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OPINION: Stop National Assembly’s tomfoolery on LGA’s

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THEY have done their job, or what they considered to be one of their jobs. I mean members of the National Assembly (NASS), comprising the House of Representatives and the House of Senate. ‘Anagh eji ututu ama njo ahia’ or morning does not often define how the day turns out. Not in the case of Nigeria’s 10th national assembly.
The direction of the extant NASS was crystal clear from the get go. The composition of the handpicked (by Nigeria’s president, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu) leadership left nobody in doubt about the set up. The chairman of NASS had a case of alleged corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) swirling over him up to the minute of his taking the oath of office as the president of the Senate. Obong Godswill Akpabio was an uncommon two-term governor of Akwa Ibom state with ‘uncommon’ achievements. He was a minister of the federal republic who made uncommon revelations at a national assembly hearing which led to the hunters screaming ‘off the mic’ (microphone) in the heat of the hearing. The House committee hearing was being broadcast live on national television and committee members were bent on stopping Nigerians from hearing and knowing that they (reps and senators) were part of the rot in the corruption -riddled Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). On another day on the same issue, the then head of the intervention agency had to embark on a fainting spree when he was overwhelmed with questions about the sleaze in the organisation.
There’s a cliché that birds of the same plume flock together. Like begets like. Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are. So the leadership of the national assembly was created in the image of the leadership of the Executive branch of Nigeria’s government. And Nigerians are living the experience.
The presidential system of government which we claim we borrowed from the United States of America was designed with inbuilt subtle, and sometimes pronounced tensions among the three co-equal branches of government – the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. The tension is often more pronounced between the Executive and the Parliament. But this is not so in our country. In the last 25 years, the tendency for the parliament to exert its autonomy has been far and in-between. The closest Nigeria came to experiencing the independence of the NASS was when Dr. Olusola Saraki was the president of the Senate and chairman of NASS during the first term (2015-2019) of Nigeria’s affliction of a president, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. It must be said that it did not happen by design. It was a fallout of personal scheming to grab power and to control the direction of that regime.The current leadership of NASS has been vocal about its subordination to the presidency so much so that if it happens to do the will of Nigerians, it will only be to the extent that the will of Nigerians aligned with the will of the president who installed them in office. In other words, if the will of the citizens of the country conflicts with the desires of the president, the will of the people will be invalid to the extent of its conflict with the desires of Tinubu. And this has been demonstrated on more than one occasion in the past 14 months of this dispensation. In summary we are living in an era of government of the president, by the president, for the president. A civilian dictatorship is in full swing at the federal level.
So we can only hope for a push back from some quarters at the subnational levels. But it will be important to recognise that even as we hope for a push back that the governors in the states are no better in terms of exhibiting democratic temperaments. Many of them are apprentice dictators waiting to blossom. If you want to know their stranglehold, visit any state when the governor is out of town. Nothing pertaining to government and governance happens. The deputy governor who should act going by the provisions of the Constitution in the absence of the governor is paralysed and crippled. Anything the deputy governor does is interpreted as an attempt to upstage the governor and a display of inordinate and vaulting ambition. It is rare for a governor and his deputy who were supposedly elected on a joint ticket to finish their joint tenure together. Some governors use and discard, through impeachments, as many as three deputy governors in two terms of eight years. This is a story for another day.
READ ALSO:OPINION: Ndigbo in the crosshairs of ‘Days of Rage’
For today’s discourse we will pretend to believe that the dictatorial tendencies of state governors can be put to good use for once and for the benefit of Nigerians. It can be so used in opposing the ongoing multipronged schemes on the so-called reform of the local government area councils. The approaches may be multipronged but they are coming from the same source – the presidency. First, the presidency went to the Supreme Court where it sued the states, saying that it wanted the court to rule on the financial and administrative autonomy of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria. It also said it wanted the Supreme Court to decree that no state government has the power to arbitrarily terminate the tenure of elected local council governments. It also prayed the court to grant it the power to seize federal allocations to any council which is not run by elected officials and to scrap the state/council joint bank account which the governors use as slush fund. Ordinarily, these are lofty goals which should excite every citizen. But not so fast because in this dispensation nothing is ordinary. The second route the presidency is using to appropriate the local government areas (LGA’s) to itself is through the national assembly. Last week there were media reports that the NASS has granted full financial and administrative autonomy to all councils by amending section 124 of the Constitution. The reports say that the section makes a consequential provision for making the councils full third tier of government without undue interference from the state governments. The House and the Senate, the news reports say, have harmonised the differences in their positions on the subject matter and the bill is set to be forwarded to the state houses of assembly for a concurrence by at least two-thirds of the legislatures of the 36 states.
This is the stage where the governors should use their dictatorial powers to lean on their houses of assemblies to reject the amendment. The governors do not need much prodding, or any prodding at all, because they have at least once in the past torpedoed a similar amendment. The governors did so in the pursuit of their selfish interests and nothing suggests they will not do so again this time.Though the motivation of the governors in rejecting the local government areas amendment bill will be clearly personal and selfish, but it will align ultimately with the interests of the generality of Nigerians. Making the existing 774 council areas a third tier of government, financially and administratively autonomous presupposes that they are components of Nigeria’s federating units. They are not. And they should not be. We will be the first to admit that our federation is awkward but we should not allow our myopic rulers to continue to make a bad situation worse.
For a start, the names of the current 774 council areas have no business being written into the 1999 Constitution. So if any amendment is needed in reforming local government structure and administration in Nigeria, it is to remove councils from the federal Constitution immediately. The states should be at liberty to create units of administration at the local level, and to create as many as they may desire and to fund them. It is preposterous to argue in a federal system of government that local councils should be receiving statutory allocations from the federation account. Our heritage of long military rule did consequential damage to our country including in the arbitrary creation of states. But it was worse in the carving out of local government areas. There are parts of this country where full fledged local government areas have minimal human presence. They are just a vast mass of land with sparse human settlements in flimsy houses. It was this arbitrary creation of states and local governments that accounts for the absurdity of the present situation in the old Kano state and Lagos state. We are almost sounding like a broken record but we will not stop illustrating with it. Lagos state and old Kano state were about the same size in population. Later, Jigawa state was carved out of Kano state. Lagos remained unchanged. Today Kano and Jigawa states have a combined 71 local government areas while Lagos state has 20. In effect, the old Kano state gets 71 separate allocations from the federation account, and Lagos draws only 20. That will make it three and a half times more federal allocations to old Kano state than Lagos. Where’s the fairness? Where’s the equity? Where’s the justice?Sadly, the man who is today in the Aso Rock Villa as Nigeria’s president was governor of Lagos state a little over two decades ago. He battled then president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, over the creation of local governments. Tinubu created an additional 37 council areas for Lagos. Obasanjo impounded the federal allocations to the 20 LGAs, saying that the funds could be used by Tinubu to fund his 37 new creations which were not known to the Constitution. The matter ended in the Supreme Court where each party claimed victory of sorts.
So, if Tinubu claimed over 20 years ago that local governments should be the exclusive preserve of the states, and he stood on a solid ground, why is the same man using subterfuge (litigation in the Supreme Court and legislation through NASS) to force administrative autonomy for councils and their financial freedom from state governments? Does this not confirm that he is an opportunist and a pseudo -democrat? But he will not fail to act to type. In 2012, Tinubu wrote an epistle to former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, on the dangers of removing the so-called subsidy in petroleum products. He was spot on. But in 2023, he did exactly the opposite of the same thing he warned against, and threw the economy into a spin and the people into penury. So as in local governments, so also in petrol subsidy removal. Tinubu’s bonafides as an untruthful, unreliable person, and an opportunist are in plain sight. But he can still redeem himself by working with the state governors and the national assembly to do the right thing on local governments – stop their affiliation with the federal government, remove their names from the Constitution, let the states create as many councils as they wish and fund them. Manipulating local governments for personal, political and electoral reasons is not in the best interest of our distorted and troubled federation.
AUTHOR: UGO ONUOHA

Articles published in our Graffiti section are strictly the opinion of the writers and do not represent the views of TVN or its editorial stand.
The post OPINION: Stop National Assembly’s tomfoolery on LGA’s appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

Kano to conduct LG polls November 30

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Deputy gov confident in Kano LG chiefs

The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission has scheduled November 30, 2024, for the local government elections in the state.

The Chairman of the Commission, Sani Malumfashi, announced the date while addressing a news conference in Kano on Wednesday.

He said the notification of the election will be issued on November 15.

Nomination forms will be available from October 1 to October 11, with submission of the forms due by October 18, 2024.

He noted that the screening of candidates will take place from October 18 to October 20, while the list of eligible candidates will be released on October 24. The elections will follow thereafter.

“We plan to release the results of the winners by December 10, 2024. This announcement is made under Section 103, Subsections 3 and 1 of the Electoral Act and the powers conferred on the Commission under Paragraph 3(4) of Part II, Third Schedule, Section 3(1) of the Kano Local Government Law 2004,” Malumfashi said.

He said that the elections are being conducted following a Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments, and the conduct will be in accordance with the law.

Malumfashi also announced that candidates are barred from placing their posters on places of worship, schools, and government buildings. Anyone violating these rules will be punished.

He said the Commission expects all the 19 political parties to participate in the election.

According to him, the Commission will work closely with security agencies to ensure a peaceful election.

“Kano, with 44 local governments and over 7 million voters, presents significant security challenges, particularly in light of current economic difficulties,” he said.

He explained that the Commission will recruit about 13,000 ad-hoc staff to man the 11,000 polling units.

OPINION: Before the protests begin…

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“Ol’Boy.”
“Bros. Bro-oo!”
“How are you preparing for Thursday?”
“What is happening on Thursday?”
“What do you mean what is happening on Thursday? The #EndBad Governance protest”
“I see. Me, I am not protesting oh. When I wake up on Thursday, if I see that some people are already on the streets, me I go stay for house oh. I don’t want trouble.”
“That is cowardice. The protesters want to do it for all of us. They have specific points. There is hunger in the land. There is no fuel. Life is hard. Tomatoes have become expensive. Common garri, people no fit chop again.”
“Good and do you know the protesters? They are saying there are no leaders, you are supporting a faceless protest?”
“It is not as faceless as you think. Peter Obi, Femi Falana, Deji Adeyanju, the Take It Back Movement have all said that the people’s right to protest is a constitutional right. They have asked to be allowed to use the Eagle Square in Abuja.”
“Yes, they have also asked Nyesom Wike to allow them access to facilities at the Eagle Square, including the toilets. I think they should just insist that Wike should come physically and help them with the toilets, by cleaning for them, because it is their constitutional right to use the Eagle Square. Nobody is questioning the people’s right to protest. Sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution provide the necessary cover for that. As a citizen you have the right to speak and the right to the freedoms of association and assembly. What you cannot do is to insist that you will impose anarchy or rage or chaos on the country. The DSS says what we are dealing with is actually a regime change protest. You cannot do that.”
“Who told government that the people will cause violence or that they are planning chaos? Even Mr. Peter Obi that they say is supporting the protests, has come out publicly to advise the would-be protesters to stay within the ambit of the law. So, who is talking about violence, and why is the government afraid?
“Every protest leads to one problem or the other”
“That is not true”
“The 1789 riots in France because of hunger ended up with the French Revolution. In the United States, the people who were protesting against Israel’s war in Gaza disrupted activities on the university campuses. Recently when the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the US, to address Congress, pro-Palestine, anti-Israel persons protested at the Union Station and Pennsylvanian Avenue. My major take-away from that was that the police in Washington DC arrested over 200 people. The police chief said people can protest, but they have no right to go beyond the First Amendment. You remember the Arab Spring in 2011, from Tunisia to the whole of the Middle East. Remember the Kenya riots recently. Violence, anarchy will not bring anybody any good.”
“My brother. People are tired. They are hungry.”
“When Buhari was there, why did they not fight?”
“There was #EndSARS in 2020. Have you forgotten so soon?”
“Yes. Yes. EndSARS. And what good did it bring to Nigeria? All the people that died at Lekki Toll Gate, it is only their families that will forever feel the pains.”
“It is the primary duty of government to protect the people.”
“It is also the duty of the people to act within the ambit of the law. Citizenship comes with rights and responsibilities. Governors, traditional rulers, civil society groups, Christian and Islamic clerics have all appealed for calm. They have advised the angry youths to give government a chance. I don’t agree that the people should wait for three years before they speak up. You cannot legislate the people’s anger. But then, make your point, do not destroy. Do you recall the number of vehicles, houses and businesses that were destroyed during EndSARS?”
“I hope you know that it is not everybody calling for calm and dialogue that is an apostle of peace, some of them are doing it for their own interests. All the traditional rulers that went to visit Tinubu over this planned protest, tell me: did they or did they not collect sitting allowance? Hen Hen. Some of those characters that have been showing up in the media calling for peace. Do you think they are doing it for free? Even the security agencies, is this not their time to submit budgets for crowd control? One Bishop in Niger state even quoted Romans 13 1-3 saying the people must respect those in constituted authority.”
“Leave the Pastor alone. The Bible is the Book of Life. Everything is in it. But as for the security agencies, they have a constitutional duty to protect the state. No responsible government will fold its arms and allow chaos.”
“Is that why the Defence Headquarters is now saying they have identified unscrupulous elements and the military will come out and defend the country?”
“Yes, why not? Section 217 (2) (c) of the 1999 Constitution.”
“Section this, Section that. You think by quoting Sections of the Constitution, you are making sense? Who cares? We are talking about the reality of the people’s frustration. A protest is not necessarily an evil thing. In 2012, there was no violence. People met in Ojota and they rejected the plan to remove fuel subsidy. They were peaceful.”
“No. No. The protests actually turned bloody at some point. Go and check the Vanguard newspaper of Jan. 10, 2012. The protests turned bloody in Kano, Lagos and Benin and about 12 people were killed. Two in Lagos, seven in Kano and another three in Benin. You never know what will happen. The government is saying that the protests could be hijacked by mischief makers.”
“In 2012, the protest was led by responsible people. Pastor Tunde Bakare. Femi Kuti, Dr Tunji Braithwaite, Fela Durotoye, Mohammed Fawehinmi, Ortis Wiliki… for seven hours, they spoke. People were even asked to bring their mats to come and sleep on the streets. The Jonathan government did not threaten people. The people had their say. What I don’t understand is the energy the Tinubu government is putting into telling people to shut up. After all, the President himself has reminded everyone that he is a veteran of street protests. Why doesn’t he too come out on Thursday and lead the protest in the spirit of democracy?”
“He should protest against himself? What are you saying? Where are the Wole Soyinkas, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Femi Falana, Fela Durotoye, Olisa Agbakoba, Omoyele Sowore?”
“You cannot dictate to anybody what to do.”
“Ok. Ok. So, if the security agencies break bones, shoot, and maim let nobody complain. Those who say they are courageous can dare the state. My only concern is that the gestation period for the protest is too long. They have given the security agencies more than enough time for them to get their arsenal together. My fear is even that the protest may not take place. People, especially in Lagos are more likely to sit at home, and monitor the protests on television.”
“I think the protests have started oh. Some angry youths were on the streets yesterday in Minna and Abuja.”
“As long as they are peaceful, fine.”
“Even here in Lagos, some youths protested in FESTAC yesterday.”
READ ALSO:OPINION: Ndigbo in the crosshairs of ‘Days of Rage’
“No, those ones were not part of the Ebilokan protests. I understand they showed their anger because MTN had suspended their phone lines because of National Identification Number (NIN). Government gave enough long notice, but you know the way this country is. It is not MTN alone. Even 9 Mobile has suspended people’s lines. I know people who had submitted their NIN more than a year ago, and they still got their lines suspended.”
“I suspect government has a hand in it. They want to prevent protesters from talking. In fact, that will annoy the people more. It is provocative.”
“I don’t think it is government. The National Communications Commission (NCC), the telecom regulator came out yesterday telling MTN to restore the lines immediately.”
“It is more than that. I think the top executives of MTN, 9Mobile and any other telco that are suspending people’s phone lines at this time should be arrested immediately for engaging in an act of sabotage that can heighten tension in the country. The people are saying they are hungry, and angry. They are planning to take to the streets on Thursday, then you switch off their phone lines. That sounds like adding petrol to fire.”
“So, you want them arrested?”
“Yes, The DSS should call them in for questioning, let them explain why people’s lines have to be cut off, and what happened to the identification numbers they collected before now. Nonsense.”
“That would amount to transferred aggression. MTN did not cause hunger in Nigeria. They may have their business reasons”.
“Let them go and write statements, I beg. They did not even have the decency to explain to Nigerians why, and when their phone lines should be suspended. Nonsense upon ingredient. I don’t even know why government has to appeal to everybody. By now, the security agencies should have arrested some people, who are bent on making trouble. Let nobody come tomorrow and tell us that they had a challenge with intelligence gathering. Protest, yes. You want to cause problem or add fire to an already combustible situation, No.”
“This is still a democracy sha. The people have the right to be heard.”
“We are saying the same thing.”
“No. You sound like a fascist. Not even Tinubu’s spokespersons are this dismissive.”
“I have not dismissed anybody. But just don’t let anybody in uniform use you to collect promotion. They will shoot you, claim they did a good job. While you are in the hospital, they will gain promotion at work. Have you not seen that some people have already printed T-shirts. I have seen No to Protest T-shirts. I have also seen End Bad Governance T-shirts? Some people are saying We are Hungry. Some people see an opportunity for quick business. Don’t be surprised if skit makers, musicians, Nollywood producers all join the bandwagon. At the end of it all, the economy will suffer more.”
“But look at the positive side. You can’t blame those who want to give Tinubu a shock therapy. In this country, if you keep quiet, people will ride roughshod over you. You see what happened when Aliko Dangote spoke up? He joined the Soro Soke group. He spoke his mind. Are you not aware that the Federal Government has met him half-way. Now he and other local owners of refineries can buy crude oil from the NNPC in Naira. If a billionaire can speak up, who are you a thousand-naire not to Soro Soke? Organized Labour spoke, Tinubu don go sign new national minimum wage. Even domestic workers who no complain, he put join.”
“I don’t think you have been listening to me. I am not against protest, just operate within the ambit of the law. Let the police know your chosen location. In Abuja, is it Unity Fountain? In Lagos, is it Ojota Park or Campos Square? Section 83 of the Police Establishment Act 2020 (as amended). The police must protect you, but they also need to know your location. In 2022, #EndSARS was peaceful for two weeks before things went the other way. Some youths went to the streets in Akoka, Lagos yesterday, destroying other people’s vehicles. How does that help anybody?”
“It is alright. When you go out on Thursday and you run into the protesters, please go and tell them Section this, Section that. What is my own? By the way, have you been following the Olympics?”
“Yes. Yes. Yes. Very colorful opening ceremony if you ignore the controversy over the mix up in the names of North Korea and South Korea as well as the protests over Christianity and the parody of Da Vinci’s The Last Supper. I loved the attire of Mongolia, Liberia, the US, Great Britain, the opening ceremony was a good mix of history, fashion, music, diversity and the beauty of Paris and France.”
“Indeed, very good. But our team has not been pulling its weight. The Super Falcons have been beaten by Brazil and Spain. They will be very lucky to make it to the quarter finals. Our table tennis team: Offiong Edem, Quadri Aruna, Olajide Omotayo, Fatimo Bello are all out. The first time since 1988 that the Nigerian team will not win a game in table tennis. Cynthia Ogunsemilore, lightweight boxer failed the dope test. But I guess it is the Olympics. Attendance is enough glory in itself. After all, Nigeria has done better than the Canada female team, the defending champions in women football. Their analyst was sent home. The coach has been suspended by FIFA for one year. They have been asked to pay a fine of $226, 000. The Canada team was accused of spying on New Zealand with the aid of a drone, thus violating the principles of fair play and now they also have a six-points deduction imposed on them. At least so far, the Nigerian team has not brought us any scandal.”
“I think our female basketball team D’Tigress is showing great promise. Yesterday, they beat the Australian team, rated the third best in the world, 75 -62. Historic. Their first win in an Olympic match since Athens in 2004. They must keep it up. Even the male basketball team from South Sudan is about to make history. They beat Puerto Rico 90 to 79.”
“More history will be made. After all, Le Bron James is the first billionaire to compete at the Olympics. Simone Biles is back with a bang. She is dazzling. It is the Olympics showcasing the glory of human and individual talent. But I don’t understand why there are many errors. France spent $9 billion for God’s sake. The broadcasters cannot get the names of countries right, and even yesterday, the National Anthem of Sudan was played for South Sudan. I hear even the games village is too cramped. The food is not great either. Team Great Britain has had to arrange their own chef. Almost all the members of Team USA have left the Olympics Village to check into hotels. Can you imagine 10 girls scrambling to use two bathrooms? The beds are made of cardboards! No air conditioning in the Olympics Village in this sweltering heat.”
“They are there to win medals, not to indulge in luxury. I beg. I am sure there would be more than enough athletes who are just happy to be there.”
“I have checked the medals table. China, Japan, Britain, United States, Australia, France, South Korea, Italy, and Canada are not doing badly at all. South Africa has three medals. Egypt one bronze medal, Tunisia one silver medal”
“It is okay. No problem. Team Nigeria is wearing good jerseys. And trust our people, they will stay at the Village. Nigeria should pay them their allowances sha. We don’t want to hear stories.”
AUTHOR: Reuben Abati

Articles published in our Graffiti section are strictly the opinion of the writers and do not represent the views of TVN or its editorial stand.
The post OPINION: Before the protests begin… appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

Nationwide Protest: Count us out – Ogun students

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The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS and the National Association of Ogun State Students NAOSS have said they will not be part of the planned nationwide protest against hunger and poor governance.
The nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernance, is scheduled to take place in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory from August 1 to 10.
The students who staged a rally against the planned protest on Wednesday in Abeokuta expressed concerns that the planned protest may be hijacked by hoodlums to cause chaos and disrupt the peace of the country.
Addressing journalists during the rally, the National President of NAOSS, Thomas Kehinde called on students to shun any calls to participate in nationwide protests.
He said, “We, the leaders of the collective students structures in Ogun State have staged this rally to emphasise that the student community in Ogun State will not be part of the planned nationwide protests.
“As you are aware, the organisers of the protests are mobilising across the country in preparation for the march against the current economic hardship in the country. Though we are not against any group or groups protesting, we are using this avenue to declare our intention and readiness not to be part of these protests.
“To this end, we are calling on students in Ogun State not to join any protest and to shun any calls to participate in anyone under the guise of nationwide protests.
“Though planners of the protests said that they would be organised in a peaceful manner; that is easier said than done. We want to caution that such protests could be hijacked by the hoodlums to perpetrate looting, robbery, and vandalisation of both public and private infrastructure as well as attacks on targeted personalities.
“Also, clandestine factors could come into play and thereby escalate the situation from just a peaceful protest to violence and ill wind which blows anybody good.
“As Nigerians, the bitter experience of the EndSARS protests is still lingering in our memories. Therefore, to avoid the replay of the wanton destruction and alleged killings that accompanied the EndSARS protests, we hereby emphasize that students in Ogun should stay away from the nationwide protests.
“Leaderships of student associations in Ogun State as organised associations dedicated to serving the interests of students will never drive their members to participate in activities that have a high propensity of leading in violence and destruction.
“Therefore, we urge students in the State to remain calm and continue to believe in the ability of their leaders to champion the cause of their welfare and well-being in manners devoid of violence”.
Nationwide Protest: Count us out – Ogun students

Shun calls for anti-hunger protest, SGF tells Nigerians

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SGF, ministers hold emergency meeting today

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has urged Nigerians to shun the proposed nationwide protests and instead pursue peace, dialogue, and collaboration in addressing the country’s challenges.

The SGF made this statement during a press conference with journalists and media executives at the Radio House in Abuja on Wednesday.

He acknowledged the right to protest but expressed concerns about the planned protests being hijacked “by bandits, insurgents, and other criminals”.

“We, therefore, appeal to Nigerians of whatever persuasion, belief, demography, gender, and status to shun calls for protests against hunger by prioritising peace and progress. For the avoidance of doubt, the government of President Tinubu recognises the right to peaceful protest, but circumspection and vigilance should be our watchwords,” Akume said.

The SGF outlined several interventions of the President Tinubu-led administration in the 14 months since its inauguration. He mentioned that the country was undergoing refining and recalibration and that economic growth remained a goal of the Federal Government.

“Within a space of fourteen months of purposeful leadership, the administration has recorded tremendous accomplishments that laid the foundation for the immediate, medium, and long-term prosperity of Nigerians, in an inclusive manner.

“Mr. President approved a Wage Award of Thirty-five Thousand Naira for six months to cushion the effect on workers. This award was higher than the minimum wage. Mr. President has just signed into law a new National Minimum Wage Act, which prescribes N70,000.00. This represents more than a 100% increase from the last minimum wage (30,000) and takes retroactive effect from April.”

“As part of the efforts of the FG to take development to the grassroots, the government approached the Supreme Court for a decision on the funding of LGAs in Nigeria. The favourable judgement has now set the LGA on the path to its financial and development autonomy.

“For the first time in our nation, the President created a stand-alone Ministry for the Youth that accounts for a large percentage of our population. Under the N35 Billion Nigerian Education Loan Fund, approved beneficiaries have exceeded the 40 thousand mark, of the expected 70 thousand beneficiaries.”

He, therefore, described Nigeria as a work in progress, adding that the country will soon breathe a sigh of relief.

EKEDC apologises for service disruptions during critical IT system upgrade

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Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has expressed deep regret over the frustration and inconvenience caused by recent disruptions to its token vending services.
In a statement on Wednesday, the company apologised to all its valued customers who have been affected, explaining that the disruptions are a result of ongoing critical system upgrade.
“We are implementing a new, state-of-the-art enterprise system that will significantly improve our customers’ ability to manage their electricity consumption, both at home and remotely through their phones.
“This advanced system will provide greater convenience, transparency, and control over electricity usage,” the communication reads.
EKEDC says while it is making every effort to minimize disruptions, the complexity of the upgrade has unfortunately led to some-term technical difficulties and outages.
“We deeply regret the distress this has caused our customers, both in their homes and businesses. Our entire team, including management and technical experts, is working tirelessly to resolve these issues and restore full functionality to our vending platform as quickly as possible.
“We are committed to keeping our customers informed about the progress of this upgrade and will provide regular updates through our website, social media channels, and customer service centers.
“We understand the importance of reliable electricity services, and we are deeply grateful for your patience and understanding during this transitional period.
“We are confident that the new system will significantly enhance your overall experience with EKEDC and provide you with even greater value and convenience.
“For any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our customer service representatives through our 24/7 helpline or visit our website for more information.
“EKEDC is committed to providing efficient electricity services to our customers. We continuously invest in technology and infrastructure to enhance the customer experience and support the sustainable development of our communities,” the statement added.
EKEDC apologises for service disruptions during critical IT system upgrade

Protest: Security tightened around MMA2 access points

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Following the planned nationwide protest coming up tomorrow, security has been beefed up around the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal-II (MMA2) access points.
Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd. is the operator of the MMA2 terminal at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.
Bi-Courtney’s Head, Corporate Communications, Ajoke Yinka-Olawuyi, informed journalists of the development on Wednesday morning in Lagos.
She noted that proper monitoring of the situation was ongoing while coordinating with other security operatives to ensure safety at the terminal.
READ ALSO:PROTEST: Ekiti yet to recover from EndSARS violence, Oyebanji tells youths
“We are monitoring the situation closely and coordinating with security agencies at the terminal.
“We have beefed up security at our access points to ensure passenger safety at the airport,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Aviation Security at Bi-Courtney, Monica Oguta, said: “We have sought the support of the Nigerian Police Force, the military airport command, and other relevant security agencies to assure adequate protection of lives and property during the protest.”
The post Protest: Security tightened around MMA2 access points appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

I cannot pay N70,000 minimum wage with lean allocation – Gombe Gov, Inuwa

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Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State says it will be difficult to meet the N70,000 minimum wage benchmark with the lean allocation to the state.
President Bola Tinubu had recently assented to the minimum wage following an agreement with joint labour unions.
In a meeting held with stakeholders on the planned nationwide #Endbadgovernance protest at the banquet hall of Gombe Government House, on Tuesday, Yahaya declared that he cannot pay the N70,000 minimum wage and suspected that many other states are in the same predicament.
Yahaya commended the Federal Government for the initiative made following the donation of rice to the state but expressed concern over the delay in receiving the essential supplies in Gombe.
He explained, “We are yet to receive the Federal Government’s 20 trucks of rice to Gombe State.”
He emphasised the state’s commitment to providing relief to its citizens, citing previous palliative distributions and ongoing investments in human capital development, education, health, and agriculture among others.
Speaking on the protest, Yahaya reiterated the importance of peaceful and orderly conduct, acknowledging the role of civil society organisations, labour unions, and traders in maintaining social stability and economic resilience, while commenting on speaking on the planned National protest.
He called for continued cooperation and dialogue to collectively navigate the challenging times.
I cannot pay N70,000 minimum wage with lean allocation – Gombe Gov, Inuwa

‘We’ll be eating, protesters can go protest’, Akpabio mocks organisers

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Akpabio denies teaming up with El-Rufai for 2027 presidency

Ahead of the hunger protest scheduled to begin on Thursday, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has mocked organisers to go ahead with the demonstration while they watch on eating.

Akpabio made this disclosure on Tuesday while addressing delegates of the Niger Delta Development Commission in Rivers State.

The Senate President, who seems displeased with the planned protest, said the Niger-Delta people are not ready for a regime change while referencing the statement of the MD of the commission.

“All of us feel the impact of what is happening now. But we are aware it will be for a short while. MD, I want to thank you for what you said. You said we are not interested in regime change; let us own this government.

“Those who want to protest can protest, but let us be there eating — I must thank the Niger Delta.

“We acknowledge the fact that the impact of oil and gas activities in our region has done immeasurable damage to our people,” he stressed.

He assured that the National Assembly is ready to help with legislation to curb oil spillage and environmental pollution in the region.

“The specific issues faced by the Niger Delta must be contained in that communique because we are going to make it available to Mr President.

“The ones that need legislation will come to us, the ones that need intervention will go to NDDC, the ones that need more money will go to the president and commander-in-chief and I assure you that those issues will be addressed,” he maintained.

The According reports Akpabio called for an emergency meeting of the Senate due to the forthcoming protest scheduled for August 1 to 10.

A circular signed by the Clerk, Chinedu Akubueze on Monday, said the meeting was of “National Importance”.

The internal circular did not give further details on the emergency meeting.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, just one day before the commencement of the nationwide planned protest against hunger and hardship.

The memo wrote, “Dear Distinguished Senators, the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, has directed that an emergency plenary sitting of the Senate be convened as follows: Date: WEDNESDAY, JULY 31st, 2024;  TIME: 12 NOON.”

PRP urges peaceful resolution to impending nationwide protests

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One of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), has called on the Federal Government to find a meeting ground with organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests and initiate moves for a peaceful resolution.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Chairman of the PRP, Falalu Bello, the party said though it
“acknowledges the inherent right of citizens to protest and exercise their fundamental freedoms, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), particularly Section 40, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association,” it behoves on the government to listen to the people and seek a peaceful resolution.
On the part of the protesting citizens, the party said they should be peaceful in exercising their rights and go about the protests in a peaceful manner and be respectful to the rights of all Nigerians inclusive of those who are not participating in the protest.
“We note that protests in Nigeria have a rich history, dating back to the first republic in 1965 when Nigerians demonstrated against a tariff increase,” Bello said.
“Since then, various protests have been held, including the June 12 protest in 1993 and the Occupy Nigeria movement in 2012, among others. These protests have been an essential part of our democratic process, allowing citizens to express their grievances and demand change.
“The current wave of protests in Nigeria is a testament to the resilience and determination of our citizens to demand better governance and improvement in their living conditions.
“We urge the government to listen attentively to the cries of the protesters and take concrete steps to address their concerns.
“In the last 9 years, the PRP has consistently advocated for good governance in Nigeria. We have called for a reduction in the cost of governance, urging the government to prioritize prudent spending and eliminate wasteful expenditure.
READ ALSO:PRP blasts Gov Mohammed over Bauchi LGA polls
“We have also emphasized the need to tackle corruption head-on, holding those in power accountable for their actions and ensuring transparency in public transactions. Furthermore, we have pushed for improved security measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all Nigerians.
“As we call for peaceful resolution, we urge our fellow Nigerians, particularly the youth who constitute 60% of our electorate, to join us in changing the APC government that has further worsened the life of Nigerians from where PDP took them.
“In plural democracy, we believe that our collective voice can bring about positive change and restore hope for a brighter future.
“On the other hand, it is equally important that protesters exercise their rights responsibly and peacefully. We condemn any form of violence, vandalism, or harm caused to other citizens or their properties.
“It is essential that protesters respect the law and order, while also demanding justice and accountability from those in power.
“The PRP calls on the government to listen to voices of reason inclusive of that of the protesters who have advised on how to bring good governance in Nigeria by addressing excessive and wasteful expenditures, bringing prudence into governance, addressing corruption and insecurity in Nigeria.
“As a party committed to democratic principles and good governance, we believe that peaceful protests are an essential component of our democratic process. We encourage all stakeholders to work towards finding a resolution that promotes peace, stability, and development for all Nigerians.
“In conclusion, we urge the protesters to be peaceful and respectful to the rights of all Nigerians inclusive of those who are not participating in the protest and strongly recommend to particularly the youth amongst them to endeavour to exercise their constitutional rights and responsibilities of ensuring that In the forthcoming elections they go out in their numbers to elect responsible and principled parties like the PRP that would represent their aspirations and address their concerns.”
The post PRP urges peaceful resolution to impending nationwide protests appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

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