Leaders of the Southern Borno Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have demanded the immediate reinstatement of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume to his position as Senate Chief Whip.
Spokesperson for the APC group, Baba Ahmed Mustapha, made this demand during a press conference on Friday in Abuja.
The APC leaders while expressing support for Ndume for speaking truth to power, said there was nothing wrong with his decision to point President Bola Tinubu to the hardships Nigerians were going through.
They urged the APC National Working Committee, NWC, and the Senate to reinstate Ndume as the Chief Whip of the Senate, stressing that Ndume has no plans to leave the party.
They also faulted a recent verbal attack by one Mr Daniel Bwala, on Ndume, describing him as an inconsistent fellow whose political antecedents are not so legendary.
“We appreciate and respect Daniel Bwala’s right to express his opinion on any issue as guaranteed by the Constitution just as the Senator when he knew that the observations made were within the bounds of the Constitution.
“As a learned lawyer, he knew that the provision of section 39 which guarantees the freedom of expression is applicable to all citizens. We make no excuses for the Senator. As a being, he has deficiencies. As a politician, he may not have lived up to people’s expectations. But we are proud that he has stood up to be counted when it matters most.
“He refused to behave like the ostrich, who, seeing the approaching storm, buried its head in the sand. His statement was made within the context of a call for a proactive action by the government rather than an instigation against it,” They said.
They wondered why Bwala who once accused President Tinubu of ruling with a stolen mandate could turn out to support what he had condemned.
Reinstate Ndume as Senate Chief Whip now – Borno APC leaders
Reinstate Ndume as Senate Chief Whip now – Borno APC leaders
CAC issues guidelines for banks recapitalisation, merger
The Corporate Affairs Commission has issued fresh guidelines to assist Deposit Money Banks in the ongoing recapitalisation.
The commission, in a statement signed by its management and posted on its Facebook account on Friday, said the new directive is pursuant to its powers under Section 8 (1) (e) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 3 of 2020, stressing immediate adherence to the policy.
It said the new guidelines were issued to guide proper filing for new incorporations, increase in share capitals, mergers and upgrade or downgrade of licence authorisation.
For new incorporations, the CAC stated that intending applicants must submit necessary requirements including, “An approved name reservation or availability, approval-in-principle from sector regulator, duly completed on-line incorporation form and payment of stamp duty and filing fees for the category of license authorisation.”
It added that a certificate of incorporation shall be issued within 24 hours for applications that satisfy all requirements for incorporation of companies prescribed in the, “Commission’s operations checklists available at www.cac.gov.ng/resources.”
Also, banking institutions seeking to increase their share capital through private placements, rights issues and/or offers for subscription must submit a duly signed company resolution, return of allotment and other statutory declaration by directors verifying that the issued share capital is fully paid- up
Other requirements include, “Notice of the fact that regulatory approval is required, an affidavit deposed to by a director of the company to the effect that regulatory approval is required for the increase, an amended memorandum of association reflecting the new share capital.
“Payment of stamp duties and filing fees, Issuance of a letter acknowledging notice of increase and requirement of regulatory approval, filing of regulatory approval and the issuance of a certificate of increase.”
Under this category, the commission warned that the notice of the fact that regulatory approval is required must be filed in accordance with the provisions of Section 127 (3), (4) & (5) of CAMA.
“Annual returns and information on persons with significant control must be filed up-to-date and certificate of increase shall be issued within 24 hours of filing of regulatory approval,” it said.
Similarly, small and medium banking institutions seeking to merge must submit duly signed special resolution for merger by each of the merging companies.
Other requirements are “the scheme of merger duly approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“A certified true copy of court order authorising Extraordinary General Meeting of each of the merging companies. Evidence of publication of court ordered meeting in two newspapers and the Federal Gazette and a CTC of Court order sanctioning the Scheme of Merger.
“All enquiries and complaints on these guidelines and applications submitted in pursuance of the recapitalisation exercise should be addressed to [email protected] or call +234 816 920 9551,” the statement added.
Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria in March 2024 directed all banks to increase their capital base for improved productivity.
The apex bank had directed commercial banks with international authorisation to increase their capital base to N500bn and national banks to N200bn.
It also said commercial banks with national licences must meet a N200bn threshold, while those with regional authorisation are expected to achieve a N50bn capital floor.
This process has commenced fully with banks issuing public offers and rights issues to meet the two year target.
Lagos suspends e-call-up system on Lekki-Epe corridor
The Lagos State Government has suspended plans for the commencement of its e-call-up system on the Lekki-Epe corridor until further notice.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, in a statement on Friday, said the decision is coming after further consideration of stakeholders’ request to extend the timeliness in order to give adequate room for full compliance.
“As a result of this, the Lagos State Government has postponed the commencement of the E-Call Up system on the Lekki-Epe corridor,” Osiyemi said.
He, therefore, urged all stakeholders to seize the opportunity to ramp up full preparation in readiness for the successful take-off of the technology-driven solution of truck movement on the Lekki-Epe corridor.
Recall that the state government had planned to commence the e-call system operation on the Lekki-Epe axis to tackle the chaotic traffic gridlock being caused by truckers.
According to the state government, the e-call up system is an innovative digital platform designed to manage and coordinate the movement of trucks within the Lekki-Epe Free Trade Zone corridor.
It is hoped that the system will help to prevent traffic congestion and improve the efficiency of logistics operations in the area.
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We need N60bn to provide furniture for 4.5m primary schools pupils – Kano govt
The Kano Government says it needs over N60 billion to provide furniture for 4.5 million primary and secondary school pupils who learn sitting on the bare floor in the state.
The state Commissioner of Education Umar Haruna revealed this while speaking to newsmen, Thursday in his office, emphasizing that over 80 percent of schools were left to decay by the former administration.
Umar who lamented the decay in the education sector in Kano blamed the situation on the immediate past Governor Abdullahi Ganduje said hundreds of boarding schools are now occupied by reptiles and Rabbits.
“The former Governor Ganduje destroyed a very good system he inherited from his predecessor Rabiu Kwankwaso by closing down some schools which has contributed to killing the structures.”
He explained that Kano has ten thousand schools with seven million students adding that out of that number, 4.5 million students receive lessons sitting on the ground.
Haruna commended the initiatives of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for declaring a state of Emergency on Education and improving its budget.
He expressed the readiness of the state government to revive the sector and make Kano a citadel of learning.
The Kano Education Commissioner added that plans are on by the state government to implement the Education policy beginning with Government College Kano through the provisions of instructional materials and renovation of dilapidated infrastructure.
We need N60bn to provide furniture for 4.5m primary schools pupils – Kano govt
Fire guts Lagos warehouse, destroys goods
A fire outbreak in a factory warehouse in Lagos on Friday destroyed some goods estimated to be worth millions of naira.
The Lagos State Management Agency announced this in Lagos on Friday.
LASEMA Permanent Secretary Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu said the incident happened at Josien Factory Warehouse, Abule Osun, Lagos State.
He said that the agency responded to a distress call through its toll-free lines at 8.28 am on Friday.
“The agency responded to the distress call by activating its Dolphin Response Team from the Igando Base.
“On arriving at the scene, responders discovered a warehouse storing diapers, solar batteries, foreign charcoal and massaging seats within the Josien factory complex engulfed in flames.
“The immediate cause of the fire has yet to be ascertained as the warehouse was locked at the time the incident occurred.
“No casualties or injuries were recorded due to the incident as there were no occupants in the building as of the time of the fire incident,” he said.
He said that safety measures were activated by all members of the multi-agency response teams to ensure the safety of responders at the incident scene during the operation.
“LASEMA is coordinating the operation in collaboration with the LASG Fire and Rescue officials.
“Goods and property worth millions of naira were damaged in the incident.
“However, a significant quantity of goods equally worth millions of naira were salvaged by the LASEMA Response Team during the operation,” he said.
He added that strategic and collaborative efforts were deployed to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to adjacent warehouses.
“The situation has been brought under control. Dampening down operation has commenced and recovery operation is still ongoing,” he said.
(NAN)
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Organizers of #EndBadGovernance protest are opportunists after political power —Omokri
Former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri has denounced the organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests, saying they are opportunists who are after political power.
Omokri who made the assertion in a post on X on Friday, said the protests are not about the hardship in the country but about the selfish interests of the conveners who are desperate for power.
He cited some of the demands of the protest organizers which include an unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, wondering what that has got to do with the situation in the country.
“I have organised protests in Nigeria and abroad and can tell you that this current planned protest is not against economic hardship, as the organisers tell you,” Omokri wrote.
“Look at their demands. More than half of their demands are political. They have nothing to do with the economy. These people are opportunists. They are seeking to ride in (sic) the anger of some Nigerians to achieve their political ambitions.
“They should either start or join a political party and then use it to achieve their political agenda instead of claiming that they are protesting against hunger and hardship and then asking for the 1999 Constitution to be scrapped and the release of Nnamdi Kanu. What have those things got to do with hunger and hardship?
“How can you say I should support a protest where one of the demands is the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, a man who called for the destruction of Nigeria? That automatically means that by supporting this protest, I am also supporting the destruction of Nigeria.
“What about the hundreds of soldiers and police officers who were killed after Nnamdi Kanu released a video asking his supporters to kill soldiers and police? Who will protest for them?
“Tufiakwa with your protest!”
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Nigeria isn’t second option, Obi warns Nigerian footballers abroad
Former Super Eagles captain Mikel John Obi has issued a stern warning to footballers of Nigerian descent who ply their trade abroad, stating that Nigeria is not a second option.
Obi made this known in a video posted on Friday morning while appearing on his The Obi One Podcast show.
The former Chelsea star who recently interviewed his former coach, Carlo Ancelotti, opined that any football talent of Nigerian or African descent should never treat the country or continent of their roots as a second option.
“We’re not second options. don’t wait until 29, 30, then you’re (like) ‘Oh, Nigerian FA, I’m ready to play for you now’ No, f**k off mate.” READ MORE
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Ogun pensioners commend Abiodun for N2bn gratuity release, request wage increase
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, in Ogun State have commended the state governor, Dapo Abiodun on the release of an additional two billion naira to offset the gratuity payments of pensioners in the state.
They, however, appealed to the governor to approve and release the long-awaited consequential increase in pensions along with the impending new wage increase.
The commendation was made in a statement signed by the chairman, Waheed Oloyede and Secretary, Bola Lawal, on Friday.
The pensioners describe the payment as a lifesaver that will drastically reduce the backlog of owed gratuities.
“The Executive Council and the entire membership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, hereby express deep and sincere appreciation to our lovely, loving and ever-caring father, leader and pensioners-friendly executive governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for your kind-hearted compassion at releasing another sum of N2 billion Naira to us. This is meant to drastically reduce the backlog of owned gratuities.
” In furtherance of our major demands, we, the entire membership of NUP, here again, make use of this opportunity to passionately appeal and make requests for the approval and release of the long-awaited consequential increase in pensions along with the impending new wage increase.
“This is to further increase the economic powers of the vulnerable retiree at the open market and also offer us the opportunity to live a healthy life in the wake of the present ever-soaring inflationary trends before death comes knocking”, the statement reads.
Ogun pensioners commend Abiodun for N2bn gratuity release, request wage increase
Hunger protest: Lagos protesters to receive free legal representation
A Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong has revealed that participants in the planned nationwide protest would receive free legal representation if arrested and/or charged to court in Lagos State.
In recent times, some Nigerians, via social media platforms like X and Facebook, have continued to voice their concerns about the economic crisis ongoing in the country.
This is as they announced a protest to be held from August 1-10, 2024.
Effiong, also an advocate of the protests, reacting via his X handle, tweeting as #InibeheEffiong on Thursday, July 25, 2024, solicited legal counsels in the state to offer pro-Borno services.
His tweet read, “We are putting together a legal team in Lagos State to offer representation to any protester who may be arrested and or charged to court during the forthcoming peaceful protest.
“My learned colleagues practising in Lagos, please share your WhatsApp numbers with me via DM if you would love to offer pro bono services to protesters. Thank you. History will vindicate the just.”
In a telephone interview on Friday, one of the legal counsels who offered free legal representation, Omodolapo Yusuff, noted that awareness is key to ensuring that people with ulterior motives aside from the reasons for the planned protest aren’t involved.
Yusuff said, “We should continue to make awareness, to make people understand the reasons why these protests must go on. We are all in this country, buying from the same markets.
“The people coming out to protest are not coming out for themselves but for the betterment of the people at the grassroots.”
“Protest is a fundamental human right,” he said, noting that “some of these men (security operatives) tend to compromise their roles and it is unfortunate that we are in this situation.”
Yusuff played down the possibility of the protest hijack as he stressed that adequate public awareness wouldn’t allow such.
“If we know why we are going to protest, there is no way things would be vandalised. We are going to protect ourselves, public property, private business and against looting,” the lawyer said.
He, however, noted that some of the demands of the protesters include an increase in the national minimum wage of N70,000, and a high cost of food items, among others.
Another lawyer who’s billed to join the legal team, Benjamin Odeh lamented that when leaders are in power, they begin to use “high-handedness” to intimidate the people.
When asked why there are no leaders to front the protests, he said, “Protest is a constitutional right of Nigerians but the challenge we have had over the years is that governments are intolerant of protests from Nigerians,” saying that this causes the government to “find ways to destabilise the protest so they can come in with security forces to attack genuine protesters.”
Whether the planned protest could be hijacked, Odeh recalled that the 2020 #EndSARS “was going on smoothly but when the government saw that the protest was gathering momentum, the government-sponsored thugs destabilise the protest,” adding that the protesters remained steadfast despite the infiltrations.
Some state governors, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, have urged the protesters to back down, citing that the Federal Government is working to better the nation’s economy.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, held emergency meetings with the All Progressives Congress state governors, prominent traditional rulers and Ulamas (Islamic religious scholars) at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja as part of efforts by the FG to ensure the planned hunger protests are averted nationwide.
Nigerian govt moves to strengthen National Anti-Corruption Strategy
The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthen efforts to fight corruption at all levels.
Fagbemi said this at the Validation Meeting of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) (2022-2026) Action Plan on Friday in Abuja.
The programme was organised by the Ministry of Justice with the support of the European Union/International IDEA, Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC II) Programme.
He noted that NACS would provide a holistic National Anti-corruption strategy for all sectors and stakeholders in the fight against corruption.
He said after the expiration of the NACS 2017-2021, it became essential that the NACS Action plan be reviewed to ensure enhanced participation, effectiveness and responsiveness.
“After a series of consultations and collaboration between the 22 MDAs with anti-corruption and accountability mandates, the draft NACS Action Plan is before us, for our perusal and validation.
“The framework for the NACS Action Plan implementation is focused on five pillars which serve as the driving force for both the public and private sector.
“The five pillars are prevention of corruption, public engagement, campaign for ethical re-orientation, enforcement and sanction, and recovery and management of proceeds crime’’.
He said the implementation of the Action Plan would strengthen the legal and institutional framework designed to prevent and combat corruption, noting it would “Mainstream Anti-corruption Principles into governance and service delivery and also mainstream Anti-corruption into sub-national Public Administration.
Also speaking, Mrs Jane Onwumere, Head Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (Tugar), Secretariat of the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) said the 2022-2026 Action Plan would give life to service delivery in the country.
Onwumere noted that Nigeria has gone through two cycles of review of her implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) which took place in 2014 and 2019 respectively.
She noted that the previous Action Plan 2017 -2021 witnessed some challenges in implementation, but notwithstanding the challenges; some progress was recorded.
“Evidence in the passage of critical legislation such as the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“Others are the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, and the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 among others.
“There has also been some growth of transparency initiatives like Beneficial Ownership Disclosures, Open Contracting and Routine Corruption Risk Assessments that determine vulnerabilities to corruption’’.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the event was attended by Heads of most MDAs with anti-corruption and accountability mandates.
Other stakeholders present were the current president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and representatives from different agencies amongst others.
Nigerian govt moves to strengthen National Anti-Corruption Strategy
