The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has backed the motion by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP Delta), demanding the resignation or sack of the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.
The party, which said that the motion was validly laid before the House, added that it reflects the position of majority of Nigerians across board.
This was contained in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, berated the statement credited to the APC leadership in the House of Representatives, in which it attempted to create a parliamentary cover for the indicted minister, despite his being exposed as an apologist of terrorist groups, including Al-Qaeda and Taliban.
The party asserted that the manifest desperation in the statement, particularly in resorting to personal attacks on the Minority Leader as well as the spokesman of the Minority Caucus, Hon. Francis Agbo, further exposes a huge conspiracy by certain individuals working in tandem with terrorism apologists to frustrate genuine efforts to curb acts of terrorism in our country.
“Our party alerts Nigerians of a scheme by the APC leadership in the House of Representatives to create unnecessary controversies, ostensibly with a view to divert public attention from the pertinent issues at hand and by so doing, provide official cover for a confessed terrorism apologist in the Federal Executive Council,” the party said.
The PDP commended the Minority Leader, Hon. Elumelu and the minority caucus in the House of Representatives for their patriotism and courage in standing on the side of Nigerians at this critical moment, in line with the already established position of the PDP.
The party therefore urged the minority caucus to remain focused and not to be distracted by the activities of forces sympathetic to terrorist groups.
In addition , the party noted that the provisions of Order 6 (Privileges), under which the Minority Leader presented the minds of Nigerians, are clear in the pursuit of national interest.
“Anybody seeking to frustrate the import of the motion does not have the interest, security and wellbeing of the nation at heart,” the party said.
The PDP urged President Muhammadu Buhari to reassure the nation by heeding the voice of Nigerians, as contained in the statement by the Minority Leader, and relieve Isa Pantami of his position as his continued stay in office poses a grave threat to the national security.
Unknown gunmen has set ablaze the home town of Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma located in Omuma Oru East local Government Area of the state.
Reports stated that two security operatives may have lost their lives in defence of the Governor’s properties.
While the Information Commissioner Hon Mbadiwe Emelumba was quick to claimed that the attack was repelled by gallant security operatives guiding the edifice built by the Governor.
He however, revealed that in the cross fire that ensued a few casualties were recorded”.
At about 9am Saturday, April 24th, a group of hoodlums numbering about 15 were said to have driving in a motorcade of three vehicles accompanied by a tipper loaded with used tyres and stormed the country home of the governor in Omuma, Oru East LGA and set his house ablaze.
“However, vigilant security operatives attached to the Governor’s house successfully repelled the attack and consequently minimised the damage they had planned to unleash”, said the information Commissioner.
“In the cross fire that ensued a few casualties were recorded. Preliminary investigation suggests that the foiled attack may have been politically sponsored.
“The government has directed the relevant security agencies to expedite investigation on the incident and promptly apprehend the sponsors and their agents and bring them to justice”, Emelumba stated.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned in strong terms the massive sack of thousands of workers in kaduna State.
Speaking in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the National Executive Council meeting, the President Nigeria Labour Congress Comrade Ayuba Wabba said, the Central Working Committee condemns the conversion of workers to casuals by the Kaduna state government under the pretext of paucity of funds or drop in revenue.
Ayuba said that the CWC has posited and looked at all the facts associated with the issue and have said that the Kaduna state governor, as usual, has violated all the known laws that regulate labour and industrial relation in Nigeria with some sorts of disdain because casualization is criminalised in Nigeria.
He further said, in a bid to drive home its point, NLC has decided to shut down economic activities in the country for five days in both private and public sector, after which the warning strike would take another dimension if nothing is done to address the issue.
“The issue of using as an excuse, the paucity of funds is also faulted because of the fact that the same state declared an excess of over N50 billion as internally generated revenue and we know as a matter of fact that Kaduna state is one of the states receiving fat revenue from the federation account and therefore one wonders why Kaduna state government will indulge in this anti-people and anti-workers posture and decision”.
“Secondly, the law of redundancy on how to declare redundancy is also very clear and for the avoidance of doubt, the CWC reasoned that whereas the position of the law is very clear about the fact that trade unions and workers representatives must first be consulted before declaration of any redundancy. Even the terms and scope of redundancy must be discussed and agreed. There are precedents and requirements to be met before declaring redundancy. All of these have been violated and it is a matter of grave concern to Nigerians and Nigerian workers and that is why it is condemnable”.
He further said “CWC also reasoned that even those that were disengaged by the same el-Rufai were not paid. The teachers that were disengaged in their thousands with the so – called competency test even when we complained then that even deceased teachers were on the list of those who passed the competency test and therefore justified the fact that the competency test was a mere excuse to actually sack workers. Those workers in their thousands have not been paid their benefits as required by law and therefore that is why CWC is taking this issue seriously”.
“CWC also reasoned that the insecurity in the country, but particularly in Kaduna, which we have raised more than a year ago that with the mass sack of workers; it then means that bread winners will not be able to take care of their families and their children will be thrown out of school and therefore the security situation will get compounded” he added.
Ayuba added that “CWC has decided and has also recommended to the National Executive Council, that labour will withdraw all services from either public or private. When I mean all services it means all services for all sectors of the economy for five days in the first instance and where there is no remorse, it is going to be a total action because we believe that el-Rufai is not alone in this action; that neo-liberal forces and some governments are also part of it”.
He said, “More worrisome is the policy targeted at workers that have spent more than 30 years in service or some more than 20 years in service. In fact the policy said that once you are up to 50 years in service you will be disengaged and be sent off like slave or at worse like a dog without any entitlement”.
According to him, the action is taken as a last resort, it would be total, and unconditional and all its affiliate unions will be issuing statements and directives to their members to take this directive seriously and that the action will go ahead.
The Government of the Federation on Thursday said it has so far released N288billion from the N2.3trillion COVID-19 stimulus package.
Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba made this known on the sidelines of the National Steering Committee meeting of the Nigeria Open Government Partnership in Abuja.
Commenting on measures adopted to salvage the economy from collapsing as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister said the N2.3trillion stimulus package was earmarked and deployed in various sectors of the economy.
His words; “And there are basically two sources of funding the N2.3trillion.
“The first N500bn had to come from special accounts, which were embedded in the revised budget.”
“And then the other N1.8tn, which has programmes that were set up to be financed through the financial institutions.
“And we had negotiated a five per cent interest rates with a one year moratorium just to ensure that we are able to grow agriculture, look after the MSMEs, support the aviation sector”, he stated.
The minister said the Federal Government also made provisions for the states, as it stopped the repayment of loans collected by the states.
According to him, “We also made some provisions for the states for their survival. Like you know the states had some bailout funds that they got from borrowings.
“We had to stop the repayment, both the principal and the interest for a year. These are measures that had to be taken to get the economy going.”
Agba said the measures eventually paid off, as the country posted a positive GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Commenting on how much of the N2.3trillion stimulus package had so far been injected into the economy, the minister replied, “For the N500bn which came from the budget, we have released about N288bn to deal with those issues.
“Some of it revolves around infrastructure and they are not things you do in a day. It is when the work is completed that you make the balance payment.”
Gunmen suspected to be robbers on Thursday killed an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) guarding the University of Benin Bursar’s private residence at Ogheghe Community, Ikpoba-Okha local government area of Edo state.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 2.45am in the early hours of Thursday at the presidential area of the community.
A community source who pleaded annonymity said the gunmen were suspected to be fleeing from a robbery scene in the area when they inadvertently landed in the Bursar’s residence after scaling through a nearby fence.
He said; “Upon landing in the Bursar’s compound, the gunmen met the NSCDC officer identified as Alex Osaghae sleeping- and the hoodlums immediately opened fire on him and thereafter made away with the officer’s riffle.
Neither Mr. Victor Imagbe the Uniben Bursar nor Dr. Benedicta Ehanire- the institution’s spokesperson had responded to inquiries as at the time of filing this report.
However, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Edo State Command, NSCDC, Mr. Ogbebor Efosa confirmed the incident.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again insisted on state and community policy, following the unabated insecurity ravaging the nation.
Lamenting the Tuesday night’s massacre of no fewer than 30 compatriots in simultaneous bandit attacks on four villages in two local government areas of Zamfara state, the party expressed concern that bandits and terrorist elements are now holding the nation to ransom.
The party, which also bemoans the killing of a staff as well as abduction of unknown number of students of Greenfield University in Kaduna state, the same Tuesday night, pointed out that the situation is getting worse due to the manifest lack of commitment by the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to decisively confront the situation and secure the country.
This was contained in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan which was made available to newsmen in Abuja ,stating that, “today, under President Muhammadu Buhari, our nation has become an expansive killing field where bandits, terrorist, kidnappers and invaders are having a field day despoiling our communities and killing our compatriots.
The statement read in bits; “This is completely unacceptable! “Our party recalls that we had advised President Buhari to conduct a holistic rejigging of our national security architecture but Mr. President only replaced the faces of the service chiefs, without any attention to serious operational issues, as if the replacement of commanders were the exclusive magic wand for the security challenges facing our nation.
“In the same vein, our party had demanded for the decentralization of the police structure in a manner that will allow for effective state and community policing in the country.
“Rather than implement such, the Buhari presidency as well as the APC are toying with constabulary system of policing even when it is clear that such cannot be a direct response to the level of banditry and insecurity pervading our nation today.”
The PDP noted that the situation in the nation today has become too critical and demanding a surgical approach, including amendment to the constitution and other statutes that will allow for an effective community police system.
“It is clear to all, that no matter the number of the Inspector Generals that are replaced, the policing structure of our nation will remain ineffective if left under the prevailing statutory framework,” the party said.
The PDP, has, however, charged President Buhari to wake up from slumber, stop his unnecessary rhetoric, blame games and lame marching orders and take bold steps to rejig the national security architecture to guarantee the protection of lives and property in the country.
“Our party holds that President Buhari, as the commander-in-chief, who promised to lead from the front, cannot be sleeping on duty or having penchant for overseas trips when our nation is on the edge,” the party said.
Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Wednesday launched three separate attacks on some communities in Makurdi, Guma and Agatu Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue state, killing a traditional ruler, five others and left several others with various degree of injuries.
The traditional ruler, Zaki Hyacinth Ajon and Benjamin Anakula were butchered to death in Tse-Zoola village, Agan, Makurdi LGA of the state, while the herdsmen killed another two in Mbayer-Yandev council ward of Guma LGA, injuring three other persons in the process.
The other attack took place in Odugbeho council ward, Agatu LGA of the state, where two persons where shot to death by rampaging herdsmen.
In the attack on Tse-Zoola, the state Governor Samuel Ortom made a brief stop over while returning from another function, sued for calm, even as he assured the community that government would do everything within it’s powers to ensure their safety.
The oldest man in the community, Elder Aho Zoola, who narrated the incident, told the governor that “The militia herdsmen attacked our village around 2am when the people were asleep, and killed Zaki Ajon and Benjamin Anakula.”
“We have never had any issues with herdsmen even when their herds graze on our crops we watch helplessly because we do not want any problems but despite our disposition they still came and killed our Zaki and our son.”, he lamented.
Confirming the attack on Mbayer-Yandev community in Guma LGA on Thursday, the Chairman, Caleb Aba said the incident occurred at about 8pm on Wednesday.
According to him, “It happened at about 8pm though my attention was drawn to the incident at about 9pm that Fulani herdsmen invaded Mbayer-Yandev council ward, killing two persons and injuring three others who have been moved to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), for treatment.”
On the other hand, the Deputy Leader, Agatu Legislative Council, Julius Abu who confirmed the attack in Odugbeho said the herdsmen attacked and murdered two persons in his constituency, even as he condemned the killings, describing it as unprovoked.
The Deputy Leader who is also the Councillor representing Odugbeho council ward observed that those killed by the marauding herdsmen had killed Joseph Babayo and Simon Idewu both natives of Odugbeho and Ayila communities along Odugbeho road.
He appealed to government to deploy military personnel to the area to check the incessant killings and mounting tension in area, insisting that people were deserting their homes for fear of more invasion and attacks on their community.
Abi further observed that, “We have appeal to our people to remain calm and avoid the temptation of taking the law into their hands.”
However, efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue state command, DSP, Sewuese Anene to confirm the reports proved abortive, as calls put through to her were rebuffed.
The Senate Committee has expressed commitment to upgrade the Yaba College of Technology and the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro to Universities of Technology.
The committee led by Senator Ahmad Baba-Kaita (APC Katsina North) revealed through a public hearing on the three bills proposing the legislation.
While adding that the move to upgrade the institution and the Nigeria French Language Village in Ajara Badagry, Lagos State to an Inter – University Centre for French Language Studies is to expand opportunities for the country’s teeming youths to gain technology-base knowledge.
In his presentation on the bills at the Public Hearing, the Sponsor, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola stated that, “Permit me to state clearly that these three bills namely: (1) “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Federal University of Technology, Yaba ; and for other matters Connected therewith” (SB. 85) 2021; (2) “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro; to Make Comprehensive Provisions for its due Management and Administration and for Other Matters Connected therewith” (SB. 84) 2021 and (3) “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Nigerian French Language Village as an interuniversity Centre for French Studies and for Other Matters Connected therewith (58.483), are all pursuant of one of my legislative agenda to enhance and develop educational institutions as well as human resources development in Nigeria.
It is elementary to state that all aspects of development in modern world are premised on the level of education obtainable in the society.”
He argued that the country was in dire need of more tertiary institutions that cater for the country’s growing population as current available spaces in existing universities cannot meet national demand for University education.
He said, “With the massive explosion in our population estimated at over 200 million and the youthful segment consisting of over half of that figure, there is no doubt that the number and available admission spaces in our existing universities are quite limited in absorbing the number of our people desiring higher education at the university level.
With about 170 public and private universities in Nigeria with a capacity for about 700,000 students at any point in time, it is clear that in Nigeria we are yet to get to the point where we have enough admission spaces in universities for our youths in Nigeria.
The need to expand opportunities for our teeming youth in gaining admission into universities for good education, particularly technology-based education, informed my sponsorship of the bills to upgrade two major existing polytechnics to full-blown universities of technology”.
Adeola also explained that the Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos State proposed to be upgraded to Federal University of Technology, Yaba is one of the oldest tertiary educational institution in Nigeria.
According to him, “The need for the establishment of this university of technology is informed mostly by historical imperatives as well as the expansion and development of the Yaba College of Technology since its establishment in 1947 as a successor to the Yaba Higher College way back during the colonial era. Indeed, it is undisputable that Yaba College of Technology is the “cradle of higher education in Nigeria”.
“The mandate of the school is to provide full-time and part-time courses of instruction and training in technology, applied science, commerce, management and in such other fields of applied learning relevant to the needs of the development of Nigeria in the areas of industrial and agricultural production and distribution; and for research in the development and adaptation of techniques.
“The institution to a large extent has fulfilled this mandate over the years with many of its graduates playing key roles in our industry and the economy.
“The establishment of this university of technology will go a long way in addressing the challenge of the huge demand for requisite educational institution for the Mega City of Lagos State. From all estimates, projections and demographic studies, Lagos State population of over 20 million will continue to grow as a mega city.
“At present, Yaba College of Technology have Schools of (1) Arts, Design &Printing (2) Engineering (3) Environmental Studies, (4) Liberal Studies (5) Management and Business Studies (6) Science (7) Technical Education (8) Technology, with over 50 specialized departments.”, he said.
Making similar presentation on the bill for the upgrade of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro to a Federal University of Technology, Senator Adeola said : “The imperative for the establishment of this university of technology is informed mostly by the expansion and development of the Polytechnic from its inception in 1979, some 42 years ago.
“The institution presently has ample latitude for massive expansion in term of land space spanning several square kilometers of land. It is also worthy of note that the Polytechnic like Yaba College of Technology has many infrastructural facilities, which many state-owned universities and privately-owned universities cannot boast of.
“At present it has fully developed Schools of: (1) Applied Science (2) Engineering (3) Environmental Studies, (4) Information &Technology (5) Management Studies with over 40 Departments in different areas of specialization in the schools. The Polytechnic at Ilaro also have a Radio Station serving as training centre as well as public enlightenment for host and neighbouring communities.
“The establishment of Federal University of Technology, Ilaro in Ogun State will also go a long way in balancing the spread of educational infrastructure in the state and other parts of our nation. Among the three Senatorial Districts of Ogun State, the Senatorial District where this proposed University is cited, is the only one without a state or Federal Government owned university with the two other Senatorial Districts having upward of two State/Federal Government owned universities located therein”.
He added that for the bill on the establishment of Nigeria French Language Village, Ajara Badagry, Lagos State, as an Inter-University Centre for French Language Studies, its passage and eventual enactment into law, will cure the anomaly of the institution’s existence in Nigeria since 1991 (29 years) without a legislation.
According to him, in our on-going drive for holistic development, Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind in French Language proficiency among the comity of Nations at the international level.
Virtually all the Stakeholders who attended the public hearing like representative of the National Universities Commission (NUC), management and staffers from the affected Institutions, supported the legislative proposals.
The Federal Executive Council has approved contracts for the emergency rehabilitation/improvement of access road to the Idu Screening and Isolation Center and Gosa Solid Waste disposal site in Abuja.
The rehabilitation is at a contract sum of N3,524,524,912.81 (Three Billion, Five Hundred and Twenty Four Million, Five Hundred and Twenty Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twelve Naira, Eighty One Kobo) to Messrs CCECC Nigeria Ltd.
The Council also approved the contract for the Emergency Rehabilitation /Improvement of Access Road to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) Reference Laboratory in the Gaduwa District of Abuja at the sum of N2,493,389,942.88 (Two Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety Three Million, Three Hundred and Eighty Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty Two Naira and Eighty Eight Kobo) to Messrs CBC Global Civil and Building Construction Nig Ltd
A statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello Chief Press Secretary, Mr Anthony Ogunleye stated that these approvals were based on memos presented to the Federal Executive Council by the minister.
Speaking on the significance of the projects, the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Engr Umar Gambo Jibrin revealed that at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the site currently housing the Idu Screening and Isolation Center was identified as the best suited place for the establishment of such a facility out of several that were considered for the fight against the virus. However, the access road to the Idu Isolation Center was unmotorable, hence the need for its rehabilitation.
On the construction of the access road to the NCDC at the Gaduwa District, Engr Jibrin said that in a similar vein, at the onset of the pandemic the access road to the NCDC facility at Gaduwa was equally unmotorable leading to the decision to embark on an emergency procurement process to rehabilitate it
The Executive Secretary said that the rehabilitation works are substantially completed and include the installation of standalone solar streetlights.
He also revealed that in the course of rehabilitating the access road to the NCDC, access road to the Nigerian Medical Dental Council facility also located within the Gaduwa District was also rehabilitated.
According to the Executive Secretary, these projects are essential to the FCT Administration in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funding for these projects are sourced from the Revised FCT Year 2020 Statutory Budget.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through it Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DTRS) on Thursday raided illegal motor parks and garages along corridors of both sides of Area 1 roundabout through Area 3 junction and Apo roundabout, in the nation’s capital city.
This is to ensure free flow of traffic on Abuja roads, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Officials of DRTS in collaboration with FCTA Command and Control Taskteam on City Sanitation led by Shehu Adams stormed the area at about 8:30 o’clock in the morning for the enforcement exercise, which resulted in confiscation of the forty-six vehicles, one tricycle and four motorcycles.
Newsfocusng.com observed that the Taskteam repeatedly went round the area, as the motorists kept returning to the cleared spots to continue their business.
Our correspondent reports confiscated vehicles will be released to their owners upon payment of fines ranging from N25,000 to N40,000 respectively, in order to serve as deterrent to others.
Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations and Enlightenment, DTRS, Mr. Kalu Emetu said the parks were raided, to rid them of all the activities that obstruct traffic on roads in the city.
Emetu hinted that the penalty for the offence depends on the kind of vehicle involved and offence committed. So they are N25,000 and some are up to N40, 000, adding that the main thing is for it to serve as deterrent.
According to him; “We have been at Area 1 &3, Apo Legislative bridge, Apo Roundabout; but we will stillgo to Berger. We don’t stop, because we have a Taskforce, whose primary function is to move round the city daily, to make sure that we clear these kind of obstructions.
“The DTRS is responsible for this activity, so every day we go to the streets to make sure that all those illegal activities on the roads are cleared. That was exactly what we did this morning (yesterday).
“And so far, forty-six (46) vehicles, one tricycle and four motorcycles have been impounded. It’s not right for you to stop in the middle of the road to pick passengers, because when Abuja is clean, is for all of us.
He continued; “We want every residents of Abuja to know there are alternatives- let them go to the approved garages to board vehicles, and refrain from boarding vehicles loading on the road corridors.
” It’s part of the effort been made to ensure that there is free flow of traffic, which affects aspects of life. For instance if the roads are not free, it affects the economy adversely, so every government makes concerted efforts to ensure that there is always free flow of traffic.
“The other effort we are making is to intensive sensitisation campaign to ensure that people must obey traffic laws”.
