He believes in integrity of judiciary
Spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, Ajuri Ngelale, says his principal is not worried about possible outcomes of the judgment of the presidential election tribunal.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Monday, Ngelale said Tinubu sees no need to threaten judicial officers regarding the election petition.
Earlier on Monday, the tribunal fixed September 6 to deliver judgment on the petitions challenging the victory of Tinubu in the February 25 election.
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have approached the tribunal to challenge Tinubu’s victory.
The presidential spokesperson said Tinubu is optimistic that the panel would deliver judgment based on the evidence presented.
He said the president has “confidence and faith” in the judiciary, adding that Tinubu is sure that his mandate would be affirmed.
“Unlike some political gladiators in the country, the president sees no need to threaten judicial officers,” he said.
“He sees no need to raise speculations against the integrity of judicial officers. He believes in the sanctity and integrity of the Nigerian judicial system.
“He believes the great men and women on the panel will make their decisions based only on the facts before them and not based on anything else.
“As a result of his confidence and faith in the judiciary, he believes that the mandate which Nigerians freely gave to him during the elections would stand. That is the position of the president.
“He will continue to ensure that no matter what the outcome of the judgment is, he does his part and ensures that our institutions continue to be respected, not just by him, but by all actors.
“He is not worried because he knows he won the election. We believe that we have presented the best case and the evidence is on our side.”
Some graduates of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State are currently in a state of confusion as the university has allegedly refused to issue them results since they graduated from the school in 2018.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the situation is affecting the mobilisation of the affected persons for the National Youth Service Corps.
While the school said the students might have had issues with some courses during their time in school, the affected persons claimed the school had been engaging them with promises that result backlogs would be cleared and students who were yet to be mobilised for NYSC would be settled.
While some pictures suspected to have been taken during such engagements were sighted by our correspondent, affected students said the stalemate had rendered them downtrodden and with a bleak future.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, one of the aggrieved students, Niyi Ajeboriogbon, said, “Every student has been dropping their results as against the claims made by the school spokesperson, including those who had extensions and wrote them the following year and passed all.
“For five years, we have not had our results. There is no mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps. We have engaged in dialogues with the vice chancellor and other key stakeholders in the school. There was no way forward.
“Our parents are already thinking that we didn’t go to school at all. When we met with the VC, he assured us that after five years, we would see our results. This issue is not peculiar to Political Science. I have friends in other departments that are facing similar issues.”
Another graduate, Christian Edokpolo, said, “I am frustrated and depressed. My family members are already questioning if I truly attended the school. My life is stagnant right now. I cannot get a job just because I am waiting for my results. We do not understand what is ongoing. What is the problem with our set? Is this not sheer wickedness?
“We have met with these people, yet nothing has come out of it. We do not owe school fees. Even some people they claimed had carryovers in some courses have cleared everything. We need concerned Nigerians to help us.”
Reacting, the institution’s Head of Corporate Communications and Protocol, Mike Aladenika, claimed the students affected had some outstanding courses they needed to clear, hence the reason for the results and mobilisation issues.
“If you had graduated and done all you were asked to do while you were a student, you would not have problems with your results. Some of the students who did not take cognisance of the deficiencies they had with their courses are the ones facing these challenges,” he said.
But when he was asked why the management was having meetings and promising the affected persons of the clearing backlog of results, Aladenika simply said, “If the issues were university challenges, graduates of other departments should be having similar challenges.”
The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was absent at a meeting called by the federal government to avert the planned two-day warning strike by the union.
TheCable understands only Festus Osifo, president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), showed up for the meeting slated for 3 p.m. but started at exactly 5:32 p,m.
On September 1, Joe Ajaero, NLC president, announced that the strike would commence on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Simon Lalong, the minister of labour and employment, appealed to the NLC to suspend the proposed warning strike over the impact of petrol subsidy removal on the masses.
Lalong said such a strike would be detrimental to the gains already being recorded by the new administration.
He said the leadership of the congress should give the government more time to address the issues being raised by NLC.
“In light of these matters, I would like to reiterate my appeal to the leadership of the NLC to suspend the warning strike and subsequent future actions to allow us to work together to amicably resolve these issues rather than embark on actions that would further worsen the conditions of the citizens of Nigeria,” Lalong said.
“I would request that the comrade leadership of the NLC give this government some time to settle and address the issues on the ground holistically.
“It should be realised that the cabinet of this administration was only recently sworn in by Mr President and all cabinet members have hit the ground running by receiving briefings from their MDAs.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed his readiness to incorporate technology into public service administration.
According to a statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Tinubu spoke on Monday while receiving Andres Arroyo, vice-president of Oracle, a computer technology company, at the State House.
The president noted that technology helps to ensure that data from public institutions are accurate and transparent as well as aid accountability.
The statement said Tinubu’s enthusiasm was spurred by a collaboration between the government of Nigeria and Oracle, seeking to reform the country’s civil service and data management sector.
The president said Oracle’s proven success in the automation of the Lagos payroll system during his tenure as the governor of the state would help to ensure enhanced ease of doing business and digital innovation.
He added that it would also lead to effective identity management, efficient payroll administration, and qualitative citizen-centred service delivery
“I have tested Oracle and it has worked for our success. In Lagos State, what we did in effective collaboration with you, has been copied across the states of the Federation,” the statement quoted Tinubu as saying.
“We can only build our institutions with accurate data and cutting-edge data management capabilities that are reliable and effective. We can only rely upon our human resources for excellent service delivery to Nigerians if they are well-trained and ready to learn.
“The transfer of knowledge is essential for our nation and the continent. In this government, we believe that the only way to build our country is a bottom-up approach and from one single sheet of paper, we can create an end-to-end solution for public administration that will rid our service of its worst tendencies in favour of effectiveness and reliability.”
The president also expressed concern about the country’s “bloated” civil service payroll at the national and sub-national levels, noting that the wage bill consumes a large proportion of the country’s revenue.
“Each time they give me the payroll number, I get so frightened. Where am I going to get the capital to develop the infrastructure we desperately require if the payroll of 1% – 2% of the population is consuming all the revenue?” the statement quoted Tinubu as saying.
“I think we need a tight technological control that can check and balance all necessary control points of our transaction processes. I’m looking forward to working with Oracle because I have the belief and confidence that you can do it as you have in the past.”
On his part, Arroyo, Oracle’s vice president, applauded Tinubu for putting the interest of Nigerians at the forefront of the collaboration.
He assured that the partnership would ensure a smoother operation of the country’s affairs while achieving macroeconomic visibility.
Oando Plc said it has acquired 100 per cent of the shares of ENI in Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC Ltd).
The oil giant made the disclosure on Monday.
The oil company said it has “reached an agreement with Eni (“ENI”) (an integrated energy company actively supporting a just
energy transition, with the objective of achieving Net-Zero carbon emissions by 2050 and promoting efficient and sustainable access to energy for all), for the acquisition of 100 per cent of the shares of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC Ltd).
“Completion of the transaction is subject to Ministerial Consent and other required regulatory approvals,” Oando said.
With the acquisition, Oando’s current participating interests in OMLs 60, 61, 62, and 63 have increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent.
The deal increases Oando’s ownership stake in all NEPL/NAOC/OOL Joint Venture assets and infrastructure which include forty discovered oil and gas fields, of
which twenty-four are currently producing approximately forty identified prospects and leads, twelve production stations and approximately 1,490 km of
pipelines.
Others are three gas processing plants, the Brass River Oil Terminal, the Kwale Okpai phases 1 & 2 power plants (with a total nameplate capacity of 960MW),
and associated infrastructure.
“Based on 2021 reserves estimates, Oando’s total reserves stand at 503.3MMboe and the transaction will deliver a 98 per cent increase.
“The transaction also grows Oando’s exploration asset portfolio through the
acquisition of a 90 per cent interest in OPL 282 and 48 per cent interest in OPL 135.
“NAOC Ltd participating interest in SPDC JV (Shell Production Development Company Joint Venture – operator Shell 30 per cent, TotalEnergies 10 per cent, NAOC 5 per cent,” read the regulatory filing.
Wale Tinub, the Group Chief Executive, Oando PLC described the deal as an important milestone in the company’s future.
Tinubu said it would also unlock Oando’s potential as a major player in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.
“The synergies created by this acquisition will unlock unparalleled opportunities for us
to re-align expectations, enhance efficiency, optimize resource allocation, and
significantly increase production. Furthermore, it is in alignment with our strategy of acquiring, enhancing, appraising, and efficiently developing reserves.
“Today’s announcement is not just an important milestone for the future of Oando; it brings to bear the important role indigenous actors will play in the future of the Nigerian upstream sector.
“Having achieved this significant milestone, we look forward to closing the transaction and harnessing the full potential of the enhanced platform to accrue value for our local communities, stakeholders and shareholders.”
The Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sent a second list of commissioner-nominees to the state House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.
The house announced the receipt of the list of nominees during the plenary on Monday.
Recall that the state assembly had earlier disqualified seventeen out of the thirty-nine commissioner nominees sent to it by Governor Sanwo-Olu.
Twenty-two of the Commissioner Nominees were, however, confirmed by the lawmakers last Wednesday.
The Chief Whip of the Assembly who also served as the Chairman of the Screening Committee, Mojeed Fatai Adebola while stating why the nominees were rejected said the rejection of the nominees was a result of the unanimous decision by all members of the state assembly and not his personal decision.
The statement reads, “Governor’s Nominees for Commissioners: Speaker Obasa calls on the committee that handled the previous nominees to take charge on the new list sent by the Governor, @jidesanwoolu, and report back to the House by Thursday 7/09/2023.
“Some of the nominees have their documents with you, and you can reach out to the new nominees. I want you to be thorough and do the needful while carrying out this exercise.”
Names of those who made the second list
1. Dr. Afolabi Abiodun Tajudeen
2. Mr. Oluwaseun Oriyomi Osiyemi
3. Prof. Akinola Emmanuel Abayomi
Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)
4. Engr. Olalere Odusote
5. Dr. Oluwarotimi Omotola Wahab Fashola
6. Mrs. Folashade Kaosarat Ambrose-Medem
7. Mr. Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe
8. Mr. Samuel Egube
9. Hon. Tolani Sule Akibu
10. Mrs. Bolaji Cecelia Dada
11. Mrs. Barakat Akande Bakare
12. Mr. Olugbenga Omotoso
13. Mr. Mosopefolu George
14. Yekini Nurudeen Agbaje
15. Dr. Olumide Oluyinka
16. Mr. Abayomi Samson Oluyomi
17. Dr. Iyabode Oyeyemi Ayoola
18. Hon. Sola Shakirudeen Giwa
The Nigeria Labour Congress has vowed to ground the economy as it says the stage is set for a two-day nationwide warning strike in response to the severe economic hardships plaguing the nation on the aftermath of subsidy removal by the Federal Government.
This move has garnered widespread support from key stakeholders, including the banking sector, civil society organisations, and workers’ unions, as they unite to address the growing economic crisis in the country.
The National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, the umbrella organisation representing workers in the banking and insurance industry, on Monday vowed to take part in the strike, effectively shutting down financial activities across Nigeria.
A statement signed by the General Secretary of NUBIFIE, Mr Mohammed Sheikh, underscored the importance of their participation in the two-day warning strike by the NLC, citing the need to draw the government’s attention to the dire economic situation faced by Nigerians.
The leadership of NUBIFIE has issued a notice that all banks will be shut down on Tuesday, 5 and Wednesday, 6 September 2023, in line with the NLC two-day strike directive.
“The directives are imperative to get the needed attention of the government and to warn it against interfering in the internal affairs of unions instead of addressing the punishing economic circumstances we find ourselves in,” the statement emphasised.
Speaking with The PUNCH, the Senior Deputy General Secretary of NUBIFIE, Mr. Aboderin Olusola, reiterated their commitment to the NLC’s cause, stressing the necessity of solidarity among industrial unions during these trying times.
Olusola said, “It was NLC’s directive to all the industrial unions and NUBIFIE didn’t have any option than to issue that circular to all our members and management of banks and insurance companies in Nigeria.”
Joining the chorus of concern, the United Action Front of Civil Society has thrown its full support behind the NLC’s two-day warning strike.
In a statement signed by the Head of the National Coordinating Centre for the United Action Front of Civil Society, Wale Okunniyi, the organisation expressed outrage over the hardship inflicted on Nigerians by the government’s decision to remove fuel subsidies and subsequently raise the price of premium motor spirit.
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has backed the Nigerian Labour Congress to embark on the two-day warning strike.
This was contained in a letter on Monday titled, ‘Compliance to the Nigerian Labour Congress directive on a nationwide two-day warning strike’, signed by the Head of Media, MWUN, John Ikemefuna.
The PUNCH reports that on Friday, the NLC in a communiqué jointly signed by its National President, Joe Ajaero and Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, said it decided to embark on a two-day warning strike following what was described as the failure of the Tinubu-led Federal Government to dialogue and engage stakeholders within the organised labor on efforts to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, on the “poor masses”.
The President General of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju, directed all its affiliates to embark on the two-day nationwide strike.
He said, “This decision is due to the Federal Government’s refusal to engage and reach an agreement with the organized labor on critical issues of the consequences of the unfortunate hike in the price of petrol, which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigerian workers and the generality of the Nigerian citizens.”
“The MWUN as an affiliate of the NLC, is obliged to comply with the directive and has consequently instructed all our members in all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms nationwide to partake on the two days total shut down warning strike as directed by the NLC.”
State chapters join
Labour unions across the states of the federation are also gearing up for the showdown.
In Abia State, the state chapter of the NLC accused the state government of insensitivity to their plights, describing it as unacceptable.
This was even as it has called on all affiliate unions in the state not to ignore the national directive on the warning strike but should join forces with organised labour to tell the government that enough is enough.
Subsidy pains: Labour insists on protest as Tinubu okays N500bn palliative, 3,000 buses
Addressing journalists in Umuahia on Monday, the state chairman, Pascal Iheme Nweke, regretted that the state government failed to carry labour along in matter that concerns workers in the state.
According to the Abia NLC, the relationship between government and labour in the state is not cordial, pointing out that the state government forms committees concerning workers in the state without involving labour, noting that it is not unacceptable.
Similarly, organised labour in Kogi state has ordered its members to join the two- day warning strike as directed by the National Executive Council of the NLC.
In a news bulletin circulated in Lokoja on Monday at the end an emergency meeting to ratify the decision made by the NEC, and signed by the Chairman, Gabriel Amari, and the Secretary, Owoeye Oladipupo respectively, the union said Kogi State as part of the country was not immune to the prevailing national sentiments, taking into account the extensive hardships and deprivation afflicting our citizens.
It said, “The council scrutinised the Federal government’s failure to establish structure to address the widespread suffering in our nation.”
“Furthermore, it considered the government’s deliberate neglect and disregard for engaging with national stakeholders through the channels of social dialogue, a commitment it had solemnly declared during the president’s inaugural address on May 29, 2023.
Ahead of his proposed trip to India to attend the G-20 summit, President Bola Tinubu has met briefly with his service chiefs for a briefing regarding their operations.
The meeting, which is a routine activity at the Presidential Villa, had in attendance the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, his Navy counterpart, Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar.
At the meeting, which held behind closed doors at Aso Rock, the Service Chiefs briefed the President on the general security situation in the country, including a review of areas where they need to double up efforts to close gaps.
Tinubu would later in the day proceed to New Delhi, India to attend the G-20 Leaders Summit.
[DailyPost]
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, has inaugurated an 11-man Police Recruitment Board to enlist constables into the Nigeria Police Force.
This was as members of the Joint Workers Union of the PSC protested on Monday, accusing Arase of nepotism, noting that the PSC recruitment director, who was supposed to be the secretary of the board, according to the constitution, was excluded.
Arase on Monday, announced Onyemuche Nnamani as chairman of the board, and the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of training, Bala Ciroma, as the vice chairman.
Other members of the board are Mohammed Magaji, representing the Ministry of Police Affairs, Dr. Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, Professor Joseph Olowofela, CP Hassan Yabanet, Yusuf Sanusi, Sani Hada, Victoria Onyekwuluije, DSO Ahanmisi Obehi, and DCP Olabode Akinbamilowo.
The board, among other things, is charged with the responsibility to determine and declare available vacancies in the NPF; draw up guidelines for every recruitment process into the police force; determine the online platform to be employed in the advertorial on national dailies, and other forms of information dissemination on recruitment, among others.
The PUNCH reports that the PSC and the NPF were hitherto, engaged in a legal dispute over who has the power and responsibility to recruit for the NPF.
However, in a landmark verdict on July 11, 2023, the Supreme Court gave a judgement in favour of the PSC, as being soley responsible for recruitments into the NPF, laying to rest the imbroglio.
Speaking on Monday, Arase said, “The Supreme Court judgment will not only help in solidifying the nascent peace, friendliness and growing mutuality between the PSC and NPF, but also facilitate and ensure seamless recruitment exercises for the Nigeria Police Force.
“The recruitment board, which is chaired by the commission, has members drawn from the Nigeria Police Force as the Secretary, and the Ministry of Police Affairs and Federal Character Commission as members, respectively.
“The board members are charged to work harmoniously and inter-dependently towards recruiting qualified and competent Nigerians without records of bad character or previous criminal conviction, for the rebirth of an efficient, responsive, responsible and accountable policing and police force in Nigeria.”
The PUNCH reports that the recruitment exercise, which Arase said will commence in no distant time, is coming on the heels of the approval given by former President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retf) for the annual recruitment of 10,000 personnel into the NPF.
Meanwhile, members of the union stormed the corporate headquarters of the PSC on Monday, to protest alleged nepotism and intimidation of some of its members by the PSC Chairman, Arase, and the DIG in charge of FCID, Abuja.
During the protest, the members accused Arase of neglecting the constitution and electing his cronies into the Police Recruitment Board.
They also claimed to be owed several allowances, including election duties allowance between 2022 and 2023, which are yet to be paid.
“The PSC chairman is oppressing us. He failed to include in the Police Recruitment Board, the PSC director in charge of recruitment, who is supposed to be the board secretary, rather, he picked another person who is his loyalist, while neglecting the constitution,” one of the protesters said.
According to another, “We are being owed several allowances, and they’ve refused to pay us. They are yet to pay us our allowance for the 2022 elections held in some states and the 2023 general elections.
“They have paid police officers and workers under the Ministry of Police Affairs. But the PSC Chairman had to tell us that our money was paid to the account of the NPF.”
Meanwhile, the Force Criminal Investigation Department has invited some members of the Joint Workers Union of the PSC to interview the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, FCID, Abuja, over alleged criminal conspiracy, malicious damage, threat to life and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
The three separate letters dated September 3, which were exclusively obtained by our correspondent, inviting the three union members; Yusuf Nasidi, Adoyi Adoyi and Nmecha Benedicta, for questioning, were undersigned by the Commissioner of Police, Special Enquiry Bureau, FCID, Abuja, George Chukwu.
“This office is investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, malicious damage, threat to life and conduct likely to cause breach of peace, reported to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja in which the need to ascertain certain information from you has become necessary.
“In view of the above, you are requested to interview the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja through the undersigned, and the Officer-In-Charge, Admin Team, Special Enquiry Bureau, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja on Monday, September 4, 2023, at room 406, FCIID Complex, Area 10, Garki, Abuja. 11 a.m. prompt,” the invitation letter reads in part.
When contacted, the chairman of the union, Adoyi Adoyi, who is also among the three invited workers, said they did not honour the police invitation because it did not come through an official route.
Adoyi said, “This invite came because we organised a Congress where members complained about being owed allowances and being shortchanged because the chairman of the commission is more loyal to the NPF and police ministry than to the workers in his own commission.
“We didn’t honour the invite, not because we want to disobey the law or a government authority; but because the police sent us the letters on WhatsApp, instead of doing the right thing by writing to the commission through the chairman, and the commission would now decide on either or not to release us to attend the interview.”
[Punch]
Umar Bangari, the chief registrar of the court of appeal in Abuja, has disclosed that the judgment of the presidential election petition tribunal will be broadcast live on Wednesday, September 6.
“In a bid to promote transparency and openness, these judgments will be televised live by interested Television Stations for the public to follow,” he wrote in a statement.
“The court of appeal wishes to inform the general public that judgment in the following petitions before the Presidential Election Petition Court will be delivered on Wednesday, 6 September, 2023:
“• CAREPC/03/2023 between Mr. Peter Gregory Obi & Anor VS. Independent National Electoral Commission & 3 Ors.
“• CA/PEPC/04/2023 between Allied Peoples Movement VS. Independent National Electoral Commission & 4 Ors.
“• CA/PEPC/05/2023 between Abubakar Atiku & Anor VS. Independent National Electoral Commission & 2 Ors.
“Access to the Court premises will be strictly on accreditation.
“Only accredited individuals, including counsel and representatives of political parties, will be granted access into the Courtroom.
“Interested members of the public are advised to watch proceedings from their television sets.”
Tinubu secured 8,794,726 votes to defeat Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 6,984,520, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) who polled 6,101,533 votes.
Not satisfied with the outcome, five political parties including the PDP, LP, Action Peoples Party (APP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and the Action Alliance (AA) lodged separate petitions before the tribunal seeking to annul Tinubu’s victory.
Shortly after the commencement of the pre-hearing session in May, the APP and AA withdrew their petitions.
Among a slew of grievances, the petitioners contend that Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, the vice-president, were not eligible to contest the February 25 presidential poll.
[TheCable]
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Yakubu Maikyau, Nigerian Bar Association president, says AllEyeOnTheJudiciary campaigners are planning to plunge the country into anarchy.
Mr Maikyau accused the ‘AllEyeOnTheJudiciary’ campaigners of setting the country up for anarchy.
“When you make bare allegations, unsubstantiated allegations, you are hurting the very fabric upon which this country I held together,” Mr Maikyau stated in an interview broadcast Sunday night on ARISE TV. “Because once the people do not accept the judiciary, once public confidence in the judiciary is eroded, then you will not have a country in place. You will only have anarchy and chaos.”
The NBA president added, “You go all out there and make generalised statements about how corrupt they are. If you have evidence, come out and say it. You are even worse than a judicial officer who is practising corruption or who indulges in corrupt practices when you have the evidence, and you refuse to let us know. Because you are destroying the fabric of the system that holds this country together.”
Mr Maikyau declared that the judiciary “has been pauperised” and “has been ill-treated,” yet “they have demonstrated their strength of character.”
He reiterated his call for all ‘AllEyesOnTheJudiciary’ campaigners accusing the judiciary of corruption to come forward with evidence to weed out bad eggs.
“I’ve said it in different fora; if you have any evidence against any judicial officers, please let us have it,” noted the NBA president. “We will pursue the judicial officers. Of all the judicial officers in this country, how many have been convicted of corruption?”
Legal tussles ensued following the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the February 25 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission on March 1.
Atiku Abubakar (of PDP) and Peter Obi (of Labour Party) are challenging Mr Tinubu’s victory on the grounds that he failed to win a 25 per cent vote in the Federal Capital Territory and his forfeiture of money linked to cocaine pushing in the United States of America.
In the run-up to the presidential election petitions tribunal’s verdict on the election, scheduled for September 16, supporters of opposition parties have launched online and offline campaigns tagged ‘AllEyesOnTheJudiciary’, warning the judiciary not to compromise.
Aside from trending the ‘AllEyesOnTheJudiciary’ on social media, its campaigners erected billboards with the same expression in strategic locations.
However, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) ordered the immediate removal of the billboards nationwide.
President Bola Tinubu has reassured Nigerians of his determination not to fail the country in carrying out a permanent transformation of the nation’s economy to an enduring prosperity.
Tinubu said this while receiving members of Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO) on a solidarity visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
This is contained in a statement signed by Chief Frank Ebere-Njoku, National Spokesperson, Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO), given to newsmen in Abuja on Monday.
The president, who thanked the organisation for standing on his mandate, said that Nigeria was on the path of recovery.
Tinubu expressed confidence in the capacity of his cabinet members to rescue the country from the present economic quagmire.
“I have at this point assembled ministers to work toward achieving my goal of a progressive Nigeria.
“I am sure that they are capable of delivering on their primary assignment of rebuilding the Nigerian economy because I will remove anyone who fails, because I want results,” he said.
Tinubu, however, promised to run an all-inclusive government where everyone would be given the opportunity to serve, especially those that worked for him.
According to him, “I will always reward loyalty, excellence and hard work.”
Earlier, Alhaji Aminu Suleiman, Founder, Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO) reassured the president of their loyalty and support.
Suleiman, who expressed unwavering support to President Tinubu, said they were committed to making the government a great success.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that TSO is one of the associations that mobilised support for President Tinubu’s presidency.
NAN
Nigerian banks, including the United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Access Bank, among others, have jointly announced their intention to initiate a nationwide strike lasting for two days. They have stated that financial services will be unavailable on September 5 and 6, 2023.
This decision follows a directive issued by the National Union of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institution Employees, as conveyed in a memorandum dated September 2, 2023, and signed by the union’s General Secretary, Mohammed I. Sheikh. The memo explicitly referenced the strike notice previously issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress on August 31.
NUBIFIE additionally voiced allegations against the federal government, accusing it of interfering in trade union affairs rather than concentrating on addressing economic challenges.
The notice read; “In line with the communique issued after the meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) held on Thursday, August 31 2023, all affiliates should direct all its members to commence two days’ withdrawal of services from Tuesday & Wednesday the 5th & 6th September 2023.
“The directives is imperative to get the needed attention of government and warn it of its newfound love of meddling in the internal affairs of unions rather than address the punishing economic circumstances in which we find ourselves.
“We hereby direct all our organs to comply with this directive by ensuring all our members stay off duty for two days. Your cooperation in this regard will be appreciated.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in an effort to avert the Nigeria Labour Congress’ warning strike scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, has shown interest in resuming talks with the organised labours.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known in an interview with PUNCH on Saturday, September 2, 2023.
According to him, the government would meet with leaders of the union to avert the looming strike.
He said; “Definitely, we are hoping the warning strike can be averted. They are still engaged in discussions and have started to understand each other’s position more. They will meet again on Monday, but the gaps are being closed.
“You know the new minister just came in and has just begun to engage with the NLC. Going forward, you will see more expeditious engagement with the labour union. So far, tension has reduced but work is still in progress. By Monday, they will meet again and hopefully find an amicable resolution on the issue.”
On what the Federal Government plans to do concerning the 21-day strike scheduled to commence later in the month if the parties fail to reach an agreement, the minister expressed conviction that the matter would be resolved before then.
He stated, “This is why I said we are trying to find a common ground to avert the impending strike. Once this is achieved, the other one would have been taken care of.”
The suspended Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, Hon Wale Adedayo, detained since last Friday by the Department of State Security Services has regained his freedom.
Adedayo, who spoke with our correspondent in Abeokuta shortly after he was released, disclosed that he was summoned by the DSS based on a petition written against him that he was making inciting comments that could jeopardize public peace.
The suspended LG boss, however, said he had told the DSS that he had never uttered any inciting comments other than his allegation of local governments getting zero allocation from the state government in the last two years.
He said he remained unshaken over his travails so far and that he would definitely challenge what he called his illegal suspension from office last week Thursday.
Adedayo disclosed that the letter written to report Governor Dapo Abiodun to the former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba, was with the support of other chairmen in the state but he was surprised they could all back out of the struggle which is to primarily ensure good governance at the grassroots.
Recalled that the suspended chairman had written a letter to a former governor in the state, Osoba, alleging that the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, had hijacked public funds, while also forwarding a petition to the anti-graft agencies over the same allegations.
The Joint Account and Allocation Committee in the state saddled with the responsibility of managing the local government federal allocations has however dismissed the allegation, affirming that every fund approved by the Committee passed through the various Local Council Accounts.