• ‘Ex-Anambra governor got it wrong’

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in last year’s general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has criticised the Federal Government for allocating N1 billion for the construction of hostels in 12 tertiary institutions.

He described the government’s action as financial recklessness and misplacement of priorities in the allocation of funds.

In a statement by the spokesman of Peter Obi Media Reach, Yunusa Tanko, the LP stalwart described as unacceptable the continued deployment of public resources to nonessential areas of development.

He highlighted what he called the poor and embarrassing position of Nigeria in the global average in school enrollment.

Obi alleged that despite the poor standing, the government was “budgeting a paltry N1 billion for the construction of hostels in 12 tertiary institutions in Nigeria while N10 billion is going for the building of car parks and recreational facilities”.

In a post on his X (formerly twitter) handle, the former Anambra State governor said: “As the giant of Africa, which we are, I remain concerned about our fiscal indiscipline as a nation.

“Imagine the situation in our Education sector where the global average of secondary school enrollment is above 80 per cent, while Nigeria is 28 per cent.

“The global Average of Tertiary School enrollment is above 55 per cent, while Nigeria is less than 15 per cent.

“Yet, our budget for the National Assembly Car Parks is N6 billion. The budget for the National Assembly Recreational Facilities is N4 billion.

“Approved for the Construction of Hostels in 12 tertiary institutions is just N1 billion. It is time for us to stop this financial indiscipline and embrace financial discipline by prioritising the allocation of resources to the critical areas of human and national development.”

But an aide to the President on Information, who craved anonymity, said the former Anambra State governor got his facts wrong.

He said the government planned to spend N12 billion (N1 billion each) as special intervention for the provision of hostels in the selected higher institutions.

The aide said: “Playing an opposition goes beyond dancing to the gallery. How can someone who aspired to be president be amplifying and elevating falsehoods. It is not compulsory that he must comment on every policy, especially on the one he has little or no knowledge about.”

[TheNation]

The faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, on Tuesday, screened and confirmed eight commissioners-designate as members of the State Executive Council.

The Assembly, led by the Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo,  screened the nominees during their sitting at the temporary legislative chambers at the Administrative Block of the Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Two former commissioners, Dr Peter Medee and Eloka Tasie-Amadi, who served under the immediate-past administration of Nyesom Wike, as Energy and Works Commissioners, respectively were asked by the House to take a bow and leave.

The other six nominees were asked few questions by the pro-Fubara lawmakers and were consequently given a clean bill of health as commissioners-designate. 

The exit of five pro-Wike commissioners last week had created vacancies in the cabinet.

The commissioners resigned their position amid the feud between Wike and Fubara, citing a toxic working environmental for their decision to leave.

The Speaker, on Tuesday, charged the screened commissioners-designate to join hands with Fubara towards delivering the dividends of democracy to Rivers people.

He also advised the governor not to be distracted but to continue the good work he was doing.

Victor Oko-Jumbo said, “As a legislature what we can do is to ensure that we create an atmosphere where His Excellency will do more.

“While we commend His Excellency for his numerous achievements in office we also use this opportunity to call on His Excellency not to be distracted. We call on him to remain focused on the mandate that the people of Rivers State have given to him.

“We also call on him not to be biased. He should continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people.”

Speaking to newsmen after the screening, the Leader of the House, Sokari Goodboy, commended the governor for the calibre of people sent to the House for screening.

“Today we held our sitting and in the order paper we had the screening of eight commissioners and we know too well that the executive arm of the State needs to be filled and we are happy and proud of the nominees.

“The names the Governor forwarded to us are all men of great repute. They have good Curriculum Vitae. Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie as the Speaker of the third Assembly during that period the seat of 25 members was declared vacant,” Goodboy said.

[Punch]

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has explained their constant interactions with, and regulations for, financial technology companies, fintechs.

The CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, gave the explanation yesterday in Abuja while announcing the new interest rate.

Citing the need to rein in inflation and achieve price stability, the CBN raised its benchmark interest rate, the Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, by 150 basis points to 26.25 percent from 24.75 percent. It is the third raise less than three months. 

However, the CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, added that there was no magic wand to tackling the inflationary challenges.

But he expressed optimism that the various tools deployed by the bank to tame inflation and create a stable foreign exchange market would yield the needed results in the coming months.

These were announced yesterday, Tuesday, during the press briefing of the 295th monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja.

Inflation had sustained upswing for over 13 months hitting 33.69 percent Year-on- Year, YoY, fueled by food inflation.

Fintechs…

On Fintech companies, the CBN Governor explained that the move to tighten regulations around their operations.

He noted that it was not aimed at putting them out of business but to ensure that the Nigerian public obtains the maximum benefit from the sector.

“The Fintechs have definitely not been singled out for any exceptional kind of treatment.

“On the contrary we are very proud of what the Fintechs, over the years, have been able to do for the country and the positive impact it has been having not just in the country but worldwide.

“It is for us to support them and help them to strengthen what they have been able to accomplish,” he stated.

However, he noted, the CBN was concerned about illicit flows and money laundering through the sector.

He said these crimes created the need for heightened surveillance of the sector.

Cardoso stated that despite the increase in regulatory guidelines, no Fintech organization has had its licence revoked by the CBN.

“We have had conversations with a number of them. And we have explained the need for them take another look at what they are doing and the need to strengthen them,” Cardoso, the CBN boss explained.

Vanguard News

This day, three years ago, an unprecedented event in Nigeria’s history occurred. The country’s 21st Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, died alongside ten other officers and men in an air crash. Attahiru was only in office for three months, yet he came across as an extraordinarily purposeful and committed gentleman officer and Nigerian. His mission to Kaduna State, where the unfortunate incident abruptly ended his big dreams for the country, indicated his commitment to reforming the Nigerian Army!

In addition to an urgent desire to improve the welfare of Army officers and men, Attahiru was emphatic about raising the quality of training the Army offered its personnel. He matched this belief with action.

During his brief stay at his office that fateful morning, one of the few people he saw was the then Chief of Training at Army Headquarters, Major Gen. Okwudili Azinta. They, for the umpteenth time, discussed the event scheduled for the next day at the Nigeria Army Depot, Zaria. The depot is the institution that trains army recruits, and it was the passing-out- parade of a new set of recruits on Saturday, May 22. Attahiru felt it was essential to be there to boost the morale of these new entrants before their deployment to the different formations of the Army where they would serve. Azinta testifies in the former chief of Army’s staff posthumous biography: The Man, The Soldier, The Patriot, the biography of Lt. Gen Ibrahim Attahiru that: “he was interested in training officers and men, right from recruits to the most senior officers…”

He took the encouragement and mobilisation of his officers and men personally. However, the issue about the depot was not just about welfare; it also concerned the men’s training. A few times in previous weeks, Attahiru and Azinta had conversations about the need to improve the quality of instruction and the curriculum at the depot to improve the quality of products and enhance effective deployments of recruits. To move their discussions along, Azinta, during their encounter that morning, promised to stay back in Zaria after the Saturday event and hold sessions on achieving this chief’s aim. Unfortunately, the COAS and his team never saw the day.

Attahiru’s unfortunate passing alongside some of his closest aides on that flight shook the nation to its foundations. Officers and men who travelled and died with the former Chief of Army Staff included Acting Chief of Military Intelligence, Brigadier General Abdulkadir Kuliya; Chief of Staff to the late COAS, Brigadier General Mohammed Idris Abdulkadir; Acting Provost Marshal, Brigadier General Olatunji Lukman Olayinka, Aide-De-Camp to the COAS, Major Lawal Aliyu Hayat, and Major Nura Hamza, Flight Lieutenant Taiwo Olufemi Asaniyi, Flight Lieutenant Alfred Ayodeji Olufade, Sergeant Opeyemi Isaiah Adesina, Sergeant Umar Saidu and Aircraftman (ACM) Olamide Matthew Oyedepo.

In his very short tenure, Nigerians got a sense that their security would be more assured. He spoke about it but also acted. One such action, which the late COAS, noted for his readiness to lead from the front took, was the dramatic recovery of some territories captured by Boko Haram insurgents in February 2021. He visited the war theatre on Sunday, February 21 2021, and motivated the force to recapture the territories taken by the insurgents within 48 hours. He addressed them as follows:

“I bring you very special greetings from the President and Commander-in-.-Chief of the Armed Forces.

“I present myself as your Chief of Army Staff. To get to meet you and you get to know me as well.

“The essence of this visit is operational. The idea is to motivate you.

“In the last few days, we have had attacks in your area of responsibility. It is high time we get back and fight through and support our forces ahead of you.

“Areas around Marte, Chikingudo, Kirenowa, and Kirta, Wulgo must be cleared within 48 hours. Rest assured of all the support required in this onerous task.

“I have just spoken to your Theatre Commander, General Officer Commanding, you cannot let this nation down. You must go there and do the needful, and I will be right behind you.

“You have presented certain issues that came up; Overstay of soldiers, sooner rather than later; we will address.

“Where there are no adequate A and B vehicles, we will provide.

“With those few remarks, I wish you well on the operation, and I know the morale remains high.”

The soldiers picked up the gauntlet and recovered the territories within 24 hours! Apart from Marte’s dramatic recovery, Attahiru’s “take the attack to the enemy” principle had an enduring impact on the fortunes of the Nigerian forces, with the surrender of about 35,000 Boko Haram fighters. He knew where he was going with his strategy and told anyone he discussed the issue with that Boko Haram would, “Insha Allah,” be history before the end of 2021. Sadly, the man of vision did not live to see the end of the year as he purposed!

But visionaries who pursue and share their dreams do not die with their visions; this is the joy about Attahiru. The patriot in him fought like every day was his last. One of the rapid steps he took was to emphasise and spread the gospel of unity in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria.

Attahiru believed that the military must unite to fight the war. As a first signpost, he changed the operation’s name in the country’s North-East from Lafiya do le (Peace by force) to Hadin Kai, which means “heads put together!” The COAS and his colleagues in the Air Force and Navy did not leave their subordinates in doubt as to the determination to get the three forces working together in unison, and this brought significant successes, which their successors are now building on.

Testifying to Attahiru’s vision on this front, former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao (rtd), says in his tribute to his late course mate and colleague: “We were together at the forefront of the counter-insurgency operation. We crafted strategies to combat insurgency and other security challenges with high aspirations. We had similar visions with the fundamentals of joint operations and synergy as a cornerstone of our strategy.”

Attahiru also spread his belief in the Theory of the Trinity, which speaks to the essential partnership between the Army, the government, and the people. He was convinced that the Nigerian Army needed to seek the understanding and earn the trust of the Nigerian people in its commitment to improve security. His idea of putting heads together also involved other security and intelligence agencies, the local communities, and the media. His strategy was to promote community-based intelligence and tactical efficiency. He wanted a better understanding between the Army and the mass media. Seeing the media as the intermediary between the Army and the people, he felt that the partnership between the two must be robust. To foster this, he promptly approved training sessions aimed at re-orientating spokespersons for the Army.

He also approved leadership seminars for relevant Army personnel. They planned that these sessions would take place across the country, starting with General Officers Commanding and Brigade Commanders. They hoped that the re-orientation would cascade down, and every member of the Army could begin to see the importance of respecting the rights of Nigerians and the necessity of synergy between the civilian population and the military. The first part of the training, where the former National Human Rights Commission Chairman, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, and others spoke, was held in Ibadan between May 18 and May 20, 2021. The PROs’ training was ongoing in  Abuja simultaneously, as Attahiru believed in firing on all cylinders to achieve success.

Firing on all cylinders endeared him to the Nigerian Army officers and men and many Nigerians. One such person is veteran journalist, television host, and military historian, Mr Babajide Otitoju. In his tribute to Attahiru, the journalist wrote: “He was such an excellent communicator that even the interface between the Army and the civil populace was much better. People were happy to relate to him. Though short, I can tell you that his tenure as Chief of Army Staff was eventful.”

Even though he did not live to accomplish his vision, he was conscious enough to plant the seeds of some of his ideas in the minds of those who came after him and the courage to take bold steps upon which others have built. Honest assessors of the recent history of the Nigerian military will always remember Attahiru’s short term as pacesetting and effectual. And even in death, the late Kaduna State-born General, exemplary husband, father, and humanitarian, remains a patriot who gave his all for the country he loved and served.

May he and the other eleven patriots who died with him continue to rest in peace.

Adedokun is the author of The Man, The Soldier, The Patriot, the biography of Lt. Gen Ibrahim Attahiru

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives in Gombe have arrested a woman, Janty Emmanuel, for abusing the naira at a social event.

In a statement on Tuesday, Dele Oyewale, spokesperson of the EFCC, said Emmanuel was arrested on Monday after she was spotted spraying naira notes at an event.

Oyewale said Emmanuel admitted to committing the crime after being shown a piece of video evidence, adding that the suspect will be charged in court after all investigations have been concluded on the matter.

“Upon arrest, the suspect was shown the video where she was dancing at G-Connect, Tumfure, Gombe State and spraying Naira notes of N1000 denomination,” the statement reads.

“She admitted committing the crime. She will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”

On Monday, the agency announced that it had secured the conviction of 31 individuals involved in illegal currency trading and abuse of the naira in Kano.

Last month, Bobrisky, the social media celebrity, was sentenced to six months in prison for abusing the naira notes.

[TheCable]

Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea by mutual consent after meeting with sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali over the course of two days.

LEADERSHIP can reveal that Pochettino agreed to his departure with Chelsea late on Tuesday morning, following the club’s end-of-season review that started on Monday.

There is no any bad blood between Pochettino and Chelsea, who will immediately start their search for a replacement with a young and progressive coach to be targeted.

Among the names likely to be considered will be Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness, Girona’s Michel, Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, who has been lined up by Brighton, and Leicester City’s Enzo Maresca.

Pochettino had met co-controlling owner Todd Boehly for dinner last Friday night, before, on Monday and Tuesday, spending several hours with Winstanley and Stewart, and meeting with Eghbali.

It means Pochettino leaves Chelsea after one year of the two-year contract he signed last summer and is in line to pocket a significant compensation fee.

The departure of Pochettino, which has been described as being ‘amicable’, makes him the third permanent head coach to lose his job under the Clearlake Capital-Boehly ownership after Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.

Bruno Saltor managed Chelsea for one game last season, before Frank Lampard took interim charge, meaning a total of five managers have worked under Chelsea’s current owners in two years.

A run of five successive wins at the end of this season clinched European qualification for Chelsea under Pochettino, who also took the club to the final of the Carabao Cup and the semi-final of the FA Cup.

The Argentine has left with his head held high and his reputation intact. But, in the view of key figures at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s season, viewed as a whole, fell short of pre-season expectations and raised issues such as the crippling injury list.

[Leadership]

The Nigerian Army has broken its silence on the shutting down of Banex Plaza in Abuja.

The plaza has been under lock and key since hoodlums attacked some soldiers un uniform on Saturday.

The soldiers who accompanied a complainant to the plaza were assaulted by a mob which broke into groups.

Although the police waded in to restore normalcy, soldiers later stormed the venue in vans and laid siege to the place.

In a statement on Tuesday, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Army spokesman, said the plaza was temporarily shut so as to take time to fish out the hoodlums behind Saturday’s incident.

“Following the recent unrest at Banex Plaza in Wuse, Abuja, on Saturday 18 May 2024, by yet to be identified hoodlums who launched a brutal attack on some Nigerian Army personnel, a swift intervention by soldiers and policemen on internal security duties salvaged the situation and rescued the attacked personnel from being lynched by the hoodlums.”

“It is important to note that the soldiers attacked were unarmed, did not engage in any form of aggression, and posed no threat to anyone. Therefore, the cruel treatment meted out to them was entirely unwarranted and unjustifiable.

“In response to this unfortunate incident, a meeting was convened with the management of Banex Plaza to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous act by temporarily shutting down activities in the plaza to ensure that the hoodlums who have been using the Banex neighborhood as a sanctuary to pose a security threat to the Federal Capital Territory were apprehended.

“This, is in furtherance of the need for extensive investigation to be conducted at the scene to determine both the immediate and underlying causes of this mayhem. This investigation ultimately aims at ensuring the security of the Federal Capital Territory and to prevent such unwarranted attacks on own personnel and other security operatives, as has been observed in other areas, such as the unfortunate attack in Okuama.

“The Nigerian Army will equally ensure that it diligently investigates the circumstances surrounding the presence of the personnel at the plaza and the attack that ensued.
Nonetheless, such acts of violence against personnel are not only condemnable, but could degenerate to a breakdown of law and order, orchestrating threats to national security.

“Accordingly, the NA enjoins members of the public to exercise caution and restraint in dealing with military personnel and other security operatives, especially when they are in uniform. There are established channels through which grievances or misconduct by personnel could be reported to the appropriate authorities. It is imperative that these channels are utilized to maintain order and respect for those who serve and protect our nation.”

[DailyTrust]

Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State on Tuesday said he’s ready to answer queries, stressing that he took his time to document all his activities as a civil servant.

Fubara said he had records to show that all he did during his time as a civil servant was based on approval.

The governor, who spoke during the inauguration of Egbeda internal roads, was reacting to those questioning his decision to probe the previous administration.

Under the past administration of Nyesom Wike, Fubara was the Accountant-General.

Amid his face-off with the now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Fubara had vowed to probe Wike and previous administrations.

However, Fubara said his records demonstrate that all his actions in the last administration were based on proper approvals.

[DailyPost]

Meeting on the ongoing negotiations on new minimum wage has been adjourned till Wednesday after the organised labour rejected the new N54,000 minimum wage proposal by the Federal Government, a highly reliable source who attended the meeting told our correspondent on Wednesday.

The PUNCH had exclusively reported that the Federal Government upped its offer from its earlier proposed N48,000 to N54,000.

Tuesday’s meeting came as a result of the walkout staged by members of the organised labour following the proposal of N48,000 as minimum wage by the Federal Government during last week’s meeting.

During that meeting, the OPS had also proposed N54,000 while labour insisted on its N615,000 living wage demand.

Our correspondent who spoke to sources who attended the follow-up meeting on Tuesday learnt that the Federal Government upped its offer from N48,000 to N54,000.

“Well, during the meeting, the government increased its offer from N48,000 to N54,000. However, labour rejected that offer and the meeting has been adjourned till Wednesday,” a source who asked not to be named said.

When asked if the government’s side was showing any sign of seriousness, the labour leader said, “No seriousness at all. Even state governors did not show up. Those who represented them, like Bauchi and Niger states, did not have the mandates to speak on their behalf.

“As regards the private sector, we did not get to them before the meeting was adjourned but we hope they also increase their initial offer.”

Organised labour on Monday reiterated its May 31, 2024 deadline for the implementation of the new minimum wage.

The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, insisted on N615,000 minimum wage, arguing that the amount was arrived at after an analysis of the current economic situation and the needs of an average Nigerian family of six.

He blamed the government and the OPS for the breakdown in negotiation, saying, “Despite earnest efforts to reach an equitable agreement, the less than reasonable action of the Government and the Organised Private Sector has led to a breakdown in negotiations.”

In a statement released at the end of the jointly held NEC meeting by the NLC and TUC which was signed by Joe Ajaero, NLC president and Festus Osifo, TUC president, the unions said they acknowledge the ongoing negotiations between the NLC/TUC, the Organised Private Sector and the Federal Government regarding the new national minimum wage.

While appreciating what they described as the efforts made thus far, the NLC and TUC emphasized the urgency of reaching a fair and equitable agreement that reflects the true value of Nigerian workers’ contributions to the nation’s development and the current crisis of survival facing Nigerians as a result of government’s policies.

They also affirmed commitment to ensuring that the interests and welfare of workers are adequately protected in the negotiation process.

President Bola Tinubu through Vice President Kashim Shettima, on January 30, 2024, inaugurated the 37-member Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage to come up with a new minimum wage ahead of the expiration of the current N30,000 wage on April 18.

With its membership cutting across federal and state governments, the private sector and organised labour, the panel is to recommend a new national minimum wage for the country.

During the inauguration of the panel, Shettima urged the members to “speedily” arrive at a resolution and submit their reports early.

“This timely submission is crucial to ensure the emergence of a new minimum wage,” Shettima said.

In furtherance of its assignment, a zonal public hearing was held simultaneously on March 7 in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, and Abuja.

The NLC and the TUC in different states proposed various figures as a living wage, referencing the current economic crunch and the high costs of living.

In their different proposals on the minimum wage, the NLC members in the South-West states demanded N794,000 as the TUC suggested N447,000.

At the North-Central zonal hearing in Abuja, the workers demanded N709,000 as the new national minimum wage, while their counterparts in the South-South clamoured for N850,000.

In the North-West, N485,000 was proposed, while the South-East stakeholders demanded N540,000 minimum wage.

But organised labour settled for N615,000 as a living wage.

[Punch]

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday inaugurated the 6th National Stakeholders Working Group, NSWG, of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, with a charge on members to stay away from the day-to-day activities of the agency.

The President said that since the appointment was on a part time basis, the daily management of NEITI lies with the management team led by the Executive Secretary, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume who inaugurated the board on behalf of President Tinubu reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to the implementation of the principles and standard of the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in Nigeria.

“Our faith in the EITI process is not just because it is central to our key government agendas, but also because, over the years, NEITI has demonstrated a high degree of competence, integrity and commitment to the values that the country requires to achieve economic growth and development in the sector through availability of reliable information and data required for national planning and reforms.

“NEITI has supported phenomenal revenue growth in the sector through meticulous application of EITI principles. Our national and global focus is on energy security, efficiency and justice in energy financing, renewable and control of emissions. The work of NEITI is so important to our country and particularly this administration in helping us to define our country’s engagement strategy on the energy transition debate through consultations, constructive engagement driven by reliable information and data”, the President added.

He charged the members: “Your appointment as a member of the NSWG is not a full time job and as members, please note this very carefully to avoid getting involved into issues of day to day management which is the work of NEITI management under the leadership of the Executive Secretary. You are therefore advised to conduct yourselves in accordance with this requirement”.

Addressing the board in his capacity as the NSWG Chairman, Senator George Akume stated that his appointment demonstrates the Federal Government’s prompt and timely response to the recent global EITI assessment of Nigeria’s implementation of the Initiative which among other observations stressed the urgent need to reconstitute NEITI’s Board to avoid sanctions.

Other members of the board are: Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), representing the government, the Group CEO, NNPC Limited is representing the National Oil and Gas Company. The Board also has a representative of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and the President of Miners Association of Nigeria representing Extractive Companies (Oil, gas and mining companies). The civil society organisations have Dr Erisa Danladi representing them while the Presidents of Nigeria Mining & Geosciences Society (NMGS) and the President National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) are representing Extractive Industries Professional Unions on the Board. 

[vanguard]