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August 18, 2023 We Do Not Trust State Governors to Share N180b Palliatives

We Do Not Trust State Governors to Share N180b Palliatives

The organised labour has knocked the Federal Government for releasing a N180bn palliative package to states to cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.

The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress insisted that the governors could not be trusted, noting that politicians and not the poor would benefit from the N5bn largess given to each state government for disbursement to the citizens.

The Federal Government on Thursday announced an N5bn palliative for each state of the federation and 180 trucks of rice as part of measures to assuage the pains of the subsidy removal.

The policy, which led to sharp and multiple increases in fuel pump prices, has driven up the prices of goods and services, pushing millions of Nigerians into poverty and worsening the socio-economic situation in the country.

The development also triggered nationwide protests by organised labour which insisted on the repair of refineries as a precondition for the subsidy withdrawal.

But announcing the release of the palliative at the end of the 135th National Economic Council meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, disclosed that the N5bn was to enable the state governments to procure 100,000 bags of rice, 40,000 bags of maize and fertilizers to cushion the effect of food shortage across the country.

He added that considering the urgency in meeting the need to mitigate the skyrocketing food prices across the country, the Federal Government had last week released five trucks of rice to each state of the federation.

Shettima explained, “NEC met today and expressed serious concerns as regards increasing cost of food items, increasing cost of transportation amongst others as a result of subsidy removal. In order to cushion the effect of subsidy removal, the federal government released five trucks of rice to each state last week.

“Furthermore, in order to cushion the effect of food shortages across the country, the Federal Government has approved the sum of N5bn to be given to each state for the procurement of 100,000 bags of rice, 40,000 bags of maize, and fertilizers.

“This funding has to be shared with a formula as follows: 52 percent of this money is given to states as grants, while 48 per cent of the N5bn is to be paid back on an installment basis within a period of 20 months to the CBN by the states and the local government areas in Nigeria.

“The council commended the efforts of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Tinubu as well as the CBN. We have also commended the efforts of NEMA in cushioning the effects of the subsidy removal.

“Council has taken bold decisions in order to ensure speedy release of grains and other items in order to cushion the effects of subsidy removal on the less privileged in the society.’’

He noted that the council took bold decisions in order to ensure the speedy release of grains and other items for immediate distribution to the less privileged in society.

Shettima added, “The council has also taken note of the $800m loan and insists that it be strictly used for the intended purpose and based on an accurate and acceptable register. The $800m announced by the president will go to Nigerians in accordance with an accurate social register.

“Furthermore, the council has also noted the package that was announced by the President in order to cushion the effect of subsidy removal, amounting to about N500bn.

“This fund has to be distributed to the following sectors: MSMEs, industrial sector; about N125 billion will go for cash transfers, agricultural sector as well as gas expansion for buses.

“And because of the increasing cost of fossil fuel, the federal government intends to establish more gas stations in Nigeria and procure more gas-powered buses, CNG buses as well as electric buses.”

He said the council commended the efforts of the Federal Government and the CBN in addressing the current situation in the country.

August 18, 2023 Pastor Otu in Police Net Over Death of Lady in Hotel

Pastor Otu in Police Net Over Death of Lady in Hotel

A certain pastor, Timothy Otu, of Agape Evangelical Ministry has been arrested by the Abia State Police Command over the death of a 43-year-old woman, Happiness Echieze.

Pastor Otu of whose church is located at the Obikabia Junction in the Obingwa Local Government Area of the state is in detention to help the police with investigations concerning the cause of the lady’s death in his hotel room.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday.

According to her, the pastor and the lady lodged in a hotel in Ovom village on August 12, 2023, around 9.23pm.

She said the lady’s naked lifeless body was later discovered in the room around midnight without a trace of the pastor.

The PPRO said the suspect was later arrested and the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for proper investigation.

The statement read, “On August 13, 2023, around 9.30am, Mr Godwin Akpan residing at Jubilee Guest House in Ovom Village, Obingwa Local Government Area reported to the Isialangwa Police Division that on the evening of August 12, 2023, around 9.25pm, a clergyman named Timothy Otu associated with Agape Evangelical Ministry at Obikabia Junction in Obingwa LGA, checked into the guest house along with a woman named Happiness Echieze from Isialangwa LGA, Abia State. Happiness Echieze was 43 years of age.

“Further details provided by Mr Akpan indicated that on the same date, around midnight, he entered the hotel room of the aforementioned clergyman and discovered the lifeless body of Happiness Echieze. She was found unclothed, and a white substance was emanating from her mouth and nose. Regrettably, the clergyman was absent from the scene.

“Preliminary investigations have been launched into this matter. The deceased’s body has been transported from the location and is currently at the SDA Mortuary in Aba, awaiting an autopsy.

“Additionally, the suspect in this case has been apprehended and the case has been transferred to the State CID for discreet investigations.”

August 15, 2023 Federal Government Files 20 New Charges Against Emefiele

Federal Government Files 20 New Charges Against Emefiele

The Federal Government has filed 20 new charges against suspended Central Bank  Governor; Godwin Emefiele.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice Mohammed Bakodo Abubakar made this known to journalists after Tuesday’s proceedings in Abuja.

According to Abubakar, the fresh charges – with 20 counts – were filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.

One of the counts accuses Emefiele of “conferring unlawful advantages”.

On Tuesday the Federal Government applied to withdraw the “illegal possession of firearms” case it filed against Emefiele, at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

Abubakar told Justice Nicholas Oweibo that the application followed the result of further investigations.

But defence counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN) opposed him, arguing that because the government was in disobedience of the court’s order granting Emefiele bail, its application could not be taken.

On 25, the Judge admitted Emefiele to a N20million bail on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

He also ordered he be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

The DSS rearrested Emefiele after fighting off prison officials on the court’s premises.

August 14, 2023 SERAP Sues NASS Leadership Over Budget for Bulletproof Cars

SERAP Sues NASS Leadership Over Budget for Bulletproof Cars

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, over what it described as unlawful plan to spend N40 billion on 465 exotic and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials, and N70 billion as ‘palliatives’ for new members.

The suit came on the heels of a statement by Akpabio that the Clerk of the National Assembly had sent holiday allowances into various bank accounts of senators, “while some Nigerians are faced with extreme poverty.”

In the suit, number FHC/L/CS/1606/2023, filed last Friday, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel Akpabio and Abbas to review and reduce the costs.

The organisation is seeking an order restraining Akpabio and Abbas from demanding or receiving the money until an assessment of the socio-economic impact of the spending on 137 million poor Nigerians is carried out in public interest.

SERAP is also seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel Akpabio and Abbas to repeal the Supplementary Appropriation Act 2022 to reduce the budget for the National Assembly by N110 billion to reflect current economic realities in the country.

It said: “Unless the reliefs sought are granted, the lawmakers will spend the N110 billion, and the travesty and apparent conflicts of interest and self-dealing by members of the National Assembly would continue.

“It is a fundamental breach of their fiduciary duties for members of the National Assembly to arbitrarily increase their own budget and to use the budget as a tool to satisfy the lifestyle of lawmakers.”

According to the body, “while N70 billion ‘support allowance’ is budgeted for 306 new lawmakers, only N500 billion worth of palliatives is budgeted for 12 million poor Nigerians. N40 billion is also allocated to buy 465 SUVs and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials.”

In the suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Blessing Ogwuche, the organisation said: “The plan to spend N110 billion is a fundamental breach of constitutional and international human rights obligations.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.

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