As the sale of the Nigerian Telecommunication Plc
(NITEL) to private investors is mired in controversy, scores of the
company’s staff in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday, staged a
peaceful protest against an alleged clandestine confirmation of
appointment and promotion of some top management staff.

The workers called on the federal government to intervene promptly and stop the purported promotions.

According to the protesters, the promotion will
further complicate the problem of the company when it is finally handed
over to the new owner.

While pleading with the federal government to effect
the payment of a backlog of salaries and allowances, the workers
accused it of contravening a court order which compelled it to
regularise the employment of staff who have remained casual employees
for the past 15 years and pay all their entitlements.

Ganiyu Shittu, the state chairman of the workers,
said since the order was given on 6 November, 2008 the government is
yet to implement it.

The workers said 25 March will mark the 21st month since the government last paid their monthly salaries.

Selective promotion

The staff alleged that senior officers confirmed
their own appointment and embarked on “promotion of some selected staff
to disorganise them”.

Insisting that the exercise was ill-timed, the
workers called for the intervention of the Federal Government, National
Assembly and Bureau of Public Enterprises and other Nigerians in the
matter.

“We wish to draw the attention of the Federal
Government, National Assembly, BPE and other Nigerians to the recent
unpleasant decisions of the top management wherein all the top
management staff had their appointments quietly and hurriedly confirmed
immediately after the last bidding process was concluded by the BPE.

“It is worrisome that at a time when NITEL staff are
appealing daily for the payment of the 20 months salary arrears owed
them by the government and BPE, the top management believes this is the
right time for them to confirm all their acting appointments and pacify
a selected few with promotions on the eve of handling over the company
to a new core investor,” the workers stated.

They also accused the government of not being fair to them by
delaying the payment of their salaries till it gets the proceeds from
the sale of NITEL, saying such was not the case with workers of other
privatised government companies like Ajaokuta Steel Company and the
Nigeria Airways.

Despite a court
order on Monday, asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) to release Francis Okakuro, the Acting Accountant General of
Bayelsa State, the commission yesterday filed a case against the trio
arrested and will charge them to court this week.

A Federal High
Court sitting in Yenagoa had on Monday ordered the release of Mr.
Okakuro and two other directors of the state Ministry of Finance and
Budget. However, the spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said
the commission still relies on a court order allowing them to be held
for two weeks before charging them to court.

“We have filed
charges against them in court already. They are to be arraigned any
moment from now, either tomorrow or the day after. We have a court
order to keep them in custody; we got the order to keep them in custody
last week.

“When we arrested
them last week, because we know that it may not be possible for us to
arraign them immediately, we approached the court to get an order to
keep them for two weeks, an order which was granted and even still
ahead of the two weeks. I know that as at today, charges were filed in
court,” he said.

Order to release

A Justice of the
Federal High Court, Faji, had directed the commission to release Mr.
Okakuro; the Director of Treasury, Abott Clinton; and his predecessor,
Anthony Ikhoboh on liberal bail conditions, pending the determination
of the motion on notice.

The three
applicants had filed a suit against the EFCC for the enforcement of
their fundamental human rights, in line with the provisions of the 1999
Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples
Rights, which do not condone the detention of anyone beyond 48 hours
without charge or trial.

The three senior
officers of the Bayelsa State government have been in the EFCC custody
since March 15, without charge or trial, and claimed that they were
also denied access to their doctors and relations.

In a statement by Doifie Ola, the chief press secretary to the
Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva deplored the arrest of the three,
describing the EFCC action as “crude, wondering why his men would be
taken away by the EFCC when no crime has been established.”

Despite a court
order on Monday, asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) to release Francis Okakuro, the Acting Accountant General of
Bayelsa State, the commission yesterday filed a case against the trio
arrested and will charge them to court this week.

A Federal High
Court sitting in Yenagoa had on Monday ordered the release of Mr.
Okakuro and two other directors of the state Ministry of Finance and
Budget. However, the spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said
the commission still relies on a court order allowing them to be held
for two weeks before charging them to court.

“We have filed
charges against them in court already. They are to be arraigned any
moment from now, either tomorrow or the day after. We have a court
order to keep them in custody; we got the order to keep them in custody
last week.

“When we arrested
them last week, because we know that it may not be possible for us to
arraign them immediately, we approached the court to get an order to
keep them for two weeks, an order which was granted and even still
ahead of the two weeks. I know that as at today, charges were filed in
court,” he said.

Order to release

A Justice of the
Federal High Court, Faji, had directed the commission to release Mr.
Okakuro; the Director of Treasury, Abott Clinton; and his predecessor,
Anthony Ikhoboh on liberal bail conditions, pending the determination
of the motion on notice.

The three
applicants had filed a suit against the EFCC for the enforcement of
their fundamental human rights, in line with the provisions of the 1999
Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples
Rights, which do not condone the detention of anyone beyond 48 hours
without charge or trial.

The three senior
officers of the Bayelsa State government have been in the EFCC custody
since March 15, without charge or trial, and claimed that they were
also denied access to their doctors and relations.

In a statement by Doifie Ola, the chief press secretary to the
Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva deplored the arrest of the three,
describing the EFCC action as “crude, wondering why his men would be
taken away by the EFCC when no crime has been established.”

As the Senate
votes today to adopt the amendments of some sections of the 1999
Constitution, some of the recommendations of the review committee may
not get the required support.

Following the
submission of the draft Constitution, with special interest on
electoral reform, by the Senate Constitution Review Committee last
week, the Senate had gone on to consider clause by clause, the
alterations being sought, as recommended by its review committee, and
slated voting on the alterations for today.

However, the
recommendation by the review committee to delete section 68 (g) from
the 1999 constitution did not enjoy popular support from the Senators.
The section prohibits lawmakers from changing parties unless there is a
division in the party platform on which they were elected.

Contentious section

A sizable number
of senators, enough to deny the clause the required two-third majority
needed to pass it, opposed the recommendation by the review committee
to delete the section, saying it will discourage politics of ideology.

Ike Ekweremadu,
the deputy Senate president who led the review committee however argued
that the provision was necessary because it was infringing on
politicians’ right to free association.

He said the
section was deleted to allow for “liberalization of the political space
and maintaining the fundamental human right to freedom of association,”
adding that since the amended constitution will allow for independent
candidates, it was only fair that every other restriction should be
removed.

Olorunnimbe Mamora
(AC Lagos state) and the rest of his colleagues that argued against the
deletion of the restricting section said it was immoral for politicians
to cross carpet and that there is no freedom without restrictions.

“No freedom is absolute,” Mr. Mamora observed.

Another amendment
which will not likely get the consent of the 73 senators required to
pass it is the upgrade of the educational qualification needed by
politicians aspiring to run for elected positions.

The review
committee recommended that one of the qualifications for election
should be that the aspirant must have received tertiary education and
obtain the relevant certificates. The recommendation was also opposed
by some senators, although they were less in number than those opposed
to the scrapping of section 68 (g).

This will sail through

An insertion of
two clauses in section 228 to enable the National Assembly make laws
that will regulate how political parties practice internal democracy
was widely cheered by the People’s Democratic Party senators, and is
one recommendation that is sure to get the highest number of “yes”
votes.

“The National
Assembly may by law provide for guidelines and rules to ensure internal
democracy within political parties, including making laws for the
conduct of party primaries, and party conventions,” the draft reads.

The section also
includes the power for the National Assembly to confer on the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), when necessary, the
powers to ensure that the political parties observe internal democracy.

An insertion to
account for every day a governor or president whose election was
annulled but who eventually wins the re-run election spends before the
re-run election, was also very popular with the senators.

“In the
calculation of the four year term, where a re-election has taken place
and the person earlier sworn in wins, the time spent in the office
before the date the election was annulled, shall be taken into
account,” the clause reads.

Other
recommendations that are likely to be passed include clauses which make
the Independent National Electoral Commission and its chairman above
the authority of the president or any other body, and those that will
make the commission, the National Assembly and the Judiciary
financially independent of the executive.

The independent
candidacy clauses and the recommendations to conduct election within 30
days and not earlier than 150 days before swearing in and not later
than 90 days before the swearing in date will be passed as well.

“We now throw the balls back to the people of Nigeria,” Ayogu Eze, the Senate spokesman said in an interview after the plenary.

The votes will be cast electronically and each senator will vote 39 times on the 39 sections up for amendment.

As the Senate
votes today to adopt the amendments of some sections of the 1999
Constitution, some of the recommendations of the review committee may
not get the required support.

Following the
submission of the draft Constitution, with special interest on
electoral reform, by the Senate Constitution Review Committee last
week, the Senate had gone on to consider clause by clause, the
alterations being sought, as recommended by its review committee, and
slated voting on the alterations for today.

However, the
recommendation by the review committee to delete section 68 (g) from
the 1999 constitution did not enjoy popular support from the Senators.
The section prohibits lawmakers from changing parties unless there is a
division in the party platform on which they were elected.

Contentious section

A sizable number
of senators, enough to deny the clause the required two-third majority
needed to pass it, opposed the recommendation by the review committee
to delete the section, saying it will discourage politics of ideology.

Ike Ekweremadu,
the deputy Senate president who led the review committee however argued
that the provision was necessary because it was infringing on
politicians’ right to free association.

He said the
section was deleted to allow for “liberalization of the political space
and maintaining the fundamental human right to freedom of association,”
adding that since the amended constitution will allow for independent
candidates, it was only fair that every other restriction should be
removed.

Olorunnimbe Mamora
(AC Lagos state) and the rest of his colleagues that argued against the
deletion of the restricting section said it was immoral for politicians
to cross carpet and that there is no freedom without restrictions.

“No freedom is absolute,” Mr. Mamora observed.

Another amendment
which will not likely get the consent of the 73 senators required to
pass it is the upgrade of the educational qualification needed by
politicians aspiring to run for elected positions.

The review
committee recommended that one of the qualifications for election
should be that the aspirant must have received tertiary education and
obtain the relevant certificates. The recommendation was also opposed
by some senators, although they were less in number than those opposed
to the scrapping of section 68 (g).

This will sail through

An insertion of
two clauses in section 228 to enable the National Assembly make laws
that will regulate how political parties practice internal democracy
was widely cheered by the People’s Democratic Party senators, and is
one recommendation that is sure to get the highest number of “yes”
votes.

“The National
Assembly may by law provide for guidelines and rules to ensure internal
democracy within political parties, including making laws for the
conduct of party primaries, and party conventions,” the draft reads.

The section also
includes the power for the National Assembly to confer on the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), when necessary, the
powers to ensure that the political parties observe internal democracy.

An insertion to
account for every day a governor or president whose election was
annulled but who eventually wins the re-run election spends before the
re-run election, was also very popular with the senators.

“In the
calculation of the four year term, where a re-election has taken place
and the person earlier sworn in wins, the time spent in the office
before the date the election was annulled, shall be taken into
account,” the clause reads.

Other
recommendations that are likely to be passed include clauses which make
the Independent National Electoral Commission and its chairman above
the authority of the president or any other body, and those that will
make the commission, the National Assembly and the Judiciary
financially independent of the executive.

The independent
candidacy clauses and the recommendations to conduct election within 30
days and not earlier than 150 days before swearing in and not later
than 90 days before the swearing in date will be passed as well.

“We now throw the balls back to the people of Nigeria,” Ayogu Eze, the Senate spokesman said in an interview after the plenary.

The votes will be cast electronically and each senator will vote 39 times on the 39 sections up for amendment.

Isa Yuguda, the
governor of Bauchi State, has expressed optimism that Acting President
Goodluck Jonathan will choose a team that will help to drive the
economy as fast as possible.

Mr. Yuguda, who is
a son-in-law to the ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua, said, “he is fast
recovering.” He told journalists at the Presidential Villa after a
private meeting with Mr. Jonathan, that the country needs a team that
will help to reposition it for vision 2020.

The advice from
Mr. Yuguda is coming despite the belief in some quarters that as a
close confidant of Mr. Yar’Adua, he was not in support of the
dissolution of the cabinet by the Acting President last week.

Ignorant Gaddafi

In reaction to the
Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi’s statement that Nigeria should be split
into two, Mr. Yuguda said he should have studied the country before
making such an outrageous comment.

“That is
unfortunate and I don’t know whether Gaddafi knows Nigeria. I don’t
know whether he knows that Nigeria has close to 500 tribes. I don’t
know whether he knows that adherents of Christianity and Islam are
spread across the 36 states. So for him to suggest that Nigeria should
be sliced into two, I think he must be a big joker.

“We don’t even have
religious crisis in our country. What we have are purely ethnic
clashes, and these clashes are caused by economic hardship and
sometimes envy, and the international community views it as a religious
issue.”

Mr. Gaddaffi had said the solution to the sectarian crisis in
Nigeria was dividing the country into two, the North for the Muslims,
and the South for Christians.