Flights disruption imminent as NiMET staff begin strike Monday
Travellers may experience flight disruptions as Aviation unions have instructed Nigeria Meteorology Agency staff to begin strike action on Monday, May 20, 2024. Aviation unions are National Union of Air Transport Employee Association of Nigeria, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations and Technical and Recreational Employees. This imminent strike as disclosed in a letter dated 14 May 2024, Wednesday, stems from management’s failure to address 45 months of minimum wage arrears and consequential adjustments for staff members. NiMET is charged with the responsibility to advise the Federal Government on all aspects of meteorology; project, prepare and interpret government policy in the field of meteorology; and to issue weather (and climate) forecasts for the safe operations of aircrafts, ocean going vessels and oil rigs. The union, represented by the three General Secretaries: Ocheme Aba, Abdulrasaq Seidu, and Waheed Sikiru, wrote a letter addressed to NiMET’s Director General, Prof Charles Anoske, with the subject line ‘Re: Failure to Pay 45-Month Arrears of Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustment—14 days ultimatum.’ The ultimatum had been issued, and management responded with what seemed like a compromise: paying off the 45 months of arrears in installments. They also expressed their dismay that the agency’s staff has been awaiting the palliative payments sanctioned by the Federal Government since October 2023. Furthermore, they highlighted that the 25-35 per cent salary increase has not been implemented for them, alongside NiMET’s exclusion from receiving Peculiar Allowances. “Furthermore, our Unions through a joint letter dated 4, April 2024, did request for review of the outdated conditions of service. To date the management has deemed our Unions unfit for any response,” it read. The letter further reads, “The above catalogue of woes, and others unmentioned confirm that NiMET Staff have been consigned to the lin bin of abject poverty – worse than any existing aviation establishment. In our considered view, it is inhuman on the part of management to be forborne with these conditions and irresponsible on the part of unions to tolerate this situation for this long. “Therefore, this letter serves as notice to the management of NiMET that the staff members of the agency are, by a copy of this letter, directed to withdraw all services with effect from Monday, May 20, 2024, unless and until the outstanding 42 months arrears of consequential adjustment is fully liquidated. “NIMET Salary structure is adapted to an appropriate Federal Government approved structure and all accruable payments liquidated, Management commences review of the outdated CoS with our Unions with a definite timeline for delivery and actualisation.”
JUST IN: EFCC arraigns Emefiele for printing N684m notes with N18.96bn
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, arraigned a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele for approving the printing of N684.5 million at the rate of N18.96 billion. Emefiele was arraigned before Maryann Anenih, judge of a federal capital territory (FCT) high court, and pleaded not guilty to all the counts. In the four-count charge filed against him, the EFCC alleged that Emefiele disobeyed the direction of law with intent to cause injury to the public during his implementation of the naira swap policy of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The anti-graft agency also accused Emefiele of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.
N1.8bn fraud: ICPC sues Abubakar Abdulahi Sambo, REA official
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will arraign a staff member of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abubakar Sambo, (Abubakar Abdullahi Sambo ) for allegedly paying N1.835 billion for an unauthorized project supervision exercise. This is contained in ICPC’s charge sheet marked FHC/ABJ/ CR/209/2024 and filed on May 10, 2024, by Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, Assistant Chief Legal Officer, ICPC. The defendant is sued before the Federal High Court, Abuja, for allegedly paying N1.835 billion to some persons for a purported project supervision exercise without requisite approval. In the three-count charge, the anti-graft agency accused the defendant of allegedly using his password to access the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System platform of REA to finalize the payments. ICPC maintained that the development contravenes the Cybercrime Act, Public Enterprise Regulatory Commission Act, and Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. The charges read, “That you ABUBAKAR ABDULLAHI SAMBO (M) sometime in March, 2023 оr thereabout while being a public officer I.e., Payment Finalizer on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System platform of Rural Electrification Agency at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did finalize the payment of the total sum of N1,835,000,000.00 (One Billion, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Five Million Naira) in different tranches for the use of Henmentta Onomen Okojie, Asuni Adejoke Aminat, Usman Kwakwa, Laure Shehu Abdullahi, Emmanuel Pada Titus and Musa Umar Karaye for a purported project supervision exercise without requisite approval thereby contributing to the economic adversity of the Rural Electrification Agency and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 68 of the Public Enterprise Regulatory Commission Act, CAP. P39, Laws of the Federation, 2004 “That you ABUBAKAR ABDULLAHI SAMBO (M) sometime in March, 2023 or thereabout while being a public officer i.e, Payment Finalizer on the Government Integrated Financial Management System platform of Rural Electrification Agency at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your access password to access the Government Integrated Financial Management information System platform of Rural Electrification Agency and finalized the payment of the total sum of N1,835,000,000,00 (One Billion, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Five Million Naira) in different tranches for the use of Henrientta Onomen Okojie, Asuni Adejoke Aminat, Usman Kwakwa, Laure Shehu Abdullahi, Emmanuel Pada Titus and Musa Umar Karaye for a purported project supervision exercise without authority and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 6(4) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015. “That you ABUBAKAR ABDULLAHI SAMBO (M) sometime in March, 2023 or thereabout while being a public officer i.e., Payment Finalizer on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System platform of Rural Electrification Agency at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did confer corrupt advantage on Henrrientta Onomen Okajle, Asuni Adejoke Aminat, Usman Kwakwa, Laure Shehu Abdullahi, Emmanuel Pada Titus and Musa Umar Karaye when you used your access password to access the Government Integrated Financial Management System platform of Rural Electrification Agency and finalized the payment of the total sum of N1,835,000,000.00 (One Billion, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Five Million Naira) in different tranches for the use of Henrientta Onomen Okojie, Asuni Adejake Aminat, Usman Kwakwa, Laure Shehu Abdullahi, Emmanuel Pada Titus and Musa Umar Karaye for a purported project supervision exercise without requisite approvals and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
ASUU threatens nationwide strike
In apparent display of crass incapacity, the failure of the federal government to reconstitute governing councils of universities may precipitate and needless strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. Upon assuming office, President Tinubu needlessly dissolved the governing councils of all universities owned by the federal government even when most of these councils were reconstituted barely a year earlier for a term of four years. The body, which recalled that the federal government dissolved governing councils of the universities in May, last year, has asked Nigerians to hold the government responsible for any decision it takes to protest the action of government. ASUU Chairman, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke Osodeke, spoke at a press conference at ASUU national secretariat, Abuja.
2027: How Mega Party Will Emerge – Pat Utomi
A professor of political economics, Pat Utomi, has revealed that the proposed mega party for the 2027 elections in Nigeria would not be like the conventional political party Nigerians are used to. According to him, the party would be based on real issues, values and ideologies that can shape human progress. Speaking on Tuesday during an appearance on Arie TV, Utomi lampooned the current crop of politicians in the country for always ignoring real issues but instead, focus on attacking one another based on religious, ethnic and other grounds. “My first point of call is to create this new tribe and the new tribe is not a political party. It is a movement focused on values that shape human progress. In this, we understand, look, this politician settles against one another by talking about ethnicity, religion, and all of that. “Nobody has become richer because of the ethnic group he comes from or has had a better life because of the religion he comes from. So they use it, and in this age, it’s very easy to play propaganda politics and put people against one another. In the end, everybody loses. “We play a zero-sum game. So let’s accept certain fundamental values: the dignity of the human, human solidarity, and work ethic—all of those things,” he said. Speaking further, the former presidential candidate said people that would be a part of the platform would have ideologies and goals that the citizens can hold them accountable for. He said: “As people begin to walk their talk and live in this domain, you can say to these people that the only way that you can change the world is through a political party. “So we have an initiative to then say, Here is a political platform in development that’s values-driven, that has to have an ideology and goals that people can be held accountable for. All of this must be in place and tested before the people. “It can happen fairly quickly—more than people realize. Look at what happened in Senegal. It can become more challenging, depending on how the young people in Senegal manage it.” According to Utomi, people are fed up with the political class in Nigeria and something must be done to save the country. “I mean, somebody gave me an analysis and said, ‘Nigeria will be in popular insurrection within the next four months,’ the way things are going. Somebody sent me this analysis from Nigeria just two weeks ago, and I’m saying to myself, “we have got to stop our country,” he submitted.
BREAKING: Tinubu, Shettima to pay tolls at airports
President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima will now henceforth pay the required fees at tollgates whenever they use the nation’s airports. This came as the the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting he presided over at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday approved that there should be no more exemption granted to users of the airports from paying tollgate fees. The approval was made following a memorandum presented to the council by the minister of aviation, Festus Keyamo, who argued that the government was losing over 82% of the revenue it should have earned from the e-tags that provide access to the tollgates. He explained that the memoranda had initially prescribed an exemption for only the president and the vice president before Tinubu overruled and directed that both of them should be included among those that must pay. Keyamo, who disclosed this at the post-FEC media briefing, regretted that Very Important Persons (VIPs) with money who should pay are those that have not been paying, noting that only poor people had been charged for using the tollgates. He said this must now stop.
FG To Sue Niger Speaker Over Plans To Marry Off 100 Girls
The Federal Government is set to take legal action against the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, over his plans to sponsor the marriage of 100 girls. Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye petitioned the Inspector-General of Police and filed for an injunction to halt the event scheduled for May 24. The minister emphasized the need to prioritize the girls’ futures and announced plans for the ministry to take responsibility for their education and vocational training. Sarkin-Daji’s proposal has sparked controversy, with critics arguing against the forced marriages, while the speaker maintained he is only funding the weddings. The minister said: “I want to let the honorable Speaker of the House in Niger state know that this is totally unacceptable by the Federal Minister of Women Affairs and by the government. “Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the onset, that is no more business as usual. “These children must be considered, their future must be considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered”.
N12M School Fees: Nigeria’s Most Expensive Varsity Opens August
The alleged most expensive university in Nigeria, Wigwe University is set to open its doors to the first set of students sometime in August, 2024. The university, founded by the late former Access Holdings Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Wigwe, is keen on providing a world-class education that equips students with the knowledge and skills to be future-ready. Wigwe died in a helicopter crash alongside his wife Chizoba, and son Chizzy in California on February 9, 2024. The university, which is located in Isiokpo, Rivers State, will offer a diverse range of programmes across four major colleges, including the College of Management and Social Sciences, the College of Art, the College of Science and Computing, and the College of Engineering. It is said that the school when it opens officially, will be the most expensive university in the country. According to the information on the school’s website, the cheapest college is Arts with a total fee of N9.6m. Students taking courses in the College of Engineering, College of Management and Social Sciences, and College of Science and Computing will pay a total fee of ₦11,998,800 each. The fees cover tuition, books, laboratory supplies and consumables, personal protective equipment, project lab resources, e-learning resources, health insurance, student membership in professional associations, student activities, and facilities maintenance. There are also additional charges covering accommodation fees which include the luxury single bedroom apartment plan- ₦1,000,000 / per month; premium one en-suite bedroom plan – ₦3,845,000 per session; classic one plan – ₦3,707,000 / per session and classic two plan – ₦3,500,000 / per session. The fees can be paid in two installments per session. The management of the university, while defending its decision to charge in dollars, recently stated that home students would pay their fees in naira, while international students could select the dollar payment option. It said the decision was a strategic one that aligns with its vision to attract a diverse and international student body.
NLC, TUC, Shutdown Discos Offices Nationwide
In protest against the electricity tariff hike amid hardship in Nigeria, the Nigeria Labour Council (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Monday, shut down electricity distribution company offices (DISCO) nationwide. The organized labour prevented workers from having access to their office to work early Monday morning as they thronged various offices of electricity distribution companies to protest the Band A tariff hike. The duo had, last night, distributed reminder notices to all its branch offices and affiliates across the nation in respect of a proposed nationwide protest to commence today, Monday. It is protesting the electricity tariff hike and removal of subsidies from the power sector by the federal government. With the picketing of all the offices of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) organized labour is also expected to shutdown of the Abuja headquarters of the agency, the Ministry of Power and state offices of power distribution companies. Members of the NLC and TUC staged protests at the corporate headquarters of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company in Lagos and the office of the Ibadan ElectricCompany in Oyo. Their demonstrations disrupted normal operations, preventing workers from resuming their duties for the day. They were heard chanting slogans and advocating for fairer electricity pricing and demand for the reversal of the Band A tariff increase. Similarly, in Jos, members of the NLC and the TUC in Plateau State took action by blocking the entrance of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company headquarters, as well as picketing the offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in the Gold and Base axis of Jos, leaving workers stranded. Eugene Manji, the Plateau state chairman of NLC, said while addressing journalists, “We have been directed from our national headquarters of NLC to ensure that we comply with the directives that all the distribution offices across the nation are locked. So that’s why we’re here to picket that of the Plateau State. “All offices, not just this one, you are seeing, we have send our members to other places. Some have gone to Vom to ensure that there is compliance, and this is applicable in all the other offices. So we are here to ensure total compliance that’s why we locked the offices”. Manji added that the protest was for the whole day while the state chapter of NLC will report back to the headquarters. The surge in electricity tariffs, implemented by the federal government, has triggered a wave of dissent among consumers and industry players alike, citing concerns over affordability and equitable access to essential services. The protest at the JED office in Jos by NLC epitomises the mounting pressure faced by utility companies grappling with the repercussions of tariff hikes, as they navigate the delicate balance between public welfare and operational sustainability.
Tinubu presides over FEC meeting, swears in NPC Commissioners
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in two more commissioners of the National Population Commission. Mr. Fasuwa Johnson and Dr. Amid Tadese Raheem from Ogun and Osun States respectively took the oath of office at 12:15 pm at the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, after their abridged citations were read. Monday’s ceremony comes three months after Tinubu, on February 13, asked the senate to confirm Raheem as a commissioner of the NPC. The Senate also confirmed Johnson on March 6. On November 8, 2023, Tinubu had appointed 20 federal commissioners in the NPC with nine of them reappointed for a second term in office. He swore 17 of them into office on March 14. Johnson was born in 1973 in Ododeyo, in the Ijebu North East area of Ogun State, where he had his primary and secondary education. He holds a Master of Science in Geography in 2004 and a Master in Business Administration in 2009 from the University of Ibadan and Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, respectively. He was elected as a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly in 2019 representing Ijebu North East till June 2023 during which he was the Chairman of the House Committee on Works and Infrastructure among other positions. Raheem was born on December 12, 1964, in Iwo, Osun State. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Public Administration from the same university. He had served as Commissioner for Water Resources & Energy in Osun State and was elected member of the Osun State House of Assembly, becoming its first Chief Whip in 1992. Until his nomination, Raheem was the Head of the Department of Public Administration at Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State.