Buhari replies Jonathan, ‘Says I don’t run a propagandist government’
President Muhammadu Buhari has denied the allegation that his government is full of lies and propaganda.
He said achievements recorded by his regime since it came into power since May 19, 2015 are there for all to see.
The President spoke at the ongoing Nigeria Governors’ Forum Media Conference holding in Abuja.
President Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said it was sad that fake news were being promoted by some Nigerians.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that former President Goodluck had last week accused the President Muhammadu Buhari administration of running a government based on lies, deceit and propaganda.
The former president also lambasted the Minister of Power, Works and Housing for not fixing power in six months as he promised he would as a member of opposition and Governor of Lagos State.
Jonathan made the statement in Abuja on last Thursday when he received one of the national chairmanship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Tunde Adeniran.
In his words: “The PDP administration for 16 years did well and will continue to do well but this administration has done nothing. They deployed propaganda and lies at a professional level”.
Details later…
Government alone cannot fund university education in Nigeria – Osinbajo
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said the private sector and alumni associations must take active part in the funding of university education across the country as both the state and federal government cannot handle the task alone.
Osinbajo spoke at the “2017 Distinguished Alumni Awards and Celebration of UNILAG at 55’’ organized by the Alumni Association of the University of Lagos.
“We must ensure that we continue in the great traditions of the University of Lagos.
“This is why I am so excited to see a lot of very committed alumni who want to see to it that our university grows from glory to glory.
“And it is important that we do so because just as the pro chancellor pointed out, government cannot support the universities to the extent that is required, or to keep them even at the current levels.
“A lot will have to come from the alumni and the private sector.
“That is how great universities all over the world are run.
“And I am excited to see that our project today, the fund raising project, is one that has clearly shown the way to go with respect to developing our universities,’’ Osinbajo added.
The Vice President acknowledged that the event was a special occasion for him “and I was determined to stay till the very end.
“Because it is not often that one gets a chance to enjoy the company of many who have either been colleagues or seniors in the same university.
“And in any event it is not often that one gets to celebrate the 55th anniversary of a great institution.
“I want to say that UNILAG has proved time and time again to be not just a university of first choice but also the university of `firsts’; so many firsts in so many different areas.’’
He said it was great to find that one of the awardees, Dr Daniel Olukoya, the Pastor and Founder of the Mountain of Fire Miracles Ministry, was the first to clone genes.
“That was absolutely an outstanding thing.
“The Pastor and Founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, (Pastor Enoch Adeboye) was also the first Nigerian to get a PHD in a Nigerian University in Applied Maths and Engineering.
“And I think that there are so many other firsts but I know that the most important thing for us today is to ensure that those firsts do not become the last.’’
Osinbajo congratulated the awardees because their achievements were worthy of celebration and such had indeed emanated from a great institution.
“I would like to thank everyone, for those of us who have managed to stay to the very end and to hope that when we celebrate our 60th you will all be here.
“And we will all be here to celebrate the 70th and 80th and 100th as well for the young ones amongst us,’’ he stated.
The retiring Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Rahmon Bello also lamented the acute accommodation problem for students of the institution.
According to Vice Chancellor, UNILAG has a student population of 58,000 but is faced with the highest challenge of accommodation as only 8,000 bed spaces existed.
He spoke at the “2017 Distinguished Alumni Awards and Celebration of UNILAG at 55’’ organized by the Alumni Association of the University of Lagos.
“Efforts need to be increased for accommodation of graduates and PG students,’’ he said and thanked the Alumni Association for embarking on a new 500-bed hostel.
Bello noted that the university was a leading one in the country but needed to catch up with other institutions in the continent and the globe.
Accordingly, he said the expectation was for the government to allow alternative sources of funding for higher institutions.
The Chairman of Council and Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Dr Wale Babalakin also that the university system in the country was on a cross road as no Nigerian university was rated among the 80th best in the world.
“We have to change the structure of our universities to give them the impetus to do more,’’ he said, adding that even the cost of training per student was very high.
“The estimated cost of training an undergraduate is about N1.2 million per annum. UNILAG will require about N64 billion yearly to run while about N1.3 trillion is required by the FG to run universities per annum.
“The fund cannot be provided by the FG alone and we have to devise creative ways to fund the universities,’’ he added.
The Alumni President, Dr Sunny Kuku, in a welcome address said the awards took cognizance of those who contributed to the growth of the university in the past.
Kuku added that the fund raising targeting N3 billion was to build a new hostel for N2 billion, assist faculty development and provide infrastructure in the Alumni secretariat.
SERAP sues Nigerian govt over senators, ministers’ life pensions
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Federal Government over its “failure to stop former governors and now serving senators and ministers from receiving double pay and life pensions, and failure to seek recovery of over N40bn of public funds unduly received by these public officers.”
The suit number FHC/L/CS/1497/17 filed Friday at the Federal High Court Ikoyi, followed the organization’s request to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN urging him to stop former governors from enjoying emoluments while drawing normal salaries and allowances in their positions as senators and ministers.The suit brought pursuant to Order 34, Rules 1 and 3 of the Federal High Court Rules 2009 and the inherent jurisdiction of the court argue that “Public function should be exercised in the public interest. Double emoluments promote private self-interest or self-dealing.”
The suit brought pursuant to Order 34, Rules 1 and 3 of the Federal High Court Rules 2009 and the inherent jurisdiction of the court argues that, “Public function should be exercised in the public interest. Double emoluments promote private self-interest or self-dealing.”
“By signing double emoluments laws, which they knew or ought to know that they would be beneficiaries, these former governors have abused their entrusted positions, and thereby obtained an undue advantage, contrary to article 19 of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.”
The suit is seeking the following reliefs:
AN ORDER granting leave to the Applicant to apply for Judicial Relief and to seek an order of Mandamus directing and or compelling the Respondent to urgently institute appropriate legal actions to challenge the legality of states’ laws permitting former governors, who are now senators and ministers to enjoy governors’ emoluments while drawing normal salaries and allowances in their new political offices; and to identify those involved and seek full recovery of public funds from the former governors.
The organization is also arguing that “Senators and ministers should not be receiving salaries and pensions running into billions of naira from states that are currently unwilling or unable to pay their workers’ salaries and pensioners’ entitlements. National and international laws implicitly forbid public officials entrusted with public resources from granting to themselves emoluments for life while serving in other public offices including as senators and ministers.”
The suit read in part: “Taking advantage of entrusted public offices and positions to enact laws to grant double emoluments and large severance benefits to serving public officials amounts to not only an abuse of office but also incorrect, dishonourable and improper performance of public functions, as per the provisions of paragraph 2 of article 8 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.”
“By virtue of Sections 150 and 174 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 26 (2) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, the Respondent as the Chief Law Officer of the country and the defender of public interest is constitutionally and statutorily empowered to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person in Nigeria in respect of any offence created by or under any Act of the National assembly in superior courts in Nigeria.”
“The Federal Government has a responsibility to stop former governors from receiving double pay at the expense of workers and pensioners. This position is buttressed by article 27 of the Vienna Convention on the Laws of Treaties, which provides that no state can justify the noncompliance with an international treaty with reference to internal law, including even the constitution.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
Nigeria run by non-performing government officials – Agbakoba
A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), on Monday attributed Nigeria’s under-development to incompetent leadership.
He said the country cannot attract Foreign Direct Investment (FID) when it is under a “non-performing government.”
Agbakoba spoke at the second plenary session of the ongoing Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos.
The session had the theme: Institutionalising African Investment.
Agbakoba urged lawyers to put more pressure on government to perform.
He said no progress has been made towards addressing the power deficit, adding that he uses about 10 generators to run his offices.
The ex-NBA president said bad leadership was manifest in the deplorable state of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway which is the gateway to Nigeria major seaport.
Agbakoba said it takes him an average of three hours every day to get to work due to poor state of Nigerian roads.
He said: “Despite all of the resources allocated to power, we don’t have power. As I stand before you, I run about 10 generators in various offices.
“The vice president spoke very eloquently but in real terms, we as lawyers are responsible in the context that we must put pressure on government.
No one is going to come here on foreign direct investment with the kind of, for want of a better word, non-performing government that we have. It’s not possible.
“Despite the huge market – 200 million Nigerians – we are very poor. So, sometimes we sit here in fancy suits; but go out to the streets.
“I am a maritime lawyer in Apapa district. The Apapa district contributes 30 per cent of Nigeria’s national budget. Yet it takes three hours for me to get to work because trucks and tankers have blocked the entire place.
“So, let’s not pretend. We must look for leadership. And I think that is the central challenge.”
Security agencies in Nigeria will arrest Peter Okoye – APC declares
The All Progressives Congress(APC) youth renaissance group has reacted to Peter Okoye’s statement over the Federal Government ‘s injunction to stop music videos and movies from being shot abroad.In his statement Peter Okoye of Psquare slammed the APC led government calling them mad and stupid people Read here.
However in a statement signed by the national secretary of the All Progressives Congress(APC) youth renaissance group, Collin Edwin told Peter Okoye to leave the music industry, if he cannot withstand the ‘ heat’ stressing that security agencies will arrest him for disrespecting the government.
According to the statement: “We read the scurrilous remarks credited to Mr Peter Okoye of the Psquare group against the Federal Government’s job-saving policy in the entertainment industry with great anger and vexation.
“Least of all persons to make scathing remark against the government is the Psquare group which the local content policy of the Federal Government dusted-up from the valley of obscurity.
“Where was Peter Okoye or Psquare brand in 1999 when foreign music dominated our airwaves? If not for the government policy which mandated all broadcast stations in Nigeria to pay attention to Nigerian music by playing 95 percent of Nigerian songs every day, would Peter Okoye or Psquare be known to anybody in Nigeria today? Or would they have competed with better American music which dominated our airwaves then?
“After the government have used its policy to brush them up from nothing to something; instead of giving opportunity to other people, they are taking Nigerian jobs to foreign countries through the shooting of music videos abroad.
“Now that government have intervened to raise great and better entertainers again, Peter Okoye has the gut to insult the entire Federal Government by calling our great leaders ‘Ndi Ala’ which means mad and stupid people. How dare you say that Psquare?
“We, therefore, urge the security agencies in the country to arrest Mr Peter Okoye for disrespecting our government and bringing it to a disrepute. If you cannot produce in Nigeria and hire Nigerians, then leave the industry.We must export Nigerian culture to the outside world through our music and videos”.
The outspoken singer, Peter Okoye is yet to react to to the above statement as at the time of this publication.
The game changer – By Francis Ewherido
By Francis Ewherido
This Tuesday, July 11, is World Population Day, a day which seeks to raise awareness on global population issues. In Nigeria, our exploding population is a real issue.
Nigeria’s population was 122.8 million just 17 years ago, but it currently stands at 191.9 million, an increase of about 69.1 million or 64 per cent.
At the individual level, I have made it a sing song to my marriage course participants that after the first three children, they should think and think again before they add number four, because the fourth child is a game changer. I will illustrate with two instances.
A saloon car is just okay for a family of five, but once the number rises to six, seven or more, you need a Sports Utility Vehicle, which is bigger and more expensive, literally speaking. Putting six or more people in a saloon car is “overloading.” A family of five can make do with a two bedroom flat, but when the number rises to six or more, you sure need a bigger accommodation to avoid overcrowding.
Some readers might be saying, is this guy real? How many Nigerian families have cars? Does he not know that some families of eight occupy a single room? I know many families do not have cars, but even if they are using public transport, it will be cheaper to transport three children than four or more. Yes, I also know some families of eight occupy a single room, but that is existence not living. Will you be happy to be in such a situation? And for those who are in it, are you contented? Where is the privacy for the couples to be intimate? Any accommodation without the other room is not good enough for couples with children. Are you surprised that some under-aged children from such homes try to be sexually active? Na wetin dem see! Could that factor also contribute to the practice of couples who seek external partners?
Two weeks ago, I told you the story of a couple, who gave birth to five children in less than seven years, all because they are looking for a male child. Their family has grown to seven, meanwhile their income over the last seven years only grew from a combined N100,000 to N200,000.
Factor in inflation and you will find out that their economy has actually contracted in real terms. Yet they are just breeding without knowing the cost implications. Each child you give birth to has enormous cost implications in terms of feeding, clothing, housing, transportation, medical care, education, etc. Consequently, after three children you need to do serious soul searching before you go further because additional children not only bring additional cost, but additional pressure on your inelastic time.
In urban parts of Southern Nigeria, many educated couples now go for smaller families. I have observed that many couples who got married in the last 10 years or less, have an average of three children. They have realized that the paradigm has shifted from quantity to quality.
Our forefathers had many wives and children to create a large labour force for the farm. Infant mortality rate was also very high. So the more children they had, the better the chances of many getting to adulthood. All these have changed. Many couples now give birth to fewer children and spend their limited resources and time in giving them quality life. Now a man without children can own thousands of acres of farmland, something our forebears could not have imagine.
The major challenge in curbing population explosion in Nigeria, besides culture and religion, are the rural dwellers and many urban poor. A man on a N50,000 salary per month just had his 15th child from one woman. In spite of all the advice and warning about the dangers to the wife’s health, he is still insisting on having more because he is an only child. How does a family of 17 survive on N50,000 monthly? Of course he relies on the benevolence of family members, neighbours and friends. Many rural dwellers, with little or no income, have anything from six children to as many as 15 children. They just breed; no plan for the children. There are two major aspects of parenting: having the money to adequately provide for your children and giving them quality time. Unfortunately, most times, money and time are inversely related. Many parents who have money do not have the time and vice versa. That is why smart couples now go for smaller families because they either do not have the time or money to take care of a large family. Tragically many of those with large families these days neither have the resources nor time to give their children quality life and attention because of the number of children they have.
Nigerians need to procreate sensibly, even if culture, religion, your libido or other factors have given you the license to run riot. You have a responsibility to bring up responsible children, who will be useful to themselves, the family and the larger society.
At the micro and macro levels, inadequate or poor planning for population growth breeds poverty, diseases, unemployment, crime, pollution, among other negative tendencies. Nigeria does not even have the resources to cater for its exploding population.
The schools, hospitals, road and other infrastructure are not there. In developed countries, before people move into new neighbourhoods, the government would have built roads, sewage systems, provided electricity, etc. In Nigeria, go to new developments, even in highbrow Lekki, Lagos. Sewage is zero, no public water supply and no roads. You can imagine what new poor neighbourhoods look like. And it does not look like the situation will improve anytime soon.
It is time to focus our population control advocacy on mosques, rural dwellers and urban poor. The message is simple; give birth to only the number of children for which you can adequately cater. Unbridled breeding increases poverty, illiteracy, crime, degradation of the environment and other negative tendencies.
Obiano leading responsible, responsive government in Anambra – CBN
…Says ‘we are ready to give loans to farmers at 9 percent interest’
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has said Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State is changing the face of governance in the state through his adequate attention to security and prompt payment of workers’ salaries in the state.
The acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Isaac Okoroafor, gave the commendation at the Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre, Awka, during a three-day sensitisation workshop for the people of the state on CBN loan facilities.
He said, “We are pleased with the security initiatives in this state and the prompt payment of workers’ salaries.
These are great indices for development. “Some years back, Upper Iweka in Onitsha was a den of criminals; but when I passed there yesterday (Sunday), everywhere was orderly. The environment was beautified to taste. In some states, workers are owed eight months’ salaries, but that is not the case here.
“This shows a responsible and responsive government. We commend the governor.”
The apex bank also hailed Obiano on what he had done in the agricultural sector, especially in rice production.
Okoroafor said the CBN had stopped granting forex for the importation of 41 food items, including rice, to encourage local production of such foods.
He said, “We need to go back to the basics. The CBN is now ready to give loans to farmers with nine per cent interest. We want to go back to how it used to be before the oil boom; we’ve created development functions to help the people with the funds.”
He said the neglect of agriculture and manufacturing as a result of oil boom was the bane of the nation.
“It’s disturbing that eggs were being imported from South Africa before now, while meat was being imported from Zambia and rice was coming from different countries of the world. This is not acceptable anymore,” he said.
De-categorizing port terminals will cause loss of government revenue – INTELS
. . . Says NPA’s action violates port concession agreement
Intels Nigeria Limited has said the decision by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to de-categorize port terminals in the country will lead to dearth in revenue accruing to the Federal Government from the ports.
In its Witness Statement on Oath filed at the Federal High Court Abuja in a case instituted by the company against NPA and four others, a Senior Legal Manager of INTELS Nigeria Limited, Mr. Dominic Onwuchekwa, stated that the proposed de-categorisation of the terminals will not only jeopardise the prospect of the Plaintiff recovering its investments under the concession agreement signed with the Federal Government, but that it will also undermine the commitments made to its lenders.
“In addition, the de-categorization will lead to a situation whereby all terminals will charge the lower fee of $1.2 per ton (even for oil and gas cargoes for which $5.83 per ton should be paid) in order to attract patronage from port users, but on the other hand short-changing the government itself and the people of Nigeria,” Onwuchekwa stated in the Witness Statement on Oath.
He further averred that in discharging its obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the various Lease Agreements (including the Concession) with the Federal Government, INTELS expended huge sums of money in upgrading port facilities and building infrastructures as well as developing specialized oil and gas designated terminals based on the need and requirements of the oil and gas industry world-wide.
“Conservatively, the Plaintiff has, thus far, expended over USD2 billion out of its own resources without amortization in various projects and has budgeted additional USD5 billion in phased Port Terminals development and infrastructural renewal,” he stated.
He said the huge investment by INTELS in five concessioned port terminals across the country were made in response to the Federal Government’s quest and demand for investment in port infrastructure development in Nigeria.
“In addition to the above, the Plaintiff had also expended these huge expenses because it had entered into and executed 5 nos. Lease Agreements on the Concessioned Port Terminals which life span were 25 years with option of renewal for a further term on each terminal,” Onwuchekwa stated.
He said INTELS’ investment in the concessioned terminals was “based on the assurances and comforts from the 1st – 5th Defendants, especially the 3rd Defendant’s (NPA) categorization of Ports and Terminals, stating that the company “was persuaded into financing huge capital intensive projects for the benefits of the 1st- 5th Defendants and the people of Nigeria”.
According to him, “this relationship was based on the understanding that the Plaintiff shall re-coup its investments from its agreements with the Defendants entered in respect of contracts at the Oil and Gas Terminal services. The dredging and the reclamation of the 95 hectares swampy area at Federal Lighter Terminal Onne is one example out of several entered into between the 3rd Defendant and Prodeco international Limited which was financed by the Plaintiff.”
It will be recalled that Justice A.R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja last month issued an interim order directing the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and four others to maintain the status quo in a suit filed by INTELS Nigeria Limited on the de-categorization of terminals at the nation’s seaports.
INTELS, which filed the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/417/2017 at the Federal High Court Abuja, is, among other reliefs, asking the court to issue an order stopping NPA and other defendants including their representatives, agents or privies from implementing a proposed policy review which purports to cancel the designation of ports and terminals in Nigeria having led it into committing huge human, financial and material resources into developing five port terminals located in Calabar Terminal A, Warri Old Terminal A, Warri New Port Terminal B, Onne Port Federal Ocean Terminal A and Onne Port Federal Lighter Terminal B.
The defendants in the suit are the Federal Government of Nigeria, Attorney General of the Federation, Nigerian Ports Authority, Bureau of Public Enterprises and the Federal Ministry of Transport.
INTELS also asked the court to make a declaration that the five Lease Agreements it entered into and executed between the Plaintiff and the 3rd, 4th and 5th Defendants (who executed same for and on behalf of the 1st and 2nd Defendants) in respect of Warri New Terminal, Warri Old Terminal, Federal Lighter Terminal B, Calabar Terminal A and Federal Ocean Terminal A, all dated October 24, 2005 for 25 years renewable leasehold, are still subsisting.
Other reliefs sought by the company include a declaration that the Defendants are duty-bound to honour, perform and fulfill their contractual obligations as stated in the five Lease Agreements all dated October 24, 2005 between the Plaintiff and the 3rd, 4th and 5th Defendants acting for and on behalf of the 1st and 2nd Defendants; a declaration that the Plaintiff has not in any way whatsoever and howsoever, breached, violated and or failed to perform any of its duties and obligations as stated in the five Lease Agreements entered into and executed between the Plaintiff, and the 3rd, 4th and 5th Defendants acting for and on behalf of the 1st and 2nd Defendants.
Size of government in Nigeria too large, must be trimmed – Ekweremadu
…calls for decentralisation and establishment of state police
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has said for government (especially at the federal level) to work and satisfy the citizenry, its size must be trimmed.
Ekweremadu also called for the decentralisation of the Police and establishment of State Police.
The Deputy Senate President said this in a chat with newsmen on Monday.
His words: “We believe that the Federal Governemnt as presently constituted is too big and we need to adjust it. In a situation where you have in the concurrent list only about 16 items, most of the other things are in the exclusive list.
“It doesn’t make sense: so we need to find a way of trimming the Federal Government to the benefit of the component states so that some of these issues don’t become federal issues and that is the idea of federalism.
“We are looking at things like arbitration, agriculture, environment and such issues. Some of these things should go to the concurrent list and even Police”.
On State Police, he said: “We cannot decentralise the police now because some people are still opposed to it but i think it is beginning to make sense that you cannot be able to deal with our security situation in Nigeria except we change our security architecture.
“There is no place in this world where a federal system has a unitary role of policing which we have now and that is why we will continue to get it wrong in solving our security problems.
“It is not going to work until we change the architecture of our policing: a federal state as big as Nigeria must have to adopt a decentralised police.
“This means that in Sokoto they will create their kind of Police, in Kano they will create their own: the kind of Police that will work in Kano may not necessarily work in Enugu”.
Ekweremadu noted that for fear of abuse by state governments, the central government can create a commission to monitor their (police) activities, like the NJC monitors the judiciary.