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  • Bayelsa, Bauchi, Oyo, others yet to remit pension

    Bayelsa, Bauchi, Oyo, others yet to remit pension

    •Lagos, Osun, Rivers, Niger lead CPS

    •Oyo State Gov. Abiola Ajimobi
    •Oyo State Gov. Abiola Ajimobi

    Twenty-three  state governments out of the 36 states in the country including Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo, and Edo states are yet to begin the remittance of pension contributions into the Retirement Savings Account (RSAs) of their employees as at the end of the first quarter of this year, The Nation has learnt.

    They are also yet to start funding of their Retirement Benefit Bond Redemption Fund Accounts (RBBRF) and yet to provide Group Life Insurance for their employees as required under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in the Pension Reform Law, 2014.

    This means that employees of these states may not get their pension benefits as and when due after retirement and are not insured.

    Other states that have not remitted contributions, funded RBBRF nor provide Group Life for their employees are Cross River, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kebbi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe.

    This was contained in the National Pension Commission (PenCom) First Quarter Report on ‘Level of Compliance with the CPS by State Governments’.

    According to the report, only Lagos, Osun, Niger and Rivers are fully compliant with the law as they have remitted pension contribution, funded their RBBRF and insured their employees.

    Balance in RBBRF account of state governments as at January this year shows that Lagos State had remitted N10 billion, while Ogun, Niger and Rivers had remitted N1.43billion N9.10billion and N3.10 billion respectively into their RBBRF as at the end of the quarter under review.

    The report further showed that while six state governments have begun the funding of their RBBRF into RSAs account, only eight out of the 36 states had commenced remittance of contributions into the RSAs of their employees as at the period under review.

    The report noted that 26 state governments have enacted laws on the CPS, while the remaining 10 were yet to pass their bills into law.

    Imo State is yet to begin remittance of pension contributions too however, Imo State University is currently implementing the CPS under the auspices of the PRA 2014. The state is yet to fund the RBBRF and yet to provide Group Life Insurance for its employees.

    Jigawa State has however transferred pension assets to six PFAs for management while Kano State is yet to transfer its pension assets.

    The report however clarified that Jigawa and Kano states did not implement Group Life Insurance Scheme because they are currently implementing the Contributory Defined Benefits Scheme, which does not require the institution of Group Life policies for employees.

    Section 4 of the PRA 2014 states that every employee to whom the act applies shall maintain an RSA in his name with any PFA of his choice.

    The employer shall deduct at source the monthly contribution of the employee and not later than seven working days from the day the employee is paid his salary, remit an amount comprising the employee’s and employer’s contributions to the Pension Fund Custodian (PFC) specified by the PFA of the employee.

    The PRA states further that any employer that fails to deduct or remit the contributions within the time stipulated shall in addition to making the remittance already due, be liable to a penalty to be stipulated by the Commission.

    The penalty shall not be less than two per cent of the total contribution that remains unpaid for each month or part of each month the default continues and the amount of the penalty shall be recoverable as a debt owed to the employee’s retirement savings account as the case may be.

  • D’banj, Bez, others for Glo’s Evening with Wole Soyinka

    LONDON-BASED multi-award winning Nigerian musician, actor, folk singer, and composer, Tunji Oyelana, is billed to lead an array of popular artistes who will entertain guests at an event  organized in honour of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka  by total telecoms solutions provider, Globacom.

    The literary event entitled  “An Evening with Wole Soyinka and Nigeria’s Young Literary Stars”  is  scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, August 28, at the Convention Centre of Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. It will also feature Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo (D’banj), Emmanuel Bezhiwa Idakula ( Bez), and Bolanle Austen-Peters (BAP) Productions revered for their Broadway musical drama. Footprints of David Art Academy will also be on hand to thrill guests at the literary event.

    Oyelana’s albums were considered bestsellers by any Nigerian High Life musician and is one of the most listened to Yoruba musicians in history.

    Among contemporary musicians, D’banj is reputed to be an outstanding performer, singer-songwriter, and harmonica player whose works have earned him  several music awards, the latest being the Evolution Award at the 2015 MTV Africa Music awards. D’banj  has also won laurels for Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards, Artist of the Year at the MTV Africa Music Awards, Best International Act: Africa and Best-selling African Artist at the 2014 World Music Awards.

    Multi-talented instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and composer, Bez, who plays “alternative soul,” a hybrid of soul, rock, jazz and R&B released his first album  titled Super Sun  in 2011. The album has the monster hit single, That Stupid Song and other soul-inspiring songs.  The Boston Globe described him as “superb alternative-soul singer” placing the song third in its top ten world music albums of 2011.

    BAP Productions was conceptualised as a company committed  to promoting the Nigerian theatre industry through the production of world class Broadway style plays.

  • Bad times as rains pound Warri, others

    Bad times as rains pound Warri, others

    Anybody who has lived or is living in the Oil-City of Warri, the economic hub of Delta State, knows that the rainy season is not a good time. Inhabitants of the city and its twin, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state, dread that time of the year when the heavens opened up incessantly, pouring oodles of water into the haphazardly laid city. The fear of the season also stems from the anguish, suffering, dirt and diseases that come with human feaces from overflowing septic pits pouring into the streets and living rooms.

    The state of roads, not only in Warri, but across parts of the state, has worsened over the past few months.

    Niger Delta Report’s extensive check on condition of roads in the areas showed that over 95 per cent of roads in Warri metropolis and adjoining suburbs are in dire need of repairs. Except for the recently dualised Refinery Road and network of roads in the Odogun (New) Layout in Uvwie, built by the Direct Labour Agency (DLA) and Okumagba Avenue in Warri among others, there is hardly a road in the area that is not fraught with fissures. The situation is worse in Abraka and not much better in Ughelli, Agbarho, Sapele and other parts of the state.

    The Airport Road is punctuated by dozens of potholes of varying sizes from Effurun-Warri junction to Court 4 and various sections are washed away by water. A pitiable attempt to resurface the road left residents and motorists seething from poor job done by the construction companies.

    The PTI/Jakpa road, which was dualised by the administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2009, is not faring any better. Apart from being cut off at the Sokoh Estate junction by an end-to-end cavern, the road built by Niger Cat Construction Company, is riddled with potholes around the Canewood Hotel, White House and several other sections and junctions.

    The story is the same for the Okere, Emebiren and Esisi roads as well as network of roads within the Marine Quarters, Ovie Palace, Sokoh Estate, Commissioner and several roads in the cities.

    Roads in Ubeji, a serene community in Warri South, are as pothole-ridden as their counterparts in the mainland. Traffics in and out of the one-access-road community are so knotty that it sometimes takes hours to navigate to the NPA expressway from the town – a distance of about one kilometer – during the rush hours.

    The federal roads in the areas are worse off. The Warri-Effurun-Sapele road has gone from being one of the best roads to the deadliest nightmares for motorists. The dual carriage road stretching from NPA to the Effurun roundabout is in ruin due to the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) initiative of the past government.

    The plan to expand the road in order to create an exclusive bus-only middle-lane hit a snag when the planners realised, late, that a further expansion is needed to increase the incoming and outgoing traffics to double lanes. Bus stops (built on the centre of the road) coupled with concrete barriers separating lanes have not only reduced the road, but have made driving a big test and a course in patience and control. A broken down vehicle (or tricycle) on the now one-lane can unleash chaos.

    The NPA Expressway is not faring any better. The nearly four-decade highway has withstood a lot – heavy duty vehicles, tankers loading products at the WRPC Depot and several other vehicles use it. But the road seems to be saying ‘enough is enough’. The constantly gathering pools of water from the Bypass and Ogunu area and other parts have started taking their toll. Traffic from the port complex to other parts are now diverted to the incoming lane to avoid the pits that have secretly crept in and taken over the road over the past years. The road has deteriorated further because of the stoppage of the routine maintenance usually done by the past administration.

    The expressway pours into the East/West Highway at Effurun roundabout in three branches: one going into Warri via Effurun; the other to and fro Benin and Port Harcourt (through Ughelli/DSC roundabout). The onward Port Harcourt road has also deteriorated these past months, especially between the PTI Conference Centre and Woodridge Hotel, where it is now more of an earth road than a federal highway.

    Mr Aaron Aghorigho, a businessman, told our reporter that before car owners leave their homes to the office every morning, they need careful plotting of routes in order to avoid the most pothole-plagued roads like Sokoh Estate Road, Housing Complex Road (Ekpan), Alegbo, Ugbolokposo and NPA Bypass among others.

    “Unfortunately, the options are becoming fewer by the day as one road after the other gives way to potholes and become gutters. You cannot truly avoid them; you can only calculate the ones with lesser bad spots, the width and depth and decide if the pain of crashing your car through them is worth the mission. For most routes, you do not have that luxury, especially when the crooked road is the only option,” he said with a sardonic smile.

    The appalling condition of roads around Warri and other parts of Delta State is not due to lack of efforts by the government. The immediate past governments in the state and the Niger Delta Development Commission  invested billions of naira on the construction of access roads, rehabilitation and dualisation of major roads in the city and other parts of the state.

    It was learnt that the problem of flood in Warri and environs is compounded by the jinxed ADB-Assisted Water Project, whose nearly 20-year-old underground network of pipelines are constantly rupturing and erupting like volcano on Airport, PTI/Jakpa, Housing Complex and other major roads in the twin cities of Effurun/Warri during tests. The hope that the project would pump water to homes and not continue to be unwanted fountains on the streets is dying.

    Our finding revealed that intra-city roads in the university town of Abraka and those in Ughelli; those linking communities in Ughelli North and South, including the Abraka-Orogun- Agbarha-Otor- Ughelli and Sapele metropolis are badly in need of repairs that may not come soon as a section of state fears that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa might concentrate on roads in the state capital and Delta North area to the detriment of those areas because roads in Agbor, Issele-Uku, Ibuzor and others are also awful.

    In his reaction, Mr Victor Efeizomor, media aide to Governor Okowa, assured that the governor remained committed to his promise to make the state prosperous for all.

    “It should be on record that the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has vowed to remained focused as his administration has begun to match words with action in its bid  to fulfill  electioneering promises to the people of Delta State.

    “You will recall that the government not too long embarked on the inspection of some sectors of the construction work on the Asaba/ Ughelli road dualisation. He also carried out inspection tour on some major roads in the state, including Warri and its environs, with the intention of ensuring that the project continues. Also, the state government made available funds for the rehabilitation of failed portions  of the Asaba –Ughelli road  near Ogwashi- Uku.

    “Similarly, the government earlier embarked on the desalting of drainages across the state to provide immediate temporary solution to the issue of flooding being face by our people in most communities across the three senatorial districts.”

    Efeizomor blamed the slow pace of road construction and repairs on the season. He said there was very little government can do under the prevailing incessant rain.

    “Once the rains give way, the issue of bad roads in all the three senatorial districts of the state will be given adequate attention.”

  • Civil servant, others win in Skye Bank promo

    A civil servant with the Lagos State government, Kazeem Adewale, and two others have won N1 million each in this month’s draw of Skye Bank’s ‘Reach for the Skye Millionaire promo’ which held in Lagos at the weekend.

    The other ‘star’ winners, Uche Onuegbu, an Aba-based businessman; and Adewale Abiodun Adeyemo of Offa, Kwara State.

    Four other customers went home with N250,000 each. They are Mrs. Aina Fabode of Jos branch; Kalu Okeke Ogbonnaya of Aba branch; Lawal Basheer; and Gazal Fatimat.

    The electronic draw conducted in the presence of officials of the National Lottery Commission also produced 10 lucky individuals who won N100,000 each, bringing the total prize money to N5 million.

    Head, Retail Banking Group, Skye Bank Plc, Nkolika Okoli, said the bank would continue to encourage the adoption of the savings culture by the public.

    According to her, a customer would qualify for the draw after opening a Skye Save Plus account with a minimum of N2000, while each additional N2000 increases the customer’s chance to win the N1 million prize.

    Okoli said the draws would hold  monthly, with a total of  N60 million up for grabs during the 12- month duration of the promo.

    She enjoined the members of the public to open a Skye Save Plus account  with a minimum balance of N2000 in order to benefit from the ongoing promotion.

    The representative of the National Lottery Commission described the electronic draw conducted as transparent, saying it conformed to the commission’s requirements of a credible draw.

    He advised the public to take advantage of the bank’s promotion to transform their businesses by opening accounts with to be able to take part in future draws.

  • STAR MUSIC TREK: 2FACE, YEMI ALADE, MI, KCEE, OTHERS EXCITE FANS

    STAR MUSIC TREK: 2FACE, YEMI ALADE, MI, KCEE, OTHERS EXCITE FANS

    IT was home-coming for 2Face Idibia, who was at the show group mate, Faze of the defunct Plantashun Boiz. But with an impressive line-up of artistes that include Kcee, Yemi Alade, MI, Jo El and Runtown, Makurdi, the Benue State capital came alive last Saturday when the Star Music Trek team stormed the city.

    It was the kick-off leg of the second phase of the pan-Nigerian road show, which also had top-rated Deejays such as, Dj Neptune, DJ and Tony Blaze, and hosted by popular Master of Ceremonies, Gbenga Adeyinka.

    Staged at the IBB Square arena, the show wore a carnival-like atmosphere, featuring amazing performances from upcoming local talents who were given the opportunity to perform on stage.

    Dance crew the Tythanz started the show with a dance medley, which ended with Jo El’s popular single, Oya Now. Jo El then emerged for a surprise cameo appearance, which got one of the loudest cheers of the night.

    Next on the list was Runtown who made an energetic debut on this year’s edition of Star Music Trek. The artiste drew from his songs such as Gallardo, Successful, The Banger, Bend Down Pause and The Latest.

    KceeKCee who thrilled the crowd for about 30 minutes brought his A-game to bear, performing songs like the popular Pullover, Limpopo, Hakuna Matata and Your Face. Adding to the excitement, the Limpopo master as he is fondly called, gave out N70, 000 to two lucky members of the audience following an impromptu dance contest.

    One of the cheering moments of the night happened when Yemi Alade who just won the Best Female Act at the 2015 MAMAs, made a grand entrance with the smash hit Taking Over Me. This was followed by renditions of the popular Johnny, Kissing, Na God, Tangerine and a number of other successful singles off her award-winning debut album.

    With tracks like Kolomental, My brother and Originality, Faze evoked memories of his return to the music scene a few years back. MI then showed up in a haze of smoke and flashing lights and the crowd promptly went berserk.

    He performed Monkey, Beef, Bullion Van and finally, the popular African Rapper Number One. And similar to Kcee’s stunt, MI who spotted a fan reciting his lyrics perfectly invited him to the stage, took off his Gold MK watch and gave it to the bewildered fan.

    And then came the moment everyone had been waiting for  hometown hero 2Face finally made his appearance onstage with the frenzied hometown crowd struggling with the stage security. Quickly, he launched into his considerable catalogue of hits with songs like Rainbow,  Implication, One love, African Queen and several others.

  • Jimmy Jatt, others for ‘Cuppy Takes Africa’

    Jimmy Jatt, others for ‘Cuppy Takes Africa’

    FOR some time now, Ifeoluwa Otedola also known as DJ Cuppy has been promoting her 8-country tour tagged Cuppy Takes Africa. The tour, which kicks off today in Lagos, according to the budding DJ, will feature some of Nigeria’s finest disc jockeys and music producers.

    The Lagos leg of the tour, Cuppy revealed, will hold at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island and will feature a star-studded line-up of some of Africa’s biggest DJs and Producers.

    Among those featuring in the gig are DJ Jimmy Jatt and DJ Cuppy. Both DJs will be supported by an all-star roll call including DJ Caise, DJ Obi, DJ Xclusive, DJ Olu, DJ Hazan, DJ Nana, Legendary Beatz, Young John, Ikon, Pheelz, Studio Magic, Spellz and Leriq.

    DJ Cuppy also recently released some photos to promote the tour, channeling various Africa prints and stunning looks from Italian-Haitian Stella Jean, Cuppy poses elegantly in these new photos.

    The tour is expected make its final stop in South Africa on August 29.

  • Police arrest alleged killer of pregnant woman, 4 kids, others …on his way to abduct tribunal judges

    The police in Imo State have arrested a 28-year-old alleged serial killer Henry Onyekachi Chibueze, accused of killing a pregnant woman, Mrs Oluchukwu, and six others at Igando, a suburb of a Lagos.

    Henry, who hails from Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State, was said to have killed Oluchukwu alongside her sister, Ngozi, one Sandra and four children, namely Happiness, Chidima, Chineye and Angela in cold blood at No. 43 Santa Maria Street, Igando, Lagos on February 16, 2013.

    The suspect was arrested with four other accomplices including one Hakeem Bello, an indigene of Kwara State who allegedly deserted the army when he was posted to the Northeast to participate in the military operation against Boko Haram insurgents, and Alexander Ohigide, who was the gang’s native doctor and a native of Mbieri in Mbaitolu Local Government Area, Imo State.

    Also arrested were the wife of Henry’s brother and her mother.

    According to the late Oluchukwu’s widower, Ekene Henry Ozor, “the suspects were paraded before Governor Rochas Okorocha on Wednesday evening after they were arrested by SSS operatives at an undisclosed hotel in Owerri, where they had lodged in preparation for the abduction of some tribunal judges.”

    Expatiating further, Ekene said: ”Henry confessed to have killed many people but lied that the reason why he killed my pregnant wife, her senior sister, Sandra Ijedinma and four children was because she used N45 million to open a supermarket for Sandra before they parted ways.”

    Ekene said that the late Sandra left Henry when he could not take him to his village to know his people and that she could not ascertain his means of livelihood, adding that their relationship lasted only three months.

    On how he feels about the arrest of the alleged serial killer, he said: “I felt a little relieved because it had not been easy due to the psychological trauma that my family has gone through in the last two years. I commend the efforts of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command which first handled the case, the SSS operatives for sustaining their efforts to apprehend the suspects since February 1, 2015.

    “I wish to commend Governor Rochas Okorocha for his efforts in the arrest of the deadly gang of killers. Things have not been easy for me and my little children. We are still battling with the psychological pain of the gruesome killing of my wife and others.

    “I have become indebted to the tune of N7.2 million, excluding properties sold, to meet up with the payment of hospital bill for my wife’s younger sister who underwent surgery as a result of gunshot injuries and the cost of keeping seven bodies in a mortuary before burial.

    “I am yet to come out of the shock and I am now hypertensive. I therefore urge well meaning Nigerians, including the governors of Imo, Lagos and Delta states, to come to my aid so that my children and I can live a better life.”

     

  • Ambode, others for AOCOED 35th convocation

    Ambode, others for AOCOED 35th convocation

    A total of 3,028 NCE graduates of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Oto/Ijanikin (AOCOED) would bid the institution farewell at her 35th convocation on Wednesday, July 22.

    The Lagos State Governor, who is the Moderator of AOCOED Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, approved the convocation. He would attend with his top principals, a statement signed by AOCOED Deputy Registrar, (Information/Public Relations Unit) Adebowale Odunayo, said.

    Odunayo, who is also the Chairman, Media Sub-committee of the convocation Ceremony Committee, said  activities for the landmark event begin tomorrow with a jumat service at the college mosque, ditto for the interdenominational Christian service at the college chapel on Sunday.

    The Provost, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Ondo State (now Adeyemi University of Education, Ondo) Prof. Olukoya Ogen, would deliver the convocation lecture on Tuesday.

    The lecture, which has as theme: ‘Teacher preparation efforts: Challenges and the way forward’  holds at the institution’s DDP Hall at 10.00am.

  • Governors, judges, ministers, others to earn more than Buhari, Osinbajo

    Governors, judges, ministers, others to earn more than Buhari, Osinbajo

    •Perm Sec, Special Adviser , Speech Writers too

    MONTHLY PAY

    •President ( N585, 784.10)
    •Vice President; (N505,262.08)
    •Senate President (N724,570.72)
    •Deputy Senate President (N673,507.00)
    •Senator (N1,063,860)
    •Speaker (N412,851.66)
    •Deputy Speaker (N381, 172.40)
    • Representatives (N794, 086.83)
    •  Governor (N648,580.62);
    • Deputy Governor (N616,062.69)
    • Minister/SGF/ HOS (N650,136.65)

    With a 50 per cent cut in their pay, the President and Vice-President are to earn less than the Chief Justice of Nigeria, ministers, High Court judges and others.

    According to a document obtained from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the President and the Vice President are now ranked as 15th and 17th in Remuneration Package for Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders.

    This is the first time that the President and Vice President will slump in the pay ranking.

    The President has said that he will not force other office holders to cut their salaries.

    The monthly pay is as follows: President ( N585, 784.10); Vice President; (N505.262.08); Senate President(N724,570.72);  Deputy Senate President (N673,507.00);  Senator (N1,063,860); Speaker, House of Representatives (N412,851.66); Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives (N381, 172.40) and member, House of Representatives (N794, 086.83).

    The pay highlights for others are Governor(N648,580.62);  Deputy Governor(N616,062.69); Minister/SGF/ HOS/ Chairmen of constitutional bodies(N650,136.65); Minister of State/Member of constitutional bodies(N628, 056.91); Special Adviser , including other categories, such as speech writers (N590, 957.81); Directors-General/ Auditor-General/ Permanent Secretary/ Accountant-General/ Executive Secretaries/ Chief Executives of Parastatals, Agencies and Government Companies/ INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners(N617, 881.68); and Chief Justice of Nigeria(N560,662.16).

    Others are Supreme Court Justices/ President, Court of Appeal(N908, 273.66); Justices of Court of Appeal/ Chief Judge , Federal High Court/ Chief Judge FCT/ President, National Industrial Court/ Grand Khadi FCT Sharia Court of Appeal/ President, FCT Customary Court of Appeal/ Chief Judge of a State/ Grand Khadi/ State Sharia Court of Appeal/ President, State Customary Court of Appeal(N731, 657.66).

    The list includes Judge of the Federal High Courrt/ National Industrial Court/ FCT High Court/ State High Court/ Khadi FCT Sharia Court of Appeal/ Judge FCT Customary Court of Appeal/ Khadi State Sharia Court of Appeal/ Judge State Customary Court(N661,735).

    It could not be immediately ascertained from RMAFC why the monthly pay  of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives is low compared to the Deputy President of the Senate and other members of the House.

    A source simply said: “I think the Speaker and his Deputy enjoy many perks in office  than many political office holders.

    “Do not forget the fact that we are still using the 2009 Remuneration Package initiated by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

    But RMAFC recommended eight ways to check leakages and wastes in government.

    The eight points are:

    •Eliminating or limiting the number of Personal Assistants

    •Reducing frivolous local and foreign trips

    • Checking  purchase of vehicles far in excess of what is approved for official use

    •Reduction of large use of motorcades by officials in excess of what is either specified in the remuneration package or compared to what is practiced in other parts of the world

    •The present state of the economy calls for caution and belt tightening measures

    • The 3-tiers of government to put in place adequate expenditure management and control system

    •Necessary to diversify the economic base of the nation in order to generate more revenue at the Federal, State and Local Government Council levels

    •Federal, State, LGA to focus more on the provision of Capital Projects/ Infrastructure rather than recurrent expenditure.

    The agency said: “The commission, based on its observations concluded that apart from the reduction in allowances, there are other areas of leakages and wastages in revenue at all the tiers of government that must be addressed in order to ensure increase in revenue and its judicious management

    “That there is non-compliance with the provisions of the remuneration packages such as contained in either the Report of the Commission or the Act itself. Such violations by the three tiers and arms of government include arbitrary appointment of high number of Personal Assistants which is adding more cost to the running of government at the various levels. It is difficult to determine what value they add to service delivery or to governance.

    ”The commission advised that all these illegal appointments by the 3-Tiers of government be stopped and officers concerned be relieved of their appointments.

    “Also, all the three tiers and arms of government should eliminate or limit the number of Personal Assistants to reduce cost of governance.

    “That there are too many frivolous local and foreign trips by Political Office Holders throughout the country. The commission is advising that it is necessary to reduce local and foreign trips and the size of entourage on such trips when absolutely necessary in order to save cost.

    “That there is acquisition and use of assets such as motor vehicles far in excess of what is approved for official use. For example,  Government Parastatals and Agencies purchasing project vehicles and eventually handing over same to their parent ministries as a way of circumventing the remuneration package.

    “The commission strongly advised all tiers of government to issue circular to all government ministries, parastatals, agencies to desist from buying vehicle under the cover of PROJECT VEHICLES to their parent ministries.

    “Similarly , the commission also observed the practice of buying fleet of cars in the name of Committee Vehicles. This practice negates the whole idea of monetisation, principle of modesty in governance and the spirit of remuneration packages particularly in the legislative arm throughout the country.

    “Therefore under the current economic downturn of the nation, this practice has to stop and vehicles procured in this manner have to be sold and proceeds should be used to provide buses for the common citizenry.

    “That there is a large use of motorcades by officials in excess of what is either specified in the remuneration package or compared to what is practiced in other parts of the world. The commission views this as a complete violation of the Remuneration Package because it has significantly increased the overhead cost of governance.”

    Disturbed by the high cost of governance, Yar’Adua had mandated RMAFC to review the Remuneration Package for political, Public and Judicial Office Holders to save cost.

    In the document made available to The Nation, RMAFC  gave the background to the review under Yar’Adua.

    RMAFC said: “The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in pursuance of its constitutional role of determining the remuneration appropriate Political, Public, and Judicial Office Holders as enshrined in Sections 70, 84, 111 and 124, as well as Paragraph 32(d) of Part One of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had, in the year 2007, reviewed the remuneration package for the Office Holders in the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary at the Federal, State and Local Government levels.

    “The recommendations of the Commission for the Executive at the Federal level and the FCT Area Councils as well as the Judiciary (Federal and States) were passed into law by the National Assembly as “Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2008”.

    “The various State Assemblies also passed their respective remuneration laws based on the salaries and allowances as determined by the Commission in its Remuneration Report of February, 2007.

    “The Remuneration package came into effect on 1st February, 2007. However, the Commission received a letter from Mr. President dated 10th February, 2009 on the need to review the 2008 Amendment Act, in view of the impact of the current global economic crisis and financial meltdown on the Nigerian economy particularly, the dwindling Government revenue.

    ”In line with its normal practice, the Commission commenced the review exercise by obtaining clarifications from appropriate authorities and holding interactive and consultative sessions with Stakeholder with a view to obtaining the inputs to guide the Commission to arrive at a fair remuneration package.

    “Specifically, the Commission inter- alia held consultations with the Senate, the House of Representatives, representatives of the Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies, representatives of the media, civil societies and labour, the Judiciary, the National Economic Management team, and representatives of Chairmen of Federal Executive Bodies. The Commission would like to note the true national spirit of collective sacrifice displayed by majority of the Stakeholders during the consultations.

    “In addition, the Commission obtained data on some current economic indicators and key macroeconomic variables such as inflationary rates, cost of living, exchange rate, Gross Domestic Product, crude oil production, international oil prices, accruals into the Federation Account etc., which were considered critical to the review exercise.

    ”Based on the provisions of paragraph 32(d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the -999 Constitution and Section 148 (2) (c) of the same Constitution, it is the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission that has the power to determine, fix, review upward or downward the remuneration package of Political, Public and Judicial office holders whether elected, appointed or both including the Legislature at the Federal, State, and Local Government levels.

    “ However, the Commission took into consideration the provisions of Sections 84 (3) and 124 (3) of the 1999 Constitution both of which provide that “the remuneration and salaries payable to the holders of the said offices and their conditions of service, other than allowances, shall not be altered to their disadvantage after their appointment.

    “These provisions are however not applicable to the legislature at the fFederal, state and local government levels. Nevertheless, the commission in order to be fair, equitable and just to all beneficiaries of its remuneration package, decided not to review the basic salaries, but rather to confine itself to the allowances and other benefits of political, public and judicial office holders, including those in the legislature.”

     

  • IYC: NOSDRA, others have failed us

    IYC: NOSDRA, others have failed us

    The President of the umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, speaks to Mike Odiegwu on reasons behind persistent environmental problems in the Niger Delta and plans of the youth to tackle the menace.

    How would you react to the attitude of oil companies operating in the Niger Delta, especially with regard to oil spills, compensation and other environmental issues?

    It is impunity – do what you like and then bribe some people and get away with it. The spillages of Mobil since 1998, they have refused to pay the Niger Delta people. They are there conniving with agents. The senior management of Mobil is conniving with claim agents, embezzling money meant for communities. We will take this matter up to the highest level of Mobil.

    SNEPCO is owing our people $1.8bn. They have been asked to pay but they come with this flimsy excuse that we are in court. We are not in court. pay us our monies because the activities have brought untold hardship to our people. They have changed our people’s lifestyle and have turned them to criminals and because of this they are forced to break pipelines to carry crude. They are forced to cook crude to destroy the environment just because they must survive.

    So part of the crises in Niger Delta is as a result of the activities and negligence of the oil companies, and so you see our people getting involved in negative activities just because they want to survive. They destroy pipelines just to survive; they steal crude oil just to survive. The usual ways of survival have been destroyed by corrupt practices and so SNEPCO must pay Bonga spill that saw over 40,000 barrels of oil in the environment and even when they came to clean they came with harsher chemicals that further destroyed and compounded the issue in the environment. That issue is lingering and they must pay that money. We will tackle them till the society understands what we are doing.

    We will take this fight to Holland,London and America where the people will question them. I hope that President Buhari will ensure the dignity of Nigerians by ensuring that all are sanctioned without any iota of fear or favour. Any International Oil Companies (IOCs) that abuses the rules of engagement or wants to bend the normal practice when it comes to doing their business and the environment should be sanctioned because if they respect the environment in the Golf of Guinea, they should do same here. They should pay attention to our environment too.

    How would you react to the recent judgment by the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on the case involving ARCO and other companies?

    I think that it is victory for democracy and the judiciary in the Justice Lambo Akanbi delivered judgment against Agip Oil Company, Plantjera and General Electronics (GE) against ARCO Group of Companies. ARCO has been servicing the Obiobi Gas Plant in conjunction with G.E for Agip since 2007 and the Local Content law says that when a local contractor demonstrates capacity to handle a job and handle equipment,it should be given priority but unfortunately Agip went and brought Plantjera,an automobile company that has no experience to try and see how they will push out ARCO and ARCO went to court.

    The IOCs always boast about owning the law in Nigeria because they can spend all manner of money to hire all kinds of senior advocates and delay your case until you grow old. The judiciary us living up to expectation by restoring the dignity of Nigeria in terms of cases between Nigeria and multinationals and we are happy because the statuo quo should remain.

    In fact, Agip brought Plantjera to take away ARCO, even when there was a court process on, an abuse of the Nigerian judiciary system. This is what the IOCs do. They come here  and indulge in practices they don’t do in their countries because they think our people will always sell out. That is the same thing Mobil did in 1998,which is causing a lot of problem in the Niger Delta.

    What does the judgment portend to the Local Content Act and the Niger Delta?

    It is a wake up call for the local content board because if they were strictly enforcing their laws, we won’t go to court in the first place but they are not doing their job. You can’t blow hot and cold and behave as if nothing happened and allow these companies think they can get their way. People don’t do what is right when they see oil money. It is a wakeup call for the local content board to sit up and ensure that they enforce the laws that have been put in place to protect Nigerians.

     What can other indigenous companies operating in the Niger Delta learn from AIICO?

    AIICO is a strong company. It is not every indigenous company that is as powerful as AIICO to even hire a SAN. AIICO was able to get three SANs to do its case and that is because it’s buoyant. Overtime, AIICO has been able to build capacity and strength that is why they were able to challenge them. It has strong Nigerian presence and has added so much value to the lives of Nigerians. I pray that the judiciary wakes up to its responsibility just as it’s doing so that every other indigenous company can also stand up to challenge the statuo quo when it is trampled upon.

    So, what do you think account for the double standard of oil companies in Niger Delta?

    It is all about the attitude of our people. It’s government not being responsible and ensuring that you enforce the law. Why should a foreigner break the law in Nigeria and then he will not even imagine it in his dream in his company? It is because we are still in this master-slave mentality. We must begin to grow beyond that. They abuse the environment and don’t tell the government how much they have made. We must be respected as individuals and as a country.

    I implore Buhari to look at that area because revenue accruing to the Federal Government is being lost through these practices. If the President really needs money to run his government, then he must ensure that these companies do what is right.

    By the SNEPCO’s spill,the Federal Government has $1.8bn in fines and royalties. It is plenty of money to run government and pay salaries. These are part of loopholes that need to be blocked. Respect our laws and do what is right as at when due. If the government is strict with our laws, these companies will respect our land.

    Do you think National Oil Spill Detection Regulatory Agency (NOSDRA), the Ministry of Environment and other regulatory agencies have done enough?

    They have not done enough. There is so much inequality in Nigeria. Everybody wants to meet up. Corruption has eaten deeply into every strata of the society. The President needs to be ready to fight corruption. These agencies are there to ensure that these companies do the right things or sanction them but somebody will look the other way. That is why SNEPCO has refused to pay compensation they are supposed to pay. That is why Mobil has refused to pay 1998 spillage and that is why Agip can think that they will abuse the law of Nigeria and disobey court orders and get away with it.

    Is there any future for the Niger Delta environment?

    As we are now, there is no future. There is nothing to look forward to until a reversal of these issues that I have raised. The national confab has put a lot of these things into perspective and that’s why some of us have advocated that President Buhari’s government should begin from implementing the national confab report because that report has seen a lot of these issues looked into holistically. The national confab holistically discussed issues that affect our environment, issues concerning oil businesses and exploration, issues concerning government,and if implemented,we can begin from there.

    So the future for the Niger Delta lies in restructured Nigeria where we have reorganised the way we will continue to live as one. That reorganization will begin to take care of every strata of the society.

    What can IYC do?

    Advocacy, just as I am doing now. The issues must be brought to the fore so that people can discuss and begin to proffer solution. One day somebody will listen and one day, President Buhari may decide to listen and take the steps necessary. The best we can do is advocacy and discussions; moving the discourse to their table is the new approach of IYC. It will not only be on the streets of Nigeria. It will be on the streets of London, America and Europe so that when they can avoid the discussion in Nigeria by bribing people, let them go and bribe their people and let us see.