… Issues Ultimatum To Erring Operators On Service Improvement
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through its Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) has hinted that plans are under way to overhaul the Deidei livestock market to standards befitting the status of the Federal Capital Territory.
The Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim made this known during an unscheduled visit to the market to assess the level of compliance of the operators to standards and regulations set by the Administration for the conduct of business at the market.
The Secretary in a statement by Deputy Director Information, (ARDS) Zakari Aliyu expressed dissatisfaction on the situation he met at the market as it relates to poor hygienic practices and proliferation of illegal structures warned that the Secretariat will not hesitate to take drastic measured on erring operators whose activates constitutes a risk to residents.
The statement reads; ” what is happening at the Deidei livestock market is indeed very sad . The poor sanitary conditions of the market as well as the springing up of structures without approval is not acceptable to us. I have given the operators an ultimatum to take immediate measures to improve or be forced to close their operations.
The Secretariat is looking into the possibility of remodelling the market to make it more organised and easy for management by our officals”
The Secretariat he further revealed has concluded arrangements to hold an urgent meeting with stakeholders towards finding ways to address all the contentious issues.
The Deidei livestok market which is one of the largest in Nigeria was set up in 2001 as a facility for cattle goat and sheep trading as well as a Veterinary clinic abattoirs and meat processing structures.
In order to facilitate the movement and resettlement of some indigenous communities within the Abuja City Centre to their new locations, the Federal Executive Council (FCE) on Wednesday approved N5.4 billion contract for the construction of access road from Mpape to Shere-Galuwyi Resettlement Housing Scheme in Bwari Area Council of the nation’s capital.
Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, FCT Minister gave this hint in a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary Anthony Ogunlelye which a copy was made available to newsmen in Abuja.
The statement reads: ” The absence of access road to the Resettlement Site and other infrastructure has hitherto prevented the movement of the designated communities as planned.
“The Galuwyi Shere Resettlement Site is located on a 900-hectares of land in Bwari Area Council. Sixteen Communities are to be moved in two Phases: Phase I consists of most of the Communities in Phase II of the Abuja Federal Capital City (FCC) and include seven communities namely: Utako, Maje, Mabushi, Jabi Samuel, Jabi Yakubu, Kpaadna, Zhilu”.
“Phase II comprises of nine Communities: Gwarimpa, Galadima, Jahi I, Jahi II, Kado Bimiko, Kado Kuchi, Lungu, Gishiri, Daki Biu”.
“Some complimentary facilities like Primary School, Secondary School, Police Post, Overhead water tanks have also been provided at the site.
“If this road is not constructed, it will lead to further decay of the development at the Resettlement site, heighten security concerns and thereby amounting to colossal loss of financial resources as well as constituting a clog in the developmental strides of government”, the statement stated.
The Minister further hinted that the movement of the Communities will open up development along that axis and also free up land for the orderly development of the City in line with the Abuja Master Plan.
The contract for the 14.15 KM road was awarded to Messrs Vipan Global Investment Resources Limited and is expected to be completed within eighteen months.
The Governing Board, Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA), an agency of the a Presidency, on Friday unveiled the winners of the 2020/2021 Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Chairman, Governing Board, NNMA, Professor Shekarau Yakubu Aku, who announced this at a press conference in Abuja, said the Board got approval from President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, to honour three Nigerians with the award of Nigerian National Order of Merit Award (NNOM).
Our correspondent reports that the NNOM is an academic award conferred on distinguished academicians and intellectuals who have made outstanding contributions to the academic, growth and development of Nigeria.
The awardees include Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye, NNOM in Medicine (2020), Professor Godwin Samuel Ekhaguere, NNOM in Science (2021), and Professor Charles Ejike Chidume, who is to be honoured post-humously with NNOM in Science (2020), having passed before the award.
Prof. Aku, the Board Chairman, explained that Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye is an outstanding worldrenowned surgeon and scientist who is widely celebrated for having performed in-utero surgery on fetuses with large tumors while still in their mother’s womb.
His recognition as the first African and indeed the first Nigerian to perform this feat has reverberated all the world and brought immense prominence to Nigeria.
Aku, Professor Charles Ejike Chidume, who won NNOM in Science was a professor of Mathematics at African University of Science and technology, Abuja.
Chidume’s works encompasses several fields, including Nonliner Functional of Fixed Point. Analysis, Nonlinear Operator theory and differential Equations, Nonlinear Optimization in particular, his research focuses on the area of Fixed Point. Furthermore, he introduced a new and powerful iterative algorithm, which is the only one in the literature that does not involve the resolvent, for approximating a zero of maximal monotone map.
Also, Professor Godwin O, Samuel Ekhaguere, NNOM in Science (2021) is a Mathematician, with research interest and activities Principally in Mathematical Physics, Noncommutative Stochastic Analysis, Topologicay Partial -Algebras and Financial Mathematics.
Ekhaguere’s research activities jp Mathematics Physics, a discipline that straddles mathematics and physics involve innovatively creating new directions in Mathematics and deploying the outcomes to solve outstanding problems in branch of Mathematica! Physics called Axiomatic Quantum Field Theory.
The Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) was established by ACT No. 53 of the 1979 and was amended by Act No. 96 of the 1992 now LFN 122 of 2004. The Award is named Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) and is a separate Order of Dignity in the Highest Honors category in the fields of Science, Medicine, Engineering/Technology, and Humanities including Arts ‘and Culture.
Nigerian scholars have tended to carry out their researches in their order of personal interest irrespective of whether they are relevant to the needs and aspirations of the nation, except perhaps in the areas of politics.
The NNMA as an Agency is charged with selecting all intellectual and creative contributions in all areas of human endeavor, and rewarding unique contributions by the award of the NNOM.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday gained one member on the floor of the House of Representatives following the defection of Rep Yahaya Fatuba (Gombe), from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a letter read on the floor of the House by the Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, the lawmaker said he decided to defect from the APC in view of the crisis that has bedevilled the APC in recent times.
He said, the APC has not been able to conduct credible primaries in Gombe state, adding that he decided to join the PDP after painstakingly consulting with his family and constituents.
He said he believe that the PDP will afford him the opportunity to continue to deliver on his mandate to those who elected him.
Minority Leader of the House, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu welcome the development, while commending the Speaker for having the courage to read out the letter of defection.
Elumelu said the defection is a clear sign many more lawmakers are on their way to “where they belong” because the APC is factionalised and have factional chairmen across the States.
He described the Speaker as a great man for reading the letter of defection.
The Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila said he has an obligation to read any letter that comes to the House irrespective of where it is coming from.
He expressed surprise that the Minority Leader who is always quoting constitutional order anytime there is a defection would welcome the defection and not quote the constitutional order to try to stop the defection.
The House of Representatives had set up an adhoc committee to investigate the actual volume of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as fuel or petrol consumed on daily basis to determine the level of subsidy being paid by the government.
The House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila who announced the composition of the panel also set up another adhoc committee to investigate the actual state of refineries to ascertain what it will cost to bring the refineries back to life again.
Speaking at the plenary, Gbajabiamila stated that the time has come for the lawmakers to intervene in the issue, saying that it is only when this investigation is painstakingly carried out that the nation can determine the actual volume of fuel that is consumed daily in the country and the amount of subsidy being paid by the government.
He said membership of the Committee on fuel consumption, will be headed by Hon. Abdullahi Ningi (APC, Bauchi), with Hon. Ahmed Satomi, Hon. Prof Julius Ihonvbere, Hon. Usman Zanna, Hon. Leke Abejide, Hon. Uzoma Abonta, Hon. Chinda, Hon. Henry Nwawuba, Hon. Ibrahim Obanikoro, Hon. Akin Alabi , Hon. Dachung Bagos, Hon. Maki Yalleman, Hon. Dike Chisom and Hon. Prince Obi as members.
For the state of refineries, Hon. Hon. Ganiyu Johnson (APC, Lagos) is the head the panel, with Hon. Yusuf Buba, Hon. Fred Obua, Hon. Akinfolarin Mayowa, Hon. Haruna Dederi , Hon. Ibrahim Ishiaka, Hon. Ezenwankwo Okwudili, Hon. Wale Raji , Hon. Zakari Mohammed, Hon. Mansur Soro, Hon. Stanley Olajide, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, Hon. Olododo Cook Abdulganiyu, Hon. Comrade Aminu Suleiman and Hon. Johnson Oguma as members respectively.
The Speaker tasked members of the committees to speak to various stakeholders, and not rely on just figures being paraded around.
According to Gbajabiamlia : “We will be setting up two adhoc committees, to address the issue of fuel subsidy. One will look into how much fuel we consume as a nation on a daily basis. We have had figures bandied here and there without any authenticity, before we can even begin to talk subsidy like I said , we need to know how much we are consuming. The second is to look into refineries and state of repair and determine what will be needed to bring our refineries back to life again.”
“The committees has 4 weeks to present its report. In doing their work they should not restrict themselves to NNPC figures, as NNPC being an interested party of course. They should go far and wide, talk to experts, talk to labour, talk to national and international experts and those who will know. Talk to the motor vehicles registration centres, we just need to determine how much petrol we consume, talk to the transport companies, deal with facts and figures”.
Presiden Muhammadu Buhari has been accused of nominating Prof. Rhoda H. Gumus, an alleged card carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as INEC National Commissioner for Bayelsa State.
This is coming approximately seven months after the National Assembly declined to confirm a similar nomination.
President Buhari had in 2020 nominated his Personal Assistant on New Media, Lauretta Onochie, who however was rejected by the Senate following public outcry.
In a petition to the leadership of the National Assembly, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) alleged that the nomination of Prof. Gumus was in breach of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.
It also explained “that one of the factors that have compromised the credibility of elections in Nigeria is said to be the lack of structural independence of INEC. This was one of the main issues taken up by the Electoral Reform Committee in 2007.
It would recall that among the recommendations that the Committee made was the necessity for guaranteeing the independence of INEC, both through the way that the Commission is funded and through the appointment process for its members.
“Beyond this, Prof. Gumus’ confirmation by this 9th Senate will be a violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution specifically declares that appointees to the electoral body must be non-partisan and also not a card-carrying member of any political party.
Specifically, Section 14(2a) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended states that “a member of the commission shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity.
“And Section 14(3b) of the same Schedule states that “there shall be for each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, a Resident Electoral Commissioner who shall be a person of unquestionable integrity and shall not be a member of any political party.” This, however, directly applies to members appointed as Resident Electoral Commissioners.
“While preceding paragraphs empowers the president to make appointments and the Senate to make confirmations, 3b, demands that the integrity of an appointee must not be in question.
“More so, Section 152 of the Electoral Act, provides that; “No person holding an elective office to which this act relates or a registered member of a Political Party shall be eligible for or be appointed to carry out duties of a returning officer, an electoral officer, presiding officer or Poll Clerk.
The interpretation of these Sections of the law raises questions as to whether it was considered before the nomination of Prof. Gumu was made. As a card carrying member of the ruling party or any other party for that matter, Prof Rhoda H. Gumus is unfit for the position she is nominated for, a role reserved for an unbiased umpire.”
While stating that the confirmation of Gumus “will set the stage for a very huge political crisis, which is capable of derailing the country’s democratic process,” HURIWA disclosed that if the National Assembly confirms the nominee, “it will constitute a direct violence against the relevant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the independency of INEC, the Senate is hereby called upon to reject this nomination.”
“Let it be on record that we are neither in any way against the person of Prof. Rhoda Gumus nor questioning her integrity. Rather our concern is for the Senate to ensure that any such appointment capable of derogating from the impartiality of INEC is never made. As such, the senate should see it as a concern that when constituting an umpire for elections, anything that can diminish public confidence in INEC must be avoided.
“Consequently, the Senate, if it’s really made up of democrats, is called upon to reject this nomination or we will be left with no other option but to rally Nigerians to pour out on the streets to protest this brazen illegality to demolish constitutional democracy through insider political compromises.
“Additionally, we are calling on the Nigerian Senate to investigate all of the other nominations by the President especially as there are concerns that some of these nominations may have been by self-serving interests.
“We insist that it is never late to deal with any electoral commissioner who presents a likelihood of bias as it is important for Nigeria that the composition of INEC is transparently non-partisan and independent of partisan political manipulation,” the human writers group stated.
The Senate has revealed a decline of revenue from N216.65bn in 2021 to N215.81 billion in 2022 as projected Cost of Collection by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
This followed the Senate’s consideration of a report by the Committee on Finance during plenary.
Deliberating on the FIRS budget for the fiscal year, 2022, the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly approved the sum of N215,811,290,243 billion naira as budget for the Service,
In his presentation, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Lagos West), in his presentation, said out of the amount approved, N119,684,218,735 was for Personnel Cost; N60,160,518,057 for Overhead Cost; and N35,966,553,451 for Capital Cost.
He, however, explained that the difference represents a Cost of Collection (CoC) decrease of N840 million on the overall projected non-oil revenue.
Adeola disclosed that personnel cost was based on staff strength on the payroll including social benefits such as NHIS, Pension contribution among others, and anticipated performance bonus for the year.
He attributed the increase in overhead projection to the need for more robust operational activities which has a direct relationship with overhead budget lines such as electricity tariff, generator fuel cost, legal services due to tax disputes, local travels and transport and critical ones that relate directly to tax collection and administration.
The lawmaker added that capital cost estimates reported include on-going and new projects which are to be executed during the 2022 financial year.
“These are a result of expected completion of projects, payment of retention on completed projects and some new projects for effective revenue drive”, he said.
Giving a review of the 2021 Budget Performance of the FIRS, Adeola said, “the Service collected N4.53 trillion as at 31st October, 2021 out of the total projected revenue target of N7.61 trillion which represents 60 percent achievement.
“The performance based on the target for the period of N6.34 trillion represents 71 percent achievement.
“The Non-Oil component of the tax collected stands at N3.5 trillion and represents 63% achievement of total non-oil revenue target of N5.6 trillion.”
The House of Representatives has strongly condemned the rising cases of military intervention in politics in the West African sub-region.
Consequently, the House urged the Federal Government to strongly condemn the coups, impose strong sanctions, and mobilise other nations and stakeholders to impose “very extensive” sanctions.
The House further urged Civil Society Organisations across the sub-region and internationally “to condemn coups, support civil society, political parties, and parliaments to work for the immediate restoration of democratic order in the affected Nations.
It also called on the United Nations and its agencies as well as the international community to impose total sanctions on those countries where coups d’état have taken place in West Africa Sub- Region
This followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo) on matter of urgent public importance at plenary on Wednesday.
Moving the motion, Hon. Ihonvbere noted with high grave concern the emerging trend of military coups in the West African sub-region, the most recent coup in Burkina Faso being part of a resurgence of ‘’a Coup Culture’’ in West Africa;
He further noted that “for the fourth time in only six months, violence had facilitated the transfer of power in West Africa with Guinea, Mali, (twice in the past seventeen months) and Chad seeing new leaders emerge from their respective militaries, and Burkina Faso a few days ago, witnessed the overthrow of President Roch Kabore.”
According to the him, “this illegal takeover of power from democratically elected government violates several national constitutions, international conventions and protocols established by multilateral organizations, donors and development partners.”
He pointed out that since Nigeria, the traditional power house in the sub-region transited from military to civilian in 1999, there had been a strong sense that the days of military coups were effectively over, but with this emerging trend, that positive trajectory was now being reversed with the rather quick successive coups in the aforementioned countries.
He argued: “Coups subvert political processes, promotes tensions and violence, suffocates democratic spaces, suppresses basic freedoms, contains civil society and promotes corrupt undemocratic governance.”
“If the trend is not immediately and firmly checked, it could erode the democratic achievements made thus far, distort the emerging culture of constitutionalism, and promote opportunistic and undemocratic actors in the region, and by extension the continent,” the Professor of political science cautioned.
While contributing to the debate, Hon. Muhammed Monguno who condemned the coup trend urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to use its power to ensure that democracy returns to Burkina Faso and other affected West African States.
Other contributors such as the House minority leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) and Hon. Herman Hembe (APC, Benue) who also condemned the coup charged African leaders to always keep to their campaign promises whereby their countries would be developed instead of running to other developed countries like the United Arab Emirates, UAE, to invest leaving their counties under-developed
The motion was unanimously adopted when when it was put to voice vote by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, (CECPC), Governor Mai Mala Buni has denied zoning the party’s presidential ticket, party offices and other elective offices to be contested for in the 2023 general election to any Political zone of the country.
Recall that an unsigned document stating the contrary circulated last night suggesting that the party has zoned the positions, a claim the party has now renounced.
Director General Press and Media Affairs of the governor , Mamma Mohammed stated in a statement that the party was yet to zone any office saying that the fake news that formed a major news in some platforms was a figment of imagination of the crafters.
The statement reads: ‘His Excellency has in clear and unambiguous terms denied the said list, saying, it is false, baseless, unfounded, misleading and has nothing to do with him.
“The Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee, said the party has not taken any decision at any fora on anything relating to zoning of offices.
“The publication is just a figment of the author’s imagination that has nothing to do with the Chairman and the party.
“The public is hereby urged to disregard the purported list as it is misleading and completely false.
“Governor Buni urged the press to resist unverified stories and rumours, and to always verify all issues related to the party assuring that the doors of the party are always open”.
Meanwhile, a source within the party hinted that the current Caretaker Committee is not thinking of zoning the presidential ticket as there was an unwritten understanding among the Governors that that the zoning of elective offices would be handled by the incoming National Working Committee (2023)
Whereas the CECPC would concern itselfzone the various party Offices ahead of 26 February National Convention of the party, our source said the party the presidential ticket would be the responsibility of the incoming APC National Working Committee.
Former governor of Imo state, Senator Owelle Rochas Okorocha, on Wednesday wrote to the Senate of his intention to join the presidential race.
The lawmaker, sought the prayer of his colleagues, said he will address press conference to tell the nation of his intention.
He who represents Imo West senatorial district in the 9th Senate, described the qualities of the person to run the affairs of the nation.
The letter, which was read on the floor of the upper chamber of the National Assembly by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who presided over the plenary, said the country needs a detribalized Nigerian who can unite the nation.
The letter titled, “Nigerian President 2023 World Press Conference,” reads, “as you are aware, the Independent National Electoral Commission has announced the time table for the conduct of 2023 general election, including that of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“With elections drawing nearer as the days go by, our citizens are concerned about the quality of persons to run the affairs of our nation, one who can address some of their major concern which includes:
“A detribalized Nigerian who can unite our country.
“A leader with a compassionate heart, who will care for the poor and downtrodden and the masses of our country.
“A visionary leader who can create wealth for our teaming populace thereby, addressing the issues of poverty, insecurity and youth restiveness.
“It is as a result of these concerns that I wish to hold a world press conference on my intention to run for the office of the President of our dear Nation.
“I therefore wish to solicit for your prayers as I make known my intention.”
