Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Vivian Michael

Flights disruption imminent as NiMET staff begin strike Monday

Travellers may experience flight disruptions as Aviation unions have instructed Nigeria Meteorology Agency staff to begin strike action on Monday, May 20, 2024.

Aviation unions are National Union of Air Transport Employee Association of Nigeria, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations and Technical and Recreational Employees.

This imminent strike as disclosed in a letter dated 14 May 2024, Wednesday, stems from management’s failure to address 45 months of minimum wage arrears and consequential adjustments for staff members.

NiMET is charged with the responsibility to advise the Federal Government on all aspects of meteorology; project, prepare and interpret government policy in the field of meteorology; and to issue weather (and climate) forecasts for the safe operations of aircrafts, ocean going vessels and oil rigs.

The union, represented by the three General Secretaries: Ocheme Aba, Abdulrasaq Seidu, and Waheed Sikiru, wrote a letter addressed to NiMET’s Director General, Prof Charles Anoske, with the subject line ‘Re: Failure to Pay 45-Month Arrears of Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustment—14 days ultimatum.’

The ultimatum had been issued, and management responded with what seemed like a compromise: paying off the 45 months of arrears in installments.

They also expressed their dismay that the agency’s staff has been awaiting the palliative payments sanctioned by the Federal Government since October 2023. Furthermore, they highlighted that the 25-35 per cent salary increase has not been implemented for them, alongside NiMET’s exclusion from receiving Peculiar Allowances.

“Furthermore, our Unions through a joint letter dated 4, April 2024, did request for review of the outdated conditions of service. To date the management has deemed our Unions unfit for any response,” it read.

The letter further reads, “The above catalogue of woes, and others unmentioned confirm that NiMET Staff have been consigned to the lin bin of abject poverty – worse than any existing aviation establishment. In our considered view, it is inhuman on the part of management to be forborne with these conditions and irresponsible on the part of unions to tolerate this situation for this long.

“Therefore, this letter serves as notice to the management of NiMET that the staff members of the agency are, by a copy of this letter, directed to withdraw all services with effect from Monday, May 20, 2024, unless and until the outstanding 42 months arrears of consequential adjustment is fully liquidated.

“NIMET Salary structure is adapted to an appropriate Federal Government approved structure and all accruable payments liquidated, Management commences review of the outdated CoS with our Unions with a definite timeline for delivery and actualisation.”

05/15/2024
JUST IN: EFCC arraigns Emefiele for printing N684m notes with N18.96bn

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, arraigned a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele for approving the printing of N684.5 million at the rate of N18.96 billion.

Emefiele was arraigned before Maryann Anenih, judge of a federal capital territory (FCT) high court, and pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

In the four-count charge filed against him, the EFCC alleged that Emefiele disobeyed the direction of law with intent to cause injury to the public during his implementation of the naira swap policy of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The anti-graft agency also accused Emefiele of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

05/15/2024
N1.8bn fraud: ICPC sues Abubakar Abdulahi Sambo, REA official

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will arraign a staff member of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abubakar Sambo, (Abubakar Abdullahi Sambo ) for allegedly paying N1.835 billion for an unauthorized project supervision exercise.

This is contained in ICPC’s charge sheet marked FHC/ABJ/ CR/209/2024 and filed on May 10, 2024, by Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, Assistant Chief Legal Officer, ICPC.

The defendant is sued before the Federal High Court, Abuja, for allegedly paying N1.835 billion to some persons for a purported project supervision exercise without requisite approval.

In the three-count charge, the anti-graft agency accused the defendant of allegedly using his password to access the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System platform of REA to finalize the payments.

ICPC maintained that the development contravenes the Cybercrime Act, Public Enterprise Regulatory Commission Act, and Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The charges read,
“That you ABUBAKAR ABDULLAHI SAMBO (M) sometime in March, 2023 оr thereabout while being a public officer I.e., Payment Finalizer on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System platform of Rural Electrification Agency at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did finalize the payment of the total sum of N1,835,000,000.00 (One Billion, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Five Million Naira) in different tranches for the use of Henmentta Onomen Okojie, Asuni Adejoke Aminat, Usman Kwakwa, Laure Shehu Abdullahi, Emmanuel Pada Titus and Musa Umar Karaye for a purported project supervision exercise without requisite approval thereby contributing to the economic adversity of the Rural Electrification Agency and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 68 of the Public Enterprise Regulatory Commission Act, CAP. P39, Laws of the Federation, 2004
“That you ABUBAKAR ABDULLAHI SAMBO (M) sometime in March, 2023 or thereabout while being a public officer i.e, Payment Finalizer on the Government Integrated Financial Management System platform of Rural Electrification Agency at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your access password to access the Government Integrated Financial Management information System platform of Rural Electrification Agency and finalized the payment of the total sum of N1,835,000,000,00 (One Billion, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Five Million Naira) in different tranches for the use of Henrientta Onomen Okojie, Asuni Adejoke Aminat, Usman Kwakwa, Laure Shehu Abdullahi, Emmanuel Pada Titus and Musa Umar Karaye for a purported project supervision exercise without authority and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 6(4) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015.

“That you ABUBAKAR ABDULLAHI SAMBO (M) sometime in March, 2023 or thereabout while being a public officer i.e., Payment Finalizer on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System platform of Rural Electrification Agency at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did confer corrupt advantage on Henrrientta Onomen Okajle, Asuni Adejoke Aminat, Usman Kwakwa, Laure Shehu Abdullahi, Emmanuel Pada Titus and Musa Umar Karaye when you used your access password to access the Government Integrated Financial Management System platform of Rural Electrification Agency and finalized the payment of the total sum of N1,835,000,000.00 (One Billion, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Five Million Naira) in different tranches for the use of Henrientta Onomen Okojie, Asuni Adejake Aminat, Usman Kwakwa, Laure Shehu Abdullahi, Emmanuel Pada Titus and Musa Umar Karaye for a purported project supervision exercise without requisite approvals and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

05/15/2024
Ondo Guber; Court orders APC, Aiyedatiwa, INEC to open defence

The Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to file their defense in a suit seeking removal of Aiyedatiwa as APC gubernatorial candidate for November election.

This is following a claim by the APC that it had written a letter to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, seeking for transfer of the case from Abuja to Ondo State.

In the ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered that the three defendants must file their respective defence within days allowed by law since the suit is a time bound one.

The plaintiff, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, is before the court questioning the conduct of the primary election that produced Aiyedatiwa as APC gubernatorial candidate.

When the matter came up, Tuesday, Counsel to the APC, Tayo Oyetibo informed the Court that his client had forwarded a letter to the Chief Judge praying for movement of the case from the Abuja division to Akure division.

He however admitted that APC had not received any response to the letter.

In response, Justice Ekwo held that there was no letter before him and as such, cannot act on anything not before the court.

However, the court held that with or without the letter before him, the defendants must respond to the issues raised by the plaintiff.

APC in its letter by Matthew Bukkar SAN, dated May 12, but received in Chief Judge’s Office on May 13, 2024, claimed that the primary election being challenged was conducted in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

It explained that it has a functional office in Akure with State Working Committee on ground and that the electoral body also has office in Akure.

Besides, APC said that governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa whose candidacy is being challenged is resident in Akure.

The party therefore said that Akure division of the Federal High Court is the approximate convenient place for the case to be determined.

However, counsel to the plaintiff, Chief Chris Uche SAN was prevented from reacting to the letter on the ground that the said letter was not before the court.

After issuing the order, Justice Ekwo fixed May 29 for hearing of the suit with a warning that all processes in respect of the suit must be filed and exchanged by parties.

Ibrahim who is representing Ondo South in the Senate, is praying the court to cancel the nomination of Aiyedatiwa as APC candidate on the ground that the April 20 primary election that produced him was unlawful.

In the suit instituted on his behalf by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chris Uche, Ibrahim, a governorship aspirant who participated in the primary election alleged that the poll was marred with a lot of irregularities.

Among others, the Senator claimed that sections 221, 228 of the 1999 Constitution and that of 84 of the Electoral Act 2022 were grossly violated in the conduct of the disputed primary election by the APC.

He alleged that some delegates who could have voted for him at the primary election were not accredited to vote thereby making the primary election liable to be set aside and nullified.

He is therefore praying the Court to bar INEC from accepting governor Aiyedatiwa as the APC governorship candidate in the coming November 16 gubernatorial election in Ondo State.

The Senator also sought an order of perpetual injunction prohibiting governor Aiyedatiwa from holding himself out or parading himself as the APC governorship candidate.

Similarly, Ibrahim wants the court to set aside the purported primary election and compel the APC to conduct a fresh one in compliance with sections 221, 228 of the 1999 Constitution and that of 84 of the Electoral Act 2022.

The aggrieved governorship aspirant prayed the Federal High Court to delist the names of the APC and Aiyedatiwa from the political parties and candidates that would participate in the gubernatorial poll .

Plaintiff further requested that APC and governor Aiyedatiwa be stripped of all rights except a fresh primary election is lawfully conducted for the purpose of nominating candidate for the governorship election.

05/14/2024
N12M School Fees: Nigeria’s Most Expensive Varsity Opens August

The alleged most expensive university in Nigeria, Wigwe University is set to open its doors to the first set of students sometime in August, 2024.

The university, founded by the late former Access Holdings Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Wigwe, is keen on providing a world-class education that equips students with the knowledge and skills to be future-ready.

Wigwe died in a helicopter crash alongside his wife Chizoba, and son Chizzy in California on February 9, 2024.

The university, which is located in Isiokpo, Rivers State, will offer a diverse range of programmes across four major colleges, including the College of Management and Social Sciences, the College of Art, the College of Science and Computing, and the College of Engineering.

It is said that the school when it opens officially, will be the most expensive university in the country.

According to the information on the school’s website, the cheapest college is Arts with a total fee of N9.6m.

Students taking courses in the College of Engineering, College of Management and Social Sciences, and College of Science and Computing will pay a total fee of ₦11,998,800 each.

The fees cover tuition, books, laboratory supplies and consumables, personal protective equipment, project lab resources, e-learning resources, health insurance, student membership in professional associations, student activities, and facilities maintenance.

There are also additional charges covering accommodation fees which include the luxury single bedroom apartment plan- ₦1,000,000 / per month; premium one en-suite bedroom plan – ₦3,845,000 per session; classic one plan – ₦3,707,000 / per session and classic two plan – ₦3,500,000 / per session.
The fees can be paid in two installments per session.

The management of the university, while defending its decision to charge in dollars, recently stated that home students would pay their fees in naira, while international students could select the dollar payment option.

It said the decision was a strategic one that aligns with its vision to attract a diverse and international student body.

05/14/2024
Melinda quits Gates Foundation, gets $12.5bn

Melinda French Gates, divorced wife of Bill Gates, has announced that she was leaving the philanthropy mega foundation she established with her ex-husband, Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates.

The resignation, which becomes effective on June 7, will leave Bill Gates as the sole chair of one of the world’s most influential and powerful non-governmental organizations.

In a statement Melinda French Gates posted on social media, she said; “After careful thought and reflection, I have decided to resign from my role as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.”

The statement gave no reason for her departure, but noted that “under the terms of my agreement with Bill, in leaving the foundation, I will have an additional $12.5 billion to commit to my work on behalf of women and families.”

The couple married in 1994 but announced their divorce in 2021.
They had continued to co-chair the foundation which they established in 2001 with the vast wealth acquired through the success of Microsoft.

With a focus on child poverty and preventable diseases, the foundation has been heavily involved in fighting malaria and in providing toilets and sanitation in poorer parts of the world.

The foundation’s website says it has spent $53.8 billion since 2000, and claims the number of children around the world who die before their fifth birthday has halved in this time.

Bill Gates thanked his ex-wife for her “critical contributions” to the organization.

“As a co-founder and co-chair Melinda has been instrumental in shaping our strategies and initiatives, significantly impacting global health and gender equality,” he said.

“I am sorry to see Melinda leave, but I am sure she will have a huge impact in her future philanthropic work.”

The organization’s chief executive, Mark Suzman, said its name would change to simply the Gates Foundation. It has been known as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“I truly admire Melinda, and the critical role she has played in starting the foundation and in setting our values, she has played an essential role in all that we’ve accomplished over the past 24 years,” he said in a video posted to social media.

“I will miss working with her and learning from her. I look forward to seeing her continued impact.”

05/14/2024
NLC, TUC, Shutdown Discos Offices Nationwide

In protest against the electricity tariff hike amid hardship in Nigeria,
the Nigeria Labour Council (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Monday, shut down electricity distribution company offices (DISCO) nationwide.

The organized labour prevented workers from having access to their office to work early Monday morning as they thronged various offices of electricity distribution companies to protest the Band A tariff hike.

The duo had, last night, distributed reminder notices to all its branch offices and affiliates across the nation in respect of a proposed nationwide protest to commence today, Monday.

It is protesting the electricity tariff hike and removal of subsidies from the power sector by the federal government.

With the picketing of all the offices of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) organized labour is also expected to shutdown of the Abuja headquarters of the agency, the Ministry of Power and state offices of power distribution companies.

Members of the NLC and TUC staged protests at the corporate headquarters of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company in Lagos and the office of the Ibadan ElectricCompany in Oyo.

Their demonstrations disrupted normal operations, preventing workers from resuming their duties for the day.

They were heard chanting slogans and advocating for fairer electricity pricing and demand for the reversal of the Band A tariff increase.

Similarly, in Jos, members of the NLC and the TUC in Plateau State took action by blocking the entrance of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company headquarters, as well as picketing the offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in the Gold and Base axis of Jos, leaving workers stranded.

Eugene Manji, the Plateau state chairman of NLC, said while addressing journalists,

“We have been directed from our national headquarters of NLC to ensure that we comply with the directives that all the distribution offices across the nation are locked. So that’s why we’re here to picket that of the Plateau State.

“All offices, not just this one, you are seeing, we have send our members to other places. Some have gone to Vom to ensure that there is compliance, and this is applicable in all the other offices. So we are here to ensure total compliance that’s why we locked the offices”.

Manji added that the protest was for the whole day while the state chapter of NLC will report back to the headquarters.

The surge in electricity tariffs, implemented by the federal government, has triggered a wave of dissent among consumers and industry players alike, citing concerns over affordability and equitable access to essential services.

The protest at the JED office in Jos by NLC epitomises the mounting pressure faced by utility companies grappling with the repercussions of tariff hikes, as they navigate the delicate balance between public welfare and operational sustainability.

05/13/2024
Electricity tariff hike: NLC, TUC Picket NERC, DisCos offices today

If they keep their words, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) will today, picket the office of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the distribution companies (DisCos)’s premises nationwide over the hike in electricity tariff.

This is following a hike in the tariff for electricity consumers who enjoy at least 20 hours of daily power supply.

“We write to inform you of the picketing action scheduled to take place in the offices of the NERC and Electricity Distribution companies (DISCOS) in all states, including the FCT,” the unions said in a joint statement by NLC’s Ag General Secretary Chris Uyot and his TUC counterpart Anka Hassan.

“The action will jointly take place on Monday, 13th of May, 2024 nationwide simultaneously.

“Therefore, the two Labour centres are directed to work together to carry out this important action.

“While counting on your usual cooperation, kindly accept the assurances of our goodwill and highest regards.”

Though the NERC had reviewed the tariff, the labour unions said they were picketing the agency’s office as well as the premises of distribution companies after a Sunday reversal deadline failed.

The recent tariff hike for electricity consumers has continued to draw comments from several quarters.
With inflation rising to new highs and Nigerians grappling with the removal of petroleum subsidy, the increase in tariff was met with stiff opposition.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) had claimed that the Federal Government was raising funds for the “cash-strapped” DisCoS with the tariff hike.

But while defending the move, the Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu said the Federal Government will pay about N1.8trn in electricity subsidy in 2024.
He argued that the Electricity Act, 2023 made provisions for the review of tariffs twice yearly.

“Review of tariff is actually legal once it is within the exclusive responsibility of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC),” he said on an edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today. “The Act actually provides for review twice in a year, every six months,” he said.

Following the clapback generated by the move, the House of Representatives asked NERC to suspend the implementation of the tariff hike.

05/13/2024
Yahaya Bello to be arraigned, June 13

The former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Friday finally agreed to submit himself to the Federal High Court Abuja for arraignment on June 13.

At the Friday sitting, Justice Emeka Nwite rejected the former governor’s request for suspension of trial.

Following the rejection of the application, the lead Counsel to the defendant, Abdulwahab Mohammed, gave the undertaking that his client will appear before the court in the next adjourned date.

He stated that Bello was not afraid of arraignment but the safety of his life in the hand of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.

According to Mohammed, the life of his client has been under consistent threats in Abuja, hence, his decision to go underground for safety.

In his remarks, Justice Nwite reiterated that EFCC as a law-abiding body would not do anything against the provisions of the law.

The court added that Bello was not the first former governor to be merely invited by the anti-graft agency and would not be the last.

The judge also said that the charges are based on allegations that have not been proved, adding that the law even presumes any accused person innocent until proven otherwise.

Consequently, Justice Nwite advised Bello’s lawyer to prevail on his client to respect the law and order of court as a law-abiding citizen.

Responding, Mohammed expressed gratitude to the court, adding that with the assurance that EFCC would not do anything untoward, the former governor would be brought to court.

“All my client needs is just an assurance for the safety of his life which has been under threat for sometimes in Abuja.”

He, therefore, requested for four weeks to bring his client before the court.

However, he added that the former governor, now at large, will come to the court instead of the EFCC to take his plea in the charges.

In his reaction, counsel to the Anti-graft agency, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, didn’t oppose the application.

Justice Nwite fixed June 13 for Bello to appear in court to take his, please.

05/10/2024
Alleged N2.7bn Fraud: Fmr Aviation Minister, Sirika, Daughter, others arraigned …granted 100m bail each

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday, arraigned and granted bail of N100 million each to a former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, his daughter, Fatima and two others.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji of High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, ordered the defendants be remanded in the Correctional Centre should they failed to meet the bail conditions.

Sirika, who served under President Muhammadu Buhari administration
alongside Jalal Sule Hamma and Al-Durag Investment Ltd was docked on a 6-count amended criminal charge over abuse of office to the tune of N2.7 billion.

Before plea taking, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, informed the court of an amended charge by the EFCC dated May 7, and filed on May 8, which was not opposed by counsel to the defendants.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty, and Jacobs urged the court for expeditious hearing of the case.

Sequel to not guilty plea, Kanu Agabi SAN, counsel for Sirika (1st defendant) informed the court of his client’s bail application dated May 6.

Reacting, Jacobs told the court that all the defendants are on administrative bail and urged the court to grant bail on the condition that will make them appear for their trials.

Meanwhile, ruling on the bail application, Justice Oriji granted bail to each of the defendants in the sum of N100m with two sureties each.

The court held that the sureties must own landed property within the FCT with valid land titles and must depose to an affidavit of means.

The court also restricted the defendants from traveling abroad without its permission.

Justice Oriji ordered that the defendants should be remanded in prison custody if they fail to meet up with the bail conditions.

Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned till 10, 11, and 20 June for commencement of trial.

05/09/2024