Tag Archives: Removal

You Are A Liar, Senate Hits Back At SGF Lawal; Insists On His Removal

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The Senate on Thursday hit back at the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, after he dismissed the legislative body as saying “balderdash” over the call for his removal and prosecution.

The Senate had on Wednesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend Mr. Lawal and ensure his prosecution over alleged breach of Nigerian laws in handling contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for the North East, (PINE).

An ad-hoc committee of the Senate on “mounting humanitarian crisis in the North East” led by Shehu Sani submitted its interim report on Wednesday and indicted Mr. Lawal for allegedly receiving N233 million contract to clear invasive plant species in Yobe State through a company, Rholavision Nigeria Limited.

The Senate alleged he remained a director of the company till September 2016, over a year after his appointment, in breach of Nigeria’s code of conduct for public officials as enshrined in the 1999 constitution.

Rholavision was incorporated in 1990 by Mr. Lawal, he confirmed, to carry out information and communication technology services.

But it was found by the Senate to be handling a N233 million bush clearing contract in the North East in 2016.

The Yobe State Government said the contract was never executed.

But less than an hour after the Senate indicted him and called on authorities to punish him, Mr. Lawal accompanied his principal, Mr. Buhari, to the National Assembly to present the 2017 budget proposal.

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Senators Protest Removal Of Kano, Plateau From North-East Development Commission

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National Assembly has removed Kano and Plateau states from the proposed North-East Development Commission, triggering protest from senators from North-West and North Central zones.
It will be recalled that the Senate, while passing the Bill for an Act to establish North-East Development Commission and other related matters, had included the two states as beneficiaries of the commission because they had also been negatively affected by the activities of Boko Haram insurgents. The removal of the two states was contained in the Conference Report presented by the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume.

Protesting the removal of Kano and Plateau states, Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South) contended that the Senate had earlier agreed to include the states, and asked why they should be dropped.

Also, Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC Zamfara), insisted that the recommendation be thrown away, arguing that the two states were affected by the activities of Boko Haram and should be included in the commission.

Senate Leader, Ndume, who explained why the two states were removed, said the commission was to coordinate the development and reconstruction of the area.

President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who appealed to his colleagues to accept the report, said the important thing was commitment to the development of the area.

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http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/senators-protest-removal-kano-plateau-devt-commission/

Adamawa Workers Protest, Demand Removal Of Some Govt. Officials

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Civil servants in Adamawa on Tuesday staged a protest in front of the Government House Yola calling for the removal of three government officials from office. The protesters, led by the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Dauda Maina, shut the entrance to government house for several hours.

They were demanding for the sacking of the Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Agency, Dr Abdullahi Belel. They also demanded for the sacking of the Executive Secretary Adamawa State Post Primary School Board, Mallam Abdullahi Jingi and the General Manager of Adamawa State Transport Company, Mr Ahmed Nyako.

Maina said that the call for the sack of the affected persons was based on their anti workers stance. He said that the affected person where responsible for causing friction between workers and the government. He alleged that the on-going health workers strike in the state was caused by the executive chairman of the state primary healthcare agency, Dr Abdullahi Belel.

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Court Reserves Judgment On Appeals Seeking To Overturn Ruling On Ikpeazu’s Removal

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved final judgment in multiple appeals filed by the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other interested parties seeking to overturn the judgment of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja which sacked Ikpeazu as governor.

A five-man panel of justices of the court led by Justice Morenike Ogunwumiju adjourned the matter for judgment after it heard six separate appeals.

 The hearing of the appeal which lasted till 5p.m., witnessed several drama including the attempt by the Ali Modu Sherrif’s faction of the PDP to come in but was rebuffed by the court.

Justice Ogunwumiju had drawn the   attention of the court to a letter from the Sheriff-led faction of the PDP that sought to withdraw the appeal.
The said letter was signed by the Deputy National Legal Adviser of the party, Bashir Maidugu.

After hearing from the parties, including Mr. Olagoke Fakunle (SAN) who said he appeared for the PDP, the court decided that the Sheriff’s group had no business in the appeal.
“Fakunle what exactly have you said? There are six appeals before this court which we must hear today. And we are going ahead with the appeals already filed. Do not disrupt this court again. You can go on appeal if you so wish,” the judge told the lawyer who was from Sheriff’s camp of the PDP.

Read More: Thisday

 

No Going Back On Fuel Subsidy Removal- PPPRA

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The Federal Government said it has not reversed its decision to remove subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol more so when there is no appropriation for subsidy in the 2016 budget.

The Petroleum Pricing Regulatory Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) in a statement last night said stated that contrary to media reports, what still exists is Price Modulation Policy, through which it considers and reviews pump price of PMS quarterly.

“The Agency also wishes to assure Nigerians that the funds from Over-Recovery in the first quarter (Q1) shall be duly utilized for whatever noticeable imbalance in April 2016 in line with the Price Modulation Principle.” The statement signed by Sotonye E. Iyoyo Acting Executive Secretary of the PPPRA said.

While appreciating the patience of Nigerians, the PPPRA reiterated its commitment to ensuring seamless supply and distribution of petroleum products in the Country.

 

Credit: dailytrust

 

Removal Of 23,846 Ghost Workers Saves FG N2.29bn Monthly- Minister

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The Federal Government said on Sunday that the removal of 23,846 non-existing workers from its payroll had led to a monthly reduction of N2.29bn in its salary bill.

It stated that through the ongoing Bank Verification Number-based staff audit and enrolment to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, the amount spent on payment of salaries to government workers reduced by N2.29bn in February when compared to what it was in December 2015.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, confirmed the development in a statement by her Special Adviser on Media, Mr Festus Akanbi.

The minister in the statement said the ministry was working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to recover the outstanding balance in banks and pensions contributed in respect of the deleted workers.

The statement reads in part, “Through the ongoing BVN-based staff audit and enrolment to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, the Federal Government has removed 23,846 non-existent workers from its payroll.

“Consequently, the salary bill for February 2016 has reduced by N2.293bn when compared to December 2015 at which time the BVN audit process commenced.”

The ministry said the figure represented a percentage of the number of non-existent workers, who had hitherto been receiving salaries from various ministries, departments and agencies.

It added that it was investigating other suspected cases in conjunction with the EFCC.

“The Federal Government is also taking actions to pursue recovery of salary balances in bank accounts as well as any pension contributions in respect of the deleted workers.

“This involves active collaboration with the concerned banks and the National Pension Commission,” the statement added.

The minister stated that the Military Pension Board had revised the amount payable as its pension contributions on a monthly basis by N575m, following its annual verification for military retirees.

Credit: Punch

Lawmakers To Investigate Removal Of Kogi Speaker

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Nigeria’s House of Representatives has mandated an ad hoc committee to investigate the alleged removal of the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly.

In a motion moved by a lawmaker from Kogi, Honourable Sunday Karimi on Tuesday, the House described the alleged removal as illegal and unconstitutional.

During the extensive debate that followed, members encouraged the House of Representatives to intervene in the matter to help safeguard democracy in the country.

Five lawmakers in a 20-member House sat on Tuesday, February 16, and purportedly removed the Speaker, Honourable Momoh Jimoh.

The lawmakers also chose Umar Imam as the new Speaker of the House.

Mr Friday Sanni, who briefed reporters about the impeachment, said the Speaker was impeached for not carrying other members of the House along in the affairs of the House.

He also claimed that since the new Governor, Yahaya Bello and the Speaker are both from the same senatorial district, the Speaker should vacate the seat.

Credit: Channeltv

Savings From Fuel Subsidy Removal Rises To N647m Daily

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Nigeria, as at yesterday, is currently saving N647.2 million daily from the suspension of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol. Particularly, at the current price of N86.50 per litre in petrol stations across the country, the country is making an extra N16.18 per litre.

The Federal Government had stated that this extra savings is kept in an escrow account to serve as a cushion in case of eventuality, such as if the price of crude oil rebounds, leading to an increase in the selling price of PMS. The saving is partly due to the continuous decline in the price of crude oil in the international market, which dragged the open market price of petrol to N70.32 per litre. The amount the country is saving is based on a 40 million litres average daily consumption of PMS by Nigerians as declared by the Federal Government. Since the announcement and commencement of the price modulation regime by the Federal Government, the open market of PMS had fluctuated between N4 and N12 per litre before rising to its current level. Data obtained, yesterday, from the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, in its pricing template for PMS for February 9, 2016, revealed that at a retail price of N86.50 per litre as approved by the Federal Government, the country is saving N16.18 per litre of the product. The PPPRA put the landing cost of the product at N56.02 per litre, composed of Cost plus Freight — N51.19 per litre; Lightering Expenses — N2.02; NPA Financing — N0.15, Jetty Throughput Charge — N0.60 and Storage Charge — N2.00 per litre.

Credit: Vanguard

See How Much Nigeria Will Save From Fuel Subsidy Removal

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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the Federal Government, which relies on crude oil for about two-thirds of its revenue, is seeing a silver lining to the plunge in crude prices because it will no longer have to subsidise fuel.

“Lower oil prices also mean there is some advantage,” Osinbajo said in a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday.

The decline “means that we are not paying any subsidies, which frees up something in the order of about $5bn (about N985bn),” Bloomberg quoted the vice president as saying.

Brent oil in London has dropped more than 60 per cent to below $28 a barrel since November 2014, as shale production from the United States increased and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries refrained from cutting output in the face of a global oversupply in an effort to defend market share.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, will still face challenges in financing its budget deficit and aims to increase Value Added Tax and customs duty collection to help plug the gap, Osinbajo said.

“We think with adequate governance around budget management and around expenditure management, we can do quite a bit. If we are able to do those things, we might be able to come away with under $30 a barrel oil,” he explained.

Credit: Punch

Maku Calls For Removal Of Immunity Clause From Constitution

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Former Information Minister Labaran Maku on Sunday called for the removal of immunity clause for elected executive officers from the country’s constitution. Maku, a gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Nasarawa state in 2015, made this call while fielding questions from newsmen in Wakama, Akun Development Area of the state.

He explained that the removal of the immunity clause would help tackle corruption and ensure good governance. He specifically advocated for the removal of the clause that protects the president, governors and local government council chairmen from facing prosecution in breach of office. He said that the immunity clause had created an umbrella for some state governors to tamper with their state resources, thereby leading to underdevelopment at the grassroots.

The former minister also advised Nigerians to pray for better things in the New Year as well as pray for permanent peace to reign in the country. “Let us also pray for the peace of the country and give President Muhammadu Buhari the needed support and cooperation to enable him tackle the challenges facing the country. “I believe that the immunity of state governors should be removed, no governor needs immunity and if it is removed, this will help to check fraud, corruption and mismanagement,’’ he said.

Credit: DailyTimes

NLC Vows To Resist Removal Of Fuel Subsidy ‘Through Back Door’

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Nigerian workers have vowed to vehemently resist any move by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to deregulate operations of the downstream sector of the country’s petroleum industry and remove fuel subsidy through the back door.

The workers’ umbrella body, the Nigeria Labour Congress, said on Tuesday that any attempt by government to adjust the fuel price in the country without recourse to the institution legally authorized to do so would be considered unlawful.

The NLC General Secretary, Peter Ozo-Eson, said government officials and some chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress have in the past few weeks made discordant tunes about the future of petroleum products prices and the management of the subsidy scheme in the country.

The NLC said the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, had initially announced that come next year the price of petrol would revert to ?97 per litre, while fuel subsidy would be phased out.

However, Mr. Ozo-Eson noted that two days later the Minister had denied the report, claiming that what he said was that fuel price would operate within a band of ?87 and ?97, which he said did not mean subsidy removal.

“The same minister now says that the price of petrol will now be ?85 in January, signifying the deregulation of the sector,” Mr. Ozo-Eson said.

“These vacillations and flip flops are, in our view, designed to confuse Nigerians and pave the way for deregulation of petrol prices through the back door.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

PDP Demands Removal Of New Acting INEC Boss

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Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has demanded the removal of the newly appointed acting chairperson of the Independent national Electoral Commission, INEC, Amina Zakari.

Ms. Zakari was appointed as head of INEC by President Muhammadu Buhari hours after its former chairman, Attahiru Jega, handed over to Ahmed Wali, a national commissioner there.

Addressing a press conference in his office Wednesday, PDP’s publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the party was disturbed by the development in INEC where Mr. Buhari, who knew all along that the immediate-past INEC Chairman, Mr. Jega, would be leaving office by June 30, but had to wait for him to handover to one of the national commissioners only to reverse it immediately, thereby injecting bad blood in the commission.

“The situation in INEC since the PDP government reformed and granted it operational autonomy has been peaceful, but Tuesday’s untidy overruling of Prof. Jega and appointing of Mrs. Amina Zakari as acting chairman which, we gathered was influenced by personal relationship with the Presidency and one of the new governors of the North West, ostensibly to pave the way for the APC at the electoral tribunals, has completely eroded public trust in the commission,” he said.

Mr. Metuh said although the PDP recognizes the right and powers of the President to appoint the Chairman of INEC and others, such as that of the Accountant General of the Federation, AGF, which was done recently, he said the party rejects attempts to paint the process as transparent and objective when such was not the case.

“In INEC, the PDP states in unequivocal terms that we cannot, as critical stakeholders, fold our hands and watch while the Presidency perpetuate actions that diminish the independence of the electoral commission.

“The PDP has declared the appointment of Mrs. Amina Zakari as unacceptable and demands that President Buhari changes her immediately,” he said.

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Buhari Orders Removal Of Military Checkpoints

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President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the military checkpoints set up in the wake of Boko Haram activities in parts of the country be removed.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Aliyu Ismaila, said that Buhari instructed the Chief of Defence Staff to get the Chief of Army Staff and Inspector-General of Police to remove all the military men along the roads across the country during his meeting with service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, quoted the President as saying that the soldiers must concentrate more on ending  insurgency in the country.

He said however, the checkpoints shall be retained in areas outside the North-Eastern states where the military considered them absolutely essential for the maintenance of national security.

Read More: Punch

Amosun Orders Removal Of Jonathan’s Portraits From Offices

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Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has ordered the removal of portraits belonging to former President Goodluck Jonathan still adorning various government offices in the state.

Amosun gave the directive during his visit to a number of offices and ministries during a routine visit to government establishments. A mild drama ensued when the governor sighted Dr. Jonathan’s portrait in one of the offices at the Ministry of Finance at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The governor, who was accompanied by his deputy, Yetunde Onanuga, Head of Service, Modupe Adekunle, and number of Permanent Secretaries, could not hide his displeasure when he saw the former president’s portrait still hanging on the wall.

Credit: vanguardngr

ICAN Canvasses Removal Of Subsidy

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The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, yesterday, advised the newly inaugurated President Muhammadu Buhari administration to remove all perceived or imaginary subsidy which has been a source of huge leakage in the nation’s economy.

ICAN made its position known during the investiture of Otunba Olufemi Deru as the 51st President of the Institute.

In his inaugural speech at the investiture, Deru, who is a former President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, said that the institute will continue to support government with its professional knowledge and skills in the fight against corruption, money laundering and terrorism financing.

According to him: “These are challenging times in the affairs of our nation when all men of goodwill including accounting professionals must stand up and be counted in the arduous task of rebuilding the fabrics of the nation. We must take the bull by the horn as a nation by taking those hard decisions that will positively impact the welfare of the citizens.”

 Credit: vanguardngr

Subsidy Removal Will Reduce Pressure On Naira- FDC

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Analysts at the Financial Derivatives Company Limited have expressed support for the removal of fuel subsidy saying it would reduce the pressure of the exchange rate of the naira and lead to long term appreciation of the national currency. “More importantly, because there is an inflated import bill due to the subsidy scam, subsidy removal will reduce the pressure on the currency and the naira will appreciate in the medium term”, they said in the FDC Economic Bulletin issued last week.

They noted that removal of fuel subsidy will produce short term gain but long term gain. “Subsidies are reverse taxes and if removed will reduce the disposable income of consumers in the short term. However, it will result in an efficient redistribution in income, spur a rehabilitation of the refineries and an efficient oil industry in the long run; short term pain but long term gain”, they said.

Titled, “Petroleum Subsidy Scam: The Raping of Nigeria”, the bulletin stated, “The benefits associated with a subsidy removal are usually long term which will be solely determined by how the appropriated subsidy funds will be utilized to support optimal productivity within the economy.

“If the subsidy were removed today, the pump price would jump to approximately N130, which is the total open market price when one considers both the landing cost of petrol at N115.77 and the margin for transporters and exporters of N15.49 as of May 10, 2015.1 However, the pump price would be guided solely by global oil prices and would not be at the mercy of oil marketers.

Currently, scarcity initiated by the oil marketers due to delayed pay- ments increased the pump price of petrol. The scarcity created an avenue for arbitrage, with the fuel being sold for as high as N600/ liter in the black market. The impact of the strike and fuel scarcity was severe, and almost crippled economic activities, as banks and even telecom operators had to reduce their operating hours due to the scarcity of petroleum products.

This situation could be averted if the issue of subsidy is addressed and put to rest. But addressing fuel subsidy is just one part of the hydra-legged problem in the oil and gas sector. The passage of the PIB and a deregulation of the sector are required to fully enjoy an efficient oil and gas industry. In the long run, subsidy removal will assist the government financially and create a path to addressing the problems in the oil sector.”

Credit: Vanguard

Reps Reject Removal Of Fuel Subsidy

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Memberw of the House of Representatives, Tuesday unanimously rejected a motion seeking the removal of fuel subsidy.

This was sequel to a motion promoted by Rep Sunday Kareemi, PDP, Kogi entitled:’The recurring crisis of fuel subsidy’ which was killed on arrival by members of the House.

Lawmakers in turn roundly condemned the motion saying it is anti-people to remove fuel subsidy.

Details On: vanguardngr

Jonathan Orders Removal Of Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Billboards, Banners, Posters

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The President has ordered the removal of all  Jonathan/Sambo campaign billboards, banners and posters used for the March 28th election. The President made this konwn in a statment, Thursday signed by Mr Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity).

The statement reads in part ”President Jonathan directs that the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation and the various associations that coalesced into the Jonathan/Sambo Support Group immediately begin the process of removing the posters, billboards, banners, signs and other campaign materials in support of his re-election bid which still adorn the landscape in major cities across the country.

The President thanks all individuals and organisations who made sincere contributions and worked with immense dedication for the Jonathan/ Sambo Campaign.

He applauds his supporters and other Nigerians for the disciplined, patriotic and democratic manner in which they comported themselves before, during and after the elections.”

 Credit: vanguardngr

Elections Re-Run: Atiku Demands Removal Of Implicated INEC, Security Officials

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Former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar, has callled on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to replace those found wanting during the governorship election in Taraba and other States.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Turaki Adamawa expressed agreement with the widespread reports of irregularities in some local governments of the state.

“These irregularities, including the use of armed personnel to intimidate voters, were perpetrated in Southern Taraba, specifically in Wukari, Takum, Kurmi and Donga local councils.” Abubakar said.

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Akwa Ibom APC Writes Jega Again, Calls For Removal Of REC, Others

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The All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State has again petitioned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, detailing how top officials of the commission aided massive rigging of the March 28 polls.

The party had on April 6, wrote to Mr, Jega, accusing Governor Godswill Akpabio, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Austin Okogie, the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Paul Ekpo and many others of rigging the presidential and National Assembly polls.

In that letter, the party had drawn attention to what it called “mass and highly choreographed irregularities”, including how compromised INEC officials handed over sensitive materials to Mr. Akpabio and his aides.

However, in its new letter on Wednesday, Mr. Attai said it has troubling revelations on how a three-pronged rigging plot involving INEC officials, top officials of the state and the Nigeria Police, was perpetrated.

Barely one week after it purportedly uncovered how the PDP allegedly rigged the election, the APC chieftain said recent findings indicate the web of the plot went deeper than what the party earlier presented.

“Though the rigging plot at INEC was anchored by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Austin Okogie, his principle enablers were the Director of Operations, who also doubles as the Store Keeper, the Head of Computer Unit and the Head of Administration,” Mr. Attai wrote.

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Reps Warn Against Jega’s Removal

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The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution warning the federal government of imminent danger that will lead to break down of law and order if the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega is removed from office before the March 28 presidential poll.

The House at plenary presided over by the Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, urged the federal government, political class and the security agencies not to interfere with the existing schedules of the general elections in the  interest of the nation.

The resolution was taken following a motion moved by the Chairman, House Committee on Justice, Ali Ahmad. Attempts by the PDP lawmakers in House to block the resolution was rebuffed by Tambuwal. When the motion was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, it was unanimously supported by members.

Read More: Punch

Jega May Be Removed This Week?

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There are indications that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega may be removed from office this week. Jega is expected to be prevailed upon to embark on a terminal leave prior to the end his tenure in June.

Jega’s removal is expected to open the door to appoint a new chairman, a national commisoner of INEC, Amina Bala Zakari, who would jettisoned the use of permanent voters cards and other anti-rigging technologies.

Jega’s removal is a major part of a strategy developed by President Jonathan’s team to ensure that they win the presidential and other elections at all cost.

Read More: Sahara Reporters