The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced a total tax revenue collection of N5.5trn for the half-year period of January to June 2023.
This is the highest tax revenue collection ever recorded by the Service in any first six months of a fiscal year.
Mr. Muhammad Nami, Executive Chairman of the FIRS stated this while presenting the 2023-2024 tax revenue outlook to the National Economic Council at its meeting held on Thursday 20th July 2023, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The presentation, which contained FIRS’ 2023 Half-Year Collection Report, showed that the FIRS achieved over one 100 percent of its target for the first-half of the year when compared with a mid-year target of N5.3 trillion.
According to the report, tax revenue collected from the oil sector from January to June 2023, stood at N2.03 trillion, as against a target of N2.3 trillion; while non-oil tax collection stood at N3.76 trillion, as against a target of N2.98 trillion.
Nami, in his presentation, further stated that the Service collected a total of N1.65 trillion tax revenues in June 2023. This sum is the highest tax revenue collected by the Service in any single month.
Speaking to what he described as “a good head start, despite stubborn headwinds,” Nami attributed the excellent performance to improved voluntary tax compliance enabled by the automation of FIRS’ tax administrative processes.
“This is a good head start as we work towards meeting our target for the year. And it was achieved despite stubborn headwinds such as the impact of the currency redesign and 2023 General Elections on the economy in the first and second quarters of 2023”, said Nami.
“This half-year performance was achieved as a result of improved voluntary tax compliance by taxpayers, the continued improvement of automation of our tax administration processes, including the updated VAT filing processes; as well as our dogged engagement with stakeholders in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy,” he concluded.
Commenting on the outlook for the remaining half of the year, the FIRS Executive Chairman gave assurances that the country should expect “better days ahead” in terms of tax revenue collection.
“We believe that the performance in the second half of the year would be better considering the continuing improvement to our tax administration processes and positive impact of current government’s policies on the economy,” said the Executive Chairman.
It would be recalled that the Service achieved a total collection of N10.1 trillion in the year 2022, being the highest tax collection ever made by the FIRS in a single year.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has disclosed its readiness to commence the automation of the passport application process to eliminate the difficulties Nigerians experience while applying for passports.
This was made known by the Acting Comptroller General of NIS, Caroline Adepoju, who appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme today.
According to her, the Service is eager to get rid of physical interactions during the passport application process.
She said, “One thing Nigerians know about the Nigeria Immigration Service is the issuance of the Nigerian passport, and we know the number of Nigerians that have applied for passports in the past two years has been very high and unprecedented.
“But be that as it may, the service is working hard to ensure that we meet the expectations of Nigerians. Number one, we are automating our passport application process; we are trying to ensure that we cut out the human interface.
“Our applications are available online, and we are trying to sensitize our applicants that they should go online for these applications to avoid patronizing lots.”
The Acting Comptroller General emphasized that due to the passport’s nature as a security document, issuance of passports will require some time as a result of various procedures, including security checks, address verification, and other necessary steps that need to be completed.
Speaking on the duration of time it takes to get a passport ready, she said, “It takes six weeks to get the passport ready, while it takes three weeks for renewal.”
She also enjoined the citizens of the country not to wait until their passports expire before commencing the renewal process, adding that those applying for the first time don’t necessarily have to wait until they need the passport before starting the application process.
“So, I try as much as possible to let people know that if you are renewing your passport, don’t wait until it is completely expired. You can start your application process when you have six months validity on it. Then for fresh applicants, they don’t have to wait until the very last moment when they need the passport.”
She, however, disclosed that all hands are on deck to ensure that those seeking passport renewal don’t need to visit the NIS offices since their data has already been captured.
TRIBUNAL: INEC Replies Peter Obi, Says No Credible Evidence To Back Claim 2.5m Votes Deducted From His Score
AdminThe Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has told the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) that there is no credible evidence backing the reports tendered by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, that he was shortchanged by 2.5 million votes in results of the presidential election declared by the electoral umpire.
Obi had tendered 18,088 blurred polling unit results at the tribunal, claiming that they were downloaded from the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IREV).
Obi, who had petitioned INEC, President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and the All Progressives Congress, alleged that results from those polling units show that a total of 2,565,269 votes were not reflected in his score, aside from his claim of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
THE WHISTLER reports that on March 1, INEC’s Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu announced Tinubu as the winner of the polls with 8,794,726 votes while Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party were said to have scored 6,984,520 votes and 6,101,533 votes, respectively.
On June 15, Obi’s legal team led by Dr. Livy Uzoukwu SAN presented a professor of Mathematics at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, Eric Uwaduegwu Ofoedu, who testified before the tribunal that the 2023 poll was rigged in favour of President Tinubu with alleged connivance of INEC officials.
Ofoedu who said he specializes in numerical-functional analysis and data science, told the PEPC that when he compared the 18,088 blurred results with Form EC8As (polling unit results) given to Labour Party agents at the affected PUs, Obi was allegedly shortchanged by 2,565,269 votes.
“I observed that, from the IREV portal, scores on Form EC8As of 39,546 polling units were inaccessible – contain uploads not connected with the Presidential Election.
“From the IREV portal, 18,088 polling units results were blurred. This number of PUs negatively impacted the votes of 2,565,269 accredited voters and 9,165,191 voters that collected their PVCS,” he said in his witness statement on oath.
But in their final written address dated July 14, INEC’s lead counsel, A.B. Mahmoud SAN, said Obi failed to provide credible evidence to back his claim.
Mahmoud maintained that Obi’s witness, having not tendered or demonstrated before the PEPC the polling unit results he used in writing his report, the court should discountenance it.
“Curiously, if the 18, 088 Polling Unit results as uploaded on iReV are blurred, what of the duplicate copies in the possession of the Petitioners’ Polling Agents?
“We submit that the totality of the testimony and evidence of the so-called experts (PWs 4, 7 and 8) called by the Petitioners are manifestly unreliable and cannot ground the incidents of non-compliance pleaded by the Petitioners.
“We submit that there is no credible evidence to prove that votes in those 18,088 polling units were suppressed, just because blurred results were allegedly uploaded on the iReV. The petitioners have only left the same to conjecture and speculation which never form part of the determination of the Court,” Mahmoud stated.
He urged the court to declare that LP polling agents’ copies did not form part of his report tendered before the Court and cannot be relied upon.
Meanwhile, the professor had told the PEPC during cross-examination that he thought Obi’s team had already tendered the said polling unit results as evidence.
Mahmoud maintained that “No attempt was in fact made by the Petitioners to present any of their Polling Agents’ copies to show any discrepancy since the blurred results were alleged to have been uploaded with a view to: Suppressing votes.”
He there asked the court to dismiss Obi’s petition, adding that INEC conducted the polls within the confines of the law.
..Decry DISCOs inability to meet operators' 5,000MW yearly threshold
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki.
In his lead debate, Hon. Madaki observed that recently, Distribution Companies (DISCOS) alerted customers of a planned electricity tariff hike hinged on the Multi-Year Tariff Oder (MYTO).
“The House also notes that the circular issued by DISCOS stated that effective July 1, 2023, there would be an upward review of the electricity tariff influenced by fluctuating rates.
“The House is aware that under the MYTO, 2022 guidelines, the previous exchange rate of N 441/$1 may be revised to approximately N750/$1 which would have an impact on the tariffs associated with electricity consumption.
“The House is also aware that under the planned hike, consumers within ‘B’ and ‘C’ with supply hours ranging from 12–16 hours per day will pay N100 per KWh, while Bands ‘A’ with 20 hours and above and ‘B’ with 16–20 hours, would experience comparatively higher tariffs, that is, for customers with a prepaid
metre, whereas, for those on post-rand (estimated) billing, a significant increment is expected to be higher.
During the campaign, Bayo Onanuga, a spokesperson for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urged Nigerians to be patient in the face of recent increases in fuel prices.
The condemnation has followed the recent increase in petrol prices from N540 to N617 per litre.
In a tweet late Wednesday night, Onanuga warned against making rash attacks on Tinubu’s administration in response to the fuel price increase.
He emphasised the importance of patience and understanding, as the entire country is feeling the effects of the fuel price increase.
The veteran journalist urged the public to wait for the federal government’s promised palliatives, expressing hope that these measures would alleviate the burden caused by higher fuel prices.
He emphasised the potential benefits of subsidy savings, such as more funds being channelled into states for various development initiatives.
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The Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has identified registered and unregistered Digital Money Lenders (DMLs) devising new methods to harass individuals who have borrowed money from them.
Some of the registered companies still harassing their customers include Orange Loan and Purple Credit Limited; and Sycamore Integrated Solutions Limited.
The Commission also stated that the unregistered DMLs still making use of prohibited loan recovery practices, have devised a new means of providing services to people, while also harassing them even after being taken off the Google Playstore.
This was revealed in a statement released by the Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera, on Thursday, where he revealed that the unregistered DMLs have adopted the use of Android Package Kits (APK) file formats.
The Commission had earlier removed some of these DMLs from the Playstore violating the Limited Interim Regulatory/ Registration Framework and Guidelines for Digital Lending 2022, as well as for their unsavoury methods of loan recovery.
“The Commission notes a resurgence in the occurrence of prohibited loan recovery methods and practices in the past weeks. The Commission’s investigations and continuing surveillance demonstrate that the vast majority of the resurging infringements are not by otherwise approved/listed DMLs approved to be on Playstore and other financial services providers.
“The violating DMLs have resorted to the use of Android Package Kits (APK) file formats. The illegal DMLs provide links to consumers to visit unregistered websites using their Android devices/phones. In the course of that interaction, consumers’ private information that is otherwise protected and prohibited from access or download by DMLs or their apps is accessed and downloaded. This conduct is prohibited by sundry laws, particularly relevant data privacy protection instruments, and more specifically, the Limited Interim Regulatory/Registration Framework & Guidelines for Digital Lending 2020 of the Commission.
“In the course of the Commission’s continuing investigation and tracking of these illegally operating DMLs, the Commission has discovered duplicity by at least two otherwise legally registered DMLs on the Commission’s approval list. The nature of the duplicity is that the DMLs having been approved and placed on the approved list and Playstore, as well as cleared for services by other financial services/institutions, as an alternate channel, and method of engaging in prohibited conduct, also engaged in the use of APK to attract borrowers to a process and practice that is illegal and unregulated.
“The companies or apps so far identified, and for which there is supporting evidence of this malfeasance are Sycamore Integrated Solutions Limited and Orange Loan and Purple Credit Limited. They are the owners of “Getloan” and “Camelloan” respectively, and occupy Nos. 1 and 65 on the Approved List of the Commission, which is available on the Commission’s website,” the statement read.
As such, the Commission stated that the companies have been delisted and the apps have been taken off the Playstore permanently.
”Accordingly, the Commission has now permanently delisted Sycamore Integrated Solutions Limited and Orange Loan and Purple Credit Limited, along with their respective apps – “Getloan” and “Camelloan”. In addition, the Commission has entered an Order to Google Playstore and other payment and financial service providers, permanently prohibiting the provision of any services associated with digital lending to Sycamore Integrated Solutions Limited and Orange Loan and Purple Credit Limited.
“The Commission reiterates that this revocation and action are permanent without option or opportunity of reconsideration, and the same consequence shall apply to all other violators as the Commission discovers them. In addition, all the information and evidence available with respect to these businesses will be transferred to law enforcement agencies and or any other relevant regulator(s).
“The Commission has also placed DMLs that have refused or failed to register under the Guidelines on its watchlist for strict surveillance and necessary action. The list of those DMLs will be made available on the Commission’s website.
“The Commission will continue to scrutinise listed DMLs and periodically update the list to ensure only businesses that consistently and completely comply with the spirit and intention of the regulatory framework are allowed to do business legally in Nigeria,” he said.
Irukera warned the public to exercise discretion when choosing which of these DMLs to patronise at all times.
“As such, the Commission again advises consumers to exercise restraint and discretion in selecting DMLs and specifically recommends that consumers patronise only DMLs on the Commission’s approved list to diminish, if not eliminate being victims of illegal and prohibited lending and recovery practices.
“The Commission further advises consumers to consider only DMLs whose apps can be downloaded from Google’s Playstore, as only those have been subjected to regulatory scrutiny and the technology associated with their apps precluded from accessing and downloading private information of consumers. All other DMLs are operating illegally.
“The Commission and the JRETF continue assiduous efforts to track illegal operators using APK and other means to engage, and interact with consumers, and welcome credible evidence from the public. Feedback and complaint in this regard may be forwarded to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.”, he explained.
Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti(ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for ushering in a paradigm shift to governance and making copious efforts to correct past mistakes of his predecessors to garner the trust of the citizens.
As a way of boosting the spiritual inclinations of Ekiti citizens, Babalola pledged a partnership with the government to sponsor Ekiti citizens to the holy lands of Israel and Mecca for attitudinal reformation and character rebranding that will uplift governance.
Babalola spoke in ABUAD, Ado Ekiti, on Thursday while playing host to the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, who paid a courtesy visit to the Legal Luminary in his office.
The legal Icon revealed that his university now has an industrial park, farms, and a multi-system hospital that are setting the pace on how best to run a successful government in Nigeria to halt the scourge of brain drain that is pummeling the country.
Having retrospect of the epic battle for the creation of Ekiti State, Babalola said the proponents did it with huge sacrifices and selflessness, by their refusal to control the levers of powers, and gave those who never participated the leeway to take absolute control at the advent of democracy in 1999.
The Special Assistant on Media to the deputy governor, Victor Ogunje, in a statement, quoted Babalola to have said, “But we are happy today that someone who served as the Secretary of the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, a young man then, is now the Governor of our dear state.
“Within this short period, Governor Oyebanji has brought a new dawn in the running of the government of Ekiti. He has been correcting past mistakes making people to have trust in the government.
“Help me tell him that I thank him for how he has been directing the affairs of this state. I am ready to support him because myself and the people are happy with his government.”
On the positive impacts being made by his university, Babalola said, “My farms, multisystem hospital, university, and Industrial park are now setting the pace on how best to rule a country. We can get it right if we have the desire.
“Go and look at our Industrial park, it was an innovation conceived to show how to ignite the industrial revolution in a country. We are doing well and making our impacts felt.”
The renowned lawyer stated that he never considered sponsoring of people for pilgrimage as a colossal waste, saying it brings character rebranding, attitudinal change, and reformation that can help the system.
On how to open the vista of business opportunities in Ekiti, Babalola assured Governor Oyebanji that he would make meaningful contributions for the speedy completion of the International Cargo Airport located along Ado-Ijan road.
Speaking on how to curb the exponential increase in poverty level in the land, Babalola urged rich Nigerians to strive hard and uplift the wellbeing of the poor, saying, “The monies you are keeping in banks are not your monies.
“Some of the richest banks in the world are sitting on the monies of dead people and using them when families still fight over their wills. It is only the monies you used to empower the people that are the real and beneficial monies.”
In her submission during the interface, the Deputy Governor, Afuye, saluted the elder statesman for his unwavering and solid support for all successive governments in the state, especially for being the highest taxpayer in Ekiti for the past two decades.
Mrs Afuye also paid profound tributes to the Legal Icon for his epochal role in the creation of Ekiti State by leading the pack to rationalise the demand for Ekiti’s creation before Justice Arthur Mbanefor Panel in Akure, Ondo State.
The Ekiti’s number two citizen congratulated Babalola on the 60th anniversary of his call to the Bar, saying his giant leap in law practice is replete with good history and enigmatic achievements that would be difficult to surpass.
The Deputy Governor applauded him for his resolve to sponsor staff of ABUAD and Ekiti citizens for the holy pilgrimage since the government had withdrawn interventions in the form of sponsorship.
The Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has come under heavy criticism for appointing the son of his late elder brother and ex-governor, Isiaka Adeleke, Tunji Adeleke as a board chairman.
Tunji, who graduated from Adeleke University in 2020 and served in 2022 was appointed chairman of the Local Government Service Commission.
This is coming barely two weeks after Adeleke appointed the wife of his late elder brother Adenike Adeleke as a state commissioner.
However, Adeleke’s appointment of his family members into key positions in the state has caused a stir on social media.
A Twitter user, @Realadeshina, wrote: “Congratulations Tunji Adeleke as Osun State Chairman board of local government. This disgrace is getting too much.”
@simplysnipe said “Most people didn’t know or heard of the guy before, now they know him. I’m just loving the news coming out of Osun, the second Edo State. Next now is for our dancing governor to be commissioning disgraceful projects as an achievement but Osun people will blame the president.”
@IkotunEmmy said, “ I told them when they were shouting “imole”. Adeleke should be ready to face a massive vote-out in the next election. Osun does not fall for mediocrity twice. The unfortunate thing is retrogression the state would have suffered.”
Similarly, @MustyOsun said, “I never knew we could still operate a constitutional monarchical system.”
Akin Akinwale wrote: “Whatever appointment Ademola Adeleke is making, whatever ineptitude he is displaying, it serves Osun State people right.
“That said, I don’t have a problem with appointing your family members into your government (silly tho’). But I am after the competence. Is Tunji Jnr competent? If he is, all the best.”
Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, the Senate, says reports making the rounds that it has received ministerial list from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is false.
Labour Party’s Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, issued the disclaimer on Tuesday.
Senator Umeh said it was impossible for the Senate to be discussing the ministerial list during its closed-door meeting when the Senators had not received one.
Umeh’s statement comes after several media reports claimed that the Senate had received the ministerial list and was discussing it in a closed-door meeting.
As the deadline for submission of the ministerial list by Tinubu to the National Assembly draws near, Nigerians are anxious and waiting with batted breath to see who will make the list.
Experts say the calibre of people appointed by Tinubu into his cabinet will go a long way in determining the success or otherwise of his policies and administration as a whole
More details coming…
An Onitsha trader, his wife, two children, mother in-law and newly arrived apprentice have been reported dead after inhaling poisonous fumes from the generator powered the first night they slept in their new mansion.
Sympathisers who wailed uncontrollably yesterday at Borromeo hospital, Onitsha where the bodies were rushed to said the man, Identified as Ifeanyi from Enugu state , a trader at the Onitsha Bridge Head Market, had planned a surprise package for his wife after her discharge from the hospital having been delivered of a new baby by deciding that they would park into his new mansion at Nkwele Ezunaka to celebrate the new born and new house together .
Following a blackout from the public power source, he put on the generator stationed at the veranda close to the bedroom to provide light in the new house that night.
They were said to have chatted heartily as they made merry into the night before they slept off without putting off the generator.
The next morning, a friend of his who was supposed to join them in the celebration but could not make it went to felicitate with them only to discover that the doors were locked but the generation was still buzzing.
After knocking continuously without response, he alerted other neighbours and they forced the door open and saw the lifeless bodies.
On rushing them to the hospital, the wife and one of the daughters were still semi-conscious but later on died after all resuscitation efforts including fixing them on oxygen failed.
Only the four-day old baby survived without any crisis thereby raising more curiosity on the circumstances of their death.
Chairman of Onitsha Bridgehead drug market, Ndubuisi Chukwuneta who confirmed the sad development described the deceased Ifeanyi as a hardworking young man who desired the best for his family.
Manager of St. Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onistha, Rev. Fr. Izunna Okonkwo confirmed that only the new born baby was in stable condition when they reached the hospital as four had already died before getting to the facility.
More...
… Over N1trn To Be Used To Shore Up CBN Reserves
The 36 State Governors have endorsed the proposal of the Federal Government not to share the entire revenue of N1.9trn which may have accrued to the federation by Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, THE WHISTLER can authoritatively report.
The endorsement of the Federal Government’s proposal was made at a meeting held by the Governors on Wednesday night in Abuja.
It was gathered that during the meeting, the issue of the revenue accruals into the federation account was discussed ahead of the FAAC meeting to be held later today.
During the meeting, THE WHISTEER understands that the Federal Government had proposed that the sharing of the entire N1.9trn was not a good idea because it would increase the amount of money in circulation and cause further inflationary pressures in the economy.
Nigeria’s inflation stands at about 22.7 per cent based on figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
One of the governors who attended the meeting told THE WHISTLER that in view of the removal of fuel subsidy, the Federal Government raised concerns that if the entire N1.9trn is to be shared, it may put pressure on the naira and also affect the price of fuel.
Rather than sharing the entire N1. 9trn, the governors, it was learnt agreed that N900bn should be shared while the balance of N1trn should be transferred to the Central Bank of Nigeria to shore up the nation’s external reserves.
Figures obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that as of July 18, Nigeria’s external reserves stood at $33.99bn
The governor said, “The N1.9trn revenue is true. But we won’t be sharing all. FAAC will only be sharing N900bn and keep the rest with CBN. The fear is that sharing all will further push inflation and put pressure on the dollar, which will in turn push further the fuel price.
“The governors have agreed with the proposal made by the Presidency not to share all the money. The idea is to help the CBN raise the foreign reserve up to $40bn from the current $33bn.”
The revenue of N1.9trn is the highest amount generated in one month in the history of Nigeria.
The amount almost tripled the N786.161b shared in June and more than tripled the N655.93bn in May.
Allocations are usually shared from the preceding month’s revenue — meaning June will be shared in July.
Statutory collections make up N1.7trn of the federally collected revenues, followed by N293bn from Value Added Tax and N12bn from electronic money transfer charges.
The fall in the official exchange of the naira might have contributed to the seemingly unprecedented rise in revenue.
It was learnt that FAAC adopted N436.38 to a dollar as the exchange rate for the calculation of the forex component of federally-collected revenues for June 2023, but this has now gone up to at least N750 to dollar.
Members of FAAC will be meeting in Abuja today to share the N900bn which was endorsed by the governors last night.
Some of the agencies remitting funds to the federation account are the Federal Inland Revenue Service, and the Nigeria Customs Service among others.
The FAAC committee is made up of commissioners of finance from the 36 states of the federation; the Accountant-General of the Federation, representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, CBN and Customs
.
The federation account is currently being managed through a legal framework that allows funds to be shared under three major components – statutory allocation, Value Added Tax distribution; and allocation made under the derivation principle.
National vice chairman North-West of the All Progressives Congress, Salihu Lukman has cautioned against a move to give the leadership of the party national secretariat to former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The erstwhile national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu and national secretary, Iyiola Omisore resigned from their positions on Monday.
Speaking with journalists, Deputy National Chairman, ( North) Senator Abubakar Kyari who presided over the National Working Committee said he had since assumed the position of acting national chairman in line with provisions of the party Constitution.
Checks revealed that at the meeting of the Progressives Governors Forum held on Wednesday night, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinnma conveyed the stance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give the exalted seat to the former Kano State Governor.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, through a statement, “APC: Way Forward,” Lukman who incidentally is a member of the APC National Working Committee expressed strong reservations about the speculated choice of Ganduje by President Tinubu and the governors.
He noted that having produced the Deputy Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives, giving the positions of National Chairman to same North West zone would be inimical to the existing zoning arrangement in the ruling party. He further submitted that the Progressives Governors Forum as a power bloc should be willing to submit themselves to the larger interest of the APC.
He said:” Through restoring constitutional order, we can activate some of the power blocs to actively participate in the process of producing and engaging leaders of the party.
For instance, elders of the party can have stronger say when the meetings of the National Caucus are restored. Women, Youth and Persons with Disability will similarly have stronger say when the Women, Youth and Persons with Disability wings are constituted with all the complementary structures as provided in the APC constitution.
In fact, beyond the Women, Youth and Persons with Disability Leaders, these three wings are expected to have Secretaries who will be members of NEC.
“So far, as things are, only the President and Governors blocs are active in the negotiation to produce and engage leaders of APC.
Already, part of the speculations emerging from the Governors bloc is that Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is being considered to succeed Sen. Abdullahi Adamu.
If this is true, it only suggests insensitivity and taking members of the party for granted. This is without prejudice to the person of Dr. Ganduje.
This is because such a choice will completely distort the zoning arrangement that informed the present configuration of the leadership of the National Assembly.
With the Speaker of House of Representatives and Deputy Senate President coming from North West and North Central shut out of consideration, to propose the party’s National Chairman to move to North West from North Central will be unjust and almost a political suicide.
“We must caution our Governors that since the emergence of APC, Governors have served almost as the conscience of the party. Any consideration for such an insensitive and unjust consideration of Dr. Ganduje to become the National Chairman of APC must be discarded.
If anything, the position of National Chairman of the APC must be retained in North Central. Part of the challenge of managing the current transition within the party is getting the NWC to properly take the driving seat in managing and facilitating negotiations to produce and engage leaders of the party.
The NWC must sit up and guide the unfolding negotiations.
No single power bloc should be allowed to appropriate the process.
“This where the intervention of the President, being the leader of the party would be required to moderate the excessive conduct of any power bloc, especially when such conduct risk further damaging the prospect of returning the APC to its founding vision.
At these early stages of President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s leadership of the party, he needs to make that strong intervention to guide the process of restoring constitutional order and returning the APC to its founding vision of progressive politics.
Progressive politics must be about inclusion and justice and not some blind and insensitive considerations.”
The former Director General of the PGF also cautioned against the excitement trailing the exit of the duo of Senators Adamu and Omisore from the party national secretariat.
He maintained that the panacea to peace in the party is to restore constitutional order by allowing statutory organs of the party to function.
“It is therefore necessary that at this very early stage of negotiating new leadership for the APC, we caution all our leaders that the only way we can justify the exit of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu and Sen. Iyiola Omisore out of the leadership of the APC is by demonstrating commitment to restore constitutional order in APC and return the party to its founding vision of being a progressive party.
These are issues that would appear to be taken for granted and if not engaged could be abused by power blocs within the party, which could lead to the emergence of leaders that are worse than Sen. Adamu and Sen. Omisore.
This must be avoided.
“First, restoring constitutional order in APC is basically about complying with extant provisions of the party’s constitution.
A situation whereby the National Chairman usurped powers of National Working Committee (NWC) and all organs of the party is unacceptably.(sic)
” All organs of the party, namely, National Advisory Council (NAC), National Caucus, National Executive Committee (NEC), etc. must be allowed to function in accordance with provisions of the party’s constitution.
The irresponsible culture of asking organs of the party to donate their powers to the NWC, which basically empowers the National Chairman to convert all the resources of the party to personal use must end.
“Inability to allow organs to function will block any attempt to return the party to its founding vision of becoming a progressive party.
Being a progressive party is about ensuring that we can produce a dynamic, action-oriented party that is able to produce governments that can and improve the lives of Nigerians.
It is about goal-setting and developing strategies to achieve them. with a clear vision.
This is easier said than done. In our context in Nigeria, this is reduced to claims and narrowed to winning elections.
Certainly, winning elections is primarily the required precondition to improve the lives of citizens. Being a progressive party will mean that we are able to ensure that organs of the party develop the capacity to hold elected and appointed officials accountable.”
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has unveiled a new transport scheme as part of measures to alleviate the suffering of commuters in the state occasioned by the Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy.
Inaugurating 100 taxis and six luxury buses at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall premises in Yenagoa, yesterday, Diri said the initiative was his administration’s palliative to boost the transportation sector.
The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, acknowledged the hardship on Bayelsans due to the removal of the subsidy on petrol.
He said: “This is another historic day as we launch this fleet of transport vehicles to alleviate the suffering of our people.
“For those who have been crying over the ban on commercial tricycles at night, this is an effective replacement. The ban is, however, still in force.
“Now, we have taxis that will run within the city of Yenagoa and environs to the Niger Delta University at Amassoma, to the airport and the Federal University, Otuoke and other towns.
“I appreciate all Bayelsans for their patience. You know that your government has your welfare at heart.”
He called on youths of the state to take advantage of the initiative to empower themselves just as he projected that over 100 youths would be engaged as drivers in the intra-state and intra-city transport scheme.
Handing over the keys of the vehicles to General Manager of the Bayelsa State Transport Company, BSTC, Chief Timi Fanama, the governor said the new arrangement would be different from previous government’s transport initiatives in the state and urged the management to make good use of the vehicles to enhance the transport system.
On his part, Fanama urged youths to avail themselves of the scheme and see driving as a career.
In a welcome address, the Commissioner for Transport, Grace Ekiotene, appreciated the governor for inaugurating the scheme to cushion the effect of the hardship faced by Bayelsans as a result of the subsidy removal.
Abuja Man Arrested For Repeatedly Impregnating 2 Daughters - conspires with wife to terminate pregnancy
AdminThe police in Nigeria’s federal capital territory have apprehended a 46-year-old man, identified as Jude, for having the carnal knowledge of his two daughters and impregnating them in the process.
The incident happened at Ikwa community, Zuba Chiefdom, in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT.
The accused reportedly has four kids; two females and two males.
According to a neighbour, identified as Idris, the incident came to public knowledge after one of the daughters reported the matter to her fiancé who was a police officer in Minna, Niger State.
He further disclosed that before the arrest, the accused conspired with his wife to abort the pregnancies and sweep the matter under the carpet.
He added, “In fact, when the man was taken to the police station, his wife was trying to cover up the matter, but her daughters opened up and told them how their father had been sleeping with them and how they aborted their pregnancies.’’
A police officer at the division who preferred anonymity, confirmed the incident, saying the suspect would be charged to court.
Spokeswoman of the FCT Police Command, DSP Adeh Josephine, has not issued a statement regarding the incident.