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Ribadu to striking workers: Return to work, we’ve arrested Ajaero’s attackers

Mustapha USMAN
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Ribadu to striking workers: Return to work, we’ve arrested Ajaero’s attackers

THE National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said on Wednesday, November 15, that some suspected assailants of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president Joe Ajero had been arrested.

Ribadu urged the leadership of the labour unions to suspend their ongoing nationwide strike, highlighting the implications of the action on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its potential impact on the economy, security, and other strategic national interests.

The labour unions, consisting of the NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), and several other affiliate bodies, on Tuesday, November 14, commenced a total indefinite strike over the attack on Ajaero in Imo state when he led other congress members to protest the “non-payment of salaries and pensions for 44 months and violation of other labour rights.”

The NLC blamed the attack on the Imo state government and the state Police command.

The unions, however, demanded the arrest and prosecution of some of the state Governor Hope Uzodinma’s aides and the replacement of the former Imo state police commissioner.

Meanwhile, a statement by the Head of Strategic Communication Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, on Wednesday said the NSA had intervened in the assault and had directed a thorough investigation into the attack.

“The NSA regrets the incident and condemns it in its entirety as it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration. 

“As a fallout of the incident, relevant authorities were directed to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assault and bring to book the culprits,” the statement added.

According to the statement, some arrests have already been made over the incident. It noted that the outcome of the investigation would be made public as soon as it is concluded. 

Ribadu appealed to the labour leadership to call off the current strike and allow the ongoing dialogue process to be exhausted.

Why MTN is quitting Liberia, two other African countries – Report

Ehime ALEX
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Why MTN is quitting Liberia, two other African countries – Report

N109 billion fraud: Abuja court cancels ex-AGF’s co-defendant’s bail

Bankole ABE
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N109 billion fraud: Abuja court cancels ex-AGF’s co-defendant’s bail

THE Maitama Division of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, on Tuesday, November 14, revoked the bail earlier granted to one of the defendants in the theft case involving the former accountant general of the federation, accused of stealing N109.5 billion.

The judge, Yusuf Halilu, cancelled the bail granted to the defendant, Olusegun Akindele, following his non-appearance in court to continue the trial.

Akindele, the second defendant in the case, is standing trial with Mohammed Kudu Usman, Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited, and the former accountant general.

Akindele was accused of bribing the former AGF and others with over N15 billion between February and December 2021.

According to the prosecution, the bribe was to hasten the payment of 13 per cent derivation to nine oil-producing states within the federation via the AGF office.

The ICIR reported in July 2022 that an FCT High Court sitting at Maitama granted bail to Idris and two others.

The judge, Adeyemi Ajayi, in a ruling, adopted all the terms and conditions of the administrative bail the plaintiff – the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) – gave the ex-AGF and his co-defendants.

Consequently, as part of the conditions for releasing the defendants on bail, the court held that they must remain within the FCT and seek consent before travelling out.

The court also ordered Idris and his co-defendants to submit an affidavit of assurance to abide by all their bail conditions.

The ex-AGF was also ordered to submit his international passports to the court.

Ajayi also ordered that the defendants remain in Kuje Prison until they perfect their bail conditions.

Idris had pleaded not guilty to a 14-count charge bordering on stealing and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N109.5 billion, preferred against him by the Nigerian government during his arraignment in court.

The ex-AGF was arrested on May 16 by the EFCC over alleged N80 billion fraud.

The ICIR reported that the court remanded him in the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre after the EFCC arraigned him on July 22.

 

Old naira notes remain legal tender beyond December 31, says CBN

Harrison EDEH
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Old naira notes remain legal tender beyond December 31, says CBN

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has removed the deadline for the legal tender status of old N200, N500, and N1000 notes from the initial December 31, 2023.

The CBN’s Director of Corporate Communications, Isa AbdulMumin, disclosed this in a statement he signed on Tuesday, November 14.

The apex bank also said it was working to vacate existing court rulings on the old notes.

The statement reads: “Please recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria introduced the redesign of N200, N500, and N1,000 denominations in October 2022, and specific deadlines were set for the old design of these denominations to cease as legal tenders.

“Without prejudice, the Central Bank of Nigeria wishes to inform the general public of its desire to extend the legal tender status deadline of the old design of N200, N500, and N1,000 denominations, ad infinitum. This is in line with international best practices and to forestall a repeat of earlier experiences.”

According to the apex bank, all banknotes issued by the CBN by Section 20(5) of the CBN Act 2007 will remain legal tender beyond the initial December 31, 2023, deadline.

It added that all its branches across the country would continue to issue and accept all denominations of Nigerian banknotes, old and redesigned, to and from banks.

The Apex bank also called on the public to continue to accept all naira banknotes (old or redesigned) for day-to-day transactions, as well as embrace alternative modes of payment.

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The ICIR reported the assurances by the apex bank that the old and new naira notes remained legal tender despite the Supreme Court ruling on the old notes.

Analysts believe that the currency rationing experienced in some commercial banks would now lessen with this clarification statement by the CBN.

“Now the CBN has spoken, there is a direction, and some commercial banks would now stop the rationing of the currency as concerns over that are being raised in some quarters,” former Director-General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Muda Yusuf, told The ICIR.

Senate threatens to privatise NIPOST over poor revenue generation

Harrison EDEH
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Senate threatens to privatise NIPOST over poor revenue generation

THE postmaster-general of the federation and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Omotola Odeyemi, came under heavy scrutiny by the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, November 14, in Abuja, over poor revenue generation by the agency.

The Senate also warned that if the agency continues to operate at a loss, it will privatize it fully.

The Joint Committee on Finance Chairman, Sani Musa, gave this warning during the 2024-2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework public hearing at the National Assembly.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the agency’s lack of functionality and abysmal revenue generation, especially from stamp duties.

The committee also directed the postmaster general to provide the names of all staff members of the organisation, allocation, and salary to the committee for further investigation.

The committee also gave NIPOST two years to establish a plan to revamp the Service and change the business model to achieve self-sustenance rather than operating at a loss, a failure of which the Senate said it would enact legislation to ensure its total privatisation.

The lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with Odeyemi’s explanation over the agency’s proposal of N18 billion as personnel cost for NIPOST 16,000 workers across the country.

Musa said NIPOST shouldn’t have increased its personnel cost from N13 billion in 2023 to proposed N18 billion for 2024, amid its poor revenue performance.

A member of the joint panel, Ireti Kingibe, a Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), attempted to defend the continued existence of NIPOST as a partially funded agency of the federal government, claiming that every nation deserves its vibrant postal agency.

However, Osita Izunaso disagreed with Kingibe, arguing that the NIPOST, as it is currently structured, should not be encouraged if the country is interested in generating revenues to fund its annual budgets.

The Chairman of the joint panel further ruled that the NIPOST CEO should forward to the committee details of her business plan to reposition the agency as a highly revenue-generating agency.

He warned that NIPOST should have been fully privatized before now, arguing further that nobody was feeling its impact anywhere in the country.

The committee gave the Service an ultimatum to develop a business model on how the agency would generate adequate revenues for the country through creative ideas, as failure to do so would leave the Senate with no other option than to recommend its full privatization.

PMS price nears N700, queues resurface in filling stations

Harrison EDEH
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PMS price nears N700, queues resurface in filling stations

PRICES of petroleum motor spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol, are nearing N700/per litre in some major filling stations across Nigeria, The ICIR findings have shown.

Also, queues have started resurfacing in most filling stations, particularly the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) owned petroleum retail outlets, which sell below market-reflective price.

MRS filling stations in Ikeja sells fuel at N593
MRS filling stations in Ikeja sell fuel at N593

Our correspondent confirmed that most filling stations in Owerri, Imo State capital, now sell fuel at N700/per litre.

Consequently, drivers are increasing their fares.

Long queues at NNPCL filling station Zone 5, close to Berger in Abuja, sells at N613/per litre.

“Drivers are already adjusting the fares to sustain their business. From the Popular World Bank road to Douglas Junction, which previously cost N300, is now N500. From Control Junction to the Wetheral, previously N200, is now N500,” an Owerri Intra-state driver, Okezie Kalu, told The ICIR.

In Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Abia states, the product sells above N650-N670/per litre price band.

In Portharcourt, fuel in major retail outlets, as confirmed by marketers, is N670/per litre.

In Kaduna and some parts of Kano, the price band is N630-N645, as NNPCL sells N620/per litre.

A member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Dickson Aja, also confirmed to our correspondent that fuel In Edo and Delta now sells at N640-N645.

In Lagos, the NNPCL sells N590/per litre, while some major retail outlets sell above N600/per litre.

Further checks showed the NNPCL in Abuja selling at N613/per litre in most of their retail outlets, forcing long queues.

The ICIR reported how NNPCL remained the sole importer of PMS and maintained a price ceiling below the market-reflective price.

Marketers have raised concern over this development, which they said could see rising queues in NNPCL-owned filling stations due to price disparity.

NNPCL has longer queues, while some marketers struggle to compete and open for businesses,The ICIR findings further showed.

For instance, at NNPCL in Wuse Zone 6, there was a long queue of motorists on Monday, November 13, because of non-reflective market pricing.

This development, marketers said, is not helping healthy competition with the NNPCL.

“Most of our marketers cannot import and sell because of dollar scarcity and NNPCL price-ceiling. If you look around, you will see many filling stations not selling, which is a problem for our members,” the chairman of Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Billy Gillis-Harry, told The ICIR.

Some marketers told The ICIR that the price would keep rising according to global market realities since they had to factor in their logistics costs and fluctuating foreign exchange to recover costs and remain in business.

“NNPCL is the sole importer of premium motor spirit. If they are not changing the price to suit current market realities, it is a challenge for us, the marketers,”a former Chairman of the Major Marketers Association of Nigeria, Adetunji Oyebanji, told The ICIR.

He noted that logistics costs seriously influenced the price.

“The freight charge is going up because of the high cost of diesel. For instance, you can get N800,000 as transport costs from Lagos to Abuja for a truckload of fuel. However, it is N1.2 million worth of diesel that would suffice. This is one of the reasons marketers increase fuel prices to recover costs,” Adetunji said.

Driver who allegedly killed two cleaners in Lagos submits self to Police

Bankole ABE
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Driver who allegedly killed two cleaners in Lagos submits self to Police

A DRIVER who killed two road cleaners on Monday, November 13, on the Gbagada-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos State has reportedly submitted himself to the state’s Police Command.

According to Channels Television on Tuesday morning, Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the state Police command, said that the suspect, who was driving the car with the license plate number EPE 984 DV, submitted himself to the Police on Monday evening.

“He turned himself in yesterday (Monday), and he will be arraigned for manslaughter possibly today (Tuesday),” Hundeyin told Channels TV.

The ICIR reported that there was pandemonium in Lagos on Monday morning after a hit-and-run commercial bus hit two street cleaners while attempting to escape arrest by the state traffic management agency (LASTMA).

The two cleaners’ lifeless bodies were laid inside the gutter at the Charley Boy Bus Stop via Oshodi- Gbagada expressway, inward Iyana-Oworo.

Eyewitnesses’ accounts blamed LASTMA officers for the tragedy.

The officers fled as the driver vanished with his bus after the incident to escape a possible mob action.

One of the witnesses, who identified himself as Friday, said the officers were unprofessional in their bid to apprehend the bus driver.

Other street cleaners were seen mourning the death of their colleagues as vehicular movement stalled, leaving commuters stranded.

Many commuters trekked to the nearest bus stop to continue their journey.

The ICIR contacted the LASTMA spokesperson, Taofiq Adebayo, on Monday morning to get his reaction to the allegation against the agency’s officers.

He said, “We are trying to put a press statement. You will get it very soon.”

However, in a statement posted on its official X handle on Monday evening, signed by Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, the government denied claims that LASTMA caused the accident.

“Information gathered revealed that the driver of a Honda Saloon Car with registration number EPE 984 DV rammed into the innocent sweepers while they were discharging their duties along Gbagada Expressway this morning.

“Immediate investigation revealed that no LASTMA personnel was involved in the unfortunate incident,” part of the statement read.

 The statement also stated that to facilitate a thorough investigation into the cause of the tragedy, Police officers from Pedro Police Station had recovered the car that killed the cleaners.

ICIR announces successful fellows for its Tax Justice, Equity Project

Joshua Ovorumu
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ICIR announces successful fellows for its Tax Justice, Equity Project

THE International Centre for Investigative Reporting (The ICIR) is pleased to announce successful fellows for its “Tax Justice and Equity Project”.

This initiative is aimed at enlightening Nigerians and stimulating discussions around tax issues using investigative journalism as a tool in a manner that would promote tax equity and justice.

The project is being executed with the support of the International Budget Partnership.

The ICIR is an independent, non–profit media organisation that aims to promote good governance in Nigeria through robust investigative, data-driven reporting. Our goal is to build a culture of watchdog reporting for the media in Nigeria.

In the last five years, the Centre has worked to build the capacity for journalists to undertake investigative, data-driven reporting, thus strengthening accountability and engendering effective service delivery for citizens’ welfare, particularly at the sub-regional level.

For this project, 12 journalists have been selected from Lagos, Kano, Taraba, and Cross Rivers states across print, electronic and digital media. The project will build capacity and provide financial support for selected journalists to undertake critical business investigative and data-driven reports on tax equity and multiplicity of taxation in the informal sector in Nigeria.

The list of the successful candidates and their respective organisations is below:

S/N NAME GENDER ORGANIZATION STATE
 

1.

 Adamu Mustapha Hodi Male BizPoint (Online Business Newspaper) Kano State

 
2. Thomas Samuel Male Taraba State Broadcasting Service (TSBS) Jalingo Taraba State
3. Augustina Agosi Todo Female The Guardian Cross River State
4. Alex Friday Ehime Male The ICIR Lagos State
5. David Yerima Sarah Female Rock FM Jalingo Taraba State
6. Abasi-Abasi Joseph Ephraim Male Nigerian Tribune Cross Rivers State
7. Aro Olubusola Female The Cable Newspaper Limited Lagos State
8. Francis Lawrence Male Prime TV Taraba State
9. Abdulrasheed Hussain Male Premier Radio Kano State
10. Ekunke Ogah Ukeulim B Female HIT95.9FM Cross Rivers State
11. Folake Balogun Female Business Day Lagos State
12. Hamza Sulaiman Shamasiyya Female Freelance journalist Kano State

ASUU, banks, health workers, others comply with NLC’s strike

Mustapha USMAN
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ASUU, banks, health workers, others comply with NLC’s strike

SEVERAL affiliate unions have joined the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) in the nationwide strike that begins today, Tuesday, November 14.

This was according to a post made by the NLC on its X handle on Tuesday, disclosing the compliance of many of the affiliate unions with the order.

The unions include the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, the Association of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP).

Letter of compliance from ASUU. Photo Credit: NLC/X
Letter of compliance from ASUU. Photo Credit: NLC/X

Others are the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees, the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), and the National Union of Electricity Employees.

The strike followed the recent attack on the NLC president Joe Ajaero in Imo state when he led other congress members to protest the “non-payment of salaries and pensions for 44 months and violation of other labour rights.”

The NLC blamed the attack on Imo state government and the state Police command.

Following the attack, The ICIR reports that the labour unions declared a total, nationwide strike effective from Tuesday, November 14, 2023, if the Federal Government failed to meet its demands, which include the replacement of the Imo Police Commissioner Mohammed Barde over his alleged involvement in the attack.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun redeployed Barde shortly after the attack. 

The unions also called for the arrest and prosecution of some of the state Governor Hope Uzodinma’s aides. They threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if their demands were unmet.

On November 1, The ICIR reported the Police allegedly arresting and brutalising Ajaero during the workers’ protest in Owerri, the state capital.

He was reportedly whisked away while addressing the workers at the NLC secretariat over their alleged maltreatment by the state government.

After his release by the Police, the NLC president emerged with a battered face and was quickly rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, for medical attention.

Labour unions defy court order

Meanwhile, the National Industrial Court (NIC) on Friday, November 10, restrained the Labour unions and their affiliates from downing tools.

The presiding judge, Benedict Kanyip, issued the order following an ex-parte application brought before the court by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.

Citing a section of the NIC Act, after listening to the Federal Fovernment’s lawyer, T.A Gazali, a senior advocate, the presiding judge said, “Section 7(1)(b) of the NIC Act 2006 empowers this court to hear matters relating to the grant of any order to restrain any person or body from taking part in any industrial action, or any conduct in contemplation or furtherance of the industrial action. Section 19(a) of same Act then empowers this court to grant urgent interim reliefs.

“This court has over the years interpreted these provisions as authorising this court to grant exparte orders restraining an industrial action that is threatened, and so yet to commence, as is in the present threatened industrial action of 14 November 2023. This being so, the instant exparte application succeeds, and is hereby granted.”

Off-cycle polls: SERAP urges INEC to identify, arrest electoral offences’ sponsors

Mustapha USMAN
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Off-cycle polls: SERAP urges INEC to identify, arrest electoral offences’ sponsors

THE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to identify and arrest sponsors of electoral offences in Saturday, November 11, off-cycle governorship elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa states.

The organisation also urged the electoral body to “name and shame” the offenders.

A statement dated November 11, and signed by SERAP’s deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, stated that if INEC was to live up to its constitutional and statutory responsibilities, it must take bold and effective measures to combat the culture of impunity for electoral bribery and violence in Nigeria.

According to the organisation, the recurring cases of electoral bribery and violence make a mockery of Nigeria’s electoral process and participatory democracy.

The SERAP also urged INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, to disclose the details of the amount spent on the off-cycle polls.

It stated that publishing the details of spending on elections in the three states was in the public interest.

According to SERAP, the governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states witnessed cases of electoral offences including electoral violence, vote-buying, conspiracy, and undue influence.

“Reports of grave electoral offences in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states have shown that INEC and politicians have learnt little or nothing from the well-documented problems during the 2023 general elections.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel INEC to comply with our request in the public interest,” the statement added.

The organisation emphasised the importance of a transparent, effective, credible, inclusive, and broad-based investigation into these allegations, noting that the citizens would continue to lose confidence in the electoral process if the body failed to prosecute the offenders.

SERAP stressed that the proposed joint investigation should comprise INEC, anti-corruption, and law enforcement agencies, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and independent leaders and citizens’ groups from the three states.

“Electoral bribery and violence and other electoral offences undermine the ability of INEC to discharge its responsibilities under Section 153 of the Nigerian Constitution and paragraph 15(a) of the third schedule of the Constitution, and the Electoral Act.

“Electoral bribery and violence and other electoral offences reportedly committed during the off-cycle governorship elections in the three states are contrary to the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, and international standards,” the statement stressed.

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