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IPOB Applauds Governor Mbah’s Move To End-Sit-At Home Order; Warns Him

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Peter Mbah

By Akinwale Kasali

In a twist of irony, pro-Biafra Group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has applauded Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, on his move to bring an end to the Sit-At-Home order in the State and other South Eastern State imposed on the people.

Readers would recall that the ill-thought out order was imposed on the South-east in 2021 by IPOB to protest the detention and prosecution of its Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government and force his freedom. At the time it was declared, IPOB made it an every Monday affair and on any day Kanu was billed to appear in Court. To enforce it, people’s businesses were ruined, the economy of the Zone was brought to its knees, violence as never witnessed before in the Zone was the order of the day and the people wept.

Many months later, after much pressure from a number of people, and seeing that its order had no effect on Kanu’s fate, and that on the contrary, it was the nasser of the South-east who were bearing the brunt, and that neither the FG nor other Regions in Nigeria cared a hoot whether the Group shot down South-east  or not, IPOB reduced the order to only the days Kanu would appear in Court. It was to finally cancel it, and declared anybody enforcing it as an enemy.

However, at the time it cancelled it, it was late. It had gotten out of its hands, and taken over by all kinds of gangs, who were making financial gains out of enforcing it.

The worst culprit was, still is, an estranged IPOB member, Finland-based Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed disciple of Kanu. Still claiming IPOB membership, even though he has been denied by the Group, Ekpa and his own group which, allegedly, goes by the name, Autopilot, have  kept the sit-at-home order alive, inspite of warnings to the contrary by Kanu whose disciple Ekpa proclaims he is.

In applauding Governor Mbah, the Biafran agitators claimed that they had put an end to the siege, alleging that some unscrupulous elements of the State, hiding under the guise of IPOB had continued the siege.

Cautioning the Enugu State Governor against the use of force on the people, IPOB claimed the police know the criminals enforcing the “non-existent sit-at-home.”

Emma Powerful, IPOB spokesman, in a statement on Monday said that criminal elements hijacked the Sit-At-Home order from IPOB, as the Group had suspended the exercise long before now.

“After our leadership initiated the Monday sit-at-home order to demand for the release of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leadership has long directed stoppage of the exercise to avoid criminals capitalising on that to harm our people.

“Though some Biafrans continued with Monday sit-at-home voluntarily, as our leader predicted, after the suspension order, some criminals and infiltrators hijacked it and started committing crimes and enforcing non-existent Monday sit-at-home.

“The Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mba should be made aware that IPOB has already suspended Monday sit-at-home. For him to publicly associate IPOB with Monday sit-at-home is obnoxious. If Mba wants to return normalcy on Mondays, he has the support of IPOB because those enforcing non-existent Monday sit-at-home are criminals.

“Anybody enforcing non-existent Monday sit-at-home order is not helping IPOB and our leader Mazi Kanu. Every member of IPOB and Biafrans should be coming out on Mondays for their business.”

It, however, stated that while the exercise is gradually winding down across the South-East, Mba should avoid the use of force to clamp down on the people as this would create anarchy.

It said the security agents can stop the enforcers of sit-at-home and their sponsor because they know themselves, adding that “their leader in Europe are behind these criminalities going on in the South-East.”

“The governor must know that the Nigeria Police know the criminals and the hideout of the criminals who enforce sit-at-home in some communites but are claiming to be IPOB but they are not.

“We are calling on Mba never to allow a single person die because of this exercise because we don’t know anything about it.

“Calling on the Nigeria murderous security agents to stop Monday sit-at- home is a call that will be used as a license to target and kill IPOB members and innocent Biafra citizens. So, Mba should be careful not to be used by enemies to target and attack IPOB members and ESN operatives.

“Mba should never make the same mistake, Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo made by using the Nigeria compromised security to stop Monday sit-at-home . Any attempt to use murderous Fulani controlled security to stop the sit-at-home is an indirect way of killing our people.

“Such moves will always be counterproductive. Such measures failed in Ebonyi, Imo, and Anambra, and it will fail in Enugu if it is applied. We support him to stop the Monday sit-at-home, as we have stopped the sit-at-home. Allow the Monday sit-at-home to die off naturally by engaging our people,” the group added.

Don’t Be Rubber Stamp, Be Advocates For The People  – SDP Charges New Ondo Assembly Members

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ondo State House of Assembly

By Ayodele Oni

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) Ondo State  Chapter, has charged members of the 10th House of Assembly to chart a new course and refuse to be rubber stamps of the executive arm like their predecessors.

In a congratulatory message to the members, who were inaugurated last Saturday, the opposition party, advised that “As the 10th Assembly begins, we challenge them to forge ahead on a new route that will solidify their legacy in the State’s annals of history.”

The message, signed by chairman of the party, Stephen Adewale “congratulated the newly inaugurated members of the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly. We call on them to ensure that they work for the people of Ondo State that elected them, and not for any other interest.

“It is regrettable that Ondo State is yet to experience a genuinely independent House of Assembly since 1999 as the previous members of hallowed chambers regarded themselves as nothing more than pawns who rubber-stamped the whims and caprices of the Executive.

“As the first institution of democracy in Ondo State, their duty is to work with the executive and the judiciary. They were never designed to work for the executive or work for the judiciary.

“Since no one speaks just because they enjoy the sound of their own voice, a legislature that encourages constructive criticism and healthy debates will likely be a responsive legislature; and such will be advantageous for the newly inaugurated 10th Assembly.

“In this kettle resides the strategy of how the 10th Assembly can deliver dividends of democracy to the people as anything short of that is a signpost to instability and a recipe for catastrophe.

“As another legislative journey begins, expectations are high that the lawmakers will diligently implement their legislative duties and attend to several unfinished businesses.

“A cursory look at the 9th Assembly with the eye of history would suggest that they left a lot to be desired in the State. To insist that the 9th Assembly was flawless is to play God. To say that mistakes were not made while they were in the saddle is to stretch the truth.

“Therefore, the 10th Assembly members have their work cut out for them. Their predecessors in the 9th Assembly passed 63 bills into law, a number of these bills were passed at the twilight of the legislative session and have not yet been properly implemented.

“Therefore, the 10th Assembly must pay diligent attention to their oversight functions. 10th Assembly begins at the time when the country and the State is undergoing a financial trying times and their legislative contributions must reflect this changing reality.

“On this note, we implore the 10th Assembly to work on legislation that will improve the ease of doing business in Ondo State. Laws that will enhance the revenue of the State and increase what we generate internally

“A time like this also presents the 10th Assembly with unique opportunity to give the Ondo people what they ask for, reward them with what they look forward to, and surprise them with what they are yet to ask for, but considered expedient.

“In order to deepen a people-oriented legislature, the immediate task before the 10th Assembly is to consciously design a template to debate and pass people-oriented law as much as necessary, fine-tune strategies where feasible, make adjustments where achievable, tamper with the existing narratives where such is needed, and encourage participations in the legislative affairs wherever practicable.

“Finally, the good people of Ondo State will undoubtedly demand nothing less than excellent performance because one good turn deserves another.

“The fact that the nation is transitioning from one form of civilian government to another is a wonderful thing; nonetheless, the state’s legislators need to realize that they have a job to do. Instead of acting as a rubber stamp, they should all be prepared to serve and vigorously advocate for their constituency.”

Zenith Bank’s Onyeagwu Emerges Africa’s Best Banking CEO

By
James Orji
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0
Ebenezer Onyeagwu - Zenith Bank PLC MD

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, has been named ‘Best Banking CEO of the Year in Africa’ in the International Banker 2023 Banking Awards. The award, published in the Spring 2023 Issue of the International Banker Magazine, sees Dr Onyeagwu honoured alongside other individuals and banks from the Middle East and Africa.

Expressing gratitude for the recognition, Dr. Onyeagwu commended the Publishers of the International Banker for considering him a fitting recipient of the ‘Best Banking CEO of the Year in Africa’ award. He stated,

“This award reflects the bank’s position as a leading financial institution in Nigeria and the African continent. It also attests to our commitment to principles of sustainability and high ethical standards, which have become integral to our overall strategy as an institution”.

He dedicated the award to the Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, CFR, for his guidance and mentorship; the bank’s management team and staff, for being the shoulder upon which his achievements and success as CEO rests; and the bank’s customers for making Zenith Bank their bank of choice.

Dr Onyeagwu’s outstanding career has led to him receiving multiple awards, including Bank CEO of the Year (2019) by Champion Newspaper, Bank CEO of the Year (2020, 2021 & 2022) by BusinessDay Newspaper, CEO of the Year (2020 and 2021) – SERAS Awards, and CEO of the Year (2022) – Leadership Newspaper.

As Group Managing Director/CEO, Dr Onyeagwu has led Zenith Bank to achieve tremendous feats and milestones in financial performance (including 47 per cent growth in the bank’s market capitalisation in four years), financial inclusion, corporate governance and sustainability. These efforts have culminated in several local and international awards and recognitions including being recognised as Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital, for the 13th consecutive year, in the 2022 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking published by The Banker Magazine; Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2020 and 2022; Best Bank in Nigeria, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria 2021 and 2022 in the World Finance Banking Awards; Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards 2022; ‘Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa, for four consecutive years from 2020 to 2023, by the Ethical Boardroom; and the Most Responsible Organisation in Africa 2021 by SERAS Awards.

On March 25, 2023, he was conferred with a Doctorate Degree in Business Administration by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria’s first indigenous University, in recognition of his immense achievements as Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank as well as his contributions to the growth of the financial services sector in Nigeria and across the African continent. The award was given during the 50th convocation ceremony of the University.

Published by Finance Publishing Limited, the International Banker is a leading global source of authoritative analysis and opinion on banking, finance and world affairs. Its influence, integrity, accuracy and objective opinion have earned it global recognition.

The International Banker Awards strive to recognise the most worthy financial institutions around the world – those not just doing their jobs well but exceptionally well – those operating at the industry’s cutting edge and setting new performance levels to which others will aspire.

The 2023 Banking Awards focused on various criteria, including the provision of much-needed capital for economic growth, cutting-edge innovation to enhance security and efficiency, commitment to sustainability and ESG principles, as well as intelligent investing to maximise profits and shareholder value.

Unity Bank CEO Says Performance Proof of Focused Mgt; Lender Grosses N57bn

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

Tomi Somefun, the chief executive of Unity Bank Plc has disclosed that the commercial bank’s quest to deliver in key metric areas despite the 2022 economic challenges has paid off looking at its 2022 Financial statement submitted to the Nigerian Exchange, NGX Limited.

She spoke on the back of the lender’s announcement of a Profit Before Tax, PBT, of over N1 billion during the  Financial year, noting that the “high and lows” in key performing areas point to the serious economic headwinds in the country within the period.

Somefun said, ” There are highs and lows as we look at the gross earnings, with 13.7% growth, increase in liquid assets by 7.5% and deposits recording moderate growth of 1.6%, while maintaining steady growth in profitability,

“Overall, the financial statement thus threw up both strong and less optimal points which inform the outlook for our business.”

She reassures that going into the new financial year, the Bank will remain laser-focused on our strategic choices and key growth drivers to push all the indices and elevate growth to double-digit territory. “The performance posted for Q1’23 in terms of the PBT, gross earnings, and other key indicators are strong reinforcement of adequate measures being adopted and a testament of our resolve to sustain and equally improve upon the fundamental initiatives adopted to strengthen growth throughout the course of the financial year”, Mrs. Somefun stated.

She further said: “Since late 2022, the Bank has begun significant investment in technology and innovation in line with its strategic pursuits to win in the retail space with our focus on digital and lifestyle banking, dynamic product development, and accelerated onboarding. As part of our transformation journey, we will double down on these investments in the coming months in order to achieve our aspirations of (1) significantly reducing customer pain points and simplifying customer experience; (2) increasing the rate of customer acquisition; (3) expanding the frontiers of partnerships; and (4) ultimately developing new and sustainable income lines for the Bank.”

According to her, the Bank will further give attention to fast-paced process automation, cost and resource efficiency, targeted value chain relationships, and brand visibility as it expands the range of products and services to meet the evolving needs of its esteemed customers.

Analysts are of the view that the growing retail footprint driving the repositioning strategy of the Bank aligns with the market expectations, which is also reflected in the increasing uptake of the Bank’s offering.

According to the full-year financial statement submitted to the regulators, the bank also noted that gross earnings rose by 13.1 per cent to N57 billion from N50.2 billion in the corresponding period of 2021, adding that the performance is reflected in the bank’s interest income, loans and advances to customers, customer deposits, and profits.

The bank stated in its report to NGX that the major highlight of the financial year, is the growth in total comprehensive income, which rose by 262.1 percent to N1.2 billion from N744 million in the corresponding period of 2021. The Bank grew Profit Before Tax (PBT) by N1.1 billion, while Profit After Tax stood at N941.4 million.

With the loan book sustaining an expansion by 7.5 percent to N289.4 billion from N269.3 billion within the period under review, the interest and similar income consequently witnessed significant growth rising 7.5 percent to close at N48.9 billion compared to N43.2 billion in the corresponding period of 2021.

Similarly, income from fees and commissions recorded significant growth, rising by 25.7% to N7.68 billion from N6.1 billion within the period under review.

More so, deposits from customers saw marginal growth, increasing by 1.6 percent to N327.4 billion from N322.2 billion in the corresponding period of 2021 as the Bank pushes for deeper penetration of its retail footprint with the rollout of products targeting different segments of the market.

Meanwhile, the Bank also released its unaudited financials for Q1, 2023, in which it sustained improved performance, posting a 21 percent growth in Profit After Tax, PAT to N1.04 billion from N869.2 million in the corresponding period of 2022. Its gross earnings for the quarter also rose by 17 percent to N15.9 billion compared to N13.6 billion in the corresponding period of 2022.

Petrol Subsidy: Nigerians Will Experience ‘Short-term Pains, Says APC Group

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

A supoort group of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has appealed to Nigerians to support the removal of subsidy on Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS, by the federal government, saying the pains from ending the subsidy regime will not last for too long.

The National Integrity Movement, NIM, solicits the support of Nigerians for the action which has led to a sharp increase of the product to more than N600 per litre from N195 two weeks ago.

The announcement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on May 29, that no provision for subsidy in the 2023 budget has also trigger the anger of the organised labour under the aegis of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC, which claimed that the incense has brought untold hardship to their members.

The NLC in its eactionbto the policy has directed its members nationwide to embark on a five-day warning strike, starting from June 7.

But less that 72 hours to the strike called by NLC the APC supoort group said the federal government has its full backing, noting that subsidy on petrol only benefit a few people in the country.

The group made its position on the issue known on Sunday while addressing Journalists in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The coordinator of the group, Abubakar Sadique Fakai, stated that Nigerians should rest assured that the economy of the country is in a safe hands of President Tinubu, who it described as a very cerebral administrator, and has the capacity to make the country great.

Fakai urge Nigerians to keep faith with the government, adding that anyone who has the interest of the country at heart will support the removal of subsidy.

According to him, “Anybody that wants this country to go greater than it’s will support subsidy removal, the reason being that it’s only very few people that are benefiting from the subsidy. On a monthly basis Nigeria is spending trillions of naira annually on subsidy, that money alone can be used to build infrastructure as dividends of democracy for Nigerians.

“ANIM is giving its full backing to the complete removal of fuel subsidy and we totally support his stance. While Nigerians will experience short-term pains, we believe that the long-term benefits are too juicy for us to ignore.

“Our concern is that when the policy comes, the Independent marketers should see reasons not to take advantage of the policy to maltreat the masses because the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is here to make sure that things work well for Nigerians.”

Meanwhile, the major opposition party in the country, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemn the sudden removal of subsidy, noting that the federal government did not consult widely before taking the decision.

But critics insist that subsidy removal was part of  the campaign promises of the major political parties in the country  ahead the February 25 presidential election.

Senate President : Niger Delta Group Uncovers Plot By Lawan To Stop Akpabio

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

Ahmad Lawan, Senate President has been accused of being behind the probe against Godswill Akpabio, a frontline candidate for the Senate Presidency, that he mismanaged the funds of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

Ahead of the contest for the top job of Senate President, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has ramp up its investigations against the immediate past Minister of the Niger Delta, which some say threatens his chance for the top National Assembly job.

But, a group, South-South Solidarity Group , SSSG, said Lawan the outgoing Senate President, is the arrowhead of the plot to stop Akpabio who has been endorsed by his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, as its sole candidate.

According to a statement released by the group’s Convener, Pete Ikpen Ilefa, “a few Nigerian Leaders led by Senate President Ahmed Lawan” are witch – hunting Akpabio having realised that the choice of Akpabio by APC is the most strategic decision by the ruling party.

The group said it is wrong to blame the former Akwa Ibom state govrnor for the corruption in NDDC despite trying his best to clean the Augean Stable of the interventionist agency while he was a minister.

It said the committee set up by the Senate President to investigate the NDDC budget is a clear vendetta against the former governor, warning that it will not accept the report by the committee.

The statement reads in part, “As the battle for the Leadership of the 10th senate thickens, the choice of Mr. President and the All Progressives Congress to settle for South-South and Senator Godswill Akpabio as the next Senate President of Nigeria, has been adjudged as one of the most strategic move of a purposeful government, this is because, for a region that has lost touch of the office of the Senate President since after the second republic, zoning the office of Senate President to the region meant total adherence to the spirit of cohesion and national solidarity.

“And yet, a few Nigerian Leaders led by Senate President Ahmed Lawan have no agenda for Nigerians and no real solutions to the problems that we face on a daily basis, other than playing the role of witch-hunt in the name of investigating Senator Akpabio while serving this Nation as Minister Niger Delta Ministry. Instead, what is Senate President Ahmed Lawan focused on? He is scrambling to change the headlines, praying that the nation will focus on his partisan witch-hunt instead of putting efforts to see that the 9th Assembly described under his watch as a weak Assembly corrects such impression by finishing strong.

“South-South Solidarity Group has no problem with Leaders coming clean in their areas of service, but frowns at political ploy to scuttle the chances of her leaders in serving this nation.

“As Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, and supervising the board of the NDDC, Sen Godswill Akpabio gave his right eye to see that things worked again, a forensic audit of the board bears testimony to this fact. What senator Akpabio deserves at this moment is commendation and not witch-hunt.

“It is no news that, immediately the choice of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress was made known, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan became unsettled and has since, advanced moves to see that Sen. Akpabio is denied the office of Senate President. Hence using a committee setup by Dr. Ahmed Lawan to investigate Sen. Akpabio already tells where the committee report is going.

“Let it be known on clear terms that South-South Solidarity Group would reject any negative report emanating from the Committee set up by Senate President Ahmed Lawan to investigate Sen. Akpabio, and for the peace of Nigeria, the South-South region should not be taken for granted.

“The Senate ad hoc committee set up recently by the Senate President to investigate the 2021, 2022 and 2023 budgets of the NDDC budgets that were implemented without the approval of the National Assembly was only a vendetta against the aspiration of the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta and Senator-Elect Godswill Akpabio.

“It is on record that the Senator-elect is aspiring to become the next Senate President of Nigeria which will oversee the Legislative functions of the 10th Senate. His ambition which does not seat well with the present Senate President and other adventurous few aspiring for same position, is been spiked with false allegations to thwart his efforts and spoil the minds of the many who has taking a liking for his personality and leadership style.

“Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio who is a man of impeccable character, with his track records of holding up to responsibilities; with a clean slate in governance and administration surfaced at the National Assembly to acknowledge the summons/invitation given him by the committee to be questioned and investigated.

“However, even the Chairman of the ad hoc committee Senator Yusuf Yusuf, who is to investigate the budgets of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was not on seat at the exact time given. Other members of the committee which were of cause absent said when reached on phone, they weren’t aware of the invitation as investigative activities have long been concluded.

“This pitiful and cheap propaganda against the person of Sen. Godswill Akpabio is a swipe against proper and effective Democratic processes. The absence of the ad hoc committee chairman and it’s members is a clear display of a magnified set up and character assassination on the person of Sen. Godswill Akpabio

.

“It was indeed a hoax and the entire ad hoc committee and the Senate President who set it up should be questioned and brought to book.

“It is on record that Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio and others who accompanied him were kept waiting for over three hours, only to be informed later by members of the adhoc committee that they have since concluded with their investigation.”

NLC Shuts Down Election Petitions Tribunal/Courts, As Judiciary Staff Union Joins Strike

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Presidential Election Petition Tribunal 2023

By Adesina Soyooye

Those waiting for an early end to Election Petitions, including that of the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, will have to wait for a longer period than expected. The Nigeria Labour Congress, has shut down the Courts.

This follows the decision of the Nigerian Judiciary to join the strike action called  NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, which begins on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

The NLC called out all its affiliates to embark on a Nationwide strike action to protest the sudden removal of subsidy on Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS.

President Bola Tinubu had, surprisingly, on May 29, the day he was sworn into office as President, announced the, complete withdrawal of the subsidy on PMS, during his inaugural speech to the Nation. He said the subsidy was not captured in the 2023 Budget which he inherited.

The withdrawal shut the price of petrol to an unprecedented high, selling as much as N1,200 per litre in some States of the Federation, and in most others between N500 and N700 per liter. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd, NNPCL, on 31st May, 2023, released a new official price, and put it at between N488 and N555 per litre.

The sudden increase in the price affected the masses in no small measure, and triggered untold hardship.

The NLC in reaction, after a deadlocked meeting with the Presidency, called out workers on strike, insisting that the Federal Government did not have the courtesy to consult with the Union before the increase. Most affiliate Unions of the NLC, including  the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, have endorsed and joined the Strike action. And so has the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN

A letter of compliance signed by M.J. Akwashiki for JUSUN’s General Secretary, dated 3rd June, 2023, to its Deputy President, Vice Presidents, and all its branches, reads: “l bring you fraternal greetings from the Leadership of the  Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

“This is to inform all branches and chapters of our great Union across Nigeria, to begin mobilization for a nationwide action and withdrawal of service which would would commence on Wednesday, 7th June 2023.

“This followed a decision of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), at its meeting on 2nd June, 2023, over the increase in the pump price of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Federal Government through NNPCL.

“All zonal vice presidents are to coordinate their zones by ensuring that Branch and chapters chairmen, mobilize their members for a total compliance. Also, note that the nationwide action commences on Wednesday 7th June, 2023.

JUSUN’s participation in the strike action automatically shuts down the Election Petitions Courts until the situation is sorted out.

Lawyers In Ranks Of Sergeants, Corporals Appear For Police In Court – Abuja NBA

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Police Service Commission
Police Service Commission

By Ayodele Oni

There is hope for better days for junior serving Policemen that are holding professional certificates, as the Police Service Commission (PSC), promised to facilitate their promotion.

The commission has raised the hope of junior policemen who hold law degrees and similar qualifications in other disciplines that they would be considered for upgrade in due course.

Chairman of PSC, Mr Solomon Arase, made the promise when he received the leadership of the Nigerian Unity Bar Association, Abuja branch, in his office.

A statement by Mr Ikechukwu Ani, Spokesman of the commission, on Sunday in Abuja, stated that qualified lawyers serving in the Nigeria Police Force and appearing in courts with the ranks of Corporals, Sergeants and Inspectors would be elevated soon.

He also promised that cases of other policemen that acquired additional qualifications while in service, will also receive attention.

According to the statement, Arase said, this would give the affected policemen the required self confidence to perform better.

“The Nigeria Police need the services of more lawyers. The Commission will come up with a win-win situation for all parties.”

Arase called on the Nigerian Bar Association to advise practicing lawyers to stop criminalising civil matters.

“It is wrong and should be discouraged, civil matters should be treated as civil matters and arbitration should serve the parties and the society better.

“We should avoid time wasting in criminalising civil matters and sending them to the police when it can be better handled outside of the force.”

The Chairman added that the Commission was setting up a Compliance Monitoring Unit to ensure that the Police Complaints Response Unit promptly attends to public complaints.

He said that the new unit will be directly under his supervision for effectiveness and efficiency, stressing that the Commission will henceforth ensure that it prevents a system that does not attend to public complaints with dispatch.

The statement quoted Arase as stating the Commission’s desire to collaborate with the Nigeria Bar Association to organize some training programmes on human rights so as to expose its staff lawyers to a better appreciation of its duties.

The Chairman of Unity Bar of NBA, Abuja, Mr Afam Okeke, had earlier congratulated the PSC Chairman on his appointment and pledged the union’s support.

Okeke, however, complained that lawyers who came into the Force as Junior Officers but improved their qualifications, were currently appearing and defending cases in courts for the Nigeria Police Force, but still wearing junior ranks.

NLC Strike: Sanwo-olu Begs NLC To Allow Tinubu “Reflect” On Subsidy Removal

By
James Orji
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0
 
 
Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu of Lagos state, has appealed to the  Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, to shelve its planned strike.
 
 
 
 
 
His appealed comes barely 78 hours to the planned strike by the Joe Ajaero-led NLC, in response to the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.
 
 
 
 
 
 
The five-day warning strike is billed to commence on June 7.
Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced during his inauguration on May 29, that his government had ended the petrol subsidy regime.
 
 
 
 
 
 
The development has received strong criticism from the organised Labour, including the Trade Union Congress, TUC, and others who said the removal will bring untold hardship to their members nationwide.
 
 
 
 
 
Governor Sanwo-olu, on his part, said this is the time for NLC to consult with the government and other stakeholders on how to resolve the fuel removal logjam, begging them to forget any strike action for now.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Lagos Governor made the appeal on Sunday during a special service at the Cathedral Church, Marina, Lagos.
 
 
 
 
 
He said the NLC need to work with state governments who are already working on palliatives to cushion the effects of subsidy Removal on Nigerians.
 
 
 
 
He urged NLC to be patient with President Tinubu who has spent barely a month in office, adding that what is paramount now is how to turn the economy around, Tinubu should be allowed “to reflect” on how to turn the country around for good, he said.
 
 
 
 
 
 
The governors had during the week endorsed the removal, saying that is the way to go.
 
 
 
 
According to Sanwo-olu, “This is not the time to go on strike. Recall that all presidential candidates said the first thing they will do is remove fuel subsidy. So what has changed? What has President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said or done that is different from what others would have done?
 
 
 
 
“The president has not even spent one week in office. We need to be very patient and reason together. Let us not make the issue about politics, but let’s support this man. We should allow him to go and reflect.
 
 
 
 
 
“Strike will not resolve anything; it won’t address the issue. The point should be how to ensure a sustained turnaround in our economy.
 
 
 
 
 
“The president mentioned better wages, and we started that in Lagos in January, and I hope other states can key into it.
 
 
 
 
 
“We don’t need to wait for the national government, we just need to reflect on what the challenges are in the country and seek ways to resolve them.
 
 
 
 
 
“So I plead with the NLC to not turn the subsidy issue into a political one. The leadership should know they are leading people and so there is a need to restrain themselves.
 
 
 
 
 
“Let us be patient and work with the president. NNPC has said it has more than enough fuel to go round, so there is no need to heat up the polity.
 
 
 
 
“We should not get political because it is governance, and the people must see purposeful governance,” the governor said.
 
 
 
Meanwhile, not a few analysts have criticized the president for rushing rushing to declare that “subsidy is gone”, when he had enough time to consult on the issue with critical stakeholders.
 
 
 
 
 
His unilateral action, they insist, has now thrown the country into the current crisis, and the government is looking for a way out through dialogue with NLC and other Nigerians who kicked against petrol subsidy removal.

Subsidy Removal: Tinubu, Other ‘Liars’ Must Apologize To Jonathan

By
James Orji
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0
Atedo Peterside
Atedo Peterside, a foremost business man and Founder, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, has demanded an unreserved apology from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to former President Good luck Jonathan for removing petrol subsidy.
President Tinubu had announced during his inauguration as President and Commander-in-chief on May 29, that subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit aka petrol “is gone”.
The president’s statement has pushed the price of the product beyond the reach of many Nigerians, who are demanding a reversal to old price.
The government, on its part, said the decision is for the good of the country, that the current state of paucity of funds would not allow the government to continue with the multi-billion subsidy regime.
But as a member of a committee set up by former President Jonathan, Peterside criticised the president and others who rejected the decision of the former president to remove subsidy on petrol in 2012.
According to him, those that were against the removal of subsidy at the time, forced the Jonathan’s government to abandon the policy by embarking on a massive demonstration in Lagos and other parts of the country, apart from making incendiary comments against the former administration.
For instance, President Tinubu as one of those opposed to the policy, wrote a scathing letter to former President Jonathan, on why he must abandon the policy for being unpopular with many Nigerians.
In the letter dated January 11, 2012, Tinubu said ” I’ m not calling President Jonathan an evil man. I do not believe he is perverse. However, the economic ideas controlling him are so misguided that they have a perverse impact. Because he is slave to wrong-headed economics, the people will become enslaved to greater misery. This crisis will bear his name and will be his legacy. The people now pay a steep tax for voting him into office. The removal of the subsidy is the “Jonathan tax.”
“This situation shows that ideas count more than personalities. People may occupy office but how that person performs depends on the ideas that occupy his mind.
“Though someday, Nigeria will have to remove the subsidy, the time to do it is not now. This subsidy removal is ill-timed and violates the condition precedent necessary before such a decision is made. First, government needs to clean up and throw away the salad of corruption in the NNPC.
” Then, proceed to lay the foundation for a mass transit system in the railways and road network with long term bonds and fully develop the energy sector towards revitalizing Nigeria’s economy and easing the burden any subsidy removal may have on the people,” the former Lagos Governor said at the time.
Reacting in his official tweet on Sunday, Peterside, an investment banker and one of the respected business men in the country said, “The petrol subsidy removal is complicated by the fact some liars who held sway in 2012 are now singing a different tune in 2023.
“They should apologise to @GEJonathan @PeterObi @NOIweala & others in the 2012 Economic Team & beg Nigerians for forgiveness so we can move forward.”
Peterside criticism is coming barely 48 hours after the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, issued a five-day ultimatum to the federal government, to revert to the old pump price failure which it’s members, will embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.
The ultimate ends this Wednesday, on June 7, 2023.
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