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Tag: Bukola Saraki

  • Non-payment of salary: Workers shutdown National Assembly

    Members of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Tuesday made good their threat to disrupt activities at the National Assembly.

    The workers in their numbers shutdown the National Assembly over alleged non-payment of salary and other allowances

    The two chambers of the National Assembly were barricaded by the plea cards bearing workers as they stopped Senators and House of Representatives members from accessing their offices.

    Read Also:Buhari approves enhanced salary structure for Police

    Principal Officers, including Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and his deputy Lasun Yusuff, were not left out.

    Some of the protesting workers took over the National Assembly lobby chanting solidarity songs as they displayed their numerous plea cards with various inscriptions.

    Others mocked Senators and House of Representatives members as they staged a fake parliamentary session with one of them bearing the mace.

    The workers had at the weekend threatened to picket the National Assembly over claim of non-payment of salary and allowances.

    The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, however insisted that the protest was uncalled for especially when the demands of the workers were being treated.

    The workers vowed to continue the protest until Sani Omolori was removed from office.

    They claimed that efforts to explore dialogue with the management failed to yield expected result.

    They also claimed that since Sani-Omolori came on board, 28% increase of Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) which was captured in 2018 budget has not been paid.

    “The money has been released alongside other releases, and we ask where is our allowance?”

    “We will not rest on CONLESS until we receive alert. Omolori must go,” the workers chanted.

    PASAN issued a statement at the weekend to alert the National Assembly management of its planned protest scheduled for three days beginning from Tuesday (today).

    Some of the plea cards read “Pass our condition of service bill; CONLESS is not tied to 2018 budget; give us our CONLESS; bank loans are killing; No alert no sitting; Stop Omolori now before he stops Nigeria democracy, Omolori must go; We are not slaves.”

    When Saraki succeeded in paving his way to address the protesting workers, he assured them that the leadership of the National Assembly would meet management to resolve issues at stake.

    Saraki also assured that the two chambers would take steps to fast track the passage of the Condition of Service for National Assembly bill.

    The Senate President pleaded with the workers to call off their protest as their demands would be met.

    Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, said that the protest was not against the leadership of the National Assembly but against the management.

    Sani-Omolori on his part said: “It is a matter that has been on for some time now and we have tried to explain to them; we approved salary increase for them which was captured in 2018 budget but as it is today, it is a common knowledge that the level of implementation of the 2018 budget, especially the new addition to the National Assembly, which has not been implemented – that is where we had hoped that the addition would be paid.

    “So, to the extent that the money has not been released there is no way we can make the payment.

    “We told them it is wrong and we tried to prevail on them to try to see through things in the correct way. As a matter of fact, I wrote a letter to them and I also had series of formal and informal consultations with their leadership up till yesterday (Monday) to make them back out of what is clearly an act that is not in tune with their own rules.

    Asked if he is worried by the action of the workers, Omolori said: “I am worried that in an institution that you think people should be able to look at things properly and then they are not looking at it that way that is why I am worried.

    “I still insist that they need to be a bit patient with the system. Like I said, in my reply to them; in an unprecedented manner, the presiding officers acceded, without hesitation to their requests for this increment. It was bargained with them and they captured it in the budget.

    “So, how is it in their (lawmakers) powers, if the money is not released? And in any case, the reality on the ground is that it is not only the National Assembly that is suffering from non-release of funds. That is the reality of the Nigerian situation. So, I think we all have to be patient.”

     

  • Saraki’s aide’s alleged N3.5bn fraud trial stalled

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday adjourned till January 10 the trial of Mr. Gbenga Makanjuola, a Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for an alleged N3.5billion Paris Clubs Loan scam.

    Makanjuola is standing trial alongside three others: Mr. Obiora Amobi; Kolawole Shittu, a cashier in the Senate President’s office, and a company said to have been used as conduit pipe in the alleged scam, Melrose General Services Limited.

    The case was stalled following the absence of Justice Babs Kuewumi. The parties were informed that the judge was an attendee at a workshop for judges in Abuja.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred an 11-count fraud charge against Makanjuola, Melrose General Services, Amobi, Shittu, (operations Manager at Melrose).

    Also charged is Robert Chidozie, who is said to be “at large’’.

    Read Also: Peaceful NASS, panacea for national progress-Saraki

    The defendants pleaded not guilty and were admitted to bail in the sum of N250 million each with sureties in the like sum.

    In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offence in December 2016.

    They were accused of conspiring to disguise the unlawful origin of the sum of N3.5 billion paid into the account of Melrose.

    According to the prosecution, the accused took control of the sum which was transferred from the Nigeria Governors Forum’s account, into an Access Bank account operated by Melrose.

    The prosecution said the accused ought to have known that the sum represented proceeds of unlawful activities.

    The alleged offences contravened sections 15, 15 (2), 15 (3), 18, and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act 2011.

     

  • NASS committed to local government autonomy, says Saraki

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki said on Monday that the fight to free local government autonomy from the clutches of state government governors and to grant financial autonomy to the third tier of government  in the country was a fight that should not be left to local government workers alone as it will enhance development and deepen democracy in the country.

    The Senate President said local government workers should not lose hope of attaining financial autonomy, assuring them that the National Assembly will do everything possible to ensure that they achieve their desire for local government autonomy.

    Speaking through the Chairman of the  Senate Committee on States and Local Government administration, Senator Abdulkahi Gumel at the 40th anniversary lecture of the Nigerian Union of Local Government  Employees in Abuja,  Saraki expressed shock that only nine states have so far passed the constitutional amendment granting autonomy to local governments councils in the country.

    He said that while it is true that the bill is still alive in the remaining 26 states, he was confident that through continued dialogue, collaboration and partnership with relevant stakeholders including government, the much desired local government autonomy will be actualised.

    He expressed confidence that granting the local government council financial autonomy will deepened the nation’s democracy  and ensure rapid development of the grassroots,  assuring that the National Assembly will continue to strengthen local government administration in the country.

    Speaking said “We in the National Assembly fully appreciate the importance of governance at local government level. Yes, it strengthens local government administration; but more importantly, it provides for accountable governance, which is a prerequisite for sustainable development. One therefore reasons with the idea of local councils having better proximity to the people; as their autonomy will in turn better serve the grassroots and avail Nigerians of the much-desired dividends of democracy.

    “You aware of the efforts of the National Assembly towards actualizing financial autonomy for local institutions by way of the Local Government Autonomy Bill under the 1999 Constitution (as amended). It is a matter of some disappointment that only nine (9) states have so far passed this Autonomy Bill. While it may be true that the Bill is still under consideration in the remaining 26 states, we must remain hopeful that in this instance, delay does not constitute denial.

    “Let me say that the struggle towards freedom of the third-tier of government is not one which NULGE or indeed the local governments themselves should see as theirs alone. If we are to curb insecurity, provide jobs for our teeming youth and boost economic activity through diversification, we must enable local governments operate independent of the state, and with their own budget and levels of accountability.

    “As I have stated on several occasions, it is our joint responsibility to ensure that there is a symbiotic relationship between the states and local governments, if we are to prevent unwarranted disadvantage to third-tier government in Nigeria. In addition, a cordial and symbiotic relationship between second and third-tier government will make possible the necessary checks and balances that should further serve to deepen the fabric of our democracy.

    Read Also: Saraki, Fayemi, Fasanmi: Fasehun battled for democracy

    “What this means in essence is that there is still a lot more work to be done if we are to bring this espoused vision to reality. The constitutional amendment process is one which adopts a transformational approach to change; that is to say, a gradual process. We should not be discouraged by what may seem a slow pace of change. Through continued dialogue, collaboration and partnership with relevant stakeholders including government, I am confident that local government autonomy will be actualized.”

    The question is not if, but when.

    “It is always pleasing to identify with the work of such an impactful organization as the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees. Your principal objectives, which

    are to promote and foster legislation on local government matters; and your role in protecting employee rights in all ramifications surrounding their conditions of service, remain indelible in serving those you represent.

    “Indeed, it is no mean achievement that you are celebrating 40 years of existence. While you will undoubtedly have had your share of challenges during that time, the importance of the work of the Union is there for all to see, and it remains critical in both the labour market and third-tier government.

    “You deserve commendation, having provided much-needed support to the Union over the years, especially in the area of securing local government autonomy.”

    In his remarks,  President of NULGE,  Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel said in the last 40 years, the union has been engaged in a long and sustained struggle for enduring improvement in the living and working conditions of workers who live and work at the grassroots level of our society, adding that most of our workers live among the rural populace and hence among some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable segments of our country.

    He said despite these problems, efforts made centrally at the national level to address issues of underdevelopment at the grassroots have been consistently subverted by some state governments and their agents, adding that the current political dispensation, some people have sought to hide under the notion of a so-called “genuine federalism” to hijack and take control ofall allocations constitutionally meant for local governments and their development. ‘

    Khaaleel stressed that from the inception of the current democratic era in May 1999, with the exception of a brief respite at the beginning, as local government workers, we have moved from one crisis to another from a period of zero allocation, caused in part by over-deductions from local government funds, which prevented majority of local governments in the country from meeting the basic but elementary obligation of paying their workers’ salaries, to our resistance against a determined and concerted effort to abolish the local government system as a tier of government.

    He insisted that the maintenance of the state-local government joint accounts is another albatross obstructing the smooth operation of the local government system and a key factor in the poor state of local governments across the country up till this moment, saying “Most states not only use the joint account to drain the local govemment of funds, they have also refused in majority of cases to remit 10% of internally generated revenue to the local governments as provide for by Nigerian Constitution and specified by the Revenue Mobilization,Allocation and F iscal Commission (RMAFC).

    “We are convinced that we are getting closer and closer to achieving our aspirations for popular democracy in our local governments and the autonomy we seek cannot be indefinitely denied by a gang up of governors and self-‘serving legislators at the State Houses of Assembly.

    “We believe that the amendment that granted financial autonomy to state legislatures is an important step towards our getting the autonomy that is desirable at the third tier of government. When the 9’h National Assembly is reconvening next May, governors will no longer be able to arm-twist state legislators by threatening to withhold funding for them as this will no longer be under their control”

    He warned state governors against testing the resolve of organised labour on the issue of a new national minimum wage,  saying “those who wish to test the resolve of organised labour on this matter should first review all past campaigns and national strike actions that have come out of stalemated national minimum wage negotiations.

    “As we approach the next general elections coming up early next year, we in the locai‘gover’nment system across the country look forward to Nigerians putting the autonomy of. the local government system as a key policy on which we must judge those who want us to elect (or reelect) them as councillors, chairmen, members of state houses of assembly, governors, National Assembly members and as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation. “They must be people who must be seen to put the interest of and well-being of the mass of Nigerian people over and above their personal and clannish interests.”

  • Labour is at it again!

    Our problem is more fundamental than just salary increase

    Organised labour missed the point on Thursday when the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, Ayuba Wabba, led other labour unionists to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to bare their minds on certain burning national issues, including the bogus pay our lawmakers earn, minimum wage review and sundry other matters. Although the labour leaders were right when they said that the lawmakers themselves constituted drain pipes, considering what they take home, but they failed to call the lawmakers’ pay the proper name it should be called, i.e. corruption, given the steady rise their allocation has been witnessing, from about N23.347billion in 2003 to its current N150billion; and in spite of the downturn in the country’s economy.  And, despite the fact that minimum wage in the country has remained at the paltry N18,000 per month since 2010! Can anything be more callous and ungodly?

    Anyway, I won’t waste too much time on that because a lot has been said on it and we should be awaiting the review of the National Assembly budget that Senator Saraki promised when the issue took the front burner of national discourse a few weeks ago. We will always return to that again in full force if mum continues to be the word from him, in the usual expectation that Nigerians would soon forget the issue.

    My concern today is Labour’s notice to the senate president to the effect that it would soon come with a new National Minimum Wage proposal which the congress wants the senate to quickly approve in view of the country’s present economic realities. The NLC seemingly has a point to want to push for an upward review of the present minimum wage because if salary is expected to take people home, it has since failed in that regard. A time there was when Fela sang that 20 kobo bean cake was too small (akara nko, 20 kobo for one; na janjala e be); these days, I doubt if there is anything like that, not even in the rural areas. Moreover, at the current exchange rate of N242 to the dollar, the average Nigerian worker earns about $75 in a month, just a little more than $2 a day. Pray, what can anyone do with this? Yet, we don’t want people to steal. Yet, we want people to put in their best. Are we not deceiving ourselves?

    I sympathise with Labour on this matter, especially given its unassailable reasons to justify its position. As a matter of fact, too, I do not expect any member of the National Assembly with conscience to raise issues even if Labour eventually comes up with a N50,000 monthly minimum wage proposal for approval. In the first place, this is a figure that workers had been clamouring for all these years. Moreover, that would only amount to N600,000 per annum, which is about N100,000 more than our National Assembly law makers spend on clothes alone per year!

    But, jokes apart, asking for a new minimum wage is not the answer to the question posed by the Nigerian economy. When the present N18,000 was secured in 2010, it was well celebrated. Then, it never occurred to anyone that our National Assembly law makers would get more than double that amount as wardrobe allowance in a month. Then, no one thought the naira would be so devalued that it would now be exchanging at N242 to a US dollar, up from the N140 it was in 2010 when the now moribund N18,000 minimum wage was implemented.

    A quick travel down the memory lane on minimum wage reviews in the country will suffice to buttress my point. By the 2000 National Minimum Wage (Amendment Act), minimum wage was pegged at N7,500 for Federal Government workers (and N5,500 for state government workers). This was raised to N18,000 in 2010. So, within a period of just 10 years, our minimum wage had more than tripled. And this has been the pattern since 1981 when the minimum wage was N125 per month; it rose to N250 as a result of the Minimum Wage Amendment Decree 1990. Ten years later, it had ballooned to N7,500. The implication is that between 1981 and 2015, minimum wage in the country had jumped from N125 to N18,000! I am yet to see any good country with that paradigm.

    For example, when National Minimum Wage was first introduced in Britain in 1999, it was pegged at 3.60 pounds per hour. Between 1999 and now, a period of 16 years, it has increased only by 3.30 pounds per hour. Indeed, when salaries are increased in many other places, it is not as ridiculous as ours and the workers are far better off. Not so in Nigeria. Without doubt, the situation here concerning the astronomical rise in minimum wage over the years tells us that the problem is not about asking for high wage. It is much more fundamental.

    This is what the NLC should be in the vanguard of unravelling (assuming it does not yet know why) and clamouring for its correction. What successive increases in wages has done is to enable the politicians (whether those in military uniform or their civilian counterparts) to keep deceiving Nigerians and giving them the impression that all is well because, as soon as the workers get the salary increase, they jubilate. But when they get to the market a few weeks or months later, they discover that the money has further lost its value. I still remember what I was able to do with my N96 (sorry, N200) monthly allowance as a youth corps member in 1985. Those on national service now cannot boast of same despite the fact that they earn by far more. Even for the brief period I worked with my School Certificate result, I know the things I was able to do with my salary of about N110 per month. Today’s graduates who are lucky to have jobs are groaning because the wads of naira notes in their pockets can hardly buy anything of substance. My fear is that, at the rate at which we are going, a time will come when we would have to carry money in Ghana-must-go bags to buy an average loaf of bread as is the case in Mugabe’s Zimbabwe which I guess must be brimming with trillionaires!

    Therefore, what Labour should be clamouring for is good governance, not new minimum wage. Without good governance, we are only going to be wasting our time moving in circles, irrespective of the frequency of periodic reviews of minimum wage, or the magnitude. If we had done the needful in this regard, especially in the immediate past, this country would not be where it is today. If we had been alive to our responsibilities as Nigerians, we would not have had the kind of corrupt government that brought our economy to its knees as the Goodluck Jonathan government did, without giving it any serious fight until the General Elections.

    Perhaps Labour’s thinking by insisting on new minimum wage all the time is that this would mop up some of the surplus money that public officials steal. If that is the reasoning, we must have seen it has not worked. As a matter of fact, the public officials might grandstand and make negotiations for minimum wage tedious and laborious; they would be more worried the moment they see that the critical segments of the society are clamouring for good governance because that alone is the antidote to the massive looting of our treasury that has become our lot over the decades.

    My fear however is whether Labour itself is not complicit in the situation we find ourselves because if it had been doing what it should do to call the country’s leaders to order, things would not have been this bad. The other problem is the state of the labour union itself; recent revelations on its housing scheme, its transport scheme and NLC’s last election which almost reflected our national elections are enough cause for concern as to whether the congress can provide the desired leadership to take us out of the woods.

    Labour cannot be doing the same thing over and again and expect a different result.

  • Secondus demands resignation of IGP, INEC chairman

    ….As Atiku challenges Buhari to debate

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has demanded the immediate resignation of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris.

    Secondus also called on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu to resign his position without delay.

    Speaking on Thursday as the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP, the opposition party chairman said the PDP has lost confidence in the capacity of the IGP and the INEC chairman to guarantee free and fair elections.

    He insisted that both the IGP and the INEC aided the All Progressives Congress (APC) in rigging the last Ekiti and Osun States governorship elections.

    Secondus warned that the PDP would not accept the outcome of rigged elections, adding that there would be a national crisis if the 2019 elections were rigged.

    Also speaking at the event, the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubabar, expressed his readiness to engage President Muhammadu Buhari in a public debate on key national issues in the 2019 elections.

    His speech was interrupted with a snide remark from an unidentified voice who asked if Atiku was referring to “Jubril”, an alleged non existent body double of President Buhari. The mischief has been trending in the social media space lately.

    Atiku however replied the voice, asking, “Which Jubril? Is it the one in Sudan or the one in Abuja?”, a remark that drew a derisive outburst from the crowd of party faithful present in the hall.

    The opposition presidential candidate further said that if elected, his administration would enthroned a policy of strict adherence to fiscal responsibility in the conduct of government business.

    He pledged to galvanize efforts through consultations to liberate the nation from the shackles of hunger, deprivation, killings and divisive tendencies.

    Atiku said, “Our aim is to work very hard and collectively liberate our nation from the shackles of hunger, starvation, deprivation, bloodletting, killings and division which bedevil us today. We must all work hard to return our nation to the path of harmony, peace and progress.

    “We need to be disciplined in our campaign because we are facing a desperate APC. The coming election may be the toughest presidential election since the return of democracy.

    “The APC has chosen personal attacks over issues, instead of campaigning on achievements. My campaign will be focused on issues not character assassination and personal attacks.

    Read Also: No move to impeach my former deputy – Tambuwal

    “We should be telling Nigerians what we want to do differently to get Nigeria working again. We must be vigilant at the polling units. We must demand the removal of the IGP. Elections are governed by laws and rules guiding the behaviour of all those involved”

    He urged President Buhari to sign the amended Electoral Act presently on his desk if he is truly for free, fair and credible elections.

    The PDP candidate made assurances of new templates for fiscal responsibility and productivity in every critical sector of national life.

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, who also spoke at the event urged party leaders and stakeholders, to remain united and strong as the elections draw nearer.

    Saraki said, “The people are with us and when the people are with us, God is with us, we will do it, we will succeed. I emphasise that we must stay strong because it is not going to be easy.

    “Let us remember when we were going for the convention this room was vibrating, there was tension in the country and people never believed that it was possible because it has never happened where people will go to a primary and come out with not even one person disagreeing.

    “I have said it many atimes that APC is not our opponent on the ballot paper; it is the security agents that are opponents on the ballot paper.

    “If you talk to ten Nigerians today, they will tell you yes your party is popular but they will rig it. What does that mean? We must stand, we must stand for free and credible election. We must stand for an election where people have the right to vote.

    Saraki, is the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, warned that there could be crisis in the country if the elections were not free, fair and credible.

    The party inaugurated a 154-member Campaign Council shortly after the NEC meeting, with Secondus named as chairman of the Council.

    Atiku is co-chairman of the Council while former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is co deputy chairman.

    Also yesterday, the PDP inaugurated its Presidential campaign council with Secondus as chairman and Atiku as co-chair man.

    Other members of the Council are the governors elected on the platform of the party, the party’s principal officers of the National Assembly, all the presidential aspirants that contested with Atiku, former Ministers, former principal officers of the National Assembly, members of the National Working Committee of the PDP, among others.

    At the inauguration of the campaign council, Secondus charged the team to brace up for the challenges ahead, adding that the task was to sell the agenda of the PDP across the entire country.

  • I am convinced 2019 election is for PDP to win -Atiku

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, says he is convinced beyond any doubt that 2019 elections will be a victory walk for the PDP.

    Abubakar said this during the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said that going by the momentum the party had gathered through its transparent primaries and the people working together, victory was awaiting the party.

    He urged the leadership of the party to build on the momentum from its National Convention and the just concluded primaries.

    Abubakar said he was surprised when the party leadership invited him and informed him of the details of the money realised from the primaries, saying that had never happened before and had posed a very big challenge to him.

    “I said that should we win and we must win the Presidential Election, we will have to enthrone the best fiscal responsibility this country has ever known or ever seen.

    “This is simply because our party has given us that leadership, chairman I commend you.

    “I believe with the genuine support of all of you, particularly of governors and members of the National Assembly, of party leaders, of local levels, and of course, party supporters, if we work together, I am convinced without any doubts that this election is for us to win.

    “We have built up so much momentum after the Port Harcourt convention, it is now time for us to pick up the momentum again until we land in Aso Villa.”

    Abubakar also said that he was ready to face Muhammadu Bubari, the incumbent president and Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in an election debate.

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said that through the party’s National Convention in Port Harcourt, it had demonstrated to the world that it was ready to regain power and it was time to work together to achieve that.

    “We must stay strong. It is not easy in a third world country to defeat an incumbent government, but it has been done before by everybody and we will do it again.

    “I say so because the people are with us, and when the people are with you, God is with you, PDP by God’s grace will succeed.’’

    Saraki stressed the need to make 2019 General Elections credible, saying if elections were not free and credible, the country would be a fertile ground for crisis.

    “There will be Nigeria after elections and we must fight for credible elections.”

  • Kwara NYSC boss begs employers not to reject corps members

    Mrs Esther Tosin Ikupolati, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) State Coordinator in Kwara, has appealed to employers of corps members not to reject those posted to their offices.

    Kupolati made the appeal on Monday while speaking with newsmen at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara.

     

    “I advise the employers to help the Federal Government and help the scheme by accepting corps members posted to their offices for the primary assignments.

     

    “If the intervention call by NYSC is not there, what do you think would have happened? “These graduates in their thousands would be released from their universities and polytechnics to the labour market that is not there.

     

    “NYSC is a special intervention that takes these students, mould them and prepare them for the life ahead of them.

    “So for those that are rejecting corps members, they are not helping the Federal Government and they are not helping themselves, ‘’ Ikupolati said.

     

    The NYSC chief, therefore, appealed to employers in the state to look into the issue of accepting the corps members and prepare them for the future.

    Ikupolati also expressed concern over the porous nature of the orientation camp and the security implication to corps members and officials.

     

    She called on the state government to construct perimeter fence round the camp to make it secure for corps members and camp officials.

    The state coordinator agreed that the camp was large but added that the fencing could be done in phases.

     

    Read Also: Niger NYSC Camp is the worst ever – Kazaure

     

    Ikupolati said what she met on ground at the camp when she resumed four months ago was horrible, adding that most facilities were dilapidated.

    She said that she renovated one of the hostels in the camp from the Internally Generated Revenue and with the of the NYSC headquarters.

     

    According to her, I approached the Senate President, Bukola Saraki for assistance and after a lot of pressure on the senate president and persistent calls, he released the sum of N5.7 million for the renovation.

     

    Ikupolati said she used the money to renovate four hostels through direct labour; renovated the clinic; and procured drugs for treatment of corps members.

    The NYSC boss said that roads in the camp were all in deplorable conditions when she resumed. She said that she approached a Lebanese Construction Company that graded roads within the camp free of charge.

    “When I first approached the managing director of the construction company, he said I should pay a certain amount of money but after a month, he came and said he would the roads for us free, ‘’ Ikupolati said.

    NAN

     

  • Where is the Saraki clout?

    The crushing defeat of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki in the PDP presidential primary election in Port Harcourt last month and the loss of the PDP candidate, Saheed Damilare, in House of Representatives bye-election in Kwara State over the weekend are the clearest indications yet that the Saraki political myth is being shattered steadily. Information Minister Lai Mohammed describes the PDP defeat as the ‘a steady crumbling of the Saraki political dynasty’ in the state while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha calls it ‘the sweetest victory so far’. In the Social Media, Nigerians, especially APC members and supporters, have been mocking the Senate President, with some describing the election outcome as ‘testing the microphone’; an apparent reference to a more massive loss the PDP could suffer in the coming general elections. Olawuyi of APC polled 21, 236 votes to defeat his closest rival Saheed Damilare of the PDP who scored 18, 095 votes.

    But in the PDP Presidential primaries in Port Harcourt held early October, Saraki performed more woefully, taking a distant third position with a meagre 317 votes (which came mostly from Kwara delegates) out of the over 3,000 cast at the convention.  The implication is that the Senate President went into the race without a national appeal and broad support. Obviously, he had always relied on his father’s support and goodwill in Kwara State. But to run a successful presidential campaign, Saraki failed to realise that he needed more than the handful of the senators who used to escort him to his court trials. His campaign was dominated by cronies and discredited politicians. Political analysts across the federation are then asking: where is the much touted Saraki clout? To emerge Senate President in 2015, he was largely helped by more politically savvy politicians like Senator Godswill Akpabio. In return, Akpabio, a freshman in the Senate, was made the Minority Leader, a rarity in any presidential legislature. If Akpabio had not left the PDP, maybe Saraki would have fared better in the primary. His defeat will therefore go down in history as the first recorded casualty of Akpabio’s defection to the APC. Saraki’s failure is also tied to the dishonesty of his campaign. In his declaration speech, for instance, he claimed that the youths of Nigeria had called on him to run. No such thing happened. Saraki was simply on an ego trip to satisfy his lust for power and money. As Senate President, he’s embarrassed the federal government and several institutions of the state with his numerous run-ins with the law. He demeaned the office he occupies when it emerged that the army of thugs he kept back home were involved in violent armed robbery attacks in which scores of policemen and innocent citizens, including a pregnant woman, were killed. Who wants to pick a presidential candidate that could be standing trial for complicity in armed robbery? The PDP was wise to dump such an aspirant. He would have been too manacled from the first day.

    Saraki’s steady political decline means that he had overestimated his political worth in the last three years. He misread the mood of the nation and the thinking of his party members and plunged into a presidential race he was ill prepared for. This was the first political contest he has ever run without his father’s network and goodwill, and he failed woefully. It should be a moment of learning and introspection for him. This dismal performance is a big humiliation and embarrassment to Saraki and his supporters, some of whom had claimed in the Social Media that the Senate President is the ‘Jack Bauer of the Nigerian politics’. Jack Bauer is a fictional character and the lead actor of the Fox television series 24. Within the 24 storyline, Bauer is a key member of the Counter Terrorism Unit, whose job usually involves helping prevent major terrorist attacks on the United States, saving both civilian lives and government administrations. On many occasions, Jack (played by Kiefer Sutherland) does so at great personal expense, as those he thwarts subsequently target him and his loved ones. He is not a crooked agent; however, Bauer’s frequent use of torture to gather information has been controversial. I do not see any similarity between this epic action hero and Bukola Saraki. One is a superman who tries hard to protect his country from attacks, while the other has spent his entire political career devising evil plans against his fatherland and plotting devilish and selfish schemes to advance his political career.

    Bukola Saraki has always walked in his father’s shadows until the death of the old man in November 2012; he then thought he could go beyond his political milestones. The elder Saraki was the Senate Leader in the Second Republic (1979-1983) during which time the son was studying in the UK to be a medical doctor, just as his father. Twice the father tried to be president. He failed. On his return to Nigeria, Bukola spent time in the family’s business, notably Societe General Bank, a French-owned bank in which his father had a major shareholding. The bank was closed in 2006 for failure to meet the consolidation requirements. But we all knew of the huge insider abuse and mismanagement that plagued the lender when Bukola was an executive director. In June 2015, Saraki emerged senate president through chicanery and dubious connivance with the major opposition party, the PDP, to the utter embarrassment of the governing party, the APC. It was clear early on that he was more of a mole in the APC than a trusted chieftain. But President Buhari, mild mannered and avuncular, let him be. An Obasanjo would have kicked him out at the slightest hint of double-dealing and disloyalty. The Senate President aligned and worked with the PDP to frustrate President Buhari in many ways, notably refusing to confirm many of his appointments. His much anticipated defection to the PDP was also heralded with and surrounded by a lot of artifice and cunning. Saraki had wanted to goad mass defections of APC senators to the PDP and perhaps instigate the impeachment of the president. In the midst of these, his key political associates and thugs were involved in a deadly armed robbery. Even in this age of Donald Trump, Saraki’s candidacy was extremely tawdry. There has never been a Presidential aspirant in this country with so much excess baggage. Some in the PDP hierarchy, I understand, were a quite discomfited by the prospect of his win. They could only work behind the scene to undermine him despite assurances of support.  The APC should therefore ensure that Bukola Saraki doesn’t return to the senate. In fact, he should be removed as the President of the Senate. It is time we closed this chapter.

    – Etim is a journalist

  • Offa robbery: Police diverting attention from case of extra judicial killing – Saraki

    The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has accused the police authorities of diversion in the alleged extra judicial killing of a prime suspect in the April 5, 2018 Offa robbery incident in which 33 persons were killed by the bandits.

    Police had reported that the suspect, Michael Adikwu had died in detention in prompting Saraki to demand inquiry into the circumstances that led to the suspect’s death.

    In response, the police authorities have said that the death of Adikwu would not in any way stall the trial of the remaining suspects.

    Police investigation had linked Saraki to some of the robbery suspects who claimed that they received empowerment from the President of the Senate and that they were in the past, used by Saraki to disrupt elections in Kwara State.

    But in a statement on Friday by his media Adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the President of the Senate said that the response by the Police was a mere diversionary tactic.

    According to him, the action of the police was aimed at evading the serious issues of human rights abuse, extra-judicial killing and politicization of criminal investigations.

    Read Also: Saraki has personalised Senate, says Ndume

    The statement clarified that when mentioned in his statement on Wednesday that he had been vindicated, Saraki was not referring to the outcome of a case which is just about to commence.

    Rather, the statement said he was pointing to the belated admission by the police that Michael Adikwu, the prime suspect, had died in custody, a fact that was initially denied by the police when he (Senate President) raised it a few months ago.

    He alleged a cover up by the police in the mishandling of the investigations and politicisation of the process, adding that the police authorities have continued to make inconsistent statements and committing more blunders.

    The statement said, “The police, while reacting to our disclosure that the prime suspect had died in custody, caused their spokesman, Moshood Jimoh, to respond that: ‘Michael Adikwu is in police custody in one of the South-west states…helping in the investigation’. The same Police have equally documented the claim that the suspect died during arrest. What a contradiction!

    “It is surprising that the Police which initially allowed the said Adikwu to grant interviews to several national newspapers while in custody, refused to inform the public that the suspect had died until the Attorney General of Kwara State mentioned it on November 21, 2018 in the course of his address to the High Court in Ilorin while applying to amend the charge sheet”.

    Saraki urged President Muhammadu Buhari to institute inquiry into the death of Adikwu because it has several implications for the country’s legal system and its engagement with the international community.

    This, according to him, was necessary, in view of the consistent allegations of human rights abuse and extra judicial killings against the Federal Government by the international communities and foreign rights organisations.

    He recalled that the international community has consistently cited issues of human rights abuses and extra judicial killings by Nigerian security forces for refusal to sell weapons to the Nigerian government in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents.

    “One of the key issues those of us who have been engaging with the international community on the need for them to support Nigeria in the fight against terrorism in the North-east region through supply of arms, provision of training and other technical aid has been confronting is that of the flagrant abuse of human rights and extra-judicial killings by our security agencies.

    “This is an instance of what these international partners complain about. The Presidency should make a point that the present government does not tolerate human rights abuse, extra-judicial killing, politically-motivated criminal investigation and refusal to comply with global best practices by security agencies by instituting an inquiry into the case of the death of this suspect”, Saraki added.

    The Senate President called for diligent prosecution of the Offa robbery case so that justice can be done to the innocent victims of the April 5 attacks, the suspects facing trial and the state whose peace was disturbed by the sad incident.

  • Why Saraki, others want Oshiomhole out – Lawmaker

    The lawmaker representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima, has accused the People’s Democratic Party of blackmailing National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    Agbonnayima explained that the purpose for the blackmail is because the PDP knows that they have no hope of winning the election with Oshiomhole as Chairman of the ruling party.

    Agbonnayima, who spoke in a chat with newsmen in Bénin City, said Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had not business making any statement against Oshiomhole.

    He noted that the reason the PDP is making noise and using politics of castigation as well as black mailing people is because they have nothing to showcase as achievements.

    The lawmaker said the PDP has nothing to tell Nigerians as next year’s general elections would be about past antecedents.

    According to him, “When they were given opportunity to serve, they served into their pockets. The people on the street will tell you PDP only got 20 percent pass mark while in office. That is total failure

    “They are now shedding crocodile tears. The Senate President has no business making any statement against Oshiomhole. The PDP wants Oshiomhole to fail because they know that with Oshiomhole as Chairman, there is no hope for them during the elections.

    “They are blackmailing Oshiomhole to make him leave office but they will fail. They failed before they will fail again. When Saraki was in APC, he said many good things about Oshiomhole. Go and check what he is saying now.

    “Under the PDP, undeclared crude oil left the shores of this country. The evidences are there. The US government brought documents on how they sold crude oil abroad and the money went to private pockets. Where is all the money the PDP spent on the power sector? They spent N300bn on roads but where are the roads. President Buhari is three years in office, look at what is happening.

    “I was Chairman of the Board of Nigeria Railway Corporation under the PDP. When we planned to have standard gauge and brand new coaches but they bought refurbished coaches. I challenged them. When those equipment came, they were refurbished equipment. I refused to commission those rubbish. Look at the all the coaches under Buhari, they are brand new and state of the art. Go and look at Abuja Airport. The APC government has turned it around. We are not where the PDP took us to. We now have $47.3bn in foreign reserve. By now, the PDP would have squandered the money.”