Alleged Misconduct: NAPTIP sacks Deputy Director, 4 officers
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has dismissed five of its personnel, including a Deputy Director, for alleged misconduct. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Vincent Adekoye, a Press Officer of the agency on Wednesday in Abuja. Adekoye said the misconduct ranged from corruption, demanding and receiving bribes from suspects and relatives, and leaking confidential information to suspects. Others are alleged violation of oath of secrecy; stealing and alteration of official records and absent from duty without Official leave. He said that these offence are all contrary to provisions of the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations. He said that two other officers were demoted by two ranks for soliciting for bribe from a suspect of human trafficking, while one officer was demoted by one rank for negligence of duty. He said that the disciplinary actions followed the approval of the Governing Board of the agency at its meeting on May 25. Adekoye said that at the meeting, the board considered and ratified the decision of the agency’s Senior Staff Committee (SSC) which earlier sat on the disciplinary matters in accordance with the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations.
Police dismiss Sergeant over N98,000 extortion
The Police Command in Lagos State has announced the dismissal of Sergeant Ekpo Shimuyere attached to Shogunle Division for extorting a young man of N98,000. The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin told newsmen on Wednesday that the Provost Department of the command had already derobed the dismissed sergeant. According to him, the dismissed sergeant collected the phone of his victim and used a POS operator to transfer N98,000 out of the N100,000 in the young man’s bank account. Hundeyin said that the action of the policeman was contrary to the ethics of the profession. “Police got the complaint from the victim and the officer denied the crime when he was contacted. The command placed him under detention so that he will not tamper with the evidence. “We wrote to his bank and obtained his statement of account. We were able to trace the money to where the POS operator transferred it to before transferring the money to the officer’s account. “We followed due process to get his account. The victim was invited in the course of investigation, and he testified. “The POS operator was also invited, and he said the officer requested him to transfer the money from the victim’s account to another one,” Hudenyi added. He said that the Sergeant was consequently subjected to Orderly Room trial in line with extant laws. “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, Mr Idowu Owohunwa, have reviewed the orderly room procedure of the officer with Force No. 461654, attached to Sogunle Police Division and have approved the punishment of dismissal from the Force,” he said. Hundeyin said that the commissioner warned officers and men against any form of corruption, stressing that the dismissal was to serve as a deterrent to others. He further warned that the command would continue to punish any police officer found to have engaged in unprofessional conduct.
Nigerians groan as Presidency, NNPCL hike fuel pump price to N555PL
Details of the Tuesday meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company limited (NNPCL), Malam Mele Kyari, has emerged as the company has rolled out template for new pump price per litre nationwide. Malam Kyari had on Tuesday had a closed door meeting with President Tinubu, following the controversy generated by inaugural speech comment on removal of fuel subsidy. Template for hike in fuel pump price per litre as categorized according to geopolitical zone effective, 31 May, 2023. Under the new prices depending on geopolitical zone, a price per litre will not cost less than N488 but will cost at most N555. The NNPCL has also directed dealers to reflect the new pump price in the respective geopolitical zones effective today, 31 May, 2023, in line with the released price templated. “Please implement meter change as approved effective today 31st May 2023. Wayne is to attend to all locations as relates to their area of coverage in our network”, the directive stated. A statement by Garba Muhammad, Chief Corporate Communications Officer NNPC Limited said as it strives to provide quality service which the company was known for, prices would continue to fluctuate to reflect market dynamics. “The NNPC Ltd. wishes to inform our esteemed customers that we have adjusted our pump price of PMS across our retail outlets, in line with the current market realities. “We assure you that NNPC Ltd. is committed to ensuring ceaseless supply of products. “The Company sincerely regrets any inconvenience this development might have caused,” Muhammad said. He appreciated the continued patronage, support and understanding of its customers through this time of change and growth. The sudden increase in pump price per litre contradicted President Tinubu’s explanations of his inuagural speech comment on immediate removal of fuel Subsidy. He had on Tuesday said that the removal would take effect end of June, 2023, in attempt to allay fears and tempers heightened by acute shortage of fuel and hike in prices by dealers following his inaugural speech comment of fuel Subsidy removal. Nationwide, following his inaugural speech, queues have returned to the fueling stations. While dealers who are open for operations have hike their pump price up to between N600-N700 per litre, just as most filling stations closed shop. Commuters nationwide have been stranded as transporters have hiked the fares resulting to chaotic situation just two days on assumption of office by President Tinubu. Reports indicate that motorists who had queued up overnight for fuel now refused to buy at the newly reflected high pump price per litre.
FG moves date for National Awards
The Federal Government has changed the date for the collection of the National Honour Award for the recipients to yet undisclosed date. Mrs Ibiene Roberts, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, made the disclosure in a circular issued by Mrs Julie Jacobs, Director of Information in the ministry on Tuesday in Abuja. The date for the collection of the award certificates and medals was earlier fixed for the recipients to pick them up on Thursday June 1. According to Roberts, due to circumstances beyond the control of the ministry, the date for the collection of the instruments of the award as already published in some national dailies is not feasible. She said a new date for the exercise would be communicated to the concerned recipients in due course. “All award recipients are to send copies of their citations/resumes to the Secretary, National Honours Awards Committee, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs (FMSDIGA) on or before June 9. “The soft copies should be sent to the following e-mail addresses: umaruahmadu82@yahoo.com, doobisag@yahoo.com in the following format: ” A. biodata:, title:, surname:, other names:, gender:,, phone no.:, email:, state of origin:, address:. “B. citation and biography (not more than 500 words):, early life:, educational qualifications:, career/achievements:, personal life hobbies etc.): and C. passport photograph: The permanent secretary, however, apologised on behalf of the ministry for any inconvenience the change of date might have caused the recipients. “For further enquiries or clarification, please contact the Secretary, National Honours Awards Committee on the following Tel. Nos: 08059382659 and 08034508837,” she said.
Subsidy: Kyari meets Tinubu, says fuel queues won’t last
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has assured Nigerians that fuel queues in filling stations, following the affirmation of the removal of subsidy, will soon vanished. Malam Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), briefed State House correspondents after meeting President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Tinubu, had in his inaugural speech on Monday, commended the past administration for phasing out the petrol subsidy regime, which had increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor. Kyari said that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) stipulated that the price of petroleum should be determined by market forces. “I know all us must have seen the fuel queues in filling stations across the country. “It is very understandable that whenever announcements to changes to prices of petroleum happen, both buyers and marketers will like assurance of what exactly this means and typically, consumers will rush to the filling stations to fill their tanks and that is why you are seeing these queues. “And also for marketers, they will like to see exactly what this means in terms of how are we going to sell the products if subsidy on PMS is removed? “And the combination of the two is what you are seeing -the obvious dislocation on distribution and we believe that this will go away very quickly. “And as you may be aware, PIB which was accented in 2021 and became an Act, made it clear that the price of petroleum must be priced at the market,” Kyari stated. He said, however, that the government also decided to provide for subsidy in the 2022 Appropriation Act and also for half year in 2023. According to him, while the PIA is clear that petroleum should be priced, but it did not say that government cannot put its money in any way it wants. “Therefore, we, as a commercial company established by the PIA, we are doing it strictly as business; delivering value as supply of last resort by virtue of the law but at a cost to the federation. “And that cost includes the cost of subsidy; this subsidy cost should have been money that will be given to the NNPC, may be on monthly or daily basis. “However, since the provision of the N6 trillion in 2022 and N3.7 trillion in 2023, we have not received no payment whatsoever from the federation; that means they are unable to pay and we continue and continue to support the subsidy from the cash flow of the NNPC.” He also explained further:“That is when we net off our physical obligations of taxes and royalties, there is still a balance we are funding from our cash flow and that has become very difficult, and it affects our other operations. “We are not able to keep some of this cash to invest in our core businesses and the end result is that it can be a huge challenge for the company. “And we have highlighted this severally to government; that they must compensate NNPC; they must pay NNPC for the money we have spent on subsidy.’’ The NNPC Ltd boss said that by virtue of the law and the Appropriation Act 2023, funding was no longer available while the country could no longer fund the subsidy and no longer able to pay NNPC. “Therefore, we are pleased to note the president’s commitment to the removal of subsidy because they cannot afford it anymore.
U-20 W/Cup: F’ Eagles will not be intimidated by Argentina crowd – Bosso
Hosts and six-time champions, Argentina will fancy being the favourites in their FIFA U20 World Cup Round of 16 duel with Nigeria in San Juan on Wednesday night, but Head Coach Ladan Bosso says his team will not be intimidated by the physicality of the opponents and the capacity crowd expected at the venue. The indigenes of the Land of Pampas barnstormed through their group stage, winning all their three matches against Uzbekistan, Guatemala and New Zealand, scoring 10 goals and conceding only one. They are already among the favourites for the title, by both pedigree and current form. Despite winning their first two matches, including beating early ravemakers Italy in commanding fashion, the Flying Eagles lost to Brazil 2-0 in La Plata on Saturday and some bookmakers think they stand no chance against the pumped-up home team. Bosso said on Tuesday, as his boys prepared for their official training session at match time (6pm Argentine time and 10pm Nigeria) that his Africa Cup of Nations bronze medallists will be ready to give as much as they receive in Wednesday’s encounter. “This is the World Cup and it is wrong to under-rate any team. We won two of our three matches and had the same number of points in our group as Brazil and Italy. We are no pushovers in this campaign. “It is going to be an interesting game. We want the quarter-final ticket and the Argentines also want the quarter-final ticket. We will go in there and dig our feet into the ground.” ALL THE QUARTER-FINAL MATCHES Brazil Vs Tunisia USA Vs New Zealand Uzbekistan Vs Israel Colombia Vs Slovakia Argentina Vs Nigeria England Vs Italy Gambia Vs Uruguay Ecuador Vs South Korea
Subsidy Removal: NLC kicks, urges Tinubu to put palliative measures in place
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has lambasted new President Bola Tinubu for removing fuel subsidy without due consultations, urging him to ensure palliative measures are put in place to ease workers’ sufferings. Mr Joe Ajaero, the NLC President, made the appeal in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja. It would be recalled that Tinubu announced the fuel subsidy removal during his inaugural speech on Monday, saying that subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. Tinubu pledged to re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, healthcare and jobs that would materially improve the lives of millions. Ajaero said that the NLC would staunchly oppose the decision. “We at the Nigeria Labour are outraged by the pronouncement of President Bola Tinubu removing ‘fuel subsidy’ without due consultations with critical stakeholders. “Or without putting in place palliative measures to cushion the harsh effects of the ‘subsidy removal,” he said. He said that within hours of Mr President’s pronouncement, the nation had gone into a tailspin due to a combination of service shut downs and product price hike, in some places representing over 300 per cent price adjustment. He said that by the decision, Tinubu on his inauguration day had brought tears and sorrow to millions of Nigerians instead of hope. The NLC president also said that Mr President had equally devalued the quality of their lives by over 300 per cent and counting. According to him, it is no heroism to commit against the people this level of cruelty at any time, let alone on an inauguration day. “If he is expecting a medal for taking this decision, he would certainly be disappointed to receive curses for the people of Nigeria consider this decision not only a slight but a big betrayal. “On our part, we are demanding the immediate withdrawal of this policy. The implications of this decision are grave for our security and well-being. “We wonder if President Tinubu gave a thought to why his predecessors in office refused to implement this highly injurious policy decision?”. He added that “we also wonder if he also forgot the words he penned down on January 8, 2012, but issued on January 11, 2012. “In light of the foregoing, we advise Tinubu to respect his own postulations and economic theories instead of daring the people. It could be a costly gamble,” he cautioned.
Subsidy Removal: We’ll tackle supply disruptions – NMDPRA
*Urges Nigerians not to panic The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has said it is working with NNPC Limited and other stakeholders to guarantee a smooth transition following the removal of fuel subsidy. President Bola Tinubu, in his inaugural speech on Monday, said the fuel subsidy regime had ended with the commencement of his administration. NMDPRA made this known on Tuesday in a statement signed by Mr Kimchi Apollo, General Manager, Corporate Communications, NMDPRA, to address concerns regarding the removal of fuel subsidy. Apollo said the authority was working to avoid disruptions in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, as well as ensure that consumers were not short-changed in any form. He assured that there was an ample supply of PMS to meet demand and that the authority had taken necessary steps to ensure that distribution channels remained uninterrupted and fuel readily available at all filling stations nationwide. He urged Nigerians not to panic over the removal of subsidy as the authority had ensured availability of petrol nationwide. “Contrary to speculations and concerns, the announcement is in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021), which provides for total deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector to drive investment and growth. “We, therefore, call on Nigerians to remain calm and resist the urge to stockpile as it poses a significant safety hazard. “The NMDPRA reassures all Nigerians that the removal of subsidy on PMS is a step towards building a more sustainable and prosperous future for our nation. “We will continue to monitor activities and implement necessary measures to enhance transparency and accountability in the petroleum downstream sector,” he said.
Group sues Uni-Agric Makurdi over illegal appointment of Bursar
A civil society organisation, Save Nigeria Movement has dragged the Governing Council of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, to court over illegal bursar appointment. The Plaintiff, in a suit filed by its Counsel, Barr T. Sorkaa, described the appointment as illegal, and asked the court to stop Mr Ortese Tyoule Simon, from assuming the vacant position of bursar in the institution. The group had in the court processes with suit number FHC/MKD/CS/28/2023, said Simon was not qualified for the appointment. He prayed the court for an order restraining the defendants in the matter from allowing Simon, who is the 6th defendants in the matter from assuming office. Apart from the Governing Council and Simon, other defendants in the matter are the minister of education, minister of agriculture, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, and the registrar and secretary, governing Council, Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi In the suit, the Plaintiff prayed for the following orders: an order of Interlocutory Injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the 1st to 5th Defendants, Respondents (minister of education, minister of agriculture, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, and the registrar and secretary, governing Council, Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi) from allowing the 6th Defendant/Respondent, (Simon) a Deputy Director, Audit Unit, to assume as Bursar, Joseph University, Makurdi in contradiction of the Financial Regulations, No. 1709 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2009. SNM also prayed the court to determine Whether or not upon a dispassionate and compound construction of the Federal Universities of Agriculture Act, Cap. F22, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, Federat Universities of Agriculture (Amendment) Act, 2019, Financial Regulations, No. 1709 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2009 and other relevant Statutes, the requirements for appointment into the vacant position of Bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi which was at least five (5) years experience as a Deputy Bursar was followed by the Selection Board for the appointment by the Governing Council, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi of the 6″ Defendant, a Deputy Director, Audit Unit, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi into the vacant position of Bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi. In the suit, the plaintiff also.prayed the court for the following reliefs: A declaration that the 6th Defendant, a Deputy Director, Audit Unit, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi was not qualified for appointment by the Governing Council, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi into the vacant position of Bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi. A DECLARATION that the Selection Board did not follow the requirements of at least five (5) years experience as a Deputy Bursar in its recommendations to the Governing Council, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, the appointment of the 6th Defendant into the vacant position of Bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi. A declaration that the appointment by the Governing Council, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi of 6th Defendant, a Deputy Director, Audit Unit, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi into the vacant position of Bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi contradicted 2004, Federal Universities of Agnculture (Amendment) Act, 2019, Finanoal Reguiabons, No. 1709 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2009 and other relevant Statutes by this Honourable Court as to the appointment and Qualification of the 6” Defendant into the vacant positon of Bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, The group said only the declarations and orders of this Honourable Court can resolve the issue of the requirements or qualifications for the appointment of the 6″ Defendant into the vacant position of Bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi.
Mammoth crowd receive Buhari in Daura
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has returned home to Daura in Katsina State after serving eight years as President of Nigeria. Buhari, his wife Aisha and his children, arrived Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport via a Nigerian Air Force aircraft at about 1:30pm. He was accompanied by former Ministers of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, that of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, and his Spokesman, Mr Garba Shehu, among others. The former President was received by the newly inaugurated Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar-Radda and his deputy, Alhaji Faruk Lawal. Buhari was later conveyed to Daura in a helicopter at about 2:20pm and was received by a tumultuous crowd led by the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk-Umar. The Daura Emirate Council will hold a grand durbar on Tuesday to welcome Buhari back home.