…Gov Urges Medical Practitioners To Uphold Oath In Discharging Duties
Doctors in Lagos on Wednesday hailed the efforts of the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for his efforts towards resolving the outstanding issues relating to welfare of doctors as well as improving the healthcare delivery in the state.

Speaking at the General Meeting/Scientific Conference & Continuing Medical Education of the Medical Guild in Lagos, Chairman of the Guild, Dr. Biyi Kufo acknowledged the effort of the Governor towards improving on the health sector in the state since he assumed office.

“We had met with Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode during the run up to the governorship election and informed him about the issues we have and he made a promise to resolve the issues if he was elected”.

“We make no apologies with a designation of our Governor as the song we have been waiting for to come and change a heart of stone. Governor Ambode has directed that all the key issues be resolved; the suspension of intake of new residents into the Residency Training Program LASUTH has been lifted and admission of the new resident have commenced; the appointment of doctors as contract workers has been stopped”, Kufo said.

He also disclosed that Governor Ambode had directed that medical doctors currently on contracts should be converted to permanent staff and the salaries during the three months of industrial action be paid.

“I am delighted to inform the house that having delivered on all the promises, we are grateful to Governor Ambode not only for fulfilling his promise to us but has also rekindled the faith of our membership in the political leadership in Lagos State, we have also commenced discussions with government over implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS)”, he said.

On his part, Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Tope Ojo, commended the governor for his various discussions with the medical personnel especially over implementation of the corrected CONMESS salary scale.

In his keynote address, Governor Ambode, urged medical professionals to continuously uphold the Hippocratic Oath in the discharge of their duties, just as he assured them of his administration’s commitment to their concerns.

He also assured that the state government under his watch will be open to suggestions for efficient health care delivery systems in the state.

Governor Ambode, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Primary Health Care, Dr. Femi Onanuga, said his administration has committed public funds to uplift medical infrastructure so as ensure that first class healthcare service is delivered to the people of the state.

He said his administration has also embarked on recruitment of medical personnel in order to improve the synergy between personnel and infrastructure in the health sector, adding that he believed the conference is a platform to generate ideas towards addressing issues in the sector.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, led Federal Government yesterday said that the payment of the N5000 stipend to the unemployed Nigerians will commence next year.

It regretted that the payment could not take off now due to non budgetary provisions.

Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalong revealed this yesterday in Abuja when he paid a condolence visit to the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun at the nationL secretariat in Abuja on the demise of Prince Abubakar Audu, the erstwhile governorship candidate of the party in Kogi State election.

Dalong who spoke with Journalists assured that APC government would also create more jobs to fulfill its campaign promises

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that it is aware of the suffering and hardship that Nigerians are passing through, occasioned by the biting fuel scarcity across the country.

The party pledged that the situation is being addressed, urging Nigerians to be patients as ‘nothing good comes cheap. Sacrifices are required’

Motorists faced untold hardship in their quest to purchase Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol.

Most of the petrol stations in the country, Tuesday, were shut due to unavailability of the petrol, while the few filling stations selling the product were besieged by a large crowd of motorists.

Black marketers were seen at the front of almost all the petrol stations, hawking fuel in 10 litres plastic containers at exorbitant prices, ranging from between N150 per litre and N350 per litre.

Even at the front of the NNPC headquarters in Abuja, the black marketers continue to ply their trade unhindered, providing an alternative for motorists who could not afford to spend several hours queuing for fuel.

In apparent reaction to the hardship experienced by Nigerians, the APC took to its Twitter handle to assure Nigerians that the Muhammed Buhari-led government will deliver.

“The APC is aware of the hardship Nigerians are passing through, resulting from the ongoing fuel scarcity. Situation is being addressed!”

“Let’s be a little more patient with the new cabinet of President Buhari. Most importantly, be assured that this govt will surely deliver!”

“Nothing good comes cheap. Sacrifices are required. By the time we pass through the foundation stage, Nigerians will see a new Nigeria!”

A plane carrying about 500 Nigerians deported from the UK has landed in Nigeria’s main city of Lagos.

Most of the deportees say they are not happy to come back.

One person told me that he was arrested by British police and was not allowed to even take his belongings before being deported.

A few of them who say they don’t have relatives here are stranded in the airport.

Recently, Nigeria expressed concern over UK’s plan to deport 29,000 Nigerians, and has insisted that due process be followed before Nigerians are removed from the UK.

The West African nation says Britain must ensure that those been deported are really Nigerians, medically fit to travel and have a role to play in the country – meaning they should be able to fit into Nigerian society.

The appeal filed by Senator Buruji Kashamu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, challenging the judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal that sat in Abeokuta, could not continue yesterday due to the dissolution of panel of judges.

The  tribunal, chaired by Justice Ebiowei Tobi, had ordered a rerun in 110 polling units in Ogun East senatorial district.

Mr Dapo Abiodun of All Progressives Congress, APC, had challenged the declaration of Kashamu as winner of the March 28 senatorial election.

The registrar of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, where Kashamu filed his appeal informed parties that President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa had dissolved the panel.

The court registrar said that a new panel of judges has been constituted, but the date the case would come up was yet to be fixed.

While reacting to the dissolution of the panel, Mr Adebayo Dayo, Chairman Ogun PDP, said that the judiciary was trying to be fair to all the parties.

Dayo said that the PDP discovered sevaral discrepeances with the litigation, which made the party to raise an alarm against the disbanded panel.

In his contribution, APC candidate, Abiodun, said he was surprised that the panel was dissolved, saying that time was running out on the appeal to complete the matter.

…Vows to tackle saboteurs in electricity sector • Canvasses fair pricing for gas
IN a clear admission of guilt, some past public officers who misappropriated funds have discreetly begun to return such stolen funds into government coffers.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who is attending the third Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Iran, made the disclosure in Tehran, the Iranian capital at a forum with the Nigerian community in that country.

Buhari admitted that there were those he called saboteurs working to frustrate the nation’s quest for steady electricity supply. He, however, noted that steps were being taken to ensure that the schemes of such saboteurs were neutralised.

To tackle the problems of theft and gas sabotage, the President also announced to them that the existing military task forces would be reorganised to ensure a successful protection of the network of gas pipelines.

Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the president, Garba Shehu quoted Buhari as making the assertion in a question-and-answer session with the Nigerian community.

He assured that the Military Task-Force with representation from the Army, Navy, Air Force, the Police and other security agencies would be reconstituted to secure the pipelines.

Addressing the summit, Buhari charged the GECF to take appropriate steps towards sustaining the pricing of gas at the international market for the benefit of member countries.

Making the call during his remarks at the summit, the president disclosed that Nigeria was taking appropriate steps to turn its abundant gas resources into a veritable catalyst for development just as he called on the forum to foster technical and economic cooperation among member states.

The president’s declaration on alleged treasury looters may have confirmed speculations that some prominent political players in the last dispensation have begun to discreetly return public funds they stole.
Day of reckoning coming soon for treasury looters

Buhari told the Nigerian community in Iran that those accused of corruption would have been prosecuted by now but for the need to thoroughly investigate them with a view to gathering enough evidence for their eventual trial.

He admitted that it was easier for him during his tenure as a military Head of State in 1984/85 to arrest and put those alleged corrupt individuals in ‘protective custody’ for them to prove their innocence but the dictates of rule of law and due process had slowed him down in prosecuting corruption in this dispensation.

On corruption, yes, they are still innocent. But, we are collecting documents and some of them have started voluntarily, returning something. But we want all. When we get those documents, we will formally charge them to court and then we will tell Nigerians to know those who abused trust when they are entrusted with public funds. So, the day of reckoning is gradually approaching.”

Buhari, who disclosed that he was yet to give any policy directive on the electricity sector before the improvement in service experienced in the country in the past few months, said his government would ensure that the needful, especially improvement of security, was done to ensure regular electricity supply.

He said: “I believe if you are in touch with home, you would have been told that already there is some improvement in power supply, though we haven’t said anything to them yet. I think they only find it sensible or appropriate to try and improve power supply.
“I’m sure you know about the privatisation of the power sector; your old friends National Electric Power Authority or Power Holding Company of Nigeria have been sold to a number of interest groups. But, the fundamental thing about us is that we remain potential in everything except performance.”

According to the president, who, doubles as the Petroleum Minister, though the country has a lot of gas reserves, some unpatriotic Nigerians, hide under different guises to sabotage efforts to ensure steady electricity supply.

His words: “We have a lot of gas, we have a lot of qualified people, but again we have a lot of saboteurs who go and blow up installations. Those who steal Nigeria’s crude and those who blow up installations, whether they call themselves militants or whatever, they are still there.”
Buhari also told the Nigerian community that his administration was resolute in combating the Boko Haram insurgency even as he assured them that peace would soon return to the troubled north-eastern states of the country.

Nigeria is gas-supply hub for West Africa
The president, while pointing out that Nigeria, had in the past focused on developing crude oil but was facing global decline in revenues from the resource , however, expressed the hope that the nation’s proven gas reserve base currently put at 188 trillion cubic feet could actually be in excess of 600 trillion when developed.

He assured participants that Nigeria remained the hub for natural gas supply in the West African sub-region with the construction of 681-kilometre West African Gas Pipeline, which currently transmits gas from the country to neighbouring Benin, Togo and Ghana.

He said: “The stability of the energy and financial market is critical to ensuring investments in current and future natural gas projects. It is, therefore, imperative that the GECF plays a significant role towards energy security by driving the formulation of a sustainable pricing mechanism that will guarantee fair and reasonable prices for both producers and consumers.”

Buhari also charged the forum on the need to deploy research and development initiatives towards technology innovations in exploration and development processing, logistics and marketing for the benefit of member countries.

While charging members to ensure that the exploration of gas resources was done in a sustainable manner so as not to jeopardise the security of the future generations of member states, Buhari called on members to ensure optimum gas reserves replacement and more efforts towards ending routine gas flaring in the shortest possible time.

In his welcome remarks earlier, the chairman of the forum and President of the Islamic Republic of Iran called for cooperation of member states for them to get maximum benefits from the natural resources.

This was just as the Secretary to the GECF, Seyed Mohammad Hossein Adeli, informed the forum that Azerbaijan had indicated to join the body as an observer state.

He noted that the body had begun to command international recognition and credibility just as he stressed the need for member countries to build mutual understanding and address common challenges facing gas-producing nations.
Those member countries that attended the summit included presidents of Russia, Venezuela, Equatorial Guinea, Algeria and Bolivia.

EFFORTS by senators of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to convince the Senate to summon President Muhammadu Buhari to give reasons for the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country, were frustrated, yesterday, by their counterparts in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The PDP senators, who berated the President’s handling of current economic situation in the country, insisted that he be made to a appear before the Senate to give explanations on the cause of the fuel scarcity and how he intended to solve the issue as Minister of Petroleum.

Their frustrated efforts came following a motion, tagged: “The current fuel scarcity all around the country and the need to urgently resolve the crisis,” sponsored by Senator Jibrin Barau, APC, Kano North and 23 other senators, which was debated upon.

Speaking through Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, PDP, Abia South, the opposition senators accused the President of mismanaging the country’s oil sector, causing untold hardship for Nigerians, barely six months after being in the saddle as president.

But the Senate, in a reaction to the development, said the President could not be summoned even as Minister of Petroleum.

The red chamber, reacting through its chairman on Media and Publicity, Aliyu Sabi, insisted that the fact that the President was overseeing the Petroleum ministry as a substantive minister, did not make him to be easily summoned like other ministers.

Abaribe had, while contributing to the motion, urged the Senate to summon President Buhari to explain why the Federal Government was yet to find solutions to the continued fuel problem in spite of its claim that the refineries in the country were working.

He said the unnecessary hardship occasioned by the scarcity could only be resolved if lawmakers were adequately briefed on the true state of affairs. Senator Abaribe‘s submission received wide support from other PDP senators, as they all hailed him.

Senator Abaribe supported his call with a prayer for adoption but it was defeated when the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, put it up for a voice vote.

At this point, the APC Senators, who were more in number, defeated their PDP colleagues with overwhelming shout of “yes” against the PDP’s “nay.”

President cannot be summoned —Senate
Earlier, in his motion, Senator Barau regretted that Nigerians were going through untold hardship following the lingering fuel problem.

“We are worried that the scarcity is creating an untold hardship to our citizens who have to pay higher prices for these products especially petrol. We are convinced that the current situation is not in tune with the desire of the progressively inclined government to bring succour to Nigerians in all spheres of their lives,” Senator Jibrin noted.

But at a briefing after the plenary session, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Aliyu Sabi, explained why President Buhari could not be summoned by the Senate.

He said as the Commander-in-Chief, it was wrong to invite him to appear before the Senate, despite the fact that he was the Minister of Petroleum.

Senator Sabi said in the place of President Buhari, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu would be summoned to brief the Senate on plans put in place by the Federal Government to end the fuel scarcity.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa, APC, Lagos East, while also contributing, called for the approval of the supplementary budget which he noted, contained the amount proposed for payment of subsidy to the marketers. He pleaded that the issue be treated with uttermost urgency.

We must reconsider PIB to stop scarcity —Saraki
Meanwhile, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, said the Senate must take the issue of passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) seriously if scarcity of petroleum products would end in the country.

Saraki stated this while commenting on a motion seeking permanent solution to recurring scarcity of petroleum products in the country at Senate plenary.

He said with a law regulating the petroleum industry, relevant institutions would function effectively and urged senators not to politicize issues relating to petroleum products production and supply as they affected the live of every Nigerian.

“Scarcity has continued to plague this country and we must find a lasting solution to this problem,” he said.

After debate on the motion moved by Sen. Barau Jibrin (APC Kano North), the senate directed its Committee on Petroleum Upstream to proffer a lasting solution to the recurring problem of scarcity of petroleum products.

The upper chamber sought means of collaboration with the executive to end the recurring fuel supply challenge.

It urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to continue its current push to stem the scarcity, and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment in tackling issues in the sector.

Moving the motion earlier, Jibrin expressed worry that scarcity, whenever it occurred, brought untold hardship on Nigerians.

He said that problem was not in line with the goals of the current administration and as such, urged the senate to liaise with the executive and other relevant stakeholders to solve the problem.

In his contribution, Sen. Olugbenga Ashafa (APC Lagos East) recommended stringent punishment, including jail term for marketers who hoard petroleum products.

He said that such marketers contributed in making the lives of Nigerians more miserable, adding that their stations should not just be shut ‘’but they should be jailed”.

“Some marketers derive pleasure in hoarding petroleum products; if we do not set example with such people, the dastardly acts of hoarding will continue.

“Our regulators must ensure that marketers that are hoarding are not just clamped down on but prosecuted.

“We must assist Mr President in reviving our ailing refineries; if our refineries function optimally, we will not have the problem of scarcity,” he said.

On his part, Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe, specifically said that the “senior” minister of petroleum resources should be summoned to explain the problems with fuel supply.

The senator questioned why the country still paid subsidies and experienced long queues when the present administration had in their campaign promised to end the problem.

“Many thought there will be no fuel queues under the APC but we see it everywhere; we are seeking the approval of over N400billion for payment of subsidy.

“Change has come but there is no change because we are still doing the same things; the fuel queues are still here; the subsidy payment is still there and there is no hope in sight.

“So we are asking, where is this change?

“We will ask the Minister of Petroleum to come and tell this senate what the ministry is doing to solve this problem.

“I support this motion, but I do not support the part where we are thanking a minister for not solving the problem,” he said.

Sen. Adamu Aliero (APC Kebbi Central) said that the issue of deregulation must be revisited if private investors must delve into local refining of crude.

Sen. Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West) in his contribution recalled that the cost of crude has dropped from about 120 dollars per barrel to about 40 dollars per barrel.

He pointed out that the subsidy being paid was what was owed to oil marketers, and urged that the issues should not be politicized.

In the meantime, the North East Development Commission Bill sponsored by Sen. Ali Ndume and Frivolous Petition Prohibition Bill sponsored by Sen. Ibn Na’Allah passed first reading at the Senate on Tuesday.

Also passed for first reading was the National Youth Service Corps (amendment) Bill, 2015 sponsored by Sen Stella Odua (Anambra North).

Today, the 8th Senate marks another watershed moment in our vision to take lawmaking back to the people with the symbolic launching of the Senate President’s Suggestion Box. Many may ask what we seek to achieve with this launch and wonder the correlation between the suggestion box and making laws. For the 8th Assembly, this event ticks all the boxes in terms of our vision which is to ensure that laws we make impact on our peoples’ lives.

Again, we promised the Nigerian people that this 8thSenate will be different. That we will do things differently. Some thought we were playing rhetoric but our footprints are everywhere clearly showing we mean what we are saying. We have adopted our legislative agenda, we are retooling our policy formulation process through closer engagement with key government agents, meeting with industry leaders,using courtesy call opportunities, to help us fully understand the state of things as we put together legislative interventions to help deal with the problems.

This Senate promised that we will be open to all Nigerians and engage them more robustly as we deliver laws with far reaching impact on their lives.For us this means having a strong feedback mechanism that is non-discriminatory, direct, open, uninhibited and continuous is equally as important.

With this launch today, we are saying that we are ready to hear and listen to all Nigerians of goodwill. With the Suggestion Box, which is both physical and virtual, we are saying we are interested in your opinion irrespective of your background, political orientation, social status, gender, religious or ethnic orientation. Be sure that this, your suggestions, opinions and ideas will not go unnoticed. The media is an important source of our feedback but hearing from you directly is for us much more enriching and unadulterated.

The 8th Senate is by this launch, inviting you to come share your experience with us. Whether you are an elected member, worker, tourists, government official, NGO, media or a co-citizen of this great country visiting the National Assembly, we invite you to come change Nigeria with us.

It is my hope that as we use this suggestion boxes and engage much more closely with you our constituents we are able to build a much closer relationship and a much better National Assembly.

Ladies and Gentlemen: it is my great honour to formally launch, the Senate President Suggestion Box for the good of our people and to the glory of God.

The Federal Government, yesterday, asked the Abuja ‎Division of the Federal High Court to revoke the bail it granted the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd.

The government, in an application it filed pursuant to section 169 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, sought for an order ‎committing the former NSA to prison pending his trial.

It will be recalled that though Dasuki was on September 1, granted bail by the high court on self recognition, however, trial Justice Ademola Adeniyi, on November 13, while granting the defendant leave to travel abroad for medical treatment, varied his bail condition.

Justice Adeniyi ordered the erstwhile NSA to produce a surety that must be ready to face prosecution should he (Dasuki), go into hiding after his medical treatment in the United Kingdom.

The court further directed the release of his hitherto seized traveling documents, ‎ saying Dasuki should return same to the Deputy Chief Registrar, Litigation of the high court within 72 hours of his return from the three weeks medical trip.
‎
‎It was the order that the government yesterday asked the court to vacate by revoking the bail that was granted to the defendant.

Meantime, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, yesterday, failed to honour the summon that was issued for him to appear before court to explain why Dasuki has remained under house arrest despite the leave granted for him to travel for medical treatment.

Though Justice Adeniyi specifically ordered the AGF to appear before him yesterday,‎ however, the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, announced appearance on his behalf.

Diri told the court that he was eminently qualified to represent the AGF in the matter, contending that no contempt proceeding is pending ‎against the AGF.
‎
‎The DPP rather queried the continued absence of Dasuki in court, even as he urged the court to order his appearance at the next adjourned date.

The position of the DPP infuriated Dasuki’s lawyers led by Mr. J. B. Daudu, SAN, ‎who accused the AGF of having little regard for the court.

Daudu insisted that the AGF ought to have shown respect to the court by obeying the summon on him, noting that the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr. Taiwo Abidogun, had at the last adjourned date, entered ‎an undertaking that the AGF would be in court yesterday.

Meantime, while agreeing with Dasuki’s lawyers that the AGF ought to have appeared in court yesterday, Justice Adeniyi, fixed November 26 to determine the merit of FG’s application for bail revocation.

On why the bail should be revoked, FG, yesterday, told the court that Dasuki is undergoing investigation by the committee auditing procurement of arms/equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence Sector from 2007 to date.

It said that an interim report of the committee showed that over $2 billion was allegedly embezzled and that Dasuki’s presence is required to assist in further investigation.

“That there is a federal government directive for the arrest of all those indicted by the report, including the defendant (Dasuki) and that the ongoing investigation which borders on money laundering against the defendant has not been concluded and there is fear that investigation might be tempered with on account of foreign visit by the respondent before the completion of investigation”, Diri stated in the application.

He added also that the ailment for which permission was given to Dasuki to travel to the United Kingdom for treatment can be properly treated in the National Hospital, Abuja and other teaching hospital in Nigeria.

Besides, FG, told the court ‎that there is an intelligence report that Dasuki has concluded plans to take the advantage of the court order releasing his International Passport to escape justice and tamper with ongoing investigations.
‎
Daudu objected to the application, contending‎ that FG could not pray the court for such relief when it has refused to obey a subsisting order of the court.‎

Daudu argued that the federal government should not be granted any indulgence by the court until it stops the siege to Dasuki’s home.
‎
In a fundamental right enforcement application he filed before the court, Dasuki who is facing a five-count criminal charge bordering on money laundering and his alleged illegal possession of firearms, ‎wants and order directing FG and operatives of the DSS‎ to vacate his house located at 13, John Kadija Street, Asokoro with immediate effect.

THE Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday warned that attempts by the governors through the Governors’ Forum to renege on the N18,000 national minimum wage signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan in March 2011, was an open declaration of war against the Nigerian workers.

Congress equally told President Muhammadu Buhari to prepare to receive the proposal for the review of the minimum wage as contained in the agreement, noting that the proposal was delayed because the NLC wanted to give the government time to settle down before coming up with the demand.

While insisting that the ability to pay even above the wage was not the problem of the economy, NLC recalled that the 2011 national minimum wage came into existence after almost two years of agitation and eventual negotiation by the tripartite of government (represented by the federal and state governments), the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, representing other employers (in the private sector) and organized Labour.

NLC, in a statement by its factional President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, told the governors to prepare for war and organised labour would have no alternative than to mobilize to respond appropriately to this act of aggression by the political class on workers’ welfare.

The statement read in part: “The Nigeria Labour Congress is shocked by the statement credited to the chairman of the Governors Forum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari, that the N18,000 national minimum wage promulgated into law in 2011 was no longer sustainable because of the fall in the price of crude oil. The governor, who was speaking on behalf of his colleagues at the end of a meeting of the forum, also claimed that the national minimum wage was ‘imposed’.

“We wish to make it abundantly clear that this attempt to reverse the national minimum wage is a declaration of war against the working people of this country, and we would have no alternative than to mobilize to respond to this act of aggression by the political class on our welfare.

“For us in the Nigeria Labour Congress, we know as a fact that ability to pay minimum wages is not the problem of the economy. What is the problem for states and other tiers of government is the amount many political office holders and their unproductive aides take away as wages. For the private sector, the greed to accumulate more and more profit is also always a motivating factor to keep wages down.

“Similarly, we have been in the forefront of campaigning that the cost of governance at all levels needs to be drastically cut down, to free enough resources for development. The hundreds of billions of Naira our public office holders continue to filter away in the name of governance is what is not sustainable.

“For instance, the annual cost to the public purse of governors ‘security votes’ which is an unaccountable drain on the public resources, is worth several thousands of minimum wages per state. Secondly, Nigerians who have the means to travel by air would recall that in the last 6-10 years, majority of, if not all our governors, no longer use commercial airline regular flights as a means of transportation from one place to another. They now have ‘official’ aircrafts and helicopters, which they maintain at huge costs to the state treasury.

“Their less ‘fortunate’ counterparts charter aircrafts and helicopters at the cost of millions of Naira to tax payers to attend any manner of functions from marriages to child naming ceremonies.

“States are in the poor financial state they are in largely on the developmental choices they have made; largely on the basis of priorities they have chosen which has nothing to do with the public good. Workers salaries cannot be sacrificed on the altar of challenges of the economy which is not the making of workers. It has never happened in the history of our country, and it will not be said that it is during our leadership of the Nigerian labour movement that this calamity was allowed to happen to Nigerian workers.

“Governors and other political office holders were not elected and/or appointed to only go and share proceeds from crude oil and petroleum products sales monthly in Abuja. Any one putting himself or herself out to serve does so on the assumption that he or she have intellect above the average which would be leveraged to provide good and responsive governance to the rest of the populace.

“In the 60’s when Nigeria did not have oil as the main source of our revenue, our fore bearers raised funds via efficient taxes, agricultural produce and other forms of internally generated revenue to provide development and pay living wages to the workers. Our current crop of leaders, who put themselves up for election to high government positions, must deliver by paying the working masses their due pay. This is not negotiable.

“As early as May 2015, we gave notice that the N18,000 National Minimum Wage was due for review, and that we would be submitting a new proposal once the incoming government settled down. We have been patient and waited for the President Buhari government to appoint ministers and thus have full compliments of officers to run the government.

“With the recent devaluation of the Naira, and the attendant increase in inflation and cost of living, even without the last minimum wage Act reaching the mandatory five years when it is due for review, we would have been justified to request for review.

“Now the five years is here – we are at the end of 2015, and with the cost of living being so high, we will soon table our new minimum wage demand to the federal government. If the recent statement by the Governors Forum is intended to manoeuvre them away from addressing this imperative, then it is bound to fail as we are ready to do battle to raise the living standard of the Nigerian working people.”

Former United States President Jimmy Carter has poured encomiums on Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The 39th US President described Jonathan as a symbol of democracy on the African continent.
They were said to have held a fruitful meeting at the Carter Center where they held a wide-ranging discussion on global issues and shared views on how to promote peace, democracy and good governance in Africa and the world.He made the remark while receiving Jonathan at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum located at the Carter Center in Atlanta, reports Reports Afrique.

Speaking on Jonathan’s time in office, Carter said: “President Goodluck Jonathan is the symbol of democracy in action. You set an example that other African leaders should follow.”

The former American President also praised Jonathan for organizing a transparent election and easily conceding defeat and handing over to the opposition.

By so doing, he said that Jonathan showed his deep democratic commitment.

Responding, Jonathan said that his actions while in office were informed by his belief in a peaceful, transparent and people-oriented governance, adding that Africa can only move forward through democracy and good governance.

He commended President Carter for the exemplary manner he had in his post-presidential life, adding that he was inspired by Carter’s commitment to causes that advance the path of humanity.

Jonathan and Carter share a common experience as one term Presidents and have both retired involuntarily from politics while rededicating their lives towards making the world a better place.

They both agreed that peaceful and stable government increase foreign direct investment and sustainable development.

The Carter Center is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter and guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering.

It seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health.

Jonathan has been visiting many strategic pro-democracy institutions where he had been invited to share his experience in office as a promoter of democracy and advocate of good governance in Africa.

He had so far been hosted by the Presidential Precinct in Virginia, John Kennedy School of Government, King Center as well as the Carter Center.

While visiting the Presidential Precinct in Charlottesville Virginia, last week Jonathan assured the international community that African leaders were displaying more commitment to democracy and good governance, as a means of engendering sustainable development an improving the lives of the people.

He is scheduled to speak a long side with Former US Secretary of State Johnnie Carson about elections, peace and democracy at the National Democratic Institute, and Howard University in Washington DC.

The new Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Thursday blamed Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, and other Federal Government-owned media organizations of throwing professionalism to the wind.

The minister who made the statement during his maiden meeting with heads of parastatals under the ministry in Abuja observed that the public owned media houses have showed total disregard for editorial independence.

He stated that government-owned media organizations always complain of financial woes, forgetting that there is a link between credibility and profitability.

Read him:

Let me start with the Federal Government-owned media organizations, the NTA, FRCN and NAN. Why have you all chosen to play second fiddle in the country’s media landscape? I ask because the NTA

and FRCN of yesterday is not the same as what we have today.

Whereas most broadcast journalists of note in our country today passed through the NTA and the FRCN, there is no denying the fact that the private radio and TV stations are doing much better, at least going by the fact that most Nigerians prefer them to the public broadcasters. Indeed, most Nigerians find the private broadcasters more credible.

The reason for this is not farfetched. First, the public broadcasters have thrown professionalism to the wind while also showing total disregard for editorial independence. They have mortgaged their credibility on the altar of political correctness. Yet, these Federal Government-owned media establishments are endowed with highly-trained and well-qualified personnel, better infrastructure and a wide reach.

It is interesting to note that these government-owned media organizations complain of financial woes, forgetting that there is a link between credibility and profitability. Advertisers will surely flock to more credible media organizations, and of course it is also true that content drives advertisement.

The same law of diminishing returns also apply to NAN, which was once the leading national news agency in the whole of Africa, boasting of the best professionals in the news business. Today, the agency is punching far below its weight, despite its presence in all the states of the Federation.

We intend to provide leadership for the Federal Government-owned media organizations in a manner that will make them to become the first source of information, so that they can more effectively function as a
vehicle for the change mantra of the Buhari Administration, and also regain their lost glory.

The combined reach of the NTA, FRCN and NAN, if effectively utilized, will facilitate the success of the change campaign. But they must first enhance their own credibility, because no credibility-deficient news organization can successfully propagate the message of change.

At this juncture, ladies and gentlemen, let me assure Nigerians that under this Administration, no Federal Government-owned media organization will deny the opposition the opportunity to air their
views.

It is true that while we were in opposition, we were treated as outcasts by these public broadcasters. They denied us the use of their platforms, they rejected our adverts and even made themselves available for the most abhorrent hate campaign ever in the history of electioneering campaign in our country.

But in an era of change, which is our mantra, that cannot and will not continue. Opposition members are Nigerians, just like members of the ruling party. Even the ruling party will benefit when the opposition is allowed to air their views freely, because you learn more from people who disagree with you. Therefore, let the ruling party and the opposition air their ideas and let the people, who wield the ultimate power, decide at the end of the day.

The United Nations has offered to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity in the fight against terrorism, saying since the menace has greatly assumed an international dimension, there is need for a concerted effort to stamp it out.

Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for African Affairs, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambers made the pledge yesterday when he met the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau.

He condemned the extent of international terrorism saying the fight against the menace must be of international dimension.

“The UN will fully mobilize to support Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and any other renegade behaviour that threatens the peace and stability of the country”, he said.

According to him, the UN appreciates the intrinsic link between peace, security and socio-economic development.

Stating that the UN envisages building a fruitful relationship with the ministry and its allied agencies, the envoy commended the police and other paramilitary officers and men who have served and distinguished themselves at various levels in the UN.

Chambers pledged to continue to work with various security agencies and explore possibilities of training in the area of counter-terrorism. “While it is important to maintain the military aspect of the fight against Boko Haram, we need to expand it to include other security agencies and stakeholders because terrorism is of asymmetrical dimension”, he said.

On transnational crimes, he assured of the willingness of appropriate UN agencies to cooperate and work with agencies in Nigeria to deal with human trafficking, illegal drug sales and banditry, adding that the UN would like to see a sub-region that is able to realize its full potentials.

Responding, Gen. Dambazau promised to leverage on the relationship between Nigeria and the UN in tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.

He urged the police and other paramilitary agencies to scale up their efforts at securing the border and nipping in the bud, every form of organized and violent crimes in the country.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnanya Onu, on Wednesday, said the ministry would employ technology to harness the nation’s natural resources for growth of the economy. Onu stated this at a meeting with the Directors in the ministry in Abuja.

He said the nation would start producing and exporting instead of importing and consuming. “We export wood but we import toothpick, we export crude oil but we import petroleum products, we sell our cocoa but we import chocolate into this country, this can be very disturbing”, Onu said.

According to him, the missing link and key the nation needs to open the door of prosperity is science and technology. “We have all these raw materials, we have human capacity, we have large market, so in terms of growing our economy, reducing poverty, creating jobs, again, science and technology is vital.”

Onu also promised that the ministry would soon start creating weapons that could be of help in to the defence sector to tackle insurgencies. He said the ministry would collaborate with other ministries to support them, adding that science ministry was related to nearly all other ministries.

Onu said the ministry would also intensify effort to ensure that technology was employed to curb corruption. He urged all Nigerians to abide by law and appealed to the Permanent Secretary and the directors to work together in order to actualise stated objectives.

The Permanent Secretary, Mrs Habiba Lawal, assured that the staff members were ready to help the ministry to realise its aims in order to uplift the nation.

Ex-Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adewale Omirin, has said that the public show made of the rejection of his letter to the House  seeking the reversal of his impeachment was an attempt to blackmail him.

He said that governor Ayodele Fayose, the Speaker, Hon Kola Oluwawole, and the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Tola Esan, had fore-knowledge of the letter he wrote requesting reversal of his impeachment, wondering why they had to make a public show of a legitimate request.

Omirin had, in a letter dated October 15, 2015 and addressed to the Speaker of the Assembly, prayed the House to revert his November 20, 2014 impeachment by seven members of the immediate past House of Assembly and restore all his rights and privileges.

The ex-speaker also urged the Assembly to obliterate the records of the factional speaker, Hon Dele Olugbemi, describing his emergence as a constitutional infarction that should not be contemplated under a democratic setting.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti during a visit to the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Omirin said he had earlier been advised by top members of the party to go to court on the issue, following which he instructed his lawyer to contact the Clerk of the Assembly to request for the extract of November 20, 2014, sitting when the impeachment was carried out.

Omirin alleged that the House, which saw the coming litigation as too diversionary to the current Assembly agreed to begin a  process of reversing the impeachment through legislative procedure, which compelled him to write the letter as an instrument for the house to work with.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, who responded to Omirin’s allegation said : “As far as this House is concerned, no discussion took place between Omirin and Governor Fayose, the Speaker and the Clerk before the letter was brought to the Assembly.

“What the House did was to react to the letter we deliberated upon and which we published and this should not be mistaken for blackmail.

“We don’t want the matter to be subjected to rumour. The letter is a document of the House and we can do whatever we like with it.”