The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has given reasons why President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial list is being delayed.
According to him, the delay in the unveiling of the President’s ministers and heads of ministries, departments, and agencies was because Tinubu was carrying out an extensive consultation before making an official announcement.
Naija News reported on Monday that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) held a crucial meeting with State chairmen from across Nigeria.
But it was gathered that Adamu and the National Working Committee called the meeting.
The meeting, which commenced at about 1:45 pm on Monday, had Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, Borno Chairman, leading the other 31 Chairmen.
This online news platform understands that at the meeting, the APC national chairman told party chieftains not to be too expectant about the President’s ministerial list, even though loyal members would make Tinubu’s cabinet.
Adamu said Tinubu could not appoint everybody as a minister; therefore, their expectations should not be high.
Adamu said, “Every APC member has an inherent right to hope to get some patronage. We cannot all be ministers of the government. We cannot all end up as board members, directors of parastatals, and MDAs across the country.
“President has just started. He is doing his extensive consultations before coming up with his nominees for ministers. The nomination of the ministers will come first. They will go through their screening until they are pronounced after they have been submitted before Mr President. He will formally appoint his ministers and swear them in. Only then will he disclose each of them to the country to know which minister is going to which ministry and how many ministries we are going to have.
“After that is done, the ministers will assume office, make a comprehensive report, starting from all the ministries and MDAs under them, before we know what vacancies exist for chief executives, directors and part-time directors.
“These are some of the exercises that will take place in the next two months. It cannot happen by next week. But certainly, that is what we should be expecting.
“But we do expect some patronage from the government that we are forming. It is our hope and prayers that Mr President will come along with us in that regard and strengthen the relationship of the party in the states and at the national level will enjoy some level of patronage in the new government.
“Those are the key issues that we do hope to share with you in the course of this meeting.”
The APC national chairman, also condemned the kidnapping of Ekiti APC Chairman, Paul Omotosho.
He also prayed for the quick recovery of ailing Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
How NNPC’s Private Security Contractors Intercepted Cameroun-Bound Vessel With Stolen Crude Oil
AdminFollowing the receipt of credible intelligence, a Private Security Contractor engaged by NNPC Ltd., Messrs. Tantita Security Services, has intercepted a suspicious Vessel with a Cargo of Crude oil on board on July 7, 2023.
The Vessel, MT TURA II (IMO number: 6620462), owned by a Nigerian Registered Company, HOLAB MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED with Registration Number RC813311, was heading to Cameroun with the Cargo on board when it was apprehended at an offshore location (Latitude: 5.8197194477543235°, Longitude: 4.789002723991871°), with the Captain and Crew members on board.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the crude oil cargo onboard was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore Ondo State, Nigeria.
A statement from the NNPC said there was no valid documentation for the Vessel or the Crude Oil Cargo onboard at the time of the arrest.
Further investigation into the activities of the vessel at the NNPC Ltd. Command and Control Centre also revealed that the Vessel has been operating in stealth mode for the last twelve (12) years. The last reported location of the Vessel was Tin Can Port in July 2011.
The statement said details of this arrest and the outcomes of the investigations were escalated to the appropriate Government authorities, upon which it was concluded to destroy the Vessel to serve as a strong warning and deterrent to all those participating in such illegal activities to cease and desist.
It added, “Destroying vessels involved in transporting stolen crude oil is of paramount importance as a strong deterrent.
“The illegal trade of stolen crude oil not only inflicts significant economic losses on Nigeria and legitimate stakeholders in the oil industry, but also perpetuates a cycle of corruption, environmental devastation, and social instability.
“NNPC Ltd. assures Nigerians that we will sustain the momentum in the war against crude oil theft until it is brought to a halt.”
Tinubu, APC already preparing for presidential election rerun; be prepared too - LP tells members
AdminThe National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr. Julius Abure, has urged members of the party to be alert, following information available to him that the All Progressives Congress, APC, was already preparing for a possible re-run of the 2023 presidential election.
This, he explained, was because the ruling party was aware the tide was heavily tilted against it in the ongoing legal challenge to the presidential election results as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Abure said this during an online meeting held with Nigerian-American Coalition for Justice and Democracy, led by Professor Eddie Oparaoji, the Labour Party Diaspora Chairman in the United States, in Abuja yesterday.
Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, in a statement quoted Abure as calling on the over 10 million members of the party to be “on the alert and get ready to further humiliate APC and its government in the polls if their sinister plot fails to materialize.”
He said: “Rumours have it that those in government are already planning for rerun and this is one of the support we will be canvasing from you.
“We should also be getting prepared because since all those in government are already preparing for rerun, we should not be taken unawares.
“So, we will be needing your engagement and support on this aspect if par adventure it happens today, that the election is nullified which is not what we are asking for because we are asking for an outright declaration of Peter Obi as the President of Nigeria.
“We believe strongly that we won that election given the statistics we have, given the result we have, we are not expecting anything less than the declaration of Peter Obi as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But supposing that didn’t happen as the government is believed to be planning for a rerun it will not also be out of place for we to be preparing for a rerun election.
“Having said this by the side, I must say clearly that we have put all our evidence before the court we are very hopeful that the tribunal will act on our favour.
“We are very hopeful that supposing the matter gets to the higher court, the Supreme Court, in this case, it will also act in our favour. We are keeping our hope and confidence alive.
“In nine months we are able to change the political narratives of this country and we must build on that successes and so that we can have a more formidable party that we can strategically position fro the downtrodden people of Nigeria.”
In his contribution to the discussion, the Director of ObiDatti Presidential Campaign, Ambassador Oseloka Obaze, urged Obi-Datti members in diaspora to see the struggle for recovering of the party’s mandate as a collective responsibility and one that no one could actually abandoned for any other reason
He said: “Great countries of the world are built by the citizens of the country and I think we have in the diaspora enormous human capital. What we need to do is to be able to harvest them bring them home and make Nigeria to be a great place.
“The process is on going, the campaign to change this nation is not just an event, it is a process, a long drawn process. How long it is going to last, we don’t know, but I think what we serve as the most and best is to remain focused on our various sectors; you that are in diaspora do what you can do to support us, we that are in the trenches, we will continue to keep the ground.”
Also, the chairman of the Nigerian-American Coalition for Justice and Democracy, Professor Oparaoji, in his speech, titled ‘’Fostering a purposeful diaspora partnership for a new Nigeria’’, said the group in partnership with all Obidients in diaspora had the potential to contribute significantly to Nigerian’s development.”
“Through advocacy, human rights promotion, capacity building, investment, education and healthcare support, diaspora engagement, and policy advocacy, we can play a crucial role in fostering Democratic governance, justice, and socio-ecobomic progress in Nigeria.
“With our diverse network and resources, our diaspora community can be a catalyst for positive change and contribute to Nigeria’s long term development goal of powering up that new Nigeria of our dream,’’ he said.
A United States-based Nigerian, Mr. Bamidele Famose, has raised the alarm over alleged corrupt practices by some local government officials in Ogun State, parading themselves as task force officials to extort motorists.
He called on the Police to carry out a detailed investigation that would expose the perpetrators.
Bamidele, who is on a visit to Nigeria, narrated how the task force officials extorted N67,000 from him, last Wednesday, while he was travelling from Osun State to Lagos.
In a petition to Ogun State Commissioner of Police, he narrated: “I bring to the attention of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Ogun State Government, civil society organisations, Nigerian Diaspora Organisation, NIDO, and the anti-corruption agencies, a case of criminal extortion by officials of Ogun State Task Force in the most savage and terrorist manner.
“I came home to Nigeria last week to attend to some personal business. I usually stay in Osogbo, Osun State, whenever I am in Nigeria. On July 4, 2023, I received a phone call from my shipping agent that my goods had arrived from the US and that I must take possession before 12 noon on July 5, 2023.
“I left Osogbo the following day at 5.30am., for Lagos. I got to Ojodu Berger by 10.30am. There was heavy traffic, vehicles were taking a detour.
“Since I was not too familiar with the area, I decided to slow down my speed and drove slowly by the side of the road, during which I beckoned on one of the security personnel controlling the traffic, for assistance.
“A man in mufti with a tag on his neck with the inscription ‘TASK FORCE’ came to attend to me. I greeted him first and inquired from him if the detour would take me to Oshodi. He said yes and then gladly offered to personally escort me to a safe and easier route to Oshodi, on the condition that I would give him transportation fare back, which I agreed to do. I immediately gave him N1,000.
“He entered my car and introduced himself as Mr. Ajayi from Ilesa, Osun State. Coincidentally, I am also from Ilesa. We struck a rapport. I thought I had found a reliable companion.
“To my consternation, he turned out to be a scammer. He later asked where l was coming from. I told him Osogbo. Instantly, his body language changed, as he perceived me to be a soft target to be scammed.
“He pretended to show me the quicker route to Oshodi, but took advantage of my little knowledge of the area and innocent trust to take me to the VIO office at No 4. Odozi Street, Ojodu Abiodun, Ogun State.
“As soon as I drove in, the entrance gate was shut in a banditry style. My vehicle was surrounded by four dangerously looking men. They pounced on my vehicle.
“He beckoned on a man in mufti, who he later introduced as his boss. The man asked for my offense. He lied. He told him that I parked by the road side without putting on the hazard light. Immediately, the boss ordered the four men to deflate the four tires of my vehicle, to which they respectfully obeyed.
“The boss later brought out a printed sheet of paper, where he showed me the penalty for the alleged offense, which he claimed was N250,000. He said because I was a first offender, I should pay the least amount on the paper, which was N67,000. Thereafter, he called a young man to do the capturing and other verifications of me.
“I told him that I did not commit any
crime and narrated my story. He was not ready to listen to my version. His actions were predetermined.
“When I considered my appointment with my shipping agent, the nightfall, the risk of staying with menacing and cruel people and, as a non violent, responsible adult, I was coerced to submit to his whims by pleading with him to accept the only N30,000 that I had with me.
”He accepted the N30,000 cash but still refused to let me off the entrapment. He demanded more money. I was forced to cough out N67,000 fully paid. They demanded my ATM and said I could use it to pay. They surrounded me and, in the midst of the threats, I feared for my life.
“After the extortion, I demanded for an official receipt, if the full payment is made, and he agreed to it. I told him to allow me to go to the bank to withdraw the money, but he refused and called a POS lady to do the transaction.
“At 11.55am. on July 5, 2023, the sum of N37,000 was withdrawn through the POS transaction, plus the N30,000 cash, making a total of N67,000.
“Thereafter, he called the Vulganiser to inflate my tires and ordered the gateman to open the gate. When I demanded for the official receipt, he refused to give me one and told me to be grateful that he was being lenient with me by asking me to pay the lowest penalty.
“I was reliably informed that this is the usual practice by the Ogun State Task Force and that daily, Nigerians are humiliated, extorted and bruised by this notorious rogue cell.
“How can Nigeria lay claim to developing the country and encouraging foreign investments, when those coming from abroad to do business are pushed to the tunnel of death and anguish by government agencies?
“I am using this medium to submit an official petition to the police to do a detailed investigation of this matter,” he stated.
When the Ogun State Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer, VIO, Gboyega Adetimeh, was contacted, he said the matter had nothing to do with the VIO, but authority of the Ifo LGA of the state.
He clarified that “VIO doesn’t use the Task Force to discharge its duties.”
Speaking on the development, the Council Chairman, Mrs. Kikelomo Delana, said when she got wind of the incident on Saturday, she order stoppage of all forms of revenue generation in the area.
She said: “When I stopped them, some community leaders from the area called me on phone and said they were in support of the activities of the illegal revenue officers, because of illegal parking of motorists in the area.“
On his part, a senior official in the local government, who pleaded anonymity said the Federal, state and local governments have revenue officers in the Ojodu-Abiodun area.
He noted that when the man paid a huge sum of N67,000, without collecting receipt, how will they be sure that those who collected the money were local government officials.
Former Governor of Ekiti, Ayo Fayose has slammed critics asking him to give account of how he appropriated funds during his tenure as governor of the State.
Fielding questions on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Sunday, furious Fayose told his critics to “go to court” adding that he made his money outside politics.
When asked if he would publish details of how he administered state funds as Ekiti governor, he answered; “That’s a very meaningless question. They have charged me to court, anybody that is not satisfied should also take me to court.
“How can I be explaining how I spent (Ekiti money)? I was one governor that never borrowed a dime. Ekiti people cannot forget me for the good works I did.
“Do you (referring to the anchor) think I’m a pauper? I made my money before you became a presenter. So don’t go there at all. If anybody’s money is missing, let them go to court.”
The PDP chieftain and his company, Spotless Investment Limited are being prosecuted over an alleged N6.9 billion fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on July 2, 2019, re-arraigned Fayose and Spotless on an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering and stealing.
The defendants were first arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun.
The case was later adjourned till May 8 and 9 and June 6, 8, 2023 for continuation of trial.
President Bola Tinubu, on Monday evening, returned to Abuja after a two-day official visit to Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, for the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
President Tinubu arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 6:30p.m., aboard the NAF 001 Boeing 737 jet.
While in Bissau, the President was unanimously named the new Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, making him one of the fastest into that office, after the election into office as President of any of the member-states.
After accepting the role of Chairman of the Authority, Tinubu pledged to bear the responsibility of the office and run an inclusive administration of the regional organisation.
He warned that terrorism and the persistent pattern of coup d’etat in the region had reached alarming levels, demanding urgent and concerted action.
He argued that insecurity and creeping terrorism were stunting the progress and development of the sub-region, necessitating collective action from member-states.
While decrying the emerging pattern of coup d’etat in West Africa, Tinubu charged ECOWAS to stand firm in defence of democracy.
“There is no one among us who did not campaign to be a leader. We didn’t give our soldiers resources, we didn’t invest in them, in their boots, in their training to violate the freedom of the people,” he said.
According to him, the military turning its guns against civil authorities violates the principles upon which they were hired, which is to defend the sovereignty of their nations.
“We must not sit in ECOWAS as toothless bulldogs,” he added.
He urged his counterparts to strengthen their respective democratic institutions and ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Tinubu said his one-year tenure “will enhance engagements with the countries in transition (Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso) to ensure their quick return to democratic rule.”
800,000 Litres Capacity Vessel Arrested With Stolen Crude Oil Has Been Operating For 12 Years – NNPC Confirms
AdminThe Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Ltd in a statement on Monday confirmed that a private security contractor engaged by the corporation intercepted a suspicious Vessel with a Cargo of Crude oil.
The NNPC Ltd in a statement by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Garba Deen Muhammad said the cargo was heading to Cameroun with the Cargo on board when it was apprehended at an offshore location.
According to Muhammad, the vessel has been carrying out the illegal operation for the past twelve years.
The statement added that preliminary investigation has it that the oil cargo onboard was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore Ondo State, Nigeria. There was no valid documentation for the Vessel or the Crude Oil Cargo onboard at the time of the arrest.
The Captain and Crew members were all on board when the arrest was made.
Below is the full statement by the NNPCL on the arrested vessel as made available to Naija News.
PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTORS INTERCEPT 800,000 LITRE CAPACITY VESSEL WITH STOLEN CRUDE OIL
“Following the receipt of credible intelligence, a Private Security Contractor engaged by NNPC Ltd., Messrs. Tantita Security Services, intercepted a suspicious Vessel with a Cargo of Crude oil on board on July 7, 2023.
“The Vessel, MT TURA II (IMO number: 6620462), owned by a Nigerian Registered Company, HOLAB MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED with Registration Number RC813311, was heading to Cameroun with the Cargo on board when it was apprehended at an offshore location (Latitude: 5.8197194477543235°, Longitude: 4.789002723991871°), with the Captain and Crew members on board.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the crude oil cargo onboard was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore Ondo State, Nigeria. There was no valid documentation for the Vessel or the Crude Oil Cargo onboard at the time of the arrest.
“Further investigation into the activities of the vessel at the NNPC Ltd. Command and Control Centre also revealed that the Vessel has been operating in stealth mode for the last twelve (12) years. The last reported location of the Vessel was Tin Can Port in July 2011.
“Details of this arrest and the outcomes of the investigations were escalated to the appropriate Government authorities, upon which it was concluded to destroy the Vessel to serve as a strong warning and deterrent to all those participating in such illegal activities to cease and desist.
“Destroying vessels involved in transporting stolen crude oil is of paramount importance as a strong deterrent. The illegal trade of stolen crude oil not only inflicts significant economic losses on Nigeria and legitimate stakeholders in the oil industry, but also perpetuates a cycle of corruption, environmental devastation, and social instability.
“NNPC Ltd. assures Nigerians that we will sustain the momentum in the war against crude oil theft until it is brought to a halt.”
The Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, has said that Nigerians witnessed the worst phase of corruption under the last administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said this while delivering a keynote speech at the 60th call to bar anniversary celebration of legal icon, Aare Afe Babalola, in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State on Monday.
Bishop Kukah noted that even though corruption did not start under the last administration, they amplified it in moral, financial and other terms.
“We have seen the worst phase of corruption in Nigeria, Femi Falana, my friend here will speak about that because he has published a series of articles talking about what happened under the Buhari administration.
“They were not the ones who caused corruption but I think in the last administration, we saw the ugliest phase of corruption whether in moral terms, financial terms and other terms,” Kukah said.
The clergyman lamented that Nigeria is sharing its sovereignty which is guaranteed in the constitution with bandits and other terrorists.
He said that nobody is excited now about being a Nigerian even if they are President or Senators, as the country is literally being held hostage by people who threaten the very existence of our democracy and country.
Kukah noted that a lot of Nigerians have lost faith in the judiciary but added that he considers the judiciary a victim the same way every other institution in Nigeria is suffering a crisis.
According to him, Nigeria should not yet assume that it is a democracy but instead assume that it is matching towards democracy, which means rebuilding Nigeria “after the kind of mess the last administration has left the country.”
The Bishop said it is time to rebuild the country, adding that no matter what happens at the Supreme Court concerning the election, he is convinced that Nigerians have put the “ugly past” behind them.
The event celebrating 60 years at the bar of the founder of the Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti, attracted a host of dignitaries including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Femi Falana, SAN, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku among others.
The Chief Spokesman for Obi-Datti Campaign Council, Yunusa Tanko has berated media newspaper [Not this platform] for publishing a false report about the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi.
Naija News reports that the newspaper had written about a purported interview where the former Anambra governor revealed his plans to become president in 2027.
However, the Labour Party Spokesperson, Tanko in a statement released on Monday stressed that Peter Obi never granted any interview at home or abroad about plans on becoming president in 2027.
He also cautioned the newspaper to desist from fabricating lies against its party’s flag bearer.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication in the media newspaper [Not this platform] and some social media networks on an interview granted by His Excellency Peter Obi to Arise tv.
“We want to quickly point out that this is the highest level of yellow journalism taken too far all in a bid to change the narrative as there was no time HEPO granted such a nebulous interview to Arise tv.
“HEPO arrived Nigeria from an overseas trip just this weekend and for any reputable media organisation to publish such a fallacy and complete fabrication calls to question the kind of journalism some Nigerians are practicing.
“For all avoidance of doubt, HEPO did not at anytime grant such an interview to any media organisation in Nigeria or outside the country. Please note!”
A notable human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has advised President Bola Tinubu to take a stand against corruption.
He expressed concern about high-profile politicians currently facing corruption charges, yet visiting the Presidential Villa.
Falana voiced his concerns during a commemorative event in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Monday, July 10, 2023, celebrating Aare Afe Babalola’s 60 years at the Bar.
“Some of those who are going in and out of the Villa are standing trial for looting the treasury of this country,” he declared.
“So, wrong signals must not be sent to our people and the international community.”
The respected lawyer urged the President and his administration to demonstrate effective leadership.
His call to action was not only directed towards the President but to other influential figures present at the event as well, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku.
Falana proposed a return to an era of integrity, where anyone accused of corruption, with a case pending before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), would not be appointed to an authoritative position.
Taking a cue from First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s remarks at the 2023 Presidential Inauguration Interdenominational Church Service, Falana urged the President to lead a campaign against corruption.
He was referring to Mrs Tinubu’s statement: “God has blessed my family. We don’t need the wealth of Nigeria to survive but to do the right thing.”
He believes that with such a campaign, led by the President, Nigeria can “take its rightful place in the comity of nations”.
Falana highlighted the severity of corruption in Nigeria, describing it as having reached a “very dangerous dimension”.
According to him, influential public officers are stealing funds intended for the development of public infrastructures, causing an alarming amount of suffering and death.
He concluded, “So when a country gets to that stage, corruption is now a crime against humanity.”
More...
The Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago, has relieved all political office holders in the state of their duties.
The appointees whose appointment are terminated are those appointed before May 29, 2023.
The state government announced the development in a statement in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman on Monday.
According to the statement, Governor Bago ordered the dissolution and termination of the appointments with immediate effect.
They should go to court – Fayose reacts to critics’ allegation of funds misappropriation
The governor also dissolved all statutory Commissions, Boards, and Parastatals in the state.
The SSG further explained that Commissions, Boards, and Parastatals that are tenured or not tenured are also affected by the dissolution and urged concerned officials to comply immediately with the directive.
While recognising their positive contributions to the development of the State and the affairs of their office, the SSG directed those affected by the dissolution to hand over all Government properties including official vehicles in their possession to the most senior directors in their respective organisations.
The governor wished the affected members of the dissolved Commissions, Boards, Parastatals, and Political Appointees success in their future endeavors.
The governor had on July 3 dissolved the state electoral commission.
In a statement issued by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman, Governor Umaru Bago ordered the dissolution of the state’s electoral body with effect from May 29, 2023.
According to the SSG, “Members of the Commission were directed to hand over all properties of the State Government in their possessions to the most senior Director in the Commission with immediate effect”.
The Niger State House of Assembly had, on September 27, 2022, sacked the chairman of NSIEC, Baba Aminu, over alleged misconduct.
The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has directed former ministers, ex-lawmakers and other political office holders to declare their assets within the next three months.
The directive is in conformity with the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the bureau to vet the assets of public officers.
In line with the constitution, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima have declared their assets.
Also, the 36 governors have followed suit.
On May 31, Buhari returned his asset forms with a statement that he has “taken no loans and he has no liability.”
A CCB source said: “These former public officers have a deadline of three moths to do so. We are hopeful that they will adhere to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution or else they will face the wrath of the law.
Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution empowers the CCB to receive asset declaration by any public officer.
From the list in Part II of the Fifth Schedule to 1999 Constitution, about 16 categories of public officers are bound by the Code of Conduct.
They include the President, Vice President, the President of the Senate, Deputy President of the Senate, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and all members of the legislative houses, governors and deputy governors.
Others are the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justices of the Supreme Court, the President and Justices of the Court of Appeal, all other judicial officers and all staff of the court of law; the Attorney-General of the Federation and Attorney-General of each state.
The list covers the Ministers of the Government of the Federation, and commissioners of the governments of the states, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chairmen and board members of all government agencies, Ambassadors, High Commissioners and other officers of Nigerian missions abroad.
Other officers affected are the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff and all members of the Armed Forces of the Federation
The constitution says: “Subject to the provision of this Constitution, every public officer shall within three months after the coming into force of this Code of Conduct or immediately after taking office and thereafter (a) at the end of every four years; and (b) at the end of his term of office, submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau a written declaration of all his properties, assets, and liabilities and those of his unmarried children under the age of eighteen years.”
“The Bureau shall have power to receive declaration by public officers made under paragraph 12 of part 1 of the Fifth Schedule to this Constitution.
“Examine the declarations in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct or any law.
“Retain custody of such declarations and make them available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria on such terms and conditions as the National Assembly may prescribe.
“Ensure compliance with and, where appropriate, enforce the provisions of the Code of Conduct or any law relating thereto.
“Any statement in such declaration that is found to be false by any authority or person authorised in that behalf to verify it shall be deemed to be a breach of this Code.
“Any property or assets acquired by a public officer after any declaration required under this Constitution and which is not fairly attributable to income, gift, or loan approved by this Code shall be deemed to have been acquired in breach of this Code unless the contrary is proved.”
“Receive complaints about non-compliance with or breach of the Provisions of the Code of Conduct or any law in relation thereto. Investigate the complaint and, where appropriate, refer such matters to the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”
The bureau said it has recorded 99% success from office holders.
It also issued advisory to all the 37 Chief Judges in the country not to allow any political office holder to take the oath of office without asset declaration.
But the bureau said Tinubu and other declarants are at liberty to either or not release the details of their assets to the public.
According to investigation, the Chairman of CCB, Prof. Isah Mohammed personally coordinated the asset declaration procedures for the President and his deputy.
It was learnt that all other Federal Commissioners of CCB were deployed in the six geo-political zones to coordinate asset declaration by governors and others.
Findings revealed that as at the time the CCB took stock of compliance at the weekend, about 99% success rate was recorded.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “From the CCB records, the President and Vice President have declared their assets. The CCB chairman personally met with the two officers and gave them the forms which they promptly filled and returned.
“In fact, they complied with the law before their inauguration. They said they preferred to lead by example.
“But we cannot release the contents of the forms because the CCB is constrained by law not to release the assets to the public. There is however a provision in the constitution on how to have access to their assets.”
To ensure compliance at the state level, the CCB sent an advisory to all the 36 state Chief Judges and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) not to administer oath of office on any governor or public officer without declaration of assets.
The source said: “I think the measures put in place by the CCB Chairman and his board members have really worked. The bureau has so far recorded 99% compliance with asset declaration provision in the constitution.
“All the Chief Judges cooperated with the bureau and the method has worked because all public officers were asked to respect the law.
“The advisory to the CJs is still subsisting because more appointments may be made at the Federal and state levels.”
When contacted, the Chairman of CCB, Prof. Isah Mohammed said: “CCB has achieved 99% compliance. We have recorded drastic improvement on all the procedures we put in place.
“In fact, since 2019, Asset Declaration by public officers have been encouraging.”
Findings however revealed that some former Ministers, Senators, members of the House of Representatives, state lawmakers and other office holders have been slow in filing asset returns.
It was learnt that former President Muhammadu Buhari, has however, led the first set of those who have declared their assets after completion of tenure.
Buhari on May 26th, 2023 directed all his cabinet members and aides to declare their assets.
He said no one was excluded.
Ondo lawmakers have approved an extension of the medical leave of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
No date was fixed for the resumption of the Governor in the new extension.
Governor Akeredolu last month began medical leave and said he would resume duties on July 7.
The new extension, according to Speaker Olamide Oladiji, was based on the doctor’s advice on the need for the Governor to take adequate rest after recuperating.
Oladiji said Governor Akeredolu forwarded the letter of extension on medical leave in line with section 190 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Oladiji said the Governor, in the letter, said his Deputy, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, would continue to act as Governor until a written declaration to the contrary is made.
The Speaker, who expressed appreciation to God for the speedy recovery of the Governor, expressed optimism that he would soon resume his duty.
Recall that in the governor’s letter, dated 5th June 2023, had informed the Assembly of proceeding on medical leave and was expected to resume on 6th July, 2023.
Also, the Organised Labour, in the state, has asked the governor to take some rest before resuming work.
They said “Despite his speedy recovery, we strongly urge our dear governor to prioritize rest and complete recuperation before resuming his duties.
“We understand his inclination to resume work promptly due to his strong work ethic, but we implore him to allow himself more time to rest and fully recover.
Authorities on Monday reported that Tunisia suspended salary payments for 17,000 teachers and sacked 350 school principals over protests demanding an increase in pay.
The salary suspensions could affect about 30 per cent of the country’s primary school teachers.
It will also escalate the conflict with the powerful UGTT union at a time when the North African country’s citizens grapple with dire economic crisis.
As part of their protest, teachers in the country have refused to hand in school grades.
Education Minister Mahamed Ali Bougdiri said “the students’ failure to obtain school grades is a disaster and a crime against children.”
Ikbel Azzabi, a union official, told Reuters that Tunisia’s decision aims at “starving teachers”, and the next school season would be difficult due to expected protests.
Hundreds of school principals have already started submitting their resignations.
The education ministry maintains that the country’s public finances do not allow the teachers’ requests to be approved.
Most people fear that the conflict between the ministry and union will deepen the ongoing crisis in Tunisia and threaten the new school season, amidst high inflation, poor public services, and loss of food commodities.
(Reuters/NAN)