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Lekki shootings: Army not in search of DJ Switch – General Taiwo.

November 14, 2020 No Comments

The Commander of 81 Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, Lagos, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, says contrary to claims in the public, the Army is not after popular disc jockey, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, fondly referred to as DJ Switch.

General Taiwo said this on Saturday in his testimony before the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the alleged shooting of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate on October 20, 2020.

The general said, “Some people take delight in misrepresenting Nigeria and particularly the Nigerian Army to the international community and our fellow Nigerians. This, I believe is done for pecuniary gains. Quite recently, a Nigerian, Catherine Udeh, also known as DJ Switch, claimed the Nigerian Army was looking for her. There is nothing further than the truth.

My Lord, we have bigger fish to fry and that is how to stabilise Lagos. We can’t be bothered chasing one or two people. Where she got that from, I do not know.”

DJ Switch claimed to have helped to remove bullets from peaceful protesters who were shot at Lekki tollgate, according to her Instagram Live feed.

There have also been reports that the disc jockey sought asylum outside the country after she claimed that her life was being threatened following the Lekki incident.

Politics

EndSARS: We are unhappy Sanwo-Olu denied inviting Army, General tells panel.

November 14, 2020 No Comments

The Commander of 81 Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, Lagos, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, says the Nigerian Army was unhappy that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, denied inviting the military on October 20, 2020, when soldiers shot at the Lekki tollgate where #EndSARS protesters were gathered.

The general, however, said inviting the military was the best decision the Lagos governor could have taken as the #EndSARS protest plunged the state into anarchy but added that the Army was also unhappy that Sanwo-Olu said two persons died from the military engagement at the Lekki tollgate.

He said, “I spoke with the governor and said the Army was unhappy that he said he did not ask for Army’s intervention but I am sure that after you watched everything (video footages), you saw he had more than enough grounds to ask for Army’s intervention; perhaps it was the way everything went.”

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Lagos governor denied inviting the military to disperse protesters at the Lekki tollgate on October 20, adding that forces beyond his control were responsible for the Lekki incident.

The Army Headquarters subsequently said in a statement that the Lagos State government invited the soldiers to the protest ground and that the soldiers acted within the rules of engagement.

The Lagos governor has been under fire since the incident at the Lekki toll gate which has been condemned by local and international civil rights organisations.

Politics

#EndSARS : If Buhari had not acted like a father, we would have been talking about something else — Femi Adesina

November 13, 2020 No Comments

President Buhari’s media aide, Femi Adesina, has said that if President Buhari hadn’t exercised the restraint and tolerance of a father, blood would have flowed in the wake of the EndSARS protest.

According to Adesina, Nigerians would have been talking about something else in the wake of the crisis that enveloped the country after the #EndSARS protests were hijacked by hoodlums, which led to the loss of public and private businesses.

“There is truly a huge difference between an instructor, a tutor, and a father. One is a hireling, procured to pass knowledge, while the other is an insider, an interested party who is “pater familias,” (as my late dad would say).

All through the EndSARS protest and the riots, mayhem and looting that followed, President Buhari acted like a father. And though we have millions of instructors in this country, we have not many fathers. President Buhari is one.

If President Buhari hadn’t exercised the restraint and tolerance of a father, at a time that even hitherto respected people instigated the protesters to carry on (and they promptly went underground when anarchy ensued), we would have been talking of something else in the country,” he said.

Politics

BREAKING NEWS: Buhari reinstates suspended UNILAG VC, Ogundipe

November 11, 2020 No Comments

Suspended Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has been reinstated.

This was contained in a statement from the Ministry of Education’s Director Press and Public Relations, Ben-Bem Goong, on Wednesday.

It read in part, “President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Visitor to the University of Lagos has approved the Report of the Special Visitation Panel to the University of Lagos.

“The highlights of the findings and recommendations approved by Mr. President are as follows – the removal of Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe as the Vice Chancellor did not follow due process.

The Vice Chancellor was not granted an opportunity to defend himself on the allegations upon which his removal was based. He should accordingly be re-instated.

All allegations made against the Vice Chancellor and the management of the University before and after the Constitution of the Special Visitation Panel should be referred to regular Visitation Panel for thorough investigation and necessary recommendations.

Lifestyle

UNILAG Crisis: FG to make important announcement on Wednesday, suspended VC may be reinstated

November 11, 2020 No Comments

The federal government has said it will make an important announcement on the crisis rocking the University of Lagos (UNILAG)), on Wednesday.

The director of press at the federal ministry of education, Ben Goong, confirmed on the phone to our reporter that the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, will by 12 noon on Wednesday address journalists on the crisis rocking the 58-year-old university. He, however, could not give the details of the planned media briefing by the minister.

Sources at the presidency and the education ministry, however, told PREMIUM TIMES that the embattled vice-chancellor of the university, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, who was suspended in August by the institution’s Visitor, President Muhammadu Buhari, would be reinstated.

Our sources say that apart from announcing the reinstatement of the vice-chancellor, the minister will also announce the dissolution of the governing council.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that these were the contents of the government White Paper on the crisis rocking the university. The White Paper has not been made public and this reporter has not seen the content.

The White Paper, which states the government’s legal position on the matter, was developed based on the findings and recommendations of a seven-member special presidential visitation panel that was set up by the government to look into the immediate and remote causes of the crisis that rocked the university.

The panel, chaired by a former vice-chancellor, Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State, Sa’ad Tukur, had on September 17 submitted its report after spending about three weeks instead of the two-week duration earlier announced by the government.

THE INVESTIGATION

Following the crisis that greeted the controversial removal of Mr. Ogundipe as the vice-chancellor by the Wale Babalakin-led governing council of the university on August 12, the federal government quickly intervened by asking both Messrs Ogundipe and Babalakin to step aside pending the conclusion of its investigation into the crisis.

Though Mr Babalakin appeared before the panel, he resigned his appointment as the governing council chairperson the same day the panel submitted its report.

He also relinquished his position as the chairperson of the ASUU-FGN Agreement renegotiation team.

The former council chairperson said he disagreed with the government on the composition of the visitation panel, saying the panel was raised to exonerate the vice-chancellor.

Mr Babalakin’s resignation was followed by that of another member of the governing council, Bayo Adaralegbe, who also raised similar allegations against the panel.

Mr Adaralegbe is a lawyer and partner at Babalakin and Company, a law chamber founded by Mr Babalakin.

The crisis rocking the university had reached its climax in March, when the governing council chairperson said he was not carried along in organising the university’s convocation ceremonies. He copied the minister on a letter of complaint addressed to the vice-chancellor.

Mandated by the minister, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the regulatory body for universities, ordered the suspension of the ceremonies after the weeklong event had already commenced.

The development led to accusations and counter accusations among major stakeholders in the university system and particularly between the vice-chancellor and Mr Babalakin.

The governing council accused Mr Ogundipe-led management of financial recklessness, misappropriation and concealing information from the governing council.

The allegations and the subsequent report of an ad hoc committee set up to investigate the university’s finances formed the basis upon which the governing council said it removed Mr Ogundipe from office. The decision was taken at a special governing council meeting held at the NUC’s headquarters in Abuja.

The meeting was taken to Abuja after the declaration of Mr Babalakin as a persona non grata on the campus by the university’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of the Universities (ASUU)

The governing council also announced a former dean of the institution’s faculty of social sciences, Theophilus Soyombo, as acting vice-chancellor.

But the stiff opposition from major stakeholders in the university including the senate, alumni association, among others, informed the government’s quick intervention.

Apart from setting up a special visitation panel, the government also announced the president of the alumni association, John Momoh, as the acting governing council chairman. It also instructed the senate of the university to elect an acting vice-chancellor.

At a special meeting convened by the senate, election was conducted between the deputy vice-chancellors in charge of administration and developmental services, Ben Oghojafor and Folasade Ogunsola respectively. The latter emerged the acting vice-chancellor with a wide margin having polled 135 votes as against Mr Oghojafor’s 31.

Mrs Ogunsola, a former provost of the university’s college of medicine, has since then been in the saddle as the acting vice-chancellor of the university. But, if Mr Ogundipe is reinstated on Wednesday, she will have to vacate the seat and return to her position as a deputy vice-chancellor.

Politics

FG, Transcorp Sign Deal on Afam Power Plant

November 6, 2020 No Comments

The federal government and the Transcorp Power Consortium have signed a share sale and purchase agreement in relation to Afam Power Plc and Afam III Fast Power Limited, which is expected to add 966 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.

The deal was signed yesterday by the Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Alex Okoh and the Chairman of the Transcorp Group, Mr. Tony Elumelu, at brief ceremony in the State House, witnessed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is the Chairman of the National Council on Privatization (NCP).

The NCP had approved the privatization of the Afam Power Plant at its meeting held on the August 22 and 23, 2017.

Following the approval, a competitive bidding for the plant, involving 12 prospective investors, was held with Transcorp Power Consortium emerging the preferred bidder with a combined offer of N105billion.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Osinbajo said the event was a milestone in the Nigerian government’s continued effort to accelerate reforms in the power sector.

He said the acquisition of Afam Power Plc and Afam III Fast Power Limited by the Transcorp Power Consortium was the first of many new investments in the sector across the value chain from generation to distribution.

Osinbajo said: “The Buhari administration’s goal is to eliminate the challenges in the power sector by improving liquidity in the market through a host of measures, including the recently announced national mass metering programme and the transition to a service-based tariff.

“We need a power sector that can provide quality service to Nigerian consumers and sustain itself. The Afam Power Plc and the Afam III Fast Power Ltd have a combined capacity of almost 1,000MW.

“The current usable and operational capacity of 240megawatts from Afam III and about 100megawatts from Afam Power PLC speaks of the opportunity that the transfer acquisition can bring.”

He charged Transcorp Power Consortium to take the opportunity of its ownership of the Afam Power Plant to raise the operations of the facility to its full capacity.

The vice president said government would expect the consortium to bring its experience and expertise in the Ughelli Power Plant, which it acquired in 2013, to bear on Afam energy hub.

Describing the Afam Power plant as an energy hub for Nigeria, Osinbajo said that it is cluster that houses multiple power plants, including those owned by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), and Sahara Energy.

“We have no doubt that the addition of Transcorp to the community will come with the forward thinking Corporate Social Responsibility initiative that the chairman of Transcorp, Mr. Tony Elumelu and his team are known for,” Osinbajo said.

He said the Buhari administration would continue to work on its ease of doing business reforms to drive foreign investment, noting that local investors “are always the great litmus test for the investment environment.”

Speaking at the event, Director-General of the BPE, Okoh, said that Transcorp Power Consortium has committed to investing the sum of $350million in the combined power assets.

According to Okoh, in addition to the new Afam III Fast Power Plant, with an installed capacity of 240megawatts, the consortium has committed to ramp up power generation of the plant to its rated capacity of 726megawatts within a period of five years, thereby adding an aggregate of 966 megawatts to the national grid.

He said: “The reform and privatization programme of this administration is not about simply divesting public enterprises to the private sector.

“Government, through the BPE, is also concerned about entrusting these assets to credible investors who possess the requisite technical and financial capacity to ensure that these enterprises and assets perform optimally and deliver quality services to the Nigerian people.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of Transcorp Group, Elumelu, said access to electricity was pivotal in lifting Nigerians out of poverty and in creating jobs.

He said the acquisition of the Afam Power Plant would be an opportunity for the Transcorp Group to contribute to government’s effort at improving on the lives of the people and in growing the economy.

Lifestyle

FG urges States not to close isolation centres yet

October 27, 2020 No Comments

The Federal Government has urged states and other stakeholders not to completely close isolation centres because of the drop in the number of cases on admission and apparent decline in the number of active COVID-19 cases.

Rather, it advised them to maintain some of the isolation centres in readiness for a possible surge in cases and a second wave of the pandemic as evident in other countries.

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, disclosed this during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday in Abuja.

He said: “With the decline in the number of active cases and the number of cases on admission drops, some isolation centres in the country are already making arrangements to rationalize the number of frontline health personnel into the reserve pool or redeployed. This would be done in a manner that will allow easy re-mobilization where necessary.

“We however advise states and relevant stakeholders not to completely close all isolation centres due to consistent lack of patients but some centres should rather be maintained.

“This is to ensure promptness and readiness against any surge as part of l preparation against possible second wave.

“We are taking advantage of this low active cases to carry out appraisal and reappraisal of activities at the isolation centres.

“This is necessary to assess and understand areas of strengths, weaknesses, available opportunities as well as dangers.

“Such activities will consolidate gains while taking measures to prevent re-occurrence of errors as well as deployment of appropriate resources.”

Ehanire, while urging protesting youths not to attack medical stores and the NCDC warehouse because the medicines and other medical consumables are stored under controlled environmental conditions, also noted the destruction of these items will impact negatively on our response to the pandemic.

Politics

NLC orders FG to release all covid-19 welfare materials

October 26, 2020 No Comments

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately release all welfare materials provided to cushion the effect of Covid-19 in the country.

The NLC made the demand in a statement signed and issued on Monday by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba in Abuja, who said that the directive also applies to state governments which it accused of being chief culprits in hoarding of the palliatives.

Wabba also added that government officials cannot afford to create a scenario that precipitates mass unrests within this delicate and fragile milieu in global history.

The statement by the NLC reads thus in full; “The Nigeria Labour Congress has followed with keen concern the unfolding incidents across the country of mass storming and looting of relief welfare materials and provisions stored away in different warehouses.

“These relief palliatives and provisions are believed to have been procured by government to relieve citizens of the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown and the associated hardship.

“It is obvious that the palliative provisions that were procured by government for immediate distribution to the mass of our people at their critical time of need and to assuage the hardship occasioned by the lockdown were hoarded and held back by some government officials.

“The reasons for this have not been made known to the public. We also understand that many of the palliative provisions are already getting rotten in the warehouses where they were stored.

“While we condemn the ensuing mass looting of both the Covid-19 palliatives and non-Covid-19 palliative materials, we equally deplore the conduct of some government officials who stored away relief materials that should have been distributed to the masses of our people at their very trying times of need.

“We call on the Federal Government to investigate the conduct of those who hoarded the palliative provisions.

“In order to forestall riotous plundering of the remaining relief palliatives, the Nigeria Labour Congress demands that the Federal Government should order the immediate release of all the welfare provisions and materials to citizens.

“As we had demanded in the past, the distribution of the palliative provisions should be transparent, and inclusive with active participation of mass-based citizen groups.

“This directive should apply to state governments many of which are chiefly culprit in this regard. Government officials cannot afford to create a scenario that precipitates mass unrests at this very delicate and fragile milieu in global history. A stitch in time would save nine!” it concluded.

Politics

Lekki Killings: PENGASSAN, NUPENG threaten to withdraw services, wants FG to produce perpetrators

October 21, 2020 No Comments

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has threatened to withdraw its services nationwide to honour Nigerian youth killed during the use of live bullets on peaceful #endSARS protesters in Lekki, on Tuesday night; if the government failed to immediately produce the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

Both PENGASSAN and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) condemned the killing of the innocent people and declared that their hearts bleed for Nigerian youths.

PENGASSAN said in a statement signed by its President, Comrade, Festus Osifo and the General Secretary, Comrade, Lumumba Okugbawa, that it would hold its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting with a view to withdraw its services across the country.

“We hereby call on the Government of President, Mohammadu Buhari, to provide adequate security for the protesters in line with democratic norms and to immediately produce the perpetrators of the dastardly act; failure of which we will convene an emergency meeting of our National Executive Council (NEC)to review the happenings in the Nation with the view of withdrawing our services Nationwide.” The union said.

According to PENGASSAN, “in view of the gruesome killings of unarmed protesters by armed Military personnels as seen on social media, at the Lekki toll gate last Tuesday night (20/10/2020), the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has viewed these images of shootings of peaceful #endsars protesters not just at Lekki toll gate but all over the country with sadness, heavy hearts and deep concerns for our Nation.

“Without mincing words, we vehemently say that this unfortunate incident falls short of any standard of civilization globally of handling peaceful protest in any democratic system.

“Our hearts bleed for innocent Nigerians who lost their lives or got injured in this senseless and inhumane action of the armed security agents of the government. Our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers go to the families of the victims as well.

“As an institution that indulges in peaceful protest on a regular basis, there is a renewed sense of insecurity with the new tactics employed by the men of our armed forces. We are not against government arresting any hoodlum who may want to hide under the guise of the peaceful protest to perpetuate violence but to unleash this level of cruelty on peaceful and harmless protesters who were holding the National flag, singing the National anthem in demonstration of their belief in the course of the country by killing and injuring them is highly condemnable.”

It added: “The President and Commander in Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces must seize this opportunity to provide uncommon leadership and stir the ship of this nation to safety.

“PENGASSAN stands with you at these trying times as a threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Also, the leadership of NUPENG said it viewed the gory images of Tuesday night (20/10/2020) shootings of peaceful #endsars protesters at Lekki toll gate with sadness, heavy hearts and deep concerns.

Without any iota of doubt, the union pointed out that the unfortunate incident fell short of any acceptable minimum global and civilized standards of managing peaceful Protest in any democratic system.

The statement signed by NUPENG President, Comrade Williams Akporeha and the General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, said: “Our hearts bleed for our youths who lost their lives or got injured in that senseless action of the armed security agents of government.

Our deepest thoughts and prayers are equally extended to their families as well.

“We ask our members nationwide to stay calm and safe at their various workplaces and be on alert as the leadership reviews the situation.”

Politics

FG should begin police reform to end protests

October 17, 2020 No Comments

A former lawmaker, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, has urged the Federal Government to begin the process of police reform to douse the ongoing nationwide protests against police brutality by Nigerian youths.

Ohuabunwa, who represented Abia North in the Eighth Senate, made the call in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Saturday.

He said that police reform would help restore public confidence in the police force.

Ohuabunwa also advised the Federal Government to enter into serious negotiation with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in order to find a lasting solution to the seven-month-old industrial dispute by the union.

He feared that the two knotty issues could snowball into a monstrous national crisis, if not properly addressed.

He said: “Government should act fast and responsibly to end the agitations. It should take cogent steps to yield to the yearnings of the protesters.

“It is a bad omen for any government to allow aggrieved youths to continue to protest on the streets for days.

“Recall that the Arab Spring, which brought down autocratic regimes in some Arab nations, began this way with aggrieved youths.”

Ohuabunwa described the #EndSARS protests as a spontaneous response to police brutality, which had lingered for many years unchecked.

He expressed concern that there was a nexus between the EndSARS protests and the ASUU strike, saying that idle undergraduates remained ready and willing tools for anti-government protests.

Ohuabunwa noted that resolving the Federal Government-ASUU impasse would help to take the youths off the streets and back to classrooms.

He said that the lingering ASUU strike would have a negative impact on the nation’s education sector and the future of the youths.

“The Federal Government should address ASUU’s demands because lecturers are making a tremendous contribution to nation-building,” Ohuabunwa said.

He warned anti-riot police personnel against the use of force in dealing with protesters, saying that “citizens have the right to peaceful protest as guaranteed in the constitution”.

Ohuabunwa, who is a proponent of restructuring Nigeria, added that the current agitation by the nation’s youths underscored the need for the Federal Government to commence the nation’s restructuring without further delay.

According to him, the current developments in the country have heightened the agitation for the restructuring of Nigeria.

Lifestyle

IPPIS: ASUU orders members to shun FG’s officials on biometric capture

October 16, 2020 No Comments

The leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities is set for a fresh clash with the Federal Government as it has ordered its members across the country to shun the government officials who will be visiting campuses for biometric capture of academics beginning from Monday, 2020.

ASUU President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, gave the directive in a letter dated 15th October 2020, he wrote to all the Zonal Coordinators and all members of the union, urging them not to have anything to do with the verification officials, who according to him, are Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) officials from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

The letter entitled: “Update on Engagement with Government” sighted by Tribune Online reads: “We have received information that IPPIS officials from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation will be visiting campuses as from Monday, 19th October 2020 for biometric data capture of academics. All ASUU members should have nothing to do with them. Fact-check by ASUU with the figures from the OAGF has proven the claim that our members are trooping to enrol in the IPPIS in Abuja as false. The enrolled number is inconsequential.

“On Monday, 12th October 2020, UTAS (Universities Transparency and Accountability Solution) was presented to the President and other leaders of the Nigerian Senate. Discussions on the withheld salaries, EAA, (Academic Earned Allowance), renegotiation of2009 Agreement, visitation to federal universities and proliferation of State Universities started at the meeting.

“On Tuesday, 13th October 2020, the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, the Senate Leader, Chairman of Senate Committee on Tertiary Education. Minister of Education, Munster of Labour and Employment, Accountant General of the Federation, among other government officials, met with the ASUU leadership on UTAS and other matters.

“Yesterday, 14th October 2020, the UTAS was also demonstrated to the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chairman of Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, Executive Secretary of NUC and other stakeholders.

“Today, 15th October 2020, we shall meet with representatives of government to have decisive engagement on UTAS/IPPIS and trash out the main demands in the ongoing struggle All our members would be adequately briefed of the outcomes.

The first stage of UTAS testing has been completed. What is left is the technical testing which is commencing immediately. All stakeholders applauded the innovation that UTAS represents. IPPIS is a World Bank creation imposed on Nigeria. UTAS is a creation of Nigerian scholars to secure our data, ensure the autonomy of Nigerian Universities and reposition our University system for global competitiveness.

The leadership of our great Union is fully aware of the hardship the non-payment of salaries by the Accountant- General and other forms of intimidation by over-zealous Vice-Chancellors have unleashed on our membership and we are leaving no stone unturned to redress the situation. Therefore, all members of ASUU should stay away from anything related to IPPIS; so as not to jeopardize the ongoing critical engagement with the Federal Government.”

However, at the meeting with the Federal Government officials on Thursday, ASUU President, Ogunyemi had expressed the readiness to call off the strike if the Federal government was able to address some of the demands of the Union, with the Federal Government promising to release the sum of N30 billion as part of the Academic Earned Allowance for the lecturers.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, at the end of the meeting, said the Accountant General of the Federation was committed to releasing the money before November 6.

Politics

FG and ASUU meets again on October 21st.

October 16, 2020 No Comments

On Thursday, 15th of October 2020, the federal government reached an agreement with the academic staff union of universities (ASUU) reached an agreement. In the meeting, the federal government has agreed to release N30billion earned academic allowance to the lecturers between May 2021 and February 2022.

The FG also promised to spend N20bn on the revitalization of the educational sector. Despite the agreement reached by the FG and ASUU, the meeting ended on deadlock. The meeting has been adjourned to October 21 by 3.00pm.

It is expected that ASUU will report back with a decision to end the strike.

Business

FG extends suspension of new electricity tariff by 1 week

October 12, 2020 No Comments

The Federal Government has extended the suspension of the new electricity tariff by one week.

Prof. James Momoh, Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said this when the ad hoc Technical Committee on Electricity Tariff submitted its interim report at a reconvene bilateral meeting between Federal Government and Organised Labour on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new tariff was earlier suspended for two weeks and ended at midnight on Oct. 11, when the organised labour suspended the planned industrial action over agitation on the hike in electricity tariff on Sept. 28.,

It would also be recalled that the the committee which was Chaired by Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour is to examine the justifications for the new policy in view of the need for the validation of the basis for the new cost reflective tariff.

It was also agreed that while the committee carries the justification that electricity tariff should be reduced for two weeks.

Momoh while speaking, said the one week extension new tariff said was to enable the committee to review and work out modalities for the implementation of the agreement reached on the electricity tariffs structure.

Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, while reading a resolution reached between the Federal Government, Organised Labour and the Ad Hoc Technical Committee on Electricity Tariff said that adoption of the work plan for effecting the resolutions has been reached.

Ngige said the resolutions adopted would be implemented by all stakeholders within the week by Sunday, Oct. 18.

According to him, the following amendments to the resolutions were adopted include, phase one immediate reliefs.

“Using of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) VAT proceeds to provide relief in electricity tariff. This is to leverage on the VAT from the NESI, the increases experienced by customers due to the transition to the Service Based Tariff will be reduced.

“That is Band A – 10 per cert reduction, Band B – 10.5 per cert reduction and Band C – 31 reduction,” he said.

He said on the acceleration of National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).

It was adopted that for the distribution of the first one million meters, the Ministry of Power was to liaise with Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).

He added that they are to start work by Oct. 12, to accelerate the roll out of meters with a target of December 2020.

The minister, therefore said that the meeting agreed that it would work towards bridging the metering gap.

“The Federal Government committed to provide six million meters and NERC is expected to compel the DISCOs to meet the metering needs of the customers,”he said.

Ngige also said on the resolution adopted for the Local procurement for Meters for National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) that organised Labour would to work with government to improve and ramp up local production capacity.

He also said that the resolution adpoted on salary protection for electricity workers was that NERC should ensure that the personnel costs of electricity workers should be placed on first-line charge on the Primary Collection Account.

He added that the process would commence from Monday , Oct. 12.

“On the issue of mandatory refund for any over billing during system transition by the DISCOs that NERC should implement immediately within October.

‘While on the freezing of customer band migration during the interim period that the revised NERC order will include specific guidelines on freezing band migration, ” he said.

Ngige also noted that the resolutions adopted for Phase two for the extensive review of key sector reforms include that the ad hoc committee would work from Oct. 12 to Dec. 12, to ensure that all outstanding issues are resolved and implemented.

He also said the resolution adopted on gas pricing was that the Group Managing Director was co-opted into the Technical Committee to assist with the purpose.

He added that on resource capacity, the Managing Director, NEMSA is also co-opted into the Technical Committee to work with NERC on the metering assignments.

Politics, Videos, World News

Youths protest in Lagos, “END SARS”.

October 7, 2020 No Comments

Following the recent outburst of Nigerian youths on social media, youths have taken to the streets of Lagos to intensify the “END SARS” protest.

Below are pictures of many youths walking around the streets of Lagos, calling on the government to come to their aid.

Below is also a video of youths making their grievances known.

Still on #EndSARS protest , Protesters call for commissioner of police in Lagos.#Endpolicebrutality #EndSARSBrutality #EnoughIsEnough #EndSarsProtests #EndSarz #EndPoliceHarassment #WednesdayMotivation pic.twitter.com/XRB2NB8HJz
— Naija Premium Gist (@naijapremiumgst) October 7, 2020

Politics

President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of N10 billion for the conduct of a national census.

October 6, 2020 No Comments

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, approved the release of N10 billion for the conduct of a national census.
The funds would be handed over to the National Population Commission (NPC) for the undertaking the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) exercise in phases in the remaining 546 Local Government Areas of the country ahead, of the conduct of a census.

Buhari also approved an additional N4.5 billion to be included in the 2021 Budget for completion of the exercise as part of the preparations for the next census.

Politics

I am focused on helping President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver on his mandates – Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

October 5, 2020 No Comments

Former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has debunked the report that he is quietly opening a presidential campaign office in Abuja.

Tinubu in his reaction noted that he is focused on helping President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver on his mandates.

Recall that a news platform had claimed that the APC National Leader secretly opened a campaign office.

However, Tinubu, who spoke through his Media Aide, Tunde Rahman, called on his supporters to work with Buhari.

He further stated that followers of Tinubu want him to run for Presidency.

“His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has not even declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election let alone opening a campaign office. He has repeatedly said 2023 is still some years away and that he is at present focused on helping President Buhari to deliver on his mandate as he is doing and coast home to victory.”

“That is his position. You know also that many of his friends, associates and supporters who feel he is eminently qualified for the presidency and has done excellently well to advance our democracy and want to see him contest for the top job are doing everything on their own to see this happen.”

“I don’t know the office you are talking about, but it may just be one of those things these people are doing to get Asiwaju Tinubu to do as they wish. And I think they have a right to advance the course they believe in. Asiwaju’s appeal, however, is they allow the present government to concentrate on the good job it is doing and allow the matter of 2023 to take care of itself in the fullness of time,”

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