CCLCA decries campaign of calumny against Gbajabiamila

A civil society organization, Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA), has condemned a campaign of calumny again the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila from certain political actors who missed out on the ministerial and other lists. The group drew the attention of Nigerians to the acerbic attacks on the chief of staff to President. The group, coalition of 92 civil society organizations, through its Director General, Dr Gabriel Nwambu, decried that the political actors are hell bent on spreading falsehood against the Chief of Staff. According to him, they are blaming him for their inability to occupy appointive office at the moment, even though it is the president, acting in consultation with the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC), the Governors, and other key stakeholders in the polity, that appointed Ministers and Board Chairmen.  However, he stated that Nigerians are not buying the falsehood, and we have seen socio-cultural groups like Arewa Youth Forum and Ohaneze Youth Movement call on Nigerians to ignore the accusations thrown at Gbajabiamila over the constitution of boards of government agencies. He therefore, appealed to Nigerians to disregard the detractors, saying that the chief of staff is well experienced and capable of carrying out his duties. “This people do not care for the fact that positions came at the time destined, and that clearly, everybody cannot be a minister at same time. “Hon Gbajabiamila’s, antecedents as a public servant with a sterling record and a sticker for truth and fairness, and due process would entertain the absurdities ascribed to him for a second.  “As a Surulere, Lagos born politician cum technocrat, he comes to the present assignment fully qualified, having been in the house of Representatives for two decades (2003 – 2023), boasting record of unblemished service.  “Throughout his sojourn in public service, Hon Gbajabiamila has been a very close and loyal disciple of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Recall that as a speaker of the 9th assembly, it took his intervention to end the protracted and unending ASUU strike of the university lecturers. As the chief of staff, he had participated actively on resolving the disagreement between Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress” While passing a unanimous vote of confidence, the Director General of CCLCA, stated that President Tinubu, took into consideration Gbajabiamila’s track record and his commitment to the actualization the Renewed Hope Agenda. He further asked the political actors to cease the needles casting of aspersions and leave the chief of staff to do his job.

Allegations against our CEE smear campaign, unsubstantiated – NUPRC

Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has described allegations against its Chief Executive of Engr. Gbenga Komolafe as a campaign by some individuals to smear his reputation. The Commission in a statement Thursday in Abuja, said the allegations were not only malicious and completely false, but were libelous and unsubstantiated. NUPRC Staff had barricaded the gate of the Commission demanding the immediate sack of Gbenga Komolafe, alleging he was using his position to engage in fraudulent activities. According to the workers, Komolafe is said to be engaged in illegal recruitment, and a lack of regard for workers’ welfare, among others. The protesting members of staff had dressed in black and red attire, in their hundreds to besiege and place a casket bearing ‘RIP Fraud’ at the main entrance to the NUPRC complex. The Commission stated that the sum of N10 billion alleged to have been misappropriated with N4 billion donated to political parties under Komolafe, was completely false, daring the protesting workers to publish details of the transaction. “The purveyor of the falsehood is challenged to publish details of the account of the Commission from where the donations originated from and the accounts of the political parties involved where the N4 billion and N6 billion was deposited,” the statement said. The Commission stated that every employment exercise followed due process. According to the Commission, the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 empowers the board of the Commission to appoint, promote and remuneration. It added that statutorily, the Federal Character Commission regulates compliance with statutory procedure with regards to recruitment into public establishments, noting that the recruitment alleged was done in compliance with all procedures and compliance certificates issued. “The issue raised during the industrial action relates to sundry claims including travel expenses which are paid from time to time in line with the availability of funds,” it further said.