Television Nigerian

Chief Oluwafemi Adegboye, a leader of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), has said that the Federal Government and the administration of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) violated the Federal Character Principles when hiring individuals for the organization.

In addition, he demanded that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launch an investigation into the finances of NIMET over the previous eight years, stating that the organization engaged in a number of corrupt actions during that time.

In an effort to guarantee a probe into the various fraudulent activities in the agency over the previous eight years, Adegboye also lobbied President Bola Tinubu to place the whole executive management team and several senior officials on mandatory leave.

A petition
NIMET is a parastatal under the ministry of aviation and aerospace development. In a letter dated August 29, 2023 to President Bola Tinubu, with the subject line “Very Urgent: Petition on Inadequacies, Misappropriation, Travesty and Corruption in NIMET, a Parastatal Under the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development,” the President was urged to correct all the irregularities that had been committed in the agency in the past.

Sen. Hadi Sirika, the former minister of aviation, was charged in the document with playing up ethnic tensions within the organization. Mr. Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, received a copy of the accusation.

Adegboye said that the management had been acting in blatant defiance of federal character principles while being supported by Sirika.

For instance, he said that all of the employment done over the eight years was biased and in favor of a specific area of the nation.

Additional information
He further claimed that all appointments to the agency’s executive and senior management levels were biased, highlighting the fact that, of the 10 positions at the executive management level, for example, six were filled by residents of Katsina State and the remaining four by residents of the other five geopolitical regions of the nation.

He also stated that the agency’s salary bill had nearly doubled as a result of illicit recruitments, accusing both the previous administration and the present management of Nimet of engaging in covert hiring without permission and following proper process.

Additionally, he said that several agency employees in the south were purposefully denied promotions in 2023, despite the fact that openings in their cadres existed.

Important information
Additionally, he emphasized how Sirika and the present management at NIMET abandoned the agency’s procedures for fair hiring and contracting.

He continued:

Most often, legal advertisements for jobs and contracts are not posted. In all job and contract negotiations during the past eight years, there have been many shady agreements.The agency’s leadership and senior management studied subjects unrelated to the organization’s mission in greater than 80% of cases. In terms of giving NIMET the right direction, they are lacking in ideas. Almost all of the money that NIMET generates is used for things like building improvements, replacing outdated construction, and other things.
Infrastructure for meteorology, the advancement of meteorological science, and employee welfare receive very little or no funding.
Adegboye demanded that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) conduct a thorough investigation into the financial irregularities of NIMET management. He questioned how, for example, a parking space at the agency’s Kano Station could have cost roughly N250 million.

In addition, he questioned why the agency’s multi-million dollar Doppler Radar system wasn’t operating despite the enormous sums of money that were spent on its upkeep.

The Nigerian Army said they found illicit oil bunker sites in the states of Imo and Delta as well as intercepted boats and vehicles carrying illegal oil products.

The Nigerian Army announced this in a message posted on their X (previously Twitter) profile on Wednesday and authored by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations.

PICTORIAL: In Imo and Delta, the army discovers an illegal camp for oil bunkerers
A camp for oil thieves was attacked by 343 Artillery Regiment troops on August 28, 2023, while they were conducting anti-oil theft operations in the Obokofia community of Imo State. 15 sacks and 13 Jerrycans of illegally refined automotive gas oil (AGO) that were hidden in the camp were found during the crackdown by the attentive troops.

PICTORIAL: Army discovers illegal oil bunkerers’ camp in Imo, Delta “The forces also found two pumping equipment, three power generators, one hose, and a toolbox for breaking into oil pipelines.

In a related operation, which was also carried out on August 28, 2023, soldiers from the 3rd Battalion seized control of a location that was actively refining oil illegally, in Enokora Community, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, and contained three cooking ovens and six reservoirs.

PICTORIAL: In Imo and Delta, the army discovers an illegal camp for oil bunkerers

On August 29, 2023, troops engaged in anti-oil theft operations discovered a wooden boat hidden in the creeks of Egbema West in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State that was carrying 110 sacks of illegally refined AGO.Two cars carrying 18 sacks of illegally refined AGO were equally intercepted by the watchful military in the same approximate region.

The Kwara State Government began distributing rice palliatives to the most disadvantaged residents of the state on Wednesday, and the palliative committee promised to distribute at least 250,000 10kg bags of rice in the initial phase.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq stated that the palliatives are simply being given out as a sign of compassion for the populace as more sustainable programs are being introduced gradually.

The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Engr. Yakubu Salihu-Danladi, acted as the governor’s representative.

In this extremely important period of our country’s history, the governor added, “This is merely a portion of what we have done to identify with the people. The withdrawal of fuel subsidies will have an adverse impact on those among us who are most vulnerable, therefore palliatives are a temporary solution.

“Over the past few weeks, our administration has implemented a variety of palliative measures to aid those working in both the formal and unofficial sectors. We also distributed the five trucks of rice the federal government gave us earlier. We are aware of the reach restrictions placed on this distribution.

“We are launching the distribution of the first consignments of rice today that we bought using the N2 billion we have already received from the Federal Government. In this round, we are delivering a minimum of 250 000 10 kg bags of rice.

The group of distinguished Kwarans will decide who the beneficiaries are on an impartial basis.
Huge investments are being made to increase the local food production through commercial agriculture, the manufacturing sector, local production of CNG and electric vehicles, and mass employment for young people in many economic sectors.

Members of the palliative committee, first batch recipients, and representatives of the following organizations were present: people with disabilities, WOWICAN, marketmen and women group, Hausa community, Igbo community, South-South community, Youth Council, NANS, Youth CAN, orphanage, NUT, NUJ, TUC, FOMWAN, non-indigene community, NURTW, NLC, and artisans groups.

The appointment of Asu Oku Okang, the state chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by President Bola Tinubu drew protests from members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State on Wednesday.

The demonstration occurs a short time after President Tinubu, on Tuesday, dissolved the NDDC’s board of directors and management, which was headed by Lauretta Onochie.
A demonstration video revealed how the AC members marched through Calabar, the state capital, while holding placards.

reported on Tuesday that Tinubu had given his approval for the nomination of a new commission board and management, with Chiedu Ebie of Delta State serving as chairman.

The individuals appointed included Chiedu Ebie (chairman of Delta), Samuel Ogbuku (managing director/CEO of Bayelsa), Boma Iyaye (executive director; finance and administration of Rivers), Victor Antai (executive director, projects of Akwa-Ibom), Ifedayo Abegunde (executive director; corporate services of Ondo), and Dimaro Denyanbofa (state representative of Bayelsa).
Other state representatives include Tony Okocha (Rivers), Patrick Aisowieren (Edo), Kyrian Uchegbu (Imo), Victor Kolade Akinjo (Ondo), Dimgba Eruba (Abia), and Asu Oku Okang (Cross River). Abasi Nkono (Akwa Ibom) is a state representative. Monday Igbuya (Delta) is a state representative.

The three zonal members of the board are Nick Wende (zonal representative, North-Central), Namdas Abdulrazak (zonal representative, North-East, and Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir (zonal representative, North-West).

The National Union of Road Transport Workers’ national secretariat was allegedly occupied by thugs who were accompanied, according to reports, by police officers. This was denounced by the Nigeria Labour Congress.

The NLC criticized the alleged involvement of the Nigerian Police in the invasion of the NURTW national secretariat in Abuja in a statement released following its Emergency National Administrative Council meeting on Monday.

“The NAC acknowledged the recent history of the Nigeria Police’s engagement in the internal affairs of numerous unions, which it regards as an infringement on the autonomy of union operations and a violation of the legal framework governing industrial relations,” the labor organization said.

It denounced the Inspector General of Police’s suspected interference in the invasion of the NURTW National Secretariat, which was “intended to overthrow the duly elected union leadership and install an alternative faction.”

“The NAC categorically demanded that the thugs and the police both immediately and unconditionally leave the illegally occupied NURTW National Secretariat. Within 48 hours of the resolution’s passing, this demand must be met.

In an effort to promote openness and accountability, it stated, “the NLC called for His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to react to the allegations linking his name to those guilty for the invasion.”

The NLC emphasized that as a representative of democracy, President Tinubu should make clear his position and deny any role in the occurrence.

A strike was warned by the labor union if the elected NURTW leadership was not restored.

“The NAC’s resolutions demonstrate its dedication to supporting democratic values, safeguarding the autonomy of unions, and defending the rights and safety of workers across Nigeria.

The NLC said it was “steadfast in its dedication to preserving the interests of Nigerian workers and unions while calling for the rapid resolution of the crisis in question” as the country closely watched the developments.

On Wednesday, Kano Hisbah (Sharia police) said that as part of its mass wedding initiative, it had acquired a set of furniture, food items, and clothing materials for 1,800 intended couples.

Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, the commander-general of the Kano State Hisbah board, made the disclosure while reviewing the items that had been purchased for the large wedding. He claimed that the state government had set aside more than 800 million naira for the purchase of furniture, clothing, food, and other items, including the bride’s price, among other things.

Each bride would receive a set of beds and bedding as well as 20,000 yen to help launch a business, he stated.

Aminu further revealed that wealthy and philanthropic people have promised to help the planned mass wedding succeed.

Aminu stated that 1,800 couples at the very least are anticipated to gain from the thoughtful act, which he believes will solve the social vices and poverty plaguing the nation.

He clarified that the difficulty of parents to cover the wedding costs frequently resulted in the postponement of many marriages.

As he called on benefactors to help achieve the required goals, he nonetheless pledged to inform the stakeholders of the date and location of the mass wedding as soon as arrangements were complete.

A warning was issued by the commander-general that anyone found guilty of divorcing his wife following the mass wedding would be required to pay for the free products he obtained from the state government. He also indicated that criteria had been established for the selection of beneficiaries.

He urged wealthier people to support the state administration by helping the less fortunate in society tie the marriage for peaceful coexistence in order to achieve the hitch-free mass wedding.