Ekiti Government Resists Attempt to Reverse Oba-Elect 's Selection Process.

Ekiti Government Resists Attempt to Reverse Oba-Elect 's Selection Process.                                  ....Orders beginning of installation process for new Elemoba.

The Ekiti State Government, on Thursday, resisted attempt by some kingmakers to reverse the selection of Prince Adebomi Babalola, as the new Alararomi of Araromi Ekiti, in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

The government, also directed the kingmakers to within seven days write to the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Home Affairs to submit the name of the new Oba-elect for the town to begin the process for his installation in line with the Ekiti State Chief Law.

Addressing the stakeholders from the town, on Thursday, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, appealed to the kingmakers to refrain from scuttling the process that had been adjudged as transparent and straightforward.

Through Ifa consultation, Prince Babalola from Odimulele royal dynasty, had on February 18, 2023 emerged among four contenders, but was not officially presented to the government by kingmakers as the validly selected candidate.

The Deputy Governor, according to a statement by her Media Assistant, Victor Ogunje, faulted the position canvassed by some kingmakers that the process was allegedly hijacked, saying  the video clip that captured the selection process vividly attested to how credible the process was. 

Mrs Afuye posited that Governor Biodun Oyebanji being a promoter of peace and unity doesn't want any upheaval in any of the town over obaship tussle, saying attempt to reverse a process that had already been concluded could stoke the  fire of discord in the town.

"Let me appeal to the kingmakers not to derail the process because the candidate you  supported didn't emerge. The fact that your candidate didn't emerge doesn't vitiate the process. Only one person can be king at a time.

"We have all watched the video capturing the selection process. Where could you fault or point to as area where manipulation occured? It was a transparent process and we should all be happy about this.

"Any town without a substantive king will find it difficult to develop. It is is better you allow this credible process to stand. 

"I hereby appeal to  you to within seven days write officially to the Ministry and present the candidate to begin the process for his installation. This is in your own interest and the interest of the town".

Mrs Afuye commended the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti and the prescribed authority in the Council, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, for providing wise counsel during the selection process

Addressing the stakeholders, Oba Adewole, disagreed vehemently  with those calling for the reversal of the process, describing the exercise leading to emergence of Prince Babalola as "clean, clear and transparent".

The First Class monarch, warned the kingmakers against derailing the selection process, saying the fallout and backlash of such action could have a dire consequences. 

The Chairman of Ijero Local Government, Hon Adeola Adeyemo, restated that available information  from the council officials who monitored the process attested to the fact that the selection of Prince Babalola  was credible and transparent.

The council boss praised the government for not interfering in the  process, saying that further amplified how revered the traditional institution has assumed in Ekiti.

Meanwhile, the government has also directed the Araromi Obo Ekiti  kingmakers to begin the process for the installation of Prince Ebenezer Ojo, as the new Elemoba of Araromi Obo, in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of the State.

The Deputy Governor took the decision following the readiness of the kingmakers to officially present the Oba-Elect as the new Elemoba to the State Government.

Governor Oyebanji To Flag Off Construction Of Ekiti Ring Road Phase On Friday.

Governor Oyebanji To Flag Off Construction Of Ekiti Ring Road Phase On Friday.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji will on Friday 24th November, 2023, officially flag off construction of the new Ekiti Ring Road Phase I at Iworoko Ekiti following the recent State Executive Council’s approval for the variation of rates on the construction and immediate commencement of work on the road.

According to a statement from the office of the State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Sola Adebayo, members of State House of Assembly, State Executive Council members, Traditional Rulers, Accounting Officers of Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Religion Leaders, Opinion Leaders, Iyalajes and Iyalojas as well as stakeholders in the public transportation sectors are expected to grace the epoch making event.

Mr. Adebayo recalled that the road which starts from Iworoko Ekiti through Are, Afao, Araromi Obo, Ekiti Cargo Airport and terminates at Aso Ayegunle, Ijan road, was first awarded in November, 2020, adding that the execution of the project was however stalled by the outbreak of COVID-19 around the period the contract was awarded. 

Mr. Adebayo explained further that by the time the effects of the virus subsided, the prices of construction materials had gone up astronomically due to volatility in foreign exchange rates, double-digit inflation and fluctuation in market price indices.

Describing the road as a top priority to the State Government, Adebayo noted that it would serve the cargo airport and the Ekiti Knowledge Zone adding that it would also considerably decongest traffic in Ado metropolis as well as produce a lot of other socio-economic benefits for residents and the State in general.

He described the landmark event as a manifestation of the commitment of the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji to the rapid development of the Stat, adding that it would not only attract investors but would also make the environment a better place for residents.

He enjoined guests to be seated by 9.15am

Kano State: NNPP asks Supreme Court to reverse Appeal Court’s judgment.

Kano State: NNPP asks Supreme Court to reverse Appeal Court’s judgment.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has asked the Supreme Court to reverse the November 17 judgment of the Court of Appeal, affirming the sack of its candidate, Kabir Yusuf as the Governor of Kano State.

In a 10-ground notice of appeal filed yesterday, the NNPP also wants the apex court to “make an order upholding the portion of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, setting aside the judgment of the trial tribunal in petition No: EPT/RV/GOV/11/20235 and making order as to cost in favour of the appellant (NNPP).”

The NNPP is contending, in its first ground of appeal, that the Justices of the Court of Appeal erred to have, after noting that it’s candidate score the majority of votes cast, proceeded to hold at page 60 of its judgment that “when section 134(1)(a) of the Electoral Act , 2022 is juxtaposed and read in conjunction with section 177(c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 ( as amended ), it is clear that a door, or at least a window, of jurisdiction has been opened to a court or tribunal to entertain and determine a claim or an assertion in an election petition that the person, whose election has been challenged, was not qualified to contest the election because he was not a member of a political party.”

The NNPP also faulted the Appeal Court for allegedly delving into “alternative hypothetical scenario that party register could sustain ground of disqualification of 1st respondent (Yusuf) if the objection to the ground had not been upheld and thus disqualified appellants’ (NNPP) candidate by holding, at page 63 of the judgment to overrule the trial court.”

It also stated that Court of Appeal erred when it held that “if, as rightly found by the tribunal, that the appellant, Yusuf Abbe Kabir was not a member of the 1” respondent (NNPP) as at the time he was purportedly sponsored for the governorship election held on the 18th day of March 2023, then be was not qualified to contest the election by virtue of Section 177 (c) of the Constitution.

Court grants Emefiele N300m bail.

 Court grants Emefiele N300m bail.

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has granted former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele a N300 million bail.

In a ruling yesterday, Justice Hamza Muazu asked Emefiele to produce two sureties, who must have landed property in Maitama District of the FCT.

The judge said the sureties must present the property’s Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in court for verification.

He also directed Emefiele to deposit his travel documents with the court and obtain the court’s permission before embarking on any trip outside the country. Emefiele was not in court during yesterday’s proceedings. 

On November 17, after the erstwhile CBN governor had pleaded not guilty to a five-count charge the Federal Government filed against him, the court ordered that he be remanded in Kuje correctional facility pending bail. 

But prison officials failed to produce him in court yesterday.

After the court ruling, Emefiele’s lawyer, Matthew Burkaa, expressed concern that his client may be rearrested by officials of the state.

The lawyer averred that the ex-CBN governor was rearrested before, even after he was granted bail by a court.

He urged the court to issue an order prohibiting his client’s further arrest by any agency of the Federal Government.

But the prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), averred that he could not promise that Ememfiele would not be rearrested.

Oyedepo said he could only assure the defence that the ex-CBN governor would not be rearrested over the current case for which he was granted bail.

Ruling, Justice Muazu held that it was impossible for the court to bar any government agency from carrying out its statutory responsibilities.

But the judge cautioned against any further arrest of the defendant over the current case.

He adjourned till November 28 for the commencement of trial.

2024 N26tr budget: Federal Government targets N7.8tr loan.

2024 N26tr budget: Federal Government targets N7.8tr loan.

The Senate yesterday passed the 2024 – 2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP). 

It followed the Senate’s consideration and adoption of the report of the Joint Committees on Finance, Appropriations, National Planning and Economic Affairs and Local and Foreign Debts on the MTEF/FSP.

The report was presented by the Committee Chairman on Finance and Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Sani Musa (APC – Niger East).

The Senate approved N26 trillion aggregate expenditure for 2024.

The sum comprises N10.2trillion for recurrent expenditure, including personnel costs for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of N4.49 trillion; capital expenditure (exclusive of transfers) of N5.9trillion; special intervention (recurrent) of N200 billion; and special intervention (capital) of N7billion.

The Senate also approved a revenue projection of N16.9 trillion, N9 trillion budget deficit, N7.8 trillion borrowings and statutory transfers of N1.3 trillion.

Others are N8.2 trillion for debt service, N243.6 billion for sinking fund and N1.27 trillion for pension and gratuities. 

The committee, in its other recommendations adopted by the Senate, called for the winding up and probe of NIPOST.

It said: “Having discovered that the subsidiaries of NIPOST so created are irregular and illegal, we therefore recommend for them to be wound up and deregistered immediately.

“The sum of N10 billion released by the Ministry of Finance for the proposed NIPOST restructuring and recapitalisation be investigated and the funds fully recovered if established to be injudiciously utilised by the relevant committee of the Assembly charged with the responsibility of fiscal prudence.

“All tax waivers not directly linked to non-governmental/ non-profit organisations should not be granted.”

It also said all tax waivers from 2015 to date should be investigated by the relevant committees of the Senate. 

It further recommended that the oil price benchmark of USD$73.96, $73.76 and $69.90 per barrel be approved for 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Other recommendations include: “That the daily crude oil production of 1.78 mbpd, 1.80 mbpd, and 1.81 mbpd, for 2024, 2025, and 2026 respectively be approved subject to NNPC confirmation of actual and verifiable deliveries.

“The Exchange Rate of N700, N665,61, and N669.79 to US$1 proposed by the Executive for the periods 2024-2026 be considered for approval with Federal Government’s vigorous drive to enhance local production (both oil and non-oil) for increased foreign reserve growth.

“That all items locally produced should be outrightly banned from importation and customs tariffs amended accordingly.

“That CBN should ensure that banks have access to FOREX in order to provide funds to importers and other users to prevent patronage of the parallel market.

“That, in light of the Federal Government’s response of fiscal measures to stimulate the economy by significant investment in infrastructure, SMEs, and the agricultural sector, the GDP growth rates of 3.76 per cent, 4.22 per cent, and 4.78 per cent during the years 2024, 2025, and 2026 be approved.

“That the inflation rate of 21.40 per cent in 2024, 20.30 per cent in 2025, and 18.60 per cent in 2026 be approved.

“That the Federal Government’s target-setting approach and its determination to enhance the major revenue-generating agencies collection efficiency will support the fiscal deficit estimate of N9 trillion (including Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs) is noted and hereby approved.”

The committee urged the Federal Government to continue to enforce the Performance Management Framework for GOEs by ensuring that they operate in a more fiscally responsible manner while reviewing their operational efficiencies and declared costs-to-income ratios.

It added: “That the N7.8 trillion in new borrowings (both domestic and foreign) be supported as well, given the country’s current effective debt management strategy, which has moderated borrowing costs and decreased the amount of short-term debt in the portfolio and refinancing risk.

“That the National Assembly begin the process of amending the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA, 2007) in order to enhance the agencies ability to enforce fiscal responsibility and impose sanctions on erring corporations.”

The Senate adopted the recommendation that the National Assembly Standing Committees should review the laws governing the activities of all revenue-generating agencies.

This, it said, is to identify specific sections or clauses that need to be amended in order to plug waste and increase the government’s capacity to generate revenue.

The Senate urged Federal agencies to deploy ICT in the collection of all revenues, including stamp duty activities, in order to block leakages.

The report adds: “The Budget Office of the Federation and the Ministry of Finance Budget, and National Planning (should) re-evaluate the underlying assumptions for all Federal Government agencies’ income targets in order to confirm the veracity of those assumptions and the effects.

“The Federal Government should continuously assess the qualifications and performance of agency heads in order to guarantee that the government’s total income target as stated in the MTEF/FSP and the yearly budgets are consistently met with adequate sanction where necessary.

“That all MDAs pay for services provided by other government agencies on time and in full unless it is determined that the beneficiary agencies are statutorily exempt from such payments.”

“That Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) examine the activities of all government agencies currently operating under the partial and full commercialisation arrangement allowing them to compete with their peers in the private sector and thereby making a more meaningful contribution to the Federal Government’s revenue generation drive.

“That the Bureau of Public Enterprises Act be amended to remove the clause(s) that create conflict between BPE and MOFI where MOFI should be the authorised custodian of all Federal Government assets, both liquid and physical.

“That the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) should work towards reducing its cost of production and operational costs with the view of increasing available government revenue.”

Senate vows to sack, jail NNPCL GCEO Kyari, others.

Senate vows to sack, jail NNPCL GCEO Kyari, others.

The Senate on Wednesday threatened to sack and jail the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari and other top executive officers of petroleum subsidiaries.

The Senate specifically threatened to sack the executive officers whose agencies were involved in the Turn Around Maitenance (TAM) projects of refineries.

The Senate noted that from 2010 till date, over N12 trillion has been spent on TAM. The Senate also said that it has records of over $592 million, €4.8 million and £3.4 million spent between 2010 till date on TAM, yet none of the refineries is working.

The Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating the various Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) projects of Refineries, Senator Isah Jibrin, made the threats following the failure of Kyari and other chief executive officers of its subsidiaries to attend an interactive session by the panel.

Some of the agencies invited whose chief executive officers failed to turn up at the session but sent representatives include the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL); Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA); Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and others.

Senator Jibrin (APC – Kogi East), noted that so much has been heard on the TAM of refineries and so much have been spent on operational materials on the refineries that are not working.

He said that the Senate wanted to find solutions to all the leakages, as there are a lot of them.

“We will ask for refund and dismissal of all the chief executives involved in the Turn Around Maintenance,” he declared.

Jibrin said that for weeks, they have been asking for documents, which have not been given by the oil companies, a development that created suspicion.

“We sent them invitation more than two weeks ago requesting for documents and the documents have not been released after two weeks. So, we want the chief executives to be present.

“More worrisome is between 2010 and 2020, the sum of N4.8 trillion was said to have been spent as operational expenses.

“How do you incurr operational expenses that have to do with purchase of raw materials and similar expenses on factories that are moribund? How do we come about operational expenses? We need to know.

“These are issues that Nigerians want to know; they want solutions to all these leakages. We know they are leakages. Whether you accept it or not they are leakages and they are all forms of compromise within your various establishments.

“We know and we will not hesitate to escalate it to the highest possible level, including possibility of refund and outright dismissal of some of the heads of some of these agencies and possibly go to jail,” he said.

Senator Yahaya Abdullahi said that NNPCL and management of other agencies, who came to represent their bosses, should be sent back to tell their Chief Executives that they should appear in person rather than send representatives.

Senator Sumaila Kawu said that they know the modus operandi of the Civil Service, adding, “We are not in the Senate for personal functions. We are representing the entire legislators. You in the civil service, we know how you are operating.

“We are in a very serious business. At the end, you will be at the receiving end. Nigerians are not satisfied with what you are doing and you will be at the receiving end.

“We are independent. We can go to any length to defend our people. It is the constitution that  established you. So, we must agree how to operate.

“We will suspend this interaction until when you are ready. We have 100 ways through which we can achieve our legislative work. We just wanted to give you fair hearing and you must respect the constitution.”

Senator Danjuma Goje, who asked them whether they are the heads of the agencies, added that the panel  will only deal with heads or Chief Executives and not people who have been sent.

“We will have to agree on new dates for the submission of the documents both hard copies and soft copies and a date for meeting where the Chief Executive must appear,” he said.

They were, however, given till Tuesday to submit the documents before the meeting with the Chief Executive.

House of Representatives probe N447bn Covid-19 spending, summon 83 MDAs.

House of Representatives probe N447bn Covid-19 spending, summon 83 MDAs.

The House of Representatives has summoned 83 ministries, departments, and agencies of the Federal Government as it begins an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of over N447.6bn COVID-19 intervention fund from 2020 to 2022.

Checks by newsmen in the budgets of the MDAs showed that at least 22 of them got not less than N447.6bn as COVID-19 funds in 2020 alone.

This implies that the COVID-19 intervention fund from 2020 to 2022 was way higher than the N447.6bn received by less than half the number of MDAs invited by the House of Representatives for the probe slated to begin from November 27, 2023, and end on December 4.

The House invited the Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Communications and Digital Economy, Federal Road Maintenance Agency, and scores of other Ministries, Department and Agencies.

The MDAs are to appear before the lawmakers to answer questions on alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 intervention funds distributed among them to fight the global health pandemic.

In an invitation issued by the Chairman of the Committee and a member representing Ede North/Ede South Federal Constituency, Osun State, Bamidele Salam, dated November 20, 2023, the lawmakers asked each of the MDAs to be represented by their “Chief Accounting Officers, Head of Finance, Head of Procurement and any other relevant officer to defend the expenditure contained in their various submissions.”

To appear before the Committee on Monday, November 27, are the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, FERMA, Federal Ministries of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, and Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Others include the Federal Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mines and Steel Development, Water Resources, Health, National Hospital, Abuja, and National Directorate of Employment.

On Tuesday, November 28, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are expected to appear before the committee for the exercise.

Also billed to appear on Tuesday are the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigerian Airforce, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Federal Fire Service, Rural Electrification Agency, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, National Commission on for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons Offices, Abuja, and the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State.

On Wednesday, November 29, it will be the turn of the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research, Lagos State; National Eye Centre, Kaduna State; National Ear Centre, Kaduna State; Ministries of Aviation, Industry, Trade and Investment; Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger State; Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja; Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi; Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia State; Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State; as well as those in Katsina, Nguru, Yobe State, Asaba, Delta State and Gusau, Zamfara State.