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Tag: PCC

  • Photos: PCC staff protest over unpaid salary, locks up commissioner in office

    Photos: PCC staff protest over unpaid salary, locks up commissioner in office

    The chief commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Abimbola Yusuf Ayo, was locked up in his office on Wednesday by the commission staff during a protest over unpaid consolidated legislative salary approved by the House of Assembly.

    During the protest, the aggrieved workers refused to open the gate for policemen supposedly invited by the PCC management.
    Recall that in 2021, the senate upscaled the salary of PCC from Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPASS) to Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS).

    Following the failure of the payment, the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), PCC chapter, on June 2023, directed all the commission staff nationwide to embark on an indefinite strike.

    See photos below:

     

  • APC members who worked against Tinubu now regretting — ex-PCC spokesperson

    APC members who worked against Tinubu now regretting — ex-PCC spokesperson

    Mr. Oluremi Omowaye, former spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council in Osun, said members of the party, who worked against it in the general elections, are regretting their actions.

    Omowaye, said this in a statement on Sunday in Osogbo, while reacting to the uproar generated by the list of members of “Renewed Hope Concert” slated for May 25, ahead of the inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

    It was learnt that two members of the committee, who allegedly worked against the emergency of Tinubu during the APC primaries, were included on the list.

    Omowaye said that all APC members, who connived with the opposition parties during the governorship and general elections in Osun should “look up to their paymasters for rewards and appointments.”

    “Gone are the days when monkey will work and baboon will eat,” Omowaye, who was a former Commissioner for Works in the state stated.

    According to him, those who engaged in anti-party activities are still in pain that Tinubu won the presidential election.

    ”During the July 16 governorship election, we reach out to these people and talked to them to work for the party, but they worked against the party.

    ”Also during the presidential and national assembly elections, we included some of them in the Osun Presidential Campaign Council, but they still worked openly against the party.

    ”One of the most painful aspect of it is the fact that one of these people, who is enjoying federal appointment also worked against Tinubu during the election.

    ”When Tinubu won, which is till causing them pain, they started calling for interim government.

    ”And now, they want to be part of the various committees for the inauguration of the President-elect, they should rather go to their paymasters in PDP and Labour party for their rewards,” he said.

    Omowaye, who noted that Tinubu would fulfill all his campaign promises, said Nigerians should expect the very best from his administration.

    He, however, said that APC in the state would continue to wax stronger no matter the provocation from the opposition party.

  • Election fallout: APC-PCC raises alarm over alleged plot by LP, PDP to halt announcement of results

    Election fallout: APC-PCC raises alarm over alleged plot by LP, PDP to halt announcement of results

    Nigeria’s new watchdog, APC-PCC has raised alarm the two major opposition political parties in Nigeria, LP and PDP are shopping for court orders to stop INEC from announcing the collation of results by INEC and lead Nigeria into crisis.

    This was contained in a statement signed by the APC -PCC spokesperson, Festus Keyamo, SAN stating that:

    “We have it on good authority that the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party have perfected plans to finally scuttle our democracy and throw the country into constitutional crises by surreptitiously obtaining exparte court orders stopping the announcement of the Presidential Election results which they fear have gone against them.

    “The walk-out they staged today at the National Collation Center is just a precursor to executing the plan.

    “Nigerians would recall that the June 12, 1993 debacle that brought Nigeria to its knees and caused our country international isolation was precipitated by a court injunction stopping the announcement of Presidential Election results.

    “The court order was obtained by a certain Association for Better Nigeria headed then by one Chief Authur Nzeribe. This is exactly what Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi want to foist on this nation again because of their inordinate ambitions. This is not surprising because both candidates where nowhere to be seen when ASIWAJU was fighting for the democracy we all enjoy today.

    “However, we wish to draw the attention of Nigerians, the Judiciary, and the world to the provisions of section 84 (15) of the Electoral Act which prohibits the grant of injunctions to the stop the holding of elections (which includes the declaration of results). The section states:

    ‘Nothing in this section shall empower the courts to stop the holding of primaries or general elections under this Act pending the determination of a suit.’

    “This has prompted their instructions to their campaign organizations, especially their spokespersons to continue to issue statements, making false claims of ‘victory’ when there is no single scientific basis for such claims.

    ” For instance, as outlandish as some of their claims of manipulation are, they have not pointed at one single presidential election result in any single unit in the whole country where they scored a particular figure with a result sheet duly signed by their agent that was subsequently changed at a Collation Centre.

    “All we hear are sound bites of their spokespersons, huffing and puffing about winning the election just to whip up public sentiments to prepare the ground to reject the results when they are eventually released by INEC.

    “For us our position is very simple and straight forward: we wish to allow the legal process of declaring presidential election results to take place peacefully and in an orderly fashion. ASIWAJU is not desperate, but is very confident of victory.

    “We therefore wish to advice anyone who wishes to aid and encourage these candidates along this infamous part to remember the June 12 debacle. They may also wish to learn a lesson or two from President Muhammadu Buhari who resorted to the court of law in 2003, 2007 and 2011 when same PDP ‘defeated’ him in those presidential elections in controversial circumstances. President Buhari, as a true statesman and democrat, never resorted to underhand tactics to declare himself President.

  • APC -PCC rejects controversial Naja’atu as NW coordinator of PSC

    APC -PCC rejects controversial Naja’atu as NW coordinator of PSC

    … says the appointment is callous and insensitive

    The APC -PCC has outrightly rejected the appointment of Naja’atu Bala Muhammad as North West Coordinator of the Police Service Commission, PSC during the presidential election on Saturday.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports this was contained in a statement issued and signed by Festus Keyamo SAN,Director of Public Affairs and Chief Spokesperson, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council on Monday stating that:

    “We are deeply shocked and appalled to read a release by the Police Service Commission appointing one of its most partisan members, Naja’atu Bala Muhammad as a NorthWest coordinator of the Presidential Election.

    “In that role, she is expected to move about freely, supervising the conduct of Police Officers during the elections.

    “With the well-documented activities, actions and vitriols of Naja’atu in the last few weeks against our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (after being shown the door out of the APC as a mole) we venture to say that this appointment is not only callous, it is insensitive, openly confrontational and consequently unacceptable by the Tinubu/SHETTIMA Presidential Campaign Council.

    “Coming at a time when President Muhammadu Buhari is constantly assuring and reassuring the world of free, fair and credible elections, it confirms our worst fears that there are functionaries of government that are actively working with the opposition to thwart the avowed commitment of Mr. President.

    “We need not emphasise that the role given to NAJA’ATU requires a honest and unbiased individual who will discharge the duties diligently and without reproach. The nation will not get that from NAJA’ATU.

    “We therefore demand for the IMMEDIATE withdrawal of the name of NAJA’ATU Bala Muhammad as a coordinator of the Police Service Commission for the NorthWest or any region for that matter.

    ” She has an inalienable right to continue to campaign for any candidate of her choice and to vote for that candidate, but she cannot be given a garment to wear at this time that is meant only for neutrals.

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  • APC, Buhari strongly united behind Tinubu – PCC

    APC, Buhari strongly united behind Tinubu – PCC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC)says the party’s leadership and President Muhammadu Buhari are strongly united behind Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, toward a victory in 2023 general election.

    Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Director, Media and Publicity APC PCC said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Onanuga said that all attempts by opposition elements to put a wedge between Buhari and Tinubu would fail.

    He said the reference to the naira exchange rate by Tinubu at a campaign rally in Calabar, Cross River, was not an attack on the Buhari-led administration as was being speculated.

    “We find it important to correct the misrepresentation of the statement of our candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu at the campaign rally in Calabar by a section of the media,” he said.

    Onanuga said Tinubu at the rally, urged the party’s supporters and people of Cross River not to vote for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar because of their litany of failures while in power for 16 years.

    “The reference to exchange rate was not in any way an attack on the Buhari-led APC administration, but an attempt to capture how the economic mismanagement of the PDP created forex crisis in the country since 2015,”he said.

    He added that individuals who followed the entire sequence and context of what Tinubu said at the Calabar rally would know he directed his statement against PDP and Atiku.

    “Let’s we forget, the PDP left the forex reserve at $28 billion by May 2015, when Buhari took over despite unprecedented revenue from crude oil.

    “Even with the massive oil theft and low price of crude, until recently, President Buhari had built up the reserve to about 38 billion dollars.

    “The PDP in 1999 met the exchange rate at N85 to one dollar in 1999 and left it at N230 in 2015.

    “The futile attempt to misrepresent Tinubu by the mischievous PDP media did not detract his central message,” Onanuga said.

    He added that the former two-term Lagos State governor explicitly said the people should not follow PDP and Atiku because they don’t know the road.

    Onanuga said that Tinubu could not had meant Buhari does not know road, having celebrated numerous times, the achievements of his administration.

    The APC Director of media and publicity, said Tinubu had also said at the campaign fora that he would build on Buhari’s achievements if elected on Feb.25.

    He said it was therefore simply illogical that the same Tinubu would attack the Buhari administration of not knowing the road.

    “In contrast, throughout this campaign up till now, Tinubu has consistently said PDP and all the opposition parties put together do not know the road to prosperity for Nigeria.

    “He also said the competing candidates do not have the track record he amassed as governor of Lagos.

    “As the front runner in the presidential race, Tinubu has promised to implement his robust action plan that will bring socio-economic prosperity to our country,” Onanuga said.

    He added that the APC PCC was however, not unmindful of the antics of some media organisations to deliberately misrepresent Tinubu.

    Onanuga said that such media organisations accentuate anything they thought would project Tinubu in a bad light since the beginning of the electioneering circle.

    “All the machinations of the opposition elements to put a wedge between President Buhari and Tinubu will fail.

    “APC, its leadership, and President Buhari are strongly united behind our presidential candidate.

    “All the sponsored innuendos, invented and imaginary discord in APC which the failed PDP and their media organs hope to cash on to win the coming election will blow up in their faces,”he said.

  • Accord Party inaugurates PCC

    Accord Party inaugurates PCC

    Accord Party on Saturday in Lagos State inaugurated its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC). The party also handed over its victory flag to its Presidential Candidate, Prof. Christopher Imumolen.

    While receiving the flag, Imumolen said that Nigeria needed a visionary leader. He said that the country was blessed and needed a leader that would rescue it.

    “With a visionary leader, the youths who make up 70 per cent of the electorate will begin to have aspiration again.

    “There is a need for a leaders that would give the citizens a bright future and prepare them for “the great harvest“.

    “Nigerians should begin to think of a new leader who has demonstrated selflessness and passion for the people,’’ he advised.

    Imumolen said that many had benefitted from his scholarship programme while farmers had been empowered and women would also be empowered.

    The National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Nalado, said that the party wanted to bring a positive change in the country.

    He urged the electorate to ignore some people parading themselves as Accord Party officials. He described them as impostors who had seen that the party was growing fast.

    According  to him, Imumolen is the party’s presidential candidate recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC).

    The national chairman said that the PCC members were people of integrity who were loyal to the party and would deliver on their mandate.

    The Vice Presidential Candidate, Alhaji  Bala Maru, said that Accord Party would provide employment  opportunities for the youth, if elected.

    Maru said that the youth would be empowered by providing trading platform they could use to earn income.

  • APC PCC unveils Tinubu’s agenda for Nigerian youths

    APC PCC unveils Tinubu’s agenda for Nigerian youths

    The youth wing of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, has assured that Nigeria and its teeming youth will advance forward under the administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate.

    The National Youth Spokesperson, Tinubu-Shettima Campaign Council, Aliyu Audu stated this while addressing a youth forum tagged, “APC Youth Conversation on The 2023 Elections,” with the theme, “Youth Conversation on the Renewed Hope’ for Nigeria,” which held in Lagos on Sunday.

    Audu stated, “The youth represent a time for action, not talks. So I’ll not bore you with a long speech, rather I’ll delve straight into why we are here.

    “To begin with, we have gathered here to discuss why it is important for us as youths to expand our influence on the running of our dear country. This conversation is more about how the sum total of our commitments and collaborations as young people can advance our lofty dreams for our dear country.

    “We are here to possibly agree on one fundamental fact, and that is the fact that any of us sitting on the fence, as far as political participation is concerned, will not get us any closer to attaining our collective desire for a great nation.

    “In addition, the presidential aspirant of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged to deploy technology and the digital economy to create jobs. He has also promised to work on delivering a student loan that would greatly ease the burden of students and also deliver reforms to guarantee a stable academic calendar in our tertiary institutions.

    “The APC candidate has also guaranteed to work on reforming our security system in order to make our uniformed men more professional and to operate strictly within the ambit of the law. Without a doubt, it is my firm conviction that Asiwaju remains the best option for Nigeria moving forward,” Audu said.

    He stated further, “For those of us familiar with the nearly comatose economy inherited in 1999 when Asiwaju became governor of Lagos State and the spate of unlawful activities perpetrated by mostly young people;

    “his achievements in office, including the thriving entertainment and movie industry enabled by his government which engaged many hitherto idle youths; we can assess his capacity to do a good job as Nigeria’s president. Based on his antecedents, competence and record of service, we can almost be certain that Nigeria will advance forward under Asiwaju.

    “Like I said in the beginning, the greatness we seek for Nigeria will not just happen because we can dream or debate it on social media or whenever we come together as a group; it will only happen because all of us as a collective choose to take part when it matters the most.

    “Certainly, we can attain our collective desire for Nigeria if we all think together, band together and work together with other stakeholders to drive this country toward its desired destination.

    “No doubt, the confident and proven display of capacity by young Nigerians in almost all sectors across the world can be said to be inspired by the spirit of patriotism and tenacity displayed by our past heroes in their prime. As youth on whose shoulders rest the burden of ensuring that we safeguard this country, both for ourselves and the generations to come, we must first recognize and appreciate the contributions of older folks as we seek to work with them in order to blend their experience with our own dynamism as innovative, energetic and resourceful young people on a quest for a greater Nigeria. Our approach should be that of cooperation, and not antagonism.

    “As young people, when we combine our divergent strengths and individual talents, it is certain that great stuff can happen in this country. We only need to bury all forms of inherited pains or animosity, either on behalf of our religion, region, or ethnic lineage. We must now resolve amongst ourselves and come to terms with the fact that mistakes were made, and errors committed, from all sides and seek to end every grievance holding us down as a nation in our own generation.

    “We are the generation to turn around the fate of our beloved Nigeria and we must start now by making informed decisions based on character, competence, capacity and pedigree of the candidates seeking our support and votes.

    “More than ever before, we must now get more deeply involved, set aside every vestige of sentiments that have left us poorer and more divided as a country; and consider, without any form of bias, whose antecedents and track record speak to our current challenges as a nation.

    “It is my hope and prayer that the conversation here today will help us to begin that journey of being a part of those who will successfully shape the future of this country. We owe ourselves and our future that responsibility, and we must not shy away from it,” he said.

    According to Audu, this present government has contributed to increasing the participation and inclusion of youth in politics and governance, especially with the enactment of the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ law.

    “The law has made it a reality for young people to contest and win elections in order to contribute to national leadership at various levels; It is now left for us to take up the challenge and benefit from the opportunities this avails us.

    “Some of the dividends of democracy delivered by the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the leadership of President Muhammadu; which has accorded youth issues significant attention; include initiatives like the Public Works Scheme to cater to the interest of youths with purely technical skills; it has taken cognizance of the developments in ICT and digital evolution across the world with the launch of the Youth Fintech and Digital Youth Nigeria,” he said.

    He stated further, “Not leaving the youth out of its agricultural policy, the administration launched the National Young Farmers Scheme so that youths can take advantage of reforms in the agric sector. The government had also approved a N75 billion National Youth Intervention Fund to support young people with bright business ideas. There was also the Jubilee Fellows Programme, a youth empowerment Initiative supported by the United Nations Development Programme and the European Union.

    “While I have focused only on the government’s interventions and achievements in the area of youth development, due to lack of time; I should mention that the APC government is very aware of its own shortcomings, especially as regards the challenges still faced by the young people of Nigeria. For instance, the lack of stable and affordable education is still a source of concern to the party, just as the issue of unemployment and police brutality and harassment of young Nigerians.

  • 2023 Election: Tinubu will revamp Nigeria’s Health sector – PCC

    2023 Election: Tinubu will revamp Nigeria’s Health sector – PCC

    The Medical Department of Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has expressed confidence in the capacity of the APC Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu to revamp Nigeria’s Health sector, if elected.

    Dr Ikechukwu Odikpo, Director, Medical of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), said this while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Odikpo, who acknowledged the gaps in the Nigerian health sector, stated his belief in the readiness of Tinubu to close the gaps by improving on the robust health policies of the present APC-led administration.

    He explained that Tinubu’s strategy to improve the welfare and take home of medical practitioners with enabling environment to thrive professionally, would end the brain drain and medical tourism.

    “If the welfare of a doctor is adequately taken care of and working environment enabled, which is one of the plans of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, certainly, the job will be exciting and it will reduce brain drain.

    “Secondly, Tinubu as he did in Lagos, will ensure prompt and quality healthcare service delivery, medical tourism would reduce,” he said.

    The director, who described Tinubu as a visionary leader, said he would interface with health stakeholders in the country on Feb. 10.

    According to him, the scheduled town hall meetings are aimed at having conversations with doctors and health workers on ways of repositioning the country’s health sector.

    Dr Joseph Kigbu, Secretary of the Campaign Council, also told NAN about the ability of Tinubu to improve on the health policies and successes of the Present APC-led administration.

    Kigbu said that Tinubu had promised to expand the services of Primary Health Centres by locating one in every electoral ward in the country.

    He said that Tinubu was determined to replicate his successes in Lagos which made it the only state in Nigeria with lowest rate of maternal mortality.

    The Secretary who bemoaned the high rate of Nigeria’s maternal mortality, said that Tinubu would engender policies capable of preserving lives of mothers and children during child birth.

    Kigbu restated the capacity of the APC Presidential candidate to drive the process of improved National Health Insurance which would tackle the Out-Of- Pocket Syndrome and guarantee health equality.

    Newsmen reports that the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), in collaboration with Healthcare Transformation Coalition (HTC), recently organized a symposium on transformation of Nigeria’s health sector.

  • Assembly Speaker in closed door meeting with APC PCC in Lagos

    Assembly Speaker in closed door meeting with APC PCC in Lagos

    Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly has received the Security and Intelligence Committee of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC)

    Obasa received the committee delegation led by (Rtd.) Gen. Jubril Abdulmalik and other top security experts at the assembly complex in Lagos on Wednesday.

    The visit is coming few weeks to the general election which has Sen. Bola Tinubu as APC presidential candidate.

    Upon arrival of the committee,   Abdulmalik and other security experts which includes the former chief of defence staff,  retired Gen. Abayomi Olorunisakin, and the former chief of army staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai, immediately went into a close-door meeting with the speaker.

    Also on the entourage were  Rtd.  Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Hakeem Odumosu and Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, a former lawmaker and Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.

    NAN

  • PCC best suited agency to domicile whistleblowing policy – Buhari

    PCC best suited agency to domicile whistleblowing policy – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) as the best suited agency to domicile the whistleblowing policy of the Federal Government.

    The president stated this while responding to requests by the Chief Commissioner of the Commission, Chief Abimbola Ayo-Yusuf, and members of the management team during a courtesy visit on Friday in Abuja.

    He thanked the commission for conferring him the award of the GRAND OMBUDSMAN OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

    Buhari pledged to continue to do his best in expanding the frontiers of anti-corruption, rule of law and good governance in Nigeria.

    On the requests by the PCC, the president said:

    ‘‘I want to assure you that the Commission would be considered as the Agency where the policy will be domiciled.

    ”This is in view of your widespread network of offices and the fact that your mandate on referral of complaints with criminal contents to appropriate Law Enforcement Agencies make your Commission the best suited Agency for domiciling whistleblowing policy of the Federal Government.’’

    The president also promised speedy consideration of the commission’s application to own a radio station to facilitate dissemination of its activities to the citizenry and to enhance its public enlightenment programmes.

    On the 2023 elections and the need to protect the will of Nigerians, Buhari enjoined the commission to use their privileged position and network of numerous offices in all the states of the federation and presence in many local government areas to protect the interest of the down- trodden.

    He also urged the commission to sensitise the citizenry on their rights and obligations.

    He underscored the role of the PCC in ensuring free, fair and credible elections and a smooth democratic transition and transfer of power in 2023.

    ‘‘The Public Complaints Commission is an Ombudsman Institution set up in 1975.

    ”The reason for its establishment by its founding fathers was to bridge the gap between the government and the governed, and between the big man and the little man.

    ‘‘It was designed to act as a bastion of justice for the ‘little man’ who has no one or place to turn to for relief, just as it was conceived by the Swedes who originated it.

    ‘‘The mandate of the Commission is to principally attend to complaints by members of the public concerning the administrative action of any authority and companies or their officials.”

    Buhari stressed that: ‘‘This fits into this Administration’s policies of restoring transparency, accountability and zero tolerance for Corruption and all forms of administrative injustice.

    ‘‘I therefore promise to assist the Commission to provide the needed tools and infrastructure to strengthen and empower it to perform effectively.’’

    On the honorary award presented to the President, Ayo-Yusuf praised  Buhari for releasing all outstanding pension liabilities from 2014 to retirees of the federal government, especially those of the treasury-funded Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs), under the contributory pension scheme.

    He added that the president also approved the payment of backlog of death benefits due to beneficiaries of deceased employees of MDAs.

    Ayo-Yusuf also highlighted Buhari’s approval for payment of the 13 per cent derivation deductions for the nine oil producing states of the federation, which has been outstanding since 1999.

    ‘‘Your excellency, these life-changing approvals are unprecedented in the history of governance in this country.

    ”Hence, as a Commission with the responsibility to arbitrate and resolve public concerns, we deeply appreciate your support so far in solving the most sensitive issues that had bedeviled the Commission for a long time,’’ he said.

    The chief commissioner also told the president that between July 1, 2021, when he assumed office with his colleagues, and November 2022, a total of 125,064 out of 173,500 complaints had been resolved.

    He said the complaints came mainly from the Nigerian work force and the downtrodden who ordinarily could not afford the cost of justice in the Nigerian judicial system.

    While making the case to become the hub of the whistleblowing policy and provide confidentiality for whistleblowers, Ayo-Yusuf said PCC had over the years served as Chair of the Interagency Task Team on anti-corruption.

    ‘‘We are able to secretly receive, investigate, process and refer cases from whistleblowers to relevant agencies for further investigation and prosecution while protecting the whistleblower,’’ he said.