Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, weekend, said the last eight years would be remembered by all as the worst in the history of Nigeria.
He said it was a period when a country that was flourishing under then-President Goodluck Jonathan was plunged into unimaginable poverty, insecurity, and general maladministration.
He maintained that never in the history of the country did Nigerians witness bad governance like they did in the last eight years.
The Governor who made the assertion during the commissioning of the headquarters of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, BSCVGs, in Makurdi said the President Muhammadu-led administration “took Nigeria from the top to bottom making life miserable for all Nigerians.
“I served under the then President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and we all saw how Nigeria flourished under that administration. We all knew what the prices of foods and services were at the time.
“We also know what our exchange rate was at the time and what it is today. I want Nigerians to do a simple comparison and you will realise how bad it has been under this government and how Nigeria has been taken several years backward by the Buhari government.
“The fact is that never in the history of Nigeria did we experience this kind of bad governance in the country.
“Corruption is so endemic in this government yet people who steal chicken are thrown into prison but people in government who are busy stealing the wealth of the people are walking free.
“The President recently apologised to Nigerians; we accept the apology but he must be told that he failed woefully and Nigerians are feeling the impact of that failure because we are all suffering.”
The Governor who also berated President Buhari for refusing to disarm armed Fulani herdsmen and branding them a terrorist organisation for masterminding the killings in the country said, “The President told us he is retiring to tend to his cattle, is it because he is returning to be a herder that he failed to deal decisively with herdsmen? That was unfair to Nigerians.”
Recalling that his government was denied several accruals because of his insistence on equity, fairness and justice, the Governor assured that he would continue to speak out against injustice in the country saying “like a former lawmaker would say, ‘if you talk you die, if you don’t talk you die. So for me it is better to talk and die because I will also speak the truth no matter whose ox is gored.”
The Governor who also commissioned the Benue Television complex as well as the remodelled Benue Government Complex, thanked Benue people for standing with him assuring that he would always stand with the people.
Earlier, Commander of the BSCVGs, Mr. Ayima Ajobi who commended the Governor for setting up the guards disclosed that “the state government has trained a total number of 1,574 BSCVGs personnel drawn from the pool of those who were recommended by the traditional rulers at the grassroots, profiled by the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services, DSS, and underwent a rigorous medical screening exercise.
“The command has unfortunately suffered casualty figure of nine of its trained personnel. Of these numbers, eight of them were killed in active service at their various duty locations while the last member died after a brief illness.”
The Benue State House of Assembly, Thursday passed into law a bill for the maintenance of former Governors of the state and their Deputies.
The bill was presented on the floor of the House for passage by the Chairman, House Standing Committee on Appointments, Public Service and Pension Matters Mr. Geoffrey Agbatse.
He explained that necessary amendments had been effected on the bill as recommended by the House and urged his colleagues to support the passage of the legislation.
After a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, the Speaker, Mr. Titus Uba who presided over the sitting directed that it should be read for the third time after which it was passed.
The passed bill provides that a former Governor of the state is entitled to a monthly stipend equivalent to the basic salary of a serving governor, same for the former deputy governors.
By the provisions of the law, a former governor and his deputy are entitled to a maintenance allowance of N25 million and N15 million respectively every four years.
The bill also made provision for yearly medical expenses for the erstwhile governors and their deputies.
Also included in the bill is the provision of six personal staff for a former governor and three for a former deputy as well as two vehicles for a former governor and one for a former deputy which should be replaced every four years.
Nigerian media personality, Yeni Kuti, has said that her husband cheating on her is not enough reason for her to quit her marriage.
She said this in a chat with popular media personality, Chude Jideonwo.
According to the matriarch of the Anikulapo dynasty, her late father, Fela, had 27 wives and that never made her mother abandon her marriage.
Yeni said: “I won’t leave my husband if he is cheating. That is me. You can leave your own husband if he is cheating. That is you. Don’t judge me, I’m not judging you.
“My father had 27 wives, my mother didn’t go. It’s me that will now come and go because of one girl. It cannot happen.”
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will be transferring the crisis in the university system to the incoming administration by refusing to pay the withheld salaries of university unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress has said.
The congress directed the four university based unions which included the ; the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities; the Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Education Institutions and the National Association of Academic Technologists to meet and revert to the NLC on the withheld salary backlogs.
President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero said this in an interview during a visit to the headquarters of SSANU in Abuja.
This is as the SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim appealed to President Buhari to pay the withheld salaries of its members before handing over on May 29.
The university unions went on strike which lasted between four to nine months last year.
In return, the Federal Government invoked the No work No pay policy for the duration the strike lasted.
Ajaero said: “The federal government is making a mistake by not paying those arrears of salaries. That is part of the crisis they (Buhari administration) is transferring to the incoming government and they must face it. There is no way you will say no work no pay when you are the cause of the No work. You can’t benefit from your inadequacy.
“If we accept that, that will be the end of industrial relations and we should also be conscious of precedence in law; that precedence cannot stand.
“I want to plead with you that the unions in the education sector should meet and send us a memo in NLC. We are going to call a national action for the payment of arrears of withheld salaries.
“We have waited enough for the Nigerian state to retrace its steps. It is bad enough to owe people for three to five months as a punitive measure for an agreement the government failed to obey and still boasting.
“If the unions could get across to us, all the sectors- electricity, oil and gas; we will start a solidarity action until the federal government takes responsibility for its inaction. This is not a threat because we are not known for issuing threats.
“The federal government must respect the sanctity of its agreement and we must insist on it. The unions should not waste time on this. We need to do it as soon as possible.
“We are on a course to return the NLC as a fighting organisation; to be proactive. If we allow eight months (of withheld salary arrears) to pass, then that’s the end of this movement.
Ibrahim lamented the failure of the federal government to release the N100 billion for teaching and non – teaching staff of universities.
“Even the N100bn meant to pay for the salaries of all university staff – academic and non – academic. Till date we have not seen anything. And this government is exiting soon.
“We went on strike for four months in 2022 and our salaries were stopped in the process. We followed due process, we sought the audience of the minister of Labour and Employment for the renegotiation of our agreement.
“Even if it is the last thing this government does before exiting office, let them release the salaries of teaching and non – teaching staff of universities. Because we have suffered and lost our members because they couldn’t access their money.
“Mr President, we plead with you as a father not to leave behind the backlog of unpaid salaries of teaching and non – teaching staff.”
Kashim Shettima, the vice president-elect, says removing petrol subsidy and ending the multiple exchange rate system are issues that will pose the initial challenge to the incoming administration.
Shettima spoke at the public lecture and Juma’at prayer held at the National Mosque in Abuja as part of the 2023 presidential inauguration programme of events.
He appealed to Nigerians to stand with the government as it would be working to deconstruct the maze of challenges facing the nation.
He warned that the take-off point might be rough.
Shettima said the myriad of issues weighing on Nigeria had prevented it from taking its pride of place as a global power.
He, however, said the time had come for all Nigerians to stand together to face the challenges.
Shettima assured that Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, would treat all Nigerians equally, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic differences.
“We are united by our common heritage of poverty and insecurity among others. This is time for all of us to coalesce into a single force,” he said.
“Ours is a great nation, waiting to unleash its great potentials to the world. China was once called a sleeping giant, but today, China has woken up. Nigeria needs to wake up. We are calling on all of you to pray for us for God’s guidance. I want to assure you that Tinubu will hit the ground.
“We do not have the luxury of time. The challenges facing us are getting worse. We are living in a pressing time. Be rest assured that in the fullness of time, Nigeria will pay glowing tributes to us. The starting point might not be rosy, let me be very honest with you.
“Oil subsidy is an albatross on our neck, the multiple exchange rate system is a drain on the national economy. There are certain decisions the president-elect will take, but in the fullness of time, Nigerians will not only appreciate, but also celebrate us.”
He promised that women would be well represented and compensated in the incoming administration.
On his part, President Muhammadu Buhari said the economic and security problems faced under his watch were global challenges.
Buhari was represented at the event by Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).
“The problems we have had within the economic, security, and social sector are not peculiar to us. The potentials are always there to make the country great,” Buhari said.
“How we managed during COVID-19 and the Russian /Ukrainian war among others have shown how Nigerians can come out of difficult situations. ”
He urged Nigerians to put aside their differences in the polls aside and support the incoming administration.
“Elections have come and gone. Another set of leaders have been elected. It is our duty to give them the necessary cooperation to enable them deliver their plans towards transforming Nigeria,” Buhari said.
”As citizens we must turn our differences into our source of strength to enable progressive development.”
[TheCable]
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Friday, signed into law the amended Chiefs Law, Cap 28, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000, at the executive council chamber of the governor’s office, state Secretariat, Ibadan.
It be recalled that the state House of Assembly, on Wednesday, passed the bill into law.
Amendments to the law include sub-section (1) of section 28 which hitherto read, “The governor may cause such inquiries to be held at such times and in such places and by such person or persons as it or he may consider necessary or desirable,” now reading, “The governor may cause such inquiries to be held at such times and in such places and by such person or persons as he may consider necessary or desirable.”
Also, sub-section (3) of the new law now reads: “Any person who pursuant to subsection (1) of this section is elevated to wear beaded crown from Baales to Minor Chiefs who being a customary tenant shall continue to pay obeisance to his prescribed or consenting authority.”
Speaking after giving his assent to the law, Makinde said the amendment stipulates a prescribing authority to determine those that are deserving of receiving beaded crowns.
He added that with the amendment done, the state will follow its own law in carrying out actions relating to the chieftaincy matters across the state and no one can go to court to challenge government’s decision.
NISER’s research team identifies policies aiding anti-corruption, service delivery in JAMB
Makinde said the amendment will bring sanity into the chieftaincy system in the state and make the traditional council functional.
Among those who witnessed the signing of the bill into law were the deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Abiodun Fadeyi who led the state lawmakers and the Balogun of Ibadan land, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin who led various Ibadan high chiefs, chiefs and Baales.
Speaking on behalf of the chiefs, the Otun Balogun, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola said the Olubadan-in-council had yearned for the amendment for the past eight years, and initiated the amendment to the Chiefs Law.
He said Ibadan clamoured for the amendment because its chiefs had been relegated for too long at several public functions because its chiefs do not wear beaded crowns.
Noting that the late governor Abiola Ajimobi attempted the review but failed to legislate it, Ajibola lauded Makinde for showing boldness to see through the process this time.
With the amended law, Ajibola said High Chiefs will now ascend to wear crowns chiefs will become High Chiefs, while some Baales will also be elevated to wear crowns.
The chiefs will now be ranked in the order of Royal Highness up to Royal Majesty and then Imperial Majesty.
Also speaking, the Oniroko of Iroko, Chief Olasunkanmi Abioye said Baales had, for too long, suffered lack of recognition when they get to town.
He said, with the amendment, Baales will be elevated and get more recognition.
Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, on Friday, slammed the outgoing Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, saying that he failed Nigerians and scored a woeful ‘F9’ in all sectors of governance, from economy, to security, unemployment, education, infrastructure, oil and gas, electricity, and every other sector.
HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko said it was lamentable and extremely embarrassing that Buhari promised Nigerians change in 2015 but has only succeeded in changing the country for the worse.
The group, rolling out a scorecard of Buhari, who hands over to the President-elect, Bola Tinubu on May 29, said Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC deceived Nigerians into power and only enriched themselves.
The statement read: “Buhari, a former Nigerian military head of state who hailed from the rustic town of Daura in Katsina State, North-West Nigeria had during his campaign in 2015 vowed to combat endemic corruption in the country.
“However, under his watch, Nigeria fell from 154 out of 180 countries and territories in the latest ranking of the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International in January 2023.
“Also, according to the data by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Nigeria’s inflation rate in May 2015 when Buhari took over leadership was 9.0 percent. But Nigeria’s inflation rate jumped to a 17-year high of 22.04 percent in April 2023, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
“Naira to dollar in May 2015 was less than N200 but today it has gone as high as N800 at the parallel market.
“The unemployment rate was about 8 percent when Buhari became the president in June 2015. It surged to over 33 percent, according to the latest data from the NBS. Thousands of businesses crumbled due to his thoughtless border closure, forex policy and generally harsh economic decisions.
“In addition, it was under his watch that Nigeria became the poverty capital of the world. Over 130 million Nigerians are multidimensionally poor under Buhari. Nigeria’s per capita GDP has reduced. From $2,687.5 in 2015, it fell to $2,097.1 in 2020, according to the World Bank.
“Under Buhari, a litre of petrol moved over N100 higher than what he met it in 2015. Under Buhari, none of the four Nigerian refineries worked yet billions of dollars splurged on salaries of refinery staff and routine maintenance when not one drop of petrol or diesel was produced.
“Under Buhari, electricity tariff went off the roof yet epileptic power supply was his gift to the nation, forcing many businesses to fold up as they can’t cope with the high prices of diesel to run their generating sets.
“About 100,000 Nigerians were killed by herdsmen, bandits, terrorists and unknown gunmen under Buhari. The statistics of those kidnapped is another alarming spectacle.
“For the records, posterity will not be kind to Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential tenures of eight years. His regime is a catastrophic example that the incoming administration should deviate from totally. He is a bad example to follow in governance.”
The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has blasted the federal government and judiciary sector of Nigeria for corrupting the democratic system and damaging the rule of law.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele noted that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat and it has become a selection when it comes to election. He mentioned that the country is practicing a democracy of bondage due to the leaders ruling the nation.
He made it known that the judges don’t allow justice to prevail, rather, they fight for their personal interest at the detriment of the masses.
“There is nothing like democracy in Nigeria anymore, it is under threat and it has become a selection. The system to strengthen democracy in Nigeria is corrupt already. We are in a democracy of bondage.’’
‘’Judges don’t also allow justice, they have forgotten that we will all be judged by God at the end. The cases surrounding this election will not come out as expected. The judiciary system is nothing to write home about.’’
The man of God frowned at the excessive disobedience of the government at judgments while referring to Nnamdi Kanu as a case study. He explained that Nnamdi Kanu has done nothing that shouldn’t allow the rule of law to be effective but due to the inefficiency of players in the judiciary sector, the judgment to release Nnamdi Kanu fell on deaf ears.
‘’Nnamdi Kanu has been in detention all these while despite the fact that the court has approved his release. The government in charge of our democracy didn’t allow him to go. What did he do? Did he kill anyone? Or what exactly did he do that can’t allow the rule of law to be effective? There is no judgment in Nigeria, those at the helm of affairs will determine if a judgment will be followed or not and that’s pointless.”
Speaking on cases surrounding the last election, Primate Ayodele posited that the judgment will not go as the masses want it to because the judges have been compromised.
‘’It’s really sad that we have gotten to this stage. The election cases will not go as the masses want because those in charge will be compromised. Let the Igbos pray if they want to be something in this government, they need to pray fervently. The judges will make the innocent guilty and the guilty become innocent. The rule of law has been damaged already, it’s unfortunate.’’
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday received the Declaration of Assets Form from Prof. Isah Mohammed, Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB.
The Declaration of Assets Form was presented to the President at the presidential villa, Abuja.
It’s a constitutional requirement for public office holders to declare their assets when they take up the office and when they are exiting the office.
…vows to mandate political appointees, others to follow suit
Ahead of the May 29th inauguration, the Kano State Governor-elect, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, has declared his assets and liabilities in a completed form submitted on Friday to the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Kano office.
Engr. Abba, who was received by the CCB State Director, Hajia Hadiza Larai Ibrahim, said his earnest declaration of assets is a demonstration of transparency and accountability that will form the bedrock of the incoming administration in the State.
The Governor-elect in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa vowed to mandate all public officials including political appointees that will serve in his administration to follow suit of asset declaration.
The statement reads, ”Today, I have fulfilled the constitutional obligation of declaring my assets before assuming the office, May 29.
“The Governor-elect told his host that, public service is a calling; it is a service to humanity and I am always ready to serve having won the confidence of the good people of Kano State.
“Engr. Abba declared that, the coast is now clear for the journey of restoration of sustainable development in all the sectors, where every Kobo of the public fund spent will not only be justifiable but accountable in Kano State under his watch.
“He assured that all the public officials including political appointees that will serve in his administration will be mandated to follow suit of asset declaration as required by the Law,” the statement however reads.
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Gunmen have beheaded a yet-to-be-identified man, after killing him at a drinking joint in Aba, Abia State.
The unknown gunmen numbering about four were said to have stormed the drinking joint along Georges Street by St. Michael’s road junction in a tricycle and shot the deceased thrice, beheaded him with a machete and fled the scene.
Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the incident caused panic in the area as people scampered to safety, leaving their drinks and vehicles as well as the deceased in a pool of blood.
Though the reason for the killing was yet to be ascertained, sources have attributed it to cult violence.
A business owner along St. Michaels road, said; “The drinking joint was filled with people enjoying themselves until there was a gunshot. Nobody knew where it came from, but everybody scampered to safety. When I returned to close my shop, I saw a man lying in a pool of blood and they cut off his head. The police later came and took the corpse away.”
Vanguard gathered that the deceased had received a telephone call from someone whom he directed to the drinking joint. Few minutes after the call, the gunmen arrived in a tricycle and shot him thrice and cut off his head. It was also said that the gunmen fired sporadic shots as they left the area.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Abia State Command, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, was unsuccessful, as he neither responded to calls nor a message placed on his handset as at the time of filing this report.
However, a top police officer at the Aba Area Command confirmed the incident, adding that the corpse had been deposited at an undisclosed mortuary in the city.
rtistes and celebrities on Thursday night lit the pre-inauguration concert in honour of President Elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Ahead of his inauguration on May 29, the event tagged: ‘Renewed Hope Concert’ was organised to unite Tinubu’s supporters in celebration.
A-list musicians, including Timaya, Tony Tetuila, Pasuma, 9ice, KCee, Asake, Waje, Brymo, BNXN, Fireboy and Naira Marley performed at the concert.
The ceremony took place shortly after the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) honours, were bestowed on Tinubu and Shettima respectively in Abuja on Thursday.
Eniola Badmus, an actress and the head of the inauguration’s entertainment committee, posted a video of the occasion on Instagram.
She was seen with singer, Bella Shmurda among other guests and ushers at the venue prior to the main event.
She captioned the video: “Abuja is about to experience 1st of its kind inauguration Concert featuring all the A list artiste to the Z list just because we believe so much in Unity and One Nigeria.
“Election is over. Let us come together as one and make Nigeria great again. The New Era here is called RENEWED HOPE.”
‘Nigerians will start paying higher prices’ — Manufacturers kick against CBN’s interest rate hike
AdminThe Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) says the latest interest rate increase by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will worsen the imminent recession in the manufacturing sector and negatively impact its operations in many ways.
On Wednesday, the policy-setting committee of the CBN raised the monetary policy rate (MPR) which measures interest rate, from 18 percent to 18.5 percent.
The latest adjustment was the seventh consecutive rise since May 2022.
The monetary policy rate (MPR) is the baseline interest rate in an economy, every other interest rate used within an economy is built on it.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, director-general of MAN, said the MPR hike would, among other challenges, lead to an increase in the cost of borrowing which would further discourage investments in the sector.
Ajayi-Kabir said it would also lead to a high cost of production which would lead to higher commodity prices and inventory of unsold manufactured products.
“It is evident that the continuous and consistent increase in MPR is not yielding the desired growth in the economy. The Nigerian economy remains fragile and bedevilled with numerous challenges that inhibit growth,” the statement reads in part.
“Therefore, the monetary authority needs to pay closer attention to rethink the policy mix, bearing in mind the parlous state of the economy, especially the effect of a high MPR on the manufacturing sector and the economy.
“The increase in MPR from 18 per cent to 18.5 percent will certainly lead to an increase in lending rates and worsen the uncompetitiveness of the manufacturing sector.
“The Association has been clamouring for single-digit lending rates to allow manufacturers access to needed funds to boost the performance of the sector.
“This increase, like the previous ones, is evidence that the CBN is either unperturbed about the plight of the productive sector or is unable to fathom out a more creative policy mix that would reflate the sector.
“Therefore, it is necessary for government to think outside the conventional monetary policy framework and take pragmatic steps to quell the inflationary pressure and reposition the economy.”
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dauda Ali Biu has ordered the deployment of 365 personnel, 40 patrol vehicles, 15 BIKES, and 10 tow trucks to ensure safety of road users and ease of movement along all routes leading to the Eagle Square venue of the inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This was made known in a statement issued by Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer.
According to the statement, the Corps also deployed 155 traffic cones, 15 ambulances, 84 patrolites, and a number of reflective tapes to augment the entrenchment of safety and ease of movement across board.
However, Biu directed FRSC personnel deployed to collaborate with operatives of the Nigeria Police Force as well as other security organisations detailed for the national programme.
He also called on road users to comply with restrictions of movement around areas cordoned off by security operatives so as to allow for a seamless inauguration programme.
The areas to be cordoned for diversion of traffic are as follows: Goodluck Jonathan Expressway by Court of Appeal, Deeper Life Junction, Bond/ Total Filling Station, Federal Capital Development Authority Junction, Finance Junction by ECOWAS, Ministry of Women Affairs junction, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Eagle Square ( Phase 1&2).
Others are; Kur Mohammed Road/ National Mosque, Abia House Junction, NITEL Junction by Ademola Adetokunbo Street, Gama Junction/ Transcorp, Bayelsa House by Federal High Court, Aso Drive, CEDDI Plaza, NNPC Twin Towers as well as NNPC/ NBS.
The Corps personnel have been advised to play an active role in piloting dignitaries from the following locations; Old Parade Ground – Eagle Square, International Conference Centre, Eagle Square, and Eagle Square Pavilion. The Corps will also engage in strategic crowd control in and around the inauguration venue.