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  • Group seeks reconciliation in Ondo APC

    Ahead of next year’s governorship election in Ondo State, a group, Continuity For Good Governance (CGG), has called for peace and unity among All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts.

    The group is championing the second term bid of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN). At its stakeholders meeting in Ijapo, Akure , the state capital, the group appealed to party members  to embrace unity.

    It urged party loyalists to chart a new course for the development of the party and the state.

    A communique by its Director of Publicity, Prince Kayode  Ehinlanwo, said the party cannot afford the continuation of rancour and disharmony  amongst APC gladiators.

    The group said: “As a matter of fact, nobody can deny the narrative of unprecedented infrastructural developments across Ondo State, and the regular payment of salary and pension to the retirees, in spite of harsh economic realities.

    “The ongoing industrial revolution in Ore and other parts of the state will create more jobs for our youths and increase the state IGR.

    “We are not saying that those who show interest to be governor are not qualified. They are all qualified. Some are even qualified to be President, but all cannot be governor at the same time. More so, when we have a preforming governor in place.

    “We, therefore, appeal to our leaders across the state to prioritise the interest of our people  and join hands with Mr Governor to move the party and the state forward.”

    The group also implored Akeredolu  to take charge of the party and bring every member, irrespective of their backgrounds or groups, together in the interest of the state.

    It added: “We implore Akeredolu as the leader of the party to bring his arbitrating expertise and ample humility into play, to pacify the aggrieved and assure loyalists.”

    The group urged the people to keep faith with Akeredolu.

    It said: “Akeredolu means well for the overall development of the state. He has integrity and he is a Governor whose words are his bound with total commitment to his oath of allegiance to govern the state with excellence.”

  • ‘Why tribunal declined to rule on Atiku’s citizenship’

    The controversy over whether former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is a citizen of Nigeria or not remains unresolved as the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal declined to rule on it. ERIC IKHilAE reports.

    The controversy over whether or not the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, is a Nigerian by birth and was qualified to contest the election in the face of the provision of Section 131(a) of the Constitution, may never be answered.

    The issue, which formed one of the grounds on which the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenged the competence of the petition by Atiku and the PDP, could only be answered in the future, when ex-Vice President, Atiku contests and wins an election.

    These are the inferences from the decision made on the issue, which formed part of the judgement delivered on the petition on September 11, 2019 by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

    The APC (listed as the third respondent) had, in its reply to the petition, challenging the return of its (APC’s) candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, as winner of the last presidential election, queried the competence of the petition on the grounds that Atiku was not a valid candidate.

    The party had contented, among others, that the 1st petitioner (Atiku) had no locus standi to present the petition, because he was not qualified to contest the election on the grounds that he is not a citizen of Nigeria by birth.

    But, in its decision on the issue, contained in a ruling on the petitioners’ motion of May 13, 2019 and the main judgment, the PEPC held that the question about whether or not a person, who lost an election, was qualified to contest the election did not fall within its jurisdiction.

    The court said the issue is not captured in the Electoral Act (under sections 137 and 138), as it neither falls under the grounds on which a petition could be brought against an election nor could it be categorised as any of the issues a respondent to a petition could canvass. It added that the court’s jurisdiction as captured under Section 239 of the Constitution, also did not cover it.

    The Presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Garba, in the lead ruling on the motion dated May 13, 2019, which formed one of the eight rulings delivered by the court on September 11, before it rendered the main judgment, held that a respondent to a petition was only required under the Electoral Act, to adduce facts to disprove the petitioner’s claims in challenge of the outcome of the election it won.

    Justice Garba said the law did not require the person, who won an election or his/her political party, whose victory is being challenged (the respondent), to query the qualification of his challenger (the petitioner), but to provide counter-facts and figures in defeat of the petitioner’s claims.

    He said in this case, the respondents were expected to properly, distinctively and clearly set out facts and figures, to disprove the claims of the petitioners in the petition, challenging the return of the 2nd respondent (Buhari) as the winner of the election

    Justice Garba added: “The facts and figures sought to be disproved by the reply (of the respondents) are therefore, those that are tied to the averments of the petitioners, on why the 2nd respondent should not have been returned as the winner of the election.”

    It is difficult to appreciate how the qualification of the 1st petitioner (Atiku) to contest the election will add value or impact to the requirements in the 3rd respondent’s reply against the petitioners’ grouse against the return of the 2nd respondent, who was sponsored by the 3rd respondent for the said election, under challenge by this election petition.”

    Justice Garba later referred to the provisions of sections 137 and 138 of the Electoral Act, and Section   239 of the Constitution in determining the persons, who are entitled to present election petition;  grounds on which election could be challenged and the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to hear and determine any question as to whether any person has been validity elected to the office of President or Vice-President.

    He, therfore, held that, by the provision of Section 137(2) of the Electoral Act, a person, whose election is complained of, is referred to as the respondent; while Section 239(1) of the Constitution confers on this court the jurisdiction to determine whether a person has been duly and validly elected to the office of the President or Vice President.

    Justice Garba said the provision of Section 239(1) of the Constitution limits and circumscribes “the jurisdiction of the court to the determination of the issue whether the person, whose election is challenged, was validly elected. It does not extend to whether any of the petitioners, who is challenging the election or return of the respondent, was qualified to contest the election.”

    The judge added that despite the fact that the petitioners pleaded that the 1st petitioner has the right to be voted for and returned in the election, to the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the jurisdiction of the court cannot be enlarged beyond what is provided under Section 239 of the Constitution which, if read along with Section 137(2) and 138(1)(a) of the Electoral Act, did not allow the court to extend its jurisdiction even with the consent or acquiesce of   parties.

    He said: “It is accordingly my view that the issue of qualification or disqualification of the 1st petitioner to contest the election is not also a ground for the challenge of the election or return of the 2nd respondent herein and not a defence or reply to the petition.”

    Justice Garba proceeded to strike out the paragraphs in the 3rd respondent’s reply to the petition, where it challenged the qualification of the 1st petitioner to have contested the election in question.

    In the main judgment justice Garba, while rounding off his resolution of the first and second issues, said:   “Before leaving the issues, the learned senior counsel for the 3rd respondent had argued what he termed ‘subsidiary issue’ under the subhead – ‘non-qualification of the 1st petitioner,’ – at page 20 of the 3rd respondent’s final address.

    “All that needs to be said is that the subsidiary issue and the arguments thereon go to no issue, since the paragraphs of the 3rd respondent’s reply to the petition on the 1st petitioner’s qualification to contest the election have been struck out for being incompetent in the ruling by the court on the petitioners’ motion of 13/5/20 19, delivered earlier.

    “As a consequence, all the evidence elicited under cross examination by the 3rd respondent’s learned senior counsel on the issue goes to no issue in the absence of the material and relevant pleadings it could be based on.”

    The APC had, in furtherance of its argument that Atiku was not qualified to contest the election and that the PDP had no candidate in the election by allegedly fielding a candidate, who is not a Nigerian by birth, stated that the ex-Vice President was born on 25th November, 1946 in Jada, Adamawa in Northern Cameroun and is therefore a citizen of Cameroun by birth, who later became a Nigerian by virtue of the plebiscite held in 1961.

    It added that “a plebiscite was held in British Cameroun in 1961 to determine whether the people preferred to stay in Cameroun or align with Nigeria. Northern Cameroun chose to stay in Nigeria and the transition tool place on 1st June 1961.

    “It is the position of the 3rd respondent that it was as a result of that plebiscite that Northern Cameroun, which included Adamawa, became part of Nigeria and by derivation the 1st petitioner became a citizen of Nigeria, but not birth,” the APC said in some of the paragraphs which the PEPC struck out.

     Useful legal provisions:

    Sections 137 and 138 of the Electoral Act 137 – 1) An election petition may be presented by one or more of the following persons –

    (a) a candidate in an election; (b) a political party which participated in the election.

    (2) A person whose election is complained of is, in this Act. referred to as the respondent.

    (3) If the petitioner complains of the conduct of an electoral officer, a presiding or returning officer, it shall not be necessary to join such officers or persons, notwithstanding the nature of the complaint and the commission shall, in this instance, be:

    (a) made a respondent; and

    (b) deemed to be defending the petition for itself and on behalf its officers or such other persons.

    138- (1) An election may be questioned on any of the following grounds, that is to say

    (a) that a person, whose election is questioned was, at this time of the election. not qualified to contest the election;

    (b) that the election was invalid by reason of corrupt practices or non-compliance with the provisions of this Act;

    (c) that the respondent was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election; or

    (d) that the petitioner or its candidate was validly nominated but was unlawfully excluded from the election.

    (2) An act or omission which may be contrary to an instruction or directive of the commission or of an officer appointed for the purpose of the election, but which is not contrary to the provisions of this Act shall not of itself be a ground for questioning the election.

    Section 239 of the Constitution:

    239 – (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Court of Appeal shall, to the exclusion of any other court of Law in Nigeria, have original jurisdiction to hear and determine any question as to whether –(a) any person has been validity elected to the office of President or Vice-President under this Constitution; or

    (b) the term of office of the President or Vice-President has ceased; or

    (c) the office of President or Vice-President has become vacant.

    (2) In the hearing and determine of an election petition under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section, the Court of Appeal shall be duly constituted if it consists of at least three Justices of the Court Appeal.

     

  • Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross wins awards

    The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, launched last year, has started on a brighter note, winning nine awards so far.  The Eclipse Cross, designed by the Japanese automaker, Mitsubishi Motors, to join its global line-up of crossover SUVs: the ASX compact SUV and the Outlander.

    Sold in over 100 countries, the impressive array of honours from all around the world is due to its technical abilities, design, and safety features.

    The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross was won the “Car of the Year in Russia – 2019” during the national award. It was named as the best “Compact SUV” in one of the most highly competitive categories. “Car of the Year in Russia” is judged by a public vote and is the largest survey of its kind in the world, with more than a million people voting for their favourites. The votes are independently verified by research company IpsosComcon.

    The Eclipse Cross crossover SUV was selected as the “RJC Car of the Year 2019” run by the Automotive Researchers’ & Journalists’ Conference of Japan (RJC).

    In 2018, the car earned the highest safety rating according to the independent European organisation Euro NCAP and was also awarded by the Nigeria Automotive Journalists Association (NAJA) as the Outstanding SUV design of the year.

    Massilia Motors General Manager (Sales), Mr. Tunji Itiola said he was not surprised by the laurels the vehicle has received so far.

    According to him, it has high rough road performance and well-balanced dynamics, due to Mitsubishi’s unique Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) four-wheel-drive system. Equipped for the Nigerian market with a 2.0 liter Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) petrol engine that allows seamless gear interchange, giving the smoothest driving experience within its category.

    Another award-winning safety feature of the Eclipse Cross is the Lane Departure Warning Intelligent sensors placed all around the vehicle. It monitors surroundings and provide active warnings to alert driver of possible danger.

    The Nigerian Line-up includes: ASX, Eclipse Cross, Outlander, Pajero, Pajero Sport and the L200 pick-up.

  • Ihedioha: I have done my best in 100 days

    Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha reiterated his commitment to repositioning the state.

    In his address at an event to mark his 100 days in Owerri, the state capital, the governor said he was on course.

    He said the Imo Growth and Strategic Development Agenda plan (G-SDP), a two stage development horizon of a five year economic blueprint conceived by the  Transition Technical Commitee, provided the roadmap for the economic growth and development of the state.

    The governor promised pursue focus on an economic growth and Strategic human capital development, agriculture and food security, infrastructure, industrialisation and job creation as well as security and environment.

    Ihedioha said within 100 days in office, “the State Internal Generated Revenue, IGR, increased from all time low of about 300m in July to 600m in August.

    He added: “This was as a result of transparency and accountability in the governance process with the signing into law, Executive Order 005 known as Treasury Single Account which consolidated all government revenues  under one account.”

    “Imo State is now on track to join open Governance partnership which now qualifies it for performance based grants of the World Bank and other multinational development institutions.”

    Ihedioha said he has paid workers salaries in the State, the backlog of local goverment workers and recalled  unjustly suspended directors, reversed some undeserved promotions and sponsored officers for capacity building programmes.

  • Anambra Central: I will challenge tribunal ruling, says Umeh

    The former lawmaker representing Anambra Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Victor Umeh, has said that he would challenge the tribunal verdict dismissing his petition against the Senator Uche Ekwunife of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Umeh, the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the last election, had prayed the National Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Awka to nullify Ekwunife’s election, on the ground that she never participated in the primary of the PDP as required by the law.

    The tribunal, however, declined Umeh’s request, saying that Ekwunife’s nomination was in order since the original candidate of PDP, Charles Odunukwe, who withdrew from the race and was replaced by her,  had taken part in the primary.

    Ekwunife was first announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 Anambra Central poll. Later, she was reported to have withdrawn her candidature and defected to the PDP, where she was  adopted as the candidate for Anambra Central to substitute Odunukwe, although she was not part of the primary.

    Umeh said: “This is the first time a tribunal is saying that somebody who did not take part in a primary can be declared a winner in an election contrary to section 285 (13) of the 1999 constitution as amended.

    “The constitution says that anybody who did not participate in all the stages of the election shall not be returned winner in any election by the election tribunal or court. So, we’ll take it from there and we will likely use that to test the judgement. I am reviewing the judgement with my lawyers and we’ll most likely challenge it on appeal.”

    He added: “The Supreme Court has already determined that anybody who did not participate in all the stages of an election shall not be declared winner. My opponent did not take part in any party primary. And primary is a stage in the election. Participation in a primary election is a very important stage in election and the constitution is very emphatic on it. Anybody who did not participate in all the stages of the election cannot be announced winner.

  • G7 okays $251m for African women

    Leaders of the G7 nations have approved $251 million in support of the African Development Bank (AfDB’s) Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative to support women entrepreneurs in Africa.

    AFAWA aims to raise up to $5 billion for women entrepreneurs while AfDB will provide $1 billion financing. The risk-sharing mechanism used by AFAWA is a practical approach to international commitments.

    AFAWA was adopted during a summit of African Heads of State in 2015 and assigned to the AfDB for implementation.

    The cash was announced at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France.

    French President/current G7 president, Emmanuel Macron said: “I am particularly proud, as the current G7 president that the programme we are supporting today, the AFAWA initiative, comes from an African organisation, the AfDB, which works with African guarantee funds and a network of African banks.”

    AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina lauded the “extraordinary support of all the G7 heads of state and government, which will provide incredible momentum” to the AFAWA programme. “This is a great day for African women. Investing in women entrepreneurs in Africa is important, because women are not only Africa’s future, they are Africa’s present,” he said.

  • Event managers set to hold conference

    Association of Professional Party Organizers and Event Managers of Nigeria (APPOEMN) will hold The Event Industry Conference (TEIC) 2019 in Lagos from September 18th – 22nd.

    Its Vice President, Mrs Adefunke Kuyoro, who spoke at a press conference in Ikeja, Lagos, said the event will bring together key professionals from across the country, adding that there will be a spectrum of events service providers, to share experiences, perspectives, insights and latest developments in the events industry.
    According to her, the event with the theme ‘Stepping Up’ is full of technical sessions and poster sessions on cutting edge issues related to our industry.

    She added that there will be opportunities for networking and socializing with colleagues. “This event presents an opportunity to put company’s brand ahead if not at par with industry leaders and players in the event space, for all attendee.”

    She explained that APPOEMN is an association with a mix of seasoned events professionals that have been at the forefront of event planning and coordination in Nigeria, for the past 15 years.
    “The event industry contributes 55bn to GDP in budgets and beyond. There is so much we represent and add to our social living in the nation. The event industry which have always been a part of our culture, has received a sudden boost. There is a desire to mix international growing trends with existing traditions. ”
    She called on all vendors, decorators, planners and venue owners among other service providers in the event industry to step up their game in the industry, noting that the more excellent brands the better the event industry in the country.

    “At APPOEMN, we ensure the standards in the industry are maintained, including integrity, ensuring good job is done as paid for. We also discuss industry trends on how it advances our event industry in the country.”
    She urged government to work with the industry in putting some legislation in place to ensure safety measures in the industry, including those event halls must have fire extinguishers, entry and exit entrances as well as escape route in case of emergencies,” she said.

    APPOEMN Public Relations Officer, Bose Abisagboola, said the event will have seasoned speakers to speak on the event industry, saying it is geared towards stepping up all events brands in the country to enable them do their business in the best way.

    “The event will feature masterclass of which 250 participants are expected and it will be followed with after party. Second day will be for our corporate social responsibility, which is our best way to serve our country in a give back approach. We will be working with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to coordinate traffic from 7am-9am at the Allen junction in Ikeja on Lagos mainland and first roundabout at Lekki on the Lagos Island simultaneously.

    “Then we will continue with what we call ‘yardsale’. It will be an avenue to those already in the industry to sell off event industry items to those just starting at cheap prices. Day3. Will be the dinner and award night of which the industry best will be given the TEIC Award. There has been nomination of the industry best in various event category and online voting,” she said.

  • No going back on national carrier, says Sirika

    The Transaction Advisers for the establishment of a national carrier, Air Nigeria, have concluded their research and are set to submit the outcome of their research to the Federal Government.

    The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who spoke in Abuja during a meeting with executive officers of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association at the weekend also assured that plans for the country to have its own national carrier remains on the front burner.

    He said budgetary provision has been made by the Federal Government for the construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.He spoke  in Abuja

    “Regarding the second runway for Abuja airport and national carrier, it is becoming practically the major questions that everyone ask me whenever they see me.

    “Every Nigerian is asking for the national carrier and every professional is asking for the second runway.

    “Well, to tell you, the second runway project is in the budget and it will be procured by God’s grace. The national carrier is in the pipeline and in the next one hour,  I will be meeting with the transaction advisers. They are in town and they have concluded their baseline studies and we are moving to the next stage. So that is also on course.”

     

  • OPEC projects 3.1% global economic growth

    The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has projected a 3.1 per cent growth in global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) next year, from the expected 3.0 per cent by the end of this year.

    In its September 2019 Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR), it said after two years of relatively high growth levels, global GDP growth was forecast to stabilise at 3.0 per cent this year and to rise to 3.1 per cent next year.

    According to the report, the projection constitutes sound growth with ongoing solid oil demand, given the many uncertainties that derive mainly from the political arena.

    It noted that ongoing trade dispute between the United States (U.S.) and China, Brexit and a slow-down in Germany loom large in the European Union (EU), the sovereign debt crisis in Argentina is dampening Latin American growth, and ongoing structural challenges in India are leading the economy to significantly lower output.

    However, OPEC said upside to the current forecast could come from an agreement on trade-related issues between the U.S. and its trading partners considering that trade was a substantial support factor for above-average global growth in the past two years.

    Furthermore, a soft Brexit, toning down of geo-political tensions and stabilisation in those economies that face fiscal challenges could also lift growth to a higher level.

    “An important support factor so far this year has been the relatively stable oil market, which continues to benefit from the ongoing efforts under the OPEC-non-OPEC Declaration of Cooperation (DoC).

    “This has not only been beneficial to oil producing economies, including major economies of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) such as the U.S. and Canada, but also to consumer nations as it provides better visibility in the oil market.

    “Within the OECD, the U.S. economy continues to slow down after last year’s support from the large fiscal stimulus measures. Consequently, growth is forecast at 2.3 per cent in 2019, followed by growth of 1.9 per cent in 2020.

    “In the Euro-zone, economic challenges in Germany, political uncertainties in selective countries and Brexit are leading to lower growth, which is forecast at 1.2 per cent for 2019 and 1.1 per cent in 2020,” the report said.

    Meanwhile, Japan’s growth, the report said, is forecast as holding up relatively well in 2019 at 0.9 per cent. With the government intending to increase the sales tax in fourth quarter of 2019 and the economy continuing to be constrained by very low unemployment and high utilisation rates in the industrial sector, growth is forecast at 0.3 per cent in 2020.

    “Monetary policies by the G4 central banks, which include Brazil, Germany, India and Japan, have supported growth. The Fed is forecast to lower interest rates at least one more time this year. The ECB may also expand its monetary supply further.

    “Importantly, central banks in several emerging and developing markets have lowered interest rates recently in order to support their economies. This ongoing monetary stimulus will still need to be further supported by the right fiscal and general policy mix to foster growth appropriately,” the report said.

  • Unprogressive continuity

    Self-restraint is in short supply among Nigeria’s Senators when it comes to spending public funds ostensibly for their work. That explains why the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), BudgIT, Enough is Enough (EiE) and 6,721 concerned Nigerians filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, to  “restrain, prevent and stop the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) from paying or releasing N5.550 billion budgeted for purchase of luxury cars for principal members of the Ninth Senate, and to restrain and stop the Senate from collecting the money until the downward review of the amount proposed by the Senate.”

    Describing the planned spending as unjust, unfair and unconstitutional, the plaintiffs argued that “The money could be better allocated to more important sectors of the National Assembly expenditure – like constituency projects and National Assembly-endowed educational scholarships.”

    This case is an interesting development. It remains to be seen whether the court will see things from the plaintiffs’ perspective. The case would have been unnecessary if the senators had shown a sense of restraint. The   Senate wants to buy Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs for its 109 members at an estimated cost of about N50m each. Does it mean only this brand at such price is considered befitting?

    The leadership of the House of Representatives is yet to determine the type of vehicles to buy for its 360 members. A source was quoted as saying: “The N34 million jeeps and the N14 million cars used by the 2015- 2019 Senators and Honourable members were sold off to them at between N1 million and N1.5million each.”

    Obviously, it is important to question the National Assembly’s questionable benefits. Do the federal legislators deserve what they enjoy simply because of their status? The federal legislature is not supposed to be a place where lawmakers just enjoy and enjoy.

    The benefits federal lawmakers enjoy make them look like political adventurers who are more interested in their own personal prosperity than patriotic performance that will enhance the country’s development.

    It is contracts and contractors season at the National Assembly. “The management of the National Assembly is in the process of awarding contracts worth at least N10billion as part of the efforts to ease the work of the newly inaugurated 109 Senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives,” a report said.

    According to the report, there will be contracts to supply “cars, television sets, refrigerators, water dispensers and office equipment, such as desktop computers, laptops, printers, scanners, and photocopying machines.” The new items will replace the old ones used by members of the 8th National Assembly, which were sold to them at giveaway prices after their tenure.

    Last-minute sales of office items to outgoing federal lawmakers at ridiculously low prices reflected a culture of waste. The items included computers, scanners, photocopying machines, plasma television sets, microwave ovens, standing fans, deep freezers, refrigerators, furniture and rugs.  Those who bought them were expected to pay with money deducted from their severance package.

    A piece of information exposed some of the outgoing lawmakers as greedy for gain.  According to a report, “Although some of the lawmakers gave the acquired items to their aides and supporters, others chose to sell theirs to willing buyers within the National Assembly complex.”

    Of course, those who sold the items they bought were business-minded and interested in profit. It was profitable for such lawmakers to buy and sell because the items were sold to them at giveaway prices.  Eleven office items were said to cost a total of N367, 479.33.

    The report said: “The breakdown showed that a Samsung double door refrigerator was given out for N25, 000; HP Envy Core 13, N49, 000; Apple Ipad Air computer, N41, 980; LED TV Samsung UA4600AR 50, N59, 500.

    Shredding machine, N19,800; Water dispenser with bottle, N8,990; Photocopying machine Sharp Copier AR 6021 N57,172.00; Scanner HP Scanjet Pro 3900 Fi N20,130.00; HP Laserjet Pro M201 N10,038.00; Desktop Computer Model Envy 233  Touch screen;  and Suit hanger N1,900.00. Any member taking the entire 11 items would pay N349, 970, 50, with N17, 498.83 as VAT for items.” This means the cost of the 11 items is less than N400, 000.   However, the report said the current market value of the 11 items was over N3m. This is a list of some of the items and their market prices: “LED television, N300, 000; HP Envy Core 13, N400, 000; HP Desktop Envy233 , N420,000; Samsung double door refrigerator, N315,000; Sharp Copier AR6023, N380,000; HP Laserjet M201 dw, N120,000; HP Scanjet Pro 3500F1, N195,000; and Cway water dispenser, N50,000.

    It is convenient for those involved in the transactions to argue that the items were used items. But can this justify the low, low prices?  The point is that the items were still usable. Indeed, even though they were tagged “used,” the items were unlikely to go for such giveaway prices outside the National Assembly, observers argued.

    Now that the items have been sold to outgoing legislators, incoming legislators will need to be provided with new items. That’s how a culture of waste is perpetuated.

    Then there is the hot issue of running costs. A former senator, Shehu Sani, had told the world that every senator got N13.5m monthly to run things. This fantastic figure is in addition to their salaries, he revealed last year, while he was a member of the upper legislature. It doesn’t make sense that senators get so much to cover so-called running costs. Each member of the House of Representatives gets between N8m and N12m for running costs monthly, a report revealed last year. What does it take to run the offices of federal legislators? How much is surplus to requirements? How do the legislators produce evidence that the money for running costs was spent for running costs?

    None of the legislators in the National Assembly may be ready for change, given what they enjoy because things are the way they are. Unprogressive continuity isn’t the next level Nigerians expect under a progressive federal government, properly so called.