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Tag: Oshiomhole

  • Oshiomhole to Judicial workers: No work, no pay

    Oshiomhole to Judicial workers: No work, no pay

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said the Government will not use the taxes of workers to pay those who chose to stay at home for months on a strike that is ill-informed.

    Speaking at the 2015/2016 Legal Year of the State Judiciary, the Governor said the law is clear that a worker who embarks on a strike will forfeit his wage.

    It will be recalled that workers under the aegis of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in the state had embarked on a 7-month strike action to press home their demand for financial autonomy for the judiciary.

    The Governor who said the state is proud of her Judicial Arm said; “we in the Executive in Edo State have utmost respect for the Judicial Arm on account of the courage and hard work that you have displayed.”

    He however noted that; “Under Convention 98 of the ILO, it states clearly that you have a right to go on strike, otherwise, it is slave labour but the Trade Union Act is very clear that notwithstanding any reason, if you embark on a strike, you forfeit your wages. That is the law, that is the convention and this convention has been domesticated in our labour laws and I ask you to look at all the provisions taken together in the various Trade Dispute Acts and Amendment Act, you not only forfeit your wages, you forfeit your seniority and you can be dismissed summarily.

    “This is the law and the business of the court is to interpret the law without fear even if the litigant is an officer of the court. The court is not a respecter of its own employees so it must dispense justice even if it doesn’t favour  the officers of the High Court and that is what we have taken note to do.

    “I ask my Lord privately when he was pushing for this case and I put it here. At what point does it become acceptable that we resort to illegal tools in pursuance of legal ends? Can you seek legal ends resorting to illegal means? That is resorting to self help and if other groups resort to self help, the first casualty will be the judiciary. Survival of the fittest, everybody will go for cutlass.

    “So I ask that JUSUN must run the union within the provisions of the Trade Union Act and within the provisions of the Trade Dispute Acts and if they exceed those boundaries, there are consequences.

    “There would be more honour in vacating the office than to make compensation because even the Bible says that he who does not work does not deserve to eat. Wages are not gifts offered by a kind employer. Edo State Government will not pay wages for people who chose to go on holiday, otherwise, we will have to redefine law and order”.

    The Governor promised the Chief Judge that his administration will build more court rooms before the end of his tenure so that more Judges could be posted to the state to ensure speedy dispensation of justice.

    On taxation, Oshiomhole said the state would be firm in its collection of taxes as is the case the world over. According to him, “the rich must be ready to pay taxes and this Governor will ensure that the rich in this state pay taxes. We will collect them within the law, and if they don’t pay, we will push it to the highest level that we can. It’s in the enlightened self interest of the rich to contribute for the maintenance of peace and security.

    “When we construct 6-lane road to the Airport, those six lanes are not going to be used by people without vehicles. He who drives on those roads must pay, not only for the cost of building but for the cost of maintenance. When one man occupies 20, 000 square meters of an asset that is the most important for our collective will, out of about four million Edo people, one man takes 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 square metres of land scattered round the city, some own a whole street, if you must occupy that amount of space in a whole street and the poor are crowded  20 people, a man with 3 wives and children locked onto a land space that is not more than 300 square meters in the same state and you want the police to protect you, to service that right of property, I am afraid you have to pay for every square meter that you occupy.

    “Our population will continue to grow. You do not need rocket scientist to tell you that over time, when the space of land remain constant and we are populating it with more and more people, there will be crisis of access to land. Therefore, it is sensible to make public policy expensive for people who have appetite for excessive land space to pay for it. That is the philosophy behind the Land Use Charge.”

     

     

  • Oshiomhole insists on land use charge

    Against the backdrop of criticism trailing the full implementation of the land use charge law in Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has insisted that his administration would collect all payable taxes in the state.

    The land use charge comprises of tenement rate, property tax and ground rent.

    Oshiomhole spoke when he received reports on the reforms of the Edo Inland Revenue Services from the Principal Consultants, Ifueko Omoigui Okauru.

    The governor said he promised to manage the state from funds generated from taxes and vowed that nobody would be exempted.

    He noted that the more property a person owns, the bigger tax the person is expected to pay.

    He said, “This is our state. We have to manage it with the taxes that we generate. What we promised is that the taxes collected will be judiciously used in a way that we deliver the greatest good to the greatest number of people.”

    “We will not tolerate a situation where one person would acquire massive expanse of land and a lot of landed property but refused to pay the land use charge.”

     

  • Why we suspended four LG chiefs – Oshiomhole

    Why we suspended four LG chiefs – Oshiomhole

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has given further explanations on what led to the suspension of four local government chairmen, saying their suspension had nothing to do with the political calculations leading to the 2016 gubernatorial elections in the state.

    Speaking Tuesday at the swearing-in of Prince Joe Okojie as a Commissioner in the state Executive Council and Mr. Busari Yesufu as Chairman, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state, Oshiomhole said: “today, we have ensured that with all the crisis in Nigeria, when many State Governments are unable to pay salaries, I am proud to say that in Edo we are paying. However, some of these local governments, for some reasons were not able to pay salaries as and when due and we have looked at some of their books, we have received some petitions, it is true that finances are low but even if your finances are low, you also need to cut your wastages.

    “We looked at the locally generated revenue, in many cases, these locally generated revenue are never reflected in the books of the local government. It’s just generated and paid directly to some of the local government chairmen. There have been several other abuses and I am proud to say that when the new local government chairmen were sworn in, I made sure all the revenue accruing to local governments before we conducted elections, were left in the treasury of the Local Government so the local governments could use them judiciously to develop their various localities.

    “I know for example in Akoko Edo, we had more than N560 million that they inherited because I directed the Heads of Service of the Local Governments not to spend the money of the Local Government. Some inherited N600 million, N400 million accruing from previous years and of course, all the debts which their predecessor incurred, we made sure that all of those were paid. That is how far we have gone, whereas, in some states, the Local Government money comes and the Governor just spends it, in Edo State, we don’t do that and we will never do that and if any future governor wants to do that, I will expect the local government chairmen to react.

    “Now if we give you so much free hand, and we help you to save so that you can use the resources to develop your area  and in the end you put us in bad news, you are not able to pay salaries and while you are not paying salaries, you are employing your relatives, you are employing all kinds of characters and you are diverting resources to projects that are of no benefits to the people and at the same time, employees of the local government who are working for you for 2, 3, 4, 6 months, you are not paying them and we have evidence that you are still involve in some elements of mismanagement, we can’t continue like that.

    “We needed to make a statement that all of us are accountable, that everyone is accountable and that was the reason we took those measures. Government will always be fair but we also have to be firm. We must ensure that Edo State must not join the club of states that over a period look back and they can’t see what difference they have made in the lives of their people.

    “We are setting up enquiries to investigate all of these allegations and depending on the finding of the panels, we will know what to do next and I want to assure our people that we respect the autonomy of our local governments, we recognise the rights of an elected official to manage the resources of his governments but we also have a duty to ensure that public funds are not diverted by local governments or by any one for purpose other than what is good for the people of their locality.”

    In their response, the newly sworn in Commissioner, Prince Joseph Okogie appreciated the Governor for believing in his abilities and bringing him on board to join in repositioning the state and assured him of his utmost commitment and contribution in ensuring that the task is accomplished.

    On his part, the newly sworn-in Etsako West Chairman thanked the Governor for the appointment and promised to do his best to bring development to the people and ensure funds are judiciously managed.

  • Dangote, Oshiomhole, others for New Telegraph’s economic summit

    Three governors Mr. Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and Chief Dave Umahi (Ebonyi)  as well as President, Dangote Group Alhaji Aliko Dangote, are among dignitaries expected at the maiden edition of New Telegraph’s Economic Summit, holding in Lagos on October 27.

    The summit, with the theme: “Beyond monthly allocation: State of the Nigerian states”, will examine the financial crisis facing many states following the oil price rout that has cut revenue to the Federation Account by about 65 per cent and how states could survive by expanding their internally generated revenue base.

    Dangote will be the guest speaker, where  the three governors will also share their experience in weathering the economic storm that has buffeted many states and impaired their ability to meet their obligations to workers and contractors.

    The summit, conceived by New Telegraph to expand the conversation on the state of the nation’s economic, is aimed at generating ideas to bring more dividends of democracy to the people.

  • Edo community honours Oshiomhole

    Edo community honours Oshiomhole

    For over three hours, the long procession of different clubs, age groups, associations and societies marched on major streets of Sobe in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, drumming, singing and dancing. Led by a team of power-bike riders, the colourful parade rounded off the week-long activities with cultural performances and award presentation to mark this year’s Sobe Day celebration. Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME was there.  

    To a first timer, this year’s Sobe Day celebration could go for a carnival of sort. But, the yearly celebration, which attracted thousands of participants from within and in the Diaspora, meant more than that to the people of Sobe.

    To them, it is a rallying point for the development of the community as well as to commemorate the merger of Sobe with her kith and kin in Edo State in 1991. This year’s celebration was to raise funds for the completion of the new community town hall.

    •Oshiomole
    •Oshiomole

    Little wonder the community honoured Governor Adams Aliu Oshiomhole with “team leadership for unity and development of the community award” for the developmental projects executed in the town by his administration.

    Receiving the award on behalf of the Governor, Chairman of Owan West Local Government Area, Hon. Reginald Okun promised to deliver the award and the community’s messages to the governor. He also pledged to support the community’s town hall project with the sum of N200, 000.

    Also in recognition of the contributions of some of its illustrious sons and daughters, the community gave awards to no fewer than 14 recipients. They included the late Chief S.J Mayaki, the late Chief Andrew J. Sule, the late Pa Michael Arenrin, the late Odibiado of Sobe, Gold Omonikhe, the late Pa Eboh Addo and the late Chris Obadan.

    Others were Mr Francis Iruobe, Mr. Modupe Olomu, Bishop Pandit Oburekin, Pa Anthony Ehimiaghe, Mr. Olu Sikpojie, Special Apostle Funso Osoro, Chief Cletus Owuze and Mr. Joseph Oziren Igure.

    In the beauty pageant contest, Miss Bridget Egbezomo emerged Miss Sobe Day Queen and won a deep freezer while second place went to Miss Adelomo Udugbezi who won a flat screen TV, followed by Miss Blessing Desimoh who got a power generating set as third place winner.

    In his address, His Royal Highness Anthony Ero Aleburu, the Odibiado of Sobe land, said the slow pace of development in the community is not a function of lack of will to pool resources but that of global economic recession.

    “In terms of pooling our resources for development, not much has been achieved in this regard as a result of shortage of funds due to economic meltdown. However, our merger with our kith and kin has given us sense of belonging as we now feel at home with our people,” he said.

    •Odibiado of Sobe
    •Odibiado of Sobe

    The Odibiado of Sobe commended the developmental projects completed by Oshiomhole’s administration; citing the renovation of Sobe High School and renovation and fencing of St. Thomas Moore’s Primary School, Sobe as some of such projects. He, however, appealed to the Comrade Governor to post teachers to Sobe High School, reconstruct and equip the Science laboratory in the school.

    He assured that “on our part, we would support the present administration…We should come together and unite towards moving Sobe to greater heights.”

    He also urged parents to have time for their children and wards, noting that this has become necessary because of the high rate of crime in the community. He stressed that “our youths should engage in learning skill at the Skill Acquisition Centre in Sobe because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.”

    First Deputy Governor of Edo State Rev. Dr Peter Obadan described Sobe as a distinct clan that must not be treated as an appendage in any scheme and to be left as a single political ward is also an error.

    “Sobe is a great community that must not be deserted. It must be given the altitude to show forth her greatness in commerce, education, politics and agriculture. Let no other community neither marginalise your community nor let anyone despise your greatness.  I am persuaded that one day, a light will shine from Sobe that will lighten the hearts of men to the greatness of our nation and to the glory of God. Your glory will soon and very soon manifest,” Obadan added.

    In her address entitled “So, Love it is”, the chairperson of Sobe Day 2015 Dr. Kate Obasuyi enjoined all to embrace love as the only element that would drive patriotic zeal needed to make Sobe an enviable society.

    She said Sobe has a large heart for love to germinate and grow but that ‘we must bury all those grievances and animosities that create clog in the wheel of progress of Sobe community.’ She noted that Sobe has all the tools required to be great but that love is the only oil to make the tools work.

    “Politics and titles should not be used as weapon of disorganising our society. Rather, they have to be harnessed as tools for progress and development of Sobe. Let each and every one of us resolve today to be good ambassadors of Sobe through genuine love that promotes conflict resolution coupled with sincere spirit of forgiveness,” she added.

    Interim President Sobe Development Association (SDA), Mr Francis Uwaifo, who commended Governor OShiomhole for his developmental projects in the community as well as the state in general, however drew government’s attention to some urgent needs of Sobe High School which include the uncompleted school hall, science laboratory block and equipment, fencing of the school compound, provision of teachers and classrooms furniture, renovation of the dilapidated primary school at the Agricultural Farm Settlement and the renovation of St. Eugene’s Primary School.

    Others are the purification of water from the borehole sunk by the state government near the Skye Bank, the abandoned 19km Sobe – Sabongidda-Ora road which is A federal government project, the abandoned market project (a project handled by the past House of Assembly member Hon. Mike Ohio-Ezomo and the former Council Chairman, Hon Godwin Aigbodion ), the upgrading of the three health care centres in the community to a general hospital; effective use of the approved court in the community as well as the building of a standard police station to checkmate criminal activities in the community and its environs.

     

  • ‘Two NYSC members died in Edo’

    Two members of the National Youth Service Corps who were part of 2014 Batch C corps members deployed to Edo State died during the year.

    The dead corps members are – Emokpaire Joy Oshuwa and Ayansina David.

    This was disclosed by Governor Adams Oshiomhole while declaring the 2014 Batch C service year closed.

    Represented by the state’s Commissioner for Education, Gideon Obhakhan, Oshiomhole said a total of 2,476 corps member posted to the state successfully completed their service year.

    The governor described the NYSC as a beacon of hope for the development of Nigeria and praised corps members who embarked on various grassroot projects in some communities in the state.

    He said, “The year must have been exciting and equally challenging to those of you who strived to imprint you names in the proverbial sands of time by initiating laudable programmes that have direct bearing on the grassroot populace. I am particularly impressed by the impact made by the 2014 batch C corps member through community development projects embarked on.

    “The NYSC scheme has greatly enhanced our nation’s unity. It is indeed a beacon of hope and indispensable factor in our national development.

    “The youth as future leaders determine the socio-economic development of any nation and its high level population which makes it a fertile business soil for the proactive and adventurous youth.”

  • Oshiomhole clarifies position on N3.5trn pension fund

    Oshiomhole clarifies position on N3.5trn pension fund

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole has clarified his position on the Pension fund, saying he never accused PENCOM of diverting N3.5 trillion pension funds because it has nothing to do directly with pension money in the first place.

    He said, rather, his position is about how pension funds operators invest hard-earned workers’ money in FGN Bonds and Treasury Bills, which in turn was grossly mismanaged through funding consumption.

    In a statement personally signed by him, Oshiomhole said: “recently, a section of news media attributed comments to me regarding the way and manner in which pension funds to the tune of 3.5 trillion Naira were drawn down to support recurrent expenditure and not infrastructure development. In the said reports, the impression created was that I had accused the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) of colluding with the Federal Ministry of Finance to divert the said amount.

    “Considering the manner in which this serious economic issue that borders on the future of the Nigerian economy and the welfare of the Nigerian workers who make contributions to the pension funds, is being misrepresented and trivialized in the media, I wish to make some clarifications and set the record straight.

    “As someone involved from the outset in the crafting of the PENCOM Act, I am very much aware that under the law, PENCOM is a regulator of the financial institutions and operators that deal directly with the management of the pension funds and pension assets, namely: the pension funds administrators (PFAs) and the pension funds custodians (PFCs). I could not have said therefore that PENCOM diverted pension money because it has nothing to do directly with pension money in the first place.

    “Indeed, I recall that when the pension reforms, which led to the creation of PENCOM were being formulated, the selling point of the contributory pension scheme was that pension funds should be source of cheap and long-term funds that would be used to support programmes and investments that will enhance workers welfare such as workers’ housing and the creation of a robust mortgage system.

    “However, what turned out in the management and operations of the pension funds was a completely different ball game. It is open knowledge that the PFAs are among the major subscribers of Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Bonds and Treasury Bills, which are instruments of FGN’s domestic borrowing, issued periodically by the Debt Management Office (DMO) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) respectively, on behalf of the Federal Government. FGN Bonds as debt securities are generally considered safest relative to other debt instruments in the capital market because they are governed by the “faith and credit” principle; offer attractive rates and guaranteed returns, at least in theory.

    “It is, therefore, not a new revelation that total subscriptions of pension funds to the FGN Bonds are in excess of 3.5 trillion Naira or about 70% of the total funds (estimated at 5.1 trillion Naira) so far accrued under the contributory pension scheme. It is also not a secret that in the last five years under the previous administration, the Federal Government had engaged in monthly bond issuances as a means of raising finance to fund recurrent expenditure and service domestic debts, rather than finance capital projects, which was the main purpose of bond issuance if domestic borrowing was to be a productive and beneficial activity to the national economy. These are facts that could easily be verified from the PFAs and PFCs; DMO, Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as CBN, if journalists and the media they represented have gone the extra mile to find out.

    “The issue clearly was not about PENCOM diverting pension funds. It was about how pension funds operators invest hard-earned workers’ money in FGN Bonds and Treasury Bills, which in turn was grossly mismanaged through funding consumption (recurrent expenditure, payment of salaries for federal employees, financing budget deficits and domestic debt servicing) rather than concrete investment in critical infrastructure, housing, etc.

    “Pensions as workers savings, rather than being invested in capital projects with multiplier effects on jobs and incomes, are being invested in bonds which go into funding wasteful recurrent spending. Spending borrowed money on unproductive ventures typically generates inflationary pressures that lead to devaluation of the currency and purchasing power of workers. The net effect is that by the time these savings are required to pay pensioners in the future their real value would have been eroded quite significantly. As we have seen even in advanced economies, such kind of mismanagement of pension funds had easily sparked economic crisis that undermined the welfare of workers and retirees.

    “I have followed the recent World Pensions Summit organized by PENCOM and all through experts and analysts kept emphasizing that pension funds should be invested in infrastructure like roads, power and other productive ventures to develop the national economy. The point here is that pension funds should not be invested in instruments that mobilize funds only for unproductive and wasteful ventures.

    “It is in the public domain that federal budgets in the last four years have devoted as much as 85% of the budgetary outlay to recurrent expenditures including salaries. The National Assembly on whose onus rests the approval of the budget has been lamenting year-in-year-out, this is clearly bad economics, a situation in which only a paltry 15% of the budgetary outlay was devoted to capital projects and investment in the last five years. Federal legislators have also openly complained about the fact that even the 15% capital expenditure is hardly executed fully, implying that the amount devoted to recurrent expenditure will be even much higher than the 85% reported officially.

    “Based on the foregoing, let me reiterate that nothing I have said about pension funds and how they have been managed in the last five years is new. Everything I have said is in the public domain and can be verified. It behooves the media and journalists to refrain from twisting and misrepresenting critical national issues such as this one, so that they will not give individuals or institutions that mismanage the national economy an escape route to divert attention or muddle-up the issues. This is a responsibility we all owe Nigeria and the future generations.”

  • Diezani: I’m vindicated, says Oshiomhole

    Diezani: I’m vindicated, says Oshiomhole

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday spoke on the arrest in London of former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke and her brothers, who are directors of Hadley Petroleum Solutions Limited, were arrested for alleged bribery and money laundering. No charges have been preferred against them.

    Oshiomhole, who has been outspoken against fraud in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, has been under attack in the social media for his views. Now, according to him, he is vindicated.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, the governor said Alison-Madueke’s arrest was a tip of the iceberg.

    He said: “For me, I don’t think anybody should be surprised because the most favorable commentator on the Nigerian condition, both the economy, the polity and society, everybody agree that our economy was badly mismanaged over the past several years.

    “I have not seen one commentator that disagrees.  Even when they talk about rebasing and so what. Have you rebased the level of poverty? Have you rebased prosperity? Have you rebased unemployment? Have you rebased homelessness? Have you rebased hunger?

    “So I have not seen anyone that says Nigerian people are doing better. This was never my issue. I was only a spokesman of National Economic Council. But, in this country, when you speak out, all the arrows should be fashioned to attack. But one of the things I learnt in life at the age of 17 when I got into the  leadership of labour, is that the truth does not require supporters club. It can stand on its feet anyday. You can hit it. You can kick it. You can bomb it, but you can’t destroy it.

    “The truth is that a lot of money was stolen and what you are seeing is just a tip of the iceberg, because when you imagine what accrues to Nigeria, consistently from 140 dollars averaging 108 dollars over a long period of time and  yet your treasury is empty and you were running a budget deficit, you were devoting 85 percent of your budget for four consecutive years on recurrent, you were borrowing and you drew the entire pensions fund…yesterday I saw a lot of analysis of how pension funds should be invested on infrastructure.

    “You challenge Pencom and Ministry of Finance, you will discover that over N3.5 trillion was drawn down by the previous government from pension funds to support recurrent expenditure, not to support infrastructure. Even the media here, I wonder why you want to hear it from me because some of the issues we parrot flow from what we have read from your electronic media and print media, arising from what you have observed.

    “There have been probes, there have been revelations , where whistle blowers have been removed from office; they became guilty for speaking out. I believe time will tell how much was taken and who was involved.

    “I think what you are hearing now is like appetizer. Its sickening. It used to come from America, now its Britain.”

    On the involvement of the Federal Government in Mrs Alison-Madueke’s arrest in London, Oshiomhole said: “It’s not about who has hand in what. I think it’s about law and order. In other climes, institutions do their work. They are not at the beck and call of political authority. They have their mandate and the law specifies this and it is scrupulously followed.”

    Asked how happy he was with the development, he said: “I’m the happiest person because I’ve been in government for seven years without being in power. I was in government, I couldn’t call a commissioner of police and talk as a security officer, I’m haunted by all manner of persons. You kill the snake in Edo, they will put the snake on life support in Abuja and they keep harassing us.

    “Now all those venoms are dead and buried, for the first time, I’m excited and happy, not just for personal benefit, but for the changes I’m beginning to see. They’ve not started scrutinising, just blocking the holes, it’s no longer flowing like before and so the propensity to indulge in those conspicuous habit, already curbing themselves.” He said

    Continuing, he said: “People are regaining sanity; human rationality is returning and the idle class that makes money without office or business address whose only address is an  ipad and cell phone with appropriate phone numbers are all lamenting and not sure of tomorrow.”

     

  • I have been vindicated on Diezani – Oshiomhole

    I have been vindicated on Diezani – Oshiomhole

    Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Tuesday said he has been vindicated by the alleged financial scam trial involving a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, in London.

    Diezani and her brothers, who are directors of Hadley Petroleum Solutions Limited, are on trial for alleged bribery and money laundering in London.

    Oshiomhole, who has severally condemned the massive fraud allegedly perpetrated by ministers in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, has come under attacks in many quarters, particularly from members of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, the governor said that what is happening with the former minister in London is a tip of the iceberg, considering the massive corruption perpetrated during the last administration.

    He said: “For me I don’t think anybody should be surprised because the most favorable commentator on the Nigerian condition, on the economy, the polity and society, agree that our economy was badly managed over the past several years.

    “I have not seen one commentator that disagrees.  Even when they talk about rebasing and so what. Have you rebased the level of poverty? Have you rebased prosperity? Have you rebased unemployment? Have you rebased homelessness? Have you rebased hunger?

    “So I have not seen anyone that says Nigerian people are doing better. This was never my issue. I was only a spokesman of National Economic Council. But in this country when you speak out, all the arrows should be fashioned to attack you. But one of the things I learnt in life at the age of 17 when I got into the leadership of labour, is that the truth does not require supporters club. It can stand on its feet anyday. You can hit it. You can kick it. You can bomb it, but you can’t destroy it.

    “The truth is that a lot of money was stolen and what you are seeing is just a tip of the iceberg, because when you imagine what accrues to Nigeria, consistently from 140 dollars, averaging 108 dollars over a long period of time and yet your treasury is empty. You were running a budget deficit, you were devoting 85 percent of your budget for four consecutive years on recurrent, you were borrowing and you draw the entire pensions fund. Yesterday I saw a lot of analysis on how pension funds should be invested on infrastructure.

    On the involvement of Nigeria government on Diezani’s arrest in London, he said: “It’s not about who has hand in what. I think it’s about law and order. In other climes, institutions do their work. They are not at the beck and call of political authority. They have their mandate and the law specifies this and it is scrupulously followed.

    “I’m the happiest person because I’ve been in government for seven years without being in power. I was in government, I couldn’t call a commissioner of police and talk as a security officer, I’m haunted by all manners of persons. You kill the snake in Edo, they will put the snake on life support in Abuja and they keep harassing us.

    “Now all those venoms are dead and buried, for the first time I’m excited and happy not just for personal benefit, but for the changes I’m beginning to see.”

     

  • Edo: Four councils’ chiefs suspended

    Lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly have approved the suspension of four council chairmen in the state.

    The affected council bosses are – Osaro Obazee (Oredo), Victor Enobakhare (Egor), Roland Ibierutomwen (Orhiomwon) and Emmanuel Momoh (Estako Central).

    Their suspension followed a request by Governor Adams Oshiomhole in letter seeking action on the affected council bosses.

    Reasons adduced by Governor Oshiomhole included non-payment of salaries without proper explanation, illegal employment, diversion of funds, lack of due process in the award of contracts and violation of law processes.

    Oshiomhole said his letter was in compliance with relevant section of the local government laws as amended.

    He said the suspension was to pave way for a panel of enquiry to investigate allegations against the chairmen.

    The lawmakers approved the letter and suspended the chairmen for two months in the first instance and ordered the vice chairmen to take over affairs of the affected councils.