Like Senate, Reps Pass Finance Bill Proposing Vat Increase, Others

Like Senate, Reps Pass Finance Bill Proposing Vat Increase, Others

      The House of Representatives has passed the Finance Bill, 2019 submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari. Members present at Thursday’s plenary passed the bill one week after it scaled through the third reading and was passed on the floor of the Senate in Abuja. The bill seeks to amend six tax provisions and make them more responsive to tax reform policies. Apart from the worries expressed by a cross-section of Nigerians concerning the increase in Value Added Tax on specific goods and services from 5 per cent to 7.5 percent, the bill also amends the tax provision of the Customs and Excise Tariff Act to encourage local manufacturers. It introduces tax incentives for investment in infrastructure, capital markets and supports small businesses.   The Finance Bill will reform the current tax regime by amending seven acts namely: Petroleum Profit Tax Act, Custom and Excise Tax Act, Company Income Tax Act, Personal Income Tax Act, Value Added Tax Act, Stamp Duties Tax Act, and Capital Gains Act. Meanwhile, the House has urged the Nigeria Police to ensure that all policemen on highway patrol were properly dressed in uniforms with their vehicles properly numbered. The lawmakers were worried that policemen on highway patrol do not wear any means of identification such as name tags, boots, and even berets. They noted that as a result of this, criminals take advantage to ambush unsuspecting Nigerians on the highways and rob them of their valuables. The House, was, however, convinced that if policemen were properly kitted and their vehicles numbered, it would be easier for road users to clearly differentiate them from criminals on the nation’s highways. Thereafter, the House Committee on Police Affairs was mandated to investigate why policemen on highway patrols were not properly kitted. The lawmakers asked the committee to report back in four weeks.     Read the full article

Police Arrest 39 Suspected Kidnappers, Other Criminals In Kaduna

Police Arrest 39 Suspected Kidnappers, Other Criminals In Kaduna

    The Police in Kaduna state have arrested thirty-nine suspected criminals for allegedly committing various offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry, internet fraud and other related crimes in various parts of the state. Addressing journalists during the parade of the suspects at the Kaduna state police command headquarters, spokesman of the command, DSP Yakubu Sabo, says their arrest was successfully carried out through coordinated raiding of criminal hideouts by Operatives of the IGP’s Special Tactical Squad (STS) and the Command’s Intelligence Response Team as well as active Community Engagement Initiative in line with the Inspector General of Police mandate on Community Policing. He says that some of the suspects escaped from Taraba state to hide in Kaduna state after carrying out several kidnappings in the northeastern state. He further discloses that several dangerous weapons including 10 AK47 Rifles, four Pump Action, two Locally Made Pistols, one Locally Made Gun, 154 live Ammunitions, seventeen Cartridges, four stolen vehicles, and other exhibits were recovered from the suspects during the operations. Sabo also explains that some of the suspects have confessed to series of kidnappings within and outside the State including the killing of Police Personnel and two other victims at Kangimi village after collecting millions of naira as ransom. While he admits that the Kaduna State Police Command like other Commands across the country has some peculiar security challenges amongst which are; armed banditry, Cattle rustling, Kidnapping, Armed Robbery and other violent crimes against law-abiding citizens of the state, the spokesman, however, states that the command has succeeded in reducing such crimes on major highways, urban areas and villages to a large extent.. Track up- Yakubu Sabo, Spokesman of Kaduna state police command..   Read the full article

Gas Explosion Kills Two In Lagos, Many Injured

Gas Explosion Kills Two In Lagos, Many Injured

      Two children have been confirmed killed following an explosion in a gas store on Aduke street in Ajegunle area of Lagos. Many others are said to be in critical condition as a result of the incident. According to the general manager of the Lagos state emergency management agency, LASEMA, Femi Osanyintolu there was a leakage from the gas cylinder before the explosion which also affected several shops and homes. The area has since been cordoned off.   Read the full article

Reps C’ttee goes tough on NDDC

Reps C’ttee goes tough on NDDC     The House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Tuesday went tough on members of the Interim Management Committee of the commission over allegation of extra budgetary spending. The commission had failed to submit its 2019 budget to the National Assembly for approval 14 months after the time provided for by the NDDC Act. The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio had, all of a sudden, announced the sack of the acting Managing Director of the commission and inaugurated an interim management committee, a move the lawmakers considered to be fishy. At an investigative hearing on the need to stop the illegality in the commission on Tuesday in Abuja, the lawmakers frowned at the continued operations of the NDDC without budgetary allocation. The legislators also frowned at the activities of the interim management which have generated crisis among major stakeholders. The Chairman of the Committee, Rep Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (APC-Ondo) recalled that the Green Chambers had on November 13, 2019 deliberated on the matter and mandated the committee to carry out a thorough investigation. According to Tunji-Ojo, "in legislative parlance, the House in Plenary is a house in session whereas the House in Committee is a House in action". The chairman said that the committee is out to give credence to the assertion, saying that the committee is committed to dealing with the issues dispassionately. Tunji-Ojo enjoined all the relevant stakeholders to give the committee maximum cooperation to achieve its aim which is to reposition the NDDC for the development of the oil-rich zone. The lawmaker also cautioned all parties in the crisis against media attacks on the National Assembly which is the symbol of democracy in the country He called on all those involved in such acts to desist from dragging the image of the National Assembly in the mud He said that such acts could have grievous consequences on the nation’s democracy as it is equivalent to declaring war on the institution. According to him, "we will not allow anybody or agency to bring the institution into disrepute". Tunji-Ojo, who cautioned the interim team of the commission to be guided, warned that media attacks on the legislature by agents of the commission should cease forthwith. Read the full article

Reps. To Investigate NDDC

Reps. to investigate NDDC

  The House of Representatives has mandated the Committee on Niger–Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the commission in the last three years.

This was sequel to the unanimous adoption of a motion of Urgent Matter of Public Importance by Rep. Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) at plenary on Tuesday. The House resolved to invite the Minister of Niger–Delta and the Board of NDDC to explain why the commission had been spending monies which were not appropriated for, by the National Assembly. Moving the motion earlier, Kalu said that spending monies not appropriated for, was in violation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Kalu said that it also contravened the Niger–Delta Development Commission Act of 2000 (As Amended). The Rep. explained that the NDDC was established with a clear mandate of developing the oil-rich Niger Delta region. According to him, the NDDC is charged with the responsibility among others to conceive and formulate policies, guidelines and comprehensive master plan. Kalu said that the NDDC had lived up to its responsibility in developing a plan covering key sectors ranging from Agriculture, Health and Environment to Energy, Telecommunications and Transport among others. According to him, this has resulted into substantial expenditures including the awards of huge contracts. Quoting Section 80(3) and (4) of the Constitution, Kalu said “no money shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the Federation, other than the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation, unless the issue of those money have been authorised by an Act of the National Assembly. “Money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Federation, except in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly,” he said. According to him, it makes it explicitly mandatory for the National Assembly to authorise any and all manner of expenditures from all public funds of the Federation, including the funds of the NDDC. The lawmaker said that the Board of the commission was mandated to submit to the National Assembly, an estimate of the expenditure and income of the commission during the next succeeding year for approval not later than Sept. 30, each year, He said that Section 82 of the Constitution empowers the President to authorise withdrawal of moneys from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation for a period not exceeding six months. He explained that the amount should not exceed the amount authorised by the National Assembly for the same corresponding period in the previous year. “As at today, more than 13 months after the time required by law, the commission is yet to submit an estimate of its expenditure and income for the year 2019. “Thereby grossly failing to comply with the aforementioned statutory provision by which the budget estimates should have been presented to the House before Sept. 30, 2018. “In spite of their failure to submit the 2019 budget estimates to the House, the commission has for a whole year, been operating, making expenses and awarding contracts further to its master plan, with certain awarded contracts worth up to N10 billion without an approved budget as required by law,” he said. Kalu said that incurring expenditure far beyond six months as required; the NDDC had spent monies in excess of half the amount approved by the National Assembly in its 2018 budget. Kalu recalled that an ad hoc Committee on the NDDC had earlier uncovered a total of 250 contracts awarded to phony companies in May, 2019 without appropriation or due process. The lawmaker said in spite of series of invitation by National Assembly upon the expiration of the 2018 budget of the commission, NDDC refused to honour the invitations regarding its 2019 budget estimates. “The failure and refusal of NDDC to submit its budget estimates for 2019 has created opaqueness in the operations of the commission which has encouraged corruption, mismanagement and embezzlement of funds. “The delay in the submission and passage of the NDDC budget as well as the continued expenditure of the commission beyond the constitutional threshold amounts to fiscal indiscipline, engenders corruption and provides the platform for arbitrariness,” he said. In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila mandated the House Committee on Niger–Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to conduct a comprehensive investigation and report to the House in four weeks. Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Sadiya Hamza Read the full article

Masisi Retains Seat As Botswana President

Masisi Retains Seat As Botswana President     Mokgweetsi Masisi has officially been declared the winner and president of Botswana. Masisi’s victory was announced on Friday morning by the country’s chief justice, Terrence Rannowane, who is also the convener of elections according to the Constitution. Masisi’s Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) attained the 29 constituencies out of 57 required to form government The opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change has 12, the new Botswana Patriotic Front – backed by former president Ian Khama – has three seats while the Alliance of Progressives has one. Just before 7 am on Friday morning, the BDP party secured its 29th constituency in Boteti west. As per Botswana’s Constitution, the chief justice announced the winner of the elections shortly after. “I, Chief Justice Terence Rannowane, declare Mokgweetsi Masisi as the winner of the election and president of Botswana.” Counting is not yet complete with 12 constituencies still up for grabs. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi is the fifth and current President of Botswana, serving since 2018. He has also served as Minister of Education since 2014, and previously he was Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration from 2011 to 2014. He was first elected to Parliament in 2009.   Read the full article

39 Migrants Found Dead In Lorry

39 Migrants Found Dead In Lorry     The bodies of 39 migrants were found  in the back of a freight lorry parked in Grays, Essex, in the United Kingdom. The deaths have evoked public outrage and revulsion toward the British government’s brutal “deterrence” regime against migrants and refugees. Police were called to the Waterglade Industrial Park in Essex by East of England Ambulance Service at 1.40am. All 39 people—adults and a teenager—were pronounced dead at the scene. The victims’ identities are not known. Police forensic teams last night transported the truck’s cabin and trailer to Tilbury Docks to begin the process of formal identification. Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills told reporters this would be “a lengthy process”. Details of the truck’s movements remain unclear. Police have confirmed only that the trailer arrived via ferry from Zeebrugge, Belgium, docking at Purfleet on the River Thames at 12.30am. The truck cabin and trailer left the port shortly after 1.05am. It is not known where or at what time the 39 victims entered the truck’s freight container. Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, told the BBC the container appeared to be a refrigerated unit and that temperatures could reach as low as -25C. Conditions for anyone inside would be “absolutely horrendous”. Even if the container was not refrigerated, trucking experts explained that such cabins are sealed tight and lengthy confinement can lead to suffocation. The truck’s cabin is registered in Northern Ireland. The driver, 25-year-old Mo Robinson from a village in County Armagh, was immediately arrested on suspicion of murder. But the real authors of this immense crime reside in 10 Downing Street, along with the government and opposition parties in Westminster Palace and their accomplices in every European capital. Their statements of condolence and crocodile tears are rank hypocrisy. Conservative Party Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s statement was issued via Twitter: “I’m appalled by this tragic incident in Essex… My thoughts are with all those who lost their lives & their loved ones.” Home Secretary Priti Patel, whose entire career is built on anti-immigrant xenophobia, told parliament, “I’m shocked and saddened by this utterly tragic incident in Grays. My heart goes out to all those affected.” Only last month, a smirking Patel told the Tory Party conference she was proud to be part of a Brexit government that was “taking back control of our borders” and “ending the free movement of people once and for all.” Johnson has described veiled Muslim women as “bank robbers” and “letter boxes”, deliberately stoking anti-immigrant racism. The latest horrifying deaths are the direct outcome of a regime of deterrence that has involved a police-military operation on the English Channel and at key ports including Dover. The truck allegedly driven by Robinson is believed to have arrived at Purfleet to avoid increased police checks and anti-migrant measures put in place at Dover in the leadup to Brexit. Five people have drowned in the English Channel this year.   Read the full article

Army Captures 2 Boko Haram Commanders,14 Others

Army Captures 2 Boko Haram Commanders,14 Others

    The Nigerian Army says it has arrested 16 Boko Haram terrorists, including two top commanders of the sect during a sting operation. Col. Aminu Iliyasu, the Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator said in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja that the terrorists were arrested at Pulka in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno. Iliyasu said the arrest was made in collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). He said preliminary investigation revealed that some of the suspects participated in the attack on Pulka and Gwoza including the killing of some Nigeria Police personnel some time ago. According to him, it is heartwarming to note that two of the arrested Boko Haram criminals have been on the army most wanted Boko Haram list earlier published on Serials 41 and 90. He said they are Lawan Garliga and Bayaga Manye, serial 41 and 90 respectively. “Others are Boko Haram Logistics Supplier which are :Alhaji Umaru, Goni Agwala, Momodu Shetene, Hassan Audu, Usman Manye akaYega, Ali Lawan and Modu Mallum. “They also include Modu Abubakar Jugudum, Bulama Ali, Umar Usman, Mustapha Alhaji Mele (Boko Haram Rifle man and vulcanizer), Abor Lassan, Mallum Ari and Mala Bala,” he said. Iliyasu said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, had commended the officers and men of Operation Lafiya Dole following the success recorded by the troops during the sting operation. “He also enjoined them to continue to sustain the pressure on the criminals and ensure there is no hiding place for them and their collaborators,” he said. (NAN)   Read the full article

MTN To Start Charges On USSD Voice, Text Messages

MTN To Start Charges On USSD Voice, Text Messages     MTN Nigeria says it will go ahead to charge its customers for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) voice or text message which allows them access to bank services via their mobile phones. The telecom said it would start charging its subscribers from today, despite a directive by the Federal Government to halt the plan. MTN’s subscribers on Sunday received messages from the company informing them that with effect from today, it will start charging them N4 per 20 seconds for USSD voice or N4 for text message. One of the messages from MTN read: ‘’Yello, as requested by your bank, from Oct 21, we will start charging you directly for USSD access to banking services. Please contact your bank for more info.’’ In yet another message, it said: “Yello, please note that from Oct 21, we will charge N4 per seconds for USSD access to banking services. Thank you.’’ But most of its customers reacted negatively to the new charge, saying it is exploitative. They therefore complained to the Minister of Communications Dr Isa Ali Panatmi via his twitter handle @DrIsaPantami, calling on the minister to rein in on MTN. Dr Pantami answered one of them, saying he has directed NCC to ask MTN to halt the planned charge. ‘’Many thanks for drawing my attention to it. We have directed NCC to ask MTN to suspend the plan. “We are not aware of it officially. We will investigate and make sure right thing is done. Best wishes’’, the minister said. But a top official said that the telecom would still go ahead to introduce the charge, Daily Trust reports. The official who pleaded anonymity because he was not officially cleared to speak to the press said it introduced the charge on the directive of Bankers Committee. “Other telecom operators have been charging their customers for USSD before they could access their banks’ services; we are the last to introduce it. “Bank Committees with the knowledge of CBN told us to charge the customers directly. Before it was the banks that deducted the whole charge, now it was agreed in a meeting with CBN knowledge that we should now charge N4 directly, and that the banks should charge their customers the rest. “It should be N22: we charge N4 and they should deduct the remaining. But as it is now, the banks are still taking the whole N22.” Meanwhile, the CBN has told banks to yank off businesses from telecommunication operators charging bank customers using USSD to make transactions. The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele said this during a press briefing at the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF meetings in Washington DC. He explained that “about five months ago, I held a meeting with some telecom companies as well as the leading banks in Nigeria and the issue of USSD came up. “At that time, we came to conclusion that the use of USSD is a sunk cost which is not an additional cost on the infrastructure of the telecom companies. “But the telecoms companies disagreed with us and said it’s an additional investment and they needed to impose it. I appeal to them that they should review it downwards and they refused’ he said. Explaining further Mr. Emefiele said: “I understand that three or four weeks ago, rather than reduce it, they went ahead to increase it by 300 percent. I opposed it and I have told the banks that we will not allow this to happen. “The banks are the people who give this business to the telecoms companies and I leave the banks and the telecom companies to engage. “I have told the banks that they have to move their business, move their traffic to a telecom company that is ready to provide it at the lowest possible if not zero cost”. That’s where we stand and we must achieve it.’’ He said the telco’s decision will impede financial inclusion.   Read the full article

EPL: Klopp Rues VAR Failure To Rule Out Man Utd Goal

EPL: Klopp Rues VAR Failure To Rule Out Man Utd Goal     Jurgen Klopp admitted he was frustrated by VAR’s failure to rule out Marcus Rashford’s goal as Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw at Manchester United on Sunday, denying them a record-equalling 18th straight Premier League win. Klopp felt United defender Victor Lindelof was guilty of a foul on Liverpool striker Divock Origi in the build-up to Rashford’s 36th minute opener. Rashford eventually scored with a close-range finish and the goal stood despite a VAR check that appeared to show Lindelof catching Origi and making no contact with the ball, a decision that enraged Reds coach Klopp. “They scored a goal which shows all the problems with VAR. Mr Atkinson let the game run I’m sure because there is VAR. For me it was a clear foul,” Klopp said. “It’s a general problem. VAR looks and says ‘you decided like this’. But it was a foul. “There was clear contact and Divock Origi goes down. They carried on and counter-attacked. “I’m sure they (United) said it is not a ‘clear foul?’ That doesn’t work. That’s just not how it should be.” Adding to Klopp’s VAR woes, Liverpool winger Sadio Mane had an equaliser disallowed by VAR moments later after he handled before scoring. That looked like the correct decision and Klopp said: “Then we got a disallowed goal. I didn’t see it back but it was probably handball but everything just seemed to go against us.” After a poor first half performance, Liverpool improved after the interval as United became more nervous. The Premier League leaders, six points clear of champions Manchester City, equalised with five minutes left when substitute Adam Lallana tapped in after poor United defending. “We were good enough for a point. We gave Man Utd an opportunity to play the way they wanted to play with five at the back. They were hardworking. Our orientation wasn’t good enough,” Klopp said. “We felt under pressure when we weren’t. Then we scored the goal and was in charge of the game. The stadium was silent and people probably thought Liverpool would score but we take the point and move on. “I don’t think Man Utd can play like this if the other team doesn’t have the ball as much. We play very often against a team like this. Maybe we can do better. One point is completely fine. We carry on.” AFP.   Read the full article

NDDC AUDIT: Reps Applaud Buhari

NDDC AUDIT: Reps Applaud Buhari The Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has commended President Mohammadu Buhari for the bold step to audit the activities of the intervention agency from 2001 till date. Speaking with newsmen at the end of the agenda setting meeting of the leadership of the committee on Thursday, the Chairman said the move was a welcome development as it aligns with the agenda of the committee as contained in the workplan. He said, “I told you clearly at our inaugural meeting that we are here to right the wrong of the past. If you check my inaugural speech, I said in line with the Legislative agenda of the 9th Assembly and the anti corruption stance of the Federal Government, the committee shall seek to improve its budgetary and oversight processes in order to curb corruption and waste, ensure fiscal discipline and promote good governance as enshrined in section 88 of our constitution. We were in the meeting when the news of the President’s directive got to us; every one of us commended the President because that is incidentally the second item on our workplan. Olubunmi, who decried the living standard and infrastructural deficit in the region, said the committee has earlier enjoined the commission to promote transparency and accountability to ensure better deliveries on mandate. “Go to the Niger Delta and see the conditions of the people. See the environment. Posterity will judge us if we fail to make this time count for the people. We have informed the leadership of the commission to put in place a more transparent and accountable mechanism for self audit. The committee’s clinical approach to review performances quarterly is targeted at curbing waste and ensures accountability. “There is so much to do but we know we have to instill fiscal discipline in the commission in order to restore the confidence of development partners and stakeholders. As at June 2019, outstanding remittances of both the Federal Government and Development partners stand at 2.7 Trillion naira. Ecological fund office is yet to remit any amount since inception. So we need to restore confidence of stakeholders by kicking out all forms of corruption from the commission. We have already put our mechanism in place, waiting for the set date to commence ours. “We are glad at this bold step by the President. This is good. God bless our President. That is the value of integrity”, Olubunmi said.   Read the full article

JUST IN: Finally Labour, FG Agree On New Minimum Wage Adjustment

JUST IN: Finally Labour, FG Agree On New Minimum Wage Adjustment     The Federal Government and organised labour have finally reached an agreement on the percentage increase on the consequential adjustment in workers’ salaries for the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage. The agreement was reached in the early hours of Friday after a meeting that commenced on Thursday. Minister of Labour and Employment Dr Chris Ngige announced the agreement in Abuja in the early hours of Friday, after a government team he led concluded its meeting with officials of the Organised Labour. According to Ngige, the consequential adjustment agreed upon are as follows: “For COMESS wage structure Grade level 7 gets 23 per cent, salary grade level 8 gets 20 per cent, salary grade level 9 gets 19 per cent, salary grade level 10 -14 gets 16 per cent, while salary grade level 15 -17 gets 14 per cent. ”For those on the second category of wages structure, CONHES, CONRRISE, CONTISS etc, Level 7 gets 22.2 percent, Level 8 -14 gets 16 per cent , Level 15 -17 gets 10.5 percent.” The Minister noted that the third category of the country’s wage structure which are military and paramilitary officers were also factored into the agreement. “Since they are not in the civil service , theirs will be communicated through the appropriate channels. Their percentages of increase is confidential,” he said. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, had earlier tweeted from the venue that both parties had reached an agreement, but he did not give details. The tweet read, “After some delicate negotiations (with both ministers as conciliators), the government and labour have finally reached an agreement on the consequential adjustment of other wages following the implementation of the enhanced minimum wage of N30,000.     After some delicate negotiations (with both Ministers as conciliators) Government & Labour have finally reached an agreement on the consequential adjustments of other wages following the implementation of the enhanced minimum wage of N30,000. We are now working on the communique       At about 3am this morning, we signed this Terms of Settlement b/w Govt & Labour which reveals different percentages of adjustments in other wages after the minimum wage adjustment. Those of the law-enforcement agencies have also been done, but are not captured in this Memorandum   Similarly, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) confirmed the peace pact in a statement issued by its President Quadri Olaleye, and the Secretary-General, Musa-Lawal Ozigi. The statement read: “We commend the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, and her team for their sincerity. “Though they argued that the government could not afford to meet our earlier demand of N30,000 minimum wage across board because of the economic situation in the country, we made them understand that some people could not be more Nigerian than others. “If we are tightening our belts, government should also do so.” Organised Labour and FG had disagreed over the consequential adjustments in salaries that must be implemented across board. Labour had demanded 29 per cent salary increase for officers on grade level 07 to 14, and 24 per cent adjustment for officers on grade level 15 to 17. The government had earlier offered 11 per cent salary increase for officers on grade level 07 to 14, and 6.5 per cent adjustment for workers on grade level 15 to 17.   Read the full article

Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo Applauds Buhari

The Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has commended President Mohammadu Buhari for the bold step to audit the activities of the intervention agency from 2001 till date. Speaking with newsmen at the end of the agenda setting meeting of the leadership of the committee on Thursday, the Chairman said the move was a welcome development as it aligns with the agenda of the committee as contained in the workplan. He said, “I told you clearly at our inaugural meeting that we are here to right the wrong of the past. If you check my inaugural speech, I said in line with the Legislative agenda of the 9th Assembly and the anti corruption stance of the Federal Government, the committee shall seek to improve its budgetary and oversight processes in order to curb corruption and waste, ensure fiscal discipline and promote good governance as enshrined in section 88 of our constitution. We were in the meeting when the news of the President’s directive got to us; every one of us commended the President because that is incidentally the second item on our workplan. Olubunmi, who decried the living standard and infrastructural deficit in the region, said the committee has earlier enjoined the commission to promote transparency and accountability to ensure better deliveries on mandate. “Go to the Niger Delta and see the conditions of the people. See the environment. Posterity will judge us if we fail to make this time count for the people. We have informed the leadership of the commission to put in place a more transparent and accountable mechanism for self audit. The committee’s clinical approach to review performances quarterly is targeted at curbing waste and ensures accountability. “There is so much to do but we know we have to instill fiscal discipline in the commission in order to restore the confidence of development partners and stakeholders. As at June 2019, outstanding remittances of both the Federal Government and Development partners stand at 2.7 Trillion naira. Ecological fund office is yet to remit any amount since inception. So we need to restore confidence of stakeholders by kicking out all forms of corruption from the commission. We have already put our mechanism in place, waiting for the set date to commence ours. “We are glad at this bold step by the President. This is good. God bless our President. That is the value of integrity”, Olubunmi said.   Read the full article

6 Kidnapped Kuje Residents Rescued – Police, Community Confirm

6 Kidnapped Kuje Residents Rescued – Police, Community Confirm     The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has confirmed the rescue of six out of the 10 persons abducted last week by unknown gunmen at Pegi and Dafara community in Kuje Area Council. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Anjuguri Manzahp, said in a statement in Abuja that a joint operation comprising other security agencies had been set up to ensure that all the kidnapped victims are set free. Manzahp said the security agencies were working assiduously to rescue the victims, calling on the residents to be calm and support the ongoing operation with useful information to the police. “The police are reassuring the public that it will not relent on its effort until the activities of these hoodlums and other crimes are permanently checked. “Further steps are also being made to engage relevant stakeholders in various communities as part of renewed effort to check this crime,” the statement read in part. The Chief of Pegi community, Mr Irimiah Sarki, also told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kuje that the victims were freed by their abductors after families of the victims paid over N6 million ransom. Sarki said the families of the victims paid different amounts as ransom based on negotiations with the kidnappers. The chief, however, said some victims were molested over failure of their family members to meet the ransom demanded. “Six people so far have been released by the kidnappers and the victims have reported to my palace. “Some paid N3 million, N2 million, N1 million and some N800,000 depending on the negotiations with the kidnappers. “One of them, an Okada rider, whose family could not pay any ransom, was seriously beaten and injured by the kidnappers,” he said. According to him, four other victims are still in the custody of their abductors, including a Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer with his two children. On his part, Mr Isaac Taiwo, the Chairman of Pegi Community Development Association, attributed the security challenges to bad roads and dilapidated infrastructure in the area. “They always take advantage of the bad roads linking the community to attack innocent residents, especially civil servants while returning from work. “The lack of infrastructure in Pegi is responsible for the insecurity and the absence of social and economic development in the community. “We are calling on the Kuje Area Council and FCT Minister to come and address the rising spate of insecurity in our community,” he said. NAN recalls that the FCT police command had last week confirmed the abduction of the 10 people at Pegi and Dafara communities in Kuje area council. The police had said one person was killed during the attack by the kidnappers, while an NSCDC officer with his two children was among those abducted by unknown persons. (NAN)   Read the full article

Bb Naija’s Mike, Wife Pay Mc Oluomo Visit At Home

Bb Naija’s Mike, Wife Pay Mc Oluomo Visit At Home         BB Naija’s Mike Olayemi Edwards has visited renowned Lagos NURTW boss in in Oshodi home a week after emerging as the first runner up of the reality show. After Mercy Eke emerged the first female winner of the BB Naija Season 4 reality show on Sunday, October 6, 2019, other things have been happening. Amongst the things that has happened is the surprise visit of the BB Naija first runner up, Mike Olayemi Edwards  and his wife to the chairman of the Lagos State arm of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Musiliu Akinsanya well known as MC Oluomo,  in his Lagos home. According to a reliable source, before Mike’s visit, the fomer BB Naija housemate’s wife Perri Shakes-Drayton visited the Lagos NURTW chief. During the visit,MC Oluomo appreciated Mike. In his words, he said: “Mike Edward BB Naija 2019 Runners up and team in my home. Your surprise visitation to my house made my day even more amazing! Thanks for coming in at such short notice.”   Read the full article

Nigeria Scores 96.4% In Aviation Security -Sirika

Nigeria Scores 96.4% In Aviation Security -Sirika     President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday in Abuja, received briefings from the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, as Nigeria scored 96.4 per cent in improved security in civil aviation. Speaking with State House Correspondents after the presentation of the Certification for Improved Security in Civil Aviation to the president, Sirika said the certificate was presented to Nigeria by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) after assessing the country’s aviation security system. He stated that the feat was recorded by the country, following the restructuring of the nation’s security around the aviation sector. “ ICAO, having the statutory responsibilities of monitoring, policing and regulating the aviation industry and setting standards, took a survey of 193 member-countries out of which 16 were found to have improved tremendously the security around their aviation system. “Gladly, Nigeria was one of those 16 member-countries. Our score from the audit of ICAO was 96.4 percent; this is a remarkable improvement from a country that was scoring less than 50 percent in the past. “Today, from the approvals we got from our president and his guidance, we have been able to attain 96.4 per cent, which is near perfection. “In recognition of this, Nigeria received a certificate in Montreal, Canada during the General Assembly of ICAO, and we are proud to announce that we are part of those 16 member-countries that received this certificate which I just presented to Mr President,’’ he said. Sirika, who recalled how some passengers of Turkish Airline threatened airport officials in 2015, said the incident had given a wake-up call to the country’s aviation officials. He said that the officials had kept improving the security architecture across the country’s airports, thus leading to the attainment of a near perfect situation. He said: “We developed a template for security, engaged experts, came for approval from the president and he graciously approved that we reorganise the system to make it better. “We included the appointment of key individuals, including the Head of Aviation Security in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, where we found a seasoned Group Captain, a security expert himself, and got him trained in aviation security and deployed him as head of security. “Among other things, we put things in place to deal specially with insider security and that got us somewhere on the world map of aviation security.” According to the minister, all necessary steps will be taken to ensure that the country maintains the standard and continue to do well in the aviation sector. He announced that already, 721 aviation security personnel had been profiled and trained by the Department of State Security Service in handling of guns and lots, saying that they would soon be deployed to enhance security at the country’s airports. (NAN)   Read the full article

Why Trump’s Twitter Account Should Be Suspended – U.S. Presidential Aspirant

Why Trump’s Twitter Account Should Be Suspended – U.S. Presidential Aspirant

    U.S. senator, Kamala Harris, seized the Democratic presidential debate on Tuesday night to advance her proposal for the suspension of President Donald Trump’s Twitter account. Appearing alongside 11 other aspirants in the live television debate, Harris accused Trump of abusing the platform where he has over 65 million followers. “Here we have Donald Trump, who has 65 million Twitter followers, and is using that platform as the President of the United States to openly intimidate witnesses, to threaten witnesses and obstruct justice. “He and his account should be taken down,’’ she said, adding that the Aug. 3 mass shooter in El Paso, Texas, was inspired by Trump’s hate tweet against Latinos. As a matter of corporate responsibility, she argued, “Twitter should be held accountable, and made to take down that site; it is a matter of safety and corporate accountability’’. The California senator was responding to a question on whether it was necessary to break up big tech companies like Facebook and Twitter over their use for election interference by foreign interests. She said she was surprised that her rival, Sen. Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts, opposed her idea of what should be the rules around corporate responsibility. Harris said it was “grave injustice’’ for the social media accounts of ordinary people to be suspended over abuse, but those of powerful individuals like Trump were spared. Warren responded saying, “I don’t just want to push Donald Trump off Twitter. I want to push him out of the White House. That’s our job.” Harris disagreed, urging her to back the campaign for the president’s Twitter account to be shut down. Also speaking on the subject, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Andrew Yang, said breaking up the tech companies would not solve the problem, and suggested the use of “21st century solutions’’. Sen. Cory Booker (New Jersey), said American democracy was in “massive crisis’’ with the way the big tech companies were being used not only in anti-competitive practices but also in undermining the country’s democracy. Booker said such practices used in the 2016 presidential election had not been corrected, and as president he would pursue a reform in America’s anti-trust laws. The Russian government is accused of creating thousands of social media accounts to harm the campaign of the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, in favour of Trump during the 2016 election. This has triggered calls for the unbundling of the big tech companies to guard against their use in election interference. However, Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, warned that splitting up the companies would boost election interference, because they would not be able to work together to fight it.(NAN)   Read the full article