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Imo: Uzodinma Moves To Pay Gratuities, Check-off Dues To Pensioners

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

Governor of Imo State,  Senator Hope Uzodinma has assured the leadership  Labour and Pensioners in Imo State that the State Government has started working out the modalities for the payment of gratuities and Check-off dues of pensioners.

He also assured them that he had directed the immediate release of promotions of the civil servants who were recently evaluated for elevation after being stagnated for years.

Governor Uzodimma spoke when the leadership of Nigerian Labour Congress and Nigerian Union of Pensioners in Imo State paid a courtesy visit on him at the New Exco Chambers Government House on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

Addressing the two bodies, the Governor directed the Head of Service to commence the calculation of arrears of promotions for payment to Imo workers without delay.

Also, he directed the Accountant General to start the payment of Check-off dues of pensioners, regretting that what had delayed the payment was because the activities of the pensioners have not been regular.

On the commencement for payment of gratuity the Governor said “there will be new verifications to ascertain when last the gratuities were paid and who and who got what, after which government will commence the payment little by little because government doesn’t have the humongous resources to pay all at the same time.”

He commended the Organized Labour for standing their ground not to be used to fight government and as such, “saved government the problem of spending resources in the wrong direction.”

Governor Uzodimma who acknowledged that the Civil Service is the brain box of the government said that “it will be better for the Unions to always work with government to allow peace, progress and development of the workers and the Civil Service.”

He assured that Government will always be friendly with the Unions.

He reminded the Leadership of the Pensioners in particular that soon their members will be receiving a special notification indicating that they are still living as Pensioners and directed them to liaise with the Office of the Head of Service to fast track the process and come up with the modalities for the payment of the gratuity.

The Governor reminded the leadership of Nigerian Union of Pensioners that those who are not receiving their pensions currently are “fraudulent salary earners, victims of irregular salaries, those involved in padded pensions, double salaries and workers with irregular employment history.”

He however, said the only condition he could accept to pay them was the current economic realities and hardships in the State and country at large even though the Office of the Head of Service has the right to work out measures that would deter repeat of such acts.

He commended the patriotism of the Labour and Pensioners’ leadership in the State that has given his government the needed peace to look into labour matters and come out with the best result.

He reminded the audience that the government will soon focus on the Education sector now that records are available and also, that his administration will soon “embark on the rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction of all the primary schools in Imo State and even employ young graduate teachers to make our schools what they ought to be.”

Governor Uzodimma enjoined all to join hands together to develop the State as labour, government, and the Pensioners cannot do it alone.

The governor urged the Head of Service, Barr. Raymond Ucheoma, to ensure that the processes to complete the promotion of the workers are done within seven days as the HOS suggested.

Expressing gratitude to the Governor, the Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress, Imo Chapter, Pastor Philip Nwansi promised on behalf of his team and the Labour in Imo State to cooperate with him so that Imo workers will get what is due to them.

He thanked the Governor for the numerous largesse he extended to Imo workers which include; appointment of SA on Labour Matters in the person of Comrade Austin Chilakpu, release of the arrears of workers’ salaries and check-off dues to Pensioners,  promotions to Imo workers and appealed to him to help in approving the payment of very few number of workers whose salaries have been withheld for a long time.

Adding his voice, the Chairman of Trade Union Congress,  Imo State Chapter,  Ibe Uche said that their support for the Governor and Government of Uzodimma has brought a lot of harassment to them from their National body, but noted that he has no regret “because the administration has done a lot to Imo Workers and the best the workers can do is to show appreciation and gratitude by supporting him.”

He said he has no problems supporting the calls and endorsement of the Government for a second tenure.

Mr. Uchenna Nwigwe, the State Chairman Civil Service Union thanked the Governor for not allowing the workers of Imo State go on strike before being promoted, to get 13th month salary payment, to be given staff bus and for them to get their salaries regularly and also pay pensioners as at when due.

He said it is because of the relative peace in Imo that the workers are getting all these “hence they cannot thank the Governor enough.”

The Chairman of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees,  Pastor Richard Eze noted that the Local Government Employees are the most beneficiaries of the Governor’s infrastructural development in the State and assured of support of NULGE to the 3R government. He promised that any area of the Local Government that is rough his leadership will work hard to smoothen the rough edges.

The Chairman of Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Imo State and Chairman South East Pensioners, Dr. J. B. Ugochukwu acknowledged that “the Governor has paid almost 90 percent pensioners their 100 percent pensions since he came on board,”  and pleaded with him to do well to pay the few that are given him and his government bad name.

Dr. Ugochukwu expressed gratitude to the Governor for restoring the check-off dues and prayed for long life for him.

“All bottlenecks surrounding pensions have been removed. NUP has finished the struggle,” he said and suggested the setting up of committee to work with the office of the Head of Service on the payment of gratuity.

Speaker, Ondo Assembly, Two Others Docked For Alleged Fraud

By
Ayodele Oni
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Bamidele Oloyeloogun and EFCC

By Ayodele Oni

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday commenced the trial of the speaker, Ondo State House Of Assembly, Bamidele Oloyeloogun at the state High Court in Akure over alleged fraud.

Also arraigned before the court, with the speaker, were the lawmaker representing Akoko South-West Constituency 2, Felemu Bankole and a civil servant, Segun Oyadeyi Bankole.

The Speaker alongside others was docked on two-count charged involving fraud. They however pleaded not guilty of the allegations.

During the trial, counsel to the EFCC, Kingsley Kudus asked the court to remand the defendants at the Olokuta Correctional Facility, even though they had pleaded not guilty, the defendants were still in the hands of the court while the trial continues.

Reacting, counsel to the defendants, Femi Emodamore, who told the court that he was fully prepared for the commencement and continuation of the trial, asked the court to strike out EFCC’s prayer for remand, saying the administrative bail application on the defendants were still active.

He explained that the second defendant, oleyelogun ,is having health challenge that needed urgent medical attention.

Emodamore also asked the court to caution the nominal complainant and lawmaker representing Odigbo 1, Iroju Ogundeji in the case for allegedly sending messages to the speaker in an attempt to annoy him.

According to him, if Ogundeji did not desist from such action, he would be prosecuted as his actions towards the speaker is against the law.

In his ruling, Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye asked the defendants to continue enjoying their administrative bail till the next hearing date, as he adjourned the case till May 18 for proper hearing.

APC Recommends Expulsion Of Senator-elect, Jimkuta, Over Irregularities

By
Akinwale Kasali
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David Jimkuta

By Akinwale Kasali

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Taraba State Chapter  has called for the expulsion of Senator Elect, David Jimkuta, representing Taraba South Senatorial District.

The State Working Committee, SWC, has ratified the suspension of Jimkuta as Senator-elect and expulsion from the APC to the National Executive  Committee, NEC, of the Party.

Jimkuta was expelled alongside former Governorship Aspirant and erstwhile Board Member of the North East Development Commission, NEDC, David Kente.

The State Chairman of the Party, Ibrahim El-Sudi, disclosed the resolution of the SWC to newsmen in Jalingo, the state capital that on 21st March, 2023 the APC, Fete Ward of Takum L.G.A levelled some allegations against the Party by the Senator-elect for Southern Taraba State Hon. Jimkuta.

He added that the APC Takum Local Government Constituted a five-man Disciplinary Committee which invited Hon. Jimkuta S.U David but he refused to honour the invitation.

“The report of the Disciplinary Committee was submitted to APC Takum Local Government which, in turn, expelled Hon. Jimkuta S.U David from APC.

“In line with article 13.9 (iv) of the APC constitution 2022 as amended. The State Working Committee sat on 20th April 2023 and hereby ratify the action of the APC Takum Local Government with slight modification in line with 21.5 (h) (ii) by suspending him from the party but recommending to the National Executive Committee for his expulsion from the party for the plethora of offences he is found guilty of. Hon. Jimkuta S.U David Stands suspended from the party henceforth.

“Also, sometime in July 2022, the Executives of APC Kente Ward of Wukari Local Government Area wrote the Chairman of APC Wukari LGA calling for the expulsion of Chief David Sabo Kente on series of allegations and offences against the party as enshrined in the party constitution 2022 as amended.

“You will equally recall that the APC Wukari LGA severally invited Chief David Sabo Kente to defend himself on the allegations levelled against him by the APC of his Ward but refused to honour their invitations and abused them instead.

It added that on 12th August 2022, the APC Wukari Local Government wrote a letter to the State APC on the above complaints.

“Having investigated and confirmed that all constitutional procedures of fair hearing and disciplinary steps have been satisfactorily followed by both the Ward and Local Government level of the party in Kente and Wukari Local Government.

“The State Working Committee in its sitting on Thursday 20th April 2023 exercised its powers under Article 13.9 iv of the party constitution to ratify the decision of the APC Wukari Local Government Area.

“For the avoidance of doubt Chief David Sabo Kente Stands Expelled from the All Progressives Congress and should stop parading himself as a Member of the Party henceforth.”

El-sudi also noted that 14 of the 18 SWC members of the APC took the decision and reaffirmed that he remains the authentic State Chairman of the party.

Ogun Guber: PDP Alleges APC, Governor Abiodun, Twisting Narratives, Urges Focus On Petition In Court

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, are twisting the narratives and bent on causing unnecessary distraction rather than focus on the petition leveled against them by the opposition Party in the February 18th, 2023, Governorship Election.

The PDP and its Candidate at the Governorship Election, Oladipupo Adebutu, had petitioned the Court challenging the outcome of the Governorship election in the State.

Adebutu has alleged that the APC and Governor Abiodun  were bullying the Judiciary.

However,  a statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Asiwaju Akinloye Bankole, noted that its journey towards retrieving the stolen people’s mandate from the APC is perfectly on course.

It reads: “The attention of Ogun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to some publications over the weekend, one credited to the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ogun State Chapter, where the Gubernatorial Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Oladipupo Adebutu was alleged of bullying the Judiciary and cyber-stalking Prince Dapo Abiodun and another one through a blogger with the title:“Dapo to lose 60k votes as Ladi Adebutu forfeits 30k votes” feigning it was released by the PDP.

“Ordinarily, we do not attend to frivolous matters nor dignified indecency, and people who enjoy playing in the pigsty with responses, as doing so makes us no different from them.

“Adebutu, as a law-abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with a strong belief in the judiciary as the hope of the common man that provides succor to the oppressed and liberator of the defenseless from the high handedness of oppressors, together with the party approached the elections petition tribunal with petitions, to register displeasure on the level of partisanship, anomalies, manipulations and several irregularities discovered in the just concluded 2023 elections in the State.

“It is a shameful act for the Ogun APC team to have called Adebutu out for exercising his fundamental human rights, after all, the Nigerian Constitution reckons with freedom of speech and expression, which Adebutu has done harmlessly. For them to have started crying when trials have not commenced is not new antics to cause distractions, particularly when the truth is catching up with them daily.

“Election tribunal is not a military zone and anyone who has no skeleton in his cupboard should not shiver but accept being served with the petitions and not until an order for substituted service was granted before Dapo Abiodun could be served.

“If truly the APC won the election beyond a reasonable doubt, then, there is no need for APC to twist narratives, whip sentiments around the Judiciary and cry foul when nothing happened. Dapo Abiodun and APC should prepare themselves for the trials at the tribunal and stop disturbing the public with lies and also stop sending emissaries to the patriarch of the Adebutu family to plead, rather, they should allow the judiciary, the only hope of common man to perform its constitutional duties. After all, ours is a constitutional democracy.

“It is no more a surprise to us and the general public that the APC is known for intimidating and attacking peaceful individuals, so as to restrict people from exposing their illicit acts.

“The iniquity perpetrated by the APC in the just concluded general elections is visible to the public view, there is nowhere to hide, as we have enough video evidence of their brazen brigandage and harassment deployed to subvert the popular wish of innocent citizens.

“We want to enjoin the good citizens of Ogun state not to get distracted with APC’s antics and cry of shame. The journey towards retrieving the stolen people’s mandate from the sinking APC is perfectly on course; in a couple of months, Ogun state shall be ushered into an era of abundance and relief.”

World Malaria Day: Ondo Vows To Eradicate Scourge

By
Ayodele Oni
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World Malaria Day

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo Ajaka has observed that malaria remains one of the killer diseases in the world.

The Commissioner, who spoke in Akure on this year’s world malaria day, noted that malaria is a burden mostly in sub Saharan Africa with statistics that the disease  constitutes more than 60 percent of all cases at the health facilities.

According to him, it is  also responsible for 30 percent death of  children under the age of five and 10 percent death of pregnant women due to its complications yearly.

He reiterated  the government avowed commitment to reducing malaria in the state.

Ajaka stated that theme of this year’s world malaria day is ” Time to deliver zero malaria” stressing that malaria remains a burden mostly in sub Saharan Africa.

The Commissioner said that  Government has distributed  about three million insecticidal nets to all households in the 18 local government areas in the state to reduce the prevalence of malaria.

He further explained that the state has continued  to do follow up to ensure increased utilization of these nets in the  homes, especially among pregnant women and children under the age of five.

Ajaka added that the follow up has yielded results as evidenced by   the newly released report by the National Malaria Indicator Survey 2021 released in 2023,  which  shows that the prevalence of malaria in the state has reduced from 34 percent to 27 percent.

The Commissioner assured that government would  continue to invest in the reduction of prevalence of malaria in the state through channeling more resources, both funds and materials in the fight against malaria and bring new ideas in combating the scourge of disease, as well as put into action the ideas that have been put in place.

He disclosed that government has been partnering with Civil Society Organisations in the 18 local government areas to sensitize and create awareness to the citizens at the grassroots on the prevention of malaria

The Commissioner appreciated those partners that have been working to reduce the prevalence  of malaria in the state, especially the World Health Organization (WHO), Malaria Consortium, John Hopkins University of Programmes Implementation Gynecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO) and National Malaria Elimination Programme, Abuja.

Dr Ajaka called for more international partnership to enhance a collective malaria elimination in the state.

Oyo State, Contractor Disagree Over Project Execution

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Oyo State Government has given reason why its Light Up Oyo Project has been stalled.

Government has however commenced actions that will resolve the technical and sundry difficulties the Light-Up Oyo Project has been facing in recent times, which has hindered the project from running optimally.

The Commissioner for Information, Wasiu Olatubosun, in a statement on Monday stated that “In the spirit of accountability and transparency, the authorities would like to put on record that there is a dispute between the Oyo State Government and the Contractor.

“This centres on how much work has been done and how the infrastructure is being operated.

“The government is not satisfied with the infrastructure provided and its specifications.

“These have been the main cause of the operation and maintenance challenges the project is facing.

“Therefore, the Oyo State Government is presently auditing the entire infrastructure to determine the level and quality of work done.

“The audit process will be completed in about six weeks, after which the general public will be updated regarding any decisions reached and the way forward for the project.

“You will recall that in September 2019, the Oyo State Government embarked on the Light Up Oyo Project.

“The logic behind this project was two-fold. First, to grow the Oyo State economy.

“As Governor Seyi Makinde stated, Oyo State cannot compete with cities that run a 24-hour economy if economic activities are shut down by 7 pm.

“Second, to tackle insecurity. Crime thrives in darkness. And so, when major parts of towns and cities are lit up, criminals will not have anywhere to hide.

“Oyo State residents are urged to remain assured that the government is doing all in its power to ensure that the entire 240 km of the Light Up Oyo project is delivered in the shortest possible time for the benefit of the residents of the state.

“This will ensure that the good people of Oyo State get maximum value for the money spent on this project.”

NNPC Probe, Missing 149m Crude: CNPP Says Buhari Can’t Probe Self, Calls For Independent Investigative Panel

By
The Source
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Chief Willy Ezugwu

Amid probe of the alleged loss of over $2.4 billion in revenue from illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil export in 2015 and the call by the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for President Muhammadu Buhari to set up a presidential panel of enquiry to probe allegations that over 149 million barrels of crude oil are missing, as documented in the 2019 reports by the Auditor General of the Federation and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has said that such investigation by the current administration will be fruitless.

In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the CNPP noted that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot probe himself as the Minister of Petroleum Resources since 2015.

While SERAP also urged the President to ensure prosecution of anyone suspected to be responsible for plundering the country’s oil wealth and make full recovery of any proceeds of crime, the House of Reps Committee on Oil Theft is inviting several high-ranking officials over alleged missing 149 million barrels of crude oil in 2019.

But the CNPP maintained that “it will be futile for any citizen or member of the civil society community to get NNPC management team to account for their stewardship or be held accountable for their alleged financial and economic crimes under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration or any  All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled government.

“Recall that the CNPP as the umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations had expressed worries that while oil producing countries globally were experiencing a boost in their revenue generation as a result of increasing international prices of crude oil, Nigeria continued to suffer decline in earnings, had in 2022 reiterated it’s earlier call for the sack of the management team of the newly registered Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited), urging President Muhammadu Buhari to replace them with prudent private sector players to save the country’s economy.

“However, President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, has so far refused to take any decisive action against the NNPC management team led by Mallam Mele Kyari whose leadership has wasted more funds and contributed less revenue to the federal treasury than the NNPC under the corrupt Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government which the APC constantly criticised before its members got into office in 2015.

“More worrisome is that the National Assembly progressively failed exercise its oversight powers on the NNPC to serve as clog in the speedy wheels of a strategic corporation managed by very corrupt individuals like the NNPC.

“Nigerians had expected that a Buhari-led administration will end corruption in the country, especially in a government owned corporation or company like the NNPC, but this was not the case in the last eight years.

“While corruption continued to thrive unbridled at the NNPC under Mallam Mele Kyari, the Federation Government of Nigeria opted to continue to borrow money in connivance with a rubber stamp National Assembly, where equally corrupt politicians have retired into as legislators to seemingly help cover the track of serving executives.

“Therefore, only an independent investigative panel under a sincere Executive or Legislature can effectively probe NNPC Limited or any other parastatal or institution of government.

“The CNPP recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari was warned that the transformation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) was an incorporation of corruption, having left the old NNPC management team to manage the new NNPC Limited.

“Since 2015, the National Assembly has attempted to investigate not only the NNPC but several other agencies and parastatals without success.

Some of the probes by relevant National Assembly’s investigative committees were either inconclusive or abandoned at the committee stage and when the reports were eventually laid on the floor of the Senate, little or nothing came out of it.

“The list of such adventure by the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives, is endless but to mention a few: the House in 2019 instituted one of the biggest investigations in terms of monetary value, to probe Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency for allegedly failing to remit revenue totalling N1.343tn to the Federal Government’s treasury.

“Also, on December 17, 2019, the House launched investigation into the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund over alleged illegal expenditures, especially the about N2.3bn spent on staff training without approval.

Similarly, on December 11, 2019, the House, began the investigation of the decadence of infrastructure at the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports and the roads leading to the ports in Lagos, causing Nigeria to lose N600bn revenue monthly.

“The House on November 27, 2019, also investigated the collapse of the Delta Steel Company built with $1.89bn.

“In the same vein, on November 21, 2019, the House started an investigation of the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency over a contract entered into on behalf of Nigeria with a foreign private company, HLS International Limited, for the supply of certain security and surveillance equipment and systems to the tune of $214,830,000, including $195,300,000 for the actual contract and an additional $19,530,000 NIMASA agreed to pay to HLSI for ‘Management Training Consideration.’

“Time and space will fail us to mention the November 21, 2019 probe into the ‘Turn Around Maintenance’ of the petroleum refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna within four years, costing a total sum of $396.33m and the November 2019 joint Senate and House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission probe of the Federal Government and 17 local and international oil companies over their indebtedness to the NDDC to the tune of N72bn and $73m, while the Federal Government alone owed NDDC N1.2tn, among other inconclusive investigations.

“The CNPP is therefore convinced that the current probe of NNPC Limited and the for investigation of missing 149m crude will equally by fruitless and no person will be prosecuted as demanded by SERAP in the missing crude oil case as President Muhammadu Buhari cannot investigate himself neither can he arrest any loyal member of the ruling APC”, the CNPP stated.

Nigerian Banks Grapple With Ghana Debt Crisis; The Losers

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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By Bayo Bernard, Business Editor

Nigerian- based commercial banks are not smiling at all after losing billions of naira to the Ghanaian government debt default during the 2022 Financial year.

At least, no fewer than four tier-one commercial banks in the country have all released their full-year statements which clearly showed that they recorded terrible losses in the West African country which at the moment is facing a serious debt crisis.

Records from some banks that invested in the Ghana sovereign bonds, and have released their report indicate an estimated impairment of over N284 billion.

These banks include Access Bank, which released its full-year 2022 report last week; Zenith Bank, UBA and Ecobank Transnational.

The four banks recorded a combined N284 billion losses following the decision of the Ghanaian government to restructure its debt due to the ongoing economic crisis which has tested one of the strongest economies in the West African sub-region.

With the statement of First Bank and Fidelity Bank Plc still being awaited, financial experts insist that the impairments will likely rise to at least N300 billion by the time the two commercial banks make their financial statements public in a few days.

“The sky was not blue for Nigerian banks who have exposed to the Ghanaian government’s sovereign debt to the tune of billions last year. The economic headwinds in that country have affected some Nigerian-based commercial banks with serious effects on their balance sheet. In fact, some banks deliberately delayed the release of their financial statements as a result of what happened in Ghana which threw many of them off balance,” James Harrison, an expert said.

According to him, many banks will now be very cautious before investing in the country’s government bonds in the future.

“This is because the economy of Ghana has not shown any sign of recovery to encourage any short-term investments, and investors will consider it a very high risk to invest in that economy, according to Festus Adedeji an investment expert who spoke with the magazine.

He said Nigerian-based commercial banks would have been worse hit if ” they suffered the same fate in Nigerian and other countries where they have invested in government bonds”, adding that the “problem in Ghana played a huge role on the losses declared by Nigerians banks for the year ending December 222,” despite the fact that some of them raised the bar in critical metric indices during the financial ending December 2023.

He explained that the situation is not totally bad for the affected banks who have succeeded in making up in other areas.

For instance, Access Bank (Access Holdings) declared in the statement released last week that its earning has hit over N 1.4 trillion, the very first time that a commercial bank in the country has earned so much revenue despite the serious economic challenges.

“Access Holdings Plc Full Year 2022 financial results showed strong growth across revenue lines, despite the strong macroeconomic headwinds locally & internationally,” the bank said.

“We registered a record revenue of ₦ 1.4 trillion a 43% y/y growth (FY’21: ₦971.9) as we begin to see the dividends of organic & inorganic activities across the ecosystem. Access Holdings Plc recorded a Profit Before Tax of ₦167.7 billion, 5% y/y decline (FY’21: ₦ 176.6bn) following huge write-downs from the Ghana sovereign debt crisis.”

On its part, Guarantee Trust Company, GTCO explained in its statement released two weeks ago, that it advanced more loans to customers during the period in spite of the economic challenges across its market channels apart from its customers’ deposits which grew significantly.

According to the details provided in the statement, the Group’s loan book increased by 4.6 percent from ₦1.80 trillion as at December 2021 to ₦1.89trillion in December 2022, while deposit liabilities grew by 11.6 percent from ₦4.13trillion to ₦4.61trillion during the same period.

The Group Managing Director of GTCO, Segun Agabje said “As an organisation, 2022 was quite significant for us being the first year after our corporate restructuring into a financial holding company in August 2021. Today, across our Banking, Payment, Funds Management, and Pension businesses, we have successfully built a robust ecosystem with immense potential to deepen our addressable market and create more value for all our stakeholders.

“We will continue to prioritise innovation, service excellence, and execute seamlessly towards achieving our vision of leading financial services in Africa.”

Africa’s Global Bank, the United Bank for Africa, UBA, Plc said in its statement that it recorded impressive performance across metric lines particularly, its profit after tax, PAT, which grew by over 40 percent to N170 billion as at December 2022.

According to the Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, “The Group delivered record headline earnings (+29.2%) and profitability (+31.2%) amid significant headwinds in markets where we are present and a heightened global risk environment.

“Our record earnings, growth, and robust capital levels supported higher returns for the shareholders. The Group is on course to achieve its strategic goals, and we are confident we will deliver our targets.

“We have navigated unprecedented macroeconomic headwinds and made significant gains in our diversification strategy and Customer 1st philosophy as we build resilience in our operations across Africa and the Rest of the World to support the mission of providing superior value to our stakeholders.”

Meanwhile, keen watchers in the sector said shareholders of these banks are the ultimate losers as the affected banks will not be able to declare fair dividends to them within the period under review.

This is because such banks have already indicated in their statements a slide in their yearly profit, which has righly been blamed on the west African nation’s debt problem.

Apart from the shareholders who may not get fair returns on their investment in such banks, the commercial banks on their part will also face a serious backlash from new investors who are looking for bank’s stock to invest in.

Greenhorn Umahi Deserves To be Senate President – Commissioner

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Ahmed Lawan with Dave Umahi

Despite lacking legislative experience, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state is qualified to be Nigeria’s next Senate President.

The state’s commissioner for Information and Oeientation, Uchena Orji disclosed this on Monday, while responding to suggestion that the Ebonyi helmsman lacked required experience to be the country’s number three citizen.

Apart from his inexperience, those with this line of thought said the governor who became a senator-elect after winning the February 25 election to represent the state in the National Assembly, said he stands no chance considering the array of contestants gunning for the job.

They include Senators Orji Uzor Kalu, Godswill Akpabio, Ali Ndume, amongst others who are all ranking senators, by virtue of which they are at advantage over new comers to the NASS.

Speaking Orji said being a fresher does not prevent Umahi, his boss from running.

According to him, Umahi had a good relationship with legislators as governor, adding that Ranking should not be used to edge the governor who has a passion for public service, out of the contest.

He claimed that nothing in the Senate guidelines  prevents Umahi from contesting like other senators who already declated their interset to run.

Orji said, “Much has been said about Ranking in the Senate as if it is a condition precedent for being a Senate President. This sentiment has shrinked the thought of legal minds and suppressed the pre- eminence and considerations of the rule of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on who qualifies to be elected as Senate President of Nigeria’s Senate.

“Under the constitution, the eligibility for being a Senate President is clear. By Section 50 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), every member of the Senate, who has taken oath is eligible to be voted for as Senate President. Ranking is not given any iota of pre-eminence.

“It is expected that in electing a Senate President, emphasis should be on nation building, capability and character to lead the Senate to achieve the aspirations of the Nigerian people. The Senate members are known to be distinguished representatives of the people who must emphasise the virtue of mental and moral character (not ranking) as a yardstick for who is to be elected President of the Senate.

“Order 3 of the Senate Senate Standing Orders 2015 as Amended has three categories of people that can be elected as President of the Senate of Nigeria. A first timer is clearly empowered by Order 3 to contest for Senate Presidency alongside ranking members and those who came from the Federal House of Representatives.

“Essentially what determines the pendulum is the mindset of the Party in Majority, in this case the APC, the interest of the majority of the Distinguished Senators and the prominence of power play between the ranking Senators and the first timers. Mind you, the first timers are greater in number under the 10th Senate.

“No rule says that Ranking members will determine who is elected as President of the Senate. All the inaugurated Senators have equal voting rights. The Ranking Senators have no extra- influence or right of first refusal in who becomes the Senate President.

“In the 10th Senate, Nigerians want a Senate Presidency that will be vibrant, that will balance the national political equilibrium and geo-political tripod. South East deserves the fullest consideration in this regard.

In Zoning considerations, South East is one of the three major parts of the tripod. In the history of Nigeria’s independence, leadership of this Nation has always stood on the tripod of East, West and North. This is fair and equitable.

He said if Governor Umahi is elected as the next Senate President, he will provide leadership to the chamber, noting that pedigree should should be key in the quest to ensure that the next occupier of the office hails from the south east.

Anambra: “No Governor Has Taken Us To Mecca Since Obi Left Office ” – Miyetti Allah Chairman

By
The Source
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Peter Obi with Miyetti Allah

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi was highly commended by the Muslim Community in Awka, Anambra state Capital for his exceptional show of love to them while in and out of office.

The Zonal Chairman of Miyetti Allah in the state, Alhaji Gidado Siddik disclosed this when Obi paid Sallah homage to them at the Awka Central Mosque on Monday.

Alhaji Siddik explaining why the former Governor was invited to their Mosque, noted that it was ‘to fraternize with him as they always did in the past, and to encourage him on his journey to New Nigeria, not minding the falsehoods peddled against him.

According to Alhaji Siddik, they had wanted to visit Mr. Peter Obi at his house in Onitsha, but on receiving their invitation, Obi offered to visit them at the mosque and celebrate Eid el Fitr with them.

Speaking at the Central Mosque in Awka during Obi’s visit, the Zonal Chairman of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Gidado recalled that Obi never failed to celebrate their sallah with them when he was the Governor of the State, a ritual he continued after. He praised Obi for his visible contributions to the development of their Community over the years.

Gidado stated that under Obi’s administration as Governor, many of their children received scholarships and many of their members were sponsored for pilgrimage to Mecca by Obi, and since Obi left office, that tradition ended. “No Governor has sponsored any of us to Mecca since Obi left office,” Gidado said.

He continued, “Some of our members applied for agricultural loans under Peter Obi’s administration, and they were approved, without knowing us in person. Such a thing has never happened. Obi treated us like indigenes and made us feel at home in Anambra. He did not segregate between Muslims and Christians nor between Northerners and Easterners.”

The Leader of the Awka Muslim Community, Alhaji Garba Sarki, in his remarks, noted that the many lies told by traducers to tarnish Obi’s image in the North are sad. He said he was willing to tell the whole world who Obi is, and how he has helped their community to grow in the State. He said that the Muslim Community in Awka supported Obi’s bid for the presidency because they know and understand the kind of person he is and how prepared he is to change the trajectory of the nation.

The LP Presidential standard bearer Obi appreciated the Community for their love and support and urged the people to resist any attempt to divide the nation along religious and tribal lines.

He maintained that a prosperous economy will be beneficial both to Christians and Muslims, and as such, all should join hands to make the nation better. He called on Nigerians to continue to love and support one another for a better nation.

Obi who was accompanied by   Chief Celestine Okoye (Retd DIG), the House of Representatives- elect, Prof. Oby Orogbu, and his former Commissioners, namely: Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna; Barr. Peter Afuba, SAN;  Mr. Ndubisi Menakaya; Dr. Patrick Obi;  Lady Henrietta  Agbata; Mr. Fidel Okafor as well as House of Assembly member-elect, Hon. Henry Mbachu presented his material and cash gifts to the Community and wished them well.

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