A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Nigeria's anti-corruption stakeholders gathered today at the U.S. Embassy and discussed efforts to tackle corruption in the country.
The roundtable was chaired by Professor Chidi Odinkalu, senior member of the Nigerian Bar and head of the Open Society Justice Initiative with government officials and representatives of civil society in attendance.
U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission David Young welcomed the roundtable participants and said the United States is encouraged to see representatives from the legislature, judiciary, strategic government departments, anti-corruption agencies and civil society on the panel and in the audience.
He hoped the roundtable will result in a frank and honest dialogue to evaluate progress in the fight against corruption and the impact of corruption on Nigeria's sustainable development goals. "We celebrate the U.S. and Nigeria's strong partnership in the efforts to eliminate corruption and improve government accountability and transparency and hope that today's event positively contributes to our ongoing efforts," he said.
Mr. Young congratulated Nigeria on joining the Open Government Partnership and submitting its first National Action Plan.
The Open Government Partnership was launched in 2011 to provide an international platform for reformers committed to making their governments more open, accountable, and responsive to citizens. It now includes 70 participating countries.
Professor Humphrey Asobie from the University of Nigeria and former Chairman of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) delivered the keynote address, urging all anti-corruption agencies and the judiciary to be more truthful and transparent in their dealings with the public.
Other panelists at the roundtable included Femi Falana, a senior member of the Nigerian Bar, representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Court of Appeal, House Anti-Corruption Committee, and the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Tomorrow, U.S. Embassy Abuja is collaborating with the Government of Nigeria, the European Union and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to commemorate the U.N. General Assembly's adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. The event will feature panel discussions on the topics of "Preventing Corruption: Closing the doors to illicit activities" and: "Reducing Impunity: Recovery of Proceeds of Crime for Sustainable Development."
RonaldoCristiano Ronaldo shrugged off allegations that he hid millions of euros in tax havens by insisting “he who owes nothing, fears nothing”, Spanish radio reported Thursday.
“You believe I am worried? He who owes nothing, fears nothing,” said the superstar after being approached by Portuguese TV station RTP to respond to the allegations after Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday evening.
An international consortium of media organisations last week claimed that a huge data leak involving 18 million documents showed the Portuguese skipper hid 150 million euros ($160 million) from image rights in the British Virgin Islands.
Ronaldo, 31, has strongly denied all claims of wrongdoing.
On Wednesday, his club side came out in his defence.
“Real Madrid demand the maximum respect for a player like Cristiano Ronaldo, whose behaviour has been exemplary during his entire time at our club,” Madrid said in a statement.
The Berger axis which is one of the major gateways to the State of Excellence is also witnessing massive expansion projects by the present administration.
The expansion projects at Berger include the construction of about 700 meters slip road through which traffic outward Lagos-Ibadan Expressway can connect Omole Phase Two, Magodo Phase One and Olowoora.
The road, which was designed with drainage channels, sidewalks and street light, is about 6 meters wide and can conveniently accommodate two vehicles at a time.
Apart from the Pedestrian Bridge which has been completed, there are also expanded lay-bys and reservation areas at both sides of the Berger Bus Stop to facilitate easy pulling off of commercial and private vehicles from the main expressway, while massive road improvement, construction of lay-bys and reservation projects are equally on-going under the bridge.
The government is also constructing iron barricades to facilitate free flow of traffic and forestall incidents of accidents associated with pedestrians crossing the road without recourse to the foot bridge.
See Photos below…
Photos 1-4: Ongoing construction of multifaceted projects such as Expansion of the pedestrian bridge; segregated lanes; slip road and lay-by) at Berger bus stop, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by the Lagos State Government, on Wednesday, December 7, 2016.
Photos 5-7: Iron barricade being erected by the Lagos State Government at Berger Bus Stop to stop indiscriminate crossing of the expressway by pedestrians so as to reduce accident on Wednesday, December 7, 2016.
"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." ― R. Buckminster Fuller (1885-1983)
DEVELOPMENT of any society is imperative if that society must evolve and that is the sole responsibility of government as the advancement that comes with development is also of high importance to the success of any government.
In Nigeria, and by extension Africa, infrastructural decadence has become the norm as governments over the years have learnt and mastered the act of abandoning projects halfway only to be further abandoned by successive governments.
This situation has continued to hinder the potential greatness of Nigeria, a country naturally endowed with all manner of untapped mineral resources save for crude oil which has become a mainstay for the national economy at the detriment of other natural resources littering the country.
Sadly though, crude oil which has accounted for huge foreign exchange receipts over the years has not translated to infrastructural or economic development thereby creating a huge vacuum, even as the former is known to be crucial to the growth of the latter. The government has literarily failed to make the existing infrastructural model obsolete by replacing them with new ones.
By virtue of crude oil discovery in Nigeria, international oil companies sprang up in the country and over time it became imperative for these companies to fill a part of the vacuum created by government's inaction over the years via the model popularly known today as Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR.
It is noteworthy that little or no mention has been made about the efforts and contributions of these international oil companies operating in Nigeria to the development of our national economy and wellbeing. The reports that frequently make the headlines are in the negatives and that is understandable due to numerous well known factors.
It is however imperative to also highlight the positive contributions of the IOC's and what they have been doing quietly over the years, especially those things that have been long abandoned by government.
An exemplary case study, one with almost zero community crises since commencement of its operations in Nigeria is the American oil giant Exxonmobil. Even while it is commendable to note that Shell, Chevron, Total and the rest of them all have robust CSR schemes, but when the government never plays its part as expected, no amount of effort from any individual or group can ever be enough.
ExxonMobil is the world's largest publicly owned oil and gas company, operating on six continents, and a leader in almost every aspect of the energy business, hence its operations in Nigeria would be met with such international standards befitting only of a company of its size and operations.
In different areas spanning education, health, road infrastructures, rural community development, human capacity development, the company has relentlessly shown commitment to an unparalleled, world class CSR scheme.
Education:
In promoting its educational support programme in the country, the company has spent over N4 billion on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/ Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) Joint Venture (JV) undergraduate scholarship which it extended to Nigerian students from all parts of the country, while 50 per cent of this amount or N2 billion went to students from Akwa Ibom state, being the state hosting most of the company's activities in Nigeria.
Similarly, over N57 million has equally been spent on the NNPC/MPN JV secondary school scholarship targeting indigent students from Akwa Ibom State over the last four years while over N1 billion spent on the provision of the NNPC/Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (ExxonMobil subsidiary company) international postgraduate scholarship to Nigerian students in the last two decades.
ExxonMobil has preserved a culture of lengthening its undergraduate scholarship scheme, providing opportunity for about 500 Nigerians every year of which over 8000 students have benefitted from that robust plan in the last two decades. In the last seven years, over 200 candidates benefitted from the NNPC/EEPNL national post graduate scholarship to show the company's strong educational support to the country.
These are just a few mention of what Exxonmobil has done in bringing quality education to many Nigerian children and youths, many of whom may not have had access to education had they been solely dependent on government for education.
The company by its actions has shown it holds the strong view that an educated society is a developed society, and for that singular reason it has continued over the years to invest heavily on national undergraduate and post graduate scholarships with the hope, of course that these ones would one day take charge of the country and ensure things are done properly.
For a company that currently accounts for over 30% of Nigeria's crude production, thereby becoming the highest crude oil producer and revenue contributor to the nation, Exxonmobil more than other IOC's have shown commitment to Nigeria, generating well over N1 trillion annual revenue contribution to the federal government of Nigeria since 2010 with little or no furore, and more than N160 billion NDDC contributions since 200. The company inspite of these direct contributions to the national coffers and economy has never relent on its CSR efforts in all its operating communities in the country, with special interest in Akwa Ibom state, its main host.
Social infrastructure Package:
In July 2013, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, MPN, announced plans to make multi-year social investments in Akwa Ibom State. These investments supplement the company's regular annual community development projects which are in partnership with its joint venture partner NNPC.
The social investment package funds both short and long-term projects for communities in which MPN operates, as well as other parts of Akwa Ibom State. Total proposed contributions are N24.6 billion.
Short-term projects include contributions for the Eket-Ibeno road reconstruction and community assistance projects in the four communities surrounding MPN’s operations in Qua Iboe Terminal (QIT), as well as nearby coastal communities.
Long-term projects include contributions for proposed projects such as enhancing Ibeno Beach, upgrading the University of Uyo engineering facility, and designing and constructing a trauma center at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. The state government already has an implementation committee in place to work with the oil giant on the heels of the initial announcement.
Special Projects II:
Under its special project II arrangement, another major CSR program MPN and its partner NNPC is poised to spend about N24Billion on 384 projects across 8 communities in Akwa Ibom State. It is a social investment across our neighboring communities, specifically Ibeno, Eket, Esit Eket, Onna, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Eastern Obolo & Mbo. It is an act of goodwill done in good faith to appreciate the kind gestures of the communities towards MPN. This is addition to another N8 billion as counterpart funding for the dualization of Eket-Ibeno road bringing the total funding package to N32 billion.
Now, this is huge and staggering by any standard, and is worthy of commendation. Also worthy of mention is the quality of projects embarked upon by these IOC's which always makes one wonder why the government is unable to replicate such quality projects around the country.
Exxonmobil and its JV partner NNPC contributes N320 billion annually to the Akwa ibom state government as ground rent and taxes, as well as over N160 billion to the NDDC since 2001. The JV has contributed over US$210 million to community assistance projects in Akwa Ibom from 2002 – 2014. The company also recruits over 35 percent of its workforce from its host state of Akwa-Ibom. Little wonder the company records little or no community issues over the 50 years period it has operated In Nigeria.
If Exxonmobil is embarking on these mind boggling CSR projects in Akwa Ibom state and other parts of the country, Shell is doing same in Rivers State and other parts of the country, Chevron is doing same in Delta and Ondo state and some parts of the country, while Total also implements same in Rivers state and other parts of the country, Eni's Agip would also consider doing same in its area of operations this would transform the country in no mean way.
If there are no hindrances and these oil companies are allowed to do as much through their CSR programs the impact would be felt and the projects would last a lifetime. This is surely the way to go if national infrastructural development is still a key booster to the economy especially in a country that does not plan long term, have no regard for basic statistics, and where successive governments have done nothing but failed the people woefully over the past years. A proper and well articulated CSR program as orchestrated by Exxonmobil and other international Oil Companies across the country can surely fill that vacuum as created by years of government's negligence.
Mr. Adeoye, an industry analyst and Host of the Energie Platform show writes from Houston Texas, USA.
The Nigerian Telecommunication Commission (NCC) on Thursday advised consumers to take advantage of the 2442 short code to choose the type of messages they want to receive.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, gave the advice at the 79th Telecom Consumers Parliament help in Abuja.
He said that the parliament, with its theme: Implementation of the `Do not Disturb' (DND): the journey so far, was aimed at sensitising the public to the policy.
Danbatta said that the short code would go a long way to give consumers the right to choose the messages they wanted to receive.
According to him, following the barrage of complaints on the menace of unsolicited message, the commission swayed into action by mandating the activation of 2442 short code.
"The code will enable consumers to control the type of messages they receive.
"I am glad that it has come into effect and I urge all consumers to take advantage of this new regime by sending "stop to 2442'' to avoid unsolicited messages,'' he said.
Danbatta said the commission was aware that for the initiative to succeed, there was need for massive public enlightenment by both regulator and the operating companies.
"It is on this regard that the theme of today's parliament becomes relevant.
"The objective is to place the issue on the front burner of our discourse until unsolicited messages become a thing of the past,'' he said.
Danbatta said the issue of consumer's protection was very paramount to the commission, adding that consumers were kings in the market place.
To uphold the principle, he said that the commission had put in place various programmes to inform, educate and protect the consumers of telecom service.
Presenting a paper on the theme, Mr Ayoola Oke, a telecom consultant with NCC, called on operators to ensure full compliance with the 2442 short code.
Oke said that one major challenge of the policy was lack of awareness, hence the need for both the regulators and the telecom operators to be involved in massive publicity.
He called for effective complaint management by the operators and network management to block spam and screen out malicious mails.
Responding to questions on outright ban on unsolicited messages, Mrs Amina Shehu, Head of Legal, NCC, said complete ban was not possible because of e-commerce system.
The Abule Egba Flyover is a direct response by the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration in Lagos State to address the perennial traffic gridlock often associated with the area especially during rush hour.
The construction of the Bridge, which is scheduled to be completed in 2017, is at advanced stage, while residents and commuters are hopeful that upon completion, it would permanently reduce traffic to the barest minimum.
Much as the Ambode administration which has become synonymous with creative solutions to traffic gridlock across the metropolis, the several initiatives have also seen tremendous improvement on the aesthetics of the road infrastructure especially with modern bus shelters, lay-bys, segregated bus parks, barricades, slip roads among others.
The pictures below show the progress of work on the Bridge and the network of roads.
Ghana election: Ghanaians started lining up at voting stations on Wednesday to elect a president and parliament, in polls dominated by a three-year economic downturn that led to heavy job losses and price hikes.
President John Mahama is running for a second four-year term in the West African nation rich in gold, cocoa, diamonds, aluminium, bauxite and recently discovered oil.
Mahama is competing with six other candidates for the presidency, but his fiercest rival is Nana Akufo-Addo, the leader of the largest opposition, New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Report says the incumbent president remains popular in the nation of 26 million people, which was the first sub-Saharan country to gain independence in colonial Africa, in 1957.
The 58-year-old made major progress in improving Ghana's infrastructure by building schools, health facilities and roads.
However, many voters held Mahama and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) responsible for a debilitating three-year energy crisis that led to a 10 per cent drop in economic growth between 2011 and 2015.
They also held him responsible for sharp rise in electricity, water and petrol prices.
Akufo-Addo, 72, promises to use Ghana's new-found oil to create jobs and push industrialisation in all economic sectors, including agriculture.
Over 15 million Ghanaians are eligible to cast their vote at one of the 29,000 polling stations until 1700 GMT.
They will also elect 275 parliamentarians for the next four years.
If no presidential candidate gains 51 per cent or more of the vote, the election will go into a second round.
Results are expected Friday after voting ended in Wednesday.
People watch update results of the general elections after midnight on a big projector screen installed in Teshie Police Station in Accra, on December 8, 2016. Counting was underway after presidential and parliamentary polls in Ghana on December 7, with incumbent John Mahama taking on rival Nana Akufo-Addo for the top job with no clear favourite in a high-stakes race. The majority of voting stations closed at 5:00 pm, (1700 GMT) with a policeman standing at the end of queues across the country to mark the last voter. / AFP PHOTOElectoral officials use a lantern and a smartphone torchlight to assist people to vote late on December 7, 2016 at a polling station in Tamale, northern region. Counting was underway after presidential and parliamentary polls in Ghana on December 7, 2016, with incumbent John Mahama taking on rival Nana Akufo-Addo for the top job with no clear favourite in a high-stakes race. / AFP PHOTOElectoral officials use a lantern and a smartphone torchlight to assist people to vote late on December 7, 2016 at a polling station in Tamale, northern region. Counting was underway after presidential and parliamentary polls in Ghana on December 7, 2016, with incumbent John Mahama taking on rival Nana Akufo-Addo for the top job with no clear favourite in a high-stakes race. / AFP PHOTO
Supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Nana Akufo-Addo, wait outside his house in the Nima neighbourhood in Accra on December 8, 2016. Ghanaians faced an anxious wait on December 8 for the results of a nail-biting presidential election tainted by sporadic outbreaks of violence, with no clear favourite emerging from the early provisional results. / AFP PHOTOPolicemen stand guard outside the headquarters of the Electoral Commission in Accra on December 8, 2016. Ghanaians faced an anxious wait on December 8 for the results of a nail-biting presidential election tainted by sporadic outbreaks of violence, with no clear favourite emerging from the early provisional results. / AFP PHOTO
Gov. Ambode today received the US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington at Lagos House, Ikeja
See photos below…
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), in a warm handshake with US Ambassador to Nigeria , Mr. Stuart Symington during a courtesy visit to the Governor at the Lagos House,Ikeja, on Thursday, December 8, 2016.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), presenting a State plaque to the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington during a courtesy visit to the Governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), with US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington (left) and US Consul General in Lagos, Mr. John Bray (right) during a courtesy visit to the Governor at the Lagos House,Ikeja.
L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington and US Consul General in Lagos, Mr. John Bray during a courtesy visit to the Governor at the Lagos House,Ikeja.
The Lagos State Government on Thursday said it was ready to roll out Lake Rice on Dec. 15 to Lagosians at N13,000 per 50 kg towards the Yuletide celebrations.
Mr Sanni Okanlawan, Special Adviser on Food Security to Gov. Akinwumi Ambode, made the disclosure in Lagos during the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) National Agriculture Stakeholders Summit.
Okanlawan said that sales of the rice would be made at all the 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state to ensure proper distribution.
"Lake Rice is the acronym of both Lagos and Kebbi States joint product which will be out to the public on Dec. 15 at the rate of N13,000 per 50kg bag as it is already subsidised by the government.
"To make it more available, the rice will be sold at the 57 LGAs and LCDAs for easy accessibility and to guard against unwanted persons diverting the product.
"The state government has put in place a committee that will ensure that Lagosians have the best Christmas celebration, that is why we are offering the wholesome and well packaged rice,'' Okanlawan said.
The special adviser also said that the state had established a Department of Agribusiness, an Agriculture Trust Fund and Commodity Exchange Market to be set up soon.
The government's efforts were in alignment with the Federal Government's diversification drive from a mono-economy to agriculture.
The Senate on Thursday, rescheduled the screening and confirmation of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu to Dec. 15.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Bala N'allah, made this known while addressing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
He said the postponement of the exercise from Dec. 8 to Dec. 15 became necessary to allow for a full house to convene.
According to him, lawmakers who traveled out of Abuja for official assignments requested the postponement pending their arrival to enable them participate in the confirmation process.
"The Senate is normally guided by the time frame of the work. We agreed that today will be the confirmation of the EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.
"But we received a lot of calls from senators who are away, who want to participate.
"When we looked at the demand and the number we felt it will be wrong for us to proceed, disregarding those calls.
"We decided to fix it for Tuesday but we were not sure if the President will declare Tuesday as Public Holiday, so we agreed to fix it for Thursday.
"We have since written an official letter to the acting chairman fixing Thursday as the day for the confirmation hearing of his appointment,'' he said.
On why Magu's confirmation had lingered for more than five months, N'allah said the senate had other matters of priority to attend to.
"Anybody who is familiar with the normal procedure of governance would have known that there are certain procedures that need to be taken for candidates to be confirmed.
"Whatever we do is always subject to interpretation but what is important is that a date has been fixed," he said.
Presidency had in July written the Senate seeking the screening and confirmation of Magu as substantive chairman of the commission.
President Muhammadu Buhari had appointed Magu as acting chairman of the EFCC after the removal of Ibrahim Lamorde on Nov. 9, 2015.
Before his appointment, Magu was the Head of Economic Governance Unit of the commission.
If confirmed, Magu will be the fourth head of the anti-graft agency, after Nuhu Ribadu, Farida Waziri and Ibrahim Lamorde.
By Emma Amaize ASABA- ELDERS, leaders and stakeholders of the coastal states of Niger Delta under the auspices of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, are assembling tomorrow (Friday) in Asaba, capital of Delta State for a meeting.
A statement by PANDEF, issued by a member of the Central Working Committee, CWC, Dr. Alfred Mulade, said the meeting summoned by the leader, former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark: "is to discuss the gains made so far and the way forward towards the actualization of permanent peace in the Niger Delta region."
The governor of Delta state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who has shown concern about the present state of affairs in the region, is expected to play host to the leaders from all parts of the region.
Before now, some rights groups in the region, especially the Ijaw People's Development Initiative, IPDI, led by Mr. Austin Ozobo, had condemned the holding of PANDEF's meetings at Abuja, saying it should hold in any of the Niger Delta states, but not the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Gov. Ekezie Ikpeazu of Abia has said that if there is any group of people in Nigeria, in need of peace, it is the Igbos, who are found in all parts of the country doing business.
Ikpeazu made the remark when he received the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, who paid him a courtesy call.
"If Nigeria is perpetually in trouble, it will not augur well for the Igbos, who are republican and found every where in the country," the governor said.
According to Ikpeazu, Igbos are desperate for peace in Nigeria.
He said the people of the state would continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his efforts to move the nation forward.
The governor, who donated two Hilux vehicles to support the army operation in the state, commended the military for degrading and decimating the Boko Haram terrorists in the North East.
He also commended the army for curbing violent crimes in the state, as well as pipeline vandalism.
Earlier, Buratai informed the governor of the ongoing "Exercise Python Dance" in the South East, explaining that it was meant to train troops on internal security.
He further explained the exercise in addition to other exercises and operations going on across the nation were aimed ensuring security, safety and peace for the unity of the country to enable the citizenry go about their lawful businesses.
The Lagos State Government on Thursday said that it is putting finishing touches to make this year's edition of its flagship Yuletide revue popularly known as the One Lagos Fiesta (OLF) bigger better and bolder.
Addressing journalists at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House in Ikeja, the State's Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde said in line with the vision of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the event would continue in its tradition of holding across the five zones as it held last year including Ikeja (Agege Stadium), Badagry (Badagry Stadium), Ikorodu (Ikorodu Town Hall), Lagos Island (Bar Beach) and Epe (Epe Recreation Centre).
Ayorinde said this year's edition would stand out as instead of the five days that it held last December, this year's will run for eight days across all the zones, commencing from Christmas Eve on December 24 till the wee hours of the New Year.
He said the reason for the expanded fiesta was to keep Lagosians, especially the youths, happy and creatively busy.
"You will recall that we have just had a successful maiden edition of The Lagos Street Party (TLSP) last weekend, in which the popular Ahmadu Bello way in Victoria Island was turned into a carnival and concert ground.
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state
"While TLSP delivered on its mandate to formally usher in the Yuletide season in Lagos and create an additional platform for creative enterprise to flourish, OLF will fulfill its traditional obligation of ending the year on an entertaining note and usher in the new year with fun and fanfare, while carrying along every part of the state in line with the governor’s electoral promise that no part of Lagos will be left behind," the Commissioner said.
Ayorinde said this year's edition of the One Lagos Fiesta would also see the introduction of a talent hunt exercise tagged 'Lagos’ Got Talent', which according to him, seeks to discover, celebrate and reward exceptional talents among the youth or the young at heart in the areas of music, dance, comedy and other creative stunts.
Explaining how the talent hunt would run, Ayorinde said that interested participants can register online at www.onelagosfiesta.ng as well as in the five zonal offices including Multipurpose hall of Eko FM, Agidingbi Ikeja, Divisional Information Office, Lugard’s House along the Badagry Marina, Divisional Information Office, Ikorodu, 1, Oriwu Street, Ita Elewa, City Hall, Lagos Island and Divisional Information Office, Epe, Chalet Road, beside Lagos High Court, Oke-Oyinbo, Epe.
He said registration for the talent hunt show would run till Wednesday, December 14, 2016, while those selected from the audition would have an opportunity to perform at the OLF stage in each location between the 24th and 30th of December with the two finalists from each zone slugging it out for the final showdown in Victoria Island on the 31st of December.
"If you are talented in any of these areas and you are looking for a platform to showcase your skills and begin a rewarding journey to stardom, then this year’s OLF is the platform you need," Ayorinde said.
Also speaking, Co-chairs of the One Lagos Fiesta Committee, Acting Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Akinshola and Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, said that winners of the talent hunt show would be handsomely rewarded by the State Government, adding that arrangements have also been made for varieties of A-list and upcoming artistes from all music genres to thrill participants.
They also assured that adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure safety of lives and property throughout the course of the fiesta.
Osun state government has described the Wednesday protest and actions of some few pensioners in Osogbo over alleged non-payment of their entitlements by the state government as an attempt by their sponsors to gag the truth.
The Government said those behind the fabrications of lies over bailout loans and other financial matters concerning Osun have also conspired to prevent any avenue for the government to set the records straight.
The Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, in a statement, said the arranged protest against the non-payment of their entitlement was a cover up to disrupt the sitting of the State House of Assembly and prevent the Government from giving out the figures.
He said for accountability and transparency, the state House of Assembly has started probing how N34.5bn received from the federal government as bailout was spent.
The statement read in part, “The House of Assembly had summoned some government officials to appear before lawmakers on Wednesday 7th December 2016."
“Those summoned include: the Accountant-General, Permanent Secretaries Ministry of Finance, Office of Budget Planning, Director-General of Debt Management Office, Officials of Wema Bank, Zenith Bank and First Bank, Osun State Chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joint Negotiation Council (JNC) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE)."
“Heads of Market Women, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) were also invited."
The Bureau queried why the protesters did not allow the House of Assembly to go on with the proceedings that was expected to be aired live on Television so that people can come out with questions that had agitated their minds if the few supposed pensioners were not out to gag the truth.
He said, "Those invited to the House of Assembly were expected to appear before the House with useful documents and necessary information concerning the bailout fund given to the state government."
"The situation where sponsored pensioners openly assaulted the Deputy Speaker and other government officials with charms and other weapons were not expected of senior citizens that pensioners are supposed to be."
He said the House of Assembly, which symbolises people's representation, was about providing a platform to throw lights on how the bailout loan was disbursed to lay to rest all allegations of financial recklessness levied on government.
The statement reads, “The totality of what Osun has collected this year could not pay salaries that we have paid but for extreme skills in financial management. Osun took N325m this month. And Osun must pay a modulated bill of N1.7bn. So if you add up what Osun got as revenue from January to November, it is short by close to 50 percent of what Osun is paying out."
“There must therefore be a trick that Aregbesola is using because every month we complain that what Osun get is small. And yet, much more than what Osun receives on monthly basis is paid as wages. This is not even considering capital projects which are everywhere in this state."
The statement added that the Aregbesola administration has put in place the best mechanism to ensure transparency in allocation of resources.
It added, “This is the state that pioneered the setting up of a body in charge of resources allocation which had workers’ representatives from all the industrial unions in both NLC and TUC and professionals with government officials as members."
" That body is headed by a veteran, vibrant unionist, Alhaji Comrade Hassan Sunmonu. Without any doubt, nothing could be more transparent than this."
Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode today met with investors on bond issuance today at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
See photos…
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (left), with former State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Olawale Edun during the Governor's meeting with investors on Bond Issuance at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday, December 8, 2016.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left), with Commissioner for Finance/Economic Planning & Budget, Mr. Adeyemi Ashade (2nd left); his counterpart for Energy & Mineral Resources, Mr. Wale Oluwo (2nd right) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Taiwo Ogunleye during the Governor's meeting with investors on Bond Issuance at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left), with Commissioner for Finance/Economic Planning & Budget, Mr. Adeyemi Ashade (2nd left); his counterpart for Energy & Mineral Resources, Mr. Wale Oluwo (2nd right) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Taiwo Ogunleye during the Governor's meeting with investors on Bond Issuance at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
R-L: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with Permanent Secretary/Accountant General, Mrs. Abimbola Umar and Commissioner for Finance/Economic Planning & Budget, Mr. Adeyemi Ashade during the Governor's meeting with investors on Bond Issuance at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with Commissioner for Energy & Mineral Resources, Mr. Wale Oluwo and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Taiwo Ogunleye during the Governor's meeting with investors on Bond Issuance at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA – Erstwhile National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd, has prayed the Supreme Court to expedite hearing on two appeals he lodged against his continued detention by the Federal Government.
Dasuki who has been in custody of the Department of State Service, DSS, since December 29, 2015, is challenging FG’s refusal to release him on bail as ordered by different courts of competent jurisdiction.
In a letter he forwarded to the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, the former NSA, through his lead counsel, Mr. J.B. Daudu, SAN, begged the apex court to accelerate hearing on his bail request in order to stop the government from further infringing on his fundamental human rights.
He told the Acting CJN that the two pending appeals which he filed in August, were in compliance with the Supreme Court practice directions.Former national security adviser of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki (R), speaks with his lawyer Ahmed Raji, during his trial at the federal high court in Abuja, on September 1, 2015. Nigerian prosecutors on September 1, 2015 slapped a charge of unlawful possession of arms against Dasuki. Dasuki was arraigned on a “one-count charge of being in possession of firearms without licence,” Prosecutor Mohammed Diri told the federal high court in Abuja. AFP PHOTO
In the letter dated November 30 and received by the apex court on December 6, Dasuki, further prayed the court to exercise its discretion in his favour by granting quick determination of the two appeals because of their peculiar nature.
Daudu in the letter recalled that his client was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) on charges of breach of trust, criminal misappropriation and sundry offences before two high courts of the Federal Capital Territory between September and December last year.
He stated that following a not guilty plea by his client, the two courts granted him bail and the conditions perfected by the appellant.
The letter explained that no sooner had Dasuki perfected his bail conditions than the DSS operatives swooped on him and abducted him at Kuje prison gate.
He said his client have since then been in detention without trial.
Daudu told Justice Onnoghen that the only reason FG adduced to justify “the abduction” of his client, which was not backed by any law, was that Dasuki posed a security risk.
The letter read in part; "The same government having breached his right to fair trial by not allowing him proceed on bail to have adequate time and facilities to prepare his defence, interfered with his constitutionally guaranteed presumption of innocence by continuing to detain him without trial has insisted on several occasions to proceed with the charges afore described, knowing fully well that the appellant has no access to documents with which he would wish to defend himself.
By AbdulSalam Muhammad KANO – A Kano serving Commissioner in charge of Land, Dr. Faruk Bibi Faruk, and his permanent secretary, Alhaji Bello Bari were Thursday arraigned before the State High court over an alleged land deals.
The suspects who were earlier investigated by the State Anti corruption Agency were dragged before Justice Nasiru Saminu of Court 22 on three count charges.
The Commissioner, Bibi Faruk, his permanent secretary Mahmud Bello Bari and a director were said to have sold an allocated plot of land to one Baba Sharu at the cost of 5 million Naira punishable sometimes in April 2016, thereby committed an offence punishable under section 315 of criminal panel code.
The prosecuting Lawyer, Rabi Ibrahim Waya also accused the suspects of breach of trust by in their capacity as public servant and in the process committed an offence punishable under section 97 of the panel code.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA – Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Solomon Dalong Thursday said that government has not been able to pay the allowances of the Super Falcons because their victory in Cameroon was not expected.
Recall that the team on Saturday won the 2016 African Women Cup of Nations but had not been paid their allowances.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after a private meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential Villa, Abuja, Dalong said that there was no money readily available to pay them.
He however said that efforts were being made to find solution to the matter.
He said: “It is unfortunate that we are celebrating victory of the Super Falcons amidst some bitter feelings among the players because of some administrative lapses that were not managed properly because if the situation was explained to these girls, I don’t think the situation would have gotten to this level.
“They have stamped their authority and dominance over football in the continent, having consistently won the trophy eight times.
“After the girls came back from Cameroon, we had launched with them and they were in high spirits, the communication gap in trying to convey the situation to them could have been what led to it.
Labour unions and recipient Banks of the N34.5 billion bailout funds given to Osun State government have declared that the fund was exclusively used for payment of arrears of salaries, allowances in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) guidelines and directives.
In a statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the representatives of the banks, Adebayo Yakub (First Bank), Musbau Oyeniran (Wema Bank) and Ola Adedeji (Zenith Bank) – and the labour leaders made the declaration while testifying before the State House of Assembly during the probing into the concessionary loan, popularly referred to as bailout fund at a special plenary on Wednesday.
This was as the Accountant-General of the State, Akintayo Kolawole and the labour leaders said, the pension arrears were not captured in the bailout fund but the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in his magnanimity and agreement with labour decided that the pensioners, having served the state diligently, must be included in the disbursement of the fund.
The Assembly had directed some government officials, labour unions and relevants organisations to appear before it for the probe of the fund given to state by the Federal Government, subject to a motion by one of the lawmakers, calling for the probing of the fund.
According to the statement, the representatives of the three banks involved told the Osun legislators that, “We can confirm that we followed the CBN guidelines in the way and manner the bailout loan was disbursed. All the payment we made on the bailout fund were for salaries, allowances and pensions.
“The figures shown by the Accountant General and permanent secretary, Local Government affairs, were correct. We can also confirm that the balance shown are the balance figures in the banks.”
Also, the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Jacob Adekomi and his counterparts from the Joint negotiation Council (JNC), Bayo Adejumo, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGEE), and Nigeria Union of Teacher (NUT), Wakeel Amuda, according to the statement, confirmed that they monitored the fund and found that it was used for salary, allowances and pensions.
They said, the labour unions and the state government agreed on how to spend the bailout fund and the government respected the agreement by spending the fund in line with the CBN guidelines.
Aregbosola
According to each of them, pensioners were not captured in the fund released to the state government, but they prevailed on the governor and had an understanding to include the pensioners, which the governor magnanimously agreed.
The labour leaders confirmed that the government set up a committee, headed by the first NLC President, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, with labour unions and other stakeholders as members to monitor the fund and the revenue from other sources, saying this has given them the opportunity to monitor the transactions.
Presenting the analysis of the fund, the Accountant-General said, the state government had requested for N64,327,492,947.01 to cover salaries, allowances, pensions and gratuties, but the CBN approved only N25,871,920,000 to cover just salaries and allowance, leaving out pension and gratuities.
“No fund was released for pension and gratuity despite the fact that we included it in our letter to the CBN. We explained this to the pensioners repeatedly but they did not believe us.
“If you look at the letter we wrote for N64bn, it covered every category of staff. They pensioners should not have been paid from the fund, but for the magnanimity of the governor, who said we must include them because they had served the state diligently.
“It will also interest you to note that what I presented here is the same document I sent to the ICPC and I believe they are satisfied, because it is about six months now and they have not return to ask any other question”.
He said, inspite the non-inclusion of pensions, the government had paid the pensioners up till August 2016 in line with modulated salary structures as applicable to civil servants in the state
According to him, as at November 30,2016, the state government still has N2.040 billion in First Bank and N1.312 billion in Wema Bank as balance of the bailout fund, which according to him, would be used to augment salaries in months to come.
The statement further noted that he stressed that the government has demonstrated high sense of responsibility in the application of the fund.
For the arrears of salaries, allowance, pension and gratuities of local governments workers, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Mufutau Oluwadare, the statement added, said, a sum of N23,887,975,810.26 was requested, but only N9,117,070,000 was approved and released by the CBN.
According to him, it was this that sum up to N34bn released to both state and local government, saying, the fund released was not inclusive of the pension, but they were magnanimously included to ensure that they are paid, just like the serving government officials.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, the statement further noted, said, based on the analysis made on the disbursement of the fund, there was no any other way it could be shown that the fund was used for the purpose of salary, allowances and pensions.
Salam, who debunked the insinuations that the House was prompted to investigate the bailout fund based on the decision of the Senate to investigate the matter, said, the Assembly had been following the application of the fund since 2015.
He cited a letter dated 12th November 2015 with reference No: LM94/vol4/277 in which the House requested the Accountant General to give update on the Sukuk Bond, bailout fund and multilateral loans of the state and it was responded to through another letter, detailing the disbursement of the funds.
“We have been monitoring the activities of the executive on how the bailout and other loans are being spent. If the Senate wants to come for its oversight function, we will not say they shouldn’t come, but it has to come through relevant state authority, which is the state legislative arm.
“We are not fighting with the Senate. We are not saying that the Senate can’t perform it’s oversight function but things have to be properly done,” Salam said.
Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, Magnus Ngei Abe has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of training its officers in an obscure hotel and with the knowledge of the Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike.
He also accused INEC of discussing the Saturday rerun date with the governor wherein Wike had been the one who announced the date even before INEC made its announcement. Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Abe said that INEC had been conducting its activities to the knowledge of Governor Nyesom Wike and the PDP. He revealed that Collation and Returning Officers were being trained at an obscure hotel in Umuahia, Abia State. "We are becoming very concerned about the activities and linkages that we are seeing between the PDP and the INEC. We just received a report this evening that the INEC Collation and returning officers were being trained at the Dangreet Hotel in Umuahia in Abia state and from our knowledge of the operations of INEC, no training of officers has ever been conducted in any obscure hotel in this country."
"Training of officers is always done in the universities where the officers are being picked from and from that university they are taken straight to the state where they are to do their job."
"But to hear now that collation and returning officers were being trained at the Dangreet Hotel, Umuahia in the presence of PDP agents when our own agents were not informed or aware of it, certainly calls for concern and we believe that in this exercise, INEC should not only be fair but be seen by all Nigerians to be fair."
"We are very concerned because of the relationship that exists between some of the key actors in this whole thing and some of the key players in the INEC structure."
"We think that all Nigerians must be vigilant as far as this Rivers re-run election is concerned and that all the parties should be evenly and fairly treated." Abe said that another case in point was the December 10 election date, which INEC discussed with Gov. Wike, who he stated was an interested party, adding that it was the governor who announced the date as December 10 for the re-run elections before INEC did. "I have had cause to tell Nigerians that this date December 10 was fixed at a meeting between Gov. Wike and INEC to which we were not privy, involved and consulted."
"The first person that made the date 10th of December public to the Nigerian people was Gov. Nyesom Wike, when he announced that now INEC had said that this election will hold on the 10th and we will see how that will work".
