The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the Federal Government of applying blackmail and malice to force it into abandoning the nationwide protest fixed for Wednesday, August 2.

It said the attention of the congress has been drawn to the statement by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs B.E. Jedy-Agba, to its notice of protest against the latest hike in pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

In a statement signed by NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, the congress said the Solicitor-General lied when she held that organised labour was still under a restraining court order to organise the protest.

NLC said: “The restraining order which Mrs Jedy-Agba talks about pertains to our notice of strike in early June as a result of the increase in pump price of PMS from N190 to N537. We are not aware it is a perpetual injunction which covers anything/everything Congress does from now to eternity. This certainly will go against the grain of justice.

“It is important to note that our present notice of peaceful protest in conjunction with civil societies, individuals, associations and communities of the willing, has nothing to do with the previous increase by the NNPC but has everything to do with market forces that propelled pump prices to new heights of N617.

“This is a new matter entirely which the previous order did not contemplate or affect. We are concerned about the comments of Mrs Jedy-Agba for their untruths, malice, blackmail and deficiency in law.”

NLC had earlier issued a seven-day notice of nationwide protest to the Federal Government staring from Wednesday, August 2.

In a communique at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, the NLC resolved “to give the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum within which to meet all our demands and to embark on a nationwide action beginning Wednesday the 2nd of August, 2023 to compel the government to reverse its anti-poor and anti-workers policies”.

In the communiqué jointly signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero and General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, the NLC NEC re-affirmed all the decisions of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the 25th of July in which it demanded the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the Federal Government including the recent hike in PMS price, increase in public school fees, the release of the eight months withheld salaries of university lecturers and workers and increase in VAT.

NLC also demanded the immediate inauguration of the Presidential Steering Committee as agreed in the earlier consequential dialogues.

Ahead of the national protest, NLC has sought the support of the civil society organisations and Nigerians wherever they may be to begin mobilization and to lead the mass protest rallies across the nation to demonstrate outrage against the inhuman actions and policies of the government.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday affirmed that the Federal Government is ready to support global tech giant, Google Incorporated, to create one million digital jobs in Nigeria.

He gave the assurance at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Friday during the visit of Google Global Vice President, Mr Richard Gingras, to his office.

Tinubu told the visiting Google executive that Nigeria had creative and talented young people who are ready and motivated to learn especially at this age of Artificial Intelligence, stressing that the tech giant has the capabilities and tools that the young people need to excel.

A statement issued by Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President (Special Duties, Communications & Strategy) quoted the President as saying: “I am glad that Google is ready to partner with us. You have answered our call on digital innovation and to help our youths. You are supporting our efforts to promote the digital economy. We are ready to work with you on your commitment to create 1 million digital jobs in Nigeria.

“We will give you all the support you need to have a beneficial corporate responsibility. We have started our economic reforms, even though tortuous.”

On Google’s promotion of free speech, freedom of the press and democracy through its platforms, President Tinubu declared that it is in the public interest that free speech and press freedom should not be impeded.

“It is in the public interest to continue to defend free press and free speech. We are committed to supporting a free society,” the President said.

In his address, the Google Vice President had earlier told President Tinubu that he was in Nigeria for the West Africa Journalism Innovation Conference.

He said he had been inspired by the creativity and talent of young people in Nigeria who are embracing technology and digital tools to expand access to information and promote democracy.

Gingras told President Tinubu that his organisation has a deep interest in Nigeria and stands ready to support the Federal Government.

He listed the many capabilities of Google including areas of Artificial Intelligence and other digital innovations that are empowering young people to become digital entrepreneurs, adding that Google subsea cable, Equiano named after Nigerian slave abolitionist will significantly impact future internet connectivity demands landed in Nigeria in April 2022.

He also promised that Google would help to secure Nigeria in the age of disinformation and fake news, saying that his organisation seeks to continue its partnership with the Nigerian government.

“Google has a deep interest in Nigeria. We want to support the government’s efforts to create 1 million digital jobs. We have all the tools and capabilities to make this happen. We will also help to secure Nigeria and we have discussed that with your National Security Adviser.

“I came to Nigeria to learn. I am going back home very impressed with what I saw. You have very vibrant, creative and talented young people who are embracing innovation.

“We will continue to support your programmes to expand your digital economy,” Gingras said.

He was accompanied on the visit by Adewolu Adene, Government and Public Affairs Manager for Google in West Africa, Adewolu Adene and Premium Times Publisher, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi.

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a former banker, Gift Igbinosun, 35, for allegedly defrauding John Nnamdi and Obasogie Osagieduwa of over N14.9m.

The police spokesperson in the state, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the suspect who was sacked by her employer, a commercial bank, two years ago defrauded the victims under the pretence of helping them to get new notes.

He said the suspect was arrested on July 20 by operatives attached to the State Intelligence Bureau while acting on a complaint of alleged impersonation, conspiracy, advance fee fraud, obtaining money by false pretence, fraudulent conversion and stealing reported by the victims.

He said, “The suspect paraded herself as a staff member of Keystone Bank and fraudulently obtained N7.35m from Mr John Onuora Nnamdi. Also, the suspect paraded herself as a staff member of the same bank and fraudulently obtained N7.6m from Mr Obasogie Osagieduwa.

“They gave her the money with the hope that as she was collecting the money, she would replace them with new notes, not knowing that she was no longer working with the bank.”

Nwabuzor said investigation had been concluded and the suspect would be charged to court.

The suspect told journalists, “Before now, I have been giving Nnamdi clean notes and he would give me a commission. But I couldn’t meet up any more, so I owed him. The second person, Henry, I couldn’t give him any mint but I returned N2.5m to him, remaining the balance of N5.1m. This has been going on for some months now. I was sacked by the bank about two years ago.”

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) expressed their dissatisfaction with the approved N25,000 allowance for doctors by the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government, calling it laughable.

The NARD President, Dr Emeka Oji, conveyed this during an interview with journalists. The industrial action initiated by the NARD continues.

Dr Oji’s remarks came in response to the statement made by Ekpo Nta, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the national salary and wages commission, who had announced the approval of the N25,000 allowance for doctors on Thursday.

According to him, “The Federal Government has approved the payment of an Accoutrement allowance of twenty-five naira (N25,000.00) per quarter to Medical and Dental Doctors in hospitals, medical centres, and clinics in the Federal Public Service. The allowance is to be paid from the overhead budget.

“The approval takes effect from June 1, 2023. All enquires relating to this circular should be directed to the Commission.”

Reacting to the above in a telephone conversation with Vanguard, Emeka Oji said, “the N25,000 allowance to doctors is laughable. The ongoing strike continues. We are currently in a meeting. NARD will issue a statement regarding to N25,000.00 allowance.”

On Tuesday reported that the NARD declared another round of industrial action over its lingering demands that have not been addressed.

NARD on July 5 issued a two-week ultimatum to the Nigerian government for the implementation of all its demands.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, later held deliberations with the leadership of NARD behind closed doors where he promised to meet with President Bola Tinubu to avert the planned industrial action.

However in a statement on Tuesday, the doctors in public health facilities declared a “total and indefinite strike action.”

The association listed its demands to include the immediate payment of the 2023 MRTF, the immediate release of the circular on one-for-one replacement, and the payment of skipping arrears.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari expressed disbelief over the coup d’état that removed former President Bazoum of the Niger Republic.

Buhari said this while endorsing President Bola Tinubu’s capacity to handle the problem.

Buhari prayed that Tinubu would be able to change the course of events and assure Bazoum and his family’s safety.

Tweeting, Buhari wrote: “As to be expected, I, like millions of other Nigerians, am shocked by the latest turn of events in Niger Republic.

“Concerns have been raised about the fate of democracy as a system of government in the country and in the wider sub-region, and equally so, about the safety of President Mohammed Bazoum and his family.

“I and my family are as much concerned about these as is everyone else.

“It is heartening to note that the ECOWAS, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is already dealing effectively with the matter, and our hope and prayers are that the unwanted situation will be completely reversed, and the safety and wellbeing of President Bazoum and his family ensured.”

Warns Ekpa Against Anti-Igbo Activities

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday ordered that all Sit-At-Home, including the Monday Sit-At-Home and other proposed Sit-at-Home be ended.

In a Special Public Announcement, addressed to “The General Public and Media Institutions”, through his Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor and titled, “Direct Order: Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hereby ends all Sit-At-Home including the Monday Sit-At-Home and an other proposed Sit-at-Home”, the order read:

“This Public Announcement bears (as shall be reproduced below) the unedited, verbatim Instructions containing a Direct Order personally issued by MAZI NNAMDI KANU in his own handwriting on 24th July, 2023 through me to MAZI SIMON EKPA, instructing him to ‘desist from calling for any Sit-at-Home henceforth’ and ‘to make a public announcement to the effect that he (Mazi Simon Ekpa) is in receipt of a direct order from him (Mazi Nnamdi Kanu) to cancel any pending Sit-at-Home in place at the moment’ and also that he (Mazi Nnamdi KAnu) has, by the same order, ‘authorized me to issue a press statement if he (Mazi Simon Ekpa) fails to make this announcement on his platform’.

“For avoidance of doubt, this Direct Order was personally handed to me by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu when | visited him on the said 24th July, 2023 at the headquarters of the Department of State Security (DSS), Abuja. Later that day, | tried to contact Mazi Simon Ekpa via his WhatsApp number but could not reach him until 1:44AMthe following day (25th July, 2023), whereupon | snapped the Direct Order as written and sent to him. He thereafter acknowledged receipt and we spoke briefly on it and exchanged a couple text messages thereof.

“Since that early 25th July, 2023 (when | conveyed the Order to Mazi EKPA and he duly acknowledged it, he has not implemented the Order or otherwise made such announcement on his media platform. Nonetheless, | made a conscious decision to give him the benefit of doubt and thereby accord him more time to do the needful.

“Then, late yesterday, further written Instructions was issued by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to me, referring to the extant Direct Order to Mazi Ekpa and, in addition, instructing me that given that Mazi Ekpa has not carried out the Order, | must, as of today, being 28th July 2023, proceed to make the Order public through a Public Announcement/Press Statement. In the said further instructions, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu added more pertinent details and instructed that | must equally make them public.

“Accordingly, and as of Counsel, bound by duty and the solemn oath of my noble profession to faithfully and zealously implement my Client’s clear Instructions without any fear or favor, | now therefore reproduce verbatim the contents of said Direct Order to Mazi Simon Ekpa (at the first Paragraph) and the related further Instructions (from the second Paragraph to the end), as follows:

“Simon. this is a direct order from me. I hereby instruct you to desist from calling for any Sit-at-Home henceforth. Equally refrain from antagonizing Govemors or persons in political positions because you are notin a position to know what they are doing on my behalf. | am ordering you to make a public announcement to the effect that you are in receipt of a direct order from me to cancel any pending Sitat-Home in place at the moment. | embarked on this movement to liberate our peopk not to enslave them. | despise and will despise any person or entity that wishes to inflict unnecessary hardship on our people. | have authorized Aloy to issue a press statement if you fail to make this announcement on your platform’.

“Anybody sitll engaging in Sit-at-Home is not my disciple. Haters of Biafra and mindless murderers in uniform are hiding under the cover of combating enforcers of Sit-at-Home to unleash mayhem against the same people we swore to defend’.

“I have sent countless messages to those purportedly enforcing Sit-at-Home that they are not doing so in my name. I am not begging anybody to release me just that Nigeria should have the decency to obey their own laws’.

“The main issue which our people should address their minds to is the unconscionable delays in heanng he govt appeal at the Supreme Court, whichis a Situation not amenable to any Sit-at-Home. Therefore Sit-at-Home is a waste of time, resources and energy’.

“Those who may not understand the genesis of the Sit-at-Home should refer to my younger brother’s press statement on the eve of the commencement of the original order issued by the IPOB family. My brother made it clear to the DOS that

I was against the order for people to stay at home under whatever guise. This caused a nift between my siblings and DOS till date”.

“Aloy should use the above contributions to form the main body of the press statement. I want our people to know how this whole sit-at-home brouhaha started. Had DOS obeyed my direct instructions to cancel the first Monday sit-athome, opportunistic scavengers would not have jumped on the bandwagon to wreak havoc on our people | want our people to know how this whole Sit-at-Home brouhaha started. Had DOS obeyed my direct instructions to cancel the first Monday Sit-at-Home, opportunistic scavengers would not have jumped on the bandwagon to wreak havoc on our people.”

*You (Aloy) must release the press statement tomorrow with the screenshot of the handwniten note I gave to you unfailingly’.

“Signed: Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”

However in his reaction, Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor said, “After drafting this Public Announcement, I sent it unsigned to Mazi Simon Ekpa with a Note that I will forbear from having to be the one to make this announcement if by 4pm today (Friday) he made the announcement himself and sent me a copy. He did not respond to my message, nor has he made the said announcement on his platform until 4:30pm today when I released this Public Announcement to the media and to the public.

Senator Walid Jibrin, a former Chairman of the Textile Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, has said 155 Nigerian textile companies collapsed in a few years.

Jibrin, the former Board of Trustee Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, disclosed this recently in Kaduna.

According to him, only 20 textile companies operate in Nigeria from 175 a few years back.

He blamed epileptic power supply, lack of water, and insecurity for the industry’s collapse.

“Unfortunately, the story is different today as the sector is a mirage with a lot of challenges that led to its gradual collapse”, he said.

Nonetheless, he maintained that he hoped the textiles would bounce back.

A former Minister of Transportation, Ibrahim Bio, has said it is apparent that Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, is on his way out of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Bio disclosed this on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television while reacting to Wike’s ministerial nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to Bio, it is evident that Wike will be exiting PDP because he cannot marry being a leader of the PDP in Rivers State and minister under the All Progressives Congress-led administration.

“Nyesom Wike is the only PDP card-carrying member on the ministerial list. I don’t know how he will marry that with being a leader of the PDP in Rivers State.

“It is apparent that Wike is on his way out of PDP”, he stated.

DAILY POST recalls that Wike, three former governors and 24 other nominees made Tinubu’s ministerial list read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, at the plenary on Thursday.

Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Abdullahi Gumel, says documentation for all the ministerial nominees has commenced.

Gumel told newsmen on Friday in Abuja that the nominees were expected to visit the office of the SSA, located at AB 25, Basement, National Assembly complex, between July 28 and July 30.

“This is for necessary documentation, ahead of screening, which commences on Monday, July 31.
“Documentation for ministerial nominees has commenced and the nominees are expected to complete all necessary processes before the screening.

“The office will be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for this purpose; this is to enable all nominees complete the process before the screening,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the senate had, on Thursday, received President Bola Tinubu’s list of 28 ministerial nominees for screening and confirmation.

The legal battle between Seplat Energy PLC and its Nigerian minority shareholders may have forced the company to spend at least $19.4m on professional fees to defend its Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brown.

Adding to Seplat’s injury is the naira depreciation resulting from the floating of the naira by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The policy has also slashed the company’s profits by 51 per cent and net financial assets have shed $33.8m.

The situation was contained in its half-year financial statement seen by THE WHISTLER.

The energy company posted impressive revenue of N278.3bn ($547m), up from the N219.2bn ($527m) recorded in the first half of 2022.

Gross profit increased marginally by 0.7 per cent to reach $276.3 million (N140.58bn), compared to $274.3 million (N114.1bn) in 2022.

Profit for the period rose to N42bn, from N35.4bn posted in the same period last year.

“During the period under review, our operating profit was $118.4 million (N60.2bn), showing a significant decrease of 51.7 per cent compared to the $245.3 million (N102bn) achieved in 6M 2022. This decline in operating profit was attributed to a combination of lower oil prices and foreign exchange (FX) losses due to changes in exchange rates.

“Because of these new CBN guidelines, there was a significant adjustment in the exchange rate between the Nigerian Naira (NGN) and the US Dollar (USD). The closing rate for June 2023 was adjusted to NGN753.01/US$, representing a notable difference from the May 2023 rate of NGN461.28/US$.

“The revaluation of financial assets arising from this exchange rate resulted in a net (non-cash) loss of $33.8 million,” the books revealed.

The company said it incurred general expenses of $65.8m, which is 42 per cent higher than the $46.4m incurred in 2022 half-year.

Seplat decried that the expenses grew due to the legal battle between the company and minority shareholders.

“General and administrative expenses (G&A) amounted to $65.8 million, 42.0% higher than the G&A costs of $46.4 million incurred in 6M 2022. This increase in G&A costs was mainly due to professional fees associated with the litigation costs in response to the unprecedented and intense period of minority shareholder actions through the Courts and some costs associated with the MPNU transaction. Excluding these exceptional items, G&A costs would have closed relatively flat compared to the previous year,” Seplat revealed.

THE WHISTLER had reported that Seplat shareholders had accused its CEO of discrimination against Nigerian workers.

They had petitioned him to the Ministry of Interior but Brown failed to appear before the Nigerian authority after several summons, the ministry had said.

The aggrieved shareholders control only 0.005 per cent of Seplat issued shares.

Consequently, his Working Permit, Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (“CERPAC”) and other Visas for entry or stay in Nigeria were withdrawn by the Nigerian Immigration Service.

Further to this problem, Moses Igbrude and others in Suit No. FHC/L/CP/402/2023 petitioned the CEO in the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos. The petitioned commenced on 8th March.

“The Court ordered the Petitioners to pay N1 million in costs. This followed the filing of a Notice of Discontinuance by the Petitioners,” Seplat said.

Another case came up at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Seplat said, the “Federal High Court in Abuja had struck out the criminal charge brought by the Nigeria Immigration Service against the Company and some of its Officers. The Court fully discharged all named defendants.

“The charge had earlier been withdrawn by the Nigerian Immigration Service on the 20th April 2023 and was in relation to the immigration status of Mr. Roger Brown and the withdrawal of his immigration visa by the Ministry of Interior.

An ex parte Interim Order was obtained from the Federal High Court in Abuja by – Juliet Gbaka & two others in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2023.

The case will be heard on 3rd October 2023 at the Federal High Court and 31st October 2023 at the Court of Appeal