The Nation Newspaper

Tag: sack

  • Reps intervene in sack of CRIN workers

    Reps intervene in sack of CRIN workers

    The House of Representatives has received the petition of 277 staff of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capitalwho were allegedly illegally dismissed.

    January 24 and January 27, 2014, some workers comprising mainly junior staff of the institute were issued sack letters by the management.

    A member of the House of Representatives representing Oluyole Federal Constituency, Olusunbo Olugbemi, told reporters over the weekend, that the House would investigate the matter .

    In the petition, the workers are accusing the Executive Director of the Institute, Prof. Malacky Akoroda, of harassment and intimidation.

    Olugbemi said the House send the petition the appropriate committee for investigation.

  • Aregbesola denies plan to sack 10,000 workers

    Aregbesola denies plan to sack 10,000 workers

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Monday denied speculations that that his administration was planning to sack 10,000 workers.

    Aregbesola in a statement by his media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, said in Osogbo that “the so-called plan’’ to sack 10,000 workers is a figment of an imagination by the opposition party in the state.

    According to the statement, nowhere has the Aregbesola administration signifies any intention to sack any worker.

    “The workers’ sack speculation was part of the opposition party calculated move to misinform workers, confuse them and demoralise them.

    “Discerning and decent people have come to the conclusion that when opposition makes any allegation, you must quickly dismiss it as being in its character to fabricate falsehood to confuse unsuspecting masses.

    “This latest falsehood is part of the opposition tactics to misinform workers, confuse them and demoralise them. Nowhere has the Aregbesola’s administration signified any intention to sack any worker.”

  • ExxonMobil sacks 150 staff

    ExxonMobil sacks 150 staff

    Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), Unlimited, operator of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation MPN/NNPC Joint Venture in Akwa Ibom has sacked about 150 contract staff and 40 drivers from its employ.

    Some of the victims who spoke with the newsmen in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom Friday said that the development had devastated them.

    They lamented incessant sacking of workers from the oil giant company in Akwa Ibom.

    A sacked driver, Mr Frank Etebong, however, said that ExxonMobil had paid their entitlements but complained that the sacking of workers in the company was out of control.

    He explained that the sack had put confusion amongst their colleagues.

    “Working with ExxonMobil is like holding your heart in your hand because you can be fired at any time.

    “If government does not take urgent step to check the incessant sacking of Nigerians in ExxonMobil, one day the oil giant company will disengage  all our people in the company,’’ he lamented.

    Etebong who would not disclose how much he was paid, said that the money was not even enough to start a good business.

    He explained that there are two set of drivers in the company namely Service Contract Workers and Contract Workers.

    He appealed to the state government to come to their aid, saying that the situation had devastated their members.

    Another Victim, Mr Martins Usendia, expressed displeasure at the situation, saying that there was no justification for the sack of the workers.

    Usendia lamented that the benefit given by Mobil could not feed him for four months before he gets a new job.

    He called on the Federal Government to intervene, saying that the “incessant dismissal of workers had an adverse effect on the economy.”

     

  • Robbers sack Anambra community

    •Residents, college workers flee

    Following the incessant cases of robbery in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra state, the community and staff of Federal College of Education, Technical, yesterday took to the streets to protest.

    The protesters, numbering over 1,000, carried placards and marched to the house of the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Promise Eze and the house of former deputy governor of the state, Emeka Sibeudu.

    The protesters also marched to the local government headquarters in the state, chanting war songs and cursing the armed robbers, who according to them, had laid siege to the community.

    Last Sunday, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Sunny Ike, died, following gun shots he received from the armed robbers who invaded his house about three weeks ago.

    Some of the placards read, ‘life and property no longer safe in Umunze’; ‘fish out thieves in your mist’; ‘enough is enough; stop the killings in Umunze’ and ‘injury to one is injury to many’ among others.

    The protest was led by the Chairman of the institution Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Dr. A.T. Nwamaradi, Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) chairman, Alex Okoli and Eze Joachim, the chairman of senior staff union of college of education Nigeria (SSUCOEN).

    Though, the lawmaker representing Orumba south constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon Nikky Ugochukwu, was not around, but the former deputy governor described the situation as unfortunate.

    He said that the administration of Governor Willie Obiano had done well in the area of security, adding that the community was a border town between Imo and Abia states, assuring the protesters that something must be done to arrest the situation.

    He said that the community’s vigilante group was doing its best to curtail the activities of the robbers, adding that more efforts should be made to ensure the security of lives and property.

    Speaking, the chairman of (COEASU), Dr. A.T Nwamaradi, said as a result of the invasion of the community, staff and students have relocated to neighboring communities for safety.

    He said many staff of the college lost property and cash worth millions, adding that some of them had been robbed about nine times.

  • Union demands sack of Provost

    The Academic Staff Union of the College of Education in Edo State (COEASU) has demanded the sack of the school’s Provost, Prof Amen Uhunmwangho.

    Amen is being accused of harassment, victimisation and breach of agreement.

    The union said the management “should pay outstanding trust fund deductions from October, November and December”, adding that its annual general meeting (AGM) could not hold because the management withheld members’ money.

    It accused the management of treating their agreement with impunity though the state government had given subvention to the institution.

    A statement signed by Fred Omonuwa and Dr V. Okosun, called on government to investigate “unremitted taxes illegally deducted from salaries”.

    Omonuwa said: “You will recall that we went on a seven-day strike after which we were supposed to proceed on an indefinite strike because our demand was not met, but having met and considered management’s appeal, we gave them additional 30 days.

    “Important is the demand for promotions and the N30 million trust fund money. Rather than address these issues, the management came out with queries, with the illegal suspension of our members.

    “No panel was set up to address these issues. Again, the chief security officer (CSO) told us of an order that we must seek security clearance before holding meetings.’’

  • Agwai ‘s sack

    Agwai ‘s sack

    It smacks of pettiness on the part of the FG and unseriousness with the objectives of SURE-P that he headed

    The removal of General Martin Luther Agwai as chairman of the intervention agency, Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) is another indication that something is fundamentally wrong with the philosophy of the Jonathan administration. The agency, a baby of the popular struggle for transparency in the management of prices of petroleum products in 2012 certainly needs men of proven integrity to manage it. This explains the appointments of the first chairman, Dr. Christopher kolade, and Agwai who succeeded the former high commissioner.

    Kolade was recommended for the job because of his vast experience in both the public and private sectors. He has the reputation of a man who could be trusted with public funds but had to bow out when he could not tolerate the practices that threatened his reputation. Agwai, a retired four-star General of the Nigerian Army who had the distinction of rising to the pinnacle of his career had won laurels at home and abroad. He was Chief of Defence Staff in the Obasanjo administration and a commander of international peacekeeping operations. His appointment was meant to allay fears that the government frustrated Dr. Kolade out with a view to derailing the programme. However, Agwai’s sack last week and his replacement with a regular public servant has raised questions about the sincerity of the Federal Government about tackling national maladies.

    We find it inappropriate that the Federal Government could not officially adduce reasons for the removal. A man of such distinction does not deserve such a shabby treatment. If he had done anything wrong, it ought to have been pointed out, if only to allay public fears on the direction of public policy and encourage other men of repute to take public appointments.

    It has been suggested that Agwai was removed for attending and presenting a paper at the 78th birthday of General Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president of the country and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. It is surprising that the government did not deem it fit to congratulate the former president, let alone being represented at the well-attended and well-advertised event. It is even more unfortunate that a retired General could draw the ire of the government for honouring the invitation of his former boss.

    Governance at the highest level in the country deserves decorum, decency and grace. A man of honour at the helm of affairs would realise that the trenchant criticisms by General Obasanjo of recent do not make him an enemy. Differences in political opinion should not be allowed to becloud our sense of propriety.

    What the president did in sacking General Agwai smacks of pettiness. A society faced with the sort of crisis in the country today requires the services of all men and women of distinction, irrespective of their political affiliation. The United States of America is one country that owes its rapid development to the part being played by technocrats who are either apolitical or even aligned to opposing political parties. Realising the need for such bipartisan disposition, President Barack Obama saw nothing wrong in appointing a Republican his defence secretary at the inception of his administration.

    We must learn the good lessons. As we prepare to hold another general elections, Nigerians should begin to ask the correct questions of their governments. We must insist that morals and value play great roles in building good societies and thus insist that any government that intends to captain the ship of state must seek good materials and accord them the respect that they deserve. The governments at all levels should realise that public officers are not robots who could be robbed of their independence and viewpoints. General Agwai was entitled to his opinion at the Obasanjo birthday and that certainly is not enough to deprive the society of his sterling qualities in managing SURE-P.

    The presidential system of government is hinged on competence and the drive for excellence, not blind personal loyalty to the leader or the ruling party.

    Now that General Agwai has been sacked from SURE-P, Nigerians, and especially the civil society groups should begin to pay closer attention to the agency and other similar intervention agencies with a view to ensuring that they keep to the highest standards in performing the roles they were set up to fulfill.

  • ‘No plan to sack Jega’

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo State, Rufus Akeju, yesterday debunked the rumour that RECs were planning a vote-of-no-confidence in the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega.

    He spoke at the presentation of voter education materials in Braille to the executives of the Joint Association of People with disabilities at INEC office in Ibadan.

    Akeju said: “Allow me to seize this opportunity to debunk the rumour that RECs are poised to invoke a vote-of-no-confidence in the hardworking chairman of the commission.

    “This is a lie as we (RECs) still repose an implicit confidence in him and the innovations being implemented.

    “The voter education materials being presented today, include frequently asked questions on electoral process, voting procedure, voting offences and penalties, in Braille production.

    The representative of the Joint Association of People with disabilities, Olusola Obeyi, said the materials would   benefit visually-impaired people.

     

  • Re: President can sack INEC chairman

    SIR: I read Dr. Kayode Ajulo’s interview published on page 42 of The Nation of Tuesday, February 24, particularly as it concerns the powers of the president to sack the INEC chairman.

    Ajulo in his interview gave affirmation to the question whether or not the president has the right to sack the INEC chairman. He claimed that his position stem from the provisions of the constitution and other extant laws even though he cited no particular section of any law or constitution. He finally concluded by asserting that the president appointed Jega, therefore has the right to fire him.

    With due respect to Dr. Ajulo, I greatly differ. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is a creation of section 153(1) (f) of the 1999 constitution as amended and not a creation of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria. By the provision of section 154(1) of the constitution aforesaid, the appointments of chairman and members of INEC are made by the president subject to confirmation by the senate. In essence, in the appointment of chairman and members of INEC, the president has the originating powers of the process of installing an INEC chairman. However, once the INEC chairman is confirmed by the senate, the president loses the powers to initiate the process of his removal from the office and therefore cannot originate or activate the process of removing the chairman or members of INEC.

    By the provisions of section 157 of the 1999 constitution which deals with removal of a person holding the offices created by section 153 which includes INEC (but excludes members of National Population Commission), for such an office holder to be removed by the president, the president will act on an address supported by two-third majority of the senate requiring or praying that such an office holder be removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct.

    The implication of section 157 of the constitution is that for INEC chairman or any member of the commission to be removed, the process of such removal must be initiated by the senate through a panel or committee who must investigate the allegation during which the officer affected must be heard.

    Following the investigation, and report of the panel, the senate of the whole of 109 members shall in a session by not less than 73 persons pray the president to remove the affected chairman or member of the commission. The figure 73 is next approximate to two-third of 109 as held by the Supreme Court in the case of INAKOJU Vs. ADELEKE (2007) 143 LRCN @ 89.

    I hope Dr Ajulo knows that the commission enumerated under section 153, (INEC inclusive) is separated from such federal bodies that draw their lives, existence and operations from ministries and executive departments like the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    The power to remove INEC chairman is not domiciled with the president but requires a joint effort of senate and the president.

     

    •Victor C. Nwaugo Esq.                                                                                    

    Hospital Rd, Aba, Abia State

  • Jonathan under attack …over plan to sack Jega

    Jonathan under attack …over plan to sack Jega

    •Minister: he’ll leave according to civil service rules

    Anthony Cardinal Okogie and other prominent Nigerians yesterday berated  President Goodluck Jonathan over the alleged plan to force the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor  Attahiru Jega, to go on terminal leave.

    They warned that such a  move would have a devastating effect on the nation’s democracy.

    The warning comes on the heel of the alarm raised on Thursday  by the  All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate caucus  about  the alleged plot.

    Cardinal Okogie  said it would be wrong for government  to  get rid of Jega at this point in time.

    His words: “If he is not due or not meant for terminal leave, which then would be an illegal move, then the court will have to look into it. Prof Jega has his fundamental human right. If he is not meant to be on terminal leave, then he can fight for his fundamental human right.”

    Prominent  jurist, Professor  Itse Sagay ( SAN), said it would be rash and irresponsible  of government to remove Jega.

    He said it would  not  be in the  best interest of the ruling party to allow this to happen.

    “If they do that, they will scuttle the election and that will slide the nation into a  political and constitutional crisis.They should leave things the way they are. The polity is not owned by one person. It is owned by all of us,” he said.

    Retired Police Commissioner Abubakar Tsav also feared that forcing Jega out  “will create a lot of problems.”

    “ If Jega conducted  elections in other states very well, especially  Ekiti State and the PDP hailed him, why are they scared about this?” he said.

    “If that happens, it means the PDP is out to rig the elections and obviously sees Jega as a stumbling block to the plan. They should believe in God and allow the INEC its independence to carry out this election.

    “Any attempt to remove him will create confusion in the country. It will make the international community to see the country as unserious. In fact, it appears the ruling party  is scared of  General Muhammadu Buhari’s popularity.”

    Lagos  lawyer, Festus Keyamo,  said of the alleged plot:  First of all, Prof Jega is not subject to civil service rules. So it will be wrong to send him on terminal leave based on civil service rules.

    “Second, this would be the  second  brazen attempt to destroy the sanctity of the forthcoming elections,the first one being the postponement of the election, and this would be the second brazen attempt. And it will be a second one too many.”

    He said any such move would cause trouble in the country.

    “The civil society, the opposition party and Nigerians as a whole, will resist such a move. I am very sure of that, and they will protest against it on the streets of Nigeria,” he said.

    He asked  President Jonathan “ not to use his ambition to destroy the country.”

    Barrister Fred Agbaje, a constitutional lawyer berated Federal Government for not debunking the rumours which, according to him, has been flying around for over a month.

    He said: “The story has been flying around in the last one month. Unfortunately, the Federal Government has done nothing to douse that perception. There is need to hear from the Federal Government about what they are really planning to do.

    “The citizens are justified in their perception of the intention of the government to remove Jega under the guise of terminal leave. It has grave implications for the country. The fears are justified going by the antecedents of the government at denying things of this nature or matters that bother on national interest.”

    Comrade Debo Adeniran, a civil and human rights activist, said  “the speculation is likely to be true because it appears the ruling party does not  like Jega’ s  position on the electoral process  as he is not compromising”.

    In planning to remove Jega, he said, “the Federal Government  may be  trying to create chaos in order to extend the election by another six months and put the country in a state of  limbo.”

    But he warned that : “the civil society will not tolerate such as we have already spoken against it. If they do this, the people will be enraged.”

    His view was  shared by Comrade Shettima Yerima, President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, who said: “The plan  is not good for the country. If going by the constitution, his tenure is over, there would be no story about it. But if it is otherwise, it is unacceptable and we will resist it.”

    Meanwhile, the Federal Government has denied  that the presidency was planning to sack  Prof. Jega.

    Speaking yesterday, the supervising Minister for Information, Edem Duke, said the Federal Government was not planning to remove the INEC boss before the general elections.

    Duke said the INEC boss would leave office in accordance to laid-down service rules.

    He said: “On the issue of the INEC chairman, I align myself with what the president said that he has no plan to sack the INEC chairman.

    “That is not to say that if it is time for the INEC chairman to naturally exit his office, then the natural course of things will not take place.

    “It is like talking of a civil servant who has done 35 years or achieved the age of 60; we now begin to say that he must not retire or he must retire. I think all of that is in the terrain of the presidency and he has spoken.”

    Duke also pleaded with the media to continue to do things that will foster peace and national unity, stressing that the media needed to be guided so as not to set in motion things that could endanger the unity of the country.

  • Power to sack Jega beyond Jonathan

    SIR: We must never permit a situation of having to lock the stable door after the horse has bolted. The constitution is clear and unambiguous: the process of removal of the Chairman of INEC, according to Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution, starts from the Senate and ends with the President.

    The impression conveyed to the public by President Goodluck Jonathan during the Wednesday, February 11, media chat was that he could hire and fire the chairman of INEC at any time. No sir. Such power does not reside in the presidency.

    Even if the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission were to commit a criminal offence today, such as murder, he can be arrested by the police and prosecuted, since he enjoys no immunity, but the President has no constitutional power to either constructively remove him through suspension or sack him outright on account of that criminal act. Indeed, I find it ludicrous when some lawmakers claim they suspend the Speaker of a House of Assembly. The fact is, there is no such provision for the suspension of a Speaker. Suspension and removal amount to the same thing, in that he will not function in the said office during the period of suspension. No such is ever envisaged by the framers of the constitution. If he has committed any gross misconduct, he can be removed by two-thirds majority of the entire House. I am aware of the Public Service Rules, the House Rules, etc., but these are subordinate to the Constitution.

    The power of the President to appoint or dismiss the chairman of INEC, NJC, NPC, etc. is not only limited but circumscribed by the fact that he shall consult the National Council of State for appointment and obtain confirmation of the Senate, and in the case of removal secure, first, the concurrence of at least two-thirds majority of the Senate. The language employed by the constitution is that the process of removal should commence from the Senate – unlike the process of appointment which should begin from the President. Therefore, the President should be well-guided and not act in ignorance or defiance of the provisions of the constitution.

    Buoyed by his getting away with constructive removal of the former CBN governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, from office through suspension, the President erroneously believes that he can do the same for federal executive bodies listed in Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution. No sir; that’s a no-go-area.

    But then impunity begets impunity. Under what constitutional power did the President remove Chief Festus Odumegwu, the then chairman of the National Population Commission? Did the process commence from the Upper House? Did the Senate debate let alone vote on his removal? But we all kept quiet then; so why not attempt other infractions if you could get away with one act of impunity? But it is time to say thus far and no further to the President. Acting against the constitution is tantamount to treason.

    We must warn against a situation where the President will attempt to unconstitutionally dismiss the chairmen of INEC, NPC, NJC, etc. and then ask anyone that is not satisfied to go to court. That will amount to high treason. The constitution is clear: the process of removal of the chairman of INEC, according to Section 157, starts from the Senate and ends with the President. The purpose of Section 157 is to insulate the all-important bodies like INEC, CCB, NPC, RMAFC, etc. from vagaries of politics and political interference from the President. The polity should no longer permit any acts of impunity that may bring down the edifice of this nation.

     

    • Opeyemi Soyombo,

    Abeokuta, Ogun State.