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Femi Otedola, billionaire businessman and chairman of FBN Holdings, has regained his position as the majority shareholder of First Bank.
According to corporate filings on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) on Thursday, Otedola now owns 9.41 percent shares in the bank.
This became possible after he purchased the group’s shares valued at N18.9 billion.
According to the corporate filings, the billionaire paid N21.91 per share or N6.935 billion for 316,506,776 shares.
He then bought an additional 546,674,034 shares through Calvados Global Services Limited, his holding company, for N21.97 per share — totalling N12.01 billion.
With this, the number of shares recently acquired totalled 863,180,810.
The fresh acquisition has increased Otedola’s shares (direct and indirect) in FBN Holdings to 3,380,462,950 — from 2,517,282,140 shares.
This means the businessman is now the highest shareholder in the company, overtaking Barbican Capital Limited, owned by Oba Otudeko, which has 3,110,400,619 direct shares.
In January, FBN Holdings appointed Otedola as the chairman of its board of directors.
The appointment came two years after the investor became the firm’s single largest shareholder in December 2021, when he increased his stake to 7.57 percent.
A month after the appointment, FBN Holdings named Barbican Capital Limited as its majority shareholder — making Otedola the second major shareholder at the time.
The World Bank says its $750 million loan to Nigeria will support the federal government’s policy reforms.
World Bank made this known in the programme appraisal document — dated May 17, 2024 — on the proposed loan disbursement to Nigeria.
On June 13, Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, announced the approval of two financial support packages by the World Bank valued at $2.25 billion.
The loan consists of $1.5 billion for Nigeria’s reforms for economic stabilisation to enable transformation (RESET) development policy financing program (DPF) and $750 million for Nigeria’s accelerating resource mobilisation reforms (ARMOR) program-for-results (PforR).
In the programme appraisal document, the World Bank said the ARMOR programme contains revenue policy measures such as raising pro-health taxes on tobacco, and alcohol.
The Bretton Woods institution also said the programme contains the introduction of taxes on online betting and gambling, as well as new excise on telecommunication services.
Also, green taxes in the form of excises on vehicles and single-use plastics, as well as the implementation of an electronic money transfer levy were included in the programme.
The World Bank also said the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms has recommended more structural reform of the value-added tax (VAT) regime.
According to the World Bank, the disbursements under the proposed ARMOR programme will be through nine disbursement-linked indicators (DLIs) structured around the programme’s three result areas.
DLI, also referred to as performance-based financing, is a modality under which funds are disbursed by an investor or donor to a recipient upon the achievement of a predetermined set of conditions.
The World Bank said the DLIs support increased revenues from value-added tax and reduced forgone revenue — which will support phasing out the exemption of interest income from corporate bonds and pioneer status tax incentive scheme.
The Bretton Woods institution also supports increased revenue from pro-health and green taxes — which supports increasing the excise rates on tobacco, and alcoholic products, as well as online betting and gambling services — increased on-time online e-filing and e-payments, enhanced VAT voluntary compliance, improved tax audits, increased compliant trade flows, increased customs revenues through better risk management and enhanced post-clearance audits (PCAs), and enhanced transparency and increased oil revenue flows.
Some of the leaders, members and elders of Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), across Nigeria have rejected the proposal for the venue of the hosting of this year's national delegates conference
According to our source at the national secretariat in Abuja who preferred anonymity said that a proposal letter of one hundred and fifty million naira(150 Millon) has been written to the Government of Imo state for the hosting of the delegates conference in Owerri.
In view of this development, members who have started mobilizing for its rejection across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria ahead of NUJ NEC meeting in Ibadan on Friday.
According to the source, the delegates conference may be boycotted due to insecurity in the region, as what happened three years ago in Umuahia, Abia state, where the president took the delegates conference to for his reelection in 2021.
The source also added that it is not only south east zone that made up of NUJ, there are other zones that can conviniently host the delegates conference that are safe in terms of insecurity.
It stressed that south east zone cannot hold delegates conference of NUJ back to back in 2021 and 2024, which according to law of nature, there should be justice, equity and fairness.
According to our source from Abuja, the intention of the leadership of NUJ is that people will boycott the election if taken to the south east zone citing insecurity so that his proteges can win the elections without any contest as what happened three years ago when the northerners boycotted the elections in Umuahia, Abia state.
The source stressed that the south east zone is so volatile in terms of insecurity since 2010 when four journalists from Lagos were kidnapped in Aba - Umuahia road on their way from NEC meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, while Mr Ahmed Gulak, former special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan was brutally killed in Imo state by unknown gunmen. Also three weeks ago, nine soldiers were killed in Imo state, so, security in south east is so tense that it will be unwise to move Journalists to south east in this trying period.
The source therefore charged all delegates to the NEC meeting to reject such proposal if put forward during the deliberations and consider other zones or preferably Abuja, which is central to all the states in the federation where all state councils can cater for their delegates in terms of transportation, accommodation and feeding if the national secretariat of NUJ fails to sponsor its delegates conference.
A high court in Akure, the Ondo state capital, has nullified the creation of additional 33 local council development areas (LCDAs) in the state.
Adegboyega Adebusoye, a judge, delivered the ruling on Thursday.
The Ondo state house of assembly passed the bill for the creation of the 33 additional councils on August 15, 2023, after it scaled a third reading.
In September 2023, Rotimi Akeredolu, former Ondo state governor, signed the bill a day after his return from a three-month medical leave.
The 33 LCDAs were to co-exist with the 18 LGAs, bringing the total number of local councils in the state to 51.
Akeredolu died on December 27, 2023, following a protracted battle with prostate cancer. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, his deputy, was immediately sworn in to succeed him.
‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL, NULL AND VOID’
The judge held that it is illegal for a governor to sign a law outside the state he or she governs.
Addressing journalists after the court session, Tolu Babaleye, counsel to the 22 plaintiffs, said the court held that the creation of the 33 LCDAs was “unconstitutional, null and void”.
“We approached this court being the last hope of the common man. And today, the court gave a well-considered judgment which I call a judicial Tsunami, sweeping off all those illegally created local governments in Ondo state,” Babaleye said.
“Apart from that, there was a landmark pronouncement by the court to the effect that no governor is empowered to sign the law of a state outside the shores or jurisdiction of that state because the government has provided for a massive government house for a governor.
“So the governor has no right under the law to go to Ibadan to sign the law. Because of that, the law was nullified, declared unconstitutional and of no effect.
“So as I talk to you now, Ondo state has reverted to 18 local governments.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) says Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, is the “supreme architect” of the crisis in the state.
The ruling party is reacting to a comment by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleging plots to take over the government of Rivers forcefully.
In a statement on Thursday, Felix Morka, APC national spokesperson, said the opposition party made the “fake” claim without addressing the issues bedevilling the state.
Morka said since assuming office, Fubara has allegedly shown a disdain for the rule of law.
“Quite contrary to the PDP’s misplaced quibbles against Chief Okocha’s comments, Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the supreme architect of the horrific crisis rocking Rivers state,” the statement reads.
“Since assuming office over a year ago, Governor Fubara has displayed reckless disdain for the rule of law and democratic institutions and conducted his government in flagrant violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“In an unprecedented display of autocratic arrogance, Governor Fubara declared the democratically elected Rivers state House of Assembly to be non-existent and, without lawful authority, constituted a bogus and an illegal 3-man sham Assembly in brazen violation of express provisions of the Constitution on the threshold composition of the House of Assembly and in disregard of the separation of powers doctrine.
“The Governor has continued to expend public funds without lawful appropriations by a duly constituted legislature, thereby undermining the will of the good people of Rivers State and their right to effective and accountable democratic governance.”
The APC spokesperson said a “serious and focused” governor would have set a clear programme to conduct local government elections in the state.
Apart from the rift without Nyesom Wike, minister of federal capital territory (FCT), which has torn apart the Rivers house of assembly, the state is witnessing a crisis at the local government level.
BACKGROUND
On Tuesday, Fubara asked the heads of local government administration to assume control of the 23 council areas of the state following the tenure expiration of the chairmen.
Despite the governor’s directive, some former LGA chairmen reportedly attempted to resume duty at the council secretariats but were chased away by youths.
The development sparked political tension in Rivers as residents protested at the LGA secretariats while police officers fired multiple shots into the air to disperse protesters.
Although the governor has sworn in caretaker committee chairs for the LGAs, they have not been allowed to assume their offices.
The Kano government has ordered the demolition of a section of the palace of Ado Bayero, the deposed 15th Emir of Kano.
Haruna Dederi, Kano state attorney-general and commissioner for justice, said the government has directed the police to take over the Emir’s palace in Nassarawa LGA.
Dederi said the state government has concluded arrangements for the general reconstruction and renovation of the palace, including demolishing “dilapidated walls”.
Earlier on Thursday, a federal high court in Kano nullified all actions by the Kano state government repealing the Kano Emirates Council Law of 2019.
Muhammad Liman, the presiding judge, ordered parties to maintain the status quo.
Liman held that the defendants were aware of an interim order previously granted by the court but ignored it and implemented the law.
The judge said he would assume his coercive powers to enforce compliance with the court order.
However, the judge transferred the case to another federal high court judge, Simon Amobeda, for continuation given his elevation to the court of appeal.
Speaking on the court ruling, the commissioner said the state government acknowledged the verdict.
”The Kano State Government acknowledges the ruling by the Federal High Court regarding the Kano Emirates Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 and views same as upholding the rule of law,” he said.
“By the ruling of the court, it has unequivocally reaffirmed the validity of the law passed by Kano State House of Assembly and assented to by His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State on Thursday 23rd May 2024 by 5:10 pm.
“This part of the judgement is very fundamental to the entire matter. A further implication of the ruling is that all actions done by the Government before the emergence of the interim order of the honourable court, are equally validated.
“This means that the abolishing of the five emirates created in 2019 is validated and the deposition of the five emirs is also sustained by the federal high court.
“By implication, this means that Muhammadu Sanusi II remains the Emir of Kano. The judge also granted our application for the stay of proceedings until the court of appeal deals with the appeal before it on jurisdiction.
“Happily, the signing of the law and the reinstatement of His Highness, Emir Muhammad Sanusi II, were done on 23rd May 2024 before the emergence of the interim order, which was served on us on Monday 27th May 2024,” the commissioner told journalists on Thursday.
“Following this Court’s ruling, the Kano State Government has directed the State Commissioner of Police to remove the deposed emir of the 8 metropolitan local governments from the government property where he is trespassing, as the government has already concluded arrangements for the general reconstruction and renovation of the property, including the demolishing and reconstruction of the dilapidated wall fence, with immediate effect.”
A federal high court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking the sack of Ola Olukoyede as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Obiora Egwuatu, presiding judge, dismissed the suit on the grounds that the applicant lacked the locus standi to institute the case.
Victor Opatola, the plaintiff who is an Abuja-based legal practitioner, instituted the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1403/2023 against President Bola Tinubu for appointing Olukoyede as EFCC chairman.
Besides the president, the national assembly, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and Olukoyede were joined as 2nd to 4th respondents respectively.
Opatola submitted that Olukoyede did not meet the years of service required by law for the office of chairman of the anti-graft agency.
He prayed the court to determine “whether by the true construction and interpretation of Section 2 (1) (a) of the EFCC Act 2004, Olukoyede, who has not fulfilled the conditions of the Act, can be validly appointed as EFCC chairman”.
“Whether by the true construction and interpretation of Section 2(1)(a) (iii) of the EFCC Act 2004, the interpretation of subsection (iii) should be read disjunctively of subsection (ii) of the act in a manner that Olukoyede, who was appointed to the office of the chairman of EFCC, can be said to have 15 years of cognate experience in any field outside the government security or law enforcement agency,” the suit reads.
However, the respondents prayed the court to dismiss the suit for lacking in merit.
Olukoyede through Olumide Fusika, his counsel, challenged the plaintiff’s authority to institute the suit.
He also claimed that he met all the requirements for the position of EFCC chairman.
…Decries Poor Salary For Lecturers, Threatens Strike
A Nigerian Professor earns a ‘miserly’ $400 monthly compared to the $6000 received by his counterpart in the United Kingdom, the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU), says.
The coordinator, Benin Zone of ASUU, Prof. Monday Igbafen, who disclosed this during a press conference in Benin, decried the unjust treatment of the lecturers by the Federal Government, stating that they have been on the same salary regime since 2009.
Igbafen said the government at all levels have been reviewing other workers’ salaries except that of the university lecturers.
“University teachers in Nigeria have been on the same salary regime since 2009 when the value of naira to a dollar was N120, and salaries in other sectors have been reviewed twice or more.
“It is better imagined that what a Professor earns in today’s Nigeria is about $400 per month which is a scandalous undervaluation of scholars.
“To continue to remain on the same salary regime for 15 years without review is not only wicked and inhuman but also an invitation to resistance/industrial disharmony,” Igbafen said.
Igbafen stated that the Federal Government has refused to meet their demands, adding that they have been pushed to the wall, and may likely embark on industrial action if the government did not respond.
“Having been irked by the obvious lack of sincerity on the part of federal and state governments to address the issues which have worsened the living and working conditions of academic staff in the public universities, it is sad to note that barely a month after we engage with the press in DELSU, there is refusal and/or total neglect of our union’s demands and ultimatum by the government.
“This disposition of government is certainly not a good recipe for the impending paralysis in Nigeria’s public universities.
“It is imperative to point out that the nagging issues between the government and our union in reference revolve around the abysmal failure by the government to satisfactorily implement the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement,” he said.
The Union lamented that the government was not moved by the several clarion calls and efforts by the university lecturers to get it to attend to their demands.
“By its action to ignore the union on these contending issues, the government is begging our union to proceed on strike,” he said.
The Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has borrowed N6.53tn between December 2023 and March 2024 including the securitasation of Ways and Means, according to data from the Debt Management Office (DMO).
The additional borrowing pushed the country’s total public debt to N121.67tn as of March 2024. This is asides the impact of the exchange rate difference resulting from naira devaluation.
Nigeria’s total public debt, comprises of the total domestic and external debts of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), the thirty-six (36) state governments, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A breakdown shows that the debt rose from N121.67tn ($91.46bn) as of March 31, 2024, from the N97tn ($108.23bn) which it was on December 31, 2024.
Total domestic debt was N65.65tn ($46.29bn), while total external debt was N56.02tn ($42.12bn).
DMO said, “Excluding Naira exchange rate movements in Q1 2024, only the Domestic Debt component of Total Public Debt grew from N59.12 trillion on December 31, 2023, to N65.65 trillion on March 31, 2024.
“The increase was from new bon-owing to pan-finance the 2024 Budget deficit and securitization of a portion of the N7.3tn Ways and Means Advances at the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
Analysis showed that the new debt and ways and means securitization rose N6.53tn in the first quarter of 2024.
The DMO warned, “Whilst borrowing, as provided in the 2024 Appropriation Act, will continue, we expect improvements in the Government’s Revenue to enhance debt sustainability.”
South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa visited Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu in a private meeting on Thursday in Johannesburg to discuss enhancing bilateral relations between both countries.
The private meeting at the Radisson Blu Hotel underscored the need for a stronger partnership between Nigeria and South Africa.
According to a press release from Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), President Ramaphosa expressed his gratitude to President Tinubu for attending his second-term inauguration.
“Thank you so much for coming for the inauguration. I was very happy to see my brother at the ceremony,” said Ramaphosa.
President Tinubu praised Ramaphosa’s inaugural speech, noting its relevance to the challenges faced by African countries and the necessity for increased collaboration.
“I enjoyed your speech at the ceremony. I was delighted listening to you. We have lots of issues in common, and we need to work more closely together. It was a good celebration,” Tinubu stated.
Ramaphosa was re-elected on June 14, 2024, after the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance formed a Government of National Unity.
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A chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Kenneth Okonkwo has hinted on plans to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okonkwo, who served as presidential campaign spokesperson for the party in the 2023 election, he is not impressed by recent developments in the party.
The Nollywood actor, who joined the Labour Party after dumping the APC in 2022, described it as “a secret society led by a group of clowns”.
He added that the party lacks the integrity to take advantage of the internal crisis in other parties.
In a recent interview on Symfoni, Okonkwo said he will not rule out rejoining another party if the LP continues on a “trajectory where they cannot even hold an acceptable national convention”.
“Any party that is not visibly committed to the welfare of Nigerians will most likely not see me there. I don’t rule out going back to anything because change is constant,” he said.
“My own labour party is not impressing me. Assuming they continue on this trajectory where they cannot even hold an acceptable national convention, then you’d tell me I’d be there?
“I was a spokesperson at the presidential level and I did not know that the Labour Party was having a convention. When I saw it on social media, I thought it was fake. They were rejected in Umuahia because it was a leprous convention.
“Those people are clowns. It is the greatest joke I have ever seen in a political party and then you want to position yourself as a party of integrity. You cannot give what you don’t have.
“Aburi and his cohorts, their tenure is over. Let Aburi and his cohorts get behind me. They are workers of iniquity. I don’t rate them. That executive is in charge of the secret society. They should be apprehended.”
The Edo State Working Committee of the People Democratic Party on Wednesday expelled a former deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, for alleged anti-party activities.
The PDP SWC also expelled the South-South Vice Chairman, Dan Orbih, while it also upheld the expulsion of a former member of the House of Representatives, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, by Ward 2, Oredo Local Government.
The decisions were taken on Wednesday at the PDP SWC meeting in Benin.
Present at the meeting were the Chairman of the Edo PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, and seven other members of the SWC, including Tony Anenih Jr., who joined the meeting virtually.
Aziegbemi said that the trio was expelled for anti-party activities, noting that they had shown that they were no longer in the party and there was no need to keep them in the PDP.
He said that the party would not be affected by their expulsion in the September 21 governorship election in the state, adding the party was well positioned to win at the poll.
The Edo PDP chairman said, “Dan Orbih was expelled because he has been asking members of the PDP to join the opposition party. He also took an appointment as the governing council member of a third-tier institution without recourse to the party before accepting the appointment.
“Shaibu donated about 15 vehicles to the All Progressives Congress and has also been abusing and disrespectful to the leaders of the party in the state. Someone who does these things cannot be termed a true party man.
“Also, Ogbeide-Ihama donated his building on Sakponba Road to the APC for campaign purposes. The building currently bears the billboard of the APC candidate and his running mate.
“The party is working with other stakeholders to ensure that the party wins the election in September.”
The SWC’s decision came days after Shaibu openly declared he would be working for the APC to win the September 21 governorship election while labelling the PDP governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, an outsider and a product of godfatherism.
Orbih, on his own, leads the Edo PDP Legacy Group, which had vowed to stop Governor Godwin Obaseki from influencing or installing a successor.
The expulsion of Ogbeide-Ihama by the SWC, however, generated an uproar as the PDP leadership in the Oredo Local Government Area of the state faulted the ex-federal lawmaker’s expulsion.
They declared the suspension null and void and urged the group behind the act not to cause confusion in the local government.
The chairman of the PDP in the local government, Oduwa Igbinosun, after an emergency meeting in Benin on Wednesday, stated that the local government exco attention was drawn to a purported expulsion of Ogbeide-Ihama by a faceless group led by one Lawrence Aguebor, which according to him prompted the exco to set the record straight.
He explained that the said Lawrence was an ex-official of the ward, and lacked the authority to suspend or expel anyone.
Igbinosun added that the National Working Committee of the party had extended the tenure of all elected excos and made ratification for them to act as a caretaker committee.
Similarly, the executives of the PDD ward 2, in Oredo local government disowned the purported suspension and expulsion of the two-term federal lawmaker.
Secretary of the ward, Mr. Jesuobo Obadigie, who stated this on behalf of the executives, said no such action was carried out.
Flanked by the 12 members of the ward exco, Osayande said: “Honourable Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama remains not just a member, but a prominent and formidable leader of the party, and continues to enjoy the total support of the members in Ward 2.
“It is expected that anyone who loves the party should at this point be focused on actions that will unite the party ahead of the September governorship election.
In a bid to purge the civil service of fraudulent activities, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, HOCSF, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, has revealed a crackdown on ghost workers based abroad but receiving salaries in Nigeria.
She noted that the verification exercises of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) helped to expose some of the fraudulent activities being perpetuated by certain individuals in the service.
The Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) revealed that numerous civil servants who were found to be involved in fraudulent activities were forced to resign from their positions after failing to participate in the physical verification process, which exposed their deceit.
She added that civil servants who are outside the country without official permission and still on the payroll will be sacked after the ongoing verification is completed.
This was as she also disclosed that 1618 civil servants with fake employment letters were also caught and dismissed.
Yemi-Esan revealed this during a media parley with media executives on Wednesday in Abuja, as part of activities to mark 2024 Civil Service Week.
The theme for 2024 celebration is ‘Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa’.
She said: “There are efforts to tackle Nigerians who have relocated abroad doing news jobs, but are still under the payroll of the civil service.
“The Federal Government is going hard on them, as many of them are voluntarily resigning after the physical verifications.
“Recently, there was a circular that went out to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that they should do a physical headcount in their MDAs.
“That means, everybody on the nominal roll, that is receiving salaries, should appear physically and the names of those who did not show up for the exercise should be forwarded.
“In the circular, I cautioned that Permanent Secretaries and CEOs that give wrong information will be held liable if anything is discovered outside of the information that was given.”
She alleged that certain high-ranking officials, who were responsible for providing her office with information, were complicit in the fraud and deliberately withheld details to conceal the vacancies, thereby perpetuating the scam.
“It is a Nigerian thing. We are running hard against the culture that tolerates it. Outsiders don’t know the bashing we get every day trying to do the right thing.
“I expect that once the verification report comes anybody that is not in the country automatically loses his job.
“What we discovered in the last month of that verification is that most of them are now resigning their appointment which is a good development,” Yemi-Ean said.
Yemi-Esan, who is set to retire on August 14, as announced by the director of communication, Mohammed Ahmed, during the parley, has been spearheading the purge to restore integrity and transparency in the civil service.
She vowed to continue the clampdown, ensuring that only legitimate civil servants receive their rightful compensation.
Yemi-Esan noted that so far, 69,308 civil servants who participated in the compulsory verification exercise have been fully integrated into the IPPIS after their verifications.
Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), announced that the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) verification exercises had uncovered 1,618 civil servants with fake or illegal employment letters.
Speaking in Abuja during a media conversation as part of the 2024 Civil Service Week Celebrations, Yemi-Esan revealed that 69,308 civil servants who participated in the compulsory verification exercise have been fully integrated into the IPPIS after their verifications.
Yemi-Esan highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance civil servants’ capacity and talent. Under the Structured Mandatory Assessment-Based Training Programme (SMAT-P) in the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021-2025), 8,905 workers have received training.
Addressing corruption within the civil service, Yemi-Esan noted that her initiatives have led the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to identify and investigate over 3,600 public servants. The clean-up effort has also resulted in the removal of numerous individuals, including retirees, who were improperly on the payroll.
Efforts are underway to address the issue of Nigerians who have relocated abroad but continue to receive salaries from the civil service. Yemi-Esan warned that the Federal Government is cracking down on this practice, and many of these individuals voluntarily resign following physical verifications. Civil servants abroad without official permission and still on the payroll will be dismissed once the ongoing verification is completed.
Yemi-Esan discovered that many employees who have left the country but continue to receive salaries are primarily in parastatals rather than core ministries. She accused some top officials of plotting to ensure these positions were not declared vacant.
“It’s a Nigerian thing. We are running hard against the culture that tolerates it. Outsiders don’t know the bashing we get every day trying to do the right thing,” Yemi-Esan remarked.
She added that once the verification report is finalized, any employee not in the country will automatically lose their job. She also noted a positive development: many individuals have started resigning their positions during the verification process.