The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Anxiety in PDP over presidential campaign in S/West

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be in a dilemma on how to design the appropriate campaign message to woo voters in the Southwest geopolitical zone for its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
    The various political parties will soon commence their presidential campaigns in line with the campaign timeline released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Presently, the PDP cannot boast of any of its key positions occupied by members from the Southwest at the national level within the party hierarchy.

    The highest position held by the Southwest in the party’s hierarchy is that of Deputy National Chairman (Southwest) which is being occupied by Elder Yemi Akinwonmi from Ogun State.

    Investigation by our correspondent at the weekend revealed that it was one of the key issues that dominated discussions in a meeting held by the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar with key party stakeholders in Abuja Wednesday night.

    Those that attended the Wednesday meeting included the PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Governors elected on the platform of the party, among others.
    Our correspondent gathered that some stakeholders have pointed out that the All Progressives Congress (APC) having Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari, may constitute an uphill task for the PDP campaign in the Southwest.

    On the other hand, the PDP has picked Atiku’s running mate, Mr. Peter Obi, from Anambra State in the Southeast geopolitical zone; while the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus is from Rivers State, in the South-South geopolitical zone.

    This, according to some of strategists, has stripped the Southwest of any representation in key positions within the PDP. In their submission, this makes the situation more difficult for the opposition party, considering the fact that the entire six states in the Southwest are being controlled by the APC.

    Read Also: Ayade berates PDP over primaries

    More so, the fact that the Buhari administration also parades a number of South Westerners in key positions in Buhari’s cabinet and other key federal agencies may also give the ruling party an edge in the zone.

    They have cited the Ministries of Power, Works and Housing being manned by one of the prominent sons of the Southwest, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

    The case of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) which is being headed by another South Westerner, Mr. Babatunde Fowler from Lagos State.

    Similarly, some analysts have argued that restructuring of the country, which the PDP has projected as one of its key campaign points, is an elitist concept that does not strike any chord with the voting masses in the zone.

    “For instance, what is the Yoruba word for restructuring and how do you pass the message across to the market women, artisans and the masses that form the bulk of the voting population”, a PDP chieftain who spoke on the condition of anonymity said at the weekend.

    The source also described the positions of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SFG) and that of the Speaker of House of Representatives that the PDP promised the Southwest as uncertain, stressing that it’s only if the PDP wins the Presidency that that can be fulfilled.

    In a swift reaction however, the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, disagreed with the postulations, saying that prevailing circumstances have changed voting dynamics in the country

    Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone on Friday, Ologbondiyan said, “Nigerians are not talking about who occupies certain positions. They are interested in who can give them power and make ease of doing business available.

    “Nigerians are interested in who can save them from hunger, starvation, killings, bloodletting and all the pain that the Buhari government has imposed on them.

    “The issue is not about who occupies what positions. It is about that candidate that understands the nuances of our nation. That candidate that can turn our economy around and make life better for Nigerians.

    “Having said that, it’s important to state that the PDP is interested in the value of life. The PDP is interested in the equitable distribution of wealth in the nation. The PDP is interested in making life better for the average Nigerian.

    “As such, every group and every geopolitical zone will be well captured and well represented when we form government.

    “This is the type of division that the Buhari administration has continued to set Nigerians against one another with all manner of ethnic crises. But Nigerians have come to resent this approach.

    “It is unfortunate that even the President is so insensitive to the plight of Nigerians that he does not realise that this is not the time Nigerians will be thinking about who comes from where.
    For now, Nigerian are only keen on good governance”.

  • ‘Workers running out of patience over new minimum wage’

    Barely two weeks after submitting a committee report on the mew minimum wage to President Muhammadu Buhari, labour chiefs restated on Friday that workers were running out of patience with government over the slow action on issue.

    On November 5,  Buhari received the report of a tripartite committee he set up since last November, to fashion out a new minimum wage for workers.

    Nigerian workers have been voicing their frustrations over what they describe as the peanuts paid to public sector workers in a country where political office holders, including members of the parliament receive some of the biggest pay checks in the world.

    Speaking in an interview with our reporters in Lagos, the labour leaders vowed that there would be neither retreat nor surrender in the resolve of labour to ensure that workers were paid N30,000 as minimum wage.

    The Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress, Mr Musa Lawal, said that labour would not accept any sum less than what was agreed on by the committee.

    ”It is the tripartite committee decision for workers to be paid N30, 000 as minimum wage. There is no going back by labour on the amount.”

    He said that any governor, who would not pay the sum should have no place governing a state, noting that governors should respect agreements they entered into.

    Read Also: NLC dares governors over N30,000 minimum wage

    Lawal said that labour would not hesitate to return to Abuja for further dialogue on the issue if the need arose, rather than waiting endlessly on the matter.

    The Deputy General-Secretary of the United Labour Congress, Mr Chris Onyeka, said also that governors were bound to pay the N30, 000 because they were represented in the committee.

    Onyeka remarked that the apparent delay in resolving the wage issue was a cover up to frustrate workers on the matter.

    ”The delay is a cover up. Except President Muhammadu Buhari wants to say that the tripartite committee report submitted to him has become irrelevant.

    ”For now, the meeting between the president and the governors and threat by the later to sack workers are delay tactics on the wage implementation. We will not take it.”

    Onyeka told Buhari to hasten the new wage issue and forward the bill to the National Assembly to avoid a major labour unrest ahead of national elections early next year.

    NAN

  • Buhari assures of credible elections

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday again gave assurances of his determination to lay a foundation for free, fair and credible elections in the country.

    He was responding to a speech by a delegation of Imams and senior Islamic scholars from the 36 states of the federation at the State House, Abuja.

    According to him, a number of measures put in place have seen the gradual improvement of elections, as in Edo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States from what he described as “dismal and unacceptable levels witnessed in Rivers and Kogi States.”

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said “What I want to assure Nigerians is that I will continue to pressure the Police and other agencies to do their best to ensure a conducive atmosphere for free and fair elections.”

    On the issue of security raised by the religious group, President Buhari said he will continue to nudge security agencies to find lasting solutions, stressing however, the need for community and religious leaders to play a part in identifying criminals in their midst.

    Read Also: Buhari pledges more employment opportunities for citizens

    He thanked the Muslim religious leaders for recognizing the various achievements of the administration especially, in dealing with security, fighting corruption and progress in agriculture.

    “I am not satisfied with the reporting of agriculture.  Millions of our citizens have returned to the farms with many leaving white collar jobs for opportunities in agriculture,” he noted.

    The leader of the delegation, Dr. Khalid Aliyu, who is the Secretary General of the Jama’atul Nasril Islam, had lavishly praised the President’s achievements in key areas of his campaign in 2015 namely, security, corruption and the economy.

    “So far, so good, government has gone a long way in meeting its promises.” he stated

  • ‘Stay away from our efforts on security’

    Zamfara Government has advised the Senator representing Zamfara Central, Sen. Kabiru Marafa, to stay away efforts of state and federal governments in addressing security challenges in the state.

    The government gave the advice in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Public Relations, Mr Ibrahim Dosara, in Gusau on Friday.

    The development followed the senator’s perceived negative comment on the recent decision of the state government to engage 8,500 youths as members of civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) on security in the state.

    The lawmaker was quoted as saying that the recruitment was part of plan by the state government to use the youths against any opponent in the 2019 general elections in the state.

    The government accused Marafa of “publicly denouncing’’ its widely-accepted new strategy, being applied for the lasting solution for peace in the predominantly rural areas mostly hit by activities of bandits in the state.

    “In the first instance, Sen. Marafa closed his eyes to all the efforts by Gov. Yari, President Muhammadu Buhari and all security agencies have been making to curb security challenges facing the state.

    “The Senator was vocally out in any fora he was opportuned to speak, to condemn both Yari and Buhari in this regard,” the statement added.

    Read Also: PDP kicks as security searches Atiku’s jet on return from Dubai

    It maintained that “the decision to recruit the 8,500 civilian JTF was taken based on the advice of the Presidency and some governors who had similar bitter experience, but succeeded in similar strategy of employing the JTF’’.

    It disclosed that the state Council of Chiefs, Council of Ulamas and the State Security Council approved the recruitment.

    “Therefore, the action is within the ambit of the law, and intended to bring to an end, the enormous security challenges in the state.

    “Moreover, the civilian JTF are to work with the security agencies fighting the 10 years old menace, providing intelligence, assisting in locating the bandits’ camps, etc.

    “The senator is hereby enjoined to face his remaining political calculations in Nigerian politics and allow the government, traditional institutions, security agencies and the public to continue working hard for a peaceful Zamfara state,” it said.

    The state government had a fortnight ago resolved to engage 500 youths from each of the 17 emirate councils in the state, who would receive training on intelligence-gathering and dissemination.

    They will also arrest suspected bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and other criminals so as to rid the state of criminal activities.

    Already, the recruitment exercise has commenced and the state government has promised to give the youths a monthly stipend of N15, 000 each.

    NAN

  • PDP: Buhari, APC jittery over Atiku’s acceptance in S/East, other zones

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the spontaneous and overwhelming acceptance accorded its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the South East is a manifestation of the trajectory that awaits him in all the geo-political zones across the country.

    The opposition party said the acceptance demonstrated the settled resolve of Nigerians across board to vote out the President Muhammadu Buhari administration because for what it described as its manifest failures in governance.

    A statement on Thursday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the PDP was aware of how the acceptance of its candidate has sent jitters to the APC and President Buhari, adding that it has having belied claims that Mr President and the APC were making inroads into the Southeast.

    Read Also: PDP, a damaged product, says APC

    The statement said, “With the assemblage of all leaders of note in every sector from all the five states of the Southeast receiving our candidate, it is settled that President Buhari and the APC do not have any support in the zone.
    “This acceptance could not have been less significant because the Buhari-led APC administration has no achievement, of any sort, in the entire zone.

    “The PDP commends the people of the Southeast and Nigerians in general for their courage in collectively resolving to rally with Atiku and our other candidates to rescue our nation from shackles of the Buhari administration and return her to the path of good governance, national cohesion and economic prosperity”.

  • Nigeria can afford a living wage for workers – Oshiomhole

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that Nigeria as a nation can afford what he described as a living wage for workers in the country, saying non payment of salaries by state Governors creates a viscious circle leading to low production and eventual loss of jobs.

    Oshiomhole said as a governor, he has always told his colleagues that payment of salaries is not a burden, but a means of enhancing the development potential of the state, adding that the major problem in the country has always been the stealing or public resources in the name or salary payment.

    The former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) who was responding to question on the new nattional minimum wage in an interview with a television outfit monitored in Abuja said it was unfortunate that the nation has enough to meet the greed of leaders but don’t have enough to meet basic needs of their people.

    He said: “My views are clear that payment of wages is not an act of kindness for an employer to pay the employees’ wages at the end of the month. There are provisions in our labour act that says that you cannot delay the payment of salaries in excess of 30 days interval, which means salaries ought not to accumulate beyond 30 days. And Government decides the size of its employment but when it made the decision to employ it has the obligation to pay. Even the Holy Bible says that the laborer is entitled to its wages.

    “I think again, this is where President Buhari stands out clearly. He has publicly asked public sector employers; how do you sleep when you have not paid your employers for one year. But he did not stop at lamenting it, he went on to provide the much talked about bailout fund and said please use this money to pay your workers and pay pension arrears.

    Read Also: ICPC to probe petitions against Oshiomhole

    “And even the deductions from states that was done under the PDP in the name of settling our foreign debts, they went into state treasury and they over deducted, that was done under the PDP. But under President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, inspite of the huge financial challenges that he faces, decided that in order to assist the states to meet up with their social obligations, to begin to pay what is now referred as Paris Club refund.

    “He has done that two, three instalments and each time the governors are told that you must use this money among other things to settle pension arrears and be up to date in the payment of salaries.

    “But I am very proud that this President has rich conscience, he recognizes that the Nigerian worker deserve his wages and that is why he has publicly lament that there are governors who have not paid salaries as at when due, whether they are PDP or APC it is immaterial. And in seeking to deal with it he has also provided support across party divide and I think that is statesmanship at its best.

    “As for my views on the minimum wage, I tried to deal with it as a governor. I told my colleagues then that wage is not a burden in the society. In economics, when people work and get paid purchasing powers is enhanced and because purchasing power is enhanced producers will respond to that by seeking to produce more goods and services. And in the process they will recruit more hands.

    “But when you don’t pay wages you create a virtuous circle, no payment of wages leading to low purchasing power. None payment of rents, compounding the problem of those who have invested in real estate. Depressing the commercial life of the state and of the country. And I tried to settle this question by increasing minimum wage in Edo state to N25, 000 from N18,000.

    “I remember some people calling me to ask how you will pay it. I am on record of having paid it and as we speak my successor in office is paying it. I do not agree with those who says Nigeria cannot afford a more realistic minimum wage. My being in government or now chairman of a party cannot change what I believe in.  I that no nation has enough to meet the greed of leaders but nations have enough to meet basic needs of their people.

    “The real problem in the public sector is money being stolen in the name of salaries; I found it embarrassing when we talk about ghost workers. And I ask the question who counts ghosts, it is only in Nigeria that ghosts are known. The labourer deserves its wage; the primary purpose of government is the welfare of its people. So we must pay wages as at when due.”

     

  • Buhari, President Vaz meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari and the President of Guinea Bissau, Jose Mario Vaz on Thursday held a closed door meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja over that country’s failed general elections in that country which was supposed to hold on November 18.

    The Guinea Bissau leader Who arrived State House at about 11am and was received by President Buhari who took him straight to his office where they met behind closed doors.

    It was not clear what was discussed by the two leaders, but Speaking after the meeting through an interpreter, President Vaz told reporters that he came to Nigeria to brief and seek advice from President Buhari on the postponement of election in his country that was initially scheduled for 18th November.

    He said he briefed President Buhari on the ongoing voters registration exercise in Guinea Bissau and expressed satisfaction that the engagement with the Nigeria’s President was fruitful.

    He said, “I came to see President Muhammadu Buhari in his capacity as the President of Nigeria and also in his capacity as the current Chair of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States). I came to see him as my elder brother to seek his advice and experience because as you know we in Africa respect the elders.

    Read Also: Buhari departs Paris

    “I had the opportunity to brief him about the situation in Guinea Bissau, the voter registration process going on in Guinea Bissau. As you are aware the international community will be aware Guinea Bissau was to hold election on 18th of November, but we have come to the conclusion that it will not be possible, that is the reason why I came to see my elder brother so that I can seek his advice and brief him about the situation.

    “I am going back home very much encouraged because I was given very important advise. Nigeria has been a great supporter of the process in Guinea Bissau in the voter registration process going on. I can tell you that I took the engagement before the President and all the advice I got from him will be applied fully.

    “That is why I am very happy about our discussions for his warn welcome and this comes as no surprise because this is a reception from an elder brother to his younger brother.”

    President Buhari did not say anything after the closed-door meeting with his Guinea Bissau colleague.

  • Nigeria begins campaign to end open defecation

    Nigerian Government on Thursday commenced a National Campaign to end open defecation practice across the country.

    The campaign comes on the heels of a recent report indicting Nigeria as the second worse country in the world after India that still practices Open Defecation.

    The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, at the opening of the National Council of Water Resources, warned that if India exits from the number one position in the middle of 2019, it would be a “national shame”.

    “I was in India recently, the country has been mobilised on the issues of sanitation and open defecation. It is a civil responsibility on all of us.

    “Three years ago, only 40 per cent of Indians were using toilets, now, 95 per cent of Indians are practicing full sanitation practices.

    “They have not only stopped to defecate in the open, they are also re-cycling their waste products; they have transformed within three years.

    Read Also:Cross River LGA attain open defecation free status

    “In the last three years, they have built 80 million toilets; we need this kind of quantum leap in this country.

    “By next year, wherever you go in the world, you will hear that Nigeria is number one in open defecation, and that is a national shame we must not allow to happen”, he said.

    The minister however, revealed that the Federal Government would soon enter into technical cooperation with India to salvage Nigeria’s situation.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent launch of the National Action Plan was a new beginning for the country to achieving an open defecation-free status.

    He noted that the launch would bring about purposeful collaboration in all activities to achieving access to potable water, sanitation and hygiene for all Nigerians with a renewed commitment towards defecation free nation by 2025.

    “If this is not done, we stand the chance of taking the centre stage of open defecation countries when India would have exited by mid-2019,” he said.

    The Permanent Secretary, FCT Administration, Mr Chinyeaka Ohaa, while welcoming the delegates, noted that the role of access to potable water plays in the nation’s development could not be overemphasised.

    Ohaa said it was important for all tiers of government to accelerate water supply, sanitation and hygiene, as it was a requirement for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

    “There’s the need for an increased investment in the water supply, all hands must be on deck, the time has come for us to work and not to talk.’’

    The  theme of the meeting is ‘Increased Investment for Accelerated Coverage of Water Supply and Sanitation in Nigeria’.

  • Allegation against Ali is baseless, says Customs

    The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Joseph Attah on Wednesday said that a publication of corruption allegation against the Comptroller General, Col. Hammer Ali was baseless.

    Our reporter had asked him on phone to respond to an online story that accused the Customs boss of undermining, the anti-corruption was of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Debunking the story, he said; “the allegations are bogus and compound in nature, lacking necessary flesh that should add any meaningful value.

    “My worry is about how long it should take for some of NCS stakeholders to accept that things have changed with the current Comptroller General of Customs Col.Hameed Ibrahim Ali rtd.

    “After more than three years, such allegations bordering on personal interest on the part of the CGC clearly shows lack of proper understanding of a man whose unquestionable Intergrity preceded his present  position as the CGC.

    “Allegations of corruption appears to be the cheapest anchor point where there is hidden intention to smear anybody or organisation in Nigeria. It is therefore not difficult to know that this  one coming from a section of the online maritime  publication is not different.

    Read Also: Court declares Mohammed Kabiru as Apda interim chairman

    “There is no doubt that NCS as presently constituted generates unprecedented  revenue for the FG and more than ever on the offensive against Smugglers with spectacular seizures of arms and ammunition, dangerous drugs and other items that can compromise national economy and security.”

    The story had said  that  President Mohammadu  Buhari’s anti-corruption battle is being compromised by the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) headed by Col. Hammed Ali (rtd),the Comptroller General of Customs(CG) sequel  to  the series of activities that have been taking place in the agency.

    It said that investigation has  shown that goods which import duties have been paid are intercepted on the roads by the officers of the Federal Operations Unit (FoU) and the CG’s Strike Force headed by his Principal Security Officer (PSO).

    The only exemption is when the importer or his agent “settles” the officers.

    The PRO was, however, concerned that the allegations were sweeping and devoid of particular incident or names that could help in investigation.

    “The FOUs, it was alleged have organized syndicates made up of clearing agents who collect money illegally on their behalf  to avoid interception of containers.

    The CGC was also alleged to be single-handedly awarding contracts to his preferred contractors.

    This, according to Attah, is devoid of the names of the victims, or companies awarded such contracts that would have helped any investigation.

    The NCS, he said will do better with comments and suggestions that will strengthen the system rather than distractions.