Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun has vowed that she would not be intimidated by the controversies trailing the suspension of the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo.
In a statement today, Friday, by her Media Adviser, Oluyinka Akntunde, the minister insisted that the decision to suspend Gwarzo was in order.
The statement states thus: “The attention of the Honourable Minister of Finance has been drawn to some misleading and mischievous media reports regarding the suspension of the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir H. Gwarzo.
“Mr. Gwarzo has alleged that his suspension was due to “his refusal to stop the forensic audit of Oando Plc.
“The Minister would not have ordinarily responded in view of her responsibility for the approval of the Constitution and Terms of Reference for the Administrative Panel of Inquiry into the allegations against Mr. Gwarzo. However, given the degree of speculations and the potential impact on the capital market, there is a need for the Minister to set the record straight as follows:
“The integrity of the capital market is vital to the growth of the Nigerian economy and must be managed in an orderly and transparent manner to ensure investors’ confidence. Its leadership must maintain and be seen to maintain the highest standards of integrity.
“That the original decision taken by SEC on October 20, 2017 to suspend the shares of Oando Plc and conduct a forensic audit, was approved and endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Finance. The SEC team, led by Mr. Mounir presented adequate evidence to the Minister of Finance and her team, that Oando Plc had a clear case to answer with regard to infractions of the ISA.
“No contrary evidence has been presented and thus, the investigative work on Oando and all other ongoing investigations being undertaken by SEC in the discharge of its statutory functions have continued. Indeed, our information is that the forensic auditors have resumed at Oando.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there was no directive whatsoever to discontinue investigation into Oando and this was reiterated to the current SEC leadership at the formal handover meeting. The fact that the investigation has continued further corroborates that this is the Minister’s position.
“The Federal Ministry of Finance would like to place on record that Gwarzo’s suspension is in line with the Public Service Rules (PSRs), to allow for an unhindered investigation of serious allegations of financial impropriety against him. Some of the allegations with documented evidence include the awards of contracts to companies related to him and members of his family.
“It should be noted that Gwarzo was queried by the Ministry on 3rd November and he responded on 7th November,2017. His response to the query was deemed unsatisfactory and further investigation was ordered.
“Based on the evidence from that further work and creditable reports that documents were being unlawfully removed from SEC, as well as consultations with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the decision was taken to suspend Mr. Gwarzo.
“At the meeting on Monday, 27th November 27, Mr. Gwarzo was asked to clarify some of his responses to the query issued, which were not consistent with documentary evidence. From that interaction, Mr. Gwarzo became aware of the strong likelihood of his suspension. It was thereafter that Mr. Gwarzo prepared the memo, which has been circulated in the media.
“It is instructive to note that Mr. Gwarzo personally delivered the memo using SEC staff seconded to the office of the Minister, in breach of normal procedures for the receipt of mail.
“The copy of the memo in the possession of the Minister was delivered with a message that any action against Mr. Gwarzo would result in same being leaked to the press. It was this threat of blackmail that strengthened the resolve of the Minister to suspend Mr. Gwarzo and allow the Administrative Panel of Inquiry to proceed with its probe.
“The Minister restates that the insinuation of an instruction to discontinue with the Oando case is false and this can be corroborated by the other parties at that meeting and by subsequent events.”[myad]

The Federal Civil Service Commission of Nigeria (FCSC) has began massive recruitment in some ministries and agencies.

The ministries are: Information, Environment, Justice, Trade and Investments as well as the Bureau of Public Procurement.

A statement from the Commission said that all unemployed Nigerians with the requisite qualifications such as OND, HND and BA/BSc should apply online by accessing Application Forms on it website: www.fedcivilservice.gov.ng, adding that application is free.

The statement asked applicants to collect the commission’s forms from Chairmen of the States Civil Service Commissions in the Following Geo-political Zones: North-West (Kaduna), North-East (Yola), North-Central & Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mabushi (Abuja), South-East (Owerri), South-South (Port Harcourt) and South-West (Ibadan).

It said that the locations for the jobs into which applicants would be employed are Abia, Abuja, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and in Administration / Secretarial General.

“For avoidance of doubt, the application form is free. Completed Application Forms must be submitted where collected on or not later than six (6) Weeks from the date of this Publication (Advertisement).

“All Application Forms should be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly stating the Ministry, the post applied for and addressed to the: Hon. Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission,4 Abidjan Street, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja.

“The Federal Civil Service Commission of Nigeria (FCSC) is an executive body in Nigeria that has the authority to make appointments and transfers and to exercise disciplinary control over all Federal Civil Servants.No officer can be appointed into the Civil Service without authorization from the Federal Civil Service Commission if they have been convicted of a crime, or had previously been employed in the Government Service and had been dismissed or asked to resign or retire.” [myad]

Aisha, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari is set to use her pet project: the Aisha Buhari Foundation to embark on a four-year treatment of eyes and prevention programme, beginning from next year, in partnership with a United Arab Emirate (UAE) based Noor Dubai Foundation.
A statement by her spokesperson, Haruna Suleiman, said that the partnership was sealed at Dubai (UAE) before officials of the Foundation and Dubai Health Authority, with Aisha representing her Foundation and Humaid Al Qutami representing Noor Dubai Foundation.
The statement said that Aisha Buhari’s regular health screening exercises conducted by her Future Assured Programme across the country, provides checks for visual acuity, referral and glasses where necessary, with an average of 2,000 glasses provided for many Nigerians who could not afford glasses and would have lost their eyesight.
The President’s wife was quoted as saying that the partnership initiative would expand the number of beneficiaries and change many lives in Nigeria.
She added that the partnership would also directly impact on Nigerian government’s strategy on visual impairment.
The statement said that the Chairman of the Board and Director General of the Dubai Health Authority, and Chairman of Noor Dubai Foundation, Humaid Al Qutami, said that the foundation has so far benefited 25 million people around the world since its inception in 2008.
He added that by expanding their reach in Nigeria, Noor Dubai Foundation would be one of the world’s leading philanthropic foundations in the field of visual impairment through providing treatment and prevention services that are based on state-of-the-art technology and international standards.
Dubai Noor Foundation was recently in Kaduna where they screened 5,000 patients, gave glasses to 1,200 and conducted surgery for over 470 people.
Al Qutami announced that the implementation of the first medical programme specializing in eye diseases in Nigeria will begin next year.
As part of the programme, Noor Dubai Foundation aims to conduct more than 18,000 eye surgeries, screen more than 70,000 people suspected to suffer from eye disease and 4,000 who suffer from visual impairment and raise awareness about ocular impartment diseases and prevention among more than 1.5 million Nigerians.[myad]

The Controller General of the Nigeria Prison Service (NPS), Ja’afaru Ahmed has announced that recruitment of over 6,000 qualified Nigerians into the Service will soon commence.
This was even as he said that over 11,000 officers have been promoted as part of efforts to boost the morale of the rank and file.
Ahmed who spoke when he received an Award of Icon of Crisis Management in Nigeria from the Centre of Crisis Communication, said that the Federal Government has included in the next year Budget, the plan to recruit 6,000 officers and men to boost the capacity of the service in achieving its statutory mandates.
“If the Budget is approved, he said, it would further enhance several deliverables both on the part of inmates and the staff in general.”
He said, at the award ceremony which was held along with a workshop on Information Management for Command Officers and Public Relations Officers of the Nigerian Prisons Service holding in Kadun, that a list of qualified officers for the next promotion exercise has been compiled and is coming out soon.
According to him, the goal of the Nigerian Prisons Service is to have a system that provides conditions of imprisonment above the minimum standard prescribed by the United Nations.
He said that with the active support of the Minister of Interior, retired Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau, the Federal Government approved an upward review of budget allocation to address the myriads of challenges bedeviling the Service.
According to him, this singular approach coupled with prudent management of resources have changed the face of the Nigerian Prisons Service to the admiration of all and sundry.
He commended the genuine effort of some Command Officers and their Public Relations Officers(PROs) that have given copious press coverage of the progress being made to communicate the Federal government’s practical effort to improve the conditions of prisons in Nigeria.
“It is relevant to state that within 2 years of my stewardship as the Controller-General of Prisons, we have taken active steps to provide operational vehicles in order to improve access to justice for those awaiting trial; significantly improved on the quality of prison cells by renovating old ones and constructing new ones where space allows; embarked on office and barrack renovations; procured large quantity of assorted drugs, the type the Service has not had in a long while, and distributed them to prison formations and also purchased sundry items to make life better for the inmates. The ailing farm centres are also being revived through procurement of machineries to improve inmates’ training and increase productivity.”[myad]

President Muhammadu Buhari has instructed law enforcement agencies to deal decisively with all those who import, distribute and sell illicit drugs in the country.
Speaking at an interactive meeting with religious leaders in Kano today, Thursday, in the course of his two-day State visit, the President expressed concern over the growing problem of drugs abuse in the country.
He assured the religious leaders that his administration is determined to do something urgent to deal with the narcotics challenge facing the country.
“The Customs is already doing a good job and I’m happy that I got someone who is efficient, strong and trusted to lead it in the person of Hameed Ali, a former governor of Kaduna State.
“I have charged them and other law enforcement agencies to go after those trafficking in illicit drugs that are causing much harm especially among young people.”
President Buhari also assured the religious leaders that the war against corruption will be prosecuted with the highest regards to due process and respect for human rights.
He asked Nigerians to be patient on this issue, saying that as an elected President, he was bound to follow the constitution.
“When I came in uniform as military Head of State, we locked every suspect in Kirikiri prisons until they proved that they were not guilty.
‘‘Under the constitution, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. That is the constitution and we will abide by it.”
Reaffirming his strong support for the proposed anti-corruption courts, the President said that to strengthen judicial integrity and the rule of law, such courts must be manned by those he described as “incorruptible judges.”
President Buhari  counsel
leaders to rise to the challenge of the country’s growing youth population.
“Leaders at every level must pay attention to this. We must give everything we have including education, vocational skills and training for our large youth population so that they can grow to be responsible citizens.”
The President said that his administration will ensure increased investment in infrastructure across the country to stimulate the economy and job creation.
He praised the Chinese government for proving the funds for some ongoing projects in the country. including railways, roads and the Mambilla hydro-power project.
He welcomed the suggestion from some of the religious leaders for the setting up of a religious advisory committee made up of Muslim and Christian leaders to meet periodically to advise the government.[myad]

“Nigeria is a nation of great people and talent. Indeed, our human capital is the greatest gift and resource that we have, not our crude oil or solid minerals, or land.”
The nation’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo made this observation in Abuja, today, Thursday, at the investiture ceremony for the 2017 Laureates of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) for two. Distinguished Nigerians: Professor Adesoji Adediran Adesina and Mr. Bruce Paul Obomoyema Onobrakpeya.
Vice President Osinbajo said that posterity called on the Nigerian elite, the intellectual, business and religious leadership which have the responsibility, “and we are called upon to work to ensure that this resource does not remain stranded at the level of potential, but that it is instead harnessed and exploited for the good of the country and all its people, posterity will not forgive us for anything less.”
Professor Osinbajo said that the Nigerian National Order of Merit is the highest and most prestigious award bestowed by Nigeria on its citizens for creative, intellectual and academic contributions that are of national and global importance.
He said that since its inception thirty-eight years ago, the Nigerian National Merit Award has identified and selected 75 awardees with each one of them epitomising the finest of Nigeria’s capacity for innovation and creativity.
The full taxe of the Vice President is reproduced here:
I am delighted to be here at this morning’s session of the occasion of the conferment of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) Award on two distinguished Nigerians.
The Nigerian National Order of Merit is the highest and most prestigious award bestowed by Nigeria on its citizens for creative, intellectual and academic contributions that are of national and global importance, and it is being conferred on two distinguished nominees who have been adjudged worthy of the award by the Governing Board of the Nigerian National Merit Award.
Since its inception thirty-eight years ago, the Nigerian National Merit Award has identified and selected 75 awardees. Each one of them has epitomized the finest of Nigeria’s capacity for innovation and creativity.
I am extremely proud to welcome the new Laureates to this prestigious league of citizens.
The two awardees for 2017 are: Professor Adesoji Adediran Adesina, NNOM, who has been given this award for his work in Engineering Technology. His research work over the last three decades has made groundbreaking contributions to the mining, petrochemical, renewable energy, defence, and manufacturing. Prof. Adesina is credited with more than 400 refereed publications, patents and books, and has won several competitive research grants from government and industry sponsors.
I am sure that when we listened to what Prof. Sanni Sambo had to say about Prof. Adediran Adesina’s works, many of us were confused as to what exactly was being said. For example, I would quote from a piece that I read on his work. It says, “the excess water in the ethanol solution facilitates the separation of glycerol by-product from the oily phase while simultaneously improving the purity of the biodiesel.”
But I was relieved to see immediately after that, that this means we could take the waste oil from a local buka or a dodo street seller, to produce biodiesel. So, I am happy that Prof. Adesina interpreted for us some of the very complex things that he has been doing over the years.
We greatly honoured to be here to see a man who has served this nation and served his profession in different capacities. He supervised more than 100 graduate students to completion, including 42 PhD alumni who are now university professors in highly-ranked institutions, executives of the petrochemical processing industries, senior government officials and captains of engineering design & consulting firms across the world.
Mr. Bruce Paul Obomoyema Onobrakpeya, NNOM is a man being recognized for his work in the arts and humanities. He is a man of multiple talents and impressive achievements. A world-renowned artist, painter, and outstanding printmaker, he is also an illustrator of books, art experimentalist and initiator of art forms, philosopher, as well as a poet, author of books, philanthropist, and teacher.
For his work over the last six decades, Onobrakpeya has earned over 30 national and international awards and appointments, including a Silver Medal at the Fifth Triennial in India in 1982, and the SPANFEST Excellence Award – Lifetime Achievement Award in the Art, in 2013. In 2002, he was awarded the MFR (Member of the Order of the Republic of Nigeria) and in 2017, the honorary Doctor of Letters, by both the University of Ibadan and the Delta State University, where a new art gallery has also been dedicated to him.
His works span generations beginning even from the period of our independence, a period which is described by critics of arts as the period of Onobrakpeya’s Mythical Realism which spans the period 1957–62. And his art in this period is said to represent the period of his early development as the artist and this coincided with Nigeria’s Independence.
At that time, the idea of projecting the African personality was of major importance to the artists of that period and it was at this time that the Zaria Arts Society, the forerunner of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), was formed and this was accompanied by the propagation of the concept of “natural synthesis”.
But Onobrakpeya goes beyond that period and in more contemporary times has been an advocate of important social causes and his art has depicted those important social causes and here we see Onobrakpeya focus on several social causes including paintings for divine prayers for help against military dictatorship and political instability.
And in more serious times the focus on the murder of Ken Saro-Wiwa. On the front burner also are the ecological and sociological problems which he also tried to depict in several of his works including Ekugbe (Unity), Nude & Protest and Smoke from the Broken Pipe.
Mr. Onobrakpeya has shown that an artist is not necessarily an entertainer; he is also a social commentator and has continued to contribute to Nigeria’s socio-political life for most of the period of his professional life.
Every winner of the NNOM is unique and on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, and of the people of Nigeria, I congratulate you both on this great achievement. You are not just national treasures; you are now important milestones in the chequered history of Nigeria’s upward trajectory.
Your stories and attainments now inspire the future, it is on the sturdy shoulders of your achievements that the coming generation of Nigerian artists and scientists will stand with confidence and hope. This is the awesome responsibility that you bear.
Therefore for you, there will never be a time in your professional lives where you retire and proceed to bask in the abundance of past accomplishment. This is the tough price of your outstanding feats of intellection and innovation. In any event as the American statesman, Bernard Baruch said “A man can’t retire his experience. He must use it.”
Let me also congratulate your families, friends, associates and well-wishers, who have come to share with you the joy of today’s achievement.
Congratulations are also in order to the members of the Governing Board of the Nigerian National Merit Award, under the Chairmanship of Professor Shekarau Yakubu Aku, and members of the Board’s four Specialized Committees of Assessors and External Assessors for the excellent work they have done. Please keep up the good work.
The Federal Government will study the recommendations contained in the Communiqué of the 10th Annual Forum of NNOM Laureates 2017 and will continue to support, in every way, the development of Nigeria’s research and innovation capacity.
Nigeria is a nation of great people and talent. Indeed, our human capital is the greatest gift and resource that we have, not our crude oil or solid minerals, or land.
Posterity calls on us the Nigerian elite, the intellectual, business and religious leadership which have the responsibility, and we are called upon to work to ensure that this resource does not remain stranded at the level of potential, but that it is instead harnessed and exploited for the good of the country and all its people, posterity will not forgive us for anything less.
I thank you for listening.[myad]