OLUWATOSIN Ojaomo, a lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) demanding the prosecution of Ibrahim Tumsah, a former Director of Finance and Administration at the defunct Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and Tijani Tumsah, his brother over allegations of corruption.
In a copy of the petition sighted by The ICIR, Ojaomo who was a prosecutor with defunct Special Presidential Investigation Panel of Public Property (SPIP) called on ICPC to investigate the matter and charge the two brothers to court in order to build public confidence in the anti-corruption war of the Buhari administration.
He stated that Ibrahim Tumsah was one of the public officers that were investigated by the defunct SPIP chaired by Okoi Obono-Ola over his alleged failure to declare his ownership of about 86 exotic cars and other properties.
Ojaomo noted that Tijanni Tumsah on his part was investigated for engaging in corrupt practices at the Presidential Initiative on North East.
He stressed that as an anti-graft campaigner, he had decided “to pursue this matter to a logical conclusion going by the anti-corruption mantra of the President Muhammadu Buhari led government.”
The activist said it would be a disservice not just to the nation, but to persons like himself who were lobbied severally to bury the matter at the panel, but refused all the entreaties due to his belief in the current administration’s war against corruption.
According to him, there were overwhelming evidence against the Tumsah brothers which can be used to prosecute them in the court of law.
“My decision to petition your office on this matter stems from the fact that the Court of Appeal didn’t discharge and acquit the Tumsah brothers for the allegations levelled against them by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property, but only said the agency which brought the matter to court does not possess the statutory powers to so do,” Ojaomo said.
He noted that it was also on record that some of the exhibits recovered from the Tumsah brothers were allegedly bought in the name of two companies, Integrated Service Insurance Ltd and Integrated Bureau De-Change Ltd which belong to the two of them.
The lawyer said that as an anti-corruption campaigner and Special Prosecutor with the defunct SPIP, he believed that allowing the matter to be swept under the carpet would not only affect the anti-corruption campaign of this government, but would continue to affect the image of the government going by the public commendation that followed the announcement of investigation of the Tumsah brothers in the media.
“It is shocking to hear that all the cars and properties recovered from the suspects have been returned to them under a very suspicious under hand deal where some persons were heavily compromised to achieve this sinister motive,” he said.
“I have been duly informed that due to the sack of Obono Obla and the subsequent dissolution of the panel, the Tumsahs have recovered all their properties and currently enjoying the proceeds of this crime.
“It is also on record that huge sum of money was siphoned by Tijani Tumsah through the Presidential Initiative on North East wherein a website was created to collect money from the public and international donors.”
However, Ibrahim Tumsah while reacting to the petition told The ICIR that the matter has been settled in court.
“I don’t have anything to say to the ICPC and about the petition because the case has been settled in court,” he said.
Tijani Tumsah did not respond to The ICIR’s text message concerning the petition at the time of filing this report.
Rashidat Okoduwa, Spokesperson for the ICPC was also contacted for comment on the petition but did not answer calls to her phone and did not reply text messages at the time of filing this report.
The Tumsah brothers were charged to court by SPIP in the case of alleged failure to declare assets without reasonable excuse.
Earlier in the case, the court ordered that 86 luxury vehicles allegedly owned by the brothers, together with four houses and a quarry plant in Kuje, Abuja, be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government.
They were subsequently let off the hook when the Federal High Court in Abuja in February 2019 on dismissed the two counts of non-declaration of assets instituted against them.
Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed the charges on the grounds that the Okoi Obono-Obla-led Special Presidential Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property and its prosecutor Celsus Ukpong, who filed the case, lacked “the statutory power” to do so.
SINCE February 27 when Nigeria recorded its first index case of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), many Nigerians including governors, top government officials and health workers have been at the forefront battling to flatten the curve in Nigeria, like their counterparts in other parts of the world.
These outstanding Nigerians have been putting their lives on the line to contain the spread of the virus and ensure those that have contracted it are treated.
The ICIR has compiled a few of these frontline workers fighting the spread of Coronavirus in Nigeria.
Osagie Ehanire, Nigeria’s Minister of Health/CREDIT: Thisday
Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health
This is perhaps the most trying period for Osagie Ehanire, Nigeria’s Minister of Health in his entire career. The outbreak of COVID-19 in Nigeria seems to be the beginning of his difficult time in office. Since the outbreak in Nigeria, the minister has been coordinating activities and programmes to ensure that the government through the Ministry of Health provides the necessary support for both health workers and patients.
Osagie, several times, has commended the frontline health workers who manage patients and has called those who cannot handle the pressure to quit. He has also called on Nigerians to disclose complete and accurate information to health workers about their travel history or contact with persons who have had COVID-19.
Born 4 November 1946, Osagie Emmanuel Ehanire is a Nigerian medical doctor and politician. He studied Medicine at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in Germany, qualifying as a Surgeon. He went on to the Teaching Hospital of the University of Duisburg and Essen and to the BG Accident Hospital in Duisburg, Germany for his post-graduate education.
In 1976, he attended the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland where he obtained a postgraduate Diploma in Anaesthetics. He got his Board Certification in both General Surgery and Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery at the Medical Board of North Rhine Westphalia in Dusseldorf, Germany. In 1984, he became a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons. He was appointed as the Minister of Health by President Muhammadu Buhari administration in November 2019.
Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General Nigeria Center for Disease Control
Chikwe Ihekweazu is the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) [ Photo credit: googleChikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has led the fight against the pandemic alongside his team of experts across Nigeria.
Ihekweazu has continued to ensure that the battle against the pandemic in Nigeria remains a transparent one by updating Nigerians on the progress made through the NCDC’s various posts on social media and website.
In a recent interview with THE PUNCH, he stated that the Centre has started the review of protocols and guidance for home management of asymptomatic cases. This, Ihekweazu said, would be implemented when needed.
“We have scaled up our sample collection and transportation as well as testing capacity to ensure that cases are tested within the shortest possible time,” he said.
Ihekweazu was born to Nigerian-German parents. His father is a Nigerian doctor and the mother, a German professor. Chikwe holds an MBBS from the University of Nigeria and a Masters in Public Health from Heinrich-Heine University, Germany.
He trained as an infectious disease epidemiologist and has over 20 years of experience working in senior public health and leadership positions in several national public health institutes.
Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health
Akinola Abayomi, a professor of Internal Medicine and Haematology is the Lagos State Commissioner for Health. He has been leading the struggle against COVID-19 in Nigeria’s biggest commercial city since the first index case was identified on February 27.
According to the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Abayomi had since 2019 warned the state about COVID-19. And he has been up and doing to ensure that the state government scales up its testing capacity, and takes care of the welfare of the health workers in the state. Now, test and treatment centres are available across the state, thanks to the active health commissioner.
Akinola Abayomi is the Lagos state commissioner for health
In a Twitter post in April, he urged residents to be ready to answer questions from health workers who are going house-to-house asking about Coronavirus symptoms. The health workers will “make inquiries about symptoms of cough, cold and fever”, Prof Akin Abayomi tweeted. Abayomi is an experienced medical doctor who has served as a lecturer and practitioner in Africa as well as the West Indies.
He is a specialist in Internal Medicine and Haematology, studied at the Royal Medical College of St Bartholomew’s Hospital at the University of London where he obtained his first graduate degree in Medicine. He later obtained fellowships from both the Royal College of Medicine in the United Kingdom and the College of Medicine of South Africa. He was Associate Professor Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa before he was invited to serve as Lagos state government.
Tochi Joy Okwor, Coordinator Infection Prevention Control
Tochi Joy Okwor is the Coordinator at the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) and Member Technical Working Group of the NCDC Manual Universal and Outbreak Infection Control (MAURICE). Okwor also gives daily updates: ‘Issues of the Moment’ with updates on COVID-19 Nigeria on Radio Nigeria.
Tochi Joy Okwor is the NCDC’s infection prevention control coordinator. [Photo credit: googleTochi is a Consultant Public and Occupational Health Physician at the Department of Community Health University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Itukku Ozalla Enugu State.
Her research efforts are focused on occupational respiratory diseases and infection prevention and control in healthcare.
Uzezi Emuophedaro, medical doctor
Emuophedaro works as a medical practitioner in one of the biggest hospitals in Nigeria.
Dr. Uzezi Emuophedaro, works as a medical practitioner in one of the biggest hospitals in Nigeria. [ Photo credit: UNICEFShe is resilient and remains undeterred, even when grappling with limited equipment and shortage of supplies at her place of work.
In a report by UNICEF, Emuophedaro said her greatest fear was the possibility of the number of cases getting into the thousands and reaching the situation that countries in Europe and North America are dealing with right now.
”I fear that we may not be able to handle such numbers here in Nigeria, due to our weak infrastructure,” she was quoted as saying.
“I joined the medical profession because I wanted to save lives and be just like my father.”
She said that the oath she took when being inducted into profession and her determination to help people in need has been her biggest motivation during this crisis.
Across the world, healthcare workers have been infected with the virus while working to save the lives of others, but Dr. Emuophedaro says she tries to stay calm and protect herself as much as possible.
Osamaye Faith, Youth Corps member
Faith Osamaye, a Youth Corps member is one of the young scientists working at the NCDC’s National Reference Laboratory.[ Photo credit Nigeria health watchFaith Osamaye, a Youth Corps member is according to Nigeria Health Watch, one of the young scientists working at the NCDC’s National Reference Laboratory.
Nwando Mba, Director of Public Health Laboratory Services at NCDC
Nwando Mba, Director Public Health Laboratory Services Department [ Photo credit: Nigeria Health Watch
Nwano Mba, Director of Public Health Laboratory Services Department at NCDC works with other people at the Centre and gives the young people in her team the opportunity to take lead.
She said once they understood that COVID-19 was a respiratory infection, they quickly brought out Nigeria’s influenza pandemic preparedness plan.
“This became our blueprint because influenza surveillance is the bedrock of our COVID-19 response,” Mba said.
Celestina Obiekea (centre) is the Network Coordinator of COVID-19 Laboratories in Nigeria. Photo Credit: Nigeria Health Watch
Celestina Obiekea, Coordinator Network Coordinator of COVID-19 Laboratories in Nigeria
Obiekea is the Network Coordinator of COVID-19 Laboratories in Nigeria. She was in Dakar when the index case was reported in Nigeria, and life has not been the same since then. She is still able to smile and maintain positive energy for her team, despite the grueling long days at the laboratory.
Obiekea says it can be challenging when everyone wants to be tested, as it takes a toll on both human and material resources. She advises that people stick to the advisory from the NCDC and Federal Ministry of Health to stay at home, practice social distancing, self-isolate if they feel they have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19 and call the NCDC toll free numbers if they are having symptoms.
Christopher Chukwu, trained in molecular diagnostics. Photo credit Nigeria Health Watch
Christopher Chukwu and other team members got trained on COVID-19 diagnosis from the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Dakar before the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Nigeria. He had been trained on molecular diagnostics previously from numerous training, including training delivered by Public Health England in 2019.
Akinpelu Afolabi The laboratory manager, at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory. Photo Credit Nigeria Health Watch
Akinpelu Afolabi, Lab Manager National Public Health Reference Laboratory, Abuja
Akinpelu Afolabi is the Laboratory Manager at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory in Gaduwa, Abuja.
He said work at the laboratory has been intense since the outbreak o the pandemic. “Unlike before, we now work 24 hours. I came here around 11 pm yesterday and left by 6am today. By 12pm, I returned and as of now (5pm), I’m not sure when I’ll leave,” he said in an interview.
Amina Mohammed Baloni,Kaduna State Commissioner for Health
Amina Mohammed Baloni is Kaduna state’s commissioner for Health
Amina Mohammed-Baloni, Kaduna State Commissioner for Health has been at the forefront of the state’s war against COVID-19 in her state.
She has warned that anyone who conceals COVID-19 positive status would be prosecuted. She said the state has, however, traced up to 95 per cent of contacts and discovered 28 active cases.
Mohammed-Baloni is a medical practitioner and a fellow of the West African College of Physicians. She holds a Masters’ degree in Public Health and has had over 20 years of practice as a clinician and a public health professional. Her career has been devoted to improving the health and wellbeing of children and women.
Salisu Kwaya Bura Aliyu
The Borno state Commissioner for Health has expressed confidence that Borno has put in place active surveillance for all disease conditions.
Borno State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Salisu Burah. Photo credit: VON
In March when the state had not recorded any case of COVID-19, the State Ministry of Health with the support of WHO and partners has activated the Emergency Operations Centre that developed a comprehensive preparedness plan in case of a COVID-19 outbreak. Other responses, according to him, include case management, infection prevention control, contact tracing, surveillance, and risk communication.
He has continued to enjoin the media to educate the public on basic hand-hygiene, coughing etiquette and temperature monitoring.
Salisu Kwaya Bura Aliyu is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with over 20 years experience, and was appointed into office in 2015.
Abba Umar Zakari is Jigawa State Commissioner for Health. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom and a Masters Degree in Infections and Health in the Tropics from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the United Kingdom in 1996 after his MBBS Degree in 1990 at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Abba Umar Zakari, Jigawa State commissioner for health. Photo credit: Jigawa state government website
Zakari, who is also the chairman Jigawa taskforce on COVID-19, has continued to ensure that the infection rate in the state is reduced. He also has also ensured that almajiris returnees are tested and isolated.
According to him, 607 samples of the returnee almajiris had been taken, and only 45 samples were ready, adding that the results of the remaining samples were expected any moment from now while the remaining 29 that returned negative would be united with their families soon, and each would receive N10,000 and clothing.
He has disclosed that the state had no intentions of returning almajiris to their respective states as this could risk a rise in the infection.
Patrick Okundia is the Edo State Commissioner for Health, and charged with the full implementation of the Edo State Healthcare Improvement Programme (Edo-HIP).
Patrick Okundia said that he and his team are making steady progress in the management of Coronavirus, noting that all active cases of COVID-19 are being managed at different isolations centres across the state and are responding well to treatment.
The Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Patrick Okundia during his swearing in ceremony. Photo credit: Thisday
Okundia reassured Edo people that the state government remains committed to containing the COVID-19 pandemic in all communities across the state.
Until his appointment, Okundia was the Chief Medical Director, Stella Obasanjo Hospital. He hails from Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State.
Bashir Bello
The Oyo State Commissioner for Health has continued to put steps in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state. The creation of a rapid response and monitoring department and disease surveillance and notification officers in the 33 LGAs and 35 LCDAs was his idea.
Bashir Bello,Oyo state Commissioner for Health Photo credit: premium news
Bello through the Ministry of Health has also run enlightenment campaigns about Coronavirus in markets, schools and for people in the hospitality industry to maintain the handwashing culture and give a safe distance if anyone is sneezing or coughing around them.
Bashir Bello has expertise in evaluation and passion in improving the health and wellbeing of people. His open and contextual evaluation model based on responsive constructivists creates new pathways for improving healthcare has been reportedly effective. He has built this model after years of experience in research, evaluation, teaching, and administration both in hospitals and academic institutions.
Princewill Anthony Chike
The Rivers State Commissioner for Health said the state was in a hurry to be fully ready for any outbreak of the Coronavirus disease.
Chike said because of the seriousness of the pandemic, the state has been on an alert phase since the COVID-19 outbreak. “This is no time to blame anybody but to put all hands on deck,” he said.
He is a Nigerian physician and professor of medicine. He was chairman of the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board. On 31 August 2017, he was sworn in as a member of second Wike Executive Council. He became the Commissioner for Health in September 2017.
Rafiu Isamotu Olasunkanmi, the Osun State Commissioner for Health, championing the fight against the pandemic in the state has explained how the state has protected its people from the scourge, attributing it to massive surveillance, intensive enlightenment campaign and rapid response and testing initiatives, among others.
Rafiu Isamotu, Osun State commissioner for health.
Olasunkanmi is a graduate of the College of Medicine University of Lagos. He is a native of Iwo in Osun State. Though much is not known about him but he is the man at the forefron of the battle against Coronavirus in the State of the Living Spring.
Nimkong Ndam Lar
Lar is the Commissioner for Health in Plateau state.
Ndam Lar, Plateau state commissioner for health
Ndam is making sure that the fight against COVID-19 in the state is won by all means.
According to him, the Ministry of Health has activated preventive emergency measures in case of any eventuality, some of which include setting up isolation wards, provide medical supplies to keep the fight againt the virus strong.
He said the ministry is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant government agencies to remain vigilant to handl any health emergencies.
Lar said stakeholders made of a team of experts from the ministry and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are working tirelessly to ensure that proper measures are put in place in the state.
Daniel Iya
Iya is the Commissioner for Health in Nassarawa State.
Dr. Daniel IYA, Health Commissioner Nasarawa State
Dr. Daniel is a man trusted with various leadership roles. He is a longstanding fellow of the West African College of Surgeons, a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and was chairman of the Nigerian accreditation committee of the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council. After his first term as Commissioner, Dr. Daniel became chief medical director in the state’s teaching hospital from 1996-2004. That was also the time he did a postgrad public health course at Harvard. He has served as commissioner for health twice in Nassarawa State.
THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Thursday says it will seek the support of security operatives to comply with the newly proposed guidelines for re-opening of places of worships as part of efforts to contain the spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Bayo Oladeji, CAN Media Assistant to the CAN president disclosed this in a telephone chat with The ICIR.
There have been reports that CAN and the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) have submitted guidelines to the Presidential Task Force (PTF) 0n COVID-19 on the re-opening of worship places.
The security operatives according to Oladeji would include men of Nigeria Police and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
He confirmed that CAN and NSCIA had submitted the guidelines, noting that the security officers would work under the supervision of CAN’s monitoring and enforcement committee.
“It is true my brother…each of the committees would be supported by the police or NSCDC. We would appeal to them to join us to strengthen the committee,” Oladeji said.
The CAN President spokesperson added worshippers would seat one metre apart while churches that offer multiple services would have a 10-minute break after each service if the guidelines are approved.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, over 5.8 million cases and more than 358, 984 deaths have been recorded globally.
There have been calls by some religious leaders to the government to lift the public gathering ban.
The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Wednesday reportedly met with representatives of religious bodies in Abuja to discuss some of the submitted recommendations for further review by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and subsequent approval by President Muhammadu Buhari before worship centres are opened.
According to Oladeji, Olasupo Ayokunle, CAN President was represented by at the meeting by Israel Akanji, Head of Baptist Church, Abuja and Samson Jonah, Chairman of CAN, FCT chapter.
He disclosed further that part of the proposed guidelines, is for churches to disinfect their premises before reopening for services.
Churches, according to the guidelines should provide alcoholic sanitizers, temperature readers, soap and water in their premises to be supervised by medical professionals.
While Oladeji expressed hope that Sunday May 31, may be the last one that Christians would have to worship from home, he reiterated CAN’s commitment to ensure that smaller churches comply with the proposed guidelines.
The association, he noted has representatives across the states up to the ward level, thus ensuring compliance.
The committee also recommended to the PTF that handshaking and hugging should be avoided before, during and after service while children should worship with their parents, he said.
AN advocacy organisation, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the State Security Service (SSS) to obey court orders and operate within the rule of law.
Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director of the Centre in a press release said the SSS has now established itself as a lawless organisation by engaging in politically motivated arrests.
Nwanguma lamented the refusal of the SSS to honour the ruling of a High Court in Abia State which has ordered the release of a detained lawyer, Emperor Gabriel Ogbonna.
According to him, the Centre also called for the release of Akwa Ibom based journalist, Kufre Carter who is also being held against court order for publicly criticising the state’s Commissioner for Health.
He said the President must, at this time, intervene and save the country’s democracy from being derailed by the SSS.
“It’s time for the President to curtail the excesses of the SSS and call its leaders to order,” the statement read.
RULAAC said that the National Security Agencies Act does not allow the SSS to aresst and detain any person.
“What the security agency is supposed to do is to pass information detected to relevant agencies, which have the legal mandate to arrest, detain, and prosecute,” the Centre wrote.
NIGERIA has lost not fewer than 7,904 persons to violent killings across the country between 2018 and 2020, a group of civil society organisations in Nigeria under the Joint Action Civil Society Coalition has reported.
In a press statement released to mark the commemoration of the 3rd National Day of Mourning set for Thursday, the group noted that there is a rise in mass atrocities and killings in the country, and the trend is barely acknowledged by the government or the citizens.
According to the group, several parts of the northeastern Nigeria remain susceptible to terrorists attacks and a larger portion of the North-West, including Kajuru and Birnin-Gwari in Kaduna and much of Zamfara and Katsina states, and TarabasState in the North-Central have been left ungoverned and taken over by rustlers, bandits and vigilantes.
It added that 34 out of 36 states in the country now record at least one episode of violent attacks within the first quarter of 2020 alone, an indication that extra judicial killings and human rights abuses have reached a new high.
The coalition also reported that security agents have resorted to several forms of abuses against citizens to enforce lockdown and movement restrictions imposed by government due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The civil society group expressed worry that Nigerians appeared to have normalized the violent killings of citizens and accepted it as a norm, but it also blamed the government for failing to carry out its primary responsibility of protecting lives and properties.
“While Nigerians are being killed our communities and livelihoods are laid to ruin, the government has shown itself unwilling or unable to confront these killings to put an end to them. By so doing, it has abdicated its constitutional duty to guarantee the safety, security, and wellbeing of all who live within Nigeria’s geographical boundaries,” the press statement read in part.
The coalition urged Nigerian leaders to take necessary steps to end impunity, ensure the provision of humanitarian aid to communities displaced by the crisis, wage war against light weapons flowing into the country as well as ensure an urgent accounting of the missing and dead.
Meanwhile, The ICIR earlier reported the findings published by SB Morgen which shows that at least $18.34 million was paid to kidnappers as ransom in Nigeria between June 2011 and March 2020.
According to the report, kidnapping has increased in most states, making Nigeria an unsafe country for citizens.
DATA analysis by Dataphyte has shown the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) paid over 8 billion as salary upfront in January 2020. This is according to the daily payment data published on the open treasury portal.
The review of salary payments between January and April 2020 showed two descriptions. The first description is January 2020 DPR Staff Salary. This has only five beneficiaries and sums to ₦29.6 million. The second description, which is 2020 DPR Staff Upfront Payment, had 605 beneficiaries and summed to ₦8 billion.
29 top officials received between ₦50 million and ₦71.7 million as upfront salary payment. Another 30 received between ₦30 million and ₦49.9 million. 51 staff members received between ₦20 million and ₦29.9 million. 119 others received between ₦10 million and ₦19.9 million. The remaining 375 staff members received between ₦5 million and ₦9.9 million.
The treasury database also indicated that five DPR staff received double payment in the same period. The first payment was with the description January 2020 Salary while the second payment had the description – 2020 DPR Staff Upfront Payment. An example of a recipient of the double payment is Abubakar Attahiru Saleh who received a sum of ₦22,755,745.91 twice the same day. While he received ₦6,318,167.93 as January Salary, he also received a second payment of ₦16,437,577.98 as Salary Upfront.
610 DPR staff earn more than the President
In addition, the data revealed that over 610 DPR personnel may earn more than the Nigerian President. According to RMAFC, President Buhari receives a total salary package of ₦1.17 million monthly. This sum is inclusive of a basic monthly salary of ₦292,892, a hardship allowance of ₦146,446 monthly, and a consistency allowance of ₦732,230 per month. Similarly, Vice President Osinbajo receives a total of ₦1.01 million monthly take-home pay. From basic arithmetic, the take-home pay of the Nigerian President and the Vice President comes to ₦14 million and ₦12 million, respectively.
Further analysis of the open treasury data revealed that staff annual salary at the DPR ranged from ₦5,028,450.22 to ₦71,723,727.24. By implication, the least paid person in DPR received over ₦419,000 monthly. While the designation of the lower ranks in the salary structure is unknown, the Operations Controller received an excess of ₦70 million annually. Also, the Director of Petroleum Resources; the Head, Safety, Health and Environment; and the Deputy Director, Basinal Assessment and Lease Administration received ₦69,378,164.01; ₦64,359,638.72; and ₦63,459,241.62, respectively.
Wage Justice and Revenue Management
This lopsided salary structure raises questions on justice and revenue management. As known, the implementation of a minimum worker’s payment of ₦30,000 monthly has been a subject of an unending debate in Nigeria. Thus, such an enormous financial commitment to a group of workers generates questions on fairness and equity. Indications that this lopsided salary payment structure is a common practice in many MDAs including the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) also stimulates concerns.
More specifically, the Treasury Data raises questions on the public service rule on upfront salary payment and the discrepancies in salary roster of DPR and other MDAs. Another question is as to whether these discrepancies violate the salary structure by the National Salary, Incomes and Wages Commission.
The need to harmonize worker’s earnings at this point remains pressing. In addition to the need for justice and equity in worker’s payment, Nigeria’s revenue shortage requires prudent economic management measures. The recent effort of the Federal Government to harmonize workers earning across MDAs is commendable. However, there is a more urgent need to level up the discrepant wage structure across MDAs.
PRESIDENT of the African Development Bank (AFDB) Akinwunmi Adesina has maintained his innocence with regards to the various allegations against him.
In a statement personally signed by Adesina, he expressed confidence in the integrity of the bank, its governance systems as well as its rules and procedure.
Recall that Adesina was recently accused by a group of anonymous whistleblowers of handing contracts to acquaintances and appointing relatives to strategic positions at the bank.
The AFDB president said every allegation was to impugn his honour and integrity as well as the reputation of the bank.
Adesina added that he is confident and draws inspiration from Nelson Mandela and Kofi Annan whose “lives have shown that through pain we grow”.
He expressed confidence that fair, transparent and just process that respects the rules and governance system of the bank and the rule of law would prove that he has not violated the code of ethics of the bank.
Adesina said he would continue to work with the shareholders of the bank to ensure that AFDB maintains its hard-earned reputation.
“Our credible well functioning institutional and governance system is reinforced as we collectively press on to fulfil the mission of our founding fathers to accelerate and transform Africa’s development.”
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday says there is no current evidence to prove that infants can contract the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) from breast milk of infected mothers.
The UN agency disclosed this in a document announcing the release of a new report on the marketing of breast milk substitutes commonly known as baby formulas.
“While researchers continue to test breast milk from mothers with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, current evidence indicates that it is unlikely that COVID-19 would be transmitted through breastfeeding or by giving breast milk that has been expressed by a mother who is confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19,” it stated.
It highlights how some WHO member nations have failed to restrict what it described as ‘harmful marketing’ of Breast Milk Substitutes (BMS), as a replacement to normal breastfeeding exercise, particularly during the pandemic.
Though the status report recognises Nigeria among the 11 nations that have improved their legal frameworks to discourage the promotion of BMS, it emphasised that the effort would ensure health workers and health facilities promote effective breastfeeding among mothers.
For instance, it scored Nigeria high in the overall prohibition of BMS producers from using healthcare centre to promote baby formulas.
“Over the past two years, protections against inappropriate marketing of BMS have been strengthened in 44 countries around the world,” says the WHO Status report.
“Since the 2018 report, 11 countries – Bahrain, Chad, Egypt, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Nigeria, Pakistan (Punjab), Republic of Moldova, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan – enacted new Code-related legislation or amended existing legal measures.”
On 12th May, the WHO had earlier released some recommendations for breastfeeding mother and health workers managing the disease.
Breast milk provides antibodies which fortify children against illnesses
However, on concerns of infants contracting the COVID-19 virus via breast milk, thus indirectly promoting baby formulas the UN body emphasised that breast milk still remains the best.
It maintained that till date, no active COVID-19 virus has been detected in the breast milk of any mother with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
“Women with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 can, therefore, breastfeed if they wish to do so.”
According to the WHO, the milk from breastfeeding is imperative as it provides children with antibodies which fortify them against childhood illnesses.
The report revealed that despite efforts to stop the promotion of harmful breast-milk substitutes, countries are still falling short in protecting parents from misleading information.
BMS Status Report: Source WHO
“Only 79 countries prohibit the promotion of breast-milk substitutes in health facilities, and only 51 have provisions that prohibit the distribution of free or low-cost supplies within the health care system,” it said.
The report also noted how aggressive marketing of BMS is being promoted through trusted health professionals, which in turn has become a major barrier to improving new-born and child health globally.
“Health care systems must act to boost parents’ confidence in breastfeeding without industry influence so that children don’t miss out on its lifesaving benefits,” Dr Francesco Branca, Director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety stated.
In view of this, the WHO and UNICEF reiterated exclusive breastfeeding for babies in their first six months of life after which such should be continued with other nutritious and safe foods – until two years of age or beyond.
It explained that babies who are exclusively breastfed are 14 times less likely to die than babies who are not breastfed.
The health bodies further urged women to continue breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic, even if they are confirmed positive for COVID-19.
“The numerous benefits of breastfeeding substantially outweigh the potential risks of illness associated with the virus. It is not safer to give infant formula milk,” it stated.
However, it noted that health care services aimed at supporting mothers to breastfeed, including counselling and skilled lactation support are strained as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
According to the report, the COVID-19 infection prevention measures, such as physical distancing, has also made it difficult for community counselling and mother-to-mother support services to continue, leaving an opening for the breast-milk substitute industry to capitalize on the crisis, and diminish confidence in breastfeeding.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, health workers are being diverted to the response and health systems are overstretched. At such times, breastfeeding can protect the lives of millions of children, but new mothers cannot do it without the support of health providers,” says Dr. Victor Aguayo, UNICEF’s Chief of Nutrition.
To this end, the WHO and UNICEF called on governments to urgently strengthen legislation on the Code during the COVID-19 pandemic while also urging them not to seek or accept donations of companies producing breast-milk substitutes in emergency situations.
BETWEEN June 2011 and March 2020, at least $18.34 million was paid to kidnappers as ransom in Nigeria, SB Morgen revealed in a new report.
In the report, Nigeria’s Kidnap Problem: The Economics of the Kidnap Industry in Nigeria, SB Morgen revealed also that the larger proportion of that figure, about $11 million was paid out between January 2016 and March 2020, indicating that kidnapping is becoming more lucrative.
According to the report, Nigeria is becoming less safe each year as Kidnapping has increased in almost all states.
SB Morgen revealed that the sharpest rises have been in Kaduna, Rivers, Katsina, Zamfara and Taraba states while only Bayelsa in the entire country, saw a fall in the number of incidents between 2011 and 2015.
The report explained that one reason why kidnap for ransom has come to stay was the economics surrounding it.
“The data available to SBM indicates that in US dollar terms, between the $545,000 paid to secure the freedom of Ernest Ohunyon in Edo State in November 2011, and the $6868 paid to free Ojo Ekundayo and Benjamin Iluyomade in Ondo State at the end of March 2020, at least $18,343,067 changed hands between victims and kidnappers,” it said.
The report shows that four of the top 10 states with a high number of kidnap incidents over the last decade are in the South-South geopolitical zone, with three of them, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers in the Niger Delta region.
“These three are also the states with the strongest history of Niger Delta militancy,” the report indicated.
Kaduna – the state with the second-highest number of incidents – also has a significant history of violence, especially along its connecting road to Abuja.
Rivers State topped the list of 10 states with the highest cases of kidnapping in the last 10 years with a total case of 120, followed by Kaduna that has 117 cases.
Others are Delta, with 96 cases, Bayelsa 85 cases, Borno 82 cases, and Kogi with 59 cases. Edo has 55 cases, Ondo 54 cases, Katsina 52 cases and Taraba with the least, among the top 10 with 47 cases.
While it is not in the top 10, the report noted that Abuja has the 11th highest number of kidnap incidents over the last decade.
It added that there is anecdotal evidence that some of the perpetrators responsible for Kaduna’s high rate of kidnap attempts have extended their operations into the federal capital.
However, Borno, Kaduna and Katsina account for more fatalities during kidnap attempts. In 82 kidnap attempts in Borno, 489 fatalities were recorded, while 209 fatalities recorded in 117 kidnap attempts in Kaduna and 147 fatalities in 52 kidnap attempts in Katsina. Others on the list with most fatalities were Rivers, Adamawa, Niger, Delta, Zamfara, Taraba and Edo states.
“The states with the highest number of fatalities are in the North, and they all have existing ongoing violence from other sources in common,” SBM said in the report.
“It would appear that such existing violence has made the kidnaps much deadlier in these places. Our conclusion is that where existing violence and/or historic violent norms have devalued human lives, crimes such as kidnapping tend to result in more fatalities.”
According to the report, kidnappers see kidnapping as a business transaction, and not crime.
“This targeted approach makes their victims less expendable as they are usually fewer in number at a time.”
In the North, however, the modus operandi was more likely that a larger number of people were simply rounded up and then ransoms demanded collectively.
Because of this approach, the report stated that victims that were unable to pay up as quickly as expected were more likely to be killed by the kidnappers.
“Seven other states had no fatalities even though kidnap incidents were recorded in these states.”
The report further indicated that the high fatality rate of kidnap attempts in Borno and Adamawa states could be directly linked with the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group, which it said was responsible for most of the attempts and a few others linked to Fulani herdsmen militia.
It emphasised that the sudden uptick in fatalities per attempt coincided with the increase in attacks by bandits on villages especially in Zamfara and Katsina states, a situation which has gradually extended to Kaduna and Niger states.
These bandits, it noted have also been involved in kidnapping besides attacking villagers and travellers, or doing both at the same time.
“As these kidnaps are less targeted at specific persons, the bandits are less deliberate in avoiding the deaths of their victims compared to earlier kidnap attempts which appeared to have specific targets in mind.”
This, it explained points to the democratisation of insecurity in the North, specifically with respect to kidnapping, which is a huge reversal from a decade and a half ago where kidnapping attempts were mostly in the Niger Delta, before slowly spreading to the South-East and the rest of the country.
The report shows Nigeria as having a problem of large swathes of ungoverned spaces, areas of the country that are without government or security presence.
“This puts residents at the mercy of whichever criminal elements are in the ascendancy,” it said.
SBM Intel is an Africa focused geopolitical research and strategic communications consulting firm that specialises in data gathering and analysis.
AS Nigerians continue to grapple with the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic around the country, some health workers have taken to social media to share their experiences using mycovid19naijastory hashtag.
The hashtag created by the NCDC to allow people share their stories have revealed stories of front liners.
The ICIR here features stories of Nifemi, Godwin and Opeyemi as they recounted their various experiences.
Bella Nifemi is a medical doctor currently working at one of the isolation centres for COVID-19 in Lagos State, Nigeria.
Nifemi, who described her experience as challenging and life changing, said sometimes the fear of known or unknown sets in.
Dr Bella Nifemi, a medical doctor in an isolation centre in Lagos State.
“There has been moments I want to pull out and go back home, then I remember my warriors on admission who are always excited when I’m around for their sample collection,” Nifemi recounted.
She added that she misses home, her bed and her toilet where she does most of her writing.
Nifemi expressed her dissatisfaction about Nigerians saying COVID19 is a scam.
“We are risking our lives daily at the isolation center, deprived of so many things only for people to say it’s not real or it’s Malaria we are managing. Not fair to those who lost their lives to the virus, especially our colleagues,” Nifemi recounted.
She reaffirmed that COVID-19 is not a scam, and urged Nigerians to stay safe and help health workers flatten the curve to reduce the workload on them.
Okoro Godwin Omeri , a sample collector in one of FCT isolation centre who also shared his story said he saw the COVID-19 as an opportunity to learn and teach others.
Okoro Godwin Omeri, a sample collector in FCT isolation in
Godwin lives with his elder brother who has two kids that run to him whenever he comes back from work shouting “uncle is back” as they hug him.
“I miss their hugs, I have been staying in a hotel provided for us and whenever I come home they no longer call my name, they just stare at me from afar,” he said.
Godwin revealed how he almost quit during his first sample collection, after he met the first case, stating that was when reality dawned on him.
“I asked myself if I really wanted to put my life at risk. I was scared, I trembled, the patient had almost all the symptoms, I felt I was staring at COVID-19 right in the face, at this point I just wanted to quit and go back to my normal life,” Omeri said.
He explained how he had to take samples of deceased persons, and how frightening it was for him.
“In next 10 years, when the world is talking about COVID-19 frontliners, I would be very be proud I played a role,” he added.
Omeri, like Nifemi, said it was quite painful hearing people say that COVID-19 is not real. H said Nigerians needed to take responsibility by protecting themselves.
“If you contract COVID-19, you can survive it but the person who may contract it from you, may not, ” Omeri concluded.
Opeyemi Adeyemi began her residency in Community Medicine at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu, Ogun State. When the COVID-19 outbreak came to Nigeria, Ogun State was ground zero, and Adeyemi and colleagues found themselves quickly supporting the state’s response.
Dr Opeyemi Adeyemi is a public health doctor in Ogun state.
Opeyemi who said she was at work with her colleagues doing some sensitisation for Lassa fever when the state recorded it’s first case said to her self that they were not ready “We are not ready! We are still dealing with Lassa fever”.
Opeyemi was quoted in NigeriaHealthWatch, saying: “Amongst my colleagues, the first thing we said was, “Now it’s time for us to work”, because for public health, doctors in other areas of specialisation would say that we were not doing anything much and we were just chilling.”
Opeyemi revealed she had to do everything for her first patient, including disposing her urine and cleaning her up because she was the only one wearing PPE.
She added that her colleagues did not have PPE, so they could not see the patient and get themselves exposed. Unfortunately, the patient passed away.
According to Opeyemi she stated she was frightened when she saw a picture of the way she was dressed in PPE, she had one strand of hair coming out.
“I wasn’t a 100 percent covered. I panicked for about 48 hours until the results came out and it was negative! For every patient you see or every suspected case, you’re practically at risk because you don’t know what the turn of events will be,”Opeyemi added.
“You have to ensure that you are well covered. PPE is not comfortable at all. You are practically sweating your eyeballs out; it is itchy and uncomfortable, and you still have to do your work.
She explained that the PPE cannot be worn all day, so every time she comes out from the ward, she has to remove it. The next time she goes in again she has to re-gown. With that process, she revealed she can go in and out for up to four times, depending on how restless the patient is.
When all this is over, Opeyemi said it would be a joyful moment after the incubation period of the last case and tracing all possible contacts that the last case had and finding that none of them have symptoms of the disease, seeing the last case would be a sigh of relief, knowing that the battle is over.
“I’ll go home, take a shower, buy chocolates, drink a bottle of wine and go to my family in Abeokuta,” Opeyemi added.
