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Tag: directive

  • Buhari’s pay directive: Governors, workers clash looms

    Buhari’s pay directive: Governors, workers clash looms

    The presidential directive to governors to pay civil servants’ salaries before Christmas may pit the states’ chief executive officers against organised labour. Reason: the balance of the Paris/London Club refund from which the governors are expected to settle the workers may be a far cry from what is required, especially in states owing huge arrears of salaries. Osagie Otabor, Odunayo Ogunmola, Nicholas Kalu, Mike Odiegwu, Rosemary Nwisi, Suleiman Adamu, Damisi Ojo, Ernest Nwokolo, Anthony Bassey, Adekunle Jimoh and Adesoji Adeniyi report that the local chapters of the workers’ unions look set to challenge their employers across the states.

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to governors to settle workers’ salaries before Christmas may have widened the gulf between the states’ helmsmen and organised labour.

    The directive was reportedly given on Monday after the President met with the governors at the State House in Abuja.

    The President directed Finance Minister Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele to release the 50 per cent balance of the Paris/London Club refund to enable the states carry out his directive.

    Labour hailed the President for the gesture and urged its members to look forward for a rosy Yuletide.

    But if feelers from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) are anything to go by, the hope of having a blissful Christmas may remain in the realm of a dream for the workers.

    The governors said the President never said that all arrears of salaries should be paid before Christmas.

    Besides, they foreclosed the possibility of getting their shares of the Paris/London Club refund before Christmas ,given the delay in the past when the President gave such directives.

    The workers, through their local chapters in the states, are already counting days. Those in debtor-states are upbeat that the arrears of their salaries will be cleared.

     

    Governors must be monitored

    In Cross River State, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) commended the President for the gesture and urged him to raise monitors to guard against misapplication of the funds when released to the governors.

    TUC local chairman Clarkson Otu said: “We must commend the President for the interest he has shown in the welfare of the workers of Nigeria. He has shown that he is very welfare-oriented, he is worker-friendly and, of course, he knows that these salary earners and low-income earners are really the people bearing the brunt of this recession and tight economic situation.

    “You see him giving bailout and the Paris Club refund. He has continually stated that they should be used to defray outstanding salaries, pensions, gratuity and such other related allowances. So, he has done well in that regard.

    “But the problem is whether it would translate to the benefit of the people when the governors get this money; whether they would use it for such purposes, because that is the problem we have.

    We have no issues with arrears of salaries in Cross River State. The problem we have is the outstanding of monumental arrears of gratuity, which is climbing close to N30 billion now. “That has been our major concern. We have been shouting. It is our prayer and hope the man should put part of the money received if not all to address the issues of gratuity.

    “I hope the governors would have that kind of sympathy for workers to deploy those funds appropriately. It is unfortunate that some governors, despite getting these funds, still don’t put them to use for what they were meant for. The leadership in the various states are not sensitive to the plight of the workers and the people. They are very greedy and wicked.

    “After all, this Paris Club efund is not a loan. Some of them are just diverting those funds. Some have stolen it for whatever grandiose projects, some becoming pipe dreams, even in our own state here.

    “I think the President should do more. There have been complaints in various states that the released funds are not being utilised for those purposes. The people are still crying. Pensions have not been paid in several states. Gratuity is still outstanding. Salaries are still being owed.

    “The President is still giving bailout and the governors have not accounted for the ones given to them in the past. So, that is the area that is lacking. If you give them this money, follow it up. Ensure that they are utilized.

     

    Reduced allocations cripple states

    The local chapter of the TUC in Ekiti Ekiti State welcomed the bailout, saying the reduction in monthly subventions to the states from the Federation Account has adversely affected state finances.

    Chairman of the TUC in the state, Odunayo Adesoye, said Governor Ayo Fayose has done his best on workers’ welfare but that paucity of funds has been a major challenge.

    Adesoye said: “Governor Fayose has tried his best for workers since he came into power. He has always carried labour leaders along in the management and disbursement of allocations from the Federation account for the payment of workers’ salaries.

    “But, the reduction in the allocations to the state occasioned by the shortfall in the oil revenue and deductions from the state allocation are responsible for the state government owing workers arrears of salaries.

    “If it is true that there is directive that governors should pay workers’ salaries before Christmas, the Federal Government should assist the state governments with financial support.

    “Our governor loves workers. He has done his best within the limited resources available to him and he wants workers to enjoy a blissful Christmas and he is even working towards that already.”

    But the Enlightened Workers’ Forum (EWF), a group in the state work force,urged the Federal Government to hold Fayose accountable on the management of previous financial interventions.

    EWF state coordinator, Mike Bamidele, said the state government should not have owed as much as between five and eight months’ arrears if financial reliefs were well managed in the past.

    Bamidele said: “This presidential directive is a welcome development because civil servants in Ekiti State are suffering. They are being owed between five and eight months’ arrears. I mean the core civil servants – workers in institutions under subvention and local government employees.

    “This is a government that had received series of intervention funds from the Federal Government, including bailout funds, Paris Club refund and Budget Support Fund (BSF) but these funds have been diverted as attested to buy the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which said N680 million from the first tranche of the bailout cash was diverted.

    “We have said it times without number that Fayose should be made to account for these funds so that workers will be given what is due to them. We urge the Federal Government to devise means of paying the planned release before Xmas directly into workers’ account to prevent further diversion.”

     

    NLC threatens unrest if…

    The NLC in Edo State said it would cause industrial unrest if Governor Godwin Obaseki failed to pay pensioners, local government employees and tertiary institution workers.

    It promised to ensure the state government complied with the Presidential directive that the balance of the Paris Club refund be used to pay workers’ salaries.

    The local Chairman of the NLC, Emmanuel Ademokun, told reporters that the union will monitor the application of the refund by state government.

    Ademokun stated that the NLC will ensure the usage of the expected fund to pay pensioners, local government workers and staff of some tertiary institutions in the state.

    His words, “We have a lot of issues as regards pensioners in the state including those that in the local government. We don’t want pensioners going to stay in the street again demanding for payment.

    “We are prepared to monitor how the fund will be disbursed. There will be industrial unrest if the state govern fail to settle pension and salary arrears.”

    The pensioners’ spokesman in the state, Gabriel Osemwekhai, a lawyer, said his members will resume their street protest if they were not paid their pension arrears.

    “We will go back to the trenches and do what we know how to do. We are waiting for the money to be paid,” he said.

     

    Edo government disagrees

     

    The Obaseki-led government said it has always paid workers’ salaries on or before the 26th of every month. It faulted claims that it owed workers and pensioners 10 months salaries.   Such report “is false and misleading,” the governor’s Special Adviser on Communication & Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said in a press statement.

    According to him, the state has motivated its employees for optimal service delivery with prompt payment of salaries.

    The statement reads: “The state government has ensured that workers are paid as and when due. We are pursuing all-inclusive reforms in the state civil service to ensure that workers deliver optimum service to the people. The payment of their salaries is one of the first steps to achieving this and we have been faithful to that mandate.

    “We have met these obligations right from the previous administration up till now. In Edo State, we prioritise the welfare of workers, both those in active service and even pensioners.

    “We have not only paid salaries, we have also met obligations to pensioners. In fact, we have paid N6.2 billion to both state and local government pensioners from January to September.”

     

    Four-month salary arrears sure in Bayelsa

    The local chapters of the NLC and TUC in Bayelsa State are sure of the payment of the four and half-month arrears of their members’ salaries by Governor Seriake Dickson.

    The Monday’s directive of President Buhari that the third tranche of the Paris Club refund should be released to the state governors with emphasis on payment of workers’ salaries boosted their hopes.

    The NLC Chairman, Bipre Ndiomu, told The Nation, that prior to Buhari’s directive, Dickson had promised use the refund to pay outstanding salaries.

    Ndiomu noted that the government was owing four and half month salaries and not 10 months as reported in some quarters.

    The unionist, however, said the government’s ability to offset all the arrears was dependent on the amount of money released to the state government.

    He explained that Dickson used the first tranche to pay arrears of two months; the second tranche to offset one and a half month adding that the amount of the expected third tranche would determine the capacity of the government.

    Ndiomu said: “We commend the Federal Government because that is what we expected them to do. We hope that all the governors will oblige. In the state, the governor has been complying.

    “In the first tranche, he paid arrears of two months. In the second one, we were paid one and a half month. So, we are expecting that this one will come out on time so that workers will enjoy the Christmas as the President had directed.

    “In Bayelsa, the state government is owing four and half months and we are confident that the government will pay the arrears. But, how much we do not know yet.

    “We don’t know how much is coming and that is one thing the Federal Government should make clear so that we can bargain with that.”

    In a statement signed by its Information Commissioner Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the government faulted a report that it owed workers between 10 to 16 months’ salary backlog.

    Iworiso-Markson said: “The fact of the matter is that the Bayelsa State government is not owing up to 10/16 months’ salaries as claimed in the report. All the salaries of workers in the he state civil service have been paid in 2017.

    “There is no outstanding. Please note what was published about Bayelsa State was false. It is also unfair that no move was made by the writer to contact the media unit before such a story was published.

    “We are constrained, once again, to correct an erroneous impression being fed to the Nigeria public by some faceless interests that the Bayelsa State government is owing workers salaries of between 10 to 16 months. It is important to note that the Bayelsa State Government is among the few states that have paid salaries up to date in 2017.”

     

    Doubt over governors’ sincerity

    Labour leaders in Rivers State hailed the presidential directive with reservations on whether the governors will comply.

    NLC chairman in the state Beatrice Utubor, feared the governors might disregard the directive.

    Describing Buhari as a worker-friendly President, Utubor recounted the efforts made by the President to improve government/worker relationship, but regretted that the governors have been insensitive to the plight of workers and pensioners.

    Utobor said: “We are happy with the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari but the issue is how far the governors will comply with the instructions given.

    “The first time the President assumed power, he gave bail-out fund to some states that are owing salaries arrears to pay workers and pensioner, he later released Paris-Club refund to governors for the same purpose. Now, he has given another directive to release another one to help them clear the salaries, but we do not know whether they will pay or not, but we are happy for Mr. President.

    “Some of the governors are paying salaries but not pensions, while some are not. One thing we do know is that Mr President has never been the problem of workers. He is worker-friendly but the governors are insensitive to the plight of workers.

    “We have been telling the governor to pay pensioners in the state; that they are dying in their numbers in the state. The workers who retired since 2015 have not been keyed into the pension scheme, they have not even been paid their gratuity are worst affected on this, they are dying every day.

    “However, for those that are yet working and the retirees that are already receiving pension before he came in, he is trying in the payments. He pays both parties regularly and simultaneously, but there are some retirees of 2012, 2013, 2014, and part of 2015 who were not able to process their retirement documents before implementation of PenCom began, they are not being paid.

    “Also those that retired in 2016, the government has not been paying its counterpart funds to the pension managers. So, this category of workers are just there with nothing to live on, with nobody doing anything about their case.

    “In the same vain, workers of Rivers State Sustainable Agency (RSSDA), have not been paid their monthly salaries for more than two years. It is my wish that the CBN would release the funds as soon as possible and that the governor of the state complies swiftly by using the funds as directed.”

    In his reaction, a former House of Assembly Deputy Speaker in the state, Leyii Kwanee, lauded the President for the gesture and urged governors to ensure judiously apply the funds.

    He urged any governor thinking of diverting the funds into electioneering campaign to perish such an idea.

     

    It’s a morale booster

    The Sokoto State Chairman of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Abubabakr Sadeeq Malami, described the directive as timely and morale boosting, at a festive period.

    “It’s a welcome development, especially to workers in states that are being owed salaries by their governments. Sokoto is not among states owing workers in respect of salaries. The November salaries have been paid by state government.”

    “The government is consistent and regular in the payment of workers’ salaries. Let me tell you that workers’ welfare is a priority to the Sokoto State government.”

    On the Paris club refunds, he said it would be a thing of joy if states could have it released at once to enable those with huge unpaid salary arears to clear same. It will go a long way to boost the morale and welfare status of workers.

    He said on the other hand, states with zero salary arrears can as well allocate same to meaningful projects for the benefit of their people.

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Ondo State described the directive on salary payment before Christmas as cheery.

    Its Secretary Solomon Igbelowowa noted that the federal government ought to have put the financial status of each state into consideration before issuing the blanket directive.

    Igbelowowa noted that in some states, workers have been receiving half salaries since the past one year, hence, no matter the amount of the Paris Club refund, it would have no impact on the workers if it failed to cater for the unsettled salary arrears.

    The NUT, however, expressed lauded the President for sharing in the plight of many workers who have not been able to make ends meet because of piled up salary arrears owed by many state governments.

    The local chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), through its Public Relations Officer (PRO) Victor Omodara, also hailed President Buhari for the directive to the state governors.

    He noted that the 50 per cent Paris Club refund for states would be adequate to clear the backlog of salary arrears, saying that workers under the NLC and TUC would ensure strict utilisation of the funds.

    According to him, President Buhari did not give any clause as to how the fund would be spent but mainly to clear the unsettled salary arrears.

    Omodara said what the directive of the President in the issue is very clear saying “anything contrary to the directive would be vehemently resisted by the entire workforce in the state.”

    The Ogun State chapter Chairman of the TUC Olubunmi Fajobi, told The Nation that Buhari’s directive demonstrated his awareness of some governors’s indebtedness to their workers.

    The labour hoped the state governors should listen and respond positively so that majority of the workers will be happy during Christmas, as well as be able to pay school fees in January.

    According to him, the Ogun State government owed salaries.

    He listed the categories of arrears owed them as 16 months cooperative deductions, 10 months check-off dues, 86 months contributory  pension, three years leave bonuses and three years of unpaid promotion arrears.

    The state Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Akeem Lasisi, described the plights of the state and local government employees in Ogun as pathetic.

    The President’s directive might just be what that would bring succour to them if the governor applied the Paris Club refund to settle backlog of arrears, he said.

    He said: “There is nothing better than the state government using the Paris Club refund to settle all our deduction arrears. We are suffering.  We encourage the Finance Minister and CBN to release the remaining refund so that workers plights could be addressed with it.

    “We can’t access loan from financial institutions or cooperatives because of unpaid deductions. We are hoping that this time, the state government would use the money from Paris Club refund to address all our arrears issues.”

    The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Taiwo Adeoluwa, had admitted that the government was having issues with the deductions and was working to straighten things out.

    He told The Nation that the government wasnot owing salaries.

    Adeoluwa said: “We are not owing workers salary. We only have issues with deductions but not salaries and the government is working to address the deductions. Government workers are owed elsewhere) “but not in Ogun. No. Not in Ogun state.”

     

    Guarding against past pitfall

    The Akwa Ibom State chapter chairman of the NLC, Etim Ukpong, described the directive as timely and paying the workers’salaries abefore Christmas, will be a great relief.

    “It would help cushion the pains suffered by workers arising from the expected rise in the cost of food items, clothes and other necessities associated with the yuletide,” Ukpong said.

    The NLC chief said that workers in Akwa Ibom are anxiously waiting for the money to be disbursed.

    Ukpong, however, lamented that the previous tranches released to some governors were not beneficial to workers because they were diverted.

    He said: “We are waiting for the money. Workers in the state did not benefit from previous tranches. The governors should use the money to settle the backlog of indebtedness to workers.”

    He also urged the federal government to strictly monitor the application of the London-Paris Club refund by the governors, whose lifestyle, he alleged was contrast to worker’s plight.

    The Kwara State chair of the TUC, Olumo Kolawole, said of the directive: “It is a good one for workers.  As a labour leader I appreciate the gesture. The president means well for the workers to celebrate the Christmas in good mood.

    “It is an opportunity for the state governors owing workers’ salaries to put smile on workers faces.

    “I hope the state governors owing arrears of salary will justify the president’s directive to CBN and Finance Minister by using the 50 percent balance of Parish Club to pay their workers.”

  • NMA asks FG to withdraw directive replacing striking doctors

    NMA asks FG to withdraw directive replacing striking doctors

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the threat by the Federal Ministry of Health to employ temporary doctors to replace resident doctors currently on a warning strike.
    The association made the demand in a statement by its President Prof. Mike Ogirima and Secretary-General, Dr Yusuf Sununu in Abuja yesterday.
    Members of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Wednesday, January 18, began a seven-day strike which is expected to end on Wednesday, January 25.
    NMA noted that the government made the threat in a circular issued on Thursday by the Director of Health Services of the Federal Ministry of Health to Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Tertiary Hospitals.
    The association emphasised that members of NARD were on strike to enforce their unmet demands which bordered on the poor state of health of Nigerians and the welfare of its members.
    It identified the issues as unattractive poor working environments in public hospitals, which was continually weakening the health workforce through brain drain.
    It noted efforts to distort the harmony among healthcare workers by some individuals within the Federal Ministry of Health which were threatening to completely derail the health system.
    It said NARD was bothered by selective and biased implementation of the contents of various government circulars and agreements with regard to the remuneration of doctors.
    It described the alleged distortions as a perfect indication of a lack of political will to end the prolonged crisis in the health sector.
    It said NARD was also concerned about the delay in bringing out a white paper on the various postgraduate medical training programmes in Nigeria.
    “The poor state of our health institutions has not been in doubt, as demonstrated by the World Health Organisation ranking the Nigerian Health System as number 187 among 191 countries in 2015.
    “The repeated patronage of foreign hospitals by our top government officials and increasing medical tourism to hospitals overseas by well to do Nigerians,’’ NMA noted were among issues of concern to NARD.
    The association said that the issues in dispute had already been resolved at meetings mediated by Speaker, Yakubu Dogara in 2016.
    It said: “Agreements with timelines for implementation were reached with the Federal Ministry of Health, NARD and the NMA on 14th  July, 2016.
    ‘’Regrettably, these agreements and timelines have again been breached by the Federal Ministry of Health.
    “We, therefore, call on the Honourable Minister of Health to urgently and decisively deal with the saboteurs of government policies within the Federal Ministry.
    “It is expedient that government works urgently to sincerely address all the issues that are responsible for the ongoing crises in the Nigerian healthcare sector to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.’’
    It added: “NMA wishes to state explicitly that it will not fold its arms and watch the training of medical specialists and the healthcare system being desecrated by any individual or clique.
    “We shall exploit every means within the law to ensure that justice is done and that the Residency Training Programme, all doctors practising in Nigeria and the welfare of all healthcare workers are treated with the utmost seriousness they deserve.’’
    The association restated its commitment to ensure close monitoring of the developments and called on well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on government officials not to further jeopardise the health of Nigerians.

  • Needless directive

    •The president should let NNPC and oil companies do their job as they deem fit

    If we had thought that the era of politics trumping geo-scientific considerations in the arcane world of oil exploration was gone with the past, last week’s reported directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to fast-track oil exploration in the North obviously shows how far the nation is yet to go in that regard. At a parley with the Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, in his office last week, the new Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, reportedly informed his visitor of the president’s directive to the NNPC to fast-track oil exploration in the North.

    Said he: “We have exploration activities on the frontier basin; that is in the Chad; and also there are some areas close to the Kolmani River where Shell had made indicative discovery of hydrocarbons and Mr. President has directed me to go into that area to reprove and further explore the magnitude and prospects of those finds.

    “We are taking steps to get into those regions. We will reinvigorate the Frontier Exploration and see how they collaborate with the NNPC that is holding Block 809 where some of the finds have been found. We will also do the same at the DPR for the other blocks that have not been assigned, and work towards proving the prospects of that region.”

    The idea of the president seeking to fast- track the exploration of potential oil wells would ordinarily be in order, coming at a time the nation is in dire need to grow its oil reserves. Moreover, given the nation’s near total dependence on oil for its revenue, the bulk of which comes from the restive Niger Delta, extending exploration activities beyond the traditional boundaries, especially where those reserves are of proven commercial yield, has become particularly urgent.

    Beyond these, we understand that the case has long been made for exploration activities in the Chad Basin, particularly with neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Sudan, with similar structural settings with the Chad Basin making significant discoveries. Among these are those in Doba, Doseo and Bongor – in Chad with over two billion barrels (Bbbls) reserves; Logone Birni in Southern Chad and Northern Cameroun with over 100 Bbbls; and Termit-Agadem Basin in Niger with over 1Bbbls. Asides, it is equally known that the NNPC New Frontier Exploration Services Division has done a lot of preliminary work on the basin and the signs appear to be positive. Indeed, we recall that the immediate past administration actually sought to put together a comprehensive framework to drive the process.

    All of these, we must admit are on record. So, it is not entirely true to suggest that the president seeks to re-write the books. And we must not also admit that the president, being the de facto petroleum minister, would have more than a passing interest in the activities in the petroleum industry.

    Yet, a presidential directive in the circumstance would seem entirely needless.

    If we may ask: why was a similar directive not issued for other frontier sedimentary basins like Anambra, Bida, Gongola/Yola and those along the Middle/Lower Benue trough?

    Assuming it was truly issued by the president, why issue a directive that leaves little room for discretion by the national oil corporation, even if in the long run the realities on ground dictate an alternative course of action? Will the president as the directing authority bear the responsibility should things go wrong?

    On the whole, it is clear that the presidential order may be easily misconstrued, particularly at a time like this.

    As it is, the NNPC as indeed any interested exploration company should be allowed to do their jobs at the pace dictated by funding and other operational exigencies while the government restricts its role to either creating the conducive environment or supplying the tools to get the job done. That way, the operators can be held to account when things do not go as they should.

  • Making Ambode’s directive on trailers work

    It last, Lagosians can now sleep with their two eyes closed.  The long-awaited implementation and total enforcement of the 2012 Lagos State Traffic Law which says that no trailer or truck other than petrol tankers and vehicles used in conveying passengers shall enter into or travel within the metropolis of Lagos between the hours of 6a.m and 9p.m has become a reality.  Last week, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode gave the directive that the taskforce and agencies responsible for the enforcement of this law should swing into action immediately.

    For many years, lives have been lost on Lagos roads, particularly in the metropolis due to the recklessness of trailer and truck drivers.  Even when Lagosians staged several protests and made appeals to truck owners and their operators to find ways to minimise these series of carnages on the roads, they did not listen.  Each time a trailer was moving near a vehicle or group of people in town, they all held their breath because people have come to see them as harbingers of death and ill-fortune.

    The fear was always in the air that trailers constituted the worse menace to other road users in the state.  But how else can this sordid situation be resolved if not the type of strong decision and political-will taken by Governor Ambode?  What is the essence of these truck drivers who do not observe the traffic law in the state, when what they do most time is kill people with impunity?

    Ambode has always felt that there is already a law in place to checkmate these people.  Now that he has made it clear that the task force should begin to impound trailers and long vehicles plying the metropolis in day time, the atmosphere of insecurity on the roads orchestrated by these vehicles has come down considerably.

    In all situations, life is sacred and it must be treated so.  This is why it is imperative that all the government agencies and security apparatuses involved in this exercise must take the order seriously.  In most sane urban places and civilized climes in the world, articulated vehicles are not allowed to endanger lives and property.  They are ordered, based on existing laws, to operate within the stipulated areas for the convenience of the citizenry.

    We, as citizens must also recognize and obey laws enacted for the supreme good of the larger society.  No law in any society can be said to be effective or workable when the people for whom it is made blatantly refuse to abide by it.  This night movement order given to trailers is for the good of all and sundry.  The new law indeed should focus essentially on those who are meant to enforce it.  They should be tutored properly on the need to see its total enforcement as a way to help and sanitise the system.

    It is, in fact, barbaric and totally incongruous to wake up every day to see or hear that many lives have been lost due to the insensitivity and carelessness of drunken trailer drivers.  Let these drivers be made also to appreciate the core value of lives and the importance of this law vis-à-vis the people themselves.  The people cannot be living in perpetual fear because a set of die-hard and obstinate drivers have inadvertently chosen to be law unto themselves.  The state must take charge.

    What Governor Ambode has taken the courage to do shows that it was not a fluke when people voted en-masse for him.  His rare sense of urgency in matters pertaining to the people has singled him out as the first among equals.  His avowed love for the people is truly consistent with his people-oriented programmes and actions within these 100 days in office.  While people from across other states seem to be celebrating confusion and inadequate leadership, Lagosians are daily being assured of safety in a state where the leadership is in total control of the affairs of the people.

    What we in the state should do now is to encourage the governor to concentrate more on issues that will better the safety of the people.  This directive ought to place more emphasis on the flawless flow of traffic, while traffic offenders are made to face the full wrath of the law.  In compliance with this, all the leaders of various transport unions and other associations related to this sector in the state should make it a point of responsibility to allow this law to work.  Indeed, the workability of this all-important directive depends entirely on the readiness of the concerned parties to be partners in progress with the state government to safeguard the lives of millions of Nigerians and foreigners resident in the state.

    It is heartwarming to see some trailers moving in compliance with this law within the stated hours.  It is not only that this shows some certain level of compliance as it is presently, but this has to be followed with the consistency it deserves.  So far, only few trailers are seen on the road in day time.  Even the Apapa Road end of Lagos State has been decongested within these few days.  However, the tempo has to be maintained and followed up with the urgency it deserves.

    This is the only way the people involved will really understand the fact that the state government means business, and that the movement of machinery with reckless abandon can never be more important than the sacredness of lives.  If the governor himself can always display his milk of human kindness in every given circumstance, why wouldn’t the people who are involved in this traumatisation have a change of heart?  What it portends therefore, is that the governor is worried about these incessant occurrences to let the people concerned come back to their senses and make the metropolis safe and secured for everybody.

    Most motorists and road users who work in Apapa and such other places where trailers have terrorized people for many years on end, now have a sigh of relieve.  Many now spend less number of hours to get to work and are therefore thankful to the state government for this wise decision.  They all gave kudos to a man they described as specially chosen to salvage the state and who has solved a rather knotty situation within a fear months in office.

    The sanity on Apapa roads, within the adjoining streets, both off Wharf road and Burma Street and indeed other busy streets in the area calls for celebration.  It is now that the total aesthetic beauty of that area of the state has been fully restored.  In fact, most people whose offices are located within these precincts are yet to come to terms with this modern development.

    The joy of it all, is that a sensitive and result-oriented governor is in control.  When the right leader is in-charge the righteous rejoice.  This is the time for Lagosians to do so.  But they must continue to give the governor the support he needs to make things work for good continually.

  • APC faults Jonathan’s directive on ballot papers

    APC faults Jonathan’s directive on ballot papers

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the Presidential directive that all electoral materials must be printed by the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC) as a threat to the independence of electoral agency INEC and the organisation of a free, fair and credible elections in the country.

    In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the directive is suspicious because it was followed by the dissolution of the management of the NSPMC, which may be a ploy by the President to inject PDP card-carrying members into the reconstituted management so that the company could become another rigging tool in the 2015 general elections.

    ‘’On the surface, there is nothing wrong in having the NSPMC print electoral materials, since this will translate to more jobs for Nigerians and save money. However, against the background of the PDP-led Federal Government’s abuse of national institutions like the military and the police, which are used as the enforcement arms of the PDP during elections, it will be dangerous to have the Federal Government take control of the printing of ballot papers and other electoral materials via the NSPMC.

    ‘’Secondly, where is the independence of INEC when the President can just direct it by fiat to do its bidding? INEC should be left to determine where to print its electoral materials to ensure the integrity of such materials.

    ‘’Thirdly, asking the CBN Governor, an appointee of the President, to now oversee the ‘reform’ of the NSPMC, and the Governor’s promptitude in visiting INEC over the presidential directive, raise more questions. While the CBN is a part owner of the NSPMC, it is not INEC’s supervisory ministry and should not tamper with its duties,’’ it said.

    The APC said the bottom line is that INEC should be left alone to carry out its onerous duties without interference from any quarters whatsoever.

    ‘’There should be a limit to the desperation of President Jonathan and his party to win the 2015 elections at all costs. They have perfected the use of the security forces, especially the military, the police and the DSS, to harass and intimidate the opposition during elections. While the whole nation is still trying to get them to stop abusing the security forces, they should not draft another institution into the election rigging fray,’’ the party added.

  • APC directive to lawmakers ‘fruitful’

    APC directive to lawmakers ‘fruitful’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) defended yesterday its much criticised directive to its lawmakers on the Presidency’s bills and proposals.

    The directive to block all proposals from the Executive in already yielding results, the party said in a statement issued in Lagos by its spokesman Lai Mohamed.

    According to the APC, the directive has started yielding results, with the Save Rivers Movement (SRM) holding a peaceful rally – for the first time – on Saturday.

    In the party’s view, the critics are either ignorant of the working of democracy or just playing to the gallery for pecuniary gains.

    “Either way, these critics have rushed to judgement without even taking time to study the directive, without understanding that governance is about people, and without caring about the principles of fairness, justice and equity, and they should cover their faces in shame,’’ the Interim National Publicity Secretary said.

    ‘’We hereby reiterate the directive, which is a product of deep thinking and robust debate within our party’s NEC to save our democracy, and we commend our members in the National Assembly for their unequivocal support for our stand, and for understanding that filibustering or legislative non-cooperation are veritable tools of democracy,’’ it said.

    When the SRM organised a rally in Ogoni on January 19, ex-militants stormed the place, shooting. They injured people and vandalised vehicles. The police did not stop them. Saturday’s was peaceful, because the Inspector-General of Police directed the police to provide protection for the rally, the APC said.

    ‘’This is exactly what we are saying, that Nigerians, irrespective of their party leaning, who wish to stage a peaceful protest anywhere in the country must be able to do so without the police looking away while hired goons attack them. It is all about justice, fairness and equity, without which democracy will not thrive. We will be watching to see if what happened on Saturday represents a paradigm shift in Rivers or it is just a flash in the pan,’’ the party said

    To the APC, there is nothing anti-democratic, anti-people or inciting about the directive, which is aimed at ending the reign of impunity in Rivers State before its spreads to other parts of the country and truncates the nation’s democracy, wondering why it is so difficult for the President to act, for almost a year, as a part of the country he was elected to govern goes up in flames.

    The party said already, copy cat attacks and intimidation of APC members had been launched by the government and the police in Gombe, because they have been watching the impunity being committed in Rivers.

    ‘’All over Gombe, our party flags, billboards and posters are being vandalised by hoodlums aided and abetted by the police. Our youth supporters are being arrested while our members are being threatened by the police and the state government officials.

    ‘’From Rivers, this reign of impunity has spread to Gombe. Who knows where the train of impunity is heading to next? Yet, some so-called fickle analysts, some chameleonic activists who willingly pit their tents with the highest bidder, some increasingly irrelevant organisations and some political parties who are content with the crumbs that fall off the table of the ruling party have the temerity to condemn a directive they do not understand.

    ‘’They say the non-approval of the 2014 budget will pauperise Nigerians, as if the yearly ritual of budget passing since 1999 has benefitted anyone but the fat cats. In any case, of what use is a budget when the lives of citizens are at stake? Are budgets not made for the people? Do they understand that even the budgets are based largely on earnings from oil, which we cannot even produce if the violence in Rivers escalates and spreads to other oil-producing states?

    ‘’They say our directive is anti-people without understanding that those who are being daily intimidated, beaten and shot in Rivers are also Nigerians. They say we are anti-democratic without understanding that democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere of impunity, the like of which we have in Rivers.

    ‘’Where were these same critics when the impudent police commissioner in Rivers, egged on by a conniving Presidency, thumbed his nose at the Constitution by turning himself to the de facto governor, of the state and refusing to subordinate himself to the elected Governor who is the chief security officer of his state? Where were these critics when a serving Senator was shot perhaps by the police? Where were these critics when women and children were teargassed and innocent civilians beaten black and blue? Did they raise any voice against the attack on journalists whose offence was that they went to cover a rally?

    ‘’The APC, as a party, cannot be intimidated by the antics of those who will have no qualms elevating self interest above public interest, by those who believe their cheap criticism will help insert their snouts into the nectar of filthy lucre.

    ‘’Therefore, while we acknowledge the so-called critics’ right to express their opinions on our directive, we disagree with them, in the exercise of our own rights, and here reiterate the directive, which goes thus: ‘In view of the joint resolutions of the National Assembly on Rivers State, and other constitutional breaches by the Presidency, the APC hereby directs its members in the National Assembly to block all legislative proposals, including the 2014 budget and confirmation of all nominees to military and civilian positions to public office, until the rule of law and constitutionalism is restored in Rivers State in particular, and Nigeria in general’,’’ the party said.

  • Teachers’ strike: mixed actions greet union’s directive

    The Kogi State chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) has directed teachers in the state to ignore the call by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to join the ongoing strike in some states.

    The state NUT Chairman, Comrade Sanni Mohammed Amin, told The Nation on phone that the NUT was not surprised by ASUSS’s decision.

    He said: “You know, in any struggle like this, there must be some saboteurs. This is because the struggle is not for Kogi State alone; it is for the benefit of all of us. But if they take sides with the government by not joining us in this struggle, they can go ahead. We will, however, go ahead with the strike until the government attends to our demands.”

    In a statement by the state ASUSS Chairman, Ojo Ranti Matthew, and Secretary, Oguche Monday Abraham, the union said it is different from the NUT.

    ASUSS noted that it would be an aberration, an unlawful and unreasonable action for any teacher in any secondary school in the state to participate in a strike declared by the NUT.

    They added that on the 27.5 per cent Teachers’ Specific Allowance (TSA) was not fought for by the NUT but by the ASSUS.

    Pupils currently writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination and officials of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) monitoring the compliance with its strike have clashed in Makurdi and Vande-Ikya Local Government areas of Benue State.

    The NUT officials stormed some primary schools, insisting that the examination must be stopped in compliance with the directive from the NUT headquarters on the ongoing primary school teachers’ strike.

    But the pupils, who were already in their examination halls in Makurdi and Vandeikya, chased away NUT officials with sticks and stones.

    Primary and secondary school teachers in Edo State were yesterday divided over compliance with the strike.

    Members of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) ignored the action and reported for work.

    Secondary school pupils were seen in classrooms receiving lectures though primary schools were under lock and key.

    Primary school teachers stayed away from work, despite the directive from the state government that they should report for duty.

    ASUSS National President Ifaluyi Osaruyi told The Nation on phone that the NUT cannot order his colleagues to go on strike.

    Ifaluyi said the Edo State Government has begun the payment of 17.5 per cent of the 27 per cent under an agreement that the balance would be paid when the revenue increases.

    He said his members would continue to teach in the state.

    But NUT state Chairman Patrick Ikomisi said the government had not called members of the union for any negotiation to end the strike.

    Patrick said some secondary school teachers did not report for duty, adding that ASUSS leadership was playing with teachers’ destiny.

    The Commissioner for Basic Education, Patrick Agwuinede, could not be reached for comments.

    The Ebonyi State Government yesterday said it has begun negotiations with the state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) on the payment of 27.5 per cent “teachers’ peculiar allowance”.

    Schools in the state carried on with their normal academic activities, despite the order by the National Executive of the union for the indefinite strike.

    The NUT national executive had directed 11 states chapters of the union, including Ebonyi, to begin the action over non-payment of 27.5 per cent “teachers’ peculiar allowance” by the affected state governments.

    The affected states, according to the NUT National President, Comrade Michael Olukoya, are: Benue, Cross River, Bornu, Ekiti, Ogun, Ebonyi, Edo, Kogi, Niger, Zamfara and Sokoto.

    The pronouncement, it was learnt, forced the Ebonyi State Government to begin negotiations with the union. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Relations Comrade John Nwaokerekwu said the negotiation was progressing smoothly.

    He said: “There is no problem that will trigger a strike by the NUT. We have started dialoguing and none of the two parties has so far disagreed. There is dialogue, there is negotiation and there is collective bargaining. We are still at the level of dialogue and none of the two parties is disagreeing…”

    The Ekiti State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has said it will cooperate with the directive of its national body on an indefinite strike until issues on the 27.5 per cent pay rise are addressed.

    The state Secretary of the union, Comrade Idris Jamiu, told The Nation that although Governor Kayode Fayemi had met with the union several times on the matter, “no specific headway has been made and no agreement has been reached”.

    Jamiu added: “The state government has not given us our request. The strike is on and it is indefinite. It is a case of ‘no retreat, no surrender’. I should add that the only thing that can make us return to work is the full implementation of the 27.5 per cent.”

    Members of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) in the state have joined their counterparts in the NUT.

    Although efforts to reach officials of the union on phone were unsuccessful, our correspondent who went round secondary schools in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, reports that members of the union stayed away from work.

    Some teachers, who spoke in confidence, noted that though the current administration has done well for the teachers and students through various programmes, they were still participating in the strike because of the directive.

    A teacher said: “Personally, I know the governor (Dr. Kayode Fayemi) is trying for the teachers in this state. I can boldly say that teachers in Ekiti today have never had it so good. Besides loans, which we easily access now, we have also undergone trainings and got laptops.

    “Although we are paying for the laptops, so many of us, who had never known or interacted with a computer before, already know a lot about the device. We apply what we learn to teaching the students. But we have to join the strike. The government should try and accede to the request.”

    Niger State teachers yesterday taught their pupils normal classes.

     

  • Nnamani still abroad despite court directive

    Nnamani still abroad despite court directive

    •Court adjourns till Sept 25

    Former Enugu State Governor Chimaroke Nnamani is still abroad, despite a directive that he must report in court to face trial for alleged money laundering, a Federal High Court, Lagos, heard yesterday.

    His absence stalled the trial as he did not return to the country after Justice Nasir Yinusa granted him permission to travel abroad for medical reasons on April 17.

    It was the fifth time Nnamani would be granted leave to travel.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had re-arraigned Nnamani and others before Justice Yinusa on 105-count of money laundering and economic crimes involving about N4.5billion of state funds.

    He was charged along with his former aide, Sunday Anyaogu, and six firms – Rainbownet Nig Ltd, Hillgate Nig Ltd, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nig Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.

    The crime was allegedly committed when Nnamani, also a former senator, was governor between 1999 and 2007.

    Trial is yet to begin in the case which has passed through four different judges due to transfers and retirements.

    At the last hearing, the judge had said: “The application (for permission to travel) is hereby granted. However, the applicant must ensure that he appears in court on the next adjourned date. The applicant must also file a notice of return to Nigeria. He must submit his international passport.”

    But when the case was called yesterday for trial to begin, Nnamani was not in court.

    Instead, his lawyer, Abubakar Shamshudeen, prayed the court to extend the time the defendant will stay abroad.

    EFCC’s lawyer Kelvin Uzozie opposed the application, but the judge said he was inclined to believe that Nnamani was still sick.

    He granted Shamshudeen’s prayers, adding that the lawyer must ensure that Nnamani is present in court at the next adjourned date –September 25.

    EFCC had earlier opposed Nnamani’s bid to travel abroad for treatment, saying the ailments he complained about could be treated in Nigeria.

    Besides, the agency said allowing him to travel would further delay the trial, as that would be the fifth time he would embark on such journeys.

    But Justice Yinusa said it was not mandatory for Nnamani to justify his reasons for travelling.

    “It is very clear to me that what Nnamani is required to do is to seek for leave of court before travelling out of Nigeria either on health grounds or any other grounds.

    “The emphasis is on seeking leave of court and not on providing justification for the journey.

    “It is therefore my opinion that the first accused/applicant has fulfilled the requirement and the conditions provided under the bail bond by seeking for leave of court before embarking on medical treatment in the United States.

    “The applicant was granted bail by Justice Peter Olayiwola on August 2, 2007 and one of the conditions was that the first accused/applicant shall give a written undertaking that he would not travel outside the country without the permission of the court.

    “My understanding of the above bail condition is that anytime the accused/applicant intends to travel outside Nigeria, he must seek the leave of court.

  • Directive on cars with tinted glasses: Letter to IGP

    My attention has been drawn to your widely publicised directive to officers and men of your organisation to commence physical apprehension of persons who use vehicles with tinted glasses insisting that the ban on the use of vehicles with tinted glasses is still in force.

    I am greatly disturbed and concerned by this fresh directive and insistence whereupon I have also elected to openly express my resentments for the following indisputable facts:

    On Friday March 4, 2011, the then Hon. Minister of Police Affairs, Humphrey Abah caused to be published an advertorial titled ‘EXPIRATION OF THE DEALINE ON THE USE OF VEHICLES WITH TINTED GLASSES’ by which his ministry announced that Saturday March 5, 2011 was the deadline given to the general public against the use of tinted glasses, covered number plates and unauthorized use of siren. Accordingly, Commissioners of Police in all the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory were directed to commence physical apprehension and prosecution of offenders pursuant to the Motor Vehicle (Prohibition of Tinted Glasses) Act.

    Five days later, on March 9, 2011, I formerly wrote to the Minister of Police Affairs urging him to reverse his decision regarding the ban on the ground that it directly violates my fundamental human rights of movement and freedom from discrimination as guaranteed under Sections 41 & 42(1) (a) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) as well as Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

    Although the said letter duly received and acknowledged at the ministry was also dispatched to your office and duly acknowledged by your office on March16, 2011, our appeal was completely discountenanced and unattended to.

    In consequence, I approached the Federal High Court Ikoyi, Lagos on May 24, 2011 in Suit No FHC/L/CS/622/11 Between Malachy Ugwummadu Vs. Minister Of Police Affairs; Inspector of Police and Attorney General of Federation for an Order of Judicial Review by way of Certiorari to quash the decision.

    The matter commenced in earnest on January 19, 2012 before Hon. Justice Okechukwu Okeke with legal representations from both the Ministry Of Police Affairs and the Office of the Attorney General Of the Federation.

    While I acknowledge, appreciate and commend your force for the perceived principle behind this ban which is to moderate and mitigate the rising incidence of crimes allegedly perpetrated with vehicles of such tinted glasses, I am constrained in the interest of justice, rule of law and the fate of democracy in this country to resist the brazen discrimination inherent in your policy and directive.

    The threshold of the concept of rule of law as a primary condition for every civilized nation is equality before the law. The present government under the presidency of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan touts its total commitment to this cardinal ingredient of democracy, yet by your categorical exemption of the President, Vice President, Governors and their Deputies, Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, Senate Leader, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Deputy Speaker and the House Leader the rule of law has been captured as the first casualty of your directive.

    First, it should be placed on record that the extant law MOTOR VEHICLES (PROHIBITION OF TINTED GLASS) ACT CAP. M 21 LFN 2004 under which you exercised your powers limits the exercise of your discretion as to permission and exemption to the twin conditions of health and security and not political. I am therefore taken aback to note that the exemption accorded the aforementioned category of persons were purely on political grounds.

    Assuming without conceding that there are security considerations in the exercise of your said discretion thereat, I hold the view that such security consideration constitutes a serious affront to the fundamental rights of every other Nigerian including my humble self against discrimination as enshrined under Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

    Assuming further that your directives are predicated on security grounds, I am surprised at the level of insensitivity which you have displayed in limiting such security consideration to such highly placed public officers in total disregard of the defenceless, vulnerable and predisposed citizens of this country whose lives are cut short on daily basis without clue by the Nigeria Police Force.

    I am aware, as you are bound to know, that all the persons whom you have exempted from this ban are public officers who are entitled to huge monthly security votes by reason of the fact that they hold and occupy those offices. In other words, they have sufficient security votes to take care of all security exigencies and other issues incidental thereto. It is a common knowledge that all of those persons who have benefited from your exemption are political office holders who have retinue of heavily armed security men and women drawn from all the security agencies in the country and handsomely paid from our common purse to guard them both in their respective homes and offices and to protect their private interests and concerns all over the country.

    It is therefore my considered view that such persons whom you have exempted from the ban to use the tinted glasses are already “over secured” both physically and financially to the detriment of the ordinary Nigerians who depend solely on the minimal security they can afford and provide for themselves including the use of tinted glasses for their vehicles.

    Did it also occur to you, even as the chief law enforcement officer that neither the Chief Justice of the Federation nor the President Court of Appeal or the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court or indeed any judicial officer benefited from your exemption yet Deputy Speakers and House Leader were qualified for this patently skewed exemptions? Meanwhile, these Justices and judges handle very sensitive cases that regularly expose them to danger.

    On the whole, it is evident that your directive is biased, selective and discriminatory against the express provision of Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution notwithstanding the idea behind it. It is also not supported by the law under which you purported exercised your discretionary powers.

    In view of the foregoing facts and considering that they are the same issues we have submitted to the Lagos division of the Federal High Court for adjudication, we most respectfully urge you to desist from your present insistence pending the determination of the matter to which you have entered appearance and have been represented in court. It is the least expected disposition of all parties involved in the matter no less the office of the Inspector General of Police. To persist with your directive and insistence is to openly call the bluff of the court and foist a fait accompli on the judiciary in the circumstance of this matter which will be very unfortunate.

    • Ugwummadu Esq. is a Lagos based attorney

  • Alleged directive on Tinubu, APC fictitious, says Presidency

    Alleged directive on Tinubu, APC fictitious, says Presidency

    The Presidency yesterday denied the report that it directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to register the opposition’s new party – the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, entitled: Concerning the Fake Bromide of an Alleged Presidential Directive, the Presidency said it did not issue such directive and was not thinking of doing so.

    It stressed that the publication was put together at a roadside business centre.

    Abati urged Nigerians to be wary of such tactic, which might undermine the administration by “creatively espousing imaginary fault lines, with the aid of fake documents to create doubt, fear and disbelief in the minds of citizens and true patriots”.

    The statement reads: “It is worth pointing out, again, that what is being bandied around by a section of the media as a ‘Presidential Directive’ on Tinubu, APC and other matters, is fictitious; it is designed to mislead the public, discredit the person and office of President Goodluck Jonathan and cause disaffection within the polity.”

    “Careful examination reveals a mishmash of deliberately arranged and concocted lies, presented to the public as evidence of a document emanating from the Presidency. This is not only dubious but raises concerns as to the length certain persons will go to perpetuate falsehood for the sake of their selfish ambitions.”

    “Several interpretations of the purported Presidential directive appear to have been granted prominence by an all-too-negative segment of the media, supported by partisan political jobbers all on the premise of a suspicious-looking “bromide”.

    “The Presidency affirms that no such directive was ever conceived nor was any such directive put forth by President Goodluck Jonathan or his aides. It is ironic that this is coming at a time, when the President is actively engaged in serious discussions with various interest groups on how to further deepen the democratic experience as well as the key issue of how to build an economically viable federation.”

    “Nigerians should be wary of such tactic of old, one that seeks to undermine a current administration by creatively espousing imaginary fault lines, with the aid of fake documents to create doubt, fear and disbelief in the minds of citizens and true patriots. We unequivocally state that in this case, as in others that may follow the same path, the Goodluck Jonathan administration has no desire to create any inhibitions to the expression of democratic ideas in the country.” It added.

    The went on: “With regards to the imaginary ‘Presidential directive’ released to hoodwink the general public, the government is confident that the discerning public is well aware that this purported document is alien to how things are done within this Presidency.”

    “The physical quality of the unsigned document published today with jagged and irregular edges (which make a mockery of both presidential correspondences and the quality of attention paid to sensitive issues and development-oriented policies of government) should signpost the level of desperation by those who seek to mislead the enlightened electorate of the Federal Republic.”

    “The publication of this spurious document (which was to all intents and purposes hurriedly put together in a roadside business centre!) and the passing-off of same by some media entities should serve as an index on their credibility and sovereign interest. This government believes that the media – print and electronic – has a significant role to play in educating, enlightening and empowering the populace and will continue to support all organizations to do this even as it retains the discretion and responsibility to expose specific institutions that perpetuate falsehood on the sovereign.”

    “The President remains committed to providing good governance to the nation, even in the face of the most uncharitable criticism by people desirous of a chaotic environment for them to thrive. This, we accept as part of a civil engagement between elected officials and the citizenry.”

    “The public and our esteemed crop of journalists are humbly requested to be wary of lurking mischief makers who parade themselves under different garbs and push forth information that should best be ignored, or clarified in the best tradition of the journalism profession.”

    “We reaffirm that the so-called “Bromide of the presidential directive” is false and inconsistent with the governance ethos of the present administration,” it said.