FORMER spokesman of the Nigerian Army Sani Usman has said that the Federal Government should do more than just press statements if there is any attempt to take over power undemocratically.
He said this in an interview on Channels TV Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, stressing that the military were at the forefront of affairs this time due to insecurity plaguing the country.
He said the concerns from the Federal Government were not surprising as the interest in military activities had become higher due to closeness of soldiers to the people in recent times.
He stated that the convergence of the key leadership units on national issues was bound to bring up conspiracy theories and that the attempt by the military to dissipate such assumption was in order.
He, however, urged the Federal Government to take more definite steps if there were genuine fears of unconstitutional actions being taken against the Nigerian democracy.
“I think we should go beyond the issuance of press statements and press releases if there are cogent reasons about individuals that really want us to turn the hand of the clock in terms of democratic governance in Nigeria. I think they should be exposed, our laws are quite clear about the line of actions to be taken about them,” he said.
He commended the concerted efforts of the military to deal with Boko Haram in the North, adding that that rather than overheat the polity, all hands should be on deck to ensure the mitigation of the challenges facing the nation.
He believed that there existed a degree of disconnection between the people and the security architecture as the people were not being carried along on security issues.
Usman advised that there should be a synergy between the people and the military as this could help curb the menace of insecurity in Nigeria, noting that there should be follow-up on terrorists after they had gone underground, to prevent resurgence.
There have been speculations around attempts to take over government undemocratically.
According to a report by The ICIR, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina alleged that religious and past political leaders were in collaboration with external forces to overthrow the administration of the Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari.
THE Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Ejike Mbaka has resurfaced hours after his whereabouts were unknown.
There was apprehension and protest by some of his followers after he failed to show up to attend his usual morning prayers on Wednesday.
Mbaka has recently been in the news lately over his recent call on the National Assembly to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari if he failed to resign due to the rising insecurity in the country.
The ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) released a statement to caution him, with a threat to expose and report him to the pope and the Vatican.
The Presidency has attributed Mbaka’s outburst to the refusal of Buhari to give him contracts.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu made this claim in a statement issued last week, disclosing that the clergyman visited the president at the State House with three individuals, demanding contracts from him in exchange for his support for him during the 2015 election. However, the president declined, asking him to follow the normal procedures, Shehu said.
“An outsider distilling the avalanche of verbiage, will be surprised that after supporting the President two times to win the Presidency, Father Mbaka has made a complete U-Turn, preposterously asking President Buhari to resign or be impeached,” he said.
“Here is the point of departure: Father Mbaka asked for a meeting and to the shock of Presidential Aides, he came accompanied by three contractors. The President graciously allowed them in, and to everyone’s surprise, Father Mbaka asked for contracts as compensation for his support.
“Anyone familiar with President Buhari knows that he doesn’t break the laid down rules in dealing with contracts or any other government business for that matter. He requested the appropriate authorities to deal with the matter in accordance with laid down rules.”
He noted that it was the discretion of the Presidency that pictures showing evidence of Mbaka’s request should not be made public so that he would not be embarrassed before his teeming followers.
Reacting, Mbaka said the foreign contractors he took to meet the president at the Presidential Villa were people who wanted to resolve the high level of insecurity in the country.
FIRST Bank of Nigeria (FBN) customers were caught in panic withdrawals in Abuja, following the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s board shake-up and damning verdict on the bank’s poor corporate governance.
The FBN, one of Nigeria’s tier-one banks, surprised both depositors and admirers when the Central Bank issued the board of the bank with a query for the removal of its CEO Adesola Adeduntan, citing non- approval of the change of the CEO. The CBN stressed that the bank was not beyond regulatory supervision.
The situation was curious because Adeduntan had eight months to the end of his tenure.
The apex bank noted that the action of the board of the FBN sent a negative signal to the market on the leadership of the board and management, stressing that it queried the board because of negative developments.
For instance, Central Bank of Nigeria raised concerns that FBN had not complied with regulatory directives on divesting its interest in Honeywell Flour Mills despite several reminders.
The CBN’s Director of Banking Supervision Haruna B Mustafa said after four years, the commercial bank was “yet to perfect its line on the shares of Mr. Oba Otudeko in FBN Holdco which collateralised the restructured credit facilities for Honeywell Flour Mills contrary to the conditions precedent for the restructuring of the company’s credit facility.”
The CBN stated that for failure to perfect the pledge and satisfy the condition for regulatory approval, such restructuring had been terminated and the credit facilities now payable immediately.
In the eyes of financial experts, the insider dealing did not go down with the CBN and could reflect that things were not going down well with the bank.
Nigeria has witnessed several banking collapses in the past. For instance in 2009,the Nigerian economy faltered and the banking system experienced a crisis.
The stock market collapsed by 70 per cent in 2008-2009 and many Nigerian banks had to be rescued. This followed a consolidation exercise by the apex bank ,which led to the merger of some banks to save customers from loss of deposits.
The same fears overwhelmed depositors with the First Bank Nigeria, as some of them engaged in panic withdrawal last week and early this week, findings by The ICIR have shown.
A depositor with the First Bank Nigeria who pleaded anonymity confirmed to The ICIRthat she withdrew her N900,000 savings from the bank, citing concerns of recent development of the regulatory intervention on the bank.
“I have been in this country long enough to read the writing on the wall. With the Central Bank’s intervention in the leadership of the bank, I have a serious concern that there could be a corporate misdeameanor from the managers of the bank. I have utmost respect for the bank with its longstanding legacy, however, I have to be cautious at this time.” the depositor noted.
Usman Mohammed, also a depositor at FBN, raised concern that the banking network had been poor since last Thursday, as he laid a complaint that he had to wait in the bank for five hours before exercising his banking rights. He noted that the banking services were still having some issues, stressing that the development might not be unconnected to the central bank’s intervention in the management of the bank as a regulator.
In Nigeria, failed banks are handed over to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation and depositors were initially paid N50,000 -although it was later increased to N200,000.
Most notably, poor corporate management and weak enforcement of banking supervision have resulted in bank collapse. Bank collapses in Nigeria have pushed millions of people into poverty. It is on record that thousands of people who have kept their life savings in the banks have lost them, including children’s school fees, savings for retirement, and medical bills, among others.
First Bank of Nigeria
On Thursday, Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the CBN announced the reinstatement of Adeduntan, after sacking all directors of the FBN Holding PLC.
The apex bank explained that it considered itself a key stakeholder in management changes involving FBN due to the forbearance and close monitoring by the bank over the last five years aimed at stemming the slide in the going concerns status of the bank.
“The action by the board of the FBN sends a negative signal to the market on the stability of leadership on the board and management and it is in the light of foregoing that the CBN queried the board of directors on the unfortunate development in the bank,” the apex bank said in a statement.
Analysts have said that the present corporate governance concerns raised by the apex bank were the same issues that resulted in the banking distress witnessed in 2009 by the nation.
Some of the factors that resulted in banking collapse included: macro economic instability caused by large and sudden capital inflows, major failures of corporate governance at banks, lack of investor and consumer sophistication, inadequate disclosure and transparency.
Basil Okafor, a depositor with the First Bank, told The ICIR that he had been watching the turn of events recently in the country and had withdrawn a large chunk of his money from the bank as a precautionary measure in protecting his hard-earned savings.
“I was at the bank early as early as 8 am on Friday morning. I am a businessman and have been watching things closely. I lived in Spain for years and had come back home to invest,” he said.
“However, with the turn of events unravelling in the country, I’m really sceptical about what is happening. Even the governance structure baffles me. which was why I had to quickly take that step. There are lots of apprehension even from my interaction with some depositors while we were in the bank. With this development in the bank and the recent turn of events in the country, I had to take this precautionary step on behalf of my family.”
Another depositor who spoke to The ICIR said concerns of poor corporate governance concerns raised by the CBN had forced him to tread with caution regarding his relationship with the bank.
“I can keep my account at First Bank, but I will not lodge huge amount in the bank. The CBN’s report shows the bank has poor corporate governance. The CBN is also not completely neutral,” the bank customer, who is a journalist and financial expert, noted.
A financial analyst Tope Fasua told The ICIR that the First Bank still had all the status of a big bank in place, stressing that he could still bank with FBN unless things escalated negatively in the coming days.
“If the First Bank should go down, it will be very cataclysmic to the industry. What this also shows is that there is no big bank that cannot have issues. The bigger the bank, the bigger the headache. It used to be the biggest bank, but later lost the status to other banks.”
Michael Ani, finance expert, while reacting to the concerns raised, told The ICIR that he would still confidently bank with FBN despite the concerns of the apex bank, since they had taken measures to ensure proper management of the bank.
“Yes I will, because it doesn’t affect depositors’ funds. I mean a bank like FB, the CBN will never allow such to happen. We saw it in the case of Skye Bank that is not even as strong as First Bank,” he noted.
NIGERIANS have reacted to pro-bandits’ statements credited to a controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi in which he asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to pay N100 million ransom for the kidnapped Greenfield University students.
In an interview with the Punch Newspaper, the Islamic cleric said the CBN should pay the 100 million ransom being demanded by the kidnappers of the students and advised the government not to take the threat by kidnappers of the students lightly.
Nigerians on Twitter have reacted by expressing their displeasure to this latest statement by Gumi.
Investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo, in his reaction on Twitter, described Gumi as a ‘kidnap apologist.’
No matter how he disguises it, this Gumi is a kidnap apologist. Otherwise, what's "Bandits don't live a luxury life; they live in huts; they have nothing; they drink from the stream"?
The innocent people being kidnapped, do they all live in mansions? Do they have everything?
Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) accused the State Security Service (SSS) of arresting innocent citizens for citicising the government but allowing Gumi to walk freely and even granting interviews on national television.
We need to stop acting calm like everything is okay in this country. The DSS is out steady arresting innocent citizens for protesting and criticizing this government but Gumi, spokesman of Bandits is walking freely and even granting interviews on National TV. I don taya.
Another twitter user @DrOlufunmilayo said Gumi knew where bandits lived and operated. He asked if Nigeria now had a ‘Minister for Banditry Negotiations and Ransom Payments.’
@FestusGreen said Gumi was arrested by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government for exchanging messages with the underwear bomber and terrorist, Farouk Abdulmutallab, before he boarded the flight he attempted to bomb.
Sheikh Gumi was arrested by the UAE for exchanging messages with the Nigerian underwear bomber and terrorist, Farouk Abdumutallab, shortly before he boarded the flight which he attempted to bomb. He was later released after the Nigerian govt intervened.
— FestusGreen #PeterObi (@FestusGreen) May 5, 2021
Another twitter user Morris Monye asked if the country’s security agencies were serious with the discharge of their duties.
If our security agencies are serious people, if they have the fear of Jesus or Allah or whatever they believe in, an invitation and sit-down with Sheik Gumi will reveal the identity of these bandits and we end this nonsense mess.
In March, The ICIR had reported how Gumi defended bandits who had been terrorising some parts of the northern region of the country. He said the bandits carried gun for self-defence.
Gumi said the dreaded criminal elements would not give up their guns if they were not assured of their safety and rehabilitation.
The cleric, who has been an advocate of dialogue and amnesty for the criminals, noted that another reason they took to arms was because there was no one to listen to and entertain their grievances.
“Nobody can justify criminality. What we are saying is, what we saw in the forest is an ethnic war going on between people in the forest and the neighboring villages and hamlets. When the herder felt he has grievances and nobody was listening to him, he took on weapons.
“So when we went there and they saw a listening ear, they were ready to negotiate, tell us their grievances, and ready to incorporate into the society. So in such a case, I see no reason why we should not have a dialogue with them.”
In another report, Gumi likened bandits to civil war instigators that were pardoned.
“If the country could pardon coup plotters who committed treasonable offences in the era of military administration, the bandits can as well enjoy similar forgiveness even better under democratic rule.
“These people in the bush, who have taken arms, they are criminals. I wonder who is not a criminal. Since Nigeria forgave coup plotters, forgave those that killed, even those that instigated civil war, civil war that millions of people died from, I see no reason why we cannot accept their repentance,” Gumi further said.
THE House of Representatives has asked the executive arm of government to suspend the proposed 2021 census due to insecurity.
The decision was made following a motion moved by a member representing Bosso/Paikoro Federal Constituency of Niger State Shehu Beji, during the House plenary on Wednesday.
Beji said several factors would work against the accuracy of the figures that would be obtained and the overall success of the exercise due to the state of insecurity in Nigeria.
According to the lawmaker, the safety of enumerators would not be guaranteed in many parts of the country while many households could also be unwilling to make family members available for enumeration because of fear of the unknown.
He added that it would be ‘unwise’ in the prevailing circumstances to post enumerators to some parts of the country currently considered to be volatile.
He further stated that if many locations would not be reached by enumerators, that was enough reason to suspend the planned exercise. Beji prayed the Green Chamber to call on the executive to suspend the exercise until the security of the country stabilised.
After the motion was moved, a majority of the Representatives who were present at the plenary voted in support of the motion.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila passed the resolution following the votes of the members.
The Lower Chamber also invited the Chairman of the National Population Commission Nasir Isa Kwarra to explain the feasibility of conducting a population and housing census in the country amid the current security challenges.
Many parts of Nigeria have been bedevilled by crisis ranging from terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, to abduction and ethnic crisis.
Boko Haram terrorist group has taken over some territories in the northern part of the country while many have been displaced in the South-West due to Fulani/herders crisis.
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) recently said about 65,000 persons were on the move following a series of attacks by armed groups on Damasak town, Borno State.
The last national census conducted in Nigeria was in 2006, during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
The NPC estimated the population of Nigeria to be around 206 million.
The 2006 Nigerian Census has been largely disputed by many Nigerians, including a past head of the NPC.
A former Chairman of NPC Festus Odimegwu had said no Nigerian census had ever been credible, including the 2006 conduct.
“No census has been credible in Nigeria since 1816. Even the one conducted in 2006 is not credible. I have the records and evidence produced by scholars and professors of repute; this is not my report. If the current laws are not amended, the planned 2016 census will not succeed,” Odimegwu had said.
Odimegwu was sacked a few days after he made the comment about the Nigerian population.
FARMERS in Anambra state have decried the non-availability of farming inputs and other equipment needed to produce bountiful harvest.
The farmers, under the ageies of the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON), said they had undergone series of training without corresponding inputs to practicalise what they were thought.
Speaking with The Nation on her farm, the Coordinator, Nnewi North and South, Monica Igbokwe, who grows cassava, yam, and cocoyams, said she has resorted to self-help.
She expressed disappointment, saying farmers are fed up with the government’s empty promises. ‘We’ve been exposed to several training, yet no farm inputs to practice what we’ve learnt.”
She gave the example of one-week training organised in Awka, where organise promised to fund farmers, but nothing came afterwards.
“I can show you another text I got for another training. They went with us to Ozubulu to inspect our farms there, after that, nothing. The worst of it is that the places we cleared and were inspected are overgrown with weeds.
“See my poultry, almost empty. Had it been I was assisted by the government, no matter how small, you’ll see the difference. If I tell you I’m progressing in this business, I’ll be lying.”
Igbokwe complained about the frustration of accessing a loan from banks because of the long protocols. The government support goes to the wrong persons because of the intermediaries involved in the process, she said.
“If at all what they said is true, I’m suspecting they gave the money to industrialists and manufacturers. Those producing rice in large quantities. They don’t have the farmers in mind.”
Another farmer, Obiageli Onumr, said they are undeterred by the frustrations they experience from the authorities and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their farming.
“We’ve been attending seminars, yet we don’t see anything. But we’re not discouraged. Otherwise, you won’t see us here. We know the hope of the nation’s survival is in our hands. We’ll continue to struggle even in the midst of difficulties,” Onumr said.
IN 2010, a controversial and popular Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi was arrested and detained for over six months by Saudi Arabian government for allegedly relating with Nigerian underwear bomber and terrorist, Farouk Abdulmutallab.
Abdulmutallab is the youngest of 16 children of Umaru Mutallab, a wealthy Nigerian banker and businessman. He was arrested in the United States after attempting to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his underwear while on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253, departing from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan, on Christmas Day, 2009.
He was convicted of terrorism and sentenced to four life terms plus 50 years without parole on February 16, 2012, after acknowledging in a courtroom statement that he had traveled to Yemen and was greatly inspired to avenge what he described as ‘US tyranny and oppression of Muslims’ in the Middle East.
“I carried with me an explosive device to avenge the killing of innocent Muslims,” AbdulMutallab had said.
Further investigation revealed that the deadly terror group Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula had helped to foment the failed attack.
The cleric was arrested in February 2010 in Mecca after the United States shared intelligence with the Saudi authorities that he had been conversing and exchanging e-mails with Abdulmutallab shortly before the incident.
It took the intervention of the Nigerian government before Gumi was released after spending many months under house arrest in Mecca.
Reacting, Gumi, who has fervently and consistently advocated that bandits should be given an amnesty by the Nigerian government, blamed his arrest on a conspiracy from Nigeria and some forces from around the world, noting that he was found innocent by the Saudi Arabia government, Daily Trust reported.
“They found that I don’t have any question to answer,” he said.
“Apart from the Nigerian forces, there were other forces from other parts of the world. However, I have forgiven all those who were behind my arrest. I take solace in the fact that Allah has saved me and the arrest was a destiny from Allah, which I cannot escape.”
In an interview, last Month, Gumi said the continued presence of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Pantami in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet was helping to fight terrorist ideology, jettisoning calls for Pantami’s resignation by Nigerians and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) after videos showed him expressing support and admiration for terrorist organisations such as Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
IN the heat of the accusations and counter-accusations that Nigeria’s Minister for Communications Isa Pantami was sympathetic to terrorists and terrorist organisations, a collage of pictures of the country’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, with quotes attributed to him surfaced online.
On April 22, 2021, a Twitter user, replied to a tweet about terrorism in Nigeria, with the collage which has eight quotes. The when or where the president made these statements were not indicated in the photo collage.
Aside from the tweet by @EdetZamani, a google reverse image search done by the FactCheckHub showed that the image had appeared on multiple places online which includes; Twitter here and here, Facebook here, blog here, to mention but a few.
Further checks showed that the image has been online on or before 2018.
One thing that is common at the places where the picture was shared was the allegation of President Buhari’s religious extremism and intolerance. Some tagged it “Hate speech”.
The FactCheckHub verified the comments attributed to the president and rate their authenticity or lack of it accordingly. You can read about FactCheckHub’s rating gauge here.
The comments attributed to Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria.
Claim 1
I will continue to show openly and inside me, the total commitment to the Sharia movement all over Nigeria.
FINDINGS: Media reports indicate that Buhari made this statement in 2001.
A South African online news platform News24.com in a 2001 report sourced from a news agency, Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted Buhari as saying “I will continue to show openly and inside me the total commitment to the Sharia movement that is sweeping all over Nigeria,” and “God willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of the Sharia in the country.”
A France 24 report titled, ‘Muhammadu Buhari: ‘The converted democrat?’ which was done after he won the 2015 election noted the above statement as one of the fails of Buhari.
“Why should Christians be concerned when Muslims cut off their limbs? After all, the limbs cut off are Muslim ones”.
FINDINGS: There are several references to this statement on social media. However, the FactCheckHub did not find other sources to authenticate it aside from an article published in Vanguard Newspaper in 2014.
The article was credited to a former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode who claimed Buhari made the statement.
Verdict: Not enough information to validate or debunk the claim.
Claim 3
“No No No, Abacha did not steal Nigeria’s money”.
FINDINGS: In 2008, Buhari noted that the late military Head of State, Sani Abacha did not loot the national treasury. This generated criticism from several quarters, including a statement from the Action Congress (AC) party issued by its then National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed.
Mohammed is the current Minister for Information under Buhari’s government.
In subsequent years, Buhari came to the defence of Abacha, and he has been repeatedly called out to tender an apology to Nigerians even as his government received recovered funds referred to as ‘Abacha loot‘.
Although the FactCheckHub could not trace the exact phrasing of the comment, the statement is consistent with Buhari’s stand on the issue.
Verdict: True
Claim 4
“I can die for the cause of Islam if necessary. We are prepared to fight another civil war”.
FINDINGS: This comment is a combination of two different statements.
A 2014 academic book edited by Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos titled ‘Boko Haram: Islamism, politics, security and the state in Nigeria’ referenced the statements.
Buhari was quoted to have said “I can die for the cause of Islam” while a former governor of a North-Eastern state in Nigeria was quoted to have added, “If necessary, we are prepared to fight another civil war. We cannot be blackmailed into killing Sharia”.
The book cited “Anarchists threaten nation’s unity”, Tell, 29 October 2001, page 36 as its source.
This comment was also referenced on page 24 of the book: ‘Violent non-state actors Africa’.
The comment is Half True because only a part of it was stated by Buhari.
Verdict: Half True
Claim 5
“The declaration of state of emergency to fight Boko Haram in 3 northern states is a grave injustice against the north”.
FINDINGS: Former president Goodluck Jonathan had in May 2013 declared a state of emergency in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states after a series of deadly attacks. This move was criticised by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) who said Jonathan’s action was a declaration of war against Northern Nigeria.
A few weeks after, Buhari echoed a similar sentiment on a radio programme.
Even though not in the exact phrasing, Buhari had described Jonathan’s action as “injustice”.
He also compared the activities and treatment of the Niger-Delta militants to those in the north who he felt got the short-end of the stick.
His comment was reported and referenced in several places including here,here and here and more recently here.
Verdict: True
Muhammadu Buhari.
Claim 6
“We cannot be blackmailed into killing the Sharia idea. Sharia must be spread all over Nigeria”.
FINDINGS: The first part of the comment “We cannot be blackmailed into killing Sharia” has been linked to a former northeast governor. However, Buhari has also called for the implementation of Sharia.
Buhari said, “God willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of the Sharia in the country”. This was interpreted by some as a call for implementation across all states while those who came to his defence said it a call for full implementation in Muslim-dominated states.
The statement is Mostly False because it is partly a comment made by another person. However, Buhari had called for the implementation of Sharia.
Verdict: Mostly True
Claim 7
“Boko Haram members should be pampered and given VIP treatment not killed. It’s Injustice to kill them”.
FINDINGS: Although not in the exact phrasing, Buhari in 2013 compared the activities and treatment of the Niger-Delta militants by the Nigerian government to those of the insurgents in the North East.
He said, “You see, in the case of the Niger-Delta militants, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua sent an aeroplane to bring them, he sat down with them and discussed with them, they were cajoled, and they were given money and granted amnesty.”
“They were trained in some skills and were given employment, but the ones in the north were being killed and their houses were being demolished. They are different issues, what brought this? It is injustice”.
Verdict: Mostly True
Claim 8
“Muslims should only vote those who will promote Islam. We are more than the Christians if you add our Muslim brothers in the south”.
FINDINGS: The FactCheckHub findings showed that Buhari in 2001 said people should vote for Muslim candidates.
Tell Magazine of July 30, 2001, in a special report titled, ‘Riding the Sharia Tiger’ stated that Buhari speaking in Hausa language, made the call in Sokoto at a book launch on Sharia.
A month later, this was referenced in another report.
THE Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has assured civil servants in the state that their jobs are secure despite the current economic challenges occasioned by downturn in the global economy.
According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Yinka Oyebode, Fayemi gave the assurance at a stakeholder meeting where he presented the position of the state’s finances on Tuesday.
The governor and stakeholders, however, agreed on some cost-saving measures, including reduction in subventions to higher institutions in the state, cutting or total stoppage of grants to MDAs, and discontinuation of the consequential adjustments of minimum wage for senior category of workers.
They also agreed to ramp up tax collection in a bid to shore up Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Fayemi explained the need to reflect the economic reality and development in the country in order to avert economic crisis. He said that if the state must survive the current economic quagmire, there was the need to cut over N680 million expenses per month.
He emphasised the need to significantly increase the state’s monthly IGR from N700 million to N1.2 billion and also cut non-core expenses incurred through MDAs, expenditure, traveling, sponsorship and events.
He said he was not elected to complain but to find a solution to the economic situation of the state, suggesting the need to emulate neighbouring states on consideration for alternative means of funding the state’s tertiary institutions. He further said that N700 million spent monthly on interventions could be used to cater for other critical development needs.
Other options which the governor suggested for adoption included: the attraction of more private investors, divestment and privatisation of state-owned assets to maximise profit, suspension of the state’s consequential minimum wages adjustment, and issuing of promissory notes to creditors.
“We don’t want to sack anyone in Ekiti. These are our people that are doing their jobs, but we cannot continue to manage what we cannot manage, so we may have to discuss with our comrades in labour, not a cancellation but a suspension of the minimum wage consequential adjustment until such a time that our finances improve and all of us can see that this is the situation of our finance,” he said.
“We need to take decisive and quick steps on these tough but necessary choices that we have to take in order to restore the state back to fiscal health and then swift consolidation action taken in short term and continuous review to inform medium-to-long term planning.”
He explained that strong fiscal discipline, transparency, open governance, goodwill and increased confidence in his administration had opened up the state for more investors, leading to return of development partners supporting the state in a whole range of initiatives.
However, he noted that his administration had to face increasing dwindling revenue, needed to continue to fulfill recurrent expenditure obligations, and was confronted by insecurity which required a huge amount of money to overcome.
THE Kaduna State Head of Service Bariatu Mohammed has said that dismissal of government workers in the state was informed by lack of required qualifications by some workers in the state’s civil service.
Bariatu said this in Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily programme on Wednesday, while reacting to claims by President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Ayuba Wabba that the dismissal of workers in the state was not carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Act.
Mohammed said Kaduna State had not declared redundancy but was verifying records of the civil servants, noting that the verification process had led to the disengagement of those who were not fit for the job.
She stated that some workers had assumed the jobs of their dead relatives even without necessary qualifications, and this would not be allowed to continue.
According to Mohammed, workers were given a two-year notice prior to this exercise to acquire at least a diploma degree, which was the least qualification required by the state. Sadly, many workers did not comply.
She further stated that there were plans to further disengage more workers who were without relevant qualifications, in an attempt to right size the civil service.
The head of service stressed that a portal was being created where people could upload their certificates if they had been wrongly dismissed on the basis of lack of qualification.
She hinted, however, that there were plans to employ new workers to fill the vacuum created by the mass dismissal.
“Right now, we have finished processes to engage 7,600 teachers of secondary schools. We have engaged health staff that are just being paid, we have done a recruitment exercise in all our tertiary institutions,” she said.
The Kaduna State government disengaged about 4,000 workers across all the local government areas in the state.
The decision sparked outrage, with the NLC threatening a withdrawal of service in protest against the mass sack of workers in Kaduna State.
