Workers in the northwest states shun national strike

Public and private sectors workers in Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Kebbi have ignored the call by Mr. Ayuba Waba, the factional leader of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on nationwide strike action over increase in the fuel price.

It was gathered that federal and state workers in the five States were at their duty posts while socio-economic activities were ongoing as usual with schools, banks, markets, hospitals and other businesses fully opened.


In Sokoto, some civil servants said they would not join the strike because it would only aggravate current hardships in the country.

"Such strikes would only aggravate our situation; the NLC should have given the Federal Government the benefit of the doubt,' Aliyu Musa, a worker at the Shehu Kangiwa Secretariat, said. Mr Mathias Iliya, a federal worker said "no worker in his right senses will join the strike action, adding "Nigerians should be fervently prayerful and patient with the Buhari administration as his intentions towards Nigerians are truly sincere.''

Mr El-Mustapha Sani, the Police spokesman in the state, said all Area and Divisional Commands had been put on red alert. "The command had also made arrangements to fully patrol the state to protect lives, public and private property,'' Sani said.

In Kaduna. civil servants and all businesses including motor parks were fully opened, with residents going about their normal business.

At the Kaduna State University, normal academic activity was going on with students taking lectures. Workers of the institution have also fully turned out for work, and according to the university's Public Relations Officer, Adama Jafar, there was no directive from any union to proceed on strike.

At the Olusegun Obasanjo State Secretariat, some of the workers interviewed said that they were not convinced with the NLC's argument for the strike.

One of the workers, Hajiya Lami Bello said that the NLC should respect the decision of the National Industrial Court, which ordered the union not to proceed with the strike.

Another worker, Karim Ahmed said most civil servants were conscious not to fall into the trap of `no work, no pay' as announced by the government.
On her part, Sarah Bijimi urged the NLC and Nigerians to be patient and support the Federal Government's action, saying "with time things will get better.''

At the Barau Dikko General Hospital, health workers including doctors, nurses, laboratory staff were seen attending to out-patients and those on admission.

Jonathan Yohanna, a staff of the state Ministry of Health, said "we are not on strike, all our hospitals are functional and our officials are working.''

The State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, said it had deployed 600 personnel to guard strategic public installations in the state. Mr Orndiir Tergungwe, the command's spokesman said the move was to avoid breakdown of law and order during the period of the strike.

"We advise the residents to be law abiding and go about their normal business. We reassure the residents that their security will be guaranteed.''

Traders at Kaduna Central market turned out for full business. Yusuf Bala, a rice dealer, said "we don’t have confidence in NLC because at the end of every strike we don’t benefit from any relief.''

Maman Kobo, a Provision seller, advised the labour union to `` sit down and dialogue with government rather than embark on strike.''

Reports from Kebbi indicated that civil servants had also defied the NLC's call for total strike action.

Government offices, markets, banks and business centres have opened for normal business, while civil servants have reported to their places of work as early as 8:00am. The Chairman of the state NLC, Murtal Usman, told NAN in a telephone interview that he was on his way to Birnin Kebbi from Abuja, and insisted that the strike would hold.

According to him, the NLC will assemble workers by 10:00 am at the Labour House before embarking on the strike.

The State Secretary of Birnin Kebbi Federal Medical Centre of National Association of Nurses and Midwives, Usman Mohammed, said they had not received any signal to embark on the strike.

"We are waiting for the signal from the national secretariat of our association and until we receive the signal we will not embark on the strike", he added.

A cross section of workers and residents indicated they were not satisfied with the reasons advanced by the NLC to embark on the strike.

In Kano, the nationwide strike action called by the organised labour has also met a setback, as workers in the state ignored the directive. Federal government workers had all reported to their various places of work. At Audu Bako Secretariat, and Federal Government Secretariat at about 8:30 am, workers were seen in their respective offices while others were seen within the premises in groups discussing about the strike.

Similarly, all commercial banks, markets and motor parks had all opened for business in the state.

At the First Bank of Nigeria, Kano main branch, workers were also seen going about their normal schedules.
One of the staff of the Bank who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity, described the strike as unnecessary, adding that majority of Nigerians were not in support of it. "This strike is a failure as most Nigerians are not in support of it”, he said. Primary and secondary schools as well as other higher institutions in the state had opened.

However, in Bayero University Kano, some lecturers had joined the strike while others were working.

In Katsina, NAN reports that the workers at the State and Federal Secretariats have reported to their duty posts. Jibrin Garkuwo, a middle level worker said that they decided not to join the strike because Katsina was the home state of President Buhari.

He said that they are ready to support the president to achieve his economic policies that will move the country forward.

- Rexinews

Photos of NLC protest in Ibadan

Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State chapter today in Ibadan took to the streets protesting removal of fuel subsidy. This is in compliance with the union's directives that industrial action should start from today across the nation until the Federal Government agrees to revert to former prices of petroleum products. The protesters are spotted at Bere area of the city.

Man rescued from electric pole while trying to commit suicide

The man climbed the electric pole 7am this morning at the Leki area of Lagos state in his effort to commit suicide.

He rejected all pleads by the PHCN personnel and security agents to come down from the pole. But some minutes later both the LASEMA and Lagos Fire Service came around to bring him down.

Knowing he was about to be brought down, he jumped on the roof of a building and was injured. He was overpowered and subsequently taken to Eti-Osa primary health care centre where he is receiving treatment. He said his name is Frederick Gino from Cameroon and didn't know how he got to Nigeria.

Lagos joins oil-producing state as Aje oil field begins production

Twenty years after it was discovered, the Aje field located in Oil Mining Lease 113 has achieved its first oil, putting Lagos on the list of oil-producing states in the country.

The milestone is coming after several missed targets for the achievement of first oil, the latest being March this year.

Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company Limited, a wholly-owned indigenous firm and operator of the OML 113 offshore Lagos, on Tuesday announced the commencement of production of crude oil from the field. Other partners are New Age Exploration Nigeria Limited, EER (Colobus) Nigeria Limited, Pan Petroleum (Panoro Energy) Aje Limited and PR Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited.

Panoro had in an update posted on its website on April 20 said the final hook-up procedures were in progress with a view to bringing the wells into production shortly. The YFP said after over 25 years of exploratory, appraisal and developmental activities, it had successfully pioneered the opening of the Frontier Benin Embayment, describing the Aje field as the first to record production from this part of Nigeria and the first production outside of the Niger Delta.

It said the inauguration of the Front Puffin Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel was successfully completed after its arrival in Nigeria on March 16, 2016.

Oil produced from the Aje field will be stored on the Front Puffin, which has production capacity of 40,000 barrels of oil per day and storage capacity of 750,000 barrels, according to the YFP.
The Chairman, YFP, Mr. Tunde Folawiyo, was quoted in a statement to have said, “The attainment of this milestone is indeed a laudable achievement not just for the YFP, but for the Nigerian oil and gas industry as a whole and indeed Lagos State, which can now be addressed as an oil-producing state.”
He said recording the achievement in the present global oil climate, together with the peculiar challenges of the field, was clearly a no mean feat.

“We are very proud of and appreciate the efforts, determination and commitment of the entire Aje project team, past and present; the constant support from our regulators, the DPR and Ministry of Petroleum; and our financiers. We believe this crucial support will spur us on to even greater achievements,” Folawiyo added.

Aje is an offshore field located in OML 113 in the western part of Nigeria in the Dahomey Basin. The field is situated in water depths ranging from 100 to 1,000 metres and is about 24 kilometres from the coast. It contains hydrocarbon resources in sandstone reservoirs in three main levels – a Turonian gas condensate reservoir, a Cenomanian oil reservoir and an Albian gas condensate reservoir.

The joint venture partners had in October 2014 taken the final investment decision to develop the first phase of the field. They submitted the Field Development Plan to the Department of Petroleum Resources in January 2014 and it was approved in March, with first oil expected late in 2015.

Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum was granted the Oil Prospecting License 309 in June 1991 as a sole risk contract under the Federal Government’s Indigenous Allocation Programme, which was put in place to encourage the development of a locally-owned and operated Nigerian upstream oil industry.

The company said following the acquisition of 2D seismic data in 1994/95, and the drilling of the Aje-1 well in 1996, the field was discovered, adding that a second well, Aje-2, was drilled in 1997.
After the successful drilling and testing of both wells, OPL 309 was converted to OML 113 in 1998, with an initial term of 20 years, it said on its website.

-Rexinews

- Punch

Buhari pledges to deal decisively with armed herdsmen

President  Muhammadu Buhari has resolved to expedite action and deal decisively with reported cases of continued attacks by the armed herdsmen on communities across the country.

The president stated this on Monday night during a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) held in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said that President Buhari confirmed that heads of national security agencies had been ordered to take all necessary action to apprehend and expose those behind the heinous attacks.

“We are determined to secure all Nigerians and I have told the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies, in very strong terms, to deal decisively with the attackers,’’ he said.

President Buhari expressed his personal condolences to the Catholic Bishop of Enugu, the people of Ukpabi Nimbo and all other communities that had suffered fatalities and other losses from the recent attacks.

Speaking on other national issues, the statement quoted the President as assuring the Bishops that he was acting with deliberation and moving methodically to implement his Change Agenda for the good of the country.

“We need to rebuild our institutions methodically, we need to change the way we do things.
“In the last 10 years, crude oil sold for more that $100 per barrel, but Nigeria did not save.
“That is why we have found ourselves where we are today,’’ President Buhari told the Catholic Bishops, led by Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, the Archbishop of Jos.

The President assured them that his administration was working very hard to fulfill all the promises it had made to Nigerians.

According to him, his greatest motivating factor now is the desire to bring positive change to Nigeria.
On behalf of the bishops, Kaigama expressed the solidarity of the CBCN with the President.

“We are willing to collaborate with you and with your administration, in which we see hope for a greater Nigeria,’’ he said.

The bishops pledged continued prayers for Nigeria and the government, expressing their conviction that “current hardships are temporary, and Nigeria will soon overcome its present difficulties’’.

Nsukka Students Protest Invasion Of Communities by Fulani Herdsmen In Enugu

Students of Nsukka origin under the auspices of the Federated Association Of Nsukka Students (FANS) on Tuesday took to streets protesting Fulani herdsmen invasion of some communities in Enugu state. They wanted the government to urgently take steps and stop herdsmen attacks and killings of the innocent citizens.

Labour unions demand N56,000 minimum wage

Punch reports:
The leadership of organised labour unions, last week, presented a new demand for N56,000 as monthly minimum wage, to the Federal Government. The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, told a news conference last week, in Abuja, that even though it was true that the economy was not doing well, the law has stated that wages for workers must be reviewed after every five years. Consequently, the Labour Lord insists that since the last wage review was in 2011, “the issue must be looked into by the Federal Government and workers should not be seen as sleeping on their rights.” However, a triple increase in income, in one fell swoop, may seem inappropriate when several state governments are presently unable to pay the current N18,000 minimum wage.

Ayuba, however, explained that the “logic behind the new minimum wage is to ensure that no worker earns below what can sustain him or her for a month.” Nevertheless, despite their apparent resolve, it will not be unexpected, if ultimately, after heated and protracted negotiations, labour unions, patriotically, accept between N30,000 and N36,000 as the new minimum wage. However, the impact of such an increase will regrettably, most certainly, cripple the economies of several states, as the resultant simultaneous salary increase of such a magnitude for all staff cadres will double the already, heavily lopsided recurrent budgets, and increase states’ debt burden to further diminish any prospect of impactful infrastructural development.

Ironically, however, despite an extended backlog of unpaid salaries, Ayuba has advised government to ensure that the issue of national minimum wage increase “was urgently taken on board as a way of fighting corruption in the country”, because, according to him, “if employers fail to cater for their workers’ welfare adequately, it will be difficult for such an employer to fight corruption”! Unfortunately, Ayuba’s prescription against corruption has continued to be blatantly ignored in several states, without any sanction, despite the subsisting Act for N18,000 minimum wage.

Incidentally, the nexus between minimum wage levels and corruption is such that, even if the seemingly resistant ghost population, in public service is halved, the remainder 50 per cent “ghosts”, who may “survive” the cleansing will invariably also have their incomes more than doubled, if minimum wage is increased as proposed. However, the preceding narrative does not suggest that minimum wage should remain static, particularly with the evidently wasteful and brazen corrupt application of public resources by government at all levels.

Indeed, as Ayuba observed, “the purchasing value of the present N18,000 wage was equivalent to about N110?= $1 in 2011”. Sadly, with the present exchange rate of N200-N300=$1, the existing minimum wage of N18,000, has fallen below 50 per cent of its dollar value five years ago. Furthermore, with average annual inflation rate of about eight per cent, minimum wage earners may barely have the capacity to buy 60 per cent of the purchasing power equivalent of their incomes in 2011.

Invariably, high inflation significantly reduces consumer demand, discourages domestic production and ultimately fuels an already combustible unemployment rate, with unsavoury social consequences. Unfortunately, the very high cost of borrowing, which is irrepressibly instigated by an albatross of surplus naira supply, will ultimately restrain the real sector’s capacity to create jobs and produce goods that are price/quality competitive for export. Nonetheless, even if Labour succeeds in negotiating a higher minimum wage, it will be a challenge to enforce compliance nationwide, particularly if state finances remain relatively paltry and profligacy abides as a culture in governance.

Conversely, if by some strokes of good fortune, increasing revenue becomes available to make payment of N56,000 minimum wage feasible, the joy of such a victory will be quickly threatened by a rise in the general price level. The inflation rate may exceed 20 per cent from the already volatile, current spring board of 12.8 per cent. In such an event, even a N36,000 minimum wage, for example, may lose over 90 per cent of its present purchasing power after five years, and invariably trigger another tortuous train of negotiations for a new minimum wage. Indeed, if inflation spirals unrestrained, the naira will increasingly become worthless as a currency and will induce increasing demand and adoption of the dollar/yuan as a safer store of value.

Instructively, reprieve from this cyclical bondage may however come, only if inflation can be tamed to best practice rates below three per cent.
Unfortunately, however, the significant increase in money supply, inevitably caused by a “modest” 100 per cent rise in public sector wages would, however, make such fine achievement in monetary management impossible. Furthermore, any significant increase in money supply would also quickly compel the Central Bank of Nigeria to step up its compulsive counterproductive borrowings, to remove part of the bloated naira values from the financial system and restrain inflation. Unfortunately, this process also instigates higher interest rates and similarly crowds out the real sector from ready access to the cheap funds that are necessary for expanding domestic production and creating jobs, while the funds mopped up with such oppressive cost inexplicably remain sterilised in the CBN vaults!

Painfully, this bizarre cycle has predicated our economic misfortunes for so long. Thus, it was inevitable that our economy tottered endlessly while the level of unemployment continued to rise, even when we flaunted huge foreign reserves and sustained more credible domestic debt levels. Consequently, Labour should recognise, from the preceding narrative, that the joy of a substantial increase in minimum wage will be short-lived, and increasingly sporadic wage demands will again become regular, if the high inflation rate sustained by persistent and increasingly excess money supply remains untamed.

Unfortunately, organised Labour’s leadership remains rooted in the classical mode of regular agitations for wage increases, notwithstanding the disenabling collateral impact of such demands. However, it is now expedient for Labour to also carefully examine how countries with larger, and more successful economies manage inflation below two per cent to conserve the value of all income earners and also sustain the tempo of consumer demand that will steadily drive growth. Labour will also need to interrogate why it is seemingly impossible to bring cost of borrowing well below 10 per cent to facilitate real sector growth, job creation and export competitiveness.

In reality, successful economies everywhere sensitively manage money supply to ensure that excess money supply does not become pervasive to trigger inflation. In fact, in such money markets, commercial banks may pay a penalty fee to their Central Banks to warehouse their surplus funds.

Furthermore, productivity is also encouraged in prosperous economies with very low interest rates which will drive real sector growth. Unfortunately,

Labour has never shown any interest in identifying why the CBN has consistently failed to effectively manage naira supply, to power economic growth as in prime economies elsewhere, especially when, the apex bank does not deny that the monetisation of distributable dollar revenue (read as unilateral substitution of naira for dollar denominated revenue) is actually the primary cause of persistently excess naira, with its train of disenabling monetary indices, such as, unusually high inflation and interest rates and a weaker naira (see Monetary Thrust Statement of Vision 2020).

Conversely, astute, best practice liquidity management, particularly in the forex market will gradually strengthen and sustain the naira below N100=$1. In such an event, the present N18,000 minimum wage will command double the current dollar equivalent and become equal with purchasing power of N36,000 today, without any wage increase or negotiations. Fortunately, liquidity can become better managed when the CBN breaks its stranglehold monopoly in the forex market and ceases to auction the dollar for the highest naira bids.

- Rexinews

- The Punch

States owing workers salaries and the months they haven't paid

The table shows States where workers are owed and the months they have not been paid, and States that are not indebted to workers as at the end of the month of April, 2016.

Oba of Benin, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo is dead

TheCable reports:
The Edo state government has confirmed the death of Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, the oba of Benin, bringing to rest speculations of his whereabouts since 2015.

The palace authorities had initially denied previous reports of his death but the absence of the monarch at key events continued raising suspicion.

However, Adams Oshiomhole, governor of the state, confirmed the death on Friday, describing it as a “huge loss”.

“Our hearts are heavy, laden with pains and grief, at the announcement of the passing on to glory of Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa of Benin, our highly revered Oba, a distinguished Edo numero uno, an accomplished Nigerian, a seasoned bureaucrat, quintessential unifier, unique personage and exemplary Omo N’Oba, whose reign brought distinction, immense class, finesse and integrity to traditional institution in Edo state and the country at large,” he said in a statement.

“His carriage comes with an élan that was peculiar with the reverence of royalty. His uncommon courage was symbolic of the can-do spirit of the Edo mind. His unity of purpose was not in doubt even as he used his revered position to promote constructive engagement amongst all shades of opinion and culture in Edo state.”

Oshiomhole, who enjoyed a cordial relationship with the monarch, showered encomiums on the late king. He expressed delight that the vacuum which the deceased left would be felt by his eldest son.

“As a thorough-bred bureaucrat, rising to the pinnacle of his career as a federal permanent secretary, he understood the dynamics and intricacies of governance,” he said.

“He was the alternative voice to the many voiceless in our society, calling government attention to issues of development and transparent governance, without minding whose ox is gored.
“He was brave, fearless, punchy and instructive in his verbal and written messages.

“To us at the Edo state government, he was our strongest supporter; both in his uncommon faith in our ability and his readiness to offer uncommon advice to sharpen public discourse in our shared commitment to transform Edo state.

“It gladdens our heart, therefore, that our revered Oba was alive to witness the positive transformation of Edo state under his reign, and for standing with us through thick and thin in the course of making the Edo economy a treasure to behold. Being part of that eloquent history of transformation before his reunion with his ancestors gives us further reassurance that he will occupy a special pride of place in the hereafter.

“We are enveloped with a deep sense of nostalgia that our great Oba, a great-grandfather, grandfather, father, uncle and iconoclastic royal father of exemplary carriage and conduct, who sustained the dignity of the average Edo mind, has joined his ancestors. We are, however, encouraged by the fact that another great son of the Great Benin Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Edaiken N’Uselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, who is already showing manifest quintessential attributes of his great father, will step into his father’s big shoes.

“Edo people will miss our iconoclastic royal father of the great Benin Kingdom. Nigerians and Nigeria will miss this great exemplar of a Royal Father, an Oba of distinction and integrity. Adieu until we meet to part no more.”

- Rexinews

- TheCable

Again, Mimiko raises alarm over incessant Fulani herdsmen attacks

Governor Olusegun Mimiko

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has raised the alarm over the incessant killings and wanton destruction of property by Fulani herdsmen in various parts of the country.

Speaking with the executive members of the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that visited him, Mimiko urged religious leaders to pray more for peace in the country.

The governor said if the heinous crime against humanity being committed by the Fulani herdsmen was not checked, Nigeria would be moving towards a precipice. According to him, religious leaders must pray fervently for the unity, peace and development of the country, which he said is confronted with challenges.

He debunked the claim by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) that his administration diverted the bail out fund meant for workers’ salaries.

Mimiko told the religious leaders that the state has been written to the ICPC to correct the claim.
He faulted the report that only N7.9billion was paid to workers out of the N9.4 billion bailout paid to the state, saying his administration added N50million to the bailout to pay the workers’.

- Rexinews

- The Nation

APC mocks PDD, says can't spell its name and not fit to save Nigeria

The All Progressives Congress, United Kingdom branch has mocked the opposition People Democratic Party, PDP over the spelling error made on the party's name at a convention in 2015.

APC said the error on the banner was an indication that the PDP is not fit to save Nigeria, according to the post on its twitter handle.

 

EFCC to arrest Jonathan before May 29

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ,EFCC has fixed a tentative date to arrest former president Goodluck Jonathan.

Goodluck Jonathan

A source within the EFCC has revealed that the former president may be arrested before May 29, 2016, according to Report Afrique

The unnamed EFCC source said, ''Unfolding events in the next few weeks will actually confirm whether the EFCC has indeed become a toothless bulldog. We arrested Mr. Azibaola Robert on March 23, 2016 when he came to honour our invitation. We also arrested his wife, but she has since been granted bail.

The following day, we arrested Dakoru Atukpa, Executive Director of his company. As we speak, both men are in our custody and are helping with vital information needed to nail the former president. ''

The source said the commission is committed to proving Obasanjo wrong by taking on some people considered to be one of the sacred cows, saying: “You know former President Obasanjo has his unique way of passing his message. Before Obasanjo even described our Commission as a toothless bulldog, several persons accused us of shielding former President Jonathan. The truth is that we are not shielding anybody. It will not be good for us to rush to court only to be disgraced, the reason we took this long to make the arrests.

“However, be assured that a very big fish will land in our net before May 29. We intend to make the arrest of this big fish a Democracy Day gift to Nigerians''.

- Rexinews

- Report Afrique

Lagos Assembly urges Buhari to end fuel scarcity

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to proffer solution to the lingering fuel scarcity and its attendant hardship on citizens.

The call followed a motion raised by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Sanai Agunbiade and seconded by Mr Segun Olulade, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, under matter of public urgent importance.

Agunbiade said a lot of workers were lamenting over gridlock caused by fuel queues.
"In Lagos, every minute counts. Many workers now get queries for coming late to work. People now store petrol at homes.
"Prices of goods and commodities are high, and fares have increased. The President should address the issue of fuel scarcity and deal with everyone involved," he said.

Olulade, on his part, said: "A lot of people are facing serious hardship; we have hospitals that cannot provide electricity in case of emergency because of scarcity. The President should address the issue quickly."

Contributing, Mr Tunde Braimoh, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, described the situation as ‘’embarrassing’’, saying that the President has all it takes to salvage the situation.

Also, Mr Yinka Ogundimu, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, said all agencies in Lagos were overstretched and a lot of time was wasted queuing for fuel.
"We should call on the President to come up with immediate solution," he said.

The Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, said it was not necessary to start apportioning blames or identifying scapegoats, but the Federal Government should find a lasting solution to the problem.

"I saw people carrying kegs all over the city and I understand that some of them sleep at filling stations.
"The roads from my house were deserted as I was coming to the office and this is a bad signal.
"Mr President should look for a solution; we should not look at the past or blame the Petroleum Minister for what he said recently since he has apologised. We must take action now.
"Whatever it is, our people should get fuel to move around for their businesses. We must avoid whatever can lead to angry mobs. It is becoming so unbearable and it must not be allowed," he said.

The Speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Ganiu Abiru, to write a letter to the President to find a lasting solution to the problem and make fuel available in Lagos State.

The House said that the President should address the people on the situation and appealed to residents to be calm until a solution was found to the problem.
It also called on Buhari to direct all the necessary Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that have direct connections with the distribution of fuel to help the masses by curbing the hardship.
The lawmakers said that special attention should be given to Lagos State as the economic nerve centre of the nation as many workers now sleep at filling stations.

The House also called on Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to direct the necessary agencies in the state to effectively control gridlock occasioned by scarcity. It noted that the indiscriminate queuing at filling stations had affected traffic flow and many people were getting to their offices late.

- Rexinews

- Vanguard

Federal Government to boost electricity generation with nuclear energy

The Federal Government says it will diversify the nation’s electricity generation using nuclear energy.This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Mr Timothy Oyedeji, Director Press, Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, and sent to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The Minister of Power Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, challenged experts to domesticate issues on Nuclear Energy in the industry. The Federal Government is committed to diversification of its energy mix beyond traditional sources of gas, oil and Hydro to include nuclear and other renewable sources like solar, biomass and wind, says the statement.

The minister said this when he received the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr Yukiya Amano, in his office. Fashola challenged Atomic Energy experts to do more in the area of public enlightenment as many Nigerians had limited knowledge about the use of nuclear technology for power.

“You must begin to break down the seeming complex issues around nuclear power into simple terms and language that our people can understand.

“We must try to demystify issues around nuclear power in Nigeria.

"Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in the acquisition of appropriate nuclear technologies," Fasola said.

Emir of Kano Orders Sharia court to take abducted girl back to Bayesa

The emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II today ordered the state Sharia Commission to liaise with office of the Assistant Inspector General of police, zone 1 and commence process of returning the 14 years old teenager, Ese Oruru to her State, Bayesa.

Ese Oruru

The emir of Kano distanced himself, Kano emirate council from the purported abduction of Ese Oruru by suspected lover. He said: "I have ordered the sharia commission to liaise with the office of Deputy Inspector General of police zone to repatriate and reconcile the teenager with her family immediately"

Ese Oruru was allegedly abducted in Opolo, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, by one Yunusa an indigene of Kura local government area of Kano sometimes in August, 2015.

Buhari administration won't abandon Jonathan's ideas, says Amaechi

The minister of transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the current administration will not abandon the good ideas of previous governments, including former president, Goodluck Jonathan.

Rotimi Amaechi inspecting the Abuja-Kaduna rail project

Amaechi said this at Idu, Abuja, on Thursday, while inspecting the Abuja-Kaduna Rail project along with the contractors, China Civil Engineering Construction Company.

He said N150 billion would be used to execute the national rail project, with another N60 billion for the Lagos-Kano standard gauge and yet another N60 billion for the Lagos-Calabar project.
“What we are doing is implementation of what we met in office. We are not among those who will abandon good ideas,” he said.

“If we see an idea that is good, we will adopt it. The Lagos-Kano project was awarded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and we are flying with it.
“The Lagos-Calabar project was awarded by former President Goodluck Jonathan and we are also flying with it. What we are doing is implementing those projects that have not been implemented for so many years.”

He said the Abuja-Kaduna Rail project was 100 per cent complete and would be launched in May, explaining that before the launch by President Muhammadu Buhari, there would be a test-run of the rail in March.

“The essence of my tour is to enable us assess whether we are ready for commercial activities and I think we are. I will be travelling from Abuja to Kaduna tomorrow through the rail,” he said.

“In March, they should start the test-run of the rail services for free, then the proper commercial activity will start in May, where we expect the President to flag-off the use of coaches.”

He advised the contractor to make provisions for temporary stations in Abuja, since Idu is “too far from the city centre”.
Amaechi suggested that since the Abuja light rail project had yet to commence, the tracks could be used to pick passengers from the city centre to Kaduna.

“The Abuja light rail is expected to start from Abuja and de-board passengers at Idu from where such passengers will move to Kaduna but since the Abuja light rail is not ready, we shall use their tracks to continue to pick passengers from Abuja until they are ready and then we will disengage the temporary facility."

“The role of the station is to convey passengers to Idu, where they will be transferred to the national rail line to proceed to Kaduna.”

He said the only challenge with the project was the fencing.
“We need to fence the lines to prevent animals from crossing the rail,” he said.
“The tracks are finished and the signalling at Idu is also completed but the major problem we have is fencing and it is because of the peculiar nature of our culture.

“Because of our culture, we have to fence and we are going to spend close to $100 million to fence the tracks from Abuja to Kaduna just because we have to protect the railway from animals and human crossing.

“The train currently goes at the speed of 60 to 70 kilometres per hour for fear of humans and animals crossing the rail; by the time we start commercial activities, we must secure its path.

“We will be running on 120 to 150 kilometres when the trains go commercial; that speed cannot accommodate human and animals crossing the rail, so to protect human beings and animals, we are going ahead with the fencing.”

He said he had instructed CCECC to construct a Railway Academy, where Nigerians would be trained on how to operate the rail system.

“I have told the construction company that they will need to build a Railway Academy, where experts will be employed to train Nigerians on how to operate the standard gauge,” he said.

“Nigeria is not a dumping ground for technology; you cannot dump technology on us unless you bring the technology with the expertise.”

Earlier in his remarks, Jack Li, managing director of CCECC, said the project, which started in 2011, could not be completed in 2015 as estimated, due to lack of funds.
“Finance is part of the challenge delaying the project because it has been long that we received the counterpart fund,” he said.

“But we are lucky that the minister has brought back the counterpart funding for us, and we have therefore continued.
“The work was delayed for more than half a year; but I expect that all the works will be completed by the middle of May, which is in line with what the minister said.”

- Rexinews

- The Cable

Reverse electricity tariffs and risk nationwide black out, power firms warn

The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) has warned that the Senate intervention for reversal of 45% increase in the tariff was capable of crumbling the power industry and could plunge the country into future blackouts if it was forced to go back to the old tariff regime.

The Executive Director of ANED, Mr. Sunday Oduntan, said  Senate’s sentiment was not just against the electricity distribution firms, but the entire power sector. The power distribution companies said the country may be thrown into a blackout in the near future if they heed Senate's advice to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to reverse the new electricity tariffs.

But NERC stated that it had not received any official communication from the National Assembly on the advice to stop the implementation of the revised tariffs. Meanwhile, the Senate had on Tuesday advised the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, NERC and the electricity distribution companies to retain old charges and not to implement 45 per cent increase in tariffs.

Mr. Oduntan said: “There is a value chain in this business and the tariff is not just for the Discos. This increment in tariff is for the generation companies and the gas suppliers. The gas suppliers are not part of the power sector, but they will not supply gas to our power stations if we don’t pay them.

“So, we’ve been talking about appropriate pricing of this product, and now somebody is playing politics with electricity. It is unacceptable and this has a lot of consequences. The first major consequence is darkness. If there’s no way we can sustain the industry, it will collapse. And now, the generator mafias will be happy because their expensive trade will thrive.

“As it is now, I don’t know who the Senate is working for. If they are working for the Nigerian people, they will not be coming up with things that will have adverse consequences on Nigerians. We are not rich; we are not making profits; we are not smiling to the banks. We view their position with a very strong sense of pity for Nigerians who will bear the consequence.

"Senate itself was highly indebted to the power firms and did not talk about clearing its debt to the companies before saying that tariffs should not be increased."

He added, “People talk of the Discos, but the power sector consists of generation, transmission and distribution companies. We are just the collection agency and I’m shocked that the Senate is not even referring to the debt owed the Discos.
“Many of them don’t pay their electricity bills. But all they are saying now is that we should go back to the dark ages of PHCN/NEPA and that is what will happen if they insist.”

On the way forward, Oduntan said the power firms were willing to engage the lawmakers, as he stressed that operators in the sector were to meet with the Senate on Monday.

“We are more than willing to educate them on this issue. But we are surprised, shocked and disappointed that even some of those that you have met and showed the figures still go back to their hallowed chamber and then talk as if they are in another country,” he noted.
Senior officials of NERC told our correspondent that the agency had yet to receive any formal communication from the Senate on the reversal to the former tariffs.

"While the acting Chief Executive Officer/Head, NERC, Dr. Anthony Akah, stated that the commission heard the news from the media, another top official who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter, said, “I can confirm to you that neither the CEO nor the commission have received any official communication on that issue from the Senate.” He said.

APC is Not Responsible For Economic Downturn, says Dogara

Yakubu Dogara

Speaker of the House of representative, Hon. Yakubu Dogara has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government should not be blamed for the current economic challenges facing the country.

He stated this Yesterday in Bauchi State when he received unemployed aeronautic engineers and pilots, according to a statement issued by his spokesman, Turaki Hassan.

The Speaker said those who brought Nigeria to its current state should be blamed, stressing that the government is working hard to sanitize a rotten system which will take sometime to fix.

‘‘We have sowed in the wind and we are now where reaping whirlwind and as long as the earth abide there will be seed time and harvest time. We don't want to dwell in the past. We are facing the future,” he said.

Obasanjo’s corruption allegation against NASS: Senate moves to suspend Marafa, pro-Lawan senator

Vanguard reports:
THE Senate, yesterday, mandated its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, to investigate alleged uncomplimentary remark made by Senator Kabiru Marafa against it in particular and the National Assembly in general.

Marafa, who was a strong supporter of Senator Ahmad Lawan’s Senate presidency bid, during the race for the seat, was alleged to have disparaged the Senate and by extension the National Assembly in a recent interview he granted a national daily(not Vanguard), where he allegedly backed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent letter to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, that the legislature was stinking of corruption.

At its resumed sitting yesterday, the Red Chamber put a machinery in place for disciplinary action against Marafa, who is the spokesperson of Senate Unity Forum, SUF, a group that was at the forefront of Lawan-for-Senate-president bid.
The development came following the presentation of a copy of a newspaper, said to contain his uncomplimentary statement against the legislature before the Senate by Senator Isa Misau, APC, Bauchi Central.

But in a swift reaction on telephone, Marafa described the Senate President and other senators that asked that he be investigated as jokers even as he remained evasive on whether he would appear before the ethics committee when summoned. “I want to tell you that both Saraki and all those supporting him to continue to perpetrate illegality in the Senate are jokers,“he said. Senator Kabiru Marafa, APC, Zamfara Central, in the interview, as laid before the Senate, had supported former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s submission that corruption thrives in the National Assembly.

The outspoken senator in another interview in the same edition of the newspaper now before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, also called on the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki to resign from his position in the face of his on going trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT on charges bordering on alleged false assets declaration.
“With this judgment, the honourable thing for Saraki to do, is to resign his position as Senate President , so as to save the already battered image of the Senate from further battering”, he was alleged to have said.

He also called on fellow senators in the interview to rise up in calling for Saraki’s resignation at this time , failure of which he said, may warrant recall of all of them as senators from their various constituencies. His words: “If the senate president refused to step aside, we expect Nigerians especially those who voted for us to represent them at the senate to ask questions. We expect them to ask us why we failed to take action despite the bad image that the development is creating for the federal parliament.

“Our constituents should even recall us if we find it difficult to take action. This is somebody who had committed constitutional blunder when he unilaterally increased the numbers of committees in the senate”.But the Senate through a motion moved by Senator Misau, APC, Bauchi Central, and seconded by Senator Mathew Urhoghide, PDP, Edo South, took serious exception to Marafa’s comments and ordered its committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition, to interrogate him over the comment and forward appropriate recommendation to the Senate within a week.

Vanguard

Lai Muhammad says Boko haram is hungry and desperate

Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described the spate of suicide bombings and attacks on soft targets in the recent times by Boko Haram, as actions of hungry and desperate terrorists.

Speaking on the spate of bombing while fielding questions at a press briefing in Abuja, yesterday,  Mohammed said Boko Haram sect members were not only venting the anger of their hunger and desperation on soft targets but also trying to demonstrate that they were still relevant.

His declaration came on a day a document from the United Nations indicated that the global body released $58 million to assist 2.4 million people affected by Boko Haram-related violence from March 2015 to February 4, 2016.

Meanwhile, Borno State government, yesterday, defied the protest by donor agencies’ and began relocating Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, from public schools to resettlement camps to allow for the resumption of students, after the schools were closed due to Boko Haram insurgency in March, 2014.

Their protest was expressed through a representative from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, simply identified as Mr. Victor, to the committee that the donor agencies “are dissatisfied with the arrangements.”
Similarly, the United Nations has released $58 million to assist 2.4 million people affected by Boko Haram-related violence in 2015.

- Rexinews

- Vanguard