Author: The Nation

•Fed Govt, states propose palliatives to cushion effects of petrol subsidy withdrawal’

The National Economic Council (NEC) yesterday considered two forms of palliatives for workers and vulnerable persons to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal. 

The proposals are  “living cost allowance” of over N702 billion and  “petroleum allowance” ranging from N23.5 billion to N45 billion per month.

The council explained after its more than five and a half hours meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima that the N702 billion was recommended by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission based on Labour’s demands.

Before the meeting, President Bola Tinubu, who inaugurated the NEC, charged its members to work with his administration to revive the economic fortunes of Nigeria and its citizens.

The NEC is a major organ of the Executive made up of the 36 governors, ministers in charge of finance and the economy, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, among others.

Tinubu had in his May 29 inauguration speech announced that the era of subsidy was over. 

The development led to a threat by Labour to embark on a strike to compel the government to rethink the policy.

Read Also: ‘Nigerians should be patient with Tinubu over subsidy removal’

After a series of horse trading, Labour suspended the planned strike after the Federal Government promised to work out measures to minimise the impact of the policy on the masses, especially workers. The meeting between the Federal Government and the Labour centres will resume on Monday.

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who briefed reporters after the NEC meeting, explained that the two forms of allowances were a part of the numerous palliatives in the pipeline.

Mohammed said NEC also discussed the possibility of obtaining funds from the World Bank and its London partners to implement the Federal Government’s  Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) programme as a strategy to reduce petrol costs.  

NEC, according to him, constituted a committee to work out modalities for the deployment of the N702 billion and the N23.5 billion/ N45 billion monthly petroleum allowance.

The committee, headed by Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, has two weeks to complete its assignment.

Mohammed was joined by four of his colleagues – Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Alex Otti (Abia) and Yahaya Bello (Kogi). 

The Bauchi State governor said: “Various scenarios were given by the presenter on the issue of salaries and wages and this N702 billion plus was suggested as an allowance for the cost of living adjustment allowance by Labour and the other one is a petroleum allowance. 

“The governor of Ogun has told you that there are other allowances here and there, but with regards to Labour, these are some of the few allowances that they have suggested.

“That of petroleum, they said, will range from N23.5 billion to N45 billion per month, depending on what is in the kitty for distribution or for sharing. 

“So, the N702 billion is a suggested sum for Labour to cushion the effect on workers on a new allowance that will be tagged ‘cost of living adjustment allowance’. 

“The council looked at all the issues, including the challenges and problems holistically and then set up a small committee of the council to review and come up with a term of reference to organised areas, specifically where these palliatives can come and how they will be dispensed to alleviate the problems of workers and other vulnerable groups.”

The committee comprises the Governor of Kebbi as chairman; Charles Soludo (Anambra) representing Southeast; Hycinth Alia (Benue) representing Northcentral;  Uba Sani (Kaduna) representing Northwest; Mohammed, representing Northeast; Bassey Otu  (Cross River), representing Southsouth and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) representing the Southwest. 

Also on the committee are representatives of the Budget Office of the Federation, CBN, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). 

Mohammed said they must recommend to NEC within two weeks “a holistic” approach to alleviating the post-subsidy removal hardship on Nigerians.

Abiodun said oil sector players, represented by the officials of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), suggested how to reduce the price of petrol.

According to him, the body urged the government to reduce the taxes being collected by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA) and other government agencies on petroleum products.

Read Also: JUST IN: Tinubu meets ex-Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar

The governor added that the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, reported that the company noticed that with the subsidy removal, the cost of fuel in the neighbouring countries had risen.

He noted that the neighbouring countries have been relying on subsidised fuel from Nigeria.

Abiodun said the price of fuel would drop by N40 when local refineries begin to work at full capacity.

Otti said NEC looked at the issue of providing legislative support to local automotive manufacturers.

While noting that the impact of subsidy removal has increased prices, he said the presentations dwelt on ways to solve problem costs and reduce shock.

NEC also deliberated on the need to alleviate the suffering caused by the 2022 flood disaster in parts of the country through the timely release of funds as recommended by its various committees. 

Bello, who addressed the issue, said NEC frowned at the delay by many of the states affected by the disaster to forward their submissions to its secretariat. 

He said that given the threat of flood this year, NEC resolved that all states should make a comprehensive submission by next week.

President Bola Tinubu yesterday charged members of the  National Economic Council (NEC)   to work with his administration to revive the economic fortunes of Nigeria and its citizens.

 Noting that the task of reviving the economy was Herculian, Tinubu told the council members that Nigerians would not accept excuses because begged to be given the job.

 He spoke at the inauguration of NEC at the State House in Abuja. The council which is chaired by the Vice-President has governors of the 36 states,   Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) governor and other co-opted government officials as members.

 The body meets monthly and has the mandate to advise the President concerning the economic affairs of the federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the coordination of the economic planning efforts or economic programmes of the various levels of government.

Pointing out that “it is very reassuring that our citizens are behind us,” Tinubu told the NEC members that they (Nigerians) want quick reforms.  

 He said “It is worthy of note that the monthly meeting of NEC, chaired by the Vice-President has remained the official economic platform for robust dialogue among the Federal Government, the 36 state governors, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and other key stakeholders. 

 ”In my inaugural speech of May 29,  2003, I expressed this administration’s commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians in a manner that’s not just our humanity, encourages compassion towards one another, and duly rewards our collective effort to resolve the social ills that seek to divide us. 

 ”I also listed the principles that will guide our administration and it is as follows: To be impartial, to govern according to the Constitution, and the rule of law; To defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality; To promote economic growth and development, through job creation, food security, and an end to poverty;

Read Also: Security: All eyes on President Tinubu

 ”To prominently feature women and youth in all our activities, and to take proactive steps such as championing a credit culture to discourage corruption, while strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of various anti-corruption agencies. 

 ”I also highlighted eight priority areas to which this administration would focus, security, economy, jobs, agriculture and infrastructure. 

 ”We have already taken significant steps by ending the fuel subsidy and unifying the foreign exchange rate. This government will continue to transform our nation’s fortunes and bring about unprecedented development through good governance. 

 ”We are committed to sustainable initiatives and programmes that will stimulate the rejuvenation of the economy without causing inflation. 

 ”The plans and ideas we have presented underscore our confidence in our ability to meet the challenges of the day and pave the way for a better future. 

 ”The NEC meetings have over the years, been very constructive and productive and key outcomes, resolutions and recommendations are translated into brilliant government policies. 

 ”It is also evident that the task of growing our economy is quite enormous, but you and I asked for it, we campaigned for it, we even danced for it, we begged for it. So, we have no reason to complain.

 ”We must harness the growth potential of Nigeria and bring about serious development to bring us from a potential nation to pragmatic economic development in a rapid manner. 

 ”Their expectation is on NEC as a veritable source of articulating policies and programmes that are people-oriented. I cannot overemphasise that. 

 ”It is also reassuring to note that the populace, members of this country, is behind us, they want reforms and they want it quick, to have a meaningful impact on their lives. 

 ”We have enormous challenges facing us, it is you and I, we have all the 36 governors and stakeholders and you have the flexibility of using the local government to rapidly develop the infrastructure within the local government areas.

 ”Collaboration is not a crime. Please let us do so.”

 At the inauguration and maiden meeting were Governors Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara) ,   Ademola Adeleke (Osun);  Yahaya Bello(Kogi),   Biodun Oyebanji(Ekiti),   Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa),   Umo Eno(Akwa  Ibom)  , Peter Mbah(Enugu),    Bassey Otu (Cross River), Plateau, Caleb Muftwang(Plateau), Nasir Idris(Kebbi),   Aliyu Radda(Katsina)  and   Hycinth Alia(Benue).

Also in attendance were  Dauda Lawal(Zamfara),   Dapo Abiodun(Ogun),  Charles Soludo(Anambra), Yobe, Mai-Mala Buni (Yobe), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Inuwa Yahaya(Gombe),   Sheriff Oborevwori(Delta), Siminalayi Fubara(Rivers),  Mohammed Bago (Niger)and   Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto).

 Others were  Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Uba Sani (Kaduna),   Godwin Obaseki (Edo),   Alex Otti (Abia),   Douye Diri (Bayelsa),   Abba Yusuf (Kano),   Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), and   Seyi Makinde (Oyo)      Deputy Governors  Umar Kadafur  (Borno) and Lucky Ayedatiwa (Ondo) represented their principals.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila;   Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari;  Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein;  Acting Governor of the CBN, Folashodun Shonubi; Permanent Secretaries of Budget and National Planning, Federal Capital Territory Administration and State House were also in attendance.

Eminent economist Wale Edun, communication expert Dele Alake, former anti-graft scaz Nuhu Ribadu and Mr. John Uwajumogu were among the eight special advisers appointed by President Bola Tinubu yesterday.

They are made up of six male and two female.

Edun, one-time Lagos State Finance Commissioner is Special Adviser on Monetary Policies; Dele Alake is Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy; Ribadu is Special Adviser on Security and Uwajumogu is in charge of Industry, Trade and Investment.

According to a statement by State House Director of Information, Mr Abiodun Oladunjoye, others appointed are Mr. Yau Darazo, Special Adviser, Political and Intergovernmental Affairs; Mrs. Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser, Energy; Mr. Zachaeus Adedeji, Special Adviser, Revenue; and Dr (Mrs.) Salma Ibrahim Anas, Special Adviser, Health.

The appointments trailed those of former House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, as Chief of Staff, and Senator George Akume as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The appointments underscore the priority the Tinubu administration accords to the economy and revenue generation.

The appointments followed the approval of the president’s request to the Senate for the appointment of 20 advisers to assist him in running the administration.

Reacting to the appointments, spokesperson to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ima Niboro and Prof. Jideafor Adibe, said they were commendable.

Speaking on a Channels Television Programme,  Niboro said Tinubu has shown that he has the capacity and ability to run the affairs of the country.

He said: “With these appointments, President Bola Tinubu has hit the ground running.

“So far, he has dismissed the fears of many Nigerians who doubted his capacity.

“With what he has done in just two weeks, we have seen his capacity. His appointments so far is commendable.

“He has with this again disappointed many who have doubted his capacity and ability to deliver good governance.

“He has been appointing those that have been with him for decades, who know his mind and expectations.

“All those appointed so far are round pegs in round holes. All of them have served and still serving the nation in one way or the other.”

Adibe, a public analyst, said that the first two weeks of Tinubu’s presidency were action full.

He said the president has shown clearly that he has the stamina to do the job.

Adibe added: “And that the President has been able to show that he has capacity and stamina to do the job.

“Also, in the last two weeks, he has made some good policies that will improve the living standard of Nigerians.”

The profile

Alake

Born October 6, 1956, Alake, who hails from Ekiti State, is a journalist, activist, technocrat and politician.

He was educated at the University of Lagos.

He was editor of National Concord among other attainments in journalism, media and public relations practice . He was Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State between 1999 and 2007.

Edun 

Edun, Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, is a seasoned financial expert with a strong background in economics, public finance, international finance, merchant banking, and corporate finance at national and international levels.

Edun holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of London and a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Sussex, England.

He was Head of Treasury and Deputy Head of Corporate Finance at Chase Merchant Bank and gained valuable international experience at Wall Street firms Lehman Brothers and Chase Manhattan Capital Markets Corporation in New York, USA.

Since March 2008, Edun has served as the Chairman of Chapel Hill Denham Group. He co-founded and served as the Executive Director of Stanbic IBTC Plc upon his return to Nigeria in 1989.

Mrs. Verheijen

Verheijen is an energy expert and renewable energy investor with nearly 20 years of experience in the oil, gas, renewables and power sectors across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Verheijen was formerly a Deal Lead at Shell where she advised on gas commercialisation, merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions valued at over $5 billion.  She was a member of the governing board of Shell upstream joint venture.

Read Also: Tinubu loses Ribadu’s ward, First Lady, Binani, Mustapha’s polling units

She is the founder and Managing Director of Latimer Energy, a commercial advisory firm, whose services include advising clients on value optimisation in the acquisition, development and management of energy assets.

Adedeji

Adedeji is a former Commissioner for Finance in Oyo State. He is the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC). Adedeji is an expert in corporate tax and public finance development.

He graduated with a first-class degree in accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and a certificate in comparative tax policy and administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Ribadu

Ribadu, a former Assistant Inspector-General of Police, became the pioneer Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2003.

Born  Adamawa State, the former EFCC boss successfully prosecuted many financial crime cases, including that of Tafa Balogun, the then Inspector-General of Police, who was convicted, jailed and made to return about £150 million under a plea bargain arrangement.

Uwajumogu,

Uwajumogu is an expert in energy and infrastructure, with a master’s degree in International Affairs from the Fletcher School, Tufts University, US.

He is partner, strategy and transactions at Ernst & Young, a British multinational accounting firm.

He worked as a director with Grant Thornton from 2012 to 2016 and PwC from 2009 to 2012.

Dr Anas 

Anas is a public health specialist with over 25 years of experience in health sector development, policy formulation, and strategic development.

She is currently the director of Family Health Services at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) where she leads important divisions like reproductive health, child health and gender, adolescent, school health and elderly care (GASHE), nutrition and health promotion divisions.

She was a two-time Borno State Commissioner for Health where she led the state during the region’s humanitarian crisis.

Darazo

Darazo was a senior Special Adviser on Special Duties to former President Muhammadu Buhari. He hails from Darazo LGA in Bauchi. 

The Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate Peter Obi yesterday tendered 18,088 blurred polling unit result sheets and other documents at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

Their lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), tendered the documents through the petitioners’ fourth witness (PW4), Eric Ofoedu, a professor of mathematics at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

The petitioners also tendered the witness’ analysis of some election materials, a copy of a February 20 letter by the LP engaging Prof Ofoedu to help the party analyse data on the February 25 presidential election and the subpoena issued on him.

Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettma, and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), objected to the tendering of a majority of the documents.

They will adduce reasons for their objection at the final written address stage.

Earlier, Mahmoud, Olanipekun and Fagbemi faulted the petitioners for serving them with Ofoedu’s written statement a few minutes before the court sat, arguing that they ought to be served earlier to enable them to study the statement for the purpose of cross-examination.

It was, however, agreed by lawyers to both parties that the witness should be allowed to testify in chief and return today for cross-examination at 9 am, a position Justice Haruna Tsammani endorsed in a ruling.

The petitioners also called their fifth witness (PW5), Lumnie Edevbie, another subpoenaed witness, who described himself as an official of Arise News.

They tendered, through Edevbie, a flash drive containing a video recording of a presentation by INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu at the Chatham House, London.

In the video played in the court, the INEC Chairman spoke about his agency’s preparation for the last general elections.

He said INEC planned to deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and upload polling unit results to the INEC results viewing portal (IREV).

Yakubu said the results on IREV would be the same as the polling unit result sheets (EC8A).

Another petitioner’s lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), said he planned to show another video this afternoon.

Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) tendered some documents produced by Yakubu following a subpoena issued to him.

Yakubu delivered the documents through a staff of the commission, Mrs. Moronkeji Tairu, the Deputy Director, of Certification and Complaints, Legal Drafting and Clearance Department.

Among the documents produced by Mrs. Tairu, which the petitioners later tendered, is Form EC9 (affidavit in support of personal particulars), which President Tinubu submitted to INEC before the last presidential election.

Read Also: Obi Cubana, wife celebrate 15th wedding anniversary

Also tendered were 37 copies of Form EC8D series (state-by-state election results), one copy of Form EC8DA (the final results on which declaration was made), copies of accreditation data from the BVAS machine in respect of Rivers State and accreditation data from the BVAS machine for the 36 states and the FCT.

Mahmoud, Olanipekun and Fagbemi objected to the tendering of the documents and promised to supply elaborate reasons at the point of filing their final written addresses.

Earlier, the three lawyers cross-examined the petitioners’ 21st witness (PW21), Samuel Oduntan, who claimed to be a statistician.

He was cross-examined on the three-volume report of analysis of election materials which he produced for the PDP and which was tendered through him by the petitioners on Wednesday.

The witness, under cross-examination by Olanipekun, admitted not to have played any major role in the case of Khalil v. Musa Yar’Adua.

Although Oduntan had listed the case in his statement as one of the cases in which he was engaged to analyse documents later he never played any role in the case.

Olanipekun said he participated in the case and that Oduntan never testified as a witness in that case.

The witness, who admitted that no images or photocopies of the electoral forms he claimed to have inspected were included in his report, said his focus was on just three out of the 18 political parties that contested the election.

Oduntan, who said he also inspected the election results in Adamawa, which was won by Atiku, told the court he was not satisfied with the irregularities noticed in the scores, including those allocated to Atiku.

Under cross-examination by Mahmoud, the witness said it was possible for his conclusion to be wrong if his primary data were defective, incomplete and inaccurate.

Oduntan also said it was possible to have a wrong conclusion where the methodology adopted was wrong.

He said he was engaged by the PDP to produce the report and was rewarded.

Under cross-examination by Fagbemi, Oduntan said he has been following INEC’s activities since 1999.

He said he conducted the inspection of the election materials in the presence of PDP representatives.

The witness said the result sheets he inspected were neither stamped nor signed.

Oduntan, who said he was aware that the BVAS machine was used for accreditation during the election, added he did not extract the date from the machine in the course of his assignment.

Further hearing in the petition resumes today at 3 pm.

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Ifeanyi Ejiofor yesterday said the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has not sacked them as his lawyers.

They said Kanu’s family lacked the right to fire them when it did not hire them in the first place.

The duo was reacting to a tweet by Kanu’s younger brother, Kanunta, in which he stated that the family had terminated the appointment of Ozekhome and Ejiofor.

In the tweet entitled: “Notice of Dismissal”, the younger Kanu stated: “I hereby formally notify @MikeozekhomeSAN and @lfeanyiEjiofor that their services are no longer required in #MaziNnamdiKanu case pending before the Supreme Court of Nigeria and all concerning him.”

Kanunta alleged that Ozekhome and Ejiofor refused to allow Kanu’s personal physicians access him for an urgent ear examination on June 5.

According to him, the lawyers were “duly informed” on June 2 about the visit “and #MNK (Kanu) told them to inform his family to arrange that”.

He added that since Kanu’s case came up on May 11, Ozekhome “has refused to see his client in DSS headquarters Abuja even after several messages from #MNK to see him”.

“For these obvious reasons and many more,” he tweeted, Ozekhome and Ejiofor are “hereby sacked as Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers”.

Read Also: Mbah, Kanu’s lawyer seek release of IPOB leader from custody over ill-health

But the lawyers, in a statement to The Nation by Ejiofor, said they visited Kanu in custody at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters yesterday to brief him on his cases, including the one coming up on June 20 at the Federal High Court.

Ejiofor said the doctors who sought to see Kanu were not there to participate in any surgical procedure. 

He said the legal team did not abandon Kanu but is “monitoring every situation” and is not “resting on our oars”. 

The lawyer described as “defamatory and very disappointing” the statement by Kanunta.

Ejiofor stated: “Let it be on record that neither Kingsley Kanu nor Emmanuel Kanu had at any point in time briefed me to handle Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case or even IPOB’s matters. 

“My letters of engagement issued to me in 2015 by Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB are still with me to date.

“Neither Kingsley Kanu nor anybody acting on his behalf engaged Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to represent Onyendu in any matters affecting him. 

“Biafrans and members of the public are aware that Onyendu specifically requested to see Prof. Ozekhome upon his abduction and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria. 

“During that meeting, which details are already in the public domain, Onyendu personally briefed Prof. Ozekhome to head his legal team. 

“To date, Prof. Ozekhome has done creditably and overwhelmingly well in deploying his advocacy skills in representing Onyendu in all courts in Nigeria.”

Ejiofor stressed that at no time during their meeting with Kanu did the IPOB leader express any doubts about their continuing to defend him. 

“I wish to unequivocally state that Onyendu Kanu never dismissed, disengaged or expressed any intention of dismissing his legal team ably led by Prof. Ozekhome. 

“Biafrans and indeed the members of the general public are respectively advised to ignore in its entirety, the obviously defamatory, mischievous, fake, reprehensible, denigrating, insulting and unauthorised public notice issued by Kingsley Kanu alias Kanunta Kanu, as it is not true,” the statement adds.