The Nation Newspaper

Tag: bicker

  • Presidency, NASS bicker over unfunded constituency projects

    Presidency, NASS bicker over unfunded constituency projects

    The unending frosty relationship between the Presidency and the National Assembly may deepen following renewed pressure on the former by the latter to as a matter of urgency release funding for federal lawmakers’ constituency projects as appropriated for in the 2017 budget.

    The Nation learnt that the alleged nonchalance of the presidency towards the request is already generating anger against it among the legislators.

    Since the inauguration of the current administration, the Executive and the Legislative arms have managed a not too cordial relationship with tempers rising on many occasions and leading to open hostilities between the two arms of government. But of late, the two institutions have managed to veil the no love lost relationship existing between them.

    Checks by The Nation revealed that, in the 2017 budget, N100 billion was set aside for constituency projects, also known as zonal intervention projects. The same amount was allocated for the controversial heading in the 2016 budget.

    In a similar scenario, the constituency projects provided for in the 2016 budget remained unfunded till late in the year, precisely in the month of October, when the Presidency which had earlier opposed the inclusion of the projects in the budget, caved in to pressure and made funds available for the controversial constituency projects.

    But this was not before several legislative approvals sought by president Muhammadu Buhari were either delayed or defeated by the then angry federal lawmakers. Good examples were the  $30 billion external borrowing plan, the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), and virement of N180 billion in the 2016 budget.

    The lawmakers it was learnt, have for months now, again been stepping up their demand on President Buhari to order the release of all funds allocated for constituency projects suggested by the federal lawmakers and put into the 2017 budget. Recalling the 2016 incident, the lawmakers are accusing the federal government of intentionally frustrating the execution of constituency projects.

    A member of the House of Representatives from Kwara State, while speaking on the issue, said members of the national assembly are currently unhappy with the presidency over the latter’s refusal to heed appeals that it should fund the zonal intervention projects immediately to avoid a repeat of what happened to the projects provided for in the 2016 budget.

    “As I speak, many of those projects are either nearing completion or half way done. Some are even yet to take off. This is as a result of the delay in funding the project last year. You will recall that they were not funded until very late in the year. And if you consider the fact that contractors have to be mobilised before they can move to site, you will understand the implication of such delays.

    “Now one organization called BudgIt recently claimed that less than 40% of the projects across the country were implemented. They failed to tell Nigerians that the presidency delayed the funding of the projects because it is the legislators who identified and suggested that the projects be carried out in their constituencies. They did not tell the world that the federal government is not interested in the projects.

    “But we are determined to get the project done irrespective of what the presidency and others feel. These projects are for our people who sent us here to represent them. We are not asking that monies be given to us. We are saying fund the budget so that these projects can be executed as outlines in the 2017 budget. It is wrong for anybody to delay such project since they have been appropriated for in the budget,” he said.

    Another federal lawmaker from Lagos State, while explaining the current situation, accused the presidency of playing games with the issue of constituency projects. He said it is obvious that the current administration is not keen about allowing the lawmakers to continue to suggest zonal intervention projects to be carried out in their constituencies.

    “We lawmakers don’t collect these funds. The money is not meant for us but for the projects we identified in the interest of our people. We select from a list of available options usually presented by the executives. It is the same executive that determines the contractors to execute the project. All we do is monitor the projects in our various constituencies.

    “This year’s budget has not been funded and no execution has taken place. Our grouse is that the federal government is not taking the zonal intervention project serious. You will recall that this government, through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation sometime ago told us there is no provision for constituency project in their administration. But for our determination to ensure the independence of the legislature, they would have had their way,” he said.

  • Physically-challenged, brother, bicker over property

    A physically-challenged man, Prince Needam Jacob Deeyor  of Kwawa Community,  Khana  Local government of Rivers State, has accused his brother, Victor Nwikpo, of converting an inherited landed property into his own.

    The disputed land is being used as the one of the demonstrated centers of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Programme (HYPREP), while oil giant, Shell is also paying compensation on the land.

    Deeyor who is married with two wives said he was determined to sacrifice his life in order to protect his land, which he claimed to have inherited from his late father.

    He alleged that Victor and a contractor with Shell had claimed ownership of the land and collected monetary benefit meant for the land.

    He explained that a court judgment being paraded by his brother was on a family land and not on his personal inherited land.

    “Deeyor said: “My father told me that he is the owner of the land right from 1980. And I saw some documents backing what my father told me. But Victor is doing everything possible to deny me of my legitimate right.  I have told him to buy my size of casket and bury me on the land.

    “I want Shell to know that Victor has been flaunting a court judgment won against Bale family and not on my land. Many of our chiefs have been supporting Victor because he has money but I don’t care, because God is with me.

    “As I am talking to you now, my life and that of my family is in danger. They are after my life, so that they can take over the land. Sometimes,  I don’t sleep in the house, I sleep in the bush. As a man living with disability I cannot fight Victor, I want the world to hear my cry.’’

    Contacted, Nwikpo, who admitted that Deeyor was his nephew, said he was ready for peace, if only Deeyor and his siblings realise that the land does not belong to them.

    Victor said: “I don’t want to speak on the court judgment concerning the court. If they feel aggrieved, then they should   approach the court for more details about the land. We defeated them sometime in 1984 and they went for appeal in 1991, and we also defeated them.

    “Some people are encouraging him to fight us, we have the court judgments on the land and if he feels the land belongs to him he should go to court. But I am not quarrelling with him; the land is not on dispute, it belongs to my family.”

  • Police, family bicker over artisan’s death in Ogun River

    Police, family bicker over artisan’s death in Ogun River

    An artisan, identified as Gafar Ajibola, has drowned in Ogun River, following panic reaction to a police raid on Oniyanrin community in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    The incident occurred at the weekend when the 31-year-old Ajibola was washing his clothes at the river bank.

    The Nation gathered that a detachment of policemen in search of hoodlums hiding near the river shot sporadically.

    In ensuing confusion, the deceased was said to have jumped into the river in fear.

    His remains were retrieved about 17 hours later by local divers.

    Ajibola’s uncle, who pleaded for anonymity, called for thorough investigation and demanded justice for the deceased.

    He said: “This is an unfortunate situation. My nephew was not a criminal. He was at the river bank to wash his clothes. He jumped into the river out of fear.

    “We are demanding for justice in this case. We are going to take legal step against the police,” he said.

    But police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi absolved the police of any wrong doing.

    He said the policemen were in the vicinity to perform their duties.

    According to him, some people were arrested and released after investigation,  wondering why the deceased jumped into the river when no one was chasing him.

    “The case is under investigation, the police were in the place to ensure safety of lives and property,” Abimbola said.

  • NECA, labour bicker over refineries privatisation

    The controversy generated by the privatisation of the refineries has thrown up a lot of issues on the transparency of the privatisation programme of the government. The umbrella body for employers in the country, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), and oil workers, under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), are singing discordant tunes over the privatisation of the four refineries. TOBA AGBOOLA reports

    The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and oil workers, under the aegies of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and the Natural Gas (NUPENG) are in the trenches over the privatisation of the near-moribund, state-run refineries. While NECA is in support of the scheme, oil workers are against it because of the inherent job loss by their members.

    But NECA Director-General Mr. Segun Oshinowo insists that it is the only way for the refineries to perform optimally in the long run.

    He said: “If we had gone that way, the whole issue of our dependency on foreign source for fuel supply would have, to a large extent, been addressed effectively. So, the same courage and determination which this government has demonstrated in privatising the electricity sector should be extended to the refineries so that we can save financial resources that are wasted on turn around maintenance (TAM) every now and then for which we have not actually got appropriate benefits. I will want this administration to consider that as a worthwhile legacy to bequeath to Nigeria.”

    He said the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would address the issue of the refineries.

    Oshinowo said: “How long have we been on PIB? Why can’t the privatisation of those refineries acquire a life of their own outside PIB? Which one will be faster to handle, privatising outside the PIB or waiting for the PIB that has been on the table for so long? I think we have to face certain serious policy issues in this country.

    “For us, and talking from my personal perspective, I do not see any reason the government should still be involved in the refineries.”

    However, NUPENG and PENGASSAN have rejected the planned privatisation of the refineries. In separate reactions, both unions faulted the programme, urging the government to, instead of an outright sale, the Federal Government should adopt the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) model with the National Oil Company (NOC) or the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), as owners of the four refineries holding minority share, while core investors/local participants hold the working majority. Workers, trade unions, and the host communities should also hold minority shares.

    Specifically, NUPENG wondered why government would suddenly wake up to talk about selling the four public refineriesthis year, warning that any decision on the refineries without the involvement of the organised labour would be resisted with everything at labour’s disposal.

    NUPENG’s  General Secretary, Mr. Isaac Aberare, said workers are worried about the  proposal by the Federal Government to sell the nation’s four refineries next year.

    He said caution must be exercised in the proposed sale as all stakeholders must be involved, if the plan will see the light of day.

    He said the sale of the refineries is not the solution to the massive importation of petroleum products into the country. He argued that the problem is government’s refusal to do the TAM of these refineries over the years to make them function optimally.

    He said a  lot of intrigues, power play, selfish interest to protect the cabal importing fuel had come to play, leaving the equipment in the refineries to rot away.

    “NUPENG is of the belief that more refineries should be established in the model of the NLNG strategic partnership and more investors given tax holidays and land to enable them construct new ones just like the initiative of the Dangote refinery, instead of trying to sell the nation’s assets as scraps to their people.

    “The proposed plan should be done with utmost care because the union will not fold its hands and allow its members to be thrown into the labour market that is already saturated.

    “NUPENG and PENGASSAN must be involved in wide consultations on issues like this before going on air to pronounce their sales, in order to avoid industrial disharmony,” he said.

  • Doctor, council chief bicker over construction work

    The Chairman of Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State, Mr Fatai Ajidagba, is at loggerheads with a medical practitioner who has accused him of using his office to oppress tax-payers.

    The doctor, Abimbola Adekoya, alleged that the council boss started construction of blocks of shops in Amukoko, thereby hindering access into the entrance of a property belonging to a hospital in the area.

    Although the Ajidagba has swiftly denied the allegation, Adekoya told The Nation that he had been conniving with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Amukoko Police Station to thwart justice in the matter, despite the state government agencies’ condemnation of his action.

    Adekoya alleged: “Some unknown people came to my property facing the newly commissioned Cemetery Road which the Lagos State Government spent tax payers’ money to construct, dug foundation on the setback in order to erect shops in front of my house, thereby blocking access to the building. Besides blocking access to my property, the shops, if erected on the setback, will constitute great nuisance on the new road since the setback which could be used as vehicles’ parking will no longer be available.

    “The activity started last Friday at about 5pm. This shows that it is likely that no approval was given for the construction. They use the weekend to do this illegal work. The council’s chairman is using his office to perpetrate injustice. He is supposed to be the custodian of the law but he is using his office to intimidate me.

    “Initially, I reported the matter to the DPO in charge of Amukoko division, but he connived with the chairman to cover up the matter. It was when I petitioned the Area Commander that I got some respite. The chairman called me one day and asked me to pay N1million per shop for him to collapse five shops for me to have access to my property; I told him I couldn’t do that. One day, the state government’s task force came and demolished the structure being built by the chairman; the next day, his boys returned to site. We really want the government to intervene before things get out-of-hand.”

    Ajidagba, however, said the doctor’s allegations were entirely false, explaining: ”It is not true that I’m depriving him of the right of way. The land in question belongs to the markets’ association. During the construction of Alaba Road, I was the person who demolished the market and I promised to rebuild it after the construction. Now that election is approaching, the association has reminded me of my promise. The people are really worried; so, I was trying to rebuild the market that I demolished so as not to renege on my promise

    ”The man (Adekoya) is trying to stop me from rebuilding the market. He is my professional colleague and personal friend; so, I won’t do what is not right to him.   The land can accommodate ten shops but as a friend, I decided to assist him by collapsing four out of the 10 shops to enable him have access to his house, yet he is not satisfied.

    ”It is true that the task force demolished the shops that I was building. When he reported to them, they came and demolished them, but when I later showed them the initial picture of the place, they accepted that they acted wrongly and asked me to continue. I am acting rightly and in good faith. If he likes, let him go to court, we shall meet there.”

  • Kwara APC, PDP bicker over N23b bond

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State are bickering over plans by the government to access N23 billion from the capital market.

    The PDP accused the government of embarking on endless bond sourcing with no genuine reasons, “all with the motives of impoverishing and liquidating the state’s financial base”.

    But the government described PDP’s accusation as an attempt to incite public disaffection through mischief and disinformation.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant (media) to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Muideen Akorede, described the PDP’s criticism of government policies as the latest in a futile campaign of fallacy and mischief against a high-performing government.

    “The PDP is either completely out of touch with reality or plainly ignorant of public sector finance. It is obvious to all but the mischievous that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has remained high-performing since inception through life-transforming programmes.

    “Contrary to the PDP’s ignorant claim that the Kwara State government has taken out two bond issues, the government actually revised the earlier planned bond value from N30billion to N23billion having identified alternative means of funding identified projects internally.

    “To educate the PDP, the planned bond will actually reduce government’s expenditure on debt servicing and free up funds for additional life-transforming projects and programmes as existing liabilities are restructured.

    The Ahmed administration is committed to enhancing the lives of its people and refuses to be distracted by the antics of a diminished party.

    “Like the previous efforts to discredit the populist Ahmed administration, the PDP’s latest mischief has failed.”

    The PDP caretaker committee chair, Solomon Edojah, said: “Once again, it is obvious that the state under the leadership of APC cannot achieve anything meaningful without approaching either money or capital markets for bonds which will eventually spread on the periods that will even out-leave them in government.

    “To be precise, Kwarans in their large numbers said in a very loud ovation that they are tired of governance without probity, adequacy and transparency.

    “PDP urges Kwarans not to relent in their perseverance and steadfastness even in the face of intimidation towards ensuring the freedom of the state from all sorts of financial bondage and slavery.”

  • Wada, elders bicker over N20b bond

    Kogi State Elders’ Forum has warned the government against securing a N20 billion “Development Bond” from a consortium of four banks.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the elders said the Governor Idris Wada administration did not have the capacity and integrity to judiciously utilise such fund.

    The statement was jointly signed by Senator Alex Kadiri; former Acting Governor Clarence Olafemi; former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman John Odawun; Air Vice Marshal Salihu Atawodi (rtd) and Dr Adinoyi-Ojo Onukaba.

    The elders said: “If there was identifiable physical infrastructure, some of us would not have raised any concern about the N20 billion bond. But we are worried that as a government with a record of profligacy, ineptitude and lack of vision, the N20 billion will go down the drain without noticeable and meaningful development.”

    The elders challenged the administration to tell the people what it has done with its N3 billion monthly revenue and the over N1.5 billion for councils in the last two years.

    “We are talking about N108 billion in two years and nothing to show for it. When you add the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), it will be over N120 billion. What exactly is the relative social and physical infrastructural achievement of the administration? What does it need N20 billion for?”

    They accused the Wada administration of lacking the political, financial and economic know how to manage N20 billion.

    “The low performance of the 2012/2013 budget despite the increased fund from Federation Account and an increase of over 300 per cent in IGR within the period raises question about the rationale behind a N20 billion bond.

    “We are, therefore, constrainted to reject in its totaliaty such economic enslavement of the state as evident in this bond”.

    “The rush for the bond is suspicious and questionable and should be put on hold by the issuing houses/book runners until the final determination of the Supreme Court case against Wada.”

    However, Wada said there was nothing wrong in raising bonds to finance capital projects.

    Wada described it as an “acceptable way of meeting up challenges by governments all over the world.”

    The governor likened the elders to “political losers who have been on self-imposed exile outside their state and therefore completely cut off from developmental efforts at home.”

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Jacob Edi, the governor said: “It is either this people are senile or suffering from selective amnesia.”

    “The real Kogi Elders are not senile. They are not far from home. When they speak, they utter words of wisdom/sanity. Not insanity. They act in grace. Not disgrace.

    “Raising bonds to finance capital projects is an acceptable way of meeting up challenges by governments all over the world.

    “The bond is tied to tangible projects and no hair-brained tactics will distract the process.

    “We urge members of the public to ignore the vituperations and clearly the emotional convulsions of this senile persons. Readers should properly guided. Kogi State is working.”

  • Community, Anambra govt bicker over land

    Nza Ozubulu community in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State has called on the government to hands of its land which habits a deity-Agbo Ogwugwu

    In a letter to the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Planning through its lawyer, Rapheal O. Nzekwe & Co, the community said it would not allow the government take over its ancestral land.

    The community said the government trespassed on the Agbo Ogwugwu land situated on the Old Onitsha–Owerri Road, where many food crops and economic trees were allegedly destroyed and the community’s ancient deity, Agbo Ogwugwu desecrated.

    The community claimed that there was no valid acquisition of the land by the government neither was it given notice of acquisition before the government entered into it “without due process.”

    It alleged that the acquisition of the land was to sell it to the public, which it declared unconstitutional, null and void.

    Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Planning Okoli Akirika said the government did not contravene any law, adding that the parcel of land was acquired by a military administration in Anambra State decades ago.

    The commissioner said the state had instructed its Surveyor–General to investigate the claims of the community to be confirmed by the community’s surveyor.

    He insisted that government had no intention to disposes the community of its land without adequate compensation and would not go back on its plan to develop the area.

  • FAAN, Bi-Courtney bicker over N1.2b debt

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has asked Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) to pay it N1.9billion for services it rendered to Bi-Courtney at the domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    Bi-Courtney described the alleged debt as a figment of FAAN’s imagination.

    It insisted that it is the authority that owes it N132 billion in judgment debt.

    BASL is operating the domestic terminal under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) concession agreement.

    FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, Yakubu Dati said the figure represents the total amount owed FAAN for the services it rendered the company as spelt out in the concession agreement since September 8, 2007, when Bi-Courtney began operating the terminal.

    It alleged that Bi-Courtney has rebuffed every attempt to recover the debt, including debt reconciliation meetings between officials of the two organisations.

    These debts include aviation security (N45,604,085.74); fire/safety cost (N36,649,223.96); marshalling (N2,125,065.54); electricity cost (N252,038,510.006) ; maintenance band, (N200,000,000.00); (concession fees (N726,900,069.00); Hotel (N97,200,000.00); Hotel, (N9,720,000.00); Conference Hall (N73,860,219.00); Conference Hall (N7,386,021.00), totalling N1,968,634,455.95.

    FAAN alleged that the Federal High Court in Lagos dismissed an application filed by Bi-Courtney, seeking to restrain FAAN and its agents from taking possession of the four-star hotel and conference centre at the airport.

    Dati said: “It is important to state that since Bi-Courtney started operating the BOT terminal in 2007, it has refused to make its audited account available to FAAN, despite several reminder letters.

    “Bi-Courtney made that application without notifying FAAN, in its traditional style of getting court injunctions behind the Authority, in virtually all the cases involving the two organisations.”

    But Bi-Courtney’s spokesman Steve Omolale- Ajulo said: “FAAN claims that an action of ours seeking to restrain it from interfering with our hotel and conference centre projects has been dismissed.

    “It made the statement without showing a copy of the court ruling, the title of the case, or even the date it was delivered.

    “This is a figment of FAAN’s imagination and it is consistent with its desire to misinform the public.

    “Our natural inclination is to ignore the ranting of FAAN.

    “We are only constrained to respond because some unsuspecting members of the public can be misled by the statement.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we are not in any way indebted to FAAN.

    “On the contrary, FAAN is indebted to us. The Federal Government and its agencies, including FAAN, owe us over N132 billion in judgment debt.

    “Our position has been confirmed by the arbitral proceedings and court judgments.

    “FAAN appealed against the court judgment and the appeal was dismissed.

    “There is no court judgment or order against us.

    “All the judgments and orders are against FAAN that believes that it is above the law.”

  • FAAN, Bi-Courtney bicker over GAT

    The Federal Government yesterday said it did not cede the ownership and management of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, to Bi- Courtney Aviation Services Limited, the concessionaire of the private Terminal 2.

    It said the scope of the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement it signed with the firm does not cover the remodelled terminal.

    The government also said its concession agreement with the firm remains 12 years.

    Skeletal services have started at the remodelled terminal even as installation of operational facilities are on going.

    Passengers have been using the arrival hall of the remodelled domestic terminal one, as it is now called to minimise passengers’ discomfort.

    Full departure formalities are expected to begin in two weeks.

    The position of government was made known yesterday, by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    FAAN’s General Manager ,Corporate Services Yakubu Dati said at no time was GAT covered in the concession agreement.

    Dati said: “ We are getting disturbed over information about the status of our agreement with Bi – Courtney.

    “Even worrisome is the statement credited to the spokesperson of Bi-Courtney that GAT was included in the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) concession between the company and the Federal Government.

    “FAAN is constrained to ask the public, especially aviation stakeholders, to discountenance that claim because it is false, misleading and mischievous, to say the least.

    “Bi-Courtney knows that the only authentic document on the agreement limits the duration of the concession to 12 years and that the area of land occupied by the GAT is clearly outside the area of land granted Bi-Courtney for the concession. These facts have been stated for the umpteenth time.

    “Bi-Courtney is only crying foul now because the Federal Government has decided that there should be transparency and fairness in all concession agreements with government agencies.

    “It is convenient for Bi-Courtney to deceive Nigerians into thinking that the Domestic Terminal I (named MMA2 by Bi-Courtney) controversy will discourage private investors in the industry.

    “No amount of playing to the gallery, twisting the law and facts or appeal to undue sentiment can change this.”

    But Bi – Courtney yesterday debunked FAAN’s claim that the tenure of it’s concession is 12 years and not 36 years.

    Speaking through its spokesman, Steve Ajulo – Omolale, the firm said the new position of FAAN is a further demonstration of disdain for the Judiciary by FAAN.

    He said in a SMS : “By insisting that the GAT is not Bi – Courtney’s and that our concession tenure of 36 years is 12 years, despite the court orders to that effect, is lawless.

    “FAAN has further shown how lawless it is and its disdain for the judiciary .

    “It should allow the Supreme Court to hear the appeal instead of putting forward shallow and irrational arguments.

    “We are aware of the grand conspiracy to render MMA2 useless, send over 2,000 Nigerians into the job market and render our billions of naira investment useless..

    “For now, GAT belongs to Bi-Courtney and will continue to be, until FAAN is able to upturn the appellate court judgment.”