEC meeting.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the chairmen seized the opportunity of the meeting to pledge their loyalty, support and cooperation to Ganduje in steering the ship of the party.

One of the sources in the NEC of the party, said, “We (APC) are conscious of some legal hurdles that can make it possible for the former governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, to emerge as the national chairman of our party. To this end, the national caucus of the party has been directed to clear those hurdles. The national caucus is meeting this night in Abuja to achieve that purpose.

“Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that Ganduje must become the next national chairman, everything has to be done to achieve the presidential directive. The presidential order must prevail. No one dares tell Mr. President that Ganduje’s national chairmanship is unachievable; it is a task that must be accomplished.

“The former governor himself (Ganduje) was reluctant to assume the position of the national chairman because he planned to become a minister but he cannot resist the pressures and presidential order. So, he has to succumb at the end of the day. Having agreed and accepted the offer, there are some legal hurdles against him in the constitution of our party that have to be removed.

“If those legal obstacles are still there, there is no way Governor Ganduje can become our national chairman. If he is imposed with those constitutional hindrances in place, his emergence will automatically attract legal actions. It will surely be challenged in courts. That is why the caucus was mandated to tackle that issue.

“We sincerely hope that the caucus members would be through and conclude the assignment as given to them last night to pave the way for a seamless and smooth emergence of the former governor as our national chairman during the NEC meeting today.

“But if the caucus could not finish the assignment before the NEC

When the House of Representatives constituted the Yusuf Gagdi-led adhoc committee to investigate MDAs, parastatals and tertiary institutions on recruitment/employment racketeering as well as mismanagement of the integrated payroll and personnel information system (IPPIS), most Nigerians knew intuitively from antecedents that revelations from the committee would be startling. And true to type, surprising revelations are already coming out from the probe. As a matter of fact, after watching proceedings of the Gagdi-led adhoc committee, particularly when the chairperson of Federal Character Commission (FCC), Muhaeeba Dankaka, and other commissioners appeared before it to raise allegations and counter-allegations of job racketeering, my hope of a better Nigeria started waning considerably.

The committee’s interface with the team from FCC provided a clear answer as to why the commission is utterly ineffective. It further lent credence to the clamour for its radical overhaul.

Appearing before the committee, some commissioners accused the FCC chairperson of neck-deep involvement in job racketeering among other serious corrupt practices. In a document submitted to the committee, the commissioners alleged that the chairperson had severally sold job slots to some Nigerians. “Job seekers pay as low as N750, 000 and as high as N7 million, depending on the MDAs the jobs are being sought” the commissioners alleged.

Specifically, the commissioner representing Rivers, Nwokocha Onyekachi, told the committee that the commission is “dysfunctional”,

insisting that the majority of the commissioners are excluded from the commission’s day-to-day operations. Onyekachi said Dankaka runs the commission like a “sole administrator” and makes decisions independently without compliance with the provisions of the FCC act which require resolutions to be passed in a plenary involving all the commissioners. “We do not have a functional commission. No commissioner has the opportunity to see how their states fare, which is the objective of constituting a full commission with representatives from all the states of the federation. Everything in the commission is run under the table and with serious opaqueness,” Onyekachi said. Like Onyekachi, his counterpart representing Osun State, Abdulrazak Adeoye, alleged that the FCC chairperson engages in selling job opportunities to individuals. According to Adeoye, she surreptitiously removed the names of Nigerians from the payroll of FCC and replaced them without the knowledge of most commissioners. He added that he and other commissioners campaigning against the illegality in the FCC are known as an integrity group who are unapologetically against the illegality that will not be of help to the country as a whole.

What was Dankaka’s response? She described the allegations against her as false, insisting that her stance against corruption was the reason the commissioners heaped all the allegations on her. “Before I got to this place (FCC), they were selling job slots. The place was like a marketplace. You can find out from people that live in Abuja if I am lying,” she said.

Dankaka said prior to her assumption of office in July 2020, all the commissioners were selling jobs. In an attempt to turn the tables on the commissioners, she insisted that her refusal to join them was at the heart of all the allegations against her. “For instance, the commissioner representing Osun State bought a property and told the person he will be paying with job slots,” she told the committee.

The FCC has been a cesspool of corruption where graft, which manifests in brazen selling of jobs, takes place recklessly. But the allegations that some highly placed persons at the FCC are deeply involved in job racketeering is something that became more pronounced under the current leadership of this strategic agency. And if the revelation at the House of Reps’ committee is not perturbing enough then nothing will. It is, indeed, worrisome that as a nation, Nigeria is at a point where jobs are being sold openly like any other cheap commodity, with an agency like the FCC said to be deeply involved.

Only recently, the Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, declared that the government uncovered 1,618 fake employment letters. What she is yet to tell Nigerians is the measures taken so far to ensure those behind this act face the full wrath of the law. Regardless of the narrative that one elects to believe – whether to go with the allegations of the commissioners or those made by the chairperson, it is clear that there is a rot of monumental proportion at the FCC and the commission, as currently constituted, cannot deliver its key mandate. Established in 1996 by the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha and later included in the 1999 constitution (as amended) in Third Schedule Part 1, as one of the 14 independent federal executive bodies, the FCC is essentially saddled with the task of working out an equitable formula, subject to the approval of the president, for the distribution of positions in the public service as well as political appointments.

It must be noted that the federal character principle which the FCC is mandated to ensure compliance seeks to guard against predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups, in federal government ministries, agencies and parastatals.

To ensure effectiveness, there is an approved formula for equitable distribution across states which provides that each state should produce 2.75% of the total work force, with an acceptable range of 2.5% to 3%. Of course, the FCT is to take up 1%.

Further still, as part of measures aimed at ensuring balancing between the clamour for equity and merit, the law provides that candidates should first of all meet the criteria set out in the vacancy and then fulfil federal character criteria.

Interestingly, it is provided that vacancies for positions in the federal civil service are to be advertised in one Northern and one Southern newspaper and also on the web.

The FCC commissioners, one per each state of the federation, are saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that these provisions are religiously adhered to by monitoring the recruitment process into MDAs and parastatals, to guarantee the implementation of federal character.

But because of widespread graft and sheer ineffectiveness which permeate the FCC, these plausible provisions are often observed in breach.

In a 2020 article titled, “Nigeria’s Federal Character Commission (FCC): a critical appraisal” published by Oxford Development Studies, the trio of Leila Demarest, Arnim Langer and Ukoha Ukiwo offered a damning verdict on the commission, recommending the need to address its image problem. The FCC, the trio said, “will have to brush up its image with regard to how the institution itself respects federal character. There are also notable concerns with corruption which need to be rooted out”.

The recent accusation and counter accusation between Dankaka and some commissioners further confirms the enormity of the rot in the FCC.

Indeed, how an agency established specifically to guarantee equity and fairness in the distribution of government appointments among the 36 states of the federation and the FCT became enmeshed in allegations of job racketeering is one of the wonders of the Nigerian nation.

It is so brazen that accusations and counter-accusations of job racketeering are coming from those saddled with the responsibility of piloting the affairs of this agency. It is quite heart-rending to imagine that they are the ones reported to be deeply involved in the job-selling scam.

If there is anyone who still wonders why the FCC has failed with distinction in discharging its responsibilities, the revelations at the Gagdi led-committee of the parliament provides a fitting answer. To the extent that everything rises or falls with leadership, I think Dankaka has failed woefully in providing the needed direction for an agency as critical as the FCC. It is more perplexing for me, like most Nigerians, to hear that she is being accused of job racketeering by no other persons than the commissioners.

Without meaning to pre-empt the parliament’s committee, the time is long ripe for a total overhaul of the FCC. It is crystal clear that the Dankaka-led FCC has failed and should be shown the way out. The stench from FCC is nauseating. The agency is oozing a foul smell and there is an urgent need for a deodorant.

But one fundamental thing that needs to be done before or after the sack of the FCC as currently constituted is for the government to commission a special committee to undertake thorough investigations into allegations of job racketeering.