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  • Anambra lawmakers to Obiano: we don’t need your Prado jeeps

    Members of Anambra House of Assembly are up in gloves in Governor Willie Obiano over alleged proposed gifts of Prado jeep vehicles to the 30 lawmakers from the government believed to be over N1billion.

    The lawmakers accused the Governor of wasting funds, insisting that the state should patronize Innoson motors being manufactured by their own son.

    The state government had proposed the gifts to the lawmakers to help them in discharge of their oversight functions in the state.

    The proposal was sequel to complaints by some lawmakers over the delay in provision of statutory allowances and other entitlements by the state government.

    They contended the purchase of Toyota Prado Jeeps to the tune of almost N1billion was an unnecessary waste of funds when a similar vehicle produced by INNOSON Motors Limited would cost less.

    The lawmakers noted that other governors of the South East and South south had been patronising the local car manufacturing company ,adding that Obiano had ignored his own son.

    Read Also: Youths tackle Obiano on roads

    But in swift reaction, Chief Press secretary to Speaker Emma Madu said he was not aware of any car gift to the lawmakers .

    However, the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Emeka Ozumba, told the public to discountenance such allegation.

    He said the House of Assembly and the Executive had enjoyed good working relationship, adding that there was no cause for alarm.

    Chairman, southeast conference of 2019 APC House of Assembly candidates, Hon. Afam Ezenwafor, told reporters the Governor should drop such idea and patronise the local manufacturer.

    According to him: “Obi procured Innoson motors for AVS, schools and local govt councils in the state, it is worthy of emulation.”

    “I commend Gov Ugwuanyi of Enugu state who purchased over 100 hilux pickups from Innoson motors for the security agencies in the state. Other southeast governors must do same”

    “We can only grow our local economy and encourage think home investment when our leaders patronize local contents, govs of Imo, Abia and Ebonyi are not patronising Innoson motors and that’s sad, that attitude must change”.

  • PDP demands investigation into alleged N90bn FIRS scandal

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded a system-wide investigation into the alleged siphoning of N90 billion from the coffers of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in which top members of the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been mentioned.

    A statement on Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, cautioned that there should be no cover up of the alleged humongous corruption scandal, which the party said involved highly placed individuals.

    It lamented that in the face of excruciating hardship being endured by Nigerians, a government, which came into office on the mantra of change and zero tolerance for corruption, has become enmeshed in atrocious acts of corruption.

    Saying that the allegation speaks volumes of the character of the present administration, the party further stated that it’s unfortunate that a top member of the federal cabinet is being fingered in the alleged siphoning of monies collected as taxes from millions of impoverished Nigerians.

    “Our party notes that this shocking allegation directly borders on gross misconduct and breach of public trust.

    “The party, therefore, rejects the flimsy denials and threats being pushed through the FIRS as a belated attempt at cover-up by persons close to the Presidency.

    Read Also: Bayelsa guber: Dickson, PDP begin reconciliation

    “It is therefore held that the delay by the Buhari Presidency in applying established statutory processes and procedures of ordering an investigation into the issue only goes to confirm that the Buhari administration is a citadel of corruption.

    “This is more so as reports are already in the public domain of how the money stolen from FIRS, was allegedly diverted to private purses and for other extraneous purposes, including the 2019 extravagant campaigns of the APC.

    “Nigerians expect that all our national resources should always be used to ensure the welfare of the citizenry and must be accounted for at all times”, the party said.

  • See full list of Gov Oyetola’s Commissioner, Special Adviser-nominees

    Here is the full list of Gov Oyetola’s Commissioner, Special Adviser-nominees

    *Oluremi Omowaiye

    *Ibitoye Felix

    *Sola Oladepo

    *Bola Oyebamiji

    *Ajisefini Abiodun

    *Muminu Adekunle

    *Ogunfolaju Sola Oyehan

    *Oladimeji Olanubi Segun

    *Agunbiade Nathaniel

    *Folorunsho Bamisayemi

    *Akeju Taiwo

    *Lawal Yemi Azeez

    *Olaonipekun Henry

    *Adeleke Adebayo

    *Olamiju Olasiji

    *Yinusa Olalekan

    *Isamotu Rafiu Olasunkanmi

    *Jamiu Olawumi

    *Akande Oluwafemi

    *Olumide Babatunde Olawale

    *Olaniyan Hussein

    *Adeosun Rasaq

    *Badmus Rahmon Lekan

    *Bakare Akande

    *Giwa Lateefat

    *Tadese Raheem

    *Adewole Adedayo

    *Lawal Tajudeen

    *Babalola Idiat

    *Kolajo Aderemi

    *Egbemode Funke

    *Kareem Akande

    *Oyegbile Rufus

    *Olaboopo Olubukola

  • BREAKING: Keyamo redeployed as Minister of Labour

    The Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Festus Keyamo, has been redeployed to the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

    He is to swap positions with Minister of State of Labour Tayo Alasoadura who moves to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

    This was disclosed in a statement from the Director of Information at the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey.

    Bassey said President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the swap.

    Read Also; Keyamo promises justice to stabbed Buhari supporter

    According to him: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate redeployment of two Ministers of State as follows.

    “Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs is to move to Ministry of Labour and Employment as Minister of State,

    “Senator Tayo Alasoadura is to move to Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as Minister of State. This redeployment takes effect from today, Tuesday 24th September, 2019.”

  • Adhere to electoral law, CSOs urge politicians, INEC, others

    Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Kogi have called on politicians, INEC and other stakeholders to ensure peaceful conduct of the Nov. 16 governorship election through strict adherence to the electoral law.

    The representatives of the CSOs made the call at a two-day workshop on ‘Conflict Transformation and Election Violence Mitigation’, organised under Electoral Empowerment for Civil Society Programme (EECSP) by Search for Common Ground (SEARCH) on Tuesday, in Lokoja.

    Mrs Gift Omoniwa, the State Project Coordinator of SEARCH said that violence had the capacity to distort the legitimacy of elections.

    She, however, added that when the stakeholders upheld the tenets and played the game according the rules and in strict adherence to the laws, the outcome of such an election would be acceptable by all.

    Read Also: INEC trains security personnel for Kogi Gov race

    She said that electoral violence could be random or organised, with the intent to intimidate, threaten, inflict physical harm, blackmail, abuse, coerce, influence or affect an electoral process.

    According to her, the periodic election upon which the nation’s democratic process is hinged constitutes a major source of political conflicts in Nigeria because of the emotional attachment to elections.

    “We have also seen that violence during elections has the capacity to reverse all the progress made in the economy and every facet of our national life.

    “So there is the need for intervention in issues around elections by relevant stakeholders”, she said.

    Also speaking, Mr Idris Miliki, Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), said that issues of violence during elections were crucial and should be addressed squarely to give credence to such election.

    Miliki said that all stakeholders should take the issue of violence seriously in view of its negative impact on elections, adding that the fact that INEC was already expressing fear of violence could generate voter apathy.

    Mr Nathaniel Abaniwo, Executive Director, Rehoboth Community Advancement Initiative, said opinions had shown that people were expressing more fears than optimism over the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

    Abaniwo urged all stakeholders, including security agencies, politicians, INEC, the electorate, CSOs, the media and those remotely connected with the smooth conduct of the election, to take a common stand and resolve to make the exercise successful.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop addressed issues like mapping election risks, election violence analysis, violence scenario identification and early warning response matrix as well as violence escalation and de-escalation.

    (NAN)

  • Katsina killings: Senate seeks FG’s intervention, relief materials for victims

    The Senate on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to halt kidnappings and killings by armed bandits in some communities in Katsina State.

    The Senate, which made the call during plenary in Abuja, also called for provision of relief materials to the victims of the banditry by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    It also urged the Federal Government to further strengthen the security agencies to forestall further attacks on the rural communities.

    The resolution of the Senate, followed a motion of urgent public importance brought by Sen. Barkiya Kabir, APC Katsina.

    Kabir said that many people living in Batasri, Rumar, Tsohuwa, Kasai and Yargamji communities, especially women and children, had become victims of incessant attacks by armed bandits.

    He said that 17 people had been killed , while 49 women were kidnapped in Basari, Gobirawa and Safana local governments.

    Read Also: We won’t interfere in alleged Osinbajo, Presidency face-off-Senate

    He said that 20 people had been killed in Jibia Local Government where 30 people were also kidnapped.

    He said that 10 vehicles were burnt by the bandits who also looted the belongings of their victims.

    He said that the attacks, if allowed to continue, would deter farmers from going to their farmlands.

    Kabir, however, said that security agents had continued to engage the bandits to bring the situation under control.

    According to him, NEMA has yet to visit and provide relief materials to the victims of the attacks who have been displaced from their homes.

    Sen. Ahmed Kaita, APC Katsina, also stated that there was the need to increase the number of security personnel to successfully combat the banditry.

    President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan, called for better training of security agents, provision of required equipment and adequate funding to fight insecurity.

    Lawan also announced that the various standing committees of the senate would be inaugurated on Sept 25.

    He also said the senate was expecting the presentation of the 2020 Appropriation Bill and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework from the Executive.

    Addressing newsmen shortly after the plenary, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sen. Adedayo Adeyeye, said that the decision to inaugurate all the committees was to save valuable time for other legislative activities.

    On the alleged directive to the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to get approval in the conduct of affairs of some agencies, Adeyeye said that the Senate ” is not involved. We are not concern about what happened in the executive.

    ” We don’t interfere. It is an issue that doesn’t concern us. We are not investigating NEMA. We are not aware any role constitutionally assigned to vice-president have been taken off him.

    “We are aware the president has the constitutional role to assign duties to people that work with him.

    “Where the constitution is violated, even in the judiciary, we can intervene”.(NAN)

  • We won’t interfere in alleged Osinbajo, Presidency face-off-Senate

    The Senate will not interfere in the alleged face-off between President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, its spokesman Senator Adedayo Adeyeye has declared.

    Answering questions from Senate Correspondents after plenary in Abuja, Adeyeye said while the President reserves the prerogative to assign duties to his aides, he is not aware that any roles assigned to the Vice President have been withdrawn.

    Adeyeye, who is the Chairman Senate Committee in Media and Publicity, was responding to a question on whether the Senate would intervene to solve the allegedly crisis.

    He said: “The Senate is not involved with that and we are not concerned about what happens in the executive (or) things that are happening with the Executive.

    “I am speaking for the Senate. I do not speak for the Executive and I do not want to concern myself with the issue of the Vice President or the Executive. It is not our business.

    Read Also: ICYMI: Disquiet in Presidency over Vice President Osinbajo

    “That is the executive arm of government and we do not interfere. Why do we have to do that?

    “It is not our concern, why do you want to drag me into something that does not really concern me and that does not concern the Senate.

    “So, we are not bothered about that and we are not concerned. I am not aware if any role constitutionally assigned to the Vice President has been taken away from him. Nothing like that has happened.

    “Constitutionally assigned duties remain the same. Get it right, The President has the prerogative to assign duties to all those who work with him in the executive.

    “He has the constitutional power to (assign roles to his aides.) He can call the Minster of Works and say ‘okay go to that ministry tomorrow, Finance (Minister) go to labour. The Senate will not inquire into that because that is his duties.

    “He can say my Vice President, I give you this additional responsibilities. Where is the power of the Senate to investigate that.

    “We do not have the power… Of course, that will warrant the intervention of the Senate. That has never happened, and that has not happened.

    “I do not think that will happen, even judiciary will have a role to play in that as well, not only the legislature, only where the constitution is seen to have been violated.

    “I do not think we have any cause to be discussing that, because that itself has not happened. So we are not bothered about that and we are not concerned. I want to tell you that at this moment we are not investigating it.”

  • Edo restates commitment to tourism devt

    …High Priest Ebohon donates museum, artefacts to polytechnic

    The Edo State Government has assured of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration’s commitment to repositioning the state as a destination of choice for tourists in the country.

    Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, said this in his speech at the maiden edition of the Edo State Polytechnic Festival of Arts (Edo Poly FEST), held at the institution’s premises, in Usen, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State.

    At the festival, the Osewengie Ebohon Museum was unveiled, which is to be built and furnished by High Priest Osewengie Ebohon, who donated cultural artefacts to the polytechnic.

    The deputy governor, who was represented at the occasion by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Pastor (Mrs.) Dorcas Idehen, said the state government will continue to promote arts, culture and tourism for the benefit of Edo people.

    He said the state got the hosting rights for the 2019 National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) in recognition of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s effort in promoting and preserving the state’s cultural assets.

    According to him, “This is worth celebrating as arts is celebrated worldwide. As a state, we are poised to project the state and transform it into a tourism hub in the country. We will be celebrating the coronation of the Oba of Benin as well as NAFEST in October this year. These are remarkable events.”

    tourism in Edo
    L-R: Librarian, Edo State Polytechnic, Ehikioya Uduebor; Registrar, Edo State Polytechnic, Simire O. Cyril; High Priest Osemwegie Ebohon; Rector, Edo State Polytechnic, Prof. Abiodun Falodun; representative of Edo State Deputy Governor and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Mrs. Dorcas Idehen, at the maiden edition of the Edo State Polytechnic Festival of Arts (Edo Poly FEST), held at the polytechnic in Usen.

    Shaibu urged residents in the state to support the successful hosting of the 2019 NAFEST, which will be used to positively project the image of the state globally.

    Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, who was represented by Director, Edo Arts Council, Moses Obakpolor, said Edo Poly FEST is a prelude to the 2019 NAFEST, noting, “culture remains the bedrock of society. It represents our past. Anyone without a past will certainly not have a future.”

    “Edo State is not a pushover in terms of cultural heritage. The state hosts several cultural assets. We are proud of our culture and determined to promote and preserve it,” he added.

    READ ALSO: Edo restates commitment to reposition education sector

    The Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, said the festival is a celebration of talent and creativity in Ovia community, the institution’s host community, adding, “The festival is aimed at promoting cultural values among students, staff, and provide an opportunity for the exchange of information and ideas.”

    “Culture is not just the economic value of our creative industry. It defines our civilisation, as it helps us explain and understand the world around us. The festival will help us project and resuscitate Edo cultural values and heritage as well as enlighten the youth to cherish their cultural heritage and preserve their creative language.”

    In his lecture entitled “Advancing Edo Culture Through Education, Language and Arts: A Cultural Re-Awakening,” the guest lecturer, High Priest Osemwegie Ebohon, called on stakeholders to work towards correcting misplaced and misrepresented values and norms.

    According to him, “We no longer speak our language and value our inspiring adages, proverbs, parables, idioms and poetry. Superstition and wise-saying are now treated as unholy and one can conclude that we may soon lose our heritage, which codifies our identity.”

  • Illegal Tax deductions: FIRS to refund $2m, others to General Electric

    The Federal Government has urged General Electric to refund two million dollars excess withholding tax (WHT) deducted from Arco Petrochemicals Engineering Company Limited, through its business dealings with General Electric (GE) International Operations Nigeria.

    This was part of outcome of the negotiations between FIRS officials, General Electric, ARCO and the Trade Union Services Department of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja on Tuesday.

    GE, a multinational company operating in Nigeria, had engaged Arco, an indigenous Nigerian oil servicing company, for the supply of local personnel.

    But Arco in one of its letters dated June 5, 2018, claimed that GE deducted 10 per cent as withholding tax for the contract between 2006 and 2015 against the five per cent stipulated by Nigerian law.

    The company said the applicable tax rate should be five per cent in line with the FIRS Circular No. 2006/02, dated February 2006.

    Following the controversial tax remittance disputes between General Electric (GE) and Arco Group Plc, 60 per cent of the worker’s entitlement has not been paid since 2009.

    An official of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, who pleaded anonymity said, although the Federal Government was not a debt collector, it intervened because ARCO accepted responsibility that they have financial obligation to settle people’s salaries and Union dues.

    “The ministry is not a debt collection agency, it came into the matter because ARCO accepted its financial obligation for the settlement of salaries and union dues, the company said the only way it could complete the payment is if GE made a refund to it.

    “We gave them three weeks to begin process of refund for those monies that they have an understanding that they were actually over-payment to FIRS. If there is no contention on that, within one week, GE should initiate the process of refund.

    READ ALSO: FIRS gets N23b unpaid tax from corporate firms

    “FIRS said they have to go through some processes before they can get cash back to pay. For those that there are contentions, let them try to get their books together and reach an agreement within two weeks.

    “The unions involved said they have the list of what is due to their members that has not been paid by ARCO. We expect that those reconciliations will be completed and payment will be made.”

    Mr Amadike Ikechukwu, Branch Chairman, ARCO Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), said ARCO paid field workers 100 per cent of their entitlement but paid only 40 per cent to other categories of staff when their employments were terminated.

    He said ARCO claimed that it could not complete the payment because the American company, General Electric, deducted 10 per cent withholding tax from workers earnings and paid the sum, which runs into millions of dollars, to FIRS.

    “As union leaders, we agree with the commitment made by FIRS and GE. We are optimistic that the remaining 60 per cent will be paid to the workers,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • Nigerian professionals take black women’s advancement to UN

    The African Women on Board (AWB) will on Thursday at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York launch its global movement to project the advancement of women of African heritage.

    The meeting will bring together female entrepreneurs, professors, medical doctors, farmers, mothers, activists, artists and scientists of African heritage, the non-profit organisation.

    AWB was founded in 2017 by a former Law teacher at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Nkiru Balonwu and boasts a membership comprising Nigerian women professionals including UNILAG Law Professor Chioma Agomo.

    Balonwu, in a statement to The Nation, said speakers at the event will include Liberian Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Oscar Onyema and Mrs Aisha Oyebode, who co-founded the “Bring Back Our Girls” support network for those kidnapped by Boko Haram.

    Others are “Dr. Joyce Payne, Founder of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund; Hilary Pennington, Executive Vice President of the Ford Foundation; Elisabeth Moreno, Managing Director, Africa at HP Inc: Christine Soufrant Ntim, Founder of the Haiti Tech Summit: Betty lrabor, Publisher and Founder of Genevieve Magazine; Derrick Ashong, Emmy-nominated producer and founder of Amp.it; and lgwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha.”

    The event will celebrate black women’s journeys and discussion of their contributions to the advancement of global affairs.

    AWB will also at the event announce an international-scale project to showcase the success of African female leaders from the past, present and of the future.

    According to Balonwu, the non-governmental organisation is already working with Wikipedia to profile notable African women, partnering with the London Stock Exchange Africa Advisory Group to produce a report on activating female entrepreneurship.

    READ ALSO: The President and his women

    It is also collaborating with the Ford Foundation for master classes on women in politics, investment and financial literacy.

    She said the campaign has reached into African villages by partnering with schools to recruit and train more girls in science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects that lead to better paid jobs and opportunities.

    The UN General Assembly’s meeting is the 7th Annual High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development.

    Balonwu said: “No discussion on finance in developing nations is complete without an examination of the gendered disparities experienced at the society level.

    “We are letting out a clarion call for a global movement by and for women of African heritage where we can collectively mobilise to support African women and unlock growth on the continent. Our mission is to advance narratives and improve realities for African women and girls globally by fast tracking women and girls of African heritage into the leadership roles of the future.”