Home Blog Page 2891

Nasarawa NURTW Dares FRSC On Speed Limit Devices

Editorial
-
0
Nasarawa NURTW Dares FRSC On Speed Limit Devices

nasarawa-nurtw-dares-frsc-on-speed-limit-devices

The Nasarawa State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, has said that it would not buy the speed limit devices which the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, had mandated all commercial vehicle drivers to install in their vehicles.

Salihu Adamu, Chairman of the NURTW in Nasarawa State told newsmen in Lafia on Thursday that none of his members will purchase the speed limit device because it was very expensive.

He said that all the appeals by the union for the FRSC to get distributors of the device to bring down the price had not yielded any result.

“We don’t have plans to buy the device for N45,000. We don’t have that money,” the State NURTW chairman said.

We told FRSC to go back and bargain that for commercial drivers we will agree to buy it for N5,000.”

He insisted that the amount for the device was beyond the means of commercial drivers in the state.

Adamu also said that the union had approached distributors of the speed limit devices in Benue and Nasarawa all to no avail.

The NURTW chairman assured that once the price of the device was pegged at N5,000, the union would buy all the devices and compel its members to install them.

He further said that the FRSC was not being fair by compelling only commercial drivers to install the device, adding that private drivers were responsible for many of the road accidents recorded across the country.

“We are asking them why are they not selling to the private drivers? Is it because they are people of means and our drivers are not?

“Let them sell it to the general public. Afterall, some of the accidents that occur is because of the recklessness of private drivers,” Adamu said.

The Nasarawa State Sector Commander of FRSC, Faustina Alegbe, however advised the union to form groups and negotiate with the distributors in order to get the device at cheaper rate.

“They have the power to bargain with any accredited vendor. If they go as a group, I believe that the vendors will consider their number and deal with them,” Alegbe said.

She also called on drivers to exercise more caution especially as the yuletide season draws nearer.

Corrupt Nigerians Are Fighting My Administration – Buhari

Editorial
-
0
Corrupt Nigerians Are Fighting My Administration – Buhari

corrupt-nigerians-are-fighting-my-administration-buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has admitted that his administration’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign is “tough and grueling, and  that some Nigerians who had enriched themselves from proceeds of corruption are using their ill-gotten wealth to fight his government.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

The Presidential spokesman stated that President Buhari made the remarks on Thursday during a meeting with the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry,  on the sidelines of conference on climate change, COP22, in Marrakech, Morocco.

Buhari reportedly assured Secretary Kerry that the campaign against corruption was well on course and has been successful so far, adding, however, that corruption was vigorously fighting back.

Adesina quoted president Buhari as saying that corrupt people had accumulated a formidable arsenal of illicit wealth, which they were now deploying against the government on various fronts.

“But it is a war we are determined to win, and which we will win. People of goodwill are behind us, countries like America and many others are with us, and we will surely win,” he said.

On the efforts being made to tackle the humanitarian crisis in the North East resulting from the Boko Haram insurgency, President Buhari told the US secretary of State that a committee has been formed, headed by retired “Gen TY Danjuma, a man of high integrity” to take care of the people affected by the insurgency.

President Buhari also assured Kerry that negotiations were on to bring the militancy in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria under control.

He regretted however that it was proving difficult to bring major stakeholders in the region under one umbrella.

Buhari expressed satisfaction and gratitude with the support his administration has enjoyed from the America government, adding that the economic recession in the country was being “frontally tackled” and will soon be soon be over.

Adesina stated that secretary Kerry commended Buhari for the successes his administration have recorded so far, pledging that the US will continue to support Nigeria to overcome its economic and security challenges.

Lawmakers Refuse To Confirm Nominee Who Called For Scrapping Of Senate

Editorial
-
0
Lawmakers Refuse To Confirm Nominee Who Called For Scrapping Of Senate

senate-votes-against-sale-of-assets

The Senate on Thursday rejected one of the nominees forwarded to it by President Muhammadu Buhari for the governing board of the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC.

The nominee, Saidu Abubakar, had during his screening before the senate insisted that the Senate should be scrapped as according to him, the cost of running the upper legislative chamber was way too high.

Abubakar had before his nomination, participated in a protest calling for the scrapping of the senate and a unicameral legislature.

During the screening exercise by the Senate Committee on Communications, one of the lawmakers asked Abubakar why he was appearing before a body he wanted scrapped; but the nominee maintained that the Senate was an economic loss to the country.

He said that all the Senators do was to receive huge transport and ward robe allowances as well as purchase expensive cars for themselves. He said he had no regrets joining in the protests and was still convinced the senate should be done away with.

On Thursday, however, chairman of the Senate committee on communication, Gilbert Nnaji, told the senate plenary that the committee had noticed some inconsistencies in the credentials presented by Abubakar, as well as one other nominee, Ezeikel Yissa.

Only five, out of the seven nominees were approved by the senate committee.

They include: Chairman, Olabiyi Durojaiye; executive commissioner, Sunday Dare; Commissioners: Clement Baiye, Okoi Obono-Obia and Ifeanyi Ararume.

Recall that the committee had during the screening exercise pointed out to Abubakar that the certificate he presented – a diploma in computer science – bore a date which is later than the date of his appointment by the President.

He replied that he had no need for the certificate since he was not working for the government, adding that he only went to pick it up after the nomination.

Senate Clears New Supreme Court Justices

Editorial
-
0
Senate Clears New Supreme Court Justices

njc-disagrees-with-nba-over-judges-under-probe

Justices Sidi Bage and Paul Galinje were on Thursday confirmed by the Nigerian Senate as justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, after President Muhammadu Buhari had forwarded their names to the upper legislative chambers.

The justices were subsequently referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening and during Plenary on Thursday, chairman of the committee, David Umaru recommended that the candidates be confirmed.

Presenting the report of the committee, Umaru described the Justices as possessing “sound knowledge” of the law, adding that they have contributed immensely to the development of the country’s jurisprudence and enriched the legal system through their judgements and rulings as well as seminar presentation.

He added that the committee was satisfied with the nominees’ competence, experience, suitability, qualifications and integrity, hence the recommendation for the confirmation of their nominations.

Umaru further stated that with the nomination of Bage and Galinje, the make-up of the Supreme Court presently was a fair reflection of the Federal Character principle as provided for in Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He explained that upon the confirmation of the new Judges, each of the six geo-political zones in the country will now have three justices in the Supreme Court except the South-South with two.

Arraignment of Supreme Court Officials Moved To Dec 15

Editorial
-
0
Arraignment of Supreme Court Officials Moved To Dec 15

supreme-court-officials-charged-with-n2-2-billion-fraud

The scheduled arraignment of three officials of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Registrar, Ahmed Saleh, on allegations of N2.2 billion fraud, has been shifted to December 15.

Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, had filed a corruption case against the three officials before the Jabi Division of the FCT high court, accusing them of diverting funds meant for the Supreme Court to the tune of N2.2 billion.

They were also accused of receiving gratifications totaling N74.4m from private contractors providing services to the Supreme Court between 2009 and 2016.

However, the arraignment, which was scheduled to hold on Thursday, had to be postponed due to the inability of one of the accused persons, Muhammed Sharif, to attend the hearing.

His counsel, Garba Tetengi, SAN, told the trial Judge, Abba Mohammed that his client was indisposed and on admission at the hospital.

Prior to the adjournment of the case, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohammed Umar, who appeared for the prosecution, later handed over to Charles Adeogun-Philips, who will be leading the Federal Government’ team in subsequent proceedings.

According to the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Adeogun-Philips, an-England based legal practitioner, had worked as a genocide and war crime prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, ICC, in the Hague.

Umar said that the AGF and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, relied on the provisions of section 174(1) of the Constitution to hand over the prosecution of the case to the international lawyer.

Apart from Sharif, the other two accused were in court, also all the three accused, including Sharif who was absent, had their lawyers in court.

The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court was represented by Abdulhakeem Mustapha, SAN, while Lawal was represented by I.K Sanusi, SAN.

Announcing his client’s absence, Sharif’s lawyer, Tentengi said the defendant was on admission at a hospital and therefore pleaded with the judge to adjourn the case.

Adeogun-Philips expressed reservation about the failure of the defence lawyer to present any document to support his claims that the defendant was on hospital admission, the judge said the arraignment could not hold since all the accused were jointly charged.

Justice Mohammed adjourned the case till December 15.

Shell Kicks Off ‘Safe Routes To School Project’ In Bayelsa

Editorial
-
0
Shell Kicks Off ‘Safe Routes To School Project’ In Bayelsa

shell-kicks-off-safe-routes-to-school-project-in-bayelsa

 

The Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, has launched a campaign aimed at ensuring that students in Bayelsa state are protected from reckless road motorists while going to or from School.

To drive home the initiative, Shell is involving the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education as well as the Bayelsa State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, as implementing partners in the project.

At the launch of the project in Bayelsa, Alaye Dokubo, Government and Community Relations Manager in Charge of Bayelsa and Delta operational areas of SPDC, noted that safety was an  important aspect of the oil firm’s operations.

He added that Shell was committed to ensuring that pupils were properly educated on how to safely navigate through the roads in order to avoid mishaps.

Dokubo noted that the project will kick-off in six primary schools across the state.

According to him, the project will involve the creation of zebra crossing signages at the selected schools within the high traffic routes, training of teachers to serve as Zebra Crossing Guides as well as training of the pupils on road safety habits.

Also Speaking at the kick-off of the ‘safe routes to school project’, Nduka Ejoor, another Executive of the SPDC, pointed out that the project was necessary and timely, given that 90 percent of Nigerian School children walk to school and were at risk due to high population of untrained drivers on Nigerian roads.

Bayelsa Sector Commandant of the FRSC, Ayuba Wobin, commended Shell for embarking on the project to instill road safety habits on children at a tender age.

He disclosed that the FRSC had developed a road safety curriculum for schools which is being used by Road Safety Clubs, adding that the command would work with heads of the six selected schools to inaugurate the Road Safety club in their schools.

Commissioner for Education in Bayelsa State, Markson Fefegha, who was represented at the event by Ann Amosame, said that crossing roads was a general challenge for both children and adult pedestrians.

She applauded Shell for reintroducing the zebra crossings which she said were defaced due to road construction projects.

Hundreds of pupils from the six selected schools were also at the launch of the project.

ICPC Charges Ex- DG With N603 Million Fraud

Editorial
-
0
ICPC Charges Ex- DG With N603 Million Fraud
Former NIHSA DG, John Shamonda
Former NIHSA DG, John Shamonda
The trial of former Director-General of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, John Shamonda, has begun at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, in the Apo district of Abuja.
The former DG was arraigned earlier in May by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC before Justice Adeniyi Ademola on allegations of mismanagement of N603 million intervention funds meant for rehabilitation and replacement of damaged hydrological equipment of NIHSA.
According to the charge, Shamonda’s actions contravened Sections 16, 17 (1) (C), and 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
At the resumption of trial, counsel to the ICPC, Okechukwu Igbudu, called the first prosecution witness, Joshua Wakili, who is also the head of the Investigation team, to testify to the court the outcome of his investigation.
In his testimony, Wakili tendered various documents to substantiate his findings and they were admitted in court as exhibits.
He also told the court that some of the purchases and disbursement of funds made by Shamonda during his time as DG of NIHSA, were outside the approval given by the Presidency and Ministry of Water Resources.
Defence counsel, Michael Bello, cross-examined the ICPC witness on the admissibility of some of the documents tendered in court, after which Justice Ademola adjourned the case to December 7 2016 for further hearing.

Atiku’s Presidential Ambition Tears Adamawa APC Apart

Editorial
-
0
Atiku’s Presidential Ambition Tears Adamawa APC Apart
Former Nigeria's Vice President, Atiku Abubakar
Former Nigeria’s Vice President, Atiku Abubakar

Musa Isa Ahmed

The ambition of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, to run for President in 2019 is causing ripples within the Adamawa state chapter of the All Progressive Congress,APC.

On November 10, at the flag-off of the contruction of  Girei-Wuro-Bokki road, the Chief of Staff to the Governor Jubrilla Bindow, Abdulraham Abba Jimeta, who spoke on behalf of the state government, said the state had endorsed Atiku’s presidential ambition in 2019.

He had said: “the entire Adamawa state government is firmly behind the former Vice-President wherever he goes, the state government is behind him. From the Governor to the Deputy Governor, the Secretary to the State Government, the Commissioners, the Special Advisers and Special Assistants and all other political appointees and members of the State House of Assembly are also behind His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.”

The story, which was carried in a national daily, attracted widespread condemnation by supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari who described the alleged endorsement as hasty and inappropriate.

Governor Bindow later tried to dissociate himself himself from the endorsement. His Chief Press Secretary, Yohanna Mathias, issued a statement saying the endorsement was the opinion of the speaker and not that of the state government. He described the report as a “calculated attempt to smear and tarnish the political profile of Governor Bindow.”

Yesterday, however, the Buhari support organization Adamawa state office, issued a press release condemning the alleged endorsement of Atiku by the state government.

The group, in a statement signed by Aliyu Abdullahi, said the endorsement was “reckless and thoughtless.”

It questioned the motive of endorsing Atiku for a position that was not yet vacant, and that is being occupied by a fellow party man.

The group said it was a “calculated attempt to create confusion in the party ahead of the general election.”  The Buhari support group urged Governor Bindow to face the challenges of governance instead of engaging himself in a fruitless exercise.

ICPC Recovers 95 SURE-P Vehicles From Government Officials

Editorial
-
0
ICPC Recovers 95 SURE-P Vehicles From Government Officials

icpc-recovers-95-sure-p-vehicles-from-government-officials

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has recovered 95 vehicles from various government officials after the winding down of the activities of the defunct Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme, Sure-P.

This was made known during an inspection visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking during the inspection exercise, the ICPC Chairman, Ekpo Nta, explained that the recovery of the vehicles was an indication of the firm resolve of the Commission to tackle the various manifestations of corrupt practices perpetrated by some government officials.

He said that 40 of the vehicles were recovered from some retired officials of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

Akinloye Babajide, Chairman of the House Committee on anti-corruption, noted that the aim of the oversight visit was for his committee to have better knowledge of the role being played by the ICPC in the anti-corruption campaign as well as to offer support where necessary.

He commended the Commission for fostering a good image for Nigeria through its preventive initiatives against corruption.

Babajide urged the ICPC to do more with regards to making its achievements known to the public as according to him, majority of Nigerians are of the view that the commission was not doing much.

“The perception of ICPC not doing enough should be a thing of the past,” he said.

“With what I have seen, we want to contribute to the development of the Commission and eradicate wrong perceptions of ICPC.”

The ICPC Chairman told the lawmakers that the major objective of the mandate of the Commission was the prevention of corruption, adding that it was the thrust of what it was doing.

Nta said that corruption was an “opportunistic crime” and emphasis must be placed on eliminating the opportunities that lead people to engaging in corrupt acts.

“ICPC is interested in the development and deployment of high Information and communication technology, ICT, in government processes to achieve success with greater ease. This will be the height of our prevention activities”, he said.

Nta further explained to the legislators some of the preventive initiatives the ICPC has institutionalised which have saved Nigeria a lot of money.

According to him, some of the sectors that have benefitted from these initiatives include the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, as well as the Aviation and Education Sectors.

The ICPC boss, however noted, that more funding is required in the fight against corruption, as corrupt people were already wealthy enough to fight back.

Ex-Governors In Edo State To Get N200 Million Houses

Editorial
-
0
Ex-Governors In Edo State To Get N200 Million Houses

ex-governors-in-edo-state-to-get-n200-million-houses

The Edo State House of Assembly has approved the construction of houses for former governors and deputy governors at a rate that should not exceed N200 million and N100 million, respectively, in any location of their choice.

This development was following the consideration of a bill for a law to amend the existing legislation on the Pension Rights of Governors and their Deputies in the state.

Majority Leader of the assembly, Foly Ogedengbe, before moving the motion for the consideration of the new bill, first moved that House rules 20, 27, 42, 43, 44 and 45 be suspended, to enable the assembly to consider the bill.

The motion was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Elizabeth Ativie representing Uhunwode State constituency.

Considering the bill as a committee of the whole, the lawmakers amended the law to read that a governor and his deputy shall be entitled to a house each, at any location of their choice.

The new law, however, provides that the houses shall not be more than N200m and N100m, respectively.

Many states in the country have enacted similar laws.

Edo state recently witnessed a peaceful transition which saw former Governor Adams Oshiomhole hand over power to Godwin Obaseki, after having served out two four-year tenures.

­

1...2,8902,8912,892...3,440Page 2,891 of 3,440