Category: Lead

• Frustrated consumers unable to recharge accounts
• DisCos blame vending challenges on poor network
• NERC mum as AEDC insists no increase for now

A massive rush by electricity consumers to recharge their accounts ahead of the alleged planned hike in tariffs has sent the various platforms of the Distribution Companies (DisCos) into a gridlock, according to reports from across the country.

Although speculations had put today as the beginning of the planned tariff regime, the DisCos said they were yet to receive the go ahead to that effect from the industry regulator, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), at press time last night.

But that has not stopped consumers from besieging the payment counters and platforms of the DisCos for the purchase of token to recharge their electricity accounts.

Consumers told The Nation the difficulties they have been facing for some days now in their bids to recharge on the various platforms of the DisCos since the speculation of increase in tariff became an issue.

Some insinuated that the DisCos were tampering with their network to force through the hike.

An Ikeja Electric (IE) customer in Ojodu, Ibukun Olaoluwa, said for five days there has been network challenge to load the electricity token he hurriedly purchased ahead of today’s planned increase.

An Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) customer, Victor Umeh, said: “It is frustrating. I planned to recharge ahead of tomorrow’s (today) planned hike, but the purchasing platform has been challenging.”

The confusion sparked by the development is not helped by conflicting statements from the distribution companies (DisCos).

For instance, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) announced on Sunday a tariff increase on the strength of the floating of the foreign exchange only to backtrack 18 hours later.

It said in the first public announcement: “Effective July 1st, 2023, please be informed that there will be an upward review to the electricity tariff influenced by the fluctuating exchange rate.

“Under the MYTO 2022 guidelines, the previously set exchange rate of N441/$1 may now be revised to approximately N750/$1 which will have an impact on the tariffs associated with your electricity consumption.

“For customers within band B and C, with supply hours ranging from 12 to 16 per day, the new base tariff is expected to be N100 per kWh while Bands A with (20 hours and above) and B (16 to 20 hours) will experience comparatively higher tariffs.

“For customers with a prepaid meter, we encourage you to consider purchasing bulk energy units before the end of this month as this will allow you take advantage of the current rates and potentially make savings before the new tariffs come into effect.

“For those on post-paid (estimated) billing, a significant increment is imminent in your monthly billing, starting from August.”

In reversing itself, however, it said it never got the go ahead from NERC prior to the announcement.Its words: “Please, disregard the communication circulating in the media regarding the review of electricity tariffs.

“Be informed that no approval for such increment has been received. We regret any inconvenience.”

Some of the other DisCos feigned ignorance of any planned rise in tariffs.

A senior manager in a leading Lagos-based DisCo said: “We have not been advised or directed on such. The NERC is the only body that can order us on tariffs review, and as at this evening (yesterday), we have not received any correspondence on this from NERC.

“So, we are also watching the speculation that has filled the air.”

Top officials of some DisCos, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the development in the FOREX market has made it inevitable for them to adjust their financial outlay.

The General Manager, Public Affairs of NERC, Dr. Usman Abba-Arabi, could not be reached on the phone for confirmation. Messages sent to his Whatsapp number were not replied.

AEDC: No tariff increase on July 1

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) insisted last night that there is no upward review of tariff for now.

Its Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Donald Etim, informed The Nation by text message yesterday that the company was yet to get any directive on tariff adjustments from the NERC.

He said: “We have neither received any directive on tariff adjustments nor have we adjusted same.

“To the best of my knowledge, there’s no tariff review scheduled for 1 July.”

Asked why it was difficult for customers to purchase the units, the AEDC Chief Marketing Officer blamed the challenge on poor network.

He said: “It has nothing to do with tariff. It could be due to poor network or bad weather.”

Sources at the Eko Electric and Ikeja Electric last night denied fears that the DisCos were deliberately stalling services to enforce the planned tariff increase.

Akinola Ayeni, the media spokesman of the Ikeja Electric, attributed the poor services being experienced as purely technical and not deliberate ploy by the Ikeja Disco to deny customers services.

“To say that Ikeja Electric is deliberately stalling the services is untruth and uncalled for. I have recharged my metre today.

“Some other persons experienced difficulty but this is just a coincidence and has nothing to do with service denial by the Disco.

“All these talks are figments of peoples’ imagination,” Ayeni said.

A top staff at Eko Electric who does not want to be named said it was rather unfortunate that some customers were experiencing issues with recharging their metres.

He advised the affected consumers to get in touch with the customer care to have their issues resolved in no time.

On whether the distributing company had received a memo introducing the new tariff, the source said Eko Electric was yet to receive any such directives.

“We’re operating in a regulated sector. As such, no DisCo can do anything on its own volition.

“As we speak, we are yet to receive any correspondence from our regulators (NERC) as to any tariff increase. The media frenzy is fueling the speculation on tariff increase.”

Also reacting yesterday on the jam in processing token purchased by consumers, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) said:”We are in touch with @IkejaElectric, which has confirmed that this issue is being experienced due to challenges within its system.

“However, the Commission is actively engaging with the DisCo to resolve these challenges as soon as possible. Please watch this space for updates.”

Electricity tariff review, either increase or decrease, is a bi-annual exercise as provided for in the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) schedule for the sector.

Relying on Section 76 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) 2005, the NERC adopted the MYTO methodology for electricity pricing in Nigeria, which sets out the basis, pricing principles and procedures for effecting minor and major reviews of electricity tariffs in Nigeria.

The MYTO provides a tariff path for the electricity industry, with biannual minor reviews to take into account the impact of changes in a limited number of parameters, specifically inflation, dollar exchange rate to naira, natural gas price and available generation capacity, and major reviews every five years.

Similarly, Section 9 of the ”Regulation on Procedures for Electricity Tariff Reviews in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry” allows for Extraordinary Tariff Review.

The proposed increase is coming despite the inability of the operators to meet the threshold of supplying, at least 5,000 megawatts a year after signing contracts with NERC.

NERC’s current Service Based Tariff (SBT) was benchmarked on an exchange rate of N441/$ and inflation of 16.97 per cent. Currently, the inflation rate is 22.41 per cent; a figure that experts say may hit 30 per cent by the end of the month, given the floating of the naira and petrol subsidy removal.

An economist and Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, said the proposed review smacked of insensitivity.

Yusuf, in an interview with The Nation, faulted the proposed increase, saying that the timing is wrong.

He said though DisCos are private companies, their services are of great social significance.

He said: “It is often a dilemma when the private sector is playing a dominant role in the delivery of a service, which is social in nature or quasi-social.

“Nonetheless, it is difficult to accept the exchange rate argument to justify the increase.

“The truth is that for over 80 per cent of companies, product pricing has always been based on parallel market exchange rate, or close to it.

“Not up to 20 per cent of companies had unfettered access to the official FOREX window for all their FOREX needs.”

Yusuf said the FOREX unification argument being put up by the DisCos cannot justify the proposed tariff increase.

The CPPE boss, an advocate of a free market economy, nevertheless warned that contemplating such an increase at this period when Nigerians are still grappling with the shocks of the fuel price increase is wrong.

He said: “It is most inappropriate and even insensitive to come up with a price increase of such magnitude at this time when many households are still struggling to adjust to the phenomenal increase in petrol prices.

“We need social stability for any business to thrive. Many other businesses are also impacted by the exchange rate unification. But not many have increased prices so phenomenally.

“The DisCos seem to be taking advantage of monopoly privileges.

“We recommend that both the timing and rate of tariff changes should be reviewed in the interest of social stability.”

• It’s a nightmarish model of curriculum reengineering – Union
• NUC: Your claims are untrue

The National Universities Commission(NUC) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have clashed over the recently reviewed Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) for universities by the NUC.

ASUU, yesterday described the CCMAS as a nightmarish model of curriculum reengineering and  an aberration to the Nigerian University System but the NUC faulted the position of the union.

The NUC  said, contrary to ASUU’s claim of imposition, all stakeholders were carried along during the review of the new CCMAS.

Deputy Executive Secretary (Academics) of the NUC, Dr Noel Saliu said this in a statement on Friday night in Abuja.

In 2022, NUC said it already developed the CCMAS to replace the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) –the curriculum guide for Nigerian universities, which had been in use since 2007.

The CCMAS also expanded BMAS from 12 to 17 disciplines to reposition the system to reflect the realities of the 21st century.

According to the regulatory body, developing the CCMAS involved a blend of academic experts, academies, government (represented by NUC), professional bodies and the private sector, represented by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).

NUC added that CCMAS would make up 70 per cent of the curriculum while the university decides what to include in the remaining 30 per cent.

However, ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke described it as an imposition, saying that NUC failed to carry along relevant organs of the university system.

In a statement, Osodeke said the new benchmark was imposed on the institutions and called for an urgent review.

He described NUC’s action as an “aberration to the Nigerian University System.”

But the Commission, in its own statement, said the review was done strictly in compliance with the mandate conferred on it by the Education (National Minimum Standard and Establishment of Institutions) Act No. E3 L.F.N. 2004.

It also noted that its efforts in the development of the CCMAS had been acclaimed by Nigerian universities, the private sector and, indeed, all stakeholders of university education as well as the international community.

The commission said that it believed that hundreds of professors and other credible academics who had been participating in the ongoing curriculum re-engineering exercise are members of ASUU.

The statement added: “It is instructive to note that in carrying out this very important quality assurance activity of developing minimum standards in the NUS, from 1989 to date, the NUC has always engaged subject area experts across Nigerian Universities. In other words, Nigerian Universities have always been primarily involved in the development and review of the curriculum in the NUS, with the NUC coordinating the process.

“That assertion that there was no official communication from NUC to the Universities on the review of the BMAS is not correct. Vice-Chancellors can attest to the fact that the Commission has been communicating with them on the issue over the last five years. In addition, several virtual and on-site meetings were held to intimate them of the curriculum review, and provide them with updates from time to time (Recordings of these meetings are available)

“The claim that there is no evidence to show that the Universities were involved in the true sense of revision of the BMAS development and the subsequent implementation of the CCMAS in the NUS is also far from the truth. The curriculum review process started in 2018 with the subject area experts in Nigerian Universities producing draft documents, which were forwarded to experts in other Nigerian Universities for their comments. Comments received from Universities that responded formed part of the working documents forwarded to the various curriculum review panels. It is important to note that when the initial drafts of the CCMAS were ready, they were also circulated amongst Nigerian academics. A huge number of comments were received, which were synthesised and incorporated into the respective programmes. How else would one get the universities involved in an exercise of this nature? Needless to say that the practice of getting and incorporating inputs from Nigerian universities has been the tradition of NUC, from 1989 to date.

“It is important to state that the NUC did not engage the services of any consultant(s) to review the curriculum. The Commission has a Strategy Advisory Committee (STRADVCOM) made up of respected Nigerian academics and Professors, representatives of the private sector and some Directors of the NUC. The NUC Management, with its Directorate of Academic Planning, worked with this Committee and Nigerian Universities in producing the review in question.

“On the components of programmes purported to have been left out, the NUC wishes to state categorically that it informed Nigerian Universities from the beginning of the review exercise that the Commission would provide for 70% of the minimum course requirements for graduation in Nigerian universities, while the Universities would make up the remaining 30%. The Commission did not arbitrarily arrive at this ratio. As a matter of fact, the NUC had in previous minimum standards documents. made provision for 100% curriculum requirements to Nigerian Universities.

“It is instructive to note that in a retreat with Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities in 2017, the NUC proposed to the Universities a 50 50 NUC Universities Curriculum Provision. This was rejected as the Universities felt that the action was 100 drastic and that the proposal should be gradually implemented; they proposed 80:20 NUC University contribution to the Curriculum. However, the NUC, during the comprehensive curriculum review, decided to adopt a 70:30 NUC University ratio for the Curriculum contents.

“The idea behind the 70:30 NUC: University provision for the curriculum is to eventually place the curriculum in the domain of the Universities where it belongs. It is the belief of the Commission that with the full implementation of the idea, Universities will run the general requirements for their programmes in line with global realities such that they will be able to create a niche for themselves by introducing courses based on their peculiarities. It is important to emphasise that the so-called NUC component of the curriculum was determined by Nigerian academics, with the Commission only coordinating.

“Based on the foregoing, even when courses are omitted in the 70% CCMAS, such courses can be introduced by the Universities in the 30% component. Besides, the provision made in the CCMAS is the minimum requirement and the Universities can go beyond the minimum stipulations, provided the students are not overloaded.

“The unbundling of programmes has positive bearing on the employability of graduates from such programmes as it makes such programmes more focused to meet their philosophy and objectives. ASUU should conduct more research to get more informed about programme specializations at the postgraduate level vis-à-vis programme offerings at the undergraduate level. University Education is very dynamic and we need to move in line with current realities, especially as obtainable in global best practices.

“Contrary to ASUU’s claim of the CCMAS unifying university curricula across all Nigerian Universities, the Commission’s effort is to de-emphasise uniformity. That, precisely, is what the 70:30 NUC: University curriculum provision does.

“The National Universities Commission wishes to conclude that there is no basis for the attack on the Commission’s process of coordinating the review of the Curriculum of Nigerian Universities. This has been done strictly in compliance with the mandate conferred on it by the Education (National Minimum Standard and Establishment of Institutions) Act No. E3 L.F.N. 2004. Furthermore, the efforts of the Commission in the development of the CCMAS have been acclaimed by Nigerian Universities, the private sector and, indeed, all stakeholders of university education as well as the international community. We believe that hundreds of professors and other credible academics who have been participating in the ongoing CURRICULUM RE-ENGINEERING exercise are members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)!”

ASUU in a statement described the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) designed by the NUC  as a nightmarish model of curriculum reengineering and  an aberration to the Nigerian University System.

The statement  reads: “ASUU is not unaware that setting academic standards and assuring quality in the NUS is within the remit of the NUC. Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, Cap E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, enjoins the NUC to lay down the minimum standards for all universities and other degree awarding institutions in the Federation and conduct the accreditation of their degrees and other academic awards.

“However, the process of generating the standard is as important (if not more important) than what is produced as “minimum standards”.

“In this instance, the NUC has recently, through some hazy procedures, churned out CCMAS documents containing 70% curricular contents in 17 academic fields with little or no input from the universities. The academic disciplines covered are (i) Administration and Management, (ii) Agriculture, (iii) Allied Health Sciences, (iv) Architecture, (v) Arts, (vi) Basic Medical Sciences, (vii) Computing, (viii) Communication and Media Studies, (ix) Education, (x) Engineering and Technology, (xi) Environmental Sciences, (xii) Law, (xiii) Medicine and Dentistry, (xiv) Pharmaceutical Science, (xv) Sciences, (xvi) Social Sciences, and (xvii) Veterinary Medicine.”

ASUU  described the CCMAS as a nightmarish model of curriculum reengineering, adding: “It is an aberration to the Nigerian University System. The CCMAS documents are flawed both in process and in content. There is no basis for the 70% “untouchable CCMAS,” which cannot stand the test of critical scrutiny of university Senates.”

 “NUC should encourage universities, as currently being done by the University of Ibadan, to propose innovations for the review of their programmes. Proposals from across universities should then be sieved and synthesised by more competent expert teams to review the existing BMAS documents and/or create new ones as appropriate. “The difference here is the bottom-up approach, unlike the top-bottom or take-it-or-leave-it model of the CCMAS.”

• Support president to defeat insecurity, Shettima tells Northwest leaders
• INC, PANDEF, Itsekiri urge Tinubu to revive refineries

President Bola Tinubu yesterday got the backing of the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, on the “bold steps” he has taken so far in steering the ship of the nation to safety.

Support for the president also came from prominent groups and leaders in the Niger Delta who are particularly delighted by his decision to wean the country of fuel subsidy.

Sultan Abubakar said in Sokoto that “it is better to take certain decisions now, no matter the hardship.”

He spoke when Vice President Kashim Shettima paid him Sallah homage in Sokoto.

He said the gains that could be the lot of Nigerians in coming years from the decisions taken by the administration were more important than the present hardship.

He pledged the support of the Sultanate for the Federal Government’s policies and programmes, adding: “We support you 100% all of the time, and we give you our word on this. We will do whatever it takes to maintain peace and stability in our country Nigeria.”

He thanked the VP for the Sallah homage and prayed God to grant him wisdom and strength to discharge tasks assigned to him as the nation’s number two citizen.

Shettima had earlier asked for the support of Northwest leaders for the Tinubu administration in addressing challenges confronting the people.

Olusola Abiola, the Director of Information in the Vice President’s office, quoted him as saying: “President Tinubu is aware of the challenges facing our people – the insecurity that has pervaded the Northwest region – and he is taking far reaching measures to address the situation. “

He urged “our political leaders to unite in order to confront the common challenges of insecurity, poverty and underdevelopment in the region.”

While conveying President Tinubu’s felicitations, the Vice President emphasised the importance of peace and unity, noting that “there can never be peace without development and there can never be development without peace.”

He added that the Tinubu administration, in acknowledgment of the role of the traditional institution, remains committed to giving it the necessary support to contribute to the nation’s progress.

Vice President Shettima advised Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto to provide purposeful leadership while admonishing him to maintain cordial relationship with leaders across the state.

 Speaking earlier at a brief reception for the VP at the Government House, Governor Aliyu Sokoto expressed gratitude for the visit, describing the gesture by the Vice President as a show of “deep love for Sokoto State and its people”.

He described Vice President Shettima as a man of patience, tolerance and courage, assuring him of the state’s support for the success of the Tinubu administration.

Other dignitaries at the Sallah homage were Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State; Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Idris Gobir; the Senator representing Sokoto North Senatorial District, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko; the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia; the APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Sen. Abubakar Kyari and Speaker of Sokoto State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tukur Bodinga, among others.

Niger Delta leaders applaud Tinubu’s decision on subsidy

Also yesterday, prominent groups and leaders in the Niger Delta threw their weight behind President Tinubu over the fuel subsidy removal.

They asked the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to have a rethink on their position on the subsidy withdrawal.

They said any action against fuel subsidy removal by labour would amount to supporting the fraud inherent in the subsidy and, by extension, waging a war against the masses.

The Ijaw under the auspices of Ijaw National Congress (INC) urged the Federal Government to speed up the fixing of the refineries in the country to cushion the effects of the removal.

The President, INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, said the reason for heavy subsidy paid by successive governments in the country was because the refineries were not working and the country had to resort to exportation of crude and importation of refined products.

He said: “The reason for heavy subsidy is because the refineries are not working. If they (Federal Government) had a long term plan that in six months’ time, in one year’s time, we are going to remove subsidy, why not make the refineries work?

“If an individual like Aliko Dangote can make a refinery work, why can’t government make the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries work?”

Okaba said there were benefits to be derived from subsidy removal such as divestment and investment of subsidy money into other sectors of the economy that would promote the diversification of the economy.

He said: “It means that if truly a certain amount of money was spent on making fuel available to Nigerians, and that money will now be invested in agriculture, industrialization and other things, certainly, there might be long time benefits which might have ripple effects on the citizenry in the long run.

“But in the short term, the pains are too much because the Nigerian economy is built around petroleum products. Whenever there is an increase in the pump price of fuel, every other services and commodities in the country rise automatically.

“Just imagine, with the pronouncement alone that fuel subsidy is gone, the pump price has risen by over 400 per cent in some places, prices of other essential commodities have doubled because transportation is premised on the price of petrol.”

As part of cushioning the effects of the subsidy removal, the INC president said what the government should have done was to have considered the aftermath of the situation with a view to knowing the social impact assessment of the policy.

He said: “Government should have conditioned the mind of the people ahead of it that they were removing it and these are what we are also putting in place.

“Secondly, if transportation becomes an issue, what stops the same government from providing mass transit buses for the citizens so that instead of depending on public transport, mass transit buses would be available.

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) described subsidy as a disease draining the resources of the country, saying there is no better time to let go than now.

The Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Ken Robinson, urged Tinubu to remain strong and resist any attempt by labour to stop the removal.

Robinson, however, said the President must immediately come up with programmes to cushion the adverse effects of the removal.

He said: “Truth be told, fuel subsidy is an economic disease that is draining the resources of Nigeria. If we don’t do it today, it will be like postponing the evil day.

Fuel subsidy has to go, and there is no better time than now.

“Government needs to immediately come up with programmes to cushion the adverse effects. But the palliatives should not be managed the way we have been doing palliative arrangements in Nigeria.

“The palliatives of subsidy removal should be directed to various sectors, the civil servants, traders, market women, transporters – it should be sectorially targeted and should not subsidy that some persons will use to become overnight billionaires and then, the purpose will not be met.

“For the labour unions, this has always been the tradition. Anytime there is talk of subsidy removal, they will protest and threaten to go on strike. President Goodluck Jonathan and President Umaru Musa Ya’radua were rather vulnerable.

“We hope that President Tinubu will stand firm and make it clear that this thing cannot continue. Imagine a situation where the operations of the subsidy regime cannot be ascertained because industry officials, NNPC officials, marketers are involved in this fraud. And so much money is going into subsidy and Nigerians are not benefitting from it.

“These persons are part of the cabal that has ensured our refineries do not work because people are becoming multi-billionaires and even trillionaires overnight by the subsidy regime. So it has to stop.

“But the government needs to be firm, needs to be sincere, needs to know that some Nigerians would be adversely affected and come up with genuine, sincere programmes to address the sufferings of Nigerians.”

The Leader of the Future Nigeria Movement (FNM), Livingstone Wechie, described the action of Tinubu as promised made and promise kept.

Wechie said: “Indeed, it was a display of a promise made and kept by Mr. President that during his campaigns he made it clear that he would remove subsidy on fuel.

“The same promise was made by all three frontline presidential candidates and its pronouncement did not come with any prejudice but for the timing and the perceived lack of a stakeholder consultative engagement to work out the modalities.

“The removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmad Tinubu no doubt has been a subject of an age-long controversy. It is the view of the Future Nigeria Movement (FNM) that such policies must necessarily come with the needed palliative to alleviate the pain that Nigerians are now subjected to, which has made life almost unbearable.”

Wechie asked the President not to allow energy prices to be left for the manipulative market forces and private sector systems as currently constituted.

He said: “FNM suggests that the President as a patriot should declare a state of emergency on Nigeria’s energy sector with a view to reviving state-owned refineries and building more as a national priority.

“The federal government should quickly open up our federal reserves, if any, to ensure that Nigerians are not further subjected to more economic torture that the current development is causing.

“It is also the view of FNM that the federal government must see the need to work for Nigerians to stem the sudden spike in commodities across the country on account of this subsidy removal.

“Mr. President, as a statesman, should listen to the yearnings of Nigerians and do all that is necessary to build trust with Nigerians to have their buy-in on his pact and commitment to bring about the constitutional restructuring and reconstruction that is needed to rebound our economy.”

Also, the Southern Nigeria Youth Congress (SNYC) backed the removal of oil subsidy and urged the new administration to “as a matter of urgency” put machinery in place for the establishment of modular refineries.

Its President-General, Emordi Ugochukwu, called on federal government to improve electricity and the use of compressed gas to create alternative to fuel.

Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT) praised President Tinubu for taking the bull by the horn, adding that recent comments by ex-Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonkwo Iweala, had exposed oil subsidy as a fraud.

ILoT’s scribe, Sir A.S Mene, urged the Labour Unions to shelve the proposed strike action and give the new administration time to tackle the challenges caused by subsidy removal.

He said: “Quite frankly, after the comments of Okonjo Iweala, former finance minister, on the fraud associated with the subsidy regime, we did not expect the policy to remain till now.

“It is obvious that due to smuggling and oil theft we are paying subsidy for the entire sub-region. This situation definitely cannot continue. To encourage private sector investors in refining, the policy must be terminated.

“It is wrong for our economy to be bleeding and stunted due to the subsidy regime.  Even the Dangote refinery, if we must benefit as a country, must do away with the policy.

“In the short run it may appear very harsh, but in the medium to long term, it is better for our economy. We urge labour to give the Tinubu government time to tackle the challenges caused by the removal of subsidy.”

Mene called on the federal government to speedily implement measures to cushion the harsh effects of the removal of subsidy on the Nigerian masses by increasing wages, providing mass transit buses for the people, and other alternatives to premium motor spirit (PMS) for the fuelling of vehicles.

A former presidential aide on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, said that the country would now be free from payment of loans obtained to service fuel subsidy.

Enang, an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in the last election in Akwa Ibom, stated that monies used in paying for subsidy will now be used in the development of infrastructure.

He maintained that with the removal of fuel subsidy, the country will brace up for domestic refining of petroleum products through the Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries that will spring up eventually.

“The removal of fuel subsidy is a welcome development by the current administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. It will save Nigeria the trouble of repaying loans obtained to service the subsidy regime.

“The monies used hitherto in paying loans obtained over subsidy will now be used for the provision of key infrastructure and well-being of Nigerians.

“It will also encourage local refining of petroleum products, especially with the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical. I believe other modular refineries will come up and there will be a crash in the pump price of fuel due to competition,” Senator Enang said.

Also, a one-time South-South National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Edet Nkpubre, posited that the removal of fuel subsidy would eradicate corruption.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment and deployment of eight Commissioners of Police to  Commands in the country.

PSC also commended the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, for adhering to its latest policy on gender sensitivity in his recommendation. 

The Commission however expects the IGP in his subsequent proposals will include more officers of North East and South East geopolitical zones yet to record the benchmark of 15 percent as decided at its last plenary meeting.

Read Also: PSC okays guidelines on deployment of police officers by IGP

According to a statement on Friday by PSC Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani: “The newly appointed State Commissioners of Police are; Godwin Aghaulor now Cp Bornu State Command; Adelesi E. Oluwarotimi, CP kwara State Command; Adebola Ayinde Hamzat, CP Oyo State Command; Augustina Ogbodo, CP Ebonyi State Command and Samuel Titus Musa, CP Kebbi State  Command. 

“Others are Aderemi Olufemi  Adeoye, CP Anambra State Command; Stephen Olarewaju, CP Imo State Command and Alamatu Abiodun  Mustapha, CP Ogun State Command”.

Commission’s Chairman, Dr. Solomon Arase, a retired IGP, said the postings as recommended by the acting Inspector General of Police was on the average, fair and commended the IGP for the inclusion of women.

Arase advised that the acting IGP should consider the disadvantaged geo-political zones while forwarding subsequent  proposals  for Commission’s ratification. 

The founder of Omega Power Ministries (OPM), Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, has been hospitalised over an undisclosed illness.

An image of the cleric on hospital bed has since gone viral on social media platforms. 

In another viral video seen by The Nation, the cleric was reported to have collapsed with many trying to resuscitate him. 

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A terse post on the church’s verified Facebook page reads: “Please let us all endeavor to put our Father in the Lord in our prayers.”

The apostle, well known for his philanthropic gestures, has been in the news of recent. 

Many of his church members and followers have taken to social media to pray for the cleric’s health. 

Mr Timipre Sylva, the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Nov. 11 governorship election in Bayelsa, says he was never elected as the state’s governor on two occasions.

Sylva, the immediate-past Minister of State for Petroleum, refuted the allegations that he was previously elected as Bayelsa governor on April 14, 2007, and May 24, 2008.

He told Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, in a counter affidavit he personally deposed to and filed by his lawyer, Adelani Ajibade.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the application was in reaction to the originating summons filed by Chief Demesuoyefa Kolomo, a member of the APC, praying the court to order INEC to delete Sylva’s name from list of candidates contesting the Nov. 11 governorship poll.

Kolomo had asked the court to determine “whether having regard to the indisputable fact that Sylva occupied the office of governor of Bayelsa from May 29, 2007 to April 15, 2008 and May 27, 2008 to Jan. 27, 2012, he is qualified to contest and be elected for another four years term in view of Section 180(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

Reacting in the counter affidavit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/821/23 dated and filed June 27, the ex-minister averred that except otherwise expressly stated, all the facts deposed to in the application were within his personal knowledge, information and belief.

Although Sylva admitted he was a former governor of Bayelsa, he stressed that he had only been elected once as the state’s governor, insisting that there was no election in 2007.

“I have only occupied the Office of the Governor of Bayelsa State on one occasion.

“I was elected as the governor of Bayelsa State on 27th May, 2008.

Read Also: ‘Why we endorsed Sylva for Bayelsa governorship’

“Contrary to Paragraph 5 of the affidavit (attached to the originating summons), I know that by virtue of the Court of Appeal judgment referred to, that is now reported as Amgbare Vs. Sylva (2009) 1 NWLR (Pt. 1121), there was no election in Bayelsa State in 2007,” he said.

The former minister, therefore, said that he was within his constitutional and legal right to contest the governorship poll in November.

According to him, the provision of Sections 180 (2)(a) and 182 (1) (b) is not applicable to me in this circumstance and cannot validly and legally disqualify me from contesting election into the office of governor of Bayelsa State.

He said he was validly elected on April 15, defeating other five aspirants in a primary poll that was keenly contested and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Sylva said on May 12, his name was published by INEC as APC candidate in the Nov. 12 election.

He said the question raised in the suit were raised in bad faith and malice.

“I make this affidavit in good faith, believing the contents to be true and in accordance with the provisions of the Oaths Act,” he said.

NAN reports that Sylva had, on Monday through Ajibade, told Justice Okorowo that he would respond to Kolomo’s suit and the judge fixed July 3 for hearing.

In the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 dated and filed June 13, Kolomo had sued Mr Sylva, APC and INEC as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

Kolomo, who sought two questions for determination, prayed for a declaration that by virtue of Section 182(1)\(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Sylva was not qualified to contest the election to the office of the governor of Bayelsa on APC’s platform or on any other political party’s platform in the election scheduled for sometime in November or any other time for that matter.

In the affidavit attached, Kolomo deposed that besides being an APC member, he was also a registered voter in the state.

He said INEC recently published the names of governorship candidates for the state, including Sylva’s name.

The plaintiff said he was motivated by the need to vindicate Sections 180 (2)(a) and 182(1)b) of the1999 Constitution, the rule of law and to know the applicability of same as it relates to Sylva based on the above facts.

 Kolomo also averred that the question raised by the instant suit was a constitutional one and of grave importance to him as a voter and other voters in the sate so that they would not vote for someone who was not qualified to contest in the poll and had their votes wasted at the end of the day.

NAN reports that Sylva served as Bayelsa governor on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s platform.

The former minister had, in 2006, joined the PDP governorship primaries challenging ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, who at that time, was vying for same position

However, after Sylva emerged the PDP candidate, he went on to win the election in 2007 and succeeded Jonathan, who had also become the Vice President to late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

But Sylva’s opponent in the 2007 election, Ebitimi Amgbare of the defunct Action Congress (AC), challenged his victory.

While the Bayelsa State Election Petitions Tribunal upheld Sylva’s election, Amgbare took the matter to the Appeal Court, Port Harcourt in Rivers which upturned the tribunal’s decision and nullified Sylva’s election on April 15, 2008.

The five justices of the Court of Appeal were unanimous in their decision and ordered that Speaker Werinipre Seibarugo be sworn in to replace Sylva as acting governor, with a new election to be held within 90 days as stated in the Electoral Act.

When a new election was held on May 24, 2008, Sylva was again overwhelmingly elected with 588,204 out of about 598,000 votes and was sworn in.

But on Jan. 27, 2012, his tenure was terminated by the Supreme Court, with an acting governor appointed to oversee the state until the election of February 2012, won by Seriake Dickson.

(NAN)

• Shettima, Akpabio, Abbas, governors celebrate Eid with President in Lagos

Be ready to work with me to fix the economy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu told governors in Lagos yesterday.

He promised to operate an open-door policy.

The President was busy as a bee on the 30th day of his administration.

He started with whistle-stop visits to two leading traditional rulers in Ogun State – the Awujale of Ijebuland Octogenarian Oba Sikiru Adetona in Ijebu Ode and the Alake of Egbaland Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo in Abeokuta – to say thank you.

On his return to Lagos, he attended a grand reception organised by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Government House in Marina.

Governors across party lines, All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, and the leadership of the National Assembly, among others, attended the event.

Another major highlight of the reception was the joint presentation of a gift to the President, who is the first Lagos State Governor of the fourth republic, by his three successors Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode and Sanwo-Olu. 

It was the first time Ambode was seen with Tinubu since he left office in 2015.

Tinubu told the governors led by Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Chairman AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq (Kwara) that with their support and the bold steps he is taking, Nigerians are assured of a better future and Renewed Hope.

He said: “I promise to work with the governors through an open door policy that will return Nigeria from the brink to a resilient economy. Be ready you governors.

“I know what I’m going to do from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and so on, and I want us to be partners so that we can rescue our country and make it whole again.”

President Tinubu also thanked party members for keeping faith in him during the long and tortuous journey to the presidency.

He added: “I’m very grateful. I thank my Vice President. You shall receive the joy of giving, the joy of perseverance, joy of resilience and endurance. You will see the reward for this country; it’s going to prosper and be prosperous.

Read Also: Tinubu: How I invoked the spirit of Emilokan to win

“I say thank you to all of you and I appreciate tonight. I will continue to appreciate more when we work together to dissect the possible economic prosperity of our nation in favour of our children. 

“I’m also glad to see former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Thank you, Akin. God bless you all.”

Speaking on behalf of NGF, AbdulRazaq, pledged that state chief executives, regardless of party affiliations, were ready to cooperate and work with the President to ensure the country becomes better and safer for all citizens.

He said: “NGF is excited that both the President and Vice President are alumni of the Governors’ Forum. We are committed to work with a federalist who worked to get things done in a truly federal system. We reiterate our support for a renewed hope agenda regardless of our parties.”

The APC governors at the reception were led by Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) Chairman Hope Uzodimma (Imo).

Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri represented the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Abia State Governor Alex Otti represented the Labour Party (LP).

Other governors were Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarrawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Fr. Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Acting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo).

Senate President Godswill Akpabio reaffirmed the National Assembly’s resolve to work harmoniously with the President, telling him: “The National Assembly belongs to you, and all Nigerians.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu told Tinubu: “Lagos is proud of you”. He also expressed confidence in the president’s ability to offer good leadership.

He said: “I’m sure you will all agree that since he took his oath of office as the president of the largest black nation, we have seen uncommon pronouncement, uncommon audacity of change, a renewed hope that he promised us. 

“I’m also proud of him to say that this is a tenure that begins with a promise of change and, within a short time, we are beginning to see that change. 

“Mr President, your ascension to the seat was greeted with great war and expectations. We believed in you as a leader, a builder of men, talents, and a custodian of the best ideas of governance. 

“I’m happy to say that indeed you are our Grand Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

Read Also: Be patient, I’m taking baby steps, Tinubu tells Nigerians

“You’ve catalysed a series of economic interventions, and policy changes, and you have sown the seed of future prosperity. 

“Your administration has rekindled the attitude of resilience and integrity among fellow Nigerians.

“We are confident that under your leadership, Nigeria will reach unprecedented heights. 

“We stand in solidarity with you in bringing your great vision for Nigeria to life, and we will join hands with the president to rebuild Nigeria.”

Former Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola also reiterated the need to support the president to succeed. 

“Nigeria’s presidency is not a one-man job. He should be supported to succeed. 

“Six of his policies in Lagos, as governor, have stood the test of time and have been adopted in other states and so I urge the governors to support policies that will be introduced by the president.”

Other dignitaries at the event include First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, former Kano State Abdullahi Ganduje and former Lagos Deputy Governor Femi Pedro.

The others are the APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu, National Secretary Iyiola Omisore, State Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi, Chairman of Nigeria Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC).

Business leaders were led by Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Alhaji Rasak Okoya. Royal fathers of Awori extraction were also present at the reception.

• •Senator, governor disagree

Former Senate spokesman Ajibola Basiru yesterday faulted Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Wednesday’s clash at an Eid praying ground in Osogbo.

He said the governor “surrounded himself with incompetent people”.

The clash at the Oke-Baale area of Osun State followed disagreements over the sitting arrangement on the first row.

It resulted in the governor storming out of the venue without observing two Rakat prayers.

But Basiru told reporters yesterday that some of Adeleke’s aides were not representing him well.

He said: “I pity the Governor of Osun State; he is surrounded by people who don’t know how to represent him very well and those who are supposed to be his handlers are people who are pushing illogical narratives for him and I will give you two examples.

“The spokesperson said some hoodlums were seen in about three buses at the Eid ground and up till today nothing has happened in terms of arresting and bringing them to book.

“The governor left the premises, leaving those thugs in the venue without arresting them up till now and he is supposed to be the chief security officer, who swore to the Constitution.

Read Also: Adeleke surrounded by incompetent aides—Senator Basiru

“Section 14 states that security and welfare are paramount responsibilities of the governor, so that statement by Olawale Rasheed is an indictment on the governor himself. Maybe he does know the implications on the office of the governor.

“To also say the governor arrives at a place to meet such a situation means that the security around the governor is also porous because there is supposed to be an advance team that would have gone to do security reconnaissance. Two things would have happened; either they are inefficient or outright liars.”

He added: “I am a Muslim but I don’t mix politics and religion. Some people pretend to be what they are not to appeal to voters.

“It is also ironic that for somebody who is a Muslim, no matter how hard it is, no matter the issues involved – to observe a two-Rakat prayer should not be an issue. He stormed out of the Eid and after that, his spokesperson said he went to do thanksgiving.

“I don’t know if it was a Muslim, Christian, or traditional thanksgiving because there is nothing like thanksgiving in Islam. For me, as our people begin to grow and demand good governance from public officials, as we begin to pay our taxes, they will take governance seriously and won’t let anybody deceive them using the primordial sentiment of religion.”

But the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, accused Basiru of being behind the violence at the Eid ground.

Read Also: Adeleke, Basiru clash at Eid prayer ground

He said: “The governor’s handlers are more than competent, hence the superlative performance of the administration in the last seven months. There was an advance team that had secured a space for the governor.

“SRJ hijacked the space and refused to vacate the space when approached by protocol officers first and later by Osogbo leaders.

“The handlers are smarter because SRJ’s agenda was to create violence and stampede which he planned to blame on the governor. The presence of armed thugs was to kill and create a stampede, all of which would have been blamed on the governor.

“But the team was smarter, hence the governor leaving the venue and denying dark minds of their yearnings for blood. Again, the right thing was done by the police who quizzed the culprit, SRJ. Ongoing is an investigation by the police.

“Ours is a law-abiding administration. The governor escaped an assassination attempt, and the worshippers escaped the stampede that would have claimed the lives of innocent citizens.”

President Bola Tinubu yesterday urged Nigerians to bear with the discomfort arising from his reforms, saying that it is temporary.

He said ‘Renewed Hope’, which emphasizes his campaign promises, will be faithfully implemented and bring relieve to the masses.

President Tinubu reiterated his determination to turn the country around during his thank you visit to Ogun State.

At the palaces of the Awujale Oba Sikiru Adetona, Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, he admonished Nigerians to demonstrate the virtue of good citizenship by cooperating with his reform-driven administration.

Eminent Nigerians including business mogul Dr. Mike Adeniyi Adenuga, Chairman of Globacom Nigeria Limited, former Ogun States Governor Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel and former Deputy Governor Adegbenga Kaka, were among dignitaries that received him at Ijebu-Ode.

The President, who flew in chopper from Lagos, was accompanied by National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu.

President Tinubu also defended his victory, recalling that during the February 25 poll, he triumphed over the ineffective cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The President, who recalled that he had been a refugee in the past, said Nigerians should be proud of their citizenship.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, the President, who promised to fulfill his promises, appealed for prayers from the residents of Ogun State to ensure progress and stability in the country.

He said: “I have redeemed my pledge that I will come back with victory and the crown.

“The hope is recharged; the hope is here. That hope will never fail. That hope will recharge your lives in a positive manner.

“By the grace of Almighty God, we shall reap the fruits of our labour, Nigeria will see positive change, just endure these baby steps of pain.

“This country is the only one we have. I have been a refugee and I know what it means to be a refugee and my green passport is what I still have now.”

At Awujale’s palace, President Tinubu said he was optimistic about victory in the last election, despite the ineffective cashless policy implemented by the CBN.

Reflecting on the challenges in the build-up to the poll, the President recounted his concerns about the confiscation of funds and the failure of the cashless policy, and how he had previously sought wisdom and guidance from Oba Adetona during his visit to the palace.

The President said he had invoked the spirits of freedom and determination, symbolised by ”Baba Emilokan”, to overcome the obstacles.

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

Tinubu said: “Our monies were confiscated. The cashless policy didn’t work. It was terrible then. I realised that I came to Ogun State to invoke the spirit of freedom, which we are noted for.

“I invoked that spirit twice. The spirit of Baba Emilokan. That’s Baba. Being blunt, being decisive, that’s him, he will tell you. The second spirit is that money or no money, we will do the election and we will win.”

President Tinubu, who maintained that these spirits had been the driving force behind his service, thanked Oba Adetona, other monarchs, elected officials, particularly his ‘personal friend’, Gbenga Daniel, the senator representing Ogun East, for their loyalty and commitment during those crucial times.

Turning to Oba Adetona, Tinubu described his visit to Ijebu-Ode as a homecoming.

“The way you have taken me, the way you have responded to me, all I can say is thank you. May you live long and may you witness a prosperous Nigeria.”

The president also acknowledged the presence of Globacom Chairman, Chief Mike Adenuga, hailing his contributions to the economy.

In Abeokuta, President Tinubu thanked Oba Gbadebo, describing him as a great leader.

In separate remarks at Ijebu-Ode and Abeokuta, Ogun State  Governor Dapo Abiodun thanked the President for the visit, describing him as a man of uncommon grace and a living testimony of resilience.

Noting that Tinubu is a visionary, the governor said his pronouncement in the first few weeks in office have defined that he was prepared and qualified for office.

Oba Adetona and Oba Gbadebo, in separate remarks in their palaces, commended President Tinubu for his leadership, acknowledging him as an instrument of God chosen to rectify past shortcomings.

They offered prayers for the President’s guidance and good health, urging Nigerians to support his administration.

Oba Babatunde Ajayi, the Akaraigbo of Remoland, who commended the President for hitting the ground running, said that the people needed urgent palliatives to mitigate the effects of the current challenges.

He lauded the wise decisions so far taken by the administration, reminding the President of his promise to bring development to Remo.

Oba Ajayi added: “I remember when you came to the palace and all we said is our dream is for you to go and win the primaries, and that once you win the primaries, I’m sure that God will take us there. I’m glad that God took us there.

“I want to remind you of what you said when you came to Remo. You said with the proximity of Shagamu to Lagos, you were surprised at the level of development in Remo. This is the time Mr President to walk that talk.”