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Tag: suspends

  • Kwara APC suspends council vice chair, two others

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has suspended the Vice Chairman of Baruten Local Government, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Ibrahim and two others for alleged anti-party activities.

    Ibrahim’s suspension will last for six months.

    Other suspended members are Alhaji Samari Abdullahi and the Coordinator of G20, Alhaji Abubakar Gunu. They were suspended for one year each.

    This brings to seven in the last three days, the number of people suspended in the local government.

    Last Friday, the council Chairman, Muhammed Omar Bio and former lawmaker, Senator Mohammed Ahmed, were suspended for the same offence.

    Ahmed represented Kwara North in the Senate.

    Other suspended members are a lawmaker in the outgoing House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Sabi, Alhaji Aliyu Kora Sabi and Muhammed Sunu Gofe. They were suspended for one year each.

    In a statement yesterday, APC spokesperson Alhaji Sulyman Buhari said: “The party has ordered the suspension of another three of its members in Baruten Local Government for anti-party activities.

    “Their suspension followed a report submitted by a panel of enquiry by the leadership of APC in the state. It is with immediate effect.”

  • NFF suspends Federation Cup final in Anambra State

    NFF suspends Federation Cup final in Anambra State

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has suspended the grand finale of the Anambra State Federation Cup competition, pending the resolution of the leadership crisis in that state.

    On Monday, the NFF issued a directive to the Football Associations of all 36 States and the FCT to hold their Federation Cup finale this weekend, in order not to disrupt the well-laid-out calendar for this year’s programme.

    “We have had to take the decision to suspend the finale of the Federation Cup competition in Anambra State as a result of the leadership crisis in that state.

    “The programme will remain suspended until the matter is resolved. The chairman of the NFF States’ Elections Monitoring Committee and the Chairman of FA Chairmen, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, will travel to Anambra State to sit down with the two contending parties and resolve the logjam,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said on Friday.

    It would be recalled that the leadership crisis in the Anambra State Football Association has festered over the weeks, following the declaration by former NFF Vice President Mike Umeh that he had been re-elected. The faction led by his vice chairman, Barrister Jude Obikwelu continues to insist that Umeh has been voted out of office.

  • Judiciary workers suspends 21-days strike

    Judiciary workers suspends 21-days strike

    Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on Friday suspended its 21-day old strike following the intervention of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu.

    This is contained in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the end of a meeting between the minister and JUSUN leadership in Abuja on Friday.

    “The meeting noted that the issues in dispute are constitutional matters in which judgments had been given in a suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/667/13 between JUSUN and the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    “The Federal Government was not in breach of the constitution, and therefore, the judgement cannot be enforced against it.

    “The state governments are obliged to respect the provision of the 1999 Constitution as amended and comply with the aforementioned judgement of the court,’’ it stated.

    The MoU further directed the Technical Committee to work out the modalities for the implementation of the judgement dated Jan. 13, 2014.

    It stated that the committee should work out the modalities for implementing the MoU from Friday Aug. 1 to  Monday, Aug. 4.

    It, however, added that no JUSUN member shall be victimised for participating in the strike.

    The MoU was jointly signed by Nigeria Labour Congress President, Abdulwaheed Omar; JUSUN President, Mustapha Adamu; Director, National Judicial Council, Eugene Odukwu; and Chairman, Accountant General’s Forum, Mr Udo Isobara.

    The others were Mr Adetokunbo Kayode, Nigerian Bar Association; Bola Odugbesan, Ministry of Justice; Mrs Chinedu Dike, Ministry of Labour, and Abdullahi Zubair, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

    JUSUN embarked on strike on July 11 following state governments’ failure to implement the subsisting judgement of the Federal High Court delivered on Jan. 13, 2014.

  • COEASU suspends strike for three months

    COEASU suspends strike for three months

    the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) yesterday suspended its seven-month old strike for three months to allow the Federal Government examine its grievances.

    The union said it was suspending the strike from July 21 to give room for negotiation with the government.

    COEASU President Dr. Emmanuel Asagha addressed reporters yestetrday in Abuja at the end of a meeting with the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau.

    He said: “There are so many factors involved. We have fought a good fight and we have brought ourselves this far. The new minister has exhibited sincere commitment towards the resolution of the lingering issues. We believe that the way he has spoken, with utmost commitment with the fear of God, having emphasised that so seriously in his various speeches, we believe that the issues will be resolved in no time…”

     

  • Budget 2014: Reps’ committee suspends hearing on state of economy

    Budget 2014: Reps’ committee suspends hearing on state of economy

    The Finance Committee of the House of Representatives has put off its investigative hearing on the state of the country’s economy.

    Former World Bank Vice President and Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili, former Petroleum Minister, Prof. Tam David West, Prof. Mike Kwanashie, Prof. Sarah Anyanwu, Mr. Henry Boro and Prof. A. G. Garba, among others, were expected to make presentations at the hearing, which was supposed to have begun today.

    Local and international agencies, such as the World Bank, United Nations Development Programe (UNDP), Nigerian Extractive Industries and Transparency Initiative (NEITI), among others, were also invited.

    The Chairman of the committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, in a statement yesterday said the four-day hearing would have coincided with and delayed the work of the standing committees of the House on the consideration of the 2014 budget.

    “The postponement was necessitated by the need to allow various Ministries, Departments, Agencies and other affected stakeholders to continue with the 2014 budget defence before the standing committees of the National Assembly,” he said.

    Expressing regrets about the postponement, the chairman said a new date would be announced soon after the conclusion of the budget defence exercise.

    The investigative hearing followed the inability of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to provide a satisfactory response to a list of 50 questions presented to her by the committee last December.

  • NMA suspends planned strike

    The Emergency National Executive Council of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has suspended its planned strike from today.

    The association had directed medical and dental practitioners in the country to withdraw their services from today to ensure full implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the government.

    NMA President Osahon Enabulele said: “All medical and dental practitioners nationwide have been directed to continue to render their normal and highly cherished services to the lovely and caring people of Nigeria.

    “The Nigerian Medical Association shall, at the appropriate time, reappraise the commitment of the Federal Government to its self-determined time lines for the full implementation of the MOU signed with the association and take appropriate actions as it might deem fit.”

    The NMA convened an emergency National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting in Abuja at the weekend to reappraise the efforts to resolve its demands.

    At the meeting were leaders of state branches of the NMA and those of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) branch, the association’s affiliate bodies, former president and elders of the profession.

    It was learnt that at the expiration of its fourth extended 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the NMA rose from an emergency delegates’ meeting (EDM) in Minna, Niger State, on December 14, last year.

    It directed all medical and dental practitioners in Nigeria’s public health sector to begin a five-day warning strike from December 18 to December 22, last year.

    The association also saiditwould go on a total strike from today, if its demands before the Federal Government were not addressed.

    The demands, according to the NMA, border on the absence of a regulatory environment for the health care sector practice, funding of health care and the expansion of the Universal Health Coverage to cover all Nigerians, health infrastructural upgrade, alleged “fundamental” injustice to doctors on workplace conditions/conditions of service and other health sector challenges.

    Reading the resolutions of the E-NEC in Abuja, Dr Enabulele said the strike was shelved “in appreciation of the impact of the withdrawal of services on Nigerians; the appeals by well-meaning Nigerians for more time to be given by NMA for dialogue with government and the efforts of the Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government to address some of the demands of the NMA.”

  • Niger suspends five headteachers

    Five secondary school headteachers in Niger State have been suspended by the government for allegedly collecting illegal fees from new pupils.

    Their suspension followed complaints by parents to the Ministry of Education that the headteachers were charging fees in contravention of the government’s free education policy.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Education, Danladi Umar Abdulhameed, said their actions were a contravention of the free education policy of the Babangida Aliyu- led government.

    Those affected were headteachers of Day Secondary School, Tunga, Army Day Secondary School, Minna, Day Secondary School, Madalla and Halidu Adamu Junior Secondary School, Suleja.

    The statement directed the affected teachers to hand over the administration of their schools to their deputies.

  • CBN suspends Wholesale Dutch Auction

    CBN suspends Wholesale Dutch Auction

    The Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) was yesterday suspended by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which reintroduced the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS).

    The policy is to take effect from October 2. The RDAS will hold on Mondays and Wednesdays every week.

    In a circular to the Money Deposit Banks and authorised foreign exchange dealers, the CBN said the existing limit of $40,000 per annum on naira and credit card has been reviewed upward to $150,000 per annum.

    Also there would be a monthly rendition of returns by authorised dealer banks and card issuers (Mastercard and Visa) to the CBN. The settlement for the cards shall continue to be with interbank funds, the apex bank’s circular, said, warning that any authorised dealer intending to import foreign currency cash will need to forward the application to the CBN for processing and approval.

    It said authorised dealers would continue to sell foreign exchange cash to the Bureau de C hange (BDCs) subject to a maximum limit of $250,000 per week per BDC, while it pegged the minimum bid amount for authorised dealers at $100,000 which shall be in dollar and naira.

    Meanwhile, the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi yesterday, said licences of 20 BDC operators will be revoked today over their involvement in money laundering and other malpractices. He spoke at the 75th anniversary of Ikoyi Club, in Lagos. He said the operators of the affected BDCs will also be prosecuted for money laundering.

    He said people that took foreign exchange from banks and cannot show what the funds were used for, are engaging in money laundering and will face the law. “If you take money above the limit and you cannot show what you used it for, then it is money laundering,” he said, adding that Nigeria has overtaken Russia as the highest importer of dollars in the world and the CBN is committed to changing that trend.

    Sanusi said Nigeria is the world’s biggest user of forex, importing almost everything. “We spend our forex to import what we produce, and export what we do not produce.”

    He said the apex bank has established that some banks were importing dollars and selling them to BDCs and therefore has decided to clamp down on all BDCs violating forex rules.

     

  • PDP suspends another governor as crises rage

    PDP suspends another governor as crises rage

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be sinking deeper into crises, with yesterday’s suspension of another governor.

    Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko was kicked out of the party – temporarily – for alleged insurbodination.

    He is the second governor elected on the platform of the party to be suspended. Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi was last month asked to stay away from the activities of the party.

    The PDP cited Wamakko’s “repeated breaches and disregard” for the party’s constitution as the reason for its action.

    National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh declared the governor suspended in a statement he issued last night.

    Metuh said the decision was taken at the 338th meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) held same day.

    The ruling party said Wamakko had repeatedly ignored invitations and lawful directives by its NWC, showing apathy to the party’s affairs and contempt for an organ of the party.

    Metuh said: “Consequent upon the refusal of the governor to honour yet another invitation by the NWC to appear before it today, Wednesday, June 5, 2013 without any reason, the Committee, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 57 (3), 57 (7), 58. 1(c ),(h), (f) and 59 (1),(2), hereby suspends the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, as a member of the party and refers the matter to the appropriate disciplinary committee of the party.

    “This is in furtherance of the determination of the leadership of the party to enforce discipline at all levels within the party”

    The PDP expressed worry about the state of the party and its members across the nation.

    PDP National Chairman Bamanga Tukur last weekend hinted of the plan to wield the big stick to rein in deviant chieftains of the party, including governors.

    In a statement, he said more members would soon be reprimanded for anti-party activities.

    Tukur expressed worry about allegations of anti-party activities being perpetrated by those holding key elective offices on its platform.

    “People say we have crisis in our party. It may appear so, but that also shows that democracy is at play in the way we conduct our affairs. We are a family and like any family, we can disagree and then we will agree.

    “We have mastered the game and that is the reason we have been keeping afloat. However, we are talking about discipline here. During the PDP Family Dinner, I emphasised on the necessity for party discipline in line with the vision of our founding fathers.

    “We have our Constitution to guide us in maintaining discipline. Our past failures to uphold discipline with sense of seriousness has been the reason some members act in very questionable manners. “

    “Today, everybody is talking about 2015 with expectations that we must win fairly and transparently. How can we achieve that if certain members of the party go against the rules with impunity, while nothing happens? We have had enough of inconsistencies and loose conducts, and today, we say that must stop,” Tukur said.

    A PDP Governors’ Forum was recently formed amid the crisis that engulfed the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). Many state chapters of the party are deep in wranglings. Even the NWC is wracked by a struggle for control.

    NGF Chairman Rotimi Amaechi has served a court order on the PDP to stay action on his suspension.

    But, despite the order, an 11-man PDP disciplinary committee invited memoranda from party members yesterday on Amaechi’s alleged anti-party activities.

    The party’s National Working Committee met on how to set aside the order.

    But, there are moves to reconcile President Goodluck Jonathan and the Rivers State governor. Some Southsouth chiefs have relocated to Abuja to explore the peace option.

    The chiefs have met with PDP National Chairman Bamanga Tukur, Amaechi and a prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark.

    A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt last Friday restrained PDP from taking further action against Amaechi, pending the hearing of a substantive suit challenging his suspension from the party.

    Mr. Justice Emmanuel Ogbuji’s order followed a preliminary application brought before the court by the governor’s lawyers, who were led by Mr. Akin Olujimi (SAN).

    The judge ordered PDP to appear before today.

    The court order was served on the PDP on Monday by a bailiff.

    It was gathered that the order was duly signed for at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja.

    The Disciplinary Committee said it was yet to get a copy of the order.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The court order has been served on the PDP, it is left to the party to either respect the Judiciary or ignore it.

    “It is expected that the party leadership will bring the order to the notice of the disciplinary panel.

    “So far,the party is yet to direct the panel to stop sitting.”

    Another source said: “The NWC met on Wednesday on the court order and other issues. I think the party has decided to return to court to vacate the order of the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt.”

    But as the forces in the Presidency and the PDP have intensified their “plot to deal with Amaechi”, with some members of the House of Assembly telling in Abuja that they “are ready for the worst”.

    One of the lawmakers said: “Even if they are ready to expel all of us from the party, we will stand by Amaechi because he has served the state very well.

    “We have heard that they have voted billions of naira to give to us to remove Amaechi. We are ready, let them bring the billions.

    “What we can assure you is that we will display any amount they bring for Nigerians to see the waste of public resources.”

    The Southsouth chiefs have been in Abuja for two weeks, according to a source close to them.

    “They believe the crisis is not in the interest of the South-South’s aspiration to retain the presidency in 2015″, said the source, who added: “But the Southsouth chiefs have not been able to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan. I think some forces are shielding the President away from the chiefs in the last two weeks.

    “But the chiefs are optimistic that they can resolve the crisis of confidence between the President and the governor.”

  • Ogun Assembly suspends four lawmakers

    Ogun Assembly suspends four lawmakers

    Four members of the Ogun State House of Assembly have been suspended, Speaker Suraj Adekunbi said yesterday.

    They are Remmy Hazzan, Motunrayo Adijat Oladapo-Adeleye, Job Akintan and John Obafemi.

    Adekunbi said nobody would be allowed to drag the Assembly into disrepute.

    He said: “Today at plenary, I said nobody should go in or out of the chamber without observing courtesy for the institution. We have to live by good example. Hassan, Adeleye, Akintan and Obafemi have been suspended and their suspension stands indefinitely.

    “The House will reconvene by the special grace of God tomorrow. It is an institution and it is greater than anybody. Their attitude, so far, has been uncharitable.

    “What they are talking about is money bill and nobody can bring it up without informing stakeholders and following due process. Everything would be debated.”

    Hazzan, Oladapo-Adeleye, Akintan and Obafemi were suspended for being unruly in protesting the appointment of a Tenders Board chairman.

    After plenary, the four and others in sympathy with them returned to the House to say they had suspended the Speaker. They had no mace.

    The Assembly began plenary a few minutes after 10am yesterday.

    Adekunbi called on Jolaoso to move a motion to facilitate the amendment of the bill on how the state could obtain loan/bond facilities. The Hazzan group kicked.

    A heated argument ensued among the lawmakers. There was chaos.

    The mace, which is the Assembly’s symbol of authority, was broken.

    Men of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), the Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) restored calm in the chamber.

    The Chief Whip, Mr. Segun Solarin and Mr. Kunle Oluomo (Ifo Constituency I) told reporters that the legislators were on a short recess and would reconvene later, adding that Hassan and his group could not suspend anybody.

    Solarin said: “We are on recess. We will go back to the House and reconvene to complete today’s plenary. That is the situation now.”