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Tag: urges

  • Aspirant urges Ogun APC members to insist on direct primary

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has urged members to insist on their right to choose the party’s candidate for next year’s election through the direct primary.

    Abiodun, who hails from Iperu in Ogun East Senatorial District, urged party faithful to fight for their freedom, allow their votes to count and disallow the indirect primary from prevailing where they can have their say.

    The oil magnate spoke at the weekend during a tour of Abeokuta South, Imeko Afon and Yewa North local government areas with party members.

    He urged party members not to give up on their clamour for the direct primary as recommended by APC national leadership.

    Abiodun assured them that there is no going back until the will of the people prevails.

    The aspirant recalled that he supported Governor Ibikunle Amosun to realise his ambition, but wondered why the governor was unwilling to reciprocate the gesture.

    He said: “I was one of the people who went to plead for the incumbent governor to be allowed to govern the state in 2007, but we failed. After that election, we realise we didn’t do stomach infrastructure then. We tried again in 2011 with 11 House of Assembly members, which I personally financed.

    “I wonder where I’ve wronged the governor with my ambition, with all the support I gave him then; not that he gave me any post or my loyalty, which I never questioned him for.”

    The aspirant said the plan to elect the party’s flagbearers through the delegate system was an indirect admittance of failure on the part of the outgoing governor.

    According to him, a government that is really in touch with the people would not be afraid of putting its fate in the hands of the electorate.

    Abiodun promised to return the party to the people if he is elected the APC candidate in 2019.

    “I promise to return the party to the people because the party belongs to the people and not an individual or a family that some people feel they should control,” he said.

    Abiodun also urged party faithful to use the current continuous membership registration via the internet to get more members for APC.

  • NIM urges public officers on accountability

    The Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) has advised public officers in the country to be accountable and initiate policies and programmes that would improve the standard of living of the citizens.

    It further urged the government to respect the principle of federalism which allows every tier of government to enjoy a certain level of autonomy.

    Speaking yesterday at opening ceremony of the 2018 Annual National Management Conference at the Afficent Event Centre, Kano, Prof Kamilu Sani Fage of the Department of Political Science, Bayero University Kano, who gave the lecture titled: Re-engineering leadership for National Development at the ceremony, said the surest way to re-engineer leadership for national development is good governance.

    He said: “Leaders should initiate progressive economic policies and programmes that should create employment, thus, raising the standard of living of Nigerians. The respect for the rule of law, not only in theory but also in real practice by the constituted bodies, authorities and rest of us should also be enhanced, to promote good governance in Nigeria.

    “There must be respect for the principle of federalism whereby autonomy and responsibilities are accorded to every tier of government in the federation.”

    In his welcome address, governor  Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, said  good leadership should be in the front burner and conscience of Nigerians, for the country to achieve prosperity.

  • NBA urges police to unravel branch chair’s killers

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged the police to find the killers of Mr. Emeka Agundu, Obollo-Afor Branch chairman in Enugu State. Agundu was killed on September 2.

    He was recovering from an earlier gunshot wounds when he was killed.

    In a statement by its President Mr Paul Usoro (SAN), NBA noted that Agundu had reported the assassination attempt to the Police prior to his murder and wondered why he was not protected.

    “The NBA mourns the heinous murder of Mr. Agundu and calls on the law enforcement agencies to unmask and bring to justice, the men behind this horrendous crime.

    “Emeka’s death must not be recorded simply as one more statistic in the list of unresolved murders.

    “Indeed, Emeka’s murder underscores the need for the various strata of governments of the land to wake up and live up to their responsibilities in the area of security of lives and property.

    “It bears emphasising that the primary role of governments, the world over, is and remains the protection of lives and properties. That indeed is the raison d’etre of the NPF,” NBA said.

    NBA said it could not but wonder what the police did to protect Agundu’s life after the first unsuccessful assassination attempt was reported.

    The association demanded to know what the police are doing to fish out those who made the earlier unsuccessful attempt on Agundu’s life and who, possibly, are the same persons who finally cut short his life.

    On the way out such killings, NBA said: “In point of fact, the horrific assassination of Mr. Agunu is but the latest in the incidents of banditry and murder that Nigerians have been living with in different parts of the country including but not limited to Zamfara, Plateau and Benue states.

    “Does the Police Force face challenges in containing these incidents of insecurity to lives and property in the land? Possibly so.

    “In that event, the Federal Government of Nigeria, working with NPF, needs to properly diagnose these challenges and work at resolving them.

    “Immediate areas that we believe NPF may need support and assistance may be in the areas of training and retraining in crime detection and investigation, review of compensation packages for the men and women of the Police Force, supply of modern equipment for detecting and combating crime.

    “In the long term, we see no reason Nigeria should not aspire to status of ensuring the installation and maintenance of pervasive CCTV monitors in the nooks and crannies of the country for purposes of crime detection and prevention, amongst others.”

    NBA said it was willing to work with the Federal Government and the police in crime-detection and prevention.

    “In the meantime, our hearts and sincere condolences go out to the immediate and extended family, friends and associates of our late beloved colleague, Agundu, even as we pray for his repose.’’

    Meanwhile, Usoro has revealed plans to reorganise the association’s disciplinary committee, adding that the existing team will continue to function.

    In a September 8 circular, he said: “In my inaugural address, I had dissolved ‘forthwith the membership of all the existing Committees of the NBA excluding the Sections and such other committees as I may expressly indicate’.

    “Considering the foundational importance of discipline in our profession, I had earlier in the week discussed with some members of the NBA Prosecution Team, notably, the Chief Prosecutor, Charles Ajuyah (SAN) and informed them of the exemption of their Team from the general dissolution of NBA Committees, in the terms of my inaugural address, pending the imminent review and reconstitution of the Team.

    “The planned review and reconstitution of the team will focus, amongst others, on the modus operandi and efficiency of the team, in an all-encompassing manner, covering, amongst others, cost-efficiency, efficiency in terms of the number and quality of Team members taking into account, amongst others, the number of petitions that are pending before the LPDC and the number of petitions that are received averagely each month and may need to be processed by the various NBA Disciplinary Panel prior to being forwarded to the LPDC for hearing and determination.

    “Necessarily, the planned review would extend to the NBA Disciplinary Panels as well.

    “In point of fact, I had promised, in my inaugural address, a complete overhaul of the legal practitioners’ disciplinary process in a manner that would ‘make our disciplinary procedures far more responsive and time-sensitive’.

    “This we intend to effect, right from the processes at the NBA Secretariat and up to the prosecution of the matters.

    “We would also, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and agencies, review the disciplinary provisions that are contained in our various legislation and bye-laws in order to upgrade and update them in step with present-day realities and requirements. Our members would be periodically updated on these further steps, as they come to fruition.”

  • PDP urges lawmakers to override Buhari’s veto on amendment bill

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the National Assembly to override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto of the Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill without further delay.

    The bill automatically becomes law if two-thirds of members of the two legislative houses vote against the President’s veto if he failed to assent to it within a given period.

    In a statement yesterday by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the President’s veto on the bill did not come as a surprise. It added that Buhari’s commitment to a free and fair 2019 election was mere lip service.

    The statement said, “It is now manifestly clear to Nigerians that all the reasons adduced by President Buhari for withholding his assent in the past were lame excuses.

    “The clerical and drafting arguments put forward by President Buhari could not in anyway outweigh the importance of amendments meant to engender a free, fair, credible and transparent elections in 2019.

    “The PDP therefore charges the National Assembly to stand with Nigerians in the overall quest for credible elections by immediately overriding President Buhari on the bill”.

  • Ambode urges LASPEC officers on pensioners

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has challenged officers of the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) on effective communication with retirees and pensioners.

    The governor, represented by the Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson, spoke during the workshop tagged: ‘Top skills for public-facing officers of LASPEC in Lagos.

    He said the training was designed for officers of LASPEC who interact with pensioners, retirees and the public.

    According to him,  the rationale for the training is to ensure that the officers are reminded of the fundamentals of communicating effectively and compassionately to those with whom they interact.

    He said members of the public expect senior public servants to possess general top skills.

    He added that the state recognises the fact that there was need to train the officers to ensure that they cultivate skills that public-facing officers of the LASPEC ought to cultivate.

    The Governor said: “The first skill or trait should be a passionate commitment to the mission of the agency and the service as a whole. Excitement trickles down from leadership to the employees on the ground. When the administrator is enthused about the organisation or agency’s mission, the employees will mirror those feelings. In times of crisis, great administrators remind their staffs of the purpose of their mission and the role their organisation plays in the larger society.

    “The possession of a conceptual skill is also part of the critical skills and traits. As public servants, they must also learn how to pay attention to details. As important as it is for leaders to see the big picture and think strategically, it is equally important for them to pay attention to the details. This does not mean that leaders have to be involved in every minor decision, or undermine the decisions of subordinates; rather, leaders must remain aware of the activities of their staff and the status of projects, allowing autonomy whenever possible,” he added.

  • NUC urges VCs on sexual harassment

    THE Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Rasheed Adamu Abubakar, has advised vice chancellors on sexual harassment of female students.

    He said lecturers accused and found to be sexually harassing students must be punished.

    The NUC boss spoke at the 33rd Conference of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities with the theme: “Revitalisation of University Education in Nigeria”.

    It was held at the Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.

    Abubakar said: “We must ensure that the image of our universities being dented by some unscrupulous perpetrators of sexual harassment is protected. If this trend is allowed to continue, the future of education is bleak. The universities should be seen as producing graduates that could compete favourably with their colleagues anywhere in the world.”

    He advised the vice chancellors not to restrict their research and academic collaborations to international universities, but to collaborate internally with their co-universities in Nigeria and ensure that their products can complete internationally.

    The executive secretary, who hoped that Nigerian graduates could compete anywhere in the world, however, lamented that some international institutions found it hard to employ Nigerian doctors, engineers and other professionals.

    Welcoming participants, the host and Vice Chancellor of the Redeemer University, Ede, Prof. Debo Adeyewa, who is also the chairman of the association, told his colleagues that the onus is on them to produce graduates that can compete with their contemporaries anywhere in the world.

    He said: “We, therefore, need to encourage ourselves by stating the fact that the Nigerian education system is not beyond redemption. We only need a purposeful leadership, absolute commitment from key stakeholders and a sense of urgency to turn around the education sector.

    “We are glad that the current leadership of the NUC is resolutely committed to this. His style of leadership and ongoing restructuring through the NUC is heartwarming and points to a better future for the country.

    “While the society is quick to point out areas of weaknesses in our tertiary education system, we need to salute the courage, tenacity and doggedness of our able vice chancellors in moving the system forward in spite of the myriads of challenges confronting the ivory towers.”

  • Senator urges Wike to build on inherited projects

    The senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District, Andrew Uchendu, has urged Governor Nyesom Wike to continue with the people-oriented projects initiated by previous administrations.

    His media aide, Solomon Okocha, yesterday in Port Harcourt, said Uchendu spoke when a delegation of Association of Female Taxi Drivers (AFTD) visited him.

    Uchendu, who is the deputy chairman, Senate Committee on Public Procurement, lauded female taxi drivers in Rivers for their courage to venture into a profession once reserved for men.

    He promised to draw the attention of relevant authorities to their plight.

    “It is obvious that the persons who are benefitting from the services that you are rendering cut across different political, social and religious divides, hence government must do all that it can to assist you, devoid of any sentiment.

    “If Governor Wike wants to assist the people of the state, there is no reason why pro-people programmes of previous administrations, especially in the area of women empowerment, should be abandoned.

    ”I urge Governor Wike to continue with any state empowerment programme initiated by previous administrations for the good of Rivers people. He should emulate King Alfred Diete-Spiff (the pioneer military governor of the old Rivers state), who set the ball rolling in terms of scholarship programmes in Rivers State. It is sad to note that it is only Wike’s administration that has refused to maintain this noble service to humanity.

    ”There is no justifiable reason why Governor Wike has abandoned the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) scholarship programme, Songhai Farm, Buguma Fish Farm, Greater Port Harcourt City, and the multi-million naira state-owned banana plantation in the Ogoni-axis of the state.

    “For the good of our state, we must learn to continue with projects that directly touch the lives of our people, irrespective of political differences.”

    The senator also said he would write to the Federal Ministry of Transportation and urge it to partner entrepreneurs willing to invest in female commercial driving in Rivers.

    Coordinator of AFTD Mrs. Ayo Ogbonna said the last time they received audience and assistance from the government was during the administration of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation Minister), when they got new cars, through the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) programme.

    “AFTD is made up of women who undertake commercial driving in Rivers State, especially to add value to the lives of indigent women, hence making them to become economically productive and financially supportive in their homes.”

    “We were set up by Her Excellency, Dame Judith Amaechi, wife of former Governor Amaechi, through the ESI scheme, in collaboration with Skye Bank. A lot of women immensely benefitted from the programme. Brand new cars, support funds, training, among others, were some of the tangible things that we got from that bold initiative. We remain grateful to Dame Amaechi and her husband for the unforgettable gestures towards Rivers women.

    “Unfortunately, the present administration has not continued with the laudable scheme. A lot of female taxi drivers are undergoing various challenges, ranging from lack of access to funds for the procurement and repair of cars, discrimination, disturbances by touts and loading points being infested by criminals.”

    Ogbonna pleaded with Uchendu to use his legislative mandate to speak out for female taxi drivers in Rivers.

  • ITU urges local solutions to Africa’s challenges

    The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) yesterday advised African countries to come up with local solutions that would be deployed to address the numerous challenges facing the continent.

    Its Regional Director’s Representative, Mr  Mercelino Tayob, gave the advice during the opening of the 2018 ITU Annual Regional Workshop at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

    Tayob who lauded the Federal Goverment for hosting this year’s workshop, said problems of cyber crimes, unemployment, infrastructure deficit and other challenges confronting the continent could be tackled with home-grown technology.

    He said it was heartwarming that Kenya developed a software that not only propelled a revolution in the Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector, but galvanised economic activities by addressing problems confronting the citizens.

    Tayob who is ITU Representative in Africa, urged countries in the continent to take advantage of the resources and opportunities available to make the ICT sector more competitive and impactful, stressing that the sector has changed the ways people live, study and even get entertainment.

    According to Tayob, the workshop is organised for stakeholders, especially the civil society groups, consumers of ICT products and industry players to interact, exchange ideas and create awareness  on issues affecting the industry with a view to find lasting solutions to them.

  • Alaafin urges Nigerians to unite against killings

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has urged Nigerians to unite against those behind the killing of innocent persons across the country.

    This, he said, would reinforce the collective will to take the country from those he said were obsessed with insanity and barbarism.

    The frontline monarch said the socio-cultural orientations that uphold the sanctity of life and the intrinsic dignity in the human person must not be surrendered to the ungodly.

    Oba Adeyemi spoke at the turbaning of 12 Fulani leaders in his palace in Oyo town.

    The ceremony followed violent clashes between nomadic herders from the North and sedentary agrarian communities in the Southwest.

    The Alaafin and other traditional rulers in the North had invited some Fulani for a peace meeting.

    The 12 Fulani were chosen as representatives of their people and conferred with chieftaincy titles.

    At the ceremony, Oba Adeyemi urged the Federal Government to ensure that those found culpable in the mindless killings in Benue and other states are brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others.

    He said: “There can be no national development without relative peace and stability. There have been greater challenges of security in recent times than at any other point in our history, thus rendering our political stability fragile, democratic institutions and processes fluid and our economy debilitated.

    “The government, political leaders and followers and all of us must have the courage and honesty to get to the root causes of our current state of insecurity, underpinned by criminality, insurgency and of recent terrorism by herdsmen.

    “Our leaders and followers have taken the issues of security for granted. Yet, urgent and immediate steps must be taken to consciously respond to current threats by architectonically designing and building a security system which would create a stable and relatively peaceful environment, conducive for national development.

    “We must accept the reality that while it is necessary to create unity in diversity, we must identify and respect our differences, which is diversity in unity.”

    On security in his domain, the Alaafin said: “Before now, Oyo metropolis under the reign of Alaafin not only remained the first to provide cattle ranches for Fulani herdsmen in Yoruba land, another 10 acres of land were made available for convenience of the herdsmen free of charge to ensure harmonious relationship and peaceful co-existence among all ethnic groups residing in the metropolis.

    “Whenever there are skirmishes between farmers and the herdsmen, the royal adopted his age-long conflict resolution mechanisms, dated back to the old Oyo Empire, which provides opportunity to interact with the parties concerned, promotes consensus-building, social bridge reconstructions and enactment of order in the metropolis.”

    Hailing the Muhammadu Buhari administration for its steadfastness, commitment and determination to checkmate insurgency, Oba Adeyemi also stressed the need for the Federal and state governments to work together as well as take immediate steps to shore up security for herders and farmers.

    The National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Abdul Muhammadu Pirowa, hailed the Alaafin for his visionary leadership qualities and unflinching commitment for unity, peace and national development.

    He said: “I have never seen any community or state where the Fulani are accorded honour and recognition in the course of peace and mutual co-existence like here.

    “Your Imperial Majesty, as the Permanent Chairman of Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, you have set the pace in Yoruba land and indeed the country. I am indeed excited by this.”

  • NNPC chief urges firms to diversify

    The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru, has called on stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to explore other areas to boost economic diversification.

    Baru spoke at the 2018 Nigerian Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE) of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council titled: Diversification of the Nigerian Economy:  The Oil and Gas Industry as an Enabler held in Lagos. He identified the reliance on oil and gas as responsible for the economic recession experienced in the country recently.

    The NNPC chief also urged the stakeholders to look for ways to create alternative funding for exploration activities in Nigeria.

    He said: “This obvious lack of proactive action unfortunately exposed the country to economic shock occasioned by the global economic crises that culminated in the recession experienced recently, adding the theme was in line with the vision of the present administration of energising the national economy through robust sectoral development.”

    He said with oil reserves of about 37 billion barrels and 199 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves, the country was well positioned to generate resources and accelerate developments.

    According to him, once this is achieved, Nigeria should be self-sufficient in providing general services, agriculture and manufacturing, among others.

    Baru stated that the reform by the NNPC has centered on third party financing for Joint Venture (JV) operations, hence there is need to look for ways to design an alternative funding for exploration activities in Nigeria.

    “I extend NNPC’s gratitude to our local banks, international lenders and Schlumberger representing the local service providers, for their continued faith in Nigeria and their support in providing funding. It is quite an exciting time ahead in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The industry is financing both the development and infrastructure through alternative funding means.

    “The case in point is the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline that is being done under contractor financing with about $3billion. NNPC appreciates the cooperation of its partners and government financiers to move the industry forward. Our goal remains value delivery for all.

    “So far, the financing is centred on production, I will like to see the industry to concentrate and develop innovative ways on how to finance exploration. This, I believe, will be the big take-away from this workshop as it appears this is an area that is high and tough. Can we create an industry pool that will be funding for exploration? This is a worthy idea that we should look into. I hope that deliberations in this conference will dwell on other areas that I might have left out today.

    “We required an incremental annual capital funding of minimum of $7million  to cover the gap and to ensure growth, it was also clear to us that we cannot leave funding gap without looking out giving the outlook of government expenditures and strategic focus.”

    The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, represented by Sejus Ogun, said the country needed to pursue and develop an enabling environment that would promote transparency in the oil and gas sector.

    Dogara said the Legislature had given tacit support to ensure that the industry was run in a more transparent way, adding that the House of Representatives had demonstrated the support through accelerated passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) now waiting for presidential accent. He also assured that the remaining three other bills would receive the desired attention as the legislators were concerned and willing to provide the investment climate to drive the industry.

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, represented by Mr Johnson Awoyemi, said the industry required a robust legislation that would help in the ongoing Federal Government transformation.

    Kachikwu  said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had demonstrated commitment towards strengthening the industry by giving approval to the oil and gas policies. He urged the conference to come up with suggestions and strategies that would engender transparency, reduce contracting cycle issues, bring about cost reductions and accelerate development across the value chain.

    The Chairman, SPE Nigeria Council, Mr Chikezie Nwosu, called for immediate action to leverage the opportunities presented by the industry to develop other sectors. Nwosu regretted that the country had moved slowly in the quest to take advantage of the sector to fully transform the economy.

    He said government should not lose focus of the opportunities in the National Gas Policy, “as gas is critical to support such agenda.”