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Barring any last-minute change, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun of the Supreme Court is set to emerge as the next chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).
If she assumes the office, Kekere-Ekun would become the second female justice in Nigeria to hold the exalted position after Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who was CJN between July 2012 and November 2014, spending 28 months in office.
The current occupant of the office, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who assumed office on June 27, 2022, will formally bow out on Thursday, August 22, 2024, after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.
As the most senior justice of the Supreme Court after Ariwoola, Justice Kekere-Ekun is favoured to clinch the position.
The incoming CJN, who is 66 years old, may stay up to four years compared to the average of two years most of her predecessors held the position.
After 11 years at the Supreme Court, Justice Kekere-Ekun will not only become the next CJN but also head the National Judicial Council (NJC), which oversees the appointment, promotion, and discipline of judges across the country.
Justice Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958 and obtained her LL. B in 1980 from the University of Lagos and LL.M from the London School of Economics and Political Science in November 1983. She was called to the Nigerian Bar on 10th July, 1981.
From 1985 to 1989, she was in private practice and was later appointed a Senior Magistrate Grade II, Lagos State Judiciary in December 1989. She was appointed a judge of the High Court of Lagos State on July 19, 1996. She served as the chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos, from November 1996 to May 1999.
Kekere-Ekun
Kekere-Ekun was elevated to the Court of Appeal on 22nd September, 2004, where she served in various Divisions and as the presiding justice of two Divisions of the appellate court (Makurdi and Aku) in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
She was elevated to the Supreme Court of Nigeria as the fifth female justice of the apex court and sworn in on Monday, July 8, 2013.
She has attended numerous courses and seminars within and outside Nigeria and received several merit awards.
Justice Kekere-Ekun is also a life Bencher, a member of the International Association of Women Judges and its president.
LEADERSHIP Sunday reports that the judiciary has been in the eye of the storm, notably since the country returned to democratic rule in 1999.
With Justice Kekere-Ekun assuming office in the next few weeks, the succession battle in the Supreme Court may be rancour-free for the first time in five years.
Justice Walter Onnoghen, who served as CJN between 7th March, 2017 and 25th January 2019, left controversially after he was accused of failing to declare his assets.
His successor, Justice Tanko Muhammad, who assumed office on 25th January, 2019, followed almost the same pattern after his fellow justices accused him of unfair treatment, particularly in the area of their welfare. He voluntarily resigned on the grounds of ill-health on 27th June, 2022.
The CJN is the head of the government’s judicial arm. He presides over the country’s Supreme Court and the National Judicial Council.
The outgoing CJN (Ariwoola) was appointed acting CJN on 27th June, 2022 upon Justice Tanko Muhammad’s resignation and was confirmed by the Nigerian Senate on 21st September, 2022.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest, and its decisions are final. The president nominates the CJN upon the recommendation by the NJC, and is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
The CJN holds office at the pleasure of the Nigerian constitution and can only be removed from office due to death or on attainment of age 70, whichever comes first, or by impeachment by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which requires a super majority of the Senate members.
Short Stay In Office Based On Rules – Senior lawyers
In the last 15 years, seven CJNs have presided over the affairs of the nation’s judiciary, which is about an average of two years each for the occupants of that office.
Lawyers have, however, lamented the short stay in office of the CJNs.
According to them, an average of two years in office is not enough to bring about the needed reforms in the country’s judiciary.
However, some senior lawyers who spoke to LEADERSHIP Sunday were quick to assert that the CJN’s office is not a political appointment.
According to them, it is regulated by law.
A former attorney-general and commissioner for justice in Imo state, Chief Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), said the apex court is not a political party whose programmes and policies are personal.
According to him, the CJN is an administrator and is not expected to bring his agenda to run the court.
“The court is regulated by law, and the law is the law; there is nothing you can do about it. The Supreme Court is not a political party where one man is expected to bring his agenda to the table after winning election,” he said.
Another lawyer, Barrister Abdul Balogun, said rules for succession to the CJN’s office have already been laid down.
“Laws and rules guide the judiciary, and any attempt to deviate from them is a call to lawlessness, which will negatively impact the country’s judiciary.
“In the judiciary as a whole, it is a laid down rule that the most senior assumes office upon a vacancy in the leadership of any court from the customary court to the Supreme Court. So, any attempt to deviate from that is a call for chaos in the system,” he said
In the last 15 years, the country has produced seven CJNs. While some of them left an indelible mark in office and in the minds of Nigerians with their policies and reforms to the country’s judiciary, others had their tenures characterised by controversies.
Aloysius Iyorgyer Katsina-Alu (2009- 2011)
From his very first day in office, there was controversy after he was sworn in by his predecessor. He was the first CJN to be sworn in by his predecessor, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi (rtd), due to the unavailability of the then ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua, who did not hand over powers to then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.
Yar’Adua never returned to the country until his death. Justice Katsina-Alu’s tenure as the CJN was also marked by his controversial battle with the then President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami (rtd), who the NJC later suspended.
Dahiru Musdapher (2011-2012)
His tenure as CJN was crisis-free; rather, he brought some reforms that impacted positively on the judiciary. Some of his reforms are still being implemented today. The Jigawa State-born Musdapher was appointed Chief Justice Nigeria on August 27, 2011, and sworn in by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 29, 2011.
He served as Chief Judge of Kano State between 1979 and 1985.
Musdapher, a native of Babura town, served as a member of the Court of Appeal between 1985 and 2003 and later joined the Supreme Court.
During his tenure, he admitted that the judiciary needed radical surgical reforms and called on all Nigerian judges to rise above the daunting challenges by restoring hope and confidence in the judicial system.
MARIAM ALOMA MUKHTAR (2012 – 2014)
Justice Mukhtar could be described as a judge who came, who saw and, to an extent, reinvigorated the fervor to stamp out the burden of corruption that has, in no small measure, weighed down the scale of justice in Nigeria.
She spent barely 28 months in office. She took over from Justice Dahiru Musdapher on July 15, 2012.
Undisputedly, no administration in the judiciary ever attempted to fight corruption like Mukhtar, during whose short regime about seven judges were sacked.
Remarkably, no woman had attained that position since 1963, when the Federal Republic of Nigeria was proclaimed, and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe became its first President.
The situation deteriorated to the extent that an ex-CJN and a sitting president of the Court of Appeal publicly poked themselves over an alleged plan to subvert justice in a gubernatorial dispute involving Sokoto State.
Consequently, on July 11, 2012, while answering questions from the Nigerian Senate, Justice Mukhtar admitted the presence of bad eggs at the top echelon of the judicial arm of government, even as she vowed to fight and expose such persons before her exit from office.
A few days after she assumed duties, Justice Mukhtar reviewed 337 petitions filed against judicial officers before the NJC.
Hence, it was not surprising that seven justices were sacked within two years of her tenure.
MAHMUD MOHAMMED (2014 – 2016)
Justice Mohammed was also less controversial in his about two years in office as CJN.
He was born on November 10, 1946, in Jalingo, Taraba State.
He studied for his Bachelor’s degree in Law (LL.B) at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1970. After that, he attended the Nigerian Law School in Lagos and was subsequently called to the Bar in 1971.
He began his career in the public service with the Ministry of Justice of the defunct North-eastern and Gongola States and served on the Gongola Bench.
WALTER ONNOGHEN (2017 – 2019)
Justice Onnoghen began his tenure as CJN on a controversial note and ended it on the same note. When he was appointed in acting capacity, it appeared that former President Muhammadu Buhari never wanted him to become the substantive CJN as it took him several months to confirm his appointment.
In fact, it was Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), the former vice president who acted as president when Buhari was away on a medical trip, that confirmed Onnoghen’s appointment.
Midway into his tenure as CJN, he was accused of corruption and removed from office after he was asked to resign.
His resignation from office followed the recommendation of the NJC for his early retirement. The recommendation was sent to Buhari, who readily accepted it.
Justice Onnoghen faced trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal over allegations of false declaration of assets.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also accused the former CJN of receiving illicit payments and bribes from lawyers. He denied all the allegations.
Not a few Nigerians read political undertone in his tribulation, especially as the 2019 general elections were fast approaching.
IBRAHIM TANKO MUHAMMAD (2019 – 2022)
Like his predecessor, Justice Tanko Muhammad assumed office on a controversial note and also exited under questionable circumstances.
After Justice Onnoghen was eased out, many believed it was to prepare Justice Muhammad to become the CJN. Some believed the former president tainted Onnoghen with a corruption tag to make way for Muhammad, also a northerner.
Like Onnoghen, he could not finish his tenure, but due to ill health.
There was confusion in the media over his resignation. However, after many weeks of denial and confusion, it was later confirmed that he resigned as CJN on health grounds.
Shortly before his resignation, he officially reacted to the allegations of uncaring attitude levelled against him by his fellow justices in the apex court.
In his first official reaction, he admitted that the Supreme Court, like any other establishment in the country, had been hit by a devastating economic crunch and the court’s leadership under him could no longer meet some of its obligations to the justices, especially in welfare.
OLUKAYODE ARIWOOLA (2022 -2024)
Justice Ariwoola took the oath of office as the acting CJN at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on June 27, 2022.
He is, arguably, one of the finest CJNs the country has produced with his policies and programmes for the judiciary. However, like some of his predecessors, his tenure is fraught with controversies, especially as the judiciary under him came to be seen as being in the pockets of the political class.
In fact, retiring Supreme Court justices in his tenure used their valedictory speeches to lampoon the judiciary under his watch and so many Nigerians have lamented that the present judiciary dispenses judgement rather than justice.
Whoever takes the mantle after Ariwoola will have a herculean task repairing the battered image of the judiciary in order to restore the confidence of the people in that arm of government.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria, in a landslide judgement on local government autonomy, ordered that the four-year tenure enjoyed by executives be extended to the offices of all local government chairmen across the country.
This is contained in the Certified True Copy (CTC) of a judgement delivered by Justice Mohammed Garba and six others on May 11, 2024.
Garba said that some states have, by their various illegal actions, starved the local government councils in their states to the extent that most of them cannot exercise their constitutional powers or perform their statutory functions.
The Justice described the situation of the LGA in the country as “one tier of government’s inhumanity to another tier of government.”
Garbage said that LGAs in Nigeria, unlike branches of incorporated bodies or entities, are constitutionally the third tier of government in the Federation.
According to him, their political and financial independence is duly guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
The Justice said that Section 2(2) of the Constitution provides that “Nigeria shall be a Federation consisting of States and a Federal Capital Territory.”.
He further stated that 36 states in the country are specified, in alphabetical order, by Section 3(1) of the Constitution.
He said that Section 3(6) of the Constitution provides that “there shall be 768 local government areas in Nigeria,“ while Section 1(2) of the Constitution provides that “Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the Government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.”.
The Justice, however, said that in respect of the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, there is template legislation by the National Assembly.
He said that by way of sections 108, 109, 110, and 113 of the Electoral Act (2022), the dissolution (tenure of area councils), the vacation of seats of members, removal of the chairman or vice chairman, recall, etc. were addressed. And elections to the area councils are promptly conducted or held by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“It is, therefore, unfortunate that some states do not even bother about conducting elections into local government councils as required by the relevant laws of their Houses of Assembly.
“Under Section 135(3) of the Constitution, the tenure of four years for the president, provided for by Section 135(2) thereof, shall be extended for periods not exceeding a period of six months at any time by a resolution of the National Assembly if it is not practicable to hold elections.
“By the same token, by a law of a State House of Assembly, the tenure of local government councils can be legally extended for any reason, such as insecurity or war, if it becomes impracticable or impossible for elections into the local government councils to be conducted.
“The mandate given to an elected local government council is the mandate of the electorate of that local government area, and if the tenure is extended, it is the people’s mandate that is extended.
“If the tenure of a local government council is truncated, as it is the norm now, it is an illegal termination of the electorate’s mandate, and it is not to be encouraged but roundly condemned.
“By the doctrine of separation of powers, it is the constitutional duty or function of the Legislature to make laws, which include amendments and repeals, and the duty of the judiciary is to interpret the laws to achieve the intended purpose of the legislation,” he said.
The one million-man march planned by leaders of the #EndBadGovernance protest flopped on Saturday across the country due to low turnout.
In different parts of Nigeria, protesters shunned their usual meeting points, which had been occupied by security agents.
Organisers of the protest had said the march would signal the end of the 10-day protest against economic hardship.
In preparation for the march, security agencies deployed operatives into cities as roadblocks were mounted.
Low turnout in Abuja
The security situation was the same on Saturday as the police mounted barricades on all roads leading to Eagle Square, the venue where the protesters intended to converge for the protest.
Although protests were held in the Lokogoma and Apo areas of the FCT, the turnout was noticeably lower compared to previous events.
The protest waned in the FCT after security forces targeted leaders, arresting and shooting at protesters.
After there was calm, protesters returned to the streets.
The youth, who began their demonstration as early as 7 am were chrousing ‘End hunger’ and ‘Reverse fuel subsidy removal,” among others.
Rivers police patrol
In Rivers, protesters were absent on the streets of Port Harcourt and its environs.
It was the third day in a roll that residents refused to come out over fear that the demonstration would be hijacked by hoodlums.
This came as operatives of the Rivers State Police Command embarked on a show of force with huge presence in strategic parts of the state.
The state spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement on Friday night, had said some miscreants were planning to hijack the one million-man march to loot and attack peaceful residents.
One of our correspondents, who monitored the state on Saturday, reported that cops were seen in patrol vans as security was intensified.
Police patrol vans were also mounted at the gate of the Federal Secretariat, while several operatives hung around in vigilance in the event of any untoward incident.
When contacted, one of the supporters of the protest, Gogo Wellington, said he did not show up due to fear of violence.
He recalled with bitterness how some persons tried to attack some protesters.
“For that reason, we decided not to come out to avoid any clash.
“We hope that the government will be up and doing and immediately address the problems,” he added.
Kaduna, Kano, Katsina stop protest
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that residents of Kaduna, Kano and Katsina States shunned the one-million-man nationwide protest.
NAN added that hordes of people were seen going about their business activities.
Markets, motor parks, supermarkets and other economic activities were going on unfettered.
Commercial motorists and motorcyclists were also busy conveying passengers to and from their various destinations.
The Kaduna State Government insisted that unverified processions were not permitted in the state for reasons of public safety and security.
The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, gave the warning in a statement on Saturday.
In Kano, some of the residents of Kano metropolitan local government areas said they would not participate again in any form of protests in the state.
The police and military personnel were also deployed in strategic locations in the state.
In Katsina, protest organisers complied with the order issued by the police and the state government that banned all forms of protests and unlawful assembly.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, said the order was still in force across the state.
He said the measure was aimed at preventing further escalation of violence, vandalism, and looting of private and public property.
Edo residents shun demonstrations
The Civil Society Organisations, organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest in Edo State, could not gather people for a rally on the final day of the protest.
The group, which had chosen Ring Road as its protest venue, withdrew from the protest on the third day, stating that they would review their strategy.
The state capital, Benin, was peaceful on Saturday, with residents going about their business unhindered.
Oba Market and Lagos Street, the major commercial hubs, experienced a surge of activity as people conducted their transactions.
Similarly, Uromi in Edo Central and Auchi in Edo North were also peaceful, with no protests taking place in those areas.
Kola Edokpayi, speaking on behalf of the Concerned Civil Society Group in Edo, confirmed that there were no plans to resume the strike on Saturday.
Plateau protesters meet gov
Meanwhile, a coalition of youths in Plateau State presented its demands to the state Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, on Saturday, for transmission to President Bola Tinubu.
A representative of the group, Mr Sam Ode, stated that the demands required the input of both the state government and the Federal Government.
“For the state government, we demand an immediate reduction in the cost of governance. We also request an explanation of how the various palliatives and funding from the Federal Government are being utilised.
“We further call on the state government to implement the minimum wage recently signed into law by the president and to reduce the school fees of tertiary institutions.
“For the Federal Government, we urge the president to end corruption, reverse the pump price of fuel to N300, and also reverse the hike in electricity tariffs,” Ode said.
Ondo gov candidate arrested
Meanwhile, men of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested no fewer than nine youths who took part in the #EndBadGovernance protest in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Saturday.
It was gathered that the protest, which happened at the NEPA Roundabout area in Akure, the state capital, was disrupted by men of the state police command.
According to one of the protesters, Tope Temokun, some of those arrested are the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress, Kunle Ajayi; Patrick Owolabi, Oluwatobi Akinkuotu, Kolawole Kumuyi and Olalekan Oladehinde.
He said, “The arrest that took place is highly condemnable and stands condemned. If the police has any evidence of violence from the protesters, it should come out with it.
Group threatens to continue protest
But a group, Nigerian Patriotic Front Movement, Northern chapter, threatened to begin an indefinite protest after the curfew in the state is lifted.
The Secretary of the NPFM, Anas Adamu, said the group would resume the protest because the President, Bola Tinubu, failed to address their demands 10 days after the commencement of the nationwide protest.
He said, “We are all aware that Nigeria is facing a major governance and economic crisis, which the government of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has, in 15 months, exacerbated.”
Protesters consider suing FG
The Director of Mobilisation, Take it Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, said the group would reconvene to review its strategies.
He said, “It’s indeed concerning that the government hasn’t implemented any of the organisers’ demands yet. After today, we need to regroup and reassess our strategy. Here are a few possible next steps: Continue to build momentum through online campaigns and social media engagement. Organise targeted advocacy efforts, meeting with key stakeholders and policymakers.”
Adenola said the group would also be considering lawsuits or petitions to demand the needed reforms.
One of the organisers, Juwon Sanyaolu, said he was certain there would be another round of protests.
He said, “We will go back to our internal organs, consult with Nigerians, and other organisers on the next step of actions. But one thing is certain: we will be returning to the streets, and very soon.”
On his part, the Initiator of Creative Change Centre, Omole Ibukun, stated that his group would step up its awareness, mobilisation, and collective actions through other means and prepare for another round of protests should the government refuse their demands.
‘Release all detainees’
The Osun State Civil Societies Coalition said another round of protests was coming if the Federal Government did not reverse the removal of subsidy on petrol and electricity.
The coalition, which is an umbrella body of 30 organisations in the state, also called for the release of all protesters arrested and detained by the security operatives.
The chairman of the OCSC, Waheed Lawal, said broader and well-organised protests would be held if the President didn’t return subsidy and ensure the release of these detained protesters.
Youths seek justice
A group of youths under the aegis of the Take It Back Movement, on Saturday, held a protest march in Osogbo, Osun State, demanding an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of some protesters.
The group assembled at Olaiya Junction, Osogbo, as security operatives took over Freedom Park, earlier planned to be the convergence point.
After moving to Olaiya Junction, Osogbo, the protesters, armed with a large banner with the inscription, ‘End bad governance in Nigeria,’ were addressed by their spokesperson, Victor Lijofi.
They later moved through Fagbewesa Street and returned to their take-off point before dispersing.
But despite the presence of the protesters in the area, there was a free flow of traffic and business activities went on unhindered.
Twenty-seven states and the Federal Capital Territory have yet to set up committees to implement the recently approved N70,000 minimum wage.
The states are Plateau, Kebbi, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Bayelsa, Delta, Osun, Ekiti, Zamfara, Benue, Enugu, Taraba, Gombe, Kogi, Enugu, Adamawa, Niger, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Katsina, Kaduna, Cross River and Yobe.
However, seven other states — Kano, Kwara, Ogun, Borno, Jigawa, Ondo, and Abia — have set up implementation committees. Only Lagos and Edo claimed to have started paying the minimum wage.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu signed the new minimum wage into law on July 29, 2024, after meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.
Lagos, Edo
Speaking with our correspondent on Saturday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said the state had been paying more than the minimum wage before it was passed into law.
He said, “When you look at the minimum wage that was paid in Lagos before, the least state worker earned about N77,000. So, if they said the minimum wage is now N70,000, we have no problem with it at all because Lagos has been paying more than that, and we will continue to pay.”
The Edo State Government also said it had started paying the minimum wage.
Kwara, Kano, others set up committees
On August 1, 2024, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, set up an 18-member tripartite committee to work out modalities for the new minimum wage payment.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the committee, comprising representatives from the state government, labour unions, and the Organised Private Sector, had started meeting.
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano also set up an advisory committee on the new minimum wage, while the Jigawa State Government set up a 10-man minimum wage committee on Thursday, August 8.
Similarly, the Borno State Government recently inaugurated a 22-member panel, while the Ondo State government said its committee on the new minimum wage was working hard to ensure its implementation.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, also said the state set up a committee a few months ago to advise the government on the matter.
He said, “Oyo State government set up a committee a few months ago, comprising labour stakeholders and government officials, to advise on the implementation of the minimum wage.”
The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on Friday, said the state set up a committee before the Federal Government signed the bill into law.
“We are making provisions for the salary increase in line with the new minimum wage,” he added.
We can’t pay – Gombe, Kogi
However, the Gombe State Governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Inuwa Yahaya, said the lean allocation to the state would make it difficult for him to pay the new wage.
Speaking on Tuesday during a meeting with stakeholders on the nationwide protest, ‘#EndBadGovernance, Yahaya said, “I cannot pay the N70,000 minimum wage, and I suspect many other states are in the same predicament.”
Similarly, the Kogi State Commissioner for Finance, Ashiwaju Ashiru Idris, said no date had been fixed for the implementation of the minimum wage by the state.
Responding to our correspondent’s inquiry, the commissioner said he had no information about when the state would commence payment.
We’ll negotiate – Plateau, Kebbi
Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, however, said the government would make its position known on the matter after negotiating with organised labour.
The Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, also said his administration was ready to have a fruitful discussion with the state union leader on the new minimum wage.
His Chief Press Secretary, Ahmed Idris, while speaking with one of our correspondents on the telephone, said, “By the grace of God, our governor will sit with the labour union and come out with modalities to ensure that he puts a smile on the faces of the civil servants.”
During a recent town hall meeting on the nationwide protest, Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, also promised to pay the new minimum wage.
He said, “On our part, I want to assure you that the Sokoto State Government is ready to implement the new National minimum wage as approved by Mr. President. Undoubtedly, our country is facing quite a number of challenges that include economic downturn, inflation, cost of living, as well as insecurity, among other challenges.”
Speaking with our correspondent in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, on Wednesday, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, explained that the state government had rolled out plans to begin the payment.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State governor, Daniel Alabrah, also told our correspondent on Thursday in Yenagoa that Governor Douye Diri had earlier in the year, during the Workers’ Day celebrations, declared that the state would pay any amount agreed upon by the Federal Government and labour.
But he pointed out that the state government may not pay any arrears because the new minimum wage bill was only recently signed into law by the president.
We’ll set up committee soon – Osun, Delta, Benue
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the spokesperson for the Osun State Governor, Rasheed Olawale, said a committee for the implementation of the minimum wage would be set up next week.
He said, “Mr Governor has before now said Osun will pay the minimum wage as he is committed to the welfare of the workers and the people generally. A committee on the implementation of the minimum wage will be set up next week. We are committed to it.”
The Delta State Government also said it would set up a committee for the new minimum wage.
The state Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, stated this in an interview with one of our correspondents on Saturday.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue also said that his administration would pay the new minimum wage, and block every leakage to ensure its smooth implementation.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has confirmed that some officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) have been arrested over the ₦90 billion hajj subsidy.
The spokesperson of the commission, Demola Bakare, told TheCable that some NAHCON officials were arrested by the commission on Wednesday for “refusing to honour an invitation” by the anti-graft agency.
Bakare debunked the claims that ICPC shutdown NAHCON’s office, emphasising that the commission operates within legal boundaries.
He declined to name the arrested officials, noting that they were assisting the commission with useful information.
Bakare said, “We are investigating officials of the National Hajj Commission because they either failed or refused to honour the invitation. We therefore paid them a friendly visit.
“We didn’t shut down the commission as reported by some journalists. ICPC operates within the confines of the law.
“Officials arrested, which I can’t name, were released on bail and would henceforth be helping the investigation process until concluded.”
The spokesperson of NAHCON, Fatimah Usara, while speaking on the arrest, said it was not unusual for officials to be queried after hajj operations.
She said, “Some of the commission’s relevant staff had been making presentations to the ICPC when demanded.
“And this is a thing that the commission considers normal because it happens after every hajj until any doubt is cleared. It’s nothing new.
“The Head of Procurement had an invitation which he didn’t honour so two days ago, on Wednesday precisely, the ICPC sent the relevant officers to him, him alone.
“In fact, NAHCON accommodated them to wait for him to report to work, which they did. And when he came, they left together. No one entered any office at all. They waited outside.”
‘Tinubu Not Ready To Listen To Us, We Are Coming Back In Millions’ – Protesters Reveal Fresh Plan
AFOLABI
Organizers of the Take It Back movement protest have vowed to return to the streets soon with a 10-million-man protest across the 36 states of the federation.
This declaration comes following the end of the 10-day series of nationwide protests against economic difficulties in Nigeria.
Naija News reports that the group had commenced the nationwide protest on Thursday, August 1 and wrapped up today, Saturday, August 10.
The demonstrators have taken to the streets in Abuja and various other cities, advocating for the reinstatement of the fuel subsidy and a reduction in electricity tariffs, among other issues.
The protesters, today, remained steadfast with their demands, holding placards and banners with slogans such as “Reinstate a corruption-free fuel subsidy,” “Rent should be paid monthly,” and “Nigerians are weary of ineffective leadership.”
They, however, expressed dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s apparent disregard for their concerns, despite their persistent presence on the streets for a full ten days.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters today, activist, Abiodun Sanusi, indicated that while the movement would pause its demonstrations for the time being, they would return with an even larger and more resolute assembly if their demands continue to be ignored.
“Earlier on, we declared 10 days of rage to end bad governance in Nigeria. However, it is now clear that President Bola Tinubu is not ready to listen to the demands of Nigerians.
“Today is the final day of the 10 days of rage, but we are promising the Nigerian government and President Tinubu that we will come back until he accedes to our demands.
“We will return to the streets, and this time, we will be more than this. We will be declaring a 10-million-person march across the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT,” Sanusi said.
Naija News reports that nationwide protests were characterized by violence, as security personnel employed lethal measures against demonstrators and journalists in Abuja, Kaduna, and various other states.
Also, the Nigerian Army acknowledged that they inadvertently caused the death of a teenage boy, Ismail Mohammed, during a protest in Zaria, Kaduna State.
EXPLAINER: Grant, loan or palliative? What to know about N570bn Tinubu said was released to states
AFOLABI
On the fourth day of the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest, President Bola Tinubu addressed Nigerians in a televised speech.
The president addressed several issues in his speech, including his achievements in office, and defended his policies.
As part of efforts by his administration to ameliorate the hardship being experienced by Nigerians, Tinubu said “more than N570 billion has been released to the 36 states to expand livelihood support to their citizens, while 600,000 nano-businesses have benefitted from our nano-grants. An additional 400,000 more nano-businesses are expected to benefit”.
But five days after Tinubu’s speech, Seyi Makinde, Oyo governor, said the federal government did not give his state any money.
Makinde, in issue 95 of his periodic newsletter, said Oyo only got reimbursed for the funds the state invested in the NG-CARES initiative.
Makinde said it became necessary for him to clarify a “concerned citizen” who referenced Tinubu’s speech and asked him (Makinde) what he used the funds for.
“Let me state categorically that this is yet another case of misrepresentation of facts. The said funds were part of the World Bank-assisted NG-CARES project — a Programme for Results intervention,” Makinde wrote.
“We were reimbursed funds (N5.98 billion in the first instance and N822 million in the second instance). We invested in the three result areas of NG-CARES.
“The Federal Government did not give any State money; they were simply the conduit through which the reimbursements were made to States for money already spent.”
WHAT IS NG-CARES?
In 2020, due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and as a response to the hardship caused by the pandemic, the federal government, under the leadership of Former President Muhammadu Buhari, sought a concessional loan from the World Bank to the tune of $750 million on-lending to the 36 states and FCT.
Concessional financing provides organisations or companies with access to capital at favourable terms. This can include lower interest rates and longer repayment periods. A concessional loan is extendable on softer terms and typically has long grace periods.
The loan was to implement a two-year short-term emergency response programme named the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) between 2021 and 2023.
The programme seeks to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in three key result areas:
- increasing cash transfers and livelihood support to poor and vulnerable households
- increasing food security and safe functioning of food supply chains for poor households
- facilitating recovery of MSEs while strengthening institutional support for coordination and delivery through a separate Investment Project Financing (IPF) component.
According to the plan, out of the $750 million, each state can access up to $20 million, the FCT $15 million, and the Federal CARES Support Unit (FCSU) $15 million.
The initiative is financed through the Programme for Result (PforR) at the state level and FCT, while the federal level is funded by the Investment Project Financing (IPF).
In the programme document dated November 13, 2020, the World Bank said Nigeria is central to its mission of eliminating global poverty and that the programme is “fully aligned with the forthcoming World Bank 2020–2024 Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Nigeria, as well as Nigeria’s Economic Reform and Growth Plan for 2017–2020 and theGovernment’s Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) to respond to the economic crisis induced by COVID-19”.
IS NG-CARES A GRANT?
No.
The World Bank intervention is a loan to the state governments and has to be paid back.
In fact, the Programme for Results (PforR) nature of the initiative means that states invested their funds in advance, only to be refunded after auditing and verification of expenditure by the global bank.
In 2021, Foluso Okunmadewa, task team leader of NG-CARES for the World Bank, said the programme was designed in such a way that the states would spend their own money in the first batch.
“Each state should be able to earn 20 million dollars within a space of two years. I used the word earn because it is a programme for results approach. It is not as if the money will be given to the states and the state will now have to spend it. No! Then Independent Verification Agent will go and look at the results and on the basis of that, the states will be reimbursed,” Okunmadewa said.
In the Oyo state instance, the programme was domesticated as Oyo-CARES, Lagos-CARES for Lagos state, and in Borno, it is BO-CARES.
In May 2023, Okunmadewa said the government was on track to secure a one-year extension to access the loan.
TheCable cannot independently verify the repayment terms and plan, but in January, Abubakar Bagudu, minister for budget and economic planning, said the loan carries about a one percent interest rate.
“It is important to note that these loans come from the International Development Association, carrying an interest rate of about 1%. However, the federal government is nearing the limit of borrowing under these low-cost loans. Therefore, swift disbursement and timely debt repayment are crucial to maintaining access to these affordable funding sources in the future.” Bagudu said.
HOW MUCH DID STATES GET?
Mohammad Idris, minister of information and national orientation, said so far, the 36 states and the FCT have received a total of N570 billion collectively, contrary to claims that each state got the said amount.
He said N135.4 billion was released in December 2023, and N438.36 billion in July 2024.
“What the States and the FCT collectively received in reimbursements between the end of 2023 and July 2024, under the World Bank-supported #NGCARES program, is a total of N573 billion naira,” he wrote in a post on X.
Idris’ X post buttresses Makinde’s submission that the funds referred to in Tinubu’s speech were indeed reimbursements financed through a loan from the World Bank and not a support grant from the federal government to the states.
The deal was secured, and the initiative took effect in 2021 under the Buhari administration.
From a breakdown of the July reimbursements made available on the NG-CARES website, Zamfara state got the highest at N49,182,347,834 billion while Ogun state had the lowest at N2,125,069,028 billion.
For the December reimbursement, Abdulkarim Obaje, NG-CARES national coordinator, said: “The top three best-performing states in this Second Round of Assessment are Nasarawa, which earned N13,697,828,496.96, Cross River N10,944,747,818.84 and Zamfara N10,231,055,267.82”.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says it is immoral for the members of the national assembly to determine their salaries and allowances.
Obasanjo spoke on Friday when he hosted some members of the house of representatives in Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun state.
The former president said it is the duty of the Revenue Mobilsation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) to determine what public officeholders earn.
“Look at your case, with all due respect,” Obasanjo said.
“You are not supposed to fix your salaries or your allowances; it is supposed to be done by the RMFAC, but you decide what you pay yourselves, the allowances that you give yourselves – newspaper allowances, pant allowances – you give yourself all sorts of things. With due respect, you know it is not right.
“It is not right for me to be the one to declare and determine what I pay myself. It is immoral, and then you are doing it.
“The senate is doing it, and in some cases, the executive gives you what you are not entitled to. You all got N200 million.”
The federal legislative arm of government is often criticised for the “huge pay” allocated to its members. The total remuneration the federal lawmakers receive every month is shrouded in secrecy.
In 2018, Shehu Sani, a former senator who represented Kaduna Central, said he and his colleagues received N13.5 million monthly as running costs, aside from salaries.
The Lagos government has announced a 25 percent cut in the blue rail transport fare for off-peak periods.
Abimbola Akinajo, managing director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), announced the reduction in a statement on Saturday.
Akinajo said the 25 percent discount is for commuters travelling “within the off-peak period set at 10.00 am and 4.00 pm daily”.
She said the Lagos rail mass transit (LRMT) blue line would increase its number of trips from 54 to 72 per day, from August 12.
However, Akinajo said the current schedule for Sunday operations remains unchanged.
Akinajo said passengers can now travel between Marina and Mile 2 on the blue line route in just about 18 minutes from the previous travel time of 25 minutes.
According to the LAMATA boss, this means there would be a train every 18 minutes both ways — thus allowing commuters to plan their trips.
“The new train schedule is potentially expected to reduce journey times, encourage more riders to use the train system during off-peak periods and reduce transport spending,” she said.
Akinajo said the new timetables is available on the LAMATA website, stations, and social media handles.
The blue rail line started operations on September 4, 2023 — running 12 trips per day.
On October 11, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, announced that the state would temporarily shut down the blue rail line from October 14, 2023.
But the the service resumed passenger operations days after with 54 trips.
[PRESS RELEASE] At Erelu's Installation, Governor Adeleke Speaks on Agric Processing, Unity Among Obas
Admin![[PRESS RELEASE] At Erelu's Installation, Governor Adeleke Speaks on Agric Processing, Unity Among Obas](/media/k2/items/cache/e4dd5028ecd080055754b64a1e0a81fa_S.jpg)
I will Recommit to People's Welfare -Erelu Adeleke
Governor Ademola Adeleke has called on traditional rulers to deepen unity among their ranks even as he spoke on his plans for the agricultural sector.
The Governor represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Tola Faseru made the call at the coronation of the wife of the Governor, Her Excellency, Erelu Ngozi Adeleke as the Erelu Soludero of Erinmo Ijesa.
The paramount ruler of Erinmo land, His Royal Majesty, Oba Odunayo M. Ajayi, Arowotawaya II had this Saturday conferred the prestigious title on Mrs Adeleke who was already the Erelu Soludero of Oke Ila in Ifedayo Local Government.
Governor Adeleke expressed heartfelt appreciation to his royal highness for conferring this prestigious title on my wife, Erelu Ngpzi Adeleke, adding that “This is an open demonstration of affection and love for my family and the entire Adeleke dynasty.
“I must congratulate my dear wife for this honour conferred on her and the family. This chieftaincy title symbolizes the sustained efforts of our government and the Adeleke family to bring succor to the people of the state. I thank Kabiyesi for honoring my wife. This will propel us to do more for the people of Osun state”, the Governor posited.
While congratulating the royal father on his coronation anniversary, the State used the opportunity to affirm the importance of royal institutions, submitting that “ the contributions of our royal institutions to communal and state development cannot be brushed aside.
“In the turbulent art of governance, our royal fathers provide invaluable counsellings and moral support which steadied the ship of state and facilitated good governance.
“Our government will continue to accord traditional rulers their rightful place in the scheme of things. We will continue to consult and tap into the fountain of wisdom for which our fathers are made of.
“In this collaborative effort for the good of the people, our government will not abandon its responsibility to deliver dividends of democracy and to lift our people out of poverty and under-development.
“I must however plead with our royal fathers to revive and deepen the old spirit of unity across the traditional councils. We must avoid actions and inactions that breed disunity and fragmentation.
“A united traditional council across the local government will strengthen the capacity of our royal fathers to influence government policies. The increasing sign of fragmentation is worrisome and constitutes a threat to the sanctity of our traditional institutions”, Mr Governor advised.
On state governance , Governor Adeleke told the gathering that his government is implementing several initiatives in the agriculture sector.
According to the Governor , “We are specifically pursuing expansion of activities within such sub-sectors as cocoa, cashew and rice value chains. We will support provisions of facilities for paddy rice processing as well as further incentives for farmers in that sector.
“We are extending similar back up to farmers for other cash crops as a deliberate strategy to expand the state economy and deepen the state Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“In the next few days, our government will be unveiling and distributing several farm equipment and inputs including tractors, fertilizers and seedlings. This is a golden era for our farmers. We are determined to raise Osun into an agro-industrial state with excellent infrastructure for economic sustainability”, Governor Adeleke narrated.
I will Recommit to People's Welfare -Erelu Adeleke
Responding to the coronation, Erelu Ngozi expressed appreciation to the royal father and the entire people of Erinmo Ijesha , pledging to "redouble her efforts towards development of the town and realization of the aspirations of the young and the old in the state.
" I will push ahead with a vision of an Osun State where every citizen is empowered, embraced, and equipped to reach their full potential. I envision a future where compassion, integrity, and innovation drive our efforts to create inclusive opportunities for all.
"Together, we will champion education, healthcare, and sustainable development, ensuring that no one is left behind. With unity and determination, I will build a legacy of resilience, prosperity, and hope for generations to come", the new Erelu told the gathering.
Erelu Ngozi Abeni Adeleke founded the Esther Adeleke Humanitarian Foundation, an NGO dedicated to providing healthcare services, food aid, and education to those in need.
She is affectionately known as “Mummy Triplets” for her unwavering commitment to supporting families blessed with twins and triplets in Osun state. Through her foundation, she is providing care, support, and financial assistance to four sets of triplets and three sets of twins and still counting.
The Erelu has earned many honours and awards in recognition of her immeasurable contributions to the well being of children, women and less privileged members of the society.
The event was attended by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, the Chief of Staff to the Governor , Hon Kazeem Akinkeyeand his wife, members of the State Executive Council, Hon Ibukun Fadipe, and other dignitaries from home.and abroad.
Signed:
Mallam Olawale Rasheed,
Spokesperson to the State Governor.
More...
On Thursday, August 8, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, announced to Nigerians that the Port Harcourt Refinery would become operational in four weeks’ time, perhaps to meet the government’s August deadline of producing petroleum products.
The association went further to say that the refinery would equally be supplying between 10 and 12 million litres of petrol to marketers.
The IPMAN’s National Operations Controller, Zarma Mustapha, who let the cat out of the bag in an interview on national television, said the refinery would boost the supply of petroleum products in the country to about 11 to 15 million liters daily, and help ensure energy availability across the board.
According to him, the refinery was set to operate independently and sell at the prevailing market price with little or no government interference.
“There is this understanding that the Port Harcourt Refinery is going to perform independently and sell at whatever prevailing market price for them to recover their cost.
“It is not going to be run like a government entity as it has been before. I believe that the refinery coming up will really boost the demand and supply of PMS to nothing less than 11 to 15 million litres daily.
“I am confident and optimistic that this August deadline is going to be a realistic deadline. It will come on stream and fully produce all the necessary components that the refinery is supposed to produce,” he said.
However, instead of receiving the news with enthusiasm, Nigerians were rather skeptical considering the fact that several of such promises had been made in the past without any of them coming to fruition.
A segment of the society described the development as a harvest of promises with unending deceptions.
Some are of the opinion that the latest promise which is about the fourth in the series could still go the way of the previous ones, even as others have volunteered to give the government the benefit of the doubt.
Recall that earlier, Nigerians were told that the refinery would start operations in December 2023.
The Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, had sounded optimistic about the December 2023 deadline, but at the end of the day, nothing happened, and no apologies were offered.
On Thursday, March 13, 2024, Nigerians were again greeted with the news that the Port Harcourt Refinery would become operational in two weeks’ time.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, assured Nigerians that the rehabilitated Port Harcourt Refinery would commence operations in two weeks. He made the revelation at an interactive session with the Senate.
He assured Nigerians that the delivery date of the Port Harcourt and other refineries remained sacrosanct.
According to the NNPCL spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, in a statement, Kyari said: “We will make sure that promises that we made about the rehabilitation of these refineries are kept. We completed the mechanical completion of PHRC in December.
“Now, we have crude oil already stocked in it. It is currently undergoing regulatory compliance tests before we re-stream it. I assure you that this refinery will start in next two weeks
“For the Warri Refinery, we have also done mechanical work on it. It is undergoing regulatory compliance processes that we are doing with our regulators. Kaduna will be ready by December this year, but we have not reached that stage. We believe that it will also be ready on schedule.”
Kyari noted that the Port Harcourt refinery had received 450,000 barrels of crude for processing since the mechanical completion of the plant in December last year.
He called for the cooperation of all stakeholders in the rehabilitation process, saying, “We are all serving this country dutifully and loyally. Nigerians must understand that gradually, we shall get this task done.”
The statement added that the Senate Ad-hoc Committee was expected to visit the three refineries in Kaduna, Warri, and Port Harcourt soon for an on-the-spot assessment of work progress.
The two week’s ultimatum ended in April and the refinery did not even produce a litre of petrol. Most Nigerians were not surprised as they never even believed the statement when it was released.
Again, on Monday, May 20, the National Public Relations Officer, Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, promised Nigerians that the 210,000-barrel-per-day Port-Harcourt Refinery would finally commence operations by the end of July after several postponements.
He stated that the development would stimulate economic activities, reduce the price of petroleum products and ensure adequate supply.
Again, July came and ended without the Refinery working. Nigerians, again, did not give a whimper because they never took the statement seriously in the first instance.
So, the latest news that the PH Refinery would be operational in four weeks’ time did not receive cheers from Nigerians.
To many Nigerians, it has become a festival of promises. In fact, it has become a cliché to hear that the refinery, whether Port Harcourt, Warri or Kaduna, would work. Since 2015, when the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, wrested powers from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which held sway for 16 years, there have been promises of a turnaround maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery and others and their eventual operation, but none has ever come to fruition. It has all been deceptions couched in political statements to hoodwink the Nigerian masses.
So, when the IPMAN’s National Operations Controller, Mustapha announced on Thursday that the PH Refinery would begin operations in four weeks’ time, as an indication of the government’s preparedness to actually end fuel importation, not many were excited, as most people expressed skepticism, considering the past promises.
There are various views about the development. While some dismissed the news outright as mere political talks, others said even though such promises never produced any positive outcome in the past, they were prepared to give the government the benefit of the doubt this time round.
Those who believe that nothing would come out of it and that it was just mere political talks said it was akin to a political campaign promise where politicians promise that they would build bridges even where there is no river.
However, those who want to give the government the benefit of the doubt are of the view that even a liar would have a day when he would decide to be honest. To them, the government might have decided to turn a new leaf and do the right thing this time.
One of the proponents of those pushing that Nigerians should give the government the benefit of the doubt this time round is the president of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Alhaji Yerima Shettima.
He said although he would like to remain optimistic this time round, he cannot blame those who don’t believe the government’s promise considering the previous promises about the same refinery, which ended with no positive result
He told DAILY POST that: “The problem with the promise is just that we have a government that speaks from both sides of the mouth and previous promises have come and gone without fulfillment. So, even if this one is genuine, a lot of people will have a lot of doubts in their minds.
“But, I hope this will not be the same story because you cannot continue to say one thing today, and then tomorrow, you say another thing.
“Doing that will always put you on the defensive because you always want to say something, giving people hope without anything on ground to fulfill such promises.”
He advised the government to be honest and sincere with Nigerians, warning that deliberately lying to the people always would only provoke them to anger, which is not good for the society.
“The more you lie to the people about the refinery, the more you provoke people to anger. So, I am of the view that this time round, the government should try to live up to their promise.
“I am not part of those who don’t believe that things will work because I am always optimistic and I strongly believe that there will be light at the end of the tunnel. So, all they need to do is to re-programme themselves to be more sincere and honest to Nigerians,” he said.
He noted that the situation was so critical that the government just has to do everything possible to make sure that the refinery and other things work in the country.
He also advised that the leaders should not continue to give excuses because they knew exactly what the situation was before they went into office.
“We are in a critical period where people must have to understand that things are not okay and the government must also do something because they knew the problem before they took over the mantle of leadership.
“And to that extent, ours is to support them, and let them be honest to Nigerians, so that all of us will be able to survive this trying period,” he submitted.
But for a journalist and public affairs analyst, Nze Ezeocha, there is nothing cheery about the latest promise.
He noted that last year, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri told Nigerians that it would become operational before Christmas.
“Christmas passed and we reminded them about their promise and they gave Nigerians a fresh date, which also never came to reality.
“Now, we are being fed with another promise about the same refinery. This is the fourth time that the NNPCL and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources are telling Nigerians that the PH Refinery would be operational in weeks. And at the end of the day, nothing would come out of it.
“So, as far as I am concerned, I think this latest promise will end up like the previous ones. We have seen the brickbat between the NNPCL and the Dangote Refinery.
“Dangote is still insisting that it has not got enough crude from the NNPCL. Nigerians would like to know the kind of agreement Dangote had with the NNPCL.
“Dangote also demanded that the NNPCL should be mandated to direct the IOCs to be selling their crude to him. Did he not make adequate arrangements on how he will be getting crude before setting up a refinery?
“So, the whole thing about this oil refining in Nigeria is shrouded in secrecy and deception and the earlier the government comes clean on that the better for everybody in this country,” he told DAILY POST.
The president of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr. Pogu Bitrus, equally agrees with Ezeocha.
He stated that nothing would come out of the promise. He believes that the Nigerian attitude has not changed, and would not want Nigerians to build any hope around the promise to avoid suffering unnecessary heart ache.
“We do propaganda with everything. We politicise everything. The President doesn’t have to tell us that the Port Harcourt Refinery is on course when it is not fully on course. Let this government start to do things differently.
“When things are not right, rather than getting political capital by telling lies to Nigerians, they should come out to tell Nigerians the true situation of things,” he said.
Continuing, he said: “There is no point in deceiving the populace. Let them tell the truth and they will better be appreciated, rather than thinking that by telling lies, they are playing politics. They are instead dishonouring themselves, and Nigerians will lose confidence in them very soon.”
Also speaking, a legal practitioner and public commentator, IK Onodi also did not believe that the refinery would become operational in two weeks time.
He said such promises had been made in the past and none came to fruition, and because of that he would not believe anybody until he has seen that the refinery has actually started refining.
According to him: “It is said that action speaks louder than words. We were told last year when the Dangote Refinery was commissioned that it would start producing by July last year.
“From July last year till now is about nine months, and no drop of crude oil has been refined by the Dangote Refinery.
“We have been told times without numbers that the Port Harcourt Refinery and other refineries would come on stream very soon.
“If I were the government, I will not announce anything until the refinery starts producing and when that happens, I will tell Nigerians that this is from the PH or Warri or Kaduna Refineries. I will not believe it until I see it.”
For an independent petroleum marketer, Chief Dipo Lanre, the refinery might not likely work in four weeks as promised.
He, however, noted that he would not totally dismiss it but expressed strong reservation about the feasibility of the promise considering the past promises which never yielded any positive result.
“I pray that this time, the promise will be fulfilled. It should not go the way of previous promises about the refinery.
“Remember that during Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, the same Port Harcourt Refinery was sold to Mike Otedola and Aliko Dangote, but the money was later returned to them.
“And since that money was returned to Otedola and Dangote, the refinery has not returned to operation; it has been promises upon promises. It has become a cancer to the Nigeria society.
“I am tired of the politics of that refinery. Politicians have used it to play politics since the Obasanjo era. What is a refinery anyway?
“What is the big deal in building a refinery? Since 1999 when the democratic governance returned, we could have built more than four refineries if we are serious.
“For almost 25 years, we have been playing politics with the refinery. Let it not be another round of deception this time,” he further told DAILY POST.
Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, the Governorship candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo State, has been reportedly arrested.
Ajayi, who is also a member of the Take It Back Movement, was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Saturday in Akure during the ongoing one-milion-man protest against hunger and hardship.
The AAC candidate was, according to the organization, arrested alongside another activist, Patrick Owolabi.
The human rights advocacy organisation, Take It Back Movement, announced the arrest in a post on its official X handle, while demanding their immediate release.
The post reads, “It’s unfortunate that the @PoliceNG is yet to learn.
“The continued clampdown on peaceful #EndBadGovernceInNigeria protesters is a total shame.
“We condemn the unlawful arrest of Ajayi Wizeman & Patrick Owolabi in Ondo state and we demand their immediate and unconditional release!”
However, when contacted by DAILY POST, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odunlami Ibukun said, “I have not been briefed on that report”.
Tinubu Tasks New Head Of Civil Service, Walson-Jack, On Innovation, Integrity, And Adherence To Regulations
AFOLABI
The newly-appointed Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, has promised to serve the interest of Nigerians as captured in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Walson-Jack gave the assurance on Friday, after private talks with Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“I see it as a divine assignment, and I had the opportunity to assure Mr. President that, by the grace of God, I will not disappoint him,’ she said.
The new HoS, who was led to the Villa by her predecessor, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, also said she will “work together not only with the permanent secretaries but also with the directors and the entire civil service to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
On her part, Yemi-Esan described the handover process as “seamless,” adding that the new civil service chief was “capable” of performing the task before her.
“The President has made the handing over seamless, which is very well appreciated. The incoming Head of Service has had some weeks with me learning the ropes and I am sure by now, she is ready to go and we thank Mr President for this.
“We also had a good time chatting with Mr President, sharing his vision for the country and especially for the civil service with the incoming Head of Service, and that should prepare her and should make her hit the ground running so that she can achieve all that Mr President has discussed with us.
“The newly appointed Head of Service is capable, very intelligent, hardworking, professional and empathic. I have no doubt that she will do the job very well,” said Yemi-Esan.
On July 17, Tinubu approved the appointment of Walson-Jack as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, with effect from August 14, 2024.
Her appointment was announced in a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new head of civil service of the federation.’
She succeeds Yemi-Esan who retires from service on August 13, 2024.
Walson-Jack was appointed Federal Permanent Secretary in 2017 and has served in several Ministries.
Tinubu thanked the outgoing Head of Service for her stewardship and tasked the incoming Head of Service to “discharge her duties with innovative flair, integrity, and stringent adherence to the extant rules and regulations of the Civil Service of the Federation.”
Former Nigeria President, Olusegun Obasanjo, says the attributes and characters needed to build a nation are lacking in many Nigerian leaders.
He stated that many Nigerian politicians and leaders are not fit to occupy public positions and should be languishing in prison or sent to the gallows.
Obasanjo shared this view while addressing six lawmakers from the House of Representatives on Friday.
He expressed discontent at the current state of the country, saying the country would not move forward until leaders changed their mentality.
Obasanjo asserted that in choosing good leaders, characters must be considered and questioned.
“Our main problem is ourselves and until we take care of ourselves, we may have one term of four years, one term of six years, one term of seven years, if it’s the same people and same mentality and way we do things, then it won’t change”
Obasanjo, who argued that the nation needs to rethink democracy and its style of governance, said priority needs to be given to the kind of leaders we select and their track records.
“Yes system, yes democracy, we have to rethink democracy, we have to rethink the form of government, but what is the character of the people in government?
“With all due respect, most of them should be behind bars, some should even be in the gallows and that is the truth.
“Now if these are the people that are ruling us, then what do you expect? So, the point is the character of the people that are coming to the government. Their attributes, the sort of people they truly are.
“We need to really think about how we select leaders, what should be the character of a leader we select? What should be their track record ?
“Where should we find them? Are they role models? And I think those are the first things we have to think about,” he stated.
The lawmakers’ entourage included Abdulmalik Danga from Kogi, Dr Usman Midala from Borno, Matthew Nwogu from Imo, Peter Aniekwe from Anambra, Kama Nkemkanma from Ebonyi and Ugochinyere Ikenga from Imo