By Yusuf Alli, Abuja and Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

• President gets list of chairman aspirants

• Uzodimma, Ayade: party can shift convention if necessary

Whether the All Progressives Congress (APC) convention will hold on February 26 remained hazy last night.

A crucial meeting between President Muhamadu Buhari and governors elected on the platform of the party to fine-tune the zoning and other matters in the convention failed to hold.

The meeting would have enabled the President to make known his preferred chairmanship aspirant to governors to pave the way for the zoning of other National Working Committee (NWC) offices.

Governors invited to the meeting arrived at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, only to be told of its cancellation.

The President travelled to Brussels, the Belgium capital to attend an African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) summit.

The meeting was rescheduled for Saturday when the President is expected back by which time it will be barely one week for the convention date.

But the President collected the list of the chairmanship aspirants, it was learnt.

Some of the governors who arrived at the Villa for the botched meeting include Ben Ayade (Cross River), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Simeon Lalong (Plateau) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).

Both governors Uzodimma and Ayade also hinted that the convention date is not sacrosanct.

President Buhari, before he travelled out, met with Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase.

The President also met with Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, and his Imo counterparts Senator Hope Uzodinma.

It could not be ascertained if a new date was set for the meeting.

Uzodinma maintained that the proposed date for the exercise could be changed if the need arises.

The governor, who spoke with State House Correspondents, however, clarified that he had no information that the date could be shifted.

President Buhari may have received a list of aspirants for national chairman ahead of the February 26 national convention.

The list was submitted to the President by a three-man team of the APC governors.

It was learnt that the President was studying the list, having been mandated by the governors to guide the party on the choice.

Although the convention was still shaky as of yesterday, following an alleged cash crunch, the governors were adamant that the exercise must hold.

The governors were alleged to be unwilling to fund the conduct of the exercise on February 26.

It was gathered that governors and party leaders have asked the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), led by Mai Mala Buni, to look inward.

They are also asking the caretaker committee to take care of convention expenses from fees and the over N5billion left by the former national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

The situation became dicey, following complaints by CECPC members that APC governors were becoming overbearing.

It was unclear if the Caretaker Committee will shift the convention or adopt a low-key model.

A governor, who spoke in confidence last night, said the Caretaker Committee was yet to submit a convention budget to the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

President Buhari yesterday met with Buni before jetting out to Brussels for the EU-AU Summit.

Buhari, who is due back in the country on Saturday, was yet to make a choice among the chairmanship aspirants.

The aspirants are ex-Governor Abdulaziz Yari, Mallam Saliu Mustapha (Turaki Ilorin), ex-Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura,  Senator Sani Mohammed Musa and ex-Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.

Others are Sunny Sylvester Monidafe, Mohammed Etsu, ex-Governor George Akume, ex-Governor Isa Yuguda and Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi.

Also in the race are ex-Governor Abdullahi Adamu and a former Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Bawa Bwari.

The President was liberal in demanding the list of all aspirants, although they were yet to obtain nomination forms.

A governor said: “Contrary to the misinformation in the public domain, President Buhari placed all aspirants on an equal pedestal. He specifically demanded a list of all aspirants and a three-man delegation of the governors took it to him.

“Since we have conceded it to the President to guide us on the right choice, we are waiting for him to act on the list. I need to put it on record that all the governors directed the three-man team to submit the list of all the aspirants to the President.

“That is the state of the affairs as far as the emergence of a new chairman for APC is concerned. It is left to the President to consider the list and make a decision.

“What is happening now is that some people are maligning some governors that they are supporting this or that. But, the President has the list of all aspirants.”

The governor said despite plans by some CECPC members,  party members and a few leaders to stop the convention from holding, the governors have resolved that the exercise should go on.

He stressed: “The President is determined and governors have resolved that the convention must hold. There is no doubt that some of our leaders and members wanted the Caretaker Committee to continue to be in charge of the party but this is not necessary again.”

But, it was learnt that the party has a cash problem and may not be able to fund the convention.

It was gathered that some governors are not ready to use state resources for the convention, more so when a special presidential convention will be organised in the next few months.

Also, some governors, who have predicted likely recourse to the choice of a consensus national chairman, do not see the logic in financing the convention.

Some governors have asked the caretaker committee to be as cost-effective as possible because of a special convention in July or August.

Sources said the cash challenge made the party slow down in inaugurating sub-committees for the convention to save cost.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The convention is still shaky because of cash problems, which may affect logistics. It is a gathering with huge financial implications, which the CECPC cannot afford.

“Most of the governors are not enthusiastic about funding the convention because there is a bigger one ahead in July or August where the party’s presidential candidate will emerge.

“Governors and party leaders got hints that the administration of the immediate past national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, left about N5billion in the party’s accounts. They also claimed that APC has money because some aspirants have been paying nomination fees for off-season elections since the Caretaker Committee came on board.

“These governors and leaders want the Caretaker Committee to look inward to fund the convention.

“The fact is that governors and party leaders are more interested in July or August convention”

Another governor said: “Those raising issues about the problem associated with the funding of the convention are those who are advocating that the Caretaker Committee should continue to be in charge of the affairs of the party.

“I think they are looking for an excuse to shift the convention forward. I don’t think they can succeed.

“As I talk to you, the Caretaker Committee has not presented a convention budget to APC governors.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it obtained an order from a Federal High Court in Abuja for the final forfeiture of assets estimated at N10.9billion owned by “a top military officer.”

EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement, said the order was issued on Monday by Justice N. E. Maha.

Wilson said: “The 24 properties scattered across Kano, Kaduna, Borno and Cross River states, comprise land, shopping complex, gas station and fuel stations cumulatively valued at N10, 935,000,000.00.”

The EFCC had, in an earlier statement, claimed that the landed properties “belonging to a top military officer, but controlled through proxies.”

Part of the statement reads: “Justice N.E. Maha of the Federal High Court on February 14 ordered the final forfeiture of 24 properties held by fronts and proxies to a top military officer, to the Federal Government.

“The order was pursuant to a forfeiture application by the EFCC, which had in May 2020 secured the forfeiture of the properties on an interim basis.

“The court had ordered the publication of notices in national newspapers, inviting persons with interest in the properties to show cause why they should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“With no such interest shown by any entity, Justice Maha on February 14, 2022, ordered the final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.

“The 24 properties scattered across Kano, Kaduna, Borno and Cross River states, comprise land, shopping complex, gas station and fuel stations cumulatively valued at N10, 935,000,000.00.

“The properties are: a 16 Pump filling Station located at Rijiyar Lemo, Kano; a filling station with 41 pumps located opposite Federal Secretariat, Kano; a filling station with 39 pumps located along BUK Road, Kano; a filling station with 31 pumps located along Zaria Bypass, Kano; a filling station with 31 pumps located along Maiduguri Bypass, Kano; a filling station with 29 pumps located along Maiduguri Bypass, Kano; a filling Station with 23 pumps located along Naibawa, Kano.

“Others are a filling station with 39 pumps located along Bachirawa, Kano; a filling station with 51 pumps and a one-storey building with 35 shops attached to the Filling Station located along Shiek Ja’afar Road Dorayi, Kano; an LPG plant with 30 shops attached to it located along Zaria Road, Kano;  Marhaba Event Centre, Guda Abdullahi Road, Farm Centre, Kano; a three-storey building (Plaza) with 28 shops located on Hadeja Road, next to Sheshe Supermarket, Kano; a three-storey building (Plaza) with 126 shops located on Audu Bako Way, Opposite Nation Plaza, Kano; Classic Block Industry at Maiduguri Road, Kano; Atlasfield Corporate Headquarters, No. L6 Ahmadu Bello Way, Kaduna; undeveloped plot located at Sharada, Adjacent A.A. Rano Filling Station, Kano.

“The rest are undeveloped plot located at Yan Rake, Adjacent Dala Orthopaedic Hospital, Kano; undeveloped plot located along Kano-Gwarzo Road, Adjacent Kedco Regional Office, Kano North/Opposite Silver Spoon Restaurant, Kano; undeveloped plot located along Kano-Gwarzo Road, opposite Markaz Mosque, Kano; undeveloped plot located on Sani Marshal Road, Opposite Nissan Automobile, Kano; 11.7 hectares located Adjacent TINAPA Resort, Adiabo, Calabar; Truck Assembly Plant, Easter Bypass, Kano; Event Center located in Calabar, Cross River State; Aflac Plastics Limited located behind National Eye Centre, Kaduna.”

By Sanni Onogu, Tony Akowe and Nicholas Kalu, Abuja

The Federal Government plans to spend N2.55 trillion as petrol subsidy this year.

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in a letter to the National Assembly requested for approval in the revised budget 2022.

The President faulted senators and House of Representatives members for inserting N887.99 billion projects in the Appropriation Act.

He directed that 139 of such projects be expunged from the budget.

He reaffirmed that the inclusion of National Assembly expenditures in the Executive budget proposal negated the principles of separation of powers and financial autonomy of the legislature.

The President asked the lawmakers to expedite action on his request to sustain the gains of an early passage of the budget.

“Given the urgency of the request for amendments, I seek the cooperation of the National Assembly for expeditious legislative action on the 2022 Appropriation Amendment Proposal in order to sustain the gains of an early passage of the budget,” the President wrote in his memo.

Buhari’s letter was read on the floor by Senate President Ahmad Lawan. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, acknowledged receipt of the memo but did not read the content.

The speaker referred it to the relevant committees of the House for further legislative action.

In the letter, the President urged the National Assembly to “roll back” the sum of N887.99 billion projects earlier inserted by lawmakers in the 2022 Appropriation proposal.

He urged them to restore the cuts it made in the budgets of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the 2022 budget.

“It is important to restore the provisions made for various key capital projects in the 2022 Executive Proposal (see details in Schedule l) that were cut by the National Assembly,” Buhari said in his memo to the lawmakers.

Insisting that what the lawmakers did to the budget contradicted the principles of separation of powers and financial autonomy of the Legislature, the President said: “It is therefore necessary to transfer the National Assembly’s expenditures totaling N16.59 billion in the Service Wide Vote to National Assembly Statutory Transfer provision (see Schedule l).”

The President explained that the N106 billion provided in the amendment request would be used as capital expenditure; N43.87billion would be spent on recurrent expenditure, adding that 139 out of the 254 projects worth N13.24 billion have been identified for deletion.

Buhari underscored the need to reinstate four capital projects valued at N1.4 billion in the executive proposal for the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and N22 billion cut from the provision for Sinking Fund to retire mature loans needed to meet government’s obligations under already Issued Bonds.

The President’s letter titled ‘Submission of the 2022 Appropriation amendment proposal’ reads: “As I indicated at the signing of the 2022 Appropriation Act, I forward herewith the Proposals for amendment of the 2022 Appropriation Act (as detailed in Schedules I-V), for the kind consideration and approval by the Senate.

“Let me seize this opportunity to once again express my deep gratitude to the leadership and members of the Senate for the expeditious consideration and passage of the 2022 Appropriation Bill as well as the enabling 2021 Finance Bill.

“It has become necessary to present this amendment proposal considering the impacts of the recent suspension of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) subsidy removal and the adverse implications that some changes made by the National Assembly in the 2022 Appropriation Act could have for the successful implementation of the budget.

“It is important to restore the provisions made for various key capital projects in the 2022 Executive Proposal (see details in Schedule l) that were cut by the National Assembly.

“This is to ensure that critical ongoing projects that are cardinal to this administration, and those nearing completion, do not suffer a setback due to reduced funding.

“It is equally important to reinstate the N25.81 billion cut from the provision for the power sector reform programme to meet the Federal Government’s commitment under the financing plan agreed with the World Bank.

“It is necessary to reinstate the four capital projects totaling N1.42 billion in the executive proposal for the Federal Ministry of Water Resources that were removed in the 2022 Appropriation Act.

“Furthermore, there is critical and urgent need to restore the N3 billion cut from the provision made for payment of mostly long outstanding Local Contractors’ Debts and Other Liabilities as part of our strategy to reflate the economy and spur growth (see Schedule I).

“You will agree with me that the inclusion of National Assembly’s expenditures in the executive budget negates the principles of separation of powers and financial autonomy of the legislature.

“It is therefore necessary to transfer the National Assembly’s expenditures totaling N16.59 billion in the Service Wide Vote to National Assembly Statutory Transfer provision (see Schedule l).

“It is also imperative to reinstate the N22.0 billion cut from the provision for Sinking Fund to Retire Mature Loans to ensure that government can meet its obligations under already issued bonds as and when they mature.

“The cuts made from provisions for the recurrent spending of Nigeria’s Foreign Missions, which are already constrained, are capable of causing serious embarrassment to the country as they mostly relate to office and residential rentals.

“Similarly, the reductions in provisions for allowances payable to personnel of the Nigerian Navy and Police formations and commands could create serious issues for government. It is therefore imperative that these provisions be restored as proposed (see Schedule II).

“It is also absolutely necessary to remove all capital projects replicated in the 2022 Appropriation Act; 139 out of the 254 such projects totaling N13.24 billion have been identified to be deleted from the budget.

“Some significant and non-mandate projects were introduced in the budgets of the Ministry of Transportation, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (see Schedule III).

“There are several other projects that have been included by the National Assembly in the budgets of agencies that are outside their mandate areas.

“The Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning has been directed to work with your relevant committees to comprehensively to identify and realign all such misplaced projects.

“It is also necessary to restore the titles/descriptions of 32 projects in the Appropriation Act to the titles contained in the Executive Proposal for the Ministry of Water Resources (see Schedule IV) in furtherance of our efforts to complete and put to use critical agenda projects.

“The Appropriation Amendment request is for a total sum of N106, 161,499,052.00 only for Capital Expenditures and N43, 870,592,044.00 only for Recurrent Expenditures.

“I therefore request the National Assembly to make the above amendments without increasing the budget deficit. I urge you to roll back some of the N887.99 billion of projects earlier inserted in the budget by the National Assembly to accommodate these amendments.

“However, following the suspension of the PMS subsidy removal, the 2022 Budget Framework has been revised to fully provide for PMS subsidy (see Schedule V). An additional provision of N2.557 trillion will be required to fund the petrol subsidy in 2022.”

 

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie, Damola Kola-Dare, Alao Abiodun, Bisi Olaniyi, Frank Ikpefan, Osagie Otabo, Uja Emmanuel, Mike Odiegwu, Nwanosike Onu, Emma Elekwa, Kolade Adeyemi, Damian Duruiheoma, Ogochukwu Anioke, Duku Joel, Toba Adedeji, Fanen Ihyongo, Onimisi Alao, Okungbowa Aiwerie, Elo Edremoda and Ahmed Rufa’i

Stakeholders have appealed to the Federal Government and university lecturers to resolve their lingering dispute in the country’s interest.

This followed yesterday’s declaration of fresh industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The Nation’s checks revealed that ASUU has gone on strike for a total of more than 49 months since the return of democracy in 1999.

The stakeholders lamented that the incessant strike action was taking a heavy toll on the academic pursuit of students in public tertiary institutions.

ASUU’s national president Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke broke the news of the strike during a press conference following a two-day deliberation of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) tagged ‘NEC for NEC.’

Osodeke added that the nationwide strike was for four weeks and would be “comprehensive and total”.

The union’s demands include funding for revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowances and University Transparency Accountability Solution.

Others are renegotiation of 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, and the inconsistencies in Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System Payment.

Osodeke said: “The NEC of our union has resolved to embark on a four-week total and comprehensive strike beginning from February 14.

“That’s the resolution of the latest NEC meeting held on February 12 and 13. The patience of our members has been dragged beyond a tolerable limit.

“The greatest asset of any nation is human capital. We, therefore, seek the understanding and support of all stakeholders to make the Nigerian government more responsible to issues of human capital development.”

Members of the NEC, encompassing ASUU leaders across campuses, had been holding meetings since Saturday, the latest of which was at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) described ASUU’s action as “disappointing.”

It said it thought ASUU and the Federal Government represented by top executives would allow reason to prevail by reaching a compromise.

In a statement by its President, Asefon Sunday, NANS said it would take a decisive decision on February 17 at its non-elective congress on February 17.

The NANS – Joint Campus Committee (JCC), Ondo State chapter begged the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve the dispute.

A former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Kayode Soremekun, advised that former vice-chancellors should be allowed to mediate the dispute.

The West Africa Student’s Union, WASU through its President Pillah Romans Orhembaga warned the government not to blame ASUU, but that education should be made an essential service that cannot attract industrial action.

Deputy National President, National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo urged President Buhari to intervene.

In Anambra, the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), chapter of ASUU dissociated itself from the strike

Read Also: Strike: NANS begs FG, ASUU to resolve impasse

But Nnamdi Azikiwe University UNIZIK branch of ASUU said the chapter would take a decision when it meets this week.

The Interim Chairman of the union at Ojukwu Varsity, Prof Osita, Chiaghanam, said the lecturers would not embark on any strike at a time they were expecting a new visitor, the State Governor-elect, Prof Chukwuma Soludo.

Academic activities continued unabated at Delta State University, Abraka while lecturers were seen teaching in lecture halls in the newly established Dennis Osadebay University, Anwai, Delta State.

In Jigawa, students of the Federal University Dutse (FUD) and Sule Lamido University (SLU) Kafin Hausa remained on campus despite the announcement.

In Ondo, academics in tertiary institutions were yet to comply with the strike.

Prof. Olayinka Awopetu, Chairman, ASUU, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) said the strike would be complied with after its congress.

In Rivers, academic activities were not immediately affected by the declaration at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) and the Rivers State University of Technology (RSUT), but UNIPORT ASUU Chairman, Dr. Uzoma Darlington, said the strike would be activated from today.

In Osun State, lecturers of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife stopped online classes for students of the institution in compliance with the strike.

But lecturers of the institution who belong to another faction of the union, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) continued taking students in classrooms.

In Enugu, lecturers at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), ensured compliance with the strike, same as the University of Jos in Plateau.

In Delta and Edo states, the Federal University of Petroleum Resources and the University of Benin (UNIBEN) will join the strike today.

Lectures continued in the two public Universities in Ebonyi State despite ASUU’s declaration.

At the Alex Ekwueme Federal University and the Ebonyi State University, lectures were held till evening hours.

The strike was also yet to begin in Yobe and Borno States, but the three ASUU branches for the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID); Yobe State University (YSU); and Federal University Gashua (FUGA) will take a decision on the strike tomorrow.

In Kano, the varsities were waiting for the decision of the state’s branch of ASUU.

ASUU’s decision coincided with the start of the NUGA Zone N preliminary competition at the Adamawa State University (ADSU), Mubi, which was declared open by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.

The host and the Modibbo Adama University (MAU), Yola; America University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola; Taraba State University (TSU), Jalingo; and Federal University Wukari started a series of games from which winners will emerge for the finals in Lagos.