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![[PRESS RELEASE] Olaopa Blames Civil Service's Woes On Military, Low Pay](/media/k2/items/cache/34ecb3eb081fcc9bf44270d64f643743_L.jpg)
The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has blamed the problems of the nation's civil service on the incursion of the military into governance, and the poor remuneration of public workers.
Olaopa , a professor of public administration and a former federal permanent secretary, spoke on Wednesday at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State during the maiden Distinguished Annual Public Lecture series of the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries of Oyo and Osun State (ARHESPSOOS).
The seasoned bureaucrat who spoke on
"Reengineering the Engine Room: The Civil Service as the Fulcrum of Sustainable Development" commended ARHESPSOOS for taking the initiative to "create this annual seminal platform to offer its multidisciplinary experts and professional capital to contribute to rethinking the intellectual bases of the working and practice of public service as engine room of governance in Nigeria.
"Indeed, it will be a real shame and gross disservice to the civil service in Nigeria, to have such a rich assemblage and mine of bureaucratic wisdom as resident in this association and not tap into it."
Blaming the military for the decline of the civil service, Olaopa said
" that the civil service indeed evolves within a growth trajectory that was distorted significantly by military rule, and a series of other disruptions, hiccups, misconceptions, administrative misses, and fortuitous breakthroughs.
"Some of its evolving systems and structures were decimated after 1966 by the 'with immediate effect' military tradition. The transition from parliamentary to presidential system since 1979 created its own issues that were not systematically resolved.
"The public service system that Nigeria inherited from the British was not just Weberian, it was overly legalistic and top-down control (‘I am directed’) fixated, making the administrative system unresponsive to public demands and therefore weak in terms of democratic accountability
"The classification of personnel emphasised job in the person, not person on the job, with work done largely in terms of functions/duties as scheduled, rather than as tasks, day to day.
"There is also the phenomenon of 'trained incapacity' deriving from the fact that skills development and training investments were seen as isolated processes, without coherent linkages to HR planning, employee appraisal, and pay and reward system.In other words, staff performance appraisal system which relied on APER, in the absence of institutionalised performance management system (PMS), remains as ever vague about what is being assessed and rewarded."
Noting that the remuneration system was also responsible for the decline of the civil service, Olaopa said: " Since the 1974 Udoji bonanza, the pay and remuneration system has been disconnected from the productivity trajectory in the national economy, with adversarial industrial relations looming large in its wake.
"Indeed, the public service pay system was reasonable as at independence until the early 1980s. As the economy slowed, revenue faltered, and staffing numbers continued to rise, driven by the expanding role of the welfare state and the federal character policy.
Pay level became stagnant, with low wages eventually becoming irredeemably the norm. By the mid-80s, retiring officers were coping with a pension that was formidably less than purchasing power, while serving officers earned subsistence wage
The collapse of the pay system inexorably destroyed the employment contract between government and public employees. Informality then set in, and performance plummeted .
"Officers started to invent a series of coping mechanisms, ranging from moonlighting, manipulation of travel allowances and per diems, connivance with contractors and outright theft of public assets and alteration of date of birth to guarantee prolonged tenure.
Professionals with scarce skills left the shore to work in other sectors or relocated overseas. Training budget evaporated, and systemic corruption, the culture of ‘something for nothing’ which replaced the value of deferred gratification and honour cum excellence in service, became new normal, with public interest and merit emasculated.
"Overall, the bureaucratic system started to function outside of its assumed tradition and values. In its place, an unsavoury culture wherein officers followed rules and regulations for its own sake was enthroned
Compliance with rules and regulations then ceases to embed flexibilities required to innovate to build and install results-based management framework in the era of managerialism which set in since the mid-70s.
Staff progression and promotion system acquired negative logic, as one that rewarded officers order than those making real contributions. It in turn discouraged risk taking and creativity, within a structural regression into silos operations, with officers protecting boundaries of authority while foreclosing team work, networking, results-orientation and whole of government approaches.
"The civil service gradually closed itself to ideas and intellectual discourses in manner that became a culture of anti-intellectualism and insularity due in part to closure of entry to other talents from other sectors, occasioning over time deep-rooted inbreeding, structural inertia and obsolescence ."
Earlier, Olaopa highlighted the various reforms that have taken place in the civil service .
He said that 1974 was a fundamental administrative year in the history of the Nigerian civil service. He said it was the year that Nigeria got its first opportunity to fundamentally rethink its public administration system .
But he decried a situation where the Udoji Commission got caught up in the deeper managerial challenges raised in the UK in 1968 when the Lord Fulton Report was set up to reassess the efficiency problem of the British civil service.
"The Fulton Report itself took bearing from a theoretical wave set in motion at the time by the new public management (NPM) revolution at the time.
The concern of administrative reform at the time was to reflect on the possibilities of how the Weberian administrative system could take advantage of expanding innovations in the market system and private sector good practices.
"The Udoji Commission tackled its terms of reference head on. It saw a fundamental problem of the civil service in Nigeria as that of administrative inflexibility that finds it hard to respond to positive changes.
It therefore advocated the need for a total reassessment of the public service and its capacity to internalise and adapt global best practices."
According to him, the commission was also bold enough to tackle the generalist-professional issue (the 'cult of the generalists') when it recommended a new style public service infused with 'new blood' working under a result-oriented management system operated by professionals and specialists in particular field.
"Like the Fulton Report in the UK before it, these cogent recommendations never saw the light of day.
From the Dotun Philip Report of 1984 to the Ayida reform of 1994, the Nigerian state took forward the managerial recommendations that would give birth to a new public service. The recommendation was the basis of the Decree 43 of 1988.
"The Ayida Review, against the backdrop of some conception-reality gaps in the Philips reform, reconstituted the civil service system along the Weberian traditional principles," he said.
According to him, since 1999 and the inception of Nigeria’s democratic experiment, some critical defining reforms have yielded lots of significant (though not sufficient) reform achievements. These reforms include the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), SERVICOM, pension and pay reforms, the professionalisation of the FOS/NBS, FIRS/NEITI, the price intelligence and procurement reform, and fiscal responsibility.
But he lamented that the bureaucratic model served the civil service well up to the mid-70s before the decline he identified as bureau-pathology set in .
[PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu’s Road Infrastructure Architectural Master Plan Strategic for Economic Stimulation
Admin![[PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu’s Road Infrastructure Architectural Master Plan Strategic for Economic Stimulation](/media/k2/items/cache/d5596df067330f2532a11b821de868a3_L.jpg)
1. As part of the economic stimulus plans of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Federal Ministry of Works has designed the fourth Renewed Hope road infrastructure legacy project that passes through States of the North East known as the Akwanga – Jos – Bauchi – Gombe road. The Hon Minister of Works His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, GGCEHF made this disclosure during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Bauchi State at the State Government House, Bauchi on 15th August 2024. He said, “I want to thank you very highly, and to let you know that the shortfall in terms of road distribution was not done by President Tinubu, it wasn't done by me, but Mr. President is addressing it, and that's why we have injected the fourth legacy project of the President that runs from Akwanga to Jos to Bauchi State, and we are happy to see that you have intervened progressively and critically on a good percentage of the road in your State”
2. The Honourable Minister emphasized the importance of the four Renewed Hope legacy projects which he said was not only strategic in terms of seamless connectivity to the 6 Geo-Political Zones, but also a strategic architectural masterplan that would stimulate the economy of the Nation through enhanced agriculture, job creation, regional integration, tourism, transportation ecosystem and industralisation. He spoke of the President’s determination to ensure that funding was made available for the legacy projects through different intervention mechanisms. “The President is taking us to China, because there was an agreement before, when this project was listed for funding on EPC + F, and the Chinese people were supposed to inject foreign financing on the roads, but they didn't immediately do that. So the President is reviving it, and we will be in China soon. We are very sure that we'll be able to get that funding, and this road will not only be constructed, but it will also be dualized.”
3. The Honourable Minister visited the flood damaged locations of Kano – Maiduguri road, the dualization of Kano - Maiduguri Road Section 3 (washout location at Buskuri town), the dualization of Kano - Marduguri Road Section 2 (at Sabon Gari village), the flooded area of Yana - Shiva - Azare road, the bridge along Bauchi - Gombe road, Ningi - Babaldu washout, and he also performed the flag - off of the Bauchi-Gombe road being handled by Triacta Nig Ltd. While acknowledging the pains and difficulties faced by road users whose livelihood has been affected by the effect of the flood, he assured them that intervention would be timely provided to bring immediate reliefs to the people of the State and other road users.
4. Speaking during the event, the Governor of Bauchi State His Excellency, Sen. Bala Mohammed commended the President of Nigeria for promptly sending the Hon Minister of Works to visit and assess the damaged sections of the road in the State with a view to providing intervention. He said that the State government and the entire Emirate Council were gratified by the rare proactiveness and sense of responsiveness demonstrated by Federal Government at this difficult moment of the State.
Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji
Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works
[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Congratulates Justice Olukayode Ariwoola on Successful Public Service Career
Admin![[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Congratulates Justice Olukayode Ariwoola on Successful Public Service Career](/media/k2/items/cache/6c113c498f21e2f60d6216f1726ed084_M.jpg)
President Bola Tinubu congratulates Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, as he retires as Chief Justice of Nigeria after a successful public service career.
Justice Ariwoola had served as Justice of the Court of Appeal in Kaduna, Enugu, and Lagos divisions before his elevation to the Supreme Court in 2011.
He was sworn in as Chief Justice of Nigeria in 2022 and had also served the nation in diverse capacities as a judicial officer.
President Tinubu commends the eminent jurist for his services to the nation, noting his impactful leadership of the judiciary and his efforts in enriching Nigerian jurisprudence, as well as in strengthening the fibre of the law.
The President thanks Justice Ariwoola and wishes him the very best for the future.
President Tinubu will swear in Justice Ariwoola's successor at the State House Council Chambers on August 23, 2024.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, has described the model of the Geometric Power in developing the Aba Independent Power Project in Abia State as impressive.
“The Geometric model is impressive”, declared the High Commissioner after inspecting the facilities in the $800m power project which comprises a 188-megawatt gas-fired plant with an embedded distribution firm that provides electricity to nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State.
“It represents the kind of innovation needed to drive sustainable development across Nigeria”.
Dr Montgomery was accompanied by the Abia State Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engineer Ikechukwu Monday, and was received on arrival by the Geometric Power management led by its chairman, Professor Bart Nnaji, a former Minister of Power.
Commissioned last February 26 by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Aba Independent Project was started in 2004 on the recommendation of the then World Bank president, James Wolfonsohn, and the then Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, when they visited Aba in March 2004 and discovered that the lack of reliable electricity was the main constraint to the realization of the city’s enormous manufacturing potential.
They requested Professor Nnaji, a leading Nigerian engineering professor in the United States who had earlier led a team of Nigerian engineers to build the 22MW Abuja Emergency Plant, to consider establishing an independent thermal plant in Aba for small, medium, and large industrialists.
High Commissioner Montgomery also lauded the “state-of-the-art facilities” at the power utility.
The utility, licensed to produce 188MW, has three installed General Electric (GE) turbines and has built four brand-new substations and refurbished three old ones inherited from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
“It has, in addition, provided 150,000 kilometres of overhead wires and cables”, says Ben Caven, a former PHCN executive director in charge of engineering, transmission, and generation who is now the Geometric Power managing director.
“Our steel tubular poles, with 10 metres buried in the ground to withstand any natural disaster like an earthquake, match the ones in San Francisco in the United States and Tokyo in Japan.
“We have also built a 27-kilometre gas pipeline from Owaza in Ukwa West LGA to the Osisioma Industrial Layout in Aba”.
The British diplomat said that given the technical sophistication attained by Geometric Power, he would like UK firms to work with it.
Nnaji praised the High Commissioner for the visit, adding that when Geometric Power overcomes the ongoing gas supply challenges in the next few weeks, Aba would be receiving about 100MW while about 50MW would be exported to the national grid to boost electricity in other parts of the country.
The Abia State Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities commended Governor Alex Otti for his “relentless support to Geometric Power for its key role in the state’s industrialization”.
Other Geometric Power executives who interacted with the British High Commissioner delegation are the Geometric Power Group Managing Director, Mrs. Agatha Nnaji, The Managing Director of Geometric Power Aba Limited, Engr. Ben Caven, the Aba Power Managing Director, Ugo Opiegbe, and the Geometric Power Chief Financial Officer, Tony Alozie, the Aba Power Chief Operating Officer, Engr Blessing Ogbe, Facilities Manager, Geometric Power Group, Mr Adeniyi Adebiyi, as well as Hannah Yangchi, Principal Manager, Projects.
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted an ex parte order restraining the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, led by Abdullahi Umar-Ganduje and the Secretary Surajudeen Ajibola-Basiru, from proceeding with the planned Rivers State Ward, Local Government and State Congresses scheduled for October 11, 16, and 26, 2024.
The lawsuit, filed by Peter Ohochukwu and Haija Ndidi-Chukwuma on behalf of themselves and all elected executive members of the APC in the state, named the APC, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, the Nigeria Police, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as defendants.
Justice Godwin O. Ollor, in his ruling on the ex parte motion on Thursday, also restrained the defendants, their representatives, officers, or agents from conducting, supervising, holding, monitoring, or otherwise organizing any elections for the Rivers State executive committee.
Justice Ollor emphasized that his ruling was based on the merits of the application and the oral arguments presented by the plaintiffs’ counsel, Collins Dike.
The court also barred the national leadership of the APC from attempting to suspend the state executives led by Emeka Beke.
The judge further restrained the APC’s national chairman, secretary and the party itself from interfering with the activities of the elected APC executives in the state, led by Beke, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.
DAILY POST reports that Justice Ollor adjourned the case to September 9, 2024, for the hearing of the motion on notice.
Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, counsel for the claimants, Collins Dike said, “After the very erudite judgement of My Lord Honorable S. H. Aprioku, the national office wrote a letter in which they disclosed their plans to hold an elective congress specifically for Rivers State.
“Invariably what they intended to achieve with that was to ensure the judgement of Honorable justice Aprioku was rendered a nullity.
“The judgement of Honorable justice Aprioku was very clear, that the tenure of office of the elected executives of the party was still subsisting, was still valid, until the four years term the constitution gave them expired.
“But curiously, these people, in spite of the fact that there’s no vacancy in the various offices that make up the executive committee, went behind and started planning how to hold an elective congress, in-spite of the fact that they are fully aware of that judgement, they have been served with that judgment.
“So, it is for that reason that we said no. They have created a new cause of action by their attempt to proceed with plans to hold an elective congress. And if we do not do anything, they will foist a fait accompli on the court with respect to the judgement of Honorable Justice S. H. Aprioku by purporting to hold that elective congress.
“And it is for that reason that we have gone on to say that no, what they want to do is contrary to the law.
“And we are happy that the court was convinced with the facts we presented, convinced with the argument we presented. And the court has in very clear terms, restrained them from proceeding in the interim pending when the court will be hearing all the parties.”
[DailyPost]
The Enugu State Police Command announced on Thursday that it had apprehended a total of 123 suspects between July and August of this year.
The arrests were made in connection with various crimes, including murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, vandalism, theft, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and cultism.
During a press conference at the Command’s Headquarters, State Commissioner of Police Kanayo Uzuegbu revealed that numerous incriminating exhibits were seized during the operations that took place across the state.
Uzuegbu further stated that many of the suspects have been charged and remanded in custody at the Nigerian Correctional Custodial Centres.
While commending the residents of the state for providing the command information, he still appealed they shouldn’t relent timely and actionable information will help the command to provide better security for all in the state.
A breakdown of the arrests shows that 123 suspects were apprehended and 19 victims of kidnapping and abduction were rescued during the period in question.
He said, “AK-47 and assault rifles recovered -15, Pump action guns recovered – 25, other firearms recovered – 35, live ammunition of different calibres recovered – 710, live cartridges recovered – 187, motor vehicles recovered – 17, tricycles recovered – 11, motorcycles recovered – 8,” the crime summary report indicated.
While confirming the attack on the police checkpoint where four policemen were killed by hoodlums, he, however, refuted the purported kidnapping of some persons around the Enugu State College of Health Technology, Oji-River.
He stated, “Rather, the four persons, three of whom were not students of the school, allegedly kidnapped around the College on August 14, 2024, have all been rescued and reunited with their families.
“Meanwhile, be informed that the suspects involved have been arrested and are undergoing interrogation.
“Also, the peddler of the unwarranted panic news on the incident has been traced and he has been apologizing for the mischievous act.
“Similarly, the sinister plans of the IPOB/ESN secessionist renegades to attack the police operatives and cause collateral damage at 4-Corner, along the Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway, on August 18, 2024, were squarely thwarted by the operatives.
“The militants, dressed in security forces uniforms and operating in a snatched Lexus 350 Jeep, suddenly opened fire on the patrol team on approaching the operatives.”
Uzuegbu commended the Enugu State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, “for taking the bold and pragmatic steps of demolishing houses and facilities used in harbouring and perpetrating acts of abduction and kidnapping in the State.
“Therefore, I call on citizens of Enugu State, particularly landlords, hoteliers, and owners of uncompleted buildings to be mindful of who they accommodate in such structures.”
“This is to ensure that they do not harbour criminals whose activities could bring about the demolition of their building facilities.”
While providing further details on the arrests made within the period, the Police Commissioner said, “Yesterday, August 21, 2024, at about 5 p.m., Police Operatives serving in the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad recovered an AK-47 rifle at New Artisan, Enugu.”
[Punch]
Agora Policy, an Abuja-based think tank, says petrol subsidy will reach an all-time high in 2024 after gulping N4.2 trillion from January to August.
In a post on Thursday, the organisation said petrol subsidy, which was supposedly ended in mid-2023, “is not only back but bigger than prior era”.
Agora Policy said petrol subsidy stood at N5.10 trillion in 2023 — almost double the record set in 2022.
“With 4.2t incurred in just seven months, 2024 is set for an all-time record,” the think tank said.
According to data shared by Agora Policy, Nigeria spent N220 billion in 2006 on subsidy, N236 billion in 2007, and N360 billion in 2008.
In 2009, petrol subsidy payments dropped to N198 billion, increasing to N416 billion in 2010, and N1.9 trillion in 2011.
The year after, the petrol subsidy culminated in N690 billion, but dropped to N495 billion in 2013, N482 billion in 2014, N317 billion in 2015, and N99 billion in 2016.
However, in 2017, Agora Policy said the amount spent on petrol subsidy rose to N142 billion, N722 billion in 2018, before declining to N578 billion in 2019, and N135 billion in 2020.
The decline halted in 2021, as the petrol subsidy rose to N1.16 trillion, N2.91 trillion in 2022, and N5.10 trillion in 2023.
“Out of N20.37t incurred on petrol subsidy from January 2006 to July 2024, the year 2023 accounted for 25.04% of the total while seven months in 2024 alone is responsible for 20.67% of the total,” Agora Policy said.
By contrast, the organisation said 16 years accounted for just 40 percent of the total subsidy.
“Petrol subsidy as a percentage of gross oil revenues in 18 years and seven months: from 21% in 2011 to 126% in 2023, then to 113% between January and July 2024,” Agora Policy said.
“Another dimension: petrol subsidy as a percentage of FAAC net revenues, ranging from 1.9% in 2020 to 50% in seven months of 2024.
“Here’s what petrol subsidy as a percentage of GDP looks like. Petrol subsidy was 2.2% of GDP in 2023, when it was supposedly gone by mid-year.”
Agora Policy said the percentage for 2023 was only surpassed by that of 2011 (3 percent), “regarded as a tipping point”.
TheCable had reported that President Bola Tinubu approved a request by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to utilise the 2023 final dividends due to the federation to pay for the petrol subsidy.
However, on August 19, the national oil company said the federal government owes it N7.8 trillion for petrol subsidy — despite denying the existence of petrol subsidy
On August 20, the NNPC said it is selling petrol at only half the landing cost.
[TheCable]
![[PRESS RELEASE] Don't Turn Our Democracy Into a Plutocracy](/media/k2/items/cache/a68a8231f0da4337e3d9300d0c329971_S.jpg)
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) condemns and opposes the attempt by the state governments to impose a plutocracy on the nations fledgling democracy through fees charged by the States Independent Electoral Commissions (SIEC's) for nomination forms to contest local government elections nationwide. The party views these charges, such as N10,000,000.00 for chairmanship and N5,000,000.00 for councillorship candidates in Kano or even the N2,000,000.00 levied for chairmanship and N600,000.00 for councillorship candidates in neighbouring Kaduna State, as deliberate attempts to disenfranchise ordinary Nigerians from contesting for elections in the local governments of their states. The Constitution of Nigeria, in spirit and words, has not intended that Nigeria should be governed only by the rich.
The PRP is shocked that the SIECs of these states have chosen to ignore the principle of equity and fairness, which is at the heart of democratic governance. The party believes that the right to participate in the electoral process is a fundamental human right that should not be denied to anyone based on their financial status. Charging these exorbitant fees by the state for nomination forms to contest elections at local government levels amounts to denying the poor, which are about 98% of the population, participation in their governance. This practice will deny many good people with conpetence and integrity participation in their governance, leaving the horizon for only rich persons or those backed by money bags or state governments who would control and continue mismanaging the resources of the local governments.
The PRP demands that state governments such as Kano and Kaduna reverse these exorbitant fees and charge reasonable fees or zero fees for nomination forms. After all, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that conducts national and state assembly elections for the president, vice president, governors, senators, and members of the federal and state legislatures does not charge these contestants for their nominations. We cannot and should not continue to condone a system that favours only the rich and powerful at the expense of the teeming Nigerian masses. Furthermore, the PRP urges all states that have not yet announced their fees for nomination forms to emulate INEC by charging no fees at all. It is most unfair to subject aspiring candidates to arbitrary fees, which will lead to situations where only the rich with deep pockets can participate in the electoral process.
The PRP believes that every Nigerian, rich or poor, has the right to participate in the democratic process without being hindered by financial constraints. We believe that democracy should be about inclusivity, not exclusivity. We warn that if the ruling class continues with this practice, ordinary Nigerians, inclusive of the Nigerian youth that constitute over 60% of the registered voters, may rebel against the system, and if and when they do, we should blame these plutocrats preventing ordinary Nigerians from participating in elections.
It is our duty as a responsible political party to speak out against this injustice and demand better from our leaders, and should we not be listened to, we will have no options as an interested party but to go to court to ask as to whether or not the practice of using financial strength to exclude ordinary Nigerians from participating in the electoral process is not a breach of the fundamental human right of these ordinary Nigerians from participating in their governance in a plural democracy.
We call on all Nigerians to join us in this struggle for democratic rights and demand that our leaders prioritise the interests of the people over personal gain. We will not tolerate any action that seeks to disenfranchise ordinary Nigerians and undermine the very fabric of our democracy.
Falalu Bello, OFR
National Chairman
Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
Students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) and some community leaders of the town have alleged the Chairman, Governing Council of Mapoly, Prof. Kamaldeen Balogun of conniving with the institution's Registrar, Mrs. Olubunmi Elewedalu to install new micro finance Managing Director, Mr. Ayodeji Adeolu Jibodun.
It was revealed that the new MD is younger brother to the institution's Registrar, Elewedalu, alleging that it was against the rules and regulations guiding the Polytechnic and Mapoly Microfinance board.
Speaking on anonymous with the journalists, they were calling on the state government to raise a panel of enquiry to look into the Mapoly Microfinance, so as to ensure sanity and justice, noting the act may destroy the foremost and great citadel of learning in the state.
"Indeed, the registrar with full support of the Chairman, Governing Board screened-out best contenders for the pposition of Managing-Director of MAPOLY Microfinance Bank and installed his unqualified brother, Mr. Ayodeji Adeolu Jibodu, even with PASS from the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, which against financial regulations of the banking sector and negates the banking rules." they said
Also, a senior staff of institution, pleaded on anonymity said that the CBN is yet to recognised the new MD, as the Chairman and Registrar failed to provide reason for untimely resignation and termination of a well recognised Director of the bank.
"We thereby call on the NDIC, CBN and Ogun State government to look into the selection process of MAPOLY MFB. The government must also stop the Chairman, Governing Council of the Institution, Prof. Kamaldeen Balogun from abuse of power and do the right thing to save the bank and indeed, the Polytechnic from mediocrity and destruction," a saff said
According to the information gathered from the institution, if the anomalies and unrighteousness continue in chosen unqualified person as the MD of the institution's bank, they would have power to undermines embesslement, misappropriation of money, saying that they will mismanage fund.
"In fact, the bank has been in shamble dues to mismanagement of fund and they had already depleted the bank finances and Central Bank of Nigeria may revoke the bank licence which in turn will have adverse effect on both majority of the institution and minority shareholders; like students, communities and others," finding revealed
It was observed that the Chairman of Mapoly board, Registrar and his brother are the three running the Microfinance bank, instead of the recognised and registered Directors who are; the Rector, Dr. Adeoye Odedeji, the Bursar, Mr. Fatai Adisa Yekini, who are not in their good record.
It added that Dr. (Mrs) Olasunbo Oyebolu who was sent away during the interview of the selection Managing Directors of the Microfinance bank in April, 2024 and she was later forced to resign as Director of the Board of the bank.
In her response, Elewedalu agreed that the new Microfinance Bank was her brother but refused to response to other questions, claiming that she is a public servant, saying that she was in better position to response to some issues.
While the calls to the Chairman Governing Council didn't go for further clarification, as messages sent to him didn't no go.
It should be recalled that around April 2024, one of the Governing Council Board Member, Alhaji (Dr) Rasheed Adenusi complained about some decisions of the Microfinance Bank Board which was not followed by Prof. Kamaldeen Balogun, saying that Chairman and the Registrar decided to take over the functions of the Board of the Bank.
Some users across social media platforms such as X, Facebook and Instagram, have expressed disappointment at the recently increased fees for Nigerian Standard Passport.
The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Immigration Service – the national agency mandated to issue passports to applicants, on Wednesday, announced that the upward review of the passport fees was necessary to maintain its quality and integrity.
The increased fee, effective from September 1, 2024, will cost N50,000 for a 32-page passport booklet with five-year validity which was previously charged at N35,000.
Also, a 64-page passport booklet with 10-year validity will cost N100,000; an increment of N30,000 from its previous N70,000 charge.
Part of the concerns raised by some of the social media users range from corruption of some NIS officials who charge extra, unofficial fees; to the economic hardship in the country, inflation, insensitivity of the government to the masses, among others.
On X.com, Callme_Wéalth EndSars, tweeting as #Lexyzdoo, wrote, “Online 50k, offline 100k for 32 pages.”
A Facebook user, Taiwo Olaoye, stated, “Without the hiked-up fees, you still have to pay an arm and a leg as bribery for them to do their jobs. That’s why my passport will forever remain expired. It will end up being expired in five years anyway.”
A tweep, Asiwaju Arowopoko, tweeting as #souqueasnaf, stated, “I can bet that some people paid more to get their passports done expressly. If it’s 50k and 100k for 32 and 64 pages respectively, and we will get it done seamlessly without paying a bribe or extra cost, then it’s ok.”
One Shedrach Onyekonwu on Facebook, criticised the fewer number of days to implement the passport fee review, compared to that of the national minimum wage, saying, “It takes just a publication of this nature to announce an upward review of fees to be implemented in 10 days but takes endless meetings to sign new minimum wage with no date in sight for its implementation.”
Another tweep, CitizenOlu, tweeting as #jagabanolu, wrote, “What kind of rubbish is this policy? In this economy with a 70k minimum wage, a passport will now cost 50,000! This is a very deliberate policy that shows some elites in power truly must be living in a different reality!”
An X user, Adewale ‘Damilare, tweeting as #dammygtnet, said, “Una dun increase money for passport issuance again. You guys are testing our patience!”
Another tweep, Hemjay of Life, with the username #MuritalaMujeebA, tweeted, “And it is not as if your useless officers will not still collect bribe at point of biometrics oo.”
An X user, E.J, tweeting as #Enwagboso, asked the FG to delay the effective date of the new passport fees to 2025.
He wrote, “The 10-day notice for the passport price increase is an example of the government’s lack of empathy and consideration for its citizens. #officialABAT and #nigimmigration should know this. I recommend reviewing the pricing strategy and considering a reversal or, at the very least, a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025.”
A Facebook user, Celestine Uzodike wrote, “Every agency is in a hurry to extort the masses at this crucial period. Very insensitive Govt.”
Another Facebook user, Emecheta David, queried, “So to maintain the integrity of the passport, you’ll increase the price? Which integrity does the Nigerian passport possess that you are maintaining?”
An Instagram user, #l_ayk_an, wrote, “Making japa expensive but yet making Nigeria worse and unlivable.”
Another user, identified as #officialcollinzo, said, “Very soon to breath for this Nigeria go be 1k per 1hr.”
According to the Henley Passport Index, the Nigerian passport was ranked 92nd out of 199 passports, highlighting the challenges its citizens face regarding international travel freedom.
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The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is reducing its importation of crude from the United States, taking more of Nigeria’s oil for processing, a report by Bloomberg said.
The report stated that the 650,000 refinery is set to import just over four-fifths of its feedstock from domestic sources in the third quarter. That compares with less than three-quarters in the prior quarter, according to tanker-tracking data and information from traders.
It was learnt that oil prices were pressured last month on reports that the plant planned on re-selling some of the US barrels it previously purchased, underscoring the pivotal role Dangote already plays within Atlantic basin petroleum markets.
The refinery’s efforts to dial back overseas crude purchases potentially leave more US export barrels competing for buyers elsewhere.
The pivot could even gather pace in the coming months.
The PUNCH reported earlier that the Federal Government would start selling crude in the local currency to Dangote from October 1.
It is not yet certain how much supply will be traded under the system but if the 450,000 meant for local consumption is exhausted, the process could leave Dangote requiring hardly any overseas crude.
The $20bn Dangote refinery in Lekki, Lagos, has taken in more than 56 million barrels of crude since December as it completed test runs and gradually lifted processing. Of that, 78 per cent has been local supply.
It took six cargoes of crude directly from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for next month, a company spokesman told Bloomberg earlier this month.
Most Nigerian cargoes are about one million barrels each. A further two shipments from Nigeria as well as two million barrels of WTI Midland are slated for September arrival, the tanker-tracking data show.
The plant will have taken in an average of almost 10 million barrels per month in the six months through September.
Inflows of American feedstock had been expected to increase significantly earlier in the summer.
However, some of the US barrels it bought for this month and next were being resold, a claim that was debunked by the refinery in late July.
It also scrapped two tenders in which it had been looking to purchase a further 6 million barrels of American crude for September, according to traders.
The changes may also leave fewer Nigerian barrels on offer for sale in Europe and Asia.
Dangote’s petrol is expected in the market by September.
THE prolonged petrol scarcity worsened in Lagos, Ogun and other states, yesterday, as independent marketers started lifting the product from private depots at N780 per litre, from N595 per litre, indicating an increase of 31 per cent.
The marketers believe the hike in price reflects the current demand and supply of the product in the domestic market.
Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, who confirmed this in an interview with Vanguard, also expressed optimism that the bad situation could improve in the coming days.
Chief Ukadike noted that more trucks have left the depots in the past few days, adding that though independent marketers are still sourcing the product at a higher rate, more marketers can load their trucks.
According to him, “NNPC has started releasing products to independent marketers. The queues you are seeing now are ghost queues. They appear in the morning but disappear in the afternoon or evening. It will continue like that until supply stabilizes in the coming days and becomes sufficient enough.
“You must also remember that we are in the rainy season and it takes some time for trucks to come up north. In a few days, I believe the situation will ease.”
Petrol distribution challenges, which have gone on for about six weeks have led to long queues at filling stations across the country with several marketers jerking up their pump prices.
Checks around Abuja yesterday showed that while queues have eased slightly at the stations around the central area, the supply situation remains tense in other parts of the Federal Capital Territory.
Pump prices also remained high, ranging from N685/litre at outlets operated by major marketers to N950/litre at stations managed by independent marketers.
He said: “So we sell as we can buy and put up markups and margins to be able to make little profit. The transportation cost is a lot higher now. The product we normally bring in at N800,000 now costs N3.5 million because of the high cost of diesel and maintenance cost of the trucks.”
He disclosed that IPMAN is still waiting to meet with the management of the Dangote Refinery ahead of the expected release of petrol from the refinery, stressing that independent marketers are determined to remove middlemen from their dealings with the refinery.
“We are still anticipating that Dangote will invite us as one of the major stakeholders in the downstream of the oil and gas distribution chain. We will be one of their major off-takers. We are serious about the issue of third parties and that this is what IPMAN is trying to erase. Third parties’ involvement increases cost of the product and we don¡¯t want that to happen,” he added.
Scarcity worsens in Lagos, Ogun, others
Checks indicated that the situation in Lagos, Ogun and other states that had recorded improvement in the past few days, yesterday, worsened as long fuel queues reappeared in many parts of the states.
There were several long queues at some filling stations, especially the outlets belonging to the NNPC and major oil marketers, which sold it at about N568 per litre while their independent counterparts sold it at between N900 and N950 per litre.
However, others without the product simply shut their gates against motorists and other buyers while hawkers were seen freely hawking it at higher prices, ranging between N1,000 and N1,500 per litre, depending on location.
Transporters lament, jerk up fares by over 200%
Further checks indicated that there was a significant increase in transport fares and motorists passed the cost of the high price to commuters in Lagos, Ogun and other states.
It now costs about N6,000 to travel from Ikorodu to Victoria Island, Lagos, a trip that used to cost less than N2,000 before the shortage.
Mr. Emmanuel Okonkwo, a Sienna bus driver who plies Lagos to Owerri said: “Naturally, the fuel scarcity is affecting our business negatively. Nowadays, there is no fixed fare for trips again, you fix what you like and the way it suits you to enable you remain in business. The worst aspect of it is that people are no longer traveling like before, hardly could one get full load in Toyota Sienna bus. If you are lucky to get full load, you should thank your star.
“In most cases you get four to five passengers and after all expenses, you discover that you are left with nothing to go home with. We are not finding it easy at all, because it takes a long time to get full load, departure and arrival time also have been affected. Drivers get to their destinations late as a result of queuing for fuel on the road.
“In most cases they have to sleep in any town before proceeding the next day due to fear of insecurity. In fact things are no longer the same.”
Another driver , who operates from Lagos to Port Harcourt, Mr. Eugene Eze noted that the scarcity was affecting their business because they queue all day to get fuel and at the end not having passengers on ground like before. He said that outside Lagos, fuel is sold at between N900 to N1,000, and this affects our profit.
He said: “We are working for nothing under the present fuel scarcity situation. The dilemma is that we can’t increase fares because passengers cannot afford the high fares.
“The danger is that we will be out of business if the fuel price continues the way it is. The vehicle maintenance is getting higher by the day and the option is to stop putting the vehicles on the road.
“Presently drivers spend a full day to search for fuel which they purchase at very high price. Our business is heading towards extinction. We are not even talking about extortion by local government officials and law enforcement agents on the road that collect toll fares from the transporters. It is very tough for us. Government should hear our cry and help us before we become unemployed,” he said.
Price rises as few depots have product
A visit to some depots in Lagos, including at Satellite Town yesterday, indicated that many of them have depleted their stocks, thus resulting in price hike.
However, it was gathered that some operators have concluded plans to further increase their depot prices to N800 per litre, from over N780 per litre.
Regulator not monitoring
The checks indicated that officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, were not physically present at filling stations to monitor activities, thus culminating in irregularities, including pump manipulation.
Rains, lightning, thunderstorms, cause of shortage — NNPC
However, NNPCL¡¯s Vice President (Downstream), Dapo Segun, attributed the shortage to rains, lightning and thunderstorms.
Speaking during a press conference at the NNPC Towers, he said: “We apologise to Nigerians for the fuel queues. Many of the challenges we’re facing are outside our control, but we’re doing our best to address them.
“The recent rains have made the Escravos channel difficult to navigate due to siltation, which has significantly hindered our ability to transport petroleum products, especially PMS, across the country.”
He said lightning and thunderstorms culminated in suspension of fuel discharges, adding that the situation is worsened by the poor states of roads in the country
Nigeria becoming failed state — PENGASSAN
However, President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Engr. Festus Osifo, who is also President of the Trade Union Congress TUC, attributed Nigeria’s current economic hardship to government policies like floating of the currency.
Engr. Osifo stated the above in his address on Wednesday in Abuja, at the 3rd edition of PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit with the theme, “The future of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry: Energy mix, energy security, artificial intelligence, divestment and crude oil theft.”
He said: “A country that cannot meet its energy needs or guarantee energy availability for its citizens is on the path of becoming a failed state.
“As an association, we have mounted the rostrum over time, both on the streets and in the boardroom, to champion this cause, and we will not relent until victory is certain.
“As we gather here, let us not lose sight of the broader state of our nation. Nigeria stands at the crossroads, and our actions and decisions here in the next few days will provide a framework for a policy thrust for government towards shaping the economic outlook of our country.
“It is incumbent upon us to drive positive change, foster economic growth, and ensure our people’s prosperity. Recent policy directions by the government have placed untold hardship on Nigerians. Chief among them is flotation cum devaluation of the Naira, which saw our currency sliding from 450 Naira officially in May 2023 to the current exchange rate of about 1,600 Naira.
“This is the reason why the landing price of PMS today is over 1,000 Naira (reintroduction of subsidy), the reason why AGO is selling for over 1,300 Naira, and the reason why all imported commodities are over the roof today. The over-arching impact of this on Nigerians can only be imagined rather than experienced.”
Emmanuel Ayoola, former chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), is dead.
Musa Aliyu, ICPC chairman, announced Ayoola’s death in a statement on Wednesday.
Ayoola, who was the second ICPC chairman, died on Tuesday at the age of 91.
He served as the commission’s chairman between 2005 and 2010, after succeeding Mustapha Akanbi.
Ayoola served the country in various capacities. He was appointed as a high court judge in 1976 and rose through the ranks to the supreme court.
He retired as a justice of the nation’s apex court in 2003, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70.
He was born on October 27, 1933, in Ilesha, Osun state.
Ayoola attended Temidire Model School from 1939 to 1943 for his primary education and Ilesha Grammar School from 1944 to 1950 for his secondary education.
Ayoola obtained a law degree in 1957.
He studied at several institutions, including the University of London and Oxford University London.
In 2002, the secretary-general of the United Nations (UN) appointed Ayoola as a judge of the appeals chamber of the special court for Sierra Leone.
The court was set up to try those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Sierra Leone civil war.
He was president of the court from 2004 to 2005.
In a tribute, the ICPC chairman said Ayoola’s death “marks the end of an illustrious chapter in the history of Nigeria’s judiciary and the broader legal profession”.
“A jurist of international repute, his legal career spanned over five decades, encompassing private practice and notable tenures on the Bench both in Nigeria and abroad,” the statement reads.
“His exceptional integrity, brilliant legal analysis, incisive judgments, and steadfast commitment to justice distinguished him as a towering figure in the legal profession.”
Aliyu said during his days as the ICPC chairman, Ayoola was “unwavering in his commitment to the fight against corruption—a cause he championed with vigour and a profound sense of duty”.
He said Ayoola’s contributions to the Nigerian judiciary and his international engagements, including his service as chief judge of the Gambia and his role at the special court for Sierra Leone, “reflect his dedication to upholding the rule of law and justice globally”.
“Justice Ayoola’s exemplary life and work have left an indelible mark on the legal profession, inspiring generations of legal practitioners and public servants,” he said.
“As we mourn the loss of this extraordinary jurist, we also celebrate a life well-lived, one dedicated to the pursuit of justice, fairness, and the betterment of society.
“The ICPC and the entire nation have lost a venerable elder statesman. However, his legacy will continue to guide and inspire our ongoing efforts in the battle against corruption, providing hope for a more just and fair society.”
The federal government has approved the upward review of the cost of obtaining the country’s passport.
KT Udo, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), announced the new passport fees in a statement on Wednesday.
Udo said the increase of the passport fee by the federal government is “part of its efforts to maintain the quality and integrity of the Nigerian standard passport”.
The NIS spokesperson said the 32-page passport booklet with a validity of five years now costs N50,000 from N35,000, while the 64-page booklet with 10-year validity is N100,000 from N70,000.
He added that the increase takes effect on September 1.
“Based on the review, 32-page Passport booklet with 5-year validity previously charged at Thirty-five Thousand Naira (N35,000.00) will now be Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000.00) only; while 64-page Passport booklet with 10-year validity which was Seventy Thousand Naira (N70,000.00) will be One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00) only,” the statement reads.
“However, the fees remain unchanged in Diaspora.
“While the Nigeria Immigration Service regrets any inconvenience this increase might cause prospective applicants; it assures Nigerians of unwavering commitment to transparency and quality service delivery at all times.”