The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • El-Rufai names 11 commissioner-nominees

    Kaduna state Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai has sent the names of 11 nominees for appointment as commissioners to the House of Assembly.

    The governor said he will subsequently forward three more nominees to make up the 14 commissioners that will constitute the state executive council.

    A statement signed by the governor’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said upon confirmation by the legislature, the commissioners will run the 14 ministries created in the June 2019 Executive Order.

    The statement reads: “El-Rufai nominated 11 persons for appointment as commissioners. The names of this first batch of 11 nominees have been forwarded to the Kaduna State House of Assembly. The second batch of nominees will subsequently be forwarded for the consideration of the legislature.

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    “All the 11 nominees served in various positions in the first-term of the government. Picking insiders is a deliberate decision to enable the nominees hit the ground running and assists the government to achieve its targets for the second term. Every appointee will be subjected to stronger monitoring based on clear terms of reference and key performance indicators.

    “The first batch of 11 nominees for and their proposed portfolios are as follows: Ja’afaru Ibrahim Sani, Ministry of Local Government Affairs; Idris Samaila Nyam, Ministry of Business, Innovation & Technology; Shehu Usman Makarfi, Ministry of Education; and Ibrahim Garba Hussaini, Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources.

    Others are Kabir Muhammad Mato, Ministry of Sports Development; Balaraba Aliyu-Inuwa, Ministry of Public Works & Infrastructure; Samuel Peter Aruwan, Ministry of Internal Security & Home Affairs; Fausat Adebola Ibikunle, Ministry of Housing & Urban Development; Mohammed Bashir Saidu, Ministry of Finance; Hafsat Mohammed Baba, Ministry of Human Services & Social Development; Aisha Dikko, Ministry of Justice.

    “Nominations for the commissioners of Agriculture, Health and Planning & Budget will be forwarded in the second batch.

  • Air Force neutralises 20 bandits in Zamfara

    No fewer than 20 bandits have been neutralised in Zamfara State, it was learnt on Wednesday.

    It spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, in a statement, said the air strikes were conducted after intelligence reports established the presence of the bandits in the area.

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “The Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji has neutralised no fewer than 20 armed bandits at a location near Munhaye in Zamfara State in air strikes conducted on July 2, 2019.

    “The operation was executed sequel to credible intelligence reports indicating that scores of armed bandits had assembled at the location for a meeting, supposedly with the intention of attacking innocent civilians in the surrounding communities.

    Read Also: I did my best to address security challenges in Zamfara, says Yari

    “The Air Component, therefore, scrambled a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet to attack the location, which is about 15 kilometres from the border with Katsina State.

    “Upon arrival overhead the area, the Alpha Jet observed over 30 armed bandits attempting to flee the location whilst firing at the approaching attack aircraft. The Alpha Jet engaged the bandits with effective fire, neutralising 20 of them.

    “The NAF, working in consonance with other security agencies, will sustain its operations to flush the bandits out of the Northwest.”

  • Oyo pensioners call for emergency over N62.5b arrears

    Retirees under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Oyo State have called on Governor Seyi Makinde to as a matter of urgency declare a state of emergency on pension matters in view of the about N63 billion arrears being owned the pensioners by past administrations.

    The sum, which accounts for between eight to 56 months of unpaid pensions and gratuities, is been owed retired primary school teachers and local government pensioners.

    The pensioners spoke when about 1,000 members of the NUP in the state led by Acting Chairman Abimbola Abolade and state secretary Olusegun Abatan, staged a solidarity rally to the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan.

    Speaking on behalf of the pensioners, Abatan called for the upward review of the monies allocated to settling the arrears in the interest of the retirees.

    He said: “It is regrettable to inform your excellency that gratuities of workers, who retired in the year 2012, are just being paid in 2019. We strongly appeal that the monthly allocation to the Ministry of Establishment be increased to N500 million monthly to enable prompt payment of gratuities and pensions.

    “If you add all these arrears together, government’s indebtedness to Oyo State pensioners alone would be in the neighbourhood of N100 billion. It is this pertinent to urge your excellency to declare a state of emergency on pension matters.”

    Governor Makinde said his administration would give everything that is due to the pensioners under the law to them as and when due saying, however, that “in this journey, there are two parts’.

    Read Also: Paris Club Refund: Osun pensioners advised to crosscheck information with other states

    “Part one started on May 29, 2019. We have drawn a line there that from May 29, 2019, till the end of this –administration, whatever is due to you under the law, will be done for you.

    “So, what we are saying is that salaries of workers, pensions and all other statutory payments that government should pay, we will pay them as at when due.

    “But what had transpired before we came on board, we will roll them together, and look at how to deduct money in installments to offset the arrears. This is what I promised during the campaign. Whatever we can devote to it every month, we will devote it.

    “I must let you appreciate the position we are in in Oyo State, as of today. There is no hide-and-seek game in what we are doing inside the Governor’s Office. We will make it completely open. I want you to hold me accountable for that.

    “The Federal Allocation to Oyo State every month is N4.5 billion roughly. The wage bill is N5.5 billion. So, there is a gap of N1 billion. Our monthly internally generated revenue – even historical within one month and four days that we have spent in office, is roughly N2 billion. If we take N1 billion in the IGR to complete workers’ salaries, it remains N1 billion.

    “The contract I met on ground is that the consultant, collecting the IGR for the government, is being paid 20 per cent. So, the consultancy fee in the N2 billion is about N400 million. So, if we add N1billion to workers’ salaries and pay the consultant N400 million, what we have left is about N500 million to N600million. These exclude allocations to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    “But don’t be scared, we have put all these factors into consideration before we decided that God should use us for the people of Oyo State. I told you the state of things so that you can appreciate our position. We are ready and able to tackle the challenges.”

  • Osun to stop payment of workers’ salary deductions to MDAs

    The Osun State government is planning to stop  payment of workers’ salary deductions directly into the account of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    Supervisor for Finance Mr. Bola Oyebamiji gave this indication during the weekly finance meeting.

    He said Governor Gboyega Oyetola has given a directive for the beginning of automation of salary deductions to cooperatives, banks and other financial institutions being patronized by civil servants.

    He said the governor, through the automation system, planned to check fraud and improve fiscal transparency in government financial transactions.

    Oyebamiji also said the measure would go a long way in strengthening cooperative societies within the civil service, where the deductions are expected to go.

    According to the Supervisor for Finance, the deductions include civil servants’ funds for cooperative societies, loan repayment funds to banks and funds meant for the Osun Health Insurance Scheme among others.

    He maintained that the measure  would aid efficiency, remove the bottlenecks involved in the payment of salary deductions  and go a long way in checking fraud as well as the irregularities involved in such payments.

    Oyebamiji said the old method of paying funds into the accounts of MDAs before it gets to the beneficiaries was slow, clumsy and not devoid of fraud.

    He added that the Oyetola administration would continue to priorities the welfare of civil servants “because they remain the heartbeat of government that support the informal sector of the economy”.

    He advised civil servants to go and open bank accounts for the purpose.

    Also on Wednesday, Oyetola has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the transformation of the agricultural sector.

    Speaking at the 2019 Osun Farmers Field Day, Oyetola promised to promote mechanised farming to achieve food security.

    Read Also: APC leaders pray for Oyetola’s victory

    The governor said his administration would partner with farm tools manufacturing firms to ensure that farmers get access to modern machines for processing their farm produce.

    He said: “Our vision is to make agriculture profitable and ensure food security as part of our eight-point agenda designed to wholly transform the agriculture sector in this state.

    “We have the will as an administration and your turnout today is proof that you are ready to partner with us to transform our dream of food sufficiency, poverty eradication and job creation into reality.

    “Our farmers are allies in the march towards food sufficiency, poverty eradication and job creation.

    “Agriculture remains the mainstay of the economy of this state and it serves as the backbone of our economy as the sector has vast potential for critical infrastructural development that is reminiscent of the glorious days of Cocoa economy in the old western region.”

    “In line with my campaign promises, the government has embarked on a number of projects to enhance the economic base of farmers and the state.

    “Under the partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the state government has provided 205.5 hectares of land in Ago-Owu for the purpose of conducting researches and setting up demonstration farms for best farming practices.”

    The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Charles Akinola, said the state government had been working assiduously to make life abundant and meaningful for the farmers.

    Akinola said over 20,000 hectares of land will be provided for farmers to expand the scope of farming in the state.

    He said the state had partnered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other donor agencies to ensure the availability of funds for farmers and as well as enhance easy access to loans.

    The Director-General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Alfred Dixon, commended the administration of Governor Oyetola for prioritising the agriculture sector.

    Chairman, Osun State Chapter of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria Alhaji Sulaiman Araokanmi applauded the government for being committed to the welfare of the citizens and general well-being of farmers since assumption of office.

  • APC leaders pray for Oyetola’s victory

    Interdenominational  prayers were on Wednesday held in Ife, Osun State, by the leaders of the All Progressives Congress to seek the face of God in a legal battle between Governor Gboyega Oyetola and the People’s Democratic Party’s governorship candidate, Senator Demola Adeleke.

    The prayers session, which was held in front of the Palace of the Ooni of Ife, was officiated by both Islamic and Christian clerics who prayed for the success of Oyetola at the Supreme Court.

    Clerics were drawn from all parts of Ife Federal Constituency, which comprises Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South for the event, which lasted more than five hours.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Osun gov’ship dispute: Supreme Court fixes judgment for July 5

    The APC leaders in attendance include former Deputy Governor Sooko  Adeleke Adewoyin, former Minister of Water Resources Alhaji Bashir Awotorebo, former Osun State Commissioner for Culture and Home Affairs Sikiru Aiyedun and  a retired Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Fatai Kolawole.

    Others are Mr. Molade Binuyo, Mr. Kole Akinrinade, Ipoola Binuyo, Kunle Oyatomi, Mr. Kola Olabisi and some local government council and party chairmen from the federal constituency.

  • ‘Nigerians consume N1.2b local rice daily’

    Nigerians consume N1.2 billion worth of locally produced rice nationwide everyday, National President of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) Alhaji Aminu Goronyo stated this on Wednesday

    Goronyo noted that since 2015, “no naira has been converted to dollars to  import rice into the country”.

    This proactive measure by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), he said, has resulted in Nigeria being self-sufficient in rice production, thus making it possible for Nigerians to consume N1.2 billion worth of locally produced rice daily.

    Goronyo was reacting to allegations by an individual, who claimed to have supplied agricultural input for rice under the ABP but have not been paid by the CBN.

    Acccording to Goronyo, the CBN does not deal directly with RIFAN suppliers or service providers and as a result has no business with the individual.

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    He stated that after checking the list of 30 RIFAN suppliers and service providers, the aggrieved petitioner was not found on its list.

    RIFAN, he noted, did not deal with individuals but corporate entities that get paid after meeting the terms of  engagement for the supply of inputs or services.

    Reacting to the petition that was sent to President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Goronyo told journalists that “all information suggests that the petitioner is unhappy with the ABP of the CBN.

    The petitioner, Christopher Kajere, whose name cannot be found on RIFAN’s list of suppliers and service providers, Goronyo said lacks the capacity to operate as a RIFAN supplier because he did not follow the proper channels of engagement expected of RIFAN suppliers and service providers. Moreover, RIFAN he said does not use contractors as the petitioner identified himself.

  • Faceless contractor got N7b Moniya-Iseyin road, says Makinde

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has alleged that a contractor with untraceable office address was awarded the Moniya-Iseyin road for N7billion by the immediate past administration.

    According to him, N2billion out of the total contract sum was paid to the contractor, who he described as ‘faceless’.

    The governor added that his assessment of the job done so far on the site would barely pass for N150million.

    Makinde spoke after taking a tour of the road leading to the Pacesetter Quarry and Asphalt plant, located at Km 25, Moniya-Iseyin Road, Ojedeji Village in Akinyele Local Government Area for an assessment of the plant.

    The governor lamented that the road which serves as the economic route for farm and agricultural produce into the state could be abandoned after the contractor collected N2 billion, with little or nothing to show for it on the project site.

    He said his effort at locating the site address of the contractor to interact with them on the level of work done despite the amount of money released, revealed that the office address was not traceable and the name faceless.

    Makinde said: “My impression of the work done so far if I will have to evaluate  and cost it, it couldn’t have been more than N150million that I will spend on it.

    Read Also: Makinde raises panel to probe local govts, LCDAs accounts

    “It was a faceless contractor and we don’t even know where their offices are located. I could have stopped by to go and discuss with them, but there is nowhere to stop by.”

    On the quarry and asphalt plant, which has been abandoned in the past eight years, Makinde expressed disappointment that the project that could have fetch the state some revenue was left unattended to due to political difference.

    The asphalt plant was established during the tenure of Senator Rashidi Ladoja, but could not attract any partner under the proposed Public-Private Partnership agreement.

    The inspection, according to the governor, was targetted at reviving the facility in order to reduce the money spent on road projects by the state government.

    “What we will do is that we will look at what has gone on it through the files, but it is a shame that we have an asset like this and it was just allowed to rot because of political considerations. And we will have to send people here to check the integrity of what we have here and quickly see what we can do because we are buying a whole lot of asphalt from other places for road maintenance agencies.

    “What we came to do is to check the integrity of the plant. Sometimes, it may be better to start something from the start, if we cannot bring this back to life, but the concept was well thought of and the state government has been buying asphalt from the third party, so we might as well put this back to life,” the governor said.

  • Unknown men at Ekiti ex-Deputy Speaker’s home

    Suspected assailants on Tuesday night allegedly besieged the Erinjiyan-Ekiti home of a former Deputy Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Olusegun Adewumi.

    The bandits, who forced their ways into the residence around 2a.m., did not meet Adewumi. He reportedly travelled to Canada with his family.

    On March 30, 2013, some bandits attacked the former deputy speaker’s residence in Erinjiyan, where his mother, Mrs. Juliana Adewumi and his aide, Mr. Ayo Jeje (a.k.a. Murphy), were murdered.

    The gardener in charge of the residence, who was not around when the incident happened, said the assailants who infiltrated into the house, were after the former Speaker because no property was carted away.

    He explained that people called him to tell him about the incident.

    Read Also: Governor Fayemi laments erosion of Ekiti core values

    He said: “I was in Aramoko when I received a call from someone living close to honourable’s house that I should come at dawn to Erinjiyan.

    “Not quite long, I received calls from two different people, who were known to me. And I rushed down to Erinjiyan at dawn to check. When I got there, I could see traces of the entry, but no property was carted away.

    “They were said to be fully armed, asking about the honourable. They were quoted to have  said ‘the stupid guy is not in Ado and still nowhere to be in his hometown, Erijiyan’.”

    When contacted, the Ekiti State Police Command’s spokesman, Caleb Ikechukwu, a deputy superintendent of police, said the command has not been briefed about the incident.

  • FRSC boss proffers solution to Lagos gridlock

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has advised the Lagos State Government to redouble efforts on its inter-modal system of transportation, as a solution to the gridlock in the state.

    Oyeyemi spoke on Wednesday while delivering the first distinguished lecture of the School of Transport, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.

    The theme of the lecture was ‘Transportation And Road Safety Management: Achieving The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria’.

    He said Lagos State was a good example of how the intermodal system of transportation could operate, as practised globally.

    According to him, the inter-modal system includes railway, inner waterways, pipeline, air transport system, among others.

    Oyeyemi said if the intra-modal system was effective, most Nigerians would not depend on road transportation but on the alternative system.

    He said the problem of the poor transportation system was as a result of infrastructure that could not match with the increasing population.

    “Continued growth in population, employment and trade have led to the placement of increasing demand on the road transportation system, challenging the efficiency of the road network.

    “Rising trend in morbidity and mortality rate due to Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) in low and middle-income countries has led the WHO to declare road traffic crashes an epidemic,” he said.

    According to him, the situation in Nigeria has been exacerbated by the near absence of alternative modes of transportation.

    Oyeyemi said an estimated 90 per cent of passengers and freight in Nigeria relied on the road network, with the attendant challenge of an increased number of RTCs.

    He explained that transportation is a major catalyst in the changing process of economic growth and development of any economy, as it plays a recognizable role in the various sectors of the economy.

    Read Also: Reimagining the chaotic splendour of Lagos traffic

    The Corps Marshal said development in the area of transportation constituted an important aspect of socio-economic development.

    According to him, road infrastructure, in particular, represents, if not the engine, the wheels of economic activities in most developing countries, Nigeria inclusive.

    Oyeyemi said in achieving the SDGs through Road Transport Safety Management, the FRSC was working with relevant partners on easing movement of farm produce across the nation’s road network.

    He said the Corps would also conduct a periodic Road Safety Audit and forward the outcome to the relevant authorities for amelioration.

    “While it is true that road transport administration, including regulation, is still not satisfactory, the Corps is not resting on its oars, but constantly searching for solutions to all contemporary issues in road transport in Nigeria, particularly on safer road use,” Oyeyemi said.

    Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr Femi Hamzat urged Nigerians to change their attitude to government infrastructure and work toward maintaining them for their benefit.

    Represented by Ministry of Transport Permanent Secretary Dr Taiwo Salam, Hamzat said the current situation of poor traffic regulation in Lagos State was so because the past administration tried its best in terms of infrastructure, but did not do much of enforcement.

    LASU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun lauded the calibre of personalities at the event and described the lecture as insightful.

    Fagbohun promised that the university would do a follow-up on the recommendations and outcome of the lecture, and carry all stakeholders along.

  • Child defilement: Chrisland School supervisor knows fate October 18

    Lagos Sexual and Domestic Offences Court, Ikeja has fixed judgment for October 18 in the charge of alleged defilement of a two-year-old pupil brought against a supervisor of Chrisland International School, Lekki, Mr Adegboyega Adenekan.

    Justice Sybil Nwaka fixed the date for judgement during resumed proceedings in the matter.

    Justice Nwaka also refused the bail application filed by Adenekan, who was sent back on remand to Kirikiri Prisons two weeks ago by the court.

    Ruling on the bail application filed by his counsel, Mr Olatunde Adejuyigbe (SAN), the trial judge said she was being mindful of the safety of the defendant.

    “I am mindful of the accused protection and therefore adjourned the case to October 2 for submission of final written address.”

    Read Also: Chrisland school’s supervisor accused of defiling 2-year-old pupil sent to Kirikiri prisons

    Earlier during the proceedings on Wednesday, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. B.T Boye told the court that there are factors to be considered before granting bail to any defendant.

    Boye listed the factors to include “the nature of offence, character of evidence, the criminal record of the defendant, likelihood of repetition if granted bail,  guilt on the defendant side and detention for the protection of the defendant.”

    It would be recalled that, at the last proceedings, the court revoke the bail granted by a magistrate court to the defendant which he has been enjoying since the commencement of trial in 2017 as the court was not provided with the conditions attached to it.

    Adenekan is being prosecuted by the Lagos State Government for defiling a two-year-old former pupil in the nursery section of the school.

    He had pleaded not guilty.