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ITF denies corruption allegations

• ‘They’re baseless malicious’

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has denied allegations of high-handedness and corruption levelled against the management, saying they are unfounded, malicious and not in the interest of the economy.

According to a statement, signed by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the Fund, Mrs. Ifeoma Ihezue, the allegations are calculated strategies by enemies of accountability to disrupt the giant strides being made by the Fund under the administration for their selfish gains.

ITF Director-General, Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, while calling on the Federal Government to address hooliganism in unionism, said labour unions should continue to tread the path of integrity for which past labour leaders were known.

The peddlers of the malicious information, the statement said, had tried every means to drag the image of the ITF leadership in the mud without success, which is the reason they have again resorted to instigating a protest.

“A situation where our labour unions allow themselves to be used by a few people, who want power by all means, to disrupt laudable policies that would eventually be in their long-term interest, and in the interest of the economy, is not acceptable. In ITF, it cannot be business as usual again, in the interest of efficient and effective skills development. This exactly is what a few people are trying to fight for reasons best known to them,” the statement added, noting, however, that welfare conditions have been at their best ever under the administration.

The ITF, however, exdenied the allegations of the union, pointing out the fallacies in them, adding that the administration, has tried to take the activities of the Fund to an enviable height while striving hard to cut costs.

“We wish to refute the allegation of corruption in its entirety. The present DG has been commended severally for her financial prudence and her objectivity in tackling issues. On several occasions, she had directed for the renegotiation of certain outrageous contracts that were awarded in the past, thereby achieving huge savings for the fund,” the statement said.

Pres Buhari, Osinbajo, others to attend Ooni’s coronation

Ooni

•Public holiday Dec 7

president Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara are expected at the coronation and presentation of staff of office to the 51st Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

The over one week event will climax next Monday with the presentation of staff of office  by Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Addressing a pre-coronation briefing at the palace yesterday, the monarch’s elder brother, Prince Adegboyega, said invites have been sent to 27 governors, members of the National Assembly and other dignitaries.

He said: “There will be a coronation carnival round the town today.  Tomorrow, there will be artistes’ coronation day.

“On Thursday, there will be traditional worshippers’ day. A Jumat service will hold on Friday. Also on that day, there will be a youth carnival and fashion parade.

“A football match between Ajiroba FC and Shooting Stars of Ibadan is scheduled for Saturday.

“On Sunday, there will be an interdenominational service at Enuwa Square and inauguration of Ife Resorts.

“The grand finale is on Monday with the presentation of staff of office.

“The programme will be rounded off on December 13 with a thanksgiving service at St. Saviour Anglican Church, Ayegbaju, Ile-Ife.”

The Chairman, Publicity Committee, Biyi Odunlade, said December 7 has been declared a public holiday to allow residents participate in the programme.

According to Odunlade, the event will be historic.

Amaechi orders probe of Maritime Academy over N18b funds

Amaechi

Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi is set to probe the accounts of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State over the N18 billion  released to the institution.

Amaechi, it was gathered,  has ordered the immediate audit of the accounts of the Academy  and the tenure of its Rector, Joshua Okpo.

The Rector, it was gathered,  incurred the Minister’s wrath last week when he accused the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of starving the academy of funds. The Minister, it was learnt,  summoned the Acting Director-General of NIMASA, Haruna Jauro and demanded explanation as to why the agency was starving the academy of its statutory five per cent funds.

“The NIMASA DG was really shocked by Okpo’s allegation and he explained to the Honourable Minister that NIMASA had regularly released money due to the academy,” a source said.

Jauro, it was learnt, also informed the Minister that NIMASA had released more than N18 billion to MAN Oron between 2009 and 2014.

It was at this point that Okpo, who also attended the meeting, confirmed to the Minister that the academy had actually received up to N13 billion since 2011 when he assumed duties as the Rector of the institution, the source added.

“When asked by the Minister  to explain what he had done with the huge sums of money released to the academy against the backdrop of lack of physical infrastructural development of the institution, Okpo was short of a convincing explanation prompting the Minister to order an immediate audit of the academy’s account from 2009 to date,” the source said.

The Deputy Public Relations of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka said the financial activities of the  institution might be probed by the government.

Senegal U-23 Nations Cup: Siasia says Dream Team will improve against Egypt

• Says new defenders need time to blend
• Happy with his attackers

U-23 national coach, Samson Siasia believes his players were lucky not to lose to Mali who came close to drawing level in Sunday’s group B opening match of the Africa U-23 Nations Championship. Nigeria won the encounter 3-2 to top the group.

“It was a difficult match. We played very well in the beginning and scored three goals. The defenders made two mistakes which cost us, and they (Mali) scored twice. The defenders panicked and they (Mali) almost equalised. I guess we were lucky to escape,” said the coach.

“I am very happy and also thank God Almighty for winning the first group match against Mali. The first game of every tournament is always very difficult and needs to be handled with utmost care if not you may lose the game and put serious pressure on the team in the remaining two matches of the group. Now that we won the first match we know what to do to win the second that we expect will be more difficult and technical. Playing against Egypt won’t be easy at all but we will work hard on the field of play to win the match”, Siasia told SportingLife from Senegal yesterday.

Ahead of Wednesday’s second game against Egypt, Siasia has promised to parade a more desperate and result oriented team. The coach sees the match as a titanic battle, as who wins will qualify for the next round of the competition. The competition serves as Africa’s qualifiers to determine its representatives for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Siasia, who showed appreciation to all Nigerians that supported him when his mother, Madam Beauty Ogere Siasia was kidnapped before she was rescued by the Bayelsa State Police in the early hours of Saturday, urged Nigerians to be patient with his team as they won’t disappoint.

“We have identified the problematic area in the team which is the defense line. We have always paraded a very strong defense line but the inclusion of some new players has not made the line to be very effective against the Malians. The players that have joined are some of the best we have in the league but just needed time to blend together. I can assure everybody that they will leave up to their billings in the next match against Egypt.

He also showered praises on his forward line comprising Taiwo Awoniyi, Junior Ajayi and Etebor Oghenekaro. “The boys did everything most especially in the first half to get the goals. I am very optimistic that the team will perform better against Egypt. Junior Ajayi was exceptionally good in the match,”Siasia said.

Seven school - girls die in hostel fire

Seven pupils died on Sunday night when a “mysterious” fire razed the Government Girls’ Secondary School (GGSS) at Jogana, Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

The fire, according to an eyewitness, started at 8.10pm, when the pupils were preparing to go to bed.

A security man, who pleaded not to be named, said: “…The school was in darkness because there was no power supply. The pupils had taken their dinner and were preparing to retire to bed when we heard the girls screaming from Alhaji Sani Yaro Ahmed Hostel.

“We thought they were being attacked by rapists. But we saw thick smoke coming out of the hostel. As we rushed to the place, there was stampede: the pupils struggled to escape from the fire.”

It was learnt that the casualty figure was high because the pupils rushed through a narrow gate, which caused the stampede.

The eyewitness confided that the death of the seven pupils was as a result of a stampede that ensued when they were struggling to escape from the narrow gate of the hostel when the fire engulfed the hostel.

Our reporter, who visited the school yesterday, observed that the Alhaji Sani Yaro Ahmed Hostel, the largest of the 13 in the school, was reduced to rubble.

The eight apartments, housing over 200 pupils, was also razed.

The headteacher, Hajia Khadijat J. Gambo, was speechless.

When our reporter sought her comment on the incident, she said: “You can see it all. I am a sad woman. I have managed to file my reports to the appropriate authorities and I have been instructed not to speak.”

As at the time of filing this report, the school management had handed over the bodies of the dead to their parents.

Kano State Deputy Governor Hafiz Abubakar, who doubles as commissioner for Education, described the incident as mysterious.

He confirmed the death of the seven pupils, adding that the government would pay the bills of the injured, who are getting treatment at government hospitals.

Abubakar, who read the welcome address during the inauguration of State and Local Government Education Promotion Committees at the Coronation Hall of the Government House, told the gathering about the incident.

He said: “This event is holding because it has already been planned. There was a fire at the GGSS, Jogana. Seven girls died and 25 others were injured. We pray for the repose of their souls and quick recovery of the injured.”

The deputy governor said the incident occurred at 8:30pm on Sunday, adding: “…The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained; it remains mysterious.”

Police Commissioner Mohammed Musa Katsina also visited the school.

Addressing reporters on the incident, Katsina said: “You are aware it was a fatal fire, which led to the death of seven pupils. Many others were injured. I am moved and I stand in solidarity with the people of the state in this moment of grief. I console the state government, parents of these pupils and other people of Kano. May Allah give us the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

It was learnt that the school, which was established 40 years ago, has experienced three “mysterious” fire incidents.

Lagos files 111-count charge against Synagogue & others

•Three defendants’ absence stalls trial

The Lagos State Government has preferred a 111-count charge against the Registered Trustees of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) and some engineers over the September 12, 2014 collapsed building in which 116 people, mostly South Africans were killed.

But, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of the Ikeja High Court, yesterday adjourned their arraignment till December 11 because of the state’s inability to serve three of the defendants.

The charge borders on the defendants alleged failure to obtain approval for the collapsed building contrary to Section 41 of the Urban and Regional Planning Laws of Lagos State and involuntary manslaughter contrary to Section 222 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

The Registered Trustees of SCOAN comprises some leaders of the church, but only one member of the SCOAN Trustees was present at yesterday’s proceedings. He represented the other Trustees.

A Coroner Inquest set up by Lagos State and presided over by Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, ruled on August 7, 2015, that SCOAN and its contractors were essentially negligent in the collapse of the six-storey guesthouse.

The defendants in the suit are: the Registered Trustees of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company, Jadny Trust Limited, Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun.

Yesterday, lead prosecution counsel and Lagos State Attorney-General, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, informed the court that only two of the five defendants had been served due to invalid addresses of the 3rd to 5th defendants.

“We confirm that Synagogue Trustees and the Hardrock Construction Company have been served. The other defendants in the matter could not be served because their addresses are not valid,” he said.

Counsel to the 1st and 2nd defendants, Mr Seun Abimbola, however, contested this claim.

“The state cannot say that they don’t have valid address because they were served in previous proceedings. The engineers, Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun were even arrested by the police and charged before a Magistrate’s Court where they were later released on bail,” Abimbola said.

After listening to both arguments, Justice Lawal-Akapo cautioned the defence counsel that the matter is a criminal one with a sensitive nature.

“Service in any proceeding is fundamental and anything done outside of this is a nullity. The defence counsel is hereby directed to oblige the prosecution team with valid addresses of the 3rd, 4th and 5th defendant within 72 hours,” the judge held.

Faleke, Bello’s supporters clash at APC secretariat

Supporters of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who was chosen to replace the late Prince Abubakar Audu in this weekend’s supplementary election in Kogi State and those of James Abiodun Falake clashed yesterday at the APC National Secretariat.

The supporters, carrying sticks and stones, tore at one another as policemen looked helpless and unable to curtail them.

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who arrived at the secretariat at about the time the supporters were beginning to go violent, abandoned his car at the gate and walked into the secretariat.

A few seconds later, Faleke arrived the scene, sparking off the fight between the supporters who started throwing stones.

Some carrying sticks started chasing one another.

An elderly man wearing a blue brocade with a cap to match was seen calling some of the protesters who were running away from the scene to return.

Some policemen took cover to avoid being hit by stones.

One of the vehicles on Faleke’s convoy was hit on the bonnet by a stone.

Mobile policemen were drafted to the secretariat.

Bello arrived the APC secretariat with his supporters at about 2.45pm and immediately went into the office of the National Secretary. His supporters practically blocked the gate, chanting Sai Yahaya Bello.

They carried placard.

As early as 9.00, security had been strengthened at the secretariat.

Visitors were restricted. Journalists were subjected to heavy security checks before being allowed into the secretariat.

The meeting of the party leadership with stakeholders of the party in Kogi State, which was earlier scheduled to begin at about 10.00a.m., did not start until about 4.00pm.

At the meeting were Bello, Faleke, El-Rufai, who was chairman of the panel that conducted the Kogi governorship primary of the party, Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Mohammed Okhiare, among other APC leaders from the state.

Confusion in APC - Kogi

Faleke insists he’s governor-elect as party picks Bello for supplementary poll

Rival claimants’ supporters clash at secretariat

Wada to court: give me victory

Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders yesterday remained firm in their support for Abiodun Faleke, the late Prince Abubakar Audu’s running mate in the November 21 governorship election. Faleke is battling for recognition as his principal’s replacement and governor-elect.

News of Audu’s death was broken barely 24 hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  announced his unassailable victory in 16 of the 21 local government areas. The commission declared the exercise inconclusive, fixing next Saturday for supplementary elections in 91 units across 19 local government areas.

There was confusion over the party’s stand on the matter as Yahaya Bello was picked to fly its flag on Saturday. Faleke told INEC that he would not be Bello’s running mate.

Addressing hundreds of party supporters in the late Audu’s Government Reservation Area (GRA) Lokoja home, the APC leaders, led by former Minister of Police Affairs Mr. Humphrey Abah, denounced members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), over what they described as their attempt to bring in a candidate through the back door.

They called on the national leadership of the party to name Faleke the Kogi APC candidate and the eldest son of the late Audu, Mohammed, his deputy.

They said that any attempt to pick a candidate who was not part of the party’s victory was unacceptable.

Faleke and Mohammed Audu were surrounded on  the podium by party leaders, including former Acting Governor and APC Board of Trustees (BoT) member Chief Clarence Olafemi, the state deputy chairman of the party, Shaibu Osune, Hon. Enah Oseni, Alhaji Jibrin Isah (Echocho), Daniel Isa (Prof.), Alhaji Ibrahim Atodo and Mrs Folashade Joseph, chairperson, Women Mobilisation, Audu/Faleke campaign team. They said they would move to Abuja to push their stand.

Amid shouts of “we no go gree, we no go gree, Kogi INEC we no go gree”, Yahaya Bello anti-party, we no want Judas, we no go gree”, Abah called on Kogi people to reject Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the APC national chairman and his choice, Yahaya Bello.

His words: “From here, we are accompanying our leaders to Abuja. When people choose their leaders, a clique of others cannot now decide to impose anybody on them. Kogi is not a lawless state. Kogi has leaders.

You cannot choose for us who will lead us; you cannot bring someone through the back door.

“The man they want to bring, he worked for the PDP. We were in Ajaokuta on campaign; was he there? We were in Anyingba; did he come? The vice president came to Okene; was he there? We were in Ajaka, twice, was he there? Did he win in his unit? Did he win in his ward?

Did he win in his local government?

“Do you know what killed PDP? Dictatorship, impunity and corruption. If the National Working Committee of the APC led by Chief John Oyegun, decides … from Yahaya Bello, he is on his own.

“We stand by President Buhari’s anti-corruption. We reject PDP sickness. We stand on the President’s mantra that he will not allow corruption, he will not allow wuruwuru. We stand on the mandate of our late father, Prince Abubakar Audu. We are all his children. He has children and we are all his political children.”

Echocho said: “The happiness we have today is that our leader will continue to live with us. Our leader fought to liberate Kogi and we are assuring him that we will continue to fight for our liberation.

Mohammed and Faleke are properly grounded to liberate Kogi State and nobody can steal our mandate.”

Reading from a prepared text, Faleke said Audu’s demise has created a huge vacuum that will be difficult to fill.

He described the circumstances that brought about the present logjam in the state as unfortunate.

He said: “As if waiting for the demise of this great and illustrious son of this land, the reactionaries pounced in on the situation and made fruitless attempts at truncating the process that ordinarily should have led to a smooth transition of power from the visionless handlers of our state to a new path of rescuing the state.

“As part of their devilish agenda, they tried unsuccessfully to push for the suspension of the declaration of our party as winner of the election which to all intent and purpose is adjudged to be free, fair and best election held in recent times in our state.”

Quoting from portions of the 1999 Constitution, Faleke said: “As it stands today, I remain the only person holding on to those votes cast for our party and no other person, going back to the primary election conducted on the 28th of August 2015, whose life span expired immediately Prince Abubakar Audu emerged the candidate and the party requested him to nominate a deputy in accordance to the constitutional provisions in Section 187.

“Our late leader duly exercised this (Section 187) right by nominating my humble self and the party therefore handed over to us the INEC nomination form as its flag bearers. The party primary process therefore remains an ad hoc tool mainly for the purpose of producing a candidate for the party.

“Without me as a deputy governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu would not have been qualified to run for the election.”

He continued: “Did Alhaji Yahaya Bello participate fully in all the stages of the election? The answer is capital no. While his participation in the pary primaries is not in doubt, he did not participate in campaigns, meetings, neither did he mobilise voters to vote for our party. Instead, we have it on record that he lost not only his polling unit, but his ward. This presupposes that he worked against our party at the elections. For emphasis, the results from his polling unit is APC 88- PDP 119, his ward result is APC 1,146 to PDP 2,058.

“Whereever we went for campaigns in villages and towns, all the promises we jointly made to our people are known by me as a close companion and confidant of our late leader and I wish to assure all Kogites that those promises will be fulfilled and therefore urge our people to remain peaceful and law abiding and that no matter how long it takes, the mandate will be defended, sustained and maintained.

“Mohammed Audu, the first son of Prince Abubakar Audu, and myself are on the same page on this matter and are both resolved to do right by the law.”

Audu’s son condemns dad’s replacement

Mohammed, the eldest son of the late Prince Abubakar Audu who died during the Kogi State governorship election, said yesterday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had not informed him of the party’s replacement for his dad.

Any attempt to replace him while the mourning period “is ongoing is a backyard move”, he said.

He spoke at a news conference in Audu’s hometown, Ogonicha, in Ofu local government area of the state. The news conference was attended by the late Audu’s running mate Hon. James Faleke.

Mohammed who declined to speak further on the issue because the occasion was the Eighth day prayer for the repose of the soul of his father, promised to speak further at a later date.

“Our mission here is to pray for the repose of his soul. It is too soon to be discussing politics. I will like us to focus more on the mourning.

“As you can see, people are still wearing long faces”.

Faleke declined to comment on Audu’s replacement. He promised to address a news conference today.

Ooni begins work on N7.6b resort in Ile-Ife

Ooni

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has begun work on a N7.6 billion resort in the ancient town.

The Ife Grand Resort & Leisure is sited near the Ile-Ife toll gate on the Ife-Ibadan Expressway.

The project will be a replica but a far better model of his Inagbe Grand Resort in Lagos, built for N3.5 billion.

A close associate of the monarch said the project, a seven-star hotel, would consist of 300 rooms.

Facilities in the resort will include an artificial lake on which an 8,000-capacity floating bar will stand, spas, a golf course, three swimming pools, a lawn tennis court, an indoor sports hall, 30 horses and quad bikes for pleasure ride.

The resort will also feature a children’s play centre mud brick houses, and a 5,000- guest hall.

Most of the materials to be used will be sourced from Ile-Ife and processed by the monarch’s factory.

Operating under the corporate name Gran Imperio Limited, Ogunwusi’s company specialises in developing estates and resorts.

The source added that the sites for other resorts had been acquired in Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Maiduguri.

The monarch, in his speech after his selection, said he would embark on activities to develop Ile-Ife.

Oba Ogunwusi is to be inaugurated as the 51st Ooni on December 7.

Wada blasts INEC for doing hatchet job on Kogi poll

Captain Idris Wada

Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State yesterday accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of carrying out a hatchet job.

He said he should be declared the winner of the November 21 poll because the death of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Abubakar Audu , has made him candidate with the highest votes cast.

He said Abubakar’s votes had died with him.

The governor made the claims in a statement  by his Chief Communications Manager, Mr. Phrank Shaibu.

He  said: “Having had more time to study the INEC’s decision; I was left with no choice but to concl

ude that the commission embarked on a hatchet’s job”.

He said: “My conclusion was reinforced by the fact that ‘whatever votes Audu scored in the election died with him. INEC simply overreached itself, and I wonder why a body established to be the custodian of the rule of law would ignore the fundamentals of the rule of law in arriving at the decision not to issue him a certificate of return.”

Wada faulted INEC’s argument that APC’s right to substitution was sustained by the Electoral Act.

He said the electoral body should know that it is for the court, not the Commission, to determine which course of action is effective or not.

”In arriving at a decision, INEC merely carried out the directives of the Attorney-General of the Federation. The AGF was not competent to issue directives to INEC to allow APC to substitute its candidate for the Kogi governorship poll and that such directives were null and void for its inconsistency with the provisions of the constitution.

’’To us as a party, the most egregious of thefaux pas committed by INEC is  asking the APC to  lawfully nominate a candidate for the supplementary governorship election without a valid and legally cognisable primary election of the party conducted within the mandatory timeliness specified by the Electoral Act.

”It is our considered opinion that, INEC, more than any other body, ought to know that having regards to the provisions of Section 141 of the Electoral Act, 2010, votes scored by a candidate who died during an election cannot be inherited by or transferred to a person who was not a candidate at the said election and who did not participate in all stages of such election, for the purpose of concluding such election, “ Shaibu said.

He said it was on the strength of the position of the Electoral Act on the developments in Kogi State that he has asked the court to compel the INEC to issue him with a certificate of return.

The statement said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was “hopeful that the court will issue an order of injunction restraining APC from organising or holding a fresh primary election for the purpose of any supplementary election having regard to the immutable statutory timelines provided by enabling sections of the Electoral Act 2010 and the INEC timetable for Kogi governorship election.

The nation

Airports security under threat cab operators cry out

Car hire operators have raised the alarm over security threats at the nation’s airports as a result of the operation of illegal cab operators.

The Airport Car Hire Association of Nigeria (ACHAN) said unless the government curbed the activities of illegal cab drivers at the airports, security of passengers and facilities around the terminals could be compromised.

According to them, 98 per cent of missing passengers’ cases are linked to those who boarded unregistered cabs at the airports. Those drivers have been established to have taken passengers to unknown locations.

The operators said terrorists could infiltrate such cabs to bomb airport facilities since they often  drive close to the arrival halls.

President of ACHAN, Chief Stanley Worlu Dike, said the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)  should put urgent measures in place to curtail their operations as they have increasingly infiltrated major airports in the country.

Chief Dike urged FAAN to provide office spaces for ACHAN members since the association complements the efforts of government in providing job opportunities for young Nigerians.

Chairman, Board of Trustees of ACHAN, Alhaji Muili Yinusa, said the military location at the General Aviation Terminal 1 in Lagos has become a safe haven for such unregistered operators.

He said: ” A lot of illegal vehicles operate from the military location at the GAT and when they steal passengers’ luggage or property, the victims run down to look for the Chairman of ACHAN”

Alhaji Yinusa urged FAAN to cancel the proposed ‘Pay As You Go’ policy the airports management authority is planning to impose on ACHAN members.

“We pay millions of naira to FAAN annually, so we are supposed to enjoy certain privileges as other concessionaire.”, he added.

Federal civil servants allege anomalies in promotion exams

Senior civil servants have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the “injustice” perpetrated by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (HCSF) and the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) over their promotion examinations.

The senior civil servants, who are professionals in the accountant pool, accused the Head of Service’s office and the Civil Service Commission of manipulating service rules to demoralise long-serving and dedicated civil servants.

The aggrieved civil servants cited the last promotion examination held in Abuja last September for officers on directorate cadre as capable of derailing the civil service.

They alleged that the anomalies witnessed in the examination were unprecedented.

A civil service source, who spoke on behalf of those affected and pleaded not to be named, regretted that they were made to work in vain.

The source said: “The most affected officers were those on Grade Levels 14 and 15 that took the examination for the next grade level.

“In our opinion, Mr. President must act fast on this. About 189 officers sat for the examination for Assistant Directors’ Level. Over 200 sat for Deputy Directors’ examination.

“These officers were made to work hard for the examination, but it was like the authorities just played a trick on us.

“I say this because after an examination, it is incumbent on those that sat for it to know the result. But that was never the case in our own situation. We did not see our results; so we don’t know who passed or failed. There was no list we can refer to and that was against the rules.

“More demoralising is the fact that of about 189 that sat for the Assistant Director examination, only nine were promoted. Does that mean that the rest failed?”

The source added: “I think non-release of the result was to create room for manipulation because for accountants, 38 Assistant Director vacancies were declared by the Office of the Accountant General (OAGF) last year.

“So, the question is: what happened to the 31 vacancies left since only nine were promoted to the position of Assistant Director?

“The case of over 200 Assistant Directors that sat for the Deputy Directors’ examination was even worse.

“After the examination that also had no result list, the unfortunate senior civil servants were told there were no vacancies to fill. So, no promotion.

“Is there anything more demoralising and frustrating more than that?

“Again, the question is: why was the examination conducted and those concerned made to suffer, waste energy, time and resources at the risk of their lives?”

Among other demands, she said the aggrieved workers must be availed the results of the examinations as well as declaration of available vacancies before future examination.

“In addition, we want President Buhari to address this obnoxious issue of direct employment into directorate cadre.

“It should be discouraged and if not, it should be subjected to strict guidelines because as it is presently, there is nothing more demoralising than this direct appointment of people into the directorate cadre,” the source said.

The source added that failure to address the issue would be followed by an invitation to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and court action.

The FCSC, however, exonerated itself, denying any form of complicity in the said promotion examinations.

At a news conference last week, Chairman, Sub Committee on Promotion, FCSC Prof. Aminu Diyo Sheidu said the process leading to the examination involved other bodies and security agencies.

He said: “When all scores for each candidate were already added together, candidates in each cadre were ranked in their order of performance. Ranking was done using relevant computer software. But the accuracy was checked and rechecked over and over again by the commissioners with the active participation of the security personnel.

“Based on the vacancies approved by the OHCSF for each cadre, the best candidates were selected for promotion.

“I am sure you will agree with me that our Directorate Levels Promotion Examination processes and procedures are quite rigorous and painstaking. These procedures are measures adopted in self-regulations to ensure the integrity and transparency of the entire exercise.

“As you are all aware, a critical condition for promotion of an officer is the availability of vacancy. The FCSC has no control over the number of vacancies declared. The OHCSF does. The FCSC shall continuously strive to improve on the promotion processes and procedures. It will also work harmoniously with the OHCSF to improve vacancy availability.

The nation

I won’t surrender people’s mandate - Faleke to Oyegun

THE crisis created by the demise of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Kogi State’s governorship election, Prince Abubakar Audu, seems to be growing fast.

Audu’s running mate in the November 21 election, James Abiodun Faleke, has declined to pair with Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who has been named the party’s candidate for the supplementary election on Saturday, insisting that he should be declared governor-elect on the APC platform.

The APC looked set to win the election but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared it inconclusive, following the inability of some registered voters to vote in 91 units.

In a letter to APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Faleke dissociated himself from the supplementary poll, which he insisted was unnecessary since the November 21 governorship election produced the candidates of the APC as clear winners.

He said rather than substitute its late standard bearer at the governorship election for the purpose of a supplementary election, the party ought to have urged the electoral umpire to declare it the winner of the poll since the expected results from the scheduled election would be inconsequential.

In the 91 units, there are 49,000 registered would-be voters. Of the lot, only 25,000 have voter cards. The APC is leading by 41,000 votes.

“Please take this letter as confirmation to dissociate myself from the unusual and strange supplementary nomination of my humble self as running mate to Alhaji Yahaya Bello, this also serves as a notice of rejection of the purported and illegal nomination of myself as running mate to Alhaji Yahaya Bello,” Faleke wrote in the letter to Odigie-Oyegun.

He said it would amount to a betrayal of trust and injustice on the part of the party to pick Bello who, according to him, joined forces with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the APC during the election, as the inheritor of all the late Audu and himself put into the campaigns to ensure victory for the APC.

Besides, Faleke faulted the APC for attempting to shave his head behind him, claiming that no one consulted him before his name was forwarded as running mate to Bello.

The letter reads: “I wish to put it on record that I was neither consulted by anybody before my name was submitted as running mate to a man who has since the conduct of primaries, abandoned the party, took the party to court, worked for the PDP, thereby causing our party to lose his polling unit 80 votes to his ally party PDPs 116, repeating same feat at the Ward level with APC scoring 1,146 to PDP’s 2,058.

“While it is true that the said Alhaji Yahaya Bello participated in our party primaries, its trite that party primaries are conducted to produce a candidate and once a candidate is produced, the congress, being an ad-hoc tool for that purpose, should automatically extinguish.

“It is clear from this injustice, that our party is on the path of rewarding disloyalty and discourage loyalty through this act of impunity for which we all fought the PDP.

“It may also interest you Mr. Chairman Sir, that the said Yahaya Bello, since the conduct of the primaries, had been aloof from party activities as it is on record that he did not attend a single meeting or campaign rally of the party.

“Mr. Chairman Sir, I am sure that it is neither in your interest, nor that of the party in particular and the public in general to lord an illegality on the people of Kogi State.

“Please, take note that I am not interested in surrendering the mandate the people of Kogi State bestowed on the Audu/Faleke joint ticket at the November 21 poll as I remain the governor-elect.

“I believe in the leadership of our great party to resolve this in the shortest possible time, failure upon which I shall be forced to seek redress in the court of law.”

In his latest letter, Faleke restated his position as contained in two letters last Thursday from his cousel, Chief Wole Olanipekun to the APC national chairman and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

In all the letters, Faleke mainted that the idea of a supplementary election should not arise because the APC had already won the governorship slot by polling 240, 867 to beat Governor Idris Wada of the PDP who polled 199, 514.

He said there was no truth in the belief that the outstanding votes could sway the poll’s results, adding that only 25,000 of the 49, 353 registered voters from 91 units from 18 council areas where the supplementary election would take place have their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), pointing out that the PDP would still be trailing the APC even if it garners all the outstanding votes.

Faleke’s letter, titled: “Re:My purported nomination as deputy governor,” reads: “Information at my disposal from the National Secretary of our party, the All Progressives Congress and my telephone conversation with your good self, confirmed  to me that the party had issued INEC form and submitted my name as running mate to Alhaji Yahaya Bello in the forthcoming unusual and strange supplementary election scheduled for 5th December, 2015, covering 91 polling units in Kogi State to elect a “supplementary governor”.

“Mr. Chairman, you may recall that an election was conducted on the 21st November 2015, in which I was running mate to the late Prince Abubakar Audu: I therefore remain fully committed to that joint ticket which received the blessings of the party leadership, including your good self, evident from your attendance at the campaign rallies to ensure total victory for your great party through which the people of Kogi State massively and overwhelmingly voted for us.

“Following the demise of my principal after the announcement of results from the polling units, wards, local government areas and the state, our party had highest number of votes of 240, 867 against PDP’s 199, 514, thus creating a difference of 41, 353 votes between the two leading parties. On the strength of this, I hereby state clearly that I remain the governor-elect of Kogi State on the platform of our great party.”

Attack on Shiite procession: Boko Haram claims responsibility

Death toll rises to 22

The terror sect, Boko Haram, yesterday claimed responsibility for Friday’s suicide bombing on a Shiite procession in Kano State that claimed 21 lives on the spot.

One more person was confirmed dead yesterday taking the death toll to 22.

“For now, we have 22 deaths following the death of one more person yesterday. Thirty-eight people have also been injured, two of whom have been discharged from the hospital,” one of the organizers of the procession Ali Kakaki told AFP.

Boko Haram said in a statement in Arabic on social media its bomber “detonated his explosives which led to the death” of the victims on Friday.

“And by the permission of Allah these attacks of ours against Shitte polytheists will continue ýuntil we cleanse the earth of their filth,” it warned.

Kakaki said that  despite the attack the Islamic Movement of Nigeria members had continued their march from Kano to Zaria where their leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky is based.

The march is to mark Ashura, which commemorates the death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.

“Following the attack, many more of our members have joined the procession,” Kakaki said, adding that they aimed to arrive at their destination later this week.

Friday’s attack took place in the village of Dakasoye, some 20 kilometres south of Kano.

One of the procession’s organisers said a bomber clad in black ran into the crowd and detonated his explosives.

GDP – our national wealth delusion

‘But we are a rich county now…’ – That must be one of the greatest jokes being branded around for decades.  One of previous our rulers once said we had so much oil but knowing how to spend it was the problem.  To top that, another ruler jokingly – not sure if it was viewed as such – tried to display to the USA how Nigeria would stop oil supply to them if they ‘misbehaved’.  It would have been nice to hear their snide comments in private.

As if that is not enough, another was pondering how we could be classed as poor considering all the Mercedes-Benz cars on our roads.  Even mobile phones have not been left out of the picture as a barometer of our wealth status by another or our wise-cracking rulers.

But how can you say we are not rich with all the oil and gas available and earning revenue for the country. Oh, so that is the source of this delusion.  Let us break things down.  When times were good and we were rolling in dollars, we averaged 100 dollars-plus per barrel. In 30 days of an average of 2 million barrels of oil per day, the totality of what we earned amounted to 6 billion dollars a month.  Assuming we are 150 million people, we all know we are more than that, but just for round figure purposes, and we divide 6 billion by 150 million people, we would end up with 40 dollars.

40 dollars is what each of us is roughly worth from a resource which is eighty to ninety percent of our foreign exchange. Imagine for this year since oil is now averaging 50 dollars.

The only other value we command in terms of our productivity is the amount we are able to export in relation to our imports.  For now, it illustrates that our import container level is 92 percent while we export 8 percent making us only 8 percent useful for container export.

This export is dominated by non-processed agricultural products and we are not able to add any value to what nature has bestowed on us as an agricultural resource.

Whether on Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, Maitama and Ahmadu Bello Roads in Abuja or Port Harcourt-Abba and Olu Obasanjo Roads in PH, whatever activities you are engaged in, all it amounts to is to contribute your quota to the 8 percent export usefulness and 40 dollars worth of our best available natural and agricultural resource. And this is what is classed as rich?

Inside this ‘richness’, we wallow in survival of the fittest fed of course by the foreigners while they are fattening us up for the kill.  Not sure a lot of people would get this.

All they need of us is to get the best of us from whatever natural resource we possess, exploit our human resource capital to the bones, while the rest of us are left in the consumption market for them to feed up our appetite for their products. Lovely template this is!

We are only resource rich, not revenue rich.  If 160 million plus of us can only generate an economy of 560 billion dollars, which seems to make us float in giddy heights, mostly from riding on the back of foreigners, then we are not yet successful achievers when it comes to executing any visions we have dreamt up since independence. Brazil by the way, marginally more than our population, has an economy of over 2 trillion dollars.

The real richness is to move away from being grand delusional people to becoming masters of our destiny by utilising products/produce already available and expand their production before venturing into the so-called potentials territory.

We have in abundance furniture makers, metal fabricators, cattle herders, traditional textile weavers, etc. The cattle herders for instance, from each cow would come dairy milk, meat – both processed and fresh, countless products from leather hides – bags, shoes, belts, clothes, furniture, etc.

A lot of this products can be handmade at the beginning if organised into subunits which would achieve employment, reduce rural urban migration, increase revenue, develop rural areas, reduce dependence on federal government and can ultimately earn revenue for the nation and make us worth more than the mere irrelevant 8% we are probably ignorantly proud of while proclaiming our delusional richness.

But where are these potentially rich cows? Roaming our roads practising marathon marches through the bushes, forest and savannah lands that throng the length and breadth of the country.  I would not want to stray into the territory of the constant skirmishes that occur between cattle herders and local farmers which would just be an unnecessary sideshow accompanied with the occasional attendant fatalities. If anybody can lead this, it is the President himself.  If anyone can name any Nigerian alive who is more qualified than PMB – Fulani, language, cattle owner, authority, power, influence, etc. – then please do inform.

This is one area PMB can make historical legacy as compared to the Petroleum Ministry where no matter what he does, the best he can achieve is nothing of historical resonance.

Once the organisational template for this is put in place, to this can be added any technical-vocational institutes and skills acquisition centres which can have places where the skills would be utilised and not just fashioned out.

As Nigerians fond of making excuses would portend, it is too complex, very complicated, our problems are ‘unique’, our circumstances are ‘peculiar’ –  I detest both words – but India, multiple times our size, practically more than the whole of Africa combined, can get its act together significantly much better than us.

This is a country that got its independence in 1947 making them only 13 years older than us, was bequeathed the same civil service structure as ours, by the same colonial powers, with more people, diverse languages, religious diversity and challenges surpassing ours, but is nuclear powered, produces unbelievable number of software engineers annually, currently transforming its husbandry sector to get more yields from cows, already engages in car manufacturing and was in 2014 able to successfully launch a rocket to Mars.

The real dream and challenge is whether we can implement our agricultural, mining, tourism, and industrial dreams – or potentials as we have been exclaiming for decades – extend same to any and every product or service we know exist in every local government all over the country.  Or maybe, the local government people are not that visionary enough.  But who can blame them, if sugar daddy in Abuja would – not always nowadays – bring home the goodies.

• Owolowo, is an educationist, trainer and rural entrepreneur

FG didn’t tamper with ministers’ salaries perks – Presidency

FG didn’t tamper with salary package says Presidency

The Presidency denied yesterday that it had tampered with the remuneration of the newly appointed ministers. According to additional information received last night, the ministers’ package is same with what obtained in the Jonathan Administration.

Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the President “has not tampered with the salaries and allowances of Federal Ministers.

“They remain as they have been prescribed by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission under a law passed in 2008.

“The President and the Vice President have voluntarily offered a 50 percent salary cut. This is voluntary and does not apply to Ministers and other political appointees.

“Reports to the effect that the President has imposed an austere package on the ministers are unknown to us. The administration has not tampered with the salaries of ministers and that remain as prescribed under the law.”

Documents obtained last night showed that the Buhari ministers are earning same as ministers in the Yar’Adua and Jonathan governments.

A former minister said: “The package for the new ministers is not different from what we got while in office based on the 2009 Amendment by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). You can see from my own copy too.

“The difference however with Buhari ‘s administration is that while it is strictly adhering to the package, there were variations while we were in power.

“For example, some former ministers flew First Class; recruited many Special Assistants, sought medical service abroad; and earned estacode more than officially approved.”

Another ex-Minister said: “It was good that Nigerians have the opportunity to know what the ministers would earn. The reality is that the salaries and allowances of ministers are nothing to write home about at all. Our package is between 16th and 17th in the world.

“Yet, people assume that once you are in government, you are in luxury. The package is insignificant.”

Ex-President Umaru Yar’Adua had in 2007 mandated RMAFC to review the Remuneration Package for political, Public and Judicial Office Holders to save cost.

RMAFC came up with a review in 2009.

ENGINEERS FOR TRIAL TOMORROW - SYNAGOGUE BUILDING COLLAPSE

The Lagos State government is to arraign in court tomorrow trustees of Synagogue Church and the building engineers contracted to supervise the church’s collapsed building.

Senior Pastor of the church, TB Joshua, is one of the trustees.

They will be arraigned at the Ikeja High court, according to the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Bola Akingbade.

A coroner, Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, had ruled that the Synagogue Church and its contractors were essentially negligent in the collapse of a building that killed 116 people on September 12, 2014.

The coroner recommended to the State Government that the church be tried.

However, the church trustees challenged the findings and recommendation of the coroner at the Federal High Court but the application was dismissed on Monday November 11, 2015 paving the way for the commencement of trial.

Kidnappers release Siasia’s Mother

Madam Beauty Siasia, the kidnapped 72-year-old mother of Nigeria’s Under 23 Coach, Samson Siasia, regained freedom yesterday after 12 days in captivity.

She was abducted on November 16, 2015.

The abductors reportedly abandoned her at about 1.30am on  the popular East-West Road,  the major gateway linking the South-South to other parts of the country.

The police claimed the kidnappers abandoned her on realizing they were being pursued by police operatives.

The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N150 million, then reduced it to N50 million and then N32 million.

It could not be established if any ransom was eventually paid before she was freed by her abductors.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, said because of the hot chase by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command, Beauty’s captors abandoned her on the major road and escaped arrest.

The police spokesman did not indicate if ransom was paid.

Butswat said, “Madam Beauty was abandoned by her abductors along the East West Road, at about 0130hrs, November 28, 2015, due to hot pursuit by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Police Command.

“She is hale and hearty and has been reunited with her family.”

He stated that the police had intensified efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects.

Beauty was abducted in the riverside town of Odoni, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State by unknown gunmen.

If you can’t afford me watch my videos and masturbate!

Seek controversy and you will surely find Nigerian musician Maheeda there. The gospel musician turned Afrobeat singer, as part of her 2016 (New Year) resolution is ready and willing to give her goodies to suitors who have money to pay. If you are not well to do, Maheeda,
who is not shy to show what she has been endowed with on social media, is advising you to only watch her pictures and videos and masturbate for consolation. Maheeda, born Caroline Sam, is such a cheerful and generous giver. She is famous on social media for showing her breasts and posting nude pictures for her enthusiastic fans. She has equally paid the price for them. Instagram has, on some occasions, blocked her account. The ‘Lasgidi Chick’ singer posted a video of ‘Hold You Down’ by American music star, DJ Khaled, who was doling out cash to a lady, on instagram. The video came with the caption: “Good morning darlings … This is the kind of men I want to see next year. Please if you can’t do this for me just watch my videos and pictures and masturbate if you have to, I’m nice!!” If you are ready to spend for the real deal, Maheeda’s doors are always open for some good fun. But you that can spoil me with money, the f**king/ kissing / sucking / turning upside down is for you. Oya send western union for approval. Next year money will finally live with me we are getting married. hehehe I don talk my own he that has money let him holla. you say? Husband? Eh? Sit down make pant dey wear you smh, badness reloaded noni” Maheeda is clearly ready, when you are.

YUNGTRILL Unveils AEOM EP

Kleef Phamily Media reports: Finally the most anticipated EP (Extended Play) titled ALL EYES ON ME (AEOM) drops hot. This project was set by the next promising artiste in Nigeria by the name YUNGTRILL. YungTrill has released various songs including his last club banger “ILEKE” which dropped with a clean video shot in Ghana by Kingsley Oboro. He is also known as the man behind the TMS free beat sections. One of the Craziest Nigerian music producer based in Ghana. Yungtrill is a team member of both School of sounds (SOS) and Dalfre entertainment Company (DEC). Trillaman as others may call him is the CEO of Trillaman studio located in Ghana and has produced some known hit tracks with no mention.

The EP is made up of 7 songs featuring various Artistes such as 2mdees, O’giver, Leki, Tiga-G, and Qilla ‘’the best Ghanaian rapper alive’’. This EP is made up of different genre of music; Afro beat Dance hall etc.  All the songs were produced at Trillaman studio by Trillaman himself except track 2 which was produced by Mr Press. The songs were professionally mixed and mastered by King Mella Jones and O’giver on the Mix.
The songs are available on various blogs, websites and music stores for download. Download and enjoy the TMS vibe.
Follow him on twitter & instagram @Yung3rill_sos
                        Facebook: Mathias Yungtrill

TRACK LIST
           INTRO FT. ELAF & SUNNY DALES

THE SOUND Prod by Trillaman, mixed by O’giver

ALHAJI Prod by Mr Press, mixed by O’giver

JEJE Prod by Trillaman, mixed by O’giver

WEDDING DAY Prod by Trillaman, mixed by O’giver

HUSTLE MUST PAY FT. LEKI & O’GIVER
            Prod by Trillaman, mixed by O’giver

GOD BLESS MY MAMA FT. 2MDEES
Prod by Trillaman, mixed by Mella Jones

NAGODE FT. TIGA-G
Prod by Trillaman, mixed by Mella Jones

OUTRO

VIDEO: Orezi – “Ogede” ft Wizkid & Timaya

DOWNLOAD VIDEO Orezi – “Ogede” ft. Wizkid & Timaya

Sprisal Entertainment music star Orezi unlocks a new video for “Ogede”. The Wizkid and Timayaassisted track is housed on Orezi’s critically album “The Ghen Ghen”.

The afro-pop titan known for his infectious club hits and party anthems does not disappoint as usual with the world-class Paul Gambit directed visual for the fan favourite.

 

The Kiddominant produced hit track follows-up Orezi last single “Baby Abeg”.

 

Watch, share and enjoy!

VIDEO: Pasuma – “Olorun Oje” ft QDot

DOWNLOAD: Pasuma – “Olorun Oje” ft QDot

Music Legend, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma is back with a brand new video dedicated to Almighty God for protection over him.

 The video features QDOT and was directed by Clarence Peters.

VIDEO: Flyboy – “Baba Oyoyo” ft Olamide

Flyboy has been out with a couple of singles featuring Terry G, Skales and others. He recently collaborated with YBNL Boss ‘Olamide’ on “Baba Oyoyo”, and here’s the official video; courtesy of Bompy Music.

BABA OYOYO was produced by Young Jonn & video directed by Samklef.

VIDEO: L.A.X – Open and Close

L.A.X attacks with the music video for his recently released Sarz produced single “Open and Close”.

Hit or miss? Watch the Alexx-Adjei directed video and be the judge.

VIDEO: DJ Maphorisa – “Menina Bonita” ft. Runtown x Soko (Prod. By Mr Kamera)

                        DOWNLOAD

“Menina Bonita” is a Dance hall banger produced by Mr. Kamera

Africa Unites, as South African ‘Dj Maphorisa’ meets Nigerian ‘Runtown’ and Zimbabwe’s ‘Mr Kamera’

Directed by Studio Space Pictures.