FG knocks contractor on East-West Road after N33bn payment.

FG knocks contractor on East-West Road after N33bn payment.

The Federal Government has ordered the immediate suspension of reconstruction work at the Eleme-Onne section of the East-West Road in Rivers State.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this while speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

Umahi said the order became imperative following the use of sub-standard materials by the contractor handling the project.

The minister also expressed sadness over the slow pace of work even after the government had made an advance payment of N33bn to ensure that no sharp practices would be tolerated.

Umahi explained that the work had to stop pending when some irregularities concerning the project would be resolved, saying with the pace of work by the contractors the work could not be completed even if given five years.

According to him, “The project must benefit the people; the rainy season is coming in two months and the people will be subjected to suffering.

“You have our N33bn. Do you know what the interest rate is every month on the bill? The President had to order me in September to come here and ordered the payment because some Rivers State people went to see the President and we paid you N33bn, since that time till now.

“I saw that the sand they are using is not river sharp. What we paid for is river sharp sand.

“I’m not satisfied. The idea is that when you place the lumps, the lump is good. But when you place the river’s sharp sand there are some voids between the lumps. And so the sand will go and fill it and it becomes a compact monolithic pavement structure. When I saw that sand I wasn’t happy.

“And I took that sand and put it on my palm and poured water and I was squizzing it, and at the end of the day, there was nothing left. That confirmed that it is very clear. So I directed that the company should be written and they should ensure that they remove the sand.

 “I was very shocked that instead of removing the sand they had continued with the sand. The contractor is carrying out the job but at a snail’s speed. If we allow him even another five years he will not finish. So we are not going to allow him.”

The minister, however, said he had scheduled a meeting with the contractor to look at the anomalies after which the errors would be X-rayed and a new timeline would be given to ensure the project was completed.

Guinea edge 10-man Equatorial Guinea to 16th Round.

Guinea edge 10-man Equatorial Guinea to 16th Round.

Mohamed Bayo headed a 98th -minute winner as Guinea reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with victory over 10-man Equatorial Guinea, who had earlier missed a penalty.

Equatorial Guinea midfielder Federico Bikoro was dismissed 10 minutes after the break for catching Bayo in the ribs with his studs.

The National Thunder were awarded a spot-kick midway through the second half after Sekou Sylla caught Iban Salvador, but captain Emilio Nsue hit the base of the right-hand upright.

And, with the game set to head to extra time, striker Bayo stooped to guide Ibrahim Diakite’s cross from the right flank just inside the near post in the final minute of added time.

Guinea had barely made their one-man advantage count in the final 35 minutes, although goalkeeper Jesus Owono was forced to tip a header from striker Serhou Guirassy over the bar in the closing stages.

Yet Bayo’s dramatic late goal broke the resistance of the Equatoguineans and sent Syli National into the last eight for the first time since 2015, as Guinea triumphed for the first time in seven appearances in the knock-out stages at the finals.

Equatorial Guinea had been the surprise package from the group stage, winning Group A ahead of Nigeria and hosts Cote d’Ivoire as Nsue netted five goals to top the scoring charts.

The first half saw scant action in the final third, with Bayo sending an effort into the side-netting early on and Guinea team-mate Morgan Guilavogli firing over from long range.

Nsue blasted a volley over the bar from 12 yards two minutes after the restart, but the complexion of the game changed when Bikoro was shown a straight red after following through with a clearance in midfield and catching Bayo with some force.

Equatorial Guinea were handed a glorious chance to take the lead when the Video Assistant Referee intervened to send Omar Artan to his screen on the touchline, and the referee decided Sylla had caught Iban Salvador on the back of the leg after the midfielder had controlled a pass and awarded a penalty.

But veteran striker Nsue, who plays in the third tier in Spain, could not add to his tally at the finals despite sending Guinea keeper Ibrahim Kone the wrong way.

Aside from substitute Guirassy’s header, a tame effort from right-back Diakite was all Guinea could muster before the board for eight minutes of added time went up and Bayo won it at the death.

Equatorial Guinea had reached at least the quarter-finals on their previous three appearances at AFCON, but Juan Micha’s side could not repeat that achievement as 34-year-old Nsue was left to rue his costly miss while Guinea celebrated at the final whistle.

The West Africans, managed by one-time Arsenal striker Kaba Diawara, had finished behind holders Senegal and Cameroon but progressed to the knock-out stages as one of four best-ranked third-placed sides. Referee Omar Artan reached straight for his red card to send off Federico Bikoro, but awarded Equatorial Guinea a penalty following a VAR check.

FG to inaugurate tripartite committee on minimum wage Tuesday.

FG to inaugurate tripartite committee on minimum wage Tuesday.

The federal government will on Tuesday, inaugurate a 37-man Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage with a mandate to recommend a new national minimum wage for the country.

A statement issued by the director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Segun Imohiosen, the planned inauguration of the Committee is sequel to the approval of President Bola Tinubu.

According to the statement, the inauguration is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, 30th of January, 2024, by 12:00 noon, at the Council Chamber of the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The committee, under the chairmanship of Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, which cuts across federal government, state government, private sector and the Organised Labour are as follows:

“From the federal government, the members include the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, representing the Minister of Labour and Employment; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Budget Economic Planning, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. (Mrs) Folasade Yemi-Esan; the Permanent Secretary, GSO. OSGF, Dr. Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri; and Ekpo Nta, Esq, Chairman/CEO, NSIWC – Member/Secretary.

“Also from the State Government, Alh. Mohammed Umar Bago, Governor, Niger State- representative from North Central; Sen. Bala Mohammed, Governor Bauchi State- representative from North East; Alh. Umar Dikko Radda, Governor Katsina State- representative from North West; Prof. Charles Soludo, Governor, Anambra State- representative from the South East; Sen. Ademola Adeleke, Governor, Osun State- representative from South West; Mr. Otu Bassey Edet, Governor, Cross River State- representative from South West.

“From the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA)- Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General, NECA; Mr. Chuma Nwankwo; Mr. Thompson Akpabio with also members from the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) include Asiwaju (Dr) Michael Olawale-Cole, National President; Hon. (Dr) Ahmed Rabiu, National Vice President and Chief Humphrey Ngonadi (NPOM), National Life President.

“The membership from the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME) are Dr. Abdulrashid Yerima, President & Chairman of Council; Hon. Theophilus Nnorom Okwuchukwu, Private Sector representative; Dr. Muhammed Nura Bello, Zonal Vice President, North West and also from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) are Mrs. Grace Omo-Lamai, Human Resource Director, Nigerian Breweries; Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni, Director-General, MAN; Lady Ada Chukwudozie, Managing Director, Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited.

“From the organised labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe Ajaero, President, NLC; Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, mni; Comrade Prince Adeyanju Adewale; Comrade Ambali Akeem Olatunji; Comrade Benjamin Anthony and Prof. Theophilius Ndukuba.

“Also, membership from the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) include Comrade (Engr) Festus Osifo, President, TUC; Comrade Tommy Etim Okon, PhD, Deputy President I, TUC; Comrade Kayode Surajudeen Alakija, Deputy President II; Comrade Jimoh Oyibo, Deputy President. III; Comrade Nuhu A. Toro, Secretary-General and Comrade Hafusatu Shuaib, Chairperson Women Comm.

“Accordingly, members are advised to be early to process their clearance at the Security Gate and should be seated at the Council Chamber by 11.30 am. In addition, a shuttle bus will be available at the Pilot Gate to convey members to the venue.

“In addition, members of the Committee are to contact the Head of the Secretariat, Mr. Chiadi Adighiogu, Director (Compensation) in the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission for information,” the statement said.

FG establishing ‘mushroom’ varsities with no funding options – ASUU.

FG establishing ‘mushroom’ varsities with no funding options – ASUU.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Sunday accused the Federal Government of establishing “mushroom” varsities with no funding options.

The union also noted that the universities have now become crisis centers with little to no hope of management.

It was reported that plans were made to establish no fewer than 32 federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.

The issue of the proliferation of universities by the government at all levels has also become a matter of concern for stakeholders.

Speaking in the statement issued on Sunday, the National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, urged the government to jettison the “politicisation” of universities.

Speaking on the promise to release the withheld salaries of members of the union by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, the academic union noted that any further delay in the release of the monies might lead to a complete mess of “what is left of the already devalued worth of the money”.

“One major fallout of our last struggle was the government’s decision to stop the salaries of our members as a ploy to force us back to work even when the substantive issues in the strike action had remained unresolved. Curiously, the seven-and-a-half months’ salaries remain unpaid even after we have done the work for which those salaries were held.

“It is hoped that the process of payments is fast-tracked before the unmitigated inflationary trends in the country make a complete mess of what is left of the already devalued worth of the money.

“Proper funding and running of the public universities – State and Federal – remains at the heart of our struggle for a university system which can drive national development and compete internationally.

“This informs our concern, among others, with the issue of the unbridled proliferation of state universities, which State Governors were fastly turning to mere constituency projects.

“We have several instances of states that are unable to fund their existing universities going ahead to establish more. In the process, such state governments only succeeded in creating crises centres rather than centres of excellence.

“Unfortunately, the Federal Government appears to have been bitten by the bug of mushrooming universities without giving thought to how to fund them. This sour point is still a work in progress for our union to combat.

“If our university system is to maintain the integrity of credible universities, as known in other sane climes, more work is required to get Nigerian politicians to embrace the idea of developmental universities as against the prevalent over- politicisation of university education,” the statement read.

We are committed to recovering unpaid royalties and taxes – Alake.

We are committed to recovering unpaid royalties and taxes – Alake.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake said the present administration is committed to recovering unpaid royalties and taxes in the mining sector.

He said the federal government has put in place measures like engaging consultants to block leakages and recover funds owed by licensed operators, which he put at several trillions of naira.

Alake said this in Abuja while welcoming the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) chairman, Mohammed Bello, and his team to his office.

He said the federal government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has resolved to strengthen collaboration to block revenue leakages in the mining sector.

The special assistant media to the minister, Segun Tomori, made this known in a press statement.

He stated: “The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), have resolved to strengthen collaboration to block revenue leakages in the mining sector.

“Speaking while welcoming the RMAFC chairman, Mohammed Bello, and his team to his office recently, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake commended efforts of the commission to boost revenue accruing to government coffers through mining operations.

He said: “Mr. Bello in his remarks stated that the commission’s visit is hinged on pledging support for efforts of the Minister to transform the mining sector since assumption of office and also extract commitment that the commission will get his cooperation to carry out its statutory monitoring activities.

“The commission was instrumental to getting the 10% monthly payment from the Natural Resources Development Fund to the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), and we know we can do much more together under your guidance and leadership to sanitise the sector, plug all loopholes and ensure the mining industry becomes a big chunk of our nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“In his submission, the commission’s chairman of solid minerals committee and commissioner representing Zamfara state, Abubakar Sadiq lauded the Minister for his reforms and leadership that has given visibility to the mining sector, stressing the need for improved collaboration with the RMAFC to address shortfall in revenue remittance by mining operators.

“Our evaluation of mining operations across the country has shown a shortfall in revenue to government. There is a monitoring gap. Government and RMAFC should strengthen collaboration to seal this gap and plug leakages in the system.”

“We are also making a case for proper supervision and documentation of minerals exported through our borders whilst also urging that the environmental impact of mining operations should be looked into and minimized,” Sadiq added.

“Dr. Alake, in his response, revealed that the federal government has put in place measures like engaging consultants to block leakages and recover funds owed by licensed operators, which he put at several trillions of naira.

“From our efforts, so far, we have discovered to our chagrin that we are owed trillions of naira in unpaid royalties and taxes by legalised operators. We are committed to recovering these funds and also in the process of engaging internationally certified auditors to look at the system and automate the whole gamut of the revenue collection processes.

“Alake restated the resolve of government to sanitise the mining environment, ensure it contributes substantially to the nation’s revenue, and ultimately make the sector rival oil in contribution to Nigeria’s GDP.

“We are ready to collaborate with you, states, and host communities to maximise the potential of the mining sector for the benefit of all Nigerians. Our focus is to ensure that the industry translates to greater good for the greatest number of our people.”

Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso withdraw from ECOWAS over suspension.

Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso withdraw from ECOWAS over suspension.

The military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have announced their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States.

The leaders of the three Sahel nations on Sunday issued a statement saying it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the ECOWAS “without delay”.

Struggling with jihadist violence and poverty, the regimes have had tense ties with ECOWAS since coups took place in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.

All three were suspended from ECOWAS, with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions.

They have hardened their positions in recent months and joined forces in an “Alliance of Sahel States”.

A French military withdrawal from the Sahel — the region along the Sahara desert across Africa — has heightened concerns over the conflicts spreading southward to the Gulf of Guinea states Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast.

The prime minister appointed by Niger’s military regime on Thursday blasted ECOWAS for “bad faith” after the bloc largely shunned a planned meeting in Niamey.

Niger had hoped for an opportunity to talk through differences with fellow states of ECOWAS, which has cold-shouldered Niamey, imposing heavy economic and financial sanctions following the military coup that overthrew elected president Mohamed Bazoum.

AFP

Edo 2024: APC to update membership register, promises free, fair primaries.

Edo 2024: APC to update membership register, promises free, fair primaries.

As the sales of All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the Edo State governorship election ends on Monday, January 29, the party said it would conduct an update of its membership register in the state ahead of the February 17 primary election.

Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru disclosed this at the weekend when a group of friends of Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe picked the expression of interest and nomination forms for the retired Permanent Secretary.

The update of the membership register became necessary following disagreement of figures by the various political tendencies in the state during the last meeting the National Working Committee (NWC) had with stakeholders of the party in the state.

To this end, a committee will be dispatched from the party’s national secretariat in Abuja to undertake the update of the membership register in the 192 wards of the state.

Duru said: “A committee from the national headquarters will be on their way to Edo State next week to begin the update of the membership register.

“As you know, there were discontent tones. We will write a letter in that respect to the state chapter of the party. We can only be seen to be impartial and we cannot come to a meeting of stakeholders to misrepresent the total membership of our party in Edo state.

“That Edo is only 241,000 in numbers when we know that the membership of even Ebonyi state is almost close to a million and Edo is bigger than Ebonyi state. Even against our protestation that we have a bigger and more authentic register.

“So that is the responsibility of the NWC and we discharge that.”

Assuring all the aspirants of the resolve of the NWC to conduct a free, fair and transparent primary, During denied insinuation that the NWC has ceded the power of screening and clearing aspirants for the shadow election to a committee.

 

He added: “The National Chairman has also asked me to inform all the aspirants that the responsibility of vetting and clearing all the aspirants domicile with the NWC of our party and the National Working Committee has not abandoned that responsibility or have they vested that authority to any other sub-national.

“Therefore the exercise of vetting and clearing will only happen in the first instance through a committee that will be set up and we are in the process of setting up the committee.

“We will ensure and guarantee free, fair and transparent primary. What we want is the person who will win for us. That will win the primary and win the election ultimately for the party.

“We want Edo State in the basket of APC states and that is very important. We cannot just have one lone voice in the South-South, which Cross River currently represents. Once we can have Edo State in the basket, hopefully, we can also translate into another state in Ondo.

Meanwhile, checks in the party’s Directorate of Organisation at the close of work on Friday showed that only 12 of the 29 aspirants who initially declared intention to contest for the party’s tickets have purchased the N50 million expression of interest and nomination forms.

The party so far has equally raked in N600 million from sales of forms to the 12 aspirants.