Category: Featured

The Board of Directors of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation, SportingLife and Gbelegbo, yesterday urged the company’s employees to remain committed to its growth.

Vintage Press Limited Chairman Wale Edun spoke at a reception at the company’s headquarters in Lagos for employees who won awards at the 2021 editions of the Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA) and others.

Edun was accompanied by other board members: Prof. Adebayo Williams, Mr. Adeleke Adeyemo and Hon. Wale Oshun.

Also in attendance was the Executive Director (Finance and Administration), Mr. Sunday Adeleke.

The Nation won 16 honours, including Editor of the Year, at the 2021 NMMA. The newspaper had 35 nominations, the highest by any media organisation.

The Editor (Daily), Mr. Adeniyi Adesina, who gave the opening remarks on behalf of the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Victor Ifijeh, thanked the board for its support for the management and workers.

He pledged that the employees would continue to wins awards to show the organisation’s dominance in the industry.

Mr. Adeleke urged the reporters to win more awards for the organisation.

He added that the management remained committed to their welfare.

Edun eulogised the workers for their support and dedication.

The one-time Lagos State Finance Commissioner noted that the winning streak was made possible through team efforts.

He urged other workers not feel left out.

The board chairman also admonished female reporters to work hard and win more laurels for the frontline newspaper.

Edun said: “We are here today to celebrate the award winners – CITN, NMMA, DAME – for our top performance. We have here everybody because it is a team effort. We all know how we were targeted during #EndSARS protests, but we scaled through and we bounced back.”  He also announced a bonus package for all staff members as a mark of appreciation for their dedication to duty.

On behalf of the board, Edun presented letters to the winners, including Adeleke, who won the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) award.

Other winners are: Adesina; Deputy Editor Emmanuel Oladesu, Associate Editor Olatunji Ololade, Senior Correspondent Collins Nweze, Assistant News Editor Innocent Duru, Assistant Editor Bola Olajuwon, Senior Correspondent Kevin Osa Okunbor, Chief Correspondent Kunle Akinrinade and Assistant Editor Chikodi Okereocha.

Duru, who spoke on behalf of the winners, expressed appreciation to the board members for their support.  He said: “We are honoured to have you in our midst today. It is a very special day and we look forward to many of this kind of gathering.”

Duru also appreciated the editors and the management for supporting reporters.

Weekend Editor Festus Eriye applauded the board for interacting with the members of staff of the organisation.  He said: “We thank the board of directors, and we look forward to gathering here next year again.”

By Bolaji Ogundele, Eric Ikhilae, Nicholas Kalu, Frank Ikpefan, Abuja and Toba Adedeji, Osogbo

• ‘Decision on pump price belongs to NNPC’

• No going back on Jan 27 protest, says NLC

Petroleum subsidy will be over in June, the National Economic Council (NEC) hinted yesterday.

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule told reporters in Abuja after a NEC meeting that the provision for subsidy in the 2022 budget terminates in June.

According to him, the decision on what to do next is the prerogative of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited.

He spoke along with Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.

However, former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar warned against removal of petrol subsidy, saying that it would push more Nigerians into poverty.

Gen. Abdulsalami spoke at another forum in Abuja.

Also, Organised Labour maintained that its proposed protest against subsidy removal would go on as scheduled on January 27.

Sule clarified that governors who are members of the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo-led NEC have no role in determining the prices of petroleum products.

He said: “If the Minister of Finance (Zainab Ahmed) provides subsidy for six months, you probably can understand part of the reasons for the provision.

“When the NNPC Limited fully takes off, it is at that moment that decisions on subsidy removal will be made.

“I want to make the correction that it is not governors who are making recommendations. It is actually a NEC committee that comprises all the others.

“Already, the Petroleum Industry Act has fully taken charge, and it will not require any recommendation from anybody.”

Obaseki said the Federal Government was spending about N2 trillion on petroleum subsidy annually.

The governor said the amount could have been used for other purposes, adding that Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which sells for N162-165 per litre in Nigeria, is 100 per cent higher in other countries.

According to him, the NEC wondered whether that should be allowed to continue in a situation where, he pointed out, only two-thirds of the states of the federation consume the subsidy.

Sule said: “As you are aware, the issue of subsidy has been one matter that NEC has deliberated on for more than a year now.

“There was an ad-hoc committee, which was set up by NEC headed by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State that included members of the Executive arm of government.

“The committee worked on recommendations as to what we should do about the cost of PMS locally because as you realise, as has been told us, the cost of PMS in Nigeria today is about N162 per litre, whereas every other country surrounding Nigeria is selling the same product at more than 100 per cent of the cost in Nigeria.

“And the country as at last year spent in excess of N2 trillion subsidising petroleum products. That is money that could have gone into building roads, money that could have gone into healthcare and education.

“So, for NEC, the arguments have been put out, should we continue this regime of spending money we do not have to subsidize the living standards of only mostly those who have vehicles?

“And when NEC looked at some of the analysis last year, we then realised that less than 1/3 of the states of this country consume two-thirds of the subsidy.

“So, the issue of equity also came up. All of these findings were presented to NEC and NEC has had several deliberations. And the deliberations are still ongoing.

“NEC hasn’t come up with any decision yet. I think recommendations have also been made to the President.”

Obaseki also said NNPC has been unable to remit N200 billion into the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) because of the payment of subsidy.

Former Head of State Abubakar warned against an increase in the cost of petroleum products, saying that 80 million Nigerians are still caught up in needless poverty

Abubakar spoke at the 19th Daily Trust Dialogue with the theme “2023:The Politics, Economy and Insecurity” in Abuja on Thursday.

He said: “On top of all these, fuel prices are expected to rise significantly in the coming months as announced last November by the NNPC.

“When this happens, as the government has planned, it will push many millions deeper into poverty.”

Abubakar stated that young people and women are the demographic groups most affected by the country’s dire economic outlook.

He warned that if the outlook was not carefully managed, the frustrations of these groups could easily boil over into a national conflagration worse than the #ENDSARS protests.

Governors: we have no role in determining pump price

Governors, who said they were not involved in determining pump price of fuel, however, said they would engage with Labour on the issue.

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF)  Chairman and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, who briefed journalists at after the body’s meeting early yesterday, said: “For us at the forum, it (petroleum subsidy removal) is a matter that is a going concern.

“We don’t have a definitive issue on it, because it’s left to the Petroleum Industry Act. It is not for us.

“NNPC is now a private company and the company should decide what it wants to do with the price of its product. It shouldn’t really be the business of the governors.

“The forum discussed the issue around petroleum subsidy and concluded to engage the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on how best to address this issue without causing any disaffection, but with a view to salvaging the Nigerian economy for the Nigerian people at the end of the day,” Fayemi said.

The NGF Chairman said the governors did not contribute to the proposal that a litre of petrol should sell at N302 as contained in a report by the National Economic Council (NEC).

University workers to join protest

Organised Labour has said it would resist further attempts by the Federal Government to inflict more pain on Nigerians as it plans a nationwide protest on January 27.

It got the backing of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), which said that its branches have adequately mobilised in line with the NLC directive.

Speaking at its 41st Regular National Executive Council meeting at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, the SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, noted with regret that the government does not consider citizens’ pains in making decisions.

Ibrahim said as an affiliate of the NLC, SSANU would participate actively in the proposed protest.

He said: “We have it in good authority that about N200 will be added to the N162 or N170 depending on where you are buying as fuel price in Nigeria.

“This the NLC totally rejects and SSANU will participate fully in this protest across Nigeria on the 27th of this month.

“The present Federal Government of Nigeria is not doing any better in its relationship with our labour unions.”

 

Proxy war among contenders for the 2023 presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is gathering steam, it was learnt yesterday.

Those who have signified interest for the opposition party’s slot include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Senate presidents Pius Anyim and Bukola Saraki, governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).

Others are: former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso; industrialist Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and Ovation magazine publisher Dele Momodu.

Atiku’s former aide and political associate Segun Sowunmi fired the first salvo in his letter to the PDP Governors Forum last week, asking the party to reject “kindergarten president and commander-in-chief.

Sowunmi’s letter was viewed as a veiled reference to younger contenders in the race against 75-year-old Atiku, who he described as “highly experienced”.

The letter reads in part: “Everyone wants to be President after Buhari but not everyone can do the work that a post-Buhari President will be called upon to do. Presidential powers and privileges mean nothing if the prerequisite experience is absent. We cannot jump from frying pan to fire.”

Spokesman of a group within the PDP, Dr. Rufus Omeire, defended the young elements jostling for the PDP ticket.

He queried Atiku’s political relevance above other aspirants.

Writing under the eagis of the PDP Action 2023, Omeire questioned Sowunmi’s classification of Atiku as an “experienced” politician, stating that the forever vice president only played subordinate roles in public offices he held in the past.

Omeire stated: “With respect to relevant experience for the top job, let us x-ray the candidates. Atiku Abubakar’s public sector experience consists of Deputy Director of Customs, a subordinate position.

“He never became chief executive of Customs and Excise Department. The buck never for one day stopped on his table in the Customs Service.

“He became vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a highly exalted office, but he was never a chief executive. He only carried out instructions of his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“He never had the experience of a Chief Executive. The buck never stopped at his table. The President could accept or reject his recommendations.

“He didn’t have relevant direct experience of the top job. So wherein lies the famed experience of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar? He clearly doesn’t have the requisite public sector experience.

“Other aspirants seem to have better public sector experience; some have solid private sector experience as Chief Executives.

“Tambuwal, Saraki and Anyim headed Houses of the Legislature at the federal level as chief executives. The buck stopped on their tables as Speaker and Presidents of the Senate.

“Tambuwal, Bala Mohammed, Wike and Saraki have relevant executive experience as governors. They have seen it all from the executive point of view.

“They took decisions at the executive level in their states and have direct and first – hand experience in formulation and execution of government policies.”

Throwing more jabs, Omeire recalled how Atiku’s numerous defection from the PDP to other parties in the past and “abandoned ship mid sea” after he lost the 2019 election.

“Sowunmi should find other grounds to market Atiku, his boss, rather than flouting his old age and …relevant experience.

“He should further desist from these unnecessary insults on other aspirants whom Alhaji Atiku might have to support after the primaries.”

By Yusuf Alli, Jide Orintunsin and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

• State helmsmen to shortlist two aspirants for chair

• Zoning battle rages

• Convention guidelines out

Governors are holding tight to their influence in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

As the ruling party gets set for its convention on February 26, the governors have resolved to screen the chairmanship aspirants and recommend two preferred choices for President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval, it was learnt last night.

There are 11 aspirants for the office of chairman, all of them from the North.

The party said yesterday it has not decided on the zoning of offices.

Those who have expressed interest to lead the party are Alhaji Tanko Almakura, Alhaji Saliu Mustapha, Senator Sani Musa, Senator Modu Sheriff, Senator George Akume, Senator Danjuma Goje, Sunny Sylvester Monidafe, Mohammed Estu, Isa Yuguda, Sani Shinkafi and Abdulaziz Yari.

None of them is prepared to step down.

As the battle of zoning rages on, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello is lobbying to prevent zoning of the party chair to Northcentral where he comes from so as not to jeopardise his bid for the party’s presidential ticket.

The APC governors, who pushed for the sack of the Adams Oshiomohole exco, also at the weekend overruled the plan by some members of the caretaker committee to shift the convention beyond next month.

“Governors have resolved to propose two aspirants to the President. Anyone he picks will be supported to become the chairman,” a source said.

Buhari, who is the party’s leader, is expected to pick any of the two shortlisted aspirants as the next national chairman.

Most of the aspirants are now besieging the governors, while some of them were jittery about zoning.

They were said to be mounting pressure on the governors and members of the kitchen cabinet of the President to ask Buhari to leave the chairmanship open.

But the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) caucus appeared to be having the upper hand in seeking the concession of the chairmanship to it.

Sources said APC governors agreed to recommend two aspirants to the President to avoid rancour.

A governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are working towards a crisis-free national convention, especially the choice of our next national chairman.

“Although our party leader, President Buhari, is saying that he has no interest in any aspirant, we know his body language says otherwise.

“We are aware that security agencies are presently profiling all the aspirants at the instance of the presidency.

“As governors, we have decided to assist the President and the party by limiting the choices of chairmanship aspirants to two at the national convention.

“We are already consulting among ourselves on the two aspirants to recommend to the President, party leaders and other stakeholders to pick one from the list.

“The truth is that the ultimate decision rests with the President, who is our leader. In the end, it will be the lot of President Buhari to build consensus in the party on the preferred aspirant.”

As of press time, a Northern governor and some aspirants have been lobbying against zoning of the office of the national chairman.

Another source said: “This governor, who has presidential ambition, is working in alliance with some aspirants to prevail on party leaders and CECPC members to leave the office open to all the six geopolitical zones in the country.

“The governors are, however, determined to push ahead with their unity agenda to shortlist two aspirants.”

It was learnt that if the CPC gets the chairmanship seat, it might be a straightforward battle between Tanko Al-Makura and Mustapha, who is a former Deputy National Chairman of CPC.

Al-Makura and Mustapha played key roles in the merger talks in 2014.

Yesterday, the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) released the guidelines for the February 26 convention.

Also, the ruling party said the report of the Reconciliation Committee headed by Senator Abdullahi Adamu would be ready on January 31.

According to the caretaker committee, the sale of forms for party offices will commence on February 14.

But, the CECPC clarified that party offices have not been zoned, contrary to reports in some quarters.

Also, Senate Chief Whip Orji Kalu, who had earlier called for the postponement of the convention, retraced his steps, saying that the guidelines were in order.

At its 19th regular meeting, which lasted for two days, the caretaker committee released the timetable and schedule of activities for the convention.

Its secretary Senator John James Akpanudoedehe told reporters that zoning was not on the agenda of the meeting.

He said: “I’m here to debunk the fake news going around on the social media that we have zoned offices. We are yet to meet on the issue of zoning.

“The news and rumour making round are fake. We never discussed the issue during our deliberations. People should disregard the story because it is fake news. It is not true.”

According to the timetable, the caretaker committee will receive the interim report of the National Reconciliation Committee on January 31. It will consider and adopt reports of state congresses on February 2.

The schedule of activities signed by the Secretary also showed that the inauguration of the state executives will take place on February 3.

Sale of forms to aspirants for national offices is slated for February 14 at the party National Secretariat while submission of completed forms will take place on or before February 19, 2022

The caretaker committee also fixed the publication of sub-committees for February 19 and screening of aspirants between February 20 and 22.

Akpanudoedehe said the Screening Appeal Committee will hear and resolve complaints on February 23 while the accreditation of statutory and elected delegates to the National Convention will take place between February 24 and 25. The National Convention will hold on February 26.

The secretary said the hearing of complaints arising from the National Convention will be conducted on February 28.

Speaking to reporters at the Senate, Kalu said he looked forward to a peaceful convention.

He said: “I am expecting a very good Convention and very good atmosphere. We are going to make Nigerians proud after the convention.”

On his visit to President Muhammadu Buhari last night, Kalu said his mission was not about his rumoured presidential ambition.

He said: “This is not the first time I go to see the President. The presidency is a place where people go in the afternoon, I went in the night to avoid the media.

“I go there regularly. It is a family affair and I went there to discuss national issues, issues of security, the issue of well being of our country and the issue of the Electoral Act.

“The discussion was very fruitful and it was held in the night. Is that why you should come to ambush me?”

On whether he has informed the President of his desire to contest the presidential ticket of the APC, Kalu said: “Did the party zone the 2023 presidency to the Southwest? I told you before that when the party zones it officially to the South, I will declare my interest.

“I told you the only two zones that have not tasted the presidency are the Southeast and the Northeast.

“Once they zone it to anyone of them, I have the capacity and the capability; I will roll and I will rock like a hurricane.”

On why he should wait for APC to zone the ticket to the Southeast, Kalu said: “A serious-minded person will like to be fair to Nigeria, fair to the society and to be fair to the atmosphere because the party is not owned by me or you the media.

“This party is owned by Nigerians and the APC members. It is only APC that can decide, like at the forthcoming convention, where the Presidential ticket will be zoned to.”

He said that he does not believe in Igbo presidency, but a President of Igbo extraction.

He stressed: “I believe in Nigerian President of Igbo extraction,” he said.

On the agitation for power shift to the Southeast, he said: “It is overdue. I believe that we should produce the next President and it is going to happen.

“I don’t need to push; I have to push along with the other regions.”