The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • ‘Expect steady economic transformation under Tinubu’

    ‘Expect steady economic transformation under Tinubu’

    Senator Anthony Adefuye, a political stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is one of the contemporaries of President Bola Tinubu. The University of Lagos-trained engineer attempts a review of the current administration vis-à-vis the chances and prospects. He spoke with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf. Excerpts:

    Since 1999, we have had a smooth transition to power unlike the interregnum we suffered during the years of military rule. Thankfully, your contemporary, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with whom you fought for the return to democratic rule is now in government. How does it feel?

    I feel very proud that we have arrived and we got what we wanted. But, I believe we need to work very hard to satisfy the Nigerian people who gave us their mandate.

    What is your impression so far?

    If you look at the issue of subsidy for instance, it’s true we have removed subsidies. As I said, we’re happy that we have removed subsidies and we’re happy that the people are gradually accepting the reality of subsidy removal. But we must now answer to the people’s call by ensuring that we do a lot to remove the ugly effects of subsidies in the country as a whole. But then we have to cushion the effects of subsidy. In doing this, we have to look at the minimum wage so that an average Nigerian can be able to wake up and go to work and come back and still be a man. And not that he (man) should go to work and returns back and still begs for money to survive. There is no way the current minimum wage of N30,000 can keep any family because it’s not enough at all.

    Of course, we need to improve on transportation. We have to make sure that the buses are not just available but consistent in terms of their service delivery. Everywhere in the world where the government wants to support subsidies, the government always handles transportation. If you go to London and New York, the transport fleets are always handled by the government. You know they don’t do it to make profits. They do it to satisfy the yearnings of the people for a better life. For example, if you’re taking a bus from Ikorodu to Lekki and you say it’s N1000, people would say it’s very costly and so on.  Clearly, if this is run by the government, the price should be more affordable for the people. Everybody would want to pay and this will be a great relief because it’s a very friendly economic policy of the government. Let’s get your goods from here and take them to the nearest train station and we can get it anywhere in Nigeria. The first thing is that we are happy we have removed subsidies, and we are happy that the people have accepted the removal of subsidies but we must now answer to the people by ensuring that we do a lot to remove them.

    As we are here now, the buns we bought at N200 yesterday are now selling at N400. That is an over 100 percent increase in cost. I don’t know but the government must do something to regulate these prices so that nobody just comes and fixes them. We should also allow for competition so that we can bring the price down.

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    You mention earlier that you want the government to provide palliatives to help cushion the effect of subsidy removal on the populace. However, during the last administration, we saw a lot of similar humanitarian gestures by the government such as the School Feeding programme, N5, 000 stipends to indigent families, etc. But the view of many out there is that the beneficiaries of this largesse are not known thus giving a lie to the programme. What would you want to do differently?

    If you want to pay palliatives to widows, to people who are not working there is no problem. But we are saying that the normal people who are doing 30 days  or who go to work,  you must answer too. As you observed when you send N5, 000 to somebody it doesn’t solve his or problem. It can only solve his problem for one hour. After one hour, it’s gone. Some of them may have even owed debts, which they need to offset. We must put a solid foundation in place so that if any government comes, they can build on it. The only way to do it is to look at the minimum wage, look at the rising cost of transportation. The more roads we build the more market people move into the roadsides to sell. As much as we build roads we must not allow people to sell on the roadsides. This is one of the major causes of traffic gridlock you find. All those must stop. We are doing a lot of damage to ourselves a=when we don’t allow traffic to move. We lost man-hours, productive time. We have built enough roads for ourselves but we should not turn them to markets, garages, mechanic workshops, etc. We need to do traffic control, minimum wage; we need to provide employment. We need to support agriculture. Can you imagine now that we are still importing palm oil from China in 21st century Nigeria? It’s very disgraceful. I’m very sure this government will turn things around. Just give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu some time. He is a man who came fully prepared for the task at hand. I have no doubt about that at all.

    From experts view, this administration is said to have taken some far reaching steps with positive impacts on the economy such as uniformed exchange rate, liberalisation of the electricity sector in terms of power generation, executive order stopping tax hike to mention just a few. In your view do you think these policy changes are promising? Do you think Nigerians should really invest hope in the Tinubu administration?

    I agree with you that the government has taken some impressive steps thus far.  But when you talk about the parlous state of power supply in the country today, we still have a long way to go. About electricity, all these Discos must go. Do you know we provide enough electricity for Nigeria but the Discos will not distribute them?  They (Discos) are always complaining that the price is too high and all that. Everywhere in the world where they’ve privatised electricity, it is the people working there that work there and not individuals. You don’t put the electricity sector in the hands of just four or five people. They will hold you to ransom. If we were having elections and those people were giving us blackouts everywhere, people would get angry and vote that government out. So, these Discos were not appointed by us, they were appointed by the PDP government and I was there when they were just willing it to individuals to come and take. Electricity is not something you give to people who don’t know about it. No. You must be an engineer. You must have experience of electricity and power. If we want to have steady and stable electricity, all these Discos must go. With these Discos it can never work. We should make laws to ensure that anybody coming into the sector

    Do you know we do TAM of most of our refineries every two years with as much as $300m? What is also shocking is that such a turnkey project has been given to one individual to execute yet all the refineries are all dead.

    All the principal officers at the National Assembly are all members of the ruling party. Heartwarming as this development is to your party, some schools of thought have argued that this portends danger because that would mean that the lawmakers would be a rubber-stamp one. Is this the true picture? What should Nigerians expect?

    Let me tell you first of all, there is no rubber-stamp National Assembly. There is nothing like rubber-stamp. Of course, they probably all went there under a different party but at the end of the day when they get there, they are one. They think like one. If the party wants anything extraordinary, they have to really appeal to them and show them the benefit of that legislation before they would sign the same. If anybody thinks that because we have the majority there, it can push anything. That’s not possible. There are some bills that even the majority members cannot push so in such cases they have to woo the other members to get their buy-in. During the Buhari-led administration we also had the majority, but in-house we were divided. That’s all that happened. But now, we are not so divided. We’re still one and everything is going on fine and I’m sure it’s going to be a very good National Assembly.

  • Reps task federal ministry of work, FERMA on federal roads rehabilitation

    Reps task federal ministry of work, FERMA on federal roads rehabilitation

    The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency to immediately carry out remediation work on some federal roads across the country to ease movement. The roads are Oba-Nnewi-Uga-Akokwa-Arondizuogu-Okigwe roads, Benin/ Warri/Port Harcourt road, Ewu- Uromi-Agbor, Auchi-Ewu-Benin road and the Abuja/ Kaduna/ Zaria/ Kano Federal Highway among others.

    Leading the debate on a series of motion on the state of federal Roads across the country, Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere representing Ideato North and South federal constituency of Imo State said the roads have turned death trap for travellers. He further informed the stunned lawmakers that the deplorable state of the roads had also forced inhabitants of the affected communities to flee from their homes to seek safety and shelter elsewhere.

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    Hon. Ugochinyere also said that now that the rain is here, the already deplorable state of the road has been worsened and inhabitants of the said communities no longer able to go about their daily activities freely, as their lives and properties are under threat due to the torrential erosions that ensue from the rains. He said that if no serious remedial or reconstruction work is carried out on the road, the lives, businesses and economy of inhabitants of the affected communities will be completely crumbled.

    The House consequently asked the government to commence the rehabilitation of the failed sections of Warri-Benin-Port Harcourt road and Ewu- Uromi-Agbor, Auchi-Ewu-Benin road, to ease the difficulties encountered on the roads.

  • Ladoja absent, as Olubadan crowns 10 Ibadan High Chiefs

    Ladoja absent, as Olubadan crowns 10 Ibadan High Chiefs

    • •Monarch, not I installed new Obas – Makinde
    • •Olubadan: Event won’t disrupt Olubadan ascension

    Ten out of eleven Ibadan high chiefs who were recently elevated to Obas have been installed and crowned as monarchs.

    The coronation was held at the ancient Mapo Hall, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

    Former Governor Rasidi Ladoja, who would have been the eleventh high chiefs to receive the crown was absent at the event.

    Speaking during the ceremony, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state said that he was not the one, but the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun who presented crowns to the ten High Chiefs of the Olubadan-in-Council, who were recently upgraded to beaded crown-wearing Obas.

    The event was attended by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi who was represented by the Onifegunwa of Ifegunwa, Oba Adedire Adewale; Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, Alawaye of Awaye, Oba Amidu Okunlola, the Onipe of Ipe, Kwara State, Oba Muftau Lawal; Onjeru of Iperu, Oba Sunday Oyediran among other dignitaries.

     Makinde said he was only at the event to present the instrument of office as expected of him as the governor as well as to observe the event as a guest.

    The high chiefs who were crowned include Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chiefs Owolabi Olakulehin; Otun Balogun; Tajudeen Ajibola and Osi Olubadan, Eddy Oyewole.

    Others are: High Chiefs Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe (Osi Balogun); Abiodun Kola-Daisi (Ashipa Olubadan); Kolawole Adegbola (Ashipa Balogun); Hamidu Ajibade (Ekerin Olubadan); Dada Isioye (Ekerin Balogun); Adebayo Akande (Ekarun Olubadan) and Abiodun Dauda Azeez (Ekarun Balogun).

    Makinde said the clarification became imperative in view of insinuations that he was the one who was behind the crowing of the obas.

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    He noted that, at a time he was against the crowning of some monarchs but that he had learnt better and seen things more clearly especially since the request was made by the Olubadan himself.

    He added that those who may be considering legal options to challenge the coronation will end up in futility.

    The governor said: “Some people are saying it is the governor of Oyo State that wants to give the crown to High Chiefs that are crowned Obas. Is that what you are seeing here today? It is the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun that gives crowns to his chiefs and made them Obas.

    “This coronation has been the focus of many comments. Some don’t know how we got to where we are, but Oloye Lekan Alabi has said a bit, but let me use this opportunity to clarify a few of those issues.

    “First, everything we have done here today is premise on the promise that I made to the people of Oyo state and in particular, custodians of our traditions. People are gaily dressed for this occasion as you can see, but I am not because I am at work. I am on duty. I came here to work today. And I also came to observe.”

    In his remarks, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun assured that the elevation and coronation of the monarchs will not in any way disrupt the Olubadan ascendancy stool nor alter the uniqueness of the Ibadan traditional system in any way.

    Oba Balogun said “We are here to reconstruct the history because what we are doing today, as historical as it is could not be said to be novel, but the history has to be reconstructed to make it enduring and sustainable and hopefully, it shall be.

    “We have a unique system in our traditional set up in Ibadan which continues to evolve, responding to dynamics of demand as occasions may dictate and this has been confirming the age-long aphorism that the only thing permanent in life is change.

    “In our responses to the changes over the years, there had always been issues on forging consensuses as arguments for and against always ensue which makes the ongoing controversy on today’s event a welcomed one being our familiar pattern and style in Ibadan.

    “Just like the previous exercise generated controversy, our gathering here today has not been spared as well with arguments for its propriety or otherwise. The fact that the issue refused to die despite the controversy that trailed it up to the point of my coronation last year means it is an idea that has some merits which are worthy of embrace.

    “It is sad to note that our people, especially those arguing against this exercise fail to note the differences between this current approach and the previous exercise as they cynically dismissed it as a repeat of what was done before, whereas, the singular fact that, Olubadan, as the Prescribed and Consenting Authority of Ibadan traditional system originated the today’s exercise among other changes are more than enough to change the narratives.

  • Bulkachuwa asks court to stop ICPC investigating, arresting him

    Bulkachuwa asks court to stop ICPC investigating, arresting him

    Senator Muhammed Bulkachuwa, the immediate past member representing Bauchi North Senatorial District of Bauchi State in the National Assembly, has approached a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from investigating and arresting him over the comments he made while speaking during the valedictory session of the 9th Senate.

    The former Bauchi North Senator had allegedly explained how he influenced some decisions of his wife, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, while she was serving as the President of the Court of Appeal. She presided over the Court between 2014 and 2020 and retiring when the mandatory age of 70.

    Listed as respondents in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/895/2023, are the Attorney General of the Federation, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Department of State Services, the ICPC, and the Nigeria Police Force.

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    The senator wants the court to interprete Section 1 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act 2017, which confers immunity on him from any civil or criminal litigation in respect of any utterance he makes on the floor of the Senate in his capacity as a serving Senator. He also wants the court to declare that the ICPC’s invitation on the matter was illegal and oppressive.

    He wants, among other things, “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents jointly and severally, particularly the 4th respondent (ICPC), acting directly or indirectly through their agents, officers, privies, assigns, and any other persons by whomsoever or however constituted from inviting, harassing, intimidating and/or compelling the applicant to appear before the respondents pending the hearing and determination of Suit.

    “A declaration by the court that the applicant is covered and entitled to the constitutional privileges and protection offered as freedom of speech/expression by Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Parliamentary Immunity as enshrined in Section 1 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act 2017.”

  • Abia: PDP battles LP over assembly’s principal offices

    Abia: PDP battles LP over assembly’s principal offices

    The ruling LABOUR Party (LP) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are at war over the processes that led to the emergence of principal officers in the 8th Abia State House of Assembly. Assistant Editor, ‘Dare Odufowokan and Sunny Nwankwo examine the face-off.

    Leaders, members and supporters of both the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling Labour Party (LP) in Abia state have taken to the public spaces to throw jabs at each other following the emergence of Hon. Uchenna Okoro representing Arochukwu State constituency and Hon. Destiny Nwagwu, as Majority and Deputy Majority leaders of the 8th Abia State House of Assembly respectively. Okoro and Nwagwu are both of the ruling Labour Party (LP).

    There has been controversy in the 8th Assembly of the state since its inauguration over which party should lead the legislature. Apart from the ruling LP, the assembly has members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Young Progressives Party (YPP). The PDP with 11 members is ordinarily the party with majority of members in the house. The ruling LP has ten members elected on its platform. The YPP has two members and APC has only one member.

    The above explains the insistence of the PDP that its members should take the positions of Majority Leader and Deputy Majority Leader of the Assembly. The party had similarly laid claim to the Speakership of the House before the inauguration day. But the ruling party produced the Speaker and Deputy Speaker during an election that the PDP and its supporters are still faulting till date. But keen observers of the politics of the state say the L outsmarted PDP by working with members elected on the platform of other parties.

    At the last sitting of the legislative house, the Abia State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa was accused of refusing to read as tradition demands, letter containing names of principal officers of Assembly which the leadership of the State chapter of the PDP submitted to him before the sitting. In a memo addressed to the Speaker which was signed by the chairman of the PDP in the state, Rt. Hon. Asiforo Okere, the PDP submitted the names of some high ranking members to the Speaker for nomination into the positions.

    A copy of the memo was obtained by our correspondent. “Refer to the above caption and please find following the names of PDP Principal Officer nominees, in cognizance that the PDP has the majority of members in the parliament. Bearing in mind that the 8th Assembly has been property inaugurated on Wednesday 14 June, 2023, we hereby make the following nominations: Hon. Solomon Akpulonu – Majority Leader, Hon. Godwin Adiele – Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Emmanuel Chinedum Ndubuisi – Chief Whip and Hon. Collins lheonunekwu – Deputy Chief Whip.”

    While members of the PDP described the action of the ruling party as rape against democracy and rule of the State House of Assembly, the leadership of the assembly says it has not done anything contrary to the provisions of the House. According to a member of the legislative assembly, it is not within the powers of the Speaker to force the nominees of the PDP on the members of the assembly if the majority of the members reject such nominations. “It is not enough to have majority of the lawmakers, it is important to control them,’ he said.

    But the leadership of the PDP in the state disagrees and insists that LP cannot produce the Majority Leader of the Assembly. The opposition party accused the Clerk of the State Assembly, John Pedro Irokansi, of doing the bidding of his masters who recently decided to repay him over his role on the controversial emergence of a Labour Party Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively by retaining him in the state Assembly.

    PDP outsmarted?

    However, LP supporters across the state argued that the selection of the Majority Leader and Deputy Majority Leader should be prerogative rights of the lawmakers in line with the rules of the state Assembly. They are of the opinion that if majority members of the House decide to have the elected people as their leader, it will be undemocratic to force the wish of a political party on them. Some other observers wonder why the PDP which has the highest number of members in the House is unable to pull its weight.

    “You cannot force an unwilling horse to the river and force it to drink water. The PDP legislators are unwilling to take the leadership of the house. They are more interested in what they can get for themselves in the current dispensation. This is why they are easily being shoved aside. Why are they lamenting now? Why didn’t they cry out over the Speakership position or deputy Speaker? They know what they are doing and nobody should heat up the polity unnecessarily,” our source, a member of the Assembly, said.

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    Recall that after weeks of anxiety over which party will produce the Speaker of the House, the LP had cornered the position on inauguration day, leaving PDP with nothing to show for its higher number of elected lawmakers. The LP lawmaker representing Aba South Constituency, Emmanuel Emeruwa, a first timer, emerged as speaker of the Abia House of Assembly. He was surprisingly elected speaker by 24 members of the House during the inauguration session of the eighth assembly on Wednesday.

    The session was presided over by the Clerk of the House, Johnpedro Irokansi, at the assembly chamber in Umuahia. Upon call for nominations, Emeruwa was nominated for the position of Speaker by the member representing Aba Central Constituency, Stephen Ucheonye and his nomination was seconded by the member representing Umuahia South Constituency, Emeka Obioma- all LP members. There were no further nominations for the Speakership by members of the legislative house.

    However, it is being widely alleged by the PDP that Mandela Obasi, the PDP member representing Ohafia North Constituency, attempted to make another nomination but was ignored by Irokansi, who hurriedly banged the gavel for the close of nomination. At the end of proceedings, Emeruwa emerged unopposed and he was declared elected as Speaker by the 24 members of the House, according to the information provided by the office of the Clerk of the House.

    Another LP lawmaker, Uchenna Okoro, representing Arochukwu Constituency, would later nominate Augustine Mmerengi as the deputy speaker. There were no further nominations too and Mmerengi was elected unopposed. The leadership of the PDP is still accusing Governor Otti of manipulating the process to ensure the emergence of first timers from a minority party as leaders of the state assembly.

    Similarly, some stakeholders in the state have vowed to challenge the process that threw up the leadership of the Abia House of Assembly in court as, according to them, it is against the rules of the House. “The rule provides that only ranking members who have spent at least four years in the House can be elected as Speaker and Deputy Speaker,” a source claimed.

    War of words

    Reacting to the development at the State House of Assembly, former Commissioner for Trade and Investment in Okezie Ikpeazu’s government, John Okiyi-Kalu said “When you sell your birthright for a pot of porridge you should be prepared to lose the rights of sonship. It will appear to me that the current abberation of having a minority party producing a Majority Leader at the Abia State House of Assembly is a direct consequence of Honorable Members trading off their rights in the period leading to the inauguration of the 8th Assembly.

    “For all intents and purposes, PDP has the majority of members in Abia State House of Assembly and indeed the only ranking members of the house. There was no basis for the members to have succumbed so easily and without a fight in allowing a minority party (Labour) in the House to produce Speaker and Deputy Speaker except for having eaten sumptuous meals, and some, for allegedly receiving dollarized envelopes in Isiala Ngwa before attending the inaugural sitting.

    “There was no reason whatsoever to justify going for that “rice and stew very plenty” meeting in Isiala Ngwa before showing up at the floor of the House for inauguration. Whoever suggested/agreed for the PDP House members to go there should congratulate himself for the mockery they are facing today with the tail wagging the head against all known legislative conventions.

    “If the PDP House members didn’t call a press conference after losing the Speakership, I don’t think they should be taken serious merely because they called a press conference after losing the Majority Leadership positions.”

    Former Deputy Chairman of Bende local government area of the state, Promise Uzoma- Okoro in his response said “What played out at the Abia State House of Assembly is very shameful to say the least, the governor has unilaterally refused to be advised on rules and regulations guided several establishments. “I don’t think the PDP lawmakers are doing the bidding of the governor, but they are being stampeded by the Governor with the connivance of the clerk of the Abia State House of Assembly.

    “It is dictatorial, undemocratic and illegal to install a minority member from the Labour Party as the Majority Leader of the Abia State House of Assembly. The position of Majority Leader is reversed for the Majority party not even to the House of Assembly. The world can see what our governor is made up, stifling opposition which is condemnable.”

    In a statement issued by the PDP acting Publicity Secretary, Hon. Amah Abraham, the PDP said “as is customary, the leadership of the PDP had on June 15, 2023, a day after the secretive proclamation and subsequent inauguration of the Abia State House of Assembly, written a formal letter to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, nominating members of the PDP for the positions mentioned above, but to our chagrin, the letter which ought to be read in the House plenary is yet to receive any mention as parliamentary tradition demands nor given any attention, giving credence to our intelligence that the Labour Party wants to reverse positions again.

    “These untoward actions are against the traditions of the parliament and the Labour Party is taking the quietude of the members of the PDP and Abians in general for granted. As a peace loving political Party that promotes the independence of the legislature as one of the three arms of government, we allowed the first anomaly to hold because we believe that then members-elects should have a free hand in selecting their leaders themselves.  But we would not also allow the Labour Party to usurp positions that are reserved statutorily for the majority Party; which is the PDP in this instance.

    “Once again, as a law abiding and corporate citizen, the Abia PDP calls on our gallant security agencies to take note of what is brewing within the Abia State House of Assembly as regards the appointments to the above-mentioned offices and task the leadership of the Labour Party and the government to do what is right so as not to torpedo the trademark peace for which Abia State is known. We call on those who are nudging the Labour Party to take this dangerous route to perdition to have a rethink and desist from pushing the State to the precipice.

    “It is on record that the PDP has never usurped any opposition party’s position in the political history of Abia State. So, we would not sit idly by and watch the Labour Party do that to the PDP. To Abia political leaders from all divides, we urge you to call the Labour Party to order because it is setting very bad and unknown precedents in the history of Abia State which if allowed to stay, would diminish the security and well being of every Abian in the future.”

    But the Chief Press Secretary to the governor of the state, Kazie Uko in a reply to the enquiry The Nation said “The House has its rules. “So the question to ask is, did the House follow its rules? If members of the House decide to elect one of their own as the Majority Leader, so be it.”

  • Tinubu’s removal of subsidy shocked oil cartel – Ardo

    Tinubu’s removal of subsidy shocked oil cartel – Ardo

    Hassan Jika Ardo is a former Chairman of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the pioneer chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State. He also served as Nigeria Ambassador in the Caribbean for three years. In this interview with Sola Shittu, Ardo said the removal of petroleum subsidies by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a shocking one for the oil industry cartel.

    Just a month ago a new President was sworn-in after the eight years of President Buhari, what is your take on this?

    From the first day Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sworn-in as the President of this country, we have started seeing the difference. Take for example, the issue of oil subsidy that has brought so much hardship on Nigerians, he has fixed it once and for all. The beneficiaries of oil subsidy were even shocked to the marrow because they did not expect that the country could have a leader with strong political will to remove the subsidy. These are just a few people, less than two hundred, milking the country dry and they are so powerful because of the money they got from oil, but Tinubu has fixed that. Secondly, if you look at the appointment he made recently, he was able to cut across all tribes and religions in the country. He appointed people of competence, people that know the problems of Nigeria and are ready to work.

    The advisers he appointed also cut across tribes, religions and regions. The economic decisions he has taken so far can only come from someone with a large heart who knows what he is doing. He has taken decisions that touch the lives of the entire Nigerians, everybody was hit by what is happening. So I believe that Asiwaju with his leadership style will make Nigeria great and better again. I have received so many calls across the globe from people who said they are ready to invest in Nigeria again because they now believe that there is hope in the future of the nation’s economy.

    Are you saying that the steps taken by the federal government on the economy are in the right direction?

    Of course yes, just look at the stock market today. Since Asiwaju took over, things are changing across the country. Before then there is uncertainty in the air. A lot of people are skeptical about our economy, people are complaining and they are not sure of their investment in the country. In fact investors are running away, but today, the same investors are calling that they want to come back to Nigeria because they have seen hope in our economy. Before, people were finding it difficult to access dollars.

    They couldn’t import, produce and do their businesses. I am a diplomat, I have a guest in Lagos now who called me to say he is interested in investing in Nigeria because of the certainty he has seen in Nigeria’s economy with the current administration. All these are the results of the policy of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and he has just started in just a month. Give him one more month, two months, ninety days, one hundred days and so on. You won’t believe what Nigeria would have become. Everything is taking shape now.

    Look at the security situation now, the appointments he made has caused a paradigm shift. He has reached out to traditional rulers, met with the Governors, investors and various stakeholders.

    What of the impact on the masses? The World Bank said over a hundred million Nigerians are getting poorer …

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    (Cuts) Yes, people are suffering because of the high cost of transportation and the spiral effect on food and daily needs but the policies that have been introduced will gradually cushion the effects on the people and with deliberate liberalization of the market the petroleum prices will fall. With the award of import licenses to more people and building of more refineries in addition to Dangote refinery there will be competition and once there is competition, the price will naturally fall. Many of those complaining are ignorant because they don’t have the knowledge of how the economy works. The man on the street only knows that the cost of transportation has increased and that’s what concerns him, but if he goes deep down into the causes of hike in transport fare he will know that it is a very complex matter.

    Recently the European Union reports faulted the 2023 general election. What is your take on this?

    How many parts of the country did those EU observers visit during the general election to reach that conclusion about the 2023 election? The naked truth about all these international observers is that even if they see good things happening in Nigeria, they will still prefer to turn in negative reports. I come from Subab, one of the remotest areas of this country. No observer has ever visited my place. Some of these people just stay in our towns and cities waiting for people on the field to feed them with wrong information.

    The EU has no reason at all to fault our own election because we have to fashion our own democracy. We don’t conduct elections in Europe but we conduct elections in Nigeria by Nigerians for Nigerians. So nobody can dictate to us what we should do in our own country. Most of the time we suffered tremendously because we value reports by external observers but we don’t value our own reports. We are Africans and are proud to be Africans. Why should our domestic issue be subjected to other people’s interpretations? We know that we had a free, fair and credible election won by Asiwaju.

    What do you think of our foreign policy which still makes Africa the focus?

    As a diplomat I know that Africa is the centerpiece of our foreign policy and Nigeria is the center of Africa. In the entire African continent, Nigeria is the largest black nation with over two hundred million people. What we need is to be able to be on our own so that we can support other African nations to be on their own in peace. That is why you see that Nigeria is always intervening in conflicts among other African nations because we are the centerpiece of Africa. If Nigeria is in trouble the entire African continent is in trouble. God forbid, if we have a crisis in Nigeria today, which country will take Nigeria. We want African countries to be on their own and stop depending on Europe.

    What of the effects of our domestic policy recently on brother African countries?

    Yes it is affecting them because they are not getting what they want. I mean how can we be subsidizing other countries?

    What do you mean by what they want?

    I have my relatives who are in Cameroon. They are protesting over the removal of petroleum subsidies in Nigeria because they are now buying fuel at a higher rate. How can we subsidize other countries when our own people are suffering? They get fuel at a cheaper price here and then go and sell it at a higher rate to those countries. So they are not happy because they can no longer get our fuel at a very cheap price. People are protesting in Chad, Niger, Cameroon and other neighbouring countries.

    If we are going to pay subsidy, let it be for our own people, let it be for Nigerians not for Cameroon, Niger or Chad. I can tell you that those people you see protesting are conniving with some notable Nigerians to cause confusion and make it look like the policy is an unpopular one. They are using those people that are not well informed to create that impression. Some of them amass a lot of money under the subsidy regime.

    Will you then say that this administration is moving in the right direction?

    I am one hundred percent certain that this administration is moving in the right direction with the right policy at the right time. I am in full support of what Asiwaju is doing because he is moving us faster than we expected. It will take some leaders years to take some of the decisions that Asiwaju took in just one month.

  • Renewed Hope initiative will bring relief to families, says First Lady

    Renewed Hope initiative will bring relief to families, says First Lady

    The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has assured Nigerians that the her pet-project, the Renewed Hope Initiative, will bring succour and relief to families across the country when it fully takes off. Tinubu, who is also the Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative, stated this in a statement made available to journalists at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday by her spokesperson, Bukola Kukoyi.

    According to the statement, the First Lady stated this after the second meeting of the Governing Board of the initiative, held at her office at the Aso Rock Villa. The First Lady noted that all modalities have been put in place to ensure a smooth take off of the project across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT. She explained that the various states and local governments will be involved as the project is all inclusive for the federation.

    She pointed out the focal areas of the project to include Agriculture, Health, Education, Social Investment and Economic Empowerment, adding that there would be a meeting with the wives of all state governors on Friday 14 July where the modalities for the successful implementation of the project would be made public.

    Read Also: Tinubu’s renewed hope greater than Ulasi, Asari Dokubo outbursts — Onoh

    In her remarks after the meeting which was held behind closed doors, wife of the Vice President of the Federation, who is also the National Vice Chairman of the initiative, Hajiya Nana Shettima, expressed the excitement of the governing board at the project noting that Nigerians are in for better times to complement the Federal Governments efforts.

    Similarly, the National Secretary of the Initiative, Chief Chioma Uzodinma, wife of the Imo State governor, said the initiative will ride on the wings of collaborative efforts from all sectors to enhance the lives of the ordinary Nigerian.

    Also in attendance at the meeting were Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, wife the President of the Senate; Mrs. Salamatu Gbajabiamila, wife of the Chief of Staff to the President; Prof. Hafsat Ganduje and APC National Woman Leader, Dr Beta Edu, who are all members of the governing board.

  • Adeleke nominates sister in –law, Aregbesola’s allies, 22

    Adeleke nominates sister in –law, Aregbesola’s allies, 22

    • others as commissioners, special advisers

    Governor Ademola Adeleke has nominated the wife of his late elder brother, ex-governor Isiaka Adeleke, Mrs. Adenike Folashade Adeleke, two former commissioners that served with ex-Governor Rauf Aregbesola and 23 others as commissioners and special advisers.

    Speaker of Osun House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun at the plenary on Friday read out the names contained in the letter to the lawmakers by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

    The two members of Aregbesola’s cabinet that made the list are Kolapo Alimi, who served as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Biyi Odunlade, who was Special Adviser and later Commissioner for Sports.

    Read Also: Adeleke, Basiru: A clash on holy ground

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Olamide Tiamiyu, reads: “The House of Assembly has also set up an Ad-Hoc Committee to conduct a preliminary screening of the nominees before they will appear before the House for full screening and confirmation. The process will be completed in good time.”

    Others nominated by Adeleke are Oladosu Babatunde; Prince Bayo Ogungbangbe; Sesan Ephraim Oyedele; Soji Ajeigbe; Moshood Olagunju; George Alabi; Sunday Oroniyi; Abiodun Ojo; Basiru Salami; Morufu Ayofe; Sola Ogungbile and Rev. Bunmi Jenyo.

    Also on the list are: Mrs. Ayo Awolowo; Wole Jimi Bada;. Dipo Eluwole; Rasheed Aderibigbe; Prof. Morufu Adeleke; Adeyemo Ademola; Olabiyi Odunlade;. Jola Akintola; Mayowa Adejorin, Mrs Folashade Adeleke; Tola Faseru and Ganiyu Olaoluwa.

    Toba Adedeji, Osogbo

  • Tinubu, family, others hail M.K.O Abiola on 25th anniversary of death

    Tinubu, family, others hail M.K.O Abiola on 25th anniversary of death

    PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, on Friday, recalled the memory of the winner of the June 12, 1999, presidential election, Aare Moshood Abiola, describing him as the true champion of Nigeria’s democracy. President Tinubu was commemorating the 25th year anniversary of the death of Chief Abiola in a message he tweeted on his verified Twitter handle, @officialABAT.

    “Today, our nation honors the sacrifice and example of a true hero, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, 25 years after his sad demise. A true champion of democracy, his courage and integrity, complete dedication to public service, exemplified the highest ideals of our great nation. His legacy endures and his message of hope echoes still. May Allah SWT grant him mercy and increase his rewards”, the President said.

    A daughter of late Abiola, Rinsola Abiola, also on Friday, lauded her late father. She extolled the virtues of the late Abiola, and also offered prayers for his family and “everyone still grieving.”  “It’s been 25 years since my father died. He meant a lot to many and means so much, still.

    Read Also: Skit maker Cute Abiola welcomes son with wife

    “For every smile he inspired, may his sins be struck out. For every heart he lifted, may Allah have mercy on him. For all that he did, for his sacrifice, for his loving heart, for his contributions in the way of Allah and commitment to helping others, may Allah grant him forgiveness,” She wrote on her known Twitter handle.

    In her own tribute to the late politician, Chief Mrs. Remi Adiukwu pray for the repose of his soul, taking solace in the fact that Nigerians will never forget the sacrifice Abiola made or the entrenchment of democracy in the country. “Forever, Nigerians will remember M.K.O Abiola and appreciate the supreme price he paid for us to enjoy democracy,” she said.

    President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, recalled that “M.K.O. Abiola stood in the gap between light and darkness, an unfamiliar angel of a different hue who was read as too deep into comfort for a fight. But they read him wrong.” She urged the federal government to address issues around posthumous benefits of the late MKO Abiola as well as work to realize Abiola’s vision for Nigeria.

  • Tax: FG targets double revenues within three years

    Tax: FG targets double revenues within three years

    •Govt aims for 18% tax to GDP ratio •Oyedele heads tax reforms, fiscal policy committee •The Economist hails Tinubu’s ‘impressive first moves’

    The Federal Government yesterday launched an ambitious tax drive aimed at doubling revenue over the next three years.

    The ways and means of the revenue generation initiative will be worked out by a panel constituted by President Bola Tinubu.

    Heading the panel is Taiwo Oyedele, fiscal policy partner and Africa tax leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

    Oyedele, who was recently quoted as saying the federal government could generate N20 trillion revenue annually “if it is not lazy” will be assisted by experts from both the private and public sectors, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, said in a statement.

    According to Alake, the panel will “enhance revenue collection efficiency, ensure transparent reporting and promote the effective utilization of tax and other revenues.”

    The objective, he said, was to transform the tax system to support sustainable development and achieve a minimum tax to gross domestic product ratio of 18% within the next three years.

    Nigeria’s Tax-to-GDP ratio in the last 12 years has hovered between 5 per cent and 6 per cent and rose to 10.86 per cent by the end of 2021.

    In effect, the new initiative will allow government to generate revenue in relation to the size of the country’s GDP.

    A tax-to-GDP ratio provides a useful look at a country’s tax revenue because it reveals potential taxation relative to the economy.

    Nigeria’s GDP was worth $477.39 billion in 2022, according to official data from the World Bank.

    Going by President Bola Tinubu’s projections, government is targeting around N32.9 trillion tax revenue as against the current N10.1 trillion recorded by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for 2022.

    If realised, the federal government could comfortably service the country’s debts now heading to N80 trillion on account of the Naira devaluation.

    The new administration has made it clear that it wants to harvest more revenue but in humane and attractive manner.

    Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, Mr. Adelabu Adedeji, while speaking on the creation of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms said: “Our aim is to transform the tax system to support sustainable development and achieve a minimum of 18 per cent Tax to GDP ratio within the next three years without stifling investment or economic growth.

    Nigeria’s low Tax-to-GDP ratio, Adedeji said, “has led to an overreliance on borrowing to finance public spending which in turn limits the fiscal space as debt service costs consume a greater portion of government revenue, annually resulting in a vicious cycle of inadequate funding for socio-economic development.

    He identified the key challenges confronting Nigeria’s tax system as “multiple taxes and revenue collection agencies, fragmented and complex tax system, low tax morale, high prevalence of tax evasion, high cost of revenue administration, lack of coordination between fiscal and economic policies, and poor accountability in the utilization of tax revenue.”

    He said the establishment of this committee “reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to addressing these challenges and bringing about transformative reforms in fiscal policy and taxation.”

    He added:”The committee’s primary objective is to enhance revenue collection efficiency, ensure transparent reporting, and promote the effective utilization of tax and other revenues to boost citizens’ tax morale, foster a healthy tax culture, and drive voluntary compliance.

    These efforts will not only improve Nigeria’s revenue profile but also create a more conducive and internationally-competitive business environment.

    The setting up of the panel came on the heels of the President’s signing of four executive orders on Thursday to boost economic activities and reduce hardship.

    Speaking on the committee’s establishment, the immediate past President/ Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Adesina Adedayo, said Oyedele has the expertise and experience that qualify him to lead the committee.

    He said Oyedele is conversant with private sector operations and how the companies are trying the cope with Nigeria’s operating environment, including tax matters.

    He is equally conversant with government policies on tax administration and has the global expertise on tax taxation because of his position at PwC.

     He said: “Taiwo Oyedele is not an outsider to private sector and also to public sector. He is the right choice that will enhance tax policy decisions and stakeholders balancing because he has a clear understanding on tax matters.”

    Adedayo said the advice from the committee should, when presented,  be given priority by the government as they have capacity to make Nigeria a country where businesses will thrive with ease.

    Managing Director, Economic Associates, Dr. Ayo Teriba, said the appointment of Oyedele is commendable, and shows the President is serious about solving problems.

    He said similar appointments should be made in other key segments of the economy, ensuring that experts who have distinguished themselves in different areas of endeavor make inputs on economic policies.

    Teriba said the committee is to review and recommend to government the right policy directions on taxation.

    He said the recommendations of the committee is what the business community will be waiting and reviewing when they are unveiled.

    A profile of the new Committee Chairman provided in the statement described  Oyedele as  “a highly accomplished professional with extensive expertise in fiscal policy, taxation, and economic matters. He currently serves as PWC Africa tax leader.

    “In addition to his role at PwC, Oyedele holds several important positions in prestigious organisations.

    “He is the Thematic Lead for the Fiscal Policy & Planning Commission and serves as the Chairman of the West Africa Debt Management Roundtable of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).

    “Furthermore, he chairs the Taxation & Fiscal Policy Faculty Board of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and is a member of the Nigerian Taxation Standards Board.

    “He also serves as a member of the Ministerial Committee on the implementation of Nigeria’s National Tax Policy.

    “He is a member of the Global Tax Forum and has previously served as a member of the Global Governing Council of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

    “As an educator, Oyedele holds the position of Associate Professor at the Babcock University Business School.

    “He is an alumnus of the London School of Economics & Political Science, Yale University and Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education. He is a guest lecturer at the Lagos Business School and the Founder and President of Impact Africa Foundation.”

    The Economist hails Tinubu’s “impressive first moves”

    The influential international magazine, The Economist, in its latest edition brands Tinubu’s early moves as impressive.

    The President, it says, “delighted reform-minded Nigerians by veering off-script to announce an end to subsidising petroleum products, which for decades has drained the treasury of revenues from the country’s most valuable natural resource.”

    Continuing, it says Tinubu has not ceased to “shake the establishment with a string of night-time press statements which heralded the firing of his central bank governor, the top brass of the army and the heads of several key government agencies, including the police, the customs service and the financial crimes commission.”

    To the magazine, Tinubu’s “biggest scalp” was that of Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele who was suspended on June 9 for what the president himself called the rotten financial system brought about by the CBN under Emefiele.

    It adds: “Mr Tinubu’s speedy appointments on the security side are intended to help curb terrorism in the country’s northeast and the scourge of kidnapping in the northwest, as well as violence elsewhere. sbm, an intelligence outfit based in Lagos, the commercial capital, estimates that between July 2021 and June 2022, 3,420 people, including hundreds of schoolchildren, were kidnapped.

     “Nigerians are hoping for livelier yet safer leadership under their new man.”