Kaduna Assembly passes N136.5bn 2011 budget
The Kaduna State House of Assembly on Wednesday passed the state’s 2011
Appropriation Bill of N136.5 billion. The News Agency of Nigeria
reports that the approved figure showed an increase of N10 billion over
the figure presented by the executive to the legislature for approval.
Governor Patrick Yakowa had presented budget proposals of N126.5
billion to the House of Assembly for its approval on December 31, 2010.
Former Diamond Bank staff in court over fraud
Anti-corruption
agency on Wednesday charged six former Diamond Bank staff and a
customer with conspiring to defraud the bank by granting N7.8 billion
($50 million) in unsecured loans. The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission said in a statement all of the accused pleaded guilty to the
five-count charges, which relate to offences committed in 2008, at a
court in the southwestern city of Ibadan.
Reckless lending, including
the granting of unsecured loans, led to the near-collapse of several
Nigerian lenders in 2009. The Central Bank was forced to bail out nine
of them, excluding Diamond Bank, with a $4 billion capital injection.
Nigeria is ranked by anti-corruption agencies as one of the most
corrupt countries in the world. But regulators have taken a tougher
line on monitoring the banking system and capital markets in the wake
of the bailout.
Adamawa to engage in large scale fish farming
The Adamawa State
government has engaged an Indian company, MARITECH, to carry out
feasibility study on the aquaculture situation in the state. Trevor
Bullen, the managing director of Adamawa Agricultural Development and
Investment Limited, made this known in Yola on Tuesday. Mr. Bullen said
that the study was to develop a vision document for the growth of fish
farming.
According to him, the programme also includes the development
of feed mill for the production of low cost fish feed for farmers. “The
production of low cost fish feed will increase the profit margins for
fish farmers,” he added. Mr. Bullen explained that about 19,000 farmers
would be impacted by the programme, which would also encourage the
production of various species of fish.
Sarah Jibril challenges career women
Women in Nigeria
need to take their place in the political affairs of the nation, and
not focus mainly on the managerial and economic issues of the economy.
Career women who
have delved into politics gave the charge at the annual lecture of
Women in Management and Business (WIMBIZ), which was held in Lagos
yesterday, saying that decisions of the policy makers always affect
business.
Sarah Jubril,
former presidential candidate, who was guest speaker at the event, said
the world is presently in need of women who are not ashamed or afraid
to stand for the truth, even when it is unpopular.
“The world needs
women who cannot be bought, whose word is in their bond. Nigeria needs
women who put character above wealth, who possess opinions and a will,
who are larger than their vocations, who do not hesitate to take
chances, who will not lose their individuality in a crowd,” she said.
According to her,
the best women are yet to enter into politics. “We cannot sit down and
watch some men pollute and destroy what we have all struggled to build
up. The best women are yet to be involved in politics. We are part of
the development of political ethics and we should be on a mission to
reunite Nigeria and Africa back to normalcy.”
Olufunmilayo Adunni
Olayinka, the deputy governor of Ekiti State, who also spoke, said
women are constitutionally equipped to be politically active.
“The world is
changing fast and we too should be doing so,” said Mrs. Olayinka, who,
until recently, was a major player in the banking industry.
She, however, said Nigerian women are not maximally exploiting these breakouts.
“It is time to
awake from our slumber. This is a wakeup call. There is an appalling
representative of women in politics today. There are only 8 women in
the Senate and 36 women at the Federal House of Representatives. In
Ekiti, all the 26 members of the state assembly are men. All the 13
local government chairmen in the state are also men.
“This is really
awful. We should rise up to the challenge. Let us say ‘No’ to these men
that see these positions as their birthrights,” Mrs. Olayinka said.
She urged women to
increase their share of the voices crying and advocating for gender
equality. “We must pay more than lip service to women empowerment. The
burden is on us now. Let us stop to agonise and begin to organise,” she
said.
“We tend to push
politics to the background. Getting involved does not mean we would see
an instant result. Getting involved does not mean we should all fight
for political positions,” she added.
She, however, said
women should, in the pursuit of political relevance, not abandon their
primary roles in their home and in the nation at large.
Challenges abound
Mrs. Jibril also
advised women to be ready to face the challenges that would be
encountered in their desire to make things right.
According to her,
some major challenges of politics in Nigeria include indiscipline,
vandalising, hypocrisy, murder, lawlessness, illegalities, rigging,
oppression, envy, assassinations, manipulations, marginalisation,
violence against women, greed, and many more vices which women will
encounter while they struggle to reach their goals.
She said despite these, women would achieve success when they come together and unite towards a common goal.
Sack striking doctors, says Tinubu
The former Lagos
state governor, Bola Tinubu, yesterday blamed politics for the
stalemate in wage demand by the striking Lagos medical doctors and
advised the doctors to look for jobs with federal government or get
sacked. “Those people make me angry, there is no point dialoguing with
them again, sack them and recruit other doctors,” Mr. Tinubu said,
advising the state governor, Babatunde Fashola never to yield to
blackmail.
“We have provided a
conducive environment for them to work and yet they are still not
satisfied. It is not compulsory, you work for the state government, if
you are not comfortable, you can go to the federal government that pays
more or other private establishments.” The former governor made the
statement while soliciting the support of Christian leaders, who had
gathered at a meeting with Mr. Fashola.
He was especially
sad about the call for the reinstatement of Ibrahim Olaifa, the sacked
union leader of the doctors, whom he said was employed by him on the
recommendation of the then Oyo State governor, Lam Adesina. He said the
same Mr. Olaifa is now campaigning for House of Representative ticket
in Oyo State under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party while
fomenting trouble in Lagos State. “We are not going to reinstate him
because the moment you subject the authority given by the constitution
to blackmail, you are finished,” he said.
Mr. Fashola also
hinted at the possibility of a political undertone because, according
to him, it is baffling that his administration has offered to implement
95 percent of the doctors’ demands, yet they insisted on 100 percent
implementation. “The most junior doctors in the state today have their
salary increased from N110,000 to N170,000 while consultants now have
their salaries increased from N300,000 to N700,000,” he said, adding
that, as the governor of the state, his salary monthly is N850,000
while other members of the State Executive Council do not earn above
N500,000.
Second term endorsement
At the meeting,
Mr. Tinubu urged the Christian leaders to support Mr. Fashola’s second
term ambition because “a vote for Fashola is a vote for progress and
development.” Mr. Tinubu said he is always amazed at how Mr. Fashola
has been able to, within a short period of time, transform Lagos state.
“Leadership is not all about religion. Rather it is all about
personality and character. It is all about action and vision. It is all
about putting people first. It is all about development. It is all
about you and me. We can see what Mr .Fashola has been able to achieve.
This is why we invite you to renew his contract for another term,” he
said, insisting that “Fashola is the best man for the job.”
He however believes that Mr. Fashola could have performed better “if
the federal government has allowed fiscal and true federalism to
thrive. Despite this, we are more secured than any of the states in the
federation. I am proud to be a father and brother of a successful son.
Fashola deserves a renewed contract.” Present at the meeting were
Christian leaders including the Methodist Church of Nigeria Prelate,
Dr. Ola Makinde and Secretary-General of the Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN), Bishop George Amu.
Student dies in Kano clash
Hundreds of
students of tertiary institutions in Kano took to the streets of the
ancient city protesting the non- implementation of the agreement
reached between their lecturers and the state government on the payment
of salary increment.
The students who
were in solidarity with their striking lecturers went on rampage and
clashed with police. The protesters, who marched through the ancient
city to the Government House, were immediately dispersed by armed
policemen stationed at the Government House premises.
The students, who
carried placards made bonfires and barricaded the entire length of the
strategic and ever busy Zaria road that links the commercial city with
Kaduna and adjoining states. However, police presence was noticed in
all strategic locations in the state in their attempt to disperse the
aggrieved students, as canisters of teargas were shot into the air.
Motorists on
Kano-Zaria road resorted to alternative routes to avoid the rampaging
students, who blocked the roads, causing heavy traffic jam, which
lasted for hours before the police finally restored sanity.
Reports suggest
that one of the protesting students died but the police in a swift
reaction dismissed such claims, stressing that they are in firm control
of the situation. Kano state police spokesman, Magaji Musa Majiya, who
confirmed the protests, said the policemen have taken over the security
of the schools, he dismissed as untrue, speculation of any death,
pointing out that normalcy has since been restored.
He warned that the police will not relent in their efforts to
ensure the security of lives and property. Mr. Majiya assured that
police will not tolerate any move to disrupt peace in the state, adding
that any hoodlum found will face the wrath of the law, while advising
parents to caution their wards
Two injured in Osun disturbance
At least two
students of the Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun yesterday
sustained serious injuries during a face-off between the police and
students of the college. The students had in the early hours of
yesterday protested against the failure of the state governor, Rauf
Aregbesola to reduce the tuition fee in the institution, as he promised
after the Education Summit organised by the state government. The
protest which led to the burning of tyres on the campus caused the
vandalisation of vehicles owned by lecturers of the institution and
other vehicle owners.
The students who carried placards with various
inscriptions also burnt tyres in front of the private residence of the
National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Bisi Akande who is
also the Asiwaju of Ila-Orangun.
Reports say trouble
started in the college when the dean, faculty of science, J. O Bamgbala
announced at a meeting with students of the faculty that both the 100
level and 200 level students of the institution would pay N28,000 as
tuition fees. While the new students agreed to pay, the 200 level
students allegedly refused on the basis that they paid a similar amount
as tuition fees in the last academic session. The students thereafter
mobilized their colleagues against the arrangement. The students locked
the main gate to the campus and prevented people from entering. They
also went to the staff schools and locked the pupils up, preventing
their parents who are mostly lecturers of the college from gaining
entry into the schools.
The students also took their protests round the community but were
met by Mobile police officers who shut down the protests by shooting
sporadically into the air, causing some of the students to sustain
injuries. prevented them students from further protest.
Former minister heads Olurin’s campaign team
Former Minister for Power and Steel, Tunji Ishola
Sarafa has been appointed as the Chairman of Campaign Committee of the
Peoples Democratic Party{PDP} governorship candidate in Ogun State,
Tunji Olurin.
Mr Sarafa, who was an aide of the incumbent governor,
Gbenga Daniel in 2003 before they later parted ways, was yesterday
announced by the party leadership at the Peoples Democratic Party{PDP}
Secretariat, Onikolobo, Abeokuta.
Other committee members for the campaign team
include, Semiu Sodipo, Dayo Adebayo, Ade Odulaja, Banjo Ogunbiyi and
Michael Fasinu [the Majority Leader of the Ogun State House of
Assembly}.
The inauguration ceremony was witnessed by Mr Olurin,
his deputy, Tunde Oladunjoye, party candidates for State Assembly,
House of Representatives and Senate as well as party chieftains.
‘‘Today, I believe, marks the beginning of our collective journey to a
renewed Ogun State. It is indeed a point whereby our efforts must be
made momentous,” chairman of the party, Dayo Soremi, said. ‘‘We are
gathered today to further spur ourselves with the utmost need to gird
our loins in the bid to ensuring 100% success for our great party at
the April polls. I congratulate all party members to have successfully
come this far.”
The party boss charged the committee as well as
other members to double their efforts in endearing the party and its
candidates to the minds of the masses. ‘‘The time to work more
assidiously than ever for our collective success, the time to
consolidate on our long anticipations and struggles has come ,” he
said.
Working hard
Mr Olurin said the party has mandated the campaign
committee to work hard, just as he called on other members to give
necessary support for the committee. “We must use our experience to
make our party great” expressing optimism that by May 29, 2011 he
would be the next governor of the state alongside with other elected
candidates of the party,” he said.
“We shall not discriminate, our party is well
prepared for election. I believe in unity of PDP in Ogun State. Nobody
will be able to divide us. By May 29, Oke-Mosa straight. We shall win.
My activities has carried me all over the world, it would not be
difficult for us to use that experience.”
Mr Ishola said the job is for all members of the party, assuring
that, his committee will not disappoint the party leadership and
members. ‘‘Our objective is victory at the poll for PDP,’ he said.
‘‘Victory is ours, the sign we see today is a right step in right
direction. I want to enjoin everybody to give maximum support, the
committee shall not let you down.”
Candidate criticises attack on Kwara opposition
The gubernatorial
candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Kwara State, Mohammed
Dele Belgore, has described as political extremism Tuesday’s
demolitions of his billboards and those of other opposition candidates
in the state by thugs suspected to be working for the PDP and the state
government.
Mr. Belgore said
such acts were meant to intimidate Kwarans whom he said wanted a break
from the years of misrule, suppression, and corruption. He, however,
warned that “no amount of intimidation can hold back the drive for
liberation his party is championing in the state.”
Opposition
politicians in Kwara State alleged that the PDP and the state
government sponsored the violent removal of opposition billboards to
impress the visiting Nigerian president that there was no opposition to
the PDP in the state.
All the billboards
belonging to the opposition in the state capital were destroyed,
leaving only billboards belonging to the PDP governorship candidate,
Abdulfatah Ahmed.
“This is to alert
the whole world to the barbarism and political extremism going on in
Kwara State at the instance of the ruling PDP and the state government.
This barbarism is underscored by the recent violent actions of the
thugs loyal to the party, some carrying out their barbaric actions
right under the protection of the state government,” Rafiu Ajakaye, the
media aide to Mr. Belgore, said.
“All the billboards
in Ilorin belonging to the ACN governorship candidate, Mohammed Dele
Belgore, and other opposition candidates were either defaced or
uprooted outrightly by thugs being sponsored by the PDP-led state
government. At Emir’s Road, near the Belgore’s family house, for
instance, these thugs arrived at around 12.30am in a convoy of eight
vehicle containing arms and munitions, shooting sporadically into the
air to scare away any potential challenger of their barbarism, and then
tearing down the billboards.
“These actions were
repeated almost in all the key areas across the state capital,
including at Unity, Airport, and Iyana Afon Junctions, and at the Gairi
Alimi Roundabout, where they destroyed our billboards despite the fact
that the sites were duly registered and paid for under the auspices of
the Kwara State Advertising and Signage Agency (KWASA),” Mr. Ajakaye
said.
Remain calm
Mr. Ajakaye noted
that the message the ruling party and the state government are sending
to the people of Kwara is that the coming April polls would not be free
and fair.
“They have told anybody who cares to listen that the election would be a do-or-die affair,” he said.
Mr. Belgore, who
said he will not support violent reaction to the attacks, said politics
is about improving the lives of the people.
“Such actions can’t
stop liberation effort,” he said, urging the “provoked people” of Kwara
State to remain calm and not take the law into their own hands.
“These barbaric
actions only go to show that the state government and its agent
provocateurs have no respect for law and order,” he said.
Efforts to get the
reaction of Mas’ud Adebimpe, spokesperson to the Kwara State governor,
Bukola Saraki, did not succeed at press time.
Pensioners accuse Oyo governor of deceit
Oyo State
pensioners nearly disrupted the signing of the state’s 2011
appropriation bill on Wednesday as they surged at the main gate of the
governor’s office to protest non-payment of the arrears of their
allowances.
The pensioners, in
an address prepared by their chairman, Lateef Adegoke, accused the
government of Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of consistently falling on
promises to pay the allowances.
“It is exactly 305
days ago, precisely Friday, 30th April, 2010, when Oyo State governor,
Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, promised to commence the payment of the
arrears of 142 % owed Oyo State pensioners,” Mr. Adegoke said.
“On that day, 30th
April, 2010, the secretary to the state government, Olayiwola Olakojo,
issued a press statement in which he stated government’s intention to
pay the arrears. The commissioner for finance, Bayo Bankole, reinforced
this statement, albeit belatedly, on 22nd October, 2010. We were so
sure of these statements that we swallowed hook, line and sinker what
we were being told,” he said, as he relayed the many assurances from
the government.
Mr. Adegoke alleged
that when they kept mounting pressure on the government to fulfil its
promises, its agents told them that the file was already on the
governor’s table, awaiting his signature, and at another time, told
them that the delay was occasioned by the lateness of the state Pension
Board to submit the file.
“We have finally
found out that the governor’s statement of 30th April, 2010, and that
of his commissioner for finance of 22nd October, 2010 were barefaced
lies meant to deceive Oyo State pensioners,” the statement read further.
Despite efforts by
the security personnel manning the governor’s office’s gate to prevent
the senior citizens from entering the premises, noise of their
anti-government chants disturbed the signing of budget going on at the
Executive Council chambers yesterday.
They said that the
government could not pay the arrears even when it has “the money for
obscene frivolities,” adding that the governor was not labour-friendly
and only interested in fighting imaginary foes.
Boost revenue
Speaking at the
budget signing ceremony, the governor said he would intensify effort
this year to boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR),
saying the nation’s monolithic economy is having telling effects on
administration.
While promising the
people of the state to always embark on projects that will put smiles
on their faces, he urged them to ensure that they protect government
properties in their area and try to report any form of vandalism
promptly.
In his own speech,
Olawale Atilola, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, regretted
activities of the legislative arm of government at the state level is
being hampered by their reliance on fund from the executive.
Mr. Atilola informed that his house jerked up the original budget
proposed by the state governor with N4.5 billion to take care of some
areas not adequately catered for.
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