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Tag: Power

  • Lawmakers commend proposed 3,000MW power project for Lagos

    Lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday said that the N1.046 trillion Lagos State Budget proposal Government would facilitate growth and development.

    The lawmakers who commended the state Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for prioritising capital expenditure.

    According to them, since the 2017 Budget performance was above 70 per cent, the 2018 Budget will transform the state, especially through a planned power project.

    NAN reports that Ambode presented the 2018 bBudget proposal before the state House of Assembly on Monday.

    It is tagged: “Budget of Progress and Development”.

    The budget size, which represented a 28.67 per cent increase over the 2017 Budget of N812 billion, had a capital expenditure of N699 billion and a recurrent expenditure of N347 billion.

    The Acting Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Mr Tunde Braimoh said: “The budget is apt, ambitious, lofty and well-targeted at transforming the Lagos State economy and infrastructure.’’

    Braimoh noted that the budget provided for a power project aimed at boosting economic activities of the state.

    According to him, epileptic power supply has caused severe damage to the nation’s economy, and if Lagos State Government can provide regular power supply, it will boost investments.

    “The problem of power supply has made our country to lose its industrial base. The budget will change the topography of Lagos,’’ he said.

    The lawmaker, however, said that there was the need to sustain the robust relationship between the legislative and executive arms of the government for expedited implementation of the budget.

    On whether the budget will be passed before January, the spokesman said that it might not be possible as the Assembly would do proper scrutiny of the budget before its passage.

    Braimoh, however, said that the lawmakers would sacrifice their comfort to ensure quick passage of the budget without compromising standards.

    Also speaking, Mr Setonji David, the Acting Chairman of the House Committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development, said : “It is a great thing that the budget of Lagos State is over N1 trillion.

    “It means Lagos is moving and more infrastructure development on the way. The ratio of capital expenditure to recurrent expenditure is fantastic, and this means the governor is visionary.

    “It is quite impressive that the governor budgeted massively for the embedded power project to light up the state for industrialisation,” David said.

    Mr Olusegun Olulade, the Acting Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, said that the budget would galvanise result in accelerated development of the state.

    The Acting Chairman of the Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (Local), Prince Adebisi Yusuff , who expressed satisfaction at the 2017 Budget performance, said that the 2018 Budget would be better implemented.

    Gov. Ambode stated during the budget proposal that his administration would have direct intervention in the power value chain toward generating 3,000MW Embedded Power Programme- a three-year plan to achieve regular power supply for the state in 2018.

    “The challenge of inadequate power supply must be resolved for our economy to perform optimally, and we believe the provision of this essential utility can no longer be left in the hands of the Federal Government alone.

    “We must complement each other for the overall development of our nation,’’ the governor said.

  • 2019: Nigerians are eager to have PDP back in power – Ekweremadu

    2019: Nigerians are eager to have PDP back in power – Ekweremadu

    …says APC has dashed the hopes of Nigerians

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has scored the All Progressives Congress (APC)- led administration low on security, economy, job creation, and national unity.

    This was even as he described the 16 years that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in power as glorious years for the country, noting that “good men and women who left PDP for the APC are eager to return to join us to build a better Nigeria”.

    Mr. Ekweremadu spoke on Saturday in Abuja at the national convention to elect new leaders of the PDP.

    He said: “the PDP worked out Nigeria’s debt forgiveness and paid up our remaining debts, but today, we are getting indebted more than any other time in the history of Nigeria.

    “We groomed and bequeathed the fastest growing economy as well as the largest economy in Africa. The story is different today.”

    The senator also maintained that whereas the PDP years saw to job creation and improvement in agriculture and consequent low food prices, Nigerians have lived under dire realities of insecurity, unemployment, and hunger.

    He said: “Millions of our people, who lost their jobs in the last two years and those who struggled through higher institutions of learning to receive education, but could not find jobs in the last two years, but who believe that when PDP returns, there will be hope for them.

    “Our brothers and sisters from the North-east, who were liberated by the PDP government, but who are now suffering under attacks and threats by Boko Haram believe that they will be safe when PDP returns to power.

    “Our people, who are struggling everyday to leave Nigeria to the so-called Eldorado in Europe, but who either end up in the Mediterranean or trapped in Libya and other places because of the hardship in Nigeria believe that this convention will mark the beginning of the end of their problems, as they see hope for Nigeria in 2019.”

    He ecried the level of disunity in the country today unlike in the PDP years, which, he said “showed Nigerians, in true sense of it, that we belong to everybody.”

    “Former leaders of the nation are worried about the disunity in our country want to see a PDP government that will reunite all of us once more.

    “In 16 years, we saw justice done to the people of South-west of Nigeria when they were deprived the presidency. The PDP provided them with the platform to be part of this country when they made one of their sons, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo the president of Nigeria.

    “PDP, within the 16 years, showed the minorities in Nigeria that they are part of us when the party gave one of their own, Dr. Goddluck Jonathan, a platform to be elected the President of Nigeria.

    “PDP gave amnesty to those struggling in the creeks and oil production continued because we applied dialogue instead of force and confrontation. Today, the beneficiaries of that amnesty are doing well in different sectors,” he added.

    Mr. Ekweremadu stressed that Nigerians had witnessed darkness in the past two years, but were now eager to see the light again under the PDP.

    He, therefore, urged delegates to elect good and competent party faithful as leaders to fulfill the high expectations of Nigerians who now looked up to the PDP for recovery from 2019.

     

  • Gov. Ambode promise to bring power to every Lagos home

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday said arrangement had been put in place to implement the embedded power project which would soon bring electricity to every home in the state.

    Ambode spoke at the 2017 community day celebration with the theme: “Community Affinity: Aligning Lagos Communities with Private Sector” held in Lagos.

    He said that his administration would not rest until it ensured that there will be light in every home, a school in every ward, as well as a clinic in every neighbourhood.

    “These may look like tall dreams, but history has shown that they are achievable. Together, we shall realise these goals,” he said.

    The governor also said that the government hoped to achieve phenomenal increase in the state’s internally generated revenue in 2018 by persuading more people into the tax net.

    “2018 is going to be a better year for Lagos.

    “With your support through the performance of your obligations, we can safely commit ourselves in the conviction that by the end of 2018, more youths will be in schools and more families will be gainfully employed.

    “With a home to return to and a community to live in, our dream of a more secure and prosperous state will be another Nigerian wonder,” he said.

    Ambode commended the Community Development Associations for coming together to celebrate the values of community development.

    He also appealed to residents to continue to cooperate with his administration to make the state bigger and better.

    Earlier, Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri, Chairman, Community Development Advisory Committee, urged the Community Development Associations and Committees to imbibe the spirit of transparency and accountability in running their affairs.

    Quadri, who said the theme of the event was apt, urged community leaders to key into Corporate Social Responsibility as a vehicle to boost development at the grassroots.

    Also, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Alhaji Muslim Folami, urged residents to support the state government to deliver more on its promises of improved services, programmes and projects.

    There were prizes won by community associations for self help power projects, while the governor also announced a gift of N500, 000 to each of the community development committees.

  • Jonathan was not prepared for leadership, not desperate for power – Saraki

    Jonathan was not prepared for leadership, not desperate for power – Saraki

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said yesterday that former President Goodluck Jonathan was not prepared for leadership.

    He, however, described him as a man who never wanted to unnecessarily cling on to power.

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima lampooned the ex-President for his inaction when the Chibok schoolgirls were abducted.

    He said the former President almost removed him from office as a result of the girls’ abduction but for the intervention of a former Attorney-General of the Federation Mohammed Bello (SAN) and a former Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Turaki.

    They spoke in Abuja at the public presentation of the book: “On a Platter of Gold: How Jonathan won and lost Nigeria,” written by a former Minister of Sports, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi.

    The book reviews the Jonathan administration from February 9, 2010 to May 29, 2015.

    Saraki said: “I like to share one or two things that will probably summarise the former President Jonathan. I remember when I was then senator and I came across this issue of fuel subsidy and the way the country was losing close to about N1.3 trillion.

    “In the history of this country, I don’t think of any singular kind of level of corruption as huge as that. I had a motion already, I wanted to present on the floor of the Senate. I felt as a member of the ruling party at that time, it was only proper I discussed it with the President (first) maybe some action can be taken so that I could step down the motion. I booked an appointment to see Mr. President, I went with my paper, I started with the background of how people brought in petroleum products. I said Mr. President, in the past, people used to get award letters from NNPC to bring in PMS, DPK, and make 10, 20 per cent profit.

    “I said sir, they’ve taken it to another level. Now, they get an order to bring in products they don’t want to make 10 or 20 per cent any more. They will get an offer to bring in a cargo of 20,000 litres, they will bring in 5,000 litres to be stamped for 20,000 litres and instead of making 10 per cent, they make ten times the amount. I was telling the President thinking the President would get very agitated. But Jonathan said: ‘Senator Saraki, you know this oil business is very oily.’

    “I was stunned and taken aback but in a way, that was Jonathan in a way; that was who he is. And if you look at the second encounter … I felt that I didn’t want Jonathan to hear it as news, I booked an appointment to go and see him – I didn’t know what I was thinking that day. I went to the Villa. He said ‘come in, come in, how can I help you?’ I looked at the President of a third world country and said Mr. President I came to tell you that I am going to be contesting for your seat. Jonathan looked at me and said ‘oh, okay, good luck, good luck.’

    “If it were any other person, maybe I would not have left the Villa but that again sums up Goodluck Jonathan. I think it is Nigerians that produce the kind of leaders we get. No matter what you say about him, I don’t think he was someone who was desperate for power. He was not someone that was prepared for leadership. Yes by misfortune or fortune, I keep on saying, we all know the right things but we don’t do it. We find ourselves sometimes blaming individuals and blaming others than ourselves.”

    Some of those at the launch were Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed(Kwara); a former Speaker of the House of Representatives Ghali Na’aba; a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore; National Chairman of APC Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Minister of Mines and Steel Development Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Minister of Communication Mr. Adebayo Shittu; ex-Governor Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo; Executive Secretary of NEITI Mr. Waziri Adio; ex-Minister of FCT Dr. Aliyu Modibbo; Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly Ali Ahmed; members of the APC National Working Committee and a former National Chairman of PDP Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje.

    Shettima described Dr. Jonathan as a clueless leader and unsophisticated country person.

    He also reiterated that Jonathan doubted the abduction of over 200 Chibok girls and was nonchalant.

    He said Jonathan surrounded himself with an assorted crop of religious bigots and tribal kings unlike ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo who believes in the Nigerian project.

    Notwithstanding, he said Jonathan should be commended for conceding defeat and saving the nation from the precipice.

    He, however, said Nigeria needs good governance and not restructuring.

    “It goes without saying that the stewardship of Dr. Jonathan was such a turbulent period in our national life and will continue to shape for good or for bad, the fortunes of our country.

    “The lesson for us, therefore, as a political class is that we must at all time, place the national interest above all other considerations and must assiduously work to build a national consensus. Not everyone will agree with the recollections of the events of that very interesting period of our national life or the manner of presentation.

    “I hope that this book will inspire others to give their own account, history and perspectives as well as opinion of this and other period of our unfolding political history. The fortune of this country is our hands.”

    Shettima, who was the chairman of the launch, regaled a stunned audience with how Jonathan mismanaged the abduction of Chibok girls by Boko Haram.

    Instead of acting, Jonathan ordered that the Principal of the Government Secondary School, Chibok should be locked up by the then Inspector-General of Police Mr. Mohammed Yusuf.

    He added: “Sadly, Borno was the epicentre of the whole crisis that engulfed the Jonathan administration.

    “I wasn’t invited to Abuja until nearly three weeks later and even when I was invited, I was happy that at last, I was getting the attention of my leader. I was asked to come to Abuja with the Commissioner of Police, the DPO in Chibok, the Commissioner of Education, the military commander in Chibok and the Director of SSS in Borno.

    “We were all ushered in to the Villa and sadly when the President came in, he was still in the world of make-believe. He started threatening the principal that he should tell him where the girls were. He was shouting, ‘Principal, you must tell me where those girls are, Commissioner of Police, you must know where the girls are’.

    “He immediately ordered the arrest of the Principal, the DPO, the Commissioner of Police and the Director of SSS, that they must produce the girls. In this very unfortunate saga, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, the Inspector-General of Police, arrested them, took them to the police headquarters and told them he cannot hold onto them because he was a man of conscience. He let them go on self-recognition.

    “I was quite taken aback because I thought the solution was going to be found to a very grave national challenge. Instead, the President was still of the mindset that those girls were not abducted.”

  • Buhari lists regular power, fuel supply, anti-corruption fight… as achievements of APC-led govt

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday enumerated improvement in power and fuel supply; war against corruption as some of the laudable achievements recorded by his administration in two years.

    Buhari who made the disclosure while delivering his speech to the National Executive Committee meeting of the APC which held today, in Abuja said he is proud of the achievements he has recorded in the last two years.

    “We can be proud of our achievements in the last two years, Boko Haram, Niger Delta, Regular Fuel, Improved Power, TSA, Agriculture and Fertilizer, above all, the knowledge that corruption will not be tolerated in this Government. We all know there is CHANGE.

    Read his statement in full, “Let me on a personal note thank you all for your prayers and good wishes, which the Almighty Allah answered in the restoration of my health. I wish to thank you all Party leaders for helping to keep the government running smoothly during my prolonged absence.

    “I would like to start by commending our Party Leadership chaired by His Excellency, Chief John Oyegun. The Chairman and I worked harmoniously during 1984-85 in a previous government. Happily, circumstances have brought us again to positions of leadership in the country.

    “I want to thank Chief Oyegun and his staff for steering the party in the last two and a half years. Sometimes it is easier to manage failure than to manage success – and a big success such as that we have achieved.

    “I must also commend the leadership of the National Assembly led by Senate President His Excellency, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Rt. Hon. Speaker Mr. Yakubu Dogara. I must place on record the cooperation and understanding of the National Assembly including some non-APC members who rose above petty party interests and acted in the national interest.

    “My deep thanks also go to our State Governors who faced stiff challenges, especially their determination to maintain unity and tolerance among our communities. This is in the face of unnecessary politically motivated strife and violence. Credit should go to APC Governors for extending their hand of fellowship to their colleagues from other parties.

    “In my remarks to the Caucus meeting yesterday, I enumerated the progress that our government has made in the implementation of the programs of government and the Party Manifesto.

    “We can be proud of our achievements in the last two years, Boko Haram, Niger Delta, Regular Fuel, Improved Power, TSA, Agriculture and Fertilizer, above all, the knowledge that corruption will not be tolerated in this Government. We all know there is CHANGE.

    “Nigeria’s prestige has gone up, Nigeria is now credit –worthy, a clear testimony of which was the over-subscription of the Euro-Bond by 4 times. Nevertheless, we are not resting on our achievements. I am quite aware of the challenges before us.

    “Last year, I said we would re-constitute the Boards of Parastatals. I must regret the fact that we have not done so, for many reasons.

    “Some of us in this meeting may know I had given instructions since October 2015 for this exercise to start. But there have been inordinate delays through several Committees in an attempt to get the balance right and to make sure all parts of the country are equitably represented.

    “On the other hand, I am keenly aware that our supporters are very eager for these appointments to be announced. By the Grace of God these appointments will be announced soon. Especially now that the economy is improving, we will have the resources to cater for the appointees.

    “By the same token, the compressed Federal Executive Council will be expanded to bring in more supporters at Federal Level, with fresh ideas to be injected into the government.

    “Let me thank you all again for the commitment and dedicated service to our Party and to remind you that much more will be required of you in the coming months. I hope we can continue to depend on you. If we keep united and rise above petty or personal quarrels, we will surely achieve the desired CHANGE in the country.”

  • Jonathan blasts Fashola for failing to fix power as promised during 2015 campaign

    Jonathan blasts Fashola for failing to fix power as promised during 2015 campaign

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has lambasted Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde for failing to fix power as promised during 2015 campaign.

    Jonathan who made the statement in Abuja on Thursday when he received one of the national chairmanship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, and members of his campaign stressed that President Muhammadu Buhari-led government is only good in lying.

    The former president observed that more than two years of the APC Federal Government, to which Fashola belongs as a minister, the government had not been able to fix power.

    He noted that Fashola who made the statement is incidentally in charge of power today.

    Jonathan said the Buhari government had not done anything since it came to power on May 29, 2015.

    “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.

    “In the power sector, we did well to revive it. A state governor attacked our government, saying that any serious government should be able to fix the power challenge within six months.

    “Today, APC has been in power for how many years now? Fortunately the then governor is in the APC government as a minister.”

    Extolling the qualities of Adeniran, Jonathan reminded members of the PDP not to forget that for the party to stand a chance to oust the APC in 2019, the party would need a competent, reliable and courageous national chairman who would lead the party to victory come 2019.

    According to him, the PDP “needs a national chairman that will select credible and reliable candidates for various elective offices at the various levels of government from the presidency down to the councillorship.

    “We need a national chairman who will be courageous enough to caution the President if we win the Presidency and the President is going astray,” he said, adding that the expectation of the PDP was a “national chairman who will rule the party democratically and carry others along.”

    Jonathan said that with his long interaction with Adeniran and testimonies of other party leaders, he possessed all it would take to lead the PDP to new heights.

    He counselled party members, especially the aspirants not to allow the outcome of the convention to cause another crisis in the party, warning, “We must not come out of the convention divided. There should be no acrimony.”

    In his remarks, Adeniran said he was not in the contest for fun, stressing that the need to rebuild and reposition the PDP ahead of the 2019 general elections informed his decision.

    “Nigerians are waiting. Till now, more than 3/5th of Nigerians are still sympathetic to the PDP,” he said.

    On Adeniran’s delegation were former ministers, Abba Moro (Internal Affairs); Zainab Maina (Women Affairs); Jerry Gana (Information); and a two-time Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Friday Itulah, among others.

    When contacted for reaction to Jonathan’s allegation, the President’s media team referred one of our correspondents to the All Progressives Congress.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, was however unavailable for comments.

    Calls to his mobile phone were neither picked nor returned.

    A response to a text message sent to him on the subject was still being awaited as of the time of filing this report.

    In his reaction, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, stated that Jonathan did not have the right facts.

    The minister, who spoke through his Senior Special Adviser on Communications, Hakeem Bello, stated that it was unfortunate to know that Jonathan would accuse the current government of not doing enough in the power sector.

    He said, “It is unfortunate that the former President does not have his facts right. This is because there was nowhere that the current Minister of Power, Works and Housing and former Governor of Lagos State said he could fix Nigeria’s power challenges in six months.

    “If he (Jonathan) needs clarification, we can provide that, instead of stating things that are not factual with respect to the minister and the power sector.”

  • No exclusive monopoly in power distribution – Fashola tells Discos

    No exclusive monopoly in power distribution – Fashola tells Discos

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola has allayed fears of Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) over government’s investments in solar energy plants.

    Fasola allayed their fears at the 20th Monthly Power Sector Stakeholders’ Meeting hosted by Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in Owerri.

    The minister said that the Discos expressed their fears in a letter to his office about some government’s initiatives on power generation and distribution.

    Fashola said some government’s initiatives which included provision of meters to consumers by meter suppliers, provision of more power to consumers through licensing of eligible customers and promotion of more solar power through mini-grids had prompted the fears of the Discos.

    He said Discos had nothing to fear about solar, stressing that all government’s initiatives were targeted at improving services to the people.

    “It is my understanding that you fear that you will lose some income or some customers if government proceeds and on the question of meters, you seek to have technical compatibility with what the licensees will operate.

    “In respect of possible investment in distribution equipment, you seek that government should route the investment through the Discos.

    “While your concerns about business viability, financial stability and cost recovery are well understood and indeed supported by the Electric Power Sector Perform Act of 2005 ( EPSRA ) which government will respect, I must point out that government’s focus is also strong on the issue of service to the people.

    “As far as the promotion of solar and other sources of independent power are concerned, please note that not only are they supported by the ESPRA, they are consistent with our Paris Climate Change Agreement Obligations and with emerging global practice,” he said.

    The minister said that ESPRA did not contemplate a monopoly for any licensee unless it was expressly stated in the licence.

    Fashola said the monthly meeting was to review the progress made from the last monthly meeting held in Lagos in September and to collectively engage the challenges that lied ahead in the roadmap to incremental, stable and uninterrupted power supply.

    He said that in the last month, the sector recovered 100mw from the damaged Afam IV power plant which had been inoperative since January 2015.

    The minister said that TCN had energised the Jebba-Kainji 2nd 330KV line and the 2nd Ajaokuta-Abuja 330KV line both of which were inoperative since 2015.

    According to him, the Federal Executive Council on Oct. 4 approved the verified sum of N25.9 billion Federal Government MDA debts and its payment by setting it off against debts owed by the Discos to NBET.

    The minister as saying that the sector was also making progress in recovering debts due from international customers.

    He said the sector was equally working to expand the distribution network of the Discos so that they could take additional 2,000 mw of power now available for supply

    Fashola said that debts of ministries, departments and agencies would be paid through their debts to Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company ( NBET ).

    He said that one of the challenges to overcome was how the Discos could quickly increase their capacity to take power and distribute to consumers.

    The minister commended the critical role of the judiciary and the law enforcement agents on the strict enforcement of arbitration clauses in the power sector.

    “We welcome this judicial support to stop corruption in the power sector, enforce the law and promote liquidity in the sector.

    “We also welcome the intervention in the Court of Appeal in the case involving the tariff review,” he said.

    Mr Paul Okeke, the Acting Managing Director of EEDC, commended the minister for his unrelenting efforts to improve the power sector.

    He said EEDC was also committed to the improvement of power supply in the country.

    Okeke also spoke on some progress made by the company, adding that there were ongoing schemes to improve service delivery in the sector.

     

     

  • Nigeria has become chaotic, everyone including Buhari is unhappy – Bishop Kukah

    Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah on Monday warned Nigerians to stop spreading hatred, stressing that everyone should be careful of their actions as the country is now on a very dangerous precipice.

    He said, “This is one of the first time in Nigeria, that everyone is angry at the same time but the reason may be different. I am sure the President too is unhappy because this is not the country he fought for.”

    This country has become chaotic, collectively we are all frustrated in Nigeria, the challenge now is how to channel our anger.”

    Kukah made the statement while speaking at the 2017 edition of The Platform, held at Covenant Christian Centre, a nation and governance building program, where he spoke on the topic “The weakness of power”.

    Referencing President Buhari’s stance [anger] on those agitating for secession and on the other hand, several calls from some leaders from certain parts of the country seeking the restructuring of Nigeria, Kukah said Buhari, like other military heads like Ibrahim Babangida, among others have a military mindset/approach towards restructuring.

    He said having fought in the civil war just to keep Nigeria’s unity, no military man will see the justification or be happy over talks that dwells on secession, restructuring.

    Kukah furthered, “Buhari said he fought a civil war to keep this country, which is true, but if you fought a civil war forty years ago and the problem still persists, then there is something fundamentally wrong.

    He noted that the use of ethnicity as a tool of negotiation in Nigeria is what makes national conversation, debates corrosive.

    In Nigeria, the only freedom of speech in Nigeria is the freedom to agree with them. Nigeria is a country of brilliant people and it is very difficult to govern them[ People who are very constructive].

    “I worry that when you speak in favour of Nigeria, people think you either looking for government’s favour or you’ve been offered something by the government. Restructuring in Nigeria is mathematics, The Igbos will seek one more state so that they can balance with the number of states controlled by Yorubas of South West.” He noted.

    Meanwhile, Kukah, who lamented about other minorities who have little or no representation in the whole Nigeria arrangement, gave an example of where he came from, said the only first sign of federal government they felt from his ethnic group was a government vehicle that brought the corpse of one their sons who died during the Nigeria’s Civil war.

    The President of Nigeria is the most powerful President of the World. Where else in the World can you just with a signature make one man a billionaire, you can own an oil well, the context for power in Nigeria is not about the struggle to serve, that is why it is at all cost.

    “This is the only country where people run into power by accident, from the military to the civilian, none of our leaders prepared for governance.

    “We cannot do the same thing and expect a different outcome. leadership is a serious business, We have every reason to be angry, but let us remember that a lot people have died to defend the integrity of this country and it must be one factor to consider.

    “Our love for Nigeria will never die, we will stay here, we will redeem this country – Obama told Americans that ‘Yes we can’, but to Nigerians, I say, ‘Yes we must’” He concluded.

  • We’ll shut down oil, power sectors indefinitely if FG does not accede to our demands tomorrow – Labour

    We’ll shut down oil, power sectors indefinitely if FG does not accede to our demands tomorrow – Labour

    The United Labour Congress, ULC, and its affiliate unions have threatened to shut down the oil and power sectors by Friday if the Federal Government does not meet its demands.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that other affiliates of the union that promised to shut down the sectors by Friday include Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE.

    Others are National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE; National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Employees, NUBIFIE; Nigeria Union of Mine Workers, National Association of Aviation Professionals, Steel and Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria; Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria; Nigeria Union of Railway Workers; Private Telecommunications, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Nigeria Union of Shop and Distributive Employees.

    This was revealed in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos by the General Secretary of the union, Comrade Didi Adodo.

    Adodo noted that the Federal Government was yet to address the concern of its members, following a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government through its Central Working Committee, CWC, which expired Friday, September 8, 2017.

    He explained that in line with due process and in keeping with industrial relations’ best practices and traditions, ULC, had issued a final seven-day strike notice to the Federal Government to address its demands or face nationwide strike.

    Adodo maintained that the seven days notice which was contained in a letter addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, would expire Friday, September 15.

    He, however, warned that after the expiration of the 7days ultimatum, the union will enforce the strike action indefinitely starting with the oil and power sectors.

    The group further lamented that the official response it received from the Federal Government on the matter, vide a letter from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, fell grossly short of addressing the issues raised, which warranted an ultimatum in the first instance.

    ULC said mobilisation for the strike nationwide had begun, adding that state councils and affiliates were on red alert to ensure that if the Federal Government remained unyielding to members’ demands, they shall be compelled to embark on strike across the country.

    Our demands According to the statement, “once again, we reiterate these demands as follows: That Federal Government bans the stationing of the Army and Police in our workplaces and factory premises. ‘’This will stop employers who are now colluding with the Army and other security agencies from setting up their men in our factories for the purposes of intimidating and harassing workers in order to deny them their rights and privileges.

    “The Army and the Police should immediately withdraw their men in the different workplaces where they are currently stationed.

    “That the government should demand that the Federal Ministry of Labour sets up a task force immediately to carry out factory inspections as most of our factories are death traps.

    “An immediate review of the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to save Nigerians the agony of suffering under the suffocating darkness which the GENCOs and DISCOs have foisted on the nation among other demands.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Federal Government is however yet to react or issue any statement concerning the proposed strike by the unions.

     

     

  • Return us to power in 2019 to consolidate gains of democracy – PDP tells Nigerians

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said on Saturday that it would consolidate the gains of democracy should it return to power in 2019.

    A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Nicholas Ossai (Delta-PDP), made this disclosure in an interview with the newsmen in Abuja.

    Ossai said that the PDP non-elective national convention would provide a platform to further unite members of the party.

    According to the lawmaker, this is a new era for the country’s political journey.

    “PDP has come to consolidate on the gains it achieved over the years because it has experienced people, and this is the time to come together in order to move the country forward.

    “The regional agitations and economic challenges being witnessed in the country should not continue.

    “The PDP is made up of a highly intellectual political class, that has the capacity to turn things around and manage the country’s economy well,” Ossai said.

    He urged youths to aspire to leadership positions and refrain from activities capable of truncating the nation’s democracy.

    Ossai also advised the youth to explore the opportunity provided by the party’s convention to contribute to national development.

    He said that internal party democracy was crucial to sustaining the party’s growth, adding that PDP would intensify efforts to woo aggrieved members back to the party.

     

     

    NAN