By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja, Joseph Jibueze and Robert Egbe

The bench yesterday unfolded disciplinary measures for whipping erring judges to line.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) wielded the big stick against three High Court judges for issuing conflicting ex parte orders.

Two of the judges — Okogbule Gbasam and  Nusirat  Umar — will not move to the “higher Bench” in the next two years, it said.

The third, Edem  Kooffreh of the High Court of Cross Rivers State, will remain on the same spot for five years.

Gbasam is a judge of the Rivers State  High Court while Umar is of the Kebbi State High Court.

The trio received warning letters which also placed them on a watchlist by the NJC

They were found culpable of issuing conflicting orders in cases involving the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus.

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Ibrahim Muhammad had in August summoned them and their colleagues in Anambra, Jigawa and Imo states over conflicting orders that emanated from their courts.

A statement by the NJC  Director of Information, Soji Oye, said the decisions were reached at a meeting presided over by the NJC Deputy Chairman, Justice Mary Peter-Odili.

The statement was however, silent on the fate of the other three High Court judges in Anambra, Jigawa and Imo states.

Read Also; Can CJN’s efforts end conflicting decisions by courts?

Oye said although no written petition was presented against the three judges, the NJC  relied on its disciplinary power under the 1999 Constitution to investigate the circumstances that led to the spate of ex parte orders granted by some courts of coordinate jurisdiction on matters involving the same parties and subject.

He added that the NJC also approved the appointment of 63 judges for 16 states, including nine heads of court, during the meeting held on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The appointments, according to him, followed the notification of the retirements and deaths of some judges.

Oye’s statement partly reads: “The NJC rose from its two days meeting held on 14th and 15th December 2021, with a resolution to bar the three judges of courts of concurrent jurisdiction who granted conflicting ex parte orders in matters with same parties and subject matter from promotion to the higher bench for a period ranging from two to five years whenever they are due.

“Even though there was no written petition, allegations of corruption or impropriety against the subject judges, council nevertheless, initiated an investigation pursuant to its inherent disciplinary powers under the Constitution to unravel the circumstances that led to the spate of ex parte orders granted by these courts of coordinate jurisdiction over matters bearing same parties and subject matter.

“The meeting which was chaired by the Deputy Chairman of the council, Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili agreed with the recommendations of the Investigation Committee set up in September 2021 that Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the High Court of Rivers State be barred from elevation to higher Bench for two years whenever he is due, as he failed to exercise due diligence in granting the ex parte order in suit No: PHC/2183/CS/2021 between Ibealwuchi Earnest Alex & 4 others and Prince Uche Secondus & another, as there was no real urgency, in the circumstances of the matter, that would have required an ex parte order.

“His Lordship is also issued with a warning letter to be circumspect in granting such ex parte orders in the future.

“Council also resolved that Justice Nusirat I. Umar of the High Court of Kebbi State be barred from elevation to higher Bench for two years whenever due, having found fundamental defects and non-compliance with the law in granting the ex-parte order in suit No: KB/HC/M.71/2021 between Yahaya Usman & 2 others and Prince Uche Secondus & another.

“He is also issued with a warning letter to be circumspect in granting such ex-parte orders in the future.

“Hon. Justice Edem Ita Kooffreh of the High Court of Cross River State will not be promoted to a higher Bench for five years for allowing himself to be used as a tool for “forum shopping” and abuse of Court process in suit No: HC/240/2021 between Mr. Enang Kanum Wani and Uche Secondus, as it was evident that, in granting the ex parte order, he was seised of earlier orders of the High Courts of Rivers and Kebbi States, being courts of coordinate jurisdiction with his.

“He is also to receive a warning letter to be circumspect in granting such ex parte orders in the future.

“The council also placed him on its watch-list for a period of two years.”

Although the statement did not list the names of the 63 newly appointed judges and the heads of court, it named   Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Bello Duwale of the High Court of Sokoto State, Hon. Justices S. A. Omonua and O. S. Uwuigbe of the Edo State High Court, and Justices M. A. Pindiga  as well as  Beatrice L. Iliya of the High Court of Gombe State among  those on the retirement list

Others are  Muhammad  Abdulkadir, Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kwara State and    Justice S. M. C. Ururuka-Ogeshi, president, Customary Court of Appeal, Abia State.

According to the statement, the judges, who passed on are A. K. Fowe of the High Court of  Ekiti State;   Chinonyerem Onii of the  High Court, Imo State and. Shehu Ahmad, grand kadi, Kaduna State.

It added that the NJC approved the promotion of 84 members of staff of the judiciary ranging from grade levels seven to 17.

Sagay, Ojukwu laud NJC

Lawyers, including Itse Sagay (SAN) and Ernest Ojukwu (SAN) lauded the NJC action.

Sagay said: “The NJC did a very good thing, I will say one of the very best decisions they have ever taken. The NJC is to be congratulated for what they did; it is very positive.

On his expectations regarding any lawyer found culpable in the saga, he said: “I am glad to hear that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is going to discipline these corrupt and irresponsible and undisciplined lawyers who are really the bane of this country’s problems in the legal sphere. They are the ones who bribe judges, who induce judges to do all the wrong things.”

Ojukwu advocated more stringent measures against the judges and lawyers to serve as a deterrent to others. He added that the judges’ competence should also be interrogated.

His words:  “The NJC  decision is a welcome development; it has shown proactiveness on the subject of discipline of judicial officers. This is a further impetus on that radical posture to nip in the bud ugly, unethical developments that seem to be showing up within the judiciary.

“But, the discipline does not seem to go far enough because in applying disciplinary measures on a professional such as a judge, especially when there is a rising trend on unethical behaviour, one expects disciplinary measures to also act as a deterrence to others. So, in that respect, a stronger penalty would be a better disposition towards deterring others from taking such steps in the future.”

By Bolaji Ogundele, Tony Akowe, Sanni Onogu and Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

Senate President Ahmad Lawan, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase yesterday felicitated President Muhammadu Buhari on today’s celebration of his 79th birthday.

Also, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun) as well as Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige saluted the President on the celebration.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, the Senate President said: “I join the multitude of fellow Nigerians and your other well-wishers across the globe in thanking Allah for His great gifts of good health and long life to you…

“You are a leader who has matched vision with courage and who is steadfast in his pursuit of the right cause and common good…

“The National Assembly will continue to work with you in line with our shared vision and in the best interest of our dear nation.”

Gbajabiamila, who congratulated President Buhari through a message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, said: “Mr. President, Nigeria and Nigerians are proud of you. The way you have been steering the ship of the Nigerian state has been commendable.

“I, therefore, join millions of our compatriots to wish you a happy birthday and more years in good health.”

Read Also: We’ll fulfill promises we made, Buhari assures ECOWAS Parliament

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Ahmed Idris Wase has said that President Muhammadu Buhari deserved to be judged fairly based on his track record in the last six years.

In a congratulatory message by his Chief Press Secretary, Umar Muhammad Puma, the Deputy Speaker described President Buhari as “a patriotic, compassionate leader whose love for the nation and achievements will stand him out in the annals of Nigeria’s history”.

In a congratulatory message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Governor Sanwo-Olu said: “You have contributed immensely to the unity, growth and development of Nigeria right from your youthful days till date, having served in different capacities as Minister of Petroleum Resources, Head of State and currently President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.”

Oyetola, who congratulated President Buhari through a statement in Osogbo, the state capital, by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ismail Omipidan, said: “It is noteworthy to mention that, despite the challenges confronting us as a country, you have made remarkable and impactful contributions to the growth and development of the country. You have remained an incorruptible and honest leader.”

Ngige, in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja, described the President as a colossus who, upon crossing the Rubicon in 2015, retrieved Nigeria from a threatening morass, and set her on a fruitful march of socio-economic and political recovery.

He added: “…The expansion of roads and railway infrastructure, illustrating the unambiguous commitment to national infrastructural rebirth, and summarised by the administration’s five legacy projects, viz: the Second Niger Bridge, now 80 per cent completed; the Lagos-Ibadan-Ilorin-Kaduna road; the East-West road; Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road and the Mambilla Project and more!”

Also, President Buhari left Abuja yesterday for Istanbul, Turkey, to participate in the third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit.

The event, with the theme: Enhanced Partnership for Common Development and Prosperity, is being hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the agenda of the event includes reviewing the cooperation between African countries and Turkey since the last summit in 2014.

The third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit is coming on the heels of President Erdogan’s recent state visit to Nigeria.

President Buhari will be accompanied by his wife, Hajia Aisha Buhari; Ministers Geoffrey Onyeama (Foreign Affairs); retired Maj-Gen. Bashir Magashi (Defence); Mohammed Bello (FCT); Dr. Osagie Ehanire (Health); Mohammed Abubakar (Agriculture); Adeniyi Adebayo (Industry, Trade and Investment); retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (National Security Adviser); and Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar (Director General, National Intelligence Agency).

The President is expected back in Abuja on Sunday, December 19.

Senators are divided over the proposed conduct of a national census next year by the National Population Commission (NPC), no thanks to growing insecurity in some parts of the country.

Some Senators claimed that instead of blowing about N400 billion on census, the cash should be used to fix infrastructure and provide jobs.

Other members of the Red Chamber also picked holes in the budget after they discovered that the NPC may spend N2 billion on sanitizers and face masks within 13 days for the conduct of the exercise.

The division in the Senate manifested at a meeting between the Senate Committee on Appropriation and top NPC officials, who came to defend the N400 Census Budget.

Senators were at each other’s throats on the desirability or otherwise of the conduct of census in the midst of security challenges, including terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other crimes.

But the NPC said security challenges will not hinder the head count tentatively fixed for May 2022.

Apart from citing the successful conduct of elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the agency said it has just-concluded enumeration nationwide in the last one year.

It said the nationwide enumeration was done between November 2020 and November 2021 without hitches and casualties.

Investigation by our reporter revealed that the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Barau Jibrin, was convinced that the census can hold.

Read Also; Adeyemi: Nigeria not safe to conduct 2022 census

But, some senators and members of the committee, led by Sen. Smart Adeyemi faulted plans to hold census and countered Jibrin’s arguments.

Adeyemi said: “Census may be necessary, but it is not expedient. With the increasing rate of insecurity in the country, it will be difficult to conduct accurate census or get the right figures. How do we capture many Nigerians who have no access to their towns and villages.

“Some key parts of some states in the North, like Borno, Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger and others are under siege. Also, some states in the Southeast have security challenges. No nation can conduct census without peace.

“The alternative is to leave some people to sit down somewhere and be writing figures.

“For now, N400 billion is huge. Our country should use the cash to provide infrastructure and jobs. The Senate does not need to approve such a budget.”

Another senator said: “Some of us are actually not in support of census next year. As we speak, some of our colleagues in the National Assembly do not have access to their constituencies.

“Since President Muhammadu Buhari is addressing the security challenges headlong, I think we can shift the conduct of census to 2023.

“We are appealing to our colleagues in the Senate not only to reject the N400billion budget but to halt the exercise next year.”

A member of the committee, who was armed with the NPC Census Budget, told our correspondent: “How can this commission propose to spend N2 billion on the purchase of sanitizers and nose masks for the census which will be conducted within 13 days?

“For a government that is borrowing to finance the budget, this is wasteful. We don’t even need census now. We want to live to be counted by the NPC. So, survival is our priority and we need enhanced security.”

“But, a National Commissioner in the NPC, who spoke in confidence, said: “The lawmakers are not been realistic. If it is election period, they will ask the government to ensure that the elections hold.

“Census is vital to national development. We have successfully conducted Enumeration nationwide from November 2020 to November 2021 without hitches or casualties.

“We should not hide under insecurity and refuse to move the nation forward. Do we know when we are going to get over insecurity. Nigerians must learn to face the reality. We have had enumeration in Borno, Zamfara, Sokoto and in the Southeast without any crisis.”

On the census budget, the NPC commissioner said:  ”The bulk of the estimates is for payment of stipends to over one million officers that will be used for the exercise. Some will work for 12 days, 13 days, 24 days and even 90 days. Also, some parts of the budget will come in kind from donor agencies and international organisations.”

According to a document obtained by The Nation, some of the highlights of the 2022 Census Budget are as follows:

•Enumerators (1, 536,118 at N55, 300, 251,600 (N55.3 billion)

•Supervisors (140,293) at N5,892,301,800

•Quality Assurance Officers (15,085)= N633, 586,800

•Master Trainers (1,628) =N586,080,000

•Principal Trainers(16,273) =N3,905,520.000

•Facilitators (76,616)= N16,549,056,000

•Training venues and facilities (38,308)= N1, 838,784,000

•Local monitors (2,000)=N480,000,000

•Comptroller (774) =N92,880,000

•State Directors (37) =N4,440,000

•Recruitment of functionaries (40)= N806, 315, 796

•HFC, Monitors, Technical Field Staff and other stakeholders= N800,000,000

•Daily transportation for all categories of certain functionaries= N500,000,000

President Muhammadu Buhari gave the nod to the NPC to conduct a national census by May next year.

The President is expected to issue a proclamation on the exercise any moment from now.

According to investigation, the President has given approval to the NPC following concerns that the nation’s census outlook had become outdated and difficult to plan with.

But it was gathered that the President might consult the Council of State as statutorily required under Third Schedule, Part 1 (5) of the 199 Constitution.

No official of NPC was willing to make any comment but investigation showed that preparations were on-going.

The Federal Government yesterday faulted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s assessment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s score card in the last six years.

It disagreed with the former leader’s remark that the President has nothing to offer in office, particularly on the worsening insecurity that has upset the country.

The government warned Nigerians against the use of incendiary and insulting words, especially by leaders, saying that they can overheat the polity and heighten tension.

Government also said that with a recent court declaration, bandits have been declared as terrorists, stressing that no administration in Nigeria’s recent history has provided the security agencies with the hardware to tackle insecurity as that of President Buhari.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the clarifications at a briefing in Abuja against the backdrop of increasing banditry and kidnappings in the country.

Ex-President Obasanjo had on Monday claimed that President Buhari has nothing more to offer the nation.

He said the nation should start looking beyond the tenure of Buhari by shopping for a new leader in 2023.

Obasanjo said: “President Buhari has done his best. That is what he can do. If we are expecting anything more than what he has done or what he is doing, that means we’re whipping a dead horse and there is no need.”

But, Mohammed said the assessment of the President by Obasanjo was wrong because Buhari was doing his best for Nigeria.

The Minister said: “If anybody is worried today about the security situation of the country, it is Mr. President.

Read Also: Nigeria elite harassing us despite our performance, Buhari laments

“ President Buhari has done so much, under very difficult economic and social conditions, to tackle insecurity in our country.

“Not only has he done so much. President Buhari continues to do much more to keep Nigerians safe. To say he has nothing more to offer is untrue, fallacious and smacks of dirty politicking.

“By boosting the number and capacity of our fighting forces, Mr. President is putting them in good stead to tackle insecurity not just during the life of his administration but long after he would have left office.”

Mohammed assured Nigerians that Buhari will leave the nation better with sustainable achievements.

He added:” President Buhari is leaving a legacy of security, infrastructural development, economic prosperity and social cohesion for Nigeria.

”This may not seem obvious today, amidst daunting challenges, but posterity will be kind to this President.

“Despite all this, President Buhari has not relented, constantly presiding over meetings of security chiefs to get an update and also issue necessary directives, and not missing any opportunity to offer succour to his countrymen and women, when necessary.

“The skewed narrative in certain quarters that the President has not shown enough empathy is glib talk. The President has also continued to work with our neighboring countries and indeed our Western partners to tackle insecurity, especially terrorism.

“With the entire Sahelian region experiencing a devastating surge in terrorist attacks, more so in the wake of the Libyan crisis, it has become even more imperative for Nigeria to step up regional cooperation to more effectively tackle insecurity – and that is what Mr. President has been doing.

“Gentlemen, President Buhari has done so much, under very difficult economic and social conditions, to tackle insecurity in our country. Not only has he done so much. President Buhari continues to do much more to keep Nigerians safe. To say he has nothing more to offer is untrue, fallacious and smacks of dirty politicking.

“By boosting the number and capacity of our fighting forces, Mr. President is putting them in good stead to tackle insecurity not just during the life of his Administration but long after he would have left office. President Buhari is leaving a legacy of security, infrastructural development, economic prosperity and social cohesion for Nigeria. This may not seem obvious today, amidst daunting challenges, but posterity will be kind to this President.

“Please permit me to use this opportunity to commend the military, police, civil defence and other security, intelligence and para-military agencies for their continued service to the nation. It is important to remember that our men and women in uniform sacrifice their sleep and comfort so we can in turn sleep well.

“Even as we continue to battle insecurity, it will be uncharitable on our part to suggest they are not doing enough, or not to appreciate their sacrifices. The recent massive surrendering of Boko Haram terrorists and the huge pressure on bandits represent a testament to the effectiveness of the efforts of our security agencies. We should encourage them to do more, instead of pillorying them.”

The Minister said the use  of incendiary and insulting words, especially by leaders of all hues, can only overheat the polity and heighten tension.

He asked Nigerians to appreciate the efforts of the government at addressing security challenges in the country.

Mohammed said: “Finally, while there is nothing wrong in the citizens expressing their concerns over the insecurity in the country, we wish to say that the use of incendiary and insulting words, especially by leaders of all hues, can only overheat the polity and heighten tension.

“While the government provides leadership, all Nigerians have a role to play in securing our nation. Security is not the sole responsibility of the security forces alone.

“We must not only support our security agencies, we must also say something anytime we see something that hampers our safety and security, as encapsulated in the mantra: ‘’If you see something, say something.’’

Asked why the Federal Government’s position on the status of bandits, Mohammed said:” I think the AGF went to court and got a declaration. As far as the law is concerned today, bandits are terrorists. But it is not me or you that will say that they are terrorists, the court has made a declaration.

Regarding gazette on the court declaration, the Minister said:  “There is a process for everything, we should be patient. The Attorney-General of the Federation won’t go to court for nothing. For the AGF to go to court, it is the biggest step to declare bandits as terrorists.”

Responding to a correspondent, the  Minister insisted that Buhari has improved security architecture of the nation than he met it.

He said: “Since assuming office in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to make the issue of security a major plank of his administration’s policy. This is not a surprise, considering the fact that the fight against insecurity is one of the three priority areas of the APC-led Federal Government.

“Yes, the security situation has continued to pose a great challenge, but amidst the cacophony of voices – some genuinely concerned about the situation and others ready to exploit it for selfish ends – it is easy to forget where we are coming from.

“Today, we only look at the current situation, without wondering what would have been had this President not taken the bull by the horns, as far as security is concerned.

“With the way the insurgents were going before this Administration came into office, with their control of a vast swath of land the size of Belgium, with their freewheeling attacks in almost a dozen states, including the Federal Capital Territory which was hit at least five times, perhaps they could have achieved their aim of declaring an Islamic State in Nigeria, if President Buhari had not acted decisively.

“After all, in 2014, Boko Haram declared a Caliphate in Gwoza after capturing Bama and Gamboru as well as other towns and villages in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. They installed their own Emirs, collected taxes and flew their flag before the military dislodged them.

“Yes, banditry and kidnapping have added to the state of insecurity, President Buhari has also continued to provide quality leadership in order to ensure that our security agencies decisively tackle the cankerworm of insecurity of any hue.”

The Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria Limited (InfraCorp) plans to commit N1 trillion to the completion of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Abuja-Kano Highway and the Second Niger Bridge, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele hinted yesterday.

Emefiele said that InfraCorp has already provided N170 billion bridge fund for the three key infrastructure projects.

The N15 trillion InfraCorp is co-owned by the CBN, the African Finance Corporation (AFC) and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

Speaking yesterday at the end of the 2021 Bankers’ Committee retreat in Lagos, the CBN boss said the remaining part of the fund will be sourced through local debts from banks and pension assets.

Emefiele said the fund will be utilised to support the Federal Government in building the required transport infrastructure to move agriculture products to processors, raw materials to factories and finished goods to the markets.

Speaking on the theme: “Building resilience for economic growth”, he said the dedicated privately-managed infrastructure and industrial vehicle will harness opportunities for infrastructure development by originating, structuring, executing and managing end-to-end bankable projects.

He said the Bankers’ Committee appreciates the role of banks as an enabler and catalyst of real sector growth through its advocacy, interventions and targeted support.

Read Also: Fed Govt connects Jigawa to Bauchi with 142.2-km Kano-Maiduguri road

Emefiele said: “We will try to limit foreign borrowing for the projects, except where it is absolutely necessary to take foreign loans. The roads will be tolled. The Bankers’ Committee will in 2022 focus on infrastructure building as there is limited fiscal space and the committee through the banks will focus on infrastructure support.

“What is important is that within the Nigerian financial market, there is a lot of idle funding, and can be well channeled, if packed the way Infracorp has been set up. We want local investors to put their funds in these projects.

“We tend to help government and private sector to raise capital without endangering the balance sheet of the Federal Government of Nigeria. For the members of the Bankers’ Committee, it is an opportunity for us to begin to think about how to reset our economy, how to make our economy self-sustaining.

“We will do everything possible to reduce the rate of poverty in our country. Believing that if we are able to diversify the economy, believing that if we are able to reduce unemployment and poverty in the country, then we can beat our chest and begin to say that we have a country that that is secured and reduce the level of insecurity in the country.

“And we viewed that doing this is upmost and that everything must be done and that banks themselves took up the fact that whereas we have done everything in the past to support the economy but we will still do more as agent’s that should catalysed the economy.

Emefiele said the Federal Government has provided a kind of seed funding initially to jumpstart these projects, but the InfraCorp would now help to look at the viability of those projects.

He said: “We will be working with the government and all the agencies of government to see to it that these projects are completed and more of it would come on stream.

“We know there  are so many of the projects and am sure when we begin to take stock of the size of the infrastructure projects we find out that they  run into hundreds of trillions of naira but  we have decided to start with just  with the first phase which is just N15 trillion.”

On how the funds will be sourced, he said: “The projects will be funded through the banks and pension assets, with 50 per cent of the debts expected to be borrowed locally. We will try to limit foreign borrowing but where foreign currencies are needed will provide them to ensure project continuity.

“The roads will be tolled to repay the loans because the projects are financially viable. People will pay for it and enjoy good road infrastructure as that is the only way we can afford it.”

With an approval to raise police salary by 20 per cent, the Federal Government yesterday began the implementation of #EndSARS protesters’ request on better welfare package for policemen.

The government yesterday launched series of reformation plans, including increased take home pay and ‘peculiar allowance’ for the Nigeria Police at the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The executive plans to raise a Supplementary Appropriation Bill to get National Assembly’s approval as the funds for the implementation of new financial obligations were not captured in the 2022 budget proposals.

Police Affairs Minister Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi broke the news to State House reporters at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after the week’s virtual FEC, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The minister said the Council also approved the review of police duty tour allowance to six per cent and the release of N1.2 billion for the payment of uninsured benefits.

Also approved by the FEC is the sum of N1.2 billion for the payment of outstanding allowances.

Dingyadi said that N13.128 billion was approved for outstanding death benefits for 5,472 police personnel.

According to the minister, the approvals tallied with President Buhari’s promise to enhance police personnel pay as demanded by #EndSARS protesters.

He said: “I’m particularly very happy today to inform Nigerians that the FEC under the chairmanship of Mr. President, has approved, a review, and upgrading of the take home pay of police personnel in this country.

Read Also: Doctors’ salary: Abia, Ondo, Ekiti top debtors’ list, says NMA

“You will recall that in October 2020, this country was rocked with #EndSARS protests, Mr. President had to address the nation and appealed for calm after, which he promised Nigerians that the salary of police officers will be reviewed, will be improved to enhance their take home pay in recognition of the services they have been rendering to this country in areas of maintenance of peace and tranquility.

“So, the FEC, today (yesterday), approved this proposal for the review of the salary, which will take effect in January 2022. But we try to avoid a situation where we deal with improving or reviewing the salary scales of police officers, but we have tried to create a situation where their take home pay will be enhanced through the improvement of issues such as duty tour allowance, which has been reviewed to six percent of their new take home pay and council has also approved payment of N1,000,120,172.50 for the payment of outstanding benefits of personnel for uninsured period of 2013 to 2020 that has not been covered under the group personnel…

“It has also approved the release of N13,127,972,269.20 for payment as outstanding death benefits of 5,472 personnel with uninsured period of 2013 to August 2021, not covered under the Group Life Insurance.

“The Council has also approved the payment of the sum of N1.2 billion as payment of outstanding burial expenses of personnel period of January 2012 to 2021.

“FEC also graciously approved the Annual Insurance Premiums of N750 million as well as payment of N4, 812,500,000 for the repairs and replacement of damaged police infrastructure in future budgets, starting from 2022.

“Council has also approved a tax waiver in the sum of N18, 600,000,000 for personnel, junior officers within the police, in order to increase their take home pay. This is going to take effect from October 2021.

“Similarly, government has also approved the increase of the current rent subsidy, which is currently between 15 to 20% amounting to N61 billion. Increase is 40% of the Consolidated Policed Salary Structure (CONPOST) in the sum of N78, 300,000,000, that is to say an increase of about N16,400,000,000.

“It has also approved payment of an additional six per cent shift duty allowance for officers on levels 01 to 14 and the supervisors allowances for officers on level 15 and above. This will come out to about N10,038,000,000, with effect from 2022.

“Most importantly, government also approved payment of about 20% of CONPOST, as ‘Peculiar Allowances’ to boost morale and take-home pay of Nigerian Police. All these will be computed and salary structure will be brought up by the Salaries and Wages Commission, which will be adopted by government as soon as possible”, he explained.

He, however said that the payment would only commence after the Auditor General of Federation must have scrutinised it.

“Similarly, most of these payments will only be effected when the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation reviews and verifies these figures for payment. It is thereafter that the Accountant-General of the Federation will be directed to approve the payment.

“We can see that with this development now. Police will be earning a more attractive pay that will be commensurate with what they’re doing.

“What we expect the police to do after this is to redouble their efforts and justify the confidence that Mr. President and the Federal Executive Council have vested in them.

“As a ministry, we will do whatever it takes to ensure that we improve the performance and the relationship between the police and the public to ensure that they justify this good gesture.”

Finance, Budget and National Planning Minister Mrs. Zainab Ahmed explained that the upward salary review for the police was not captured in the 2022 Appropriations Bill.

She further explained that government could subsequently raise a Supplementary Appropriation Bill and sent to the National Assembly to meet the new financial obligation.

“So, you know, this is not provided for in the budget. It just came to Council today (yesterday). Like the minister said the Auditor-General has been asked to review all of these computations that have been done to verify. It’s for us to know exactly what needs to be paid. So if we have, we will go back to Parliament for supplementary budget.

“No, not taking effect in January 2022, but the effective date is still January 2022 when all the problems is sorted out there will be supplementary budget sent to the parliament,” she explained.