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Tag: group

  • Group extols HID’s virtues

    A group, Asiwaju Change Movement (ACM) International, has commiserated with the Awolowo family on the demise of its matriarch, Mrs. Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo.

    In a statement by its National Coordinator, Mrs. Simisola Jegede-Ayoade and Secretary Feyi Duyile, the group described her death as a loss.

    The statement reads: “Mama, God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be, so he put His arms around you and whispered come to me my daughter.

    “Although the ACM loves you dearly, if we had our way we will make you stay a little longer. You are worth celebrating for sustaining the good legacies of your late husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    The group urged women to emulate the Yeyeoba  by supporting their husbands in all aspects.

  • Northern group to Saraki: resign now

    Northern group to Saraki: resign now

    The Northern Ethnic Nationalities Unity Congress (NENUC) yesterday called for the resignation of the Senate President Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

    The call came just as the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) secured a bench warrant for the arrest of the embattled Senate President by the CCB Tribunal over allegations of false declaration of assets dated back to 2003.

    The group said the Senate President should resign before he drags the image and reputation of the office he presently occupies further in the mud.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday, the National President and Convener of the group, Mr Bako Benjamin, said it is disgusting that the Senate President would rather be seeking court’s protection than going before the anti graft agency to clear his name of the charges.

    “Let the Senate President come to equity with clean hands. Let him defend himself against all the charges levelled against him in the spirit of the new wind of change blowing across the country,” Benjamin said.

    He said the anti-corruption war spearheaded by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration would be futile if people like the Senate President continue to seek protection from the law courts rather than presenting themselves for the acid test.

    Benjamin, who noted that the recourse to the court itself is an admission of guilt, said: “Seeking protection from the law courts is sending a strong signal that he (Saraki) has something to hide.”

    The group, he said, has therefore given the Senate President a three-day ultimatum to honourably resign to prevent impeachment proceedings against him for his eventual removal from the exalted office.

    NENUC said Saraki’s continued stay in office is “capable of sending wrong signals to the international community and pose a huge question mark on President Buhari’s commitment to ridding the nation of corruption.

    He said NENUC would not hesitate to mobilise other well-meaning Nigerians to march on the National Assembly in protest should the Senate President refuse to honourably resign from office within reasonable time.

     

  • Group hails PPRO’s appointment

    The Police Assistance Committee (PAC) has commended the emergence of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olabisi Kolawole as the first female Police Public Relations Officer PPRO at the national level, describing it as a well deserved appointment.

    In a statement issued in Lagos and signed by its Director General, Dr. Martins John Oni, the PAC noted that the appointment of the new PPRO was a manifestation of her enviable track record acquired over the years through her diligent services in the Nigeria Police Force which had seen her occupying very sensitive positions creditably.

    The organization enjoined ACP Kolawole to approach her new job with all sense of decorum and high level of professionalism so as to justify the confidence reposed in her by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase.

    While appealing to the new PPRO to be a team player by carrying along all critical stakeholders in the course of her duties, the PAC pledged its readiness to keep working closely with her as it has been doing with all her predecessors over two decades ago, asking her to give an open door to all PAC coordinators and exco – members nationwide.

  • Kogi 2015: Group advocates peaceful, non-violent poll

    Ahead of the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State, a non-government organisation (NGO), Alliance for Credible Election (ACE), has advocated a peaceful, non-violent and credible poll.

    The Acting National Secretary of ACE – Nigeria, Ms. Mma Odi, who spoke at a one-day seminar on peaceful, non-violent and credible election, at Halims Hotels and Towers in Lokoja, said no development could take place in a violent atmosphere.

    She noted that election was not meant for people to die, stressing that “Nigeria belongs to all of us.”

    Ms. Odi said a peaceful, non-violent and credible election would attract development, adding that it would save resources, as there would be no need for a rerun.

    “A violent-free election will allow participation by all, and a credible poll will serve as a social mobiliser and drum support for the government.”

    A representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Head of Voter Education Unit (Lokoja), Mr. Daniel Kure, urged stakeholders to support INEC to ensure a violent-free, peaceful and credible poll.

    He hailed ACE for organising the seminar “at this crucial time preceding the election”, noting: “This will assist INEC and stakeholders.”

     

     

  • Group urges Ambode to regulate agency commission

    Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode and estate agents have been urged to come up with a fixed  “agency fees” for operators in the property industry.

    During an interview, the Chairman, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, Mr. Bolarinde Ajayi,  said the call became necessary in view of indiscriminate fees being collected on property sales and rents by estate agents.

    He also called for the regulation of the sector, insisting that this had become necessary to bring sanity into the estate agency sub-sector.

    “There is no uniformity at the moment. We have different types of agents here. The profession is not what is picked on the road as it is being touted; it is a profession that requires training and that is what we want to do and get estate agents properly grounded and instil code of conduct that will make them practice professionally,” he said.

    Ajayi explained that the need for regulation and professionalism made the NIESV to establish the Association of Estate Agents of Nigeria, which aims at absorbing all estate agents in , not only to regulate, but also to train them and imbibe in them professionalism and ethics of estate agency practice.

    The association, under NIESV, he explained, is regulated by the “scale of charges” approved by the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing.

    The NIESV’s former vice president argued that it was more appropriate to base such fees on percentage of the transaction, rather than on what obtains at present, which he contends breed serious disparity.

    He argued that it should be made a rule as this would put a stop the ambiguity that is ravaging the industry. NIESV, he said, encourages its members to charge 10 per cent on rent transactions and  10 per cent on property sales. These fees, he added, is paid by any one who instructs the agents to execute such deals, or shared by both sides to the transaction.

    He warned agents, who charged both parties for the same transaction to stop and be be transparent to their deals.

    “When you are talking of scale of charges, then fees to be charged have to be made a law and it has to be made operative by everybody on a level playing ground. We, as NIESV, have given suggested what to charge professionally, but that is our view as a stakeholder in the industry. So it is left to the agents and Lagos State government to decide on what they feel it should be in the state,” he reasoned.

    Ajayi also encouraged estate agents to join the Association of Estate Agents in Nigeria so as to benefit from professional training on the job and also for proper regulation.

  • Group hails ‘Ambode’s 100 days milestone’

    A civil society organisation has described the first 100 days in office of Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as richly rewarding. It said the governor has exemplified excellence in governance.

    A statement by the Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM) chairman, Nelson Ekujumi, said Ambode like his predecessors, is “following the tradition of responsibility, responsiveness and focused administration in setting the pace for delivering on his campaign promises”.

    “Ever since he assumed office, Mr Ambode has left no one in doubt about his capability and competence as a tested and trusted administrator and technocrat in discharging his constitutional responsibility to the admiration of the good people of Lagos State who are delighted that they made the right choice at the polls on April 11,” the group said.

    CPPM said the governor has succeeded in repositioning the civil service by streamlining some ministries, departments and agencies, ensuring financial transparency and accountability through the operation of a Single  Treasury  Account (STA).

    The group said: “We are quite aware of how Mr Governor put smiles on the faces of state and local government retirees from ministries, parastatals and agencies early in August when he approved N11billion to offset arrears owed since 2010. This was a commendable development by a responsible government and this is a radical departure from our history of shabby treatment of retirees in the public service.

    “Also, the prompt responsiveness of Ambode’s government to disasters and emergencies is worthy of commendation. Worthy of note is the commitment of Ambode to security of life and property by unveiling plans to strengthen internal security of the state through the establishment of an integrated security and emergency control platform as well as strengthening the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

    “Also commendable, is the acquisition by the government in the last 100 days, of modern security equipment, gadgets and vehicles to ensure a crime free state.”

     

  • Group condemns media attacks on Amaechi

    A group, the Niger Delta Initiative for Equity and Justice (NDEJ) has condemned sponsored media attacks against former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    It said the reports, which it described as false, were designed to malign him.

    NDEJ said the documentaries being aired by a private television station was designed to cast Amaechi in bad light.

    It said the television station and promoters of the documentaries should have waited for the outcome of investigations by anti-corruption agencies of Amaechi’s tenure.

    NDEJ said the television station was attacking Amaechi in the hope of being granted a Certificate of Occupancy for of a land belonging to Rivers State.

    It alleged that the state also helped the station procure a land opposition its headquarters in Abuja.

    “The documentaries are now being aired to tarnish the image of the former governor as a way to show appreciation to the present Rivers government for these largesse,” NDEJ said.

    The group said the same TV station broadcast malicious documentaries against major All Progressive Congress (APC) chiefs during the general elections.

    According to the group, such media manipulation cannot dent Amaechi’s records, adding that the reports are “frivolous and spurious” and designed to suit the broadcaster’s “wicked purpose”.

     

  • Group exposes plans to smear SON

    Group exposes plans to smear SON

    The Coalition Against Building Collapse (CABCO) has alleged that there are plans to run a campaign against the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) which include paid demonstrations and continuous attacks on its image.

    In a statement, CABCO General Secretary Clement Orimade, said: “Following several reports in certain sections of the media concerning the recent attacks against SON, CABCO would like to inform the general public of plans to discredit SON by certain manufacturers.

    “First of all we are of the understanding that a certain multinational company is sponsoring the activities of these manufacturers which include the recent protests and are supporting these manufacturers with the intent of fabricating false stories to indict the activities and the image of the agency as corrupt and crooked in the eyes of the public. Mr Orimade enthused.”

    He added: “Secondly, the group plans to undertake a series of nationwide protests and demonstrations by organised crowds in Lagos and Abuja for one week which will be similar to the recent protests, financed by the same people.”

    “Thirdly CABCO is aware that these substandard merchants have been sending frivolous petitions to the office of the president and vice-president in an attempt to tarnish the image of SON.”

    “We have also gathered they seek to do same with the national assembly in order to achieve their selfish interest. He continued”

    “CABCO would like to urge these manufacturers to desist from all of these unnecessary shenanigans or we will expose your operations further because these unpatriotic actions are not of the benefit to the Nigerian economy or citizens in any way”

    The CABCO General Secretary added: “Not too long ago, the different grades of cement was approved and it was a timely intervention because prior to this, there was heavy misapplication of cement by many artisans leading to building collapse, loss of life and property, which is a testament to the works of SON in fighting the influx of substandard products and materials and we witnessed the integrity in their activities first hand.

    “The agency is relentless in its quest in fighting substandard products as I recall SON reduced the level of substandard goods in the country from 85per cent to 45per cent,”  CABCO  added.

  • New political group launched in Ondo

    A new socio-political group to check the imposition of candidates has been launched in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    The group ”Owena Collectives”, is to ensure that those who are elected into public offices emerged through transparent electoral process.

    A statement issued by its chairman, Theo Adebowale, and Secretary, Kayode Arowosola, said it had begun consultations with the democratic forces in the state.

    The group vowed to ensure the effective participation and monitoring of all political processes in the state to ensure popular polls.

    The coalition, which made up of 10 socio-political groups, said that it would resist the imposition of candidates or any attempt to undermine a transparent democratic process by any party.

    It urged party chieftains and officials to comport themselves with decorum and eschew imposition under any guise or face its wrath.

  • Group to Okiro: resign over fraud allegation

    Group to Okiro: resign over fraud allegation

    A pressure group, Access to Justice (AJ), has asked the chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC),  Mike Mbama Okiro, to resign following the findings of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission  (ICPC), which indicted the Commission of corruption and fraudulent activities to the tune of N133.4 million.

    In a statement in Lagos last week  by its Executive Director, Joseph Otteh and Okechukwu Nwanguma of the Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN), the AJ said the indictment of the PSC by the ICPC was enough reason for the chairman of the Commission to vacate office.

    Access to Justice said the PSC “leadership has brought upon the Commission a huge credibility crisis and degraded its moral authority too much to be able to effectively hold police officers accountable for misconduct”.

    In view of this, the group contended that the findings made by the ICPC has reached the thresholds for demanding that the PSC chair vacates office immediately.

    “The Police Service Commission cannot be indulging in an entrenched pattern of malfeasance and misappropriations and remain positioned to discharge its constitutional mandate of fighting corruption or abuse of power within the police force or sanctioning police officers guilty of corruption or misconduct,”it argued.

    The group noted that the PSC is responsible for the disciplinary control of police officers and for ensuring that police officers comply with all police laws and regulations, including those on corruption.

    “Where the PSC cannot effectively perform its oversight disciplinary responsibilities, a huge disciplinary and control gap will be created within the Nigerian Police Force, which will, consequently, further entrench and facilitate systematic corruption within the institution.

    “The continuance of the present incumbent of the office of the Chairman of the Police Service Commission is, therefore, no longer tenable. It is in the best interest of the body and for the sake of preserving the PSC’s ability to effectively perform its constitutional duties, that we are, therefore, demanding that he vacates the office now,”AJ contended.

    The ICPC on August 11, ordered the PSC and its Chairman, to refund to the government treasury the sum of N133.4 million out of the N350 million it received from the Federal Government for the monitoring of the conduct of the 2015 elections following an investigation carried out by the commission based on a petition by Mr. Aaron Kaase, a staff of the PSC.

    The petition alleged acts of corruption, abuse of office and fraudulent acts to swindle the PSC to the tune of N275.5 million on the part of the chairman of the PSC.

    Access to Justice noted that the findings of the ICPC on the activities of the PSC revealed that “the Police Service Commission (PSC) received the sum of N350 million from the Federal Government to monitor the conduct of police personnel in the recently conducted general election.

    “The Commission budgeted to expend the fund on training and physical monitoring during the election. Investigation revealed that the Commission budgeted for training of 900 staff to conduct training in Abuja, Lagos and Kano. However, the entire staff force was not more that 391 and that was the figure actually trained in a programme held in Abuja only… “

    The group, in spite of having called for the resignation of PSC Chairman, Okiro, however, faulted the conclusion of the report of the ICPC on the investigation conducted into the commission.

    “Judging from the ICPC’s statement, it is fairly evident that, from the start, an intention to misappropriate funds was clearly incubated, set in motion, and manifested when the Commission projected to train 509 more staff than it actually had. In other words, the Commission received training monies for a large retinue of “ghost staff”.

    “Those preparatory steps were subsequently consummated: the Commission got taxpayers’ monies based upon the misrepresentations it made, and held on to the money that remained afterwards.

    “As the ICPC found, the Police Service Commission even knowingly paid its staff based in Abuja return air ticket money for a programme that held in Abuja; yet another fraud!

    “How these corrupt practices and deceptions could come to be characterised by the ICPC as merely “administrative in nature and within the ambits of career public servants handlings” is baffling,” AJ argued.

    The group recalled that in 2008, a former Minister and Senator were arraigned and prosecuted for failing to return unspent funds in their Ministries/Committees to the government’s coffers.

    “The ICPC’s working definition of criminal corruption sets our alarm bells ringing; it is clearly too flawed and deficit to help Nigeria’s war against corruption. If there were no criminal acts committed, it becomes open to question the business of the ICPC in ordering the PSC to refund money. The ICPC’s mandate, it may be said, extends only to the investigation and prosecution of acts that constitute corrupt practices,” the group said.