Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, said that if he were to become the nation’s next leader, he would undertake the extensive restructuring that the people of the country’s south-west geopolitical zone have been calling for.
Atiku made the statement on Thursday while speaking to a crowd of thousands of Oyo state residents and party leaders who had gathered in front of Mapo Hall in Ibadan, the state’s capital, for his presidential campaign rally.
While lamenting the neglect of the south west, which has long called for restructuring, the former vice president promised that the country would undergo the restructuring that the people have been calling for would be implemented when he gets to power in May this year.
Atiku alleged that the current government at the federal level has failed to restructure the country, despite the fact that the people of the region have been clamouring for it over the years.
While pledging the people that his administration would implement what the current government has failed to do, Atiku noted that his administration will give more powers to states and local government areas.
He added that restructuring of the country will be one of the cardinal points of his administration.
According to him, “I will restructure Nigeria. Restructuring of the country will be achieved during my time. By restructuring, we mean giving more powers and autonomy to the states and local government areas.
“It will be one of the pillars of my government. They have failed to implement it. Vote them out. Vote them out completely.
“From top to bottom, vote for PDP, from bottom to top, vote for PDP. We thank you very much. Vote for PDP so that together, we can match to progress”.
Some of the chieftains of the party who were at the PDP campaign in the state included the Vice Presidential candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP National Chairman, Iyorcha Ayu, his predecessor, Prince Uche Secondus, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state and his counterpart from Balyesa, Douye Diri, former governor of Kogi and Osun states; Idris Wada and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola respectively and Mrs. Titi Abubakar Atiku.
Others are Senator Dino Melaye, former Vice President, Architect Nnamadi Sambo, former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido, Hon. Indidi Elumelu, Abdul Ningi, former governor of Adamawa state, Bonie Haruna, former governor of Cross River, Lyel Imoke, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Senator Philip Aduda, Chief Wole Oyelese, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Hazeem Gbolarumi, Prof Abiodun Raufu and others.
The State Government of Lagos has started to take action to regulate the activities of major and Independent Petroleum Marketers operating along major roads and traffic-prone areas within the State in light of the persistent fuel shortage that has persisted throughout the Country and has continued to affect the free flow of traffic in Lagos.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Transportation, the action is necessary to curb the indiscriminate actions of drivers waiting in lines to buy gasoline who frequently park irresponsibly on roads and bridges, obstructing the free flow of traffic.
The announcement also revealed that big and Independent Petroleum Marketers, whose filling stations are located on important highways and locations vulnerable to traffic, will henceforth be allowed to operate only between the hours of 9am to 4pm daily, pending when the fuel shortage crisis subsides.
It added that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Transport Operations Compliance Unit (TOCU) and other Law Enforcement Agencies have been charged to ensure seamless flow of traffic across the State, while admonishing all major and Independent Petroleum Marketers to comply with this directive or be sanctioned.
Funke Akindele, the Lagos State Peoples Party (PDP) Deputy Governorship Candidate, visited significant marketplaces in Lagos Island and asked vendors to cast their ballots for the main opposition party in the general elections of 2023.
The PDP candidate for governor in the upcoming general elections, Dr. Abdul-Azeez Adediran, also known as Jandor, and Nollywood star Akindele gave the traders the assurance that only the PDP will end their suffering in the markets and the state.
The traders flocked and thronged about the actress in awe as she toured Mami Market, Obada Obalende, Obalende Ijeh Market, Ajah Market, and other significant markets in the region.
In each of the markets visited, Akindele assured the traders that the PDP government would alleviate their plights, provide enabling environment, social amenities and soft loans for them to run their businesses.
According to her:” The PDP government would not let them down but would empower them and ensure free and compulsory education for their children with free school uniforms and at least a meal per day.
“The sufferings and hardship in Lagos state is too much. It is time for a real change in our condition and the change is in your hands.
“It is your right to have better Lagos where you have enabling environment for you businesses. Your fate is in your hands, the power is in your hand to rescue the state using your PVCs.
She added, “When we say fight for Lagos, we are not saying you should bring out cutlasses and knives but to bring out your PVCs and use it to install a better governance for yourself and your children.
“I bring a good news to you women that Jandor (Adediran) has made provision for women, children and people living with disabilities,” she said.
Akindele said that the next government would be for women, men, children, old, young and special children.
She urged the traders to go and pick up their Permabent Boters Cards (PVCs) and vote for PDP candidates in all the elections to bring relief to their hardship in the state
Akindele said that: “I will never represent bad deal and that is why I am standing with Jandor (Adediran). We want to take over Lagos state so that we can give you a better Lagos.
“Go and collect your PVCs if you have yours already, please on election day, come out and vote PDP.
“We need a change. The one APC did is enough, we must do another party. Vote all PDP candidates, I beg.”
Akindele, who urged marketers to troop out en mass to vote PDP, assuring them that she would not let the people of the state down.
“I will not disappoint you, we shall protect you and your children as well as the physically challenged people. Let us try PDP and bring in fresh air. We won’t let you down.
“The time has come for a turnaround in the state. We will not renege on promises. We shall reform and turnaround Lagos with the huge wealth in the state.
“We shall build modern markers, provide soft loans, fire service and mobile health care close to markets. Lagos has money to do these.
‘”We will make sure we protect our youths, we will empower them. We will make a change,” she assured.
In an interactive session with Market leaders at Ajah Market, Akindele said that with PDP at the helms of affairs in Lagos State, many of the tears of the traders would be wiped away.
Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, has stated that he will not descend to the low level of personal attacks and lies being spread by his opponents, nor will he join arguments with those who, in an effort to hide their character flaws, use mudslinging and foul language to disparage their fellow candidates.
Atiku stated that he would rather take the high road of decency and statesmanship to continue advancing his manifesto, adding that he is absolutely committed to his contract with Nigeria.
Atiku, in a statement said: “I have since resolved not to descend to the low level of personal attacks and lies being peddled by my opponents. Nor will I join issues with those who, in an attempt to cover their character deficiencies, resort to mudslinging and gutter language, in a desperate attempt to disparage their fellow contestants.
“I’d rather take the high road of dignity and statesmanship to continue to advance our manifesto, as we continue to inform the Nigerian people of how the Atiku-Okowa government intends to stop the slip into the abyss by a country that is so blessed with human and natural resources.
“I will remind them about our past success when I served Nigeria meritoriously as the Vice President in the government that has been adjudged as the best so far since our return to democracy in 1999.
“I want to share our dreams and achievable development plans for our today and our future.”
He promised what he will do when elected as the President, adding, “we shall assemble a team of some of the brightest and best Nigerians that abound within the country and in the Diaspora to assist in rebuilding our country. This is my commitment and my contract with the Nigerian people.
“To this end, my priorities shall include but not limited to unifying the nation to give every citizen that is a Nigerian, every state and every gender, religion and ethnicity a sense of justice, inclusion, equity and trust.”
Atiku further explained that he will ensure that the nation is safe and secure in the country, adding that he government will be preoccupied with resetting the nation’s battered economy.
He said: “We shall not only ensure that all Nigerians are treated equally, but that they feel safe and secure as opposed to the regime of pervasive insecurity that has gripped the entire country for too long.
“We shall also be preoccupied with resetting Nigeria’s battered economy, especially finding sustainable solutions to the recurring issues of debt management, deficits, subsidies and the flagging value of the Naira.
“The boosting of crude oil production, stoppage of oil theft and ramping up of non-oil exports to improve earnings are also top on my priorities.
“The reset of our education, to drive our development agenda, and the restructuring of our socio-economic and political structures will be defining efforts of my administration.
“In addition, Diaspora remittances will be given serious attention, particularly now that it has exceeded Nigeria’s earnings from crude oil to shore up our much-needed foreign exchange needs.”
As Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, launches his 2023 presidential campaign in Oyo state on Thursday, it appears that the alliance between the party’s G-5 governors has broken down. Oyo state governor Engr. Seyi Makinde has agreed to attend.
Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu are the leaders of the G-5 group.
According to a former minister and close ally of Makinde, after a series of reconciliation meetings, Makinde, the only governor of the G-5 running for re-election, has promised to cooperate with Atiku in order to
The Federal Government has presented certificates of registration to the two new academic unions in the university system, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).
Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, made the presentation with official gazette in Abuja, at a special press briefing.
Speaking before the formal presentation, Ngige said if a group of people felt that they were no longer useful or were forced out of a union, they reserved the right to aggregate themselves and ask for registration as a union, as guaranteed by Sections 40 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and 87 of ILO conventions.
He recalled that NAMDA and CONUA were earlier issued letters of recognition by his ministry on the recommendation of committees set up by the ministry to consider their applications for registration as trade unions in the university system.
Ngige said, “The certificates are here for you to operate fully as trade unions. Letters have gone to the security agencies, to accord you all rights given to other unions, for your meetings, AGMs and delegates assembly.
“Same has been done to all government ministries, departments and agencies, including the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, so that your check-off dues will be deducted from source and given to you. Don’t behave like ASUU. Render your accounts to your followers and government.”
Reminiscing on the events that brought about the two unions, Ngige said a group of teachers in the university system applied to his ministry in 2018 to be registered as the Congress of Nigeria University Academics and they set up a committee, which did their work and by early 2019, recommended that the union should be registered.
“Nevertheless, we did not register the union because we wanted to make sure that we are on the right path. By 2020, the request came back and this time around, they explained that they had been expelled from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and therefore denied protection. And that the expulsion was as a result of their unwillingness to go the way of ASUU. They complained of lack of democratisation inside ASUU and lack of transparency in the management of finances of ASUU, just like the ministry pointed out to ASUU that it has not audited its accounts.
“As of the time they were saying this in 2020, ASUU had not audited its accounts for four years. We wrote ASUU, asking them to tender the accounts for the years 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, but nothing was done. So, the committee felt that this association had a case. If check-off dues are deducted from your salary, you have a right to know how they are spent.
“And we as the Ministry in charge do not also know how it was spent whereas it is our law that they are operating. Talking in terms of deduction of check-off dues at source, the RTU 18 and Section 37 of the Trade Union Act, talks about rendering account to the Registrar of Trade Union (RTU). It says that those accounts must be rendered before June 1, every given year.
“The letter was unattended to in 2020. In 2022, ASUU was asked to respond to that letter and show cause why the penalty spelt out in that section 37 of Trade Union Act, should not apply to them. This includes also the withdrawal of the certificate of registration as a trade union, which ipso facto grants them the powers to receive check-off dues from their members monthly from their salaries.
“So, to cut the story short, the ministry decided to register members of CONUA to operate as a full-fledged union and we gave them letter of recognition. By the processes of the law, after the letters of the union is given, you gazette that union. It is part of Section 3 (2) of the Act and this section permits the Minister to regroup an existing union when its functionality is no longer guaranteed. And that is what we have exercised with CONUA.”
Regarding NAMDA, Ngige said the medical doctors in academics, including pre-clinical teachers complained that they were not being protected by ASUU and applied for registration as a union.
According to him, the medical teachers said ASUU negotiations do not cover them, in terms of their welfare, conditions of service and allowances.
“A committee was empanelled to look into it and it discovered a lot of rumblings in the sector, by which after a residency training programme, a medical consultant who has his part 2, coming into academics, loses seniority and even emoluments on CONUASS system scale. These are issues that have lingered over the years and they made their complaints. We thought we should streamline some of these things. The committee recommended that they come out of ASUU and have their own association.
“This is not an abnormal thing. We have unbundled the Nigerian union of Pensions in 2018. We now have contributory pensioners and pensioners in the public service agencies.
“Unbundling is dynamic. It is change. Change is constant in line. It is only a dead institution that does not want a change. We must change. As human beings, some cells die in the body and are replaced.
“Even the other PHCN was unbundled into generation, transmission and distribution. So, it is not a new thing. NNPC was unbundled the other day. This is life. Today, these bodies have come to receive their registration certificates.”
He assured that the government would address the issue of witheld salaries of members of the two unions.
He noted that members of CONUA were not part of ASUU strike but were locked out by the management, while the medical lecturers graduated medical doctors during the strike.
Responding, the Coordinator of CONUA, Dr Niyi Somonu, described the event as historic and appreciated the Minister for the registration of their unions, saying his members have been liberated from the shackles of ASUU.
Somonu said they would use the platform to promote the interest of their members, conscious of national interest.
Similarly, the National Vice President of NAMDA, Dr Ali Mohammed Ramat, praised Ngige for the courage to take the bold step, assuring that it would impact on the quality of medical doctors produced from our medical schools.
“You cannot keep the medical students at home for eight months and expect quality medical doctors.”
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, a former president of Nigeria, has warned the political establishment to let the court carry out its constitutional duties since society is dynamic.
In Yenagoa, the state capital, Dr. Jonathan offered the warning last week during the book presentation/reception that concluded a week of events honoring Justice Kate Abiri, the chief judge of Bayelsa State, who is retiring.
The former president commended Justice Abiri for the crucial role she played in avoiding a constitutional crisis by ordaining Nyesom Wike as governor of Rivers State. He also cautioned politicians against becoming enamored with their own positions of power.
Jonathan also urged legal professionals to uphold the law which he noted was significant in the delivery of justice.
His words: “I advise politicians that while in office, let us not try to blackmail the judiciary because it is conservative. When we get political power, we get so blinded. Politicians should know that society is changing.
“Today, we are celebrating our retiring Chief Judge because she has served meritoriously. In 2015, she left Bayelsa for Rivers to perform the swearing-in of the governor thereby averting anarchy. It appears that the judicial arm is more functional than the executive.”
In his remarks, Bayelsa governor, Sen. Douye Diri, hailed Justice Abiri for her outstanding achievements, noting that during her 15-year term as Chief Judge, she swore in three governors in Bayelsa and one in Rivers. They are Chief Timipre Sylva (2008), Senator Seriake Dickson (2012), Sen. Douye Diri (2020) and Nyesom Wike (2015).
Governor Diri described Abiri as a legal icon who rendered unblemished and meritorious service in three decades of legal practice. He added that the state would still require her services due to her commitment and wealth of experience.
Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanikpekun (SAN), who chaired the occasion, described Abiri as an elegant, brilliant and hardworking jurist who represents the best in the legal profession.
Chief Olanikpekun also commended Gov Diri’s administration for supporting the judiciary, expressing the belief that in a few days a substantive Chief Judge would be appointed for the state judiciary.
Responding, Justice Abiri expressed appreciation to Gov. Diri for his support and encouragement to the judiciary owing to its financial autonomy, stressing “the state judiciary now executes quality projects without external supervision or stifling of funds”.
However, the three books unveiled include “Kate Abiri: Footprints on the Bench,” “Judges and Judging in Nigeria” and “Bayelsa State Law Reports: Volume One.”
Chief launcher and Chairman of De Wayles Group of Companies, High Chief Emonena Victor Wayles Egukawhore, JP, expressed his appreciation for the honour to launch the books. He commended the authors for their initiatives, expressing the confidence that the books would enrich knowledge and enhance understanding of their subjects and purpose.
He acknowledged the efforts that obviously went into bringing the books to fruition and wished them well in their future endeavours. He went on to donate the sum of $100,000 and N20 million for the books, while both the Rivers and Bayelsa State governments donated substantial amounts with a plethora of donations from individuals.
Dignitaries at the colourful event include wife of former president, Dame Patience Jonathan, Justice Chima Centus Nweze, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, (HRM) Justice Francis Tabai, JSC (rtd), Zamfara State Chief Judge, Justice Lulu Aliyu, Gov. Nyesom Wike and Gov. Godwin Obaseki (represented), other serving and retired Justices, legal icons/luminaries and a host of others.
According to the Department of State Services (DSS), there was no invasion of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to detain Governor Godwin Emefiele.
In a brief statement released on Monday, its spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, stated: “The Department of State Services (DSS) has been alerted to the false rumors circulating that its agents raided the Central Bank of Nigeria and detained its Governor today, 16/1/23. This is false information that is quite deceptive.
Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has since returned to work following his yearly holiday.
Emefiele, who had taken a leave of absence in December 2022, started working again today, January 16.
The Governor resumed with renewed vigour to perform his duty ahead of the first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the year scheduled for January 23 to 24, 2023.
A statement signed by Osita Nwanisobi Director, Corporate Communications, said Emefiele remains committed to performing the task before him in line with his oath of office and the policy direction of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“While thanking the public for keeping faith with the bank, we urge Nigerians to continue to support the policies of the bank aimed at ensuring a stable financial system and the Nigerian economy in general”, Nwanisobi said.
At the last meeting in November 2022, the MPC voted to increase the benchmark interest rate by 100 basis points to 16.5per cent, the highest since 2001. The MPC said the tightening would curb a higher rate of inflation and restore investors’ confidence. Highlights of the MPC meeting included: increase MPR by 100 basis points to 16.5per cent; the asymmetric corridor of +100/-700 basis points around the MPR was retained; the CRR was retained at 32.5per cent; while the Liquidity Ratio was also kept at 30per cent.
The apex bank had increased the MPR from 11.5 per cent earlier this year to 15.5 per cent across three consecutive rate hikes.
Experts are not united about the possible outcome of the meeting there are calls for the bank to continue tightening by a section while others are looking for commencement of easing going forward
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party, promised on Monday at Chatham House in London that, if elected, his administration would destroy the criminal justice system that had been used for years to repress the nation.
Additionally, he disclosed that an Obi-Datti presidency would foster competence, character, and capability, fostering the development of talents and ideas.
The LP Presidential Candidate bemoaned what he regarded as the existing transactional practices that foster corruption in government while fielding questions from a cross-sector audience at the renowned British International Policy Institute.
These he identified equally enhance inefficiency, as he allayed fears of a logjam between the legislature and executive if he emerges President in 2023.
Though the National Assembly may be dominated by other parties, Obi said he went through such experience as Governor of Anambra state when none of the 30 members of the State of Assembly came from his political party, adding that what he needed to navigate such case is to do the right thing, avoid nepotism and transactional policies, because even the parliamentarians desire good governance.
Regarding allegations of refusing to condemn secessionist agitations by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) the former Anambra State governor said that for him and many other reasonable Nigerians including Igbos, the Biafra war ended 53 years ago. But he is not oblivious of the agitators’ demands for justice.
“We are going to look into the issue of justice and marginalization in which some of them are hinging their grievances.
“We are going to apply the carrot and stick in dealing with the agitators. But in the end there can only be one government and we will be in charge,” he explained.
The presidential frontrunner while answering questions asked by a former British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, on attracting investors to Nigeria, likened his economic blueprint to bee and honey, adding that he will create an enabling environment where rule of law thrives.
This is as he identified security as his top priority, insisting that everything will be done to secure the environment and he will do this by first turning the country into production and pulling people out of poverty and adequately utilizing our military.
“Our military once secured Africa and they should secure Nigeria and we will provide the needed leadership and political will,” he supplied.
He also answered questions on the independence of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), saying that what is happening in the apex bank now is a consequence of mix up of responsibilities and not necessarily of competence, a situation he assured his regime will correct by ensuring that square pegs are in square holes both in personnel and policies.
Obi also said that the on-going fiscal rascality in the system will be dismantled and order and discipline injected into the country’s monetary policies.
On how to navigate the so-called ‘big boys’ to be able see through his beautiful policies if elected, the LP standard bearer said the challenge will be surmounted as there will be no sacred cow.
The former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fidelity Bank provided insight on his plans for the country’s education, Health sectors, debt servicing among others.
Accordingly, he warned that the country’s problem is so serious and does not require a President idling away.
According to a National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report, the headline inflation rate decreased by 0.13% over the period under review from November 2022’s headline inflation rate of 21.47% to 21.34% in December 2022.
According to the research, which was made public on Monday in Abuja, the headline inflation rate was 5.72% points higher in December 2022 than it was in December 2021 (15.63%).
According to the report, “In December 2022, the headline inflation rate eased to 21.34% compared to November 2022 headline inflation rate which was 21.47%.
“Looking at the trend, December 2022 inflation rate showed a decline of 0.13% when compared to November 2022 inflation rate.
“However, on a year on year basis, the headline inflation rate was 5.72% points higher com pared to the rate recorded in December 2021, which was (15.63%).
“This shows that the headline inflation rate increased in the month of December 2022 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., December 2021).
“On a month-on-month basis, the percentage change in the All Items Index in December 2022 was 1.71%, which was 0.32% higher than the rate recorded in November 2022 (1.39%).
“This means that in the month of December 2022, the general price level was 0.32% higher relative to November 2022.
“The percentage change in the average CPI for the twelve months ending December 2022 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve months period was 18.85%, showing 1.89% increase compared to the 16.95% recorded in December 2021.
“The increases were recorded in all COICOP divisions that yielded the Headline index most especially in Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Transport and Miscellaneous Goods and Services.
“Basically, the likely factors responsible to increase in inflation rate in monthonmonth can be attributed to the sharp increase in demand usually experience during the festive season, increase in the cost of production e.g. increase in energy cost, transportation cost, exchange rate depreciation etc.
“On a year-on-year basis, in the month of December 2022, the urban inflation rate was 22.01%, this was 5.85% higher compared to the 16.17% recorded in December 2021.
“On a month-on-month basis, the urban inflation rate was 1.80% in December 2022, this was 0.31% higher compared to November 2022 (1.50%).
“The corresponding twelve-month average for the urban inflation rate was 19.38% in December 2022. This was 1.86% higher compared to the 17.52% reported in December 2021.
“The rural inflation rate in December 2022 was 20.72% on a year-on-year basis; this was 5.61% higher compared to the 15.11% recorded in December 2021. On a month-on-month basis, the rural inflation rate in December 2022 was 1.63%, up by 0.33% compared to November 2022 (1.30%).
“The corresponding twelve-months average for the rural inflation rate in December 2022 was 18.34%. This was 1.94% higher compared to the 16.40% recorded in December 2021.
“The food inflation rate in December 2022 was 23.75% on a year-on-year basis; which was 6.38% higher compared to the rate recorded in December 2021 (17.37%).
“The rise in the food inflation was caused by increases in prices of Bread and cereals, Oil and fat, Potatoes, Yam and other tubers, Fish, Food Product, etc.
“On a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate in December was 1.89%, this was 0.49% higher compared to the rate recorded in November 2022 (1.40%).
“This increase was attributed to increase in prices of some food items like Oil and fat, Fish, Potatoes & Tubers, Bread & Cereals, and Fruits etc.
“The average annual rate of food inflation for the twelve-months ending December 2022 over the previous twelve-month average was 20.94%, which was 0.53% points increase from the average annual rate of change recorded in December 2021 (20.40%)” reads the statement in parts.
