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NNPC awaits FG, labour resolutions today on Petrol Subsidy Removal

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation is not halting the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, despite the recent recommendation of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum that the subsidy regime by stopped immediately.

Rather, the oil firm is awaiting the outcome of today’s (Tuesday) meeting between the Federal Government and the organised labour as touching the cost of petrol and whether to discontinue subsidising the commodity.

NNPC is the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria and has maintained this position for more than three years, as it also subsidises the cost of the commodity despite being humongous.

A committee set up by the Nigeria Governors Forum had last Wednesday suggested a petrol price of between N380/litre and N380/litre and N408.5/litre. The committee also called for immediate removal of petrol subsidy.

The Deputy President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, told The PUNCHthat the NLC would meet with the Federal Government today (Tuesday) on issues bordering on petrol price and the sacking of workers in Kaduna, among others.

The meeting between the Federal Government and labour to decide on an amicable petrol price has dragged for about three months and the NNPC has continued to wait, thereby retaining petrol subsidy and incurring huge under-recoveries.

NNPC recently complained that the continued stay of subsidy would warrant zero remittances from the corporation to the Federation Account in the months of April and May 2021.

But when contacted to state how long petrol subsidy would be retained since the proposed meeting between the Federal Government and labour had been dragging, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Kennie Obateru, said the corporation would not alter petrol price until a resolution was reached on the matter by the involved parties.

He said, “We are waiting for the discussion between labour and the government to be concluded. That is, let them reach an amicable position. It is not NNPC that is holding the talks.

“We are the national oil company and so we just wait for the parties to complete that discussion. When a position is taken as to how best to implement the deregulation, it will be communicated to NNPC and then we can now take a position.

“But for now what we do is to implement whatever the government decides.”

The government’s decision on petrol price was announced on Friday by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, as he stated that there would be no price hike in June this year.

Sylva, while reacting to the recommendation of the NGF, admitted that petrol subsidy had been a huge burden on government, but assured Nigerians that the cost of the commodity would remain at between N162/litre and N165/litre in June.

He said, “Once again it has become necessary to assure Nigerians that despite the huge burden of under-recovery, the Federal Government is not in a hurry to increase the price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) to reflect current market realities.

“The current price of petrol will be retained in the month of June until the ongoing engagement with organised labour is concluded.”

He added, “This clarification becomes necessary in the light of recent reports regarding the resolution of the Nigeria Governors Forum to increase the pump price of petrol.”

Source: The Punch

Ayade made a mistake, moved to a collapsing party —Ex-Gov Imoke

A former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, has insisted that despite the defection of Governor Ben Ayade from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) the PDP in the state remains intact and united.

Imoke who made the assertion on Monday at a stakeholders meeting of the PDP held in Calabar, the state capital, said Ayade made a mistake by moving to a party which was “already collapsing.”

“APC is a party that is collapsing. It is not a place to go for Cross River State. We will revive the glory of Cross River. I took risks to see the emergence of this government. They even accused me of collecting money. It is an insult.

“I have been a governor and I served my people diligently. Now, we have seen a different approach to governance. It is not democratic. Our politics is sweet. We don’t play politics of harassment and intimidation.”

Imoke insisted that the movement of one man does not mean the state PDP was in disarray as one man cannot change its fortune.

He added that his ambition was to see that the party would be handed over to the youths in 2023.

“We want youths that can deliver. Time has come for a generational shift. The next governor of Cross River State will be a man of character. The next national and state assembly members will be men of character,” he said.

FIRSTBANK BAGS A HAT TRICK OF AWARDS AT THE GLOBAL BANKING AND FINANCE AWARDS 2021

First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial services provider, has been awarded the 2021 ‘’Retail Banking CEO of the Year Nigeria’’, ‘’Most innovative Retail Banking App Nigeria’’ and ‘’Best CSR Bank Nigeria’’ awards by Global Banking and Finance magazine.

The respective awards conferred on the Bank are in recognition of the indelible roles it plays in deepening financial inclusion in the country; advancing the digital banking eco-system as well as impacting people in its host communities with technology to make learning available to individuals of all ages, amongst many others.

The Global Banking and Finance Awards reflect the innovation, achievement, strategy, progressive and inspirational changes taking place within the Global Financial community. The awards were created to recognize companies of all sizes which are prominent areas of expertise and excellence within the financial world.

With its over 750 branches and 100,000 Firstmonie Agent banking network spread across the nook and cranny of the country, FirstBank’s robust retail banking framework has been at the forefront of bridging the financial exclusion gap, thereby empowering Nigerians to carry out their financial and business-driven activities in contributing to national growth and development.

Also, in order to put customers ahead in enjoying state of the art digital banking services, the Bank’s industry-leading banking application, FirstMobile, is configured with modern banking functionalities which are regularly upgraded and designed with self-service features to ease the navigation capability and proficiency of customers to carry out their respective transactions with no hassles.

The smart banking application is also embedded with a card protection service for customers to enable and disable cards on channels, account switch off as well as second-factor authentication and device registration. With the upgraded FirstMobile, customers can remotely initiate the request for a new debit card as well as the replacement of a lost or damaged one.

Woven into the fabric of society for over 127 years, overcoming challenges and remaining a dominant player in Nigeria’s financial services landscape, FirstBank has been partnering and supporting various sustainable activities towards the continued growth of its host communities and the nation at large.

As a responsible corporate organisation committed to supporting all its stakeholders in the most sustainable manner possible, the bank partnered with various state governments through the private sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) intervention to promote the readiness and efficiency of health care professionals and other compatriots at the forefront of fighting the pandemic.

The Bank also forged a formidable partnership with the Lagos State government, Robert & John, IBM and Curious Learning amongst others to promote e-learning of school children that were affected by lockdown at the height of the pandemic. The initiative is still enjoyed by thousands of individuals, irrespective of age.

Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, the CEO of FirstBank commenting on the awards said ‘’we are proud to be recognized with these awards, which speak to the investments we have made over the past years in bolstering our electronic platforms for our customers; enhancing financial inclusion through agent banking as well as empowering our communities in the education space especially by bridging the digital divide through e-learning initiative.

These awards are dedicated to all our customers, as the trust they reposed in us being their bank of first choice in meeting their business and financial needs has been instrumental to the success we have achieved in our existence of over 127 years. We remain committed to putting You, our customers First as we contribute to the growth and development of our host communities” he concluded.

Lagos Assembly: Bill to stop past Govs Pension in Lagos scale second reading

…Lawmakers seek amendment to the pension bill

+ Want security agents, domestic staff retained

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday read for a second time a bill that seeks to repeal the law which grants pension and other emoluments to governors and deputies after leaving office.

The new bill which was debated on the floor of the House at a sitting presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, is titled ‘A Bill for a law to repeal the law to provide for the payment of pensions and other fringe benefits to public office holders in Lagos State and for other connected matters’.

The lawmakers argued that it would not be too good to repeal the law in its entirety as there were some important sections and stipulations that should be considered.

Speaking concerning the bill, Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu (Agege 2), explained that the bill is to ensure the stoppage of pensions to governors and deputies when they leave office adding that this decision was in consideration of the country’s current economic challenges.

Ogundimu argued that the governors and their deputies and other such political office holders should be made to enjoy some benefits no matter how little.

He also argued that the bill should be amended in such a way that it would not throw former political officers to security challenges since if the original law is repealed, it would mean withdrawing all security agents and domestic staff earlier attached to them.

On his part, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2), noted that the parliament has the power to make and review laws, especially where it includes one like the pension bill that was passed 14 years ago and needs to be looked at again.

He said the objective of the bill as raised by the executive is to ensure that the state begins to look inward in relation to cost of governance.

He added that by virtue of his position as chairman of the committee on economic planning and budget, he has had the opportunity to check the finances of the state and would say Lagos is not very rich, but only has people who effectively manage its resources.

He also agreed that the security of the lives of such political office holders when they leave office should be considered urging that the bill be committed to a committee.

Contributing, Hon. Rotimi Abiru (Shomolu 2), said he supports an amendment to the law instead of a repeal.

“For a person who has served as chief executive of a state, I do not think it is nice denying them of their benefits.

“I can appreciate that some of them move to other appointments. For these people, there can be a caveat. But for those who serve in that capacity and do not have any other thing to do after office, it may not be something elaborate, but something may be coming to them periodically,” he said.

Hon. Tobun Abiodun (Epe 1) said he does not subscribe to a total repeal of the law because it would give room to corruption in office.

He said provisions should be made available to governors, deputies and possibly speakers after they leave office.

Other lawmakers who supported amendment to the law include Hon. Jude Idimogu )Oshodi-Isolo 2), Hon. Saad Olumo (Ajeromi-Ifelodun 1) and Hon. Abdulsobur Olawale (Mushin 2).

While rounding off the debate, Speaker Obasa observed the questions and suggestions raised by the lawmakers.

He also supported arguments that repealing the law in totality would expose former governors and deputies to security challenges.

“I don’t think we should trash it in totality,” he said as he committed the bill to the House Committee on Establishment with a two-week mandate for a reported to be submitted.

Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly.

The dead can’t bury the dead” – Nnamdi Kanu reacts to President Buhari not attending Ibrahim Attahiru’s burial

IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has blown hot during his Biafra podcast yesterday. During his podcast, he reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari not being able to attend Ibrahim Attahiru’s burial.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari was trolled on social media by Nigerians over failure to attend the burial ceremony of Chief Of Army Staff and 10 other military officers who died in a BEACHCRAFT350 aircraft crash on Friday May 21, 2021.

During the Biafra podcast, Nnamdi referred to President Buhari as the dead, and says “The dead can’t bury the dead.” He ended that part by saying if the real President Buhari was alive, he would have attended the funeral.

He said: “A general died and a general didn’t attend his burial?” The dead can’t bury the dead. The real Buhari would have gone for the burial if only he was alive.”

“I stole plantains to raise N10k for my girlfriend‘s makeup” — Suspect

A young man arrested for stealing bunches of plantain in Ebedebiri, Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa, has claimed that he committed the offence because of his girlfriend.

According to reports shared by community leaders on Monday, May 24, the suspect was caught and during interrogation by a community leader, Peres Double, the suspect claimed that his girlfriend demanded for the sum of ten thousand naira (N10,000) supposedly to buy make-up and had given him a deadline to get the money.

The suspected thief from Angiama community, said he became so frustrated that he entered people’s farms in the community, harvested their plantains in a bid to sell them and raise money for his girlfriend. The suspect pleaded with the community leadership to forgive him.

Real Madrid Flop Hazard Eyes Chelsea Return

Belgian star Eden Hazard looking for a way out at Real Madrid this summer and a return to Chelsea is his preference, according to Spanish TV.

Hazard has struggled since his £130m switch to Madrid from Chelsea in the summer of 2019.

Things have not worked out for the 30-year-old with injuries and a loss of form limiting him to just 21 starts in two seasons.

Hazard was part of the Madrid side that lost to Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final recently. And he angered one half of the Spanish capital when he was seen laughing with former team-mate Kurt Zouma on the final whistle at Stamford Bridge.

That led to Zidane defending Hazard and an apology from the Belgian to the Real squad.

“Eden has apologised and he did it well. It was not his intention to hurt anyone, that is the most important thing.”

“He knows what he has to do on the pitch and he’s going to do it. We spoke the other day, after the match, but to say that. He was apologising for his reaction – to me, to the club, to the players – and that’s it.

“All the players have their hearts in the club but for now it hasn’t been possible to see the Eden Hazard we want to see.

“But I believe he is going to get there. It’s a difficult moment with everything that’s happened but he has a contract and what he wants is to succeed here.”

However, according to Spanish station El Chiringuito de Jugones (via Metro), Hazard is keen on leaving Madrid.

And he has his heart set on a return to Chelsea, where he notched 110 goals and 92 assists, winning the Premier League and Europa League twice, as well as the FA Cup and League Cup.

Rise up and defend yourselves with weapons not prohibited by law – Gov Ortom tasks Benue People

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Sunday urged the people of the state to obtain dane gun licences from local government areas for self-defence.

He spoke at an interdenominational church service this evening at the Chapel of Grace in Government House, Makurdi to round up a seven-day prayer and fasting programme for peace in the state.

“I’ll no longer announce the deaths of those killed by Fulani herdsmen, rise up and defend yourselves with weapons not prohibited by law, bows and arrows, spears and knives. Get licence for dane guns from local government Chairmen and use them to defend yourselves,” he said.
He added that as long as he remained within God’s circle no weapon fashioned against him would prosper.
“God assured me some time back that as long as I lived within the circle of his presence, no weapon fashioned against me shall prosper,” he said.

The State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Akpen Leva, assured the governor of the support of the Church to secure the lives of the people and for always rising up in their defence.
The CAN chairman commended the Southern governors on their decision to prohibit open grazing in their states stressing that it was the right thing to do.

Intercessory prayers were offered against all social vices in Benue, peace and prosperity of the state as well as for God to protect leaders at all levels in the state.

Senate Queries NECO over Alleged Award of N6.5bn Contracts Without Due Process

The Senate has queried the National Examination Council (NECO) over an alleged award of contracts worth N6.5 billion without due process.

It also mandated its Committee on Public Accounts to probe the reported illegal contract awards.

The contracts were for the printing of security and non-security documents by the examination body.

The committee was guided by the 2017 report the Office of Auditor General of the Federation (OAuGF) submitted to the parliament for consideration in issuing two queries to the NECO.

According to the auditor general’s report showed that the examination body could not present any record to show that approval was given for the contract by the ministerial tenders board in the first contract that cost about N451 million.

The committee also alleged that due process was not followed in the second contract, which was worth N6.1 billion.

It further alleged that quotations were not collected from three bidders as required by Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2017 while taxes were not deducted from some of the contract payment.

Taxes were not deducted from some of the contract payments and there was no Technical and Financial evaluation.

The query reads: “Examination of records and documents revealed that the commission’s tenders board approved the award of contract for printing of security materials in the sum of ₦451 million to a company in March 2017 in contravention of provisions of Federal Government Circular No.SGF/OP/I/S.3/XI/849 of January 16, 2016, which reiterated the approved revised thresholds for service wide application, for which the Parastatal Tender Board can only exercise authority on works whose value is less than ₦250 million while any sum above this, is to be referred to the Ministerial Tenders Board for approval.

“We sought for the authority for the above approval including the ministerial approval but none was provided.

“The above unilateral award of contracts without following due process may lead to awarding contracts to unqualified contractors. Recommendation: The Registrar/CEO should be sanctioned in line with provisions of Financial Regulation 3117. “

However, in his response, the Registrar of the NECO, Professor Godswill Obioma, explained to the committee that the said N461 million “were payments to Data Science Nigeria Limited for the supply of Optical Mark Readers for objectives questions paper for various examinations conducted by the council.”

However, Obioma’s explanation could not dissuade the committee, which sustained the query on the ground that the council could not provide evidence of approval from the Ministerial Tenders Board before awarding contracts beyond its threshold.

The second query reads: “Examination of contracts awarded for the printing of Security and Non- Security Documents valued at ₦6,166,405,407.42 revealed that the contracts were awarded without compliance with the provisions of Part VI, Section 24 (I) of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2017 as amended, which states that except as provided by this Act, all procurements of goods and works by all procuring entities shall be conducted by open competitive bidding.

“The following irregularities were also noted, quotations were not collected from three bidders as required by PPA 2007 but the taxes were not deducted from some of the contract payments.

“There was no technical and financial evaluation, Evidence of placement of advertisement was not attached to either payment vouchers or contract files. The amount expended was above the threshold of the Council, The contracts were split as some contracts were awarded to the same contractor with LPO and work order issued on the same date.”

Obioma said in his response to the second query that “the contracts for the printing of our questions were awarded through selective tendering. This is the case to avoid leakages of our examinations and award of contract to printers of doubted integrity.”

But, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Urhoghide, sustained the query because the registrar was unable to defend the query.

Residents protest after 15 people got kidnapped today on Abuja-Kaduna highway

Residents at Tarfa Local Government of Niger state, are currently protesting after 15 young people were kidnapped by suspected unknown bandits. According to a source, the operation lasted for 1 hour and 30 minutes, despite the fact that police station and Army barracks are close to area.

According to the source, police and army officers weren’t seen at the scene of the operation from the unknown bandits.

Angry youths have blocked Gauraka Abuja-Kaduna highway along Tarfa Local Government with bonfires, stones and long sticks to protest constant kidnaps of people. According to the eyewitness, a Hilux belonging to Army has been blocked from getting into the protesting zone.