By Tony Akowe, Abuja

Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika said on Tuesday that he will be relocating his office to the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu temporary to directly supervise the rehabilitation of the airport which he said will be completed before the end of April 2020.

The Minister also announced that the new terminal building for the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos and the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano will be ready before the end of the year.

Sirika who spoke while defending his ministry’s budget before the House on Aviation said with the approval of N10 billion for the Enugu Airport by the President, the contractors are expected to mobilise to site as soon as possible, adding that the President has already directed all agencies associated with the smooth work on the airport to work together to ensure it was delivered on time.

The Minister disclosed that the rehabilitation work on the Enugu airport will be done in such a way that the airport will be the best in the country, adding that all houses located close to the airport may have to give way for increased safety.

He said that the Enugu state governor has given assurance that he will swing into action to ensure that conducive atmosphere is provided for the rehabilitation of the airport and ask the lawmaker to always visit the airport to access progress of work.

Speaking on hygiene in the nation’s airports, the Minister explained that out of the 22 federal airports in the country, 21 of them were clean and hygienic, adding that the only place of concern was the Lagos airport.

He explained that when the Lagos airport was established, it was built to accommodate 200,000 passengers per annum, stressing that today, the airport accommodate traffic of about 8 million annually.

He said that the large volume of traffic makes it impossible for the airport to be clean, stressing that efforts were being made to complete the new terminal building in Lagos to ease the traffic on the old building.

Senator Sirika said further that the delays in the completion of the terminal building in Lagos has been addressed with the approval of funds by the President, stressing that the private hangers that were also hampering the work have started giving way.

He said once the Ministry is able to complete the new terminal building, the old one will be brought down to pave way for a new structure and appealed to the lawmakers for their cooperation in the efforts of the Ministry ensure the nation’s airports are safe.

On the performance of the 2019 budget, the Minister told the lawmakers that only N7,330,178,427.45 representing 20.8 percent of the capital allocation to the Ministry was released, adding that so far N2,627,119,597.14 has been paid out from the released 2019 Budget, while some Certificates of Completion of Projects are being processed for payment.

He appealed for their support to ensure that the Aviation Sector is improved by ensuring that the airports and all the needed equipment necessary for safety and security are provided to meet the Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) as outlined by regulatory Aviation bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (lCAO), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) etc.

he told them that there were challenges with the new Terminals being built with the $500M loan from the China Exim Bank, which include changes in structural design of the airports, foundation footing and escalators; provisions for the biggest modern aircrafts; change in departure and arrival floors to rhyme with the railway station; provision of adequate power supply to ensure all facilities are put to use and relocation of the Control Tower and the Fire Service Station

Read Also: Enugu airport requires N10 bn to be operational again – Sirika

He said: “the above has resulted in the need for variation and additional works to the tune of $461,795,551.02 which has been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

“The China Exim Bank has indicated willingness to consider funding the above additional works and we have written to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning to provide for the Sum of $73,887,288.16 (N22,535,622,888.00 @N305/$) as counterpart fund in 2019 outside the Ministry’s proposed FGN Budget.

“The President has graciously approved 50% of this Sum and in 3months we are expecting the balance of the remaining 50% of the money.

“For the 2020 Budget Proposal, we have also approach the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to provide the counterpart funding for remedial/additional works and completion of four Chinese terminals at Kano, Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt (($51 ,800,266.99)(N15,850,881,698.94) has been approved by Mr. President.

He said that about N91.8 billion was being proposed in the 2020 budget for what he called Viability Funding of the new national courier, adding that more Bilateral/Multilateral Air Services Agreement would be signed in 2020 for the benefits of our air travelers. We have developed a road map for the Aviation Sector that will be implemented through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

He disclosed that the establishment of Aerospace University with the support of International Civil Aviation Organization (lCAO) has been approved by the President, adding that the ministry already has a policy of enforcement of expatriate quota in the Industry with the full cooperation of the Ministry of Interior and immigration Service.

By Chris Oji, Enugu

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Tuesday vowed that it would enforce to the letter the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage once the issue of consequential adjustments has been settled with the states.

It said with the signing into law the new minimum wage any state that violated its provisions after the agreement had been reached on the consequential adjustments would be sued.

The National President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba stated this at the side line during the opening ceremony of the NLC 2019 National Leadership Retreat holding at Nike Lake Hotel in Enugu.

Wabba regretted that at this era Nigerian workers are forced to beg for their salaries which are now owed in arrears.

“While other countries have fully accommodated and automated the process of minimum wage adjustments and are now focused on living wages, we are faced with a situation where we are forced to bargain too hard and wait for too long for meagre increases in minimum wage and adjustments in salary.”

He said that the new minimum wage is now a law that can be enforced in the court of law if it is breached or violated by government or private person.

“Let me also inform you that there is difference between the law we have and the law that has existed from 1981 till date. In 1981 when the first minimum wage was enacted there was no provision for sanctions. In this one we negotiated there is a provision for sanctions because it is already a law. Any state or person that violates the provision of law there are three ways to address it: one is that the worker can report his union.

“Once you report we can look at the means and avenues including court to enforce the provision of the law. So now there is a clout to enforce the provisions of the law. So clearly speaking once there’s understanding or agreement as about the issue of consequential adjustment the issue is settled and where there is actual the issue of none respect for the law it can be enforced legally in a court of law,” he stated.

Wabba said that Nigeria cannot not be complaining of lack of funds to pay Nigerian workers decent wages and invest in public infrastructure cum social services “when we have a lot of public funds in private pockets”.

“It is no longer discussed in hushed tones that the government is struggling with liquidity. As know, this crisis is rooted in bad governance. Two things define bad governance in this respect – institutionalization of corruption in public expenditure and weaknesses cum sabotage in internal revenues accruable to government. On corruption in public expenditure, the issue of humongous salaries and allowances paid to elected public officials and contract inflation top the list of our concerns.

“On the other hand, the loss of government revenue due to internal sabotage by unpatriotic public officials is very alarming and worrisome.”

He urged the FG to reject additional loans from the World Bank and instead pursue the payment of funds accruable to Nigeria from periodic adjustments in remittances by International Oil Companies (IOCs) subject to increases in the price of crude oil above $20 per barrel. Nigerian government officials failed to activate this clause for more than twenty years thus allowing IOCs to stash away more than $100 billion in unpaid royalties to Nigeria.

Read Also: Minimum wage agreement victory for workers-NLC

“We call on the federal government not to rest on its oars until it recovers every kobo owed us by the IOCs. Government officials behind this criminal neglect must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We call for a tax system that captures many businesses and rich people must be compelled by government to pay more taxes in commensuration to their income,” he appealed.

The NLC President, however, decried that Nigerian workers are confronted daily with increasing recalcitrance by employers to allow unionization in work places, a situation he said has exposed millions of workers to indecent conditions of casual work status, “slave wages, long hours of work without due compensation, and denial of social security cover.”

Declaring the retreat open, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State commended the labour adding that they have been pivotal in the implementation of government policies and programmes.

While he promised that his administration would prioritize workers welfare, Ugwuanyi said “Enugu State workers will get a better deal in the implementation of the consequential increase in the minimum wage.”

By Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) University of Ibadan chapter on Tuesday kicked against reports that six lecturers were arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) over alleged involvement in examination malpractices .

It denied the report by the media by the office of the Director of Public Communications of the university on the incident.

Debunking the claim, ASUU said no single academic staff was involved in examination malpractices at the Distance Learning Center (DLC) of the university.

The Chairman, ASUU UI, Professor Deji Omole, while reacting to some newspaper reports said those arrested by the DSS were non-academic staff in the technical unit of the DLC.

Omole lashed out at the Director of Public Communications of the University Olatunji Oladejo, who some papers attributed the story to for misinforming the public.

Omole maintained that academic staff have not been fingered or linked to the fraud and no one should drag them into it.

The ASUU boss however stated that the union is not against punishing anyone linked to the fraud.

Apart from the University committee, Omole said that ASUU has a standing committee on ethics and standard dealing with ethical and unethical issues.

He however said it will not take it lightly when her members are wrongly accused.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, was reported to have handed over six lecturers in its Distance Learning Centre along Shasha area of the city to the Department of the State Security.

Read Also: ASUU plans showdown against Fed Govt’s payment system

The suspects were accused of alleged complicity in smuggling scripts for students writing examinations; fabrications of Computer Based Test results; falsification of clearance mostly for students who have student disciplinary cases among others.

The identities of the officers involved in the alleged examination malpractices include Edward Eborgu (Head of UI DLC software Unit); Kehinde Ajao (Head Student Support); Shola Akintunde (Executive Officer and Media representative); Ademola Okunola (IT personnel); one Lanre (IT personnel) and a certain David in the Director’s office.

By Okodili Ndidi, Abuja

 

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Army on Tuesday met with the leadership of the Nigerian Army behind closed doors at the Defence Headquarters Abuja.

Though the details of the meeting were not made available to journalists, it may not be unconnected with the 2020 budget for which N100 billion was allocated to the Armed Forces.

Giving hint of the purpose of the meeting at the Chief of Army conference room, shortly before the commencement of the meeting, leader of the delegation and Chairman Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume said the visit was in continuation of the oversight functions of the Committee.

Ndume, who condemned the N100 billion budget proposals for the Armed Forces as insufficient, said: “The Committee embarked on a fact finding mission and NEEDS assessment across military units and formations to know what is going on.

Read Also: We’ll continue to support army, Emir assures Buratai

“After our tour, we decided to come to the center so that we can talk especially now that the budget of the Nigerian Army is out for consideration, so this not a visit that you will discuss the details to the press”.

Chairman House Committee on Army, Hon Abdul Razaq Namdas, said the budget for the entire Armed Forces was insufficient.
According to him: “We are in a war period and there should be war period, we will see what we can do together.

“It is interesting to know that on the floor of the Senate there is already a Motion on ground stating to see how we can fund the Armed Forces even outside the normal budget because we realized that budget alone is not likely to take us there”.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, described the visit as a strategic move, which he said is already addressing the critical challenges of the Nigerian Army is having.

According to him: “I appreciate you and be assured that the Nigerian Army will remain loyal to the Constitution. What you saw in the field is a true reflection of the Nigerian Army of today, they are committed, disciplined and loyal”.

By Osagie Otabor, Benin

The corpse of one Odion Omafo Samuel, 36, has been exhumed from the shallow grave it was buried allegedly by four officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) attached to Abudu outpost in Edo State.

Names of the FRSC officials were given as Francis Igboh, Sunday Ogi, Samson Alolade and Joseph Onolade.

Police sources said preliminary investigation showed that the late Odion was beaten to death by the FRSC men because he asked the driver he hired not to give them bribe.

It was learnt that late Odion hired a driver of an Audi 80 car and they were flagged down at Okhuaihe Hill along Benin-Agbor Road October 14, 2019.

A source said Odion joined the driver to put up a resistance against alleged extortion attempts the by the FRSC officers and it led to fisticuffs.

The driver was said to have fled the scene and Odion was beaten to pulp.

He was reportedly rushed to a hospital and doctors confirmed him dead on arrival.

The FRSC officials were said to have buried him in a bush.

Another police source said the driver was arrested for kidnapping after Odion did not return home.

Read Also: Man ‘beats wife to death’ in Ogun

He was said to have told his story which led police to carry out detailed invesitigation and two of the four FRSC officials were arrested.

The two FRSC officers Francis Igboh and Samson Alolade took investigators to the bush where the decomposing body of Odion was evacuated.

It was learnt that the suspects accused late Odion of snatching their booking tickets.

Spokesman for Edo State Police Command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident saying it was a case of murder.

“Our operatives in the homicide section of the State Criminal and Intelligence Investigation Department (SCIID), police headquarters, Benin City are investigating the case.

“It is a case of murder”. DSP Nwabuzor stated.

By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, has faulted some provisions in the amendment to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Act, particularly the aspect that limits the determination of appeal to 60 days.

Muhammad said although he has not had the time to fully digest the 2019 AMCON Amendment Act, he was not comfortable with the provision that requires the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court must hear and determine cases involving AMCON within 60 days.

The CJN noted that the 60 days prescribed by the amendment Act was too short and limited for the Justices to do a thorough work, as they always carry out intensive research on every matter before arriving at the right decision.

“The six months provided in the Amendment Act for the trial courts is alright but as for the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, the 60 days’ timeline is not suitable.

“If we were consulted before the amendment was done, we would have suggested something different,” he said.

Muhammad equally expressed concerns over the poor law enforcement mechanism put in place in the country, which he noted, has largely slowed down the wheel of justice.

“The problem has to do with law enforcement, especially where it touches on financial and property matters.

“The task before you is not a small one. You carry a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders.

“However, with the calibre of people on the board of AMCON, I know it will not be a difficult task to accomplish.’’

Supreme Court’s spokesman, Fesus Akande said, in a statement on Tuesday, that the CJN spoke in Abuja on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Supreme Court by members of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) on Tuesday.

He urged the visitors not to hesitate to criticize the court where they were certain the court was in error, noting that judicial officers were human and therefore, not perfect.

“With the way we operate, if any of you has any reservations, please, write us, criticise us within the ambit of your knowledge and experience.

‘’We can’t claim to know it all. We are still learning, because learning, as we all know, is a continuum.

“Our doors are wide open for constructive criticisms. Even our grammar, punctuation have to be corrected to avoid any error in the rulings and judgments we give,” he said.

Muhammad added that as Justices, they don’t pick offence when their written drafts of judgments were corrected, especially errors arising from the use of grammar. He said it was a practice in force in Court of Appeal and Supreme Court to ensure that all judgments come out in an acceptable manner after all the necessary critics and corrections.

He noted that what every right-thinking and serious-minded judge needed to do was to cultivate the culture of patience and acceptability so that they don’t erroneously assume to be a repository of knowledge and wisdom.

‘’The rules provide that each judge should give his own independent judgement but they are equally at liberty to adopt what has been offered.

“No coercion, no intimidation and no compelling force to make any judge align with the opinions and views of others. We are very free to maintain our stance and even present a dissenting judgement if we feel opposed to a popular view,” he said.

Read Also: We are over-worked, underpaid, says CJN

AMCON’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Kuru, expressed delight about the court’s positive disposition to his agency’s activities, noting out that the various input from previous interactions and the last meeting with the justices of the court were incorporated into the 2019 AMCON Amendment Act.

Kuru added some of the key amendments to the Act are principally the amendment of section six which among others, permits the corporation to place bank account of debtors or the like under surveillance by ex-parte order of Federal High Court; access to debtors computer systems for the purpose of locating debtors’ funds by ex-parte order of the Federal High Court; permits Corporation to obtain access to debtors’ banking, financial and commercial information and BVN from banks by ex-parte order of Federal High Court; imposing an obligation on the Federal Government and Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies to seek AMCON clearance before contracting with or making payments to recalcitrant debtors on list furnished.

Akande quoted Kuru as saying: “Similarly, with the amendment of Section 19, there is now provision for prior consent of Attorney General of the Federation to enforcement/execution of money judgment against AMCON and protection against interim or interlocutory attachment of AMCON’s funds in any bank. The amended section 45, has now allowed certificate of judgment to constitute registrable interest.”