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Buhari Cancels IGP’s Retirement, Grants Him Tenure Extension

By
Ayodele Oni
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Alkali Baba Usman - IGP

By Ayodele Oni

President Mohammadu Buhari has approved an extension of tenure for the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba.

He will not be retiring midway into the General Elections as his appointment letter extending his term in office has been given to him.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, disclosed this to State House Correspondents after the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of 2023, explaining that the Police Act 2020 has changed the rules for an IGP’s retirement.

There have been speculations lately that the Police Chief, who clocks 60 years on March 1, 2023, will honour the rule that mandates public servants to go on retirement at 60.

It was rumoured that three Deputy Inspector General and some Assistant Inspector General of Police are billed to retire before the commencement of general elections.

Dingyadi said: “I don’t know where you got your record, but let me say that by the provision of the Police Act 2020, the IG is now supposed to have a kind of four-year period and Mr. President has already given him a letter of appointment in that regard.

“So the issue of IGP going out during this election period does not arise.”

President Muhammadu Buhari appointed the then DIG Baba as the Acting Inspector General of Police on April 6, 2021.

The Police Council confirmed him as the substantive Inspector General of Police on June 2021.

Dingyadi also disclosed that FEC approved the draft bill for an Act to establish Nigeria Police Institutions, which he said is to provide legal backing to the existing colleges across the country and not to build new ones.

He also affirmed that the level of corruption within the Nigeria Police has drastically reduced.

The fate of the three DIG’s and AIG’s whose tenures are at hand is not known yet.

You Fought For Nigeria’s Democracy, Obi Hails Anyaoku At 90

By
The Source
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Peter Obi and Emeka Anayoku

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, has extolled the qualities of former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

Anyaoku, accomplished diplomat, Anambra State- born, turned 90 years on January 17, 2023.

In his congratulatory message to Anyaoku, Obi  in a letter he personally signed,   told him: “As the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, you presented the image and identity of a true Nigerian, championing the cause of good governance and promoting the entrenchment of democracy throughout the Commonwealth and the world at large.”

The full text reads:
His  Excellency,
Chief Emeka Anyaoku,
Obosi Town,
Anambra State.

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY.

Your Excellency,

It is a thing of joy for me to join your family, well wishers, as well as your national and international friends in celebrating your landmark 90th birthday today, the 18th of January, 2023.

I recall with exceeding joy, your long period of service to Nigeria and the international community which you discharged with the highest level of commitment and patriotism.

As the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, you presented the image and identity of a true Nigerian, championing the cause of good governance and promoting the entrenchment of democracy throughout the Commonwealth and the world at large.

I recall too, how you fought doggedly for the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999 and for the military to disengage from governance, deploying your position as the Secretary-General of the influential British Commonwealth of Nations. Nigeria owes Your Excellency a debt of gratitude.

I have no doubt in my mind that Nigeria still needs your experience and invaluable contributions for her to navigate the forthcoming elections and other governance issues challenging the country.

Once again, congratulations on this joyous occasion. It is my prayer that the Almighty God continue to keep you healthy, agile and strong in the years ahead.

Yours affectionately,
Peter Gregory Obi, CON

Pastor Bakare Mocks APC Presidential Candidate’s Identity, Credentials, Honour, Credibility

By
The Source
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Tunde Bakare

By Gideon Njoku

Can someone tell these people that scoring zero in a Primary election with one’s true identity and integrity as well as having original credentials from well-known  schools: Primary, Secondary, Colleges and University, within and outside of this nation, is a verifiable badge of honour,  absolutely legit and unquestionable

Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Citadel Global Community Church, has told the Media handlers of the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, that though he scored zero votes at the Party’s Presidential Primary, he came out smelling of roses, and more triumphant than their Candidate who came out victorious.

Bakare, a Presidential aspirant under the APC, who had earlier, before the Primary, told his congregation that God had ordained him as the next Nigerian President after Buhari,  surprisingly scored zero – meaning that he did not even vote for himself, and had no single supporter as a delegate.

Bakare spoke in reaction to an attack directed at him by the Presidential Candidate’s Media handlers.

The Pastor had looked for their trouble when, during an address to his congregation on Sunday, asked Nigerians not to vote for those who say the Presidential seat is their entitlement.

Tinubu is the only candidate who claimed the seat as his entitlement. “It is my turn”,  he said, during his campaign for delegates in Abeokuta. But Bakere remembering Tinubu’s claim, said: “It is not their turn. It is the turn of Nigerians who have been frustrated by succeeding Governments.”

Stung by Bakare’s admonition to Nigerians, Tinubu’s Media handlers, who felt that the Pastor was referring to their Candidate pounced on him.

They called him a political paperweight who deserves no attention, and mocked him for scoring zero votes at the Presidential Primary.

“A man who got zero votes at primary election deserves no serious attention. He is a political paperweight whose utterances should not be given a serious thought”, they said in a statement.

In response to the Media attack on him, which called him a paperweight, Pastor Bakare questioned Tinubu’s honour and credibility and identity.

He said: “Why are they then giving any thought to what I said? May be their alleged “paper weight” is too heavy for them to carry.

“Can someone tell these people that scoring zero in a primary election with one’s true identity and integrity intact as well having original credentials from well-known schools: Primary, Secondary, colleges and University within and outside of this nation is a veritable badge of honor, absolutely legit and unquestionable.

“Please tell them that in the words of Michel De Montaigne: “There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.”

“One of the Special Advisers that I thought had some semblance of nobility had to utter outright lies and falsehoods to satisfy his paymaster.

“He said that I did a video asking members of our Church to vote for their candidate and then turn around to ask them not to vote for him. Unfortunately, there is no such video containing such falsehood.

“The abridged video these people are sending around is from a message preached here (Citadel Global Community Church) in 2020 with the title: “An idle man’s brain is the devil’s workshop.”

“I made it clear in the video that I did not endorse their candidate’s lifestyle, business or type of politics.

In the said video, I never asked our members to vote or not vote for their candidate or any other candidate.

“By the way, our members are not zombies. They, by the grace of God, have their own minds and will decide who to vote for on the Election Day.

“As for those whose stock in trade is lying against others and fabricating stories that are not true about them, our strong consolation is that their DNA and final destination is spelt out in the Bible. See Psalm 58:3-8.

“The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies…”

“Rest assured, I will take the vicious attacks of these political merchants in my stride, because I know that according to Voltaire: “Many are destined to reason wrongly, others not to reason at all, and some to persecute those who do reason.”

Customs Intercepts N13 Billion Worth Of Drugs, Military Hardwares, At MMIA

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Drugs and Military Hardwares

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport has intercepted Hard Drugs, Military and Police Hardwares at the Cargo Section of the Airport.

The Customs Area Comptroller, Sambo Dangaladima disclosed that the drugs, which originated from India and Pakistan and were routed through Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, are estimated with duty-paid value of N13.8bn.

They include; 162 cartons of banned tramadol hydrochloride 225 and 250mg, military and police hardware. They were intercepted at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company.

Dangaladima said that the milligrams (225 and 250mg) are above allowable thresholds as contained in extant laws.

Speaking to the Media at the Command in Ikeja, Lagos, he said, “The hard drugs originated from India and Pakistan and they were routed through Addis-Ababa to Lagos.

“In summary, we have a total of 162 cartons, 92,387 packs, 929,970 sachets, and 9,299,700 tablets of tramadol hydrochloride with a value of N13.8bn.”

He noted that the command would hand over the seized drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The Customs boss said 309 pieces of military helmets, 106 pieces of military armless jackets, 352 pieces of ballistic body armoured pads, and 119 pieces of police badges were also intercepted by the Command.

Others are five pieces of bullet-proof jackets, 33 pieces of body side ballistic pads, and 105 pieces of ballistic chest plates.

“The suspects connected to this importation could not provide the end user certificate which is the lawful prerequisite for such importation. We have detained the suspects and the military wares, while investigation is ongoing.

“We are very mindful of the fact that 2023 is an election year in Nigeria; the inflow of traffic of these hard drugs that induce our youths to do extraordinary things (when taken) are bound to increase,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Command stated that it generated N69bn between January and December 2022.

Ondo Female Workers To Enjoy Six Months Maternity Leave – HOS

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Government has extended, by three months, the maternity leave period for its female workers to enable them give adequate care for newly born children .

Before, pregnant civil servants enjoyed  three months maternity leave which is granted before and after delivery, beginning from the date requested by the beneficiary.

The State Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele disclosed this while receiving members of the Federation of Women Lawyers, (FIDA), Ondo State Chapter, in Akure.

Pastor Ogundele said the move was to build a society where children enjoy the required maternal care which, according to medical experts should be exclusive in the first six months.

He explained that it will afford mothers the opportunity to be more focused and productive when they resume work stating that all the initial child-raising challenges would have been addressed sufficiently during the leave period.

According to him, other efforts of the Akeredolu-led government geared towards a better society for women include the recent setting up of the Agency for the Protection Against Gender Violence, in addition to the full-fledged Ministry of Women Affairs to address women and children related issues.

He lauded the complementary roles of FIDA to ameliorate the plights of women and children in the society.

“FIDA, you have been doing a great job. We have been seeing your roles in terms of activism, in terms of advocacy and a lot of things you ‘ve been doing to help the vulnerable in the society.

“It’s a good job and we pray God would strengthen you to keep it up.”

He pledged continued strides to ensure female lawyers and other categories of officers get whatever is due to them in the service of Ondo State.

Earlier in her remarks, the State Chairperson of FIDA, Catherine Ogunjebi advocated for the abolition of some seeming encumbrances in the administration of maternity leave for female civil servants irrespective of their marital status.

Ogunjebi also used the occasion to clamour for the elevation of female lawyers in the service of the state to the position of Permanent Secretaries.

Why Allowances Of Military Retirees Are Delayed – Pension Board

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Military Retiree

By Akinwale Kasali

The Military Pensions Board has disclosed that the reason for the delay in the receipt of payment of Security Debarment Allowance by eligible military retirees is due to hitches between the Central Bank of Nigeria and disbursing Banks.

This disclosure is coming in the wake of complains and alleged plans to publicly protest by the Military Retirees. This  prompted the Chairman of the Board, Rear Admiral Saburi Lawal to wade into the matter and clear the air in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the delay did not emanate from the Board but from technical hitches experienced between the CBN and the disbursing Banks of the retirees and Next-of-kins of deceased pensioners.

He added that the Board had assured the retirees that efforts were being made to resolve the observed problems and commence payment.

The statement reads: “It has come to the notice of the Board that Bank accounts of some of our esteemed pensioners are yet to be credited with their entitlements, especially for those banking with the Unity Bank, Access Bank, Eco Bank, Keystone Bank and Heritage Bank.

“It is pertinent to clarify that the delay is not caused by the Board. It is a result of some technical hitches experienced in the execution of the MPB’s Mandate by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Commercial Banks earlier mentioned.

“Notwithstanding this development, the Board is assuring our esteemed pensioners that the MPB is on top of the situation as efforts are being made to ensure all eligible pensioners get paid as soon as possible.

“Furthermore, the Board is using this medium to request all members of veteran associations to please inform NOKs of deceased pensioners that payment of SDA to eligible deceased military pensioners will commence on Thursday, Jan. 19”.

He urged the NOKs of eligible deceased military personnel who died after November 9, 2017, to contact their respective Banks for their entitlements.

Speaking further, he advised those whose Bank account details are not with the Board to formally apply to the Chairman MPB for their entitlements.

He said that such applications should be accompanied by a copy of the death certificate of the deceased pensioner, discharge certificate, retirement letter, and sworn affidavit as to NOK of the deceased.

“Others are means of identification of the NOK such as National Identity Card, International Passport or Driver’s License, passport photograph of the NOK and Letter from bank confirming account details of the NOK.

“In the same vein, all non-pensionable military retirees who retired prior to Nov. 9, 2017, and alive are also to apply to the Chairman MPB for payment of their SDA entitlements.

“Their applications are to be accompanied with the following documents: Copy of Discharge Certificate/Retirement Letter.

Copy of Discharge/Retirement ID Card, current passport photograph and letter from bank confirming account details of the Retiree,” he added.

MPB chair thanked the affected pensioners, retirees and NOKs for their patience and understanding, adding that the board regretted the inconveniences caused by the delay.

He restated the commitment of the board to always serve them better on issues bothering on their entitlements.

2023: UN, ECOWAS Sue For Peaceful Polls

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Buhari-independence Day

Two global bodies, the United Nations, UN, and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, have warned against election violence in the February general election, saying that no country can absorb huge refugees from Nigeria.

The warning came amidst fears among Nigerians and other development partners that violence could break out if care is not taken. Skirmishes have a lady been among supporters of top political parties in some states across the country.

Daily Trust reports that the warning was issued in Jos, Plateau State Capital, by the two bodies during a mediation training and interactive engagement with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and other stakeholders.

According to the report, the stakeholders were drawn from the North-Central and the North-East, on non-violence 2023 elections.

Speaking at the session with IPAC, the United Nations Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS), represented by Sa’adatu Sha’abu cautioned that should anything go wrong the unimaginable consequences would be grave, and therefore, everybody should play by the rules.

According to him, “If things go wrong in Nigeria, there’ll be negative consequences for the peace and stability of the entire region.”

On his part, ECOWAS Programme Officer, Mediation, Brown Odigie advised all stakeholders on the peaceful conduct of the 2023 elections.

Odigie, represented by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abel Fatau, appealed to candidates and their parties to uphold the signed peace accord and the electoral guidelines.

“This is a mediation often done in countries across the ECOWAS region. We’re doing it for Nigeria because it’s a strategic member of ECOWAS.

“Nigeria has a huge population. The election can generate conflict if not effectively managed. And when violence occurs, with the enormous population of Nigeria, it can split to other neighbouring countries. I can assure you that no member within the zone of ECOWAS has the capacity to accommodate refugees from Nigeria.”

Responding, IPAC National Secretary, Yusuf Dantalle, lamented that election violence stems from desperate politicians because of huge election spending.

The country has faced post election violence in the past. Following the 2011 presidential election, some Nigerians were killed in the North by those believed to be supporters of Muhammadu Buhari, then, presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressives Change, CPC, who had refused to accept the outcome of the election won by then President Goodluck Jonathan.

Critics of Buhari had blamed his comment that “barboon will soak in blood” if he lost the election, for the bloodshed.

Lagos: INEC Denies Working With APC To Stop Igbo From Collecting PVC

By
James Orji
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Reports that staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC are colluding with some APC politicians in Lagosbstate to manipulate the distribution of the Permanent Voers Card, PVC is false, the electoral umpire has said.

Allegations surfaced recently that some INEC staff in Lagos are working together with a particular political party to ensure that Igbo people living in some parts of Lagos are being prevented from collecting their PVCs.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had suggested that some politicians in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, are trying to ensure that a section of the country residing in the state are prevented from voting for the candidates of their choice in next month’s general election.

But, INEC said the allegation is unfounded and baseless.

Responding to the allegation, Olusegun Agbaje, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, said he was shocked by the allegation, describing it as a “false allegation” that cannot be substantiated.

The refuttal is contained in a statement by Mrs Adenine Tadese, Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity in Lagos state, and cited by the magazine.

“It is pertinent to clarify and correct the frivolous accusation by PDP that some INEC staff are colluding with members of the ruling party in the state to deny some groups of people access to collect their PVCs,” Agbaje said.

“Mention was equally made of Mr Muyiwa Yusuf, the Head of Department VR/ICT INEC in the state who was alleged to have connived with the APC to clone the faces of voters through the privileged access he has to the PVCs.

“It has become necessary to comment on the recent report which far from being true, was a gross misrepresentation and diversionary both in content and context.

“It is obvious that this orchestrated story by PDP was fabricated to distort the reputation of INEC in the state and to soil the name of the officer in question,” Agbaje said.

“INEC has neither political affiliation nor inclination with any party in the state. Collection of PVC is based on first come, first served,” he said.

He ruled out the posibility of rigging the election, adding that the technology acquired by the commission is capable of 3aling with election manipulation.

According to him, : “The exercise being embarked upon in the commission at the moment is the scanning of PVCs to harvest phone numbers of eligible registrants yet to collect their cards with a view to contacting them via bulk sms.

“The commission strongly believes in equity, transparency, integrity and fairness in the conduct of her business.

“We shall continue to uphold these fundamental principles in the discharge of our constitutional duties and responsibilities as an un-biased umpire to all stakeholders.”

FG, others Share N1 trn; Nigerians Grumble Under Economic Hardship

By
James Orji
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0
Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed,minister of finance

The federal government has announced that the fedaration Account Allocation Committee, FAAC shared s over N990 billion between the federal, states and local governments for the month of December 2022.

This is N90 billion more than the N200 billion shared by th3 three  tiers of government  in November . 2022.
The amount was collected from various federal government revenue sources, which include Value Added Tax, VAT, Exchange Gain and Electronic Money Transfer Levies, EMTL, the government said.

This was contained in a statement issued by Phil Abiamuwe-Mowete, Director (Information/Press), Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

According to the statement, out of the the N990 billion, the federal government received N375.306 billion, the 36 states of the federation and the FCT received N299.557 billion, while the 774 local government councils got N221.807 billion.

It added that, oil-producing states received N93.519 billion as 13 per cent of mineral derivation revenue.
Meanwhile, a communiqué issued by FAAC at the end of its meeting on Tuesday indicated that Gross Revenue available from VAT for Dec. 2022 was N250.512 billion.

“From the VAT collected, N7.215 billion was allocated to the Northeast Development Commission Project, while the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigeria Customs Service got N10.020 billion as Cost of Collection.

“From the balance of N233.277 billion, the Federal Government got N34.992 billion; states received N116.639 billion, while local government councils got N81.647 billion.

“Gross Statutory Revenue of N1136.183 billion was received for the month of December 2022.
“From this amount, N31.531 billion was given as Cost of Collection and N396.896 billion released to Transfers, Savings and Refunds.

“From the balance of N707.756 billion, N325.105 billion was allocated to the Federal Government; N165.897 billion was allocated to states, while local councils got N127.129 billion.

“Oil Derivation (13 per cent Mineral Revenue) for oil-producing states got N90.625 billion,’’ the communique stated.

Meanwhile, critics of the government  said citizens ae yet to feel  the impact of increase in the revenue shared by the three levels of government. This is so, they insist, due to the backlog  of salary arrears being owed civil servants and retired employees of state.

A Father’s Testimony On Corruption In Universities Admissions: “How My Son Was Saved By JAMB Registrar, Prof. Oloyede”

By
The Source
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0
Ishaq Oloyede

By Muyiwa Kayode (Dr)

My son, currently in 400 Level Medicine and Surgery scored 333 in JAMB at the Point of Entry (PoE). But his name did not even APPEAR on the Admission List. I was later told by the Institution that, my son could be offered Micro Biology.

I told the Registrar of the Institution POINT BLANK that, “I have spent HUGELY (Several Millions of Naira) to get my Son to this Point of Entry (PoE) to become a Medical Doctor, and not to become a Biology Teacher through her offer of Micro Biology.

This Registrar was so MEAN. She simply told me: “We are very sorry; Micro Biology is the BEST we can OFFER your Son.”

At this Juncture, I proceeded to JAMB Headquarters, Abuja, to meet with Prof. (Is-haq) Oloyede who swiftly asked for my son’s JAMB details. He punched these details into his Laptop and  everything concerning the University came up on his screen.

Prof. Oloyede said, and I quote: “Dr. Muyiwa Kayode, please go back home and sleep with your two eyes closed. From what I am seeing on my screen, your son is No.3 (Number 3) on the list of Medicine and Surgery of this Institution with a JAMB SCORE of 333 which comes behind two other JAMB Scores of 348 and 334 respectively.

Unfortunately, none of these chaps, including my son (i.e JAMB Score 348, 334 and 333) made the Admission List”

Prof. Oloyede continued and I quote: “Dr. Muyiwa Kayode, in SANE countries, this Institution should have sent the College Driver with an Official Vehicle to go and fetch your Son from Ekiti to Campus having projected himself into the MERIT LIST of this Institution, but unfortunately, the endermic corruption in these Institutions will just not allow them to follow due process”

Right in my presence, Prof. Oloyede put a call through to the Vice Chancellor of this Institution, setting his phone on speaker, and spoke angrily to the Vice Chancellor, lamenting the endermic corruption under his nose as it concerns University Admission.

This Vice Chancellor apologized to Prof. Oloyede saying what has just happened must have been an ERROR of OVERSIGHT on the part of his Management Team, and promised Prof. Oloyede that, he will personally ensure the error of oversight is corrected.

Within 24 hrs of that conversation between Prof. Oloyede and the Vice Chancellor, my son checked the University’s Admission Portal and discovered his name has been INCLUDED as number three on the Admission List, while the names of the other chaps that scored 348 & 334 also appeared on the Admission List as number one and number two respectively.

The good news in all of these is that, my son that would have been CRIMINALLY denied Admission abinitio now TOPS his Class with a G.P.A of 4.85

This is neither Federal nor State Government’s doing. Every sector of the economy is corrupt.

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