Heidi, the estranged wife of singer Sina Rambo, is set out to give out her wedding ring to another a duo planning to get married.
Heidi, in a video, announced this via her insta story showcasing the diamond ring and declaring the official separation from her husband.
In December 2022, Heidi called the singer out and accused him of being abusive after the wedding solemnisation took place in October, 2021.
Popular comedy star Osita Iheme has celebrated the long-standing friendship with his colleague and onscreen twin, Chinedu Ikedieze aka Aki.
The duo took the African movie industries by storm after featuring in their debut film, “Aki na Ukwa” in 2002, which paved the way for them to become household names.
In 2021, a remake of their debut film titled ‘Aki and Paw’ co-produced by Play Network Studios and Film One Entertainment was released in December honouring the comic stars who played a major role in creating beautiful childhood memories for many even till adulthood.
Posing with his ‘partner in crime’ who sat on a power bike, Pawpaw acknowledged their friendship which has spanned over two decades
He tweeted: “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is Success and working together is progress. #GodistheGreatest.”
Inadequate electricity supply remains a huge challenge to manufacturers, accounting for their huge investment in self-energy generation, which stood at N76.7 billion in the second half of last year.
Manufacturers’ cost of self-energy generation increased from N45.04 billion in the corresponding half of 2021, indicating N31.66 billion or 70 per cent increase over the period.
According to Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) ‘Bi-annual Economic Review’ for the second half of 2022, it also increased by N8.9 billion or 13 per cent when compared with N67.8 billion recorded in the preceding half.
This document, which was made available to The Nation, presented the summary of the survey of the manufacturing sector by MAN for the second half of last year.
The survey was designed to monitor changes in manufacturing sector performance indicators viz-a-viz the behaviours of macro-economic and policy environments during the period of the survey.
The focus manufacturing indicators include capacity utilisation, production value, inventory of unsold products, level of utilisation of local raw materials, investment, expenditure on alternative energy source, etc.
MAN, in the survey, said electricity supply to the industries from the national grid declined marginally to 11 hours per day from 12 hours recorded in the preceding half.
It, however, said average number of outages per day stabilised at four times in the second half of last year as it was recorded for the first half of the year.
“Irrefutably, the trends show that power supply to the industry is still a huge challenge which accounts for huge investment of manufacturers in self-energy generation.
“Consequently, expenditure on alternative energy source increased to N76.7 billion in the second half of 2022 from N45.04 billion recorded in the corresponding half of 2021; thus, indicating N31.66 billion or 70 per cent increase over the period,” the document said.
It also stated that the huge expenditure on alternative energy was incurred on procurement of diesel, gas, generators and spare parts, inverters and UPS, etc.
MAN, however, put forward a number of recommendations to improve power supply to the sector. Its Director General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, for instance, called for the development and implementation of a roadmap focusing on off-grid solutions and independent power projects by the private sector.
While noting that this will ensure adequate supply of energy for production and also attract and expand investment, Ajayi-Kadir also harped on the need to carry out further investment in the electricity value chain and commit to adding 10000Mw to the current electricity distributed in the country.
He also said there was the need to embrace and support significant development of energy mix and renewable since Nigeria has huge potential for solar and wind. “Promote energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment in industries and homes,” he emphasized.
The MAN DG also stressed the need to “Review the current status of the four national refineries to determine their current state and commission their resuscitation to produce fuels locally and review the gas price for domestic consumption to be in tandem with the export price which is about $3.25 per cubic meter.”
He also wants quick incentivization of more investment in gas aggregation to end gas flaring; optimization of crude oil production based on the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota and gas production to ramp up revenue now that hydrocarbon is still saleable.
The Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) on Wednesday in Abuja pledged its support for the Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy.
The association’s chairperson, Dame Winifred Akpani, made the disclosure at the end of a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
She said the association would also support the government’s palliative measures by providing between 50 and 100 mass transit buses.
Akpani said the buses would be locally manufactured and would use Compressed Natural Gas as fuel.
“We pledge our support for President Tinubu in the bold decision of removing petrol subsidy. It is an idea that was long overdue.
“Removal of subsidy is not about making fuel costly and taking it out of the reach of Nigerians. It is about getting it right on the real issue of petroleum product subsidy.
“Who are those enjoying the subsidy? The subsidy ends up being enjoyed by those it was not meant for.
“We also spoke to the president about substitutes to petrol as well as creating an environment conducive for investments to thrive in the oil sector,’’ she said.
Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, who led the DAPPMAN delegation, described the subsidy removal as a bold step that portended positive growth for the economy
He said fuel subsidy withdrawal was a clear indication of Tinubu’s readiness to address the challenges of the oil and gas sector.
“Subsidy has become a N4 trillion per annum issue and its removal will release more funds for economic development.
“Subsidy removal will unleash the potential of Nigeria because it will open up a lot of resources for the development of other sectors of the economy.
“The National Economic Council will soon begin sitting to propose interventions on the subsidy removal.
“The interventions will definitely be a long-lasting solution to the effect of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians,’’ Abiodun said.
- including 52 Executive, 2,017 members' bills, 163 Senate bills
The 9th House of Representatives finally ended its legislative activities, as members recounted their experiences and performances throughout the four years.
According to the statistics reeled out by the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Abubakar Fulata, the 9th Assembly processed 2,232 bills, out of these 52 Executive bills, 163 are bills from the Senate, and 2,017 are members’ bills.
Hon. Fulata, who described the 9th Assembly as the most productive Parliament since the return of democracy, said: “I’m here with the Statistics. In the 9th Assembly processed 2,232 bills, out of these 52 Executive bills, 163 are bills from the Senate, and 2,017 are members’ bills.
“Out of these bills awaiting second reading are – 2,197, bills referred to Committees – 581, bills reported by the Committee’s is 275, bills pending in the committee – 308, bills awaiting Committee of the Whole – 106, bills laid on table awaiting consideration – 64, bills passed – 510. Bills killed – negatives-13, and bills withdrawn by their sponsors-5.
The House also passed 2,000 motions, all these achieved with the leadership provided.
He also thanked members and staff of the House Committee on Rules and Business as well as the Table Staff under the leadership of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, whom he noted arrive the Office at 7am and leave around 8pm.
To this end, he solicited that a special allowance should be provided for them in the 10th Assembly.
In an emotional laden speech presented, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, scored the 9th Assembly high despite the daunting challenges faced by Nigeria amidst outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, among others.
These include: passage of Electoral Act, Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), Return of budget cycle to January-December cycle, Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and the Nigeria Start-Up Act, two critical legislations aimed at changing the way we do business in Nigeria by streamlining regulations, reducing red tape, and setting the conditions for the private sector to innovate, thrive and grow.
The Assembly also passed the Emergency Economic Stimulus Bill to grant companies a rebate on Companies Income Tax, suspend import duties on medicines, medical equipment, personal protective equipment, and other essential medical materials and defer mortgage obligations on residential mortgages by contributors to the National Housing Fund.
The House also passed Emergency Relief and Assistance Bill which seeks to provide a limited salary guarantee for low-income permanent employees of companies registered and operating in Nigeria, relieve legal consumers of electricity in Nigeria of the burden of electricity charges for a limited period and suspend for a fixed period, the implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) provisions of the Finance Act 2020.
“Just in the last few days, we have seen the end of a subsidy regime that has distorted the energy market in our country for over 30 years.
“When change happens at this scale and with such an unrelenting pace, it creates challenges and opportunities almost in equal measure. Over the last four years, this House of Representatives has worked to ensure that our country can overcome these challenges and take advantage of the moment to achieve economic, social, and political transformations that benefit all the Nigerian people.
“We elevated the debates in the House of Representatives and made this chamber the arena for informed exchanges about Nigeria’s future and the welfare of all our nation’s people. We have left our mark in every sector of our national life and positively impacted people’s lives across our country.
“We introduced discipline into the appropriations process by implementing a January to December budget cycle that ended the policy instability and economic uncertainty of the previous irregular budget cycles. We reformed the oversight process to ensure greater collaboration between the arms of government.
“We made it easier for citizens to access details of budget expenditures so that they, too, can be part of the process of ensuring accountability in the administration of public funds. We did not yield our constitutional obligation to ensure faithful compliance with the letter and spirit of the Appropriation Act by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the government.
“While the strategic importance of the oil and gas sector to Nigeria’s socioeconomic well-being has long been apparent, successive administrations failed to put in place a functional statutory regime to allow that sector to function optimally. We ended that legacy of lethargy with the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). With the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act, we went even further to put the sector on the right footing.
“These statutory reforms rightfully ought to have happened a long time ago. Now, we must ensure that the reforms contained in these Acts are dutifully implemented as part of a broader energy policy suited to the realities of technological advancements and the evolving demands of the global energy market.
“We passed the Police Act to change the nature of relations between the Police and citizens in our country and ensure that police officers who fall short of their responsibilities can be quickly held accountable.”
The Speaker also presented Certificates to all the 9 members of the Body of the Principal Officers of the 9th Assembly while other lawmakers collected their Membership certificates from the Clerk of House of Representatives from 2019–2023.
While confirming his new appointment as Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he promised “to ensure a cordial and productive relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government whilst respecting the independence and prerogatives of the legislature.
“For everything, there is a time and season, and we are obligated each season to do the most and the best we can in the time we have. This is a good rule for politics and for life itself. The 9th House of Representatives is ending, and the 10th will shortly be convened. All of us, those whose time in office is ending, and those for whom duty continues, will face the judgment of history.”
Nigeria’s indigenous automobile company, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, IVM, has mass-produced varieties of Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, buses.
This according to the company serves as a suitable alternative for Nigerians following the rising price of petrol and diesel.
The showcase of the CNG vehicles took place at the company’s factory in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The vehicles range from trucks, mini-buses, ambulances, long buses, SUVs, and several others.
Speaking during the unveiling, the Chief Executive Officer, IVM, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma assured Nigerians of the safety of CNG Vehicles and the availability of various kinds of cars.
“We manufacture according to demand, and we manufactured these buses because there is a demand for them now. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, we produced more ambulances, so we are on the ground and ready to produce.
“CNG vehicles bring a solution to total dependence on one or two kinds of vehicles.
“The CNG vehicles are a solution, that’s why we produce them. We made space for CNG, LNG, and Fuel so that anyone available in an area can be used to drive the vehicles. Electric cars, biogas, and solar-powered vehicles are also produced in this factory.”
Similarly, the Governor of Anambra State, represented by the Commissioner for Industry, Anambra state, Mr. Christian Udechukwu stated that the state is gearing up to provide solutions to the challenges facing Nigerians because of the removal of subsidies.
In his words, “We are aware that Innoson has renewable technologies, CNG, LNG and Solar powered technologies that can contribute to the mass transport system in Nigeria and other national solutions”.
“The withdrawal of the subsidy has created a shock and the price of fuel has increased by almost 200% leading to restiveness in the Nigerian Labour Congress, the trade unions, and other Nigerians. The cost of transportation has risen apparently and one of the ways the government can alleviate that is by introducing mass transit systems that run on alternative energies as well as fuel. The more you have the ones that run on gas and solar, the greater the chances of a stable fuel price due to the existence of choices and Innoson offers that”.
He also added that local manufacturing and empowered industries are needed in Nigeria to boost the economy and shrink the national debt profile. All we need is for the industries and everyone else to look to local solutions and Innoson is one.”
The Head of Corporate Communications, IVM, Mr. Cornel Osigwe pointed out the advantages of Natural Gas Vehicles and the need to patronize local manufacturers. According to him, “Gas has high combustion rate than fuel. So generally, gas is more environmentally friendly. Nigerians are used to petrol cars but the abundance of natural gas has provided sustainable alternatives to all.
“Transportation is very crucial to economic development. Beyond the movement of people from one place to another, it also facilitates the quick and effective distribution of goods and services.
“At this stage in Nigeria’s development, better transportation options are the perfect solution to the rising dependence on petrol and diesel to meet the transportation needs of over 200 million persons.
“Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, an indigenous car manufacturing company has produced hundreds of CNG-powered vehicles suitable for Nigerian and African Roads.”
Abubakar Malami, the immediate past attorney-general of the federation (AGF), advised former President Muhammadu Buhari to decline assent to the bill on uniform retirement age for judicial officers, TheCable report.
In a memo dated May 23 and addressed to the office of the chief of staff to the president, Malami said the bill appears to be “far-reaching, unduly wide, ambiguous”, adding that it made no “justification” for the extension of retirement age and benefits for judges.
Malami averred that the bill would lead to stagnation in the career growth of judges, adding that “those currently on the bench would have to stay longer, preventing others from being elevated in higher courts”.
The former AGF said the bill, if approved, may lead to further agitation for the extension of the retirement age of justices of the supreme court and court of appeal.
“Accordingly, the federal government enacted the Federal Judicial Officers (Administration of Pension) Act 2007, which transferred the responsibility and administration of pension of the federal judicial officers from the department of establishments in the office of the head of service of the federation to the National Judicial Council,” Malami wrote in the memo.
“Similarly, State Governments are responsible for the pension of judicial officers in the state courts of record.
“These provisions are now being amended by the fifth alteration which now restricts the power of the federal government to make law with respect to Judicial Officers who retire after the age of 65.
“Regardless of extant economic realities of the federal government, by virtue of the fifth alteration, all judges who retire after attaining 65 years of age would be entitled to payment of their salaries for life, including all allowances in addition to any other benefit to which they may be entitled.
“By virtue of the constitution, the only persons entitled to payment of their last salaries for life as pension are the President, Vice-President and Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. In the case of the latter, it’s only applicable if the justices retire at or after the age of 65 and have spent not less than 15 years.”
Malami added that the proposed alteration of the constitution also eliminated the “responsibility of states to pay these altered retirement benefits”.
Five ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have been okayed to testify as special witnesses in the petition that a former vice president and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, filed to challenge the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.
The INEC ad hoc staff, who participated in the conduct of the disputed presidential election results, were subpoenaed to appear before the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC.
Atiku, who came second in the presidential contest that held on February 25, had in the joint petition he filed with his party, alleged that the election was rigged in favour of President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The former vice president in his 66-page petition, accused the electoral commission of installing a third-party device he said was used to intercept and switch results of the presidential election in favour of the APCand its candidate, Bola Tinubu.
He further alleged that INEC had prior to the election, redeployed its in-house ICT expert, Mr. Chidi Nwafor, and replaced him with an IT consultant that helped it to install the third-party mechanism.
According to Atiku, the said IT consultant, Mr. Suleiman Farouk, ensured that the device intermediated between the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and the IRev Portal, known as Device Management System, DMS.
He told the court that the DMS was the software that allowed INEC’s IT Security Consultant, Mr. Farouk, to remotely control, monitor and filter data transmitted from the BVAS devices to the electronic collation system and the IRev platform.
“The 1st Respondent, INEC, engaged an appointee of the 2nd Respondent (Tinubu) to man and oversee the sensitive ICT department of the 1st Respondent for the purpose of the election.“”The petitioners contend and shall lead evidence to show that contrary to the original design of the BVAS machine to upload data directly to the electronic collation system and the IReV portal, the 1st Respondent contrived and installed an intervening third-party device (Device Management System) which, in its ordinary usage, is meant to secure and administer the 1st Respondent’s technological ecosystem for the elections but as it relates to the presidential election, was used to intercept the results, quarantine and warehouse same, and filter them before releasing same to the IReV portal.
“The 1st Respondent used the said Device Management System to manipulate the Election results in favour of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents.
“The petitioners state and shall lead expert evidence to show the critical components of the 1st Respondent’s Information and Communications Technology, ICT, including but not limited to the BVAS which is an Android Device manufactured by Emperor Technologies China and supplied to the 1st Respondent by Activate Nigeria Limited,” the petitioners added.
“Consequently, at the resumed proceedings in the petition yesterday, lead counsel for the petitioners, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told the court that his clients had subpoenaed five INEC ad-hoc staff members that were part of the conduct of the election to appear as witnesses and to also tender sensitive materials in evidence. He added that of the five witnesses, three of them were in court.
However, immediately the first subpoenaed ad-hoc staff was called into the courtroom and he mounted the witness box, lead counsel for the INEC, Mr. Abubakar Mahmood, SAN, raised an objection.
INEC’s lawyer, Mahmood, SAN, told the court that he was only served with statement of the witnesses, few minutes before the proceedings commenced, insisting that he would need time to go through the documents to be able to effectively cross-examine the witnesses.
Besides, INEC’s lawyer said there was also the need for him to go back to the Commission to verify and confirm the identities of the witnesses so as to ascertain if they indeed served as ad-hoc staff during the election.
Both Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, who appeared for President Tinubu, as well as counsel for the APC, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, aligned themselves with the position of the INEC.
The respondents maintained that the would need time to study statements of the witnesses that was served on them by the petitioners.
Even though the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel initially opted for a 30 minutes stand down to allow the respondents to study the statements, however, it subsequently deferred further proceedings in the matter till Thursday to enable INEC’s counsel to conduct his internal enquiry.
Earlier in the proceeding, counsel for the petitioners tendered certified copies of results of the presidential election from 10 Local Government Areas, LGAs, of Kogi State, even as he presented the Chairman of the PDP in Anambra state, Mr. Ndubuisi Nwobu, to testify as the 11th witness in the matter.
Nwobu told the court that he served as state collation officer for the PDP during the election, adding that in about 30 polling units that he visited, results of the election were not uploaded to INEC’s I-Rev portal in real-time.
The witness told the court that he was forced to sign the result of the election by INEC officials that threatened that they would not give him a copy, unless he signed.
According to him, “Every effort made to upload the results to the I-Rev portal failed. It was at the ward level that magic started happening,” the witnesses stated, adding that it if not for his swift intervention, some of INEC officials would have been manhandled by angry electorates.
While being cross-examined by APC’s lawyer, Fagbemi, SAN, the witness, said he wrote a letter after the election to complain about all the anomalies he observed, as well as the manifest non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
“My complaint was not about the BVAs, but that results were not uploaded to the I-Rev portal as we were promised extensively by the INEC chairman,” the witness added.
Atiku, is among other reliefs, praying the court to declare that he was the valid winner of the presidential election, even as he applied for the withdrawal of the Certificate of Return that was issued to President Tinubu by INEC.
The National Assembly has passed a bill to make comprehensive provisions for the prohibition and punishment of sexual harassment by educators in tertiary institutions.
The Senate passed this bill in 2020 while the House of Representatives passed theirs but with different provisions.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele on Wednesday said the conference committee of both chambers harmonised the different positions as he presented the report during plenary session.
The proposed legislation seeks to criminalise sexual harassment by educators against students in tertiary institutions.
MORE facts have emerged on how the Federal Government used blackmail and other mechanisms and ambushed Organised Labour to suspend its planned strike over the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, commonly known as petrol.
Leaders of Organised Labour had Monday night suspended the planned nationwide strike intended to force the new administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to revert to the Pre-May 29, 2023 pump price of N185 per litre as against the 200 per cent hike in price, which was scheduled to commence yesterday.
Recall that Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, had Sunday shunned the rescheduled meeting after the earlier meeting held on Thursday, June 1, 2023, ended in deadlock, insisting that the government revert to status quo or the old pump price of petrol as a condition for further meeting.
However, NLC’s counterpart; the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, attended the meeting and made demands including N200,000 minimum wage. In a U-turn on Monday, the NLC returned to the negotiation table with the government.
About four hours into the meeting, leaders of TUC who had earlier adjoined its meeting with government to Tuesday after parties informed that progress had been made, joined the meeting.
Over an hour after TUC joined the meeting, Organised Labour and governmnet representatives reached an agreement leading to the suspension of the planned strike.
Giving insight into the under currents that forced Labour in reaching a compromise, one of the labour leaders who spoke to Vanguard in confidence, alleged that the governmnet used the National Industrial Court, NIC, and others, to ambush Labour to scuttle the nationwide planned strike.
According to him, “on Monday morning, several influential Nigerians started intervening and imploring us to return to the negotiation table. Similarly, government officials were calling us relentlessly.”
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Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), has stated that the formation of the Labour Party from the NLC does not imply that the party holds any authoritative control over their actions.
NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had on Monday reached agreements with the federal government to suspend the planned strike scheduled for Wednesday.
During an interview on Channels TV, Ajaero authenticated the affiliation between the party and the NLC, but disputed that the party sponsors the union.
He said, “Well, I wouldn’t know whether these issues are informed issues, it clear to everybody in Nigerian that Labour Party is owned by the NLC and no leader of NLC can deny that.
“But even when this issue of subsidy was analyzed by various presidential candidates, the NLC was clear and I could remember I stated that if the Labour Party candidate went into that, he would even have double punishments from the Labour Movement because that counters our demands that was given to him and the ideology for which the Labour Party was formed.
“The fact that we formed Labour Party does not mean that if it does anything wrong, and is an insult to say that Labour Party is now dictating for NLC that formed it? That is the worst insult anybody can say.
“If people are going into blackmail, it should not be such, we determine what happens in Labour Party to a large extent. Who is Labour Party and their candidate to tell NLC what to do? What we are doing now, has it not consistent with what we have been doing on fuel subsidy?”
Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday said he was not bothered that the 9th National Assembly under his leadership was tagged rubber stamp assembly.
He stated this at an interactive session Senate Press Corps at the National Assembly, Abuja.
Lawan said despite misgivings by some Nigerians over the cordial relationship with the executive, 112 bills out of those passed by the 9th parliament were assented to by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the unity of purpose and understanding of the two arms of government made it possible for the National Assembly to achieve so much.
Lawan said, “The relationship between us and the executive has been described in so many ways. But everything has a price. If you don’t do well, it has a price but this National Assembly, no matter what anybody will call it, we did what we could to help the executive.
“We changed the budget cycle and to the glory of God we passed the budget before the end of December. It makes us feel proud. Former President Buhari assented to 112 bills. Some have come to reform our economy, the petroleum industry and the electoral process.
“We have done so many things in good ways and make our people happy, but as humans we must have done somethings that Nigerians don’t like, but on the whole, we did our work well. I am not bothered that the Senate under my watch was called rubber stamp.”
Lawan also decried the high level of turnover of the members of the National Assembly after every election cycle, saying it is not good for institutional memory.
“If wishes were horses, I would have loved that the turn over of lawmakers will be minimal. Each time, 70% are dropped, capacity development would start all over again, but that’s the choice of Nigerians,” he added.
Former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has pleaded with his successor, the former Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, to forgive him for any pain he may have caused him (Oyetola).
Aregbesola has been at loggerhead with Oyetola, who served as his Chief of Staff before becoming governor, vowing that he will work against his reelection bid because he reversed his policies.
After losing to Governor Ademola Adeleke in 2022, Oyetola accused Aregbesola of teaming up with Adeleke of the then opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure that the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost the election.
Aregbesola arrived Osogbo, the capital of Osun State from Abuja where he served in the cabinet of former President Buhari on Wednesday.
He visited the palace of Owa Obokun, Oba Gabriel Aromolaran and Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, before addressing his supporters at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park via Old Garage.
While addressing his supporters in Yoruba language, he said, “I have not returned to Osun because of animosity or acrimony but reconciliation of our party, APC. I have come here today to beg for forgiveness from anybody who is offended towards me. The reason why people are applauding me over my successes in Osun today was because of the great work I did when I was in government and those who turned themselves into enemies today, we worked together.
“I thank God who showcased me from Lagos through the help of President Bola Tinubu, he is the architect of my success. I spent 8 years as commissioner in Lagos. In 2004, we had a meeting in Badagry where we talked about how we will take over our states from the opposition party. President Tinubu and other Yoruba elders directed me to come and take over Osun State from the opposition.
“With the help of God and the support of Asiwaju, I was able to excel as a Governor for 8 years even though it was not easy with the help of those that turned to my enemy for four years.”
He added that, “In 2019, after the Supreme Court judgment, I came to this venue with the person I handed over power to. I counseled that I have played my own part and handed over to the person I loved. But I said, the person must do it right by ensuring unity within the party. If that is done I will now be the godfather. But unfortunately, Satan took over them in interpreting what I said. I never begged for anything from them when he was in power.
“I am saying it today and I am begging for forgiveness. After this, we are not going to beg anybody again. We didn’t offend anyone and we don’t believe anyone offended us but it’s possible that they believe we offended them, that’s why we are apologising to them.“
No fewer than 34 outgoing, returning, and sitting governors are leaving a huge burden of unpaid gratuities, while 27 of them are being choked by unpaid multi-billion pension arrears.
Similarly, 13 states are burdened with a backlog of salary arrears and other unpaid benefits to their employees.
Investigations by Vanguard revealed that four states in the South-East, four in the South-West, and five Northern states owe workers salaries.
On pensions, five states in the South-West, five in the South-East, 15 in the North, and two in the South-South owe their retirees a backlog of accumulated pensions.
In the same vein, only about three states nationwide are believed not to owe gratuity to their pensioners.
Akeredolu’s intervention in Ondo
In Ondo State, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who will finish his second term, next year, met a backlog of seven months’ salary arrears and has paid six, remaining of January 2017 and two months for local government workers.
Ondo State workers are owed N27 billion as gratuities while local government workers are owed N36 billion.
The state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Victor Amoko, told Vanguard that “a special intervention by the governor was extended to address the huge outstanding arrears of gratuities being owed retirees from 2011 to 2023 with the release of N300 million to pay the gratuities on monthly basis.
Amoko said the gratuities had been paid up till 2014.
Oyebanji inherits N40bn unpaid gratuities in Ekiti
Similarly, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who began his first term last year, in Ekiti State, inherited from his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, three months’ salary arrears for state civil servants, and four months’ salary arrears for local government workers.
Retirees were owed seven months’ pensions and unpaid N40 billion in gratuities.
However, Oyebanji has defrayed the arrears to one month for state civil servants and two months for the local government workers and paid three months’ arrears of pensions.
The State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Joel Akinola, put the total gratuities at over N40 billion since August 13, 2013, noting that the Governor released N500 million for state pensioners, and N138 million for local government pensioners, which are being disbursed to the beneficiaries.
Akinola said that “Governor Oyebanji has approved a tranche of N700 million to offset part of the gratuities for state pensioners and N250 million to offset part of the local government pensioners.
Ogun owes 18 months’ salary deductions
In Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun owes civil servants 18 months’ salary deductions such as Union dues, cooperative deductions, and pension (Contributory Pension Scheme).
The State Secretary of NUP, Mr Bola Lawal, said out of N68 billion that Governor Abiodun inherited from Ibikunle Amosun’s government, he has paid N3.6 billion.
Adeleke battles N76bn arrears in Osun
The accumulated salary arrears and pensions that Governor Ademola Adeleke, who took over from Gboyega Oyetola, in Osun, last November, is owing serving and retired workers are put at N76billion.
However, the gratuity owed to non-contributory pensioners is not clear yet as the Ministry in charge has not made the amount public.
Pensions, gratuities last paid in 2015 in Oyo
Returning Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State does not owe workers in both the state and local governments services.
However, the state NLC chairman, Kayode Matins, said pensions and gratuities were last paid by the state government in 2015.
According to him, “l would have loved to give you the details, but I don’t have access to the files now to give the accurate figure of the outstanding pensions and gratuities.”
Lagos workers demand pension entitlements since 2020
In Lagos, while officials of the state government said the government owes no salary, pension, or gratuity, the chairman of Lagos State Council of NLC, Funmi Sessi, last May Day, said: “We wish to acknowledge and appreciate the improvement you (Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu) brought about in the monthly bond allocation since the inception of your administration in 2019 and the April 2023 for payment of N5 Billion to 1,800 retirees in Lagos State.
“We also demand immediate payment of all the backlog of pensions entitlement (bond) from 2020 till date.”
Gratuities, pension burden in S/South
All the six state governments in the South-South zone have been consistent in the payment of monthly salaries to workers but none is up to date in the payment of gratuities and pensions to retired workers, except Akwa-Ibom which also pays pensions monthly.
Government officials were, however, hesitant to reveal the total figure, especially gratuities the different states owe workers, which had piled up over the years.
N7bn gratuities unpaid in Akwa Ibom
In Akwa Ibom State, the immediate past Governor, Udom Emmanuel, did not owe workers monthly salaries and pensions.
He inherited N18 billion in unpaid gratuities and cleared N11 billion, leaving N7 billion, which his successor will deal with.
In Bayelsa, Governor Douye Diri, who is seeking a second term on November 11, 2023, pays workers their salaries and pensioners monthly.
However, there is a backlog of unpaid gratuities from the time of Timipre Sylva and Senator Seriake Dickson’s administrations. Dickson, now a Senator, promised to pay gratuities before a worker disengages from service but only released between N250 million to N300 million for three months before he left office.
Things only changed with Diri, who promised to release N200 million monthly for payment of gratuities, and recently, increased it to N1 billion to clear the backlog dating back to 2007/2008.
As of date, his administration has reportedly cleared up to 2013.
Obaseki moves to clear the burden in Edo
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, who leaves office next year, pays workers their salaries monthly. He inherited a huge backlog of pensions and gratuities from the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s administration.
The Chairman of Edo NUP, C. Pullen Noruwa, revealed: “He approved in 2022 May Day celebration the payment of gratuities to state pensioners from 2012 until date and the local government pensioners from 2008 until date. There is going to be a monthly release of N200 million and the payment will start from July 1, this year.
“The Head of Service will set up a committee to ensure that they pay according to the year of retirement. If they pay this gratuity, it will only remain a consequential change, which is because of the N30,000 minimum wage for workers. The governor has actually tried.”
Gratuity burden remains in Rivers
Payment of salaries to workers in Rivers State has been regular under the immediate past governor, Nyesom Wike, but contrary to gratuities and pensions which he allegedly committed N3 billion monthly.
Chairman of the NLC, Alex Agwanwor, declined comments on the matter.
However, a top civil servant, who just retired, said: “Salaries have been regular but they staggered pension payment in the guise of biometric capture of pensioners. So those not yet captured have not benefited. However, it is on gratuities that Governor Wike has not done well. Many retirees have not received gratuities years after retirement, some even before the governor came into office.”
Gratuity yoke persists in C- River
Cross River State’s immediate past governor, Senator Ben Ayade, has been paying salaries and pensions to both civil servants and political appointees.
Sometimes, workers and appointees receive their salary alerts twice a month. This is during the Christmas season and May Day.
What, however, has been an issue of concern is the payment of gratuities running into billions of naira. Workers that retired since 2014 are yet to get their terminal benefits.
The workers’ unions, particularly the NLC, have been fighting a spirited battle with the governor over the outstanding payments.
Okowa leaves N24.9b pension in Delta
In Delta State, the departed administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa paid workers’ salary promptly on a monthly basis.
As for pensions and gratuity, his government is indebted to workers but has attempted to reduce its burden by spending N1.5 billion monthly on servicing pension liabilities.
Sometime last year, the state government disbursed N10 billion in two tranches to pay state and local government pensioners. The summary of outstanding accrued rights and harmonisation difference as of April 31, 2023, is N24.9 billion.
Enugu owes 3yrs of minimum wage arrears
In Enugu, as the eight years administration of the immediate past Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, left the civil servants in the state, particularly those in the state parastatals, with no less than three years arrears of minimum wage which its implementation in the state commenced three years after the Federal Government and other states began its implementation.
National Vice Chairman of Trade Union Congress and the Enugu State chairman of Senior Civil Service Union, Chuks Igbokwe told Vanguard that whereas the backlog of the minimum wage arrears has been foreclosed, the state government is also owing pensioners of local government and primary school teachers pension arrears of no less than three years.
Tales of woes in Abia
In Abia State, workers will remember the administration of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as the worst so far in the history of the state in terms of salary arrears as doctors in the State University Teaching Hospital Aba, ABSUTH, are owed 24 months; their counterparts at Hospital Management Board, HMB, are owed 13 months; secondary school teachers are owed 11 months while primary school teachers are owed three months.
Others, according to a recent statement by the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, include 29 months for workers in Abia State College of Education; workers of Abia College of Health Sciences not paid five months arrears; Abia pensioners have not been paid their gratuity for the past 15 years while their pension arrears are over 48 months.
Lamenting the situation, Secretary, of Concerned Abia Pensioners, Chief C. U Okezie, said retirees no longer talk of gratuities but their monthly pension to at least buy drugs and stay alive.
Soludo owes N14bn pension in Anambra
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State owes N14 billion for pensions and gratuity. However, he has pledged to liquidate them gradually.
Since he assumed office, he has consistently been paying gratuity to all those who retire during his regime, while also picking from the backlog of those who retired before he became governor.
Imo owes arrears from 2020
In Imo State, the NLC Chairman Caretaker Committee, George Ofoegbu, informed that the Imo State government owes salaries, pensions, and gratuities from 2020.
Most affected, according to him, are members of the Imo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE.
However, Basil Iwu, leader of NLC, backed by Governor Hope Uzodimma, who is standing for re-election on November 11, 2023, is of a different view, as he commended the governor for prompt payment of salaries, and pensions.
However, spokesman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, in Imo State, Sam Iheakanwa, said, “Not all pensioners have been captured into the payment system. Some are still owed. But we are still waiting for all of them to be captured before we talk of arrears owed.”
Umahi leaves a backlog of pensions, gratuities in Ebonyi
The Chairman of NLC in Ebonyi State, Oguguo Egwu, said the immediate past government of Engr Dave Umahi left a huge backlog of unpaid pension, gratuities, and salary arrears for the incoming administration in the state.
“I do not have specific details but there is a backlog of pensions, gratuities, and salary arrears which the outgoing regime is trying to address.”
Chairman of SSANU, Ebonyi State, Mr. Odigbo N. said: “The government owes pension and gratuities in EBSU. Workers are being owed. For salaries, we have been paid till March 2023. “
Benue owes 74 months of pensions
In Benue, as Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration exited on May 29, the state government is owing pensioners 34 months of entitlements at the state level, and 74 months at the local government level, which were accumulated by successive governments over the years.
The government might also be leaving behind between four and five months of unpaid wages accumulated during the 2017 economic recession. Though workers have not been paid for about four months in the year 2023 due to supposed garnishee orders by the courts, the government may remedy the situation before its terminal date.
Niger owing N16bn gratuities
In Niger State, the immediate past Governor Abubakar Bello is not owing civil servants both at the state and local government areas of salaries.
But he left a backlog of unpaid gratuities for the incoming government to settle.
It was gathered that the government will leave between N14 billion and N16 billion.
Last year, the state chairman of NLC who is now the Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba, declared at the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, State Executive meeting that the state government was owing pensioners in the state N50 billion and vowed to fight through “constitutional means” for the payment to be effected.
Huge backlog in Bauchi
In Bauchi State, the government of re-elected Bala Mohammed has implemented the consequential adjustment on the minimum wage of N30,000 for civil servants across all cadres and pensioners since December 2020.
However, workers and pensioners have complained about the staggered salary and pension payments after a screening exercise by the government to weed out ghost workers in 2019.
Furthermore, there is a backlog of unpaid gratuities and death benefits that had lingered since 2011.
In December 2020 the governor released about N400 million to offset part of the gratuity and death benefits.
Adamawa owes N3bn in gratuities, pension
Adamawa State is indebted to pensioners to the tune N3billion in terms of gratuity and pensions
But, the government of re-elected Ahmadu Fintiri, was quick to clear the air that the backlog of the indebtedness was incurred by successive governments since 2012.
This is even as the State Pensioners Association claimed that the unpaid pensions and gratuity, including retired local government staff run into N4 billion.
The association added that no fewer than 20 of its members die as a result of their inability to bear the economic crunch.
Katsina owes N10bn in gratuities
In Katsina, the immediate past Governor Aminu Bello Masari’s government left a backlog of unpaid gratuities for the incoming government.
According to the Katsina NLC Chairman, Hussaini Hamisu, the backlog of gratuities includes those of retirees from 2019 to date.
It was gathered that the unpaid gratuities are not less than N10 billion.
Ganduje leaves N40bn gratuities in Kano
As Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje-led administration came to an end on May 29, the state government left behind a backlog of over N40 billion in unpaid gratuities for the incoming government.
The unpaid gratuities from 2006 to date comprise the tenures of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and the present administration of Dr. Ganduje.
Ishaku leaves unpaid six months’ salaries in Taraba
In Taraba State, the immediate past government of Governor Darius Ishaku is leaving six months and five months of local government workers and primary school teachers’ salaries
The state NLC Chairman, Peter Jediel, said the N30,000 minimum wage is also yet to be implemented.
He also lamented that gratuities are still being owed while some retirees are yet to be included in the state pension scheme.
“Also, there is a backlog of gratuities for retirees in the state from 2015 and inability to capture over 1000 retirees into the monthly pension,” he added.
Zulum’s intervention in Borno
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno inherited a backlog of salaries, pensions, and gratuities running into billions of Naira upon assumption of office.
Worried by the situation, Zulum, in 2020, obtained a N12 billion loan to settle some of these gratuities owed to 4,862 retirees who left the state and local government civil service from 2013 to 2017.
This was a follow-up to the N3 Billion earlier released by the government in September 2019, to clear the gratuities of 1,684 retirees who left the civil service between 2013 to 2019.
But the Chairman of NLC in the state, Yusuf Inuwa, lamented that the staggered mode of gratuity payments has resulted in the non-payment of gratuities to some beneficiaries from 2012 to 2017 and beyond.
Huge backlog on the Plateau
The immediate past government in Plateau State is leaving a backlog of unpaid salaries and gratuities for the incoming government.
The February 2023 salaries were paid to some staff just over a week ago while others are yet to be paid theirs.
Gratuities have not been paid since 2010, the State Chairman of Pensioner, Mr. Ben Bello, confirmed.
Governor Simon Lalong, who completed his second term on May 29, had on May Day, promised that the backlog of salaries would be cleared before he exits office.
Again, the State Head of Service, Sunday Hyat, told Vanguard: “The government defaulted in the payment of some months’ salaries but efforts are on to address that.
The March and April salaries will be paid as promised.
For the gratuities, there was an agreement with the United Capital but it was delayed because the House of Assembly had not signed the necessary documents.
Sokoto saddled with 7 years of gratuities
Immediate past Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State is leaving among others not less than seven years of unpaid gratuities for the incoming government that runs into billions of Naira.
The present administration only paid civil servants that retired in 2015 the amount it inherited as a liability.
Retirees complained that the governor has been paying his political associates who either retire or withdraw their services after his party the PDP was defeated in the last general election leaving behind the accumulated gratuity of civil servants who retired seven years ago.
Yobe accumulates gratuities
In Yobe State, Vanguard gathered that the government of Mai Mala Buni, who just won his re-election, is up to date with salary and pension payments.
But the governor has accumulated unpaid gratuities for not less than five months weighing his government down.
Outstanding backlogs in Zamfara
The Zamfara State Government, according to the state NLC, “has only partially implemented the N30,000 minimum wage for core civil servants without implementation for local government employees.
“Similarly, the government owes two months’ salary arrears to state workers. That is March and April.
“For pension, the payment has been staggered with several pensioners owed many months of arrears. The worst of all is gratuities which the government (of Bello Mattawale, who lost his re-election bid in the last poll), has not paid since assumption of office.”
Nasarawa owes N42bn gratuities
In Nasarawa State, the government of Governor Abdullahi Sule, who just won a second term, has unpaid gratuities of about N42billion.
The government, however, pays salary and pensions regularly.
Backlog of unpaid gratuity in Kwara
Similarly, returning Governor AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman of Kwara State is up to date in salary and pensions but has a backlog of gratuities.
His Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, informed that “the government is releasing an average of N100 million monthly to offset arrears of gratuities that date back to 2010/2011.”
However, the state chairman of NUP, Saidu Oladimeji differed, saying: “I can tell you for free that from 2012 till, date some categories of pensioners are still being owed gratuity.”
The Jigawa example
While it was gathered that the Jigawa State government paid pensioners their pensions on May 5, 2023, and workers’ salaries are up to date, there is, however, no information about gratuities.
No backlog in Kaduna
In Kaduna, where Governor Nasir el-Rufai will finish his second term on May 29, the state government is not owing pensioners and workers their pensions and salaries as it pays as when due.
Special Adviser to the Kaduna State Governor on Media and Publicity, Muyiwa Adekeye, stated that the “Kaduna State Government consistently discharges its obligations to its workers and retirees. It does not owe salaries or pensions.”
Backlog of gratuities choking Gombe
In Gombe, returning Governor Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe State is said to be up to date with salary and pension payments.
The leadership of NLC in the state said the governor has been grappling with accumulated gratuity arrears that date back to 2014. It was gathered that the governor has cleared up to 2017 backlog of unpaid gratuities.
Kogi battling inherited unpaid gratuities
According to the state chairman of NLC in Kogi State, Amari Gabriel, “Governor Yahaya Bello does not owe salary or pension to workers or pensioners in the state.
“For gratuities, you know every state government across the country is battling with a backlog and accumulated gratuity arrears. It is not different in Kogi State. I know the governor has been making a frantic effort to clear the backlog of inherited gratuities. I do not have the actual figure now which can only be gotten from the Pension bureau”.
Bagudu leaves on a clean slate in Kebbi
The immediate past Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State will go down in the history of the state as the only governor who never owed workers salaries and offset the backlog of gratuities he inherited from his predecessor.
This was disclosed by his special adviser on media Malam Yahya Sarkin, who said that even during the COVID-19 lockdown when some governors were paying civil servants half salaries Bagudu paid full salaries.
The only pending payment is a few who retired at the tail end of Bagudu’s government which is still being compiled and undergoing verifications